Guess Who's Sick Again?

 

Pull Up a Chair

 "The trick is to enjoy your life. Don't waste away your days, waiting for better ones ahead." (Marjorie Pay Hinckley)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

    It is so good to "see" you! Grab a mug and get comfortable, I feel like it’s been forever since we really sat down to catch up, and I have so much to tell you.

 

    I had the strangest week! Last week, I ended up totally out of commission for a few days. It started out so weirdly; my neck got incredibly sore, but I just figured I’d slept on it wrong (you know how it is) and tried to ignore it. But as the day went on, I could really feel it, it was definitely more than just a bad pillow situation.

     

I did my usual "fix-it" routine: took some NyQuil and just knocked out for the night. I spent the next couple of days being a total homebody and resting up because I was determined not to miss the festival at our garden center. Luckily, by Friday, I started feeling like a human again, and I’m so glad I rested because we made it to the festival on Saturday and had the best time.

 

     Oh, I have an update on my mom, and honestly, I’m feeling a little bummed about it.

 

    Remember how excited I was when I told you she finally got those shots and was feeling so much better? Well, it seems like the "magic" isn't working quite as well as it was a few weeks ago. She’s starting to feel that familiar ache again—thankfully it’s not super intense yet, but it’s definitely there.

 

    She had actually stopped using her gummies and creams for a bit, but she’s back on them now. I was really, really hoping those shots would give her a much longer break from the pain, you know? It’s hard to see her go through it.

 

    She’s understandably pretty upset that the pain is creeping back in, but I’m trying to stay positive for her. We’re hoping that layering the gummies and creams back in will do the trick and get her comfortable again. Plus, the doctor mentioned there are still a few other options we can explore if we need to.

 

    Can we talk about this weather for a second? It is absolutely wild. I know most of the world is tucked away in snow and freezing winter temps, but honestly, it feels like September over here! It hit 68°F yesterday, and the whole week has been just like that. Looking at the forecast, next week is more of the same.

 

It’s definitely a bit of a bummer realizing we won’t have a white Christmas this year. Honestly, we won’t even have a cold one! It’s such a strange vibe for the holidays.

 

But, I have to tell you, it’s not all sunshine and patio weather. The winds have been really scary lately. They’re so intense that the mountain towns are on high alert for fires, which is so stressful for everyone there. The power company even had to shut off our electricity for a few hours just to keep things safe.

 

    It’s really starting to feel like the seasons are shifting permanently in our neck of the woods.

 

     We’ve been slowly turning the house into a little winter wonderland over here. We’re definitely taking the "slow and steady" approach this year, just soaking in the glow of the lights. We haven't even tucked the tree into its spot yet, but that’s next on the list before the big day arrives!

 

Tomorrow, we’re venturing out to gather all the goodies for our holiday feast. I can already smell the kitchen magic starting. I truly hope you and yours are having the most wonderful, peaceful season.

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

Garden Festival Fun

 "Practice the pause. Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you're about to react harshly and you'll avoid doing and saying things you'll later regret." (Lori Deschene)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!
                                      

      
    I’m finally feeling back to normal. That was a weird couple of days. I was going to post this on Sunday, but I was tired from everything that I couldn’t get to it.

    On Saturday we went to our local garden center’s Christmas festival. They had some crafts and baked goods for sales, but the show was all the trees inside that were decorated. I took pictures of all the trees and some flowers in there. Hope you enjoy,

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

Spreading Some Christmas Cheer

 

Under the Weather

 

 

Hello my lovely friends! 

 

Just wanted to send a little note to let you know that the blog will be taking a mini, super-cozy hiatus for a few days. My body is telling me it needs a little TLC right now—I'm feeling all sniffly, tired, and definitely achey! 

 

I'm crossing my fingers that this little bug will pass quickly, and I'll be back to sharing things with you all in no time. For now, it's just me, a blanket, and maybe a hot drink or two. 

 

Thanks so much for understanding, ladies! Sending you all big, healthy hugs!

Christmas Fudge (recipe)

 

 

“When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow,
We hear sweet voices ringing from lands of long ago.
      And etched on vacant places,
      Are half forgotten faces
Of friends we used to cherish, and loves we used to know...”
(Ella Wheeler Wilcox)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!  

 

    You know how sometimes you see something on TV and think, "Okay, maybe just this once"? Well, years and years ago, I was totally glued to Food Network, Rachael Ray, I think, and she was whipping up this ridiculously simple fudge. You know me, I'm not exactly a baker (it's just not my jam!), but this recipe looked so easy, I figured, why not? 

 

And you won't believe it: it was a massive hit that first Christmas! Seriously, people couldn't get enough. Every time someone asked how I made it, I'd just laugh and tell them how genuinely simple it was.

 

It’s turned into my little Christmas tradition. Every year when I make it, it gets the same amazing praise, and inevitably, someone leans in and asks for the recipe. It makes my heart so happy!

 

 Festive Fudge
·    12 oz. sugar-free chocolate chips
·    1/2 cup of butterscotch chips
·    1 cup chopped Pecans or Walnuts
·    1 cup dried currants, cranberries or raisins
·    1 tsp. vanilla
·    1 can of sweetened condensed milk

Directions
1.    Get yourself a microwave safe bowl and put the vanilla, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate and butterscotch chips in, start at three minutes and stir it. Add a minute until it's smooth. 

2.    Pour in your nuts, currants and mix them together. 

3.    I used a pyrex dish and buttered it. Pour it into the dish and place and let it sit for up to an hour. 

4.    I will then cut them into bit size pieces and if it's still warm will place it into the fridge for about 20 minutes. I put the fudge into a plastic container lined with wax paper and you have line it in sections because you don't want it to stick together.

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

Live in the Moment

 

A Christmas Q & A

 

 

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." (Norman Vincent Peale)

 

 Hello, my lovely friends! 

 

    Oh my gosh, you all know how absolutely obsessed I am with the holidays! This time of year just turns me into a walking sparkle emoji. Since I'm knee-deep in tinsel and cheer, I'm dying to know your festive favorites!

 

Spill the cocoa, and tell me your answers in the comments! 

Let's Get Festive! My Christmas Cozy Q&A

1. What's your favorite Holiday song? Oh, this is a tough one! It’s a tie between Johnny Mathis’s "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"—it just sounds like a warm hug and the pure joy of Christmas—and the totally silly, kid-at-heart classic, "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" by Gayla Peevey. Gotta indulge that inner child!

    

2. What’s your favorite Holiday movie? It has to be "Christmas in Connecticut" with Barbara Stanwyck and Dennis Morgan. She is one of my all-time favorites, and seeing S. Z. "Cuddles" Sakall in it is just a treat. That whole movie is a gem!

    

3. What is your favorite Christmas Cartoon? Hands down, "Twas the Night Before Christmas." I remember being a little sprout and absolutely counting the minutes until it came on TV. We have the DVD now, and watching it every year still feels like magic.

    

4. What is your favorite Holiday icon (Snowman, Santa, Angels, etc.)? I am head-over-heels for gingerbreads! I collect them constantly. My goal is to eventually have the whole kitchen filled with sweet, spicy gingerbread people. Nutcrackers are a very close second, though!

    

5. Did you go see Santa Claus as a kid? Every. Single. Year. My parents would drag my sister and me to the local mall, and we'd endure those epic lines. It's a little sad they don't seem to be as long anymore! I was planning on taking my little Scooter this year, but we'll have to wait until next year for the big meet-and-greet!

    

6. What is your favorite childhood holiday memory? It was always sleeping over with my sister on Christmas Eve. We'd lay in bed for ages, whispering about what we thought Santa was going to bring. We kept that tradition going even as grumpy teens! And then waking up super early and having that hour-long debate: "Is it time to wake Mom and Dad up yet?"

    

7. What is your favorite Christmas present ever? One year, when I was still in single digits, my amazing Auntie baked a huge box of goodies—cookies and candies—for all her nieces. It was the best thing ever. She still remembers me saying it was the ultimate gift!

    

8. What is your favorite Holiday tradition as a kid? Anytime we were in the car after dark, my sister and I would have a fierce competition: counting all the Christmas trees we could spot with their lights on! We always tried to outdo the other one.

    

9. What is your favorite Holiday tradition as an adult? It's quiet and sweet: watching "The Nutcracker" on Christmas Eve, just my significant other and me, hanging out on the couch with a hot drink. Wait until you see what I have planned this year to make it extra sparkly!

    

10. Do you get to have a white Christmas? I'd say about 80% of the time, yes! We always have a cold Christmas, but the snow isn't a guarantee. But I'll never forget the "Blizzard of 1982." Talk about a storm! Our neighbors across the street shoveled a path and came over for Christmas dinner—it was absolutely buried in snow.

     

11. What foods do you have for your Christmas meal? We usually go traditional Mexican—we're talking delicious tamales, mole, and beans. It happens almost every year, but we sometimes shake things up with a prime rib, too!

     

12. What is your favorite Christmas goodie (peppermint, gingerbread, fudge, etc.)? It's peppermint everything for me! I make homemade peppermint bark, and I crush it up for my coffee and hot cocoa. That cool, minty flavor just screams Christmas!

     

13. Do you like egg nog? LOVE it! I usually keep a carton in the fridge from the moment it shows up on shelves. A little splash in my morning coffee is heaven, but sometimes I just have a glass straight-up. Yum!

     

14. Do you eat fruitcake? Not really, bless its heart. I've tasted it, but it’s just a little too rich and heavy for my liking!

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

Holiday Traditions

 “Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.” (Laura Ingalls Wilder)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!  

 

    Thinking about today's blog post got me all wrapped up in the cozy feelings of holiday traditions. You know, those sweet, predictable things we seem to do every single year that stop being just activities and become these really special, heart-warming memories we actually look forward to?

 

    It makes me wonder about your holidays! Do you have any of those cherished traditions that you absolutely loved doing when you were younger, or maybe some new ones you and your family or friends have started now? I'd love to hear about them! 

 

What's a tradition that makes the holidays feel like... well, the holidays?

 

1. Oh my gosh, you have to hear about this! Growing up, my sister and I had the most intense (and ridiculously fun) Christmas tradition every time we were in the car. Forget looking out the window normally,it was all about the Christmas Lights Count! We'd tally every single string of lights we saw in the trees, and trust me, it turned into a serious, high-stakes competition. Like, "I saw it first!" battles.

The biggest battlefield? This one restaurant. It had, like, fifteen trees all decked out, and every single time we drove past, we'd have a full-on debate over who's count they belonged to. It was mayhem!  Bless my mom's heart, she finally had to step in and declare those fifteen trees officially off-limits from the game. Peace was restored, but the light-counting craze definitely lived on!

 

2. You know, one of the coziest, most special things we do every year is pick out a brand-new ornament for the tree. My sweet mom always made it a point! It was always such a big deal,like a little treasure hunt for the perfect addition.

 Sometimes, we'd bundle up the day after Thanksgiving and head right up to the mountains. Imagine the crisp air and finding the perfect little mountain-themed keepsake! Other times, we'd turn our kitchen into a little craft shop and make them at home, getting all gluey and glittery. 

 The best part? We still have every single one of those ornaments! They all hang together on one of the trees, and when I look at them, it's like flipping through a photo album of all those years. It just fills my heart!

 

3.  I just love thinking back to our tree-decorating day! It was always the weekend right before Thanksgiving, you know? The perfect way to kick off the season.

 We'd finish up dinner, and then it was time! My super important job was always to be the 'branch sorter'. I'd take all those bundled-up branches and separate them into neat little piles by their color, it felt like a mission! Once I had my piles, we'd all work together to get the tree put together.

 Then, the magic really started. My dad would be in charge of the lights, carefully stringing them around the whole thing. Meanwhile, we'd be digging through the boxes, pulling out all the special ornaments. The best part? My mom would always have the Christmas music playing, and she'd make us the absolute best hot cocoa. It was so warm and cozy, and even though it took us about two hours to get the tree just right, it never felt like work. It was just pure, wonderful family time.

 

4.  I have to tell you about my absolute favorite little ritual for Christmas Eve. It's been going strong for over ten years now, and it's just the coziest thing!

     It all started one year when I was spending the holiday solo. I wanted to make the night feel special, so I decided to treat myself to a big, comforting bowl of pasta (yes, really!) and a lovely glass of wine. And for the entertainment? I put on The Nutcracker ballet.

     Honestly, it just clicked! There's something so magical and familiar about the music and the costumes,it makes the whole room feel like a winter wonderland. Now, it's just not Christmas Eve without my cozy dinner and that beautiful performance. It's become one of my most cherished, sparkly traditions.

 

5.  Instead of the usual turkey and fixings, our family Christmas dinner was always Mexican food, and the undisputed star of the show was the tamales!

     Now, making those beauties is quite the project, right? It's definitely not a quick weekday meal! So, about a month before Christmas, we'd all gather at my grandparents' house. It was so cozy,like a little tamale factory! We'd set up this incredible assembly line, everybody getting their hands messy and chatting away.

     By the time the day was done and the kitchen was cleaned up, each family walked away with a massive haul, I mean, like six or seven dozen each! It was such a labor of love, and it meant we had these delicious, homemade tamales to enjoy for months. Seriously, it was the best!

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

The Holiday Blues

 "Work hard for what you want because it won't come to you without a fight. You have to be strong and courageous and know that you can do anything you put your mind to. If somebody puts you down or criticizes you, just keep on believing in yourself and turn it into something positive." (Leah LaBelle)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

 The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of endless cheer, cozy gatherings, and perfect moments. But for many, the reality is far more complex. Alongside the jingle bells and twinkling lights, the feeling of the "Holiday Blues", a mix of stress, loneliness, sadness, and overwhelming pressure—can creep in, making this time of year feel less than joyful.

 

 If you're feeling this way, know that you are not alone. The gap between the festive ideal and reality, coupled with shorter days, financial strain, and personal memories, can be a heavy burden.

 

 The good news? You don't have to force yourself into a massive, stressful holiday celebration to find relief. Sometimes, the most effective way to work through the blues is by embracing small, manageable, and intentional acts of holiday celebration.

 

 Our senses are deeply tied to memory and mood. Use them to your advantage!

• Bake Something Small: Skip the elaborate cookie spread. Instead, grab a roll of pre-made dough, or simply warm up some cinnamon rolls. The smell of baking spices alone can be incredibly comforting. 
• The Comfort Drink: Treat yourself to a perfect, cozy holiday beverage—hot cocoa, spiced tea, eggnog, or cider. Sip it slowly, appreciating the warmth and flavor.
• Create a Low-Key Playlist: Don't go straight for the bombastic Christmas carols if they feel too intense. Find an instrumental holiday jazz or classical playlist. Play it softly while you do mundane tasks like cleaning or working.

 

 The spirit of giving doesn't have to mean buying expensive gifts.

• The Intentional Card: Choose a person you genuinely care about and write them a thoughtful, handwritten card. Focus on telling them what you appreciate about them, not just saying "Happy Holidays." The act of focusing on someone else can lift your spirits.
• The Five-Minute Volunteer: Look for quick, impactful ways to help, like donating five canned goods to a food bank or dropping off blankets at an animal shelter. Quick acts of service are proven mood boosters.
• Gift Yourself Cozy Time: Schedule a specific block of time (say, 30 minutes) to sit quietly and read a book or watch a favorite holiday movie guilt-free. This is a gift of presence and peace you give to yourself.

 Remember, the holidays are just a few weeks in the calendar year. Your well-being is more important than perfection. Give yourself permission to feel what you feel, and use these small, intentional activities as anchors. They won't magically solve all your problems, but they are gentle nudges toward finding small pockets of peace and seasonal warmth, one string of lights and one cup of cocoa at a time.

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

 

 

Protect Your Peace