GOOD FRIDAY FAVORITES

Happy Good Friday! As you read this, we are on our way to our kids’ new house in Cleveland to take them a lawnmower, lol! Just a quick day trip as yesterday I had that major work done at the Dentist. I’m writing this before that appointment just in case I don’t feel like getting on the computer so let’s hope it went well, lol! 

**Update: I feel good enough to get on and say YAY! Sedation Dentistry is the way to go! Old crown off, temp on, no problems! I barely remember it and slept most of the afternoon! 

 

Twins

Just the light of our lives! Can’t wait to have an Easter egg hunt with them on Sunday.

They LOVE to play outside! 

Grammy Tote

The kids got me this precious Grammy Tote! It’s the exact size I needed and even matches my Grammy Sweatshirt! 

Chat GPT Action Figure

These creations have been all over social media, so I had to try it myself! I had never used my ChatGPT app and I’m proud of myself that I was able to make it work. I loved it so much I started making them for other people as well, lol! Here is how mine and my mom's turned out in case you want to try it. Here is the exact prompt I used for mine. Just change some of the words to what you want, and you’ll have your creation. Have you tried it?

FYI: Does Not look like me but I'll take it, LOL.

 

PROMPT I USED: 

Please make me a realistic action figure (Barbie doll) of the person in this photo. The doll should be full figure and displayed in its original clear plastic box packaging. At the top of the box is the name of the toy, Andrea Nine. In the packaging, next to the figure are the toy's accessories including; a pink Gucci purse, an 8-pound gray and black Havapoo dog, a perfume bottle, a passport, red high heeled shoes, a floral teacup.

Made One for Mom...Doesn't look like her either but CUTE!!

The Cake Bake Shop

Enjoyed a fun day on Wednesday with my friend Maggie (we've know each other for 33 years) at The Cake Bake shop in Carmel, Indiana. It’s always such a fun day and such a nice place to visit! We did the afternoon tea and had a ball!

My Top from Red Dress HERE

Outfits

A mish mash as the weather is all over the place!

Top HERE // Jeans HERE // Sandals HERE

Top HERE // Joggers HERE // Sandals HERE

Sweatshirt HERE // Jeans HERE // Sandals HERE

 

Birthday Balloons Vignette

The twin‘s mama has started a new business venture with her bestie, a balloon company! They have the cutest ideas, and this is what they made for mine and her mama's 54th! If you’re local, email me for info. I’ve got them working on an idea for Mr. Nine‘s 55th birthday this summer!

 Have a BEAUTIFUL EASTER Weekend!!!

Linking up with Momfessionals and Between Naps on The Porch // Thursday Fashion Files // I Do deClaire // Hello Monday // Sunday's on Silverado // Life and Linda

xoxo  

 

FRIDAY FAVORITES THE SICK ONE

Hi babes! It’s been a sickly one around here! NOT a favorite! Mr. Nine and I have both been sick and we must be better as we have a fun day planned tomorrow and a big week next week where I might be turning another year older, lol! But anyway, let’s get to some Friday Favorites! No matter what the circumstances I can always find them!

 

Girlies are 18 Months TODAY!!!

Today! Those beautiful twin granddaughters of ours are 18 months old today! Just the light of our lives! We’re hoping to enjoy a fun discovery museum, pizza and carousel day tomorrow as an early birthday celebration for Grammy‘s birthday, lol

Etsy shop where sweaters 

are from: HERE

Because everyone asks, lol...so cute!

Gigglescape Stuffed Animals

Gigglescape is such a great line from Target! They have more than stuffed animals, but my goodness their Easter line of stuff’s are the cutest! I almost want a CHICK for myself! Here is the chicken and the LAMB I got for the girls, so darling!

Lemon Tray

I can’t believe I have not shared with you that I’ve been decorating my tiered tray again. Not all three, lol,  just one of them, but I changed it out last week from St. Patrick’s Day to bright cheerful lemons! It’s a little different than the lemon one I did in the past ( see post HERE), but I just love it!

White Wood Tray HERE // Wood Beads HERE // Mug Hat HERE // Faux Lemons HERE // Cute Etsy Lemon Signs HERE // Mini Pedestal Stands HERE

Neighborhood Cat and Stella

Last Fall, a cat, which I believe to be a neighborhood cat started coming and laying on our outdoor sectional on the porch. I put a blanket out there for him in case he wanted to lay there during cold evenings. Didn’t see him all winter, but he’s back and he often comes to the back patio door looking for his friend Stella. She’s not so keen on him, lol.

One Outfit

Sorry, friends just one outfit this week and a comfy one when I had to go out. I sure do love this sweater though from Quince. I was in lounge clothes and pajamas the rest of the week, lol.

Tiny Beautiful Things

I might be late to the viewing game on this one as it came out in 2023 but this limited series on Hulu has my heart! Have Kleenex ready. It is so good! Have you seen Tiny Beautiful Things?

Blast from Last

Since we’re talking about the girls turning 18 months old, I thought I would share a picture from last year to show you that their shoe game has been strong for the beginning, lol! Just look at those fuzzy slippers!

And Chicken Soup/Post of Week

My mama always makes me chicken soup when I am sick and it has hit the spot this week! And speaking of mama....in case you missed Mondays Post. It was about a trip to Nashville's for 2 mama's birthday's!  Read it HERE!!

Stay healthy loves and enjoy the 

last weekend of March!

Linking up with Momfessionals and Between Naps on The Porch // Thursday Fashion Files // I Do deClaire // Hello Monday // Sunday's on Silverado // Life and Linda

xoxo 

FRIDAY FAVORITES HELLO SPRING

Did Spring get ushered in in Indiana yesterday or was it Winter for another season? Yes, kids on the first day of Spring, we had SNOW! All you can do at this point is just laugh and cherish when the days are beautiful and get cozy when they’re not, lol! 

 

Easter Porch

I really have not been into decorating my porch as much, but since Easter is quite a bit later this year, I had to do a little something after St. Patrick’s Day before I get my flowers planted on the porch. Look at these giant bunnies I got from Michaels. You can also get them at Hobby Lobby. This made for the cutest little front door display. I got out two of my flowerpots. I put some plastic wrap on top of the dirt and then little faux grass mats! Then I shoved dowel rods up the bunnies butts, LOL and down into the dirt they went! The BOWS on the lanterns were a great find from Amazon! Love how all this turned out. More links below pic 2!

BUNNIES HERE // BOWS HERE // CARROTS HERE// EGGS HERE // GRASS MATS HERE // PLANTERS HERE // LANTERNS HERE // SIMILAR WREATH HERE

Girls

Pop Nine and I got to play with the girls. They were cracking us up, especially when one of them wanted two “hats” (what she calls bows) on her head. So cute! Aren't their watercolor jammies so pretty!

My heart!

They weren't feeling good this week darn it. 

French Press

My barista’s name is Mr. Nine, lol! Well, he does not cook or clean, lol this man is so good at making the coffee! He decided instead of our regular drip coffee, he wanted to try a French press and of course, being a man, it needed to be the New Yeti French Press! These things are so cool. We got the smaller one (34oz), but you can’t get them in a 64oz and so many colors. It totally gives the coffee a different taste and we have enjoyed it the past couple weekends. We also got an electric tea kettle with button saying French Press to get the water to the perfect temp.

dibs Beauty Products

Here is a new to me beauty brand that I have fallen in love with. dibs Beauty! The blush and contour sticks called GlowTour Duo make life so much easier I absolutely love it. The Dual Face Brush is one of the best I’ve seen for blending and foundation and the Bronzer Status Stick is such a beautiful golden shade I especially like it on my clavicle.

Outfits 

Buttercream Yellow

From what I’m seeing and hearing, buttercup yellow is the color of the season! Look at this cute little top I got; I love the back, and it is an exact and I mean exact free people do at $30 less! I’m going to get two more colors. 

Top HERE // Hat HERE // Leggings HERE // Sneakers HERE // Socks HERE

I’ve shown you the sweatshirt from Aerie before, but I can’t 

get enough of it!

Sweatshirt HERE // Jeans HERE // Slippers HERE

Coffee

Wednesday morning had me scared and then had me happy within 20 minutes, lol. I celebrated at a fav coffee shop and the sweet barista there made me the most precious Cinnamon Churro Latte! How CUTE!

Blast from Last 

This is a fun one because one of my besties on the far left and I are having dinner tonight and this was taken last summer when her mother-in-law was visiting from Florida. Her MIL just happens to be one of my mom’s besties and her son is one of Mr. Nine‘s besties! Lol! We enjoyed a wonderful brunch at the Tipsy Biscuit

Grand Ole Opry turns 100

If you’re a fan of Country Music, I hope you caught the 100-year celebration of the Opry on NBC. So good. Garth and Trisha singing George Jones and Tammy Wynette’s “Golden Ring” was my favorite! My mom and I were so excited about his and watched together. 

Here's to no snow and a 

sweet "SPRING" weekend! 

Linking up with Momfessionals and Between Naps on The Porch // Thursday Fashion Files // I Do deClaire // Hello Monday // Sunday's on Silverado // Life and Linda

xoxo 

LET'S LOOK HOW I RESET FOR THE WEEK ON SUNDAYS

 I wrote a bulk of this post my first-year blogging. However, that was back when I worked FT in the professional world. In 2018, that all changed when I early retired and life became so much sweeter. BUT, I am still an organizer, a planner, a type A so Sundays will remain a great day to reset for the week ahead. Just some of the things I do have shifted but it keeps me on track. I’m linking up with for their “Let’s Look” link-up with Shay and Erika. This month’s prompt: How You Reset for the Week on Sundays.

It’s Sunday night and — groan, groan, groan — that means the weekend is ending. Monday mornings are difficult. But you can make them a little more do-able. On the weekends, I make room for fun things. I make room for clear thinking. I make room for not feeling overwhelmed or over-scheduled. Sunday is a great time for me to walk through the week and try to smooth the path ahead of us.

Here are some things you can do to help you reset and recharge for the week ahead. Whether you work outside the home, work from home, are a SHAM, are retired, etc, these things can help the weekend to the week transition.

 The trade-off for a little time spent is that Mondays and the days ahead go so much smoother. Now, I will admit, I do not do all of these every.single.Sunday but even some help and I ALWAYS DID do this first one when I worked professionally….not so much now, but I usually do still pick Monday's outfit.

1. Plan Your Outfits For The Week
I first learned this about 30 years ago from my friend Kris. Hanging on a bar in her bathroom would be 5 work outfits with jewelry and accessories attached, how smart! I’ve been choosing my outfits the Sunday before for many years now… it takes just a few minutes to choose the outfits and it really saves me a groggy, sleepy headache in the morning of worrying about putting together a cute, professional look. If it is just an errands day, I even put that out too. These Clothing Racks are great for planing your outfits!

2. Prep Meals For The Week 

Again, Sunday’s are the perfect time to prep ingredients and think about what you may be having for dinner that week. Dice up veggies if needed. Also, what you have for Sunday dinner may turn into other dishes for the weeknights. A pot roast, for example, can turn into roast beef sandwiches or beef Manhattans. Mondays are also a great time for a crock-pot meal so prep it on Sunday, refrigerate the ceramic portion and simply plug-in on Monday morning. And I love Bento Boxes for meal prep too.

3. Sunday Meal 

Even though the boys are no longer at home, I still like to make the Sunday meal a little extra special! With it just being Mr. 9 and I, then there’s leftovers for one night during the week. It's food that soothes the soul. Often these are healthier theses days but Here is a meal I like to make on Sundays...One of my First posts.

Sunday Meal Recipes HERE

4. Tidy Up

By no means am I saying clean, although I know many people who do on the weekends, especially Saturday Morning. What I am saying is having a tidy home is a great feeling. Clean things off the counters and desk, make sure all the Laundry is folded. If you are like me, when you go on vacation, you like to come home to a clean house. Well, shouldn't it be the same on a Monday, coming home to neatness. 

5. Lists about my Lists and Checking the Calendar

Oh, am I ever a list girl! Are you? I joke that I make a list about my list! So you can bet on Sunday I’m writing my to do list for the week! And it used to only be written but now it’s also checking the Google calendar on my phone for what’s happening that week, lol! I actually used to write everything down in a little purse calendar, but at least I’ve come that far technically wise, lol. I just don't use a planner much anymore. But nothing will ever take the place of my beloved pen to paper to do lists! And These Parker Pens are my beloved pens for writing those lists.

6. Think of the Little Things

I take a large amount of vitamins, so every Sunday I get out the bottles and fill up my vitamin container. Here is my Favorite Pill Organizer. Or maybe you want to take some items to work for that week, throw em' in your work bag on Sunday Evening. Maybe you get the coffee pot ready. The little things completed make like so much easier.

7. Relax with my Mr.

I love having extra downtime with Mr. Nine on a Sunday. OH and Stella ae too! We might do some binge watching or an extra long walk but it’s definitely a reconnect day! And we always watch Willie Geist and the Sunday edition of Today at 9am. We share a cup of tea together in the afternoon too. My Favorite Tea HERE.

8. Dedicate time to Self-Care

I love using the DRMTLGY Brightening Eye Masks on Sunday mornings. I leave them on for like an hour. Yoga or Pilates is a must for me as well early in the day. Or it might be hair wash night, lol. And Ahhh a good book! Even if you don’t have time to read through the week, what a treat to read on a Sunday afternoon! 

 

I must tell you, these simple things truly set me up for a successful week. Just being more carefree with intention, if that makes sense, on a Sunday is a Godsend. My mind isn’t cluttered with a million different things that I need to get done each day, which puts me at ease, and it will put you at ease too. I hope!

What do you like to do to get ready for the week ahead?

Linking up with Momfessionals and Between Naps on The Porch // Thursday Fashion Files // I Do deClaire // Hello Monday // Sunday's on Silverado // Life and Linda

xoxo 

Prompts for Let's Look if you want to join in.

HEALTHY RECIPES ROUND UP 2025

What I gathered from last week’s POST on what I eat in a day, you all seem to be very inspired with healthy ideas and recipes so I’m here for you! Last year, I created a healthy recipes Round Up Post with things I have been creating and eating and I’m here to do that again in 2025. And they are EASY!!! February might be half over but I’m still going strong with trying to eat well! Of course, I fall off the wagon, last week I made Valentine monster cookies, and let’s just say I had more than one, lol! 

 

Trying is all any of us can do and let me just say, do what works for you, what sounds good to you and what feels best inside your body! Everybody has thoughts on what we should and shouldn’t eat, but it’s nobody’s business but yours. I’m just here to give you some ideas and what works for me. 

 

I’m hungry, Let’s Eat

Protein Bowls

This one is my favorite because it’s so customizable. My top two favorites are pumpkin and lemon, but I have made Key lime, peanut butter, vanilla and eggnog protein bowls. It’s so funny. I don’t like cottage cheese by itself, but in these protein bowls, it’s a huge winner. I also put it in eggs, and I cannot get enough of this high protein, low fat yumminess. I have found that not all cottage cheese brands are alike, and my favorite quickly has become the Good Culture brand, specifically theLow-ft classic!

 

I’m going to share how I made the pumpkin protein bowl, and substitute with lemon but really this is a whatever flavor you can come up with and works for you.

Calories: 170 & 30gr protein

Sweet Potato Pancakes

Last year I made the pancakes, and may I add, very easy pancakes with a banana, this time I tried with sweet potato, and I think I like these even better. Plus, they pack a lot more fiber. I love that you can eat them all and still be low in calories.

Calories: 240 & 20 gr protein

Salmon Sushi Bowls

I love sushi, but I’ve never tried to make it and it’s rare we go out for it. This gives me some sushi flavors while getting a healthy serving of salmon! I don’t eat a lot of rice and never white rice, so sometimes I do substitute with cauliflower rice in this recipe, but I must say it’s better with rice. I like to slice an avocado with this as well, but I did not have any, but I had some little cups of smashed avocado, which worked just fine. I just grabbed a little bit with each bite. Even you don't like Sushi, you may like this since the salmon is cooked.

Calories: 415 & 30gr protein

Protein Dole Whip

I’ve never had the pineapple dole whip from Disney World, but I sure have heard a lot about it! In my mind, my recipe tastes exactly like it does when drinking it with Mickey and Minnie, lol! I love having this as an afternoon snack. I bet it’s really going to be refreshing in the summer!

Calories: 170 & 13 gr protein

I have tried MANY protein powders but I still some back to the 

taste of this one! Love it. Get some HERE. And my Favorite Collagen Powder HERE. My top 2 Protein Powder is the FlavCity Vanilla Cream.

Easy Snack Ideas

I love to snack, but I try not to do it too often but when I do, I opt for something healthy. Two of my savory favorites are either Quest chips with the guilt free guacamole from Trader Joe’s or Parm crisps with hummus. If I want something sweet and I told you this before, I go for the Barebells bars. These are my two favorite flavors. 

I also want to add, I try not to eat too many things that are ultra processed like I know the quest chips are, but I feel like the protein outweighs that if I’m only doing it every now and then. Everything in moderation.

My Fav Flavors Variety Pack 

of Quest Chips HERE.

LIKE A CANDY BAR

Get Cookies and Caramel HERE (my #1)

Creamy Crisp HERE

Let me know if you like post like this and if you want me to keep the healthy recipes coming! Have a great day, sweethearts!

AND PS...Need your prayers this week. Having a medical procedure done Wednesday....giving it to God but I'm still nervous. I'll probably share more soon. Probably be reading a lot as no workouts and taking it easy for two weeks..boo to that but it could be worse. Always a bright side to everything!

Linking up with Momfessionals and Between Naps on The Porch // Thursday Fashion Files // I Do deClaire // Hello Monday // Sunday's on Silverado // Life and Linda

xoxo