I’m still alive! I certainly didn’t mean to take a three-month-long blogging break, but I did. I don’t even really have a good excuse. Life just got busy, and then the holidays rolled around, and I stayed busy! We are finally getting back to our normal schedule this week. After I went in to make this post, I saw my blog needed some updates I had neglected, and I also saw that several of you had left comments checking on me, and for that, I thank you! It was so sweet of you to check on me, and I really appreciate that.
Believe it or not, I have been trying to keep up with the blogs I check regularly. It’s usually at night, when I finally have a chance to sit down and relax a little before heading to bed. I promise I am going to do better about that, too. I think I just got a little overwhelmed with my blog. It had WAY too many ads, and I didn’t know how to turn them off. I finally removed some of the code in it last night, and I hope it helped a little. Please let me know if you are seeing an obnoxious amount of ads on my blog. I may have to pay someone to fix it. I’m honestly ready for a more minimal blog design, but I am so afraid of breaking it! Plus, hiring a blog designer is WAY more expensive than it used to be. Sometimes I wish I had kept my blog on Blogger.
We did have a good Christmas. We had fun at our extended family get-togethers. I tried a new cheeseball recipe, and it ended up pretty good!
Beetle (our outside kitty) even came inside to inspect the tree, and he approved!
Jake did a LOT of napping, haha!
But by Christmas morning, my little family was sick. We all had a two-week-long battle with bronchitis and sinus infections. I was thankful, at least, it happened when hubby and Young Man had a lot of time off from work and school. So, we spent a lot of time at home just semi-functioning, haha! But we are all on the other side of it now.
I racked up at Candle Day at Bath & Body Works. It was my first Candle Day, where all of the candles were put on a super good sale, and these were all purchased online.
I’m also big into wax melts now. I just love to keep our home smelling amazing. Yes, I have way too many candles and wax melts, but they’re getting used, I promise!
Young Man started back to school on Monday, and it is his last semester of college (unless he decides to further his education at a 4-year college). These two years have really flown by! He is learning so many awesome things while working towards his associate’s degree in Precision Manufacturing and Machine Technology.
I’m just trying to get the house back together from the holidays. We are almost there, but January always has me itching to clean out all of the closets and cabinets, and it’s a slow process. I have also been taking an online “work at your own pace” course, learning to use ChatGPT and other AI tools. I know a lot of people don’t care for it, but I needed something other than reading to stimulate my brain, and it really is fascinating how these tools can help in everyday life.
That about wraps up what has been going on around here. I hope to start getting caught up on blog reading and post here more often. Hope you have a great Thursday!
Glad to see your post today! I did your posts on Instagram, so I had a feeling life was just too busy for a long blog post. Trust me, I get it!! Sounds like things are going well and kudos to your son! That’s amazing!
I am happy to see you!!! Wishing you a lovely Saturday my friend.
Glad to see you back here on the blog! Sometimes we all need a break, and that is okay! You definitely stocked up well on your candles, but it is hard to pass up a good deal, especially on items we use. That is good you are learning some new things this January and it is always a good feeling to clean and organize. I hope you have a great weekend!
Glad to see you post. Sorry you were sick at Christmas, but at least you were snuggled together.
By the way, you can’t have too many candles!!!! LOL
Hi! I was so happy to see a post from you. Glad you had a nice Christmas, but yuck on the sickness.
I can’t believe your son is almost done with college. Seems he just graduated from high school.
You did good on the candle sale. I bought a few too. My daughter gave me a scent diffuser which I’m loving, but I also love candles too – have a B& B one burning right now – the winter scent.
Glad to see a post from you, Mandy. Sorry you were ill during the holidays, but, glad to hear that you are all on the mend now. Hope this new year will be a lovely one for you and your family.
Welcome back my dear lovely Mandy!!
Christmas sounds like it was lovely – other than the sickness. Ugh! But something being forced to be calmer and restful is a good thing too.
Wow that’s awesome about your son. It sure did fly by quickly! It’s so fun watching them become young adults and see where their passions lie.
I have dabbled a little in chat GPT and would love if you share ways you like learning it once you do the classes. I find it all fascinating.
You sure cleaned up in good smellies of all kinds! I love good smelling too. FYI a diffuser works awesome too. Then all you need is water and some essential oils & they last forever (you only need a few drops). Just be sure to buy the kinds safe for pets if you decide to try the diffuser route. ONce you buy the diffuser it’s a very cheap way to keep home smelling lovely and some even have health benefits. Blessings on your weekend ahead and again, welcome back! 💗
meaning buy the essential oils safe for pets 🙂 There are so many fragrances and you can mix and match…it’s fun 😊
So happy to hear from you, Mandy, and to learn that all is well at your house. It does seem as if your son just went to college. Is he ready to be done, or does he want to continue on?
It is great to hear from you. I had thought of you. I do know that sometimes blogging can take a back seat. I am not anywhere near what I used to be on blogging. It is ok. I will plug along but I don’t stress if I am not here for awhile. I see so many going to other avenues. I have noticed Substack even has many people who once blogged on blogger 15 years ago. I however do not plan to switch up. When Blogger decided to give it up that will be the end of me!
My family were all sick over the holidays. There is still some lingering of it in some of us. My mom and hubby were the only ones who didn’t get sick. I am thankful for that.
I so wish my son had gone the route your son is going. Being a first generation college grad, well my hubby too, we pushed college. He hated it and wasted a ton of money. He now does work that would have been so much better if he had some of those certifications. I keep praying he will look in to that. Right now, I think they are just in getting a 3 and 1 year old to sleep at night.
Good to hear from you.