It used be a rarity for me to post on the weekends, but today marks the 31st blog post I’ve written in January. Bloganuary was a fun (self-imposed) challenge for myself, and I do think writing a variety of posts helped with the writer’s blog block I sometimes feel!
I’m excited to link up with Jenn for Share 4 Somethings, which I haven’t done in quite some time.
The topics are…
Something I’ve loved…
Not to sound like a broken record, but I’ve loved quiet time at home this week. It’s been somewhat unexpected. We definitely get snow/ice and snow days, but this is the second year in a row we’ve had a week off a school due to the weather. Of course, I’m a bit worried how this will affect the end date of our school year, but I can’t control those things…so I’ve soaked in the down time and the quiet time while we’ve had it.
Something that has sustained me…
Coffee always sustains me. This week, I transitioned back to hot coffee after my iced coffee journey although I did get an iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts yesterday.
This week, Pilates has sustained me. Thanks to my at home schedule, I was able to pop into a couple of Reformer Pilates classes this week which I loved.
Something we’re carrying forward…
I shared this at the beginning of January…
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….and I hope to carry forward these thoughts to February as well. I feel like we typically get January and February and then June and July to have downtime, but the summers have felt busier and busier as the years have gone on, so I hold tight to the quiet and cozy of these winter months.
Something we’re making space for…
After purging and organizing, I’ve made space for…quite a few things. That being said, I did some rearranging, and I organized my coffee mugs on shelves based on seasonal, favorites/everyday, and special/meaningful mugs.
I’ve now made space for a couple of new festive mugs for February:
Don’t tell Trav…haha!
He always wonders why we have so many mugs. Listen, coffee and mugs (and icon glasses!) make me happy. I could have a more expensive collection of things…like fancy watches, designer purses, or diamonds! You’re welcome, Trav!
This has been an unusual week with online learning days, and today we have a snow day. The roads are improving and the sunshine has been helping, but the mess tends to refreeze overnight and we’ve even had some snow showers too.
Next week will be quite the reality check!
I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for to share a few faves…
…but I’m also taking a look back on the month of January…
I’ve already shared most of these faves in various posts throughout the week. We’ve had lots of time at home thanks to the weather. Trav worked from home on Monday, we made dinners with whatever we had on hand, we’ve played games, read books, watched shows, slept in, done school work, and the list goes on.
I always enjoy writing the yearly recap, but last year I started incorporating the monthly recaps as a fun look back in smaller snapshots. I’m going to continue doing the same this year!
I always want January to be a slow month after the busyness of November and December, and January was overall just what we needed.
In mid-January, we celebrated my birthday by going out to dinner a couple of days beforehand.
Jeff Ruby’s is always a fave…as are bubble letters on my card and a cookie cake.
Hadley had her first volleyball tournament of club season, and they played well overall, making it to the gold bracket on Sunday. She was supposed to have her second tournament last weekend, but it was canceled due to the snow.
We’ve had lots of Homer snuggles…
We finally found a car for the kids. Trav brought it home last Friday night, and they were surprised and appreciative. It arrived just in time for the snow, but they finally were able to drive to their activities yesterday.
January started out with pretty warm weather. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if we’d have any January snow days. Well, joke is on me. As I’ve mentioned we were supposed to get 12 inches of snow last weekend, and instead we got about five…plus some ice. Bitterly cold temps have followed, and many of our roads still haven’t bounced back yet. We had four NTI days, and today is a traditional snow day.
Y’all, I’ll be back tomorrow with one more post for January. I did it! I set a goal to blog every day this month, and I made that happen. Thanks for reading!
We’re officially home from school for the entirety of the week. We got the call yesterday afternoon that today would be an NTI day, and tomorrow will be a snow day.
Where where has this month gone? It’s already the last Thursday of the month, so I’m linking up with Patty and Holly for Monthly Musings.
This month’s topic is about…winter fun/Valentine’s Day.
1. Describe your winter so far in one word.
Harsh. We rarely get snow in December, and we ended up having three snow days that month. Last weekend, we were supposed to get 12 inches of snow, but instead we got around five inches and some ice…followed by bitterly cold temps. The city roads are trying to recover, and it’s just not happening, especially on the secondary and neighborhood roads.
My little snowman flag is frozen!
2. What winter activities have you never tried but want to?
I can’t really think of anything. I always think the idea of going somewhere to ski in the winter sounds fun, but I think I’d be a nervous wreck wondering if someone is going to break something! I’d be good at sipping a beverage by the fire with a view of the mountain! ha!I think I’d be an “Apres ski” girl!
3. Favorite winter beverage?
A hot cup of coffee. I’ve been on an iced coffee kick, but I switched back to hot coffee this week because the temps have been so cold that I can’t stay warm.
4. Least favorite winter chore?
We love Homer, but I think my least favorite chore is letting him in and out. He often stands at the top of the stairs contemplating going out while letting in the cold air. I am thankful that he doesn’t mind going out on his own because some years he gets “spooked” by the snow on the steps, and we have to take him out on a leash.
5. Soup or chili? Share a recipe if you’d like.
I like both…and I like soup/chili season because both often provide leftovers. On Sunday, I made Shay’sSlow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup. I wanted to make chili, but finding ground beef proved to be difficult last weekend.
6. Dark chocolate? Milk chocolate? Neither or both?
I prefer dark chocolate. This time of the year, I always think of the little candy assortments that are out for Valentine’s Day.
7. Share your Galentine’s or Valentine’s Day plans.
Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday this year…and I believe it’s President’s Day weekend. I’m sure I will try to make a “special” dinner for the fam or let them choose their favorite foods for dinner like I’ve done in the past. Trav and I always exchange cards, and I get the kids a couple of things.
8. Do you dress festive for Valentine’s Day?
I picked up a gray sweatshirt with a red gingham heart on it at Target a couple of years ago, and that’s about it.
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9. Do you make any sweet treats for Valentine’s Day?
The sweet treat is usually whatever candy I get Trav and the kids. Sometimes, we’ll pick up cookies or cupcakes for dessert.
10. What is your love language?
I read that book a few years ago, and my love language is definitely “Acts of Service.”
Well, Valentine’s Day will be here before we know it!
Well…another day…that’s an online learning day for us. We had three traditional snow days in December (which is unheard of), and today is our third NTI day. We’re making the most of it!
It’s been forever since I’ve done so, but today I’m linking up with Sheaffer and Shay for What’s Up Wednesday...on this last Wednesday of the month.
What We’re Eating This Week:
Before the bad weather hit, I knew we had snacks, lunch and breakfast items, but I wanted to make sure we had a few dinner options. Trav went to the store, and he picked up some dinner items to get us through a few days. We rarely cook at home on the weekend, but we did this past weekend. We’re still kind of at the mercy of what’s in stock, so we’re just piecing it together this week.
Saturday: Hadley made Trav’s “famous pasta” which is turkey sausage, green and red peppers and marinara sauce with pasta. He makes it pretty often, and the kids request it. She whipped that up on Saturday night. Did I tell you she’s in “Adv. Foods” this year? Obviously, she’s earning an A. 😉
Sunday: I made Shay‘s Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup, and it hit the spot on a cold Sunday evening.
Monday: The kids requested tacos, and Trav bought what we needed for that. (I’d already secured the ground beef thanks to a random Aldi run)
Tuesday: I went to Aldi again yesterday just to see what they had in stock. When I saw pork chops, I grabbed them and made oven baked chops last night. Aldi also had Bob Evans mashed potatoes, and that’s how last night’s dinner was born.
Wednesday: Tonight, we’ll probably have a frozen lasagna and fresh green beans (thanks to Aldi)
Thursday: At this point, I’ll either make pancakes or we’ll have leftovers.
Friday/Saturday: I assume we’ll be back to eating out for dinner.
One other thing we had to eat this week was my snow day pancakes! I had the stuff to make them in December but never did. Even this week, Hadley was at a friend’s house Monday morning, so I waited to make them yesterday. While I like to make these on the first official snow day, at least the tradition continues…(although, I didn’t have any bacon for a scarf!)
What I’m Reminiscing About:
Snow days when the kids were younger…Of course, there was lots of energy spent bundling them up and helping them get outside or sled, but now they don’t do those outside activities like they used to. This week, it’s been too cold!
What I’m Loving:
I was influenced by Jen Reed to purchase this de-puffing mask (when it was 50% off). I’ve used it a few times, and I do really like it!
I’m also still loving my new gingham ruffle sheets that my Gma got me for my birthday. They just look like such an “upgrade” to the jersey ones we’ve had for years. I love that the ruffle is on the top sheet and pillow cases…just a cute detail!
I know the days are starting to run together, but I’ve really loved having these slow mornings. Of course, I’m staying up a bit later, but I’ve been sleeping until 8! I rarely even did that on break.
What We’ve Been Up To:
We’ve mostly been at home playing games, watching shows, and I’ve been reading.
Hadley spent the night at a friend’s house on Sunday, and look at all the girls playing Mahjong! Precious.
Hadley and friends have ask me to play games, and who am I to say no? We’ve mostly played Racko and Play Nine.
What I’m Dreading:
Nothing really…but I guess if we continue to be out this week, it will be a hassle to get students caught up. I do understand why some students can’t get their work completed online, and some of my assignments are paper copies, but when we miss a string of days, I typically spend a class period making sure everyone gets caught up and I adjust the attendance participation (Students get three days after we return to school for each day to complete their assignments)
What I’m Excited About:
Honestly, I was excited about January being a slower month, and it’s pretty much been just that. I’m also savoring the winter weather while we have it.
My “Let it Snow” flag was frozen Monday morning!
I am very thankful that we have power and have been able to get out a bit.
What I’m Watching/Reading:
Yesterday, I shared the three books I read in January…
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I’m currently reading The Correspondent, and I’m loving it.
I just finished Season 2 of Nobody Wants This…
…and Trav and I started His and Hers. I didn’t realize it was a book, and now I wish that I would have read it first.
What I’m Listening To:
I started listening to this book this week. It’s the sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me. I loved the series on Apple TV, and I think they are making this one into a series as well.
Honestly, I will probably have the book and the audio book finished by the end of the week which means I will have had a great January of reading.
What I’m Wearing:
I had some Amazon gift cards, so I purchased this coat, and I love it. It’s wool, and I love that it has a hood and deep pockets.
I have a couple winter coats, but I like that this is a mix of nice with casual.
I’ve worn it quite a few times over the past few weeks. (These 7/8 length leggings are buttery soft and still a fave too)
What I’m Doing This Weekend:
Unless I get to it sooner, I’m decorating for Valentine’s Day, but here’s one little spot that’s feeling the love!
What I’m Looking Forward to Next Month:
Honestly, I’m not sure?! We don’t have a ton planned, and I should probably savor that before things get busier in the spring.
Also, it’s almost time for the Winter Olympics…and I can’t wait.
What’s Up Wednesday is always a fun one that I should do more often.
I can’t believe I already have a month of reading under my belt in the new year. Today, I’m sharing the three books I read this month.
This month, I read two books and listened to one.
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
The Wedding People:
Summary:
It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She’s immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she’s dreamed of coming for years—she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe’s plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.
Quick Thoughts:
My mom gave me this book as one of my Christmas gifts. She said how much she enjoyed it, and my sister-in-law said it was one of her favorite books too.
This is a pretty popular book, and I’d heard about it…but that one of the main topics was about suicide…so I just never put it high on my list. This book also references infertility, so there are two sensitive topics. That being said, I really loved this book. Phoebe was a great main character, but the “wedding people” really were an ensemble cast. I was rooting for Phoebe, and I loved how the wedding people were all so different and provided various layers to the plot development. The ending was wonderful and while I guess maybe I knew how it would end, there were some special moments leading up to the final page.
Rating:
I’d say it’s 4.5 stars!
Before Dorothy:
Summary:
The greatest journey is the one you least expect…Kansas 1932
When news reaches Kansas that her beloved sister has tragically died, Emily Gale must become a mother overnight. Her sister’s orphaned child, Dorothy, desperately needs a home.
But Emily doubts her ability to fill her sister’s shoes; her life on the barren Kansas prairies is no place for a child.
On the unforgiving plains, Emily’s courage is endlessly tested. The prolonged drought and relentless dust storms threaten to destroy everything – including her home and her marriage.
Can Emily overcome her grief and let Dorothy heal her heart?
Quick Thoughts:
This is the third book I read by Hazel Gaynor (The Last Life Boat and last month I read Christmas with the Queen) I can’t remember if Tanya orSarah mentioned this book which is why I added it to my TBR list, but they both always have wonderful reading recommendations.
I absolutely loved this book. I felt so nostalgic while reading it, and the subtle references to The Wizard of Oz were perfect. My heart ached for Dorothy and Emily for different reasons. This book also had a reference to miscarriage and then of course, they were living through the Great Depression.
I’m a Missouri girl, but Kansas is right next door, and just reading about the Kansas prairie and that time period kept my interest.
The characters had a connection to the original story, and the historical note was so interesting providing background but also where Gaynor found inspiration for characters. Authors note was lovely too as she shared why she wrote the book and came up with the idea for the story.
I’m sure this book will be in my top five reads for 2026!
Fave quotes: (so many wonderful and meaningful quotes!)
“I’m quite sure if you tapped his chest there would be an echo where his heart should be.”
“We make room, don’t we. Find space for the things we treasure.”
“We must never forget our first home. Even when we leave to go in search of another, we must never forget the places that shaped us.”
“We wouldn’t have the wonderful if we’d never had the wicked. It’s all part of the same story…all connected.”
“She said there are some things you can’t take with you on life’s journey. No matter how much they mean, or how precious they are, or how painful the parting…and she said that she was never a day without him, that a heart is the very best home of all.”
“I had to let go, start again, with nothing but hope in my heart and a single grain of wheat in my pocket. That was when I began to understand who I really was.”
“Home is, quite simply, wherever there is love.”
Rating:
The Windsor Knot:
Summary:
The morning after a dinner party at Windsor Castle, eighty-nine-year-old Queen Elizabeth is shocked to discover that one of her guests has been found murdered in his room, with a rope around his neck.
When the police begin to suspect her loyal servants, Her Majesty knows they’re looking in the wrong place.
For the Queen has been living an extraordinary double life since her coronation. Away from the public eye, she has a brilliant knack for solving crimes.
With her household’s happiness on the line, her secret must not get out. Can the Queen and her trusted secretary Rozie catch the killer, without getting caught themselves?
Quick Thoughts:
My aunt knows how much I love the British Royal Family, so she told me about this series. Since the first one was available on audiobook, I decided to list to it. I hadn’t read a mystery in a while, and this one was so fun. I loved that the narrator was British, but it did take me a bit to get used to listening. How fun that the Queen plays a part in solving the mysteries?! I certainly hope to listen to book #2 soon.
Rating:
I’m actually listening to a book and have a book I’m reading on my Kindle. Odds are that I will finish at least one of them this week, but I’ll share them next month.
We have another NTI day tomorrow, so this week is off to an odd start!
We’re waking up to snow covered roads as well as some ice. We were supposed to get more snow out of this system, but we ended up with more ice.
Did you catch my posts on Saturday and Sunday? They were fun to write…emojis and a weekly reflection.
It’s hard to believe but this time next week it will be February! Since it’s the last Monday of the month, I’m sharing some of my favorite memes.
I’ve kind of arranged these in a bit of an order starting with some that might have applied more to the end of December but are still funny…
I try not to “drop the ball,” but when I do, I know I’m in good company…
How has 2026 started off for you?!
What is it about January 1st vs. January 2nd? I always have good intentions. That being said, it’s easier for me to regroup whenever I head back to school.
This one literally made me LOL. This week, my goal is four workouts…Last week, I only got in two, so that would be a great improvement.
I loathe changing the bedding, but I’m still loving my new sheets that my Gma got me for my birthday.
I lived for the personal pan pizza coupons when I was in elementary school!
Listen up, Trav!
Really, I’m ok…but this one made me chuckle. Check back with me if we have more than a couple of NTI days/days off.
So, I guess I still have a couple more days to get my life together?!
How are you faring with the winter weather? It is wild how expansive this storm has been. We were supposed to get more snow than anything else, but the freezing rain moved more our way. So, we’re waking up to snow that has fallen overnight and some freezing rain too. Bitterly cold temps follow, so we’ll see how many days of school we have this week?
I’m not sure the source, but I found this “Sunday Prompts” via Pinterest, and I thought it would be a good look back on the week.
What made you the happiest this week? We finally found a car for the kids. Trav went to Louisville on Friday, and we were able to surprise them Friday evening. They were genuinely surprised and also, even better, genuinely grateful. They’ve only had their licenses for a couple of months, but they never once asked when we were getting them a car. They knew we were looking, but they understood it might take a bit. Of course, they drove it Friday night and a bit yesterday morning, but now none of us are driving anywhere thanks to the weather!
What are your three biggest wins from the week?I left school on Friday pretty caught up on grading and with a decent plan for NTI (online learning) days if we have them this week. A third “win” probably is getting the kids a car. Trav spent lots of time and energy the past few months trying to find them one in our parameters.
How did you spend most of your time this week? At school…but also thinking about/hearing about the upcoming snow. Wednesday and Thursday were actually pretty slick mornings with other districts out or delayed, but we weren’t. So, it just felt like Tuesday was our only “normal” day of school because Monday we didn’t have school, and then Wednesday-Friday, I felt like we were talking about the weather and prepping accordingly.
What drained your energy this week? Worrying about the weather. I wasn’t actually worried, but more than it was on my mind. I just knew we should get a few groceries. We had snack, lunch and breakfast items, but I just figured we should have a couple of dinners on hand. Trav tackled the grocery store for me Thursday evening, and he did get most of what we needed. Also, we were supposed to travel to Indy for Hadley’s volleyball, and even through Thursday, most of the parents felt like it was a good idea to still go. I felt like us and a couple other parents were the only “rational” ones. Thankfully, the club directors met Thursday evening and decided to pull out of the tournament as a club.
What did you do for yourself this week?I had my monthly facial on Wednesday, and it was lovely!
What is the greatest lesson you learned this week?Patience pays off. We stuck with our parameters for type of car and price, and found something good for the kids. Also, I already know this, but with major winter weather on the way, I remind my own kids what a blessing it is that we can just go to the store and get what we need…and that some kids would much rather be at school than at home for an extended amount of time.
What do you want to do better next week? Get back on track with working out. If you are a regular reader, you know I mention getting “back on track” sometimes. haha Anyway, I did great in December working out and even for the start of January, but last week, I only worked out twice, and I just didn’t feel like myself.
What would you like to accomplish next week? This answer is probably the same as what I want to do better next week.
What can I do to work towards a long term goal?I want to spend more time reading this week. Assuming we are home a bit, it will be easy to scroll my phone or watch a show when I could spend a bit more time reading. I read three books in January, and I have started a fourth, so I did read a lot, but I know I could find pockets of time to read more.
I love the reminder: This is your Sunday reminder that you can handle whatever this week throws your way.
I might try adding post, or something similar, into my blogging rotation.
We’re waking up to a little sunshine, but winter weather is definitely on the way. I might run a couple of errands this morning before travel becomes unlikely for a couple of days.
Today’s post is quick and fun…
I love seeing these graphics and thinking about my answers…
This one is “My Life in GIFS”…but I’m using emojis…
Favorite color: I actually had to think about this one for a second…Overall, I’m a pretty neutral girl, but I didn’t want to say that my favorite color is black. haha
I lean towards navy and gray. I like a pop of blue…especially light blue as an accent for home decor.
Favorite hobby: Reading! I just finished an audiobook yesterday, and I’m going to finish the book on my Kindle after I publish this post. Then, I’m going to make sure I have a couple more downloaded to hopefully read the next couple of days.
Dream career: I’m doing it! I put the money as a joke for two reasons…since I’ve never won the lottery, I’ve continued my teaching career. ha! And, as you know, teachers aren’t in this profession for the money. That being said, sticking with teaching for over twenty years has provided a good income for my family. I always wanted to be a teacher. I always had great English teachers, and my mom was a middle school Language Arts teacher. Being a teacher, has been very rewarding in many ways, and I’m thankful that I’ve stuck with it through some hard years. Of course, I appreciate the time off in the summer (and the occasional snow day!). I’m extremely grateful to be having one of the best years of my career. I also love seeing my own kids and their friends at school.
Favorite food: I love Mexican food (have you ever seen anyone mad while eating chips and queso?) and sushi…not together, obviously.
I’d like to travel to: England. You all know I love anything to do with the British Royal Family, and I know how exciting London can be. I did go on a European trip when I was in high school, and I loved London. I’d love to go back.
Current mood: Excited/happy for the impending snow…as long as we don’t lose power!
Makes me happy: Self-care. I look forward to my monthly facials, and I like my quiet time in the morning. I get my nails done every three to four weeks, and while sometimes I feel guilty doing so, it’s my treat to myself. I enjoy working out and going for walks. I used to feel guilty about self-care, but I think it’s important.
Can’t live without: (Obviously besides family, friends, and Homer as an answer)…coffee! …which I’m going to go make myself a cup right now.
TGIF! I swear, the short weeks feel the longest. No school on Monday is always a fave, but then it threw my week off. Also, we have lots of hype right now about the storm headed our way this weekend, and let’s just say the students have been a little crazy this week.
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are five faves from the week….
Volleyball
Hadley and I went to Ohio last weekend for the first volleyball tournament of club season. Since she didn’t play until the afternoon, we were able to leave around lunch time on Saturday to drive two hours to the tournament. It was nice having Saturday morning at home before leaving.
Her team played three games in pool play on Saturday and made it to the gold bracket on Sunday.
We got “lucky” that her Saturday games were over around 7:00, so we had Chipolte for dinner and were in the hotel room by 8:00. Since they made the gold bracket, she didn’t have to be back to the facility until 11:30 on Sunday. It was just nice having some down time, and not being up too late or too early…that doesn’t always happen at a tournament.
Overall, they had a great weekend, and she said it “exceeded her expectations.” We got home around 6:00 on Sunday, and I was very thankful for no school on Monday.
2. New sheets!
My Gma gave me my wrapped birthday present when we went to KC for Thanksgiving. I showed restraint and actually didn’t open it until my birthday. One of my gift ideas for Christmas/birthday were these sheets. I’d forgotten about them, and I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the gift. I love the gingham print, the ruffle detail is so cute, and they are so soft. Mine are the gray gingham, and they are perfect.
3. Book trackers!
I know January is almost over but I never shared my book trackers. Here are a couple of them.
I’m almost finished with two books, and I’m off to a solid start reading in 2026! (I keep the book trackers in a highlight on my Instagram; if you use them, feel free to tag me. I always love seeing what others are reading!)
4. Bookstore
Speaking of books, I went to one of my favorite bookstores on Monday to look around. I always look at the cute stickers, and I bought this one to add to my Kindle cover….
I didn’t get this one, but it made me laugh. I immediately thought of the movie Teen Witch that I used to watch on repeat as a kid!
5. Homer!
Homer has been extra snuggly on these recent cold mornings. I always think he looks like a little fox when he curls up like this.
Hayden loves saying goodnight to Homer, and Homer loves the extra attention.
Friday Funny:
Monday, I was at Target, and saw this mug. It made me laugh…but I didn’t buy it.
Favorite Mom Meme:
Wow…why do I relate to this one so much?!
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday…
PJ day at school in 2017. So sweet! They don’t seem to participate in pj day in high school like they did in elementary school.
Well, if you need me, I will be prepping NTI assignments for my students. It seems we could get 10-16 inches of snow, and the ice is just south of us. I can deal with snow, I hope the ice stays south of us (Sorry to my southern readers!).
I hope to blog over the weekend, so I will see you back here then.
With no school on Monday, I’ve had trouble keeping up with what day it is, but you know I love Thursdays.
I also love getting the house back in order after the holidays which is what I’ve been doing over the past few weeks.
I’ve done a little “house refresh” in a few spots, and I’m sharing those updates today.
Trav and the kids surprised me with these pictures a couple of years ago for Christmas, and one of the frames broke. So, I went to Michael’s and got two new (and bigger) frames to put them in. I have this same frame in the hall bathroom, and it’s my favorite.
We moved a couple of pictures around, and I put the new frames on this wall in our office. I see them every time I’m headed to the kitchen, and I love seeing them on this wall.
I also updated a few frames over the past couple of weeks. I’ve always loved this pic of the kids, but I didn’t like the frame. When I went to TJ Maxx right after Christmas, they didn’t have anything I liked. When I went back a week later, I found not one…
…but two frames that I liked and I updated the pic on the kitchen buffet as well. I also added in these new candle sticks from Target.
Another family pic that I love, but I wanted to change up the frame is on our entry table. I guess I’m into gold frames these days.
My Gma gave Trav this gold horse, and I displayed it in our kitchen cabinet with some Derby cups and an American Pharaoh painting that we had painted for Trav years ago.
I asked for these Sherpa blankets for the two ottomans in our living room, and my mom got them for me for Christmas. The ones we had before we had for years, and they needed a refresh.
I also updated the pillow covers on the living room couch. Thanks to Homer, I don’t do fancy pillows, and I always get neutral color, so it blends in with the Homer hair. The past few years, I’ve picked pillow covers that I wash every once in a while, but then given the low price, I just update once a year or so.
Like Target, I let Home Goods “tell me what I need” when I go in there. After Christmas, I got new canisters for our flour, sugar, and salt. Trav said he never liked our other ones…and I said, “Trav, they were on our wedding registry…which means we had them for twenty years!” haha
These white ceramic ones are perfect.
Every week, I buy a few muffins as a breakfast option for the kids, and I wanted a spot to keep them rather than have the package on the counter all week. How cute is this cloche?! TJ Maxx to the rescue!
While at Michael’s, I picked up some new candles, and put this votive on a cute ceramic pedestal, and I added a mini boxwood wreath that I already had. (I use these on many of my candle holders to add a touch of green.)
Both kids purged their rooms over break which made more space for all the things…and Hadley’s new scallop tray has been perfect for holding a few odds and ends.
There’s something about the start of a new year, purging, organizing, rearranging and putting things back in order that just feels like a nice, fresh start.
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