Gratitude and Highlights Each Day in January

Brr! January had some really cold days this year and those cold days feeling stuck inside made the month feel extra long. Luckily we had enough fun plans, puzzles, and good books to keep it interesting. 

1. Thankful for a quiet, low-key day at home. I got to work on some scrapbook pages today and ended our evening with a fire and some card games with my mother in law joining us. 4.014 steps. 

2. So grateful to get all caught on my scrapbooking before the next batch of photos arrive! Another fabulous day at home crafting and playing games with my sons and mother in law. 2,446 steps. 

3. Evan, Alec and I had dentist appointments today and I am so thankful we all had no issues at all. I did find time for a quick walk before and while cold it was beautiful out. 8,154 steps.

I spotted a bald eagle flying overhead; sorry it's so blurry but I had to zoom way in

4. SO thankful for helpful YouTube videos! I spent the bulk of my day teaching myself how to use digital stamps to make cards using both the printer and my Cricut. 3,752 steps. 

5. So thankful to hear the excited chorus of "hi, Alec how was your trip?" & "yay! Alec's here" when we dropped him back at school; his roommate and friends are so sweet! Started the day out grocery shopping, dropped Alec back off at school, then worked on my puzzle for a bit. 8,564 steps. 

6. Grateful that Evan had a good check-up today! I spent the majority of my day in front of our fireplace working on the blog, watching TV, adding a few pieces to my latest puzzle and getting Evan's schoolwork set for the next day. My step-counter malfunctioned and I have 0 steps listed.. 

The workout I completed in the morning

7. So thankful that long distance calls are free now; I think my mom and I talked for well over 2 hours! Gym, school with Evan, we took some outfit photos for the blog and I spent the afternoon on the phone with my mom catching up. 7,222 steps.

8. I was so thankful my English muffins came out so well; even if we have some really oddly small ones despite using a biscuit cutter to cut them all uniformly.  Gym, school with Evan, I made some homemade English Muffins, and spent my afternoon working on my latest puzzle. 10,044 steps. 

They're delicious topped with homemade strawberry jam from this summer

9. I am so thankful for excellent and endless home workouts! Home workout, worked on some cardmaking, school with Evan, we ran a few errands and then I spent my afternoon in the basement working on the blog, my puzzle, and watching TV. Another day it malfunctioned and said 0

This was such a good workout but I had to take a small break 1/2 way through my abs were so sore

10. So grateful that my husband doesn't mind when I spring a last minute request to get take out on him. Gym, school with Evan, checked in with Alec to see how his first week back was going, worked in the basement on my puzzle, the blog, prepping schoolwork for Evan for next week. 5,717 steps. 

11. So thankful Ian was able to fix my food processor after it broke. A snowy day where I went grocery shopping then spent my afternoon reading, working on the puzzle, etc. 4,985 steps. 

despite snowing all day we only had a dusting by dinnertime. 

12. So thankful for a wonderful night celebrating my oldest. I spent my day making a card and cake topper and shopping for a last minute family only celebration for Ian and his college graduation. 0 Again! I don't know what's going on with this thing..

13. So thankful for a "warm"' day in the 40's today! After the gym and a bit of school with Evan both Evan and I headed out hiking. It felt so good to be outside! 12,993 steps. 

14. So thankful for a warm house that keeps us protected from the elements; it was so windy we could feel the house shaking today. School with Evan, I finished my puzzle, we sorted all 800+ photos from vacation into where/what day they were taken, I had a haircut, and put together a cabbage/vegetable soup in the crock pot.  5,181 steps. 

15. So thankful for cold weather gear that keeps us somewhat warm as we hike. Gym, school with Evan, a quick 45- minute freezing cold hike, then I cleaned the whole upstairs, wrapped gifts and settled down to work on some blogging. 13,132 steps.

16. Thankful for some good audiobooks to keep me company while cleaning. I skipped my workout again because I knew it was going to be a busy on-the-go kind of day; Evan and I headed out grocery shopping, I got gas, went to the library, cleaned the downstairs, did ALL the laundry that I had been neglecting to get all the bedding/bath stuff done for everyone's rooms & bathrooms this week.   9,211 steps.

17. So grateful to notice it's staying light later! Gym, quick school work with Evan and then headed out to pick up Alec. I love these car rides home catching up with him on his new classes. 8,882 steps.

sun setting around 5!

 

18. So thankful that even though the bakery had no record of my cheesecake order that they offered us a dozen cheesecake cupcakes instead. We celebrated Alec's 19th birthday with the grandparents today. 6,516 steps.

19. So thankful we were able to swap our tickets from tomorrow to today for the Van Gogh exhibit. Alec, Evan and I started our day heading to Worcester for the Van Gogh experience and by night fall we had some snow on the ground. 5.070 steps. 

20. So thankful the roads were all cleared by the time I drove Alec back to school. Snowy morning getting the woodstove going, starting a soup in the crock pot, and getting Alec all packed up. 6,703 steps. 

I started a new puzzle too!

Only the backroads weren't completely cleared

21. So thankful for heat, electricity, and our woodstove!  It was -2 when I woke up so I had zero plans to go anywhere; I bundled up in layers and spent my day in the basement in front of the woodstove watching tv, reading, and working on my latest puzzle as soon as Evan and I finished his schoolwork. 5,710 steps. 

22. So thankful for good shows that make me laugh out loud. Another cold day mostly at home; though I did leave to bring Evan to his friend's house and pick up some fresh apples from the orchard. 4,819 steps. 

23. So thankful for search engines that let me Google recipes based on the handful of ingredients I had left in the house. Another cold day that I spent mostly inside-- even Evan elected to work on school in front of the woodstove. 6,062 steps.

This new recipe we tried was really yummy and so easy! 

24. So thankful that the internet problems I was having resolved themselves by lunchtime! Skipped my workout to go grocery shopping since it finally "warmed up" (not really but at least it was in the double digits again!). We really needed everything. After school with Evan him and I went to run a few errands while he drove. 8,222 steps.

I'm not sure I've ever stuffed my cart so full just to get to the register

25. Thankful for a wonderful afternoon/evening date "night" with my husband. I spent my morning paying bills, doing laundry, and reading my book. My husband suggested we head to Foxwoods Casino for the afternoon and evening so we could walk around and get some exercise before heading out to dinner. 13, 055 steps. 

What I wore in the morning; I forgot to snap a photo of my date night outfit. 

26. So thankful that my husband washed the cars while the weather was sort-of nice out. I spent a lazy day reading and nearly finished my book. 

27. SO very thankful to have found my desire to get back to the gym today! Gym, school with Evan, cleaned the upstairs, felt the house shake from the earthquake off Maine's south coast, and started working on my Hawaii scrapbook pages. 8,590 steps. 

28. So grateful that Evan's first day of his college math class went so well! Ran on the treadmill, hiked, read my book. 13,663 steps

29. So thankful that Evan and I managed a hike before it started raining/snowing. Gym, school with Evan, hike, errands, and blogging- it was a full day! 12,805 steps.

It was so warm I didn't even need a coat to go hiking! (so, like 40-45 degrees!)

They don't show up well but we had flurries in the afternoon.

30. So thankful that Target had everything on my list; I love one stop shopping! Finished cleaning the whole house then headed out to Target while Evan was at school before coming home to start making cookies to send to Alec. 6,342 steps. 

31. So grateful for technology like audiobooks that keep me entertained while cooking/baking. Gym, school with Evan then spent the rainy day in the kitchen baking and cooking. 7,619

broccoli and mushroom crustless quiche

another batch of my favorite granola

Nutella sandwich cookies

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