HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENUS & RECIPE LINKS week 49 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.342

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

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

In 3 more weeks I will have completed blogging every day for 3 years straight and I have come to LOVE the routine! It has been a SUPER BUSY December so far. I’m bound and determined to get all my chores DONE by the 15th so I can enjoy the 10 days before Christmas baking and relaxing this year. I do have two drop offs for the charity program on two different days, but I will work those into a fun day of shopping or lunch with a girlfriend.

Hubby and I go to the “MALL” once a year to Christmas shop, mainly because it’s over an hour away and just not at all convenient. Yesterday was the day. It always amazes me how much malls really haven’t changed since when I was growing up. We were going to have lunch also, but it was raining quite hard, shopping went so quickly and we weren’t really hungry enough for a big meal so came back and visited with a friend who was working at our favorite dive and she had made a crock pot of homemade green enchilada chicken soup and homemade tortilla chips – YUMMY! I’m saving the other half for lunch today.

The rest of the weekend was mainly chores and organizing the gifts and non-perishable foods for the family we adopted.

BLOGMAS is in full swing with these completed posts:

BLOGMAS #1 days 1,2 and 3 ~ Holiday Schedule, Christmas Cards, Elf on the Shelf/NISSE & Wrapping Ideas
BLOGMAS #2 days 4 and 5 ~ Christmas Music and Movies
BLOGMAS #3 days 6, 7 and 8 ~ Real Tree vs. Artificial, Decorating & Favorite Ornaments
BLOGMAS #4 days 9, 10 and 11 ~ Advent Calendars, Presents, PJ’S, Books, Last Minute and Homemade Gifts

Coming up this week will be:

BLOGMAS #5 days 12, 13 and 14 Presents, WISH Lists and Stocking Stuffers
BLOGMAS #6 days 15, 16 and 17 Quiet Christmas or BIG Get Together, Favorite Family Traditions and Christmas Memories

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

We went straight from summer to winter without much autumn. But, now we’re having a VERY mild winter (for us). We have had very few freezing nights so far. That said, even being dryer so far, it’s a wet, cold to the bone cold so far. This week is supposed to rain off and on with highs in the low 50’s and lows in the low 40’s. I’ll still be wearing layers of turtlenecks and hoodies or sweaters with Levi’s and winter socks with my UGG’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 Laundry and cleaning are both up to date as best they can be with a living room full of boxes until next Monday 🙂
TO DO: GROCERIES & ERRANDS Just the Eagles and the Offyce shopping to do and a few stocking stuffers.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menu planned through the end of the year.
DVR/TV I really need to play catch up on the DVR mess of shows.
THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY having my lists all completed, warm toes, warm fingers from a mug of hot coffee, the twinkling of the Christmas tree lights while I snuggle at night and read…

READING TIME

I just started GONE BEFORE GOODBYE by Reese Witherspon and Harlen Coben for book club that will be meeting January 3rd.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

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

	12/8 MONDAY	12/9 TUESDAY	12/10 WEDNESDAY	12/11 THURSDAY	12/12 FRIDAY	12/13 SATURDAY	12/14 SUNDAY
DINNER	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	BEEF STEW & DROP BISCUITS	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	CHICKEN STIR FRY with SNOW PEAS	UGLY SWEATER CHRISTMAS PARTY I’m making one of the hams, MACSLAW, homemade cranberry relish and a cranberry upside down cake	CHICKEN MACARONI SALAD	CHICKEN & WAFFLES
DESSERT		PEANUT BUTTER MOLASSES CRINKLES

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

My neighbor popped over yesterday with this surprise Poinsettia. She said it reminded her of me with the unique variegated pattern. I LOVE how the scentsy candle light gives it a beautiful glow.