Hello and Happy Monday! Also, Happy Valentine’s Day. My mom sent me a text with these candy hearts. So funny and so true.
Today, I’m blogging with these ladies for our monthly link up.
In January, we discussed favorite bloggers. This month, we are sharing a day in the life.
I’ve shared some day in the life posts a few times a year. While writing this post, I looked, and my last day in the life post was in September.
I’ve never shared a weekend post, so I thought I’d give you a peek of a Saturday. This didn’t seem like a typical Saturday because my kids didn’t have any sports. None. Zero. Can you believe it? Well, they had a few other things going on, but our weekend started off slowly which seems to be a rarity.
Well, all I wanted to do was sleep in, but Homer had other plans. He woke me at 6:45. After I let him out, I kind of dozed back off and got out of bed around 8:15.
I poured myself a cup of coffee and played Wordle. Travis decided he wanted to try Wordle as well.
Then, I had about 45 minutes, so I sipped my coffee and watched Food Network (Giada)…and the kids were still sleeping.
I did my morning skincare routine, made the bed and got dressed.
With out kids not having any sports that day, we were able to go to cousin Wyatt’s game. He did great! Hayden and Wyatt had fun playing around after the game.
Hadley headed off to a church youth group activity, and the rest of us (my brother and his family, and my mom) went to one of our favorite places for lunch. Really, this is a favorite for breakfast, but lunch was being served. It was good too.
When I got home, my second Antique Candle Co order had arrived. I had hit up another 40% off sale, and ordered:
They also gave me the Lemon Eucalyptus which I can’t wait to try.
Then, I had a couple of errands to run. I picked up Valentin’es day cookies for the kids (and for Trav!)
Then, I went to Ulta. (Tell me you’re a dance mom without telling me you’re a dance mom…)
After my errands, I had couple of hours at home. Hadley was still gone, Travis was watching sports, Hayden was playing a game with my mom, so I ….read my book for a bit, watched some curling, and fell asleep…for an hour and a half!
Then, Hayden went to the Transylvania basketball game with teammates right as Hadley got home.
Hadley and I had a few errands. She used her gift card a month ago for an SNS manicure. Well, it was time to get those nails off!
Then, we ran to Target for a few things including some goodies for her dance competition buddy. The older dancers are paired with a younger dancer to encourage and support each other which I think is cute!
Travis always asks me if I’m capable of spending less than $100 at Target when I go there.
Well, yes, in fact I am capable, T-rav! haha
Is there anything better than being showered and in pajamas by 7:00 on a Saturday night? I don’t think so! When Hadley and I got home from our errands, I went ahead and took a shower.
Then, I did my nighttime skincare routine.
I picked up a couple of new nail polishes while at Target, and gave myself a Valentine’s Day inspired manicure.
The kids went to hang with my mom at my brother’s house for a bit, so Travis and I watched episode 7 of Ozark. We watched the first six episodes a few weeks ago, but hadn’t had time to watch this last episode of Part 1, Season 4. Wow!
The kids came home and had a couple of things to do before bed like get them signed up for school track tryouts in March.
Once they went to bed, I tidied up a bit, brushed my teeth, got into bed and watched some of the Olympics.
Then, it was lights out around 11:00.
So, Saturday was a “not so average” Saturday for us, but it was a good one.
We hope you’ll join us next month when we chat about reading habits.
Hello and Happy Friday! Apparently, this is my 100th Friday Favorites post which makes this Friday even better.
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s FF post.
This week was pretty hectic for me both personally and professionally, so this may be a somewhat quick post!
Favorite Moment(s):
I’ve loved watching the Olympics. As a matter of fact, I’ve been staying up too late to watch! It’s so exciting to watch these athletes, and also heartbreaking sometimes too. I mean, Mikaela Shiffrin sitting on the side of that mountain for over twenty minutes about did me in. I was like, “Someone go give that girl a hug!”
My first ever Antique Candle Co order arrived. As you all know, I love by Bath and Body Works candles, but when ACC had come candles 40% off, I went for it.
I ordered:
Fall Harvest (and will save for the fall months)
Homemade Gingerbread (perfect to round out this last month of winter)
Vanilla Bean
Sweet Lemon
and…I didn’t know that they often include a 2 oz candle, and they sent me Grapefruit.
So far, I’ve burned the Gingerbread, Vanilla Bean, and Sweet Lemon.
I love them all.
Favorite Picture(s):
I think our Valentine’s Day cards for our family turned out really cute.
front of 2022 card
Even though the Chiefs lost, I couldn’t resist including us in our red!
back of 2022 card
This Hayden and Homer selfie is just precious too!
Favorite Food:
I love Taco Soup, but haven’t made it it yet this year. It sure did hit the spot Wednesday night for dinner and then lunch leftovers yesterday.
Favorite Clothing Item:
I can’t believe that I haven’t shared this sweater yet with y’all! I have it in two colors. Over Christmas break, Hadley and I went to the mall and stopped in Aerie. I bought it in the Rose color while in the store. Later, I purchased it online in Monaco Blue. I wear it with leggings, denim, and even nicer pants to school. Both times I bought this sweater, it was on sale which makes it even better 😉
Favorite Kid Quote:
Valentines Day and people asking to be Valentines with each other are hot topics in middle school. Hadley said, “Everyone is finding a Valentine this year. And to think…just last year we thought boys had cooties!” 🤣 Made me LOL.
Favorite Mom Meme(s):
This bulk meme is my life…and also applies to buying bananas.
This! Not saying I had it tough in the 80’s, but I’m not sure my kids would last long in 1985.
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:
I’ve always been great with multi-tasking. I really stepped up my game when I became a mom. I carried both Hayden and the clean laundry upstairs at one point!
February 2010
I always say about Hadley #sassysincedayone Here she is stealing my drink in 2013.
On Monday, we are hosting our February Not Just a Mom link up!
The topic is: Day in the Life. We hope you’ll join us.
Do you have any big plans this week? Of course, we have a few sports activities going on, but we aren’t completely overbooked. I know that I sure hope to sleep in tomorrow. We’ll see.
I typically incorporate Intermittent Fasting into my routine. That means, I just drink my coffee (with a splash of creamer or a Mini Moo) and then don’t break my fast until lunchtime. I’ve done this pretty consistently for about four years.
I always pack my lunch for school. Always. In twenty years of teaching, I’ve only purchased school lunch when they are serving the Thanksgiving meal. That’s it. To be honest, sometimes I hate packing my lunch, but I know it’s the healthier option and the quickest considering how short lunch is for teachers! I try to make a lunch on Sunday that I can get a couple days out of during the week as well.
I also typically have an afternoon snack whether it’s a protein shake, popcorn, or something else pretty simple. Sometimes, I will have another quick snack (like a smoothie, a few pretzels, etc.) when I get home if I know dinner will be late.
I make dinner at home Sunday-Thursday. I try really hard to make at least two dinners that will provide leftovers. I almost always make something Sunday that can roll into Monday because Mondays are our busiest nights and Mondays are just Mondays sometimes too!
Lastly, I usually do have some kind of sweet treat after dinner. Typically, that will be a cookie, or 70 calorie brownie, or a Built bar.
What I Eat in a Week:
I planned ahead and tried to track what I ate last week. I will say the beginning of the week seems like light eating for me. haha. Monday-Wednesday last week was when I worked late at school and was very busy during the school day. On Monday, I didn’t eat lunch until 3:00, so I feel like the first few days of the week weren’t super typical. Also, we ended up more leftovers than normal (even from takeout), so I ended up repeating some meals for lunch and other dinners.
Also, I didn’t track breakfast because that’s always just coffee with some creamer.
Monday:
Lunch: I made Amy’s Greek bowls and some strawberries.
Snack: Protein shake…this is one of my faves.
Dinner: I had Shay’sTurkey Tortilla Soup waiting for us in the slow cooker when I got home at 7:00.
Dessert: a Fiber One brownie.
Tuesday:
Lunch: same as Monday (Greek bowls) + green grapes
Snack: Skinny Pop
Dinner: leftover soup from Monday
Dessert: about 10 hershey kisses! 😑
Wednesday:
Lunch: Turkey Tortilla Soup (not sure why we had so much left!) and green grapes
Dessert: a Mint Brownie Built Bar Bite (try saying that ten times fast!). I’m new to trying these, but I like them.
Thursday:
Lunch: We were home due to weather, so I had time to make chicken quesadillas for myself and the kids. I also had an apple.
Snack: mini peppers and TJ Buffalo chicken dip (one of my faves!) and then pretzels later.
Dinner: Since it was a cold rainy / snow day, we had brinner which hit the spot! I had strawberries and turkey sausage with my pancakes.
Dessert: I had a glass of red wine while watching Ozark with Travis.
Friday:
Lunch: Again, we were home due to the weather (Travis too), so I made a “Valentine’s Day” lunch.
Snack: veggie, pretzels and hummus
Dinner:
Travis and I had reservations at Bella Cafe for an early Valentine’s Day dinner. I ordered the chicken which came with Brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes. I took home half of the whole meal.
Dessert: We stopped at a favorite place for a glass of wine before heading home.
Saturday:
Breakfast: Proud of myself for saying no to the donuts Travis picked up.
Lunch: I had leftover baked chicken from Wednesday night, an apple, and some Lays potato chips.
Dinner: We had dinner out again with some of Trav’s co-workers and clients. I got the steak medallions, roasted potatoes, and broccoli.
Dessert: two Girl Scout cookies (ugh! but yum!)
Sunday:
Lunch: tortilla wrap with turkey, cheese, veggies, & mustard, an apple, and some pretzels. (I also went ahead and made a couple of wraps to take to school Monday and Tuesday.)
Dinner:
I actually didn’t cook because we were busy and everyone wanted random things. I ended up finishing up my chicken from Friday night, making a quick salad of arugula, feta, salt/pepper, and a squeeze of lemon, and some strawberries.
Dessert: I had made Shay‘s Valentine’s Chex Treats, so I enjoyed one of those for dessert.
So, that’s what I eat in a week! While we usually get take out or go out on Friday and Saturday evenings, it’s unusual that I went to two nice restaurants in one week. I think I made good meal choices, but I also had a bit more wine than usual given the eating out, Valentine’s Day celebration, and I love a snowy evening with a glass of red wine.
What’s one of your favorite “go to” recipes for lunch or dinner? I’d love to add to my rotation!
Well, with Valentine’s Day less than a week away, today I’m sharing with you a few Valentine’s Day ideas.
I’ve shared before that Travis and I typically make a point to go out to dinner around Valentine’s Day, and then we exchange cards. We don’t go over the top, but it’s nice to set aside some time of the two of us. We were able to go out to dinner on Friday while the kids had plans with friends.
Once we had kids, I started doing a bit more for them. When they were little, we’d do crafts or color pictures, they would have Valentine’s Day parties at school, and I’d get them a box of candy as a sweet treat. Through the years, I started buying cookies from local cookie decorators and pick up a few gifts as well.
I shared my Valentine’s Day decor post last week, but here are a few food, dessert, and gift ideas.
Breakfast:
For breakfast, heart shaped pancakes are always fun. I’ve also made cinnamon rolls and then added pink and red sprinkles. At the grocery store on Sunday, they were out of cinnamon rolls. I was trying to plan ahead for breakfast this weekend. I guess I will have to check back later in the week.
Lunch:
This was the first year that I did a Valentine’s Day lunch. I loved Andrea’s lunch idea, and I planned ahead a bit knowing that we may not have school at the end of the week last week. So, when I went to the store to pick up some items we might need during the ice storm, I had a few lunch ideas in mind.
Since Valentine’s Day is on a Monday this year, and Mondays tend to be our busiest evenings, I thought we could have some family time a bit early (even Travis was home on Friday), and I put out a platter with lunch bites and candy.
We had:
PB & J heart shaped sandwiches
Chomps
Apples
Pretzels (and hummus)
Strawberries
Carrots (and Ranch dressing)
Pretzels with peanut butter
Turkey sliders
For sweet treats, I included:
Conversation hearts
Gummy X’s and O’s from Trader Joe’s
Birthday Cake Granola
I kept the table simple with a few decor items I already had out and put out cute paper plates and napkins for everyone to serve themselves.
The last few years when Valentine’s Day was on a the weekend, I made a point to make a special dinner.
We’ve also done “Dinner of Favorites” which included bacon cheeseburgers, tacos, and mac and cheese.
One year, I also attempted a heart shaped pizza!
Sweet Treats:
Trader Joe’s always has a great selection for every holiday season.
I picked up the gummy X’s and O’s as well as some jelly bean hearts the last time I was there. Also, I found the Safe + Fair brand and Kroger and the Birthday Cake granola is a family favorite.
Over the weekend, I made Shay’sValentine’s Chex Treats.
They were a big hit with the family.
Gifts:
I keep things pretty simple and buy a few items I know the kids will enjoy, but maybe something that they also “need” (like a book! 😆)
For Hadley:
I remember loving Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and I hope that Hadley will too.
I saw this bracelet in a Nordstrom ad, and thought it would be perfect for Hadley.
For Hayden:
I thought this book looked perfect for Hayden. He’s my reader, and I know he loves basketball. This book of letters looks to have great advice, and may be perfect for Hayden.
Travis ordered this reusable tournament bracket for Christmas. He thought it was clipboard size, but really it’s poster sized! haha I think Hayden can hang it in the basement by his basketball hoop and keep up with the bracket during March Madness.
I also picked up a sweatshirt, candy, and some cookies for both of them.
Valentine’s Day Card:
Every year, I get a card printed from Shutterfly to send to our immediate family. So many family members send the kids cards, so I want to send them something as well. I usually get ten cards for about $15.
2021
2020
Do you have any Valentine’s Day traditions? Let me know!
Hello! Well, we’ve finally thawed out here in Kentucky, and I do think that most of this week looks like we should have some normal temps and weather. We really need a regular week…I feel like the whole month of January we were out of sorts.
I’m linking up with Holly and Sarah for Hello Monday….
…to share my Weekend Wrap Up.
Well, Friday was an actual, old-fashioned snow day. Since we knew in advance that we had the day off, I was able to sleep in a bit. I woke up at 8:00!
Thankfully, we didn’t get as much as ice as they predicted, but we sure got enough to make everything messy. We also got a bit of snow on top of the ice.
I started watching The Woman in the House… and I think it’s pretty good!
I worked out and then took advantage of the fact that everyone was home (even Trav) and made a Valentine’s Day themed lunch.
I had to get caught up on a few hours of schoolwork…and then I took a two hour nap! I started to read my book and could barely keep my eyes open. I’m telling you…last week and my late work days caught up with me.
I’ve shared before that Travis and I usually try to go out to dinner around Valentine’s Day, and we did so on Friday night. I had made a reservation at Bella Cafe a couple of weeks ago, and then the kids both had plans, so our date night worked out.
On Saturday morning, Hayden two early basketball games.
After his game, I ran a few errands. I had a Target pick up and then I stopped in my favorite bookstore, Joseph Beth, for a few things.
Then, I picked up a couple of books that were on hold at the library and went to the UPS store for an Amazon return.
When I got home, I was so excited because my first ever Antique Candle Co order had arrived. I took advantage of their 40% off sale and ordered four candles. I immediately lit the Vanilla Bean, and it’s so good.
I watched a bit of the Olympics while the kids worked on their book projects. They had three choices for their project, and I swear they chose the most difficult one!
Then, it was time to shower and head out to dinner. Travis had some clients in town, and we met them (and a few of his co-workers) out at Honeywood for dinner.
Dinner out two nights in a row…who am I?!
Once we got home, I watched more Olympics and headed to bed pretty early for a Saturday night!
I slept in a bit again. I drank my coffee and watched an episode of the The Rookie ( love that show!) Then, the rest of the day was “go, go, go!” We went to church, and I came home for a quick lunch before going to my hair appointment.
I came home and had just enough time to make Shay‘s Valentine’s Chex Treats. They were quick to make, no bake, and delish.
While I was at my hair appointment, Hadley went to youth group and Hayden had basketball practice. I met Travis and Hayden at his basketball game.
I decided not to do grocery pick up this week because I’d heard (and seen on the news) how picked over everything was due to the ice storm. So, I took my list with what we needed for dinners this week and a few other things, and headed to Kroger. Things were definitely more in stock than they were at the end of the week!
I came home, and we all had different leftovers for dinner. The kids finished up their projects and vocab assignment while I worked on this post. I love watching the Olympics, so I’m ending the evening watching skiing, skating and whatever else is on!
I hope you had a great weekend. Thanks so much for reading.
Hello! Well, this week was definitely different. Monday-Wednesday I was in charge of our Extended School Services program for tutoring and credit recovery after school. That meant I didn’t get home from school most days until 7:00.
Then, we had an NTI day yesterday due to the incoming ice storm. All day, we got tons of cold rain, and no ice. That being said, the temps went below freezing after dinner, so freezing rain and sleet began to tap on the windows. Snow may even round out the storm.
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.
With the hectic pace of life lately, I’m trying to acknowledge the small favorites in each day. So here we go…
Friday:
We’ve had quite the winter and last Friday evening we got the prettiest snowfall.
Saturday:
Hayden had a basketball game on Saturday, and it was a close one! His team came out on top, and they were excited to get the win.
Sunday:
We are still trying to bounce back from the Chiefs loss on Sunday (and it’s a little rough living so close to Bengals territory! 🤪). That being said, Homer was in the football spirit on Sunday!
…and I still say we have the cutest Chiefs fans.
I hope they have lots of memories cheering fro KC sports together!
Monday:
I was really bringing my “A game” at the beginning of the week, and made Shay’sTurkey Tortilla Soup in the slow cooker. I didn’t get home from school until 7, so it was nice to have this delicious soup waiting for us for dinner.
Tuesday:
On Tuesday, the kids brought home their Honor Roll certificates for last quarter. We’re really proud of their effort!
Hayden’s was all crumpled in his backpack which is a step above last quarter when he threw it away rather than show me the certificate. Hadley’s was nice and neat in her binder which is about the only things she has organized.
Wednesday:
How sweet is this photo? Hadley was so excited because she gets to help at cousin Layla’s dance class this semester. Hadley said her favorite part was that the little kids just randomly come up and give hugs!
Thursday:
After three long days of work, I was happy to have a low key day at home for NTI. Even better was finding my Girl Scout cookie order on my doorstep in the afternoon.
This is the first year in six years that Hadley didn’t sell cookies. I’m happy to support the other troops, and we all have our favorite cookies.
The new cookie this year is the Adventureful cookie. It’s so good.
Favorite Kid Quote(s):
Both the kids had their funny moments this week.
Favorite Hayden Quotes:
Upon hearing the Tom Brady news, Hayden said, “Well, it’s time. He’s basically dad’s age and playing with 25 year olds!” When I said it must be hard to walk away from the game after so many years, Hayden continued with, “See ya, Tom! Mom, do you know how many times Tom has broken my heart?!”
Also, last Saturday, Travis was out of town and Hadley was at a friend’s for the night.
Hayden was saying goodnight to Homer and he said, “Mom, I read somewhere that dogs sometimes yawn when they are stressed.” I said, “Oh really?” He followed up with, “Homer yawns around Hadley a lot.” 🤣
Hadley Quote:
Hadley is always more helpful to Hayden than he is to her. She offered to get him dessert one evening this week.
As she handed him his bowl of ice cream, she said, “Here you go peasant.” 😆 That must be a vocab word this week!
Favorite Mom Meme:
This made me laugh out loud. There are so many nights I don’t want to cook dinner, but I do so anyway.
Between chain supply issues and our ongoing winter weather, the grocery store has been hit or miss. I’m so happy if there are at least substitutions!
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:
How about this sweet snow day pic from 2013?
Weekly Recap:
I had a few posts this week including the books I read in January, a few Amazon purchases, and my Valentine’s Day decor.
Hello! We’re home today due to the impending ice storm. The kids have an ortho appointment and then we will be inside for the foreseeable future.
It’s a perfect time for me to share with you some of my Valentine’s Day decor. I don’t go overboard with decorations, but I love to add a few things here and there around the house.
Outside:
I change my garden flag with the seasons, and the heart door hanger is one of my favorites!
I add this simple X O X O banner to the mantle every year.
It’s a cute little festive touch along with the wooden love sign.
The Hershey Kisses don’t last long in our house, but I refill the heart jar a few times. My friend made me the wooden heart sign a few years ago, and the conversation hearts are another family fave in the pink bowl.
The gold X O X O and white ceramic heart are TJ Maxx finds from a few years ago.
That’s about it for the Valentine’s Day decor.
Mix, Match, Move Things Around
Mid-September is when I put up fall decor followed by Christmas decorations. Every January I try to remember where my regular decorations go! I even take pictures, but then fail to look at them. I do kind of like moving things around until everything is “just right.”
I’ve tried to use what I have rather than purchase new when decorating. I’ve seen some decorate with a wooden tray to hold their cooking utensils. My friend gave us this personalized cutting board for our tenth wedding wedding anniversary in 2015. I use it often for charcuterie, but I thought it was the perfect touch for this corner of my kitchen.
I’ve had the “T” and “J” for years, and moved them to this little corner of our built in. Usually, I have a candle there, but decided I wanted these on display for now.
I also like changing out this frame of the kids. Usually, it includes a precious photo of them at the beach a few years ago. That being said, I will rotate seasonal photos as well to freshen up the frame.
If I buy something, even an inexpensive piece, I try to use it for a variety of seasons. I bought these these metal risers at Hobby Lobby in the fall, and have already used them to hold pumpkins and pinecones. I moved them to mantle and found these topiaries at TJ Maxx. I love the pop of green with spring right around the corner.
Lastly, I’m about to play “musical” wall art with a few pieces. I’ve had a family photo on this wall for years, but wanted something a little bigger for the space. This wooden arch has been on a wall in our office, and I’ve just propped it on our entry table for now. I actually purchased another one (on the half off week), and may hang both together somewhere. I need Travis for hanging things…otherwise, we end up with lots of holes in the wall!
I’m happy with how everything is put back together now that the big holidays are are over. I always feel better once I declutter after the first of the year, and I always feel like the house looks so much brighter once I get everything back in the right place.
See you back here tomorrow for Friday Favorites. In the meantime, I’m going to hunker down at home.
The governor declared a state of emergency, and this was Trader Joe’s last night:
No bread, no dairy, no produce, no freezer items, oh my!
Hello! Happy February 1st! I have a few Amazon items to share and am linking up with Tanya to do so.
My recent Amazon finds:
This Neoprene bag was a birthday gift from my mom. So, while I didn’t purchase it, I did suggest it to her! I’ve used it a few times for school as well as to pack when I know I have a busy weekend. I also used it to carry my personal belongings and cosmetics when we went to Cincinnati for the night in early January. I plan on using it more in the spring and summer when I’m headed to the kids’ track meets and activities. I love the cute pattern, and it’s great quality!
Hadley needed some new rain boots, and I had ordered her some Sperry’s on sale for Christmas, but they didn’t fit. When I went to order another size, the price had gone way up, so Hadley found these instead. They are so cute, and perfect for rainy days; she’s even worn them on snowy days when we are out running errands. If only she was a size 9…then, we could share! She’s almost there.
I technically purchased this mattress topper at the end of December with some Christmas money, but I wanted to use it for a bit before sharing. We’ve had our mattress for quite some time, and probably need a new one. A friend mentioned buying a pillow top mattress topper, and I’m so glad she did.
This one is a dream! It has 18,000 four and a half star reviews, so I felt good about buying it. It’s not too soft, but it’s just enough to really help our really old (and firm!) mattress.
I had actually suggested this as a practical Christmas gift for the kids, and my mom each got them one for their double beds. We all are all overdue for new mattresses, and these quilted toppers will help extend the mattress life a bit.
Lastly, with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I thought this sweater looked fun! It arrived, and I loved the quality and design, but wasn’t sure if it was right for me.
….but, I tried it on again (excuse the wrinkles on the sweater) with denim and wedges and I do think I really like it! I also ordered it in gray with a white heart, but I’m still waiting on it to come in. Then, I will keep one and return the other.
I had a pretty “light” Amazon month. Of these four, two were bought in late December, and one was a gift! I’m still going to try and slow my Amazon roll for February as well. I know Travis will really appreciate that! haha
Before I get started with today’s post, I have to share that Ronda is the winner of the Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag.I will be in touch soon!
I can’t believe it’s the last day of January. I saw this meme, and it felt so true!
Honestly, January gets a bad rap, but it’s one of my favorite months. January is for a fresh start, it’s a calmer month coming off the holidays, it’s my birthday month, and we usually get a snow day or two which is my fave.
Before we turn the calendar to February, I have to share the books I read this month. I’m hanging on to my monthly average of reading three books.
This month I read…
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
Going There:
Summary:
For more than forty years, Katie Couric has been an iconic presence in the media world. In her brutally honest, hilarious, heartbreaking memoir, she reveals what was going on behind the scenes of her sometimes tumultuous personal and professional life – a story she’s never shared, until now. Of the medium she loves, the one that made her a household name, she says, “Television can put you in a box; the flat-screen can flatten. On TV, you are larger than life but smaller, too. It is not the whole story, and it is not the whole me. This book is.”
Beginning in early childhood, Couric was inspired by her journalist father to pursue the career he loved but couldn’t afford to stay in. Balancing her vivacious, outgoing personality with her desire to be taken seriously, she overcame every obstacle in her way: insecurity, an eating disorder, being typecast, sexism . . . challenges, and how she dealt with them, setting the tone for the rest of her career. Couric talks candidly about adjusting to sudden fame after her astonishing rise to co-anchor of the TODAY show, and guides us through the most momentous events and news stories of the era, to which she had a front-row seat: Rodney King, Anita Hill, Columbine, the death of Princess Diana, 9/11, the Iraq War . . . In every instance, she relentlessly pursued the facts, ruffling more than a few feathers along the way. She also recalls in vivid and sometimes lurid detail the intense pressure on female anchors to snag the latest “get”—often sensational tabloid stories like Jon Benet Ramsey, Tonya Harding, and OJ Simpson.
Couric’s position as one of the leading lights of her profession was shadowed by the shock and trauma of losing her husband to stage 4 colon cancer when he was just 42, leaving her a widow and single mom to two daughters, 6 and 2. The death of her sister Emily, just three years later, brought yet more trauma—and an unwavering commitment to cancer awareness and research, one of her proudest accomplishments.
Couric is unsparing in the details of her historic move to the anchor chair at the CBS Evening News—a world rife with sexism and misogyny. Her “welcome” was even more hostile at 60 Minutes, an unrepentant boys club that engaged in outright hazing of even the most established women. In the wake of the MeToo movement, Couric shares her clear-eyed reckoning with gender inequality and predatory behavior in the workplace, and downfall of Matt Lauer—a colleague she had trusted and respected for more than a decade.
Couric also talks about the challenge of finding love again, with all the hilarity, false-starts, and drama that search entailed, before finding her midlife Mr. Right. Something she has never discussed publicly—why her second marriage almost didn’t happen.
If you thought you knew Katie Couric, think again. Going There is the fast-paced,emotional, riveting story of a thoroughly modern woman, whose journey took her from humble origins to superstardom. In these pages, you will find a friend, a confidante, a role model, a survivor whose lessons about life will enrich your own.
Quick Thoughts:
Shew! That was quite the summary! My friend let me borrow Katie’s book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love a good autobiography, and Katie definitely went there. This book is filled with tons of short chapters. I enjoyed reading about how she grew up, and my heart broke as she shared about losing her husband and having to be a single working mom to two young girls. I thought her professional journey was really interesting, and she did a great job owning up to mistakes and discussing being in the news business as a female. I always had Katie, Matt, Al, and Ann on in the background during my college and early teaching years. I always assumed they were one big happy family. Through the years, when she moved on, Ann awkwardly left, and then, of course, the Matt Lauer scandal came to light, I knew going into the book that the Today show wasn’t all sunshine and roses. She definitely talked about the Matt Lauer situation, and I will say those chapters made me cringe. Anyway, she found love again, enjoys time with her two grown daughters, and is definitely living a great second chapter of life. This book didn’t disappoint.
Rating:
The Royals Next Door:
Summary:
Piper Evans: elementary school teacher by day–avid romance reader and anonymous podcaster by night. She lives a quiet, reclusive life, taking care of her mother, who struggles with mental illness, avoiding her regrettable ex, who bartends in town, and trying to make inroads in the tight-knit island community that still sees her, five years in, as an outsider.
And she’s happy with how things are–really–until British royals rent the property next to hers and their brooding bodyguard decides she’s a security threat. Piper quickly realizes that one person’s fairy tale is an ordinary woman’s nightmare as a media frenzy takes over the island and each run-in with Harrison Cole is hotter and more confusing than the last. But beneath Harrison’s no-nonsense exterior lies a soft heart, one that could tempt a woman who’s sworn off attachments into believing in white knights.
But when Piper finds herself smack in the middle of a royal scandal that rocks the island she’ll need more than Harrison’s strong arms to shield her–she’ll have to do a little rescuing herself. With careers, hearts, and friendships on the line, Piper and Harrison will have to decide what they’re willing to give up for a chance at their own happily ever after.
Quick Thoughts:
This book. Sigh. When I started this book, I was really enjoying it. It had a very “Meghan and Harry move to the United States” vibe. It was even a bit predictable from the beginning, but I’m ok with books like that. Then, in the middle of the book, it went left real quick and become R rated. I think at that point, I realized I didn’t even like how it was written. I became picky about word choice and simplistic sentences and was kind of over it. It may be the first book I’ve read that I wanted to take my English teacher red pen and mark it up! Anyway, if you’ve read it, I’d love to know what you think, but this book was a bust for me.
Rating:
I give it three stars for first half and two stars for second half of the book. My first ever two star book rating!
We Are the Brennans:
Summary:
When twenty-nine-year-old Sunday Brennan wakes up in a Los Angeles hospital, bruised and battered after a drunk driving accident she caused, she swallows her pride and goes home to her family in New York. But it’s not easy. She deserted them all—and her high school sweetheart—five years before with little explanation, and they’ve got questions.
Sunday is determined to rebuild her life back on the east coast, even if it does mean tiptoeing around resentful brothers and an ex-fiancé. The longer she stays, however, the more she realizes they need her just as much as she needs them. When a dangerous man from her past brings her family’s pub business to the brink of financial ruin, the only way to protect them is to upend all their secrets—secrets that have damaged the family for generations and will threaten everything they know about their lives. In the aftermath, the Brennan family is forced to confront painful mistakes—and ultimately find a way forward, together.
Quick Thoughts:
I can’t remember who shared about this book, but I added it to my Good Reads list a couple of months ago. I really enjoyed this book. The big Irish family aspect provided dynamic characters and interesting family relationships. As the secrets of the family members unfold, I was invested in seeing just how the book would end. I liked how each chapter picked up with the last line of the previous chapter making the ideas flow. This was a good one!
Rating:
I always feel like after the holidays and reading light-hearted books, I want to read more serious books. Two of the three books I read this month were just that. I’ve started Our Woman in Moscow, and it took me a bit to get into it, but I think I’m going to like it.
*sigh* these posts from the KC library were fun while they lasted. We have some sad Chiefs fans in the house today. The better team won, and I guess there’s always next year.
I hope you have a great start to your week. See you back here tomorrow for my *short* Prime Purchases post.
Hello and Happy FRIDAY! When I say this week has been a doozy, it’s been a doozy. Nothing bad happened, but I’m really busy at school and every evening was jam packed. Travis was a little under the weather (thankfully, not the vid), so I was in charge of evening activities for a couple of nights. I feel like I was on the go until bed time and then up early to get my day started most days this week.
Also, let’s get real….we had school one day last week, and this week I worked five! I’m definitely ready for the weekend.
Anyway, per usual, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.
My first favorite is the fact that today is my 500th blog post. Who knew when I started this blog in August of 2019, that I’d still be sharing so much 500 posts later?!
Thank you to all who read SM&ST each week.
Today’s post is a bit different. I’m sharing how I spent a bit of my birthday money, and all of the items have become favorites.
It kind of feels weird to receive birthday money as an adult, but I will say, through the years, you know how it goes…moms tend to put themselves last. So, I do enjoy buying a few things in January that maybe I wouldn’t have purchased for myself throughout the year.
T3 Curling Iron
I shared a couple weeks ago that I bought this when T3 was having their sale. I purchased the T3 Twirl which was $100 off.
In the past couple of weeks, Hadley and I have both used it quite a bit, and we both like it. Most of the time, I do use a curling iron as a wand, and I find that works best for me. I don’t think the version I purchased is available any longer (which may be why it was on sale!). This curling iron heats up quickly, and I have noticed that my hair curls quickly and in one pass which provides less heat on my hair.
Would I have spent $160 on this? No. Am I happy with it as a $60 purchase that Hadley and I will both use? Yes. I’m sure I will use it for years to come.
Kendra Scott Jewelry
So, I had no clue until last year (when Amy shared) about Kendra Scott’s 50% off birthday discount. So, this is my second year visiting KS in January to cash in on my birthday discount. I only wear stud earrings, and I picked these up. They are the Kapri Stud Earring, and I’ve been wearing them non-stop.
Kendra Scott is also having 22% off select gold jewelry, and I picked up this stretch bracelet to add to my collection. I don’t see my exact one on their site, but here’s a similar one. I now have three stretch bracelets, and I love wearing them together.
Here I am this week…on my way to school with curled hair and my new earrings!
Thank goodness I have a hair appt soon! My roots (and grays!) are catching up with me.
Lululemon Belt Bag
So–two words I wasn’t really familiar with together until recently…belt bag.
Listen, “belt bag” is the 2022 version of a Fanny pack! Jen Reed share the Everywhere Belt Bag recently, so I ordered it in black. Before it arrived, I was out to dinner with my friend, and she gave me the pink one for my birthday!
I had a couple people ask about it, and I wanted to use it a bit before giving a full report 😂
I’ve used this the past couple of weekends. It actually is quite spacious, but I just use it for running errands or going to ball games. I throw my phone, keys, small wallet with essential cards, a mask…and that’s about it.
Here I am headed to Hayden’s game on Saturday.
…and it also fits over my winter coat just fine.
But also…am I wearing it correctly? Haha😆 I have no clue…but this has worked for me. I don’t see myself ever wearing it as a Fanny pack, but it’s definitely useful as a cross body.
Favorite Mom Meme:
My kids probably wonder why I need to much quiet time. Love them, but I often just need a minute!
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday
How about these throwback pics? January 2014 when I thought the kids were napping and later found Hadley’s first “selfies” on my phone…
…along with this photo she took of Hayden napping 🤣
Weekly Recap:
I’ve had a few posts this week: funny memes, life lately, and the Monthly Musings link up.
In honor of my 500th blog post and my birthday month (I like to celebrate for as long as anyone will allow!), I’m giving away the black Lululemon belt bag that I ordered. I’d love to give it away to a reader as a thank you for reading!
To enter, just leave a comment on this post with your favorite thing about winter! (I love when it snows ☺️) and follow me on Instagram (@showmeandsweettea) or leave your email address with your comment, so I can message/email if you win!
I will look at comments and draw a name on Sunday after 6pm (EST).
I know it’s not much, but I do want to show my appreciation!
I hope you have a great weekend. We have lots of basketball on the calendar as well as cheering for our CHIEEEEFS on Sunday.
showmeandsweettea.com 