Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Hello all! Thank you for joining me for Currently today. I am also joining Joyce for Hodgepodge. Let’s go!

Thank you for all the sweet birthday wishes! I really felt the love.

This time change has me all discombobulated! It’s only an hour yet it’s messed with me!

No-vember – Saying “no” to…

I listened to a podcast where the speaker talked about subtracting things from your life for added fullness rather than adding to your life to achieve fullness. That really struck me. I think as women we want to say YES to all the things. NO is a complete sentence.

I am saying NO to too many outings in one given week.

I am saying NO to mindless shopping (the kind you do at TJ Maxx) or running errands just to run errands. Most of the time I don’t need anything and most of the time I can just find a substitute for one particular food item I think I need for that meal.

I’ve been really disappointed with things I’ve seen in stores lately so that makes this easier. We have simplified who we buy Christmas gifts for and that makes Christmas less stressful.

I am saying NO to impulsive Amazon shopping. I put things in my cart and wait to see if I really need that item a couple of days later and most of the time I don’t.

I am saying NO to unhealthy overthinking, questioning, replaying conversations as much as I can. I am saying NO to getting in someone else’s lane and trying to stay in mine.

Thanking for…

So much! I am thankful for another birthday and feel blessed to have many people think of me on my day. Most days I love that I “get to” do this life in this way. I am thanking Mother Nature for her beauty and trying to soak it all up.

I ordered my own birthday cake, by the way. This is pretty famous in Louisville from a staple bakery called Plehn’s that is 100 years old. It’s called a shadow cake and has the best white icing, and one layer is chocolate and one layer is yellow cake. The white icing on top is then coated in a chocolate ganache.

Eating/Drinking…

Well, after about 5 weeks of counting protein grams, I let myself enjoy my birthday on Monday fully. Tom got me Chick Fil A chicken minis for breakfast which is a really rare treat.

I made the viral canned cinnamon rolls just because I wanted to.

For lunch we split an Auntie Anne’s pretzel and it was so good!

Then, we enjoyed dinner at Texas Roadhouse…

I got a house salad, smothered chicken, and a baked potato.

I had a blackberry cocktail, too:

We had lots of leftovers which we love, too!

Cozying up to (could be literal or figurative)…

I am starting to wear my cozier clothes in my closet. I have the softest blanket on my couch along with matching soft pillow covers for my couch pillows. Should I buy a Lola blanket? They are just so expensive!

I am cozying up to my library books, of course. I still hope to do some reading outside!

I would like to have some fires outside and inside and we need to buy some firewood.

Watching/Reading

I’m reading Jodi Piccoult’s Hollow Bones as quickly as I can since it’s a 7 day book. I am on the last Emma book until February and trying to savor it.

And now Hodgepodge…

1. Our  November Hodgepodges always include a question related to gratitude. What is one small thing you’re grateful for today?

I am writing this on Election Day so I am grateful to live in this country and have the freedoms we have. I am grateful to get to vote. It’s not perfect, of course, but I am proud to be an American where at least I know – just kidding. Did you think I was going to type all the lyrics?

2. Chrysanthemums-pansies-burning bush-ornamental cabbage-camellias…your favorite in an autumn garden? Would we find any of these in your yard/garden this year?

I sadly do not know the names of many plants or flowers, but I really love so many of them. My mum did ok this year, and I saw on Instagram that you can plant it even with brown leaves and it will re-bloom next year. I might try that.

3. If you could clear out or organize one physical space or mental habit before the year ends, what would it be?

My basement storage room is the area that is giving me the most anxiety. I would like to stop analyzing and overthinking interactions.

4. Brussel sprouts…love ’em or no thank you? If you said love ’em how do you like them prepared?

I love them roasted and a little crispy. I like bacon and balsamic glaze, too.

5. It’s reassuring to know that____________________.

We have so many protections – systems in place and things like that in this country even though it’s not perfect.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I was walking EO on my birthday and saw this perfectly heart shaped leaf just lying on a branch of an evergreen tree. It looks like a Google image or something but I took this photo. It made me so happy to see this!

Please click here to join the party for Currently!

Amy

P.S. – December’s Currently will be on Wednesday, December 2. I am considering moving it to Thursdays in 2027 since Thursday is a light day in the blog world and due to Wednesday being Hodgepodge day. The prompts for December are: celebrating, decorating, wearing, preparing, and loving.