Hello & Happy Monday Friends!
I hope you're all doing well and continuing to stay strong and positive during this time. I realized today that last week I started to make rounds and visited some of you...but got distracted and missed some of you. I will work to be better about coming around each week and say hello. I had one unique and very fun moment last week. My group of closest girlfriends (2 live in MN, 1 lives in CA, and 1 in WI like me) got together on zoom to do a chat all together. It was so wonderful to see all of their faces and visit. It was like girls night out. 🍷 We talked for 3 hours! And just laughed and laughed too. Really helped the soul right now. We're going to do it once a week now. Technology is a wonderful thing!!
Annie is on Spring break this week - so no online school for her. Aaron has school yet and I think has his break next week. I ran around and got groceries this past weekend that will hopefully last close to another 2 weeks. I also ran to Walgreens and got the kiddos a few fun treats and goodies for Easter. I'm still planning to make a nice ham dinner Easter Sunday. Also, will do mass, as I have each weekend through my church posting it on FB. I think Adam will come celebrate with us. And I'll have the kiddos do a scavenger hunt like we've always done - to find their goodies. I'll set the table nicely like every year...and we'll play games after the meal. We're also going to coordinate a game night with my Mom and my Brother and SIL. We'll facetime with them and can play trivial pursuit all together even though the kids and I will be the only ones moving the pieces. Lol Finding creative ways to have fun and stay connected! 😊
THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:
ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING
honey nut chex cereal, coffee
HOW I AM FEELING THIS MORNING:
Overall staying positive. It was gray earlier but the sun has come out for much of the day now and that helps. A lot of the snow is gone. There are still a couple little snow banks out in front of our house because they had been so high. But they're getting smaller everyday and I see quite a bit of grass already. Some of it even turning green! I also saw some robins on the hill this AM. Any signs of Spring fill my soul right now ☀️ 🌸
ON MY MIND:
The birthdays of some relatives this week that I need to mail out cards for. Also, I'm so excited because I talked to my hospice volunteer coordinator recently. I will still be able to volunteer a bit even while social distancing! They asked if I were given a list could I please make out some cards for some people in need on behalf of myself and the hospice team. They would send me a packet with names, cards, stamps etc. I told them I could donate my own cards because I have so many card making and scrapbooking supplies. They said that was wonderful! So I am working on cards and waiting on the list. I pray over each one as I make it. Annie is going to help me make some more. 💌
AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
Pretty clean and tidy as we often spend the weekends doing some of the extras - dusting and vacuuming areas we often don't during the week. After I do dishes and get the kitchen tidy I still like to do calming lavender in my diffuser. 💜
CHORE I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS WEEK:
CURRENTLY READING
ON THE TV TODAY:
Spring baking championship, The Voice, The Good Doctor, New Amsterdam, Greys Anatomy, This is Us, Will & Grace, The Bachelor, HGTV shows, The Voice, 911 Lone Star, Outlander, When Calls the Heart
ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:
There isn't really a purpose for this right now as I'm not planning meals like I used to. I don't want to waste any food and since I don't feel good bringing things to my vulnerable Mom and my FIL - just in case - there are far less items I can make because kids are so fussy. Plus, now we're even more subject to waiting to see what we're in the mood for day by day based on what I have stocked up. We basically rotate each day some kind of pasta, or breakfast food, or soup/sandwich. The main things both kids will eat. (going to leave this here as standard response for now - but will include a recipe or update each post)
This week some meals for lunch or dinner will be cheese quesadillas with chips and pineapple salsa and veggies, homemade chicken alfredo pizza with spinach, mini dutch babies breakfast for dinner with fruit and breakfast potatoes, turkey cranberry cheddar sliders with fruit and chips, grilled cheese & red lobster cheddar garlic biscuits.
Last week I made really yummy shortbread bars. 😋 They couldn't be easier! I topped ours with raspberry jam and powdered sugar.
This week some meals for lunch or dinner will be cheese quesadillas with chips and pineapple salsa and veggies, homemade chicken alfredo pizza with spinach, mini dutch babies breakfast for dinner with fruit and breakfast potatoes, turkey cranberry cheddar sliders with fruit and chips, grilled cheese & red lobster cheddar garlic biscuits.
Last week I made really yummy shortbread bars. 😋 They couldn't be easier! I topped ours with raspberry jam and powdered sugar.
It was a Taste of Home recipe and here it is:
When I made whole grain spaghetti and meatballs last week, I used up the old hot dog buns to make garlic cheese bread. Trying to be creative to shake things up. And also, to go to the store less.
**For Easter dinner I will be making ham steak with brown sugar glaze, baked potatoes (Annie doesn't like cheesy ones), garden salad, corn, strawberry jello pretzel salad, crescent rolls and fruit pizza cookies for dessert. ❤️
TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:
find something to read that I really want to get in to, make cards, bake something, make myself an actual cocktail for when we do girlfriend time on zoom this week 🍹
FROM THE CAMERA:
PRAYER LIST:
All of the responders, grocery store workers, caregivers, all those sick and suffering through this, and those who have lost loved ones. I pray psalm 91 over all every day. Prayers for all of us my Friends. We are all in this together. 🙏 💜
As you can see - very little snow left, yay! Ruby loves to lay in the driveway and patrol who passes by out walking in the neighborhood. Lol
Besides walking - when it's nicer outside - the kiddos and I have been playing pickleball in the driveway.
I have seen robins and bunnies out on the hill. True signs that Spring and Easter are on their way in the northwoods. 🐰
I did order some Easter treats for myself too. These things I ordered from Magnolia arrived recently. This cool plant stand.
This sweet little bud vase.
And Joanna Gaines 2nd cookbook
Keep smiling Friends. Sending positive loving thoughts to you all!
PRAYER LIST:
All of the responders, grocery store workers, caregivers, all those sick and suffering through this, and those who have lost loved ones. I pray psalm 91 over all every day. Prayers for all of us my Friends. We are all in this together. 🙏 💜
*Special prayers for this guy. He has become such an amazing friend to me and I'm excited to see what the future brings. It's his birthday on Saturday and I pray for his safety as he's still stuck up in AK working.
👮 🚓 ♥️