Movie Night to see Practical Magic 2!

✨ A Little Practical Magic on a Tuesday Night

This week is going by fairly fast, and I’m not complaining one bit! Before I know it, it’ll be Friday again, and you all know how I feel about Fridays. 😂

Yesterday was a little different from my normal workweek routine because I had plans with my friend Nancy. We had decided we were going to go see Practical Magic 2, and I was really looking forward to it. I hadn’t watched any trailers and honestly didn’t know exactly what to expect. Sometimes I think that’s the best way to see a movie—you don’t have somebody else’s opinion sitting in your head before the opening credits even roll.

After work, I headed over to my nail place, Uptown Nails with John, only to discover that I had completely forgotten he is closed on Tuesdays. Of course, I pull up, don’t see the OPEN sign, and immediately think, “Oh, yes… that’s right.” 😂

Since I was already out and had something else I needed to do, I called Michelle. I had ordered a fundraiser item from Angel and was going to give her the money, but they were at Walmart clothes shopping. I didn’t really want to go wandering through Walmart just to hand over some money, so I decided I’d catch up with them another time.

And then my stomach reminded me that I hadn’t eaten.

So I stopped at Arby’s and got a ham slider, a small Coke and a small fry. Nothing fancy—just enough to keep me from sitting in a movie theater starving to death. Because let’s be honest, going to the movies hungry is a rookie mistake. 😂

Instead of sitting in the parking lot with the car running, I found a nice shaded spot over by Ross department store, turned the car off, rolled down the windows and sat there eating my little Arby’s meal. Now, it was 103 degrees outside, but there was actually a nice breeze blowing through the car. For a few minutes, I just sat there and enjoyed it.

Sometimes it’s the simplest little moments that are surprisingly relaxing.

I made my way over to Nancy’s around 5:00. She had been gone most of the day because she had a breast biopsy, and when I got there she was busy fluttering around trying to catch up on everything she hadn’t been able to do while she was gone. We visited for a little bit, then headed out for our movie night.

We got to the Palace Twin Theater in Duncan around 6:15.

Now here’s where our luck—or lack thereof—comes in.

The theater was giving free admission to the first 40 people through the doors.

Guess who was numbers 41 and 42?

Yep.

Of course we were. 😂😂

I mean, seriously. We were two people too late! But honestly, the admission was still less than $5 each, so I wasn’t going to complain. That’s a pretty inexpensive night out these days.

Then we hit the concession stand, because apparently a ham slider at 5:00 wasn’t enough to keep me away from movie theater popcorn.

I got a small popcorn and a large drink, and the whole thing was right around $11. Again, I thought that was pretty reasonable. I remember when you could get movie snacks for practically nothing, but these days I’ll take an $11 popcorn-and-drink combo and call it a win. 😂

And then the movie started.

🎬 So, What Did I Think of

Practical Magic 2

?

I actually really enjoyed it!

The original Practical Magic came out in 1998 and eventually developed a pretty devoted following, even though it wasn’t initially the big hit that it became over the years. The sequel brings Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman back as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, along with some familiar faces, while bringing the younger generation of the Owens family into the story. 

The new movie picks up nearly three decades after the original and continues the story of the Owens family and their complicated magical legacy. This time, Sally’s daughters become much more involved, and the family curse once again becomes a big part of the story. 

But honestly, I wasn’t sitting there analyzing the storyline or wondering whether it was going to win an Oscar.

I was there to have fun.

And I did.

Sandra Bullock has always been one of my favorites, so seeing her back as Sally was a big part of the fun for me. And Nicole Kidman? I really enjoy watching what she has been doing these days, too. Seeing the two of them together again brought back that familiar sisterly chemistry that made the original so memorable.

And if you’re a fan of the first movie, there are plenty of little nostalgic touches that make this feel like a return to that world rather than just a completely unrelated movie with the same name. 

I won’t give away the movie because I know some of you may want to see it yourselves.

But I will say this:

I thought it was good.

And sometimes that’s all I need from a movie.

Give me a fun story, actors I enjoy, a little nostalgia, some magic, a few laughs and a friend sitting beside me, and I’m happy.

☕ A Little Midweek Fun

Nancy and I don’t get to do things together nearly as often as I’d like. Life gets busy. Work gets in the way. Family gets in the way. Appointments, errands, chores, and all those other things that seem to fill up our calendars happen.

That’s one thing I’m realizing more and more as I get older.

I want to make more time for my friends.

Not just say, “We need to get together sometime.”

Actually get together.

Go to a movie.

Grab dinner.

Take a little road trip.

Sit somewhere and drink coffee.

Laugh about absolutely nothing.

Those are the moments I want more of.

I dropped Nancy back off after the movie and made it home around 9:30. Now, you’d think I would have walked through the door and immediately gone to bed since I knew my alarm was going off at 4:30 a.m.

But nope.

Apparently, my brain didn’t get that memo.

I stayed up until about 10:15 before finally going to bed.

And let me just tell you…

My rear is dragging a little bit this morning. 😂

But you know what?

I don’t go out very often during the workweek. Most evenings I’m home, and that’s perfectly okay with me. But every once in a while, a Tuesday night movie with a good friend is worth being a little tired the next morning.

Especially when you almost got FREE admission.

Almost. 😂

So here’s to a little midweek adventure, inexpensive movie snacks, missing free admission by exactly two people, and making time for the people who make life more fun.

Sometimes you just need a little Practical Magic in your Tuesday night. ✨🎬

And maybe a large movie-theater drink.

Because hydration is important, right? 😉

#MidweekAdventures #FriendshipAndFun #PracticalMagic2 #MovieNight #LifeAfter50

Living Life

Wednesday, May 27th, 2026

Happy Midweek!

I cannot believe we are already wrapping up another Wednesday. Sometimes it feels like this year is moving at lightning speed, and other times I feel like I am just trying to keep up with my own thoughts and projects. Lately, I have really been procrastinating on getting my blog updated. I honestly do not know why I do this every single time. Maybe I get overwhelmed trying to figure out where to start, or maybe my creativity simply shifts into other things like journaling, letter writing, or planning little adventures. I tend to get stuck in my own head sometimes, and before I know it, the blog gets pushed to the back burner again.

Even so, today I am focusing on doing my best at work and helping my members however I can. We have new girls coming out of training, and apparently I must be doing something right because management keeps having coworkers sit in and listen to my calls. I still do not know if that is a blessing or a curse! It definitely adds a little stress to the day because I do not exactly see myself as a teacher, but I will absolutely do my best to help encourage and support them.

After work, I need to make a quick Walmart run for the essentials: milk, snacks, and of course a few Monster drinks to survive the rest of this week and probably part of next week too. I already know how this trip will go. I will walk in needing five things and somehow walk out with twenty. Walmart has a way of convincing you that you suddenly need items you never even considered before entering the store!

I also need to pick up a few snacks for Mr. C since this weekend I will be heading to Tulsa with Cherrie for our birthday weekend getaway. I am honestly so excited about this trip. We are trying to keep things budget-friendly, which works out perfectly because Tulsa is celebrating the Route 66 Centennial this weekend. There are going to be so many free and low-cost events happening all over the city.

One thing I am especially excited about is visiting the fire department museum. They are offering free admission along with hot dogs, hamburgers, and root beer floats. If you have followed my blog for any amount of time, then you already know firefighters absolutely have my heart and always will. There is just something about first responders — firefighters, police officers, military personnel — that I deeply admire and respect. But firefighters in particular? I cannot even fully explain it. They have always held a special place in my heart.

On the way home tonight, I am planning to grab supper from Braum’s. I am getting their grilled chicken strawberry salad, and I am being smart about it by dividing it into two meals. Half for supper tonight and the leftovers for lunch tomorrow. I even remembered to ask for an extra dressing this time, which honestly feels like a personal victory. I will probably throw in a few crackers along with some pepper jack and cheddar cheese, and lunch tomorrow will be easy, filling, and pretty healthy too.

Health-wise, my sciatica nerve does seem to be calming down a little bit, thankfully. Nights are still the hardest part, and I am really hoping I can sleep in our bedroom all night without having to move around trying to get comfortable. Fingers crossed for a decent night of sleep because that makes such a huge difference in everything else.

For now, though, I am simply taking this week one day at a time, trying to focus on the good moments, looking forward to Tulsa, and reminding myself that not everything has to be perfect to still be meaningful.

#MidweekRamblings #TulsaBound #Route66Centennial #BirthdayWeekend #FirefighterHeart #WalmartRuns #BraumsDinner #SciaticaStruggles #EverydayLife #OklahomaLiving #JournalingLife #SimpleMoments

Midweek Check in

                                    Midweek Rambling — May 6, 2026 ☀️

It’s 6:40 a.m., and just like most mornings, I’m on my way to work with a little quiet time to myself—and honestly, I’ve come to really treasure this part of my day. There’s something about the drive that helps me slow down mentally before everything speeds up. It’s my time to run through my to-do list, think about what I’m grateful for, and even come up with ideas for my Mora journal (which, let’s be honest, I am a little behind on right now).

Speaking of things to look forward to… my birthday is coming up on May 9th! 🎉 I think Luther and I are going to keep things simple and stay close to home, which sounds just perfect to me. I’ve been thinking maybe ordering some Inner Urban for dinner or even just doing a sweet little ice cream date at Dairy Queen in Chickasha. Nothing fancy—just time together, which is really all I want anyway.

Now, the bigger celebration is coming later this month, and I am SO excited. Mr. C planned a trip for me and my BFF Sherry to Tulsa the weekend of May 30th, and I cannot wait. I already have a little list going: the farmers market, the botanical garden, possibly the Gilcrease Museum, and definitely exploring downtown. I’ve also been seeing videos about the “Center of the Universe,” and I kind of want to test it out for myself—because how fun is that?

Financially, I’m trying to be mindful heading into the trip. Luther is helping out, and I’ll be getting a small bonus from work on the 15th. It may not be huge, but every little bit helps—and if I don’t have to dip into my checking account too much, that’s a win in my book.

On the creative side of things, I got a little “happy mail” envelope yesterday from a journaling group I’m in. It was a $3 junk journal supply swap, and while I wouldn’t say I was disappointed, I did realize I already had a lot of what was sent. That’s kind of the gamble with those, though—you never really know what you’re going to get. Still, I’ll definitely use the items, and it’s always fun to get something in the mail.

Today, I’m sending out a Swap Bot envelope of my own, packed with happy mail. I may have gone a little overboard (okay, definitely over an ounce 😅), but I just really want whoever receives it to feel a little extra joy when they open it.

As for the weekend—birthday celebrations and a whole lot of relaxing at home with Luther. And honestly, that sounds just right.

Finding Balance In The Everyday

 

Today is Wednesday, and sometimes I catch myself wondering if my life has fallen into a predictable routine—work, home, time with my husband, and scrolling through YouTube and TikTok. Most afternoons, as soon as I leave work, I call my husband. We usually visit for 10–12 minutes, catching up before I make the rest of my 30-minute drive home. If I have time, I call my best friend, Cherrie—spelled C-H-E-R-R-I-E—and we talk about anything we might have missed during the week.

Once I’m home, Luther almost always has dinner ready. We eat, talk about our day, and then wind down by watching the news. We tend to go to bed early. With Luther’s health, he doesn’t always feel like sitting in the living room late, and that’s okay—quiet evenings together have become part of our rhythm.

Tomorrow, November 20th, my oldest son, Blake, turns 34 years old! I don’t know how the years passed so quickly. I’m incredibly proud of the man he has become. He’s a wonderful father, a strong partner to Jessica, a dedicated worker, and someone who continues to set goals and meet them. I just can’t say enough good things about him.

But as time keeps moving, I find myself thinking more about my own future—how long I’ll be here, what I want the rest of my life to look like. I’m fortunate that my health is mostly good, aside from high blood pressure and being overweight. I’m working on eating better, getting more physical activity, and staying motivated to do the right things for my body and mind.

My job, as blessed as I am to have it, is extremely stressful. The pay is the best in our area, and the benefits couldn’t be better, but talking on the phone all day can be draining. Not every member who calls in is cheerful—many are dealing with real-life struggles like job loss, homelessness, bankruptcy, or accidents. I try to listen with compassion and help them find solutions, but some days the emotional load weighs heavy.

Would I love a less stressful job? Absolutely. Would it pay the same? Probably not. So for now, I’m sitting still, trusting that the right path will reveal itself in time. I’m seriously considering retiring at 63 if I can afford it. I’ve worked my whole life, and the thought of slowing down sounds peaceful. My biggest concern is that I didn’t prepare as well as I should have for retirement.

I’m looking for small ways to improve that now—putting aside more money, adjusting my 401(k), and finding little “tips and tricks” to grow my savings. I’m planning to increase my 401(k) contributions next year by a point or two and start building more cushion for the future.

These mid-week moments make me pause and reflect on where I’ve been, where I am, and where I’m headed. Life may be predictable at times, but it’s also full of love, responsibility, and the quiet beauty  of everyday life.