This little mug is an oldie but a goodie. It’s a Christmas miracle it’s still around. It says clearly on the bottom of the cup “not dishwasher safe” and I’ve ignored that, hence all the little cracks. Oops.
Friday I left the house around noon to finish up ALL Christmas shopping and pulled into the driveway after six. Done I say. Done!
Saturday I met a friend early for coffee, then met a few friends for a birthday lunch, then spent the evening with one of my grand daughters making Christmas cookies and taking her for a little drive to see Christmas Lights. While this night was so much fun, it was supposed to be me and four grand kids. Three of the grand kids had to cancel at the last minute because one wasn’t feeling well and they didn’t want to pass anything on to me, which I greatly appreciate, but was super bummed as these kids are all just so dang fun and go along with any crazy idea I throw out there. I had quite the Christmas Light tour planned throughout the city.
This was however the first time that Wrenley (four years old and expecting a baby brother any day!) and I had ever spent time just the two of us, so we had a great bonding evening together.
On our agenda, make Christmas cookies, listen to Christmas music, go see Christmas Lights, read How the Grinch Stole Christmas. We got it allll in.
I made cookies with my mom when I was a kid using all of these cookie cutters.
Wren seemed to be a fan of the Gingerbread Man, but more than anything enjoyed the freedom of being an icing mixologist (it’s a thing), which I encouraged.
We emptied the pantry. Yes, those are pumpkins on that gingerbread man. Yes, that is a gingerbread man.
She described this concoction as “delicious, this is amazing Gigi…..and crunchy”.
Then made it even crunchier.
Basically, I let her do whatever creative thing she wanted to do, and we both loved it. I sent her home with all of those delicious crunchy icing covered cookies.
Mike is spending his evenings and weekends over at Jake’s (Wrens dad) house helping him finish up the projects on the house Jake and Jordan bought so they can get moved in soon! Jake tackled the big task of removing all of the popcorn ceilings. There is a LOT involved in that! Mike is helping now to finish up. A lot has been done over there since taking possession in September. Painting ceilings, walls, trim, kitchen cabinets, getting new lighting and new carpet. The movers come this week! The baby may also come this week! Yowza!
It’s been another full December weekend and the weekend isn’t over yet!
I am so glad that I had a menu plan for the week. I jotted down a few things that were easy and that we both like. The soup came in handy for a quick and healthy lunch. I shopped for some of the items throughout the week, but what made meals easy this week for me was simply knowing what I was going to make. I made everything on this list.
I’ll be making a menu for next week as well. It came in so handy!
Are you a meal planner?
Activity
Friday was a scheduled workout that included a 3.5 mile walk along with strength training. Saturday was a scheduled rest day.
The trainer checks in with me each week to see what two days I’d like to have as rest days. I like this for a couple of reasons.
It allows me to have rest days from exercise without guilt. If I do get in a walk or some yoga on a scheduled rest day, then it’s a bonus.
It forces me to look at my week and not only plan my workouts, but also plan what days I need a quick dinner and what days I can make something that takes a little more time.
I walked with a friend Friday morning at 9:00. Because it was early, it was also chilly! Making a commitment to walk with a friend is such a great accountability tool for me. It not only got me out the door much earlier that I would have gone alone, chatting makes the time go by so quickly and I walk further. By the time I got home, I’d gotten in just over 4 miles!
It was a great way to start the day!
Friday
Breakfast
Coffee with almond milk
Lunch
I added a few of these tasty morsels to my Oatmeal Thingymabob.
Dinner
I made my Taco Seasoning, then cooked up 3 lbs of ground turkey for taco meat. This will come in handy for more quick meals today and tomorrow, and I’ll likely have some left to freeze.
Nachos and a fake beer for dinner. I used a combo of plantain chips and bell peppers. Topped with black beans, green onions, tomatoes, shredded lettuce and smashed avocado.
Snack
I like a little something sweet after a spicy meal, so I had one of each flavor. One coconut and date roll. One date, pecans and cocoa powder roll. I bought both of these at Sprouts.
Saturday
Breakfast
Black coffee and two protein balls. One mango, one peanut butter chocolate chip.
Lunch
Sangria Mocktail on the menu, shared onion rings and fish tacos for me.
Dinner
Left over Egg Roll in a Bowl
After a little Christmas light tour, Wren and I read this together and it was the perfect end to our Saturday evening, then home to her mom, full of sugar.
Isn’t that what Gigi’s are for?
Have a great day today!
“love the life you live, live the life you love”
Thank you Susan. What a sweet comment to read. I can’t believe you have the same cookie cutters including the one with the red handle! It’s so fun sometimes to share things here on the blog, I never know who has a shared experience. It’s always fun hearing back from readers. I’m not sure how old my mug is. I do have more to share!😂😂
Thank you so much for reading. You have a Merry Christmas too! ❤️🎄
I inherited from my mom the exact same metal cookie cutters you have, even the one with the red wood handle. Amazing! Public service announcement: I have a very old Santa mug, that’s 60 years old, and use it only for decor, since it is likely to have lead in the glazing, so not safe for food use. I don’t remember the year when lead was banned for food ware in the US. How old is your mug? Thanks for your wonderful blog, I so enjoy seeing your beautiful home decor, including Effie’s. Have a very Merry Christmas!