February 1 is the half-way point of winter. Winter is not my favorite season, but I do appreciate a good snow day and the beauty after a snowstorm. I’m sure if I lived somewhere that didn’t have a winter season I would miss it….for a day or two. I am all for celebrating that we have made it half-way through winter. All of us have little ways to get through the long days of winter and so today I’m sharing a few of them with you. I’ll be linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy where you can see how others are getting through the winter blues and maybe take a few tips to survive until Spring.
In scrolling through my previous posts, I realized nearly all of those things I’ve mentioned are STILL saving my life right now. I could still rave about each and everything mentioned in those posts.
It’s crazy reading through this list from last year before the pandemic hit. I returned from my trip to Nashville just days before the country shut-down. I am still loving every single item I listed in this post including my Kindle, headphones, and drying rack.
I am still using Scrophulous nearly daily. It makes such a huge difference in the amount of fluid in my ears.
I’m still writing daily in the same journal I mentioned. I love looking back at the previous years on that day and remembering the details and the joy that day brought me.
Obviously, books are still saving my life. I’m so thankful for this space here to share about the books I’m reading and loving.
Especially, during the pandemic, our schedule is not nearly as busy. We are so thankful for our close friends that we continue to spend time with whether we are playing games or having dinner and drinks. These friendships have truly been the joy in the long days, weeks, and months during the pandemic.
On to what’s saving my life right now:
Farmbox Direct
I’ve been wanting to get a fruit and veggie box for awhile. Several of the various companies don’t deliver to our small town. Then I heard about Farm Box. You can choose from a variety of boxes as well as weekly or bi-weekly shipments. I tried it for the first time over the Christmas holiday. I got the Medium Organic box of fruit and veggies. The other part I appreciate about Farm Box is you can swap items that you don’t want. I’ve swapped out pears for sweet potatoes and oranges for lemons. Having this delivery of fruits and veggies every other week forces me to find ways to cook with them and means I’m eating veggies way more frequently, which is also helping to boost my immune system. If this sounds like something you’d like to try, click HERE for a discount on your first box.
I’ve also found some great recipes to change up how I eat my veggies.
Garlicky Skillet Green Beans from The Kitchn
Oven-Roasted Brussel Sprouts from Wholesome Yum
Ninja Foodi
We have had this appliance for a while now and we still love it and use it several times a week. It’s great for frozen pizzas, roasting veggies, air-frying appetizers, and baking biscuits. It heats up so much faster than an oven and I’ve noticed it cooks food faster as well. It has numerous settings and can be used as an air fryer or an oven. It folds up to a standing position, so it takes up less space on your counter than a regular toaster oven would. This saves us from running our oven as often. I also recommend it for summer cooking to avoid heating up the house with the oven.
Vitamins
I have never been very consistent with taking vitamins, but in my determination to stay healthy, I’ve been able to maintain my habit of taking my vitamins daily. I get my vitamins from various sources including Care/Of which mails me my vitamin packets based on my personal needs every month. I also take multi-vitamin gummies from Olly. Then I’ve added a few extra vitamins to boost my immune system during the pandemic including Vitamin D, Vitamin C timed release, and Quercetin. My Care/Of packet includes Elderberry which I appreciate as well. I haven’t had a cold or been sick even with subbing and being around germy kids for months.
Puzzles
I love working on puzzles, but during the fall, I had no time to work on them. I received a puzzle for my birthday in October and three puzzles for Christmas, so I couldn’t wait to get started on them. I’m on my third puzzle since Christmas. I listen to an audiobook or watch a show while I’m working on them. I use a felt puzzle roll so if I need to move it, I can do so easily. The puzzle above is a state of Minnesota puzzle that my cousins created. They did all the artwork and researched various trivia about the state of Minnesota. So, the puzzle is also a trivia game. You can only get it through the Walker General Store in Walker, MN, or by visiting their website, HERE. It was so much fun to put together while learning unique trivia about the many towns in Minnesota.
Reading Room
I’ve been working on redoing Bennett’s bedroom into my reading room. I’ve gotten a bookshelf, some decor, and a reading lamp and am just waiting for my chaise/couch. We even redid the lighting in the room taking out the ceiling fan light and putting in canned lights. The lighting is so much different in there with no more shadows. I can’t wait to get my couch!
I’ve been on Instagram for several years and I have found so many great accounts that share recipes, books (obviously), beautiful sunsets (thanks, Julie), teach me to be a better person, and make me laugh. I’ve been on other social media so much less lately because it seems so draining. If you’d like to join me on Instagram, follow me, HERE. Some of my favorite accounts to check-in with daily include:
Julie Lefebure Amazing sunrises, sunsets and inspiration
Sweet Savory Eats So many amazing recipes and Iowa life
Money Saving Mom Life tips, inspiration, and deals
Sharon Says So Political/governmental education, whales, and laughter
Bri McKoy Recipes, cocktails, and joy
Anne Bogel Books
The Lazy Genius Life tips
Laura Tremaine Life tips, friendships, and books
A Bowl Full of Lemons Cleaning tips, organization, and recipes
Jessica Turner Books, life tips, deals
Jennifer Dukes Lee Faith, inspiration, and joy
Home and Kind Life tips, organization, deals, family life
I know there are so many more, but these are the accounts that I consistently get joy from every day.
After surviving 2020 and still dealing with the restrictions of a pandemic in 2021, every little thing can make a difference in our lives. Finding joy in the little things as well as the big things in our lives every day helps keep our sanity during this time. I hope you can celebrate the big and little things in your day.
What’s saving your life right now? Feel free to share them in the comments.
Some of the above links are affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you choose to make a purchase through the link.
Posted Under just for fun, Life, Lists, What's Saving My Life, winter
Hi Stacie! I clicked over from Modern Mrs. Darcy and I really enjoyed your post. I am looking forward to looking at your past years’ lists later (I just started posting my own this year, but it was fun). Thank you for the Ninja Foodi recommendation. My husband and I have been eyeing it but haven’t purchased yet. I also see that you’re a big reader like me, so I’m going to follow your posts for more book ideas. Thank you!
We love the Ninja Foodi. It’s worth it for all the different features and settings it offers and minimal counter space when not being used.
Definitely going to check out some of those instagram links – I love curating a good list of people to follow there. The best thing about instagram vs facebook is the freedom to just follow accounts that bring you joy and focusing less on friendships as the ruling thumb.
Visiting from Modern Mrs. Darcy. 🙂
Yes, that is exactly why Instagram is so great! Thanks for stopping by!
I love that reading room! At the beginning of the pandemic I thought “I’m going to get into puzzles. Yeah, that’ll be my thing.” So I ordered this awesome 500pc puzzle of the Women’s March.
I got about 200 pieces of it put together and gave up. lol. I need to start with a 25 piece Elmo puzzle, apparently.