Day by Day in Our World

Catholic mom to 4 boys living life on a southern MIssissippi homestead.

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A coworker surprised two of us with a slice of keto carrot cake their spouse had made in a @ninjakitchen Foodie. He knew that we are both gluten free and rarely get to eat something brought into the office. It was not sweet, but was satisfying for an afternoon snack. More importantly, I appreciated his thinking of us. Now I am curious to try baking in a pressure cooker. I don't know if any of my cake pans will fit in my stovetop one. . . . #glutenfreelifestyle #KetoCarrotCake https://instagr.am/p/CeHwMg9sqE4/

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Amazing what natural light and rain can do. This small flower pot came from the Women's Health Expo I covered at the end of January. It was on my desk at work. And then on the windowsill to get more light. Spring break arrived and I brought all the flower pots home. One lady at work turned down the offer to take them as she thought they were too far gone and on death's door. They came back with a vengeance. And I refuse to bring them back inside as the full natural light does wonders. Soon, though, the heat of summer will arrive and I will say goodbye the blooms. . . . #PansiesInBloom #Pansies #FlowersMakeMeHappy #SpringInMississippi #MississippiLife #SmallTownLife https://instagr.am/p/CcWaIC3MKL2/

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Y'all, the price of lettuce and other green leafy vegetables is insane here in small town Mississippi. SWIPE ⬅️ to see the prices. My family down the road in Louisiana and family in Maryland thought I was making this up! These prices might even be higher than what I paid in the greater Anchorage area in Alaska. Seriously wanting an indoor garden to produce my own greens. Open to suggestions. Meanwhile, this gluten free mama is longing for salads and plans to buy lettuce at Costco in New Orleans tomorrow. I try to eat healthy, but between this and the price of good meat, it is hard to do. https://instagr.am/p/Cb0hH1yOwgS/

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Gorgeous sunset tonight. View from the balcony at the San Diego Convention Center. Second day of #SMMW22 One more day to go. . . . #Sunset #SanDiegoSunset https://instagr.am/p/CbJuvjNuf9J/

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I adore the light at sunrise and sunset. And I am grateful for our current country like setting on the outskirts of a small town. Not that I don't miss things about living closer to a city. For now, I'll take my more serene homestead and make the hour plus drive each way to do my stock up shopping at places like Costco, Sam's Club and Trader Joe's. . . . #MississippiLife #CountryLife #smalltownlife #MississippiBlogger #southernunitedstates #Trellis #Pastural #Jasmine #JasminePlant #Nature_captures #naturephotography #landscapephotography #SunsetView https://instagr.am/p/CZesktUrQm-/

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Just a few of the Nativities I saw in Biloxi last week. I am seriously wanting the oyster shell one and may pop back to @visit_msim to buy one. The others were at Finders Keepers Resale & Marketplace in Biloxi. What kept me from buying is the desire to simplify our home and lives. I need bookshelves for books and the upstairs to be done so boys finish moving their stuff. Then the fun of emptying the boxes stored in our garage begins. I suspect a fair bit of it will exit the house as we unpack. In the end, I want the things we own to have a "home" and add value to our lives. Living surrounded by boxes and piles needs to end. What goals do you have for 2022? . . . #NativityScene #Nativities #MississippiLife #MississippiBlogger #BiloxiMississippi #NewYearGoals #Welcome2022 #FleaMarketFinds https://instagr.am/p/CYMPHNhr0kr/

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We adore apples🍎 in our house. #ad This past week we've dived into @lucybrandapples thanks to a partnership with @momsmeet. Here is one of the Lucy Glo apples sliced and served with natural peanut butter. Such a beautiful red flesh that add a great splash of color when served this way. I like how this variety is tart with a bit of sweet. It has me thinking about using one to make a small batch of morning glory muffins this weekend. For the curious, these are a cross between the popular Honeycrisp apple and an old European variety called Arlie Red. I hear they can be found at Sprouts Farmers Market or online at goldbelly.com. Search at momsmeet.com/lucylocate to find them. (Adding link to my Instagram profile landing page.) How do YOU enjoy apples? . . . #ChelanFresh #momsmeet #LucyApples #ApplesandPeanutButter #SnackTime #HomschoolLife https://instagr.am/p/CWv8ktFL9OP/

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Saw this shirt at last week's concert and really want one now! . . . #Halloween2021 #HocusPocus https://instagr.am/p/CVeFgQZsb4l/

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Thinking back to the PRCC football game this past Thursday. First time live streaming parts from my phone and I fumbled a bit with the pregame show. (Make sure you have the orientation and camera settings all finalized before pushing start!) The pregame show had both school bands perform together and then did the National Anthem together with a small group holding the flag. I spent the game up in the control room which gave me a completely different perspective from being on the sidelines. Great game overall even though our school didn't win. But, the team held their own and loss by a handful of point where some of us expected a worse outcome against a top ranked team. I am so grateful to be working where I am. And have my fingers crossed that the last home game in two weeks will have more fall like weather. . . . #MississippiLife #CountryLife #smalltownlife #MississippiBlogger #CommunityCollege #TheRiverisRising #FootballSeasonIsHere #CollegeFootball https://instagr.am/p/CVGlqTxrxI_/

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Supporting my kids' health is important to me as a mom. #ad Since I know they probably do not get all the basic nutrients from their food, supplementation is the path we choose. Thankful for the opportunity to sample the Dinosaur-themed products for kids from @kalvitamins via a @momsmeet program. Super tasty and thoroughly tested. Swipe to see what each supplements choices look like. Do you use supplements with the family to make sure everyone gets the basics needed for wellness? . . . #MomsMeet #KAL #KALDinosaurs #MultiSaurus #familyhealth https://instagr.am/p/CU2pjgxLWAD/

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Noticed a new web🕸 that spans from a camilla tree by my back porch to a tree in the puppies enclosure. 😳 I will not be walking in that area now. Meanwhile, the puppies🐕🐕 don't mind as the spider🕷 is much higher than them. . . . #MississippiLife #CountryLife #smalltownlife #SpiderWeb #Nature_captures https://instagr.am/p/CUXel9GLH1k/

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Entering midlife means having a different perspective on things, including work. #ad #DisruptAging We can look back and we can look forward. I am thankful to join other women and @disruptaging to provide a view on disparity in pay. Because even in 2021 women tend to be paid less than men. When I was in my 20s, I expected lower pay. After all, I didn't have years of experience under my belt. Fast forward to midlife and my return to the workforce after years at home. Seeking employment was a challenge at best. Tons of resumes. Some interviews. Plenty of ghosting by companies that I interviewed with for jobs. It wasn't that I had no boots on the ground experience. Running 2 websites and their associated social media accounts provided plenty of opportunities to learn and remain fresh. But pockets of not working for someone else coupled with being older worked against me. As I needed a paycheck, I ended up doing retail and then hospitality for a while. Plus a short temp job that did use some of my business skills and paid accordingly. Then we moved to Mississippi. We'll just say there are not a lot of employers in our small town. But, I am so fortunate to have been hired on by our local community college. In the Marketing and Communications Department. When my manager called to offer me the position, he did so stating the pay range and that he was offering the TOP amount. And that they were really excited at the prospect of me joining the team. I am not making the 'big bucks' by most people's standards. But, when I consider all the paid time off we get plus what the average income is for this area, I do feel valued. Plus, I am totally loving my new job. (And I am still doing the blogging thing. Just not for tons of free product or from the goodness of my heart like I used to do when I undervalued myself and my time.) (And I am still doing the blogging thing. Just not for tons of free products or from the goodness of my heart like I used to do when I undervalued myself and my time.) Or, leave a comment to share YOUR voice on this important topic. . . . #knowyourworth #strongertogether #DisparityinPay #ageisjustanumber #MidlifeWorkingWomen https://instagr.am/p/CUD5AS8L8QW/

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Now that I'm working full time outside the house again, dinnertime can be a challenge. #AD I am fortunate to have four boys in the house that all take turns cooking. Yet, I still can end up with dinner duty on a workday. That's when I want a simple dinner solution. Like this Tuscan Chicken topped with pesto. (Comment if you want the recipe!) Our family tested out the @barillaus Creamy Genovese Pesto recently thanks to @momsmeet It is definitely creamier than the rustic style we are used to having. Confession time: we all stirred the pesto into the chicken after plating. Doing a dollop of pesto on top was a way to let people decide how much they wanted. Oh, it also did great for leftovers at work the next day. What are some of your favorite ways to eat pesto? . . . #momsmeet #BarillaUS #BarillaPesto #CreamyGenovese #SimpleDinnerSolutions #TuscanChickenRice #DinnerIdeas #GlutenfreeEats #GlutenFreeBlogger #FamilyDinnerIdeas https://instagr.am/p/CT7D0DJtvr7/

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Thankful for boys who can cook. Especially when they tag team dishes. Now I am craving some of the slow cooker bean mix pictured here. A family favorite for summer holidays. https://instagr.am/p/CT0kbn0ME3U/

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After a big storm, you assess the damage. We rode out Hurricane Ida not knowing if we'd get destruction like our small town saw during Kateine 16 years ago. We weren't here for that one, but visited pockets of the area to know how much damage there was. Our small town saw the worst winds and tornadoes with Katrina. This time, we were lucky. Minor damage. Scroll to see... Limbs down in the yard. One tiny patch of front porch somehow escaped getting soaked. A flower bed where the perineal growth was flattened. Roof damage that led to a leak on the ceiling inside. That's all we've found. Many in SE Louisiana were not as lucky. Some are flooding our small town for necessities like food, gas and water. Tomorrow I'm working a table on the community college campus to collect donations. I'll be raiding my cupboards and visiting the local store for our contributions. The past year has me sad to see so many putting themselves ahead of others. But that isn't my take on the Christian life. Rather, what can I do to help my neighbor. Were you or someone you love affected by #HurricaneIda? How do you show love for neighbor? . . . #HelpingOthers #LoveThyNeighbor #ChristianLife #StormCleanUp #PostHurricane #MississippiLife #CountryLife #smalltownlife #MississippiBlogger #SouthernBlogger #SouthernBlogger #southernunitedstates #StormDebris #CatholicLife #CatholicBlogger https://instagr.am/p/CTTB9grs66W/

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Do you love popcorn 🍿? We do! #ad Sharing about Monster Pop Snacks on the blog. A great item to have on hand for back-to-school season. #momsmeet, #backtoschool #monsterpop Also sharing a special 25% off code: MOMSMEET25 (good through 10/31/21 . . . .#PopcornLovers #BacktoSchoolSnacks #BacktoSchoolLunches #10DaysofCarousels @monsterpopsnacks_ @momsmeet https://instagr.am/p/CTGDnXWrlD_/

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Happy National Dog Day to all you dog lovers! We adopted our 2 gals last October. Rescue pups. Mama looks to be at least part American Bulldog. Dad is unknown. Although we suspect at least part Rottweiler. After more than a decade without pets, we are happy to have them in the family. Even if they lose their minds when someone comes to the house. Or ignore us when they catch a scent and follow their nose. Do you have a dog at home?? . . . #NationalDogDay #MississippiLife #CountryLife #MississippiBlogger #RescuePups #RottweilerPuppies #LoveMyDogs #PuppyLife https://instagr.am/p/CTC9SmRrqLq/