Friday Faves

 Joining Andrea (Momfessionals) and Erika (A Little Bit Of Everything) for their Friday Favorites link 

Here are five things I'm loving in this new year-

1. Eating lighter.  Who's with me? We've had so many heavy meals these past three months (yes the holiday-ing seems to start in October for some reason) and it's been nice to change it up here.   

Last night I made this yummy salad-arugala, tomato, cucumber, toasted pine nuts, a sprinkle of parm, and a light lemon vinaigrette topped with some chicken tenders browned and finished off in the oven with a little chicken broth and capers. 

2. This juice, Uncle Matt's Ultimate Immune made with orange juice, elderberry, zinc and more-

I had a glass at my neighbor's house on New Year's Eve and liked it so much I bought some on my next trip to the grocery. It's not inexpensive, but it is delicious and not overly sweet. Plus it's pretty. Elderberry is particularly good for you this time of year as it helps boost immunity and reduces cold and flu symptoms, among other things. 

I bought mine at Publix but it's available at Wal Mart, Amazon, and other shops too. 

3. Signs of spring. It's never too early, right? 

Actually I think it might be too early in some parts of the country, and we'll likely have some cold weather here before the calendar makes it official. These daffs are hardy and can handle the kind of winter weather we get in The Palmetto State.  

4. Moving-

Not house. Definitely not that! I mean moving me. 

Hubs and I have had some nice walks in this new year and I hope we keep it up. I still wear my ankle brace and that seems to help with the lingering off and on pain that has no medical explanation. We haven't done any extreme hills, unless you count my neighborhood walking trail (which I do), but mostly we're steering clear of trails marked strenuous. 

This is the flat part of our neighborhood walking trail. It's literally a short straight up and/or straight down bit to get here, but it feels good to move and I'm hoping more walking will actually help as opposed to hurt. 

5. Day dates. 

Still counting my 52 dates in 52 weeks we started back in the fall, and think it's going to end up being more like 52 in 60 or something like that which is fine. We were away over the holidays and spent time with family so missed a week and we had company here one week so missed another and I'm sure there will be one or two more misses before we get to 52. 

But we'll get there. Lots will involve hikes because we enjoy that. We love to be outside, and hiking is a quiet activity that allows for conversation and deep thinking. Hubs says I don't need a reason to think deeply, but he humors me. 

Episode lucky 13 was a hike through some beautiful woods and around a small local lake with fabulous views of Table Rock. 

70 degrees on January 7th.

 I'll take it! 

If you'd like to share five favorite somethings from the first part of this new year hop over to our host blogs and add your links. 

Have a happy weekend everyone! 

Festive Friday Favorites

I've been a Monday-Wednesday blogger all year lately, but thought today I'd join in the Friday Favorites link up (hosted by Erika and Andrea) with a few bits of holiday miscellany. 

1. I spent all day yesterday baking. It was such a joy to be at home, no where to go, nothing to do but spend the whole day in my kitchen. I know that doesn't appeal to everyone, but it's definitely my jam. I also did five loads of laundry,  and sorted out some Christmas gifts and decor that needed sorting. I made two kinds of cookies, two loaves of cranberry bread, and a chicken pot pie for our dinner. 

2. My daughter called on her way home from school pick up and asked if we were around and if so they'd drop by and say hi. It's one of the happiest parts of life right now y'all. A daughter living close enough to drop by. 

Also, I played at least 47 games of tic-tac-toe upon their arrival. My sister-in-law sent this fun set at Thanksgiving and the boys love it. So fun! 

3. I bought two of these little spoon rests at Hobby Lobby back in November and it's a sweet addition to my coffee set up. The other is by my stove. 

I bought these mugs the year hubs and I got married and while there are so many super cute Christmas mugs out there, these remain a sentimental favorite. There are four in the set illustrating the twelve days of Christmas. 

4. I like to leave a box on my front porch for my friends aka the Amazon-UPS-Fed Ex drivers. 

They're here often this time of year, and I know the days are long. I put bottled water and some snacks inside-chips, bars, clementines...that sort of thing. It gets taken so I think it's appreciated. 

5. I took the dog out this morning and was greeted with this-

Let heaven and nature sing!

Friday Favorites Ho Ho Ho

I had every intention of blogging yesterday, but that didn't happen. About a million little things happened instead and that's life sometimes. I've been itching to write about something more than weekend happenings and home improvement but that requires a clearer head than I have at the moment, so a lot about a little it is.

1. Our backyard project. The project itself is not my favorite thing, but I know the end result will be. Once the barge issue was resolved things got rolling. The guys doing the work have laid plywood down one side of the driveway to move equipment from the front yard to the back and so far so good. 

I mean it's a lot for them because the project involves a lot of heavy rock, but they're not complaining and made a good start this week. I keep them supplied with water, gatorade, and a big tub of snacks because that's what I know. 

I was part of the original planning of the project, hubs and I together met with the construction manager, saw the plans and the budget blah, blah, blah but you know how these things go. Or maybe you don't, but how it goes is quite often a new decision needs to be made on the spot, and why does that only happen when hubs is out??? 

He's sticking close to home for the most part, but had two appointments yesterday so naturally the guys wanted me to make sure they had all the pieces in the correct spot, correct height, correct everything. Huh? 

I know from my description this doesn't sound much like a favorite but honestly it is. Forward motion is good. 

2. As if all of the above were not enough, I've had painters at my house two full days this week, and they'll be back on Monday to finish up the guest suite bathroom. It's a big change in terms of color and I absolutely love it. This room has needed zhuzzing for a long while now, and I'm so happy it's finally getting zhuzzed. I will post pictures when it's finished and I have the artwork back from the framer. 

The decorator hung out here most of the morning while they worked and by the time the painters were wrapping up I'd gotten her advice on a very long list of things I'd like to do here. 

3. Next up is this post my daughter wrote. I love it so much-

Our New Normal

4. Morning coffee. We normally have our coffee on the upstairs deck, but the early morning weather has been so nice this week that we sat right here with our coffee instead. 

5. Christmas shopping. 

No haters please. I'm not an early shopper under normal circumstances, in fact I'm pretty much a December shopper, but I'm trying to get myself in gear so I can take gifts for my grands (and their mom and dad too) when we visit in the not too distant future. Congratulating myself for ordering all the jammies in August. Whoohoo!

Linking today with Friday Favorites hosted by Andrea and Erika....Merry Christmas and happy weekend everyone! 

Friday's Favorite Five

I'm doing lots of things besides blogging these days, but I still love my little corner of the Internet. I'm learning to be content in this season of lots of real life and less time to dissect it. One day in the not too distant future I will settle back into dedicated writing, and the best part of that will be I'll do it from my office overlooking the lake. Hubs is always-always encouraging me in my writing, and thinks creating an office space with a view of the lake will inspire me to write more, and talk about writing more less. Ha!

So how about five favorites from the week that was-

1.  The Super Bowl-Daughter2 and her boyfriend came over and watched the game with us. We made snacks for dinner and it felt almost like a party. She prepared an artichoke dip and a skinny version of a Buffalo Chicken Dip which was every bit as good as the full fat kind. I made ham and cheese sliders, a broccoli salad and a veggie tray. I know we live in the Carolinas, but we were all rooting for the Broncos so were happy with the win. Peyton Manning was once upon a time (and forever and always) a Tennessee Volunteer, and we are nothing if not loyal to our Vols.

2. Facetime-Daughter1 (who lives in Washington State on the whole complete other side of the country, but I digress) and I had a lovely little chat via Facetime this week. I love so much the ability to see her face when we're talking. It's almost as good as being in the same room. Also, full disclosure here... I accidentally Facetime one or both of my girls at least once a week, and the conversation always goes like this-

Daughter-"Hi Momma"

Me-"Hi...what's going on?"

Daughter-"I don't know. You called me."

Me-"No I didn't."

Me-"Did I ???"

3. Snow Day. It snowed real snow in the Upstate this morning.

I love the beauty of freshly fallen snow, the way the woods become a fairyland and the world exhales. I especially love knowing a week from today forecasters say we'll hit a sunny 61 degrees. I prefer a winter that makes room for spring. NJ winters fought the arrival of spring, and more often than not, they won.

4. Spontaneous Dinner Plans with Grown Up Girls-Daughter2 sent me a text Wednesday asking if I wanted to meet for dinner Thursday evening. This just makes me all kinds of happy. I don't remember as a young mom, imagining grown up dinners with grown up girls, but it's da bomb y'all!

Also that phrase? Some things about parenting last a lifetime, and moms everywhere can rest in the knowledge they will never lose the ability to make kids cringe. Winning!

See there's another one, but I'm a firm believer these little bits of ridiculousness endear us to our children. Do not burst my bubble.

5. Winter skies and the art of missing-If you read here regularly you know my husband returned to work two weeks ago after enjoying retirement life the eleven months prior. We were loving retirement life, and had settled into a new sort of routine here at home.

And now he's back to work, and that's good too. He's spent weekdays these past two weeks away from home, learning a new role and business, and missing me. If you've never had a spouse whose job requires travel, you may not understand this sentiment, but it's nice to miss your spouse, and be missed in return. Coming home, relaxing in your shared space, catching up, hearing about new and interesting bits of life...well, it's somehow all the sweeter thanks to the missing.

Also, winter skies are my favorite, which has nothing to do with anything, but I felt it should be said. Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Linking today with Suzanne's Friday Favorite Five. To read what others had to say, or to add your own list of five favorites visit her blog by clicking here.