Weather roller coaster, your Aesthetic & Kindle Unlimited? {Weekly Check In}

 

WEATHER ROLLER COASTER
... that time of year.  near 70s one day, snow flurries the next. Like, truly.  Its just been nuts that you dont know what to expect each day.  & of course, on the cold, snowy day where it just get out of freezing, our furnace breaks. Because of course it does! Luckily, Ricky works in a heating/air part warehouse & sees alot of people daily that do this sort of work so we had someone come out pretty quickly to get us back up & running. Always something.

Dogs in the sun with snow still on the ground - perfect pic to explain the weather

BOOK FOR THE WEEK
I have an old high school friend that we stay in touch all these years later & have a love of books together.  She let me know that her neighbor is the mother of an author.... well, that just feels like six degrees of Kevin Bacon an author sort of thing & I felt like I needed to read a book by her. I really enjoyed it too! Its a quick easy fantasy sort of book - about a painter who has a talent to paint people in their true form & when she paints the Autumn Prince's portrait & it shows sorrow in his eyes, all sorts of chaos ensues.  I'm totally going to check out more by this author

KINDLE UNLIMITED
Speaking of books, I ended up looking for a book in Audible free section & was enjoying it so much, I wanted to get the Kindle to read when I wasn't able to listen... & then saw it was in Kindle Unlimited. As much of a reader that I am, I've never tried it.  I've always either bought the book, or gotten them from the library.  But I'm intrigued.... especially because you can get the kindle AND audio on a lot of these & I love doing that - being able to go back & forth.  So I'm trying it for a month with a free trial. I put on my Bookstagram account a question about it & got lots of reasons why people LOVE IT & why its not for others.  I see all the points so I'm just going to give it a shot.  I figure if I use it for 2 to 3 books a month, its saving me money & I may try it for awhile. 

VALENTINE'S CARD
I have a planner friend who sent me a Valentine's card with a little surprise in it.  It got here late but better late than never... & look at that vinyl sticker!!!! LOL ... Now the pressure of WHERE DO YOU PUT IT? I would put it on the front of my planner - but its already full.  Maybe my first sticker for my 2025 planner. ........... OMG - typing 2025 freaked me out.

HUNGRYROOT THIS WEEK
Still loving this.... we've discovered a new black bean veggie burger they have that is FANTASTIC! ... made with brussels sprouts & those little potatoes were AMAZING!!!!

& this is the haul that came in this week. This is why I really like them - they send full size items. We got a full size tub of Oat Milk butter for a recipe that calls for just like 2 tsps.  & I'm excited to TRY Oat Milk butter! ... same with these artichokes. 

If you want a code, I think I have one that can save you $50 if you want to try it... just let me know.

PINTEREST AESTHETIC 
Anyone else see that thing going around Instagram to pull up Pinterest & type in four different words & the first picture is your "aesthetic" ... The words are ACTOR / OUTFIT / AESTHETIC / QUOTE ... & this is what I got... it feels appropriate for me!

This cut off the outfit - she has on skinny jeans & white tennis shoes
But really love that quote!

WATCHING
I missed last season of Love is Blind & had been seeing a lot of posts about the couples this season - especially the "Meagan Fox" comment - so I had to jump in.... & what a dumpster fire this season is!  These people.  If any of them actually end up married in the end, I'm going to be shocked.

I'm also gearing up, getting closer to Season 10 of Vanderpump Rules. I had never watched it before & started binging it a few months ago & finally worked my way up ... I'm finishing up Season 9 this week & I am so anxious to get to the Scandoval of it all! 

Is your weather on a ride?

Have you tried Kindle Unlimited?

Did you do the Pinterest Aesthetic Challenge?

Snow, organizing & V-Day {Weekly Check In}

 

*BACK IN THE OFFICE
It felt good to be back in the office actually after finally testing negative for COVID.  I do enjoy my Friday working from home, but it also felt good to have a reason to get dressed & put on make up & get out of the house too.  

I still had a lingering cough - but poor Ricky - he REALLY has a lingering cough. He still even spiked a fever through the week. He came home from work & would just crash.  Out of the 3 times he's had COVID, he said this has been his worse.  Hoping next week has it all behind us both.... please!

*GET UP & GET MOVING!
 I have gotten in the habit of listening to some podcasts on YouTube every night when I go to sleep.  I'm always listening to either Mel Robbins or Jay Shetty - better that body and mind with information.  There was an episode from Jay Shetty that I was all into that I listened again the next day while I was wide awake - he had a Holistic doctor on there & the information was so insightful.  He talked about how bad sitting is for us. We know this but to hear it in terms of how each hour we sit, it raises our mortality level of dying of awful ways by 10%. That is terrifying.  He talks about setting a timer for every 45 minutes if you sit at a desk all day - which I do. I have some days that I dont get up at all - even forgetting to go to the bathroom till after 1 or 2pm - & I get to my desk around 6:45am. That tells me I dont drink any water either!!!! .... This has freaked me out so much. I am now getting in the habit of getting a small cup of water - making sure I drink it & also setting a timer so that every 45 minutes, I need to get up & get more water - AND it'll hopefully make me go to the bathroom more too - even more getting up & moving.   

Its awful that at the end of my long day, my step count is barely 3000 steps - that's just embarrassing. & then there's Ricky who walks over 15 miles a day - A. DAY.  PEOPLE.  & then when we get home, its like I'm more tired than he is - how does that make sense.  GET UP & GET MOVING!

Here's that YouTube link if you're interested in some health info & some holistic changes....

* Have you seen the new WICKED trailer?
.... I always say that Wicked is up there battling my Beauty & the Beast for my favorite musical. Its just the best story if you've never seen it. & to see more details in this movie adaptation - I CANT WAIT! .... though I am super bummed that they're breaking it up in two movies - like WHY. If the Broadway play can do the whole thing in under 2 hours - with an intermission - they can make a really good movie in 2.5 hours that people would sit through & watch.  I'm pretty mad they're doing this. & it really doesnt make sense to me. This part 1 BETTER be the most amazing movie ever or I'll wait for part 2 to come to video.

* BRUNO'S SPOT
I dont think I ever shared the little marker that we got for Bruno's burial spot in our bad woods.  Every time we go back in the woods to walk with the dogs, we make sure to stop & say Hi to Bruno.  I'm wanting to plant flowers around it too this Spring. Still miss my little man.

Harvey & I on our little walk visiting Bruno

* VALENTINE'S DAY
 I put my pink coffee mugs out & had to pick up that little coffee cup & donut stuffie at Target - so cute! & of course, changed up my chalkboard for the month.

& Ricky is always so good with getting me something sweet. He got me the most beautiful vase with 18 white roses. He knows I love my white roses! ... & a cookie cake... & the most beautiful card.  He's not really a card-kinda guy - but it is one of my favorite cards. He also picked up some dinner because I dont cook on Valentines Day. I dont ever want to go out either. Its too crowded & food & service always feels rushed.... I'm happy to eat in my own home some take out.

Of course, I got him a card - has the Flintstones on it LOL - he loved it so much! & got him some candy too - guys need to feel loved too!

*OFFICE ORGANIZATION
If you know me, you know I have an obsession with all things pens, stickers, markers - all things stationary.  Since I got my new planner I'm using for 2024, it has very specific paper so I've been trying even more pens - & its been out of control. So I ended up ordering some organization things & I'm loving my work area at home is looking so nice & neat & straight.... & leaves room for MORE pens LOL

Click pic for link on all the things that have made my world better

*BOOK 6 of 2024
I enjoyed this... even though I was wanting to know more about the Real Housewives & the Jen Shah of it all - but there's not much Housewives talk in this book. But I love Heather & enjoyed hearing her story - & all the dish she shares about the Mormon church.  I did this one on Audio & zoomed right through it.

Click pic for more book details

* SNOW
We're into our 2nd winter.... its not unusual to get 3 winters up so Spring. Snow came in on Friday & made for a cold Saturday.  We didnt even get out of freezing on Saturday.  Luckily, the sun came out & melted all the snow on Sunday -  & we're back in the 50's by the next week.  Its that time of year where you never know what you need to wear for a day. A heavy coat? Or just a light sweater? Check your weather app on the daily up to April.

*OPPENHEIMER
I watched this over the weekend. Whew. It left me feeling all sorts of ways.  The power of the mind & how brilliant scientists are... & then how scary that brilliance can be used for. & to hear how Oppenheimer was treated.... by back room shady disgusting men who want power? I mean... I had no idea of this story.  & I had to just sit for a bit & research history on it.  .... this was heavy to say the least.  Its also mind blowing to me to think of these big major historical figures living in like "our time" - ... to think that Einstein was around in my dad's early years... & Oppenheimer was around the first few toddler years that Ricky was born. It feels like these people should be alive in a different century if that makes sense.

What is your favorite pen you use?

Did you celebrate Valentine's Day?

Did you see Oppenheimer? What did you think?

What was the highlight of your week?

A week full of sickies.... New weekly edition!

 I read on my bloggy friend Steph's blog where she's going to blog like a weekly update - I love this idea. I feel like its doable. I've just not wanted to invest a lot of time in front of the computer when I feel like I'm in front of it constantly & my free time, I just want to relax & read & spend time outdoors with my dogs.... but I'm going to strive for that - a weekly update. Because I do still enjoy connecting with the bloggers of the world... & I want to keep my memories in one place... so let's see how this works.

So here we go - the update for last week 02/05-02/11/25

* Yep, Covid got us.  Well, it got me first.  I woke up last Friday in the middle of the night with the worst sore throat & earache. Like, I was thinking I need an ER visit for my ears because I thought they were going to rupture.  I took at COVID test in the middle of the night at 2am & it was negative. OK - maybe just a sinus infection.  I woke up feeling worse & was so glad it was my work from home day.  The morning, I felt worse by the hour. Getting weird body cramps, in the back of my thighs, in my forearms ??? in my ankles ??? - so weird. I took another COVID test at lunch time & it was an INSTANT positive line.  ...& by the end of the night, I was feeling like death.  I had over a 102 fever & I was shivering & miserable - still couldnt swallow anything. It was awful.  It hit me hard & fast.

We tried to keep Ricky safe.  We stayed in opposite sides of the house - we wore masks if we came out of our designated spaces.... but by Tuesday, he felt bad & had to come home from work. He did the same thing though.  He tested before he went to work  Monday evening & then when he got home on Tuesday, he had that same instant positive test.  & he had the same symptoms as me - the sore throat & earache & high fever.  It was exhausting.

ahhhh - this is love - sharing in all things

We both still sound froggy & both still feel a little drained... but I'm so thankful this was nothing like my first go around with COVID. That still haunts me with the breathing issues.  I tested negative 9 days later & back at work.

* Love grocery delivery.  With us both sick, we had offers from my brother, Ricky's sister & a neighbor to go get us food (thank you to all of them!!!) but I pay the yearly fee to get my groceries delivered & its the best thing ever.  I hate going in the grocery store & fighting the crowds & there's never a line open that isn't 5 deep.  I used to do the Click List to pick up but that even got old to me.  Drop on my front porch - especially when we're sick.  This is the best thing if you have it offered to you & you dont enjoy grocery shopping either.

* Glad we got a taste of spring. To be sick & not go around anyone, I'm glad we had some temps in the 60's where I could get some sun on my face & get to throw the ball for the dogs.  Of course, we've been back in freezing temps at night again - but just the glimpse of Spring gives me hope - its around the corner!

* I finished a book - Daughter of Mine. I love that I got a preview of this book from NetGalley - it comes out in April 2024.  If you love mysteries & thrillers, you'll enjoy this. It took a few days for my brain to function enough to read with COVID Fog - but once I got started in this, I couldnt put it down. 

Click Pic for link on more info of the book

* I had to get 4 new tires for my car.  Bye money! Ouch!... my car right before I got sick was starting to do weird things with the steering wheel. It would just shake back & forth.  It started small but every day driving, it was getting worse & then my whole car was shaking, My phone in its holder was rattling so hard, I thought it would jolt off.  Ends up, there was a "bubble" in my tire & the tread was getting ready to come off another tire.  I've had my car going on 5 years & its the original tires so time to get some new ones.  Ricky told me I needed the more expensive ones because he knows I dont like tire noise - this is true... so I paid for the best & while they're still feeling bumpy to me wearing in a little - I'm glad to know I have some good safe tires on my vehicle now.

* Speaking of groceries earlier - we've been trying a new food delivery the past few weeks. So far, so good! Hungryroot is what I've been going with.  What I love most about it- the dinners are SUPER FAST. Like most things take 15 minutes or less. & they have great healthy options & a LOT of vegan, vegetarian things. What's different about this is it has like "grocery items" - you can use your alloted credits for meals or grocery items - or pay more if you use all your credits. I'm in love with their Cucumber Tahizi dip so I'm always adding that to my order.  But here's a perfect example of a meal - Butternut Squash Ravioli with steamed broccoli - it was fantastic!

If you have any questions or want to give a try, let me know - I can send you a link

* & to end the week - SUPER BOWL SUNDAY! I dont really care about any sports besides Tennis - as we all know - so I didnt really care about the game - but am always here for the commercials & the half time show.  Of course, we were super stoked to see roller skates involved.   & as much as I know about football, I loved Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce got their happy ending for this.  I love love.

How was your week last week?

Did you watch the Superbowl? Did your team win?

Have you avoided Covid or sickies lately?