I miss old style blogging...♥

 Hello Friends! Happy Wednesday!  This week is going by very quickly.  I can't believe it's mid week already.  All is good with me as we are getting closer to Friday every minute.  I live for the weekends!

I am looking forward to this weekend because I am seeing my friend Julie on Saturday and we haven't seen each other in several weeks.  It's always lovely to get together and catch up.  On Sunday my cousin and his wife are stopping by for coffee (and something sweet : ). They are a fun couple and we love when they visit.

Anyway, I just got home from work and I made myself a cup of tea. We are having pasta for dinner tonight but I have a little time to rest before I start cooking so I decided to hop on the computer and catch up on some blogs.  I was thinking today about old school blogging.  When I first started my blog in 2012 I followed so many blogs.  It was new and exciting and I met some of the nicest people that I'm still friends with to this day.  Back in the day blogs were real life.  They were relaxed.  Pictures were not curated and no one was trying to build a brand or sell you a product.  We were just a bunch of like minded people sharing our lives.  I guess in some cases that's still true but those blogs are few and far between.  I'm grateful for the ones that are still around because I feel like blogging is becoming a lost art.  I want to go back to the old style, blogging in real time and capturing little everyday moments.  The same goes for Instagram.  Let's bring back capturing real life moments.  A flower, a sunset, a cup of coffee, the view off your back porch.  I don't need to see a full on edited photoshoot or a video of a kitchen that clearly has never been cooked in, but I'd love to see your breakfast or what book you just finished.  If you are reading this then I know you KNOW what I mean.  I have nostalgia for those old blogs and sometimes I wonder what happened to those people.  They just left and never returned.  There is one girl that I can think of....I loved her blog. She stopped blogging in 2017 and I still click on her site every now and then to see if she's updated it. (does anyone know Dawn from May All Seasons Be Sweet to Thee?).  Some of my blogging friends made the switch to just Instagram and although I miss their blogs I'm happy to still be able to see their lives and keep in touch.  I understand blogging isn't for everyone, but this was just something that was on my mind today.  

Here's an unedited picture of my kitchen early in the morning when the sun was coming up.  I don't even think I had had coffee yet so that's why the quality is so bad. But that's real life, friends.  I'm going to try and post more moments like this from now on ♥

Hope you are all having a great week!  Love you and stay cozy!!! xo 

Thoughts on Blogs...♥

My dear friend BJ at Afternoon Coffee and Evening Tea did a post the other day on "getting to know your blog friends" and she listed 10 facts about herself.  She invited her readers to list facts about themselves in the comments.  It was so much fun to read the responses! I love posts like that because they are so relatable.  Although we are all different, living in different locations, dealing with different life circumstances, and even in different stages of our lives, in some ways we are the same.  

I guess that's what brings us together and we share our lives here because of it. It's a hard thing to explain to people who don't understand blogs (I get it...the internet can be scary), but if you're reading this then I know you get me! We are more alike that you think : ) 

Anyway back to BJ....we met through our blogs. The funny thing is by the time we met in person (in Disney World in 2018) we had already been talking and sharing our lives with each other for years prior. Kind of like pen pals, but better. I felt like I already knew her family and she knew mine.  We clicked instantly and have been besties ever since.  I love reading friendship stories like mine and BJ's.  There are so many. How lucky we all are.  And had it not been for our little old blogs, we never would have known each other.  How wonderful is that?! 

I always say it's the little things in life that mean the most.  I'm grateful for this little blog and all the friends I've made here.  It breaks my heart a little that people don't blog as much as they used to. I hope it comes back into fashion again someday.  I'm sure I'll still be here, rambling on about this or that. When the world gets too much and I just can't stand the news anymore, it brings me peace to know you are all out there and I can catch up with you. We can talk recipes, family, decorating, movies, weather, anything at all.  I have never once regretting time spent reading blogs.  I love seeing your lives and sharing your days. The good, the bad, and sometimes (although not too often) the ugly.  It happens. 

If you've been here a while I'll bet you know I love Lucy, coffee, comfy slippers, and desserts. Whenever John catches me snapping a picture of my breakfast he says "mom, does anyone even care what your bagel looks like?" and I proudly say "yes they do!" 

So anyway, I just want to say thanks for being here ♥

Stay cozy friends and have a wonderful day!  

xoxox

I had the best week! ♥

 Good Morning Friends!  ♥

I am currently sipping coffee in my cozy bed with my laptop.  I've been absent on here the past week because we have been traveling!  Rob, John, and I had a wonderful time visiting our dear friends in Pennsylvania.  BJ and I met on this very blog....or was it her blog...we can't remember and it really doesn't matter.  All that matters is through the wonderful world of blogging I met a life long friend what I will forever be grateful for! 

We even coordinated our outfits....not planned : ) 

It's about a 10 hour drive from Boston and I would do it again in a minute to be able to spend time with BJ and her family in their beautiful lake house.  They are so hospitable and I felt like I was in my own home.  We laughed, played games, drank coffee on the deck in our pj's, and laughed some more.  There were trivia games, rides in the boat, tubing and jet skiing (which John is still talking about!:) movie watching, candy eating, and they even had an early celebration for my birthday.  It was so much fun and I will hold these memories in my heart forever! 

One day we went for lunch at a tea room.  It was darling and I'm still thinking about the blackberry & cream coffee I had.  Soooo good! But what made it even better was the company.  I have found my people : ) 

If you know BJ or have ever read her blog you know she's all about home, cozy, family, and celebrations.  We were lucky enough to come during one of her favorites....shark week!  I have to say I did well at shark week trivia!  We had an absolute blast! 

I adore these two! 

That view! 

best buddies : ) 

Shark week festivities! : ) 

My spot...dog on my lap not pictured ♥

Our room for the week. She knows me so well ♥ 

My birthday party! That cake was delicious!!! 

We arrived Wednesday and left early Sunday morning.  It went by too fast. I had tears in my eyes as we drove away. We weren't even at the end of their street when we decided next time we have to stay longer! :)  

It's hard having friends that live far away.  But the good thing is there is always something to look forward to.  We have already begun planning our return ♥

You can visit BJ's beautiful blog HERE 

Get yourself a cup of cozy and stay awhile ♥

 Have a wonderful week friends! Today I'm grocery shopping and catching up on life.  Back to work tomorrow and counting the days until the next vacation.  But first...more coffee please : ) 

Byeeeeee ! : ) 

Hello December! ♥

Well Hello December! ♥

Just because I'm working from home doesn't mean I can't put on a pretty Christmas sweater and have a little fun.  A gift from a special friend that really made my day!  We all need little pick-me-ups these days and this one did it for me.  

  I hope this month brings you peace, love, and joy.  The truth is it's not always easy is it?  I'm well aware of that.  The holidays are not the best times for everyone. Especially these days. I look at where I was this time last year and my circumstances are gravely different.  Life is like that.  I hope by next year I'll be celebrating with friends and family, passing eggnog, and exchanging gifts in the Christmas grab.  

For now I'll continue shopping online and trying to make up new traditions that our family can enjoy while we are housebound.  It's ok.  We are ok.  I'm thankful for this little blog of mine because I can connect with all of you.  This time of year I so enjoy seeing your stories, your homes, and your traditions.  Blogging is and has always been a gift to me ♥

Happy December Friends.  Let's not put too much pressure on ourselves this month.  

Remember.... 

It's so true ♥

 

Have a cozy day! 

Kindred Spirits ♥

We can't remember if it were Instagram or our blogs but somewhere along the road, several years ago,  Billie Jo and I met online.  We started leaving comments on each others posts which lead to emails, which lead to us meeting for the first time last year in Disney World.  From the first moment of us meeting face to face I knew I was meeting my life long friend.  And not only that, our families got along together as much as we did!  

This past weekend Billie Jo and her amazing family hosted Rob, John, and I for 3 whole days! 

We had the best time doing what we love most...just being together!  We laughed, told stories, watched TV in our comfy clothes, made s'mores (which were epic! :) and drank a lot of coffee!  

They treated us like part of the family.  I felt it everywhere!  ♥

We were totally spoiled by their beautiful home!  

I mean....look at this deck!  So lovely and comfortable!  ♥

They boys had as much fun as the girls!!  

We also ate some really great food!!!  I only thought to photograph this delicious breakfast.  I should have taken more photos of Steve's steak dinner and famous omelets.... which were totally blog worthy!  I guess I was too busy eating!  That's a good thing! ♥

On Monday all of us spent the afternoon at Del Grosso's Amusement Park - a yearly tradition for them that they let us horn in on!  It was SO MUCH FUN!  

I had the best lemonade I've ever had! 

Rides, famous food, games, cotton candy, and more laughs! 

I love this picture of me and Madison!!! ♥

Some of us did thrill rides and some of us sat on benches in the shade, ate ice cream, and talked. 

We got home that night tired, but full of memories that will last a lifetime! 

Sadly, on Tuesday we had to say goodbye.  As you can see, my new friends Mocha and Kirby were sad to see us go.... : ) 

♥

With tears in my eyes I hugged my friends goodbye and headed home.  We can't thank you enough for such a wonderful time and we are so grateful for your hospitality! It's not easy to find lasting friends and kindred spirits these days.  I feel so blessed to have this family in my life!  

Thank you Billie Jo and the Stoltz family!!!  We miss you all so much!!!  ♥

You can visit Billie Jo's lovely blog here and also her daughter Madison's blog here.   

♥

Have a great day everyone!!! Remember to enjoy the little things in life.  They are the most important!