Friday Favorites...June Goals!

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Why are the shortest weeks the craziest? Seriously, it's always the way! 

This short week at least ends in a brand new month with brand new opportunities! I love the start of a new month. It's a fresh start and 31 days to get it right this time. June is my favorite month, beginning the whirlwind of summer and literally something planned for every single weekend. I'm going to be in serious need of a relaxing vacation after this one! 

But first I'm going to set some goals I hope to achieve or at least chisel at this month. 

In May, I successfully accomplished Two Large Goals for me:  

Finish My First Novel -> Mission Accomplished! 

Restart my Blog -> Mission Accomplished!

These two accomplishments will definitely be setting the stage for my June Goals! 

Life Lately...

Craig and Me aka Toots & Dill - Memorial Day Weekend - 2018

~ I can't believe Craig and I met eight years ago. It seems like yesterday we got married and the day before that we moved in together and in a blink of an eye we were together. I'm so happy I waved at a friend and Craig saw me instead. ~

~ I've been breast fibroid free for 8 years! It's so important to do self breast examinations and to say something to your doctor if you feel something off! ~

My Side-Hustle: The Top Ten Money Making Apps I've Used This Year

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Last year I tried to get a part-time job. It didn't exactly pan out the way I hoped it would.

My full-time job as a marketing analyst got in the way and I knew it wasn't going to work out. I'm a salary employee  also so when work needs to get done, it needs to get fucking done regardless of how long it takes you. All I had left were part of my nights and the weekends, which was basically the time I spent with my husband, family, and procrastinating going to the gym.

So I was sorta stuck. But last November, just in time for the holidays, my mother told me about the app Ibotta and the rest is history. I found the solution to my problem and a slippery slope to a few other great apps. Pennyhoarder and other bloggers helped guide me to other apps and I can honestly say I will never go back.

However...

All Money Making Apps Are Not The Same!! 

&

Don't Buy Things Just to Receive the Money Back!! 

 The key to making it work is not going out of your way to buy something you won't use! Keep track of daily shopping habits and use the apps where applicable. Plain and simple. Some take time, others are more instant gratification with little planning. It's up to you and your personal discipline to use them at your own discretion. 

Now for the Fun Part...

Friday Favorites For Memorial Day Weekend!

Here we are again with another Friday Favorites!

 I think these are my favorite type of blogposts. They're fresh, new, & fun to put together. All week I think about little things I'm doing or using so I can share them all with you! It's something I really look forward to each week.

This week was a blur. A flash of working late, cleaning, writing, and sleep. So boring. lol. I've been very impatiently waiting for this 3 and half day Memorial Day Weekend for far too long. I'm off work starting tomorrow at 1pm and I'm going to be running out the door before anyone can stop me. Not this time, I desperately need some time off. 

But first...This week's Friday Favorites:

Ten Exciting Things I'm Looking Forward To Do!

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When you get home from work at 8:30pm, after a long 12 hour work day, you need to look to the bright amazing things you have planned because damn today sucked! I barely got up at all. This is a short work week for me so I have to cram in all the tasks I would usually take my time on. Once I get it all done I can play and relax for a glorious 3 and a half days. I hope tomorrow goes by fast!

Now on to the fun stuff! The months of June, July & August are going to be crazy busy and I'm going to love every minute of it!! =)

Writing a Novel Hurdle #1: Letting People Read Your Work

Why is it so hard to send out my work??

Lack of Courage? Low Self-Esteem? Judgement? Anxiety? Uncertainty? Shyness?

Each emotion plays a big part in this process for me and frankly it can be hard to see past it. Putting yourself out there is scary. People reading your words and your thoughts is so crazy! I never thought I would get this far. I'm actually doing my dream I've had for so long. I have to see past these road blocks and push forward!

 

E.L James had to send out "Fifty Shades of Grey" in all it's telltale ripping of the condom glory.

Margaret Atwood had to let people read "Handmaiden's Tale" and dive into Gilead headfirst.

Stephen King must have sent out "Carrie" catapulting people into the worst prom ever.  

Monday Health Check...A New Beginning...

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I've been putting off getting fit and healthy way too long. Now that I'm blogging again I have no choice. I have to push through, absorb the inspiration, and finally do this fucking thing. 

Who's with me?!

Stolen Moments Sunday

 This weekend was a quiet one but there was still a few cool things that happened.

~ A lot of times my Sundays revolve around family. I spend it catching up with my parents and visiting my grandmother - my mother's mother - at the nursing home. My grandmother suffers from dementia but somehow when I say "Hi Grandma!" she perks up and smiles. Somewhere in her subconscious she knows it's me. It's always my favorite stolen moment just between her and me.

Friday Favorites!

My first week back and I'm already so happy I started to blog again. I really missed it. There is so many great exciting parts to blogging and I'm only scratching the surface.

I always struggled with the balance of work, blogging, social life, tiredness, and writing. There's so much pressure to post every day, like every blog post, read this and that. This time I'm going to take it slow and enjoy the process without driving myself crazy on stats and numbers. If I don't post everyday, it's okay. If I can't think of the latest and greatest and need another day to process my thoughts, it's okay. This time around it's for me and I'm so grateful all the other amazing bloggers motivate me so much!

 Here are some of my favorite things from the week...

I Wrote My First Novel...Now What?

This is exactly what I typed into Google and am currently diving into the madness head first. Did I mention madness? Sea of options? One of the most important turning points of my life? All of the above and then some. And more madness...

But first...

I can't remember a time where I didn't have a book in my hand growing up. I read at family events, finished my summer reading a week into summer, packed book after book for vacations & car rides, got excited for the Scholastic "book orders" in school and spent most of my time on the bus devouring R.L Stine Goosebumps & Christopher Pike horror novels. I had a library card the second I knew I could have one. This priceless and valuable hobby I cherish has opened my eyes to endless possibilities.

 Now it's my turn...

What I'm Watching Now...Vida & Sweet Bitter

Images credited to IMDB

Has anyone noticed the same movies are on Hulu & Amazon Prime?

They both have their unique originals but the hopes of more extensive variety has been inadvertently squashed. Luckily Optimum won the Starz battle and saved Outlander and *fingers crossed* American Gods figures out what the fuck they're doing. While I'm waiting for Jamie & Claire to come back I've been riveted to the new 2 shows Starz has added to Sunday night.

Better Late Than Never! We're Back!!

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Finally, I'm back! I've been waiting so long to say those two words!! For the longest time I knew something was missing. During the past 8 years I've blogged on and off through several blogging projects and Toots & Dill is the latest and greatest! 

So Who's Toots? Who's Dill?

I'm Toots and my husband is Dill aka Melanie and Craig. Craig got the nickname Dill from middle school and Toots well, he graced me with that nickname about a year into our relationship. I fought the Toots, but now I embrace it and wouldn't think of changing it ever.

What can you find here at Toots & Dill?

This is a lifestyle/personal/daily musings blog.
I hope to create an interactive space that is welcoming and inviting across a broad range of topics.

A little more about Me & Craig

 I'm your typical dreamer who is aspiring to be a writer one day. Writing has always been a hobby of mine and then of course daily life chimes in sidetracking everything. Finally I've wedged in some time for myself and finished my first novel. Which is only Step One of the Process. I'm so excited to start the next steps.

By day I'm a marketing analyst, a wife, an avid book reader, a movie nerd, fan girl, and I'm always on the hunt for ways to save a little extra money. I also teach a cupcake decorating class and I love to share my creations.

My husband Craig is a banker by day and a rock star by night. His band Dig A Revel, find them on Facebook, has gained some traction and has a whole list of shows lined up for the spring and summer. Each week he plays guitar at my favorite place to write, the Defiant Brewery. There's nothing like kicking back a beer, writing your heart out, and listening to my husband's punk serenades.

I am the main writer of the blog, but he is my favorite co-pilot for most of my adventures and hit or misses.


On Sunday I'll be back, pushing full speed ahead!

 I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day!