Our Week - The One with a UCC Appointment, Pumpkins at Callaway, and the Taylor Swift Movie

What a week!  We had a busy week and a festive weekend and I’m recapping it all here today!

Monday, September 29

Monday morning, I woke up exhausted because I didn’t sleep much due to my asthma flaring from these hideous seasonal allergies.  It has been extra awful this year for me for some reason, likely because my allergy shots from years ago are finally wearing off?  Guess I’ll be looking into doing those again soon.  Waaaahhhh.  My neck was also killing me all day, as my muscles have been acting up ever since the bones were adjusted and I’m sure tired of it.

After I got the kids to school, I dropped library books off on the way to pick up Brian from the car dealership since his SUV needed to be serviced.  We headed home after that, and then I got to work on laundry and blog stuff. 

Late in the morning, Brian and I stopped by CVS to grab a prescription and then we headed to Publix for our flu shot appointments.  It took all of five minutes and it was free, so we were on our way to grab a few things in the store before we left.  They had a bunch of good BOGO stuff up front, so we ended up grabbing things we didn’t need… story of my life every time I shop with Brian.  ;o)

When we got home, we had lunch, and then I got back to work, trying to finish my blog post for Tuesday.  No luck getting it completely done, but I was coming down the home stretch so I knew I could get it done when I got home from picking up the kids.

I read my book in the car line, and then Olivia and I swung through the Chick-Fil-A drive through to get milkshakes for her and Jacob.  Jacob had an E-Sports interest meeting after school, so we had to go pick him up when that got done about 30 minutes later. 

When we got home, I finished my blog post, I did my quiet time, and then I spent some time with the kids.  Our church just provided free Hallow subscriptions to all the students, so I got Olivia logged on to that.  If you don’t use Hallow, I highly recommend it.  I’ve been using the free version for a couple of years now and it’s great for Bible studies, daily prayers, sharing prayer requests, meditations, and all kinds of other stuff.  Our church just started its own Hallow page, so all of the parishioners can be on there together in one place, and it’s been neat to see which challenges and studies people have been doing.  After that, Jacob worked on his Confirmation packet a little more since he’d completed another requirement for it. 

We had turkey and cheese sliders for dinner with chips and fruit – had to keep it super easy after feeling like poo all day! – and then after dinner, I got out for a walk.  I had zero energy and was wondering if I was coming down with something at that point, so I almost skipped my walk.  But 99% of the time, my walks make me feel better – they release tension, they improve my mood, they give me energy, etc. – so I decided to go.  And I’m SO glad I did because I felt worlds better when I got home.  My pace was crazy slow, but at least I got it done!  I had been in a pretty bad mood all day after not sleeping, having neck pain and dizziness, and having breathing issues all day, so it was much needed.  Haha.

After the kids and I all got showered, we watched some more Universal Studios rides on YouTube to prep for our trip.  There are going to be so many that I’m not going to be able to do, but I’ll just be happy to be there for the fun of it all!

When the kids went to bed, Brian and I watched The Leftovers and he rubbed my shoulders, neck, and back, and it helped tremendously with all of the tension.

 

Tuesday, September 30

Tuesday, I dropped the kids at school and headed home to work.  I caught up on my planner, got an Amazon return ready, did some blog housekeeping, and I started my blog post for Wednesday.

I had an appointment with my therapist at 9:15, so I headed there next, and then I stopped by a local shoe store to find some new tennis shoes.  I’ve been on the hunt for some good ones for more than a year – ever since Nike changed their Air Pegasus line – and I finally decided to bite the bullet and try out some OnClouds.  Unfortunately, our local place didn’t have what I needed, and they told me that Dick’s Sporting Goods would have them, so I headed there next.

I tried on two different models – both of the ones that are supposed to be good for avid walkers – and there was a clear winner.  Unfortunately, they didn’t have my size and color, so I had them order and ship them to my house.  Thankfully, they offer free next day shipping when you order from the store, so I got them Wednesday and I LOVE them.

After that, I headed home, ate lunch, flipped the laundry, and started a new load.  I spent the rest of the afternoon photographing the house for my fall home tour, and then I finished my blog post for Wednesday. 

When we got home from school, I did my bible study and snuck in a chapter of my book, and then I had to drop Olivia at dance.  When I got back home, I went out for my walk, and then I got showered and got started on dinner.

I put on the Taylor Swift Evermore record in anticipation of her new album dropping Friday, I grabbed a glass of wine, I put some cinnamon and pumpkin oils in my diffuser, and I made chicken, potatoes, and broccoli + some cinnamon muffins to have for the week ahead. 

When Brian and Olivia got home, we all had dinner together and it was the coziest little evening.  Olivia got showered after dinner and I got some of the laundry put away.  By the time all that was done, we put the kids in bed and then Brain and I watched The Leftovers. 

 

Wednesday, October 1

Wednesday, I dropped the kids at school and then I tried to be as productive as I could even though my asthma was killing me, so my brain fog was high and concentration was low.  On the list…

 

-       I got most of Friday’s blog post done

-       I caught up on emails

-       I checked in for my well visit that’s this week

-       I made well visit appointments for the kids for next year

-       I caught up on blog reading

-       I got all the laundry put away

-       I listened to my sermon from Sunday since I hadn’t yet listened

-       I packaged two Amazon returns

-       I dropped the Amazon returns at UPS

-       I picked up a new library book

 

Not too shabby for a day where I felt like crap, but I definitely could have done more if I hadn’t been feeling so bad.  My allergies are seriously kicking my butt this year.

I started my new book in the car line and then Olivia and I headed to the eye doctor right after school to pick up my contacts.  Jacob had to stay after school again for a few minutes, so we swung back and grabbed him after the eye doc and then we headed home. 

At home, Olivia played a school studying game online with her friend Maren and I got my Bible study done.

After I dropped Olivia at dance, I headed home, tidied the kitchen (it was a wreck), and then the boys and I had breakfast for dinner. 

After dinner, Jacob and I walked together, and we stopped by a neighbor’s house.  He had contacted me and asked me if we would check on his pool while he and his wife are out of town for two weeks because they’re worried about all the leaves that are falling getting trapped in their skimmer while they’re gone.  Jacob has to get service hours for school, so it was the perfect opportunity for him.

We ended up chatting with them for nearly an hour, and it was almost dark when Jacob and I got home.  I still wanted to get in a little more of a walk since it had been cut short, so I ran back and forth on our street several times.  I wore my new shoes for the first time, and they did NOT disappoint.  They are AWESOME.  I also got to see another amazing sunset!

Brian left to pick up Olivia from dance just as I was returning home, and I got showered, and then Jacob and I worked on our cute little fall/Halloween puzzle and listened to Halloween music until Brian and Olivia got home and while Olivia got showered.

We got the kids in bed and ended our day with an episode of The Leftovers.

 

Thursday, October 2

Thursday morning, I got the kids to school and then I was crazy productive:

 

-       I finished my blog post for Friday

-       I started and finished my blog post for Monday

-       I started and finished my blog post for Tuesday

-       I started my blog post for Wednesday

-       I ordered new laces and socks for my new shoes (I don’t like the non-adjustable laces, and I also needed socks that come up higher in the back since the OnClouds have such a high back)

-       I corrected some blog typos

-       I went over my calendar

-       I cleaned up the kitchen

-       I prepped for the afternoon

In the car line, I listened to Z100 as they’d started counting down to Taylor Swift’s new album and they were playing songs from each of her eras every hour.

The kids and I went to music lessons after school, and I sat in with Olivia.  She played her song from Interstellar beautifully, and I’m just so proud of her.

When we got home, I got did my quiet time minus a Bible study because I had to have dinner done early since Jacob had an event that evening.

I made beef and parmesan pasta with zucchini and garlic cheese bread and then Brian left to take Jacob to his Teen Advisors event.  They had Park Day, and they spent the evening at a local park playing games and doing activities. 

Olivia studied with her friend Maren via their online school game, and I did my Bible study.  Then, when Brian got home, I went for a walk.  It felt incredible outside – so cool – and it was just the loveliest evening. 

I got showered when I got home and Brian headed to pick up Jacob from his event.  Then Olivia and I worked on the fall puzzle together until they got home and while Jacob showered.  My little girlfriend was just as excited about Taylor’s new album as I was… look at her little tee.  ;o)

The kids got into bed after that, and then Brian and I watched The Leftovers to round out the night.  I wanted so badly to stay up until midnight to stream Taylor’s new album, but I knew I’d regret the lack of sleep Friday, so I didn’t, but boy was it hard not to. 

 

Friday, October 3

Friday morning, I dropped the kids at school, I picked up Brian from the car dealership again as he had to have new tires put on, and then we headed straight to my upper cervical chiropractor’s office for my neck checkup. 

It’s a good drive, so on the way, we listened to Elvis Duran and the Morning Show (as I always do) because they were interviewing Taylor live about her new album. 

At the chiropractor, I told him how my neck and shoulder and back tension have been ramping up again and how when it does ramp up, I get dizzy, and he was perplexed.  He told me that my muscles should have already settled down by now from the bone adjustments that we did earlier this year, so he wasn’t sure why I started having issues again after feeling normal for several weeks at the end of the summer.

He checked my atlas, and it was the slightest bit off (he did a minor adjustment), but he said that shouldn’t be causing all of my issues.  Then when he laid me down and checked my back, he said that my muscles were SCARY tight from my middle back all the way up to my neck.  He told me that was definitely the issue, and he told me that I would benefit greatly from a massage.  Thankfully, their masseuse was available and thankfully Brian said he could stay for 30 extra minutes, so the doctor told the masseuse exactly what needed to be done, and the next 30 minutes was PURE BLISS… but also incredibly painful.  IYKYK.

Sure enough, I felt like a normal human again after the massage, although I was a little boat rocky and exhausted for the rest of the day after the atlas adjustment.  And sure enough, I have felt totally normal ever since my adjustment/massage – no tension, no pain, and no dizziness.  So, I know for sure it’s the muscles that are causing all the pain, tension, and dizziness now. 

Now we just have to figure out why the heck my muscles keep getting so tight.  I’m assuming it’s from anxiety and stress from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and my upper cervical chiropractor agrees.  So now we have to figure out how to keep that from happening.  Brian has been a gem and has been rubbing my shoulders and back most nights, and although it helps, it’s still not enough to make me feel “normal.”  So, we are going to try a couple of things, and I’m hoping we’ll be able to get it figured out.  I’m not giving up… especially since we’ve made so much progress after my atlas adjustments.

The whole time I felt “normal” was during summer break when things were very low stress – I wasn’t driving a lot, I didn’t have a lot on my plate, and we were very relaxed.  The muscle tension, pain, and dizziness started up again shortly after the kids went back to school so I really think that all the driving, sitting in the car, etc., having so much on my plate is causing anxiety that’s causing the muscle tension.  The tension is different now since it’s no longer misaligned bones causing the issue, and Tylenol and ibuprofen actually help, but I can’t take that every day for the rest of my life, obviously.

So anyway, after my appointment, Brian drove us home, and I immediately started playing The Life of a Showgirl on Spotify.  I have never used Spotify a day in my life – I always download my music and keep it in my iTunes Library because I like to own all of my music.  But since my CDs hadn’t delivered for me to rip and put on my phone (and since I didn’t want to pay for a digital copy since I had already purchased several different variants – CD, vinyl, deluxe vinyl, hand-signed CD), I just started listening to Spotify because I couldn’t wait another minute. 

I spent the next 41 minutes listening to all of the songs in order and reading the lyrics with them so I could really delve in, and it was love at first listen.  That doesn’t always happen to me with new music, but I have to say that this album exceeded my expectations.  It is SO MUCH FUN and it’s nice to have that after several slower albums (even though the slower ones are my all-time favorites).  And while I was doing that, Brian brought my vinyl to my office that had just delivered!!

Brian and I had lunch together after that, and I continued to listen to TLOAS on repeat for the rest of the day.  I also scrolled through social media to see what everybody was saying about it, and I started reading some threads about the meanings behind some of the songs just to see how everyone was interpreting them.  Gosh, I just love music so much, y’all.

I grabbed the kids when they got out of school and then I got my quiet time done when we got home.  After that, it was time to freshen up and head out.  We went to Pumpkins at Callaway with friends Friday evening, so Olivia and I wore our Taylor Swift Halloween shirts – so appropriate for the day since it was album release day and we had a Halloween event.  ;o)

We had to pick up Brian’s SUV from the dealership, and then we went to Panera to grab a quick dinner before dropping Brian’s SUV off at home. 

Then it was time to head to Pumpkins at Callaway!  We had absolutely perfect weather.  It was sunny and there was a chill in the air, and it was just a beautiful evening.  I was so happy I had brought my cardigan. 

We had some time before Khristina, Ian, and Noah were going to make it there, so we milled around in the tent for a bit, and then we walked around outside to see the sights before sitting on a bench by the lake until they arrived.

When they arrived, the first order of business was to take the trolley over to the corn maze and the sunflowers!  Their sunflower field is the prettiest one I’ve ever seen – every single flower is literally perfect – and the whole area is so well kept.  So, of course, we had to take a family picture there. 

After that, we all did the corn maze together, and then the kids did the bigger corn maze alone while the boys went to grab waters for everyone.  Khristina and I hung out by the massive (real!!) pumpkins and chatted while we waited for the kids.

After that, we took the trolley back to the main area, and the kids played glow miniature golf.  Then, we walked through the forest of lights and into Foggy Holly (twice) per Olivia’s request.  They had added a couple of new things this year, so it was nice to see the changes. 

We headed to the tent one last time to get a group picture and the kids did some axe throwing (with plastic axes, not real ones – LOL), before heading home.

We got home around 10 and Olivia was dying to shower, and then after the kids were in bed Brian mixed up some Manhattans for the two of us, and we ended the evening with an episode of The Leftovers.  It was such a fun night!

 

Saturday, October 4

Saturday morning, we slept in and I made homemade waffles for breakfast.  Jacob was going to his friend’s house to hang out for the day, so he got showered and ready after breakfast while I rotted on the couch for a couple of hours.  I watched ESPN College GameDay and spent some time going through my photos from the night before and got a few uploaded to my Instagram stories.

Brian left to drop Jacob off at 10:30 and then Olivia and I spent a couple of hours making The Life of a Showgirl themed friendship bracelets since we were going to the TLOAS movie late that afternoon.

She and I made bracelets galore while we watched the Georgia vs. Kentucky game, and then after lunch, we both got ready.  We got dressed up for the movie as one does when it’s something for Taylor Swift, and I used my waver to do Olivia’s hair.  She looks so dang cute with her hair like that!

We had a few minutes to do a little photoshoot before we left, and then we hit the road.  Brian left at the same time to pick Jacob up from WJ’s and get ready for church.

Olivia and I met two of her friends, Maren and Caroline, and their moms + my friend, Heather, and her daughter Jillian, and we spent the next 90 minutes watching the movie.

All of us loved it – it was so interesting to hear the meanings behind the songs and see how her first music video from the album was made. 

When we were leaving, I saw that one of my old friends from the movie theater was there… this special guy used to do security for us when I worked there, and he still does security for them to this day.  I’ve known him since I was 16, and he is one of my favorite people of all-time!!  Seriously the kindest, funniest, best human you could ever meet.  He worked his way up at the Sherriff’s Department and then retired from his main line of duty, but he still helps out at the theater, working security for them on the weekends. 

We chatted for a few minutes, and we had to snap a selfie so I could send it to my friend, Jeannine, who also worked with me at the theater because she loves him so much, too.  It’s crazy that I’ve known him for 27 years!!  We hadn’t seen each other in years either, but we picked right back up where we left off, and he hasn’t changed a bit!  He’ll always and forever be my dawg!!

After the movie, Olivia and I headed to our local Mexican restaurant that we frequent after church to meet Brian and Jacob + my parents.  They had all gone to church, so they arrived just after we did.  Olivia and I filled them in on the show and Jacob told us about his day with WJ.

After dinner, Brian took the kids to Dairy Queen, and I rode home solo since we had separate cars… and I bet you can guess what I blasted all the way home with the sunroof open.  ;o)

When we got home, we all got in PJs and then we finished watching the last of the Universal Studios rides on YouTube.  Now we have an idea who wants to ride what… even though it’s really too hard to tell how intense most of the rides are from watching YouTube videos… BRIAN.  Haha.

After that, we watched the first episode of Lego Masters Junior, and then after the kids went to bed, Brian and I watched some college football and an episode of The Leftovers.

 

Sunday, October 5

Sunday morning, we slept in, and I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  Jacob did his laundry after breakfast since he hadn’t had the chance to do it Saturday, and I watched my sermon, got my planner ready for the week ahead, made my to-do list for Monday, went through emails, moved pictures from my phone to my computer, and did my Bible study.  I literally did nothing productive Friday or Saturday, so I had some catching up to do.

Later in the morning, I got ready for the day and then I threw a load of towels in the wash before we headed out to my mother-in-law’s and step-father-in-law’s to celebrate my step-FIL’s birthday.  After lunch and cake and gifts, we all sat out on the back deck and watched the kids play badminton.  It felt amazing outside, and it was cloudy, so it wasn’t too hot.

When we got home, the kids got showered and ready for Monday, Brian left to play tennis, and I turned on The Wedding Planner and finished organizing my photos and continued working on my blog post for Wednesday. 

We all headed to my parents’ house for dinner and afterwards, we had the best banana pudding I have ever had in my whole life for dessert.  I immediately got the recipe from my Momma, and I need to make it sometime.  Fun fact, banana pudding is my all-time favorite dessert, and it would definitely be part of my “last meal” if I knew I was going to have one. 

When we got home, I made a grocery list, got a Poshmark shipment packaged, and then Brian and I watched another episode of The Leftovers after the kids went to bed.

Happy Tuesday, y’all!