I am merely going to list my books in the order in which they were read.
I don’t buy books as a general rule. I read only library books. I read only books with pages you have to turn. Why? When my Kindle died many years ago, I decided I missed turning pages and decided to go back to old school. I don’t re-read most books and don’t want the book clutter, so I don’t buy books. It makes my reading life easier, to be honest. When I see a book I want to read, I put in the request on my library app and when the book comes up for me, I’m happy.
I feel no guilt at not finishing a book. If I am not enjoying it, what’s the point? So, the books you will see here were all books I enjoyed.
I prefer historical fiction and chick lit or fiction that is well written. I don’t love anything too dark and I haven’t done many mysteries since Nancy Drew.
Under the Stars and The Champagne Letters were my favorites if I had to pick. I also really liked Flora Lea. But I also really liked Christmas with the Queen. See my dilemma? I liked them all!
And, just like that…it’s February! Did you like the Sex and the City reboot? I did not. My sister Kate did. What brought that up? It was called And Just Like That. I am linking up with Holly and Sarah to share my weekend.
I learned that I can’t show you a draft post on both Friday and Saturday’s posts. I tried to link the January books I read on both Friday and Saturday and it didn’t work because I only had it saved as a draft. So, tomorrow it will come in its own post!
I got amazing sleep finally on Thursday night. You know how when you are congested and you just don’t sleep soundly? I hadn’t slept well for four nights in a row and it was catching up with me. I woke up Friday morning feeling so much better. I had only been out in my car one time – on Wednesday – and I was ready to get out! It makes you appreciate the ease of getting out and about after having so much snow, you know? I’m happy to report that I am almost back to normal and I slept well the last three nights. A January goal was to get to bed earlier. I feel like if I miss my window I don’t sleep as well.
I lost my anniversary band in my closet or bedroom a week ago and Tom was convinced that it was in Eddie Otis’ belly. I didn’t think so. On Friday I thoroughly cleaned my closet floor and looked in each and every boot on the floor. Then, I started with shoes on the shelves.
It jumped into a clog! I sent this picture to Tom and he replied “toe ring”.
I hate losing things and I was so happy. Tom gave me that for our 10-year wedding anniversary and he is not a jewelry giver, so it was special!
I was jubilant as I got myself out of the house.
I got myself a peppermint tea with honey and it was so good. This is a local place and I like to support them.
I also noticed for the first time all the birds nests and birds that live in their signage. So cute! I talked to the drive thru employee about them and she said they love their birds. It’s not a great picture but there were a few nests and several birds.
I had a Kroger pick up. I went to Target to do an online return. I ordered some spring pants that didn’t work out and I was glad since I had already summed up my January fashion purchases! I was craving a Jimmy John’s sandwich and was tired of cooking. I get a “Little John” at Jimmy John’s and it’s the perfect size.
This was a total impulse purchase. OMG – dangerous. These are so good.
Target has so much stuff for Superbowl. They have aisles and aisles of snack foods in a separate area and then they have all these football themed items.
I thought these were adorable for V Day.
I didn’t buy any of them but I enjoyed looking. I only got a few food items that I needed – Kroger was still out of stock of several things from the winter storm including bananas!
I read my book off and on for a bit and napped a bit. Around 4:00 I knew I could finish it before dinner, and I had a small glass of prosecco with it. This book really picked up for me about halfway through and I ended up loving the story and the message.
I had purchased Bare brand chicken strips and decided to make a dinner of chicken biscuits, truffle fries (I have truffle oil from Trader Joe’s and put it on frozen fries), and a simple salad with homemade dressing. Blog reader Kim gave me the chicken biscuit idea! Tom was thrilled not to be asked what he wanted, to be at home for dinner after a long week for him, and he loved what I had made. I don’t mean this in a Tom is a jerk way. He really just wants me to decide. We watched another episode of His and Hers.
I did my nails. They won’t last all the way to V Day, but I still thought it would be fun to do this leftover heart set of nails:
Saturday the sky was full of more snow! Our road is still so bad!
I had lots of library books to return and needed something lighter to read next. I picked up a few books from the February romance shelf that they had set up.
I started this and it’s so cute! It’s what I needed! I love the premise – set at an arts summer camp in Minnesota and they have adult artists-in-residence mentors to the kids.
I will eat at home on Friday if I know I get to go out on Saturday! It was Mojito Tapas this weekend which never disappoints.
When in Rome…the original mojito:
pescadillo – little lightly fried fish with a really good aioli.
patatas bravas – brave little potatoes
I came home and did my baby foot peeling mask that my sister gave me for Christmas. It feels so weird. Hopefully I will molt in 7-10 days and have feet that could caress a baby.
I woke up to 1 degree on February 1. Oh, Mother Nature, you are so witty.
Please don’t bring the snow moon. We have seen her.
I self-tanned and it helps me to see a little color.
I cleaned, did dishes, did laundry, and piddled.
I still have some snowstorm food to cook so I made cinnamon rolls:
and I soaked beans over night for a pot of beans:
I went to a warehouse sale at a boutique nearby and didn’t buy anything.
I went to Paul’s Fruit Market for a couple of things and to CVS for a couple of things. CVS had really cute pickleball stuff if anyone needs a gift.
I ate chili for lunch:
And, we spent most of the afternoon in front of the fire being lazy.
I texted about 5 friends to make plans for the next couple of weeks, so I have some social things on my calendar to help me in the doldrums of winter. I tutor my Spanish student this week and I am taking lunch to Elizabeth one day, too. They haven’t posted the library cooking classes for February yet, but I will keep checking.
I will be posting my January books and my February goals tomorrow! It’s a two-fer day!
Don’t forget this Wednesday is Currently along with Hodgepodge. I will open up the link at 4:00 am EST. The prompts are loving, baking/cooking, watching/reading, planning, and savoring. Feel free to interpret those any way you like. I’m so excited for my second Currently! Send me any suggestions for March!
Our district has a two-hour delay today. Are you back to normal schedule? Tell me something you did this weekend!
It’s time for “Share 4 Somethings” where we recap the month with Jenn.
Something I loved
My reading life! I used to hardly read at all in the winter! TV was my jam in the winter. I just completed book number 7 of January yesterday and I had a celebratory glass of…. prosecco. Not quite champagne. I also thought I would treat myself to Veuve Clicquot. I’ve never had it. Maybe soon? It is a true story that a widow ran the most prestigious champagne business in the region. “Veuve” means widow in French and Clicquot was her last name. “Viuda” is widow in Spanish and “Viudo” is widower. I had to teach my students the different between widow and widower and my hint was “Violet and Victor were widows and widowers” – “Vi” at the beginning?
Fires (I typed “fries” first so I guess that is my subconscious saying I’m craving them) in my living room fireplace
Sunshine and some mild weather and watching snow come down when I had all my people in my house – that was a big surprise to have Jack come and spend the night and it was awesome. It was nice to have some mild weather and it was nice to have some true winter weather. Both things can be true.
Something that sustained me
Coffee and making my own creamer a few times – that hot cup of coffee in the winter – ahhhh
Sweet potato cubes roasted in the oven – obsessed with the avocado combo
Sweet texts and phone calls – I love when someone thinks of me. I got a sweet one yesterday that my niece wanted to show me her prom dress – already!
Something I’m carrying forward
The attitude of fun! I did a post on having fun and I really felt that a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders at the beginning of January. We sold my mom’s house right before Thanksgiving which was such a blessing. We didn’t want to be responsible for a vacant house through the winter. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I prepared for Christmas, so I was busy with that. Then, when that was over, I felt that I could plan for fun. Yes, you do have to plan for fun! Did you read my blog post? I like the above picture of myself because I can remember feeling happy. I was happy to be in a beautiful space with the sun shining and with friends.
Fiona Ferris books. Jenn talked about one she read this month. These are the only books I buy. I use the library exclusively for my reading, but these are books that I go back to because I find them so inspirational. This goes hand in hand with my fun goals. Fiona is a great role model for living your life to the fullest.
Something I’m making space for
All the feelings! This may not make sense to some but I’m still mourning my beloved career of 31 years. It brings me all the feelings. Many days I am so happy to not deal with the administrative bs, the emails, the meetings, the stress. I hardly cuss anymore and I attribute that to not being as stressed. When you are a teacher, it feels like more than a job. I am not saying that we should be revered and that we are special, but being a teacher is an encompassing. I absolutely feel that it was my calling and I loved so much of it. I was actually excited many days to get to my classroom and get things set up. I loved laughing with the kids and just the general banter. I loved coming up with ways to explain a concept or to help them remember vocabulary. At the same time, I also think it was the perfect time to close that chapter for a few different reasons.
We just had the one-year anniversary of the passing of my mom so that feels big. What does my family look like without either of my parents? We are figuring that out.
Mason is planning to move out next month albeit just here in town but that will be a big change. I will officially be an empty nester, and I will probably not have kids living with me again.
I’m sitting with my feelings and sometimes that can be uncomfortable. I also know it’s a privilege to have time to process them.
I honestly started 2026 feeling grateful, blessed, and lucky to have the life I have.
As a final note, I miss the feeling of helping people. I hope my little ol’ blog helps someone out there. That would fill my cup!
Well, there is not much in my Fashion Files this week so I would like to take this time to sum up my January fashion purchases as well. I am linking up with Kellyann and Jill.
It’s hard to look cute when it’s really cold. Well, Cameron Diaz in The Holiday is winter fashion goals, no? I can assure you that I didn’t look like that.
I have been wearing my Target A New Day long sleeve tees almost every day. I think I am on my third season of these. The material is great and I bought one in black, tan, coffee brown, and burgundy. I wish I had another black one because it gets worn the most and a white one, too.
Here I am in Halara jeans, the tan one, my new off white JoyLab for Target vest, and my tan Adidas Sambas:
Long sleeve tees are imperative for vests and for under sweaters.
I got dressed up in really cold temps for Tom’s work party. I wore new with tags consignment Chico’s pants. I am so glad I bought these this summer. a TJ Maxx sweater with sheer sleeves, and a sweater vest from a consignment store. The clutch makes the outfit. I love this clutch!
I knew back in the fall that black shoes were needed in my fall and winter wardrobe. I didn’t do anything about it until a couple of weeks before Tom’s work party.
I found these on Amazon:
I am wearing them in the above photo. The heel height is perfect.
And, I ordered these and they are perfect, too. I had these a couple of years ago but they were too big and I returned them. I never re-ordered them.
So, each cost under $50 and they were much needed. No regrets.
I am proud of myself for not doing too much “boredom shopping” in January. In the past I have always bought more winter clothes or shopped clearance racks. I went to a warehouse sale and bought zero items! That’s big for me! I have avoided looking at clearance and sale items online and I have avoided it in stores, too. I have bought things just because they are cheap and that has been a problem for me.
Do you think it’s wrong to be proud of yourself? I always feel a little guilty when I say I am proud of myself, but shouldn’t we be proud of ourselves sometimes?
Here is what I bought in January. You may be left thinking, “She should not be proud of herself!” He, he.
I got rid of most of my vests a season or two ago. They looked dated. They were either the 2016 quilted ones or too puffy a la Michelin Man.
This was a total impulse purchase that paid off. I walked in to Target to do a return or for one specific item and saw these JoyLab vests on a table with some gorgeous colors. I really like cream/off-white and could see myself wearing it so I got it. It wasn’t Target cheap. It was like $45! But, I am happy to say that I have worn it so many times in January!
I was looking at the Old Navy website for some reason and came across a pair of simple cotton leggings (not athletic) and that is what I wanted to wear with button ups. They were $10.
Thinking ahead to spring, I thought this blouse looked nice:
And, I wanted another simple lightweight white tee for under my crew neck sweaters.
Practical order, no?
A couple of weeks later I went in the ON store and bought two graphic tees for $8.49 each.
I liked this for spring under a cardigan, perhaps:
And, this one is actually light, light pink and has cherries shaped like hearts and bows. I thought it would be cute for V Day but could be worn for not just V Day.
I did make a couple of trips to consignment shops in January and I found this new with tags Urban Outfitters ballcap.
I ordered an Amazon Essentials navy sweater to match and have worn it both with the cap and without.
Also, my mom passed away a year ago today. It’s hard to believe a year has gone by. I want to celebrate my parents on their birthdays rather than their death days, but I still think it’s important to reflect. My sisters and I decided we would do a TJ Maxx shopping trip to honor my mom and then share our hauls. My mom loved TJ Maxx so much and loved to buy and return things from there, too!
This is my view right now:
It would be prettier without the footprints and the recycling bin.
This is the ugly side of snow in the Kroger parking lot:
1. I live in the south so we’re pretty much only talking about the weather right now. Give us a weather report from where you live. Does the kind of weather you’re having today affect your mood in some way?
It is winter so snow can be expected. I just feel like I got what I wanted this year and I’m done. Doesn’t Mother Nature know that I only needed snow days when I was a teacher? Ha!
I think we had about 8 inches and not much ice so that is the good news. But, when the temps are this cold the snow sticks around for way longer than I would like.
It absolutely affects my mood. I just want to hibernate, bake, snack, and not do much else.
2. Avocados, kale, cauliflower and cottage cheese have all had their time to shine. 2026 brings us the year of the cabbage. Is this a vegetable you like? If so, what are some of your favorite dishes that call for cabbage?
I like all of the above foods. I do like cabbage in vegetable soup and cole slaw. I probably like cooked cabbage more than raw cabbage.
3. Was a Cabbage Patch Doll a part of your childhood? Or maybe your children’s childhood? What’s a toy trend from your childhood you remember wanting for your own?
Oh yes! I was a child of the 80s! My sisters and I all had one. I didn’t get the one of my dreams, so I had to settle. My mom found me a boy named Samuel Alexander and I wanted a girl, so I added a bow to her/their short hair, put her/them in a dress, and changed her/their name to Samantha Alexandra.
4. Something you’ve spent a lot of time doing lately?
Enjoying this fire. For years we didn’t make fires upstairs. We only made them downstairs in our basement with our gas log. Well, Eddie Otis is still not granted access to the downstairs and I prefer wood anyway. So, this has been a delight this season.
I keep making myself a hot drink – winter spice tea or hot chocolate with heart shaped marshmallows.
5. Somehow it’s the last week of January…sum up your month in just three sentences.
Well, I have been trying to enjoy January – the longest and most unexciting month of the year in my opinion. “30 days have September, April, June, and November. All the rest have 31 excepting February alone and leap year, blah, blah, and January which has 31,332 days and makes you feel every single one of them.”
Being retired has helped me. I have gotten to be out in the sun when it comes out since I’m not trapped in a school building from dark to almost dark.
Also, I have learned to be an indoor reader! For years, I could only read outside and that meant in summer, mainly. I got my neck light which helped a lot. I also can do do daytime reading indoors. Anyway, it’s a big deal for me.
My three sentences:
I cooked a lot; it was the month of microwave eggs, sweet potatoes, and avocado. I ate pretty healthy.
2. I was pretty social. I ate dinner out on Saturdays with Tom and had several coffee dates or happy hours with friends.
3. I read a lot. At the time of this post I am on my 7th book of January.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I am pretty proud of not boredom shopping for clothing too much this month. In the past, that is what I did. I resisted a warehouse sale – even when they went to $5 and $10 racks! Don’t feel too bad for me because I still bought plenty. I bought a vest, two t-shirts, a blouse, two pairs of shoes, a baseball cap and a sweater. I think that sums it up! I guess I better hope that I don’t find anything at TJ Maxx!
I started this post a couple of weeks ago but I wanted to insert that I really enjoyed my fires over this snowed in weekend. Tom has to open the flue but I can keep it going.
We tried the plastic trick and I’m pleased! We ran plastic from the back door down the steps and then Tom had to shovel off some of the snow but look how clean it kept this area! It always gets really icy so look at that!
Another thing I’m glad I did was buy paper plates. I don’t always have them on hand, but it was helpful to have them.
So, back to fun! I am talking genuine FUN. Can you remember? Hopefully it was over the holidays or since then and not that long ago. Maybe you have had fun snowed in?
As an adult do we even let ourselves have fun?
I had a sad to me conversation with a friend who doesn’t read my blog. I told her I was going to a one-hour, free cooking class on how to make pretzels. She said she doesn’t have time for things like that. One day she will have an hour but right now she doesn’t, she said. What made this statement crazy to me is that this friend doesn’t work outside the home and has one kid at home, but who drives.
The pretzel class with my friend Elizabeth
My point is that fun has to be a choice sometimes. Sometimes I had to learn to do something more efficiently to make time for fun. Example – getting groceries delivered. If you have limited time is there something in your life that you could do more efficiently to free up your time?
It’s also funny to think about the fact that we as humans have more leisure time than any other humans that came before us. We aren’t spending time churning butter or washing our clothes on a washboard down by the creek. What is taking up our time?
Also, your fun is not my fun. My fun is not your fun.
I had fun at Tom’s work party. I really like the people he works with. I enjoy socializing with them once a year.
I had fun playing two games with my family over the holidays. I am trying to get my group of 6 friends to have a game night soon.
Have you stopped to consider what you think is fun recently? Many of us just keep swimming and grinding and we don’t think about our own fun. I think women are even more guilty of that than men. We play the role of cruise director for the fun of the rest of the family! Of course, there are seasons in your life where you won’t have as much time for fun.
Another point I want to make is that you don’t have to wait for a trip or a vacation to have fun. That would be sad if you only had fun on vacation.
A book that had a great impact on me came into my life when I was around 32 and had 2 year old twins. I was part of the MOMs – Moms of Multiples (Children – not shoes) group for a few years and met a friend named Lindy who also had twin boys! She started a book club via email within the MOMs group. We did a book study on The Artist’s Way.
I am not sure I even read the whole book/finished the book study but two things really stuck out to me.
She asked the question: what did you enjoy doing as a 9-year-old child? (I don’t know why 9 was the magic age). Do you still let yourself do those things?
9-year-old Amy loved school and playing school, writing and acting in skits, doing Chinese jump rope with friends, riding bikes, roller skating, reading, baking, exploring in the woods near her house, swimming, being outside – literally from sunup until sundown when she could, and going to the library and shopping. My fun with my sisters as we got older was reading funny Christmas newsletters and making up our own satirical version. We also had a really fun time putting together a red neck appetizer party for our family friends. We cut up Pop Tarts and put toothpicks in them and things like that. Weird kids.
Does this kind of sound like grown up Amy? I think it does! Chinese jump rope could be bad at this age, though. I’m not even sure how my friends and I got into this.
The author also encouraged us to take ourselves on “dates” to reconnect with that 9 year old self.
I don’t think people should wait for the weekend to have fun or wait until the summer to have fun if you have the choice.
Also, fun doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. One could argue that by having less money you might need to employ more creativity which can be fun.
How I have fun:
Making foods for myself or my people/trying new recipes
Laughing with someone in person or on the phone
Putting together outfits/reading about fashion trends
Reading
Sitting outside in the sunshine
Walking in nature
Going to interesting events, out to dinner, listening to live music, going to comedy shows
Exploring new places in my city or while traveling
Going to the movies or watching one at home
Being in or near water
Picking out and giving gifts
Playing with my dog
Going to dinner with my family, my husband, or friends
Going to happy hours and finding happy hour deals and good atmospheres
Helping people
I’m sure I could keep listing things, but you get the idea!
I want to leave you with a quote from my Dad. My Mom would rope him into many things like square dancing, bridge club, dinners out, etc. My Dad was fine with less interaction for sure. It sounds like Tom and I, right? I would often ask my Dad if he had fun at whatever thing he had just attended and he replied many times with, “FUN is a strong word. I wouldn’t go that far.”
Ok, I really want you to put something fun on your calendar. Or, make a fun bucket list. Let me know in the comments what you plan to do!
Well, it is winter. She ain’t playin’ no more. Let’s link up to Sarah and Holly to share our weekends and our winter stories!
Also, be careful what you wish for. I remember myself saying I like a snow that I can watch during the daytime. Ok, I’m done.
I moved my clearance tulips to my mantel, and I have enjoyed looking at them.
Snowstorm prep for some means milk and bread and for others it means library run!
I picked up my requests on Thursday and added an interesting one I saw on the shelf:
I went into Anthro and just looked. I think I am done with my icon glasses. I have hearts, bows, and lobsters. I only have four glasses. Never say never, though!
I was next to Anthro because I did a very retired person thing. I picked up the free scoop of Chicken Salad Chick. He he. I was the youngest person there by several decades.
Have you all heard about the yogurt Biscoff cookie thing? I had both and tried it. I wasn’t going to waste too many cookies. I put two into some vanilla and it’s really good!
I’m not happy with myself. I had a Kroger pick up on Wednesday and also stopped at two other little markets. Then, on Thursday my friend made me nervous and I went in Kroger. Then, on Friday I was still nervous and went into Kroger. Sheesh.
I let the hype get to me. Do you do that?
I had a fun Friday morning! I have a former student from my second school ask me to coffee. She is 42 now! She recently moved near me and we had been wanting to get together. We talked for two plus hours in a little coffee shop.
I hope I get to see her again soon!
Friday night was Tom’s work holiday party. They have changed it to January and it’s a pretty good plan except for the weather this year. Several people weren’t able to make it because some don’t work here in town and commute or they are on job sites. It was too cold to even think of a dress and no one wore one. I went with consignment Chico’s pants, new booties, black sweater with sheer sleeves, and a black sweater vest/shawl thing that was also consignment.
It was at a distillery/bar called Uncle Boojie’s and they have a great atmosphere and creative drinks.
You were able to get a taste from this barrel. The gadget used to extract the bourbon is called a “whiskey thief”.
They had a little bluegrass band.
A rare smile caught on camera!
Since so many people cancelled and we were among the last to leave, the caterers begged us to take home the extra food. We took home bacon topped deviled eggs, chicken mac and cheese sliders, bacon jam cheeseburger sliders, bourbon balls, and fruit and cheese skewers. Sometimes it pays to close down the party, no?
I made Chex Mix Saturday morning and literally we were just waiting on the snow. Jack and his roommate came around 3:00 when the snow had just started because their workplaces closed as did most non-essentials places. I was worried about them staying warm in their old Victorian house apartment.
I went out and got one more small thing of provisions and a medicine ball tea since I woke up with a bit of a sore throat. But also, I knew cabin fever would hit so I wanted to get out while I could!
I started this:
The snow started slowly…
I laid out all the leftovers from the party and ordered pizza before it got bad.
The kids were so happy to be fed!
We got a roaring fire going and Tom and I watched stuff and I read and we just watched the snow come down.
This is what we had by evening:
and by morning…
Shovel crew:
Me too!
My sister found a photo of the lake I grew up on. I didn’t have this for Hodgepodge last week.
Our next Currently is a bit over a week away!
February 4, 2026 themes will be:
loving, baking/cooking, watching/reading, planning, and savoring. Feel free to interpret those any way you like.
When someone says “grab my graphic” the easiest thing I have found to do is to open the blog on my phone, screenshot the graphic, and then insert the graphic from my camera roll into my blog app on my phone. Let me know if you have a better way to do that for bloggers! It’s the teacher in me; I never want to assume someone knows how to do something, except my husband. He should know how to take out the trash, do the laundry, load the dishwasher, unload the dishwasher…
It’s been a cold week! I just want to sit by fires! It’s Friday and time to link up with Andrea and Erika to share some favorites.
I find that I need to write my winter goals and keep them visible. I have them on my memo board in the kitchen. See my attempt at a snowflake? A favorite this week was seeing them and being intentional.
I met my friend Victoria at Drake’s one afternoon. We were still home in time to cook dinner. Drake’s has a fireplace and two green leather chairs in front of it. Guess who has two thumbs and snagged those seats?
We had some amazing buff chik dip as the younguns’ say.
The fire was so toasty!
I also had a happy hour with my friend Beth and this place has a great atmosphere and some hh specials. We chose the big leather chairs.
espresso martinis and …
spinach and artichoke dip – yum.
Now I want to make both dips at home!
Favorite podcast of the week – Midlife Matters – they discussed home and fashion trends for 2026. I’m on board! Give it a listen!
Favorite tv of the week – I completed Love is Blind Germany and watched the reunion, I am re-watching Younger – seriously so good. I love Sutton Foster, Below Deck Mediterranean – still enjoying seeing the port in Barcelona. With Tom, we finished Seven Dials and are watching His & Hers and Best Medicine. He always has British tv on these days. I can’t keep up with all his “alone” shows. I am usually reading my book.
Favorite foods of the week at home – I took some grilled chicken from Trader Joe’s – I really like their already cooked chicken, some leftover Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce, a ton of dill pickles, and made my own “fries” from some Yukon Gold potatoes on the air fryer setting. I can’t wait to have this again. Hear me out – Yukon Gold taste like McDonald’s fries. I am going to have to look up a copycat recipe for Dave’s Hot Chicken sauce. It is a new chicken restaurant here. Just did it – here it is!
I like to let my frozen fruit melt or microwave it and pair this with OIKOS Pro vanilla – yum! I’ve been trying to eat this as a dessert.
I added a bit of this.
I really like this for some added fiber. I just eat it without milk and it looks a bit like rabbit pellets but nbd.
Seriously good muffins! Adding a couple mixes to next grocery order! $1.19 for the mix!
I have eggs for either breakfast or lunch. I am obsessed with my new method. I was using a mug in the microwave and now I’m using a round glass Pyrex. It makes the egg mixture of one egg, liquid egg whites, cottage cheese, and whatever else you want to throw in spread out and create more “surface area”. I’m obsessed with my bowls. Molly gave me new bowls for Christmas and I am using them daily for my bowls!
This one had the Pyrex egg, regular potatoes, and bacon bits with a bit of Mexican shredded cheese.
This one was sweet potato, bacon bits, Pyrex egg, avocado, Mexican shredded.
Usually I use Amylu chicken breakfast sausage instead of bacon bits. Here is my In the Kitchen post with some ideas I’m using.
One of my winter goals was to hygge up my house. I finally got one of these candle warmer thingamajigs on Amazon and I love it! It has a dimmer switch so you can make the light part of it various levels and it came with two bulbs. I also bought a cinnamon chai candle. I saw on Instagram that you can use it as a queso warmer and I might do that this weekend to make Tom laugh.
But like why is warm queso funny? It’s freaking awesome! Just a snapshot into my daily life, though…See the candle lid? Eddie Otis stole it and I had to bribe him with pepperoni to get it out of his mouth. We do this many times a day with various things. Lots of fun!
I also got awesome pillow covers and a new blanky.
Did you catch my Best Buys of 2025? I talked about the frother and here is a photo:
I also am still making homemade creamer! Who am I?
I talked about Pavoi earrings and just smaller earrings as one of my best buys. I added these to my collection this week. I have lost a couple recently and decided to replace them with something different.
I needed a new brush and found this “unbrush” at Kroger. I love it!
Despite the cold Eddie Otis and I get outside for a couple of walks each day.
So, this is not a favorite…
We were issued a winter weather advisory yesterday at 11:30 until Monday morning. I don’t think I can remember one lasting that long. But the snow isn’t supposed to start until mid-day Saturday. I have seen predictions of 5 inches to 24 inches for my area. I have also heard we could get sleet. I have plenty of food stocked – I think. I don’t want anyone to lose power in this cold.
I hope you had lots of favorites this week, too! Stay warm! Stay safe!
It’s Thursday and time to link up with both Kellyann and Jill for Fashion Files.
We have had some true winter weather!
I am managing to get dressed most days. I am doing pretty well with not shopping winter sales and winter clothing. I have plenty! I am trying to only shop holes in my closet or shopping with spring in mind.
I just posted my Best Buys of 2025 and most of it involves clothing and shoes, to be honest. I just enjoy fashion or what I think of as fashion! It’s worth clicking over if you want to see what I’m glad I bought. I feel like doing this exercise helps be moving forward to make smart choices.
Does your clothing spending align with your values? In my perfect scenario, I would shop consignment first and try to buy quality brands second. In my realistic world, I shop for clothing and shoes on Amazon occasionally (not much) and from Target and Old Navy more than I would like. They just keep enticing me with some things. I do feel the quality of what I have picked lately has been quite good, though.
I found this New York ball cap new with tags at one of my consignment stores! It was from Urban Outfitters and originally cost $30 and I got it for $10. Then, I needed a navy sweater to go with it, dontcha know? I am very pleased with the Amazon Essentials quality. I am really enjoying wearing crewneck sweaters with either a button up or plain white crewneck tee underneath. What on Earth? I just saw that the navy I purchased is down to $13.75!
I paired this with my Halaras and my Adidas Sambas. Both of those items made my Best Buys of 2025 list. I used hot rollers on my hair as an experiment and it looks weird with the hat.
I decided to wear a V Day sweater this day. I still had hot roller hair and I wore another pair of Halaras and my Adidas Stan Smiths.
This was merely a dog walking day. I wore my faux Uggs, leggings, tan long sleeve, Target JoyLab vest that I love, and a hat from Scotland.
This day I wore my Target Les Alpes very warm sweater, black flare yoga pants, and faux Uggs.
This day I wore a burgundy long sleeve tee with the Target vest, charcoal black jeans, and faux Uggs.
Yes, the vest and the faux Uggs are getting lots of attention right now!
So…confession time. I ordered two new pairs of Halaras. My light wide legged are starting to show some wear so I got a new pair for spring. And, I wanted to try a pair that buttoned and zipped. All of my other Halaras are pull on with no button nor zipper.
This pair did not come in petite length so I was a little worried, but on the model they hit above the ankle. I chose a darker wash than the model is wearing, too. I wore this out to happy hour.
I love the side detail! I think we will be seeing more side detail on jeans.
I am in love! You guys! The material is a really nice weight and I just love them! Here is the link for the style I bought. I am 5’4 and I think these run true to size. If you are interested in the style I usually buy, here it is. When I bought my first pair of light wide legged they did not have extra petite and now they do. Extra petite is perfect for my height. I do not have to hem them and they work with flat shoes and a bit of a heel. I really don’t wear much more than a one inch heel anymore.
Also, in the above photo, I have purchased a replacement dressy bootie. I have had two pairs over the years and one I ruined when I wore them to a gravesite after a funeral. I can’t remember what happened to the other one. I have needed a dressy black bootie multiple times this winter and didn’t have one! First world problems, no?
1. Ice skating, skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, playing in the snow, or a snowy walk…which winter activity do you choose? Have you done any of these activities so far this winter?
I used to love ice skating! I grew up on a lake and owned my own skates. My church group took field trips to ice skating rinks in larger cities, too. I couldn’t find any photos of the lake I grew up on – darn!
I have done a snowy walk this year. We had a very snowy early December. I would choose snowy walk because it’s so fun to do with your dog!
What is this white stuff, mom?
We have lots of snow day memories from our twins’ childhood, too. It was always so exciting when they could go play in the snow.
2. Everyone is posting pictures from ten years ago on their social media sites so let’s jump on the bandwagon too. Share one photo and one thought to go with said photo from the year 2016. And maybe everyone isn’t doing this, but many are and we’re going to be part of the fun.
I guess it’s just because it’s 10 years ago…
In 2016 we left the country for the first time since having kids. Our twins were in the summer between middle and high school, and it was our goal to take them to Germany where Tom was born. It was an epic two-week trip! We stayed with Tom’s family and in hostels and it was a really special experience.
This was the first plane ride our kids ever took. We had been road trippers up until this point.
A pretty park in Tom’s mom’s hometown and the town where his three cousins and uncle lived:
The German teens ages 14-19:
Tom’s three cousins and their spouses:
The fam:
We traveled all over Germany by train. We saw Bremerhaven, Cuxhaven, Bremen, Hamburg, Munich, Schwangau (where the Neuschwanstein Castle is located), and Berlin. We spent the night in this museum just for the 14 of us! We rented two circular bicycles to see the town. It was a hoot! We walked mud flats at low tide and that was an experience.
Tom and I had been in 2000 a few months before our wedding. On that trip we took his mom, aunt, sister, and niece.
3. What’s a trend you hope disappears in this new year?
This is a hard one. Nothing is particularly bothering me at this point.
4. ‘They’ say there’s a day for everything and January 21st proves it. National Granola Bar Day. Do you like granola bars? How about just regular granola? Do you like bars of other kinds?
I used to buy the big boxes from Costco because that is all my kids would eat before school in middle and high. If I’m desperate, I will get one. My favorite is the really messy Nature’s Valley. I don’t like nuts, so it has to be granola sans nuts.
5. A frozen lake, a trickling stream, a raging river, or a deep well…which one describes something about your life right now? Elaborate as much or as little as you like.
This is a tough one. I guess I would say trickling stream right now. I have more time on my hands.
I had a really hard time with some of this week’s questions!
6. Insert your own random thought here.
It’s cold. I’m cold. I’m not built for this.
Apparently we could get 12-14 inches of snow this weekend!
I want to bake and hibernate. I found a happy medium when I baked just 6 full sized muffins with this mix:
I sprinkled some brown sugar and cinnamon on top before baking. Highly recommend!
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 