tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52306298694378410412024-03-27T06:27:00.591-04:00Biblio-StyleJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.comBlogger273125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-68079051162417881232024-03-16T07:05:00.003-04:002024-03-16T07:20:39.321-04:00Links | March 15, 2024<p>Happy St. Pats to all who go out and do something. How lucky, indeed! To have it fall on a weekend was my college dream come true. </p><p><br /></p><p>A few years ago, Ryan and I went to Chicago to visit some friends over St. Pat's weekend and wow, now there's a city that goes hard. We raged as much as two couples in their mid-thirties can, and then our friends went on to start having babies and I have literally never seen the wife again. I consider this our last night out and tbh it was a good one. My most powerful memory from that weekend is standing in line in a huge glass Starbucks the next morning and concentrating all of my energy on not tipping over or barfing. </p><p><br /></p><p>Ten minutes later, we took this picture of Ryan and I in front of a very green river, looking healthy and not at all hungover. What a wonderful ruse - the power of photography, you know? </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lb0vgoAMPFqRlAHGwUFb3K5ipuvO0SELjs10yGiClWT2SkBZzZ0oAfE53ARkpGlOVr1DWMhfRkyasqkU37rtj5oqEktdK7HAAwAoH7CtYBWr_6XDk_dI4Wo69Akpqu9Co6cEtDU41jW3A9Y5XEyf2KQGN4e6L1ptnhX3nvVNFzIqyL6KETAszmJ3XTI/s4032/5C08FAED-D094-4026-B16A-BDA25BCF14AA.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Links | March 15, 2024" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lb0vgoAMPFqRlAHGwUFb3K5ipuvO0SELjs10yGiClWT2SkBZzZ0oAfE53ARkpGlOVr1DWMhfRkyasqkU37rtj5oqEktdK7HAAwAoH7CtYBWr_6XDk_dI4Wo69Akpqu9Co6cEtDU41jW3A9Y5XEyf2KQGN4e6L1ptnhX3nvVNFzIqyL6KETAszmJ3XTI/s16000/5C08FAED-D094-4026-B16A-BDA25BCF14AA.heic" title="Links | March 15, 2024" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><br /><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">1 // ICYMI</h3><p><i>Everything I've written recently -</i></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2024/03/little-luxuries.html" target="_blank">Little luxuries I love. </a>Like fountain coke and gas station snacks. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2024/03/life-lately-february-2024.html" target="_blank">Life Lately </a>in February (in a little different format). </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2024/02/musings-do-kids-have-right-to-internet.html" target="_blank">Why I took my kid off the internet</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2024/02/links-february-16-2024.html" target="_blank">The last batch of links. </a></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">2 // SHOPPING</h3><p>Well, you know Easter is on my mind. My son is V into squishmallows these days, so I picked up a <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b84Gx" target="_blank">"mystery" squish egg</a> for his basket fully expecting him to go bananas. </p><p><br /></p><p>Do you participate in Lent? I do and I know it's supposed to be for Jesus, but I'm doing it for <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b9aJA" target="_blank">this Boden purse</a>. I told myself if I kept my Lent promises this year, I'd buy it at the end and the countdown is officially on. </p><p><br /></p><p>I'm thinking spring, which is how I justify restocking <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b9aqP" target="_blank">my favorite J. Crew flip flops</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p>Very niche, but on Ryan's recommendation, I bought this <a href="https://drift.co/products/wood?variant=30287404695606" rel="nofollow">Drift air freshener</a> for my car and it is premier. I got the teak scent and I am telling you, there is no better smelling car than mine (and Ryan's). </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">3 // INTO IT</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgww_ZGz_t-pJ-4IdeiIshoVPTQGO4duPCOABJPkkcHNlNNa2nkmNZCQAmLPQ_ZiFbwf5V_NBuhSXuQquYJfQr4dPnAu24WVjrj2kjv-KPviNHgQXvFinVwdIX51iMHhg6MPVizn8jOfHtnIDg47SN7tmVhskRzR97Aky0PS9DnDA57Ms2jsycA5QSYYgs/s1224/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-14%20at%205.48.33%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Links | March 15, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgww_ZGz_t-pJ-4IdeiIshoVPTQGO4duPCOABJPkkcHNlNNa2nkmNZCQAmLPQ_ZiFbwf5V_NBuhSXuQquYJfQr4dPnAu24WVjrj2kjv-KPviNHgQXvFinVwdIX51iMHhg6MPVizn8jOfHtnIDg47SN7tmVhskRzR97Aky0PS9DnDA57Ms2jsycA5QSYYgs/s16000/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-14%20at%205.48.33%20PM.png" title="Links | March 15, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The most charming <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1268421820/what-a-day-print?epik=dj0yJnU9WlZWRkJYazA0OU5nRWhDYTRsR0JVWHlTblFXaU9sd3EmcD0wJm49SmVBb2lDZzBBRENXUlE4N3dmU18tdyZ0PUFBQUFBR1h6Y0dn" target="_blank">piece of artwork</a>. Plus <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheArtofDanialRyan?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1268421820&from_page=listing" target="_blank">so much more</a>. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAbXmKLUs4P-p_9cV8qS5snoSiFbBeGds8FwVTAQ-6pBgH_dOKY8TBNrF4fcOHAM1ZkuUxn3ZBbiBDTJmimLjGUd3VNHyXE62KCKtTp4W97jKGjB-54th187NM2PZAHu9V7OtigV7YwftxxhLZJTcqHfmq7gluCzLgZnwUt26KEH_oVAjL83mm8hEsTk/s1092/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-14%20at%205.52.59%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Links | March 15, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="1092" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAbXmKLUs4P-p_9cV8qS5snoSiFbBeGds8FwVTAQ-6pBgH_dOKY8TBNrF4fcOHAM1ZkuUxn3ZBbiBDTJmimLjGUd3VNHyXE62KCKtTp4W97jKGjB-54th187NM2PZAHu9V7OtigV7YwftxxhLZJTcqHfmq7gluCzLgZnwUt26KEH_oVAjL83mm8hEsTk/s16000/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-14%20at%205.52.59%20PM.png" title="Links | March 15, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another good <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/623640199/beware-of-the-ghosts-plaque?epik=dj0yJnU9SXBjTUpaMHF5SjRUdF9JWldKbW1IOWRNT1ZCZzNEZEsmcD0wJm49Uk1sVHRxZ1ZiaXAxN085Unp2dVh5USZ0PUFBQUFBR1h6Y2JF" target="_blank">Etsy find</a> that I'd like to hang in my house. I don't believe I have ghosts to beware of, but I do think it's hilarious. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">4 // LINKS</h3><p>New <a href="https://www.kaceymusgraves.com/#/" target="_blank">Kacey Musgraves music</a>! I really enjoyed her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSPyunH-vX0" target="_blank">SNL performance</a> a couple weeks ago, too. </p><p><br /></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">I fell down the <a href="https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/03/this-is-just-weird-buzzfeed-news-former-royals-reporter-on-kate-middleton-palace-press-and-distrust-in-the-media/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">“Kate is missing!” rabbit hole</a>, reading this overview from a former royal news reporter. I don’t think it’s actually that weird to have a medical thing going on and want some privacy, and I’m not making the case that it’s any of my business to know, but I <em>do</em> think there’s probably something weird brewing. </p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Ooh interesting! This <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamMGrant/status/1763635417620881531" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">daily routine graph</a> shows how the creative greats spent their days. The variety is inspiring! The way none of them seem to spend more than a few hours at a day job is validating in a weird way. </p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Duke can read now, and we usually read our stories in tandem. He takes a page, then I take a page, and so on and so forth. I loved this list of <a href="https://alexsteele.substack.com/p/deep-dive-the-best-pages-of-my-favorite?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1517167&post_id=142551571&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=2che2t&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email" target="_blank">"best pages of my favorite children's books." </a></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Related: <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/good-dog-carl-alexandra-day/286474?ean=9780689807480" target="_blank">Good Dog, Carl</a> was a favorite here for years, for all the obvious reasons. </p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><a href="https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/lindsay-lohan-irish-wish-interview" target="_blank">Lindsay Lohan is back</a>. </p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Related: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gKXowSyfjM" target="_blank">Irish Wish</a> is on my weekend watch list, no matter how cheesy. </p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;">***</p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">5 // CONSUMING</h3><p><b>Reading:</b> I just finished <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b8rJ5" target="_blank">Demon Copperhead</a>, which I may have overhyped for myself. To be fair, it won a dang Pulitzer, but I thought it was just okay. I'm a die-hard for Kingsolver's Poisonwood Bible, so that may have set my expectations impossibly high, but mostly I just felt....like.. sad about the whole book. Which is probably the point of a book about a scrappy kid in the foster system who just keeps getting kicked while he's down. But dang. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Watching:</b> Do I care about golf? Not a bit. But that hasn’t stopped me from becoming completely obsessed with <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81483353" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Full Swing on Netflix</a>. Truly riveting profiles about a whole flock of men who don’t have much humility. That’s sounds sour, but I’m so into this show right now. It feels like elevated reality tv, tbh. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Listening: </b><a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/5Csjy4XeA7KnizkhIvI7y2?si=_--S2IZmRhyqi7V_wDmNpw" target="_blank">Ariana Grande's new album Eternal Sunshine</a>. Listen, I haven't suffered a relationship breakup in a looooong time, but I am bopping to Bye like I got some heartbreak to work through. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Eating: </b>Shameless Snacks, omg. On a whim, I grabbed a pack of the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5C48H7M?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">low sugar gummies</a> and if you’ve ever tried an alternative and immediately tossed them in the trash with your teeth permanently cemented together, I implore you to give these a shot. If I didn’t know they are low sugar, I would never guess. So so good. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">6 // PLANS</h3><p>My entire family has been awake since 4:30am this morning, which feels particularly criminal for a Saturday. It's not a great omen, but I'm committed to turning it around or at least squeezing in a nap this afternoon. </p><p><br /></p><p>What about you? Any St. Pat's plans? I won't be drinking any green beer, that's for dang sure. I remember when Sunday used to feel like part of the weekend, but now it's just a pregame for Monday and if I don't use the day to properly prepare, I'll spend the next five days in catch-up hell. The thirties, they say, are better than your twenties, and I'd just like to point out when I was 25, I didn't spend my Sunday doing laundry and meal prepping, okay?</p><p><br /></p><p>However you spend it, happy weekending! </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-85143797017151579852024-03-08T05:35:00.001-05:002024-03-08T05:38:32.034-05:00Little Luxuries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAwaI9Ih7Z1AixUsz_UBRhLMrZ4Pd6NcXIiI5n2jcfNcJ_soz_DwuMwNzKVUm3ng66ktwnTObH7wiQkWYLdlGSlEim_wpW5kCRyfJZZTTJOfcM1z_DJL7OH8wU1YUL2rOsKWb9b2S3MWtKO0bjMGkclm1QYt_w1HF-nQUPay1F-dPYOzyDm1s3YksKP8/s4032/IMG_2473.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Little Luxuries | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAwaI9Ih7Z1AixUsz_UBRhLMrZ4Pd6NcXIiI5n2jcfNcJ_soz_DwuMwNzKVUm3ng66ktwnTObH7wiQkWYLdlGSlEim_wpW5kCRyfJZZTTJOfcM1z_DJL7OH8wU1YUL2rOsKWb9b2S3MWtKO0bjMGkclm1QYt_w1HF-nQUPay1F-dPYOzyDm1s3YksKP8/s16000/IMG_2473.JPG" title="Little Luxuries | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Is there anything nicer than the first warm day in the spring? On Sunday, I perched up on our front porch while Duke played in the yard. A return to old habits and it was just nice. I got me thinking about other small things that are supremely enjoyable. Thing like: </p><p><br /></p><p>Fountain Diet Coke</p><p><br /></p><p>Pasta with salt and a sprinkle of parm. </p><p><br /></p><p>FRIENDS on in the background while I'm cooking dinner. </p><p><br /></p><p>Bonfires. </p><p><br /></p><p>Reading magazines at the beach.</p><p><br /></p><p>Having siblings.</p><p><br /></p><p>Just small things that, if I pause for a second to consider it, make for very happy moments. You know, walking through a hot parking lot holding a big gulp? Nothing like it. The ping of a new message on our sisters text message thread. Standing in the driveway, opening a surprise card that came in the mail. It's so nice. </p><p><br /></p><p>What are your small luxuries? </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Shopping Break --</h3><p>Did I talk about these last week? I can't remember, but in any case, I am reporting out that I am TWO WEEKS in on <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b8rIi" target="_blank">these press on nails from Olive and June</a>. You wouldn't believe how many loads of laundry and emails I've tapped out, and on they cling. For a $7 impulse buy, I think those are some good results. </p><p><br /></p><p>Another holy grail find - Ryan has <a href="https://drift.co" target="_blank">one of these unique air fresheners </a>in his car and it smells so freaking good. I ordered one for myself this week. I picked the teak scent, and I am feeling V sophisticated, such is the vibe. </p><p><br /></p><p>My sweet baby boy blew up my hair dryer last weekend. He was using it to blow up balloons, which lol but now I have air-dried hair every day this week and this cannot continue. I'm in the market for something new and wondering if I should invest in something high end (and a drawer with a lock) or keep it economical, pending another mishap. I'm very nearly sold on the <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b8SaT" target="_blank">promises of no noise on this one</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p>Speaking of that little angel, I'm thinking just a little ahead here, but <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b8Uzp" target="_blank">this is a great addition to the Easter basket</a> for lego loving kiddos. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>Last thing, I just wanted to share this simple graphic I saw on Pinterest this week. I immediately saved it as I want to remember this always. I often fantasize about a dream life. Things like, how much I want to live in a walkable neighborhood that is also on the water. Or working from home full time. Or writing for a living. You know, silly stuff that feels as far away as winning the lottery. But then...</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRHHu52DdOY0BiWkxmK5Za4Sf0icV0RVVZvKm94LoPVzLug6JhAZi3Q5lBZ-EA_mGjMmPcMiHVaM-Ly-NVt-DlVuHJ9e8Iv5IzVDPOe89O6gbfmVqKYqdkUOLnOYxXb1oX-szvxd5deff_lPZQAGdH8ihppgrGQoSXK6zQg4ZiN-FYYuxYL4bUk7B3uQ/s928/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-07%20at%202.46.06%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Little Luxuries | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="928" height="467" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRHHu52DdOY0BiWkxmK5Za4Sf0icV0RVVZvKm94LoPVzLug6JhAZi3Q5lBZ-EA_mGjMmPcMiHVaM-Ly-NVt-DlVuHJ9e8Iv5IzVDPOe89O6gbfmVqKYqdkUOLnOYxXb1oX-szvxd5deff_lPZQAGdH8ihppgrGQoSXK6zQg4ZiN-FYYuxYL4bUk7B3uQ/w632-h467/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-07%20at%202.46.06%20PM.png" title="Little Luxuries | www.biblio-style.com" width="632" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Isn't it wonderful? </p><p><br /></p><p>Happy Friday!</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">PS </span><i style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">- there are some affiliate links in here, but aren't they everywhere? If you click on a link, they'll throw me a couple pennies for our combined hardwork, so I guess click with caution. </i></p>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-6683469348733978202024-03-01T15:45:00.002-05:002024-03-01T17:21:44.750-05:00Life Lately | February 2024<p>Well this will be different. Last week, I decided resolutely not to put Duke's face on the internet anymore and since my life revolves around him and our activities together, that really slims down what I share here. You can read about <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2024/02/musings-do-kids-have-right-to-internet.html" target="_blank">my hysteria at a water park here</a>, but in the meantime, it's inspired me to switch up the template for these "Life Lately" posts. </p><p><br /></p><p>How was your February? We stayed busy, hoping it would stave off the imminent winter wall (it did not) but overall, it was a nice month around here. Spring is coming! </p><p><br /></p><p>On to February, this our nation's month of loooove. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkeuCwhLd1WKXaBzHITm-TZPGeNgJhy2LKnH2rEKcfqmhLPu9HWx1cjfUx43m7E9humd6k8_B8kEGcZC7PWLstReXpljD1Q1y4BmV764cneH8vFIwHPSzByb_w49oUKcWZ0DrNpYBxRaVvivcPObnb3GmUGLE9EsoqSEzxnnJWBGo7etAEyBDXk7zjqM/s4032/5B3FB8C4-067D-4297-917C-F4565ABFA43F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | February 2024" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkeuCwhLd1WKXaBzHITm-TZPGeNgJhy2LKnH2rEKcfqmhLPu9HWx1cjfUx43m7E9humd6k8_B8kEGcZC7PWLstReXpljD1Q1y4BmV764cneH8vFIwHPSzByb_w49oUKcWZ0DrNpYBxRaVvivcPObnb3GmUGLE9EsoqSEzxnnJWBGo7etAEyBDXk7zjqM/s16000/5B3FB8C4-067D-4297-917C-F4565ABFA43F.jpeg" title="Life Lately | February 2024" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">February Highs and Lows - </h3><p><br /></p><p><b>Highs: </b>I started taking magnesium before bed because I read it helps with sleep and mood. I don't know about the latter, but I am SOLD on the sleep properties. I've been sleeping so well lately. I've also been working on a small vanity project that's bringing me so much joy to work on every night. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Lows:</b> I gave up swearing for Lent and it is going very mediocre. <i>Heck</i> just doesn't do the job. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Standout Moments from the Month - </h3><p><br /></p><p>The first order of business was to celebrate my Oma, who turned 90 this month. I forgot to take pictures and I'm so regretful of it, but she had a full party in which she was the queen holding court. Lots of family was there of course, but I thought it was especially nice that she can fill a room with people I don't even know. To have such a full life at 90 - I'm inspired!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p><br /></p><p>Back to that water park. My sister and her family visited the Great Wolf Lodge which is roughly 20min from my house, and listen, if I'm willing to<a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/11/life-lately-october-2023.html" target="_blank"> crash her anniversary on Mac Island</a>, a good 3 hours away, you know I'm packing my swimsuit when she's this freaking close. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-Iq0UTHkoAvuqQ7bYR6Gmg3oVWpG22mpBPCAjLievIuBj3D27BaFwdrm9_xE2mkFtKVLlsnQv7A6uINc0AB5Zqet83iyuPSS8VZRbDdmBOxIRdAqTEw_QRL7lu1G8o0yBmKWwL3ErHzVZpqMCpZOPhNffXO9inDsgNU6bvNacb66zHOzyzzZuliDyZ0/s3088/DCD14F75-B083-457A-9F0C-0BF1F3605EBA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | February 2024" border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-Iq0UTHkoAvuqQ7bYR6Gmg3oVWpG22mpBPCAjLievIuBj3D27BaFwdrm9_xE2mkFtKVLlsnQv7A6uINc0AB5Zqet83iyuPSS8VZRbDdmBOxIRdAqTEw_QRL7lu1G8o0yBmKWwL3ErHzVZpqMCpZOPhNffXO9inDsgNU6bvNacb66zHOzyzzZuliDyZ0/s16000/DCD14F75-B083-457A-9F0C-0BF1F3605EBA.jpeg" title="Life Lately | February 2024" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybnoGH8m2JBMO3-9StqnKOZNv6JdM_Q0xXOKHEQ7Od5dZL20DLBG8i8DTgOpT8s9YAp0GO-ZywWxF1VMnrJhDi-MKPdIBJsc8fGtkz74cqv0m6elFMiwA4IkAGEdk0FM1rti5_xpd6I-ve7N9g8xFE7yCFN1bTZV8GbWwFEcZOL5JNENhuifZFU22MCU/s4032/AB4B144D-1146-492F-8D2A-F815CEC25E8D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | February 2024" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybnoGH8m2JBMO3-9StqnKOZNv6JdM_Q0xXOKHEQ7Od5dZL20DLBG8i8DTgOpT8s9YAp0GO-ZywWxF1VMnrJhDi-MKPdIBJsc8fGtkz74cqv0m6elFMiwA4IkAGEdk0FM1rti5_xpd6I-ve7N9g8xFE7yCFN1bTZV8GbWwFEcZOL5JNENhuifZFU22MCU/s16000/AB4B144D-1146-492F-8D2A-F815CEC25E8D.jpeg" title="Life Lately | February 2024" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>Valentine's Day. We order a couple pizzas most years, piling together on the couch to watch something v romantic like Shark Tank, or maybe last week's episode of SNL. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrIKV8N1XKX1GxwTv8PHZzR1680YaIOuYorKIihjkA8L6-uJXWvKPWwbqYjMbMSExDNhMpXaalbM5H-a-6BSuOyXXmeAeZjP7mghflwYGZtFLP5STV_SQib3ug-uDo3g4DbOk-uDuShjsK343ghpQD5ICmJ0X-zCrEbU1AmiNEjRfFXrUrWM-aFsRPcg/s4006/E4B3019B-3389-4DE5-8994-20115C3FB596_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | February 2024" border="0" data-original-height="2644" data-original-width="4006" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrIKV8N1XKX1GxwTv8PHZzR1680YaIOuYorKIihjkA8L6-uJXWvKPWwbqYjMbMSExDNhMpXaalbM5H-a-6BSuOyXXmeAeZjP7mghflwYGZtFLP5STV_SQib3ug-uDo3g4DbOk-uDuShjsK343ghpQD5ICmJ0X-zCrEbU1AmiNEjRfFXrUrWM-aFsRPcg/s16000/E4B3019B-3389-4DE5-8994-20115C3FB596_1_201_a.jpeg" title="Life Lately | February 2024" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Really lovely sunny days just fill my office so nicely. I can deal with winter, so long as I can also get some sunshine. The dogs bask on the rug at my feet. It's nice. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQp9mB3WoTIC6PA2rv5vA55K8jWQ0vNfAYGPF7CGQRNaBUkxx1EK_IXOLANIlEJAb4sWit2EnHxobx71CHp0HgU-ES3z5zpT896UWgr-BSCm-t9V2t_aC6HvtFg_egNbmTFA_UVGnhcUWyRAa3grE88QBVQtWeX7gfYid8ovZRr1k35yqKgcm4YQkeVI0/s3829/310285C7-5449-49B7-962B-4740920F1752_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | February 2024" border="0" data-original-height="3829" data-original-width="2870" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQp9mB3WoTIC6PA2rv5vA55K8jWQ0vNfAYGPF7CGQRNaBUkxx1EK_IXOLANIlEJAb4sWit2EnHxobx71CHp0HgU-ES3z5zpT896UWgr-BSCm-t9V2t_aC6HvtFg_egNbmTFA_UVGnhcUWyRAa3grE88QBVQtWeX7gfYid8ovZRr1k35yqKgcm4YQkeVI0/s16000/310285C7-5449-49B7-962B-4740920F1752_1_201_a.jpeg" title="Life Lately | February 2024" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Speaking of sunny days, the weather warmed up to truly weird temperatures last week. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuR0-tK1uvnKq8_Pa-8fGT852A7I145RgJ_bvWcaS2yuo3_V2m0OXKNCMP6ao6LRxWAnqA73k0JSWVKQeQRqBK2mFyrSm5ID09QVC2v5LR-MrDLEJoZrtx_5PRwcwX2uBaGv8fcpunloWwkgacI20WhFbxsAJg4ceWSJjGilkp5aZWqxJHymS1bU29mg/s4032/C532FF35-BCEE-42EE-93DF-5B2F101820E1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | February 2024" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuR0-tK1uvnKq8_Pa-8fGT852A7I145RgJ_bvWcaS2yuo3_V2m0OXKNCMP6ao6LRxWAnqA73k0JSWVKQeQRqBK2mFyrSm5ID09QVC2v5LR-MrDLEJoZrtx_5PRwcwX2uBaGv8fcpunloWwkgacI20WhFbxsAJg4ceWSJjGilkp5aZWqxJHymS1bU29mg/s16000/C532FF35-BCEE-42EE-93DF-5B2F101820E1.jpeg" title="Life Lately | February 2024" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UGpP8yt1xHmELoFY0druQgkwa-i_wrk5G9y2Dd6x2Cm84Dzlc3aFgaqIWTT9s9BJiEntcX59kFBj3tAS1rNN0lKhQDxCFQMDvj4hRF-g4m5gU2c0IYoAGPGOzIyg611_qchmjIngjxrMt6Ue5Xfcwu8fCGyDdRKZbjaNJFCpWMwX__nsD5r1PTQnwQg/s4032/3CAD80D1-5FA8-4153-B9D2-00247EFED221.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | February 2024" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UGpP8yt1xHmELoFY0druQgkwa-i_wrk5G9y2Dd6x2Cm84Dzlc3aFgaqIWTT9s9BJiEntcX59kFBj3tAS1rNN0lKhQDxCFQMDvj4hRF-g4m5gU2c0IYoAGPGOzIyg611_qchmjIngjxrMt6Ue5Xfcwu8fCGyDdRKZbjaNJFCpWMwX__nsD5r1PTQnwQg/s16000/3CAD80D1-5FA8-4153-B9D2-00247EFED221.jpeg" title="Life Lately | February 2024" /></a></div><br /><p>Tuesday was 65º. Wednesday was a snow day. One day I was wearing flip flops in the yard, the next we had a fresh and full layer of snow. Weather is weird, ya know. I spent the day working from home while Duke pushed hand written notes under my office door. Once, he marched in wearing Christmas jammies and a full scuba mask, just completely unironically. </p><p><br /></p><p>He also alarmed me by sneaking down the stairs in this get-up. It was maybe 5:30 and I'm putting down my first cup of coffee when I spot this out of the corner of my eye. Dude almost got a mug thrown at his face, but I restrained myself to a loud shriek. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoBW3uM6qGXRLYLLtUY7Napuwfre15gSc0ys-sqwAaGfdG5tqyRSVukOzxYCoX47iZN_TCqW1jRB4iy6aZDptTOdXQdeHyac8tcvRyqLJQivFVs7RPCU8xN0i6ahKF9TXkZsmyIyb2pI910yKsLLoXlJz7Ilzze1iPn9BqeqPETLDFrIY-H9U1nRfF5M/s4032/F8E5233B-3027-4D5E-BBF4-0ED370A847AD.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | February 2024" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoBW3uM6qGXRLYLLtUY7Napuwfre15gSc0ys-sqwAaGfdG5tqyRSVukOzxYCoX47iZN_TCqW1jRB4iy6aZDptTOdXQdeHyac8tcvRyqLJQivFVs7RPCU8xN0i6ahKF9TXkZsmyIyb2pI910yKsLLoXlJz7Ilzze1iPn9BqeqPETLDFrIY-H9U1nRfF5M/s16000/F8E5233B-3027-4D5E-BBF4-0ED370A847AD.heic" title="Life Lately | February 2024" /></a></div><br /><p>***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">February Consumables</h3><h4 style="text-align: left;">Books:</h4><p>I reread To Kill a Mockingbird this month. I had a real book hangover afterward, which is weird because it wasn't the first or even second time I've read the book. But I am the oldest I've ever been, and that's making me soft. I'm also a parent for the first time, and that's making me more in line with Atticus than Scout. I was surprised how much differently I read the book this time. I really appreciated Atticus's patience this time, but thought,<i> man you trust people a little too much</i>. I wonder how it'll go down in another decade. Will I ever get to a point that I sympathize with Aunt Alexandra?!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEncPezp6uJ0u425LYYqEvpv36iiJxwgE7vyyNL2wsAIEn_1ayk64l4YDX1KWBEEjlBL6eYFAkIA7Shyphenhyphen2ODTdARq5MDi38sv07ePPJj-IJj1DeuOMJdiwrVzW2sjMXgLrcujfyh_q4I2hVOI7osYCQeUri2Ii8ST95NHK-ns2Efd1Vps3DS8HFdORKq4/s4032/059DF28E-5031-4AC4-9FCF-8BFC6E063821.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | February 2024" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEncPezp6uJ0u425LYYqEvpv36iiJxwgE7vyyNL2wsAIEn_1ayk64l4YDX1KWBEEjlBL6eYFAkIA7Shyphenhyphen2ODTdARq5MDi38sv07ePPJj-IJj1DeuOMJdiwrVzW2sjMXgLrcujfyh_q4I2hVOI7osYCQeUri2Ii8ST95NHK-ns2Efd1Vps3DS8HFdORKq4/s16000/059DF28E-5031-4AC4-9FCF-8BFC6E063821.jpeg" title="Life Lately | February 2024" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I'm currently reading Demon Copperhead, which is similarly about completely unearned injustices. Damon is a kid in the foster care system in Appalachia. His mom recently died from an Oxy overdose and his dad drowned mysteriously before he was born. Listen, nothing about a child in foster care is a happy story, but this is a fairly clean version and any child abuse is told rather than shown, which for once, I can appreciate as it makes it easier to stomach. We start at Damon's birth and I'm currently at his 7th grade year. It's good, I'm enjoying it a lot. </p><p><br /></p><p>I also read The Green Mile (Stephen King) and Such a Fun Age (Kiley Reid). Five stars to Steve, three and a half to Kiley. </p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Food:</h4><p>When I'm in GR, even if it's for 10 minutes, I always make a pit stop at Crumbl. The cookies are damn expensive, but they're <i>good</i>. Duke and I run through the parking lot and share bites in the car immediately and the cookies are so freaking big, Ryan spend the next few days chipping away at them. They're spendy, but if you figure it's a few days worth of experience, I think it's worth it. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3Lt0lqGb1z_Nj8cEx76hJXQfZHScPycmDY8oB9oyrBVkRTSijJbgdZuIkeisZeF4J-DjPP7K28j8scBcuFt-QyOHa64Vuh8_gaZSCaY1LYKa3DvjK5iKNK_2cz6MDZDT_ElYcZ0Xe4aS9GsTZgMswRrELQg9V_gZLPIFzWSAMEx8HTfXsjWbn9yW5fI/s4032/E752A059-FDD2-463D-97E0-BAFABB84D17D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | February 2024" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3Lt0lqGb1z_Nj8cEx76hJXQfZHScPycmDY8oB9oyrBVkRTSijJbgdZuIkeisZeF4J-DjPP7K28j8scBcuFt-QyOHa64Vuh8_gaZSCaY1LYKa3DvjK5iKNK_2cz6MDZDT_ElYcZ0Xe4aS9GsTZgMswRrELQg9V_gZLPIFzWSAMEx8HTfXsjWbn9yW5fI/s16000/E752A059-FDD2-463D-97E0-BAFABB84D17D.jpeg" title="Life Lately | February 2024" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I spent a night at my sisters and packed this little party bag. Spicy Ranch Waters are my drink of choice, but I've been really into Mom Waters since my sister in law brought up a 6 pack at Christmastime. Sandy is my favorite, closely followed by that B, Karen. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLVC6k5jVUhXtZrdjKNTatOMEarqgM9Zid9bXXasoT9HUftpm3zzYAQA-ZkvauMKSivOqz3SAxl2wuhntmovhmZRMSkWYYFXg6NLhIQdEqhg6aQuVXOUC2-a45JQSMcfrmrLG82TBQ5uXLQVUIS-lr_hJzGK18rRELN5cr07lzlGkgpbPFT5XgjgAILc/s4032/C711298D-B071-4E27-BEF6-5FD9C417FE50_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | February 2024" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLVC6k5jVUhXtZrdjKNTatOMEarqgM9Zid9bXXasoT9HUftpm3zzYAQA-ZkvauMKSivOqz3SAxl2wuhntmovhmZRMSkWYYFXg6NLhIQdEqhg6aQuVXOUC2-a45JQSMcfrmrLG82TBQ5uXLQVUIS-lr_hJzGK18rRELN5cr07lzlGkgpbPFT5XgjgAILc/s16000/C711298D-B071-4E27-BEF6-5FD9C417FE50_1_201_a.jpeg" title="Life Lately | February 2024" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The cashier took note of an obvious mom (child clinging to cart is a dead giveaway) buying Mom Waters and asked me if my name is on any of the cans with a laugh. Not yet sir, but just give it 10 years. I read an interesting and funny article about how the names I grew up with are becoming the Susans and Nancys and Sharons of my youth. <a href="https://thechive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/old8.jpg?attachment_cache_bust=4122625&quality=85&strip=info&w=600" target="_blank">Example: See this tweet.</a> Haha, can you imagine a kid now hearing Jennifer or Jessica or Ashley and they're envisioning a middle age lady, the same way we did with ol' Michelle and Brenda? It makes me literally lol. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As far as media consumables, we've been watching the heck out of America's Funniest Home Videos and Alone, while keeping up with our old Shark Tank standby. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm still binging the Bad on Paper podcast and I've made it to 2020. It's honestly a little traumatic listening to the hosts live through the earlier part of the pandemic again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thoughts on Texas Hold 'Em? I'm talking Beyonce of course. I can't get into it, but I've always held out for the best and brightest of her Destiny's Child days anyway. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last picture is my favorite - a real bluebird month. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAkQ8yk2VWWJU7UfrFPexC6ud2bRSwWse0tW3gnoyOKYjQzV2t4XgyCdztHuMWP0M3EclejP8LnnvTS0fKdNigy-SKBSh1OCcRxSqtVYCJMEAOWpE1KuHtA9tlJXOKyYa3WBWdYHKawyYDcISQy5Z7VsMs8ui2JQjgfZArmGF_-NZdcpfEbnJEzJvr1w/s4032/2AA0BF60-108A-441D-8203-DFA6E91E3769.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | February 2024" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAkQ8yk2VWWJU7UfrFPexC6ud2bRSwWse0tW3gnoyOKYjQzV2t4XgyCdztHuMWP0M3EclejP8LnnvTS0fKdNigy-SKBSh1OCcRxSqtVYCJMEAOWpE1KuHtA9tlJXOKyYa3WBWdYHKawyYDcISQy5Z7VsMs8ui2JQjgfZArmGF_-NZdcpfEbnJEzJvr1w/s16000/2AA0BF60-108A-441D-8203-DFA6E91E3769.jpeg" title="Life Lately | February 2024" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How was your February?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-27917702951680639232024-02-23T03:00:00.003-05:002024-02-23T05:39:24.490-05:00Musings | Do Kids Have a Right to Internet Privacy <p><i>(TL;DR - I Recognized a Kid in Public that I Don't Know and it Freaked Me Out)</i></p><p><br /></p><p>I used to think that January was the longest month. Turns out it's definitely February - at least this year. But I am grateful that hitting my winter wall came so late in the season. March is just around the corner and with it usually comes some springlike weather. I'm looking forward to not being cold all the time and also not constantly hear the hum of the heater. It's white noise, but like, not the nice kind. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiai8wA-0byBkX6aR3TXU7BLwZ68nAT-PYkxcpvrxMJFzRbhTj2Z_lZDb1vIzn3tLIEN7wVBdgYyVk751qH6Gw4a1U8rtyg9A666ge8E1CmuJKVoQSXDCBsq1BwIfJGnZj1kJKY-b0KUVyb3sMcoryTxIoNxavDS7HKX7-afNwc4BZ6hQSAofGf6HQNA/s3025/4A5951E5-458A-43AA-8FE7-818F0EF3074F_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Musings | Do Kids Have a Right to Internet Privacy" border="0" data-original-height="3025" data-original-width="2828" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiai8wA-0byBkX6aR3TXU7BLwZ68nAT-PYkxcpvrxMJFzRbhTj2Z_lZDb1vIzn3tLIEN7wVBdgYyVk751qH6Gw4a1U8rtyg9A666ge8E1CmuJKVoQSXDCBsq1BwIfJGnZj1kJKY-b0KUVyb3sMcoryTxIoNxavDS7HKX7-afNwc4BZ6hQSAofGf6HQNA/s16000/4A5951E5-458A-43AA-8FE7-818F0EF3074F_1_201_a.jpeg" title="Musings | Do Kids Have a Right to Internet Privacy" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Last weekend, Duke and I went to an indoor water park with my sister and her family. It was very fun, very tiring, and I frankly cannot wait to go back. However, I had - and this is dramatic - a life changing experience. Hang with me, because I'm about to word vomit. </p><p><br /></p><p>When I was a kid, maybe 11 or 12, I was friends with a girl at church. We didn't go to school together, so we were very casually one-day-a-week friends to begin with, and eventually we drifted apart as we got older. Mostly I just stopped going to church. I don't really know where she went, but I know that, in the advent of Facebook around 2006, we became facebook friends. And because of facebook, I know that at some point in our early 20's, she had a baby. </p><p><br /></p><p>To be clear - I have not seen this woman since we were children. I vaguely know that things didn't work out with her baby's father and that they're not together. And the extent of my relationship at this point is seeing the pictures she posts that appear on my facebook feed. Sometimes her baby's dad shows up in the "people you might know". He must have a wife now, because there is another woman in his profile picture. </p><p><br /></p><p>You guys, here's where I got freaked out. I have never met any of these people, aside from the girl at church 20+ years ago, and over the weekend, I saw her baby (now an early teen) with her dad and his family. And I recognized them simply from pictures on social media that have wound up on my feed over the years. 100%, was not mistaken, knew who they were, their names, etc. All because I'm facebook friends with this one girl from my childhood. </p><p><br /></p><p>It felt uncomfortable because it made me immediately aware of what I provide in terms of information on the internet. I could have called that girl's name, said I knew her parents, by name, and earned trust I don't deserve. I would never do that, but I have provided that same information for someone to do to my son. I came home on Sunday night and began deleting every recent picture of Duke from my Facebook and Instagram immediately. </p><p><br /></p><p>I'm not important. I don't have delusions of grandeur, but you know, nobody that I'm friends with on Facebook is famous or well known either, and yet, even people I casually knew decades ago, people I don't actively follow or talk to or even really know anymore, and most questionably, their children, are recognizable to me. I was jarred by the experience, I guess. It felt intrusive, even though I wasn't actively seeking anyone out. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>I think there's a really good conversation to be had as a society about why we treat our children like content. I don't mean to sound righteous - this blog has pages and pages of Duke as content - but it's so accepted that our children don't deserve any privacy. They're an extension of us and if we have something to share online, they get shared with it. That as their parents, we decide their online life and frankly with an entire industry of "mommy bloggers", we know that some people exploit their children online. I'm curious how this becomes a louder conversation, specifically as those children grow up and start to share their opinions. Social media didn't exist when I was a kid, yet I certainly had thoughts about my mom showing polaroids to her friends - or worse, my friends - that showed me in an embarrassing way. The first round of Facebook babies are well into their teen years and I have a feeling they'll have some thoughts about their entire lives being available for perfect strangers to find. </p><p><br /></p><p>And speaking of the mom blog phenomena, if I had uncomfortable feelings about recognizing a child who's parents are as normal as I am and not public figures, can you imagine the kiddos who<i> do</i> have influencer parents? Now there's a memoir I'll be anxiously awaiting. </p><p><br /></p><p>What do you think?</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Target Run</h3><p>Okay, let's <i>really</i> shift gears. I'm in the mood to shop, maybe because I've hit that winter wall. Maybe because my job is stressful and spending money frivolously is my primary coping mechanism. And maybe it's because the changing of the seasons means sales. Whatever it is, my wallet is open. </p><p><br /></p><p>Let's start at Target, because after some weird years, they are finally bringing the suburban mom style this spring</p><p><br /></p><p>First, let me direct your attention to <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b8lS6" target="_blank">30% off swim wear</a>. Just in time for those spring break plans, no? </p><p><br /></p><p>I grabbed<a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b8lUh" target="_blank"> this</a> and <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b8lUW" target="_blank">this</a> in the brown color. </p><p><br /></p><p>Do you have a conservative job where you have to hide your personality? Yeah, me either, but if I did, I'd wear <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b8lUZ" target="_blank">these socks</a> on St. Pat's Day. </p><p><br /></p><p>Are pink on pink stripes too VS-ish? IDK but I'm willing to risk it. I love this two piece<a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b8lUJ" target="_blank"> top </a>and <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b8lUL" target="_blank">shorts</a> getup. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">PS </h3><p><br /></p><p>Galison is my go-to for puzzles and I am a sucker for anything seasonal. As we approach Easter, I will be putting <a href="https://www.galison.com/collections/jigsaw-puzzles/products/michael-storrings-easter-parade-500-piece-puzzle" target="_blank">this beauty</a> together on my kitchen table. </p><p><br /></p><p>Meanwhile, ban.do is running a warehouse sale this week. I have this<a href="https://www.bando.com/products/week-to-week-mega-desk-notepad-daisies" target="_blank"> "mega" desk calendar </a>in my cart. It's obviously the "mega" that wooed me. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>Happy Friday! </p>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-53545483223576388072024-02-16T06:17:00.004-05:002024-02-16T06:17:58.289-05:00LINKS | February 16, 2024<p>I'm a little tapped out on words lately. I didn't post anything last week and I considered letting this week go by too because, like, do I even have anything to say? Not really. This happens every year. It's not quite the winter blues, it's more the winter boredom. But today, if motivation refuses to move from the passenger seat, I'm asking discipline to slip into the driver's. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVW9M7StO4Ib2FlZ5He54XQmQui2HigvaVUXR863eQSsegqE63NFRus9EjQW_Stvw3S9kYrdwFa6Ne6KIqTlgiKfqke3u0N4gUh66R9mOBa8M-fpaL6L4GIiTXzhYfHAZFJz5giOHI482OxbeXjjqhKSWkDlO-zgYSjotx33rSuVrog0InDqoXy6ceqrE/s4032/2AA0BF60-108A-441D-8203-DFA6E91E3769.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="LINKS | February 16, 2024" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVW9M7StO4Ib2FlZ5He54XQmQui2HigvaVUXR863eQSsegqE63NFRus9EjQW_Stvw3S9kYrdwFa6Ne6KIqTlgiKfqke3u0N4gUh66R9mOBa8M-fpaL6L4GIiTXzhYfHAZFJz5giOHI482OxbeXjjqhKSWkDlO-zgYSjotx33rSuVrog0InDqoXy6ceqrE/s16000/2AA0BF60-108A-441D-8203-DFA6E91E3769.jpeg" title="LINKS | February 16, 2024" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Last weekend, Duke and I ventured to Grand Rapids for a birthday party that amounted to a small family reunion in the end. When I was younger, I ran away from that family as hard and as fast as I could and years nearing decades have separated us. It was a curious experience, tip-toeing back in, and I felt sort of like an emotional hangover the next day. I had a long drive home to overthink every interaction and I relentlessly unloaded my stories on Ryan as they tumbled out for the next 24 hours. I don't want to give the wrong impression, it wasn't a bad trip by any means, more just a blast from the past that made 35 year old me feel like 16 year old me all over again. Except for the part when I was scolding my uncle for offering my kiddo Mountain Dew. That made me feel decidedly old. Ha! </p><p><br /></p><p>In a way though, it feels similar to winter. <i>Oh, I know you</i>, I think whenever it comes around. It's comforting in some ways because I know it so well, but old frustrations bubble up when I spend too much time with it. </p><p><br /></p><p>Anyway, I've just wallowed in my wintertime malaise for a few weeks, and it makes me think it's somewhat seasonal. I'm learning to accept cycles that I'm powerless against and just go with the flow. February is for feeling blah, regardless of the weather. Maybe it's the seed that grows into obnoxious exhuberance in May. Just in case though, I started taking magnesium because the internet said it'll lift my mood and I think I'd like that. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">1 // ICYMI</h3><p><i>Everything I've published recently -</i> </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2024/01/leaning-into-winter-january-14-2023.html" target="_blank">Leaning into winter.</a> </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2024/01/friday-january-26-2023.html" target="_blank">Potpourri</a>. All sorts of nice things.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2024/01/life-lately-january-2024.html" target="_blank">Life lately, January</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2024/02/guilty-pleasures-february-2-2024.html" target="_blank">Guilty pleasures </a>- what do you love but shouldn't? </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">2 // SHOPPING</h3><p>I've been very loyal to the <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b75Cs" target="_blank">Kristen Ess brand</a>, in large part because it smells nice. After a 6month break to test drive some other stuff that were kind of meh, I'm back and I am especially enjoying these two new additions to my beauty shelf: <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b75Cu" target="_blank">volumizing mousse</a> and <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b75DL" target="_blank">blow dry spray</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p>I set myself a bit of a stretch goal and made <a href=" https://www.bodenusa.com/en-us/canvas-cross-body-bag-pink-stripe/sty-a1267-ora" target="_blank">this striped bag </a>my imminent reward. I'm begging myself to stay disciplined enough to earn it before it sells out. </p><p><br /></p><p>I want to zip into Target to try this on before I buy it, but boy do I love <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b75Cz" target="_blank">a simple shirtdress</a>. A belt and decent shoes, I'm wearing it to work. Flip flops and a swimsuit, I'm off to the beach. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">3 // INTO IT</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7qFbOrv9NRw6MAIZGWq2zA5L7eBBBh4Ph60XQ8KOqayB38vNe4gYHv9bzW_RY24WSBYgJh9MgBaoRpAUenkq0LUmTDmRRjuUsqeO-uA1B8iIf-qRmqftr6MhHGqZzpVjdUhL3md1b7R8FoSr25gWx1iZ3VNy06Vj74t80y5RA3_cKQzTnPD63uYFCVQ/s563/09140523f7b90e53601f381bd4cba188.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="LINKS | February 16, 2024" border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="563" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7qFbOrv9NRw6MAIZGWq2zA5L7eBBBh4Ph60XQ8KOqayB38vNe4gYHv9bzW_RY24WSBYgJh9MgBaoRpAUenkq0LUmTDmRRjuUsqeO-uA1B8iIf-qRmqftr6MhHGqZzpVjdUhL3md1b7R8FoSr25gWx1iZ3VNy06Vj74t80y5RA3_cKQzTnPD63uYFCVQ/s16000/09140523f7b90e53601f381bd4cba188.jpg" title="LINKS | February 16, 2024" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just start!<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046600144467/" target="_blank"> Via. </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">4 // LINKS</h3><p>TBH I was not expecting to see "goes to the dentist once a year" on <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/01/if-you-answer-yes-to-these-questions-you-are-happier-than-most-says-longevity-researcher.html" target="_blank">this list of how to be happy</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p>Ooh. I really want to try out this <a href="https://drinksbyevie.com/drinks/bluecoconutmaitai" target="_blank">Blue Coconut Mai Tai recipe from BYEVIE</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p>It's a little late for new years content, but I really want to read <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b7WV1" target="_blank">The 12 Week Year. </a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.elle.com/horoscopes/" target="_blank">My daily dose of woo woo</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p>Please enjoy: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1ViUbKoLvr/?img_index=1" target="_blank">Jumping Cats</a></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">5 // CONSUMING</h3><p><b>Reading: </b>I picked up and put down a few books, nothing really hooking me. So my solution to this is always to grab a previously enjoyed book from the shelf, and this time, it's To Kill a Mockingbird. It's been a long time since I've read it and it's so so so good as a repeat read. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Eating:</b> I picked up this<a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b7uNW" target="_blank"> spicy chili oil</a> at Target on a whim and we blitzed through it in a week. It's kind of spendy for a condiment but I promise, I will elevate every single GD thing you eat. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Watching: </b>Death and Other Details on hulu. A very Knives Out vibe, following a murder on a cruise ship and a full cargo of suspects. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Listening</b>: Aggressively plowing through the Bad on Paper archives. If you're a mid-thirties gal who likes to read and talk about skincare, this podcast is for you. They started in 2018, but I only just discovered it, so I'm wallowing deep in a pre-pandemic world and boy is it a delight. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">6 // PLANS</h3><p>My sister and her family are visiting this weekend and we're taking all the kids to Great Wolf Lodge to burn up some energy. And put off the winter blahs for a few days. I'm excited! </p><p><br /></p><p>Yesterday was a snow day, a burner I suspect because the weather wasn't really bad at all and nobody else was closed. We haven't had any snow days yet though, so I think the district saw an opportunity to use one up. I had to work so Duke enjoyed a lovely afternoon perched up on the couch watching as much Spiderman and he can consume. His ideal day, I'd say. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwj7Z0uBWIKeEsvKkbtAQlXVgHScS1OsDlkjpSrWSr66ilLY7pmSNx09QvkLWSliSBYqWD2VU9ccLdtDgvDEJautArK9iX3KQE-wMmA-C-eHRYuZqVAnsqxpskvMaQlxv8dh_aw4IivB8FiERCH7DHNhlGGbxCfdt381xXlO8mvJCqJr6dIyaI1XMX5IQ/s3044/237DFA1F-4A5D-48F7-B5B4-F1D996045E62_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="LINKS | February 16, 2024" border="0" data-original-height="1977" data-original-width="3044" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwj7Z0uBWIKeEsvKkbtAQlXVgHScS1OsDlkjpSrWSr66ilLY7pmSNx09QvkLWSliSBYqWD2VU9ccLdtDgvDEJautArK9iX3KQE-wMmA-C-eHRYuZqVAnsqxpskvMaQlxv8dh_aw4IivB8FiERCH7DHNhlGGbxCfdt381xXlO8mvJCqJr6dIyaI1XMX5IQ/s16000/237DFA1F-4A5D-48F7-B5B4-F1D996045E62_1_201_a.jpeg" title="LINKS | February 16, 2024" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Happy Friday!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-5375129070062641482024-02-02T13:01:00.004-05:002024-02-03T06:24:40.291-05:00Guilty Pleasures | February 2, 2024<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpw6v1TSaQPAK3yhhs78YTEEtwmYpBIjefOtZLhLO20gZ6ov1ct2-lDxFK7fRsYoglNN-vnh1OIF-zR5R8dmmZiIvE8JIGSxa3rQmI-obnq1oA3DzGY64no1n0AyUK4oj_Dz7oWouGhAZvD649NdWdEzNfWa_vqu1flkYckK7XsCmpBApio1K3ltOI_C8/s564/3b4eb469b57942e22ba9997bf4038dcc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Guilty Pleasures | February 2, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="564" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpw6v1TSaQPAK3yhhs78YTEEtwmYpBIjefOtZLhLO20gZ6ov1ct2-lDxFK7fRsYoglNN-vnh1OIF-zR5R8dmmZiIvE8JIGSxa3rQmI-obnq1oA3DzGY64no1n0AyUK4oj_Dz7oWouGhAZvD649NdWdEzNfWa_vqu1flkYckK7XsCmpBApio1K3ltOI_C8/w690-h460/3b4eb469b57942e22ba9997bf4038dcc.jpg" title="Guilty Pleasures | February 2, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" width="690" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046599213730/" target="_blank">Via</a></div><br /><p>The end of January and the onset of a new month that <i>isn't </i>about deprivation has me thinking about guilty pleasures. I've been thinking about ying and yang a lot lately, and probably because December is so much drinking and eating and spending money, the early part of January and all it's resolving feels so freaking good. But eventually, a McD's french fry starts sounding real nice too. </p><p><br /></p><p>We call them guilty pleasures, but unless you really love something like truly criminal, is it really all that guilty? IDK, but I definitely love some things that I shouldn't. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>A not exhaustive list of things I love but shouldn't: </b></p><p><br /></p><p>McDonalds drive-thru. A number 7 with diet coke, please! </p><p><br /></p><p>Peeling off my manicure. </p><p><br /></p><p>A 50/50 ratio of coffee to cream. </p><p><br /></p><p>Watching and rewatching only my old comfort shows, like Grey's Anatomy, That 70's Show, and SaTC. </p><p><br /></p><p>Doritos, cheetos, hint of lime tortilla chips, corn nuts. Gas station snacks for life. </p><p><br /></p><p>Buying stuff without trying it on, thinking I can just return it (and then definitely not returning it). </p><p><br /></p><p>Eating in my car. </p><p><br /></p><p>Costco vodka.</p><p><br /></p><p>Scrolling on my phone while also watching something on TV. Screens on screens, baby. </p><p><br /></p><p>Buying bottles of wine based on how fun the label is. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>What do you love that maybe you shouldn't?</b></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Fun things on the internet this week -</h3><p>Ooh fun! <a href="https://cupofjo.com/2024/01/30/whats-your-spiritual-age-2/" target="_blank">What's your spiritual age? </a>I'm forever 32. </p><p><br /></p><p>Secondhand delight - <a href="https://willdefries.substack.com/p/sunday-confessions-1-28-24" target="_blank">anonymous confessions via Sunday Scaries</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>Have you watched <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YabKNs66eeg" target="_blank">Feud: Capote vs The Swans</a> on hulu yet? It's on my weekend watch list. </p><p><br /></p><p>Haha. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2kSRehupyl/" target="_blank">This is long term love</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p>I bought this<a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b7uNW" target="_blank"> chili oil</a> on a whim at Target last week and it officially has a spot on my permanent shopping list. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Shopping break- </h3><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAglK_dHWRFpp_YURJ6phZ_Kerz7XMBhk9bbZ0HIc7jAD-P9t8QtEgwPG962CDtgytJPMCRODzKw9QOtf1XHt0-ywYZTS_15XBU4MMzzClzew7bpJINX3ABZ6gLl3QR8_plHTrQje9S04lG_T8v4IsIgii-YX4R3Ec-1OSfX1Bl5PbHeCcrRIT3ArESU/s800/Spring%20JCrew%20Finds.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spring 2024 JCrew Finds | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAglK_dHWRFpp_YURJ6phZ_Kerz7XMBhk9bbZ0HIc7jAD-P9t8QtEgwPG962CDtgytJPMCRODzKw9QOtf1XHt0-ywYZTS_15XBU4MMzzClzew7bpJINX3ABZ6gLl3QR8_plHTrQje9S04lG_T8v4IsIgii-YX4R3Ec-1OSfX1Bl5PbHeCcrRIT3ArESU/s16000/Spring%20JCrew%20Finds.jpeg" title="Spring 2024 JCrew Finds | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Springy<a href="https://tapto.shop/jennhodges/l/43597952" target="_blank"> J Crew finds </a>to go with this weird spring weather. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>Happy Friday and happy weekending!</p><p><br /></p>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-67711730169368417162024-01-31T05:23:00.002-05:002024-02-23T07:10:21.146-05:00Life Lately | January 2024<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCBvjaHB1m3meg6cJ7GRUlDgtbY3eYohZaTAKw_An9nlIJx22eCXQjxoE7WEQ_JOctfYb5AmZnhK9fCJDUQLhFMqDdELOHbtzMMMJaZwVA9OjkgS10wCOvO-EAaUIWKUyLjh9d1QJM2edz4pimiruxiSodzqWpKRaLbuXNo36OMs4ANaeq1dE39urBzo/s3830/4C7A18F6-21C0-4519-B487-EC503347EB20_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | January 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="2872" data-original-width="3830" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCBvjaHB1m3meg6cJ7GRUlDgtbY3eYohZaTAKw_An9nlIJx22eCXQjxoE7WEQ_JOctfYb5AmZnhK9fCJDUQLhFMqDdELOHbtzMMMJaZwVA9OjkgS10wCOvO-EAaUIWKUyLjh9d1QJM2edz4pimiruxiSodzqWpKRaLbuXNo36OMs4ANaeq1dE39urBzo/s16000/4C7A18F6-21C0-4519-B487-EC503347EB20_1_201_a.jpeg" title="Life Lately | January 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><p>Lots of indoor time with this wild man this month. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>You guys, I'm experiencing evolution. Or at least something very weird. It's the end of January, a month that I have historically hated more than any other, and I am...doing fine? I just read an article that led with "we're all anxious for spring" and actually, I'm really not. </p><p><br /></p><p>Maybe because January was warmer than usual and it didn't hurt so much to go outside. Maybe because I'm really thriving in this "hunker down" season. Whatever it is, I just keep thinking, <i>the end of January, huh. That went fast</i>. </p><p><br /></p><p>I don't want to toot my own horn too much, but back in September when I was having an internal meltdown over the impending season change, I self soothed by buying anything that looked like it might make my house even a little cozy. I bought rugs, a handful of these cheap lamps, and every candle at TJ Maxx. I strung up twinkle lights, put out a basket of blankets, and made a list of every movie I wanted to watch. The result has been a really cozy season in which I'm not so excited to give up lingering dark mornings and early evenings. </p><p><br /></p><p>I also got really into taking walks this month, preferably while it's snowing. There is nothing nicer than the muffled silence of walking while snow tumbles around.</p><p><br /></p><p>You guys, I don't even recognize myself. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>I don't mean to be obnoxious - it just happens naturally - but I had enough self awareness to not advertise that I was performing a month of Whole30. I decided to take a closer look at what we're eating and I have a long way to go, but I spent the month reading labels and not swinging through McDonald's drive-thru. Duke is devastated, but he's not even suffering that much. </p><p><br /></p><p>I am. Look at this coffee. It's black. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWlSBmG7qC4RQ2FcbGoppEe5XveiLrlwXP_nRDGEDw92QPoxhmCZy_MQAMi2R9H1gW3rC3VV47Q-e55GTHmMLNKfIpIr2K-6oQ0V4c8pQ4aBDrug3MdlvoqNSVb5DB3-mbwt_MJDCnJ5DpFVTwUGfKXZ-AlmWNqwdVrxx_CD2Ys245F57UwkUeNothX0/s3768/3B768176-7182-41D6-A19D-2202B6A9D51D_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | January 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="2826" data-original-width="3768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWlSBmG7qC4RQ2FcbGoppEe5XveiLrlwXP_nRDGEDw92QPoxhmCZy_MQAMi2R9H1gW3rC3VV47Q-e55GTHmMLNKfIpIr2K-6oQ0V4c8pQ4aBDrug3MdlvoqNSVb5DB3-mbwt_MJDCnJ5DpFVTwUGfKXZ-AlmWNqwdVrxx_CD2Ys245F57UwkUeNothX0/s16000/3B768176-7182-41D6-A19D-2202B6A9D51D_1_201_a.jpeg" title="Life Lately | January 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>In my quest to eat things that don't have weird ingredients, I learned how to make mayonnaise, english muffins, and cherry jam. Julia Childs I am not, but I sure am trying.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>I started cooking my way through this cookbook. I hilariously thought I'd complete the whole thing in Q1, which with 123 recipes in the book, amounts to 1.35 recipes per day. If I get 1.35 done in a week, I'll be proud of myself. So, this may become a year long endeavor. </p><p><br /></p><p>So far, the holy grail meatballs have been my favorite. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuU-fqSlSGNvcsymKRP3Q2JuhWzI9knEXT61gLuh_By-A_maO6rCDYWVS8f_RmReCk7ZI3UGiivg6KFgfIsAfsDKmDdV7Lcbsa1gkTN5SYVPYbyOgFVuryzG0GQWVU0pBLwjbLq6al0Zk9WAmIVvW0lWsv5cM0UIX8b6BSqLFYJiOprmao9KQDj1GULQ/s4032/73DC0175-08E7-453A-A5A8-035ECB3FE825.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | January 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuU-fqSlSGNvcsymKRP3Q2JuhWzI9knEXT61gLuh_By-A_maO6rCDYWVS8f_RmReCk7ZI3UGiivg6KFgfIsAfsDKmDdV7Lcbsa1gkTN5SYVPYbyOgFVuryzG0GQWVU0pBLwjbLq6al0Zk9WAmIVvW0lWsv5cM0UIX8b6BSqLFYJiOprmao9KQDj1GULQ/s16000/73DC0175-08E7-453A-A5A8-035ECB3FE825.jpeg" title="Life Lately | January 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>I risked my life to make this hot greasy mess that gave me freckles of burns all over my arms. Those mushrooms popped and sputtered for a good 5 minutes before threw my hands up. FTS. <div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDe3d62cxzBu_hLtRsELa8pzsVw4N2oG9jD4DBA8Ffykw9y9hCvV0zk14ZFYS_zca4QCr1ShDKmQIfU2qgWMQKhblKz373x3iEuV2V1T3vbGmWUAEVrLfBTojLeY8_zBRXhgrc8rX8iid39h4J9KfY_TZnlNDT7DqQMDekp7ExGkacM9tWcY9rmKG96h0/s4032/CCAC47DC-1CD0-45A4-A6F7-A58403FFC7C1_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | January 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDe3d62cxzBu_hLtRsELa8pzsVw4N2oG9jD4DBA8Ffykw9y9hCvV0zk14ZFYS_zca4QCr1ShDKmQIfU2qgWMQKhblKz373x3iEuV2V1T3vbGmWUAEVrLfBTojLeY8_zBRXhgrc8rX8iid39h4J9KfY_TZnlNDT7DqQMDekp7ExGkacM9tWcY9rmKG96h0/s16000/CCAC47DC-1CD0-45A4-A6F7-A58403FFC7C1_1_201_a.jpeg" title="Life Lately | January 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Anyway, mostly so far, so good. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>Duke is in the middle of a hilarious tooth losing process and it's really going weirdly. His mouth has an unusual habit of churning out an adult tooth before the baby tooth has left the building, so he often has a weird double row of teeth. His two front top teeth have been loose for a bit, and one of the adults popped out, pushing the baby tooth to the middle of his mouth. The other stayed put, until this week when he got bopped in the face. He lost a tooth, but not the wandering one. He's resistant to anyone tugging out the wanderer, and so he looks like this for the foreseeable future (minus the blonde bangs lolololol) - </p><br /><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>I've been reading a bunch this month. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxs6Vk7kh34gFb0rlIJoU_ILyBM74-ZDwHOuqcUysPg9QDevDVGRiq9eOoilZ1qrMV9V8TSLRfusB4FnuXgyLmWvWC0DPdFe6Xe-gpKjN7HCKpzibjRsKf51gNCZr3w7Hekp0dBagLK1YpOc5O0Lkq0ouXH9CrWMzRTB3sqeO2zj3pmP2_0nKLamdhl4/s4032/DF4C4822-F4B1-4358-A7FC-98889A084FB1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | January 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxs6Vk7kh34gFb0rlIJoU_ILyBM74-ZDwHOuqcUysPg9QDevDVGRiq9eOoilZ1qrMV9V8TSLRfusB4FnuXgyLmWvWC0DPdFe6Xe-gpKjN7HCKpzibjRsKf51gNCZr3w7Hekp0dBagLK1YpOc5O0Lkq0ouXH9CrWMzRTB3sqeO2zj3pmP2_0nKLamdhl4/s16000/DF4C4822-F4B1-4358-A7FC-98889A084FB1.jpeg" title="Life Lately | January 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/70237023-endgame" target="_blank">Endgame by Omid Scobie</a>: This was a Christmas gift that I started reading on Christmas day. I was immediately enamored. If you enjoy gossip about the English royal family, you'll like this tell-all. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52623750-wintering" target="_blank">Wintering by Katherine May</a>: I fell all over myself singing this book's praises. It has truly altered my view on winter. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18505832-natchez-burning" target="_blank">Natchez Burning by Greg Isles</a>: I'm 50/50 on this book. It's a banger with similar vibes to Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in that something completely fucked up happens in every chapter. The first half of the book moves swiftly, but the second half just drags on. It was about 300 pages too long and the end was SO BAD. It's the first in a trilogy, but instead of setting up fresh cliffhangers as a lead in for book two, it disappointingly just didn't resolve the problems in book one. That's just bad writing. </p><p><br /></p><p>I'm currently reading <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10569.On_Writing" target="_blank">On Writing by Stephen King</a>. It's a reread for me, but a.) it's been a few years, and b.) writing is a big goal for me this year, so I'm plugging in to all the resources I have. </p><p><br /></p><p>***</p><p><br /></p><p>We had a ton of snow just a week or so ago. I trudged out to the river, marching through snow that was well over my knees, and laughed at Jack, bouncing through the drifts. The snow is higher than he is tall and he just totally disappears, only to pop up randomly here and there. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJgjoIR3JLc-1JRgNrAdByts2_WOQGUTsP4doYnrq1EPJgPfF5DVP9eU_B6X4SPXZ98MwivY6aug99X9n99aIWWtXPquOIvqxiB4gTV0ImP5FmuK67NWx0xpu0g5-pzS3BOwE0Vn6TfIl88GzPvg0zmsATPSbbWpWcp55X6OEaSAlBjHd6Ht8vhU1HKU/s4032/9F30C495-E605-4194-BBCB-34A2578C47CB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | January 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJgjoIR3JLc-1JRgNrAdByts2_WOQGUTsP4doYnrq1EPJgPfF5DVP9eU_B6X4SPXZ98MwivY6aug99X9n99aIWWtXPquOIvqxiB4gTV0ImP5FmuK67NWx0xpu0g5-pzS3BOwE0Vn6TfIl88GzPvg0zmsATPSbbWpWcp55X6OEaSAlBjHd6Ht8vhU1HKU/s16000/9F30C495-E605-4194-BBCB-34A2578C47CB.jpeg" title="Life Lately | January 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The weather has warmed up considerably in the last couple of days, making things sloppy and muddy around here. Onward into February, I guess! I suspect we've still got a few good snow storms ahead, so I'm not climbing out of hibernation just yet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cheers!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-8934845381391854792024-01-26T04:24:00.000-05:002024-01-26T04:24:12.085-05:00Friday | January 26, 2023<p>A quick assortment of entertaining happenstances recently: </p><p><br /></p><p>Duke heard his own voice on a video and had the same reaction we all do. "That's not my voice! That's not what I sound like!" It's a rite of passage, you know, realizing that the world hears you differently than you hear yourself. I laughed. He melted down. </p><p><br /></p><p>You guys, boxes have taken over my living room. I've gone a little overboard on buying rugs and a trashcan this month (because hygge) and those come in big packages. Duke has become obsessed with collecting these boxes. We're up to three now, and I put my foot down - one of them has to go. He's been in attorney mode all week, negotiating and pitching me on ideas that somehow let him keep all of them (and presumably every other box that arrives in perpetuity). I'll say the boxes provide hours of entertainment that isn't a screen - decorating and what have you - but three is excessive. I remain unconvinced. </p><p><br /></p><p>I helped Ryan shovel off our deck, which is not an ideal way to spend a Saturday morning, but he effectively motivated me by suggesting the weight of knee deep snow could cause it to collapse. Folks, this deck is the sole reason I agreed to buy this house. I'm not losing it. Two hours later, my arms were shaky from the physical exertion that is very untypical for me, but the next day I enjoyed the delicious soreness that accompanies pushing oneself. We can do hard things! </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>A picture of the aforementioned <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b64G6" target="_blank">new rug</a> and collection of boxes. I honestly forgot there is also a mini-wheats box in the mix, too - </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXU8T2_DDq41tnMH6XN6WI4JJ01xqRkagqPWKzv7j2T7bCR09ibVexW6nsDHgff2kXWklIAFc3aDqQcGSttewbvxIRhuSPVk5a9coYsPUslNWqulCSsgXAIAyViVGqsoHK_HIih91_uoXWMinuXdlvalK_euuGVuEPhSiGXHga4w9u6HYgWPt9LipdCgA/s3931/48AF3367-F03F-45DE-B0E1-C07213170FE5_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="biblio-style.com | Alessia Dark Wood Rug" border="0" data-original-height="2948" data-original-width="3931" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXU8T2_DDq41tnMH6XN6WI4JJ01xqRkagqPWKzv7j2T7bCR09ibVexW6nsDHgff2kXWklIAFc3aDqQcGSttewbvxIRhuSPVk5a9coYsPUslNWqulCSsgXAIAyViVGqsoHK_HIih91_uoXWMinuXdlvalK_euuGVuEPhSiGXHga4w9u6HYgWPt9LipdCgA/s16000/48AF3367-F03F-45DE-B0E1-C07213170FE5_1_201_a.jpeg" title="biblio-style.com | Alessia Dark Wood Rug" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">A couple more things - </h3><p><br /></p><p>Haha. <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/andyneuenschwander/mcdonalds-item-age-quiz?origin=shp" target="_blank">This Buzzfeed quiz very accurately guessed my age</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/11/my-1-parenting-rule.html" target="_blank">My #1 Parenting Rule</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.foodandwine.com/travel/what-it-was-like-to-eat-with-anthony-bourdain" target="_blank">What was it like to eat with Anthony Bourdain</a>? </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/12/best-of-2023-my-favorite-reads-of-year.html" target="_blank">If you're looking for something to read, here's my favorite books from 2023</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p>Have you been checking out your <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2023/09/14/spotify-announces-new-daylist-playlist-that-adapts-to-users-moods-throughout-the-day/?sh=3941ddb052eb" target="_blank">Spotify Daylist</a>? The gist is that Spotify (or its AI) knows you so well, it can put together an oft changing playlist based on you, your preferences, and the time of day. A coworker brought this to my attention and I've been obsessed ever since, particularly with the playlist titles. This morning is Main Character Fanficore, which I don't know what that means, but the songs are BOPS. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Shopping Break</h3><p><br /></p><p>Placed a Sephora order earlier this week and I am very excited to try out this <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b618x" target="_blank">By Mario lip balm</a> and this <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b619L" target="_blank">Stila eyeliner</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p><i>Wanting</i> to try<a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b685j" target="_blank"> ELF Camp Liquid Blush</a>, which looks suspiciously like a <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b49GY" target="_blank">Rare Beauty</a> dupe. </p><p><br /></p><p>Picked up this <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b7bfd" target="_blank">Avengers game </a>on a whim. It's kind of like Connect 4, but with The Hulk and Black Widow. You're trying to make a line of five, but so is your opponent and they're seeing a very different game board. Good for a quick 5 minute round before bed, or a long lazy set while watching a movie. </p><p><br /></p><p>Trying to find this <a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b9/ab/2e/b9ab2ee50f52ea3ee02a8f567e007a9d.png" target="_blank">sold out Sister shirt</a> on Poshmark. I think I'm missing my sisters. </p><p><br /></p><p>Everything at <a href="http://ban.do">ban.do</a> looks so cheerful and fun! </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>A short one this week. I'll be back early next with a January edition of Life Lately. </p><p><br /></p><p>Happy Friday!</p>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-18518566875395816572024-01-19T03:00:00.004-05:002024-01-19T04:36:03.687-05:00Musings | On Disappearing to Reinvent<p>Last night, I was laying in bed thinking about this thing I keep seeing variations of on instagram and Pinterest: </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EMDqCF-kva4MlMHmzJ6tPskwdvBrGAhyphenhyphen9cj_I8OLTDeUEt2RG4N5n8pZxHnu35WIASpQvxvJCcPVoJgLvseYXIwj1_TLk4F5MWuPcDmlQuspoDCriUXAaVic2Ppdqq6oGzm3B11wtVofcVAzbcUVmGnV7eAvdsxXblRQu8SSRex12AheSjYGANoF4cw/s800/Disappear.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Musings | On Disappearing to Reinvent - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EMDqCF-kva4MlMHmzJ6tPskwdvBrGAhyphenhyphen9cj_I8OLTDeUEt2RG4N5n8pZxHnu35WIASpQvxvJCcPVoJgLvseYXIwj1_TLk4F5MWuPcDmlQuspoDCriUXAaVic2Ppdqq6oGzm3B11wtVofcVAzbcUVmGnV7eAvdsxXblRQu8SSRex12AheSjYGANoF4cw/s16000/Disappear.png" title="Musings | On Disappearing to Reinvent - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>'Tis the season, after all. </p><p><br /></p><p>I think about it a lot because I'm so inspired by the idea. It's like a fantasy. So impossible to disappear, but wow, I love the idea of it. It reminded me of summers when I was a kid. On the last day of school, I'd board the bus for home, wave goodbye to my friends and then spend the next two-ish months isolated from everyone. We didn't live in a neighborhood, so it was just me and my sisters, fighting and commiserating and racing each other on bikes in the backyard on a daily rotation. This is the 90's of course, so there's no social media. Nobody's posting on Facebook yet about their weekend. Sometimes I'd call my friends, but I'd risk having to chat with their dad for a few minutes if he's the one who picked up the house phone. That was always weird. </p><p><br /></p><p>I didn't realize then that I was effectively disappearing, but boy did I feel a desire to rebrand. Maybe a week or two before school started, I'd get this inspired excitement, heady because I'd remember that I could come back to school, maybe cool? IDK. Fresh haircut, new shoes, jeans nobody has seen me wear every other day yet. God, what a feeling. </p><p><br /></p><p>I wonder what it's like to be a kid now. Disappearing seems impossible to me, and not just because I have to go to work year around, and I have to show up in carline after school, and basically show my face at a million other responsibilities. But mostly because of the internet. Without real discipline, can we ever really disappear?</p><p><br /></p><p>I recently saw a variation of the disappear content, and instead it suggested that I (we?) quit chasing cheap dopamine hits. Now there's a realistic goal, in my opinion. These cheap dopamine hits, it suggested, include scrolling, social media, telling people goals before they're achieved. That last one was very curious to me, but science would suggest that saying something lofty like "I want to write a book" and getting the snug warm feelings of people immediately cheering you on can be enough to temporarily fulfill the dopamine need, leading one to never need to get started on that book (or goal) at all. Interesting!</p><p><br /></p><p>I gave myself a big audacious goal this year, that I guess I'm not going to tell you because then I won't achieve it (like telling a birthday candle blowing out wish!) and I suppose my great takeaway from the disappear directive is rather than actually going away, maybe it just means be quiet.</p><p><br /></p><p>I'm willing to give it a try. I'm going to be quiet about my goals<i> and </i>about my complaints and just chug along silently. It's about as much disappearing as I can manage, and I'm curious to see how much harder I'll chase dopamine if I'm not getting those cheap little hits. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">A couple more things - </h3><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com" target="_blank">I'm leaning into winter this year</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p>Haha. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0Wf7UNOcBC/" target="_blank">Do you like snow? </a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://joythebaker.com/2024/01/how-to-put-more-gentle-in-your-january/" target="_blank">A case for Gentle January</a>. I'm sold. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Target Run - </h3><p>Boring stuff mostly, as I continue to use January to get my life back in order after the gluttony of the holidays. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SSH4MtEyzWqHiMX-4LsqAWa1AX4ieN-TjC79vEXg-nj1U9IDqJZS1rRRyocq2BeBM83jJmdz9usDkEmaLVWCBgG1zcCu8-ul0G_5MvK6Z9iim1IH9RLye28GYLDwyzRZX6-40o3KboPD2nfsfGy8Ut9mStJCSKX3RBEDX5Cq2AbZrYCfh7XV5CkV7e0/s800/TargetRun.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Target Run | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SSH4MtEyzWqHiMX-4LsqAWa1AX4ieN-TjC79vEXg-nj1U9IDqJZS1rRRyocq2BeBM83jJmdz9usDkEmaLVWCBgG1zcCu8-ul0G_5MvK6Z9iim1IH9RLye28GYLDwyzRZX6-40o3KboPD2nfsfGy8Ut9mStJCSKX3RBEDX5Cq2AbZrYCfh7XV5CkV7e0/s16000/TargetRun.png" title="Target Run | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I bought <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b618w" target="_blank">this $10 trash can s</a>pecifically for bottles and cans. I'm embarrassed to tell you that we usually toss our cans in the trash, and this year I've resolved to return/recycle them. A nice tidy place to put them feels like it'll help me stay on track. </p><p><br /></p><p>A forever repurchase is this <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b4pIQ" target="_blank">SunBum glowy sunscreen</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p>I went on and on about the $12 lamp I bought for my dining room and it's such a cozy glow this time of year, I bought <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b62bL" target="_blank">another one </a>for my kitchen. I cannot overstate this, it is worth every single penny. </p><p><br /></p><p>I bought a couple of <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b62b4" target="_blank">these baskets</a> in varying sizes to corral Duke's toys all over my house. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b62ca" target="_blank">Very luxe look on these $7 wine glasses</a>. I was surprised at the price point! The <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b62c1" target="_blank">coupe glasses</a> look just as boujee. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b62c3" target="_blank">I mean, if we're buying boring things like cups, shouldn't they be beautiful? $3.99, you guys!</a></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>That's it for me this week. Happy Friday!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-88316133400878215972024-01-14T07:44:00.000-05:002024-01-14T07:44:01.311-05:00Leaning into Winter | January 14, 2023<p>After a scant start to the winter season, we finally have snow and a lot of it. And this comes as a surprise to nobody more than me, but I am <i>delighted</i>. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORUKv8w-MisgqJaM_DCFpPwqkPo5ne_2lXKxRAnJ3FXe1oIh8KFKBUTNbSXMAF_ucdAnjn0garoDXtn3cs_Er10It9Wck0ErZWViqbNqtDfWFaCKnyMjhsuFnxWJ_wA0WQkHy9S3-RB-Opu68aE8wHa80Tcdun0_b_EUXGUjVc7yVMAC2xkaAP6BkGdA/s3566/D4EF5652-9C43-4001-AD2E-574D20463E64_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Leaning into Winter | January 14, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3566" data-original-width="2968" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORUKv8w-MisgqJaM_DCFpPwqkPo5ne_2lXKxRAnJ3FXe1oIh8KFKBUTNbSXMAF_ucdAnjn0garoDXtn3cs_Er10It9Wck0ErZWViqbNqtDfWFaCKnyMjhsuFnxWJ_wA0WQkHy9S3-RB-Opu68aE8wHa80Tcdun0_b_EUXGUjVc7yVMAC2xkaAP6BkGdA/s16000/D4EF5652-9C43-4001-AD2E-574D20463E64_1_201_a.jpeg" title="Leaning into Winter | January 14, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I'll keep this bit short because unless you really stumbled here accidentally, you probably already know that I'm a summer gal. I'm a go to the beach every day gal. I'm a drink margaritas on the patio gal. I normally suffer my way through winter, counting down the minutes until my next sunshiny 70º day. </p><p><br /></p><p>I think it's a combination of a lot of things, but mostly I think 2023 changed me. That sounds dramatic, but the entire year was such a laborious sprint without breaks, that rest and retreat is all I can think of, and in nature, that's exactly what winter is. If plants and animals take this time to power down, who am I to do anything different? </p><p><br /></p><p>I went for a short walk in my backyard (so very short haha) to visit the river, and I found the sound of snow falling to be so specific. It's quiet of course, but not quite silent, and it's just like, peaceful. I'm embarrassed that I didn't know this, but I've been filling every minute of my life with <i>something </i>for so long that I'm rarely alone outside, and especially not in the wintertime. On Saturday morning, a snowstorm that was promised earlier in the week was delivering. I settled in at home with Duke for the day, and stayed in my pajamas until maybe 4pm when I finally took a shower. Then I put on a fresh pair of pajamas. Later, when I went to bed at 8:30, I considered how restful and relaxing the day was, and even though I hadn't earned an early night, slipping under the covers so early felt right. When it's dark, we should sleep. </p><p><br /></p><p>Everything is a spectrum, right? Staying somewhere in the middle is ideal and I know that stir crazy is on the opposite end of where I've been hovering, but eventually I could get there. For now though, I need to inch myself closer to the middle and I just want to stay home. And having this wonderful weather that is terrible for driving is a luxury I can only have in wintertime. Ryan's sister texted me before the storm came to inquire about my weekend and I told her honestly that I was looking forward to having an excuse to not leave my house. </p><p><br /></p><p>If you have very small children, this is not quite the luxurious experience that I am about to describe. I've been there and I can say with authority that it's not forever. I always wish I could have known there'd be light at the end of the tunnel when I was parenting a baby, and so I preach like a missionary to other parents that better, easier days are coming. Anyway, Duke is old enough to entertain himself, we can really indulge in long luxurious days at home. We take turns choosing a movie to watch, and I can retire to my bedroom to read for long stretches, knowing that he's fine downstairs by himself. I do not tell myself "ten more minutes" or "after this chapter I'll get up." In the long expanse of a day without plans and hours without meaning, I'll get up when I feel done with reading. We putter around, a little bit together and a little bit doing our own thing. He's working diligently on a project to make a web shooter out of old cereal boxes and popsicle sticks and I'm working my way through two wonderful books. We cross paths occasionally, but not always. </p><p><br /></p><p>Winter is giving me a gift this year, but it's also caring for me like a mother who knows what I need when I can't see it for myself. And she's like,<i> Jennifer, get back in bed</i> (precisely how my actual mother would talk to me tbh). I need rest, and I am powering down and staying in. I do enjoy those snowy walks though. I just need to get myself some shoes with traction, because George was apparently born in paws with traction, and I swear he is going to kill me, dragging me in all kinds of directions while I slip around on the ice and packed down snow. I'm emotionally tender right now and if I land in a snow bank tangled up in his leash, I will literally start crying and then all the emotions could start falling out. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">A couple more things - </h3><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52623750-wintering" target="_blank">The book about wintering</a> that I am currently reading. It has changed my perspective on winter and the season of rest. Not to be dramatic, but it is life altering. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://joythebaker.com/2024/01/how-to-put-more-gentle-in-your-january/" target="_blank">Gentle January is here. </a>Takeout pizza and paper plates is the name of the game.</p><p><br /></p><p>Relinking the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/crosswords" target="_blank">NY Times games </a>because they're such a delight to my mornings. Today I solved the mini-crossword in :34 seconds, a PR I'll be bragging about forever. </p><p><br /></p><p>I've had this <a href="https://cupofjo.com/2021/12/07/12-winter-blues-tricks/" target="_blank">12 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues </a>post saved since 2021. It's a really good list. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>It seems like the entire country is getting a winter blast and so I confidently wish you all a happy snow day, wherever you may be!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-81293876002404628472024-01-12T05:49:00.001-05:002024-01-12T05:49:14.349-05:00Links | January 12, 2024<p>I aspired to come into the year with optimism, fresh with hope anew, and while I still feel mostly cheery (I do!), the first week and a half of January has been a wallop. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYtSXTJjhhlzJa7HSFS0nBIk0EgWX3nLFRGJ1TBefojsWn-0647ei3OJQsapXvX121-8cRHSpkQC48i4wsS9lXuazezxwjC1TfsSXmhkZ-pnRQNhcWBuFAPRbUmPCzNIHX3HrntKkQgCEV8SILZ9LLAc8Jh9SUegt5vnsTNXXA5ElrA5_rn8ZNy9hZ88/s4032/91D2FA6B-947D-485A-B1F9-E027FD4B9EE3_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Links | January 12, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYtSXTJjhhlzJa7HSFS0nBIk0EgWX3nLFRGJ1TBefojsWn-0647ei3OJQsapXvX121-8cRHSpkQC48i4wsS9lXuazezxwjC1TfsSXmhkZ-pnRQNhcWBuFAPRbUmPCzNIHX3HrntKkQgCEV8SILZ9LLAc8Jh9SUegt5vnsTNXXA5ElrA5_rn8ZNy9hZ88/s16000/91D2FA6B-947D-485A-B1F9-E027FD4B9EE3_1_201_a.jpeg" title="Links | January 12, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Aside from work, which just refuses to go smoothly, I completed approximately zero of the items on my to-do list related to my resolutions, and let Duke eat more Oreos than one with a "eat healthy" goal should feel comfortable with. Meanwhile, I took exactly 0 walks (I had a goal of five, which makes me LOL for real now. Such optimism!) By Friday evening, I acquiesced. You know what, we start fresh next week. Eat the Oreos and the ice cream so that they can be gone. I promise I <i>probably</i> won't buy more. The first week is a trial week. A wrap up of last year's problems week. A get your building blocks in order week. You can start building next week. And so, onward!</p><p><br /></p><p>In other, more curious news, Duke and Ryan have become transfixed by the Rubik's cube. It's not a recent gift or even a new toy - we've had it for a least six months, maybe longer - and yet the obsession started early last week out of the blue. I regularly come home to find them hunched together on the couch, twisting and chanting things like, "counter, counter, clock, delicious sandwich (?!)." Ryan has it figured out and can solve them quickly now, and Duke is obsessively working towards it. To which I shrug and casually say I always knew he was a genius, but inside I'm like my baby<i> is</i> a genius (!!!!). </p><p><br /></p><p>Lastly, I'm leaning hard into the idea that January, or winter in general, is for slowing down and resting. I am reading a book just now (not even about the royal family!) about wintering, and one takeaway is this: animals don't fight winter. They prepare for it. And then they sleep a lot. Folks, I am an animal and when it's dark outside, I just want to sleep. I'm not fighting nature anymore to be productive. I'll save that for Spring. For now, I'm laying low, doing a whole lot of nothing (except those walks!) and just trying to eat and sleep. How's that for an achievable resolution?</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">1 // ICYMI</h3><p><i>A few things I recently published, in case you missed it -</i></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/12/the-best-of-2023.html" target="_blank">The Best of 2023</a> - all my favorite bits from the year. </p><p><br /></p><p>And some specific Best Ofs - <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/12/best-of-2023-my-favorite-reads-of-year.html" target="_blank">Books</a>, <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/12/best-of-2023-blogs-instagrams-and-other.html" target="_blank">Blogs</a> and <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/12/best-of-2023-purchases.html" target="_blank">things I bought</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2024/01/christmas-vacation-january-5-2024.html" target="_blank">Christmas Vacation</a> - my high school style photo essay of everything we did. </p><p><br /></p><p>The <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/12/christmas-links-december-22-2023.html" target="_blank">last set of links</a>, right before the holiday. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">2 // SHOPPING</h3><p>I'm still feeling shopped out from the holidays, so all my purchases are groceries or boring functional things. </p><p><br /></p><p>I did pick up two rugs from the end of year <a href="https://ruggable.com" target="_blank">Ruggable</a> sale last week. I have a Ruggable in my living room and it really has been the easiest to keep clean/it hides a lot of sins, but I always wished I'd picked up a darker version. So I found something I liked and bought a second one for the dining room so we have some matchy-matchy cohesion. </p><p><br /></p><p>I'm on the hunt - like everyone else, it seems - to invest in some organizational things. Something <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b6Es8" target="_blank">under the cupboard in the kitchen</a>, <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b6Es6" target="_blank">shelves or bins for the pile of jeans in my close</a>t, etc. </p><p><br /></p><p>I picked up some <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b6Es5" target="_blank">command hooks</a> to hang in Duke's room for his assortment of superhero masks. Wall art <i>and</i> organization. I'm patting myself on the back. </p><p><br /></p><p>One fun buy are<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BXH7LSWJ/ref=sw_img_1?smid=A1T6LR2M09AKEI&psc=1" target="_blank"> these smiley socks</a> in my Amazon cart. Just a little something to let in the sunshine during the wintertime blues. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">3 // INTO IT</h3><p><i>Some things catching my eye on Pinterest - </i></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZGwAfjV3s1d0j0W-wUsvjEAK7mLqGIn10l-z4r6ZHSOGS8ir0oQy46DNPV5Zsh_PudbptMM_QcsBSX5GvfTK7hyphenhyphenGgTNTsmqzKI1Lt8UgDlJomr7D-jMqT3XdmM_abT-XuS_8wc4jK-XOGOH_n-iqLKinFT63iLdep3bO8Pk-6yuo-U-_T4e19aCMuco/s1002/e810ea34e9bb1404d48975622f8ad6cc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Links | January 12, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZGwAfjV3s1d0j0W-wUsvjEAK7mLqGIn10l-z4r6ZHSOGS8ir0oQy46DNPV5Zsh_PudbptMM_QcsBSX5GvfTK7hyphenhyphenGgTNTsmqzKI1Lt8UgDlJomr7D-jMqT3XdmM_abT-XuS_8wc4jK-XOGOH_n-iqLKinFT63iLdep3bO8Pk-6yuo-U-_T4e19aCMuco/s16000/e810ea34e9bb1404d48975622f8ad6cc.jpg" title="Links | January 12, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lossundays.com/collections/shop-merch/products/the-sometimes-crew-neck-bone-blue?pp=1" target="_blank">Sometimes, you really do. </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfDa3GGc-WOdtZezeNnMKdrit9-vLOB9SbcIdb46iYjsICJzCBhGn8Y14WFYWZFcGS1a7YrM-25LFW9kyEql0TzNTmjsA7inCpuRGvbbBa13uK2IJL3b_udwwNP0rU1W44YTbb-jck7hsSJiOo67Kr8XahCiIabX2VxaxOzig4EkmYhkpGH-QoCkaEUU/s1056/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-09%20at%206.20.16%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Links | January 12, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="996" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfDa3GGc-WOdtZezeNnMKdrit9-vLOB9SbcIdb46iYjsICJzCBhGn8Y14WFYWZFcGS1a7YrM-25LFW9kyEql0TzNTmjsA7inCpuRGvbbBa13uK2IJL3b_udwwNP0rU1W44YTbb-jck7hsSJiOo67Kr8XahCiIabX2VxaxOzig4EkmYhkpGH-QoCkaEUU/s16000/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-09%20at%206.20.16%20AM.png" title="Links | January 12, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I say <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046600018356/" target="_blank">this chant</a> to myself and Duke all the time. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-Y-NsxYLwWy9DD_KS1581-X2L1m-nCRGMh6rQjzjFqLTIRNhpKsDeXwyU4VHgpQM8IHSLgzmqOKt0LsMzX7RB8yoc0Cto1ANEYNTA_OGzJlWagkBSFZvpEYPQbcH0kcUqCzuaJ6jWdwiP6jPXuehr9pniyhlAyG_W2-_LxKDBhtbKlVnba2PlzDC3U8/s976/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-09%20at%206.21.33%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Links | January 12, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="976" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-Y-NsxYLwWy9DD_KS1581-X2L1m-nCRGMh6rQjzjFqLTIRNhpKsDeXwyU4VHgpQM8IHSLgzmqOKt0LsMzX7RB8yoc0Cto1ANEYNTA_OGzJlWagkBSFZvpEYPQbcH0kcUqCzuaJ6jWdwiP6jPXuehr9pniyhlAyG_W2-_LxKDBhtbKlVnba2PlzDC3U8/s16000/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-09%20at%206.21.33%20AM.png" title="Links | January 12, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046599985523/" target="_blank">A happy reminder to keep chugging right along</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">4 // LINKS</h3><p>You guys, I have become so obsessed with the<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/crosswords" target="_blank"> New York Times Games</a>. I like the mini-crossword and Wordle the most, and I tell myself they're exercise for my brain and my 80-year-old self will one day thank me. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://magpiebyjenshoop.com/a-january-reminder/" target="_blank">A January Reminder</a>. I aspire to be the woman of substance that Jen Shoop describes. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1zkEV-Nyoz/" target="_blank">Motherhood</a>. Sigh. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://willdefries.substack.com/p/72-people-reveal-their-secret-new?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=99752&post_id=140526501&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=2che2t&utm_medium=email" target="_blank">72 People Reveal Their Secret New Year's Resolution</a>. RIVETING. And also NSFW because people got weird dreams. </p><p><br /></p><p>Ha! <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1k7XsALPEP/" target="_blank">English Majors unite</a>!</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">5 // CONSUMING</h3><p><b>Reading:</b> I am finally, for real, not reading about the royal family, but only because I have finished all the books I have about them. I'll always remember the summer of David Sedaris, but Q4 belonged to the Windsors. </p><p><br /></p><p>Moving right along, I always like to start my year with a non-fiction read, and this time, I'm reading <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52623750-wintering?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=IrtRLR8lys&rank=2" target="_blank">Wintering by Katherine May</a>. I am just a few pages in, so I don't have anything to say about it yet, but I was drawn to the book based on its synopsis: winter (and difficult life seasons) have a purpose and there is real power in rest and retreat to heal. As noted above, plants and animals do it every year and what am I if not a big animal? </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Eating:</b> I'm planning a full post (which<a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2024/01/cooking-my-way-through-cook-book.html" target="_blank"> I did actually write</a>!) to talk about my winter project, but the gist is this: I am cooking my way through a <a href="https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/cookbook/#hbh-every-day" target="_blank">Half-baked Harvest cookbook</a>. So that's what we're eating around here. I started with a spiced paprika chicken recipe that went well, but could have had more salt. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Listening</b>: Two things - a <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1cnCaqzYoHMqyBu6THN17S?si=c9ccd51845af47de" target="_blank">New Year, New Goals podcast about goal planning from ABM</a>, and while I'm putzing around making dinner or emptying the dishwasher, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6CvdhxfLvYY7xyouiCirCs?si=3BXhflTTQ1eTn_3HlZ4UnA" target="_blank">Ben Bernie and his Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra</a>, which reminds me of Tom Hanks and Bonnie Hunt dancing in their kitchen in The Green Mile. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">6 // PLANS</h3><p>Okay, I think I'm finally going to talk myself into going sledding. I've had it on my list of wintertime to-dos for a while, but the weather wasn't cooperating. We got a nice bit of snow this week, eliminating that procrastination technique. Who knows! Maybe it will be fun!</p><p><br /></p><p>I'm also a big fan of "obligatory weekend fun" which means planning at least one good activity for the weekend, because otherwise I'll lay around, putz around, and do nothing all weekend, only to anxiously wonder where the weekend went on Sunday afternoon. So I think sledding is our obligatory weekend fun, and I also have recently enjoyed taking Duke out for a breakfast or lunch date, just the two of us. He's really very companionable now, and since he goes to school all day, he has his own social life to fill me in on. Can't wait to hear what hijinks Waylon and Zeena have been up to on the playground (kid names, they're so weird, right?). </p><p><br /></p><p>Happy weekending friends! </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-62041556617307988292024-01-10T12:36:00.003-05:002024-01-10T12:36:37.034-05:00Cooking My Way Through a Cook Book<p>Hey guys! Today, I'm kicking off a fun project I've been thinking about since last year. Two quick stories and then I'll quit procrastinating.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtbSAKm5bbAjp8cKCS1_Lte3eyAsNsY8H_WxZiHs2XhL3JaTCAE-fdybZeNt4W6a3fpJf05-3wfmkytkWwRn40n882AJzn8Y8m6Nn5fZQlgbP2GnNgCUwDsT3OSA3W0NaVFWrLkPGa-lhk_AwKSJidzflGJ0h-aoGzD2hHAs8HwKbZew_golZqwzj3vg/s3024/9D994754-6039-46EF-A737-D06FDB1D3D64.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cooking My Way Through a Cook Book | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="2419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtbSAKm5bbAjp8cKCS1_Lte3eyAsNsY8H_WxZiHs2XhL3JaTCAE-fdybZeNt4W6a3fpJf05-3wfmkytkWwRn40n882AJzn8Y8m6Nn5fZQlgbP2GnNgCUwDsT3OSA3W0NaVFWrLkPGa-lhk_AwKSJidzflGJ0h-aoGzD2hHAs8HwKbZew_golZqwzj3vg/s16000/9D994754-6039-46EF-A737-D06FDB1D3D64.jpeg" title="Cooking My Way Through a Cook Book | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The first is an oft told family tale at this point that takes place roughly 15 years ago. I was attending my new boyfriend's family Christmas (to be clear, the new boyfriend was Ryan) and we had just moved into together. I can't remember the exact question, but his mom asked me something about cooking, and I immediately and earnestly answered "I have a mom for that!" Oh boy. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>Since then, I've progressed into my 30's, had a baby and made a home. I cook every day, but I still get pegged to bring the veggie platter or drinks, because first impressions are real, baby. </p><p><br /></p><p>Now for the second, much shorter story. Last year, I read <a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/julie--julia-365-days-524-recipes-1-tiny-apartment-kitchen-by-julie-powell/339297/item/2320127/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=high_vol_backlist_standard_shopping_customer_aquistion&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=659174113139&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAnfmsBhDfARIsAM7MKi1pkLEAoLXmxoUewsuV9OMVeQW9_-XvHDHvdGlhSey7ZfWefFF4X5waApdbEALw_wcB#isbn=031610969X&idiq=2320127" target="_blank">Julie & Julia</a>, a book about the former cooking her way through the latter's masterpiece, <a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/mastering-the-art-of-french-cooking-vol-1_julia-child/262161/#edition=2384797&idiq=4155785" target="_blank">Mastering the Art of French Cooking</a>. It's hilarious and also poignant, and ultimately it inspired me to take up a cooking project of my own. I've saved this project for the winter months because I quickly become miserable in January and I needed something to look forward to. </p><p><br /></p><p>And so, here we are. This fall, I picked up <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b6IdS" target="_blank">Half-baked Harvest's Every Day</a> (that's an affiliate link!). She writes <a href="https://www.halfbakedharvest.com" target="_blank">a beautiful website</a> and I've had good luck making her recipes before, so I am optimistic that this will make for a perfect project blueprint. </p><p><br /></p><p>My big audacious goal is to cook everything in this book between now and the end of March + report out on it once a week. I'm a gal who loves to lean into the "I'm sooOOo busy" excuse, but I'm also one who chants regularly "I am a woman who does what she says she will do" so I'm letting those two things fight for my time this quarter. Wish me luck!</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Week 1: Spiced Paprika Chicken</h3><p><br /></p><p>Saturday night. I'm already behind. I still haven't counted how many recipes are in this book, but I know it's a lot and I need to throw down more than one a week. At this point, it's January 6 and I've had a hell of a week, which feels unkind because it's the first week of the year. I came in so optimistic and hopeful! I remind myself that there are 52 weeks in a year and if one of them is hard, that's a small ratio. I put my faith in the remaining weeks. Be good, gd-it, be gooooood. </p><p><br /></p><p>So now you know my mindset. On this particular Saturday night, Ryan's working late-ish and Duke and I have spent the day mostly home alone together. It's 4:30 and it's dark like nighttime. I put on an Adamms Family cartoon, mostly for myself, but he is engaged, so I set up shop in the kitchen, pulling out ingredients and lighting candles and looking up every once in a while to take in the movie. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsoXhS83E6UcTAErWk_5WdE5YmOqoYXD8ZXx3xE_PuzgSQ8u9MID3xvofdMOg7XbsxkA5Lubo5t2qw5fxyZeArKkoFzfFHJDS5XjDMLI3a2cfrGkNnFsqoR3fz5vyR9Cl1P709SgC-CJhE-0QNioa5ShPdm4s1SjUq8MD4xWv6ZwgMZk51enBBsnaZv4/s3802/D697EFD9-15D5-4019-B518-FD066E12F775_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cooking My Way Through a Cook Book | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="2747" data-original-width="3802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsoXhS83E6UcTAErWk_5WdE5YmOqoYXD8ZXx3xE_PuzgSQ8u9MID3xvofdMOg7XbsxkA5Lubo5t2qw5fxyZeArKkoFzfFHJDS5XjDMLI3a2cfrGkNnFsqoR3fz5vyR9Cl1P709SgC-CJhE-0QNioa5ShPdm4s1SjUq8MD4xWv6ZwgMZk51enBBsnaZv4/s16000/D697EFD9-15D5-4019-B518-FD066E12F775_1_201_a.jpeg" title="Cooking My Way Through a Cook Book | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Also, it's 6 days into Dry January. So I pour a bit of PomWonderful in a wine glass and top it off with sparkling water. I also toss in a slice of orange, because I believe in the power of zjush.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>Lesson number 1: read the entire recipe and make sure you have all the ingredients before you embark on such a project. It's fine, it's really fine. I'm missing arugula for the salad, but I have fresh spinach, so I swap. I'm missing hummus, without any plans for a substitute, but that looks like an accessory, so I pretend I don't see it and my family doesn't notice either. </p><p><br /></p><p>There are three parts to this recipe: sweet potatoes, chicken, and a salad. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Sweet potatoes</b>: A+. I feel like the sweet potato was born to be delicious, and the recipe calls for them to be cooked long enough to just crisp around the edges, but are still soft and sweet in the center. It occurs to me that a sweet potato is basically a cookie in that respect. The ratio of crisp to soft, I mean. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Chicken</b>: I'm giving it a C, because it's average. Not bad, not great, just fine. The paprika lends a lovely color to the finished product, but not enough flavor imo. If I did it again, I'd double up on the measurements of each spice. I do think the chicken is key to the sweet potatoes being so good though. the recipe calls for the chicken to be nestled among the potatoes, and the flavor it adds is top freaking tier. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Spinach, but supposed to be arugula salad</b>: A good B+. The recipe called for sundried tomatoes in oil, which I had to run out for, and now I know they are a staple in my refrigerator inventory. What a delight! I pour a 1 to 1 ratio of their oil with red wine vinegar and give it a whisk, before dropping in the chopped up tomatoes, and mixing in the spinach. Very simple, but wow - it has wonderful flavor!</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriqkColfz2ysNGIjlrjc2brSd_oam8vbyDaTrkJJYxjeupYRNea45tdUGcsrYpPE0648erpl2e6lhU7K3T3UjL3bmnhZgiXqTMF6LIYuJLwog59LyfhrutW5CoYp1kHU9YbLSpREEJRx_GuSCqDkLapwL2Z5p9QQVcezzBHk-Ibi5A9YEKo1SWykbb-8/s4032/CECEABDC-6B46-4D53-B403-C2B80922ED36.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cooking My Way Through a Cook Book | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriqkColfz2ysNGIjlrjc2brSd_oam8vbyDaTrkJJYxjeupYRNea45tdUGcsrYpPE0648erpl2e6lhU7K3T3UjL3bmnhZgiXqTMF6LIYuJLwog59LyfhrutW5CoYp1kHU9YbLSpREEJRx_GuSCqDkLapwL2Z5p9QQVcezzBHk-Ibi5A9YEKo1SWykbb-8/s16000/CECEABDC-6B46-4D53-B403-C2B80922ED36.jpeg" title="Cooking My Way Through a Cook Book | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><br /><p>Ryan walks in the door just as I'm pulling things out of the oven, which is stunning timing, but very on brand for him. He just can sense when the dinner is done, you know? </p><p><br /></p><p>Duke flatly refuses to eat any of it, which is also the norm. Instead he eats a bowl of peeled oranges and I honestly don't care. Fed is best, as they say. Even at 7 years old? IDK. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>The verdict:</b> On a scale of 1-5, I give it 3.5 Delicious Sweet Potatoes. We're spicy, so I wanted a little more flavor from the chicken, but what do I know? Maybe the hummus was an integral piece of the flavor profile. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>And so, we begin! I have a lot of catching up to do, but on we get. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-25412972181525995762024-01-05T05:20:00.002-05:002024-01-19T05:54:26.372-05:00Christmas Vacation | January 5, 2024 <p>Happy first Friday of the year! I know it's early to ask, but how is 2024 shaping up for you so far? How about them resolutions? </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLLd6JBZh8mvIEBj0xrxxvP9NCguqQUj2AWRucZAFgENeO8CX4NlQHYXSTTWa7r5FghDMh6M85zpLoOyflFIP8q4iXoYLVcXA4Bh_GlKsmooYCuIQsW8YVS9cVUx9HCxlvhIj-WH9RWGX9ZhmWy9mRDrsbZQaST5hS1TOe1Q6l-5iYUzZCR03F_OeQ4I/s4032/34314105-0A60-4CC8-99E5-67154619A57D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Vacation | January 5, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLLd6JBZh8mvIEBj0xrxxvP9NCguqQUj2AWRucZAFgENeO8CX4NlQHYXSTTWa7r5FghDMh6M85zpLoOyflFIP8q4iXoYLVcXA4Bh_GlKsmooYCuIQsW8YVS9cVUx9HCxlvhIj-WH9RWGX9ZhmWy9mRDrsbZQaST5hS1TOe1Q6l-5iYUzZCR03F_OeQ4I/s16000/34314105-0A60-4CC8-99E5-67154619A57D.heic" title="Christmas Vacation | January 5, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Our routines are back in place and somehow, it feels very good. Ying and yang, I guess. Christmas break was wonderful; a little relaxing but mostly very fun chaos. We went full Griswold with a houseful of family including a Rottweiler for almost a week, but the real feature was a one year old who is a walking, babbling, very cute example of how far we've leveled up from the baby proofing years. It happened so incrementally that I didn't even realize how <i>unproofed</i> my house is until the cabinet doors started opening up. I scampered around looking for a baby gate that I know for a fact I don't have anymore, and while I worried about her climbing the stairs, she was in the kitchen, taking a bath in my dogs water bowl. How quickly I take for granted how much the load has lightened with my own baby. I truly forgot what it's like to have cabinet doors locked and furniture strategically placed to cover electrical sockets. Or the bouncing and cajoling and the <i>sshh shh shushes</i> you have to do to coax a baby to fall asleep. </p><p><br /></p><p>It's self serving to make a wobbly baby about myself, but it was a reminder that I am no longer a baby mother. I've shed that layer of motherhood and recognizing that felt like very apropos timing. New year, new me and whatnot. </p><p><br /></p><p>Anyway! There was lots of going out and eating very good food. We danced and went out for karaoke. We ventured into the big city for a fancy dinner. We ordered drinks and played pinball. I started a new book. We played a hundred rounds of Heads Up and I laughed until my abs hurt. I took George for a walk most days, and my favorite part: I took sooooo many naps. Like, sometimes more than one nap in a day. Now there's a treat. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj107UbHwy2H2dQkbYSOhsyP7B6gmidlUwO7EGcNFCuyQUUC_-4McSHBMdSOEdYRmPFDlZVQf6kqL_lsC32N0uy4MDFzKesibnQldBx0WIn8w2WCnteqkGiIB_IQbGuCCmY9EljQA-fKBZCezcH3WmxHgDnqoagosaAd65iNT9DyGGzsOK6UIond4l3TsQ/s4032/500AEB98-0503-48A0-902D-4172FE1769FA.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Vacation | January 5, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj107UbHwy2H2dQkbYSOhsyP7B6gmidlUwO7EGcNFCuyQUUC_-4McSHBMdSOEdYRmPFDlZVQf6kqL_lsC32N0uy4MDFzKesibnQldBx0WIn8w2WCnteqkGiIB_IQbGuCCmY9EljQA-fKBZCezcH3WmxHgDnqoagosaAd65iNT9DyGGzsOK6UIond4l3TsQ/s16000/500AEB98-0503-48A0-902D-4172FE1769FA.heic" title="Christmas Vacation | January 5, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1V8KTPXkvk1PDCaBkVGOhGbTqYiouL4t4Ib9okaX-N33-O5Q-K6ynMNoRWlcv1KWp4A7QCnnQxCHgSpkhg5hkKk6KoD3ovPJF9pyHYRgrZ9Kdad0zyA-q5wfuomN950beGvOAIGUgTjFcTUZKbuUgY4Ze9-KUmIr7K6npHmerVp2A_uL3WtK5UFutr54/s4032/D61FE9C5-2B9E-4657-BD53-E1EAB0F0219F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Vacation | January 5, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1V8KTPXkvk1PDCaBkVGOhGbTqYiouL4t4Ib9okaX-N33-O5Q-K6ynMNoRWlcv1KWp4A7QCnnQxCHgSpkhg5hkKk6KoD3ovPJF9pyHYRgrZ9Kdad0zyA-q5wfuomN950beGvOAIGUgTjFcTUZKbuUgY4Ze9-KUmIr7K6npHmerVp2A_uL3WtK5UFutr54/s16000/D61FE9C5-2B9E-4657-BD53-E1EAB0F0219F.jpeg" title="Christmas Vacation | January 5, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqF2ukmxgMctrTbSDOHwdE8ss9-p7bf73Trah27klSJ7f1gQuCtj2cMdpOvi_IAbFji6wjw69OEb6mfeFZuoYf8s4WAi-_jxn_9RY8XbzMhRszboE8qHIT0TVFSDeVyZo5Nx48QvWBuoImUD0XwcMIC1O_6wq13_R2VxqDi4OK3n180CsrznH7viCJxEc/s1183/E24CE1F0-E30D-4BF8-A770-C19AB10FBE03_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Vacation | January 5, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="828" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqF2ukmxgMctrTbSDOHwdE8ss9-p7bf73Trah27klSJ7f1gQuCtj2cMdpOvi_IAbFji6wjw69OEb6mfeFZuoYf8s4WAi-_jxn_9RY8XbzMhRszboE8qHIT0TVFSDeVyZo5Nx48QvWBuoImUD0XwcMIC1O_6wq13_R2VxqDi4OK3n180CsrznH7viCJxEc/s16000/E24CE1F0-E30D-4BF8-A770-C19AB10FBE03_1_201_a.jpeg" title="Christmas Vacation | January 5, 2024 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>And now we're into the new year and I'm feeling V motivated. Perhaps it was the glutinous living for a week, but I woke up ready to get my life back on track. All I wanted to do was wash the sheets and eat kale and take a long walk. I've written about this before, but one is only good because of the other, you know? </p><p><br /></p><p>This year, I'm trying to be honest with myself about crazy goals. I'm usually pretty realistic, which makes meeting my goals easy, I guess. I know what I <i>can</i> do and so I set my limits there. This year, I have a few wild goals that are frankly ridiculous, but I have to make them to meet them. I also like a good more/less list, so here's what's on my mind:</p><p><br /></p><p><i>More</i></p><p>going out and doing stuff on the weekends</p><p>being generous</p><p>writing</p><p>walking </p><p>water, I guess. </p><p><br /></p><p><i>Less</i></p><p>scrolling</p><p>caring about what someone might think about me</p><p>junkfood + booze</p><p>wallowing in self pity</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Shopping Break:</h3><p><br /></p><p>I'm sort of shopped out, which is not at all like me, but there are two sales that caught my attention:</p><p><br /></p><p>Anthropologie: Every time I scroll, I think <i>this</i> is my house's personality. At least, I would like it to be. Anyway, <a href="https://www.anthropologie.com/sale-all" target="_blank">sale stuff is an additional 50% off,</a> making some of the more absurd items affordable. This <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b6pJf" target="_blank">tic-tac-toe game</a> is ridiculous, but also beautiful and I've had it in my favorites for a while. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://ruggable.com" target="_blank">Ruggable:</a> I cosign on these washable rugs all day long. I have spent so much money on rugs that my family just destroys, and while nothing is perfect, the fact that I can toss these babies in the washer is a real star quality. It's not an amazing sale, but it will skim quite a bit off your total. I'm considering swapping in <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b64G6" target="_blank">this dark, moody rug </a>in my livingroom and the honest-to-God only hold-up is I don't want to move all the furniture to get it in place. </p><p><br /></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">I did place a big, not sexy order for a restock of my go-to products: this <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b4pIQ" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">glowy sunbum sunscreen</a> that I wear every single day. This “botox in a bottle” combo from The Ordinary (<a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b49Nz" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">argireline solution</a> + <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b6stb" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">matrixyl</a>). And lastly, this <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b6stF" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Kristen Ess thickening spray </a>that is a bargain and really works. </p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;">***</p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Stay a little longer?</h3><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/01/musings-dry-january.html" target="_blank">Musings on Dry January</a> from 2023. </p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/01/happy-new-year-resolutions-for-2023.html" target="_blank">Last year's more/less list.</a> And other resolutions. </p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/09/things-to-look-forward-to-september-2023.html" target="_blank">Things to look forward to</a> - I wrote this in September, but as we're deep into cozy season, it's largely still apropos. </p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Happy weekending!</p><p><br /></p>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-46428159646660168332023-12-31T04:00:00.018-05:002024-02-23T07:13:31.880-05:00The Best of 2023<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Last weekend of the year! I have nothing kind to say about 2023. This week, I spilled an entire can of paint on my carpet, and it was so apropos for a year that felt like fires springing up every time I turned my back. I freaked out, but found myself in the bathroom mirror, as I soaked a towel to begin blotting up the mess. <em>Self</em>, I said tersely to my own reflection, staring her right in the eye, <em>you have to be calm to handle this</em>. And you know, I did. Calm down, I mean, and handle the problem. Miraculously, no evidence of the mishap remains and in the end, I stood over the wet spot, feeling like it was all symbolic. In that moment, I conquered the year. </p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><p>Of course, I have to acknowledge that there were more good bits than bad bobs. So now, I present to you, an exhaustive list of everything good from our year. The annual best of highlight reel. </p><p><br /></p><p>Happy New Year friends!</p><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2022/12/best-of-2022.html" target="_blank">Best of 2022 </a>| <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2021/12/best-of-2021.html" target="_blank">Best of 2021</a>| <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2020/12/best-of-2020.html" target="_blank">Best of 2020</a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Winter</h3><p>We started our year in the same place that starts every good day - at the beach. Seemed like a good omen.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJULC77HwOq1ctjqoa-ToCsxypxaSBlB2GiDSUOWkpF8T64_JCJIa1i603BFEkcXdZQKfGP2th-4yWsvH9KKUP9obq54sZILueQzIqGMBbDS8kyxX8SLRpQROD3NmiMKqjYXs5oq_K59QwDjoHK_-eH_VyyUJOKVyoC8DOoUgNX5_RBw-240qB_m9AV0/s4032/CE4BA3E0-33EF-4079-BA39-7BE460BBBB24.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJULC77HwOq1ctjqoa-ToCsxypxaSBlB2GiDSUOWkpF8T64_JCJIa1i603BFEkcXdZQKfGP2th-4yWsvH9KKUP9obq54sZILueQzIqGMBbDS8kyxX8SLRpQROD3NmiMKqjYXs5oq_K59QwDjoHK_-eH_VyyUJOKVyoC8DOoUgNX5_RBw-240qB_m9AV0/s16000/CE4BA3E0-33EF-4079-BA39-7BE460BBBB24.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a mild season overall - hallelujah - so we spent a lot of time outside. I completed a mostly dry January. Duke lost his first tooth. I took him on a hundred drives all over Benzie County just to get out of the house. My sister and brother-in-law stayed with us for a weekend and I coaxed my sister on stage to do karaoke with me, which is probably my highest achievement. I'm no winter gal, but I think we made the most of it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFrr9vw3q-J3TcyMevm-C0FIYNeOxZNs3svPxm_CLwqOIsdMElOb24-Iw8kU6Bfv2w5tpUyKhQmxLMMU_3KgbwAco168Vg6L3Uhd2qIo1Nne61dY5ZCjq7wIRgqnAsL9g5e7fhqMRw3xif3Cu4VgZr-itJ3ZQC-zZ-cjT_ns4pcuYr4YVWvLW_m9mJ2g/s2443/A397CAF3-D21D-4B1F-9941-CD6616DA52EA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="1832" data-original-width="2443" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFrr9vw3q-J3TcyMevm-C0FIYNeOxZNs3svPxm_CLwqOIsdMElOb24-Iw8kU6Bfv2w5tpUyKhQmxLMMU_3KgbwAco168Vg6L3Uhd2qIo1Nne61dY5ZCjq7wIRgqnAsL9g5e7fhqMRw3xif3Cu4VgZr-itJ3ZQC-zZ-cjT_ns4pcuYr4YVWvLW_m9mJ2g/s16000/A397CAF3-D21D-4B1F-9941-CD6616DA52EA.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvrNrhPQWnjryTwqSSlR4qHCRUyR4Ds43SjbM_7Y5cdFYVCeQCXl2-tMYWaLctNma9K0Ym_DxTJ5Hvk81fC85jWGQ1h0sKOabSkK1J4563wrM5ChtAVagMlmRvRKUbzL2ysAbBOf16Npcm_KD4Y8FPUlklx1UjCYUVjw0BUGHy8bGapw1K5y14v29Fks/s1440/148ED8A3-F869-41D7-AF7E-CA6C646DF036.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvrNrhPQWnjryTwqSSlR4qHCRUyR4Ds43SjbM_7Y5cdFYVCeQCXl2-tMYWaLctNma9K0Ym_DxTJ5Hvk81fC85jWGQ1h0sKOabSkK1J4563wrM5ChtAVagMlmRvRKUbzL2ysAbBOf16Npcm_KD4Y8FPUlklx1UjCYUVjw0BUGHy8bGapw1K5y14v29Fks/s16000/148ED8A3-F869-41D7-AF7E-CA6C646DF036.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCZ3wMMhIh_fNphmHKSuacUlBtKlpK891Wa1l46b-axw0wSMD1ybyS07nuDxvT-hsdkhsNj3UEH6FQX19woe1rVCOF6i2SkaZPSLdK_JTH1AMi0AZTMZa7iso5pER1pnzf3xcr4RKDnfFgaJ6TCoaBxENKYeyuUBvBVvzJgsV9Nq1lea63MoOMkN5GfE/s4032/56190CF5-BD71-404F-AC4D-C666C820E428.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCZ3wMMhIh_fNphmHKSuacUlBtKlpK891Wa1l46b-axw0wSMD1ybyS07nuDxvT-hsdkhsNj3UEH6FQX19woe1rVCOF6i2SkaZPSLdK_JTH1AMi0AZTMZa7iso5pER1pnzf3xcr4RKDnfFgaJ6TCoaBxENKYeyuUBvBVvzJgsV9Nq1lea63MoOMkN5GfE/s16000/56190CF5-BD71-404F-AC4D-C666C820E428.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/01/musings-dry-january.html" target="_blank">Dry January</a><b> | </b><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/01/life-lately-january.html" target="_blank">Life Lately - January </a><b>|</b> <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/03/life-lately-february-2023.html" target="_blank">Life Lately - February</a> <b>|</b> <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/03/life-lately-march.html" target="_blank">Life Lately - March</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Spring</h3><p>Reprieve from hitting the winter wall! I went to Savannah in April and fell in love with the historic city, but left Ryan in charge of Duke's nutrition, which had questionable results. </p><p><br /></p><p>In line with a mild winter, spring warmed up early. I remember sitting on our front porch steps on Easter Sunday and visiting the garden store over in Frankfort early in May. Duke started watching Bluey everyday and in accordance, we made a pavlova (pavlov-er). It was disappointing, it basically tasted like an omelet with fruit on top. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bO4zbDM50zsMh9Z1D9WTOV3_eEIydGx02fp-QLNcDplGRGX9R74mhjEAPnDK2ThxO8PsvbijkTiFDVkVdJTF_AUj-LWoJasczHFZn1t2TXCEoiwrrCgfg3m98wqnSXylcon0aQIiZkasc6g9cEaszJ82Rc1FMqiOQfzSvgX054-_sqrN16W6Se_rQ5s/s4032/179DCE5B-2D12-4D30-9E4E-05EBEC11126E.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bO4zbDM50zsMh9Z1D9WTOV3_eEIydGx02fp-QLNcDplGRGX9R74mhjEAPnDK2ThxO8PsvbijkTiFDVkVdJTF_AUj-LWoJasczHFZn1t2TXCEoiwrrCgfg3m98wqnSXylcon0aQIiZkasc6g9cEaszJ82Rc1FMqiOQfzSvgX054-_sqrN16W6Se_rQ5s/s16000/179DCE5B-2D12-4D30-9E4E-05EBEC11126E.heic" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2QviJ7YRHEe4lf_AOYagt9LtP1lA_RBLJG1iSA-Jzz4TRd-wYVABVrcgDLfb8TrJZFJfXMK5F-HfWYBHv9AEb-5LGhF_wEij_wVRjVQF4fo9yUluEu8L1kQI0FWaPYNhoFH8qlI0_GUBsaF3piIf4tHK-QIdB1lihG2HsPgRFGtNYf2LfmrzCDoB8_A/s4032/CF4E5BB4-E6DA-4203-BED4-D223A01B418D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2QviJ7YRHEe4lf_AOYagt9LtP1lA_RBLJG1iSA-Jzz4TRd-wYVABVrcgDLfb8TrJZFJfXMK5F-HfWYBHv9AEb-5LGhF_wEij_wVRjVQF4fo9yUluEu8L1kQI0FWaPYNhoFH8qlI0_GUBsaF3piIf4tHK-QIdB1lihG2HsPgRFGtNYf2LfmrzCDoB8_A/s16000/CF4E5BB4-E6DA-4203-BED4-D223A01B418D.heic" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg059SVEwJsxoHL06wP1Yw_Dy4hi7iXwogLQeD-PmMpw0Zo3nZ-xiUjFG9-qbCXzdPl19JrLuvwiyGA98ye4UmTYLHVypKVhWtmMu0mCX19EjM5uoWcbLfJUspES0PF7D3fCMqDTxdd83WUc31bx5fSIhlVAkkpzo7che7OEg7Yt9SEqhE-UfS3LubV1ZE/s3088/E9B6630B-97F7-442B-8F94-976C557852A6_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg059SVEwJsxoHL06wP1Yw_Dy4hi7iXwogLQeD-PmMpw0Zo3nZ-xiUjFG9-qbCXzdPl19JrLuvwiyGA98ye4UmTYLHVypKVhWtmMu0mCX19EjM5uoWcbLfJUspES0PF7D3fCMqDTxdd83WUc31bx5fSIhlVAkkpzo7che7OEg7Yt9SEqhE-UfS3LubV1ZE/s16000/E9B6630B-97F7-442B-8F94-976C557852A6_1_201_a.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/06/life-lately-april-and-may-2023.html" target="_blank">Life Lately April & May</a> | <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/06/life-lately-june-2023.html" target="_blank">Life Lately June</a> | <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/05/musings-i-see-light.html" target="_blank">I See the Light </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Summer</h3><p>We had the most glorious summer. It came in hot and we were swimming by Memorial Day. What a treat. We bought a lake house. My baby sister got married. I turned 35 and Ryan camped up the Continental Divide. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSOcIQxkHQRofapmnbugD9X3ek354udAxtRaSav8l7KXsYszP25gSHQjf98LhYej4eNtZotWmmL5NBgPWHBcwPxMQW5oolGjGBk8tcSo_iBDPdt_h-37hIVmWeNWY5YxYjOW3uZfb4x7pMXBlUQUJSZfgs5yUQkcncJGVQLm0touGYd0te7AGNCkhUTA/s3616/79AB7917-A1C3-491D-9E74-895DC190A5BB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="2712" data-original-width="3616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSOcIQxkHQRofapmnbugD9X3ek354udAxtRaSav8l7KXsYszP25gSHQjf98LhYej4eNtZotWmmL5NBgPWHBcwPxMQW5oolGjGBk8tcSo_iBDPdt_h-37hIVmWeNWY5YxYjOW3uZfb4x7pMXBlUQUJSZfgs5yUQkcncJGVQLm0touGYd0te7AGNCkhUTA/s16000/79AB7917-A1C3-491D-9E74-895DC190A5BB.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqmjEHsAix3Wo5K8t1jGsyy1ifg7epP469BdqD4lNO8Fe0JUElxNuGh_HSrn3mLUxsCxQLPt2ATfOC3pRKIpbzFYyIoS4qz1ARkOpbyvgpUDWxs0Sjb0r8J4wwT1CpQ3L_4I6wAO-X-yVhyhK5jQ493M8kTOPaRVfqLpokPBbFHJR9_irD2fZqEjIiX8/s4032/1327D6AF-823E-491C-AFBF-292912BEDC6E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqmjEHsAix3Wo5K8t1jGsyy1ifg7epP469BdqD4lNO8Fe0JUElxNuGh_HSrn3mLUxsCxQLPt2ATfOC3pRKIpbzFYyIoS4qz1ARkOpbyvgpUDWxs0Sjb0r8J4wwT1CpQ3L_4I6wAO-X-yVhyhK5jQ493M8kTOPaRVfqLpokPBbFHJR9_irD2fZqEjIiX8/s16000/1327D6AF-823E-491C-AFBF-292912BEDC6E.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYkMrJejvT7b0lbrtoZb8BfZBnhM4oBfNEvOshp8nBc6cVLYJnDlhqF8TP6BzAhyphenhyphenftWAqNilP0w6Y6L0b4LcnsQK-7vaC0JD06hzOPk-E832PJI66ShoJMknIDUa19z5ka2iMFrtT8UZi-_10qpCiVQ9_86CIeC4AxOTjdzoUrspDJQCXB-yZlINU2xU/s2048/C81F5BA7-C18F-493B-838A-7E2E1C1F1907.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYkMrJejvT7b0lbrtoZb8BfZBnhM4oBfNEvOshp8nBc6cVLYJnDlhqF8TP6BzAhyphenhyphenftWAqNilP0w6Y6L0b4LcnsQK-7vaC0JD06hzOPk-E832PJI66ShoJMknIDUa19z5ka2iMFrtT8UZi-_10qpCiVQ9_86CIeC4AxOTjdzoUrspDJQCXB-yZlINU2xU/s16000/C81F5BA7-C18F-493B-838A-7E2E1C1F1907.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhpsQPDPF1cDXBU2IuH3G8u1cI3q8BpIdiFXvKcQ1T7T77bDv2cjnrNrB5oVwMlxhS4MMJKMUg392sZlLZjCyk4G1T9Yl_TsbOIUUe6W1axM1ERVa6wFg7OTCcj6uQAQqVVF3sJ-AcFHdrh5QNDELPTKYR5YhHRVMjOjOby5O0al5CvDWH7R3rdn9bA4/s4032/CF559612-D34F-4234-8D81-F37AC89C9F69_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhpsQPDPF1cDXBU2IuH3G8u1cI3q8BpIdiFXvKcQ1T7T77bDv2cjnrNrB5oVwMlxhS4MMJKMUg392sZlLZjCyk4G1T9Yl_TsbOIUUe6W1axM1ERVa6wFg7OTCcj6uQAQqVVF3sJ-AcFHdrh5QNDELPTKYR5YhHRVMjOjOby5O0al5CvDWH7R3rdn9bA4/s16000/CF559612-D34F-4234-8D81-F37AC89C9F69_1_201_a.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGleU4pBzFk1OfuCD8cBo1ZtpgtE1yXeXWF1v8FPWXz4YUbmvbg21roIcri9O0YFW44ETn0mdWU4Q09SnVQ9BLQG0rRy_88cFi3SbaLT4RcMyPMsCGOKFsTRqKfbO7N22oye4xRP_7psC3floszmuBEwrPnG93jTiKl79qbM9lq3UMgLcWtm7lelOmyYk/s2521/E58E8DA0-B647-4963-A122-08D6E72D2AA5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="2521" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGleU4pBzFk1OfuCD8cBo1ZtpgtE1yXeXWF1v8FPWXz4YUbmvbg21roIcri9O0YFW44ETn0mdWU4Q09SnVQ9BLQG0rRy_88cFi3SbaLT4RcMyPMsCGOKFsTRqKfbO7N22oye4xRP_7psC3floszmuBEwrPnG93jTiKl79qbM9lq3UMgLcWtm7lelOmyYk/s16000/E58E8DA0-B647-4963-A122-08D6E72D2AA5.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/07/turning-35.html" target="_blank">Turning 35</a> | <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/07/life-lately-july-2023.html" target="_blank">Life Lately July</a> | <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/08/life-lately-august-2023.html" target="_blank">Life Lately August</a> | <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/09/best-of-summer-2023.html" target="_blank">Best of Summer 2023</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Fall</h3><p>I was my usual boohoo-y self about the impending fall. I live for summer so much, I take it personally when the people around me are all like "yay! fall!" But also as usual, I came around to it. I'm a big believer in everything it in its time, so August ain't its time, but October is, and by then, I'm ready. </p><p><br /></p><p>Duke went to 1st grade. We crashed my sister's anniversary trip and joined their family on Mackinaw Island for a day. We watched a hundred movies on the projector and I built as many bonfires in our solo stove (solid investment that I've never regretted). And of course, we trick or treated (in the snow!). </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTCZvgknH2hx-mJTDqTTvu4nUZfjtKS-8dOi6M7R6N6cLbe3Jj6pX9GXq9iHqhIM0eUiYzX_eKrN0GEpIqp1uArj-Bypequ4_qFwH7PWcQ_JsI_W8byLyn8jnzNYEuBW-GVpOX63ZvanQQ4T2lMwWYK86orbLabYXXrggCHHhWA-FDoA-4q-XwJv3tmA/s4032/01A35956-CC59-41BD-A69C-23AE2DC7485E.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTCZvgknH2hx-mJTDqTTvu4nUZfjtKS-8dOi6M7R6N6cLbe3Jj6pX9GXq9iHqhIM0eUiYzX_eKrN0GEpIqp1uArj-Bypequ4_qFwH7PWcQ_JsI_W8byLyn8jnzNYEuBW-GVpOX63ZvanQQ4T2lMwWYK86orbLabYXXrggCHHhWA-FDoA-4q-XwJv3tmA/s16000/01A35956-CC59-41BD-A69C-23AE2DC7485E.heic" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AuIpb57EsY7cWpu2Uv6fUJsJiWCUrowKHf7CieJML1S0PFWnpi04N1xoFZCiA1vjGffQORnAhlT1cMflNmFUZPpin0vsQUE92f9pvLvHj8f2yZEhXEiAGo0DWoPxss_8DPncLV0wxTwqbYt7M7qtA_zliD4FgxnQw7yjSqR241UD7mnUX6JCDyUelXo/s4032/4EA76D49-9431-4FDB-B67B-A6122DFA0CC2_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AuIpb57EsY7cWpu2Uv6fUJsJiWCUrowKHf7CieJML1S0PFWnpi04N1xoFZCiA1vjGffQORnAhlT1cMflNmFUZPpin0vsQUE92f9pvLvHj8f2yZEhXEiAGo0DWoPxss_8DPncLV0wxTwqbYt7M7qtA_zliD4FgxnQw7yjSqR241UD7mnUX6JCDyUelXo/s16000/4EA76D49-9431-4FDB-B67B-A6122DFA0CC2_1_201_a.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgybCtQiVum_XKpVj-NrrE6gsOsmKQVrVz-SZV8ybYbVgAYqQmE2xWYLJ3H6TBlRJQnQL4dKx2iljgzpkpP1-DIeO6LS2qrPRxx08k4QsINWlP30_vFdN7t8Yq1Vh7vlyhu4IDhZCLnxHOEeQrYVuBtL0hlODpPbYupXFJXFnvRLsIQCp7xvcWOR1XCM/s4032/5F34009C-011F-41EC-AA57-4CB3D9348F24.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgybCtQiVum_XKpVj-NrrE6gsOsmKQVrVz-SZV8ybYbVgAYqQmE2xWYLJ3H6TBlRJQnQL4dKx2iljgzpkpP1-DIeO6LS2qrPRxx08k4QsINWlP30_vFdN7t8Yq1Vh7vlyhu4IDhZCLnxHOEeQrYVuBtL0hlODpPbYupXFJXFnvRLsIQCp7xvcWOR1XCM/s16000/5F34009C-011F-41EC-AA57-4CB3D9348F24.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojem-_a-nC0I7lcg6TqT-z2GaDgU6y_yRxSWFppEXTtiVgFKImSOJscNKZVqbuzNnM6Lc3-UC9_lCbAv-VvL5JFIsa34u8wT8DGd51gCHAZlMswtr4T0x5Pb_1IpddIVbPcR-cNV2ASmL-nBWkRAGaLUorxybGJgGSWwZCmt93YcWoYONA0Whyphenhyphen1F-3Z0/s4032/692E7ED4-6FE0-4A77-AB32-550B77DE28F6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojem-_a-nC0I7lcg6TqT-z2GaDgU6y_yRxSWFppEXTtiVgFKImSOJscNKZVqbuzNnM6Lc3-UC9_lCbAv-VvL5JFIsa34u8wT8DGd51gCHAZlMswtr4T0x5Pb_1IpddIVbPcR-cNV2ASmL-nBWkRAGaLUorxybGJgGSWwZCmt93YcWoYONA0Whyphenhyphen1F-3Z0/s16000/692E7ED4-6FE0-4A77-AB32-550B77DE28F6.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/09/life-lately-september-2023.html" target="_blank">Life Lately September</a> | <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/11/life-lately-october-2023.html" target="_blank">Life Lately October </a>| <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/12/life-lately-november-2023.html" target="_blank">Life Lately November</a> | <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/11/thanksgiving-past.html" target="_blank">Thanksgiving Past</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><br /><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Christmas</h3><p>I'm here to suggest that there are indeed five seasons and Christmas is one of them. Try as I might, I cannot reignite the feelings of Christmas from my childhood. I really put in effort, but it's not happening. I don't feel any Christmas letdown after it's over because I didn't peak out before the big day. But I did have a nice day, and I enjoyed the season nonetheless. </p><p><br /></p><p>Duke, however, is filled to the actual brim with the magic and joy of Christmas. He was in my room on Christmas morning around 3:30 trying to talk me into waking up. He wisely accepted defeat but quickly began negotiating for a 4am wake up. I said no freaking way and rolled over. When I got up a couple hours later, he was laying on a mattress on the floor, completely knocked out. See? Christmas miracles are real. </p><p><br /></p><p>Ryan bought himself a giant Tonka truck. Ralphie got his Red Rider. I took a walk, coatless, on our 50º Christmas day, and Duke gave Ryan the most hilarious present ever. He picked it out himself and was SO EXCITED to give it to Ryan. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnw-gfrjxBnNVMEsNyufvm1Zv9ZkFcLqVw8RY7c8nVvrDkapmEoNyA521mg2DCtTv_CoVcr-XdSDtbdv0YiwEi0qlWdtOLk1EnWRcuEnApMRcgQ1RX-zAfaUxMYCvyQJ0etpRzvCZXhsHTJSIhG7VGP_w9as9zNyy3XXcSGCEM-87FcvO67-DPXc95uQ/s4032/685AE7FA-06E1-47F3-A89B-646BCDA77346.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnw-gfrjxBnNVMEsNyufvm1Zv9ZkFcLqVw8RY7c8nVvrDkapmEoNyA521mg2DCtTv_CoVcr-XdSDtbdv0YiwEi0qlWdtOLk1EnWRcuEnApMRcgQ1RX-zAfaUxMYCvyQJ0etpRzvCZXhsHTJSIhG7VGP_w9as9zNyy3XXcSGCEM-87FcvO67-DPXc95uQ/s16000/685AE7FA-06E1-47F3-A89B-646BCDA77346.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-iikZcCFVNEJEZ1ajyEJs5jE0hwkBagOjuotkSUIrthy2DsHK0v1v-k_hCc75FI1D26j1L9f7t_tfvx8EuB0ZufVQWljty2KCvdKXGv7oF_DqOOcmL3sBIdSs9VJtQfv148i0Z6HtL16g01Nd09jN-1Ut9HWUvHEWTuWcpbPBVb2AE0PPW6qLHL3TiI/s4032/827EBB3B-099F-4823-9CDA-DBAABE5C9BF9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-iikZcCFVNEJEZ1ajyEJs5jE0hwkBagOjuotkSUIrthy2DsHK0v1v-k_hCc75FI1D26j1L9f7t_tfvx8EuB0ZufVQWljty2KCvdKXGv7oF_DqOOcmL3sBIdSs9VJtQfv148i0Z6HtL16g01Nd09jN-1Ut9HWUvHEWTuWcpbPBVb2AE0PPW6qLHL3TiI/s16000/827EBB3B-099F-4823-9CDA-DBAABE5C9BF9.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vjxZCIfJgVr8DEuniiXcmyjAQfLFbJPJPCqFIFtJU5LazVrVeO4bGL-MvaTVpS7QKc87lLLmCV_3S0pXcyv0T9JYB2J_9FItuZADoUliXw6Qn_t9DXwNTfuEthB_vQ0rsoS3PnJSwcJUNIpxEE8IR605RqqbVfc-066xwN9RD_1YOzlR88aU3hb_EdA/s4032/89103B8F-F363-46AD-B95C-3BE6AEBA216C.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vjxZCIfJgVr8DEuniiXcmyjAQfLFbJPJPCqFIFtJU5LazVrVeO4bGL-MvaTVpS7QKc87lLLmCV_3S0pXcyv0T9JYB2J_9FItuZADoUliXw6Qn_t9DXwNTfuEthB_vQ0rsoS3PnJSwcJUNIpxEE8IR605RqqbVfc-066xwN9RD_1YOzlR88aU3hb_EdA/s16000/89103B8F-F363-46AD-B95C-3BE6AEBA216C.heic" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lIZLPCiB_L4DV8OD9ey9NabljCS1j9zSwC1dJdCKO-G1tvLXLVLhUzujSiyp6-sySon4tp1aIilEzNir1rUpEPlCDhd2yvc94yJ52nA6CKKt2MjCHoOoaG4Ao-OE4TAa4ZJeITx1rX1XOi4PnFbxtMlTc9mM95BSEOVcifHL1KqptabZDjAovAO2jFY/s4032/D61FE9C5-2B9E-4657-BD53-E1EAB0F0219F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lIZLPCiB_L4DV8OD9ey9NabljCS1j9zSwC1dJdCKO-G1tvLXLVLhUzujSiyp6-sySon4tp1aIilEzNir1rUpEPlCDhd2yvc94yJ52nA6CKKt2MjCHoOoaG4Ao-OE4TAa4ZJeITx1rX1XOi4PnFbxtMlTc9mM95BSEOVcifHL1KqptabZDjAovAO2jFY/s16000/D61FE9C5-2B9E-4657-BD53-E1EAB0F0219F.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/12/christmas-past.html" target="_blank">Christmas Past</a> | <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/12/happy-christmas-eve-december-24-2023.html" target="_blank">Happy Christmas Eve </a>| <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/12/christmas-links-december-22-2023.html" target="_blank">Christmas Links</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><br /><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Things I Read and Ate</h3><p>Is it really a "best of" if I don't heartily detail out the greatest joys of my year? Food, booze and words. It's how I fill my day. It's what I look forward to. It's how I nourish my body and mind. Lol. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1-9a9C5HjGLmwz0T1xBD73eq8M3mJIEG3vf9WjOsG7lyL_lmRap3FD4VN7uXz9Wd6j35Fa8NW_7W3D_1ky9DN8jsEE07XV11RfVwoJFejo9EV05571PLQRWvVCwwqnbaJZpApYG4eY25B7ukWg5LcpZvKAvztdZDflHczFFn22skAtwiXluK_0UBGm4/s4032/3EC30702-56F7-447F-841D-9D16A860E1F9.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1-9a9C5HjGLmwz0T1xBD73eq8M3mJIEG3vf9WjOsG7lyL_lmRap3FD4VN7uXz9Wd6j35Fa8NW_7W3D_1ky9DN8jsEE07XV11RfVwoJFejo9EV05571PLQRWvVCwwqnbaJZpApYG4eY25B7ukWg5LcpZvKAvztdZDflHczFFn22skAtwiXluK_0UBGm4/s16000/3EC30702-56F7-447F-841D-9D16A860E1F9.heic" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eVT8Ywr3T3quN_ZZnv3sYUZDJyBH0jCkygsPUNnHaY79g8EjgHu7CnAide7NCVRx6q84qxgiwpgeQlmpXzG6_s-Sy4x6ypXS85FXTkHqytuBU6qH_927srHb5a2wuB2wxflCmeAcipy2HZ_YEQRlowxulas49BRKwiO9OS6nioGISHefE57IT4Aplhw/s4032/6DA38EE9-1ED7-48F5-9B40-27DCE5E99CDA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eVT8Ywr3T3quN_ZZnv3sYUZDJyBH0jCkygsPUNnHaY79g8EjgHu7CnAide7NCVRx6q84qxgiwpgeQlmpXzG6_s-Sy4x6ypXS85FXTkHqytuBU6qH_927srHb5a2wuB2wxflCmeAcipy2HZ_YEQRlowxulas49BRKwiO9OS6nioGISHefE57IT4Aplhw/s16000/6DA38EE9-1ED7-48F5-9B40-27DCE5E99CDA.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaqEeK3wDPprmhdUBeiGmk-DgXg9OR2IEHFaqnm6Ma_HoowcqbmqGV3L7CZim4557R0crDglZ6GaJl6_WjN3nO-Lesb87XD7H8xF117bYGzBlKw3sf30KKMfBuoFlX26IZIEaLzpPzW5BzcGdjafLphq5ZE6QRz8VqkI-QUg91Jb23Capq8sc0WCnjm8/s4032/8D01EB36-7AD1-4CE4-B473-A2445CF25936.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaqEeK3wDPprmhdUBeiGmk-DgXg9OR2IEHFaqnm6Ma_HoowcqbmqGV3L7CZim4557R0crDglZ6GaJl6_WjN3nO-Lesb87XD7H8xF117bYGzBlKw3sf30KKMfBuoFlX26IZIEaLzpPzW5BzcGdjafLphq5ZE6QRz8VqkI-QUg91Jb23Capq8sc0WCnjm8/s16000/8D01EB36-7AD1-4CE4-B473-A2445CF25936.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mDEm6zQlEf7GVYzgHj0ntD-X_lmhyphenhyphen_bcNXTwkzhbyBNr34wAiW33QT-4S1wxfMaX5Vf2inV4dvwJMswE5ysKI2zD0gXtSP6oYGTtf4fWPC-CF9-RKN1qIo1TJvIdIrbnwl0dyuicSgAaNrxnhEYwhwdpq2JesqrROaG3GSincip5pEMkCSHs4nt1A-s/s4032/4765BE11-9634-4FB1-A98C-30F0B71BB3DF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mDEm6zQlEf7GVYzgHj0ntD-X_lmhyphenhyphen_bcNXTwkzhbyBNr34wAiW33QT-4S1wxfMaX5Vf2inV4dvwJMswE5ysKI2zD0gXtSP6oYGTtf4fWPC-CF9-RKN1qIo1TJvIdIrbnwl0dyuicSgAaNrxnhEYwhwdpq2JesqrROaG3GSincip5pEMkCSHs4nt1A-s/s16000/4765BE11-9634-4FB1-A98C-30F0B71BB3DF.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBOgXVPQBbbEu9UiwfNtcieo2bhlteJmxqHYICvO4aRherGr5CMSCMHSxFUb3j9WkokCTa0Y0fnQO6X1xqJDSZffGy4n570_-nO143fqqra212t5Dt2GaSH9Iw1dELMkFqmu7OO9jgZ-_p2KAEJceP0dg1nyK6OQt7igFcE9ZsNhMFdDOXONwe43XIXg/s4032/5740A493-8A89-4DC1-85F6-023B0E69212E_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBOgXVPQBbbEu9UiwfNtcieo2bhlteJmxqHYICvO4aRherGr5CMSCMHSxFUb3j9WkokCTa0Y0fnQO6X1xqJDSZffGy4n570_-nO143fqqra212t5Dt2GaSH9Iw1dELMkFqmu7OO9jgZ-_p2KAEJceP0dg1nyK6OQt7igFcE9ZsNhMFdDOXONwe43XIXg/s16000/5740A493-8A89-4DC1-85F6-023B0E69212E_1_201_a.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_1KzPEteIcCUlXeU6STcZmXe3H0dXOUm3dZ0edGrRhr0QXvCFuagf3H76myiZtXe3U48nZzR6lmU0ZIDElt5QPeP_CuOq0CHEvwuA2nXL4hN0EoZGXcXpmN4vAsuKC8bebBs_xIZM8BdPeEoxNcD5g-kCY-tLMfZs4Qq0EEcFxr03DYZTowzoFJdyP0/s4032/C7248E0E-36C7-4FC6-AA7D-EECF86573DA7.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_1KzPEteIcCUlXeU6STcZmXe3H0dXOUm3dZ0edGrRhr0QXvCFuagf3H76myiZtXe3U48nZzR6lmU0ZIDElt5QPeP_CuOq0CHEvwuA2nXL4hN0EoZGXcXpmN4vAsuKC8bebBs_xIZM8BdPeEoxNcD5g-kCY-tLMfZs4Qq0EEcFxr03DYZTowzoFJdyP0/s16000/C7248E0E-36C7-4FC6-AA7D-EECF86573DA7.heic" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRcrDdMIrYttbkC9wP-9YQ7y7F8i7f3a9sQvLYuwoLdvq_DihUQWJsn9OgAki6b5OVcpepZjCO0xSDkA_F16Ci-5VQgLj0iqQ9o0OxamojfMLwJpwpnqeDZWEjdW-pCThOYV7f8Fjm3Zff3ZtTu2pXeUDHS5m1OkG2vF2a6ozxSzvMZ93VL_V62oNiEg/s4032/F7A3ADF6-F083-4400-8CA7-163992FE381F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRcrDdMIrYttbkC9wP-9YQ7y7F8i7f3a9sQvLYuwoLdvq_DihUQWJsn9OgAki6b5OVcpepZjCO0xSDkA_F16Ci-5VQgLj0iqQ9o0OxamojfMLwJpwpnqeDZWEjdW-pCThOYV7f8Fjm3Zff3ZtTu2pXeUDHS5m1OkG2vF2a6ozxSzvMZ93VL_V62oNiEg/s16000/F7A3ADF6-F083-4400-8CA7-163992FE381F.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZng8rSGrAP2cV2tYuCuI-7FRiNPe6HMUEvnZuNRqG8-4Fq_WCvFbpPIV-qbUMbaZ9obQZ-tiBeAAt5C6NRHU1OkzwKteWfCaF8ynNqU7UdWIOOj5RSYqqdbeJ5-UGdIJIzTEYZ_5ikadGjJo8_3uzfCgffb0q8JTxw7QZvs1QAmEiQBTubQjkdukEc4/s4032/F7C9A946-D9C1-490E-B37E-9C5CF004B930_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZng8rSGrAP2cV2tYuCuI-7FRiNPe6HMUEvnZuNRqG8-4Fq_WCvFbpPIV-qbUMbaZ9obQZ-tiBeAAt5C6NRHU1OkzwKteWfCaF8ynNqU7UdWIOOj5RSYqqdbeJ5-UGdIJIzTEYZ_5ikadGjJo8_3uzfCgffb0q8JTxw7QZvs1QAmEiQBTubQjkdukEc4/s16000/F7C9A946-D9C1-490E-B37E-9C5CF004B930_1_201_a.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><p><br /></p><p>And my favorite snap from this year - this is Ryan's sister in Lake Michigan at Frankfort Beach. She is my muse. Or maybe the lake is my muse. Whichever - I love this photo. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZSoJfvD5koy9d62mvN-2r9xMb90VteSK8LbIYr6VcH_qrN83n08qfo2-05TkIsNCFnH0njctbJD2hWFLnESMiDQ6wTht2oMjKk7IuhjGJSqauKoUsj-HQ8oxo_zZTjg0WLhcJmAN5GsFtb82j2p968d9dqJgidSsDwjwMB5JgJWikKng55Uq9q5RAgk/s4032/B536B880-F224-4FBD-B3EA-8BCA56C39654.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZSoJfvD5koy9d62mvN-2r9xMb90VteSK8LbIYr6VcH_qrN83n08qfo2-05TkIsNCFnH0njctbJD2hWFLnESMiDQ6wTht2oMjKk7IuhjGJSqauKoUsj-HQ8oxo_zZTjg0WLhcJmAN5GsFtb82j2p968d9dqJgidSsDwjwMB5JgJWikKng55Uq9q5RAgk/s16000/B536B880-F224-4FBD-B3EA-8BCA56C39654.jpeg" title="The Best of 2023 | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><p><br /></p><p>I am excited for 2024, and optimistic too. Looking out at the endless ocean of a new year from the bow of January, it's fun to imagine what's out there. Headwinds sure, but also tailwinds and views and an island perhaps, seemingly out of reach, but actually just waiting for me to find my oars and row myself over there. </p><p><br /></p><p>Happy New Year you guys! I wish you lots of Sunday mornings and long, lazy afternoons. Pitchers of margaritas and friends to drink them with. Tables to sit around until the candles burn down. Couches to lay on, and islands to row towards. I wish us all every good thing. </p><p><br /></p></div>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-86743754410420777772023-12-30T05:00:00.001-05:002023-12-30T05:00:00.235-05:00Best of 2023 | My Favorite Reads of the Year<p><i>Welcome to a week of Best Ofs, a series of nice things that came out of this year. This week, I'll be sharing my favorite books, purchases, and other whatnot, culminating with my favorite annual post of the year, The Best of 2023. Happy holidays folks! </i></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAw_XIYan7rM5mVG9pKrl7AFrODaQ4xO_cYasAZO4OkrvpLEelLQOnLBLFwwkVX42u_O6xd3G4LwJqWpwcCYslmSKhsgAz3YPexaTa0DukjVPfzUB4BafNuu7B15Oxb3njLZTJcFuamn6AIO6bh5PNdRTooJK028FBEhciofKvrI0eXUNbNAykJwXfA5k/s4032/34E51C19-FF08-4EBE-A07C-F4223334531C_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Best of 2023 | My Favorite Reads of the Year" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAw_XIYan7rM5mVG9pKrl7AFrODaQ4xO_cYasAZO4OkrvpLEelLQOnLBLFwwkVX42u_O6xd3G4LwJqWpwcCYslmSKhsgAz3YPexaTa0DukjVPfzUB4BafNuu7B15Oxb3njLZTJcFuamn6AIO6bh5PNdRTooJK028FBEhciofKvrI0eXUNbNAykJwXfA5k/s16000/34E51C19-FF08-4EBE-A07C-F4223334531C_1_201_a.jpeg" title="Best of 2023 | My Favorite Reads of the Year" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>I log each of my books read in GoodReads (<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/110803161-jenn" target="_blank">we should be friends if you do too!</a>) and it's always fun to look over everything I read in the year. There's a definite pattern - this is the year I mostly spent with David Sedaris, or the Queen of England, with some other fun bits and bobs along the way. Here's a few of my favorites, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/40006047" target="_blank">here's everything I read this year</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42201996-ask-again-yes" target="_blank"><b>Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane</b></a></p><p>It's a slow mover, but the prose is divine. Two colleagues inadvertently buy houses next door to each other, and this book is about how their lives become entangled. Strong redemption arc. This was my favorite book this year. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38348476-calypso" target="_blank"><b>Calypso by David Sedaris</b></a></p><p>This was the book that initiated a year of reading through Sedaris' entire library of works. Sedaris is a humorist and an essayist, who focuses much of his work on his family which is roughly as functional as the rest of ours. He and I both come from families flush with sisters, so I especially enjoy ruminations on those relationships. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61986136-the-guest" target="_blank"><b>The Guest by Emma Cline</b></a></p><p>If you're a reader, you've seen this book EVERYWHERE this year, and with good reason. It's twisty and cringy and as much as you'll dislike the protagonist, you'll have empathy for her too. Alex is a young woman who basically has made an art out of leaching off of other people. Her much older boyfriend asks her to leave his house in the Hamptons and this book follows her decisions in the week following. I couldn't put it down. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13747.Julie_and_Julia" target="_blank"><b>Julie and Julia by Julie Powell</b></a></p><p>Julie sets out to cook her way through Julia Child's famous Mastering the Art of French Cooking. The result is hilarious and inspiring. Sometimes things go well, sometimes they don't, but on she goes. I decided to cook my way through a slightly less ambitious cookbook this winter as a project, and this book laid the groundwork. </p><p><br /></p><p>Books about the Royal Family as an entire genre, it consumed me.</p><p>This year, I read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/522622.The_Diana_Chronicles" target="_blank">The Diana Chronicles</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40605956-elizabeth-the-queen" target="_blank">Elizabeth the Queen</a>, and most recently, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62296528-spare" target="_blank">Spare</a>. So you could say I had an obsession and you would be right. They're all biased, either subtly and in parts, or wildly and across the board, and yet, I consumed them voraciously. I enjoyed each book, and also recommend a book I read the year before, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59089872-the-palace-papers" target="_blank">The Palace Papers</a> by Tina Brown (she also wrote The Diana Chronicles).</p><p> </p><p>My mother in law gifted me <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/70237023-endgame?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=nvjevqF9eD&rank=2" target="_blank">Endgame</a> for Christmas yesterday so my journey with the Windsors continues! I shall be diving directly in!</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">What did you read this year? Any favorites to share? </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-76127803505131914922023-12-29T05:00:00.001-05:002023-12-29T05:00:00.143-05:00Best of 2023 | Blogs, Instagrams, and other Consumables<p><i>Welcome to a week of Best Ofs, a series of nice things that came out of this year. This week, I'll be sharing my favorite books, purchases, and other whatnot, culminating with my favorite annual post of the year on NYE, The Best of 2023. Happy holidays folks! </i></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJb7kZ6Io4Dpxe9wIpoI3bBYydKBU8KNYo23toQ5YiPbcC-FNfvgBLRvd-LI7OKcPAlaXJHhwK9PM9wAB6sAUOh_DQAexj8GqoglRdA-5GJf1lq6T3_EYKbD9EBeIRA7b3gKzDmn_QeZ67gVKCnTT56fj4vaMIq1gDZFi0KLAo-mC032H8aQVNK1gci8/s564/21472d017b175fe1b0b2189345820449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Best of 2023 | Blogs, Instagrams, and other Consumables" border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJb7kZ6Io4Dpxe9wIpoI3bBYydKBU8KNYo23toQ5YiPbcC-FNfvgBLRvd-LI7OKcPAlaXJHhwK9PM9wAB6sAUOh_DQAexj8GqoglRdA-5GJf1lq6T3_EYKbD9EBeIRA7b3gKzDmn_QeZ67gVKCnTT56fj4vaMIq1gDZFi0KLAo-mC032H8aQVNK1gci8/s16000/21472d017b175fe1b0b2189345820449.jpg" title="Best of 2023 | Blogs, Instagrams, and other Consumables" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><strong>TV</strong></h4><p>The Crown | I watched this start to finish in Q4, while simultaneously reading biographies about Elizabeth, and Prince Harry’s Spare. I consider myself a Royal Family Historian, at this point. Ask me anything! But mostly just ask me my opinion. </p><p><br /></p><p>The White Lotus | I arrived at this series well behind schedule. I think I started it just before the last episode of the second season, mostly because everyone was talking about it on my Instagram feed. This consumed me, guys. Truly. I’ve rewatched both seasons probably 3 times, and Italy was definitely my favorite. Lucia's entrepreneurial prowess! Harper’s outfits (and gives no fucks attitude!) The scenery and the Aperol Spritzes!</p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Podcasts</strong></h4><p>I listened to a consistent rotation of Arm Chair Expert, My Favorite Murder, and A Beautiful Mess.</p><p>Also enjoyed <a href="https://wondery.com/shows/history-daily/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">History Daily</a> from Lindsay Graham. </p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Music</strong></h4><p>I listened to this <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6WSc8fk8MBtEhUMyAyxzss?si=26aab681af5e4333" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">October playlist</a> from Jess at The Love List on repeat right up until I switched over to a personally curated <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0lDo7fekn592CZOEvodxCB?si=2fa5dc7db1f04a03" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Christmas playlist</a>. Jen Shoop’s <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0habkGfZi5Js6v9M1iPuE1?si=d19e14bb4ab2492b" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Dishwashing Music playlist </a>was the soundtrack to many an evening kitchen cleanup. </p><p><br /></p><p><strong>A few favorite songs from the year (not necessarily, new, just what I listened to and liked a lot): </strong></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Super Freaky Girl - Nicki Minaj </li><li>Shimmy - Lil Wayne and Doja Cat</li><li>6 Inch - Beyonce and The Weeknd. </li><li>Ice Cream Paint Job - Dorrough Music. </li></ul><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><strong><br /></strong></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Blogs</strong></h4><p><a href="https://magpiebyjenshoop.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Magpie by Jen Shoop</a> | Essays, motherhood and exquisite shopping recommendations. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://cupofjo.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Cup of Jo</a> | quick snappy posts where the investment of your time will be scrolling through the thoughtful comment section. </p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Newsletters</strong></h4><p><a href="https://smarterinasec.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=revamped-recommendations-for-reader&referring_pub_ids=1991748" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Varsity Reader</a> | Links to good reads all over the internet. Good, smart stuff too. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://hillarykerr.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Hi Everyone with Hillary Kerr </a>| Quality shopping recommendations from someone who just comes off as so normal, but likes nice things. This is how I’d like to describe myself, which is probably my attraction. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://abiglife.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">A Big Life</a> | Kate Taylor is a mom, just trying to have her own life too. This is my greatest ambition as well, so I’m buying what she’s selling. </p><p><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Instagram</strong></h4><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/things.i.bought.and.liked/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Things I Bought and Liked</a> | She’s anonymous, which is inspiring, and doesn’t accept brand deals, so everything she shares is literally just things she bought…and liked. I feel like I’ve never trusted an influencer so much. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/smarterinasec/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Smarter in a Sec</a> | Julia writes the aforementioned Varsity Reader, so following her on Insta was a no-brainer. This is for you if you enjoy smart insights on a whole smattering of genres. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jlgarvin/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Jessica Garvin</a> | Somehow, Jessica makes motherhood look aesthetic and magical, while also transparently sharing the chaos. It’s just, like, pretty chaos. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>What about you? What did you consume this year that is worth sharing?</p>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-69381409644339547472023-12-28T07:17:00.003-05:002023-12-28T08:30:51.876-05:00Best of 2023 | Things I Bought<p><i>Welcome to a week of Best Ofs, a series of nice things that came out of this year. This week, I'll be sharing my favorite books, purchases, and other whatnot, culminating with my favorite annual post of the year, The Best of 2023. Happy holidays folks! </i></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I bought a lot of stuff this year. Here's the best of it, let's jump right in -</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDAxYAwt5n_BRwzf6B23WT_zji3AOOx4L4Sb31C4yo8NUCsvqPrKnIU38zfqKGL81qhxuHeZNSSEOoqA9r4n9zSEQEHUZHBVVu_ajFpPQTOcNQKHvsffUrQGxOdvRbY27JLECW1zRn8spKSeB9U6WjLnefi1XtNIdrSxVeyQx8l9vXwtaDe8bnm7WUk0/s800/BloggerBestof.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Best of 2023 | Purchases - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDAxYAwt5n_BRwzf6B23WT_zji3AOOx4L4Sb31C4yo8NUCsvqPrKnIU38zfqKGL81qhxuHeZNSSEOoqA9r4n9zSEQEHUZHBVVu_ajFpPQTOcNQKHvsffUrQGxOdvRbY27JLECW1zRn8spKSeB9U6WjLnefi1XtNIdrSxVeyQx8l9vXwtaDe8bnm7WUk0/s16000/BloggerBestof.png" title="Best of 2023 | Purchases - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Wearables</b></h3><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b49ir" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Vanity Fair Long Sleeve Pajama Set</a> | These are soft, swingy, and very comfortable - and $20 at Target. I literally just ordered a second set this morning because I find myself wearing them every day and I’m sick of doing that much laundry.</p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Roughly 75% of my clothes comes from <a href="https://www.thredup.com/r/2SANSO" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">ThredUp</a>. It’s thrifting, but efficiently. Everything is previously enjoyed, easy to search for brands you like, and you get to feel good about your shopping habits. I get a lot of J Crew and Anthropologie goodies here, usually for under $20. </p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">I also shopped Poshmark for purses quite a bit. This is another second hand online shop that I have mostly good experiences with. I picked up this <a href="https://poshmark.com/order/purchases/64ea64f3de6edc86522942dd" target="_blank">Tory Burch bag</a> for an absolute steal and since I sell a bunch of my stuff here too, my girl math makes me think I got that Tory Burch basically for free. </p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">I waffled on these<a href="https://www.bando.com/products/sport-low-sneaker-triple-white" target="_blank"> Vans sneakers</a> this fall, and did finally order them about a week ago. I'm glad I waited because I got them very very discounted. </p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []" style="text-align: center;">***</p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Cosmetics and Skin Care</b></h3><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b4rTY" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Glossier You</a> | Do I normally recommend purchasing scents without smelling them? Of course not, but I saw so many people rave over it that I too, bought it scent unsmelled, and now I would like to chime in. It’s wonderful. People have randomly told me I smell good, which is the true indicator. Fresh and…adult-y. That’s a weird descriptor, but I mean that it’s miles away from the warm, vanilla-y scents of my Victoria Secret scented youth. It smells grown up, but not old lady. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b3mta" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Flamingo Daily Moisturizing Lotion</a> | I’ve waxed on about this forever but at $7 a tube, I will continue shouting it to the masses. The scent is divine, the moisturizing effects are supreme. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bU8pA" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">By Mario Transforming Skin Enhancer</a> | My desert island beauty product. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b49F3" target="_blank">Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer</a> | My other desert island product. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b57zW" target="_blank">Vacation Classic Lotion SPF 30</a> | Bougie sunscreen for people who remember Pamela Anderson on Baywatch and want to reminisce about the 90's every time they venture into the sun. I bought a 3-pack last summer and wore it every single day. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b57zd" target="_blank">Matrix Brass Off Conditioner</a> | I'm a girl who loves an at home bleach kit, and as such, I usually combat orange hair once or twice a year. I learned the color wheel folks and quit purple shampoo in favor of this Marge Simpson blue shade that works like a charm. The quick version is this: purple is for yellow hair. Blue is for orange. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Home</b></h3><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b38IH" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Target Lamp</a> | Honestly, this $12 purchase is probably the item delivering the most joy this year. I subscribed to the Nancy Meyers lamp-in-kitchen idea, and friends, she was not wrong. The level of cozy is top tier. I think I'm going to grab a second one, actually.</p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Reusable-Remover%EF%BC%8CDog-Clothing-Furniture/dp/B0BQQZN8Z5/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?crid=3HPRWVAVW8F77&keywords=carpet+scraper&qid=1703502052&sprefix=carpet+scraper%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-3-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">This Carpet Scraping Thingie That Yanks Out the Dog Hair</a> | IDK what it’s called, so I named it aptly. I use this on my stairs because it’s a bitch to vacuum, and I’m always appalled by how much dog hair comes out. </p><p><br /></p><p>I bought this <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009ZJ2M7G?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details" target="_blank">carpet cleaner</a> and listen, all it can do is illicit shame. And clean carpets. I'm a nightmare to live with because I chase my family around with a vacuum and microfiber, reminding everyone to take their GD shoes off in my house, and STILL the filth that comes out of my carpets when I use this thing. It's very satisfactory. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Kiddo Stuff</b></h3><p><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bYWGh" target="_blank">Robo-Fish</a> | I have discussed these at length over various posts, but they are a number 1 for us and deserve a place on the best of list. Drop these little fishies in the bathtub and delight in the giggles that erupt. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b5nur" target="_blank">Tenzi</a> | This game was a Christmas hit, because it's low commitment, quick and frantically fun. The gist is this: everyone gets 10 dice, and on the count of three, everyone starts rolling. Whoever gets all their dice to the same number (aka all 10s or all 6s etc) wins the game. It takes 2 minutes tops for someone to scream tenzi, and frankly, I think it's a perfect opportunity to put some money on the table. </p><p><br /></p><p>***</p><p><br /></p><p>Any good shopping finds to share? I'm very influenceable. </p><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">PS </span><i style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">- there are some affiliate links in here, but aren't they everywhere? If you click on a link, they'll throw me a couple pennies for our combined hardwork, so I guess click with caution. </i></p><p><br /></p>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-11482673693439767312023-12-24T07:59:00.000-05:002023-12-24T07:59:22.117-05:00Happy Christmas Eve | December 24, 2023<p>Happy Christmas Eve!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80DhCvBSCWmrFZZvIXubpqsxgEHeLVPDuQ3kz_CFfYZcqY9RHmJvR1O5aETU9ZKcO-MCr_UpIRQOMxYidbqocLIyrGiEnPeqxePYvw7E3MCjE_npNrzz2OW1m2l-vzfEST2AZtCB3SstnqkDhQSWCrqWo1CzM92ppmti10gEjcPER5TNZ7jNBCFCyDfw/s4032/D61FE9C5-2B9E-4657-BD53-E1EAB0F0219F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Happy Christmas Eve | December 24, 2023" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80DhCvBSCWmrFZZvIXubpqsxgEHeLVPDuQ3kz_CFfYZcqY9RHmJvR1O5aETU9ZKcO-MCr_UpIRQOMxYidbqocLIyrGiEnPeqxePYvw7E3MCjE_npNrzz2OW1m2l-vzfEST2AZtCB3SstnqkDhQSWCrqWo1CzM92ppmti10gEjcPER5TNZ7jNBCFCyDfw/s16000/D61FE9C5-2B9E-4657-BD53-E1EAB0F0219F.jpeg" title="Happy Christmas Eve | December 24, 2023" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Today is my favorite day of the season. I really enjoy the hustle and bustle of the last day before tomorrow's grand finale. At press time, it is 5:35am and Duke has already reminded me thrice that tomorrow is Christmas. As if I could forget!</p><p><br /></p><p>Our eyes are glued on this <a href="https://santatracker.google.com" target="_blank">Santa Tracker from Google</a>. Santa's already headed out and is making deliveries on the other side of the world!</p><p><br /></p><p>This morning, I'm working on a happy to-do list for the day, <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themillenialmom/christmas/" target="_blank">scrolling Pinterest</a> to revisit bits and bobs that I thought were good ideas and find some cookie recipes to try this afternoon. I'd like to buzz out for lunch at Storm Cloud over in Frankfort, and then after that, officially hunker down for the holiday. Duke wants to watch Home Alone 1&2 back to back this afternoon and I think that sounds like a very nice idea. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>Last night, we watched Christmas Vacation. I trotted out a simple charcuterie board and poured a glass of Gingerbread wine from St. Julians (festive, but too sweet to actually drink more than a swallow or two.) I hung up another strand of lights between the kitchen and living room, and Duke and I played a round of Christmas bingo. I'm overly sentimental in general, but boy, it just felt like these are the good old days. I sat on the floor, leaned up against Ryan's legs and couldn't imagine anything being better than they are right now. Although, I think that every year and I look forward to feeling that way forever. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23280pTZPayuApHQPLmPDx9hi1nR7q0f3U8Kw7SSADSge_rggjhF60EVleDzsO1JflNa0Exo9pFt8VAMy6ZFSTWPHWGo25bkm_SbewAyEy558kU6hoHoyTti9jbJvbEaP3HK6bgFlYwKidnqpetoa_0W5leWRXh4tMxq9m6qtUIQ-fCyTBMOQ2443GS8/s3958/CB1D6E39-DD7F-4F87-94E9-01D8B704F2C1_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Happy Christmas Eve | December 24, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="2968" data-original-width="3958" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23280pTZPayuApHQPLmPDx9hi1nR7q0f3U8Kw7SSADSge_rggjhF60EVleDzsO1JflNa0Exo9pFt8VAMy6ZFSTWPHWGo25bkm_SbewAyEy558kU6hoHoyTti9jbJvbEaP3HK6bgFlYwKidnqpetoa_0W5leWRXh4tMxq9m6qtUIQ-fCyTBMOQ2443GS8/s16000/CB1D6E39-DD7F-4F87-94E9-01D8B704F2C1_1_201_a.jpeg" title="Happy Christmas Eve | December 24, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>Wishing you all a very merry Christmas. Thank you for reading along. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-24727598882486851082023-12-22T05:25:00.002-05:002023-12-28T08:31:10.503-05:00Christmas Links | December 22, 2023<p>We're in it, guys. It's the last weekend before Christmas and I think there are two kinds of people in the world; those who become manic, and those who are like <i>fuck it, if I forgot, I forgot</i>. Now, if we separate those folks into groups of moms and dads, I think we can guess with startling accuracy how each group is comprised. Ha! I can predict right now, on Christmas Eve morning, Ryan will furtively tell me that he and Duke have some errands to run and I'll wave from the front door, calling out "I'd like a Dutch oven!" as they pull away from the driveway. </p><p><br /></p><p>This is startling, but Duke called me at work this week to ask me "Mama, what kinda oven did you want?" and this is how I found out that some of my coworkers did not know Dutch Oven is legitimately a kitchen item. The church giggles prevailed until someone fessed up. Then it was full guffaws. </p><p><br /></p><p>In other news, I hoard my PTO for this all year, so after today, I'm on Christmas vacation until 2024. Cue this <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1Fvo7CLjvX/?hl=en" target="_blank">Slams Laptop Shut</a> video. I generally like a few days off before the grand finale, so I'm delighted to have a full weekend to fill with the most Christmas-y stuff. I want to take Duke through some light-crazy neighborhoods in Traverse City, have a baking marathon, check in with the <a href="https://santatracker.google.com" target="_blank">Google Santa tracke</a>r, and finally settle in to watch all the Christmas movies I haven't had time for just yet. We also enjoy the annual<a href="https://www.greatlakeskids.org/2023-festival-of-trains/" target="_blank"> Festival of Trains</a> in TC, so I think we'll wander over to that at some point. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeSYMKo5pIsCGCfkWlghZ6jMgapLFMkf2XmJZTLMg0suG9N68SijWVxLXEdeJkOn8iAA4M0OF3z6jiQz9IGy3fugOBUFFDZqsY-O6WJMTTw4hdNbYCuF5g5FvaXq4u2wpNbdoUcQPGGOOdtkGy7JC_YBVCloXQ8R3i0nbCtyiwaBbQ6MufMym3wXI23Y/s4032/5E484C6B-2A37-48E1-B410-9D36F283CC2D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Links | December 22, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeSYMKo5pIsCGCfkWlghZ6jMgapLFMkf2XmJZTLMg0suG9N68SijWVxLXEdeJkOn8iAA4M0OF3z6jiQz9IGy3fugOBUFFDZqsY-O6WJMTTw4hdNbYCuF5g5FvaXq4u2wpNbdoUcQPGGOOdtkGy7JC_YBVCloXQ8R3i0nbCtyiwaBbQ6MufMym3wXI23Y/s16000/5E484C6B-2A37-48E1-B410-9D36F283CC2D.jpeg" title="Christmas Links | December 22, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Highly recommend the <a href="https://www.northernexpress.com/news/feature/sparkle-in-the-park-bear-lake-2023/" target="_blank">Sparkle in the Park </a>drive in Bear Lake. </div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">1 // ICYMI </h3><p><i>A few things I recently published -</i></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/12/christmas-past.html" target="_blank">Christmas Past</a> - indulging myself in pictures of Christmastime from 2014 to now. </p><p><br /></p><p>Oh, <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/12/musings-on-change.html" target="_blank">musings on changes</a>. As usual. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0rqaCxuXxD/?img_index=1" target="_blank">H Fam Christmas</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p>The<a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/12/links-december-8-2023.html" target="_blank"> most recent batch of links</a>, from earlier this month. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">2 // SHOPPING</h3><p>Listen, the time for shopping is over, unless you're willing to venture into a physical store (nope!) and find things on the shelves yourself (absolutely not). That sounds like a nightmare. Just driving past Target's parking lot gives me chills. Naturally, I'm a big fan of drive-up deliveries and willing to pay whatever fee is required because I think it's worth it.</p><p><br /></p><p>Earlier the week, I shared<a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/12/things-i-bought-for-christmas-this-year.html" target="_blank"> a few things I picked up for gifts</a> this year. Mostly for Duke - kids are so easy to shop for. Also my niece's baby girl, but I think she doesn't really want more stuff, so I'm restraining myself. Sort of. </p><p><br /></p><p>I did run out to grab this<a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b5TIk" target="_blank"> Iron Man mask </a>after Duke wrote a letter to Santa asking for exactly nothing I purchased for him. I wanted at least one thing from the official list, which is why I found myself in Target's drive up on Tuesday afternoon.</p><p><br /></p><p>Ryan's stepmom texted me after I mentioned my <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b5EoW" target="_blank">favorite workhorse moisturizer</a> that's also very economical. Seriously, $10 and the tub is giant, plus a little goes a long way. She'll have this forever, I promise. </p><p><br /></p><p>I shared this <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b40nD" target="_blank">booty covering jacket from Kohls </a>previously, but it's on sale for $27 and still available in most colors and sizes. I pulled the trigger on the black one. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div data-sc-widget-id="P-6582d72518cd99154828b568"></div><script async="" src="//widgets.shopstyle.com/shopstyle-widget-snippet.js"></script><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">3 // INTO IT</h3><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCc6TPuswhHMrsFE5pYX8L3rdmdboufry-tMli9-VO3nvnfHYpnNc0opU-njll0oGQd4KYMvBS-LqhgRSZSPMJIF5lOi5MDxmk2d8VieNMSp2v_0jGo81IoVFev5L71wvNrky43O5xR8SxDSGc7owsSHq0F_fo5PvJQNNPzNO8i3bGR-r_EFQlGi11U_A/s751/7701df6edebbbc6de465ed37914b01c9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Links | December 22, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCc6TPuswhHMrsFE5pYX8L3rdmdboufry-tMli9-VO3nvnfHYpnNc0opU-njll0oGQd4KYMvBS-LqhgRSZSPMJIF5lOi5MDxmk2d8VieNMSp2v_0jGo81IoVFev5L71wvNrky43O5xR8SxDSGc7owsSHq0F_fo5PvJQNNPzNO8i3bGR-r_EFQlGi11U_A/s16000/7701df6edebbbc6de465ed37914b01c9.jpg" title="Christmas Links | December 22, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wow. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0rqaCxuXxD/?img_index=1" target="_blank">My actual Christmas Eve dream</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRtFZq0o2phMFoZVEFT-mBzzE5tDnLYy_WZ3DNIov-1pV_rFOUjjjZAfBfp7y49gBEkEqFocRrip9e72kVW94nz9obF7raiYu2pW9A63V2F0wy-GFe6EenWF9kiQuSBXHS1-9bJJkjF6ZbKG8smuL6ITRI4GaNY0BpNcRwNdylSRBt-Wjm7PqGSINhEw/s726/8a74caf36df1bbdc205fc9dfa568fbd3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Links | December 22, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="473" height="832" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRtFZq0o2phMFoZVEFT-mBzzE5tDnLYy_WZ3DNIov-1pV_rFOUjjjZAfBfp7y49gBEkEqFocRrip9e72kVW94nz9obF7raiYu2pW9A63V2F0wy-GFe6EenWF9kiQuSBXHS1-9bJJkjF6ZbKG8smuL6ITRI4GaNY0BpNcRwNdylSRBt-Wjm7PqGSINhEw/w542-h832/8a74caf36df1bbdc205fc9dfa568fbd3.jpg" title="Christmas Links | December 22, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" width="542" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm interested in anything that makes my home feel cozy for the next few months, and I'm so attracted to <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b5WtR" target="_blank">these striped sheets</a>. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1FurkNVMPs0SUzmQ6rfqh4s7G8zm9ZZDk48UQSRs-3a4JsQL5UYvy0buxjTqSy4oNzwFRqkbzZ2jDgcw4N-VVrNHXn-lFZfxQF1B0olG5C-syQYm_R28eSu3NlM6nwvbgvjDpBtYEsJI6ZbGjKtXfcHQ0gopOkVqv8AtWB-KEQ2d7WGO2WuXjSKnEUg/s617/0e436e3086891d95985b8e0472855b5f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Links | December 22, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1FurkNVMPs0SUzmQ6rfqh4s7G8zm9ZZDk48UQSRs-3a4JsQL5UYvy0buxjTqSy4oNzwFRqkbzZ2jDgcw4N-VVrNHXn-lFZfxQF1B0olG5C-syQYm_R28eSu3NlM6nwvbgvjDpBtYEsJI6ZbGjKtXfcHQ0gopOkVqv8AtWB-KEQ2d7WGO2WuXjSKnEUg/s16000/0e436e3086891d95985b8e0472855b5f.jpg" title="Christmas Links | December 22, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themillenialmom/christmas-2023/" target="_blank">Everything on my Christmas mood board</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">4 // LINKS</h3><p>This <a href="https://literature-clock.jenevoldsen.com" target="_blank">literary clock</a> is such a whimsical joy! </p><p><br /></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Cute! <a href="https://carlyriordan.com/diy-candy-cane-bows-tips-tricks.html" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Candy cane bows</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p>Haha - spot on! <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/christmas-was-like-in-90s-for-millennials?origin=spl" target="_blank">Takes me back to 1994</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p>I have never tried a <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046599818732/" target="_blank">Christmas simmer pot</a>, but I am curious! </p><p><br /></p><p>Very cool! <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/national-parks-to-visit-in-winter" target="_blank">The best national parks to visit in winter.</a> Bryce Canyon - wow!</p><p><br /></p><p>I'd really like to go see a movie in the theatre over Christmas break next week and <a href="https://www.bonappetit.com/story/wonka-movie-review" target="_blank">Wonka </a>looks so visually stunning. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">5 // CONSUMING</h3><p><b>Reading</b>: I finally finished <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62296528-spare" target="_blank">Spare</a> and I think I'm going to take a break from the royal family for a bit. My official review is this: nobody comes out looking good. </p><p><br /></p><p>This year, I read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62296528-spare" target="_blank">Spare</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40605956-elizabeth-the-queen" target="_blank">Elizabeth the Queen</a>, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/522622.The_Diana_Chronicles" target="_blank">The Diana Chronicles</a>. So...if I ran into a book about Charles, I'd probably read it to round out my education. But in the meantime, I'm feeling like quite the Monarchy expert. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Eating</b>: I just hashed out the Christmas menu with Ryan's mom last night. We're very vague - you make corn, I'll make salad - but we'll wind up with a table full of food and most of it will be good, so I'm not worried. Half-baked Harvest has never done me wrong, so I'm giving this<a href="https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/parmesan-tahini-kale-salad/" target="_blank"> salad recipe</a> a whirl, and putting this <a href="https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/spinach-souffle-lasagna/" target="_blank">spinach lasagna</a> on my radar. I briefly envisioned myself skipping the usual Christmas fare and making it a pasta holiday instead. Doesn't it look wonderful?!</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Listening:</b> As a rule, humility is not my inherent strong suit, so I'm still self-congratulating on this <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0lDo7fekn592CZOEvodxCB?si=c7ffaf45fdd04a67" target="_blank">playlist</a> that *I* think is perfect. I am also enjoying the "end of year" and "best of" episodes of my favorite podcasts. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">6 // PLANS</h3></div>Honestly? I'm looking forward to tapping out and taking a nap every day until next year. Naps are probably my favorite luxury. I also loooooove watching movies in bed, so that's basically my plan for the week. 2023 has felt like one wallop to the face after another but this week off always provides the rest I need to reset. <div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I do have a few to-dos on my vacation productivity list. Things like, go sledding, finish painting the trim in Ryan's bathroom, and move furniture to vacuum the places I try to forget about. That feels like part of the recovery process - just finishing things instead of always feeling so far behind on my to-do list. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of that, I haven't talked about it much here, but I've been writing a book this fall and I'm manic about finishing it before the end of the year. I have a strong desire to check that goal off my list for 2023. I have a feeling I'll be squealing tires and ripping around curves to achieve this goal, but parked is parked, in my opinion, and if I can have this goal in the driveway by 12/31, I'll be a happy gal. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'll probably be back in the next few days, but if we don't catch up before, Merry Christmas to you!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LBJ0fmiEaFmSa9OkU-d6csAyf9J0IK7p3LcNUmF9Mh7i8ErGra3-daIzAAzTMhLlEszYNBvSIRqHXFDdV16apGdh_Xu4Bw62RsyM73CIuBPICKrrVqofTg8S_-b32JqKaB0QOdU2GTghHViB0APrp1boVWaSzwMJkn1stC2lsPRG3mqfYX1OtylWp3g/s4032/82D228C0-42F8-4361-A741-AD4A938829DC.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Links | December 22, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LBJ0fmiEaFmSa9OkU-d6csAyf9J0IK7p3LcNUmF9Mh7i8ErGra3-daIzAAzTMhLlEszYNBvSIRqHXFDdV16apGdh_Xu4Bw62RsyM73CIuBPICKrrVqofTg8S_-b32JqKaB0QOdU2GTghHViB0APrp1boVWaSzwMJkn1stC2lsPRG3mqfYX1OtylWp3g/s16000/82D228C0-42F8-4361-A741-AD4A938829DC.heic" title="Christmas Links | December 22, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">PS </span><i style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">- there are some affiliate links in here, but aren't they everywhere? If you click on a link, they'll throw me a couple pennies for our combined hardwork, so I guess click with caution. </i></div>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-4194795041914455442023-12-18T05:00:00.014-05:002023-12-18T05:31:54.007-05:00Christmas Past<p>Yesterday, I was looking for a specific picture and so I found myself scrolling through the archives at 6:30am which is peak emotional hour for me. I was drinking my coffee, candles lit on the the counter, feeling very sloppy with sentiment as I clicked on picture after picture of my sweet baby boy in various stages of cute. </p><p><br /></p><p>And yet, I sometimes have to remind myself that even in my personal pictures, they're a snapshot of happy times. You hear that about social media all the time, you know. It's a highlight reel, nobody's posting their problems, etc etc. Similarly, I'm not saving pictures of meltdowns in the grocery store, or trudging down the stairs in the middle of the night for a bottle of milk, but still I scrolled past years of Duke and thought to myself, "why did I think this was so hard?"</p><p><br /></p><p>I don't know, probably because memories are a golden place where only the good stuff gets to live. In that moment, I just really felt the scene from Christmas Vacation, when Clark is sitting in his cold attic, watching the slides from Christmas past. It feels good and I'm glad that I only remember the good parts. </p><p><br /></p><p>A few weeks ago, I put together a post wandering through years of Thanksgiving pictures and it was such a wonderful personal project. I'm going to repeat that again here, featuring Christmas memories. If I were Clark and this blog were my attic, these are the scenes that would be flipping across my makeshift screen. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p><b>2015</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8O8wVUXAox7jiKSGCFTdGY7mC619dcCIW1BJyzfzuidhwxMdy-ckSPYCUxhRuZjCR_xc0CfUyyeKueXpQy53M473K9lozRBYxmcMUJmTGTVvqWU7Su4Bah3Q5laqi15BbOgc1Zt3L_TAkqWYUpTJ7hoinH6h5eaq0dmbbplCRMhyphenhyphenz8oSCPpV8sdjqOA/s5184/27915E25-9076-4C2F-980C-6EBE51ECFBA2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8O8wVUXAox7jiKSGCFTdGY7mC619dcCIW1BJyzfzuidhwxMdy-ckSPYCUxhRuZjCR_xc0CfUyyeKueXpQy53M473K9lozRBYxmcMUJmTGTVvqWU7Su4Bah3Q5laqi15BbOgc1Zt3L_TAkqWYUpTJ7hoinH6h5eaq0dmbbplCRMhyphenhyphenz8oSCPpV8sdjqOA/s16000/27915E25-9076-4C2F-980C-6EBE51ECFBA2.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><p>The year we bought our house. We got the keys on December 12th and while Ryan moved the couch in and unloaded truckloads of boxes, I went to work immediately setting up our Christmas tree. First order of business!</p><p><br /></p><p>We also made a deposit on George and I promptly got pregnant, but of course, at the moment I took this photo, I had no idea how differently everything would look in a year. For now, please enjoy Ralph, standing around aimlessly which was very much his normal. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p><b>2016</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtl24deo6Hjegej1LoH_mM_67eNzcCDXZW4x4NSfE4aRS30U2bOOUsRo9d8MDtVI813yPWvzpYApppNCS4UTh6SYn-p7BRDEYvJpEAZa4bBoobQHvVueXZU6oGycvsEMQ3hDirhFkwOMHr56Eh20tYN11WN4AY3fzhiRiS59-oG-O13jBDUvBH_Vv5nVg/s2048/15540745_10100881101344728_7487802393860714366_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtl24deo6Hjegej1LoH_mM_67eNzcCDXZW4x4NSfE4aRS30U2bOOUsRo9d8MDtVI813yPWvzpYApppNCS4UTh6SYn-p7BRDEYvJpEAZa4bBoobQHvVueXZU6oGycvsEMQ3hDirhFkwOMHr56Eh20tYN11WN4AY3fzhiRiS59-oG-O13jBDUvBH_Vv5nVg/s16000/15540745_10100881101344728_7487802393860714366_o.jpg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>There he is! We had a 3-month old baby the following Christmas. If you're looking for him, you'll also spot the 1-year rottweiler terrorizing my life. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwoGl85r__wMPr8Ie7m8P1ilewfQo3dzlVjdLXc_x-_J1n7MxO5pXbSLUzlEey2mYfNt20gCtlonoE7m8RxBjQ2H55lowOkx1U-07aU4S2FUSUqTZ_2NwWpwyGrCjsVm7DDxD566desdinQIQ1HVGrdwbb5WhIg7jlRVWy3S3mCKIaMJH7AFakxZTNoA/s2617/CDCA6E6C-C492-4AEA-AD47-3831C5B901F6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="2617" data-original-width="2448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwoGl85r__wMPr8Ie7m8P1ilewfQo3dzlVjdLXc_x-_J1n7MxO5pXbSLUzlEey2mYfNt20gCtlonoE7m8RxBjQ2H55lowOkx1U-07aU4S2FUSUqTZ_2NwWpwyGrCjsVm7DDxD566desdinQIQ1HVGrdwbb5WhIg7jlRVWy3S3mCKIaMJH7AFakxZTNoA/s16000/CDCA6E6C-C492-4AEA-AD47-3831C5B901F6.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I was freshly back to work for about two weeks and sleeping roughly three hours a night, but GD is my baby cute!</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p><b>2017</b></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CdvcWvs1M2WKxQ3bA4856aAMrlfCnBwRQXVnk-pz8mH6cpdVfVhz2zWaI4DGHJkErG-ia4GQMr8gK3vD02nzZHB3LCYzS6PPC096ehIG9wATmlldi6vFj4aRYU2y00fCAmKiecjNFlPb9InQ-SGUqFNMZmeV2-JSucIE6VEj46eLk4SR6VeLmxMH1Zo/s5184/4411B825-0B9D-4D8F-A24E-53CF6A0C2F6B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CdvcWvs1M2WKxQ3bA4856aAMrlfCnBwRQXVnk-pz8mH6cpdVfVhz2zWaI4DGHJkErG-ia4GQMr8gK3vD02nzZHB3LCYzS6PPC096ehIG9wATmlldi6vFj4aRYU2y00fCAmKiecjNFlPb9InQ-SGUqFNMZmeV2-JSucIE6VEj46eLk4SR6VeLmxMH1Zo/s16000/4411B825-0B9D-4D8F-A24E-53CF6A0C2F6B.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><p>Oh man, we are in the thick of it here, but we managed to clear the first year, and even though he doesn't "get" Christmas, he knows times are exciting. He still doesn't sleep much, but he makes up for it by being supremely precious. And when he does slumber, I snap pictures for posterity. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8L3XV2ytOSFcBy22QOZJg7ZfPDf98O8SYL1MYIP_WY5ppdmYpiPc-Alz4Gk_a8beNa0plhw6s-K3u1fUwW07gjWU_XDCPsmeuoL2A6Y8xE3ud3dK-qGk9fcDRoOd8YM8ralYO_U-hKI1KoPzQlae44CvwiSxh3uyqgDQ8pkz2VGtWb6InlofN2qXaX1w/s5184/7A5CCA50-81A9-4703-A86F-E1053C8CD936.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8L3XV2ytOSFcBy22QOZJg7ZfPDf98O8SYL1MYIP_WY5ppdmYpiPc-Alz4Gk_a8beNa0plhw6s-K3u1fUwW07gjWU_XDCPsmeuoL2A6Y8xE3ud3dK-qGk9fcDRoOd8YM8ralYO_U-hKI1KoPzQlae44CvwiSxh3uyqgDQ8pkz2VGtWb6InlofN2qXaX1w/s16000/7A5CCA50-81A9-4703-A86F-E1053C8CD936.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><b>2018</b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuyQcy49erRVMhbHlUHd_iNm1PvCHFu2TNfmHhslwRjRVIHzCBuUxED0x1v1uopWMVLiJF8L64gAsKpQmX-lxeY7IU2GXZiYfiCo-g710yZDsVq5NbkIWzE-Nua5L2dpphMsspFo4o4E0Umm1M13OVtzSFY5UABUhKHZ5pVHUYxNG5Vh1RNJ_WKR6XWs/s4032/05D5FC40-5B2D-4AF2-A468-9169E72F4289.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuyQcy49erRVMhbHlUHd_iNm1PvCHFu2TNfmHhslwRjRVIHzCBuUxED0x1v1uopWMVLiJF8L64gAsKpQmX-lxeY7IU2GXZiYfiCo-g710yZDsVq5NbkIWzE-Nua5L2dpphMsspFo4o4E0Umm1M13OVtzSFY5UABUhKHZ5pVHUYxNG5Vh1RNJ_WKR6XWs/s16000/05D5FC40-5B2D-4AF2-A468-9169E72F4289.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p>Oh fun! Color coordinated jammies and the year he started to enjoy the books I read to him. We were deep in The Little Blue Truck years, which frankly breaks my heart that he's moved on from them. The last page of the Christmas edition lights up and boy, did that delight us both!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithG04dWQUKc00oA5VKAU1Xls_K-o4F7NYD3bjNiMTPEUDYBNmvUkfCGUjs0y5t9V6yBl2oR-esae8xR6bUPO5kN78TXZFh5mi7i5o6PdEd1nUKiN-DZvbew0TLVg9r2foDHBDVXM3UoOphCqcS8p5_cdUQkE49rCu0dNtltAkeP-Z5Y2cYvjfSCoW6ys/s5184/8CB83863-9AFF-4D78-ABF2-50103802BAF5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithG04dWQUKc00oA5VKAU1Xls_K-o4F7NYD3bjNiMTPEUDYBNmvUkfCGUjs0y5t9V6yBl2oR-esae8xR6bUPO5kN78TXZFh5mi7i5o6PdEd1nUKiN-DZvbew0TLVg9r2foDHBDVXM3UoOphCqcS8p5_cdUQkE49rCu0dNtltAkeP-Z5Y2cYvjfSCoW6ys/s16000/8CB83863-9AFF-4D78-ABF2-50103802BAF5.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>He also was (is!) my little ham sandwich who happily posed for our family Christmas card. Still one of my favorites. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p><b>2019</b></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRJRFB06WOgGUQTIJM18vQj_iqg5kxf42-MCjzkDY1fSZCPVNS-E2evqipYwSn3V2LjdAZeSx0M-Kde-jCnabBkqTHaQ59m7aZUxIsDYGuG14v06pv6W8HX6Kke_mdVD_kjsmqoVP_SLvU4q4WeecDe1q7id2XfRGK7P9_nGCHGwzh9lKP8_B3WtZ8O8/s4032/AFCB23F6-50F5-4F12-98A4-8EC84FF89C2E.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRJRFB06WOgGUQTIJM18vQj_iqg5kxf42-MCjzkDY1fSZCPVNS-E2evqipYwSn3V2LjdAZeSx0M-Kde-jCnabBkqTHaQ59m7aZUxIsDYGuG14v06pv6W8HX6Kke_mdVD_kjsmqoVP_SLvU4q4WeecDe1q7id2XfRGK7P9_nGCHGwzh9lKP8_B3WtZ8O8/s16000/AFCB23F6-50F5-4F12-98A4-8EC84FF89C2E.heic" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I took Duke to a Christmas parade in Traverse City where people are asshats and I vowed to never attend that shit show again. But I did get this good picture, that felt very apropro in the moment. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJsf7p1xO8ahzKdzQqQuM_cqZFKTsC8LBv_JQpAfHyNVaJ2_ttZpatulu1eXvThlFqeM3M3IHihpoBedziXSBt5KcdOuUm4KR5e5t1ZNvDj9EnY5-36aJJgi_Q09rcpF6mpFyLYiIPCrnl_8BCT5g685HkBYzYa5Q5H2py3DR6DADU8A4avcOlvNdoL8/s1472/27F3B895-CA8D-456D-A405-EBE1DB40A5FB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="828" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJsf7p1xO8ahzKdzQqQuM_cqZFKTsC8LBv_JQpAfHyNVaJ2_ttZpatulu1eXvThlFqeM3M3IHihpoBedziXSBt5KcdOuUm4KR5e5t1ZNvDj9EnY5-36aJJgi_Q09rcpF6mpFyLYiIPCrnl_8BCT5g685HkBYzYa5Q5H2py3DR6DADU8A4avcOlvNdoL8/s16000/27F3B895-CA8D-456D-A405-EBE1DB40A5FB.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgzWXvQxvTrJu7lzGOZPp-n5dggJi8b7wbcxF-i3fIIm57IlbOW-kzUOUfgEF4lD9MqKj-0zn2jZNJ6MNGXUDxHuN9V8ph6PDaKClujsapSLB8so3BEj70BpWtkj1arhDFVdjf7Sr1KhEKri_FrJeBkTRr1VUECcx_UokGsssBDyrNjsjdPNPcbbE1X0/s4032/8A059382-6226-40B9-9A53-42CB6060CD54.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgzWXvQxvTrJu7lzGOZPp-n5dggJi8b7wbcxF-i3fIIm57IlbOW-kzUOUfgEF4lD9MqKj-0zn2jZNJ6MNGXUDxHuN9V8ph6PDaKClujsapSLB8so3BEj70BpWtkj1arhDFVdjf7Sr1KhEKri_FrJeBkTRr1VUECcx_UokGsssBDyrNjsjdPNPcbbE1X0/s16000/8A059382-6226-40B9-9A53-42CB6060CD54.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>More matchy-matchy things, and also the year we began the Elf on the Shelf business. I know it's not for everyone, but we enjoy it around here. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p><b>2020</b></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIHOKnRPTk_A50ZHepvREWAWYmRPl5F8igTdd-Rz95qpGVBoJqvhvVbTUKILL9en38Qrd9Mp_9QA7kspOZnJY9g010oaTX-ZvL7eQ0Qx0VdR2nVS3EPcbJ8fGuRsSkEMIJQe3FIUoacWKfBq6cztddlrkYGu28nhyphenhyphen0sHV6F08cn3bCjgNxUXEvaSQP8E/s4032/4A4228E9-0A5F-450E-ACCA-3E899490D5DD.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIHOKnRPTk_A50ZHepvREWAWYmRPl5F8igTdd-Rz95qpGVBoJqvhvVbTUKILL9en38Qrd9Mp_9QA7kspOZnJY9g010oaTX-ZvL7eQ0Qx0VdR2nVS3EPcbJ8fGuRsSkEMIJQe3FIUoacWKfBq6cztddlrkYGu28nhyphenhyphen0sHV6F08cn3bCjgNxUXEvaSQP8E/s16000/4A4228E9-0A5F-450E-ACCA-3E899490D5DD.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><p>You remember, it was the worst year ever. But it...wasn't? I can read a room, so I wasn't advertising loudly, but we'd had a great year. We were fresh off a 4-month RV camping trip all over the USA and it felt so good to be cozy and home again. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EcRZ-ybq1VXJfvhB1CV1YyKj4HeYBT2jwGuw4zPAc7cguTx_F0pbBI0Hkr9lHRhSxmWzzbSoDhNKnI5hyphenhyphenH1ip_24nYlg3Z8oJIQUwJoEgUkSCmQqKh2EArsao-xtNDU6dDnUvFBTwXoYAEUrFwVgxg8ASUFtA5N-NbEr2zQbYOmw2xDhKCtUD2e0_no/s3214/2DB182A1-6FEB-41DD-8ACF-1FDA211BC5D9_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3214" data-original-width="2261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EcRZ-ybq1VXJfvhB1CV1YyKj4HeYBT2jwGuw4zPAc7cguTx_F0pbBI0Hkr9lHRhSxmWzzbSoDhNKnI5hyphenhyphenH1ip_24nYlg3Z8oJIQUwJoEgUkSCmQqKh2EArsao-xtNDU6dDnUvFBTwXoYAEUrFwVgxg8ASUFtA5N-NbEr2zQbYOmw2xDhKCtUD2e0_no/s16000/2DB182A1-6FEB-41DD-8ACF-1FDA211BC5D9_1_201_a.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>I totally forgot about that pedal tractor that crashed into every piece of furniture I have, but boy did he love ripping around on it. Also, I bought two advent calendars that year for Duke, so he went straight on to Jan. 20th, collecting his daily chocolate. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p><b>2021</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HnV4Db5-fO3_H1Wgk_Qz5bOs1_eDFoUZLVyOzsxMwowcvolkmktVdsZSgANA5-vL0Bovjco3rsHxSAStC0mYqGlRPlAq5cT0JtGtO8msmlwRDhpqLYBVyL97v44B3KT6Utwb-myqgxYgHmF9tCc5MBgNc6b4cWt5zUWxl06ptNtGRSsm7xqbnIxNw7s/s1440/EDEDD30F-B2B9-48AC-AA87-8C8FD9D35F25.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HnV4Db5-fO3_H1Wgk_Qz5bOs1_eDFoUZLVyOzsxMwowcvolkmktVdsZSgANA5-vL0Bovjco3rsHxSAStC0mYqGlRPlAq5cT0JtGtO8msmlwRDhpqLYBVyL97v44B3KT6Utwb-myqgxYgHmF9tCc5MBgNc6b4cWt5zUWxl06ptNtGRSsm7xqbnIxNw7s/s16000/EDEDD30F-B2B9-48AC-AA87-8C8FD9D35F25.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><p>This was the year we became a "game family" and I have been perched up at the kitchen table playing many rounds of Sorry and Trouble and Uno ever since. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aW0Ook8hFnlmLJxZsVwt_2jHm7zwZginkOV9dzmj_aVojHH1umSX0fMHvOYaUTGCrqxu3fcGvaUWbrIMCJxGU-PwjithGrzKdFRVGhElVY8M2fuRiT4KjeYWvkY8FdFnzu9I4aVMNu3yUAw04JTnT1igH2rdgmh4INLV3NiRL6YfPYI2nEvipgW1HYE/s5184/F2D39599-72F3-4310-BD4F-F1D92C713F24.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aW0Ook8hFnlmLJxZsVwt_2jHm7zwZginkOV9dzmj_aVojHH1umSX0fMHvOYaUTGCrqxu3fcGvaUWbrIMCJxGU-PwjithGrzKdFRVGhElVY8M2fuRiT4KjeYWvkY8FdFnzu9I4aVMNu3yUAw04JTnT1igH2rdgmh4INLV3NiRL6YfPYI2nEvipgW1HYE/s16000/F2D39599-72F3-4310-BD4F-F1D92C713F24.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>And I love this picture. I can't remember all the details, but I know for sure it was at my in-law's house for a family Christmas. I suspect he just needed a people break, but Grandma coddled him like only grandmas do. He's laid up in her bed with a fresh bowl of buttered noodles, just "maxin' and relaxin' as he likes to tell me. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p><b>2022</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaoKZszle3ufg9rbvkfty8dmvKEy71B3H9_Sw8a0UQD5vMh5u8ku8aPgSQFGbkjazgbi1aE0iVENuPZuaGcwfzfy-2ZSty0-tUI0XinjJUqvaMTk_3XMRfim3W1OY3UsUA6NgI4CVmtaHV0Pr1qPgX2OfKAVnQAU_kPo6vcHWeJKWGMl8uOt9pIae1Rs/s5184/77B07141-CA64-4D2B-8A73-3B1927923683_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaoKZszle3ufg9rbvkfty8dmvKEy71B3H9_Sw8a0UQD5vMh5u8ku8aPgSQFGbkjazgbi1aE0iVENuPZuaGcwfzfy-2ZSty0-tUI0XinjJUqvaMTk_3XMRfim3W1OY3UsUA6NgI4CVmtaHV0Pr1qPgX2OfKAVnQAU_kPo6vcHWeJKWGMl8uOt9pIae1Rs/s16000/77B07141-CA64-4D2B-8A73-3B1927923683_1_201_a.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>My baby is the same age as Kevin McCallister, which feels weird because I grew up with Home Alone. Kevin feels like<i> my</i> peer, but I recently learned that I am indeed roughly the same age as Kevin's mom now. Things sure do change. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6eaBNIETVvQfiDZduy9AvqFY-amiFFKwdfdke7eRXfkHDpGtFf9FG0aC4yX5FFV_P_CKoEyrBIS-Ra0oJcy0xKAi-mBet8DpilYjD05g9CsRA1gwweINjs4NYmADn8cIbqtjPSsz8ciKJVErtjT65JJbBFd3LeUWs0dse209jb5MGfyCk5e8A5W9rDE/s1472/9430B741-B51D-4CB4-8497-3230B7D0EC3E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="828" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw6eaBNIETVvQfiDZduy9AvqFY-amiFFKwdfdke7eRXfkHDpGtFf9FG0aC4yX5FFV_P_CKoEyrBIS-Ra0oJcy0xKAi-mBet8DpilYjD05g9CsRA1gwweINjs4NYmADn8cIbqtjPSsz8ciKJVErtjT65JJbBFd3LeUWs0dse209jb5MGfyCk5e8A5W9rDE/s16000/9430B741-B51D-4CB4-8497-3230B7D0EC3E.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Speaking of changes, Duke writes his own letters to Santa. He got that hoverboard "n that's it thank u. luv duke." The hoverboard is responsible for a lot of dings and scratches in my cupboards and furniture around here, but I have no regrets. He rips around the house on that thing - it's frankly inspiring. On the other hand, I'm surprised an adult hasn't achieved a broken arm in this house. It does not come quite so naturally to the over 21 crowd, particularly when they've had some drinks. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p><b>2023</b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNWtLMisAY_R_302IGTFLD3sCdyBLfjSnCjt17OPyjuOdvB8gv4HyijWV9dwg1GWs09Xd5dhJTKuz67kGH4Ht2RUceJl15UkGkQGiLZBlQFBd5Czy9kTFom28MyhWiXMn2RQdH5itTr3PchxlCWzFtbvMRLj7RrbB0L3k1nKINaDPVBzb938MDTOIRrQ/s4032/608CFEAB-4317-4762-9F6D-48E9709C79B8.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNWtLMisAY_R_302IGTFLD3sCdyBLfjSnCjt17OPyjuOdvB8gv4HyijWV9dwg1GWs09Xd5dhJTKuz67kGH4Ht2RUceJl15UkGkQGiLZBlQFBd5Czy9kTFom28MyhWiXMn2RQdH5itTr3PchxlCWzFtbvMRLj7RrbB0L3k1nKINaDPVBzb938MDTOIRrQ/s16000/608CFEAB-4317-4762-9F6D-48E9709C79B8.heic" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><p>And so, here we are. In the midst of another holiday season <i>living</i> the memories that I'll fondly look at next year and forever. We had our first family gathering of the season last weekend and I think this picture will be a favorite for a long while. My brother in law somehow scooped up his daughter, granddaughter and Duke and it made me think of my Opa, who had eight kids and a bazillion grandkids and who told me you never run out of love. That's cheesy, I know, but he was a sentimental man and I am too. No matter how many people you have in your life, you do not run out of love for them. Somehow there's just more to give. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_okKyD_d1e_D9hLf2O_Z5Hmp31eyI-GZ8v7YIh271TFFkCWr3NlNn2xjbW7atizNtsNH185ep2Wxgc4al7RuLLXH-jVNgvylo17yyuwoqbyWc8IB3QS-pYQ5qx0fIFXjBQgzTI7iK5Ug9MRKOmF4uU2ZK96NkWFV09Z3nSF4tziK7XNitLBAHC-asmBQ/s4032/D8D0B623-4C2D-4003-84D5-BEC74733B0A9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_okKyD_d1e_D9hLf2O_Z5Hmp31eyI-GZ8v7YIh271TFFkCWr3NlNn2xjbW7atizNtsNH185ep2Wxgc4al7RuLLXH-jVNgvylo17yyuwoqbyWc8IB3QS-pYQ5qx0fIFXjBQgzTI7iK5Ug9MRKOmF4uU2ZK96NkWFV09Z3nSF4tziK7XNitLBAHC-asmBQ/s16000/D8D0B623-4C2D-4003-84D5-BEC74733B0A9.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Here we all are, haphazardly captured with a timer, but we're all there and we're all smiling. </p><p><br /></p><p>More sentimental outpouring - it's not a particularly good picture but it does make me emotional. More kids wasn't in the cards for Ryan and I, which Duke has been very disappointed by. He never asks Ryan about it, but constantly peppers me with pretty accusatory inquisitions to which I try to encourage him to accept that this is our family, while privately knowing that I <i>am</i> sorry he doesn't have a sibling. Ryan and I are both so close with ours and I wish he did have a built in best friend. But things work out the way they work out. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7Dx1qO7hOhLKoOk_iRiaRzhvLLOZNCexOFCRRHsnW12NUE3uWcgjXbpOcylSRYoLj5Q-z3hLgB-wKeL_8T0MeR882E09x63tU3rnAaMzXDaQW_ZOo4W2KD-iC_-4eUGZoNS6gHB_77S9N714u3XJwfRGs2oRJhHlJQfTF_qPqkZv2kgEXRqJr7bjGYg/s4032/4E8B4100-8FB3-4FC5-9C20-624DC4CB956B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7Dx1qO7hOhLKoOk_iRiaRzhvLLOZNCexOFCRRHsnW12NUE3uWcgjXbpOcylSRYoLj5Q-z3hLgB-wKeL_8T0MeR882E09x63tU3rnAaMzXDaQW_ZOo4W2KD-iC_-4eUGZoNS6gHB_77S9N714u3XJwfRGs2oRJhHlJQfTF_qPqkZv2kgEXRqJr7bjGYg/s16000/4E8B4100-8FB3-4FC5-9C20-624DC4CB956B.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have told myself that there would be other children who came into our lives and filled that void, and last year, my niece had a baby girl. Duke probably would have been a wonderful big brother, but I think he's finding being a big cousin is just as nice. He certainly takes his role seriously. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And a few more - </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VaNqWkicxUnlG6WiezfCcdJHKopHGMoJhFsBJ_HHD1FdZ9dWrzKLlA5PAmBfuP0SBuYIEBqJxVvldSJZW65LQZK4TxUQhduFLiSGcOLou6tfDmpDY3fSLbWKso2xlIV6-iKepcEgeovXqO_oPB-SMzjEUcXvrTQHdW_csyC-Esv_08WJ4isNqyrNzGs/s4032/B0F45DD3-C1DB-4478-8A7E-3ECF9E1EA6DA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VaNqWkicxUnlG6WiezfCcdJHKopHGMoJhFsBJ_HHD1FdZ9dWrzKLlA5PAmBfuP0SBuYIEBqJxVvldSJZW65LQZK4TxUQhduFLiSGcOLou6tfDmpDY3fSLbWKso2xlIV6-iKepcEgeovXqO_oPB-SMzjEUcXvrTQHdW_csyC-Esv_08WJ4isNqyrNzGs/s16000/B0F45DD3-C1DB-4478-8A7E-3ECF9E1EA6DA.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I knew Kell was getting Duke a squishmallow and she'd casually mentioned how much she loved how soft they are. Duke and I hatched a plan to give her one too. He was so excited to give her that present (almost as excited as he was to open the one she gave him!). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He and I did some Christmas shopping for Ryan this weekend and he is JUST as excited for Ryan to open his gift. Ryan sometimes reads here, so I can't say just yet what it is, but I promise we shall all laugh and laugh on Christmas morning. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIjmHCqxfEJSEYUnCjPKYlVl7ho5YElwDy-oIaXbbFq5R6G-vHyogQlEGWGHYkbMrcTDI2cQwRuPW-iLY-2yoX5oiMH_PIjNzty5dSFmf58RbVD1oOskleQykMfnV5bnIlgQZCRS0aDkqAExEj7CFxP8-i4_RsIDsSv6EvxSFtqkOidzxM8NTi9oGHag/s4032/CDF174CE-5562-4EAF-8E37-E6E91F6655AF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIjmHCqxfEJSEYUnCjPKYlVl7ho5YElwDy-oIaXbbFq5R6G-vHyogQlEGWGHYkbMrcTDI2cQwRuPW-iLY-2yoX5oiMH_PIjNzty5dSFmf58RbVD1oOskleQykMfnV5bnIlgQZCRS0aDkqAExEj7CFxP8-i4_RsIDsSv6EvxSFtqkOidzxM8NTi9oGHag/s16000/CDF174CE-5562-4EAF-8E37-E6E91F6655AF.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Someday, this is not a joke, I am going to make a picture book and I'll call it "The Faces of Hayden Hodges" because listen, for 7 years I've been taking cute pictures of my baby only to find her mug somewhere in the background, and it makes me cackle every single time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIj-BmkEo5ZrdKvs_Agxtg53S92x1BfioShHqeNBCn3eDrLqdj9uRdSIvEI0T44xC-zqfyWJS9VjAu-dJqDuX6xGVTSls8PTyYJFA1D-_StTyso9cuBPljDX0ZOJmOItLUqjTCKdm4M831RK2Nccp9D0thUtEcHPUQo026DqeHqwWMe13WEyXWkuasnIg/s4032/D2219E50-3093-4C54-B7B1-D3C6B38B4DF0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIj-BmkEo5ZrdKvs_Agxtg53S92x1BfioShHqeNBCn3eDrLqdj9uRdSIvEI0T44xC-zqfyWJS9VjAu-dJqDuX6xGVTSls8PTyYJFA1D-_StTyso9cuBPljDX0ZOJmOItLUqjTCKdm4M831RK2Nccp9D0thUtEcHPUQo026DqeHqwWMe13WEyXWkuasnIg/s16000/D2219E50-3093-4C54-B7B1-D3C6B38B4DF0.jpeg" title="Christmas Past | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><p>Ryan's sister grabbed me right before everyone walked out. "I want a picture with my little brothers," she said. <i>Little </i>brothers, indeed. A simple kitchen picture with an old iPhone, but I know a Mom and Dad who will positively treasure this picture. </p><p><br /></p><p>***</p><p><br /></p><p>Merry Christmas you guys. Let's all watch Christmas Vacation this week and try not to cry with Clark in the attic. PS - I had Ray Charles playing in my mind the entire time I was writing this and I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sfLmpKTqugM?si=wp1rhtfFhpbHcuOy" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-37173049421838116522023-12-17T10:04:00.005-05:002023-12-28T08:31:22.359-05:00Things I Bought for Christmas this Year<p>This is purely for voyuerism, because I'm <i>always</i> asking people what they're getting for their husbands, kids, mother-in-laws, etc. Mostly I want to steal their ideas and claim them as my own. </p><p><br /></p><p>I'm not spilling everything because I have a few family members that read here, but presently Duke is not one of them, so I'm just trusting that the secrets are safe with you. Here's what's wrapped up and under my Christmas tree --</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeMxEDcaWtMyr7LNyUaMSHr6xI-VxdXMuD3ZXauwvrDVp7zTLdbZCg3pT7v-B7LqOBx8cCxDovEMi9AITtriBVHDiRkFouDF8ZUcrO0vjNdAhMK0835Pg7AIeQcVJ8_jcG57fecmw8paVU3Spk-EpvYXzvSDa7QpePOGk_quwnmjeYuP_XE45EpXtwvU/s800/Christmas.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Things I Bought for Christmas This Year | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeMxEDcaWtMyr7LNyUaMSHr6xI-VxdXMuD3ZXauwvrDVp7zTLdbZCg3pT7v-B7LqOBx8cCxDovEMi9AITtriBVHDiRkFouDF8ZUcrO0vjNdAhMK0835Pg7AIeQcVJ8_jcG57fecmw8paVU3Spk-EpvYXzvSDa7QpePOGk_quwnmjeYuP_XE45EpXtwvU/s16000/Christmas.png" title="Things I Bought for Christmas This Year | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><p>Santa, to whom I give the least credit on Christmas morning (aka, he only brings a gift or two - everything else is from Mom and Dad), brought some family games this year. I'm not sure if <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b5OIz" target="_blank">Yahtzee</a> is too old for Duke still, but we'll try it. I also got <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b5nur" target="_blank">Tenzi</a> and CandyLand. </p><p><br /></p><p>Ooh I'm very excited about this <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b4JHZ" target="_blank">zero gravity RC car.</a> It is supposed to be able to drive up walls and along ceilings. </p><p><br /></p><p>This <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BYT8RDYC?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1" target="_blank">wooden "laptop" </a>with chalk and magnets to hopefully quell the absolutely unrealistic requests for a laptop of his own. </p><p><br /></p><p>Ryan asked for an <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b5OHy" target="_blank">electric kettle</a> this year, which I was delighted to oblige because it means I get to choose the aesthetic. He's snooty so I knew I need to get a really nice one and this Target find fit fit the bill. </p><p><br /></p><p>Shoes would be a weird gift for someone else, so I'd like to be clear that I wrapped <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b5Ema" target="_blank">these babies</a> up for myself. </p><p><br /></p><p>And also this<a href="https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/yeti-rambler-26-oz-straw-cup?ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=Cabelas%7CShopping%7CPMax%7CCamping%7CGeneral%7CNAud%7CNVol%7CNMT&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA1fqrBhA1EiwAMU5m_0mCDqte5ArcvfeWjc8lt3PuUAWml78shRjIBoymoM-EvxZqV8FETRoCcDsQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank"> pop-of-red Yeti</a> is for me. I have not yet subscribed to the Stanley hype, because I'm a Yeti gal, through and through.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://variouskeytags.com/products/getaway-car?variant=36880217669788" target="_blank">Kitsch key chain</a> for a friend. Just a fun find, no?</p><p><br /></p><p>Another fun and luxurious get is this <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b4rTX" target="_blank">Glossier cookie butter balm</a>. I love to gift elevated goodies that are functional staples, but also a little bougie, so maybe it's not something someone would buy themselves. </p><p><br /></p><p>Sephora's exchange policy is very generous, so I felt confident scooping up a <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b49GY" target="_blank">Rare Beauty blush </a>for a friend. I *think* she'll like the color, but if not, she can exchange it really easily. </p><p><br /></p><p>The <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bYWGh" target="_blank">robo-fish</a> is such a fun present for little ones! Drop these babies in the bathtub and they swim away like the real thing. Duke looooves them, so I grabbed some for his friends. </p><p><br /></p><p>Not pictured, but I also think you can never have enough socks, and I really just like the look of these <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b5OO2" target="_blank">retro stripes</a>. Duke has been enjoying the heck out of this <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b5OHZ" target="_blank">Bluey Christmas color book</a> (we're in a real Bluey phase). And how fun would it be for a millennial mom to give their kiddo a <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b2JIp" target="_blank">giga pet or tamagotchi</a>? Talk about blast from the past! </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuejGH-4LHTupDWH6Y5Y_wL3nHg2dYqjB468sPx4WWlkmhznt0InhGv28K83Gk8rZj13Yv0KdXmELHAZ5gh6JDK4SBC6lOS-rLI07yIkMUfc0QDhhusbmpJ2P_i8mTPy_XRniPJBo5z-74qY_wH8IOJmjqDSkkZ1v9TFf6p4lCP10BqZg2EhTY6uo3IA/s4032/IMG_1770.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Things I Bought for Christmas this Year | www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuejGH-4LHTupDWH6Y5Y_wL3nHg2dYqjB468sPx4WWlkmhznt0InhGv28K83Gk8rZj13Yv0KdXmELHAZ5gh6JDK4SBC6lOS-rLI07yIkMUfc0QDhhusbmpJ2P_i8mTPy_XRniPJBo5z-74qY_wH8IOJmjqDSkkZ1v9TFf6p4lCP10BqZg2EhTY6uo3IA/s16000/IMG_1770.JPG" title="Things I Bought for Christmas this Year | www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>A bit more long-winded, so buckle up. I am the resident photo taker in our family and while I make photo books every year, those live with my in-laws. This year, I thought it would be fun to print out some snaps and send them along with my Christmas cards. Two reasons: first of all, I get lots of Christmas cards that I love, featuring photos of the family that sent them. That's very nice, but ultimately I toss them sometime in January and feel guilty about it too - those smiling faces staring up at me from my garbage can feels like sacrilege. I like those people, but like, what do I do with their family picture? On the other hand, I have plenty of pictures I've taken of people I love through the year, that just stay unseen on my laptop. What if I sent them those pictures? Honestly, it seems more useful and enjoyable for the receiver. I have several great pictures of my niece and her baby daughter - shouldn't she have those prints? </p><p><br /></p><p>I'm basically patting myself on the back for thinking of such a good idea, but I'm not humble. I think it's a great idea. I'd love to get pictures in the mail from someone else's cellphone. Anyway, I found these <a href="https://pinholepress.com/mini-snapshot-photo-prints" target="_blank">tiny prints from Pinhole Press</a>. Small enough to mail a handful, and printed on nice hearty cardstock. They were not expensive and I have a few left over to enjoy myself. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>Your turn! What's under your tree? </p><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">PS </span><i style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">- there are some affiliate links in here, but aren't they everywhere? If you click on a link, they'll throw me a couple pennies for our combined hardwork, so I guess click with caution. </i></p>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-39053639076921068602023-12-15T06:31:00.002-05:002023-12-15T06:31:43.027-05:00Musings | On Change<p>When I was pregnant with Duke, I made the hilarious assumption that he would sleep sometimes and so I made an executive decision to put him in the bedroom with a door. So he could sleep uninterrupted. Oh lolololol.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now I know that most bedrooms have doors, but our upstairs is sort of a loft. There are two bedrooms that are basically a half wall away from our living room, and you can look out over said living room from both, as if leaning over a balcony. And then there is one little bedroom in the corner, completely enclosed, with a door. Duke's bedroom.</p><p><br /></p><p>So this is where it gets emotional. All the love and care and preparation that went into making that tiny room a bedroom for my baby. For years, as things changed - taking out the changing table, moving in a bookshelf, swapping a crib for a big boy bed - these would make me so nostalgic. To stand in that room and remember what it was and watching it grow up with the boy who still hardly ever sleeps there. I just felt the passage of time so strongly. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_6uenctfDDADylBKQSt0wHl8S7JVnb9Or1NGs7_NwStNJr567twzyk8Dzsu7XQGYdvoqJhwHsqvtHogGEdJyma4e6ksKWim9m68B0KWIsCLOxXR0QRn_H8JmyHdA8DvEC_dvD7tVx-NBiR9nUYYhCA_XAKcewRbZPUmDWj4kB-kLBqaFkJVB4cSwE5Q/s3456/20C8072C-B708-4709-BA41-8B3507085E3B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Musings | On Change - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="2703" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_6uenctfDDADylBKQSt0wHl8S7JVnb9Or1NGs7_NwStNJr567twzyk8Dzsu7XQGYdvoqJhwHsqvtHogGEdJyma4e6ksKWim9m68B0KWIsCLOxXR0QRn_H8JmyHdA8DvEC_dvD7tVx-NBiR9nUYYhCA_XAKcewRbZPUmDWj4kB-kLBqaFkJVB4cSwE5Q/s16000/20C8072C-B708-4709-BA41-8B3507085E3B.jpeg" title="Musings | On Change - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This is George, who has always been grateful for Duke's absence in his bedroom. George slept in the most expensive dog bed of all time for roughly 6 years</i>. </div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>A few weeks ago, it occurred to me that Duke should have the bigger bedroom now that I'm less concerned with protecting his sleep. I've been using it for an office for the last couple of years, but figured we could swap the rooms pretty easily. I made the mistake of casually suggesting it to him before I was actually committed to the idea. So obviously he became obsessed. </p><p><br /></p><p>There's a lot of reasons that this makes sense. It's bigger, it's carpeted, it has better windows and is easier to climate control. I do work from home quite a bit now, so I do need an office but the smaller room is more than sufficient. So one night, while Ryan and Duke were away together, I dismantled his bed, and my bookshelf. I dragged my desk through the hallway. I swept in the corner. I washed his sheets and remade his bed. I filled the closet with his clothes. No woman is stronger than one who is motivated to move furniture by herself. </p><p><br /></p><p>And when he came home, he was excited. And then he dragged his mattress into my bedroom and slept on the floor next to my bed. (A generous reminder that while things change, they also stay the same). </p><p><br /></p><p>I don't hate change as a rule. I hate feeling like a chapter is irreversibly closing. </p><p><br /></p><p>I'm struggling with knowing what's next for me in a lot of different aspects. I feel strongly that it's time for me to move on in at least one area of my life where I hit a ceiling years ago. I don't mean to be vague, but I won't put it in concrete words because I don't want decisions to be made for me. The point is, my only hesitation is this: am I ready to close this chapter? </p><p><br /></p><p>And the answer is currently no. I'm not. I'm not afraid to begin again. I'm afraid of regret. I have always had the fight in my head between the devil I know and the devil I don't and it's the one I don't know that often drives the ship. He is afraid of change that cannot be reversed, and knows all too well that here are some chapters that, once closed, cannot be reopened. </p><p><br /></p><p>I quit my job a couple years ago, but left my foot in the doorjamb, wide enough to reopen it. And then I did! I came back and I was so grateful that I could. But that added strength to a spirit that waffles on making no-looking-back decisions. I looked back and longed for my old life and this is perhaps one of those rare instances where I could come back and also come home. I slipped right back into my old routines, resuming life as if I'd never paused at all. I flipped back a page, stepping into an old chapter, and continued writing it. </p><p><br /></p><p>I wonder if every chapter is editable. I was listening to Arm Chair Expert this week and the anomaly in which two people are married, and get divorced, and then remarry each other came up. I wonder if they are flipping back a few pages and adding on to the chapter that they thought was closed - or are they starting new ones entirely? </p><p><br /></p><p>Very often, I write things down to begin working through them, and this is one of those instances. I don't know the answers obviously. I don't know if I'll move Duke to the bedroom downstairs some day, or back in the little corner room, or is this all moot and the next time Duke moves at all is when he moves out of my house, and I'll just wish for this little bedroom conundrum instead. </p><p><br /></p><p>Sometimes change must hurt. But I am learning that complacency also hurts, and it's a steadier sting. </p><p><br /></p><p>***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Related:</h3><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/10/musings-on-phases-october-3-2023.html" target="_blank">On phases</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/07/turning-35.html" target="_blank">Everything changes, but it all stays the same</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2020/06/june-19-2020-moving-on.html" target="_blank">Change is good</a>....circa 2020. </p><p><br /></p><p>***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Quick shopping break:</h3><p><br /></p><p>I'm getting a little frantic over two people I have not quite finished my Christmas shopping for - tick-freaking-tock! I found some interesting stuff at <a href="https://brassmonkeygoods.com" target="_blank">Brass Monkey</a> that fits the bill of interesting stuff that one might not purchase for themselves. </p><p><br /></p><p>I reported out on <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b4JGS" target="_blank">this spendy face cream</a> that I was devastated to find that I love, but happily I share that this <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b5EoW" target="_blank">$10 tub</a> is a workhorse that I also cannot live without. I swear by it. </p><p><br /></p><p>I buy myself most of my own Christmas presents, wrap those babies up and feign surprise on Christmas morning. "Santa" is considering<a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b5Ema" target="_blank"> these sneaks</a> (and needs to pull the trigger fast!).</p><p><br /></p><p>Also from "Santa", Sephora is offering 20% off full size fragrances this week and I think I'm going to grab a big ol' bottle of my standby,<a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b5JXK" target="_blank"> By the Fireplace</a>. Sephora coming in hot this month with so many big discounts. </p><p><br /></p><p>Duke's Elf brought these <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b3tIr" target="_blank">Christmas tattoos </a>from the North Pole this week. We are both sporting the most festive sleeves. </p><p><br /></p><p>***</p><p><br /></p><p>Happy Weekending folks! </p>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-16523039341944587492023-12-08T05:19:00.001-05:002023-12-28T08:31:37.165-05:00Links | December 8, 2023<p>I'm off to my first holiday party tonight and another one lined up for tomorrow. It's that time of year again! Our weekends are not our own, but they are <i>very</i> indulgent and it does set things up nicely for a New Years <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/11/how-do-you-get-it-together-november-30.html" target="_blank">craving to restructure and get back to a routine</a>. I mean, not yet, but soon. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/12/life-lately-november-2023.html" target="_blank">I mentioned earlier this week that Duke isn't sleeping well</a>, and so I'll follow up briefly and just tell you that our saucy little Elf on the Shelf has opted to not move unless Duke stays in his room until 6am. A small improvement, but since he reports back to Santa, he carries more authority than I do. AKA it's working. </p><p><br /></p><p>And then last curiosity before I embark on sending you all over the internet to find more interesting things - are you a game family? I grew up playing boardgames most nights before bed, and even now, when I stay with my Oma overnight, we'll throw a game of dice like it's 2002 before I head up to the room that still looks the same as it did when I was in high school. Peak deja vu, by the way. Ryan, not so much, but Duke and I play a game most evenings. </p><p><br /></p><p>We've been playing a lot of Uno, Guess Who, and Sorry lately, but he also loves this <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b5nua" target="_blank">Bluey game</a>, and once a week maximum, I'll play a game of LIFE with him. I have Yahtzee and <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b5nur" target="_blank">Tenzi</a> wrapped up under the tree for family gifts, but I'm always looking for recommendations. If you're a game family, what do you like playing that's engaging for adults, but also comprehensible for kids? That seems to be a tough balance. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLKwD6oJ9h2WszsA8NRoNRee7BVlDGmm1sAjI5d1yMJRYlDY8fp6jFHUCiLQHI59Z6U_qmTRlv2FEPWxAGwrb1TBUxGuO3gwsOBB5H0XfQYqPYzsoj2HTuHLTz5pH4Mjm_3SjOiDWOQLgucFwzwOwwZ1P4m7rLcsSem6jR-m2X2wwqvUy8Ci0zCqvmDo/s4032/DCAC0BAA-8D43-4CE5-9EE8-FD215C436554.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Links | December 8, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLKwD6oJ9h2WszsA8NRoNRee7BVlDGmm1sAjI5d1yMJRYlDY8fp6jFHUCiLQHI59Z6U_qmTRlv2FEPWxAGwrb1TBUxGuO3gwsOBB5H0XfQYqPYzsoj2HTuHLTz5pH4Mjm_3SjOiDWOQLgucFwzwOwwZ1P4m7rLcsSem6jR-m2X2wwqvUy8Ci0zCqvmDo/s16000/DCAC0BAA-8D43-4CE5-9EE8-FD215C436554.jpeg" title="Links | December 8, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">1 // ICYMI</h3><p><i>A few things I've pushed "publish" on recently</i> - </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/11/thanksgiving-2023.html" target="_blank">Thanksgiving 2023</a> and rolling with the punches. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/11/how-do-you-get-it-together-november-30.html" target="_blank">How do you get it together</a>? </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/12/i-will-do-what-i-say-i-will-do-december.html" target="_blank">I will do what I say I will do</a> - on finding self confidence in keeping my commitments. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/12/life-lately-november-2023.html" target="_blank">November, life lately</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">2 // SHOPPING</h3><p>My Black Friday impulse buys are starting to trickle and Target continues to hold me in its clutches for so many reasons, but mostly speedy fulfillment. Here's a quick report out on some the goodies that have arrived:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b49ir" target="_blank">These Target pjs</a> are chef's absolute kiss. Soft, swingy, and just oversized enough that you can get your true size and comfortably eat 13 Christmas cookies before bed. </p><p><br /></p><p>This <a href="https://brassmonkeygoods.com/products/hidden-agenda-undated-mini-planner" target="_blank">"hidden agenda"</a> wooed me with how kitschy it is, but upon arrival, I find the whole thing very high quality and well made. It's also the perfect size to fit in my mom purse (or something smaller!)</p><p><br /></p><p>Glossier took forever to arrive, but the <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b4rTX" target="_blank">cookie butter balm</a> does smell heavenly. And it's definitely tan, while I usually pick more pinky/red shades, so it fills a nice gap in my product roster. </p><p><br /></p><p>My S<a href="https://tapto.shop/jennhodges/l/43589378" target="_blank">ephora order</a> arrived yesterday and the first thing I did was smear on the <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b4JGS" target="_blank">cryo-mask</a>. It's expensive, so I wanted it to be too hyped (so I wouldn't be tempted to buy it again), but also it's expensive so I wanted it to be a miracle. The bittersweet news is that it absolutely works and I love it. I loveeeee it. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">3 // INTO IT</h3><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl5eQSGKXQW/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY%3D" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Links | December 8, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLFAbGxJbqIFJvmuS1v1_-JECAT0ehWo3J8HprlW2SLRNNU8Es_-KOkSU2-63Pmp_9VFqP4lo6kgsrqQSUywRNwqQ9gpkeeFW3aIA6sCRhGQzyTtwNnJI769UvOTSdqysHn9gOlFAjusZnP9iTPoOVnbxke-aK0F7niJRVa2QmxrIWI4zYcZRxq7a5hs/s16000/b2f17811eb9fd630ac6be746bf12607d.jpg" title="Links | December 8, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I realized that I hate every single holiday decoration I've ever bought and so I've been saving trees on Pinterest to see if there's a common denominator. It's tinsel you guys. Which I like visually I guess, but I don't hate myself enough to bring into my house and be still vacuuming next spring. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EYFR-dZzzehloRSNiVBVqffpPqLsXPkwgzXUli9H6m70-6A323hv1c7qtcvhtIOL0pG0Hw_xwiBZln1xAFcqp-oRBtSAdzkGoH6gScKPe-aO96ATJB-FUTYTTwcCKb_5Xp0lNYecppMrgtIYyIBaJpMxIY-r72-DZXlOZ4l0-JBSzy6SNNIN1Hw8aL0/s768/a91691e21de1bef1203dac658aaba2d1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Links | December 8, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="432" height="830" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EYFR-dZzzehloRSNiVBVqffpPqLsXPkwgzXUli9H6m70-6A323hv1c7qtcvhtIOL0pG0Hw_xwiBZln1xAFcqp-oRBtSAdzkGoH6gScKPe-aO96ATJB-FUTYTTwcCKb_5Xp0lNYecppMrgtIYyIBaJpMxIY-r72-DZXlOZ4l0-JBSzy6SNNIN1Hw8aL0/w467-h830/a91691e21de1bef1203dac658aaba2d1.jpg" title="Links | December 8, 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" width="467" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046599922519/" target="_blank">The comments on this pin</a>. </div><br /><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">4 // LINKS</h3><p><a href="https://www.bustle.com/life/feel-like-a-kid-going-home-for-holidays" target="_blank">I feel like a kid when I go home for the holidays</a>. Sure do. </p><p><br /></p><p>Shared a few of my favorite underrated holiday movies on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jenniferh0dges/" target="_blank"> Instagram </a>this week and answered some "where are they streaming?" DMs. Here's the consolidated list: Family Man (Peacock), Holiday Inn (Prime), Ernest Saves Christmas (Disney+) and Happiest Season (Hulu). </p><p><br /></p><p>Speaking of TV, did you ever watch The OC? I was target demographic when it was on primetime, but never watched it! I just read a <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/11/the-oc-oral-history-excerpt-killing-marissa" target="_blank">Vanity Fair article about Mischa Barton and the show</a> and it made me want to give it a watch-thru, even just for the early aughts blast from the past feelings. </p><p><br /></p><p>I recently followed this<a href="https://www.instagram.com/gfda.co/?img_index=1" target="_blank"> lightly verbally abusive motivation instagram</a>. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0W7WGeL2jA/?img_index=1" target="_blank">Discipline </a>is now my phone's lock screen. </p><p><br /></p><p>Related: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0PqhAQyn36/" target="_blank">Success</a>. I'm clearly in my <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/11/how-do-you-get-it-together-november-30.html" target="_blank">"get it together"</a> era. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://infiniteobjects.com/products/originals-lava-lamp?utm_source=pinterest&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=acquisition&utm_content=N%2FA&pp=0&epik=dj0yJnU9RTBQdGFYaHlPZlMzaXFoYmpfUE4wd3hsNFo1Uzc0bUomcD0xJm49Tzh2aE4zUjlGQW41Z3NvNW1GeU1aZyZ0PUFBQUFBR1Z4cmh3" target="_blank">Wow wow wow</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">5 // CONSUMING</h3><p><b>Eating: </b>I'm supposed to be making Christmas cookies for a family gathering, but instead got wooed by <a href="https://www.smartschoolhouse.com/easy-recipe/chocolate-chip-cookies" target="_blank">this chocolate chip recipe</a>. In other news, Ryan spontaneously decided to try the keto diet and has lost approximately 12lbs in 2 days. I'm not remotely jealous. I did see him longingly read the nutrition information on the back of a Fritos nacho cheese container last night, so it's not without suffering. Anyway, I've been making a lot of chicken over here. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Reading: </b>Prince Harry's <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62296528-spare" target="_blank">Spare</a>. Wow, what a bummer. I'm not done, so I'll refrain from a full review, but at this point, the writing is subpar and there are bits that feel like unnecessary dirty laundry airing. He is definitely a person who has a story to share, but I don't think he's the best person to write it, you know? Ultimately though, I feel sad for him. He's obviously unhappy and traumatized and it's a classic case of money not buying everything, and in this case, love and affection. He's very much Diana's son.</p><p> </p><p><b>Listening: </b>I made a <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0lDo7fekn592CZOEvodxCB?si=54c4f640cc1b4d6f" target="_blank">Christmas playlist</a>! It's very Bing and Nat oriented this time. I love a good Kacey Musgraves remix, but I wanted something that felt classic and would remind me of what my mom put on when I was a kid. Is it weird that I want Duke's childhood memories of Christmas to have the same soundtrack that mine do? I vote not really, because I'd bet my mom picked those songs because they were what she listened to as a kiddo too. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">6 // PLANS</h3><p>At press time, Ryan and I are still noodling on our plans, because we always do, but it's looking like a busy weekend. We're going for a <a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/11/thanksgiving-2023.html" target="_blank">raincheck attempt at seeing family</a> this weekend and hoping for a healthy crew, but all that driving will take up the majority of our free time. </p><p><br /></p><p>After this week, it feels like we'll be in the final countdown to Christmas and I'm starting to get frantic about all the things I want to pack in. An influencer I follow casually threw out the phrase "last minute shopping" and that, my friends was on December 3rd. I took offense because that's ridiculous, but then I was at TJ Maxx earlier this week and the have some Valentines Day things trickling out. I just can't keep up. I really should give up social media for my mental health. Maybe next year!</p><p><br /></p><p>Happy weekending!</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">PS </span><i style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">- there are some affiliate links in here, but aren't they everywhere? If you click on a link, they'll throw me a couple pennies for our combined hardwork, so I guess click with caution. </i></p>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-27512522432984476852023-12-02T04:00:00.002-05:002024-02-23T07:14:40.078-05:00Life Lately | November 2023<p>Hark! The Christmas season is upon us! Having a full week of November after Thanksgiving really got festive things going a little early, IMO. I'm not mad about it though. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgLPWCJPP-pzVFYmhh5KZy4tHIPygaqp64WnKp3brMdfHx5NfZW7KJTACZz6Jg3H7fw3QVj9GomaJnamNi7olLbAXd71JmW296iiZsyGgEw6DrKsmejk_vCzh-ya2w_OxmZae90pssrOWwVEmlIHJXkKhznmzkIdbo5YNlVvNkBKIuMEY7kTBQDvDweI/s3633/CFBFFE6E-EAA9-4E63-BE9D-8BC7A2520ED8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3633" data-original-width="2725" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgLPWCJPP-pzVFYmhh5KZy4tHIPygaqp64WnKp3brMdfHx5NfZW7KJTACZz6Jg3H7fw3QVj9GomaJnamNi7olLbAXd71JmW296iiZsyGgEw6DrKsmejk_vCzh-ya2w_OxmZae90pssrOWwVEmlIHJXkKhznmzkIdbo5YNlVvNkBKIuMEY7kTBQDvDweI/s16000/CFBFFE6E-EAA9-4E63-BE9D-8BC7A2520ED8.jpeg" title="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>The month started firmly rooted in fall though, and that felt nice to have the season stretched out a tad longer. It was relatively warm, I thought. Look, we were still at the beach at the beginning of the month!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVf7FNKyadyp8Ceoj3KjE25UyGDK-14GpJbIxxrLKi8_uhGOvn0wr-aZeEfwQ5YfiyX9ktr9XAV9s7tY34UAcGOaxWjtOoT40NXExSI53lBtQYWGj46VX5rjOnf1kWtf1u2B5w4QNFYCs4Tt64pIYvHBnYbsfN6h5jIEwMu0PXM3OOOvOZT5x0dRmDnPo/s4032/F8B3A9B0-2B98-4AE8-8A28-EEA8CFD610C3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVf7FNKyadyp8Ceoj3KjE25UyGDK-14GpJbIxxrLKi8_uhGOvn0wr-aZeEfwQ5YfiyX9ktr9XAV9s7tY34UAcGOaxWjtOoT40NXExSI53lBtQYWGj46VX5rjOnf1kWtf1u2B5w4QNFYCs4Tt64pIYvHBnYbsfN6h5jIEwMu0PXM3OOOvOZT5x0dRmDnPo/s16000/F8B3A9B0-2B98-4AE8-8A28-EEA8CFD610C3.jpeg" title="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><br /><p>I always go on a November shopping trip with the ladies in Ryan's family that first weekend in November and this year, I squeezed in a lunch with my best girlfriends before the family stuff started. We had a good conversation about how easily social media makes it feel like we're in regular contact with each other, and I think this is true to an extent, but the truth is that I haven't physically seen these gals in more than a year. In the best way, everything changes but nothing changes, and we slipped into our normal chatting habits seamlessly. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9nUCy5u3btnLzwYmQ3L3gM00WSHdTniAb7mRtrYEbYosQBaJbMzFe7N2CgSIWGUC5w8BI1b4NBmWKYto0mnRMjJn4eByUpddll4NmmIcKeO19vE5FrMhQAW3T8zv0ykseT3IuRreEPHt48EXaqECtv8TPVquSQzsNeubUxE3j7W74C4Ag0AorBVB_L8/s2994/05D9527C-A757-43A3-9E69-FCD598241AC7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="2994" data-original-width="2239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9nUCy5u3btnLzwYmQ3L3gM00WSHdTniAb7mRtrYEbYosQBaJbMzFe7N2CgSIWGUC5w8BI1b4NBmWKYto0mnRMjJn4eByUpddll4NmmIcKeO19vE5FrMhQAW3T8zv0ykseT3IuRreEPHt48EXaqECtv8TPVquSQzsNeubUxE3j7W74C4Ag0AorBVB_L8/s16000/05D9527C-A757-43A3-9E69-FCD598241AC7.jpeg" title="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><p><br /></p><p>Since we're going on seven years of me complaining about Duke's sleeping patterns, I figure you know what you're getting when you're here. Let's just jump right in. I was raised in a pseudo serious Christian home, where my parents made me go to church every week and used <i>The Lord</i> to keep me from things like Halloween movies or wearing earrings, but only when it suited them. So things were a bit wishy-washy but one thing I've carried from Sunday School is that God would not give me any struggles that I could not bear. I guess God has decided that I'm a gal who can carry on without much sleep. I accept that my cross to bear is small when compared to others, so I shoulder it, but not without complaining. November with her Daylight Savings bullshit put bowling balls on my cross like the earrings I wasn't allowed to wear, weighing that thing down and making the struggle a little harder. That is to say, Duke flatly refuses to sleep past 5am. </p><p><br /></p><p>I could carrying on this with metaphor and tell you I'm in hell, like I probably deserve, but instead I'll say that it gives us many dark morning hours to appreciate how cozy and warm our house is. I light candles and do my best to get the fire roaring (50% success rate) and get the coffee pot going. It's not all bad. I get tons of laundry done. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorhMDdyhz68NavfFyqvJ7-81KhRsuU0nylzat1rhTAmSiesG2Uon5PDSYbgW9p4JFR5OrpZVnbA3wBBUb_zHE7CryEVWAAk6Ky7H2HOiRTEyb90YN9DEFyjo0hkuIbPSbAAaFl8wdjXxS50t148w5OqUY0tXowsiowouEsIhyphenhypheneGqATchDFoNHrL8npQU/s4032/IMG_1692.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorhMDdyhz68NavfFyqvJ7-81KhRsuU0nylzat1rhTAmSiesG2Uon5PDSYbgW9p4JFR5OrpZVnbA3wBBUb_zHE7CryEVWAAk6Ky7H2HOiRTEyb90YN9DEFyjo0hkuIbPSbAAaFl8wdjXxS50t148w5OqUY0tXowsiowouEsIhyphenhypheneGqATchDFoNHrL8npQU/s16000/IMG_1692.HEIC" title="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4TdS0ss13xe0pRjmcYJ83VXyws2TTxWhgTniPwQ5KwWJRrzAXb0DCyZh4yuTO_mWBAh4WaGX_zRFi9S40VEbXbMxvXf1QZ_lIYnw51Oin4PKdKb9slVeVHtHir8KxXlXA4XXVP6H-nKWuB7OLfKLgYodBXR9QRHJLC-kDR-YO5cJbx1VRlXe8w9uxnM/s4032/1919FEDE-083B-4590-9A8C-7905C02B494C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4TdS0ss13xe0pRjmcYJ83VXyws2TTxWhgTniPwQ5KwWJRrzAXb0DCyZh4yuTO_mWBAh4WaGX_zRFi9S40VEbXbMxvXf1QZ_lIYnw51Oin4PKdKb9slVeVHtHir8KxXlXA4XXVP6H-nKWuB7OLfKLgYodBXR9QRHJLC-kDR-YO5cJbx1VRlXe8w9uxnM/s16000/1919FEDE-083B-4590-9A8C-7905C02B494C.jpeg" title="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I love a good puzzle project and usually these suckers take me a solid week to complete. In preparation for the week off I took for Thanksgiving, I bought myself a holiday puzzle, neglecting to read the BIG letters on the box proclaiming "300 PIECES." I set up shop one morning, looking forward to several days of joyful frustration. Things progressed quickly which was a little more instant gratification than I expected, but I enjoyed myself. </p><p><br /></p><p>As a side note, this is a puzzle "series" I suppose, in which there are several puzzles available featuring this specific house in various forms of holiday dress. I have the Christmas, Halloween, and Fall versions and I enjoy them immensely, as if decorating my own home for each seasonal festivity. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/11/thanksgiving-2023.html" target="_blank">Thanksgiving did not go as planned</a>, but that is not to say that it did not go well. It did! We had a lovely dinner with Ryan's mom, ending the evening with us all piled on the couch to watch both Home Alone movies back to back. </p><p><br /></p><p>We set up our Christmas tree on Thanksgiving and decorated the house in the days that followed. Every year, I'm worried that it might be the last year that Duke *believes* and I'm thinking the jig is nearly up with that Elf on the Shelf, but as long as he's pretending, so am I. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzNOeG-x7PV3CnZ2wBBTQwKZBOTFHKofvm3W4c9BttwkUwu2dbGEshb1WFsrNCG4xSRlEAg30A59G35lpEGL6dmKgIAprIQCH7kXlxVZU1wYXC97g0vC2oGnNYH1F9chTbOYPrOEvuLHyCtzjd53UX_o2flw-UmqH71bj9WupGz5_PO5p7IC4uaFfZxw/s1472/93122CF1-0460-410D-A8C3-52D1FF609864.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="828" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzNOeG-x7PV3CnZ2wBBTQwKZBOTFHKofvm3W4c9BttwkUwu2dbGEshb1WFsrNCG4xSRlEAg30A59G35lpEGL6dmKgIAprIQCH7kXlxVZU1wYXC97g0vC2oGnNYH1F9chTbOYPrOEvuLHyCtzjd53UX_o2flw-UmqH71bj9WupGz5_PO5p7IC4uaFfZxw/s16000/93122CF1-0460-410D-A8C3-52D1FF609864.jpeg" title="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqwZaKOs6__OmWaTgBb5JVicffRizvy0UnWKtLiX-O85GwWNOc0B5Do1J7p_UE4KLhyphenhyphen47R_km7p3SZFTvj_o9shvsD_cyRoCa2sUMnJ1VjGXvNV8U6r77DZNw1YvQthc_8zuAOr7N4LFbOoS-z1FAwk1a6zPipEJPzGTEui3MmcxHP8cKd8rWjbUTV_0/s4032/B2F26B10-5279-444B-A92D-029644AB5BC5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqwZaKOs6__OmWaTgBb5JVicffRizvy0UnWKtLiX-O85GwWNOc0B5Do1J7p_UE4KLhyphenhyphen47R_km7p3SZFTvj_o9shvsD_cyRoCa2sUMnJ1VjGXvNV8U6r77DZNw1YvQthc_8zuAOr7N4LFbOoS-z1FAwk1a6zPipEJPzGTEui3MmcxHP8cKd8rWjbUTV_0/s16000/B2F26B10-5279-444B-A92D-029644AB5BC5.jpeg" title="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p><br /></p><p>Other nice things -</p><p><br /></p><p>Handsome pups on a holiday road trip. They're the worst in the car honestly. George takes offense to delivery trucks stemming, I'm sure, from the PTSD of seeing them cruise up to our house and walk straight up to the front door somewhat regularly. Even on the highway, he feels compelled to protect his property from those criminals. </p><p><br /></p><p>I take back suggesting Jack isn't great. He is. He just sleeps. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpe7bQahp_Io-3jCBXEvLNbzbcCgEOJYoaTUe9IenRT8yFvw_tFVzTE4uQ_rrXsAYLtz1xdC_HE_wumr7GREDJQEFutnzUCXxiYl2rBS1occJofitqQKefEu-iNsSu1JzHn2Z51qE9W45mamog23cOaS0L-ZdaQDIphgoiiNrO7WEsJ2eETH8Vj5KJ_o4/s1472/8FBA08E1-617B-4F69-A432-60F1FD1C25C8.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="828" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpe7bQahp_Io-3jCBXEvLNbzbcCgEOJYoaTUe9IenRT8yFvw_tFVzTE4uQ_rrXsAYLtz1xdC_HE_wumr7GREDJQEFutnzUCXxiYl2rBS1occJofitqQKefEu-iNsSu1JzHn2Z51qE9W45mamog23cOaS0L-ZdaQDIphgoiiNrO7WEsJ2eETH8Vj5KJ_o4/s16000/8FBA08E1-617B-4F69-A432-60F1FD1C25C8.JPG" title="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Family year books arrived. I patted myself heartily on the back for completing them so early in the year. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBxU9Wf8s1SaZ2L40Gn1lJdXvEcCuhfmX1qufPhomX94rCWd4AkdJxTHkcH26L8KytlVyVXf8prtt_nO_YcWXDMJmkfcizIFzQMur_WtuXErQtkhz1S-82xbga17YNa9cROMINsNYIG11aVZvASyIbloXn8YJjUm2_x7pCcPPFVbftbyoS94gUc0e_qA/s1472/9EDAA150-29A5-4B7E-87F1-BBA0410F56E0.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="828" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBxU9Wf8s1SaZ2L40Gn1lJdXvEcCuhfmX1qufPhomX94rCWd4AkdJxTHkcH26L8KytlVyVXf8prtt_nO_YcWXDMJmkfcizIFzQMur_WtuXErQtkhz1S-82xbga17YNa9cROMINsNYIG11aVZvASyIbloXn8YJjUm2_x7pCcPPFVbftbyoS94gUc0e_qA/s16000/9EDAA150-29A5-4B7E-87F1-BBA0410F56E0.JPG" title="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This is a banger recipe that I'm loathe to share because I'm trying to make it my signature. I'll say it's a good pumpkin bread recipe, mixed up trifle style with cream cheese frosting and candied pecans. It is so freaking good. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6iLE4T-O0wegQz8hnpbh87pUHTyaSprzyTNJq-u6yq3olNW_cIU9b4G3IuwVLFwabNZUQzctNpBYDIDjNTai16y4bXakMTthsCwJjhIyt1_a-41r1UFWTNMM6B15xxJg4-JI-NxfuMDUqRb8BGdqQUzrvBYJ__B9HGMO8Fash7LQG65osoEUj8YtMNs/s1472/82827B86-93D3-42C5-B56D-A14854B99BB8.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="828" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6iLE4T-O0wegQz8hnpbh87pUHTyaSprzyTNJq-u6yq3olNW_cIU9b4G3IuwVLFwabNZUQzctNpBYDIDjNTai16y4bXakMTthsCwJjhIyt1_a-41r1UFWTNMM6B15xxJg4-JI-NxfuMDUqRb8BGdqQUzrvBYJ__B9HGMO8Fash7LQG65osoEUj8YtMNs/s16000/82827B86-93D3-42C5-B56D-A14854B99BB8.JPG" title="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ryan was in Chicago for a week right before Thanksgiving, leaving Duke and I to our own dinner devices. As you can see, I'm taking my 2023 health resolutions very seriously still, this in the Sunday of the year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9LdHzmKiqPHnaJB5hWRM8nS8hG2nbpeARqJOa7T6x2AE9h_NX7x2WHsu8E59bZfhOWJz7apOHqSZKvLNh2Ebjzpv0HLARiWeonMND7R6YQ1_SqM6nk0A2LxdAzg9SBV458Iy4dR13Tll6PhJoXepvWHevkUs7QJq6c_S1jbzLx_RxlYo1jeVUMtdFp4/s4032/IMG_1610.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9LdHzmKiqPHnaJB5hWRM8nS8hG2nbpeARqJOa7T6x2AE9h_NX7x2WHsu8E59bZfhOWJz7apOHqSZKvLNh2Ebjzpv0HLARiWeonMND7R6YQ1_SqM6nk0A2LxdAzg9SBV458Iy4dR13Tll6PhJoXepvWHevkUs7QJq6c_S1jbzLx_RxlYo1jeVUMtdFp4/s16000/IMG_1610.HEIC" title="Life Lately | November 2023 - www.biblio-style.com" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We now have a full dusting of snow on the ground and we're off to the first tree lighting and parade of the season tonight. I expect Duke to wake up absurdly early through the remainder of the year as Christmas excitement sets in. It really is the most wonderful time of the year and I'm committed to leaning into it hard this time. I've whined endlessly in years past that I'm too wound up with responsibilities to get into the cheer, but as Duke casually fishes with statements like "maybe Santa isn't real, mom" - I am aware that the childhood christmases is winding down. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As with all things I've had to learn in my parenting journey, I expect the next phase will be fun in it's own way, but I'm also sadly aware that as a parent of one, I don't get a second round. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are pangs I didn't expect, honestly. I remember when I was a kid, my mom lamenting things like "my youngest is off to kindergarten" and with so many kids in our family, all I could think was <i>what's the problem</i>? Now, as a mother myself who has to lament <i>my only is off to kindergarten,</i> and my only has lost his last tooth, and eventually, my only is done with Santa, I understand the problem profoundly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's hard to close chapters that won't be reopened, or even come with a season 2 with another child. But I will say that, so far, I've found the next phase to be as good and sometimes better than the last, and so whatever comes next, I know it's going to be good. But that doesn't stop me from savoring hard, the Santa magic we get to have for another season. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy December friends! Wishing us all the merriest season yet!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230629869437841041.post-90183912980448684072023-12-01T04:30:00.002-05:002023-12-01T10:24:15.327-05:00I Will Do What I Say I Will Do | December 1, 2023<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kg7dUeHxD4Es3uYLmzfdAi-O7yYz_a6aFVOHzb3GrOTcqLbE3njZsv-KJzBPw0pL7cEyu-dCMvYH48us-XDG23Z-aP_OlAk9NyZ4gYLdxD8glK4gD7ISEiOsC7dMGmT3ZZQb9jXuCtSAY6OW7xWCvBhTVgl_alCsO46Jel5wFMgrTS8fcP4i5QYlLmU/s828/FAA3360B-3D0E-42E3-9AE2-B766320FF109_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="I Will Do What I Say I Will Do | December 1, 2023" border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="828" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kg7dUeHxD4Es3uYLmzfdAi-O7yYz_a6aFVOHzb3GrOTcqLbE3njZsv-KJzBPw0pL7cEyu-dCMvYH48us-XDG23Z-aP_OlAk9NyZ4gYLdxD8glK4gD7ISEiOsC7dMGmT3ZZQb9jXuCtSAY6OW7xWCvBhTVgl_alCsO46Jel5wFMgrTS8fcP4i5QYlLmU/s16000/FAA3360B-3D0E-42E3-9AE2-B766320FF109_1_201_a.jpeg" title="I Will Do What I Say I Will Do | December 1, 2023" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>When I was in high school, I lived with my Opa and Oma and I distinctly remember my Opa getting up early every morning and heading to the local Big Boy for coffee. At the time, I didn't really get it - we had coffee at home, but I was (am?) also too self-absorbed to busy myself with the habits of other people. And anyway, it left quiet time to eat breakfast with my Oma while she fussed over me, filling my tea cup and asking if she could boil me an egg. </p><p><br /></p><p>The Big Boy isn't there anymore. The building is, but it's a Bagger Daves now, and so the vibe is decidedly different. I went in last spring and sat at the bar, but I couldn't feel my Opa in that room anymore. My Opa isn't here anymore either, so I guess sometimes chapters close so hard, you can never revisit the page, but every time I pass a Big Boy restaurant, I think of him. </p><p><br /></p><p>One morning a a few weeks ago, I had a little free time, so I grabbed my computer and purse and headed to Panera Bread, which curiously enough is right across the street from my Opa's old Big Boy. I ordered a cup of coffee and sat down to work on a story that I'm writing, and then of course, write this blog. </p><p><br /></p><p>And I get it now. The quiet anonymity of drinking coffee by oneself is truly wonderful. Doing it in a place where there are no dishes in a sink calling to me to take care of them, or a dog, looking piteously at me from the door, asking to go outside. I'm frankly grateful to have those responsibilities because it means I have a home that requires care and companionship that does too, but it's also so nice have a brief reprieve from them to quietly focus on something else. </p><p><br /></p><p>***</p><p><br /></p><p>I've been thinking a lot about discipline vs motivation. </p><p><br /></p><p>I'm putting this into the universe and so I'll also say it here - I want very badly to write for a living, in some capacity. This feels as absurd as saying "I'd like to be famous in Hollywood" in terms of being realistic, but also a quiet voice says to me, <i>but there </i>are<i> famous people in Hollywood, and some people </i>are<i> paid to write</i>. And so if <i>some</i> people can achieve those things, why shouldn't it be me? </p><p><br /></p><p>Like probably most people (I hope, I beg), I am driven by my moods. I'm a slave to my emotions. I'm not in the moooood to be creative. I don't feel like pulling words out of my head. I only want to do it when I feel inspired. And so, I return to thoughts of discipline vs motivation. I don't think it's enough to be motivated, and I am struggling with discipline. </p><p><br /></p><p>Finding myself tucked into this booth at Panera Bread though, the words positively flowed. Is this why my Opa got out of bed so early, dressed himself, and went immediately to the Big Boy? I don't know. People contain a great many surprises, and I don't think he was a writer, but whatever he was, there was something that gave him the space to focus on whatever it was that inspired him. And maybe it was just reading the newspaper, which is fair enough. </p><p><br /></p><p>Discipline is an admirable quality and I think it's a muscle that can be exercised. I'm trying - I set an alarm with the intention that I will write early in the morning, and yet, when I swing my body out of bed, I have to cajole myself. I will do what I say I will do, she says. Doing it at Panera Bread with bottomless coffee I don't have to make is significantly easier than doing it at my kitchen table - I'll tell ya that. </p><div><br /></div><p>***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Stay a little longer? </h3><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/09/the-last-100-days-september-23-2003.html" target="_blank">Wake up woman! You're not a princess! You're a dragon! </a></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/08/musings-on-feeling-alive.html" target="_blank">Feeling alive</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.biblio-style.com/2023/01/happy-new-year-resolutions-for-2023.html" target="_blank">Somehow, the time and space creates itself</a>. </p><p><br /></p><p>***</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Sending you elsewhere - </h3><p><br /></p><p>I know people have strong feelings about the Elf on the shelf, but Duke loves his, so I'm a fan. Ours arrived this morning with an <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b40pT" target="_blank">Avengers Lego advent calendar</a> to keep us busy every morning this month. </p><p><br /></p><p>Oh hey, remember when I said I'm a sucker for good calendars? I absolutely am. I just ordered this clever <a href="https://www.galison.com/collections/planners-and-calendars/products/hidden-agenda-undated-mini-planner" target="_blank">"Hidden Agenda" </a>and I'm v v v excited about it. </p><p><br /></p><p>Related: I was honestly charmed by everything I found at <a href="https://brassmonkeygoods.com" target="_blank">Brass Monkey.</a> </p><p><br /></p><p>Sephora is running a decent sale starting today. I want to try <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b4JId" target="_blank">this mascara </a>(recommended by someone who said it replaced her lash extensions!) and the viral <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b4JGS" target="_blank">Cryo-Flash mask from Clarin</a>s. </p><p><br /></p><p>I read that this <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b4JHK" target="_blank">absolutely freaking bargain</a> has been called "botox in a bottle." That's all I needed to hear, tbh. </p><p><br /></p><p>I just love the look of this <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/b40nD" target="_blank">$25 jacket from Kohls</a>. 🍑coverage and chic? Sold. </p><p><br /></p><p>***</p><p><br /></p><p>Happy Friday friends!</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">PS </span><i style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">- there are some affiliate links in here, but aren't they everywhere? If you click on a link, they'll throw me a couple pennies for our combined hardwork, so I guess click with caution. </i></p>Jennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918828667773345639noreply@blogger.com0