As a homemaker, my days are pretty much the same.

I have a routine I tend to stick to, and aside from a few things here and there that change or come up, like appointments, or grocery shopping, my days are usually comprised of certain chores and tasks that I do from morning to night.


I am well aware that this post is nothing amazing or different to what the rest of my fellow Stay at Home Moms do on a daily basis, but I thought it would be fun to take you all along with me in what is a pretty typical day in my life.

Be prepared though, it is jam packed with photos, and I apologize for that, but I really wanted you to get a sense of what I did today.  


Every morning I start with the dishes, unloading the dishwasher and reloading and so on.  This morning though, I had to give the sink and faucet a good clean, as you can see from the state of the faucet, it was a little grubby.


I then move on to the laundry, which really is a never ending task in my house.  Just when I think I'm caught up, there's another basket being drug into the kitchen and another load waiting to be washed.

I try to do a load every other day, so that it doesn't all pile up on the weekend.


Once the washer is going, I move onto the stove, counter tops and appliances.


I love stainless steel appliances, but I also immensely dislike them.  They always look so grubby, no matter how often you wipe them down.  I do need to get some of the stainless steel cleaner.  (and I did give it a good wipe down after I was done with the sweeping).


Next is usually the vacuuming, and with this huge house and two living rooms, it can take quite a while and give me quite the workout.


I usually move the smaller furniture around so that I can vacuum underneath it.


Then it was time to check the mail, I try to check it around the same time every day, as our mailman is quite good about coming by the same time.

I did notice some weeds starting to creep up and quickly pulled them out.


Then back inside again to switch over the laundry.


Folding takes quite a bit of time too, so I try to do it while watching something on the TV.  It makes it go by quicker.


Once the laundry is all folded, I move to the bathrooms and give the toilets a good cleaning, wash down the tubs real quick, wipe the counters and sweep the floors.  If need be I also mop them.


By this time, I usually eat my lunch and then make it a point of sitting down for at least 30 minutes to relax.


Today I had to get the chicken in the crockpot for dinner, so I went ahead and did that.  For this recipe I didn't need to start it in the morning, but if I did, then I would have done that right after doing the dishes.


I also do take a few breaks in between my chores, to play a little with Marley.  He is still a puppy and does require some attention and some one on one time.


Then I light some candles after the whole housework is done. It's become a ritual almost for me, it's like the end to my cleaning routine, lighting the candles and enjoying the beautiful scent.


I try to get a bit of gardening done every afternoon, mainly after the sun has moved away from this side of the house.  Watering my plants is part of that routine.


Marley loves being outside with me and is always watching what I'm doing.   Don't mind all that overgrown grass on the right side, that is all getting pulled tomorrow and will also get some black mulch.


By the time I get all this done, it's usually after 4pm and I start getting dinner preparations under way.

Setting the table is the thing I do first, because by the time dinner is ready, my family is around the table and chatting and waiting.


I get the food underway, and then while it cooks, I unload the dishwasher once again and reload it with the dishes from the day and whatever I am using to cook with.


Make the tea, or juice, and also quickly switch over any laundry that is finishing up.  Finish setting the table and getting it all ready for us to eat.


Back at dishes again, it really is a never ending chore, much like the laundry.  I fill my washer but I sometimes have dishes that don't fit, so I wash those by hand.



Once my kitchen is clean and tidy for the night, I go and take my shower, get into my comfy nightgown and then make myself a nice cup of coffee.


And enjoy it while sitting by my big window, watching the sun start to set, the birds fluttering about and my busyness finally starting to subside.


I usually end the day on my couch, touch up my nails while watching some youtube videos or my shows on the TV.



Then I edit whatever photos I took of the day, type up my blog post, or start to at least because sometimes I end up having to move to the bedroom so that I can finish it right before I head to bed.


I turn in for the night and get up the next morning at 6am to start is all over again.

It's my life, it's what I do as a homemaker, and I won't sit here and lie and say that some days I don't get a bit bored, or a bit frustrated that the chores are never ending and never changing, whether it be a week day or a weekend.....but those days are so few and far between.

I get immense pleasure from what I do, I love homemaking, strange as that may sound.  But I love my family, and I do this for them, and that in itself is enough to make it all worth it.

Well I hope you enjoyed this peek into a typical day in my life.  I sure enjoyed sharing it with you all.

Have a wonderful night friends.

From the minute my feet hit the ground, the whole pace of the day was slow.  There was no rushing, no need to be anywhere, or projects left dangling and waiting, no phone calls to make, no bills needing paid, and no feeling like there just aren't enough hours in the day.

A slow day.......

If you've ever had a slow day you will know that it moves at it's own beat, it's almost like the planet itself takes a break from the chaos of every day life.

I once read a quote that really struck me.  I must admit that I didn't quite understand its meaning at first, but when it sank in, it suddenly made all the sense in the world.  It's almost like a light bulb moment.


"You must go slow, in order to move fast."

Might seem a bit weird when you first read it, but it's quite simple and to the point.  If we go slow and calmly do things, then we do them right and therefore faster.  Quite eye opening isn't it?


So that was my day today, and I must admit it wasn't because I made it so, but my body did.  If you're a woman then you know that once a month we are forced to slow down a little.  I have never used my cycle as an excuse to get out of anything, but the first day it hits me like a ton of bricks, the cramps, the headache, the lower back ache, and even lightheaded.  Overall unwell feeling.


I'm lucky in that I don't work outside the home, because I can take that day off to just go with the flow, to slow down and to let my body do what it needs to.


I spent yesterday afternoon with my sister in law.  We had lunch together, we chatted and laughed and caught up, and then I taught her how to make the Bird Seed Wreaths.


They are so simple and in no time, we both had quite a few made and ready to dry overnight.


This morning I added some of my ribbons and tomorrow I'll go around and hang them from my front and back porch. I have quite a bit of chores that need done around the house tomorrow, and after having a bit of a slow day today, it will feel good to get back at it.

I do plan on meeting up with my sister in law, late morning, to run to the thrift store and have a quick look around, and then we're going for some ice cream.

Dinner tonight was a complete bust, I forgot to take out my chicken, and since my hubby knew that today I was feeling so run down, he picked up Charley's subs for dinner.  I LOVE Charley's and haven't had them in, oh.....a year or two?

Not to mention, no dishes or clean up to do and that's always a plus right?


I just finished some computer work, got two more book reviews lined up, which I'm excited for because I finally have my reading mojo back.  It had been gone for years, and I kid you not, it really had been years since I had enjoyed reading a book, but the Nancy E. Turner novel kick started that up for me again, thank goodness.

Monday, I have to go to base to pick up some prescriptions and I've decided to pop into the library and see what I can find.  I know it's totally ridiculous with the amount of books for review I still have on my shelf, but I haven't been to the library in a while, so it's a must.

Right now I have the TV on and I was trying to catch up on my crime shows in the DVR but I would rather read, so I'll turn it on to our usual Everybody Loves Raymond reruns and enjoy my story, which by the way, I am more than halfway through my book, all 600 pages of it.  Wow!!!!!

Tell me, when is the last time you had a slow day of your own, and how do you usually like to spend yours?

Do not color your hair until August 23rd.

Such simple words, and yet they hit me like a ton of bricks.  Oh friends, I'm in for a big fight with myself hahahaha


Alright let me back track a bit and tell you how this came about.  And then I'm going to give you photos of my hair and show you what's happening.

I had my hair appointment this morning.  My hair is super thick, and very unmanageable if it's not cut, layered and given some texture.  It has been 3 months since my last cut and I was struggling with the unruly mop of a mess on my head.


I went to my hairdresser (who is amazing by the way) and she gave me just what I needed.  She knows my hair so well and knows what to cut, where to cut and how to cut it.  After lots of texturizing, layering, point cutting and snips here and there, I was feeling great.


Then I said to her "Hey Tara, I have a lot of grays coming in and I just hate that I have to color every 3 weeks, it's a bit annoying, wish I could do something about it.".

So she tells me that we should try some lowlights.  Here's the thing, I have been coloring my own hair for years, mainly because I don't have the money to go and get it done professionally, it's too much money.  Curt keeps pushing me to go and do it, but I just don't.

But I was thinking, you know my birthday is coming up in August and maybe that would be a gift to myself.  So I made the appointment with her, and she is always booked up so her next available isn't until August 23rd.......mind you my birthday is the 10th, BUT it's fine, still my birthday month right?


She then challenges me NOT to color my hair until then, to just let it go natural, let the grays come out and then we'll do a nice color when I see her in a few weeks.

HELP ME!!!!  According to her I'm 75% gray already.  Again, HELP ME!!!  hahahah

So I told her I would do my best to not reach for the dye bottle and try very very hard to leave it as is.  I know it's best and it will be nice to do a proper color but I'm not sure how I'll feel through this challenge.   Think I can do it?


There is no denying that I'm getting older, my wrinkles around the eyes certainly don't try to hide that fact.

I think I need to just embrace the changes and remind myself on a daily basis, that some others are not as blessed or lucky to make it to my age.  It's all about being thankful for what we have and where we are.


Doesn't make it easy though does it?  But I am going to try super duper hard to make it through this challenge.  I will let you know how I'm getting on, and I may even keep sharing pictures of my hair as the weeks go.  It will be interesting to see how much gray I really do have and how it will look after the color is done.

I guess you could say today was a me day.  Usually I start my morning on the computer, but today I kept it shut off.  After Curt had left for work, I grabbed my cup of coffee and my cereal, sat on the couch, pulled the blanket over my legs and sat and read from 7am to 10am.


3 hours of quiet, uninterrupted reading time, and wow did that feel good.  I'm not halfway through the book and already wishing it never to end.

After my hair appointment, I met up with Curt for lunch at the pizza place a few doors down from the salon and then made my way home.

Did a bit of cleaning, some dishes, played with Marley, talked to Nick for about an hour, and then made a cup of coffee and once again sat on the couch with my book for another hour.

I would never do this, because I feel so guilty just sitting and reading, but it did me a world of good and put me in such a good mood to be able to indulge in something I thoroughly enjoy, without worrying, without interruptions, and without feeling like I was doing something wrong.

Sometimes that's all we need as moms and homemakers, to sit down and indulge ourselves.


Dinner tonight was a simple Alfredo pasta with broccoli and mushrooms.  I've decided that I'm going to do a meatless meal every week.  It will give us a break from meat heavy dishes and it will be a little cheaper too with the prices of meat having gone up so much lately.

I'll share the recipe on the blog tomorrow, as I made the pasta in my pressure cooker. 

Ok, Mister Marley is giving me the cute eyes beckoning for me to get into bed.  He is ready to go to sleep but likes to have someone to snuggle with.

I better oblige him.  Have a blessed night everyone :)

In that order.

Hi friends, how was your Monday?  I'll be honest, I kind of wish that it wasn't Monday yet, I feel like the weekend went a little fast for my liking, but hey ho, it is what it is.

I did a lot of puttering around today and I'm absolutely exhausted right now.

I wasn't going to share this first picture because I really don't like the way I look.  Since moving to Texas and going through all these ups and downs and craziness, I've had to stop exercising the way I used to, stopped eating healthy and put on 5 pounds.  It's not a lot and I can get it back off easily, but for now, I'm not happy with my body.


And so I thought about not sharing this photo, and then I thought.  You know, this is me, this is my online journal, and it's my journey through life, ups and downs, whether I'm skinny or a little overweight, feel good about myself or not.  It needs to be documented and I'm not going to omit anything from it.

So there I am, in all my glory.   I AM getting back on the bandwagon next week and I'm already made up all my meal plans, exercise plans and so forth.  I am super excited to get fit and healthy again.


So I started this morning by giving the green living room a really good clean, top to bottom, and then shifted some things around.  Moved some shelves from one wall to the other and exchanged a few decorations here and there.




This living room has always been one of my favorite places in the house, mainly because of all the natural light that it gets with the huge windows and big glass patio doors.


My Rosemary and Basil are doing amazingly well in this room too.


After I finished inside, I moved outside again.  Still working on the yard.

We have so many ideas and so many plans to do this and that, it's just a matter of time and money, really.  But I went ahead and started my planting today, probably a little later in the year than I usually do, but it's still summer, it's still warm and I don't have to worry about cold weather yet.



The whole time I was outside, Marley hung out with me.  He loves the outdoors and he's a really good dog, he doesn't run off, he just stays right by my feet.  He will venture up to the driveway but that's as far as he goes.


This is one of the projects we've been working on.  We've removed all the grass and weeds from this flower bed, and have laid down black mulch.  The plan is to add in some flowers, greenery, etc.    But so far it's looking really nice :)


He got a bit thirsty while being outside in the heat with me, and came right up to get some water from the watering can.  Hahah

He is so cute.



While working inside, I popped on The Keeping Room on Netflix.  It looks like something I will enjoy, but I wasn't able to get through it all, I actually only saw about 30 minutes of the movie before having to turn it off to get outside.  I will finish it tomorrow some time.

Dinner time was quickly coming around, isn't it always like that when you keep yourself busy during the day?

I set the dough for my bread bowls, in my bread machine and then to rise, I placed them outside on the patio table.  I always use the summer heat to help rise my bread and it does a very good job of it.


And here's the finished product.  My bunny chow for dinner.  A couple of you asked what it was, and I do explain it on my food blog, so click on over to the Bunny Chow recipe and read all about it.

I also posted my Pressure Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese recipe :)


I have another busy day tomorrow, am getting a haircut at 11am and then need to quickly pop to Walmart for a few things, then need a money order to pay a bill and a trip to the post office.

I do want to get a bit more stuff planted as well, but I'll see how I'm doing time wise tomorrow afternoon.

I'm off to go and read again.  I know by now some of you are probably sick of hearing me talk about my book but I can't help it, it's beautifully written.

Have a wonderful Monday night friends.
xoxoxo