Week in Review: Week 158
No painful anniversaries this week, yay! Not really much of anything this week. It always takes me a week or to adjust to the time change. I stayed up too late and watched a lot more tv than usual. Janey was pleased.
We had One Glorious Day of near spring.
I believe my beautiful great-niece gets her posing skills from me.
Where the afternoon light is hitting these days. Not as picturesque as before.
Potted plant inspo for summer patio life.
Current iteration of furniture arrangement. Put the cubby bookcase by the door, it makes more sense. The other one was much prettier there, but now I have cubbies to hold outgoing packages, my camera bag, purse, scarves, etc.
Sofa against the wall thinking it would be nice for Janey to have a sofa window spot. However, it bugs me. Too much open space in the middle of the room. Too many pieces of furniture lined up against that back wall. Sofa/window/etagere triangle too cramped for me. This arrangement will be short-lived.
On a bad day I came home and this pretty leaf blew right up to my feet. Now it has a home in front of Lucky Cat on the newly-positioned cubby bookcase.
I bought Janey this scratching post. She has zero interest. She prefers the sofa.
On Sunday I went on a Seal Walk out east. Bucket List item! It was cold and MAD WINDY. And I, of course, was underdressed. I knew there was about a mile-and-a-half of walking and I usually get heated so quickly when I walk that I didn’t wear my long silk underwear. What I hadn’t planned for was the 30-minute talk on seals indigenous to Long Island while we stood in the open wind at the beach. Oofah.
Anyway, we did see seals, YAY! But sadly, when we got there and I went to switch my camera to my longer zoom lens, I discovered the lens currently on the camera was jammed. Yesterday when I was doing a selfie shoot, the wind knocked the tripod over and the camera smashed face first onto the asphalt parking lot. Ruh-roh. Fortunately, everything seemed fine. Til I tried to take that lens OFF this morning and it wouldn’t budge. So I was not shooting with a good long-range lens, so it was like…see that line of rocks along the edge of the sandbar? SEALS!!!
A little better view…
There are better pictures HERE if you want to see their sweet faces close-up.
And after the seals, we got really close to some deer…sorry for the photo quality, crappy digital zoom on my cell phone. But they go right up to cars now, looking for handouts.
And the day ended with me picking up some more things from the garage of the old apartment. My car looks like a crazy garden gnome is living in it. I’ll try to remember to get a picture tomorrow.
Came home to Janey in the sunshine.
Some Things I Bought Last Week
* Sheragano dress: I loved this dress LAST year and waited so long for it to go on sale that it finally sold out and I thought it was gone forever. But I got a message from my beloved Shoptagr that it was back in stock for a limited time in all sizes, so BAM I ordered that puppy. Sadly, it was too snug. It’s a mid-weight linen/rayon blend so very comfortable on the body, the rayon helps prevent the usual linen wrinkling, and it had a nice substantialness to it. But. Too snug. And not just a 5lb issue. More like 10-15. I’ve actually lost 13lbs since the first of the year, just out of the mayhem that has been this year so far to me. But I would need to lose MORE to have this fit nicely. And I don’t play that anymore (buying things that don’t fit YET). So back it went.
* Old Navy dress: I love this mustardy gold color. But on a thin-fabric-ed dress, it just made me feel a little…naked. Ha ha. I think I need to go MORE gold or MORE mustard. This was too “skin-tone-mustard,” if that makes sense. Back it went.
* Old Navy white skinny jeans. Nope. Couldn’t even get them up over my hips for a picture. Back they went.
* Catherine’s lavender top. An unusual color for me but I actually liked it once I had it on. However, the whole top was just Too Large. It was a 3x. I’m considering repurchasing it in a 2x but I’m concerned the sleeves will still not be good. I’m not a fan of a 3/4 sleeve, especially if it is a loose fit. Back it went.
Lots of buying happening. Just not much keeping.
What I Watched Last Week
- After Life: season one on Netflix. DO WATCH. Ricky Gervais. Heartbreakingly sad, but sweet and funny. I laughed and cried during every episode. That’s the mark of a good show/movie/book/story to me.
- Derek: two seasons on Netflix. Another Ricky Gervais show. Touching, endearing, funny, likeable. Laughed, cried, check, check.
- Catastrophe, final season on Amazon Prime. What a shame that’s over. Clever writing, likeable couple that you’re really rooting for in spite of their unfortunate luck. Sorry to see this one go.
- Shrill: Episode one, season one on Hulu. Sweet. I’ll continue watching.
Note: this was a LOT of tv for me in one week. It’s because of last week’s time change, I was up an hour later all week…and paid for it in the mornings! Still trying to adjust.
What I Read Last Week
The Kiss by mumblemumbleDanielleSteelemumblemumble. I haven’t read a Danielle Steele book in over 20 years, maybe longer. I read my first one, The Promise, in 1978 when I was young and impressionable and was bowled over by the tragedy and heartbreak and prevailing love. Blah blah blah. Ha. I read a bunch more til I got weary of the repetitive plot lines. But Audible had a special last week with buy one get one free on certain selections, so I figured I’d give her one more try. Wow. The story itself was compelling enough. She repeats herself A LOT, to the point where I was like, does she get paid by the word?? And the male lead character…I kept yelling at the speakers – ARE YOU KIDDING ME? YOU’RE A D*CK!!! It was written in 2001 and I kept wondering…is this how things still WERE back then? Is she writing IRONICALLY?? But no, I think this was legit character development, he was just a you-know-what and the female main character “loved him no matter what.” Do Not Recommend. And DS is now dead to me forever, ha ha.
What I’m LOVING
I know I’ve mentioned Lizzie Hadfield of Shot from the Street before. I love her style, her photography, her apartments…and now, HER NEW BOYFRIEND. For the second time her YouTube vlog contained…THIS . Start at 14:13 if you’re not interested in seeing their whole weekend in Paris. It’s just one minute (and as my mother told me as I left for a weekend retreat with my girlfriend’s church youth group and my first real boyfriend “it only takes a minute”!). I dare you not to smile. And if you want more of the same…go to 5:04 from their earlier weekend in Lisbon. Tell me you’re not a little in love with him, too!
THE END!
Nancy
You still have a lot of unpacking to do so to see. Are you happy in your new home? It is always a good time when you’re near the sea, isn’t it. It is so relaxing. Have a good week ahead Bettye!
bettyewp
Ahh, you’ve shamed me into unpacking! Ha, not really. I mean, I DID do some unpacking this afternoon, but just to get full boxes out of the way to make room for all the storage boxes to come home this week. I hadn’t really unpacked living room stuff yet as I’m still moving furniture around. Didn’t want to load up the bookcases with books, then go, hmm, maybe that would be better over THERE, and have to take everything back off to move it across the room. But I’m pretty certain the tv and the bookcase it’s on is staying put, so I did unpack book boxes this afternoon. It’s a shame to be getting rid of boxes…just to bring even MORE home! Oh well. I’ll be happy about it next month when I don’t have to pay my storage bill.
You have a good week, too, Nancy!
jodie filogomo
Okay…we all need to reproduce that pose from your niece…it’s smile provoking for sure!!!
As for the room, have you considered a rug and coffee table?? Not that I am an expert, for sure, but that might “fill” the space without too much clutter.
I do love the cubbies by the door—that’s functional. And heck, you could always decorate each one differently….
That’s how shopping is for me many times too. But at least we can send things back…
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
bettyewp
Miss Annabelle is a love. I wish I could see her more – she’s all the way out in California. I last saw her at Thanksgiving in South Carolina…and probably won’t see her this year at all 🙁
Yes, coffee table and rug would be excellent additions to help pull the room together but I just can’t swing two more large purchases right now. I’m paying a guy this week to bring all my stuff here from storage. So for now I’m going to pull the sofa forward again (sorry, Janey).
It’s all a process. Everything just tucked so perfectly into the old living room. This one is larger but that’s not necessarily better with my current collection of furniture.
julia
Ok, I just spent more time than I should watching these adorable young people have an awesome time and made me ENVIOUS! So, thanks for that!
And Janey is sooo smart to find her little sun spot. Cats are the best decorating (and destroyers!).
You are like me now with clothes. Because I have more than enough, if it doesn’t work perfectly, I don’t keep it. I know I can find something else and I know if there is something that bugs me about an item, I will rarely wear it.
I’m sorry you had a bad day but I’m glad Mother Nature sent you a little card! I hope you have a great week this week!
bettyewp
Aren’t Lizzie and Ben just SO CUTE?! I can’t. I’ve been watching one dance clip or the other every morning. It just makes me smile…and that’s not a bad way to start the day. Better than heart palpitations.
Iris
I love the sofa near the window. I’m with Jodie – rug and coffee table would work wonders to fill up the room.
I’ve been on a ‘returning’ binge too. Seems everything I’ve ordered was too big/too small/just didn’t look good, etc. And, I have tried – truly tried, local shops. Nothing that I would take home and shoes are a joke.
Love the bright colors on you.
Grace & Peace,Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
bettyewp
Agreed, rug and coffee table would be great. Just really not in the budget right now. I found a coffee table I liked on CraigsList at the same time I found the sofa, but I couldn’t do it all and I was already paying for the sofa AND someone to move it for me. And now this week I’m paying someone to move all my stuff from storage to the apartment. Lots going out, not so much coming in! Though I DID get some random things up on ebay this week…they have some bids, hopefully they’ll go up more before ending on Saturday. And I just have to work regular ebay listing into my schedule now, both to bring in $$ and to get rid of stuff!
Marceline S Miller
Enjoy your TV / book reviews! I’m of the same mind re. Danielle S books. Years ago I tried to read her stuff, I really tried. She’s so popular and I had FOMO!! (long before we had that expression, lol). But I just can’t. But “yay” for her, being so successful! Did you know she has a blog? No pictures, which I think is unusual for a blog.
I’m gonna try the Ricky Gervais shoes – usually enjoy him. Thanks!
bettyewp
Oh gosh, a Danielle Steel BLOG? Now I have to go look. Is it just “here are all my 37,000 books”? I’ll look.
I never actually watched Ricky Gervais in anything before. I’d tried the British “The Office” years ago and just couldn’t do it cuz they were EXACTLY the same storylines as the American version, and I was too in love with all OUR characters to watch other people say and do the exact same things I’d already seen. I know the British one came first, but I watched the American one first.
Anyway, I was really pleasantly surprised by both his shows. Now I’ll try “Extras.” Have you seen that?
Marceline Miller
No, I haven’t seen “Extras”. He was in a really delightful movie years back, called “Ghost Town”. One of my all -time favorites.
I stumbled into D Steele’s blog LONG ago – I think she had just put up her 1at post — and I thought “well, I like this better than the books!”. But life got in the way and I never read it again . When you mentioned her in your post, I went to find it, and was UNDERwhelmed. Repetitive, like her books. And seemed like a lot of crowing about her great life involving haute couture.
Ah, well. I find that as I’m having I’m more able to say “to each his own” – – and really mean it — than I used to be.
bettyewp
Ooh! I think I have Ghost Town on a watch list on one of my streaming subscriptions. Will make a point to watch that asap, thanks!