What's Up Wednesday: June 2023
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Hello again, dear friends. SURPRISE! I’m sharing a blog post!! I want to say WELCOME to those who have signed up for my blog during my two year absence. I was and am grateful for that little spark of joy it brought me to see that something I wrote and shared was appealing to you to make you want to see more! I have been so pleased by Google Analytics each month to see that older posts of mine are still being looked at and I haven’t quite let the spark fade for my blog just yet. I hope to get back to writing and sharing blog posts - only going forward I don’t think I’ll work so hard on the social media aspect. My heart just isn’t and wasn’t ever into that. Here and there I’ll share a photo on social media perhaps…but my blog will remain a little treasure to be found by word of mouth. THANK YOU!
So…it has officially been TWO full years since I last wrote a blog post and a whole bunch of life things have happened since I was able to spend the time to write. Life hasn’t been exceptionally kind over the past two years and I will spare everyone the details, however I will say that it has been a gut wrenching struggle at times. We lost family members who passed: my Granny, Great-Aunt Veila, and my step-mom Marie in 2021. Then at the end of 2022 my dad became ill and succumbed quickly to a very aggressive cancer. We are still in complete shock by his passing and the events that transpired in the one month time frame that we found out he had cancer. My world and heart will never be the same.
On a positive note - we are about to celebrate my Mammaw’s 98th birthday in Knoxville next weekend. I am excited to see her and all of my family that lives there as well. 🤍
Isn’t she beautiful??
OK! Since I randomly thought that I would write a blog post as I sit here with my pups while some workers are cranking away installing a fireplace mantle downstairs - it seems appropriate to catch you all up by utilizing my good ol’ “What’s Up Wednesday” post that occurs on the last Wednesday of the month. It is a little summary of what has been happening over the past month. I’m a little late to sharing, but bare with me… =)
I am linking up to share my monthly recap of June and basically all of 2023.
What we're eating this week:
So far this year I haven’t had it in my heart to cook…like, at all. I have been a mess between grieving AND we purchased a home in January that we’ve renovated AND we’ve since moved in May while more renovations have been occurring. It’s been a wild, busy, and tiring ride to say the least! I am eager and ready to get back to cooking and plan to by August if not sooner. So stay tuned as I will share recipes in the near future (even if they’re not my own!).
For now we’ve been eating out every day at our favorite spots around town and I’ve occasionally picked up some MyFitFoods meals to have on hand. Thankfully the hubs loves to eat out and doesn’t particularly love my healthier cooking style so he hasn’t complained once. ;)
What I'm reminiscing about:
Life.
Quite literally, my mind races to a million little things! Like: summer trips to Colorado, Knoxville trips to visit family, the time of life before my family moved to Tennessee, my career life before marriage and the amazing women I met through those jobs and have stayed in touch with, my dad’s voice and hugs, my 5am work outs with friends back in the day, dancing to a live 90’s band at a Derby party in NJ, or dancing in the cold rain with friends at the Lord Huron concert in May…
Life is just moving so fast!
The hubs and I also went to Cancun and Sundance, UT in February. We went to Phoenix in April. I ventured to New Braunfels with my cousin in April as well (she refused to take a photo!).
What I'm loving:
I am LOVING anything that can keep me cool. Houston (Texas in general) has been having an abnormal and intense heat wave for the past 2-3 weeks. Don’t get me wrong…it’s always hot during the summer here. However, this has been abnormally hot with temperatures into 100+ with extra humidity. This is not normal for June.
I have been wearing a lot of moisture wicking work out clothes both because I exercise and because I am working my tail off around the house cleaning and unpacking, etc. as well as taking the pups outside all day long. I’ve re-embraced the low bun hairstyle which was my go-to as a teenager into adulthood because I didn’t know how to style my hair! And I am fully utilizing all of the fans possible. =)
*Photo below: I absolutely love and swear by Old Navy’s activewear line “Powersoft”. I have at least 20 pairs of their leggings and skorts, as well as umpteen activewear tops. The line is super soft and moisture wicking. I prefer the “extra high waist” leggings both in cropped and 7/8th length. I hang dry my work out clothes, but the few times I’ve dried them in the dryer they did not shrink. I literally wear them every day.
I’ve recently ventured to Wal-Mart for a few essentials and found myself looking at running/athletic shorts. It has ben SOOOO hot here that I’ve actually embraced wearing shorts even without my faux tan on. I decided to try these two inexpensive pairs.
These run a little big around the waist.
These fit great!
What we've been up to:
Home renovations, moving, unpacking, organizing, and cleaning!
I am more and more grateful for our new home. We purchased a home in January that the hubs absolutely loved, but it was a terrible time for me to consider renovating a home. However, as he so graciously put it over and over to me, this is a home that I have been able to design with the renovations. So while the past months have been overwhelming and difficult with all of the decisions to be made, I am also appreciative that this home is truly my taste. We moved in late May and while we’re still wrapping up some renovations, we are almost completely finished.
MOVING DAY!
All of that to say - I am also thrilled to have moved and somewhat oddly sad about our last home. It was beautiful and I loved it from the moment I first asked the hubs to go see it. It was a lovely home in every way, but the two years we spent there were not so lovely and while nothing negative happened because of the house itself, we were just ready to close the chapter of bad memories associated with living there.
Soon I will share the before and after and all of the renovations along with details on what we purchased in case any of it catches your eye. I also plan to share details of our last home as well, as she deserves her moment too.;)
What I'm dreading:
The rest of summer’s weather in Houston. *This is from last post in 2021 and it still applies!
What I'm working on:
Currently I am working on a few things!
Finalizing home decorating like hanging paintings, etc. but once the rest of the new windows are installed I’ll still have to order window treatments.
Myself: I am determined to get into a regular schedule/routine this year and put myself first as I am healing from the trauma of the past two years, continue to make exercise a priority, make my Bible time a priority, perhaps get back into blogging to share my thoughts. =)
Planning future travel. After the last two years I have realized that life is fleeting and I had to put everyone/everything before myself. I am eager to travel and explore again. Plus, the hubs has been aching for a trip as well. We didn’t get to do a lot of the things we wanted to do given what life presented so we’re planning to plan as soon as this home renovation is complete!
What I'm excited about:
The hubs and I are headed to Knoxville next week and then to Aspen right after that. I am excited to see and hug my family AND I am excited to travel to my favorite little town to escape the heat, eat at all the great restaurants, and meander around the beautiful scenery.
I’m definitely excited about the fireplace mantel being installed as I’m typing this as well. Once that is complete we will only have a few more things remaining before the house is FINISHED. Hallelujah.
What I'm watching/reading:
Watching: Currently I have my usual Hallmark on the TV to drown out the workers downstairs. I truly never sit down to actually watch it, but I enjoy having it on as it’s easy and light hearted and I always know the story line regardless of the movie. ;)
Reading: Oh my! I have read so many books since I last shared a blog post. I updated the “Books” page on my site so you can go there to scope out any and all of the self help books I have added. You can click this link or scroll to the top of the page and click on “Books”.
As many of you know I toggle between self help books and rom-com type of books (think Hallmark style). I read while I run on the treadmill and it keeps my mind occupied. Currently I am reading:
I am totally enjoying this book and the writer’s style so will certainly check out more books by Belle Calhoune!
I recently read this one below and struggled with the writer’s poor grammar, punctuation, and spelling but all in all if you can ignore that it was a cute story based in my favorite little town. (Note* I do not plan to read any additional books by this author because of the issues noted above.)
During the past two years I really enjoyed several different series by Catherine Bybee. Highly recommend: the Mose Likely To series, the Not Quite series, and the First Wives series. SO GOOD!
My last two recent self help books (of many) were:
And if you’ve ever grieved the loss of someone you loved or had thoughts about Heaven, these two books have kept my sanity in tact since my dad passed away. I know Heaven is real. But, in times of intense and immense loss - it is great to have a solid reminder. These helped reassure my heart and mind.
What I'm listening to:
Currently: whatever show is on Hallmark and lately a whole lot of Lord Huron. I just love that band!
What I'm wearing:
Eeks. I have not been focused on taking any photos of my outfits for a while now - totally out of the blogging zone! I did upload some photos to my LiketoKnow.It page a month or so ago so you can scope out some items there.
My recent FAVORITES that I get compliments on every time I wear them (which is ALOT right now to be comfortable in the heat so if you see me in these on repeat just mind your business! ;)):
1) These pull on cropped pants are breezy and comfortable and run true to size. I LOVE LOVE LOVE them.
2) These pull on shorts are comfortable and cute, but run a little large to me. (I cropped out my God-Daughter because she’s in a swimsuit and I do not think it’s appropriate to post that on the web!)
3) Other comfy finds I’ve worn recently in this heat! I like these patterns because it hides wrinkles and I don’t have to worry much about steaming them.
If you have any questions about anything else you see, you can either search the blog site using the search feature at the top right of the screen OR look at it on LiketoKnow.It OR email me. =)
What I'm doing this weekend:
This weekend we will be working around the house as expected with the lingering projects. We are also going to brunch with family and then celebrating Loretta’s birthday (that was on June 16th). She will have a mermaid themed birthday this year!
What I'm looking forward to next month:
I’m looking forward to our trips, Christmas in July, and potentially having our extended family over in August for Luigi’s birthday / a housewarming gathering.
What else is new:
That’s about it for now I think! Hopefully I’ll be back on here soon to share more ideas and potentially what we’re cooking if* we’re cooking again. =)
How have you been? Anything fun coming up this summer for you? Comment below!
XOXO
