What's Up Wednesday?!?!

 

Hey March - you seriously flew by so fast!

This year is going fast.

I think its because I'm turning 40 in October - haha!  For whatever reason I feel that the universe wants me at that age.

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1) What we're eating this week:

Sunday - shrimp scampi

Monday - bacon grilled cheese

Tuesday - cajun smoked sausage

Wednesday - chicken

Thursday - chicken

Friday - out

Saturday - BBQ

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2) What I'm reminiscing about:

our weekend away to Paradise Point for Keith's birthday - I've got the travel bug bad!

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3) What I'm loving:

that the world is slowing opening back up again!  We are still going to have to be safe and use our best judgements but we should all be treated like adults who can do that.  Those who can't, then they can face consequences.

I've also found my inner strength where some things are concerned and I'm loving how much more stronger I'm becoming that I already am.  I'm just too old for BS and when killing with kindness doesn't work, you reverse and treat them the way they are treating you.  It gets them to shut up fast!

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4) What we've been up to:

- twin shenanigans with my nieces

- bike rides starting up again

- trip planning

- Burn Boot Camp

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5) What I'm dreading:

I honestly need to fix the work situation.

If you're local to me and have any insides to anything, let me know!

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6) What I'm working on:

- helping my sister create stuff for my nieces barn party

- learning binders for birthday presents

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7) What I'm excited about:

in 2 1/2 months I will be here - I cannot wait!

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8) What I'm watching/reading:

So I'm into Ametican Idol again. I dropped it for a few years but these 3 judges are the best! It's a good show now.

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9) What I'm listening to:

Nothing in particular 

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10) What I'm wearing:

Anything that keeps me warm.  I dress for inside, not out.  My manager is a middle 60s male who goes between hot and cold all.darn.day!  Its freezing at work!

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11)  What I'm doing this weekend:

My twin nieces turn 3 so there's a Barn Yard party to celebrate.  Just family but we are going all out since we couldn't do anything for #2 last year.  My sister got a petting zoo - it will be fun!

Then hopefully a bike ride to celebrate Easter before going to my brother's for a small dinner.

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

~ the twins turning 3

~ Easter

~ road trip for Covid vaccine #2

~ possible college football game

~ 1st STL Cardinals game of the year

~ hopefully a new deck!

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13) What else is new:

Not much!

Hopefully that'll change soon!

Can't have a birthday & not celebrate!

 

Keith turned 40 back on the 10th and I surprised him with a weekend away, just the 2 of us down in Hollister, MO at Paradise Point.  Its a sister resort of Big Cedar (and just a mile away with rights to play at all the resorts) and it was just what the doctor ordered.

Friday, we ate brunch at the Shack for Keith's birthday meal (he loves a good breakfast) then began our drive south.  He had some business at his now alma mater so we roamed around Springfield before getting to our condo for the rest of the evening.  Grabbed dinner at a cute little pub then got some much needed relaxation and sleep the rest of the night.

We trekked back to Springfield Saturday as we were scheduled for our first Covid shot.  I checked randomly as people in the STL area weren't able to get appointments and Springfield had many.  We have to return in a few weeks for #2 - I'm game for a road trip anytime!

The plan after the shot was to bike the Frisco Highline Trail to a winery.  However Mother Nature decided it was going to pour buckets like on Friday so we switched to Plan B.  We dropped the bikes back off at our condo and decided to walk the 5k trail at Big Cedar (I'd rather get wet walking than with the wind riding), then ventured down to the Landing for lunner and some shopping.  

 

We were warned of fatigue with shot #1 and it hit Keith like a rock.  We got back to our condo and he was out for awhile.  We went out side for a bit to relax in the hot tube then it hit me like a rock and we both were out until our alarm Sunday morning.

However we were both refreshed and ready to tackle the day!

(and it was daylight savings day haha)

We grabbed brunch over looking Table Rock Lake

before doing a few more things that we always do while in the area then headed back to STL.

We made it back in time to celebrate Pi Day with my family with pizza and pie.

It was a great no plan weekend.  We need more of those!

1 year anniversary of the Covid pandemic

How has it been a year?

Personally we will never forget it because Keith's birthday is March 10th.  March 13th we were supposed to go to Chicago for our yearly Blues game in a different city however the nationwide shutdowns started so we ate what would be our last lunch out and saw a movie in an empty theater.

But overall 2020 wasn't a waste.  Not to me anyway.

1) What was life like in early 2020?

January we had done a siblings trip to Vegas.  We did our weekly eating out like normal and went to the gym daily.  Our Blues season tickets had us busy many times during the week.  We were working 5-6 days a week.

2) What was the biggest change?

No more eating out.  Started wearing masks 24/7.  Had a varied schedule but still went to work. Had to limit who we spent time with as it could only be our bubble.  Our basement became our gym.  No travel.

3) What were your coping mechanism?

Zoom calls with family.  Still working out at our normal time.  Getting take out to support restaurants. Escaping to our property.

4) What did connection in your relationships look like?

Keith and I got a lot done around the house.  We did our best to support each other in our new work environments.  My girls night girls still had zoom calls once a month.  We didn't see our bubble family originally for the first 2 months and finally decided we'd make it work.  Some people were not happy with our decisions but its what was best for us.  We found out that my in-laws weren't going to make any efforts to keep us a family, which was hard, but it showed us what we already knew.

5) What will you remember the most?

Every single thing in our life did their best to keep life normal...well as normal as it could be.

6) What was the biggest challenge?

Not going to hockey games like we used to and going out as much as we did.

7) What was a beautiful memory?

Watching Keith walk for his masters graduation ceremony as the university did everything in their power to make sure they were recognized.

8)  What do you believe now that you didn't 1 year ago?

That I don't have to put up with the BS I use to.  I know who my true friends and family are and that's what I'm taking on with me.  I also know that I matter and my thoughts and opinions matter and I need to not hide them because its time for people to know.

9) What would you do differently?

Honestly I don't know because we had limits put on us.  We did the best we could and that's all that matters.

10) What will you carry forward?

More appreciation for the ones who have stood next to me with everything going on.  I hope life gets back to what we know as normal but honestly knowing I'm stronger because of not being influenced by inlaws or the family who don't respect me, I honestly won't forget that.

Happy 40th Keith!

 

Happy 40th to this guy!

How on earth are we entering our 40's - I sure don't feel 40 yet.  I still have a few months though!

We are getting away this weekend to hopefully relax and bike ride. Nothing major but got to always celebrate somehow. No agenda is the best part.

Cheers to Keith!

February Books!

For whatever reason the 2nd Tuesday of the month always slips my mind until the night before.

I read 8 books for February which makes it 19/100 for the year.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - The Speed of Light (kindle)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Under the Southern Sky

⭐⭐⭐⭐ - The Wrong Family

⭐⭐⭐⭐ - The Cookbook Club

⭐⭐⭐⭐ - If For Any Reason

⭐⭐⭐⭐ - The Happy Camper

⭐⭐⭐ - The Bright Side of Going Dark (kindle)

⭐⭐⭐ - The Royal We

My to-be-read pile keeps growing and growing and I'm slowing down on my reading for some reason. I hope to pick it up more, I got plenty to read!

What are you reading?

Check out my Goodreads list.

Happy reading!

It's March y'all!

 

2021 is already flying by friends!

I'm glad its March.  I want warmer weather to come (sans allergies but that's a given) and I want to get outside more.  I sit too much at my job that I don't want to be inside once home.  I try to walk at work but its sometimes frowned upon (yet the people frowning should take a page out of my book haha).

We have no major plans this month yet except something for Keith's birthday which will get us away for a short weekend.  I really need to clear my head and that will do the trick.

St Pat's is this month too but can't really do anything to celebrate.  I did decorate, I'll post that soon.

Cheers to a new month!