Recipes I’m Making This Week – My Meal Plan

Recipes I’m Making This Week:

I love starting the week with food in my refrigerator and a good idea of what I am going to feed my family each week. It cuts down on food waste, helps me stick to our grocery budget, gives an answer to that dreaded question: “what’s for dinner?” and keeps me from visiting the grocery store more than once a week.

Meal planning is a time and money saver!

I personally do not plan out exactly what we are going to eat each day. My schedule changes, my 3 teenagers’ needs change each day, and I just don’t know what kind of food mood we will all be in.

Yes…that is a thing…food mood! Mine seems to change with the weather…if it is cold and dreary outside then I want soup simmering. If it is sunny and mild, I want something quick so I can get outdoors and enjoy it!

I follow a loose guide every week, with the below themes as my guide. Some weeks I hit all of the themes, some weeks I don’t. Flexibility works for me!

I start with knowing what is in my freezer, refrigerator, and pantry. I especially pay attention to any proteins we have so I can build meals around them. I then find recipes online that I have saved or look here are New Nostalgia at our fav go-to recipes.

Some weeks I try new-to-me recipes, some weeks I go to what is familiar.

I gather them, make a grocery list, and make sure I keep a list of links so I can reference it all week. I like sharing them here with you, so I can just come to this post when it is time to think about dinner. The recipes I don’t get to I will roll-over into the following week.

My Meal Plan

BREAKFAST FOR DINNER

Oven Scrambled Eggs

Cranberry Banana Quinoa Oatmeal Bake

I have several bags of frozen cranberries in my freezer. This looks like a great way to use them.

TACO/MEXICAN MEAL

Mexican Chicken and Rice Salad Bowls

A new-to-me recipe. My girls are asking for something to take in their lunches besides sandwiches. I thought a hearty salad would make them happy. We shall see!

PASTA NIGHT

Magic One-Pan Spaghetti

A new-to-me recipe. I’m going to use chicken broth in place of water in this recipe, thanks to a tip in the comment thread of the video.

MEATLESS

Broccoli Cheese Potato Soup

My sister said this soup is amazing. I’m not sure how my family will do digesting so much dairy, but maybe I decided to try it! I am going to use almond milk in place of dairy milk, but will still use the cheese and cream.

ORGANIC CHICKEN MEAL

Mexican Chicken and Rice Salad Bowls

{for your pinning pleasure}

GRASS FED BEEF MEAL

One Pan Texas Hash

A new-to-me recipe. I have frozen grass-fed beef I want to use up and I love hash.

30 Minute Sloppy Joes

A go-to around here. You all love it too! It has gone very viral on Pinterest. Yay!

WILD-CAUGHT FISH MEAL

Seared Cod in Chive Butter

I’ve made this twice and it is DELICIOUS! The sauce is to die for…it uses white wine, shallots, butter, lemon and fresh herbs. You can use chicken broth in place of the wine. This recipe is a keeper!

INSTANT POT MEAL

None

SLOW COOKER MEAL

None this week, but you could try: Crockpot Bone Broth

ONE PAN MEAL

Sheet Pan Sausage Potato Pepper Hash

Magic One-Pan Spaghetti

It is kind of fun that I am trying 2 new one pan meals.

SOUP

Broccoli Cheese Potato Soup

SIDES

Easy Chopped Detox Salad

Seasoned Lentils

The Detox Salad is my new food crush. It makes a nice big bowl that keeps well in the refrigerator if you store the dressing separately. I eat it all week long!

Seasoned lentils make a great side dish. I buy cooked lentils from Trader Joes and flavor them up a bit using this recipe.

SNACKS

Restaurant Style Salsa – My family can’t get enough of this recipe!

Hall of Fame Cranberry Sauce – I can’t get enough of this recipe. I use often use it as a toast topping.

Banana Pumpkin Muffins – These are a great way to use up those ripe bananas. Super moist and makes a bunch.

Stove Top Granola – This is a new-to-me recipe. I love that it is stove top instead of the oven.

ESSENTIAL OILS RECIPE

Anxiety Away Blend — 5 drops Frankincense, 3 drops Orange, 2 drops Peppermint

Diffuse (my fav diffuser) into room or combine with a carrier oil in a roller bottle and put on temples and back of the neck.

INSTANT POT STAPLES

Instant Pot Yogurt

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

Instant Pot Quinoa

Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

Instant Pot Black Beans

Notice I also share a new essential oils recipe. I love to mix it up each week and try new scents!

Let me know in the comments if a weekly round-up of the recipes I plan on making is helpful to you

Also, keep an eye on my Instagram Stories to see some of the recipes. I often capture my cooking process!

Beauty/ Cancer Journey/ HEALTH/ Natural Products

My Every Day Health Decisions As A Cancer Survivor With Tom’s of Maine

Thank you Tom’s of Maine for sponsoring this post.

I am a cancer survivor. This is the 7th year that I can say those words and every year I grow more and more amazed at what a gift life is. I work hard at not taking it for granted. Life is so precious!

Because I know life is precious, there are decisions I make every day to help me live a healthy lifestyle.

Whether it’s using my favorite yoga app, switching my deodorant to Tom’s of Maine Natural Deodorant, or taking turmeric capsules, I am passionate about making decisions to live my best life!

I am not in control of what my future holds and whether or not my cancer will ever come back, but I do know it makes a difference in my everyday life to pursue wholeness and health in different areas, and boy does it make a difference in how I feel every day!

Here Are 5 Of My Everyday Health Decisions I Make As A Cancer Survivor

Move My Body

I am not an exercise fanatic, but I have learned that it is important to keep my body moving. I’ve read over and over that getting exercise every day is a great way to stay healthy and cut my chances of recurrence.

I keep it pretty low-key and walk or do yoga every day. When the weather is nice, I will walk our neighborhood or around my favorite local lake. When it is cold, I’m a bit of a wimp and use our treadmill instead. Lately, I have been multitasking and answering email while walking on the treadmill–I really like how productive that feels!

I also love how yoga makes me feel. It has been super important to keep my body stretched and flexible, as the ongoing cancer medications I am on cause joint pain. Yoga makes a huge difference and I feel amazing when I am done, especially my back, neck, and joints! I use the Yoga Studio app on my phone and I LOVE it!

Supplements

I’ve taken several types of supplements throughout my survivor years, but the main ones I will not budge on are a Multi-Vitamin, Vitamin D, Turmeric, Fish Oil & Magnesium.

I take a Multi-Vitamin not to make up for a poor diet (because I eat quite healthy) but just as reassurance that I have covered all bases.

Vitamin D is something that most Americans are low in, and it is the one supplement my Oncologist was adamant that I take.

Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory and is a miracle worker for keeping my joint pain to a minimum. Fish Oil is to make sure I get all those good Omega’s, and Magnesium is the calming mineral, which is a great way to keep any of my worries and anxiety at bay.

Slow Living

If you follow my Instagram & Instastory, you know I am big into slow living. I often snap my favorite slow parts of the day. Life is busy, but it IS possible to slow, even if it means just slowing your mindset.

Stress can be so hard on the body, and if I’m going ‘a mile a minute”, then I miss out on this precious life I have been gifted with. I find a lot of ways to slow down.

I meditate using the Calm App, I journal, pray, read, & listen to calming music. I light my favorite candle. I deep breathe during yoga and work hard at being aware and present in life moments.

I just started a daily journaling habit. It is called Morning Pages, and I simply put on some soothing music and write 3 pages in my journal. It can be absolutely anything, whatever is on my mind from deep thoughts to lists of things I want to get done. The key is not to censor and just write. I’m loving this practice so far!

I also make sure I get plenty of sleep. It is amazing with all that my body went through while fighting cancer–chemo, radiation, and multiple reconstructive surgeries; plus ongoing medications and treatments that I use to keep cancer away–that I still have so much energy. I believe this is largely due to the amount of good rest I get. I use essential oils (hello lavender!) and melatonin to quiet my body down at night, and I sleep like a baby most nights!

Natural Products

I have been quite thoughtful about using products that are part of a healthy lifestyle and have ingredients that I can feel good about putting on my body. As a cancer survivor, I am especially aware of this when it comes to products I use every day.

How often do you look at what is inside products you use every day? Is the ingredient list simple and do you know what the ingredients are and what their purpose is? It is important to ask these questions.

Examples of everyday products I use for a healthy lifestyle are Tom’s of Maine Natural Toothpaste, organic coconut oil as a body moisturizer, organic makeup foundation and Tom’s of Maine Long Lasting Natural Deodorant.

Let’s talk natural deodorant for a minute. I’ve made the switch to Tom’s of Maine Natural Deodorant. It is the #1 natural deodorant brand with a number of award-winning products among its deodorant portfolio–which contains 15 deodorants–in some of my favorite scents, including fresh apricot, wild lavender & tea tree.

Tom’s of Maine Natural Deodorant provides odor control in their aluminum-free formulas. That “aluminum free” part is why I love and am passionate about using a natural deodorant as a cancer survivor. I personally prefer not to have any aluminum in my deodorant.

There is controversy when it comes to what aluminum can do to your health, and I choose to stay way away from it.

A Note About Natural Deodorants

Staying away from aluminum means staying away from antiperspirants because FDA guidelines state that an antiperspirant must include a form of aluminum as an active ingredient.

Deodorants are not antiperspirants and do not provide the same wetness protection as antiperspirants. I’m fine with that and my body has adjusted to it.

If you are switching from a conventional deodorant to a natural deodorant, it will take some time for your body chemistry to adjust.

Trying the deodorant for at least 7 days, including testing out different scents (or unscented), can help you figure out what is the best fit for your body’s unique chemistry.

Tom’s of Maine Long Lasting Natural Deodorant uses the power of nature and fights odor using hops and natural fragrances, along with a blend of oils, organic aloe leaf juice, and other plant-based ingredients. It is free of petrochemicals, artificial fragrances, parabens, and preservatives.

I love and use the tea tree oil scent. I had a hard time deciding between the tea tree oil scent and the apricot scent–both smell so good. I often use tea tree oil in my everyday life for its antimicrobial properties. Bacteria on the skin can cause body odor, so I chose tea tree oil scent. It smells super fresh and clean.

Nourishment

Last but not least, I focus on nourishing my body every day. I drink lots of water & green tea. I focus on eating plant foods in all colors of the rainbow (especially berries & greens) and snack on nuts & seeds.

I use a visual food journal app called YouAte App, an easy way to keep me on track and visually see how colorful my food is. I stay away from fake foods or overly processed foods & excess sugar, especially when eating at home.

{FOR YOUR PINNING PLEASURE}

Are you a cancer survivor? What do you do every day for your health and what would you like to add to your health habits? Do you know someone who is a cancer survivor? Consider sharing this post with them.

Have you thought about the ingredients in the products you use every day? Is the ingredient list simple and do you know what the ingredients are and what their purpose is?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

HOME/ Homemaking/ Organizing/ Simplifying

Facing the Clutter in That One Dreaded Room

Don’t we all have them? That one dreaded room full of clutter? I’d like to think I’m not alone. The time has come for me to face the clutter in the one dreaded room in our home. There are a couple of little areas in my home that need my attention, (and a big garage) but for the most part, the main areas stay decluttered. These are not the ‘dreaded room’ I’m talking about.

{the home office before it became a room-sized junk drawer}

The Dreaded Room

For me, the dreaded room was our home office. I’ve posted before about this room, about how to do the deconstructed chevron paint treatment on the wall, and how I organized the desk drawers, and the office closet. Honestly, I’m embarrassed to admit how bad it got! The organizational systems I set into place worked really well for at least a couple of years, but then… life happened.

A year-long fight with anxiety, raising 3 teenagers, a blog that became a business our budget depends on, and medications that take me on an emotional roller coaster ride every 3 months…these are the reasons that come to mind when I think of why our office became a dumping ground. Yep, these are my excuses and they are quite good ones if I do say so myself!

If you have a similar room, have grace for yourself. You are certainly not alone, and it is ok to not have any good excuse. I just like to make myself feel better by listing mine. {grin.}

The office is on the main floor of our home. Until the last 2 days, it was full. Imagine an oversized junk drawer–it was a place to stash things that do not have a home. That was what our home office became and it was driving me crazy.

Clutter Attracts Clutter

An additional problem–the office is a room that one must walk through to get to my oldest daughter, Teagan’s room. She has always been my creative-minded daughter, who sees beauty in a lot of beautiful things, and likes to keep those things. I have to say, she has become much better releasing some of those things the last couple of years.

{door to my daughters’ room, must walk through the office}

Teagan has the ability to be organized, but it is not easy for her. She loves all the things but has the smallest room in the house with the tiniest, most dis-functional closet. You literally have to step up about 2 feet to get into the tiny closet. Once inside the floor slopes and makes it hard to stand straight and reach anything. She does NOT enjoy this.

Ironically, she choose her tiny room when she was little because of this “fun” step-up and slanted closet…it made the perfect private fort! I found her a few times using it as a place to pout about her ‘annoying’ little sisters or when she got in trouble for reacting to that annoyance! I picture her all tucked into the closet with her favorite yellow fuzzy comfort blanket, and it makes me smile..she was so little!

Now it is overflowing with clothes, high heels, and past homecoming and prom dresses. My baby has grown up and needs more usable space in order to live more organized.

Because of her lack of space and her love for all the things, I would often find her stuff overflowing into the office area. We all know clutter attracts clutter, so I take responsibility for how easy it was for her to add to my piles with her stuff.

Facing the Clutter

Teagan and her Grandma came up with the brilliant idea of clearing out the office and giving Teagan the space. It made sense since the rooms flow into each other, but I was immediately resistant. I feared a few things: giving up space where I stored a lot of my stuff, facing my room-sized junk drawer (who has the time?), and fear that I would just be trading my messy clutter for Teagan’s.

The last few weeks I have softened to the idea for a few reasons. I know it would force me to declutter and get rid of stuff that has been overflowing the office and office closet. I also recognized that Teagan (being a senior) has at least a year left with us, and has been talking about living at home for her first year of college, so we might get her for 2.

Over the summer, she worked so hard, saved a ton of money and showed so much responsibility in many areas. She is such a good kid. During the school year, she studies her cute little head off and needs a calm, clutter-free, quiet place to do it, especially as she enters college. She is amazing, and could use more space…and I have the ability to give it to her!

After communicating with her about my expectations for the ‘office turned Teagan’s extended room’ area, (which really is just to keep it orderly enough for me to easily dust and vacuum it with the rest of the house once a week), I decided she could take it.

I’m ok with just shutting the door to her main bedroom, but this second room I truly want her to keep orderly. She understands this and part of our agreement is that I can take the room back if it is not appreciated and taken care of.

Teagan has all kinds of plans to update her room and create a great space for her extended room. She and her boyfriend (who is super handy and helpful in these projects, and who has already helped by clearing the room) came up with a list of things that need to be done, from taking down wallpaper and painting/updating her room, to buying a few things to make the old office space beautiful and functional for her.

Clear Out the Clutter

She started clearing out the office clutter–another part of our agreement. She had to help by clearing the clutter, or really just transferring it to a place where I would be forced to deal with it. I wanted her to be a part of the process of making this space her own, experience hard work, and frankly, I needed the help to get it all up the stairs!

I had her carry it all upstairs to our landing area, an area that I pass to get to my bedroom. I could not handle having it strewn all over the house, and was purposeful in choosing where to gather the clutter. A single area, and a place where I would be forced to deal with it ASAP.

She made a bazillion trips up the stairs and commented on how great a leg workout it was. Ha!

I have a post coming out very soon titled ‘How to Declutter When Overwhelmed’ which will walk one through the process of tackling overwhelming clutter. I plan on making quite a bit of progress on the transferred clutter mess using the steps in the upcoming post. One thing about me is when I finally face the clutter, it has no chance. I’m good a tackling it and getting it done!

My anxiety rises every time I pass the transferred clutter. It is jolting to come up my stairs and walk through it to get to my nice, clean, de-cluttered and peaceful bedroom. It doesn’t feel good….talk about motivating!

Sometimes all it takes is to pull clutter out of closets and drawers (or entire rooms!) and place it in a space where you have to come face to face with it. It is definitely working for me, and I have already had two 20-minute sessions of decluttering in the area. Progress! I have a lot of tips and tricks I’ve learned when decluttering over the years, so watch for my upcoming post.

What about you?

Do you have a dreaded room or area that you need to unclutter?

Tell me all about it…it will make me feel so much better about mine!

HEALTH/ Spiritual

Morning Coffee Mug Scripture Habit on my Instagram InstaStory

Morning Coffee Mug Scripture Habit

I have a morning coffee mug Scripture habit that has been well received by my Instagram followers, and that makes me very happy! It is so fun to share something that is such a meaningful part of my mornings in an easy way. I put a verse or inspiration on an image of my coffee mug then simply share that image on my Instagram Story.

Coffee and Scripture God Time with the Bible App

Purposeful, slow living is important to me. One of the very first things I do each day to make #slowliving a reality is to have what I call “God Time.” I sit with a mug of coffee, a blanket, my phone and my journal. I’m usually cuddled up in a corner of our couch or in a comfy chair we have in our bedroom. Lately, I have been sitting outside in our backyard, no blanket needed!

I use my apps on my phone to spend time with God, the main apps being YouVersion Bible App & IF App. When I read anything that really sticks or speaks to me, I quickly copy and paste it into my Notes in a folder labeled “God Time” and each note separated by the date, starting a new note for each new day. I then pull anything I want to share from that Note. Most days I end the time with prayer. If I have extra time, I will take some time to journal, too.

Habits Take Time

This quiet time is something I truly look forward to each day, but this was not always the case. I remember when my teens were young, I yearned for the desire and discipline to spend time daily time with my Creator, but I was tired and often distracted. I asked God to help me with this and over the years time with him has grown into a sweet, necessary habit.

Habits take time and purposeful, repetitive action to build. It has helped that my ‘littles’ are grown, that I have become more of a morning person, and life challenges over the years have revealed my deep need for God. These are all things that make spending time with him easier, plus he is a good Father and will always answer a prayer of his child that is asked according to his will.

What is Instagram Stories?

Instagram Stories or “InstaStory” is a newish feature on Instagram that lets you share little snippets of your day, without worrying about overposting. As you share multiple photos and videos, they appear together in a slideshow format which becomes your story. You can get creative with it by adding text and using drawing tools. I keep mine fairly simple, but I do love the text tool! The photos and videos disappear 24 hours after bring posted, which keeps clutter to a minimum.

You can see stories from those you follow in a bar at the top of your Instagram feed. When there is something new to see, their profile photo will have a colorful ring around it. Just tap on this ringed profile photo to watch someone’s story.

It is easy to view at your own pace. Tap to go back or forward or swipe to go to the next person’s story. I love that you can hold your finger on the screen to pause someone’s story, which is very handy when reading text.

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM

USERNAME: @amy_newnostalgia

(psst..you can only view InstaStories on the mobil app)

Morning Coffee Mug Scripture Sharing on Instastories

It is fun to start each days Instagram Story with a fresh new picture of my morning coffee mug. My followers have commented that they love seeing where each day begins on my story by the familiar mug photo, and are inspired by the words I share. I’m not surprised by that, as God’s word promises to “never return void.” {Isaiah 55:11} When I share scripture, I share his words, not mine.

How To Easily Share Regular Inspiration on Social Media

If you desire to share regular inspiration on social media, find a time where you regularly do something every day and fit it into that time. I have a mug of coffee every day, so this was the perfect fit for me. There are so many habits we automatically do every day– eating breakfast, brushing teeth, putting on makeup, sitting in the driver’s seat of your car–any of these times could be a time where you pause a minute and build the habit of sharing inspiration on social media. We all know social media could use a bit of positive inspiration!

With Instagram, photos are live on the Instastory for 24 hours, then disappear. I have my settings to where it will automatically save the photos I share to my camera roll, so I have gathered some of my favorites Coffee Mug Scriptures to share with you today!

Another version of this verse says “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” What a cool promise, and one that has come true in my life. When I clear the time and space to come close to God and his message, he responds and his words become real to me and give me life.

When someone loves and adores you, it is not too hard to do what they desire. I pray often that God would reveal to me just how much he loves me. His love for his children is so immense and perfect that our human minds just can’t wrap around it! Yet, I’ve had many glimpses and boy is it beautifully overwhelming! When we are truly and fully loved by someone, we trust them to want the best for us. Obedience out of this knowledge is so sweet.

This is not an easy verse, especially when you are wronged and it just isn’t fair. I love the reminder of how many times Christ has forgiven me. Over and over and over. Who am I to withhold forgiveness from another? Yet, I do. Even when I think I am a forgiving person, God will show me where I am holding an offense or one will come my way and I will have a choice to make. Lord, help me to choose to forgive!

This is ultimately what I am doing each morning. Seeking his face. He tells us to, and I just know he smiles when we do!

Ya’ll. This verse can be hard for me. I have an anxiety disorder so perfect peace is something I don’t take for granted. I HAVE experienced it so often in my life. A supernatural peace from God. Having to fight my default of anxiety and choose to trust and believe has been a fight for me, but God has met me in that and shown me it is worth it. There is nothing like his peace.

Well. This one. James 1 has always been a favorite chapter of the Bible for me. I memorized it when I was young and it always stuck with me. Man it is hard to wrap my human mind around being thankful for test & trials to the point of considering them a gift. I HAVE seen how hardships cause me to lean in and show me my need for a Savior. I have seen God’s faithfulness in every single hardship. The gift is more of him. The gift is sharing in suffering, with him and with others.

This reminder that God has overcome the world, that there is the hope of Heaven, that this is not all there is, that we are made for more than this earth and it’s difficulties–yes! That we can be unshakable, assured and deeply at peace if we trust him. Yes!

Above all else is love. It holds all the things.

Another verse on trust. He is trustworthy. He is good. He knows the future. He knows our stories. He sees it all and holds it all. His timing is perfect.

Do you have any #slowliving routines?

What is something you do every day that you could fit sharing some positive inspiration on social media? Is this even something that interests you?

Want to see fresh Coffee Mug Scripture and inspiration? Follow me on Instagram @amy_newnostalgia.

ANTI-PROCRASTINATION

Anti-Procrastination Weekly Update

By the time you read this, I will have been in California visiting my friend Karen, going on day 4. I am writing it a day before I leave, and I am giddy excited!

My Karen and I met thanks to this blog. She is a survivor friend who was reading my cancer story and got in touch with me. Our hearts knitting and over the past 6 years we have been the best of friends, visiting each other as often as possible.

I am looking forward to my trip. We will be staying at Carmel by the Sea then head on to Lake Tahoe. Follow along at New Nostalgia’s Instagram account.

Obviously I won’t be meeting some of my weekly goals while out of town, but I plan on getting lots of reading done and will for sure be moving my body on hikes in the mountains and walks by the ocean.

Weekly Goals

Meal Plan — grocery list +5 meals

Dates — my Todd, my girls, one close friend

Do a Pin — I thought meditating on this would be fitting as I stare at the ocean!

Reading Progress — Anti-Cancer: A New Way Of Life; Katharina & Martin Luther; Nothing To Prove; One

Daily Personal Health Goals

Spiritual — journal, Scripture, pray, meditate

Move Body — walk, yoga or strength training

Hydrate + Nutrients — water (80 oz a day); leafy greens & berries, vitamins, powdered greens

Everyday Home Goals

Make Bed

Wipe Surfaces (bathroom sinks/counters, kitchen counters, tables)

Clutter (quick pick up and a few minutes wherever it is accumulating)

One Full Load (dishwasher & laundry–don’t stop until dishes and clothes are put away!)

Floors (quick sweep, vacuum & spot clean — if needed)

A Chore A Day Goals

M – Bathrooms | T – Dusting | W – Vacuuming

Th – Floors | F – You choose! | Sa – towels & sheets | Su – none

{Homekeeping Goals Inspired by Clean Mama’s Simply Clean Book}

{want this FREE printable? keep scrolling}

Latest Obsessions

{some are affiliate links}

Eden’s Garden French Lavender Roller

I have written about my GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) and I’m so thankful medication keeps my anxiety low and bearable most days. If I ever have any breakthrough anxiety symptoms on more stressful days, I use Eden’s Garden French Lavender Roller. My anxiety manifests itself in my stomach…I will get a familiar knot or pit in my stomach and if it gets grows it can cause nausea. When I start to feel that, first I take a minute and talk to God about what is concerning me, then I make sure I have taken my meds on time. Then I will reach for my lavender roller and roll it on to my wrists or up on my collarbone. It is also great on the back of the neck if a tension headache starts to form. I have been amazed at how well this works to calm my spirit and nerves.

Ongoing Obsessions

Kindle Fire

This ongoing obsession with my Kindle Fire is not letting up. I especially love using it in the evenings when tucked in bed. It’s like my own perfect sized, personal television. Before I indulge in watching Netflix or Amazon Prime shoes, I make sure I read at least a chapter or two of whatever book is on my Kindle. I love using the same device to both read and watch. It is going to come in very handy on my flight to Cali!

Essential Oil Diffuser

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

Recipes I’m Making This Week

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

Since I will be gone this week, I am not making ANY recipes! Usually if I go out of town, I will prepare meals and freeze them, but now that I have teenagers, I gave myself a true break from cooking and they are on their own. I made sure I had lots of groceries on hand for them to choose from. I also bought food I don’t normally buy, (like frozen breaded chicken strips) and that delighted my girls. I do think they will miss my cooking after a week of processed food!

Instant Pot Weekly Staples

Crockpot Bone Broth (made it in Instant Pot this time)

Instant Pot Yogurt | Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats | Instant Pot Quinoa | Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs |

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.

Counting Gifts/ FAMILY/ Leaving A Legacy/ Spiritual

From My Heart Posts In 2016

What do I mean by “from my heart?” These are posts that go deeper than a recipe post or a DIY post.

These posts are my favorite to write, and also some of the most well received by all of you, which makes this heart of mine so touched and happy. It is clear I often write from my heart when hardship hits, as there are posts on suffering, anxiety, grief & tragedy. But, I also capture meaningful life moments in posts on amazing family memories, this wonderful life I get to live, and my Todd.

Saturday Morning Musings

Oh my. I must write more posts like this–the ones where I just sit across from you all with a warm cuppa and just chat about life. It is therapeutic, and you are all so dear to just allow me to share. It also captures the fleeting seasons of life, as this post was written just last summer, but life rhythms have already changed so drastically. Time for another Saturday Morning Musing!

Read more here.

A Family Update

Posts like these are so fun to look back on. I’ve talked about how this blog is my recipe binder, my memory keeper, my cancer journal & a place to connect with such a great and caring community. It has certainly become something very special to me and my family over the years. It is especially comforting as a 2-time cancer survivor that my words and our memories are in a place where my 3 girls could easily access them and know the things I think about and am passionate about. This post captures the personality of my teens in this season of life. I don’t write as often about my girls now that they are teens. It is a delicate thing, letting their stories be THEIR stories & not over-sharing. But once in a while…

Read more here.

How To Find Relief From Severe Anxiety

Whoa. Reading this post about a year after writing it was…whoa. It brought back many memories of struggle. It reminds me how far I’ve come and how many prayers have been answered.

Read more here.

I Am A Sinner If Its Not One Thing Its Another

This is the post where I write raw all my feelings of shame and failure as a Mom and wife, and then LYSA TERKUERST, one of my all-time fav writers and amazing woman of God, comments on it. She told me that the post was powerfully and beautifully written, with a few more sentences of wisdom that made my year. Yeah, that was a pretty amazing. Take a peek at her comment in the post!

Read more here.

Enter Into Others Suffering

This post is about my beautiful friend and amazing artist, Alison Rush. I want you all to know her. I will be going to her home in just about an hour and wish you all could come with me to meet her. She is pure joy.

Read more here.

Severe Anxiety Symptoms

As I reread these posts on anxiety, I feel like they just might be some of the most important ones I have written. As much as I wish anxiety was not part of my story, reading comments and remembering the emails I get in response make it worth it. Sharing a bit of my very personal journal and journey has brought so many of you to share yours with me, too, and that makes it all worth it. I received an email from a teenage reader on Christmas night that shared her own anxiety story and thanked me for this post. Yes, it is worth it.

Words from my journal, here.

When Grief Hits

“… I also found myself in a pool of sadness, swimming in grief. Anxiety and depression can often go hand in hand. I am acquainted with anxiety, but never of that severity & had not experienced it accompanied with depression. Deep sadness was a new experience for me. Together anxiety and depression are a brutal duet that brought my life music & happiness to a halt. It was survival time. I was a survivor learning what survival really meant…”

Help In Suffering

So often a song will spur a writing. That is what happened in this post. It is a cry out to God of help and thanks and praise.

Read more here.

To Be a Part of Love Winning

I wrote this in response to the Orlando shooting and tell of the time my own sister was caught in a deadly mall shooting.

“I want to feel others pain. I want to have ears to hear and eyes to see and a heart that cares enough to stop for a moment and just listen and absorb, to mourn with and feel with. I want to enter into pain with others because this is what love does…Evil creates pain. Love enters into the pain. Love wins.”

Read more here.

Forced Rest

I write about a hero of mine. I just saw this precious man yesterday and life has not gotten any easier for him or his family since writing this post early last year. They take it day by day not knowing what each day will bring. Yes, he is my hero, and so is his sweet family.

Read more here.

Let Me Tell You About My Todd

Last but not least, my personal favorite post from 2016 because it is about my very favorite guy. How fun that you all liked it too!

Read it here.

Well, I have had all the feels reading back over these 11 posts from my heart. THANK YOU for reading and allowing me to share. You all are so dear to me and so very very gentle with my heart.

Counting Gifts/ FAMILY

New Nostalgia Most Popular Posts on Content 2016

It’s been a great year of sharing at New Nostalgia! I am so thankful to call this little place in cyberspace home. I’m so thankful to YOU for making it possible by reading my words. I love doing these end-of-the-year roundup posts consisting of the most popular content of the past year.

In January, I will be posting the Top Recipes of This Past Year, the Top Home Living Tips, and the Top Posts From My Heart, so keep checking back to see what resonated the most with all of you!

If you want to see the most popular posts of 2015, you can check them out here, and 2014’s are here!