26 in 2026

It's February, I've already checked a few things off my list but I feel a little lost in my monthly planning without having a finalized 26 in 2026 list so here we go!  Organizing this a bit differently this year, see if it helps me get more done...

18 in 2018 | How I Did (25%)

19 in 2019 | How I Did (72%)
20 in 2020 | How I Did (85.75%)
21 in 2021 | How I Did (89.5%)
22 in 2022 | How I Did (86.4%)
23 in 2023 | How I Did (79.5%)

24 in 2024 | How I Did (68.33%)
25 in 2025 | How I Did (81.27%) 

Year Long Projects 
1) Order 7 photobooks (2025, Sam, Luke, Smokies, Philly, SB, summer vacation) 
I did terribly on ordering photobooks last year (specifically, I did terribly on ordering vacation photobooks last year) so lots to catch up on this year.  2025 is nearly done, Luke's & Sam's current books both go through their March birthdays and I have each caught up to end of November so they aren't far off.  It's the vacation ones I need to really work on.  Both trips from last year are started...but barely...

2) Go on 10 Dates
I know myself and if I don't put this on my list I will be less likely to make them happen.  A few, for sure, but regularly?  I need them on the list (also, note to self, don't leave 3 for the last 2 weeks of December again.) 

3) 4 new dates 
And on that note...make 4 of them new.  We've actually already done one (if we eat at a restaurant we've never had a date at before...I count it) and have ideas in mind for 2 of the 3 remaining!  

4) Eat local each month 
This often happens on dates but not always.  

 

5) Go to Farmers Market 6 times 
This is another one of "if I put it on the list I will do it".  Our rhythm the last few years has been twice to the indoor market (winter/spring), twice to the outdoor market (summer/early fall) and twice when it moves back indoors (late fall/winter).  This works.  And Sam is nearly always game to go with me.

6) Get rid of 500 things 
I honestly forgot this was on here until I just sat down to write it so I need to get back to making that something of a priority. 

7) Host 6 cookouts  
Again, if I don't put it down I will very likely be less motivated to do it.  We need to be a little more proactive on not leaving all of these for the latter part of the cookout season. 

Those are the ones that are spread over the bulk of the year, the rest I assigned a quarter to keep me on task!

1st quarter
8) Finish our will
This should have been done...oh anytime in the nearly 13 years we've had kids but particularly in the 3 years since we started the process.  

9) Sell 3 LEGO sets 
Last year I finally sold a Millennium Falcon Lego set we meant to sell 2 years earlier.  We had 3 more we had been storing to sell, in some cases for over 18 years and we decided now is finally the time to do so (they are all selling at at least double, if not triple what we paid).  And I've already found boxes to ship each of the three!  It's just getting the listings together and then trips to the post office!

10) Start using robot vacuum  
If you read this post you may know this is a bit of a gimme but it did sit in my office for 6 weeks before we opened the box. 

11) Catch up photographing art 
I am GETTING these art books done, mainly because I don't feel like I can purge all the photographed art until the books are caught up.  And I'd really like to not have it all piled up (somewhat hidden) in my office.  So...breaking this into stages...

12) Upload guard videos to YouTube (if allowed)
I need this motivation to get these done.  It's more than is worth typing out the whole story but I have a giant video file with all our color guard and marching band shows from high school (one performance of each show, not every single time we performed it).  I've been meaning to share these for years (aiming for YouTube) ever since my old guard instructor asked a long time ago if anyone had digital copies of them.  I need to see if I can break up the file I have and then share them.   

2nd quarter
13) Catch up sorting Luke’s art
This is stage two...

14) Catch up sorting Sam’s art 
And stage three.  It greatly helps me that the rate at which they are making art has greatly slowed down from when they were younger. 

15) Paint kitchen cabinets - lower
We've had paint samples on our kitchen cabinets for over 2 years.  In my defense...right when Matt started school was not the time to be painting the kitchen cabinets, especially when I cannot do the sanding/striping myself (palm sanders are too much for my arthritis).  But I have Matt on board (he specifically asked for a tool for Christmas that would make this project easier, or at least that's how he sold it to me) and I've accepted that maybe the hinges cannot easily be moved inside our nearly 100 year old cabinets.  

16) Paint kitchen cabinets - upper
Yes, this is two different items because it'll happen at two different times.  Also, I haven't picked a color for the uppers yet. 

 

17) Replace kitchen cab hardware 
Yes, this is more of the same related project but if this is what it's going to take to keep me motivated to get it done, then so be it. 

18) Celebrate 20th anniversary 
It's in the second quarter and plans are already underway but...it's a milestone worth getting a line on this list.

 

19) Remove scroll things from front railing 
Our front railing have these scroll/curly things on them that have nothing to do with the structure of the railings.  This has been on my mind for about 10 years, at least and I've caught the Christmas lights & garland for the railings on them too many times (although the rope lights I've been using for ~18 years have finally bit the dust and I don't know if they'll be replaced).  It's an easy fix and should be a bit of an update. 

20) Take boys to movie theater  
This was fun to do with them last year and we want to do it again. It's in 2nd quarter because we're eyeing the Mandalorian movie after we watched the series with them. 

3rd quarter
21) Dispose of/burn old diaries 
Fall seems like a good time for a bonfire, right?  I was a dedicated diary keeper from the age of 12 until Matt & I got married at 22 and in that decade I filled A LOT of composition books.  I have decided I can let go of many of them.  I think I'll still keep the ones from when Matt & I started dating (at 18) through when I stopped keeping them but the first 6 years, which is still a good chunk, can go.  I don't really want to read my thoughts from, say, the age of 14.  I'm sure I would cringe.  

22) Luke’s 1st art book
I'm hoping breaking these up into smaller tasks with more immediate deadlines will help my motivation.  I HOPE.

23) Sam’s art book
DITTO TO THE ABOVE.

 

24) Purge old art 
EVEN THOUGH I have backed up all the pictures I've taken of art, just like I back-up all the pictures I take, I am still paranoid about disposing of any art until the books are caught up.  I think in case I want to reference something to try to place it better???  I don't know but I've had these PILES of art somewhat out of the way in my office for 3 or 4 years and I'm ready to have that space back.  I would go through and keep a few special/favorite pieces but then, ideally, burn the rest (I'm going to need a bigger fire area than our little solo stove).  

 

25) Side yard project 
I broke up the art books into many projects but this one, which will probably take more time than all those steps put together, just gets one lonely spot.  Long story very short, we want to expand our fenced in backyard to include our side yard.  We've been talking through options and this will likely be many months long but we are both excited about it.  There are parts (plant moving) that should take place in the spring but I could very easily see this not wrapping up until late summer/early fall. 

4th quarter
26) Figure out the piano
I have wanted a piano for many years and I am determined to make that happen.  We've been doing a lot of dreaming/planning for changing things around in the house and part of that is making room for my piano.  I took lessons through most of grade school and again for a semester in college.  I've tinkled around a few times on my parents' or sisters' pianos since but I'd love to get back to playing again but it's going to take some figuring out where it could go (at one point, my niece who is now a teenager but was a preschooler at the time, suggested we just put a piano in front of our front door and then move it every time someone came over.  I mean...that IS an idea...).  It's one of those projects I put on a back burner in my mind and then let my subconscious figure it out (this has been successful for me, many times!).  

 

Will this be the year I get 100%???  I always go into these thinking I will...and then I never do but maybe, maybe THIS is the year.  Maybe.

Things I Like - January 2026

I always enjoy hearing what works for other people and I like sharing things I like, it's part of the reason I have a blog.  I've been doing these monthly posts for 10 years and they also provide a nice little snapshot in my life at a moment in time! See more here!  Some affiliate links may be included!

Twice in one week?!?!?!  When was the last time that happened??  School was closed for 3 days due to snow/cold AND we finally have a RARE day where we are home all day between drop-off and pick-up (other than a quick prescription pickup after drop-off where I was home 10 minutes after school started).  Amazing what not having appointments in the middle of the day is like...

1) Old Navy fleece lined flare leggings
Many years ago these would have been called yoga pants and I have had some form of flare yoga pants in my wardrobe for longer than I've been a parent.  I'm on my 3rd pair of unlined ones because I wear them so much they I've worn a few pairs out. (About ~6 years ago when I bought my current pair, they were VERY hard to find because everyone was all about skinny leggings then.)  They are my winter pants of choice for when we are home, meaning weekends and about as soon as we're home from school pick-up (as long as I'm not going anywhere in the evening) on weekdays.  I recently tried these fleece lined "leggings" and they are amazing.  So now I have my unlined pair for just at home and these fleece lined ones which I will wear out of the house but also just around home (like right now).  They are SUPER comfortable and cozy (I still wear a second pair of "skinny" leggings under them) and on all those snow days home from school, I wore these every day.  I'd buy a backup pair but my size is sold out.  

2) Eufy robot vacuum
Back in November my husband bought a 3D printer.  That is a whole different thing but since he was buying himself a 3D printer...I decided I could get a robot vacuum.  It had been on my mind for awhile but finally got it on an early Black Friday deal.  It took awhile to get around to opening it but Sam finally convinced me, we got it going and it has been life changing over the last 3 weeks.  I vacuumed downstairs weekly before and would have considered the rugs/carpet relatively clean but NOW we run Eufy twice a day and it's amazing at how much it picks up (although it's decreased over these 3 weeks).  The floors are cleaner and we do nearly nothing!  Ours is NOT wifi enabled because I didn't like the idea of my floor plans being stored on some server somewhere.  Is it still??  I don't know but I also don't need to be able to run my robot vacuum from my phone.  We could still schedule it to run at 2am or something every night but usually I just start it when I'm going to bed and that works.

Our concerns were if it would go over the rug transitions and/or get stuck anywhere.  It mostly does fine with the rugs and transitions (it likes to cut one corner to come into my office which has a bamboo floor higher than the main living space but it can get itself out of that in about 30 seconds). It can get stuck under our kitchen chairs (they space between all the legs is just about exactly Eufy sized) AND one part of our kitchen cabinets are low enough that it gets stuck under those.  So when we run it during the day it does the full downstairs.  When we run it at night we just move our kitchen trash to block the kitchen (this takes 5 seconds) and it just sweeps the front room and my office.  

Also, we put big googly eyes on it because it's just amusing.  I thought about this purchase for years and then it sat in the box here for 6 weeks.  Very glad we finally got it going.   

3) Google Calendar
I spent not a small amount of frustrated time in December trying to sync digital calendars for Matt and I.  I was tired of carrying the mental load of knowing all the things that are happening and I wanted him to have that knowledge too.  I eventually gave up for all the other things going on in December to finally figure it out somewhat easily in January.  Of course.  I switched from kinda keeping some things in my apple calendar to having Google calendar be our master calendar (as opposed to our wall calendar which is about 85% up to date but does have all family birthdays and anniversaries and my paper planner which is about 70% up to date but keeps all my tasks).  I maintain 2 calendars in there, one linked to my personal e-mail (going back 20+ years to end of college) which has things mostly relevant only to me like daytime appointments, when my parents are out of town, and when I need to run payroll for work (helpful when looking ahead on trips).  The one through our shared e-mail has all evening and weekend things as well as our trips and select birthdays (our family of 4, our parents, and our godchildren, too much work to add the other ~110 from our families).  It has our respective Aldi weeks (we switch off) and reminders to refill prescriptions that can't be on auto-fill (also helpful when looking at trips months in advance).  

I used to keep just some dates in Apple Calendar, mainly the big school break days, so when I was out and about I could somewhat confidently schedule an appointment.  Now, nearly everything is in the google calendar (which I can also access from my desktop) and it's so nice knowing everything is in one place and we can both see relevant events.  Plus, being able to set-up recurring tasks has been very helpful, especially for things like nearly nightly wrestling practice (that I can then go modify for meets) or things that occur on an weird rotation (every other week to Aldi, 28 day med refills, etc.).  I'm glad I took the time to finally get this done.  

4) Real Moms of Real Saints by Colleen Pressprich
I used to often include books in these but then did Quick Lits for many years and stopped. Now I haven't done a Quick Lit in many months so there's a book on here again!  I asked for and received this for Christmas and it was a wonderful read.  It was the stories of 10 women who were mothers of eventual Saints, telling their stories and how they managed to raise a saint.  Nobody is perfect and reading some of the struggles these women had was very inspiring.  I read a chapter a day for about 2 weeks and it was a lovely way to start my reading time.  I immediately offered to pass it on to some sisters.  It was fantastic.  

5) Blue Bird Feeder
This is another item I asked for and received for Christmas.  We have a few bird feeders outside the window near our couch and Sam & I both delight in watching the birds (he loves identifying them).  This feeder is definitely the birds preferred feeder because they emptied this in a day or two while others near it sat nearly full.  I don't pay enough attention to know if different birds can eat at this than at the others but whatever it is about it, they love it.  And it's a nice shade of blue (this makes 7 bird feeders in one section of our side yard and they have all been delightful additions).  I fill these most in the winter but sometimes in the summer too.  It's one of those things I always feel extra on top of things to have done, very optional but feels good to even have time to take care of feeding some birds.  

What have YOU been liking lately??

25 in 2025 Results

There were zero updates on this during the year because my blogging time dropped to basically zero but I was still working away on the list!  I knocked out A LOT in December but there were plenty of things that got done before then too.   

Original 25 in 2025 list 

Home Things
1) Make a step on home addition (0%)
We can't decide if we're actually going to do this or not and/or also scared to get into it...

2) Get rid of 500 things (100%)
It was closer to 700 things!  It hasn't stopped the flow of things into the house but it does help me/us be more mindful of what comes in.  

3) Hang boys' jr ranger badges in their room (100%)
Done! (They've each gotten 4 more since I took this!)

4) Homeschool for at least a semester (100%)
Working on our 3rd semester right now but did 2 in 2025!

 

Food Things
5) Host 6 Cookouts (100%)
This was close and we might have counted eating inside on the last one but it was cooked outside...so it counts.  

6) Eat local once a month (100%)
At least once a month!

7) Make something from Mel Kitchen Cafe cookbook once a month (91.67%)
I missed December because I was already doing a lot of baking and December was just crazy.  But very close!

8) Make a standard fall/winter and spring/summer menu plan with grocery list (100%)
Finished this in early summer!  I don't use this every time I go to the grocery but it's very helpful to have!

9) Make a treatza-pizza (100%)
Made this for a cookout!  It was good!

Fun(ish) Things
10) Go on 10 dates (100%)
We did three of these in December but we did make all 10! (One of those three was a rescheduled one from November where I had gotten a stomach bug.) 

11) Try 4 new date ideas (100%)
Had 4 new to us dates!  It worked out well, tried some new things!

12) Finish 5 photobooks (OBX, 2024, Luke, Sam, summer 2025 vacation) (60%)
Not great on this one and I'm usually on top of photobooks! I finished 2024 and both boys' books but neither vacation book.  I need to get back to these.

13) Buy 3 books I'm excited about (100%)
DONE and enjoyed them all.  They'll all be on my favorite books of 2025 list if I ever get around to writing that. 

14) Run outside every month of the year (100%)
DONE.  December was rough but got it done.  (Even ran in 4 different states! Indiana, Tennessee, New Jersey, and Maryland!)

15) Visit 10 local parks (100%)
Helped by doing 4 in one day over Labor Day weekend but that was a lot of fun.  Some parks I hadn't been to before!

16) Take boys to a movie at the theater (100%)
This was also a late in the year accomplishment, taking the boys to see David a few days before Christmas.  They loved it besides all the previews/ads before.

17) Go to the drive-in twice (100%)
Done! Once for our anniversary and once with the boys and a godson for his bday outing. Success!

18) Watch Little Women (100%)
This may have been a December one too but I got it done and LOVED it. 

19) Go to the Farmers Market 6 times (100%)
DONE.  Also knocked off the last one of these in December, the last market of the year and we were there about 10 minutes but did buy something so it still counts!

Just Get These Things DONE or Take Them Off the List
20) Finish our will (20%)
Ok, we didn't but we did meet with the financial planner to coordinate some things with the will that needed done before finishing the will.  So now we just need to actually finish the will. 

21) Art books (5%)
I mean, I bought new organizers for the un-photographed art...

22) Sell a Lego Millennium Falcon (100%)
FINALLY.  I put off for 2 years but then took pictures, listed, and sold it all in about 48 hours.  It was a lot easier than I expected.  (This lived under out bed for years...bought for $105 when it was new and sold for $250 more than 10 years later.)

23) Figure out how to use Gmail better (clear-up inboxes) (60%)
I have figured out some things and deleted A LOT of old e-mails but only really went through 3/4 of my accounts (WHY do I have so many?!?!?)

24) Fix tags (95%)
I fixed a lot.  I still find some messed up ones but I have fixed most of what I've found.  It's not perfect yet but a lot better than a year ago. 

25) Do a special collection at school (0%)
I didn't do this although I did take care of a ton of shoes that people have given me knowing I've done these in the past.  So that's something.  

81.27% (If it weren't for this last section it would have been a much better 92%).  I actually thought it would be worse than that but that's not bad.  Far from my best but not terrible.  

{10} Favorite Discoveries of 2025

Not much blogging happening around here lately but still have a few things to say about the closing of one year and the start of the next!  This is always a fun one to think about!

Note: Affiliate link below, I make a small (very small) commission off items if you purchase through those links, at no extra cost to you.  I appreciate your understanding and support!

 1) Audio books with boys 
This was a big one for us this year.  I had only done a few audio books myself before this year but once I had my older son home with me all the time (homeschool) and I realized I couldn't listen to my podcasts much in the car anymore (since I am rarely alone in the car...) I decided audio books with him were the way to go. I had been reading Harry Potter to him so we started where we were on those (Order of the Phoenix) and while I still read aloud to him from the paper books as schedule allowed (I specifically read the final few chapters of Deathly Hallows to him), the audio books helped us get through those a lot faster.  Since we finished Harry Potter in October we've done another 4-5 (shorter) books together too (we spend a good bit of time in the car together going to appointments, the grocery store, etc.).  

Over the summer I also started audiobooks with BOTH boys for all the driving around town we did for swim lessons, the zoo, trips to cousins, etc.  It was amazing at how fast they stopped bickering with each other once I turned on a story.  We got through a good handful of books together including Holes for the whole family while on our big trip this summer.  My kids have been on playaways from the library for years but this is the first year I did some with them and it was fantastic. (Nearly all the ones we listened to we checked out through the library apps and connected my phone to the car bluetooth.)

2) Freeze Dried Apples
Maybe I knew about these before this year but this was the year they became one of my go-to snacks, especially to sporting events.  They are a healthy snack to eat mindlessly and a $2 bag per cross county meet is not a high price to pay.  Plus, easy to share because few people have problems with apples.  We are constantly trying to improve our food choices and these were also good for when I wanted something crunchy but also not chips or something.  We always have a stash of these in the pantry.

3) Going dye free
This was a BIG one this fall and now I'm wondering why we didn't do it sooner.  There are a lot of people with a lot more to say about this than me but the basics is that all those food dyes are terrible for people and maybe negatively some more than others.  It's a bummer that a lot of dye-free foods costs more (I'm looking at you, popsicles and cookie sprinkles) but also knowing we're buying things that may cause fewer reactions from our kids makes it worthwhile.  It greatly helps that we buy most of our groceries at Aldi which doesn't do artificial colors (although they do allow caramel color which we have to watch out for).  Our basic foods don't have dye and we try to eat fresh fruits and vegetables of course but it's special occasion foods that are the most likely culprit.  The aforementioned sprinkles for Christmas cookies, the popsicles we eat all summer, Twizzlers on family road trips, the kool-aid cookies we love, etc.  It greatly helps that 2 of my sisters have gone dye free as well, we can compare notes and know that what each other brings to family parties will be safe for all!  It's been a little more work & money but not terrible.  And the boys have gotten good at checking for dyes too!

4) LMNT electrolytes
These became my after run treats this summer and I don't know that I've noticed a huge benefit in my recovery with them but I do like how they taste and I do look forward to that after run drink and a few times getting one of these has been what got me out the door to run.  I do half a packet in about 16 ounces of water and stir well.  I think they taste great.  A worthwhile addition to my running routine. 

5) Scheduling emails
In all honesty, I didn't discover this this year but I forgot to put it on last year's list.  This is great for when a burst of motivation hits in the evening and I want to take care of a bunch of e-mails but don't need everyone knowing I was up e-mailing at 10:30pm or whatever.  This is mostly for things related to school, not family things.  Or if I know I need to email teachers a few weeks early for a class party or something, I can get that e-mail done when I'm thinking of it and then it'll send a bit closer to the event.  So instead of meaning to respond, then thinking it's too late, and then never getting to it...now I get some things done.  

6) Scheduling texts 
I'm pretty sure this was on an iOS update at some point this year and I had been waiting for it.  Same as scheduling e-mails except this one I can do from my phone (I only know how to schedule e-mails from my desktop).  Sometimes I don't want to text people at 11pm but won't always remember in the morning and thus...schedule it.  I even scheduled a text to my sister before she went in to have a baby very early one morning because I definitely wasn't going to be awake. (And did tell her it was scheduled...she knew I wouldn't be awake then.)  It has helped me out, many times. 

7) Teachers Pay Teachers 
This has been wonderful for my homeschool curriculum.  I've bought a study guide for nearly every lit book we've read on here, used a lot of free worksheets around holidays, and bought various other resources.  There are great teachers out there making great things.  I'm happy to pay them some money to not have to do everything myself from scratch.  It makes it much easier to put together our schoolwork!

8) Flip 7
After seeing this all over the internet, I bought this as a family present for Christmas.  We played it on Christmas with my parents who were over for dinner and had just played it with my sister's family the night before.  It was super helpful they were able to explain it to us, much easier way to learn a game!  It's quickly become a favorite and very easy to play a couple games during this lazy 2nd week of break.  I love a good card game we can all play and enjoy AND that's easy to transport for future trips!

9) Feather Christmas trees  
I have GREATLY cut back my buying of mini Christmas trees, mainly because my storage is maxing out.  BUT I saw these in store when I was browsing in early November and thought they were super fun.  I ended up buying 2 more when I caught them on a good sale in December.  I think I only bought 5 new trees this year (this is much lower than what I did in 2022-ish) and 3 of them were these feather trees. (Do I need 3??  No.  But I got 2 of them so cheap there is nearly no point in returning them.)

10) My ability to homeschool
Just over a year ago we made the somewhat impulsive decision to withdraw our older son from private school and start homeschooling.  I did not know how it would go or how I would be at teaching but I knew this was the right answer for him at this time.  It hasn't always been easy, far from it.  Getting our bearings took awhile and I still question constantly at how competent I am at it.  BUT I also know it's the right place for him and it's the right choice for our family at this time.  I look back at where we were a year ago and the increased confidence I have going into our 3rd semester next week.  I still question a lot of decisions but I know homeschooling is one thing I've done right for him.    

{10} Favorite Discoveries of 2024

{10} Favorite Discoveries of 2023
{10} Favorite Discoveries of 2022
{10} Favorite Discoveries of 2021
{10} Favorite Discoveries of 2020 

Things I Like - September 2025

It has been a minute since I blogged about anything.  Homeschooling really took over my life in ways even I didn't anticipate back in December and I have been working more for pay.  Plus, I'm running A LOT right now (September is my busiest running month of the year) and sports and life and all of that...blogging is something that has been pushed to the side with the hope to return when I'm not homeschooling any longer (when is that??  TBD.)  I do miss writing but this is one of the somethings that had to give. 

I always enjoy hearing what works for other people and I like sharing things I like, it's part of the reason I have a blog.  I've been doing these monthly posts for 10 years and they also provide a nice little snapshot in my life at a moment in time! See more here!  Some affiliate links may be included!

1) LMNT Electrolyte Sports Drink - Citrus Salt
These are quite literally getting me out the door on some of my runs lately because I enjoy them that much and only get when I run.   Citrus Salt is the only flavor I have tried and I see no reason to try any others because I like this one so much.  I put half a packet in about 16 ounces of water and thoroughly enjoy it.  Has magnesium and a bunch of other things that are good for me with no sugar and it's nice to have a "treat" after running, especially one I am considering healthy. 

2) Aldi Baked Potato Soup
This was a random pick up in the spring and now I buy my store out nearly every time I go.  Or at least buy a couple of them.  If I am having something else, like salad, I can make one container last 3 meals, otherwise it's 2.  I've had countless containers of this soup since May-ish and I still quite enjoy it.  Lunch has been a REAL struggle for me in the 12 years I've been home with kids (and really, even before then) and having I really enjoy without a lot of work really helps me out.  This is fantastic.  Should I learn to make my own similar soup.  Maybe.  We'll see what happens when I am running less and get some of that time back.

3) Aldi ice bucket
This was another impulse buy from the Aldi aisle I used to try to avoid but now can't because it's where baking supplies are (am I routinely buying baking supplies??  Not much, baking is another thing that seems to have largely, but not completely, fallen by the wayside.).  Anyways, ice has been a real problem for awhile, our freezer ice maker broke...8 years ago? 10?  I don't remember, it's been a long time and so we had ice trays that our boys like to use and never refill so Matt & I rarely got ice.  Enter this handy little thing that fits right under the broken ice maker and now the boys are mostly limited to whatever ice is in the bottom part since they rarely bother to break new ice into it which means I can break the new ice AND actually get some.  I am still the one doing most of the ice tray refilling BUT at least I am getting some ice out of it.  This has been a fantastic impulse buy that solved a pain point around here. (Yes, this was on clearance when I took this picture although it wasn't when I bought it! (Ours is blue.) but I'm still sharing because it's been very helpful for us.)

4) Aldi Freeze Dried Fuji Apples
These are a great snack and I like that it's all the same kind of apples, unlike the ones I bought from Target that had red & green apples and only the red ones were good.  These are an easy snack, easy to take to sporting games, relatively healthy.  I try not to mindlessly eat anything but even if I did eat the whole bag...the calories aren't a problem.  Plus, works in my son's lunch box!

 

5) Wireless headphones
Until I bought these, I had not worn headphones in maybe 10 years.  Maybe longer.  Long ago I ran with headphones but now I don't because I want to be able to hear anything around me (if I am running alone I do listen to music through my phone speakers but pretty quietly...I think you'd have to be within about 5 feet of me to even hear it and I try not to be that close to strangers anyways).  I've listened to everything through my iphone speakers or bluetooth connected to the car.  Only listening to "my" stuff when I'm alone or far away from my family (like if I'm down in the basement, alone, sorting laundry I'll turn on a podcast).  Anyways, with a homeschool kid now home nearly all the time and often with his ear plugged (both my boys are pretty devoted audiobook listeners through playaways from the library and often letting him listen to things helps him focus) and I decided I wanted the ability to listen to things of mine too without disrupting him.  ANYWAYS...so I bought headphones.  Sometimes we both are just home, working on our own things, with our ears plugged.  It's fine, we're together a lot.  I only use mine a few hours a week, if that, but they've been very handy and have worked well.  Also great for if I'm working on my computer in the evening (like now), after the boys are in bed and Matt wants to use the TV which is open to my office.  So I can listened to a podcast or work on my puzzle without our sound bothering each other.  I haven't actually done this yet but I like that I COULD.  (This is the color I got and I had hoped it would be more peach/coral when in reality they felt more red/orange.  But then I named them my flamingo headphones in my phone and now I feel better about the color.) 

There it is, my first blog post in 6 weeks and my last until...who knows when.  Maybe within 6 weeks!  I once had things super planned here and this is no longer that time.  It's a very "fly by the seat of my pants" operation for the blog right now.  

What have YOU been liking?