On Self Improvement...Or 'Oh Sh*t...I'm almost 30!'

I currently sit on the board of the alumni association for my high school, the school that Boomer currently attends. We are in the midst of planning our all class reunion that will take place in August. Yes, all class. We are a very small school so it makes no sense to do reunions for individual classes.

Anyway, thinking on this, I asked a friend 'On a scale from 'meh' to 'Oh wow!' how great of shape do you think I can get in in 60 days?' Then we went on to discuss outfits, hair, and makeup.

This morning however, I took a long naked gaze at myself in the mirror. I'm really not unhappy with what I see. Could I have a little more muscle here and there? Sure! Do my clothes from high school still fit? Yes.

 I do find myself thinking about things differently though lately. With this most recent health scare I realize I HAVE to take better care of myself. Not just to look hot in bathing suits and at reunions, but also to make sure that I'm healthy and available to Boomer for the next 20 years. I need to eat healthier. I need to exercise. I need to drink less coffee and more water. I need to take care of my skin, not so I can look perfect in instagram selfies, but so I can look as awesome and ageless as my mother and grandmother in real life.

In a few weeks I'll be 29. This is the last year of my 20s. Most people dread the big 3-0, but the past couple of years have made me excited for my 30s. Yes, you read that right. Excited. I've learned so much about me. Who I am. What drives me. What I will accept in my life from friendships, relationships. What I have to offer. As I have learned all this, it makes me so excited for the next 10 years!

I guess the point of all this is, here's to self improvement for self improvements sake.

Although it won't hurt to be a hot mom at the reunion so I need to find a dress.

A Girl And Her Money : 5 Ways to Save Money Grocery Shopping

Recently, i.e. Sunday, I blew my grocery budget almost for the entire month in one trip. Whoops. However it's provided good material to share with all of my readers coming along with me on my journey to be financially savvy! Here are 5 tips to help you save!

1. Have A Plan

I ended up at the store, spur of the moment with Mom and Boomer. I had no plan and ended up just throwing things into my cart. Recipe for disaster. I'm not saying you need to have a complete meal plan (although it helps), but having a general idea of what meals you'd like to prepare and what you need to replenish is important.

2. Have Time

I didn't drive myself, and we had an overtired Boomer. Which means I was rushed. So once again this led to me throwing random things in my cart. I'm not saying you need to set aside 2 hours to grocery shop, just make sure you have the necessary time to prepare.

3. Eat first

I was so hungry when I was in the store Sunday, which means in addition to not having a plan, or time, my stomach was driving my choices. So I ended up with nacho fixings, and three boxes of instant oatmeal, but no idea what to make for dinner that night once I got home with all that crazy stuff! Also...the combination of feeling rushed and being hungry led to Hangry Whit. All bad.

4. Go for the off brand

Trust me. Kroger oaty-o's taste exactly like Cheerios. As does the instant oatmeal. I'll confess though. I will put nothing but Aunt Jemimah's Butter Lite syrup on my pancakes...so...cut back where you can.

5. Take advantage of coupons and store savings!

I am a loyal Kroger customer. So sometimes I get special coupons based on my shopping habits. Also I use digital coupons that I can load directly to my loyalty card, which in turn adds up to savings on gas too! Lots of different stores offer different programs, and there are a TON of blogs out there that tell you the best deals based on coupons and store sales.

So basically. Do the complete opposite of what I did Sunday, and you should be GOLDEN.

Any tips from you ladies on how to save the green when shopping for food?

While the Blog Was Sleeping

I have missed this blog.

I've missed writing and interacting with all the amazing people I've gotten to know across blog land.

Depression and anxiety make even the most basic things hard. So once Boomer was fed and taken care of, and I'd done my work that was it. That was all I had. When you see those ridiculous 'Depression hurts, but you don't have to' commercials...and there is like a shadow following the animated girl around? That was me.

Except less of a shadow and more like...invisible weights. Weights on your body and your spirit.

What's worse is the awareness that you are not yourself, but feeling incapable of affecting change.

I feel like now, I'm getting back to myself. I'm ready to make an effort to go out and be social, to do things that I enjoy, and be present in my own life.

This means actively making choices to not sit on my couch for an entire weekend. To not blow of social engagements and....well like I said just be present.

The post I wrote last week about the #OHBlogger's meetup? What I didn't write, was that I had to make myself get up, get dressed, put on makeup and go. The effort was worth it though, as you can tell from my post.

It's all about the journey right?

Dear Monday?

Remember when we all used to write Dear Friday letters?

It crossed my mind at about 4am this morning, when insomnia declared 'Whitney! I just can't quit you!, that it made a lot more sense to write letters on MONDAY. Kind of like an intentional start to the week. So here we go.

Dear Subconscious-

That nightmare in the wee hours of this morning. The one where Boomer and I were suddenly a part of Game of Thrones and there was a really scary group of people referred to as 'The Dancers'. If you could not do weird things like that to me it would be appreciated. I mean, what was that even about?!

Dear FB GOT quiz-

You made me a Lannister?!?!? Really?!?!? And then my cousin tells me....'yeah...I can see that.' WHAT?!?!

Dear Boomer-

Ok, 1 summer reading book down... 10 more to go! (I'm assuming these are 'recommendation and not requirements seeing as you are a third grader.) Come on kiddo. You've only got 6 more weeks!

Dear Grocery Budget-

Sorry I blew you almost for the whole month, in one trip.

Dear Blog-

That blown grocery budget = Wednesday's post so....winning?

Dear Bathroom-

You are so lovely and clean that I almost didn't want to use you this morning. I realize that's weird, but I imagine that's how all the people that pin their perfect rooms feel.

Dear Week-

I see nothing but great things in our future, because there was Indian food for lunch today, I'm seeing my man Bruno on Saturday and well...there will be happy, warm, fluffy things between now and then!

#OHBloggers, Digfest, and Father's Day...Oh What a Weekend

I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK.

Guys. This weekend. It was truly one for the record books. I had so so so so so much fun!

First, my weekend started early, because we have half day Friday's during the summer at my company. So I took little miss to go see Maleficent! The movie was great! The visuals, the costumes, set design....loved it. Nice to be reminded that Angelina is in fact, an actor. Although....the part where she loses her wings was a little...date rapey...and heavy even for me, let alone for my 8 year old.

BOOMER'S EIGHT YOU GUYS!!!! When did that happen!

Saturday I attended the Ohio Blogger meet up organized by Shane and Holly that took place at Zauber Brewing Co, which I will definitely be stopping by again.  Seriously this C-Boss drink was amazing!

This #OHBloggers meet up was fantastic. I got to meet so many new people and finally meet some folks in real life. Like this girl.

I love love love Erin's blog. I also love love love her and her husbands Sallie and Perkins student loan payoff series. I have a stupid amount of loans as we have talked about HERE, so anyone who talks about that in a real way appeals to me. Turns out she is super fun and such a sweetie in person! (Not a huge surprise there.)

Morgan, Amanda,  Kathy and Moi

I met Amanda, the lovely lady behind Girl About Columbus, whose instagram it turns out, I stalk. A lot. She's awesome.  Rachel, the lady behind The Rachel Way informed me via twitter that I was her new girl crush, which I'm not gonna lie pretty much made my whole Saturday. I met so so many amazing ladies, I'll try to put together a comprehensive list of the Ohio ladies so you can check out their blogs too!

We transitioned to Digfest after. Digfest is a local festival that takes place in Grandview (another adorable Columbus neighborhood) where they have local beers, wines, and spirits along with food and live music. I'm really making an effort to get out there and experience more of all the wonderful things this city has to offer. Now that I've connected with all these amazing, tapped in bloggers I don't think I'll have a problem in that area!

Holly, Katya, Jacqueline, Shane and Amanda 

Sunday...I nursed my hangover, which after 25 are NO joke.

 Once I recovered I hopped over to my mother's roof for her semi annual gutter clean out. I have been doing it for years, because I actually like climbing up there and I'm cheap labor.

Then we took JJ to his 4th annual Bj's Brewhouse Father's Day/Birthday dinner.

He and Boomer seriously crack me up!

To sum it up, my weekend was fantastic. I feel re-energized and ready to jump back into this here blog...and just life in general. Guys the funk may FINALLY be over! Just in time to enjoy an awesome summer!

Ebb and Flow

This year several of my friends have or will get married.
Several friends and acquaintances have had babies.
Two of my family members have died.

As I write this morning, I'm sitting in a hotel room getting ready with Momm and Boomer to go to a funeral.

And that is just life.

It's sad. It makes me take stock of my life and whether or not I'm where I want to be. If I've accomplished what I want/need to yet. Am I doing a good job with Boomer? Am I being a good daughter? A good friend? Am I being good to myself?

Its a long drive from Ohio to Tennessee, and while there are few quiet moments in a car with Boomer AND my mom, the ones that I grabbed found me deep in those thoughts.

I don't necessarily know all the answers yet. I think I'm doing decently well as a mother, daughter, friend, ect, but there is always room for improvement.

Just some early morning thoughts, on ebb and flow.

Where is the tide taking you?

That's One Way to Include the Baby in the Wedding...

So.....

This happened....

I mean...it was....

Ill advised.

Weird.

Not well thought out.

A little ridiculous.

I wouldn't call it 'SHOCKING', like most news outlets though. Nor would I be calling for child services to check on this woman for child abuse. She securely fastened her new born to the seemingly fluffy train of her dress and then walked a flat, smooth, carpeted walkway. She wasn't walking down a cobblestone street.

I mean...if this is worthy of child services...then so is

Pretty sure the second image is a little more dangerous in fact. I mean...it's not like she danced her whole reception with the baby tied on there. 

Basically. There are far more important things to talk about.

I mean...Kim Kardashian got married people!!!!