Better Late than Never...I'm back!

Have a vision. Be Demanding. 

Once in a blue moon you get a fortune cookie that resonates with you and changes everything. Yup that happened to me as well as a myriad of other things. Some were good and others not so great, but reflecting back, it was one hell of a summer. 

Like in TV Shows...Here are a few things you might have missed.

The unexpected departure of a co-worker caused my 9-5 job to became utterly swamped. Even that is an understatement. This shake-up changed how my job operates and finally it has returned to a new manageable normal.

I finished and submitted my first manuscript to book publishers. I think my writing hurdles series will need to turn into "My Writing Journey Series"...I will definitely be posting more about this in the weeks to come.

 I'm obsessed with my Bullet Journal...Literally.

I traveled to Disney World and the my favorite place ever Long Beach Island, New Jersey.

I saw Weezer in concert (I recommend if you're a fan!) and Evanescence with Lindsey Stirling and wow...what a concert!

I turned 33! Gulp. August was seriously just whiplash.

I'm absolutely excited for Fall and of course everything pumpkin. I'm more excited to get back into the swing of things here. I missed sitting here and writing.

The decision to put my focus into work and editing my first novel for the summer was a hard one, but I can't wait to share about the above and more.

Have a great night!
Until tomorrow... 

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True Story: A Honeymoon, A Funeral, A Tesla, & Who The "F" Are They?

My favorite picture of my grandfather...Baby me eating his shoulder.

June 14th...Seriously, how did we get here? 

It seems like yesterday I was leaving for my honeymoon to the Dominican Republic and finding out my husband & I's luggage didn't exactly make the trip along with us. Oh yeah...not fun. Thankfully we were staying at an all in-clusive resort and we had a lot of cash with us. Let's just say I'm glad the gift shop sold maxi dresses and I was able to buy the a swimsuit.

This however was not yesterday. It was three years ago. When we returned after the most awkward honeymoon experience I found out my grandfather had passed away the day we left. I was lucky enough to see him a few weeks before and got to tell him I loved him. Of course it saddened me that my grandfather had died, but truly I felt like he was finally at peace. 

The next day after we came home we had to rush up to Connecticut for the funeral because luckily my family was able to wait for me to hold the services. But this is where things got even weirder. 

Craig noticed a Tesla in the church parking lot and asked me, "Who in your family drives a Tesla?" I had no idea and thought maybe it was my uncle's rental car. Why not drive a Tesla to your father's funeral service I thought. Or possibly there were two funerals happening at the same time. 

Ironically Craig and I accidentally went to a wrong cocktail at a wedding venue once. It happens, I swear it does.  lol. 

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! ~

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!! =)

Friday Thoughts: A New Start

Thank you canva

Well it has been a while since I've blogged - a year almost to the day - but I'm so excited to restart my journey here. It's been a long year of ups and downs, new dreams, and hope of great things to come. I thought I would just share a few things here and there while I get back into groove of things! =)

• Thank you Banana Republic Factory Store & Loft for carrying XL sizes in Tops in your stores. It's so hard as a plus size girl to find good quality clothes that fit and don't tug at every curve, especially work appropriate ones and to be able to try it on in the store is wonderful. =)

• Hidden Figures DVD is on sale next week at Target for $10 bucks! Definitely buying that movie! Can't wait to see it!

• I'm loving my new Iphone 7 Plus! It's a pretty big phone, especially with the case, but it's such a step up from last phone - Samsung Galaxy 6. The photos are so much better! But, it doesn't fit in my pocket so I have to be crazy careful with it. 

•  I'm excited to pick up Paula Hawkins new book - Into The Water this weekend. I loved Girl on the Train! 

• While the husband is away, the wife will clean. My husband is out the whole weekend and I'm ready to give our studio condo a thorough cleaning. *Fingers Crossed* In the next few months we will hopefully be putting our condo up on the market, so every little bit helps!

•  I'm officially 30,000 words - approx 75 word document pages into my romance novel. It's taken me a long time to get here and I already have ideas swirling for a follow-up. By the end of the year, even if I have to self-publish it, I will finish this book!!

• I completed my 2017 NYC Comic Con fan verification! I know it doesn't guarantee a ticket for this year but I'm one step closer. I haven't gone in about 8 years. Even if it's just one day I want to go! I think I'm going to go as Ramona Flowers from Scott Pilgrim. She's one of my favorite characters ever!

•  I can't wait to see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. in the next few days. I've seen the first one so many times I lost count! =)

• Have you seen the trailer for the new "The Dark Tower" movie? Wow it looks good!!! I've always been a big fan of Stephen King novel adapted movies! Also I spied a tribute to The Shinning in a quick moment too! =P

I hope you all have a great weekend and I will be back on Sunday! 

As always you can find me at:

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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.

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!

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!! 

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! =)

Currently + Thursday Thoughts

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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 ~

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!

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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:

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Currently + Thursday Thoughts...

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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!!  ~

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. 

Currently...Thursday Thoughts

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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??

A Sunny Saturday Morning...

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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!

"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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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 

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. =)