Hello from the Arctic Circle! ♥

Hello Lovely Friends and Happy February! ♥

I am so happy it's February because it means January is over and we are one month closer to spring! I have always loved winter my entire life, but to be completely honest with you, this winter has slowly been killing me.  It's so cold!!!!  It warmed up to a balmy 33 degrees today and I actually felt relief in the air.  We've been lingering in the teens for days. That's how cold it's been.  Now I know why snowbirds exist.  Why freeze to death when you can go to Florida in the winter?!

 Sadly, that's not me yet, but maybe someday.

Anyway, enough of my complaining! 

(that's a lie and I apologize in advance...this post is full of complaining :) 

I pinned this cute picture sometime in December and have been saving it to post in February.  I thought it was so cozy and cute and cheery and just we need right now in the dead of winter.  

Not only does February mean we are getting closer to spring (even though that dang groundhog saw his shadow :(  it also means Valentines Day is coming ...which means chocolate and hearts and a bunch of other things I love. 

 I'll try to focus on that during this thankfully short month (there I go again!). ♥

 

If you've been wondering where I've been, the answer is.... right here.  

Buried in snow ♥

We had a big storm last week that left us 20 inches deep.  The weather man said it's the biggest snow fall we've had in the Boston area in 4 years.  

I believe it and I kind of forgot what it was like.  

The worst part wasn't the storm, it's after that because it's been so cold that everything is frozen.  What you see here is rock solid.  

Today has been the first day we've seen sun and it's glorious ♥

The snow is starting to melt because every once in a while I hear big clumps sliding off the roof.  

I haven't seen a squirrel or bunny in days. They are smart and staying warm. In the early mornings I do hear the birds chirping.  I image they are also complaining about the cold and how they can't wait for spring. 

So that's pretty much all of January!  Just me under the frozen tundra! Drinking coffee, reading my book under a blanket, and trying to stay warm.  I'm a bit anxious with all the snow because this is also the first year of my life where I've had a teenage son who drives in it.  He's not the least bit concerned, which concerns me!  Moms, how did you do it?  If I have to say "drive slowly" one more time....Lord have mercy! 

However....there was a bight spot!  Last weekend we celebrated Rob's birthday which was really nice.  We went for a cozy breakfast at one of our favorite places with my in-laws.  We love going out to breakfast and for some reason it's extra nice in the winter. Anyway, it was yummy.  We ended up having dinner in (his request!). I made cheeseburgers and we ended the evening with a heart shaped chocolate cake. Of course, the best part ♥

So far February is off to a good start.  My Dad had two doctors' appointments this week. Both went extremely well, so I'm grateful for that. Yay 2026!  

We've had the house cleaned and is all ready for paint.  We're just waiting on our painter's availability, which hopefully will be soon.  I can't wait to get that done and over with.  Patience, I tell myself.  Patience. 

If you are reading this from a warm climate just know I am so jealous of you! If you are frozen like I am, we'll get though this!  Spring is coming!  Let's plan our gardens and summer vacations now.  It's always nice to have something to look forward to ♥

Stay cozy my friends!  Be back soon! xo 

Happy New Year! ♥

Hello my lovely friends and happy new year!!! ♥

Thank you for bearing with me as I quietly enjoy these early days of January.  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are doing the same!  Even though Christmas was less than a month ago, doesn't it seem ages ago?! Not a trace of it remains around here : )  

We had such a nice holiday this year.  So much better than last year.  My Dad was healthy and in good spirits.  We all went to a beautiful Christmas eve mass and then to my brother in laws for dinner and games. On Christmas day we were home.  I cooked a roast beef dinner and apple pie for dessert.  We watched A Christmas Story (a few times!) and I was in my slippers all day! Our last few Christmases were plagued with people being sick or even in the hospital.  I was so relived and grateful not to have had that experience this year. Gratitude was what I felt the entire day. 

 That weekend I cleaned and put almost everything away.  I really do enjoy that process because the house feels so much more open once all the Christmas decor is packed away.  I can breathe again. It's like a whole new house! LOL  

New years eve was quiet, but I like it that way.  And now we are almost 2 weeks into the new year already!  I've had a bit of a cold but thankfully nothing too terrible.  Just a sniffle and an annoying tickle in my throat that won't go away, but if that's the worst thing than I'm ok with it.  Nothing a little hot tea with honey can't solve.  

The weather here has been cold so we've been hunkered down, staying inside watching movies and I've been doing a lot of reading.  This is why I love January.  There is no guilt spending the day on the couch reading a book because what else is there to do?!  At least that's what I tell myself, anyway!  

Like most of us my mind has been racing with a list of things to do in the new year.  Oh, I have so many ideas.  Most of the time, none of them leave the couch!  However, one thing that I'm very excited for is that we decided to paint our kitchen and living room!!!  This is something that's been needed for a very long time.  We were thinking of doing it in the spring, but with all the dust and soot from our woodburning stove building up, we decided not to order any more wood for the season and instead, clean and paint!  I'm so happyyyyyy!  There is nothing like a fresh coat of paint to brighten up a room.  Honestly, between you, me, and the lamp post, I didn't think this was on our "priority list" for a long time so I want to hurry up and get it done before all parties involved change their minds! LOL

We spent last Saturday morning a Lowes picking out colors and getting samples.  The final verdict is going to be a sage green with white trim. I'm thinking of doing yellow accents (think lemons).  The cabinets are oak, and I think those colors will feel warm and inviting. The kitchen is still very 90's but I do love it and don't want to change it too much.  I'm hoping by Valentines Day (which is not that far away!) all this will be done.  As you know, I hate to disrupt my boring routine with any kind of chaos (even good chaos) so hoping this process is quick and painless. 

Fingers crossed! ♥

At with that I enter 2026.  I'm not putting any pressure on myself these days.  Who knows what this year will bring.  I just say my prayers we all stay healthy, safe, happy, and of course, cozy!!!

Have a wonderful day, friends! ♥

I'm grateful to be entering another year of us sharing our lives together on this little online space! 

XO   

Monday Morning ♥

 

Hello Lovely Friends! ♥

Here we are at another Monday already.  The week is off to a cold start in my neck of the woods.  I lit the fire all by myself this morning.  My second time ever doing in and I think it was a success since it's warm as toast in here and I have all my heat shut off.  Yay.  I'm working at my kitchen table this morning because with the fire going, it's the coziest spot in the house. 

 I have to food shop tomorrow and you know how it is the day before food shop day....old Mother Hubbard's cupboard is bare! I took a quick look in the pantry, and I saw a can of crushed pineapple, so I whipped up a little coffee cake for breakfast to enjoy by the fire.  Hey, we work with what we have, right?!  It turned out very good and I will link the recipe below (another Pinterest success story!).  

The rest of the day I'll be seated right here, working away on my laptop and keeping warm.  It's going to be a busy week with lots more adulting (boo) but I'll try to find bits of joy tucked in there somewhere.  Fingers crossed.  Also, Friday is Rob's birthday so I need to start planning for that. 

Have a great day friends! 

I have to put another log on the fire and get some work done.  What are your Monday plans? 

Stay cozy! ♥

PS I made that "old Mother Hubbard" reference to John yesterday and he had NO IDEA what I was talking about.  I'm really getting old.  Maybe I AM old Mother Hubbard! : ) 

pineapple coffee cake  🍍

Friday Photos ♥

Hello from the artic circle!  ♥

It's been so cold here this week! (the temperature this morning read 16 degrees!) I'm currently wearing two cardigan sweaters and feeling cozy, but oh my is it cold out! We are certainly in the dog days of winter here in New England.  Thankfully today, despite the cold temps, the sun is shining.  It's so nice to see some rays of sunshine coming in through the window.  There is still tons of snow on the ground.  It's frozen solid now.  It's very "crunchy" walking around outside. 

So how was your week?  Mine went very well and was productive.  I got all my errands done on Tuesday and I'm happy to have gotten my doctor appointment over with.  The rest of the week I worked, paid bills, cleaned, did laundry, ect.  I was "adulting" hard, which is never fun but always feels good with things get checked off the to-do list.  I'm happy it's Friday! Rob has tomorrow off.  We are going out for coffee to my favorite coffee shop in the morning and then spending a relaxing weekend recharging our batteries.  It's going to be too cold to do anything else! I'm craving a pot of homemade soup (and bread) so that will be on the agenda tomorrow as well! 

Today I thought I'd share a few pictures of things that made me happy this week.  Just little snippets of things that brought me joy and corners of my home.  It's cold and chaotic out there.  I much prefer it in here....♥

 

YAY for sunshine! ♥

Happy to see signs of life.  Spring is coming! ♥

Our cozy back room ♥

There is no TV in this room which is nice when you want to read or gaze out at the river. 

 My mom painted this table many years ago  ♥

A cozy reading chair ♥

A Christmas gift that I'll be using all year! LOL 

Getting ready for Valentine's Day. More to come ♥

I read this book every winter for inspiration ♥

Another Christmas gift that I love! ♥

Currently in my bedroom...♥

This was my mom's.  

I put it on my nightstand.  

I wish I was a hat person, or I would be wearing it ♥

Pretty things ♥

Books that make me happy.  Dreaming of faraway places ♥

And finally back to the kitchen...

Plants are doing well this winter!

Another Christmas gift from a faraway friend!  ♥

No need to put away any snowman decor just yet! 

I hope you all had a nice week and are doing something you love this weekend.  Whether it be out and about or just staying home and watching a movie.  You know where I'll be! 

Stay cozy friends! Thanks for visiting today! 

Byeeeee! Xx

It snowed! ♥

Hello Friends and happy Monday!  It snowed last night.  Our first proper snow of the year. 

I love seeing the snow when it first falls.  It's light and fluffy and looks like little cotton balls on the trees.  This snow reminds me of Christmas snow.  The snow I wish for on Christmas but never get during the holidays, but it's just as well because in December I probably wouldn't have appreciated it or even noticed like I am now.  

I do love a good snow.  Especially on a Monday holiday when I'm home and don't have to drive in it and ESPECIALLY when Rob is home as well.  He's the expert shoveler/snowblower, clean off the cars guy of my dreams! Yay!  

It's really cold today and it's expected to get colder so whatever is left on the ground will turn to ice if we (he:) doesn't get it right away.  I'm thankful to be inside keeping warm and enjoying it from my frosty window with a hot coffee and blanket over my legs. I made us oatmeal for breakfast and that was a wise decision.

 I think about all the little animals (especially the bunnies) that are somehow keeping warm under all of this, but I guess they know how so I shouldn't worry.  I think about what flowers I want to plant in the spring and how wonderful it is that our rose bushes will bloom once again. I'm looking forward to spring.  

 

Cotton balls ♥

I worked from home today.  I watched the inauguration, did some laundry, and listened to a podcast. Not bad for a Monday.  I washed all of our bedding this afternoon and I'm so looking forward to going to bed tonight.  Is there anything better than a fresh set of sheets and fluffy blankets right out of the dryer? Especially on a cold winter's night.  I don't think so.  I'll be heading off to bed early tonight. Dreamland here I come! 

I wanted the house to smell good so I decided to make some sauce. It's amazing what you can do with peppers, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and a few seasonings.  It's bubbling on the stove right now.  Tonight we'll have a yummy bolognaise for dinner.  

Heavenly ♥  

And that's my snowy Monday.  How was your day?

Stay warm and cozy my friends! I have tomorrow off run errands and go to a doctor's appointment.  Let's see how much I still love the snow when I'm out and about in it.  I'll report back! LOL

Xx 

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