What Do You Do on the Weekend?

I'm either enjoying comparing lists from last year with this year or I'm getting really lazy about posting every single day for November NaBloPoMo. Maybe it's a combination. Anyway...

How do y'all spend your weekend? Do you take advantage of the great outdoors? Sit in front of the television? Visit friends and relatives? Make that new recipe? That's what this list was all about- things to do on the weekend. I should probably try this when football season is over since pretty much all I do during football season is watch football. Saturday and Sunday. There are a few other things though...


My weekend list from 2015:

10 Things to do During the Weekend:

1. During football season, plant yourself in front of the television and ENJOY.
2. When football season ends, sit and pout until August when preseason begins.
3. Take the pup down the nature trail to the marsh. Take the camera. 
4. If there's a wedding in the family, do wedding planning related stuff. Do it early in the mornings so you can be back home before the games start (college football on Saturdays you know). IF it's not football season, try to drag your depressed self up and don't worry about when you leave or come back.
5. Do the grocery shopping for the week And some of the cooking. WooHoo. What fun tasks.
6. If it's raining, do the dance of joy and watch some old movies, read a book, take a nap, play with the pup---anything that suits a rainy day.  
7. If it's snowing, I'm jealous and don't want to talk to you.
8. Take the pup over to the beach for a walk or run.
9. Write some blog posts. Work does tend to get in the way of this.
10. Go downtown Charleston and take pictures of the tourists. Which is way more fun than you might think.

And this year's list:

10 Thing to do during the Weekend:

1. Sit down because you've been on your feet all week entertaining your 4-month-old granddaughter which is both exhausting because you're old and wonderful because, granddaughters!
2. Turn on the television and watch football because it's football season and no one bother me until February.
3. Write blog posts because during the week there is no time due to entertaining your 4-month-old granddaughter. Or the exhaustion that follows. But you love it and wouldn't trade it for anything. 
4. Go to the grocery store because you are too tired from entertaining your 4-month-old granddaughter to go during the week because you're old now but it's ok because, granddaughters.
5. Enjoy some take-out. I love take-out while watching hours upon hours of football.
6. Read. When the games are boring (68-0) or you don't really care that much about the games that are on at that time, enjoy a bit of reading. Haha! I don't stop watching football to read a book, I read before the games start on Saturday or Sunday.
7. Take the dog and your camera out for a walk and some picture taking. NOT during the games, though.
8. Get the house cleaned up. There's no time or energy during the week because...well, you know.
9. Go watch football at a pub with loads of televisions so you can watch your team at the same time you watch Matt Ryan, hopefully, lose. 
10. Relax and enjoy the time doing whatever the spirit moves you to do!

Not really that much different from last year except for the granddaughter part. :) The list would be much different when football season is over. I'm serious about my football, y'all. I LOVE watching it and I do not look fondly upon those who schedule things like showers, birthday/anniversary celebrations, and weddings during football season.

Ok, your turn! What makes your weekend list?

This is day 14 of November NaBloPoMo!

Stress? What Stress?

What stresses y'all out more? Work? Family? Everyday life? Taking on new challenges? What?

There are times when I feel that everything stresses me out. Fibromyalgia didn't hit me nearly as hard as it did others but it still lets me know it's here on a daily basis. I'm overly sensitive to EVERYTHING. Bright light, loud noises (and some quieter ones), any odor that contains chemicals, most any touch, strong tastes (which explains my bland palate), chaos, clutter... And then there's the fact that I am a slight germaphobe. You can just imagine how interesting life can be with these characteristics.

Today, I'm talking about the stress of taking on new challenges.

When I took on a job teaching computer to elementary students I was grateful and stressed out. Me? Teaching computers? To kids? They know more than I about this stuff! The stress that came with this job was self-inflicted and I think, with me, this type of stress is the good stuff. It's the type that motivates me to learn more and do more in certain situations. While I did know more than the kiddos, they are fast learners. To stay ahead, I had to be prepared. It was crazy. It was stressful. And I loved it! But then...

At Thanksgiving, 2015, my daughter and her husband surprised the family with news of a BABY! I knew that moment that I would quit teaching and stay home with that sweet child so that my daughter and her wonderful husband could save for their first house. The payoff is off the charts to all of us, especially me since I see Baby M every weekday, and they'll be ready to buy that house in April 2017. WINNING! But that winning didn't come without stress. It was a new endeavor that we all took on but were let down by one who claimed to be on board so...

I decided to try and get creative. Even though I'm not an artist or creative. Smart. Nope. STRESS. When you're committed to people you can't back out and I'm committed. But I had to figure out to bring in some $$. So I used my bird photographs and my lack of artist skills and began making coasters to sell on Etsy. THIS is stressful because I don't like putting myself out there. I like backstage work. I like to be behind the camera. I don't enjoy recognition. But this time, I had to do it. The courage to press the 'open shop' button on Etsy was nonexistent for WEEKS. Ok, months. But I finally did it.

The coasters are not perfect but neither am I. And I'm not going to be though I certainly strive for it. To overkill levels. Which means I have harshly judged my attempts and I have fallen short. I'm leaving them out there anyway.

If you'd like to peruse the shop, just click the link here: CoasterDoodles.

Or here:

Hope y'all are having a wonderful weekend!

Today is day 12 of NaBloPoMo for November!