Weekly Update

I had a quieter week last week. I didn’t have much on the calendar during the week and was fighting a sinus infection, so I kept my calendar empty and slowed way down. I was able to get a ton of administrative type work done for New Nostalgia, did some reading, and watched season 4 of Downton Abbey. Yeah, I’m a bit late in the game with that show, but boy do I love it!

Another thing I’m late in the game for are essential oils, but I now get what all the hype is about and will start sharing more about them here on the blog. I finally found a diffuser that I love, (after trying out 4 others!) and I especially loved using it while I had sinus symptoms and was stuffy. I am trying out Eden’s Garden Essential Oils and fell hard for their Breathe Easier Blend. I purchased it a few weeks ago and had not used it, thinking I would save it for when germs hit our home. Now that I know what the scent is like diffused, it is one of my favorites and I LOVE using it first in the morning, even with no cold symptoms. It is super refreshing and uplifting, with peppermint, lemon, rosemary, & eucalyptus. It smells heavenly!

Weekly Obsession

Essential Oil Diffuser

The Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser by AromaSoft is amazing for getting the scent out into larger rooms. It is priced so reasonably and works so well! After buying 4 other diffusers, I did research, read a ton of reviews, bought this one, and I’m so happy I did!

Zarbees Elderberry Gummies

I am a huge fan of elderberry when I am sick. I have used elderberry syrup in the past, but decided to try Zarbees Elderberry Gummies instead. I was able to overcome a sinus infection in 5 days, which is pretty amazing as there are many in our community talking about this awful sinus infection that comes back a week or so after a cold and stays for weeks. In the 5 days I had it, the symptoms never engulfed me, and I think essential oils and elderberry had much to do with that.

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Weekly Update

It is Monday and all 3 of my girls are home from school for President’s Day. I woke up early to get a head start on this blog and my ever-growing inbox, so that I can be available for my girls.

It is a good thing I did! Teen girls are quite independent, but they still need their Momma and keep me plenty busy.

My youngest needs a ride later this afternoon to join her cousin for a couple of fun hours at a local craft studio. My middle girl woke up with a sore throat and asked if I would make her a soothing smoothie. then reminded me that we need to practice driving and pick up a job application today. My oldest just sent me a text that said, “Prom dress shopping?” a request I was not able to say ‘yes’ to yesterday, so I’d really like to say it today!

I am working hard at saying ‘yes’ more than ‘no.’ I know these days are so fleeting and before I know it they will be up and out of the nest, and I will be hoping for my phone to buzz with a shopping request. I wanted to get to the gym, grab a shower, work on a few piles of clutter, and buy some groceries. These are all good things, but they will be pushed aside today to spend time with my girls.

So often, decisions on how we spend our time is choosing between good, better and best. Oftentimes our good is set aside for another’s best. Today, my yes is to my girls, who are home in front of me, wanting to spend time with me. Today, this is the best ‘yes.’

Weekly Goals

Meal Plan — grocery list +5 meals

Rescue My Home — dust, sweep, vacuum, mop, bathrooms

Dates — my Todd, my girls, one close friend

Do a Pin — Honey Lime Quinoa Fruit Salad

Daily To-Do

Spiritual –journal, Scripture, pray, meditate

Move Body–walk, yoga or strength training

Hydrate + Nutrients –water (goal is a gallon a day); leafy greens & berries, vitamins, powdered greens

One Full Load — dishwasher & laundry

Cleaning, Clutter & Computer Zones — {bathroom + extra room}, {bins away}, & {tasks in gmail}

{want this FREE printable? keep scrolling}

Specific Goals

Continue reading: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality & Anti-Cancer: A New Way Of Life

Finish reading: Take Me With You

Start reading:Katharina & Martin Luther

Focus in on new content for New Nostalgia

All bins loaded and put in storage

Fix vacuum

Recipes I’m Making Week

“Best Recipe I Ever Messed Up” Bars

Popcorn Chicken

Instant Pot Whole Rotisserie Chicken

Crockpot Bone Broth –every week (made it in Instant Pot this time..post coming soon!)

Instant Pot Yogurt –every week

Spaghetti with Grass Fed Beef

Butter Chicken

Cincinnati Style Chili

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

Honey Lime Quinoa Fruit Salad

………………..

Watch my Instagram Stories for a glimpse of the making of these recipes. I often capture my cooking process!

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

What are you wanting to get done this week?

What recipes are you planning on making?

Are you on Pinterest? Share a favorite pin you want to accomplish.

Weekly Update

I am up to my elbows in all things crafty! IF: Gathering (a women’s conference) is this week and I am doing the decorations on a small budget, so that means getting crafty. It is amazing how one can find inexpensive things (like coffee filters, straws, Popsicle sticks, hula hoops, wine bottles, tiles, & paper grocery sacks) and make beauty out of them! All of the linked ideas have come from Pinterest or YouTube. What did we do before Pinterest?

I have had to let things go around the house as I am so focused on IF right now, so next week will be catch up week! We have a bigger space to decorate this year and room for more women, so decorating feels bigger this year. I love every minute of it, and I’m trying to let go of wanting my home to be in order at the same time.

It is so easy to think one can add a project or commitment and still expect other aspects of life to keep running smoothly, but oftentimes that is not reality. It is ideal in a balanced life, but life has a way of keeping us off-balance at times, even when trying to embrace slow living. Sometimes living fully means letting go of slow, and in those moments I work extra hard in keeping my mind slow & steady, focusing in on what matters, even if life is crazy busy for a period of time.

Want to know more about IF: Gathering? I wrote a post about it here. Gatherings are happening all over the US and Internationally, so if you are interested make sure to check and see if there is one by you!

Weekly Goals

Meal Plan — grocery list +5 meals

Rescue My Home — dust, sweep, vacuum, mop, bathrooms

Dates — my Todd, my girls, one close friend

Do a Pin — Paper Flowers — Making these for IF: Gathering decor!

Daily To-Do

Spiritual –journal, Scripture, pray, meditate

Move Body–walk, yoga or strength training

Hydrate + Nutrients –leafy greens & berries, vitamins, water, powdered greens

One Full Load — dishwasher & laundry

Cleaning, Clutter & Computer Zones — {living room}, {IF:Decor}, & {tasks in gmail}

{want this FREE printable? keep scrolling}

Specific Goals

Continue reading: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

Finish reading: Take Me With You

Start reading:Katharina & Martin Luther

Finish making all  IF: Local Gathering decor

Decorate for IF:Local

Recipes I’m Making Week

“Best Recipe I Ever Messed Up” Bars

Spinach Salad topped with Chicken Strips

Instant Pot Whole Rotisserie Chicken

Beef Tacos

Crockpot Bone Broth –every week (made it in Instant Pot this time..post coming soon!)

Instant Pot Yogurt –every week

Spaghetti with Grass Fed Beef

Green Smoothie For Kids (and adults)

………………..

Watch my Instagram Stories for a glimpse of the making of these recipes. I often capture my cooking process!

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

What are you wanting to get done this week?

What recipes are you planning on making?

Are you on Pinterest? Share a favorite pin you want to accomplish.

Weekly Update

Shopping

Christmas is almost here! I’ve done 80% of my shopping online in the cozy comfort of my own home. Some on the amazing Amazon, and some on small business sites. I will talk more about online shopping and tell you about my fav small business site and what I bought in tomorrow’s post. The rest of my shopping was done in the frigid cold we have had in the Midwest. I much prefer doing it online!

Celebrations

Our holiday family celebrations start Friday, and go until Monday. Different places and family members each day! The festivities will be at our home on Christmas Day. My Avery is making some very fun desserts, and insists we must have puppy chow and kitty chow on Christmas Day.

I know after all those celebrations, I will be ready for a new year to start fresh with healthy eating again! I love New Years and new beginnings!

One Word

I have already chosen my new word for the year, and will share it with you in an upcoming post. You can read about my word from last year (COMPLETE). Use this link to choose and order a one word necklace for yourself from the awesome Krafty Kash!

I’m still loving my new best friend–my Instant Pot. {affiliate link} You can read all about the beginning of our love affair here  and see some things that I have made in it so far.

Are you doing any shopping on Amazon? If you click-through the above Amazon ad, I will get a small percentage of anything you spend, no matter what it is, with no cost to you.

Thank you for supporting New Nostalgia in this way!

Meal Plan — grocery list +5 meals

Rescue My Home — dust, sweep, vacuum, mop, bathrooms

Continue Reading…