Married Life: A New Home Wishlist

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One of my big goals this year that hasn't been forgotten is a big next step in Craig and me's marriage...

Buying our first home together. 

Currently we live in my tiny studio apartment of a lil under 500 sq feet. I swear it's not a tiny home, lol, it's just a small condo, which I've been happily living in for the past 5 and half. Two Years alone, Three & half years with Craig and his two fur babies Angel & Gabby. It's a tight fit but it's time to say goodbye to my lil home. 

Hello May...Stolen Moments Sunday


April was a hard month. There I said it. I have promised myself to be "myself" in this lil space of mine and today is no different. 

The last 2 weeks of April hit me hard and the freshness of the first rainy day in May tried to make it up to me. Today was one of those lazy days where it was just me and my husband being us and I needed it so badly. He had a cold two weeks ago and I of course got the same cold a week later. It drained me and before I knew it, May snuck right in. Time is funny like that.

Book Before Movie: A Review of "Me Before You" by Jo Jo Moyes




**PLEASE NOTE...This is a book review and not a summary review like we all love/hate to read on Amazon. I will disclose the ending of the novel after the "Read More" option and my opinions on the novel.  If you are hoping to read the novel or see the movie please DO NOT READ AFTER THE "READ MORE" OPTION...Thank you! I really don't want to spoil anything for you!**

We've all heard about them...those epic "viral" books that has everyone ears buzzing. 

Gone Girl, Eat Pray Love, Water for Elephants (Still can't seem to finish this one), The Time Traveler's Wife, and lately "Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes.

I saw the book cover "Me Before You"  long before it was popular and a must read. The author choose a book art style that reminded me of V.C. Andrews "Flowers in the Attic" series. I passed then but alas I bought it anyway in the Newark NJ airport gift shop waiting to pick up a good friend from her trip to Iceland.

To be honest, I didn't want read this book. I don't read these tragic love stories that will have me crying and mad at certain characters for their actions. I read love stories but usually on a more risque note..But like the other viral novels I decided to give it a chance and put down my smut for a little while. 

Sunday Stolen Moments!


This weekend was officially the first day of Spring in my world! It was warm here in South Eastern NY and I was barely home for any of it! lol. 

I was running around, dashing to New York City and back, making a little bit of my husband's Aunt's 60th birthday, spending time with visiting family, and getting to celebrate my grandmother's 91st birthday!! I can't believe she's 91!! 

Friday Favorites: A Few Odds & Ends

Frankly Noted - Etsy

This week stressed me out. There wasn't just one thing but a full to do list. One of my favorite sayings is "This too shall pass" and once again I find myself muttering the words softly to myself. What I have on my plate is manageable and for that I'm grateful. Very grateful. It just needs to time to see it's see it's self through. 

This weekend should bring a lot of fun my way!! For all you Doctor Who Fans and Jessica Jones fans, I'm going get to meet David Tennant and Matt Smith at Wizard Con in Manhattan!! More to come next week on that! Then I have a 60th birthday celebration for Craig's Aunt! 

On Sunday, I have a very very special 91st birthday celebration for my grandmother!! God bless her, seriously! I never thought I'd be this lucky to have her in my life this long. I hope it's a good day. I really do! 

Married Life: Currently Edition

I've always been a fan of The Graduate...

Currently...
I can't believe we are no longer newlyweds!!! Our first year went by so fast!

Currently...
I'm feeling a little jumbled and all over the place. There are so many things on our to do list and I'm trying not to crack under pressure meanwhile I have a family event at least once a week until July. It's a little intense right now.

About Me: Ten Ways I need to Take Care of Myself Better!


A few weeks ago I started a new Pinterest board - Beauty + Self as motivation to start taking better care of myself. Do you think I actually started pinning helpful things in order to better my own self care? Not even close...

I had a good start though...I did pin a few homemade beauty treatments but I need to go further! I still feel like I'm rolling out of bed, scrounging myself together to look presentable, and sprinting to my college classes. Oh yes, I do miss the good ole college years and it's a bad habit I still fall into quite often.

March Savings: Several Ways I Saved Money in March!


To accomplish my yearly goals there is one important thing I need to move forward...Money! I'm grateful and lucky for my salary job and I need to stretch it a little further. 

Each month in 2016 I've been keeping track of my finances and attempting to make more responsible decisions to minimize my spending. 

I'm starting to truly see the difference, especially in my credit card statements. I still can't believe my AMEX bill was under $200?!?! That has happened in months!! I have to keep it up and I have to keep going! =)

Sunday Stolen Moments...



A long time ago I picked up a rose wine bottle at Stew Leonard's wines called "Stolen Moments". It stuck with me long after that day. I find myself living for those moments over the weekend that I always want to remember! 

I really need to find that bottle of wine too because it was soooo delicious!! =P

Saturday Musings and Snow??


My favorite part of my mantel

~ Like most the eastern U.S. we got snow today on April 9th. Yup, so happy I did not got married this year, but last year when the weather was more normal March/April...not like November/December. Ha! ~

Friday Favorites...10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week!


"What do you want from me, I'm not americas sweetheart, but you love me anyway..."
"America's Sweetheart" - Elle King

Wasn't it just Monday? I swear blogging each night makes the week go by wayy too fast.  I really enjoyed this blogging week too. I feel like because everyone pretty much everywhere is thrown off with the funky weather people tried to bring a little more brightness to the blogging world to offset the doldrums. 

I think Southern NY is going to get snow on Saturday but luckily my plans are local. A mini go cart place opened up in my local mall and my best friend is having her birthday party there on Saturday. I've driven a bumper car but not a go cart before. It should be interesting!! They even have a indoor track for mini races and everything!

Currently + Thursday Thoughts


Currently...
I'm exhausted, but it was so worth it. For one of my best friend's birthdays we went to a dinner theater who was playing Romeo & Juliet (1996) with Leonardo Dicaprio & Claire Danes. 20 years later and it's still amazing! I know I have the soundtrack on CD somewhere...I must find it!

Currently...
Dreading the dentist tomorrow morning...I hate the dentist. I go every 6 months for a cleaning, so usually I don't have cavities, but there is something about the dentist I just hate. I think it's the picking at the teeth with the instruments gets at me the most. Oh and the sound of the water cleaning drill...I know I'll have a headache the rest of the day!

Married Life: "What's for Dinner" Debacle + Pinned Recipes


The #1 topic Craig and I fight about is the dreaded "What's for Dinner" conversation. It happens everyday between 5pm-5:15pm. My husband is a picky eater and I'm trying to eat healthy. It creates an uneven battlefield.

The only possibile way to dig out of this is to try some new recipes...and keep on trying even more new ones.

It would be so easy if we could have tacos everyday. I swear my husband could eat a bacon egg and cheese on a bagel everyday for breakfast and a taco/burrito for dinner without one complaint. =P

What I Learned in 5 Years at the Same Company...


On April 4th, 2011 I started working at my current job. The realization that it's been 5 years since I first walked through those doors has completely thrown me for a loop. 5 whole years. Fuck, that went fast. 

I remember panicking after my job before this announced they were closing their doors. The recession was over but it was still hard for a small programming company to dig above all the rest. I had just bought my little studio condo and had a mortgage so the anxiety was high.  

 Immediately I marched myself to a job agency and was a 100% honest in what I was looking for and my qualifications. I asked for full-time work, health insurance options, and 401K options. Within a week the scout had something...

Weekend Shopping: My Successful Day Shopping at Torrid!


Fashion for me is an uphill battle I've tried to win for years. I'm a plus size girl who has been forever stuck in the middle of two sizes, longing for Stacey & Clinton from What not to Wear to save me one day, and it's tough road to find clothes in stores that fit me in the right places.

But somehow in my 30 years I have found a middle ground - kind of a stalemate - where I am comfortable in my clothes and not pulling at my garments every 10 minutes because they are sticking to me inappropriately. 

My favorite stores to shop for clothes are Torrid, Dress Barn, Kohls (Def. frenemies though), Fashion to Figure, Target and Forever 21 (another frenemy). With the exception of my two frenemies I can always find something that makes me smile and makes me feel pretty in the other stores. Even though I might have to try on a lot of styles and sizes the small victories are very refreshing!! 

A Few Ideas for a Quiet Saturday...

I just love this photo...These beautiful cherry blossoms are blooming outside my office buidling! I still can't believe I took this picture with my phone!

I just love rainy Saturdays! This weekend is one of my last weekends before the birthdays and the family events completely take over my life for the next few weeks! It's going to be a rough one, but fun nonetheless. 

Today I'm on a hunt for a cafe who does Latte art in my county without venturing into New York City. I have a few places to scope out and I'm hoping it's a success. My first stop has a maple bacon donut that is calling my name!!

Friday Favorites: 30 Things You Didn't Know About Me! =)

 

Hello April!! Wow March was such an amazing blogging month for me!! I can't believe how much this lil blog has grown in such a short time and I'm so grateful & thankful to interact with all you lovely people! 

So I thought it would switch up this Friday Favorites and write a little more about me besides my usual random lifestyle posts! I love getting to know the real people behind the blog and here's a little peek into my world! =)

Married Life: First Wedding Anniversary + Happy Easter!


Sometimes you have to go into the holidays hoping for the best with a small plan of action to follow. I knew Church was at 11am and we had reservations at 2pm for Brunch. I did make it to both but wow it was a fast-paced crazy day that somehow ended in finally having a small piece of my wedding cake!! =) Yup that's what happens when your first wedding anniversary falls on Easter.  

Mayhem. 

Friday Favorites: My Top Ten Favorite Date Night Ideas


Yeah for the weekend!!! I find the weeks after a few days off are always the worst. This week dragged on and on and I'm grateful for a half of day tomorrow! Woohoo!! 

I think a massage is in cards for this girl tomorrow afternoon!

This weekend is going to be extra special this year! Yes it is Easter Weekend but Sunday is my first wedding anniversary!!! A year just flew by with a blink of an eye. Seriously...where did the time go?!? 

In honor of my wedding anniversary I thought I would share My Top Ten Date Night Ideas Craig and I love to go do!! Our date nights have been epic times with great memories!! Hopefully it will inspire you too!

Currently + Thursday Thoughts



Wishing

~ Wishing I was running my cupcake class this Spring! I miss my cupcakes!! In the fall I will be back as the adult education cupcake decorating teather! ~
~  Wishing I had sold out tickets to see Batman vs. Superman tomorrow night! ~

~ Wishing I could stay home and snuggle with my cats - Angel and Gabby all day long ~

HS Book Project: ReReading My High School English Reading List


On my little trip I noticed something I seem to forget about airports. There are always those lil over priced stores and kiosks with a random assortment of novels, usually consisting of the next best title & the classics I can't remember reading in high school. The high school books always call to me and catch my wandering eye. I can slightly remember the plots from the cliff notes and the films I know I watched but alas I know I didn't read the whole book for a lot of them. 

For some reason lately this has been bothering me more and more...

I'm Back! Ten Thoughts to Kick Off the Week!

Me overlooking the water in beautiful Fort Lauderdale #myhappyplace

Sometimes a little break is exactly what you need to reboot and revitalize! Florida was awesome and just the right amount of time away from the craziness! More to come on our trip soon! Literally I went from Florida, the state to the town of Florida, New York the next day for a bridal shower so I'm still a little drained. I had so much coffee and red bull to get through it all!! =)

I'm Off to Florida!! Happy St. Patty's Day too!


Sometimes your life just knows when it needs a break! Time is flying by like crazy. I can't believe tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day and in a week & half its Easter. I'm shaking my head as I write this in disbelief. Time is going wayy too fast. 

Craig and I are going to take it slow for the next few days in sunny Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. We will be celebrating his granfather's 85th birthday as well down there! I'm so excited to celebrate some happy times with loving people. =)

I wish you all a happy & safe St. Patty's Day and have a wonderful rest of your week!

I'll be back on Sunday! =)

You can follow me on my trip on Instagram! @melanierandom85

You Can Also Follow Me Elsewhere:

Randomness: A Little Corner of Music Nostaglia



Something you might not know about me is that I'm a 100% complete and utter fan girl. 

Earlier this week I took part in a Twitter chat from #TheGirlGang formed by Jenna @Dorkface and it hit home in a lil place in my fan girl heart. It was about 90's nostalgia and oh how I long for my emo/boy band days! It was so much fun to chat with these ladies of all ages and places in the world who like same things I did!!! It's funny how similar we all really are out there!

Appropriately I somehow caught "She's All That" over the weekend on TV! That's a movie I always stop and watch if I catch it. Then I heard that there is some form of "Cruel Intentions" spin-off TV series coming?!? Sarah Michele Gellar even dyed her hair dark again for her role!! Oh and apparently Fall Out Boy parodied N'SYNC for their new music video "Irresistible" AND Joey Fatone & Chris Fitspatrick are in the video!!!! Yeah I can't contain the fan girl happiness...

Married Life: How Can I Possibly Handle All My In-Law Family Events...



Before I met Craig, my immediate family was a grand total of 13 people. This includes my mother's side of the family and my father's side. The "events" we had were the normal run of the mill stuff small families celebrated together. Birthdays, communions, graduations, 25th wedding anniversaries, and the occasional Pocono Mountain beach trip. We were small brood of people and it was all I knew. 

Then I met Craig...

About Me: 10 Reasons Why I'm Excited For Spring


This weekend gave me a peek at Spring and I want more!! I've been packing all day for my Florida trip and it's really gotten me thinking of the warmer weather and all the fun things I love to do in the Spring!! 

Friday Favorites: 10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week!



Isn't is always the way when you have something exciting coming up that time just seems to slow down like no other!! Ahh!!  I'm excited for tonight's date night at Ruth Chris Steakhouse and I need our lil vacation to Florida even if it's only for 3 days. 

Even with the getaway my life is pulling at me in another direction. The next day after I get back I'm literally going from Florida the state to Florida, NY! Haha! I'm attending a bridal shower the next day in the town named Florida at The Sweet Onion Brewhouse and I'm sooo excited for it too!! To say it's going to non-traditional is an understatement...It's going to be a lot of fun!  

Currently + Thursday Thoughts...


WISHING

~ Wishing one of my best friend's family's peace in their sad time. Her grandmother passed away last week and I attended the wake tonight. Her grandmother was such a funny woman, always remembered me and her wig was always just a lil crooked. ~ 

~ Wishing for a great lil trip to Ft Lauderdale next week. Craig and I desperately need this lil break to reboot and have some fun! ~

~ Wishing for spring carnivals to start popping up in my county! The latest "Girls" episodes has made me want cotton candy like no other!!  ~

Health Update: Five Small Health Goals Achieved!


The beginning of this year has given me some ups and downs. I've been rolling with the punches and trying not to think when the next shoe will fall. The next shoe has already fallen and I really don't know all the facts yet. It will affect my family and I just need to know more. I'm hoping this weekend coming up will place me firmly in the loop so I know the actions that will need to take place to help and heal. 

The uncertainty concerns my uncle health's and it has hiked up the notch on my health awareness. I myself have had 3 surgeries in my life. Two to remove breast fibroids and the other was to remove my gall bladder. It was an odd period of 3 years and some of it now is just a blur. I haven't had a new fibroid growth in six years *knock on wood* and I really need to remind myself how important it is to be mindful of my overall well-being.

Married Life: Traditionally The First Year Wedding Anniversary Gift is Paper?

Design: My Wedding Cake Topper w/ Free Canva help! =)
One of my favorite parts of my wedding was my cake topper! It was so us! 

My husband - my garage band king - is one of the easiest people to buy a present for on special occasions. He has wishlists on Amazon and Guitar Center. I also can walk into Guitar Center and anything musical would suffice as an "Omg Fucking Awesome!" gift.

I've been very lucky...up until now. 

About Me: A New Notebook for a New Normal

The Mermaid Journal via The Paper Source

Did I really say this weekend was going to be slow? Did I really? 

Well I was wrong. I'm sitting here writing this post and I can't believe everything that happened. Ladies Night w/ In-Law gossip, Deadpool (yes, again), dinner for a friend's bday, watching Creed (excellent movie), almost finished Fuller House, had brunch w/ Craig and his mom, went to an Open House, caught up with my mom, made our Easter/Anniversary Plans, visit to grandma in the nursing home, supermarket shopping, AND The Walking Dead AND a mini trip to the Paper Source. Whew. I'm tired and this week is just getting started. 

Saturday Savings: How I Saved Money in February


This year Saving Money is always on my mind and it's been a successful run so far! January was a great month of savings for me. I kept up my $35 a week for lunch goal and was able to save an extra $40+ for my mad money jar. As well as additional savings brought on by my heightened awareness of my daily life and decisions.

Friday Favorites: Bunnies + DIY + Cheap Ricotta!

1. Easter Bunny Kitchen Towel - Here
2. Ceramic Bunnies - Here
3. Ceramic Easter Basket - Here
4. Egg Ornament Boxed Set - Here
5. Easter Bunny Measuring Spoons - Here

I know Wednesday & Thursdays are the usual confession post days for bloggers but I have to confess something else today. On March 3rd, 2016 I took down the last of my Christmas decorations.  

*Hanging my head down in shame*

Currently...Thursday Thoughts



Wishing: 
+ For things to get a little easier + No more snow! We've been lucky here in NY but not sure how long our luck is going to hold out! February was hard month so I'm hoping Spring will bring in some good vibes + wonderful sunny days. 

+ Wishing I could go see Aladdin on Broadway! I see a commercial for it at least once a day!

What's Hap "Pinning" Wednesday! Hello March!


Through the last few years March has become the most special month of the year for me!!

Why you ask?

Well in 2014 Craig proposed to me on the first day of Spring March 20th and in 2015 I got married to my garage band king on March 27th. This March in 2016 I will be celebrating my first wedding anniversary!! On Easter too! =P 

Move over chocolate bunny - I have my wedding cake to eat!  I just hope the top of my wedding cake is still good! Yup, it's still in my freezer hopefully chilling away! =) 

Is this wedding tradition still alive??
Do people still save the top of their Wedding Cakes??

The 10 Best Lessons I Learned in February...

1. Engagement Ring Settings Are Not Forever...

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON I LEARNED!!

~ From the moment I got engaged on March 20th, 2014 the lost diamond and lost wedding/engagement stories began. At first I was okay with it...then I got terrified. Then I was absolutely petrified. Everyday when I came home from work I immediately took off my ring and put it in my lil swan boat or heart dish because I didn't want to lose it. 

Sunday Stolen Moments: A Tiny Baptism for a Tiny Baby


Today I went to something special. A tiny baptism for a tiny baby. My best friend blessed her baby girl and it was an absolute treat to be a part of it! Lil Madison didn't even cry!! I was shocked. She was a trooper and held out to the very end. It was beautiful and it reminded me of one of my hopefuls of the year. 

Instead of resolutions for 2016 I'm concentrating on a few hopefuls I have not forgotten. One of them is hopefully getting pregnant later this year.  My husband and I are not trying yet to have kids but today made me so excited for the time when we decide to start!

A Sunny Saturday Morning...



Let it be known that I'm not a morning person. I repeat I am not a morning person!! lol. But I do have a soft spot for Saturday mornings...especially when I'm the first awake like today in all it's sunny glory!

It's been rainy and dreary in New York this whole week. My money tree plant even started to wilt from lack of sun. But not this morning...I just made my coffee and out of habit switched on the kitchen overhead light. I quickly turned it off because there was no need...the sun is shining brightly and there is barely a cloud in the sky!

Friday Favorites: 10 Things that Made me Happy This Week!


Oh February...your leaving before I really got to know you and you definitely kicked my butt on your way out. This was a fast short month and I'm really looking forward to March!! 

Married Life: Communicating with My Husband


Aside from the "What are we having for Dinner?" daily debacle...there is another area of my marriage which is boggling my mind why my husband and I can't get on the same page lately. 

Communication. 

"Please Come With Me...See What I See"

 

"Please come with me,
See what I see.
Touch the stars for time will not flee.
Time will not flee.
Can you see??"
~"Ordinary Day" - Vanessa Carlton

This weekend was crazy. Ergo, I need a little more time to collect my thoughts on that type of personal blog post. I could easily write "10 ways to have a successful estate sale at your grandparents house" but it's much more than that to me. It was a personal soul searching experience that tugged too deeply at my heart. 

In the meantime, today is Monday of a brand new week!! I'm pushing full speed ahead and thinking about how I can make this week a positive experience with results.

~ Do a little bit of something each day ~ 
~ Actually do the dishes so they don't pile up ~ 
~ Make smart & healthy choices for lunch ~ 
~ Forgo mindless spending ~ 
~ Have a game plan for my super market shopping trip ~
~ Say hello to my fellow employees at work w/ a smile ~ 
~ Go to the gym ~ 
~ Plan the Florida trip once and for all ~ 
~ Be mindful in my choices ~ 
~ Do laundry ~ 
~ Try out a new recipe for dinner ~ 
~ Remember to always kiss my husband goodnight ~
~ Go for a walk in this spring like weather! ~ 
~ Continue to put my wedding picture proofs in albums ~
~ Make necessary doctor's appointments ~
~ Be prepared for the next best thing ~ 

What are Your Goals This Week?


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Friday Favorites: TV, Make-Up and Wishful Saving!!



Happy Friday Everyone!!! This week dragged and dragged, but I'm excited to take a much needed break for the weekend! It won't be too much of a break - I will be helping out with my grandparent's house estate sale - BUT I will have Sunday to relax and clean! 

Hopefully I will be able to tackle some of my walk-in closet nightmares. Donate - Keep for Next Season - Wash to Wear Now. Hopefully the Donate pile will be big...I have purge somewhere and this is great place to tackle for me.

Thank You Home Ec Class - Tribute to The Lost Gem!



So who remembers Home EC aka Home Economics Class? 

I hope the answer is Yes because it is a lost gem that taught me so much looking back on it. 
I think I should reword my question... 

Were you one of those last kids who had to take Home EC way back when? 

Married Life: Seeing a Friend's Divorce on Social Media

Hannah + Adam - Girls HBO - Returning this weekend!

So you know that couple you always see on Facebook and Instagram with the seemingly perfect life? You even know them in person and you've shared great times & happy memories with them too. A concert here or there together, a Halloween night of bar hopping, and the occasional wedding where you wish you were at the same table. My husband and I knew this couple and have those great memories with them. But unfortunately I didn't notice the hashtags on the wife's latest Instagram posts, #onedaystronger #twomonthsstrong #Icangethroughthis and I didn't realize the girl the husband's hands were draped over during the Superbowl was not the wife's. I asked a mutual friend and found out that they were in fact getting a divorce after 4 years and I think I'm still in shock over it. 

Friday Favorites: My Favorite Valentine's Day Romance Movie List!



Happy Friday!! I'm starting to just love Fridays because I'm all over the blogosphere, checking out new blogs, joining new link-ups each week, and it's really becoming my weekly goal to try to have a great post for Fridays to get the energy pumping for the weekend!! This weekend is of course Valentine's Day, which for my house translates to "The Walking Dead" is back!! Finally!!

Toots + Dill: 40 Day Challenge of Self-Reflection

Well more like 47 days... 
Lent has 7 days built in for rest...
The past few weeks have pretty much knocked me on my butt in more than a few ways and it's resulted in me stepping back to really look at my daily life a little more closely. A New Year's resolution I didn't plan on has presented itself and I'm happily about to embrace the change!

 Embracing Self-Reflection 

10 Ways I'm Trying To Be Healthier This Year!


Superbowl Afterthought: How cool would it have been if Lady Gaga came out during Half-Time to join Beyonce and they did a quick clip of "Telephone"? #couldawouldashoulda

Okay down to business...I would like to re-open the topic of my weight loss journey which has derailed into oblivion. I'm the heaviest I've been in my entire life. It's a mixture of a lot of things, but mostly I sit all day long.  I have to get up and fucking move! lol.

Friday Favorites: Snowy Run-Down of 10 Happy Things!


An unexpected lil snowy twist has catapulted Friday into that awkward "Will my job close? Will it not close? Will there be a delay?? Will I get that text from my boss? When should I try to start the tundra journey?!?". It's coming down pretty steadily in Southern New York and New Jersey so decisions will have to be made soon!! 

Thursday Confessions...

Weekly Lady of Inspiration: Tina Fey

I've been going through a little bit of a rough patch of time so I thought today would be a perfect time to join in on the Confessions Time!! I think that's why I wanted to share with you a simple DIY that wouldn't stress you out and celebrate my lil progress in finishing the wife conversion process this week. I'm stressed, but I'm a big fan of the phrase "This too shall pass" and eventually I know everything will even out. =)