Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot February 1

On February 1, 2024February 1, 2024 By Lisa R. HowelerIn Weekend Traffic Jam11 Comments

Welcome to another Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot hosted by Marsha in the Middle, Melynda from Scratch Made Food & DYI Homemade Household, Sue from Women Living Well After 50, and me. Look for the link party to go live on Thursdays at 9:30pm EDT.

Our cold weather came back this week with a vengeance and some snow will just not go away because it’s been too cold for it to melt.

Luckily, we did not return to the arctic temperatures we were faced with the week before last.

This has not been an easy week in our house. While everyone is healthy (for the most part), everything has broken all at once, including cars, trucks, washers, dryers, the sink and my sanity.

It has been one thing after another and we’d love some prayers.

In the midst of all that I have wanted to find some time for relaxing, reading, and watching things, but that really hasn’t happened this week. I need to find a way to have that break this weekend or I think I might crumble into a weepy mess.

This week for our Weekly Traffic Jam Reboot Link Up we had another tie for the most clicked!

The most clicked posts were:

Snow Leopard for the Win by Marsha in the Middle

And Be Mine Valentine by Thrifting Wonderland

My favorites for this week were:

Winter Wonderland Trees & Villages in the Den, 2024 by Debbie Dabbleblog

I loved this tour of Debbie’s trees and den decorated for winter! It was relaxing to take the photo tour!

A Sweet Valentine’s Day Table At Sunset by Life Is Better Lakeside

I really enjoyed how this table was decorated and amazed with the view as well!

Beauty Update and Makeup Bag Rummage by Is This Mutton

I don’t know enough about makeup so this was an amazing crash course for me. I loved the details about the makeup, her skincare routine, and other things she takes or does for her skin and health.

It is hard choosing favorite posts some weeks because I really enjoy so many of them so please go check out the links each week so you can see what everyone is sharing.

Now it is your turn to link up your favorite posts. They can be fashion, lifestyle, DIY, food, etc. All we ask is that they be family-friendly. You can link up posts from last week or even from years ago.

Also, please take the time to visit the other blogs on the link-up and meet some new bloggers!

Weekly Traffic Jam Reboot

On January 25, 2024January 25, 2024 By Lisa R. HowelerIn Weekend Traffic Jam4 Comments

The cold weather finally went away and gave way to warmer temperatures this week.

It was so nice to be able to go outside and not feel my muscles and face aching from the cold.

Ice and snow still fell on Tuesday even as the temperatures rose.

By Wednesday it was all rain and we were supposed to get up to two inches but luckily we didn’t!

As I start this post, I am watching Emma for the post I shared this morning for Jane Austen January.

We only have one more movie left to watch for next week – Miss Austen Regrets.

Our link-up for anything about Jane Austen is still currently open on our blogs – at the top of the page under Jane Austen January.

Now for our most clicked most this week. We had a three-way tie!

The Trauma Effect by Zetta Thomelin by Is This Mutton

Mid-January Thrift by Thrifting Wonderland

and

Quiet Moments Tablescape by Thrifting Wonderland

And for my three favorite posts:

Favorite TV Shows Growing Up in the ‘80s and early ‘90s by My Slices of Life

I loved this nostalgic post about TV sitcoms and dramas from the 1980s and early 1990s. I watched a lot of the shows mentioned in the post and have good memories of those days.

My Father’s World Kindergarten: W is for Water by My Full Hands and Heart

I love reading about what other parents are doing to educate their children, either through homeschool or other means. I’ve read good things about My Father’s World too.

A Walk Down Church Street in Marietta, GA by Chez Mireille Fashion Travel Mom

I loved these photos of a walk down an area with historic homes in this part of Marietta, Georgia. The photos were pretty and the post was relaxing.

Also, please take the time to visit the other blogs on the link-up and meet some new bloggers!

Weekly Traffic Jam Reboot

On January 11, 2024 By Lisa R. HowelerIn Weekend Traffic Jam5 Comments

This week has been crazy weatherwise here in the east of the U.S.

First, we had a fairly major storm Saturday and Sunday. That left about five inches of snow on the ground for us.

Monday the weather still wasn’t great and the snow stayed around. On Tuesday, there was more snow and freezing rain and then it turned to all rain and flash flooding was predicted. Luckily there was no major flash flooding or flooding at all and the snow is still on the ground.

The high winds we got were scary but didn’t cause damage in our immediate area, which is a surprise considering all the dead ash trees we have around us. There was a lot of damage in other counties around us, however.

The kids enjoyed playing in the snow and my youngest was sad when it melted. There are rumors she will have more snow to play in before the month is out, however.

Maybe even before next week is out.

Moving on to last week’s traffic jam reboot link up, Thrifting World had the most clicked post. Actually, she had two posts that tied for the most clicked.

Thrifting in 2024

and

A Table From A Door

In addition to enjoying her posts, I always enjoyed the following posts:

Friday Morning Catch Up with Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs

Nativity Scene Collection with Chez Mireille Fashion Travel Mom

My Office and Reading Nook with Living Outside the Stacks

Now it is your turn to link up your favorite posts. They can be fashion, lifestyle, DIY, food, etc. All we ask is that they be family-friendly. You can link up posts from last week or from years ago even.

Also, please take the time to visit the other blogs on the link-up and meet some new bloggers!

Weekly Traffic Jam Reboot

On January 4, 2024January 4, 2024 By Lisa R. HowelerIn everyday musings, Weekend Traffic Jam3 Comments

I hope you all had a wonderful New Year’s!

This week has been fairly laid back for us.

I missed the deadline to put this post up because I got caught up in a book I’ve been reading. It is an ARC by Kristen Perrin called How to Solve Your Own Murder. It comes out March 26 and you’re going to want to get a copy. I usually schedule the post but earlier in the day I was either reading or thinking a lot about what to do for my dad’s 80th birthday tomorrow and completely forgot I hadn’t scheduled it. Oh well. I can’t always be on top of everything, I suppose (she said this sarcastically, knowing full well she’s barely ever on top of anything.)

The most clicked for last week was:

Styling Black Leggings for Gals over 50 by Karin’s Kottage

Here are my favorites for the week:

Simple But Put Together Outfit by Chez Mireille Fashion Travel Mom

Words on Wednesday Christmas Feasting and Other Things by Thistles and Kiwis

Freezing Temperature Tablescape with Sled Dogs and Bears, Oh My! by Life Is Better Lakeside

Also, please take the time to visit the other blogs on the link-up and meet some new bloggers!

Weekend Traffic Reboot for December 21

On December 21, 2023 By Lisa R. HowelerIn Weekend Traffic Jam6 Comments

Welcome to another Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot hosted by Marsha in the Middle, Melynda from Scratch Made Food For Hungry People and me.

This is a post where we open up a link to bloggers of all kinds to share a blog post they wrote recently or even a long time ago. All we ask is that the posts be family-friendly.

I am so sorry for posting this late (we try to get it live at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday) this week. It completely slipped my mind. It was a very busy day making cookies with my kids and parents.

I do not have a list of three favorites this week but I will make up for it next week.

Our most clicked post was:

Christmas Table Lunch Setting by Thrifting Wonderland

Feel free to link up here with a post from your previous week or from any past post from your blog.

Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot December 7

On December 7, 2023December 7, 2023 By Lisa R. HowelerIn Weekend Traffic Jam7 Comments

Welcome to another Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot hosted by Marsha in the Middle, Melynda from Scratch Made Food For Hungry People and me.

How was your week?

Do anything exciting?

I haven’t done anything very exciting this week – other than the fact we hit a deer Saturday night while my husband was driving us back from a Christmas event in a little town about half an hour from us.

The car was driveable but our left headlight suffered some. Not sure what happened to the deer for sure. Also hoping our insurance will cover some repairs. We are getting an estimate done soon to find out.

Today we woke up to snow on the ground – more than I expected. I thought we were only getting a slushy mix but, nope, there was actual snow out there!

This is our first snowfall this year that actually stuck around more than an hour or so.

Our daughter loved playing in it with Zooma the Wonder Dog who absolutely loves snow.

On to our most clicked post for this week. But wait! We have two most clicked posts this week. We have a tie!

The Real Food Blogger’s Vegetable Tien: A Colorful and Flavorful Dish

and

Simple Holiday Entryway from Thrifting Wonderland

And on to my favorites.

The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island by Amy’s Creative Pursuits.

I loved this tour of Mackinac Island, which I have heard so much about, but have never visited.

2. Easy Christmas Sensory Bin by Drug Store Divas

This was a very informative and well-done tutorial on how to create a sensory bin for preschoolers or other children.

3. My Favorite Shopping Trip by A New Lens

This was a beautiful post about what we can do with our time, our energy, and a limited budget to help bless others. It was also a reminder of the greatest gift anyone received on any Christmas – Jesus.

I hope you will leave a link to your favorite post from last week or an older post that needs some love on the linky below today.

Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot

On November 30, 2023November 30, 2023 By Lisa R. HowelerIn Weekend Traffic Jam5 Comments

Welcome to another Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot hosted by Marsha in the Middle, Melynda from Scratch Made Food For Hungry People and me.

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving last week. We are back in session this week for our Weekend Traffic Jam. We are still looking for an extra host so let Marsha know if you are interested.

This is a post where you can link up any post about any topic as long as it is family-friendly. You can even dig into your archives to share.

The most clicked post for the week before last was:

My favorite posts include:

Getting Started Homeschooling by My Slices of Life.

I enjoyed this post because I am a homeschooling mom myself and I know how hard it can be to get started. Parents need all the advice they can get.

This post from Is This Mutton was perfectly true. There really aren’t any good “belly laugh” shows out there anymore and while she didn’t think it had all to do with political correctness (maybe some), I think that is the biggest reason no one can laugh anymore. They’re always afraid of who they will offend. Of course, everyone is also offended anymore. Like everyone.

I remembered a lot of the shows she remembers (Father Ted, Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, Keeping Up Appearances – all shows I have watched over the years and enjoyed).

That is my intro post for today. I hope you’ll share a link with everyone at the link up below.

Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot November 16

On November 16, 2023November 29, 2023 By Lisa R. HowelerIn everyday musings, Weekend Traffic Jam5 Comments

Welcome to another Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot hosted by me, Marsha in the Middle and Melynda from Scratch Made Food For Hungry People.

I cannot believe next week is Thanksgiving! Can you?!

It seems like school just started and now here we are rushing toward the end of the year.

I’ve been super busy lately with writing blog posts, editing books (past and future ones), and managing social media.

Last week a reel I posted on Instagram to promote the blog posts Erin (Still Life, With Cracker Crumb) and I were doing for autumn (Comfy, Cozy Cinema) went viral.

The reel was simply a clip of the documentary Tea With The Dames that Erin and I wrote about on our blogs but for some reason, it started to be shared and watched and commented on to the point it has 6 million views, 331,704 likes, 148,939 shares and 2027 comments.

There seems to be no rhyme or reason to what goes viral on social media, but I am guessing the reason this clip went wild is that people, one, love the dames (Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Joan Plowright, and Eileen Atkins) and, two, people simply need something happy and joyful to see these days with all the horrors and negativity going on in the world.

If you want to see the Instagram post you can find it here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lisa R. Howeler (@lisarhoweler)

I enjoyed the documentary but I don’t know if I thought the clip was worth 6 million views. Ha! Ha! I am really glad it made people happy, though. A couple of people even messaged or left me comments to tell me how much it uplifted their spirits during dark times. I suggested they watch the full documentary to further improve their mood.

If you would like to see the documentary, you can find it streaming for free on Tubi or you can buy or rent it here: https://amzn.to/3SKEL7d

You can also buy a DVD of it here: https://amzn.to/3QJQgct

Now, on to our most clicked link for this week:

My Latest Trip To The VA and the Chanel Exhibition by Frugal Fashion Shopper

And my three favorite posts this week:

That Was October 2023 by Is This Mutton

Thanksgiving Activities To Do With Your Family and Friends by Grace Filled Moments

Wordless Wednesday: Finishing Up Fall by My Slices of Life

We will be taking a break for Thanksgiving next week so please return with us on November 30^th to link up your posts.

Also, don’t forget that we are looking for a couple more hosts for this feature. Contact one of us and we will put you in touch with Marsha. And please take the time to hop around to other blog posts that link up here.

(Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. I only recommend items that I love, actually use, have used in the past, know someone else has used, or want to use in the future. Clicking the link does not mean that you will pay more for the item, only that I make a tiny commission if you make a purchase. Thank you for helping my family bring in a little extra, much-needed money.)