Currently: April Edition

Time marches on! It's the last week of April - say what?  Here's what's currently going on in my world!

Reading:  The Mothers by Brit Bennett. I was on the hold list at the library for this for the longest time and it finally became available. Others have raved about this book and I can completely see why. Part of me wants to read it quickly because it's so good; the other part of me wants to savor it because it's so good.  The writing is phenomenal - check it out!

Loving: wearing some new springy clothing. I was SO over my winter wardrobe in February/March. It's been fun to wear lighter, brighter layers. And I've been able to wear fitted/skinny cropped pants which is my favorite kind of bottom to wear!

Cropped pants from Banana with a new top from Banana.  It's hard to tell in this photo but the top has a fun ruffle at the bottom and at the end of the sleeves.

Another pair of cropped pants from Banana with a bright top from Banana.

I bought some pants at a Loft 40% off sale. They are the same color as the top in the photo above. I love vibrant, bright-colored pants!

Struggling:  with another RA flare. 😖 I flared the first week of April and it came back on Tuesday night with a vengeance. I wasn't able to type without being in pain as it impacted my fingers in my right hand so I stayed home yesterday. My doctor upped my steroid dose and prescribed a non-habit-forming sleep aide as the low dose of steroids I've been taking has wreaked havoc on my sleep. I'm on the struggle bus right now regarding my RA as this is my 4th flare in 6 months, which is a lot compared to what I experienced the last couple of years. The increase in flares is likely related to changing meds during the last 5 months of last year in preparation for being able to start a family (one of the drugs I was on was very toxic so not safe for conception - I had to go off it by December so we could start trying in June). I'll go back to see my doctor after my honeymoon and hopefully she can come up with a different treatment program.  Luckily, I had the best nurse to take care of me yesterday. Oscar is so good about giving me extra cuddles when I don't feel well/am in pain.

She looks so long in that top photo, but she loves to streeeeeetch out when sleeping on our laps!

Feeling: so very grateful and excited. Those of you who have read this blog for years know that I've patiently waited for the right man to come into my life. In my 30s I had gotten to a point where I was OK with a life that might not include marriage and children - but I still hoped for those things to be part of my life. Phil was worth the wait. Our story is not a fairy tale.  There were challenges (my cross-country move, the loss of his dad, career challenges) that we had to work through. But all the difficult things we've dealt with has made me all the more excited and grateful for the life ahead of us. I'm sure we will have mountains and valleys ahead of us in our married lives, but I know our relationship is strong enough to endure the test of time!

Thinking: about alllll the to do lists and spreadsheets I have to track wedding tasks.  I'm super organized so feel like planning a wedding is kind of in my wheelhouse, but it's still so much work!

Anticipating: my "Girls Gone Mild" bachelorette party on May 6th! I haven't ever been a bar person so when it came time to plan my bachelorette party, I didn't want to go to the bars. Instead, my sister and good friend are hosting it at my house. We'll eat Mexican food, drink wine, and play word-themed board games. It's going to be such a fun night!

Watching: movies on the weekends with Phil. I'm not a big tv watcher but we try to find something to watch each weekend as I can't multi-task when watching a movie so it forces me to just relax. The best movie we watched recently was A Street Cat Named Bob.  This is a must-watch for any cat lover!!!!  And it's based on a true story!

Working: on a huge project at work. My boss made me the lead person on a project to improve/expand one of our product offerings. It's the perfect project for me as it allows me to draw from experience at my last 2 jobs and it's the kind of work that I love most. But it's been a huge undertaking and I've been busier than I've ever been!  We've already captured some new business as a result of the project and there is lots of potential for future business so it's great for my company and my career. It's just been a little bit challenging to be so busy at work and in my personal life and to balance traveling with planning a wedding.  I thought my last trip to Chicago for work was my last one but it looks like I'll be going back one more time in May. Luckily it's just a day trip but those are extra exhausting! I just keep telling myself to focus on the fact that I have almost 3 weeks off from work for the wedding + honeymoon! I'm trying not to think about what will happen while I am gone from work or what I will come back to in June... 

Grateful:  for my amazing family and friends. They have made me feel so very special and loved and have spent so much time and money on my bridal showers which were beautiful events!

Listening: to our wedding playlists!  I made a playlist for dinner and one for after dinner.  I am really passionate about music and own many many albums. It was fun to build playlists for our wedding reception!

Wishing: for beautiful weather on our wedding day. We are getting married along the riverfront of downtown Minneapolis so it will be a gorgeous backdrop for pictures. I'm just crossing my fingers that it doesn't rain!!!

What are you loving, listening to and wishing for these days?