Read. Write. Mom!

Slow Kind of Week

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Mandy

It’s been a slow kind of week so far here at home. I had BIG plans for thoroughly cleaning the house upstairs AND downstairs, but it’s been very slow going, and today, as a matter of fact, it has been NO going.

The most I’ve managed this week was getting our downstairs dusted, clutter picked up, bathroom cleaned, and vacuumed. This took many breaks and happened over a span of three days. It just frustrates me to no end how slow I have to work now. A few years ago, I could clean our home in one day: bathrooms, dusting, vacuuming, everything.

Between all the chores, I made time for lunch with my mama on Tuesday. Spending time with her is one of the things I am thankful that I can do now that I am no longer working. We went to one of our favorite spots for lunch. It’s a huge old warehouse building in our downtown area that has been transformed into a beautiful but industrial-looking restaurant. Aptly named, The Warehouse!

I had a ham sandwich and broccoli salad, and it came with a pickle. It was so filling that I had to take the other half home with me, but it made for a great supper that night.

The Teen was home Monday and Tuesday due to the holiday and a teacher work day, so we’ve been able to relax our routine a little more this week. Hubby came in on Wednesday night, and we were glad to see him return. He left out again this morning but might be in this evening. If not, it will be tomorrow. We don’t have big weekend plans as it looks like rain, but we have some things to do around the house. Exciting times! Ha-ha!

This week just feels like a wash. Maybe I will feel more energetic in a day or so. I thought, surely by now, I’d have my act together, but it hasn’t happened. I have so many thoughts on homemaking that I’ll probably dump them into another post.

Halloween Monster Treats- 21 Sweet Treats for Halloween Yum

Posted on September 6, 2022November 5, 2024 by Mandy

If you’re reading this, you know it’s getting close! It’s almost time for Halloween! When I was growing up, Halloween was just a night of trick-or-treating and returning home to see what kind of candy you got. Now, Halloween has become a BIG deal in some places. Each year we see so many more trick-or-treaters, more decorations than in the past, and just more FUN when October 31st rolls around.

Halloween Monster Treats

Whether you’re hosting a neighborhood party, a family get-together, or maybe even a Halloween-themed birthday, these 21 Halloween Monster Sweet Treats will give you some great ideas for fun party food!

21 Halloween Monster Sweet Treats

Strawberry Ghost by Miss Candyquik
Monster Slime Popcorn by Momdot
Pumpkin Cheesecake Truffle Mummies by Creme de la Crumb
Oreo Monster Cookies (w/ Glow-in-the-Dark Eyes) by Entirely Eventful Day
Mini Pumpkin Ghost cakes by Ashlee Marie
Ghost Meringues by Smart School House
Halloween Spider Cookies by Princess Pinky Girl
Eerie Eyeball Pretzel Rods by Young at Heart Mommy
Zombie Marshmallows by The Decorated Cookie by
DIY Monster Candy Kabobs by A Beautiful Mess
Mummy Oreo Treats by The Idea Room
Frankenstein Oreo Pops by The Idea Room
Monster Cupcakes by I am Baker
Frankenstein Rice Krispie Treats by Big Bear’s Wife
Ghost Cupcakes by Yammie’s Noshery
Monster Mash by The Love Nerds
Skeleton Gingerbread Men Cookies by Our Best Bites
zombie strawberries by Parenting Chaos
Munster Marshmallows by Not Quite Nigella
creepy zombie pops with cake brains by Cake Journal
Monster Marshmallow Cupcakes by School House

Do you need even more ideas for Halloween party food? I’ve got you covered with these ideas as well!

Tuesday 4- 9/6/22

Posted on September 6, 2022July 9, 2023 by Mandy

Hello and welcome back to Toni Taddeo’s Tuesday 4, a fun linkup in memory of its original creator Toni Taddeo, and hosted by Ann at Cottage By The Sea

The “Ber” months have begun: September, October, November, and December. Let’s talk about September, okay?

1. When you were in school or university, did you look forward to returning? Why or why not?

I did look forward to returning to school when I was going through elementary, junior high, and high school. It just wasn’t as exciting for me once I started college. Perhaps because I also took summer classes, so I was in school year-round.

2. September has Labor Day, which, for many, is the signal of summer’s end and fall’s grand entrance. Do you celebrate Labor Day in any way, or is it just a day off for you?

It has mostly always been a welcomed day off from work. Now that I’m no longer working, I did spend the day working hard inside the home.

3. September’s birthstone is the Sapphire which is 2nd only to a diamond in hardness. (Ruby is a red sapphire, by the way) It comes in many colors. Do you know your birthstone, and do you like it?

My birthday is in August, and the birthstone for August is peridot. I do like it, as it is a beautiful shade of green.

4. September’s birth flower is the Astor. What is yours?

I had to go hunting on Google for this one, but the flower for August is a Gladiolus. I also think they are beautiful, having seen them many times in arrangements but not knowing the name. And now I know!

Hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday!

Happy Homemaker Monday 9/5/22

Posted on September 5, 2022July 9, 2023 by Mandy

Good morning! Happy Labor Day! I hope everyone is enjoying a relaxing day doing what you love most. A big thank you to those essential workers who have to work today. You are so appreciated. And thank you to Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for hosting this link-up.

The weather…..

It’s shaping up to be a beautiful day. Currently 74 degrees with humidity at 94%. Ugh.

Right now I am….

I am sitting at my computer, waiting for my heart medications to “kick in” so I can start my day. I’ve had coffee and a bagel with strawberry cream cheese.

Thinking….

I’m thinking of the tasks I want to try to accomplish today. I really want to give our entire home a deep clean, but realistically, I know this will be a slow process. But! I have to start somewhere, right?

On my reading pile….

I’m about to start a new book called The Comeback by Louie Giglio. I love his books, so I hope this will be one I will enjoy!

On my TV…..

I only really watch YouTube channels on my TV now. I currently have it set to a music channel that has pretty scenery with ambient music playing.

Favorite blog post last week (mine or other)….

I guess my favorite blog post last week was my Sunshine and Rainbows post. I will have to make a mental note to start saving my favorites from others from now on!

Something fun to share….

I’ve found some fun purchases for our home for fall and a few clothing items I’m really excited about. I’ll share more on them this week.

Blog hopping (newly discovered blog)….

I just recently discovered The Frugal Girl, and I love her blog! I definitely recommend it. It’s so different from all of the other frugal blogs I read.
On the menu for this week….

I seriously have no idea yet. I will also be working on this today. But for the next two days, it’s just the Teen and me here at home, and we aren’t too picky about our meals.

On my to-do list….

I need to run to the bank tomorrow. I’ll be visiting my mama tomorrow to check out the progress of her kitchen renovation.

In the craft basket….

I’m not very crafty, but I did organize my greeting card stash yesterday, so maybe that counts.

Looking forward to this week….

Enjoying Monday and Tuesday off from the carpool grind. The Teen is out today for Labor Day, and tomorrow is a distance learning day at home, so no super early wakeups.

Looking around the house….

Just looking at little projects I want to tackle. Mainly putting away and decluttering a few things to take to the donation place in town.

From the camera….

Here is Jake from last night. He loves nothing more than this soft blanket and some ambient piano music from YouTube. He was snoring so loud I could hear him from across the room!

On my prayer list…..

Praying for a family member going through chemotherapy. He is having a tough time with pain.

Bible verse, Devotional….

Proverbs 13:20

Walk with the wise and become wise,
for a companion of fools suffers harm.

I’ve thought a good deal about this very verse lately. I think it’s important to spend time with wise and uplifting people who are also not afraid to correct us when we go off course. I could write so much about this, but perhaps for another day.

You can join in the Happy Homemaker Monday linkup for this week here!

Fall Color By Number Coloring Pages

Posted on September 4, 2022September 29, 2022 by Mandy

Fall color by number coloring pages is so much fun to color. I have this free printable to share with you today. If you have kids, work with kids, or even just enjoy adult coloring, you are welcome to download this printable group of coloring pages absolutely free!

Fall in the Classroom

I used these with my former library students for a couple of years and decided to share them here. I would read my younger students lots of books about fall and autumn and then use these coloring pages for a fun activity. I loved these coloring pages because they were so cute, and even my older fourth and fifth-grade students couldn’t resist them if they saw them sitting on my desk.

Fall Activities in Nature

If you have younger kids at home, take a walk outside in nature, pick up leaves and acorns, and talk about how the trees change during the fall season. Point out fields of corn, and maybe you’ll even be lucky enough to see a scarecrow! Back inside your home, these fall coloring pages will be a great activity to round out your nature walk. Kids love recalling and retelling what they saw. A visit to a pumpkin patch would also be a great fun activity to use with these coloring pages as well.

Free Fall Color By Number Printable

Ready to grab a set of these fun printables? Simply click here to download a copy of these Fall color by number coloring pages. They are absolutely free to use, and I hope you enjoy them! I’d love to hear from you if you use them!

Want More?

Looking for more fall-themed coloring pages? Click here for even more free fall coloring printables, perfect for the little ones as they aren’t color by number coloring sheets.

Welcome September and Happy Fall, Y’all!

Posted on September 1, 2022September 1, 2022 by Mandy

Welcome September and Happy Fall, Y’all! September came in just exactly how I dreamed it would this morning. I woke up to 66 degrees…a breezy wind and a gorgeous sunny day! It really couldn’t have been more perfect, and I am so grateful for this beautiful, cool morning!

Morning Jolt

My morning got off to a weird start. I normally try to start my day at 5:30 AM, get showered, and have a cup of coffee before I have to wake the Teen for school at 6:30. I woke up at 5:00 and turned off the rest of my alarms. Yes, I’m one of those who set several alarms in 15-minute increments to ensure I don’t oversleep. Well, I turned off the alarms and then went right back to sleep!! Ooof!! I woke up at 7:00 and jumped out of bed. However, I could hear Teen’s shower running in his bathroom, so at least he was up. He had been up a while and was responsibly getting himself ready for school. When he finally came downstairs, he asked me if I was ok!! Ha-ha! I explained to him what had happened, and we still got out the door on time for school. I just had to take my shower when I got home after dropping him off.

More Fall Decor

Look what I found at Dollar General yesterday!

This sweet little wooden sign for our front door was only $6. I usually do a wreath on our front door, but this was so cute, so I decided I’m changing it up this year. I will put our wreath over our fireplace. I’ve got to get hubby to get out my fall decor tubs from the storage closet under our stairs. I’m so excited to decorate our home for fall!

I had lunch with my mom and hubby yesterday, and Mama and I decided to stop in our local Christian bookstore afterward. I love stopping in because one of my high school classmates owns this beautiful little store, and she gives the best hugs! It’s always so great to catch up and visit with her. I got a book and also picked up this yummy fall-scented candle. I finally fired it up this morning and opened the windows up to let a little of that cool breeze inside. Our home is smelling wonderful this morning.

Today’s Plans

Today will be spent putting away laundry, unpacking my Sam’s order that came in, and taking the Teen to the dentist this afternoon. Hubby was passing through town yesterday (he’s a truck driver), and he had some time to stop before he had to get going again, so we went to Dollar General and Walgreens. It still feels weird to be able to do “normal people things” on a Wednesday, and I appreciate those extra moments we are getting with me being home now. We joined my mom for lunch, and it was just a nice day. I am grateful for getting this time to reset and recharge. My poor body has been through so much in the last seven years, and not having to keep up such a frantic pace in constant pain has been such a blessing. My days are still physically challenging, but the energy I do have is spent taking care of the people who mean the most to me in this world.

I’m off to complete my list for the day. Hope everyone is having a wonderful start to September!

Stock Photo Credits

Sunshine and Rainbows

Posted on August 30, 2022 by Mandy

Monday was sunshine and rainbows here. Literally! When I walked out back to feed the backyard kitties, I noticed the rising sun hitting on another neighbor’s tree perfectly.

Look at that gorgeous color! Perfect fall colors. However, the day sure didn’t end up feeling like a fall day. The heat was terrible, and the air was so thick. We did finally get a small rain shower later in the afternoon and were treated to a gorgeous rainbow afterward.

Speaking of fall, look what I picked up at Dollar General!

Fall Decor Find

I went with my mom because she needed to find some shelf liner paper for her kitchen cabinets, and I found these cute little decorative “thingies”. They were only $1 each, so I picked up two and hung them on each end of our mantle in the living room. I turned them around for the Halloween season (they are plain orange on the other side) and will turn them back around with the wording on them once Halloween is over to welcome Thanksgiving. I like when decor can do double duty!

On the way home, we decided to grab some Taco Bell, and I tried one of the Mango whip drinks. I shouldn’t have had it at all, but it looked so good. Anyway, I wasn’t a fan after all! Ha! Nothing beats my Diet Cherry Limeaid fix from Sonic.

Making Progress

Today has been very productive. I was able to sit down with our bill-paying folder and get some bills knocked out. I was able to vacuum downstairs, so that was a win. I also did one load of laundry. I’m really trying to stay on top of that as best I can. It is so not fun when the laundry gets backed up. I’m slowly figuring out a system for our home where I can do a little each day so as not to be so overwhelmed.

Hair Care Woes

In my quest to try hair products in hopes of finding one that would bring out more of my natural wave without leaving my hair feeling all crunchy and icky, I ordered a travel-size bottle of Ouai Leave-In Conditioner.

I’ve read rave reviews about this product line. However, this just wasn’t for me. My hair stayed in tangles all day long until I finally just threw it up in a topknot. But their body creme? Wow…seriously impressed! I also got a small sample of this with my order, and I am definitely keeping it!

A few years ago, I tried out the Deva Curl haircare line, and it worked ok, but I ran out of it, and I just never re-ordered it. So, back to the drawing board for my hair. I’ve been letting it air dry for most of the summer just to use fewer heat products on it. Looking back on my high school days, I don’t know how in the world I used to put so much mousse, gel, and hairspray in my hair daily! Don’t judge…it was the 80’s, and everyone did it! Haha! I just hate any product in my hair now…it just feels gross.

I’ve had a strong start to my week and I am grateful I’ve felt a little better and have been able to do a little more than usual. How’s your week going?

Fall Sneak Peeks

Posted on August 28, 2022 by Mandy

This past week we got to enjoy some fall sneak peeks. The weather was dreary looking and rainy. The temperature even dropped down into the lower 70s. I’ve even noticed leaves falling from one of the trees in our backyard. It just felt like fall was in the air! To capture a little bit of the mood, I dug out a new Yankee candle in Campfire Treat that I hadn’t tried before.

I keep quite a collection of candles and rotate them out in our home according to the season. This had a nice, subtle fall marshmallow scent. I’m not so sure it will be one I purchase again, but we will definitely use it up. I’m ready to dig out the apple/cinnamon-smelling candles, but I will wait until September.

Speaking of September…I can’t believe it will be here this week! I’ve started looking ahead in my planner to see what will be happening this month. Thursday is dentist day for the Teen. He will be getting three cavities filled. I’ve ordered his lunches for the week, and uniforms are washing as I type, so I think I have him squared away for the week.

We had a quiet weekend. We ordered pizza Friday evening, and hubby took over the cooking on Saturday. I was so grateful. I think I’m just a little hormonal right now. I’ve been a little moody this past weekend but tried really hard not to be “snappy”. I really do think my body is going through some changes if you will. I’m pretty sure it’s time. And it may be a new medication I started for cholesterol. Who knows? In any case, I did manage to keep the laundry going in spurts and stops and finally cleaned out my makeup drawers in our master bathroom. It felt good to get rid of so much junk I wasn’t using. I now have separate drawers for makeup, skincare, haircare, and nail care. I don’t know why I didn’t get this organized this way before. It’s made a huge difference!

I got a very small harvest today from my cherry tomato plant.

Looks like I have at least four more little tomatoes growing and one attempting to flower out, so I was pleased to see the plant is still giving!