Thursday Vibes

Thursday Check-In: Beating the Heat & Checking Things Off My List

Good morning, friends!

Grab a cup of coffee and come sit with me for a few minutes.

It’s going to be another scorcher here in Oklahoma today, with temperatures expected to reach around 107 degrees. Summer is definitely making its presence known! Thankfully, my employer has been letting us wear shorts all week because the air conditioning in our building hasn’t been working properly. They have also placed large stand-up fans throughout nearly every aisle, which has made a huge difference. I even keep a small fan on my desk. Not only does it help keep me cool, but it also creates a little background noise that helps drown out some of the conversations around me while I’m working.

I can’t believe we’re already to Thursday. The weekend is finally in sight!

After work this evening, I’ll be making a quick trip to Walmart to pick up some of Landon’s back-to-school supplies. Brody and Savannah have already purchased quite a bit from his school list, so we just wanted to help out with a few of the remaining items. I looked everything up online this morning, and our total should be around $63, which isn’t bad at all. We’re also planning to pick up a few classroom donation items like cotton balls, sidewalk chalk, colored copy paper, and a few other miscellaneous supplies that teachers always seem to need.

I still need to buy back-to-school outfits for Wesley, Angel, Clifford, and Max. I’m thinking Old Navy will probably be my weekend destination since I’ve always had good luck finding clothes for them there.

Today’s To-Do List

1. Fill my weekly pill organizer so I stay on track with taking my medications every morning.
2. Finish my July journal before the month comes to an end.
3. Continue sorting through the tote bags in my sunroom, especially the ones filled with old paperwork that needs to be shredded or tossed.
4. Stop by Burger King after work and pick up dinner for Mr. C and me.
5. Focus on getting 10 saves at work today so I can finish the month strong.

I’ve also been spending some time looking over my budget, and I realized I owe a little more on my vehicle than I originally thought. The balance is down to about $790, though, so I’m finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

The best financial news this week is that I canceled two subscriptions that I really wasn’t using anymore. That will save us about $100 every month, and that money can now go toward more important goals.

One of those goals is paying down my credit card debt. I really don’t want to head into retirement with debt hanging over my head. I’ve struggled with finances at different times throughout my life, and while I’ve come a long way, I know I still have work to do. That’s okay, though. Progress doesn’t happen overnight. It happens one step, one payment, and one good decision at a time.

That’s what I’m focusing on today.

Easy Vanilla Caramel Iced Coffee ☕

If you’re trying to stay cool, here’s one of my favorite easy iced coffee recipes.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chilled strong coffee or cold brew
• ½ cup milk (any kind)
• 1 tablespoon caramel syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla syrup or ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Ice
• Whipped cream (optional)

Simply fill a glass with ice, pour in the coffee, milk, caramel, and vanilla, then stir well. Top with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel if you’re feeling a little fancy. It tastes like a coffee shop treat without the coffee shop price!

Well, I’d better get ready for work. I hope you have a wonderful Thursday! Stay hydrated, try to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day if you can, and remember that even the smallest step toward your goals is still progress.

Thank you so much for stopping by and spending a little part of your morning with me. I always appreciate your visits.

Cheers,

Karen

Grocery Shopping with Nancy

 

If we were sitting together with a cup of coffee this morning, I’d have so much to tell you because this weekend was one of those weekends that filled my heart to overflowing.

On Saturday, my childhood friend Nancy and I headed to Oklahoma City for a much-needed girls’ day. First stop? Dollar Tree! I needed a gift bag and a birthday card for Sophie’s birthday party on Sunday. Of course, I also had one very important mission: finding those famous TikTok pens that everyone keeps talking about. Sadly, they weren’t there this time, but I have a feeling I’ll keep looking!

Next, we wandered through Burlington, and I found the cutest little dress for Sophie. I couldn’t leave empty-handed without grabbing a couple of things for myself too. I picked up my favorite Not Your Mother’s shampoo for only $8.99 (which felt like a steal these days!) and some Right Guard for Women for just $3.99. I love it when practical purchases feel like bargain victories.

Then we somehow managed to spend more at Dollar Tree than we originally planned…imagine that! I grabbed apple juice for Brody’s bunch because those boys can go through juice like it’s an Olympic sport. I also found zero-sugar Watermelon Monster drinks for only $1 each. Now that’s what I call a happy surprise!

By lunchtime we were starving, so we stopped for pho. Nancy ordered one of the noodle bowls, and I went with chicken fried rice. Now, let me just say…Nancy absolutely enjoyed her meal, but I quickly realized pho probably isn’t my thing. I need my meat to look like it has introduced itself to a grill or a skillet somewhere along the way. That beautifully simmered beef just wasn’t convincing enough for me. I think I’ll happily stick with fried rice!

Our biggest adventure of the day was WinCo. It was my very first visit, and wow—that place is huge! It felt like pushing a shopping cart through an airport terminal. I spent a couple of hours working through my grocery list. Some prices were much cheaper than what I normally pay at Crest in Norman, especially the meat department, while other items were about the same or even a little higher. Overall, though, I left pretty impressed and will definitely be making another trip.

Before heading home, we made one last stop at Aldi in Chickasha so I could buy everything for Sophie’s birthday charcuterie board. Let’s just say I walked in thinking, “I’ll only need a few things,” and walked out about $50 later. Isn’t it amazing how cheese can quietly empty your wallet? I figured I’d rather have too much than not enough, so I may have gone just a tiny bit overboard.

Once we finally made it home, Nancy headed back to her house while Mr. C and I unloaded what felt like enough groceries to feed a small town. Thankfully, we got everything put away in record time.

Then came the best surprise of the entire day.

Lane and Landon came to spend the night!

It had been quite a while since Lane had stayed with us, and honestly, I can’t even remember if Landon had ever spent the night before. We had the sweetest evening together. I got down on the floor with Lane and built all kinds of creations with the magnetic blocks while Landon climbed up beside me on the loveseat for some much-needed Nana cuddles.

Mr. C had picked up two sets of magnetic blocks a while back, and we weren’t sure how much the boys would enjoy them. Let’s just say they were a huge hit! They stayed entertained for hours, and seeing their imaginations at work was worth every penny.

I headed to bed before everyone else, but I think Landon finally drifted off around 10:30, while Lane held out until almost 11:00. They made themselves comfortable on the living room couch since the guest room gets a little warm during these Oklahoma summers.

Before I called it a night, I tackled one last project. I started cutting all of the cheese for Sunday’s charcuterie board into different shapes and slices. It took a little while, but I was so glad to have that job finished before my head hit the pillow.

By the end of the day, my feet were tired, my refrigerator was full, my heart was even fuller, and I was reminded once again that the very best weekends aren’t always the relaxing ones—they’re the ones filled with friends, family, laughter, and a little too much cheese.

I’d call that a pretty perfect Saturday.

#CoffeeWithKaren #WeekendRecap #NanaLife #GirlsDayOut #OklahomaLiving #GroceryAdventures #MakingMemories #CharcuterieFun #GrandkidGiggles #BlessedBeyondMeasure

Staying Intentional with Decluttering

 

Friday Coffee Chat: Little Changes, Big Progress

Happy Friday, friends!

Can you believe this week is already coming to an end? It honestly feels like it just started. Thankfully, work yesterday was fairly slow, which made the day go by a little easier. I finished with 10 saves. My goal was 12, so I fell a little short, but I’m still grateful for the 10 that I was able to help.

Lately, it seems like my job has become a little more challenging. With the economy, job losses, and families trying to cut every expense they can, I completely understand why people have to make difficult financial decisions. At the same time, I truly believe in the service we offer because I’ve seen how much it has helped people over the years. Sometimes it’s just about planting a seed and hoping it helps someone down the road.

One thing that has brought me so much peace this week has been digital decluttering. I’ve also been working through paperwork, and I can honestly tell a difference in how much calmer my mind feels. It’s amazing how getting rid of little bits of clutter—whether it’s around the house or inside my phone—can make such a big impact.

So far this week I’ve accomplished:

1. Unsubscribed from five email lists.
2. Deleted more unnecessary screenshots from my phone.
3. Wrote two cancellation letters to eliminate monthly expenses.
4. Finished my IRS paperwork and updated my direct deposit information.

Speaking of those cancellation letters…

After work yesterday, I stopped by my chiropractic appointment. I’ve really enjoyed getting adjusted, and it’s definitely helped my back and sciatic nerve. Right now my membership is about $80 a month, which includes four visits. As much as I like it, I’m trying to be intentional with every dollar I spend, so I handed them my cancellation letter while I was there.

The chiropractor mentioned they have some lower-cost plans that we can discuss over my remaining visits. I may end up switching to something that allows me to come once or twice a month instead. I still want to take care of my health while also making smart financial decisions.

I also received confirmation that my Minifig subscription has been canceled, which will save me another $20 each month. Every little bit adds up!

Then came the surprise of the day…

When I got home, I found a letter from the IRS in my mailbox. I immediately thought, “Oh great…what did I do now?” I assumed maybe I owed additional taxes since I had already heard back from the state earlier this year.

Instead, the letter explained that I had forgotten to include my banking information for direct deposit! They simply needed me to log in through ID.me, scan the QR code they provided, and enter my account information so they could send my refund.

I couldn’t help but laugh at myself.

The refund is only about $249, but I’ll gladly take it! It should arrive within the next couple of weeks, and I’ve already decided exactly where it’s going.

Straight to my Jeep payment.

Between that refund, my regular payments, and the small work bonus I’ll receive in August, I’m getting so close to paying my Jeep completely off. Right now I only owe about $1,290, and my goal is to make two larger payments in July and August, with the remaining balance paid in September—or sooner if I’m able to send in a little extra.

That feels incredibly exciting.

This afternoon after work I’m planning to add more family photos to my digital picture frame and spend some time learning more about my electronic calendar. I want to start using it for my weekly menus, appointments, and daily to-do lists so it becomes a tool I actually use instead of just another gadget sitting on the counter.

Little by little, I’m creating a life that feels less cluttered, less stressful, and much more intentional. It isn’t happening overnight, but every email I unsubscribe from, every drawer I clean out, every debt I pay down, and every small decision I make is moving me closer to the peaceful life I’m working toward.

Thank you for stopping by my blog and spending a little time with me today. I always enjoy our coffee chats, and I hope your Friday is filled with a few small victories of your own.

Talk to you later!

Cheers, Karen

Been sick this week!

 

Some weeks just don’t go according to plan, and this one definitely threw me a curveball.

Tuesday morning, I made it to work thinking I could push through whatever was going on. Well…my body had other ideas. By about 7:45 that morning, I was sitting at my desk feeling absolutely miserable. I was so sick that I actually started crying. My boss came over and asked what was wrong, and all I could say was, “I’m so sick.”

She took one look at me and told me to go home and not worry about work. She also asked me to let her know around 2:00 that afternoon how I was feeling so she could decide whether I needed to stay home on Wednesday. I was so out of it that I had Mr. C wake me up around 1:45 so I could figure out if I was capable of functioning. The answer was a definite “No.” I sent Sherry a message letting her know I still wasn’t feeling well, and Wednesday became another day of rest.

Getting older has definitely taught me one thing. At 59 years old, I don’t get sick very often, but when I do…I don’t do anything halfway. If my body is going to have a virus, it apparently wants the deluxe package. My stomach was rolling, I was nauseated, and I had a pounding headache in my left temple that just would not let up. Tylenol didn’t seem to make much of a difference, and honestly, I couldn’t even think straight enough to decide if I should call Dr. Angie.

When I left work Tuesday morning, I called Mr. C, and yes…I was crying. He immediately offered to come get me, along with Brody, but I told him not to. They were already at Brody and Savannah’s because Mr. C was planning to watch Lane while Brody, Savannah, Sophie, and Landon went to Landon’s doctor’s appointment.

I just wanted to get home as quickly as I could and crawl into bed.

Even though I told him there wasn’t anything he could do for me and that he should stay where he was, he came home anyway. They simply took Lane along with them to the doctor’s appointment instead.

That’s just who he is.

I felt bad because it completely changed his plans for the day, but he told me he wanted to be home in case I needed anything. I am so incredibly blessed to have a husband who always thinks about everyone else before himself. He takes such good care of me, and I never take that for granted.

By Wednesday morning, I was finally beginning to feel a little better, although that stubborn headache was still hanging around like an unwanted houseguest who couldn’t take a hint. I spent most of the day in bed because I simply had no energy. Thankfully, by this morning—Thursday, July 2—I finally feel like myself again.

Today is our work potluck before everyone enjoys the Fourth of July holiday. Ironically, I was the one who suggested we have one! My original plan was to make my famous piña colada cake, but after spending two days sick, I figured my coworkers probably wouldn’t appreciate me showing up saying, “Don’t worry…I only sneezed on it once!” 😂

So I pivoted.

Instead of baking, I’m bringing a supreme pizza from Casey’s, along with some festive sugar cookies, plates, napkins, and silverware in navy blue to give everything a little Fourth of July feel.

This morning Mr. C asked if I was taking my insulated lunch bag to work. I decided against it because sometimes simplifying life is the best decision. I packed a little fruit cup, a Zero Sugar Monster, a Zero Sugar Cherry Dr Pepper, and a bottle of water. Ice is free in the break room, so if my drinks get warm, I’ll survive.

My goal today is simple: make lots of saves, enjoy lunch with my coworkers, and ease back into normal life.

After work, I’m finally getting my nails done—which is long overdue—and then I’m stopping by Johnny’s Restaurant to pick up dinner. Mr. C wants chicken fried steak, and I’m planning on ordering a club sandwich. The best part? We’ll both have leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

Sometimes life reminds us that our plans can change in a heartbeat. Thankfully, good people, a little rest, and a lot of grace can help get us back on our feet.

Here’s hoping the rest of the holiday weekend is full of fireworks, good food, and absolutely no surprise viruses!