Learning to be a Wife

This is what the past week looked like.

Breakfast lately.

Day 79 of January.

Still in our hibernation era.

New boots take two.

Snacky snacky.

Game afternoon with our neighbors.

Snow cold.

Finishing up Job.

Comfy cozy.

Sheet pan dinner, but put it in a bowl.

Oooo I loved this show so much and I'm excited for season 2 next month.

It snowed almost every single day.

I joined the library board so this notebook seemed appropriate for our meetings.

This chili (with chicken instead of turkey) hit the spot on these frigid, snowy days.

My coworker said "the snow machine won't turn off" and that feels accurate.

This little kangaroo is missing his walks.

The sun came out...

But it was frigid.

Meanwhile my parents were hanging out with Benny and this was too sweet not to share.

I wanted to know how this ended, but it left me frustrated.

Gahh I'm back to reading three star books again.

Cuddle puddle.

Did I mention it was cold? ;)

South African wine for the South African birthday boy.

He asked for steak for his birthday dinner - and then, cooked it perfectly himself.

We had a movie day and this was the best movie of the day.

Popcorn and movies go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Gems from the James Clear newsletter.

We need this good news right now.

The month that never ends.

Mind blown.

Oof, this is convicting.

Awww.

I feel seen.

The news has been frightening, frustrating, and deeply sad lately, so this verse has brought me a lot of comfort.

I've been humming while I read my daily news email each day.

Good idea.

WHAT.

I feel this deep in my bones.

Funny because it's true.

For more life lately:

Week 4 of 2023 Part 1 and Part 2

Week 4 of 2024 Part 1 and Part 2

Week 4 of 2025

This is what the past week looked like.

Snug as a bug.

Holy hour.

Tried the viral cottage cheese and ground beef bowl and it was just okay, but I strayed from the recipe so I'll try it again.

Handsome boy.

Last year I read a lot of three-star books because I was focused on hitting my 100-book goal. I didn’t give myself permission to DNF, even when a book wasn’t great. This year, I ditched the number goal and decided to read more intentionally, prioritizing books I genuinely love. So far, it’s paying off...

This book may be my favorite of the year. Between the mystery, the ’90s nostalgia, the unique storyline, and the immersive world-building, it completely pulled me in. I’m still thinking about it, and am sad that it’s over.

Favorite quotes:

"Companionship is a crutch. Learning to be alone is the most critical life skill of all - haven't I taught you that? Because when you rely on other people, for emotional support or intellectual engagement or entertainment or just survival, you are weak. You are vulnerable."

"Imaging how things might have been, had you made a different chess move, simply perpetuates the pain of how things actually are. Better to move on and accept the inevitable now."

"The irony is that kids believe that knowledge unlocks happiness... But, in fact, the opposite is true. The more you come to know about the world, the less it makes sense, and the more you wish you could just climb right back inside your mother's arms and hide there."

"Well, we're all strangers to each other, when you get down to it. It's just that we sometimes choose not to be."

Made a simple breakfast bowl with leftover sweet potato and avocado.

Good Aldi find.

Settling into the dog days of winter - slow mornings, warm drinks, and plenty of blankets.

Soaking up the sunshine.

A delightful work brunch to celebrate 2025.

Forever grateful for my cuddle buddy.

Sushi is always a good idea.

Embracing a little hygge - candles, comfort, and contentment.

Still deep in our hibernation era.

Cheers to the first girls night of 2026.

Still dreaming about those potatoes.

Spent some time volunteering at my library’s puzzle sale.

My colored pencils needed sharpening from my Bible time, I’m eagerly anticipating trying this sauce, and somehow my most random Amazon purchases are little glimmers of joys.

Pad Thai and a side salad for dinner.

I may be late to the party, but I see why everyone’s talking about them. Their wildness, candor, and unapologetic honesty make their lives captivating.

Continuing my good reading streak.

Favorite quotes:

"It is in the times of greatest danger that we must summon our greatest courage."

"Caring for someone wasn't about fitting them into spaces that you'd already cut out. It was about allowing them to exist in their own way."

"Is the past as you remember it if you're the only one left with the memories?"

"Please always remember that there is a difference between a life that honors the past and a life dictated by it. When you let your history shape your future, you relinquish the ability to choose a better way forward."

"Objects were just objects until they became the last thing that remained of a person's life."

"Change happens one act of courage at a time, one act of kindness at a time, one act of faith at a time."