Ta-Da instead of To-Do in 2022!

 Every January since 2018 I have been scheming and dreaming up a list of things to accomplish during the coming year. This idea is instigated by my favorite author, Gretchen Rubin. And even though I’ve never accomplished everything on my list, it has been mostly fun to have such a list hanging out in my phone notes and over my head. I think it has inspired some action that otherwise wouldn’t have transpired. 

That being said, I just wasn’t feeling it for this year! An “unexpected” year didn’t scream for a tidy to-do list at all! Rather it wants to passionately “TA-DA!” instead of feeling obligated to “TO-DO.” So, every month as I go along, I’ll be on the lookout for two things that I’ve been inspired to complete that are worthy of being that month’s ta-das! It can’t be a boring normal daily thing like “unload the dishwasher” that will get mundanely done again either. So far for January 2022, I have added 

• Complete Art Wall in the Hall.

One day several weeks ago, Danielle and I were inspired to paint the 5 thrifted frames I’ve had for years for this particular project. Then last week, I added the strings and tiny clothespins, hung them in a collage on the hall wall, and Ta-Da! Now we have a designated space for 5 of my little artist’s most current creations. This item has hung out undone on every yearly list since 2019 I do believe. 

So we shall see what gets added yet for January and how the rest of the months go down! 2 items per month through November will equal 22 Ta-Das for 2022. December doesn’t need anything extra I’ve learned.

Are y’all gonna ta-da with me?? My Dad has been ta-daing as long as I can remember! I learned early on from him how fun it is to add things you’ve already done to your list, purely for the fun of crossing them out! 

How to Love Cold Weather

I love cold weather. 

The frosty chill, the cloudy puffs of breath, the hygge happiness it brings! Yeah, yeah, I know! I live Florida and it’s nothing like “real” winter, even though I wish it was! Maybe someday I’ll get my bucket list wish to spend the winter somewhere snowy and get my fill! I’m told I wouldn’t love it then, but I’d like to find out for myself. But I will say, when it does finally get cold in Florida, it’s usually a “chill you to your soul” kinda cold because it’s layered with a heavy dose of humidity. 

I didn’t alway love cold weather. 

But somewhere along the way, I discovered that it’s much easier to get warm than to cool off. And with only a few simple additions, learning to love cold weather is the easiest thing ever! 

1. WEAR A QUALITY COAT. 

Don’t expect not to shiver if you go out with a flimsy sweater and flip-flops! Getting a North Face jacket with a goose down layer was a life changer for me. 

2. LAYER WITH LEGGINGS. 

If it’s below 60 degrees, cover those drumsticks! And that neck! A soft scarf can’t be beat! 

3. START YOUR VEHICLE AHEAD OF LEAVING. 

There’s just no reason not to have your seat toasty, your steering wheel melty, and warm air blasting away when you hop in for final departure. 

4. LIGHT A FIRE - REAL OR FAKE. 

Flickering flames just bring the cozy factor way up in winter! Our living room, master bedroom, and master bath are all currently benefiting from fireplace heaters with artificial flames. Which brings me to #5!

5. HAVE A SPACE HEATER IN EVERY BATHROOM. 

Ain’t nobody got time for icicles in the bathroom. 

6. BRING ON THE HEATED BLANKETS. 

Last winter, we had only one, so to resolve fights I ordered another one from Target this past Black Friday. They are so lovely for a couch snuggle and to tuck under the bedcovers so the sheets are warm and toasty when you crawl in! Heated mattress pads are nice too, but I’m loving the simplicity of just using my electric blanket. 

7. LIGHT CANDLES AT SUNDOWN. 

Seeing a candle burning gives your brain the perception of warmth even though they don’t add a quantitative amount of heat to the room. I’m into tapers this winter, at a rate of 1/2 a taper per evening x 2. 

8. DRINK HOT DRINKS. 

If I’m home, I brew a cuppa around 3:30 every afternoon. My current favorite is the Canadian “Harney & Sons” Hot Cinnamon Spice tea that Alisha gifted me for Christmas. 

So there you have it! 

Now, go forth and enjoy the rest of your winter! And remember, you can’t appreciate being warm if it’s not cold first! 

Officially 2022 & Menus

Yesterday felt like the official beginning of the new year for me! It was Monday, Danielle went back to school, and that clean slate feeling finally arrived! When you think about it, the actual day of January 1 is a horrible day for new beginnings! Talk about getting off on the wrong foot! You’ve just eaten piles of greasy fried carbs, gotten loads of stuff (precious presents, but still!), and stayed up til midnight to welcome the new year in! Just a scenario of disaster and grouchiness instead of a recipe for being a new healthy, happy person! So I’m all about picking your own New Year’s Day! I’m not really into making rip-roaring resolutions this year, but I do want to ease back into some good habits that had sort of fallen by the wayside. Like planning weekly menus for one! And having groceries on hand to prepare said menus! But since this is the Year of the Unexpected, I’m only gonna plan 5 menus per week instead of 7. That way we can see what we are in the mood to cook over the weekend! I like to run to town on Saturday anyway to take advantage of the $5 off of $25 coupon that both Dollar General and Family Dollar offer on Saturdays!

MENUS

Make Whatever You Want Monday • Venison Chili, Cheese & Crackers, Apple Muffins

Taco Tuesday • Navajo Tacos with the leftover chili, White Cheese Dip

Pie Wednesday • Chicken ‘n Dumplins (not pie but Danl likes this better than chicken pot pie)

Throw it on the Grill Thursday • Pot Roast with Taters and Carrots, Bread Machine Bread (not grilling weather this week!)

Fish Friday • Fried Ham, Potato Salad, Green Beans

(I know ham isn’t fish lol but I’m Shelf/Fridge/Freezer cooking this week! And we didn’t have any seafood on hand!)

So there you have it! Danl made the chili last night and his is always much superior to mine! We had some friends over and had such a good relaxing evening. This winter weather is just the best for hygge evenings at home. 

An UNEXPECTED 2022!

This year’s WOTY fills me with wonder! •UNEXPECTED•

Just typing it makes me a bit apprehensive, yet excited! As I journey along trying to become a bonafide grownup, someone who is organized and plans ahead and is prepared for real life, I’m finding that I’m becoming more inflexible! Grumpier than I used to be when things don’t go according to Plan A. (When you don’t even have a plan, you don’t get as disgruntled or even realize when it gets disrupted!) So I’m striving for the balanced life, the dotted line between the ditches of chaos and calm. Real life is always messy, unplanned, and unexpected. But that’s where the beauty is if we can learn to embrace it! I want to expect the unexpected, to do unexpected things like being on time or even early, (EARLY was in my list of runners up in my personal WOTY contest.) or be the one who cleans up after an event instead of just sitting and gabbing, or who thinks of going the unexpected extra mile instead of just being oblivious to the needs around me. I want to learn to see a change in plans for my day as an adventure instead of an aggravation. I want to lower my expectations of my spouse and others and maybe even myself. I want to feel ready for unexpected guests in my home at any time, which for me I’ve decided is living in that sweet spot of having things not perfect but not nasty. Perfection is overrated anyway, but last week’s dishes are not. I’d also like to do little unexpected things each day! To give hugs and kisses and compliments at random moments! To be willing to be vulnerable and to ask hard, unexpected questions in love. To be raw and real and humble when it would be easier to just give the expected, “I’m fine!” answer. So here’s to getting aboard the UNEXPECTED train! I’m gonna hang on and enjoy the ride! Who’s coming with me?! Grab an empty seat and tell me what you chose for your 2022 WOTY!