NaBloPoMo - Day 13

I had my two little tornadoes yesterday. It was a very busy but fun day as always. Of course, I'm way behind on reading your blogs now. Today and tomorrow are quite busy as well, but I'll get all caught up with all of you by the weekend.

I want to share one of the best ideas I think I've ever had for the little ones today.

The girls call this their special sharing plate. It's just a plastic deviled egg plate I found at Dollar Tree. It even came with a cover, so I'm able to prepare any cold items, like their fruit and cheese, the night before and have it ready to go in the morning. It's perfect for making a little smorgasbord for toddlers and preschoolers. Another nice thing is being able to provide mostly healthy foods without denying them small amounts of the less healthy things they love.

When my girls arrive in the morning, the first thing they ask is if they get to have their special sharing plate. It's adorable how excited they get about it. I always use it for their breakfast, and of course, I try to plan as many of their meals and snacks using the special sharing plate as I can. 

I also have a high cabinet where I keep any kids' cereals and any other less than healthy foods, so what's on their plate is all that's available. They always raid my pantry between meals, and there's nothing in there they can't spot, somehow, no matter how well I think I have it hidden. 

It makes me feel like a pretty smart Gamma coming up with this one. Good idea, don't you think?

NaBloPoMo - Day 12

Almost Wordless Wednesday - I am this many McDonald's ago years old. Yikes!

(Photo Credit - Pinterest)

I was young, but I do remember. Who else remembers when they looked like this?

NaBloPoMo - Day 11

My family and friends bring more happiness to my life than anything else possibly could. With that said, here's a list of some of the little things in life that bring me joy.  

• A hot cup of coffee in the morning
• Falling asleep to the sound of rain
• The smell of a good barbecue
• Laughing until I cry
• Days when I have nothing I have to do
• Warm, freshly baked cookies
• Inside jokes between friends
• The sound of the waves crashing at the beach
• A really good meal
• Holding doors for people who say thank you
• A nice cool pool on a hot summer day
• The smell of popcorn at the movie theater
• Good friends that I've never even met
• When a person's laugh is funnier than the joke
• Seeing a beautiful sunrise or sunset
• Watching my grandbabies sleep 
• Long phone calls with an old friend
• The smell of fresh bread baking
• Children and teenagers with good manners
• Days I don't have to set an alarm to get up
• Songs that make me want to play air guitar
• Seeing babies laugh or smile
• Crossing the last thing off my to-do list on a busy day
• Being totally absorbed in a good book
• Walking barefoot on the beach
• Getting into bed with freshly laundered sheets

What are some of the little things in life that bring you joy?

NaBloPoMo - Day 10

Way back in the old days of blogging, I used to do something on Mondays called The Simple Woman's Daybook. I thought it might be fun to bring that back. These weren't the original prompts. Most changed them up a bit over time to suit themselves. These are the ones I was using on an old blog. They still work for me. Feel free to use them yourself if the urge strikes.

Outside my window... It's cloudy and very windy, currently 66 degrees. The high is 68 today. The temperature is forecast to drop into the 30s by tonight. That's very cold by SW Florida standards.

My weekend... It was a fairly quiet weekend. I did watch the girls for a few hours on Saturday evening. We had a nice dinner and movie night. We watched the Disney movie Elio. They actually cuddled up on the couch with me and sat still for the movie. I was shocked. I did some cleaning and grocery shopping on Sunday.

This morning... I'm relaxing with a cup of coffee and reading blogs.

I am wearing... Yoga pants and one of my son's castoffs, a big, worn-out, comfy concert t-shirt, an Avenged Sevenfold shirt to be exact. 

I am listening to... The sound of the high winds whipping through the trees outside.

I am thinking... This daybook idea might be a good thing for me to try to stick with weekly or at least monthly when life gets back to being too busy to blog regularly.

I am feeling... Happy and content.

I am reading... Blogs, lots and lots of lovely blogs.

I am cooking... I made some egg salad yesterday that I'll finish off for brunch today, and then I'll be cooking up a new recipe I came across a little later this afternoon - Moroccan Chickpea and Couscous Soup

I am watching... I just finished the series The Summer I Turned Pretty on Prime. I didn't think it would be my kind of thing, but I got invested after the first couple of episodes and actually really enjoyed it. Have you seen it? 

I think I'll binge-watch what's out so far of this season of Grey's Anatomy next. Anyone else a fan? I think it's gone way downhill, but I can't stop watching after all these years. It's hard to believe it's on season 22. 

I am going... Nowhere today, as far as I know.

This week... I'm planning to stay at home both today and tomorrow. I have some paperwork to deal with and a few projects I'm working on. I'll have the girls on Wednesday instead of Thursday this week. Thursday will be clean up and recovery from the two little tornadoes, and Friday will be a mass catch-up day to get all of this week's errands done. 

How are things outside of your window today?

Have a great week! :)