Monday Check-In and Sunday Updates

Well, the sammies were a pain in the butt (the veggie one especially).  The dressings drew me to the recipes and I think they were just so-so.  Everyone liked the meat one, but very few takers on the veggie.  I'd have been better off to do what I like on a sandwich ... and ciabatta bread would've been better too.  Wonder why no one had any?

The vintage Steelers jacket was a HIT  -- hubby loves it.  It's actually cute and fits well.  Oh, and the Steelers won so there's that too :)

It was nice to have the whole gang together again.  We haven't seen everyone since July 4th weekend in Asheville.

Now it's Monday and I'm so happy the cleaning crew is coming tomorrow instead.  No early morning prep and no rush on a Monday morning routine.

I have a few errands and some little chores to do.  If my back is okay later, I'll fill the new big potters for fall planting.  Cucumbers and tomatoes are stilling going strong though.  I have another 3 new cucumbers and tons of cherry tomatoes.  

That said, I need a little bit of a down day.  I'm learning to balance heavy days (social and/or busy) with something quieter.  Not sofa slug, but a day at a comfortable pace.  That's my plan for today.

Monday morning is also plan-the-week time and I have enough on the calendar again that I need to get back to doing the schedule.  It helps to relax any overwhelm and these days it doesn't take much to get me feeling like it's TOO MUCH.

Yesterday was a heavy day.  Lots of cooking ahead of everyone arriving at noon and then an afternoon of entertaining and dog stuff.  Fun, but it was a lot.  Thankfully, I'm back to sleeping well again.

Have a great start to the week and stay well.  Later gators.

Pressed Sammies

Game day -- Sunday football is back.  I'm making pressed sammies for the game -- one veggie, one meat.  I found all the fancy ingredients EXCEPT the ciabatta bread (!!)  What!?!?  I went to 5 markets -- yep, FIVE with no luck.

Fortunately, I bought a couple of french loafs from Costco for the freezer.  Dang, they aren't going to be the same, but how many more places can I go?  Stores had the rolls, but not the loafs (Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Harris Teeter, Publix, Costco). 

Good news is this is a quick meal.  Both kids are bringing the appetizers.  I have chips and making a few sweet treats.  Bad news is game is at 1 o'clock which pushes things this morning.  I didn't have it in me to do any prep yesterday (not that's it's a lot).  

Got some silly good news.  Cleaning crew moved to Tuesday at lunchtime when I'll be at my dress fitting. No early up and ready Monday morning.  It's the little things :)  

Premiering the Steelers vintage jacket I found in Asheville (actually, my aunt found it).  Hubby LOVES all things Steelers and will be so excited.  See, the little things :)

I'll leave with a couple of dog pictures.  Have a great Sunday.  Later gators.

Getting coffee in Asheville

Polly's new bed.
Duke had FOMO.

Fall in Asheville

Our weather jinx didn't hit this trip.  Man, PERFECT fall weather (!!) but temps are climbing again this week.  Glad we got a fall preview for a few days.

Fall brings out the BEARS in force in Asheville since they are storing up for denning season over the winter.  We took a walk -- 3 dogs, one dog stroller and turned a bend to see a mama bear and her 3 cubs.  Turned around and went home only to find a HUGE bear in front of the house.  We couldn't get around so we waited and waited and waited.  He was picking berries, rolling on his back and rubbing his tummy.  Adorable :)  He finally laid down in the sun so we cautiously walked by him.  A little scary with all the dogs.

He stayed for about an hour and went up to our next-door neighbors' car when they came home.  They had to hold tight until he left.  Crazy (!!)  They're beautiful animals, but we need to keep a distance for sure.

No pictures because I was holding dogs but you know what a black bear looks like hah -- the cubs were particularly stunning with the blackest, shiniest fur.

We took lots of walks, grilled out a steak dinner and are heading home this morning.  I'm FINALLY starting back to regular sleep as my hormones normalize again so I'm up before the crew and have a little quiet time.

No huge update on my vanity upgrades.  I can still furrow my brow (probably a few more days -- although I think it's a little less movement) and my under-eye area is sore, bruised and a little swollen.  All normal and I should be good in about a week.

Heading home to get ready for Steelers opening football game tomorrow.  Kids are coming over and I'm making pressed sammies, side dish (TBD) and rice crispies.  I was planning tiramisu but I waited so long, the cookies expired.  Dang.  I'll try a do-over after the holidays maybe.  It was on my 2020 list and got bumped (apparently too far).  I thought I had until 2022 on the dates.  I didn't want to go to the trouble to find they were stale and didn't work well once incorporated.  

I have a full week ahead in the ATL.  Guess that's the norm again.  Have a happy Saturday and stay well.  Later gators.

I Did a THING

Eeeeek ... I did what I said I'd NEVER do ... when will I learn to never say never?

But before the big reveal (haha), let me start at the beginning.

I went for the under-eye filler yesterday and it's fantastic.  I'm sore, a bit swollen and bruised (will take about a week to settle down), but the difference is huge to me.  This is my 3rd time in 4+ years.  I'd been interested in trying filler after exhausting other options (creams, concealers, diet), but I'm a chicken about vanity elective procedures.  I saw a PA friend I'd worked with for a couple of years and she was now with a plastic surgeon.  She gave me trusted scoop on all things fillers and I made an appointment immediately.  

I happen to have very little fat pads under my eye and the filler evens it out and blocks a ton of the dark circles.  

Fast forward to 2020 and zoom calls and I noticed that the "11" between my eyes was very pronounced (especially on the left) even when I wasn't squishing my brow.  Could filler be the answer??

Nope.  Turns out too many vessels and nerves for vision in that area and it's risky.  I'm OUT -- not taking that risk.  But ... my PA friend said there is another way and it will take a few treatments, but it will eventually relax the lines.

BOTOX (!!)

I said I'd never do it.  I notice too many overdone peeps (of course, you don't usually notice the ones done well).  She said this doc does a fantastic job and it won't change my smile, eyebrows or forehead.  It will just prevent me from furrowing my brow and that will relax the "11" and over a few treatments will relax the lines even at a neutral muscle position.

I did it.

Turns out is takes 4 days to start working and 2 weeks to be at full effect.  Crazy (!!)  I'm excited to see what happens and see if hubby notices.  I decided not to tell him right away because I want an honest reaction, not a microscopic vision reaction.  Does he notice with a regular view?  Sure, he'll notice if he's looking for it and looking for any little change, etc.  We know some peeps who don't do Botox well and he'll be paranoid I'm heading that route because paranoid is his nature lol.  This way it will be a reaction with no hidden judgment.  (BTW, he's totally supportive of the filler -- he'll just "worry" over the Botox)

Stay tuned for 4 days - 2 weeks for updates hahaha.  

Today is a travel day to Asheville and my monthly came (hurray).  Not the best timing, but I need to move off the hormone tornado this month.  Biggest issue is the drive with no bathroom breaks because I'll have 2 dogs with me.  It's a challenge.  Fingers crossed for an easy ride.

Have a great day and stay well.  Later gators.

Doing the Things

Reluctantly doing all the things.  When my energy is tanked, I don't feel like doing anything.  BUT, of course, the best thing to do to feel better is to do everything anyway.

My sleep has been a pisser all week.  Thunderstorms woke me up last night, dogs needed extra potty let-outs and I was up from 11 - 3 o'clock.  Dang and double dang.  Hoping for a better night tonight since hubby left for Asheville and I tend to sleep better without his breathing/snoring noises.

I rode the Peloton for a hard ride today and took a 3 mile power walk outside to get all the vit-D vibes to help the old mood.

This afternoon is a DO SOMETHING FOR ME thing and I'm getting a top-off on my under eye fillers.  I've had it done twice and I'm 2 years out from the last time.  I have super thin under-eye skin and I have permanent dark circles without a little filler (no eye cream or concealer helps).  I tried diet changes too thinking it could be allergy related.  Nope -- it's a physical thing.  No one can tell I had it done, but I can.  I look more rested.  

My plan is to eat well (no sugar today because that contributes to my low energy), get sleep and do all the things for me.  Fingers crossed it helps.  

That's all from here.  Have a happy day and stay well.  Later gators.

Let the Real Week Begin

Feels like a Monday.  Hope you had a good holiday weekend as summer comes to an end.  I love fall and can't wait for all the things so I say bring it (!!)

Hormones in full swing and my energy is TANKED.  Seems the pattern during a hormone swing is wake up around 1 o'clock and don't go back to sleep until 4 o'clock -- then I sleep until 6 or 7.  Not a good sleep pattern for me and I'm left with low energy in the morning and a big brain fog.  It's the feeling that I wake up and am already fantasizing about bedtime.

Anyway ...

Hubby and I caught the Labor Day sale at Ashley Furniture and ordered new recliners for the movie (TV) room.  The old faux leather, electric ones we have are actually disintegrating -- it's gross.  Hubby choice regular old fluffy rocking recliners.  We chose a sofa too, but it was out of stock so we'll wait to find one we like.  The recliners are in-stock and coming in a couple of weeks.  Had to get moving for football season.

Polly seems to be feeling better -- phew.  She slept through the night last night.

I finished a fun suspense book -- We Were Never Here (Andrea Bartz).  It was good and the ending held up.  Not genius writing, but the kind of book you want to pick up and read all the way through.

I also watched ClickBait on Netflix last week.  It was good too -- guessing until the end and the ending was a shocker.

Heading to Asheville again this week -- Thursday through Saturday so we can bring home the final piece of the sectional for the kids.  The weather is set to be perfect -- high in 70s and low in 50s.  We'll get some outside time and do a haul to the paint recycling center for the 3 big tubs we still need to dispose (only one paint recycle day each month).  Did I mention we hardened 30 gallons of paint last visit?!?!  What a chore.  Once hardened, they can be tossed in the regular trash.  The big 5 gallon buckets are too heavy and too full to mix in hardener.  We didn't grill this weekend in GA, but we thought we'd do a simple grilled dinner on Friday in Asheville.

Sunday I got a "fall" pedicure -- burgundy and met my girlfriend for coffee on a patio.  Much needed catch up.  Not a bad weekend.

Today the pups get groomed and I tackle a list of home chores and errands.  Man, I need some energy. 

Have a great day and stay well.  Later gators.  

Me in Asheville using a French Press.

Lots to Update

Cliff Note version -- we had a good time and furniture arrive with problems, but it's all working out.  Here are some pictures.

Changing out the coffee table next visit.

His favorite spot -- go figure.

This chair is super comfortable.

Figuring out wall pictures next.

Before the furniture came -- no where else to sit :)

I have to keep this short.  We came back yesterday (Saturday) with a sick dog (Polly) who was up many times with the runs last night.  We're sitting for our grand-pups again so 5 dogs this morning.  Everyone should be getting up soon and we need all hands on deck.

But ... I'm back (!!)  Until tomorrow ... later gators.