1. I saw this beautiful new movie poster for Beauty and the Beast (thanks to my friend Cheryl, who posted it on Facebook). I'm so excited for this movie! It's my long-time favorite. Disney will do it right again; I have complete trust in their amazing abilities!
2. Speaking of Facebook, I've stopped going on it as much but I'm glad I still do sometimes like for the reason above. I've got a new plan that I've been following for the last few weeks for internet and social media use. In order to be on screens less and get in control of my emails (of which I get too many; it's my own fault--I like subscribing to things and reading all sorts of articles that I don't really have time for), I've been doing the following things:
I deleted the Facebook app from my phone and iPad, so now I only go on Facebook when I'm on the computer, which makes me a lot more deliberate and mindful about when I use it.
I haven't gone on Instagram in a year-and-a-half and I don't plan on using it again.
Twitter, Snapchat, etc.: no chance.
I still love Pinterest and I don't use it nearly as much as I'd like to. I hope to change that over the course of this year.
I deleted the Facebook app from my phone and iPad, so now I only go on Facebook when I'm on the computer, which makes me a lot more deliberate and mindful about when I use it.
I haven't gone on Instagram in a year-and-a-half and I don't plan on using it again.
Twitter, Snapchat, etc.: no chance.
I still love Pinterest and I don't use it nearly as much as I'd like to. I hope to change that over the course of this year.
As for email, I've been checking it three times a day for ten minutes each time. This is helping me to stay on top of it a lot better and to stop checking my devices for email throughout the day. I also have a designated day each week (Wednesday) where I go through the past week's emails, and one of the tasks on my monthly to-do list is to go through and clean out the past month's emails.
As a funny, kind-of-related aside, my recent experience with Facebook is this:
Ha ha! I'll be seeing less of you this year, Facebook!
3. My city is a literary, academic, New Englandy type of college town (which I love) and it has a great public library that we've been using every week since the start of the new year (which isn't saying much since we're only two weeks in, but I think it's already more than we used this library all of last year). They have some great children's programs; Sam goes to a math club there once a week (he loves math) and sometimes to a weekly STEAM-based club. Last week he made this Lego structure there and it was out on display when we returned this week. He was so proud!
"Water Spout Castle by Sam"
While Sam was ascending to Lego greatness in the club room, I was reading a book (instead of scrolling through Facebook on my phone!) and when I looked up at the nearby wall I saw a row of pretty profile drawings embellished with little pearl pins. I took pictures of my favorites, and here they are. I love people's artistic talents! (And the libraries that display them.)
4. January is my least favorite month of the year. I was thinking this week about every month and what happens in it, and I determined that January is definitely and consistently the least pleasant month for me. It's not terrible but it's not great. Fortunately it's nearly halfway over!
Although I love the snow...of which we've been getting NONE. :-(
5. Five things on this weekend's to-do list:
Decorate for Valentine's Day (yay for February!)
Spend time editing the book manuscript I'm working on (a client's, not my own)
Get a massage
Have the missionaries over for dinner on Sunday and cook the entire meal myself!
Finish my book and start reading Victoria
May your Friday the 13th be a happy one!
