I’ve made cornbread 4 times in the past couple of weeks. Been using ghee instead of oil and YUM.

The kids went afternoon camping, complete with backpacks full of things to do and snacks. 😊⛺️

How We Celebrated the New Year with the kids:

Charcuterie, sparkling cider, mixed treats, and a LEGO put together party

Gumbo cookoff for lunch today

Made gingerbread cookies (my favorite!) last night

Reading: Just finished reading “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” to my son. We’re 4 chapters in on “Prince Caspian” now. I found this whole 1970s Chronicles of Narnia set at a thrift store for either $4 or $5!

Watching: @mtt and I just finished watching “A Gentleman in Moscow.” I liked it.

Researching: Countertop grain mills. I think it would be so amazing to mill our own flour.

Purchasing: Lots of Christmas gifts. ‘‘Tis the season. 🎄 My grandfather graciously gives me money to purchase my own gifts. So more specifically, I just purchased myself a Masienda tortilla press and masa. Something I’ve wanted for a while, but just couldn’t justify. But that’s what makes it a good gift!

Wearing: I got a new pair of classic Vans. Sized up half a size for some toe wiggle room (because I wear barefoot shoes a lot of the time and can’t do a tight toe box anymore), and they are so comfortable.

Enjoying: Took my kiddos to the zoo here recently. It’s not very big, but they’re making some improvements as of late. My kids have visited with their grandparents a lot in the last few months, and they were so excited to show me around because it had been years since I’d been. We had the best morning there.

Eating: I’m making gingerbread cookies this week. This is my favorite recipe! In the past, I’ve just mixed powdered sugar and milk until I get a consistency for icing I like. But I think I’ll try a royal icing this year.

Drinking: Bone broth hot chocolate. The recipe calls for chicken bone broth, but I actually prefer beef. It’s really good either way, though! My kids have actually had the opportunity to have packaged hot chocolate several time recently, and they wouldn’t drink it because they said it wasn’t good.

LEGO-ing: I got 3 Christmas Polar Bears sets for 70% off after Christmas last year. Saved them and got them out this week to do with B and Ro. Fun times.

My girl got to go to a Christmas tea party yesterday!

Kumquats

Ro girl taped up a box to wrap. 😊

Two of her favorite things are crafting and wrapping gifts for others. ❤️ Oh, and tape. Tape might be her very favorite thing.

Some recent-ish thrifted things:

A $1 framed Christmas cross-stitch

Lemon Federalist ironstone sugar, creamer, and for cups - paid $2 for all of it

2 floral napkins that were either 25 or 50 cents each, can’t remember.