What's Up Wednesday #16

Happy Hump Day friends! 

Today I am participating in another round of What's Up Wednesday! 

Once a month I join in the fun with Sheaffer, Mel and Shay answering some fun questions and sharing what fun things are happening.  Here's the questions we answer every month...

What We're Eating this Week

Ya'll, I finally got around to trying Shipt, and let me tell you, it has been amazing.  Grocery shopping is one of those chores that neither Justin nor myself want to do.  Thankfully Shipt makes it easy! For a small fee (think $8 or so a month), you can do all your grocery shopping virtually and have some deliver them right to your house! I was nervous to try this out, but I am SO glad I did.  If you use this link, you can get $10 off your order! But I digress.... This week we are having: Nacho Pie, Shepherd's Pie, Grilled Chicken and Potatoes and Chicken Parmesan.  

What I'm Reminiscing About

I am coming up to the one year mark of buying my car and it is kind of hard to believe we are already there.  I've had a few issues with the car, but I think the dealership has gotten it figured out! Maybe now my gas mileage will be accurate, ha!

What I'm Loving

I love that we are coming up to the holiday season.  Christmas is three months away and I have already started planning out November and December and I cannot wait to spend time with family and friends celebrating the holidays.  

What We've Been Up To

Last weekend Justin and I went to the Michigan Renaissance Festival and next weekend we are heading to apple picking! I love going to pick apples with my friends and the weather will be perfect while we are there! Michigan is having another Indian Summer {which is nice}, but I am ready for 60+ and sunny. 

What I'm Dreading

Painting our mudroom.  We finally finished decorating our dining room so we are moving onto our next project which is the mudroom/powder room! I'm excited with some of the decoration ideas I've found on Pinterest, but I am also not looking forward to painting both rooms.  Check out some of my inspiration below! 

What I'm Working On

 Lately I've been trying to keep up with my chores around the house.  The goal is to keep on top of them instead of letting them pile up and then become overwhelming later.  It has been an interesting concept so far, but if I feel it is successful, I will definitely do a post on how breaking it down into smaller chunks has helped me.  

What I'm Looking Forward To

As I mentioned earlier, I love the holidays and I am looking forward to apple picking, Friendsgiving and all of the fun that comes along with the holidays! 

What I'm Watching/Reading

Later this week I will be sharing the two books I read this month! But my current read is, The Hearts We Sold by Emily Lloyd-Jones (and since the Ninjago commercials, I cannot say Lloyd without saying La-Lloyd).  It is an interesting read and definitely worth checking out.  Be looking for my recap later this week! 

What I'm Listening To

Just a whole lot of Spotify.  Nothing too exciting.  

What I'm Wearing

The last week has been so hot in Michigan that I have been wearing mostly short sleeves to work with a cardigan because it's hot getting into and out to the parking garage, but the AC at works makes me cold.  So I am really just having a hard time keeping my temperature regulated.  

What I'm Doing this Weekend

Friday night my friends and I are going out for a girls night out, Saturday we have no real plans, then Sunday we're going apple picking (in case you didn't know already).  I'm looking forward to spending time with our friends! 

Previous What's Up Wednesday Posts

What's Up Wednesday #5

What's Up Wednesday #6

What's Up Wednesday #7

What's Up Wednesday #8

What's Up Wednesday #9

What's Up Wednesday #10

What's Up Wednesday #11

What's Up Wednesday #12

What's Up Wednesday #13

What's Up Wednesday #14

I'd love to hear from you!

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Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Fall 2017 TV Preview - Shows I'm looking forward to!

Happy Thursday Everyone! Can you believe that we are almost half-way through September? I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that we are officially heading into the holiday season.  In fact, we are already 14 weeks away from Christmas! I am looking forward to the holidays and all of the family and friend time they bring.

One of my favorite parts of Fall is all of the TV shows the come back on our launch! Today I wanted to share the shows I am most looking forward to watching this Fall Season! I did a little post last year around this topic and thought it would be fun to do it again! 

Dancing with the Stars

Premieres Monday September 18th on ABC

This Fall will be the 25th season for Dancing with the Stars and I am super excited.  They have a few of my favorite people on the show - Frankie Muniz and Lindsey Stirling to name a few - and I cannot wait to see them dance!

This is Us

Premieres Tuesday September 26th on NBC

If you have not already started watching This is Us, I would highly recommend this show.  Every episode is a whirlwind of emotions and I am 100% invested in each character.  If you loved Parenthood, I would suggest watching This is Us. 

The Last Man on Earth

Premieres Sunday October 1st on Fox

The Last Man on Earth is one of those shows with which I instantly fell in love.  The combination of silliness, awkwardness and downright stupidity absolutely is right up my alley and I cannot wait to spend time time laughing and cringing at the show.

The Big Bang Theory

Premieres Monday September 25th on CBS

Justin and I started watching this show at the very beginning and I can say that I have enjoyed every.single.episode since it aired years ago.  It is one of those shows that always gives me a good laugh and I look forward to watching it. 

The Good Place

Premieres Wednesday September 20th on NBC

With the plot twist at the end of season one, I cannot wait to see how they run with it! If you are looking for a sarcastic and enjoyable show, I would watch season one, then pick up on season two!

Other shows to watch:

The Good Doctor

Premieres Monday September 25th on ABC

This show caught my eye immediately due to the fact that they are addressing the fact that someone with Autism can do extraordinary things.  I am very much looking forward to watching this show.

The Resident

Premieres --- 

I came across the video for this show and cannot wait! It has Logan from Gilmore Girls and Emily from Revenge so you know it will be good! The only thing I don't know is when the show will be releasing.

The Orville 

Premieres September 10th on Fox 

If you like Family or American Dad, then you are in a treat! Seth McFarlane is acting in a new Star Trek spoof.  I'm not sure if it will be funny or not, but I plan to check it out.

Question of the Day: What shows are you anticipating this Fall?

I'd love to hear from you!

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Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Who I am Hates Who I've been

Music.  It is one of the most power forms of communication that human beings can use to connect with one another.  Music can build someone up, it can change their life, it can help them through a difficult time and so much more.  

Have you ever gone back to your "throwback" music and been so caught off guard by a song that it stopped you dead in your tracks? 

I personally had one of those moments yesterday while I was driving home from work.  On a whim, I decided that I would throw on some Relient K (the old stuff from early 2000) and reminisce with some of their silly music like Sadie Hawkins Dance.  But while I was letting Spotify jump around through their songs, I was caught completely off guard by the words of one of their songs {which I ironically knew all the words to because I listened to this CD on repeat when I was 16}.  

But for some reason, the words sunk in this time....

 While I was "happily" moving along with my life, I had become a completely different person and was unaware of that change until one day I completely fell apart.  I was completely overwhelmed by the simplest things, I was making harsh and irrational decisions and to be honest, I was a complete jerk.  At times, even I was shocked at the words coming out of my mouth, but there I was saying them and suffering with the consequences later.  And my actions and words resulted in me pushing away some friends that I love dearly and semi-destroying my friendship with my best friend.  I was going down in a blaze of glory, that was for dang sure.

I had let my anxiety and my depression completely take over my life until one day I could no longer pretend that I was okay and I fell apart.

And let me tell you, when I look back at that time in my life,
who I am now really does hate who I had been.  

But I have to say, I learned a lot during that time.  I learned that I am more resilient than I give my credit for.  I learned that no matter how "grumpy" I get, I have friends and family that will stand by my side and support me.  I learned that there is always things to learn in every circumstance.  And I learned that the only way to learn and grow is to continue pushing forward.

Now, almost three years later, I am back to the "old" me.  Except, I am not 100% the old me.  I am a new/old me that learned a valuable life lesson and grew from it.

The best part? An old friend of mine and I reconnected and she told me that when we got back together she thought, "Oh there you are.  There's my friend that I love and not this thing that she had became."

Sometimes in life we have to go through hardships and lose connections with people in order to "get back" to who we are.  The process is not fun, in fact it is very painful, but once you are on the other side you will be stronger and grateful for the chance to grow and reflect on your life.

And like me, you could hear a song that almost perfectly represents your hardships/your life and reminds you how far you have come.

If you want to listen to the whole song, check it out below.

Question of the Day: What valuable life lessons have you learned over the last few years? 

I'd love to hear from you!

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Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Christmas Wonderland Holiday Spectacular!

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

 TO EXPERIENCE ONE OF THE MOST ENCHANTING CHRISTMAS SHOWS EVERDETROIT’S FISHER THEATRE, DECEMBER 12-17, 2017

 Tickets go on sale September 17!

Broadway in Detroit is pleased to announce, that CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND, a holiday spectacular, is coming to Detroit’s Fisher Theatre, December 12-17, for nine shows only.  Tickets go on sale Sunday, September 17 to what is quite simply one of the most delightful and enchanting Christmas shows ever.  CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND features glittering costumes, a dazzling cast and the highest kicking chorus girls this side of the North Pole. 

Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 1-800-982-2787 and online at www.broadwayindetroit.com orwww.ticketmaster.com.  Starting Monday, September 18, tickets will also be available for purchase at The Fisher Theatre Box Office.

Your entire family can start Christmas in style as Santa and his merry helpers take them on an unforgettable nostalgic journey. Holiday favorite songs include: ‘White Christmas,’ ‘Winter Wonderland,’ ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,’ ‘Chestnuts Roasting By An Open Fire,’ ‘Jingle Bells,’ ‘’Away in a Manger,’ ‘O Come All Ye Faithful,’ ‘Let it Snow,’ ‘Silent Night,’ ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing,’ ‘Deck The Halls,’ ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,’ ‘O Holy Night,’ and many more Christmas standards.

Be amazed as a cast of 24 singers and dancers who are hand selected from London, New York, Las Vegas Los Angeles transform the stage into pure winter wonderland magic.  With over a thousand glittering costumes, and spectacular sets and scenery the show parades its way through the wonder of Christmas and the excitement of the holiday season.  

CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND is produced by Spirit Productions and David King, a multi award-winning and internationally acclaimed theatre producer who became known to American audiences through the megahit musical, Spirit of the Dance which became one of the biggest dance show in the world, with 14 troupes performing in 14 different countries on the same night, playing to more than 30 million people worldwide.  Spirit Productions owns The Palace Theatre in Myrtle Beach and The King's Castle Theatre in Branson, Missouri, where their shows play year round.  Spirit shows have toured in more than 30 countries and they are the first producer from the Western world to have three consecutive tours in China, playing to over a million people.

Performance times for of CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND appearing December 12-17, 2017 at The Fisher Theatre, located at 3011 West Grand Blvd., in Detroit are:

• Tuesday through Saturday evening performances at 7:30 p.m.

• Sunday evening performance at 6:30 p.m.

• Saturday matinee at 2:00 p.m.

• Sunday Matinee at 1:00 p.m.

Tickets for of CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND start at $35 (includes facility and parking fees) and will go on sale September 17 at all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 1-800-982-2787, and online at www.broadwayindetroit.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available for purchase starting on September 18 at The Fisher Theatre box office.  A limited number of premium seats will be available through Ticketmaster and at The Fisher Theatre box office. For group sales (12 or more) please call 313-871-1132 or email groups@broadwayindetroit.com.  Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice.

Broadway In Detroit uses Ticketmaster as its sole, authorized ticketing agent. Individual tickets purchased from a ticket broker or “third party” ticket reseller involves risk and may not be authentic, sold at box office prices, or with correct performance and venue information. Broadway In Detroit box offices cannot reprint or replace lost or stolen tickets sold through a third party or ticket reseller. Broadway In Detroit is also unable to contact third party purchasers with pertinent updates or changes regarding performances.

The Broadway In Detroit Series at The Fisher Theatre is sponsored by the Chrysler Pacifica.  As part of this sponsorship, the Chrysler Pacifica will be on display this season at The Fisher Theatre.

For more information, please visit www.BroadwayInDetroit.com.

Follow Broadway In Detroit on Facebook (BroadwayInDetroit), Twitter @BroadwayDetroit and Instagram @Broadwayindetroit.

I'd love to hear from you!

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Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Fall Bucket List 2017

Hello y'all! I cannot believe that we are already a week into Fall already! Fall is my favorite season of the year, so I am very much looking forward to spending some time enjoying the cooler weather, beautiful leaves and tons of cider and donuts.

Every year we have a list of things that we like to do in the Fall Time and this year is no different! So here is my Fall Bucket List!

Fall Bucket List 2017

1. Go to the Renaissance Festival: Every year for the past five or so years, Justin and I have made our way to the Renaissance Festival and this year will be no different.  I fully intend on putting on my costume and heading out for a day of delicious food, great company and fun entertainment.  

2. Apple Picking with Friends: This year a big group of us will be heading out to the orchard to pick apples! I love this tradition and cannot wait to go again.  

3. Get Cider and Donuts @ Yates: One of the biggest Fall treats in Michigan is going to get Cider and Donuts.  I feel like I've been going to Yates for as long as I can remember, so of course this is on my bucket list.  I swear they have the best donuts around! 

4. Halloween Party: Last year Christina and I planned a going away party for Sarah that focused on Halloween and I had so much fun, so this year I am planning to host another Halloween Party! It will be fun to just get everyone together in costumes and hang out.

5. Friendsgiving: This year will be our 5th year having Friendsgiving and I am excited.  I love getting my friends together for a potluck style Thanksgiving dinner where we can connect and share a fun evening playing games and hanging out.

6. Bake Fall Pies and Cookies: The past few years I have wanted to bake a pie or fall-themed cookies and have not, so this year I will make sure to spend some time baking delicious recipes with all of the apples and pumpkins we are going to pick this year.

I think this is a good list for this Fall! I am looking forward to all of the fun things we have coming up and I cannot wait to watch the leaves change over the next month or so!

Question of the Day: What fun things do you do in the Fall? 

I'd love to hear from you!

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Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

The Color Purple: Coming to Detroit November 7-12, 2017

The Color Purple will play Detroit's Fisher Theater 

November 7-12, 2017

Tickets go on sale September 10th

Detroit, MI, September 5, 2017 -- Directed from Broadway, THE COLOR PURPLE is the Tony Award-winning revival of the truly remarkable musical adapted from Alice Walker's best-selling novel.  Directed by Tony winner, John Doyle (Sweeney Todd and The Color Purple), the critically acclaimed revival will come to Detroit from November 7-12 as part of a North American Tour.  Tickets start at $39.00 and go on sale Sunday, September 10 at all Ticketmaster locations, by phone 1-800-982-2787 and online at www.broadwayindetroit.com or www.ticketmaster.com.  Starting Monday, September 11, tickets will also be available for purchase at The Fisher Theatre Box Office.  

This revival of The Color Purple won two Tony awards in 2016, including Best Revival of a Musical and two Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Revival of a Musical.  The Color Purple revival also won the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.  

Hailed as "a direct hit to the heart" (The Hollywood Reporter), this joyous American classic conquered Broadway in an all-new "ravishingly reconceived production that is a glory to behold" (The New York Times) directed by Tony winner, John Doyle.  With a soul-raising score of jazz, gospel, ragtime and blues, The Color Purple gives an exhilarating new spirit to this Pulitzer Prize-winning story.

Don't miss this stunning re-imagining of an epic story about a young woman's journey to love and triumph in the American South.  The musical sensation that New York Times calls "one of the greatest revivals ever."  Experience the exhilarating power of this Tony-winning triumph! 

Performance times for The Color Purple appearing November 7-12, 2017 at The Fisher Theater, located at 3011 West Grand Blvd., in Detroit are:

• Tuesday through Saturday evening performances at 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday evening performance at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. 
• Special Open Captioned performance on Friday, November 10 @ 8:00 p.m.

Tickets for The Color Purple start at $39 (includes facility and parking fees) and will go on sale September 10 at all Ticketmaster locations, by phone 1-800-982-2787 and online at www.broadwayindetroit.com or www.ticketmaster.com.  Tickets will also go on sale at The Fisher Theater Box Office on September 11.  A limited number of premium seats will be available through Ticketmaster and The Fisher Theater Box Office.  For group sales (12 or more) please call 313-871-1132 or email groups@broadwayindetroit.com.  Tickets for the Open Captioned Performance may be purchased in person at The Fisher Theatre Box Office or by phone 313-872-1000, ext. 0.  Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice.  

Broadway in Detroit uses Ticketmaster as its sole, authorized ticketing agent.  Individual tickets purchased from a ticket broker or "third party" ticket reseller involves risk and may not be authentic, sold at box office prices or with correct performance and venue information.  Broadway in Detroit box offices cannot reprint or replace lost or stolen tickets sold through a third party or ticket reseller.  Broadway in Detroit is also unable to contact third party purchasers without pertinent updates or changes regarding performances.

The Broadway in Detroit Series at The Fisher Theatre is sponsored by Chrysler Pacifica.  A part of this sponsorship, the Chrysler Pacifica will be on display this season at The Fisher Theatre. 

For more information, please visit ColorPurple.com

I'd love to hear from you!

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Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

September: Month @ a Glance

Happy September 1st Friends! 

Welcome to September everybody! I am so excited we are finally making a quick approach to Fall.  Fall is my ABSOLUTE favorite time of year here in Michigan.  There is something just so special about the leaves changing and the weather cooling down {not to mention that I can breathe better - stupid asthma}.  September will be a fun and crazy month for us and I would not have it any other way.

This month on the blog I am hoping to share some fun things to do during the fall in Michigan, ideas around budgeting and how to keep track of your monies, share a little bit about how I am putting myself first {this one is SUPER hard for me} and share other fun and awesome posts.  The plan is to find a new and fun routine for the blog that allows me to enjoy the blog more than I ever have - I talked about this in yesterday's blog post if you have not already had a chance to read it.

So let's talk a little bit about what our month will look like!

On the Agenda this Month:

1. Up North for Labor Day with Justin's Parents

2. Destiny 2 Release Weekend (for all of you gamers out there)

3. Beth Moore Retreat in Ohio with my Mom

4. Vicki's Housewarming Party

5. Birthday Dinner for Caroline

6. Michigan Renaissance Fetival

7. Girls Night Out!

Goals for September 2017!

1. Read Two Books! I am behind on my monthly reading goal (by at least 2 books) so my goal is to read/finish two books.  Right now I am reading The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee so I am planning to finish that book.  Then I am also planning to participate in the Owlcrate Book Club! The team at Owlcrate started a new Facebook Group where Owlcrate Subscribers can do a read along with other readers.  I am excited to see how they plan this out! August's Owlcrate Book is The Hearts we Sold by Emily Lloyd-Jones

2. Clean out the pantry.  I am embarrassed to admit that this task was also on my July goals and I just have not gotten around to it.  I am hoping to pull everything out of the pantry and get rid of or donate things we no longer need and trash anything that has expired.  

3. Start moving boxes to the basement from the garage.  So last week Justin started working on the shelving in the basement and we were able to get all of the boxes off the floor and onto a shelf.  My goal is to get the boxes from the garage and into the basement so we have more room to the garage as a garage instead of a storage space {that's what the basement is for}.

4. Start working on the mudroom/powder room.  So a while back, Justin and I decided that it was time to start decorating our home, but at the time we really did not have a plan.  So we sat down and decided what order we were going to decorate the house and came to the conclusion that we would start small and go from there.  In July we finally finished decorating the dining room {yay!}, so the next space on our list is to get the mudroom/powder room completed.  I have some really fun ideas of things I'd like to do in there so this will be a fun project! Eventually when I get around to finishing the decorations, I will do a house tour and show you all everything! 

Question of the Day: What fun things do you have in September? 

I'd love to hear from you!

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Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.