Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

 

 Hi Friends!  I am here with Joyce for her fun weekly linkup where she prompts us with thought provoking questions...let's get to them...

 

 

1. What kind of winter person are you-snow lover, fireplace snuggler, winter adventurer, or indoor hibernator? Elaborate. 

 

 

Indoor hibernator- the only season I truly do this really- although, this year, I feel our January has been full of activities and I am not complaining about it!

 

 

2. The Pantone color of the year is cloud dancer, described as a gentle, billowy off white shade. The color symbolizes 'peace, clarity, quiet reflection, renewal, and a soft reset'. Of the terms just listed which do you need most in your life this winter? 

 Oh I love the sounds of this color and I would say...

Peace 

 

3. Every cloud has a silver lining, on cloud nine, head in the clouds, storm clouds gathering, or cloud of suspicion...which 'cloud' idiom do you most relate to currently? Explain.

 

 "Head In The Clouds" (it is actually a private family joke)

 

4. coconut, cauliflower, cottage cheese, mayonnaise, onions, ranch dressing...of the white foods listed, which would be the hardest for you to give up? Do you like all or any of the foods on the list? 

 

 I do like all of these...if I had to name those that would be difficult to give up, I would say onions because I use them so much in cooking but cottage cheese is a close second now- have been having some weekly for the protein!

 

5. Thomas Wentworth Higginson is credited with this quote-

"How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose, if there were no winter in our year." 

Agree or disagree? Tell us why. 

 

I think this is so very true...we need the winter and the death of so many things...to remind us to have faith and know that the sun will shine again...the plants will bloom again...and life will come back...it helps me each year to appreciate every season 

 

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

 

 Who is excited for the Winter Olympics in Italy?  I am pumped!

 

Hello Monday (January 12, 2026)

 

Hi Friends and Happy Monday!  I am here with my Partner In Crime Sara and we are chatting about our weekends!  Hope you will join us!  Here is what our little winter weekend looked like...

 

Friday Night

 

I took Diana to her doctor's appointment and we stopped at Tuscan Market on our way home to enjoy a little dinner together and use the rest of one of our gift cards.  It was the perfect way to unwind after a busy week!

 

 

 Eva had a blast at her club softball practice and game and then the girls got to stay with a few moms over night at the facility for a fun sleepover!

 

Robby B had a gig and we all crashed pretty early

 

Saturday

 

 It was time for hot yoga first thing- feels the best in the winter!

Then I brought Eva to her play rehearsal and had her costume approved. 

Then it was time for some errands.  We then waited for Eva to finish up at play rehearsal and Diana to finish up at Cheer Practice. 

Then the four of us headed out for Surprise #1 for Diana.  Unfortunately our plans were foiled when we got to Merrimack College and they had had a water main break.  As a result, the book store was closed- BOO!  We were going to grab our shirts for Diana's signing.  We do have plenty of time since it is not until March so we are going to try again next weekend.

 

When we got home, we chilled for a bit waiting for Diana to take off for work....Rob headed to the party store to pick up the balloons I had ordered and while he was gone, Eva and I got started with the rest of the work...we got busy decorating her room as Surprise #2 of the day!  Have you seen that viral trend on TikTok or IG?

Most of the items I snagged on Amazon- A couple I had shipped from the bookstore...and the balloons made it all complete!

 

Then the three of us grabbed another gift card from Christmas and headed over to Windham Restaurant for a lovely dinner.  

"Dinner Fit"

 

We played a mad game of "Psych" at the table and were howling by the time our entrees arrived- ha!

 

While we were wrapping up our time there, Eva said look there is fake snow outside...looks like foam...and we laughed her off and told her no, that is probably real snow.  Well, what we didn't know is that Windham Restaurant was having some type of winterfest and they had a fake snow machine going.  When we got outside, we saw it set up and running on the deck...we were dying- Eva was right- ha ha!!!

 

When we got home, we waited...and we didn't have to wait too long...Diana got cut around 7:30 and headed home and then we had our big surprise...so fun!

 We hid in her room to surprise her.  See our video.

 

She loved it!  So proud of our girl and love sharing these little new and exciting traditions together.

My Awesome Teammates

The Finished Product!

After that, you can guess....we crashed!

 

 Sunday

 

Eva and Rob headed to softball and I headed to mass and the gym with Lea.  Great way to start the day.

 

 After that, I showered, did the meal planning and Rob and I went grocery shopping- always appreciate the help.  When we got home, he unloaded and I got cracking on our Sunday Dinner- Roasted Turkey Breast, Tomato Risotto, Green Beans and Roasted Carrots and Potatoes- plenty of leftovers for everyone this week!

 

When Diana headed to work, Pidge watched sports and Rob and I watched the Lifetime Karen Read movie that we had recorded- it was pretty good but I am hoping for a documentary or large motion picture that will dive deeper into the players, etc

 

 

When Rob and Eva left for her hockey game last night, I finished up this post, ordered the girls' dresses for Zach and Zoe's wedding and headed to bed to get cozy and continue reading my book.  What were you all up to? 

 

 

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Friday Favorites (January 9, 2026)

 

First Things First....Happy Birthday Ally!  Woohoo!

 

and now, per usual, sharing some recent faves!

 

 Fave Bites and Sips

 

Egg White Wrap, Shredded Pepper Turkey, a Jalapeno Laughing Cow Wedge, Tomatoes and Shredded Carrots  

 

Egg White Wrap, Shredded Pepper Turkey, Truffle Hot Sauce, Sweet and Spicy Pickles and a Jalapeno Laughing Cow Wedge

 

Greek Chicken Bowl with Tzatziki and Pita

 

Tuna- Yum

 

Watermelon Radish and Cucumber Salad

Egg White Wrap, Shredded Pepper Turkey, A Jalapeno Laughing Cow Wedge, Sweet and Spicy Pickles, Pickled Onions and Shredded Carrots

Ancient Grain Wrap, Shredded Pepper Turkey, A Laughing Cow Jalapeno Wedge, Sweet and Spicy Pickles and Pickled Onions

These Protein Brownies are everything

Ancient Grain Wrap and Egg White Wrap, Good Culture Cottage Cheese, Sweet and Spicy Pickles, Truffle Hot Sauce and Everything But The Bagel Seasoning

Wasa Multi Grain Crackers with Good Culture Cottage Cheese, Pickled Onions, Truffle Hot Sauce and Everything But The Bagel Seasoning

 Indian Food!  Basil Coconut Chicken with Basmati Rice and a Meat Samosa with Mint Sauce

 

 

Wasa Crackers with Good Culture Cottage Cheese, Truffle Hot Sauce, Pickled Onions, Sweet and Spicy Pickle Chips and Everything But The Bagel Seasoning 

 

 

and my Healthy Teas- this one had cotton candy, pomegranate, collagen and blue blast in it :)

 

 

 

 MEMEs

 

 

 

 Fits!

 

Birthday Party 

 

Working Out

 

 Work Mode!

 

 

 This Guy

 

Trying to chase away any delivery driver ;)

 

 

 But how can you get mad at this face??  :)

 

and check out his New Year's Card on IG ;)

 

 I can't...ha ha!!!

 

 

Have a wonderful weekend friends!