Hey There Pumpkin

My gift to myself yesterday?

Not this mug, but I guess kinda. I think it’s pretty darn cute. I found it at Hobby Lobby yesterday. Don’t mind the chipped nails and white paint.

My gift to myself yesterday was being home alone, tunes cranked, paintbrush in hand and a beer.

You know the saying….Dance like nobody’s watching? It’s that kind of a moment for me when I’m home alone and crank the tunes. I’ve been doing this since I was a kid when I was home alone after school.

Music makes me happy. I’d choose it over TV any day. Sometimes with the music playing, I’m singing and cooking. Maybe I’m singing and organizing a cabinet or drawer. Yesterday I was singing and painting bar stools and jamming out to Joss Stone. In between paint strokes, I danced.

It was late in the afternoon and this was one of those days when I wanted a beer while I jammed out and painted. So I did.

This is one of my new NA beer finds and I really like this one. I just had one and this one is only 70 calories!

While I should have been painting the fireplace, I was actually painting two barstools. I don’t know why. I’ve had this idea for them in the living room and as things are all coming together I was curious. So we’ll see!

Those couple of hours were one of my favorite Gifts to myself so far this month.

I kinda feel like I’m keeping a gratitude journal. Or maybe a joy journal? An appreciation journal? I’m not sure, but I know at the end of the month I’m going to feel awesome about this little whim of a thing I’m doing.

Maybe this becomes a thing. Maybe. There is certainly no down side to taking a few minutes each day to appreciate something joyful and feel grateful, even if it’s the sun setting.

After a grocery discussion on Wednesday night with my daughter Tess, she had Walmart deliver groceries here yesterday morning and that saved me all sorts of time! Lamp number two was delivered right after the groceries were delivered so as soon as the groceries were put away, I assembled a lamp. I’ll show ya later when things come together a little more.

I was wide awake last night and decided at 10 o’clock to put the second coat of paint on the fireplace. It’s going to need a third coat and that should happen today.

Tess and Manuel are driving here from Dallas tomorrow!

Activity

My workout yesterday was a 25 minute weight routine. I’m still very impressed with the communication I’m receiving from the trainer. She must get a message when I start my workout in the app because I always get a text from her asking me what I thought about my workout as soon as I click finish in the app.

In our initial meeting she made notes of what equipment I have at home and she’s doing a great job of working in a routine that utilizes what I have. And….anytime I have a question she’s been great at getting back with me fairly quickly!

I seriously was laying in bed one night and decided to Google online trainer. And tada!

Oatmeal Muffin

That’s what I’m going to call it.

While I did figure out how to do a recipe blog post with a recipe card and the whole bit, it needs work because it looks really lame and I’m not sure how to make it look a tad more professional. So, I will work on my blogging skills and continue to show you my daily oatmeal variety.

If you haven’t made this yet and you’re an oatmeal fan, here ya go.

1/3 C oatmeal
1 Banana (or 1/3 C unsweetened applesauce or 1/3 C pure pumpkin
1 egg
1 tsp cinnamoon (or pumpkin pie spice)
Liquid stevia drops, or sweetener of your choice

Mix all ingredients in a ramekin and microwave for 3 minutes. Add in anything you like. Nuts, fresh or frozen fruit, chocolate chips or any other flavor chips. Top with a variety of things…syrup, nut butter, jam, nuts, pumpkin butter. Really the variety and possibilities here are endless and several of you have let me know you make this!

I started eating my first meal around noon several months ago and it just kind of stuck. Breakfast is coffee and that’s working for me right now. I do need to work at getting in more veggies than just at dinner. Goals. Always something to work towards.

Breakfast

Coffee with unsweetened almond milk

Lunch

Today’s version. Pumpkin topped with banana and 1 T. Pure Maple Syrup