Random Bits

Hey Friends!  Happy TGIF to you! 

It ended up being quite a busy end of the week here in the Northwoods. And we have lots of kiddo sports activities going on this weekend - so I'm sorry I'm behind visiting but I'll try to do some over the weekend. For my 5 things today I need to be speedy so here's some quick random bits:

ONE

It's a bright sunny day on the bay today! We've lost most of our snow again too. I truly hope it's a sign of early Spring and we don't get a lot more at this point!

TWO

For those that don't follow me on instragram - I posted this photo the other day. Due to our more unusually mild weather - lots of critters have been out visiting in our woods and backyard. Especially, lots of birds on the bird feeder and bunnies running around on the hill.

THREE

Ruby has been having some serious cases of the snuggles!

FOUR

I've been absolutely LOVING this latest edition of Country Living! It's filled with flowers and Spring thoughts!

FIVE

A few flowery pages from the magazine! Absolutely love it!  xoxo

I'm linking with Amy of  Love Made My Home for Five on Friday.

Wednesday Wonder

VINTAGE SPRING INSPIRATION

As the winds howl here, I'm still sending Spring thoughts from the Northwoods (thanks to Pinterest). 

XOXO

Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello Friends! 

So are you feeling bright eyed and busy tailed this morning? I wish I could say I was - but today is rainy and dark gray and makes me want to curl under a blanket and take a long nap! Fortunately I've been fighting that urge and getting some house chores accomplished so I can get lost in some creative time later.

It was a nice weekend here. My daughter had a volleyball tourney (yes this has been taking over hockey time - Lol) and they made it into the GOLD division!! But lost their first matches right away, so didn't place. They did another great job!! She had  a sleepover birthday party that night so my Hubby and I went out for a little date night dinner - very nice. Sunday I did a big grocery run. My son had some buddies over to work on a school project. Later in the day the sun came out and so all 4 of us miraculously hung out together. We played around outside helping my daughter with her volleyball skills. Lots of exercise and fun! Now on to the week ahead:

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

In the 40's. Very cloudy and dark gray and rainy. Supposed to rain on and off all day. Temps will drop more to 20's - 30's after today for the rest of week. Yuck. 

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

granola cereal & I threw a few blackberries on top, coffee

RIGHT NOW I AM:

Listening to Ed Sheeran station and trying to wake up! 

AS I LOOK OUTSIDE MY WINDOW:

It looks gray, ugly and sloppy. Puddles in our driveway, the bay is looking slushy on top. Still some snow and ice around our driveway and all over our yard in bits and pieces - lots of areas are showing green grass again. I sure hope we get an early Spring!

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE:

Looking nice and tidy. Cleaned up over the weekend and already got laundry going and cleaned up my kitchen this morning.

ON TODAY'S (& this week's) TO DO LIST:

A lot of the usuals this week. Hockey practice for Annie. My son's hockey is done and this is the last of Annie's "winter hockey" practices. However her "summer hockey" is right around the corner. What can I say, she's my tomboy and loves it! She has volleyball practice too. My son is doing more jobs around home and will be working for his Dad, as my Hubby's business have areas where Aaron can help out after school. With school and hockey everyday he had no time, but now that his sports have calmed down, he wants to keep earning use of his truck of course! Trying to teach him these things aren't a "given" or something he gets for free. He earns it through good grades, being responsible & respectful and through working. MY son also has an appt this week and he may want me to still take him rather than drive there and deal with it himself. I need to get in my exercise time. I have wallyball one night. Visit my MIL. Doing run around day with my Mom....again, the usual stuff. 

CURRENTLY READING:

I have such a good pile of books - but have not been able to stay awake at night to read (my fave time to get reading in). I keep up with my magazines, the daily newspaper, and I've been focusing on crafting time. 

ON THE TV TODAY:

I know I have cooking shows taped. I'm still looking into subscribed services to maybe binge watch some other shows. On our tv, though, I see Survivor starts back this week and we like that one as a family. My Hubby and I caught up on Blind Spot this weekend(one of the few shows we watch together).

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

MONDAY: didn't make tacos until this past weekend - so tonight is taco leftovers. I have some rotisserie chicken left to use up too- so I will season it up with taco flavorings and also make sheet pan chicken nachos and be sure we use up all taco toppings and leftovers.

TUESDAY: stuffed pork chops, scalloped potatoes, roasted veggies with olive oil and parmesan

WEDNESDAY: ham & cheese roll-ups sandwiches(using pizza dough), vegetable beef soup with mini pasta, fruit

THURSDAY: chicken & veggie stir fry with cashews (Annie will help), oven baked veggie egg rolls

FRIDAY: not sure - might eat out somewhere

WHAT I AM CREATING AT THE MOMENT

Scrapbook catch up - other paper crafts, laundry room project still in progress too.

NEW RECIPE I WANT TO TRY THIS WEEK:

Not sure about new one this week? 

TIP OF THE WEEK:

 

Always a smart plan for my northwoods with our crazy weather (& often lots of snow!)

FROM THE CAMERA:

This past weekend - more volleyball action. Annie crouching at the net...

...Ready to pounce into action and hit that ball over the net!

Old photo memories from on my smart phone. This was a prior school year for my son and he had done a biography project on Bob Seger. My son LIVES for music and loves classic rock - among many other kids of music. He took guitar lessons for several years when he was younger. He was grateful that his Mom had all that "scrapbook stuff" when he did this. He used a lot of fun stickers I had on hand - as well as cardstock paper for back drops to his typed boxes. Plus, his Mom came up with the creative idea to use his old guitar picks to look like they were holding up the photos. ;) 

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

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

My Week in Photos

ONE

Endured more snowy cold. Snuggling with Ruby helps. Nourished my body with some healthy, but yummy food. Early in the week I used up leftover roast on a bed of sundried tomato quinoa with a fried egg and a sprinkle of parmesan. Made a semi-homemade BBQ chicken pizza with good veggies and rotisserie chicken. Breakfast this AM was hearty 12 grain bread with some mashed avocado. 

TWO

Welcomed March! Got my planner calendar filled out for the month. Began prayer-filled Lent. Started getting out my St. Patty's Day/Celtic things around the house. May even dig into the bin of Spring decorations this weekend. ;) 

THREE

Scrubbing my heart clean during this season of Lent. Went to Ash Wednesday mass. Nourishing my soul by reading in devotionals and doing prayers/reflection/journaling time. And sometimes I like listen to meditative or Christian music and get lost in color. 

FOUR

Finished a project for a close Friend of mine. I had made some like these for gifts for relatives this Christmas season. My Friend saw them and joked about "where was hers". ;)  Well I found that I still had some of these materials leftover - so I made this for her this week. I look forward to surprising her with it soon. It'll be perfect, as her home is very northwoodsy like mine. xo

FIVE

I further nourished my creativity by working on more scrapbook catch up. This week it was tackling my son's school years album. He's in high school now - so I'm actually close to being caught up!  

I hope you had a blessed week Friends and were good to yourselves! Enjoy your weekend. xoxo 

I'm sharing this for Five on Friday with Amy of Love Made My Home. 

Easy Homemade Brownies

Happy Thursday Friends! 

Today I thought I would share a favorite recipe for easy homemade brownies. I know for my Catholic friends this may be cruel if you've given up chocolate for Lent - so I'm sorry in advance! Lol  I think I initially found this recipe online at allrecipes.com - but I'm not sure. I'm embarrassed to say I have a lot of random recipes around that I've cut out from the newspaper, magazines or  I've found online and I didn't leave info to reference where it came from. I've been a recipe collector from WAY back!! 

This is a good go-to brownie recipe if you're not making one from a mix, but still want it to be fast and easy. 

When I make this, sometimes I frost them. Usually I just add our favorite add-in's (some chocolate and butterscotch chips). They are that just right kind of chewy texture. They'd be great with walnuts too! My kiddos just don't like nuts in their dessert like this though.

Just perfect with a cup of coffee or creamy chai tea. Mmmmm Here's the recipe:

EASY BROWNIES (for an 8x8 pan)

If you want to make in a 9x13 pan, just double the recipe.

Ingredients:

1/2 c. butter

1 c. sugar

1/4 c. baking cocoa powder

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 c. flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

Melt the butter (I just do it in a bowl in the microwave). Add all the other ingredients and stir until mixed well. Pour into a greased 8x8 pan. Bake in a 350* preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes.

***Again, I mix in about a 1/4 c. each of chocolate chips and butterscotch chips before baking. Also, if you want a full pan - just double the recipe. 

Enjoy! I'm sharing this with:  

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home  

 Cooking and Crafting with J & J

Wednesday Wonder

COZY CORNER

Hello All! Did you enjoy your National Pancake Day yesterday? We did and we made plain and blueberry pancakes for dinner based on this recipe from my friend Billie Jo at her blog Afternoon Coffee and Evening Tea. They were so yummy!  Yesterday the snow swirled, the wind blew and we got about 3 inches total of snow. I chose to spend part of that day in my favorite cozy corner. All wrapped up under my faux fur blanket in my comfy reading chair looking at Spring magazines and sipping hot tea. It was wonderful! Now today the sun came out and it felt a bit warmer. But sometimes it's nice to treasure those cozy moments, isn't it? Today is Ash Wednesday  - for me as a Catholic -  and it kicks off the Lenten season.  So I spent my quiet time today a bit more meditative. I hope that however you're spending your Wednesday.... that you get to a enjoy a cozy corner somewhere.  Happy March 1st! xo