Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy Monday my Friends 

I'm sorry I missed out last week. It was just that kind of week. And I'm late today but thought tonight was better then not posting at all. Annie's hockey life is in full swing. My FIL recently had surgery and I've been bringing him more meals and helping a bit. And I kind of have a new "friend" but that's a story for another time. 😉 

I hope your weekend was a lovely one. It was a good one here. I helped my Mom out a bit and we had a fun day shopping and I made us a home cooked dinner when Annie was out of town for hockey. We hung out and played cards too. Then Annie had her friend over and I also started pre-cleaning for Thanksgiving. I'm so excited because my Aaron is on his way home for the holiday and I actually pick him up later tonight. My Momma heart couldn't be happier!! I've never been away from him this long so I am beyond excited that all my family will be here for the holiday. 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING

yogurt, apple, coffee

RIGHT NOW I AM:

Listening to the evening news while I work on this. Also, listening for dryer so I can throw another load in the washer 

AS I LOOK OUTSIDE MY WINDOW

Dark now obviously. It was a warm one today in the 40's. The little bit of snow we had is gone already. 

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE

I see a few of the surplus groceries lying on my kitchen counter. I went and got the majority of the thanksgiving groceries today. A few more things to tidy up before my boy gets home tonight. Yay!!

ON THIS WEEK'S TO DO LIST:

Annie hockey practices and game. Work on more deep house cleaning. Start prepping some of the Thanksgiving dishes even tomorrow. Make plan for some black Friday shopping. 

 

CURRENTLY READING

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil DeGrasse Tyson. I just love him and could listen to him speak on space and all related astronomy things for hours. I find it absolutely fascinating. So I picked up several of his books. I think in another life I would have been an astronomer or astronaut 😉 

ON THE TV TODAY:

 Holiday baking championship,  Dancing with the Stars, the Resident, The Good Doctor, New Amsterdam, Greys Anatomy, This is Us, Survivor, Bluff City Law, The Rookie, Will & Grace

Catching up on shows I never watched when they first came out - The Crown on Netflix currently and Big Little Lies on HBO 

I also have some, you guessed it, Christmas Hallmark movies taped to watch

 

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

The food doesn't matter this week except Thursday, right? It's all about Thanksgiving. Lol I'm going to kind of host 2 Thanksgivings - an early in the day one for my FIL and Adam and an evening one with my Mom, my Brother and my SIL. 

We'll be having: roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, homemade stuffing, homemade gravy, homemade cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, calico beans, fruit salad, corn, pickles and cheese tray, dinner rolls, homemade pecan pie, ice cream, pumpkin pie with whipped topping, and spiced custard pear bars with macadamia nut crust. 

WHAT I AM CREATING AT THE MOMENT

scrapbook catch up

NEW RECIPE I WANT TO TRY THIS WEEK:

just about thanksgiving this week 🦃 If you've never made Pioneer Woman's pan of mashed potatoes for your holiday meal - I recommend you give it a try! yum!

TIP OF THE WEEK:

What helps me through the big meal this week is prepping as much as I'm able ahead of time. So I'll even make and prep some dishes as soon as tomorrow. I also cook 2 smaller turkeys instead of one big one. Takes up less room in the oven and cook faster

FROM THE CAMERA

Ruby recently got her haircut and always looks so cute when the groomer dolls her up 

My hockey girl recently had a game playing her cousin. My ex was out of town so I took my FIL to the game so he could watch his granddaughters play each other. Pretty cute. (Annie's team won). 

I also recently helped with the team pictures for the season and Annie wanted a pic since she's so much taller than I am on her skates. Sigh

With our snow gone it sure looks like late Fall. With the warmer temps I've been taking advantage and getting Ruby out walking 

I got out some of my Thanksgiving decorations. Gobble gobble!

Ruby and I continue to have fun with filters! We vow to never grow up. Lol 

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:



Have a very blessed Thanksgiving dear Friends. I'm linking with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

Yummy Banana Crumb Cake & Apple Cinnamon Bread

Hello Friends! 

Here are the recipes that I have been mentioning that I encourage you to try because they're both really yummy. 😋 

First up the banana crumb cake. This is a recipe I got from one of the cooks at the hospice house where I volunteer. It's so good and a great alternative for using up bananas instead of bread. 

It's a moist cake due to the banana. This crumb topping is everything - it's SO GOOD!! Mine got a little dark because I have a convection oven and I cooked it the full time instead of checking 5 mins earlier. But it was still moist and delish. 🍌 

Here's the recipe. Enjoy!

Another great recipe for this time of year - and if you have apples to use up - is this apple cinnamon bread. 

Layers of batter, cinnamon/sugar & chopped apples...what could be wrong with that? Here's the recipe:

Happy Baking! 🍎 🍌 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy Monday my Friends 

I've got a sickie home today so I've been playing nurse a bit and loving on my girl.  Happy Veteran's Day today to all of our men and women in the military, past and present. God bless their service and sacrifices. 🇺🇸 ❤️ I especially give a shout out to my Brother who is a retired green beret in Army special forces. 

I hope you had a wonderful weekend. We had a busy one here. Friday we went to Annie's school musical with my Mom. They put one on every year and this year was Mary Poppins. Several of her friends were in it and they did a great job! Saturday was church and then Annie's friend slept over and we all went out for sushi with my brother and sister-in-law. Then yesterday Annie and her friend and I went to The Adam's Family movie. It was really cute. Then Annie and I had her volleyball banquet. Only a few players got awards and Annie got one voted on only by the players. It was so sweet and I'm so proud of her! I share more about it and photo below. 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING

Toast with raspberry jam, yogurt, coffee

RIGHT NOW I AM:

Right now listening to, yep you guessed it, Christmas music! Lol Working on my planner. Listening to Ruby bark outside. She likes to talk tough to all the squirrels on the hill. Let them know who's in charge 😉 

AS I LOOK OUTSIDE MY WINDOW

The weather can't make up her mind today. It was sunny earlier and now it clouded up and snowed a little. I see the frozen bay with bits of snow still on it. It's really chilly today (as you can see in the weather report above)

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE

I see some things that still need picking up. Mostly my teenager's things lying around ::sigh:: I see her laying on the couch resting and watching something on her computer. I'll go easy on her today because she's a sickie

ON THIS WEEK'S TO DO LIST:

Groceries, errands, Annie's hockey practices and a game, her religious ed, meeting a friend for lunch, bring my FIL a meal, do more Christmas shopping (I've started online - yay!), more Thanksgiving menu and planning prep, cleaning projects trying to accomplish around the house, help my Mom with some jobs, my hospice volunteering

 

CURRENTLY READING

The Rules of Love and Grammar by Mary Simses. 

ON THE TV TODAY:

 Holiday baking championship,  Dancing with the Stars, the Resident, The Good Doctor, New Amsterdam, Greys Anatomy, This is Us, Survivor, Bluff City Law, The Rookie, Will & Grace

Catching up on shows I never watched when they first came out - The Crown on Netflix currently and Big Little Lies on HBO 

I also have some, you guessed it, Christmas Hallmark movies taped to watch
 (this is all still the same up) 

 

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

MONDAY: baked potatoes with toppings and salad

TUESDAY: soup (not sure what kind yet), biscuit sandwiches

WEDNESDAY: chickie chip hot dish, fruit, veggies & dip

THURSDAY: cheesy egg bake, toast, fruit

FRIDAY: slow cooker honey lime chicken tacos (& with leftovers make quesadillas) 🌮 , homemade guacamole and chips, fruit

WHAT I AM CREATING AT THE MOMENT

scrapbook catch up, setting up a craft corner in my son's former desk area, and potential job announcement for me to share soon

NEW RECIPE I WANT TO TRY THIS WEEK:

I never got to sharing the banana cake and apple cinnamon bread last week, but there will be a post up with both of those recipes this afternoon!!

TIP OF THE WEEK:

FROM THE CAMERA

When Annie started volleyball at her high school this Fall she had only had a little bit of experience playing one season in a rec league.  She made up her mind she wanted to play for her school this Fall and worked on it every night extra at home, besides practice at school. It paid off and she became a more valuable player as the season progressed. Her teammates voted her most improved on the season at the banquet last night and she was pretty proud. I was enjoying the moment and didn't get a photo. And we don't have her vball pics back. But here's one of her in action from this season:

We've had some gorgeous late Fall sunsets on the bay lately

And woke up to this Friday morning ❄️ 

so of course lots of cozy took place inside - candles and coffee ☕️ 

And Annie was in the penalty box (aka naughty box) in one of her recent scrimmages and looks pretty pleased with herself 

sushi dinner  the other night with my Brother Steven and his wife Jill - love them so much and so glad they were able to move back to our area

And this is from a military banquet in years passed. I'm so grateful for my Bro's service and to my SIL Jillie's sacrifices during all they years he served 🇺🇸 

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:




I'm linking with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.