Friday Thoughts

Hi, friends! Because I’ve been including more personal notes in my weekly emails and some updates on Instagram, I haven’t checked in on a Friday Thoughts post in a while, but I wanted to pop in today and give a little update on life…and also see how YOU are doing!

Below is a smattering of updates – everything from life updates to a few of my favorite things to a question I have for you (at the end).

If you have a second, leave a comment and let me know how life is going for you!

50th Anniversary Celebration (Not Mine 😜)

My siblings (+ spouses) and my parents all gathered last week to celebrate my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. We rented an Airbnb and packed in a lot of fun, activities, games, and chatting.

I prepped and made most of the food, since the gathering was near where I live, and the week could not have gone better. We were all grateful for the time spent together, especially my parents.

Here are a few things we did for fun:

• My sister made a 50th anniversary “newlywed” style game where my parents had to see if they could match answers to questions like “what did dad wear on your first date” and “what was the price of your first home.” It was hilarious, and we also learned a lot of facts we didn’t know!
• We rented e-bikes from a local company and rode on the Boise greenbelt (a little chilly, but so fun – this was personally my favorite of all the activities we did).
• We did an escape room, and miraculously made it out in the time limit (yes, with a few hints). I basically just followed all my smart family members around looking like I knew what was going on.
• My brother planned a super fun bowling activity. He gave us each a cup with a roll of quarters and four 1-dollar coins. As everyone bowled, these were the rules: bowl a spare, everyone gives you a quarter; bowl a strike, everyone gives you two quarters; bowl 2+ strikes in a row, everyone gives you a dollar coin for each strike; if you are out of dollar coins, give 2 quarters for each strike; bowl a gutter ball and put a quarter in the pot (just an extra cup in the middle) – the next strike gets all the quarters in the pot. It was so fun that I’m planning to do it with my kids over spring break.
• We also went to TopGolf, played pickleball at The Flying Pickle (I need lessons!!), and played LOTS of games at the Airbnb. This game {aff. link} was the hit all week!

Anti-Inflammatory/Pain Updates

If you missed it, I did a whole post about my anti-inflammatory diet here (initially did it to address hand and hip pain). I’ve had a lot of questions about if I am still eating this way and how I’m feeling.

In short, my hand and hip pain wasn’t helped by this diet (but I have been getting help from a physical therapist, and I feel hopeful). But my LDS cholesterol saw a huge improvement (60 point drop!). So, I’m continuing to eat a high-fiber diet focused on a lot of anti-inflammatory/cholesterol-lowering foods for the next six months until I get my blood drawn again. If my LDS cholesterol lowers another 20 points, that would be a miracle for me!

However, I’m much more moderate than I was the first two months. I am still eating the same anti-inflammatory recipes for breakfast and lunch that I came to rely on. But I’m being more flexible for dinner so that I don’t have to cook one meal for my family and another meal for myself. I just tend to have way more vegetables on my plate than the rest of my family members. And, of course, I eat whatever food I’m making for the blog, too.

We’ll see how things look in September! I like how my body and gut feels eating this way, so I plan to stick with it as long as I can.

Life Update

My two kids at home (8th grade and 11th grade) both started school tennis. After having a laid back winter, we’re busy with sports again. I can’t believe we have just a few months until the school year is over.

Brian is very busy continuing to grow his business, with church responsibilities, and continually getting his hopes high – and then dashed again by collegiate athletics. 💙 I have the best “job” at church ever – teaching the children ages 3 to 11 songs about Jesus. I hope they let me do it forever.

My oldest kiddo, Jackson, started classes in Utah with plans set on flight school. We love it when he comes home to visit (he turns 22 in a few weeks and already requested shrimp tacos for his birthday dinner when he comes).

Walker is in the Philippines and set to come home in June (!!). I recently got a text from a random number saying they were a family from the US traveling in the Philippines and ran across some missionaries on bikes, found out one was from Idaho, snapped a picture, and texted it to me. I was impressed my son still remembered my phone number! 🤣

Cade is serving in the very southern part of New Zealand and learning Tongan the best he can while being surrounded by English speakers. We get to talk to both of them on Sundays, and it is a highlight for me as a mom (meanwhile, their siblings at home just want to eat dinner and wonder why we have to talk to them so often, haha).

Life is busy and full, and I try to be grateful for each day. No one told me how hard it would be to parent adult kids/older teenagers. 😬 It is both challenging and rewarding. Some days I want my money back. Other days I think it is the best thing ever. A lot of the time, I’m just tired. 😜

Some Things I’m Loving Right Now

• My brother sent me this wireless charger {aff. link} – game changer! It has come in so handy, and I love how it attaches to my phone without getting in the way (so I can still use my phone for pictures/videos/whatever).
• We’ve had this game {aff. link} forever but have been playing it more recently on Sunday nights as a family, and I’m reminded how much I love it! If you’re a fan of Code Names {aff. link}, I think you’ll like this one.
• I know sweater season is nearly over, but I have loved this cable-knit sweater and get so many compliments on it (I have it in green – it’s a bit of a boxy cut, I’d suggest ordering true-to-size or sizing down). Also, still highly in love with these jeans.
• Have you had this licorice?? Oh my, it is SO GOOD. I brought some to our 50th anniversary gathering, and it was such a hit. It is a bit pricey for licorice (especially if you’re used to twizzlers) – but if you are looking for a special gift for a licorice lover in your life (or ahem, for yourself), it is perfect. I love the peach, salt and caramel, and dark chocolate.
• I bought this longer mini loaf-style pan {aff. link} because I think quick bread, like banana bread, turns out so much better in mini loaf pans, but I wanted a longer version. Less hassle of filling up all those little pans, you know? I recently used it for this sour cream banana bread recipe, and it was perfect! I doubled the recipe and filled up this longer pan + two mini loaf pans. I’m thinking a recipe that yields one 8 1/2-X4 1/2-inch pan will work in this pan (the sides are higher than a classic mini loaf pan). The little slices are so cute!
• I am still using this stovetop popcorn maker {aff. link} nonstop (brought it to the 50th anniversary party and made over six batches – we could get enough – it makes the best popcorn). This is the “recipe” I use: 2 tablespoons butter-flavored coconut oil (for no other reason than we love the flavor), 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon salt (I always use this salt), 1/2 cup popcorn kernels (this Amish white or purple popcorn is our fave). Add more salt (and/or butter) to taste after it pops (it’s so good, we usually don’t add anything else).
• I replaced my old, chipped, metal citrus juicer with this one {aff. link}, and wow – it’s amazing.

A Question for You

If you’ve made it this far, you are a special, special friend. Clearly I need to do these Friday Thoughts posts more often, because I have a lot to say!

Here’s my question for you: How are you backing up and storing personal pictures and videos?

I’ve been backing up our photos and videos in a not-organized combination of external hard drives and Google photos/drive. But I’m wondering if there’s a more seamless option. Any and all ideas welcome!

Those Email Updates I Mentioned

I know how quickly inboxes can fill up with needless emails. I feel an intense measure of peace when my email inbox is down to ground zero (all emails opened, read, deleted, unsubscribed, or tucked neatly away into the appropriate email folder). 🤓

That means I try really hard not to send you fluffy, unessential emails. If you’ve subscribed to my email newsletter, you already know you have a couple of options. You can subscribe to all the emails below OR you can subscribe to just the section of emails you want.

• New recipe emails (These go out whenever I post a new recipe – usually once a week on Mondays – and they are also the emails I like to include a life/personal/blog update. You can see those notes if you scroll to the bottom of the email).
• Newsletter emails (These go out once a week, usually on Wednesday or Thursday, and they highlight recipes that you may have forgotten about – I try to make them helpful and seasonal!)
• Weekly menu plans (These emails go out early, early on Saturday mornings, and they include a free weekly menu plan to use for the next week’s menu planning inspiration – lots of tips and notes on these emails to streamline dinner night.)
• Friday thoughts/Life updates (These emails go out a couple of times a year when I post a more personal update on my blog – usually in the format of these Friday Thoughts posts).

And there are NEVER any hard feelings if you want or need to unsubscribe at any time, for any reason.

Okaaaay! That does it for today. Thanks for being here! 💗 Truly, everything I do on this blog (including all the dishes 🤪), I do for YOUUUU!