Currently

Happy November!   We enjoyed trick-or-treating on Halloween earlier this week and before we know it we’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving! I cannot believe how quickly time is flying by.   I am joining Anne and her co-host Catherine for the monthly Currently linkup.  This month I am currently:

Discovering – the benefits of working out.  I’ve been going to the gym regularly for almost two months now.  While I don’t see a lot of physical changes yet, I feel stronger and more fit.  I’m enjoying the classes that I’ve been taking, which definitely helps keep me motivated.

Celebrating – my husband’s 40th birthday!  He turns 40 on November 19th.  Our family went on a cruise last month as an early birthday celebration.  However, we have to celebrate on his actual birthday!

Starting – to think about preparing for the holidays.  Notice how I said I’m starting to think about.  Nothing is actually started yet.  I haven’t started holiday shopping, a menu isn’t planned, outfits aren’t purchased ….I’m not that good! However, I’m hoping to get the kids to make their wish lists soon and get started on planning our Christmas cards.  Baby steps!

Wearing – When I’m not wearing workout clothes, I’m wearing jeans and long-sleeve shirts and boots.  I haven’t broken out the sweaters yet, but it won’t be long now!

Googling – Hudson Valley Restaurant Week just started yesterday.  I love being able to enjoy three course lunches and dinners at local restaurants for $20.95/$29.95.  I’ve been googling restaurants and menus to try to plan out a couple of lunches and dinners.  I have a lunch and a dinner planned for this week already, but would like to get in another lunch or dinner sometime next week.

October is here.  This week my kids have enjoyed two days off for Rosh Hashanah.  Next week they have three days off from school for Columbus Day and Yom Kippur.  Although they’ve only been in school for a month, these days off are much appreciated.  Their schedules are jam-packed with all kinds of activities so it’s nice for them to have a day to relax.  I’m linking up with Anne and her co-host Jacqui for the monthly Currently link-up.  Here is what I’m currently:

Cheers-ing – Pumpkin Spice!  I think people tend to either love it or hate it.  I’m on the loving it side.  I’ve been embracing the limited time I have to enjoy it all!

Organizing – It’s time to go through my closet and do the shoe and clothes switch out and clean out.  I have to get rid of the sandals that won’t make it another summer and see what fall clothing I want/need to buy.

Dreaming – of our family cruise!  I feel like I’ve been talking about it forever and the time has finally come!  We leave Saturday to cruise to Halifax and St. John’s Bay in Canada.  I’m really looking forward to the relaxing, quality family time we’ll get to have.

Buying – workout clothes.  Last month I joined the gym as a birthday present for myself.  I felt it was finally time that I got in shape.  Since I haven’t worked out in ages, I don’t have a lot of clothes.  I’ve been shopping around and trying to buy just some solid capris and leggings and a variety of tops.  As I continue to work out more I’ll keep adding to my collection!

Listening – to my son playing the piano while I’m typing this!  He started lessons this summer and has just taken off with the playing!  He’s really good about practicing without being reminded.  It amazes me how far he’s come in just a couple of months!

I cannot believe that it is September.  The kids are back in school and the weather is already starting to feel a bit cooler.  It’s been a few months since I’ve linked up with Anne and Beth for the monthly Currently linkup, but I’m glad to be back this month.  Here is what I am currently:

Reading:  I am currently reading The Mistress’s Revenge by Tamar Cohen.  It’s only an “eh” read for me so I don’t recommend.  However, I recently finished reading The Choices We Make by Karma Brown which I really enjoyed and highly recommend.  Be forewarned, have tissues on hand while reading!

Trying:  to remain calm as I see the calendar starting to fill up.  Back-to-school also means back to all the activities that everyone is involved in.  I already miss the lazy, schedule free days of summer!

Hoping:  for nice weather this upcoming weekend.  For an early birthday celebration we bought tickets to the Hudson Valley Wine and Food Festival.  So far, the weather forecast looks good!  The kids are only into day 4 of the new school year, but I’m also hoping that they have great years in 3rd and 5th grade.  In our district, 5th grade is at the middle school.  I was a bit nervous but my daughter so far has been loving it!

Decorating:  I’m not a big decorator.   My fall decorating consists of picking up some flowers (like these from last year) to put on the front porch and putting out the few Halloween decorations I have!

To-do Listing:  There are lots of little house projects that I keep adding to my poor husband’s to-do list (because he’s not busy enough as it is)!  My husband and I also need to book our excursions when we visit Halifax and Saint John, New Brunswick on our family cruise in October.  We just finalized our check in a couple of nights ago and this vacation is starting to feel real!

I feel like I say this every month, but I can’t believe it’s June. The temps almost hit 90 this past week!  The school year is slowly coming to an end and the kid’s activities are finishing up.  It is really starting to feel like summer!  I am linking up once again with Jenna and Anne for their monthly linkup.  Here is what I am currently:

Planning: We are trying to plan out our summer.  We don’t have a big vacation planned for the summer but are planning a couple of trips to Rhode Island and possibly a trip to Maryland to visit my sister and her family.  We just need to finalize dates.

Enjoying:  We just enjoyed spending the Memorial Day weekend at my parent’s house in Rhode Island.  We went to an arts and crafts festival, visited the beach, did some geocaching and played some miniature golf.  I got in lots of reading time while my husband helped power wash the deck and we got to sleep in every morning.  I’d say that made for a very enjoyable weekend!

Buying: I just bought a new rug for our family room that I am waiting to arrive.  I also need to buy my daughter a dress for her upcoming 4th grade graduation.  And have I mentioned that I am in desperate need of some new sandals as well?!  Yeah, there has and will be a bit of buying going on around here.

Craving: Reading time.  I got spoiled over the Memorial Day weekend with lots of reading time.  Since we’ve gotten home the books and magazines are just piling up unread!

Pinning:  Lots of summer related pins.  Books to read, fun activities to do, science experiments to conduct, treats to make…..summer vacation is quickly approaching and I have both kids home with me all summer!  I need all the ideas I can get!

It is the first week of May and it is once again time for Anne and Jenna’s monthly currently linkup.

Celebrating – We just celebrated my son’s first Holy Communion this past weekend.  We lucked out with beautiful weather and enjoyed having a small family celebration after.  This upcoming weekend we will be celebrating my mom and brother’s birthday, as well as Mother’s Day!

Reading – I just finished Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben.  His books are always suspenseful reads.  I just started The Expatriates by Janice Y.K. Lee about three different women who are living in Hong Kong.  It’s too early for me to make any real opinions of the book.

Pondering – I’m not really pondering much at the moment, which I guess is a good thing.  I do find it crazy that I have been seeing my eye doctor for a case of severe dry eyes.  She has me on a regimen of various eye drops, including  a prescription one, using a heated eye mask twice a day, taking fish oil twice a day and upping my water intake, but my dry eyes have seemed to have gotten worse!  What the heck?!  How is this even possible?!!!

Sipping – I am not a big drinker, but when I do want something alcoholic, my first choice is always a hard cider.  I bought a variety pack of Angry Orchard ciders and have been enjoying them with dinner every now and then.  Otherwise, I NEED my morning cup of coffee.  I’ve gotten back into having a nightly mug of tea as well.

Going – Tonight we are going to the Spelling Bee finals, where my daughter is one of the six finalists.  Last year, she came in second place, so we will see how she does this year.  And even though it’s not until the end of the month, my husband and I decided that we are going to head to Rhode Island over the Memorial Day weekend.

Happy March!  I am linking up once again with Jenna and Anne for their monthly Currently linkup.   I apologize for my lack of photos this month.  With sick kids and other things going on, I just wasn’t able to get my act together this month!  March is looking to be another busy but fun month  This month I am currently:

Wishing:  (hoping!) that the family stays healthy.  Two weeks ago my daughter came down with a stomach bug.  We thought we all lucked out and made it unscathed, but my son came down with the same bug Sunday into Monday.  So, we had two days of him out of school and me taking care of him.  I am wishing that they remain healthy for the rest of the school year and that my husband and I don’t end up getting sick.

Craving: Warmer weather!  I love spring and am looking forward to being able to spend more time outside.  I am also looking forward to being able to wear flats, capris and short sleeves!

Going:  Currently no where special at the moment.  In two weeks we will be going to see my daughter perform in Annie Kids, the school musical which she’s performing in.  We are also planning a short getaway in late March when the kids have their spring break.  Location is still TBD.

Wearing:  my usual jeans and a sweater or sweatshirt.  The weather isn’t quite warm enough for me to transition to button-downs and long sleeve shirts.  I’m always cold and like to be bundled up!

Learning: I am hoping to learn and start a StumbleUpon account for the blog this month.  I know nothing about it but have heard it’s a good way to get traffic to a blog.  Does anyone use it and have any tips?

It’s time one again for Anne and Jenna’s monthly “Currently” link-up.  I can’t believe February is here.  It’s looking to be a good month, so stay tuned!  Here is what I am currently up to. 

Sending – Positive thoughts and prayers to my friend’s mom for a successful recovery.  She was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  She had surgery and is now going for chemotherapy.  As the bracelet we have says “No One Fights Alone.”

Eating – this Orange Beef Teriyaki Soup that I made for dinner last night as well as other cold weather foods like stews and chili.  The groundhog predicted an early spring, so I’ve got to eat all the cold-weather comfort food now!

Dreaming – Of a vacation.  My husband turns the big 4-0 this year and we are planning a family vacation to celebrate.  November is a long ways off though and I could really use a couple of days of rest and relaxation right about now!

Smelling – My White Barn Mint Mocha Bark candle from Bath & Body Works.  This is a “winter” scent to me and I want to use it while it’s cold

Hearting –  Podcasts.  I’ve been listening to them all the time – on my drive to work, cleaning the house, etc.  My recent faves have been Heather Dubrow’s World (I’m a Real Housewives fan!), Spawned with Kristen and Liz of Cool Mom Picks, Happier with Gretchen Rubin, The Lively Show, Fempire, Carpool Talk Show and All the Books!  This is a real mix here!

Hello January!  A new year starts a fresh slate with so many possibilities!  I am joining Jenna and Anne for their monthly Currently linkup.  Here is what I am currently:

Resolving – to be “happy” this year.  This is my word of the year, which you can read about in yesterday’s post.

Reading – I am usually reading two books at the same time, one fiction and one non-fiction.  I am currently reading After You by Jojo Moyes as my fiction book and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.

Organizing – My kids’ closets.  My goal over the holiday vacation was to get additional closet shelving for their closets.  We were not using their closets efficiently and they both needed more space to store their “stuff.”  My husband bought more shelving and has installed most of it.  We still need to get more storage bins for my son’s closet.  But we know what we want and have a plan.  I am hoping that this will help the kids contain their messes, since messy rooms stress me out!

Loving – the holiday break that just ended.  We spent lots of quality time together as a family and also had some relaxing days as well.  This is just what we all needed.  Our regular weeks are so busy that it was nice, especially for the kids to not be on a schedule.  We ended the vacation with a trip to New York City to see the tree in Rockefeller Center and to see the Broadway musical Finding Neverland.  So much family fun was had.

Craving – I am going to sound so shallow writing this, but I don’t care.  I crave reality television.  We cut our cable about a year and a half ago.  I seriously miss the Real Housewives and the Bachelor/Bachelorette.  As much as I love Netflix, they are severely lacking in their reality television offerings!  My husband noted that I could stream the Bachelor online, however, I don’t have two hours to sit and watch it straight through.  I loved having a DVR with our cable for this reason.  Once we have some extra dispensary income I may have to convince the Weekend Chef to reinstall our cable!

I am linking up once again with Anne and Jenna for their monthly “Currently” link-up.  I am currently…..

Wishing: that I don’t get too stressed out this month!  Our December calendar is already getting jam packed with lots of holiday fun.  Mix in all the preparations for the holidays themselves, including shopping, gift wrapping and menu planning, things can get a bit hectic.  I need to remind myself to step back and enjoy everything and not to “sweat the small stuff.”

Remembering:  Loved ones who have passed away.  The holidays are all about family and their presence is especially missed this time of year.

Wrapping:  Nothing yet!  I have JUST started working on the Christmas shopping!  My daughter is super excited to help wrap presents, so I need to get more shopping done!

Baking:  I will be baking cookies this weekend for our Supper Club’s annual cookie exchange and dinner out!  I have some ideas in mind but still haven’t finalized what cookie I’ll be making.  If you have a favorite holiday cookie, please let me know – I’m always looking for suggestions!  Pictured are the cookies I made last year, Cranberry Orange Pinwheels from Lady Behind The Curtain.

Decorating: I’m sure, like everyone else, I have been decorating the house.  Last weekend we got the outside lights up and the tree decorated.  It’s beginning to feel lot like Christmas!

I am linking up with Anne and Jenna for their monthly Currently link-up.

Cooking:  Last night we made this Queso Crockpot Chicken Chili with Roasted Corn and Jalapeno from Pinch of Yum.  In general, I’ve been cooking quick and easy recipes and using the slow cooker a lot.

Planning:  Nothing at the moment….although I know that we need to start thinking about our Christmas card picture.

Smelling:  The Avon Whipped Pumpkin candle that I won from Sandra at Charmed Crown Blog back in September.  It’s a perfect scent for fall!

Appreciating:  That my family is in good health (knock on wood!) and happy.  I am also appreciating the Indian Summer that we are experiencing this week here in New York.  The first week of November and it’s in the 70’s!  I will take that any day!

Anticipating:  My husband’s new job.  He will hopefully be starting in a couple of weeks and it will mean big changes for the family.