Friday things, 3/13

1. I've had horrible allergies in my eyes for the last two weeks. I finally got it under control with steady zyrtec but I couldn't even look at a computer screen for days there. I went to urgent care and got the standard "welcome to Kanas" speech concerning springtime allergies and I always say "it's not my first time and also I've lived in Missouri for the last 4 years..." and that always throws them off a little because they act like everyone complaining of allergies is fresh off the plane from a perfect climate zone like San Diego or a subarctic place like Fairbanks. Either way, the visit was free but I wasn't a fan. 

2. So coming off of not being able to sleep for a week, constantly dealing with switching back and forth between contacts and glasses, and now taking zyrtec every night, I made an eye appointment and turns out I can't actually go to an eye appointment even for an actual concern because of my insurance. I went less than a year ago for a contacts fitting. I would need to go to my PCM and then get a referral to an ophthalmologist, which...the last time I got a referral to someone, it took 11 months. Here I thought just a regular optometrist that I've seen before would be able to check my eyes more closely than the disgruntled PA working on a Saturday at urgent care. 

Either way, military healthcare, as always, is a true you-get-what-you-pay-for-situation.

3. I am in a media rut. I stand by everything I recommended a few weeks ago. I have however found myself back at one of my ultimate favorites, a true comfort-watch:

If you've never watched Homeland, it holds up! It started in 2011, ended in 2020. It's always weird to think that 2011 was so long ago (again, I'm convinced that 2013ish was the last good year lol), but this show does not disappoint if you're thinking about if it will be cringy or awkward today. 

Claire Danes is always cringy anyway. 

Cannot recommend enough. 

4. Because of the allergy issues, I went an entire week without attempting to wear eye makeup and then threw away my cheap e.l.f. mascara because I didn't like it anyway. Because I'd used so many eyedrops, my lashes were starting to break. I did have a moment of panic there. I splurged on Honest mascara because it comes with a primer. I've bought this mascara before and I cannot recommend it enough. It hurts to pay $20 for it, but it's the best out there. 

5. In other news, Wells was really sick for exactly one day two weeks ago and now he still has a cough, Sutton is slightly fever-ish to kick off our spring break, and Scott is pretty sick. It's definitely spring when everyone gets sick! ...I've gotten away with just allergies. But that's basically where I've been: juggling all the things while not really feeling good at all. I do have a lot to write about so let's hope the zyrtec keeps working. 

6. Some of these have been on my desktop for a few weeks so apologies if they're untimely: 

(not me, but Scott)

I was taking so much allergy medication last weekend that I had no idea what was happening. 

Another show ^ (Mad Men) I cannot recommend enough, from beginning to end. 

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Friday things, 2/27

This week, I posted recent content again. Cannot recommend Paradise enough if you need a show to binge this weekend! 

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1. I have big, big thoughts about this:

Grown adults who are not or were not teachers have no idea how this works. My first year in the classroom, I was sick most of the year. Started with student-teaching. Literally the sickest I'd ever been to that point and still couldn't miss without a doctor's note. I had a cold or a cough, literally, for the next 5 years on and off. I had strep throat for the first time ever as a 25 year old. Scott would catch what it was from me and get it twice as bad. It never failed. His years in Afghanistan were probably a respite from the constant respiratory viruses, to be honest. 

My point is, you have these people who haven't been around small children since they were a small child. They go to work in an office or something and then when they have kids post-25/30/35, they're all shocked and put out that they're getting sick again. Like, nope. My immune system did the work pre-30. So this does not apply to all of us. It's actually just showing a level of ignorance. 

This is a result from a society being one where children are not considered to be a huge part of many peoples' lives. Birth rate is down, people think kids are too much work, no one wants to go into child-centered fields anymore, adults just want a dog or a cat and kids are too much of a hassle, etc.

At this point in my life, my kids get colds and coughs and low fevers occasionally, Scott will get sick for a day or two (not as much as he used to), and I'm usually fine. The one exception was when my immune system was definitely compromised during pregnancy exactly 4 years ago and I had a sinus infection for 4 weeks. 

**Bonus comment regarding kids: You know how people are like "stop being lazy get up before your kids this is your own fault that you never get anything accomplished"? 

Well, blogging in real time, I got up at 5:05am this morning to "get stuff done" and guess who was up by 5:20? My kids. 

I wish all of those people nights of restless sleep and I hope their nannies quit because let's face it: the only way moms are "getting it all done at 5am" is if they have hired help. Change my mind.

2. I tracked grocery spending for February and the good news is that I came in at $699. I'm going to guess that a few expenditures would put that over $700 but that includes things like paper towels, toilet paper, hand soap...anything I would buy at Aldi. I made a few small Walmart runs because I will only buy name-brand in certain products (soda, sour cream, etc) but cutting out those $150-200 Walmart pick-ups made a difference. 

3. Scott brought home a Dubai chocolate bar. I had no idea these were so stupidly expensive. But I really liked it. The irony of talking about it right after I mention I saved money on food this month is not lost on me. However, what Scott spends at gas stations is none of my business, you know? I was just tracking food and such. But anyway: I think a lot of people think Dubai chocolate is too sweet but I think it's just about perfect.

4. Does anyone know an actual method for keeping an orchard alive and blooming? I've read a lot about it. I have finally switched to water. 

5. 

Friday Things, 2/20 (Empties!)

This week I shared about things that don't bother me and also some easy caesar chicken wraps, which are my new go-to for dinner when I don't feel like cooking. 

1. I've not watched a single second of the Olympics. Which is kind of sad. I didn't do that on purpose. We just don't have the TV on? I used to be glued to the Winter Olympics and now I feel all kinds of guilt for not watching with my kids? The first Olympics I really remember watching were the summer ones in 1996 when I was 10, so I guess I have time. But anyway, just depressing to think how I don't care this year. 

2. Since spring is on the horizon, my ads are warm-weather-related. This keeps popping up:

I bought these last year and they were the best thing I bought, maybe ever, in the shoe category. Cannot recommend enough. I do think that if I buy one sandal this year, it'll be another pair. 

3. Empties! I like to throw things away very quickly after using them so it pains me to have to save a pile until I'm ready to share. I love a good empties round-up though because it's where I get recommendations.

Arbonne facewash. I got this as a free gift with an order last summer and it lasted for several months. I only used it in the morning. It's extremely gentle and fragrance-free. I don't order Arbonne anymore but if you're having trouble finding a facewash for your sensitive skin, it's definitely worth a try. 

By Nature Vitamin C Serum. This is the end of my 3rd or 4th bottle in the last almost-two-years. If you're new to vitamin C and you want something gentle that also smells citrusy, this is for you. It also seems to fit the "crunchy" guidelines if you're reading ingredients.

John Frieda Frizz Ease leave-in conditioner spray. I love it. I use it to de-tangle Sutton's hair too. It adds extra moisture and makes it easier to smooth out and dry without extra heat treatment. 

Grace and Stella eye masks. I got these for Christmas and they're fine but I actually think just about all of these masks are created equal. 

Maybelline Full Time mascara. I bought this because the "full and soft" was like $10...it used to be $5...and I figured I might as well try something different for that price. I liked it a lot. I'm pretty easy with mascara though. 

Hi Pro Pac Conditioner for Damaged Hair. This is so great for blond hair or color-treated hair. I ended up being scolded by a stylist at Great Clips last fall because my hair was dry. Okay, well, a few inches off the end sort of solved that problem but then I tried this conditioner (found on a whim at Walmart) and it gave me new hair. 

I don't have a great "before" but this is after with just a blow-dryer and not even a round brush. 

I ended up buying the big bottles on Amazon after that and I use it a few days a week. The little packs are less than $3 at Walmart and you can get a 2-3 uses out of one pack if you want to give it a try!

4. This serum deserves its own number because I have a love/hate relationship with it and maybe you can help. 

I bought this in November-ish and used it for about a month and got amazing results. Smoothed my skin, evened my skin tone, seriously a fabulous product. Then it started to bother my eyes. Now it's not like I was putting it around my eyes or close to my eyes but I think it was migrating and/or it was just irritating to my eyes by being on my face. I switched to every other night and then a few days a week and it was always a problem the next day after I used it. I've gone back and forth with it for a month now and I've finally given up. The bottle is almost empty but I have to stop myself from using it because the burning/watery/irritated eyes are not worth it. (I have run through every other possible cause and this is what I've narrowed down as the likely cause.) 

So...does anyone else have that experience with retinol? Or with this particular product? I used actual tretinoin for acne for years and never had this problem. 

And then my friend (who is from Korea) gave me real Korean retinol serum and I've been using it VERY carefully and very sparingly hoping to get results but without irritating anything at the same time. 

Any advice in this department? It's the first time I've ventured into the retinol space. 

5. 

I can't wash and blow-dry my hair and get out the door in a reasonable amount of time. Add in getting kids ready and it's not physically possible. My hair is so thick and heavy that I have to wash it at night, and dry it and style it in the morning. If I have ANYWHERE to go with "done-ish" hair before noon, I have to shower at night. This is my lot in life. I used to wonder how everyone else could look put-together at 7am after showering and washing their hair...they don't have thick hair or they don't wash it often. It took me until I was like 30 years old to figure this out. 

I haven't had McDonald's, honestly, since college. Maybe a milkshake or fries when I was pregnant with Wells and the only place to get milkshakes was McDonald's in Laramie? (I mean, it was hit or miss with that, though.)

Wells has been BEGGING to go to Burger King for, like, years now (I think it's the commercials). Scott was planning on taking them last week when they were on a road trip and they were 2 miles from BK when Wells spotted a McDonald's and wanted to stop there instead. 

This is how I feel about the current season of Love is Blind. I think it's jumped the shark. Too many know too much about the show and what to say and what to do to get screen time. The first season was still the best because everyone was more authentic.

Linking up with Friday Favorites!

Friday Things, 2/13

This week I posted about some recent Amazon buys and then the content I've been taking in lately (tv, podcasts, books, etc).

1. I had a lot of trouble sleeping last week. Then I had one GLORIOUS night of sleep on Saturday night and now I'm back to not sleeping well again. I'm not nearly tired enough to nap and I also am not drinking a lot of caffeine...nothing after noon, really. And then 11pm comes and I'm not tired so I toss and turn. Help.

2. 'Tis almost spring which is when I'm faced with the crippling decision-making process of what's next. We literally have no idea. Making plans is pointless. But a military wife told me years ago that  "if you don't unpack, you'll never unpack", so trying to find community and purpose in every location is important; if we don't do it, we never will. More than one civilian friend has said I wouldn't even unpack if I was only going to be there a year. But, if you don't unpack, you'll never unpack. You have to settle in somehow. 

(Maybe this has to do with the trouble sleeping?)

3. We had our first day where I wore shorts on a dog walk (Monday). It was 80* in KC. I'm not ready for this. I'm not a fan of self-tanner so I'm not sure where to go from here.

4. I have no thoughts on the Superbowl. I am in an apoplectic state now that football season is over. Please respect my period of mourning-- 200-some odd days until the season begins again. 

If you are a football fan, here's the recap:

5. 
 

This meme is old and tired at this point, but it reminded me that when I took the kids with me to my dentist appointment a few weeks ago. The hygienist took them out to the hall and let them do the pushing of the button for all of my x-rays. For real, we've had great luck with dentists in our army life. 

Matching socks, unloading the dishwasher, putting away groceries.

What are your 3?

I saw a reel that said if you don't have kids and complain that you have no time, you're the problem because ALL YOU HAVE IS TIME. I legit did not understand this until I had a kid. ALL I had was TIME before. I still don't understand how I filled up my time.

I got this and it's my favorite lotion right now. I've found that some brands flat-out don't work for me. Eucerin Skin Calming does. 

(My husband)

We got an Alexa right after they came out. Scott had pre-ordered it on a whim. We used it for a year or so and then I packed it up when he was deployed and then he used it again in Wyoming? Mostly just for music. I don't think we really understood how the bluetooth thing worked back in 2015, aside from in our cars.  

I never trusted it. Who knows where it is now. I hate when people run their households off of these systems. It's so unnecessary and don't tell me it makes life easier; it doesn't. 

Linking up with Friday Favorites!