Weekly Reflections

Hi Friend!

It is the end of another week! And I just had this thought that it might be weird if someone I know finds this blog, especially if it is someone I know kinda in person. I did just move to this rural town and everyone knows everybody and even if they don't know you personally, they know someone who knows you! 

So if you happen to know me or of me in person and we see each other around town, hi! 

Anyways, I'm not really trying to make this blog all that public. I am just writing and seeing where it goes. Maybe I will get back on Instagram one of these days and share my blog, but for now I've enjoyed just writing for me!

Speaking of Instagram, I downloaded it back on my phone! I don't think I will keep it on my phone though. I have noticed how I already have been turning the app on instead of reading a book. If you are curious about why I got off of Instagram to begin with, you can read this post. I actually put it back on my phone though because there is one account in particular that they share their drama in a really engaging story telling way and I saw that there was a new development in their drama, and they only share the drama in their subscriber channel or whatever you call it. But I think you only can subscribe and see that content on the app. I could be wrong but that's what I noticed. Anyways, yes, I did download it back to my phone and subscribed for the month. I know I know! 

Listen, I love hearing the tea. I am such a nosy person!

But, I am beginning to feel over Instagram again. There is just too much negativity and it really does prevent me from being creative.

Aside from that, this week has been a pretty chill week. Mav has actually wanted to stay home and play instead of go out, which has been kind of nice for me. I did go to the park yesterday with another mom that has been going to the church I'm going to and her son which is around the same age as mine. 

If you've seen any of my previous posts, you know that I am working on building a community and making friends, which isn't easy as an adult. But I think it is important to keep saying yes and keep putting yourself out there. And so that's what I'm doing.

I have also worked more on my photography website photosbysarahturner.com. It is pretty much done as of right now. I still have a bunch of stuff I can do to it, but I don't want to get burnt out working on too many projects at the same time. 

What I've Been Enjoying 

I might have mentioned this before, but I have really been enjoying the bike park that we've been going to. Mav loves riding his bike and he has gained so much confidence while riding it there!

This one sounds silly, but I really enjoy that my sliced ham lunch meat comes in those plastic containers that I have been washing and reusing. Let me explain this one. Years back I found the crunchy side of Instagram. You know, the Berkley water drinkers, glass everything containers, essential oils, non-toxic products. That side. I appreciate living low-toxic, but I think the non-toxic lifestyle was actually getting toxic for me and my relationship with my husband. That lifestyle can be expensive and also stressful sorting through all the information floating around social media. It was too much. 

And over these last few months living in a new place, in a rural environment, surrounded by high desert and mountains, and removing myself from social media, I have began to find me again. And I love it! It has been so good for me! And I am pretty frugal and like finding good deals and reusing or repurposing things. And I like having containers that don't break like the glass ones, and if they do break, oh well, I will get a new one next week when I get my groceries.

One last thing I've been enjoying, at least as of right now (I just got it today) is this Snip & Shape Scissor Sills Activity. As I said, I just got it today and we just started using it today, so I will report back in a future post reviewing it if I really love it. But so far it held my 3 year old's attention for a while, aound 30 minutes. It is a little more hands on, for me as well, because he is learning a new skill, but it is a meaningful activity we can do together. I also like that this kit not only includes the activity book, but it also includes the scissors and glue stick, so it really is all in one. The scissors are a little flimsy, but that is also because they are completely plastic, with no actual blade on them, and aren't sharp at all. And best part yet, they do not cut hair! (I tested on my own!)

What I've Been Working On

This past week I did work on my photography website quite a bit, but I also spent a lot of time reading which has been really nice. 

One thing that I have been working on, that is less fun, is a couple weeks ago we got a really big bill for lab work my husband had done a couple months ago and we were not expecting it at all. So this week I have spent a lot of time on the phone with the hospital and the insurance seeing what is going on and if it is possible to reduce it. It's definitely stressful because its really high, and even the insurance person I spoke with agreed that it was really high. Some lessons I have taken away from this experience is 1) always ask the doctor what labs they are ordering, what are they for, and if it is something they would recommend you get right away or if you can wait on them. 2) Get the CPT (or insurance billing) codes and diagnostic codes from the doc and then call your insurance and see if they cover that test, if it will come out of your deductible, all those questions. And 3) before the test happens, ask how much that test costs both out of pocket and what they will bill insurance for. Then you shouldn't (hopefully) have a surprise huge bill mailed to you months later!

What I've Been Reading

The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig: I finished this one and actually really enjoyed it! The atmosphere and magic system was really refreshing and unique, although very in line with this author's work. It was really enjoyable! I am excited for the second one to come out!

A Curious Kind of Magic by Mara Rutherford: This is a YA cozy fantasy that also started off slow. Just like with The Knight and the Moth with how I started reading it months ago and didn't get into it and put it down, that's what happened with this one. But it was actually really cute. I really liked how much character growth we saw with the main character. And I loved the found friendship and the sweet romance. Also this was a no spice book. There was kissing and that was it. Not that I am against spice 100% but I do like finding books where spice isn't needed to enhance the story. 

Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson: I enjoyed this one way more than I thought I would! It was so good and I can't wait to read the second one. I was rooting for the main characters the whole time, and the MMC in here is the type of MMC that I enjoy reading about! Not a "shadow daddy" or the "bad boy" but a competent leader! It also had that older fantasy feeling like what I grew up reading. More plot and adventure than romance, but the romance was so satisfying. And the ending was everything I wanted. 

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff: This is the second in the Illuminae Files, a YA sci-fi type of book, and it is just as good as the first. It follows a different couple, but it has the same format of being written in documents, emails, diary enteries, surveillance footage summaries, radio messages and all that good stuff! It is such a fun unique read! 

The Butcher's Masquerade by Matt Dinniman: I am still reading this one, but it is a big book and I only read a couple chapters on my Kindle before bed. It is still so good! It's a part of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series and I am thoroghly enjoying this series!

God Has a Name by John Mark Comer: This is my current non fiction book and I am really enjoying it as well! John Mark Comer has a really unique, engaging writing style and I have enjoyed reading his other books that he has written too.

What I Want to Work On

I would love to finish up the photography website and maybe make another post on there. 

I also want to continue to read more and finish up at least 3 more books this week. My goal for myself is to read 100 books by the end of the year. I am at 35 right now, so we will see how far I get. 

Explore new places. Mav and I, (well mostly me) have been getting comfortable mostly sticking to the same spots to play, and I really want to keep exploring and finding new adventures. I am such a homebody and I am trying to save money on gas and what not so I try to stay near home, but maybe 1-2 times a month I will try to go a little further than home and go on an adventure!

Upcoming Things

This weekend my husband has a company work party for everyone who works there plus their families. It is at the local pools and there are going to be food trucks there as well. I am pretty excited for this event, not because I want to meet all of Dakota's coworkers in my swimsuit, because that's just awkward, but because I know that Mav will have a blast and it's also all free, paid for by his work, so you bet I am going to enjoy it! Speaking of swimsuits, this is the one I got off of Amazon and I actually really like it! I haven't worn it swimming yet, so I have no idea how it will hold up, but it was actually really flattering on me and I felt really comfortable wearing it! Which if you are anything like me, swimsuit shopping is the worst, and I never really feel comfortable or confident in any of them. So the fact that I bought this online and it was the first one I bought in a while and I liked it on me right out of the bag, that's saying something!

Then next weekend we are heading down to see my parents for the week. I am looking forward to that trip as well. They live in a community with a very nice pool that I am looking forward to spending lots of time in with my son. And I am also looking forward to shopping, because as you know, I live in a rural area with no shopping and Mav has outgrown his clothes.

Well that's been my week. How was yours? Any weekend plans for you?

As always, thanks for reading!