Good morning 😊 It’s a little dreary and damp this morning but our drinks will keep us warm. I’m linking up with Kristen & Gretch today to share what’s new. Grab some coffee- let’s chat!
At the start of 2018 I was sick for nearly two weeks. Being sick is so frustrating. After having my throat swabbed and blood tested, I was told it was just a common virus and they couldn’t prescribe any drugs. Infuriating. “Take Tylonel and cough drops for a few days,” they said. More like overdose on Nyquil and pray to the healing goddesses for my lung capacity to come back 😑 Whatever. I’m grateful it’s gone now. After I finished complaining I’d ask how you’re feeling. If you said anything less than “Great!” I’d probably slide away from you. No offense.
Things have been stressful lately 😟 Not my story to tell, but we’ve just had a troubling few weeks. As far as schedules go, January was a slow month for K and I, but things are about to pick up for the next 3 or 4 months (at least). It’s a challenge to juggle professional and personal strife. If we were having coffee I’d ask how life in general is going for you. I hope you’ve have a happy 2018 so far.
On a brighter note, I asked forced two of my best friends to buy concert tickets with me to see Kenny Chesney, Old Dominion, and Thomas Rhett this summer!! (Thanks for the heads up, Laura!) I AM SO EXCITED. We’re seeing them in Columbus so we can pre-game at Kayla’s, uber to the stadium, and uber right back! Easy, cheap, and safe! Have you seen any of these artists live?? I saw Kenny last year and OD the year before that, but I’m SO EXCITED to see them again! Any (summer) concerts in your future??
Speaking of music, I really like Taylor Swift’s album Reputation. It feels good to just turn it up and jam. No shame, friends.
Guys… I’m the weirdo who’s GLAD for some snow before spring turns the whole country icky. (I hate spring… allergies and thunderstorms (which give my dog fits) and mud and the smell of dirt. BLEH.) Are you suffering from the winter blues? I wouldn’t judge you if you said you were ready for spring.
Before we start reaching for our coats and scarves I’d remember to tell you a funny little story. While two of my best friends live hours away, my other bff and her husband and two kids live a short walk away. We moved to her neighborhood in the fall and pinpointed that her house was on a hill a few streets away. Last night we turned off all our lights and she flickered hers off and on and then I did the same. I can’t tell you how hard I laughed at the nearby hillside lighting up and going dark. Totally silly and juvenile, but I love that I have framily so close.
Sigh… my coffee is growing cold. Is yours?
Last but certainly not least, Alexandra and Rachel have been driving the Gratitude Train over at Year of Gratitude since the start of 2018. Every Friday they have a guest contributor and tomorrow it’s me! Pop over there and get a rare Friday dose of me if you want to 😉
Life as Louise 
EVERYONE is sick! norovirus and the flu is wreaking havoc around here so i’ve been secluding myself indoors. glad you’re on the mend.
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K hasn’t gotten sick yet (which is a damn miracles) but I was down for two weeks. Fortunately, no flu here. Whew. We spent all week at a convention and we’re hoping on a plane to fly to Texas for another one so I’m doubtful that we’ll keep our health. Ughhh!
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Ugh being sick is the worst, but I’m glad that you’re feeling better! We saw Thomas Rhett last year at the rodeo and he was great live! We also had tickets to OD but they canceled their show for personal reasons. I’m hoping we’ll get to see them eventually!
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I always think it’ll be nice to slow down and pamper myself when I’m sick, but I just end up miserable and unmotivated and lazy.
TR is the only one I haven’t seen! I’m excited to see him live this summer! Glad to hear you liked him!
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Being sick is the absolute worst and I’m so glad I’m not at work during this time because it just gets passed back and forth like crazy. Concerts are my JAM (silly pun)- we are going to Taylor in Cleveland this Summer (my hubby LOVES her) and plan to see Elton John, another favorite of his in October for the farewell tour. Hope the rest of your week is good and that you keep feeling better and better!
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That’s so funny, Emelia. A few years ago when we saw Taylor Swift it was because K loves her. Hahahaha. Apparently her music really appeals to husbands. Seeing Elton John’s farewell tour would be SO memorable!!
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I’m sorry you were sick so long! I’m trying to rally people to go see Kenny with me! I’ve seen him twice and both times were awesome. I’m also seeing Jason Aldean – except actually we’re going for Luke Combs. My husband played rugby with him in college so every time he’s here, we go!
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I was SO blown away by our last Kenny concert. I’m excited for this summer!
I’d love to see Jason Aldean! My husband really likes him, too.
Too funny about Luke Combs. That’s awesome! Any backstage perks come with that?? Ha!
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Oh no! Sorry to hear the flu/cold bug hit you so hard! Everyone seems to have been hit this year. I was fortunate that my cold was really mild, although it did keep me home on New Year’s Eve, which was a huge bummer. And yes, Nyquil is always, always my buddy too when I’m suffering from a cold. It’s kind of weird because I love music but concerts don’t really excite me. Maybe because I’ve never really been to a great one?
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I’m just glad K didn’t get any sickness. We’re about to fly to TX, though, so I have a feeling it’s coming for him.
You need to find yourself a good concert. I’ve been to so many… it’s kind of ridiculous. Lol
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I’m sure being sick didn’t help the stressful things. Ugh, hope all your yuckies are behind you.
I need to con someone to buying tickets to go to def leopard & journey with me.
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Being sick definitely made it tough to be there for people =/
I am not the concert-mate for you with those two artists, but I’m sure you’ll find someone!! That’d be a great concert!
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Ugh, being sick is the worst. I’m glad you’re starting to feel better. I actually like getting some snow before it starts to warm up, but I wouldn’t complain about warmer weather either just so I can get outside. LOL
Ooh I love Thomas Rhett! I’m sure you’ll have a great time. Columbus is like two hours from me – how cool! I have tickets to see Niall Horan and Maren Morris in June, but that’s it so far. I’m so excited though as I love them both and have never seen them. I DO plan on getting tickets to see X Ambassadors soon. I’ve seen them live about three times, and they are amazinggg.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
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I’m starting to feel like I might accept some warmer weather… lol. We’ll be in Texas soon, though, so I’ll just get my fix then 😉
I’m so excited to see TR! And I love attending concerts in Columbus. So convenient for me!
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Ugh, we’ve had the same crud going on for a few weeks, too. It seems like my kids keep passing it back and forth to each other. We definitely have different taste in music. Haha! My summer concerts so far are Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and Niall Horan. I’m all about that pop music! I love winter and hope we get some more snow, but spring in WA is glorious! It rains, but it’s less gray than the winter and when the sun comes out, EVERYONE goes outside, which is so uplifting after a long winter. I love the lights story! Growing up, my best friend and I lived two houses away. There was a one story house between ours, so we’d go to our upstairs windows and yell at each other. Now my kids’ best friends live two houses away and they try to do the same thing. So fun!
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I’m so grateful that K didn’t catch anything from me. Whew!
Hahaha! I have seen Taylor Swift before, though!! I saw the Red tour.
The dreariness of spring kind of brings me down. Plus I’m not really a summer girl so there’s no real reward at the end. Lol.
I love that your kids are getting the same experience as you!! That’s adorable!
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That is so cute! Having friends close is the best!
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I love living this close to Erica! I walked over there a few days ago and thought about how fortunate I feel that I’m able to do that!
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Please know you are not alone in stressful crap that’s not your story to tell. I am right there with you.
I don’t know any of that music. At all. But I’m glad it makes you happy.
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Thank you. I hope that your stress situations are getting resolved or at least a little easier. Ours have kind of plateaued. Ughhh.
It’s all country music, lol. I swore I’d never go to/enjoy country concerts… but I was wrong. Ha.
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I was sick earlier this year, too, and it’s not a fun way to start a new year. Hope February is a better month for you!
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Not at all!! Hope you’re feeling better & February is treating you well!
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Being sick is the worst!! Especially when you can’t do anything about it. I hope that whatever is stressful gets better soon.
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Thanks so much, Carolann! I have a feeling that we’re in between sickness right now… lol. We have some travel ahead of us so I’m fearful that it can’t be avoided. Sigh.
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I hope you are feeling better! Almost everyone I know is sick. I’ve been hand sanitizing and taking my vitamins like a champ! I just don’t have the time to get sick.
& We had one of those “not my story to tell” situations a few months ago. All I know is that I was getting physically sick about something that wasn’t even my thing. And interestingly, the more you talk with people, the more you realize that everyone has something major going on.
The lights story made me smile! Yay for close (physically and metaphorically!) friends!
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We’re about to go get some airbourne and Vitamin C drugs because we’re hopping on a plane later this week. Lord help us. Haha.
Man… sometimes it’s more frustrating & draining to watch loved ones go through something than it is to experience it yourself because you can’t fix anything or make any decisions. It was a tough January.
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Ugh – Professional & personal strife. Besides from being difficult in whatever way it is there’s the added awkwardness re: blog that it’s not appropriate to share all the gory details but you don’t want to tra la la on like nothing is wrong. Sigh… I hope that whatever it is gets better soon.
In middle school & high school my BFF and I lived within sight of other and we’d try to communicate via waving colored flags (which would usually end up with us calling each other saying “what on earth do you mean?”)
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YES. Trying to be authentic and transparent about the stresses in my life but not comfortable telling other people woes & claiming their struggles as mine to tell or claim. So tough 😦
Hahaha- right before we flashed our lights she texted me. Defeats the purpose of communicating by light-flashing but it was too funny. Ha!
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Hope you’re feeling better Audrey! I am still loving Taylor Swift’s new album too! I basically have it on repeat.
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Thanks, Elyse! I’m doing much better now 🙂 My husband hates her new album but I’m still blasting it 😉 Lol!!
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Kenny Chesney!!!! oh my gosh. how exciting. i’ve seen him once. loved him so much. i would see him again in a heartbeat. i don’t know who the other people are lol.
i like Reputation. i don’t *love* it, which is a bummer. but i do like it. not my favourite of hers.
sorry you were sick at the beginning of the year. that sucks so bad.
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When I saw Kenny last summer I was just blown away. His concert makes you feel GOOD and I love that. Reputation is just a good album to jam to. She’s not and never has been my absolute favorite, but I honestly like the last three albums better than her first ones. (K 100% feels the opposite, ha.)
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The sickness is everywhere right now. I hope that you are feeling better! I am not a fan of spring for the allergies, tornado warnings and return of all the nasty bugs outside. Plus I hate heat and humidity. (Remind me why I moved to the south again??) But I am ready for cold and flu season to be gone! It is terrifying with a little one who brings home all the germs. That concert sounds amazing!!!
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Definitely feeling a little better and definitely NOT looking forward to spring. Man, I hate it. It is my hands-down least favorite month.
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I hope you feel better now! It’s good not to have bacterial infections but of course the downside of it is that there is no cure, you have to wait it out and you never know for how long. 😦
Sorry about allergies, in this context I can understand people who enjoy winter. I’m definitely no winter person, I hate snow and ice and the lack of colour outside.
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The no cure or remedy part was the absolute worst. Just a combination of Tylonel and Nyquil. Lol
The changing weather just wreaks havoc on our household and my body. Ha
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Ugh, starting the year off sick is horrible … I’m sorry! I feel like I stay sick for a long time as well. In general, I’d consider myself pretty healthy … But when I get sick, I GET SICK. It seems to last forever, and I am barely functioning. I hope you’ve been feeling more like yourself now that you’re on the mend!
I don’t know the musicians you listed, but it’s awesome that you’ll get to see them live! I love concerts, though I don’t have anything lined up as of right now. Whomp whomp.
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My allergies tend to bother me throughout the year but I don’t usually get sick-sick. It really sucks. I’m doing much better now, though. Thanks!
All my artists are country, haha. I listen to all types of music but those three are pretty hardcore country. Ha
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I haven’t gotten into the concert groove here yet, and I really need to. I can’t live here and not go to a concert at the Sydney Opera House! I’ve been a bit put off by ticket prices but it needs to happen one of these days.
The light flickering thing was my total dream as a child – I never had friends who lived anywhere near me, and I’d have killed to do some Famous Five stuff like that with them. So cool to have framily nearby!
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Oh man, you NEED to go to the Sydney Opera House! That’d be amazing (and probably SO worth the price)!!
I had friends kind of close to me as a kind (walking distance although it’d take 15 to 20 minutes), but not so close that I could see their house. I love that I’m so close to Erica & her family!!
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Sorry things have been so rough lately, with all the terrible sickness and then other stuff on top of it 😦 Also howwwwww do you like TSwift’s new album?! I tried so hard and just can’t do it haha
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Thanks, friend. The sickness if gone (for now) and the stresses have plateaued… so we’ll have to see.
Hahaha- I really like her new stuff. K HATES it. He loves all her old albums and the country-Taylor. He’s 100% against this album. Ha.
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bhahah i seriously LOVE that you did the ‘light flicker game’ with your friend in the same neighborhood. i love it a lot. my bff and i did this in college with our apartments and now sadly i have no closer friends nearby – dang it! also, i looooove the twswift album all day every day too
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I was laughing SO HARD while I was watching her lights flicker. So silly but so amusing. Ha!
I’m a fan of new Taylor (1987 and Red, too). K likes the old stuff. As a result, we don’t play much Taylor when we’re together. Hahaha.
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