Wednesday, January 25, 2017

What's Up Wednesday

Since I took an extended Christmas break, I thought I would participate in Sheaffer, Mel and Shay's What's Up Wednesday linkup today, so you could catch up a bit with us....




What We're Eating This Week...

I have been back on the no sugar/low carb (Trim Healthy Mama) way of eating the last few weeks, and I feel so much better.  My menu this week isn't too extravagant, but I'm not going to be home much, so we're keeping it simple.  

Sunday: Chili
Monday: Grilled Porkloin, Sauteed Mushrooms, Baked Sweet Potato
Tuesday: Spaghetti & Meat Sauce (Zoodles for me)
Wednesday: Breakfast for Dinner (My little kids think I'm a genius when we have this)
Thursday: Grilled Fajitas (Low carb tortillas for me)
Friday: We're going to try our own chicken stir fry...I'll let you know how it turns out...

What I'm Loving...

As I mentioned before, I took an extended Christmas vacation and really considered "retiring" from blogging.  I am so thankful for my blog friends that emailed me, text me, commented on my blog, and really encouraged me to continue in this community.  I am so appreciative of your sweet words and friendships!

What We've Been Up To...

Here's the month of January in a nutshell...

We had a snow day...well, kind of.  That's Texas snow to my northern friends (Johannah, I know you're laughing at our "snow").


Some of us decided to play in the snow...


Some of us opted to hibernate... #teenagers


We celebrated Gigi's birthday with homemade strawberry swirl cheesecake cupcakes from Jentry's new American Girl "Cooking Book"...and Jentry may have decided to blow out Gigi's candles while everyone was preoccupied taking a picture.  


We hung out with Pop at Starbucks...


And, like all good consumers, we took advantage of January Clearance sales at some of our favorite stores!  



What I'm Dreading...

Reading one more political Facebook post.  

What I'm Working On...

My mom bought me a Silhoette Cameo for Christmas, so I am learning how to use it, and looking forward to making some fun Valentine and Easter projects with it.  If you have one, and have some tips or favorite sites, please share!

What I'm Watching/Reading...

My women's Bible Study group just started a new study on Jonah a few weeks ago.  This is an excerpt out of last week's homework that really hit home for me:

I am all around you, hovering over you even as you seek My Face.  I am nearer than you dare believe, closer than the air you breathe.  If My children could only recognize My Presence, they would never feel lonely again.  I know every thought before you think it, every word before you speak it.  My Presence impinges on your innermost being.  Can you see the absurdity of trying to hide anything from Me?  You can easily deceive other people. and even yourself; but I read you like an open, large-print book.  

God knows us like a book, but not just any book, a large-print book.  He sees everything and "gets" us.  I find so much comfort in knowing that he is always there for me as a great Counselor.  I am really enjoying diving into Jonah (no pun intended) a little more and trying to discover if there's a Nineveh in my life that I need to arise and go to.  

What I'm Wearing...

I finally jumped on the "blardigan" (part blanket, part cardigan) wagon, and boy am I glad I did.  I would say that in the past month that I have been a "blardigan" owner, I have probably worn it at least 20 times.  I've worn it around the house, preschool drop off, to dinner my my husband, preschool drop off, to church, and did I mention it's the perfect thing to throw on for preschool drop off...it's really one of the most comfortable things I own.  I'm pretty sure by March I am going to be known as the lady in the black sweater.  I have yet to take a picture of myself in it, but here's what it looks like in case you're curious...


I know many of you are still skeptical of QVC even after reading my QVC Favorites post, but yes, QVC has "blardigans," too.  

What I'm Looking Forward To Next Month...

My favorite teenager is turning seventeen next month!  Oh my goodness!  Where did the time go.  It seems like yesterday we were picking out High School Musical backpacks and playing with Polly Pockets, and now we're prom dress shopping and talking about college visits.  I can't wait to celebrate another year of my beautiful girl's life!


That's What's Up with us this Wednesday?  What's up with you?

Emily 


Monday, January 23, 2017

Remember Me?

Hi friends!  Remember me?  I'm that blogger that blogged way back in 2016.  I took a little time off to enjoy the holidays with my family...and then I fell of the blogging wagon.  To an outsider, blogging may be easy, but it is really a time consuming little hobby.  Dinner isn't just "cook it and put it on the table" anymore.  It's "take a picture of all the ingredients, take a picture of the different steps, take 5 pictures of the finished product on a plate before you decide it looks better on a different plate.  Then take 20 more pictures trying to find the perfect light at 7:30 at night while your family complains because they are.ready.to.eat."  

You start to analyze everything you read or watch, wondering if you should share it with the world (aka your loyal readers).  You use a life changing beauty product and feel it is your duty to shout it from the roof tops (aka Friday Favorites).  You take 56 pictures of your children in one day just incase you can only come up with four Friday Favorites...and you really need a 5th.  Everything starts to become a blog post idea, and before you know it your brain is over the brim, full of ideas and you stay up until one in the morning jotting down drafts, some of which will never be published.  It can be exhausting, and you start to wonder why in the world do I want to do this?  Maybe I should have taken up ceramics instead?  

After taking a month or so to clear my head, and toying with the idea of blog retirement, I have decided to stick around.  I have been blessed with some fantastic friends and family that have encouraged me to continue this time-comsuming, draining, rewarding little hobby of mine.  I may not post as often, but I'm coming back... Soon.  Why?  Because writing is my thing.  Or, at least I want it to be.  I hope you'll stick around, too.  

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