Fun Finds from November

 

                I’ve shared a handful of gift guides this month on my Saturday Suggestions posts, and because I have read so many gift guides this month, I feel like I’ve found a ton of really cute things! Alas, we could be here all day, so I’m just sharing a short smattering of fun things I’ve found this month.

Coffee Bar. For the last…I have no idea how long…the coffee bar in our church office was this microwave cart.

A few weeks ago, I was tasked with finding something a bit more substantial and permanent to hold the coffee pretties. I wanted to thrift an upcycled coffee bar, but even after searching high and low on Marketplace and in stores, I couldn’t find what I wanted. I mentioned this frustration to a friend from church one day, and she asked if I had considered Hobby Lobby. No! I had not! And why not???

So Ryan and I traveled to Hobby Lobby one night and wouldn’t you know it…this darling little piece was right there in the aisle!!

I’ll have to show you a picture of the final presentation soon, but here it was the first day we carried it into the church office. We all love it so much, and now that I have it decked out with a mug tree and pretty baskets, it’s a sight to behold.

Cooling Racks. When I was very, very single, a friend gifted me a set of cooling racks for cookies. She had them and didn’t love them, but she knew I loved to bake, so she said I could have them. I have used them for all these many years, and wouldn’t you know…they had the audacity to start rusting! So rude. 😊

So one night, whilst we were in the Aisle of Shame in Aldi, we spotted a trio of cooling racks that are bigger than the ones we had, and showed no rust. We grabbed them and they work perfectly for cookie baking extravaganzas! (Couldn’t find them on their website, so no link.)

Luggage. When I graduated from high school, my parents gifted me a set of luggage. I used it for all my moving back and forth to college, but I didn’t travel much in my post-college life, because I couldn’t afford to go anywhere. It worked well for storing things, so it did get used, but it didn’t leave home much.

When I did finally start to travel, I learned that luggage set was not great for airport/in-and-out of hotel use because it was the “old fashioned” kind that didn’t have a regular handle for pulling it. (It had a strap and the suitcase fell over every time it moved.) So about fifteen years ago, I marched into Penney’s and bought a luggage set that would work for regular travel.

I’ve used it ever since, and when Ryan and I married, he started using it too. We’ve taken it on every trip, and it was starting to get pretty beat up and sad. So when Ryan found a pretty amazing sale on a solid luggage set, we decided to replace our weary little set. We haven’t used it yet, but it’s so pretty, and I love the swivel wheels on the bottom!!!

Etiquette IG Account. You know how Instagram suggests accounts? I don’t always follow them…actually, I rarely do. But one popped up this month that intrigued me! The account is called @schoolofbodyelegance and she has all kinds of advice on etiquette. As you might imagine, I’m not really known for my etiquette or my elegance, but it sure is fun to read her suggestions.

I’m unlikely to need to know all the right spoons to use at a table, but I’ve been trying to learn to be aware of my posture and walk “single lane” instead of “double lane.”

Holiday Cabinet Knob Covers. I do not own these, nor do we own cabinet door pulls that would support them, but aren’t they SO CUTE??? The little peppermint ones…. 😊

50 Before 50 Check In List

 

                We are closing in on the end of the month, and I am excited to share with you today some updates on my 50 Before 50 list! (I also told someone from church this week about this list, and now she wants to hear all about it and make one of her own. Love that!) I have made some progress on a few things this month, and in no particular order, here they are!

                First up…the coffee experience. Ryan and I are two coffee shops short of completing our Adams County Coffee Experience passport! We have been to three more shops since I last updated you, and we are actually doing at least one more this week. (Maybe two?) We also threw in a visit to a local coffee truck that wasn’t even on the passport, so I feel like that should give us bonus points!

Next…we are already in season two of the Gilmore Girls! My friend Pat owns them all on DVD and loaned them to us, but Ryan was able to find the series on a channel, so we are watching all we can through streaming there. If we run out of availability on TV, we’ll pick up with the borrowed DVDs. We are absolutely loving it.

Then…the work on the annual recipe binder continues. I told you that I came up with the seasonal recipe capsules, and I’ve been working to put that together. I think it’s going to be great!

Finally…thrift items rather than buying new brought me two more items this month! I found a pair of black denim pants to replace the ill-fitting ones I had, and I found two baskets for the coffee bar I put together at work. It’s done now, and I’m so happy with how it turned out!

I already have some fun things on the schedule for the next month to mark things off the list, so I’ll report on those next month. Inching closer to those goals!

Celebrating Our Girl

 

Last Friday was Lexi’s fourth birthday, and we had a lot of fun celebrating her! I was happy that I didn’t have any meetings on my schedule that day, so I was able to work from home and keep her company. (That really is her favorite thing.)

                She enjoyed her breakfast, treats, and lots of snuggles throughout the day.

                When Ryan came home from work, we had dinner and then…her party! I had decorated with her annual birthday banner and made her puppy cake. (They don’t have sugar, and I reminded Ryan of that before he took a taste of the frosting. He was not a fan, but I found it hilarious!)

                We sang to her, Ryan blew out the candles, and she would have eaten the entire cake if we’d allowed it.

                She got some presents: a bone, a treat, and a toy.

                And then her other favorite thing: couch time with the two of us. This is her absolute favorite way to spend every single evening.

                Happy birthday, sweet Lexi Grae. You are so fun to celebrate!

Sunday Snapshots: Memorable Moments from the Week

 

Lots of fun pictures for you this Sunday, as I look back over a week that bubbled over in (mostly) beautiful ways!!

Last Sunday was our church’s annual business meeting, and it was the first one I’ve attended as part of the staff. We’ve attended them every year since we moved here, but this one felt different in the most beautiful way, because I was able to give my report! Not surprising to you, I’m sure, I went complete with slides and pictures! 😊

I decorated my office at church this week, which I already told you, and I have thoroughly enjoyed those decorations all week long. My little corner of the office suite feels super cozy, and it fosters creativity in my soul.

Ryan and I decorated our family trees, and it was such fun. Normally our tradition is to read the stories of all the ornaments as we put them on the tree, but that takes several hours, and we didn’t have that much time, so this year we told each other the stories from memory. It was a fun twist on our tradition, and we had the BEST time.

Another project I have in process right now is setting up a coffee station in our office at church. I’ve been working on it for a while now and almost have it complete. This week I added a little tray of disposable plates/bowls/silverware for us. (Sometimes we need them and never can find them!) And, per request, I added apple cider mix to the drink options!

Ryan and I went on a grocery shopping date and shared a jamocha shake. It turns out we are ill-equipped to take a proper shake-sharing photo without a tripod – and while having an audience of diners. I don't think we are cut out to be influencers. 

I will tell you more about her party this week, but we celebrated Lexi’s fourth birthday! It was seriously the most fun day, and I think she enjoyed all the extra love, attention, food, presents, and even a FaceTime!

Yesterday started with a coffee date on the Adams County Coffee Experience trail, and then I headed to a baby shower for my bonus niece. I’m in complete denial that she’s old enough to have a baby of her own, but she is, and I’m still the same age I was when she was born.

*JUST FOR FUN!!!*

Here is a picture of me 20+ years ago at the baby shower for the one who is now going to be a mama. And a picture of the two of us when she was brand new. We’ve come a long way.

Saturday Suggestions: Inspirations for Your Weekend

 

                I have thoroughly enjoyed the comfort and cheer of our Christmas lights this week. They have brought much joy to my heart and our home! Today is a full day for me, and I am already looking forward to this evening, settling down on the couch, and enjoying the lights again! And whether or not you have lights up, I hope you enjoy a thing or two from this list.

Last Saturday, as I decorated the house for Christmas, I found myself consulting Pinterest for some ideas on how to arrange the things I already had. The kitchen at this house is particularly mysterious to me because I don’t have room to add too much in there. I did find some good tips, and this was one of my favorite inspiration links! (BONUS: Speaking of kitchens…this one doesn’t feature Christmas décor, but it does feature a great kitchen renovation that is practical in terms of storage. This kitchen isn’t over the top in size, but it’s over the top in creativity!)

I want to make all the desserts in this post. Now that our house is decorated for Christmas, I just want to bake (and bake and bake and bake)! (BONUS: Know what also sounds like a lot of fun? A cookie exchange party! Great ideas and some recipes in this post. I’m especially intrigued by the recipe for the brownies from scratch. I have a recipe I’ve made for years, but hers caught my attention!)

While I love a good addition to my holiday decorations, I find great joy and contentment in reusing the same things I’ve loved for years. (Case in point – I just replaced a tree I’d been using for almost 20 years. It was time!) Sometimes using a same-old-same-old in a different way can make it feel new again! Sarah has some great ideas for how to do that…here.

I feel like people have a love/hate relationship with green bean casserole. I like it, but I honestly couldn’t even tell you when I last ate it. This recipe, though, intrigues me. It skips the condensed soup and works with all fresh ingredients. Would you try it?

 

As we enter this holiday season, it’s good to remember the days can be long and hard for some. They miss people. They miss traditions. They hurt. Robin’s words and stories can be a great reminder for all of us!

I continue to be enthralled by curated gift guides. Candace released hers, and they are GOOD!! There’s a whole bunch of them in this post.

Happy Birthday, Lexi Grae!

 

Four years ago today, Ryan and I helped host the WillowBridge Thanksgiving dinner. I was sidelined from helping with much of the cooking, because I had a fresh dog bite on my hand and couldn’t grip much of anything. I was in a fair amount of pain and still really, really irritated that a random dog on the street chomped down on my hand.

                And I had no idea that about two hours away, this sweet little peanut had just been born.

                We met Lexi not quite three weeks later, and I wanted to bring her home with me that very night. Obviously that was much too soon, but she did come home with us a few weeks later, and we have loved the joy and entertainment she has brought to our household.

                I don’t even know how to condense a year of our sweet girl’s life into a single blog post, but I thought I’d show you some of our favorite Lexi pictures from the last twelve months.

This is a common Lexi pose. Whether she is on the couch, our bed, or in her little bed in the kitchen, if she sees us walk in the room, she immediately assumes this pose, which means, “Please come scratch my belly.”

Holidays with Lexi really are a lot of fun. She jumped right in to all the Christmas and New Year’s festivities and was so happy to be part of them. She’s all about the food, the treats, the pictures, the celebrations!

That sweet face. We both love her with our entire hearts.

Lexi has some friends around the lake. One of her little dogs lost his grandma, and he loved visiting his grandma so much. Lexi got him a little sympathy gift, and he sent her a thank you note. (It’s a dog parent thing…)

For the first time in Lexi’s whole life, I was sick enough to stay in bed for an entire day. I got hit hard with a random flu bug that knocked me out for a full 24 hours. I never left the bed, and Lexi never left my side. Sweet girl. She’s not usually one to sit calmly in a bed, but she did that day, and it was so comforting!

The many faces of Lexi. She’s loaded with personality!

Always up for a good game!

This was one of her last grooms with her beloved groomer. (She left for another place that is, unfortunately, too far away for us to go.) Those two had quite the bond, and every single time Lexi came out, she was simultaneously proud to show off her bow (or bandana) but also nervous about her new cut. Sweet baby.

Remember how I had my first bout of the flu in a long time? So did Lexi. She was so sick. Her vet couldn’t get her in and we had to take her to a new-to-us clinic. She was so brave and we ended up really loving the vet. (The fact that she is willingly sitting in my lap in this picture tells you she doesn't feel well.)

She loves, loves, loves being outside and can’t stand it if she thinks she might be missing something. She loves to help us plant flowers, garden, sit by the fire pit, you name it!

She is a boat girl through and through. She loves a boat ride. She loves sitting on the boat even if it’s docked. It really might be her boat, and we just get to drive it.

She is in her happiest place on earth when she can go for a walk. We had some new dogs move to the lake this summer, and they’re really intimidating. She’s worked so hard on her courage and actually does much better passing their house now than I do! She lives for squirrels, sightings of her friends (particularly Ace, Winnie, and Georgie), and hugsies from her friends Miss Joan and Miss Janis.

She loves her dad with her WHOLE heart.

She loves car rides (but not windshield wipers, cows, or horses…which makes it fun to drive in rain in Amish farm country) and ANY visit to see her grandpa. He thinks she’s pretty great, too.

She loves her mama, too.

She does NOT love going to bed at night. I mean…she loves her actual bed. She is just very much a toddler about bedtime. ANY other time of day, she’s immediately on our heels when we leave the room. But when we get up from the couch to go to bed, she suddenly has every intention of sitting perfectly still and pretending to not hear the bedtime call.

                Sweet Lexi Grae, you have changed our lives and brightened our home. We love you, we are glad you are ours, and we are excited to celebrate you today as you turn FOUR years old! Happy birthday, little girl!