HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

Good Morning everyone. I hope you had a wonderful weekend and are bright eyed and bushy tailed ready for a new week.

My new webpage is still in the making as my brother/webmaster/server has had a FULL plate, but LOL I’ll keep you posted on the unveiling.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
It’s a beautiful morning with fluffy clouds.  LOL then I opened the door and it’s going to be another scorcher of a day.  This Indian Summer is killing me, but most my projects will be inside this week so I’ll just pretend we’re having a crisp fall day.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
Banana walnut oatmeal and coffee.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
I’m fairly happy.  I had a super productive weekend and just need to finish sorting a few totes and boxes and then tomorrow will do a super deep clean.

One of the things I did was sort through ALL of our Christmas decorations.  I pulled out several totes worth of things that I will “probably” donate.  I decided to use these things this year for the season and see if there was anything I couldn’t live without.  If not, it will all be boxed up and donated on January 7th. Seemed like a plausible way to make a decision to minimalize.

WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS
I sat down yesterday and made a chart for what needs to be finished before my mom’s visit in early December and am going to do my best to stick to it!

  • A couple of molding pieces that need to be added.
  • Paint Carlie’s closet.
  • Floor molding in Carlie’s closet.
  • Finish sorting Christmas ornaments.
  • Do some ebay listings.
  • Do some organization in my studio.
  • DEEP cleaning.
  • A craft fair with my neighbor.

We are so close to finishing, but it still feels like it is a lifetime away.  I do have to share this amazing transformation though.  The atrium as we call it was an actual atrium when grams and gramps bought the house.  They had it enclosed with a rook and turned it into a part of the house.  In doing so one of the bedrooms “lost” it’s window as it now looked into an extension of the living room.  Gramps paneled it in a dark brown as was popular in 1980 and put in a makeshift bookshelf closing off the bedroom from any natural light source and it NEVER changed!  Below is the picture of when we arrived and below that is the pictures of the transformation and the re-installation of a “window” for that room allowing natural light again.

BEFORE AS MY COUSIN LEFT IT. It still astonishes me what a difference we’ve made.

Cleaned and primed – ready for window.  I love the white color as compared to the heavy dark paneling look!

NOW “WINDOW” READY FOR CARLIE TO MOVE IN. We used a multi paned door turned sideways and trimmed to fit as a permanent window.  Add a little trim moulding and voile’ it looks like it was always there. It doesn’t need to open.  I’m putting together curtains and beaded tiebacks for the bedroom side so there is still privacy.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA
I borrowed these from my “daughter of my heart’s” facebook page, but they fill my heart with such joy I just needed to share. Since this picture Am has cut off about 10 inches and I LOVE the new style!

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR
We are trying all the new shows and will narrow them down soon – thank goodness for DVRs!
TELEVISION

  • BIG BANG THEORY
  • NCIS
  • BLUE BLOODS
  • THIS IS US
  • BULL
  • SCORPION
  • SUPERGIRL
  • CHICAGO MED, PD, FIRE
  • THE GOOD PLACE
  • HEARTLAND
  • HEART OF DIXIE
  • STRANGER THINGS
  • LONGMIRE
  • Z-NATION
  • DESIGNATED SURVIVOR
  • MADAME SECRETARY
  • ONCE UPON A TIME 
  • CHESAPEAKE SHORES
  • ETC……. I’m sure I forgot a few…

READING

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
SHIRRED EGGS
BACON & EGGS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
LEFTOVERS
SANDWICHES
DINNER
C.O.R.N
SWEDISH MEATBALLS
SLOW ROASTED ITALIAN CHICKEN
POACHED WHITE FISH WITH KIWI REDUCTION
PORK AND PINEAPPLE
CHICKEN & NOODLES
C.O.R.N.
DESSERT

HEALTH & BEAUTY TIPS

HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP

ON MY MIND

LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING THAT THE FOLLOWING IS NOT 
AN ABSOLUTE ABOUT ALL PEOPLE.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE WONDERFUL SAHM AND PARENTS 
WHO ALREADY FEEL AND ACT THIS WAY!

We have a cultural decay problem in this country. Life as we once knew it will NEVER be again. We have a lack of parenting problem in this country. As parents, our jobs are to raise children into functioning adults first and to be their friend second. Teaching children to be independent, hard working, respectful, happy and gracious is the best thing you can do for them, you and for ALL the people they will encounter in the future. Teaching them about the ups AND the downs of life is realistic and responsible.

There is an apathy, a lack of respect, a lack of accountability, a lack of responsibility, a lack of courtesy… A silver spoon entitlement complex is taking over. Political correctness has become an insane concept trying to make life fair. WAKE UP PEOPLE! Life ISN’T fair and NO ONE every said it would be. Doing the best you can each and everyday is all you can really control.

Watching the news is not always just hearing the factual events as it once was. Commentary and social media have taken over – everyone wants to be the first to break the “NEWS” whether it is complete or correct. Fact checking seems to be a thing of the past in many cases. Spin doctors manipulate news every day.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME VENT.  I’m stepping down from my soap box now. 

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

  • COUNT DOWN TO HOUSE COMPLETION
  • COUNT DOWN TO CARLIE MOVING IN
  • COUNT DOWN TO ELF ON A SHELF PICTURES FOR MY MUNCHKINS

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

Jean @sonotorganized.com

What a great transformation, it's beautiful! You are making great progress over there, can't wait to see more. Hope you are having a great week! (P.S. I think the Indian summer is supposed to end around here by Friday, hang in there!)

Deanna

What a great idea to use a door as a window! Looks great.

I followed you here from I'm an Organizing Junkie. I hope you'll take a moment to stop by my blog, LifeWithDee.com. I share recipes and post about books, homemaking, travel, etc. Have a beautiful day!