Wednesday, December 30, 2020

What's Up Wednesday (12/30/20)

It is officially the last Wednesday of December, and I can honestly say that I've never been as ready for a year to move behind us, as I am for 2020! This year was a year of growth and struggle.  We did things this year that I never could have imagined (like home schooling our kids while working full time).  We also faced some really tough health issues for many that I love, and just last week we lost a member of our family, our sweet Minnie girl.  2020 has been tough, it has been emotional, and it has changed me forever.  I am a better mom, friend, sister, daughter and wife because of the personal growth that I have had to go through this year, and for that I am grateful!

On the last Wednesday of the month I link-up with Shay and Sheaffer to answer these questions:


1.  What we're eating this week...

Champagne and Christmas cookies!! #bye2020

2.  What I'm reminiscing about...
On December 22, we lost our cat, Minnie.  She was 16 or 17 years old, we are unsure of her true age and birthday because Mike found her in a tree when he was in college.  She was the best cat, I mean the best! I grew up with dogs, and was not much of a cat person.  I knew that when I fell in love with Mike, his cat came as part of the package.  She moved across the state with him to be with me.  She was with us when we moved into our first home.  She welcomed home two babies from the hospital and has been there to watch them grow into the kids that they are.  We miss her, and our home has felt empty since she left.  She's our angel now and I know we will meet again some day.  




3.  What I'm loving...
I got to see the last full moon of 2020 rise, and it was amazing! This picture does not do it justice!   It was so big and beautiful.  I love following the moon cycles.  

I am also loving my new glasses.  At my most recent optometry appointment, I learned that my age is catching up with me and I would need my glasses for driving at night and watching TV.  I ordered some from Warby Parker and the process was so easy and they also were reimbursed through my insurance, I highly recommend their product and would order from them again.  

4.  What we've been up to...
We have been trying our hardest to keep our normal family traditions and celebrate the holidays, despite the challenges that brings in 2020.  Mid-month, we found out that Vincent was exposed to COVID through school.  Our family quarantined and had to cancel a lot of our plans.  Luckily, we all tested negative the Tuesday before Christmas, so we were able to see my parents on Christmas.  I started feeling sick and came down with an awful cold, which I also thought might have been COVID, because that's what you do this year....but I went back to the doctor on Christmas Eve and he said it was a cold, so that took me down for a few days.  I am finally feeling better and ready to put the last two weeks behind us.  Here's a look at some of the fun things we were able to fit in this month...

Our elf ChiChi came back on the 1st...

Matching Grinch shirts...

My baby girl finished out her first soccer season (missing her last two games due to quarantine)...

Holiday decorations went up...

Date night with some of our best friends...

Holiday baking...




S'Mores on the grill due to a cancelled camping trip....



Celebrating the birth of our savior and matching jammies as we got ready for Santa...


Christmas matching red lips with my baby girl...

My little man is getting so big...

We felt very lucky to be able to spend Christmas with my parents, I know many who were not, including my husband.  My father-in-law spent Christmas in the hospital, thankfully he is doing much better now...

Love this little family of mine...


5.  What I'm dreading...
Right now, I am not dreading anything, and that's a good thing.   

6.  What I'm working on...
Setting my intentions and goals for 2021!

7.  What I'm excited about...
Next week, I am getting the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.  By the end of the month, I will be fully vaccinated.  Working in healthcare this year has been so difficult.  Luckily, I am on the administrative side of it, but I have many friends working the front lines fighting to stay healthy for their families every single day.  This is something that we've been waiting for, and the fact that it's available is a huge sigh of relief that sometime in 2021 we'll resume some normalcy in our day-to-day lives.  

8.  What I'm watching/reading...
I wanted a winter-themed book to read around the holidays, and ended up choosing Nancy Theyer's, Let It Snow.  It was a cute story about Christmas in Nantucket, and a quick read.  

9.  What I'm listening to...
My most-played song on Spotify in 2021 was Justin Bieber's Yummy.  I was shocked, but also not shocked at the same time to get that result, this little family of mine loves Justin Bieber!


10.  What I'm wearing...
I got this dress to wear for Thanksgiving, but never did, so I wore it on Christmas day.  It was lightweight and made me feel put together.  The color that I have is sold out, but it comes in two different color options from Target.  

11.  What I'm doing this weekend...
Putting Christmas away and spending time with my family, setting our intentions for the new year.  

12.  What I'm looking forward to next month...
Vincent's surgery got pushed back to January, so I am looking forward to finally being able to put that behind us.  He is also going to start playing flag football, and I am excited to watch him play a new sport with friends.  

13.  What else is new...
We spent the last two days in Orlando with Mike's cousin and his family.  It was not exactly relaxing, with four little kids, but it was just what we needed.  A nice change of scenery and spending time quality time together with family.  











Thank you for spending a few minutes of your day hanging out with me.  It truly means so much to have this little outlet for me to record our family memories.  I wish you all health and happiness in the new year.  

Happy New Year!

XO

Shari

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

What's Up Wednesday (11/25/20)

It is the last Wednesday of November, and I can not believe that next Tuesday is December 1! I definitely need some cheery Christmas vibes, and I am excited to get the house decorated for the holidays.  I am grateful for this community, and wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving with your families!

On the last Wednesday of the month I link-up with Shay and Sheaffer to answer these questions:


1.  What we're eating this week...

Turkey and pie, and then leftovers!!

2.  What I'm reminiscing about...
We had a great Halloween despite the circumstances.  We had our close friends over to celebrate.  I am so grateful for them, and how much time we've been able to spend together this year.  We made dinner and decorated cupcakes.  I let the kids trick-or-treat at a few friend's houses that I knew were safe.  Hopefully next year we'll be back to hitting every house in the hood.  My little Addison from Zombies 2 and Marshmallow the DJ, helped me feel happy on Halloween!














3.  What I'm loving...
I am loving reading gift guides!!! Here are some of my favorites!



4.  What we've been up to...
Arianna celebrated her besties birthday at the cutest little pink spa.  A spa day with your friends, what else could you ask for...


Election day, came and went, and is it over yet? We still aren't sure, but I would vote this cutie for President any day...

When Papa Florio comes for a visit, you have a dance party is his car...

Arianna is loving soccer, and I love cheering her on...



Throw in Tropical Storm Eta, thanks 2020!  The kids were out of school for two days.  Luckily we were spared from any damage, but why not round out a crazy year with a huge storm like this...

Our Disney magic bands came for our camping trip, and this brought me so much JOY...

In April, I booked a COVID-safe camping trip for our family at Disney!! We spent last Friday and Saturday at Fort Wilderness.  I used to go here with my family growing up, and am so glad we were able to experience it with our kids...



One of my friends gave me some tips about Christmas decorations and renting a golf cart! Two of the highlights of our trip...




The kids loved swimming in the heated pool...


Real life ya'll! We couldn't ride the golf cart without wearing our masks.  Or be anywhere on the property without masks besides your own campgrounds, or the pool deck...


We checked out the Triple Circle D Ranch! It is a new facility, and absolutely beautiful!  The kids each got a pony ride, and Vincent is almost too big for this activity, but his weight saved him...






Disney and Christmas decorations make me so very happy!

5.  What I'm dreading...
We scheduled oral surgery for Vincent in December, and I am not looking forward to that.  It is a simple outpatient procedure to remove an extra adult tooth that he has, but as a momma, you always have nerves putting your baby under sedation.  We could use some extra prayers this month!  I tell him, that God loves his so much, he gave him an extra tooth!  

6.  What I'm working on...
I signed myself up for continuing education as a yoga teacher.  If there's anything that this year has taught me, it's to slow down.  I am enrolled in a 4 week "Nourish and Restore" course with Janet Stone Yoga.  It is something that I feel I need right now, and I'm excited to give back to my community.  Also, how gorgeous is Kinetic Soul Studio!? I shot this image after I set up for my yoga nidra workshop and was waiting for the yogis to arrive.  

7.  What I'm excited about...
On November 16, my Roxy girl turned 11.  


That day is also my brother-in-laws birthday, but it was also the day that my mother-in-law closed on her house!! She is moving to Tampa, and will quite literally, be my neighbor.  I am so excited for her, and for us.  This is a day that we have been talking about for years, and it's finally here!  The kids will grow up with their grandmother close and make memories for a lifetime.  It is truly a blessing.  

8.  What I'm watching/reading...
I finished two amazing books this month you guys!! I highly recommend both of them! 

The first was Untamed, by Glennon Doyle.  It was raw, it was real and relatable.  A great read and I'm planning to gift it to a few of my friends I loved it that much.  

The second was Emily Giffin's, The Lies That Bind.  It is a story about love, and also about 9/11.  It was hard to put down and I finished it so quickly! I haven't read an Emily Giffin book in so long, I'm so glad my friend recommended it.  

9.  What I'm listening to...
I have always been a Bieber fan, but ya'll I am loving all of his new singles!! Holy, Lonely and his new collaboration with Shawn Mendes, Monster.  I can't stop singing along with them, and the kids keep asking me to put them on repeat.  


10.  What I'm wearing...
The weather has finally cooled down here in Tampa, and I have been wearing the coziest sweatshirts that I purchased as part of a fundraiser to support efforts to help victims of human trafficking.  The inside of these sweatshirts is so soft, you won't believe it until you feel them yourselves.  You can get some for yourself here www.inpurpose.org/

11.  What I'm doing this weekend...
Putting my house back together.  We are finally taking some time to decorate our house, and that starts with interior paint.  Painting, even though we aren't physically doing the painting, is so much work!  Literally everything in my house has been moved or touched to pull away from the walls or move out of the way.  I am so excited for the end result, it's going to look amazing!


12.  What I'm looking forward to next month...
Thanksgiving with family and remembering everything that we have to be grateful for in our lives.  We are also supposed to go camping at Disney the weekend before.  

13.  What else is new...
I know that Thanksgiving will look different for a lot of people this year, including my family.  2020 has been a real kicker, and I'm ready for life to feel somewhat normal again.  My prayer is that no one feels lonely this year, and that you remind yourselves of the things you can be grateful for.  My daily gratitude practice is something that has shifted my mindset and a permanent part of my daily routine.  You can read a little more about it here.  

Happy Thanksgiving friends!

XO

Shari