10 Days to go...♥

Hello Lovely Friends! ♥ 

 It's exactly 10 day until Christmas! It's coming fast!  As far as preparations go, I'm in pretty good shape.  How about you? 

This weekend I finished up all my wrapping, wrote out a few cards, and started to plan our Christmas dinner menu.  It's going to be simple this year.  I just love simple.  

And the older I get, I love it more and more ♥

 On Sunday we had our first snow.  

I woke up to everything being covered in white.  

It snowed off and on all day.  Not really amounting to much, but just enough to give everything and icy dusting.  

Today it's freezing cold and it's all frozen over ♥

Winter is here! Brrrrr.......♥

Rob and I were up and out early for 7:30 mass and then we went for a cozy breakfast at a local spot.  7:30 (am!) mass on a Sunday morning is not always easy (I'm being honest) but I'm always happy once I'm there.  It's such a nice way to start the day - and the week.  

Once home I did some cleaning and lit a new candle that I picked up on whim from CVS!  

I thought it was so cute and smells divine! :)

I wanted something sweet, so I made a quick batch of Toll House chocolate chip cookies! ♥

Yes, premade dough in a tube and I don't regret it.  It's the best! 

(...and such a time and mess saver- you don't even need a bowl! :)

I spent the afternoon wrapping gifts like one of Santa's elves while snowflakes blew by the windows, stopping only for a hot chocolate to go with my cookies.  

While the rest of the family was watching football and napping, I was determined to get it all done...and I did! 

YAY ♥

I often think about what it was like when John was little.  So many packages to wrap.  Lots of toys with batteries, cars, trains (tons of trains!), and action figures. Visits to see Santa, Christmas shows, rides in our PJ's to see lights, baking cookies for Santa, the elf on the shelf....every night! How did I find the energy to do it all?! I loved every minute of it!  However, I'm so happy and content with where we are now and Christmas's are just as fun and joyous as they ever were.  Go figure! Yes it's different.  But different doesn't mean bad.  It's actually very good.  And I get to sleep in! (so there's a bright side to everything!) 

I hope all your preparations are going well! Try to enjoy these next 10 days. It's OK if everything doesn't get done.  It's ok if you're house isn't fully decorated or if you don't get to the post office in time.  People understand.  And that's not what Christmas is supposed to be anyway.

I think the next 10 days are the most exciting of the entire season and the best way to spend them is sitting around the tree doing absolutely nothing...well, you know what I mean! 

Have a lovely, festive day! ♥

Stay cozy!!! xo 

Christmas time is here! ♥

Hello Friends! Happy Monday! ♥

I don't know about you, but I find nothing more peaceful than drinking my morning coffee in front of the Christmas tree. Especially on a Monday!  This was me this morning. I wish I could have stayed there all day : ) 

I hope you all had a nice weekend.  Mine was good.  I took Friday off and was able to get some Christmas shopping done. Yay!  

But before I tell you about that, let's take a peek outside...

We haven't had any substantial snow yet, but it sure is cold.  

The back river was frozen. 

It was like this all weekend. 

 

It will slowly thaw as the day goes on, but the mornings are very frigid! 

Ok....back inside! 

Mr. & Mrs. Santa have arrived to their spot on the kitchen table!

I got these little salt & pepper shakers years ago and they are seriously my favorite thing ever! 

They are so darling! ♥

And my little caroler family of three! ♥

A gift from my mother-in-law.  They remind me of me, Rob, and John!  

Except Rob doesn't have a mustache and would never wear that outfit, but I like to kid him anyway! LOL

So anyway....♥

Friday I did a marathon day of Christmas shopping.  I had a list and one by one, checked things off. Yahoo!

In between malls and chains, I was able to stop by the most adorable craft fair! It was in a garden center and practically everything was handmade.  I was in heaven! 

My mother would have LOVED this ♥

I picked up a few gifts (and a few things for myself too!) and it was the highlight of my day. 

After that it was hot coffee and soup by a fire at the cutest restaurant called The Yellow Deli in Plymouth, MA. 

It was so cozy!! ♥

 

And the soup came with warm bread and butter! 

YUMMMMM

One of the treats I picked up for myself at the craft fair were two vintage christmas postcards.  The woman said they are actual postcards that someone donated.  She embellishes them and sells them as ornaments.  

Look how pretty...♥

 

But the best part is the writing on the back.  

This one is postmarked 1909! ♥

Edna is wishing her Grandmom and Grandpop in Philadelphia a Merry Christmas! 

And this one I had to have...♥

1922! Are you kidding me?!

 

Ruth is wishing Mabel in Middleboro, MA a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  

I couldn't resist it.  I just love stuff like this.  Merry Christmas to me : ) 

On Saturday Rob, John, and I went out again to pick up a few things I missed on Friday.  One Amazon cart later and I'm pretty much done with the shopping.  Fa la la la.....! 

Today I'm working by the fire and the light of the Christmas tree.  That should keep the stress levels down a bit! I've got laundry going downstairs and coffee brewing in the kitchen behind me.  I think it will be a pajama all day, kind of day.  

Have a happy Monday, friends - and great start to your week! ♥

Merry Merry!! xx 

Happy December 1st! ♥

Hello Friends! Happy December 1st! ♥

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving weekend! My preparations started on Wednesday. I was a busy bee in the kitchen all day, doing everything I could ahead of time. I put on my mother's apron, put an old movie on, and did my thing. I enjoyed the process, nice and slow - with Carey Grant & Loretta Young in the background (The Bishop's Wife - one of my favorites!) keeping me company.  That lead to White Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life after that.  I was truly feeling the old timey spirit by that point! 

 

The table was set the night before - I used my mother's china and nothing too fancy elsewhere. For me, it was perfect. 

The morning of I concentrated on the getting the turkey in the oven, mashing the potatoes (which I did with a ricer for the first time - LOVE), and making the appetizers.  

♥

Once everything was ready, there was nothing else left to do but eat and enjoy the day.  

Which we did! ♥

Isn't it the best feeling when all the work is done?  

It's out of your hands now and all you can do is relax ♥

Rob poured the drinks, my brother-in-law carved the turkey, my Dad said grace, and John was in charge of music. 

It's so weird to me when I think about all the Thanksgivings of my childhood where my mom prepared everything...and now...I'm the mom! At 51 that still amazes me ♥

My sister-in-law brought the pies (which I forgot to photograph).  

They were delicious!  ♥

We played some games after that and John even treated us to some live music.

I was happy and grateful my Dad was feeling well everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.  All dishes were done before the end of the night (thanks to Rob :).  

I was able to take a walk around the neighborhood by myself to digest and decompress after everyone left.  I was happily in bed by 10.  

Another Thanksgiving in the books! ♥

(I promise you there's turkey in there somewhere! )

Side note: I was very glad I put up my parent's tree early so we could all enjoy it Thanksgiving eve. 

There is something very special about pie and coffee with the glow of the Christmas tree in the background.  What a nice way to kick off the (official) Christmas season!

We have arrived! ♥

I haven't done one stitch of shopping yet, and that's OK.  

I'm noticing as the years go on, my list of priorities is getting smaller.  Smaller and more meaningful, if that makes sense.  I no longer do things "just to do them." I only do things that are important to me.  I only buy meaningful gifts for people I love, and I do make sure I prioritize myself, so I don't get sick and run down (like in the past).  Once I accepted these things, I felt a huge weight lifted from the holiday stress.  It doesn't have to be stressful.  And it won't be. The house doesn't have to perfect, and neither do I. 

Thank God!! ♥

 

And now here we are ♥

December 1st.  It was very cold and bare out there this morning.  Most of the leaves have fallen and I can smell winter in air.  We are expecting snow tomorrow! 

Yesterday I put up my tree upstairs. 

I love this tree ♥

It has all my favorite ornaments on it. 

I smile every time I look at it :) 

So now off we go friends! Christmas movies and cozy nights by the fire.  Crowed stores and Amazon deliveries.  Wrapping, baking, visiting, writing cards, and reminiscing about holidays gone by.  Celebrations and delicious food we only see once a year! : ) 

We have 25 days to celebrate! 

Let's enjoy it and never forget the real meanings of this glorious season ⛪

Have a wonderful day my friends!  Are you still eating leftovers? We are! :) 

I'll be checking in with you all soon! xx 

Stay cozy!! ♥

It's 2025! Let's Catch up ♥

Hello Friends! Long time no see! I did not expect to be away so long, but days turned into weeks and now here we are - mid January! Rest assured, all is well.  Life has been hectic and I've been busy, but things are starting to slow down now and I can finally start to breathe again.  The weather has been freezing cold, but isn't it so pretty?

As I type this post Christmas seems like a lifetime ago (and a bit of a blur to be honest with you.) Didn't is seem to go by way too fast? I think it was because Thanksgiving was so late and we had so little time to do all the things before Christmas.  I was at the bank this morning having this same conversation with the teller and she told me that next year Thanksgiving is also late, but this time I'll be prepared for it! And God-willing won't have pneumonia in November like I just did. That did not help my situation at all : )

Anyway, let me give you a quick catch up.  December was nuts. Mainly because Rob and I purchased my Dad's house (the house I currently live in and is my childhood home).  We are the official owners now which is great and a huge relief for my Dad.  We've taken that responsibility off his plate now and he can be happy as can be in his cozy chair and do whatever he pleases.  For us, it meant lots of paperwork and forms and everything else that is involved in buying a house. Thankfully, everything went well, we're up and running, and I'm so happy that part is behind us.  The house needs some updating and we're slowly chipping away at it - room by room - trying to enjoy the process.  Put that on top of Christmas and all that goes with it - decorating, shopping, wrapping, and just trying to enjoy the holiday season, AND working a full-time job.  It was also a constant reminder that it was the first one without my mom and that felt very very different.  December was a rollercoaster of emotions. 

My Dad hadn't been well leading up to Christmas. I was so worried he'd be in the hospital for Christmas.  I just felt something coming (hoping I was going to be wrong). It was a relief he wasn't in on Christmas day, but December 26th I had to take him to the ER.  He was admitted and was in for 5 days.  He needed a blood transfusion for a pre-existing condition, he had a bunch of tests run, and a small procedure that ended up being very beneficial (that he should have had months ago, but I won't go into the healthcare system and my feelings on it...because I'm trying to be positive here :)                    

He came home on New Years Eve day and has been feeling better ever since. Thank you, God! I'm sure many of you have experienced what I'm going through - having a parent or family member who is elderly, and you constantly worry about them - back and forth from the doctors and hospital all the time - it's a lot.  I'm very grateful when we have good days. 

SO that's where I've been.  But now I'm back! As I said earlier, Christmas seems like a lifetime ago, but I can't go without sharing some pictures of a lovely Christmas lunch my mother-in-law hosted the Sunday before Christmas.  It was definitely my favorite day of this holiday season.  It was so cozy and relaxed, and I loved it.  

 

I wish I could go back and relive this day again because it was that nice.  I also wish I could eat the meal again! I'm looking forward to next year! 

The week between Christmas and New Years was the week my Dad was in the hospital. By the time he came home on New Years Eve we were ready to have a cozy night in and a very good sleep! We all needed it.  It's a miracle I made it to midnight, but I did! I'm happy to leave 2024 behind and start fresh in 2025~! 

But before I wrap up Christmas with a bow, I just quickly wanted to share with you the most lovely gift I received from my mother in law.  This perfume is my new favorite thing in the world.

She picked it up in October while vacationing in Capri, Italy (but assured me it's available on Amazon if I run out!).  I'm honestly in love with it! It smells like the most perfect spring day.  I've been wearing it every day since it was gifted to me : ) 

And now on to 2025! 

So normally I'm not one for New Years resolutions, however I do like a good starting point and I always think that Jan 1st is a good time to begin something new.  I made a little list off the top of my head of "goals" for the new year.  I posted this on Instagram on January 1st.

So far (14 days in :) I'm doing pretty good.  I'm trying to get out everyday day and walk, even in the bitter cold.  I don't mind bundling up and the fresh air always makes me feel good.  I'm trying to be better about meal planning and making more things from scratch.  I want to be better and keeping up with friends and writing letters, accepting help when needed, and being more positive in my life.  I'm definitely glass-half-empty girl and that's no good for anyone.  Being more mindful of my spending, shopping small business, and going to thrift shops...something I do really enjoy, I just need to set aside time to do it.  That's just a handful of things I have been thinking about and trying to improve. Did you set any goals for the new year? 

On Sunday I made this bread recipe I found on Pinterest.  It came out delicious and only took 2 hours to rise.  If you want to jump into bread making, I highly suggest this recipe.  I've got another loaf rising right now. 

(recipe here)

I also made my mom's sour cream coffee cake which made the house smell like she was in the kitchen baking, and it was like a great big hug.   

(recipe here)

And now as I ease into the new year, I'm enjoying quiet days at home.  

I've always loved January for that reason.  After all the hustle and bustle of December I feel like we can all recharge our social batteries.

It's been FREEZING cold here and I've been loving being more aware of nature and all its beauty. 

 My walks are helping that.  I'm looking forward to seeing everything come back to life in spring. 

My Christmas cactus is blooming for the first time in years.  Yay! 

And despite the bitter the cold, we have sunshine.  Thank goodness for that!

A little sign spring will be here soon.  

*fun fact I thought this plant was dead so seeing this little flower blooming was very exciting! lol*

I live a very quiet and small life and it's my intention to keep it that way.  I'll do little things each day to be good to myself and I hope you do the same. 

Just like the flowers....we rest and then we bloom.....hopefully....♥

I hope you all had a very happy Christmas and New Year (I hope it's not too late to say that!!).  

Happy Tuesday my lovely friends. 

Stay cozy and enjoy the sunshine if you can find it ♥

XOXO