the Weekender

Happy Saturday from a very cold Rogersville, MO. Yesterday we had a few snow flurries, and today we may have a few again. I would LOVE to see some accumulation, but it doesn’t seem to be on my Bingo card. Oh well.

Miscellany:

1. This week was a busier one. Since I’ve been staying home a lot more as of late (by choice), it was nice to get out for appointments and coffee meet-ups.

Some of the retired (and semi-retired) women in my neighborhood have a standing coffee date on the second Wednesday of each month. I’ve always been invited, but haven’t gone for months.

This week, I decided to go and catch up with the sweet ladies. There were eight of us there, and I was also lucky to meet our new neighbor, Betty. I love living between two retirees.

Sometimes I have to push myself to get out of the house. On Wednesday, I was glad I did. Cheers to good neighbors.

2. Last weekend, I went to another Sound Bath. It was glorious. They are soooo relaxing for me. And I adore the teacher, Madelyn, who is so sweet. I look forward to these classes each month.

3. Earlier this week, I shared a Crockpot Ham and Bean Soup recipe. It’s comfort food season, and this fits the bill.

4. Have you heard of Nourish? After several commercials and ads popping up on Facebook, I thought I would see if our insurance covered it. During sign-up, it said it would be covered. We’ll see.

Anywho, I’ve never seen a dietician or nutritionist. I thought it might be good to see one to switch things up a bit on my weight-loss journey — and for dietary purposes, since kidney stones are visiting frequently. I had my first video chat this week, and it was great—more about getting acquainted with my health and eating habits. I’ll keep you posted.

Between getting sick, the winter blues, and back pain, I’ve fallen off the diet train a bit. I’m trying very hard to get back on, but it’s been a struggle. I finally weighed this week because I needed to know the extent of the damage. I’ve definitely gained. Sigh. Why is it that I gain so much faster than I lose? Womp womp womp.

I can do hard things. Yes and amen.

5. Guess what is said to be trending this year? Pen Pals. Snail Mail. I’m hoping to do some more posts about it because I love the subject/trend/hobby/etc. Eeeks!

Is there anything you’d like to see? I’m also thinking of reopening my Etsy shop with some printable and/or snail-mail goodies.

6. Capital One Shopping. I’ve mentioned this a time or two, but I wanted to remind you again about this because they’re currently giving $80 to new users. Ummm, yes, please!

It takes about 90 days to appear in your account, so people don’t abuse the system — but it’s totally worth the wait (and you can accrue more rewards while waiting). I have the extension on my phone and laptop. Every once in a while, I check my balance, and right now I have about $40. I can redeem that for e-gift cards to Old Navy, Michaels, PetSmart, Macy’s, Staples, Kendra Scott, JCPenney, and so many additional options. Show me the money!

7. Shows/Series/Movies I’ve watched:

• Taylor Swift: The End of an Era (Disney+): I know everyone has different opinions of Taylor Swift. I like some of her music, and I really enjoyed this docuseries. It was pleasantly surprising to see how kind, generous, and supportive she is to all of those who work for her on the tour—a breath of fresh air.
• The People We Meet on Vacation (Netflix): So good. I really enjoyed this movie, based on the romance novel by Emily Henry.
• His & Hers (Netflix): A psychological thriller that is CRAZY good. The ending will blow your mind. I never saw it coming.

Around the Web:

These Decoupaged Jar Lids are darling.

These DIY Felt Daffodils.

These Diamond Art Bookmarks — fun Winter craft!

This Dice Word Game is a great way to challenge your brain.

This Gratitude Journal.

These Faux Hydrangeas look real!

Throwback to our DIY Window Treatment in St. Louis.

This Balloon Valentine (with free printable).

These Homemade Creamy Pastel Mints.

This Heart Icon Glass. Fill it with goodies for V-day gifts!

The Art of a Seasonal Reset. Some great ideas.