Recipe of the Week - Paprika Pork

 I often find pork on sale at the grocery store and normally the deal is too good to pass up.  So, I am always on the lookout for new recipes to try with pork. I found this one from Taste of Home.  I thought it sounded interesting and gave it a try. Plus, I had all of the ingredients so that is always helpful.  I ended up really enjoying this one and look forward to making it again.  It's good comfort food for winter, that's for sure!  Enjoy!

Paprika Pork*

1 lb pork tenderloin, cut into 1-inch cubes**

1 tsp all-purpose flour

4 tsp paprika

3/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 Tbsp butter

3/4 cup heavy cream

Toss pork with flour and seasonings.  Heat butter in pan over medium heat.  Sauté pork until lightly brown. Add cream.  Bring to a boil, stirring to loosen brown bits from the pan.  Cook, uncovered, until cream is slightly thickened, 5-7 minutes. 

Serve over rice, egg noodles or pasta

*when I made this, I used a 2 lb tenderloin so I doubled the recipe and it worked just fine.

** any thick boneless cut of pork will work

Quote of the Week

 I connect to this one on many levels 

Some diet change

 

One of the goals I have to work on this year deals with some of my health issues.  I had a blood panel done on my last doctor's visit several weeks ago.  Most everything was fine but there were definitely two standouts.  My triglycerides are very high as is my a1c. So, what I want to do is get those levels down to something manageable.  The doctor gave me a new prescription as well so I hope that will assist me in this journey. 

Since I am already working on aerobic exercise this month, I need to focus on my diet as well.  If you have been paying attention to what I cook, you will know that this is not going to be easy for me.  But I can do it.  I have already started incorporating healthier foods into my diet with more whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables. Another big thing for me, as far as my diet goes, is portion control.  I am very bad about filling my plate to the point of overflowing and making sure I eat every bite because I do not want to waste food.  Now I have been paying very close attention to how much I put on my plate, and I can tell it has made a difference. I am also not going back for seconds nearly as much.  I would say I'm not doing it at all, but that would be a lie. 

These little things, hopefully, will begin to add up.  I go back to see my doctor in six months for another blood panel.  If I stick to what I am doing and increase my efforts, I am confident that I will get my levels down and feel much better.  Losing weight will help with my back pain as well but that's another story for another day.  I'm going to focus on one thing at a time.  Wish me luck!

New Recipes for Fun

Bloomin' Onion Dip

 I always enjoy trying new recipes.  Sometimes they work out great, sometimes not.  But that is part of the fun in trying something.  If it isn't something I want to make again, at least now I know.  Last week, I tried two new recipes, and both were very spur of the moment. Saturday, my roommate Jason sent me a reel with a recipe for Bloomin' Onion Dip on it.  Well, it just so happened that I had everything needed to make the dip so that worked out perfectly. I liked the results and will post the recipe on my blog sometime down the road. 

I knew that I was going to make a pot roast this weekend, so I wanted something new to go with it.  While I was initially looking for a new vegetable side, I came across this recipe for a cool whip salad.  That one stuck in my head and I head most of the ingredients for that one, too.  And since I was already planning a trip to the grocery store that morning, picking up one more ingredient would not break the bank.  I through it together Saturday afternoon but I have yet to try it.  I realized that I had other things that I needed to eat up first.  But I will be trying it soon and will let you know how that one goes.  I pretty much love anything made with a base of cool whip, so it should be good.

That was my fun for last week.  While it was not much in the long run, trying the new recipes is something that I very much enjoy, and I will take that joy wherever I can get it.  And if that salad is any good, I will post that one too at some point!

Using YouTube for Exercise

 

The cold weather has not been my friend this week as far as my January challenge goes.  For about 2 weeks now, I have gotten out each day after work and going for a walk.  I enjoy getting out and just being in the fresh air.  It does me good.  But winter is here, after all, and it's not going to stop just because I want to get out and walk.  I realize that cold temperatures are relative depending on where you live.  Last week we had several days where the highs were in the low 30s. That may not seem like a big deal to some people but to us here in NC, that's cold.  I will never get used to it LOL That, in combination with wind and accompanying rain has delayed my outdoor walking pursuits. 

Now here is where technology is useful to me.  Since I could not get out and walk, I used YouTube to find some good exercise videos to work on my cardio. Let me tell you, there are lots of things out there to choose from.  And that is great for me because it will keep me out of the exercise rut.  I want to keep things interesting and varied. If my exercise routine becomes boring, chances are I will stop.  Or at least I will skip more days than I need to. But I have found good chair exercises, yoga for beginners, tai chi, aerobics, shadow boxing vids.  And it's helpful to have someone in front of me guiding me.  I find it motivating. So, while the weather chooses to remain wintry, I will work up a sweat indoors!

Phones

 I know that some people think that I am just being rude when I don't answer a text or a message right away.  Sometimes I will do that after sending a few texts back, I will just put my phone down for a while.  And yeah, I guess it is rude but I'm not doing it to be rude. And the same applies to being on my computer.  I'm not necessarily going to get right back to you. Part of the reasoning is because of my job.  I work at the front desk.  I spend my entire day on the phone and on the computer.  I have no desire to take that home with me. I like to separate myself from technology when I'm home.  That is not to say I don't look at my phone, or I don't sit at the computer, like I'm doing right now writing this.  But I am simply not spending all of my home time communicating with people. 

I often miss having a landline phone.  Growing up, like so many households, our yellow phone was on the wall in the kitchen.  It might actually have been a green phone but my mind is telling me yellow! You could take it as far as the kitchen table.  Otherwise, you sat on the stool at the counter to talk on the phone.  And anyone coming into the kitchen had to duck under the cord - that long coiled cord that often would get tangled in itself. OF course, the phone matched our kitchen colors of yellow, green and orange.  Standard 70s fare! I remember getting our 2nd line installed.  It was in my parents' bedroom. Finally, if we needed some privacy, we could go into their bedroom and shut the door to talk.  Of course, it did not mean that they couldn't come in at any moment.  It was their bedroom after all.  

Then came the new waves of phone technology:  the cordless phone and the answering machine. Our cordless phone replaced the cherished yellow phone in the kitchen.  But now we could walk around anywhere and talk on the phone.  Who knew at that time that would become the norm? Ah, well.  And our answering machine took up residence in my parents' bedroom alongside the 2nd landline.  There was something exciting about coming home and seeing that red light blinking and wondering who the treasured message was for. It made me feel important when there was a message for me! And if you have ever tripped over something and fallen flat on your face because you're running to get to the phone before the caller hangs up, you know how wonderful having an answering machine was at that time. 

I miss those times when our phones did not control our lives, it only enhanced them.  People may argue that phones today do enhance our lives and I would not necessarily disagree.  But there are times when I don't want the world at my fingertips.  I don't want to be looking down at a screen for hours at a time.  I just want to put my phone down and walk away and live my life.  If it rings, I'll do my best to get to the phone before the caller hangs up.  Hopefully without tripping over something!

Looking for a church home this year

 I want to make a more concentrated effort to find a church home this year.  It was on my list last year but like so many things on that list, it never got done.  I'm ok with that but I would still like to find some place to worship.  I miss having that kind of community in my life and, honestly, I am tired of letting myself stand in the way of finding a church home.  I can come up with all kinds of excuses not to go.  Some legitimate, some not.  That's human nature though.  At least that is my human nature LOL  As much as I long for that sense of community, I often let my social anxiety stand in the way.  The older I get, the harder it seems to be for me to meet people or feel comfortable in a new setting like that. I think that I just need to get over that and go. It all has to start somewhere, right?

I have a church in mind that is at the top of my list. I feel some apprehension about it because it is not the denomination that I grew up with.  I don't really think that it matters in the end.  As Dolly Parton's character says in Steel Magnolias "God doesn't mind where you go to church as long as you show up." or something akin to that!  But I do feel like, in the back of my mind, that the people who were such an important part of my church upbringing would be disappointed in my switching.  I know it's silly but that is where my mind goes.  I need to stop justifying reasons not to go and make myself do it.  I know that once I get over this first hurdle, I will feel much better about things.  So, that is my plan.  Hopefully I can make it happen sooner or later.

It will be good for me. 

One Drawer at a Time for 2026

 

It is a new year, so it is time to start my "one drawer at a time" process.  Not that I ever stopped doing it last year, but it is time to start fresh again.  I have really enjoyed the process of taking the time to really look into drawers, cabinets and other spaces to see what is needed, what is necessary, what is sentimental and what to let go of.  This process is much easier than I anticipated it being and I enjoy doing it.

This year, I am wondering if I should do one room at a time or one section of each room.  The past two years, I did one room at a time and went around the entire room until I was done.  What I am thinking I may do this year is pick one drawer or cabinet in each room and do that.  Once I have done something in every room, then I'll start over again.  This way, it breaks things up a bit and it also may be less daunting.  Trying to tackle one room at a time can often unmotivate me LOL I think I'll never get done, even though I always do. But it's something different so we shall see.

If I do it that way, I'm going to have to keep a list.  You know I love my lists so that is no problem at all.  That way I will know where to pick up when I come back to any specific room.  I am hoping to begin this process this week.  My only question is which room do I start in?  I will let you know!

Things To Do For Fun 2026

 Last week, I got out of the house a couple of times and went out.  It was nice being social and seeing people and at the same time, supporting local businesses.  On Thursday, I was invited out for my friend Rich's birthday.  A group of us went to trivia night at a local bar called The Terminal Tap.  I had never been there before.  It was easy to get to, thank goodness.  I don't always do well driving at night when I don't know where I'm going.  But I got to see Rich and his husband, Jeremy along with some people had I not seen in a long time.  Triva was ok.  We didn't win.  The theme for the night was 2025 and honestly I've tried to block that year out LOL But the beer was good.  I had an IPA called Jimmy Buffet Ruined My Life.  It was pretty tasty.  If the opportunity arises, I will go back and I do recommend it.

Friday night, Sally and I went to dinner and then to see Les Miserables at the Tanger Center.  I got tickets for Christmas from Bill and Heidi.  It is one of my all-time favorite shows and I was thrilled for the chance to see it again.  We ate at Sticks and Stones which is around the corner from the house.  I can't believe I had never eaten there before. There are four great restaurants around the corner from me but I had not tried that one yet.  Well, it was great! We split a fried eggplant pizza that was absolutely delicious. And I'm thankful we were able to get a table on a Friday night that fit into our time schedule.  We made it to Tanger right before the start of the show.  Of course, I loved it.  It's one of the best productions of Les Miz that I have seen.  All in all, it was a great evening.

I also tried two new recipes last week:  spinach dip and butterscotch blondies.  I was happy with how both of them turned out.  I always follow the recipe the first time I make something before I add my own spin to it and I don't think I need to change either of these at all.  The hardest part about the spinach dip was wringing the water out of the frozen spinach.  I have learned that it's easier to do with frozen spinach in a bag as opposed to the block of frozen spinach you can by.  But that's just me.  And for the blondies, I had to get the Kitchen Aide mixer out, per the directions.  I'm glad that I did because that batter was stiff and would have destroyed my hand mixer! I shared the results with several friends and everyone seem to like them.  

It was a good week. Now, I need to find some things to fill up this week!

Recipe of the Week - Thyme Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries

 I love brussels sprouts almost any way they are prepared.  They are not a vegetable that I grew up with.  I'm not sure why Mom never made them.  Maybe they weren't as readily available as they are today.  But we did eat cabbage and that's in the same family and I enjoyed that.  Still, I love them and cook them often.  I am always looking to find new ways to make them.  Often, I sauté them in olive oil.  That is my go-to way of preparing them. But I am always on the lookout for new brussels sprouts recipes.  I found this one online because I was looking up recipes for vegetables with cranberries.  I have made it several times and love it.  I made it for Christmas for the family, and no one complained, so I'll take that as a win.  If you like brussels sprouts and cranberries, then you will enjoy this!

Thyme Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries

1 lb. brussels sprouts, halved

2 Tbsp olive oil

S&P to taste

1 Tbsp fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme

1 cup fresh cranberries

2 Tbsp Maple syrup

Preheat oven to 400.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss sprouts in a bowl with olive oil, thyme, salt and pepper.  Transfer to the baking sheet in an even layer. Cook in the oven for 10 minutes.  Stir in cranberries.  Cook another 10 minutes.  Transfer to a serving bowl and drizzle with maple syrup.  Toss to coat. 

The Doctor's Appointment

 

This morning, I have a doctor's appointment.  It is the first appointment I have had with her in over one year. In fact, it has been almost a year and a half since I have seen Dr. Hernandez.  I do not exactly mind going to the doctor because I really like my doctor.  But I can go ahead and tell you that she is not going to be happy with my weight.  It's been a rough year in many ways and, as a result, I weigh significantly more than I did the last time she saw me.  Well, it is something that I am working on.  I might have just seriously started working on it again after a few years, but at least I am trying and can see some results.  But I know she is going to bring it up, so I must prepare myself. 

I have to go in every so often because she won't renew several of my prescriptions without an office visit.  I understand that.  I know I'm going to have to have a blood panel done, so only black coffee for me this morning.  No doubt I will be quite hungry once all is said and done. I am already prepared for the fact that my levels are not going to be very good.  Like I said, it has been a rough year and my diet has not been good.  Well, that depends on your definition of good.  The food has actually been great just not great for me.  However, I am working on that too.  Portion control is extremely helpful and also, which may sound silly, actually taking the time to chew my food plays a key role. I am bad about just inhaling whatever is on my plate. Chewing really makes me feel full faster and that's pretty good as don't eat as much.  I have not gone back for seconds all week.  Yay me!!

So, we shall see how it goes.  I know it won't be as good as she would like, but I hope my health is salvageable. I can only go up from here and I am honestly making that effort.  I have some areas that I need to work on, and I look forward to the challenge.  What it really comes down to is not letting my grief for our society overcome me.  Sometimes it can be very hard to want to make positive, healthy changes in the midst of all of this chaos.  I do not usually blame someone or something else for my state of mind, but I feel it is justified right now.  So ends today's installment of escapades in adulting. Wish me luck!

Today's moment of mindfulness

 

We often find that when we listen to others we are concentrating on what to say next, filling up with opinions or even speaking out of turn.  Try listening with mindfulness - hear the person without judgement or the need to immediately express a view.  Be aware that the word "listen" can be shuffled around to spell "silent". 

Squirt

 Sometimes memories pop up at the most random times.  I have often thought about getting a dog again.  And I will do that one day.  I miss having a dog and there are so many dogs out there that need a good home.  I love the support a dog gives and the unabashed affection.  They are always happy to see you, and they are a great source of comfort.  For me, it will have to be the right dog for my current situation. I do not have a fenced in backyard, so I would need a dog that will be ok being inside the majority of the time.  

Squirt basking in the sun

When Squirt came into our lives, it was the right dog at the right time.  We had come home from vacation, and our neighbor asked us if we could keep Squirt until we could find a home for him.  David, our neighbor, had found Squirt stuck in the fence the day before.  There had been a huge storm, and I think Squirt got out from wherever he was living and somehow had gotten himself stuck in the fence in David's backyard.  At the time, David had two dogs and a cat and did not have room for him.  Of course, we took him in with the intention of finding his owner. 

Squirt making his presence known next door at Lois's

I had never considered having that small of a dog.  Squirt was a chihuahua.  Buttons, the dog we had when I was growing up, was small but not chihuahua small!  Well, after multiple attempts at finding his owner, no one came forward.  I was not about to take Squirt to a shelter because chihuahuas are right behind pit bulls in the breed that will get put down because of overpopulation. Long story short, Squirt became ours and he was a part of the family for the next ten years.  Those were some of the best years of my life.  I am a caregiver by nature so having someone to look after on a daily basis suit me just fine. And he helped us as much as we helped him.

People watching on the front porch

The memories of Squirt are always with me.  Sometimes they are more prevalent than others.  The other night when Sally and I went to see Les Miz, we had dinner around the corner from my house at a restaurant called Sticks and Stones.  Incredible food, by the way. But as we were leaving, I pointed out the restaurant next door.  It's a burger place called Emma Keys and it has some of the best burgers in Greensboro. I told Sally about getting burgers for us at Emma Keys on Thursday nights.  Michael would often work late on Thursday nights, so I would be on my own for dinner.  Several times a month I would go to Emma Keys to get burgers for me and Squirt.  I would always get him a plain burger with no bun for him to enjoy.  I'm sure he was not the only dog out there to get an $8 burger all to himself each week but it was a special time for us.  He would snarf that burger down and finish his well before I was done with mine.  He loved it and I loved doing it for him.

This is the picture we took of Squirt before he was Squirt when we tried to find his owner

I am looking forward to opening up my home and my heart to another dog one day.  No one will ever take Squirt's place in my heart but somewhere out there is a dog who will love his $8 Thursday night burger!

Daily Challenge Update

I will first make the admission that I did not start my 2026 daily challenges until this week. I guess I slowly crept into the new year LOL  Having said that, this week of aerobic exercise has gone very well.  I can already tell that I am benefiting from it. And I am benefiting in several different ways so that is awesome! One way is obviously the physical effects it is having on me.  Along with changing my eating patterns, I have lost several pounds already this week.  My circulation is better.  I can tell because my BP is getting into better shape and I also have not been having foot/leg cramps nearly as much as I was having.  That is very inspiring to me.

I have also noticed that my sleeping has been much more successful this week.  I sleep through longer periods of the night.  I was normally waking up 6 or 7 times every night.  While I had no trouble going back to sleep it was still kind of annoying. Now I have actually started to feel rested when I wake up.  That is a good feeling and a great way to start my day.  I am also loving getting out of the house and being outside.  While I am taking the same route around my neighborhood right now, it is still nice to look around at my surroundings and take it all end.  I am able to clear my head and just enjoy the experience.  That makes it much for of a desirable thing to do.  So far so good for 2026!

Aunt Sara's Lustre Pitcher

 

This copper lustre pitcher belonged to my Aunt Sara.  I have another one of hers but don't have a picture of that one.  I'm not sure where she got her pitchers from but for years they sat on the mantle in her living room.  I love the colors of this pitcher.  It's a very sweet piece and I enjoy having it on display.  However, just like the other pitcher of hers, this one is damaged.  I didn't damage it LOL It came to me that way.  I believe that they were damaged decades ago while Sara still owned them.  This one has a decent repair.  The handle broke off apparently and was reapplied.  You have to look pretty closely to see it, so a job well done. Aunt Sara left the pitchers to her sister, my Aunt Billie. That's where I got them from.  Right now, it's packed away because of the Christmas decor.  I'm looking forward to having it back in the house!

Quote of the Week

 As much as I like having goals and looking forward to what my future has in store for me, I want to spend more time in the present moments of life.  Being fully present in each moment and engaging with the people and things that surround me.  While thinking ahead is not a bad thing, living for the moment is the key to creating beautiful memories.  At least it is for me and I want to focus on that. 

Over the Rainbow - Eva Cassidy

 This morning, I have been looking for a song that has a message of hope in it.  I chose this one because it is one of the first songs I ever learned to sing thanks to The Wizard of Oz. Because of sentiment, Judy's version will always be my favorite, but this one is so powerful by Eva Cassidy. Her voice was such a beautiful instrument and if you aren't familiar with her, you should be.  Gone too soon and I can only imagine what else she may have done in her career.  I hope you enjoy it. 

Daily Challenges for 2026

 Last year, I enjoyed the daily challenges that I set up for myself. I will say that it was mildly successful and I am happy with what I did.  This year, I want to do better with those challenges.  One of the things that I really want to work on this year is maintaining those challenges each month. I want to continue each challenge into the next month and sustain them throughout the year.  I did not do that too much last year because I would be focused on the current month's challenge.  It can seem overwhelming at times with trying to do up to 12 specific things every day and I realistically know that is not going to happen.  I could, but chances are it will not.  Still, I want to focus on incorporating these challenges into my routine so that they are a natural part of my day.  

This month, I am going back to aerobic exercise of some kind each day.  I have been getting out and walking some each day the last few days and I definitely feel better when I do that.  It is not only about exercise, which is definitely good for me, but it is also about mental health.  I don't look at my phone while I am out walking.  I just focus on my surroundings and spend time thinking about different things.  It's time that I'm not doom scrolling or worrying about things I have no control over.  That is good for me.  And yes, the exercise is good too.  I know that this year I will probably face some health changes that need to be made.  I will let you know more after I see my doctor next week.  But I want to go ahead and build a foundation of aerobic exercise that I can build upon.  We shall see!

Breakfast

 For the majority of my life I have not been much of a breakfast eater.  That is not to say that I have anything against breakfast. In fact, I love breakfast food.  Just about anything that is prepared for breakfast I will eat!  That is where my dilemma arises:  preparing breakfast.  I have never really been the kind of person to get up and make breakfast for myself.  It is simply not in my daily routine, and it never has been.  Growing up, we ate breakfast each day of some kind.  Mostly it would be something easy like toast or cereal. While I do enjoy cereal, I do not like milk.  I have tried but to no avail.  Hence, my cereal was always eaten dry.  That's not the healthiest way to eat it because as a child I would gravitate to the sweeter cereals because they tasted good to me without milk.  Occasionally, Mom would cook a hot breakfast on the weekends.  Not very often but it did happen. If I spent the night with Grandmother, which was often, there would always be a hot breakfast of some kind.  I ate it up every single time. 

As an adult, not so much.  I think I have become used to not eating breakfast, so I just do not really make any attempt to do it.  Sometimes I will make myself some toast, usually with peanut butter, or put some pop tarts in the toaster for convenience.  Or if I have baked a cake, I will have a piece (or two) of that for breakfast.  I can rationalize that thanks to "Bill Cosby, Himself" because everything for a nutritious breakfast is pretty much in a cake LOL Anyway, there is always a great sense of accomplishment and of being an adult when I get up and cook breakfast for myself.  And each time I do it I say to myself this isn't that difficult.  Why am I not doing it more often? I am always amazed at how full it makes me, and it really curbs my morning snacking.  I can usually go until lunch and not feel hungry, which is a good thing. 

Today, I decided to cook myself breakfast.  Sausage patties, scrambled eggs and a croissant.  It was nothing fancy.  The sausage just had to be reheated in the microwave, and the croissant was left over from Sunday's dinner. All I had to do was crack and scramble two eggs.  That was easy enough.  I sat at my kitchen table and had breakfast while reading my daily devotions.  It was a great way to start my day. Maybe if I start doing that more often, more days will start off with this sense of accomplishment. We shall see how that goes but for today, I am feeling good.  So ends today's installment of "Escapades in Adulting". That is all. 

Television Commercials

 I have been thinking about renewing my subscription to Netflix as there are several shows on there that I enjoy watching that I cannot see anywhere else like Stranger Things and Sweet Magnolias.  When I went to look up the prices they had three different plans:  Standard with ads, Standard, and Premium.  The last two cost way more than the standard with ads. So to me, that is a no brainer.  I grew up in the 70's and 80's.  Commercials were a part of the television watching experience.  Many times, the ads were much better than the actual program.  In this world of pause and restart, most people have no idea what it is like to know that you have approximately 2 minutes during the commercial break to get done whatever you need to.  And that commercial break is not going to stop for you for any reason.  

Commercials from years ago had so much thought put into them.  They reached millions of viewers to sell their products.  Who can forget "Where's the beef?"  That became an instant classic.  Of the Hallmark commercials that were only shown during the Hallmark specials.  Back in the day, Hallmark put out 2 to 3 movies per year.  Good movies and the commercial breaks were filled with their ads.  Not so much today now that they have their own channel with movies containing the same basic plot stream 24 hours a day. And the previews for upcoming episodes of your favorite shows....you don't see that today in commercials. 

I miss good commercials.  I do believe that there are some out these days that would have exploded in the 80's.  The ads for Progressive insurance featuring the character Flo are very clever and I enjoy those. The Bounty paper towel commercials are still going strong.  The Limu Emu & Doug commercials are pretty funny at times.  These are memorable to me like the old days.  Most commercials aren't anymore.  And that is sad but that is the world I live in.  Many streaming services offer upgrades to get rid of ads.  That is why I always choose the free version. Besides, these ads are someone's livelihood, and I feel like should take the time to watch them. So, when I go to renew Netflix, I'll be doing the standard with ads.  They don't scare me off.  A few minutes of my life taken up by advertisements is not much compared to saving money these days!

Some Financial Goals for 26

 I have several financial goals that I have set for myself this year.  I know that we all have those kinds of goals and I worked towards mine last year.  While I did not achieve them, I am happy to say that I did make progress and am in no worse a financial place than I was last year.  I am able to pay my bills on time still which is a big deal for me.  I was not always able to do that.  Not because I did not have the means to but I did not have the discipline to do it.  Now, I have that discipline and it feels good not to worry about that.

One of the things I want to do this year is build up my savings.  This is going to take some work for me.  While I am able to pay bills, I also like to shop and that makes my accounts take some hits.  What I have to work on is not making excuses for shopping, which is SO easy.  I will rationalize a purchase by telling myself that I deserve a treat or that I cannot take my money with me when I die so why not go ahead and do what I want?  I do that all of the time.  I have always heard that a person should have money saved that is equivalent to at least 6 months' worth of bills in case of emergency.  Admittedly I am nowhere near that so that gives me a goal to work towards.  

I also want to start really paying down my credit card.  And I only have one these days but I still want to work on that.  I am much better with my card than I was with credit cards 20 years ago.  But shopping therapy has definitely played a part in my credit card spending.  I am trying to use it now very sparingly and only on necessities such as gas or groceries.  I would absolutely love to go months without using it at all, so we shall see how that goes.

2026 is going to be a good year for me as far as money goes.  I am determined to do this and if I set my mind to it, I know that I can.  I have that confidence in myself now.  I will keep you posted.

Quote of the Week

 Coming off of the Christmas season, I feel like this quote from It's a Wonderful Life is more than appropriate for going into the new year. I hope you agree! 

Things To Do for Fun in 2026

 Last year, I came up with a list of 50 things to do during the year of my 50th birthday.  Many things on that list did not get done.  However, I am far from disappointed with that.  I made some efforts and did manage to check off several things.  I decided that I am going to keep my list going this year and see what I can do.  I have renamed it "Things To Do for Fun" because the items on my list are things that I will enjoy doing. 

On New Year's Eve, I sat at home alone.  That is not a bad thing, those were simply my circumstances this year.  And like many people, I thought about the things I wanted to accomplish this coming year. I came up with several goals for the next year. None of them are financial or physical even though those kinds of goals are definitely on my mind and on my To Do list actually. These are goals that my To Do list will help me to achieve.  

Enjoy my own company

I don't want this to sound as if I do not like myself.  Quite the contrary.  What I am talking about here is to allow myself to enjoy the time I spend alone.  I spend a good deal of time by myself and while I am hoping to change that to a degree, I still want to have time to myself.  And I want to enjoy my time to myself.  Finding joy in things that I do on my own.  You know how much I enjoy my domestic duties but sometimes I need to tell myself to stop and do something else.  Put down the laundry and pick up a book to read for an hour.  Have a cup of tea and listen to a record.  Watch reruns of Antiques Roadshow.  Just sit and be by myself and have a good time. I want more of that in my daily life. 

Connections Old and New

Now onto the other end of that spectrum, I want to connect with more people this year.  I met some new people last year and had a wonderful time in that.  And I have been reconnecting with people from my past and that has done wonders for me.  What I find difficult is keeping those connections going.  I know that we all have different lives to lead, but I want to make more time to be with the people I love and with those whose company I enjoy.  I want to build up my social circle, not in quantity but in quality.  Several of my college classmates and I have had wonderful times together over the past few years and seeing them always makes me feel blessed.  And it's nice to have friends to do things with.

Traditions

I blogged recently about Christmas traditions I want to work on next year.  But there are other traditions I want to start.  And these do not necessarily need to revolve around a holiday or a particular time.  I am talking more of sharing meals with friends.  You all know I love to cook and set my table, so why not include others in that?  I am never going to get through my social anxiety unless I start doing some things like that. I love my Sunday lunches and would love to have someone else at the table with me.  I would love to take monthly antiques shopping days with friends.  Just those kinds of things that give me something to look forward to.  I'm very much open to suggestions - a book club? game nights?  etc.

Anyway, I am hoping that my "Things To Do for Fun" list will help me work towards these goals over the next year.  If anyone wants to get together and help out, just let me know!  Here's to a great 2026!

Handbell Concerts

 As most of you know, my love of handbells has been something I have had for as long as I can remember. I love to play them and I love to listen to them.  I know that they are not everyone's cup of tea, but they are certainly mine! I rang bells in three different bell choirs when I was growing up at FBC in Monroe.  That was how I contributed to church and I took pride in that.  I wanted to ring handbells in college, but surprisingly UNCG did not have a bell choir.  I'm not really sure why that was because they turned out hundreds of church musicians yearly. Part of looking for a church home will include handbells.  That may sound silly to some, but to me it is not.  I have been in a few handbell choirs as an adult, and they did not work out as well as I had hoped.  One choir it seemed like no one really cared, especially the director.  Another choir I was in was fun but never once did we just ring handbells.  There were either mallets involved or hand chimes.  Never just bells. Oh, by the way, I detest hand chimes.  They are like nails on a chalkboard to me.  Definitely not my cup of tea! 

Anyway, until I find a choir that suits my needs, I have started watching handbell choir concerts on YouTube.  There are some really good ones on there, too.  I am enjoying hearing pieces I have heard and rung before and loving getting introduced to new pieces.  I am always a fan of hearing new music and when it involves handbells, even better.  The Temple Square Bell Choir is especially fun to listen to and you can find some of their concerts pretty easily.  While this does not take the place of participating in a handbell choir, it fills the void for the time being.  So until I can put on some white gloves and pick up a couple of handbells to ring, these concerts are going to get me through!

Recipe of the Week - Mexican Green Beans

 Canned green beans are a staple of my pantry.  They are easy and make for a convenient side dish to most any meal.  So, I am always looking for ways to dress them up.  I found this recipe online last year and enjoyed it. It's quick and simple.  I am not exactly sure why it is called Mexican Green Beans, but it is still delicious. I hope you enjoy it!

Mexican Green Beans

2 cans of green beans, drained

1/2 cup chopped tomato, seeded

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 clove garlic, minced

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 Tbsp water

1 bay leaf

2 Tbsp chicken broth

1/4 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp cumin

S&P

Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in pan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, tomato and bay leaf. Cook until onion is tender. Add water, broth, oil, oregano, cumin and green beans.  Stir to coat the beans.  Cook until the beans are heated through.  Remove bay leaf and serve.