by Sarah | Jul 11, 2021 | All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Gratitude, Redefining Perfect
As part of my Oola journey, I’m making an effort to be more grateful. My daily planner has a place specifically labeled for Gratitude. I’d like to spread some of that love here, too. I feel it’s especially important these days when things seem so…weird.
I am grateful for –
Afghan finished!
92% on CME.
85% on midterm.
I’m starting to really get it.
Beach reads.
Blonde.
Crow friends.
No more UFH.
One last good day.
Rolling and racing in the grass.
Dad’s laughter.
Homemade bread.
New decks.
Blogging again (hello, lovelies).
New projects.
Sales.
Playing hooky.
Snuggly cat.
Magic.
Peace in chaos.
by Sarah | Jul 9, 2021 | All About Me, All of Us, Redefining Perfect
I’ve colored my hair in my life.
A lot.
I’ve gone red, burgundy, purple, and a dark mahogany brown.
I do it for fun, not to hide grays (I’m proud of those suckers).
I do it because…I like it.
One thing I’ve never done is blond.
Believe it or not, when I was little my hair was blond.
I hit puberty and WHAM…it got darker and darker and darker.
Going from a darker brown to blonde is killer for hair, clearly.
My hair? She does not like being over-processed. Perms killed it every time. I’d have to go short to get rid of the shock and chaos it left behind.
Plus…I’m SUPER lazy and negligent about upkeep. So there was the roots situation.
But nowadays there’s that fabulous thing called balayage. The upkeep isn’t anywhere near as strict, it allows for plenty of grow out time, and thus…here I am.
Finally.
Blonde.
And I LOVE IT.
Is it more fun?
Well…with school and work that was debatable for a while…but I do enjoy it a lot.
I’ve researched how to care for it and it’s been wonderfully healthy due to some miracle products (more on that another time).
But fun?
I’m more confident. I’m feeling in my element.
I think the verdict is in.
It is more fun…for me.
I’ve never been super happy as a brunette. I may go back some day, but right now I am all about the blond, for sure.
It’s not about the fact that it’s blond…it’s about the fact that it’s…ME.
It’s about feeling in your element. Feeling like you shine. If going red is all you’ve wanted, GO FOR IT. If you’re craving some luscious brunette locks, baby rock those brown tones.
It isn’t, I think that blondes have more fun…I think that’s it’s that they are, by default, given permission to be more fun and confident because it has some kind of ideal.
At times I’ve felt in my element with other colors, such as mahogany and purple. It’s a matter of going with what calls to you, what makes you feel confident and fun.
Right now, I’m all about my blonde balayage, baby. I’m going to rock it until, at the very least, I am out of nursing school…when I can play with some more fun colors (maybe some mermaid-ish additives).
I haven’t felt this confident in a while.
Now if only I could feel rested…
by Sarah | Jul 8, 2021 | All About Me, All of Us, Personal, Redefining Perfect
I’d been in Florida for a year and a half. I hadn’t gone back, I thought I was well over Indiana…
And then it was time to go home. I had a break from school, and I wanted to see my parents because my dad was ill and had had some bad bouts in the hospital and I wanted to help out my mom with that a bit.
So Denver and I hopped in the car for the long 16 hour drive back to Indiana.
With every mile, my anxiety grew.
I didn’t want to go back. I didn’t ever intend to go back.
I hated Indiana.
But I was afraid I missed it, too.
I was afraid I missed it a lot more than I was willing to admit.
I remembered the years pining for Buffalo, the home of my heart for years.
I’d raised my kids in Indiana and life in Florida hadn’t been easy, and we were lacking friends…but the circle closest to us in Indiana had been toxic.
Our home had been tiny, tiny, tiny…but our yard so lovely.
I was up and down, sick to my stomach with the anxiety.
I drove the familiar streets to my parents house, and the anxiety remained. I settled into a simple routine for our week, but my anxiety remained.
I bit the bullet and drove to my old neighborhood. Into the weird round-about-cul-de-sac road that had been my home for 17 years.
My old neighbors and friends were out chatting on the front porch.
With familiarity, I sat down with them and carried on conversation for several hours. I snuck over to my old house (now owned by our other neighbor as a rental) to steal some cuttings from my rose of Sharon. I laughed with my old friends. Swapped stories. Hugged.
And I let go.
While I sat there talking, I realized they didn’t have that hold on me any longer. With our lives no longer entwined, I enjoyed their company, but I wasn’t bound by it.
I realized that though our little Hickville had been all we’d known, our little world for so long, it was no longer home.
I was free. I enjoyed my time in Indiana…but I no longer miss it.
(Except for that yard. Man, I miss that gorgeous, green, lush lawn!!!)
It’s a nice place to visit.
I let go.
Of the ties to all but my parents.
Of the looking back and wondering if we’d made a mistake.
Of Indiana.
Of that comfort zone.
It’s not easy.
I’m home…but I’m not in my comfort zone yet.
I’m in the right state, but not the right location.
I was in the right field, but not with the right company.
We still are lacking friends (see right state, not right location).
But that weird, pining longing for a state I’d never felt at home at is gone.
It’s a new sense of peace.
I like it.
But damn, I still miss that lawn. ~sigh~
by Sarah | Jul 7, 2021 | All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Book Reviews, I'm A Reader, Redefining Perfect
With working full time, and school full time, I have been massively slacking on the fun reading…but I’ve kept up with audiobooks, and while on vacation I managed to start a couple of actual physical books. I cannot express how much I missed just sitting with nothing to do and getting lost in a book…which I did in the stereotypical “beach read” fashion. When I’m at home, my mind is always flitting to something else I can do and it’s more difficult to ‘get lost’ in the pages…but I hope to do it again soon…especially since I still have to finish those 2 books I started on vacay.
Onto the post:
What I Read
I’ve been wanting to read this since I saw it on netgalley (this is not a netgalley read…I borrowed from library). I wasn’t approved on netgalley…so when I saw the audiobook available at the library, I snatched it up.
It was a SLOW mover and I found my desire to keep listening waning. I knew it was going somewhere, the reviews were raving…but it was falling too flat for me.
The narrator had a pleasant voice and I enjoyed the characters…and I understand world building is necessary – but this one too too long for my taste. Maybe the sequel will move quicker since the world is built already?
Maybe?
I hope….
Hubby and I were EXTREMELY late to the GoT bandwagon.
Seriously, we just started watching it around 3 months ago…and we’re still not done (we’re moving slow and fitting it into our schedule…almost there…at the end of season 7 now).
Anyhoo…I thought I’d give the book themselves a go to see if I got even more out of it.
To be honest, I’m glad I watched the show first. The book gave a much deeper look into certain aspects and enhanced my watching of the show, rather than hinder it.
It’s a LONG listen (maybe my longest yet?), and I had to take it out twice in order to finish…but it was worth the wait.
When all else fails…Harry Potter.
I have re-listened to these so very many times, it seems silly to even include them in my monthly ‘what I’ve read’ post…but I am anyway.
Last time I listened to the series, I ran out of time on this halfway through…and just went back to the start rather than wait to take it out again. I shouldn’t have done that…because the ending is always so very interesting.
As always, happy to have read it. The narrator is always nice to listen to.
~Sigh~
I loved the Netflix movie. I really, truly, happily did.
So, of course I picked up the book hoping it would (as GoT did), enhance my enjoyment…
Unfortunately, this was one of the rare cases where I truly enjoyed the movie better.
That rarely happens. Utterly rarely.
I think this has been on my wish list forever and a day.
Moving states, I’ve found that the libraries here do not compare to mine in Indiana when it comes to stock, especially of audiobooks. They did, however, have this series. So I grabbed it.
It’s an enjoyable read, though a bit heavy on the typical YA tropes. Girl who has power that was oblivious to the power until it happened and everyone is annoyed with her and she’s woefully misinformed and CUTE BOY who doesn’t want to give her the time of day, until he does…but then there’s the other girl…
So yeah, tropey…
But still a fun read/listen. The narrator is pleasant and I don’t find the characters cloying or annoying…just…a bit in the box.
I’ve seen approximately half of the TV series, and 1 of the movies. I enjoy it, but I’m not totally geeking out over The X-files.
However, this book really sucked me in. I enjoyed getting to know a young Fox Mulder and his small, but intrepid, group of friends. His relationship with his parents…
And of course the enigmatic smoking man had to fit in there…
A book about the Believer before he became the believer that delves into serial killers and UFOs and secret organizations.
It was a lot of fun, a great mystery and really left me hoping for another about Mulder…
(I really, really, really, wish I could say the same for Scully’s book. It was a DNF for me. 🙁 )
A semi-perrenial favorite. Every time I give this wonderful, inspiring, lovely book a listen/read I say I should make it an annual read. I really should.
Last time I read it was on my drive down to move to Florida 2 years ago.
I should have read it five million times in the past 2 years. It’s that good.
And no, it’s not just about being creative in the artist/writer/performer sense…it’s about being creative in your life, period.
Such a good read.
Always, always leaves me inspired.
*~*
What I’m Reading Now
I first read this book *checks goodreads* TEN years ago!! TEN?! Wow.
I remember it was a huge book, like 600-ish pages…and I read it in a weekend I loved it so much.
I wanted to read the rest of the series…but, alas…it’s been ten years. So, I have started again from the beginning and I’m SO glad I did because I remember NOTHING.
The narrator is wonderful, her accents are delightful, and voice soothing and highly tolerable.
Need to finish before my lending period is over.
This has been on my shelf for ages. I did, of course, enjoy Dorothy Must Die quite thoroughly…so I was excited to try this, but it languished on the shelf.
I picked it up at the beach on vacation and couldn’t put it down for 100 pages…until I needed to get back to the water because beach.
A fun, unique take on the twisted fairy tale.
I’m 1/3 through and need to sit my butt down and finish.
My crochet project is done, and midterms are over tomorrow…so hopefully I will finish this soon.
*
This was on my wishlist and my bestie bought it for me.
I also started this on the beach and got about halfway through.
It’s a wonderful, easy read for NF.
The take on green witchcraft and fitting it into every day life is fascinating and easy to put into practice.
Can’t wait to finish and continue using it for reference.
*
Currently the only netgalley book on my list (see aforementioned swampedness).
Enjoyable read so far…but I was hoping for more depth to the stories.
The stories are brief, clips really. Generalized tales rather than fascinating in-depth looks into the twisted path to the eventual diagnosis.
I will finish, but I’m currently only ‘eh’.
*~*
What are you reading these days? I’m always looking for suggestions!
Stick around…more updates coming soon!
by Sarah | Jul 5, 2021 | All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Pagan Me Happy, Personal, Redefining Perfect
Once a month I’ll be posting a new Spirit Guide*. This is both for me to study and learn, but also to help inspire each month.
This month the animal has been creeping into my awareness. I’ve been super drawn to it in different ways unlike I’ve never been before.
The Bee.
These fascinating, and helpful creatures, are an oddity. Aerodynamically, they shouldn’t be able to fly – yet they do. They persevere and bend the laws of nature to fly about, pollinating everything in sight.
Bees speak to productivity, but also finding time for leisure. They tell you to examine your priorities, see if you are overextended, burning out. Or maybe you’re the opposite, lethargic and completely burned out.
The bee teaches balance in your life. Work, play, socialization, spirituality, it also has to all be in proportion.
I did not realize why bee came to me so aggressively until I looked it up.
I was completely overextended – overworked and over-brained. With working full time, and going to school full time, barely time for homework, much less family or fun.
I knew I was in trouble when I got done with 18 days of vacation and didn’t feel refreshed and ready to get back to work, but dreading the idea of stepping into my place of employment.
Before dipping into the meaning of the spirit guide calling me, I had reassessed my priorities and turned in my notice at work.
I was trying to do it all, and I just flat out could not.
In the past few weeks I have had time to stop and “smell the roses” like my bee guides do on a daily basis. My schoolwork has improved, and my health has improved.
There are fears, but I trust in my bee guides message of miracles and perseverance. The next six months will still be difficult, but I’m ready to stick it out and get this task of finishing school done…and to get back to the business of better grades than I was suffering through before.
So thank you, bee…for the message I didn’t even realize you were speaking, but guided me anyway.
What animal is speaking to you this month? Do they have lessons for you?
*Disclaimer: I use the term Spirit Animal with deepest respect to the Indigenous people. I have been studying under an amazing, powerful indigenous woman and I respect their beliefs in the highest. I use the term with much honor, and not as a joke or meme. I truly believe these animals come as messengers for me, and try to learn under them. Miigwetch.
by Sarah | Jul 3, 2021 | All About Erik, All About Family, All About Home, All About Me, All of Us, Redefining Perfect
Sundays are my ‘free day’. Homework done, I’d just finished up working overnight and had to reset my schedule for class on Monday. Perfect for watching movies with the hubby. Problem was, the conversation always went like this:
“Do you want to watch Alien?”
“Eh.”
“What about Mission Impossible?”
“Not really.”
“Oh, there’s always Star Trek.”
“Not really in the mood.”
“Comedy? We could do Gross Pointe Blank.”
“Eh…”
“What about…”
On and on the endless cycle went. I hardly ever said yes to anything. We have over 2000 movies in our house, plus an extended library thanks to streaming and…eh.
I could tell I was in the mood for something, but nothing ever sounded good.
Thus, the movie jar was born.
The rules are simple, whatever we pull, we watch. No exceptions.
There are movies we both like, movies one of us likes more. (Seriously, this is how I got Erik to watch The Hunger Games) There are 80’s movies, sci-fi, action, Disney/Kids movies, you name it.
Through this method for the past 3 months we’ve watched the likes of The Goonies, Pacific Rim, 9, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, In Time, Mission Impossible 3, even Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and the ridiculous Paul.
There’s been one movie we did not finish (Bliss on the zon. We were both…ugh and done halfway through). There’s been movies that we just sort of wanted to watch when we pulled them, but we watched anyway and have not regretted them.
We’ve both seen movies we would have otherwise never seen (see above about Hunger Games), and we’ve both enjoyed movies we never expected to.
It’s been so much fun, and a great way to spend my most exhausted day together (I always work Saturday nights). I recommend it for anyone that loves watching movies, but has a hard time deciding what to watch.
Do you have any recommendations for the jar? We’ll take anything you have to offer. Give us a movie we’ve never even heard of. We can take it.
As part of my Oola journey, I’m making an effort to be more grateful. My daily planner has a place specifically labeled for Gratitude. I’d like to spread some of that love here, too. I feel it’s especially important these days when things seem so…weird.
