Yay for Friday! It’s the first Friday of the year and I’m here for it. I’ve only been back at work since yesterday, but two days is enough. Honestly, I can’t complain too much as the last two days have been chill and productive. Yesterday was a lot better, but today has been a bit slow. It does, however, feel good to get back into a routine.
Speaking of routine, I’m dipping my toes into the shallow end of the pool in the exercise space. I have a long and dramatic history of doing too much too soon with poor results. Consequently, I didn’t do the spin and strength double header I had planned for today. The doubleheaders can wait for next week. Fortunately, the full body Sweat workout was fire! It definitely got my heart pumping.
A little late, but still funny and accurate
After a break for holiday baking, I’m back on the sourdough train. I’ve stopped buying bread since I can pump out several loaves a week. I love bread, but there’s so much garbage in store-bought bread. For folks like myself and the Mayor, the garbage can increase inflammation and make managing our autoimmune disorders more difficult. This, however, doesn’t stop me from eating a Reese’s peanut butter cup. But I guess that’s what we call balance. Happy Friday!
2025 Goal Tracker:
Run a 5K: in training
Complete Kayla Itsines program: in progress
No afternoon Starbucks (except for travel/vacations): compliant so far
Top performer at work: it’s been one day, but so far so good
Travel: working on it
Eat to lower inflammation: in progress
Read daily: in progress
Get out of debt: in progress
Financial independence: in progress
What colleges have you attended?
I attended the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities campus for my undergraduate degrees. Where I earned a BA in Political Science and a BA in History. After I attended Purdue Global (aka Kaplan University) for my MBA because it was free and required for promotion. While I enjoyed the online delivery of my MBA, I can’t say that it had the same academic rigor as my undergraduate experience. Honestly, it was a bit of a quagmire. I don’t regret pursuing my MBA, but I feel I would have gotten more out of an in-person MBA program.
Blah, is there a better word to describe your first day back in the office after two weeks off? I mean maybe, but Meta would probably take down my post if I used it. I’ve been back at work since 8:00 am this morning with the picturesque view of my two monitors, laptop, and flat-screen television. Fortunately, the call volume and quality have been decent today, so I can’t complain too loudly. I am, however, exhausted.
Today is day two of no afternoon latte and what a terrible New Year’s resolution. I could go for a nice, hot latte right now. To be clear, my afternoon homemade coffee is still in play. I’ve almost finished it. Yet, here I am at the peak of exhaustion. I had hoped the lunchtime spin class would give me a boost, but nope. I guess being tired is just a constant state of being as an adult. Somehow I must have missed the warning on the lameness of adulting.
I had high aspirations for my time off, but I accomplished very little. At first, I was a bit annoyed with myself, but after the year we’ve had I decided to give myself grace. More than anything, I needed to rest, relax and reset. The to-do list, which is never-ending, could wait for the start of the new year and our return to routine. That’s not to say I did nothing as I still managed to knock some meaningful items off my to-do list.
So my blah day back to work also means the return to routine, which I crave. At this point in my life, I need routine. It keeps me disciplined and working on my goals. The Mayor’s all set for school, so no longer chasing labs, endos, or medical records is a big weight off my shoulders. The remainder of my to-do list is quite manageable. And with that, I’ll get back to it.
2025 Goal Tracker:
Run a 5K: in training
Complete Kayla Itsines program: in progress
No afternoon Starbucks (except for travel/vacations): compliant so far
Top performer at work: it’s been one day, but so far so good
Travel: working on it
Eat to lower inflammation: in progress
Read daily: in progress
Get out of debt: in progress
Financial independence: in progress
Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?
I play with my puppies everyday. It’s just goofing around in the house or on our walks. We have a lot of fun.
The Mayor and I are headed north to Detroit for, you guessed it, a weekend of hockey. Our flight was delayed about 90 minutes, which was a bit of a nuisance. The upgrade to first class alleviates some annoyance at being late. I’m awaiting a glass of Prosecco, which will eliminate every last glimmer of annoyance. Once we land, we’ll have a nice sixty-minute drive to the hotel, which does suck a bit. Fortunately, we can sleep in as the Mayor has no games until late tomorrow night.
I’m not at all prepared for the cold. I’ve been cold all day and it’s in the low 70s back home. I’m pretty sure the Detroit weather is going to make me feel like hibernating beneath the warmth of the covers in our hotel room. Detroit will, however, be a nice departure from the last seven weeks of AEP (annual enrollment period for the uninitiated.). The last several weeks do AEP were taxing as our shifts stretched to 12 to 14 hours. That’s a long time to be checked in a pleasant when dealing with a demographic that can be extremely difficult.
I’ll write more on AEP later as my short ribs and Prosecco have arrived. Moreover, I’ll share the saga of chasing down the Mayor’s type 1 diagnosis. He’s doing well, but more on that later.
P.S. I’m typing this on my phone from 35,000 miles up headed north, so please forgive the typos.
Sky Club offerings
Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?
My sophomore year speech teacher convinced me to join the speech team and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I think of Mr. Quinlan (Q as we affectionately called him) with a deep sense of gratitude often especially when I’ve been delivering a speech or presentation. Learning how to speak publicly is one of the best life skills you can learn. I’m forever grateful to Q, who encouraged and helped me develop my public speaking abilities.
So life threw us a massive curve ball yesterday. The Mayor overslept his alarm again. When he finally woke up, he told he lost 19 pounds over the last few weeks. Annoyingly, he has been waking up the last few nights due to dry mouth and having to pee. All of this was enough to send my mama bear instincts into overdrive. I quickly tested his blood sugar, which came back at 188. Thankfully, the pediatrician was able to see us that afternoon to recheck with non-expired strips.
Unfortunately, the visit to the pediatrician’s office ended with us being referred to the ER to rule out diabetic keto acidosis. We’ve been in the hospital since last night and will be here at least another night. His blood sugar was 440 in the ER last night, but has since come down to 170 thanks to the insulin and fluids they’ve on boarded. Once they have his blood sugar stable and all his bloodwork back, we should be able to go home.
I haven’t posted anything on social media and won’t be sharing any photos of the patient here. However, we felt it important to share our experience as it may help someone else. I’m grateful for the experiences of my friends that helped inform our decision making yesterday. Thanks to the shared knowledge we were able to prevent a crisis. We won’t have a firm diagnosis until the bloodwork is back, but it will be life changing for him. Anyway, like the title suggests, we’ve just been thrown a major curve ball.
You have three magic genie wishes, what are you asking for?
I’d ask for my kids to be healthy, dogs to live forever and enough money for my entire family to live comfortably.
Milton’s gone and good freaking riddance to it and its feeder bands. The last week has been chaotic for most Floridians as we prepared for the storm. We were all prepared for the storm, whether at home, Goalielocks at UCF, or J and M in Tally. The hubby put up our shutters yesterday meant a great night’s sleep. Thank you complete darkness! Of course, by the time Hurricane Milton landed, most of our action was over. We did have the most incredible, albeit brief sunset. Nevertheless, I’m glad that we were ready. I don’t want to get caught ill-prepared for a major storm. Also, I know it gives our folks, worrying from afar back in our hometown, peace of mind.
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There are a couple of axioms when it comes to hurricane preparation. If you’re fully prepared, the storm will wobble away from you. So be prepared. If you don’t lose power during the storm, you lose it intermittently post-storm (wtf FPL.) Everyone becomes a weather expert. Most are benign, but the ones that smugly downplay the storm are dangerous. I saw a few posts from a friend on Facebook that made me cringe. I don’t know which post was worse, the one making fun of people for preparing or the one stating that yesterday’s tornadoes were akin to what we see in summer storms. They weren’t. Not only were they deadly, but they were strong and in wedge form. Florida doesn’t typically are large, wedge tornadoes.
Unfortunately, one of the large tornadoes that hit Wellington impacted one of our friends. I guess this is why I find the glib posts about the storm and tornadoes so offensive. The storm uprooted people’s lives. Thankfully, our friends are safe and only lost property. Sadly, several confirmed reports of fatalities in St. Lucie County have emerged due to the tornadoes Milton spawned. The last axiom when it comes to hurricanes is probably the most important. The storm can impact you even if you’re not close to the center of the storm. Milton was over a hundred miles offshore in the Gulf when the supercells in the feeder bands spawned a tornado outbreak. But hey, at least it’s over and Milton’s gone!
What’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.
I would love to run a marathon without dying. It seems like an overwhelmingly strenuous activity that would be incredibly rewarding.
On today’s Duck Tales episode, let me introduce you to our babies!! The sweet mama duck that laid a nest at our front door is now a mom. We couldn’t believe it when she laid her eggs hidden in plain sight. I was worried this young duck and her eggs would be unlucky and fall victim to one of the many raccoons in the area. Yet, her plan worked. Our dogs, who would have loved to eat her. Ultimately, the dogs kept her nest safe by guarding the nest from our window.
The eggs hatched last night after work. As of right now, we have eight ducklings. Unfortunately, one of the eggs didn’t hatch. Now she needs to get the ducklings to the lake, like their “school/cafeteria.” This is where the young mama will teach her ducklings what to eat and how to stay safe. Only 10% of the ducklings will reach adulthood, which is a crazy number. There are just a lot of things, including Anakin and Arrow, that would like to catch and eat the ducklings.
Meanwhile, the Mayor and I ran up to the European supermarket in West Palm for some good kielbasa, paprika and chocolate. Once you’ve had the kielbasa from the Polish market, you’ll never be able to eat kielbasa from a grocery store again. It’s so much better. The paprika is also a lot better than anything you can find at the grocery store. I love cooking with it as it gives the food a richer taste. Afterward, we headed to Sprouts to pick up some sushi, vegetables, fruit, and some lunch meat.
Today I’m making my second attempt at the strawberry chiffon cake. Last time it turned out okay, but it tasted much better than it looked. I totally screwed up dividing the cakes into 3 layers. Hopefully, I don’t screw it up too badly this time. Additionally, I decided to add additional strawberries for the filling. I’ll post some pictures of the finished product. Tomorrow I’m baking focaccia with inclusions. Previously, I had been making it with sun-dried tomatoes on top, but tomorrow I’m mixing them in. Stay tuned for more Duck Tales!
What are your favorite types of foods?
I love Italian, French and Mexican food. I also like baking breads and desserts, which does nothing for my figure.
Can you believe it’s been one month since the kids got married? It was such a magical day! I’ve taken some time away from the blog and social media to soak it all in and rest. There’s a lot that goes into your child’s wedding. As with everything relative to one’s kids, I found myself more invested in ensuring their wedding was perfect than I was with my own. Having kids is an interesting experience. If you line every spectrum of the emotional rainbow amplified, then parenthood is for you. The highs and lows are much more extreme when you watch your kid experience them.
Fortunately, the wedding was an emotional high for all of us. The smiles never left the bride and grooms faces. They soaked in each and every moment of their special day. Although I’m sure if you asked them, the day was a blur. I continue to be proud of how Goalielocks and The Mayor showed up for Jake and Melly. It was proof that I’ve gotten at least three things right in life. Go me!
In the intervening weeks, life has settled back into its routine. I’ve relaxed my exercise routine to give myself some rest. It’s a bit harder to be motivated when you don’t have a fancy dress to fit into imminently. If someone could please throw a gala, I could get back on the bandwagon. Meanwhile, I’ll be over here pouring through the wedding pictures as feeling nostalgic about my the boys’ childhood.
One of my girlfriends, thank you Marla, had the brilliant idea of writing my favorite moments from the weekend down. It is easy to forget the smaller moments as time passes, so here are some of my favorite moments. Hopefully, I will catch the essence of their special weekend.
From Friday night, I loved watching Jake and Melly walk in a catch all the little details from the welcoming sign to the Daschund cookies and personalized candy bag tags. Also, from Friday night, it was great to see everyone interact and enjoy themselves in a relaxed and informal setting. We opted to hold an open house-style rehearsal dinner instead of the traditional stodgy dinner. This allowed us to include everyone attending the wedding. The majority of both families live out of town, so this was a great way to get the families together without the formality of the wedding. Friday night was a gift and fortunately went seamlessly.
Saturday leaving the house, in a rush per usual, we stopped to take a picture of the boys out front. It’s the same place we took all their back-to-school and prom pictures. Luke and I rode together and the boys drove separately. Truly, it was special to see how far the boys’ relationships have grown and how tight they’ve become. The younger two boys arranged Jake’s favorite dinners in the days leading up to the event. Additionally, the Mayor made sure we had all of Jake’s favorite snacks and drinks. The Mayor stepped up and helped Goalielocks, who had finals the entire week.
I had my hair and makeup done by Glamsquad, which did amazing work. It was fun getting ready with the bride, the bride’s mom, and the bridal party. Honestly, Melly and her family included me in everything throughout the wedding planning process. It meant a lot especially since I don’t have any daughters.
This one might be a bit silly, but I loved my outfit. I started looking for the dress even before the engagement ring was shipped to my house. Early on I decided I was going to buy an incredible designer dress second-hand. I sent all the candidates for Melly for approval. Eventually, I settled on a navy blue Jenny Packham gown. The gown had high slits on the legs and a magnificent cape. To round out the look, I paired it with a pair of Jimmy Choo Romy glitter pumps that I bought off eBay and a clutch I picked up at Nordstroms. The look turned out better than I could have imagined.
My veil played a starring role. I didn’t think my veil would ever see the light of day again. And then Melly asked to wear it. What an absolute honor it was to give her my veil. It complemented her dress and hairstyle perfectly. As dinner wound down Saturday night, I was chatting with the newlyweds and told Melly it was now her’s to pass down. I’m so happy she was able to wear the veil, but even happier to pass it down creating a family heirloom.
The ceremony started a little late, but still early by South Florida standards. I loved seeing my boys all dressed up. We lined up to go in and walking Jake down the aisle was surreal. Watching Goalielocks, the best man, and then The Mayor walk in with Ava (the flower girl) was a wonderful moment. Ava loves the Mayor, so we thought it would be a good way to get her down the aisle. Turns out it was picture-perfect.
Watching Jake’s face change as he saw his bride for the first time was moving. I lost it. It was so sweet to see him blown away by how beautiful she looked. The kids wrote their vows. Daringly, Jake said his vows with no notes. His vows, however, were from the heart and beautiful. I’ve never been more proud. When I asked him about them later, he said he didn’t need to write or down because it was just how he felt. Cue the tears…. And then she recited her vows, cue more tears. It means a lot to hear how someone loves your child completely and without condition. I’ve never been more proud of both of them.
The bridal party’s entrance to the reception was fantastic. They entered with lightsabers and it was amazing. The first dances were beautiful. Jake and I danced to “In My Life” by the Beatles, which is the song I danced to with my dad at my wedding. It was a special moment that I shared with Jake. A few minutes for us to chat about the day and for me to remind him how proud I was of both him and Melly.
Goalielocks was the best man and as such gave the first toast. He didn’t write it down beforehand, but he’s both good on his feet and a great speaker. Goalielocks wasn’t always the best brother to Jake, which he acknowledged. He did, however, acknowledge that his brother always treated him well no matter what. As Goalielocks grew up he’d come to respect and look up to his brother and their relationship has blossomed. It was a genuine, heartfelt speech that made me proud and misty.
The last speech was Melly’s dad. First of all, her parents are amazing and are so good to Jake. We love them dearly. PJ’s also a great speaker. The most touching part of the speech was when he spoke about how much he loved Jake. We think the world of Jake, but hearing his father-in-law describe their love and appreciation for him was truly a special moment.
My boys are the crowning achievements of my life. I’m so proud of the men they have become. This weekend the relationship they have cultivated was on full display. I’m so proud of how far their relationships have come. This weekend their love, loyalty, thoughtfulness, and support for each other were in full display. The Mayor brought his Polaroid camera to capture some of Saturday’s casual moments and boy did he. Meanwhile, Goalielocks, was there to support Jake with whatever he needed Saturday. Lastly, both boys made sure their uncles never went thirsty at the reception. Thanks for being a participant in my recap of my favorite moments from Jake and Melly’s wedding
We’re now two days away from the big day. I’ve spent most of the day fending off a tension/migraine headache, which is so lame. Hopefully, it will be gone by tomorrow. In the meantime, I’ve been alternating between cold and heat to loosen up my neck and shoulders. Fortunately, I’ve still managed to be somewhat productive. I got the pictures ready for the rehearsal dinner and wedding. And I got the cookies under control. I’ll be baking a double or triple batch of butter cookies tonight.
I binge-watched Netflix’s Decameron as I alternated between the heat and ice. The Decameron, by Nicholas Boccaccio, is one of my favorite books. It follows a group of friends who leave Florence for the countryside to try and avoid the plague. While in the countryside, they spend their time telling short stories daily. The stories are amazing. It’s said that the Decameron inspired Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. The limited series on Netflix doesn’t follow the book per se but follows nobles taking refuge in the countryside. I have quite enjoyed it.
Tonight I’ll have all three boys under one roof. What a gift! They’ll be playing video games and eating their favorite snacks. The Hubby is making jerk chicken with black beans and rice. One of Jake’s, and all of ours’, favorite meals. While they play video games, I’ll be mixing up more cookies and binge-watching a different show. Poor Ani will have to sleep in his cage tonight since he can’t be trusted with visitors. Before I forget, I have to say thanks to my dear coworker Sherry for the beautiful happy hanky. Two Days!
What’s the story behind your nickname?
My great great Grandfather’s name was Andreas. He was born at the Trandem farm in Romskog, Norway. We were lucky to visit the place where our ancestors were born in 2017. The doctors thought I was going to be a boy, but I surprised them all. My folks named me Andrea and my nickname became Andie because they thought I was going to be a boy.
Three days until the wedding, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve forgotten something. I’m sure we covered our bases, yet the anxiety is real and present. Anyway, we march on. The boys’ tuxedos arrived yesterday, so the Mayor and the Hubby will try theirs tonight. Goalielocks and Jake will go tomorrow to try on their tuxedos. My dad just picked up his and it looks amazing!
Yesterday we headed to my brother’s AirBnB to have dinner and cake for my dad’s birthday. His air conditioning went out over the weekend too, so they got a place to stay for the week. They didn’t know how long it would take for the AC to get fixed. Moreover, they have my parents brother, and sister-in-law staying with them for the wedding. The HVAC guys are insanely busy, so the wait can be long. Truly, we lucked out with our A/C guy. We had BBQ for dinner and another tasty cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes. Three days!
What strategies do you use to maintain your health and well-being?
Self-care is super important for living a healthy and balanced life. I use a few strategies to stay on top of my physical and mental well-being. First of all, I go to bed every night at the same time. Also, I turn off my phone at least 30 minutes before I go to sleep. I wind down by reading, which usually prevents the wheels in my mind from turning in overdrive. I work out six days a week and include spin, run, Pilates, strength training, and yoga in my routine. Lastly, I make sure I always drink enough water.
