Results from January Dreams and Goals

 

On the first Sunday of the new year, our Sunday School teacher asked our class how many of us make New Year’s resolutions. Most hemmed and hawed, and I explained why I choose monthly goals instead. They’re smaller, more manageable, and I feel like I can actually accomplish them. Jennifer Dukes Lee explains it well here, so if you’re feeling discouraged in your goal-setting for this new year, take a peek at what she said, and maybe it will help you as you approach the month of February!

Create new daily rhythms. I have a feeling this one may take longer than a single month to settle into, but we had a fine start. I especially felt like I began to find a groove with combining work and home chores, dovetailing them more seamlessly than I had been. We had some busy days that didn’t go as we planned or would have chosen, but that’s life, and we rolled with the changes pretty well. I am aware, too, that as literal seasons change outside, these rhythms will need to be changed to go with them. If nothing else, I was purposeful in trying to create these new rhythms, even when some days weren’t as visibly successful as others.

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Prioritize workouts, reading, and projects. We didn’t do a perfect job adding in daily workouts, but we did better than the weeks ending 2024, so I count that as a win. There were also days when we could have had time if we had protected our schedule better. (Room for growth!) I did carve out time for reading, as you saw yesterday, though my books were challenging ones this month. And I did knock out some projects – both personally and for work – so I felt good about what I accomplished.

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Make a hair plan. I didn’t drastically alter anything, but I did come away from the salon with about three inches of burned/dead ends cut off, lots of choppy layers, and some swoopy bangs. And, most importantly, I walked out with refreshed color all over my head. The new cut has worked so well. My hair holds curl so much better with layers cut into it, and that makes styling it each day easier.

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Go on two intentional dates. We did have some fun dates this month! We went out for coffee/thrifting while Lexi was at the groomer, and we found some great pieces for the house. We tried a new-to-us restaurant while on a grocery shopping date one night, and tonight we plan to visit the RV show we went to last year. We had so much fun that we wanted to go back to tour some campers and do some dreaming for the future!

***

Begin a new writing project. I did this, and I loved it. It was such a fulfilling part of my January. The little project I started will probably never become anything worth sharing, but it is a wonderful discipline in my day, and it has brought me so much joy. It’s been fun to see the creative side of me emerge as I write, and I am also learning!  

Other adventures included…

I resumed my intentional project of printing off the recipes we love to have in a binder. Since so many of my favorites come from the internet, I’m really at the mercy of bloggers to keep their sites up and running so I have access to their recipes. And sometimes I can’t remember where I found a recipe I liked, and that’s frustrating, too. So I’m (again) working on our Shafferland recipe book to hold the stories of our favorites.

I’ve been deep-diving into the book of Luke, to study hard alongside the sermon series at church. Last year I studied Matthew in-depth, so I’m enjoying the chance to learn new things from a different gospel this year.

I’ve spent a good chunk of time thinking through my next steps of education as I try to discern what is most helpful for me to do my new job well. This is a VERY new line of thought for me, as I have historically never considered pursuing additional formal education. But I’m excited about the possibility!

In the land of work, I have been dabbling in a handful of creative projects that bring much life and joy to my soul. I am ridiculously excited about seeing them come to fruition – though some will happen faster than others.

Bekah's Bookshelf: My 2025 Reads So Far

 

Earlier this month, while reading this post on Callie’s blog, she talked about one of the things that didn’t work for her in 2024 was reading too many “stiff” books at once. She said stiff books are challenging books, and even as I read the post, I glanced at my own current-reads pile and realized I was engrossed in a lot of stiff books myself. So my list of books read in January 2025 is short…because these (truly excellent) reads were deep, required a lot of thought and note-taking, and couldn’t be rushed.

                I reminded myself, though, that one of the points of reading is to learn and grow, and I needed to take my time with these topics and deepen my own understanding of the topics. So I don’t apologize for a short list. There are literally no prizes for reading the most books in a year, so…

                The first book I finished was Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg. Several years ago, I read Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus by Lois Tverberg and found it so helpful in understanding the Bible in context to the time frame in which Jesus lived. (Honestly, I should reread that one. It’s been a while, and I’m sure I could stand to relearn.) Anyway, I loved that book so much, I knew I wanted to read everything Lois wrote, and I was confident I’d love them all. I had this book on my wish list for literally years and finally bought it from the used bookstore late last year.

                It was the perfect time to read it, really. I had just finished studying Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer and the principles in the two books are very similar. (Comer quoted Tverberg in his writing!)

                Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus explains how to understand the gospel message by learning more about what it meant to be a Jewish disciple in Jesus’ day. The authors teach about the customs, words, traditions, and beliefs of the first century world, and that heavily impacts how to understand the words and teachings in the four gospels.

                Parables, for example, hit the ears of Jesus’ listeners differently than they hit our present-day, American ears. Knowing how they interpreted the stories Jesus told changes the way I understand those same words!

                It’s important, when learning about these sorts of things, to know your source, and I believe the years Lois spent learning in and studying the Holy Land and the customs of Jesus’ day make her worthy of trust.

                I underlined so many sentences throughout the book, I made notes in my Bible, and I love the extensive appendix, which includes information on prayers, liturgies, and feasts. This is a rich resource that I will return to again and again in personal study and in preparing to share with others – and probably even in my work at the church.

                I have one more book by Lois to read: Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus. I continue to be impressed by her understanding and her ability to relay that to her readers. If you want to learn more about the customs of Jesus’ life and day, I highly recommend Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus.

                Tip: Read it slowly. Savor it. Take notes. You can’t rush this read. And you’ll be glad you took your time.

**

                I hesitated to even share about this second book because it was a very specific read for me and one that I can’t imagine many/any of you would want to read. So I’ll keep my thoughts on it short, but I will list it because I keep this record as much for myself as anyone else!

                My second book this month was Women in the Church by Stanley J. Grenz and Denise Muir Kjesbo. Jonathan loaned me this book to read after my recent hiring, and he told me he thought it might be helpful in understanding both sides of the views toward women in ministry. He wasn’t wrong!

                If this is a topic that intrigues you, I can tell you that this book is both challenging to read (somewhat textbook in feel) and also written conversationally enough that it can be understood. To be fair, you’ll have to put some concentration into it, but it’s a good read.

                This topic can be polarizing, and I appreciated how the authors put significant effort into fairly representing both sides of thought. They present respectfully and thoroughly with pages and pages (44, to be exact) of sources cited.

                I learned many helpful insights as I read, but the bottom line of thought that settled over my heart when I finished the book was overwhelming sadness. I’m sad that this is a subject that creates so much animosity, so much division, and so much hurt, when there are so many urgent topics that could be capturing our attention instead. This and other subjects push in and distract us from the main thing, and that just straight up hurts my heart.

                My hope is to remain versed on this topic that does directly and significantly impact my daily life, but not to let this become my main focus or agenda.

                If this subject does interest you, I can recommend this book as a good, understandable, and fair read. But I imagine this isn’t the main event for most of you, and that is okay.

                Next month I’m aiming for some lighter reads, so I’ll be back in a month with more bookish updates!

Fun Finds from January

 

I’m not an influencer, but I do love to share something fun when I find it, and today is the day for that. No ads, no compensations…just my opinions!

Our sweet little lake cottage doesn’t have the largest kitchen in the world, which would probably have deterred some from purchasing it at all. But we love our little kitchen and find its spatial challenges an exciting puzzle to solve – one piece at a time. And this past month, we took another step in solving this puzzle. We have a dishwasher and use it for everything we can, but we do have several pieces of cookware that aren’t supposed to go in the dishwasher. We have two fabric dish-drying mats that we place on the counter to hold dishes while they finish drying, but sometimes, especially when many large pots and pans are involved, our two little blue mats aren’t enough. So for Christmas, I bought Ryan this over-the-sink dish drying mat. It rolls out over the sink and then rolls right back up for storage. It’s working beautifully and doesn’t take up space we don’t have when it comes time to store. He loves it and has commented several times on how handy it is! (He’s the resident hand-dish-washer.)

My sister gifted us these reusable food storage bags as part of our Christmas gift. I’ve seen similar products before, but we had never owned any until now! If you grew up in an era where your mom/grandma washed and reused plastic baggies, you might have to overcome that mind hurdle in doing the same, but these are certainly more durable and long-lasting than the washed baggies of our childhood. The multi-pack came with a handful of sizes, and we have found them very convenient for storing grated cheese, freshly made tortillas, veggies, and other snacks! They are top rack dishwasher safe, but we are still figuring out the best method to fully dry them. So far we’ve placed them over a drinking glass to dry as much as we can and then we finish drying with a towel. There are super handy and I think they will serve us well in travel, too!

I shared the story of Ryan gifting these to me, but now that I’ve used them, I want to tell you how much I love them! Ryan researched and found for me these erasable gel pens so I can write in my day planner without crossing through things that get rescheduled. The pack has a bunch of colors, they write well (both in continuity and in ease of visibility) and they erase perfectly. They have revamped my day planner game – allowing me to continue to color code, but also to make changes without the whole thing becoming messy and unwieldy. I’m excited to have these in my writing utensil collection!

I do not own this, but I’m sharing it because I’d never seen it before this month, and it fascinated me. Brooke from Pumps and Push Ups shared some of her favorite athletic wear, and I browsed her suggestions. She’s petite and I’m not, so sometimes her links don’t translate for me, but sometimes they do. I was reading through her post for suggestions on joggers, when I found this cinch sweatshirt. WHAT? Those are a thing? I love the idea because I love the comfort of a sweatshirt, but sometimes I don’t want the bagginess that comes along with it. This is comfortable (looking, anyway) AND cinches in the middle for some shape. Brilliant. (Indeed they must be a thing, because a couple of days later, a different blogger posted a link to this more affordable version!)

One thing we learned on our anniversary trip was that my gloves are not adequate to keep my hands warm! I had two different sets with me on the trip, and my hands froze in both. So…Ryan bought me these for Christmas, and I love them. I’ve had gloves before that are supposed to work on touch screens, but they don’t. These actually do a pretty good job with it! (Not foolproof, but far better than any I’ve owned before!) They also have a lining that keeps my fingers warm, but they still allow me to move my hands easily. I don’t feel like a puffalump in them. They come in a variety of colors, are very affordable, and I call them a win!

Not long after Ryan and I married, we ended up with a couple of free yoga/workout mats. We have used them in each of our homes, and they have served us well. But they really aren’t much thicker than a sheet of paper, and now that we work out on a very hard floor, that thinness is becoming (literally) painfully obvious. Earlier this month, whilst strolling the Aldi Aisle of Shame, we ran across these plush, thick workout mats, and we decided they were worth it. We bid farewell to our super-thin freebies from a dozen years ago and welcomed these much more supportive mats. Our backs and knees thank us every time we do a workout!

                These have been some of my favorite finds this month. I am looking forward to rounding up some more interesting discoveries to share with you next month!

Favorite Recipes from January

 

I thought I would share with you some of our favorite recipes from January! It was a full month of trying new-to-us meals as well as tried-and-true loves.  Here were the winners:

Breakfast Burritos: Even though I have zero talent at rolling a proper burrito, so mine are basically just quesadillas, we did love making these at the start of the month. Know what made them even better? Our first stab at homemade tortillas. I’m ruined for all other tortillas now, I fear.

Monterey Chicken: This recipe from Dashing Dish was so tasty, but if you’re looking for something super simple and free of assembly, this might not be your first choice. I loved making it when I had extra time to cook, but this wouldn’t be something I would choose on a busy day. Still – from a fancy-feelin’ and flavor perspective, it’s a solid win. (We paired this with steamed broccoli.)

Turkey Taco Skillet: This one WAS fast to assemble. Anything that can be put together in a skillet format is usually a win in my book. This had a nice little kick to it, and we enjoyed it. Ryan ate his with chips, and I ate mine plain, and we were both happy!

Veggie Ham and Cheese Egg Casserole: This one kept me going for quite a while, because it made a 9x13, and Ryan didn’t help me eat too much of it! I assembled it one evening when I had time to chop and sauté, because that all took a while, but then I warmed it up one serving at a time, and when paired with an apple or a couple of clementines, it made a fabulous and flavorful breakfast.

Three Bean Turkey Chili: I normally avoid anything with “three bean” in the title, because it just feels like I’ve become my grandma in some way. (And both my grandmothers were lovely ladies…I am not speaking ill of them. But one especially loved beans, so I always associate bean dishes with her.) But I overcame my bean aversions to try this and am so glad I did. The recipe calls for a slow cooker, but I (possibly) forgot about that and ended up making it on the stovetop. Worked just fine for us and made a lot of leftovers to carry us through a busy week!

One Pot Orzo with Sausage, Spinach, and Corn – I have two favorite types of meals to prepare. One is the kind that goes in the slow cooker and prepares itself while I do other things and the other is the kind that comes together quickly on its own, yet still feels like a proper cooking experience. This was the second kind of meal. Orzo is a new-to-me pasta within the past year, and I like it. It cooks quickly, because it’s small, like rice. It has the flavor of pasta without being heavy like pasta can be. This came together quickly, had all the elements of a meal in a single pot, and tasted really yummy!

Healthier Hot Chicken Salad – This is a recipe from my own blog (one I made a bit healthier from the original version I posted years ago). I don’t think I’ve made this in well over a year, but one night this month we were just shy of grocery night, and I had exhausted my meal plan. I realized I had all the ingredients for this on hand, so I threw it together on a weeknight, and it was so good. Comforting and healthy all at once!

Poppyseed Chicken – This one isn’t on the healthy end of things, but it sure is delicious! This general dish (not this exact version, necessarily) is a staple in Ryan’s family, and they were the ones who introduced it to me. I found this version on Pinterest, made it for small group this month, and it was a winner! (Note: I did not layer ingredients as this recipe instructs. I mixed it all together in the dish. So much easier.)

Big Mac Smash Burgers – I absolutely loved this recipe, because I could make it quickly, and it felt like fast food at home. I cooked them on our Griddler, and the seasoning was perfect. I also really liked the sauce, which is a healthier version of what you’d get in the restaurant.

Coleslaw – I found this recipe last summer and we’ve enjoyed it several times since then. It was perfect this month with burgers and sloppy joes.

Crispy Granola Bars – I love granola bars, but the ones from the store are loaded with preservatives, I know. This is the closest recipe I’ve ever found to my favorite store-bought crispy bar. I make these regularly to have on hand for dessert or a snack. (I bake mine 5 minutes under what the recipe calls for or I can’t chip it out of the pan in bar-size pieces.)

Chorizo Breakfast Bowls – These were so good. A protein-rich bowl built from roasted potatoes, turkey breakfast sausage, eggs, Feta, and avocado, these were huge on taste and really filling. I even shared with Ryan! 😊

Protein PB&J Smoothie Bowl – I tried this recipe back in the summer and absolutely loved it. I brought it back this month one day when I needed a quick, portable breakfast. It honestly tastes like ice cream. I used my cherry berry blend that I buy by the bag – and I did add a little more milk than the recipe called for because it was too thick to blend without it. This for real tasted like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, minus the bread.

                Enjoy! I hope you find some new-to-you keepers from this list! (Note: The Dashing Dish ones may only be accessible if you have a membership, and if that is the case, I’m sorry…but also, we find that membership cost worth it!)

The Making of a Work Bag

 

As I waited to learn whether or not I would get my job at the church, one of the things that gave me great hope was the practice of making little idea and wish lists of things I hoped to put together if and when the job became mine.

                One of those lists? Designing a mobile office in a work bag, because I knew I’d need a core collection of items that would always be gathered and ready to go at a moment’s notice. I have a home office, I currently have a temporary desk at the church, and eventually I’ll have an office at the church. But in this role, I’m often on the go – visiting people in homes or hospitals and having meetings at coffee shops and restaurants.

                Today I thought I’d show you what I have (so far) in my work bag. I put so much thought into this project. Weeks and weeks of perusing ideas and hunting for just the right things. Want to see?

                The bag itself. When I was little, I used to call backpacks “packbacks.” Sometimes I still call them that just for fun. And this is exactly what I wanted for a work bag. I wanted something fully contained, so I wouldn’t risk items falling out along the way – and so they would be protected from weather when I walked in and out of buildings in snow or rain. I chose this bag in light dusty pink/gray purple, and I love it. I chose it because it is on the bigger side, and you know me: I need to put a lot of things inside it. It’s also water repellent, which is important when I live in unpredictable Indiana. It has lots of compartments, which I love, and that includes a padded laptop compartment. That saved me from buying an additional computer bag to tuck inside. It has a charger port built in, but we did have to purchase a separate battery pack to attach to that. I didn’t have that on my hurry-to-buy list, but Ryan surprised me with it one day! He chose this one, and I’m excited to have it. The bag has backpack straps, but also a top carry strap and a back luggage strap that can slip over an extended pull handle on a suitcase. While overnight travel is unlikely to be the norm for me, it’s nice to know I can add it to luggage if needed. It also has two water bottle holders, which is really important since I drink over 100 ounces of water a day and need to make sure I always have it with me!

                Water bottle. Speaking of water consumption, I also purchased this 32 ounce sports water bottle (in blush – though there are other colors) to carry with me. For the last several years, I’ve used stainless steel water tumblers with straws, and while I love them and will continue to use them at home, they are not leak-proof for travel. This one is spillproof and fits in the side pocket!

                Day planner. I have a beloved day planner that I’ve used for a few years and have shared about on here, but I needed something in a little different format to fit my work life. I found this one that was exactly what I needed for keeping track of personal and work events! I chose the Tree Season cover, because it reminded me to grow my roots deep in the Lord and then thrive in the place where He has planted me! I love the big monthly calendar spread, where I can easily keep track of appointments, and the daily list view inside to keep track of chores, prayer requests, events, and more! I’m still learning how to best use it, but I love it. And it fits perfectly inside my bag.

                Erasable Gel Pens. As you might remember from a recap post a few days ago, Ryan purchased these gel pens for me, which I love because they write well – and they erase! So if I need to change something or if I just make a mistake in writing down an appointment, I can change it without scribbles. I can also color code, and we don’t need to spend much time explaining why THAT is important. (I already owned a little pencil bag that I just tucked inside one of the pockets of the backpack so it can hold the pens.)

                Bible Case. Remember Bible cases? They were hugely popular when I was in high school, and though I don’t use one anymore, I did want one to protect my travel Bible. I chose thisone in pink, and it is perfect. It’s actually bigger than my Bible by quite a bit, but that works out well for me, because then I can also carry a little spiral-bound journal (that I already had on hand) for note-taking and brainstorming. I put them both in the case and they stay nice and safe in there. This case is also great for holding receipts, notes, and other loose items so they don’t get buried in the bottom of the backpack.

                Erasable Colored Pencils. My Bible case has some pockets for pens and highlighters, so I put in the erasable colored pencils Ryan gave me for Christmas. I had planned to use them in the day planner, but they didn’t write vividly enough, so now I use them as highlighters for my Bible!

                My Travel Bible. I have mentioned this on the blog before, but last Easter, Ryan gifted me this Bible that I use when I speak. It’s a journaling Bible where I can mark passages after I have used them in speaking – and I can also mark passages I might want to read or share with people when I’m visiting them in the hospital or in a time of grief. This Bible is much smaller than my regular study Bible, so it’s lighter to transport on a regular basis.

                That is my mobile office…so far! I have a few more things I’d like to add along the way. I still have this little bag/case on my wish list – not so much for carrying pencils and pens, since I have another bag for that, but more to carry little office supplies – like some tape, sticky notes, small scissors, or paperclips. I’ve already found that I need those while out and about, so I’ll work on that soon. I also want to add a small collection of some protein bars in case I find myself out longer than I planned to be gone; hopefully this will keep me out of Snickers from a vending machine! I have some spare reading glasses but need to get a protective case for them so they can live in in my backpack.

                The bag still has room to add things as needed; right now I have a folder with some handouts I need to give to people who weren’t able to be at a meeting last week, a Bible study binder so I can do some prep work, and I did have my current book I’m reading tucked in there in case I had spare time. I keep my laptop cord in there, too, so I always know where it is when not in use.

                I love this little mobile office. It sits packed beside my desk at all times, so if I need to leave in a hurry, I have everything I need to do my job. And whether I’m working at home, at church, or in a coffee shop, I have all the essentials!

Sunday Snapshots: Memorable Moments from the Week

 

            The biggest memorable thing about this week? The unrelenting COLD. I’ve watched geese and eagles skate across the lake on thick ice, I’ve warmed up the car (sometimes) longer than the drive I needed to make, and we’ve eaten a lot of soup. Welcome to winter. But I also celebrate seeing light creep into the sky earlier in the morning and stay later in the evening than it had been! Ryan and I have worked hard and rested hard, and the week has been good. Here are some of the highlights!

This past summer, the ladies from our Sunday School class decided to get together every few weeks for a night of fellowship. (Any excuse to host/talk/eat, right?) I had the privilege of taking my hosting turn last fall, and we went out on the pontoon for sunset…it was so much fun! This past week, a couple of ladies hosted us at the cutest little gathering place that has all kinds of character. It was cozy in there, and they brought delicious food to share. I enjoyed the evening, but I learned I’m very bad at playing Mad Gab.  

Monday started early for me; I left home at 5:30 a.m. to meet with someone before a medical procedure, and I absolutely could not have asked for a more beautiful day to be out on the road. It was collllllllllllllllld – no doubt about that – but this sunrise greeted me when I left the hospital! Isn’t it so pretty, even from a parking lot? I was beyond grateful for clear roads and sunny skies for my morning of travel. Also, can I just pause to say I’m grateful for a husband who got up extra early with me to pack my travel coffee and warm up my car? He’s so good.

01.21 – Tuesday night, I was awaiting a work-related email, so I had my work laptop open beside me while I blogged on my own computer. Then Ryan asked if I could look over something for him on his computer, and that is how this moment came to be. One Bekah, three laptops. I look…important? Busy? Crazy? Interpret as you will, but it made me laugh. (Also, in these days of subzero temperatures, if you need me in the evening, you’ll most likely find me beneath the electric blanket.)

01.22 – Another installment in the photo montage of Bekah’s coffee shop meetings. The frigid temps marched on, but it was warm in the coffee shop. I managed to collect another “this would only happen to Bekah” story during my outing, and I marked many things off my list during the meeting.

Some of you might remember stories I’ve told here before about my friend Craig. I met him at my first job out of high school, and a couple of weeks after I started that job, he died from injuries he received in a motorcycle accident. His death was a pivotal moment in my faith journey and his life has forever marked mine. His mom and sister and I became friends after his death and remain connected through social media. I always contact them on the anniversary of his death, and often on his birthday, too. This year the date slipped by me, but his mom posted that this week would have been his 50^th birthday. She posted this picture of him, and it’s such a good one. I will always remember him just like this.

Thursday was a long workday, and when I finally wrapped up my projects for the day and joined Ryan on the couch, he had this lovely ambient channel playing on TV. The cozy lights were on the winter tree, and I was reminded again what a gift and privilege it is to have a warm home on these cold, snowy days. I do not ever want to lose my gratitude for something that not everyone has.

When I pushed the blinds up on the window one morning, the sun was creeping over the tops of the trees, and it was just so very pretty. The picture isn’t the best in quality, but the moment was sweet.

Without a doubt, the best and most memorable part of yesterday was getting to see our sweet little godson for the first time in too long. His vocabulary has absolutely exploded, and he talked our ears off. (His mom mentioned that while she is so glad he’s speaking so well, sometimes he speaks TOO well.) His little giggles and facial expressions were heart-filling for us. We’ve missed him!

                What a very good week! I’m hopeful for (slightly?) warmer temps coming up…how about you?

Saturday Suggestions: Inspirations for Your Weekend

 

We are heading into the final week of this first month of 2025 – can you believe it? It’s been a whirlwind around here, but in a good way. I’m looking forward to a few moments this weekend to read, scrapbook, and dream for the year ahead! I hope you can enjoy some rest too…and I have a little bit of inspiration for you. Enjoy!

We are coming up on the 2-year anniversary of moving into our home, and as I reflect on this house and the things we’ve done to try to make it beautiful and sustainable for the years to come, I’m excited to think about how far we’ve come. I read a lot of posts about decorating homes, but not often do I see posts about how to really invest in the longevity of a home. This creative piece, written by Yvonne at StoneGable focuses on the things your home might want to say to you if it could talk. I loved her ideas and thought I’d share them with you! (BONUS: If you want to channel your inner designer and create a whole new feel as you invest in your home, Suzy has an amazingly thorough post on how you can become your own interior designer…for free! This piece guides you through the entire process from beginning to end, so you can make your home exactly what you want it to be.)

I know we have just a few days left in January, but let me tell you about this fun idea from Karli’s blog! I discovered Karli and her cookie blog last summer – and I participated in her summer baking bingo challenge. I didn’t get to finish the whole card, but I made several new-to-me things and had fun doing it! This year she’s doing a cookie-of-the-month club, where she shares a cookie recipe, a movie to watch while you bake, and a fun activity to go along with the experience. This cookie recipe sounds amazing, but what I’d love to focus on is the fact that I have actually seen the movie she suggests. I’ve seen so few movies that I hardly ever get to say that! Not only did I see this one – I saw it in the theater! Rare moment! Anyway, check back every month, because she plans to have new ideas throughout the year! (BONUS: I have made this cookie recipe from her blog multiple times, and it’s never failed. I did make my cookies on the smaller side, by the way.)

One of my Facebook friends shared a link to this article earlier this month, and I found it fascinating. It explains the snow melt system in Holland, Michigan, and how the city doesn’t need to plow streets or clear sidewalks because of this underground water-generated system. I’ve always been impressed by Michigan’s resilience to snow when the same snowfall paralyzes other places. I found the entire explanation intriguing. Maybe you will, too! (BONUS: If you don’t live on a main road in Holland, Michigan, and you need some ideas for dealing with snow at your own house, there are a TON of great pieces of advice in Wendi’s post. Note: some of her links no longer work, but even if you can’t click on the product she mentions, you can still learn from her wisdom!)

Ryan is in a role that suits him so perfectly, and I celebrate that, but if he were job hunting right now, I think I’d encourage him to be the Planters NUTmobile driver. It’s a real thing – and you can apply from now through Valentine’s Day if you’re looking for a travel job for a year. After the last few days of driving a regular vehicle on icy roads, I don’t know that this would ever be a suitable career for me, but can you even imagine the memoir you could write after a year of this job??

I know many people who have been walking a hard road of grief over the past few weeks. Grief holds no formulas and is often clumsy and frustrating in its waves. I thought Holley Gerth’s words about grief here were beautiful and comforting (as are all the words Holley writes…) so I wanted to share them with you. Maybe today is not a season of grief for you, but you know someone who is walking through that season, and if so, feel free to share it with them. Or tuck the words away for yourself, because each of us will have a new season of it coming, sometimes unexpectedly.

When I recapped the things I learned from my 2024 capsule wardrobe adventure, I shared that I learned a lot about how to mix and match outfits, and one of the things I hope to do a better job of in 2025 is polishing those outfits. Adding a belt…wearing jewelry…even putting on lipstick. Audrey over at Putting Me Together has started sharing posts on how to style outfits so they are just a little bit more polished. If that’s a skill you’re trying to learn this year, too, check out her tutorial here! (BONUS: And whether or not you care about how to style and polish your outfits, if you’re just over this long, cold winter, here’s a sweatshirt just for you.)  

·         This one falls more under organization, I suppose, but it has made my heart quite happy. I have a list on Amazon to keep track of all the books I want to buy. Sometimes, when I’m at a thrift store or garage sale, I want to reference my wish list, but I don’t always have a great signal to sign in to see it. So this month I made a Word Document of my wish list, I printed it, and now it lives in my wallet. When I go to a thrift store, second-hand bookstore, or garage sale, now I can easily access my list even if my phone isn’t handy or my internet signal is weak. (A few weeks ago, while at a thrift store, I actually found two brand new copies of a book on my list. I think I paid a dollar each. And now I have one to give away!)

·         When we moved to the lake, I did a heavy purge on all my kitchen towels and washcloths and moved the less-life-filled ones to the garage towel bin for Ryan to use in projects. I store all our towels and washcloths in the kitchen island, but the drawers are shallow and sometimes hard to open and close. I went through last week and changed my storage method so everything in the drawer is rolled. It’s amazing how much better the same number of pieces fit when rolled! If you haven’t done a good kitchen linen purge lately, this is a great time to do it. And if you want to switch up your storage, try rolling! You might be surprised!