This week we finished up our Disney trip. We had a buffer day before going back to work and it was incredibly nice. As opposed to our normal stay gone as much as possible. Come back to immediately work the next day.
The fog really has been in and out this week. So mysterious and beautiful.
I obviously was still exhausted because I literally slept most of Tuesday, like maybe awake for 8 hours out of 24.
I did manage to get one of the closets organized and checked it off my to do list.
Sand renourishment on Hunting Island has begun. I can’t wait to see the completed project.
I am loving this song lately. This version by Skylar Grey is beautiful.
Hi, ho, hi, ho it was off to work we go so off to Disney we can play. This past weekend I questioned why I chose to work so many days in a row but then moments like this make it worth it. Got to work to play. Got to play to live.
My family is real nickname-y and I have many roles in life that have a label. But my top three favorites, in no particular order: Katecake to my wonderful cousins beginning when we were little. Tate to precious Emilee. It’s hard to describe what a Em and Tate are but basically God gave us each other by non biological means and it’s the best ever. Cupcake to my friend’s babies. They are the sweetest and I hope they always know Cupcake is there for them and with them, to help raise them up into the amazing women they will become.
We had fun with the sweetest girls. What a joy it is for my friends to allow me to participate in their beautiful babies lives. I hope I can be the best Cupcake and bonus mom for all your lives.
If I ever get to chose my last meal, three items will come from Disney. Raspberry lime macaron, Ohana noodles and Ohana potstickers with peanuts sauce. The other portion would be Sharks fried fresh shrimp.
I find the Enneagram so interesting. This is a fun article about Valentine’s plans according to your number.
Beautycounter had been making waves this week in the beauty industry and news. If you want more information on Beautycounter feel free to message me.
Did January seem like the longest ever and yet also 2020 is marching along?
There is a new aerial yoga place kinda ish close to Beaufort and I am excited. I took my first class there and can’t wait to get back.
At the end of last week Ryan’s parents came to visit. We tried some new places to eat, went to the beach, looked at land (and learned we can’t afford to build a house).
I roped my FIL into us making s’mores which was more than just building a fire they went to buy all the stuff while I was at the Visitor Center event. But s’mores are so fun especially when you can hear the ocean. We have a fire pit in our yard and really need to do this more.
I attended the Hunting Island State Park Visitor Center opening. It was a lovely night and such an incredible transformation. The artist, park staff and FOHI board did an amazing job.
We walked to the waterfront Sunday for exercise and a picnic. In the words of Lilo my fish tacos feel like somewhat of an abomination right in front of our fish friends, but delicious and a very scenic abomination.
I spent the beginning of this week in Birmingham with my baby Em. Gosh she will be ten this year. Such a sweet, loving angel.
Where are the self driving, fast Jetson cars. I need to be able to get to and from Alabama while car napping even if Ryan isn’t with me. Driving is so hard. Also why can’t America have an amazing train system like Europe. Wouldn’t that be grand!
I gave my monstera a new, bigger home. He is looking a little worse for the wear. Hope he perks up. I also got this cute crystal plant stake online.
Krispy Kreme has new mini doughnuts and everything is cuter in mini sized. Kittens, puppies, babies, doughnuts.
How yummy is this fry board. Wouldn’t a loaded fry bar be cute too? I’ve got all kinds of dreams about that. Now I need an excuse to have one!
Trying some cupping for my tight muscles. We will see. I figured if Michael Phelps did it then surely it worked. Ha! Bought this set off Amazon. It comes with an extension tube and it is easy to use on yourself.
Ryan and I are catching up on season 4 of Outlander. I have to say it seems to be a few things off from the book or maybe I just don’t remember. I find the tension between Bri and Jamie to be weird.
This little Cosmo popped up this week. The weather has been crazy which has making the flowers crazy. But what a little magic and joy to see this in the middle of January.
We added a new meal to our rotation, breakfast croissants. Ryan also found and tried the parchment paper bacon method. It was delicious. I told him now he can be my bacon cooker.
I attended a Friends of Hunting Island board meeting last Sunday, this was the pier. So stunning. This is a colored no filter photo.
Of course with the fog I had to stop on the beach to grab some photos. I found some treasures while there.
#doitforthegram
Our work days took it out of both of us this week so we have done not much of anything on our days off.
We did go check out some land and do a little dreaming. No solid plans though, just in the dreaming stage.
This week Glennon Doyle posted on Instagram how her dad walks the beach every morning picking up shells, he then glues pearls to them and returns them to the edge of the surf during the day for kids to find. She went on to say how the world was magic but someone has to make it magical. What truth. Have you made magic for someone today? Have you looked for the magic that the universe already has offered to us?
Finally caught up on our yearly photo albums and travel albums. I meant to get started the year we got married but got behind but finally I have caught up. I do have to do 2019 and Iceland/Norway. Feel free to look at them when you visit.
We had a cheese plate picnic this week. So yummy!
I straightened/cleaned our party this week. Always such a calming effect.
Know your beauty products and maybe not purchase outside of the US unless it’s Canada or the EU which has stricter laws that the US! Hopefully one day we will live in a world in which all beauty products are safe.
While in Charleston we stocked up on some goodies. I am excited about work lunch tomorrow.
Feeling lucky to live in a beautiful, historic city in between two other beautiful, historic cities.
We went to the drive-in this week to see Frozen 2 and Star Wars. Unfortunately the car died into Star Wars so we left. But Frozen 2 was still great!
Happy first Friday of the new decade. Have you lost some of your goals already or maybe not started yet? No worries there’s nothing magical about January 1. Just do those little steps.
We got home from the Christmas rounds last weekend. Worn out, with a cluttered house, and work in the too close future. I am desperately working on battling this. You would think as much as we travel I would have a great routine by now. I think a big road block is working typically the day before and after we leave to maximize that travel. Any tips?
Luckily I has three days off mid week, finally making some progress. I took Christmas down sadly and probably the earliest I ever have. Cleaned and straightened. We had the great purge of 2019 to move here and I feel the purge of 2020 coming. The less stuff you have the less crap there is to clean, right?
Wednesday we watched the annual Pelican Plunge. It was fun to see. I do say my family wouldn’t count most of the plunging as plunging since really your head needs to go under. I plunged in July 2019 in the Arctic Circle. We will count that.
Watched some Bama football. 246 days til Gameday. The countdown is on.
I took myself on a library and walk date at the waterfront. Soaked up some vitamin D and Sea before this soaking rain arrives. Also found some new good books.
My sweet friend Lauren had heart surgery today. It went well. But please keep her family in your prayers. She has two littles and a long recovery ahead.
I’ve been trying to follow the Clean Mama routine to keep our house in order. It’s do hard to be motivated to clean after a 13 hour work day, especially when you return the next day.
Happy Weekend! We both work so not feeling too much like the weekend here.
Happy almost Saturday! Oops, didn’t mean to stay up so late.
This past week we built Em an American Girl doll bed. We used these plans. It turned out better than I hoped! We did add an extra inch in length to the bed.
I made a Grinch and a Frozen version of my Team Spirit Cookie Dough Bites. I love how versatile, fun and happy different sprinkles can make them. I used blue and white chocolate chips I found at Walmart for the Frozen ones.
This week my mama had a heart health scare/event. Please send continued prayers. Thank you to those that reached out. Most thankful to Teddy for dropping his life to be there and to communicate with the doctors and his crazy sisters. My preceptor at work for listening to me stress and agonize for days straight. And most importantly my tribe, the ones that have continued to check in, offer support and the wise, wise woman who reminded me I am not alone in this even though if feels like we are missing a few humans to help deal. We are not alone in this and even though we are all very, very tired we are rockstars who will buckle down and handle the shit storms of life with grace, love, Diet Coke, chocolate, thousands of transcontinental texts, warm baths, and each other.
And doctors of the world be warned we are a force with knowledge (at times too much knowledge it makes us crazier cause we know what is going on or could happen), questions and brains. Your friendly reminder that heart and veins and arteries on that table are attached to a body, a soul, a mama, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, a friend and if it was your family you would have a thousand questions as well. So don’t be an ass about us wanting the details and asking questions. No we aren’t the experts in your field but we do know you are human which makes you capable of mistakes and maybe probably not actually the expert in your field.
On a happier note. I got more fairy hair today and saw Frozen 2. Y’all Disney just stop please don’t go for Frozen 3, you knocked it out of the park with this one. Elsa and Anna slayed, Olaf dropped some wise truths and Christof was a great support to some strong force women. Bravo. If you haven’t seen it, highly recommend.
Working on getting those Christmas cards out so if you want one or your address has changed let me know!
Still gathering some things for the 25 days of #rileykateslovies as always no pressure but if you want to spread some love in her honor I have cards I can send.
Happy Weekend! Still hoping to savor some football tomorrow despite the outcome of my Tides season.
Happy Thanksgiving Weekend and College Football Rivalry Weekend!!!
Last Saturday we continued our shrimp on toast and sparkling cider tradition. It’s a quick simple delicious meal easy enough for even after work.
We collected our real Christmas tree on Tuesday night. Grown in the NC mountains of course. Fraser Fir, I keep waiting for the development of a Christmas tree farm to be woven into the Outlander series.
I arranged some flowers for Thanksgiving and man it was delightful. I literally don’t think I have done that except with a few yard zinnias since I moved.
Have you seen Frozen 2? No spoilers but is it good?
I made homemade cranberry sauce, mac & cheese, and sweet potato casserole for Thanksgiving. We also had shrimp on toast appetizer and fried shrimp. Lowcountry Thanksgiving at it’s finest. We went to a friend’s house for lunch then had dinner at our house.
Last week started with a bunch of work but followed with some fun. Ryan and I had off all this week as Ryan had some PTO he had to use it or lose it.
A few magical days, magical Christmas decorated days at that.
Ryan decided to make an addition to the ocean tree. I will be relocating Me Hanky the Christmas Poo to the side of the other tree once we get it…
I got some baby snuggles in this week and it was glorious. Perfect little chubby cheeks and the wonderful age where he is just making sounds and smiles.
We visited the manatees in Tampa. We saw quite a few sharks.
Saw this cutie driving to yoga. Such fun live here.
Beautycounter’s Black Friday event starts today! 15% off site wide (some exclusions apply) and free shipping over $50! Grab those gifts now. So many great ideas. Lip jellies, safer sun screen, eye shadow pallette. Don’t forget everything has a 60 day return policy even if you have used the product.
I can’t believe Thanksgiving is next week! What are your family traditions and favorite dishes? I am making mac and cheese, sweet potato casserole and homemade cranberry sauce. None of these per say is a family tradition passed on but a tradition based on things Ryan and I like. We will be skipping the turkey this year (I could leave it every year), in favor of shrimp!
We saw this sting Ray swimming in Tampa Bay while on a walk!
We are getting into the thick of college football which means it’s almost over. Tears.
Im in week three on my unit and trying to remember I felt scattered and like I was never going to learn it all when I started my other three nursing jobs over 8 years ago.
I may have full fledged decorated for Christmas including my ocean tree which will be hard not to leave up alllllll the time.
Ryan and I have been working opposite days so can’t wait for some adventures together soon.
I’ve been at the meal planning for two weeks and all ready I am ready to meal plan by throwing pizza slices in lunch containers. The fact that we need to eat is kind of annoying when one is trying to save time and money.
We did have shrimp on toast after spending some time on the beach last weekend. So simple but dang delicious.
It is already feeling cold here and apparently it will just get colder.
I got a phone upgrade and a new not cute case because I can’t seem to not drop it.
I did something terrifying and beautiful today. I’ll share one day.
Thursday was the annual Turtle Talk and Tapas. A fun night and special thanks to the group that talked and included me since most of my team was elsewhere.
The Barefoot Mermaid 