Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy 2026 to you my dear Friends! 

I wish for you a healthy, happy, and blessing-filled year ahead. 

Please know I'm so grateful for the gift of your friendship here. And I look forward to sharing another year with you all in this blogland space. 

Matt has had downtime from work so this holiday season has been filled with such fun quality time together. We had a quiet New Years Eve. We were going to be doing things with our friends - the C's...but Mr. C and his daughter were sickies. So Matt and I had a fun order in dinner, played some games, and then hung out by the fire with only the Christmas lights on. It was so cozy and snuggly and a wonderful way to ring in the 2026 (we did make it to midnight!). 

Then New Years Day we watched the Rose Bowl parade and some football and had a wonderful chat about our goals for the year ahead. Our individual ones, as well as some together, home improvement plans etc. 

I like to have a word for the year. It helps encompass all I would like to achieve without feeling like a resolution. A resolution to me always sounds rigid or like a setting of rules. Whereas, I think of a word as something fluid and flexible that will adapt with all that life may throw at me in 2026. Something that can grow and improve, as opposed to something that is only success or failure (if that makes sense?) 

My word for this year is FAITH. Here are some ways I want to grow in this word for 2026:

1)to literally grow in faith and dive deeper into Scripture

2)to continue to grow in faith in our marriage (sharing in faith, literally, with Matt) but also in our faith in what we have and how we can grow even closer and stronger as a couple

3)to grow in faith in myself and my ability to improve my health habits and my work habits (including a new endeavor this year). To take some real leaps of faith in 2026.

4) to grow in faith in humanity - meaning to focus on the good in the world. It gets so easy to get caught up in the news and sad parts of our world. I want to focus on the beautiful things going on in this world - and in my own community, and contribute to it all in any ways I'm able.  

Do you set goals in the new year? 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

A wonderful neighbor friend of mine often makes lefse this time of year  - and she brought us some. If you're not familiar you can read about lefse here. It's basically Norwegian crepes...almost tortilla-like and made from potatoes. I had a little part of one with melted butter and cinnamon sugar on it and rolled up. So good with my coffee!

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

out to lunch with Mrs. C., get things ready for girlfriend Christmas I'll host here this weekend, groceries and errands, work projects and clean up before party, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT: 

How it was my blogaversary back in November. But as it's become my routine - I'm always so busy this time of year that it escapes my brain until now. And I want to do a giveaway because I think it's fun, and also because I want to thank you all for being such wonderful friends. 💗 I appreciate you and your visits so very much! So I've been accumulating some goodies and when I'm all set I will do post for you to join for the giveaway. So please stay tuned! 

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

going for a lovely lunch out and catching up with a bestie (food for the belly and soul) 💗

CURRENTLY READING

The Housemaid  by Freida McFadden Still reading (it's really good!) and then will watch the movie with Matt (it's a thriller) when I'm done.

ON THE TV TODAY:

 Jeopardy, old seasons of big brother, Junk or Jackpot on HGTV, some cooking shows, still watching old episodes of the Office too, movies (we recently watched Roofman based on a true story and it was pretty good)

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - cashew chicken sheet pan dinner

TUESDAY -  maybe leftovers? maybe breakfast for dinner?

WEDNESDAY -  pork soup dumplings and veggie spring rolls, fruit & fresh veggie plate

THURSDAY - homemade chicken pot pie

FRIDAY -  out for dinner?

*Girlfriend Christmas on the weekend - doing Italian theme this year and I will put out build your own naan flatbread pizzas. I will also put together a fun charcuterie with some fresh fruit and veggies. Making something fun for a little treat too. One of my friends is bringing spinach and artichoke dip & stuff to make bellinis. Another is bringing an Italian pasta salad. And another is bringing an Italian dessert. We never starve if you can't tell. Lol I look so forward to our time together every year. They will come in the afternoon and stay until late into the evening. We gab, graze, and exchange gifts. I treasure time with these sisters of my heart more every year that goes by. We have been doing this gathering for over 30 years now!

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

read book, color, watch a movie with Matt

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

I recently made a pasta meal that we had tossed with pesto and some parm cheese. A few days later I thought a fun way to use more of the pesto up was to make sandwiches with it. We had some sun dried tomato deli turkey and I layered that on a sandwich along with some mayo and pesto as a spread on the inside of the bread. Some cheese and some spinach layered inside too. Then buttered the outside of the bread and grilled them like grilled cheeses. When I took them out of the pan, while still hot, I sprinkled a little parm cheese on top of the buttery grilled bread. They were so tasty! And a great way to use the pesto up.

I think another fun way to use it up would be to make an egg bake, omelette, or scramble with it. Make the egg dish with Italian flavors (peppers, feta or mozzarella cheese, tomato etc) and of course the pesto in there too. Yum!

FROM THE CAMERA:

I was back on duty at the hospice house right after New Years and I found this surprise on my car door mirror. I sure love that Hubby of mine! ❤️❤️❤️

New Years moments. New years eve brownies = yum! We're still enjoying the pretty glow of decorations over here as I host my girlfriend Christmas this weekend and I like to leave everything up for it. New Years Day lounging with the Rose parade, Ruby and Bubba snuggles, football and maybe a nap or 2. :) 

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 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:

Wishing you so many blessings for 2026 dear Friends! 

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

Vintage Charm Party: Grandma Scrapbook Made With Love

 Happy Wednesday Friends! And welcome to this month of sunshine, flowers and all the promise of summer to come. I hope you're already sipping some lemonade or sweet tea and easing into the lazy days mindset. 

In getting ready for summer's goodness Ruby got her haircut and looked so cute with her little bumblebees. But going to the salon takes a lot out of a girl...so a nap immediately followed. Pretty adorable isn't she?

And speaking of adorable and summer...I need to get the rest of my flower pots planted so I can use this new sleepy fairy and gate I found when out treasure hunting. Any excuse to dig in the dirt some more works for me. It's definitely a favorite past time!

But on to the main reason I'm posting today and that is to share this sweet album I just finished for my Bestie Mrs. C. She became a grandma for the first time recently with her granddaughter, Thea. So I wanted to make a little something special for her with such a big milestone. 

She loves paper ephemera kinds of things too and so I thought how about going old school and making her a scrapbooked brag book. I know everything is on our phone nowadays. But I thought how lovely it might be to have a small decorated album that can be a keepsake too. It's something where she can easily slide new photos in and out of the page's protective sleeves as Thea grows and changes. And then once she has favorites she can stick those baby photos in to keep and it will be a keepsake. 

This is the cover and the spine with sweet little gold flowers on them:

I found a pack of sweet floral papers and used them, along with some precious baby related stickers. Here are pages if you'd like to see them... along with some sweet details highlighted bigger for you. The first page will have a little white box like the one I edited on the pic to give you an idea. It will include Thea's name, birthdate and weight & size. That's the last detail I need to do. I had a few pics on my phone Mrs. C sent me, so I printed them up with my Canon mini printer and stuck them on for her.

Then for the final page I put this cute Mary Engelbreit print on it with a few more stickers. 

All of our schedules have been so busy, but Mrs C. and I are getting together for lunch soon and I'll surprise her with it. There is talk that I may get to see and snuggle up sweet Thea myself soon! Ooohh I can't wait 😍 The next best thing to having my own grandbaby one day💗

Even though scrapbooks can be considered vintage in today's world - I still love holding tangible memories and creating something out of my imagination in that way. So today I thought I'd share this vintage charm with the Vintage Charm Party held by the lovely blogs My Thrift Store Addiction  and Our Hopeful Home.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy Monday dear Friends! ☀️

At least I hope it's a happy Monday for you. :) 

I'd love if it were a little warmer here in the northwoods. It was in the 30's last night and we had the heat on! Today it's only supposed to be in the 40's. It was cold all weekend, actually, and not supposed to warm up until later this week. Geesh Spring, where did you go? 😁

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. It was a fun one here because we treated my Mom and step Dad to a show. My Mom has always wanted to see Riverdance - so we got tickets to treat them. It was also partly a thank you for how much they come and hold down the fort and hang out with Bubba when we're gone to Ten Mile or another trip. 

And in exciting news my bestie Kristi's daughter had her baby! So Mr. & Mrs. C are grandparents! Their daughter unfortunately had preeclampsia (like I did with Aaron) - but not as bad, thankfully! So baby was almost 5 weeks early (Aaron was almost 7 weeks early and a preemie) Their sweet little Thea Cate was 5 lbs 11 oz. She's the cutest little peanut ever! And everyone is doing well, thank You Jesus!!

Other than that it was a nice productive weekend around the house. Matt and I did some tag team cleaning and even on some bigger projects. Plus, I got out my more summery decorations around the house. 🌸💗

Even Annie got the bug and cleaned out all of her closets! Lol 

Other than that, Matt & I just enjoyed some down time together too. Even though it's cold it is nice to see all the green outside and seems more leaves and blooms out every day. 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

coconut built puff protein bar, a couple pieces of cantaloupe, iced coffee

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

shopping with Annie, shampoo carpets, get groceries for holiday weekend (meal plan), maybe get some more of my flowers for planting, hospice work catch up

THINKING ABOUT:  

what things I may want to make for the upcoming weekend and we're finalizing our plans too ☀️💛

 

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

watching Bubba chase the sunlight moments on the carpet from the suncatcher out the window

CURRENTLY READING

 The Glucose Revolution by Jessie Inchauspe that Matt's Mom turned me onto - the science to it fascinates me. I'm learning a lot about other ways to be healthier

ON THE TV TODAY:

 The Rookie , Jeopardy(& Masters), Shark Tank, Survivor, TWD catch up, Ghosts, Call the Midwife, The Handmaids Tale (need to watch final episode), Vacation House Rules & Castle Impossible (HGTV), we started watching The Last of Us, cooking shows. 

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - leftover grilled Greek lemon chicken and greek salad (it was really flavorful and I'll share later in the week)

TUESDAY -  low carb turkey pepperoni skillet pizza and you put caesar salad in the middle and roll up like a wrap sandwich

WEDNESDAY - maybe little skillet pierogies & veggies? or breakfast for dinner? (depends on Annie)

THURSDAY -  ??

FRIDAY - ??

*need to figure out groceries and for this weekend

For Memorial Weekend might make up a batch of chicken salad, we also talk about grilling burgers or brats, I'll make a veggie pasta salad & maybe do corn on the grill too. We're going out for dinner one night and I'm going to bake some lemon bars.

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

read, cross-stitch, craft

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

*I remember my Mom always having us do this as kids - now I know there's science behind it! I have turned into my Mother and now tell anyone in a coughing fit to do the same. 😂

FROM THE CAMERA:

My Mom was in heaven finally getting to see the show she's always wanted to see...and it didn't disappoint! So good and if you get a chance to see it, I recommend it!!

sweet new life - and I can't believe my bestie is a Grandma!! 

It was so nice seeing everything starting to bloom up at the hospice house last week.

And back at home too - all the dandelions filling our yard.

summer decorations around the house

This grilled Greek chicken & salad were so good! Great summer flavors.

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 Mrs. C's daughter to continue her healing after new baby and the scare of preeclampsia, for baby Thea to continue to grow strong and healthy. For a safe weekend for those celebrating Memorial weekend and traveling etc. 

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

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

I was thinking about how I just comforted a bestie burying her Dad recently, and now I'm celebrating new life with a bestie having a new granddaughter. Life is sure an amazing circle. 

Blessings friends and have a wonderful week! 

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