Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello lovely blogging Besties! 

I hope you had a lovely weekend and a wonderful Easter for those that celebrated. ✝️🌸

We didn't get as much snow as they said here in the northwoods, more freezing rain issues. But to be safe, Aaron and Jill didn't make the trip up. So that was a bummer. But would rather they be safe. I got to talk with them and Annie in FL through some messages.  Annie & I will do a phone call this week. And Aaron and Jill are coming up for a visit later in the month. So this Momma is ok because I talk to my kiddos in some form almost daily. :) 

We had my Mom and step Dad and my Brother and SIL (Jill) over for Easter dinner in the afternoon after mass. And at least yesterday the sun came out and it got a bit warmer! I forgot to get pics of us all but I was busy hosting and enjoying the moment. We had a lovely ham dinner, visited, and played some games. Then I sent them all home with lots of leftovers. 😋

So another lovely holiday in the books. 💗

 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

coffee and a little part of a lemon bar (from dessert yesterday) - the only way to do mornings after a holiday 😉

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

some Goodwill trips we didn't finish last week, I cleaned out the hutch -now I'm on to bathroom cabinets to finish, finishing booking a VRBO for a family reunion in June, errands, my follow up skin appt (from having the basal cells removed from my face last Fall), hospice work

THINKING ABOUT: 

my Spring to-do list and that I want to stay on a roll with purging, cleaning and reorganizing spaces in our home

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

Listening to bird song from youtube while I also listen to soft Celtic music, as it gives such Spring vibes that don't mirror the snow and gray outside today. 

CURRENTLY READING

 Coming Home to the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson 

(I've been bad about reading other than some Spring magazines and need to jump back in and finish this book!)

 

ON THE TV TODAY:

  Jeopardy, old seasons of big brother & the office, the Pitt, Survivor, Outlander, Virgin River, Call the Midwife, The Forsytes, Best Medicine, Ghosts, Shark Tank, Love on the Spectrum

(Matt & I started Severance and it's so weird and not sure if we'll continue through all of it but giving it a chance yet)

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - leftovers

TUESDAY - healthier ham tetrazini, salad

WEDNESDAY -  BBQ chicken breasts, roasted veggies w/balsamic glaze

THURSDAY - soup dumplings, vegetable spring rolls

FRIDAY - ? maybe out for dinner

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

scrapbook, work on continue to get better at crochet

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

FROM THE CAMERA:

Some of our Easter moments of heading off to church, getting out my favorite Spring bowl to make the big Easter salad in, setting the table, some appetizer goodies etc. And a pic of the lemon bars I made (one for us and one for a neighbor) that I of course covered in a snowstorm of powdered sugar (which you can see in 2nd pic). 

the bright green is a family tradition of Matt's that he made - a lemon lime sort of fluff jello and it's so good! 

And I know when I had shared prior about Annie's new bedding that some asked to see. It's so perfect for Spring (like pink lemonade colors)

PRAYER LIST:

 For an end to the conflicts all over the world and anyone living in war & fear, especially everything going on in the middle east right now. 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 the Lord's love and peace to fill 2026. ❤️ 

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:

Have a great week Friends! I'm sharing this with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

Wednesday Wonder: Some Easter/Spring Ideas

 

Hello dear Friends 🌸

Do you have your Easter countdown on? Mine is a-ticking away over here. I've been tweaking my menu, and making my grocery and to-do lists and getting all set. 

Even though it's gray out today. And the forecast is calling for potentially 7 or 8 inches of snow by Friday (nope that's not an April fool...but our real forecast). Easter Sunday has a glorious forecast of sun and mid 40's. I will take that all day! ☀️🐰

Since I have Easter on my mind, and I was looking at some of my pinterest boards for inspiration...I thought I would share some of my finds with you too. In case you were wanting some added inspiration for the weekend ahead as well. But first, here's a look at my sleepy babies today. It is kind of a gray and good for a nap kind of day. Can you see  why I like to keep the recliner covered with a blanket? Less fur stuck in there. Lol

However, there's no time to rest. Easter is practically here! :) 

So here are a few fun ideas. If you want more in-depth info like the recipes etc - you can find all of these on my "Spring/Easter" pinterest board, and then click on the links directly. And a few of the salad recipes are under my "salads" board.  You can find my pinterest page if you click here.

First up, how about some fun decorating inspiration:

inexpensive hack to get free paint samples and cut out in egg shape for a cute garland

rustic but cute and inexpensive too 

love the idea of filling an old small trunk or case like this

i love how this wreath is simple, yet stunning

Now that we have things looking pretty, how's about we get it smelling pretty too. Love the idea of a Spring simmer pot. 

Now maybe it's time to create some fun appetizers to share with guests?

how cute are these peep and chick cookie cutters? (you could cut cheese and salami in these shapes too)

and I love the idea of decorating a crudite platter with a chocolate bunny or bunny decoration

Or have a Spring tea party and do the crudite in little teacups

And I think Springtime just sings for light pastas and salads as main dishes, don't you?

a light pasta filled with seasonal veggies and parm - perfect!

or create a seasonal salad or steamed veggies and use this vinaigrette 

maybe elevate a leftover Easter ham sandwich into this?

mmmm - more fun tea party ideas

And of course, we need to end with a sweet treat:

bunny topped pretzels or butterfly topped cupcakes...yes please!

be still my heart - look at these sweet teapot chocolate covered strawberries

or even enjoy Spring flavor sweets with your breakfast coffee

There are so many fun Spring and Easter ideas out there once you start looking. Do you have any favorites??

xoxo

Wordless Wednesday: Holiday Peeks

 

*my Mom painted her!