Monday, January 5, 2026

It’s back to school and back to work time. We have warmer weather this week – 50s in January! I feel like these little warm respites help me get through winter.

I’m linking up with Sarah and Holly to share my weekend – even if I hardly knew it was the weekend.

It was so nice to have Tom home for so long. I slept in until about 7-8 which is really late for me. Eddie Otis is amenable to that. He is either in our bed or in Mason’s bed. I let Tom sleep in most days, and I think he went as late as 9:30 one day. He has given Eddie Otis a really good walk on these super cold days, and I have enjoyed some time alone.

I am a bit sad that the holidays are over. I am not sure when my family (sisters and kids or just sisters and I) will get together again.

Friday morning I took the good luck cabbage and onion mixture and the zucchini and made a vegetable soup with beef bone broth (so not vegetarian) and some other vegetables I had that were a combo of fresh, frozen, and canned. I added cajun spice and it had quite a zing to it. Look at all that fiber!

The good luck meal:

Note to self – work on food photography!

The mantel looked so bare after Christmas was down!

Every time I type “mantel” I have to look it up and check my positioning of the “e” and the “l”.

Mantel = fireplace mantel

Mantle = the Earth’s mantle and a whole bunch of other meanings that I didn’t know

This book was just delightful. I’m glad I didn’t let the word “Christmas” deter me since I couldn’t start it until December 30th – lol. I do have one problem with reading. I feel that if I have a good book that it becomes a singular obsession to read it and finish it. When I finish, I have a “book hangover”. Are you like that?

One of Mason’s Christmas gifts was a winter pack of tea by Twining’s. We have tried Christmas spice and Winter spice and they are both so good. I love having an afternoon tea.

I felt so British walking the dog in the cold and then having a tea.

Mason has a favorite lunch spot and wanted to go so Tom, Mason, and I went for lunch on Friday. They serve coffee with a Bischoff cookie.

Belgian frites

Tom and I split a panini that comes with a little salad.

I’m not sure how Tom heard about the brand Delta Roam but he did and he ordered me a D-Robe and it is the warmest thing ever.

Has anyone tried Jones Road Miracle Balm? I am super curious. I feel like my skin looks so dull. I need a miracle.

I was in a shopping center with a Target Saturday and remembered that they were giving away “Wellness Boxes” so I got one. It has electrolytes, gummy vitamins, protein powder, and things like that.

I got a few things and I thought I finally taught EO how to help me with bags but I think he thought this bag contained something for him.

I didn’t even look at the price tag. I have been wanting a cream vest and this seriously looks like Free People or a more expensive brand. It is so soft. I now know it was $45 so pretty high for Target. I really love it!

I bought one of the icon glasses in store and I have 3 more coming in the mail. I got lobsters and bows, and this one is hearts. I almost got the croissants and the avocados, but I decided to stick with a kind of Valentine’s theme in my “set” of four. I wanted the Halloween ones and the Christmas ones but V Day is finally my time!

Here is what is in my glass. I had heard Melanie Shankle talk about lemonade salt multiple times but didn’t think much about it. I didn’t get lemonade salt in my pack but I tried citrus salt. I literally felt like I was drinking a margarita, but it tasted better than many. If you are trying to do a dry January, damp January, or just like that flavor, you need these. I am thinking the grapefruit will taste like a paloma!

I decided to start this book from my big stack next and it’s so good!

Here is my library stack (requested by Sarah):

All my requests came in at once!

This is a really easy lunch I had on Saturday – rotisserie chicken, homemade ranch, hot sauce, celery and carrots, and a light string cheese.

I went to pick up dinner for us and it happened to be next to Buff City Soap so I am trying a sample of their narcissist scent.

The sky was beautiful and it’s already staying light noticeably later since that shortest day of the year December 21st. It reminded me of my mom because last January she was really excited as the days got longer and would text us photos. The remembering is good, I think. I think of both of my parents daily and it means the love is still here.

I got a text that my Spanish tutoring client wants to continue with our tutoring sessions. I am happy to do that.

We ate dinner and watched the third of the Knives Out movies. Tom and I enjoyed this.

I tried beans for breakfast. It isn’t bad. These are pinto beans with some spices and green chilies and I had two eggs and some potato.

I did it! I decorated my mantel – remember?

These signs are from a shop in my hometown that is now out of business. My sisters, my mom, and I always went there on our visits home.

Molly has our smurf collection but I managed to keep the V Day smurf. Molly was the biggest into the smurfs and she had a big stuffed animal smurf she named “Johnboy”.

My sister Kate is the elementary art teacher and she made these mice with her kids.

I read my book on Sunday and then went out to a boutique and this market. I love seeing the V Day stuff but I don’t need any more!

Don’t forget that my Currently link up is Wednesday! Don’t let me feel like the only kid at the table for my first link up!

Here are the categories:

loving, resolving, planning, eating/drinking, and watching/reading. If you also do Joyce’s Hodgepodge like me, feel free to do them in the same post!

Are you dancing in your jammies today or are you in your “hard pants” feeling blue at work?

Amy

42 thoughts on “Hello Monday”

  1. We watched Knives Out too. I oddly both felt like this long Christmas/winter vacation for everyone both dragged on and yet flew by all at the same time! I did lots and lots of reading and had many lazy days doing just that.

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  3. I´m dancing in my pj´s but I do have to go somewhere this morning pretty soon- just not school. So it´s not going to be a complete lazy day but no work work. I am the same way with the word ¨mantel¨ and always look up the meaning/spelling. I´m like that with a few words. When you don´t spell them often, it´s natural, I think? Scent o´ narcissist- that is interesting! Target getting its profit on!! $45 seems high but it is a cute vest. I´m glad your husband had a nice break from work and got to rest/sleep in. So necessary to do every once in a while. Yah about tutoring- I could see you like that and being good at it plus it obviously helps the student. Happy Monday!

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    1. I’m getting to the point that getting out the door before 10 is hard! But, I did get to the gym at 6 so I guess that counts. Yes – so true!
      The vest is Joylab which I have never heard of so maybe that is why it’s so high.
      Yes, I surprised myself by enjoying the tutoring. We haven’t seen how he did on his midterm yet, though!

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  4. Loved reading your post! Why are the icon glasses my whole personality now? Haha
    I bet it was nice to have Tom home. Trav had some time off too..& it’s nice to do random things like lunch on a weekday. I always have to look up mantel too! Haha
    Love your Vday decor.
    I will embrace this warmer weather, but I do hope we have a chance of snow sometime soon. That’s what keeps me going in January haha
    The sunset photo is a sweet memory.
    No students today so no hard pants for me haha

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    1. I have realized I deeply care about my drinking vessels. It’s the perfect heft and size. It’s so cute! I can’t wait to see my bows and lobsters.
      Thank you!
      I no longer need a snow day so I want the warmth! He he – but I will pray for another big snow for you.
      I think the first day back should always be teachers only where they get time to work. Guess what JCPS did – not that!

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      1. Well, now I will want lobsters haha!
        My dad always thinks I’m crazy that I want snow. Haha
        I was so thankful for the workday. It made leaving the Friday before break easy knowing o could figure out what to teach later haha

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      2. They are so cute! Hadley would like the bows.
        I love a snow that falls during the day while I can watch it!
        My district didn’t have that and Erica called me on her way home. She was beat!

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  6. The lemonade salt is good with ice tea too – tastes like an Arnold Palmer! I love LMNT and go back and forth with flavors I love. Right now I like raspberry and I add it to a Fresca every afternoon.

    I hope you and your sisters will plan some time together soon, especially as you approach the anniversary of your mom’s passing. It’s nice that you all get along so well!

    When I love a book I cannot put it down and then I grieve when it’s over – I miss the characters!

    I’m linking up with you on Wednesday!

    xo,

    Kellyann

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    1. Good tips! I have Fresca so I might try that. I like putting non-alc drinks in a wine glass sometimes, too.
      That is a good point – the anniversary is coming up. We are talking about a trip but not sure one of them can do it with her kid situation.
      Same! It’s like a book hangover!
      Yay for Wednesday! I can’t wait to see your answers!

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  7. I really liked The Secret Book of Flora Lea. I am the same with books. I do love when I land on a book that makes me sad to see it end. Love the Valentine decor! It’s happy. Enjoy your week!

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    1. I’m enjoying it! I am trying to figure out the mystery right now!
      Thank you! It has made me happy and it’s the earliest I’ve ever put it out. I used to do snow and snowmen but I am over that this year! You too!

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  8. I recognize that lunch, since it’s one you recommended for me over the weekend. Thanks for all the tips you gave me; I wrote them down and placed a grocery order yesterday. I’ll come home and eat today, but I’ve got my lunch ideas ready for the week. I’m going to come home tonight and work on my closet and lunch prep for my week while I’m here for an evening alone.

    I’m glad you had a great weekend and that you loved having Tom home for all that time. That can always go one or two ways, right? I bet EO will miss his daddy when he is back on his normal schedule! You and all your books…you are a reading fiend right now. I think that’s amazing. I’m still going to keep trying to prioritize time for it in my life, but other things keep winning out that time space. Enjoy your day, my friend! It’s back to reality for me, but I’ll be glad to see my co-workers and to be able to ease into this week on a day with no students.

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    1. I tried it out for you! Amy Approved!
      Glad you get to ease in and come home for lunch today!
      Great idea for a Monday! Take it easy this first week. Keep it simple. My advice – take it for what it’s worth!
      I bet you will be glad to see everyone.
      The sooner you go back, the sooner summer will come! Lol!

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  10. That is so nice that Tom had a relaxing break and so much time at home. I bet EO will miss him now during the day. Way to go with the reading and that big stack of books. I’ll be interested to hear what you think about the new ones. I might get some of those glasses for Valentine’s Day. And I was today-year’s-old when I found out there were two spellings of mantle…ha, ha!

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  13. I tried the Jones Road Miracle Balm but I couldn’t get past the smell. It looked good on and felt good. The company was good to refund my money. My BFF tried it and LOVED it, no smell so I am thinking I got a bad batch. I plan to try it again in the future.

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  14. Ohh! Send some of that warmer weather this way, it’s freezing here! I feel sad that the holidays are over too!
    That soup looks so good and everything looks so bare with the decorations down.
    That D-Robe looks amazing and the wellness box too, we all need some of that after the Christmas celebrations.

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  16. Happy New Year! Your post is filled with so many goodies! “Christmas with the Queen” is getting so much praise in the blogging world… I can’t wait to read it! Thanks for the LMNT recommendation – it sounds very refreshing! I love your mantel (and I’m jealous because my Christmas decor is still up since we just got home yesterday) AND that cream vest is adorable!

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  17. Strangely, I have never really decorated for Valentine’s. I’m still taking down Christmas. I loved “Wake Up Dead Man!” But, I have to admit Daniel Craig’s southern drawl still kinda throws me! Guess what? I have my Currently post all done unless I add some photos!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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  18. Haha, I’m in my painting shorts and about to go paint the living room. I really enjoyed reading your post and seeing all your delicious meals. I’m going to try some of your book recommendations and see if I can get them from the library as audiobooks.

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  19. That vest is so nice! $45 is a lot for Target…I am missing a vest. My old one I used to wear all the time doesn’t fit right anymore. I’m missing a zip-up jacket/fleece from my winter wardrobe so I might go look around for one.
    I don’t have a single valentine decoration so maybe I’ll look around for something. Something tells me the kids will really miss that part of school this year.

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    1. I’m not trying to enable you but this vest is really good – it’s both cozy and lightweight. I have worn it every day since I got it!
      The V day activities I did in my classes were really fun and creative if I do say so myself and they helped this time of year!

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