Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello my lovely Friends and Monday blessings to you. 💗

I hope you had a wonderful weekend. We were very productive since it was finally nice dry weather (we have had a lot of rain). We put away the last of the outdoor pots and deck furniture things. I even put away my outdoor Fall decorations (though the inside of our home we still have all of our Autumn things out). I put up just 2 evergreen wreaths on the doors but did not get out all of my outdoor Christmas stuff yet - we just moved them to the front of the shed for easier access. But Matt did take the opportunity of our nice weather to put up our Christmas lights outside - and even got the shovels ready on the deck just in case. With many of our predicted rain moments they now include that it could be a mix with snow, so it never hurts in the northwoods to be prepared. 😉

Other than that, on Friday we ran to the lake cottage because Matt accidentally had a package delivered there. So we made a fun afternoon and evening of it (as it's a few hours away) and we went to dinner at a favorite place there before we headed back home. Then Saturday we streamed and watched some of Annie's hockey on tv. It was her college's season opener. Her team won both of their games over the weekend. And the gal that sings the national anthem for the Tampa Bay Lightening pro team sang at their first game and did such a beautiful job! Annie got to shake her hand in the photo opp because she is president of her hockey organization (see pics below). It was pretty cool. 

We also went to church and out for dinner Saturday evening and spent some time with my Mom and step Dad. And of course watched our Packers on Sunday. They looked so good and played so well! If we could only keep this up who knows how our season could go?? But I won't hold my breath. Lol 

Now on to the week ahead...

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

vanilla protein waffle, turkey bacon and coffee

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

going to a show with friends, pickleball, errands and groceries, dinner with my Mom & step Dad, getting together with gf's to buy tickets for NY together (we are going on a trip there in the Spring), hospice work

THINKING ABOUT: 

I have a can of pumpkin in my cabinet calling out to me and may need to bake something today 😋

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

facetimes with my kiddos (sometimes at the same time) and love hearing about their lives and laughing and teasing with them

 

CURRENTLY READING

I probably won't have much to add here, other than holiday magazines, because I have mainly been working on craftsy projects. (I am trying to finish a book I started a while ago and already mentioned here before - but yes, mainly crafting away on other things)

 

ON THE TV TODAY:

 Jeopardy,  Best Medicine, Survivor, Dancing with the Stars, Youtube things, Holiday Baking Championship, Great British Baking Show, The Gilded Age, may start streaming something with Matt but we haven't decided what yet

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - creamy potato soup and salad (did not make last week)

TUESDAY - may run errands this night so something easy & not sure what yet?

WEDNESDAY - we have been trying to do a belated bday dinner with my Mom and this week finally works - making her homemade pizza she has been wanting, salad and spiced pear bars she loves

THURSDAY - filet-o-fish sliders (I don't think I shared this recipe here so will share soon), sweet potato fries, veggies and protein ranch dip

FRIDAY - out for dinner?

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

work on holiday projects, bake something

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

FROM THE CAMERA:

When we ran to our lake home it was almost sunset and it was so pretty! We ran down to the water to get some photos. It sure looked like November with no leaves left.

We also got the bird feeder back out for the season (as a lot of bears will  be heading to hibernation season) and Bubba was in heaven! Lots of bird activity and what they drop the squirrels come on the deck and eat. Bubba's "favorite show" is back on! Lol

Here are pics from Annie's college team's first season opener game. This is from social media photos that were posted for her college in FL. That is Annie shaking hands with the amazing singer that sang the national anthem and sings it for Tampa Bay's professional hockey team. And a photo of Annie's team and her in action (we ❤️ #16). Annie is president of the USF women's club hockey team. 

And here are photos of our empty deck, shovels at the ready, and Christmas lights strung up outside. We wanted it all done before snow flies (which in the northwoods could be any time now). We haven't plugged in the lights yet and will probably wait another week or 2 to do that. I will keep up Fall decorations in the house until after Thanksgiving but I will dig out the candles I put in all the front windows and when I put them out we will plug in the outside lights to come on each evening too. 

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. Especially praying for the people of Krakow Poland after the recent shooting in the marketplace there. I was in Krakow 27 years ago and in that exact market place shopping (it was a trip I took with my Aunt to visit family). It breaks my heart that nowhere is safe in this world. 😢

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:

Amen to that. Yay gratitude! 🍁🧡🙏🏻

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

Cooking and CraftingThursday: Pizza Eggs in Purgatory & Finished Projects (yay!)

 

Hello my lovely Friends!

How has your week been going so far? It's sure been a gray and rainy one here. I was excited with the changing of the clocks because it would be lighter in the mornings...but I'm still waiting for that to happen, as it's still dark and rainy each morning. Lol I guess it's supposed to get sunnier tomorrow and the long range forecast looks good too. 

I do love the cozy of rainy days and the way it makes me want to curl up and read something, or watch a Hallmark movie, or work on crafts. And first up today I thought I'd show you my completed embroidery projects crafts. Yay they're finally done!  I'm so pleased with how they turned out for being a beginner in embroidery. I am getting together soon with my 2 girlfriends, whom also have Autumn birthdays, and these are one of the gifts I'm giving each of them. They embrace Fall like I do so I think they will love them. I started them back in September but just worked on them bits here and there. And I just finished the last one earlier this week (just in time - phew!) 

I know it's a little late in the season for them to put them up - but I'm glad we didn't get together earlier because I needed the time to finish them. 😂 

I think they will like them for next season though. 🎃🍁🧡 

And I already have a new embroidery project for Christmas I'm just starting and will share in the future. 

Today I also wanted to share this recipe I made the other night. It was so flavorful and fun to dig into it. We both loved it! I think I shared shakshuka as a recipe here before (under my recipe tab). Spicy tomato sauce that you put eggs on top and bake and then dig in with naan bread toasts. Another name for something like that is eggs in purgatory. 

Well I follow a gal on youtube called the Hunger Diaries (she's on other social media too). And she made a pizza eggs in purgatory that looked so good - so I wanted to give it a go. It was pretty easy and so very flavorful. And you can completely control the spice level if you don't want it too spicy. Just leave out the things that make it zippy. She used calabrian chili but I just did a small pinch of red pepper flakes instead. She also used passata (which is like a tomato sauce). I just used my favorite marinara. I love she added cannelini beans. They made it really hearty and they add protein and fiber. I used a smaller pan so I did just a little bit smaller amount of ingredients and I only added 4 eggs for the 2 of us. But if you have a big pan that can cook on the stove and then go in the oven - definitely make the whole thing. It was SO tasty!! And so fun to dig into with big sourdough toasts. 

When it comes out of the oven and is done she recommends topping with chili crisp, hot honey, and burrata or ricotta or marscapone cheese (we did ricotta), and fresh oregano (I used dried). Totally make it your own the main thing in my opinion is use a tomato sauce you like - add the eggs & cupping pepperoni on top, and then the fun toppings of choice. And of course digging in with some good toast! What a fun way to make a different kind of brunch for a group too. Maybe serve with a caesar salad and some fresh fruit? Yum! Recipe and photos below:

simmering sauce

adding in fresh grated parm

nestle the eggs in their spots, add pepperoni, and put in the oven

all baked up and perfect jammy eggs and crispy pepperoni

all the fun toppings: we did dollops of ricotta, hot honey drizzle, and some oregano

I cooked some big slices of sourdough in a pan on the stove with a little butter and olive oil and they were great dippers 😋

Also, a bonus recipe tip is to use some of the leftover ricotta cheese for breakfast. I made a toast and put some of the creamy ricotta on top and drizzled a little honey and topped with berries. Absolutely delish with coffee and ricotta is pretty healthy for you. A 1/4 c. is a serving and it's only 70 calories and 4 grams of protein. I think it's actually yummier than cream cheese and it's better for you. 

I thought I'd end this post by sharing this sweet pic I caught of our furry babies snuggling together last night. Chilly nights calls for sharing the big fuzzy pet bed. 💞

I hope you have a very fun and cozy weekend ahead!

xoxo

Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello, Happy Monday and 

Did you enjoy the extra hour after changing your clocks back? Doesn't it feel like we are speeding rapidly to the end of this year already?? It sure looks like November here. Very few leaves on the trees. It's cold and rainy today. But it just brings on the cozy vibes and I'm not mad about that. :) 

How was your weekend? For those that celebrated Halloween I hope you had fun. 🎃 

On Friday I did hospice work and then in the evening Hubby and I ran some errands and went out for a nice dinner. On Halloween we went to evening mass. And then we brought snacks to contribute at Mr. C's Aunt's home. She hosts a fun Halloween pot luck party every year and this is our 3rd or 4th year going? So we hung out with our besties, the C's, and also the family and friends at the party. It's always such a fun time! 

Then yesterday we did some cleaning around the house. Watched football and overall had a nice chill day. 

To me November is a month of gratitude and quiet preparation for the holidays ahead. I usually don't put up Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving. Sometimes when it falls really late in November I may start putting up a few things right before Thanksgiving. And we do oven put the outside Christmas lights & decorations up this month before it gets too snowy and cold. Oh, and I do start listening to Christmas music this month! Yay!! 

 I actually have already done a big bulk of my Christmas shopping. I have our Christmas cards for this year already too! So I like to do as much of that kind of prep before December as I'm able to do. I like December to be more focused on the fun things like: baking, watching movies, wrapping gifts, and going out to holiday events/concerts etc.  😊❤️💚

I just love the Fall vibes to last a bit longer and to focus on the thankfulness of this month. I also host Thanksgiving... so maybe that is why I like it to still feel like Autumn around here. I love focusing on the gratitude most of all, including you dear Friends! I love gathering here with you each week and sharing our lives with one another. I appreciate every visit and kind comment you make here. I read them all and love when you share what's going on your world too. So in this month of gratitude I just want to say thank you so much for your friendship. 🍁🧡

Now on to the week ahead...

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

raisin bran cereal and coffee

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

they're coming to install the shower doors and then our new bathroom is complete -yay! pickleball (& may start volleyball league next week), errands, bday dinner with a couple of gf's (we all have Fall bdays), Christmas projects, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT: 

how it looks like it's supposed to rain most of the week - but I'm just going to embrace the cozy and work on projects (& maybe bake something fun?)

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

Being wrapped up in a soft fleecy blanket on a cold night -  all cozy in my favorite recliner and watching football or a movie (or working on embroidery). It's all about the cozy vibes.

 

CURRENTLY READING

I probably won't have much to add here, other than holiday magazines, because I have mainly been working on craftsy projects.

 

ON THE TV TODAY:

 Jeopardy,  Best Medicine, Survivor, Dancing with the Stars, Youtube things, Holiday Baking Championship, Great British Baking Show, The Gilded Age is back on (yay!) - it's very Downton Abbey-ish if you've never seen it (on HBO max), Love is Blind, Nobody Wants This

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - eating a hodgepodge of leftovers from the weekend (pasta dish & some pork chops & sides)

TUESDAY - taco salads

WEDNESDAY - Breakfast for dinner....Italian version of shakshuka (spicy egg dish) with added protein and skillet sourdough toasts to dip in it, veggies/fruit on the side

THURSDAY - out with gf's - but for Matt creamy potato soup and side salad

FRIDAY - out for dinner?

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

work on holiday projects, might start wrapping gifts I have tucked away

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

FROM THE CAMERA:

We've been getting our cozy on with the fireplace some evenings (now that most nights are in the 30's - brrr). Bubba loves to come snuggle with us by the fire too. :) 

When I was outside with Ruby one night I took a pic from the outside because I loved all the lamp glow with the trees reflected on the window. And I caught a pretty sunset. I also caught some of the last leaves in our backyard through the view in our patio door.... and now they're not even there anymore. 😢

This past Friday I was up at the hospice house to volunteer and they had all the Autumn cozy going on. Pretty pumpkin and mums and the cook there had just baked her Grandma's recipe for homemade caramel rolls. She gave me a taste and they were out of this world! 😋

My poor Hubby had to be out-of-town for work for a few days (including his birthday) - so we celebrated with a nice dinner and his favorite dessert he requests every year - a peanut butter pie. You can find my recipe here. Every year Matt adds more to it though. Lol He can never get enough peanut butter. This year he had me throw some pb m&m's into the filling. And you can see how I initially decorated it and then the next photo is what he added. 😂 But I was just happy to make him what he loves and to celebrate him on his 49th. Next year is the big 5-0 for him! I'll have to think of something extra fun for that one. 😉

And speaking of peanut butter - I made my friend Billie Jo's (at the blog Afternoon Coffee and Evening Tea) spiderweb munch to bring for the potluck Saturday. It was a hit! It's such yummy chocolatey peanut butter goodness. And I also made some cream cheesy ranch tortillas roll-ups (that also had some pepper jelly on them) - but I forgot to get a photo. I didn't get a photos of us, but because we went to church first I was dressed tastefully in dress pants and a black top. But I did take a photo of the jewelry I wore. I was channeling my Bubba black cat vibes for Halloween this year. 🖤

Sunday we spent down in the media/gamer room. We have plans for things we're going to change in there next year (we tabled it to do our new bathroom this year). So eventually that room will get some new paint, carpet and furniture. Matt's office is down there too. 

But the things we have changed includes Matt's touches. A 77 inch big screen and big sound bar (and he brought one of our old tv's down to watch multiple games). And he added a special camera that detects what you're watching and a light strip behind that lights up in colors and moves to match what is on the screen. Lol It was so cool when we watched an Avengers movie the other night in the dark! While we watched football I was working on the last of my other embroidery project. Only a little bit left now and I will definitely have it done for our gf bdays Thursday this week to give both as gifts.

 And our Packers weren't on so Matt half watched football and half did this: 

zzzzzzz

And when we were cleaning and tidying up this weekend I turned some of my jack-o-lanterns around to just look like pumpkins. And took down my black cat print and put up my Thanksgiving one. 

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 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:

Why do Mondays often feel that way? Lol 

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