tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38484103910348716962024-01-02T21:43:43.038-06:00Still Amber I AmHumor and Life from a Frazzled Mom and WifeAmber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-90631942510712945422022-08-31T07:00:00.005-05:002022-08-31T07:00:00.160-05:00What's Up Wednesday : August 2022<p>I've seen a few other bloggers participating in the What's Up Wednesday monthly linkup, and it looks fun, so I'm joining in this month! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6zoWddQ4QGN48Gj_1DTHnsGVlIKFJm1yMdoupbkRyZMdjtzImo37kD92F8lAtI5OtV6hhZl9Lfaqz8aYRSt1-BninfeVddNFzWaKMnFIuY9VoFnIxPXtDOY9L6GSFagWpQAQBOUstIZ0PHsOo7iA2tlM5FTkKuDsXd5s8oxCcWof-Tw4efIVcDHrc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="600" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6zoWddQ4QGN48Gj_1DTHnsGVlIKFJm1yMdoupbkRyZMdjtzImo37kD92F8lAtI5OtV6hhZl9Lfaqz8aYRSt1-BninfeVddNFzWaKMnFIuY9VoFnIxPXtDOY9L6GSFagWpQAQBOUstIZ0PHsOo7iA2tlM5FTkKuDsXd5s8oxCcWof-Tw4efIVcDHrc" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>1. What We're Eating This Week: </b>Pizza tonight for spirit night at Charli's school. Beyond that...who knows? I'm so bad about meal planning!<p></p><p><b>2. What I'm Reminiscing About: </b>Taking Charli to the fair with my parents when she was little - maybe around 1.5 years old? Since Mom and I took her to the fair a couple of weeks ago, we were talking about it and how we had to change her diaper in a historical building while she was screaming. Fun times! This was also the first time any of us have been to the fair since we lost dad, and since he loved it, we talked about him too. </p><p><b>3. What I'm Loving: </b>Charli's independence! Although sometimes it's tough when she gets frustrated doing certain things, I'm seeing this independence more and more each day, and it's so cool to see her work through things on her own!</p><p><b>4. What We've Been Up To: </b>Decluttering and cleaning thanks to help from my aunt and grandma, going to the fair, first grade math homework (ugh), gymnastics and Girl Scouts for Charli - August has been busy!!</p><p><b>5. What I'm Dreading: </b>I can't think of anything I'm dreading right now!</p><p><b>6. What I'm Working On: </b>Finishing tagging items for an upcoming consignment sale (I always procrastinate!!), the never-ending process of decluttering and cleaning, finding and sticking to side hustles</p><p><b>7. What I'm Excited About: </b>Life changes! =)</p><p><b>8. What I'm Watching/Reading: </b>I need to catch up on all of the episodes of America's Got Talent that I have recorded. I'm sure the season has probably ended or is about to at this point, so at least I can get through all of it at once! I also need to start on my <a href="https://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2022/07/40-by-40-list.html" target="_blank">Marvel list</a> too! I'm reading books on my Erin 17.0 book challenge list, plus children's books for a potential side project I've been mulling over. </p><p><b>9. What I'm Listening To: </b>"Top Hits" on Spotify in an attempt to know at least a little bit of music from this decade. </p><p><b>10. What I'm Wearing: </b>Lounge clothes or old comfy dresses whenever I can!!</p><p><b>11. What I'm Doing This Weekend: </b>Going to Charli's Girl Scouts event, swimming, working to implement some routines, decluttering, making a few things on the ol' Cricut, cleaning, and enjoying an extra day thanks to Labor Day</p><p><b>12. What I'm Looking Forward To Next Month: </b>Football and (maybe) cooler weather! Although in Tennessee, fall usually takes its sweet time to get here and stick around! </p><p><b>13. Favorite Amazon Product Of The Month: </b>Since I've been in consignment tagging mode, it's gotta be the <a href="https://amzn.to/3wuvynV" target="_blank">100 pack of hangers</a> that I'm quickly using up! FYI - that is an affiliate link, so if you click on it and purchase hangers or something way more fun on Amazon, I'll make a few pennies from your purchase, which I will then use to save towards more hangers for the next consignment sale...<span> </span></p><p><span>What's up with you? How has your August been? It's felt like it's only been about 15 minutes long here...</span></p><p>Linking up with <a href="https://sheaffertoldmeto.com/" target="_blank">Sheaffer</a> and <a href="https://mixandmatchmama.com/" target="_blank">Shea</a></p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-8224273500127131492022-08-15T07:00:00.020-05:002022-08-22T22:25:47.835-05:0040 by 40 : Month 1 Update<p>I'm nearly one month into being 39, so it's time for my first 40 by 40 update!</p><div>1. Get another tattoo - Not yet, but I did find out that a tattoo artist who I follow on TikTok for her amazing glittery looking tattoos will be at a convention in Chattanooga in March. I want to see if it'll be possible for me to go because I would love one of her pieces!</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Visit the beach - Definitely not yet!</div><div><br /></div><div>3. Do a cartwheel - No, but I've been debating asking Charli's gymnastics coach for pointers. We'll see if I'm brave enough to do that, or if I'll just keep Googling it...</div><div><br /></div><div>4. Purple hair - Not yet</div><div><br /></div><div>5. Ride a bike - Not yet</div><div><br /></div><div>6. Get a curl cut - Not yet</div><div><br /></div><div>7. Find a skin care routine - Not yet </div><div><br /></div><div>8. Get my nose pierced...again - Not yet</div><div><br /></div><div>9. Buy a new phone - Not yet</div><div><br /></div><div>10. Create a will - Not yet</div><div><br /></div><div>11. Have family pictures made - Not yet. One of our friends who is a photographer does amazing Christmas picture sessions with snow, usually in the fall, so that's the tentative plan for our family pictures!</div><div><br /></div><div>12. Go to the eye doctor/get new glasses - Not yet</div><div><br /></div><div>13. Make our family notebook - Not yet</div><div><br /></div><div>14. Go to Cheekwood during the fall or spring - Not yet since it isn't fall or spring yet!</div><div><br /></div><div>15. Try five new restaurants/coffee shops in the area - We tried two last month! One was a food truck that was at the farmer's market event I mentioned in my <a href="https://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2022/08/sentence-day-july-2022.html" target="_blank">July Sentence A Day post</a> and the other was where we had my belated birthday dinner with my in-laws. They were both really good...or at least I think so since I didn't have all of my sense of smell and taste back yet... (2/5)</div><div><br /></div><div>16. Go to the dentist - Not yet</div><div><br /></div><div>17. Take a picture in front of a Nashville mural - Not yet. Charli has a dentist appointment downtown (that I need to...ugh...call and reschedule), so whenever we're in Nashville for that, I'm going to go mural hunting!</div><div><br /></div><div>18. Stick with our budget every month, starting in August - This one was a little bumpy for us! I recently had a change at work that switched my pay days from weekly to every two weeks, so we had to relearn how to budget our money when we didn't have money coming in weekly. We also both received pay raises, so we had to account for our new incomes, which unfortunately also made us spend a little more since "we had extra money" (theoretically). Half credit here. (0.5/12)</div><div><br /></div><div>19. Set up a craft area - Not yet. I have a couple of ideas of how I want the space to look, but I haven't done anything yet because my plans involve moving a lot of furniture around, and some of it from upstairs to the basement, which I know Will is going to be <i>thrilled</i> about!</div><div><br /></div><div>20. Go to a UT football game - Not yet since the first game isn't until September 1!</div><div><br /></div><div>21. Do a 5K - Not yet. I think I'm going to aim for doing one on Thanksgiving. That gives me a little over three months to get back into the walking habit, plus it's so nice to feel like you accomplished something before stuffing your face!!</div><div><br /></div><div>22. Take a weekend trip with Will - Not yet. If I can make the tattoo appointment in Chattanooga work, then that might be our trip!</div><div><br /></div><div>23. Go kayaking - Not yet</div><div><br /></div><div>24. Pay off most of our debt - Not yet. I'm working on some side hustles/ways to bring in extra income, so hopefully those will pan out and we can start paying extra on these things!</div><div><br /></div><div>25. Go on six fun/different dates with Will - Not yet (0/6)</div><div><br /></div><div>26. Go on six fun/different mom/daughter dates with Charli - I'm counting the splash pad and exploring the state park for our first one since it was somewhere she and I had never been to together. Plus, mom kept us supplied with snacks, so that made it even better! (1/6)</div><div><br /></div><div>27. Try a new workout class - Not yet</div><div><br /></div><div>28. Watch all of the Marvel movies/shows - I found a list of all of the movies and shows in chronological order of when the events happened in the MCU, and wow, let's just say I underestimated how many titles there were! I haven't started any yet, but I think this will be an item that I make a lot of progress on during the colder months!<br /><br /></div><div>29. Try two new recipes a month - We did two pretty simple recipes this month - one, a ham, cheese, and honey sandwich on waffles (Will didn't try it, but I enjoyed it!), and the other was the infamous red bag chicken from Aldi, which was really good! We've eaten that chicken several times in the last few weeks!</div><div><br /></div><div>30. Read 100 books - So far I've read 6 books, so I'm a little short of my goal of 2 per week, but I'm making progress! (6/100)<br /><br />31. Get a new tablet or e-reader - Not yet</div><div><br /></div><div>32. Replace my broken Pandora bracelet - Not yet</div><div><br /></div><div>33. Make a house projects list and complete one a month - I started lists for all of the rooms, and with the help of my aunt and grandma, we completed one task - clearing off the dining room table (along with the area on the floor around the dining room, Charli's room, and Charli's playroom! Woo hoo!). (1/12)<br /><br /></div><div>34. Buy new makeup and start a makeup routine - Not yet</div><div><br /></div><div>35. Use the Instant Pot - Not yet<br /><br /></div><div>36. Play bingo in Kentucky - Not yet</div><div><br /></div><div>37. Complete a 30 day challenge [TBD] - Nope but I'll look into picking a challenge before my Month 2 update so I'll at least have an idea of when I should do this. </div><div><br /></div><div>38. Monthly social media free days - Completed on August 4! (1/12)</div><p></p><p>39. Make $500 from freelance writing - $0 so far, but I have a few ideas of where to find some fast jobs, so we'll see if month 2 is better!</p><p>40. Get Koopa's DNA done - Not yet<br /><br />The first month flew by, but I made some decent progress! Let's see how month 2 goes!</p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-31912262883911354722022-08-02T07:00:00.002-05:002022-08-03T23:26:12.216-05:00Sentence A Day : July 2022<p>Time to recap July, one sentence at a time!</p><p>1 - We finally got a little bit of much-needed rain but not nearly enough!</p><p>2 - Charli's second gymnastics class, and she had a great time again, but she suckered us into going to a coffee shop afterwards!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieViRCO2xpJV7eJpRYP4_FHAjDHkn4WITIyulrGcTMCaVZKL3_cG2B3NA8E69zKBMZQAlm4-mKV8LsOEKDZnZc6Q5Pbs9KZFZoQbTBna8snXiyey2cC0MASkbQJ-jKNuFvkfA2Kq390-cbUvJPu0R53jGDDaOEOM9uS19Bf1DtXeX1Dc1W7zkbAIIc/s4032/20220702_132603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieViRCO2xpJV7eJpRYP4_FHAjDHkn4WITIyulrGcTMCaVZKL3_cG2B3NA8E69zKBMZQAlm4-mKV8LsOEKDZnZc6Q5Pbs9KZFZoQbTBna8snXiyey2cC0MASkbQJ-jKNuFvkfA2Kq390-cbUvJPu0R53jGDDaOEOM9uS19Bf1DtXeX1Dc1W7zkbAIIc/s320/20220702_132603.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p>3 - Sunday at home with Charli and Koopa while Will worked, and we got more rain!!</p><p>4 - We don't love fireworks, but we love watching Charli enjoy them!</p><p>5 - Tuesday that felt like a Monday...nothing bad, just confusing to my brain! [<a href="https://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2022/07/sentence-day-june-2022.html" target="_blank">Sentence a Day : June 2022</a>]</p><p>6 - Trying to squeeze a week's worth of work into fewer than a week's worth of days is exhausting!! [<a href="https://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2022/07/currently-july-2022.html">Currently : July 2022</a>]</p><p>7 - Went with Charli and Mom to see a play tonight, and Charli did really well, even though it was a little advanced for her at times!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIfnv7S-bR4tEfDSEoa1JIeuAXmcmPaL0OQpuM59E8ieDjtNGL_bYAilxA8wPRg9liCv9dhtsi2zvzRGDZUcCd92laxbKoYPCa5U9elJhlw-odFL8cUrjVQVgQo7bmRBXS1uQP6FT11CwameJU0t4NWNZnmjrMEoQ-Hg8GPF6hBQtpMwTQMawoWaN/s4032/20220707_184827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIfnv7S-bR4tEfDSEoa1JIeuAXmcmPaL0OQpuM59E8ieDjtNGL_bYAilxA8wPRg9liCv9dhtsi2zvzRGDZUcCd92laxbKoYPCa5U9elJhlw-odFL8cUrjVQVgQo7bmRBXS1uQP6FT11CwameJU0t4NWNZnmjrMEoQ-Hg8GPF6hBQtpMwTQMawoWaN/s320/20220707_184827.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>8 - Chattanooga weekend trip with Charli, my mom, and my brother (Will stayed home to take care of the animals in both households), and our campground/camp cabin is really nice, but we couldn't swim tonight because of the weather.</p><p>9 - Spent most of the day at the Creative Discovery Museum since the Aquarium was almost sold out, and then when we got to the campground, there was lightning, and they closed the pool, which made Charli pretty mad!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ghXkd_jwmcoedRlTZY8akdIySHEPNoN06LB0OpIa3VHBiRYItd-0qIkYIiC44QBnjsP4sumUHbRbpJ-IL9WDv8JW1YxCrjdp3Ap4w22R--JSYr3EJW2eQ4NtCA0n3T0vf1Dy3O2GqClldQeT7WCawrljKAjmoR1OTYtwniEwmrW3vt60MkU02xck/s4032/20220709_130349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ghXkd_jwmcoedRlTZY8akdIySHEPNoN06LB0OpIa3VHBiRYItd-0qIkYIiC44QBnjsP4sumUHbRbpJ-IL9WDv8JW1YxCrjdp3Ap4w22R--JSYr3EJW2eQ4NtCA0n3T0vf1Dy3O2GqClldQeT7WCawrljKAjmoR1OTYtwniEwmrW3vt60MkU02xck/s320/20220709_130349.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>10 - Finally got to swim at the campground, went to the Aquarium, had a late lunch, and headed home...phew!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxklzK3Yix50ebAaznFhciFqejzOzkKYtynT8fLJlTs2bCyUPsO42L_KKI1CjgXjJxjA_Fq1GvqoK9cA3Ka6uGPC9ARd7VT-6TWy9WSNVdY0DjDo3ozZJHmykzzoIrB78t2RhfVs09YshfGPN3M6o6FmNbnxE75F5z4oaAHTDaWzoVfwSZwfb4uV0/s4032/20220710_130429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxklzK3Yix50ebAaznFhciFqejzOzkKYtynT8fLJlTs2bCyUPsO42L_KKI1CjgXjJxjA_Fq1GvqoK9cA3Ka6uGPC9ARd7VT-6TWy9WSNVdY0DjDo3ozZJHmykzzoIrB78t2RhfVs09YshfGPN3M6o6FmNbnxE75F5z4oaAHTDaWzoVfwSZwfb4uV0/s320/20220710_130429.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>11 - Went into the office for a little bit and feel like I've been in the car enough for a month or two!</p><p>12 - Unfortunately I finally got hit with the dreaded 'rona and feel awful!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdLKQx8k74crdWNrUcKuF7iXzXYiUDiQ-x4cwa5aU7SF5yUwfNV6XHjUhgZyOKhN1TqK5l2Kqa4113gWi-ImLwZdWxwyUWPi5BdTWjxtrsEkdyWrKWQanazLaoXQ33zqFrwnjL1eoegY1OBQ4GnYUBlOVedlHrw9m2KB5oHAy2sM7Eh7j19blhauh/s4032/20220712_191515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdLKQx8k74crdWNrUcKuF7iXzXYiUDiQ-x4cwa5aU7SF5yUwfNV6XHjUhgZyOKhN1TqK5l2Kqa4113gWi-ImLwZdWxwyUWPi5BdTWjxtrsEkdyWrKWQanazLaoXQ33zqFrwnjL1eoegY1OBQ4GnYUBlOVedlHrw9m2KB5oHAy2sM7Eh7j19blhauh/s320/20220712_191515.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>13 - Lots of resting and whining today; poor Will and Charli!</p><p>14 - More resting today and so much coughing...over it!!</p><p>15 - Felt a little more human today and worked for a couple of hours, but it got Will, so he's down for the count now.</p><p>16 - Happy birthday to me!!! πGonna have to celebrate next weekend thanks to the ol' c-virus...</p><p>17 - Rode with Mom and Charli to pick up some toys Mom got on Facebook Marketplace, got some coffee that I can almost taste, then spent some time at Mom's playing with Charli, who promises she'll come home tomorrow night!</p><p>18 - Spoiler alert - she did not come home tonight...sigh... [<a href="https://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2022/07/40-by-40-list.html" target="_blank">40 by 40 : The List</a>]</p><p>19 - Ran errands at lunch and took my brother to get him some lunch and while sitting at a red light, a container of Tide Pods fell off a car and in front of mine; I posted on our local community Facebook group to see if someone would claim it, but no one has so far...so odd!!</p><p>20 - I forgot to write my sentence today, but I think it was a pretty regular day.</p><p>21 - Ditto yesterday!</p><p>22 - Will and I met Mom, Charli, one of Charli's friends, and his mom at an orchard for a farmer's market night, which was hot but fun!</p><p>23 - Gymnastics, school shopping (including Mom getting some new glasses for Charli), and dinner with the in-laws for a belated birthday celebration!</p><p>24 - Went to a splash pad at a local state park with Mom and Charli, then explored it a little bit, which makes me want to get a camper and hit the road!!</p><p>25 - Monday, Monday, Monday...</p><p>26 - Charli has a stomach bug, which is ironic since she was just asking last night about throwing up...</p><p>27 - It was a short-lived bug, and she is feeling like herself again!</p><p>28 - Open house night at Charli's school to get her yearbook from last year and meet her teacher!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzc0udscn_KtOQs6cq2q7NljVIzDErKrEyT26PwQMmsE-j_0_RzYero55whs0QW07Jvt-uA-t50opPCEbRmuSLVAeeyRB41lwcdk3135Geu65DfZ_4PkciPB3-TwO9MzuN0cHAlK367WBhs_DbHez9qxftEwCGbA3wpEYmWUD4qAFi-wfdXqVwGZrl/s4032/20220728_164005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzc0udscn_KtOQs6cq2q7NljVIzDErKrEyT26PwQMmsE-j_0_RzYero55whs0QW07Jvt-uA-t50opPCEbRmuSLVAeeyRB41lwcdk3135Geu65DfZ_4PkciPB3-TwO9MzuN0cHAlK367WBhs_DbHez9qxftEwCGbA3wpEYmWUD4qAFi-wfdXqVwGZrl/s320/20220728_164005.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>29 - Finally finished a freelance project that I took way too long on...phew!!</p><p>30 - Errands day with Will, Charli, and Mom, and Charli begged to go to the car wash!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidI_urkjlSPegKCco0v-bQq0a0x8u8GZhvFnNedx5FNVc4kvNfCjgAq0nEK67N_kL2y1HgOV0SZW3y8nfzceOpNlW3YXYdhl1jevAiargNq0OoxzwWeJPvrJzSMl6HLdE405CXYaQiCCPY5Yj4rYsr4OEIQrFU6CepOzGho0WduVu-YyqD7CVr_jwr/s2640/20220730_190300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2640" data-original-width="1980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidI_urkjlSPegKCco0v-bQq0a0x8u8GZhvFnNedx5FNVc4kvNfCjgAq0nEK67N_kL2y1HgOV0SZW3y8nfzceOpNlW3YXYdhl1jevAiargNq0OoxzwWeJPvrJzSMl6HLdE405CXYaQiCCPY5Yj4rYsr4OEIQrFU6CepOzGho0WduVu-YyqD7CVr_jwr/s320/20220730_190300.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>31 - Last day of Charli's summer break, and I'm not ready for early alarms again!!</p><p>This year is flying by!</p><p><br /></p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-20295860489701706172022-07-18T07:00:00.001-05:002022-07-18T07:00:00.165-05:0040 by 40 : The List<p>I love goal-setting and making lists. Unfortunately, I don't always stick with those goals and lists (a trip through this very blog can show you that...). However, I recently turned 39, and I feel like I'm at a turning point where I want to make some HUGE changes in my life. While I was thinking about these changes, there were some things that popped up that I want to accomplish, which lead to the start of this list. Some of these things are just for fun and are things that I've always wanted to do. Others are things that are going to get me closer to the changes I want to make. Either way, I'm putting these items out in the world and am planning to update monthly so that people can see my progress and harass me about them. Here we go!</p><p>1. Get another tattoo - I'm thinking peas in a pod with my mom!</p><p>2. Visit the beach - I haven't been to the beach in at least 15 years, plus Charli has been begging to go, so we need to make a family beach trip happen somehow!</p><p>3. Do a cartwheel - Charli has been taking gymnastics, and while I know that I'll never be a gymnast, it has made me want to try to do a cartwheel - something I've never done! </p><p>4. Purple hair - I don't know if I want to do a few streaks or a whole head, but I've always wanted purple in my hair and have shied away because of the bleaching process. No more waiting!</p><p>5. Ride a bike - I haven't ridden a bike in ages, but I've been wanting to. I bought a new seat for my comfort, so I just need to help my mom get the bike out and cleaned up!</p><p>6. Get a curl cut - My hair has been wavy/curly since I had Charli, and I've never really known how to deal with it. I want to go to a curl cut specialist and see if they can shape this mop into something that I can work with! </p><p>7. Find a skin care routine - I've never been great about taking care of my skin, so I'd like to find a good morning and evening skin care routine to help with breakouts, sun damage, wrinkles, etc. </p><p>8. Get my nose pierced...again - I had it pierced when I was 29, and I didn't love the placement of it. I want to get it done again and maybe try a hoop this time instead of a stud to see if I like it better.</p><p>9. Buy a new phone - If you've seen my phone in real life, you'll understand this one. I want to hold on to it until it won't work anymore, but I'm afraid that day will be here sooner than I think</p><p>10. Create a will - This is something that we've needed to do for a while, so I'm putting it on here to pressure myself to get on it!</p><p>11. Have family pictures made - We haven't had pictures made since Charli's newborn pictures, so we're way overdue!</p><p>12. Go to the eye doctor/get new glasses - I went at the end of February 2020, so it's time for an updated prescription and some new glasses. I'm thinking pink and sparkly this time!</p><p>13. Make our family notebook - This is a project I've been putting off, but it feels like something that will make me feel like a more responsible adult. Basically, it's our family's information in one place and a way to keep track of things in case of emergencies. </p><p>14. Go to Cheekwood during the fall or spring - I want to see either the pumpkin displays or the tulips. The Nashville Library has free day passes, so maybe we can go both times!</p><p>15. Try five new restaurants/coffee shops in the area - Local places that aren't chains!</p><p>16. Go to the dentist - I haven't been since having a wisdom tooth pulled in early 2020, so this is yet another thing I'm overdue in doing!</p><p>17. Take a picture in front of a Nashville mural - I know this is a silly, touristy thing to do, but I want to do it!</p><p>18. Stick with our budget every month, starting in August - Self-explanatory, but this is another thing that would make me feel more like a responsible adult, plus it will help us achieve some other goals (including some on this list...).</p><p>19. Set up a craft area - I've been using my Cricut fairly regularly, but I've got everything scattered around the basement and piled up on my work desk. I need to set up a nice, dedicated area for my Cricut and all of my other artsy things that I've got everywhere else around the house!</p><p>20. Go to a UT football game - Will and I have talked about doing this every year, and we haven't managed to do it yet, so this is our year!</p><p>21. Do a 5K - I used to do them fairly often, and I found out that work will reimburse us for a registration fee for one, so I need to find one that's a few months out so I can get my sedentary, work-from-home self in the habit of walking regularly!</p><p>22. Take a weekend trip with Will - We took a weekend trip a few years ago, and it was really nice to have a couple of days to explore a different place. Our 10th anniversary is in the spring, so maybe we can take a weekend trip to celebrate that!</p><p>23. Go kayaking - Mom and I have talked a little about kayaking, so I'd love for us to get to do it!</p><p>24. Pay off most of our debt - We've been dragging some of this crap around for years, and I'd love to start my 40s fresh and mostly debt-free! I know we can't get the house paid off in a year, and I've got student loans hanging out still, but I believe with a lot of focus, concentration, and effort, we can get rid of everything else this year! </p><p>25. Go on six fun/different dates with Will - We haven't really been going on dates lately, even though Charli has basically moved in with my mom this summer, and we've had more opportunities than ever! Oops! I figure we can aim for six new date ideas over the next year since that's just one every couple of months. I know there's an arcade place we've talked about, so there's one right there!</p><p>26. Go on six fun/different mom/daughter dates with Charli - I'd love to have some more mom/daughter dates with Charli too! Even if it's just six different playgrounds, I know she'd love it...if I can get her to come home and see me...ha!!</p><p>27. Try a new workout class - One of Charli's classmates had a birthday party, and his mom told me about the workout place she works at part-time. I've been meaning to try it one Saturday when she's there because it sounds like a cool place!</p><p>28. Watch all of the Marvel movies/shows - I've seen some of them, but I want to watch all of them in the order they fall in the overall timeline. I think Will would be on board with this one too, even though he's seen most of them already. </p><p>29. Try two new recipes a month - I originally thought one per week, but I don't cook a lot, so I need to ease into this! We need to cook at home more often to help our finances and our health, so this is something I've been talking about even before it made it on the list!</p><p>30. Read 100 books - I've talked about my reading slump <a href="https://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2022/06/amber-can-read-may-2022-edition.html" target="_blank">on here</a>, but I still haven't gotten back in the habit of reading again (I've been spending waaaay too much time on TikTok...). 100 books is approximately 2 books a week between now and my 40th birthday, which is more than doable for me if I put down my phone and start reading again!</p><p>31. Get a new tablet or e-reader - I can use the library app on my phone, but I usually get distracted if I start reading on my phone. I've been wanting a new tablet for a few other things, so I'm either going to save towards one or an e-reader. </p><p>32. Replace my broken Pandora bracelet - I had a leather Pandora bracelet that broke back in January. Will fixed it with some strong glue he has, but then it broke again when I was in the office one day. I want to get another metal bracelet to replace it since the leather ones don't seem to hold up as well. </p><p>33. Make a house projects list and complete one a month - This is one that's been nagging at me for a while. We don't have huge projects, but there are a lot of things that we've needed to do since we moved in here...five years ago...for example, a retaining wall underneath our back deck, painting our front porch, fixing a dripping sink in Charli's bathroom, etc. I need to create a room-by-room list and pick a project for each month!</p><p>34. Buy new makeup and start a makeup routine - I don't really have a makeup routine now since I only sometimes wear it if I leave the house. I don't want to have a 25 step routine with highlighting and bronzing and whatever baking and setting is, but I would like to find makeup that gives me good coverage and makes me look a little fresher. I know I might have to spend a little more than the $5 I typically spend per product, but I think it'll be worth it!</p><p>35. Use the Instant Pot - Will has used it before, but it scares me, so I haven't tried it yet. If I want to try new recipes and save money, then I'm going to have to woman up and just try it!!</p><p>36. Play bingo in Kentucky - I love bingo, and I've always wanted to go to a bingo hall and play a few games, and since we don't have them in Tennessee, I've got to go north for this one! </p><p>37. Complete a 30 day challenge - This one is a little vague because I haven't decided what it will be yet, but I think it will be health/fitness related - maybe related to drinking water daily since I've really been slacking in that area. Stay tuned for more details when I figure this one out!</p><p>38. Monthly social media free days - I don't post a ton on social media, but I'm on the sites way too often (TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram are my worst offenders). I want to choose a day each month where I don't access any of them. I think that'll show me how much time I actually waste on them, plus it would be a good way to work on some of these other goals!</p><p>39. Make $500 from freelance writing - I have said for <i>years</i> that I want to be a freelance writer, but I haven't taken it seriously. Over this next year, I want to make (at least) $500 from writing projects to show myself that I can do it and motivate myself to work harder on that ultimate goal!</p><p>40. Get Koopa's DNA done - Let's end this on a silly goal! I want to know what kind of dog he is, and since he'll be 10 in March, I think we need to celebrate his birthday by finding out what breed he is. Or at least that's the justification I'll use to do it!</p><p>Whew! This was a lot harder than I expected it to be! Come back and visit on August 15 to see what kind of progress I made during my first month!</p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-26802114306901791252022-07-06T07:00:00.001-05:002022-07-06T07:00:00.181-05:00Currently : July 2022<p>It's my birthday month! This one will be a semi-big one too since I'll be turning 39! I can't believe it because mentally I feel like I'm about 12! Stay tuned for my before 40 goals that I've been brainstorming...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOg2umz6uhi_oh2qxOmL32EcW5h5DLPAJsnmtbWS-_L-tYwBthVO3WJ6NcrK_X4ALix21p8eOiKPHFs6G6v9HE6TgrTfkVcRQsKfyGTGQ5QQSG64RJoiJwhsdaJfqwFYbEK-_wkvRgxk1kfcVqN-pTdeMeWpXsZ9pMDe5098_VC6B-ZxJ6GSm7QRqR/s800/Currently.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOg2umz6uhi_oh2qxOmL32EcW5h5DLPAJsnmtbWS-_L-tYwBthVO3WJ6NcrK_X4ALix21p8eOiKPHFs6G6v9HE6TgrTfkVcRQsKfyGTGQ5QQSG64RJoiJwhsdaJfqwFYbEK-_wkvRgxk1kfcVqN-pTdeMeWpXsZ9pMDe5098_VC6B-ZxJ6GSm7QRqR/s320/Currently.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><b>Enjoying : </b>Charli's summer sleep schedule! She seems to take after me with her night owl ways, which I love right now, but in a few weeks, I will not enjoy at all!!</p><p><b>Having : </b>Trouble keeping up with everything happening in this country and in life. Between the big events and news stories and just life stuff, I'm worn out. It's a lot. We are not made to live in this chronic state of stress and fear and shock, and I'm worried about what's going to happen when we all hit our collective wall. Okay, onto something lighter...</p><p><b>Hoping : </b>Our flowers and pumpkins bloom! I don't really have a green thumb, so my track record with flowers/plants isn't the best. So far they look good, but we'll see! </p><p><b>Picking : </b>Books for the Erin 17.0 book challenge that started on July 1. I'm just fashionably late to this one.</p><p><b>Using : </b>Things in our house. That's a little vague, so let me clarify. I had a thought a few months ago that I constantly buy things and then wait for the "perfect" opportunity to use them, and I don't know why. If it's something I really like, I can buy another one if I use it up, wear it out, etc. If it's something I don't like, then I can give it away or throw it out, and I'll know not to buy it anymore. I have a tendency to act like things are precious or made of gold, when in reality, 99.9% of what I own can be easily replaced/repurchased by doing a couple of Internet searches (or close duplicates of those items, at the very least). So, I'm not saving craft supplies like I'm waiting for some craft apocalypse where nothing is sold anywhere ever again. I'm coloring in the coloring book that Will bought me in March 2020 when he ventured into a store at the beginning of the pandemic. And, if it's something that I'm on the fence about, I'm putting it in a consignment sale, on marketplace, or in a donation bag. If it sells, then it's off to a better home. If I don't miss it when it's in the donation bag, then it's off to a better home. I have a long way to go, but this is helping my decluttering process also. Obviously, I have stronger feelings about this than I realized since I wrote a novella about it...</p><p>What are you currently up to? Use these prompts or tell me what's going on in your life right now!</p><p>Linking up with <a href="http://www.anneinresidence.com/2022/07/currently.html" target="_blank">Anne</a></p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-62202532499950088812022-07-05T07:00:00.017-05:002022-07-05T23:25:51.240-05:00Sentence A Day : June 2022<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Time for my monthly recap in one sentence per day. I like capturing the big and small moments each month and being able to look back on these posts. Also, I've linked the posts I published on each day, just in case you missed them this month. π</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypo9O8uMf1ubGjLVRMtSn4UTCQVcCPsP6B7pYyk6Pv9ErFD-d2SqDR2gpJvMbf1MxvfO6ahL0IHf00ktNyrWVKjvNIeNPhUI0NWDd_mDctCXDC1l-PAj8JWr-SiTyO0J0pOr8l7Pa9OuSLUDuv13Z4G8kVI5tiD3q3C6mNVxscX9PVR6Tgu9lbzWw/s2048/Sentence%20a%20Day%20Button%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1448" data-original-width="2048" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypo9O8uMf1ubGjLVRMtSn4UTCQVcCPsP6B7pYyk6Pv9ErFD-d2SqDR2gpJvMbf1MxvfO6ahL0IHf00ktNyrWVKjvNIeNPhUI0NWDd_mDctCXDC1l-PAj8JWr-SiTyO0J0pOr8l7Pa9OuSLUDuv13Z4G8kVI5tiD3q3C6mNVxscX9PVR6Tgu9lbzWw/s320/Sentence%20a%20Day%20Button%20(1).png" width="320" /></a></div><p>1 - Mom took Charli to her best friend's birthday party, and Charli had so much fun! [<a href="https://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2022/06/currently-june-2022.html" target="_blank">Currently : June 2022</a>]</p><p>2 - Charli decided she was going to have a sleepover at Gran's, which seems to be her favorite thing to do this summer!</p><p>3 - Took the remote working thing literally when Will and I took Charli to Chick Fil A this afternoon so she could play while I finished my Friday.</p><p>4 - Mom, Charli, and I went to my cousin's wedding; he is one of Charli's favorite people ever, and it was so sweet to see him talking to her after his wedding!</p><p>5 - Charli's first pool party, and I got to swim too; can't wait for Mom's pool liner to get replaced so we can have some water time!</p><p>6 - Charli had an appointment with a dental specialist today (nothing bad - just related to her cleft lip at birth), and she, Mom, and I explored Nashville a little bit, including having some fantastic doughnuts!</p><p>7 - Mom took Charli to see a magician at the library, and she got to go on stage for one of the tricks! [<a href="https://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2022/06/sentence-day-may-2022.html" target="_blank">Sentence a Day : May 2022</a>]</p><p>8 - Why does <i>America's Got Talent</i> make me cry every time I watch it??</p><p>9 - Charli has been at Mom's house since Monday and said she doesn't think she misses us - harsh!!</p><p>10 - Will and I went grocery shopping tonight while Charli was at Mom's house for yet another night, and we agreed that we don't like going inside the store anymore - online ordering for the win!</p><p>11 - Charli, Mom, and I went to see a free Nashville Symphony concert; the music was wonderful, even if Charli was more interested in the chalk art station and the snow cone truck!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_y25BFva_OE-3pbF1qdZINkqBEcn0Qv-GbaGjRD1091AD6tP2F9TGWRM44dBbr2YpV0BgUn6M5WheD2Hsiqbihn9y9cCtwjmHDKeZliPxuO9cht_CdwdDl_SMD8Ot3cY41eJIkEHBzfn0-EylLnyLZ4mz1KBIdF8Um9Zjwgtx4z4NsSnQGsVUNVk/s4032/20220611_174121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_y25BFva_OE-3pbF1qdZINkqBEcn0Qv-GbaGjRD1091AD6tP2F9TGWRM44dBbr2YpV0BgUn6M5WheD2Hsiqbihn9y9cCtwjmHDKeZliPxuO9cht_CdwdDl_SMD8Ot3cY41eJIkEHBzfn0-EylLnyLZ4mz1KBIdF8Um9Zjwgtx4z4NsSnQGsVUNVk/s320/20220611_174121.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>12 - Charli, Mom, and I went bowling today, and Charli kicked our butts; Mom and I want gutter guards next time!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQ7NuFtwZ67a9rhlhIWheRHaR6bI-RHT-RKoiFar11QyFTDAuvo6b9_W4EOFTV6j1GvcNwqY06jeA39oChxdlV7FSDkq6pKUoATRoS2m-K31L7d-i661wk_eTbzGyOyb0SzStd8sZ0TjhxHVf_Xvk8evjlPOjuxibtGMIZirLp1NN5T_ux7T5IVbK/s4032/20220612_151500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQ7NuFtwZ67a9rhlhIWheRHaR6bI-RHT-RKoiFar11QyFTDAuvo6b9_W4EOFTV6j1GvcNwqY06jeA39oChxdlV7FSDkq6pKUoATRoS2m-K31L7d-i661wk_eTbzGyOyb0SzStd8sZ0TjhxHVf_Xvk8evjlPOjuxibtGMIZirLp1NN5T_ux7T5IVbK/s320/20220612_151500.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>13 - Tennessee decided it was officially summertime, and it's going to be close to 100 degrees every day this week...yuck! [<a href="https://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2022/06/10-on-10th-june-2022.html" target="_blank">10 on the 10th : June 2022</a>]</p><p>14 - We had three deer in our front yard tonight, and they looked so peaceful...until Koopa decided to whine and bark at them and scared them off! [<a href="https://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2022/06/amber-can-read-may-2022-edition.html" target="_blank">Amber Can Read : May 2022 edition</a>]</p><p>15 - Went into the office today and got great job-related news!</p><p>16 - Home today after being out in the world yesterday.</p><p>17 - Another day at home and hooray for Friday!</p><p>18 - Charli took a trial gymnastics class today and absolutely loved it!</p><p>19 - Celebrated Father's Day by taking Will to get Dutch Bros before he had to go to work!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAu265AJillXbCukJxuVBZ4x_C3Nb4UcQqVz5BIryrocR1N3NmMq-nHrAAlrQd7JTuRIg-IsDdznavlOwPaZy3J2bQSdof6wL0HOoi12DLvVsIkMc6uoGHNT5uTRhJ_iBIZnzczJyD3WMZqdKp1n7D5RjyBfz91M2zZSB23x9HirCXkxp28skEXzi/s2640/20220619_122427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2640" data-original-width="1980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAu265AJillXbCukJxuVBZ4x_C3Nb4UcQqVz5BIryrocR1N3NmMq-nHrAAlrQd7JTuRIg-IsDdznavlOwPaZy3J2bQSdof6wL0HOoi12DLvVsIkMc6uoGHNT5uTRhJ_iBIZnzczJyD3WMZqdKp1n7D5RjyBfz91M2zZSB23x9HirCXkxp28skEXzi/s320/20220619_122427.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>20 - We are going to have a rough time getting back on a school year sleep schedule...</p><p>21 - Charli suckered us into getting her some pizza and ice cream tonight to "celebrate" the likes she got on a TikTok video I posted of her dancing...that child! </p><p>22 - Charli and I were in a photo/video shoot for my work, which was fun, but it was an hour away! </p><p>23 - It was nice to be home today after driving so much yesterday!</p><p>24 - Didn't feel well today, so I was glad to be off work!</p><p>25 - Felt so blah again today - took lots of naps but still exhausted!</p><p>26 - Another day at home but feeling a lot better today!</p><p>27 - Whenever Will's work schedule is different, I get so confused!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFR0SgGDfUyCPISqKVnelZff2013cRTahZDjVrdiVlqE-C8OgqLvFyyuV-EQB2lN2EicxvGhlTUTgSpOU9eoQJndX7mhu1tvJJs4FQwshBLcFS8pU0usDC0MgochE0lKAy-XiAm4qj6dGCrP6kJk8ZrMjfYKKaMXbhceaB5cHCaOjwgrBzIxd0x8Wz/s4032/20220627_123552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFR0SgGDfUyCPISqKVnelZff2013cRTahZDjVrdiVlqE-C8OgqLvFyyuV-EQB2lN2EicxvGhlTUTgSpOU9eoQJndX7mhu1tvJJs4FQwshBLcFS8pU0usDC0MgochE0lKAy-XiAm4qj6dGCrP6kJk8ZrMjfYKKaMXbhceaB5cHCaOjwgrBzIxd0x8Wz/s320/20220627_123552.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>28 - Ordering ahead on an app and then waiting extra time for your items can be annoying! </p><p>29 - On-camera meetings at work always zap my energy; how did we ever work in-person 5 days a week?!?</p><p>30 - Stayed up way too late tonight prepping for July! </p><p>Linking up with <a href="https://onceuponatimehappilyeverafter.com/sentence-a-day-06-2022/" target="_blank">Leslie</a>!</p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-76746362217102142612022-06-14T07:00:00.002-05:002022-06-14T23:46:38.591-05:00Amber Can Read : May 2022 Edition<div>Once upon a time (pun <i>totally </i>intended), I used to read...a lot. Instead of spending hours scrolling through social media or attempting to organize the thousands of tabs I have open on my phone and computers, I would read. I stayed up late reading. I read during lunch breaks. I read during other meals. I enjoyed making to-read lists and reading about upcoming books. </div><div><br /></div><div>But, somewhere along the way over the last couple of years, I've lost that joy of reading. I love reading with Charli on the nights we don't stay up too late, and when I start a fiction book, I usually devour it, but overall I've just lost my spark for reading. </div><div><br /></div><div>(If I stop and think about it, I've kind of lost my spark for a lot of things, but that's an entirely different post for an entirely different day...). </div><div><br /></div><div>I want to get back into reading, and I noticed that when I posted about reading, I was much more likely to read more. Funny how that works. So, I'm restarting my monthly reading recaps in hopes of starting to reclaim a part of myself that I miss. Here we go!</div><div><br /></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fafbfe; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">Disclaimer: If you click on the picture of the book, then it will take you to an Amazon purchase link. If you choose to buy the book from that link, I will earn a few pennies from it. It won't cost you anything extra, so it's a win-win situation! π If you click on the title of the book, it will take you to a Goodreads link for the book. Last thing - if you want to be friends on Goodreads, </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6742819-amber" style="background-color: #fafbfe; color: #2a23b1; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">add me</a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fafbfe; color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">! </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwHSn8-VjeDK9-pTBUqZ3crCsYraGOaRVfKKCUckXrE3eF_XitRxApfeFPOSj0vIw7seKIoM9Q4PsuN74hshdP2dfkIb5AlQXE5EGvc_ddBexUIl48baptSq-uG6YLlFvb1viDPRenA_7XsA_-JjOV18CnxOABpB4BrtN_bWlnpa4WHK0Okb6APqM/s800/Amber%20Can%20Read.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwHSn8-VjeDK9-pTBUqZ3crCsYraGOaRVfKKCUckXrE3eF_XitRxApfeFPOSj0vIw7seKIoM9Q4PsuN74hshdP2dfkIb5AlQXE5EGvc_ddBexUIl48baptSq-uG6YLlFvb1viDPRenA_7XsA_-JjOV18CnxOABpB4BrtN_bWlnpa4WHK0Okb6APqM/s320/Amber%20Can%20Read.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Books read in May - 3<div>Books read in 2022 - 17 (wow, I've read even less this year than I realized!)</div><div><br /></div><div>1. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36525023-women-power?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=mw7e26pQ5x&rank=2" target="_blank">Women and Power</a></i> by Mary Beard </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Women-Power-Manifesto-Mary-Beard/dp/1631494759?crid=39TPHB9S9OFKE&keywords=women+and+power&qid=1654827556&sprefix=women+and+%2Caps%2C1866&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=4f7e7ac6878b56c6fc2df548ba05608e&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1631494759&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't remember where I initially saw or heard about this book, but it's one of several that has been off and on my library holds shelf for a few months now. I have a tendency to reserve the limit of electronic books, and then, surprise, surprise, they all become available at the same time, and I have to use the "Deliver Later" feature to delay some of them. When I finally decided to read this one, I saw that it was pretty short - I guess my old English major brain didn't connect the word "manifesto" in the title to it being a short essay. </div><div><br /></div><div>This wasn't my favorite, but I kind of skated through it just to finish it and finally get it out of the deliver later cycle. I believe this was initially a speech she gave, and I think it would've been more enjoyable in that format. It was a little dry to read, and I found myself doing a lot of skimming in order to finish it quickly. </div><div><br /></div><div>Recommended for : academically-minded readers who want a brief overview of feminism</div><div><br /></div><div>2. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53103895-one-to-watch?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=fJz6WwdV4p&rank=1" target="_blank">One to Watch</a> </i>by Kate Stayman-London<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/One-Watch-Novel-Kate-Stayman-London/dp/0525510443?crid=A9CTNXJC4FRS&keywords=one+to+watch&qid=1654828160&sprefix=one+to+watch%2Caps%2C423&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=f8c5972cff6bdaae2d59ae2cc4610cd5&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="250" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0525510443&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" width="167" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=0525510443" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Bea is a plus-sized fashion blogger who writes a ranting post about how <i>Main Squeeze</i>, a reality show that totally isn't based on <i>The Bachelorette/Bachelor</i> franchise, never has any plus-sized representation, and the post goes so viral that she is chosen to be on the next season of the show. But, she has a lot of trouble believing that the men on the show are actually interested in her...a fat woman. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Between this book, one I finished yesterday (that will be in next month's post), and <i>If the Shoe Fits</i>, which I read in April and found several similarities to this one (but it was better because it's a modern-day retelling of Cinderella and is written by Julie Murphy, who has yet to steer me wrong!), I've seen a trend in books of fat women not believing that they are worthy of love or happiness in life. As a fat woman who is happily married and enjoys most parts of her life (I could use a new hairstyle, a pay raise, and a lot of organizing in our house), I don't understand these books. Maybe it's because the main characters are younger than me or because I try to follow a lot of body positive or body neutral creators. Maybe it's because I married a wonderful man who supports and loves me no matter which weight loss scheme I'm trying or if I'm saying the heck with it and asking for ice cream after work. Maybe it's one of a million reasons, but the point is, I'm over this trope. Yes, I want to lose some weight to feel more like I used to, but I don't believe that my life has to be on hold or that I'm not worthy of love or happiness until that happens, and no one reading this should feel that way either! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Okay, I'm finished ranting about this one. Luckily the book I mentioned above that I'll talk about next month has more depth than this one, so it hopefully won't cause another wall of words!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Recommended for : fans of cheesy reality shows and rom-com novels that are predictable even when they're trying to have a big twist, also for people who can overlook the "poor, pitiful, fat me" stereotype</div><div><br /></div><div>3. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/278974.Organizing_Solutions_for_People_With_Attention_Deficit_Disorder" target="_blank">Organizing Solutions for People With ADHD</a></i> by Susan Pinsky</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Organizing-Solutions-People-Revised-Updated-ebook/dp/B007ETD7GO?crid=JX0W73KACBIQ&keywords=organizing+solutions+for+people+with+adhd&qid=1654828449&sprefix=organizing+solution%2Caps%2C232&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=6a3e13a7a749da74548ef030b30e3678&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B007ETD7GO&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I knew this book probably wasn't going to be super helpful when she mentioned that people buy too many things, and if you run out of toilet paper before you go to the store again, that means you purchased what you needed and you could just use a napkin or paper towel. Listen, I know that I can sometimes be guilty of stocking up on too many things, but I don't mess around with toilet paper! In my opinion, you can't overbuy toilet paper (sorry to everyone who may be having 2020 flashbacks to the empty toilet paper aisles). I found this book preachy and long-winded, two things that are really helpful to neurodiverse people who want to organize their spaces...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B007ETD7GO" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" />Recommended for : people who don't have issues with cleaning and organizing since the tips in this book kind of sucked</div><div><br /></div><div><b>This month's favorite book : </b>None of them were great, but I guess I would go with <i>One to Watch</i> since it was the least worst out of the three!</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>This month's least favorite book : </b>Definitely the Organizing Solutions book. It just didn't resonate with me!</div><div><br /></div><div>Read anything good lately? Let me know in the comments!</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Linking up with <a href="https://www.lifeaccordingtosteph.com/2022/06/show-us-your-books-june-2022.html" target="_blank">Steph</a> and <a href="http://janasays.com/show-us-your-books-june-2022/" target="_blank">Jana</a> for the last time! Hopefully I can find another reading link up to participate in because I love seeing suggestions for new books to read! </div><div><br /></div><div align="center">
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Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-49008207046111495262022-06-13T07:00:00.002-05:002022-06-13T23:43:50.873-05:0010 on the 10th : June 2022<p>Continuing my streak of getting back into blog series' and linkups that I haven't done in a while, I present 10 on the 10th for the first time since <a href="https://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2021/01/10-on-10th-january-2021.html" target="_blank">January 2021</a>! </p><p>(Or, as I like to call this linkup, 10 on whatever date the second Monday of the month is! Ha!)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/marshainthemiddle.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/1.png?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://i0.wp.com/marshainthemiddle.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/1.png?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This month's prompts are all about vacation, and wow, do I wish I was sitting on a beach with a fruity drink while answering these instead of on my couch with flavored water! Guess I'd better start saving my pennies before next summer!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/marshainthemiddle.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2.png?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://i0.wp.com/marshainthemiddle.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2.png?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>1. Are you planning to take a vacation anytime soon? Please share!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not this year. My mom and I had talked about possibly spending a couple of days at a family friend's cabin and going to the Knoxville Zoo, but with gas prices and the 15,000 other things we have scheduled this summer, I don't think it's going to work out to go anywhere this summer or this year. Maybe that means a beach trip next year since Charli has been begging all of us to go to the beach!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2. Have you recently gone on vacation? Tell us all about it!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It wasn't really a vacation, but Will and I took a few days off at the end of May so that we could spend time with Charli and relax. We had plans to do house things, but neither of us had the energy to take care of them. Oops!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>3. What is your favorite way to travel?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Probably by car since that's how I've done 99% of my traveling, although with how bad my motion sickness has been in the car lately, I might have to rethink that...or just not ride anywhere with my mom... ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>4. If money were no object, where would you go and why?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'd do a huge trip and go worldwide for several months! I haven't traveled too much of the world, so I'd want to do it in one huge, exhausting trip and really get immersed in everything!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>5. Who would be your favorite person (living or dead) to take on vacation?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My dad, especially now that Charli is old enough to do more things. I think he would've loved taking her to the beach! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>6. What do you absolutely have to pack when you go on vacation?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Basically everything I own! I have a fear of getting somewhere and not having the <i>exact thing that I need</i>, even though I've never been on a vacation somewhere without easy access to some kind of store that happens to sell that "exact thing." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.chzbgr.com/full/9004856576/hB944F696/i-like-to-pack-light" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="697" height="320" src="https://i.chzbgr.com/full/9004856576/hB944F696/i-like-to-pack-light" width="279" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>7. What are your memories of your all-time favorite vacation?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't really have an all-time favorite vacation! I've enjoyed all of my vacations for different reasons and have great memories from all of them (and some not great memories from some of them too! Yikes!!).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>8. Where would you never go on vacation and why?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I would be hesitant to visit any of the places that are not welcoming to women and/or Americans. I don't think I need to name any specific countries here...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>9. What is the worst thing you ever experienced on vacation?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Drinking so much Yoo-Hoo that I threw up on a Canadian family's tent in Gatlinburg! Funny now but mortifying at the time!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>10. What is the best thing that ever happened to you on vacation?</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So many good things have happened while on vacation, but to be cheesy, I think the best thing has always been the time I've been able to spend with my family members! We've created so many memories from vacations together, and those memories bring laughter on hard days! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Linking up with <a href="https://marshainthemiddle.com/10-on-the-10th-june/" target="_blank">Marsha</a>! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zZottCSJh2E8zPb162_GxmGSYUKV2TV4ZJeyVxSQLe9MyHTnecFkQJwlbzJc1aN77wh0tZ70Sp36aLPghh82qhImavSC3quBZQHEao1RpwKuTrLnVBZy4lyV4xeXbt3AcoFT3mEbp8uK4fZ6vFoP6vDV1DOJuFVPVEaISwd8Th0Oyxg7ObZRKu4y/s398/10-on-the-10th-8-683x1024.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="266" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zZottCSJh2E8zPb162_GxmGSYUKV2TV4ZJeyVxSQLe9MyHTnecFkQJwlbzJc1aN77wh0tZ70Sp36aLPghh82qhImavSC3quBZQHEao1RpwKuTrLnVBZy4lyV4xeXbt3AcoFT3mEbp8uK4fZ6vFoP6vDV1DOJuFVPVEaISwd8Th0Oyxg7ObZRKu4y/s320/10-on-the-10th-8-683x1024.png" width="214" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p><br />Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-90006847256845507702022-06-07T07:00:00.001-05:002022-06-07T07:00:00.143-05:00Sentence A Day : May 2022<p>I haven't posted a Sentence a Day recap since <a href="https://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2021/02/sentence-day-january-2021.html" target="_blank">January 2021</a>! Even though so, so many things have changed in that time frame, it's good to post this again as kind of a journal for the month that just wrapped up. Enjoy reading about our May! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Z_jJhfUJ6TeiIjJsnowAzyBskVb0hhSz9XzP1FUliF5F60Gmsv8UfCJmGTtyvDd6ACEK_uME_A3i4P6aJVRCTB2olDh_M4A_5G6fVg_sYXJjI3waN1Aa8YbtDRYAqu77WBTzI8C83xA/s2048/Sentence+a+Day+Button+%25281%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1448" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Z_jJhfUJ6TeiIjJsnowAzyBskVb0hhSz9XzP1FUliF5F60Gmsv8UfCJmGTtyvDd6ACEK_uME_A3i4P6aJVRCTB2olDh_M4A_5G6fVg_sYXJjI3waN1Aa8YbtDRYAqu77WBTzI8C83xA/s320/Sentence+a+Day+Button+%25281%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>1 - One of Charli's friends had a birthday party at a trampoline place, and my legs are tired!</p><p>2 - I'm not sore today like I thought I would be, considering my jumping yesterday!</p><p>3 - No school today because of local elections</p><p>4 - Happy Star Wars Day!</p><p>5 - Koopa joined me in the messy basement today since it was storming, and he looked so pitiful!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDEa50AieTkAubBQALdZ8DPbqgZbqAd0ZcXEVlyEd7056aUQ3Z7XRKeLtgaxLx1-kAJj9TOqbyyZL3rS3z_VU2Kb6ccpBtved57ZjFEclaSk9t6cKxsW5axp-uKU-yQBcIyQmf-PCA7-mTgtozZ-67UDDFHdNpuuz0zqgRU45SLbJ6BT-It768hoi/s4032/20220505_163331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDEa50AieTkAubBQALdZ8DPbqgZbqAd0ZcXEVlyEd7056aUQ3Z7XRKeLtgaxLx1-kAJj9TOqbyyZL3rS3z_VU2Kb6ccpBtved57ZjFEclaSk9t6cKxsW5axp-uKU-yQBcIyQmf-PCA7-mTgtozZ-67UDDFHdNpuuz0zqgRU45SLbJ6BT-It768hoi/s320/20220505_163331.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>6 - Will and I went shopping for Teacher Appreciation Week while Charli had a sleepover with Gran!</p><p>7 - Mother's Day lunch with Will's mom this afternoon, and then another birthday party at one of her friend's houses this evening!</p><p>8 - Will and Charli made it a great Mother's Day for me! :)</p><p>9 - Consignment drop off and kickoff of Teacher Appreciation Week means I haven't slept enough this weekend! </p><p>10 - Forgot to write my sentence today, so I can't really remember anything about today...</p><p>11 - ...Or today either!</p><p>12 - Charli fell on the track at school and scraped her chin and knee - poor girl!</p><p>13 - Field Day, and Charli said it was so much fun!!</p><p>14 - Will's stepdad and mom came over so he could fix our air conditioning; really glad to have his skills, especially before summertime!!</p><p>15 - Lazy Sunday at home!</p><p>16 - Mom and I went to consignment pickup and had to go back because we forgot things...oops!</p><p>17 - Don't really remember anything about today!</p><p>18 - Went into the office today and of course, I spilled food on my white shirt at lunchtime!</p><p>19 - Had a Mexican Pizza tonight, and it was not quite as good as I remembered! </p><p>20 - Can't really remember anything about today except that it was Friday!</p><p>21 - Birthday party at the zoo for one of my cousin's children, then pizza afterwards made for some hot and tired people in this house! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPdOBrt2K5efwbQezWukm06aCOmv_f5dT3Cl-VPYlzhF-JUXSKxTcPz_4qLAddk4_nBEekoKBDGpO5MokP-8WlX7F6z4A34Ky5A7xB_n8Pt8ltNUlHiqvo2Zy1Fa7F4QvsomKWsttnPjE_apDJSFXiPQhKUeU9fW7-ykNS0LFhUM9IMtJ-dPUKYOu/s4032/20220521_095251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPdOBrt2K5efwbQezWukm06aCOmv_f5dT3Cl-VPYlzhF-JUXSKxTcPz_4qLAddk4_nBEekoKBDGpO5MokP-8WlX7F6z4A34Ky5A7xB_n8Pt8ltNUlHiqvo2Zy1Fa7F4QvsomKWsttnPjE_apDJSFXiPQhKUeU9fW7-ykNS0LFhUM9IMtJ-dPUKYOu/s320/20220521_095251.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>22 - Charli and I stayed home today since Will had to work and we were exhausted!</p><p>23 - Recognition day and family picnic at Charli's school today, and it was so cute to see her skipping across the gym to get her certificate! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3Cei7mFfLCQgk9x6JB_xUMdSl5Ewhjn4XK-5JkK4oLTah9bdw24qsr_aGTLzwEAFUlGbPiHb83OZ3b8tTmMSeOQ-AfTjpuetwGgjcP1kgP37MpoKuEGrnjDZ2BNQ5A-IZx3zPyg5tdWAuHLpoN8akIJLuiQIW5JShsp3ulG8FGGgHyExXB4HyR-N/s4032/20220523_104303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3Cei7mFfLCQgk9x6JB_xUMdSl5Ewhjn4XK-5JkK4oLTah9bdw24qsr_aGTLzwEAFUlGbPiHb83OZ3b8tTmMSeOQ-AfTjpuetwGgjcP1kgP37MpoKuEGrnjDZ2BNQ5A-IZx3zPyg5tdWAuHLpoN8akIJLuiQIW5JShsp3ulG8FGGgHyExXB4HyR-N/s320/20220523_104303.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>24 - <i>This Is Us</i> was so good tonight; I'm going to miss it!!</p><p>25 - Last day of school; goodbye Kindergarten and hello summer!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_UqAMIBpErMep3n7N5n5IfS0gDSxmLmHr7bWpURzJO9yYKIuaefq3htZUjpyrl7xSeVvjEEtOF6cW62YELM6RtVmDzvjDqk_DC2oBQZJN1bfkUX5JYsCd4DyVAf65ik5H0yfAOWTflIfM-KU_210fvBMYnNj1vqQPfyAzY_illYJb-vjTlHphZwI/s4032/20220525_065826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_UqAMIBpErMep3n7N5n5IfS0gDSxmLmHr7bWpURzJO9yYKIuaefq3htZUjpyrl7xSeVvjEEtOF6cW62YELM6RtVmDzvjDqk_DC2oBQZJN1bfkUX5JYsCd4DyVAf65ik5H0yfAOWTflIfM-KU_210fvBMYnNj1vqQPfyAzY_illYJb-vjTlHphZwI/s320/20220525_065826.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>26 - We let Charli have a "yes day," and she chose Chick Fil A, a new toy at Target, looking at appliances at Best Buy, then wanted to go back to my mom's house to play!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtKVbB043ZwL6H_yNxbk4GS8ff0mSD3TR6J9_YGHaaEuv1Yg4cfaeK6NBb39XsADC1RYPt19dMfRo3RfAVEnOJYtkh-l7YW7d9JmZLuTjho_-M4zw_JxcftJ2ejLNAoK0mJV9AYfTrJnUc26NEG3eQDvBN1jBovrifWkF8-67byzDMedyXBEj4Xi0/s4032/20220526_142934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtKVbB043ZwL6H_yNxbk4GS8ff0mSD3TR6J9_YGHaaEuv1Yg4cfaeK6NBb39XsADC1RYPt19dMfRo3RfAVEnOJYtkh-l7YW7d9JmZLuTjho_-M4zw_JxcftJ2ejLNAoK0mJV9AYfTrJnUc26NEG3eQDvBN1jBovrifWkF8-67byzDMedyXBEj4Xi0/s320/20220526_142934.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>27 - Went to an eye appointment for Charli, got a refund on recalled peanut butter at Sam's Club and ate lunch there, and visited a new (to her) playground.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1Tq3fGHluDUHYIC-iQe9KeBk1qVPAXW9K8GzMLDUbCetAldP5RR9PzGqtUTxndEy8UWF8eXb2JTpnD8LR9uWuLABrIEzL-VPUgbCUzkGnBY7HAuADHWmhqoqfibCnqPikSQVS4Ot4N-BSZVQ5Adlp92v8q0FVH6tmWoBRrsac-mVhX6911BiLYX0/s4032/20220527_130435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1Tq3fGHluDUHYIC-iQe9KeBk1qVPAXW9K8GzMLDUbCetAldP5RR9PzGqtUTxndEy8UWF8eXb2JTpnD8LR9uWuLABrIEzL-VPUgbCUzkGnBY7HAuADHWmhqoqfibCnqPikSQVS4Ot4N-BSZVQ5Adlp92v8q0FVH6tmWoBRrsac-mVhX6911BiLYX0/s320/20220527_130435.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>28 - Going inside the grocery store makes me realize why I prefer ordering online...</p><p>29 - Cheekwood with Mom and Charli was so fun!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNw28VLWvptpmu4yUcy00P38J2Z-LLD62pY-ThuxyEn4Hb9kuNIDj8QWxoNOT1RB_3mmf0Dl2yca5ByqgXD6_XE8XZobTZCv91yeCD6Me_ROO-a70v_uygCb7yl8v246DMh1fdvfHzEmGUeXXnWUGUv714TFPFiPq-UO6dJzwHzDDnEvRtIa7utFoe/s1080/1654571443123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNw28VLWvptpmu4yUcy00P38J2Z-LLD62pY-ThuxyEn4Hb9kuNIDj8QWxoNOT1RB_3mmf0Dl2yca5ByqgXD6_XE8XZobTZCv91yeCD6Me_ROO-a70v_uygCb7yl8v246DMh1fdvfHzEmGUeXXnWUGUv714TFPFiPq-UO6dJzwHzDDnEvRtIa7utFoe/w320-h320/1654571443123.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>30 - Memorial Day at Mom's house and time outside.</p><p>31 - Back to work, and wow, it was hard to focus today! </p><p>I didn't touch on the tragedy in Texas during this post. As the mother of an elementary school student, and the daughter of an educational assistant in that same school, I was devastated and sickened by what happened. I'm looking into local advocacy groups and researching ways that I can take action rather than just sitting in my feelings. I hope we can do better as a country for all of our kids. </p><p>(I'm not sure if this is still a linkup, but if I find out it is, I'll come back and update this part!).</p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-37223136047328802592022-06-01T07:00:00.006-05:002022-06-01T11:25:07.116-05:00Currently : June 2022<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It seems like June snuck up on us because it was <i>just </i>the beginning of May, like, yesterday! Time really does fly, and even though I haven't participated since <a href="https://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2021/09/currently-september-2021.html" target="_blank">September 2021</a>, it's time to jump into another edition of Currently! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUe6YB3IEkmyM6VpZhPd-xLYwOxMznI5k1rWunofDXXiwwvqvnsE9leC4rlgoKsGFLtESxwO1AkI2Uwhjrgd4FsTmz7zjUue6oNg2AXy-8HOrPyhrNIKUEJv04kKgguHu2JKny4UAKTHsR5a_e-nUdqSackQkgMKF64tHu0DEr_7yQLSWzGsxWWl_L/s800/Currently.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUe6YB3IEkmyM6VpZhPd-xLYwOxMznI5k1rWunofDXXiwwvqvnsE9leC4rlgoKsGFLtESxwO1AkI2Uwhjrgd4FsTmz7zjUue6oNg2AXy-8HOrPyhrNIKUEJv04kKgguHu2JKny4UAKTHsR5a_e-nUdqSackQkgMKF64tHu0DEr_7yQLSWzGsxWWl_L/s320/Currently.png" width="320" /></a></div><b><p><b><br /></b></p>Celebrating : </b>Getting through Kindergarten! I don't know how families with more than one child, especially more than one in school, do it! Teacher Appreciation Week hit during the same time as a new consignment sale that Mom and I participated in, so there were a few days in May that I questioned my sanity! We made it though, and now it's time to celebrate with lots of family time and sleeping in a little bit! <p></p><p><b>Giving : </b>Our budget another look...we are so bad about sticking to it and working on our financial goals, so I'm going through it again to see where our weak spots are and why we have trouble. Wish me luck! </p><p><b>Taking : </b>A data analytics course. I have been interested in the idea of it for a while, so I'm taking a free course to learn more and see if this is a career option I want to explore since I've felt kind of lost over the last couple of years, career-wise (well, okay, I've felt kind of lost about a lot of other things too but one thing at a time, right?!?).</p><p><b>Trying : </b>To figure out what all we're doing with Charli this summer! We want her to take swim lessons (but I <i>may</i> have waited too late to find some because they all seem to be booked up), and then there's summer reading activities at all of the libraries in our county, a couple of different classes at the local park, plus cheap movies. Phew! We also want to explore our area a little more. Mom, Charli, and I went to Cheekwood on Sunday, and we had a ton of fun but didn't have time to see everything! Plus, the zoo has a nighttime lights thing this summer that seems super fun. I'm worn out just typing all of this, and I won't even get to participate in everything with her!</p><p><b>Wearing :</b> Comfy dresses or leggings and oversized shirts. Living that remote work life! ;)</p><p>Linking up with <a href="http://www.anneinresidence.com/2022/06/currently.html" target="_blank">Anne</a>! </p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-23468455563811085302022-04-17T08:40:00.043-05:002022-04-17T12:16:51.778-05:00On your sixth birthday<p>Dear Charli,</p><p>Somehow you're 6! Time is flying by as you get older, and I'm not sure that I'm okay with it (as though I can control it!). </p><p>You've had such a busy year! You started Kindergarten in August, and we weren't sure how it would go, but you have excelled! You love your teacher, your classmates, and you especially love recess! It doesn't hurt that Gran works at the school and helped you with those first few bumpy weeks. Now the only problem is that you think you're going to start first grade tomorrow because you turned 6. I'll let your teacher try to explain that one to you because my explaining hasn't worked, obviously! You were already a great reader before you started school, but I've seen that improve even more, as well as your handwriting, cutting, gluing, and math skills. Sometimes you ask so many math questions that I can't keep up with you! You're so amazingly smart, and I can't wait to see how that will develop throughout your years in school. </p><p>You have a huge heart and personality. You're very kind and loving, even when we've had a rough time and argued with each other because we've butted heads over something (usually it's when you don't want help with something that you're struggling with). Your sassy side definitely comes out a lot for us and Gran, and that can be challenging. We'll work through it, though! </p><p>You love your cat at Gran's house and your dog at our house, and you're starting to love other animals too, like Mimi's puppy and the dogs at your dad's work. Cats are your favorite animal, so maybe we can convince Gran to get another kitty! π</p><p>You love to play with your tablet and watch videos on it. You also have a really active imagination and can make up the best scenarios with your toys. You love to play outside, especially when there's water involved. That makes sense since you told me that summer is your favorite season! This year has been fun too because we got more snow than usual, so you've had a few chances to play in the snow, and once you got to bring some inside and play with it in the tub! </p><p>We're starting to notice little signs that show you're growing up. Sometimes you'll tell us you're tired and ready to go to bed; I could've never imagined that happening when we were in toddler land and you sometimes would stay awake for <i>hours</i> at night. It's a very welcomed change! You're also becoming so helpful around the house and can do some chores at our house and at Gran's house. You usually love to help with anything...except picking up toys! </p><p>We've been through a lot over the last year, and I've seen it weigh on you. I know that some things are hard to understand when you're young. Little girl, they're hard to understand when you're not as young too! But, know that your dad and I will always be here for you, and you've got so many other people who love and support you as well. We're here for you, even when you don't want us to be...ha!</p><p>I hope this year is full of fun, laughter, and loose teeth! We love you so much our sweet, silly, sassy, smart, brave, beautiful 6 year old! </p><p>Love, </p><p>Mama, Daddy, and Koopa</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50tdn-lApSm6mYgmhVdXs6eVcDL7sb6U1rEeI-KcEAgGvEAW9EAYD4BmhCYb1itEnV38WN2iAIpTUPSTwSItc8vaW4RZ2-w2FchyfH9dGQIBuUxXnBmFHLIdpyplbUz_2eJkrBcd3iEsfxqgjdvlTc8Brn1bvzdijUfXgbdoHh8xNEuC3INR8YcTC/s2640/20220417_073729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2640" data-original-width="1980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50tdn-lApSm6mYgmhVdXs6eVcDL7sb6U1rEeI-KcEAgGvEAW9EAYD4BmhCYb1itEnV38WN2iAIpTUPSTwSItc8vaW4RZ2-w2FchyfH9dGQIBuUxXnBmFHLIdpyplbUz_2eJkrBcd3iEsfxqgjdvlTc8Brn1bvzdijUfXgbdoHh8xNEuC3INR8YcTC/s320/20220417_073729.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annual birthday picture with the bib from your first birthday!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-90173122799957002962021-09-01T07:00:00.001-05:002021-09-01T22:21:47.403-05:00Currently : September 2021<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hi again. I haven't posted since February, and coincidentally, it was my <a href="https://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2021/02/currently-february-2021.html" target="_blank">February Currently post</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's been a really tough year. My dad died at the end of March after a really short sickness, and it has changed basically everything for us. We live about a mile from my mom and dad's house, and Charli has stayed with them since she was born. It has been a huge loss for all of us, and until recently, I had no desire to read anything, write anything, or do anything. Lately though, I've started thinking about how I want my life to look and how we really aren't guaranteed time on this planet (and I've started writing about that more <a href="https://medium.com/@ambhttps://medium.com/@ambercanread/grief-and-goals-6b97e33302b0ercanread/grief-and-goals-6b97e33302b0?source=your_stories_page-------------------------------------" target="_blank">on Medium</a>). I miss writing here and having a reason to be creative and work on my writing skills. Plus, this blog (and the 8,000 other ones I've gone through) help tell a story of who I am and what is going on in my life. So, here I am again, and I'm starting off with a light post about what I'm currently up to.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZwsKqHTKCWf1er5R9bUbu7GgendOC4zvXYEYuiJgJVbSXvZi3IXqs9fJNRVYahorFxwUB3JhtFdvtzoGqz2Pcb6Cv4qg_PuYocYe_YwkY7hoGlHrh9fyztVBqY2YnUh8gAU4xL7xhAk/s800/Currently.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZwsKqHTKCWf1er5R9bUbu7GgendOC4zvXYEYuiJgJVbSXvZi3IXqs9fJNRVYahorFxwUB3JhtFdvtzoGqz2Pcb6Cv4qg_PuYocYe_YwkY7hoGlHrh9fyztVBqY2YnUh8gAU4xL7xhAk/s320/Currently.png" width="320" /></a></div><b><br />Beginning : </b>Goal-setting and the process of shaping my life into what I dream of it being - not just what I feel like I "have to" do. <p></p><p><b>Ending : </b>Consignment sale tagging. We have a pretty big local sale twice a year. Mom and I participated once as sellers, but we paid for someone to do the tagging for us. This time, we decided that we would do the tags, and wow, do we have a lot of stuff! I'm almost finished entering, printing, and pinning everything, and I'll be glad not to be surrounded by piles of clothes and bags after we drop this stuff off in a few days!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkegubsToADWJ14H6Lq9DT7cjA3dDvbn4DxyG0CdQHWjfhsv2fhUbiXUsjHZXaSKwJyHsLV0FhkjTvMOdu7TR1aoVRHiX-UMUc9ZoB5zAdqIaK001CjJA2enJgfcA_UknuuFfIGIkhK9w/s4032/20210830_201654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkegubsToADWJ14H6Lq9DT7cjA3dDvbn4DxyG0CdQHWjfhsv2fhUbiXUsjHZXaSKwJyHsLV0FhkjTvMOdu7TR1aoVRHiX-UMUc9ZoB5zAdqIaK001CjJA2enJgfcA_UknuuFfIGIkhK9w/s320/20210830_201654.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a small pile of clothes...</td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>Loving : </b>My family. No further explanation necessary!</p><p><b>Picking : </b>Up our groceries. With the variant surge, Charli's kindergarten (!) schedule wiping us all out, plus a hundred other little things, I've decided to have us go back to doing grocery pickups. I'd much rather shop on my phone on my couch than go up and down each aisle while avoiding getting close to people!<span> </span></p><p><b>Posting : </b>I made a posting schedule for this blog, <a href="https://debtfreemckees.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">my debt free blog</a>, <a href="https://medium.com/@ambercanread" target="_blank">my Medium page</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ambercanread/" target="_blank">Instagram account</a> (I love participating in photo challenges!), so September is shaping up to be a month of posting many things in many places. I welcome the distraction and structure. </p><p>Linking up with <a href="https://www.anneinresidence.com/2021/09/currently.html" target="_blank">Anne</a>!</p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-73565108906697836002021-02-03T07:00:00.001-06:002021-02-03T07:00:05.698-06:00Currently : February 2021<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-p8E2cXF5hKrzomb_QKHHaEJDuT6idgcJUjMkivqI2e-pmTa-oVCx1_oBqgRLKObUnVrRsrnLVHcBWGqidA88RA5BOUc2vax6C1Yj_d-r3Oht6gy3bKDybCAAJvyEJ1tMUZsv9UgTrn4/s800/Currently.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-p8E2cXF5hKrzomb_QKHHaEJDuT6idgcJUjMkivqI2e-pmTa-oVCx1_oBqgRLKObUnVrRsrnLVHcBWGqidA88RA5BOUc2vax6C1Yj_d-r3Oht6gy3bKDybCAAJvyEJ1tMUZsv9UgTrn4/s320/Currently.png" /></a></div><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Loving : </b>My little family! My husband is amazing, and we make such a good team! Our daughter is sweet, silly, funny, and hands-down the best kid I've ever met...even when she has her fiery tempered moments! We also have the most ferocious guard dog who is not at all scared of things like garbage bags and earmuffs. I'm so thankful to have this little family to call mine! </p><div><b>Reading : </b>Nothing at the moment, but I need to choose my C and D books for the <a href="https://shootingstarsmag.net/2021-read-the-alphabet-challenge/" target="_blank">Read the Alphabet Challenge</a>, as well as get cranking so I can reach my <a href="http://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2021/02/monthly-goals-february-2021.html" target="_blank">goal</a> of reading 13 books this month! </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Remembering : </b>How different February 2020 was. I was still a school librarian, and we hadn't experienced any quarantine/lockdowns at that point. I love working at home now, but I do miss going places on a whim. Will and I talked about it Friday night while Char was at my mom and dad's house for a sleepover. We had date night in the car at Sonic, and we talked about how much we missed having options like going to the movies or to a sit-down restaurant. However, we are doing our part to be safe and responsible during this time, and we know that those things will be options again eventually! I wonder what I will be remembering in February 2022...</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Sharing : </b>Daily pictures on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ambercanread/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>! I follow a daily photo prompt from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theidearoom/" target="_blank">The Idea Room</a>, and so far, I haven't missed any in 2021!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Wishlisting : </b>Mom & Me shirts for Char and me! There's a website called <a href="https://sparkleinpink.com/collections/mommy-me" target="_blank">Sparkle in Pink</a>, and they have the cutest matching mother and daughter shirts! I haven't ordered anything yet, but their prices seem pretty reasonable, plus they have bigger sizes that will fit me, so that's a plus (literally...hahaha). I know we don't really go anywhere, but I still want get us a matching set before she decides that it's the most embarrassing thing ever! Plus, eventually we'll be out and about again, right? I just can't decide what to get for our first order! If anyone has ordered clothes from this site, I'd love to hear your feedback! </div><div><br /></div><div>Linking up with <a href="http://www.anneinresidence.com/2021/02/currently.html" target="_blank">Anne</a>! </div>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-48601173194932984412021-02-02T07:00:00.001-06:002021-02-02T23:03:50.643-06:00Sentence A Day : January 2021<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now that we're in a new month, it's time to recap January, a sentence (or two) at a time! I'm trying something new for this recap and linking the blog posts I published in brackets at the end of the sentence on the days they were published. Let me know if you like it, or if it's just annoying self-promotion...or both! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Z_jJhfUJ6TeiIjJsnowAzyBskVb0hhSz9XzP1FUliF5F60Gmsv8UfCJmGTtyvDd6ACEK_uME_A3i4P6aJVRCTB2olDh_M4A_5G6fVg_sYXJjI3waN1Aa8YbtDRYAqu77WBTzI8C83xA/s2048/Sentence+a+Day+Button+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1448" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Z_jJhfUJ6TeiIjJsnowAzyBskVb0hhSz9XzP1FUliF5F60Gmsv8UfCJmGTtyvDd6ACEK_uME_A3i4P6aJVRCTB2olDh_M4A_5G6fVg_sYXJjI3waN1Aa8YbtDRYAqu77WBTzI8C83xA/s320/Sentence+a+Day+Button+%25281%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>1 - Happy 2021! We went to Target today to get a couple of things with gift cards, then Mom bought us coffee, and gave Char Christmas money from my grandma!</p><p>2 - Char's Christmas money from yesterday was enough to buy her a Paw Patrol toy that she didn't get for Christmas but HAD TO HAVE so back to Target we went; also, lots of fussing from her today, so I hope she isn't getting sick!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Bl1IDuSaayqnxOt0OYI9WjVy363sHsOqYXpWl_MXyYtnV3IAwxKOQGzQGsKgY2P3UQO-3vWa4rAf1SbernKwvpYJSosZIWhostALV2BWMH8nOJjNXe8JOMqXzq_VIKi0ArdG8UeBhB0/s4032/20210102_183630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Bl1IDuSaayqnxOt0OYI9WjVy363sHsOqYXpWl_MXyYtnV3IAwxKOQGzQGsKgY2P3UQO-3vWa4rAf1SbernKwvpYJSosZIWhostALV2BWMH8nOJjNXe8JOMqXzq_VIKi0ArdG8UeBhB0/s320/20210102_183630.jpg" /></a></div><p>3 - Will and Char went to his mom and stepdad's house today, and I stayed home and barely did anything...oops!</p><p>4 - First Monday of the new year; let's go! [<a href="http://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2021/01/monthly-goals-january-2021.html" target="_blank">Monthly Goals : January 2021</a>]</p><p>5 - Welcome back, <i>This Is Us</i>! [<a href="http://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2021/01/sentence-day-december-2020.html" target="_blank">Sentence A Day : December 2020</a>]</p><p>6 - What a day. (But on a positive note - happy birthday to my dad!) [<a href="http://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2021/01/currently-january-2021.html" target="_blank">Currently : January 2021</a>]</p><p>7 - In an effort to distract myself from...everything, I spent most of the night reading, and it was wonderful!</p><p>8 - Ugh, insomnia yet again...</p><p>9 - We did quite a bit of grocery shopping today, and now our Christmas freezer is full!</p><p>10 - Thankful for my husband painting the wall of my little corner of the basement so I look more official on camera during meetings, plus thankful to Char for helping me make a quiche for breakfast this week!</p><p>11 - My parents took Char to her annual cleft surgery follow-up, and the doctor said no nose surgery!!! We're so relieved!!! (This is definitely worth an extra sentence!) [<a href="http://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2021/01/10-on-10th-january-2021.html" target="_blank">10 on the 10th : January 2021</a>]</p><p>12 - Surprise meeting at work and extra projects have my brain feeling tired! [<a href="http://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2021/01/amber-can-read-december-2020-edition.html" target="_blank">Amber Can Read : December 2020 Edition</a>]</p><p>13 - Whew, sometimes I wonder how our daughter's teenage years are going to be...</p><p>14 - Manicure and pedicure for the little girl tonight! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUwo4d26JkFYO1HYL3O3ydoAJdK0RGGdC5RJGp9OXSJQZoaDmHZZ8gpbBbUXpPrhQezpjrQ31CftS9b5hPDyMYF6WB78-ehpakG7DqQODIPWB2I9w7mUZq2c01piva4HSud_Yi6hWdlM/s4032/20210114_191217.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUwo4d26JkFYO1HYL3O3ydoAJdK0RGGdC5RJGp9OXSJQZoaDmHZZ8gpbBbUXpPrhQezpjrQ31CftS9b5hPDyMYF6WB78-ehpakG7DqQODIPWB2I9w7mUZq2c01piva4HSud_Yi6hWdlM/s320/20210114_191217.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>15 - Dollar Tree had some really cute things for our tiered tray (that I need to take pictures of)!</p><p>16 - Picked up Char from her sleepover, got lunch, then spent a lazy afternoon at home; why are couch naps on Saturday afternoons so good?!?</p><p>17 - Neither football team I chose won today; I think I should stop choosing teams...</p><p>18 - I took a walk at lunch today, and wow, I definitely have some work to do!!</p>19 - Another walk and more sore legs; I miss the days when I was in shape! <p></p><p>20 - Welcome President Biden and Vice-President Harris; despite our political differences, I hope we can all agree on how amazing it is to finally have a woman in a high-ranking office!!</p><p>21 - New projects at work are kind of fun but taxing to the brain!</p><p>22 - I forced Koopa to take selfies with me, and it was entertaining!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-yn1UrEX6X5XVGNyx9RuJJofRrBIZ63UDkNiZl5vyrHqQ6Hc8RJJlhOmucLHn22SjZOZJDI2AB5xszouYoMnEsB1lC5puTnQNO-rv9FT4DC1UnoFKF8XfmIhqL7JIwmZBJG5qGfLTP0/s2640/20210122_174454.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2640" data-original-width="1980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-yn1UrEX6X5XVGNyx9RuJJofRrBIZ63UDkNiZl5vyrHqQ6Hc8RJJlhOmucLHn22SjZOZJDI2AB5xszouYoMnEsB1lC5puTnQNO-rv9FT4DC1UnoFKF8XfmIhqL7JIwmZBJG5qGfLTP0/s320/20210122_174454.jpg" /></a></div><p>23 - Ran a couple of errands today, including getting Char some Wendy's since she had been asking for food from there all day!</p><p>24 - Sunday at home relaxing and planning for the week!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJFbG2EbiR31iTniWl6y3B6-X2bueH8GEhZio3UfL_IZwzvRLNH8V7_WYQ4QmOF11Yrmxw5i5wq7TrhjDn5OLw44zsHm7c0MpDRhWfVtYYpkRLNQlJiP3LRUlNaBWa0CNfehacgPHpRo/s4032/20210124_152323.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJFbG2EbiR31iTniWl6y3B6-X2bueH8GEhZio3UfL_IZwzvRLNH8V7_WYQ4QmOF11Yrmxw5i5wq7TrhjDn5OLw44zsHm7c0MpDRhWfVtYYpkRLNQlJiP3LRUlNaBWa0CNfehacgPHpRo/s320/20210124_152323.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They were supervising Will to make sure he took the trash out correctly...</td></tr></tbody></table><p>25 - Rainy, blah Mondays make me so tired!!</p><p>26 - Just a regular old Tuesday in these parts.</p><p>27 - Helped out sorting at the warehouse for work today, and wow am I exhausted and out of shape!!!</p><p>28 - I am so sore today; I need to move around more often!</p><p>29 - I felt so unmotivated and unable to focus today; good thing it's Friday!</p><p>30 - Rainy, blah Saturdays also make me tired!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcNmxai_TdzuuRWWWYdAZL8Ld7yVMuQjb-q01v4xegLoEPOYo50463ao_PqZ2LvEg8fq8-_uY-QIAuvIlTTEZERNidngFh4UcTtAPE1-zLipftv3GT3ucYQCYh3D05uZJ2aqlSuPRVok/s4032/20210130_083512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcNmxai_TdzuuRWWWYdAZL8Ld7yVMuQjb-q01v4xegLoEPOYo50463ao_PqZ2LvEg8fq8-_uY-QIAuvIlTTEZERNidngFh4UcTtAPE1-zLipftv3GT3ucYQCYh3D05uZJ2aqlSuPRVok/s320/20210130_083512.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>31 - Lazy Sunday at home to wrap up the end of January!</p><p>How was your January? Are you glad to be in a new year, or does it feel like month 13 of 2020? </p><p>Linking up with <a href="https://onceuponatimehappilyeverafter.com/sentence-a-day-01-2021/" target="_blank">Leslie</a>!</p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-4829532325151700482021-02-01T07:00:00.001-06:002021-02-02T23:30:23.212-06:00Monthly Goals : February 2021<p>Happy February! It's a new month, so it's time to revisit my January goals and set some new ones for February! </p><p>First, let's see how I did with my January goals. If you don't remember them, I'll recap them here. If you want to read more about them, check out <a href="http://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2021/01/monthly-goals-january-2021.html" target="_blank">my post</a>. </p><p>My five goals for January were:</p><p>1. Read 13 books - Done! Look for a recap of allll of the books on the 9th.</p><p>2. Deep clean/declutter living room - Nope! I picked up a little bit, but I didn't do anything near what I wanted to do in there. </p><p>3. Finish putting away Christmas decorations/items - Done! Plus, we even got some Valentine's Day decorations out. Look at us!</p><p>4. Lose 4-5 pounds - HUGE FAIL!! Not only did I fail on losing weight, but I actually gained weight this month! Ugh! We ate waaaay too much fast food and had too much coffee shop coffee, so I know that contributed. This was not a good start to my weight loss journey!</p><p>5. Determine where we stand financially - Half credit for this one. I still don't have the exact amount of debt we owe figured out, but we have made a budget and got everything caught up, which was a nice feeling!</p><p>January progress 2.5 out of 5 goals. Not perfect but some beats none, right? Onto February's goals!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnKbl8FzPjv6IhixMABGm_hzg08yZu_v9bOmFO4WkwCr47l6nB2WN9TeFnvOBHmLz-vnyEBpgIfbY29Gk9pukac05eGkTm8gQlzOD4bMuzzrN0oY1e9bCIjr9E2T3KKYGp8jap2gC0xo/s800/Monthly+Goals.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnKbl8FzPjv6IhixMABGm_hzg08yZu_v9bOmFO4WkwCr47l6nB2WN9TeFnvOBHmLz-vnyEBpgIfbY29Gk9pukac05eGkTm8gQlzOD4bMuzzrN0oY1e9bCIjr9E2T3KKYGp8jap2gC0xo/s320/Monthly+Goals.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">February 2021 goals:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>1. Read 13 books </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This one will be a repeating goal and hopefully an easy win each month!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2. Deep clean/declutter dining room</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have a plan to do a room or area of the house each month this year, and February's room is the dining room. Since our dining room is fairly small, it <i>shouldn't</i> take long, and I should be able to revisit the living room, which I'm making goal 3...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>3. Deep clean/declutter living room</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bringing this one from January. Ugh.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>4. Lose 4-5 pounds</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This one is a repeating goal too. Unfortunately losing 5 pounds will put me exactly where I started in January since I gained 5 pounds total last month. I really need to figure out my plan of attack for this one!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>5. Blog calendar/clean up</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've written on <a href="http://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2020/09/fresh-start-for-fall.html" target="_blank">here</a> and on my <a href="https://amberiam.wordpress.com/2020/10/23/going-back-old-school/" target="_blank">old Wordpress blog</a> about how I messed up the Wordpress blog and lost some content. I want to get all of the Wordpress stuff back here, which will be tedious but good when it's finished. I also need to finish filling out my blog post calendar for this one and <a href="http://debtfreemckees.blogspot.com" target="_blank">my other blog</a> so I will publish more consistently. I may not finish the clean up process this month, but I'd at least like to get it started!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>6. Finish setting up my planner/goals/vision board</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">During the last couple of weeks of December, I was good about getting my planner set up, making a neat goals tracker for my planner, and gathering things for a vision board. Then, in January, I just sort of fizzled out before getting any of those things completed. I'd like to get them done before February is finished!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One extra goal this month, but that's okay (especially since it's from last month anyway...ha). I'm ready to make this month even more successful than last month!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How did you do with your January goals? Have you made your February goals yet? Let me know so I can cheer you on!</div><br /><p><br /><br /></p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-90234369108454535782021-01-12T07:00:00.007-06:002021-01-12T21:49:01.864-06:00Amber Can Read : December 2020 Edition<p>I know you have all on the edge of your seats wondering if I hit my Goodreads goal for 2020. Drum roll, please.</p><p>I did not. </p><p>I made it to 77 books, which put me slightly above halfway to my goal of 150 books for the year. I had so much trouble getting into reading and focusing, so instead of being frustrated about falling short, I'm going to be happy that I still read as many books as I did! </p><p>This year, I decided to go for 150 books as my goal, which is the exact same as last year. I feel better about this year though, even if we still are quarantined/locked down for a good part of it. I can't wait to dive into this year of reading and crush this goal!</p><p>But first, let's look at what I read in December!</p><p>Disclaimer: If you click on the picture of the book, then it will take you to an Amazon purchase link. If you choose to buy the book from that link, I will earn a few pennies from it. It won't cost you anything extra, so it's a win-win situation! π If you click on the title of the book, it will take you to a Goodreads link for the book. Last thing - if you want to be friends on Goodreads, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6742819-amber" target="_blank">add me</a>! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_69vcECulZtMfMPUGYkUP0rr_IYlFwTHBMA9_skB_bH3yF_qKWdMmRnCjYHyXs5-Vwj7QTJqEHuaQ-Btbz4wv4UhzK81y_3DS-ziztl4rxxacv8IS6oJ-3JTpjO-yPgS9h9Y1rlbans/s800/Amber+Can+Read.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_69vcECulZtMfMPUGYkUP0rr_IYlFwTHBMA9_skB_bH3yF_qKWdMmRnCjYHyXs5-Vwj7QTJqEHuaQ-Btbz4wv4UhzK81y_3DS-ziztl4rxxacv8IS6oJ-3JTpjO-yPgS9h9Y1rlbans/s320/Amber+Can+Read.png" /></a></div><p>Books read in December: 6</p><p>Books read in 2020: 77</p><p>1. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44431860-more-myself?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=K9gSYjGAK8&rank=1" target="_blank">More Myself</a></i> by Alicia Keys</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1250153298" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/More-Myself-Journey-Alicia-Keys/dp/1250153298/ref=as_li_ss_il?_encoding=UTF8&crid=28XZX769E4ZQX&dchild=1&keywords=more+myself+alicia+keys&qid=1610463207&sprefix=more+myse%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=c8a0d6a39f428a0fbf7cfd8cf45dd162&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1250153298&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1250153298" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">
I've made it no secret that I enjoy celebrity memoirs, and I like her music (okay, I'm a surface fan; I like her music that I've heard on the radio), so I thought I would enjoy this one. At the beginning, I did. It was inspiring to read about how the daughter of a single mother worked hard, used her talent, and got signed for her first record deal. However, I liked her less and less as the book dragged on, and by the end, I was rolling my eyes and just skimming through it. I think what flipped the switch was when she started talking about her concept (borrowed from Oprah) of the resounding yes, making space in her life after tours/recording/events to have time alone with her family, her charitable work, etc. I'm all for confidence and being proud of who you are, but it read like a #humblebrag (only without the humble). It's <i>absolutely wonderful</i> that you can take the time off between your tours to be with your family and experience the peace of being at home. I'm so <i>incredibly glad</i> that you're able to only say yes to the events that nourish your soul. It's not that I don't think this is realistic for actual people; I think there's an opportunity for all of to do some variation of this. I think it's just the way that she puts it into words and presents it as "this is what I do, and if you don't like it, then tough on you." There's a part where she goes into the whole #nomakeup movement that evidently she was instrumental in starting, then another part where she talks about wearing makeup while being a judge on <i>The Voice. </i>Don't worry though - when another judge said that he thought she didn't wear makeup, she made sure to let him know that she does "whatever the f she wants to." Cool, cool. </p><p>I didn't mean to go on such a rant about this book, but I think reading it in 2020 when life was exceedingly difficult for a number of people (including my family at times) just made me super salty. When you're having day-to-day issues, it's hard to cheer for someone who devotes time talking about how she and her husband like to give each other extravagant gifts and outdo each other every birthday. Wonderful. Meanwhile, I'll continue to keep my grocery order under $100 this week because, you know, we live in the actual world.</p><p>Recommended for: Anyone who is a huge fan of hers and won't care about all of the stuff I've complained about above, anyone who has low blood pressure and needs to raise theirs by reading about the struggles she has endured (particularly if you've just finished paying utility bills or something similar).</p><p>2. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45754807-the-jetsetters?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=VW35kgZAKF&rank=1" target="_blank">The Jetsetters</a> </i>by Amanda Eyre Ward</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jetsetters-Novel-Amanda-Eyre-Ward/dp/039918189X/ref=as_li_ss_il?dchild=1&keywords=the+jetsetters&qid=1610463654&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=fd2cea281ab549e40312e3928e83c6ea&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=039918189X&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=039918189X" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I didn't like this one at all. I wanted to. There was one character (Cord) who I liked the most, and I was interested in his sister Reagan's sub-story, but that was about it. I found this book scattered, and I thought it was difficult to really care about any of the characters (except Cord). The only reason I finished it was because I wanted to see if there would be a good resolution to the events, but even that let me down. This book also had such an unsatisfying and abrupt ending. I was so mad, but since I finished it after Will was asleep, I couldn't even share how annoyed I was! I'm sure he's sad he missed that...</p><p>Recommended for: No one, unless you like disappointment and books about whiny families where the issues never fully get resolved. </p><p>3. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52669505-the-end-of-october?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=uJSOgFarxn&rank=1" target="_blank">The End of October</a> </i>by Lawrence Wright</p><p style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/End-October-novel-Lawrence-Wright/dp/0525658653/ref=as_li_ss_il?dchild=1&keywords=the+end+of+october&qid=1610480168&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=b6f8f10248886c1a63bee7881b01caed&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0525658653&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=0525658653" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> </p><p>This felt like a couple of books mushed together. It was about an infectious disease scientist trying to contain a worldwide pandemic (seems a little familiar), but it was also about how his family was affected by it, a political scandal, a submarine, something about an old colleague of his, maybe 10 or 12 other sub-stories too, I don't know. It felt like too much disjointed content trying to fit together. Plus, I don't know the author's background, but he either is really good at research or has a history in some of this stuff because the writing was so boring at times, I can only assume he has written academic, peer-researched papers about these things. I didn't quit this one only because I wanted to see what would happen to the scientist and his family. I should've just looked it up online because it was such a blah book that wasted my time.</p><p>Recommended for: Fans of sci-fi-ish type stories who can handle boring and technical writing, people who can keep up with multiple plotlines better than I can.</p><p>4. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52702788-stranger-in-the-lake?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=mDpXTcSmYb&rank=4" target="_blank">Stranger in the Lake</a> </i>by Kimberly Belle</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Stranger-Lake-Novel-Kimberly-Belle/dp/0778309819/ref=as_li_ss_il?dchild=1&keywords=stranger+in+the+lake&qid=1610505393&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=3781ed54e55869f4230216eb14ab9b9d&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="250" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0778309819&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" width="166" /></a></p><p>Lest you think my December was full of literary losers, this book has come to provide a little hope! This was the story of a woman who found a body floating under the deck in a lake near her home. After her husband finds out, he disappears for a few days, leaving her to try to solve the mystery of who the woman was. If that wasn't enough, it turns out that this is the second body that has been found in that lake; the first one belonged to her husband's first wife. This was a good mystery that showed how far people would go to protect their friendships and relationships. And honestly, I was just so excited to finally like a book this month!</p><p>Recommended for: Mystery fans, people who think lakes are disgusting and want another reason to stay out of them</p><p>5. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43319619-fly-guy-presents?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=CZTM1uCOoT&rank=1" target="_blank">Fly Guy Presents: Monster Trucks</a></i> by Tedd Arnold</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fly-Guy-Presents-Monster-Scholastic/dp/1338353896/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=3M11FU2B8LL3N&dchild=1&keywords=fly+guy+presents+monster+trucks&qid=1610505436&sprefix=fly+guy+presents+mon%2Caps%2C169&sr=8-2&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=e968271a72bf581e01c7099d486cfcab&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1338353896&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1338353896" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></div><p>I got this one in a Book Fair preview pack during my school librarian days. I read it on Christmas Eve so I could give it to our younger nephew on Christmas (not as a gift - just as a book that Aunt Amber thought he'd find interesting!). I had never read any <i>Fly Guy</i> books, but I know that they're popular. This is a non-fiction title that gives information about a certain topic (obviously monster trucks in this case). It was quick and informative. Thanks to this book, I was able to recognize that our nephew got the "Gravedigger" truck for Christmas. See, reading <i>does</i> help you learn...</p><p>Recommended for: Kids or adults who want to be cool and learn to recognize popular monster trucks so they can briefly impress their nephews on Christmas day...</p><p>6. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49757149-the-cousins?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=s0LAEIlDFK&rank=2" target="_blank">The Cousins</a></i> by Karen McManus</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cousins-Karen-M-McManus/dp/0525708006/ref=as_li_ss_il?dchild=1&keywords=the+cousins&qid=1610505470&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=71601106a01b54f31089ab4712724405&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0525708006&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=0525708006" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></div><p>I've read her other books (<i>One of Us is Lying </i>and <i>One of Us is Next</i>) and while this one wasn't bad, it didn't capture me as much as the other two did. Maybe it's because this was set in a new place with different characters than the other two. Three cousins are summoned by their grandmother to spend a summer working at her resort. All of their parents encourage them to go since their grandmother disowned all of them years earlier via a letter and refused to have any contact with them. When the cousins get to the island where the resort is, their grandmother immediately leaves. Things just get weirder from there because of course they do!</p><p>Recommended for: Anyone who isn't close to their family and thinks that they need to change that, mystery fans</p><p>Didn't finish </p><p>1. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52019031-notes-from-an-apocalypse?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=MFQVv1CWdF&rank=1" target="_blank">Notes from an Apocalypse</a> </i>by Mark O'Connell</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Notes-Apocalypse-Personal-Journey-World/dp/038554300X/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=3LPRCQEYAZQL3&dchild=1&keywords=notes+from+an+apocalypse&qid=1610505531&sprefix=notes+from+an+%2Caps%2C172&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=66d296ce2d2b4c8547809beeb2bb2278&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=038554300X&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=038554300X" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></div><p>This was on my library eBook's app under the "It's your lucky day" section, which I assume means that it's a popular title and it was my lucky day that it was available for checkout. Otherwise, they're pranking me because I did not feel like it was my lucky day to start reading this one. I got a couple of pages in and determined that it could be someone else's lucky day...</p><p>2. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51323365-solutions-and-other-problems?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=QFhcmQBIth&rank=4" target="_blank">Solutions and Other Problems</a></i> by Allie Brosh</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Untitled-AB-Be-Confirmed-Gallery/dp/1982156945/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=IOKDTBH6R97Q&dchild=1&keywords=solutions+and+other+problems+allie+brosh&qid=1610505581&sprefix=solutions+and%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=0a7e1fac25ad59491874375a3fd11d3f&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1982156945&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1982156945" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></div><p>I was so excited about this one. I loved her <i>Hyperbole and a Half</i> comics and the subsequent book, but I just could not get into this one. I don't know if I just wasn't in the right head space for it or what, but I slogged through a good bit of it before deciding to return it early and be done with it. Have any of you read it? Should I go back and give it another try?</p><p><b>This month's favorite book: </b>Definitely <i>Stranger in the Lake</i> because not only did it break my streak of crappy books but it was also just an enjoyable read!</p><p><b>This month's least favorite book: </b><i>More Myself</i> hands down. I mean, look at that rant. I think we all could've guessed this one...</p><p>Read any good books lately? Let me know in the comments!</p><p>Linking up with <a href="https://www.lifeaccordingtosteph.com/2021/01/show-us-your-books-january-2021.html" target="_blank">Steph</a> and <a href="http://janasays.com/show-us-your-books-january-2021/" target="_blank">Jana</a>!</p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-69181721592973444712021-01-11T07:00:00.001-06:002021-01-19T10:52:18.712-06:0010 on the 10th : January 2021<p>Or should I say 10 on the second Monday of the month? Ha! </p><p>I love blog series' like this, but I almost always forget to join in. Not this year! I'm a little late, but I'm still hopping in. Better late than never, right? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuNvn1nIGnlIkhs8ibXBxDKQpVu2PgLG_ZrLqfcBXuP3IE5am0rzo5N-XvINw4judTPqXnvNRFQk0tfSiRpAN1QmEfPnP79yJPzTRB_qDtnnI_DG-Mh_Yng2kPeLGbozW6zGMmajnkeU/s1024/10-on-the-10th-28-683x1024.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuNvn1nIGnlIkhs8ibXBxDKQpVu2PgLG_ZrLqfcBXuP3IE5am0rzo5N-XvINw4judTPqXnvNRFQk0tfSiRpAN1QmEfPnP79yJPzTRB_qDtnnI_DG-Mh_Yng2kPeLGbozW6zGMmajnkeU/w266-h400/10-on-the-10th-28-683x1024.png" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My memories range from mundane to huge, but these were the first 10 things that popped in my head, so here we go!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">10 Memories from 2020:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Leaving the library world</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I worked in public libraries for almost 2 years and academic libraries for nearly 12 years. Back in July 2019, I decided to transition to a school library. I knew it would be a challenge, but I was ready for a change, especially considering Char will be starting school this fall (cue my tears...), and I thought it would be nice to be in a school with her. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, that didn't quite work out for me...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have the utmost respect for anyone who works in K-12 education, but it is definitely not for me! I tried to make it work, using online resources and getting help from other librarians in the county, but it just didn't pan out. After meetings with administration and a long talk with Will, I decided to resign. Then, when the pandemic hit, I looked for remote jobs. I had a couple of false starts, but now I'm in a role that I enjoy! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Tornadoes, Derechos, and a Bombing</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nashville and Middle Tennessee had a rough year. On March 3, there was a huge, deadly tornado that hit our area. It caused a lot of property damage, and some of it is still apparent, such as my old middle school that is still in shambles. Entire neighborhoods in our area were basically wiped out. We were extremely fortunate because we only experienced a power outage and debris in our yard. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Two months later, we experienced a derecho, which is not a weather term that I was familiar with before it happened. Again, we were fortunate to only experience a power outage (my parents' outage lasted for around 4 days), but it was yet another blow to the area.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On Christmas Day, Nashville experienced a bombing. I was in Char's bed with her that morning because I was trying to get her to rest a little more after a late night on Christmas Eve. Around 6:30 AM, I heard a loud booming noise, and I had a brief thought that it was thunder or a garbage truck, but then I realized that it wasn't either of those things. I didn't think anything about it until we were at Will's family's house later that day, and they were talking about the bombing. We had a lot of phone, Internet, and TV issues during Christmas and the day after, plus we had a copycat person in our county a couple of days later, but all told, we were extremely lucky to not have experienced anything more serious.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Let's see how 2021 will shape up for Nashville and Middle Tennessee.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>New glasses and haircuts</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, on to something a little less heavy/serious. In 2020, Char and I both got new glasses and haircuts. I actually got two haircuts last year - one in a salon in March and one from my grandma (who is a retired beautician) in October when I absolutely had to have a hair change...and then almost instantly regretted it. Ha!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These weren't big occurrences, but they were some mundane memories from last year that have stuck with me!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHK_ClBMX1XwnkcnPhP-7xga23OTJpMxy5k9eoXSwf8el2ZwP9k6qVIfH28EWiYl0rRSxDKU3ybPRP5gnoe5WrOzxYf3mxH4Pascg4QHt-D8hJLc9ms97sIO2PCXF0vWJfrJH-yZwsmTM/s2640/20200306_194819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2640" data-original-width="1980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHK_ClBMX1XwnkcnPhP-7xga23OTJpMxy5k9eoXSwf8el2ZwP9k6qVIfH28EWiYl0rRSxDKU3ybPRP5gnoe5WrOzxYf3mxH4Pascg4QHt-D8hJLc9ms97sIO2PCXF0vWJfrJH-yZwsmTM/s320/20200306_194819.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVMtupJ2LAdBp01oGTt5j7sq_yonA53TFj31z-tLbTGoxWS_X292bmeii25381etrkVT0NPNX2Gcwy9zRt5z2yMJX1DhmwkShuWMzPa_7VNWOZD7xCEgkRxxUvJZv8uCiA_La8UNaUns/s4032/20200311_135107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVMtupJ2LAdBp01oGTt5j7sq_yonA53TFj31z-tLbTGoxWS_X292bmeii25381etrkVT0NPNX2Gcwy9zRt5z2yMJX1DhmwkShuWMzPa_7VNWOZD7xCEgkRxxUvJZv8uCiA_La8UNaUns/s320/20200311_135107.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Last gathering with friends</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My mom and I have a mutual friend that we have a group text with and get together with at least three or four times a year. We try to base it around our birthdays and Christmas, but we also just get together randomly sometimes, and it's almost always at Panera! Last March we decided to get together at our regular Panera location. It was right at the beginning of the Covid situation, so people had started social distancing a little bit, but there weren't regulations in place, people weren't wearing masks, etc. We didn't realize that this would be the last time we would all get together during the year! We still talk via text every day, and we had a virtual get-together, but I will be glad when it's safe enough to see each other in person again! Will better be prepared for me to be gone for a while when that day comes! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Our first pandemic birthdays</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Will and Koopa's birthdays are at the end of March (on the exact same day actually!), so their birthdays happened right when the quarantine/lockdown situation started last year. We don't usually do anything for Will's birthday besides having dinner with his mom and stepfather, but that was off the table in 2020 since there was so much we didn't know about Covid (I mean, there's still a lot we don't know but now we're a little more used to things...). Both Will's mom and stepdad and my parents decided to do drop by birthday gifts for Will and left things on our front porch. It was different than normal, but it was nice to see them briefly and to get to celebrate him. Koopa's birthday was just normal, but it's still worth mentioning lol. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Char's birthday/birthday party</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Char turned 4 last year, and before...everything...my mom and I had been looking at birthday party venues. We had settled on one we thought would be fun, and then, well, you know the rest of the story! Since we had been around my parents and brother (and none of us were working outside of the home at the time, thanks to furloughs and closures), we felt comfortable having a small party at my parents' house for her. She was a little crabby that day, but she was excited to celebrate. The best moment was when she opened up the Barbie Dream House that she had been asking for! My dad had already put it together for her, but my mom wanted her to have something to unwrap, so the box was full of paper. When she opened the box and saw what it was, she was so excited. She said, "let's put this together," and then she started opening the box. She was so confused and a little sad that the box was empty until her Pop Pop and uncle brought the fully put-together dream house into the living room! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't know what her birthday is going to look like this year. For some reason, since I was pregnant with her, I have wanted to take her on a carriage ride for her 5th birthday. Will and I also talked about taking her to the Old Spaghetti Factory restaurant downtown too. Unfortunately, the restaurant is located on Second Avenue where the Nashville Christmas day bombing occurred, and we don't know if carriage rides are even a thing with the pandemic. Sigh. I'm sure that we'll find a special way to celebrate her, even if it's not a big party to make up for last year. Her birthday is in April, so we'll see what happens between now and then! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjD4PAU-5TK20NN7jwyvqxH7TLmcR9TB2jX2aCPMo6Ohq-kWK66yyLfTQZh_BrdACdBI_uqRwA9JsPE23-3XlwccCQbT_hoR9_-zQo44pPMB7VJsQ8LQsxyiqiVlpv1bNaoSJmGX_cG4/s4032/20200417_130118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjD4PAU-5TK20NN7jwyvqxH7TLmcR9TB2jX2aCPMo6Ohq-kWK66yyLfTQZh_BrdACdBI_uqRwA9JsPE23-3XlwccCQbT_hoR9_-zQo44pPMB7VJsQ8LQsxyiqiVlpv1bNaoSJmGX_cG4/s320/20200417_130118.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfleHIcBD87eHVhqCxcmpDJMxjK8huJVwyafc5ndPd1u_L1KBJ4jmLOmWrReLvgUV7IGHL4aH7qeSOkGn65OGACqNebUUAt-5qAtw6dtCFEw2Lsd4FOJMfyRnPOrqKfBIoQtSkVdW6CY/s4032/20200417_130201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfleHIcBD87eHVhqCxcmpDJMxjK8huJVwyafc5ndPd1u_L1KBJ4jmLOmWrReLvgUV7IGHL4aH7qeSOkGn65OGACqNebUUAt-5qAtw6dtCFEw2Lsd4FOJMfyRnPOrqKfBIoQtSkVdW6CY/s320/20200417_130201.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Animal Crossing</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i> </i>My husband likes to watch video game streamers on Twitch, and back in the spring, they were all about Animal Crossing. I had played Animal Crossing many years ago (I can't even remember what platform it was on...maybe the Nintendo DS?), so I knew how much fun it was. After Will had watched some streamers for a while, he decided he wanted to try it also. He was furloughed from his job, and I wasn't working at the time, so we both had long stretches of time to play on our devices. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">[I have to give him a shout out here because he got me the game and a Switch Lite for his birthday. I don't know how I managed that, but I now expect presents on his birthday every year!]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We weren't the only ones who lost ourselves in the game during that weird stretch of spring and early summer when everything was still so unknown (The disease hates sunshine! It'll go away by Memorial Day! It'll disappear one day!). We built our little villages and traded items. We had real-life discussions about strategies and plans in the game. We were super into it! Then, Will had to go back to work, and even though I tried to keep up his game, and he checked into it at night, it had lost a little bit of magic. He hasn't touched his game since last summer. I was a little more consistent, but I haven't played since Thanksgiving. I know I'll go back to it, but it probably won't be the same as that little time frame when we were super into it! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUl68gcSDeRY5iVyOCjAmQVaAVMJ2aO5Z1ybvPhVhSskT1Ft1CwWtiTts6ks2jHIsqnRo6-1NX0STBu9JIH_r6VOHfQ-yCgvKOjLrwWDFrix9raqU1DoknvyCi3M-C3XVaAeFJY_Me22Q/s4032/20200601_111517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUl68gcSDeRY5iVyOCjAmQVaAVMJ2aO5Z1ybvPhVhSskT1Ft1CwWtiTts6ks2jHIsqnRo6-1NX0STBu9JIH_r6VOHfQ-yCgvKOjLrwWDFrix9raqU1DoknvyCi3M-C3XVaAeFJY_Me22Q/s320/20200601_111517.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>A new kitten</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Somehow my aunt and dad conspired together in order to get Char a new kitten! Because our dog is a <i>little</i> wild, the kitten had to live at my mom and dad's house, so that's why my dad was involved! When my aunt and grandma delivered it to my parents' house, Char was thrilled! She kept telling them thank you for the kitty and petting it. We asked her what she wanted to name it, and she kept going back to the name Machena. We have no idea where that came from, but it has stuck, along with the nickname Cheni! When we got Cheni, we thought it was a girl, but my parents were surprised to find out that she is a he! Oops!! Cheni is a sweet and patient kitten who is entertaining and can (mostly) handle Char's energy when she is with him. I've never been a big cat person, but I have a soft spot in my heart for him!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmk5kbejLEU8WEFuq0ZbfhiZ6PIVW9S1nWGMT0GrTPNb0cKr0zvZTfQKVSsUMzwspttghH8L77I6ozIR-utozZ_MZ6e7V2j1uWbkuv9O21_Tk6aRrCYqkFllJ5gGdcQzI6b7SG5jMpuCA/s4032/20200614_172659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmk5kbejLEU8WEFuq0ZbfhiZ6PIVW9S1nWGMT0GrTPNb0cKr0zvZTfQKVSsUMzwspttghH8L77I6ozIR-utozZ_MZ6e7V2j1uWbkuv9O21_Tk6aRrCYqkFllJ5gGdcQzI6b7SG5jMpuCA/s320/20200614_172659.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcYOfgg7VN_zDr2YAmk7T5vUojFvbf-3lUuYagZF2i9SVfcLEwsIY7HqI2gvJQ4tQ30nbecKkxyeaCo7PE7F69NN33MCIYbdnAhjZDRQE5RgVE2mx_IuxVxuETtAgvBN7Wp-cLlFNtyU/s4032/20200614_170700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcYOfgg7VN_zDr2YAmk7T5vUojFvbf-3lUuYagZF2i9SVfcLEwsIY7HqI2gvJQ4tQ30nbecKkxyeaCo7PE7F69NN33MCIYbdnAhjZDRQE5RgVE2mx_IuxVxuETtAgvBN7Wp-cLlFNtyU/s320/20200614_170700.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Elections, politics, and social justice</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't need to say much here! 2020 was a year for my husband and I to discover where we stand politically and with different social justice topics. I'm happy to say that we see eye-to-eye on these things and have been having great discussions about them! It was also a year to discover who in our families we could have disagreements with...and who just decided we weren't worth it. It's rough to lose connections with people, but I am a liberal who believes Black Lives Matter and that the soon-to-be president will bring unity and healing to our nation. I also believe that liberals and conservatives do have a lot in common, but the conservative voices of reason are being drowned out by the conspiracy theory fools who shout over everyone else. I think we'll get back to a good middle ground, but it's going to take some work on both sides! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-i8nKZSeob8rNuH-K3TOKx6eZVBjqM-g-L34rPc4s1zKsVxb3ltA3UyLT1NYshM8hc501AnLaq-Z-JsA7G-EvsOaBWpsajbJjdEYxbuX17Iz46Bd30ymN2DD_rf8SjRy5BQPKSVU4MjY/s3579/20201103_100500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3579" data-original-width="2082" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-i8nKZSeob8rNuH-K3TOKx6eZVBjqM-g-L34rPc4s1zKsVxb3ltA3UyLT1NYshM8hc501AnLaq-Z-JsA7G-EvsOaBWpsajbJjdEYxbuX17Iz46Bd30ymN2DD_rf8SjRy5BQPKSVU4MjY/s320/20201103_100500.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Christmas excitement!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Let's end this on a lighter note! This was the first year that Char was really into Christmas, and it was so much fun! My mom and I had Christmas countdowns on our phones for her to see, plus we had advent calendars to help her count down the days. My parents watch her while Will and I work (I'll never be able to express enough gratitude for this!!), and she somehow finagled her way into opening multiple presents before Christmas even arrived! Stinker! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Seeing Christmas through her eyes was so fun and exciting! It ended a really crappy year on a high note for us, and it allowed us to all get caught up in the magic and excitement of Christmas again! It was so sad to take down our decorations and tree, especially since one of Char's "jobs" every day was to turn on the lights on the tree. Oh well. Only around 10 more months until we can decorate again! π</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQCR1BYrgbz1vp1Ah7YymYamFybVs4YFXY20leso-LuKlgdyr-NloWthmT31WQf1KZfH05hoN11JvbX2WqiEXMVcKKRFi_9W5O5MXfIYk75UMPD8Z9HVylraDPDSSaXbFUE_OWzcXxsA/s4032/20201212_105102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQCR1BYrgbz1vp1Ah7YymYamFybVs4YFXY20leso-LuKlgdyr-NloWthmT31WQf1KZfH05hoN11JvbX2WqiEXMVcKKRFi_9W5O5MXfIYk75UMPD8Z9HVylraDPDSSaXbFUE_OWzcXxsA/s320/20201212_105102.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkoly40x9_oyGLsbOq2lCokb9Y8pVxmF0O6MNg1ufQKIBdY9_C22cRsX3BsfUNoHCNjbnDn4s-NjL-4JytNxNdEkB0sjAq11sTvaLtDG4eNU32EiucKUl68bbWnopREQe0xCYI0NIE3Y/s4032/20201215_173554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkoly40x9_oyGLsbOq2lCokb9Y8pVxmF0O6MNg1ufQKIBdY9_C22cRsX3BsfUNoHCNjbnDn4s-NjL-4JytNxNdEkB0sjAq11sTvaLtDG4eNU32EiucKUl68bbWnopREQe0xCYI0NIE3Y/s320/20201215_173554.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNf4xPHrpSuzcxdHRVvb08atq31XbezhAr8i9_LDSUJphfZlO7Q0pMQHP_dQVaaZqd01r8vcsgf2jUQpC2K9_LND6odV3Nlb6LVjba2nxkRIYtHEDJ-QAO-7zvFgGyPZKWg3v6NXoqlc/s4032/20201224_174031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNf4xPHrpSuzcxdHRVvb08atq31XbezhAr8i9_LDSUJphfZlO7Q0pMQHP_dQVaaZqd01r8vcsgf2jUQpC2K9_LND6odV3Nlb6LVjba2nxkRIYtHEDJ-QAO-7zvFgGyPZKWg3v6NXoqlc/s320/20201224_174031.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mkOJXcfWiqhIPn1n_2uieOyv1escXuS6Gur0t3I5h7ses9ztpJh9XCsF8vGLJml_XoapZx01pczvlJvjC44YJVp8UkV564epAn0ZAGMT9Lkw4wUZJDkKPFqlw9-UZJptNNC9er_ufpA/s4032/20201225_080023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mkOJXcfWiqhIPn1n_2uieOyv1escXuS6Gur0t3I5h7ses9ztpJh9XCsF8vGLJml_XoapZx01pczvlJvjC44YJVp8UkV564epAn0ZAGMT9Lkw4wUZJDkKPFqlw9-UZJptNNC9er_ufpA/s320/20201225_080023.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyLHcEDW0aw6-Ynnco2_gBwgUszkRHm8CBKMCbpJdlv9q0FGIpHMl9P5u1beDdRwtWvoxX2IPQQ6-Pnn8NbtgK042JMW83t_JK2hUBvunAS7JIDU-7g7UsLpRS7zASL_L_o1YocsgIXo/s2640/20201225_142727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2640" data-original-width="1980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyLHcEDW0aw6-Ynnco2_gBwgUszkRHm8CBKMCbpJdlv9q0FGIpHMl9P5u1beDdRwtWvoxX2IPQQ6-Pnn8NbtgK042JMW83t_JK2hUBvunAS7JIDU-7g7UsLpRS7zASL_L_o1YocsgIXo/s320/20201225_142727.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyV8_u4Ld58-n0PA4hBTbH8lUW7aPvMJEGSJ76SCwl3CZKQLMkvJNzO1v7edykrEdFngl7DF2y8nUFjROd4MIvXT9bRyOtqULFKMlGnZeka7y5aI4aYlU1UBp9zL6cPf4KjnepfMZVyD4/s4032/20201224_164930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyV8_u4Ld58-n0PA4hBTbH8lUW7aPvMJEGSJ76SCwl3CZKQLMkvJNzO1v7edykrEdFngl7DF2y8nUFjROd4MIvXT9bRyOtqULFKMlGnZeka7y5aI4aYlU1UBp9zL6cPf4KjnepfMZVyD4/s320/20201224_164930.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And there you have it! 10 memories from a topsy-turvy year! Although 2021 is shaping up to be another bizarre year, I feel like I'm in a better place mentally and will handle things a little more easily than I did last year. Here's to a happy 2021 for us all! </div><p></p><p>I missed the linkup, but check out <a href="https://onceuponatimehappilyeverafter.com/10-on-the-10th-01-2021-10-memories-from-2020/" target="_blank">Leslie's</a> site for her post and those who linked up in time!</p><p><br /></p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-29655704251382542102021-01-06T07:00:00.001-06:002021-01-06T07:00:05.263-06:00Currently : January 2021<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSEki8X040lHJvRgwNYGaBL-fUhSXtSOp0qepzED-LXLPZKAq66s4kzN3A3-kRKLYHIKyfX-El19IaefZZHfJGc5u83GQRqPgasBqtddofpXsaLmZgLS3_fUawVpVvKfGKB1quFS-iDQ/s800/Currently.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSEki8X040lHJvRgwNYGaBL-fUhSXtSOp0qepzED-LXLPZKAq66s4kzN3A3-kRKLYHIKyfX-El19IaefZZHfJGc5u83GQRqPgasBqtddofpXsaLmZgLS3_fUawVpVvKfGKB1quFS-iDQ/s320/Currently.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Beginning: </b>To get into a daily routine. I definitely have a lot of work to do, but there are certain things that I'm beginning to do each day around the same time. I have a problem with sticking to routines, so this is a big step for me! <br /><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Feeling: </b>Optimistic about things! My husband and I have had some great discussions lately about our goals and the direction we want our lives to go, and it feels nice to be working on these things together. Also, I know there's been a lot of grumbling about the amount of the stimulus checks, but I'm feeling good about the progress they're going to help us make on our <a href="http://debtfreemckees.blogspot.com" target="_blank">debt free journey</a>! <br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Organizing: </b>Our living room and our family notebook. Okay, I have to actually put the family notebook together, so I guess I'm just organizing the contents that are going to be in it! Right now, I'm planning to have medical information about the three of us (and our pup!), home maintenance info (like noting that we got to buy a new water heater last year), and car maintenance info. I have few other ideas too, but if you have a family or home notebook, I'd be interested in hearing what you included in yours!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />Resolving: </b>To work on a <a href="http://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2021/01/monthly-goals-january-2021.html" target="_blank">few goals</a> each month in order to make small changes, instead of having my usual "IMMEDIATELY CHANGE EVERYTHING" mentality. So far, so good!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />Wondering: </b>How this year is going to shape up. My husband and I were talking about the idea of a national lockdown last night, and we were curious about whether or not that's something that the new administration will mandate. I'm okay with that and anything else that helps us get these pandemic numbers under control!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuk8NPYgVIuJXgC0nV9OtKNPJC0vtK7mYLDF3m7AdEnZ5yccQsiq_dMXv-yCGin0kt-8xsdE5gCWXkyPlAHILhHYNr4hVj2KL2bu9Gdrr5Yy09p2ggx55h5sfNdVIidYuJQkcSStcj-hA/s2640/20201118_165843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2640" data-original-width="1980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuk8NPYgVIuJXgC0nV9OtKNPJC0vtK7mYLDF3m7AdEnZ5yccQsiq_dMXv-yCGin0kt-8xsdE5gCWXkyPlAHILhHYNr4hVj2KL2bu9Gdrr5Yy09p2ggx55h5sfNdVIidYuJQkcSStcj-hA/s320/20201118_165843.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wondering if this will be my look for the rest of 2021...</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Your turn! Have any answers to these prompts? Leave a comment below or your blog link so I can check them out! Linking up with <a href="http://www.anneinresidence.com/search/label/currently" target="_blank">Anne</a>.</div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><br /></span><p></p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-60969492324310177222021-01-05T07:00:00.004-06:002021-01-05T07:00:10.244-06:00Sentence A Day : December 2020<p>WE MADE IT THROUGH 2020!!!</p><p>Sorry, but that felt like an all caps situation! 2020 had some good moments, and it helped us face some things and make some decisions that will help our family in the long run, but wow, am I glad for a new year! Let's take a last look back at December 2020 (AKA the most wonderful time of the yearrrrr) before we shut the book on that year for good!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBWyphFyv92nSq7y-d0Gc8IWaPmfinefksFzZMc7wQIDm9joJ5nvlgvhJcVrLVOWeufPqEyPPWVXzK9_p52n4wT7jF-BJ7yoZXOB7eATx15c-x2cp4nMwmFqugTctEHsB6bUCIPW7DxU/s2048/Sentence+a+Day+Button+%25281%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1448" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBWyphFyv92nSq7y-d0Gc8IWaPmfinefksFzZMc7wQIDm9joJ5nvlgvhJcVrLVOWeufPqEyPPWVXzK9_p52n4wT7jF-BJ7yoZXOB7eATx15c-x2cp4nMwmFqugTctEHsB6bUCIPW7DxU/s320/Sentence+a+Day+Button+%25281%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>1 - Our heat wouldn't turn off, and it was sweltering in here; thankful that Will's stepdad has HVAC skills and fixed us up! </p><p>2 - Char and I spent about 20 minutes driving around and looking at Christmas lights and decorations tonight; we both love them! </p><p>3 - We were watching <i>Wheel of Fortune</i> tonight, and Char just said that Pat Sajak was Joe Biden! π</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghT88aufOfojQo-lzFZBa8Jl1plPVF2E0eRUg3Y31zhSoYNiQRuf8wlf05nuLu1bFhijC6W1eOmiva3N77AHFFMbvfpTOprYp1YBJwuLmGZRP5G2r4Brngvc42Zx_9PtJlrt3TmCRUu4s/s4032/20201203_183915.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghT88aufOfojQo-lzFZBa8Jl1plPVF2E0eRUg3Y31zhSoYNiQRuf8wlf05nuLu1bFhijC6W1eOmiva3N77AHFFMbvfpTOprYp1YBJwuLmGZRP5G2r4Brngvc42Zx_9PtJlrt3TmCRUu4s/s320/20201203_183915.jpg" /></a></div><p>4 - Today was so rainy and gray that I just wanted to nap all day!</p><p>5 - Things do not feel good right now. </p><p>6 - A trip to pick up our grocery order is the most excitement we've had in a while!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSu_wpVAGFAZOmiZyXw6hQ2E5gPVN9cCr6PeleYSpgR4aKAe7ewDbPtSoIzknF8O2mr5so3NMz3GYdTCNUCrKi24HQHXnyUHEtN9G0OOblBoqqAYvCeNdJFYLumsY-m59EoHJhUBcn6E/s2640/20201206_131545.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2640" data-original-width="1980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSu_wpVAGFAZOmiZyXw6hQ2E5gPVN9cCr6PeleYSpgR4aKAe7ewDbPtSoIzknF8O2mr5so3NMz3GYdTCNUCrKi24HQHXnyUHEtN9G0OOblBoqqAYvCeNdJFYLumsY-m59EoHJhUBcn6E/s320/20201206_131545.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>7 - We finally put up our tiny Christmas tree!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-H7yHQJqPcIJLkMGzdaCDFT88wBPSN-dca8DuOSlOZFUkBgfRbVqEcKMUXJDgUyDblQQ3LGzNTkCMf8-ebSW0CXC3dRuJyPZUotqUJLp1MydItso0eC1jYwF073XJUzQQ2wIzV3hJUm8/s4032/20201207_165843.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-H7yHQJqPcIJLkMGzdaCDFT88wBPSN-dca8DuOSlOZFUkBgfRbVqEcKMUXJDgUyDblQQ3LGzNTkCMf8-ebSW0CXC3dRuJyPZUotqUJLp1MydItso0eC1jYwF073XJUzQQ2wIzV3hJUm8/s320/20201207_165843.jpg" /></a></div><p>8 - My parents got us pizza for dinner on the condition that we picked theirs up too - can't refuse a good offer like that!</p><p>9 - Bruce Springsteen's live version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" is horrible. Yep, I said it. </p><p>10 - Char wanted to wear lipstick today and only let me put it on her top lip, but I forgot to take a picture!</p><p>11 - I can't believe we only have two more weeks until Christmas; I feel so unprepared!!</p><p>12 - We went to a Christmas scavenger hunt event at a shopping center today, and it was kind of underwhelming, but Char had fun!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqgWAuxBsuW7tANkjyl6cMsI5snoPeOp5PGKWDoUEhGqR9qtSjqGYL9yXBoX3I4oo28j0GDXo61hApw-Pcc1YH8NEm7GvQNrGp0AEVEuoJ2psb8d8ewP2RWQ5IeDYJRJWkDD5tmh4TcY/s4032/20201212_105102.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqgWAuxBsuW7tANkjyl6cMsI5snoPeOp5PGKWDoUEhGqR9qtSjqGYL9yXBoX3I4oo28j0GDXo61hApw-Pcc1YH8NEm7GvQNrGp0AEVEuoJ2psb8d8ewP2RWQ5IeDYJRJWkDD5tmh4TcY/s320/20201212_105102.jpg" /></a></div><p>13 - Never mind being ready for Christmas since Char is fascinated by the cheap stamp and knockoff slime she got in her scavenger hunt bag yesterday! π</p><p>14 - I won a $25 gift card for tagging the shopping center in an Instagram post on Saturday!!</p><p>15 - A certain little girl climbed on the hearth tonight so she could feel her stocking better; a certain mom couldn't quit laughing since she has always done similar things with her Christmas stockings...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUivmI4_UgAWLUoJQ47FJlTyR1x9OfOVt8hYORpQ6w1QIO5-2UrtGdcGahctdvO2sxn7xjGA4A8rpymaPCZdUPpfnXdKGAM48ZDe-qPFgROUabeQ7kYwLxgrRn5knYx2e1ptuavH8rnI/s4032/20201215_173607.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUivmI4_UgAWLUoJQ47FJlTyR1x9OfOVt8hYORpQ6w1QIO5-2UrtGdcGahctdvO2sxn7xjGA4A8rpymaPCZdUPpfnXdKGAM48ZDe-qPFgROUabeQ7kYwLxgrRn5knYx2e1ptuavH8rnI/s320/20201215_173607.jpg" /></a></div><p>16 - Our dog thinks he's a person sometimes...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyekaFa9evlpi9ay6nHl_WoniC9ooBNAnr3YfgILSdmc7czGvSIBlQDKhPlcrOyLk8F23upq37QqANLTPAWd_b0VRCpiFFUCLeslXz88jMFuJt_43-UAcSV5Zx-iLjpMtklPs26oZ1UyI/s4032/20201216_151910.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyekaFa9evlpi9ay6nHl_WoniC9ooBNAnr3YfgILSdmc7czGvSIBlQDKhPlcrOyLk8F23upq37QqANLTPAWd_b0VRCpiFFUCLeslXz88jMFuJt_43-UAcSV5Zx-iLjpMtklPs26oZ1UyI/s320/20201216_151910.jpg" /></a></div><p>17 - Love finding new people to watch on YouTube! (The Organized Money, in case you're curious)</p><p>18 - Going to Target a week before Christmas is a fool's errand. </p><p>19 - I don't remember what we did today, but I'm sure it involved a grocery pickup!</p><p>20 - Lazy Sunday at home gearing up for the next couple of weeks!</p><p>21 - More driving around and looking at Christmas lights with Char tonight!</p><p>22 - I spotted a pretty clever lights display tonight during my drive with Char...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyT3zgAs9dS7yiE53u8k44cRka46Cd8431pvfOX0oelmwwWht0CDFlpMOZhi83U3vL_Q2R3EyZm8HqSy-70uN6lFk0VY1ykHoeB8Eq2LGMMR04_BxBhyphenhyphenYcXDOu1RXoCwvVjS-L6Cu2vdk/s4032/20201222_174809.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyT3zgAs9dS7yiE53u8k44cRka46Cd8431pvfOX0oelmwwWht0CDFlpMOZhi83U3vL_Q2R3EyZm8HqSy-70uN6lFk0VY1ykHoeB8Eq2LGMMR04_BxBhyphenhyphenYcXDOu1RXoCwvVjS-L6Cu2vdk/s320/20201222_174809.jpg" /></a></div><p>23 - I had to go pick up a work laptop today from company headquarters around an hour away, then we went to Will's sister's house to see his dad and stepmom while they were in town; that's more driving and social interaction than we've had in a long time! </p><p>24 - Slower Christmas Eve than usual since my extended family's gatherings were cancelled, and that was okay with us after yesterday's adventures!</p><p>25 - Merry Christmas from a very excited little girl!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwNSya6Yw_JLZao7r9VHEzt5gQM1To7RLAcM1s7MLdmxgVAlFg1rPqF2f00a19l_wmrtB3DupXyla0FbLIA-V36xmxsZoNJmNYOWxu3jSByYUq5fFNfmZHD3R1dLWEtOob8Eq9hvFH2k/s4032/20201225_074344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwNSya6Yw_JLZao7r9VHEzt5gQM1To7RLAcM1s7MLdmxgVAlFg1rPqF2f00a19l_wmrtB3DupXyla0FbLIA-V36xmxsZoNJmNYOWxu3jSByYUq5fFNfmZHD3R1dLWEtOob8Eq9hvFH2k/s320/20201225_074344.jpg" /></a></div><p>26 - A day at home playing with new Christmas toys (and our new fancy coffee machine) was just what all of us needed!</p><p>27 - A little uneasy today since some fool in our county (located near Nashville) decided to replicate the recording from the Christmas morning bombing, but thankfully it was just a random idiot who was shut down by local law enforcement. </p><p>28 - Last Monday of the year!</p><p>29 - I haven't had to work during this week for a long time, so I forgot how it feels to use my brain between Christmas and New Year's Eve...haha</p><p>30 - My dad and brother brought over the gift my parents got us - a new freezer!! I never would've thought that I would be so excited about a new freezer! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mzW5AcyCZCuRirYm046adMWntc3NKUcbrUBGCX7FyvHtLQcuwZWC2XZa1gl2eO4lB5wq1adTgO_9XlL8oeaI0Ij9Ip4L1TzvmbeM7hjVaPwy6demSJiwQGcEZXBUa23fHzwVmHMPQFI/s4032/20201230_133529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mzW5AcyCZCuRirYm046adMWntc3NKUcbrUBGCX7FyvHtLQcuwZWC2XZa1gl2eO4lB5wq1adTgO_9XlL8oeaI0Ij9Ip4L1TzvmbeM7hjVaPwy6demSJiwQGcEZXBUa23fHzwVmHMPQFI/s320/20201230_133529.jpg" /></a></div><p>31 - We made it to the end of 2020; a new calendar/planner/date doesn't necessarily mean that everything will be instantly fixed, but it has to mean brighter days are ahead. Happy New Year! </p><p>And that's December...and 2020...all wrapped up! Did you track your month? Leave your blog link on Leslie's linkup (using the button below) so I can see how your December was! </p><!--start InLinkz code-->
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<!--end InLinkz code-->Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-47352167778740406632021-01-04T07:00:00.005-06:002021-01-05T22:29:29.505-06:00Monthly Goals : January 2021<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hello everyone! I won't go into my "thank goodness we made it through 2020" introduction (partially because I'm going to say it during my December Sentence a Day recap that'll be published tomorrow...ha!). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wanted to start out the year on my little online space by talking about my monthly goals. I know it sounds odd, but when I read other bloggers' monthly goal posts, I get inspired/motivated to work on goals of my own. I used to post about my own monthly goals but haven't done so in a while (and I can't find it on my messed up Wordpress blog to know the exact month), so I wanted to jump back into it. Hopefully by posting this, I'll not only inspire someone else to work on their goals, but I'll also give myself a little public "butt kicking" when I have to post my follow up next month and show how productive I have or haven't been!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7fXRFut2dT6AFG7eaIPRRjIU1AHBEt-lMDaORmyP5NAAI36UEJesWRlbvBO15EnCMa3d1Oos05MQ3eVWQER7I6yY5jye7eCFXlk1hpgfwQz7Saes6qgFcXtHKmXV7-e14sO6rKGxzos/s800/Monthly+Goals.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7fXRFut2dT6AFG7eaIPRRjIU1AHBEt-lMDaORmyP5NAAI36UEJesWRlbvBO15EnCMa3d1Oos05MQ3eVWQER7I6yY5jye7eCFXlk1hpgfwQz7Saes6qgFcXtHKmXV7-e14sO6rKGxzos/s320/Monthly+Goals.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">January 2021 goals:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>1. Read 13 books</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I want to read 150 books this year. I have a couple of reading challenges I want to participate in (like Lauren and Lindsi's <a href="https://shootingstarsmag.net/2021-read-the-alphabet-challenge/" target="_blank">Read the Alphabet Challenge</a>!) that will help me choose books to read this month. I'm already reading <i>Anxious People</i> as my A title! Half a book down - 12.5 more to go this month! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>2. Deep clean/declutter living room</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even though we were home basically 24/7 in 2020, our house is still a disaster area. I think that the uncertainty of 2020, plus our family's personal challenges made me shut down instead of being more productive. However, this year, I'm ready to change that! I've broken our house up into 12 rooms/areas so that I only need to focus on one per month. We'll still do all of the regular cleaning and home maintenance tasks that need to be done, but each month, we will really focus on that month's area and deep clean and declutter it. I decided to start with our living room since that's the first room you see when you come in our house, and I thought it would be nice to have a calm and clean space to come home to. We have a couple of flat surfaces in our living room that are dumping grounds for papers and random junk, so even just clearing those off will make a huge difference! Deep cleaning this space involves things like washing the curtains, cleaning the window tracks, and borrowing a rug cleaner in order to really freshen up the space. Those are things that we aren't doing consistently right now, so even doing them annually from now on will be an improvement.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(If you're a clean and organized person who does those things on a really regular basis, then I'd love to see your cleaning schedule. I probably won't follow it, but I'd like to know what else I need to work on improving!). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjh07CQDvdGy6Xu32fkg9av71q7N8fxhbly5_FPQHBHZPXZNkbyLn3yMoIU3Hh2Ypniw4FAGslyVLSTg63usL0QyguPOsBbWaDB9xhQnrPBi9o84Y3FDcsfE_2Jx4-JDO6qT2ddH-1zw/s4032/20210103_221048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjh07CQDvdGy6Xu32fkg9av71q7N8fxhbly5_FPQHBHZPXZNkbyLn3yMoIU3Hh2Ypniw4FAGslyVLSTg63usL0QyguPOsBbWaDB9xhQnrPBi9o84Y3FDcsfE_2Jx4-JDO6qT2ddH-1zw/s320/20210103_221048.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievMINRs5XGHN1AYL5m6eD9B6tylWSw369ju5uWBUc25NrxbaaePwIIi7SZkuwLM4Zib11rFphmCmyr2HWzG3VkwQOw5m-O09M_HAa7LUm33X5kzEbTb1Sb0OeHekul6SHAk479pvxkO0/s4032/20210103_221120.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievMINRs5XGHN1AYL5m6eD9B6tylWSw369ju5uWBUc25NrxbaaePwIIi7SZkuwLM4Zib11rFphmCmyr2HWzG3VkwQOw5m-O09M_HAa7LUm33X5kzEbTb1Sb0OeHekul6SHAk479pvxkO0/s320/20210103_221120.jpg" /></a></div><p>A couple of pictures of our living room from last night. Yes, those are the Christmas decoration bins with things, such as decorations, planner stuff, and a few Christmas presents piled on top of them. Ugh. Also, the second picture is one of the two flat surfaces that is the catch all spot of doom. I know our letter board needs to be changed too. We're a hot mess around here...but not for much longer!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>3. Finish putting away Christmas decorations/items</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This one is the easiest goal of the month because I'm already almost finished with it! I figured I needed to put at least one guaranteed to finish goal on my list! I took our tree down yesterday (and the area where it was looks so empty and dark now), and all of our decorations are gathered in one spot to be put back into their bins. I see this one being finished this week! Phew!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>4. Lose 4-5 pounds</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm about 100 pounds over the weight I want to be at (and that's about 30 pounds more than the "suggested weight range" that BMI charts so helpfully provide people). I'm about 7 pounds heavier than I was when I gave birth to Char <i>nearly five years ago</i>. It's time for me to get serious about losing weight. However, I want it to be sustainable and realistic for me. I have jumped into restrictive eating plans in the past, and they have not been good for my mental health; obviously they haven't worked either, since I'm heavier than I've ever been! So, my new plan is to be slow, steady, and sustainable. This means that I'm looking at this 100 pound loss over the next couple of years. I may lose more quickly than that, but I'd rather exceed my slow goal than to set something unrealistic and fail spectacularly. 50 pounds in a year puts me needing to lose between 4 and 5 pounds per month or around a pound a week. Yeah, it's not glamorous or exciting like big, quick transformations are, but it's going to be what works for me. Also, I'm totally making a weight loss and rewards chart for my planner (nerd alert) so that I can stay motivated during this long process! I plan to talk about my weight loss plans more here, but I'm waiting to see if there is going to be a Wellness Weekend linkup this year or not so I know when to share!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5vHanupYLUp_x0WouSZiJxf6x-10msHtPiVOgrmhKzAj_8alK4Tab9IWY6WLvnXKwwduq8FBZesfhWB3DBtJ9DYNfwkmcmcSuYJfALX0tB4J5WFiQECzTN-bCNDUIEl3gUCPbpsPofE/s1280/IMG_0230.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5vHanupYLUp_x0WouSZiJxf6x-10msHtPiVOgrmhKzAj_8alK4Tab9IWY6WLvnXKwwduq8FBZesfhWB3DBtJ9DYNfwkmcmcSuYJfALX0tB4J5WFiQECzTN-bCNDUIEl3gUCPbpsPofE/s320/IMG_0230.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YYNWqxOLDAxtuplTZxBfMjR0Gu3vk6ewNzUR1e2GsGR3w5nF6EQEovlWCsqGGYCiPBz8djAZvOICYMjQrnHPuGarjAKcQVW0rnGiG9p2pcwP_tkSVD5Tqj1mlRLlRzbEeYY9YwmA_GE/s2048/20190801_062209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YYNWqxOLDAxtuplTZxBfMjR0Gu3vk6ewNzUR1e2GsGR3w5nF6EQEovlWCsqGGYCiPBz8djAZvOICYMjQrnHPuGarjAKcQVW0rnGiG9p2pcwP_tkSVD5Tqj1mlRLlRzbEeYY9YwmA_GE/s320/20190801_062209.jpg" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Me in January 2015 (at my post 100 pounds weight loss goal weight) versus August 2019 (one of the most recent full-body pictures I had and probably around 10 pounds lighter than I am now). Also, I am wearing pants in that picture...they're not flattering, but they are there... π</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>5. Determine where we stand financially</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I won't talk much about our finances or our debt free journey here since I have <a href="debtfreemckees.blogspot.com" target="_blank">another blog</a> dedicated to that, but I will say that we need to figure out what bills we are behind on, how much we are behind on them, and what our updated debt total is. Blah. This goal sucks, but it's a necessary evil. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There you have it! I have a tendency to make really long to-do lists or think that I can accomplish 600 things in a week, and those thought patterns lead to failure. I'm going to keep my monthly goals between 3 and 7 items in order to make it realistic and manageable for myself. These aren't my only goals each month or for the year, but these are the ones that will help me achieve my bigger goals. For example, with my big goal of reading 150 books this year, I need to read 13 books per month to reach that goal. My goal of deep cleaning and decluttering our entire house can be done by the end of the year if I break it down to one space/area of the house per month. Plus, I can use the same room and area rotation next year to make sure we maintain a neat and clean home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Each thing I do monthly is another layer in achieving big goals, plus it helps me break it down into bite-sized pieces, rather than thinking, "I have to deep clean and declutter my whole house in a month, while I lose 50 pounds, and in between reading 150 books." Yeah, that may seem ridiculous to a lot of people, but my brain works that way! Also, you'll probably see some of these goals (like the books to read, decluttering, and weight loss ones) repeated each month. I'll try to mix it up a little with before, during, and after pictures, book reviews, etc, but it might get repetitive to read. Sorry in advance! However, life is repetitive sometimes, so maybe it will be good to see consistency. Possibly...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Do you make monthly goals? Share them with me so I can cheer you on! </div><br /><br /><p></p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-81776798139271458882020-12-03T19:00:00.004-06:002020-12-03T19:00:03.596-06:00Sentence a Day : November 2020<p>Welcome, welcome to another Sentence A Day post! I haven't posted one of these since <a href="http://stillamberiam.blogspot.com/2020/04/havent-participated-in-this-since-july.html" target="_blank">March</a>, although I did attempt to keep up with sentences in October. We see how well that went, don't we?</p><p>If you're new to Sentence A Day, it's a sentence (or maybe a couple of sentences in some cases) about each day of your month. I forgot to write sentences some days, so I tried to include some cute pictures to make up for it! Let's dive in and see how November was! </p><p>1 - Dinner with relatives and more cousins to play with (we saw different cousins last night); busy weekend plus the time change means we're exhausted!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJX4FzckDaJxAVSNWDmVJv7onqbGlPkUfJqzX46ygH3GJYRWoJ3oh_k2aiCA0aDShyphenhyphenrMKTZO6aq0iO9p97GCgTD5_O643EZaeNRvjqGt3STJimPyIdTOAGuif-oN0p5CmuM7ASnRe0n8/s4032/20201101_135000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJX4FzckDaJxAVSNWDmVJv7onqbGlPkUfJqzX46ygH3GJYRWoJ3oh_k2aiCA0aDShyphenhyphenrMKTZO6aq0iO9p97GCgTD5_O643EZaeNRvjqGt3STJimPyIdTOAGuif-oN0p5CmuM7ASnRe0n8/w300-h400/20201101_135000.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>2 - Starting a new training program at work this week that I think I'll like better than what I was doing! </p><p>3 - Election Day - that's all I'm going to say.</p><p>4 - Managed to drop my entire plate of lunch on the floor, then I cried about it because I'm overtired!</p><p>5 - I'm not ashamed to say that I went to bed at 7:30 last night (but I'm still tired today!)</p><p>6 - With kids, sometimes you don't know that something you did with them was the last time you were going to do it. π’</p><p>7 - I was not the biggest fan of Biden, but I feel that we need a lot of healing after the last four years, plus finally having a female hold the office of Vice-President is just so overwhelming!</p><p>8 - Relaxing day at home was much needed after this week (month, year, everything lol)</p><p>9 - Second week of training at work and still moving right along. </p><p>10 - Took a picture of our dog for an Instagram photo challenge, and he is so handsome!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDgWZGu-5t5v6Q3vdR_235It62ffUKGJL6LORY7WRDFrHGo595PbAOghjACp60JIXgnVaU0vKPYCRZ47QRogHHJglJKjcfSb5iNxBqKna2ZO5M-KKg9OGrYNdhYzjw_UOqaevYRyezU4I/s4032/20201110_122910.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDgWZGu-5t5v6Q3vdR_235It62ffUKGJL6LORY7WRDFrHGo595PbAOghjACp60JIXgnVaU0vKPYCRZ47QRogHHJglJKjcfSb5iNxBqKna2ZO5M-KKg9OGrYNdhYzjw_UOqaevYRyezU4I/w300-h400/20201110_122910.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>11 - Thank you Veterans for all that you've done for our country!</p><p>12 - I spilled coffee on a shirt that says I run on coffee; that seems fitting. </p><p>13 - Today just seemed to draaaaag by. </p><p>14 - Ventured out a few places and regretted it; we wore masks and distanced, but it didn't feel like a good choice!</p><p>15 - Checked out a store with my mom that I won a gift card to in an Instagram giveaway, and we weren't too impressed by it!</p><p>16 - Dragging today - don't know if it's the weather or just a general feeling of blah-ness.</p><p>17 - <i>This Is Us </i>was good tonight but gone until January now...come on!!</p><p>18 - Still dragging and meh today; hoping it's just the gray outside and not sickness or anything. </p><p>19 - This week just keeps going and going and going...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPJGp0mTfHe8QY6Bt6y0l-GGjrsZsx4pwyV6I08MRYKg7rmMmkvyNsbFJFhA5J6oMjzRylnf_LLpa-J9fwwk4M6os5blUAsGTpKbsxoopmTqByKs18G66hAoe41uEGZFb1u75KZP13rI/s2640/20201119_163153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2640" data-original-width="1980" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPJGp0mTfHe8QY6Bt6y0l-GGjrsZsx4pwyV6I08MRYKg7rmMmkvyNsbFJFhA5J6oMjzRylnf_LLpa-J9fwwk4M6os5blUAsGTpKbsxoopmTqByKs18G66hAoe41uEGZFb1u75KZP13rI/w300-h400/20201119_163153.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>20 - Same mood, different day.</p><p>21 - So crabby today; this needs to stop!!</p><p>22 - Rainy day made for staying home, being lazy, and making muffins!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHwkI-65vpEpoDwqwFq06EpaYgzKrGqXDQa7LvaxR8Ctc9xUX6cQAsxMyqFBFemSv6fzScNum-Nfw4PLRuRy5v3w2nQYolAWeNdCvp9_4FIvJy3QC0cMaRvEWf4FFMPkbjDMO5T9XEm4/s4032/20201122_145112.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHwkI-65vpEpoDwqwFq06EpaYgzKrGqXDQa7LvaxR8Ctc9xUX6cQAsxMyqFBFemSv6fzScNum-Nfw4PLRuRy5v3w2nQYolAWeNdCvp9_4FIvJy3QC0cMaRvEWf4FFMPkbjDMO5T9XEm4/w300-h400/20201122_145112.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>23 - Forgot to write a sentence today!</p><p>24 - Forgot to write a sentence today!</p><p>25 - This day seemed to take forever (probably because it's the day before a holiday!)</p><p>26 - Thanksgiving at home just relaxing and watching the dog show, Doc McStuffins, and football!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHokaKPInpmDSO6_Ft2pwyvYAw7DvqwyWTaFpm5SZ1o5e7RnHORAMTQomrcP0VjmvM0c3hXdlsjZbKIruXEoBoPosRjz-SlrjSguJXcgF8WhPszAOByKAWercnAD8w9KSUUS9dHk_XMBw/s4032/20201126_134940.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHokaKPInpmDSO6_Ft2pwyvYAw7DvqwyWTaFpm5SZ1o5e7RnHORAMTQomrcP0VjmvM0c3hXdlsjZbKIruXEoBoPosRjz-SlrjSguJXcgF8WhPszAOByKAWercnAD8w9KSUUS9dHk_XMBw/w300-h400/20201126_134940.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>27 - We didn't buy any Christmas gifts today; might be the first time in a while that we haven't!</p><p>28 - Did our outdoor decorating today, and it's not much, but we think it's adorable!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gQGWKc1qNcoQYEoX94jZQ-1Nmr-uxNhCa4VXB8bo-jIzo3Hy3DEda8X1T9qtO4YhhyphenhyphenvrsYZykJ6LfKoZdGrU9Ior2JGGJcRBesR17QPW1BFUIBD8ljJn8OB6mlvrzmqrIuQuCcP9Tq0/s4032/20201128_145454.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gQGWKc1qNcoQYEoX94jZQ-1Nmr-uxNhCa4VXB8bo-jIzo3Hy3DEda8X1T9qtO4YhhyphenhyphenvrsYZykJ6LfKoZdGrU9Ior2JGGJcRBesR17QPW1BFUIBD8ljJn8OB6mlvrzmqrIuQuCcP9Tq0/w300-h400/20201128_145454.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>29 - Will made nachos tonight that were beyond delicious!! β€</p><p>30 - It snowed all day today, but no accumulation, so no snowball fights yet for Char!</p><p>So November's theme evidently was that I was tired and blah all month. Hopefully I'll be more peppy and full of Christmas spirit in December! </p><p>A couple of days late but linking up with Leslie! </p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-18335838009536611812020-12-02T19:00:00.001-06:002020-12-02T21:02:51.841-06:00Currently : December 2020<p>New month, new prompts for the Currently linkup - last one of 2020! Friends, we've almost made it through the slowest, yet fastest, year of our lives! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZwsKqHTKCWf1er5R9bUbu7GgendOC4zvXYEYuiJgJVbSXvZi3IXqs9fJNRVYahorFxwUB3JhtFdvtzoGqz2Pcb6Cv4qg_PuYocYe_YwkY7hoGlHrh9fyztVBqY2YnUh8gAU4xL7xhAk/s800/Currently.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZwsKqHTKCWf1er5R9bUbu7GgendOC4zvXYEYuiJgJVbSXvZi3IXqs9fJNRVYahorFxwUB3JhtFdvtzoGqz2Pcb6Cv4qg_PuYocYe_YwkY7hoGlHrh9fyztVBqY2YnUh8gAU4xL7xhAk/s320/Currently.png" /></a></div><p><b>Baking : </b>The baker in our house is actually Charlotte! She and my mom make all kinds of creations! Their latest creation was a black cake because the cake mix was super cheap (but not out of date...mom and I think that people just aren't into black cake after Halloween!). Char even told me what they made the glaze out of. Girl loves to bake things and cook! </p><p><b>Decorating : </b>Our house for Christmas! I feel like that's going to be the most popular answer here! We did our outside stuff last weekend, but we haven't quite finished the inside stuff yet. Every year it's a battle to figure out where to put the tree, so we always drag our feet on that. We've got to do that soon so we can put the ornaments on it, including Char's pick for this year - some kind of character from PJ Masks. </p><p>(Funny story - we pick out a family ornament every year, and a couple of years ago, we had to buy a stuffed hamburger ornament after Char tried to take a bite out of it!! In her defense, it is a good looking burger...).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwAJw4REsikmn3zwB3GKwan564PdaeGxQoiXie3rDvRP-HEmeZRRjgS_ihsydmTNY6Nb5KcSUu8hnxGNtTGkqJ-xylC1numq2mcVmJ3ei76U7i_FwH0tkyAUzdGb687g-h8HTB1Xp4TY/s4032/20201128_182045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwAJw4REsikmn3zwB3GKwan564PdaeGxQoiXie3rDvRP-HEmeZRRjgS_ihsydmTNY6Nb5KcSUu8hnxGNtTGkqJ-xylC1numq2mcVmJ3ei76U7i_FwH0tkyAUzdGb687g-h8HTB1Xp4TY/w300-h400/20201128_182045.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our tiny amount of outdoor decorations! We don't have any outside plugs for some reason, <br />so it's tough to do too much out there! <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>Gifting : </b>Char has asked for a yo-yo and a toy train set with train tracks. I didn't know I was raising a child from the 1950s! Ha! I'm not sure what the outcome of either of those requests will be since we were almost finished buying her gifts (based on her 2020 interests...lol), but we'll see what the season will bring!</p><p><b>Hoping : </b>For lots of things. Probably a lot of the same things that most Americans are hoping for this year - pandemic related things, economy related things, getting along as a society related things, and so on. I've got a few more personal hopes tossed in there too, but those will be a one day at a time type thing!</p><p><b>Sending :</b> A housewarming card to an alumna from the university I worked at. She was my student assistant in a class I taught, so I wanted to send her a little congratulatory card since she just bought a house! We don't usually send Christmas cards, but every year I say that next year will be the year we do it. We'll see in 2021, right? </p><p>Have you been up to any of these things? Have any easy baking recipes that I can share with my mom and Char? π</p><p>Linking up with <a href="http://www.anneinresidence.com/2020/12/currently.html" target="_blank">Anne</a>!</p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-1580380960529132552020-11-10T19:00:00.015-06:002020-11-11T11:02:14.376-06:00Amber Can Read : October 2020 edition<p>This should have been the perfect year for reading. We've been ordered to stay home as much as possible. I work from home and have a job that, unlike my last one, does not require any external preparation or work done outside of my Monday-Friday, 8-4:30 hours. I'm not in school, teaching, or doing anything that requires any type of solid commitment. The list goes on and on.</p><p><i>But, 2020</i>.</p><p>(I think I'm just going to use that to explain away anything or justify why I haven't been productive in certain areas of my life.)</p><p>I had a lofty reading goal this year - 150 books. I started the year pretty strong, but now I've stagnated, and Goodreads tells me that I'm currently around 65 books behind where I should be to reach that goal. I'm not surprised. I've had so much trouble reading and focusing on things. I know I'm not alone, but it's frustrating because I love to read, but I'm falling short on actually doing it. I'm trying to give myself some grace and get back into the swing of things, so I'm joining this linkup for the first time in a while! Maybe this will help me jump back into reading again and knock that snarky little message off of my Goodreads tracker...</p><p>Disclosure: If you click on the picture of the book, then it will take you to an Amazon purchase link. If you choose to buy the book from that link, I will earn a few pennies from it. It won't cost you anything extra, so it's a win-win situation! π If you click on the title of the book, it'll take you to a Goodreads link for the book. Last thing - if you want to be friends on Goodreads, add <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6742819-amber" target="_blank">me</a>! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SsZAZK7us14i4ynD40qY_jYj_NkiPKkzjjhq3tuoVfVGaNaCtO_Zk8ZLLMa5hDmAO8YnJABcvH7hD6ooVY62_6u2H4AiJssbqLEwrUeGLSryQnWtbUMWX0gJPVrwPwoErB5ozn4i81o/s800/Amber+Can+Read.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SsZAZK7us14i4ynD40qY_jYj_NkiPKkzjjhq3tuoVfVGaNaCtO_Zk8ZLLMa5hDmAO8YnJABcvH7hD6ooVY62_6u2H4AiJssbqLEwrUeGLSryQnWtbUMWX0gJPVrwPwoErB5ozn4i81o/s320/Amber+Can+Read.png" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Number of books read in October: 7 </p><p>Number of books read in 2020: 64 </p><p>1. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54081499-too-much-and-never-enough?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=tXIl2uFkeW&rank=1" target="_blank">Too Much and Never Enough</a></i> by Mary Trump </p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Too-Much-Never-Enough-Dangerous/dp/1982141468/ref=as_li_ss_il?dchild=1&keywords=too+much+and+never+enough&qid=1604948481&sr=8-3&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=2e17fccdb6aea8fb1b311e2f7c7e492d&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1982141468&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1982141468" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> </p><p>I had high hopes for this one. I wanted her to dish some dirt, spill some tea, give up the scoop, etc. Unfortunately, I found it kind of meh. She did reveal some history about the family that I wasn't aware of, but there wasn't a ton of information about Trump himself. She gave good information about how his personality was shaped as a child due to his family, and there were some other interesting parts in the book, but overall I didn't find it as scandalous or controversial as I expected it to be. </p><p>Recommended for: nosy people like me who enjoy reading about public figures (I almost said celebrities, but so help me, I can't call this man a celebrity...). </p><p>2. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54435884-melania-and-me?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=glIYw1TsTV&rank=1" target="_blank">Melania and Me</a></i> by Stephanie Winston Wolkoff </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Melania-Me-Rise-Friendship-First/dp/1982151242/ref=as_li_ss_il?dchild=1&keywords=melania+and+me&qid=1604950019&sr=8-2&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=25f37ed12b142ac643e8a5eb47cd5b59&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1982151242&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1982151242" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></p><p>The three Trump-related books that I requested from my libary's eBook app all came in within a day of each other. There's an option to delay holds, but since I'm trying to get back into the reading habit, I went ahead and checked this one out as well. This one was more interesting than <i>Too Much. </i>Wolkoff spent time explaining her relationship with Melania and providing insight into her as a person; well, as much insight as she could. It turns out that Melania is kind of a closed book. Shocking, right? There was a lot of political talk in this since Wolkoff worked in the administration, so I glossed over those parts, but I did enjoy the personal insights.</p><p>Recommended for: same as above - nosy people. Also, people who have wondered about the dynamic of POTUS' and FLOTUS' relationship. This book doesn't tell much about it, but it gives a tiny bit of insight into their lives.</p><p>3. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53533943-the-art-of-her-deal?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=PWo69HpOg0&rank=1" target="_blank">The Art of Her Deal</a></i> by Mary Jordan </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Art-Her-Deal-Untold-Melania/dp/1982113405/ref=as_li_ss_il?dchild=1&keywords=the+art+of+her+deal&qid=1604950889&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=949ec448e264494b0af3de47d99b8d1b&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1982113405&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1982113405" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></p><p>The final book of my Trump-related trio! This book focused on Melania's background and how she went from being a fledgling model in Europe to the wife of the 45th president of the United States. There were a couple of themes that came up, such as her being very focused and serious about things, as well as her neglecting people from one stage of her life each time she moved on to the next stage. This book gave me a better picture of how and why their relationship works. </p><p>Recommended for: see above two statements! </p><p>4. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41398025-the-farm?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=M07rKWwb1e&rank=1" target="_blank">The Farm</a></i> by Joanne Ramos </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Farm-Novel-Joanne-Ramos/dp/1984853759/ref=as_li_ss_il?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1604950990&sr=8-4&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=34c250049eb9283b952eca4c41c1d6bd&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1984853759&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1984853759" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></p><p>Now for a palate cleanser! Ha! I can't decide if I really enjoyed this one or if I'm kind of meh about it. The concept of it seems unique and a little terrifying (check out the description by clicking on the title or image above), but there were a few things that just didn't quite click with me. On the flip side, it did keep my attention and kept me guessing until the end, so there's that. </p><p>Recommended for: those who like "could this actually happen?" type stories or anyone who needs a little bit of fiction after reading three Trump-adjacent books in a row...</p><p>5. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48989372-a-very-punchable-face?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=ss1qQKtuMK&rank=1" target="_blank">A Very Punchable Face</a></i> by Colin Jost </p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Very-Punchable-Face-Memoir/dp/1101906324/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=1DR6Q1JHIN9PI&dchild=1&keywords=a+very+punchable+face+colin+jost&qid=1604951083&sprefix=a+very+p,aps,208&sr=8-3&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=33144933b0b10db0c5140f608611f153&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1101906324&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1101906324" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></div><br />I'm a lukewarm fan of modern SNL (I'm a lifelong Will Ferrell fan, and I will fight you about it), but I do enjoy the Weekend Update portion of the show. Also, as I mentioned above, I'm a fan of books by and about famous and infamous people. His book was funny enough, and it was interesting to read more about the SNL writing/rehearsal process, but I just kind of made my way through this one without being super invested in it. <p></p><p>Recommended for: SNL fans, fans of comedians/writers/celebrities, people who read celebrity autobiographies or biographies regardless of the subject (that's me!)</p><p>6. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49223060-darling-rose-gold?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=LyUSbA9ekw&rank=1" target="_blank">Darling Rose Gold</a></i> by Stephanie Wrobel </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Darling-Rose-Gold-Stephanie-Wrobel/dp/0593100069/ref=as_li_ss_il?dchild=1&keywords=darling+rose+gold&qid=1604951156&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=1a36caa7db3acae7bd25c2cfdb9d31ef&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0593100069&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=0593100069" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I think I read about this one on another blogger's post, but I can't remember who it was! I enjoyed this one, so thank you random person! This is a story about a mother and daughter reuniting after the mother is released from prison for aggravated child abuse against her daughter. Phew! This story has some twists and turns that kept me guessing!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Recommended for: mystery fans, fans of complicated family relationships, anyone who likes a good revenge story...</p><p>7. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51086670-the-honey-don-t-list?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=Fu6wqBzx26&rank=1" target="_blank">The Honey-Don't List</a> </i>by Christina Lauren </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Honey-Dont-List-Christina-Lauren/dp/1982123915/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=TT8GKEPL5I0D&dchild=1&keywords=the+honey+dont+list&qid=1604951548&sprefix=the+honey+don,aps,181&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=f3a0946428b515339b0606151d0c7e15&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1982123915&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1982123915" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">This one was my lightest fiction read for the month, which I needed after those other couple of heavy fiction titles! It tells the story of a couple who have a remodeling television show and a new book coming out...I'm not going to say it reminds me of anyone in particular, but I definitely think it was supposed to be a certain Texas-based couple who have a magazine, books, bakery, silos, etc. Catch my drift? The story is told from the perspectives of the assistants to the man and woman, and I'm sure just by looking at the cover, you can tell that there is going to be some kind of romantic involvement...</p><p style="text-align: left;">Recommended for: fans of light romances, fans of semi-generic "chick lit", people who want to speculate if the people this book seems to be modeled after actually act like the book characters (guess which camp I fall into?!?)</p><p><u>Did not finish:</u></p><p>1. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50088631-hidden-valley-road?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=uq1byAhLmw&rank=1" target="_blank">Hidden Valley Road</a></i> by Robert Kolker </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Valley-Road-Inside-American/dp/038554376X/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=2AIIHGF12NJQF&dchild=1&keywords=hidden+valley+road&qid=1604951356&sprefix=hidden+valle,aps,283&sr=8-3&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=8ce18229d583fb7675801e2b6f45b2ba&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=038554376X&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=038554376X" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></p><p>I'm not sure where I read about this book, but I received a notification that my library eBook hold was available. The concept of this book was interesting - a family with twelve children and half of them diagnosed with schizophrenia - but I just couldn't get into it. Maybe I'll try it again down the road. </p><p>2. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51333444-united-states-of-socialism?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=PH7L37enQB&rank=1" target="_blank">United States of Socialism</a> </i>by Dinesh D'Souza</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/United-States-Socialism-Behind-Evil/dp/1250163781/ref=as_li_ss_il?dchild=1&keywords=united+states+of+socialism&qid=1604951724&sr=8-3&linkCode=li3&tag=amberiam-20&linkId=23b6710ee20ad7100aa77eaafa3b8a78&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1250163781&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amberiam-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amberiam-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1250163781" style="border: none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></p><p>In the interest of full disclosure, I consider myself a pretty left-leaning liberal. However, I've been trying to seek out viewpoints from "the other side" in order to try to understand where some of their thoughts and rhetoric comes from. When I saw this one available for a fast-track checkout on my library's eBook app, I checked it out. Then, another title I had put on hold became available, and I had already reached my checkout limit, so I returned this one in about half a second to be able to read the one I had actually selected. This is another "maybe eventually" title.</p><span></span><p><b>This month's favorite book:</b> This is a tough one because I enjoyed all of the fiction ones pretty equally! I think I'll go with <i>Darling Rose Gold</i> because I didn't figure out the twist in it. They all were good and meh in their own ways though! </p><p><b>This month's least favorite book:</b> <i>Too Much and Never Enough</i> - it wasn't a bad book, but it just wasn't my favorite this month. </p><p>Have you read any of these books? Tell me what you think about them if you did! </p><p>Linking up with <a href="https://www.lifeaccordingtosteph.com/" target="_blank">Steph</a> and <a href="http://janasays.com/" target="_blank">Jana</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizC7xWiLwWwXSys0qPb9vDUUnzoPbGHzEofh0kHz_aHgI_P-9wvLoD8ncz9bh6XFL9wc7Ia8pnw-znxGlxlHtWgSBFNIdfy2_z5zv8x87O09uPoF9_7LzAcpJ5hROjA_Ka9k1UUCJBvk/s350/SUYB+button.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizC7xWiLwWwXSys0qPb9vDUUnzoPbGHzEofh0kHz_aHgI_P-9wvLoD8ncz9bh6XFL9wc7Ia8pnw-znxGlxlHtWgSBFNIdfy2_z5zv8x87O09uPoF9_7LzAcpJ5hROjA_Ka9k1UUCJBvk/w200-h200/SUYB+button.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-34667132630828618122020-11-09T19:00:00.003-06:002020-11-09T19:00:03.496-06:0010 on the 10th : November 2020<p>I used to love doing weekly and monthly question posts like this, so I'm glad that my blogger friend <a href="https://onceuponatimehappilyeverafter.com/" target="_blank">Leslie</a> decided to take over 10 on the 10th posts this year. I've got a reading linkup post planned for tomorrow, so I decided to put this one up a day early. I believe this is the only time in my life that I've ever been early for anything! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdn8t_KCYwCWG73xHGZNU-8pOqMhO7v3I93PKMKe0uXKP-chChiQNAgTIgdfbs2_TVDapUGVKsZ_KzwvBkKpHI20erkmjMxK9gU7HtiApPTk7nS-ob9I6gQPpzMLemTyEtfIUUkJJyRPo/s1024/10-on-the-10th-20-683x1024.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdn8t_KCYwCWG73xHGZNU-8pOqMhO7v3I93PKMKe0uXKP-chChiQNAgTIgdfbs2_TVDapUGVKsZ_KzwvBkKpHI20erkmjMxK9gU7HtiApPTk7nS-ob9I6gQPpzMLemTyEtfIUUkJJyRPo/w426-h640/10-on-the-10th-20-683x1024.png" width="426" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b>1. Will you watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade? Football? Movies?</b><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I *think* that I read that the Thanksgiving Day parade is cancelled this year. We usually had it on our TV, but we didn't really pay attention to it. We actually were always just waiting for the Westminster Dog Show (is this still happening this year?!? Guess I need to check on that now so I have time to whine about it if it's cancelled...). We watch football too. My dad is a huge Dallas Cowboys fan, so it's always fun to see them <strike>get stomped</strike> play a good game each year. We might watch a movie too. We're having a small discussion in our house about whether I've seen the movie <i>Up</i> or not (I HAVEN'T, DEAR HUSBAND), so we may watch it on Thanksgiving if we haven't before then. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnL73wlVRDQFO-6u5D8jBS_p0O4tnGIIS8apo3qMC750SbioXp6UxAuiZhdBPHTBkTQkarcyK0ERDFtXH8rqZDV_UspaE15g-vn0HVKrVxismR3_FnOpMrAYw1WsCxeQMLE2f4FgM7SU/s3264/IMG_3667.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnL73wlVRDQFO-6u5D8jBS_p0O4tnGIIS8apo3qMC750SbioXp6UxAuiZhdBPHTBkTQkarcyK0ERDFtXH8rqZDV_UspaE15g-vn0HVKrVxismR3_FnOpMrAYw1WsCxeQMLE2f4FgM7SU/w300-h400/IMG_3667.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Char's first Thanksgiving in 2016!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><div><b>2. Who does the cooking? Fix anything ahead of time?</b></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Usually my husband and I both do the cooking. We'll each do certain parts of the meal. I think Char will probably want to help this year too! We don't make anything ahead of time since we stay home for Thanksgiving and keep the meal kind of small. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>3. What time do you eat the big meal?</b></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>We usually eat in the early afternoon. We'll put the turkey in the oven around mid-morning and let it start cooking, then we'll throw everything else together when the turkey is almost finished. We never have a specific time since we keep things pretty laid-back around here! </div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>4. Do you set a formal table or keep things more casual? Place cards? Children's table?</b></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>We definitely keep things casual around here! Thanksgiving is the one holiday that we have kept strictly to just our household family, so we don't set the table or do anything formal. We don't always even eat at the table on Thanksgiving; it really just depends on what kind of mess our table is on that day! Ha!<br /><br /></div><div><b>5. Is the food placed on the table or served buffet style?</b><br /><br />It's served buffet style, and we keep everything in the kitchen. Since there are just 3 of us eating, it's pretty easy just to make all of the plates in the kitchen and then carry them to wherever we're eating!<br /><br /></div><div><b>6. Ham or turkey? What's for dessert?</b><br /><br />Turkey!!!!! The first year Will and I were married, he asked for ham for Thanksgiving. I had some kind of sinus bug, and he had to work a half day overtime. So, when he got home, he was exhausted, and I didn't feel well. I remember being so upset that he didn't want to eat the second he got home and that we had to eat "stupid ham instead of turkey," π Now I'd just tell him to make a ham if he wants it because I'm team turkey! Dessert is usually pumpkin pie because that's one of Will's favorite desserts, and I don't really so no to any sweets!<br /><br /></div><div><b>7. Does your family have a Thanksgiving tradition?</b><br /><br />I guess our tradition is that we stay home and keep Thanksgiving to our own house. We might start decorating for Christmas, but that's not really a must do for us every Thanksgiving!<br /><br /></div><div><b>8. Yay or nay to leftovers? Favorite leftover recipe?</b><br /><br />Yay for me, nay for Will, and it depends on what the food is for Char! Will usually eats one plate of leftovers, and then he's done. I'll eat it for a couple of days before I'm sick of it. However, we've gotten better about not buying/making too much for Thanksgiving, which cuts down on the amount of leftovers we have (and makes it cheaper for us!). I don't really have a favorite leftover recipe that I make, but my mom makes my great-grandmother's turkey hash, and it's really good! I also may try making "The Moist Maker" this year too with this <a href="https://dinnerthendessert.com/turkey-moist-maker-sandwich/" target="_blank">recipe</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l9FG4kg8HNU" width="320" youtube-src-id="l9FG4kg8HNU"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b>9. What will everyone wear? Dress up or comfy?</b></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Comfy, comfy, comfy!!! Since we stay home, we have no reason to dress up! Plus, if you don't wear elastic band pants, then you're doing Thanksgiving wrong! Ha!!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuGYQowHAaWvxDKq2_AUElgp8Yp1URpFUFcneJFGLirSSrGgbly9vi7q1lXtHqWRVUJY7ZgZpnhO76FsVWO4NCk-u5DzeufiuIUvx1LW6YsogwDUBEx6VXHmlfLTa0NxejGSbvh9yjm0/s3264/IMG_3654.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuGYQowHAaWvxDKq2_AUElgp8Yp1URpFUFcneJFGLirSSrGgbly9vi7q1lXtHqWRVUJY7ZgZpnhO76FsVWO4NCk-u5DzeufiuIUvx1LW6YsogwDUBEx6VXHmlfLTa0NxejGSbvh9yjm0/w300-h400/IMG_3654.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't you wish they had comfy outfits like this for adults?!? From Char's first Thanksgiving, 2016.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><b>10. For what are you most thankful this year?</b><br /><div><p>My family. Hands down. I'm always thankful for them, but this year has been a <u style="font-style: italic;">year</u> for everyone, and it's been crucial to have my family. Love you all! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6dew7yetkJdtjsVD7WdKKwB1TpyhA7OIHQaMGVCg3TqafH97JrEIRLCEMWVWjylBtMJyXJrChb6m4QtEpmDcJ-6lRM79NH9tajY6tVrfpcRWZ4hBWbfQCH5IrnGqo-4FYVfwBvuWSNQ/s2640/20201107_152858.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2640" data-original-width="1980" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6dew7yetkJdtjsVD7WdKKwB1TpyhA7OIHQaMGVCg3TqafH97JrEIRLCEMWVWjylBtMJyXJrChb6m4QtEpmDcJ-6lRM79NH9tajY6tVrfpcRWZ4hBWbfQCH5IrnGqo-4FYVfwBvuWSNQ/w300-h400/20201107_152858.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite daughter and favorite husband!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Linking up with <a href="https://onceuponatimehappilyeverafter.com/" target="_blank">Leslie</a>! Take a look (tomorrow!) and see how your Thanksgiving compares...and maybe get some new recipes for leftovers!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /></p></div></div></div>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3848410391034871696.post-90951605513652463232020-11-04T19:00:00.001-06:002020-11-04T19:16:44.027-06:00Currently : November 2020<p>Welcome to my first linkup on my old/new space! I used to blog at amberiam.com, but thanks to a list of events, including not renewing my domain, not downloading my backup site in time, and letting my site get purchased (hacked? who knows?) by what appears to be someone in China, I'm back here! This space used to be named AmberCanRead, but I updated the name so all of my adoring fans (hahaha) would kind of recognize me! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FieBYNWnz0ZaFarpO7cK19s8Emj599m94Z_vq15qrUTY-EPs_LjdOmg73G9dYvDffmg6y7JriR4e3JXft02-c1A40PPZ82GjDArvqHugg57d-a6vo_RKE7U5hC7uJsREm665j2lCsfU/s800/Currently.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FieBYNWnz0ZaFarpO7cK19s8Emj599m94Z_vq15qrUTY-EPs_LjdOmg73G9dYvDffmg6y7JriR4e3JXft02-c1A40PPZ82GjDArvqHugg57d-a6vo_RKE7U5hC7uJsREm665j2lCsfU/w400-h400/Currently.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Appreciating : </b>My family! I have a great support system who takes care of me when I do things like dropping my entire lunch on the ground! Ha! I'm so grateful for my husband, daughter, dog, parents and in-laws, especially this year! Love all of you! </p><p><b>Ordering : </b>Groceries online for pickup. Even before the pandemic, I didn't like shopping for groceries, so it's been really nice to order through an app and just go pick them up at a designated time!</p><p><b>Perfecting : </b>Our daily and weekly routines. This year has been full of changes for us, including career changes, so we've had to figure out new daily and weekly routines to suit our new lifestyle. It's all trial and error, and I'm sure it'll change 100 more times before we get it down, but maybe if I say we're perfecting these things, it'll convince me that we're doing okay! π</p><p><b>Planning : </b>Things to do in the wintertime. Between the pandemic and flu season, we're going to be indoors and home more than we have been in the past. We want to make sure that we're being careful, so we're planning fun things to do around the house this winter. We're also looking at local parks that we can go to since we can keep our distance from people, plus our winters are <i>usually</i> pretty mild (until around mid-to-late January). Watch us have piles of snow since I said that. Maybe I need to order some snow toys...ha!</p><p><b>Wearing : </b>Lots of leggings, stretchy clothes, and warm clothes! Working at home means wearing whatever is comfortable, and since our basement is feels like a freezer, even in the middle of summer, I'm usually wearing (mismatched) layers, under a shawl, and running a heater! We usually venture out of the house once a week for our grocery pickup and a change of scenery, and I'll wear "actual clothes" then, which always remind me how much I snack during the day now...</p><p>How about you? Have you ordered anything fun lately? Have any comfy and warm clothes recommendations? Leave me a comment, or if you published a Currently post, drop your link so I can come visit! </p><p>Linking up with <a href="http://www.anneinresidence.com/2020/11/currently.html" target="_blank">Anne</a>!</p>Amber http://www.blogger.com/profile/06278723266153073355noreply@blogger.com7