Little girl blowing out a candle on a birthday cake.

1. Last weekend, everyone was done passing strep around, and we finally celebrated Isabelle’s birthday with our extended family. I offered to re-do the unicorn cake from her actual birthday, but she requested an ice cream cake instead for this celebration (girl after my own heart!).

2. My kids are absolutely enamored with my cousin’s two boys and LOVE it when they come over. I snapped this picture of Joseph with her oldest and oh my goodness, I couldn’t believe how big and grown up he looks, almost like a mini teenager 🥹

Bigger boy hugging a toddler.

3. Just a normal day/evening for Dominic… always hanging upside down or somersaulting somewhere 😍

Little boy in Christmas pajamas standing on his head on a couch.

4. Liked this perspective from a recent James Clear newsletter:

“Life is harder when you expect a lot of the world and little of yourself. Life is easier when you expect a lot of yourself and little of the world. High standards, low expectations.”

5. Love this >> 7 Ways to Simplify Your To-Do List

6. Today is National Soft Pretzel Day! If you missed my soft pretzel recipe that I sent out yesterday, be sure to check it out and whip up a batch!

7. I finished reading The Maid this week; it was a good, fairly quick read. About halfway through the book, it was making me sad/irritated about how people in this world take advantage of others, but it had a good ending 👍🏻 Next up: Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez; I had selected her new release, Just for the Summer, from my Book of the Month subscription (gifted to me for Christmas!), but then found out she had two older books that were sort of part of the same series – Part of Your World and Yours Truly. So, I’m starting with the first one!

8. And speaking of books, have we talked about Ina Garten’s upcoming memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens? I cannot wait!!

9. We finished watching Time (BritBox), which we both loved (there are two seasons). We are now watching Guilt, which is okay, it sort of gives me Fargo vibes. I also need to watch the Billy Joel concert from Madison Square Garden that was on CBS!

10. TGIF! Judith waiting for me and Duke to make our way upstairs for the evening 🩷

Golden Retriever laying on stairs waiting to go up.