#CraftyTuesday - Baby Girl's Baby Girl

There have been a few quilt creations over the last few years, but they were stuck on my phone - so it is time to share!

When I was 10, I was blessed with a cousin who become my "Baby Girl".

Now, many years later, my Baby Girl blessed us with her own Baby Girl - her daughter.

I loved creating this one as our tastes are very similar and this one would look right at home in my home just as it does in her nursery.

Welcome Baby Girl #2.

Namaste.

#FridayFinds - Village Idiot (Maumee, OH)

There were a lot of #FridayFind pictures on my phone (about a year's worth) that I'll be working to get uploaded...

This one is from Village Idiot Tavern in Maumee, OH.

I mainly wanted to go because of the name. In the almost five years that we lived in that area - we went once.

Namaste.

Update...

I'd love to type - "We are done relocating!"...

But alas, we still have a few things to check off the box in order to make that statement.

BUT - we are ALMOST done!

We have a house...

The boxes are unpacked...

The cars have the right state on their license plates (that took 4 attempts) ...

I have a permanent parking garage at work...

The work travel has begun...

We still need to get some pictures on the walls...

We're waiting on our Driver's License to come in the mail...

We've begun working through our damage claim from the move...

Yep - almost done.  :)

I also just downloaded about 1,500 photos off of my phone and have many restaurants that need to be added to the blog.  My goal is to get to that in the very near future, but I have a few deadlines that I have to get through first.

Wish me luck.

Namaste.

Hurry Up andddddddd Wait...

It feels like this relocation is taking forever, even though it isn't...

We are constantly rushing to meet a deadline, then twiddling our thumbs until it is time to rush again.

So what are we waiting on?

> Windows and Glass for the house in Michigan... Then we will be able to move forward selling it.

> 2nd attempt on our closing in Kentucky... OK, Ok. - Luckily, that wait is finally over as of yesterday.

> Keys for our new house... This has probably been the hardest wait - knowing it is ours, but having to wait just a few more days while they finish moving out.

> Our belongings... They are being stored on a semi-truck in Michigan.  Once we get the carpet dyed and the walls painted, we'll be welcoming all of the boxes. If I only had a dollar for each time I said - "Yep, we have that - on a semi in MI."

> Getting out of temporary living...It has a great view and short drive to work; however, it is not us.

> Just being done with being "in limbo"... I really don't like not being settled!

I am really starting to appreciate "my stuff"... Especially my kitchen tools.  As I was making Beef Stew tonight, I had to count to l0 a few times while trying to do something that is usually so easy... with my tools. I must say though - I have a good list of things that will make good gifts for a bridal shower or Christmas present. :)

BUT... I have to say that I am extremely blessed that I really like my new job.

If I had a huge amount of stress both with the new job and relocating, I don't know how I would manage.

Hopefully, the next post will be about "we are done" and then I'll get all of these restaurant/food pictures off of my phone and onto the blog. 

Namaste.

Relocating...

As I mentioned last month, we are in the process of relocating south to be closer to family.

This is my 4th company relocation...

The 1st one was straight out of college with very little belongings, but new job, new town... 

Just a bit stressful for a 21-year-old starting out in the world...

The 2nd (and 3rd) was a bit easier... 

Same company in the same job...just moving office/home locations. 

I did a personal move between the 2nd and 3rd...

I must admit - I prefer being moved as a part of a relocation and not having to pack/move/unpack all of it myself...

Now, we are in the middle of the 4th!

I must admit - this has been the most stressful move of all of them. As I was about to pull out my hair over the anxiety, I realized the number of things that we are going through right now.

Retiring from a job...

Starting a new job...

Reliving the "goodbye" of a loved one due to legal issues...

Buying our two vehicles...

Arranging for extended warranty on said vehicles...

Selling a house - in the winter...

Buying a house - in a crazy market...

Moving insurances...

Waiting on a parking spot (the joys of working downtown)...

Living in corporate living - a 2-bedroom apartment with a queen size bed is a challenge...

(NOTE - all furnished apartments should have a soup ladle, whisk and 9x13 casserole)

If something isn't on the To Do list or a reminder on the family calendar, then it doesn't get done.

If it doesn't go smooth the first time, then a colorful word is coming out of my mouth.

And I realized that everything (including my job) is really data focused right now...

Which may be why I feel like I am crawling out of my skin.

I am 50/50 right brain/left brain...

I have to have both data and creativity to be balanced and I am not balanced right now.

So, I opened the ole blog and started creating some words...

And I hope that this will help bring me back in balance...

And if that doesn't work, then later this weekend, I get to take pictures of our youngest grand's birthday celebration...

Until the next creativity need arises...

Namaste.

I'm Back...

Yes, it has been awhile since I have posted...

I am actually surprised at how long it has been...

Obviously, posting here took a back seat to what I call... LIFE.

2021 was the year of improvement...

Mainly, improving me - physically and mentally.

I, working with my doctor and a dietician, decided that I needed to make some changes.

And I did...

It took about 11.5 months, but I hit the weight goal that my doctor set for me.

64 pounds gone!

Lots of lower calorie recipes in the rotation.

Lifetime use of the MyFitnessPal app.

Yep - this is a journey.

Last November, we also joined the VR world and I have been doing SuperNatural workouts daily.

BIG GAME CHANGER

It helped me get off the last 6-7 pounds that were teasing me...

And so - 2021 was the year of improvement.

And I was successful.

So...

2022 is going to be the year of family.

I have decided to retire from my job of 25.5 years.

This will allow us to relocate back to the Cincinnati area to be closer to our kids and grandkids.

This is the priority.

This will take us most of our time in the next few months.

I am looking for the next adventure in our journey...

I have a lot of restaurant food pictures on my phone ready to share with you.

Perhaps in the spring?

Until then, stay safe, healthy and happy.

Namaste.

#FridayFinds - Acapulco Mexican Restaurant (Fairfield, OH)

We were out of town for another pool tournament (yes, our lives are slowly starting to return to normal) and ended up at Acapulco's.  We have eaten here before, but this was the first time that I remembered to grab photos.  

I did not get a photo of the sign though. :( 

It is pretty easy to find when you google.

This is one of the very few times that MBB did not get his normal burrito. :)

Quesadilla Acapulco w/ a side of rice

There was a picture in the menu that I decided to get - and it was great.
But I just realized that it is in the written menu, so I don't know what it is called.
It had shrimp, squash, broccoli, pineapple, onions, peppers, rice and cheese sauce.
It came with mushrooms, but I got it without due to my allergy.

If your in Fairfield - stop at Acapulco's before heading on to Jungle Jim's.  :)

Namaste.

#FridayFinds - Don Ramon Mexican Restaurant (Westlake, OH)

We were out of town for a pool tournament and stumbled upon this gem.

MBB always orders the same burrito at every Mexican Restaurant that we ever go to.  He deemed that this was the best tasting burrito he has ever had.

I was very, very happy with my fajitas!  I wish more restaurants would put more veggies in them - definitely helps out for those of us counting calories!!!

Flaming Cheese Fajitas (no mushrooms)

Grande Burrito Fajita (I think)
Chicken, no beans...add chorizo

Definitely a repeat anytime we are in the area!

Namaste.

#FridayFinds- Nick and Jimmy's

So, Nick and Jimmy's is connected to a golf simulator...

'Nuff said.

If I was going to "watch golf", then I was going to have some dinner too...

Garbage Chicken Chunks (Zesty Garlic)

N&J's Famous Chicken Sandwich
(w/ the sauce on the side)

It was yummy, but if I get the garbage chunks again - I may see if I can get tator tots instead of french fries.  

Namaste.

#FridayFinds - Old Bag of Nails Pub

We had the Old Bag of Nails Pub on our list to visit for awhile and we finally made it there!

The food was very good, but I don't know that we will be making the longer than normal drive to do a repeat... If you are over that way, I would definitely recommend stopping by!  The service was amazing...

Two of our party wanted to try their adult hot chocolates...

The pub had run out of hot cocoa.  :(

Next thing we know - our waitress ran out to her car to get the hot cocoa that she had picked up that day for her house so that we could have our drinks.

Loaded Potato Skins

Adult Hot Cocoa

Philly Cheese Steak w/ Tator Tots

Fish n Chips w/ Brussel Sprouts (YUM!)

Namaste.