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Posted in Holidays, Home Decor

Valentine’s Day Decor

Hello and happy Thursday!

Well, we’re a few days into February, and we still haven’t gone back to school…I affectionately named these past two weeks “Winter break 2.0″…Yesterday, I did venture up to school because I was “itching” to at least make sure my classroom is ready to go whenever we do head back. I put away my few touches of Christmas, updated my February calendar, made a few copies, and then got the heck out of there. haha!

Anyway, one of the things on my “to do” list was to put out my few festive Valentine’s Day touches, and I did that this past weekend. Most everything is what I’ve had for years, but I did pick up a few new things too.

The mantel in the kitchen is the same as it’s been for quite a few years. I have the wooden “love” sign as well as an XOXO banner.

I saw this wooden serving tray and Michael’s and thought it would be perfect in this little corner of the kitchen. I usually have a cook book in this stand, so that was an easy swap. My friend gave me the cute heart icon candle from Aldi for my birthday, and I added it to a metal pedestal that I have out year round but also added the cute little red and white plate from Target.

Speaking of Target…I have zero regrets purchasing these two pack of tea towels…

I’ve had this little dish for years, and I fill it up with candy.

The coffee table in the living room looks much like it does at Christmas time as I’ve left out a few “winter” touches into February.

I did add in my new pink Target candle

…here it is with the lid on. So precious.

On the entryway table, I added this little heart dish that I’ve had for years. I got it from Trader Joe’s, and it had a little flower in it originally. Now, I fill it with candy, and this year, I layered it on another Target plate and pedestal.

I’ve had this white ceramic heart for years, but I did get a new plate/art easel at Michael’s. I wanted something a little sturdier, and I love the touch of gold.

This XOXO is another decorative item that I’ve had for years. It sits on the bookshelf in the living room.

Outside, I swapped my “let it snow” flag (I think it did its job!) for my pretty pink and red Valentine’s Day flag.

I love this door hanger. I’ve had it for years, and I think it’s a nice festive touch for February.

Not decor but, but I’m really “leaning” into seasonal coffee mugs. These two are on rotation for February!

I really enjoy putting things out for Valentine’s Day…especially because set up and take down take five minutes each way!

Have a great day.

Posted in Currently

Currently

Hello and happy Wednesday!

It’s the first Wednesday of the month, so I’m linking up with Amy for Currently.

This month we’re looking at what we’re currently baking/cooking, watching/reading, planning and savoring.

I’m currently baking/cooking

Over the weekend, I baked some muffins since we were home. This is the second (or third) time I’ve used the Krusteaz mix to make muffins instead of a pan of coffee cake. Of course, the taste isn’t really any different, but my kids tend to eat the muffins at a quicker pace.

No baking for this, but Trav picked up some Crumbl cookies over the weekend which is a fave for sure.

In the past ten days, we really haven’t eaten out much. We had that winter storm, and we were home for a few days which meant we even cooked dinner on the weekend. This week, I’ve kind of been winging it. Yesterday, I read Shay’s blog and ended up making her Chicken and Mushroom Fried Rice (I did add in snow peas per her suggestion, and I had some scallions on hand, so I used those too). It was a family favorite.

I’m currently watching/reading

Trav and I finished watching His & Hers. Wow! What an ending. We were a few episodes in before I realized it’s a book…and now I wish I’d read it first. I do hope to read it for a comparison, but I always prefer to read the book first if possible.

I’m so sad about the passing of Catherine O’Hara…aren’t we all? I’ve been watching some episodes of Schitt’s Creek since Friday. It’s such an amazing show. She will be missed!

So, as I type this, we still haven’t been back to school due to the weather. Our last day of school was Friday, January 23. At the moment, the current decision is that they’ll make a call by 5am this morning. Whether we go back to school today or tomorrow, I’m going to miss my snow day viewing schedule:

  • Sleep until 7:30 or 8.
  • Watch the Today Show (but, y’all, how sad is it about Savannah Guthrie’s mom being missing?! My heart breaks for her!)
  • Watch the 3rd hour of Today at 9.
  • Watch Jenna and Sheinelle at 10.
  • Then, I’ve even been watching the chatty party of Kelly and Mark at 11!

Now, of course, I’m doing other things during this time, but overall, I’ve spent my morning sipping my coffee from about 8-9. Then, I have these shows on in the background as I carry on with my morning.

I’ve currently been reading Jenna’s Book Club recommendation…

I’m really enjoying it so far!

I’m currently planning

Well, it’s more like adjusting plans with us being out so much. Eng 2 students are ready to start part 2 of The Metamorphosis, and my English 1 students need to start Romeo and Juliet. That being said, since we’ve been out for so long, I almost feel like we need to do some “get to know you” games once we return! haha!

Really, I’m going to have to use one class period to get students caught up on NTI work and set the foundation for unit 3.

I’m currently savoring

Slow mornings with cups of coffee…

…and another couple of weeks of “twinkle” lights…

I have zero regrets that I’ve left out a few “twinkle” lights to get us through these winter months.

What are you currently up to?

Posted in Holidays, Home Decor

Festive Finds

Hello and happy Tuesday!

With my impromptu week off and my quest to refresh a few spots in the house, I’ve been in and out of some of my fave stores – Aldi, TJ Maxx, Target, Home Goods, and Michael’s. I know every year these places must have lots of holiday goodies, but I just saw so many cute things, and I’m sharing those today.

Aldi:

My friend got me a candle from Aldi for my birthday, and now I’m putting it to good use.

So, the next time I went to Aldi, I made sure to go down the “Aldi finds” aisle…and I wasn’t disappointed.

There were other cute candles, various heart shaped bake ware and plates. I think the marble heart was my fave.

Home Goods:

I went to Home Goods to get new bed pillows for Hayden, and while I was there, I took a peek at their Valentine’s Day decor.

The floral heart is such a cute decorative piece…I almost bought it. If I had more storage, I would for sure buy a heart shaped Dutch oven to sit out on my stove top.

How cute is the heart kettle and the colander?! So many cute dish towels too.

Home Goods really had a fun variety of icon glasses…

…and coffee mugs.

I couldn’t help myself, and I did buy the cherry icon glass. I plan on it being a spring/summer glass for me.

Target:

Who doesn’t love Target?! I went to Target to look for a lamp, and while I was there, I scoped out their Valentine’s Day pieces…

I actually have two of the small red/white plates and the dish towels too. I bought them after Christmas, and now it’s been fun to put them out.

How cute is the polka dot ruffle pillow?! Also, I just couldn’t “say no,” and I bought the pink candle with a lid. I figured it would be perfect for February and even into March for a spring/floral color. I might get one of the white ones as well to use later.

The bedding is so cute for a little one…and who doesn’t love a plush heart shaped pillow?

Even the books that were on display and seemed to be love themed.

TJ Maxx:

I did find a lamp that I loved at Target, so I went to TJ Maxx to return a lamp I’d previously purchased. While there, I scoped out their Valentine’s Day stuff. To be honest, they didn’t have a ton, but the dish towels were cute, they had a few mugs, and their pink/red candle selection was strong!

I think TJ Maxx (and Home Goods) have some of the cutest paper products…and I loved the read floral/heart tote. I almost purchased it, but I showed restraint.

Michael’s:

I went to Michael’s to buy some tea light candles, and their Valentine’s Day decor was right when you walk in. They really didn’t have a ton of things, and I could tell they were shifting to spring. That being said, I thought the plates, heart candles, and icon glasses were so cute…as was the bow pillow!

In all my shopping I “only” walked away with the icon glass from Home Goods and a wooden heart from Michael’s…(as well as the two plates and hand towels, I’d bought previously at Target)…

…and one mug at Home Goods and one mug from TJ Maxx.

I’ll show you my few Valentine’s Day decorations later in the week.

‘Tis the season for love!

Posted in Amazon

Prime Purchases

Hello and happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Honestly, ours was much like our week…pretty low-key thanks to cold weather and poor road conditions. We all did get out and about, so I guess it was still a typical weekend with errands, time at home and more.

Our impromptu break continues as we have yet another snow day today. So many of our secondary roads are still ice and snow packed. It’s just crazy, and now I’m really starting to worry how much this is going to eat into our summer break. Ugh.

Did you catch my weekend posts? I wrote a Share 4 Somethings post on Saturday and Hello, February post on Sunday.

Today, I’m sharing my Amazon purchases from the month. We bought a little bit of everything.

I purchased these grippy socks to use for Pilates. I hate having hot feet and wearing socks, but in the winter, that’s a different story. This set has worked out perfectly.

I was “influenced” by @betterwithchardonnay when she shared these fun barrel pants. I’d been wanting to try the barrel style and figured these would be easy to try and then return if needed. Anyway, I love them, and the teens have dished out compliments the couple of times I’ve worn them to school.

I wanted a “nicer” winter coat, and this hooded wool trench coat has been the perfect fit.

I’ve worn it to school but then also more casually on the weekends or running errands.

(fave leggings here too!)

I needed more eye masks, and these are the ones I use most mornings.

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Hadley got a couple of these face masks for Christmas, and I wanted to try one, so I ordered this four pack. I’ve used them a couple of times and have slept in them. I do feel like my skin feels refreshed in the morning.

This is my second time buying this hydration mist, and it’s just another part of my skin care routine. I usually use it after I apply my toner or any time I feel like my face is thirsty!

Hadley needed some new socks for her volleyball club season, and these Adidas ones were just what she needed.

These slippers were a belated Christmas gift for Trav. He suggested slippers as a gift idea, but I wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted. These arrived, and they’ve been perfect for him to slip on to take out the trash, let Homer out, use around the house and more.

My quest to refresh a few areas continues. I’ve loved the Euro pillows we’ve had on our bed for almost six years. I’ve washed the pillow covers many times, and they’ve held up nicely. That being said, I wanted a more neutral color and something with texture, and these pillow covers were exactly what I was looking for.

I guess I need to iron them (maybe I’ll get to that today), but I really do love them. Actually, after a few days, the wrinkles have started to take care of themselves…but I’ll still give them a little iron/steam.

*update* I ironed the slip covers!

That’s a wrap on my January purchases.

What have you “Primed” lately?

{This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Thanks for supporting my blog.}

Posted in Inspiration, Seasonal

Hello, February!

Hello and happy Sunday…and happy February 1st!

In January, I shared this post because I loved the graphic and all the good reminders…and thanks Instagram (via Pinterest), I found this one for February…or Feb-YOU-ary!

And another month of great reminders from @murphy_sketches…

I’ll be back tomorrow to share my Amazon purchases from the month.

Posted in Holidays, Share 4 Somethings

Share 4 Somethings

Hello and happy Saturday!

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!

Have a great Saturday!

Posted in Everyday Life, Friday Favorites, Monthly Moments

Friday Favorites/Monthly Moments: January 2026

Hello and happy Friday!

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.

Screenshot

Here’s what we were up to in January…

Lots of purging, re-organizing, and refreshing

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.

January was good to us.

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Weekly Recap:

My blogging streak continued…

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!

Posted in Holidays, Monthly Musings

Monthly Musings: January 2026

Hello from the frozen tundra that is Kentucky!

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’s Slow 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!

Posted in What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday

Hello and happy Wednesday!

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.

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: January 2026

Hello and happy Tuesday!

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!