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Journey Jots #10

By Rachel

published 12/31/2023

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Welcome to Journey Jots #10!

In each weekly recap, I’ll share some of my most recent posts, favorite finds or things I’m currently shopping for, and an assemblage of home decor tips and encouraging content from other creators. Settle in and join me for Journey Jots #10!

Journey Jots #10

Hello, guys! I hope you had a wonderful holiday last weekend.

Table of Contents

Happy New Year’s Eve! If you are doing anything to ring in 2024, I hope you have so much fun!

We tend to lay low at home…usually make something tasty for dinner, have a fire in the fireplace, watch a movie, and get to bed by 10:30 🙂 Anyone else do the same?!

Life Lately

Boy do I have the stories to share after our ‘Christmas’ weekend. It actually wasn’t much of a Christmas at all after you read about everything that transpired. Buckle up for this 🙂

The Wednesday leading up to Christmas weekend, my hubby started to not feel well. By Thursday evening it was really bad and by Friday afternoon we had the dreaded positive ‘c word’ test.

I completely lost it and cried for like a half hour because I knew that we wouldn’t be able to go my in-laws on Christmas Eve nor have my parent’s over to our home on Christmas Day like we had planned. In my eyes, Christmas was ruined.

I hadn’t gotten it (yet) on Saturday of Christmas weekend so I went to my parent’s house, donning a mask, because we had planned on doing Christmas with them and my sister that evening. Well, an hour before that, my sister texted and said that her hubby was sick and vomiting so he wasn’t going to be able to come. So, it ended up being just me, my sister, my baby niece, Molly, and my parents for dinner and gifts.

Molly LOVED opening up her first ever Christmas presents! She got so many fun new books to read!

Then, as we were getting ready to sit down for dinner, Molly started wheezing really bad. We tried to eat and focus on dinner but just couldn’t because it seemed like it was a little hard for her to get full breaths. My sister eventually rocked her to sleep and was getting ready to go home so she put Molly in her carseat. As soon as that happened, Molly opened her eyes wide and started gasping for air.

My sister immediately called emergency and the paramedics arrived within 10 minutes. My sister is a nurse by profession so she knew what to do in this very scary situation. The EMT’s checked out Molly and said that she was stable but my sister insisted on them being taken, by ambulance, to Children’s Hospital.

There were so many sick kids that they had to wait to be seen by a doctor for 6 hours!!! Also, side note, my brother-in-law…you know the one that was also sick?, drove himself to the hospital to meet them. When they were finally seen, Molly tested positive for RSV and was admitted for 24 hours to get on oxygen.

My sweet little niece was SUCH a trooper. She ended up recovering enough to go home on Christmas Eve afternoon, which was a Christmas miracle in itself.

Now, as the snowball effect of Christmas doom continues, by Saturday evening I started to feel terrible. Sunday is when I too tested positive for the ‘c word’, as well. I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day laying on the floor in heaps of blankets because I was so cold due to having a fever.

My sweet Tilly girl laid by my side for 3 days straight, taking such good care of her mama.

My sweet hubby, who was also still super sick, rallied and baked a chicken and potatoes for us to have for dinner. I had spent the better part of Saturday morning, before I started getting sick, putting together a pretty Christmas tablescape for the Christmas Day brunch that we were supposed to host.

But, at least we could still enjoy the Advent wreath and a cozy dinner for two by candlelight. Both of our tastes were terribly off but what we could taste of the chicken was super delicious.

The Christmas Saga

Is you’re head spinning?! Mine too. Can you even BELIEVE all that?! So, to cap it all off, all of us are on the mend and starting to feel better day by day.

As I’m typing this, I’m dressed and have makeup on for the first time in 5 days. The fatigue and extreme lack of energy that comes with this sickness is just unreal…I’ve never experienced anything like it before.

Also, if you’ve had it, did you lose your sense of smell? Did your taste get all wonky? There are a few foods that I adore, such as coffee and anything vinegar-y like ketchup, that just taste SO disgusting to me right now. My hubby has been having the same issue with salty foods being WAY too salty. It’s the weirdest thing!

Anyways, I’ll wrap up this Christmas saga with the fact that, even though all of our plans went completely haywire, I’m thankful.

Thankful for the medical staff who took are of Molly, thankful for modern medicine like DayQuil, NyQuil and cough drops, and I’m thankful for my little family. We still got to open our presents together with Tilly. By the way, she wanted to show you her new Santa toy that she pulled out of her stocking 🙂

This will for sure be a Christmas to write in the history books!

Favorite Weekly Shopping Finds

These shoes are one of my favorite Christmas gifts!
Stud earrings like these pearl ones are my go-to’s for everyday wear.
Bombas socks are my favorite for the Winter season.
This fleece snap-up is so cozy!
My hubby’s favorite kitchen gadget.
This waffle iron makes the best waffles!
Plastic-free floss picks for the win!

On the Blog

The week of Christmas I shared an easy Christmas tablescape using vintage ornaments, candles, and some greenery. It’s probably my most favorite table display that I’ve created yet! Check it out and PIN it for next year!

I also shared a new post that rounds up the Top 10 Thrifting Posts of 2023! These thrifty posts were most popular from readers and that inspired positive change.

Now that the holiday is over, it’s time to transition our homes from Christmas to Winter. These simple Winter decorating ideas gives you tips on how to seamlessly do just that!

I didn’t write a new post last week because I simply didn’t have the energy. But, I did re-post a popular Winter DIY that I created last season. This Winter basket decor with birch logs is just the ticket for embracing the Winter by bringing the outdoors in!

Coming Up on The Antiqued Journey

This coming week I’ll be sharing a New Year’s post about my thoughts on embracing the present. And, in a few weeks, I’ll be sharing a new thrifting post with my pal MaryJo. The Home Imagined link party will also be resuming on Tuesday, January 9th!

Lots of super fun content coming your way! Be sure you are subscribed to my e-mail so you are the first to know about new posts and merchandise updates!

Inspiring Content from Around the Web

Doesn’t this town look so magical?! It’s on my bucket list, for sure.
This vintage tabletop vignette is perfect for Winter!
I follow these yoga videos each morning.

Closing Tidbits for Journey Jots #10

Thank you so much for being here! I love sharing a little bit of my daily life with you.

This upcoming year will be a big one for The Antiqued Journey and I’m SO grateful you are along for the ride. I’m wishing you the happiest of New Year’s! May 2024 provide you with abundant blessings.

Mindful Tip of the Week: The practice of gratitude turns what you have into enough.

If you are new here, I’m Rachel, the writer and content creator here at The Antiqued Journey. I’m so happy to have you! I encourage you to stop by the ‘about me’ page to get to know me a little more.

Here on the blog, you will find loads of inspiration for decorating with vintage and antique decor, simple DIY crafts and many thrifting adventures. If that interests you, I invite you to sign up for my e-mail. You will receive a free digital download as a thank you!