Gardening in High Heels

cultivate a beautiful life

Sunday Lately, 19

So.  This week.  I know, I know…I said it last week, but I need to stop writing these weekly wrap ups when I just get bad news.  I found out that my work schedule may be changing.  I mean, it isn’t anything like *terrible* but I took a full time job, in part, for stability and consistency of schedule.  We may be switching to a different set up and I’m really not sure about that at all.

On a happier note, Happy Mother’s Day to my Blogger, May  I partner in insanity, Katy!

What have you been up to lately? This is week 14 of Sunday Lately link up with Katy, Meghan, and Nicole!

Updating

My blog theme!  Finally!  I think I’ve said this for every Sunday Lately “updating” prompt, but seriously, I finally did it!

And I have a sponsorship package if you’re interested in that kind of thing.  And I also offer consultative social media/blogging work for small businesses and bloggers (but that’s always been an option)  And that’s about it.  All the conjunctions!

Reminding

Everything happens for a reason.  I know this is trite, but I really do need a reminder of that every now and then.  It takes some time to see what that reason is (and sometimes we still don’t know), but when you look back, you see that there was a purpose behind X event that lead to Y outcome.  It’s all connected to a crazy universe.  She’s a tricky one, she is.

Needing

To seriously get my butt in gear and take things out of my father’s house.  After my family decided back in March that no, we aren’t going to sell the house at the end of March, I sort of stopped working.  I think part of me was hoping my father could stay there and I was hoping I would still be there for Christmas dinners and Easter mornings.

I said to Katy in a comment the other day that deep down, I was hoping for my children to have memories of coming back to my childhood home.  I have such wonderful memories of my grandparents’ house when I was younger and it would be nice to pass that along so my kids could have memories in their grandfather’s house.  But I’m crying in public now, so I’m going to stop this train of thought.

Wearing

Sandals!  And shorts!  It’s finally warm here in Pittsburgh.  The only downfall is that it seems like we’ve had about 1.5 weeks of summer and now we’re steamrolling into 70+ degree, humidity-filled weather.  Not that it’s a bad thing after the winter we had, but I’d like a few more days weeks of cooler temperatures with a nice breeze before oppressive swampiness sets in.

Being

I’m really excited to be blogging with Katy and Meghan this month.  I thought a post per day would be a challenge (and it is, don’t get me wrong) but I love having a direction to guide me.  If I was just sitting down to write every day without rhyme or reason, I would not be having as much fun as I am now.

Need the prompts for the Blogger, May I challenge?  Gotcha covered.  Want to use your own prompts?  No problem!  Just grab a button to show that you’re linking up with myself, Katy, and Meghan.  Oh, and use #BloggerMayI on Twitter/Instagram to keep the fun going even after you hit Publish!

What have you been up to lately?


Sunday Lately, 18

As you’re reading this, I’m out on the mean streets of Pittsburgh running for my life.  Okay, just running.  It’s Marathon Day!  Let me say in advance how excited I am to be running with Jonathan for a second year and for the post-race Bloody Mary at Wigle Whiskey.  I may be more excited for that.

Nothing like a little alcohol and spice after putting your body through a great strain.

What have you been up to lately? This is week 14 of Sunday Lately link up with Katy, Meghan, and Nicole!

Dwelling

On how amazing Lush products are.  I ended up treating myself to a shampoo bar at Lush when I went to pick up a present for a mama-to-be.  I love the scent (it’s lemony!) and I also walked out with a sample of the R&B Hair Moisturizer.  Now that scent is amazeballs and a half.  It’s this beautiful citrus and jasmine scent that sticks around all day.  I wake up the next morning and don’t want to wash my hair because it still smells so good.  I will cry when the sample runs out because it’s $22.  Why are Lush products ridic. expensive?

Helping

I feel like I’m still picking up a lot of slack for everyone.  It’s especially frustrating at work.  We’re now being graded on our job, which is nice to have solid numbers showing performance of everyone, but so much of what I do is dependent upon others.

For example: If I call someone for a scheduled appointment, I can only hope they remember we were talking.  Half the time, someone else tells me, “Oh, Susan isn’t available today. Try again later.”  That now is a strike against me.  I can’t control what someone else does, so I’m a little worried about how this will pan out.

Forgetting

The prompts for this week.  I know the last time this prompt came up, I said it too.  But srsly.  My brain has so much in it, five random words just do not stick.

I’m also forgetting to return emails until it’s like, 10pm and I’m in bed running through a list of everything I wanted to do for the day and making sure it matched up with what I got done.  Does anyone have inbox management tips?

Switching

I’ve made a weird switch when it comes to nail polish.  I always used to wear polish on my nails.  It helped that I worked at a spa and when it was quiet, I would just paint my nails.  I had a lot of downtime back then.  Now, it doesn’t happen near as often.  I don’t get home until later and I hate painting my nails at night because you get those awful sheet marks.  Sometimes that happens even if I paint my nails in the morning and 12+ hours go by.  So many girl problems.

Relying

On adrenaline to carry me through this marathon.  I prepared as best I could, given what was happening this winter/spring.  With the goal of “Sell this house in a month!” and Mother Nature raining down her cold, frosty disapproval over us, it didn’t leave much time to run outside.

I do feel eerily calm about it all, though, so I’m assuming that’s a good sign.

What have you been up to lately?

Sunday Lately, 16

I wonder if I’ll ever start a Sunday Lately post with, “Dang that was a perfect week,” because this week felt like it took forever but then also felt like I didn’t have time to do half of what I wanted to do.  Y’know, story of my life.  I swear, it isn’t for lack of trying!

What have you been up to lately? This is week 14 of Sunday Lately link up with Katy, Meghan, and Nicole!

Planning

Summer!  It’s finally warm in Pittsburgh.  I hope we have a “spring” this year with cooler mornings/evenings and warmer days before endless humidity hits.  Also looking forward to a weekend away next week.

Loving

Having a plan.  I seriously feel so much better when there aren’t many variables bumping around.  I dislike not knowing what’s going to happen next.  I’ve mentioned that my father was selling his house and it seems like it isn’t quite so “holy shiz, this is what’s happening and it has to happen yesterday.”  That is great to know.

Reading

Still reading Gretchen Rubin’s Better Than Before.  I’m sorry, Birchbloggers, when I finally get to read at night, I make it a page before I fall asleep!  Then I have to more on to more Julia Child biographies and books I’ve been loaned that need to be reunited with their long-lost owners.

Wishing

To see my mom.  It’s been since Thanksgiving.  We haven’t gone this long without seeing each other…ever.  At this time last year, I had already driven down to Virginia twice.  This whole “full time job” thing is just crampin’ my style, man.

FeelingSo happy that snow is gone.  Calm and confident about the Pittsburgh Half Marathon in exactly two weeks.  Excited to take a weekend trip this Saturday and Sunday.PS: if you’re interested in running, I’ve been writing a lot about it here and here.What’s been happening with you lately?

Sunday Lately, 14

I have a confession.  By this time (doing 11 weeks straight of Sunday Lately posts), I should be able to figure out the pattern of the prompt for the week.  Not true.  I still have to go to someone’s blog, scroll to last Sunday’s post, and copy the upcoming prompt.

Next time the “Forgetting” prompt rolls around, I’m writing “The prompt pattern each week.”  Because, I mean, it’s true.

What have you been up to lately? This is week 14 of Sunday Lately link up with Katy, Meghan, and Nicole!

Updating

My house.  Betcha thought I was going to say “this blog,” didn’tcha!?  Yeah, I haven’t forgotten about that. I just need a spare damn minute.

So, I’m still trying to move my things out of my father’s house, pack up some extraneous things for him, and clean out what I can.  The problem is, I don’t know the next step.  I know my plan, but not anyone else’s.  So I can do my own thing, but eventually I get sucked back in to what the rest if the family wants me to do.  I’m so bad at saying no, guys.

Reminding

Myself that it’s okay to say no.  I even wrote about why it’s good!  I’m also loving this list of things that Emily Cassel shared about her March life lessons (biggest takeaway: your brain is a muscle, it’s okay to give it a break!)

Needing

A spare damn minute!

Wearing

As I mentioned last Monday, I’m doing the #LipStockChallenge.  My friend, Marissa, gave me the idea to wear a different lipstick every day for a certain period of time.  I started doing this on Wednesday (it was no April Fool’s joke) and I’m going to try going until I run out if I can.

Join me if you’d like!  I’m tracking the hashtag on Instagram and Twitter!

Being

Relaxed after a night outside of Pittsburgh with Jonathan and his sister and brother-in-law.  We went to Columbus to eat a huge grilled cheese sandwich from Melt.  Oh, and to see a hockey game.

Sunday Lately, 13

I sat down to write this and a few hours later, barely churned out anything.  Some weeks are like that; the writing just doesn’t come as easily.  And that’s okay.

What have you been doing lately? Link up and let me know!

Dwelling

I’ve been spending too much time on the Animal Friend’s website.  When I say too much time, I mean any time spent on there is too much.  I love dogs, grew up with a dog mostly always around, work with dogs in the office..  I will eventually adopt again, but I can’t right now and, ugh, it makes my little dog-loving heart hurt.

But I’m going to be a puppy aunt tomorrow!  I’m so excited to meet my best friend’s new dog.  I’m going to spoil him.

Helping

I feel like I’ve been helping for the past month and seeing so little in return.  Blah.  Next topic.

Forgetting

OMG too many things.  Do you ever have weeks like that?  I need to go back to making constant lists of stuff to do.

Switching

It’s time to switch clothes for the season.  I’m like Meghan: I’m not a pastel person.  I have some bright colors in my wardrobe, but I wouldn’t call any of them pastel.  I pretty much just wear summer dresses with tights or plain, dark shirt with some crazy bright necklace.

Relying

On the fact that I’ve run half marathons in the past to get me through running this one with really very little preparation.  I’m starting to get worried.

What have you been up to lately?

Let’s Play

           

People Really Dug These

We Belong in the Garden Together