The Friday Five #13: Autumn Apples

I think of citrus fruits in the summer (like lemons and oranges) and berries in the spring, but fall brings apples to mind. Oh – and squash and pumpkins. Are you a fan of apples? Do you have any fall/apple related memories?

1. Have you ever bobbed for Apples?

Maybe once when I was younger? I think I quickly realized how difficult it was and gave up. It's much better to watch others attempt it.

2. Do you like a regular or hard apple cider?

Regular. While I do drink on occasion, I just think regular cider tastes better. I do love Michel Jodin's (a brand of cider in Canada) Iced Cider (which is the term from cider made from apples that are picked after the first icing of the season rather than whether or not the cider is served with ice) though. Of course, even then you really can't compare any type of cold cider to hot cider. It's just not the same. ESPECIALLY if it's cold outside. Warm/hot always wins when it's cold.

3. Do you have a special type of apple that you prefer over others?

Pink lady, Granny Smith. I like anything that is a bit more sour than sweet.

4. Have you ever made baked apples?

In an apple pie with my husband, yes. (The pie didn't turn out well, but we tried.)

5. Who is the apple of your eye?

This question is ridiculous. My husband? The kids I watch? My nephew? My dog? So many people (and animals) I love so much.

When you think of fall, do apples come to mind?

Join in and share your
answers for The Friday Five!

The Friday Five #12: Compliments & Feeling Good About Yourself

The Friday Five questions I'm answering today are all about compliments and feeling good about yourself. I don't always feel like the most confident person around, so I had a hard time answering these. I guess that is all the more reason to try…

1. What was the best compliment you ever received?

I've been told I'm pretty, that I have pretty hair, that I look younger than my age (Is that a compliment?), that I'm good with kids, that I take good photos…

Nothing stands out as "the best".

My preference is always to receive compliments for my skills or intelligence over how "beautiful" I am perceived to be.

2. What are your five best talents?

A. I'm good with kids. Not babies though.
B. I'm Type A when it comes to planning (travel, for events, etc…).
C. I know more about photoshop/lightroom than many people.
D. My husband will fight for me. It's not really a talent that I personally have, but it definitely makes life easier. If I have a goal, I know he will back me. If someone makes me feel badly about myself, I know that he will set me straight. It's like being big Mario. Or having multiple lives in a video game. If you make a mistake, you have that back up that makes it easier to continue the game. Not everyone has that, so I'm counting it as a "talent booster". 😉(It's hard to think about 5 things, in particular, that you are good at. Know what I mean?)
E. Googling. If I need an answer badly enough, I usually can find my answer on Google.

3. What do you wish most people knew about you, and why?

I'm very quiet until I get used to you. My husband says if I practice talking to people on the fly, making small conversation, etc, I'll get better at it. From what I can tell, he lies. I'm not good at thinking on my feet and I never will be.

And words. They fail me. More often than not. Is that an early sign of Alzheimer's?

Anyway, if I say the wrong thing to you, or don't say anything at all, it's me, not you. You are cool. I promise. 🙂❤️

4. What has been your biggest accomplishment so far, and why does it mean so much to you?

Finding someone in life who truly loves me and would go to the ends of the world and back for me if I asked him to. It's not really an accomplishment since it didn't take any effort from me to "obtain" him, but still it is one of the aspects of my life that makes me proudest.

5. If you could achieve anything in your life, what would it be?

Travel as often as possible, see the world, open up my mind to new experiences, and fight for equality and love.

Tell me some things about yourself that you are proud of. What are you good at? What do other people tend to compliment you on? What are your life goals and is your confidence (or lack of) influencing how well you are achieving them?

Join in and share your
answers for The Friday Five!

October Lookback

This month is going by super fast. I've been lacking inspiration and focus. In an effort to try and break the rut (though don't count on it until I get my trip to Egypt planned), here's a look back at the month, that is now halfway over, and what's been going on in my life:

Listening to:

whatever is playing at Starbucks right now. (Easy listening? Jazz? soft rock?)

I kind of love watching and rewatching the movie Lady Bird. And listening to the Cat Stevens' song "Wild World".

Remembering:

last year exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway. Things have changed so much since then! (Is that always the case? Do things always change drastically from year to year?)

Planning:

DINER EN BLANC: I staked out the website two weeks ago to get tickets and found myself third in line (out of thousands); people complained it was harder to get Diner En Blanc tickets than to go to a Beyonce concert.

SO what is Diner En Blanc? Hopefully, I will get the opportunity to write a full post on it. A quick overview though? It's a pop-up dinner where everyone gets dressed up in white, brings a table, chairs, fancy dinnerware, and a fancy dinner then eats together. We won't know where the dinner will be held until the day of.

I'm really excited about going, but I have no idea what to expect. Preparation has been intense with only two weeks to prepare. At least, if I enjoy it, there will be far less stress with attending next year.

EGYPT: Who am I kidding? I haven't really been working on this. Three months to go and I only have two nights (out of two weeks!) booked. I have got to get moving on this.

ALSO, THIS MONTH was my grandmother's birthday, my husband's aunt's 50th birthday, a trip to North Georgia to see the Japanese Maples in bloom (YAY fall!), and early voting. (Are you registered to vote in the midterms?)

Anxiously Awaiting:

My Christmas trip to Paris, Egypt, and Germany (Frankfurt)! WOOT!!! I mean I need to get the planning done, but Christmas in Paris is always worth it. And seeing friends makes my heart happy. ❤️

Interested to Know:

if my husband's plans for cooking/warming foods without a flame will work for Dinner En Blanc. Tonight we are going shopping for our cheese plate foods. It's been a lot of fun learning so many weird skills … like how to heat food without a flame and how to put together a decent looking (and appetizing) cheese plate. Who knows if all of this research will pay off?

Keeping A Secret:

I'm wearing my husband's belt today. 😳I needed a thick black belt to complete my outfit. I didn't have one, but he did. Why not? It's not like anyone can tell! But it doesn't fit into the belt loops of my pants. Oops.

Of course, does this imply that I'm fat? Or that my husband is skinny? Would it make a difference if I told you I'm wearing it on my hips rather than waist? 😳

Shopping:

A few things I'm loving –

1. We The Free Free People January Tee

2. Patricia Nash Designs Verdura Rose Tapestry Scarf

3. Free People Oh Baby Mini Dress

4. We The Free Free People Laguna Thermal

5. Adrianna Papell Natalia ballet flats

Reading:

Carry Her Heart (Words of the Heart) by Holly Jacobs. It's a kindle book I received for free from IHG. Who has time to read actual books? (Believe me, I wish I did!)

I picked up A Man Called Ove and Tuesday With Morrie from the local little library. No idea when I will get around to reading them (or if).

I'm also still working my way through The Curated Closet. (Only I started adding to my closet halfway through reading. I have a problem. 🙃) I downloaded a few extra worksheets to help me pare down my closet. The problem? Cleaning takes energy and time. When you aren't home …

A few more books to add to the list: Captain Underpants and Captain Underpants and the Purple Potty People by Dav Pilkey have been added to my "for work" reading lists. I've been reading them to the kindergartner and third grader I've been watching. Anything that gets them interested in books, right? In return, the kindergartner has been reading me A Perfectly Messed-Up Story by Patrick McDonnell. Love that she is only two months into kindergarten and already reading full books/interested in chapter books. Can I take partial credit for that? 😉❤️

Want to share what is going on in your life? I'd love to read! What all have I been missing out on while I've been distracted from blogging?

IWSG #10

September Goals

✓ Finish NYC planning.

✗ Continue Egypt planning.

– The Curated Closet challenge.

Additional Successes:

• Survived 4 nights in NYC, followed by 1 night at home, 3 nights overnight babysitting, 1 night home, then 1 night overnight babysitting.
• Got through 1 wedding, and 4 birthdays.
• Price Matches/Adjustments! Made returns as necessary. Got money back! YAY! Saved over $50 in clothing price adjustments and more than $200 in hotel price adjustments.
• Disputed a credit card on my Experian and Transunion accounts. (Long story.)

October Goals

– Work on Egypt planning.
– Ideally, finish The Curated Closet challenge
– Dispute Equifax.

(Going light this month so I can focus on Egypt planning. I need to get hotels, transportation, tours, etc… figured out.)

IWSG Question: How do major life events affect your writing? Has writing ever helped you through something?

What a question for this month! … Major life events sllllllooooowww my writing down. I have lists and lists of blog topics, but are they getting written? No.

Actually, to be fair, minor life events slow my writing down too.

Writing helps me to remember. It brings me back to some of my favorite moments in life and helps me to essentially relive them. Of course, it can also do the same with some of my least favorite moments in life.

Your Turn:

How do you cope with life events? Is there a particular way you deal?