Less than 2 weeks until we move into our first home. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of everything I’m excited for, and the idyllic, perfect life I think homeownership will bring
I’m excited to:
→ just listen to and have music playing [ can’t tell you the last time I’ve listen to The Wombats, The Format, or Young the Giant ]
→ have an overflowing candle collection to burn year round
→ showcase my collection of art
→ more drawing, more writing, more painting
→ display and utilize our cookbook collection
→ organize and style my books
→ create a home bar with thrifted and vintage glassware
→ dive into the art of craft cocktails
→ drink more ice water
→ meal prep and meal plan weekly
→ Soup Sundays [ aka football Sundays ]
→ hang bird feeders and and bird watch
→ make thoughtful and ecosystem-conscious decisions for garden and landscaping [ the monarch butterfly is now deemed endangered ]
Summer reading, last minute details and purchases for our 3 month road trip
Cooking
Honestly the bare minimum, attempting to eat all the food in our fridge, freezer, and cabinets before we move out at the end of July
Eating
Wixey’s donuts for my birthday at work, grilled cheese from Manhattan’s, Kroger donuts for out last day in our Holland apartment, Joe’s KC BBQ and ice cream at Silas and Maddy’s in Olathe, Kansas
Drinking
Catawba Island Brewery (Port Clinton, OH), Brewery Becker (Brighton, MI), Boulevard Brewing Company Beer Hall (Kansas City, MO), Afterword Tavern and Shelves (Kansas City, MO), Causal Animal (Kansas City, MO), Boiler Brewing Company (Lincoln, NE), White Elm Brewing Company (Lincoln, NE), McKinney’s (Lincoln, NE)
Going
Camping in Brighton, MI, St. Louis, MO, Kansas City, MO, Lincoln, NE
Loving
The absolute freedom and badass energy and vibes from quitting my toxic job in healthcare to travel the US
Creating
Summer and road trip TBR list
Dreaming
Physical and mental space from my work in healthcare
Feeling
Disappointed by Riley Sager’s newest release Survive the Night, a little sad but mostly excited to wrap up work at my nursing homes, nervous about living on the road for 3 months, stressed about moving out and cleaning our apartment, to be 100% honest, also stressed about finances prepping for this trip, extremely frustrated by my company and their mismanagement of my retirement accounts, impressed by my own gusto and risk taking
Listening // Books + Podcasts
Listening // Music
Songs: Almost by Hozier, Breathe and This Kiss by Faith Hill, Breathe (2 AM) by Anna Nalick Spotify Playlists: Rom Com Pop Hits as recommended via Tik Tok, Grand Teton by Parks Projects
Celebrating
The announcement of Alex Snodgrass’s second cookbook The Comfortable Kitchen, My 28th birthday, last day of work, the start of our “first retirement”
Learning
You are easily replaced in the eyes of management, everyone wishes they could do what we are doing, ya’ll just need to do it
Buying
Silicon bands, playing cards and dice for our road trip
Birthday weekend camping trip near Brighton, Michigan (Brewery Becker and Bourbons Brighton), packing and moving out our of first apartment, last minute purchases for our road trip
Cooking
Tomato basil frittata, grilled hot dogs, baked beans, and pasta salad for Father’s Day
Eating
Double dates at Twin Oast Brewing, The Heights, and Bronze Boar, Garden Harvest, Mr. Freeze sundaes for Father’s Day, authentic Amish donuts in Pennsylvania
Drinking
Sibling Revelry Brewing’s Blood Brood, Twin Oast’s Kellys Island Pilsner, Ship Burner, and Legitimate Swells, Wilhelm Winery (Hadley, PA) samples and Fredonia
Going
Many trips to the library, Twin Oast Brewing, Delaware, OH for PT classmate wedding, The Lodge in Pennsylvania for the annual Fourth of July pig roast
Loving
Audiobooks, exploring new coffee shops, new library books, double dates with friends, Book of the Month subscription
Creating
Color coordinated book collages, an aesthetic bookstagram
Dreaming
Again, but always, moments of calm and serenity surrounded by beautiful landscapes and breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, the next chapter, together
Feeling
Relieved finally announcing my resignation, excited for this next chapter, proud of our courage and gusto for quitting our jobs, foraging our own path, thankful for the support from family, friends, and coworkers
Listening // Books + Podcasts
Listening // Music
Albums: SOUR by Olivia Rodrigo, Normal People soundtrack Spotify Playlists: Today’s Top Hits, 2020 Half Marathon Jams, Grand Teton by Parks Project
Celebrating
Wedding of two PT classmates, resignation from my first PT job, 49 books read in the first half of the year, coworkers 30th birthday, 100 followers on this blog and over 1,000 views
Learning
As an employee, you are always dispensable and replaceable to your employer
Buying
More bike shorts from Old Navy, sports bras from Aerie, vintage America’s National Parks book for our trip, pre-ordered Riley Sager’s new thriller Survive the Night
Memorial Day weekend in Cleveland, weekend in Pennsylvania for 4th of July pig roast, Traverse City or Detroit for birthday in July, GART planning is slowing down, we’ve secured like 90% of our campsites, permits, and hotels
Jolly Pumpkin in Ann Arbor, Royal Docks Brewing Co, Harvest, The 27 Club, Beerhead Bar and Eatery, Stone Made Pub, lots of salads at work and for dinners
Drinking
Earnest Brew Works, Jolly Pumpkin, from the tap at Harvest, The 27 Club, Southern Tier, Butcher and the Brew, Phoenix Coffee Co
Going
Ann arbor, Up North for Leeann and Anthony’s wedding, Canton, OH to visit #girlgand, Cleveland for Memorial Day Weekend, back to Planet Fitness with emphasis on stair climbing and incline treadmill walking to prepare for our hikes
Loving
Ann Arbor in the spring, free little library find – The Maidens, dog sitting, parents new cat Alley Cat, air brushed make up, thriving house plants
Dreaming
Moments of calm and serenity surrounded by beautiful landscapes and breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, the next chapter, together
Feeling
Incredibly proud having ran 10 consecutive miles (!!!!!!!!!!!!!), highly annoyed at the crack in my windshield (second incident in two years), excited and nervous to quit my job, overwhelmed by my June reading plans
Listening // Books
Listening // Music
Albums: Justice by Justin Bieber, SOUR by Olivia Rodrigo, Let Go by Avril Lavigne Songs: 1 step forward, 3 steps back and happier from SOUR, MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) by Lil Nas X, Kiss Me More by Doja Cat and SZA Spotify Playlists: Today’s Top Hits, 2020 Half Marathon Jams
Celebrating
7 year anniversary with Kyle in Ann Arbor, the wedding of Leeann and Anthony, parents 35th wedding anniversary, securing a Glacier hotel reservation
Learning
About white fragility and how to be anti-racist, to love my body for what it is capable of (running 10 miles) , not for what the scale reads (167.0)
Buying
Went hog wild buying camping gear and new clothes during the REI anniversary sale (30% off), tshirt and national park stickers from Keep Nature Wild (Memorial Day sale), Canon point and shoot camera – PowerShot G7 X Mark II
Anniversary weekend in Ann Arbor, weekend in Cleveland in May, weekend in Pennsylvania for 4th of July pig roast, Traverse City for birthday in July Road trip: campgrounds, back county permits, hotels, continuing to tweak the schedule/itinerary, coordinating with friends and family
Watching
Booktube: Ellias, Gabby (gabbyreads), Kayla (booksandlala), Sabine (Sabine’s Book Nook), Jack Edwards, Joel (fictionalfates), Noelle Gallagher, Reagan (PeruseProject), Sydney (Syd Bookworrom) Beauty Youtube: Kelly Gooch, Jessica Braun Instagram: Hayden Cohen of @hayderz Other: REI virtual class Exploring Crater Lake National Park, NFL draft live from Cleveland, OH, Cleveland Indians games
Cooking
meatloaf, Mexican cabbage soup (The Defined Dish recipe), cabbage soup, Greek chicken meatballs with Greek salad (The Wooden Skillet recipe linked here)
Drinking
Market Garden Frosty, Olipop strawberry vanilla sparkling tonic, King KoKonut from Avon Brewing Company, local kombucha from Boochy Mamas
Going
Ye Olde Durty Bird, Gathering Volumes independent bookstore, Flying Joe’s coffee shop with BFF, hammock hangs and reading in Oak Openings, dress alterations for MOH dress, lots of walks and hikes at Secor Metropark
Loving
Mike’s macaroni and cheese pizza, audiobooks, long runs to clear my mind and challenge myself, prioritizing time outside in nature weekly if not daily
Dreaming
breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, beautiful landscapes, freedom, lightness, togetherness, new beginnings
Feeling
very ready to quit my job and take a break from patient care, nervous for another new boss and another brand new PTA, excited for our road trip and our next chapter together
Albums: Fearless (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift, Justice by Justin Bieber Songs: MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) by Lil Nas X, Runaway by Aurora Spotify Playlists: Today’s Top Hits
Celebrating
Independent Bookstore Day at Gathering Volumes in Perrysburg (3 book purchase), new personal best: longest run of 8.25 miles, over 34 miles ran in the month of April, 1 year of investing with 4.5k gain, Easter with family I haven’t seen in over a year, Earth Day by picking up trash around the neighborhood, the lives of the 18 lost in the past 6 months at Wauseon
Learning
various National Parks as we plan for our GART, camping food prep, how to be anti-racist, always, running is therapy as much, if not more, than it is exercise
Buying
active wear from Nebraska brand Little Movements Apparel, sunscreen from Sephora, hotel reservations for GART, spring dresses from Petal and Pip, spring colored athletic shirts for work
Homemade meatballs, chicken salad, quick and easy weeknight meals, mini ground chicken meat loaves
Eating
Panda express, Jolly Pumpkin in Detroit, Bon Bon Bon, Delanie’s Grille
Drinking
Starbucks new spring drink iced brown sugar oatmilk shaken espresso, personalized non-alcoholic cocktails at Sugar House, craft cocktails at Cleveland Speakeasy
Creating
Starting and updating my reading journal, book cover collages, bookstagram content
Going
Detroit, Livonia, Garden Harvest, neighborhood runs, Defiance stops for spring cleaning
Loving
Running outside, I feel like a different, better human being returning to running outside! The Toledo Public Library, I don’t think I can express how much I love requesting and borrowing books from the library (21 of the 24 books I’ve read this year were library books!)
Dreaming
Of the satisfaction that will come from pushing send on my resignation email to my regional managers, of the amazing collection of postcards I’m going to gather during our trip to make the post amazing keepsake and conversation piece
Feeling
Beyond frustrated with the headache that is managing my health insurance coverage with my company (long story short, they had my hire date incorrect so I was uninsured in the month of February which left me to cover the cost of a pelvic US and f/u appt to check my IUD placement)
Conflicted about having a hand in getting a boss fired *grimacing face emoji*, equal parts excited and scared for the unknowns that come with quitting a stable job to spend 10 weeks on the road, supported by friends and family regarding our GART plans
Of Monsters and Men’s My Head Is An Animal album, my 2020 Half Marathon Jams playlist, Justin Bieber’s new album Justice (favorite songs include As I Am, Holy, Unstable, Ghost)
Celebrating
Kyle’s 1000th transport, National Meatball Day, daylight savings time aka day light at 7:30PM, Women’s History Month, BFF’s bachelorette party in Ann Arbor at Vinology followed by Blank Slate ice cream, the joy of running 5 miles, $1,400 stimulus check, country wide vaccinations!
Learning
Life’s too short, it’s now or never to explore the country while we have so little responsibilities in terms of pets, home ownership, and no children
Buying
Bath and Body works hand soaps, Wax Buffalo candles – hummingbird and oatmeal stout, bachelorette lingerie from Aerie for a BFF, Osprey pack from REI
To quit our jobs, move out of our apartment, road trip across the US for 4-6 weeks, and then move to Cleveland or Ann Arbor
Watching
Super Bowl LV Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated Kansas City Chiefs 31–9, Noelle Gallagher of booktube channel (link), Sabine’s Book Nook booktube channel (link), this tik tok on repeat:
Pork carnitas and homemade pico for the Super Bowl, Half Baked Harvest 4 cheese sun-dried tomato pasta bake, Half Baked Harvest kung pao chicken, spaghetti squash with meat and tomato sauce
Eating
Mike’s mac n’ cheese pizza (a little too often this month), big freakin’ donut from Holey Toledough, chicken nachos at Wolverine State Brewing Co
Drinking
Sippin’ Pretty by Odell Brewing Co, HOMES Brewery in Ann Arbor, Wolverine State Brewing Co in Ann Arbor, Tiramisu Brown Ale by Maumee Bay Brewing Co, Grand Mimosa by Ciderboys, black iced coffee from Biggby, Starbucks pistachio latte
Pinning
Beautiful home libraries and bookcases, bullet journal and book journal spreads, gallery wall inspiration, kitchen inspiration, white bean Greek salad, buckeye brownies
Making
Finally finished lettering the addresses for my classmates save the dates and mailed them back to her, repotted my house plants
Going
First house viewing in Westgate, second house viewing in Old Orchard, Ann Arbor to visit BFFs and pick up an item at REI, dinner at cheers with a coworkers, the library like 2-4 times a week
Loving
Blue skies and 40 degree plus weather, hammock stand, The House in the Cerulean Sea, compliments on my skill, integrity, and clinical reasoning and decision making, methodology in my career, mentoring and learning from my new grad PTA
Feeling
Devastated with the unexpected news of losing the Wauseon building, pissed off having only been given 1 weeks notice, hopeful for the end of quarantine, excited for spring, euphoria running outside again, appreciated and seen by my colleague and mentor
Pre-approval for a mortgage, 812 credit score, Valentine’s week which concluded with the gift of a hammock stand (Kammok), running outside, beautiful blue skies and 40 degree weather
Learning
Big Bird has cousins (see below), cute and simple hairstyles from Tik Tok, George Washington didn’t have wooden teeth, no no, he had the teeth of his slaves
I heard my friends on Twitter were asking about my cousins around the world! It’s true, I have a lot of bird cousins in different countries. Here’s a little bit about them:
Disclaimer: the opinions expressed are for general informational purposes only and are not to be taken as financial advice
I have, by no means, any business writing a blogpost about investing, but here we go.
In March 2020, at the onset of the COVID19 pandemic, I started investing in the stock market. According to Wikipedia, the 2020 stock market crash, also referred to as the Coronavirus Crash and the Coronavirus Correction, was a major and sudden global stock market crash that began on Feb 20, 2020 and ended on April 7, 2020. Full disclosure, I am aware of my privilege in that I had a well established emergency fund and had retained my job throughout the pandemic in 2020, allowing me to start investing with little to no risk.
Now that I have been researching and investing for almost a year, I thought it was time to reflect on what I’ve learned. Also, I felt the need to name my investing strategy, because yes, I am an enneagram 4 and must identify myself to feel worthy and substantial.
I consider myself a personal pop culture investor. Let’s break this down:
Personal For me, this means that I purchase stock as it directly relates to my life, career, field of work, purchasing habits, hobbies, etc. For example, my career and livelihood is physical therapy, thus I have purchased stock in U. S. Physical Therapy Inc. (USPH) and have seen 71.07% growth since my initial investment. Another example is Planet Fitness (PLNT), the fitness center I utilize (pre-pandemic of course); growth 37.77%. Also, Masimo Corp (MASI), a California based company that manufactures and sells pulse oximeters; growth 17.41%. Along the same lines I have also purchased Subaru stock, but it hasn’t done as well as the others mentioned.
Pop culture These are investment purchases that I have been influenced to make through media, most notably Tik Tok, but also books and literature. This is just so hilarious to me because on whim I bought 50 shares of Aston Martin at $0.85/share, all because the book I was reading, Red, White, and Royal Blue, mentioned an Aston Martin vehicle. This completely random purchase has amassed me $67.85 and my stock with the most growth at 85.88%. My second best performing stock was a direct result of a Tik Tok video where the user recommended investing in clean and renewable energy sources, specifically mentioning Plug Power (PLUG). My 3 shares have generated $84.57 and 80.54% gain.
There you have it, the basics of my investment strategies where I let my personal affairs, Tik Tok, and popular books determine my personal portfolio. My dad is going to kill me.
MERYN MADE 