Wordless Wednesday

 

(Guess what we got more of last night? 🙈 )

Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello, Happy Monday, and 1st official day of Spring! 🌸☀️ 

However, it doesn't remotely look like Spring here. Lol So I'm hoping when I make rounds to visit you friends - you may have some Spring to share? I would sure enjoy that! ;) 

It felt like a fast but lovely weekend here. I got in some good Matty mine time with our usuals errands etc. Then yesterday my Mom came over in the afternoon a bit (my step Dad was doing things with his daughters). And both of my kiddos were here and one of Annie's pals and we had snacks, laughed and played trivial pursuit all afternoon. We even did the fun trend right now on social media to roll a little vanilla ice cream in a fruit roll-up. It changes the whole texture of the fruit roll up and makes it crunchy instantly. We all tried it and really liked it! It sounds weird I know but I challenge you to give it a try. It was such a wonderfully fun day and alway makes this momma heart so full. Now looking ahead to a busy week filled with appointments and yep....more snow in the forecast. Ugh!!!! 

Also, sharing some photos below of St. Patrick's fun and things we did on Matt's day off during the week last week. ♥️ 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

a cutie, cup of coffee with vanilla almond creamer

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

a meeting for end of year things at Annie's school, Matt's day off errands and fun, Annie & I both have dentist appointments, my yearly check-up MD appointment, meeting with a friend for her belated bday lunch, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT:  

All things Spring - how I want to go through things in my closet and put away some winter things, dig through my Spring clothes, all the flowers I want to plant this year, and maybe even some new deck things Matt & I want to pick up this year 🌞 

 

CURRENTLY READING

Going to start The Wonder by Emma Donogue (she wrote the book Room)

ON THE TV TODAY:

Quantam Leap, The Good Doctor, The Rookie, Survivor, HGTV and cooking shows, Breaking Bad, Greys Anatomy, Ted Lasso

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - tacos & fixings

TUESDAY - Matt's making dinner - sausage & cabbage skillet

WEDNESDAY -  Chickie chip melts on french bread - a family recipe I grew up with you can find here Chickie Chip, veggie platter & dip

THURSDAY - french onion soup - use leftover french bread to make the cheesy big "crouton" on top, Springy salad with raspberry vinaigrette 

FRIDAY - out for dinner?

 

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

read, cross stitch

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

FROM THE CAMERA:

We've had such an insane winter for record breaking snow and it caved in part of the roof of our big local shopping mall 

On Matt's day off last week - we went out for brunch and did some shopping in some specialty stores before running errands. We ate at a wonderful place that had views of semi frozen Lake Superior. I had lobster eggs benedict and it was phenomenal! Matt had the Lake Superior breakfast that included walleye on it and a lemon dill sauce. Amazingly yummy brunch. 😋 

We're both foodies and enjoy cooking (& I love to bake as you know 😋) so we went into some specialty kitchen and gourmet foods stores. We found gifts for folks. Matt got me some thing I've been needing to replace in my kitchen - such a sweetie 💕  And I picked up a couple treats for myself....

The treats for myself were these gorgeous hand painted stoneware pottery pieces from Poland. I have a lot of Polish heritage and I have an Aunt that has gorgeous sets of Polish stoneware and I always drool over her pieces. So I decided to splurge on some for myself. The ladle I'll use with my gravy boat on special occasions. And the other is a bread pan I plan to use often to bake lots of yummy things.  Aren't they beautiful? i picked up a gift for my Aunt's bday too. She's my Godmother. But it's still wrapped in bubble wrap and I need to ship it soon so I didn't get a pic. But it's a gorgeous footed dessert dish hand-painted in blues with flowers and blueberries. I would have loved to buy every piece of Polish stoneware they had! ;) 

I also have a lot of Celtic heritage (Irish, Welsh, English etc) from the other side of my family and I gave myself a St. Paddy's mani with my green and my gold coin polish. And Ruby happened to have her grooming last week - so they dolled her up so cute! ☘️ And I made chocolate chip cookies with a little green food coloring for the occasion too. 

PS: if you want a really delish low cal/low point treat that satisfies cut up an apple, heat up some peanut butter in the micro and drizzle over the apples and top with mini semi sweet chocolate chips. So good!

Even though outside it looks like winter - keeping the Spring vibes strong inside 🌸 🦋

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, especially from hate and shootings or violence.  For anyone sick, suffering, in pain or fear... that God bring them comfort and peace. For His Light and Love to cast out the dark everywhere. For so many dealing with crazy weather to remain safe, patient and not lose faith in the
Spring that is to come. 🙏 

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

Think Spring! ☀️ 

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

Pineapple Coconut Quick Bread

 

Hello Friends! 

Well big surprise - it's snowing in the northwoods again. Predicting maybe another 8 inches by the time it's done. Old Man Winter just won't take the hint he's not welcome here anymore. Lol Our big local area shopping mall had so much snow on its roof that a portion of it caved in and they're dealing with that right now and it has been closed for days. This added snow today isn't helping their situation I'm sure. Geesh - we need some Spring to make a visit asap!! 

So I've been doing all the things to think warmer thoughts and even got into tropical vibes by baking this yummy quick bread. It was delicious and had almost more of a cake-like texture. It was another recipe I found on pinterest and you can find it under my board "breads".

And how could you go wrong with some sunny pineapple.

And tasty tropical coconut? 

Sprinkle a little more coconut on top for good measure and bake. The only thing I changed with this recipe is I didn't cover my bread. I just kept an eye on it. But everyone's ovens are different so I would say be careful not to burn it towards the end. If mine hadn't been baked through at the end I would have covered it then. 

Here's the recipe. Enjoy! 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello Friends! 

I'm sending you lovely Spring wishes, as I'm still buried under snow in the northwoods. We got another foot of snow over the weekend. Ugh!! It truly feels like Spring is never coming this year - so just wanted to send you well wishes to enjoy yours! Lol 😆  I just don't have patience for any of this with the horrible cabin fever I'm feeling. It is what it is as they say (but it doesn't mean I have to like it 😉 )

Matt & I were able to get out for dinner when the weather was just beginning to get snowy and blowy - and that was fun. We brought Annie back some goodies too (she didn't feel like braving the weather). Then yesterday we were snowed in an had a game marathon with Annie and that was a lot of fun! Then later on Matt and I watched some shows and it was nice just to snuggle in and chill. 

Today the sun is shining and the week looks lovely...until Thursday. Potentially another huge storm system. 🙈 Please send help in the form of prayers for this winter to end!!! 

For right now, enjoying the sunshine in the windows and diving into the week ahead...

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

overnight oats with apple, coffee

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

errands on Matt's day off including bring in winter comforter to dry cleaners, get together with my Mom, Annie's conferences, my son coming for dinner/games one night, house projects, gift I'm working on, hospice work.

THINKING ABOUT:  

the sunny getaway trip I'm taking with my daughter in the future...can't come soon enough ☀️ 

 

CURRENTLY READING

Spring magazines 🌸 

ON THE TV TODAY:

Shark Tank, Ghosts, Quantam Leap, The Good Doctor, Survivor, HGTV and cooking shows, Breaking Bad, Greys Anatomy, Reign, and I watched the Academy awards last night 🌟 

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - mandarin chili pork chops with rice and roasted zucchini and carrot medley (HF meal)

TUESDAY - croque madames with pickled shallot salad (HF meal)

WEDNESDAY - loaded pork taquitos w/ pico de gallo & guac (HF meal)

THURSDAY - beef tenderloin w/ creamy kale & fingerling potatoes (HF meal)

FRIDAY - out for dinner?

 

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

working on some fun projects

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

yum 😋 

FROM THE CAMERA:

I have been loving overnight oats and I've been making different kinds. I now fast most week days - but I still need some pain meds as my back continues to heal...so I eat a little something in the AM and then fast for anywhere from 9-11 hours during the day. And then eat a reasonable dinner. I workout almost everyday, as well as do my therapy exercises. I have been feeling so much better doing this and the weight has started to come off steadily. And I've been getting stronger and my herniated disc issue is really starting to diminish, thank goodness! 

Even though the weather isn't cooperating, I'm continuing to think Spring in other ways. Painted my nails a Springy color and doing pretty wallpapers as the backdrop on my smartphone. ;)

Brought some food to my Mom and step Dad last week - and they're thinking Spring thoughts too. 😊 🌸 

I baked a really yummy quick bread last week - that was almost more like cake in texture and was pineapple coconut flavor. Annie's faves, and it was nice to have something feel tropical around here! Lol I will share recipe this week. 

Last week I scrubbed up this master bath vase and got different flowers to arrange in it. The previous all cream flowers were in it for many years. I had washed them a lot through the years, but they were old and need to go. I wanted a change, so I went with greens, golds, cream and even deep burgundy red tiny accent flowers to suit the stained glass window above the tub. 

I've started a few fun projects - some to be gifts 🐑 

Some shots of the snow out my windows this weekend. The master bedroom has screens on them so that's why they look that way. And one is looking down at the lower level of our house - look how buried that section is! 🙈 

My sweet neighbor bestie and her daughter were embracing the crazy weather and streets being empty and were skiing around the neighborhood and paid me a visit. Lol 

We played 3-person cribbage and other games during our marathon with Annie. It was a lot of fun making due with being trapped in the cozy. 

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, especially from hate and shootings or violence.  For anyone sick, suffering, in pain or fear... that God bring them comfort and peace. For His Light and Love to cast out the dark everywhere. For so many dealing with crazy weather this winter to remain safe, patient and not lose faith in the
Spring that is to come. 🙏 

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

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