Monday Morning Coffee Vol. 3

It has been 7 weeks since I did my last Monday Morning Coffee.  A 1.5-2 month hiatus is NOT what I had in mind when I said there was changes coming to the blog.  So in hopes of bringing the hiatus to an end, how about a little Monday Morning Coffee!

**This morning I'm drinking out of my "MN Effing Nice" mug my friend got me from a cute little Etsy Shop called Minnesota Nice Enough.  It's not all MN specific & you should definitely check it out! (It's not my friend's shop FYI... I don't know the owners.)

**Life the past 2 months has been way too busy & I'm putting a stop to it.  I'm cutting out the things that no longer serve me so that I can bring back the things I do love and miss (aka blogging) as well as just have more me time**

**Health insurance in Texas is a joke, at least if you're a teacher.  A couple of weeks ago I went BACK to the doctor because I was still struggling to breathe & it cost me a $260 co-pay to go in.  I haven't even gotten the bill yet for the chest x-ray & such they did to see if I had pneumonia or bronchitis.  Turns out I just had a sinus infection.  Which I had just been there 3 weeks prior & had a $170 co-pay for a different doctor to tell me "oh it's probably just allergies..."**

**I have some vague news, which I am aware is annoying lol, that is a big release of stress for me, but is going to make others not so happy.  I thought about, and started typing out what it was, but I haven't told them yet & I'm not 100% sure who all does & doesn't read my blog**

**I have a date tonight!**

**This is the last week of school before spring break & I am on cloud effing 9!  My 10th graders are just taking a test, my seniors just took a test, & we got an email over the weekend saying that if we donated to our "Excellence in Education" fund we can wear jeans every single day for the rest of the year.  Done & done!**

**I'm going to talk more about goals in an upcoming post, but I'm throwing some of those out as well!  March is 100% going to be a spring cleaning of my life**

**District games started for softball last week.  During the pre-season the girls won 3 games, which is 2 more than they won last year.  They also played their first full 7 inning district game last week, which is a first for them in I don't know how long.  There are still a lot of things to improve on but we'll see how the next 7-13 weeks go!**

**I missed blogging.  There were time though when it almost felt easier to just say screw it & completely throw in the towel because I had been gone so long.**

**There will still be changes coming to my blog, better than the disappearing act changes, but because of some of the stuff I'm cutting out of my life, they won't be exactly what I had had in mind at the beginning of the year**

**For the first time since moving to Texas 7 years ago I had to miss my annual trip to San Antonio to go to the rodeo with my friend Robyn because the day before the mechanic told me I needed new bearings on my tires & the parts wouldn't be in until a few days later**

**I'm over the weather.  I know it's colder in Minnesota (real feel of -9 in my hometown) but it's cold here too!  There is currently a real feel of 6.  This is not what I had in mind when I moved to Texas.  Granted when I moved to Texas I moved to the Houston area...  Which is still cold might I add!  Just not as cold (26 for anyone that cares)**

**I went out with a friend/coworker on Saturday night & we had such high hopes of being young & fun.  We talked about possibly dancing or going to a piano bar.  Instead we wound up sitting at a sports bar & called it a night at 11:30.  Not going to lie, that was a-okay with me.  #OldSoul**

Happy Monday everyone!  Linking up with Biana!  (Lord I've missed typing that!)

My First Week Back In Minnesota

Happy Friday!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas & was able to spend time with loved ones!  For those of you that are back at work, the weekend is almost here again!  I'm over here living that teacher life & not really knowing what day it is ever so here is a recap of what I've been up to since I got back to MN a week ago.  I'm still on break for another week & a half.  #TeacherPerks  Linking up with Amanda!

21

Friday morning & I got a later than planned start, but we were still back home by 3 pm.  I woke up, laid in bed for awhile tired as all get out because I had gotten less than 5 hours of sleep, then did some yoga, packed to car, grabbed a muffin & coffee, went back for Nash, & about 7 am we were on the road again Minnesota bound.  Nash was not having it.  While he still slept a lot, he got extra whiny towards the end of Iowa & most of Minnesota.

Once back in Minnesota we just lounged around with my family, ate one of my old favorites that I hadn't had in years (Southwest Casserole), & went to bed early.

22

On Saturday morning I met up with my best friend from high school (Kristie) and my best friend from elementary/middle school (Taylor), who I hadn't seen in YEARS, so that we could get our nails done & get lunch.  It was so nice to catch up with both of them, especially the friend I hadn't seen in years.  It was also nice to finally get a manicure & pedicure since my nails were looking really ratchet.

That night we decorated the Christmas tree, where the annual battle of which baby picture gets to be displayed higher continued, & Nash napped with his new duck toy courtesy of my friend Kristie.

23

Sunday was filled with baking cookies & driving around to see Christmas lights.  We made chocolate pixies, peanut butter blossoms, reindeer sugar cookies, mint brownie bites, & snickerdoodles.

24

As always, Christmas Eve was spent with my dad's side of the family.  This year it was at my aunt's house & all but 2 cousins were able to make it.  I got to meet one of my cousin's youngest child for the first time, she's 1.5 now, & we were almost instant friends.  The cousins played Cards Against Humanity, which I won because I am obviously the funniest one.  My brother came in second.  #Winning  That morning I *finally* wrapped my presents.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute to get stuff done!

25

Christmas morning was just my parents, my brother, & me.  Well and Nash of course.  Nash-o got some treats, although not from me.  I failed & didn't buy him a Christmas present.  However he got a Black Friday present & gets stuff from me all the time.  Plus, I got him to Minnesota safely.  I got a new coffee maker, a couple of gift cards, heavier weights, collapsible strainers, an Ancestry DNA kit, a Waylon Jennings vinyl, & an Instant Pot.

Christmas Day was then spent with my mom's family as always.  We used to alternate houses for it to be held at, but my mom's side of the family has gotten so big that as of last year we started renting out a place to hold it at.  This year we had an Olive Garden/Italian theme as far as food went.  Lots of soups, salads, pastas, & breads.  There was also a super cute hot chocolate bar.  Because our family is so big, and spread out, we no longer draw names or do a white elephant gift exchange.  Instead we now play games for prizes.  This year one of my aunts did up different Minute To Win It games for people to compete at.

I was so exhausted when we got home that I ate a little bit of supper, watched a show on TV, & then called it a night.

26

My brother & I had planned on getting tattoos the day after Christmas but sadly we weren't able to get an appointment.  So instead I spent the day doing nothing.  Well, Nash & I did take advantage of the nice weather & went for a walk.  I did also manage to get a couple days of yoga in since I hadn't worked out on Christmas.  Other than that the day was spent on the couch, in my yoga pants, creating a blog plan for 2019.  Changes will be coming to the blog!

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Thursday was another chill, not do much of anything, day.  It snowed pretty much the entire day so it was a great day to stay in & do nothing.  I got an Ancestry DNA kit for Christmas so I spit in the tube & it's ready to be sent out.  By March/April I should find out more about my ancestry.  Next up, a DNA test for Nash!  I got a few blog posts scheduled for 2019 as well.

Summer Is Behind Us

Friday

I did a whole heck of a lot of nothing.  I drank about a little over half a bottle of wine while I laid in bed watching The Last Song.  It had been such a hectic week/day that I did not want to do anything.  About a half bottle in I tried to get Mr. Fireman to bring me Chipotle & another bottle of wine.  Either luckily or unfortunately (probably luckily because a 2nd bottle of wine is not what I needed) he told me he would love to play the hero but he was out with friends so he couldn't bring either to me.

Saturday

In the morning I tried to go to the post office so I could send off a Mug Swap gift...apparently only part of the post office was open so I couldn't...I then tried to get my vehicle inspection but either the places were closed, their system was down, or they didn't do inspections on Saturdays (fingers crossed I don't get pulled over anytime soon).  I went to the mall to pick up a gift for my friend's bachelorette party & since I was in the area....

I WENT TO TRADER JOE'S!  Haha I had never been there before.  All I got was eggs, toothpaste, & cookie butter but it was something.  I'm in love with the toothpaste...which is good since I'm also in love with the cookie butter.

I hung around the house getting a few things done & then just relaxing before heading out for the party.  I got to the restaurant an hour early (on purpose because parking) so I sat in the bar part watching college football, taking creeper level photos of people in midwest football jerseys (WI & NE), & making friends with other people at the bar while I waited for my friends to show up.  Dinner went off without a hitch & it was really good.  We ate at Black Finn in Midtown.  I had eaten earlier (because I'm old & not getting to dinner until 8 pm is ridiculous) so I just had a Dragon Berry Mojito & calamari.  After dinner (which is where I originally planned to go home & should have...) is where things got shitty.  There was drama to the left & the right.  I should've just stayed home or gone to my other friends' place to watch the WI/LSU game.  I won't go into all of the details just know there was crying, cursing, & pointing fingers...all from one person.

Sunday

I got a text message in the morning asking if I was going to the brunch for the bachelorette party...I lied & said I had just woken up even though I had been up for a couple of hours.  I did not want to continue the night before.  So instead I danced around my house all day listening to music, cleaning up that mess, playing on the computer & watching part of the Indiana Jones marathon.  

Kid Time Is Upon Us

Friday

Please ignore my obnoxious voice...anyway...I was nominated twice the day before & I know it looks like I missed ha but I promise my front was wet lol.  I'm also donating.  Mr. Fireman came over to film it for me.  Afterwards he took me out for Mexican at a little place neither of us had been to, we watched part of Crazy Stupid Love because it was on...I love it...& he had never seen it, & in the morning he took me out for breakfast at another Mexican place that neither of us had been to.  Both places were really good.  

He also told me why he had bailed last Saturday & I felt so bad for being upset until my cousin said "well it's not like he told you why then so you didn't know" which was very accurate.  On Mr. Fireman's birthday (so last Friday) his friend's brother died of cancer so he spent Saturday hanging out with his friend drinking & talking on the beach.

Saturday

After breakfast I tried to nap before heading off to my CHL class.  I passed!  That pretty much took up my entire day though so I really have nothing exciting to report ha.  I left at 1 pm & didn't get home until almost 9 pm.  Mr. Fireman called me after my class was over though to see how I did.  So apparently telling him that I wasn't going to be the one to try anymore & that I wanted to see/talk to him but if it was going to happen it was going to be on him for awhile sparked something in him.

Once I got home I watched part of the Texans game & tried Merlot (gross!) before passing out cold.  Turns out they made a come back & won...the Vikings also won!

Sunday

I woke up not feeling all good.  I didn't know if it was the wine from the night before or if I was just getting sick.  I went to the grocery store so I could get stuff for meals this week.  I made these breakfast roll-ups.  I decided to take some DayQuil to try & get rid of my headache/sinus pressure so that I could go to volleyball later.  Turns out despite being non-drowsy I passed out cold for an hour & a half.  I only finally woke up so that I could go to bed at a decent time.  When I woke up I made these stuffed peppers that I saw on Amanda's blog.  I changed up the recipe a little though.  I used yellow peppers instead of poblano, I cut them in half instead of stuffing them whole, I used parsley instead of oregano, & used all cheddar cheese.  They were still really good though!  I also went to the laundromat for the first time in forever...must get my own W/D ASAP.  When I got home I tried some Cabernet & watched Dazed & Confused.  The wine was alright...not as awful as Merlot but it's still no Riesling.

If You're Ready Come & Get It

Thursday

I know Thursday isn't technically part of the weekend & I usually never recap it but I actually did something exciting so here it is!  Seeing The Josh Abbott Band has been on my 101 in 1001 list which began back in September of 2012.  I actually technically saw them at a radio thing & got to meet them right before the list started but I still wanted to see them in concert.  They either haven't played anywhere near Houston in forever or I just didn't know about it.  Finally they did.  I didn't know about it until that day either.  I saw them tweet about it on Twitter & bought myself a ticket.  The show was really good.  They have about 0 bad songs.  The only downside was when some guy tried to get all touchy feely but I just walked away to go watch it elsewhere.  I don't have the time of day for guys like that.

Friday

Friday night I went to yet another concert alone...Will Hoge.  He's amazing.  Out of all of the performers I've seen this month (10) he was the best I've seen.  He puts on such a good show.  It helped that I also got to meet him & he signed a CD for me.  While waiting for his show to start I met some nice people who bought me a shot just for taking a picture of them ha.

Saturday

I was supposed to hang out with Mr. Fireman.  He was supposed to come over after work so I could make dinner for his birthday & give him his present & we could just hang out in general since we hadn't hung out since I left for Minnesota at the end of June.  Early in the afternoon I got a text from him saying that he was sorry but something came up & he would talk about it when he could & again that he was sorry.  I haven't heard from him since.  So I obviously did the logical insane girl thing.  I cried...napped...cried...drank...alone...and danced around my house.  I drank, danced, drank, tweeted, drank, sang...until my friend came over & we played games & drank some more.

Sunday

I woke up with NO HANGOVER!  I cried a little more, talked to my cousin, & then sat in bed ALL DAY LONG.  Like did not put on clothes until some point in the evening when I needed to go get groceries.  Up until that point I cleaned out my DVR.  That's right...all of Under the Dome & all of Girl Meets World.  I watched part of an episode of Return to Amish but since I wound up napping during part of that I just deleted the rest of those out of my DVR.

**Don't worry I've now had my 2 "oh poor me" days & will be back at life starting today.**

6 Days of Music, Camping, & Booze Makes A Tired Girl

So I'm actually on the road today.  I have to be back at work on Wednesday & left WeFest yesterday so today & tomorrow will be spent driving back to Texas.  Lord help me.  I'll do a full blow WeFest recap once I get settled back in Texas so for now here's some video montages I made of past WeFests.

WeFest 2009

WeFest 2011

WeFest 2013

...apparently I didn't make one for 2012...

Lakes, Booze, & Sleep

Friday

Freshman Roommate is getting married in about a month & Friday was her bachelorette party.  Her parents have an RV on a lake in Southern Minnesota that we hung out at.  I got there around 5 pm & we spent the evening floating on the lake, eating, drinking, & laughing.  It was a lot of fun.  None of us got too crazy & we were all in bed before 1 am.  I definitely decided that that's the way I want to go someday...relaxing & on a lake.

Saturday

The party was actually Friday & Saturday but I had to leave Sunday morning so I could get back up north because my dad was actually home from work & my aunt & uncle from Florida are heading back soon.  We got in a good game of Cards Against Humanity & had some delicious Bloody Marys before I left around 10:30 in the morning.  What should've taken me under 4 hours turned into a 5 hour drive thanks to road construction.  At one point I called my mom (for the 2nd or 3rd time) & started crying because I was so tired and frustrated.  Oh, and I almost ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere.  Needless to say my day didn't start out all that awesome.  However, I finally got to my grandma's where I hung out with family & got a workout playing with Kickass Cousin's youngest kid....and a much needed Mikes...or 3.

Sunday

My dad had to head back to work early in the afternoon & my brother had to work so we all got up early to go out to breakfast for my dad's birthday.  After breakfast my brother headed off to work while the rest of us went back home to nap (poor kid).  It was such a chill day.  I did nothing.  It was perfect after having a busy Friday, long Saturday, & having WeFest coming up on Tuesday.

Love & Music

Friday

At 2 pm one of my cousins & his fiance said I do.  After the ceremony guests ate & that was about the extent of it.  We all hung around for awhile before heading out.  Kickass Cousin & I along with her 3 awesome kids went to a block party afterwards & hung out there for a few hours.  The kids got to check out fire trucks, a cop car, & play around.  Mini Me said that we were princesses because we were wearing dresses.

Saturday

In the morning I had a bridal shower for a friend.  It was a Pampered Chef bridal shower so obviously the food was amazing.  Afterwards I headed home so I could get ready for a night of country music.  I packed up enough clothes for over a week for one night...had to have options.  Around 3:30 Favorite College Roommate, another friend, & I headed to a bar for some appetizers & a couple of drinks before taking the shuttle to FireFest.  It's an outdoor concert put on by the Cold Spring fire department & Cold Spring Brewery.  We got to see Chris Hawkey, Old Dominion, Thomas Rhett, Montgomery Gentry, & Jake Owen.  It was a lot of fun but by the end of the night we were all so exhausted.  Standing in a parking lot drinking & dealing with stupid people for 7+ hours takes a lot out of you.  I was out in no time when I hit the couch.

Sunday

Nothing.  I did nothing.  I woke up at 7 am because when I drink I can't sleep in.  I laid on the couch for almost 2 hours before my friends woke up & then we laid around watching SNL & Saved by the Bell until 11 because Chipotle.  After Chipotle I headed home where I pretty much sat on my parents' couch for the rest of the day watching movies with my mom.

My Final Free Weekend In Minnesota

Friday

Friday night I met up with a friend of mine from college so we could go downtown in our college town.  We headed to a thing called Hi Ho Silver, which is something I never actually attended when I was in college because it wasn't at "my bar"  So basically there's a 2 hour time period where you get 2 drinks, they can be anything as long as it's well liquor, for any silver coin.  Basically you can get 2 drinks for a nickle.  Needless to say I drank way too much.  I had probably a good 8-10 drinks in that time span.  I managed to make it until almost midnight before I knew I had to go throw up & then head home.  It was still a lot of fun though.  I haven't let loose like that, & still maintained my dignity, although I did kiss a guy, in awhile.

Saturday

On my drive home from my friend's place the next morning I got a 3 page text message from my roommate.  Basically I no longer have a roommate.  He apparently had some medical issue come up, that I have no idea what it is or how serious it is, & he's moving to his parents' place in Florida but is still going to pay for his share of the place.  He also doesn't know for sure if he'll be back at all within the year or not.  So basically I spent most of Sunday hungover, sad, pissed off, concerned, & on the verge of tears.  I have no idea what is actually wrong with him & we had yet to meet so I have no right to ask him.  On the bright side I don't have to stress about money because he's still going to take care of his share but on the downside I was really looking forward to having a roommate/friend & something potentially serious is wrong with him.  I was in such an awful mood that I literally did nothing but sit on the couch all day trying to figure shit out & watch movies.  I did go for a little jeep ride with my daddy after supper which was nice.

Sunday

I spent the morning trying to figure more shit out with the house & very briefly talked to the roommate (can I still call him my roommate??)  I just hung around the house with my parents for most of the morning & afternoon since my daddy had to leave to go back to work again & it'll probably be a good 2 weeks before I get to see him again.  Later in the afternoon my mom headed out to go shopping.  I got a new pair of heels (that I actually once owned in college but for some dumb reason got rid of), some new underwear since Victoria's Secret was having a 7 for $26.50 deal, & a new phone case since my broke.  Since I was feeling kinda bad about not working out at all yesterday I did my workouts for both days when we got back from shopping.

Basically it was a very low key weekend...minus the bomb dropped on me by my unmet roommate.  I also realize that I'm being slightly selfish for being upset/sad/annoyed that he won't be living with me possibly ever when he's the one with some sort of unexpected medical issue that's obviously somewhat serious.  Change of plans & I just don't do well together.  

On that note however, if y'all could say a little prayer for my would be roommate it'd be appreciated.

A Little Bit Of Dirt Means You Need A Shower

Friday

I went to the rodeo with some friends I made at WeFest last year.  I headed down later in the afternoon so we could try to get the rodeo around 5 since it started at 4:30.  That didn't happen.  The guys were all going to have a weekend long party with campers & ice houses in the yard so my one friend & I ended up having I think 4 or 5 beers a piece while we waited for boys to set stuff up & drive us there...we ended up walking the mile ourselves.  We caught a fair share of the rodeo & then just walked around while we waited for the dance to start.  We got some more beers & ate awesome, no good for you food.  We stayed until 1 am dancing, drinking, & eating.  I ran into a girl that I graduated college with & found 0 cute boys that fell into all of the appropriate categories "single, at least my age, cute"  Apparently you only get to pick 2.

Saturday

I woke up around 7 way hungover so I passed out again until 9 when I had to wake up & leave.  I had an almost hour drive back to my parents' house so I could change & get the present for my friend's bridal shower & then a just over an hour to the shower.  I showed up a few minutes late but luckily so did one of my other friends so we got to walk in late together.  The shower was a lot of fun & it was good to see my favorite people from college.  The shower started with a wine/food pairing tasting.  I do NOT like wine...like any kind...at all.  I love First College Roommate so much that I sat there & drank all of the wine that was put in front of me.  Luckily it was basically shot glass amounts ha.  We then played a few games, I won the "He said/She said" game, & then just hung around for awhile before we all had to head out.

Sunday

Big time blogger fail.  Kickass Cousin & I threw one of our other cousins a baby shower.  I didn't even remember to bring my camera.  So instead you just get a picture of me & Kickass Cousin's youngest kid at the shower.  The shower went well though!  The food was amazing, the games were good (we had to come up with a last minute tie breaker for one of them since we hadn't accounted for a 3-way tie), & the mama to be got some really cute things.  I am happy/hoping that I won't be throwing any more showers in the near future.  This one felt 100x more stressful than the bridal shower we through for the same cousin 2 years ago.

Let Freedom Ring

Friday

Friday was a pretty chill day.  My dad put a brisket on the smoker early in the morning so we could have that for supper & my mom made some potato salad & rhubarb crisp.  My dad does road construction & since this would be the only week he's actually home while I'm home we just stayed home as a family.  We had a bonfire, made smores, lit of fireworks, & drank a little.  I may have gotten a little tipsy & had a confused/laughing fit over the loss of my freedom (the name of the firework I wanted to light off last.)  My brother was the one who apparently stole it & my dad watched it all go down.

Saturday

That evening I went over to my grandparents' to hang out with my dad's side of the family where we ate & lit off more fireworks.  I hadn't been out on the farm since probably November when I was home for deer hunting/Thanksgiving.  During the day I just hung around the house & got my workout/walk in.  I read more of my porno book so that I can do a review for y'all soon so you don't think I'm actually reading porn...  

Before I headed to my grandparents' I spent probably an hour & a half at my ex-boyfriend's parents' house.  That was crazy awkward.  He sent me a message on Facebook saying they were grilling & drinking if I wanted to stop by.  Keep in mind that I haven't seen him in over 2 years. & besides very random (usually holidays) text messages & mass snapchats, we don't talk.  We didn't have a messy break-up or anything we just both went our separate ways.  I would've said no but I had no real good reason other than I was afraid it'd be awkward & it was his birthday...so I went.  Luckily (?) it wasn't just him & his parents.  There were some family friends & a few of his friends there.  It was super awkward at first, and at the end, but for awhile there in the middle it was kind of nice.  I missed talking shit with his friends, who I haven't seen in even longer.  However, I don't see this becoming a regular thing...and not just because I moved 1300 miles away ha.

Sunday

Sunday morning my dad & I were supposed to head back to my grandparents to go look for some cows that had been missing for a few days but my grandpa called to say that he finally found them.   Instead we spent the later morning/early afternoon shooting guns at beer cans, water jugs, & old spray paint cans.  I had rented a couple movies the day before that I hadn't watched yet & were due so we watched those (Ride Along & About Last Night) before my dad tried to teach my how to drive is 86 CJ7.  I didn't do terrible but I didn't do awesome either ha.  Someday I'll get it.