Things I'm loving lately

1. Disposal Genie.

We got a new garbage disposal and the baffle was getting really gross. Food scraps kept getting caught in it and there was this slime that developed around the seal and who has time to scrub it out all the time?? This thing is awesome. No food gets caught in it, and nothing smells. I'm getting everyone one of these for Christmas.

2. Kettle cooked salt and pepper chips. 

I know I have a chip problem, but oh, man these are good. Crunchy, flavorful, perfect. I can eat an entire bag in one sitting. Which is, ultimately, a very bad thing.

3. Scrunchies. They're back in style. They don't damage my already super fine hair. They're 3 for a dollar at Dollar Tree. I like the skinny ones that don't have so much poof. 

4. Omega 3 and digestive enzymes. I have been taking both for a while now and they seem to be making a difference in how my belly feels on a daily basis. The Omega 3s were recommended by my eye doctor and as an added bonus they seem to help with my belly inflammation. Yay! I'm going to ride this happy belly wave for as long as it will let me.

5. On a whim, I grabbed one of those tiny little Native Deodorant trial sizes at target. I love their sample section. I've struggled with armpit odor for as long as I can remember, to the point where I frequently layer on 3 different products. It's not that I sweat a lot, but when I DO sweat, even a little bit, it smells really bad. The problem is, even 3 layers deep I still stink, and scrubbing off 3 layers of antiperspirant at the end of the day is a task that often leaves my poor pits feeling... irritated. So a few days ago, I quit cold turkey. And what do you know... I actually smell pretty neutral. I don't love the smell of the deodorant itself but by midday it wears off and at the end of the day, I don't stink. It's REMARKABLE. Going to keep using it and maybe try the unscented kind.

Ok so there you have it. Kitchen stuff, snacks, belly calming agents, and natural deodorant. A well-rounded post. Have a nice night. 

bliss

Today, at approximately 5:30 pm, I looked at FG and said, "There's no one else I'd rather be cranky with in Home Depot."
Which lightened the mood considerably. 

That's the kind of day we had. But really, it was actually pretty good. This weekend was exactly what I wanted it to be. After last weekend's badass trip to Vegas (literally the funnest time I've had in a LONG time... my entire family in Vegas, my little brother getting married, I won $400 on a penny slot, it was just SO FUN), I needed a mellow weekend.

So we slept in, hung around the house, and crossed a bunch of stuff off of our to-do lists. I made watermelon slushies and we set up the pool and stripped to take a dip when it got too hot.

We also took a quick drive through the country to drop off an impromptu gift of an outdoor rug. FG decided that Ash & Collin needed one for their new camper so we crashed their first family vacation in that new camper. It derailed my plans to try out a local wine bar but honestly I think I enjoyed sitting at that picnic table gossiping about dramatic moms in my moomoo more than I would have enjoyed an overpriced glass of wine.

When we got home that night, a broken bottle of wine AND some dog pee had to be cleaned up in the game room, which slopes so both of those things ran downhill for a longer distance than we'd prefer to clean up. Of course this happened AFTER I had mopped and while we were both starving. Fun times.

In conclusion, the shower no longer drips, we upgraded and streamlined the door locks, the floors got cleaned, the roses got pruned, and a bunch of other stuff got crossed off the lists. And I'm happy.

Now I know how to fix a dripping shower. Also I'm ready to plan another trip. I've always wanted to go to Vermont when the leaves change...

life in small chunks

Have the house to myself tonight. For the first time since February.

My original plan was to grab a friend and get a glass of wine at this cute little wine bar in Richmond that has music.

But I had a terrible headache all day, and while I was in the shower the power went out. I tried not to think creepy thoughts, but how can you not think about killers coming to get you when you're home alone and the power goes out during your shower?? A big storm blew through so Pumpkin and I sat on the back porch watching it for about an hour until the power came back on.

By then I was tired and headachey and hungry and I never actually called a friend to go out so I ate leftovers and made brownies and drank some wine and watched Friends.

You know, it's basically what I used to do back when I lived by myself. And what I'd probably be doing if FG was home except we'd be watching netflix instead of Friends.

We got in this rut where we don't go out or do anything and I'm trying to mix it up a bit. Like see a movie on a Tuesday, or start working out twice a week, or have date nights on Fridays. I miss traveling for work. I miss doing things. I'm very, very over sitting around the house.

Other small updates:

We decided to postpone getting a gym membership, because if we're going to start having to wear masks again, we won't be going to the gym. Still doing daily pushups, though. I'm back up to 15 at a time.

I decided the porch should have a pool house vibe. I chose a color scheme of turquoise and yellow, painted a few things, and it currently holds pool toys, towels, sunscreen, etc. It looks really cute, especially considering that we started with a dark, smelly gross room, and now it is clean and has a purpose so I'm happy about that. We got a blow-up pool for the backyard and although it's a temporary solution, I'm digging it. It's very nice to sit in and have a cocktail at the end of the day or after getting hot and sweaty doing yardwork.

The garden is so sad right now. Hardly anything is making it through this heat. Also I don't think zucchini like to be in pots. Learning some lessons here.

We went to visit Missy and Zach last weekend. Man, I miss her. There were several times where I almost said, "Let's have coffee next week" or, "Next time we go to the beach you should join us" before I remembered they live 4 hours away. 

FG's dad will be visiting for a week. He has some health issues and needs assistance with things like taking showers and walking and taking insulin. I won't be helping with the showers but I will have to wear pants around the house. Fortunately he's not a cranky old man and is pleasant to be around. He doesn't say much because he requires oxygen and gets winded easily, but when he does talk he's pretty funny and agreeable. I'm actually looking forward to getting to know him a little better.

I FINALLY figured out the perfect pancake temperature on the stovetop. Cooking on electric after being spoiled by a gas stovetop has been a challenge, and this has been a major hurdle. I think I can finally live in this house now.

You know how I bitch a lot about how the worst part of living with a dude is the pee dribbles on the toilet rim? Well, I went to go clean the toilet the other day and it was... clean. Come to find out, he has been wiping off the rim of the toilet every single time he pees. Can you believe that? Can you?

belly rescind and eyes and... marriage

The day after I posted about how great my belly has been, I've had a bunch of days of random flares. Sigh.

~

I went to the eye doctor and after looking at my eyes, she was like, "They're hella dry." And yes, after Lasik, they're a little dry, but I've been dealing with it.

She gave me some drops that have oil in them (and they are NICE), some allergy drops, some hippie omega 3 pills, and instructions to lay with a warm compress on my eyes for 15 minutes each day so they'll loosen up some glands or something. She made me promise to follow her instructions because I guess chronic dry eyes are not a good thing... and you only get 1 set so you gotta take care of them.

~

Y'all. Luke. Getting married. I knew it would happen quickly once he met the right person because that's the way he is. I'm so happy for him. 

If we're being honest, I struggled for a while with my opinions about marriage. You know... after mine fell apart while I desperately held on. I remember the first wedding I went to after I knew mine was doomed. I cried during the vows, but not for the right reasons. Because I know that feeling. The feeling of pledging the rest of your life with someone and how awesome it feels and how much you really, truly believe those vows. ...And then life happens. And for me life was kind of a bitch.

But after healing from that trauma, I still cry at weddings, but now for the right reasons. I've decided that marriage is still wonderful. At the end of the day, I choose to remember the advice that a friend gave me a long time ago, "If there is any chance that you will be happy, go for it."

The thing is, no one knows what's going to happen. Sometimes marriages last for a lifetime, sometimes they're a shitshow, and sometimes they're something in-between. And there's no way to predict which one it will be. And I'm always happy to celebrate my friends and family going for it. So cheers to Luke and Faith!

state of the belly

Tonight I had a cupcake and it didn't hurt my stomach. This is significant.

I think after many, many years of struggling and feelin so sick, I finally have a handle on things. Well, most days. Some days the belly hurts and I can't figure out why, but bellies are weird sometimes. But being able to eat a cupcake and not pay for it afterwards is huge in my book.

The official list of foods I avoid to achieve belly harmony is:
gluten (duh)
dairy
oats, bacon, peppers & tomatoes (I like them but they do NOT like me back)

A few other foods that seem to help:
kombucha, specifically flavors containing ginger
sauerkraut- a forkful with breakfast seems to make things happy
prunes, 2 with my coffee every morning
these herbal supplements, with coffee every morning just to get a good start, and sometimes as needed if the belly is cranky
raw carrots. It's weird, but if I can't stomach anything else, carrots will sit well.

Adding almond milk to my coffee every morning has made a huge difference (dude apparently coffee is brutal on my stomach), and overall things are so much better. 

I'm so happy I've been able to identify and eliminate the foods that have been making me feel so crappy, and add in foods that make me feel better.

breather

Sittin' on the couch. Drinking some wine. 

Took a break from reading a book that made me have dreams that I murdered a friend last night. Very disturbing. The book isn't that graphic, but damn my subconscious grabbed ahold and ran with it.

We picked up sushi at the grocery store for a very low-maintenance dinner. I forget how surprisingly good it is. Managed to spend almost $300 on groceries and we are leaving for vacation in 4 days. Mom had a dream that said to stock up on food, so now we have lots of beans. Plus meat was on sale so we bought extra, and we bought the biggest damn package of paper towels. Our grocery bill has been ridiculous. Things add up quickly.

This week is mellow. I made a bunch of appointments (tb test, dermatologist, car window tint, dog grooming) and plan to cross a bunch of things (like get my crappy car washed) off my to-do list.

Been paying attention to what I'm eating and recording it in an app. Turns out, I don't get nearly enough protein, potassium, calcium, or iron. Kind of important things. Going to try and get a better balance.

Also we're going to get a gym membership. Bit of a story behind that, but the bottom line is I want to get stronger and FG wants to get fitter and if we're shelling out money, we might actually be motivated to do it. My history with gym memberships is inconsistent at best, so I'm not super optimistic, but I -am- feeling slightly more motivated than I have in a long time.

Overall, life is chill right now. Kind of settled into a groove and it hasn't gotten mundane yet. I'm appreciating the breather because you know how things go.

happy thursday

Currently eating an enchilada Amy's meal (with added veggies, of course), drinking some wine, sitting in a newly remodeled hotel room and feelin' fine.

Got sent out of town today to a little hospital for a super easy task. It was a beautiful day for a drive. I am looking forward to visiting the small-town walmart on my way home tomorrow, happy to be traveling for work again, and loving small returns to normalcy, like getting a pedicure sans mask. Seriously, hardly anyone in this town wears a mask and I'm here for it.

I went to the local grocery store and found gf donuts for half off, so breakfast (and probably dessert tonight) will be extra yummy.

Operation, "take over FG's house" has stalled. I got tired of working on the house non-stop and took a break, planted a bunch of flowers in the front, and now I'm feeling motivated again. There are little things here and there that need attention, but the main areas where I need to focus are the porch and the yoga room. 

The yoga room just needs art and organization. The porch is a hard one. I'm not sure what purpose it will serve, what furniture it needs, and what color scheme/theme to go with.
I kinda want to have fun with it without being tacky, and I'm stuck. I kinda want it to have a sunroom vibe but it doesn't actually get much light. I kinda want it to be a bar but the liquor is at home better in the game room. I have so much decision paralysis! It has been sitting empty except for the purple velvet chair and I need to figure something out.

In the meantime maybe pinterest will help me out.