Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello and Happy Monday again my Friends! 

It's a busy one here in my northwoods. We had a very fun final SUMMER hockey tourney out-of-town over the weekend. So I feel like I'm playing catch up in my home from being gone for that - and I'm also busy getting things ready for my kiddos to begin school mid this week! It's a big orientation day today for my Annie who will be attending a new school this year. She's nervous but excited. And it will be so nice for me to have both of my kiddos at the same school this year! ;) My life will start slowing down later in the week and I look forward to finally truly catching up with everyone then. I hope I haven't missed a lot of good stuff!!  But it's been so good for me to be more in the moment with my kiddos during these final weeks before school.

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

Cloudy and kind of muggy. There was a good thunder and lightening storm going on in the wee hours this morning. It looks like it could rain again. I think temps are supposed to get up in the 70's and maybe even reach low 80's if the clouds clear out. 

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

Coffee and a yummy caramel pecan roll from ones we picked up at a bakery that's famous for them on our way back home yesterday. Yummy!!

  AS I LOOK OUTSIDE MY WINDOW:

Cloudy, and the driveway, grass, plants and flowers are still wet.

RIGHT NOW I AM:

Talking back and forth with my daughter a bit while I'm trying to focus on this. She has been getting herself more nervous by looking at her new school schedule and getting her backpack and supplies together. I think there's some nervous excitement in there too. ;) 

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE:

The usual tidying up from being gone on a trip. I already have laundry going. 

ON TODAY'S TO DO LIST:

Laundry going. Need to pick up a bit more. Making lists for the week. I also need to run and grab a few more groceries for our tea party tomorrow! We didn't get a chance to do it last week so tomorrow it is! My son's soccer later and then orientation night.

CURRENTLY READING:

Finally finishing the Elin Hilderbrand book I started reading several weeks ago. Another reason blessed school will change things in my life. (**still reading this one and a few more new magazines that have come)

ON THE TV TODAY:

I know I have some cooking shows taped. Caught up on Big Brother. I have some movies taped as well.

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

MONDAY: we eat at the orientation

TUESDAY: fun tea party in the afternoon! Easy dinner due to both kiddos have soccer games

WEDNESDAY: BBQ meatballs, cheesy potatoes, veggie dish

THURSDAY: not sure yet - maybe leftovers or breakfast for dinner (more soccer)

FRIDAY: might be out to dinner belated for my Dad's birthday

WHAT I AM CREATING AT THE MOMENT:

This is the final week getting kiddos back to school then I can have more fun in this dept! I have such fun ideas and posts coming up, that I can't wait to share with all of you!! I can't wait to get to make more of a "schedule" for myself here too.

NEW RECIPE I WANT TO TRY THIS WEEK:

fun ideas with the "tea"- so stay tuned for future post

TIP OF THE WEEK:

 

This is good for me to know, as I'm getting more to that age where I swear I'm always looking for something. Lol! Or I walk in to a room and wonder what I was going in there to get or do. Anyone else with me here? :P

FROM THE CAMERA:

First, this proud Mama needs to share this moment from one of the games this weekend where my Annie took the puck...skated it in...shot and scored a GOOOAAALL!!! I caught the goal on camera, but missed the shot of my daughter raising her arm in victory after she scored. Then the announcers announced her name (they always get our last name wrong Lol) and her teammates rushed on her to congratulate her.  Her U10 team took 3rd place in the tourney. Not too bad. 

Those on instagram saw that last week I began to dabble a bit more in comfort food recently. Here it was cornbread muffins that were brushed with whipped honey butter when they came out of the oven and a "semi" homemade chicken soup.

I keep getting signs summer is ending. The last lily to bloom and once it goes they're all gone until next year. :(  I've been walking and playing ball outside with Ruby more when I know these summer days are preciously fleeting now.

Speaking of walks - I've been seeing more of this out there. Here's a tree close to our home that has already decided it's time to change into it's Autumn finery. Soon I won't see anymore buttercups, black eyed susans, and queen Anne's lace. It will be time for fiery colors, leaves crunching beneath my feet and the fuzzy cattails (or pussy willows) sprouting down by our dock. It's coming on thankfully slow...but the changes have begun my Friends. 

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:


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

Happy Homemaker Monday

How are you my Friends? Does it feel like a Monday? 

It feels like the last full week before school starts over here....and is it a bad thing that I'm doing a happy dance? ;) I so love my kiddos and have been having lots of fun with them. But I love Fall and all that it brings...and I wouldn't mind NOT having to run around like a crazy lady so much (as then their sports are after school and they are there already) and NOT having to referee fights around the house each day. Plus - well it means right around the corner is warm sweaters, cozy nights with comfort food, crunchy leaves on my walks, beautiful colors....I could go on and on but you get the idea. 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

It was so lovely and cool yesterday. Had true Fall in the air. It was sunny but with that cool breeze. This morning is much the same way, but it is supposed to get warmer this afternoon - maybe even hit 80*.  Looks like warm first part of this week...but cool down later in the week. 

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

Some coffee and part of a leftover blueberry muffin.

  AS I LOOK OUTSIDE MY WINDOW:

Looking picture perfect. Blue skies, fluffy white clouds and sunshine. Birds chirping and light breeze rustling the trees.

RIGHT NOW I AM:

Enjoying the quiet actually. Sitting in my office. No music. Can hear the hum of the dryer in the laundry room off in the distance. Going through my planner and working out this week as I work on this post too.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE:

Some cleaning and pick up but not bad. The weekends tend to be a time I get more done (if we're not gone for sports) - so things are still pretty tidy come Monday.

ON TODAY'S TO DO LIST:

I already dropped my daughter off at her hockey practice. I need to pick her up in a bit and run a few errands. I watered the flowers and have laundry going, but need to throw another load in the dishwasher from leftover dishes from dinner last night. Still need to change some sheets I didn't do over the weekend too. Late today I bring my son to his soccer practice....and so it goes (see what I mean?)

CURRENTLY READING:

Finally finishing the Elin Hilderbrand book I started reading several weeks ago. Another reason blessed school will change things in my life. My ME time will go up quite a bit. Hope that doesn't make me sound selfish but I can't wait to focus more on my workouts, reading, and craft time!

ON THE TV TODAY:

I have no idea what is taped on my DVR right now. It's been Olympics all the way over here - and I'm going to miss it now that it's over. :(

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

MONDAY: leftover spaghetti hot dish and salad

TUESDAY: soccer game night - not sure yet

WEDNESDAY: grill night - gotta get some more of this in before true Fall

THURSDAY: another soccer night so not sure (I haven't made out my grocery list yet, so maybe something I can throw in the crockpot to be ready when we get home)

FRIDAY: maybe pizza night? (I can't wait to get back to more of a cooking routine once school starts too) ;) 

*My daughter and I are planning a fun before it's back-to-school tea time with my Mom and my Aunt. Looking at a menu of tea sandwiches and cute pint size desserts, iced tea & lemonade, as well as a potentially fun idea that will involve chopsticks! (not sushi as I'm the only one that likes it) - but I'll share more in a post down the line.

WHAT I AM CREATING AT THE MOMENT:

One week to go and then my brain will focus here more...promise. 

NEW RECIPE I WANT TO TRY THIS WEEK:

something with the tea time I'm sure - stay tuned

TIP OF THE WEEK:

 

My Friend probably would have loved to know this one when her daughter was little. Her daughter would sneak and get the phone to play with and accidentally called 911 a couple of times and had cops come to their door. Oops!! Lol

FROM THE CAMERA:

Been feeling the cozy here on the cooler mornings and nights - so posting more of these kinds of things on my instagram. 

I had an issue with our back hill being taken over by literally 100's of these little "digging" bees. So weird. Did some research as I was worried for my hubby (really allergic) and it turns out they're mining bees. Never heard of them before. They're solitary bees - meaning the queen doesn't hang around. They don't work for the same kinds of things as regular bees and don't produce honey etc. But they have nests under the ground, are very beneficial for the environment and are docile. I was walking amongst them and so was Ruby and they didn't do a thing. Just busy working. They'll go away on their own after a few weeks is what I understand from my research. Gotta love my northwoods life!

Is there anything more wonderful than a daughter that likes to give you a little massage, brush and play with your hair (& then take pics of it - Lol!). Oh how I love that Girl. Please excuse the skull goalie mask t-shirt. I used to play goalie on a couple of broomball teams and it's a pj's shirt. 

A recent instagram post I did about my MIL. I will share more soon in a blog post down the line. She's still at home with my FIL, but we are in final stretches with facility he chose to get her moved there in the near future. Such sad times!!!

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:




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

Photo Update & a Birthday

Happy Friday Friends! I couldn't resist popping in for a minute and catching up with you. I've been fighting a bad summer cold/flu thing all week. So much for enjoying these last days of summer. Lol :P  But I am finally feeling a bit better the past couple of days so trying to come visit a bit today. I will be back for Monday's HHM post too. So thought I'd let you know what's been going on here through some photos. 

kiddos have been soaking up every last second of summer with friends - one more week to school time!

Lots of this for me this past week - hot then cold...blankets and air conditioning. Ugh! Ruby snuggles definitely helped. 

when I was feeling better early in the week -  I was out for nice walks and noticing that fall colors around my bay have begun

aren't they adorable?? ::sigh::

then and now - where does the time fly??

he loves chocolate and cherry and the ottawa senators hockey team - so I accomodated both

made him a black forest bundt cake frosted with whipped vanilla frosting and chocolate chip garnish

and it was tasty

Going down memory lane over my sweet Boy as he turned 16 yesterday. It was a battle day getting him here 16 years ago. I had preeclampsia gone wrong and they thought they were going to lose me a couple of times. But thank God for modern medicine and we both turned out okay! He was born almost 7 weeks early and only 4 pounds (actually 3 pounds 9 ounces at his smallest weight). So proud of the young man he's becoming.  He's an active soccer and hockey Dude - but he majorly lives for music ...including classic rock. He's such an old soul at heart. He's bright and really funny and a great big brother.  A drivers license will be in his future (October) and he can't wait! Love him so....

And I thought this was funny so I just had to share. At my daughter's soccer game last night (she's number 53 in the top photo, not in this bottom one) and I had to take a pic of the ref because he looked kind of like Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter (if you've seen the movies). Of course maybe I look for those things as I'm such a lover of the books and movies. #harrypotternerd 

Have a wonderful weekend!! xoxo

Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy Monday My Friends! 

And how was your weekend? Mine was such great fun as we had relatives come visit - so we were busy doing many fun things. ;)  We had adventures, great food, wonderful conversation and just excellent catch up time. From visits to the beach, to pontoon time, to just sitting around the fire and gabbing away. I'm late with this post as we went out to breakfast this morning for our final good-bye and seeing them off on their way back home. Now time to focus on the week ahead!

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

Mid 70's and may hit 80*.  A bit muggy and actually quite overcast and cloudy. I don't think it's supposed to rain until late tonight, though, but it has that feeling in the air. We had perfect weather over the weekend so I'm grateful for that! Sunny and 70's each day and pleasant. 

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

Went out for breakfast so I had yummy fried eggs, bacon, breakfast potatoes, whole wheat toast and coffee. 

  AS I LOOK OUTSIDE MY WINDOW:

As I mentioned - very cloudy and overcast, but still a bit bright. I just gave my flowers a bit of drink as I forgot to get to them before I left for our breakfast date this AM. They look cheerful and pretty out my office window.

RIGHT NOW I AM:

Listening to some Celtic music on my computer and sipping my water with good essential oils in it while I work away here in my office. Annie had caught a summer cold and now I've gotten it. So I've been trying to hydrate more and kick it. It's not a bad cold - but still a pain to have the sniffles in the summer! Boo!!

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE:

Overall tidy. I can see the remnants of fun last night when relatives were hanging out here. We did some pontoon time then the younger kids played games while the grown ups sat around the fire and had a glass of wine and visited. We ordered some pizzas from a favorite local place and we had homemade mixed berry pie and ice cream I made for dessert. So some dishes still to finish up, kiddos' games to put away etc.

ON TODAY'S TO DO LIST:

Finish cleaning up some clutter, throw in more laundry and general tidying. Both kiddos have soccer tonight so the hubby and I will need to divide and conquer duties later.  

I still have so many things I'd like to catch up on around my office, some reading I'd like to do, and some fun time with my kiddos before school. So I'm thinking I'm going to take more of a break from blogging yet. Maybe another week or 2, other than checking in for Happy Homemaker on Mondays. I'm also planning to use the time for catching up with you - my blogging buds!  

CURRENTLY READING:

Nothing really new here.

ON THE TV TODAY:

Mainly the Olympics. I think I have a few taped shows to catch up on. The other night I watched the movie the Age of Adaline when I was up and couldn't sleep. It was actually a very sweet romantic movie. 

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

MONDAY: leftover pizza, veggie tray and crab dip & crackers from yesterday.

TUESDAY: soccer game so probably something easy (sandwiches?)

WEDNESDAY: breakfast for dinner 

THURSDAY: not sure yet - my Son's bday and will let him pick

FRIDAY: BBQ for my son's soccer team

WHAT I AM CREATING AT THE MOMENT:

I can't wait to put more focus here as I have several things I want more time to work on!

NEW RECIPE I WANT TO TRY THIS WEEK:

?????

TIP OF THE WEEK:

 

I would never have guessed this! Interesting to me as my Dad has had a beard for as long as I can ever remember. ;) 

FROM THE CAMERA:

Memories from the weekend

candy shop stop

my Mom on the left and my Aunt on the right

 north shore beach time - playing with taking photos of rocks under water

wet rocks...

dry rocks - I find them all so beautiful

caught a wave crashing on the shore

my daughter and the cousins collecting rocks

my cousin has a daughter 1 month younger than my Annie and they look a lot alike too - BFF cousins

my cousin on the left and me on the right (boy did I get blonde for summer, huh?)

my Cousin's other sweet and beautiful daughter

perfect pontoon night on the water

perfect night for a fire on the deck and of course...s'mores

but don't forget the mixed berry pie and ice cream -  taste of summer on a plate

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:


I'm linking with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.  
As I mentioned earlier - I'll be taking a bit more of a blogging break but will be back for next Mondays' HHM too!  Blessings. xoxo