It's MONDAY!

[irene adler]

Tell me what's making your day sparkle!  

[hamster]

FML. Nothing.

Weekend started looking up and today might be the worst Monday ever.

[megstoo]

The company we hired is coming this week to get rid of all our leaves. It's costing us $75/hr for a 2 man crew but it would take DH and I multiple weekends where it will take the company 2 hours. Yes, not MM but we have 25 trees just in our backyard.

[mbcdefg]

MH may have found a family to take the cat. Today. Please please please let this work out!!!!!

[Deleted]

My sparkle is broken today too. Nothing personal, just world events weighing heavy on me.

[konapoppy]

I am so not feeling it. I wish there was a way to just take November and December off and still get paid!

[hamster]

Nov 16, 2015 12:03:51 GMT -5 @rennido said:

hamster
What's going on can we do anything? Would you like to have my bumbling golden retriever? He will make all your problems go away by laying on your face. Literally. He will take his 80 lb body and lay on your face.

Seriously though :,(

Let's just say family drama. I'm so afraid of lurkers

But send the dog. And booze. So.much.booze.

[bostonmichelle]

I spent 2.5 hours at the licensing and plate authorities down here. I feel like I should just be glad it only took up half a day and not a whole day.......

I need to work on organizing stuff today.

[dexteroni]

Not a lot. I mean, nothing bad is going on, but my sister, BIL, and nephews were here for the weekend, and I'm always bummed after they leave. And it's a beautiful day outside, but I have to spend the afternoon raking leaves and planting bulbs. I would much rather go to for a stroll and drink coffee outside. Oh well.

hamster I hope all is well, or will be.

@rennido Try feeding him things like hamburgers, chicken thighs, and cheese. If you don't want to cook, he might enjoy Evanger's canned real meats. Quincy and Sadie love their whole chicken thighs and the one called Hunk Of Beef, lol. Stuff like pastries will also probably do it, but I'm guessing you want to go about it relatively healthily.

[Deleted]

Some of these might seem lame, but-
Everyone in the family woke up healthy, FIL was feeling better and he and MIL came over for dinner last night, I've gotten most of my Christmas shopping done, it rained yesterday, DH has to have pictures taken at work today (headshots and group photos of the admin. team) and we got to have a fun conversation about him dressing up for "picture day", we have leftover brownies, last night we calendared a bunch of fun holiday activities and I'm really looking forward to them, and I've decided it a pajama day.
There is stuff that sucks like FIL's incurable cancer, grandma's Alzheimer's, some issues with DH's job, worries of $ for my parents and grandparents, and some anxiety issues I've been struggling with lately, but I'm trying to find more joy and focus on the little things. I recently heard someone speak at a conference about improving our gratitude, compassion, and forgiveness and what a tremendous impact that can make in our lives so I'm giving it a shot.

[steph96]

My husband and I started a healthy meal plan last week. I lost 4 pounds (one inch off my waist!) and he lost 7. It's amazing what watching what you eat can do!

[Deleted]

My sparkle is missing today. I'm on day 9 of a cold and coughing kept me up most of the night.

[womet]

I bought the LO & Sons OMG bag this morning. I can't wait for it to arrive in the mail.

[raangoli]

hamster - I hope things get better, soon.

mbcdefg - Fingers crossed that everything works out for kitty.

[irene adler]

@rennido, AHHHJHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

mbcdefg, Fingers crossed

The sparkle front is all fake it til you make it for me today. Join the bury your head in the sand party. The view is lovely.

[raangoli]

I try not to post about baby here too much, but hearing her heartbeat today made me smile. I also love feeling her move around. And, cheese alert: I feel like I finally understand unconditional love. I'm only half way there, but my heart may already burst

[steph96]

I'm really struggling. I have had terrible anxiety for the past who knows how long. My test is giving me anxiety (which is normal) but there are just so many random triggers. Like today I heard this one lady that I don't like talking and it seriously gave me so much anxiety that I had to go hide and do breathing exercises. I also have all this stress from my crappy job. Then all this holiday stuff is coming up....like I'm just this huge ball of stress and I feel like I could fall apart any moment now. I don't know if all of this is just normal considering everything I have going on or if I need to go see a doctor. Does anyone have any advice?

[MrsDarcy]

Nov 16, 2015 13:41:04 GMT -5 raangoli said:

I try not to post about baby here too much, but hearing her heartbeat today made me smile. I also love feeling her move around. And, cheese alert: I feel like I finally understand unconditional love. I'm only half way there, but my heart may already burst

That's wonderful! Enjoy it!

I totally thought that you were talking about literal cheese when you said cheese alert. Like you craved cheese and have found unconditional love with it. Ha!!

[mrsfarmer]

Nov 16, 2015 12:12:25 GMT -5 @foodielicious said:

I need to lose weight, but the effort it takes to do it makes me absolutely nuts thanks to my metabolic issues, I turn positively obsessive about it. But for the first time in my life, this is really affecting my quality of life - I have a pinched nerve that is causing pain in my quadricep. Dr. Google names it squarely as a weight related issue so I am forcing myself to the gym as soon as I hit send.

In sparkle news, I finally have my game plan for Thanksgiving ironed out, and will have most of my thanksgiving shopping done by tomorrow. The things I cannot get I will drag Mr. Foodie along to get them with me next Tuesday. I hate braving the madding crowds alone and he has taken next week off.

Oh yeah and I'm finally reaching out to the international adoption crowd, so hopefully we will be picking a direction and steaming off in it by the first week of Dec.

Happy National Adoption Month!  Good luck on the journey - if you feel like it, come over to MMM - there are a few adoptive moms over there too.  The journey is hard but worth it!

[raangoli]

Nov 16, 2015 13:46:58 GMT -5 MrsDarcy said:

Nov 16, 2015 13:41:04 GMT -5 raangoli said:

I try not to post about baby here too much, but hearing her heartbeat today made me smile. I also love feeling her move around. And, cheese alert: I feel like I finally understand unconditional love. I'm only half way there, but my heart may already burst

That's wonderful! Enjoy it!

I totally thought that you were talking about literal cheese when you said cheese alert. Like you craved cheese and have found unconditional love with it. Ha!!

Hah this is also true - I mean, it's good calcium right?  

[MrsDarcy]

Nov 16, 2015 13:48:37 GMT -5 raangoli said:

Nov 16, 2015 13:46:58 GMT -5 MrsDarcy said:

That's wonderful! Enjoy it!

I totally thought that you were talking about literal cheese when you said cheese alert. Like you craved cheese and have found unconditional love with it. Ha!!

Hah this is also true - I mean, it's good calcium right?  

You're literally growing bones, so calcium is very important! Eat away!

[raangoli]

poundcake steph96 - Anxiety is the worst. I feel you both and agree that it never hurts to talk to someone about getting help, whether it's just talk therapy or meds to get you through the roughest bits. Lately, I have started acupuncture for anxiety. It's not a cure all, but it has lessened the severity. It still ebbs/flows, but there has been a noted improvement. Hugs to both of you.

[bostonmichelle]

Hugs steph96 If you think you should see someone, I would go see someone. Also if you have any questions for REG just shoot me a PM, I've been dealing with taxes for so many years and that was my strongest exam I'll definitely help you in anyway possible.

[explorer2001]

Boyfriend was all nervous about meeting my family last night. He was so cute and made a great impression. He had already met my mom through an unscheduled accident. But he met my dad for the first time plus a cousin and her friends. So it was a bigger group and a bit less focus on him. My dad even expressed interest in BF's business, which for my dad is huge.

I'm also really proud of how I handled my mom pushing on triggers. Mostly I either ignored her or shut her down with comments like "we'll talk about that later" followed by a swift change of subject, and I even held to a decent time to leave. I know for most people that wouldn't be anything but for me it is big progress.

Work is trying to make me crazy, but that's just because I'm actually taking time off for Thanksgiving and have so much to do before I go.

Hugs to all who need them

[irene adler]

No cavities. Fuck yeah!!

[Mashara]

I lost a pound!! That may not seem like much, but I've been maintaining the same weight since May. I lost 15 from New Year's to April, 2 in May, then maintained until now. Aiming for an even 20 this year seems doable, even with the holidays.

[Deleted]

I have a sparkle!

Remember my ongoing discussions about starting a Lean In circle at my office (and possibly trying to get something going company-wide) since we're traditionally a "men's work" company? I spoke to the CFO, and he emailed the director of HR and told her to get in contact with me. I have a meeting scheduled with her on Thursday!

[Deleted]

Hugs hamster & steph96, and anyone else needing them.

DD and I both slept in until 8:30am! I had to wake her up at 9am to get her to daycare in a timely manner. She was hilarious this morning too. Nine more days of solo parenting.

I've also been kicking my to-do list's ass today.

[winnieandwine]

I have no sparkle right now. I have my third migraine in six days and it's Monday but Im already over this work week. Just get me to the weekend.

[irene adler]

I just had to take someone's nipple to nipple measurement *and thought of Stan.

*an important measurement for knowing the placement of bust darts when dress making.