Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy Monday and new week to you Friends

How was your weekend? They always seem to fly by around here.  It was another fun one though! Saturday night Matt met another couple that I'm good friends with and we went out with them (& the C's too) for dinner. We went to a restaurant a little ways out of town and it was snowing and so pretty and cozy. Lots of laughs and they loved Matt and vice versa. 💕 And then Sunday after church we did some shopping and ran some errands. And then watched the Pack actually pull out a win this week. Woo hoo! And Matt made us his keto crust taco pizza and it was amazing!! 

It's been snowing soft light snow here a lot today (not accumulating a lot though). I've been getting things done around the house that I didn't accomplish this weekend. Also, working on my thanksgiving menu and lists. As well as a few Christmas gifts and preparations too. It's all coming so fast! How are you coming with your holiday plans ahead?

PS: I have some recipes to share and will post Cooking Thursday, as well as Wednesday Wonder, later in the week. 😉 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

cutie orange and coffee

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

chiropractor, post office & other errands, thanksgiving list and shopping, hair appt, deep clean projects, hospice work, bring in print to be framed

THINKING ABOUT:  

Christmas gift ideas (I've done quite a bit of shopping already), Thanksgiving prep and menu (hosting 7 or 8 this year) 

CURRENTLY READING

I think I started this one and had accidentally set it aside - so right now reading Enough Already by Valerie Bertinielli

ON THE TV TODAY:

Great British Baking Championship,  DWTS,  Survivor, The Good Doctor, New Amsterdam, Shark Tank, Handmaids Tale - almost done, Ghosts, The Rookie, Miss Scarlet & The Duke, The Crown, Love is Blind

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - brown sugar bourbon pork chops & apples meal kit I didn't make last week

TUESDAY - my friend Mari's (of marislittle corner blog)creamy chicken soup recipe (thanks Mari!), BLT sandwiches, fruit

WEDNESDAY - pork and pepper enchiladas (w/ low carb wraps) with pico de gallo & lime crema (HF meal)

THURSDAY - creamy lemon spinach ricotta ravioli, salad (HF meal)

FRIDAY - BBQ ribs, buffalo mac & cheese, & coleslaw (HF meal) - may have this over the weekend instead if we go out for dinner & to a Christmas parade with friends

 

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

read, watch a movie with Matt, hang out with kiddos

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

FROM THE CAMERA:

I had made up some butterscotch chip banana bread batter last week, and then remembered I had these cute molds. So I made them and with the leftover batter I made some mini loaves. 😋 

Matt's version of watching football. Lol Only kidding - he took a little Sunday nap but then cheered on the Pack of course! 

Getting ready to go in in the oven. Matt makes a keto crust with almond flour, cream cheese, egg, and mozzarella cheese & seasonings. It's so good! 

Ready for toppings! 

😋😋😋

Just last week - empty deck and looking bare and very November, and then this week....

Getting a thin layer of ice on the bay and a pretty white blanket.

It makes me think holiday thoughts and I picked up this neat old embossed German calendar top when Matt and I shopped in an antique store one of our first dates last year. I'm going to bring it in to be framed like a nice Christmas print so I can hang it for the holidays. 

And I may have found these cuties over the weekend to add to my living room couch this year. I'm thinking touches of red in general this year. And I love how they're very northwoods and the old trucks makes me think of Matt. ♥️ 

PRAYER LIST:

 For an end to the conflict in the Ukraine and other areas of the world living in war & fear. For peace and unity in this country. For anyone sick, suffering, in pain or fear... that God bring them comfort and peace.

 For overall healing in our world. 🙏 

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

Have a cozy and wonderful week ahead! I'm sharing this with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

Wordless Wednesday

 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello!! 

Happy Monday to you wonderful Friends. ☀️🍁

First of all, thank you so much for all of the lovely comments about my daughter Annie and her dance last week. I have to agree on her beauty - and it's inside and out! I know, she is growing up so fast! Please know, I love the time you all choose to spend here and leave me comments or even talk to me "behind the scenes". I treasure you all and the way many of you have been part of my journey for so long. So thanks again! 🙏 

How was your weekend? It was a busy and very fun here. Friday involved going out to a high school musical show with some gf's (the director of the musical is a friend of ours) and then out for dinner to celebrate our Fall birthdays together. Saturday Matt and I went to dinner with the C's and their daughter. And yesterday Matt and I watched football after church (how's about those Packers - yikes!...it's definitely not our year. Lol). And last night Matt & I went out for a lovely fancy dinner at revolving restaurant on top of a local hotel. You can see all the lovely as it spins slowly so you get 360 views as you dine. And we did that to celebrate our 1 year anniversary! I can't believe how fast this year flew by!! But I'm beyond grateful for it being one of the most wonderful and special years of my life. I sure said lots of thank you's to the Lord in church yesterday, for this chapter of answered prayers. 😊 ♥️ 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

yogurt, coffee

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

errands, more work on my closet, go vote, some holiday planning things, Annie hockey game, hospice work, call a cousin of mine to catch up, bring some things to my Mom 

THINKING ABOUT:  

How I'm so grateful during this month of gratitude. I am trying to use this month to truly focus on blessings. Do things that may help others. And use it as a time of reflection, growth and anticipation before the crazy holiday season begins. 

CURRENTLY READING

not sure about new book yet?

ON THE TV TODAY:

Great British Baking Championship,  DWTS,  Survivor, The Good Doctor, New Amsterdam, Shark Tank, Quantam Leap, Handmaids Tale (Hulu), Ghosts, The Rookie, Miss Scarlet & The Duke

*looking forward to checking out Spirited with Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell! 😀 

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - breakfast for dinner

TUESDAY - clean out fridge

WEDNESDAY - rigatoni rosa with zucchini & parm & salad (HF meal)

THURSDAY - paprika chicken in lemony sauce w/ pistachio rice & roasted carrots (HF meal)

FRIDAY - brown sugar bourbon pork chops with apple pan sauce, scallion mashed potatoes & roasted brussel sprouts (HF meal) - or might be out for dinner and make this on the weekend

 

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

do meditation & journal time, read my bible, take a bath

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

They are already giving warnings for our potential first winter storm this weekend! Aaackk! 😑 So I thought these seemed appropriate.

 

FROM THE CAMERA:

I thought I would share a few pics from Halloween last week. I had the cider brewing, spooky snacks out, all the jack-o-lanterns lit, and friends came over and brought Chinese food for the kids & Matt & I and we had a really fun night!

The beauty that is November. Lots of leaves off of the trees but my hedges are putting on a show and there's a beauty in the bare and the stillness in my opinion. 

One of my bday gifts from a bestie was this decoration that lights up (it's big too- like 2 feet tall) and I guess it's Matt & I in gingerbread. Lol

View from the anniversary dinner restaurant looking out the window at the moon but you can see the reflection inside of some of the restaurant too. There was beautiful views of Lake Superior, the Lift bridge and the lights of the city. 

it's only been a year but I feel like I've known Matt my whole life

And my gift from Matt - no it's not for "that finger" but it's a ring of promise. That he's "all in" and loves me and my kiddos and will be there for us forever. And it's in green and gold because the Packers brought us together. Lol (it's gold, emerald & diamonds).  I sure love that guy. ♥️ 

PRAYER LIST:

 For an end to the conflict in the Ukraine and other areas of the world living in war & fear. For peace and unity in this country. For my Mom having troubles with her back and for Matt's Mom dealing with covid right now.

 For overall peace and healing in our world. 🙏 

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

I hope you have a very blessed week ahead Friends! I'm sharing this with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

Friday Five Senses

 

Hello Friends! 

Happy November and happy TGIF 😊 

I remember my friend Sandra of Diary of a SAHM doing some 5 senses posts here and there and I've always thought they were pretty cool. So I thought I would share one today. I didn't get to a recipe post yesterday, but my neck/back (pinched nerve) feels a bit better today -so I thought I would post this instead from my time outside with Ruby today. 

SEE:

I love that I can still see a few moments of color in my backyard. So many of the trees are bare now and it just makes the few that glow, stand out that much more. The sun was out earlier but then it got gray with clouds and I think that makes the bits of color more vivid as well. There's a poetry to just bare branches too. It's truly looking like November.

HEAR:

The rustling of leaves as Ruby runs after the ball I throw for her. Mother Nature has left little fairy gifts of pine needles and leaves all over the deck stairs and they snap, crackle and pop with each step I take. It's such a beautiful sound. 🍂 Also, the sound of the water lapping against the shoreline when I go down to take some pics of the bare branched bay.

SMELL:

The spicy menthol smell of icy hot on my back and neck. Lol Sometimes I feel like I'm in the November of my life when my arthritis acts up - or hurt myself like I did pinching a nerve. But I know this too shall pass. And I'm not an old lady. And I run around with Ruby the best I'm able as she chases the ball. She loves to push it with her nose when she goes to grab it...to have it scoot just a bit further so she can run more. She just makes me giggle. 

TOUCH:

I love the feel of the fuzzy tennis balls that I throw for Ruby. And the satisfying way they "squeeze" to make the squeak sound that excites Ruby. 

TASTE:

Even though it's been pretty mild for my area, the wind has a crispness to it and I can taste it on the wind. Almost the metallic taste of the rain snow mix that's supposed to visit us this weekend. The wind makes my nose cold, which adds to the taste, and I guess it's time to go in and get warm with a cup of chai tea. ☕️ 

Have a blessed weekend! xoxo

Wordless Wednesday