Boujee On a Budget

Rest in Peace Uncle L

June 17, 2019June 17, 2019by Boujee On A BudgetLeave a Comment

My Uncle Larry was laid to rest. He was a Vietnam veteran, so we had a military style funeral for him. The funeral ceremony was at St. Phillips Catholic Church, where my Uncle was baptized as an infant, attended grade school, and where I was married. The same priest, who married Drew and I presided the funeral. I read the first reading, Becky read the second reading, and my cousin Lambing read the petitions. It was good to see the family all come together.

After the ceremony, a patriotic and veteran motorcycle gang called the Patriot Guard escorted us to the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. Once we arrived at the cemetery, we were greeted by armed military soldiers. They saluted us and escorted us into the space where the they were going to fold the flag, and do the 21 guns, and a solider played taps on the trumpet.

Becky held it together and accepted the flag from the solider in honor of her father. She is at peace and so is my Uncle Larry.

Daddy's Girl, Family

Father’s Day 2019

June 16, 2019June 17, 2019by Boujee On A BudgetLeave a Comment

This morning, I was running late to pick up my dad for Father’s Day lunch. I was slow moving. I picked up my dad and took him to lunch. He wanted to go to Applebees. We talked about work, school, and my internship. We talked about Father’s Day and my Uncle’s Funeral, which is taking place tomorrow. I was glad to take him out for Father’s Day, but I was so tired from last night.

After lunch, I went back to my parents and passed out on the couch and my dad fell asleep in the chair. My mom came home with my cousin Becky, who flew in from Indiana. After her plane landed, they stopped and got lunch. Becky’s dad is my Uncle Larry, who passed away. I was glad I got to see her. I stayed for a while and visited, then I went home. Drew was still at his parents spending time with his dad and mom for Father’s Day.

While I waited for Drew to come home, I started watching the movie The Aftermath. When Drew came home, I paused the movie. We talked about Father’s Day, and his dad cooked me a steak. I heated up the steak and the little sweet potato and ate it up. I was so hungry.

After dinner, we snuggled and watched some more of the movie. I turned it off and decided to finish it another day. I was tired and needed to go to sleep. We had to be up early to get ready for the funeral.

Friendships

A Night Out With Stephanie

June 15, 2019June 17, 2019by Boujee On A BudgetLeave a Comment

In the evening, Stephanie came over around 6:30pm. She curled my hair and we drank a couple White Claws. We were going to call for an Uber around 9:30pm. She had never been to a night club before. We were going to go all out. Once we got into the Uber, he drove us down to the Northshore to Tequila Cowboy.

Thankfully, there was no cover. It was still a little early, so I showed her around the night club. When we first walked in, we walked into the Country room. There was a live band playing. I showed her to the karaoke bar where Todd the bartender still bartends. He used to bartend at Saddle Ridge. He used to comp me with drinks back when I went to the club non stop when I was 21 and 22. I introduced him to Stephanie. We ordered our drinks and I kept my tab open. I wasn’t expecting to get comped, because the 30s are for paying for your drinks.

I showed Stephanie the 90s/hiphop room. It wasn’t too packed yet. I told her this place will be crowded later on. She wanted to go back to the country room, so we went back to the country room and danced on the outskirts of the dance floor. Eventually, we danced in the middle of the dance floor.

At one point, we were dancing and a man made eye contact with me as he walked by and I said, “Oh my God, Mike!” He smiled and said, “Danielle, what’s up!?” We hugged. I introduced him to Stephanie. I said, “Stephanie, this is Mike I have known him since I as a senior in high school. He was a club promotor back when I was 21. He is the reason I was Mardi Gras Queen back in 2013.” Mike and I laughed. He said, “We go way back.” When he walked away, I thought wow time really flies. The scene has changed since I was 21. The 21 year olds look like 12 year olds, and I am only 31. It was 10 years ago that I went out every weekend.

Around 1:00am, we cashed out and our bar bill was only 23.50 for each of us. I was shocked actually. We got comped. 🙂

At around 1:30am we got an Uber back to my house. Drew was on his way back from hanging out with Stephanie’s husband, Mike. We did a spousal exchange. 🙂

Wellness

Tuesday

June 11, 2019June 12, 2019by Boujee On A BudgetLeave a Comment

After work, I went to the gym. I am so in my head. My period is a day late. I know I am not pregnant, just stressed. I want this GSA position. I heard from my friend, who is a GSA in the department now, that they haven’t met yet about interviews, but hopefully are going to meet tomorrow, but I still have a chance! I really need this GSA position. It would be so good for me.

Once I got to the gym, I just focused on my work out and listened to my “Rock” playlist on Spotify. I upped my time on the treadmill to 35 mins. I did my HIIT Treadmill work out. I start out walking at 3.5 speed for 5 mins. After 5 mins, I kick up the speed to a 5.6 or a 5.7 and run for 1 min, then drop my speed back down to 3.5 for 5 mins. I repeat this until the timer is up. I was sweating when I was done. It felt so good.

After the treadmill, I went into the weight room, and lifted a little bit with Drew, then I got on the strength training machines and just did the hip abductor for a bit. It felt good to just release some tension and some stress.

When I got home, I drank my protein shake and got the mail. There were some people standing around the dumpster complaining to a board member of our town home association. There has been some broken glass around the dumpster for a couple days and other people are complaining about a commercial vehicle that parks in the upper parking lot area.

When I went inside, I did some stretching and then got a shower. Tomorrow is Wednesday.

Job Journey

Monday…..

June 10, 2019June 10, 2019by Boujee On A BudgetLeave a Comment

This morning, I am so sleepy. I didn’t want to get up for work. On the way to our offices, Drew and I stopped at Starbucks and got a Cold Brew. I needed one today.

Hopefully nothing exciting goes down today at work and it is just a chill day. I am waiting for some people to respond back to me via e-mail, but other than that. I am taking it easy. I wish I could go to the pool!

After work today, I plan to go to the gym and get a little work out in.

Marriage, Wellness

Sunday

June 9, 2019June 10, 2019by Boujee On A BudgetLeave a Comment

This morning, I woke up and got a shower, I looked in the mirror and saw how red I was on my chest and arms, not so much on my face. I finally got that sun that I wanted to get so badly! Today, is Stephanie and Mike’s youngest son’s birthday, Stephen. I looked outside and thought today looks like a great pool day! We thought about going to the wave pool, but Drew said it was supposed to rain around 2:30pm (it ended up not even raining). It was probably a good thing we didn’t I needed to work on this market assessment evaluation for my adviser. I meet with her on Thursday and I need to have something to show her and I do have a few questions. I am finding that it is not as easy as I thought it was, or maybe I am thinking too much about it.

After we ate breakfast, so Drew could get ready to go to the grocery store, I put in his work clothes. He was going to grill out tonight, but also wanted to go to the gym. While he was at the store, I started researching. He called me to check and see if we had olive oil, so I got up from my computer and checked. I said, “No, we need some.” Then, we got off the phone. I went back to researching and then he texted and said I am on my way home. I ignored his text and kept working on my project. When he came to the door with the groceries, he rang the door bell. I got up from my computer, and opened the door for him. He carried the groceries into the kitchen and set them on the counter. i asked if he wanted help? He said, “no I got it you go back to researching.” I said, “Your clothes are done in the washer. Do you want me to get them or are you going to hang them up after you put groceries away?” He said, “can you hang them up for me please?” I went down to the basement and hung them up. I put another load of clothes in the washer. He was on his hands and knees looking for a mixing bowl to marinate the steak and the chicken. I walked into the kitchen and saw him I said, “Why don’t you just go to the gym with me tomorrow and prep dinner, and help me around the house so I can get this project started on?” I felt like he was doing too much with little time. He said, “Alright, I can do that.” I smiled and I helped him with the marinade and then went back to the project.

As I was working on the project, I was running into some road blocks and needed to ask her some questions on Thursday. Luckily, it is not due until end of August, and we are just collecting raw data. I took my computer outside, around 4pm when we started to grill and tried to research one more piece and then I put it aside for the night to enjoy my evening. I was able to get most of the laundry done and I assisted him clean up in the kitchen. Dinner was amazing! Steaks, asparagus, chicken (marinated on the grill). We made extra food for the week. I need to get back to eating low carb if not keto.

Goals of the week ahead:

Hopefully hear about an interview for the GSA position
Gym
Happy Hour with my music Friends on Tuesday
Meet with my adviser on Thursday to go over this project
Long weekend next weekend

Friendships

Pool Day/Anthony’s Birthday Dinner

June 8, 2019June 10, 2019by Boujee On A BudgetLeave a Comment

Finally, the weather was going to be warm enough and it wasn’t supposed to rain. Stephanie and I have been back and forth via text about a pool day soon. When we woke up on Saturday, it looked like a great day for the pool!

We went to Stephanie and Mike’s around 11am. I helped her get packed up and ready. Drew was able to see Mike for a little bit before we left. We decided to take our car to the pool. Stephanie had Stephen’s Birthday gifts in her trunk and she didn’t want him to see them.

When we arrived at the pool, we set up our lawn chairs, and the kids wanted to go in the pool right away. It was so cute. I put sprayed some sun tan lotion on Stephen while Stephanie finished getting things out and setting up.

Stephanie and Mike’s children call me Daniel Tiger. For those of you who don’t know who Daniel Tiger is, he is a character from Mr. Roger’s neighborhood. It is a popular children’s show here in Pittsburgh! Emma is getting older know and knows how to say Danielle, but it is still cute to hear them say, “Daniel Tiger!” 🙂 I got in the water and swam around a bit, but I just wanted to lay out and work on my tan.

Admittedly, I did not put sun screen on just tanning oil. I didn’t think I was going to get burned. It wasn’t that hot and there were some clouds in the sky, but I should have known you can still get burned when there are clouds!

Around 3:00pm, we left and went home. We got showered and changed. Then went to Bakersfield Tacos for Anthony’s Birthday Dinner. My best friend Anthony is 27 years old. Dinner was interesting. Image may contain: 9 people, including Dylan Murtha, people smiling, people sitting, table and indoor

The tacos are Ala Carte and they are small like three full bites worth. I had two a steak one and a baja shrimp one. Drew had the same. We also ordered chips and guacamole. Plus drinks it was a bit pricey. Anthony chooses places that are interesting.
After dinner, they had reservations to go on a boat tour of the city. Andrew and I didn’t join them. I wasn’t that interested. I had to go back to my parents and drop off of a form for them that they need to fill out, so I can fax it on Monday at work.

When we said our goodbyes, Drew and I went to the meatball restaurant where Anthony had his birthday last year. They have a beer garden on top of the roof. Andrew and I had a drink there before heading to my parents. It was good to get out, but I was ready to head back.

When we arrived to my parents, I said hi to my pups and held them for a bit, and my mom filled out the form. My Uncle Larry passed away and his funeral is on the 17th. She needed to fill out this form and then I am to fax this form and my uncle’s DD214 on Monday. We talked about the funeral, my dad’s eye surgery to remove a cataract that he has in his eye, and about the family.

Once Drew and I got home, I started feeling nauseous and I had a headache. I wanted to sit outside, but I decided to get a shower and head to bed. My monthly visitor is on it’s way and this usually happens right before it arrives.