Five plus on Friday - Wedding clothes shopping, books read, anniversary lunch

   

1. I got myself back on the freeway for 40 minutes and went to the largest and nicest mall near us. Now that I have been there once I would be more likely to go again. This time though I was focused and only went to the JJill store. I returned a dress I had ordered (but kept the PJ set) and then tried on a few more. I really liked this one as a summer formal wedding guest dress especially the color and fabric as it will be very hot. I ordered it in my usual size and also bought the necklace it was displayed with. Fingers crossed it fits. I may return the necklace despite the drive if one I already have will work. I have an ivory cardigan I can take for later in the evening and hope to borrow a dressy purse or just use a smallish regular shoulder bag I have.

I don’t usually wear something voluminous, but the color is great, it is a maxi and very airy. I'm sort of planning this look but with a different necklace and no bracelet. A stack of shoes & sandals have arrived so as soon as the dress gets here I will start trying things on and doing more returns lol!

2. Chipping away at my Outstanding Annoying Tasks. Finally finished a plant care guide by season for our re-landscaped yard. Did some yard work including the Spring fertilizing noted in the guide!

3. Saturday was our 44th anniversary and a gorgeous sunny day so we went out to lunch. We went to Headlands Brewery in Berkeley where all seating is outside and they were playing lively music. One BLAT for me and Deluxe Smash Burger with seasoned fries for hubby and beer for both. It was fun.

4. A dear friend called and after the usual chit chat clearly needed to talk about her health struggles. I was happy to listen, commiserate, and ask questions about possible options. So sad she is facing such struggles and wish I still lived nearby.

5. I enjoyed watching 2 seasons of Queens of Mystery via PBS Passport. Started the 4 season show Murder in Sweden and it is much darker as Nordic mysteries tend to be and British ones don't.

6. I've slowly been stocking on non-food items as I do regular shops for them or place orders if that is how we buy them. I'm mostly hoping to avoid the stress of shortages like we had during the pandemic. Are you doing any stocking up?

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So far this month I've read 3 books that fit into the 52 books challenge. I have 13 prompts left.

Prompt: Told in verse  - A very lovely and touching book. Quite sad at times though.

Prompt: Plot includes a heist - Ok but not a favorite

Prompt: Published in 2025 - Apparently the real life subject of this biography was prone to aggrandizing her life and it is unclear what was true and what wasn't. An interesting read.

Dinners & the week ahead

I am quite excited about Monday as one of my favorite cousins and her husband who live on the East Coast are going to stop by for a visit as they head out on vacation. We haven’t seen each other since before the pandemic although we do stay in touch.

Wednesday is Pilates before the instructor goes back on vacation for 2 more weeks after the prior 4. Hopefully I will actually go to the library mystery book club too. 

Nothing else planned yet but we need to figure out what we are taking for nibbles before an early Easter dinner and finish buying the grandgirls Easter gifts. The dress I ordered should arrive and hopefully will be a winner plus lots of shoes/sandals arriving to try on. 

I'd also like to make more progress on deep cleaning the kitchen and finishing Outstanding Annoying Tasks plus do something fun.

Dinners last week

Tuna chef salad

Tofu veggie stir fry, brown jasmine rice

BBQ chicken, boiled small red potatoes, carrots

Large dinner salad, leftover soup from freezer

Frittata with sweet Italian sausage, zucchini, cherry tomatoes and red pepper plus sourdough toast

Pasta salad over arugula

Pork chop, broccoli, leftover pasta salad

Five plus on Friday - Dress for niece’s wedding, project progress, Easter plans and more.

Let's start some good news for us - although in normal times we would expect these to be routine. My SS payment showed up in my bank account on Wednesday. We continue to find Kaiser N. California easy to use, providing what is contracted for through Medicare and Federal Employee Health Benefits and the staff has been very helpful and nice.

1. I drove to the closest Chico’s on Sunday to return lots of dresses ordered online that didn’t work. I still need to find one plus shoes and a dressy purse. I'm going to buy a dress and shoes I will wear again and up their formal quotient with accessories as I haven't found anything more formal that I like and fits. I'm out of patience with the process. Hoping to borrow a sparkly purse. I also decided to wear something I already have to the gathering the night before. It is from 8 to 10 with small bites and drinks at a restaurant. I expect I will be underdressed at both events but that is the way it is going to be and I'm probably the only one who will be bothered I hope.

2. My favorite cousin and her husband are coming for a visit! They live in NH as do my brother and SIL and another cousin (the other 2 cousins live in Massachusetts) but I haven't been there since before the pandemic. I am so happy that I will get to see them! 

3. Project progress 

• Purchased a replacement for the broken cellular shade one that came with the house as I was able to find the receipt for the original order from Blinds.com in the mass of paperwork we received from the sellers and they are still available. We got it on sale too and it should arrive next Wednesday.
• Reorganized garage for when our son's family has to store things during foundation replacement work on his house.
• I paid the final 10% on our insulation work since it passed inspection. 
• Went to recycling center to find out how tech recycling is handled and the bottom line is to feel comfortable I have to pull the hard drive and take it to be shredded.

4. Bought Easter gifts for the Grandgirls and their cousin at local bookstore. I like giving books/gift certificates for books. The older Grandgirl also is getting a second gift certificate for Jamba Juice. We are joining with our son and DIL on a set of Lord of the Rings books for their older cousin. We are invited to our DIL's Mom's Easter egg hunt and dinner where the kids are always given Easter gifts. It is nice to be included.

5.  California's State Library has just made over 300,000 e-books and audiobooks available to the public for free! So many books, so much to read. https://secretlosangeles.com/california-library-free-ebooks/

Plus - Found a dime so I came into money lol. That makes 21 cents so far this year. Not getting rich off of these random money finds.

Dinners & the week ahead

The week ahead -

Hmmm - looks pretty empty on the calendar except for the final inspection of the insulation work on Tuesday then on Saturday both the Friends of the Library book sale and our 44th anniversary.

It will be a good week to focus on self care, projects and some things left on the OATS list.

What we had for dinner -

Monday - Turkey chili, coleslaw, garlic bread

Tuesday - Salmon, spinach, mashed potatoes

Wednesday - Tofu, broccoli & red pepper stir fry, white rice

Thursday - Leftover turkey chili, 

Friday - Roasted chicken, toasted thick bread crumbs and arugula & current salad (Barefoot Contessa recipe). Dinner cooked by our son after we babysat the older grandgirl half the day

Saturday - Fish tacos (  ).Dinner cooked together with son and grandgirls at our house while DIL was at an event.

Sunday - Trader Joe’s frozen roasted veg pizza with added veggies.

Five plus on Friday - The good, amusing, encouraging, and distressing

Good - 

We started out with having dinner and the evening with the 8 year old last Friday as it was parent’s night out. We took her out for dinner which got us out too lol. Then to our house for pup play time and a movie. The 2 year old stayed at daycare for “kid’s night out” again. We get the older one today too as this week is her school Spring break.

I also went to swim lesson on Saturday. Had a nice visit with the family and the 8 year old swimmer asked if I was going to come every time because that would be nice.

Cleaned, decluttered and reorganized a few kitchen drawers & cupboards a day. Although I've rearranged them since we moved and wiped a few this is the first time in 2 years that I am doing it thoroughly. They aren't as grungy as I thought they would be but it is needed. We have 16 drawers (5 are quite deep) and 7 cupboards. I have done 8 drawers and 4 cupboards so far. Decluttered 7 things and reorganized a bit. Feels like good progress!

It took 3 tries but my new glasses are finally adjusted right and sit comfortably. I do like the frames a lot and the prescription is great.

Amusing  - 

I learned that there is a name in Britain for that old pile of paperwork & to dos I am slowly slogging through. Outstanding Annoying Tasks or OATS. Love it. There may be a folder with that name in my future. 

Encouraging - 

Wisconsin rejected Musk’s State Supreme Court candidate and the Congressional special elections in Florida had greatly reduced margins for Republicans although sadly they won. The 2026 elections seem a lifetime away though.

Distressing -

I really dislike going to the nearest Safeway, but there are a few things we have trouble finding elsewhere so I went. They now have all toiletries including soap locked up. I need to find an alternative location or store for my own mental health as every time I go in that particular Safeway I feel as though they treat every customer as a criminal including a gate to enter and guard where you exit. This is in an area with fairly low crime rates and the store itself is stocked in a pretty upscale manner.

Tariffs on the world whether inhabited or not. Oh, except for Russia, N. Korea and Belarus apparently. After proclaiming the US was in an economic emergency (not) so he could create one. 

Spring 2025 Intentions List

Let’s give this a try one more time shall we?  

Family & Pup

• Spend as much time with immediate family as I can. Includes dropping by swim lessons, family over or at their house, babysitting, etc. Also I need to make some phone calls or send notes to long distance family.
• We need “date” times by eating out or going on an outing
• Get pup used to teeth cleaning and tail grooming - I'm rubbing dog toothpaste on his teeth and gums as a first step.

Self Care - 

• Actually lose some of the 10 pounds I put on after our move by minimizing carbs and alcohol
• Up my exercise intensity and consistency by creating a plan and following it
• Buy some clothes I enjoy wearing for niece’s wedding

Home & Yard -

• Finish office and dining room deep cleans
• Clean and declutter kitchen cabinets
• Deal with flickering can light in kitchen
• Replace broken living room cellular blind and add one in upstairs bathroom
• Do touch up paint on outdoor benches 
• Dispose of old computer responsibly
• Prep garage for storing stuff for son’s family during their foundation replacement
• Finish last of old paperwork tasks (almost done!)

Fun & Friendship - 

• Go to library book club
• Attend one or more activities at rec center
• Go to lunch/coffee with at least one acquaintance 

First quarter 2025 recap

Wow, what a wild and scary ride since Trump became President in January and enough said about that. However, it has been a stressful first quarter due to that. 

Our personal first quarter though can be summarized as “it went well, we spent a lot of money deliberately, we are healthy, family time was great”.

The spending: All planned thank goodness

• New TV and stand 
• Hubby’s new laptop
• New glasses for both & new prescription lenses for my sunglasses
• Air sealing and insulation of house subfloor and attics
• Plane tickets for niece’s June 1 wedding plus shifting from paying for the hotel to staying with son & DIL in a home exchange 3 bedroom condo for 1/4 th the cost.

Healthy is good:

• Transition to Kaiser for care going well - so far so good
• Getting stronger as proven by increasingly challenging Pilates workouts

Family time was great!

• We are finding that going to swim lesson on Saturday is a good short family hang out time if we want it
• We babysat each Grandgirl separately a few times which was lovely one on one time
• Other family time was lovely too - Grandfriend’s Day at 2nd grader’s school, 2 year old birthday party, visiting Fairyland for Lunar New Year’s followed by lunch, older son and DIL visited, other short babysitting and visiting times