HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

Good Morning! I had a SUPER productive weekend. ALL the Christmas decorations are organized and put away and I’m ready to do some deep cleaning.  It’s Monday morning so be sure to join in with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom  for Happy Homemaker Monday.  Go check it out to see what it’s all about!

I need some help!!!  I need ideas for a bread an butter gift (a gesture of gratitude for hosting) for my SIL on an upcoming trip. I always look for something I know she’d like, but probably doesn’t have, but I’m honestly out of ideas.  She loves “frogs” but think I’ve done those a little too much over the years.  What do you get or make for someone who has everything or the money to buy what they want when they want it?

ON THE BREAKFAST MENU

  • A big cup of coffee, maybe 2 or 3 wit a touch of Mocha Kahlua and apple maple cinnamon oatmeal with golden raisins. 

TODAY’S TO DO LIST
  • Grocery Shopping
  • Errands
  • Laundry
  • Cleaning

CURRENTLY (STILL) READING

TV SHOWS THIS WEEK

Catching up on the DVR from last week:

  • Good Wife
  • Mentalist
  • Law and Order SVU
  • Forever
  • Sleepy Hollow

WEATHER OUTSIDE MY WINDOW
Rain, fog and dreary.

ON THE MENU
 Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie


DATE BREAKFAST
DINNER
MONDAY 1/12 OATMEAL
Tomato Pie and Pan Seared Chicken with Peppercorn Sauce
TUESDAY 1/13 YOGURT
Chimichurri Chicken
WEDNESDAY 1/14 OATMEAL
Pork Chops & Rice Bake
THURSDAY 1/15 ??
Old World Chicken
FRIDAY 1/16 C.O.R.N.
Winter Soup & Pineapple Upside Down Cake
SATURDAY 1/17 French Toast
24 Hour Salad
SUNDAY 1/18
Bacon and Eggs

Cheesy Corn Bake

NEW RECIPES TO TRY

I also tried several other successful new recipes in December and they will be popping up a little here and a little there over the next few weeks.

I’m back to trying recipes from my experimentation file this month so am hopeful that there will be many to pass on to you soon.

IN THE YARD & GARDEN
Nothing this week.

FAVORITE PHOTO OF THE WEEK
While our son and DIL were visiting for New Year’s we had many dreary days, but this one wasn’t one of them. We had a great lunch and despite the cool weather got some great pictures.

HOMEMAKING TIP OF THE WEEK

    As I put up the Christmas decorations each year I save the tissue paper to reuse as stuffing in shipping boxes and then as I put away the Christmas decorations each year I use new tissue paper to wrap them in.  The new tissue paper has a stronger tensile strength to protect the ornaments and decorations.

    ON MY MIND LATELY

    Trying to understand the world and what is going through people’s minds with all the senseless violence that is happening everywhere.

    INSPIRATIONAL

    Tamy Bollar

    Thanks I'm pretty happy with that picture too. Love the coffee mug and biscotti idea – perfect winner for her!

    Thanks! I really save a lot of money with planning put the menus so that ingredients are back to back and everything gets used with no waste.

    Carrie B.

    That photo is breathtaking Pamela!

    I love your menu plan! Not only does it sound yummy – but you seem so organized with your plan. I'm so flighty every week & have a hard time planning it all out like that or making decisions of what I'm going to make! Lol It's hard as a couple days a week I include meals for the in- laws & they like some things differently from us.

    Hostess gift ideas: if she's into cooking maybe a little cookbook, wrap in kitchen towel & add a little whisk or tool.

    If she likes coffee maybe paint a little mug for her & put a coffee gift card & biscotti inside.

    A pampering gift is good. Pinterest & the internet has great ideas for easy sugar body scrubs. Make a little container for her & give with a loofah & a little bottle of lotion & lip balm.

    Just a few ideas anyway Hon. XO

    Pamela

    Bravo to you for getting your decorations organized and put away – mine are put away but need to be organized. Piling the boxes up in the office does not really count. Your menu plan sounds delicious and that is a beautiful photograph. What part of the country has that gorgeous coastline?