Spending The Day At Home

A Quiet Sunday at Home ☕️❤️

Some Sundays arrive with a full calendar and a long list of places to be. This one arrived quietly—with coffee, a few things to get done, and nowhere else I needed to go. And honestly, with surgery coming up on Thursday, a peaceful day at home with Mr. C. was exactly what I needed.

I didn’t have any big plans on the calendar. No running around, no appointments, no place I had to be. Just hanging out at home with Mr. C. And you know what? Sometimes having no plans are the best plans. I will say that a million times over!

I wanted this Sunday to be a productive-but-relaxed kind of day. I have my upcoming surgery on Thursday, so there are a few things I wanted to get taken care of around the house and a few things I wanted to have checked off my list before then.

First on my list was making my final shopping list for surgery and recovery and getting the things I need ordered from Amazon. I want to be prepared and have everything I might need at the house so I don’t have to worry about it after surgery.

I also wanted to make a grocery list for the things Mr. C. and I might need while I’m recovering. I figure a little planning now will make things much easier later.

Another thing on my Sunday list was playing around with my HP printer and getting a little more familiar with everything it can do. And let me tell you, I am having WAY too much fun with that printer!

I found a wonderful Facebook group called The Stationery Corner, and these ladies are incredibly talented. I have printed off—I couldn’t even tell you how many—sheets of stationery, journal goodies and all kinds of fun things that I can cut out and turn into stickers.

I happened to have some sticker paper left, so I have been cutting things out and decorating my journals. It has been so much fun, and I am really happy with my printer. I can already tell this is going to open up a whole new world of crafting for me!

Of course, there was also laundry. We only had one load that needed to be washed and one load sitting in the dryer, so that wasn’t exactly an overwhelming chore. I figured we could get that done sometime during the day and call it good.

But probably the biggest thing on my Sunday to-do list was finishing up my journal swaps.

I had two journals to finish. One was the September 26th Journal Swap, and the other was Composition Notebook Swap #9.

Now, I have to admit, I made a little discovery with the composition notebooks swap. I originally thought the notebook was just for August. So I made what I thought was a pretty great composition book for August and filled up the pages.

Then I went back and reread the instructions.

Yep.

It was for August AND September. 😂

Since I had already filled the composition notebook, I decided to improvise. I pulled out a little 5x7 journal and filled it with my September entries. It ended up being more of a daily-entry type of journal, and honestly, I think it turned out really cute.

I know Denise D. probably would have been perfectly happy with just the composition notebook, but I wanted to make sure I did my due diligence and gave her something that felt complete.

I’ve swapped journals with Denise through the years, so I know she won’t be disappointed with what I put together for her. And that makes me happy because I really do enjoy creating these little pieces of myself and sending them off to someone else.

So when I look at my Sunday list, it doesn’t seem like I did a whole lot.

But when I actually think about everything I wanted to accomplish, I realize I kept myself pretty busy!

We watched Fire Country and got caught up on that. We watched some football off and on. I played my Cat Sudoku online game, which I find surprisingly relaxing. I worked on my journals, played with my printer, started getting things organized for surgery, and took care of a little laundry.

And honestly?

It was a good Sunday.

Nothing exciting happened. No big adventure. No fancy plans. Just me, Mr. C., the house, my coffee, my crafts, my lists and a whole lot of piddling around.

And sometimes that’s exactly what I need.

I’m trying to remind myself that everything doesn’t have to be an event. Sometimes it’s enough to stay home, work on the things that make you happy, get a few things checked off your list and enjoy a quiet day with someone you love.

So that’s my Sunday.

A little productive.
A little crafty.
A little football.
A little Fire Country.
A little Cat Sudoku.
And a whole lot of staying home and enjoying the day. ❤️

What about you?

Did you have a good Sunday? Did you do something exciting and adventurous, or did you do what I did and just stay home and piddle around the house?

Drop me a note below and let me know where you’re reading my blog from. I always love hearing from you!

Thank you so much for stopping by my little corner of the internet. I hope your day brings you a little time to slow down, enjoy the simple things and do something that makes you smile.

Until next time, take care of yourself, enjoy the little moments and remember that a quiet day can still be a very good day.

Cheers,
Karen ❤️🎁

Saturday With Grandchildren

❤️A Saturday Full of Grandbabies, Good Food & Family 🐟❤️

Good morning, everyone!

I’m getting caught up on my weekend blog posts, and I have to say… Saturday was a really good day. One of those days filled with grandbabies, family, good food, and plenty of laughs.

Our Saturday started bright and early when Savannah brought Landon and Sophie over around 7:00 a.m. so we could keep the kids while she took Lane to his football game in Minco, Oklahoma.

After the game, Savannah and Lane were going to head over to where Brody works to have lunch with him, so she planned to pick the kids back up around 1:00.

Well, when she came to get them, Lane decided he wanted to stay for a while. So Sophie went with Savannah, and we ended up keeping Landon and Lane until about 5:00.

And honestly? I wasn’t complaining one bit. I love getting that extra time with my grandbabies!

Around 5:00, we all headed over to Elizabeth and Charles’ house for a fish fry. The fish was caught this past week by Charles, Brody, and Luther, so we were definitely ready to enjoy the fruits—or should I say, fish—of their labor!

We had quite the crowd there: Elizabeth and Charles, Alisha and Jonathan, me and Luther, Brody, Savannah, Lane, Landon, and Sophie. We also found out that Luther’s Aunt Aline and Kenneth were coming, too, which made the evening even more fun.

And let me tell you about their back porch.

I absolutely love sitting out there.

They have it set up so nicely with chairs, a fireplace, a TV, and even a hot tub. Charles also has his big fish fryers set up out there, so it’s basically the perfect place to hang out.

It’s peaceful, comfortable, and just feels like a place where you can relax.

At one point, when everybody was inside, I knew Landon was outside with Charles, so I slipped out onto the back porch and sat down. I watched a little TV and played on my phone for probably ten minutes.

Sometimes you just need those ten little minutes to decompress.

Honestly, I could sit out there for hours.

And here’s something I never would have believed twenty years ago…

If you had told me back then that Elizabeth and I would someday be able to sit in the same room—or on the same back porch—for hours and enjoy ourselves, I probably would have told you that you had completely lost your mind!

But life has a funny way of changing things.

No matter what has happened over the years, we are definitely co-parenting together, and I really do believe that makes a huge difference. Being able to come together for the kids and enjoy family time is something I don’t take for granted.

And then there was the FOOD!

We had fried fish, hush puppies, French fries, macaroni and cheese, corn, pinto beans, sliced onions, tartar sauce, ketchup, and Alisha brought a salad that was SO good.

Nobody was leaving hungry, that’s for sure!

After we finished eating and visiting, it was around 7:15 when Luther looked at me and said, “I’m ready to go home.”

And I said, “Absolutely!”

😂

I gathered up our tote and started packing up the things we needed to take home.

We’ve discovered that taking a tote over to Elizabeth and Charles’ house makes things so much easier. Instead of carrying a bunch of paper sacks, we can just throw everything we need into one tote and grab it when we’re ready to go.

This time, our tote had our gallon of tea, two packages of paper products, plastic silverware, hush puppies, French fries, tartar sauce, and a gallon of cooking oil.

Oh, and we also brought a 12-pack of Michelob Ultra.

That last part didn’t fit in the tote. 😂

But most everything else did!

It’s the little things that make life easier, right?

And before the evening was over, Lane and Landon were having such a good time at Grandma Elizabeth and Grandpa Charles’ house that they decided they wanted to stay all night.

So that’s exactly what they did.

They stayed the night with Elizabeth and Charles, and I’m pretty sure they were perfectly happy with that arrangement!

All in all, it was just a really good Saturday.

Lots of family.

Lots of food.

Lots of grandbaby time.

A little time to sit quietly on the back porch.

And a whole lot of memories made.

Those are the Saturdays I want to remember.

Hope that your Saturday was as awesome as ours was.

Talk to you later!

Cheers,
Karen ❤️🎁

Dirty Soda’s For A Treat

My Dirty Soda Era Has Begun! 🥤💕

Okay, y’all… I have recently discovered something that apparently has been happening everywhere, and somehow I was late to the party. 😂

Dirty sodas!

I don’t know where I’ve been, but I have discovered that I really like them. There’s just something about taking a regular diet soda, adding a fun flavored syrup, maybe a little cream, and turning it into something that feels like a special treat.

And the best part for me right now is that I already have several syrups sitting at home!

I have chocolate coconut macaroon, salted caramel, caramel pecan, and hazelnut, and I will be adding vanilla syrup to my collection soon. So instead of going out and spending money every time I want one, I’m going to experiment with what I already have in my pantry.

That’s one of the reasons I wanted to write all of these combinations down. I know myself. I’ll make something I absolutely love, and six months from now I’ll be standing in my kitchen thinking, “Now what in the world did I put in that drink?” 😂

So here is my little dirty soda recipe collection for future Karen!

🥤 Diet Coke Creations

Chocolate Coconut Caramel Dream
Diet Coke + chocolate coconut macaroon syrup + salted caramel syrup + optional splash of cream.

Salted Caramel Coke
Diet Coke + salted caramel syrup + vanilla syrup + optional cream.

Caramel Pecan Coke
Diet Coke + caramel pecan syrup + vanilla syrup + optional cream.

Chocolate Hazelnut Coke
Diet Coke + chocolate coconut macaroon syrup + hazelnut syrup + optional cream.

Vanilla Caramel Coke
Diet Coke + vanilla syrup + salted caramel syrup + optional cream.

🍋 Diet Sprite Creations

Salted Caramel Vanilla Sprite
Diet Sprite + vanilla syrup + salted caramel syrup + optional cream.

Coconut Vanilla Sprite
Diet Sprite + chocolate coconut macaroon syrup + vanilla syrup + optional cream.

Caramel Pecan Cream Sprite
Diet Sprite + caramel pecan syrup + vanilla syrup + a splash of cream.

Hazelnut Vanilla Sprite
Diet Sprite + hazelnut syrup + vanilla syrup + optional cream.

🥤 Diet Dr Pepper Creations

Chocolate Coconut Dr Pepper
Diet Dr Pepper + chocolate coconut macaroon syrup + optional cream.

Caramel Pecan Dr Pepper
Diet Dr Pepper + caramel pecan syrup + vanilla syrup + optional cream.

Salted Caramel Dr Pepper
Diet Dr Pepper + salted caramel syrup + vanilla syrup + optional cream.

Chocolate Hazelnut Dr Pepper
Diet Dr Pepper + chocolate coconut macaroon syrup + hazelnut syrup + optional cream.

And then there’s my Kitchen Sink Dr Pepper… because sometimes you just have to see what happens. 😂

Diet Dr Pepper + a little vanilla + a little salted caramel + a little caramel pecan + maybe some cream.

Who knows? It could be amazing. It could be a disaster. Either way, I’ll have fun finding out!

A Little Treat for Myself ❤️

I think there’s something to be said for treating ourselves every once in a while. It doesn’t have to be expensive. It doesn’t have to be fancy. And it certainly doesn’t have to be something we do every single day.

Sometimes it’s just a fun drink in a pretty cup.

Since I’m using diet soda, these are a way for me to enjoy a sweet-tasting treat without drinking regular sugary soda. And I can also look for sugar-free syrups when I want to reduce the added sugar even more. Of course, I’ll still check the labels because different syrups can have very different ingredients and nutrition information.

For me, this is really about enjoying the little things.

So today is all about dirty sodas that I plan on making in my future, using what I already have on hand. I have a feeling I’m going to have some winners—and probably a few combinations that make me say, “Well…we won’t be doing THAT again.” 😂

And that’s okay!

Life is about trying new things, finding what makes us happy, and giving ourselves permission to enjoy a little treat along the way.

Now I’ve just got to decide which one I’m going to make first. 🥤💕

Thank you for taking a look at my blog and coming along on all of my little adventures.

Be safe, be well, and cheers! 

Karen ❤️

Dilation and Curettage Surgery

D&C After 50: What Am I Supposed to Expect? 💗

Since my D&C is coming up on October 15th, I have been doing a little research and trying to understand exactly what I should expect. And because I know I’m probably not the only woman who has ever been told, “We need to do a D&C to find out what’s going on,” I thought I’d share a few things I’ve learned.

First of all, having a D&C does NOT mean you have cancer.

A D&C, or dilation and curettage, is a procedure where the cervix is opened and tissue is removed from the lining of the uterus. That tissue is then examined under a microscope. One reason doctors perform a D&C is to investigate abnormal bleeding or other changes in the uterus, including checking for conditions such as abnormal or precancerous cells and cancer. (Cancer.gov)

For women who have gone through menopause, unusual vaginal bleeding deserves to be checked out. Endometrial cancer can cause bleeding after menopause, but that symptom can also have other causes. In fact, among women with postmenopausal bleeding, most do not end up being diagnosed with endometrial cancer. (Cancer.gov)

So basically, the D&C is part of the process of getting answers.

What happens during a D&C?

The procedure itself is usually fairly short, although the amount of time you’ll spend at the facility will be longer because of preparation, anesthesia and recovery.

The doctor dilates the cervix and removes tissue from inside the uterus. That tissue goes to a pathologist, who examines it under a microscope. The pathology results are what help determine what is actually going on. (Cancer.gov)

And honestly, I think the waiting for those results may be one of the hardest parts.

What might recovery be like?

Everyone is different, but after a D&C, some women experience cramping and light vaginal bleeding or spotting. You may also feel tired or groggy from anesthesia.

The good news is that a D&C is generally much less involved than a hysterectomy. Your doctor will tell you when you can return to your normal activities, and you’ll want to follow those instructions rather than trying to prove that you’re Superwoman on day two. 😂

For me, I’m planning on giving myself permission to rest.

I’m going to have my bedroom cleaned, fresh sheets on the bed, my chargers nearby, comfortable clothes ready and the things I use most within reach.

I’m also planning some easy meals because nobody wants to come home from surgery and immediately hear, “So…what’s for dinner?” 😂

What should you have at home?

Here are a few things that I’m planning to have ready:

• Comfortable, loose clothing
• Plenty of sanitary pads, since tampons may be restricted during recovery
• Tylenol or Motrin if my doctor says they are safe for me to take
• Kleenex and other bedside necessities
• Phone and tablet chargers
• Earphones
• Easy breakfast and lunch foods
• A few crockpot “dump-and-go” dinners
• Plenty of fluids
• A clean, comfortable place to rest

And probably the most important thing of all…

A little patience with yourself.

What if they do find cancer?

This is the part that can be scary.

A D&C can help provide the tissue needed to determine whether cancer is present. If cancer is found, the next step isn’t necessarily “everything is terrible.” The treatment plan depends on the type and stage of cancer, along with a woman’s overall health and other factors. For endometrial cancer, surgery—including hysterectomy—is a common treatment, and many cases are diagnosed at an early stage. (Cancer.gov)

So for me, I’m trying very hard not to jump ahead.

Right now, I don’t have a cancer diagnosis.

I have a test coming up that is supposed to help my doctors figure out what is happening.

That’s an important difference.

And for all of us women…

If you’re postmenopausal and experiencing unexpected vaginal bleeding, don’t ignore it. Make the appointment. Ask questions. Get the testing your doctor recommends.

It can be scary to hear words like “we need to rule out cancer,” but ruling something out is not the same thing as being diagnosed with it.

That’s something I’m reminding myself of as October 15th gets closer.

I’m nervous. I’m definitely a little scared.

But I’m also getting prepared, asking questions and taking this one step at a time.

And if you’re reading this because you’re facing a D&C too, I hope it helps you feel just a tiny bit more prepared.

We’re going to get through this one step at a time. ❤️

#WomensHealth #DandC #OneDayAtATime