Happy Monday, friends! Today, I wanted to share some things I’m loving and back to reality! Today starts back to our “normal routine” of school after the holidays. I know these breaks can’t last forever, but it has been so nice not having to get out into the cold each morning bright and early. The Teen got a new backpack over the holidays, so we have been cleaning things out and getting him set up for the last leg of his senior year. It’s blowing my mind that he only has a few months left before graduation. I also forgot to share my New Year’s Beanie Babies last week last week! Haha! They will sit on the mantle for the rest of this week until I put a couple of winter-themed bears out.
Last Week
Last Wednesday was my mama’s appointment with the valve specialist. She has to go through some testing before they will schedule her valve replacement surgery. First up will be a heart catheterization on the 18th of this month. They want to check her bypass grafts and make sure they are still holding up and also make sure no arteries need to be stented open. It should be an outpatient procedure unless they have to do stents, and then she will have to stay overnight. So, that’s our first stop in the process of having TAVR valve replacement. Her doctor was very nice and thorough, and although I hate for her to have to go through all of this, she is certainly in great hands.
After we left her appointment, we met up with some family that lived where we were for her appointment and had lunch. We dined at Primo’s.
They have daily lunch specials, so I got the chicken pot pie with rice, gravy, and pasta salad. The pasta salad and cornbread were very good! I was so full I barely even ate supper that night. It was fun to try a new place. Afterward, we searched for a bookstore because the Teen wanted to find a specific book he was looking for, but we had no luck. I discovered that a Barnes and Noble is coming into that area soon, so we will look for that next time. We headed home and had a safe trip back.
Things I’m Loving
I thought I’d share a couple of things I have really been enjoying over the holidays. On Christmas Eve night, when I came down with the flu, I stayed up late because I couldn’t sleep. I love watching YouTube videos and came across this channel called Walks and the City. It’s a person just walking the streets of New York.
I also love this headband and wristband set for washing your face.
This was probably on every little pre-teen girl’s Christmas list, and I was skeptical because I thought the wristbands were probably a little ridiculous, but they really do keep the water from running all down your arms when you wash your face!
The Week Ahead
I’m finally getting out of my gloomy funk and making some lists of things I need to do. The first up will be doing a good pantry clean-out. I need to go through our canned goods and make sure everything is in date and that we are topped off on what we need. I posted a few years ago on how I keep my pantry organized and stocked. I also really need to do another freezer inventory, but one thing at a time. I’ve also been dragging my feet with meal planning, and I need to get it together when it comes to that. So far, I have a couple of ideas for this week. I need to start posting them here weekly to hold myself accountable.
That’s all I’ve got for today. I’m off to check on my mama and get started on my to-do list. Hope you have a great start to your week!
BAck to reality is so difficult after all the Christmas fun. And so sorry to hear you had a new years flu – boo! I’ve been keeping my decorations up – but all will come down this weekend.And I need to go through my kitchen and pantry and purge and reorganize badly!!
I love your beanies – soooo cute! I hope your Mamabear continues to get good reports. 🙏🏻
Wishing you many blessings for 2024 dear Friend! xo
I hope your mother’s medical procedures go well. It sounds like she has a good doctor. Your lunch looks delicious! Haven’t had chicken pot pie in a long time! I hope you have a good week, this week.
NYC is lovely and I highly recommend a visit, but do it in the spring or fall when it’s not freezing or sweltering. It really is gorgeous at Christmas but the crowds and the weather are brutal. Love the headband, too, my girls both own one!!
Thanks for your nice blog post! It’s good to hear that you all are being cautious with all the medical procedures. 😷
😊 I really like the headband and wristband set. Always end up with wet arms 🙂 when washing my face. I’ll see if I can find it here in the Netherlands.
We had our first sunny day, and it lifted my spirits. But it’s so cold, brrrr. Still, I’m enjoying it. Well, wish you a fantastic week! 🌞
Oh the time will fly between now and graduation so enjoy all the things! I am glad your mom is in good hands in the midst of a hard situation. It sounds like you have some good goals to get your new year going. It takes a while to get in routine again. I feel like this week will be the first of normal in a while. NYC is one of my favorite places ! It is delightful at Christmas time. I use similar wrist bands when I wash my face as well. It really does help. Have a good evening!
I am going to check out the video. I have never been to NYC. My daughter and I were headed that way before the year of the Big Change. We had to cancel because of a winter storm and then we never got to go. oh well. Things happen like that and one day maybe we can go again. I hope things go smoothly and quickly for your mom.
I am cleaning out as I feel like it over here too.
Good for you for going through your fridge and pantry checking dates. My parents used to have outdated stuff, sometimes years, in their fridge. It totally grossed me out.
My niece lives in New York City and would love to have a visit and explore, but I think I would need a scooter too!
I cleaned my freezer last week, but my pantry needs a good clean out and inventory too!
Sure hope all goes well with your momma’s checkups and future surgery. I love that you are so close with her.
Kiddos become seniors in a blink of the eye – they sure grow up quickly.
Love your little bears. I have a great need to clean the pantry again. It got messed up by the holiday gremlins – so I need to get that done.
Have a good day!
Your Beanie Babies are cute. I know several people (not me) who collected Beanie Babies when they were all the craze, but now they just sit in storage. It’s good that you display yours. I’m starting some cleanouts, too, and am starting with our bathroom. Hope your mother’s appointments continue to go well.