Sunday, August 10, 2025

Sunday Inspiration~ August 10, 2025

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Immaculate Heart of Mary




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Monique


Saturday, August 9, 2025

The Saturaday Book Report~ August 9, 2025

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Saturday Book Report




What Did I Read This Week?

Summer Nights in Wild Harbor (Wild Harbor Beach Book 2) by Grace Worhtington
Hour is Come ( A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery) by Victoria Tait
One Kind Heart (One Kind Deed Series Book 1) by Christine DePetrillo
Framed and Frosted (Cupcake Catering Mystery Book 3) by Kim Davis

Books I Finished~ Don't Tease Me by Renee Rose 


What Book Did I Buy/Borrow This Week?

No new books this week!

Cat sleeping on a Bed







What is the Book I Most Want to Read Right Now?

I'm still trying to finish up The Things We Leave Unfinished. I'm about 65% done. My plan this week is to finish this book and hopefully finish up a few of the other books I've been reading for a few months now. I'm definitely a mood reader, so I have to be in the mood for certain books. 




What are My Reading Plans for the Upcoming Week?

My plan is to finish The Things We Leave Unfinished, as well as 3 of the other books that I am currently reading.


What Did I DNF This Week?

I wanted to finish The Things We Leave Unfinished, but that didn't happen. 


What Did I Work on this Week?

I worked on my lessons for Sunday school.


What is Feeding My Creativity Right Now?

I love taking a peaceful walk through the neighborhood. We live in the mountains, so often I see deer, foxes, birds, and occasionally a bear. 

Waterfall







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Monique





Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Wednesday Hodgepodge~ August 6, 2025

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Hello friends!  I'm joining Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond for Wednesday's Hodgepodge. Each week, she hosts a weekly link-up that is a collection of questions for bloggers to answer. It's to help bloggers get to know each other better and have a little bit of fun! It's a great way to hang out with friends. So grab a cup of coffee or tea if you prefer and join in on the fun. 




So, what is a hodgepodge? A hodgepodge is an unorganized mixture of various things, a jumble of items that don't belong together. 

Here are this week's questions and my answers for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge~ 


1. The midpoint of summer (believe it or not) is August 7th. Describe a perfect summer day. Have you had one this year? 

I would usually say sitting on a beach with the waves rolling in, feeling the cool breeze blow. Of course, I'd be reading a book. However, this summer, my hubby, daughter, and I visited a lavender farm for my birthday. It was beautiful. The rows and rows of lavender were gorgeous. I love lavender. We strolled the gardens, tried some lavender wine, and even both some lavender-smelling body products. It was a beautiful day. 

Lavender Fields

Waterfall


2. What's one thing you wish you knew before starting high school? 

Be yourself and don't worry what others think of you. In the grand scheme of life, it's just 4 years. Twenty years later, the hot guy is bald, the popular kids are just normal parents, and the geeky kids come out ahead most of the time. Life changes, and we aren't stuck in the roles, people put us in. 


3. What's something that bothers you if it's not done perfectly? 

I'd have to say folding clothes or towels wrong. Putting things back in the wrong place. It drives me crazy when people put the dishes away in the wrong drawer or cabinet. Everything has its own proper home. 


4. What's the most overrated food you're convinced people are just pretending to enjoy? What's a trendy food you actually do enjoy and would say is definitely not overrated? 

The most overrated food, I think, people are pretending to enjoy is Kale! That stuff is disgusting. I've tried it cooked, in smoothies, and as chips. Yuck, yuck, yuck! I can't think of anything trendy that I actually do enjoy. Since I have Celiac Disease, most trendy foods are not for me. I'm limited in what I can eat since I can't have gluten and dairy for the most part. No doughnuts or ice cream here. I do like dark chocolate, but I'm not sure that it's trendy. I really don't follow all the trendy foods promoted on TikTok or Instagram. I'm just trying to eat foods that won't bother my stomach.


5. Wrapping it up this week with five fun this or thats...

personal stylist or personal chef? 
dance like nobody's watching or sing like nobody's listening? 
Unlimited tacos or free pizza? 
bookshelf organization by size or by genre? 
ten minutes late or ten minutes early? 


Personal chef, especially if they clean up after cooking
Dance like nobody's watching
Unlimited Tacos~ gluten-free/dairy-free pizza is not good
Bookshelf organization is by size and author 
Ten minutes early~ I hate being late

6. It sucks getting older. Our porch was wet yesterday, and that didn't go well with my flip flops, so I slipped, caught myself, landed wrong, and twisted my ankle, which caused me to fall. I fell backwards, hit the corner of the porchstair with my bum, twisted again and fell on my wrist. I woke up this morning in more pain than I was yesterday. My whole right side hurts. Back in the day, I would walked away with nothing. Getting old is not fun and I'm not enjoying all the aches and pains. 




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Monique

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Happy Reading~ My July Reads

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July Books Suggestions



Well, another month of reading has come to an end. July was a busy month, so I didn't read as much as I wanted. I also had a few more migraines this month, and reading can be difficult when your head is pounding, your eyes hurt, and you just want to sit in a dark room. 


2025 Reading Goal~ 125 Books
I've read 90 books so far this year. Good reads says I'm 17 books ahead of schedule this year, so I may exceed my goal. 


Here's how my book recap goes. 

~I have included pictures if I have them and have provided links to them on Amazon so you can find out more about the books before you buy or check them out at your local library. 

~ If I left a more detailed review for a book, I'll include the link under the book so you can check it out. I leave reviews for books I really like or have received for reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and this blog. 

~If I receive a preview book, I'll include the release date for you.

~ Each book will have a rating in bold. I rate each book with a numbered star.

The rating system I use is as follows ~

*5 This book was amazing! I couldn't put it down. I loved the book so much that I either bought the book or planned to buy it to add to my ever-growing collection so I could reread it. 

*4 This means the book is definitely worth reading. I really enjoyed the book. I liked it, but not enough to buy it and add it to my collection. 

*3 This book was good. It wasn't the best book I've read, but I did enjoy it. I wouldn't need to read it again. 

*2 This book was okay. I finished it, but had to force myself to. I probably didn't like the plot or the characters. The story just didn't work for me. 

*1 This means I didn't like the book at all, and I couldn't finish it.



Here are this month's books~

1. Dangerous Pursuit by Bethany Rosa   3***
An age-gap erotic romance. The characters were okay. The story was predictable. I won't continue with the series. 




2. Summer in Sweetbriar Cove by Meloday Grace   5*****
I really enjoyed this small-town spicy romance story and enjoyed meeting the characters. 

3. Love at Wild Harbor by Grace Worthington   4****
A chocolate shop, a fixer-upper, three sisters, and the small town boy returns home. A sweet love story comes to life. 




4. One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune   5*****
Good things happen at the lake, at least that's what Alice's grandmother says. This is the perfect read for summer. 

A great book for those of us dealing with all the craziness that comes with perimenopause and menopause.

6. All For You by Meloday Grace   4****
This is the second book in the Sweetbirat Cove series.




7. Sam the Guardian Angel by Lis Luwia   4****
This book is perfect for teaching little ones about their Guardian Angel and the importance of Mass. 

8. Jesus Enters Jerusalem by Jane Fryer   3***
This book retells the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem.

9. The Week That Led to Easter by Joanne Larrison   3***
This book retells the story of Holy Week and Jesus' crucifixion. 






10. A Week to Remember by Ruth O'Leary   5*****
I loved this story about three Irish women on the journey of a lifetime. I enjoyed the book so well that I plan on reading more from this author. 

11. Possessive by Willow Winters   3***
Unrequited love, maybe? I read it. It was okay. A quick read, but it wasn't really a great story. 


 Well, that's it for today! Stay tuned for my August reads. I'll get them posted in the first week of September. I have some good ones I've started!


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Till Next Time,

Monique



Monday, August 4, 2025

Happy Homemaker Monday~ August 4, 2025

Please note that posts may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart, and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you.



Happy August, my friends! I hope you had a wonderful July and weekend. The first day of August brought some much-needed cooler temperatures. The humidity has dropped, too. It has been so nice. On Saturday, the boys went on a fishing trip, Therese spent the day with friends, and I finally had the opportunity to work in my flower garden. Sunday was family day. We attended Mass, ran a few errands, and had a nice Sunday dinner, just like I used to have at my grandmother's house when I was a little kid. Those were the best days. I loved spending time with my grandparents and cousins. The time we spent together will always be cherished. I'd give anything to be able to talk to my grandmother.

Let's get started with Happy Homemaker Monday with our beautiful hostess, Sandra from Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Be sure to stop in, grab a cup of coffee, and say hi.


Happy Homemaker Monday




The Weather in My Neck of the Woods~

We are getting some cool temperatures this week. We're not supposed to get much rain this week, which is nice. This has been the wettest summer I can remember in a long time. Normally, by the beginning of July, we are in a drought. Not this year. I'm a little worried that if this trend continues, we will have a wet and snowy winter!

Monday~ Partly Sunny, 79*
Tuesday~ Cloudy, 75*
Wednesday ~ Rain, 73*
Thursday~ Partly Sunny, 76*
Friday~ Rain, 76*
Saturday~ Partly Sunny, 76*
Sunday~ Cloudy, 79*


As I Look Out My Window~

The sun is trying to peak out behind the clouds. It's a little overcast right now. I'm hoping it gets sunnier out. I have bedding to wash and hang out on the line.

Clothesline with flowers



Thinking and Pondering~

Oh my, so much right now. Whoever said it gets easier when your children are older lied. The older they get, the bigger the problems. I would love to have an argument over what shoes to wear with a three-year-old right now. Picking the right sippy cup color would be so much easier right now. Both Michael and Therese are starting the next phase in their journey, and boy, does it make this mama's heart ache with worry, fear, happiness, and doubt. Did I do everything I could to help them be the best they can be? Could I have done things differently, raising them to have a different outcome right now?  Will they make the best decisions? Between my worries for them(and perimenopause), this mama is not sleeping much. I'm praying a lot and putting it all in God's hands, but that sure can be hard to do sometimes. Letting go is not always easy. 
 
Right Now I Am ~

I am typing up this post. I have a load of darks in the washer already.  The house is quiet since I'm here by myself. Michael started the fire academy today, so he left really early this morning. The hubby is at work. Therese is at her boyfriend's house. She starts RN school in two weeks. I've fed all the animals, and they are all now taking their first nap of the day. 

Old Black Lab
Sweet, old Maddie Girl



How I'm  Feeling~

My allergies are still horrible. I have had them since April, but they don't seem to be letting up. All this rain has been horrible. I got my supplements for my perimenopause symptoms, so they are disappearing again, so that's nice. I'm currently taking SM Nutrition DIM Supplement 200 mg and SM Nutrition Menopause Supplement for Women. I've tried other brands, they did not work. These two products actually work for me. 

What's on My Nightstand~  

My Bible and the Catholic Mom's Prayer Companion: A Book of Daily Reflections
My Scenty warmer. I'm currently warming Black Raspberry Vanilla. I haven't broken out the fall scents just yet. 

Yellow Zinnias
Yellow Zinnias


What's for Breakfast~

So far, a mocha latte. I might have an egg or a protein shake. I'm not quite sure yet. 


Looking Around the House~

It needs to be picked up. I didn't get around to deep cleaning last week, so I'll be starting that this week. It's a little messy right now. After some picking up, everything will be back in order. 

Chicken escaping
Primrose trying to make a run for it.



On My To-Do List This Week~ 

Most of the week is pretty open. I'd like to get to the library and the thrift store. I have a ton of things to do around the house.

Change sheets 
Wash all bedding
Wash the dog beds
Vacuum the couch out
Vacuum and mop the floors
Wash the dogs
Organize the sewing room
Finish my lesson plans for Sunday school
Take donations to the thrift store
Dust
Start deep cleaning the house, room by room 


Happening This Week~

Thursday~ Dentist appointment and then errands with The Hubby




On My Reading Pile~

I'm currently reading The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros
and Summer Nights in Wild Harbor by Grace Worthington. 


What I'm Listening To~

Morgan Wallen
Zac Bryan



On TV this week~

Netflix
Sullivan's Crossing
Call the Midwives
The Hunting Wives (not what I was expecting)
Blindspot

Amazon Prime
Reacher

YouTube
Cooking Videos
Quilting Videos
Exercise videos


Night Sky



On the Menu this Week~

Monday~ 
Tuesday~ 
Wednesday~ 
Thursday~
Friday~
Saturday~

I have no clue yet. I really need to sit down and plan meals!


What I am Sewing, Quilting, and Creating~

I'm working on nothing at the moment. 


My Simple Pleasures~

I love sitting outside in the morning hours when it's cool out. 


Lesson Learned This Week~

Nothing goes as planned!


Something Fun to Share (a blog, video, or tip)





From the Camera~

Brown Bat
A brown bat came to visit on the porch




Praying For~

My parents
My husband and children
Our country
Friends and family



Inspirational Quote/Bible Verse/Faith~





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Monique

Sunday, August 3, 2025

Sunday Inspiration~ August 3, 2025

Please note that posts may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart, and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you.




Immaculate Heart of Mary




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Monique


Saturday, August 2, 2025

The Saturday Book Report~ August 2, 2025

Please note that posts may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart, and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you.



Good morning, friends! I recently came across a few bookish blogs, and I became excited by what they were sharing. So I decided to share some of my great book finds, too. I love reading and figured I'd share more about the books I'm reading and those that I've read. I've shared a few book reviews in the past, some for our homeschool and some for me, so I'm not new to the concept of book reviews. My goal is to be more consistent. I already share book reviews on Instagram, so I figured, why not here?  So stay tuned!

What Books Am I Reading


 
What Did I Read This Week?

Summer Nights in Wild Harbor (Wild Harbor Beach Book 2) by Grace Worhtington
Possessive by Willow Winters
Hour is Come ( A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery) by Victoria Tait
One Kind Heart (One Kind Deed Series Book 1) by Christine DePetrillo
Framed and Frosted (Cupcake Catering Mystery Book 3) by Kim Davis



What Book Did I Buy/Borrow This Week?

I was going to say nothing this week because I hadn't visited the thrift store, bookstore, or library. Usually, I visit at least one of those places at least once a week. But I bought some books from eBay. I purchased three books for my Sunday school class~ Sam the Guardian Angel, The Week That Led to Easter, Jesus Enters Jerusalem, and Loyola Kids Book of Saints.


Children's books




What is the Book I Most Want to Read Right Now?

Definitely, The Things We Leave Unfinished. I started this book while we were at the beach. After the first two chapters, I knew I wanted to really get into this book and that it was not a light beach read. I knew it would need my undivided attention, so I put it away until we got back from the beach. I've been busy getting settled back into our regular routine, cleaning, and I had a few doctor's appointments, so I haven't had the time to get back in. My plan is to finish it next week!

The Things We Leave Unfinished



What are My Reading Plans for the Upcoming Week?

My plan is to finish 4 of the 6 books that I am currently reading.


What Did I DNF This Week?

I wanted to finish Possessive and Framed and Frosted, but that didn't happen.


What Did I Work on this Week?

I worked on my prayerful planner and worked on updating my lessons for Sunday school.


What is Feeding My Creativity Right Now?

My flower gardens!

Flowers






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Monique

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