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. What three words would you use to describe your 2025? I would say that my year was different, eventful, and beautiful. I'm kind of over talking about 2025, though, so I'm going to just move right along.
2. Every January since 1967, Lake Superior University has published a list of words they'd like to see banished from the Queen's English. Words may be banished due to misuse, overuse, or just general uselessness. Of the words listed below, which one do you use most often? Which word or phrase would you like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word you think should have made the list?
67-demure-cooked-massive-incentivize-full stop-perfect-gift/gifted-my bad-reach out
Without a doubt I would banish the phrase 67 from the English vocabulary. It's not a word or even a phrase, honestly, and doesn't deserve a place in a dictionary.
3. What are you nightly rituals? Is that different from your ideal nightly ritual? If so, what's your ideal? I have a routine at night before I go to bed: I straighten up downstairs, sometimes I'll make my lunch for the next day, then I go upstairs, wash my face, and change into my nightshirt. I pull my bed covers down, and climb in, then I call Chris and talk to him for at least fifteen minutes. I watch TikTok videos before I fall asleep, after I'm done talking on the phone. Some nights find me talking to Marilyn until ten, like we did on Monday night. I don't know that I have an ideal nighttime routine.
4. January 6th was National Bean Day. Do you like beans? Which one is your favorite? What's the last thing you made with beans? I like beans, but black beans are my favorite. Taco soup was probably the last thing I made that called for beans.
5. Are you easily embarrassed? Elaborate. I am! I don't love being in the center of attention, so anytime something draws people to focus on me, I get embarrassed.
6. Insert your own random thought here. My random thought is going to be segue into this month's Currently with Amy! I passed the baton to her to carry on with Currently, since my life is too busy right now to remember to host two link parties a month. This month's prompts were what we're currently loving, resolving, planning, eating/drinking, watching/reading. I'll jump in with part two of this post!
I'm loving being back at work!
It felt great to be walking around the halls again on Monday, but I sure missed all the little faces! I was so happy to see them on Tuesday. I'm so grateful that I love my job this much; I don't take this for granted.
I don't do much resolving, honestly, but I need to get better with a few things. One of them is eating; I need to start eating better so that I can continue on with losing weight. I've put about seven pounds back on since the fall, and I need to get them back off ASAP. The other thing I'm resolving to do is to be better with my money. For someone who has never had to deal with bills and finances, I don't want to beat myself up too much, but I could definitely improve.
I'm planning to eat at home more, or even to share a weekly meal with friends. Marilyn and I were talking about this recently, and this is something we both need and want to do more of. I'm excited to see what this will look like, but we talked about it last night when she came over for our first shared meal of 2026.
I'm eating/drinking the same kinds of things as usual, but I aimed to be healthier in my grocery shopping this week. Zero sugar Ginger Ale is my drink of choice; if that's not available, I will also always take a Diet Coke.
This was our girl dinner last night. Marilyn made us these little pizza pinwheels. They were delicious!
I'm watching/reading these:
And I'm watching episodes of Emily in Paris and alternating movies. Monday night I watched Pitch Perfect on Netflix. I'm not into TV much, honestly. That being said, I'm looking forward to watching The People We Meet on Vacation on Netflix after this Friday! Will you watch this?
I feel like this was the longest blog post ever. Thanks for sticking around till the end and for reading today! Love to all.
Jenn
I'm looking forward to The People We Meet on Vacation too and I'm slowly making my way through Emily in Paris.. it's not my favorite show but I do love all the scenery and fashion. Your girl dinner looks yummy!
ReplyDeleteIt's not my favorite either, but I love it for those same reasons! Especially the living in France part. Thanks for that, it was delicious!
DeleteLoved the shared meal idea! I am so looking forward to that, too. I need to recap the book first! I love the fashion of Emily, too! I enjoyed all of your answers! I think you will find the money/eating go hand in hand. It's funny like that! And, the shared dinner in - you are being social while eating better and saving money!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I do too! I barely remember the book, but I'll just be pleasantly surprised. Ha! I know you're right about the money and eating in more; it's crazy how much things cost. I'm not saying I'm giving that up completely, but I could definitely do better. Last night was the best of both worlds!
DeleteI hope you have lots of fun shared dinners this year. I think people love to be invited and are less particular about the food than just enjoying the company. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves as the host to make the meal the thing, when really it's the time spent with others that's so nice. I love all things French but haven't watched Emily in Paris. Hubs and I generally agree on what we'll watch together and I don't think he'd go for that one : ) He'll watch a chick flick but an entire show might be too much for him. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about the experience of a shared meal! That made me laugh...the thought of him watching Emily In Paris. Ha!
DeleteI would say the same about banishing 67. I imagine you hear it a lot more with working in a school. Eek!
ReplyDeleteI am trying to eat better, it is easier now that Christmas is over with but I have a little weight to lose. Good luck. How lovely to eat with Marilyn, those pizza pinwheels look good.
I need to catch up with Emily In Paris, I think I am a season behind. Oops.
Yes! It's terrible. Ha! Thanks, friend! Best wishes for you on your own eating journey.
DeleteHooray for black beans! I am surprised how many are saying they don't like beans...really? Here's to a great start to the next semester at school/work. Hope it is a good one for you!
ReplyDeleteYes! I love them and often have that and rice as a meal. Thanks, friend! I hope you're having a great week!
DeleteVisiting you from Joyce's Hodgepodge today. Your blog is fun to read; you are REAL. I hope your 2026 is good: happy, fun, and productive in reaching your goals. I like the Currently meme and may put that on my blog soon. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you stopped by to visit today! Thank you for this; I do make that my number one goal here. It's not always pretty over here, but I am genuine. I hope you join us all for the next Currently, and that you'll come back to visit often!
DeleteI am loving being back at work! It's nice to have a long break, but being back has been great!
ReplyDeleteYes! I need structure and routine. You are so right!
DeleteI'm so glad you passed Currently on to Amy...she will be a great host! The girl dinner looks delicious. I think I would eat a girl dinner every night if I could! Hope your week is going well!
ReplyDeleteMe too! It's a relief, honestly, and I agree. It was SO GOOD! Thanks, friend. I hope yours has been good as well!
DeleteI know you are so thankful to be back at work! I loved our dinner last night and maybe this weekend I can plan a meal for next week. I am with you on the eating out/saving money/losing weight struggles.
ReplyDeleteI am, but today almost kicked my butt. Ha! I loved it too! That would be fun. Let's make plans!
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