It's a Bestie Blog Takeover

Happy Thursday Morning Ya'll!
Today you are in for a super special treat!  My bestie, Mel is taking over!  You might remember meeting her here!  Mel's an awesome supporter of my blog and an avid reader, so when I mentioned The Blended Blog's Virtual Book Club to her she hopped on board.

Each month, club members are chosen to pick what's going to be read.  In April, Melanie was asked to share a book.  She thought her most favorite book, The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah was one that the book clubbers would enjoy.  And since it was her pick, I thought it'd be fun to have Mel takeover the blog today to share her review of the book with you!

Here's Mel!

April in Numbers!

Seriously….how is it May already!  On the one hand I’m excited because it means we’re that much closer to summer vacation, and on the other hand I’m like…”Weren’t we just celebrating the New Year a hot second ago??”.

Sharing a rewind of April in Numbers today, like I do with Deena from time to time.  April just flew by.  And you know the saying, April Showers Bring May Flowers?  No truer words people, no truer words!!

Friday Favorites!

Friday is Here!  I'm EXCITED!!!  And so ready for the WEEKEND!!  It's been a long week.  But it was filled with favorites...so lets get to it!

{ONE}  Favorite new top!
I know I said I wasn't going to shop this April and I really didn't...MUCH!!  I did however pick up this top when I saw it was on sale from a boutique on Instagram.  I like shopping small.  I like that this shirt was different, with the buttons on the back and elbow patches.  It's also multi-seasonal which makes it that much more versatile.  And for only $15, how could I not get it!?!?  Loved that we had a dress down on Tuesday and I was able to wear it!  But in all honesty, I'd wear this with leggings and boots to work any day!

{TWO}  Sweet Surprises!
Being back at work this week after 12 days off was rough!  Coming back and finding out that the last day of school was one day later than you thought it is going to be was even tougher.  HA!  But a sweet student coming and telling me she saw these at Target and thought of me made both of those things a little easier to swallow.

{THREE}  Blog Takeover!
Next Week my bestie, Mel is taking over the blog!  An avid reader,she joined The Blended Blog's Virtual Book Club earlier this year and was able to choose one of the books to read for April.  Since she doesn't have a blog of her own, I offered up mine to her to write her book review when we share them next Thursday, May 4th.  Yesterday earlier this week emailed me her review of The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah.  It is so good!  I can't wait for you all to read it when it goes live.  So come on back for that!!  And join TBB's Virtual Book Club in May!  These are the books we'll be reading!!  Read one, read all!

{FOUR}  National Pretzel Day!
You guys know I celebrate everything and since Pretzels as big as my head from one of my favorite places in town, are my absolute favorite, I had to go celebrate!  Nothing gets me over the hump of the week like a giant soft pretzel and a beer!

{FIVE}  Winner! Winner!
Last night I attended a small fundraiser for my school.  It was a great time.  It was like a cocktail party/happy hour kind of this with food and drinks...and raffles!!  I was lucky enough to win one of the Door Prizes!  A Stop and Shop Gift Card!  Woo Hoo!  That will come in so handy!  Love my school and community.  It's nice to get out and mingle away from the school once and awhile!


Thanks for stopping by the blog today!  What was your favorite thing about this week?  I'd love to hear about it!

Hope everyone has the best weekend!!



Linking up with Erika and the girls today for Friday Favorites and Tiff and the girls for High five for Friday!

Bucket List Checkup!

Giving my usual Throwback Thursday posts a break today and instead am joining some fabulous ladies for our Spring Bucket List Checkup!  Last Month we posted our Spring Bucket List and today we're getting together to see how we've done so so far.

Here's a little reminder of my Bucket List!

Get My Feet Spring and Summer Ready!! ✔ (KINDA!) 
I gave myself my own pedicure to save a little money for now.  In a few weeks when I go on my trips, I'll head to the professionals.  It's amazing though what some coconut oil, essential oils and Epsom salts can do!
I am embarrassed to admit how long it's been since these feet have gotten a pedicure...but it is WAY OVER DUE...I'm pretty sure when I go and get it done, I'll be THAT Girl that they talk about!

A New 'do! ✔
So excited to have checked this one off the list!  Was able to get my hair done over Spring Break last week.  I realized why I don't go so often...because it's bloody expensive, but after it's done it's always totally worth it. 
Another thing I seem to be overdue for is a cut and color of my hair.  Part of me has not been because a- it's expensive and b- I've been trying to hold out and wait for some big things I have going on this spring that I want good hair for!  I will probably go on my Spring Break in three weeks!

Spending Spring in town!
Unfortunately, the weather has not cooperated with all of this.  This Spring has been sooooo rainy!  Tables and chairs are not even out on Main Street yet.  I am confident that this will be checked off by the next checkup! And me and YOGA have yet to meet again!  #thumbsdown!
For four years now, I've passed the community garden and never actually went in.  I've always wanted to but never had.  And it's so cute.  There's benches, a gazebo, even chess!  In the Spring when the flowers are blooming it's beautiful!  I am making it a goal to get there this Spring.  With a book...two birds...one stone!

I go out to eat a lot in town, but in the Spring and Summer lots of the restaurants on Main Street have outdoor seating.  It's always fun to enjoy a meal in the bright sunshine and people watch. I'd also like to head down there for more Sundays Fundays when it's nice too!

I like just getting out and walking more when the winter melts away.  Winter is a time I feel so cooped up!!  I'm also going to do more yoga! A while ago when my foot was in THE BOOT my doctor suggested I try yoga...because there's even a beginners course called "Yoga for inflexible people!"  For ten bucks I picked it up and did it faithfully for a while, then it kinda got lost in the shuffle.  I didn't make it a lifestyle!  LOL  But I did enjoy it, so I want to do it more regularly!

SAVE! SAVE! SAVE!! ✔
Most of the money I've spent has been on food but I have been able to save a bit of money so far for my trips.  I work After Care during the week after school, so I get paid for that separately.  I've saved the money from my after care checks in my savings account to use for my upcoming trips!  By the time I go, I should have a fairly good amount to use during them!
I know I'm talking about spending money on my hair and pedicure, but I really hope to save some money!  I have two super fun trips to look forward to this Spring!  So I really, really need to SAVE!! So I can spend on the trips!!  LOL

Rainy Days and Sun Daze ✔
As far as the rain goes...CHECK! CHECK! CHECK!  So I've been rockin' the rain boot hardcore.  But between the raindrops I've been able to enjoy a day or two in my rocking chair on my front porch.  So I'm happy about that!  Is my tan on point?  NOT YET!  But it is only April! LOL
The saying goes, April Showers Bring May Flowers, so I fully intend to be rocking my rain boots this spring.  But I also look forward to sunny days rocking on my rocking chair on my front porch, getting a tan!!  My motto is :Everybody looks better with a tan!!

The Dreaded Guest Room ✔ (KINDA!)
I started this!!  It is definitely not where it needs to be, but I was lucky enough to have my neighbors take away some of my Christmas decorations to keep in their shed, so that freed up a lot of the space in there and got me to start cleaning.  I've thrown some things away, started a "donate" pile and finally put things in their place. 
Isn't a little Spring Cleaning on everybody's bucket list?  My biggest job has bot to be my guest room.  Right now it is beyond disastrous!  I have bar stools and lounge chairs in there!  Boxes and bins galore!  I dread doing it but I know it has got to get done!  So then maybe I can have guest over this Spring!



What have you checked off your Bucket List this Spring? Let me know in the comments below!  And hop on over to check out these fabulous ladies' blogs to see how they did on checking off items so far!!

Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After

Making the Most of Every Day / My Retirement Project

Family.Love.Inspiration / Natalie The Explorer / Perks of Ponder

Out and Back

Monday...We meet again!!

Monday!  We meet again…..

So excited to be back on the blog after a week away! Since I was on Spring Break from school I decided to take a blog break as well. So while I am happy to be back blogging today, I found it a little hard getting back into my regular Monday routine this morning!

I had so much fun and relaxed a bit this last week. I didn’t go on any sort of vacation, but rather had a staycation, if you will.  Hung out lots  in town with friends and spent  time with family.  

As a Catholic School teacher, I always seem to have the opposite weeks off from the public schools, and out of these two weeks, I have to say, the public schools lucked out in the weather department.  So I didn’t go back to school with the tan I had planned, but there were a few peeks of sun here and there, and in all honesty, Easter Sunday could not have been better.  Sunny and 80?!? FOR REAL!!  

Breaks are always fun...until I realize with the amount of money I’ve spent during this time, I probably could’ve went on a nice vacation after all! LOL  I didn’t shop, but I ate out quite a lot which certainly adds up!  I tried to explain to my mom that this is not her Villages...a salad and a water is not $8!  HA!  And what fun would water be anyway!?!  

One of my most fun days during the break was heading into New York City with my mom, sister and niece to see Waitress: The Musical on Broadway.  I was really excited when my sister mentioned earlier this year that she and Emily wanted to see the show.  I had seen the movie and knew that Sara Bareilles was the brainchild behind bringing it to Broadway.  I also saw the original cast’s performance on the TONY Awards last June and knew this was something I had to see.  Mom wanted to see it also, so Erin planned for us to see it while she was home for Easter and Emily was off from school for the week.

So on the Wednesday morning before Easter we took the train into the city and headed for the show. Unfortunately, it was raining when we got in but we hopped in a cab and headed toward the theatre district, so we were where we needed to be.  We had a quick lunch at a yummy Italian place, Scarlatto’s.  When you eat on Broadway they know most times you're heading to a show so they always accommodate!  We were there less than an hour but were able to enjoy a bunch of yummy apps and a glass of wine before the show.

 

At about 10 to two we entered the theatre. And it smelled divine!  The show is about Jenna, a waitress who bakes pies at a local diner, so when you walked in the whole place smelled like a delicious pie was baking.  YUM!!  I can still smell it now as I’m typing!

At two p.m. it was showtime and Sara Bareilles herself hit the stage as the main character, Jenna.  The show was fantastic.  It honestly had everything. I laughed hysterically and cried many tears, too.   The cast was incredible and I left there singing along.  Actually, I’ve been listening to the soundtrack ever since.

As I was waiting for my sister and niece to buy a souvenir at the end of the show, I filled out one of these cool guest checks!  Now a piece of me is in the lobby of the theatre.

We were lucky that the rain stopped and the sun was shining by the time the show was finished and we didn’t have to race out of there to catch a train because my brother in law picked us up and drove us home, which was huge.  Even though there was a TON of traffic, it was still better than the train.  We got to my sister's by about 7/7:30  and had a nice home-cooked meal.  We chatted about the show and our fun day together.

I would highly recommend seeing Waitress for anyone planning a trip to New York City in the future!

Have you ever seen a Broadway show?  I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!  

Now for some usual Monday Musings to close….

Nothing ruins the first day back after break more than finding out the last day of school is one day more than you thought it was gonna be….finding Reese’s Eggs in the faculty room made that blow a little better.

I found out this morning that I’m ready for my spring pants...but my spring pants aren’t ready for me!.  Thank god tomorrow it’s gonna rain….rain boots and leggings for the WIN!!

Your hair never looks as good as it does at the salon, ainright?!?

Everyday during the break, I was wide awake  at 5:30 a.m., sometimes earlier!  Today getting up at 5:30 was a struggle!!!  WTF??

The fact that May is just one week away has me doing a happy dance!  Lots of exciting things on the horizon!

If being showered and ready for bed by 6:30 is wrong, I don’t wanna be right!!

Settling in for a night with The Voice, which I’m kinda over this season!!

Hope everyone had a fantastic Monday!  Look on the bright side...it’s one day closer to the weekend!!  

I'm on Spring Break this week...

and so is the blog!  Be back next week recapping all the fun I had on break...even though I'm not going anywhere exotic, time away from work is always good for the soul!

Still wanna see me on the daily?!?  Head to Instagram...I'm @solitarylife101.

Have a great week!!

Little Letters: Spring is Here!

A few weeks ago when I posted on The Blended Blog for TBB Loves, I mentioned that I had started reading Taz and Belly.  I love her little letters idea.  So today I'm joining in on the linky fun with a few little letters of my own!

This month my letters are taking on a theme: Spring!!

Dear Spring,
Thanks for finally getting here!!  I welcome your 60 degree temps and the opportunity to sit out on my postage stamp patio and in my rocking chair in the front, and get my tan on.
Also,here I feel like I should include a letter of thanks to my neighbors who know me doing this is just me being me!!

Dear April Showers,
For every sunny day, there's 5 rainy days! Thanks for helping me rock the rain boots every other day these past two weeks.  Last Little Letters post, I mentioned that I was over leggings and boots!  Well...I lied!!  When you HAVE TO get up and head to work in the pouring rain, there is no easier outfit to throw on than leggings and rain boots!  And also maybe did because of this...

Dear Skinny Pants and New Summer Bathing Suits,
Thanks for the reminder that this body is not yet "skinny pants" or bathing suit ready!!  That was a nice touch. I need to get me ass in gear!

Dear Spring Break, 
Finally!  This break will help to recharge me and get me into the home stretch of the school year as well as give me the opportunity to read...and work out!  (See above!!)

Dear Sarah Bareilles and the entire cast of Waitress: The Musical,
Thanks for helping me kick off my Spring Break with a bang!  Loved every second of the show and  have not stopping singing along since!  Definitely a new fave!  Any day spent on Broadway is a good day...

Dear Locale,
My new home!  LOL  My favorite new place in town!  Great food and wine and a place I see spending much of my spring break at!!

Dear Easter,
Can't wait to spend the day with family.  So glad mom and dad are home to spend the holiday with us!  Hope everybody has a Blessed Easter!