Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello and Happy Monday Friends! 

It was a wonderful past weekend (& week for that matter) that flew by! I took a break and said I was busy, but it was actually because we were on a family road trip during my son's winter break from school. We decided we wanted to go to Milwaukee and then visit family in Green Bay on the way back home and catch some Green Bay Gamblers hockey games. Those of you that follow me on instagram probably already figured a lot of that out. I prepared some posts ahead of time and had them set before I left, as I knew I didn't want to take my computer and I just wanted to focus on family for the week. We had such fun eating great food, visiting museums and other fun places, and of course getting in some quality family time together! It's always nice to be home, but difficult to get back to reality today - so here goes...

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

Around 30* and cloudy. We had some snow as we rolled into town getting back  last night. I think more snow/rain predicted tomorrow if it gets warm enough. 

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

A slice of toast with nutella and some strawberry slices. Coffee with natural hazelnut creamer.

  AS I LOOK OUTSIDE MY WINDOW:

Just lots of gray. A new dusting of snow is covering everything - so the ground looks clean and bright white. I see some blue jays flying together from tree to tree out my office window.

RIGHT NOW I AM:

I am listening to nature sounds from Johnnie Lawson on youtube. If you haven't ever seen his beautiful nature videos I highly recommend you check them out! They're as soothing to watch as to listen to. I'm listening to birds chirp as a brook is bubbling through a forest - I think he wrote that the video I'm listening to was taken somewhere in Ireland. So peaceful and relaxing as I try to motivate myself off vacation mode.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE:

Been doing laundry since last night, but still lots of catch up there. Need to put things away from the trip, tidy up in general. I want to do some dusting and clean up too. Take down my Valentine's things still up here and there and put out my few St. Patrick decorations. Love that we're heading to more of the Spring holidays. March here we come!  I'll be getting my Easter goodies out before too long. 

ON TODAY'S TO DO LIST:

Many of the things I mentioned above. Plus, I need to empty out our fridge of anything old/expired. I've been working a grocery list for tomorrow and need to plan meals for the in-law's too.

CURRENTLY READING:

I finished my Nora Roberts book on the trip - it was a fun read! Now I'm looking into something else light and quick to just keep jump starting me back to more reading.

ON THE TV TODAY:

We caught up on the Amazing Race last night as a family. We also watched Survivor when we were on the trip in the hotel one night. I still need to catch up on American Idol, The Good Wife and some cooking shows. I did watch Downton Abbey last night after everyone went to bed as I couldn't wait!! Lol! Just loving it so much. ;)  

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

MONDAY: clean out the fridge - probably something easy...maybe sandwich wraps stuffed with meat and veggies to use up. Side of fruit

TUESDAY: chicken salad sandwiches and chips and a garden salad

WEDNESDAY: Southern Bourbon BBQ meatballs & mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans

THURSDAY:slow cooker ham and scalloped potatoes

FRIDAY: waffles and fruit (breakfast for dinner) 

**I'm also planning to bake some banana bread and make blueberry bars with cream cheese frosting during the week (bring the in-law's some home cooked treats too).

WHAT I AM CREATING AT THE MOMENT:

Scrapbooking project that will be a gift for a cousin of mine in the future.

NEW RECIPE I WANT TO TRY THIS WEEK:

Nothing really new this week

TIP OF THE WEEK:

I always have an extra blanket in the car (for hockey games and just because I live in the north! Lol), but it comes in handy when you're staying at hotels, like we just did on our trip. We often do the pull out couch in the room for the kiddos and the extra blanket works well as more warmth, as hotel blankets are often "wimpy" or when we make an extra bed out of cushions on the floor if one of the kiddos wants to sleep there. 

FROM THE CAMERA:

We ate wonderful things like this on our trip:  strawberry nutella crepes with a side of parmesean garlic hashbrowns. And blueberry pancakes bigger than your head! 

We went and saw a beyond breathtakingly BEAUTIFUL Basilica (say that 5 times fast) in Milwaukee that was built by Polish immigrants. We also went to wonderful museums and one included an aquarium.

And we even had time for antiquing and I picked up a lovely roseville pottery teapot that fits perfectly in one of my dining room cubbies. A wonderful souvenir! 

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

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