I feel like life is an endless circle.          I just went a got groceries ( realistically like a week ago or so) And guess what? I had to go get groceries today.         Where in the hell do they all go?!         My fridge is eating them, you can’t convince me otherwise.        On the plus side, I found out today that i’m getting another nephew! That’s super exciting! I obviously had to make a detour to the craft store for something to create something fun! And then my ovaries lately have been exploding in the baby section of any store.         I am in the height of my baby booming years, but alas, I was told 10 years ago that the likelihood of me having a viable pregnancy was slim to none. Still a devastating blow. But not giving up on that possibility!         Anyway, I am off to do some creating in the office! My heart n...

     Alright, I accomplished the impossible.         I got Chicago Bulls tickets for my nephew.      I got Detroit lions tickets for my two brother in laws and 2 nephews.         Managed to get them at a semi-reasonable price.       I ’m literally 5 people away from being done now.         Out of 21 humans. To say i’m excited is an understatement!!!        This is all I have left to give today!         Also, I finally got my new iphone 13 pro max and got it activated. So that’s dope! It's been a whole process getting it and the phone company doing what they said they'd do. That's a story for another day!         Anyway! Happy Monday!   XOXO 

    STRESS: IS TRYING TO FIND GOOD DEALS ON NBA AND NFL TICKETS FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR YOUR NEPHEWS.         ANXIETY IS WAITING FOR THE, “BETTER” DEAL BUT HAVING SERIOUS FOMO ON THE OTHER DEAL.         OVERWHELMED IS SHUTTING THE COMPUTER WHEN YOU’VE HAD ENOUGH.         EXHAUSTED IS WHEN YOU’VE HAD AN ENTIRE DAY WITHIN A DAY AND YOU’RE ABSOLUTEY FRIED.         GIVING UP IS WHEN YOU LAY DOWN IN THE FETAL POSITON AND WATCH HALLMARK MOVIES UNTIL YOU PASS OUT.         That was literally my whole day.       I’m done now! See you all tomorrow when my brain isn't so mushy.   XOXO 

     Game night with my sister and brother in law tonight!          I’ve talked about it before, but I freakin’ love game night! We get together, have great food, play tons and tons of board games, card, games, digital games, and games that make us laugh endlessly!         Getting together with your family can be an extremely challenging task, different schedules, kids in multiple sports etc and life in general! Especially because life is so dreary and sad as of late!         We have different groups of people:   The mad for no reason group.  The vulgar for no reason group.  The people still complaining about the president group. The blaming the other side and vise verse group. The obvious Karen’s group.      And        6. The everything in between group.        It seems that people will get offended over just about anything nowa...

Black Friday: Do you participate? Online? In person?        As a tradition, my family has gone shopping on Friday. We never go for anything specific, it ’s just been a fun thing to do over the years.          This year, black Friday was lame. But my two sisters, my mom and I went anyway! We shopped virtually all day and made it a girls day!         I spent way too much money, shopped Christmas for all 20 of my immediate family members (we’re a whole tribe!)      But; I had a great time and shared many laughs!          Those types of moments are priceless!         Anyway, I hope you all had a beautiful and thankful holiday weekend!    XOXO 

     🍁 Happy Thanksgiving, friends!🍁       I hope you've all had beyond blessed days!       I spent the entire day with my family eating way too much food, sharing tons of laughs and just being present in the moment.       I have learned over the last year that showing gratitude and being thankful is crucial for my mental heath and overall well-being. It helps keep the negative thoughts at bay and keeps my anxiety in check. because I have so much to be thankful for!       This is the only picture I got all day, because I wasn't on my phone for most of the day! 

     CHRISTMAS SEASON IS SO FUCKING STRESSFUL!          Here’s the advice I am going to get right out there are just say, because there is NO need to beat around the bush...whack that fucking bush early on and call it a day.        Advice: HAVE THE CHRISTMAS YOU CAN AFFORD.         Going into debt for a holiday that actually has nothing to do with presents is absolutely asinine.         I can guarantee you that nobody needs that big ticket item more than you need heat this winter.         Nobody needs that big ticket item more than you need electricity or water. And there is certainly nothing that anybody needs more than you need food on your table every single day.        If the people you’re buying for truly love you, they won’t care if you spent 10$ or 100$ they’ll just feel loved and appreciated that you took the time, money and e...

     Sorry guys, i ’ll be getting back to regular content soon!         Whatever I have is taking a lot out of me (No, it’s not covid, I was tested!)        I have taking into consideration that seasonal depression is here and I could just be fighting that. That’s nothing physical, it’s mental. So I am working through all of that as well!         I’ve just been increasingly tired lately and not feeling the greatest when I eat, so i’m working on getting through all of that!         But nonetheless, I keep trudging forward! I have learned to rest, not give up! Which has been the biggest lesson I’ve learned this year! Resting isn’t quitting! It’s simply self care!       I hope your week is going swimmingly! Also it's almost turkey day! What are your plans?   XOXO 

     I ’m not feeling the greatest today.         I’m extremely fatigued, have a headache and an upset stomach.         I slept alright, but still feel like I could sleep for hours.         If it’s not any better within the next couple of days I’m off to see the dreaded doctor. I am not one to go in unless I think I’m actually dying so, if I don’t feel like complete death in a few days, I’m just going to stick it out.        It’s who I am by nature.         I know it’s not a good quality, but when health-care is un-affordable and unattainable for the middle and lower class...what’s a girl to do?!        I’ve advocated for myself a lot over the years and I never win. I always get stuck with a huge bill and no answers. You get sick of that after awhile and I definitely don’t like taking the pills they’re always trying to hawk. Like, HEL...

     My body told me to spend the entire day in bed, eating good food and relaxing!      My body also told me that something feels off. I don’t know exactly what is off quite yet, but now I know that I have to lookout for something! I’ll lean in a little closer and listen to my body a little more intently.         Today was pretty uneventful other than my sister and brother in law called me to ask me questions about their English assignments. They’re both struggling and I am happy that the both felt comfortable enough to call me and ask for help.         That is pretty much the extent of me using my brain today and it has been wonderful!         Now, i’m sitting in bed listening to the rain and wind whip! The temperature is due to drop and it’s supposed to turn into snow. So that’s greatttt! Love this season so very much! Nottttt!           Anyway, I am ...

     I had to go back to town yesterday because the internet failed me! Bath and Body Works had their annual 2.95 soap deal and I get the limit, which is 20! Those babies last me the entire year!      This means that  I don ’t have to buy hand-soap for 12 whole months and it only costs 63$ to stock up? DONE! A one time purchase that lasts the entire year? Sign. Me. Up. I realize that everything I just said means the same thing, but I don't care! I am all about low effort.         I love low effort things! Like shopping once a year for things.         So I guess it was worth that extra effort trip!        I also went to the storage unit and got all my Christmas decor so I can start getting all of that up! We already organized the living room so it’s ready for all the decorations! Now I just have to find the energy!         I have been feeling particularly drai...

Got Thanksgiving groceries!   Created my new recipe for my dessert!   Created the roll recipe!        I feel super ready for the holiday! I’m excited for this year, more so than last to be honest! Not sure why!         Tomorrow, I am decorating for Christmas and am feeling really festive as of late, so that’s also nice!         It’s been slow going getting myself back to normal again! It’s like I was saying yesterday, it’s a forever struggle. The goal is to just not give up on myself like I did before.         It’s been a year and a half since my weight loss and mental health journey started and I’ve been close to giving up. But haven’t. That’s real progress in my book. The old me wouldn’t have held on this long!         For some, that may seem like such a small accomplishment, but to me; it’s everything!         If you’ve never ...

     It ’s my weekend and officially time to decorate for the holidays!          Today was a full force work day and I got a custom Christmas present done that took me around 12 hours to complete!         Tomorrow is another small grocery order, picking up the decorations from the storage unit and then doing nothing the rest of the day!         Saturday and Sunday however, will be full force cleaning and decorating! Tis’ the season, baby!        I can’t help but be in love with this season! The lights, the ornaments, the stories behind peoples ornaments, the sentiment in my own! The way the air literally shifts, it’s magic.         Most people only have complaints when it comes to the winter months. And don’t get me wrong, I too partake in the complaining when I feel inconvenienced by the weather. But I can’t help but feel completely smitten with how mag...

     Once I get my house whipped back into shape, it ’s definitely time to decorate for Christmas! I feel it in my bones. It was time to decorate weeks ago, but I procrastinated, which is very unusual for me, when it comes to getting festive anyway.         I think I procrastinated because my heart just feels...tired.         I am so tired of ugly. I don’t mean looks, I mean people, their souls, their attitude, their whole demeanor.         They unnecessary anger, hate and ugliness of the world.         So I made a list of things i’m not going to apologize for anymore:   My love for emojis. I use them A LOT! Sorry not sorry!  👋😆💖😂😎🙌 Giving advice. You can listen and reciprocate or you can completely ignore me, the choice is always yours.   Keeping to myself. Self care is sometimes, keeping a real low profile. That’s me!   Not sharing every little d...

     All right. Today was apparently the day for frustrating me to no end.          It’s time to upgrade my phone. I am completely out of space and can’t download anymore music which to me, is the saddest thing, ever on the planet.         In addition, I can’t even have a single picture on my phone. What in the absolute f*** SO ANNOYING!         Anyway, Verizon’s website was glitching and put in an unauthorized order with the wrong address and information in it....        Had that cancelled after waiting 40 minutes on the phone.         Then had to call again because their site wouldn’t let me place an order, said I didn’t have phones to trade in. Which is a hot lie since I have to free and clear paid off iphones on my account and it was a whole mess.         Spent the next FIVE HOURS....FIVE HOURS on the phone with their custome...

     The day after vacation is so freakin' stressful.  You have to  go grocery shopping, because you simply just have nothing!  A nd then there’s unpacking, finding homes for unused things and doing LAUNDRY.  W hich is the worst out of every single thing I could ever think of.  I hate loads of vacation laundry, it’s disgusting and there seems to be a never ending load of it!         G rocery shopping was awful.  W e got all the way to town (30 minute drive) in a blizzard... I left 80 degree weather and came home to a blizzard...strike 1!        S trike 2 was when we forgot to put our wallets back into our bags, replace all of the cards and whatnot and getting all the way to the grocery store just to have to turn around, drive home (another 30 minutes) and go back again.        I n a worse blizzard than before...  I t was a no exception situation because the need for groceri...

  This past week reflection: 1. How blessed I am to have taken this incredible trip! 2. We walked 80+ miles! (Around 12 everyday!) the girl in that before picture wouldn’t have been able to do that. she wouldn’t have even tried in fact!      I’m so beyond grateful for my new, revived outlook on life! I went on what most would call a diet. I called it a lifestyle change. I changed my relationship with food and a whole new world opened up to me! After that, my mindset changed and everything else fell into place.      The last 8 days were absolutely nothing short of magical! (These pictures were taken in the exact same spot on platform 9 3/4 on the Hogwarts Express!)

Here are some of our last full day money shots! We're so, SO blessed to have had such an amazing trip! even though the weather wasn't always perfect, the trip itself was!  I hope you've enjoyed my photo dumps! I look forward to getting back to my regularly scheduled posts and planning my next great adventure!  XOXO  

      There are so many more! But, I'd be here until next year posting them all!  XOXO 

 

Butterbeer ice cream! Freakin' DELISH!      We consumed our fair share of butterbeer on this trip! If you haven't experienced it yourself, it's a MUST try!  XOXO   

       They started decorating for Christmas while we were there! We also didn't hesitate to consume all the sweets! Vacay calories don't count! *Insert heavy eye rolls here!* XOXO 

           CROWDED! I didn't get many pictures because it was absolutely bananas this day! These were the only shots I got!  XOXO

    We had  a later flight so when we flew in it was dark so we took time to explore the hotel and then get some dinner! Our hotel was absolutely gorgeous! Nothing too crazy to report!  XOXO   

 🛫 🛫 🛫 🛫 🛫 🛫 🛫 🛫 🛫 🛫 🛫 🛫 🛫 IT'S TAKE OFF DAY BABYY!!!      We finally made it! I'll update you guys with pictures once we get through security and everything and once we get to the resort! I'll definitely be showing y'all the journey!  Pray for safe travels and a great trip and that I haven't forgotten anything! Because it's ME we're talking about!  XOXO    

    Alright! We’ve got the rest of our goods that we needed and now we just have to confirm a few things:   Drivers license? Masks?  Tickets for breakfast and Shutterbuttons? Sunblock? Lotion? Underwear? Jacket/hoodie? Checked in for flights? MAJOR! APPLE MUSIC AND HEADPHONES        All the things! I feel panicked even though I know that I’ve pretty much covered my bases!         That’s all apart of the anxiety! But I am SO ready for adventure!         I can’t wait to show you all the journey!         Stay tuned, friends!    OXOX