51 weeks! I decided this morning that next week, week 52 will be the last weekly Wine and Love. I think I’m going to make it a monthly thing from now on, on the last Thursday of the month.

Weekly W(h)ines:

* There is still stuff I can’t yet blog about and it’s driving me nuts. I’m being vague, I know, but positive thoughts and prayers are appreciated. Hopefully I’ll be able to share more soon, because once again I feel like I’m hiding a piece of myself from my own blog.

* I’ve been running late/behind this week. With work. With blogging. With returning phone calls. I’m hoping next week is a tad less stressy.

* Because of the first bullet point, our Florida vacation is kind of up in the air. We NEED this vacation so I’m hoping we can figure out how to make it happen anyway.

* It’s getting to the point in the wedding planning process where I/we kind of want to throw up our hands and say elope. Silly becaues nearly everything is planned but the shower planning process is surprisingly stressful (and it’s not the one my mom is throwing for me).

* The weather. It’s a total yo-yo. It’s also driving my allergies insane.

Weekly Loves:

* Knight sent me an email yesterday about going on a cruise with Blake Shelton which totally made me laugh. First you need to know that Knight has a mad man-crush on Blake. Secondly, all he listens to now in his big ole’ man truck is country music.

* Spending one-on-one time with the kidlets. It’s nice that Jolie has a Wednesday night activity at Church so that I get a little time with just Belle. And on the weekends, during Belle’s quiet time, I/we get some time with just Jolie.

* We are taking a last minute trip to STL next weekend. Kind of excited to get some wedding stuff done with Knight there for a change and to see my folks.

* Having an awesome support network of friends. Can’t say enough good things about them!

* I was in a bit of a funk yesterday after work so I grabbed my music and blasted “Ants Marching” by Dave Matthews Band. Instant mood boost for me. (Also, can’t wait to see him with Knight in July!)

Tha’ts all I’ve got this week. What’s on your w(h)ine (or beer!)/love list this week?

Holy cow, 50 weeks of Wine and Love. Kind of a long time but you know what? This little meme helps with weekly perspective, at least for me, so I’m going to keep it up. Join if you like, on your blog or in the comments! Always welcoming new participants and guests.

Weekly W(h)ines:

* I threw my lower back out on Monday night. Like, to the point I was in tears and lying flat on the floor. Thank goodness for chiropractors. And ice packs.  And a fiancé who helped me as much as he could. Two days later and I’m feeling like my old self again.

* Mosquitos and flies. With the warm weather, comes the bugs.

* I just went grocery shopping last week and I already need to do it again. I. Loathe. Grocery. Shopping.

* Dealing with incompetent people. Also people who mess with those I love. Uncool, world, uncool.

Weekly Loves:

It’s already Thursday which means: it’s time for more  Wine & Love. If you’re joining in this week, link-up below, share with us in the comments or join us next week! Also, we’ve been doing this for almost 50 weeks. Not sure how much longer I’ll keep it going, but we’ll see!

Weekly W(h)ines:

* I called the bridal store yesterday to order a bridesmaid dress for my friend who is traveling and working overseas. They informed me they lost her measurements. No apologies, no nothing. I was (am) a little peeved. Of course my friend is willing to get them done again but it’s just such an inconvenience to her. This is my first (of many, I’m sure) hiccups with the wedding planning process for which I’m thankful, though I’m still annoyed.

* I’m exhausted. I was on a six day trip back to STL for work + wedding planning and my goodness, I’m so tired. Like lacking all energy. I’ve fallen into bed every night since I’ve been home and I’m pretty sure I’m asleep before my head hits the pillow.

* The price of gas. Holy cow it’s crazy expensive. So glad I have an economical car, but still. Just insane.

* I officially despise grocery shopping. I used to love it. Now I can’t stand it.

* My poor Gram has had her apartment flooded by her upstairs neighbor twice in less than one month. It’s forcing us, as a family, to look at making some decisions pertaining to the future for her. Let me tell you, those are hard conversations to even consider having! Hopefully it all resolves itself soon.

Weekly Loves:

* Coming home on Tuesday night to Knight. And two books that I’m reviewing for the blog, one of which is by my favorite current author. Bonus: Knight cleaned the whole house before he left for his work trip so we both came home to a beautiful, clean home.

* Receiving a surprise package from Knight’s sister: a box full of whitening strips for our teeth. Sounds silly, I know, but she gets a sweet deal on the professional ones and was kind enough to send them to us.

* Listening to NPR for two hours on my drive home on Tuesday. I don’t normally get to listen to it now that I’m not commuting as much. So much interesting news, food for thought, and great insight. Plus, it made me feel smarter for listening to it for a few hours.

* The weather is glorious right now. Mid to upper 70s each day. This means windows open, fans on, and exercising outside. It also means allergies, but hopefully my allergy meds will take care of that this year.

* Our trip to Florida is about a month away. This is exciting for so many reasons.

* We are making homemeade chicken quesadillas for dinner tonight. I’m a little too excited about this.

* Tomorrow is Friday!

What’s on your weekly w(h)ine or love list this week?

It’s already Thursday which means: it’s time for more  Wine & Love. If you’re joining in this week, link-up below, share with us in the comments or join us next week!

Reasons I’m W(h)ining this week:

* Not being able to help friends more; sometimes just saying “I’m here for you,” doesn’t seem like enough.

* Finding my blogging voice lately. So much I need to write about, but how? Blog Block sucks.

* I have had a stack of notes I need to write and mail for over a week. Must make it a priority to get this done thus decluttering the counter and making someone’s day brighter.

* Spring Forward is this weekend. Awesome because we get more day light, but not-so-awesome because I hate losing an hour of sleep.

Reasons I’m Loving life this week:

* Last weekend with the kidlets rocked. With each day and weekend I have with them I feel like I’m really getting the hang of this parenting thing. Lots to learn but I feel more confident and am having fun, so I think that counts, right?

* Singing at the top of my lungs in the car; car dancing too, because it goes so well with singing in the car.

* Belly laughing with Knight. Also some of the sweetest voice messages from him make my day brighter too.

* Keeping myself accountable for my workouts and continuing to kick my own butt. I’m so much happier when I stick to a workout routine.

* Listening to the rain pelt the windows at night: a reminder that spring is coming soon.

* Making some more headway on the wedding planning front (updates on that tomorrow)!

* Working on ME: spiritually; emotionally; physically. Feels good to give attention to myself rather than neglecting myself.

* Dave Matthews Band concert tickets go on sale tomorrow which means I’ll be busy at 10am securing tickets rather than working. I’m also pumped because they are working on a new studio album which means new DMB music which means happy Nora.

* The Target Color Commercial. Makes me smile and then hum the song all day long…

What are you loving or whining about this week?

Always welcoming new friends and bloggers to this weekly event! If you don’t know what’s up check it out Wine & Love, join in on your own blog or comments. (Also, we’ve been at this for 46 weeks! I know we have had participants come and go but this little exercise helps me focus on the good stuff, evevn when I have w(h)ines.)

W(h)ines:

* Doing the right thing is really hard to do sometimes.

* People (namely work colleagues) who don’t read emails thoroughly/clearly. Makes so much more work.

* A whole host of other things that are nibbling at and bugging me these days but would be too long to write!

Loves:

* This has been a week of catching up with friends. Does wonders for my soul.

* Devouring a book in less than 24 hours last weekend; it wasn’t awesomely great but it was definitely entertaining.

* I upped my workouts in this past week so that on my Shred days I am doing two levels a day and living to tell about it. I’m really trying to kick my own butt as though I was at a gym (aka operation wedding). So far, it’s working. I am also blogging this to hold myself accountable for my workouts.

* House Hunters & House Hunters  Interational. I can’t get enough of those shows.

* Free Book Fridays on Nook. Who doesn’t love free?

* Random neck massages from Knight after a long day.

What’s on your wine/love list this week?

Always welcoming new friends and bloggers to this weekly event! If you don’t know what’s up check it out Wine & Love, join in on your own blog or comments.

Reasons I’m drinking w(h)ine this week:

* Dealing with difficult work situations and cross-office politics.

* I’m a worry wart and lately it’s been worse than usual. I’m trying to put a cap on my worry and only think and do what I can and let the rest go. It’s taking more time than I would like.

* Looks like Knight and I have more work trips coming up in the next month or so. I love the work trips once I’m on them, but the getting there and the traveling, ugh, I could leave that behind.

* The really creepy performance by Nicki Minaj at the Grammy’s on Sunday. For me that’s what nightmares are made of.

Reasons I’m loving life this week:

* The amazing comments and support I received on yesterday’s post. Thank you for making it easier for me to put it out there.

* Dave Matthews Band 2012 Tour Dates have been announced and rumor has it there is a new studio album coming out too. Cannot wait. This will be my 11th DMB concert assuming I can make it this year.

* The books I’ve been reading lately have been really, really good. Like can’t put them down good. I look forward to bedtime so that I can curl up with a good book for a bit. Most recent good book: Sarah’s Key. If you haven’t read it, I strongly suggest that you do.

* Having a lovely and relaxing Valentine’s Day with Knight on Tuesday. Dark Hot Chocolate at Caribou. Walking around our little town, down the main street, window shopping and laughing. Indulging in Chipotle because, well, it’s just that good.

* We are still sticking with our workout routine and I’m seeing results and feeling so much better. So glad I came up with a workout schedule that works for me and I can keep up with.

* Watching another movie with Knight (50/50) that made for more great conversation and big life contemplations.

* My good blog friend Becky is a Stratejoy essay finalist. Go read it. Fall in love with it. And then when it’s time to vote for her later this month? Do that, too.

Anything have you reaching for the wine bottle this week? What’s on your love list?

Wine:

* The dreaded sick germs are floating around our house again. After being sinus-pain free for almost three months, it hit me again on Tuesday. Hoping the local ENT I found can help today! On top of that, Jolie is sick with her third ear infection + fever in three months and Belle has the nagging cough/cold that just won’t seem to go away. Apparently our vitamin taking, juice drinking, hand washing and sleep getting isn’t quite enough to keep the germs at bay. We’ll be taking Jolie to an ENT next and I’m thinking Belle has wicked allergies so lots of doc appointments in our future I suspect.

* Because of #1, I’m not totally up to par and on my blogging mojo. Which means all the things I want to write about is going to have to wait yet another week. Gah.

* Being faraway from some of very best friends during their birthdays. It sucks.

* Sometimes the fact that E (my best friend’s brother) is no longer with us hits me at really odd times. His Memorial was this past weekend and though I couldn’t be there I spent sometime on the phone with Kris (his sister/my bff) recalling memories and laughing, tearing up and just finding solace in talking with her.

Love:

* Getting a few more wedding items checked off the list: planning the day/event with the DJ, finalizing the hotel blcok for out of town guests, and booking our suite for our first night as a married couple. Next up: get the bridesmaids final decisions on dresses, order and then get the groom & groomsmen situated as well for their suites. And invites!

* A fiancé who brings home the cutest M&M candy thing when I’m feeling sick and under the weather.

* Receiving a movie I’ve been dying to see via Netflix (Midnight in Paris!).

* Working from home, especially when sick. It’s still not fun to stare at a computer screen or talk to clients when I don’t feel 100% but it’s easier when I’m in sweats and on the couch. (Side note: so tough to take a sick day when I can’t get away from my “office.” Feel guilty!)

* I think I’m really, finally in my workout groove. Knight and I are keeping each other accountable and marking the five days we are working out a week off on the calendar. We have the time blocked off, we have a plan and so far, so good. We are two weeks into this new regimen and it seems to be working well. That and I already feel more toned which helps as a motivator.

* There will be no Super Bowl party for us this year but I have a small list of appetizers I plan to make for us to enjoy while we watch the game (Knight for the football, me for the half-time show & commercials).

What’s on your Wine/Love list this week?