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❤️

Ready to decorate for fall

A Little Fall Cozy Is Coming Our Way 🍂☕🏡

Well, friends, I have decided that this upcoming weekend is going to be a stay-home-and-make-my-house-cozy kind of weekend.

And honestly? I am perfectly okay with that.

I don’t have any big plans. No running around. No trying to squeeze a dozen errands into two days. Just me, Mr. C, our home, and maybe a little bit of fall decorating.

Yes, I know. It’s September.

But I am READY. 😂

There is just something about this time of year that makes me want to slow down a little, pull out the cozy throws, change a few things around the house, and make everything feel warm and comfortable.

Bringing Out the Fall Decor

My first project is going to be the living room.

I’m thinking cozy throws tossed over the couches, some fall-colored pillows, a few pumpkins here and there, and maybe a picture or two that has more of a fall feel.

Nothing over the top.

Just enough to make me walk into the room and think, “Ahhh…this feels like fall.”

I’m also thinking about decorating the bathroom.

Now, I don’t normally decorate the bathroom for every season, but I’m trying something new. I’ve decided I want to make each room in our home feel a little more intentional.

So I’m thinking about switching out the shower curtain and adding a few fall-colored accessories.

We’ll see how that goes.

Maybe I’ll become one of those people who decorates EVERYTHING for every season.

Or maybe I’ll decide halfway through that the bathroom was perfectly fine the way it was. 😂

Only time will tell!

And then there’s our bedroom.

We recently changed our comforter, but I’m already thinking about changing it again. I would love something a little darker and cozier for fall—maybe a deep burgundy or a beautiful mauve that works with the colors we already have in the room.

I don’t want to completely change everything.

I just want to layer in a little fall.

Learning to Be a Homemaker

One of the things I’ve been thinking about lately is how much more intentional I want to be about our home.

With Mr. C being retired, he has always been the one who keeps things moving around here. He cooks. He takes care of things. He keeps us on track.

Let’s just say I’ve been pretty spoiled. ❤️

So I haven’t always put a whole lot of thought into the homemaking side of things.

But lately, Mr. C and I have been working on making our home feel better, look better, and feel more like a place we truly enjoy being.

And I want to be more involved in that.

Not because everything has to be perfect.

Not because I’m suddenly trying to become Martha Stewart.

But because I want our home to be a place that feels comfortable, welcoming, cozy, and ours.

And maybe decorating for the seasons is just one little way I can start doing that.

Of Course, I Need a Fall Drink! ☕

What’s a cozy decorating day without a good drink?

And before anybody says it…

NO. Pumpkin spice.

I repeat: NO PUMPKIN SPICE. 😂

Pumpkin spice and I have officially decided to remain acquaintances from a very safe distance.

Instead, I’m thinking about making a Maple Brown Sugar Iced Coffee.

🍁 Maple Brown Sugar Iced Coffee

You’ll need:

• 1 cup cold brewed coffee
• ½ cup milk or your favorite creamer
• 1–2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• Ice
• A sprinkle of cinnamon

Directions:

Add the maple syrup and brown sugar to your coffee and stir until combined. Pour over a glass full of ice, add your milk or creamer, and give it a good stir.

Top with a tiny sprinkle of cinnamon.

That’s it!

It’s fall-ish without tasting like I’m drinking a pumpkin candle. 😂

And We Have to Eat!

Since I’ll be home decorating, I don’t want to spend the entire day in the kitchen either.

So I’m thinking something simple and comforting for dinner.

🍎 Easy Fall Chicken & Apple Skillet

This one is easy enough for a weekend when you want comfort food without making a giant production out of dinner.

You’ll need:

• Boneless chicken breasts or thighs
• 1–2 apples, sliced
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
• ½ cup chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• Salt and pepper
• Optional: a little shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

Season your chicken with salt and pepper and cook it in a large skillet until browned and cooked through. Remove it from the pan.

Add the butter, sliced apples, and onion to the same skillet. Cook until the apples begin to soften and the onions are tender.

Stir together the chicken broth, Dijon mustard, and cinnamon, then pour it into the skillet.

Return the chicken to the pan and let everything simmer together for a few minutes.

And if you’re feeling extra fancy, sprinkle a little cheddar cheese over the top.

Serve it with some roasted vegetables, a salad, or even a little mashed potatoes.

Easy. Cozy. Dinner is done.

A Cozy Weekend at Home

So that’s my plan.

I’m going to put on some music, turn on a few pretty lights, make myself an iced coffee, and start moving things around.

Maybe I’ll decorate the living room.

Maybe I’ll tackle the bathroom.

Maybe I’ll change the bedding.

Maybe I’ll get distracted halfway through and sit on the couch with my coffee.

And you know what?

That’s okay too.

I’m learning that homemaking doesn’t have to mean spending an entire day cleaning, organizing, and making everything Pinterest-perfect.

Sometimes it’s simply putting a cozy blanket on the couch.

Sometimes it’s changing the pillows.

Sometimes it’s adding a little seasonal color.

Sometimes it’s turning on the lights, playing your favorite music, and enjoying the home you’ve created.

And that’s really what I’m after.

I don’t need a perfect house.

I just want a home that makes us happy when we walk through the door.

So here’s to a quiet September weekend, a little fall decorating, a little homemaking, a good iced coffee, and hopefully a whole lot of cozy.

Bring on the burgundy, mauve, pumpkins, blankets, and fall vibes!

Just keep the pumpkin spice latte away from me. 😂🍂

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Cheers,
Karen ❤️