
Our family has had a great start to 2025, especially since we had a week of Christmas break, a week of snow days, and a week of special days at school. Our kids have joked that they “haven’t learned anything this year yet”.
This is a very “slow” time of year for our family. Nora has volleyball at school one night a week, but other than that, we don’t have any extra-curricular activities until after Spring Break, meaning our evenings and weekends are often wide open (I’m not complaining!)
I’ve stayed busy enough to keep me out of trouble, but not too busy that I don’t have time for the things I want to have time for… a good balance for now!
Also, on a totally unrelated note, if you ever need someone to build you a roaring fire in the middle of the woods — apparently, I’m your gal! 🔥
Favorite Moment = Being Unplugged
Last week, Nora and I spent a few days at “7th Grade Winter Camp” — something our school has done for decades.
It was the most perfect winter weather we could have ever imagined — sunny, clear skies, clear roads, and several inches of previously fallen snow covering almost everything else.
The temperatures were just cold enough that things weren’t wet and slushy, but warm enough that we often had to take our coats off b/c we got too warm as we did our many outdoor activities.
We all had so much fun, and I’m thankful I was picked (at random) as one of the parent chaperones.
That said, I think my most favorite thing about camp was that none of the kids were allowed to bring any devices, and the parents’ phones were mainly used for taking pictures as the internet wasn’t fantastic.
I didn’t realize how nice it was until one of the dads mentioned that this was the first time he had been with a huge group of kids and none of them were looking at phones.
It was wonderful for the parents to see and for the students to experience.
It’s interesting that when technology isn’t an option and no one else is using it, we don’t miss it either (at least I didn’t).
RELATED READING: 5 Tips to Touch Your Phone Less
Favorite Routine = Going Makeup-Free
This fall, I decided I didn’t enjoy applying or wearing makeup on a daily basis (other than mascara because I have very short, blonde eyelashes)… so I stopped.
Now, to be fair, I’ve never been a big makeup wearer, just some bronzing powder, maybe a little eyeliner, and maybe some blush; so it’s not like I went from being fully made-up to totally au naturel. In fact, I dare to bet most people in my life never even noticed I made a change.
It was more just for me, I didn’t want to do it anymore… and I sort of wanted to prove to my middle school daughter and her friends that makeup really isn’t that big of a deal, even on (almost) 40-year-old skin!
I kept the small amount of makeup I own and do still enjoy wearing it for special occasions, but for my day-to-day life at home/school/church, I love my low-maintenance “routine” of mascara and Vaseline (my lipgloss of choice 😂).
Past Favorite = Wüstof Knives
In general, I’m not a fan of buying full sets of anything, unless I actually need every item in the set (this never seems to be the case for me). So, for example, I only buy individual pieces of luggage and individual knives.
And when it comes to knives, these 3 Wüshof knives are my absolute favorites. I use them all daily for well over a decade with zero issues or complaints.
- Micro-Serrated 4.5-inch Utility Knife
- 6-inch Serrated Utility Chopper Knife
- 10-inch Classic Bread Knife
I’ve never sharpened them in that time and they still seem to be extremely sharp.
I will admit that I purchased them at a much lower price back in the day, but they are amazing, and I’d highly recommend them to anyone looking to replace junky knives or forgo a full knife set.
RELATED READING: How we organize everything in our kitchen.
Favorite Clothing = Black Joggers
After almost 10 years of wearing the same 2 pairs of black joggers multiple times per week ALL year long, I decided it was time for a new pair.
I purchased these, mainly because they were one of the cheapest on Amazon and had almost 10,000 5-star ratings. However, I also love that they come in a bunch of different colors AND offer petite, regular, and tall lengths (I have short legs, so I ordered petite and they fit perfectly).
Earlier this week, I told Dave that I think black joggers are the best clothing invention for moms. They are SO comfortable, they can be dressed up or dressed down, they wash and pack well, and they are significantly more flattering than leggings.
I literally wear my black joggers 3 to 5 times per week (washing them regularly) and I can’t say enough great things about them.
If you’re looking for a crazy-comfortable pair of pants to wear around the house and running errands, or new workout pants, or pants that will carry you through any season of the year, or pants that pack well, or pants that you’ll feel great wearing, or pants that will allow you to have a minimal wardrobe, get yourself some black joggers!
RELATED READING: 6 Questions to Simplify Your Wardrobe
Favorite Book = The German Daughter
I finished reading The German Daughter (another WWII book I couldn’t put down) over the weekend and it was such a great read!
There were many plot twists and turns that kept me on my toes, and the storyline was absolutely fantastic.
If this book were a movie, it would likely be rated R as war-time violence and prostitution are talked about throughout the book — also it’s not from a Christian perspective.
But, for adults who simply enjoy reading about the WWII era, this is a great book (it’s currently free on Kindle for all Amazon Prime subscribers!)
READ THE BOOK: The German Daughter
Favorite Hack = Save your bacon grease.
I usually make bacon at least once per week, and I save the grease in a small Mason Jar in our fridge.
I use this grease for all our case-iron and griddle cooking as it adds so much flavor to our foods (and it’s free!)
You could also use one of these cute bacon grease “mugs”.
RELATED READING: Why I save my butter wrappers.
Favorite Hobby = The Cello
Those of you on my email list know that I bought a cello at the beginning of January in hopes of fulfilling a decades-long dream to finally learn this gorgeous instrument.
I’m not taking formal lessons yet (the teacher I want isn’t available until summer), but I’m working with YouTube and the Suzuki books that came with my cello.
Aside from the few days I was at Winter Camp, I’ve practiced every day — often for 30 minutes or more, and I’m showing signs of improvement 🙂
I’m not great — not really even good yet, but I’m enjoying it and am excited to learn more and grow in my abilities.
My current practice time is usually after dinner when the kitchen is cleaned up and all the kids are taking showers and getting ready for bed. It seems to work well for our current season of life, and it’s a great way to wind down and relax at the end of the day.
Also, I’ve been asked over and over again how I can fit “one more thing” into my life… I’ve thought about this over the last few weeks and I guess it’s honestly just a matter of priorities. I don’t watch TV, I don’t go on social media, I don’t read/watch the news (other than my favorite FREE News emails from The Pour Over), I don’t have any game Apps on my phone, we don’t do a lot with friends this time of year, and I don’t have a ton of house or yard projects going on right now.
If there’s something you’d like to start, I’d encourage you to just start — you’ll find the time if it’s really important enough! 😉
RELATED READING: The Power of One Small Change
Favorite Recipe = Chocolate Cake
I shared my favorite one-bowl chocolate cake recipe just a few weeks ago and have gotten amazingly positive feedback from many of you who have already tried and enjoyed my recipe!
If you’re looking for a delicious recipe for Valentine’s cupcakes or a heart-shaped Valentine’s cake, give my chocolate cake recipe a try. It’s quick, easy, and super chocolatey!
TRY THE RECIPE: One-Bowl Chocolate Cake (from scratch).
Favorite Picture (7 years ago)
We were looking back through our old photo albums and we all smiled at this cute picture from February of 2018 — just a few months after Clara was born. 🥰
They were so little!
Favorite Archived Post
Grocery prices just keep rising — and my kids just keep eating!
If you can commiserate, you might find these practical tips to cut your grocery costs helpful for you and your family.
Read the full posts here: 10 Practical Ways to Slash Your Grocery Bill.
That’s all for this month. 😆
If you’re interested, you may scroll through all my Favorite Things posts HERE!
Elizabeth says
The chocolate cake recipe is fantastic. It turned out delicious even in my “can’t find the right measuring up, that’s probably good enough” kitchen. 10/10
Andrea says
yay — glad you enjoyed the cake! I try to keep all my measurements pretty basic so these recipes are easy to make even when you can’t find your measuring cups!
Christine says
Ok- how do you save your bacon grease? Do you strain it? ๐
Diane says
I don’t strain mine. Just pour it straight from the pan into the jar, pop on the lid, and put it in the fridge. I like to put it on green beans, use it for frying or scrambling eggs, grease the pan for cornbread…
Andrea says
yes, totally agree, Diane! It’s excellent for green beans and scrambled eggs! I will need to try cornbread next!
Andrea says
I just pour it into a wide mouth mason jar. I don’t strain it, but I also don’t dump ALL of it into the jar. I just pour off the liquid part and stop when it starts to get “chunky”!
Rhonda says
Andrea, your skin does look good!
Most people do not know how important sun protection is, if you want young-looking skin. Unfortunately, I had melanoma (luckily superficial) at age 29. But I think that diagnosis ended up helping me look younger – most people say that I look much younger now at age 45 – due to my consistent habit of always wearing sunscreen, even all winter.
I also stopped wearing any powder/foundation last year, because my dermatologist told me about some tinted sunscreens that are good for your skin. I use one from Skinceuticals that I love, although it’s very expensive and limited retailers sell it. There’s also another decent product by CeraVe that is much less expensive and can be found in most local drug stores.
Andrea says
Thanks Rhonda — I have a few items in my Amazon cart to potentially test out ๐
Janet McAuliffe says
What is your favorite brand of mascara?
Andrea says
Well, I’m not the person you want to ask about “favorite makeup brands” b/c my purchases are determined mainly on the price of the item ๐
I did link to the mascara I use in the post (and I do like that brand) but I only purchase it b/c it’s cheap and easy to be delivered via Amazon. It works well enough for me and I know several others have purchased it now as well — but I honestly don’t know how “amazing” it is from a cosmetic standpoint?? For $5 though, you could give it a try! LOL!
Connie Meekhof says
As a former orchestra teacher and friend of Idelle’s, I’m so thrilled you decided to take up Cello!!!!!
Holly R Sanford says
I love joggers. It used to be difficult to find them, everything seemed like they were the flared legs. I think the joggers are coming back in fashion now. I love the Kohls FLX Wander Boyfriend joggers. They’re a little pricey but I grab them when they’re on sale. They are so soft and comfortable. I can work out in them, use them to run around on daily errands, or even wear them as pajama pants.
Andrea says
Yes, I see joggers EVERYWHERE (in stores and on women), so they must be back in style — either that, or we don’t care about style and are just wearing them b/c they are so comfortable and practical! Thanks for the brand name recommendation — I’ll check those out!
Jen says
One more thing: I have joggers in EVERY color! Love them so much! Even though I’m 5.10, I typically don’t need tall pants so most of mine are Old Navy, but I also have a few pairs from Amazon that I wear all the time!
I guess two more things: I quit playing the piano when I was young, and I can play just enough to be dangerous. But it’s something I’ve always regretted stopping. Jeff and I sing and lead worship at church, so being able to play better would be REALLY helpful. Last year, Jeff got me a beautiful keyboard for Christmas (we don’t have room for a piano in our downsized “empty nester” home!), and I really need to find someone who will give lessons to an adult who knows just enough to be dangerous. You’ve inspired me!
Andrea says
Hi Jen,
I don’t remember that you were the knife winner, but I do remember hosting a giveaway for Wustof. I’m thrilled you still like the knife all these years later!
And yes, I tell my kids all the time “most grownups wish they were more musical than they are” when I’m trying to motivate and encourage them to keep practicing! I hope you get lots of use out of your new keyboard and find a great teacher too!
Jen says
You probably don’t remember, but I won the 6-inch Wusthof knife through a giveaway on your site MANY years ago! I LOVE it and still use it ALL the time! In fact, just last week I pulled it out to see what brand it was because I want to get some more. So listing your favorite knives was very timely! Thank you!
Kim says
Andrea, your posts are ALWAYS encouraging! I have a lot of confidence in your recommendations. Just as I was about to dismiss your jogger pants, you said they came in โtall.โ That is a must for me.
Once again, you rock!
Andrea says
haha — I got you covered with the “talls”!
Thanks for your kind words ๐
Jean C says
I am excited to give the favorite joggers a try.
After the pandemic (who needed makeup while wearing masks ?) and retiring my makeup routine, such as it is, is minimal. However, my dermatologist encourages wearing something that has some SPF protection. I have found a tinted moisturizer with SPF protection that is a good solution for me. For aging women, less is more when it comes to makeup use.
Andrea says
good tip on the SPF — I don’t do that but probably should look into it!
Donna Marie says
I see your e-mail and this is the first one I grab!!! I just love reading your blog!!!
Andrea says
awww… thanks so much, Donna!