High Five for Friday: December 9

What a crazy week. I know I say that a lot, but it was legit last week, as there was a sudden death in my extended family. Ugh. So there's a real need to sparkle punch here and find the good things that happened in the past week!

• Last Saturday was a banner Caturday because I saw Calico Pinky and finally learned her real name: EDIE! What a precious old lady name! I thought I had seen it on her collar, and then a little girl came running up shrieking "Edie! Edie!" for confirmation.

Official Cat Review: 100/10 for adorableness and friendliness. 0/10 for chill. (She literally just walked circles around me the entire time.) 

• Also on Saturday was our family Christmas party, which is usually stressful because I'm an antisocial nut. But we had it at a hall this year, which meant that the weeks leading up to it weren't crammed with cleaning and decorating, HOORAY! The dessert spread also helped:  

• You know what song I've been listening to lately? "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. (Thank you for reminding me of it, Comcast commercial!) It's cute AF and pretty appropriate for the holidays, without being a "holiday" song. (I've been all about the home-y songs lately... My icy heart must be thawing a bit!)

• On Monday, I got my first oil change, like a real adult! (Ok, I did shriek when the little wrench light first came on, so maybe not totally adult-like.) Afterwards, I stopped at the mall and found out that Hot Topic (yeah, I'm confused why I went in there too) has Neko Atsume plushies! #blessed

• Since I'm apparently re-obsessed with The Mighty Ducks at the moment, I found this amazing article (ok, it's practically a novella) with behind-the-scenes stories about the movies. I also stumbled upon the hilarious Quack Attack podcast, which is basically three dudes quoting/analyzing the movies and even interviewing actors from the movies! Aside from the shocking revelation that a different kid originally played Adam Banks (!!), I think the best thing I've learned so far is that Paula Abdul was on the set of D1 (she was dating Emilio Estevez at the time), and she refused to watch them film the scene where her man smooches Charlie's mom. Like WHAT?! 

Hope y'all have a great weekend! xo

As always, linking up with Katie, Tif, and Della for High Five for Friday!

December goals

Sorry, this is a bit of a fake-out because I'm not setting any goals for December! The holidays (and being out of my normal routine) are stressful enough--I don't want to add to it. In fact, I want to try to enjoy the holidays (how novel!).

Anyway, here's how November's goals went:

1. Christmas cards: CHECK! Not only did I come up with an idea for them, I actually executed it and filled out/mailed them! (Thank goodness because it is December now lol.)

2. Christmas gifts: CHECK! I still have a few to get, but I made some good progress and totally finished two people's gifts!

3. AM Facebook fast: Half-check. I would still mess around on fb (and my phone in general) in the morning, but I've been better about limiting it, so, progress. 

Are you setting goals this month?

PS- Blogger friends, let me know if you want to exchange Christmas cards! :)

Linking up with Nicole at Writes Like a Girl!

High Five for Friday: December 2

What a whirlwind week! Let's see what put the sparkle into it:

• I'm not super psyched about Christmas, but I did get really into taking artsy shots of all the pretty decorations at the mall last Saturday!

• For some reason, I really felt like playing video games over the holiday weekend, so I was thrilled to find one of my favorite childhood games in the App Store: Harvest Moon! In which you build your own farm and take care of animals and hang out with townspeople. SUPER EXCITING, I know. But look at my precious sleepy cow: 

• Mica sent me this delightful link in which people review the cats they meet on the street! MY PEOPLE!! (Coincidentally, I was late getting home on Sunday night because I'd spotted Calico Pinky and just had to see if she would come up to me. Spoiler: SHE DID, and I got lots of meows and bumps. <3)

• My most recent allergy attack made me really curious about what exactly I'm allergic to, since I've only ever been told that I have "seasonal allergies." So on Thursday, I got allergy tested, and yes, it was a highlight of the week because I thought it was so cool! (Also, I'm insane!) I got a skin test, so I was pricked with 40 different allergens (not fun, but fascinating), and it turns out I'm allergic to a bunch of "typical" stuff (birch, dust, etc.)... and dogs! But not cats! Oh happy day! Since I've had allergic symptoms around cats before, though, the doctor actually encouraged me to pet cats and monitor my symptoms! DON'T MIND IF I DO. I also learned that certain raw fruits and veggies make my throat super itchy because they trigger my birch allergy! (So, not a food allergy in its own right, but related to my "seasonal" allergies.) How wild!

• The Mighty Ducks (one and two!) were on again this week, and I could not resist watching... and trying to make sense of my childhood love of Adam Banks. I'm usually all about the dark-haired losers over the blonde rich kids (Jess > Logan, for instance), so this is a real conundrum. Maybe I was wooed by his insecurities in D2 (stressed about scouts! wanting to impress his dad! playing through pain!). He's not just a rich kid, he's a rich kid with problems. And he legit cries a single tear when Gordon won't let him play through his injury. Such emotional depth! What's not to love? ❤️😂 

Hope you have a great weekend! xo

November 2016 Budget

Well, this is a first... I only bought ONE clothing or accessory item this month! WOW. That would have been unfathomable a year ago! (Last November, I spent $173, so yeahhh.) I think I bought so little this month because I stayed out of stores and didn't do much online browsing. I seem to be most responsible when I don't tempt myself in any way. (In that regard, not having to kill time while waiting for Septa has definitely helped. Going into a store puts me 50% closer to buying something than if I didn't go into that store, you know?) Having to spend money on more responsible things this month (like Christmas gifts and a dentist appointment) also kept me in line! (Ugh, adulting.) ANYWAY, here's the one thing I got this month:

1. Rose Gold Fidget Ring (Etsy): $25

TOTAL: $25

I had been wanting this ring for awhile and finally committed in November! Not only is it pretty, but it's also like a wearable coping skill, since I tend to fidget with my hands when I'm anxious. The artisan (LoveDawne) has a bunch of different styles of fidget rings to choose from and is very nice to work with! (I had seen this ring on her page awhile ago and was super disappointed that it was no longer available when I finally went to buy. Fortunately, she was happy to make me one when I inquired about it!)

Full disclosure: I did also pay for a LipSense Lip Balm in November, but it's still not in stock, so I'm not counting it in my budget until it arrives. (It's just easiest to count things once I get them or commit to keeping them.)

So what did you get this month? Any great Black Friday deals I can vicariously live through? :)

Linking up with Fran's Budgeting Bloggers! 

High Five for Friday: November 25

I actually didn't think I'd get a H54F post done this week, so woo hoo! (Has anyone else been feeling super meh lately? OY--with or without the poodles already.) Let's see what put the sparkle into this holiday week:

• Thanksgiving, of course! It's long been one of my favorite holidays. Look at this awesome card from my mom. Anyone else love canned cranberries?!

• In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'm so thankful for YOU, readers of this blog! Thank you so much for your support over the past 2 years, it really warms my icy heart! <3

• TV was really at the top of its game on Thanksgiving. First, the parades, then the National Dog Show (I was totally cooing over the dogs! WUT?!), Some Kind of Wonderful, and the piece de resistance: a Mighty Ducks marathon! YASSSSS. #QuackQuackQuackMrDucksworth #GoodVorkCaptainDuck #AdamBanksEdinaMinnesota

• Fellow Thanksgiving dinner guests included my aunt's two cats, so I was very thankful indeed! :D One of them acted totally aloof all day, but then waited outside the bathroom to meow at me! Once I sat on the floor to pet her, she proceeded to curl up in my lap, purring. I WAS DYING. <3 <3 I guess she'll be your secret bff, as long as everyone else (including her cat sister) is downstairs.

Her cat sister, meanwhile, made an adorable decoration.

• Finally, last Saturday, I actually acted my age and stayed out til 1 AM! Whoa! I went to a surprise party for one of my besties from high school, and it had an 80s-90s theme. This was my contribution:

You know where you are? You're in the jungle, baby!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! xo