Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy 2026 to you my dear Friends! 

I wish for you a healthy, happy, and blessing-filled year ahead. 

Please know I'm so grateful for the gift of your friendship here. And I look forward to sharing another year with you all in this blogland space. 

Matt has had downtime from work so this holiday season has been filled with such fun quality time together. We had a quiet New Years Eve. We were going to be doing things with our friends - the C's...but Mr. C and his daughter were sickies. So Matt and I had a fun order in dinner, played some games, and then hung out by the fire with only the Christmas lights on. It was so cozy and snuggly and a wonderful way to ring in the 2026 (we did make it to midnight!). 

Then New Years Day we watched the Rose Bowl parade and some football and had a wonderful chat about our goals for the year ahead. Our individual ones, as well as some together, home improvement plans etc. 

I like to have a word for the year. It helps encompass all I would like to achieve without feeling like a resolution. A resolution to me always sounds rigid or like a setting of rules. Whereas, I think of a word as something fluid and flexible that will adapt with all that life may throw at me in 2026. Something that can grow and improve, as opposed to something that is only success or failure (if that makes sense?) 

My word for this year is FAITH. Here are some ways I want to grow in this word for 2026:

1)to literally grow in faith and dive deeper into Scripture

2)to continue to grow in faith in our marriage (sharing in faith, literally, with Matt) but also in our faith in what we have and how we can grow even closer and stronger as a couple

3)to grow in faith in myself and my ability to improve my health habits and my work habits (including a new endeavor this year). To take some real leaps of faith in 2026.

4) to grow in faith in humanity - meaning to focus on the good in the world. It gets so easy to get caught up in the news and sad parts of our world. I want to focus on the beautiful things going on in this world - and in my own community, and contribute to it all in any ways I'm able.  

Do you set goals in the new year? 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

A wonderful neighbor friend of mine often makes lefse this time of year  - and she brought us some. If you're not familiar you can read about lefse here. It's basically Norwegian crepes...almost tortilla-like and made from potatoes. I had a little part of one with melted butter and cinnamon sugar on it and rolled up. So good with my coffee!

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

out to lunch with Mrs. C., get things ready for girlfriend Christmas I'll host here this weekend, groceries and errands, work projects and clean up before party, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT: 

How it was my blogaversary back in November. But as it's become my routine - I'm always so busy this time of year that it escapes my brain until now. And I want to do a giveaway because I think it's fun, and also because I want to thank you all for being such wonderful friends. 💗 I appreciate you and your visits so very much! So I've been accumulating some goodies and when I'm all set I will do post for you to join for the giveaway. So please stay tuned! 

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

going for a lovely lunch out and catching up with a bestie (food for the belly and soul) 💗

CURRENTLY READING

The Housemaid  by Freida McFadden Still reading (it's really good!) and then will watch the movie with Matt (it's a thriller) when I'm done.

ON THE TV TODAY:

 Jeopardy, old seasons of big brother, Junk or Jackpot on HGTV, some cooking shows, still watching old episodes of the Office too, movies (we recently watched Roofman based on a true story and it was pretty good)

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - cashew chicken sheet pan dinner

TUESDAY -  maybe leftovers? maybe breakfast for dinner?

WEDNESDAY -  pork soup dumplings and veggie spring rolls, fruit & fresh veggie plate

THURSDAY - homemade chicken pot pie

FRIDAY -  out for dinner?

*Girlfriend Christmas on the weekend - doing Italian theme this year and I will put out build your own naan flatbread pizzas. I will also put together a fun charcuterie with some fresh fruit and veggies. Making something fun for a little treat too. One of my friends is bringing spinach and artichoke dip & stuff to make bellinis. Another is bringing an Italian pasta salad. And another is bringing an Italian dessert. We never starve if you can't tell. Lol I look so forward to our time together every year. They will come in the afternoon and stay until late into the evening. We gab, graze, and exchange gifts. I treasure time with these sisters of my heart more every year that goes by. We have been doing this gathering for over 30 years now!

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

read book, color, watch a movie with Matt

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

I recently made a pasta meal that we had tossed with pesto and some parm cheese. A few days later I thought a fun way to use more of the pesto up was to make sandwiches with it. We had some sun dried tomato deli turkey and I layered that on a sandwich along with some mayo and pesto as a spread on the inside of the bread. Some cheese and some spinach layered inside too. Then buttered the outside of the bread and grilled them like grilled cheeses. When I took them out of the pan, while still hot, I sprinkled a little parm cheese on top of the buttery grilled bread. They were so tasty! And a great way to use the pesto up.

I think another fun way to use it up would be to make an egg bake, omelette, or scramble with it. Make the egg dish with Italian flavors (peppers, feta or mozzarella cheese, tomato etc) and of course the pesto in there too. Yum!

FROM THE CAMERA:

I was back on duty at the hospice house right after New Years and I found this surprise on my car door mirror. I sure love that Hubby of mine! ❤️❤️❤️

New Years moments. New years eve brownies = yum! We're still enjoying the pretty glow of decorations over here as I host my girlfriend Christmas this weekend and I like to leave everything up for it. New Years Day lounging with the Rose parade, Ruby and Bubba snuggles, football and maybe a nap or 2. :) 

PRAYER LIST:

 For an end to the conflicts all over the world and anyone living in war & fear. 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 2026. ❤️ 

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:

Wishing you so many blessings for 2026 dear Friends! 

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

Hashbrown and Veggie Breakfast Pizza and a Little Break

Hello dear Friends and happy Friday to you! I hope you're wrapping up your week and heading into a cozy fun weekend ahead. :) 

Life here is busy in the best ways. My Annie Girl is home from college and makes my Momma heart sing with happiness. 😍😊 

We have been enjoying lots of catch up time and even went and hung out with my Mom yesterday. Matt helped me get a new car and that arrives today. I am also going to give some time at the hospice facility. We plan on some fun for the weekend ahead, as well as getting the rest of the Thanksgiving groceries as I start prepping that meal by Monday (I have certain things I make each day leading up to the big gobble gobble). Matt has his surgery early next week. So all of that along with lots of Annie time and holiday prepping means I will be on here less and want to put my focus on family. So I'm going to take a little break - probably until after Thanksgiving. 

But first I thought I'd share this blast from the past and the updated version I made the other day. This is from the first time I made hashbrown breakfast pizza. I used thawed hashbrowns that I had put some butter on, baked, then took out and added ham, scrambled eggs veggies & cheese and baked some more. So very easy and so very good! You can find and read the full recipe here.

In the twist I made the other night I added some broccoli slaw to the hashbrowns to up the veggie and fiber factor. I also added some chopped onion. I put all of that in a bowl. Tossed the mixture with a little olive oil. Seasoned it and spread it all on a sheet pan. I preheated the oven to 425* and added some butter to the pan and preheated the pan in the oven with the butter for several minutes. Took out the hot pan and added the hashbrown mixture and baked for about 20-25 minutes. Then while that was baking I scrambled up about 5 eggs seasoning them as I went. When the hashbrowns were done I took them out and added the scrambled eggs...and what I had on hand - some cooked and broken up breakfast sausage, some buffalo mozzarella I needed to use up and a little shredded cheddar. If I had extra peppers or veggies I would have chopped them up and added them too. What is nice is how versatile this recipe is and just so good for using up whatever is in your fridge. I then put it back in the 425* oven and baked for another 15 minutes broiling just a little at the end. It always turns out so great and you can use as much hashbrowns/veggies as you want or as little. There isn't a right or wrong amount -whatever fills your pan or that you want to use up. 

bowl with hashbrown, broccoli slaw & chopped onion tossed with oil and seasoning

spread in pan and bake ( I had grabbed a large pan and it didn't even fill it - doesn't matter bakes all the same :) 

added scrambled eggs and whatever I needed to use up in the fridge and the cheeses

bakes up so yummy and I just cut it into squares and serve - we love ours topped with sriracha mayo drizzle ( I didn't get a pic of that)

If you like breakfast for dinner and you're looking to clear out what's in the fridge, this is a win-win for you! 😋 So easy and soooo tasty. Would be really great for a brunch as you could make a big pan or 2 of this to serve a crowd great! Add some fruit, maybe muffins or pastries and you'd have a wonderful spread. If you try it I hope you enjoy!! 

Also, I will come around and visit you Friends when I get a chance. For my Friends in the states, I wish you a very blessed and Happy Thanksgiving next week! Remember to set your scales back 10 pounds. 😉

Gobble til you Wobble! So very grateful for you All!! 

🍂🧡🧡🍁

xoxo

An Update and God's Goodness

 

Hello Friends

I thought I'd share a quick update on things here. Bubba has only eaten a little. And isn't really drinking. He got fluids from the vet Monday, but he's going back in today to try to figure out what is causing his issues. He's still acting like himself overall and he's a young cat and his labs were good last time - so it's just down to some detective work. 

I went for an appointment to have something removed on my face and they're pretty sure it's basal cell cancer. Which would be good as there would be no further follow-up. I will know for sure by next week though. So here is your PSA for getting your skin checked! I have had 3 things removed through the years - but this is the first time there's been a cancer sighting. I will continue my yearly check-ups and that's why I urge you to as well.  Continuing to pray for Aaron and will see what answers his future appointment brings too. 😊🙏🏻

A couple nights ago I was sitting out on the rocker on the deck admiring the beauty in the sky. How beautiful the clouds are and their patterns. I was sipping some hot apple cider with cinnamon and clove. I could smell the cold in the air (it was about 50* out). Ducks were quacking as they flew over the bay. It felt so Fall and peaceful. And I had so many things racing through my head. What would my skin appointment show the next day? What's going on with Bubba? Will my son be okay?

And I watched the sky deepen. And I watched the sunset come and make the clouds and bay all golden and pink. And God kept saying to my heart - no matter what I've got you. You are in the hands of the One who created all of this. I take care of every little detail...do You even doubt that I've got you too? And I felt such peace in the thoughts of that eternal security. 

Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.  Isaiah 49:16

For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, "Fear not, I will help you". Isaiah 41:13

- for he holds our lives in his hands. Psalm 66:9

There are so many passages telling us not to fear and how God's got us in His loving and merciful hands. And just look at the beauty He has created:

And Matt's Mom came back from her trip into our airport and we drove her up to the lake last night to drop her off. On the ride home the supermoon illuminated the way for Matt & I, and it was SO beautiful. We got to watch the sunset and then the moon rise. More of God's goodness. And Matt and I chatted about life and our plans. We sang and laughed. And I thanked God over and over in my head for it all. For this amazing partner by my side. For this gorgeous northwoods and the beauty and majesty of the sky. 

And no matter what challenges come up in this life. No matter what may need to be faced at any point. The top prayer on my lips and heart always is THANK YOU. 💗

It's Been a Year!

Hello dear Friends! 

Happy TGIF to you.

First of all, I want to send all my friends in the states my extra love and hugs. This country feels so full of chaos and violence lately. All of these recent horrible shootings just hurt my heart. I believe evil is running rampant and loving this chaos. The only real peace I find is in my Lord and believing in His promises. I continue to be a prayer warrior. I love on my friends and family that much more. And I try to put out positivity, peace, and love in everything I do. I hope we can find a way to love our neighbors as ourselves. I hope we don't put people into boxes of one political party or another. That we don't judge and put our thoughts into "I'm right and you're wrong". I hope instead we find ways to move forward and work TOGETHER to heal and fix the issues in this country. 

Thank you for letting me share that moment from my heart. 🙏🏻💗

 I'm getting to this post late because I was giving time at the hospice facility. There sure are lots of moments of Fall around there. Here are some pics I caught:

But what I wanted to post and share a little today is about the fact that Matt and I celebrate our 1st Anniversary this weekend! Yay! 🎉❤️

I can't believe how fast that year has flown. It's been so wonderful and I guess time does fly when you're having fun. :) To be honest... I feel like I had some years there where my life was like in the movie the Wizard of Oz. Always feeling in kind of gloomy black and white. And then Matt came into my life and it was full blown technicolor! And it just gets brighter with each new day. He has brought such goodness, love and light to my world (& my kiddos too). I am so very grateful for the man he is and that I get to call him husband. I have never felt more seen, understood, loved and treasured by another human being. I love him SO MUCH! 

Thank you God for the gift of this amazing man and this marriage. 

Here are a few of my favorite photos from our day:

I loved everything about our day. It all felt so perfect. And one of my favorite memories was this....how beautiful the night became and how we gathered around a campfire together with our loved ones. Listening to music, chatting, laughing, and just taking it all in.  

My sweet Matthew just had these delivered for me. Aren't they stunning? I have always loved roses...but now sunflowers have my heart ever since they were such a big part of our wedding. 🌻💛

And they lived happily ever after...

Tonight we're going out on a date night with our besties, the C's. It will be so nice to get catch up time with them! 

 Tomorrow night we'll go out for dinner for our anniversary (which is actually on Sunday). And then in October we will be staying a weekend up at the resort where we were married. It should be beautiful with Fall color then. Feeling so blessed. 🙏🏻

Thank you for letting me go down memory lane and share. It feels extra special being the 1st anniversary. And I'm so grateful to all of you for sharing in this journey with me all along! Your friendship, support & love has meant so much!! 

Wishing you all an amazing weekend ahead. 

xoxo

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

Happy Monday Peeps!

How are you doing this lovely August summer day? The sun is shining and it's been clearer weather here, which has been lovely.

We had such a fun weekend. I sure hope you did too! 

Ours was very eventful. Friday some relatives on my Dad's side were in town and Matt and Annie & I went out to dinner with them. Then later in the evening my son came into town and we all hung out and played some games Friday night. Saturday his Jill was busy, but Aaron and Annie came with Matt & I to run errands for the surprise 80th birthday party we threw for my Dad. 😊🎉 We also went out to breakfast Saturday morning and saw some old besties of my former in-laws. It was so nice to visit with them and for them to see me so happy with Matt and how much my kiddos just love him too. Then Saturday night was my Dad's big party. He was so surprised and it couldn't have been better!!

Then Sunday morning Matt & I went to church. That afternoon we hung out with the kids. Then all of us went to a favorite local pizza place for dinner and met some of my cousins there (from my Mom's side of the family actually). Then they came back to our place and we played games, had dessert and sat out and had a fire on the deck until late into the night. Such a full and very fun weekend!! 

This morning I went out to brunch with my cousin and her hubby before they headed back home. I'm so grateful for the amazing family I have and getting so much time with my kiddos. Squeezing every minute out of these wonderful summer days while we have them. 

 

 

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

Just some iced protein coffee before I went to restaurant to meet my cousin

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

brunch with cousin, my Mom's MD appts, groceries later in the week, projects, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT:  

my grateful heart to be born to the family I have and how very much I love my relatives and our bonds 

 

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

summer nights by a fire with the wind in the trees and the peepers and summer sounds all around - visiting with loved ones and laughing lots

CURRENTLY READING

I've been terrible about reading and have been outside a lot lately and active and too tired to read at night. Lol

ON THE TV TODAY:

 Americas Got Talent, And Just Like That, The Gilded Age, The Office, Big Brother,The Last Kingdom, American Pickers, The Pitt 

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - Annie will be out tonight so not sure what Matt & I will do?

TUESDAY - going to make Annie's faves this week - this night veggie lasagna and bruschetta, melon

WEDNESDAY - blueberry french toast bake, breakfast potatoes, fruit

THURSDAY - lemon pasta, caesar salad, garlic bread

FRIDAY - maybe out to a favorite of Annie's choice

*I'm also going to bake zucchini bread this week - another Annie fave ;) And going out for a sushi lunch with my Dad one day this week too (she loves sushi like we do) 

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

go for walks, hang with my girl, maybe golf? play games

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

FROM THE CAMERA:

It's so crazy to me that my Dad is 80 already! Especially when I'm only 38 (wink wink) Lol But it was so fun to cook up this idea with my step Mom months ago. I told her I wanted to do something extra special and then that got us talking about a surprise party. I took the reigns, per her request, and handled the venue, decorations and dessert. She handled the plan to get him there. Lol We held it at a local steak house that they often go to with friends (so that wasn't weird to him). My step Mom and my Dad come from big families, so we needed a bigger venue than my house. We had about 30 to 35 people there. 

 My step Mom and I always tease my Dad that gnomes remind us of him. He has a gray mustache and beard and kind of a "not small" nose. 😂 

So we went with a gnome theme. I found gnomes that reminded me of him (a GB Packers one, a bird watching one, and a golfer). I got wood bases and put a gnome on each as a centerpiece and embellished with fairy lights, moss, mushrooms, acorns, pinecones etc. On the tables we put funny gnome props for photo ops. We also had lots of "80" themed decorations. Matt, Annie, and my Aunt Mary Jo helped me get it all set up and it turned out really cute. He came into the room and was so puzzled and then so surprised and got overwhelmed and emotional. It was really sweet. There was lots of fun joking and teasing, lovely toasts to him, we sang to him, and of course lots of visiting and family photo ops. A lovely milestone in the books. 💗

The venue kept the cupcakes in their fridge for us until after dinner and I forgot to get a pic. So I took a pic of the leftovers when I had them home. They were so yummy and made by a local pro. The flavors were: gluten free white chocolate strawberry (as we have several gf folks in the crew), lemon cupcakes with lemon filling & fresh blueberry frosting, white almond, and hostess cupcakes dupes that were awesome! 

And it was so fun to have my cousin Susie and her hubby, Steve, in town visiting yesterday. We went out to dinner with them and with another cousin of mine and his wife. And that cousin had to leave but Susie and Steve came over to our house and we all hung out (my kiddos too) and played several games. And then when it got dark Matt put on a fire outside and I took this pic from the house while I was putting dessert together. I made this dessert that I've made before and it's so yummy. It's a Pioneer Woman recipe and so good for summer because it's a frozen pie. And who doesn't love chocolate and raspberry? 😋 It was so fun gabbing late into the night just enjoying each others' company around a cozy fire. 

PRAYER LIST:

 For an end to the conflicts all over the world and anyone living in war & fear. 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 Dad's 80th year to be such a blessing to him. For all my relatives traveling today. 

For Christ's Light and Love to cast out the darkness everywhere and help the world find its way. 🙏🏻

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

Wishing you all an amazing week ahead. 💗

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