As I write this week’s Dimples Diary, a giant fly buzzes around my head. Since it’s cold outside, I’m certain he’s doing his best to extend his life, but when a fly doesn’t leave you alone, do you ever wonder, “Did I brush my teeth? Do I smell like a big ol’ pile of manure?”
If it’s these are the kind of thoughts that plague your mind, too; you are my kind of person!
But if yours don’t, not to worry, my thoughts run the gamut from adolescent to soul-shattering deep, and in this week’s newsletter, we’re going from one end of the spectrum to the other and a few places in between.
I hope by the end, you’ll leave here inspired.
WHAT I’VE BEEN UP TO
I came home from my mom’s and lost a week! But let’s just chalk that up to the holiday week and move on because I have some fun things to talk about this week.
As of right now, we’re still on baby watch over here. My daughter-in-law is expecting our seventh grandson any day, so my bag is packed as I’m on call for the other three boys. They don’t have a name for him yet, so we’ve all called him Baby Larry.
Please, Dear Lord, don’t let them name him Larry. 😉
I got a shingles vax a couple of months ago at the behest of my mother, and I had my second one the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. The first one made my entire arm ache for a couple of days, but this one knocked me out on Wednesday with flu-like symptoms. It’s better than having shingles, but still, I was glad we didn’t have kids here for Thanksgiving.
WHAT I ATE
The mister and I were ready for a low-key day with just us and no major food prep, so our Thanksgiving meal consisted of a favorite gourmet frozen pizza from Kroger’s, Simply Select line, and a bagged salad kit. We are simple people and were in couch potato heaven! However, we did get a little seasonal and bought a pumpkin pie.
Later in the day, we warmed up a bowl of my Instant Pot vegetable soup, and the binge-watching continued until he wanted to watch a football game. I do NOT watch football, but…
WHAT I WATCHED
We are British TV series junkies in the Dimples household, mostly British crime dramas. The writing is superb, and we love that the actors look like real people, not cosmetically augmented plastic people, unlike so many American TV actors.
We are subscribers to Britbox, Acorn, and PBS Masterpiece channels. Although neither of these is a crime drama, we are currently watching the final season of Doc Martin, and we’re watching the new season of The Crown on Netflix.
Would you be interested in a list of streamable series we have loved?
WHAT I STRESSED ABOUT
As I said, I’ve been home from Tennessee for a whole week, and I’ve been catching up on things here. Mostly, I’ve been going through packages and trying on clothes, and I have to tell you, I’ve sent almost everything back!
It stresses me out so badly to have mountains of packages to go through, and each time I scold myself for it. You might be wondering why I continue to do it then. And to tell you the truth, I ask myself this same question, but if you are a plus-size woman or even a very curvy woman, you will understand the answer.
We can’t always find a decent selection of clothes in our sizes in brick-and-mortar stores, so online shopping is like our “shopping trip,” and our bedrooms are dressing rooms. But, come January, I plan on doing another No-Buy Shopping season. It might be one month or two; we’ll see. I look at it like a cleanse.
But we’re not there yet so…
WHAT I BOUGHT
Did you do any Black Friday shopping?
I took advantage of a couple of sales on Black Friday weekend to pick up some holiday jammies for the adult kids, and I bought this sweater for myself in a size XL. It’s lovely, but size down. Also available in plus size.
I also got this shawl collar sweatshirt, and all I can say is, GET ONE; I’ve worn it for three days in a row! Very cozy and a little more upscale than a regular sweatshirt. I got the XXL but have ordered the other color in XL because I wanted it and that’s the only size they had left in that one.
Probably my favorite thing I bought was the photo books for the grandkids. You can read about them here. Or, if you want to jump in, use this referral link to get $10 off your order and use the code HOHOHO to get 20% off your order while it lasts. (You may want to open this link on your smartphone to download the app and start creating.)
WHAT I DIDN’T DO
I did get my tree up, but I did NOT get it decorated. Had I gotten a flocked tree this year, I intended to leave it bare or go super minimal. But I’m not spending nearly 1000 bucks for a new tree when mine is only 2 years old, so I’m going simple on the one I have. I usually love going all out for Christmas, as I showed you in this holiday home tour, but this year that just feels too chaotic and exhausting to me.
But before I left Tennessee, my sister and I got my mom’s house decorated and put a little tree up in her living room. It’s a tree she usually puts on her deck in front of the sliding door so she can look at it, but this year we put it inside on a table, so Mom enjoys it up close.
We kept it natural with berry sprays (purchased at Hobby Lobby), little clip-on birds, and clear acrylic icicle ornaments, which turned out so cute.
clip-on birds || icicle ornament || similar red berry sprays || similar white berry sprays
Hopefully, I can show you my decorated tree next week. 😉
WHAT TICKLED ME
Sometimes we all need a little laugh, and this meme struck me funny. It also proves my point that accessories can, indeed, age you!
WHAT INSPIRED ME
A couple of months ago, someone close to us asked us to help them pray for direction and discernment for a situation they are facing. I’m not at liberty to discuss this yet, but I can tell you that the outcome could impact our family. Couple that with all that happened with my mom’s cancer, and the Holloway family has been on our knees – literally and figuratively.
I’ve cried more than a few tears and am having to lay down my desires and my visions of what I think God should do or how I feel God should answer certain prayers.
One morning my son sent me this song – such powerful lyrics like:
“Give us clean hands; give us pure hearts.”
“Beyond what I want, beyond what I see.”
“You can have it all, God, you can have it all.”
I broke.
Are you weary of trying to orchestrate all the situations in your life or your kids’ lives? It’s exhausting, I know, because that’s my nature too. But I cannot be The Fixer of all things (nor does anyone want me to be), but I know who is!
Friends, I know it’s hard, but if we are willing to surrender our hopes and our dreams, and our frail human ideas to God, He will take them and do greater things than we can imagine.
Love this! Thanks for being a “real” person in your blog. I am frustrated about getting things ready for the holiday season too, and just want to do minimal. Your message was the “cherry on top of the sundae” which helped me feel like I didn’t have to do EVERYTHING.. Blessings to you and your family this holiday season.!
Author
From one Paula to another, we’ve got to keep it real. We don’t all have to have a Pinterest worthy holiday decor. And even then, I’ve seen more and more decor “influencers” going minimal too… greenery, less stuff on the tree. I put a wreath on my door this year and that’s all I’m going to do outside which is so unlike me. I think, like the Grinch, we’ll find out that Christmas comes just the same, without the “pantoocas and wuzzulers”. 😉
Hugs to you!
Paula
Hi Paula,
The 2nd Shingrex knocked me for a loop too. But, the 2nd Covid Pfizer shot I had took me DOWN for 5 days!!
I decorated our home very simply this past week. Tree is not up yet. Plenty of time……
I love to wrap gifts and have always believed that part of the present is the presence of it. With 6 kiddos, six spouses of those kiddos and 10 grands it is very time consuming. I splurged and bought fabric bags (on Amazon) and filled a Santa Sack for each. (thank you Paula for the idea!!) I will have a return policy for re-filling in future years…..LOL!!! I wish I would have paid better attention in home-economics all those year ago so I could have sewn them myself. (sigh)
Continued prayers……
Author
Thanks Charlene. My sister and her hubs got her second Shingrex yesterday and she says she feels good but her hubs isn’t. Luckily for me, it’s was only one day. 😄
Hugs,
Paula
Excellent post!! Really look forward to these!
Re the online clothing shopping, your story sounds exactly what I did! I had points, bonuses and so it seemed like a wonderful idea to “update” my wardrobe after doing a big wardrobe purge. A good excuse, right? I ordered a gray cardigan and white blouse similar to what you had styled a few weeks ago. Those were keepers, plus I ordered the cardigan in a deep red, another 👍🏻 Everything else was returned. Some items I looked really “fluffy” in! Seems that any type of puffed sleeve isn’t my friend! Other things I returned because of the crummy quality, too thin, etc. and a few other items fell into the category of “what was I thinking”? Yes, when January rolls around, I need to unsubscribe to my various stores & get a better grip on myself! Christmas decor around here will be pretty simple this year. Trees is up and our granddaughter loves to set up the village under it and decorate it as well. I’m done with pressuring myself to go all out! After losing my sweet BFF sister-in-law to Covid last year, my life has been forever changed. So many materialistic things do not matter to me now – it’s been an eye opener as to what really matters in life now.
Will pray for you and all you have going on in your life. Sometimes it’s so hard to keep our heads straight – kids, grandkids, sibling, parents……so grateful that we have God for our Hope and Strength!
Author
You get me Regina! And, you and I aren’t alone in this either. I really appreciate your prayers; God has really been doing a work in us. Of course, this isn’t easy but we have to trust that His plan is the best plan.
So much love, 😘
Paula
I love your posts. You make me feel like it’s okay not to do everything and take charge of all my children’s problems. They don’t want me to anyway. I can’t get over the fact that I’m not the fixer and it’s all in God’s hands anyway. My decorations are epic inside and out, however, this year I was scheduled for hip surgery early in December, and had to rethink my decorations. My husband wants no part of putting up or taking down. So, it will be the first year ever that I’m not decorating . Neighbors, friends and family have all kindly offered to help me, but I have a sense of peace not decorating this year. What’s wrong with me? Keep sending your wonderful posts with clothes, food and good advice. I’m thrilled to have found your sight.
Author
Yes, nobody wants us to be the Fixer anyway. It’s definitely a “me” issue. 😉
And kudos to you for not decorating at all. A couple of years ago, I had hernia repair surgery at beginning of December and I was scheduled to be in a holiday home tour for charity two days before the surgery. 🤪I decorated for a month before and my stuff stayed up until nearly the end of January. 🤣
The best to you for your upcoming surgery and recovery- God’s got it all!
Paula
I love this format for the newsletter. You are probably still playing around with it, and your blogs are always good, but this format seems 😊 Thanks
Author
I’m so glad you like it. After seeing so much of other people’s highlight reels and stylized photos, it always kind of fun to know the normal things other people to.
Hugs,
Paula
I really enjoyed this! Love the mixture of fun things you share! Doesn’t get boring. Love it girl! I wanna make the little photo album now.
Author
Thanks so much Judy. You’re a blessing to me!
Hugs,
Paula
Paula
you’re such a blessing to me I love your videos I love reading what you have to say you’re just so original you can tell you have God in your heart Jesus do you have a happy glow in your face of a Christian and you are a fairy big encourager to me love you, cousin
Author
Thanks so much Bernice. I just got done texting someone about what it is I want to do with this online space. I want to advance Gods kingdom and not mine by encouraging women focus more on the important things and how God sees them rather than on what the worlds view is.