Hello Monday

 

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you had a great weekend! I can't wait to hear from you at the end of today's post. I'm linking up with Holly and Sarah for today's blog post. I'll jump right in!

I love it when our Fridays are a comfy/cozy day at work! This one was only for the staff since parent/teacher conferences had happened the night before. I dressed in this: leggings and a loose fitting thin black hoodie with pink sneakers. I like how it looked first starting off, but by the end of the day, I hated my shirt. It kept growing throughout the day, so I'll never wear it outside of the house again. It's great for a night in, but not for public. The sad thing is that I knew this, but had forgotten. Does this ever happen to you or am I the only one? 

I was so tired after work! I felt like a hit a brick wall by two o'clock that afternoon at work, so I came home and took a nap. Chris met me here after work, and we ended up having a later dinner because of this. We went to one of our favorite places, Bangkok Alley. It was delicious! We came to my house after dinner and watched Ted Lasso before calling it a night. 

I love that at this point in our relationship I can be fully myself without him caring. If anything, I think he likes me more at my natural state than fully dressed/made up. We ended up spending part of the day running errands after this. Both of us had a few things to buy and do to get ready for the work week, but we weren't out that long. The last place we stopped was for him to get a hair cut; I love how it turned out! 

The place he likes to go is right on the town square; it's this tiny building that is fixed up really cute by the owners. I loved all the lanterns hanging from the ceiling!

I love his smile so much.

He was totally checking his hair out in my phone, and I love that I have these pictures. He's so handsome to me, and I love all his gray, even though he's self conscious about it since he's only 42. Have I ever mentioned that he's younger than me? I'm 49. 

For the rest of the afternoon, I worked on laundry and went back and forth from chores to sitting beside him on the couch watching the Olympics. Jonah came in and out at one point; he bought a topper (he called it a pap cap) for the bed of his truck that day. He and his friend drove to Athens, Alabama to pick this up; by the time he'd washed the road off his truck that afternoon, Jonah had it listed and sold on Facebook marketplace. He said it had paint bubbles that drove him insane; as crazy as this sounds to you and to me, he made a hefty profit off this thing and was glad about the decision he made. He does this kind of thing all the time with parts and tires/wheels. He's got a good little side hustle in this kind of business! It always makes me laugh.

Chris and I met my sister Trish for dinner. We went to my favorite place (Skybox), and then Trish and I went downtown to see The Sound of Music that was playing at The Orpheum. It was amazing!

It was such a fun night! I know my dad would have loved seeing this on Broadway, he loved the movie so much. So did Trish and I, for that matter, and we both sung along all night. I knew so many of the songs word verbatim and was reminded once again of why I can never remember my passwords: it's because of the useless knowledge I have taking up my brain space! I loved everything about our night, and a sister date was way past due for us. We got home late and pretty much went straight to bed. 

It was a late night! Trish spent the night with me and then I was up at my church by eight for praise team rehearsal. Chris and I met Jonah, Drew and Mallory for lunch after church at our favorite local pizza place. It was good to be with all of them! I spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning and getting ready for the week before leaving to get a car wash and gas in my car. I went to Marilyn's house for dinner; she made the best chicken enchiladas!

She even sent me one home for lunch today! I love this woman. 

How was your weekend? Did you do anything that you loved? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!

P.s. Just a reminder that Saturday is February 28th, and will be time for Share 4 Somethings. I hope you make plans now to join me then! Love to all!

Jenn 

Friday Favorites, 2.20.2026.

 

Happy Friday, friends! I hope you've had a great week. Mine has been really good for the most part, and it went by pretty quickly. I feel like the month is flying by, and it is, right? March is just right there to touch, almost. It's birthday season for my sons beginning in March! I have some favorites from this week, so I will jump right in.

When I went to work Tuesday morning, the fog was so thick that you couldn't even see the school just across the street! I stopped to take this so I could send it to Marilyn. Did you know that she and I talk every single morning before I go to work? That's one of my favorite things about our friendship. This is one of my favorite things about our friendship, and it's been a huge blessing to me since I've started working full time again. 

I ordered pizza from my favorite place on Tuesday night; this Elvis statue always cracks me up and makes me think of Marilyn. 

Seeing one of my favorite families on earth Saturday was a treat! I haven't seen these kiddos and their precious parents in ages. Fun fact: Abbey and I have been posing like this for pictures for twelve years. 

I love looking back through old pictures. 

I think my favorite outfit from the week was the one with the black leggings and brown top; I wore it Wednesday since it was going to be so much warmer that day. I love those pico style shirts! The material is so soft, and I love how flowy it is.

We had a professional development day on Monday; it's always a favorite on those days when we get to leave campus for lunch out! This was me and my co-worker friend Stephanie in the backseat of the car heading back to school after. 

Other favorites from the week include but are not limited to:

• week night dates with Chris
• Ted Lasso
• laughing with co-workers and trying to avoid drama
• early morning phone calls and texts
• journaling
• Bible reading/listening each day (even when I'm in Leviticus)
• seeing or talking to my sons
• avoiding looking at who's watching me on social media (you'd be surprised)
• late night talks with Jonah 

What was a favorite from your week? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Just a reminder that next Saturday is February 28th, and will be time for Share 4 Somethings. I hope you make plans now to join me then! Love to all!

Jenn 

Thankful Thursday

 

Happy Thursday! I feel like it's been a while since I've done a Thankful Thursday post; I was talking about this recently with someone and it made me miss this. I always feel like I have so much to be thankful for, and this week is no exception. I'll jump right in!

This week I'm thankful for:

• normal morning routines
• that I have multiple ways to read the Bible, whether it's actual reading or listening
• The Bible Recap
• the narrator of the Bible on YouVersion in the NLT translation (he makes it come alive and is very theatrical...this helps while I'm reading Leviticus)
• music
• week date nights with Chris
• good memories to replace the ones I have from one year ago at this time
• a good week at work
• lunch out with co-workers on a professional development day
• plans for the weekend that make me happy...a sister date
• the desire to cook at home and eat in more
• a show to look forward to watching every night
• good phone conversations
• the gift of blog friends and reading what they write everyday
• having trips to look forward to
• warmer weather and sunshine
• a good choir rehearsal
• a really great night of sleep
• that I'm a morning person and that I never have issues getting up when my alarm goes off

What are you thankful for this week? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!

Jenn 

the Wednesday hodgepodge

 

Happy Wednesday, friends! I'm here with Joyce again today for the weekly hodgepodge...this is a post that I dearly love; thank you, Joyce, for your inspiring and thought provoking questions each and every week! I'll jump right in!

1. The hodgepodge lands on Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent. Do you mark this season in some way? Will you be giving up something or adding something to your life in this Lenten season? First, I can't believe that it's already this season! Spring is coming, friends, and that is so exciting and hopeful. I can't wait! I don't really observe Lent, but I strengthen my faith everyday by reading the Bible and spending time in prayer. 

This was last year on Resurrection Sunday! We had lunch at my house that day; this is me with three/four of my sons, Mom, and my nephew Tyler.

2. Pancakes...are you a fan? Syrup or no syrup? Plain, blueberries, chocolate chip, bananas or some other add in? Are you a pancakes on your menu this week? I love pancakes, but I rarely eat them. I like them all of the ways, honestly, but my favorite was when I made lemon blueberry pancakes one time. I heated up some syrup and ate a small stack. They were delicious, but my sons ended up eating most of them! I'd done chocolate chip for them, but they liked mine more. I wasn't planning on having pancakes for dinner this week, but now I'm thinking I need to put them on the weekly menu!

3. Tell us about a time recently when you felt "spread too thin". I think a time when I recently felt spread too thin was when I was having to go through a lot of things to start the job I have now. I had to go through an onboarding process, and I had to do a lot of training and get paperwork in order. It felt overwhelming for a little while, but I was so glad to have made it through all of that. 

This was my first day back at work! 

4. What's your favorite jewel or gemstone? In terms of your wardrobe, would we find more gem tones, pastels, black and white, or primary colors? I'm not a huge fan of jewelry, so I really don't have a favorite. There's one gemstone that is turquoise in color (but not actual turquoise), and is beautiful. I don't know the name of it, but I would take it if someone were to give me something like that! 🤣 I'm more of a plain jewelry person, and I like solid gold or sometimes white gold/silver. My closet is plethora of color! I have all of the colors listed above.

5. What responsibility do you think is hardest about being in charge? The hardest responsibility by far to me is paying all of the bills! It's stressful being the one solely in charge. I don't like it, if I'm being honest. I am really bad at remembering certain bills, like the water bill and a credit card bill. I'm rolling my eyes at myself. It's ridiculous. I just had to go check this to make sure I am still caught up. I am! Whew. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. I have loved getting to see plays at The Orpheum this year. I purchased season tickets last spring in honor of my dad, and I haven't regretted that decision even once. They were pricey, but it's been so much fun to see plays again. I'm seeing one this weekend with my sister and can't wait! Do you ever get to see Broadway plays? 

I can't wait to read your posts today! Thanks for being here to read mine each day, friends. Love to all!

Jenn 

inspired writing Tuesday--a luxurious feeling night at home

 

Happy Tuesday, friends! I thought I'd share about things I love doing to make an evening at home feel more luxurious. I hope you're inspired! 

Anytime I'm home for any length of time at all, I light a candle to add ambiance. I also never use the overhead lighting in my home, opting instead for lamp lighting. Are you like this? I also love to use lamps in the dark corners, like in my kitchen or in my dining room. 

I love to have a fire in the fireplace when the weather is cold. I only started doing this for the first time in a couple of years just recently. I am scared of inside fires, honestly, but now that I've started this I will continue. 

I love it when these outside lights are turned on; they looked beautiful in the snow. I love to sit outside when the weather is mild, but I have these lights set to come on with a timer. 

I love to use one of the many mugs that I have to eat things like soup, cereal, or ice cream in. I believe in things like using pretty mugs for this kind of thing, eating on real plates instead of paper, and using cloth napkins instead of paper. If more than one person is here with me to eat, I'll use paper napkins, but when it's just me I will always pick the cloth ones that Mom made for me several years ago.

I use them all year long, because they're reversible. 

I also believe in doing things like having music playing, having surfaces cleaned off, and having a basket of blankets close by on those cold nights. I'm a seasonal music gal; I have it playing almost all day long when I'm at home and my playlists change with the seasons. 

I like having books or magazines near by in case I'm tempted to pick up one to read. 

I like for my bed to be made everyday. Do you do this? It really does get my day started off on the right foot. I mention it here, because I love to climb into a bed that's been straightened already.

I like for my kitchen to be clean on the nights when I cook at home. 

I like to keep my closet as clean as possible; it's easier to maintain once you clean it thoroughly. I have been practicing hanging up or folding stuff the minute I take it off if it's not going into the dirty clothes basket. 

On the nights when I'm in for the evening, I like to be comfy. My favorite thing to do is to shower and wash my hair early enough so that it'll dry before I go to bed. I love to have a clean, moisturized face on the nights in!

I will sometimes use the nights that I'm at home to give myself a pedicure or a facial.

I do a little maintenance work while I'm at home, meaning that I do things to keep the house picked up and clean for the week. 

What are the things you like to do to make your evenings at home more pleasurable? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!

Jenn ❤️