Category: This and That

Hello and happy Wednesday! I’m linking up with Joyce for the first time in 2026 for Wednesday Hodgepodge.

Here are my answers to her prompts this week:

1. Ice skating, skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, playing in the snow, or a snowy walk…which winter activity do you choose? Have you done any of these activities so far this winter?

I haven’t done any of these activities so far this winter. We had a bit of snow in December, but I wasn’t really out and about in it. It looks like we have some snow headed our way this weekend?!

Ice skating is fun, but not something we do often. I remember ice skating as a kid at Crown Center in KC. Almost ten years ago, we took the kids to that same rink which was their first time skating.

Hadley has ice skated a few more times through the years as Lexington has a little outdoor rink downtown during the holiday season.

One activity that isn’t listed, but that I always think is fun is snow tubing. We used to go every year with a group of friends, and the kids and the adults enjoyed it.

2. Everyone is posting pictures from ten years ago on their social media sites, so let’s jump on the bandwagon too. Share one photo and one thought to go with the photo from the year 2016.

We got quite a bit of snow in January 2016. I loved the frog hats that the kids wore for quite a few years.

I know the prompt calls for one pic, but here’s a family photo from our Siesta Key, Florida vacation in the summer of 2016. I actually remember that we were walking on the beach after dinner, and someone offered to take our photo after I took theirs.

3. What’s a trend you hope disappears in the new year.

Kids and teens saying “6-7.” Ugh.

4. They say there’s a day for everything and January 21st proves it. National Granola Bar Day. Do you like granola bars? How about regular granola? do you like bars of other kinds?

I do like granola bars, but overall, the only ones I eat are the Quaker Oats chocolate chips ones. They are just the ones I tend to buy as the kids like them, and I will eat them too if I need a snack.

I like granola, but it’s not something I eat regularly. We always have some on hand as Trav and the kids sometimes add some to yogurt. Occasionally, I will put peanut butter, sliced banana, honey and granola on a low carb tortilla for a snack.

The only other bars I eat are the Barebells ones that I get at Trader Joe’s.

They seem to be harder to find now, but I do love the Grab the Gold bars that I can sometimes find at Kroger.

5. A frozen lake, a trickling stream, a raging river, or a deep well….which one describes something about your life right now?

I’m not sure. I’m definitely not a raging river, so that’s good. haha

I guess I could be a frozen lake since it’s so cold outside right now…but I guess I’m also a trickling stream just carrying on with the school year and the start of a new semester.

6. Insert your random thought here.

I usually don’t decorate for Valentine’s Day until February 1st, but I feel like putting out some decor sooner. Maybe I can do that one evening this week? I don’t do much, but I do have a few items…and I picked up a couple more while at Target recently including two of these little plates and this two pack of tea towels.

I hope you are staying warm and having a great week!

Hello and happy Wednesday! Happy October 1st!

Why do the weeks off from school go by so quickly?! We’ve been having a great week so far; I will tell you more about that later.

I’m linking up with Joyce for her Wednesday Hodgepodge post.

Here are my answers to her prompts this week:

1. What’s your favorite fall scent? Would we find this in or around your home right now?

I love apple/pumpkin/vanilla in the fall. You can find those combinations around my house thanks to my assortment of candles.

2. October is Country Music Month…are you a fan of country music? Do you have a favorite country artist? Ever been to Nashville? In terms of lifestyle are your more of a country mouse or city mouse?

I am a country music fan, and I have been for a quite a few years. I typically have channel 57, The Highway, on my radio most of the time. Some of my favorite country music artists are Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Tyler Childers, and Zach Bryan.

Most of the concerts I’ve been to in my life have been country music artists. Chris Stapleton is from Kentucky, and he put on an awesome show at Kroger Field a few years ago.

We saw Bailey Zimmerman a couple of years ago, and two artists that opened for him, Josh Ross and Brandon Wisham, have been on the radio more and more. It’s been fun to watch them become more popular and have hits on the radio after seeing them in person.

Kind of random but I really enjoyed Carrie Underwood as a judge on American Idol this past season. She just brings a great perspective considering how much winning Idol changed her life. She seems a bit reserved/guarded, but you can tell that she has genuine gratitude for her success thanks to American Idol.

Also, I heard an old Faith Hill song on the radio recently, and it took me back! I’ve always loved Faith Hill.

We’ve been to Nashville quite a few times…for fun, for music, for sports, to see friends and more. It’s only about a three hour drive from Lexington.

City mouse or country mouse? I’d say that I’m technically somewhere in between. I like quiet, but I like the convenience of being near things. The thought of having to drive far just to go to the grocery store isn’t something I can wrap my brain around. I also don’t necessarily love driving back country roads. I guess I am more of a “city mouse.”

3. How about ‘country cooking’? chicken and dumplings, fried chicken, shrimp and grits, biscuits and gravy, mach and cheese, fried green tomatoes, cornbread, collard or turnip greens, deviled eggs, BBQ, gumbo, banana pudding. Which of the foods listed is your favorite? Any on the list you’ve tried or would say a firm “no thank you” to if offered.

I am not a country cook. Poor Trav married me… who has never fried anything and hates mayo! haha

His mom and aunts are great country cooks. I cook a lot, but I’m definitely not a country cook.

My fave from this list would definitely be mac and cheese. “Hard no’s” for me would be deviled eggs and fried green tomatoes.

One food that’s not on the list is green bean casserole, but it’s one of my favorite “southern” foods. I always look forward to it at Trav’s family functions.

Fun fact: Hadley loves biscuits and gravy…but really loves the gravy most of all…she’ll just eat it with a spoon! Hayden really isn’t a picky eater, but the one thing he doesn’t like is corn…and he refuses to eat cornbread. I love cornbread.

4. What is something that has a positive impact on your mood?

How I start my day…I can’t be rushed. As I’ve shared time and time again, I like a slow start to my morning with some quiet time. Even if we have to go somewhere early on the weekend, I factor in getting up with enough time for even twenty minutes to sip my coffee and start my day slowly.

5. As we say so long to September share a noun, a verb, and an adjective that tells how that month looked for you.

You know the English teacher in me loves this prompt.

Noun – school – We got the hang of our school routine this month.

Verb – maximize (my time) I truly felt like September was such a busy month that I had to use my time wisely. I made lists, I went to my room to work for a few minutes before Hadley’s home volleyball games, I graded a bit on the weekend (which I really don’t want to do, but it did help start my week of right feeling caught up), had groceries delivered, and just did whatever it took to keep my head above water.

Adjective – busy -Just the season of life we’re in, but life is busy. The kids’ activities and school were in full swing…even the weekends were pretty full.

6. Insert your random thought here.

October truly is my favorite month of the year.

The temps finally start to dip, football is in full swing, soups and chili are for dinner, and pumpkins are on my front porch!

Tomorrow, I’ll recap September!

Hello! I’m late hitting “publish” on this post, but…

How is your week going? So far, so good for us. It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve joined Joyce for her Wednesday Hodgepodge, so I’m doing that today!

Here are my answers for her prompts for the week:

1. What’s a characteristic you admire in others? Elaborate.

Loyalty and humility. I am a very loyal person, and I look for that in friendships. People who are boastful or just want to hear themselves talk…ugh.

2. Do you have a favorite mug? Let’s see it. Why is this one your favorite?

I have lots of mugs I love, but this is my new fave. I’ve shared it on here previously…I went into a store looking for a dress and walked out with this cute hydrangea mug.

You know I love hydrangeas.

This mug is also a fave during the holidays…although it could be used every day. haha

3. July 15th is/was National Give Something Away Day…will you (or did you) give something away? If so, what? Do you regularly give away or do you tend to ‘accumulate?’

Good timing because yesterday, I donated three bags of clothes to Goodwill…and Hadley drove me there!

I guess my clothes can accumulate, so I tend to do a closet purge in January and July.

Sometimes, things accumulate on our kitchen counter like books, bills, school work, etc…and that kind of drives me crazy. At least I keep it on one part of the counter, but I can only stand clutter for so long.

4. You’re planning a trip. Do you prefer exploring big cities or smaller, more off the grid towns? World Atlas lists these 12 ‘off the grid’ towns to see in 2025. How many on the list have you seen? Of those listed, which one would you like to visit? Tell us why.

I think I enjoy exploring both big cities and smaller towns because both have unique things to offer.

The World Atlas list:

Boothbay, Harbor Maine; Middlebury, Vermont; New Hope, Pennsylvania; Rehoboth Beath Delaware; Brevard, North Carolina; Saugatuck, Michigan; Medora, North Dakota; Ouray, Colorado; Lamoille, Nevada; Neah Bay, Washington; Hood River, Oregon; or Cabmbria, California.

I’ve been to Maine, North Carolina, Colorado, California, Washington and Oregon, and while I haven’t been to those specific towns, I know what charming towns are in those states.

Last summer, when we were in Oregon, I believe we did go through the Hood River area.

Also, this post is timely because we just got back from Saugatuck! It’s such a cute town. I shared part one of our trip yesterday, and will share part two when we were in Saugatuck soon.

5. Have you ever…ridden a motorcycle? been to a Disney park? met a celebrity? won a contest? Tell us something about what you answered yes to on the list.

I’m not a risk taker, so I’ve never been on a motorcycle. haha

When I was 12, we visited family in California, and we went to Disneyland. We’ve taken our kids to Disney World twice. Once when they were five and the other time they were nine. I don’t fully get the Disney hype, so both times, we just went for one day. I joke that my kids don’t know you can go to Disney for more than one day. haha

I know I’ve met a few “famous” people through the years, but nobody major is jumping to mind.

I don’t think I’ve won a contest…maybe a small raffle at school! This prompt made me think about when I was a kid, and we were at TCBY yogurt, and there was a contest to be prince/princess for the day at KC’s Renaissance Festival. Being the nice sister that I am, I also entered my brother’s name…and guess who won?! He did! So there he was walking around in a parade, wearing a crown, and eating a turkey leg…all thanks to me!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

The coffee mug question prompted me to think of this, but I’m on week two of drinking decaf coffee. I’m just giving it a try after considering caffeine intake. I really don’t think I drink too much coffee…typically two cups, and then water the rest of the day, but this is a bit of a test for me.

Trav did find me some K-cups that are “half caff,” and those might be a good compromise?!

One thing I’ve been doing for a few months is drinking water before my coffee in the morning, and I like that new habit.

I’ve thought about drinking some kind of “greens” — you know, the packets that you mix with water —I’d love some recommendations if you have any!

Have a great Wednesday.

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Did you catch my post yesterday? I was late hitting publish, but I always love sharing my Prime Purchases…just as much as seeing what others purchase as well!

It’s been a few weeks, but I’m linking up with Joyce for her weekly Wednesday Hodgepodge post.

Here are my answers for her prompts for the week:

1. Summer officially begins this week (in the northern hemisphere)…what was your favorite thing to do in the summer when you were a kid? What do you like most about summer now?

When I was a kid, I loved running around the neighborhood and playing with friends. We didn’t belong to a pool, but there was one in the neighborhood that we’d occasionally go to, and we’d go to my grandparents’ club as well.

We spent a lot of time at the Lake of the Ozarks which was always fun! I remember thinking it was so neat taking a “bath” in the lake. My grandpa would put shampoo in his hair and jump in! We always had fun on the boat as well as swimming and fishing….and playing cards.

A couple of summers ago, we took the kids and met up with one of my college friends at her family’s house at the Lake of the Ozarks, and we all had a great time.

Right now, I do actually kind of like that we all get a chance to do what we want in the summer. There is a kind of rhythm and routine in that the kids still have workouts, we’ll go to the pool, we eat lunch out sometimes…but then Hayden will go to the lake with friends for a couple of days, Hadley loves camp, I love pool time, and Trav likes hanging out outside. Of course, we do things together, but I’ve tried to embrace letting the kids do what makes them happy since we’re so busy during the school year. So far this summer, we’ve had lots of family dinners together which has been nice.

I do miss when the kids were little…and honestly, we spent a lot of time at home or in the neighborhood. We’d walk to the play ground, do a craft at home, go to story time at the library, they took naps, and it was just nice being a “stay at home mom” for a couple of months.

Last summer, I shared a few “Throwback Thursday” posts that I really enjoyed writing.

Maybe I’ll bring that series back!

2. Something you’ll celebrate this summer?

T-rav and I will celebrate 20 years of marriage next week!

3. Summer tastes like? Smells like? Sounds like?

I think summer tastes like watermelon, smells like coconut and citrus, and apparently, summer sounds like cicadas!! Yikes!

4. June 18th is National Splurge Day…what’s the last thing you splurged on? What might you splurge on today?

I bought a new Barrington bag a few months ago. I’d had my other one for at least five years, and it was showing its age.

Today, it’s not really a splurge, but it’s a “splurge” in that I’m taking the time for myself…I’m going to Reformer Pilates class and getting my monthly facial today. It’s a “self-care” kind of day.

5. Share a favorite summer quote, saying, song lyric, or meme.

Here are a few funny summer memes:

6. Insert random thought here.

Hayden’s 6am cross country practices/conditioning started this week. I’m grateful Trav is taking the morning shift! Crazy to think that next summer…I guess he can drive himself!

Hadley is getting her PE credit out of the way by taking online gym last week and this week. Every day, she’s had some kind of physical activity and then a research/writing portion due. So far, they’ve done a fitness test, worked on volleyball, badminton, and soccer skills and practiced CPR. It’s been interesting to say the least. haha!

That being said, apparently she prefers this way to sweating during the school year.

Have a great Wednesday.

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Yesterday was non-stop with family things, friend things, and school things, so I’m late linking up with Joyce, but these are my summer hours, ok? haha

Anyway, let’s get to it…

Here are my answers for her prompts for the week:

1. What do birthdays look like in your house? How are they celebrated? Any special traditions? What about birthdays growing up?

I will start with the last question first…I always had great birthdays growing up! It seemed that we had family over to celebrate, and some years I’d have birthday parties with friends. I had a few parties at Show Biz Pizza, but there were even years where we had snow on my (January) birthday, so we went sledding down our front yard hill.

For my kids, I guess just because I love my birthday so much, and I have one day to celebrate both kids, I’ve always made a big deal about birthdays. For a few years, we’d have a family party for them and then when the kids got a bit older, we’d have a friends party and a separate family party. Some years I baked the kids’ cake(s), and then we moved to cookie cakes or Bundt cakes.

Some traditions included the “birthday” banner until they were 10. This was probably my first Pinterest craft, and I just kept it and changed out the number year to year.

Also until they were 10, I bought them birthday t-shirts. I think I’m practical enough to know when it’s time to let a tradition go…haha….but the t-shirt years were cute!

I still always hang streamers from their door, so they wake up to some fun! We’ve certainly eased back on some of the celebrating just as they’ve gotten older and busier, but I still think they feel very loved and celebrated.

As for mine and Trav’s birthdays, we feel the love too! There’s always cake, a gift or two, and we go out to dinner.

2. Someone is sending you a dozen roses…what color are you hoping for? Are you someone who gets accused of seeing the world through rose colored glasses? Is your accuser correct?

Listen, I’m not picky if someone wants to send me flowers…haha! I don’t know that I’ve ever received roses, but they have been in some bouquets. I definitely don’t see the world through rose colored glasses. I’m not jaded, but I’m definitely realistic/practical as to how I view the world.

3. June 4th is National Cheese Day…will you celebrate? What’s something (besides a burger) you make in the summer months that calls for cheese?

Ohh…just last weekend, I made one of my favorite pasta salads. I took it to my brother’s house for dinner last week. My ten year old nephew wasn’t going to put any on his plate…but he did…and then went back for seconds! So, there you go –that’s all you need to know. 🙂

The link to the pasta salad (via Pinterest) doesn’t seem to work anymore, but it’s just…

• Pasta
• Cherry tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Salad Supreme
• Italian dressing
• Mozzarella (So, there’s the cheese part to answer this question!)

4. ‘Tis the season…any weddings on your June calendar? What’s the first word that comes to mind when I say marriage?

This is a season of weddings for us. We have a niece getting married this weekend and a nephew getting married in July.

Travis and I will celebrated 20 years this month too!

The first word that comes to mind when I hear “marriage” is “partnership.” I really couldn’t do this life without T-rav!

5. What are you most looking forward to this June?

Summer! Pool time, family time, friend time, a wedding, and more.

6. Insert your random thought here.

For whatever reason, nothing random is coming to mind! That’s a first.

I hope you are having a wonderful summer day!

Hello and happy Wednesday!

This is publishing a bit late today (better late than never!), but I didn’t want to miss out on linking up with Joyce for this week’s Wednesday Hodgepodge.

Here are my answers for her prompts for the week:

1. Let’s compare this May to last May. What’s changed? What remains very much the same?

The hustle and bustle of “Maycember” is the same…

I kind of feel like I’m just hanging on from the busyness of school and our evenings with the kids’ activities. I’m kind of going day to day at this point and not really planning ahead very much.

A change from last May to this May is this time last year, the kids were wrapping up middle school … and somehow, their freshman year is almost over.

2. What’s something you may do this month?

Maybe we’ll get our summer planned out. Last summer, we had our big trip to Oregon and Washington all planned out.

While I’m fine not to have anything major going on, I do like to have a plan. I always want to plan a visit to see family in KC, I need to write down when the kids have their camps and other odds and ends. I hope we can find a few days to do some kind of travel.

3. Mother’s Day is approaching…in what way(s) are you like your mother?

I get a lot of my humor from my mom. I think my sense of humor is a good mix of both of my parents, but my “quick wittedness” I get from her.

I also think it’s neat that we are both educators. She taught 7th grade (bless her!) Language Arts for 31 years. I’m wrapping up year 23 teaching high school English.

4. Did you have a favorite book as a child? What was it and why was it a favorite?

I think I’ve shared this at some point before, but my favorite book when I was a kid was Madeline. I even had not just one, but two, Madeline dolls through the years. I’m not sure what drew me to that book, but it’s just one I always think of reading and loving as a child.

My mom, me, and my Madeline doll!

5. Are you more of a tortoise or a hare?

Well, if we are talking exercise, I’m a tortoise. haha

Unfortunately, with little downtime right now, I feel like I’m the hare. Running through this season of life.

I’m hoping that “slow and steady” does win the race. It’s almost summer, and I can’t wait for that!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

You know I love Trader Joe’s, but when I saw this “mamaroo,” I was like, “What in the world?” Not that it’s that hideous of an idea, but this two for one planter isn’t on my Mother’s Day wish list!

I hope you’ve had a great Wednesday.

Hello and happy Wednesday! I hope your week has started off right!

I’m linking up with Joyce for Wednesday Hodgepodge.

Here are my responses to this week’s prompts:

1. The Hodgepodge lands on National Picnic Day. Will you celebrate? Do you enjoy picnics? Dining out of doors picnic or otherwise? What are three or four things I’d find in your picnic basket?

National Picnic Day sounds lovely! Unfortunately, I don’t think I will be having a picnic today. Maybe I can pack one of my “adult lunchables” and pack some snacks for lunch today.

I enjoy picnics, but I don’t think I’ve been to one recently. During Hayden’s baseball years, at the end of the season, we’d have a big end of season celebration that was potluck/picnic-ish. That was fun to decorate and bring lots of different apps, sides and desserts.

As far as dining outdoors, once the weather is perfect, I love to sit on our patio or a restaurant patio for dinner.

In my picnic basket, I’d bring watermelon, charcuterie items like crackers, cheese and salami, and some chocolate chip cookies.

When the kids were little, sometimes we’d have lunch on our covered front porch in the summer. It was just something different to do, and I’d put a blanket down on the porch, and we’d eat our PB&J sandwiches, chips, and fruit.

2. A time recently where you felt ‘antsy’?

I feel antsy when things aren’t in order and right now that is more often than not. I feel like “Maycember” has hit early. We truly have something every night of the week and even sometimes until late in the night. I finished up this post at 10:30 last night!

On top of that, we’ve had busy weekends, so even that time feels hectic. I need to get caught up on laundry, or mail is piling up, or things I need to do for the kids like sign them up for things make my “to do” lists overwhelming. It will get all get sorted out, but I’m officially in the part of spring where I have a “take this off my plate now and move it to my official summer ‘to do’ list” #workingtitle haha

I feel antsy driving on the highway at night…which thankfully isn’t very often. Last Friday, Hadley, my mom and I drove home from Louisville late, and it was fine, but I just felt like I had to concentrate the whole time. I just don’t love the long stretches of highway at night especially when there’s a lot of traffic or if there’s construction. We didn’t leave Louisville until 10:00, so the whole time I even was thinking about how late (11:30), we’d get home which made me “antsy.”

3. As the saying goes…’when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.’ Do you like lemonade? When did you recently need to make lemonade out of lemons, figuratively speaking?

I do like lemonade but rarely have it. Hadley orders it quite a bit at restaurants.

This isn’t that big of a deal, but during track season, a couple days a week, both kids are at track at the same time. Hadley doesn’t go to track every day because some days she also has club volleyball practice. Anyway, there are times where it just makes more sense for me to stay at school rather than go home. While I often can’t wait to get home and sometimes am at home for 45 minutes to an hour before going back to get the kids, I’ve also just stayed at school and made the most of the time. I go make copies, get caught up on grading, read my Kindle, work on a blog post, run an errand close by, or even bring my tennis shoes and get some steps in. Pretty soon, the kids will be able to drive themselves home from all of these things, and I will take too much time on my hands.

4. Recently five ‘celebrities’ made a brief (11 minute) foray into space aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket. Did you hear about this? Your thoughts? If money were no object is this something you’d like to do someday?

I did briefly hear about this but not all the details. My immediate thought was “no.” haha I wouldn’t want to go in a rocket or even into space.

If money wasn’t an option, I’d buy a private plane. In the past, when I’ve said that, Travis tells me it’s more fiscally responsible to lease a plane. Why’s he trying to tell me how to spend my fictional money?!?

5. Favorite thing about the ‘space’ you’re sitting in now?

*I took this prompt – as “space”/ “season” in my life:

Right now, it’s the downhill slide to summer. That being said, I don’t necessarily want the summers to come so quickly anymore. While the kids had a great freshman year, the passing of time is really getting real!

I will say that I can appreciate that the kids are more independent and reliable/responsible. I can sit in the car, give them my debit card, and they run into Kroger for a few things. Or, if they have to be at a track meet an hour and a half before I have to be there, I can drop them off and they don’t need me to manage their every move. I can do what I need to do and come back later to cheer them on. That being said, I apparently have to remind Hayden at the end of every meet to make sure he has hasn’t left his track jacket at the finish line!

*physical space* – I finished typing this post at my kitchen table while eating dinner at 10PM. I’m tired 🤣

6. Insert your own random thought here?

Sooo random, but this little soap dish is saving my sanity.

When we re-did our primary bath a few years ago, we made design decisions thinking that one day, we’d put a primary bedroom addition on our house and the current bathroom would become Hayden’s. So, instead of doing tile with a couple of inserts for soap and shampoo, we just have the microfiber stall with a couple of small glass shelves. Well, the dang soap slides off those shelves all the time which drives me crazy! I saw @christineonpoint share this soap dish and these “soap saver” sponges, and I purchased them immediately!

..and now my soap stays put!

It’s truly the little things!