Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello lovely Friends ~

How are things? 

In the northwoods today it's feeling chilly. It's mostly a cloudy and gray day and it's in the 40's. So many leaves are gone now and we're definitely getting past peak for color. A very November kinda vibe today. 

The backyard hardly has any leaves left. There's still a little color in the woods outside our bedroom windows:

🍁🧡

I hope you had a great weekend? 😊 

Matt & I went to Green Bay over the weekend to visit family. Aaron and Jill were supposed to meet us there (they live in the Twin Cities area) to spend the weekend, too. But Aaron was sick and they weren't able to come. It was such a bummer - but still so nice to get time with the relatives there. It was a pretty drive as there was still color along the way. It's a lot of farm and Amish country - so that, along with the backdrop of colorful trees, was beautiful. 

We had a mix up with a local hockey game we were going to go to - that we didn't realize was an afternoon game, instead of evening. So we went to our other favorite place that night instead...Lambeau Field. (of course😂) The Packers weren't playing at home -  so it was nice and quiet and we went and had a great dinner at a restaurant we love there. Over the weekend we had fun time with family, great meals, and went to some of our favorite shops in the area. I have 2 Aunts, an Uncle, and cousins that live there. One Aunt was away for the weekend and she offered her place up for us to stay. So that was really nice and cozy and homey for us. 

Yesterday we listened to some of the Packers game on our drive home and watched the end of the game when we got home. It was such a frustrating game! We definitely had a few mistakes - but the refs genuinely made some terrible calls (the announcers even commented on it) - so they helped the Lions defeat us. Always a terrible way to lose. But we will get up and hope for better the next game. It's just definitely not meant to be our season. But I think my dear Jean's Chiefs remain undefeated. :)

Today I have mostly been playing catch up, but I'm finally sitting down to work on this and plan out the week ahead... 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

coffee and a buttermilk vanilla protein waffle and some turkey bacon

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

pickle ball, celebrate my dear Hubby's birthday🎉, groceries at some point, my derm appt, time with my Mom, hospice work from home and at the facility, projects

THINKING ABOUT: 

Holidays have been on my brain. We even picked up a few Christmas gifts in Green Bay. I have been shopping for about a month now and have some things stored away. I need to take inventory and add to my Christmas app I use each year to keep track of my gift giving. I'm working on several homemade things and will do some homemade food gifts as well. 

I've also been working on some menu ideas and lists for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I just enjoy planning those things and I like to get done as much ahead of time as I'm able. I even have our Christmas cards already because I got such a great deal on them! :) 

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

I just watched a squirrel go by on our deck with a tiny apple hanging out of its mouth. Lol We don't have apple trees, so he must have carried it from a neighbor. It reminds me of the cozy awaiting us this next month before Christmas... a month of preparation and more snuggling inside.

 The last few years Matt and I have gotten better about trying to commit one night a week to less or no t.v. We cozy up in front of  the fireplace and just talk, or play cards, read, or just hang out. Sometimes Matt will play his guitar. And I will often be working on some kind of stitch work. I love that cozy feeling. 💗

 

CURRENTLY READING

Mainly holiday magazines lately - finding some fun recipe ideas!

 

ON THE TV TODAY:

 Jeopardy,  Best Medicine, Survivor, Dancing with the Stars, Youtube things, Halloween Baking Championship, Great British Baking Show

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - clean out the fridge

TUESDAY - Matt's bday: BBQ stuffed pinwheel pork chops, sour cream and chive mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, his favorite peanut butter pie

WEDNESDAY - pasta with pesto and toasted pine nuts, salad

THURSDAY - maybe leftovers? or maybe freezer night (soup dumplings and veggie spring rolls)

FRIDAY - out for dinner?

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

holiday projects

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

FROM THE CAMERA:

I'm so excited because I'm going to have a furry grandchild soon! :) Aaron and Jill are adopting this sweet guy. Meet Tuna! 🧡 I love him already!! 

I made a banana bread in my fun pumpkin pan - to bring with for our trip and share with family. 🎃

My other Aunt (not the one whose condo we stayed in) is going to be selling her home. She is in her 80's and is moving to an apartment. She lives in a beautiful home and neighborhood (some Packers players live near here to give you an idea). She was cleaning things out and wanted us to come see if there were things we wanted. She needs to downsize quite a bit! Lol  I took a few things that reminded me of my Grandma, also a fun bundt pan, and some doilies my great Grandma had crocheted. When we went back out to the driveway the moon was glorious so I had to take a pic! 

My other Aunt (the one that was out of town so we used her place) has a lovely condo. I love her sunroom that has a view of the man made lake right outside her window. She had all her cute Fall decorations out, including all of her cute gnomes. :) 

And she had pics of my grandparents (her parents) when they were kids. My Grandpa, Steve, was 1 of 17 kids! If you look at this pic and count there are only 16 kids, so my great Gram was going to have one more! Isn't that crazy?? God bless great Gram Clara for that! I guess it was the very Polish Catholic thing to do in that day and age. My Grandpa is the tallest one in the back row.

And my Grandma Anne was 1 of 8. Another very Polish Catholic family. My Grandma is the little girl sitting next to my great Grandpa and holding his hand. 

 And Steve and Anne went on to get married and have my Dad and my Aunts & Uncles. So they had 9 kids themselves! 

And of course we had to go visit our Mecca...er, I mean Lambeau. :) 

We did a little fun shopping and I got Matt some games for his birthday that he picked out from his favorite gamer store down there. And we went to a really cool antique store and he bought me some beautiful thrifted jewels, including this gorgeous cross necklace. It's so sparkly! 

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 all those affected in the recent school shooting in FL by A&M.

For the Lord's love and peace to fill all ❤️'s.

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:

Happy Halloween week ahead my Friends! I hope you stay safe and cozy and enjoy some treats and no tricks. 🎃🧡

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

Cooking Thursday: Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken & Easy Buffalo Ranch Chicken Bowls

 

Hello my dear Friends!

I hope you've been having a cozy week so far. 

We've had a few warmer days for the northwoods (sunny and 60's). But the nights still get plenty chilly and we have needed the heat on in the evenings more often than not. We have a lot of windows so during the day the sun heats us up just fine yet. Today, though, it's gray and cloudy and in the 50's and perfect baking weather....and I just so happen to have a banana bread baking away in the oven. So cozy kitchen vibes are vibing here. :) 

I don't really have a craft update. I've just been working on finishing that same embroidery project because I'm getting together with my fellow Fall birthday Besties soon, to celebrate. So I need to finish the 2nd one stat! Lol Here's a quick peek of the progress:

I will share photos when I'm finished with this one and they are both done and framed. 

What is it about this time of year? When it starts to have a chill and blankets become a necessity. When we want to fill our bellies with something warm and comforting...and it often includes things you eat in bowls. I guess because here in the northwoods that often means soup, slow cooker things, and "hot dishes" as we call them around here. Lol There are so many recipes that combine everything in one "bowl" and those are so yummy and comforting too. 

So today I thought I'd share a few slow cooker recipes with you that we enjoyed recently. 

This was another one I found on social media by the account by Kate Fuller. It was easy and so yummy. I love recipes like this where you add whatever toppings you like. I made an easy micro spanish rice...and we served it over that and then added or toppings.  We did protein ranch instead of sour cream, some shredded cheese, taco sauce, and chili cheese fritos as toppings. Delish! But avocado, jalapenos, taco chips etc would also be wonderful as toppings.

slow cook a while

shred chicken and add beans...

and sweet corn..

and a bit of lime juice

and then you're ready to dig in

😋😋😋

The next slow cooker recipe I made I sort made up with what I had on hand. I seasoned some chicken breasts with some s&p, garlic powder, and ranch dressing mix. I put some Franks buffalo sauce on the bottom of the slow cooker and put the seasoned chicken breasts on top. Oh, and I also added a little chicken broth to the bottom of the slow cooker - about 1/2 cup. I let it cook on low about 6 hours. Then shredded it up. We had ours as bowls because I had sweet potato to use up. So I cubed and baked that at 400* for about 30 mins or so. I always season my sweet potatoes with s&p and some cinnamon. We put the roasted sweet potato on the bottom of our bowls. Put the buffalo ranch chicken on top. And then topped them with protein ranch, a little shredded cheese and chili cheese fritos too. We had raw veggies of celery and carrot on the side like they give you with buffalo wings in the restaurant. Again, so easy and so flavorful. 

Are you a soup, stew, or "bowls" kind of a person for warming comfort food this time of year? Do you have a fave go-to comfort dish?

I hope you get to just enjoy some cozy time this coming weekend. Here's a couple of cute pinterest moments that gave me a smile. 

Blessings to you always Friends. 

🍁🎃xoxo🌻🧡

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

Hello my wonderful Friends!

Blessings to you on this lovely Monday. It's sunny and calm here in the northwoods today. We've had some windy days lately and it's now getting a little past peak here and lots of leaves are down off of the trees. There is still a lot of pretty ones but it's easy to see we are heading towards the later version of Fall.

How was your weekend? I'm so sorry mine got away from me and I didn't get around to visits - but I will definitely be doing that today!!

It was a lovely weekend in the northwoods. Here is how it went -  if you take one part being productive around the house, then throw in a lovely mass and out for a wonderful dinner, add a pinch of one beautiful nature outing, sprinkle in a couple of fun movie with cozy cuddles, and top it off with a Packers win.... 

well that = an amazingly wonderful weekend!

I am looking out at the bay and the pretty orange leaves on the trees are  reflecting in the calm water like a mirror. I am working on my to do list and thinking life is good. 

I hope it is where you are too!! 🍁🧡

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

just coffee today and a piece of pumpkin spice swirl toast (shared a little with Ruby too)

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

outing with my Mom, errands, an appt, lunch out with a friend, 

hospice work

THINKING ABOUT: 

How hilarious is this old photo? I dug it out to show Matt after we went to watch one of Mr & Mrs C's daughter's volleyball game. I had told Matt that I used to play a little and pulled out this proof. Lol Who is that baby girl of a million years ago??

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

how very much I love slow cooker season :) 

CURRENTLY READING

I had started Garden Spells and then I've been bad about reading again as I've been focused on crafts for gifts when I sit down at night. I have also been reading my new cookbook I got for my bday. It's called Oversharing and it's by Cortney LaCorte. I also follow her on social media at "cheesegal" and she's known for her amazing appetizer ideas & charcuterie, amongst many other wonderful recipes! I've found a lot of great keepers in her book 😋

 

ON THE TV TODAY:

 Jeopardy,  Best Medicine, Survivor, Dancing with the Stars, Youtube things, Halloween Baking Championship, Great British Baking Show

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - slow cooker chicken ramen I didn't make last week

TUESDAY - probably leftovers and some clean out the fridge

WEDNESDAY - french onion soup (have so many onions to use up!!)

THURSDAY - planning to have Mom & step Dad over and making homemade pizza (my Mom's request), salad, and spiced pear bars

FRIDAY - out for dinner?

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

embroidery project, diamond art (all gift projects)

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

I know it may seem crazy talking snowman talk but we've already needed to have the heat on in the evenings. And one day last week they thought it might get so cold that some areas around us were going to get a few flurries sprinkled in with their rain. 🙈

FROM THE CAMERA:

This sweet little blast from the past of Annie popped up in my memories the other day. Look at that sweet little Pumpkin. 😍 

And speaking of her...Matt and I also watched her fun league ("beer league") hockey team, down in FL, play yesterday. Annie & 1 other gal are the only girls on the team and it's guys of all age ranges out playing. She said she enjoys it so much and they're such a fun group. Sadly they didn't win (it was for the summer championship) but they put up a good fight. Now their Fall league will start next. Plus, she still plays for her college too. That's my hockey lovin' girlie! 

It's so pretty around our neighborhood. There were leaves everywhere after a rainy wind storm went through and this is how Matt's truck looked. Once he thought the coast was clear from a ton more leaves - he used his leaf blower to clean up the drive way. The next pics are of the beautiful trees less than a block from our house and a path we often like to go walk. I took that last week and there are so many more leaves gone now. 😢

Still some pretty color in our back yard though. And I love the 2nd photo I took when the pets felt the need to share the couch with Matt. Lol They each have their own beds. But Bubba lately has felt the need to take over Ruby's bed again. Little stinker. 😂

These are some photos of our lovely Autumn outing the other day. Matt and I also ate at an amazing & adorable restaurant up the shore too. I love quality time together out hiking around. It was a perfect day for it! 

My Sweetheart ❤️❤️❤️

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 all those affected in the recent school shooting in OR.

For the Lord's love and peace to fill all ❤️'s.

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:

I hope you have an amazing week ahead my blogland Besties! 

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