My Pixie Blog

What’s up, weekend 10/23

Good morning, sweet peas. Long week and my head is super cloudy today (maybe it’s the weather? Maybe it’s not enough sleep. Maybe it’s Milo who hogs 90% of the bed). Anyway, as usual I’m keeping today’s list of gratitude short and sweet. Here we go! 

  • Bagels and quality time with my parents last weekend
  • Good eye doctor appointment for Mila. She recently failed her eye exam and I was so worried because I’ve been legally blind for 30+ years. Doctor said her vision is perfect and she was such a good little girl at the appointment grabbing faces and being adorable

  • Getting my own eye doctor appointment out of the way. It is such a high stress situation for me and typically takes hours but I’m so glad that’s over with and i don’t hand to worry about that for another six months
  • Walks with Mila
  • Giving away my Caribbean red hot pepper plant to someone in the neighborhood who can use it more than me
  • Picking up slippers after my old ones officially kicked the bucket (the older I am, the more excited I get about things like new slippers LOL)
  • Connecting with an old friend from high school
  • Live texting during the debate last night… about anything BUT the debate. I’m so over two white men yelling at each other, y’all. Anyone else experiencing election fatigue? 

And there’s my short and sweet list. What’s on yours today? Hope everyone has a beautiful weekend ahead; catch you on the flipside! 

Currently, the October edition

Thinking: about how nice it was to see my parents this weekend; I’ve missed them. They both still work in health care (my mom in a nursing home) so I don’t get to see them as much as I’d like and I feel immense amounts of guilt because of that… but it’s sounding more and more like they’re seriously considering retirement and I can’t wait for that for them

Enjoying: the fact that the day is done and I can soon relax with a glass of wine and BACHELOR! Are you watching??

Feeling: slightly sluggish. Ready for some comfort food

Wearing: a flannel, jeans, thermal, cat shoes (pic included!)

Needing: someone to do my day job. So much work lately

Listening: to the sounds of Mila screeching in the background. #bliss LOL

Making: dinner! On the stove: black bean and sweet potato chili with sweet corn. I’ll top each bowl with sour cream, shredded cheddar, and cilantro because that’s how you chili

Eating: almost dinner. I’m still dreaming of the healthy energy balls I had this morning. So good, you guys! I found the recipe on Pinterest and they are a knockoff to Freshii balls that are way expensive

Drinking: water all day. BUT I just finished my evening pump which means it’s time for wine! SALUT <3

What are you currently??

What’s up, weekend 10/16

Hello, sweet peas! If all goes well, I’ll actually publish this post before 5pm this evening, ha! Did everyone have a good week? Do anything exciting? Did anyone take advantage of any Prime Day deals (if you did, please let me know what tickled your fancy in the comments!)? Personally, I’m kind of over the hype to be honest and I always feel this strange urge to splurge but I tend to just stock up on things I need around the house. Boring!

Anyway, let’s dive in to some gratitude for the week!

  • The circle of strong women I have surrounding me—this week, one of my friends tested negative for breast cancer (hallelujah!) and another is doing something very courageous and brave today. I consider myself so lucky to be in the company of women who have the ability to find humor and light in the midst of much darkness ❤️ I am so much stronger because of THEM
  • Surviving the week. It was so busy with work and life and sponsored content… making it to Friday seems like a really big accomplishment today
  • The comments I get on my posts. They mean so much to me
  • This little one 
  • Delicious Mexican takeout. WE FOUND A PLACE!!! Since I moved to Rockaway, I’ve had a hard time finding my go-to Mexican spot, BUT! Thanks to the pandemic and Uber Eats, we’ve discovered a delightful place in Morristown called Tacoria–YUM!
  • Exercising my right to vote. Of course, it looks a bit different this year and dropping off my ballot felt a bit anticlimactic without a sticker or any kind of fanfare, but if ever there was a time to rock the vote… THIS IS IT
  • Creative Halloween decor in the neighborhood. This one is my favorite and we see it every night on our walks
  • Sunny skies and changing leaves
  • Getting out to run errands. I realize that’s not an exciting bullet but a break from being tethered to something/someone was much needed (and I really loved taking a drive with the windows open)

How To Plan Ahead For An Easy Move (guest post)

This post is sponsored by  All in One Moving & Storage, Inc., but all opinions are entirely my own. 

Many years ago, I packed up my tiny shoebox apartment in Hoboken to begin a new adventure–one that included moving in with my then-boyfriend to the ‘burbs of Montclair, NJ. It was a huge life change. Further away from the city meant that I would have to navigate NJ Transit (if you’re from the area, you know what that’s like). The biggest memory of that day all these years later is how Bryan and I sat on my stoop waiting for the movers to arrive. THEY NEVER DID. In that moment, I panicked, I made 100 frantic phone calls that went unanswered, and Bryan figured out the closest U-Haul location so we could start the move by ourselves. My tiny arms still hurt at the thought of a third-floor walkup and that farkin’ Queen mattress.

That experience taught me a few important life lessons:
1) hire a reputable moving company and 
2) find someone who can think clearly when you’re a ball of stress and rage. 

It is with great pleasure that I welcome my IG friend Alex of The Berger Bungalow to my little corner of the world. Read her words below (and follow her on insta. She’s awesome!)

***

If you have ever moved in your life, you probably know how daunting and stressful it can be. Planning ahead, getting prepared, and staying organized can definitely help you cut down on the stress, but a lot of the time, you don’t know where to start. Follow this small list so you can learn more about how to plan ahead for an easy move:

Create A Timeline And Checklist

If there is absolutely anything that I am good at, it’s organization. There’s nothing I love more than creating a list, and then checking it off. Even if you hate getting organized, you will be really thankful that you created your lists (and checked them off) when it comes to a moving process. There is a lot to consider before and during a move, so staying organized is absolutely essential. I always create a timeline with important dates and times, a list of things that are really important (ie. if I forget to get them done, I am in big trouble), and then a list of everything else to check off as I start packing, signing any needed documents, etc. On your timeline, make sure you try to get everything done ahead of time, so you do not feel stressed when it is crunch time.

Get An Inspection Beforehand – If You’re Selling

If you are selling your home, getting an inspection done before you put it on the market can really help you out. If you are not familiar with the buying and selling process, one huge part of buying and selling a home is the inspection…and it can definitely make or break a sale. To avoid any unexpected huge expenses or hold-ups, get an inspection done beforehand to get any large ticketed items checked off in advance. Alternatively, you could choose not to do any of the needed fixes, but at least you could know what the prospective buyers might want you to fix before they purchase the home.

Purge As Much As You Can

Before you start packing up your boxes, purge what you can. It will not only save you time, but it will save you so much stress once you move into your new home, as well. The clothes that you haven’t worn since high school? Toss them. Books that you will never have a use for again? Consider selling or donating them. As winter approaches, consider donating any old blankets, jackets, or pants to the needy. There are so many ways to repurpose or sell your “junk” that you do not have a need for – and so many people will be very thankful.

Find A Reliable Moving Company

I know SO many people that have hired moving companies and have had terrible experiences. Don’t get stood up on the day-of and have to hire a last minute uHaul, but also don’t let these terrible experiences that you hear about scare you off from hiring a moving company. Why? Because they save you so much TIME, STRESS and SWEAT. I have not moved with a baby or a child yet, but can you even imagine how stressful it would be trying to get everything packed, to a new home, and unloaded/unpacked/set up in the new home? I can’t – that’s for sure.

So, how do you make sure that you are hiring a reliable moving company? Word of mouth, online reviews, and dig through their website to learn about the company/their services/etc. For example, All in One Moving & Storage, Inc. is a New Jersey moving company that claims to be the best in the area. They do long distance moving in New Jersey, residential moves, commercial moves, storage services, and more. But, how would you really know if they were the best? Read their reviews! All in One Moving & Storage has great reviews from what I found – and you can pull up all of their social media reviews directly from their website. On Facebook, they have a 5-star rating (based on 29 reviews), and all of the Google reviews that I scrolled through were also 5-star ratings.

They say, “All In One Moving is founded on the principle that people need to feel they can fully trust their moving company. Established in 2005, our expert movers are committed to your satisfaction and move, understanding that each move is unique and demands a unique combination of services. As such, we work with you to ensure a stress-free moving process, giving you freedom to focus on your relocation rather than deal with the headaches that come with moving.”

Hiring a reliable moving team is essential, but make sure you focus on finding a company that is actually reliable, such as All in One.

Use Containers That You Already Have

As you are packing, consider using containers that you already have in your home. Laundry baskets, clothing storage containers, trashcans (just clean them first!), pantry bins, luggage, etc. Not only is this a great way to start packing ahead of time since you have your containers on-hand, but it’s also a way to cut down on wasteful plastic bags and cardboard boxes that will just be thrown away after one use.

A Little Bribing Never Hurt

I mean, you have to do what you have to do, right? Bribe your family and friends with pizza, drinks, and other treats to make your move a lot faster and easier. No matter what you do to prepare for a move (unless you are hiring a company to take care of every single little detail), moving is still an extremely hefty process. One way you can lessen the load is by asking some of your best friends and family members to help you out. Having other people to help you can most definitely expedite the packing process and can also make the move way more fun. Show your family and friends some love by providing snacks, drinks, and maybe even offer to help them whenever they need it down the road!

Photo by HiveBoxx on Unsplash

What’s up, weekend 10/9

What a long strange week it’s been, am I right?! How are you all holding up? Welcome to Friday, and my little corner of the web where I share gratitude each Friday. Let’s dive in and don’t forget to give a little shoutout to Lindsay, who is on the mend from a recent surgery (send her some love!), and Beth, who is slowly coming back into the bloggy fold. Which is a good thing because I’ve missed her! Here are some things that made me happy this week. 

  • Solo shopping trip
  • Stroopwafels
  • All the memes from the Harris/Pence debate (I mean. There was a lot to dissect there, bug in hair notwithstanding)
  • Seasonal bowls from Playa Bowls
  • Cooking! This week I made black bean/spinach enchiladas and also a stir fry with tofu, yellow squash, and spinach in a ginger peanut sauce–it was pretty dope!
  • Refinancing! I didn’t realize that by doing so we would skip not just one but two mortgage payments and that is huge! Also getting a lower interest rate is much appreciated
  • Spooky houses on our evening walks

What’s on tap for you guys this weekend? We’re visiting my mom for her b-day on Sunday but that’s about it. We’ll likely binge Schitt’s Creek and I’ll put up some more decorations, maybe I’ll read and cook. I’m looking forward to some quiet time away from the computer and bonding with the family. I never have enough time with them during the week! Catch you guys on the flipside! XOXO

Goals October 2020


I’m trying to keep things simple these days which impacts just about everything in my life, including these monthly goals. I don’t want these posts to feel like a chore and would much rather prioritize smaller, manageable tasks than crazy lofty goals I’ll kick myself for not achieving each month. It’s all about managing expectations, you guys. Right now, I think we could all do with a bit of grace, because WE ARE DOING IT. WE ARE LIVING THROUGH A PANDEMIC. And sometimes half ass is still better than no ass. Or something. Anyway, let’s get started! 

Last month I set out to achieve the following:

  • Put the phone down more often to spend quality time with the family–DONE. I like this one so much, I’m adding it back in for October 🙂 
  • Finish the book Eight Perfect Murders.–NEIN. Whomp. I actually had to return it to the library because it was terribly overdue. Maybe next time!
  • More family fun activities–DONE! We had friends over, visited family (including my cousin’s family; it was the first time they met Mila), we dined outdoors, went to the park and farm, and attended a community-wide garage sale. 

Survey says: 2/3. Not too shabby, right? Let’s dive into some goals for October:

  • Various projects around the house—sort office, organize pantry, and bring some of the outside plants indoors. I know nothing about gardening so this should be a fun experiment
  • Make a sizable credit card payment. We are in the process of refinancing on our home which means we’ll close this week and can defer our October payment. I’d love to pay off as much credit card debt as possible
  • Minimal screen time. As I mentioned above, I really liked the addition of this one last month and hope to continue the momentum in October
  • Finish a book? That seems lofty but I’ll add it as a bonus goal

What’s on your list of goals for October? Let me know below (or add your blog link so I can stop by and read!). XOXO

Photo by Gillian Lingard on Unsplash

What’s up, weekend 10/2(ish)

Another week where I failed to publish my gratitude post on a Friday (*insert facepalm emoji*). Sorry about that, you guys. Hope everyone is enjoying their Saturday afternoons, and that you have something exciting scheduled for the weekend. Here’s my happy for the week!

  • Having friends over on two separate occasions to meet baby–it was so nice to sit outside, catch up, eat foods, and laugh in good company again <3
  • Enjoying breakfast outdoors with Bryan’s family
  • Schitt’s Creek (I can’t believe it took me so long to get into this show; now I am properly obsessed)
  • Baking banana bread. For the millionth time this year
  • Getting paid gigs for my blog finally (I’ve let this space slide but I really want to carve out more time for blogging before the end of the year, to get back on track); I have a few sponsored posts in the works that I’m excited to share with you guys
  • The many faces of Mila (who is six months old as of yesterday! Can you believe it?? LOOK AT THOSE LEGS!)
  • An escape to the library and new books to read

And there you have it. Let me know what has been making your days a bit brighter lately. We could all use some happy, right? XOXO and catch you all on the flipside!

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