Hello friends! It feels like a while since I’ve shared a personal update here. With more frequent notes in my weekly emails and Instagram updates, the classic Friday Thoughts post has taken a backseat. But today, I wanted to check in, share what’s been happening, and most importantly, see how YOU are doing!
Below, you’ll find a mix of updates ranging from family celebrations to a few of my current favorite things, and a question I’d love your input on (find it at the end).
Take a moment, if you can, and leave a comment letting me know how life is treating you! I always appreciate hearing from you.
Celebrating 50 Years of Love (Not Mine, Thankfully! 😜)
Last week was a special one as my siblings, their spouses, and I gathered to celebrate my parents’ incredible 50th wedding anniversary. We rented a large Airbnb and filled the time with fun activities, games, heartfelt conversations, and plenty of laughter.
Since the celebration was near where I live, I took on the task of preparing most of the food. I’m happy to report that the week went wonderfully, and we were all so grateful for the opportunity to spend quality time together, especially my parents. It was a truly memorable occasion.
Here are some of the fun activities we enjoyed:
- The “Newlywed” Game: My sister created a hilarious 50th-anniversary version of the classic “Newlywed” game. My parents had to match answers to questions like, “What did Dad wear on your first date?” and “What was the price of your first home?” It was not only funny but also revealed some interesting facts we didn’t know about their early years together!
- E-Bike Adventure: We rented e-bikes from a local company and explored the scenic Boise greenbelt. Although it was a bit chilly, it was incredibly fun. This was definitely my favorite activity of the week. The fresh air and beautiful scenery made for a perfect outing.
- Escape Room Challenge: We tackled an escape room and, miraculously, managed to escape within the time limit (with a few hints along the way, of course!). I mostly just followed my intelligent family members around, trying to look like I knew what was going on. The teamwork and problem-solving made it a thrilling experience.
- Bowling Tournament with a Twist: My brother organized a super fun bowling activity with unique rules. Each person received a cup containing a roll of quarters and four one-dollar coins. Here’s how it worked: a spare earned you a quarter from everyone, a strike earned you two quarters, and consecutive strikes earned you a dollar coin per strike. If you ran out of dollar coins, you’d give two quarters per strike. A gutter ball meant putting a quarter in a central pot, which the next strike winner would claim. It was such a blast that I’m planning to replicate it with my kids during spring break!
- More Games and Activities: We also enjoyed a trip to TopGolf, a pickleball session at The Flying Pickle (I definitely need lessons!), and lots of board and card games at the Airbnb. This game {aff. link} was the absolute hit of the week! We played it every night and had so many laughs.
Regarding the food, I made everything ahead of time and either froze or refrigerated it to make meal prep super easy during the celebration. Here’s a glimpse of what I prepared:
- Healthy Egg Bites: I made and froze several batches of these to reheat in the microwave each morning for a quick and nutritious breakfast option. They were a big hit and provided a convenient way to start the day.
- Overnight Chia Oats: This was the surprising star of the entire gathering! I had to make a second batch mid-week because everyone loved it so much. The easy preparation and delicious taste made it a winner.
- Make-Ahead Egg Tater Tot Casserole: I served this for breakfast, but we had plenty of leftovers that people enjoyed for lunch and dinner as well. It was a hearty and satisfying meal that everyone appreciated.
- Salsa Verde Chicken: We set up a build-your-own style meal with tortillas, cilantro lime rice from Costco (which heats up easily in the microwave), cilantro lime dressing, and an assortment of fresh toppings. It was a fun and customizable meal that catered to everyone’s preferences.
- My Mom’s Famous Freezer Burritos: These were perfect for quick lunches, along with a variety of sandwich-making ingredients. They were a comforting and familiar favorite.
- Desserts Galore: I stocked the freezer with a variety of sweet treats, including these peanut butter cookies (half of them dipped in chocolate), these sugar cookies (made gluten-free for my sister), hot cocoa cookies, M&M cookies (made into bars), and S’mores cookies (also made into bars). There was definitely no shortage of delicious desserts!
Anti-Inflammatory Diet and Pain Updates
If you missed it, I wrote a detailed post about my anti-inflammatory diet here. I initially embarked on this diet to address hand and hip pain. I’ve received many questions about whether I’m still following this diet and how I’m feeling.
The short answer is that the diet didn’t significantly alleviate my hand and hip pain. However, I’ve been receiving treatment from a physical therapist, and I’m feeling optimistic about my progress. On the bright side, my LDL cholesterol saw a remarkable improvement, dropping by 60 points! Therefore, I’m continuing to prioritize a high-fiber diet rich in anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering foods for the next six months, until my next blood test. If my LDL cholesterol drops another 20 points, it would be a truly miraculous outcome!
However, I’m approaching the diet with more moderation than I did during the first two months. I’m still enjoying the same anti-inflammatory recipes for breakfast and lunch that I’ve come to rely on. But I’m allowing myself more flexibility for dinner so that I don’t have to prepare separate meals for myself and my family. I simply make sure to include a larger portion of vegetables on my plate than the rest of my family members.
And of course, I enjoy whatever food I’m making for the blog, too. Everything in moderation!
We’ll see how things look in September! I appreciate how my body and gut feel when eating this way, so I plan to continue as long as I can. Prioritizing healthy eating habits has become a positive and sustainable part of my lifestyle.
General Life Update
My two youngest children, who are in 8th and 11th grade, have both started school tennis. After a relatively laid-back winter, we’re back into the rhythm of sports activities. It’s hard to believe that the school year is just a few months away from ending. Time truly flies!
Brian remains busy with his work as he continues to grow his business, in addition to his church responsibilities. He continues to be an avid college sports fan. 💙 I have my favorite “job” at church: teaching children ages 3 to 11 songs about Jesus. I hope they will let me do it forever.
My eldest son, Jackson, has begun his classes in Utah with the intention of attending flight school. We always cherish his visits home. He’s turning 22 soon and has already requested shrimp tacos for his birthday dinner when he comes. He knows what he likes!
Walker is currently serving in the Philippines and is scheduled to return home in June (!!). Recently, I received a text from an unknown number from a family traveling in the Philippines. The family encountered some missionaries, identified one as being from Idaho, snapped a photo, and texted it to me. I was impressed that my son still remembered my phone number! 🤣 It was a heartwarming surprise.
Cade is serving in the very southern part of New Zealand and is learning Tongan as best as he can, despite being surrounded by English speakers. We have the opportunity to talk to both of them on Sundays, which is always a highlight for me as a mother. 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 appreciate each day. No one warned me how challenging it would be to parent adult children and older teenagers. 😬 It’s both rewarding and demanding. Some days, I question my choices. Other days, I feel it is the best thing ever. More often than not, I’m just tired. 😜
Some Things I’m Loving Right Now
- Wireless Charger: My brother gifted me this wireless charger {aff. link}. It’s a game changer! It’s incredibly handy, and I love how it attaches to my phone without getting in the way, allowing me to continue using my phone for pictures, videos, and everything else.
- Decrypto Game: We’ve owned this game {aff. link} for a while, but we’ve been playing it more frequently on Sunday nights as a family, and I’m reminded of how much I enjoy it! If you’re a fan of Code Names {aff. link}, I think you’ll appreciate this one too. It’s great for family game nights.
- Cable-Knit Sweater and Wide-Leg Jeans: Although sweater weather is almost over, I have loved wearing this cable-knit sweater and receive so many compliments on it. I have it in green. It has a slightly boxy cut, so I recommend ordering your true size or even sizing down. Also, I’m still completely obsessed with these jeans.
- Lakrids by Bülow Licorice: Have you tried this licorice?? Oh my goodness, it’s absolutely divine. I brought some to our 50th-anniversary gathering, and it was a huge success. It’s a bit pricey compared to regular licorice (especially if you’re used to Twizzlers), but if you’re searching for a special gift for a licorice enthusiast (or for yourself), it’s perfect. I particularly love the peach, salt and caramel, and dark chocolate flavors.
- Mini Loaf Pan: I purchased this longer mini loaf-style pan {aff. link} because I think quick breads, such as banana bread, turn out much better in mini loaf pans, but I wanted a longer version. It reduces the hassle of filling up multiple small pans. I recently used it for this sour cream banana bread recipe, and it was perfect! I doubled the recipe and filled this longer pan plus two standard mini loaf pans. I think that a recipe that yields one 8 1/2-X4 1/2-inch pan will work well in this one because the sides are taller than a regular mini loaf pan. The little slices are so cute!
- Stovetop Popcorn Maker: I’m still using this stovetop popcorn maker {aff. link} constantly. I brought it to the 50th-anniversary party and made over six batches. Here’s the “recipe” I follow: 2 tablespoons of butter-flavored coconut oil (simply because we love the flavor), 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon of salt (I always use this salt), and 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels (our favorites are Amish white or purple popcorn). After it pops, add more salt (and/or butter) to taste. It’s so delicious that we usually don’t add anything else!
- Citrus Juicer: I replaced my old, chipped, metal citrus juicer with this one {aff. link}, and it’s fantastic.
A Question for You
If you’ve made it this far, you’re a truly special friend! Clearly, I need to post these Friday Thoughts more often because I have a lot to share!
Here’s my question for you: How are you backing up and storing your personal photos and videos?
I’ve been backing up our photos and videos in a somewhat unorganized manner, using a combination of external hard drives and Google Photos/Drive. However, I’m wondering if there’s a more seamless solution available. I welcome any and all ideas! I’m open to hearing about different methods, software, and cloud storage options.
Those Email Updates I Mentioned
I understand how quickly inboxes can become overloaded with unnecessary emails. I experience a great sense of peace when my email inbox is empty. 🤓
That’s why I make a conscious effort not to send you trivial, non-essential emails. If you’ve subscribed to my email newsletter, you know that you have a few options. You can subscribe to all of the emails listed below, or you can subscribe only to the specific email sections that you’re interested in.
- New Recipe Emails: These are sent out whenever I post a new recipe, usually on Mondays. I also like to include life, personal, and blog updates in these emails. You can find these notes at the bottom of the email.
- Newsletter Emails: These are sent out once a week, usually on Wednesdays or Thursdays, and they highlight recipes that you may have overlooked. I strive to make them helpful and seasonal!
- Weekly Menu Plans: These emails are sent out early on Saturday mornings and include a free weekly menu plan for your inspiration. They also contain numerous tips and notes to streamline your dinner preparations.
- Friday Thoughts/Life Updates: These emails are sent out a few times a year when I share a more personal update on my blog, typically in the format of these Friday Thoughts posts.
And there are absolutely no hard feelings if you ever wish to unsubscribe, for any reason. Your inbox is yours!
Okay! That’s it for today. Thank you for being here! 💗 Everything I do on this blog (including all the dishes 🤪), I do for YOUUUU!
