Welcome to my weekly post. I’ll be sharing photos and highlights from the past week, things I read, watched, and listened to. We also share links to posts and other interesting things you don’t want to miss.
Last week was interesting with lots of snow and ice here. From Saturday to Tuesday, almost everything was shut down in our area and we stayed home. Wednesday I stepped out of the house for the first time and it was a little surreal. I didn’t expect that just leaving the neighborhood would turn into such a bad situation (Watch the video here).
There were also many indoor activities (Check out a sneak peek video of our two snowy days here).
I’ve done quite a bit of baking. make homemade sourdough bagels and I tried making chickpea brownies — That was a shame.
More than a week after the ice storm, there is still significant amounts of ice on the ground in places, and many areas here are still without power. (We somehow never lost power. We still can’t believe it because so many people lost power!)
They spent 6 days inside because it was very cold, I was recovering from an illness, it was very icy, and a lot of branches were falling at first (and I had to work most of those days, so I didn’t have as much free time as I would have liked). So by the fifth day they started to get a little excited. But since we survived, I kept thinking about how many blessings we have that many people don’t have – electricity, a warm home, hot water, and lots of food! )
We made energy bites together, did lots of LEGO building and games, made chocolate cake, read lots of workbooks, studied, and watched quite a few shows. I was so happy when it was announced that school would be reopening on Friday. 🙂
I love this sweater. 2 more days on sale! Get your deal here.
On Thursday, the roads were clear enough that we were able to visit Kathryn in Murfreesboro for her 21st birthday. Jesse and I took her out for a late lunch.
It was really special to be able to spend time with just the three of us! We went to eat at a new place (The Goat). It was delicious! ! And we talked about her future and some of the opportunities currently available for her. She asked for our advice and opinions and took notes as we shared.
I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating. It’s wild, weird, and amazing to watch your kids grow up.
You spend years pouring so much into your children, caring for them, meeting their practical needs, taking them for rides, doing their laundry, making their lunches… and then one day they grow up, live on their own, take care of every detail of their lives, and look to you for advice about their future.
And then you sit there and realize that you’ve spent days, weeks, months, years doing laundry, cooking, playing Legos, listening and answering questions, having difficult conversations and telling silly inside jokes… even if it all feels so mundane and insignificant most of the time, it all adds up.
Let me remind all the moms out there who are still in the trenches. It’s worth it. And you can actually free yourself from work.
Over the past year of not setting goals and drastically cutting back on my work hours, I have learned to love and lean into the days of my “grandma hobbies”: baking, watercolors, puzzles, and now crocheting. And I am discovering something very surprising… These hobbies not only bring me great joy, but also recalibrate my nervous system.
I finished this scarf for Kirsten this week (still need to add the fringe) and I couldn’t believe the level of fulfillment I felt from making something with my own hands like this (and she was so excited about it!!)
When I first started working with a functional medicine doctor, she told me that my nervous system was in constant combat mode. I basically live on adrenaline and always maintain a mental and emotional stance to be ready for whatever the next big challenge is, whether it’s work, kids, or another situation.
She gently encouraged me that living in a state of hypervigilance, unable to relax and breathe properly, was not healthy for my body, especially in the long run.
I had lived like this for so long (I’m talking years ago!) that it had become my norm and I had no idea. It was also a process of finding a way to stop living on adrenaline. However, I am slowly learning how to free myself from unhealthy habits and patterns and regulate my nervous system.
And watercolor painting, crocheting, watching calming shows like “When Calls the Heart,” or just sitting quietly and slowing down is so good for my soul. It’s like when you take a deep breath, you can actually see, feel, and hear what’s going on around you in a whole new way.
Now I’m thinking of getting back into knitting, embroidery, tinkering more in the kitchen, and (after a gap of over 20 years!) gardening… because I love this slower pace of life with space to create.
What kind of “grandma’s hobby” should I try next? ?
Damn it! If you want to learn crochet, please check it out! Get a year of lessons for just $0.75!!
My school schedule was slow on Friday, so I went out for lunch during the day and it was so much fun! And you forget how tall he is until you’re standing next to him!!
She and I even went on a quick date on Friday after school and before the basketball game.
I’ve been teaching her to cook and she loves it and is getting better and better at doing things on her own.
Caitlin did my hair on Saturday!
Being a guinea pig for beauty school is awesome. Playing with my girl and having her practice with me, I’m spoiled and I can take my laptop and phone to work and come home with my hair looking great.
We started a new tradition and went out to a fancy restaurant to celebrate her 21st. We told Cyrus and Caitlin that they could choose a fancy restaurant for their 21st birthday too, and Cyrus immediately went and added a reminder to his Google Calendar six years later. 🙂 (It was Cyrus’ first time going to a restaurant with a dress code, her boyfriends came too, and we had a great time!)
Happy 21st birthday to the girl who made me a mother! Katherine: What a gift you are to my life and to everyone who knows you!
You’ve been through some really tough things this past year, from battling health, to heartbreaking situations, to taking on big new responsibilities in your life. I have watched you weather life’s storms and challenges with resilience and maturity far beyond your years.
You are an old soul who cares deeply about everyone you know, who wants to know what you believe and why you believe it, who listens intently to others, and who wants to hear their stories and walk well with them. I love that about you. Even though I sometimes have to remind myself that I can’t carry everyone’s burdens for me and I need others to carry my own!
You are truly a servant, always going out of your way to bless, help, and uplift others. You are also a cheerful person. Just a few days ago, you and your roommate made me laugh so hard on the phone that I almost cried.
And it also amazes me with all the things you accomplish, all the people you keep in touch with, and how you always have time to talk and listen to me.
We had a lot of special memories this year, including traveling just the two of us during spring break! It means a lot to me that you always spend time with me and introduce me to your friends.
Above all, your love for Jesus shines deeply through you. I look forward to watching God’s plan unfold for you this year as you continue to seek Him and trust Him for your future. You are one of a kind and I love you so much!!
Books I finished reading this week
and she stood up — This book is the heartbreaking but hopeful story of an author who lost her husband in a tragic bicycle accident. This is a story of great loss but also great redemption, and the story of how she chose to live her life when it seemed to be falling apart.
what i hear
It was snowing and freezing most of last week, so I didn’t drive much, and I didn’t listen to much of anything (usually when I listen to podcasts or audiobooks!)
what i see
I’m still watching When your heart calls Part of your afternoon workday allows you to easily do other things while you work. I finished season 4 last week and just started season 5. Honestly, I can’t believe how much I’m enjoying this show. I feel like it has a very calming effect!
In case you missed it – this week’s post
Chicken Alfredo and Roasted Carrots ($10 Family Dinner Idea) — Creamy Chicken Alfredo and Caramelized Carrots make this hearty family dinner the whole family will love. And it all costs less than $10 and takes less than 45 minutes.
Brigette’s $104 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 4 People! — See what my sister Bridget bought and fed her family of four with $104 last week.
Frugal ways to make Valentine’s Day special for kids — Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to remind your children how much you love them. We’ve put together simple and meaningful ways to celebrate so you can create special memories without stressing or going over your budget. From handmade crafts to thoughtful gestures that evoke kindness, these Valentine’s Day ideas are designed to help families make Valentine’s Day doable and special.
Back in 2016 — Posting photos on Instagram has been a trend since 2016, so it was fun to share them all together. (Anyone around and following me when I first posted these in 2016?)
This week’s podcast episode
This week, Jesse and I will be sharing what it’s really like for non-diabetics to wear a continuous blood glucose monitor, why I decided to try it, and what I learned about my body in the process. It all begins in the midst of a “snow apocalypse” when plans are canceled, kids get sick, and anniversary trips are cancelled. It’s now the perfect time to take a break and pay close attention to your health.
In this episode, we cover the basics, including what a continuous glucose monitor is, how the non-medical version works, and why my functional medicine doctor recommended that I use a glucose monitor for several months. We also dig into why we chose that brand, how much it costs, how easy it is to install and remove, and what it actually feels like to wear it every day. (It was much less strong than I expected and most of the time I forgot it was even there!)
But the real value to me is the data. Being able to see my blood sugar levels in real time has completely changed the way I think about food, especially carbohydrates, protein, and exercise. Listen as I tell you how I thought I had a serious problem with my blood sugar levels, but it turned out that my blood sugar levels were actually pretty stable, and that most of my past “high blood sugars” were likely due to undereating and not getting enough protein. I break down the biggest patterns I’ve noticed, including why carb-only snacks cause blood sugar levels to spike, why it’s important to start your meal with protein, and how even a short walk after a meal can make a measurable difference.
Jesse and I also tackled some surprisingly practical discoveries, like why eating the same foods in a different order can change your results, how working out affects your blood sugar levels, and why eating three muffins in one night may seem like fun, but you don’t feel great afterwards. If you’ve ever wondered how your habits actually affect your energy, focus, and overall health, you don’t have to because this episode is basically me being your guinea pig.
Listen to this week’s podcast episode here.
Tell us about your week! Will something interesting happen? Have you read any good books, watched any good shows, or worked on any projects?
Source: Money Saving Mom® – moneysavingmom.com
