Happy April, dear readers. I’m back from my no-blogging spring break, and I must say, the break did me a world of good. I’m back with creative ideas flowing. Today’s post is one of those fateful things. My daughter gave me a gift, which happened to be part of a Gen Z trend of analog hobbies, and I thought, I’ve been enjoying several analog hobbies forever, I should share them on the blog! I’ll start with five hobbies today.
How to practice self -care in just 15 minutes a day
Hello and happy new year! I’m coming back from a fantastic holiday break feeling refreshed, renewed, and optimistic for this new year and all the good things it will bring. As work at home Mom who creates content for a living, it can be a challenge to find an actual pause in writing when the next holiday, event, or celebration is always right around the corner. It was the middle of December, and I was already fielding emails for Valentine’s Day. That’s when I decided I simply must allow myself to take time off. I figured out how to practice self-care in just 15 minutes a day and it did wonders for me, and I think it will help you too.
Give yourself 15 Minutes a day!
Friday Favorites The January 2026 Reset Edition
Happy Friday, friends, and welcome to my January reset edition of Friday faves. We’re nine days into the new year, and I’ve spent the majority of those days offline resetting our home. Once the Christmas decorations are down and stored away for the year, I get busy. I enjoy cleaning, organizing, and adding decor to freshen up our home. Here’s what I’ve been enjoying so far this year.
Friday Faves- January Reset
Snow Day Fun with Puzzles to celebrate National Puzzle Day
Since National Puzzle Day is next Thursday, the 29th, I thought I’d share this fun, offline snow day idea since so many states in the US are under a winter storm warning for this weekend. Now’s the time to find your puzzle stash and clear off a table before the winter weather arrives.
Puzzles are a Fun Offline Snow Day Activity!
Friday Faves Winter Edition
Happy Friday, dear readers. I can’t believe we’re just six days away from Christmas and two days away from the official start of winter! I know in some parts of the country, the ground is covered in snow, so you are already in the thick of winter weather. We’ll be having a green and bright Christmas here in middle Tennessee, which is in line with one of my Friday Faves.
Friday Faves Winter Edition:
Win Buffalo Games Jigsaw Puzzles for no-tech fun
I’ve always been a fan of low –tech, or no-tech activities for myself and my family. Card games, board games and jigsaw puzzles are played with often here over high-tech activities. Don’t get me wrong, we all love our devices and our gaming systems, but we all strike a healthy balance. I started doing jigsaw puzzles again during the pandemic and found it to be such a fun, rewarding, no-tech hobby, I started an Instagram account to share them. If you love jigsaw puzzles too, you are going to love this giveaway an e-gift card to Buffalo Games and Puzzles.
Buffalo Games & Jigsaw Puzzles are no-tech Fun!
- Early- morning (after kids are on bus and hubby is off to work): pull weeds and dead head a quarter section of front flower bed. Add Vinca and Marigolds to borders and containers to add pops of color now.
- Mid- morning break: water all container plants/herbs. Dead head as needed. Pick tomatoes/berries as needed.
- Late afternoon: take a 15 walk around property with family. Make mental notes of what needs done. Pick up sticks/branches as needed. Take to burn pile.
- Dusk: Water again as needed. Fill bird feeders. Change bird bath water. Start adding mulch to cleared areas.
Does This Blog Make My Butt Look Big?
Walking has long been a part of my healthy living regimen, but last week I noticed that my once "easy" 1-mile power walk wasn't quite so easy.
If I was pushing myself to power it up in a brisk 15-minute mile on Monday, well being jazzed about a 2-mile power walk with weights on Tuesday seemed...torturous!
Sunday is all about family time here and this Sunday was no different, so as I'm picking out paint colors and listening to the happy chatter from my oldest daughter, it occurred to me the reason why I was pooped after one measly mile!
My blog! Yikes! I LOVE my blog! But, is this love making my jeans a tidge tighter just like my hubby's eating habits did way back in our dating days?
Yep, sad I know but true. Blogging is a sedentary hobby or job ( depending on your blog) and I have fallen prey to the PC spread! I try to watch the clock and limit my time online, but still, I obviously need to do better.
Maybe I will take my walking outside now that there is a hint of spring in the air. Maybe I will be joining the local walking club.
I'll play with the kids after school for just a few more minutes. Maybe I'll just get out on my land and climb up our hill a couple times.
So that's my plan for the day ( and week, and Please!) the month: Move more, type less. Be a clock watcher (online and off), schedule
moving just like I schedule everything else.
Is your blog making your butt look big too? How about your mates? Are you leading a too sedentary lifestyle?
For once, we ladies aren't the only ones suffering, oh no, the guys with desk jobs have it even worse! Check out this great article I just read on how to avoid on the job weight gain
and then stand up, do a few quick squats, run to the kitchen and down a glass of water. Then come back here and let me know what you think!
Remember to smile, treat yourself well and put the oxygen mask on yourself first!
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| Easy Chalkboard Craft |
Head on over to Craftsy.com now and follow their instructions.
No matter what you call offline hobbies, they are back and bigger than ever. I’m happy to see young and old alike take up analog hobbies like reading a print book instead of reading on their Kindle, growing a garden, taking care of houseplants, lighting a candle during downtime, or cooking at home. My Friday Faves is a fun look at what analog hobbies have been vying for free time lately.
Six Fun and Inspiring Books Perfect for Summer Reading
July finds me with an enviable book stack, and with more on the way, I decided it would be fun to do a book roundup post sharing six fun and inspiring books I think are perfect for summer reading.
Summer Reading Books!
Yesterday was National Gardening Day, so I couldn’t miss that wonderful opportunity to share another wonderful gardening book review and giveaway with you today. You know I love growing flowers and herbs, but for the last few years, I’ve been wanting to grow more edibles and have Googled How to grow ornamental and edible plants together many times over the last year or so, so imagine my delight when I received the opportunity to review garden designer Linda Vater’s newest book that teaches us how to pull this gardening style off. Read on to learn more about the book and enter the giveaway.


















