Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello Friends and happy Monday to you. 💛

I hope you had a wonderful weekend. It was a fun one here and flew by. Annie's bf was up from FL to take her to her senior prom. Yes, another final thing checked off the list as it feels like we speed to her graduation! I can't believe how quickly this year has flown and it's almost May already. And it's so bittersweet in many ways. I get excited for my daughter's future...but selfishly feel like I want to freeze time and keep her here with me forever. Sigh. And such is the way of a Mom, right? Did I ever mention that she's going away to Florida for college? She was accepted into a special advertising program and plans to do business/marketing. I think her dream would be to work for a sports team one day. So adds to the sad a bit as I think of her so far away from the northwoods. But I know that she will do amazing things and I'm her biggest fan and cheerleader always. 😊🌷💗

So FYI: be prepared for lots of prom pics below. Lol

Also this weekend, Matt & I ran some errands but mainly hung around home and got some projects done and relaxed. We played lots of cards with the C's last weekend - but they were gone out-of-town for volleyball tourney this past weekend. Matt & I often go to Saturday mass, but helping Annie get ready for prom and doing pics etc didn't work to do that. Also, we made a big brunch for the kids Sunday. So it was a church online kind of weekend. I've also been working on several projects for Annie's graduation and just lots of busy right now. I guess it helps as a good distraction so I don't think too much about what the Fall will bring. Lol 

I can't believe May begins this week! I love my planner and the pages on it are so pretty. Here's some current ones for May:

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

Sugar free iced coffee (fasting)

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

a couple groceries to pick up, working on Mother's Day plans, Annie's school senior party committee work to do, home projects (Spring cleaning), hospice work to finish up for the month, hospice work up at facility, lunch out with a friend

THINKING ABOUT:  

It was a rainy weekend but earlier last week we had sunny days and Matt & I pulled out the pickleball net and played in the driveway for a few hours. It's such a fun way to get exercise. We also pulled out our golf mat and hit balls and worked on our swings. It's SO glorious to me to be able to do these things after suffering from that back herniation for a year and a half. Looking forward to all the sports this summer!! 

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE

I wanted to share this new cabinet we recently purchased (actually Matt got it for me as an early mothers day gift). I graduated high school with Angela and her and her hubby have the cutest social media account where their hobby is to find vintage pieces and upcycle them. Things that are dated, beat up etc - they fix them up and come up with a new vision for them. I had been looking for years for a cabinet like this for this spot in our living room. It's an old wardrobe and they stripped it down and painted it black and stained the top. Put a chargeable light in it that comes on when it's opened. Their vision was for it to be for a coffee bar cabinet or wine cabinet. I LOVE it for a wine cabinet that I will fill with my bottles and I've already been putting in my stemware. I'm using the drawers for overflow from my dining room hutch and my mailing stuff I use often for the hospice work I do from home. I love the looks of it and I'm so thrilled to finally find the vintage piece I was dreaming on for that spot. 🖤

CURRENTLY READING

 The Collected Regret of Clover by Mikki Brammer. 

ON THE TV TODAY:

Jeopardy, Call the Midwife, LPBW, The Good Wife, Grey's Anatomy,  Survivor,  Ghosts, Shark Tank, The Good Doctor, The Rookie, When Calls the Heart 

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY -  leftover tacos from the weekend

TUESDAY - brats on the grill, roasted veggies, chips, fruit

WEDNESDAY - beef flautas, kale salad (HF meal)

THURSDAY - buttermilk biscuits with sausage gravy, fried eggs & sweet potato hash (HF meal)

FRIDAY -  out for dinner

  

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

read, work on graduation and senior party projects

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

FROM THE CAMERA:

Before I share a bazillion prom pics -here are some recent furry baby moments around here:

Bubba loves it when we change the sheets. He has to get under the them and goes crazy. Lol

This was just this morning when I was having my coffee - he was asking to come up on my lap so he could "make biscuits" on me. 😊🖤

Now, enjoy the prom overload. Lol But I love having them on here for the memories too. Matt was so funny - taking pictures of me... taking pictures. But he came up with some of the fun pose ideas too.  Annie & Kris were adorable and they had a great night! It was really cool that he was able to come up here from Florida to take her. 🌸💜

Annie's dad had gotten her a nice bouquet of flowers and I broke it into 2 bouquets. :) 

Almost done with 1 of my sweet Mumsy's Mother's Day gifts. Just a little more outlining to do. Then clean up the back so she can hang it  💕

PRAYER LIST:

 For an end to the conflicts all over the world and anyone living in war & fear. For peace and unity in this country, especially from hate and shootings or violence.  For anyone sick, suffering, in pain, fear, loneliness etc ... that God bring them comfort and peace. For His Light and Love to cast out the darkness everywhere. For both Matt & my sets of aging parents and their health issues. For this lovely planet we all share to be healed, preserved, and give God gratitude for all its resources 🙏🏻

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

I know Mother's Day isn't for a few weeks - but I loved this and wanted to share. Blessings on your week ahead! 

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

Five on Friday: Yummy Recipe Ideas

 

Hello Blogging Besties! 

Happy Friday to you and I hope you have some fun plans ahead this weekend. 💗💗💗

I thought today for my 5 I would share some fun Spring and Summer recipe ideas. Some that I have tried, and some that are new to me, but sure sound delish. 😋

ONE

The first is this blackberry cobbler I made last summer. It was SO good and warm from the oven with ice cream it was pure heaven. You can find the recipe on my post clicking here.

TWO

Next up is this adorable idea for a quick little appetizer. I think it's something you could easily hand cut if you don't have a tulip shaped cutter. Or you could use a different little flower shape cookie cutter. I really want to do something like this when I entertain this summer. ;) 

You can see how they put it together under my Spring/Easter pinterest board or if you click here.

THREE

Next up is another yummy looking appetizer. I happen to be a goat cheese lover, but I know a lot of folks are not. So you could always substitute a little cream cheese instead. When the peaches are really ripe in summertime, wouldn't this be so good? 🍑 You can find it under my appetizers board or you can click here.

FOUR

I think this pasta salad sounds so unique, but I think it would be really refreshing and perfect as a lighter side alongside grilling chicken or steak. You can find it under my salads board or you can click here.

FIVE

The last one I thought I would share was for this lilac sugar and shortbread I made last summer. It was really fun to do something so different than the normal flavor profile. It was all very easy to do. I think this would be so pretty to have at a bridal or baby shower. You can find the lilac sugar recipe on my post here.  And the lilac shortbread on my post here.

As you can tell, I'm continuing to think all the Spring and Summery thoughts around here. The trees are finally starting to bud a bit and the daffodils are starting to pop open! It all makes my heart just smile. I hope that you found a few ideas or recipes that you might want to give a try too. Have a blessed weekend ahead. 

xo

I plan to link this for Five on Friday with My Creative Life that you can find here.