Dreaming Since 1997

  Hello reader, and welcome back! I am so glad you're here today! Just a quick recap on what's new with me... I had the best birthday week ever, my new job is great so far, and I have been working out more than ever. I am feeling content and accomplished. What a combo, right?! I'll share some pics of this month so far below! Myrtle Beach Airport! Enjoying iced coffee on the screened in porch! We had perfect weather every day that week in Myrle Beach I've been going to Trader Joes once a week now for the last few weeks, they have the best quick lunches! Thomas and I on our way to enjoy restaurant week in Portsmouth! (yes I'm wearing a turtle neck because we had 40 degree weather that day -_-) This has been me lately. Regina and my yarn in my lap every evening.  Regina and Joey love to get in the Bible Okay, so there are my little moments from the month so far. Since it is Monday, the beginning of the work week, I want to talk about new beginnings.  I love new things ...

   Hello readers! I am happy to be writing again... it just feels right. Today I am going to go over my Spring Intentions for 2026! Let's begin. This spring, I want to take my time. I don't want to rush at anything. As much as I love summer and fall, I want to really slow down, and appreciate spring. Spring is a lovely season. Flowers begin to bloom, the grass gets greener, the sun is out longer- everything starts to refresh. It's like waking up after a nap. I love this time of year. I feel like spring is always underrated and at the bottom of everyone's list of favorite seasons. Well, not mine! Plus, my birthday is in April, so even as a kid I always had a soft spot for springtime.  Now, on to something a little more serious- my mindset at work. For the last several years, I have been striving for something beyond efficiency. I have felt incredibly rushed. And I've been doing everything in my power to not be behind schedule, to get ahead of schedule even. And then ...

  It has been a while, but I am back! It is so nice to be typing here again. After a busy fall, a holiday season that didn't slow down for a minute, and the harshest winter I've ever lived through, I finally feel like I can breathe, and write, again. I will do a quick recap of my life and then explain my plans for the future of this blog.  So, since my last post was in October, life has been full. Here's a little peek at what's been happening behind the scenes: 1. My cousin's wedding was a success! It was beautiful and now they are actually pregnant!!! I can't wait to meet their baby girl.  2. Thomas and I were fortunate to be a part of our friends' engagement that took place in Boston in December! It was so much fun celebrating the two of them and surprising the bride to be! Now I am excited to help her plan their wedding for next year! 3. I'm changing my career from retail pharmacy to hospital inpatient pharmacy! I start in exactly 3 weeks from today. ...

    Hello, reader! It's  Thankful Thursday ! This has to be my favorite post of the week to write. I love how my mood changes immediately when I start thinking about all the things to be grateful for. So, let's get happy!  1. We're going to a Halloween party this weekend! Even though I have to work, I'm looking forward to it! Thomas and I are going as Meg and Hercules (photos to come) 2. The wedding the weekend after that! OMG, I am so excited to see everyone and celebrate my cousin's wedding. I bought the cutest pair of shoes for the occasion, so I'm excited to wear them too.  3. Being off work today. I had a successful quiet time, walked the dogs, ordered groceries, and started laundry. I am feeling tired today, more than usual, but I still want to get some things done. I'm only off today and Tuesday before we fly to VA. I have a lot to do! 4. Christmas stuff in the stores. This is a hot take, I'm aware, but honestly, its joyful. Seeing pumpkins and re...

   Hello, reader! Today I am going to talk about some of the areas of my life that I've been actively working on. It's real, vulnerable, and hopefully encouraging to you.  I'm trying to increase my productivity in all areas of my life. What am I producing? Anything. These blog posts. verifying prescriptions at work. cleaning my house on my days off. Decorating each room until I'm satisfied with how it looks. I used to think productivity meant never sitting down. Now I know better.  There are different layers to this. Obviously, there are results or outcomes. I am working on this on multiple layers. I'll break them down for you.  1. Starting Seriously, just starting. Sometimes this is the hardest part. It's the first and maybe most important step you'll take. Cleaning up the kitchen after cooking is probably my LEAST favorite thing to do (well, other than dusting, I super hate dusting). But lately, I've been starting before I can even complain to myself i...

  Good morning! Today, I want to write about a few things that will ALWAYS make me happy. We need some extra happiness today, so I'll be looking for these things: 1. Coffee! In the morning, afternoon, evening, literally whenever. There is never a  wrong  time for a cup. It's the cozy hug in a mug you didn't know you needed. It's the flavor of the season (peppermint, pumpkin, or lavender depending on the time of year).  2. Coming home at the end of a long day. This is where my chaos and anxiety melt away into peace. I love coming home. My little family is here, greeting me at the door with wagging tails.  3. Reading/flipping through a magazine. Since I was in middle school, I have loved a good magazine. The articles and fashion- it's almost like Pinterest! There's something nostalgic about the glossy pages, flipping back and forth. Oooh, I could get lost in some.  4. Buying yarn! Looking at all of the beautiful colors, neatly wound up into skeins. It's such ...

   Good morning! I hope you're enjoying October as much as I am. Between all the regular, expected fall magic, now we get to put it all to  The Life of a Show Girl's  "The Fate of Ophelia"... chef's kiss, a perfect fall! I am excited for today's post! I am going to do another Pinterest board post! This is where I take some screen shots of one of my (many) boards on Pinterest and we look at it together! This is a way to get to see what's making my creative juices flow, what outfits I'm trying to recreate, and Audrey Hepburn photo is inspiring me. Let's take a look! So you'll see lots of coffee, fashion, Snoopy, and budgeting. I am really into these things right now. I have a brown fur coat that I can't wait to wear this year. I do want to try that apple crisp espresso drink. And I do love the excel spreadsheet for the monthly budget. Since we are in the middle of fall, I do have some fall inspired pins there. The little Snoopy with the leaf ...

  Good morning, reader! I feel a mindful essay coming on! Grab a coffee and maybe a notebook, because this essay has some numbered bullet points!  I have been thinking about discipline a lot lately. I feel like it goes hand in hand with attention span, self-awareness, and ambition. Is it becoming more and more rare? They say with smart phones, everyone's attention spans are diminishing. I have noticed this with myself sometimes. This is not a judgement- just an observation I've made about myself and the world around me. And I want to refine it for myself. I want to be disciplined so that I can live my dream life.  I am dedicating this post to 3 ways to be more disciplined in a world that has little to none. So, let's begin! 1. Why do you want this? I believe you should first recognize why you want to achieve something. Is it for your health? Is it for your career? Maybe it's less extreme than that. Maybe it's for your home to be decorated for Halloween. Whatever it ...

  Good morning, reader! Today, we are going to talk about 5 ways to turn a normal day in October into a MAGICAL day in October. This post is an easy-to-do gamechanger, so grab a cozy blanket, yummy warm beverage (in the appropriate mug as you'll read later on!), and settle in! 1. Enjoy the darker evenings! In less than a month, Daylight Saving Time ends here in NH. It's kind of already happening now, with the sky getting darker at 5:30. I understand some people reallllly don't like it, but it's happening anyway. Instead of letting it make you upset, embrace it! It sucks getting home at "night", I know, but honestly, it's  moody . It changes the scene- kind of like you're in a movie. Think of it as a cozy blanket you're putting on at the end of the day. Maybe I'm grasping for straws here, but it is something that we have to deal with, so let's make the best of it! 2. It's almost Halloween, wear your black eyeliner! I have always loved dr...

   OMG, it's Mean Girls day (October 3rd, iykyk) and Taylor Swift's new album is out! What a day!  I'm still processing the new album, but overall, I really love it! It's creative, catchy, fun, thought provoking- it's a masterpiece. I need to do a post to unpack it all! Even though I am off tomorrow, I do work on Sunday. Being the checklist lover I am, I have made a list of a few things I would like to achieve this weekend besides working (ugh).  1. Watch at least one of my fall/Halloween movies  2. Go shopping for some shoes I need to wear in the wedding later this month 3. Get all of the hot-girl squares I've been working on together for the cozy blanket I'm gifting to my mom  4. Get our Halloween costumes ordered.  5. Try to relax! This past week has been such a blur. I am hoping that having a handful of easy tasks will make the weekend a nice break from chaos from during the week. Today has been a nice start to said weekend.  I will see you ba...

  Hello and welcome back! It is Thankful Thursday , and as you know, I believe that feeling happy begins with feeling thankful. So, let's get happy! 1. I am so thankful for a new month, with new goals. I have recently been contemplating and praying about some new ideas I have. They're very early in development, so much so that they aren't even a thing yet! We will see what happens! 2. Seeing my family in a few weeks! I can't wait to be together again for a joyous occasion! 3. Seeing my friends a couple weeks after that! Two of my very best friends from Danville VA will be staying with me for a few days! I haven't seen them in over a year. I miss them so much and can't wait to see them! 4. The Pentatonix Christmas album coming out in a few weeks! I love all of their holiday albums. Even though it's not even Halloween yet, I am genuinely thankful for this Christmas album coming out. As much as I love fall, I love Christmas just as much... maybe more.  5. Taylo...

   Happy October 1! It is time to start thinking about Halloween fun such as, costumes, parties and movies to watch!  Today, I wanted to list some of my all-time favorite fall/Halloween movies. Now you'll notice I'm kind of all over the place. I love fall  themed  movies, not just the witchy, ghost, scary clown stuff. In fact, I am NOT a scary movie person at all, so you will NOT see any horror movies listed, although I have suffered through several double dates in the movie theater covering my face with popcorn and a large cherry vanilla coke! Anyway, let's get to the list! These are listed in no particular order 🍂 1. Scooby-Doo  The live action movie that came out in 2002. I just love that movie, and the sequel too! I'll use them both for one spot on my list. I loved the cast so much. They were family friendly movies that I still can enjoy now. These movies feel like my childhood.  2. Sweet Home Alabama This movie is just such a feel good, fall...

  It's the last day of September! It has been a wonderful month for me. I have loved September 2025 so much. It was a blessing filled month. I spent time with family, was able to work out more, changed my perspective on a lot of stressful things in my life, ate a lot of sweets, and drank a lot of coffee, and got to hang out with my friends. There was a lot of beauty 💛 I'll share some of the highlights from this month, starting with the fall colors that have already began! We had some delicious sweets from downtown Portsmouth! I really enjoyed this month so much, and I can't wait for October next!  One thing I would like to do in October is make a blog post every weekday. I have not been as consistent with that as I'd like to be, but that's okay!  Thanks for reading! 

  Hello! Today is going to be a Fun Friday Post! We made it to the weekend (even though I am working an extra weekend shift 😶), so let's kick it off with some fun! What sounds fun?  Well, I did recently put together a fun fall country music play list that I've been listening to just about every time I'm in my car! It's a little Thomas Rhett, Billy Strings, Mogan Wallen, Little Big Town, and more! Just a conglomeration of my favorites.  What looks like fun?  I am excited for a nice weather weekend and going out with some friends tomorrow after work! We will have some good food and I'm sure some good laughs to go with it.  What was fun this week?  I really enjoyed this week, especially the mornings. I woke up early every single day around 6:30, but I never felt sleepy or groggy. I did my quiet time, worked out, went for walks, did laundry or whatever I needed to do. It truly was a great week! I am excited to repeat for next week. I hope you have a great week...

   Hello readers! Probably just my mom and sister, but that's okay! For some crazy reason, I really enjoy typing up my little posts, adding some photos, and publishing it on the internet! Anway, today is  Thankful Thursday , and I gotta say, I love  Thankful Thursdays . I find these are my favorite posts to write. I truly am blessed. Listing out some random things that I'm thankful for always puts me in a great mood. I know I have a lot to pray about, but I think all prayers need to include thanksgiving to the One who gives! Alright, let's go! 1. I am thankful for my home. It's not the biggest, nicest home ever, but I love this place. It is my favorite place I've ever lived. It was built in the early 1950's (1951 I believe). It's simple but we have helped give it some character. I love our cozy rooms, and I love the deck and backyard area. Decorating it has been such a joyous project, and it's ongoing! I am always looking for ways to make the most of wh...

  Hello! I am on a mindful essay topic kick evidently because today, I want to talk about stress. Is all stress bad? Is it bad for us to be under pressure? You put your body through stress when you're working out to get stronger. Throw some beef, vegetables and beef broth in a pressure cooker and it comes out delicious! And it certainly works for coal... but does the same go for everyday life stress?  Growth Just like with muscle mass in the gym, I believe that stress in life helps us grow as individuals. Without stress, we would never learn how to adapt. I think being able to adapt is a GREAT attribute. I feel it is essential if you want to have a successful life. People who have a difficult time adapting to different environments often don't flourish and have to find something that fits them. Don't get me wrong, if things aren't working out and you need to leave the situation, by all means, get out of there! But I do think it should be after making a real effort to ad...

  Hello! I am excited to tell you that I finally went to my local Hobby Lobby! Ah, it felt good to go in there again. I haven't been in one in probably 3 years!  All of the fall decor is out on display, shelves are packed with orange pumpkins, hay bales, and little woodland creatures. I even saw some red and green in there for the next season! I wanted to buy one or two of everything in there, but I was good and only bought some stuff for my dining room table and kitchen.  After looking for some inspiration my favorite app, Pinterest, I found similar items in the store and put them together when I got home.  Then a of couple days later, I finally put out some more of my fall decor, which is basically a collection of pumpkins. We always have some skulls out year-round, so it's an easy transition for my home to go from normal to fall. I just love my skull Barefoot Dreams blanket ❤💀 So far, this fall has been such a treat for me. We've had great weather so far, I've wo...

   Hi! Today I want to write about priorities. What matters, matters. And sometimes, what matters most can get hidden beneath everyday chaos.  Earlier this year, I was feeling very unbalanced- I had a lot of balls in the air, but eventually I began dropping some pretty important ones. So, I decided to pause and reassess my life. I made a couple changes here and there and ended up seeing some positive results. For example, for the last few months, I've been concerned about my protein intake, and started adding more to my diet throughout the day. I have started waking up earlier and walking my dogs in the mornings most days a week so that I can make sure they're getting some exercise and I'm getting some vitamin D. I've had an hour of quiet time every morning for the last 5 years, but I started making more of that hour. I've prioritized praying and talking to God more throughout the day.  Life is always changing, even with our most disciplined routine. We only have 24...

  Hello! Today I will do a recap of my first official fall Saturday from last weekend. It started with a protein latte made at home, chocolate croissants from a local bakery, and college football.  Then the four of us (my in-laws spent the weekend with us!) headed out on a 20-minute drive to Applecrest Farm Orchard! It was BEAUTIFUL there! I could live there. They had everything. Food, flowers, pumpkins, beer, wine, sweet treats, and so much more. There was even a live bluegrass band, so I felt right at home. I kept saying that if I ever have another wedding, it would be here at the orchard!  We were there for a few hours and still didn't do everything they had to offer. I would love to go back and go on the hayride.  Here are some of the pictures we took while we were there. It truly was a fall dream come true! 💛💗

Good morning and welcome back! It is Thankful Thursday !!! I had a busy, busy, BUSY weekend. I didn't have time to get any posts edited or written up for that matter! Anway I am here today. I believe a happy heart starts with gratitude, so let's be happy today! 1. My 3 pets this morning. They have been extra cuddly and sweet.  2. I take my safety for granted. I'm truly grateful for the safe neighborhood and city I live in.  3. Work has been stressful lately, but I am grateful for my job. I love being able to make money for my household.  4. A fun weekend with Thomas' parents! I had one of the most fall Saturdays ever.  5. On my morning walks with the dogs, I usually try to call or facetime my granny. She and I will talk for an hour or so and it's the best. I love her so much.  6. My bridesmaid dress finally came in and it made me excited all over again for the wedding next month!!! 7. I ordered a weighted vest to wear for my walks. It is bright pink and 8lbs. I ...