January Review-

 January goals.... how'd we do?

• Pick pattern for baby quilt, purchase fabric for top.  Success! I scrapped the charm squares, picked a new pattern- made a second (and third) trip to hobby lobby- for more fabric. But the top is nearly completed and I feel much happier about it than I did the first attempt. Hope to get the border on this week and start quilting! 💖🎉 
  
  
  
• Exercise 3-4x's a week- I did ok for two weeks, fell off the band wagon- struggling to get back on this week.
• Finish 2025 photobooks- Finished my Mom's and its been delivered! 
• clean piano room- big fat nope
• Finish Age of Innocence; start Middlemarch-read book 1 Finished Age of Innocence and have two chapters left in book 1 of Middlemarch- I will finish in time to listen to the podcast recap on Friday 
• lean into cozy wintering and rest - for sure! 
  
• Delightful Sister Coffee Date! - added this one on

So maybe not as bad as I thought. Definitely room for improvement. 

I completed two blocks for two different versions of Emily's BOM sampler. Which made me want to read The Quilter's Apprentice. I went and dug it out of the basement and it's on my February TBR. 

I am making one in Christmas fabrics and one in rainbow colors, both from my stash and scraps.  January's block was a 9 patch- as there was a snow storm the day I was making them, one got a snow man as the center square.

I am also remaking this Pooh wall hanging I made when Mikayla was little for her little girl. Oh the delight and memories. It will match her quilt.

We picked a day for her shower, I ordered the invites last week and they already arrived! Let me tell you- Canva is the way to go. My first experience ordering anything printed through there and it was lightyears cheaper than anywhere else I found and they shipped next day and are beautiful!

I read 9 books in January- review post coming soon.

This weekend we spent Saturday with a couple of the nephews. 

Watching Cars with Evan

Uncle Rhett made a birdhouse with Isaac

Pizza pockets for lunch!

popcorn and video games

Their mom and dad came back for dinnertime, my Dad (Mom is out of town) also joined us-  and it was delightful time.

I got my Pampered Chef order! I love the heart shaped stone! 

I made pizza on it with the scraps from the boys pizza pockets.

Isaac took this picture

And brookies for dessert- I shall be baking all the heart shaped things in February!

New Cookbook! I want to make every recipe in this book- I am making one for dinner tonight! This will also be our next cookbook club book in March.

Happy Monday and happy February!

Leaning into the cozy...

Winter is not my favorite.  But this year I am trying to be intentional about looking for the good. A couple weeks ago I asked google to make me a personal curriculum on "Wintering"- I was actually pretty pleased with what it came back with.  Some of the things I am trying to implement are-

1. Culinary Arts: The Soup & Bread Lab
   Assignment: Every two weeks, master one new homemade soup recipe.
   Extra Credit: Bake a loaf of focaccia or sourdough to accompany your meal.
   
   Obviously this is an assignment I can fully get behind. This week I made a delicious Chicken Tortilla Soup from The Real Food Dieticians- although admittedly I did not follow the directions per say- I just dumped all the ingredients in the crockpot and hoped for the best, I was not disappointed.  We had leftover sourdough from Sunday, so that accompanied this meal. 
   
   
   
2. Humanities: Deep Reading & Philosophy
   Literature: Choose a "winter classic" (e.g., Katherine May’s Wintering or a Gothic novel) and read it slowly, one chapter at a time.
   Journaling: Use weekly prompts to reflect on what this "wintering" season is teaching you about slowing down and letting go.
   
   
   
   
   I am currently reading Wintering by Katherine May and not loving it- I decided to give it one more day but if tonight I still feel the same I will set it aside for something else. I have a library stack out right now on Hygge and a book of poems.
   
   
3. Physical Education: Gentle Movement
   Mobility: Practice 10 minutes of "legs-up-the-wall" or gentle stretching to reset the nervous system.
   
   My goal if you recall is to exercise 3-4xs a week- mainly that has been yoga, and last week I only hit two days. Today is a new day to try again.
   
   
4. Social Studies: Intentional Connection
   Outreach: Reach out to one person a week via text or call just to say "thinking of you".
   Community: Host one small, low-pressure gathering, like a cookie decorating night or a soup potluck.
   
   This one is one of my favs! Just this weekend we had a cookbook club at my house and I had 6 of my favorite ladies join me for a night of cozy food and conversation. We all picked a prepared a recipe (or two) from Good Lookin' Cookin', everyone brought their prepared recipe and we all sat around chatting and enjoying good food and company.
   
   
    

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   One of my favs was the creme brulee Stacey made- it was so good!

   
   
   
   I also had tea with a friend on Saturday which brought such refreshment and encouragement to our spirits. 
   
   
5. One other thing I added myself is Crafting- my FB feed lately has become a wealth of quilting and sewing reels. I am here for it!
   
   This week I cleaned off the counter in my laundry room (which adjoins my craft room) so I can once again use it for my cutting counter.
   
   
   
   

   I went fabric shopping with my Mom and got fabric to make lil granbaby's quilt. I am beyond excited about this project! This is probably the only peek you will get until after I gift it to my lil mama at her shower this spring.
   
   I also want to make this Block of the Month quilt with Emily. I am thinking about doing a Christmas themed one with my plethora of leftover Jammie fabrics and scraps from through the years. 
   
   

   
   

   
   This week I (finally) finished week 2 of (last year's) Canalboat Crochet-a-long. I love this years pattern but decided I needed to finish this one before I would allow myself to purchase it. Very hard when I got the email last week that kits were back in stock! 
   
   Part two- I wove in all the ends during this weeks book club call before I started part 3. I am enjoying the coziness and the process. Crocheting the shell rows are my favorite. 

   

   
   
   
   
   
6. I am enjoying our Church 2026 Bible Reading plan. It's such a delight to study God's Word in community.  We have a facebook group to daily discuss what we reading, learning, noticing, etc.. and this Sunday will be the first of our monthly fellowship dinners after church. I so enjoy this community. This could also be nestled above under #4. 
   
   
   
   
   

   My husband is also part of the group and I can not even begin to express the delight of seeing him digging in his Bible, and also being a part of a Sunday School class.
   
   

   

I hope this winter you are finding ways to thrive and be cozy. Feel free to tell me in the comments something you have done or would like to implement. 💖 Until next time.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Last night I made myself a list. In an effort to be more productive. I didn't get it all done but I did knock off this baby quilt. In a single evening. So I am counting it a win.

The fabric has been sitting patiently waiting under my sewing machine. Still in the JoAnn Fabrics bag for several weeks.

I didn't have a pattern.  I purchased a a jelly roll (strips of fabric) and used a quilt as you go method. Basically starting in the middle sewing strips to the batting and backing until they were all gone.

Hannah gushed over it last night. How pretty it was! Mama and Baby loved it too. =)   I always 2nd guess myself once I begin a project. Wondering if its actually hideous. :P

One of my favorite things in life is pulling a freshly finished quilt out of the dryer. All soft and cozy, ready to be snuggled.

Some Friday Randomness

This was me yesterday. Sad. Lonely. Discouraged.

Today is better.

Verse for today:

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 niv

A little quilting/This is Us fix. 💙 (new favorite show!)

Wednesday's dinner- I need more practice making fish. It was good but not quite as expected- was supposed to be Blackened Tilapia...

Got word of the Spring Launch! I can't wait!!!

I am surprised to see some of the discontinued products!  Especially the green knives! LOVE those- wondering what new goodies will be replacing!  I have a party going in on Sunday -->  https://pamperedchef.com/go/gPThLl <<-- Here's the link...feel free to order! ;-)

Last night's garlic veggie pizza... At first I said it was really vegetable-y but in reality it was pretty good.

Today's breakfast- avocado toast w tomato and pepper jack cheese- super yum!

My favorite shake so far... vanilla with blueberry   ;-)    

ugh I need a make-over!

   

 I finally finished Prayer Warrior! Now I will be digging into the study, we start next Sunday (the 22).

Just started reading Balancing It All: My Story of Juggling Priorities and Purpose by Candace Cameron Bure (one off my FULL SHELF) and Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen (library find).

It's Cookie Season!! Sale starts today! Here are this year's cookies!

Chance stole my quilt last night. I walked in to the living room to find this..

...and then a short while later this...

Happy Friday! Have a great weekend! What's your favorite Girl Scout cookie?

ToL 4.28

Linked up with Amanda at Running with Spoons

• My favorite spot...

Each morning finds me settled at the kitchen table. It grounds me, gives me strength for the day.  This morning I was using on of my favorite mugs.  A gift from my sister during on of the hardest times of my life.  A reminder of her fierce love and loyalty. A few years later, having coffee at my best friend's house, we realized she had the same one-- so now I think of her too, whenever I use it <3

From my kitchen table I see these faces. <3 Much loved family and friends who are like family. Reminders to pray...

• This weekend is the Pittsburgh Marathon. I am so sad to not be taking part this year.  It feels like so much longer than 2 years that Pittsburgh has been a part of my life. Next year I am planning to be back! #GameOnPgh  

Missing my #SnyderRunners this weekend!

• Yesterday I came in to find this on my desk. I guess it was administrative assistant's day ;-)

•  This bowl of deliciousness was last night's dessert! =)

• Finished Quilting! I will put the binding on tonight and then it can be washed and delivered to Greyson! On to the next project...

sneak peek

• Mikayla and I have been binge watching Season 2 of How to Get Away with Murder on Netflix the past couple nights.

• Party going in tonight! Here is the link if anyone needs any pampered chef! https://pamperedchef.com/go/vYgGRt

• Mikayla is doing an awesome job with dinners this week. Enjoying some of the leftovers for lunch! This is Honey Dijon Chicken from Tuesday night and Rice Pilaf (a pampered chef reipce, made in the PC rice cooker ;) from last night.  Last night she also made Lemon Basil Grilled Pork Chops that were so amazing.

Happy Thursday! The weekend is just around the corner!