Happy Wednesday! I’m sharing what we’ve been up to lately, from food to books to shows and more.
WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK…
WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT…
Blizzards! The year Jack was born (winter 2009-10), we had three blizzards. After that we didn’t have any big snows for a few years. Until 2016! In January 2016 we had a big blizzard that kept us home from school for a whole week. The pictures have been popping up in my Google and Facebook memories and those snow days were so much fun!
WHAT I’M LOVING…
I love my job and I love seeing the kids’ sweet faces in school, but I have been loving working from home on Wednesdays. It’s a nice midweek reset to be able to sleep in a few extra minutes and not have to pack a lunch.
WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO…
Our Sundays have been free lately so Jeff and I have capitalized on it. We are creatures of habit when it comes to meals and grocery shopping/ordering. So on Sundays, Jeff and I have been hitting a different grocery store together. They boys are old enough to stay home for a bit while we walk the aisles and look for new food ideas. We’ve been to Martin’s, Safeway, and Aldi so far. Who knows where we’ll go this Sunday! I’d love to go to Wegman’s or Trader Joe’s, but they are a little too far away. We also follow up with a walk together each Sunday afternoon. It’s been so nice to have that time with Jeff because dates aren’t really happening these days.
I decided this week that we are watching too much tv and using our devices too much. It was a slippery slid from summer through virtual schooling into hybrid with extra time on iPads, iPods, and television. I’ve pulled everyone WAY back and it’s been a lovely week. We’ve played board games. The kids have created games. Luke designed a Rube Goldberg machine for school but he was so into it that I think we’ll have many more in the coming weeks.
WHAT I’M DREADING…
I am only really dreading one thing, but it’s the littlest dread around. I am dreading all the mud in our backyard for the next few months. Regardless of the weather my boys play outside, and we do not have much grass right now because of the home improvement project we are working on.
WHAT I’M WORKING ON…
I am working on a few things. I just signed up with BeautyCounter as a consultant after using their products for six months and loving them. My mom, who has seen my skin since the first day, and my college roommates noticed how great my skin was looking. I’d say those are two glowing endorsements. I really do love their products and I love that they have so many (1800) ingredients that are never included in any products. They are products I feel good about putting on my skin, Jeff’s skin, and my kids’ skin.
WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT…
I’m getting my first vaccine today! I know that this is a very, tiny first step in going back to normal, but it’s a move in the right direction. Don’t worry, I’ll still be wearing my mask, social distancing, and washing my hands like I have been, but I’ll have that first shot. Picture coming this afternoon…
WHAT I’M WATCHING / READING…
I’m not watching much. Actually as I type this I am watching Sweet Magnolias on Netflix. It’s so sweet and just perfect for my brain right now.
As I fall asleep each night, I turn on Hallmark and hang out with the Golden Girls. I do try to catch the new Hallmark movie each Saturday night, but they don’t start until 9 and I most definitely have not been staying awake until 11 pm.
I’ve been reading some, but not a ton. I keep falling asleep when I lay down to read at night. I read Two Truths and a Lie by Meg Mitchell Moore and thought it was good! I am reading The Bright Side of Going Dark by Kelly Harms right now. I’m enjoying it too. I am also reading Atomic Habits by James Clear and it is not only speaking to me, it is YELLING! I’ve only read the first two chapters and can’t wait to keep reading.
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO…
The Billy Joel channel is back on Sirius XM and my car is playing nothing but that! At home I’ve been listening to the Spotify playlist “Have a Great Day”. It’s full of Hall and Oates, Neil Diamond, Van Morrison, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, and more. It is made for a great day!
WHAT I’M WEARING…
I’m trying to wear my work clothes because I haven’t really worn them in almost a year.
I also have been wearing some fun new earrings and necklaces from Cora’s Den. These new monograms are so fun!
WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND…
This weekend we are running the kids sports circuit between soccer, baseball, basketball, and swimming. I’m hoping Jeff and I can get our grocery store and walks in on Sunday.
WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH…
I hope I’m not jinxing myself, but hopefully by the end of next month our home improvement project will be finished!! We are adding a mudroom and enclosing a portion of our deck. It’s coming along.
I’m excited about Valentine’s Day! It’s a fun day to shower the ones we love with love! I also love the fun Valentine’s Day clothes and jewelry! You can use my code SUNSHINEANDBOOKS10 at Cora’s Den to get some of this fun for yourself!
WHAT ELSE IS NEW…
I think that’s about it. I’ll see you back here tomorrow for Monthly Musings. Have a great day full of sunshine and books!
So nice to have time running errands with your husband and good family time too! That is exciting about the house projects. Looks like it will be perfect for spring!
We too are trying to cut down on screen time — it’s hard right now since we’re in full virtual learning, but we’re working at it. And I’m so excited for everyone who is getting their first shot of the vaccine. The way our province is doing it, I probably won’t get mine until the summer. Ugh. And we haven’t watched many Hallmark movies this month but I did love Taking A Shot At Love.
Wow! That’s a lot of snow! Every few years, Kentucky will get a big snow. About four years ago we got over a foot. We see snow every year, but the big snows aren’t very frequent. I love your Sunday routine with Jeff. Travis and I have done something similar occasionally since the kids are old enough to stay home a bit. Also, once a week, we try to have lunch together on one of the two days the kids are at the pod. Congrats on getting your vaccine! It does feel like a small step in the right direction (or maybe a big step?) I can’t wait to see your finished mud room / porch .
Oh my goodness, the snow!!! It looks so fun!! It’s been in the 70s the past few days…it’s nice that we get some sun, but it’s January!! I want all the cold and cozy weather!!
I’m so excited to hear you say you love the Billy Joel channel – it’s my favorite! I don’t understand why it can’t be permanent!
I agree!
Yeah! So happy for you and the vaccine- we can’t wait to get ours!! Loved Sweet Magnolias- enjoy!
We keep trying to scale back on screen time too but it is so hard when some of them need it for school and it’s the only way they get to “see” (talk) to their friends. Any day that is even remotely decent out we make sure to get out for a nice long walk/ hike in the afternoon and at least take a break from the school day ending to dinnertime when we either tackle homework or they connect with friends.