I'm grateful for...

We are entering week 3 of our "new norm".  Everyone has a lot on their minds but there's always something to be grateful for:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ seeing my Dad, stepmom and the dog even if it was from the truck & driveway (the dog would have jumped out of the truck window had I not given him rubs and gotten kisses from him!)

~ having our first Zoom family meetup.  We may not be able to be in person but seeing everyone in one spot was great.  I highly suggest it.

~ living in a house and not the condo which gives Keith and I ample space to be together yet apart.  Everyone needs space!

~ Our boot camp family that is still sending us daily workouts and counting our working out at home in our attendance.

~ a pile of books to be read!  I've read 2 already.

~ having time to get things done at my house while I'm "working from home."  We are on a rotation now and I'm considered essential but cannot bring work home.

~sitting down to write a blog post and catching Garth Brooks being honored by the Library of Congress on PBS with the Gershwin award which put a smile on my face to hear all my favorite country songs.  Great end to the weekend!

Here's to week 3...we got this!

What's up Wednesday!

March has been quite the month.  Everyone has new norms.  Let's hope April brings lots of hope to each and every one of you!  I apologize if you already saw this, apparently I posted it the other day and I didn't mean to.  My bad!

1)  What we're eating this week:

Sun - cajun shrimp & sausage with veggies

Mon - taquitos

Tues - chicken wraps

Wed - 

Thurs - carryout

Fri - 

Sat - pork chop with veggies

2)  What I'm reminiscing about:

Having a full calendar!  Everything has been cancelled or postponed until the future that its very heartbreaking.  I'm reminiscing about times with everyone and all the fun that was supposed to have happened.

3) What I'm loving:

the extra time with my hubby...for now, ha!

4)  What we've been up to:

Stocking up on food and just staying in when we don't have to be at work.  We are both considered essential employees and I still have to go in, hubby will start remotely this week.

5)  What I'm dreading:

hearing the news day in and day out.  Its very depressing.  I find myself not watching at home since we have it on at work.

6)  What I'm working on:

lots of stuff.  No excuses about spring cleaning now, ha!

7)  What I'm excited about:

I have hopes that this trip in September will still happen!

8)  What I'm watching/reading:

We just finished the movie Breakthrough (rental) and Spenser Confidental (Netflix).  We also started getting hooked on Busch Family Brewed on MTV.  If you're from St Louis, you'll recognize a lot.  Its an interesting reality show.

9)  What I'm listening to:

it seems to be news news news most of the day

10)  What I'm wearing:

anything warm!  March warmer hasn't brought us anything desirable yet!

11)  What I'm doing this weekend:

working

helping my brother move

possibly escaping to our property to get outdoors

...family time is much needed...

12) What I'm looking forward to in April:

hopefully life is back to "normal"

my little shenanigans friends turning 2

warmer weather to go on walks and bike rides

13)  What else is new?

Not much!  Just trying to stay positive.  Its hard but hopefully we all get through this!

What's up with you?

Happy Wednesday!

Stay safe!

Monday's back, back again!

Happy Monday!

Our 1st weekend of the new norm wasn't bad.

Friday - I closed at work.  Our management finally told us that unless Missouri or the Federal Government declares a disaster, we are at work.  After work I went and did a carryout at one of the local restaurants.  I was extremely happy with my choice, Liliana's was delicious!  I then hopped on Google Hangouts for a virtual girls night with my monthly girls.  It was much needed, we all needed to see each other and just share how we are all feeling.

Saturday - I had to work but decided to run to the grocery store before hand in the hopes it wouldn't be crazy and I could get the basics we ran out of for the week.  It was actually great.  I got everything I needed.  I missed going to Aldi's but my gut was telling me Schnucks & Dierbergs might be a bit more taken care of.  Keith did the Costco run and said it wasn't bad either.  After that I was lazy all day before watching the new 2 episodes of Busch Family Brewed (if you need a laugh and are from the area, you should totally check it out - its on MTV) and watching the movie Spenser Confidential on Netflix - which watch it, it was good!

Sunday - I meal prepped and did things around the house.  Keith had to go up to work to rollout technology for students for e-learning to start on Tuesday.  This wasn't supposed to happen until Monday but the Governor and counties have put a shut down on us and the amount of people in line at the school can't happen on Monday now.  I heard its gone pretty smoothly.

Things keeping life semi normal:

~ My boot camp is posting live videos daily for us.  This is great to keep us on track.  What's not great is Keith is like we'll do it at like 10pm.  This first week of me working away, him home is going to be interesting!

~ I am also afraid we are going to go through all our food fast.  Keith never makes himself meals, he just snacks so again this week is going to be interesting.

~ Scrapbooking (oh, I did not go out to the scrapbook store like I mentioned in my last post.  I'm sad but I figured it was for the best.  Illinois has been on the lockdown longer than us also)

~ Reading

~ I want to start a puzzle!

Have a great week!

Friday Five - should I stay or should I go?

Well we made it through this unsettling week.  Nothing's really changed and each day brings a whole new world, kinda.

1) Bathtub is back!

I haven't had a 2nd shower/bathtub since January...but its fixed and I cannot wait to take a bath this weekend.  Its the small things nowadays!

2) Movie recommendation

Breakthrough!  Super good movie, check it out.  Next up is Frozen 2!

3) Support small businesses

So now that Missouri is not allowed to dine in at restaurants, well pretty much this applies to the entire United States, its time to support small businesses.  We don't eat out very much or bring it in, usually once or twice on the weekend so tonight we are trying Liliana's.  I have heard nothing but great things about them so I'm excited.  Its been on my list!

4) Rain, rain, go away

Once this rain disappears I can't wait to get outside.  I assume its okay to go for walks, bike rides, etc with all this going on?

5)  Should I stay or should I go?

So right before all this happened, I got noticed that the last remaining scrapbook store in the area is going to be permanently closing.  They've started their sales despite all this.  Like 8 people are allowed in the store at one time.  Its 30 miles from me but worth the drive every time I've gone.  Do I go despite all this, since we are still having to go to grocery stores or do I skip it?  I can't order online that I'm aware of, I'm going to look into that more.  I am just conflicted!  I plan on getting a lot of scrapbooking done also in this down time.  Once this store closes the closest to me will be Springfield, MO and Branson, MO, which we do get to go to once a year. Ugh, what would you do?

Have a great Friday!

My thoughts on everything

So with everything going on, I feel its important to speak what's on your mind and support those around you.

Here's my thoughts on everything.

~ I still have to work at the bank.  However starting today we are on lock down.  One client at a time is allowed in the lobby with us and we are encouraging them to call first or they may have to wait to be brought in.  With this change, we are hoping they eliminate Saturdays but there are no guarantees.  They are going to re-evaluate come April 1st.  The Fed has a rule that no one can be kept from their money for more than 3 days.  This is why we are listed to be open like the hospitals and pharmacies.

~ Keith still has to work however he will be doing it all remotely.  Currently his district is on spring break then they are closed for 2 more weeks.  On Monday all teachers have to be ready to do their classes online.

~ Just like the rest of the US, we are limited to 10 people at gatherings, and starting Thursday at midnight no more dining in dining rooms, it all is carry out or delivery.

~ Fun fact - we NEVER order food in.  We only eat out once or twice a week.  We did it for the first time Tuesday night, ha!

~ Our gyms are closed.  Luckily though our boot camp one is prepping daily workouts from the headquarters and sending to us to complete.  They are counting that as our attendance.  They are great!

~ Over the weekend we stocked up on food.  I "think" we have enough but I have to remember that we can still go there, we just may be limited.  I felt better once I got my hands on some canned food.  It was hard to find that.

~ We've got a few things coming up end of April, and into May, that we hope this will all be gone and we can get back to regularly scheduled programming.

~ We booked our airline tickets for September.  They were super cheap.  Fingers crossed!

~ I'm excited to catch up on reading, do some puzzles and watch some much needed shows I keep hearing about.  Frozen 2 anyone?

My final note:

I feel like I'm missing something and that I should be freaking out.  However I'm not.  I'm not exactly sure why.  Maybe its because freaking out won't do any good.  Maybe its because I was raised by parents who never freaked out, or never showed it if they were.  I honestly don't know.  My mother in law is doing plenty of it for us.  I've had to tell Keith that he can't call her when I'm around, it just makes me angry and frustrated because she tries to blame and honestly we all just have to be aware.

So all we can do is wait, and see, and be here for one another!