Embracing Autumnal Vibes... Sort Of

Well I definitely wasn't going to lead with a photo of myself but my blog platform won't let me upload any other images. Gah!

So I've mentioned before that I'm a solar-powered girl. I love summer! I love the sun, time with Mr. Deck Chair... and my golf clubs. But today, because I found (and ordered) a style of dressy shirts on Amazon, I had to kick my "Autumnal Vibe" in gear!

Yes, I take pictures in the bathroom at work to show my sisters certain outfits. LOL. But you can't argue this doesn't spell FALL.

When I got to my hair artist after work, she's like, "Let's cool you down for fall." I always have complete trust in her – especially when she adds in the red and brownish low-lights in all the right places.

Per usual, I told her I'd have to sleep "real careful" so I wouldn't smush her handiwork before going to work tomorrow. We'll see how that goes. 

I do love autumn as well. If you can believe, it's September 9 and I still have held off having my first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season. Something tells me that's going to drag me from summer to fall in the very near future!

Happy early fall, y'all! 

Embracing Mother Earth

 

Well Mother, Mother Earth is having her annual spotlight in the sun! Happy Earth Day!

Some years my friend and I pick up trash from the ditches, some years I completely let it pass by without thought, and this year there was too much going on for me to give the day the full honor and observance it deserves.

But...

I did connect with some "solar power" on the swing while working quite awhile after hours ... on my swing. That counts, right?

Then I bonded with the Earth when I trimmed down our Pampas Ass Grass. Which according to multiple sources (since I have 2 black thumbs) you should do in late April or early May when you KNOW there won't be another frost.

Well, when I got home from work and saw hubby brought up the fan to the bedroom window to replace the wintertime vaporizer/humidifier, I figured he must know something. Like maybe Mother Earth told her mentally disturbed sister Mother Nature to chill out and move onto spring already.

I hope that's the case!

But since my hubby stores the wheelbarrow in his One-Key-for-Jimmy-Only Shed, he'll have to do part 2 tomorrow as it will be dark when he gets home from golf tonight!

What habits have you picked up to help preserve the planet?

I admit Jim and I are so accustomed to recycling EVERYTHING, that I feel guilty when I'm in a situation where the vibe is "Just throw everything in the trash." 

But I did attempt to give up Aqua Net hairspray to save the Ozone in the '90s. I admit the liquid-type stuff didn't work the same. So I relapsed to aerosol spray and I hope some Earth-loving big hair fan picked up where I left off.

And don't get me started on how we deal with keeping volume in our thinning hair after we turn... ahem... 40? Sorry, Mother Earth, you are millions of years older than that. Please understand and forgive.

Enjoy Earth Day every day!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve

It's December 23. That means it's Christmas Eve Eve for all of us ... and Festivus for the rest of us. 

If you're not a fan of Seinfeld, you'll have to Google that one. And I was disappointed I didn't even have time to air my grievances today. Guess that's my grievance!

Had a hectic day at work because there are just so many things to wrap up before I start my holiday vacation. Couldn't quite get it all done before racing out of the office to get to my very important appointment with my hair artist. She is the gift that keeps on giving – every 6 weeks anyway!

After I got home, I finished up work and ... drum roll, please ... logged off until 2026! WHOOT!

We'll see if I can stay committed.

For fun, I visited 3 more stores to find a spare trifle bowl after I got a text from FedEx that what I ordered to be delivered by today has now been delayed until Friday night. Past my deadline for creating and delivering two. I think I found some plastic alternatives at the Dollar Tree (which has different inventory from Dollar General, by the way. Who knew?).

Must remind myself it's Christmas Eve Eve and I'm going to have let stress go. Work is done. I still have to get a few things figured out for our family Christmas Friday eve, but I'm officially switching to Hallmark Channel mode.

Where everything works out in the end. And maybe I'll even get a kiss under the mistletoe!

Oh dang, where can a girl get herself some mistletoe at this late date?! Another grievance, I guess!

Eating Humble Fry Pie

When I had my holiday shopping treat of the coconut cream Amish fry pie for "breakfast" this morning, I had no idea I'd be eating some humble pie later on today.

I keep my life schedule organized on the calendar on my phone. But also put everything (I thought) on our kitchen calendar too. And urge (well, nag) hubby to do the same.

For as often as I've been checking the calendar to confirm we are indeed still in early autumn, I can't believe a completely empty Monday square didn't alarm me. At one point I checked the school sports calendar today thinking maybe I had another middle school hoops or game or something. Nope.

Did I check my phone though? Nope. I must have brain freeze!

At 4 p.m. my phone dings that I have my 6-week appointment with my hair artist at 4:30 p.m.! Whoa. THAT'S what I was missing. Or almost missed.

Since working at home on Mondays is a very casual dress environment, the first thing I said to Jim was, "Well I guess I do have to wear adult clothes today!" I quickly changed out of my warm and cozy "casual wear" and headed into town.

The first bonus was sitting under the dryer for 15 minutes and finally feeling warmed up!

The second bonus is that Miss Sarah does a fabulous job in front and back. Maybe I should have appointments at 6 a.m. so I can walk around all day with great hair and a "toss, toss" attitude! But I'd probably forget to set my alarm.

Whew. Crisis averted. (Hair artists are hard to get appointments with, seriously!) So I already have my Dec. 22 appointment on the kitchen calendar. In orange "alert" Sharpee. 

Now if only I could convince Mother Nature and Old Man Winter to look at their calendars!

Beauty and the Bling

I forgot to report out on the great bling I received and earned yesterday.

First of all, we all received a ring to wear (they're fake but pretty and I'll probably wear mine in real life). Then throughout the shower if someone said the word "bride," you could steal their ring. Obviously the goal is to see who has the most at the end. And obviously with my competitive family, it was vicious! I managed to "trap" two people (including the mother of the groom) and that earned me a nice prize! 

The other bling is that beautiful purple and yellow bracelet on my wrist! My great-niece Kenlee (who lives in Minnesota) knows I am the only aunt to cheer for the Vikings so she thought it was perfect for Auntie Robyn. And it is! Taking after my mother, I wrote and mailed her a cute thank you note today and promised to wear it every game day. 

More precious than jewels, I tell ya!

As for the "beauty" part of the blog, it's not me but my hair. Had my 6-week locks refresh after work today and I feel like a new woman-ish. She always does a great job and I can usually "sleep carefully" for 3 nights to hold the style. I told her we have a wedding to attend Friday and asked "Do you think I can go for a record and make this last through 4 sleeps?!"

Our conclusion is that I'd have to sleep in a chair with one of those airplane pillows around my neck so I couldn't possibly twist, turn, or lay my head back on a flat surface. 

Guess what? That ain't happening. So I guess I might lose the "beauty" by the end of the week, but I'll still have the "bling"! Still winning. 

Rose-Colored Fall Glasses

Ladies, you can identify with this. How come when we come out of church and shop in a grocery store while we're looking our finest... we never run into people we know? But when my hair's pulled back and I'm in sweats or T-shirt, I run into all kinds of people?! 

It's Ladies' Murphy's Law.

Tonight I was excited that after I had my hair appointment with just a roots touch-up but prize-winning hair style, I was lucky enough to run into a friend on the way out of the salon and one at the gas station. I just said, "Tell your friends I had great hair!"

And I'm sure I did.

But then, after running a few errands on my way home in HOPES of running into someone I knew, I encountered some unusual fall colors. The sunset was awesome, but my destination to the east was showing incredible and unique "October is Pink Month" colors.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say "rose-colored glasses" were a real thing. I detoured into the parking lot of a golf course and got these shots...

Facing the sunset in the west to start with..

And now facing east!

So amazing! All I know it it's a reminder to Think Pink and support those with breast cancer – or any type of cancer – this month and always. Thank you!

The Princess and the P

The idea behind “The Princess and the Pea" fairytale was that only the most refined – only a person of the highest breeding – could possibly be sensitive enough to feel the lump a pea made under 20 mattresses. And thus, a true princess was found.

I've often wondered if we had any royalty in our family tree because I seriously have trouble sleeping at the slightest discomfort.

But tonight this princess is not dealing with a PEA, but the letter P – which stands for PERFECT hair, of course!

The only down side of a late hair appointment is that my hair artist makes it look amazing – and then it's time to go to bed. So I will have to sleep very carefully.

Yes, it can be done. I'll try not to toss and turn for any reason – even the slightest pea-sized lump – so the curls can live to see another day. I have this challenge every 6 weeks and I can tell you, I've mostly been successful. 

I'll let you know how Tuesday morning hair looks. Or if I can just tweak it enough to make it look fresh. I mean we princesses have powers you don't even know about! 

Tonight I'll use my power for good. I grant you all a good week!

A Tall Drink of Water

You don't hear it much anymore, but a "tall drink of water" describes a person who is generally long-legged and very attractive. And perhaps could satisfy your "thirst" on a hot day – as water certainly would.

It's not a common expression anymore. But I discovered a brand-new meaning for it this week.

Yesterday when my friend Jenny and I took a walk at lunchtime, she presented this ice cream lover with a special gift! A half-gallon (you read that right) water jug that will definitely keep me hydrated (and running to the restroom) at work. I love it!!

It was so nice, we walked 3 miles! And then after work, I went to shoot pictures of Royals track and field and got a little more sun and 2 more miles of steps!

Those meets are so hard to capture because you've got all the field events going on at the same time for about half an hour, then track starts and you bounce back and forth and try to get a little bit of everything. My favorite thing to shoot is the long jump.

They just fly! I did get other field events plus several running events before I had to go. I just happened to have an appointment with my hair artist at 6:15 p.m. (And those track meets last so long!)

By the time I got home I was sun-kissed and exhausted. And knew I had to sleep carefully to keep my hair styled for another day. Ha. Despite a full-on downpour of a day, I did!

After work, it was a quick stop to check out the brand new Hobby Lobby in Stevens Point. No, I didn't buy anything. This time! Then home to finish going through last night's photos so I could watch The Voice. So much talent this season!

Tomorrow night after work I'll really have some special music. No, not choir practice. Even more special. I'll fill you in after! 

Have a good week and be careful out there!

Spring It On!

Spring is in the air and I'll give you 4 hints how I can tell.

1. Last night the girls basketball playoff season began and our Lady Royals cruised to a Regional Round 1 win over Port Edwards, 70-8. Not a typo. Keep it rolling, girls.

2. We had near-record temps in Wisconsin today. 55 degrees in Rapids. Just what we needed to finally get that ice from last week off the roads. Yay!

3. I have to get my spring colors on. And by that, I mean hair...

Don't you love SnapChat filters? I would love to have wrinkles gone and look that glamorous.

Still, I love what my hair artist did in real life! She's got the magic touch!

4. I'm packing – as the top photo illustrates. Two trips actually. This weekend is my scrapbooking weekend at the Lions Camp in Rosholt. I'll leave for that at 8 a.m. Friday. Then, when I get home Sunday afternoon, I'll switch suitcases and head to the Madison airport where I'll be going somewhere where the "spring" temps will look like this next week...

I'll give you a clue: Not in the Midwest! It just happens that my oldest sister is cat sitting for a few weeks... in Florida! So she just happens to have a spare room. And the direct flights from Madison to Fort Myers just happen to be a screaming deal. I could not pass this up!

Thankfully this warmer weather is helping me to think spring. But trying on "summer" clothes is making me think I should've been starving myself – at least since New Year's. 

Oh well, I think scrapbooking with friends, followed by sunshine and a few fun activities will put all that right out of my mind.

Spring it on!

Polar Opposites

One of my formerly favorite nephews and I Snapchat pretty regularly. Why do I say "formerly"? Well imagine getting this lovely view...

After waking up to this? Not nice. (Even though he knows his family back home in South Dakota is experiencing the same Polar Vortex fun.) Yes, I'm purely jealous. And yes, of course, he's still on my favorites list. But only after he just snapped this followup picture to me...

I can be a predictable pushover to please, that's for sure! Plus, despite the fact I am crabby and still suffering from this lingering cold, I have new hair!

Goodbye holiday glitter and silver bells and what not. Just back to my normal "false coloring" self and I am smiling. And yes, my hair artist also knows I'm a predictable pushover to please!

Hope you found something pleasing in your life today!

MNF = Monday Night Fill-in-the-Blank

Lots happening for an MNF Monday. First... it's Monday Night Frosty! For someone who hasn't left the house in two days, it was a rude awakening after work to step out into the cold. And the lovely wind making it feel even colder. See the below zero "feels"! Not ready for this at all!

Next we have Monday Night Full. How many things can I have going on during a Monday night? Well, first I went to Book Club at Applebee's, where we were discussing the very interesting book Mad Honey. Definitely recommend!

Had to leave early from there to get to a hair appointment at 6 p.m. Nothing gets in the way between me and my hair artist.

From there I got home just after kickoff for Monday Night Football, where our Vikings are having the toughest time handling the lowly Bears. Why does that happen?

I can't even stress eat about it because I'm Monday Night Fasting before a 7:30 a.m. physical tomorrow. Gah.

Hope your Monday was interesting, too! 

Different Kind of Fall Colors

I'm ignoring the sporadic fall colors popping up before it's even mid-September. But today I got to enjoy some different fall colors. First it was the 44-degree wake-up temperature accompanied by fog on the way to work.

Fog and a sunrise that is. So that was pretty cool!

My mid-day color was a bit more conventional. As part of our two-week United Way campaign, King Cone made an appearance in our parking garage. Yes!!

After work, the clouds were a dark gray before opening up just about our tee time on our last night of golf season! So we commenced to meeting at the 19th hole and enjoyed a little time together. When the rain stopped, we all headed home.

And there was more color on my way home. Just over the businesses on Division Street in Stevens Point. 

Then, when I turned onto Deer Road to make my final leg home, there was more color.

When I got home, I thought I'd share one more color scheme from my visit to my hair artist last night. Definitely can't compare to nature's beauty. But also definitely not boring.

Find the color in your week, my friends!

Monday Funday

They always say Sunday Funday but never consider Monday can be fun, too. I mean once the work day is done and stuff.

It was nice today that I had my 6-week hair appointment right after work and that gave me time to stop in at the WR Legion game. With nice hair, let's point out. This time the 16U team was playing – which had one former Royal, one Royal, and one boyfriend of a Royal. Ha.

Got some pictures, saw some friends and was home in plenty of time to do photos and relax.

This is my fave pic of the night. Just crawling and flying simultaneously back to first base so he's not tagged out. And yes, he was safe.

Our team lost by 1 to Merrill but I'm glad I could get there. I figure I have one more age group to hit, then I'm free from my self-imposed obligation to get Legion baseball pictures. Don't get me wrong. I love ANY day at the ball park. But sometimes I just like to WATCH.

Good luck the rest of your season, Ramblers!

I Usually Love Beer Cheese Soup

Yukon Cornelius: This fog's as thick as peanut butter! 

Hermey: You mean pea soup. 

Yukon Cornelius: You eat what you like, and I'll eat what I like! 

I'm with Yukon. I'm not sure why pea soup became the deciding gauge on fog. But in Wisconsin, we'd probably say it was thicker than beer cheese soup. Especially on this morning's commute. Yum, though.

I don't know if it's global warming or what, but we've had such extreme weather this "spring." Big winter storms and tornadoes and then last night I fell asleep to the sound of thunder... and hail. Ha. Craziness. So this morning's blanket of fuzziness didn't completely surprise me.

Made it to work fine and it was super sunny on the way home. Amazing what it's like when the fog clears.

Sort of like my after-work treat tonight...

During the "fog" I'm like a creature from outer space.

Then when the fog clears, my hair artist is my BFF!

What was your "you pick the flavor" soup today? I hope you found patience and realized when the fog cleared, there was something to smile about!

Catching Waves Mindset

Had a host of errands on my to-do list since it's my last day off... until my vacation next week, I mean. I think everyone had the same idea. 

Either that or it was National Wait in Line Day. 'Cuz I certainly did that. ATM, Kwik Trip, pharmacy, oil change place and later, my hair artist. Well, that's obvious from the photo. I had to take one. It's like she styled those beach waves right into my hair. And I can never do that on my own so I'll just "sleep carefully" so I don't completely ruin it before work tomorrow.

The only stylin' I did do on my own was getting my fingernails cruise ready.

Of all those stops today, you know who noticed them and complimented me on them? The oil change dude. Glad he didn't ask to see my toenails since Rayna and I are waiting to get our pedicures together before we ship out.

When I wasn't running errands today I watched some of the Rose Bowl parade to see if I could spot a friend's son in the Northwoods Marching Band or see my sister in the crowd. Nope on both of those. 

I also got some work done and wonder if I'll physically return to the office in the morning. Ice warnings are the worst for commuters. We'll see how things develop overnight. Be careful out there!

More Fall Colors... What?

If you're really loving fall colors, your nails have to match. Just sayin'. I got tired of my naked nails so figured it was time to Jam 'em up.

As in Jamberries. Remember those? I have dozens of choices to use since I took a break from using them during the pandemic. I mean I don't dress up nails to stay around the house! Now these are considered old fashioned because you adhere them with a little heater and file them to your nail size. These days that process has been replaced by ColorStreet nails which, in essence, are stickers. Way easier to use but they don't last as long for me as my Jams.

Plus, I need to dig into my inventory – which has grown precipitously from friends who no longer Jam for one reason or another.

So I'm Jammin' today. And my hair is Rockin'.

Hey a girl has to go all out with fall color, right? It just happened that my appointment with my hair artist was late. Like starting at 7 p.m. tonight. So I have beautifully colored and styled hair... Just to come home and go to bed! 

I'm going to try to sleep without any tossing and turning so I can preserve it for work tomorrow. 

That's funny because that is the opposite of me. I'll lay in one position until about 1 a.m. when I have to get up and sleepwalk to the bathroom. Then it's back and forth and back and forth the rest of the night. Thus the need to take a photo tonight.

Still, I'm hopeful. Just like fall colors on the trees, I'm gonna have to peak one of these days!

Green Sky at Night, Something's Not Right

Red sky at night, sailors' delight. Red sky at morning, sailors take warning. 

We didn't have the red skies tonight. Just red warning signs on the TV and a greenish sky right before the storm hit. Right before the storm that COULD HAVE BEEN a tornado hit.

Everyone knew as early as yesterday that we could be in for some wicked storms in Wisconsin today. And those darn weather dudes were right. Since the severe stuff was going to hit around 5 p.m., we all left work in time to get safely to our homes.

I wasn't home long and I turned on the Weather Channel and they were showing tornadoes in Wisconsin with one of those TORNADO WARNING lines on the bottom of the screen. Say what? So I change to local channels and it's tornado talk everywhere.

We're in the middle of the state and the line of storms were not going to miss us. A tornado touched down in Tomah, which is southwest of us and, of course, it was heading northeast. It's not too often we're in a tornado warning so even though we saw it on TV, we jumped when our phones alerted us LOUDLY to "Get in the basement!"

Nothing reveals your priorities like a tornado warning. Like knowing it was a real possibility you could lose everything. So what did I do?

First of all, I brought Mr. Deck Chair safely into the garage so he wouldn't blow away. Well, duh. Then I grabbed my phone, camera and laptop and headed into the basement. Jim just grabbed his phone. Now that we have our "beverage fridge" in the basement, he was set for the long haul. We both just left kitty asleep on her heated bathroom floor. She slept through everything. Per usual.

I'll admit it was freaky seeing Wisconsin Rapids and the Town of Grand Rapids in the direct line. Apparently the funnel dissipated right before it got to Rapids. Well praise be! We also didn't get hail here (it melted on the way down) and the strong winds didn't do damage except for a few branches. 

I saw just a few downed trees in town on my way to my hair appointment. Yup, that was my main concern. Let's get this tornado over with so I can get to my hair artist on time! 

The Lord sure looks out for drunks and ne'er-do-wells because it all timed out perfectly!

Be careful out there!