Friday Favorites

 

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Favorite Coffee Cups

Why is it something fun to be able to SEE your coffee through the mug? Just me?

Ohhhh - just  seen its on sale for $13.00 off!

Favorite Tank Top

I mean - I never had that shape nor will I ever...But, I do like this tank top.

I like the top of it - its not low cut & the thicker edges.... This would  even be great to wear in the spring & fall with a cardigan over it.  They have a lot of colors too. I'm going to try a few of them out!

Favorite Cardigan

Speaking of cardigans! 

I love a good long one to cover my butt!

This one has a bunch of colors too.

A cardigan to me is like my grown up blankey.... makes me feel cozy in my soul

Favorite Pampering

I'm a shower person - not a bath person

So I like that I can get some spa treatments even standing up.

Each of these have different scents - one for sinus relief, one for relaxation - that sort of thing.

This would be a great gift too.

Favorite WebCam Helper

Because after a year of Zoom calls & meetings, my little washi tape isnt doing the trick. LOL

I always forget to put it back on - or the sticky doesnt work.

I mean... its OK - but that would be nice to just slide that & not have to worry about anything else

Favorite Pet Product

So Ozzie got potty trained in a week... seriously... so we have a ton of puppy pads we bought that we never used. But I saw these & had never heard of this before.  I'll totally get these if/when we get another puppy down the road.  They are carbon & grab the scent from urine & suppose to absorb where they're not even wet feeling.  Kinda genius.  

Favorite Kettle

Fancy. I love the modern look of this.

Favorite Desk

How cool is this?

Take that laptop with you wherever you go if you move around your house a lot.

& it adjusts to the seat you're in too.  I really like this.

Favorite Bookmark

You can  write in the books you've read through the year - HOW FUN IS THIS!!!!

Favorite Funnies

I dont know why that made me laugh as hard as it did

... anytime the dogs are around Hubby

... me at 4:30pm today going down my hallway

HAPPY WEEKEND Y'ALL!!!!

I'm a softie, clear counter tops & finally getting a deep breath {Thankful Thursday #271}

 

This week I'm Thankful for:

Soft Food
When you cant chew down because of dental pain, soft foods are just ... well, literally... a life saver. Soups, pudding, yogurt, things that just slide down without any chomping - I was grateful.

Nurse Hubby
The past few weeks I talked about Hubby taking care of me with COVID - well he's still earning his nurse badges because he's been the best at bringing me home some of the soft foods.  Coming home from work with pudding for me, & even a large order of Chick Fil-A mac & cheese (yummy). 

Orajel
Speaking of dental pain, having to go 5 days until you were able to get in with a doctor to help you, I couldn't have slept without numbing up the tooth & gums. Honestly - this was my sanity the past week.

Dental Insurance
I'm sure we all know & can agree - the price of dental work... whoooOOOOaaaaAAAAA.... Ouch.  & Dental insurance, even GOOD dental insurance maxes out fast in a dental chair - but I'm grateful for what I DO have. Always tell myself, things could be worse.

Appreciation
I got a card with a surprise in it with just a note of appreciation this past week & it's just really nice to know people dont take you for granted. It really made my entire day.

Bathroom organizer.
I posted this on my Friday Favorites & then thought about it after looking at my ever covered bathroom counters & went ahead & ordered it. GAME CHANGER. My counter has nothing else on it because this organizer & soap. I'm so glad I got it.,  You can fix the shelves around it to fit whatever you need to put on it.  I've got so much in this one little thing - but it looks nice too!  Super happy with this purchase

Walks
I've really been trying to work on my lung capacity & building it up more & more & I'm doing pretty good at getting further on my walks & not feeling like I have to lean over & gasp for air.  I'm all about that progress.

Time Change
I know... I know... you either hate it or love it. & I'll admit, the first few days are some hard stuff to adapt to - but y'all. Come on now. Isn't it just spectacular & glorious to be light outside after 7pm? I'm plain giddy about it. Now - if we never have to turn our clocks back again - I'd be one happy camper.

Tell me something good in your week!

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One year of the Pandemic

 I saw this on The Queen In Between's web site... & since March 20th is the one year mark that was the last day I was in the office to work, I figured it'd be interesting to look back.  I almost said "Fun to look back" & then was like, nope.... this has not been fun at all.  Let's see how the past year has looked for me.

1. What was life like in early 2020?

Life at the beginning of 2020 was like it typically was for me - busy. Always on the go.  Something on the calendar.

2. What was the biggest change?

I felt like I was hardly ever home & now, a year later, I dont think I ever leave the home - HUGE change.

Also, we were a couple that ate out quite frequently.  To think we have not eaten in a restaurant in a year - that is MIND BLOWING to me.  When I have to look at a menu or wait for food to be brought out to me, I may not know how to handle the situation. 

Of course, the biggest change for our household was the loss of Bruno - I miss him so much.  

And also the addition of Ozzie.  He's brought such life & fun into the house.

3. What was your coping mechanisms?

Walks, dogs & nature.

I did a lot of walks down my drive way & up & down the street.  Feeling like I was "out" but not being around people.  Plus, sitting on my back porch with my dogs always soothes my soul.  Hubby has been working hard on clearing out some trees in our back property & its just been a nice place to walk & go back & just breath in nature.  

4. What did connections in your relationships look like?

This is an area where things are better & some are different.

The relationship with Hubby was really lovely.  I know a lot of people said that too much togetherness was tough on them - for me, I feel like we havent spent this much time together without having to run around & plan schedules in years.  It was endearing to see that we still get along - especially because we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary during this past year.  

I think relationships with friends took some bumps since I didnt get to see people in person.  I valued even more the friends that reached out & messaged me & called & stayed connected in some way.  

5. What will you remember most?

The Holidays. How different they were.  Not seeing family on big days - Christmas being the biggest one. & the family we did see, seeing them behind a mask, outside. It was like a whole other world. 

Just the disconnect from the world really.  

Let's also not forget the toilet paper craze.  Still bizarre to me to think that toilet paper was the thing that was hard to get. Like Precious Gold.

On my TimeHop for a year ago exactly

I think I'll also remember how stubborn people were about COVID.  How people didnt believe science & chose to make it political.  How it brought out the worst in people. That's something that I dont think I'll ever forget.... & see it lingering even now. Sadly. 

6. What was the biggest challenge?

For me, dealing with the fear.  I only went to a few places & when I was out, I was constantly aware.  What I was touching, who was around, how close they were to me. Hearing someone cough or sneeze & I wanted to bolt & get back to my home.  Especially in the beginning where so much was unknown.  It really came down to a point too where I had to stop watching the news on it because all the updates were just so overwhelming to me.  It really wore me down mentally.

7. What was a beautiful memory?

Honestly, the slowing down in general was a beautiful memory. I dont think it would have ever happened otherwise.  

8. What do you believe now that you didn't a year ago?

That I can work from home. When we were told to work from home, none of us knew how that would or COULD work.  A year later, we handle all the issues just like we would in the office. It's really impressive that technology allows it & that as a team, we get it all done.  I know this wont last forever & we'll be back in the office soon, but I never even knew it was a possibility a year ago.

9. What would you do differently?

I'm not sure.  

I want to say I would do more things - see more people - because in the end, being as safe & cautious as we were, we both still got COVID.  But I really dont think I would do anything really different.

Maybe not eat so much & stock up on toilet paper & Lysol wipes - I'll go with that.

10. What will you carry forward?

Gratitude.  

Thankful for my husband, my home, my family & friends, my dogs, my job - for my health.  That all these things got me through the past year with smiles & security & normalcy.   

That its the simple things in life that you really need.

How are you coming out a year later?

Who said 2021 was going to be a better year?

So I had a long weekend this weekend... took yesterday off work. 

Before you think it was for something fun or for enjoyment - think again.  Because this blog has become the place of misery, pain & complaining apparently.

I thought everyone gave so much hope that 2021 was going to be a better year... well, I want a refund or a do-over.

Having COVID kick me in the butt (& lungs) was rough enough - but remember last Monday's post where I talked about my teeth grinding & having some dental issues? ... It only went downhill from there.

I woke up last Tuesday at 2am in so much pain, I was in tears & seriously contemplated getting a hammer & taking matters in my own hands. I wish I was joking.   It was that bad.

I got in with the dentist on Wednesday, & they told me that I did indeed crack the top tooth & my bottom tooth that has already had a root canal, apparently had infection in it & needed ANOTHER root canal.  Because this is my life.  

And then they promptly walked me to the door & said bye....so recap - I left just in the same state that I went there - in total & utter pain.   Thanks for your help dentist!

I couldnt get an appointment with my endodontist until Monday (yesterday).... you talk about a miserable weekend. There's something about dental pain that just grades on your nerves.  It felt like my jaw had been punched only about 125 times.  & I couldnt chew food because the bottom tooth was infected - & it hits the cracked tooth above.  Only a perfect combination for not being able to chew.  My diet now consists of pudding, soup, mashed potatoes & yogurt.  

I honestly dont mind root canals.  I fall asleep in them - no joke.  

What I DO hate is the expensive of root canals... & the healing from it.  Sitting in a chair for 2 hours with your mouth open isn't a ton of fun either.  

That's where I was at bright & early at 8am on Monday.  Well, with Daylight Savings - 8am aint bright right now. - but at least I got the retreatment.  So that makes me having 12 root canals in total.  Because I've had 2 other root canals on already root canaled teeth.  How that happens just blows my mind & lets me feel like I've got a gray dental cloud hanging over my head.  I blame my dental genes. Both of my parents had such bad teeth too so I didnt stand a chance even when I do all the things right.

What's frustrating to me is I would HATE to think of the money in my mouth.  I will have to buy another new crown for this tooth that just got treated - & plus the crown on the top tooth.  That will make 12 crowns . I'll let you sit & figure the math on that.

... & I STILL have ugly teeth - that's the booger of it all.

All I can say is its good timing for that stimulus package.  That covers one corner of one of my crowns anyways.

I am not able to get into the dentist to start the work on the crowns for another few weeks.  In the meanwhile, I hope the rest of the antibiotics help take care of some of the pain & that will give me some time for my jaw & tooth to heal up from this retreatment.

At least for taking a day off work, the root canal appointment was early enough that I could just lay around in the afternoon.  It was so chilly & rainy - so I got my blanket, laid in front of the heater & watched some movies while my face was still numb.  I had stopped at Chick-Fil-A & got some mac & cheese for lunch too figuring that it would be easy to eat on my mouth, plus we all know their food just blesses you anyways - right?

& if you want to know what I did all weekend - with the pain I was in, just stayed in bed or the couch & tried not to talk, which I think the Hubby enjoyed the break.  I think the bed & couch has adopted me as its own over the past 4 weeks.

My dogs have enjoyed me being down for the count lately though....

The best nurse around

So I definitely had the Mondayest Monday ... but hoping - once again - that it's going to get better from here.  

Crossing all the fingers.

How was your weekend?

Did you survive Daylight Savings?

Do you have any dental pain tricks?

Friday Favorites

 

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Favorite Sandals

Bring on the SANDALS!!!!!

These are in a ton of colors too!!!

Favorite House Help

Because this could be a game changer.  I have a plug on the side of my bed but want to get things on each side of the bed plugged up - this would be perfect.

Favorite Lock

Because I hate keys

Favorite Tee

Favorite Fridge Help

I wonder how this works. I'd be scared to death it would fall & break in the fridge - 

but its supposed to hold 3 x's the weight on each one of those little magnets.

Hubby loves drinking root bears & bottle drinks that have real sugar in them - so we constantly have bottles pushed around the fridge. I may have to try this out.

Favorite Scrunchie

OK... so I probably wouldnt put lip balm in it if its around my hair - but to put some cash in it - that's genius. That' would be perfect to wear like running a race & you want to keep some cash on you - or even a day out & you dont want to carry a lot.

Favorite Shorts

French Terry Sweatshorts... because I need more work from home clothes for the warmer days - LOL

But really - I love some shorts to wear around the house that are just comfy -a ton of sizes & a few colors in these too!

Favorite Funnies

... me watching American's Top Model on Netflix for no reason

... the one thing my momma put as the number 1 Rule in our home growing up

... me at 4:30 pm today

Happy Weekend Y'all!!!