Prime Purchases ~ November & December 2021

 It is always fun to link up with Tanya for Prime Purchases!  I feel like I may have a bigger post in January with all my Christmas purchases.  I'll be honest, my kids don't read this and my husband does from time to time, but I still dont want to put their Christmas purchases on the internet yet!  However, there are other things I have bought for other people or gifts here that have already been given.  Like most, it seems I keep Amazon busy  and am thankful for this convenience in life.  

The first two things are actually gifts for my family, but they have already been given.  

I try to give my girls an ornament that represents something about their year.  My oldest got into stand up paddle boarding this year, so I found this cute personalized ornament online.  Hers says her name on the shirt and 2021 on the paddle.

I have started to watch a few episodes of Yellowstone with my husband since that is one of his favorite shows.  I bought him this shirt.

Here is a book I have heard good things about and plan on reading with a friend next year.

The rest of these finds are some gifts for my greats....

For the 1 year old...Mega Bloks

For the 4 year old (almost 5!)....Crayola Light Up Tracing Pad

For the 5 year old boy...PJ Masks Puzzle and Books

I'll be back in January to share some of my other Christmas gift finds!

Weekend Wrap-Up ~ December 6, 2021 / Comedian Style

 It is a new week and I am taking this week day-by-day.  

I hope the first weekend of December was a good one for you.  It seems December weekends always hold so many things.  

Friday & Saturday weren't too great, but Saturday night, I got some of the best medicine....laughter!  We went to see John Crist comedy tour.  He is such a funny comedian and does a great show.  My oldest could not come back home for the show, so a good friend of mine came with us.  John Crist ends his show with being vulnerable and giving a message of encouragement and thanks to the audience.  The show was downtown and it is always pretty to see downtown in the Christmas decorations.

Sunday was spent with 2 trips to the airport, church, and wrapping presents finally with Christmas shows in the background.  

Stay safe and enjoy your Monday!

Currently ~ December 2021

Today I am joining up with the Currently series and today we are talking about what we are

decorating, feeling, sending, smelling, and wrapping just perfect for this season!

Decorating

Outside and inside!

I will share my inside decorations on a later post, but here are some of the outside decorations.  My daughter helped me with some of this.

This lantern by the front door is my new item for this year.  I purchased it online from Wal-Mart with curbside parking pick up in the same day. I really am pleased with its look!

My fiddle lig leaf tree has about out grown my window ledge inside!

Feeling

A mix of things.....thankful for so much, fighting some anxiety, excitement, curiousity, so just a mixed bag for sure.  In the midst of all this, feeling thankful Jesus is my consistent hope.

Sending

Christmas cards!

We received our Christmas cards in the mail over the weekend so my goal is to mail them next week.  I received our first card this week, which is always fun to get.

Smelling

Christmas candles & wax melts!

I love having a candle burning, especially in the evening as we watch tv.  I also just got a candle warmer and purchased some wax melts for it.  I have enjoyed using that in my kitchen to give it some good fall scents.

Wrapping

Presents to go under the tree!

This is my goal for next week.....catch up on Christmas movies and wrap presents!  My tree is currently decorated, but bare of gifts.

Have a great day!

Thanksgiving 2021

 Hope you all had a great holiday weekend with family, good food, relaxing and maybe some online shopping too!  I am thankful to say I am 99% done with Christmas shopping.  I hope to do some wrapping next week while watching Christmas movies.  There are so many this year, not only on Hallmark, but Lifetime, Netflix and other outlets have them too.  It's hard to keep up with them all!

It was so nice to have a few days off from work and to have our college daughter home.  Here are some highlights from the holiday weekend.....

It all started with a parade....an annual tradition since I was a kid.

My appetizer plate for our family gathering

Time with all my greats!  

My dad has a piano, so the kids always love to play with it.  My dad played the organ at my childhood church, then went on to play the piano at another church and now plays for fun at home.

Family picture with all 4 of us!

I went to just 2 stores Friday and did the rest of my shopping online.  My girls went out shopping though with friends while my husband and I went to a local home show.  It is fun to see these million dollar homes! Here are a few favorite pictures from those...

I liked how the backsplash went up halfway on the wall with a shelf above it.  This kitchen still had plenty of storage in other places for dishes. 

This was a vertical pull out drying rack.

Bookcase built in the wall in the upstairs hallway

This was our favorite house!

I liked this back porch, except it had 9 doors plus sliding doors to access it.  I am not big fan of tons of exterior doors to a house.

After the home show, we went as a family to see the movie Encanto.  This movie is based on a family that lives in Colombia, so it was special to us since we lived there for 3 years.  We all really liked it and it was fun to see all the Colombian touches.  In one scene, they were eating soup out of traditional soup bowls which I bought there and we use here.

Saturday was spent catching up on things, Sunday was church, family lunch out followed by a game of pickleball and here we are at Monday.

Enjoy your day back into regular routine of life.

Linking up with Heather.

What's Up Wednesday ~ November 2021

Here we are at the end of my favorite month!  It is time to wrap up and head into December, so here is this month's edition of What's Up Wednesday.  

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.  I am thankful for anyone who reads along on my weekly posts.

What we're eating this week..............

This is a hard week to predict what we will be eating.  Other than the Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, I don't have any meals planned, other than eating out at our favorite Mexican restaurant and pizza restaurant.

However, I did actually cook 4 times last week, so here are some meals I cooked last week:

Chicken Fajita Bake - I served this over rice with chips

Grilled chicken and Mix and Match Mama's pumpkin pasta

Poppy Seed Chicken with carrots and green beans

BBQ Chicken sheet tray with veggies

What I'm reminiscing about..........

I celebrated my birthday this month.  Thankful for 51 years of life!  My husband and daughter decorated the kitchen based from an episode of The Office.

My parents with me at our lunch date.  

What I'm loving............

I have been loving all the fall colors!  These pictures were all taken in my neighborhood.

What we've been up to...........

It has been a busy season at work with Christmas and end of the year budget spending.  It is rewarding to give back to the hospital community.  My daughter helped last week by assembling 400 cookies we ordered to deliver to staff at the local children's hospital. 

What I'm dreading...........

Just one thing coming up in December, but trusting the Lord will see me through.

What I'm working on..............

Christmas decorating!  It all started with a candle. I decorated our home last week, with the exception of decorating our tree.  I like to put up our tree right after my birthday, but will wait until Thanksgiving to decorate it.  My youngest helped me put out exterior lights last weekend.  I will share pictures on a later post.

What I'm excited about................

My college girl came home last night!  The 4 of us haven't been at home together since July, so I am looking forward to this holiday week/weekend.

What I'm watching/reading.............

Last week, Tanya mentioned a daily Thanksgiving devotion by Paul Tripp & it has been such a good reading plan on the Bible app. I even wrote a verse from one day on my mirror in my bedroom which was a good reminder for me.

I am also watching The Voice, Hallmark movies (I really enjoyed Next Stop Christmas!) and this week will watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade!

What I'm listening to..............

I am listening to Christmas music!!  My favorite is the Gwen Stefani Christmas album, so listen to that one if you haven't already.  I am also listening to some favorite podcasts....a few regulars and a few new ones:

Jesus Over Everything by Lisa Whittle

The Big Boo Cast

Office Ladies

Something to Celebrate

The Bestie Breakdown

The Open Door Sisterhood

Don't Mom Alone

The Naked Marriage

What I'm wearing...............

I go into the office two days a week.  I wear a dress one day usually and days I do drop-offs at the hospital, I wear pants with a long sleeve shirt or sweater.

I did purchase a new sweater for my birthday.

What I'm doing this weekend..............

Honsestly, no plans, and I'm not mad about it,  but I do have plenty of little clean up projects to do at home.

What I'm looking forward to next month............

Like most of us, I am looking forward to all things Christmas!  The music, movies, food, decorations, and time with family.  Thankfully, 90% of my Christmas shopping is done!

What else is new............

When we moved in our house almost 5 years ago, there was carpet on the stairs.  Over that time, they have become stained with spills of coffee and just worn.  Last week, as a birthday gift, we had the carpet removed and stained wood put on them and it looks so much better!

May you find space and time to be thankful this week and let that override all the hardships in this life.