Fifty years to do it but the K.C. Chiefs are finally Super Bowl bound again! I’d love to say I watched every minute of that last game but like a dedicated fan, I took one for the team and read my book. (Every time I’ve watched the game, they’ve lost.)

It sounded like New Year’s Eve all over again when we opened our door after the game yesterday. J and my husband even added a bit to the festivities by shooting off a small firework. Miami sounds really nice and warm about now. Of course, so does an extra roughly $10,000 dollars (estimated price of two tickets to the big game).

On to the week ahead for those of us without quite that much money in our fun accounts. Joining in as always with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather

COLD. It was 12 degrees when the cat shuddered after meowing for the human to open her door to the world. Right now it’s snowing.

Glad we don’t have to leave the house until later. Last week was ice on Friday morning which gave most of us (my husband excluded) a 4 day weekend. This week is more winter weather: snow today but nothing serious, cold all week, warmer as the week ends with a mix of snow and rain and maybe the “advisory” kind of weather. Tomorrow is the only sunny day in the forecast, may need to brave the cold and soak up some of that.

How I Am Feeling This Morning

Honestly, I woke up with a headache and it’s still lingering a bit. And I’m lacking a bit of motivation. Happy the Chiefs won and that this week (so far) isn’t looking nearly as busy as last week.

On My Mind

Lots of stuff. Mostly the stuff I need to do today. Pay the bills. Laundry! Move the trash bag I put just outside the back door on Friday (too icy to walk to the trash) over to the trash. Watering the plants. Whether I want to attempt to go out and run errands today (probably not…might save that for tomorrow).

The Breakfast Plate

Coffee, Cereal (Okay, I had a Rice Crispy treat but that’s still cereal, right?), and whole wheat toast with apricot jelly.

On My Reading Pile

Still doing lots of reading! Finished the Jen Hatmaker book (enjoyed it) and then read three books in a row by the same author.

Read all the books in Brian Freeman’s Frost Easton series: The Night Bird (best one of the three probably), The Voice Inside, and The Crooked Street. They’re of the thriller/mystery genre. While not my favorite genre to read, the main character is engaging and kept me interested. Plus, he has a cat as a sidekick. How can you not like that?

Now, I’m working my way through Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I’d like to say it doesn’t feel like a high school English class assigned reading but I’d be lying. That’s not to say the book is bad by any note…just different than my quick to read thrillers I’ve been blowing through.

TV Viewing

Not much. Didn’t watch the Chiefs game except in very few glances. A few episodes of The Librarians (I’ve reached the fourth and final season…sad as I really do enjoy the campy vibe of the series). And the morning news plus snatches of the morning talk shows if I don’t turn the TV off in time.

On The Menu This Week

No idea and I need to go to the store again. Basing this menu off what I know we have on hand.

MONDAY:  Chicken sausage, potatoes, and cabbage salad (depends on package date) *J has baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY:  Spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread *I have Bunco*

WEDNESDAY: Honey teriyaki chicken bites, rice

THURSDAY: Roast in the crock pot *I work 3-6*

FRIDAY: Steak salad *I work 7:15-3:30*

From The Camera

Still doing pretty good with picking up the camera every day.

Looking Around The House

Not awful but needs attention. I do have a big box of kitchen stuff donations now sitting in the middle of the living room. It’s starting to look like part of the decor, not good.

Chore I’m Not Looking Forward To Today Or This Week

Paying the bills! Of course. I’ll probably do it first just to get it out-of-the-way.

To Relax This Week, I Will

Watch my bird feeders and pick up my camera.

On My Prayer List

Friend who just had family member diagnosed with cancer, family near and far, strangers. The nice lady I chatted with in line at the Dollar Tree last week. No reason, I just had a sudden thought I should add her to this list.

Devotional/Bible Verse/Thought For The Week

While I know I should probably share a Martin Luther King, Jr quote here in honor of his holiday, I really want to share something else instead. My word for the year in 2020 is home. And I stumbled across this sentence while reading Of Mess and Moxie: Wrangling Delight Out of This Wild and Glorious Life by Jen Hatmaker:

There is nothing more meaningful, life-giving, or lovely than home. 

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Happy Monday! 

Ready for another week? This one seems a bit busier than usual around here. 

Just going to get right to the post. Joining in as always with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.  Sandra switched up the categories for the new year/decade!

The weather

We had a winner (Go Chiefs!)/Winter weekend.

Bleak picture belies the festive mood of our city. This week is back to our normal all over the place weather with highs mostly in the upper 40’s and another chance of snow/rain (depends on the temperature) on Friday.

How I am feeling this morning

Woke up tired. Slept okay but was not ready for that 6:00 AM alarm. Feeling a bit overwhelmed when I look at the calendar.   I work every single day except tomorrow and J has an activity (lesson/Pep band) every single night except Wednesday.

He also needs new shoes and a hair cut which we now have planned for Wednesday evening. And we’re out of many household supplies meaning tomorrow my “free” day is also slated to be spent mostly running around.  Guess I’m feeling a bit grumpy this morning.

On my mind

All of the above things on the calendar.

My job, the school changed quite a bit in the past few years, it has grown which is a good thing but I’m really missing the small feel of the beginning. I’m not a fan of some of the newer changes (even though I understand the need).

Plus, one of my very favorite teachers is leaving at the end of the school year. She taught me so much as she was there from the beginning and so I’m so sad to see her go. Another newer teacher is also moving on so I’m starting to wonder about things. I have to remind myself I work in a field with a high turnover/burnout rate and yet….hopefully, today will be a good day as I do work at 1 PM.

The breakfast plate

Apple cinnamon instant oatmeal and too much coffee

On my reading pile

Went on a bit of a reading rampage over the weekend since Good reads told me I was behind on my goal for the year!

Finished reading Home Sweet Maison: The French Art of Making a Home by Danielle Postel-Vinay. Then picked up The Testaments by Margaret Atwood and finished it in a day. Read one of my Amazon Prime, first read choices, Thief River Falls by Brian Freeman. And finally, yesterday, I read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. Reviewed the first three over on Good Reads. 

I only have one library book left to read this week: Of Mess and Moxie: Wrangling Delight Out of This Wild and Glorious Life by Jen Hatmaker.

TV viewing

Didn’t watch the Chiefs game except in glances (I can’t officially watch or they tend to lose…ahem, yes I did watch for the first few minutes).  Mostly, I’ve been watching The Librarians on Hulu. Not sure what I’ll watch this week.

On the menu this week

Did I mention this week seemed busier than normal?

MONDAY:  Chicken legs, rice *I work 1-3:45* *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY:  Pulled pork sandwiches, homemade sweet potato chips *J has pep band at 6*

WEDNESDAY:  Taco salads?  *I work 12:15-3:45* *Haircut/shoe shopping with J*

THURSDAY: Chicken sausage/coleslaw/potatoes  *I work 7:00-3:45* *J has pep band at 6*

FRIDAY:  French Toast (freezer) and sausage *I work 7:00-3:45* *J has pep band at 6*

From the camera 

I’ve been doing pretty good with my goal of picking up the camera every day in 2020!  

Looking around the house

I cleaned a teeny tiny bit yesterday morning but you can’t really tell. It’s in need of a deep clean especially the bathrooms.

Chore I’m not looking forward to today or this week

Clearing off the kitchen table. I’m working through the kitchen in a big clean out/clear out project. I have one upper kitchen cabinet to go. However, it means this is very close to the current state of our kitchen table:

I’ve put away some of the items but the table remains covered with new discoveries.  I also need to pay bills, never a fun task.

To relax this week, I will

Listen to some peaceful music at home. Turn up my 80’s tunes in my car! Take my time in Target (maybe…that might get expensive).

On my prayer list

My children, all the college kids returning to classes this week, some sick friends and their family members, neighbors, strangers.

Devotional/Bible Verse/Quote For The Week

Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)

I finally hung this picture up in our bathroom. It hung in my husband’s grandparents’ bathroom for years. So, seemed a fitting place to hang it up in the bathroom off our bedroom. A nice reminder for us all:

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What does your week ahead look like?

 

 

 

The title of this posts sounds a bit more perky and exciting than I currently feel.   I woke up early the past two days (courtesy of the cat on Saturday) but there’s something different when you *have to* be up early isn’t there? 

Today’s the Epiphany so per our tradition, we’re having one last special holiday meal to celebrate before I pack away the rest of the Christmas decor.  Maybe one final (small) gift for everyone. Then, it’s all back to routine around here this week. Well, except for the college kid, he gets one more week to be lazy.

Happy to be home to plan the first full week of 2020 with a Happy Homemaker Monday post and link it up with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.

The Weather 

“It’s really nice out for January” Direct quote from J as he opened the front door yesterday. Hard to have the winter blahs with our current weather. Highs in the upper 40’s to lower 50’s and sunny mostly all week (chance of rain on Thursday into Friday). Winter returns from its vacation next week, I think.

Right Now I Am

Listening to the washing machine while I’m down in the basement working on this post. Battling a slight cold (and so grateful it’s just a cold and not the flu as I keep seeing scary news stories about how bad the flu is supposed to be this season).

Thinking

Mostly about all the things I need to do today.

On My Reading Pile

Overdue library books! Didn’t get to the library yesterday. Have two half-read books on my pile but I want to start fresh with something new to start off the year. Read a couple of magazines over the weekend.

On My TV

This could explain the lack of reading. Binge-watched season 4 of The Magicians on Netflix. Then, started watching The Librarians on Hulu. I’m already on season 2 of that one.  Need to return to listening to music and reading more.

Something Fun To Share

I found a bluebird of happiness during a walk on New Year’s Day!

On The Menu For This Week:

MONDAY: Epiphany!  Turkey breast roast, sweet potatoes, cranberries, salad, rolls, 3 Kings cake *J has not lesson but does have pep band at 6*

TUESDAY: Fish, shrimp, asparagus *J has pep band at 6*

WEDNESDAY: Turkey sandwiches, homemade potato chips

THURSDAY: BBQ chicken, maybe rice? Need to think out the sides

FRIDAY: Maybe soup??? Not sure *I work 8:30-5:30*

On My To Do List

1. Return overdue library books
2. Put away rest of Christmas decor (Nativity set, greenery around kitchen doorway)
3. Update technical stuff  to see if it solves photo loading problem (resizing every photo to load onto this blog is getting old fast)
4. Clean out 2 more kitchen cabinets (It’s kitchen clearing week here!)
5. Laundry! Dishes!
6. Whatever I’m forgetting…sure there’s something.

Homemaking Tips

Taking time to focus and enjoy the process of something like washing the dishes makes it feel like less of a chore.

Looking Around The House

I’m ready for the openness feeling of a January decor. Also, my question for you is about snowmen. Christmas or Winter? Keep them out or put them away? I just put them out but I’m not sure if they’ll stay:

From The Camera

I know my post is already a bit picture heavy but I made a goal to pick up my camera every day in 2020. Forgot how much I enjoyed taking pictures there near the end of last year.

We had beautiful New Year’s Day weather around here and I took advantage by going for a walk at a local park to soak up the sunshine. Thinking I might be solar-powered and my battery definitely needed the recharge! 

Quote For The Week

A house is made with walls and beams, a home is built with love and dreams                      (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

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What are your plans for this first full week of the new decade?

Can you believe it’s the last Monday of the year?  I think 2019 was one of those years that went by in the blink of an eye but at the same time felt like the longest year ever. Just me?

I’m ready for 2020 and hoping it brings numerous blessings and peace for all of us!

Time to plan out this divided week. Just think if you don’t have a good day today by Wednesday, you can say but that happened last year!

Each and every year I love linking up with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom where she provides the prompts and place for other bloggers to connect through these posts.

The Weather

Gray, cold, and windy. A teeny bit of snow on the car windshield (not any on the ground) this morning. Supposed to be in the mid 30’s today but back up to the 50’s for New Year’s Day. Then, back down to the low 40’s on Friday and Saturday. Imagine a roller coaster…there’s our weather.

Right Now I Am

Sitting in the basement in my pajamas and slippers while typing up this post. The cat is back asleep for her morning nap on the day bed behind me. My stomach is trying to decide whether to forgive me for tacos on top of too many Christmas cookies. Last night it was not so forgiving. Hoping it accepts the yogurt peace-offering from this morning.

Thinking

That gratitude was a good word for 2019 and that perhaps I need to make one more gratitude list post to round out the year. Also, pondering my word for 2020. And about how I want to spend the next year clearing out stuff.

On My Reading Pile

I have some cheesy Richard Paul Evans Christmas-themed novels to return to the library (might be a new December tradition to read those during December). Currently, I’m reading The Way I Heard It by Mike Rowe and still have the Max Lucado book about Anxiety sitting on my night-stand, honestly couldn’t get into it very well.

On My TV

Tis the season for binge-watching stuff! I watched the end of the Holiday Baking Championship on Hulu on Christmas afternoon. So excited the gal I was pulling for won it all!

Then, I watched Homecoming on Amazon (not super excited about a season 2 if they even have one) and The Feed, also on Amazon and really hope they make a season 2 of it! It’s creepy good and based on a book which is on my list to seek out at the library.

My husband and I have also watched a couple of movies, Spiderman, Far From Home (really good!) and Bumblebee (not bad for a Transformers movie, set in the 80’s so that’s a bonus)

Favorite Blog Post This Week

Instead of a blog post this week (see how much TV I’ve been watching one heading up), I’m going to share one of my favorite organizing blogs. She’s always sharing realistic, helpful ideas. And funny stuff on Facebook as well. My blog of the week to share:  The Seana Method

Something Fun To Share

Go Chiefs! Love this announcer who made sure the fans watching the Chiefs knew the Patriots lost. (Sorry, maybe not sorry, Patriots fans!)

On The Menu For This Week

These middle of the week year-changes really make menu planning a challenge don’t they?

MONDAY: Probably going to just clean out the fridge and throw something together *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: New Year’s Eve! We’ll be celebrating with friends who are making spaghetti. Our contribution: bread sticks (I really wanted to do dessert but wasn’t in charge)

WEDNESDAY: Happy New Year! Maybe pulled pork? I know I’m making cornbread and black-eyed peas for sure.

THURSDAY: Honey teriyaki chicken, rice, cabbage salad

FRIDAY: Pizza? Something easy

On My To Do List

1. Pay property taxes (UGH)
2. Work on cleaning kitchen cabinets out
3. Clean basement a bit more
4. Target for Cat food
5. Clean the house a bit before the New Year.

Homemaking Tips

Spray a little lavender linen spray on pillows and mattresses when changing the sheets.

Looking Around The House

Christmas is mostly gone except for a few things intentionally left out: the Nativity, the greenery around the kitchen doorway, wreath on the door, and my little white Kitchen tree and peace sign.  Need to switch back to the normal shower curtain today.

From The Camera

Want to come over for a cup of coffee?

Quote For The Week

Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.  (Mother Teresa)

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How are you planning to ring in the new year (decade! wow)?

Late afternoon post as I’ve been watching Cupcake Wars on Hulu  running around doing a few last-minute Christmas errands. Are you all ready for the big day? Here? Close but not quite ready.

Most the shopping is done. Just a few final touches to add. Things forgotten and remembered. Things that take me by the mall. Those things must wait until early morning tomorrow now to try to avoid the crowds.

Let’s just get right to the holiday week ahead as very soon J and I have to run off to his music lesson. Here’s to hoping someone else is making dinner while I’m working on this post.

The Weather

We went from a snow day last Monday to I just ran my afternoon errands without a coat. It was 64 degrees out there! You can see my Blogmas post from yesterday for more about our weather.

On The Breakfast Plate

Started with oatmeal and coffee. Maybe have finished with a cookie or candy or two.

Right Now I Am

Taking a moment of calm and normal to work on this post.

Looking Around The House

There’s going to be some serious cleaning happening later. We’re hosting my husband’s side for Christmas breakfast and then, my side for Christmas dinner (though my older brother is bring lasagna so he’s doing most the work, I think).

On Today’s To Do List

1. Finish Wrapping presents for the boys. DONE
2. Mail Christmas cards. DONE (as done as it gets)
3. Go to library. DONE
4. Try not to lose mind. Kind of DONE.
5. Take J to his music lesson

On This Week’s To Do List

1. Last-minute Christmas shopping
2. Grocery Store
3. Baking dessert for Christmas dinner
4. Have a Merry Christmas!

On The Menu

Craziness with a side of insanity. Oh, Food…let’s see.

MONDAY: BBQ sandwiches

TUESDAY: Christmas Eve. Not sure. Thinking we may need to go out somewhere nice to start a new tradition.

WEDNESDAY: MERRY CHRISTMAS! Breakfast: biscuits and gravy (husband makes this) DINNER: Lasagna (brother is making this) Spaghetti, Salad, Bread sticks, desserts (thinking chocolate pie and an attempt at Tiramisu)

THURSDAY: Christmas Left-Overs

FRIDAY: No idea

Currently Reading

I’ve been reading the Christmas novels by Richard Paul Evans. I read The Christmas List one night last week. And I picked up three more to read over the next three nights.

On The TV

Mainly just lots of cooking shows on Hulu. Oh, and I did watch season 5 of Fuller House finally over on Netflix. Sad to see it all come to an end.

From The Camera

So this appeared in our yard on Sunday…

Funny. We had no idea. One other neighbor had one, it was pink. I like that ours looked to be decked out in Chiefs attire. Made me immediately think of our aunt who passed away in mid-October. She loved flamingos.

Turns out it was a gift from another neighbor.  Brightened our day a bit.

Quote For The Week

God bless us, every one! (Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens)

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Hope everyone celebrating has a magical Merry Christmas!  And don’t forget to visit Sandra, the host of Happy Homemaker Monday over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.