Here we are at the end of 2022 Besties and the last Wednesday of December. Did you know today is Wednesday? It is so easy to lose track during the holiday break. In so many ways, I am ready to usher this year out the door and welcome in 2023. Anyone else?
As we head into the end of the year, today I am linking up with Shay and Shaeffer for What's Up Wednesday. December was an interesting month, part holiday Joy and part challenges. Settle in for the post holiday bliss of What's Up Wednesday today.
What We're Eating This Week
Like a lot of people, we are in and out this week. We don't have a ton of holiday leftovers and Hockey Guy polished off the Christmas breakfast faster than you can say Merry Christmas! I am trying to make some real dinners that are fast and healthy while we can to balance out the dining out and Christmas treats.
Monday-parmesan roasted shrimp, easy risotto and chopped salad
Tuesday-steak tips, noodles and broccoli
Wednesday-everything but the bagel chicken legs, yellow rice and chopped salad
We will be out of the house on Thursday and Friday nights and then we may have plans New Year's Eve.
What I'm Reminiscing About
This is what I posted on my personal Facebook site last week. It is the main thing I am reminiscing about this month. It hit me way harder than I thought it would. I am not really reminiscing about Christmases of the past, I am reminiscing about the memories that our family has had for over eleven years at our local hockey rink that is closing for at least two years for a major renovation.
"Don't cry because it is over. Smile because it happened." Dr. Seuss
Last night started with the very fun Alumni Game and ended with end of an Era with all of their last skates at the Rec Center before they renovate it.
It didn't really hit me how big this was until all of the current players and alumni stayed in their group photo pose until the rec center staff pulled down the Hockey banner from the wall.
To some it's just a beat up ice rink that is being gutted and renovated. For most hockey families in our area, it's the place where our kids literally learned to skate and become hockey players and they will never skate at that rink again in this way.
Luckily, the championship banner from grade 4/5 was also taken down as several of the BI current hockey players were on that Ice Dogs team.
Hockey is hard. Hockey is cold. Hockey is early. Hockey is super late. Hockey is rough. Hockey is expensive. Hockey is also one of the Best things to happen to our family. Hockey is who Jack is and he is not alone.
The next time Jack skates there, he will be an Alumni and it will be shiny and new. I just didn't realize how much that place meant to all of us until we walked out for the last time.
The Vern has grit and the original will be missed.
What I'm Loving
Besties, are you familiar with Lawless Beauty? It's a clean beauty line that I just discovered and so far I am loving it.
I started with the loose powder because the powder I have been using I have heard is being discontinued. I was looking potentially for a new option anyway. I chose the Brightening Powder and a little goes a long way. I have had no itching and no breakouts since using this powder which is always a Good sign.
You can order off the Lawless Beauty site or QVC also carries this line and they have a really Good set that includes the powder. You can find that here.
They also have a really pretty lip plumping kit that I am loving. It doesn't make my lips peel and even though it is a plumping gloss it doesn't have a weird sting or smell like so many of them have.
What We've Been Up To
We felt we had the most "normal" December in years. December was filled with a lot of hockey, getting together with friends for some holiday cheer and of course Hockey Guy had his exams.
In the middle of all of this we did get our decorating done but it took way longer than we really wanted. We were not able to get our tree until the weekend before Christmas. We ended up getting our tree at Home Depot and while is was smaller than we typically choose, it ended up being a really lovely tree.
Here are some of our decorations that I would like to share with you. We have both a faux pencil tree in the family room plus our real tree in the living room.
.jpg)
The lights look blue but they are white.
I made myself sit down and relax for 30 minutes on Christmas
I have a ways to go on my health journey in the first part of the year and I am dreading a procedure I may have. It will hopefully make things Better but if I end up having it, it won't be fun. Not having it is not a Good option either.
I also really need to start clearing out some clutter from this house too. I know it needs to be done but I am not a fan of the process.
What I'm Working On
I mentioned above that I am going to start decluttering the house in 2023. I have started to work on what I am going to give away, what I am going to sell online and then what needs to be flat-out thrown out.
I am also working on this site. I have a new planner and I was able to add in some blog planning pages every month. I am going to spend the long weekend getting everything in those planning pages. If you want a link to save 10% off the planner I am using for 2023, send me a quick email to goodbetterbestfood@gmail.com and I will send you a discount code back.
I am also working with Holly on the 2023 dates and topics for Monthly Musings. Holly and I are back for more fun the last Thursday of the month in 2023.
I also have some professional goals that I need to get out of my head and into One Note so that they can hopefully become a reality.
Finally, I am working on what my word for 2023 will look like when it is put into plans and action. I will cover this more tomorrow on Monthly Musings.
What I'm Excited About
I am not super excited about anything right now. Nerd alert, I was pretty excited last week to bust out my 2023 planner and get the 2023 events on the calendar.
What I'm Watching/Reading
It's Christmas break(ish) and I have been watching a lot. Tops on my list is all of the Hallmark. If I had to choose, I would say my favorite Hallmark movies released this season (in not particular order) are:
Haul Out the Holly
This one is laugh out loud funny and you can never go wrong with Lacey Chabert and Wes Brown.
Three Wise Men and a Baby
We watched this for our Hallmarkie bingo party so I had to wait until that event to watch this one. Everyone I know was talking about how Good this one was and asking me if I had watched it yet.
Besties, there is a reason why Three Wise Men and a Baby is the #1 movie on cable for all of 2023! Yes, you read that correctly. This movie is super fun and also really sweet.
The Gift of Peace
This is an absolutely beautiful movie. Nikki DeLoach just doesn't make a mistake with any of the Hallmark movies she chooses. Brennan Elliott has really grown on me over the years too.
Our Southern Family Christmas
I probably would have just passed this one by but I turned it on from the beginning while working on something one night. What I found was a really interesting story that really stuck with me.
What are your favorite Hallmark movies this season? Leave them in the comments below.
On the non-Hallmark front, I am back to watching Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and don't know what to make of the whole "black eye" situation.
Hockey Guy and I are excited about the return of Million Dollar Listing.
They have pared down the cast this season and we have decided that these three are all we need right now. They can really support the show on their own.
Harry and Meghan
Running Daddy and I settled in for Harry and Meghan and we had a lot to say about it. In the beginning when they first got married, we were big fans and since they left royal life, we are definitely not fans.
We rolled our eyes a lot while watching. They did have some Good points that I get, no one wants to be trolled on the internet, but I don't think this overproduced $100 million documentary did them any favors. They tried to present themselves as relatable but they really are not. I am also not sure that $100 million is worth torching your family relationships for and I am sure I am going to have a lot of people who disagree with my hot take on this one.
Where the Crawdads Sing
On the actual movie front, I watched Where the Crawdads Sing earlier this week. I was worried that it might be a little dark for me and I did not read the book. There was a point where everyone was reading this book and I didn't read it because I figured it was probably overrated. Just like everything she does, Reese Witherspoon who is the producer of this movie, struck the right tone with this one. I was truly captivated.
If anyone else has seen the movie and read the book, do they match up? I don't want to read the book if it is super dark.
Now for an important question Besties, should I binge Yellowstone? Will I like it? Will it take me forever? The boys are not interested but I am having FOMO on this one.
What I'm Listening To
I am listening to all of the Christmas music. I will probably try to keep it going until the end of the week.
If you missed my most controversial post of the year, this month I shared my Best and Worst Christmas songs. You can check it out here.
What I'm Wearing
Like a lot of the country, it is pretty cold here so I am bundling up these days.
I am loving my sweaters with extra-soft yarn from J Crew Factory. I bought three of them last year after Christmas and have been wearing them all over the last week. I found these true to size and I wear a small. Oh and they are on sale right now.
I have this in the grey, black and white combo
**contains affiliate link
**contains affiliate link
**contains affiliate link
**contains affiliate link
I like that they are warm like an Ugg but are not as bulky. They will be really Good for travel including summer tournaments. They are super soft and really warm. It's like wearing an Ugg sneaker.
I sized down a half size to an 8 and I usually wear an 8.5. They also have a high top version if you want to go that route.
What I'm Doing This Weekend
We may go to a New Year's Eve party. I may not last until midnight but this is always a fun group to be with.
I am also planning to check out the movie About Fate starring Emma Roberts on Prime. When we were up helping to prep my parent's house for sale in Massachusetts in the summer of 2021, we heard they were filming an Emma Roberts movie in my hometown and the surrounding towns. It hit Prime recently so Running Daddy and I planning to check it out.
What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month
First, I am looking forward to the hope of a New Year. I am working towards some big things in 2023 and hope they work out. I am also hoping to have an easier health year in 2023. This past year was rough with my health.
We also have a hockey tournament up in Rhode Island next month. It will be interesting to see how Hockey Guy's team does up in New England. This should be a fun weekend.
What Else is New
I think I have covered everything but you should stop by tomorrow for the last Monthly Musings of 2022. Holly and I will be linking up and sharing Goals for the New Year.
We should have the topics and dates for Monthly Musings 2023 tomorrow too.
No matter what holidays you celebrate, if you had holidays in December I hope they were filled with Joy, wonder and warmth.
I also want to take a moment and thank each and every one of you who stop by this site where you came here once this year or are a regular reader. Good Better Best is my passion and the place I come to create and unwind. I truly cherish each comment and interaction and don't take any of you for granted.
See you back here tomorrow for Monthly Musings Besties!
I need to add About Fate to my movie list. I'm still working my way through a few more Christmas movies first!
ReplyDeleteLet me know what you think. They even use the actual names of the surrounding towns.
Delete