Hello again!

 I apologize for my lack of posts the past 11 months. We moved in June of 2021 from Louisiana to NY for the summer to stay with family until our house in Rhode Island was available. We moved to Rhode Island in August of 2021 and found out in December we will be heading to Germany in September of this year. Lots of new information and changes!

We have really enjoyed living in New England and exploring. It has been so nice living only a couple hours from family. This fall we had many family visitors here which was so nice and we were able to see some fun New England sites like Plymouth, Salem and Concord, Massachusetts as well as took a day trip by train to NYC at Christmas time which was wonderful! I hope to fill you all in on our adventures we have had!

We still have a couple places in New England we would like to visit before we move in June to NY to stay for the summer while hubby finishes his school here and we move to Germany in the fall. 

But I try not to dwell too much in the future, as it tends to overwhelm and stress me out. Here's to a new year with new adventures and continuing to live simply in the present and make memories along the way. I hope to be more consistent on here while we continue to explore New England,  create summer memories in NY and then head overseas for our new military family adventure.  I hope you join me in my season of adventures!

Tunes I'm loving lately-soundtrack music

My husband recently gifted me Sirius radio for Christmas and I am loving all the new and old tunes country pop rock! Another place I have always loved to find new eclectic music is in tv shows and movies. Before smart phones, I remember going to the movies as a kid and would bring a notebook to write down a song or even the lyrics I remembered and go home and search for them. Some of my favorite songs that I listen to for years have been hidden gems I found from either a tv show or movie I watched. I especially pay attention to movie trailer music too. The songs aren't always in the movie but if they are good I will always remember where I heard them first.

A couple of my all time favorites are:

Fall at your feet by Saint Raymond found in This is Where I Leave you movie

Sweet disposition by Temper Trap found in 500 days of Summer movie

Poison and Wine by The Civil Wars found in Something Borrowed movie

Starlight by Muse from Crazy Stupid Love movie

Moths wings by Passion Pit from Away we go movie 

Between the lines-book review The four winds by Kristin Hannah

 In February I chose The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah for my book of the month club pick. I had recently finished watching Firefly Lane on Netflix which I enjoyed and was based on one of Kristin Hannah's books.  This fall I read The Great Alone, which was another wonderful story by Kristin Hannah. One of my favorite genres to read is historical fiction.

The Four Winds is set during the Great Depression in Texas. Elsa, the main character, is such a strong, loyal and heroic mother. The Dust storms wreak havoc on her in laws farm where her family lives so she decides to venture to California for a better life with her son and daughter.

Once in California, Elsa and her family endured tough hardships but their family bond grew even stronger especially between her and her daughter Loreda. I enjoyed reading this book for the historical setting as well as the family relationships and the determined and courageous spirit Elsa exemplified as a mother caring for her family.

I would recommend this book and would love to hear if anyone else has read it and enjoyed it as well!

Simplifying meal plans with grocery pick up and uniform eating

 Meal planning can be a stressful task that can leave you feeling stuck in a rut eating the same meals over and over again. To help alleviate some stress, I designated a certain type of food each day of the week just to bring some structure and less decision fatigue. On Mondays we usually have a chicken dish, Tuesdays taco night, Wednesday pasta night, Thursday leftovers, Friday meatless during lent and breakfast or sandwhich night otherwise and then on the weekends I give myself some flexibility in case we decide to order in or go out to eat.

I don't always follow the same day and food but that sense of structure helps me the main cook of our house and my kids who thrive on structure and routine. They love to know what to expect in their days so this meal plan structure has become second nature to them. What helps is having ingredients for those favorite dishes on hand.

We have been using grocery pickup for about 2.5 years now and it has made grocery shopping and meal planning so much easier. I use Walmart pick up primarily and they save my recently bought items so that I don't really have to make a list, I can just go off my favorites in the app. Seeing I get majority of my household items from amazon subscribe and save, I really just need to worry about food in my pickup which helps and makes the process easier.

Having a weekly uniform of meals, even if they aren't on the same day, has decreased my decision fatigue and made me more excited to look for new recipes to try that my family will enjoy. It takes the pressure off of me to come up with meals when I have a template to go off of. 

( this looked like a great sample meal plan)

If you haven't tried a grocery pick up service, I would definitely recommend it. It saves you time and money as you aren't adding those little impulse purchases not on your list at the store. It also simplifies one of your weekly tasks by giving you flexibility to shop when it works for you!

Simplifying my housework/Cleaning routine

For the past couple of years, I have been using the same weekly cleaning schedule. I enjoy watching YouTube content about cleaning and housework schedules and routines. If I can make life easier and simpler, I am all for it! The youtube inspiration I received helped me create a weekly cleaning routine that gave me the weekends off from cleaning (besides daily tidying and dishes of course!). 

Before this routine, I would clean when my kids were asleep but then I just felt drained and grumpy. Or I would save all my cleaning for the weekends which made me feel like I didn't have much to look forward to when my husband was off and I was knee deep in cleaning. A couple of years ago I decided upon designated days for my cleaning and that has been able to be adapted as we have moved and my kids have been in school.

On Mondays and Thursdays I wash the family's clothes. On Tuesday I wash sheets and towels and any household linens that need a wash. On Wednesday I vacuum/mop and dust as well as meal plan and order groceries or make a grocery list. On Thursdays I usually pick up my groceries after I drop off my daughter at elementary school and before I drop off my son at preschool (there's an hour window) and Fridays I clean the bathrooms. On Saturdays and Sundays I have freedom to play with my kids, relax and or we can decide on an impromptu adventure and I have no guilt that the house is a mess. This Monday-Friday cleaning routine has simplified my life so much. It is now second nature and because we live in a simple minimal life, tidying up daily, even on the weekends, doesn't take much time at all.

I understand that this schedule may not work for everyone but it may be worth thinking about single tasking your cleaning even spending 20-30 minutes a day during the week to make your weekends relaxing and more enjoyable.

Between the Lines book review- This Sounds Fun by Annie F. Downs

 I recently finished reading (within 2 days!) Annie F. Downs new book That Sounds Fun. I had previously read her devotional 100 days to brave a couple years ago and enjoyed it. In her new book, Annie talks about how important having a hobby is. In our world, so many people are turning their hobby into a business and then losing that hobby. She talks about how being an amateur is ok and enjoying your hobby whether it be knitting, playing a sport or writing for just how much fun you have doing it can bring so much joy to your life.

I really enjoyed how she talked about her childhood and the pure simple joys we experience then and how when we look book we miss it and she referred to those memories as "Eden".  Cultivating your own "Eden" with your hobbies and surrounding yourself with people who bring out the best instead of drain you of any passion is what fun is all about. 

I would recommend this book to anyone young or old who can sometimes feel nostalgic for their "Eden" moments of childhood. This book was a fresh perspective on enjoying and cultivating fun in your life.

How and why I shop on Poshmark

 I have always enjoyed shopping and getting a good deal on an item. When I started diving more into minimalism and simple living and what truly brings me joy in my day, going into stores when I didn't need anything or browsing on websites aimlessly really left me feeling empty.  I started to become more intentional with my time and what truly brings me joy. Reading books, listening to music, being outside running or walking, cooking a new recipe and being with family and friends are significant mood boosters for me and are sustainable.

Deciding only to shop when I needed something and cutting significantly back on the impulse online and in store purchases brought me to Poshmark. I enjoy shopping second hand for myself and my kids. My kids are growing so fast, it pains me to pay so much for an item they will wear for a season. Poshmark's app is relatively easy to navigate when you create a profile and put in your sizing information for yourself and your kids.

I have been able to sell gently used items of my kids and myself on Poshmark and use that money to buy the next size up for my kids or a new to me pair of jeans for a good 50-70% off retail! The nice thing about Poshmark is you can do it from the luxury of your home, print out the prepaid label and drop it in the mailbox if you are selling. If you are buying, you can offer a lower price then what is listed and your items usually only take a couple days (depending on the world and weather) to get to your home.

I would highly recommend checking out Poshmark for yourself or your kids. It's a great way to shop second hand from your house and save money and shop intentionally. 

What I'm eating Wednesday-Super bowl Sunday yummy dips to try!

 Today I'm sharing two of my favorite dips I have made for parties or family gatherings. Although Super Bowl Sunday may be spent at home this year, we can still enjoy some yummy food! I'd love to hear of any dips or appetizers you enjoy on Super Bowl Sunday! My sister shared both these recipes with me and they have been a hit every time I've made them!

Taco Dip 

Ingredients

-1 lb ground beef cooked

-1 bag of fritos scoops

-1 8 oz pkg of cream cheese

-1 tomato

- 1 bag of shredded lettuce

-1 cup of mayo

-1 carton of sour cream

- 1 pkg of taco seasoning

-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

Mix cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, taco seasoning.

Add ground beef and mix

Put shredded cheddar, lettuce and cut up tomatoes on top

Enjoy!

The second dip is Chicken Wing Dip!

Ingredients:

-1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cooked

- 1 bottle of Nancy's buffalo wing sauce or your favorite buffalo sauce!

- 8 oz of cream cheese

- 1 bottle of blue cheese dressing

- 16 oz shredded Mozzarella

Directions:

Cook chicken and shred

Spread cream cheese in 13 x 9 pan

Mix chicken with sauce in a pan on medium heat for 5 minutes

Mix 1/2 mozzarella cheese with chicken and sauce

Spread on top of cream cheese

Spread blue cheese over top

Top with remaining mozzarella

Bake @ 375 for 20 minutes

Serve with tortilla chips!

Please let me know if you try these and enjoy them and if you add anything to them!

Family adventure-visit to Waco, Texas!

 A week before Christmas, my husband surprised me and booked an overnight stay in Waco Texas for the 4 of us! I have been a big Fixer Upper fan for the past 5 years and have always wanted to see the Silos and their new businesses. Living in Northwest Louisiana, we are only about 3.5 hours away from Waco.

We left the Monday before Christmas early and was able to have lunch from one of food trucks at the Silos and sit on the infamous lawn and have a picnic which my kids loved. Then we walked around the shops there. I got a chai tea latte at the Magnolia Press which was worth waiting in line to enjoy. I also had a couple other places I wanted to see that I had seen on their tv show. We were able to see Harp Design Co's building and house they renovated on the show. It wasn't open but even driving by it was nice! Then we stopped at the Magnolia (little shop on Bosque) and looked around at how Chip and Joanna began their journey.

We lucked out and we had beautiful weather that day and enjoyed the sun and mild 60 degree temps. We stayed in a super cute air bnb a couple blocks from the Silos which was great! Tuesday morning we woke up bright and early in hopes of eating breakfast at the infamous Magnolia Table restaurant. I had looked online to make reservations but they were all booked up. We got there at 7am when the doors opened and were able to get a seat and have some delicious breakfast. I had the eggs benedict, my favorite breakfast
dish and it did not disappoint! 

After breakfast we drove around a bit, then headed to the Silos Baking company to get in line for some chocolate chip cookies. They closed early on Monday and we weren't able to stop in then. The bakery is rather small but perfect for a delicious baked good. Our kids were troopers, as well as my husband, as they let me enjoy all the sights Monday and Tuesday morning. We decided that Tuesday before we headed back to Louisiana we would check out the Cameron Park zoo in Waco. It was a bit chilly that day but we all enjoyed seeing the animals up close. I would definitely recommend a visit to Waco, Texas if you are a fan of Chip and Joanna Gaines and the Magnolia brand. It is a trip I will treasure and I'm so glad I was able to experience it with my family.

Here are some photos from our adventure!

Family Yearbooks!

 A couple years ago I decided to reorganize my photos. I had some in albums that had been torn as well as some one different websites (shutterfly, mix). I also had so many on my phone. I came across the idea of a family yearbook and loved it!

I started with 2013, the year our daughter was born, and the first 5 years I was able to make shutterfly books with our favorite photos from those years. The photos were already saved as I used to print all my photos monthly. Instead, I decided to only print out photos that I was going to put in frames instead of using photo albums. I bought some great clear containers from amazon that I filled with photos of each of my kid for their memory boxes as well as for myself and husband. I did declutter some of the photos that were duplicates or scenery of places.

In 2018, I came across the website Artifact Uprising, and loved the look of their photo books. I downloaded their app and chose the template I liked and was able to fill in the book through out the year and then order it in January.

Last year I listened to a podcast that talked about Amazon Photos. I have be an Amazon prime member for 10 years and this was a feature that was free that I hadn't used yet. I downloaded the app and was able to save all my current photos and whatever photos I took going forward.

This is a tradition that I will continue and I think it would be a great gift idea for family members as well. Once I was able to simplify my photo storage on my phone via Amazon photos, chose to only print photos for frames, as well as created the family yearbook, I felt less overwhelmed with all the photos I had and felt more in control of the process.

I have actually tried to not have my camera on as much and started living a little more in the moment instead of trying to document everything which I think my kids enjoy as well!

What I'm eating Wednesday-Meatloaf!

 I have always loved meatloaf! Hot or cold, made by my parents or at a restaurant! I haven't attempted it until now because I was afraid I would be the only one eating it. The week between Christmas and New Years-aka the lost week-I got ambitious and decided to try Magnolia Table cookbook's recipe for meatloaf. 

It did not disappoint and my husband even ate it! Whether it was served warm with a baked potato or cold with ketchup, it was a hit!

Below is the recipe! Let me know if you end up trying it out!

Ingredients

2

tbsp salted butter

1/4-1/2

cups chopped onion

3/2

lb ground beef

1

sleeve saltine crackers

3/2

cups grated cheddar cheese

2

large eggs, beaten

1/2

cup tomato sauce

1

tsp Worcestershire sauce

3/2

tsp salt

1/4

tsp pepper

2

tbsp ketchup

Directions

1.

Preheat oven to 350

2.

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat-low heat. Add the onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

3.

In a large bowl, combine beef, cooled onion, saltine crumbs, cheddar, eggs, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Use your hands to gently mix the ingredients together well blended. Try to keep a light touch and not overwork the mixture.

4.

On a 9x13 inch pan, form the mixture into a loaf and brush it over the top to cover (I used a loaf pan).

5.

Drizzle ketchup down the center of the loaf and brush it over the top to cover

6.

Bake until firm (170 degrees) about 1 hour. (Mine took 1.5 hours in loaf pan). Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

Between the lines-The Four agreements book review

 At the end of 2020, I read The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Miguel Ruiz.  I enjoyed this book thoroughly and ended up finishing it in a day as it is less than 200 pages. This was a book I could see myself reading yearly as a reminder of the four agreements or principles to adopt and live by to free myself from doubt, unhappiness, guilt and loneliness.

The first agreement is to be impeccable with your words. In other words, speak honestly and avoid speaking ill of yourself and others (gossip). Think of your words as a powerful tool for truth and love.

The second agreement is to not take anything personally. In a world of social media messages and text messages, we can easily misinterpret another's language or subtext as abrasive. Understanding that nothing others do is because of you and what they say is a projection of their own reality or dream. The ability to be immune to the opinions and actions of others can save yourself time and unnecessary suffering.

The third agreement is to not make assumptions. Have courage enough to ask a question and communicate clearly to avoid misunderstandings and drama. This can be so hard for those, like myself, who do not like confrontation but it sounds so freeing. To be able to have little to no drama, self induced in that respect, by just asking a question and communicating openly.

The fourth agreement is to always do your best. If you always strive to do your best, no matter your circumstances, you can avoid self-criticism and judgement as well as regret. I have always put very high standards on myself which can be debilitating at times. This agreement with yourself to always do your best can avoid any internal struggles that you may wrestle with.

These four agreements are part of my new years goals but also habits I hope to create permanently in my life going forward.

I would recommend this book to every person. I think it could be a life changing book for those who are looking to be released from self-inflicted drama, regret, and guilt.

2021 goals

 Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and were able to find joy in the little things even if you weren't able to visit with family or your normal traditions felt different.

I chose to focus my goals on my hobbies that I enjoy and that help me battle the anxious and stressful moments that arise.

This year I hope to read two books a week for a total of 104 books in the year.  In 2020, I read 100 books and my goal was 52. Reading, both fiction and non-fiction, brings me joy and peace. 

I hope to run 200 miles this year. After getting back into running in August, I ended up running 85 miles in 5 months. I try to run 3 times a week about 2 miles so I thought 200 was an attainable and motivating goal to set.

Another hobby I enjoy is cooking and baking. This year I hope to try one new recipe a week. I got two new cookbooks for Christmas that I hope to try out some of their recipes.

I hope to continue with my goal from 2020 and write daily gratitude and consistently read the bible. I have been writing daily gratitude since the spring of 2019 and it has brought so much contentment to my life. In 2020, I enjoyed reading different books of the bible and gaining wisdom and increasing my faith.

I'd love to hear about any of your goals or resolutions for the year! In an upcoming book review, I will be diving in deep into some introspection that I hope to consciously work towards this year as well.

What's cooking Wednesday-Southern Sweet Potato Casserole

 This Thanksgiving I decided to try out a new side dish recipe. In the past, I have made thanksgiving dinner for just my husband and I as well as for my kids, who, to be honest, maybe ate a roll, when they were little. One of the traditions I started for Thanksgiving when I got married was having a chocolate dessert. I wasn't the biggest fan of pumpkin or apple pie and I felt like chocolate was needed!My daughter helped me make oatmeal chocolate chip bars for this thanksgiving, which I have shared the recipe for a couple months ago!

I decided to crack open my Magnolia Table volume 2 cookbook by Joanna Gaines and try out her Southern Sweet Potato Casserole. It was a labor of love and a bit time consuming, cooking the sweet potatoes first then combining the other ingredients and then topping it off with marshmallows and corn flakes but it was a crowd pleaser! Below is the recipe and I hope you try it out and enjoy it as much as my family and I have.

Ingredients 

• 5 lbs sweet potatoes
• cooking spray   
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 8 tablespoons butter 1 stick, at room temperature
• 1/3 cup whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Topping

• 1 cup crushed cornflakes
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans
• 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted 1/2 stick
• 2 cups mini marshmallows

Instructions 

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
• For the sweet potatoes: Poke each sweet potato a few times with a fork, wrap them individually in foil, and roast until tender, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove from the oven to cool about 20 minutes. Leave the oven on, but reduce the temperature to 375 degrees. 
• Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• When the sweet potatoes are cool wnough to handle, peel them and place them in a large bowl. Break up the potaotes slightly with a fork. Add the sugar, cream, butter, milk, eggs, vanilla and salt. Using a handheld mixer, whip the potato mixture until well combined, 3-5 minutes. 
• Scrape the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it our evenly.
• For the topping: In a medium bowl, mix together the cornflakes, pecans, brown sugar and melted butter. sprinkle the mixture evenly over the sweet potatoes and bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Turn the oven to broil and position the rack 4 to 5 inches from the broiler element. 
• Sprinkly the marshmallows on top of hte casserole and broil until marshmallows begin to brown and bubble, about 1 minute watching carefully. Serve hot. 
• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. reheat in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes or in a microwave for 3 to 5 minutes.

Five Simple Christmas traditions

 In an effort to keep the holidays stress free as possible, my family and I have chosen a handful of traditions that we do every year to bring holiday spirit and celebrate our faith and family.

We started celebrating with the Jesse Tree a couple years ago and my kids enjoy putting an ornament on our small tabletop tree every day in December and saying a prayer each night as we get closer to Jesus' birthday.

A couple weeks before Christmas we make two types of Christmas cookies and deliver some to our neighbors and friends. We usually always make sugar cookies decorated and then another. This year we made sugar cookie cut out cookies and decorated them as well as million dollar cookies which are a lot of work but are delicious and freeze and thaw out well.

Another tradition we have continued to enjoy each year is driving around and looking at Christmas lights. We have stopped and gotten ice cream some years or cookies to enjoy while driving around our local area.

Decorating gingerbread houses is another fun activity I am looking forward to enjoying this year as the kids are older and may be a bit more independent in their decorating capabilities. Its a simple fun craft activity that gives them something to work on and enjoy!

Watching our favorite Christmas movies is another wonderful tradition that we start December 1. As the kids have gotten older, we have been able to introduce them to our favorite Christmas movies as a kid like Home Alone, The Santa Claus and Elf. I have a couple of my favorites that I enjoy by myself or with my husband such as The Family Stone, Love Actually, The Holiday, Just Friends, and Four Christmases.

Although these five Christmas traditions may not be a big spectacular event, they are something we can do no matter what is going on in the world and where we live and that is something that I think helps my kids and myself as a military family who moves around and sometimes is away from our families at the holidays. It gives us something to look forward to and some stability during this bustling season.

**When my son was born in 2016 we started the tradition of doing a festive event as a family whether it be seeing Santa, Polar Express train ride,  watching the Nutcracker ballet or a movie in the theatre. We enjoyed surprising the kids with these events as a part of their Christmas gift. Unfortunately we aren't able to do this this year, but hopefully in the future we can again because as a minimalist I value experiences over things, when possible. 

I'd love to hear what are some of your family's holiday traditions?