HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY week 51 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.358

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

WEEKEND RECAP

GOOD MORNING dear friends! Here we are in the FINAL STRETCH of holiday preparation! Are you ready? I hope you are taking the holiday week by storm and crushing it, BUT also going slow enough to REALLY enjoy it!! One thing fell through the cracks for me this year, mainly because Thanksgiving was so late. I normally have my cards ready before Thanksgiving, but didn’t this year. I have been working on them amongst all my other commitments. So, if you normally get a card from me, they are almost ready, but this year they will be a between Christmas and New Years card 😀

I stay connected by doing BLOGMAS each day to get me started in the right spirit. That said, I often do multiple posts ahead of time and schedule them while we are watching football or a Christmas movies throughout the month of December. I think next year I’ll combine many posts together and go with an every few days approach.

Last week was a SUPER BUSY one for me! There was something BIG literally every day – dinners in with friends and neighbors, dinners out with girlfriends and going to see a play, A Christmas Story at the local community theatre, parties at some of our favorite places with some of our favorite people…

I have FINALLY learned how to slow down a bit and enjoy it even more! I have a girlfriend who comes over every few months and I usually make a “SPECIAL” drink and dinner for us. She has finally convinced me to make it “simpler” and you know what? We had an even better time with bacon cheeseburger balls, super creamy mac and cheese and a simple green salad. I did splurge and make mini raspberry cheesecakes 😀

Have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS my friends. Enjoy your families and remember the reason for the season! And here’s a clue, it’s not perfection or commercialism.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

We’re in the beginning stages of an atmospheric river back-up of storms here. According to a NY Times article, there is going to be one right after another for the next 10 days or so. So, wet weather attire will be worn at all times as we head into this first full week of winter!

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING ALL done until the unwrapping mess on Wednesday.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS NOT on your life am I going near a store this week.

DVR/TV TIME

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

CHRISTMAS MOVIES of course and clean out the DVR for the end of the year!

READING TIME

I’m reading The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak for book club. I’m really hoping to have more time for reading soon.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always (and probably always will be) a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	LEMON CHICKEN & RICE SOUP	MARINATED FLANK STEAK, FRIED POTATOES and MUNCHIES	CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST CASSEROLE ~~BAKED HAM~~, PRIME RIB, GLAZED ROASTED CARROTS, LOADED MASHED POTATOES	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	PEASANT STEW, BUTTERMILK BAKED BISCUITS	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	HAM TETRAZZINI, GREEN SALAD
DESSERT			RASPBERRY TRUFFLES, MOCHA BANANA RUM BALLS		CRANBERRY CHEESECAKE