I Think...

 

...peanut m&m's are significantly better than regular ones.

...watching television shows from the past allows an escape from today's unsettling world.

...cereal is much better as a snack than as breakfast.

...people who feel as if they constantly have to be busy doing things, going places, and making plans, and who think staying home and being cozy is lazy and selfish are missing out on an incredible part of life. 

...and our entire culture of dieting, counting calories, low fat, low carb,  no sweets, and exercising extra to burn off a cookie is toxic and creates lifelong unhealthy relationships with food. I am neither an expert nor claim to be one, but I have read about, seen, and witnessed how much damage the constant emphasis on food can do. Conversely, I have seen how a healthy attitude of allowing different foods in moderation and striving for more of an 80/20 approach can be.

So, there's that!

I hope you have a cozy day, my friends!

Thanks for stopping by!

Billie Jo

* These are my thoughts on really random things, some more important than others. I mean, people need to know how good peanut M&M's really are, and that Match Game from the 70s is clearly underrated.

* Thanks to the magic of Google for the images.

Monday Morning Coffee Talk

 

Good Monday morning, my friends. How was your weekend? Here, it was sunny and quiet. This time of year is often slower and uneventful for me. During these winter weeks, I sometimes feel lazy and guilty, as if I should be doing more. Surely, there is something that needs to be done. This may be because autumn and Halloween appear in stores, in magazines, and on TV starting in July or August. This is followed by, and sometimes simultaneously with, all things Christmas. We are reminded that it is time to plan, list, shop, wrap,  bake, clean, and create. From July through January, we work physically, mentally, and emotionally and are rewarded with special times with our family and friends. The last months of the year are a whirlwind of family, food, fun, and friends. All our work is realized at this particular time of year. 

Then, it is over. And weeks stretch before us that are less busy and chaotic. These "ordinary" days should be the norm. We have family, friends, homes, jobs, and hobbies; we live our daily lives with our families and friends. When I feel bad for doing nothing, I will remind myself that I am doing the most important thing: living. What might that look like? Perhaps like...

Cold winter mornings with coffee and prayers...

Breakfast for dinner on a Sunday evening...

Snuggles on the couch with not one...

But two precious pups...

And cozy afternoons with my youngest and our homeschool lessons.

Have a lovely, typical, ordinary day, my friends!

Billie Jo

February Friday!

 

Hello! Happy Friday and Happy February! I hope you had a happy, healthy week and are ready for a lovely, cozy weekend. My mom had a wonderful birthday this week! Thank you all for the sweet messages. I shared them with her on her special day. Here she is with my sister Margie, all ready to celebrate!

The remainder of our week was quiet and uneventful, as late January weeks tend to be. We homeschooled, read, watched Gilmore Girls, and cooked delicious dinners. Steve and I had an appointment in town, which required me to locate real clothes and dust the cobwebs off my makeup brushes. Once our meeting was finished, I decided that since I resembled an actual member of society, I should go to lunch. I sent a quick text to Nicolas and Christopher to see if they could sneak away from work for a bit, and they were both able to join us for a delicious lunch! Spending a little time with the two amazing young men who make our daughters so happy was so nice. I had a burrito bowl with beef, rice, tomatoes, cheese, and avocado. Delicious! It came with these new-to-me potato chips. I am not a chip fan, but these were amazing!

The rest of the week resembled this.

And this.

Two of our favorite meals this week...

Tilapia

I like to use frozen fish, so I had to cook it at 450 degrees for 30 minutes. We had it with rice, sauteed frozen zucchini, and some organic cherry tomatoes.

Mediterranean Zucchini Chicken Bake

This is also delicious. I served it with sweet potatoes and applesauce.

Cosmo and I hope you have a lovely weekend. We have little on the schedule, which is how winter weekends should be. We can use the beauty of the darker days and early nights to catch up on rest from the holidays and prepare for the busy days of spring. It is perfectly fine to follow nature's lead. Snuggle in and enjoy the stillness. 

Have a cozy weekend, my friends!

Billie Jo

Caption This!

 Big meeting at the feeder this morning. I wonder what they were talking about? 

Happy Wednesday, my friends!

Billie Jo