What I'm loving right now: Robots and Virtual Festivals

So, here’s what I am loving right now:

Robots - Our Roomba (a robotic little vacuum) sat forlorn in the corner for the last 4 years. *Something* was wrong with it, but I didn’t have the motivation to figure it out. Well, hello tons of free time. After trouble shooting and fixing 3 issues, we are in business. Each morning, when we leave for our walk, the little Roomba gets to work cleaning our main living area. This brings me so much joy.

Virtual Festivals - This past weekend, Longmire Days went virtual. Longmire Days is a multi-day festival dedicated to the fans of the books by Craig Johnson and the TV Show Longmire. We binge-watched Longmire on Netflix. It’s a show set at a Sheriff’s office in Montana near an Indian Reservation. (Did you know I worked on an Indian Reservation as a college summer job?) It was a great show. It was so much fun to see the main actors come back together and share their experiences filming the show. I think Zoom made it even better since it’s like they forgot 500 people were listening as they joked and shared stories together.

Yes, I just showed you a picture of a Zoom. You can check that square off your Social Media COVID Bingo card.

What we are watching: We just finished Battlestar Galatica. It fit with our robot theme. The first two seasons were a bit slow and I yelled at the TV a lot, but Seasons 3 and 4 made it all worthwhile. We are still deciding what our next Binge Watch will be. I think it may be time for Marvelous Mrs. Maisel or Downton Abbey.

What I’m Reading: My favorite book from the last week is The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. It’s a story about family, identity, race, and finding your path. Two twin sisters go their separate ways in their teens - one passes as White, one keeps her identity as a light skinned Black woman. 5 Stars. Do Recommend.

Bird of the Week: I’m an official bird watcher now. I have an App and everything. Check out this Sandhill Crane. The Sandhill Cranes are scattered across North America. They like prairies, fields, marshes, and tundra and apparently railroad tracks.

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We hit the road.

Three days shy of the three month anniversary of quarantine, I finally headed out into the world. 

The only activity I had since March 15th when we arrived home from the Celebrity Edge cruise was daily walks and a couple Meals on Wheels deliveries. 

A gas station in Georgia was the first store I'd entered in months. Glenn and I decided to drive to Indianapolis to spend a week with my family. Everyone needed a break and change of routine. 

We packed the car with food, Lysol, hand sanitizer, water and coffee. I loaded up my phone with audio books, podcasts, and comedy specials and we hit the road. 

It felt like we were going back in time to "before COVID". Sure, we saw a few signs on the highway to wash hands and socially distance. When we stopped twice for gas, no one was wearing masks. I actually forgot about COVID for a few hours. 

I had a great chat with a friend this week about re-entry. I'm not ready. I'm not ready to go to a grocery store, restaurant, gym or bar. I am very lucky that I don't have to.  I felt like I could control the road trip - two quick stops for gas and bathroom. Don't touch anything you don't have to. Lots of hand sanitizer. 

The past three months have an emotional boot camp. So many feelings to sort through all the time. So many decisions to make. I am a planner. Living in uncertainty and a world where everything seems to change every day is a daunting challenge. 

Favorite Things during a Pandemic

Well, this whole pandemic thing sucks.

I thought I'd share a few things that have been sustaining me:

Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links where I or one of my friends will earn a small commission if you buy through that link.

Walking - My husband and I started taking daily walks. We have a path through the neighborhood that's 6 feet wide. It's an important part of our day. I also found virtual race through the Rock and Roll Marathon Series Virtual Running Club. So far, I've completed a 5k and a 10k.

Journaling - I write down 5 things I am thankful for each day.

Projects - Each week, I find one or two projects I can do over the course of the week. I cleaned out bookshelves and closets. I finished photo books - that made me sob. I am still procrastinating the junk drawer.  
 
Diffusing Essential Oils - I don't think they cure COVID, but I sure do like recreating a relaxing or a refreshing smell in my living room as I sit on the couch and binge watch TV. I also use the oils to make shower spray. I like diffuse Tangerine, Spearmint, and Geranium together when I need a little boost. Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint was a great combo when we were a little stuffed up from allergies. I diffuse Breathe and Lavender at night. I purchase through my friend Amy's doterra site. She's a great resource.


Reading - At first, I couldn't read at all. I did find coloring to be relaxing. I have this coloring book. I'm getting back into it with what I like to call cotton candy books. These books aren't challenging my view of the world. It's like a romantic comedy or a great tv show. One of my favorite series is the Richard Castle Detective Mystery Novels.  The series starts with Heat Wave by Richard Castle. If you liked the show Castle or any of the legal/cop shows where they solve a crime a week, I think you'll really like these.


Binge-watching TV - We loved Justified on Hulu, Schitt's Creek via CW App,  Star Trek Discovery on CBS All Access, Bosch on Amazon Prime, and  The Good Fight on CBS All Access.


Skincare

 

 

I launched Operation Empty Bottle. I love to name things. I decided this was the perfect time to really commit to washing my face night and day and trying all the products I've been stockpiling from Rodan and Fields and my FabFitFun boxes. Below is my very long list of favorites. The links are to my Rodan and Fields' page or to Amazon through an affiliate link.

My go to skin care regimen is Rodan and Fields Redefine.  I've added these other products into rotation and loved them.

Cleansers
Dr Brandt pore no more Pore Purifying Cleanser - This has salicylic acid and tea tree oil so it's not for sensitive skin.

Serums & Night Creams
Rodan and Fields Active Hydration Serum - This is the best moisturizer I've ever used. It's a serum so it's light, but it holds up throughout the day. All skin types.

The Better Skin Co. Epik C Serum - This is a Vitamin C serum. Vitamin C helps promote collagen production and protect skin from those pesky free radicals. All skin types.

Grown Alchemist Detox Night Cream - This cream is no joke. It's a powerhouse. Every time I use it, I get a little breakout since it is pulling so much junk out of my skin. If you have sensitive skin or acne-prone, proceed with caution.

Dr Brandt Needles No More No More Baggage - This is my go to under eye cream when I've been crying a lot. It quickly calms down the under eye swelling.

Retinol should be an important part of your skin care routine. I am just finishing up my Rodan and Fields Redefine Intensive Renewing Serum and I am going to swap it out for Rodan and Fields Reverse Dual Active Brightening Complex.

Masks
I've been applying a lot of masks lately.

Generation Clay Brightening Purple Clay Mask does a great job brightening skin at a good price.

Rodan and Fields Reverse Radiance Mask is my favorite. My skin glows after use.

Rodan and Fields Recharge Detox Mask is my go to when I sense a hormonal break out on the horizon.

111Skin Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Mask - This is one of those masks that is silicon and you lay it over your face and scare the other people who live in your house. It's hydrating and your face will glow.

Do It Yourself Pedicure

Whish Exfoliating Foot Mask - This product is awesome. You put it on before you go to bed with socks. In the morning, your feet are substantially softer. My husband even requests "that really good food stuff."

Electric Nail File - This makes at home manicure and pedicures so much easier!


What has been sustaining you through this difficult time?

Why are we obsessed with the Royal Wedding?

I think it’s because it’s the idea someone can be “plucked out of every day life.”  That one day you are hanging out and then *poof* you are a princess.

But that’s not what happened here. Harry and Megan were intentional. Rumors are that a match maker set up their first date. Harry was looking for a partner in his philanthropic work.  Megan had been laying the groundwork for a life of philanthropy for years. Megan’s fairy tale requires sacrifice – loss of privacy, living a country away from her family and friends, and following all the protocols of royal life. Plus, the increased scrutiny of the press which she had previously been able to avoid even as an actress.

If you feel that longing to be plucked out of every day life – the good news is that you can do something about it. The bad news is that it requires discipline and sacrifice.

To most people, an extraordinary life means a life of freedom – total autonomy. That usually means financial freedom and there’s two ways to accomplish that:

1.       Spend Less

2.       Control your income/earn more

Spend Less – You see posts about cutting out Starbucks, moving to tiny houses, budgeting with envelopes full of cash or making your laundry detergent.  What I’ve found successful is being brutal. Do the deep dive into your expenses. Find out what is necessary and what is extra. The truth I found is that saving money means doing more things yourself. You are trading time for convenience.  A simple example: My husband and I have sandwiches for lunch. We were buying $7.99 per pound organic lunch meat – 3 pounds a week. It was the most expensive thing on our grocery list. We decided to stop buying lunch meat and start buying a whole rotisserie chicken each week for $4.99. It makes time to carve, but we saved about $19 a week or $988 a year. W

The other end of the spectrum is controlling your income.

Here’s the truth. If you want to move to a life without a boss and be 100% in control of your income,  in my experience, you have to :

Create content so compelling hundreds of thousands of people consume it monthly and therefore advertisers want to pay you to promote their products within your content.  – This is the path of Instagram ads, YouTube videos, and blogs.

Sell Something  - It can be something you create: your writing, jewelry, photography, etc. It can also be products you source from somewhere else and make a commission or profit on selling them. This is the path I choose – booking vacations and selling skin care for a commission. I have to be honest. Selling is tough. It’s an ego crush as people reject you, ignore you or dismiss you. But it’s worth it. I love having my future 100% in my control. I can work from anywhere. Need more income? I just work harder. I’ve found that no company will care about your future more than you will.

What do you think? Does this ring true to you?

Angie 2.0

Friday was my last day working for the union. This feels like a huge transition. I really don't know what's next. I don't have the plan all laid out. I know that I love and want to build my travel business. It feels like the doors have swung wide open and I am staring out at the landscape excited and nervous to start making my way across it. 

It's an incredible feeling to be able to make choices based on abundance and passion rather than fear or scarcity. My original job with the union came after a period of unemployment post grad school. I was lucky that it really was a perfect job for me - policy work, lobbying, campaigning just fit my skill set. Until it all fell apart. Until the stress, the drinking, and the complex personal relationships pushed me into a person I didn't want to be and I was forced/chose to move to Florida. 

In Florida, I vowed to be better, to do things differently. I did the best I could. I took on every project that needed me and tried to accomplish what I could. It was difficult always being on the edge of a learning curve. Always having to be the person with the answers - the person that was going to save the day. I moved from project to project until I just didn't have the passion for that project anymore. And then one day I woke up and I was overwhelmed with unhappiness. So I quit - the first time. I wasn't ready to quit the union - just the current project. Three months passed where I worried about what was next and spent a lot of time watching tv. I also wrote a novel and volunteered, but really my thinking was in a place of fear and panic about finding another job. I was relieved and happy when I was asked to help on a contract campaign project. Then I fell right back into the pattern of saying yes to the projects that came my way. And then one day I woke up and I was overwhelmed with unhappiness. This time I didn't just quit. This time I sat down with my husband and talked through what would be next, what our lives would look like, and what was the best way to make this transition. Then I tried to hold on as long as I could. Then I finally broke and gave my notice. 

I was relieved and excited and then sad - really really sad - and then nostalgic. Then I was grateful. It occurred to me this morning the one feeling I haven't had is fear. I am not afraid of what's next. I am confident that everything will fall into place as it is meant to. And it's already started. I went to events Thursday night and Saturday and met some of the nicest sweetest people I have met. It feels like I have been living with one foot out of the door- unwilling to commit and invest. Now I am ready to jump in with two feet - to really embrace life in Tampa - to build relationships and to find my niche where I can continue my passion to make the world a better place. It'll be challenging to go from a job that paid me to change the world to finding space and opportunity on my own. It'll be a lot of trial and error to find the next home for passion to improve the world. I am lucky that I'll be able to do that while living my passion for planning travel. I'm ready. Let's Rock and Roll. 

Toddler Dates - just call me Debbie Downer

Over the last few months, I have noticed that people have posted on Facebook about their infant/toddler children having "dates" or "boyfriends/girlfriends". My first thought was "how do you know your child is a heterosexual?"

I have always wondered about the conditions that create the situation where people feel they need to "come out" with their sexuality. I never had to declare my heterosexuality. I just chalked it up to a culture hostile to anything other than heterosexuality.  After seeing these Facebook posts, I realized that maybe part of the reason that people have to "come out" is because they are assigned a sexuality in infancy.  People without any negative intention use language that implies a sexuality to tiny humans.

I know that most people view this as a "cute" way to discuss growing relationships between children, but my question to that is why is there an assigned sexuality to it?  How would you feel if a teacher or acquaintance called your daughter's female friend her girlfriend? Or your son's "best buddy" became his boyfriend?

Would it change anything if when you were approached by someone about your child's latest "date" with a child of an opposite sex you just said "I am glad they are developing a friendship. We don't know Susie's sexual orientation yet so I wouldn't characterize it as a date." Would people feel uncomfortable? Sure.  But would it go a small way to making the world safer for gay kids and teens? Maybe.

I am not a parent just a person spouting off some opinions so I would love your thoughts.

Resolutions

I find something magical about New Year's Eve - the idea that we can reset, do better. That somehow when the clock strikes midnight,  we can say goodbye to what we did wrong and resolve to work harder in the next year to be the person I want to be. I find it redemptive.

This past year has been a mash up - a mash up of incredibly challenging and incredibly amazing. This year, a lot of things came into focus. A big one was what being a friend means to me. I realized that if someone doesn't hold up her end of the bargain, that is okay to let her go and wish her well. I also realized that I have to work harder at keeping in touch with those that mean the most to me. It's okay if I am the one doing all the calling and reaching out because talking with those who know my heart best is always always worth it.

This political season clarified my tolerance for other view points. I realized I am not tolerant of ideas I believe are wrong. I am not tolerant of  people who do not believe in rights for all people. I got in several Facebook fights and even got unfriended a time or two. Some folks believe that issues shouldn't tear relationships apart - that we should all respect each other's viewpoints. On gay rights, I don't respect a viewpoint that makes some people less than some other people. I don't respect it. I don't support it and I won't tolerate it. I know this isn't a path that leads to changing anyone's mind, but it's where I am.

I resolved to Live Big, Do Good, and Spend Time with Family and Friends. I can say that I accomplished that. I saw different corners of the world, worked hard to make the world a little better, and spent time with  almost all of my friends and family.

In 2013, I want to do better, be better.

Less Junk. More Vegetables.

Less Anger. More Kindness.

Less about Me. More about Others.

Less Screen Time. More Books.

Less NO! More YES!

Less Tears. More Laughter.

Best wishes to you for a happy and healthy new year!