So Much of So Much

  "Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap." (Barbara Jordan)

Hello, my lovely friends! 

    Oof, what a absolute whirlwind of a week it has been around here. Our hearts and our home have been completely full, especially with my sister, Renee, and brother-in-law, George, flying in to stay with us. The occasion itself wasn’t the easiest, as we all gathered together to say a final, bittersweet goodbye to my uncle. But honestly, having the family under one roof was the ultimate comfort. There is something so incredibly healing about sitting around a table with the people who know you best, sharing old stories, laughing through the tears, and just leaning on each other when things get tough. It was a heavy week, absolutely, but it was also wrapped up in so much love and connection that I wouldn't trade for the world.

    By the time Monday afternoon rolled around and we had to drop Renee and George back off at the airport, the house suddenly felt incredibly quiet—you know that distinct echo a house gets after a lively visit? We desperately needed a collective moment to just catch our breath and process everything, so we dedicated the entire next day to the art of doing absolutely nothing. No chores, no to-do lists, no rushing anywhere—just pure, unadulterated rest to recharge our emotional batteries after such an intense stretch. If you’ve ever survived one of those emotionally draining weeks, you know that a designated, guilt-free "couch potato day" isn't a luxury; it’s a necessary survival tactic!

 

 

   Of course, Mother Nature has been keeping us on our toes because our weather lately has been downright crazy. Right after we walked through the door from dropping Renee and George off at the airport, the sky turned a wild color and we were hit with a massive rainstorm accompanied by hail. I think we both collectively held our breath and froze, because we literally just finished having the house repaired last year from the catastrophic hail storm we took a beating from two years ago! Luckily, the universe showed us some mercy this time; it was just small, pea-sized hail, but boy, did it come down fast and furious. Thankfully, everything is safe, the sky has cleared, and now I’m just looking forward to brighter days ahead.

    Once the mental fog finally started to lift, we braced ourselves and tackled the massive job that had been patiently waiting for us right outside our front door: the yard. We spent hours cleaning up the last of the winter clutter, stray branches, and random debris. Let me tell you, stepping back and seeing that space looking tidy and fresh again felt like a massive weight lifting off our shoulders. Best of all, clearing out the old has officially cleared the way for the good stuff. After such a heavy week, getting my hands dirty, digging into the earth, and prepping the soil for new growth was exactly the kind of grounding therapy my soul needed.

    Speaking of new growth, my green thumb is officially tingling, and I’m so excited to tell you that I'm planning a whole blog post dedicated to my garden next week! I recently took a little retail therapy trip to our local garden center and came home with a trunk completely loaded with beautiful things to plant. I’ve been sketching out some really fun, ambitious plans for both the summer and fall garden harvests here, and I can't wait to take you along for the ride as everything starts to sprout.

Thank you so much for stopping by.
I wish you a good morning, afternoon or evening wherever you are.
Until next time… Ciao!

 

 

That Was a Long Week

  "Instead of a sign that says: 'Do not disturb' I need one that says: 'Already disturbed, proceed with caution.'" (Author Unknown)

 

 Hello, my lovely friends!

    Oh my goodness, friends, last week was officially one of the longest, most exhausting weeks I have had in what feels like forever. It was just one of those times where our emotions were riding a total rollercoaster, bouncing all over the place with so many different things happening at once. On top of the emotional weight, our calendar was absolutely packed, and it felt like we were out and running around pretty much every single day.

By the time the chaos finally slowed down, we managed to carve out two whole days just to stay home—and let me tell you, we did absolutely nothing. We were both so incredibly drained and bone-tired from everything that our only mission was to rest and recharge. It is so important to listen to your body when it tells you to stop, so we happily embraced the cozy downtime to reset.

    We have some sad news in our family. My Uncle Fritz, who was married to my dad’s sister, Nancy, passed away last Sunday. While we knew this day was approaching after his years-long battle with cancer and his later struggle with dementia, it’s still never easy to say goodbye. By the end, the dementia had taken such a hold that he no longer recognized anyone, including my sweet aunt, but we take comfort in knowing he went peacefully, surrounded by the love of his kids and grandkids.

Right now, the family is waiting to finalize the details for his services. My sister and BIL are already planning to fly out to join us so we can all support Aunt Nancy and honor Uncle Fritz's memory together. On Monday we went over to my aunt’s house to spend some time with her.

    Then on Tuesday, my mom had an appointment with the infectious disease doctor, and wow,what an absolute world of difference! My sister was on the phone listening in, too. My mom explained everything she’s been going through and how they just keep making her do test after test. Honestly, this is probably the very first doctor who actually truly heard her. We all asked questions, and she took the time to answer every single one.

She suggested a new MRI since the last one is over two months old. My mom was a little hesitant at first, but she went ahead and made the appointment, and it is already scheduled for this Friday! That is easily the fastest appointment she’s gotten in a long time. The doctor even said she would contact my mom’s other doctor to coordinate getting her shots. My mom is feeling so much better about things now that she finally has a doctor who really has the ball rolling.    

    Wednesday finally gave us a much-needed break from the emotional roller-coaster we’ve been riding lately. We spent the day resting up and recharging, but we also had to get everything ready for Thursday because we were heading right back to the theater! This time, we went to see MJ The Musical again. You might remember that when we first saw it a couple of years ago, we loved it so much that we came right home and bought tickets to see it again the very next week.

This performance was extra special because we managed to snag front-row seats right in the dead center. It was an absolutely incredible show! There was this moments where it felt so surreal, if you closed your eyes, you would swear Michael Jackson himself was right there on stage singing. If you love his music even a little bit, this show is an absolute must-see.

    Oh my goodness, can we talk about how exhausting grocery shopping is? We had to venture out for some much-needed supplies on Friday, and honestly, it just takes absolutely everything out of me. Between navigating the aisles, bagging everything up, hauling it all inside, and finally putting it where it belongs, it's a whole workout. My sweet mom isn't really able to help much with the heavy lifting, so the bulk of the heavy lifting falls on my shoulders, leaving me completely wiped out.

Because the week was such a marathon, yesterday just had to be another much-needed rest day. I did manage to tackle a few little things around the house to keep life moving, but mostly, I just gave myself permission to slow down and recharge the batteries. Sometimes you just have to listen to your body, take a breather, and remind yourself that the chores can wait.

Whew! How’s was your week? 

So glad you could make it. Whether you’re starting your day or winding it down, I hope it’s a great one. Until we cross paths again—take care! 

It Did What Here???

"What's done is done. What's gone is gone. One of life's lessons is always moving on. It's okay to look back to see how far you've come but keep moving forward." (Roy T. Bennett)

Hello, my lovely friends! 

 

     Remember that endless, dusty winter where the snow basically ghosted us? Well, Mother Nature finally checked her calendar and decided to stage a massive 24-hour comeback! Since we’re already deep into spring, she didn't bring that fluffy powder; instead, we got the "heart attack" special—super wet, heavy, and thick enough to sculpt.

Walking outside felt like a bit of a rescue mission. The weight was so intense that trees were practically bowing down, with plenty of branches arching toward the sidewalk and a few unlucky ones snapping off entirely. It was definitely a messy day for the backyard, but honestly, it’s hard to be too upset when you look at how desperately our soil needed the drink.

While we were shaking off the slush down here, the mountains were getting the real VIP treatment. Some spots clocked in a couple of feet of fresh white coating! It’s a late-season miracle for our water levels and a much-needed soak for the earth. After months of dry dirt, I’ll take a few broken branches in exchange for a happy, hydrated landscape.

    It has been so nice to finally have a moment where my mom can just sit back and breathe. Between all her Kaiser appointments and the snow keeping us tucked away at home, she really needed the break. It’s been a lot to manage, and honestly, the downtime was overdue.

    We’re heading in next week to go over her biopsy results since the doctors think there might be something worth a closer look. Who knows, but at this point, she’s mostly just fed up with the whole system. She is officially ready to move on and is planning to change all her doctors and her insurance as soon as the year wraps up. For now, we’re just focusing on staying cozy and taking it one day at a time!

    The stage lights are staying bright for just a little longer! We have two more shows to catch before we can finally kick back—"Hadestown" is up this Saturday, followed by "MJ" next Thursday. It has been a whirlwind of a couple of weeks, and while it’s been a total blast, my feet are definitely ready for a breather.

Once we wrap up these next two performances, we get a much-deserved break until the middle of June. It’ll be the perfect time to recharge the batteries and soak up some quiet moments before the next act begins. I'm looking forward to every second of the upcoming shows, but that upcoming hiatus is going to feel like a standing ovation!

I’m so grateful you spent a bit of your day here with me. I hope the rest of your morning, afternoon, or evening is filled with little moments of joy and a whole lot of cozy.  Take good care of yourself, and I’ll be looking forward to our next chat!

 

The Rain Came

  

"Lean forward into your life... catch the best bits and the finest wind. Just tip your feathers in flight a wee bit and see how dramatically that small lean can change your life." (Mary Anne Radmacher)

Hello, my lovely friends!

    Oh my goodness, Mother Nature has truly opened up the skies! It has been raining off and on for two days now, and honestly, it is such a beautiful sight to see. After the long, dry winter we’ve had, every single drop feels like a little gift for the earth. You can almost hear the ground sighing with relief as it finally gets a much-needed drink.

The best part—or maybe the part where we should start hunting for our umbrellas—is that it looks like we’re in for this pattern for a while. The forecast says we can expect rain pretty much every afternoon for the rest of the week. While it might put a little dampener on outdoor plans, there is something so cozy about watching the clouds roll in while the world gets a good scrubbing.

I’m choosing to look on the bright side of these gray skies. It is the perfect excuse to slow down, listen to the pitter-patter on the roof, and maybe enjoy an extra-large mug of something warm. Our gardens and the trees are going to be so happy and vibrant once the sun decides to peek back through. For now, let’s just enjoy the refresh and stay dry out there!

    A quick update on my mom. She had her biopsy very, very early this past Monday morning, so that part is officially behind us. It is such a relief to have that step checked off the list, and now we are just in that waiting period for the results to come back. We are keeping our fingers crossed that everything looks good so we can finally get her shots scheduled and get her back on track.

It has been a bit of a journey dealing with the logistics of it all lately. Even the doctor who administers her shots mentioned it feels like Kaiser is really dragging their feet with her at this point. He was so supportive, though, even going as far as to say that if she needed a hand navigating her way out of their system to get better care elsewhere, he would personally help her out. It’s honestly so heartening to know she has people like that in her corner.

For now, we are staying positive and focusing on the best-case scenario. We’re hoping for a clear report so she can move forward with her treatment without any more delays or hurdles.

    If the weather decides to behave itself, we are planning on heading out to Costco later today. You all know what that means—it is time to restock on those amazing salad bags! They are easily my favorite find lately, and I honestly can’t get enough of them.

I’m still kicking myself a little bit because I really should have taken a picture to show you, but I tried something new for dinner last night. I took that same salad I posted the other day and tucked it all into a wrap instead of eating it out of a bowl. Let me tell you, it was absolutely yummy! It’s such a simple switch, but it felt like a totally different meal. I forgot to post the picture of the salad the other night and put it up in the blog before this one. 

There is just something so satisfying about finding a healthy go-to that actually tastes great and makes life a little easier. Whether I’m crunching on it as a side or rolling it up for a quick dinner, those greens are definitely the highlight of my grocery list. If the rain holds off and I manage to snag a few more bags, I’ll be one very happy camper. Sending you all so much love and hoping your day is full of little wins and delicious treats!

Thanks for dropping in! I’d wish you a good morning, but since I don't know your time zone, let's just go with: Have a spectacular next 24 hours. See you at the next one!

Well That Was Crazy!

 

"Put wellness at the top of your list now. Don't wait until something goes wrong." (Terri Trespicio)

Hello, my lovely friends!

    I’m sending a massive virtual hug your way today because, honestly, I think I need one just as much as you do. It has been one of those weeks where the universe decides to throw a curveball just to see if your reflexes are still sharp. I was so incredibly excited to log on here and share all the magic from our Sunday play date at Water for Elephants, but life had a slightly less glamorous script in mind for me. Instead of soaring acrobatics and Broadway lights, my Sunday morning kicked off with a personal drama that felt a little too real for comfort.

I woke up feeling like my chest was in a literal vice, and every breath I took felt like I was trying to inhale a bag of marbles. Now, we’ve all lived enough life to know that when the chest starts acting up, the "ignore it and it’ll go away" strategy isn’t exactly the wisest move. For a terrifying minute, I was convinced this was the big one. We went back and forth on the ER debate, that classic dance of "I don't want to be dramatic" versus "I don't want to be a statistic", and in the heat of the moment, we decided to stay home and officially donated our tickets to someone who could actually, you know, breathe.

Then, about thirty minutes into my existential crisis, the most sophisticated medical miracle occurred: I let out a burp that probably registered on the local Richter scale. Just like that, the "heart attack" vanished, the pressure lifted, and I realized I wasn’t dying; I was just quite literally full of hot air. I suppose it’s a poetic reminder that even when I think I’m being deep and serious, I’m usually just gassy. We had already given the tickets away by then, so I spent the afternoon on the sofa in the quiet comfort of my own home, feeling a mix of profound relief and total sheepishness. I missed the show, but I’m still here to tell the tale, and honestly, having you all to laugh about it with is the best consolation prize I could ask for.

 

     After a bit of a rocky start to the week, I decided to actually listen to my body for once and press pause. That nagging soreness in my chest finally decided to exit stage left by Sunday evening, but Mom, ever the voice of reason, insisted that Monday be dedicated to the fine art of doing absolutely nothing. She pointed out that I’ve been playing "Chief Everything Officer" around the house lately, and honestly, the stress was starting to show in ways that aren't nearly as graceful as a gold-medal floor routine.

 

Instead of fighting the inevitable, we leaned into the stillness and spent our final night together soaking up the closing ceremonies of the Olympics. It turns out that leaning back into the sofa is a much better look for me than carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. I spent the following day in a blissful, unapologetic lounge. It’s a gentle reminder to myself, and perhaps to you too, that the chores will still be there tomorrow, but your sanity is far more precious.

  

    We decided to venture out for a few errands with the little man in tow on Tuesday, who fortunately finds the backseat of a car to be the height of luxury. The primary mission was a restock of those "magic" gummies for my mom. They truly do wonders for her aches, though she’d be the first to tell you that the price tag provides a different kind of pain altogether. It’s a bit of a steep investment for a little relief, but seeing her comfortable is worth every penny, even if it makes the wallet feel significantly lighter.

 

Of course, the universe had other plans for our quick ten-minute jaunt. What should have been a breeze turned into a thirty-minute crawl through the aftermath of two separate accidents. It’s the classic story of a town that outgrew its own boots; they definitely didn't plan for this much life when they laid down these narrow lanes. My mom tried to be clever by taking a "shortcut" to bypass the mess, but as fate would have it, we ended up merged right back into the same sea of brake lights. We couldn't do much else but laugh at the absurdity of it all, joking that maybe the cosmos was trying to tell us we should have just stayed tucked away at home.

 

    While most of you are currently living in a literal snow globe, seriously, drop the link for your ski resort passes, nature has decided to skip the winter wonderland theme over here in favor of sheer chaos. We’ve spent the last forty-eight hours in a relentless wind storm that has turned my backyard into a communal lost-and-found for the neighborhood’s trash. If you’re looking for a rogue recycling bin or a stray patio cushion, there’s a solid chance it’s currently performing a clumsy solo dance across my patio. It’s less of a scenic vista and more of an obstacle course at this point.

 

The novelty of this "endless summer" vibe is wearing thin, too. Having seventy-degree weather all through the months we should be shivering sounds like a dream until the reality of the fire hazards sets in. We’ve already watched three separate blazes break out in nearby cities, which is a stressful price to pay for being able to skip the heavy coats. The mountains are teasing us with a light dusting of white, but down here on the ground, we haven't seen so much as a drop of rain to settle the dust. I’m sending all my love to those of you currently shoveling your way out of your front doors, but please, feel free to blow a few of those storm clouds in my direction.

 

So, how's your week been? 

 

 So glad you could make it. Whether you’re starting your day or winding it down, I hope it’s a great one. Until we cross paths again—take care!

Not So Bad Here

 "Be thankful every chance you get. Not because life has been easy, perfect, or exactly as you had anticipated, but because you choose to be happy and grateful for all the good things you do have and all the problems you know you don't have." (Author Unknown)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!  

 

    So, did everyone actually survive the Great Frost and those dramatic storms? I know some of you truly went through the ringer, and I promise I’m sending warm thoughts your way. Meanwhile, over in my neck of the woods, the "weather event" was a bit of a theatrical flop. Sure, we endured those bitter, negative temperatures all day, but as for the snow? It was less of a winter wonderland and more of a light dusting that couldn't even commit to the bit for forty-eight hours.

Poor Scoots was the most offended of all. He caught a glimpse of the white stuff at night and likely went to bed with visions of epic drifts dancing in his head, only to wake up to a backyard that had mostly returned to its usual self. He did manage to hunt down a stray patch or two of slush near the fence, looking very much like a dog who had been promised a blizzard and was handed a lukewarm slushie instead.

  

     Last Friday, the universe decided to pair a funeral with a blizzard, forcing us out into the kind of cold that makes you question every life choice you’ve ever made. We were mourning my aunt’s mother on my dad’s side, and I’ll be honest—the snow almost won the "should we stay or should we go" debate. However, we were the official guardians of the post-service cake.

Despite the frostbite-inducing trek, it was actually lovely to see everyone. We took over a few tables afterward to swap stories and play the ultimate game of "Who Have You Seen Lately?" I’ve truly missed that side of the family, even if my excitement was seasoned with a healthy dose of "please don't breathe on me" anxiety. It seems half the guest list had recently battled another round of COVID, which had me eyeing the room like a germaphobe in a petri dish.

To play it safe, I started aggressive preventative measures with my medicine cabinet the moment I felt the winter chill trying to turn into a full-blown relapse. Thankfully, my immune system took the hint and held the line. I managed to survive the snow, the germs, and the emotional rollercoaster without bringing home a parting gift of the sniffles—which is a win in my book.

 

    Yesterday, the world went dark—no internet, no cable, and a blissful silence from the phones. While most people would have spiraled into a digital withdrawal-induced panic, I found it surprisingly refreshing. It turns out that scrubbing a kitchen is significantly more therapeutic when you aren’t being bombarded by notifications or the background hum of the 24-hour news cycle.

 

The forced offline status gave me the perfect excuse to finally tackle my mom’s craving for white tortilla cheese enchiladas. I whipped up a dozen, and we spent the afternoon splitting them and chatting about absolutely nothing of consequence. It was pure, unhurried quiet—at least until Mom decided the silence needed a soundtrack. She fired up some Cher and started dancing in her seat, turning a tech blackout into a full-blown living room concert. Honestly? It was the best day we’ve had in a long time.

 

 I’m so grateful you spent a bit of your day here with me. I hope the rest of your morning, afternoon, or evening is filled with little moments of joy and a whole lot of cozy.  Take good care of yourself, and I’ll be looking forward to our next chat!