Happy Go Stuckey

Tethering Grace & Togetherness

Five Good Things

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Hi. How are you, really? If you’re anything like me– you have moments of complete gratefulness for the gifts that allow us to shelter in this way– and moments of total sadness for what we expected this season would look like. I don’t ever want to be a voice to discount the hard– but there is so much goodness, too.

In fact, I would love it if you would join me in using the #hopelenses hashtag this week on instagram– as a way to remind each other of all the good there is to see.

Here are five things I’ve discovered during the Covid Season. We are truly living that at-home life, so my good things are of the Homebodyish nature.

  1. This method for Jammy Soft-Boiled Eggs has renewed my love of breakfast/ breakfast for lunch/ breakfast for dinner and it is super simple. When I began baking sourdough bread at the start of all this– the one thing I wanted was a perfect poached or soft boiled egg to accompany it. This is it, friends. This. Is. It.
Buttered Toast and Soft Boiled Eggs. My Grandmother would be so proud!

2. Amazon has had some great book deals lately! The selections change a bit from day to day, but here’s the page where I’ve found many deals. This is my current read— it’s sad but I’m enjoying it. Which is saying something if you know me. I *did* text my friend who lent me the book this week asking, “Is this book going to break my heart?!” I enjoy a little depth and sadness always seems to come with that– but I do require at least some redemption.

If you don’t already know, KindleUnlimited is offering one-two free months right now– with a ton of good books. I happen to know that Feasting & Foraging is on that list also!

3. Speaking of, yes, that IS the frothy coffee pictured here. That would be my next good thing to share– it’s EVERYWHERE in internet land– but if you haven’t tried it yet, here’s a good recipe: Frothy (Dalgona) Coffee

I usually don’t try trendy things until everyone else is over it– #latetotheparty — but this one has been fun– however, if you find yourself out of instant coffee/ espresso, Bri McKoy shared a recipe for the Starbucks Double Shot on Ice (my favorite drink there, slightly modified) and it is spot on! Find her here and check the highlight on her Stories for the details. Where would we be without her kitchen wisdom and fun stories?

4. The Re-instatement of Friday night pizza night. Between having sourdough starter to discard and just wanting “fun food” on Fridays, we have been back at it with homemade pizza. Last night we made this one and here’s a fun one to try if you have self-rising flour but can’t get any yeast right now as I know is a common issue.

5. Jenny Williams of Carrot Top Paper Shop has done two Free lovely art tutorials for big kids on youtube and they are pure joy. One is on watercoloring and one is drawing faces– Check them out here and enjoy!

I truly tried NOT to make these all about food, but we’re cooking a lot more and keeping our meal plan a mix of chosen standards with a few new recipes is where I’m at right now.

I’d love to hear of one happy discovery you have made this season. Even if it’s just how you never noticed the light in your kitchen was, on a regular Thursday morning.

*the Amazon links above are all affiliate links. this just means that amazon thanks me when you purchase something I’ve recommended. I never recommend anything I don’t love– and it helps keep this little internet space going. Thank you for understanding, and more importantly– thank you for joining me here.

Egg your Neighbors & Spread Some Joy. (free printable)

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Easter is nearly here and I almost forgot to share a fun Easter printable that I made for you!

There are many things that have been altered or canceled this spring, but Easter is not one of them. We may be celebrating at home– but we will absolutely still celebrate. This year, perhaps more than ever, we have so much time to enjoy the meaning of Easter.

The simplification of our schedule (due to Covid19) has allowed our family the gift of a quieter spring. Though we would not choose this season, it is the one we have– so we’re making the best of it.

One of the fun traditions we’ve always wanted to take part in is “egging our neighbors,” leaving filled eggs either in their yard or in a basket on their front porch with a friendly little note from us. This year, we found unopened plastic eggs in our seasonal stash and added a couple of bags of candy to our necessary Target pick-up. Boom!

(For this printable, I left the number of eggs open– in case you’re trying to bless several neighbors and don’t have exactly a dozen to spare.)

There are two options, click on the one you would like– save and print and you’re done!

Single Printable, full page size.

and

Four to a Page, postcard size.

Please share by link or on Pinterest– this is a free printable and I’m happy for all to have it, but please direct them back here to get there own!

Winter Favorites

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(and why it matters to pay attention to the little things.)

“For you are the sunshine-maker in your family and if you get dismal, there is no fair weather.”

Marmee to Meg in Little Women, Louisa May Alcott

The Camellias are blooming in the backyard. We enjoyed both dinner in front of a crackling fire and grilling outside in short sleeves, all within a matter of days. It must be February in Georgia.

I don’t know about you, but this time of year can seem tedious and longer than winter in Narnia. Especially if you happen to be in a season of waiting. Often when we are waiting, the object of our wait can become bigger than all the things we already hold in our laps. Good things. Things that are life-giving gifts. I believe in naming those things, even if the practice seems small and unhelpful.

To me, it is helpful. To make a list of the good things that aren’t necessarily things– helps me to wait well.

So here’s my little list of small things that I’m making bigger– by paying them the attention they deserve.

Good Things on the Internet

Never Believe Anything Bad about God episode 111 of The Next Right Thing podcast

Sarah Sandel on Instagram. I met Sarah through the wonder of the internet and have adored her voice — especially her hashtag #agraciouslight — Both have brought me joy lately.

Good Gifts Worth Counting

Seeing a video of my mom ringing the “completion with radiation” bell yesterday. Many of you know she has been going through cancer treatment these last few months. I am grateful for beyond words for the way she is being healed.

Celebrating a newly minted Eight-year old in our house. This morning Facebook reminded me that we brought her home from the hospital eight years ago Thursday. What a gift she is.

In the BlueHouse Kitchen

This Citrus Avocado Salad with Orange Vinaigrette is reminding me that there is something to love about every single month, even the dreary ones. A tiny splurge on Cara Cara oranges to mix in with clementines made it a bowl full of bright, vitamin-C filled goodness. (Note: I added roasted chicken for protein and was out of tahini so I also subbed this dressing — always delicious.)

On my Nightstand

Last month I finished my first complete unabridged read through of Little Women, and I believe it’s the new book that I will read regularly, forever and ever, amen.

I’m nearly finished with the fifth Louise Penny book.

I also just added The Things We Cannot Say to my Audible queue after several trusted friends recommended it. And my mom recently gave me this book with her high praise and approval.

And this is the current read aloud for the girls and I each morning. So far, we’re all truly enjoying it though it is making us long for an extended trip To England.

Really, I need a reading vacation. I love hearing suggestions of how people find time to read– so if you have any tips, please share!

Some News about Simmer

If you received an email with this post, then you’ve likely already received your free copy of Simmer: Six Soups & the Stories that Inspired Them. If not, click here to get your copy of the book.

Simmer is available still and will be through the end of winter. Once spring comes, it will slide quietly over to Amazon. Want to grab yours before it disappears?

Here’s a quote from Simmer,

We make the soup for hungry people and we feed our souls as we feed their stomachs. We stand willing to go make huge differences out there, knowing that it may be that we will make decades of seemingly small differences in here. We do the things we are given and we do them well. We keep our eyes on our own motives and we do not worry about theirs. 

We stay in our own lane, and we love the lane we are in. 

— Simmer- Six Seasonal Soups & the Stories that Inspired Them

What are you taking stock of during this long season? I’d love it if you’d send me a quick email and tell me one of your small things that is actually a big thing.

Loving Lately in November

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“…all creation’s revealing his majesty. We’re invited to join with all nature in manifold witness to his great faithfulness– and since creation is going to declare it either way, we might as well jump in with our half-finished songs and join the chorus.”

–Andrew Peterson, Adorning the Dark

November is more than half over and last month truly was an Octoblur. Lance and I kicked off the month in New York City & Boston, feeling fancy, and we finished October trick or treating around our ‘hood with one Hermione Granger and one Woodland Fox. Both bookends were sweet & memorable.

How was your October? Before we launch into the second half of what is one of the greatest months of the year– I’m sharing just a few things I’m loving lately.

In the BlueHouse Kitchen

  • This White Chicken Chili (Wait. Don’t keep scrolling. This is not your ordinary brothy-soupy chili. This is prize-winning chili. Seriously. It has one more than two chili-cook-off’s 🌶🌶) I add lime and cilantro and it is A++!
  • Brown Sugar Syrup for coffee-shop quality lattes at home. Mmmm. We had the first real drop in temperature this month and I immediately made a batch of this syrup to have on hand.
  • The Harvest Salad with Cider Vinaigrette and Maple Pecans from Feasting & Foraging (free with Kindle Unlimited right now. wink wink.) Seriously. This salad screams fall & will look gorgeous on your Thanksgiving table. Or the day after with some leftover Turkey on top.
  • Also. These Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats are everything. We served them to our Monday night life group fam a couple of weeks ago and I’m already planning them on an upcoming meal plan. SO good you don’t even miss the pasta. (I know. Carbs are Life. But I stand by what I said.)

On the BlueHouse Bookshelves

  • Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson
  • Caroline, Little House Revisited by Sarah Miller. (I just finished Little House on the Prairie as a read-aloud with the girls, so the parallel story line has been enjoyable.)
  • Write Better by Andrew T. LePeau. LePeau worked for over 40 years at InterVarsity Press as the associate publisher of the editorial division. I snagged this book at the Hopewriters Conference last week and am so excited to dive into this one.
  • What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon. I finished this spell-binding book a few weeks ago– it was so good, that I read the last page and immediately sent a copy to my mom. Note: there’s some time travel in this book so if you’re a realist who doesn’t like to set that aside when you read, be warned. 🙂

Making Life Easier

  • In my diffuser: Siberian Fir & Peppermint. Thanks to Amanda from Birdsong Design for sharing this tip– It smells like a Clean Christmas Tree!
  • Pick-up. For everything. I’ve been using the Target app to order what I need and then free curbside pickup to grab it. Granted, part of the fun of Target is lingering long in all the different sections, but that doesn’t usually fit into our schedule– not to mention this way saves money- Ha! I’ve also been using Kroger Click-List for awhile and THAT has truly made me a better meal-planner and grocery shopper. I still wish Publix had the feature because well, Publix has my heart.
  • Rethinking the idea of hiring a staff to help keep things running has helped me immensely. My current staff members are 10 & 7 and they really only unload the dishwasher and do a few small chores … and they’re obviously my children, not employees. But re-framing this idea of “farming out” things on my to-do list has helped me juggle more. Being intentional to plan ahead and be sure that I am using all of the things at my disposal instead of lamenting my limitations. (i.e. using Target pick up & Kroger Click-List, making sure we all have a bit of margin to actually pick up after ourselves daily, utilizing the library hold system and pick-up, etc. to name a few.) It may seem so ordinary, but assessing and using what I have at my disposal at this stage– is saving my life!
  • Getting back to getting up early. I was sick a couple of weeks ago and it threw me completely off course with getting up early, but I’m back and I love it. There is no substitute for this introverted Mama to having a few quiet minutes at the start of the day.

One final thing I’d like to share with you— If you are one of the dear hearts who have left a review for Feasting & Foraging, thank you so much. I am grateful for you. Thank you for every tag and message and text!

If you have read Feasting & Foraging, and haven’t had a chance yet, would you consider leaving a quick review here? Authors are immensely grateful when you share a few words about their words, because it helps others find the book they’ve labored over.

What’s on your fall loving list? Big or small, I’d love it if you would reply or comment and tell me one thing that you’re enjoying right now.

Feasting & Foraging (free for the weekend!) 🍊🌿

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I wrote a book, called Feasting & Foraging, and I would like to tell you why. 
About a year ago on a Friday night, after an extremely long and hard week, it was suddenly and inexplicably dinner time. I walked into my kitchen to cook dinner and as I stood in front of the fridge, I said out loud– there is nothing in here. 
Nothing. 
I wanted to order pizza or asian or anything else but because we are adults on a budget, I took another look. 


I didn’t find a surprise dinner, perfectly cooked and waiting for us. I didn’t find anything miraculous, but what I did find was building blocks. Pieces of what we did have that would come together to make a meal– a meal that would fill us. Half an hour later, instead of eating cereal or another frozen pizza, (let’s hear it for the quality frozen pizza though, the treasured gift of mothers everywhere,) we ate what would become an end of the week favorite, Fridge Forager Nachos. Half a bag of Multi-grain tortilla chips, half a grilled chicken breast, leftover cheese and a handful of leftover vegetables came together to make our Friday night supper. 

As we sat at the kitchen table peeling crispy chips off the aluminum foil and breaking off edges that sat a little too long under the broiler — it hit me. 
This meal is not miraculous, it is just the result of a second look. 
We weren’t eating dinner because I’m a magician in the kitchen, we ate a decent dinner because we looked again to find what we did have, and went from there. It’s not usually about the food, but the time we spend in the glorious everydayness matters when it points us up to the Giver of our gifts.

I wrote this book because I believe that Gratefulness changes our vision. And I think you believe it too. 
I think that whether you cling to hope or are in a season of needing to be reminded of what grace you hold in your lap, you too believe that perspective makes the difference.


 It is the dance of want and plenty that keeps us twirling from gratefulness to supplication and back again. We need both the days of feasting and the days of foraging to remind us of our longing. Just as it is a particular kind of delight to step back and see God provide for an abject need we’ve had for so long, it is the same with cooking from sparse ingredients. (Feasting & Foraging)

I hope that you know that as I scrawled recipes on scrap paper and tested them countless times, I thought of you in your own home. I thought of you scrambling eggs and finding lost shoes and remembering to pay the water bill and juggling all the things you juggle– and I prayed that this would find you at the right time.

And speaking of time, you can get your own copy of Feasting & Foraging for free this weekend-– It’s essays on food and hope and it’s recipes and photos– and I loved making it for you. I hope that you love it too.

XX, Cynthia

As an Amazon Associate, I earn a tiny percentage for qualifying purchases made as a result of links I share. I will never share products I do not honestly believe you will love.

Hello, July.

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They say you aren’t supposed to make excuses when you take an unexpected blogging break… so this is me, quietly slipping in the side door— Hi.

At Hopewriters, we say that “we write meaningful words without sacrificing our meaningful lives” and friend, I have to be honest and say that in this season of life– I often have to chose writing far less words in favor of my meaningful life– namely my people.

I will always be here intermittently– but when I’m not, know that I am cheering you on– in your own meaningful life. In the interim, I am still writing, still working on a project that (really I mean it this time,) is almost ready and of course, still popping in over here almost daily. Hope-filled things are always on the way– and I treasure being able to pop in and share them with you. Today, we are smack dab in the middle of a sweltering Georgia summer and I have a short list of things I’m enjoying that I’d like to share with you.

loving lately:

Finishing a good book as a family. This week we are finishing Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets in this fun edition and I can hardly wait to watch the movie as a family. The entire read-aloud experience with this book has been so long and satisfying, though the girls would say it’s been agony because we make them wait so long between books. Ha!

Making small changes for good. I recently realized that I wasn’t taking very good care of my face. When I listened to this podcast episode, I was 110% overwhelmed with Jamie Golden’s skincare routine but she gifted me with several good tips. The top 2 things I’ve begun– I wish I would have started sooner. But they’re simple… and bonus, from the drugstore.

1. An excellent (budget-friendly) night cream. Five weeks, I can absolutely feel a difference in my face texture.

2. A mineral facial sunscreen that doesn’t flake, dry out, or affect my makeup in any way. Score.

You might already be using these two simple steps because you are an actual grown-up, unlike myself– but I think I lost track of my facial regimen somewhere in the baby having years and am just trying to find it again. (But you know, it’s the only face we have and all that jazz.)

Making Iced Lattes at Home. My current Starbucks order is summer in a plastic cup with a green straw and all, thankyouverymuch Bri Mckoy — but I really, really need the life skill that is making a killer copycat in the comfort of my sunny kitchen. And sometimes we just *need* iced lattes to accompany this Hawaiian Banana Bread.

So here’s my super simple take on an iced latte. 2 shots of chilled espresso (I might even make it 2.5) in a 16 oz. mason jar 3/4 full of ice. Add a splash of half and half and then add milk until it’s the color you like. (so scientific!) Put the lid on and shake it. optional- add simple syrup. My #1 key is this stove-top espresso pot. We’ve had it for years and it’s completely dependable.

A summertime ‘less is more’ wardrobe. Do you have certain outfit staples that you adore? I have a pair of white jeans that I have worn about 3-4 times a week since April. It’s so easy to throw on some sandals and a top and go when I have to get dressed up. My friend Michele owns a boutique in Florida and sent me the cutest kimono to pair with my white jeans. I love these happy colors! Her shop also has some adorable linen pants in stock right now. See something fun? Save 15% off with the code, HAPPYGOSHOP

On the BlueHouse Bookshelves:

  • The House at Riverton, Kate Morton. (This is the last of Kate Morton’s books that I have yet to read and it has a definite Downton Abbey/ upstairs-downstairs feel to it.)
  • A Fatal Grace, Louise Penny. (My 2nd Inspector Gamache novel)
  • Placemaker, Christie Purifoy.
  • Kitchen Yarns, Ann Hood. (Thanks, Kristin for this rec!)

I also just picked up We Were Lucky Ones this weekend and am hoping for a somewhat happy ending in spite of the wartime story line. Have you read it?

What are you reading these days? Cooking? Loving?

As always, I only ever share things with you that I’m enjoying myself. You may often find an affiliate link or two, which only serves to keep the lights lit and the coffee pouring. Thank you for joining me here in this space.

Spring Favorites

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Spring is absolutely in the air… and covering our car, porch, and every outside surface. The season gifts us watery eyes and frequent sneezing fits– but it’s still one of the best times of the year! 🌿

In our town, there is an extra zip of excitement in the air as we all prepare in some way for the Masters. Because of our kitchen saga, we aren’t renting our home this year but I am pretending otherwise so our little BlueHouse gets cleaned up and organized as it normally would. (If you aren’t familiar with the Masters thing, here’s an article that explains the entire wonderfully weird process.)

These are a few of my favorite things…

What is it about a change in weather to cause us to want to mix up, clean up, or change up our normal normalcy? I’m pretty predictable when it comes to spring rhythms– but here are a few things I am loving right now as we settle all the way into the slightly warmer months.

The Green Jacket Salad I actually ate this salad for lunch yesterday… and with dinner the night before. It’s simple and just unique enough to cause you to appreciate salad as a treat instead of a punishment.

Facial Spray by Mario Badescu. Thank you, Cherie, for introducing me to this lovely little spray and thus changing my life. I kid, but it’s truly amazing– especially when we’re coming out of the months of winter skin. I use it right after I wash my face and I can imagine how great it will be to stick in my pool bag for a refresh. (The current price is really good BTW, I paid about this for a smaller bottle.)

ACURE Brightening Facial Scrub. Yet another amazing beauty product for under $10 available on Amazon. *I may never leave my house again.* But really, I feel like this is a steal– especially with the clean ingredient list, and I love the french green clay.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis: The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman & C.S. Lewis. Last week I stayed up way too late to finish this book and I ached when it was over. Partially because of the ending, but it was a good ache– the kind you don’t easily forget. If you love C.S. Lewis, I highly recommend this read. *Just a note. This book is historical fiction, although it is based on fact and is laced with beatiful quotes from C.S. Lewis woven throughout.

*Some of these are affiliate links, thank you for being a part of this community here. If you’ve been here long, you know I don’t share products lightly– only those that are tried and loved!

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xo Cynthia