Happy May! What's up for the week? ♥

Hello Lovely Friends! Happy Monday and happy MAY! I have moved my office to the back porch this morning because it's so beautiful out.  It's just me and birds and I couldn't be happier.  My Dad still thinks it's "too chilly" to be out here, but since it's 70 degrees (??!!) I'm just dandy with it! 

We had a very nice weekend that went by too quickly like most weekends do.  On Saturday we had some friends over for a pizza game night, that ended up being more pizza (and Kentucky Derby watching!) than actual game playing, but it was a great time.  I made the pizzas which was super fun. Our friends supplied the apps and desserts.  I didn't get to bed until midnight which hasn't happened in ages! ♥

On Sunday we went to my sister in laws for my niece's 2nd birthday party.  She always does a beautiful job hosting! (She's hosting Mother's Day on Sunday as well!). We had a great time with family! After the party I came home, got into some comfy clothes and took a nice rest before dinner.  I had to get a little self care in there too : )  

** Me after an unusual amount of socializing in one weekend! LOL **

♥

And now here we are on Monday morning already.  I have lots of work to do this week and hopefully if the weather stays cooperative (which I'm hearing it will, for the next few days anyway) I'll be doing it from this spot.  I just made my to-do list for the week.  It includes a dental appointment, a few errands, bills to pay, blah, blah, blah.  Real life stuff that mostly stresses me out. I've been getting so stressed over the littlest things lately.  I must work on that.  So, my plan for the week is one day at a time, one task at a time, and try not to worry about things I can't control (Amen!).

It's May so I'll focus on all the lovely things about Spring.  It's finally time for to make that trip to the nursery with my iced coffee and get some flowers for the front garden.  I'm also thinking about taking a ride to a local farm for strawberry picking on Saturday.  I did it a few years ago and loved it.  If not picking, I'll at least visit the farmers market.  That atmosphere always lifts my spirits. Wish we could all go together ♥

Also lots of walks, water for hydration, good food, and rest. I would like to take at least one walk on the beach this week.  I feel I need to inhale some salty ocean air and it's finally warm enough (although not according to my Dad :) to do that.  

Yup - so happy May, my friends! What's on your weekly agenda? ♥

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I also have few letters to write because some of you reached out to be pen pals! I couldn't be happier and it will certainly be a bright spot in my week.  YAY!  I'm so thankful for this space and the friends I'm connecting with.  It truly means the world to me, so thank you!!!  

I also LOVED reading your comments on my last post ♥

Have a lovely day! I hope the sun is shining on you today!  Talk soon! xo 

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas ♥

 

 

Saturday was a good day.  We decorated for Christmas!

 

When we moved here in September I buried all my Christmas decorations in my parents attic.  The holidays seemed so far away.  And now all of a sudden, it's here.  Saturday morning up I went into the attic and dug everything out.  I was so happy to see my things!  They feel extra special to me now because we have a history.  They've traveled with me.

 

John and I stayed in our pj's all day, listening to Christmas music and decorating ♥

 

 

 

 

 

 

We decorated our big tree and also a little one in John's room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The antique ornaments are my favorite.  I don't even know how many Christmas's this one has seen.  It's much older than I am ♥

 

 

 

 

 

 

It feels festive around here now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Christmas village arrived at it's new home safe and sound.

 

I remember telling Rob on moving day to be extra careful with this bucket because there were breakables inside.  ("very FRAGILE" I said : ) 

He did a good job.  Not one causality.

 

Whew!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love twinkle lights!

 

These are the ones that used to hang around my kitchen window.  I love them! The glow makes the room feel warm, especially during the darkness of morning ♥

 

 

 

 

 

Kisses to keep warm : )

 

 

 

 

Hope ♥

 

It felt so good to check "decorating" off my weekly list!  Sunday we enjoyed a leisurely morning and then John and I went out for a few hours to do some Christmas shopping.  The roads were busy for a Sunday and the stores were crowded.  I guess it's going to be that way for a while.  I'm glad I'm almost done with my shopping!

 

I took 5 minutes this morning and made my weekly to do list.  Here's what's on the agenda for the week:

 

dentist appointment Monday

Walmart/CVS run

start wrapping (a little each night)

prepare packages that are going to be shipped

pick up Christmas cards at Walgreens

make blueberry muffins (John's request)

walk 10 minutes a day - on lunch break

continue with my lemon water in morning  : )

laundry & switch to winter bedding

make time to READ! I got 2 books at the library today

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's been cold but we haven't had any snow yet. Rumor has it that we may see some flurries tonight. 

John is in need for new boots this season. Hopefully I won't have to add that to this weeks list!

(not yet anyway....♥ )  

 

Happy Monday, loves!  I'm off to Make coffee and read a chapter of my book. 

 

Wishing you a week of warm glowing lights and holiday feels.....xo

 

 

Weekly to do list ♥

Hello Friends!

Another week gone by.  Where does the time go?  Thanksgiving is this Thursday!!!!  I'm so excited because Thanksgiving is for real, my favorite meal of the year.  I love the turkey and stuffing, sweet potatoes, squash, cranberry sauce....the whole nine yards! I wait all year for it.  This holiday is all about family and eating.  What could be better? 

This past week was a good one.  On Friday night I took John to see Wonder. Have you seen it yet? If you haven't, pleeeeeease go see it.  It was absolutely wonderful! John and I read the book over the summer as part of his summer reading.  We loved the book and were looking forward to the movie adaption.  It did not disappoint us. It's such a heartwarming story. I cried happy/sad tears the whole way through.

This was our pre movie treat..... 

It's hot chocolate season! Yaaaaay! 

Looking over last week's to-do list, I think I did pretty well.  It brings me so much satisfaction checking things off a list. Even if it's something as simple as laundry (which, let's face it, is never done!). 

One thing I haven't done yet is decorate for Christmas!  Last year at this time I already had my tree up.  Time has gotten away from me this season. However, I've been swooning over my favorite blogs/twitter/and Instagram at all my friends who are sharing their holiday décor. Some of my neighbors have lights up outside their homes and my favorite radio station is now Christmas music central.  I love it!!!! Saturday will be THE day.   I did do a little more Christmas shopping this weekend though and I'm feeling good about that.  Behind the scenes Santa's elves have already started working their magic.  The most wonderful time of year is upon us! : ) 

So here is last week's to-do's.  Let's see how I did!

*Rewrite/organize my Christmas list/think about online orders - So happy this is done! I feel organized now. 

*Decide on a Christmas card picture. Walgreens is having a 50% off sale if I order this week.

This is half done.  I decided on the picture but Walgreens extended their sale.  I'll order this week.  See what a procrastinator I am!

*Pick out an outfit for Saturday night. 

  We are going out to dinner in Boston for my mother in laws birthday (wrap gift too) 

*Get outside for 10 minutes each day.  Bundle up, it's freezing! I went out every chance I could.  Unfortunately we had a lot of rain this week.  I tried ♥

*Help John study for a big science test mid week  He did awesome! Got an 83!

*Bake a gingerbread cake (I'm craving it! I might make it for Thanksgiving!) Yum! See previous post for recipe : )

*Bills/file paperwork

*LAUNDRY

*Return library books before Friday

*Start each day with hot water & lemon - This is making me feel so good! Keep it up! 

*Change light bulb in John's closet

*Take John shopping for Operation Christmas Child. 

  Shoe boxes are due at school by next Monday. Definitely the best thing I did this week

*Start decorating for Christmas - Not yet!  Looks like Saturday is the day!

*Confirm 2 dental appointments for next week
*Paint nails - don't bite them!!!  My struggle is real.... 

Our box for Operation Christmas Child!  

I hope some little boy will be happy with the goodies inside!  

Here is my new list for the week.  Holiday weeks are always choppy.  Everything revolves around Thursday. I don't have too many expectations for the rest of the week.... especially Friday : ) 

*Dismiss John early on Monday for a dental appointment

*Work Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday

*Bake dessert and appetizer to bring to Thanksgiving at Rob's cousins house

*Order Christmas cards

*Distribute John's school picture to family on Thanksgiving

*Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade over breakfast on Thursday morning

*Put my tree up and decorate

*Get outside and walk

*Hot water and lemon each morning

Happy new week dear friends! Wishing you crunchy leaves under your feet and pumpkin pie for breakfast!

Sounds good to me! xo 

Weekly to do list ♥

Happy Monday!

Can you believe how quickly the weekend slipped by?  It went by extra quickly for us because we had a good one. For no real particular reason, it just felt good.  Hallmark officially sucked me in with their Christmas movies.  My mother and I laugh at how predictable they are, yet it doesn't stop us from watching them...again & again. They never end.  And thank goodness for that! I would watch for the scenery alone - all the snow and twinkling lights...it's just so good!  For those of you who have The Hallmark Channel you know exactly what I'm talking about ♥

On Saturday morning I vacuumed, dusted, and cleaned the bathrooms.  I was sooooo close to bringing out the Christmas decorations.  I decided to wait one more week, only because I was tired after all that cleaning.  I have replaced my pumpkin spice coffee creamer with peppermint mocha, which is my hearts way of telling me it's time to get into Christmas mode!  I put a little in hot chocolate today.  It's divine!

I am by no means trying to bypass Thanksgiving.  It's quite possibly my favorite holiday.  We will be going to Rob's cousin's house again this year and celebrating with all of his family.  The Sunday after Thanksgiving my parents host my family get together.  Two families, two turkeys, two dessert plates....it's a lot of eating.  It's fabulous!  And then.....the leftovers! Gobble, gobble : ) 

I have a busy week ahead.  I had to adjust my work hours a little bit this week and it's throwing me all out of whack.  Also, its dark by 4:30 now.  As soon as I get home each night I get into my cozy sweats and slippers, and light some candles, and make a cup of tea before dinner.  I really look forward to that part of my day ♥

Yesterday I was thinking about all the little things I have on my to-do list for the week, and I decided that if I blog about them, then somehow I will be accountable and hopefully check them all off the list! Some are little mundane things like laundry and bills, and some are bigger - like list making and organizing.  Let's see how I do this week! If this helps me stay on track then I will make it a regular post : ) 

*Rewrite/organize my Christmas list/think about online orders 

*Decide on a Christmas card picture. Walgreens is having a 50% off sale if I order this week.

*Pick out an outfit for Saturday night. 

  We are going out to dinner in Boston for my mother in laws birthday (wrap gift too) 

*Get outside for 10 minutes each day.  Bundle up, it's freezing!

*Help John study for a big science test mid week

*Bake a gingerbread cake (I'm craving it! I might make it for Thanksgiving!)

*Bills/file paperwork

*LAUNDRY

*Return library books before Friday

*Start each day with hot water & lemon

*Change light bulb in John's closet

*Take John shopping for Operation Christmas Child. 

  Shoe boxes are due at school by next Monday. 

*Start decorating for Christmas

*Confirm 2 dental appointments for next week
*Paint nails - don't bite them!!!  

I'm hoping by Friday I can check some of these things off my list.  Either that or......

We'll see how it goes! Happy Monday all! Have a great week. 

I hope it's a productive one. 

Or not! ♥

(wink...wink...: ) 

xo