Making List and Getting Things Done.

 

September Is Flying By… So I’m Trying to Get Ahead 🍂

Can you believe it is already Wednesday, September 9th, 2026?

I honestly do not understand how this year is flying by so quickly! It seems like we were just celebrating the beginning of 2026, and now here we are heading into the final few months of the year.

But you know what? As crazy as it is to watch the calendar move so quickly, I am actually feeling pretty good about where Mr. C and I are right now. We are making some long-term goals and choices, and we are trying to be more intentional about getting things done instead of waiting until the last minute.

And apparently, that includes thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas already! 😂

Getting a Head Start on the Holidays

Mr. C has already started thinking about things we can buy for our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners that can sit in the pantry until we need them.

And honestly, I think this is a GREAT idea.

One year we waited until Thanksgiving was right around the corner and discovered that we could not find sage seasoning anywhere! I mean, who knew sage was going to become the hottest commodity in Oklahoma that year? 😂

We ended up borrowing some from one of our neighbors just so we could finish Thanksgiving dinner.

So this year, we are trying to be prepared.

We are starting to think about what we want on the menu, what we can buy ahead of time, whether we will host or someone else will host, and what we can pick up now so we aren’t running around like crazy when the holidays arrive.

The same goes for Christmas.

We have already been buying Christmas presents like crazy, and I am actually pretty excited about that. Having a good portion of the gifts purchased ahead of time will make the next few months SO much less stressful.

My plan is to make a list of everyone we need to buy for, mark off what we already have, and then see what is still missing.

Future Karen is going to appreciate Present-Day Karen for doing this. 😂

Today’s To-Do List

Of course, thinking ahead doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of things that need to be done right now.

After work today, I have several things on my list:

• 💡 Pay the electric bill — it is due tomorrow, so I definitely don’t want to forget this one!
• 🏦 Stop by the bank and make my last loan payment. It isn’t due until the 15th, but I would love to go ahead and get that taken care of.
• 👜 Change out my work tote. The one I’ve been carrying just isn’t quite sturdy enough, so I think it is time for something better.
• 🥤 Place a small grocery/drink order — probably around $35 — to get some more drinks for the house and fill in a few grocery gaps. If work isn’t too busy, I may even get this done between calls.
• 👚 Empty the dryer, hang up the clothes and fold everything.
• 👗 Pick out my work clothes for next week. Yes, I know it is only Wednesday, but I LOVE having my outfits ready to grab and go. It makes my mornings so much easier.
• 💌 Write two pen pal letters — one to Joni and one to Melissa. Once those are finished, I should be caught up!
• 💰 Work on October’s budget so I can see exactly where I am going to stand going into the new month.

It may sound like a lot, but honestly, most of these things aren’t huge jobs. It is just a matter of getting them done instead of letting them pile up.

And I have discovered that there is something really satisfying about checking things off a list. ✔️

A Little Birthday Gift… Five Months Late 😂

This morning I had a conversation with Whitney, my cousin Dakota’s wife.

She said, “Hey, I’m going to bring you your birthday gift!”

And I immediately thought, Oh yeah… I have your birthday gift too!

There is only one tiny problem.

Our birthday was in May. 😂

So naturally, that conversation sent me straight to Amazon.

Whitney loves cactus-themed things, and I recently found out that she is also getting into pen paling. So I had the PERFECT idea for her.

I ordered her:

🌵 Cactus pen pal letter sets
🌵 A cactus composition book
🌵 Cactus washi tape
🌵 Cactus stickers

I am going to wrap everything up really cute in some green paper and give it to her at our company picnic later this month.

I think she is going to love it!

Now, if I were a better cousin/friend, I would probably drive out to her house and take her something to eat since she has had back surgery. I could make a casserole or something and let her know I am thinking about her.

But she lives about 30 minutes away, and sometimes life just gets busy.

And you know what?

I’m learning that it is okay.

I haven’t forgotten about her. I care about her. And I am doing what I can do.

Sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to do EVERYTHING perfectly that we forget to give ourselves credit for the things we actually are doing.

I’m working on that.

Looking Ahead

So here we are… September 9th.

The holidays are coming. The year is winding down. There are bills to pay, budgets to make, laundry to fold, letters to write, groceries to buy and Christmas presents to finish.

But there are also plans.

There are goals.

There are little things we are doing today that will hopefully make life a little easier tomorrow.

And I think that is what I am enjoying most right now.

Mr. C and I are trying to look ahead instead of always looking behind us. We are making plans, getting prepared and figuring out what we want the next few months—and eventually the next few years—to look like.

Maybe that is what this season of life is all about.

Not having everything figured out.

Just taking it one list, one goal and one day at a time. ❤️

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Hope that you had the best day ever, and drop a comment down below from where you’re reading it from.

Cheers, 

Karen❤️

Midweek Rambling

Welcome, August! Family Visits, Fresh Goals, and Looking Forward

Good morning, friends!

It’s Wednesday morning, August 5th, and I’m on my way to work. It’s about 6:30 a.m., and we are blessed with another beautiful Oklahoma sunrise. I don’t know about you, but I have a feeling August is going to be a wonderful month.

The biggest reason? My youngest son, Trevor, his wife Mellissa, and my sweet grandchildren, Kyndall and Liam, will be coming home from North Dakota for a week and a half! It feels like it’s been far too long since we’ve all been together, and I honestly can’t wait to hug those babies.

Over the past few weeks, Mr. C and I have been busy getting everything ready for their visit. We completely decluttered Kyndall’s bedroom, which doubles as our guest room, and gave the toy room a complete makeover. It feels so nice knowing everything is organized, clean, and ready for little feet to come running through the house again.

Yesterday our new window air conditioner arrived for Kyndall’s room, and Mr. C is planning to install it today. With August being one of the hottest months of the year here in Oklahoma, I know they’ll sleep much more comfortably.

If you’re wondering why we named our guest bedroom Kyndall’s room is because her and I have always utilized the guest bedroom as if it was hers. She has a dresser drawer that has clothes, small treasures and hair items waiting on her. When they leave to go back to North Dakota I send most home with her. Then I start gathering up new items for the next visit. 

Now I just need to start planning a few fun Nana-and-Kyndall adventures. She always loves helping me in the kitchen, so I’m already thinking about a few treats we can bake together. I’ll also be stocking the pantry with plenty of kid-friendly snacks before everyone arrives.

Monday

Work started the week off fairly well. I finished Monday with 9 saves. While it wasn’t exactly where I wanted to be, every save helps someone, and that’s something I’m always grateful for.

Monday was also a big day for our grandson, Landon. He had his tonsils removed, his adenoids taken out, and tubes placed in his ears. Anytime your grandbaby has surgery, your heart worries a little extra. Thankfully, everything went well, and now it’s just time for him to heal.

Tuesday

Tuesday turned out to be a much better day at work. I finished the day with 14 saves, and I was really pleased with that. Today I’m setting my goal at 16 saves, although I’ll be happy as long as I reach at least 10.

After work, I picked up Taco Mayo for dinner because Mr. C had spent nearly the entire day helping Brody and Savannah with the kids while Savannah was getting her classroom ready for the new school year. Since Landon was still recovering from surgery, it was a huge blessing for them to have Grandpa there to help out. I know Mr. C enjoyed every minute of spending time with those grandbabies.

Tuesday evening I also worked on my required credit counseling certification. I’ve finished everything except the final chat session. Once I complete that, I’ll officially have my certification behind me, and that’ll feel wonderful to check off my to-do list.

Wednesday

Today I’m heading into work feeling optimistic.

We’ve had some changes happening in our department recently. Madison is transferring to the National Team on August 10th, and Whitney will be out beginning August 12th for surgery, with an expected six-week recovery.

Because of that, our schedules are shifting around. Sam has been moved from his normal 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. schedule to working 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you know Sam, you know that’s going to be quite an adjustment! He’s definitely a night owl who usually stays up until around two in the morning. I imagine his alarm clock is becoming his least favorite thing these days.

Thankfully, we’re expecting a new employee to begin training around August 18th, so relief is on the way. Until then, we’ll all be pulling together. It will certainly be busy, but busy also means more opportunities to earn those extra save bonuses.

After work today, I plan to finish my certification chat, and then I think Chicken Express is calling my name for supper. I’ll even order enough so I can pack leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch.

Speaking of lunch, today I’m keeping things fairly simple:

• A low-carb roll-up
• Frozen fruit
• Yogurt
• A Diet Root Beer
• A Diet Pepsi
• An energy drink

Little by little, I’m trying to make healthier choices.

This year has really become about being intentional. I’m trying to eat better, manage my money wisely, stay organized, and simply become the best version of myself one day at a time. Progress may not always be fast, but progress is still progress.

Five Simple Ways I’m Trying to Cut Back on Carbs

• Make wraps using low-carb tortillas instead of bread.
• Keep fresh vegetables ready for quick snacks instead of chips.
• Choose grilled chicken more often than fried foods.
• Drink more water and diet drinks instead of sugary beverages.
• Keep healthy protein snacks like cheese sticks, boiled eggs, or nuts nearby so I’m less tempted by sweets.

Five Easy Ways to Save Money

• Plan meals before grocery shopping.
• Cook enough supper to enjoy leftovers for lunch.
• Give yourself a 24-hour waiting period before making impulse purchases.
• Keep a running grocery list so fewer trips to the store turn into fewer impulse buys.
• Put even five or ten dollars into savings each payday—it adds up faster than you think.

Nana & Kyndall’s Kitchen Corner

One recipe I know Kyndall and I will have fun making together is Mini English Muffin Pizzas.

All you’ll need:

• Whole wheat or regular English muffins
• Pizza sauce
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Pepperoni or cooked sausage
• Mini pepper slices or olives (optional)

Let Kyndall spread the sauce, sprinkle on the cheese, and decorate each pizza with her favorite toppings. Bake at 375° for about 10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly. It’s easy, delicious, and kids absolutely love making their own creations.

I’m counting down the days until our family is all together again. There’s just something about hearing little voices fill the house that makes everything feel complete.

I hope each of you has a wonderful Wednesday. Thank you for stopping by and spending a few minutes with me. Until next time, take care of yourselves and make today count!

Been sick this week!

 

Some weeks just don’t go according to plan, and this one definitely threw me a curveball.

Tuesday morning, I made it to work thinking I could push through whatever was going on. Well…my body had other ideas. By about 7:45 that morning, I was sitting at my desk feeling absolutely miserable. I was so sick that I actually started crying. My boss came over and asked what was wrong, and all I could say was, “I’m so sick.”

She took one look at me and told me to go home and not worry about work. She also asked me to let her know around 2:00 that afternoon how I was feeling so she could decide whether I needed to stay home on Wednesday. I was so out of it that I had Mr. C wake me up around 1:45 so I could figure out if I was capable of functioning. The answer was a definite “No.” I sent Sherry a message letting her know I still wasn’t feeling well, and Wednesday became another day of rest.

Getting older has definitely taught me one thing. At 59 years old, I don’t get sick very often, but when I do…I don’t do anything halfway. If my body is going to have a virus, it apparently wants the deluxe package. My stomach was rolling, I was nauseated, and I had a pounding headache in my left temple that just would not let up. Tylenol didn’t seem to make much of a difference, and honestly, I couldn’t even think straight enough to decide if I should call Dr. Angie.

When I left work Tuesday morning, I called Mr. C, and yes…I was crying. He immediately offered to come get me, along with Brody, but I told him not to. They were already at Brody and Savannah’s because Mr. C was planning to watch Lane while Brody, Savannah, Sophie, and Landon went to Landon’s doctor’s appointment.

I just wanted to get home as quickly as I could and crawl into bed.

Even though I told him there wasn’t anything he could do for me and that he should stay where he was, he came home anyway. They simply took Lane along with them to the doctor’s appointment instead.

That’s just who he is.

I felt bad because it completely changed his plans for the day, but he told me he wanted to be home in case I needed anything. I am so incredibly blessed to have a husband who always thinks about everyone else before himself. He takes such good care of me, and I never take that for granted.

By Wednesday morning, I was finally beginning to feel a little better, although that stubborn headache was still hanging around like an unwanted houseguest who couldn’t take a hint. I spent most of the day in bed because I simply had no energy. Thankfully, by this morning—Thursday, July 2—I finally feel like myself again.

Today is our work potluck before everyone enjoys the Fourth of July holiday. Ironically, I was the one who suggested we have one! My original plan was to make my famous piña colada cake, but after spending two days sick, I figured my coworkers probably wouldn’t appreciate me showing up saying, “Don’t worry…I only sneezed on it once!” 😂

So I pivoted.

Instead of baking, I’m bringing a supreme pizza from Casey’s, along with some festive sugar cookies, plates, napkins, and silverware in navy blue to give everything a little Fourth of July feel.

This morning Mr. C asked if I was taking my insulated lunch bag to work. I decided against it because sometimes simplifying life is the best decision. I packed a little fruit cup, a Zero Sugar Monster, a Zero Sugar Cherry Dr Pepper, and a bottle of water. Ice is free in the break room, so if my drinks get warm, I’ll survive.

My goal today is simple: make lots of saves, enjoy lunch with my coworkers, and ease back into normal life.

After work, I’m finally getting my nails done—which is long overdue—and then I’m stopping by Johnny’s Restaurant to pick up dinner. Mr. C wants chicken fried steak, and I’m planning on ordering a club sandwich. The best part? We’ll both have leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

Sometimes life reminds us that our plans can change in a heartbeat. Thankfully, good people, a little rest, and a lot of grace can help get us back on our feet.

Here’s hoping the rest of the holiday weekend is full of fireworks, good food, and absolutely no surprise viruses!