Zaya (5) is starting to feel better, but now Zechariah (10) is coming down with a cold. 😫 He has been coughing all day. 🤧
I was expecting one of the other kids to get sick right after Zaya, so this is not a surprise to me at all. This is our normal for big family life! 😆
Nothing too exciting happened today. The kids had a pajama day and played some games.
I listened to two episodes of my favorite podcast while I cleaned and sanitized the upstairs of our house. I like to listen to an audiobook or podcast while I clean because it helps pass the time.
About 2.5 hours later, I took a lunch and tea break, got cozy in my room, and watched The West Wing.
Here are a few moments from today’s chill day.
My day started bright and early at 7:30 a.m. I turned on a jazz playlist on Spotify and cooked pancakes. Then, I enjoyed a cozy breakfast solo before the kids woke up. I needed this quiet time. 😊🥞☕️
Fridays are for Snack Cereal Day! It’s a fun family tradition we started a few years ago. On Fridays, the kids have a sweet cereal for breakfast. They always look forward to it!
Jumbo marshmallows! 🤩 Today’s snack cereal was Lucky Charms and Golden Grahams. We like to switch up the cereals so they don’t get bored with it.
A cozy lunch. New Year’s leftovers: egg rolls, wontons, and rice.
A little sweet treat afyer lunch: ginger peach tea, shortbread cookies, and chocolate almond. 😍
After caring for my sick five year old, not getting much sleep this week, and taking Zhen and Zechariah to the dentist the other day, it felt good to get caught up on some housework and spend the rest of my day relaxing.
This weekend’s focus is to rest some more!
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Today, we welcomed the New Year at mass by celebrating the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Zaya was feeling a little better, so she was able to attend church. We had her wear a face mask for added precaution.
The New Year’s Day mass was beautiful! I’m so glad we were able to begin 2026 in this way.
We spent the rest of our day quietly at home, just relaxing and spending time together as a family.
Here are a few moments from our New Year’s Day.
It snowed last night (New Year’s Eve). I like how the snow makes everything look so peaceful and soft.
It was our first time visiting this particular parish, so we were excited to see all of the beautiful Christmas decorations.
The stained glass window art was beautiful!
Blessed Solanus Casey
Travis and I bought E (25) an Instant Pot for Christmas. Unfortunately, it was damaged, so after church, I exchanged the damaged pot for a new one.
E was excited to try out his new Instant Pot for the first time. His first meal cooked in the pot was beef and broccoli.
Travis cooked homemade egg rolls and (what we call) cream cheese wontons. He uses his own recipe for making the filling for the wontons. They are DELICIOUS!
This evening, I worked on making new earrings. I love these classic literature book earrings I created.
These popcorn earrings I made are cute and silly. 🍿 I can’t wait to wear them this week.
I don’t have my New Year’s resolutions ready yet. I still need some time to think about it.
My 2025 resolution was to focus more on slow living. I think I did a pretty good job keeping my resolution.
I still have some growing to do, but I know in 2025, I made many positive changes in my life. 😊
Wishing you a Happy New Year! 😊✨️💜🙏🏽
“See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth — do you not perceive it?” Isaiah 43:19
I wish I had some heartfelt reflections to share for a New Year’s Eve post, but the truth is I am drained.
Today was a challenging day. I woke up early this morning in a cranky mood because I was sleep deprived and felt overwhelmed.
Caring for my sick five-year-old, taking two of the kids to their routine dental checkups, trying to remember all the things that need to get done this week, and running on very little sleep has been a lot for me to carry.
I don’t have the energy to write much tonight, but here are a few photos from the day — photos that brought me joy and reminded me of this:
Deep breaths. Pray when feeling anxious and overwhelmed, even if it’s a quick prayer right where I am.
Simple acts of kindness can truly make a difference in someone’s day. When the day is feeling heavy and chaotic, remember to find small moments to slow down.
Deep breaths.
This morning, I remembered my morning anchors to help me find my focus.
I lit my candles, turned on soft classical music, refilled the bird feeders outside, boiled water for the teapot, and cooked a light breakfast.
Steeping My Lavender Rose Black Tea first thing in the morning. Slow sips of tea helped me find calmness and slow down.
I refilled the bird feeders this morning. It made me smile watching the little Juncos hop around in the snow. 🐦😊
Miko, my oldest daughter’s kitten watching Zaya and Zephaniah (8) walk up to the door.
To cheer up a sick Zaya, I told her Miko would be waiting for her to arrive at her big sister’s apartment. Mj (23) adopted a kitten this past fall, and he loves playing with Zaya.
How adorable it was to actually see the playful kitten sitting in the patio window right when we pulled up to Mj’s place! It was as if Miko knew Zaya was on her way over. 🥹
(Mj watched Zaya and Zephaniah for me while I took Zhen and Zechariah to their dentist appointments.)
I’m thankful for moments of kindness today — moments when others showed me compassion and helped me navigate this challenging day.
I brought two of my favorite things with me to the dentist appointments: tea and a cozy book to read while I waited.
I am learning to bring along the things that help me find peace on challenging days.
The office manager at the dentist office was very kind to make me some more tea. Just a simple cup of tea made me smile and helped me to relax. I was so grateful for this moment.
How cool is this tissue box I saw at the dentist’s office? I want to get a couple for my house. 📚
After the dentist, I made a quick stop at a local market with Zhen (13) and Zechariah (10). In this photo, Zechariah was admiring all of the candy options at the store. 😄🍬🍭
Playing the game Perfection with Zaya.
Later in the evening, Zaya started to feel a little better. 😊 We played some games together, like Perfection and Minecraft with her dad.
It made me happy (and relieved) to see my chatty, joyful little girl get some of her energy back.
Happy New Year! ✨️
“But those who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength;they shall soar on wings like eagles.They shall run and not grow weary,they shall walk and not grow faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Zaya (5) woke up in good spirits this morning, despite having trouble sleeping through the night (which meant I, too, didn’t get good sleep 😕). I monitored her temperature, made sure she drank water, and comforted her when she needed it most. 😊
I was considering taking her to the doctor today, but thankfully, she didn’t get a fever or have any other symptoms to cause concern.
Zaya snuggling with Stitch last night. 🥹💜
🧺 Clean Laundry Folded — Check!
Since Zaya was feeling a little better today, I took the opportunity to catch up on laundry.
When just one of the children are sick, routine household tasks and any other commitments are put on hold.
It can sometimes feel overwhelming to get out of sync with our routines, so it felt good to knock out some of the clean laundry. 🙌🏾😁
Before — when I dumped all of the clean laundry on the bed.
After — feels good to get it done! 😁
🤗 A Sign That Zaya is Starting to Feel Better
Another sign that Zaya was starting to feel better? All throughout the day she followed me around and asked me if she could help me with whatever task I was working on. 🥹
Zaya LOVES helping. She helped me make tea, clean the top of the dryer, bring the laundry down to the basement, and make lunch! 💜
Zaya helping make lunch. 😊
We made turkey sandwiches for lunch. 🥪
🍪☕️ A Cozy Book, Cookies, and Tea
It wasn’t all work today. I did enjoy some quiet time reading the novel Little Women while eating homemade cookies and sipping lavender rose black tea. 😊
Delicious, homemade cookies I baked today.
🤧 Cold and Flu Season is Here
I started to feel some mild cold symptoms, too. I hope I don’t get sick, but considering E and Zaya are sick, it’s a strong possibility more of us in the family will get it, too. 🫤
Wintertime is usually when we get sick. It takes about three weeks or more for the entire household to be sick-free.
I’m expecting this sickness to make its way through the house soon. When one person in the family gets sick, it’s only a matter of time before the others get it. 🤒🤧
Health alert from one of my apps.
So far to prepare, I cooked a big pot of chicken noodle soup and stocked up on chicken broth and Pedialyte pops.
We’ve already got plenty of herbal teas in the cabinet. Loose leaf tea is our go-to for when we are feeling sick. ☕️🌿
For this week’s grocery order, I plan on getting more applesauce, fresh fruit, boxes of tissue, and other food/supplies we need to be ready for whatever the next few days bring.
I’m anticipating a lot of cozy reading, indoor activities, binge-watching Netflix series, and resting at home! 😌✨️
“Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.” Romans 12:12
It sounds so dramatic, doesn’t it? A bomb cyclone?
But today I learned something new from the AP: a bomb cyclone is a winter storm that intensifies really fast.
And apparently, I just so happen to live in a region that is susceptible to bomb cyclones in the wintertime.
Of course, I do!
Just a few winters ago, we were hit with a Polar Vortex — something i had never heard of before until moving to the Midwest. 😂
A mourning dove waiting for me to fill the bird feeder. 😄
🐦 The Bomb Cyclone Didn’t Stop the Birds from Eating!
I was actually surprised to find some birds at the patio bird feeders this morning. The bomb cyclone didn’t stop the birds from showing up for their seeds. 🐦😄
Except for the blue jays — I notice when the weather gets bad like this, I don’t hear or see the blue jays until the weather is much calmer.
Thankfully, our house blocks most of the wind on the back patio, so the other birds (juncos, mourning doves, and sparrows) can find some refuge at the bird feeders.
One of the bird feeders on my patio.
🤒 Poor Little Zaya is Sick
Zaya (5) is sick with a bad cold. So, we’ve been focusing on healing and resting today with A LOT of Peppa the Pig binge-watching. 🐷
I think she caught her cold from E (25, big brother). He’s been sick with a cold for almost a week now.
Unfortunately, because his job is so strict about attendance (even with a doctor’s note! 🫤), he hasn’t been able to take a sick day. He could honestly use about 2 or 3 days off from work to fully recover.
Zaya snuggling up with Stitch. She has been sick with a bad cold.
🤕 We Need Better Sick Care Practices in our Workforce
I wish the American workforce had better policies in place to protect workers who need time off when they are sick.
I mean, wasn’t it not too long ago we had a global pandemic that taught us we need to have better sick care practices in place? 😐🤷🏽♀️
But what do I know?
A health alert from my weather app today.
🚗 Traveling Across the Border, in a Bomb Cyclone for Makeup
Despite the crazy weather, I did manage to complete one out-of-the-house errand today.
I stopped by Ulta to exchange my bareMinerals foundation (that I bought a couple of days ago) for a lighter shade. I accidentally bought a shade that wasn’t the right color for my skin tone.
I’ve been wearing bareMinerals powder foundation for years now. It’s great for sensitive skin!
While I was looking for the shade I needed, I overheard a woman say she has to “come across the border” just to buy her bareMinerals makeup.
She said she lives in Canada, and the store she frequents no longer sells bareMinerals.
I was amazed to learn that not only does a Canadian store no longer sell bareMinerals (maybe because of the tariffs?), but someone else like me was out braving the winter storm to get her makeup, even traveling to another country for it! 😆
Sunshine, rain, hail, sleet — or even in a bomb cyclone — we will get our makeup! 🙌🏾🤭😄
“…in the shadow of your wings I take refuge, until the storms pass by.” Psalm 57:1
All images in this blog post are my own photography. If you’d like to use a photo, please contact me first for permission. Thank you!
The dryer stopped working yesterday, but I didn’t find out about it until this afternoon. 😐
E (25) let me know he tried drying a load of laundry yesterday, but when he returned later on for his clothes, the clothes were still wet.
So, I wasn’t able to do much laundry today. I only washed a small load of cleaning towels, which I had to hang dry in the basement.
I’ll have to put a work order in for the dryer on Monday.
I think this is the third time this year the dryer has had an issue. 😐
🛍 Running a Couple of Errands
The weather was cold, cloudy, and a little wet today. Dreary weather makes me feel like taking a nap, so I made today another chill day.
Zaya (5) went with me to run a couple of errands at Target and Meijer.
At Meijer, we bought a big bag of shelled peanuts for the blue jays (and pesky squirrels) I love feeding.
Checking out the crafts aisle at Target.
Zaya ringing up our items at Target. 😊
🐦 Blue Jays and Sneaky Squirrels
Around midday, I was in my room watching TV, and I could hear a blue jay loudly calling out.
I looked out the window, and I saw a jay perched on a branch in the tree on my patio just looking at my window.
One of the blue jays who regularly visits the bird feeders in my patio garden.
I get about three jays who show up for peanuts. Whenever there aren’t any peanuts out, they loudly call out until I open the door and toss out some peanuts for them. Clever birds!
I don’t particularly love feeding the squirrels, though. They just show up as they please and snatch as many peanuts as they can before the blue jays get to them. 😒
It amazes me I spend money to feed birds that aren’t even my pets. 😐😂
👸🏻 Watching Victoria with Chocolate Chai Tea and Chocolates
Back at home, I made a cozy brunch for the kids and I. Then, I watched three episodes of the first season of Victoria, the Masterpiece Theatre series (2016 – 2019).
I LOVE historical dramas, and I especially love Masterpiece Theatre! I’m thinking about getting a subscription to PBS Passport so I can watch all the Masterpiece Theatre shows to my heart’s desire. 😍😄
While watching the show, I sipped my favorite Chocolate Chai tea and munched on decadent milk chocolate almond bars.
Travis got me a small box of these chocolates for Christmas. Kinda pricey, but totally worth it!
Sanders chocolates are divine!
🧒🏽 Five Challenges to Complete, According to an Eight Year Old
Zephaniah (8) said the cutest thing today. He said, “Mom, I have five things I have to do today before I play Minecraft Dungeons.” (That’s the new video game the kids got for Christmas.)
He said he needed to make his bed, get dressed, have some M&Ms 😆, clean under and around his bed, and brush his teeth.
I got the kids M&M Minis as part of their Christmas stocking treats. 😊
“They’re each my separate challenges,” Zephaniah told me.
I’m happy to report he completed all five challenges in under 30 minutes. 😁
“Teach us to count our days aright,that we may gain wisdom of heart.” Psalm 90:12
All images in this blog post are my own photography. If you’d like to use a photo, please contact me first for permission. Thank you!
This is what the day after Christmas looks like: children’s gifts scattered about the table and all over the main room.
Opened boxes, crumbled packaging paper, Lego blocks on the table and the floor, ferocious dinosaurs with slime (gotta make sure the slime stays off the carpet!), board games with the tokens found here and there, French toast and a bottle of maple syrup, and soft, squishy plush dolls.
Lots of joy and laughter.
And I told my perfectionist brain that thrives on organization and clutter-free rooms: Everything is okay. Take a day (maybe two) to let the kids enjoy this. Let it all just be.
This is the day after Christmas. 😊🎄✨️
🥶 Freezing Rain + a Cozy Day Home
We had a few hours of freezing rain. Ice quickly started to cover the sidewalks and roads, so it was the perfect day to stay home and let the kids explore their gifts.
I made more homemade French Toast and hot cocoa. ☕️😊 I decided not to worry about to-do lists, laundry, or household tasks.
Except for the dishes. I did do the dishes. 😄
💅🏾 Painting Our Nails Together
Zaya and I painted our nails. I painted my nails a soft, shimmery color called “Triple Thread.”
Zaya used her purple and pink Piggy Paint nail polish I got for her Christmas stocking. It’s a non-toxic nail polish brand for kids.
One of the kids asked me, “So does that mean all the nail polishes for adults are toxic?!” 😱🙃
💄A Little Glam
It was a good time to wash my makeup brushes. About a year ago, I took a break from wearing makeup. It just started to take up too much time when getting ready.
I usually just wear my favorite Revlon red lipstick and mascara. But for some reason, I felt like wearing a little more makeup again. Not a full face— just a soft, natural look with my Revlon red lipstick for a pop of color.
🙄 Bruh!
Mj (23) got her little siblings a BIG Lanky Box gift set for Christmas. They were super excited!
I don’t understand why kids love replaying sounds nonstop. All day the kids kept pressing this “Bruh” button. It drove me crazy! Lol 🤪🤣
They thought it was hilarious hearing Lanky Box say over and over, “Breh! Bruh!” 😐😂
🎲 Playing Games with Big Brother
When E (25) got home from work, he promised his little brothers and sisters he’d play a game with them.
He played Minecraft with Zhen (13) and Zechariah (10) for a little bit, and then he played Monopoly Junior with Zephaniah (8) and Zaya (5). Zephaniah won. 😄
📚🍕 A Gentle (and Delicious!) End to the Week
I always get sleepy around 6 p.m. I start my days early, usually around 6:30 a.m. or 7 a.m., so once 6 p.m. hits, I am ready to wind down for the night.
For tonight’s cozy bedtime routine, I read a chapter of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It’s one of the books I bought on Christmas Eve at my favorite local bookstore.
I love that Little Women begins on Christmas. It’s very fitting for a December read. 🎄✨️
And it’s Pizza Friday, so of course, I had my favorite Italian pizza from our local market. 😍🍕😋
“A joyful heart is the health of the body.” Proverbs 17:22
All images in this blog post are my own photography. If you’d like to use a photo, please contact me first for permission. Thank you!
Three Christmas Eves ago, I stepped into a local bookshop scrambling to find last-minute gifts for Travis and the kids.
I loved the coziness of the charming shop that it soon became a treasured Christmas tradition I look forward to every year.
📚 A Mother-Daughter Christmas Tradition
Last Christmas Eve, Mj (23) joined me on my visit to the bookshop. I asked her if she’d like to go again with me this Christmas Eve, and she happily said yes.
So, I hope this means it is now our mother-daughter Christmas tradition that we do together.
🙏🏽 A Quiet Refuge That Lifted My Spirit
I think the reason why this has become a Christmas tradition for me is because the cozy bookshop gave me so much comfort and peace during a challenging season of my life.
During that challenging season, I felt overwhelmed and sad. Yet, inside the bookstore I felt a quiet refuge that lifted my spirit.
Then, the next day was Christmas Day. I had a two-week break from homeschooling and my part-time work-from-home job.
During my short holiday break, I was able to focus on resting and slowing down. My time off helped me find some healing and peace that I desperately needed.
😌 Slow Season is Here
I like to think of my annual Christmas Eve bookshop visit as the kickoff to my slow season— a season where I take an extended break from busy schedules, rushing around, life stressors, and my anxiety.
It’s a time where I get to reset for the new year.
I read Cold Sassy Tree when I was in the 11th grade. I thought I’d revisit the book.
😌 Taking Time to Heal
This year’s visit was a good one for me. I realized I was in a better place in my life mentally and spiritually. The time I took to heal this year, truly helped me.
It’s funny how a small thing — like stopping into a bookstore — can leave such a meaningful impact on your life. 😊
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Matthew 11:28-30
All images in this blog post are my own photography. If you’d like to use a photo, please contact me first for permission. Thank you!
Today started bright and early with a 7 a.m. store run for a few last-minute Christmas errands.
I picked up batteries for the kids’ gifts at Target. You think you’re done Christmas shopping until you realize you have to buy loads of batteries for your kids’ gadgets and toys. 🤦🏽♀️🤣
I also bought a couple of small presents for two of our neighbors — a little way to bless them for always being so kind to us.
Then, it was a quick stop at the grocery store for milk, eggs, and more rice. I must say, the stores were wonderfully quiet that early in the morning — my favorite time to shop. 😌
Gift cards are the best option when you don’t know exactly what to get a friend! 🙌🏾🎁✨️
Another Target run! 😏 Never fear—I went bright and early at 7 a.m. before the holiday shoppers rushed out. 🙌🏾
Christmas gifts for my sweet neighbors. 🎁😊
🥞 French Toast and Waffles for Christmas Eve Breakfast
After my early morning errands, Travis and I cooked breakfast. The kids wanted chocolate chip waffles, so he made a fresh batch (with little Zaya, of course 😉).
I think I upped my French Toast game because the way I’ve been making it this past week has been absolutely heavenly. 🤤😍 Travis even said my French Toast recipe tastes like fancy restaurant-style. 😊
Chocolate chip waffles for the kids. 🧇😋
We have been on a French Toast kick over here. Travis says the way I make my homemade French Toast tastes like the $9 kind you buy at a restaurant. 😁🥰
📚 A Christmas Eve Tradition: Visiting My Favorite Bookshop in a Cozy Little City
Later in the morning, Mj (23) joined me for our yearly Christmas Eve tradition: a visit to my favorite local bookshop, where I browsed the shelves and picked out books for Travis and the kids.
Every Christmas Eve, I visit my favorite local bookshop in a city just 20 minutes away.
I think I love going to this bookshop because while everyone else is rushing out to stores and standing in long lines, I’m doing the opposite — I’m slowing down and soaking in the cozy quiet of the shelves and stories. 📚🥰✨️
What Are You Reading? 📚
Get Your Mitts in a Book. 📚 I love bookstore signs.
🙏🏽 Christmas Eve Mass
We ended the day by celebrating Christmas Mass together at church — a peaceful and beautiful way to close out Christmas Eve.
The church was decorated beautifully with Christmas trees, big wreaths hanging on the walls, the Nativity scene, and twinkling lights.
A feeling of joy and peace enveloped me as we sang traditional Christmas hymns and celebrated the birth of our Savior. 🥰🙏🏽✨️
Zaya (5) and Zephaniah (8) were excited to see the Baby Jesus revealed at the Christmas Eve Mass. 🥰🎄✨️
The Nativity Manger at church is so pretty!
🎁 And Now We Gift Wrap All of the Presents
Sometime after church, Travis and I started wrapping some of the Christmas presents, but now we’re too tired to finish up the wrapping.
So, we’ll get up early and finish wrapping gifts before the kids wake up. These days, I’m an early riser, so I will be up before the sun rises.
Travis, however, will still be snoozing in the bed. If he doesn’t have to go to work, no alarm can wake him, no matter how many he sets on his phone. 😂
It’s okay—I’ll let him sleep in a bit. He deserves some extra rest after working overtime hours six days a week this past month.
It will also give me a chance to wrap the gifts I bought for him. 🥰🎁✨️ I can’t wait for everyone to open their gifts tomorrow! I hope the kids love what we picked out for them.
Merry Christmas Eve! ❤️🎄✨️🙏🏽
“For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.” Luke 2:11
All images in this blog post are my own photography. If you’d like to use a photo, please contact me first for permission. Thank you!
Switching things up a bit this year for our Christmas outfits. We were planning on dressing up for church, but today I had a fun outfit idea for Christmas mass: wear Christmas sweaters!
This way we don’t feel so pressured to get dressed up (and it saves us a little money 😉).
I think it will be fun to wear Christmas sweaters for Christmas mass. 😊🎄✨️
Thankfully, all I needed to buy were two Christmas sweaters for two kiddos (Zaya, 5 amd Zechariah, 10).
So, we stopped by the thrift store to buy a couple of gently pre-loved Christmas sweaters.
My Christmas sweater I’m wearing for Christmas mass.
One thing about the thrift store—you can always find a good Christmas sweater, especially the cringy ones! 😂
The cringy (but cute) Christmas sweater we found for Zechariah, complete with a red bow tie! 😄👔
I couldn’t find a sweater for Zaya, but we found this cute, sparkly Christmas dress. 👗✨️ The velvet material of the dress is fitting for a Christmas sweater theme. 😊
Christmas sweaters are definitely better for us. I already feel more relaxed because I don’t have to rush out to the store trying to find dressy Christmas outfits for everyone. 😌✨️
Plus, it will give us something to smile about and focus on spending time together as a family and making happy memories. ❤️🎄
All images in this blog post are my own photography. If you’d like to use a photo, please contact me first for permission. Thank you!
