Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello Beautiful Friends and a blessed Monday to you!

The sun is shining here in the northwoods and it's going to be another mild week. So strange for up here when it's almost October. But we'll soak it up until we know the inevitable chilly days will come. 

We spent the weekend at the lake with Matt's folks.  A makeup weekend for not being able to get there last weekend. We brought meals for the weekend, but his folks also took us out for our anniversary one of the nights - to our favorite restaurant up there. We spent the weekend watching football & movies, playing cards & visiting, and helping with things around the property. Overall, we just enjoyed a lovely relaxing weekend. It was also a beautiful drive as lots of leaves are starting to change now! 🍁🧡

We heard the news about the shooting & fire at the church in Michigan yesterday. I don't even have words anymore - my heart just hurts too much. I pray for change and for Jesus to help us all 🙏🏻😢

 

 

 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

coffee, low sugar apple cinnamon oatmeal with some chopped apple and cinnamon on top

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

run errands, groceries, dinner and play games with relatives that will be in town, Ruby haircut, home projects, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT: 

How it's been so mild and feels like late summer - not Autumn. I'm ready for it to get a little bit cooler so it will start to feel more cozy! 

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

pumpkin spice flavored everything 🎃

CURRENTLY READING

Finally finishing the last book in the Dream Harbor series

ON THE TV TODAY:

 Jeopardy, The Office, Big Brother (showing Matt older seasons - currently season 10 as Dan was my fave player), Great British Baking Show, The Morning Show (on Apple tv), Dancing with the Stars, Survivor, Shark Tank, Shifting Gears

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY -  using bare nuggets & healthier ingredients to make a higher protein & lower carb chicken parm pasta bake, pesto caesar salad

TUESDAY -  sesame ginger chicken crumbles over brown rice, veggies

WEDNESDAY -  french onion soup, veggies

THURSDAY - dinner at my Uncles with other relatives coming from out-of-town. He's making soup and I'm bringing an Autumn salad of greens, chicken, roasted sweet potatoes, apple, dried cranberries, pepitas, goat cheese and an orange vinaigrette. I will probably bring a dessert too.

FRIDAY - maybe out for dinner?

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

read, scrapbook, watercolor paint

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

Some fun wallpapers for your smart phone if you like: 😍🧡💛

FROM THE CAMERA:

out for our anniversary dinner:

More pretty from up at the lake:

so many pine needles up there!

the lake was so sparkly

cozy time watching football with our feet up

For the weekend I had brought spaghetti hot dish, apple crisp, and the ingredients to make ranch bacon egg & cheese sliders (which we had for brunch on Sunday). They loved all of the goodies and we were all surprised how insanely good the sliders were! (they have a ranch butter poured over them before baking). I will share recipes later in the week.

The drive home was so pretty and filled with color - as well as some farm country (like this cattle farm we drove by). It was so fun to point out really colorful moments to each other & we visited about plans coming up for the holidays and into next year. My Hubby is just the bestest Bestie. Sure love him :) 

Then back safely home last night to snuggle in and watch the Packers game (they tied in OT - crazy game!!) Love having candles and and twinkle lights that light up on timers. Makes it so cozy all over the house. We had also put out some of the outdoor Fall things last week. We just need to add in some mums and pumpkins from a local stand nearby. 

some cute mushrooms in our yard

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 all those in MI suffering from the recent shooting and fire. 😢

For Christ's Light and Love to cast out the darkness everywhere and help the world find its way to loving our neighbors as ourselves. 🙏🏻

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

Sending you cozy wishes and peaceful thoughts dear Friends. 

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

Cooking Thursday on a Friday: Mississippi Mud Brownies

 

Hey there Friends!

It has felt like summer here in the northwoods. It hit 80* yesterday! I didn't get to post this because I was running errands and spending the day with my Mom. It sure was a gorgeous day to be out and about.☀️ It's supposed to be sunny and mild today too, but not as hot as yesterday. Summer is definitely not getting the memo it's Fall. 

Today I thought I'd share the recipe for these wonderful brownies! I had made them to bring to the lake last weekend, but since we weren't able to go I gave part of the pan away to family and friends. Matt had never had them before and he thought they were insanely good. He said I need to bring them another time for his folks. Lol My Mom used to make a version of these long ago and I searched around until I found a recipe that was like what she made. I found this recipe at mommyskitchen.net

They're called Mississippi Mud brownies and they consist of a bottom layer of brownie, topped with a layer of marshmallow,  and then topped with a homemade boiled fudgy frosting. They definitely fit the bill if you need a chocolate fix! 😋

Here's the recipe:

They're wonderful for a crowd as a little bit goes a long way. You can make homemade brownies for the bottom layer, but I just used a favorite mix. Then take out them out when the brownies are done. Cover with a layer of mini marshmallows and put back in the oven a few minutes until the marshmallows are nice and puffed and even starting to get golden. Then take out and let cool a bit and make the frosting, pour over the marshmallows and let it all set. I put mine in the fridge for 1/2 hour to set. They were delish!

Enjoy! xoxo

Wednesday Wonder: Autumn Decorating Has Begun

 

Hello my dear sweet Friends!

First of all, I want to thank you so much for all of your kind words on my last post. I'm, thankfully, feeling much better. I was amazed with how many of you have also had to deal with this. Your support and great tips went right to my heart. 💗 Moments like these makes me so grateful for my health and that I never want to take it for granted. 

Hope you're having a lovely day so far. It is a beautiful day in the northwoods! 70's and sunny. I guess Summer isn't leaving without a fight, and I'm kind of loving it. On Matt's work break we sat out in the sunshine on the deck and it felt heavenly. 

 Yet, my Fall loving soul is thrilled that we are officially into Autumn!! So I have finally been taking down summer things and cleaning and hauled out my Fall things. 🍁🧡  I will share more over the next few weeks but here are some Autumn moments for you right now.

Dining room decorations. Including our built-in hutch and all of its fun cubbies. My favorite decoration is the Lenox china tree that I have had for MANY years. It's fragile and I pack it away carefully each year. I love all of the darling ornaments that go on the branches:

Here are a few more old favorites around the house:

And there are few new things including this lovely Autumn figurine with her pumpkin and these pretty gold leaves on stands.  I had loved the reading figurine that was on the piano for Summer so much... that I picked up the Autumn version too. And also new are these quirky cute wood mushrooms:

And of course there lots of cozy places to curl up with Fall blankets and pillows. 😊🧡

And I've noticed I have a bit of an owl theme to some of my decorating. I do love them! They remind me of a cat, but with wings. Lol

We are in the process of selling our old dining room set and put the chairs out in the garage. But in the meantime, I had Matt put the table in front of the window here and I've been spreading out my scrapbooking project. Love the extra big space to work on and that I can leave the project out and come back to it when it suits me. 

Every year I like to make sure many of my decorations light up, and I set them on timers. We are coming on the time of year that gets dark out earlier so I love having items with lights in them and just pop on in the evenings.  I think it just adds to the cozy. 

Do you decorate for Fall? Do you have many things out yet? 

Wishing you happy cozy days ahead! 

xoxo