HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY week 43 of 2025 with RECIPE LINKS & MENUS ~ BLOG 365.300

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

IT’S MONDAY!!!

GOOD MORNING sweet friends. I’m sitting here savoring my coffee and the quiet house while I make my list(s) for the week and before I have to get ready to brave the brisk morning breeze for some early morning appointments.

Can you believe we’re in the last week of October already? I find it utterly mind boggling. Thanksgiving is only a month away and Christmas is only 60 days away!!

We’re going to a friend’s house for Thanksgiving this year and I’m taking the dressing and dessert. So I don’t have the stress of too much food preparation, decorating or even clean up so that’s a bit of a relief. I actually wrapped 3 Christmas presents this past weekend and am contemplating where to put the tree this year.

I’ve been slacking a bit on BLOGTOBER, but did get a couple posts in last week for my favorite fall clothing and a public service announcement about Christmas. Honestly, my heart and mind have already moved on to BLOGMAS.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

It has been quite cool and wet this past weekend and we even had a small thunderstorm, but we’re supposed to dry out a bit this week (at least until Saturday when the rain is due to begin again) and be clearer. That will make it a bit cooler though and I’m ready! Daytime highs will be in the mid 50’s and nighttime lows in the mid 30’s.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY, WHAT’S ON MY MIND, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV

TO DO: LAUNDRY & CLEANING With the rainy weekend I was able to get the laundry and cleaning completely up to date. I’m also going through the closet and all my drawers sorting out things for this early winter and donating what I can. The local trash company is going on an odd schedule for the next 3 weeks so hubby and I have been trying to chop down, cut small and make all the outside detritus fit into the odd scheduled days for pick up where and when we can if it’s not too rainy.
TO DO: GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’ll be in town today and will get just a few oddball things like laundry soap and shoelaces to finish up the week.
PROJECTS & TRAVELS On hold yet again 🙁
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m definitely looking for some hearty slow cooker recipes for this next month.
DVR/TV I know the new season is barely started, but I’m already behind!!!!
ON MY MIND I’ve been thinking about the fastly approaching holidays – Thanksgiving in a month and Christmas in two months and how to navigate those this year. My mom’s upcoming knee replacement surgery, navigating family relations that are out of whack and life changes in general.
THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY I know I’m weird, but I LOVE all this rain and cold we’re getting early this year. With the time change coming next weekend it seems to be discombobulating me a bit this year!

READING TIME

I’m starting a new book tonight, A FLICKER IN THE DARK by STACY WILLINGHAM. I’m trying to get caught up on book club.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

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

	10/27 MONDAY	10/28 TUESDAY	10/29 WEDNESDAY	10/30 THURSDAY	10/31 FRIDAY	11/1 SATURDAY	11/2 SUNDAY
DINNER	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	SLOW COOKER PEPPER STEAK	CHILI CON CARNE QUESO CUPS & SALAD	MANDARIN CHICKEN & RICE	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	PASTA ala PASSION an OLD RECIPE BOX CHOICE	HONEY JALAPENO SOY CHICKEN
DESSERT		AUTUMN SNICKERDOODLES