What Ana Does

I have wanted glasses since about as long as I can remember. There was something about the intelligence and sophistication that comes with a great pair of glasses. My friends with glasses thought my jealousy was insane. It was awful to need a pair of glasses to see. Horrible. The headaches, the blurriness, all bad. So lately, when I've tried to read at night, I've noticed the letters jumping and having to concentrate a little harder to read the words on the page. I upped the font size on the Kindle, but reading to Alice at night from a paperback was ...well ... annoying. Why did the letters move around so much? After a few months, I got an appointment -- the same eye doctor I visited a few years ago -- and got my sight checked. The prognosis was finally what I'd wanted for years. It's the lowest of the lowest possible prescription, but my eyes finally need a little help. But here's the surprising thing: I thought I'd be so excited. I thought I'd ru...

With the new OS on my iPhone, there's an app keeping track of how much time is spend on the phone -- have you seen this? I had already been thinking about wanting to decrease my phone usage time -- as I find, like most people, I pick it up all too often. But with this tracker I now know I average two hours a day on my phone!!! Two hours! That seems nuts! Imagine how many other things I could do! And why am I surprised when I now catch the girls grabbing their phones all day, too?! So I had started stopping myself before I opened the screen or leaving the phone in another room, etc. to avoid using it when it wasn't really necessary. And I was starting to drop my usage just a little. Fast-forward to this week, when I finally got around to fixing my cracked phone screen. We got the insurance on my iPhone we bought here so I just needed to drop it off at a store. Little did I know they would send it away to be fixed ... for "about two weeks." The Loaner So I...

I've been feeling a little blue today. Just overall cold and bummed and low energy. So to cheer myself up I made a list of my 2016 accomplishments ... so far ... I sorted out all the holiday decorations , trashed some stuff (except for the Dancing Homer-Santa, I can't seem to part with it) and neatly put away the decorations into tubs, keeping like things together, and labeling each tub. (* I got a label-maker for Hanukkah.) There are two books that have been languishing on my ToRead piles for years: Longbourne and The Night Circus . I DO want to read them, but other books keep making more noise. I'm determined to clean out the pile, so I pulled the audiobooks from the library and started on Longbourne this week -- which I absolutely love. You can tell the author is a true fan of the Pride and Prejudice story, weaving it into the storylines of the house servants.  I dumped Facebook from my phone. It was sucking up my time and it wasn't all that interesting, ...

This Saturday we went to a party in downtown Chicago with work colleagues ... and no kids!! Sure, there was a fair amount of office gossip discussed, but it wasn't too bad. And there were a few spouses to chat with. And adult beverages. And no juice boxes. And lots of adult language. It had been awhile since I've been to a party and didn't see small kids running around. A nice change. And the view from his windows were pretty cool ... View of Chicago From the Condo Sometimes, being an adult is kinda nice! 

Looking out my window this morning it's gray and rainy. BUT it's almost 60 degrees for the first time in weeks, so I'm trying to be optimistic. To that end, here's a list of things that are making me HAPPY right now: This Scarf(!): It's got these cute, printed bicycles and matches almost EVERYTHING in my closet. ... And what is it with me and bicycle prints right now? I also just ordered a new shower curtain for the girls' bathroom and it's all bikes, too! The Word Ephemeral : It's been in a few of the books I've read lately. I like to say it, read it, think about it as a concept. Why does this word make me happy? I just does. My Backyard:  And, more specifically, watching my girls play in the backyard. After months of looking at ugly browns and washed out grays, my backyard is starting to fill in with lush greens and even the weeds fill me with joy. And the little girls laughing on the swing-set they haven't used in months is jus...

I'm annoyed. Like, truly annoyed. This year I sent out two care packages to folks I thought would really appreciate them. First, to my cousin who got married in April. Ok, it took me a few weeks to get it in the mail and I MAY have forgotten to get her RSVP out by the deadline, too. But that's my life. So I bought a bunch of cute kitchen stuff, wrapped it attractively in a box and included a personal card to congratulate her on her wedding.  It took some time and effort, people. And I got nary a word back to say We Got It! Or Thanks! Or anything. I mean, is it so hard to drop a Thank You note in the mail?  Now, too much time has passed to comfortably drop a subtle Facebook message to be all "hey, happy holidays, and did you get our wedding gift? Should I have included a box of Thank You cards?" I'm just disappointed.  So this August we stayed with some friends in Portland and were just horrible houseguests. I mean, there is four of us, we're un...

So, my 20th high school reunion was this weekend in Minnesota and I really really wanted to go. But, I didn't. Bummer. First, here are two things you need to know about me and high school: 1) I haven't been friends with anyone from high school since about 6 months after graduation (why is another story). 2) Therefore, other than superficial social media contact (facebook!), I haven't talked to anyone I graduated with in those 20 years. So, it shouldn't surprise anyone that when I messaged some of the girls I used to know from high school on Facebook, they weren't going. And couldn't be convinced otherwise. So fine. And I wasn't about to lone-wolf the reunion. No way. Crazy. On the plus side, I took my family on the roadtrip to Minnesota anyway. I got together with one friend from high school and met her family -- this was awesome. And saw some family who still live there. All in all, a pretty awesome weekend. And I did notice some Facebook updates ...

What a difference 10 weeks can make. As I strategize what I'll be doing for the next few weeks, to shed a few more pounds/inches, here's a review in pictures: The Chart! I Kept Track of Weight (Too Much) And How I Was Feeling/Doing. I'm a Note-Taker.  My Favorite 10am Snack: Homemade Yogurt and Fruit A Post-Workout Selfie. I Stayed on the Floor for a Long Time Every Dinner Should Start With Chopped Up Veg, Right?  My Post 10-Week Pic: That Muscle? I Can Do Better! I'm going to try to take the best and favorite parts of the last 10 weeks and continue them. Dare I dream of a two-piece for our Disney vacation!?!?

Me, As an Adult In my 20s I compiled a list of things adult “women” did that I wasn’t doing, according mostly to Sex and the City (which was big at the time) and all the heroes from my favorite romantic comedies. This is about when I coined my personal mantra: What Would Meg Ryan Do ? I thought if I mastered these skills or habits, I’d feel more grown up. Because even with a full-time job and a steady boyfriend, I still felt like a teenager. Maybe it was my Hello Kitty purse. Here’s my list of the habits of Adult Women: Drink coffee Wear makeup (not just chapstick) Wear matching PJ sets or nightgowns or lingerie Own several pairs of high-heeled shoes Own bras and panties in matching sets (and wear them together) Hang pantyhose to dry in shower (this is now obsolete, but made the list a decade ago) Gab on phone with best friend/sister/mother. Usually own small pet (mini dog or haughty cat) Have raging handbag fetish and will spend small fortunes on them Drink wine or...

Orla Kiely Bedding. I NEED it all. Most of you know my love and adoration for all things Orla Keily . You all probably remember when Target sold dish sets with cups and plates, and I dragged Dave and the kids to three Targets in the area, snapping up all that I found. So imagine my glee while walking through Bed, Bath and Beyond when I discovered they were selling her comforter sets, sheets, throw pillows and other bedding. OMG! I stood in front of this display and tried to think of a single bed in my house in need of a new comforter. Unfortunately, I came up empty. All the rooms and bed are currently spoken for, design-wise. (Though, I'm still considering it for my bed ... would Dave be comfortable under all that sweet original stem design?!) I did purchase a queen sheet set, using one of the many coupons they send in the mail. If you are in need of a comforter set, please consider either of these so I can live vicariously.