Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello dear Friends 🍁🧡

I treasure this date. I know in my last HHM post I mentioned that it's funny we have 2 anniversary dates because of needing to get married at the courthouse to get the correct wedding license. But I think of today as our official anniversary as it's when we had our magical wedding and said our vows in front of our family and friends. And my cousin, who officiated, brought Jesus to the party too. So as of today we have been married 2 years and together for 5 (thank You Lord!) but dream on the many more to come!

This past weekend we went and spent time with my Mom and step Dad Friday and helped them with some things in their apartment. Then Saturday we went to church in the evening and then went out to celebrate our anniversary by going out to dinner, walking around a beautiful rose garden park at sunset, and then came home and sat by a cozy fire on our deck. A perfect anniversary evening with my Hubby in my book. Tonight, per our tradition, we will watch our wedding video. ❤️

Then yesterday I went to a fun outdoor Fall event called Gourd Days with my Bestie, Mrs. C. We shopped and snacked and had Autumn beverages. And then later in the day both her and Mr. C came over to watch the big Packer Vikings game. Unfortunately, the Packers lost spectacularly. No one was happy about that but Mr. C - the big Vikes fan. Boo! But it was still fun watching with them and hanging out and having pizza delivered for dinner. 😊

Today it's so very gray and feels like it gets darker every hour that goes by. It's going to rain so I guess that only makes sense. But I didn't sleep well last night so this gray day is not helping my energy level! Lol Oh well, a new week begins, pep or not...

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

 

coffee with protein creamer and a little granola cereal

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

Ruby lab appt, errands, projects to get done around here, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT: 

Another fun thing this weekend was that I accomplished getting out my Fall decor around the house. I haven't done things outside yet, as I still have some flowers blooming and hanging in there. But I will decorate outside soon too. It's so cozy around the house now. I have many things on timers that pop on and give a soft glow at night. With these chillier nights (it has been in the 40's some nights and early AM's) it feels so wonderful to have that cozy Autumn feel everywhere. Here are a few peeks:

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

When my hands are cold but I make a hot cup of tea and wrap my fingers around that ceramic warmth and breathe in the steam.  

CURRENTLY READING

I've been truly terrible because I have either been watching shows, looking at magazines, or working on crafts I'm giving for gifts. But I have some fun Fall books lined up!

 

ON THE TV TODAY:

Big Brother (& still old seasons too), Ted Lasso, Need to finish the series Ride or Die we've been watching, I need to check the Fall tv lineup - haven't dont that yet. Jeopardy, Taping Halloween Baking Championship 

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - leftovers from the weekend

TUESDAY - skillet apple cider chicken,  salad with sourdough croutons

WEDNESDAY - creamy potato soup, veggies, rosemary onion sourdough bread

THURSDAY - marinated chicken Matt will grill, cucumber salsa (in a cucumber flavored balsamic I have) to top the chicken, asparagus

FRIDAY - out for dinner 

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

working on holiday and other gift projects 

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

 

FROM THE CAMERA:

perfect anniversary evening with the Hubs 😍

chilly Fall mornings means hot coffee in Autumn mugs

Wonderful day out with my fellow Fall loving Bestie (there she is living her best life 😂) I caught that pic of her while I was in line for my pumpkin latte with pumpkin cold foaM. 😋 She was nibbling a croissant but had gotten us a bag of pumpkin spice mini donuts to share a few (& she brought the rest home to Mr. C) 😉🍁🧡

Are you ready for some football? Why yes....yes I am! Go Pack Go!💚💛

This day 2 years ago ❤️

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 my friend Sandra and her brother's healing right now. For Matt & I to have many more anniversaries ahead. 🌻💛

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:

❤️❤️❤️

Blessings to you Friends. 

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

Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello beautiful Friends!

How are things looking in your part of the world? 

It's a gray and rainy one here this morning and it's been that way all weekend. I can't say I'm mad about that. We really needed the rain and it's been kind of chilly and cozy. It is supposed to get warmer today though (80's). But this past weekend it was rainy and chillier 60's each day. A bit of Autumn preview heaven that's perfect for the beginning of September tomorrow. Last night I fell asleep to the sound of a thunderstorm outside. Is there anything better than falling asleep to that sound? A bit of lightening brightening the room now and then. Soft rumbles and the calm tapping of rain on the window. Blissful 💗

This past weekend flew by. Friday we went and helped my Mom and step Dad with some chores at their apartment and got out their Fall decorations for them. We also brought dinner and played some cards with them. I treasure the time with any of our parents as it is precious as they are all basically in their 80's.  I'm so grateful for the gift of them all!

My Mom got a new little Christmas tree recently. They only had a table top one and she decided she wanted more of a real tree this year. She's already had it up with just the white lights at night. Well I surprised her with some cute little Fall ornaments I had picked up and dolled it up for her. She just LOVED it! I wish I had taken some photos. I found some cute knit pumpkins in different Autumn colors. And some glass looking (but they are plastic) little Fall ornaments that are things like acorns, pinecones, squirrels, pumpkins etc. It's adorable! 🍁🎃

Then Saturday we went to church and then met up with our besties the Conleys for dinner. We saw them at their daughter's wedding - but only briefly. We have all had busy summers and so we hadn't seen them much. So it was so nice to get a great night of gabbing and catch up! Then they came back to our house and we played cards until the wee hours. It was awesome!! We're going to one of their daughter's volleyball games this week. Back to school and back to sports time. 😊

Yesterday was a nice lounging day. We got some things done around the house but then we just snuggled in and hung out, played cards, watched shows and it was wonderful. :) 

Sorry for the long intro so let's get straight into the week ahead (& bring on the BER months, yay!!).....

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

 

hot coffee today and a bowl of cereal I got in our thrive box - seven sundays cocoa cereal (it's all natural and organic and high in fiber and low in sugar) I had it with banana on top and my protein milk and a little bit of natural almond butter mixed in. Tasty and healthy 😋

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

groceries, errands, watch volleyball game, home projects, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT: 

All things Fall and BER months to begin! I sent Annie some boxes of goodies with some Fall decor and useful things for her new apartment. She loved it! :) 

 I have been planning some crafts projects as some Fall gifts and have some to begin for Christmas gifts. I haven't gotten out my Fall decorations yet, other than some Fall soaps and some sunflower things. I will get to decorating soon though! 

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

seeing my old Ruby girl (she is 14 &1/2 already!) still run for the frisbee and get excited to play and the way she loves to snuggle. I know my time with her is precious and she sleeps so much nowadays.

CURRENTLY READING

Lately some magazines and Fall cookbooks

 

ON THE TV TODAY:

Big Brother (& still old seasons too), Ted Lasso, I am watching Sanditon, I think we're going to get back to House of the Dragon. We may start a new series soon too, but not sure what yet?

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - roast chicken, pasta salad, veggies

TUESDAY - sheet pan chicken fried rice(new recipe), cukes from our garden, fruit

WEDNESDAY - beef stroganoff over noodles, steamed veggies

THURSDAY - probably eat up leftovers ahead of the holiday weekend

FRIDAY - out for dinner 

*for the holiday weekend I think we plan to get some time out on the water. For food I think we're going out for brunch one day, making tacos with fun dip and fixings one day, and grilling brats and having fun sides (probably do that Monday). 

I also plan to bake up some monster cookies 🍪

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

work on projects/craft

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

I found this cozy Anne of Green Gables ambiance recently (always loved those books so much) and thought I'd share 💚

This is someone I follow on youtube and have for a while now. She is an American pastry chef, that trained in Paris, and lives in a cute little apartment in Paris with her French hubby and adorable dog. Many of you know I have always loved Paris (and been fortunate to visit a couple of times) and I passed that love on to my daughter. As Annie has also had many years of french language classes and has been to Paris a few times as well. This pastry chef is named Ainsley and she shares cooking and baking videos, tours around different parts of Paris and France and shares history & info about it, and also lots about going to flea markets and finding treasures. I just love her channel!

 

FROM THE CAMERA:

I made a yummy new recipe this past week for a slow cooker honey garlic chicken over rice. I sauteed some broccoli and some green beans from our garden as a side dish. It was so good and I'll share the recipe later this week. Along with a fun little thing I made with the leftovers for our lunch the next day. 

There was also a cool clear evening last week we played some ladderball in the yard and enjoyed the glimpses of Autumn around our yard and listened to some geese honking on our bay.

Our cozy rainy weekend. Yesterday while Matt was downstairs in the media/gamer room for a while, and the pets were napping.... I was snuggled up with my ipad and some hot tea and pretty ambiance on the tv in the background. 

I tried the cranberry hibiscus and it was delightful ☕️

Then later Matt and I were sitting at the dining room table playing cards and I was staring out our kitchen window and he asked me what I was looking at...so I took a pic and then showed him. Lol Just like I see things in the clouds - I make out things in the trees too. Do you see the dinosaur in the first photo? Or am I just a weirdo? 

(wait, maybe don't answer that😂)

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 a neighbor friend that recently went through a break up. For the kids to have a safe, healthy and happy start to the school year. 

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 BER months beginning to you dear Friends. 💛🍁

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