Hodgepodge

 

Joining in with Joyce for this week's Hodgepodge

1. The Hodgepodge lands on the last day of March...in ten words or lest bid the month adieu. 

Survived another one... (I mean, in today's sad & scary world, that's how I feel all the months go now)

2. March 31st is National Tater Day...your favorite way to have a potato? Given a choice would you opt for sweet, white, or red? How often are potatoes on your menu in one form or another? Ever been to Idaho? If not, is that a state you'd like to visit someday?

I think I live on oxygen, water, & potatoes. I mean, I can eat them all - any kind - red, white, sweet - in any form, mashed, baked, fried. mmmm. All the potatoes, all the ways.  I honestly could eat some form of potatoes every single day.  I know everyone on all the carb-free diets are just cringing.  & this is exactly why you'll never see me go carb free.  Let me add in Pasta to this & yeah... my body is basically 75% carbs.

3. Last time someone or something 'rained on your parade'? Explain.

So many ways to take this.... I'm thinking about when rain actually canceled plans, which what is that?  Or when something just let me down - which is basically something every day when I look in the mirror & see spots & wrinkles.  I mean, just so many ways to go.  ... I'll just leave it that yesterday, it was in the 70's & beautiful & warm & because of RAIN, its in the 40's today & I've had to cover my flowers because of frost.  That's a total Rain on my parade moment.

4. Put all your eggs in one basket, get cracking, nest egg, bad egg, good egg, egg on, have egg on your face, or walk on eggshells...choose a phrase from the list that applies to something in your life currently and tell us how or why.

"Get cracking" feels appropriate.  I found a buffet table I finally want for my coffee room.  I'm hoping we can go pick it up this weekend. That's going to give me all the motivation to finally get this room cleared out & all fancied up.  Fingers crossed.

5. If I visited your home would I find a lot of baskets there? Something you like to keep in a basket? 

You probably would actually. I love baskets.  I used to have quiet a few for when I did photography & needed them for baby sessions.  & now, I use most of them for storage. Let's talk about the little baskets too you can put in closets & in cabinets.  I love me a cute basket!

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

I turn on some TV at night that I dont really have to concentrate too much while I'm getting ready for bed & prepping my planner for the next day & the new Discovery+ app is basically all that is with shows from TLC on it. No brain power required.  I started picking up on "Sister Wives" where I left off like 4 years ago... &  I started watching "Counting On" with the Duggar's older girls.  I just watch in awe though. How in the world do these girls just always smile & just seem so happy.  I mean, I get it... I'm a God girl too - I get the joy that He brings... but COME ON MAN... its that Chick-Fil-A "My pleasure" always happiness.  I have some work to do in my own life I guess.   

The weekend Hobby Lobby nearly turned me into a Karen

 Breath in.... breath out....

OK my praying people... lift up some prayers for me today. Its DENTIST time.  I know some people are like, huh? Just the dentist?  I went into emergency surgery with no one at the hospital with me a lot better than I am feeling going into the dentist. I have all the dental anxiety & am just a nervous wreck on what they're going to say, what the price is going to be & where this will lead - because we all know once dental work starts, you're scheduled in for the next year with the next step & next step & next step.  Plus, I'm HORRIFIED on what the pain is going to feel like with them getting my crown off my tooth.  Basically like pulling a tooth ... & anything with pressure or pulling in my mouth... 

Breathing in... breathing out...

Anyways - I go today after work.  Please pray or lift up good thoughts for me for all good news - & minimum pain.  

I'm so glad I was able to enjoy a really nice weekend before the tragic events of today....

Friday, it started off with a bang...I was out in the back property with Hubby looking at all the work he's been doing when I got a phone call from my brother to get in touch with the vet.  Cochese had apparently run through a fence & gashed out his face pretty badly. 

Be prepared.... here's a picture that I got on my phone.

.

.

.

Poor guy.

Apparently during the storms the night before, it spooked him.  

We got in touch with a large animal vet & she said as long as it wasn't currently bleeding (it wasn't) there was no reason to come suture it - so she told us to clean it up & put some antibiotic ointment on it & she was going to call in a prescription for some antibiotics & some pain meds for him.

Animals... they're like kids... always into something & always an accident waiting to happen.

Saturday I ended up actually getting ready... like really ready.  Make up & all. I was venturing out to meet my friend (& coworker) Liz.  I havent seen Liz in a year since we left the office in March 2020... she's even had a BABY since I've seen her last! Isnt that crazy.  Liz is my planner friend too so we were going to meet up for coffee & go planner shopping.

First picture of me with someone other than my hubby in a YEAR!

We ended up scratching coffee & actually going out to lunch.... Y'all... I ate lunch out! Can you believe it!!! Yes, we sat outside & there weren't people close to us - so that made it easier for me.  Plus, she reminded me, I've got antibiodies from having COVID 30 days ago.  I had to keep telling myself that too.  

I am so excited we have a Joella's on our side of the river now... they have vegan chicken which I love .

BUTTTTT - if you notice the kale salad above, I took the picture & got ready to cut into - all the while talking to Liz & before I put a knife to it, I was like, HOLLLD UPPPP - this isn't vegan chicken. It was funny because Liz said, "I thought, wow, you're getting the full real chicken experience".  I would have been so mad if I got this to go & drove all the way home only to find real chicken on my salad. EW!

Then we went shopping at a few places looking for planner goodies & she was on a mission to find a new container for some washi.  We have priorities.

Luckily, I had some gift cards from Hubby from Christmas that helped me cover all the expense of all the sticker books I got.... so many sticker books.  So much happiness.

I was pretty perturbed though at one point.  We were in Hobby Lobby & I found a sticker book I have been wanting since December. It's sold out online & its $50.00 sticker book .... cough... I KNOW. $50.00 for stickers.  Did I mention we have priorities?  But I thought, Its Hobby Lobby - let me just pull up my 40% off coupon - $20.00 off will be perfect - my gift card will cover the rest, bam, boom, sticker bliss. 

Except.... 

HOBBY LOBBY HAS STOPPED PUTTING OUT THE 40% OFF COUPON.

I was so mad. Liz wasn't happy either.  We ended up evaluating our purchases & put most of it back.  I was just so mad.  Apparently they stopped doing that in February.  How frustrating is that? I know I am not alone in using that coupon on every trip to Hobby Lobby.  So now I have to actually look up when they have sales?  WHERE IS YOUR MANAGER? I need to be a Karen!   I was pretty salty & bitter when I left the store.

Yes, I ended up buying the $50.00 sticker book ... gah.  I knew if I put it back - I'd never find it again. There was only one & we just happened to stumble upon it. Just taking my gift card & thinking that would be the same as a 40% off coupon anyways.  

We left to go to TJ Maxx to retail therapy our Hobby Lobby bitterness.

I found some cute things.... this camo linen shirt, which is way cuter on. It has buttons down the back of it- & a hood! & its lightweight & linen. ... & got some cute OPI nail polish & a Tobacco smelling candle.  Maybe its the Kentucky girl inside of me that likes a Tobacco smelling candle. Am I alone in that?

I had to leave & meet my brother to give him the horse medicine.  It was so nice out & just perfect on Saturday - like near 80 degrees & sunny... so I ended up sitting outside & finished reading my book (loved it)

Sunday, things took a weather dive. Rain had come in overnight & it was so windy & chilly all day long. Dont take away my Spring!!!!

I took it easy most of Sunday.  I watched church online & then started a new book, & then Hubby & I ran down to Target to pick up a few things & got some lunch to bring home. Nothing exciting - basic Sunday stuff.

Sunday lazy vibes... yes, that's Ozzie with his head & paw on Hubby's foot

I went over to give Cochese his 2nd dose of medicine for the day & chatted with mom for awhile & just watched the sun set on this day.

So... weekend done... pain & misery ahead.  Lord, be near.

Do you have dental anxiety or are you one of those weirdos that actually LIKE the dentist?

(No offense to any dentist friends)

Did you know about the Hobby Lobby coupon change?

Did you read any books this weekend?

Give me some encouraging words for today... thank you!

Friday Favorites

 

(Click pic for Link)

Favorite Frame

I am TOTALLLLLY getting this.

You can just change out the paper with the clips at the top - changing up the art around your room all the time.  This would be perfect for the parent with an artistic child too!

Favorite Fake Plants

To add some greenery around the home  or  in the office 

because if they were real, they'd be brown & dead in a week in my care

You get 3 plants too - put together or scatter them. 

Favorite Towel Rack

I really like this - to put on a counter top. I'd even put lotion on the bottom tray for guests.

Favorite Tea Infusers

.

They just make the cutest diffusers now!!!

Perfect for spring time tea!

Favorite Washi

These are really thin, but just enough to add some color to your notebook or calendar. & not take up too much space. Plus, being so thin, you can add a few for a cute design.

Favorite Nail Help

I used to use cuticle oil & just have stopped.

I need to get some more & get my nails healthy again.

Favorite Hair Clips

So pretty!!!! what a beautiful way to liven up a look.

Favorite Cherry Pitter

Anyone else excited about cherry season coming up!!!!!

Favorite Funnies

This is 100% me

... my dogs when I shut the screen door so they cant come in with muddy feet

... when I hear of more & more states (my own included) dropping more & more restrictions while other countries are going into another lockdown

... me at 4:30pm today

Happy weekend Y'all!!!

Thankful Thursday #304

 

Antibiotics
I'm going to tell on myself. I usually dont take antibiotics when given to me.  I LOATHE them.  They upset my stomach, & ladies, you all know what else they do where you need to load up on yogurt. Misery.  My mouth was hurting so bad though & it was a different kind of antibiotic I've ever tried, so I thought, OK - I know I need it. & let me tell you - its the first time in probably ... well... probably since I was a kid & my mom made me take my medicine, that I actually finished the whole bottle as prescribed. Look at ME following doctor's orders!  The kind of antibiotic they gave me, I really didnt have any side effects from it. A itty bitty bit of an upset stomach - nothing crazy. The worst side effect was it made me have a metallic taste in my mouth - that was it.  Give me this antibiotic every time!

Space
My brother extended Baby's space & its more than doubled her area. I know she's like, HEY, this is the life!  It was funny, the day he did it, I was over & she just kept standing the in gateway that opened to her new area.  She kept looking at me like, "Am I allowed to go over here?"  She's gonna have a good Spring & Summer.

Reading Outside
Yep... I'll probably put this on here for awhile ... at least until summer hits & its too hot to read outside. It really is my favorite place. I honestly can stay out there from sunrise to sunset.

Ozzie OK with Coffee
If you read my post on Monday, then you know. Geez. But I'm still so glad nothing horrible happened with my baby boy gulping down coffee. He figures he sees me drinking it all the time, he needed to check it out too.

Big Boy Bed
Speaking of Ozzie.... we took down his playpen this weekend.  In all honesty, he was big enough to jump out of it- he actually did one time when we put him in it to go feed the horses.  But most of the time, he'd just stay in there.  But it took up so much of the living room... & truly, we wouldnt be comfortable with putting him in it if we were gone for awhile since we know he COULD jump out of it.  So we put up a big boy kennel to hold him if need be.  He loves getting in his brother's kennel (Harvey's) - of course, Harvey is in it WITH him when he gets in it - but at least its  not an unknown feeling to be in a kennel.  

My living room at least with a middle floor you can walk around again!

All the blooms
My daffodils are up & they are just so colorful & bright & giving me all the Spring happiness in my front yard.

Being home for Daylight Savings
OK... I struggle BIG TIME on time changes.  But I have to say, working from home has one more thing to add to its benefits.  I was so tired last week & couldnt figure out why. (no one said I was that smart) I would kept snoozing my alarm until 10 minutes till I needed to sign in. Thank GOD I didnt have to get up early & drive into work. Only just the other day did I realize that getting up at 7:15, was actually getting up at 6:15. NO WONDER I was so tired.  That I could sneak in that extra little bit of sleep to adjust to the time change.... totally raising some praise hands.

Coffee Creamer
Yep, I talked about this yesterday - but its THAT good.  If anyone lives by me, dont be running down to Kroger & clearing out the shelves. Leave me a few ... m'kay

Tell me something good you're thankful for this week!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Currently

 

Weather
All the Spring feels. We've had a few days in the 60's - close to 70's & some days with rain & storms.  All the better to bring on some spring growth.  Our grass is even getting tall & will need the first mow of the year.

Listening
With the New Jersey Housewives back, I've had to get tuned in again with Watch What Crappens Podcast.  I've been listening to it while I take my little strolls.  Nothing like working on lung capacity with some laughter.  If you love all things Bravo, you gotta check these guys out.

Watching
I signed up to try Discovery+ & have gotten sucked in so many TLC shows & A&E series.  I always turn on Hoarders as a great motivation to clean up my house. Whew - gives me all the claustrophobic feels.  I also love that it has some good Food Network shows.  I love watching all the Worst Cook shows.  Maybe because I can relate.  If I ever got on the show, I'd walk off when they make you kill a lobster or tear chickens apart ... basically anything with meat. Seeing how every dish has meat in it - Yeah... I would last for a salad course & then I'm outta there.  I need to stick with Worst BAKER.  No animals harmed with all the sugary treats.

Feeling
Overwhelmed & anxiety ridden. Let's turn on the news to watch more people getting shot. Just for going grocery shopping.  If I dont end up an agoraphobic, its going to be a miracle. I keep seeing all the memes that say you can tell the pandemic is nearing an end because the US is getting back to normal with having 2 mass shootings in less then 2 weeks.  Just so sad. God bless all the families that are effected & have lost loved ones so unexpectedly.

Looking
Got my gray covered up yesterday. That 6 weeks from my last appointment snuck up on me fast. I should have known by looking in the mirror & seeing all the gray. Maybe that was the problem - the GLOW from all the silver blinded me.

Stressed 
OK... this puppy is going to make me pull my freshly colored hair out.  We've noticed the past few weeks that when Ozzie is sitting, only when he sits, his front legs shake.  It's not one leg - it can be one, or the other - or both.  It shakes so bad, he has to lay down - like getting the weight off his legs.  It's not like a nervous shake because it doesn't go up in his head. & he doesn't do it when he lays down.  He doesn't act different - he runs & plays & jumps on his brothers like nothing bothers him. He doesn't act like he's in pain.  But you can tell its when he puts the weight on those front legs.  Maybe its a growth thing? I dont know - but we have an appointment to get checked out.  Better to be safe than let a situation go & become worse as he grows.

Drinking
I'm really picky about coffee creamer. If you cant pronounce it, I dont want to drink it.  I have always been a Natural Bliss fan because it has like 5 ingredients - manly milk, cream, sugar. Bam - easy enough.  Well, I saw a friend on Instagram talking about how she froths up some cream & puts it in her tea & she uses Chobani.  I didnt even know they had a creamer - but when I went to the grocery this past week, I saw it & saw all the flavors they have.  I got the Cookies & Cream & also a Sweet Cream - my favorite. I have tried a few creamers that were a big bust so I didnt expect too much - but OH.MY.GOSH!  This stuff is fantastic.  The Cookies & cream ingredients are milk, sugar, cream & cocoa... good enough for me.  It froths up nicely & you dont need a lot to give a big flavor.  Hubby loves it too.  I cant wait to try more flavors now.

Cookies & cream not even pictured here - but I cant wait to try the Hazelnut & Vanilla
I even saw they had a Smores one!!!

Excited About
I'm actually meeting a friend for a coffee date & planner shopping this weekend. This is the first time I've met up with a friend in a year.... a YEAR.  I am excited to see her face to face & to enjoy some coffee & planning fun.  Just sounds like a perfect day.

Tell me something CURRENTLY going on in your world

The weekend coffee almost gave me a heart attack

 Happy Monday1

So March 20, 2020 was the last day I was in the office, so it has officially been one year since I've been working from home. That just blows my mind. I can remember packing up & thinking, Oh, we'll be back in 2 weeks - surely not a month.  Just shows how little we know about what tomorrow holds.

So Happy Monday - still working from home.

This weekend went by entirely too fast - even doing a bunch of nothing. When its just perfect outside though, you want the days to last & I could have handled another day like the ones we had.  Like Spring knew it was officially here & it was just showing off.  Sunshine & temps in the 50's & 60's all weekend.  It was just perfection.

Friday
I have to admit, I'm super bummed that WandaVision is over. That became my favorite Friday thing to do & while I love Marvel, the new Falcon & Winter Soldier, I'll watch it - but I think I'll wait till they're all out. I'm not as excited about that as Wanda & Vision, whom I really like. I never got into Captain America as much as the other Marvel franchise movies.  Plus, it'll be fun to binge it all at once. I think there's only 6 anyways, so I'll just binge them all after they're all out.

I ended up starting Friday watching the old Justice League because we were wanting to watch the new on that came out on HBO Max - which, has there been no advertising on that? I just happened to notice it was coming out on HBO Max - no commericals, no advertising.  Come to think of it - you dont hardly see any movie advertising anymore, do you?  Alas, the weather was so nice, so we never got around to watching the new one. Dang it.  But at least I got a refresher of the first Justice League movie. I honestly was like, 'did I watch this?' because I had so few memories of the movie.  That freaks me out when my memory lapses on me.

Saturday
I woke up & started my day with my devotional & then caught up on some Real Housewives episodes - because Jesus & Bravo is a good weekend mix.  I need to trade mark that quote.

Then I heard a commotion outside my window & find a strange man in the bushes under my window....

Just Hubby trimming back some branches ... but I opened the window to ask him if he wanted a hat so his hair wouldn't get hung on the branches. I then learned I needed to shut the window fast because on that window side, its 2 stories up & I had visions of the dogs leaping out of the window to get to their daddy.

I had to run down to the bank for work & then figured I would actually go in the grocery & pick up some things. I thought I was going to ultimately regret this idea because the grocery, at noon on Saturday - thats typically a Hellmouth from Sunnydale (those of you that get that reference, you're my people).  But slap me surprised that the grocery wasn't really crowded at all! I was only behind one person in line.  I was one happy camper.

I picked up some lunch & then just wanted to take in the weather.. & for me, that meant sitting outside with a book & just drift away to another land.

I finally am getting some good books after the start of some really bad reads.

I did take some time to do some walks to work on that lung capacity.  For someone who couldn't make it down & up the drive way, look at this... 

My house is right over the top of that hill - so I've been getting further & further. & yes, the uphill into my drive still wears me out & I am breathless, but I dont have to lean over & literally GASP for air.  Progress.  It's all progress.

Finally when it was too dark to be outside, I ended up coming inside & finished up season 2 of The Boys - because I've just been on a super hero kick lately.

Sunday
I had some plans to go out to Sam's Club & pick up some things... but I was on stand by just waiting to go to the vet at any moment.

Let me back up.....

I woke up & watched church online & then when that was over, I cleaned the house a bit & did some laundry & then it was time to start a new book.  I made some coffee & headed out to my reading place & settled in....

& all of a sudden, I hear a dog drinking...

Look down & see Ozzie drinking my coffee!!!!

I really didnt think much of it & went in & threw it out, washed my cup & made another cup of coffee & then decided to ask Alexa if coffee is bad for dogs.  Only to find coffee is extremely poisonous & toxic for dogs. SAY WHAT???? 

 I immediately jumped on the internet & reading everything, I went into hysterics. I thought my puppy is going to die.  Because of coffee. BECAUSE OF COFFEEEEEE!!!!

It said that just a little bit could be fatal for a dog - & we have a puppy that is just 20 lbs .... breath in & out...

& there's nothing really a vet can do except induce vomiting & give IV & I'm just holding Ozzie sobbing my eyes out, running back in the woods to tell Hubby what is happening & how we're on the edge of the brink of disaster.... & this is how he takes it....

We freak out over totally different things.  

But he told me that he's sure he didnt drink a lot & reminded me that my coffee is basically half cream anyways & that's probably what he got. 

Me? I'm ready to pack up Ozzie & taking him to the ER.  Call 911 - get me a puppy ambulance.  Hubby is telling me to he's fine.  But I'm reading all the things & it said that dogs will start showing signs of issues till 1-2 hours after drinking it because the caffeine has to get through their system & that's when it causes the problems - so the next 2 hours, I did not let that dog out of my sight.  He was like, "Mom, leave me alone"... when I hit 2 hours & he was just relaxed & chilled out - no freaking out, caffeine sputs or any sort of reaction at all, I finally could breath.  I honestly was scared to death.  I'll never put a coffee cup on the ground ever again in my life. Lesson learned.

Between that & my tooth still hurting after the root canal, Sunday had my nerves in a tizzy. 

It still hurts to chew down on this tooth, so I'm afraid the tooth is cracked under the crown - & even though I just spent all that money on a retreatment & going through the 2 hours in an endodontist chair this past week, I'm horrified that the tooth is going to have to be removed. & all that pain, time, money.... down the drain.  

Literally an accurate picture of me at the dentist

I guess we'll find out next Monday when I go to get this crown taken off & get a new one put on.

I hate dental issues.

I'm telling you - my nerves are SHOT right now. SHOT. 

At least I had another good book I started that helped take me away for a little bit.

reading even while still watching Ozzie 6 hours later

I went over & spent some time with my momma & we got her scheduled for her vaccine - which is exciting.  I still need to schedule mine too - but I keep getting different stories on when we should get the shot after having COVID.  I figure that we have antibodies anyways so let everyone else get the shot that needs it more than us right now.  It seems shots are pretty easy to get over where I live so that's a good thing. Hope it stays that way for the next 2 months when I need to schedule myself.

So.. that's the weekend.... nothing exciting - just a bunch of anxiety ridden life thrown in there. But Spring!  It's here. We've made it out of the misery of winter. I'll take any good thing I can get right now.

How was your weekend?

Did it feel like Spring where you live?

Have you heard from personal experience or know someone that has had COVID & was told to wait to get their vaccine?

Have you ever had a dog drink coffee?