Tag Archives: Reading

Freaky Fast Friday

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Did you feel that???  It was the week whizzing by…and I’m not complaining because FRIDAY!!!  But man.  Fast.

Joining in with Jen, the author and her 7 Quick Takes for Friday….and the fact it’s another day of my month-long blog fest here…so be sure to swing by and peruse the breakdown of the week!

  1. My current read is Something other than God, #SOTG, and it’s fascinating.  I’m always intrigued by conversion stories and how and why people convert.  I always learn something, find new books and excitement for my faith.  Plus I’m inwardly cheering, “Yes, read more, learn, go, go, go!!!”
  2. The weather has been fantastico here.  Pretty much been eating outside every night, enjoying the breeze and the new outside table.  Soaking it in.AIUJWApHFIfASxdqihpuScrCA3NzuaY9qs69bENd_as
  3. Still laptop-less here.  Hubs has offered to let me borrow his, but so far I’ve just been using the desktop.  It’s not terrible, but it’s not super conducive to my early morning coffee, daily readings and chill time.  I’ll live.  First world problems and all.
  4. Swimming is going…well, swimmingly.  2 weeks in a row here.  I’ve been doing about 500 yards(?) on my lunch hour twice a week.  Super awesome way to spend the hour during the sunny afternoon and a fabulous bonus to get outside.  I’ve been working on my technique, breathing and just loving it.  The only downside….I only have an hour.  Hoping to get a day in on the weekend where I’m not working the clock but, yes!!!  Loving it!10175304_284124428413604_1528616231_n
  5. We have supper club this coming weekend.  We used to do this in our old city and it was a great time.  Getting older just really makes it harder to make friends.  So many obligations and responsibilities tugging at us that there is precious little time to foster new friendships.  AND..sometimes when we have time to spend together as a couple, I just want to be a couple and catch up.  Tricky.  So, we started this supper club as a way to build new friendships and this is month 2.  Slowly adding more couples, but it was a nice night out and I am looking forward to it.  Takes time.  Takes time.
  6. Speaking of couple time…we are renewing our wedding vows next month.  Our church does it during Mass.  We have a giant church.  So, I am working on getting over my anxiety of getting up in front of a bajillion people (the number grows in my head) and not crying or busting out in my nervous giggle that I do when I’m really nervous or stressed.  (think funerals or getting in trouble….any inappropriate time…)  We’ve invited friends and family and hoping a few will show, but mainly it is for us and celebrating these 20 years, because oh my.  WOW.  Nothing I could have ever imagined and can’t wait to see what the next 20+ bring.  OH, and I’m getting a new dress for the occasion.  totally.
  7. Mother’s day is nigh…..wishing my mom an awesome day…Tammi is in charge of your gift this year, mom…LOL!!!  And my sister and all moms out there….it’s a crazy tough job and the best ever!  Where else can you lose your marbles daily and turn to mush all in the same 10 seconds?  No where.  that’s where!!kBvgSaBDdY7oezmEHuJnw0OA04QGq1v6WIlvZxZo20U

Blessings to you all and have a great weekend!!

May 2 or #TGIF or #7QT

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Happy Friday and welcome to my 2nd day of blogging for the Mayhem blogging challenge (feel free to join in at anytime!).  Today I link up with Jen at Conversion Diary who has had a crazy busy week with the release of her book (link here to buy)——-> Something Other than God (#SOTG) and the start of her book tour and all that.  AND she’s got a fun contest along with the release and I’m all in for freezies so……yeah, let’s just call that #1 on my 7 Quick Takes, mmmK?

2.  I haven’t actually read #SOTG yet, in all honesty, HOWEVER…..it is Jen’s fault because she recommended Melanie Shankle’s book The Antelope in the Living Room and seriously???  HILARIOUS.  SERIOUSLY.  I think we could be great friends irl.  really.  Anyhooo….I’m trying to break my habit of reading 5 books at once and so, I’ll finish Melanie’s and then move on to Jen…so no spoilers!!!  thanks.

3.  My beloved Macbook took a protein smoothie bath this week.  Don’t even ask.  It is on hospice.  I’m now blogging from our PC desktop.  Bummer timing with this whole blog a day in May deal.  Thank goodness it’s the weekend!!

4.  My workout this week has been BOOM!!!  Spinning twice and swimming thrice.  My knee is a little swollen but in all fairness, I walked the bridge last weekend and it started then.  Coincidence?  meh.  Just keep moving.  I must say….I think I love swimming.  Crazy, huh?

5.  Our girls are both off to a weekend of Girl Scout camping.  They are our youngest 2 and I’m excited for them.  Going to be weird though.  And quiet.  Gloriously.  Quiet.

6.  I am a procrastinator and still need to chop a watermelon for one of our girls to take with her troop.  All the other troop food is chopped, separated and bagged so, down to one measly watermelon is pretty good as far as I’m concerned.

7.  Next month is our 20th wedding anniversary.  We’re going to renew our vows.  In front of the whole church during Mass.  My heart palpates faster just typing that.  So pray for me, OK?  oh, and pray I don’t go off on a tangent and make this like a Wedding #2!!!!  Although, I’m pretty sure the Hubs will keep me in check on that one.

Off to chop a watermelon and get a kid to school!

Have a super weekend!!!

 

7QTs, Blog Challenge version

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It’s Friday people and not ONLY is it my FAVORITE day of the week….seriously….favorite!!!  It’s also 7Quick Takes link up with JEN ANNNNNNNNND day 5 of the blog for 7 days challenge with JEN.  It’s been a good week of blogging, I mean hey, my daily views are up to at least 20 average everyday….don’t hate….it’s also forcing me to sit down and blog…short and sweet or not, the point is to blog!  Here’s my weekly wrapup:

  1. Leaving in a few minutes to get my workout on.  My rear end is still sore from Wednesday so hoping for limited lunges and squats.  **update:  watch what you wish for, we used the TRX and hit the WHOLE bod, especially arms.  My forearms are dead…typing will be a problem today.  OY.  
  2. Family rosary last night.  Perfect?  Nay.  Not even close.  Improvement?  Vast.  Continue?  But of course!!
  3. Hubs and our youngest boy are planning on kayaking this evening.  Hoping the afternoon thunderstorms cooperate and allow this quality time activity/male bonding time.
  4. Oldest boy and myself are heading on a little road trip to our old town tomorrow for a surprise birthday party for my dear friend’s 16-year-old son.  I’ve promised him driving time ON THE INTERSTATE, Starbucks, a trip to the Vans store for school shoes and Old Navy to finish up his school shopping for pants.  After all, he IS giving up 2 WHOLE  days of skateboarding…..
  5. I napped before dinner yesterday.  30 minutes.  Rest/nap.  GLORIOUS.  Can’t even tell you the difference it made in my evening.  Uninterrupted recharging after a day at work before starting evening activities  Highly recommend it!
  6. Started re-logging my food for the day.  <smh> the hardest thing about me eating healthy and exercising is the diet portion.  Not BEING on a diet…just PLANNING the meals and LOGGING the intake.  When I am consistent in these things, along with my exercise….success.  Why?  Is?  It?  So?  Hard?????  **on the upside, one of my friends from the gym has been my tracking accountability partner and is down 5 pounds….now my competitive juices are flowing!!
  7. Finished up my 5th Ginger Garrett book in 3 weeks and started Mere Christianity last night.  This should have been linked to Cari and Jessica for “What we are reading Wednesdays” but….better late than never?!

Have a great weekend.  I’m off to sweat!!  Now to shower and get the ball rolling for FRIDAY!!!  Happy Weekend and keep those blogs rolling!

5 Favorites because it’s WEDNESDAY!

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Yesterday our youngest had her tonsils and adenoids removed.  This sweet little, strong-willed girl has had strep so frequently over the last few years she could diagnose it before they swabbed her and so, it finally came to getting those no-longer-doing-their-job suckers OUT.  This also resulted in Mama taking off work to be with our little patient for week 1 of recovery (with Papa taking week 2 shift).  With some extra “time” on my hands I’m joining in with Hallie and the “girl posse” (coined by Cari) and this week’s

five-favorites

 

  1. Since it’s been quite some time since I’ve been home during the week, yesterday I enjoyed my most favorite of favorites:  The Nap.  Yes.  On the couch.  In the middle of the day.  Apparently snoring.  Whatever.  Getting up at 5, waking the girl up so we could leave at 6, to be at the hospital at 6:30 for her 8:30 surgery, waiting on the doctor, boohooing on Hubby, being with her in PACU, bringing her home….Emotionally and physically done.  Mama.  Needed.  A.  Nap.
  2. My iPhone.  Seriously kept me busy all morning during surgery.  When I couldn’t focus on Blessed, Beautiful and Bodacious by Pat Gohn any longer…..I checked Facebook, Twitter, Insta.  Quick little taps.  Brief little interludes.  Then tears when I clicked on Ann Voskamp’s post yesterday.  **note to self, don’t read Ann’s heart benders when I am already raw.  Once again, I could totally and utterly relate.  Parenting=Tough heart work.
  3. Next up.  I’m a freak, I know it.  Getting chores done mid-week.  Laundry is done.  Sheets are changed.  Floors vacuumed.  Eggs boiled.  Chicken soup going on soon.  Accomplishments without the stress of doing it all after working all day!!  #winning
  4. Reading.  Which I’ve already mentioned a bit.  I am finishing Pat’s book and gathering my thoughts to share with her for her podcast.  If you’ve read her book, join in HERE.  Also catching up on my Joy Dare notebook, the Catechism and starting a new book since Anne put out her summer reading list!!
  5. Photos.  I received my camera back from the shop and the baby is ready to go!  I’m brushing up on how to use different settings and get out of the Automatic mode and truly get my photos rockin’ and rollin’.  Of course, it’s only Wednesday…and tomorrow I am heading over to my grandmother’s to get a refresher on my new sewing machine.

grid

 

Go visit the posse and see what other favorites are favorite this week, from Pringles to Play lists…it’s covered!!

Blessings!!

To flu vaccinate or no….

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An interesting debate to be sure and I’m curious to see why YOU have to say about this.  Of course, this won’t be all serious, I do have some funny-ish stuff to report as well 😉

So, a few months back I heard Mac and Katherine on Catholic in a Small Town podcast discussing Katherine’s preference NOT to get the flu vaccine….#203, you can check it out on iTunes…and it got me thinking about the flu vaccine and WHY do I bother each year?  Is it worth it?  What am I subjecting myself to?  It opened up an internal can o’ worms for certain.

CSTitunes

Anyhoooo…I work in the medical field, my employer provides the vaccine to me at no cost each year and so, I get the vaccine.  I’ve not had the flu in 10 years and quite frankly, would  prefer to not have it again.  However….due to the controversial issues on the flu vaccine for our kids…I’ve not had them get a flu shot.  Ever.  That I remember, anyway.    Questionable ingredients, 62%ish effectiveness rate, roll of the dice on which strain we’ll actually come in contact with, ACK…it’s too much, so we’ve opted out.  However…..things ’bout to change in these parts!

Our 15 yo son came down with Flu B last weekend.  I already blogged on all THAT fun here if you missed it the first time around and the kid ended up missing a WHOLE FLIPPIN’ WEEK OF SCHOOL!!!  yes, High School.  Good times.  The kicker is that I actually started getting sick at the end of the week last week, sucked it up for a couple of days (chalking it up to allergies and pollen), however, by Saturday afternoon–after an ENTIRE day of solo and ensemble stuff with our 13 yo and tag-along 9 yo daughter, I came home and went to bed and got up yesterday.  Monday.  Ugh.  Fever’s gone and I was back to work today, but still…..ain’t.  quite.  right.  And I WAS vaccinated!!!  WTH??!?!?  So when I brought the 15yo BACK to the doc yesterday for additional antibiotics for “possible” pneumonia still not resolved as a result of his flu….I decided next year EVERYONE gets the vaccine.  Mine didn’t last as long as his, certainly wasn’t as brutal and you know “Ain’t NOBODY got time for that” to be staying home with sick kids, for kids to be missing a week of schoolwork (the stuff the teachers didn’t email…) and we ALL know Mama don’t have time to be sick..even though Daddy is a pretty fantastic taker-carer.

So, what’s your take?  Flu vaccine or no?

On the upside…..I got a TON of reading in.  Finished Screwtape letters, almost finished A year of biblical womanhood, completely caught up on my Daily Catechism readings—(I MAY have been 3 weeks behind).  Mailed a long overdue encouragement card and ordered The Power of Positive Thinking to go with said card.  Slept so much my back ached.  Lost a few pounds.  Woke up from a nap to find Hubby and 75% of the kids playing Monopoly….WITHOUT blood shed.  True.  No joke.  Prayed.  (It was a good few days to be on my heart…you are so covered it’s ridiculous).  Continue to play with PicMonkey and learn a little more.

Phew.  It’s been a long couple days.