Thankful Thursday | Hawaii girl
This week I am thankful:
that Lisey has been having fun adventures in Hawaii
She's been doing some exploring while she waits for her job to start, and I am so happy for her!
that I got signed up for all the nursing class slots I wanted
Apparently it's kind of a feeding frenzy once registration opens up, so I put all the sections I wanted in my cart beforehand, and logged on as soon as it opened up.
And I'm happy to say I got all the early morning slots I wanted.
I know I keep saying it but...guys! I'm really doing this! I'm going to nursing school!
Sometimes, I can hardly believe it, and the struggles to get here make this all the sweeter.
And that's why I almost cried when I tried on the sample student scrubs.
I'm so thankful.
By the way, lots of you commented on the lovely blue color.
But alas, that's just the sample color. My student scrubs will be a white top with navy blue pants.
That's ok, though; it's way better than the all-white my college's students used to wear!
that haze is the only problem we're having from the fires
Yesterday I was thinking, "Man, I really don't like these hazy skies!"
But then I looked at the pictures in New York, and wow, the air down here isn't nearly so bad.
And of course, none of these hazy skies are nearly as terrible as actually living by the fires.
A string of hazy days is a small thing by comparison, so then I felt a little like, "ok, I'm not gonna be over here complaining!"
that I'm getting PRETTY close to having all my nursing school prep done
I have a physical this week, and a one-day CPR course the Saturday following, and then I think the only thing left to do is buy my books.
Yay me!
No, wait. I also need to buy shoes (white. leather. no mesh. no holes.)
And a watch with second hands, because alas, my lovely Withings watch does not have a second hand.
Then I can just chill for the rest of the summer.
(Who are we kidding? I'm not going to chill! I'm going to get things done. We all know how I am.)
that my big toenail is (mostly) back
Last year when I moved to this house, I stubbed my toe REALLY hard on my ottoman.
In August, the toenail came off, and a new one started growing in, and it is only just now that the new nail is jussssst about ¾ of the correct size.
When the toenail came off last year, I googled to see how long a new one would take to grow.
Google said, "One year."
I said, "Hahahah, no way that's right."
Well. I'm here to tell you that Google was right. A big toenail actually DOES take about a year to grow back.
And not having a proper toenail for a year will make you appreciate it when you do have one. Even if it's only 75% regrown. 😉
for a mild start to June
I have mostly not been super sweaty yet so far this year, and I am thankful.
I always try to appreciate this when it happens; I soak up the not-sweaty memories and store them in my brain.
Then in August, when I am dying of heat, I can remember that the world is not always like a humid oven.
for chocolate ice cream
Chocolate is the elite flavor, in my opinion.
I just wish I could find a really good dark chocolate ice cream at the grocery store. I've had a few dark chocolate versions at ice cream shops, but usually grocery stores just carry regular chocolate ice cream.
If you have suggestions, I'm all ears. 😉
Homemade chocolate ice cream recipe to the rescue! 😛
We’ve been making ice cream on demand with this chocolate whipped cream recipe: https://www.simplejoy.com/homemade-chocolate-whipped-cream/
It requires only sugar, cocoa, and heavy whipping cream. It needs to be in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour (I portion it out in servings to make it freeze faster). We use our immersion blender’s whisk attachment and a deep bowl—nothing fancy except the results! It has a texture like good gelato. We dress it up with clearance Heath Bar chips or mini dark chocolate chips sprinkled over the tops. Unfrozen, the cream is so stiff that it makes a great frosting substitute.
@N,
Thanks for sharing that recipe. It looks so good!
I need to try this!
Glad Lisey made it there safely!
I agree with previous commenters, make your own chocolate ice cream! No ice cream machine needed. Here's the recipe we use:
https://www.theroastedroot.net/4-ingredient-no-churn-chocolate-ice-cream/
Pistachio is my favorite.
Thankful for:
-my mom being back to normal after a health scare this week
-the enjoyable ridiculousness of my children
-the major decluttering push I did
-The strawberry mille fueille I made yesterday
On my last nerve:
-my naughty beagle, who killed a bird yesterday AND then jumped out the window to roam around
-the smoke haze. I live on Long Island! We are supposed to have good air!
@Rose, I live in Suffolk County and couldn't believe how bad it was yesterday. I have lung issues (Thanks Covid). I kept saying if it is this bad, here I feel so bad for people who live near the fires.
@Rose,
Glad you have some things to be thankful for....that smoke haze is horrible! I checked in with as many friends as I could, and suggested to my friend that I visited in March (Susanne) to take her dog for the shortest walks possible. Long Island usually has super clean, wonderful air!
@Rose, I was true blue for pistachio, until I tasted pistachio almond---pistachio ice cream with lots of almonds thrown in. Now we buy nothing else.
@Rose, And I still think the old Howard Johnson's restaurants had the best pistachio ice cream ever. (And best fried clams...)
@Lindsey, mmmmm nuts in ice cream. I love butter pecan too.
@Rose, I'm hoping the smoke haze is starting to clear here in Western MD. I can't really tell because clouds are moving in.
@Marybeth from NY,
Ugh, how awful. I used to live in Suffolk County (as a teenager, many MANY years ago). A friend of mine's husband has lung issues due to Covid as well. I'm sorry that you, too, are dealing with the aftermath of that horrible disease.
@Liz B., Thank you.
Chocolate ice cream is the best. Ben and Jerry’s makes some darker than other brands but the brownies and fudge boost the darkness, which isn’t quite the same as dark ice cream itself.
Thankful:
Summer is here, which means “sleeping in” (until 6:30!)
Lunch packing is on break indefinitely! Woohoo!
Friends are visiting soon. It’ll be such a good time.
Ohhh, so good to have friends to come see you. I hope your heart feels encouraged after their visit.
Chocolate Ice cream, is there really any other flavor?
oh the hazy, an the smell, ugh! I am in Jersey, not far from the city an its just terriable!
I hope this passes soon!
When does Lisey start her new job? How is she liking Hawaii so far? I have never been.
Her job starts later this month, and she loves Hawaii so far!
Super happy for you with regards to nursing. And go Lisey!
I live in NY area, and the smoke here is pretty terrible.
Like you said though, it's not nearly as terrible as living right by the wild fires, and not as bad as the other cities around the world that regularly suffer with terrible air quality.
Currently reading Barbara Kingsolver's Flight Behavior of which climate change is one of the main themes along with a woman struggling to find who she is and what she stands for after falling pregnant and getting married early living on rural Tennessee sheep farm.
There was a scene of the main character, Dellarobia shopping for Christmas gifts with her husband at the Dollar Store with $50 to spend for her two kids spoke to me.
“She looked over the bins of tinselly junk and felt despair, trying to find one single thing that wouldn't fall apart before you got it home. Maybe her father was lucky to die young with his pride of craftsmanship intact. What would he make of this world? Realistically, it probably wasn't slave children, but there had to be armies of factory workers making this slapdash stuff, underpaid people cranking out things for underpaid people to buy and use up, living their lives mostly to cancel each other out.”
― Barbara Kingsolver, Flight Behavior
The book along with your blog inspires me to think about the many ways I can consume less in the future.
@kelly,
Barbara Kingsolver is a wonderful writer. She captures both the beauty and challenges of rural Appalachia. I patiently waiting for Demon Copperhead. There is a long wait list at the library.
And yes, there is too much cheap, useless junk in the world.
@Bee, I loved Demon Copperhead! Had to wait for the library, with a hold both on a real book and an e book, and wouldn't you know, they both came available at the same time.
@kelly, Sometimes I look at some of the junk sold, much of it made in China, and wonder what those poor factory workers must think about the people across the world who buy such trashy stuff.
@Bee,
Demon Copperhead is a fantastic read. At time it was tough slogging because my heart was breaking constantly for Demon. A rollercoaster of emotions and tears on my part.
@Central Calif. Artist,
It's a awesome read and to listen!
I listened to the audiobook version on Hoopla which is of my Library system.
The reader has this sonorous southern accent and is how I'd imagine Demon to sound.
@Lindsey,
If you have time, Leslie T. Chang's Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China is an engrossing read.
Synopsis from Goodreads: China has 130 million migrant workers—the largest migration in human history. In Factory Girls , Leslie T. Chang, a former correspondent for the Wall Street Journal in Beijing, tells the story of these workers primarily through the lives of two young women, whom she follows over the course of three years as they attempt to rise from the assembly lines of Dongguan, an industrial city in China’s Pearl River Delta.
As she tracks their lives, Chang paints a never-before-seen picture of migrant life—a world where nearly everyone is under thirty; where you can lose your boyfriend and your friends with the loss of a mobile phone; where a few computer or English lessons can catapult you into a completely different social class. Chang takes us inside a sneaker factory so large that it has its own hospital, movie theater, and fire department; to posh karaoke bars that are fronts for prostitution; to makeshift English classes where students shave their heads in monklike devotion and sit day after day in front of machines watching English words flash by; and back to a farming village for the Chinese New Year, revealing the poverty and idleness of rural life that drive young girls to leave home in the first place. Throughout this riveting portrait, Chang also interweaves the story of her own family’s migrations, within China and to the West, providing historical and personal frames of reference for her investigation.
@Bee, and @kelly,
So now I have two Barbara Kingsolver books to look for....Flight Behavior, and Demon Copperhead! I have enjoyed some of her earlier books, so I'm sure to like these. Will have to hop on my library's waiting lists....I have Hoopla, too, so fingers crossed! Thank you all!
@kelly, Actually, many or all "Made in China" products ARE made by slaves.
I am thankful for A/C and the fact that this is the first time I have had to modify my behavior because of wildfire smoke. Like Kristen, we are at code red, which while not pleasant is a whole lot better than many millions of people in the US and Canada.
I am thankful for a nice day spent with family on Sunday. DH is leading a backyard building project and it is nice to see him and our SIL working together so closely. We also were fed a delicious BBQ lunch.
I am thankful for a dear friend that makes to time to get together just about every week. This friendship grew out of the pandemic.
The Turkey Hill Triple Chocolate Trio'politan ice cream carton contains a lovely dark chocolate. However, it's only 1/3 of the carton. I personally love the other two chocolate flavors too (milk chocolate with chips and a creamy Dutch chocolate). Bonus is that I often find this at Aldi's!
Thankful this week:
1. For warm (but not hot weather) making gardening/biking/jogging much more enjoyable!
2. That after years of saving, we finally started a big remodel project that TBH is more of a want than a need.
3. That school is almost out (I have one kiddo in HS, but still love not having to deal with that!
4. For good conversations with my son (who currently lives on the opposite coast)
5. That strawberry picking is mostly over (because my back!)
My MiL in central New York just mentioned in an e-mail that she's been headachy and feeling unwell from the smoke for some time now. I was considering that we used to live exactly one mile from the Quebec border and thinking how grateful I am we're not there now. Of course, we had horrible fires here a few summers ago, so it can happen anywhere with the right conditions.
--For the rain, which has made everything GREEN! When it actually rains and greens up here, it looks like paradise. And, as related to the above, it means we don't have to worry about fires.
--For the butcher in Oklahoma we found last year. It is very hard to find anyone to process one or two animals, especially in New Mexico. The places here are scheduling at least a year out. However, we live close enough to the state line that we can bring animals to Oklahoma to a place run by a family of guys. We wanted to have one of our sheep professionally done this year (so someone with the correct equipment can cut lamb chops for me and I won't just have 100 pounds of stew meat), and when I called yesterday, they said they could have it done by the end of the month.
--For a surprisingly calm summer break so far. This is the first year I've had all older children (my youngest is 5) who can more or less entertain themselves. My oldest has a job and is gone four days a week, which also contributes to the calm, honestly. He was getting antsy at home, and wants to be DOING all the time, so it was great for him to go work for someone on a ranch with infinity things to be done. And his siblings at home play really well together, which means that I can actually get things done and then sit down and read a book in a quiet house while they're outside playing. Glorious.
--For a husband who can fix things. He doesn't like to, but he can. 🙂
--For fresh garden herbs in abundance. I have dill, parsley, and green garlic going into all the foods now, and it really makes a difference in flavor. The basil needs to get a move on. 🙂
@kristin @ going country, I had zero idea that Oklahoma had a border with NM.
I'm still trying to process the idea that Kansas is next to Colorado.
@Rose, Just that little handle that sticks out at the top borders NM.
@Rose, I grew up in Westchester County, NY and thus geographically challenged. Do you remember the art print from the mid 80's called, " A New Yorker' view of the world? It was a map that showed NY, China across the water from Long Island, and on the the left hand side of the print a few states and then California. No wonder I didn't think about other states 😉
**As an adult I've been blessed to live overseas and currently reside in the Middle of the country. One of my goals is to visit all 50 states. I'm only missing Alaska and Montana. I am still a little geographically challenged and have to confess to confusing some the "I" states. LOL.
@Ellie, Exactly what I thought of. I am really like that, apparently. To me, Oklahoma and Kansas are Midwest, while NM and Colorado are Rockies/West. Also I am shamefully undertraveled in flyover country.
@Ellie, We bought our granddaughter a puzzle in which the pieces are the 50 states. I secretly was glad to learn alongside her, though I don’t have the excuse a three-year-old does.
@Rose, and anyone else, if you ever drive flyover country via I-80, I'm midway through Nebraska (coincidentally also midway-adjacent of I-80) and happy to have a meetup.
@Ellie, I loved that poster. I have traveled a lot and still can't say what each state borders. That's what maps are for.
@Ellie, you lived "Upstate" from me on LI. LOL (Only Long Islanders will get that reference.) Growing up on LI, you thought Westchester County was upstate and didn't even realize how big New York State really is. Until I moved up there. Yes, New York City is great, but the rest of the state is amazing!
@Erika JS, We had one of those puzzles when my boys were young, and I had to confiscate Oklahoma from my 3-year-old because he kept using it to pretend to shoot me. It never occurred to me that Oklahoma was in the shape of a gun, but now I have no trouble identifying it on a map. 🙂
@Maureen, ....actually I was thinking that too. Anything north of the Bronx was upstate.
When I got my roommate assignment freshman year of college, she was from Kenosha, Wisconsin. Everyone in my family roared with laughter! WISCONSIN!
As a young adult, I could probably place 75% of the states but the last 25% were iffy. When my husband (then boyfriend and fiance) and I would go on trips, I'd use the map on the back of the Southwest Airlines napkin to see how many states I could name and he'd help me figure out the rest (the kids take after him - see below).
@kristin @ going country, we had that puzzle too. That puzzle was the first time it became clear that my kids would be waaay smarter than me. If I held up a puzzle piece on its own, she could name it and place it on the first try, even when I held it up backwards or upside down. Once it was made, if I pointed to a state, she could name it. I don't think she had the ability to read words like Wisconsin or Pennsylvania or Wyoming at that point. So of course, we bought a world puzzle next and even now, both of my kids are waaaay better with geography than me. That world puzzle helped me a lot. I should pull it back out and revisit.
@Maureen, everything above Manhattan is upstate to us LIers.
@Erika JS, I have a board game published in the 90s called U.S. Trivia. The board is a blank map and some of the questions ask you to name the State your piece is on. This been a help in learning the location of the different states and which states surround them. It also has presidential and history questions. I always thought this would be a fun game to help homeschooling families with U.S. History and civics.
@kristin @ going country,
My basil needs to get with the program, too! My mint and parsley, on the other hand, are rocking it. (The mint plants are safely growing in their own pots. Yes, multiple, because mojitos. :))
@Rose,
All of those "square shaped" states out West confuse me. And I have a sister (and my mom) who live in Colorado! I'm usually pretty good at geography, but this is a mental block for me.
@Maureen,
...and you called/call NYC "the city". (former LI'er here). A high school friend went to college at SUNY-Geneseo, and at the time, I had no idea how far away that was! Lol!
@Ellie, I have been to every state and at last count we have driven from Alaska to the East Coast 33 times round trip. (My grandma lived to 99 and 11 months and when I married and my husband said he loved to drive, we drove to her home in Connecticut to see her every single year until she died. Then we would go to NYC to see plays before driving home.) But still in my mind, there is Bellingham where the Alaska State Ferry docks, then a big blur of states I can barely locate on a map, and then Connecticut/NYC/ Penn.
@Ellie, I moved to Westchester County, NY a few years ago and find it so beautiful that it I have not felt the need to travel.
Your goal of visiting all 50 states is inspiring me to also take up that goal!
@Ellie, just came back from an Alaskan cruise, where the goal was Juneau 50th state, 50th Capitol. And the 49th one was Helena in Montana.
Since we drove to 48 of the Capitols, Hawaii and Alaska being the exceptions, I have pretty good idea of the lay out of this country.
BTW we have a gorgeous country. While driving the landscape is always changing.
@kelly, Westchester is lovely but it always feels landlocked to me.
We LIers should get together for coffee sometime.
@Erika JS, I am 63 1/2 years old and I could use that puzzle! My grasp of geography is fleeting, even in states that I've traveled to and through.
@Rose, or ice cream.
@Rose, The idea that OK has a border with NM threw me for a loop, too, and I'm in AZ. I should know this, right? I did drive through OK when I moved to AZ from Michigan, but that was in 1996.
@Karen., most people have no idea how cool Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, etc. are! I think they are beautiful, historic, unique, and I still get surprised at all the things there are to do and see! I’ve never seen New England and the West Coast (or our 49th and 50th states) but I have LOVED everywhere else! Scottsbluff!!!
@Rose, you wouldn’t believe how cool Kenosha is! Really!
I am thankful that husband and I worked outside all day last Sunday and planted our vegetable garden and added all the fencing and posts. We've never really had a "good garden" but the previous owners did, so we are starting one and will see how it goes. Its easy to set up when its already been there and you have all the equipment.
Thankful that I also worked on the front gardens and I'm almost done with those. Should be just a couple of hours, but after leaving work and cooking dinner, I feel spent and its really hard for me to get out of my chair and work.
Thankful for the inventors of Claritan-D and all allergy medicines. If not invented, my allergies would be really bad right now. I don't know how people survived without it. I remember hearing my brother sneezing for an hour after waking up and my poor daughter suffering when she was little too. Luckily it is there when needed.
Thankful that the lead teaching me my new position is very calm with me. She appears frustrated with some of the other team members, but not with me. But then again, the other folks have been doing this a while and should know the information.
Thankful for Blogs like this where I can come everyday and get cheered up and see the bright side of things. Its so exciting seeing Kristen get excited for nursing school. I admire you for going back to school and that it is nursing school of all things! Keep sharing your excitement!
Awww, I love that you come here to get cheered up.
That's awesome that you got all the class slots that you were wanting!
I can attest to the fact that it does indeed take a full year for the large toenail to grow back. I dropped something heavy on my big toe and it took one full year. Crazy.
Thankful for:
Getting to head to our NEMO home after postop visit with surgeon yesterday
That surgeon was very happy with results outcome (I am too, implants are so much more comfortable than expanders)
All 5 of our grandchildren and that we are able to be involved in their lives
That we live in the midwest & haven't yet been subjected to smoke from Canada
Today is Best Friends Day & I will be able to connect with my people when we get home (It's been a long school year)
So glad you get to begin nursing school this fall & are getting all the preparation done. May you be blessed with smooth school years and be a blessing to your patients. Caring nurses can make such a difference in a patient's experience.
No one has asked the real issue here--it's OK, I am always the one to ask the hard questions:
How is Pachick liking Hawaii?
@Rose, ...and are all his body parts fully decompressed from his vacuum bag...
Sadly: HE DIDN'T GET TO GO. Lisey ran out of room for him, even in his compressed state.
BUT. A fellow student is going to go visit Hawaii in August, and I am hoping to ask him to take a checked bag full of stuff for Lisey, and I will try very hard to fit Pachick in there. Heh.
@Kristen, Is it weird that my mind started feeling compelled to ask if Pachick is still in his compressed state or if he's been fluffed back up? Then I thought...maybe the compressed state is soothing to him, similar to a weighted blanket. Sigh. He's an inanimate object and I'm thinking about his feelings...
And thank you, @Rose, for asking the hard questions. Inquiring minds want to know.
Is Pachick catching up on his Fox News? I love that Lisey thinks he has different political opinions to her. I once said my foxhound always watched Fox News, because she kept thinking a fox was going to present the news.
@Kristen,
Oh goodness! That IS sad! I hope out works out for August. That's not too terribly far away.
I really like the Breyers Chocolate Truffle ice cream - dark chocolate ice cream with pieces of dark chocolate truffles. https://www.breyers.com/us/en/products/classics/chocolate-truffle.html
It seems like your thankful lists are getting better and better. There is bright sunshine ahead and I love to read hopeful stories like yours! This week I am thankful for:
*my job, which is is 100 times less crazy than the one I transferred from. I am meeting new people there and I have time to sit and rest between patients and we don't talk about how stressed we are - quite the opposite. I am settling into a new groove with my hours, too.
*the broken pipe at my property is fixed and the pump roared back to life, so I have water at the top of my hill. Now to find a realtor.
*less crying, more optimism. Grief is a beast that I have learned to manage and that means there are sunny days ahead for me, too.
*my youngest son is in his last semester of college. This is no small thing as he has weathered a storm of you-know-what hitting the fan ever since he started. Soon, my finances will look very different!
*as always, my quiet home, this cup of really good coffee, a full day ahead to recharge and relax, and the possibility of rain and a nap this afternoon...
(Vanilla is my favorite flavor. If I get anything else, I enjoy it, but I'm always sad I didn't get vanilla.
I'll see myself out now.)
@Molly, lol. My mother always wanted vanilla too (which baffled me) so your comment brings back good memories
@Molly, a zillion years ago, a friend worked at Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors, and we were astonished to learn that vanilla was the most popular flavor. I wonder if that is still the case. . .
@Molly, Vanilla is awesome! And it takes so well to various toppings. I used to work at a Godiva store that also sold Hershey's Ice Cream (gained 15 pounds working there, but...). The best flavor we had was vanilla peanut butter. Huge chunks of frozen peanut butter in delicious vanilla. The best.
@Karen A.,
That vanilla peanut butter ice cream
....yummmmm......sounds deelish.
I am lactose sensitive/intolerant so I have had to drastically reduce my ice cream consumption. BUT although I am a long time Butter Pecan fan I also found the Perry's line of dark chocolate to be pretty good-great. My favorites are Queen of Hearts (raspberry goodness throughout and little chocolate filled hearts) and Tuxedo (white, and chocolate strips with the addition of coffee flavored stripes.) I have only tried these at local ice cream shops.
@Amy, Yes! Perry's! I almost recommended the White Lightning, but I don't think it's widely available in grocery stores outside of NY state.
@kristin @ going country, I am in NWPA and we have a limited selection in Tops. But I have 3 ice cream places that share all summer long. I will look for White Lightning. Thank you for the tip.
Thankful for some rain in the forecast. It has been unseasonably dry lately and so rain is a welcome change. The plants and farmers need it!
Thankful it is the last day of school and I get both my kiddos home with me all summer.
Thankful my dad’s surgery went smoothly and he is starting to feel better and is recuperating well.
Thankful for my husband who built me two new garden beds. Also thankful for free compost from the city. It is pretty hot compost so I think it kills off any bad seeds or worms that could be spread.
Thankful for the local library. We are doing the library reading program again this summer, as well as a bunch of free kids activities.
Highly, highly recommend the double dark chocolate made by Talenti for your frozen dark chocolate treat needs! I wouldn't call it frugal, but most of our large grocery chains do occasionally run a BOGO deal on it.
Oooh, good to know!
@Corrie R,
Oooo, YES. Another vote for the Talenti double dark chocolate. Sooooo good.
Oh, ouch on the toenail--I lost one when a juice glass, full of melted-and-cooled-butter, fell out of the fridge and landed right on my toe. It was one of the weirdest accidents I've ever had, come to think of it! Glad yours is coming back.
Thankful that even though we're under an advisory regarding the air here, nobody seems to be affected--normally I am prone to headaches, so I've been waiting for one to kick in, but not yet. Two of my kids went out on hikes yesterday before I was even aware of the air quality (I don't read the news much, oops) and they are fine.
Thankful that eggs have gone back down in price, to pre-pandemic prices, seemingly! DH was over the moon when he realized eggs are "back on the menu" as we have had a houseguest all week and it's nice to be able to offer eggs for breakfast. DH is on a lower-carb diet, so this is also exciting for him.
Thankful we got back safely from a quick trip down South to visit family--on the way back we saw a horrible accident with one person dead...it's always risky stepping outside your front door.
And I'm thankful we had a great visit with our niece and nephew-in-law, who run a fantastic little kayaking and gem mining business in North Carolina. I'd never been to that state and it's just lovely!
Hi Kristen,
Longtime lurker. 1st time posting comments. I'm so grateful for your blog and appreciate the variety of view points represented here. It's so nice to have a place where kindness rules.
I'm blessed to live in the U.S. where even a person with the lowest income is rich when compared to the rest of the world. For example, we have hot and cold running water and electricity. Since I'm a first gen American, I never take this for granted.
Grateful for the frugal skills learned from my Mom. She taught my sister and I to have a small pantry by adding sale items a few at a time.
The abundance clothes and household items we enjoy. Now I just need to bless others so I don't cross the line into hoarding. It's so easy to have too much when you purchase things via thrifting and garage sales.
A full pantry. I need to have a low (grocery) spend June so I can use some older supplies.
Thanks again for your wonderful blog. I hope our fellow fugalistas have a wonderful week.
@Ellie, Just remembered that I posted long ago, but haven't been able to for a long time due to my lack of phone tech skills. 😉
Yay for being able to comment again.
@Ellie, Thank you for posting and sharing your very thoughtful perspective. It's much appreciated.
@Ellie, I, too, am the first in my family to be born in the U.S. I still have moments where I realize how differently I was raised---how many things I think are extraordinary are not to people whose families have been here for generations. I remember when I married my husband and I initiated a discussion on where we could meet up if a war happened and we were separated. He thought I was crazy but even now I get that urge when we travel outside of Alaska---how will I find you if bombs start falling when we are not together and have to find each other? Then there was the time my grandmother mailed me a bunch of amber (my grandfather carved jewelry from amber) and she had put it in the bottom of a box and then put a false bottom on top of it and filled the rest of the tall box with cookies so that if the box were opened by the government the person would not realize there was anything more than cookies in there. And then there were our funeral customs, where people gathered around the open casket and had their final photos with the deceased taken. The whole wake different pairings of attendees would make their way to the body for a photo...
@ Lindsey, I inherited a family album, from my Mom, that has some photos like that. I think they wanted to show family members that could not attend that they gave the deceased a "good send off".
This week's:
A great family gathering with lots of laughs, and sunshine
Busy weeks but loving my job
A great performance rating
Walks in the sun
Having fitted sunscreens last year, so our house remains cool
I have no suggestions on buying dark chocolate ice cream. I haven't found ice cream dark chocolate-y enough for me yet. I prefer my chocolate to be bittersweet.
Yes, it does take a year for a toenail to grow back, as my sister who was showering when the tiled-in ceramic soap holder fell off the wall and hit her squarely on the big toe can attest. Or they can not grow back at all, as my late grandmother could have proven.
What's funny is I first read that you were thankful your toenail was mostly BLACK and I wondered how on earth you could be thankful for that!
1. I'm thankful for the 18th birthday of my step-granddaughter yesterday. She's such a sweet girl.
2. I'm thankful that the state planted magnolia trees along one side of the ramp to the interstate I travel to work, and planted lavender crepe myrtles on the other side of the ramp. The magnolia blooms are slowing but the myrtle blooms are about to start. Then the grass patch between the north and southbound ramp approaches are planted in wildflowers that will bloom soon. It improves my mood as I drive to work.
Not thankful - who decided we would write calendAR but lavendER? I try to write lavendar nearly every time.
3. I'm grateful for the good look I got at a great horned owl one evening this week. It stared at me and I at it for a while before it flew back into the woods.
4. Today-me is thankful that past-me planted crepe myrtles at the end of the screened porch, now that I think of myrtles. One narrow end of the porch faces due west, and those three trees make a huge difference there. The myrtles love the sun, and I love the shade they cast.
5. I'm thankful that my husband's first cousin in Texas just asked me how to get in touch with him in the nursing home. I called her on his room phone and handed the phone to him. It cheered him up and she told me it cheered her up as well. They spent a lot of time together as kids, and they used to call each other on their cell phones, but he can't use a cell phone these days. He can't hold one without dropping it.
@JD, They both come from Latin--kalends being the first day of the month, and lavare, "to wash"--but even spellings have changed over the years. Lavender has been spelled "dar" sometimes. Just like "wisteria" used to be "wistaria" after a guy called Wistar.
@JD, the outfit who did the lavendEr/calendAr (which has always confounded me) is probably the same ones that named a tree crApe myrtle when it sounds as if it should be crEpe myrtle. (I think many nurseries and websites have given up on that one.)
@Central Calif. Artist,
Southern Living calls them Crepe Myrtles as does the nursery where I bought them, but I see crape other places. So how to know which is right? Goodness.
Butter Pecan ice cream is my favorite. Chocolate is my husband’s.
I am thankful that I had a nice long visit with my daughter.she was home for 2 1/2 weeks. I really miss her and wish she lived nearby.
I am thankful that it’s Thursday and that means my dear husband returns home from out of town. He works out of another city in another state and is gone Monday through Thursday.
I am thankful that his company is not requiring him to relocate. I would be very unhappy in that city.
I am thankful for Rescue Pup who keeps me company and keeps me moving.
I am thankful that it is still cool in the mornings… for the smell of fresh cut grass … blue skies and birdsong.
@Bee, Other than sometimes smelling the smoke (I don't know if it's that or the dryness around here really), the other smells have been so lovely-- honeysuckle, fresh cut hay, and I can't think of another one but isn't that enough?
Thankful that yesterday's smoke and haze, which was labeled Hazardous at 358 on the Air Quality meter in the weather app has been downgraded to only Very Unhealthy this morning at 275. Normal for here is 46-65.
Thankful we could run the air purifier full time and the AC overnight to help with the smell and breathing.
Very thankful for the lower humidity and temps so far making outdoor exercise and yard work pleasant (except for these few smoke days).
Just loved seeing Lisey in her new place! And to hear she’s exploring. Does she have any initial observations? We LOVE Hawaii! Went there on our honeymoon, gift of my BIL. Loved every minute—that weather, the laid-back pace, the food and activities. More power to Lisey to enjoy it all and get a good start in her career.
This week I am thankful for:
Fast healing! My son’s fractured arm healed in three weeks which means he’ll be able to get back to all the things he loves. He’s been on the sidelines and missing out on games so he’s excited to get back on the field.
Today is last day of school. Middle school has been good for my son so far. His grades have been great, he excelled in band, and he comes home in a pretty good mood every day.
My husband requested that I go out with my friends one night a month so he and my son can have “man-night” together. He wants to teach him how to cook “man-food” and watch “man-movies” – I absolutely love their relationship. My husband has stepped into his role of stepdad perfectly!
My raspberries are covered with flower buds – this should be a good raspberry year!
Sunny days! We could use a good rainstorm, but it’s easy to be happier when the sun is shining.
@Geneva, Man-food and man-movies are hysterical! Good for your husband.
Though I was eating lunch with my son and his BFF and BFF said, "It's hard to find a female who likes A24 films." (The entertainment company.) I said, "I do!" My son said, "You have man-tastes." Then we made a lot of Goodfellas and Sopranos jokes.
@Geneva, He doesn’t call it man night (because we have a son and a daughter) but my husband also likes when I go out and he can do “dad dinner” as he calls it. He knows how to cook, but when I’m not there he likes to cook things like Kraft Mac n cheese with lil smokies hot dogs in it or top ramen or take them to Taco Bell.
@Geneva, lemme know when it's nachos and Godfather night and I will come over and do my world-famous imitation of Marlon Brando yelling YOU CAN ACT LIKE A MAN!
@Geneva, that is really cool that your husband wants to do manly stuff w your son! What a difference that can make! There was a country music song twenty years ago, something about “ the Dad or man he didn’t have to be”- some guys are really special! The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach (lol, Li’l Smokies, etc.), but the way to a woman’s heart is often through kids or other vulnerable people!
I dropped a large wood cutting board on my big toe around Christmas and it completely fell off a few weeks later. I'm in the regrowing phase and can't wait until my toes are all back to normal! Glad you're almost there! The things we take for granted... Like toenails 🙂
If you don’t mind driving to coldstone the fudge truffle ice cream is divine!
I don't know if they sell it in your area but Tillamook Chocolate Mudslide is amazingly rich and good chocolate ice cream. It's by far my family's favorite!
Lisey looks so happy!
I am thankful that our younger dog is recovering from the grief of her bonded buddy's death in February. We had to take her to the vet for treatment because she would not eat and could not do anything alone, but she's much better and is becoming playful again.
Also thankful to have been approved for physical therapy to treat the arthritis in my upper back, as it has done wonders to help with the arthritis in my legs. Thankful every day for my sweet family, the warmth of summer, and our lovely, friendly and peaceful neighborhood.
@Ruby, that info about your grieving dog about broke my heart.
@Anne, it broke mine to see her suffering. She is such a sweet dog with a gentle nature, as was her buddy, who was five years older. They took to each other right away and always napped next to each other, played together, ate next to each other. Now I know why rescues will not separate bonded pairs: the love they have for each other is all-encompassing.
There are delicious varieties of ice cream flavors out there, but chocolate reigns supreme! In an emergency, try frozen bananas and cocoa powder. Blend and add your choice of honey, maple syrup, etc. for your preferred level of sweetness.
Definitely feel you on the toe issue. Regardless of what size I buy my running shoes, my feet swell so much during long runs, I inevitably am always in the process of losing a nail. If I go down a size to accommodate, the shoes are too small & I get blisters. I'd rather have no toe nail than blisters. Yuck.
1) Ever, ever so grateful for the last day of school today. Like, infinitely grateful.
2) My oldest will be a senior next year, and my youngest will be a junior. So, rather than being emotional when I think of that, I'm reminding myself it means one more year together, and focus on all of the fun moments we have in the year ahead. I want to really make the most of it.
3) I have a wild & crazy work day today, and slept through my workout (not grateful for this), but grateful that I tend to work out 95% of the time, so one missed day isn't the end of the world. And, I definitely needed the sleep.
4) Grateful for some work changes that are very positive for me, even though they are highly dramatic in the interim.
5) I'm so happy with our absolutely enormous basil plant, that's taking over its pot. Basil. Yum.
The diner near my apartment has delicious chocolate ice cream, like really creamy chocolate milk, soooo good. It's from a local place that distributes to restaurants only. The best dark chocolate ice cream I've had was at Bassett's Ice Cream in the Reading Terminal Market in PA.
This week I am thankful for:
1. The smoke is easing here in NYC. The sky was bright orange yesterday afternoon and it felt like being in an apocalyptical movie set.
2. That we still have masks on hand if we have to venture outside.
3. That I have eyewash on hand, usually needed for allergies. My eyes are itching and burning from the particles, even with the windows closed and AC running.
4. The plants in my bedroom that help to filter the air.
5. Friends who lend books back and forth, sometimes it's faster than waiting for your turn at the library. I love, love, love my library, but waiting lists can be long sometimes.
Man, if I lived near you I'd come visit the diner!
The only store bought chocolate ice cream I like is Haagen-Dazs. It’s not called dark chocolate but it looks darker than the ice cream in the picture and has a nice chocolate flavor.
I’m glad I’ve been able to drive around the country and see the many changes. Everywhere there are so many businesses just gone. From the pandemic or just natural progression, small mom and pop business to giant office complexes are abandoned. From people learning to work from home and liking it to quiet quitting and whatever else it has happened across the country. The one business property that has boomed though is warehouses. They are popping up everywhere. Huge gigantic buildings everywhere to store and ship all the products that are now delivered directly to your home rather than brick and mortar stores.
But finding a house to buy is a real problem. I usually buy a small goober house and live in it and fix it up and eventually flip it. It’s never been a problem to find one cause I just go wherever they are. I’ve not been finding any good deals anywhere.
Any IT people looking for a hotspot, Intel is building a new chip factory in New Albany Ohio. Many predict it will be the next Silicon Valley. They’ve only been pushing dirt around at the site but it’s supposed to be finished late 2025. Already houses are selling for 3 times what they were last year and apartments are springing up everywhere.
It’s pretty interesting seeing all the changes but a bit depressing too. So many changes.
Thankful that our hot weather only lasted 2 days. Today is mild and will help contain the wildfires in the next county over from us.
Thankful for awesome cousin to offer help with my sabotaged hitch plug that was shattered at the livestock auction. Had to drive 80 miles without trailer lights...egaads.
Thankful for my greenhouse and all of the wintered over geraniums to fill the yards with color and beauty.
Thankful that the indigenous quail have not consumed all of my corn and the patch is growing well.
Kristen - you will wear the shapeless student scrubs for such a short time and then you can find a style that flatters (as much as it can...) and is comfortable for those long shifts. A few of us got together with my bestie who designs clothes for a major design house and she showed us how to modify, tuck and use elastic to tailor the scrub tops. For me, I work as a trauma nurse, I like a pant with the most pockets available to bring supplies into the room.
Aaah!!! So much going on for you and Lisey! I am so so glad that Lisey is having Hawaii adventures. Young women her age need a chance to stretch their wings and have some adventure (and doing it in one of the most gorgeous places ever doesn't hurt). The summer before nursing school goes fast, so please take the time to relax (the calm before the storm). I would also shoes with non-skid soles (like what servers use) becaue the hospital floors are always wet with something. A lot of nurses love Dansko's (I hate them) because they last for years and are basically indestructible.
This week I am thankful for:
1. Cooler weather. The June gloom in LA has set in and I have been actually wearing a sweatshirt most mornings. It is nice break before the 100+ weather sets in.
2. My house is finally getting back together. After months of construction, I no longer have a tarp for a wall and a (supposedly) functional washer/dryer hook up
3. Flexible coworkers. I am in a wedding in Sept and was asked to go to the Bachelorette party last weekend. Luckily, a coworker was nice enough to switch rotations.
4. My sprained ankle healed fast. I took a header a few weeks ago and my right ankle was black and blue. Luckily, with some ice and an ace wrap, it didn't really affect my day to day.
5.I finally have some garden time. Between insane work schedules and house construction, my garden has gone to weeds (literally). I am happy I can carve some time out and hopefully get it set to rights. And maybe plant some tomatoes.
Yes! I'm so glad for her that she is having this time to adventure on her own.
I am thankful for cool weather which makes exercise pleasant.
I am thankful that my husband got to see a favorite band in concert.
I am thankful for weed killer. (I know it is controversial but it is hard to keep up with weeds watered by record rainfall.)
I am thankful for a neighbor who had a yard sale for all of her baby items.
I am thankful that my back pain seems to be pregnancy-related instead of an injury.
Kristen,
America's Test Kitchen has a homemade chocolate ice cream recipe that you can make without an ice cream maker. All you need is the ability to make whipped cream and 6 hours.
@Rebekah in SoCal, Only 6 hours? I'm pretty sure either (1) my craving would have passed or (2) I would have given up and found an ice cream parlor.
@JDinNM,
It is really good ice cream.
I am thankful for professionals who do their job well -- in this case, my insurance agent who upped my policy from only having liability (on my now-totaled 15 y.o. Chevy) to the required full coverage on my new-to-me late model Kia.
I am thankful to be part of a caring church community, where I can be friends with people of all different ages and backgrounds who all look out and pray for one another. I'm also thankful that Joyce, the altar guild member who suffered a fall, is doing better.
I am thankful for my weekend/evening/summer job in a Christian-owned store with a lot of very nice co-workers and loyal customers.
I am thankful that I had the Chevy for a good 13 years without any problems to speak of. And hope this car will have an equally good performance record.
Thankful for a drop in body fat percentage, an increase in muscle mass, and lots of inches lost all over. In this same vein more energy and just a general feeling of wellness is my new normal and it is SO SO wonderful!!!
Thankful for the day camps that my son is enjoying, a relaxed summer schedule that allows us to enjoy evenings more, relaxed dinners, long baths, planting & watering the garden in the evenings without a rigorous bath, bedtime, homework schedule.
Thankful for my sister having us over to swim on a regular basis. What a treat to have a family member with a pool that we can visit!
Thankful for provision. It is no accident that we always seem to have just enough. God is good.
Thankful for the harvest that is coming from our garden. We are literally on the edge of swimming in green beans, squash, radishes, peas, peppers & tomatoes and I could not be more excited!
@Angie, Yay! Celebrating all these things with you!
I'm thankful about most things but I think most notably thankful that now, about 18 months after my brother's accidental death, I feel like my feet are back under me. I'm sure this will vary by the day, but overall, I feel much more like myself.
On the ice cream topic, I'm a plain vanilla person — any kind of vanilla will do, although I will concede that there are some extra-cheap store brands that taste like they're extra-cheap. However, the real best ice cream, IMO, is the chocolate extreme Blizzard at Dairy Queen. It's not dark chocolate except for the things that are added into it, but it overall is very lovely.
Ohh, that is such a tough thing to navigate. I'm glad to hear that you are adjusting to your new normal.
1. I am thankful my garden is giving us food. I have been picking strawberries, swiss chard, 3 kinds of lettuce, basil and oregano. I may have planted too many greens again this year. Good thing my neighbors are happy to take any excess.
2. We finally got some rain the other day.
3. That we have good health insurance and already passed the deductible. My youngest needs her gallbladder removed and saw the surgeon today. She should be out the same day and should have an easy recovery.
4. For my dog. She wakes me up every morning with lots of kisses.
5. For chocolate ice cream and homemade whipped cream.
I'm so excited for you on your nursing school journey. You're going to make a great nurse!
I'm grateful for:
-The storm happening outside right now. We haven't had many storms this summer so far, and I love a storm. My daddy is terrified of a storm, so when we were kids a storm was about the one time the stupid blaring TV was finally turned off and our whole family just looked out the window at nature. I guess it was an anxious moment for Daddy, but it felt peaceful for me. It still feels peaceful.
-For my children's safety. We had a mass shooting at a high school graduation on Tuesday afternoon. The superintendent has closed school for the rest of the week, which is the rest of the year too. It is a sad ending to a school year that was almost the first uninterrupted school year in many years (2019-20 was COVID, 2020-21 we still didn't open for COVID, 2021-22 our kids' school burned down). But unlike the woman who lost her son and husband in the shooting Tuesday, I can hold my babies tight today.
-The lemon sandwich cookies at Aldi, on a lighter note. Why are these cookies so dang addictive? I don't know, but I am about the finish the box I bought two days ago.
-For our sweet neighbor. She is not in good health, but she still comes over sometimes and brings the kids treats. She says she loves hearing them playing in the backyard. She's such a blessing.
This week I'm thankful:
* for a break from the intense heat. It's still really dry, but it's a much more enjoyable temperature this week!
* that I can water my garden.
* that my neighbor is safe. We love our neighbors and one had a scary patch recently. I'm thankful for the medical team that has been helping him.
* that my garden is growing.
* for time with friends.
* for a successful reentry into spin classes yesterday. With the schedule of classes now, I can only go on school breaks. My exercise buddy also had not been in months and went back to it yesterday and we made our through the whole class!
I also love chocolate ice cream, but dairy is hard on my stomach. I don't know if you have it where you live, but I loooove the So Delicious brand Dark Chocolate Truffle made with cashew milk. The high-fat content of the cashews gives it the familiar creamy texture of regular ice cream, and the dark chocolate flavor is on-point! I highly recommend.
Yay! Pictures from Hawaii! How fun!
Turkey hill had this ice cream a few summers ago called Deep Dark Chocolate and it was so good! Unfortunately it was a limited time flavor. They also had a chocolate malt chip like fifteen years ago that was amazing! My mom and I stocked the freezer with it and rationed it slowly. I’m not sure why they didn’t keep making either of them. They were both my favorites.
Thankful for friends who came to town and went hiking with me today. For milder weather after an unseasonably hot week last week. For the opportunities to see two different friends this weekend (neither of whom live nearby)--I'm having a girl's night at a hotel with one of them! For this being the last week of school for my daughter. For my son's ongoing good situation with his summer internship.
Hi Kristen,
Congrats on Nursing School! I've been a nurse for 17 years. I have a few recommendations as a frugal nurse. As a student nurse you won't be on feet the whole time buy inexpensive shoes. Bonus points if they are water-resistant, so you can wipe them down when leaving. Once you graduate and work full shifts - buy the best dang shoes you can find! You will find what shoes you love - I love Asics and Brooks. Secondly I purchased watches with wrist bands that you easily clean with cavi-wipes. No leather wristbands/ no fabrics! you will never get that clean. Body fluids are no joke. Enjoy the new career!
Lisey's adventure makes me remember my own sense of adventure when I was her age. 🙂
Also, I am a little disappointed because I thought I had really connected with this community, but after reading all of today's comments, I'm not sure anymore. How can so many people pick ONE favorite ice cream!!!!!!! We took our kids out for ice cream to reward them for their hard work at getting the garden in today, and I had such a hard time deciding. Maybe I should just start taking a dart to throw at the menu?
Thankfuls:
* We got our garden in today. It's a big garden, so a lot of hard work goes into it.
*Rain is in the forecast. The seeds will like that.
*My son asked for a raise for his summer job and got one. His bank account is shrinking fast, but his tuition went up. He's also likely to get lots of hours-- maybe as many as he wants.
*The ice cream I picked (peanut butter caramel cookie dough) was yummy. No regrets.
*I've lost any weight I gained on our vacation already-- plus a little more. Tiny steps still encourage me.
*I have a face therapy appointment tomorrow after 4 weeks off. I have been feeling discouraged about my (non)smile, but the therapy folks understand a little more than other people since they deal with it so often. I don't feel quite as alone.
*My friend who's fighting cancer his losing so much weight, but she is still active and feels mostly well, despite the treatments.
*Homemade bread is good. The toast I made with it for lunch was even better.
*It's been a busy and productive day. I'm glad I have a chance to sit down to spew out my gratitude.
@Jody S.,
Near where we lived in Indiana (ya know... 10 or so years ago) there was a local ice cream place that had 100 different sundaes and 100 different shakes. It was so fun!!!
Haha, well, when there are lots of interesting flavors to choose from, I do sometimes venture out. But generally speaking, even what I venture out into has chocolate as a base. 😉
@Kristen, I'm not faulting you for liking chocolate. I find I prefer ice cream that has one (or all) of the following components: chocolate, caramel, peanut butter, nuts. And extra chocolate is always better.
Thankful for:
Cottonwood snow is about gone
Coffee
We are noticeably more smoke free today
We are close to the end of cleaning out dad's house
Dumpster rentals that include human labor
We have tried our best to keep things out of the landfill. Habitat for Humanity hopefully will take all the furniture.
Wegman's is not an inexpensive grocery store (though they have some loss leaders that are good buys). But, most importantly, their store brand dark chocolate ice cream is really good!
Oh My! Air Quality? Let's talk PA instead of NY: in the wee hours on June 8, our air quality was 439, and NYC was much less (I don't remember what, read: wee hours). Thank goodness that was the worst of things and numbers started dropping. OMG WE'RE AT 91 NOW!!!!
I really like Talenti Dark Chocolate Gelato. I like some other flavors of this brand as well.
I’m thankful the air quality is improving.Two days ago, I was outside chatting with one of my neighbors for 25 minutes. I felt congestion building and a cough stirring , so I went back inside and it took me the rest of the day before I felt better with my breathing. I do have weakness in my lungs; I should have been wiser since I knew ( and could see) the air quality was bad. But I’m thankful that I’m breathing better.
I’m thankful for the various ways I see my adult kids use their talents.
I’m thankful for seeing a deer in front of our house yesterday. It made me think of the scripture from Psalms,” As the deer pants for water, so my heart pants for You, oh Lord.” That made me think of a song with that scripture… the song was from many years ago but singing that yesterday also made me recall other scripture songs throughout the day. That brought me peace of mind about some things that had been troubling me. I worry about a lot of things. This drives me to prayer. Prayer, especially when I pray the scriptures, keeps me from spiraling into despair over situations that feel out of control.
I’m thankful God sees and hears and is in control of all things.
Kristen, Trader Joe’s chocolate ice cream is the absolute best dark chocolate!!!! Hands down!! I don’t even bother with any other chocolate now-it just doesn’t compare!
I don't know if you have a Trader Joe's near you, but their chocolate ice cream is sooo good!
If you have Blue Bell ice cream there try the Dutch Chocolate or Chocolate Almond Marshmellow . They used to have a Chocolate Decadence that was the best.
I’m with you on the dark chocolate ice cream, but I’d need to have chips or cookie pieces in it also. I need texture in my ice cream, or as my daughter says, “I need it to have something interesting” lol
I am here to say that Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie is the one. Any other chocolate ice cream to me just tastes....brown. I don't even bother!!
It's not just a "simple" chocolate ice cream, but if you love chocolate ice cream and want a richer flavor then I highly recommend the Tillamook brand Mudslide ice cream! Super chocolate-y! Also, I thought I would recommend to you the Spiedel brand "scrub watch" if you're in need of an affordable watch for nursing school/career. It's a watch made just for those in medical professions. I'm not a nurse, but I love this watch and its fun interchangeable band colors. I have a couple of them and they're the only watches I wear!
Ooooh, thank you so much! I just ordered one. And an extra band too.
@Kristen, AHHHH, I'm SO excited you're trying a Spiedel watch after my recommendation! It's like knowing and connecting with a famous person. (You're my frugal hero!) 🙂 I hope the watch will work really well for you. Blessings on your education and future nursing career!
Re: Chocolate ice cream--Up here in the NE, Friendly's has a dark chocolate called Forbidden Chocolate; but it is difficult to find when there is a sale (which is when I buy ice cream).
After spending the day at the playground with my grandson--he had a great time with his "new" friend (there were several new friends as they came and went), I went to the opening night of an art exhibition at a local library. Two of my friends had a piece in the show. The show was in memory of a woman artist, who did a lot for that library. Tons of people, beautiful artwork, and appetizers.
You are well on your way to being prepared to enter school. Good luck.
What about the cat? 🙂
I'm in Canada and am thankful that my family members who were evacuated from their homes, twice, are safe and that their homes are still standing. Sadly, we personally know people who've lost all material possessions to the fires. Thankfully, no human or animal lives, though.
Love that you are going to nursing school. I'm retired, but I worked as a clinical psychologist in a psychiatric facility. Working with multidisciplinary treatment teams was a big win. Phenomenal nurses ( a few not so much), but it is a great profession, valuable in so many different areas of health care. If you haven't bought shoes, I recommend SAS Freetime. Not cheap, but very comfortable, sturdy and durable. That's the shoe I wore for work, but in black instead of white. The only requirement where I worked was no open toe shoes, so I saw a variety of footwear. Wishing you great success in your new journey,
thanks so much for the hawaii photos. am thankful libraries have free covid tests. Hubby and my daughter Zoe tested positive today. My kids will miss their concert from Third Street Music School. They are taking it ok. I am upset for them but that is how life goes. one thing i forgot to mention about new furniture, mine is now so old it can almost be an antique. I don't get new stuff every five minutes. so glad your dreams are coming to fruition.
Parts of the world are like a humid oven year round. I just visited one of them, and there wasn't even any chocolate ice cream to cool off with.
Tips for nursing school: put tank top under your scrub top. They just aren’t long enough to prevent you bootie from popping out and when we bend over, patients can see down our tops. Nude colored tanks/bras actually blend better than white under those tops. I found it easier to have 2 sets. Invest in decent shoes, you’ll be able to use them your whole time in nursing school and beyond if you like. Clinical will have you running! You could check out a variety at uniform stores and then price check them. A watch with a silicone band is good because you can really clean it. Stethoscope: See if any instructors have any to try out before you buy so you can decide what you like. I like the Littmann ones- Classic SE II or Classic III. Get the bell and the tubing laser engraved and don’t buy black… always the color most likely to get stolen.
Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream is delicious! Be careful though, it's REALLY delicious!
🙂