Such a Perfect Day...

Today was just the best day to be off and the best day to run errands.  Why can't I have off days like this in the summer?  We live in the fabulous state of New York, but usually around this time of the year we're digging ourselves out of tons of snow; which if you know me at all, I despise!  This year has been absolutely fabulous.  Other than two snow storms, pretty early in the season, we really haven't been hit hard.  This makes for a very happy Dana.  Now, please don't blame me if we get hit now, I just looked at the weekly forecast and it's still fabulous, so I really can't be blamed for jinxing it yet!

So today, as the weather creeped into the high 50's, I brought back what I like to call Dress Day.  

Granted, I still wear dresses in the winter, now that I've found leggings and tights to be tolerable— but this is Dress Day weather!  I wasn't even cold.  I didn't even need my hat.  I hope it continues like this all the way up to the day Spring is official.  And I love my new Ruche sweater and necklace (call it my friendly reminder to practice like a good girl, especially since I've been enjoying it!).  And I'm pretty stoked over the fact that those boots I wanted are back in stock and are now on their way to my front door.  

One of my friends told me today that I could quite possibly be considered a shopaholic— I totally disagree!  I don't shop often, just a little more than usually lately, and my lack of cooking makes up for it right?  I mean, rarely having a grocery bill does help with buying my dresses.  Score one for my side.

I'll try to tame down my spending, but I just love when Dress Day weather hits.  Hopefully, the Groundhog cooperates.

Hi Thursday...

Hi Thursday.  I love you.  You're like the unexpected gift before my weekend starts.  You're kinda fabulous.  I only really enjoy you every other week, but that's the best part about you, you're my every other week friend that I've fallen for.  You're pretty perfect.

Bath Time with Lavender and Epsom Salt

My Earring of the Month Arrived

Ruche Arrived

I Got Dressed for Dinner With Friends

I Gave this Little One Tons of Loving

This Became My New Addiction

Thank you Thursday, you've been great, as always.  I wouldn't expect anything less.  Granted, I still had to cook and clean, but I've got so much time to enjoy you that I really kinda forgot about those things.  Thanks again— see you in two weeks!

I Hate Saturdays...

I know I rave about Mondays and how much I love them; even Thursdays get my vote every now and then.  But have I mentioned how much I despise Saturdays?  

It hasn't always been this way.  I use to like them just about as much as any other day.  Then all of a sudden my hubby had this idea of doing a double on Saturdays for work.  It kinda put a damper on that whole Saturday thing and my Tuesday thing.  The thing is now he leaves work on Friday night a little after eleven and then has to be back up for work at 4 a.m.—the problem with that?  I get home from work about 2:30 a.m. and he wakes up at the sound of the toilet paper roll.  

Him and his damn Spidey Senses.  

So he does a double on Saturday so he can have off on Tuesdays; it turns his week into a four day work week and he loves every minute of it.  Well, Tuesdays use to be my Me Time day; which sadly meant that I basically would clean the house and get my errands done, but now it's a day together (this is good!), but now when I come home on Friday night from work, I have to sleep on the couch until he wakes up because I can't disturb my sleeping prince.  The puppy also has to stay at Grama's because Daddy needs his four hours of sleep (understandable).  

Last night I came home from work and he had the blanket all laid out on the couch for me with my pillow and his shirt to sleep in.  How cute is he?  I'm pretty sure it took me about 5 minutes to pass out.

As per our new normal, he woke me up around 5 a.m. to tuck me in upstairs before he left for work.  I got my forehead kiss. 

Now, I know what you're thinking, I have a whole Saturday to myself to get chores done and run errands right?  Nah, I'm tired from working late and it snowed outside!  I don't wanna shovelllll!!!!

This has shitty Saturday written all over it!  I'm totally going to veg out in the house and possibly get some stuff done around here.  Other than that, I'm hoping to stay in all day until work tonight.  But I have to say, without the hubby and without the pup, the house does get a little lonely.  I'm also pretty sure that I'm silly for making fun of all those people who grocery shop right before storms—if I grocery shopped on a regular basis this wouldn't be a problem, but I'm not exactly sure what I plan on eating today.  I think it's going to include lots of Shop Rite brand iced tea mix because there's not much else.  How long can one live off of pure sugar?  Any theories? Just wondering.  

Stupid Saturday.

Don't You Just Love a Date Night...

I am convinced that everyone should have a date night.  Whether you're single or spoken for, a date night keeps you sane.  Just a night to get away from the house chores and to get away from your work life.  

One great thing about the Christmas season is that a lot of people give gift cards.  Thankfully, my step dad picked our perfect dinner spot— Nina.  

From the atmosphere to the food and the service, this place definitely has it all.  I love having any excuse to get dressed up and have my every once in awhile drink... this time it was a Grape Ape Martini (yes please!)—grape vodka, grape pucker, chambord, and sour mix—Fabulous!

Nina never disappoints.  The meal was fabulous and I'm pretty sure we'll both have leftovers for the next week.  Yum!  We decided we weren't going to get our typical selections, so we started with the Risotto Tort with a basil pesto and then the hubby had a Cajun Chicken Penne (he tried really hard to not act like it was too spicy) and I had a Fettuccine in a Rosemary Sauce.  Fabulous.  But we couldn't resist and bought the Braised Chardonnay Short Ribs to take home—I'm pretty sure I've ruined my attempt at being a Vegetarian for the week.  So worth it.

There's always next week!

I Just Love Myself a Thursday...

Today was a perfect fall day.  A little chill in the air and the wind blowing the multi-colored leaves that remain in the trees.  It's the time of year when you have to debate; do I cuddle up on the couch with a good book and a blanket or do I enjoy the rest of the fall sunshine?  Luckily, I managed to do both.  

Luna and I started our walk with a lot of gusto.  She's really getting the knack for the walking on a leash thing.  I'm a proud momma.

When we rounded the green bridge into town, she started to get tired; jumping on my leg with each step we took towards meeting up with our friend Trish.  

I knew that I wanted to get a little bit longer of a walk in, so I decided to see if the hubby's mom was home and willing to puppy-sit while I finished my walk because my back couldn't handle picking her up every time she got a little too tired.  It's amazing how heavy four-pounds can feel after a few minutes of carry time.  Luna started pulling the instant we were outside of her g-ma's building and when we were buzzed in she ran up the stairs and went right to her door.  I couldn't even keep up with her.  Thankfully her grama was thrilled to see her and enjoyed every minute of the company.    

The walk was perfect.

It was nice to catch up with my friend.  It's been awhile since we've been able to talk about everything and nothing.  We both are motivated to not just accept what has always been the norm for us.  Giving up when things get tough starts to get old after awhile— bad habits are really hard to break, starting new good ones seems even harder sometimes.  Walking Luna helps me stay motivated when the blanket keeps calling my name.

Anyone Know Anything About This?

We walked through the local cemeteries and I stopped to say a prayer at my family plot and at my aunts. 

It's nice to see the love and affection that families put into the graves of their loved ones who have passed.  I've never viewed cemeteries as a morbid place, but always a place of love and faith.  Mixed with the fallen leaves the cemetery can be so calming.

After we parted ways I went home to get the car so I could pick up my hubby's dry-cleaning.  I couldn't decided whether or not to go home first or pick up my furbaby.  I decided that it would be easier on her and on my back if I went home first.  I was also a little scared that the last of the sunlight was fading so I didn't want to chance it.  

I spent some time with my mother-in-law which was nice because I haven't been able to spend much quality time with her or my hubby's family in the past few months.  Unfortunately, all the nephews birthday parties are on Sundays and they also fall during football season; there's really no way for me to take off for the parties, but thankfully my hubby can still go.

I just miss family and friends.  

I went up to my mom's to see her and the pups and have a huge cup of hot tea.  I hate that feeling you get after walking or running in the cold weather; you're sweating and yet you're cold and once you cool down, you still really can't shake that chill that takes over.  

More errands after our short visit; I had to go grocery shopping.  I'm pretty sure it's been at least 2 weeks since I've done a full shopping trip.  Five bags and $100 later, I'm really hoping that I can get by with another two weeks of no grocery shopping; it's just a little hard when you eat a lot of fruits and veggies.  Sometimes you just have to go for the frozen variety, otherwise I'll come home with things I really shouldn't be eating.  How much hot chocolate can one person have in a two week period without it being just too decadent?  How much cheese can one eat for it to no longer be helpful for it's calcium and vitamin D, but is more of an artery clogger and a cholesterol riser?

Overall, I really did have a great Thursday off.  I have to say, the four day work week is definitely a treat every other week.  The next few weeks should be great; my brother is coming to visit this week, then we're off to Indianapolis for a few days, and then one of my bffs is coming home for a working week.  I can't wait to have all the company.  It will be a nice change of pace because I know that today was.

Till then, I'm looking forward to another perfect day.

Oh, What a Perfect Day...

I have fallen in love all over again. What, you say? Have I fallen out of love with hubby and back in again? No, silly, I could never. I will always love him, but I do have a secret love from my past. She is amazing. Yes, she.

The best character ever born by the genius of an author's mind and pen. I have fallen in love again with Anne Shirley, my Anne of Green Gables. Now, to be honest, I never really fell out of love with her, but we've been separated for such a very long time. The last time that I read these L.M. Montgomery classics was probably about 13 years ago. Crazy, right? How dare I let her sit on the shelf for that long without opening those beige pages. They smell so perfect. Just like walking into a library. To open up the pages of an old book is like smelling cookies baking in a shop and having it remind you of a moment in time with your Grama. It just takes you back.

After reading book one, I popped in the movie. I love this movie. You know how movies pretty much suck after you read a book and fall in love with it and the characters? Well, these movies didn't trash the classic. I envisioned Anne like Megan Follows, beautiful with her red locks even if she didn't know it. I loved the adventures, I loved Matthew and Marilla. I loved seeing her dress with the oh so very puffed sleeves. Diana Barry was perfect. I always thought that I would name my daughter one day, Cordelia, because it is such a beautiful name for a princess. Anne fans would know. They would understand. I only made it through disk one, but with almost four hours with watching Anne, and others imagining with her, I decided that I should maybe get dressed. Possibly. I mean it was my day off so I should be productive.

Grocery shopping was on the plate. All organic. So expensive.

The bathroom also needed to be cleaned. All the fun stuff.

Then I bought some stuff for planting my plants. Now, I don't know if I've ever mentioned my not so green thumb before, but it's so far from green, it's scary. But I think it's mostly because I forget about plants. You know, that they need sun or that they need water. Well I decided that I was going to try to not kill the plants this summer. So I bought some cute little gardening gloves, some pots, and what I thought was soil. Come to find out, I bought plant food, so my planting has been put off another day. I was so inspired by the flowers at Green Gables in the movie. The beautiful countryside that is Prince Edward Island. I hope one day to go back.

Hopefully, I will be toting one of these carpet bags.

Oh, did I mention that Anne carried a carpet bag when arriving at Marilla and Matthew's home? I've always wanted one, but I didn't think that anyone still made these things! But after a short google search, I found out that they are indeed still made! I want the modern one with the strap and the star and moon fabric, what a surprise right? I'm pretty sure I'm an old lady in a somewhat young person's body. A cup of tea and an old friend, what could be better for a day off?

Love This Day...

This is a great day. A big pot of freshly brewed strawberry green tea and me on my laptop (I have some designing to do for my copy editing class). Then I'm heading to church with mom. Then the Halloween party at work— it's Disney themed this year, so I decided to be Minnie Mouse. I'll post some pics later.

Now I have to just find a way to keep myself from eating the bags of candy my husband bought for the trick or treaters that will never come! We didn't have a single one last year. I'll put our porch light on early, if someone comes, they're getting the whole bag! Oh well, back to work.