Monthly Musings ~ January 2025

 Today's Monthly Musings is winter self-care.  I am linking up with Patty and Holly for this.  

1.  What do you do to stay warm in winter?

I wear my blardigan a lot and will use a cozy blanket on the couch.  It is rare I turn up my heat to 70.

2.  Favorite wintertime activity?

My favorite activity is probably just staying in and watching tv honestly!  Another activity is January is a good time to de-clutter, but I may not say that is a favorite.

3. Any different beauty routines in winter?

I tend to use more lip products to prevent chapping, but most of my beauty routine stays the same.  I use sunscreen year round.

4. Skaing, sledding or skiing?

I honestly don't participate in any of these on any regular basis.  I did enjoy ice skating a few years ago in Bryant Park though!

5. Favorite winter recipes?

I enjoy soups in the winter with chicken tortilla and tomato soup being my favorites.

6. Favorite winter hot beverage?

I like a sugar free hot chocolate or a hot tea.

7.  Best winter memories?

My best memories would be playing in the snow as a child and with my girls when they were little.  

8.  Coldest day that you remember?

Two years ago, we had an extremely cold week in January when the temperatures were below freezing for a week with highs in the teens. That is the most recent memory I have had of consistent cold below freezing.

9.  How are your practicing self care this winter?

I am lifting weights once a week, going to a dance class, got a massage and spent time with friends so far.

10.  Flannel sheets, yes or no?

Before menopause, I would use flannel sheets, but I have not used them this year.  Maybe I will again in the future though because I do like the coziness of them, but don't want to get hot while I sleep.

Hope you all have a good day!  And good news, only 1 more day of January!

Hodgepodge

 Today I join with Joyce for Hodgepodge.  Hope it is a great day for you!

1. What was your after school routine like when you were a kid? 

I lived 5 houses from my elementary school, so I often walked to and from school.  When I came home, I often remember watching an episode of the Brady Bunch and having an afternoon snack. I am guessing I did any homework, ate dinner and watched tv as a family.

2. January 26 is National Green Juice Day ( I guess it's true everything really does have it's day). Do you juice, as in make your own in an attempt to get healthy? Do you do the green juices? What's your favorite kind of juice (home blended or store bought, either one)? 

I don't plan on drinking green juice, or probably any juice.  If I do drink juice, I like pineapple, orange, or grape.  If I buy some, it would be a low sugar pineapple.  

3. What's something trivial about which you have a strong opinion? 

I have a strong opinion of people cutting me off in traffic when there is no where to go.

4. What do you need more of in your life? Less of? 

I am going to be honest, I erased my first answers.

I need honesty and less paperwork.

5. Give us three adjectives to describe your January.

fun, exhausting, stressful

With the exhaustion and stress, I did have some fun and I still am living with hope for my future, including February!

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

I am so thankful for my favorite playlist on Spotify with worship music to encourage me, a job, great friends, my phone, a reliable car, this blog community and my family!

Hello Monday...and Tuesday

Well hello friends!  I feel like it has been a while.  I have missed you!

Last I wrote last week, I was asking for prayers.  I know I have asked for this a lot over the past year.  There are multiple situations in my life with some major things going on, not just the one, unfortunately.  Please continue to pray for strength, wisdom and justice to be done in these situations for me.  Wednesday-Friday were some of the hardest days of my life.  The road isn't much clearer, but I am taking it one day at a time.  I know it all seems so vague here, but so much of this I need to keep private.  Here I am last Wednesday morning wearing my beautiful butterfly necklace my oldest daughter gave me for Christmas.  The butterfly represents a new life and that is the road I am trying to start.

Thursday night, I was able to focus on serving others.  Jenn and her son came to help me serve dinner at the hospital that I do monthly.

In perfect timing, my best friend flew in town Friday to be with me after a difficult week.  We went to my favorite breakfast place Saturday morning.

We did some cleaning and packing and then went to my favorite yogurt place!

Saturday night, we built a fire outside, enjoyed some wine, snacks, music and laughter.

Sunday, we went to church, lunch with one of my other closest friends and then rested in the afternoon. I worked Monday morning and then we went to my favorite Mexican restaurant.  We stopped by my parents house to say hi and my dad played a song from Phantom on the piano for us. He is so talented and I never tire of hearing him play.  I grew up with a lot of music being played in my home either on the radio, albums or my dad playing the piano or organ.  Yes, we had both in my childhood home!

I took Heidi back to the airport Monday afternoon and then spent some time just catching up at home a little bit.  

I hope you all are doing well!

 

Hodgepodge ~ January 22, 2025

 Good morning.  This is a week with a lot going on for me.  Today, like none other, I need your prayers on an important issue.  I'm sorry to be vague, but please pray for my strength as I face some people in a hard situation that impacts my future.  I know the Lord goes not only before me, but will be with me.  However, I am always brave enough to ask for extra prayers on the extra hard days.  I hope to spend time tonight with a friend, so I am being pro-active to have something to look forward to tonight.

On to the blog post....I love joining up with Joyce each week for the Hodgepodge.

1. What's a winter memory you treasure (can be from any winter in your lifetime)?

A recent memory is when my girls and I went to New York City and went ice skating at Bryant Park.  It was such a fun time! I also treasure winter memories when my girls were little and playing in the snow. 

Now these sweet throwbacks....

2. Tell us about the last time or a recent time you were caught up in red tape. Does it send your frustration level off the charts or is it something you've come to expect when dealing with any sort of bureaucracy?

Ironic this is a question today!  I am currently caught up in some and try to manage my emotions through a lot of healing and self-control.

I saw this and it really made me laugh! I am all for looking for the laughter in life. I feel like it goes right in line with this question.

3. Do you eat/like fish? Do you cook fish at home? What's your favorite fish dish? Ever been ice fishing? 

I do like fish, however, the only fish I usually cook at home is salmon.  I also like red fish.  I have never been ice fishing and that is not on my bucket list! In the seafood category, I do like shrimp, crawfish and crab as well.  Crab cakes is another favorite food.

4. Did you watch any of the US President's Inauguration coverage on Monday, Jan 20? On a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being not at all and 10 being very very) how interested are you in politics in general? Do you follow/keep up with/ get involved with local politics? 

I did watch the highlights on Monday.  I would say I don't follow politics too closely as I feel like no matter what side, it is a lot of sharing opinions and arguing.  I don't have the bandwidth for a lot of extra negativity in my life right now.  I am a patriotic person, but I don't get involved with local politics nor do I watch the news.  I don't have any news apps on my phone either. All of that said, I am glad we have a change in administration.

5. What's the coziest thing you own and what makes it so? 

I have 2 "blardigans" and I wear one of them most days.  I bought this back in 2016. This is a Barefoot Dreams cardigan that is so cozy!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Thank you for reading and thank you for your prayers today. I'm going to be okay. And this song called "You're going to be Okay" by Jenn Johnson is a great reminder.  Whatever you are going through, you too will be okay too.  I will end by sharing the lyrics:

I know it's all you've got to just be strong

And it's a fight just to keep it together

I know you think that you are too far gone

But hope is never lost

Hope is never lost

Hold on, don't let go

Just take one step closer

Put one foot in front of the other

You'll get through this

Just follow the light in the darkness

You're gonna be OK

I know your heart is heavy from those nights

But just remember that you are a fighter

You never know just what tomorrow holds

And you're stronger than you know

Oh, you're stronger than you know

Hold on, don't let go

When the night is closing in

Don't give up and don't give in

This won't last, it's not the end

It's not the end

You're gonna be OK

You're not alone

Never alone

You're gonna be OK

Hello Monday ~ January 20, 2025

 Good cold morning to you!  It is a chilly MLK/inauguration day! I am sharing a little bit of my weekend, which was low key, but good.

Friday, I worked from home that morning and then I went to my strength training.  This is a small space that just has weights. It is not a gym. This was my 2nd time to go and I was feeling the soreness.  I am trying to go twice a week for the next few weeks.  Then I will begin to do some of these movements at home with hand weights.

Friday evening, I went to Jenn's for dinner.  She had a new nail kit and I tried it out for the gel polish.  It was easy and so far, so good!

We mentioned Smoothie King in the midst of our conversation.  Do you ever go there?  I go probably at least once a month.  The last time I went, this was written on my cup!

Saturday morning, I got up and made breakfast.  Who am I?  I cooked 3 dinners last week and now breakfast! This was a simple crustless, protein quiche.

I mixed 6 eggs, 1/2 cup almond milk, salt and pepper.  I stirred in 1 cup of cottage cheese, bacon bits and mozzeralla cheese, but you could use any cheese you choose and add anything else you prefer.  This is what I had on hand!  I poured this into a pie pan and baked for 30 minutes at 375. It was good and I of course had a lot leftover to eat on this week.

I had a hot stone massage Saturday morning and it was wonderful! It was truly one of the best massages I have ever had.  It helped my soreness after weight training and also with some leg pain I have had recently.  

I have been going through so much stuff at my hosue and made a trip to Goodwill this weekend, sold a few things on FB Marketplace and also took a load of items to my parents.  While cleaning, I found this sweatshirt from college.  This is from December 1988 when I was in college.  I was a Kappa Delta.  Do I have any sorority sisters out there?

When I left for church Sunday, it was snowing outside! It was pretty to watch fall but was glad it didn't stick or affect any roads. 

I had a friend from out of town come over to visit Sunday afternoon and it was so good to see him again. I then spent some time on the computer and had to re-set passwords I had forgotten.  Seeing this made me laugh.

Enjoy this day!  I am going to a dance class and will tune in to the happenings in DC today in the background while hopfeully continuing to de-clutter my house.

Friday Favorites ~ January 17, 2025

 Happy Friday!  Are we really just half way through January?  It is the longest month, but I am so trying to make the best of it.  Join me today for a few favorites from the week!

I began my new birthday tradition with my greats (the ones that are at least 3 or 4) last fall where I take them out for one-on-one time for lunch and birthday shopping.  This sweet girl turned 8 earlier this month and we had our lunch date this week. I had a great salad for lunch with some of my favorite toppings.

This girl loves Wicked & we wore matching rings!  

That night, a friend came over to have dinner with me and we cleaned out 2 closets.  It was fun to have someone here to help me and to throw away 2 trash bags!

Speaking of dinner, I cooked 3 times this week!  Y'all, I think it has been years since I cooked 3 nights in a row.  Here is my simple menu:

Monday - chicken enchiladas

Tuesday - chicken tortilla soup (minus the tortillas :)

Wednesday - scrambled eggs and sourdough waffles

Thursday - Book Club dinner out!

Since January is sometimes known for having the blues, I am aiming to take care of myself the best way I can.  In addition to the normal winter blues, I have a few difficult days still coming up this month.  So last weekend, I took a trip to New Orleans, which was so fun.  

This week, I started a strengh training program where I began lifting weights.  I plan on doing this for the next 4 weeks.  I also had my dance class where I practiced Rumba, Swing, and Tango. It is so fun!

Tomorrow, I am going to have a massage.   I also had a doctor's appointment this week due to some recent pain, so I was thankful to take care of myself.  

Doing each of these things are favorites!  The massage sounds like a great way to finish my week and start my Saturday.

I hope you each have a wonderful weekend!  

Hodgepodge ~ January 15, 2025

I am joining Joyce for Hodgepodge this week.  I am hoping your week is going well! 

1.  It's been said January is 'the month of opportunity, inspiration, and change." Which of the three do you need most right now? Elaborate. 

I would take a dose of all 3 honestly :)....is that too much for a girl to ask? If had to choose just one, I would say I need change.  I need change in so many areas of my life.

2. Do you consider opportunity as something that comes to you or something you create for yourself? 

I think it is a little of both.  Sometimes opportunities do come your way, but I also feel like that we can create some opportunities by taking action and making contacts when necessary.

3. The British Museum opened on this date (January 15th) back in 1759. Do you like visiting museums? Do you have a favorite? 

Yes, I do like visiting museums!

I actually stayed right by the WW2 Museum last weekend in New Orleans.  I visited here a few years ago and it is a great museum.

911 Museum in New York City

Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam

Museum of Natural History in New York City

Smithsonian Musuem in Washington DC

 Louvre in Paris, France

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

4. It's National Oatmeal Month (yes, apparently it gets a whole month as opposed to a single day). Do you like oatmeal? How often do you eat a bowl of oatmeal? How do you like yours? What about an oatmeal cookie? Is that a sweet treat you enjoy? 

  I would eat an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie, but that is about the only way I eat it.  It is no surprise my favorite sweet treat is frozen yogurt!

5.What's something useful you learned in high school? 

It has been a minute since high school.  I think looking back I am glad I was kind and true to myself during high school.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Especially in light of the snow and cold weather across the country this week, I saw this saying this week and it made me laugh!

Stay warm (& with a fan if needed, ha!)