Dry eyes

Any of you have dry eyes??? Seriously it HURTS. My eye dr gave me a slew of things to try and said if it doesn't help he will send me to a specialist in 2 months. After a few weeks I called the eye Dr and requested he refer me to the specialist now.  I went and saw him 2 weeks ago.  I didn't really care for him, he didn't have the best bedside manners, but perhaps I was there on an off day??? I had my eyes dilated ... I don't think I've ever had that done.  It was a terrible experience and I hope I never have to do it again! :( ew ew EW This Dr plugged my lower tear ducts with dis-solvable sutures.  I was assured I wouldn't feel them and it wouldn't hurt.  Ummmm WRONG. So. much. PAIN. And they itched like crazy, but it hurt when I itched them.  It was a lose-lose battle.  I called and told the nurse how I was feeling, and she informed me, "there's nothing we can do except let them dissolve." great. thanks. Finally after about a week they dissolved and I felt better.  He also put me on restasis and that seems to be helping a little.  I'm still not feeling normal, but at least I'm not in constant burning pain like I was. I have a follow up this week, so maybe/hopefully the Dr will be able to try something else that helps. I HATE this feeling!

30 in 30 - New Food for June

One of my "30 in 30" tasks is to make something new to eat/drink each month.  Between my bday, my BFF's bday, and being sick, June kinda flew by.  I did make something new, although it wasn't 100% new.  Oh well.

I LOVE emilybites! Lots of yummy, healthy, weight watchers adapted recipes.  An easy favorite of mine is the Cheesy Chicken & Stuffing.  For some reason lately I'm on anti-chicken kick so I decided to try it with pork chops.  I followed the recipe exactly, except instead of chicken breasts I used pork chops I flattened out to get them thinner.  It was good, but I actually preferred it with chicken. :)

(Sorry, I thought I had a picture of it, but now I can't find it. Fail.)

30 books - update 12/30

I've read 2 more books! I finished up the Bluegrass Series by Kathleen Brooks. Book 2 ends on a massive cliffhanger so I immediately had to read book 3. It's a good series, cute and sweet. :) The author continued on with more Bluegrass books (like 11 more!!) but I think I want to read a new genre. Don't get me wrong, they're good books, I just need a break and finishing this series is a good start. The other Bluegrass books break off into their own series. If you like chick-lit I highly recommend them! :) But being honest, I bet I cave and keep reading more.  Once I find characters I like I just can't get enough! Haha!

My thoughts on turning 30

First off, social media kind of ruined it for me. I see pics and posts from people that had these big blow out parties and I totally romanticized it in my head. Then when the day came and there wasn't some big surprise bash I was kind of let down. Plus, having a summer birthday is nice sometimes, but it's also hard because everyone is traveling and busy. As a kid it meant pool and worlds of fun and fun days, but as an adult everyone is busy with their families and it's hard to get together. This was also the first birthday I haven't woken up at my parents' house. :( THAT was strange. No kitchen decorated. No birthday breakfast. I tried to get the dogs and kitties to make me breakfast, but they didn't. Rude. ;) I'm a little embarrassed about how much I had built it up in my head and how let down I was ... But all in all, it was a nice day/weekend spent with family and close friends and THAT is just about perfect! Being 30 doesn't feel any different than 29 so far. Except I have a lot of goals I want to get done this year. After my breakup last year I vowed to spend more time on ME and I'm keeping that theme for this year. I want to grow and be a better person, I want to experience more things ... Most of all I want to love me for me. I struggle at times with liking myself, so this year, I WILL!

30 in 30 - Read 30 books

I was telling my cousin about my 30 things to do while I'm 30 list and he said I should blog about. Genius! I want to start writing more and maybe this will help. :)

Here's my list so far. I'm not 100% satisfied, so some things might be changing lol For example, I put run a 5k. I really have no desire to do that lol I mostly added it because lots of people suggested it. Instead I think I'd like to add completing a workout program - I.E. 21 Day Fix. I also put horseback riding, but I don't even know someone with a horse so I'm not sure how that's going to get done. I don't want to go on a trail ride, I want to just ride. Make sense?!? 

Anyways ... progress update!
I'm almost 1/3 of the way done with my 30 books! Lol!! So far I have read:

The Substitute - Denise Grover Swank ($0.99 download!)
The Player - Denise Grover Swank
In Search of a Love Story - Rachel Schurig (FREE download)
An Unexpected Love Story - Rachel Schurig
An (Almost) Perfect Love Story - Rachel Schurig
Women of Power Series (all 4 books) - Kathleen Brooks

I ended up on a bit of a love story kick, lol, but they were all so good! I haven't decided yet what my next book will be.  I just bought a new non-fiction so I might switch it up!

~E

Weekend

Friday I finally caved and went to the walk-in clinic.  Several hours later I waked out with a diagnosis... Sinus infection, double eye infection, bronchitis. Lovely. Needless to say, this is how my weekend went ...

Lots and lots of snuggles from my favorite 5!! I'm feeling better, but still taking it easy today. 

No complaints from anyone. ;)

Being an adult is overrated!

I'm sitting here waiting on a "drain technician" to come snake my sink because it's clogged. The first guy came and wanted almost $300. Uhhh thanks but no thanks!

I turn 30 in less than 2 weeks. What?!? So many thoughts. So I'm just going to ignore them all. :) I have created a "30 in 30" list. 30 things to do during my 30th year! I'm up to 26. Any suggestions to help me finish my list?? It needs to be attainable and affordable!!

One thing I put on my list is to write more. A minimum of 1x/month. Aiming big here people. Hahaha Maybe I should change that to 1x/week?!?

And now a photo dump, like I promised a week ago.  :)

Tenley and Molly

This is how they wait in the mornings for their treat before I go to work. They know the routine! 

Photobombed by Lucy ;)

It's a win when your beer and koozie match!

My nails the other day. :)

Jasper

My boy is such a snuggler! :)

Gracie sitting and watching out the window this morning. They all love the window!!

Some people think these 17 year cicadas are cool. I think they are disgusting and need to LEAVE!

Sushi and beer last Fri to celebrate the beginning of summer! Mmmm I wish they delivered!

~EF~

Be my friend?

So I've been thinking a lot about relationships lately.  I love them.  I find them fascinating.  If I ever became a counselor outside of a school I would want to be a marriage and family counselor.  But as much as I love them, I get so frustrated by them.  Where on Earth does a twenty-something girl go to make friends?!?

I LOVE my group of girlfriends.  They've been my friends since High School and I hope they always will be my friends, BUT ... they are all married with kids.  I am not married nor do I have any kids nor do I have any desire to get married or have kids any time soon.  I feel so disconnected from them.  The things we each have to talk about, neither can relate to.  Not to mention when I want to go out and do something most times they can't b/c hello, kids, babysitter, jealous husbands, etc.  Also, spoiler, I'm not your typical girl.  I'd much rather be out at a bonfire, out fishing, at a rodeo, or at the dirt tracks then at the mall or a club.  Turns out not a lot of girls like going out and doing these things. And girls get jealous if you hang out with their boyfriends/husbands without them.   So that means I don't get to go out and do these things often. The two girlfriends I had that liked that type of stuff ... one moved to MT and the other and I aren't friends anymore thanks to a long crappy night.  Maybe I need to learn to just go out and do things by myself.  But that seems so lame.  I don't want to go out and do things alone lol

Also, I cannot deal with fake people, especially fake girls.  I'm over the whole "oh em gee you're my best friend" but then we never talk or you only call when it's convenient/you're bored type of friendships.

I'm not trying to whine or anything (hopefully it isn't coming off as that, b/c I really do love my friends!), but I'm serious ... where do people go to make new friends??

In other relationship news ... a guy I went on a couple dates with TWO YEARS AGO just re-friend requested me on FB. What?

And because it seems no blog post is that good unless it has a few memes ...

haha! Oh so true!

How some people make me feel.

LOL

*insert sheepish hello here*

I've been thinking about blogging more and more lately.  I miss writing.  A lot.  And I miss having a way to look back on big events.  Since the lovely Juliette tagged me in her post today, I feel like I should at least update this. ;)  School is winding down and one of my goals is to blog more this summer.  Wish me luck! ;)

My house is basically DONE! Woooooo Hoooo!!! I still need to do work on the basement, it is only partially finished and completely unorganized lol, but that will come with time.  That's another summer goal. ;)  Also this summer I want to build a 6ft privacy fence.  I have a 4ft chain link one now, which I had hoped would be enough, buuuuuttttt I'm having a little issue with the neighbor dogs.  The one dog is outside 24/7 and all it does is bark and growl at me and my dogs if they are outside.  I've tried talking to the neighbor to see if they will do something, but they won't.  I've called the city, but so far nothing has changed.  A fence seems to be my only option.  Probably is, a 6ft fence is expensive. :-\  Yesterday I called the city again and they said try animal control or the city attorney.  I really don't want to take this to court if I can avoid it.  Anyone out there have any suggestions or ideas???

Only 7 more days until I wrap up my 3rd year as an Elementary School Counselor.  I can't believe it!  Sometimes it seems the year has drug on and other times it seems like it's flown by.  The past week or so has been extra stressful as the kids are in rare form lol But honestly, I LOVE my principal and I'm really enjoying the two schools I'm at now.  It's a nice change from where I was! :) I have several changes for the next school year I would like to make, so we'll see how those go over. ;) Haha!

I started selling Jamberry Nail Wraps.  I looooooove them and I love selling them.  I did have to take a little break for awhile, I burnt myself out with hosting parties, but I'm back and ready to rock!

I'll come back and update with an adorable photo dump later. :)