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

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

Good morning friends. Did you remember to reset your clocks? I’m already hating the early darkness making the evenings seem sooooo very long.

It was a fairly busy weekend here beginning with Halloween on Friday night. We had about 100 kids (or 2 Costco bags worth of candy) come through our neighborhood. There are a lot of really rural communities around us and they bring their kids to our neighborhood to Trick-Or-Treat because we are literally the first organized neighborhood as you head into town. The welcome sign to our town is literally posted at the bottom of our back hill on the highway 🙂 

With Halloween over and us not doing Thanksgiving here at our house, I’m moving right along into enjoying the Christmas holidays. Everything is happening so fast this year! So, I’m starting earlier again as you can see by my new header and background. My front door table is all that’s decorated for Thanksgiving – everything else is moving straight into Christmas. Hubby and I started getting Christmas decorations out of storage yesterday. We’re using the artificial tree this year and it is up and acclimating to the house. Hubby spent some time last night leafing out the branches. We’ll start decorating it tomorrow or Wednesday.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

We’re supposed to have rain all week off and on. Looks like it may be more on than off, but that’s okay as we’re so far behind this year. Highs in the mid 50’s and lows in the low 40’s will have me wearing my favorite turtlenecks and flannels this week.

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

TO DO: LAUNDRY & CLEANING I was actually able to get 4 loads of laundry done yesterday, the car loaded with donations to be delivered later today during the rain break, lunch with a friend for some of her yummy white chicken chili soup and some spray painting done on a few Christmas decorations that need a refresh. TO DO: GROCERIES & ERRANDS We went to the butcher last Saturday and the produce farm so groceries are done. I’ve been cleaning out the pantry for the local food drive that is also being held by a friend at her mercantile. On my to do list is working on Christmas decorating, cleaning out more pantry foods, deep cleaning the bathroom drawers and my closet for flannels and coats my friend is collecting for her students. She teaches at a school with a lot of special ed and homeless teens. PROJECTS & TRAVELS I’m moving right along with a Christmas wreath made from old cookie cutters and a Christmas tree made from old bundt pans. I’m also working on a new candle ring made from thrift store pieces. My girlfriend and I spent the better part of a day thrifting for pieces to take to girls night this year for a cool crystal tree project we’re working on. Another friend, also a Tami, is hosting this year at her house. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m researching some new recipes for the goodies on the neighbor plates for Christmas as well as Christmas dinner as I’m hosting this year. DVR/TV The Holiday Baking Championship begins tonight and the Harry Potter one started last night. I also want to get caught up on the Mistletoe Murders as well as a few other Hallmark movies. ON MY MIND Trying to decide which of these picture to do next. Thoughts and opinions? THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY Snuggling under a soft blanket with a book, the smell of fresh coffee brewing, the gingerbread scent of my new Nativity scentsy warmer…

READING TIME

I’m reading A FLICKER IN THE DARK by Stacy Willingham right now trying to get caught up with book club. I also just started THE BOOK CLUB FOR TROUBLESOME WOMEN by Marie Bostick

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

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

	11/3 MONDAY	11/4 TUESDAY	11/5 WEDNESDAY	11/6 THURSDAY	11/7 FRIDAY	11/8 SATURDAY	11/9 SUNDAY
DINNER	AVGOLEMONOA aka GREEK LEMON CHICKEN RICE SOUP	COPYCAT APPLEBEE’S ORIENTAL CHICKEN SALAD	LEMON PORK CHOPS & LEMON NOODLE KUGEL	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	SALSA VERDE CHICKEN & RICE	CARAMELIZED ONION APPLE MAC & CHEESE with CHICKEN SCHNITZEL	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
DESSERT					CHOCOLATE CARROT CAKE

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

This is the sunset from Halloween night which was perfect weather for the Trick-Or-Treaters.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

• FRENCH COUNTRY SOUP
• OLIVE GARDEN COPYCAT SLOW COOKER CHICKEN PASTA

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

• BAKED CHICKEN ALFREDO
• COPYCAT LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE PARMESAN CRUSTED CHICKEN

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

• RUSSIAN CABBAGE SOUP
  
• GREEN ENCHILADA CHICKEN SOUP
  
• SALISBURY STEAK & MUSHROOM GRAVY