Group Therapy

Sunday Lately for this 30-Something:: Week 73

- Mel

Blogger Tribe_Sunday Lately It’s the freakin’ weekend, and the Blogger Tribe is collectively sharing their Sunday Lately posts. Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (lead by Angelica, Meghan, Nicole, and Katy). The prompts for May 22 (Week 73) :: Creating, Finding, Switching, Forgetting, Craving.

Catch up and read all of my past Sunday Lately posts and camp out with the Tribe on Facebook!

Creating:: This weekend, the boyfriend and I went to our local garden center and purchased a LOT of plants and flowers to put in pots in various places around our house. It’s supposed to be in the 80s today and for a few days this week. And creating all the individual groupings was actually a lot of fun! Even if I can’t participate in any of the actual planting because I’m basically allergic to everything.

Finding:: Seriously, when did I become allergic to the outdoors? I cannot be around plants without getting hives or sit outside without my eyes getting watery and itchy. Even just sitting inside the kitchen with the windows open, I’m a sneezy mess. I need to find something to get me through this all-things-pollen season.

Switching:: Since starting my new job, I have adopted a really bad habit of having more coffee in the afternoon for a pick-me-up-from-my-post-lunch-coma (hey, the coffee is free!). I finally remembered to put some tea bags in my work bag, so I can switch to something non-caffeinated (if it’s the warm beverage that I’m actually craving).

Forgetting:: I’m not shitting you — when I originally wrote this post, I forgot listing out this prompt. I had it above all together with the other week’s topics, but literally skipped right over it. HILARIOUS.

Craving:: I don’t know how I never thought of this, but PEANUT BUTTER IN OATMEAL, you guys! Someone at work makes this almost every morning, and I copied the same habit. I feel so much more full than eating oatmeal on its own and, well, peanut butter is my everything. I basically crave it every day (and I may or may not go through a jar a week).

Sunday Lately for this 30-Something:: Week 72

- Mel 2 Comments

Blogger Tribe_Sunday Lately It’s Sunday morning and the Blogger Tribe is collectively sharing their Sunday Lately posts. Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (lead by Angelica, Meghan, Nicole, and Katy). The prompts for May 15 (Week 72) :: Doing, Appreciating, Designing, Humming, Expecting.

Catch up and read all of my past Sunday Lately posts and join camp with the Tribe on Facebook!

Doing:: All weekend, I was volunteering at the derby tournament (hence, this post being late). So, for the rest of Sunday afternoon, I basically did NOTHING. Well, I definitely made a sandwich first… then, nothing.

Appreciating:: I’m still feeling all the warm fuzzies from friends who reached out with birthday wishes. For anyone who has moved to a new city, it can feel incredibly sad to miss out on celebrating with friends (who have likely celebrated with you for past birthdays).

Designing:: a new playlist! Man, I don’t think that I’ve updated my running songs since I ran the marathon. It’s no wonder I’m unmotivated to workout (a big HA! there because we all know the real reasons — my friends Lazy Tendencies and Procrastination). 😉

Have any new, good dance, electronica or remix recommendations that I should download?

Humming:: the jingle for one of my favorite podcasts, We Know Nothing (as sung by Anya Marina, an artist that opened up one of my FAVORITE live show memories back in my Cleveland days — she was on the bill with Greg Laswell and Jay Nash).

At work, I’m allowed to wear headphones/earbuds, so I’ve been plugging back into my growing list of unplayed podcasts. I’ve also been catching up on Nicole Antoinette’s past seasons of Real Talk Radio on my commutes, and have gained much-needed insight into some life decisions that I’ve been struggling to make. I’m pretty sure she’s about to release another new season, so I want to be caught up!

Expecting:: We’re expecting our first guests (boyfriend’s parents) at the end of the month and OMG it’s already halfway through May! I need to start putting stuff up on the walls and figure out my living room arrangement already.

Sunday Lately for this (still) 30-Something:: Week 71 (and birthday week!)

- Mel 1 Comment

Blogger Tribe_Sunday Lately It’s Sunday morning and the Blogger Tribe is collectively sharing their Sunday Lately posts. Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (lead by Angelica, Meghan, Nicole, and Katy). The prompts for May 08 (Week 71) :: Planning, Loving, Reading, Wishing, Feeling.

Catch up and read all of my past Sunday Lately posts and join camp with the Tribe on Facebook!

39th birthday cake 30something therapy

Planning:: BIRTHDAY WEEK! And then, I guess, planning the 52 weeks remaining in my 30s. But today, planning a drive up to Pella to check out all of these tulips! I know that we missed the Tulip Time festival, but maybe we can catch that celebration next year.

Loving:: I am way over-in-love with a pair of blush pink accent chairs that I found online, which have been delayed since MARCH. When I logged on this morning to see if they were, in fact, shipping this week (finally) as their customer service agent told me in April, imagine my anger when I see that they were delayed once again — and back-ordered to June. This particular site was even charging us for shipping, which was around $160. SO MAD.

Imagine my delight, however, when I get an email that the EXACT same chairs were in stock on Wayfair and shipping around May 19 with FREE SHIPPING (the actual product was a few bucks cheaper, too, which is saving us almost $180 overall). Man, I LOVE these chairs, and while I understand that I’m in no rush to get them… well, I kind of am because I can’t find any other blush chair and I want to finish my living room dot tumblr dot com.

Reading:: “On the Verge” by Cara Bradley (my bedside book) and “Troublemaker” by Leah Remini (my treadmill book)

Wishing:: The boyfriend surprised me yesterday with a HUGE gluten-free carrot cake from Sweet Rewards in Waukee (above picture), which he also put candles on, so that I could make my birthday wish. It’s SO GOOD.

Feeling:: Really loved. And content — not the least bit mad or sad or old about adding on another year.

Sunday Lately for this 30-Something:: Week 70

- Mel 6 Comments

Blogger Tribe_Sunday Lately It’s Sunday morning and the Blogger Tribe is collectively sharing their Sunday Lately posts. Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (lead by Angelica, Meghan, Nicole, and Katy). The prompts for May 01 (Week 70):: Completing, Visiting, Repeating, Writing, Scheduling.

Catch up and read all of my past Sunday Lately posts and join camp with the Tribe on Facebook!

Completing:: Even though we have bi-weekly cleaning appointments (and they were just here this past Thursday), I just completed mopping all the floors on the 1st floor because they all smelled like wet dog. WTH!? It’s like they cleaned a house before hours with dogs and used the same mop water. After two days, it didn’t dissipate, and I couldn’t take it anymmore.

Visiting:: Today, we’ll be visiting ALL THE HOME STORES. Ha! Now that we’re mostly settled in, we’ve figured out a few needs for our living spaces. Plus, we’ll be hosting our first out-of-town visitors this month!

Repeating:: Despite how bummed I am about not returning to Pittsburgh to run the marathon with friends this weekend, I need to repeat how I felt immediately upon running the PGH Half last year: I don’t EVER want to run that again. It’s difficult in this current moment because I was so excited to take on the full; but last year, I was miserable (I only signed up this year because I had won a free entry and wanted to join a few friends running their first marathon). But… I was really overwhelmed by the crowds. UGH THE CROWDS. And the weather is always totally unpredictable. It’s a conflict that I thought would be resolved with not training appropriately and moving away and separating myself from the city. Instead, it’s bubbled up emotions that I wasn’t really ready prepared for.

Writing:: I’m currently writing down some lists for a possible 30-day challenge project to take me through the next year. Because…

Scheduling:: It’s BIRTHDAY MONTH!!! Besides making plans for the BIGGEST DAY/LAST YEAR of my 30s, my scheduled Birthday Fix arrived a week early — and it’s seriously one of my favorite Stitch Fix boxes [affiliate link] that I’ve ever received (seriously!!!). I really feel like they curated it specially for me and my style (I asked for a Fix specific for my birthday celebrations, to include some new shoes and a pink dress and THEY DELIVERED).

Stich Fix Birthday Box WIN!
Stich Fix Birthday Box WIN!

The CUTEST Adrianna Papell floral dress, the Pixley green tropical print blazer that I asked for (over a white lace-up top that’s not really my style but ended up looking super cute on), and the Franco Sarto heels that I had pinned! I also received a pair of distressed Kut from the Kloth denim, which are my second pair from the brand — I really like how they fit me!

Sunday Lately for this 30-Something:: Week 69

- Mel 3 Comments

Blogger Tribe_Sunday Lately It’s Sunday morning and the Blogger Tribe is collectively sharing their Sunday Lately posts. Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (lead by Angelica, Meghan, Nicole, and Katy). The prompts for April 24 (Week 69), are:: Updating, Remembering, Needing, Wearing, Being.

Catch up and read all of my past Sunday Lately posts and join camp with the Tribe on Facebook!

Updating:: My closet wasn’t well organized since moving in, so I’ve made a few updates throughout the weekend. I’ve punched out a shelf in one “cubby” (to make room for hanging longer dresses — so now that ALL my dresses are hanging together) and added shelves in different places to stack my denim, sweaters, and tights/leggings. This all started with my irritation that my shoes aren’t all in one space — and I wanted them mostly out of boxes, so I can actually SEE and WEAR what I already own. By the way, I have some super cute bright blue booties that need to be worn — send me your outfit suggestions!

Remembering:: Oooof, I got my first Iowa sunburn. I wasn’t out in the sun for very long, and wore a coat for most of our BBQ tailgating because of the wind. I’m thinking it was from the 30-minute drive — we had the windows and sunroof open, since only my chest and a few weird places on my arms got pink. This frustrates and upsets me because I’m typically SO DILIGENT about remembering my sunscreen and this shouldn’t have took me by surprise, and yet… UGH.

Needing:: a kick in the ass (see above).

Wearing:: Some new clothes from my first Trunk Club! {referral link!}. It was a lot of fun to have a fashion show at home, as I received 20 items — a couple handbags, dresses, jeans, tops, and jewelry! I really like that you have 10 days to try everything. She didn’t *quite* hit the mark on my style and size (it typically takes a few boxes to pin that), but I received a couple items that I want to absolutely LIVE in. I was hoping (and asked) for work pants, which I didn’t receive. Soooo, looks like I’ll have another request in soon.

Being:: Today, I’m all about being in Sunday Cleaning Mode. I’ve already stripped the bedding off and started the laundry. The bedrooms all need vacuumed. I might get all crazy and lint roll (read: de-cat) all the furniture.

Sunday Lately for this 30-Something:: Week 67

- Mel 2 Comments

Blogger Tribe_Sunday Lately It’s Sunday morning and the Blogger Tribe is collectively sharing their Sunday Lately posts. Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (lead by Angelica, Meghan, Nicole, and Katy). The prompts for April 10 (Week 67), are:: Doing, Appreciating, Designing, Humming, Expecting. Read my past Sunday Lately posts and join camp with the Tribe!

Doing:: Um… my taxes. Talk about last minute!

Appreciating:: Is it terrible of me to appreciate that I’m not in Pittsburgh or Cleveland right now dealing with all that snow? (It’s going to be in the 60s here today.) 😛 #sorrynotsorry

Designing:: Today, we finally are getting some of our artwork up on the walls. I’ve been planning out the wall designs in my head (and positioning frames in rooms where I think things will work). But the real design test will be limiting the number of holes in the drywall when inevitably, I change my mind.

Humming:: Did you watch the American Idol finale? In one of the medleys (with previous contestants), they sang Meghan Trainor’s song “NO.” That was the first time that I’d heard it, and, well, I’m obsessed.

PS: I haven’t watched American Idol in YEARS, but fun fact: I worked behind-the-scenes during Season 4’s Cleveland auditions (I think it was 2005). It’s pretty cool to have been part of such a historical show — I mean, look how many talent reality TV programs exist now!

Expecting:: Another crazy week! But once again, my weekly goals include keeping on a regular workout schedule. Having a treadmill at home now, I’m hoping to use before work a couple times per week.

Sunday Lately for this 30-Something: Week 66

- Mel 4 Comments

Blogger Tribe_Sunday Lately It’s Sunday morning and the Blogger Tribe is collectively sharing their Sunday Lately posts — part of my weekly Group Therapy. The prompts for today, April 3 (Week 66), are: Planning, Loving, Reading, Wishing, Feeling. Read my past Sunday Lately posts and join camp with the Tribe!

Planning: I have plans to meet up with a running group this week! I need to find a new Runners Friends Tribe to help motivate me during my half marathon training and learn some new routes around my area in the process. Planning this into my weekly workout schedule makes it a non-negotiable. I’ve also incorporated into my monthly goals, which I plan to put into a post this week!

Loving: Absolutely loving that I spent nearly 12 hours in bed last night! I was positively exhausted after spending an entire day eating, drinking and shopping in downtown Des Moines. My body needed the rest, and rest I let it.

Reading: “All the Single Ladies” by Rebecca Traister, thanks to Net Galley. Considering the course of this election season and the impact of unmarried women (and being one myself), I thought it would be an appropriate and necessary read. It’s been a little difficult to get into, given its “exhaustive research” (emphasis: publisher), but I think I’ve finally found my pacing with her writing style. This will take me a while to finish though, no doubt.

Wishing: Because I’m currently working from home, I am doing chores CONSTANTLY. Well, mid-week, I decided that I didn’t want to do another day of dishes, and apparently, the boyfriend hasn’t felt like doing them either. So, they’ve been sitting there, piling up since. I wish someone would get all these dang dishes out of the sink already (and I hope that someone is this other person who shares my household).

Feeling: I’m feeling little stressed out just thinking about my upcoming week, to be honest. But reality and “thinking about” are two different things, of which I need to remind myself. Anticipation is not anxiety (repeat).

Sunday Lately for this 30-Something: Week 65

- Mel

Blogger Tribe_Sunday Lately It’s Sunday morning and the Blogger Tribe is sharing their Sunday Lately posts. The prompts for March 27 (Week 65) are: Completing, Visiting, Repeating, Writing, Scheduling. Read my past Sunday Lately posts and join the Tribe!

Completing: We are finally seeing the end of boxes and packing paper! Most of the interior of the house has been unboxed, if you can believe it. Around our Easter eating plans, we’ll be focusing on the unpacking what’s left in the garage. And then, all those dang boxes will need to be broken down.

Visiting: GUYS. Remember that gluten-free bakery that I was talking about that’s just a few miles from my house? Well, we visited Sweet Rewards Bakery in Waukee this weekend and I got my maple-glazed doughnuts. We also bought a loaf of French bread and a piece of angel food cake. SO GOOD.

Repeating: “I’m new to the area…” — this phrase has been used ad nauseam.

Writing: To-do lists after to-do lists. One for house needs. Another for little things that need repaired or cleaned in the new place. Still another for personal priorities, like registering the cats, and getting a new ID and car plates, and finding a place to get a massage (woof!). Now that my forwarded mail is starting to come to the new house, I realized how lax I was in changing the address on all of my accounts. WHOOPS.

Scheduling: This week, I’ve got the piano tuner scheduled to come back — he says the piano needs more work and he needs to find a replacement string — and our house cleaners will be visiting for a meet-and-greet. I have quite a bit of actual work to catch up on, too. And then I have an appointment with a recruiting firm. Another full schedule!

Sunday Lately for this 30-Something: Week 64

- Mel 2 Comments

Blogger Tribe_Sunday LatelySunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (lead by Angelica, Meghan, Nicole, and Katy).

Every Sunday morning, the Tribe shares a small glimpse into what’s happening — and I’m sharing along as part of my “group therapy.” All are welcome, so if you’re a blogger looking for his or her online community, click through and join us in the Blogger Tribe Facebook group, and every week we share our combined thoughts on a rotating theme of prompts.

30something therapy SUNDAY LATELY Week 64

This week’s prompts are: Updating, Remembering, Needing, Wearing, Being.

Updating: I need to get on updating to a new bank account ASAP, else I’ll be without a way to deposit my contracting checks. I think this upcoming week is the time that I need to make a lot of other updates: drivers license, car plates, vet and doctor appointments… Taking advantage of non-traditional work hours right now is imperative before I let procrastination rule my life again.

Remembering: I’m making an effort to remember my surroundings as I’m driving to/from my neighborhood. Thankfully, my phone’s Maps recognizes my house location (my car’s GPS does not). But I’m trying to pay attention and remember which direction takes me where. Admittedly, it’s been a little difficult, since immediately after pulling out of our housing development, we’re surrounded by acres of farmland!

Needing: A good night of sleep. I know there’s an adjustment period upon moving to a new house — getting used to all the different sounds and temperature adaptations and other outside-of-the-bedroom unknowns. I’ve been waking up in the middle of the night, after only a few hours of sleep. I’m also adjusting to a new bed, too, so yeah… I need some more sleep and less anxiety (and probably a less-empty house!).

Wearing: Until our moving truck arrives (which they’ve already said would happen on Monday morning!) and I have more of a social schedule, I’m hanging out in my pajamas and leggings a lot. I’m not mad. 😉

Being: Calm. At least, enjoying the calm before the storm. I am incredibly lucky to already have a friend here, who will be joining me for the movers madness on Monday. I’m done being bored, and once all of our stuff gets here, I will have *plenty* to do.

Sunday Lately for this 30-Something: Week 63

- Mel 2 Comments

Blogger Tribe_Sunday LatelySunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (lead by Angelica, Meghan, Nicole, and Katy).

Every Sunday morning, the Tribe shares a small glimpse into what’s happening lately — and I’m sharing along as part of my “group therapy.” All are welcome, so if you’re a blogger looking for his or her online community, click through and join us in the Blogger Tribe Facebook group, and every week we share our thoughts on a rotating theme of prompts. If you’re new here, I JUST MOVED! And after driving 12 hours with 3 cats in the car, we’re HOME! 🙂

30s therapy SUNDAY LATELY Week 63

Week 63 prompts are: Creating, Finding, Switching, Forgetting, Craving.

CREATING: Does it sound cheesy to say I’m creating a new life in Iowa? Or, at least the start of a new life. Does that sound like I’m making babies? lol (I’m not.)

FINDING: Well, for one, I need to find somewhere to have brunch. And then I need to find out how long it’s going to take for my new sectional to be delivered. And find where I packed the cat nail clippers. And my floss. I’m sure there are others.

SWITCHING: There was a time change overnight due to the beginning of Daylight Saving Time, but… now I’m on Central Time, so SHRUG EMOJI. The time change always messed me up, and I’m wondering if I’ll just sort of settle into CST without any issues. It was kind of weird to be driving in and experiencing 2:00pm twice, knowing that we’d have 2:00am twice as well.

FORGETTING: I’m sure that I’ll keep forgetting that I’m in Central Time Zone when talking to friends and family (and blogging) from here. I probably need to update a setting for my scheduled posts somewhere too.

CRAVING: An exercise routine. I was able to get a few workouts in last week despite the madness of packing some suitcases and over-socializing (worth it!). Hilariously, as I was unpacking the few boxes that I shipped and organizing my closet, my current wardrobe is overwhelmed by activewear.

Have a good week, everyone!