Birthday Wish List

This past weekend was one for rest and recovery. After waking up sick in Key West, I've been ill all week. Saturday I did nothing but binge-watch You, a series on Netflix that's creepy in a real-life way. Sunday I felt a little better and some laundry and household cleaning were finished. Anyone want to visit us so I have an excuse to clean more often?? I swear that's the only time deep cleaning is done. ( Edit, as I typed this my Mom called to ask if her and my Dad & Grandma could come over so I DID clean the house).

Anywho, my birthday is next weekend and AJ and I will be flying to the Dominican Republic! I'm super psyched to start the new year off in another country! 

Since my gift was this trip, I've got a few items I might buy myself when we get back. Of course, they're all under $50 cuz ya girl is cheap. 

 Here are what's on my list: 

CBD Bath Bombs

Adidas Sneakers

Bath Caddy
Yeti Coffee Mug

KW Chronicles # 2

In my last post, I had mentioned that Key West was the plan for the weekend. Well, the KW trip ended up being less than 24 hours long. 

This was one of the first times AJ and I had time to kill on the way down and finally got to re-experience some of the more local spots the keys has to offer. The drive itself is, in my opinion, shitty. There are so many things to look at but the traffic is terrible and this time was no different. If you're going to make the drive all the way to Key West, you totally want to stop along the way.

Our first stop was in Islamorada. The key (island) where most people end up stopping on their way down. Most people don't make it all the way to Cayo Hueso because it takes so long and Islamorada ( The Village of Islands) is a great place to hang out. There are many bars, water sports, activities and family restaurants. 

Islamorada found us at the Florida Keys Brewing Company. This place has the cutest little beer garden outside and the wind was blowing just right through the leaves. We enjoyed a beer outdoors, and then made our way to the bar. While AJ finished his beer, I imbibed with a flight of five different types of beer and received a souvenir glass to go. While drinks on the go are not frowned upon in this part of FL, we did not partake in that practice. 

An hour or so later we stopped at No Name Pub. This establishment used to be hidden and no one could find it except for locals but nowadays it's on the map. This fun little eatery is known for its fish dip and pizza, as well as dollar bills hanging from every available surface.

We enjoyed some famous fish dip and a pizza and moseyed on to our hotel in town. Most of the time we don't stay in hotels but this was the right deal at the right time. 

Once we got into town, I zipped right back out to meet a girlfriend, Molly, for a drink at  General Horseplay before we hit a burlesque show. Let's say I had no idea what this show would entail and neither did she! We were in for quite the strip-teasing time though. Turns out that Back Room Burlesque is a very Key West-y thing to do. 

Unfortunately, I woke up sick as a dog on Sunday morning and we immediately came back home.  Until next time Key West....

Currently | Jan 19'

This coming month will be jam-packed. 

A trip to Key West this weekend. 

Reading endorsement courses on two Saturdays. 

An appt. with a new chiropractor. *Fingers crossed he fixes my back! 

A dermaplaning facial at the end of the month. 

An international trip for my birthday!

Scheduled barn days every Thursday. ( I volunteer at a horse rescue every week)

Drinking | Water and more water. After my last glass of champagne at the barn on NYE, I'm trying to refrain from alcohol until AJ and I's vacation. Think I can do it? 

Wondering | If Girl, Wash Your Face is worth the read. I'm sure I'm the last person to check this book out but honestly, is it worth it?

Listening to | Janet Evanovich's Notorious Nineteen and Sell or Be Sold by Grant Cardone. I'm trying to balance out my love of fiction with more productive books.  Having an Audible subscription is one of the best things I did in 2018. 

Choosing | My word of the year, perseverance. Girlfriend isn't going to lose weight, change jobs or have a clean house without discipline. 

Tidying | My office space. It's in the middle of a mid-life crisis and doesn't know if it wants to stay a junk room or become an office/guest room. The plan is to get rid of the junk and buy a pull-out couch for the space. 

Exploring | The Florida Keys. On our trip down tomorrow we plan on stopping at new places we've never been. 

Resolving | to lose 40+ lbs this year. I've hooked up with the same trainer that helped me lose the weight the first time and I'm ready to kick ass and take names this year. 

Refreshing | My outlook on work. I've been having a terrible year  and I'm working on refreshing my attitude toward my job. 

Lookin' Forward

As the year dwindles down it's time to start being intentional about the new year. I've never set a "word" or tone for the new year so this is new for me. After contemplation and some wine, I've decided my word for 2019 should be perseverance. This year will be battening down the hatches and getting to work. I'm going to need to get my sh*t together and get down to the nitty-gritty for some of my goals, especially the first one. 

In 2019 I will:

Fit back in my jeans and control my eating || I don't have a healthy relationship with food since starting my anxiety meds and I'd like to get this back under control. This is my #1 goal for the year, above all else. My health needs to improve. 

Take my 6-9 Social Studies exam || I'd love to teach middle school social studies and make the jump from elementary school. 

Find the last remaining pieces for the house || I want to find a white dresser for our guest room, a pullout couch for the office, and a white entertainment center for the living room. The house is almost finished but it needs a few more pieces of furniture to put the icing on the cake. 

Get massages regularly || Since working out regularly is back in motion, my body will need more TLC than normal. My back will thank me. 

Find a regular doctor || I've always had slightly high blood pressure and it's time to find out why and what I need to do about it. 

Grow my business || I started working with a luxury hair care line that I love and everyone needs to know about it!

Key West Chronicles # 1: Camping & Parades

At the beginning of December, we took our new camper down to Key West. After a 6 hour drive, we arrived at Leo's campground around 9 p.m. Little did we know that the campsite they put our camper in was a tent site. We couldn't fit. We tried every which way to make it work, to put it lightly, AJ was more than angry. After panicking that we had nowhere to stay, we called Boyd's Campground and they fit us right in! 

We finally got set up and in our spot around 10:30 that night and we were too exhausted to go out, or even walk to the corner store for beer. We hit the bed and slept like babies. 

The morning brought a more serene feeling as our campsite was right off the water. 

AJ had a fishing trip that afternoon so I hung out at camp and worked on my Gifted Endorsement course. Thankfully Boyd's has free wifi! Talk about glamping. 

A little while later a good friend came to pick me up so we could set up for her Christmas party that evening. I'd been stranded since we only had one vehicle on this trip. 

The party went off without a hitch and even had an intermission to go watch the Holiday Parade.

It's always nice to go back to where it all began and see friends we miss dearly.