Bye Bye 2020, and Hello 2021!

2020 has been a year for the books. I know I haven't been around much the past few years, and I hope to remedy that in 2021. Even if I only drag over some posts from FB to cover the past 2 years, that might suffice. 

At any rate, I'll do a post soon about all my 2021 goals and plans, but I wanted to say that one of the big goals is to blog every day in 2021. 

Even if no one but me reads it.

Even on days when I feel like I have nothing new to share. 

Even when I think my life is boring or mundane or possibly lame. Especially those days. 

I feel like I've let my creative side grow dormant in recent years, and that stops now. I need a creative outlet. 

So, here I am, raising a glass to 2020 and bidding it a FOND farewell, and welcoming 2021 with open arms. 

Happy New Year! 

My JEEEEEEEP!!

 

You GUYS! My mom found a picture of me, my cousin Danny, and my beloved Jeep today!
*SQUEAL*
This brings back so many happy memories of my early-early adulthood.

#81JeepScramblerPickup
#Cousins
#GreatMemories
#YoungLadyJeepAdventures

PS. I am 19 years old in this picture. Even Hercules thought I was 12. LOL!

PSS. Please to note it was summer of 1993, and I thought I was VERY cool with my tucked and puffed shirt, party pony hair complete with matching scrunchie, plus tucked and rolled jeans, and white Keds.

Pantry Challenge? Yes Please!

 Math Nerd Alert: I love crunching the numbers when it comes to a per serving cost of feeding my people well. 

This week we’ve done a Pantry Challenge to save some pennies and to clear a shelf or two in the pantry and freezer. We ate really well and didn’t feel like we were pinching pennies at all. 

This week’s dinner meals included: 

~Chicken Soup made from bones of a rotisserie chicken in the freezer plus veggies in the ‘limper’ drawer, 

~a baked mostaccioli dish pulled from the freezer that was left after a friend brought us a meal that we couldn’t finish, 

~red beans and rice with smoked sausage created with mostly pantry staples, 

~a night of leftovers so that the fridge got its weekly clean out before trash day, 

~Chicken Dorito Casserole that a friend brought to Game Night to share, 

~a delightful meatballs with lemon basil sauce Instant Pot meal that I prepped a while back and had waiting in the freezer for just a time and this.

~Add in 2 different types of pizza for the 2 Sundays in the this Pantry Challenge and you’ve got one tasty week. 

Anywho, since there are currently 4 people here and we all eat 3 meals and (at least) one snack a day, and we add 6-8 on Sundays for dinner, plus PattyCakes, Cynterra, and Mark popped in for a meal or two, Mom went out for breakfast one day, and Dan brought home fast food for himself and Slick one day, we are looking at 133 servings devoured this week. Phew. Divide the approximately $49 we spent on milk and produce this week by those 133 servings, and we are sitting at a delightful 37 cents per serving. And that makes MamaK pretty happy! 

What’s your kitchen math look like at your house? If you’ve never tried a Pantry Challenge, I urge you to try one. If you need ideas on how to start, let me know. I’ll be glad to help you with ideas. 

#MamaK

#FeedingTeenagers (and everyone else)

#ManCrewHouse

#PantryChallenge

#MathNerd

Happy Sunday

 

Friends, I pray that you enjoy a sweet sweet Sunday surrounded by those you love the most. Lean in, breathe deeply, and take note of how blessed you are, even in these crazy days. 

God is good, still in control, and not surprised by any of the shenanigans that 2020 is trying to pull. 

#CoronaVirusPandemicQuarantine2020

#GodIsGoodAllTheTime

#Shenanigans

#KnockItOff2020

#HappySunday

#ManCrewHouse

Homeschooling Humor

 I saw this on FB this morning, and while I’ve seen it before, it never gets old. #YesAndAmen

The devil whispered to the homeschool mom, “Your not strong enough to withstand this storm.”

She whispered back, “You’re.”

Enough said. *winks* 

Hi Friends!

Howdy Howdy Howdy! Just zipping past the iPad on my way somewhere else, but I have been missing blogging, so I am going to start working it back into my self care routine, as it’s a little something that is just for me and brings me great pleasure. Plus, it is free! 

Here is to seeing you all here more often. 

  ~Mama K~ 

School During the #CoronaVirusPandemicQuarantine2020

 Let’s remember today that there is no universal correct answer that works for every family’s dynamics in regards to schooling for the upcoming school year. They ALL feel like this...

So, whatever you choose for your family, hooray for making that decision, I know it was challenging. Whatever anyone else chooses for their family, offer them the same kindness you would appreciate hearing about your choice.

#Kindness
#ToughDecisions
#HowToSchoolYourChildIn2020
#ALittleSchoolHumor

Selfies with Thea's help

 

When the 1 year old helps take the picture. LOL!
Best worst photo ever  

#TheaB
#ToddlerThea
#TheaTheRipper
#GrandMamaK
#CoronaVirusPandemicQuarantine2020

Redeeming the Quarantine: May 14th

 As heard on the radio this morning:

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

We did not ask for this room or this music.

We were invited in.

Therefore, because the dark surrounds us, let us turn our faces to the light.

Let us endure hardship to be grateful for plenty.

We have been given pain to be astounded by joy.

We have been given life to deny death.

We did not ask for this room or this music.

But because we are here, let us dance.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Read that again. Let it sink deeply into your soul. We didn’t ask for any of this. But because we are here, let us dance. Amen and Amen!

#LetUsDance

#WordsToLiveBy

#YesAndAmen

#CoronaVirusPandemicQuarantine2020

#RedeemingTheQuarantine

No Pants April 2020: Day 30

 No Pants April: Day 30

We made it, my friends! 30 days of easy breezy beautiful outfits, 30 days of fun photo shoots, 30 days of quarantine that didn’t require me to worry about whether my jeans still fit. But all good things must come to an end, and even if I decide to keep wearing skirts, at least it will be the end of my endless selfies.

#NoPantsApril

#NoPantsApril2020

#NPA

#NPA2020

#MamaK

#ManCrewHouse

#NoMoreSelfies

No Pants April 2020: Day 29

 No Pants April: Day 29

Secret Garden skirt by #KaberOriginals with a wine colored tee, some strappy sandals and a snake...or 2.

Yes, this is a repeat. It is a favorite though, so I don’t mind.

#NoPantsApril

#NoPantsApril2020

#NPA

#NPA2020

#MamaK

#ManCrewHouse

#OscarMeyer

#RosieTheRiveter

No Pants April 2020: Day 28

 No Pants April: Day 28

A 2 outfit day since groceries were procured today.

Outfit 1 for morning and running errands: green knit jumper, grey tee, converse, and silly pose that I’ve used for at least 4 years in this outfit.

Outfit 2 for wearing after a shower when I returned home from errands. Burgundy swing dress and flippity floops, although I wore those for just long enough to snap the pics.

A pair of easy breezy outfits for a busy, overly warm, productive, beautiful day.

#NoPantsApril

#NoPantsApril2020

#NPA

#NPA2020

#MamaK

#ManCrewHouse

#ConverseGoWithEverything

#StrikeAPose

No Pants April 2020: Day 27

 Please to admire my new green BASKET!

No Pants April: Day 27

Floral off-the-shoulder dress with high-low hemline. Strappy brown sandals. New green rolling foldable basket, a gift from Dan this morning.

#NoPantsApril

#NoPantsApril2020

#NPA

#NPA2020

#MamaK

#ManCrewHouse

#AdventuresWithHercules

#MamasGotANewBasket

PS. I informed Dan that since he was now fueling my bag/basket addiction, he wasn’t allowed to complain about it ever again.

No Pants April 2020: Day 26

 No Pants April: Day 26

Silk Sari skirt by #DarnGoodYarn with a fancy brown tee and bare toes. A beautiful outfit for a beautiful day.

#NoPantsApril

#NoPantsApril2020

#NPA

#NPA2020

#MamaK

#ManCrewHouse

No Pants April 2020: Day 25

 No Pants April: Day 25

Silk sari skirt by #DarnGoodYarn with a simple black tee. I forgot to snap pics until late in the evening, oops!

#NoPantsApril

#NoPantsApril2020

#NPA

#NPA2020

#MamaK

#ManCrewHouse

No Pants April 2020: Day 5

No Pants April: Day 5

Wine colored swing dress from Old Navy, Cocoon cardigan by #KaberOrignals, and some pretty little sandals.
I felt easy breezy beautiful all day long, but my pictures didn’t turn out the way I wanted so I made some collages which makes all the photos much smaller and my poor photography skills less obvious. HA!
What are YOU wearing today? 

#NoPantsApril
#NoPantsApril2020
#NPA
#NPA2020
#MamaK