Liberty Rocks

As I mentioned in my last post; I came home from vacation after the quarantine had already begun and he hoarding had already begun in Pittsburgh, PA.

I found groceries and staples and then thought it would be nice to get a few puzzles. So, off I went to target and there were NONE left on the shelves!! People had hoarded puzzles also!!! I was out of luck!!

I went home and tried to find one online and on Amazon and none were left ANYWHERE!!! 

The I thought maybe I could find a different kind of puzzle.

So I went back to Target and bought the one of the only Lego sets that was left!! HA! I think it was left because of the cost but it was sooo much fun to put together!!!! I am now addicted to Architecture Legos!! I put this together and took it apart multiple times. I think I completed it a total of four times and then I took it apart again and gave it to my nephews so they could put it together too.

Here it is in steps...

Like I said, it was super fun to build and it is so life-like in the end! Awesome!

During quarantine I also spent many many hours snuggling with all my furry babies. I think they are really going to suffer when I have to go back to working in a building and not at home. We have all become super tight through this quarantine.

Another favorite thing during my quarantine time was swinging on my porch and staring at this tree. It is sooo beautiful in the Spring...this picture does not do it justice!

Closer.....

Just a couple of my snuggle buddies...

Sooooo cute!!!!!!

I hope you all are having a great week!! 

Did you puzzle during the quarantine? What were your families favorite activities to spend time? Are you still quarantined or have you go back to work and you "outside" routines?

HUGS to everyone!!!!

Florida 2020

So first let me say....

A HUGE thank you to everyone for not giving up on my blog through my Corona virus silence!!

I can not begin to express to you guys how wonderful it was to see and read all of your comments and know that you did not all give up on me through my silence!!

So, let's rewind back to March and I will now share with you my trip to Florida to visit my parents.

Every Winter my parents rent a house in Florida and each kid goes down to visit with their family.

I usually try to overlap a few families so I can spend time with my nieces and nephews as much as possible.

So I flew down on March 10th right as we started hearing about the corona virus or Covid 19.

Here was the first day at The Villages. We went to a community pool and it was packed with people and the weather was perfection!  (Not joking, the pool was packed although you cant tell in my picture below as there was no one in the chairs in front of us.)

I got to spend a lot of time with these adorable children. Love these kids more than life itself!!

More pool time with the kids and Mom and Dad and sister...

Thinking about my babies at home and hoping they were safe. I had a cat sitter going in everyday and with all the conflicting stories I was just praying they were safe from this Corona thing.

As you can see, entertainment was in full swing at The Villages every night until a few days before we left. It was like being in a different world from what every back home was texting me was happening there.

Got a lot of golf in with my Mom and Dad. I suck but I really love to play!

We played this course in The Villages a lot as it was close to our rental house.

Another packed night at the town square...

More golf and sunshine!!!

Saw this little turtle on the golf course....sooo cute!

He did not want to meet me; as soon as I got nearby he ducked in his shell! HA

Crammed in the car and headed to the pool again....YAY

Love these kids; they go along with all my crazy dress up ideas!!!

The whole family dressed up and went to the town square for St. Patty's Day!!

My sweet niece and Godchild Kyleigh...

Sunset on the pier...

Another without the kids...

Saw this super cute exterminator car in a parking lot!!! LOL

We spent a lot of time at the pool; the kids were at school from home by the time they came down so they did homework at the pool many days.

But they did also have their fair share of relaxation in between studies...

We found this crazy bird that the kids nicknamed "red-headed chicken duck". HA! If anyone knows what it is let me know...

Quick picture while walking one morning of my Mom, sister and nephew Ryan.

This is my niece Aly pretending to be mannequin....I think she did great! Can you find her?? HA 

Around March 18th the Corona craziness hit The Villages. As you see in the picture below NO ONE came out to the square and entertainment was shut down.  We went to walk around after dinner and there were only a few people out that brought their own music to dance to.

Got a little St. Patty's family shot!

We played a lot of outside sports other than golf too. The kids loved shuffleboard, tennis and boccee. This is Kyleigh and I on a shuffleboard break....

All of us outside playing...

Aly and Ryan asking tennis anyone???

More shuffleboard fun....

A little Gecko came to hang out with us in the shuffleboard courts...

Another shot of the red-headed chicken duck...they kids fed him a lot. They were worried about him.

Here is a closer photo of this odd looking creature.

It was time to fly home on March 20th so we all headed to the airport together. My sister's family had a flight about an hour before mine so i shot this picture of them waiting to board the plane. At this point many people had masks. We did not... 

So the visit was great but strange at the end and it was very nerve-racking flying home no knowing if it was safe or not.

I arrived home March 20th around 8PM. I had no stock of anything and no food as I was to be gone for 10 days. I tried to go grocery shopping but everything was closed early due to Corona (including our 24 hour Walmart!!).  So, March 21st I went shopping and found no paper towels, toilet paper, sanitizing wipes or sanitizer. Also, the ground chicken and meats were almost empty!!! CRAZINESS!! I got so angry that I could not even purchase anything that I would need. My neighbors were wonderful and shared TP with me but the whole experience of the level of hoarding here in Pennsylvania gave me no hope for society!!! I think I all of the sudden went into shock mode and stayed there for the past three months. UGH!

So far, no one in my family or extended family has been diagnosed with the virus. We all have had symptoms like headache, cough or achy here or there but nothing confirmed and no one has gotten SICK sick. 

Is it possible that even through all of that travel and activity that none of us were exposed? My parents are both 76 and healthy...I do not know what to think. Here's to hoping that we were already exposed and have the antibodies we need to stay healthy should this virus make a comeback in the Fall.

Does anyone know anyone personally that got sick? How did your kids adjust to all the changes? how did you adjust to all the changes? Did you have hoarding in your area?

HUGS to you all!! I missed you all so much!! Have a wonderful day!!!!

 

Back from an Unintended Corona Break

Here's to hoping that I even have any followers left!

Hi everyone.

I am ready to get back into the blogging world again after pulling my head out of the sand!

I missed you all so much!

My last post was written right before I left for Florida to visit my parents for week in March this year.

I arrived and promised myself I would enjoy the vacation away and simply create and save all my blog posts to drafts  (for safety's sake you know).

Well, rumblings were going around the two days before I got on the plane that there was a strange virus that was circulating around the world....my mother convinced me it was fine to still fly down so I did. I flew into Orlando on March 10th on a plane full of others people that were just as anxiety-ridded as I was. My brother in law told me to wear a mask at the airport and on the plane but no one else had on one so I did not.

I arrived and all hell broke lose at home. Not in Florida, mind you, but at home.

Things were very chill in Florida compared to what was happening in my home state of Pennsylvania!! My friends and co-workers all all texting me telling me they were sent home from work to work from home and also had to shelter in place.  They said you could not find toilet paper or sanitizer anywhere. I was terrified as I was not there in person and I had not stocked up on anything, food or otherwise. In Florida, it was just normal day to day at The Villages. Around March 15th things started to hit Florida and we noticed that wipes and toilet paper were empty there too. HA! Of all things....UGH

My sister, her family and myself all flew home on March 20th. We all had masks on the plane....almost everyone!  I got home to no food and reduced grocery store hours and products. Also, I was down to two rolls of toilet paper. Thank goodness I have wonderful neighbors that shared. 

To everyone that hoarded; WOW is all I can say. It is super clear to me that if we have a true world disaster it will be every person for themselves. At least in my state...I think people will not have to buy meat or toilet paper for the next four years!!! UGH again!

So I dropped off the world and dealt with all that has come the past three months.  Crazy, crazy, crazy to say the least.

I hope you have all sheltered the storm as well and I am now going to begin to catch up on all your blogs.

Like I said, I missed you all but I was completing home projects and I honestly think I was too anxiety stricken to post??? I hope this makes sense.

I look forward to again becoming an active part of the blogging community. Thanks for all the understanding on my "Corona" break and I promise lots of posts to at least show you all my home projects I completed.

I got a lot of projects completed on my condo so when I lose my job and get a new one; I will be all ready to sell the condo and buy a townhouse. Yippee to that at least.

Hugs to you all!!! MISSED YOU ALL!!!

100 Barre Classes!!

Happy Tuesday everyone! I have had such an amazing day and it is only 10 AM!!! 

HA!

I joined Pure Barre in January and mad a promise to myself that I would go everyday and work out! I have kept that promise!! YAY! This morning I hit 100 classes!! It is considered a milestone and you get to sign the barre on the wall!! Since my studio just opened in January I am the first to sign it!!! So awesome!

This was my app this morning!!! See how the 100 is cool looking!?!?!?
 

When I arrived at class at 5:30AM I saw this...

My instructor (and the manager of the location) Dina went all out and I was so happy and proud! Here is am signing the barre...keep in mind it is 5:30AM...not the prettiest of pics! HA!

There is my name!!! YIPPEE!!! I got a super cute tank top too!!!!

Here is Dina and myself...Such an awesome morning!!!

This location makes it easy to want to come work out! The instructors are amazing and the other women there are so supportive and kind!!!! This is my 5:30AM crew - although a few were missing this morning :-( They are sooooo awesome!!!!!

And I got this awesome tank free from the studio too!!!!! YAY! YAY! YAY!

If you are looking for a supportive and low impact but effective workout then barre is for you!!!! If you live in my area then I promise Pure Barre Robinson is the best around for awesome clientele and instructors!! If you are from the Harrisburg area; I hear the Pure Barre Harrisburg is pretty amazing too!!!! I also used to work out at Pure Barre Zona Rosa in Kansas City and they are phenomenal there also!!!!

As os today I am down 28 pounds since I started in January and today I completed the 90 second challenge in class which is holding your plank for 90 seconds without coming out!

Everyday I get a little stronger!!! I am super proud of myself for sticking with it and going to class NO MATTER WHAT! I think I will be floating through this entire day! HA HA!

I hope everyone has a day as fantastic as mine has been so far!

Do you have a favorite exercise regime? Do you like to work out with others or alone? Do you enjoy your exercise or is it a chore you dread? 

Hugs to each and every one of you!!!!