Tag: NANEA HOFFMAN

BLOG 365.5 ~ HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY ~ week 1 of 2026 ~ MENUS & RECIPE LINKS

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

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

Happy New Year! Here we are again starting a fresh new year, yet it’s really just another Monday. I always get a bit turned around with what day is what when the holidays fall in the middle of the week, but I’m looking forward to getting back on track this week.

I ordered new footlocker totes with wheels to reorganize some Christmas decorations into and they arrived early, but I’m just not ready to take down the tree, so they sit here empty for now, at least until Wednesday or so.

I’m not one for making resolutions, but I am one for being organized and have plans in place. I’m going to once again do BLOG 365. It will be year 4 for me 🙂 I’m also planning on an even more organized approach to this year. Of course I’ll do Happy Homemaker Monday like always since it’s my cornerstone for being grounded to the week ahead, but in order to stay on track for the WHOLE year, I am going to assign different tasks to specific days, similar to what I did last year, but even more organized. All my recipes will post on Thursdays for Cooking Thursday, Sundays will continue to be for inspirational thoughts, Wednesdays will be funnies or wordless pictures and Tuesdays will be my day for some tutorial ideas, etc… The beauty of this method is that when I have some down time, like rainy or snowy days, I can pre-schedule multiple posts like recipes and such that don’t require same day thoughts. And my word for this year? PROGRESS. In everY possible aspect of my life and world; tangibly, spiritually, physically, psychologically, emotionally, technologically etc… I need to make progress. And I have the faith and belief that 2026 is just that year to make it happen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

We’re still waiting for the other shoe to drop around here and announce that winter has arrived. The last time we got too complacent with a mild winter, Mother Nature walloped us with SNOWMAGGEDON, so we’re careful what we wish for since then. This week will be somewhat wet with highs in the high 40’s to low 50’s and lows not too far off in the high 30’s. That said, it’s still layer weather.

TO DO, APPOINTMENTS, DVR/TV & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S
TO DO LIST, PROJECTS, TRAVEL, APPOINTMENTS, MENUS & DVR/TV
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING My friend posted this funny for New Years and I have to admit it made me laugh A LOT 🙂 and fortunately I did NOT do laundry that day!
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’ll be heading into town in a bit to get groceries and errands accomplished for the week.
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS We’ve finally decided on a trip. February 1st is the anniversary of my cancer surgery and we’re going to go to the coast for my 15th anniversary of being cancer free. We’re actually hoping for stormy nights and clear days to explore the beaches and shops. All our friends have given us suggestions on where to stay, eat and play.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m still contemplating this category for the month of February.
  • DVR/TV We’re still cleaning out the DVR and so many new shows will start this week.
  • ON MY MIND We’ve been planning a trip in the spring to explore some new far away neighborhoods to relocate to. We have an entire list of reasons why we’re doing this as well as an entire list of criteria for what a new location must have. Once again medical and health care have moved to the top of the list. The area where we currently live has some of the worst health care and longest wait times. Hubby’s primary doctor was replaced last fall by a PA when the primary that he loved decided to retire. This in turn required rescheduling his annual appointment. When that appointment date came around, we received a phone call that the PA was out that day and they needed to reschedule AGAIN! which moved it out another 2 months. The 1st appointment was in early October, the rescheduled 2nd appointment was to be in December and the 3rd once again rescheduled appointment was supposed to be next week, but we received yet another call last Friday saying that the PA has left the practice and we would get a call when they have found yet another replacement ::SIGH:: So an appointment from 3 months ago is yet to be determined. I’m certainly happy it’s not a dire situation. This is truly par for the course with the horrible shortage of decent medical care in this area… Needless to say, we’re anxious to figure this all out.
  • THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY Snuggling my toes deep into a plush blanket to warm them up, holding my favorite mug full of warm coffee to warm up my fingers, snuggling under a favorite quilt when I wake up in the middle of the night to read a little more…the smell of fresh French toast with REAL maple syrup…

READING TIME

Book club was last Saturday and we FINALLY had a great discussion (so I hear) about a very complicated book, GONE BEFORE GOODBYE by Reese Witherspoon and Harlen Coben. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it 🙂 Not sure if they chose a new book, but I still need to finish the new mystery thriller I started, FORGET ME NOT by Stacy Willingham while waiting on book club to decide.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
 1/5
MONDAY
 1/6
TUESDAY
 1/7
WEDNESDAY
1/8
THURSDAY
1/9
FRIDAY
1/10
SATURDAY
1/11
SUNDAY
DINNER
CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
BAKED HAM & BEANS
CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
CLAM CHOWDER & CRUSTY BREAD
CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
ASIAN POT PIE with SCALLION PANCAKE TOPPING
HAM & CHEESE QUICHE
DESSERT
 
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

I just fell in love with this absolutely gorgeous original “fire painted” copper art piece that my friend bought for her daughter. The picture just doesn’t do it justice. My mom knew we didn’t really “need” anything so she made this fun little money tree for us for Christmas which will help with that trip next month. 

And who can resist fresh baked cinnamon rolls? And our son found this fun tank that is a whiskey dispenser for hubby with engraved glasses.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

COOKING THURSDAY RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • CHOCOLATE CARROT CAKE
  • CRANBERRY UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

COOKING THURSDAY RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY, RECIPE LINKS & MENUS week 51 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.356

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

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

GOOD MORNING sweet friends! Grab your coffee and join me.

Can you believe we’re only 3 days from Christmas? And only 10 days from a brand new year?!!!!! I just don’t know where this year went so quickly!!

That said, I am basically ready early for Christmas or as much as I can be and am enjoying each day as it comes for a change. I did make some pre-planning and organizational changes to the scheduling and shopping for the Eagles to ease my stress and well, if they don’t like it, they can find someone else to do my job. 🙂

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 ~ updated with 2 new soups ~ FRIENDSHIP & SPICY BLACK BEAN CORN SOUPS
  • 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
  • BLOGMAS #7 days 18, 19 and 20 Winter Wonderland, Lights and Parades, Christmas Markets and Fairs, Winter MUST Haves and TAGS
  • BLOGMAS #8 days 21, 22 and 23 Christmas Menus, Party Foods and Favorite Recipes
  • BLOGMAS #9 days 24, 25 and 26 12 Days of Christmas, Meaning of Christmas, Merry VS. Happy, Inspirations and Stories

Coming up this week will be:

  • BLOGMAS #10 Christmas Eve, NORAD, St. Nick and Merry Christmas

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

We’re FINALLY getting some winter temperatures, but I’m fairly confident when I say we’ll NOT be seeing a white Christmas this year. 🙁 Highs this week will be in the 40’s with lows in the 30’s and a bit more rain.

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 have a couple loads of laundry to get caught up on before the holiday and the cleaning is up to date besides the mess I’m sure to make in the kitchen each day as I finish last minutes gifts.
  • TO DO: GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have a hair cut and pedicure this morning before I drop off the DHS gifts and food basket. I’ll squeeze in a SUPER small visit to the grocery store for 5 quick items before I shoot home to meet my neighbor who is bringing over hubby’s BIG gift and hiding it for me while hubby is at his Red Cross donation. Then I have a quick meeting tomorrow night with a ornament and cookie exchange. Tuesday morning is Taco Tuesday with friends and a gift exchange. Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday will be baking for the neighbor plates. I still have the BRIGADEIROS, BUTTERFINGER COOKIES, HAYSTACKS, SLOW COOKER CANDY and BROWNED BUTTER TOASTED COCONUT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES to make.
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS Nothing on the calendar right now.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Good through the end of the year! I’ll reevaluate at that time.
  • DVR/TV I have quite a few Hallmark movies to catch up on and am looking forward to several new Food Network shows, but have had very little TV time. When we have time we have been binge watching EUREKA which is always fun.
  • THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY Being ready for Christmas with time to spare so I can sit and enjoy the twinkling tree…the smell of a favorite memory food baking…the first snow of the year falling…the look on a friends face when they open your gift that you picked out special for them…

READING TIME

I finished GONE BEFORE GOODBYE by Reese Witherspoon and Harlen Coben – WOW a slow start, but what a bunch of twists and turns to a surprise ending! I started something lighter for now until Book Club meets on January 3rd, Merit Badge Murder Merry Wrath Mysteries #1 by Leslie Langtry. I’m not sure if she was trying to emulate Jana Deleon’s Miss Fortune series, but it sure has similarities. It’s not bad, but it’s not as good as Jana’s books.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
12/22
MONDAY
12/23
TUESDAY
12/24
WEDNESDAY
12/25
THURSDAY
12/26
FRIDAY
12/27
SATURDAY
12/28
SUNDAY
DINNER
CHICKEN STEW & BISCUITS 
 BUTTERMILK CHICKEN & BAKED BEANS
BLACK EYED PEA CHILI & CORNBREAD 
 PRIME RIB, TURKEY BREAST, MASHED POTATOES & GRAVY and  GLAZED CARROTS
 CORN/YOYO clean out the refrigerator night OR you’re on your own
 ONE PAN CHICKEN & VEGGIES
 BEEF BARLEY STEW
DESSERT
SALTED  BROWNED BUTTER COCONUT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
 BUTTERFINGER COOKIES and SLOW COOKER CANDY
BRIGADEIROS, PEANUT BUTTER MOLASSES CRINKLES and HAYSTACKS
CRANBERRY CHEESECAKE
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

A friend popped by yesterday with this beautiful flower arrangement that she made me.

And I made headway on my soup mixes.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • LEMON BUTTER CHICKEN PARMESAN
  • MODIFIED UNITED KINGDOM BAKED BEANS

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

This is usually a favorite thing for me to do, but to relieve a lot of stress on myself this year I’ve decided to forego doing these link parties until 2026.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with RECIPE LINKS & MENUS week 50 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.349

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

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

I’m getting into crunch time on the Eagle’s charity project. The first batch of gifts was originally supposed to be delivered by the 19th, but the social worker changed the date last minute (last Friday) to the 15th. Unfortunately for her, our group couldn’t get together before today. We’ll be meeting this afternoon to wrap and then pack my car for delivery first thing tomorrow, the 16th.

I wrapped all the gifts for the family of 8, the 2 veterans and 4 elderly ladies (WHEW 46 gifts) that hubby and I adopted for what seemed like ALL weekend, but it was only about 8 hours total. Then I wrapped gifts for all our local family and friends as well as hubby’s gifts. All the shipped gifts have been sent except one that I’ll do this week and fortunately it’s small enough to go first class USPS so no long lines to wait in at UPS. I’ll deliver the veteran gifts and the elderly gifts tomorrow morning after social services gifts.

The grocery shopping for the family I’m doing personally later this week and it won’t be delivered until next Monday so that the food for Christmas dinner will all be fresh. I’m hoping to do the food shopping for them as well as our Christmas dinner groceries on Thursday or Friday, but that will depend on the “atmospheric river’s” path. It started last night and as of now Thursday is slated to be the worst day with potential flooding, not that any of them will be great as we’ve seen the last of the sun until after Christmas according to the forecast.

Now all of that said, with only 10 days until Christmas, I am for the first time in a VERY long time AHEAD of schedule 🙂 and loving every minute of it!!!!!

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
  • 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

Coming up this week will be:

  • BLOGMAS #7 days 18, 19 and 20 Winter Wonderland, Lights and Parades, Christmas Markets and Fairs, Winter MUST Haves and TAGS
  • BLOGMAS #8 days 21, 22 and 23 Christmas Menus, Party Foods and Favorite Recipes
  • BLOGMAS #9 days 24, 25 and 26 12 Days of Christmas, Meaning of Christmas, Merry VS. Happy, Inspirations and Stories

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

WET, WET and more wet as the atmospheric river is reaching us for the next 10 days or so. The temperatures have also returned to a more ‘normal” level of cold. Highs this weeks in the 40’s and lows in the 30’s so the best description is bone chilling! LAYERS, LAYERS and more LAYERS of turtlenecks and hoodies with heavy socks.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY, WHAT’S ON MY MIND, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV
  • TO DO: LAUNDRY & CLEANING While I was doing all the wrapping yesterday I was able to get 4 loads of laundry done! Having done a crock pot dinner freed up a ton of time. I also got the laundry room deep cleaned 🙂
  • TO DO: GROCERIES & ERRANDS Wednesday will be a BIG Eagle’s shopping day. I told them I would NOT shop on Christmas Eve nor New Year’s Eve so we’re all putting our thinking caps on to get it all this week. Then, like I said I will do our shopping and the family of 8’s shopping on Thursday or Friday.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I had a plan in mind, but I’m staying flexible on this as you never know what’s coming along at this time of year to change it all up.
  • DVR/TV Just a few cooking shows and Hallmark Christmas movies to catch up on!
  • THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY

READING TIME

Book club isn’t going to meet until January. We took a break for the holiday chaos time. We’re reading GONE BEFORE GOODBYE by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben.

FUNNIES

Penny trying to understand Sheldon’s ornament placement tool 🙂

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
12/15 MONDAY
12/16 TUESDAY
12/17 WEDNESDAY
12/18 THURSDAY
12/19 FRIDAY
12/20 SATURDAY
12/21 SUNDAY
DINNER
CORN/YOYO
clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own 
 CHICKEN PEANUT STEW & BISCUITS
CORN/YOYO
clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own 
 HAM & CHEESE QUICHE & SALAD
CORN/YOYO
clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own 

 
 OUT MAYBE
 MEATLOAF, MASHED POTATOES & GRAVYwith GREEN BEANS
DESSERT
 
BROWNED BUTTER TOASTED COCONUT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES 
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

The sunset last Monday was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!

I love seeing the wrapped packages, it just shows so much productivity.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • CHICKEN LEMONAISE
  • ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH BISQUE with CRANBERRY COULIS

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

This is usually a favorite thing for me to do, but to relieve a lot of stress on myself this year I’ve decided to forego doing these link parties until 2026.

 

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY, RECIPE LINKS & MENU week 48 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.335

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

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

GOOD MORNING! I hope everyone had a yummy and safe Thanksgiving with loved ones. So glad to not have been anywhere in the MidWest or near the storms from this past weekend.

Can you believe we’re in December? These next few weeks will rush by in a blur if we’re not careful! I have so much to do just this week between mom and her physical therapy schedule as well as the new appointments for post hospital time (she ended up in the hospital most of last week due to issues incidental to the knee replacement), meetings for the DHS foster kids Christmas gifts, appointments for hubby, Christmas shopping and all the regular shopping for the Eagles that I didn’t do last week because of the holiday. And the first appointment of the week is at 9AM so I’ll just jump right into today’s post.

There are only 10 BLOGMAS days this year to ALL of BLOGMAS in an attempt to simplify it and make it more fun, or so I hope! Day 1 was Holiday Schedule, Christmas Cards, Elf on the Shelf/NISSE & Wrapping Ideas. and you can see it here. Day 2 will post later this morning with Christmas Music and Movies. Please join in if you can, leave a comment and I’ll stop by to visit.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

Our temperatures took a serious drop over night and the wind kicked up quite a bit so we’re back to the wet cold, you know the kind that gets into your bones and stays there if you’re not careful!

Highs in the 40’s, cloudy and windy with lows in the 30’s. Definitely UGGs, flannels and turtleneck weather 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 did get half the laundry done yesterday as well as MOST of the Christmas cards, but still need to do the bedding and the remainder of the cards done.
  • TO DO: GROCERIES & ERRANDS I do have a bit of grocery shopping and COSTCO shopping to do for myself and will get that done today after the first 2 appointments. The Eagles shopping will be sometime Thursday afternoon. Mom has PT Tuesday and a orthopedic doctor follow up Thursday. I’m meeting up with a girlfriend Tuesday after my DHS meeting before she leaves town and another friend and I are going to the annual county Christmas craft fair and lunch on Friday. I also have a pedicure on Tuesday and I want to work the shopping in for the DHS foster kids wherever I can. Oh and I’ll work in Taco Tuesday somehow! 🙂
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS Who has time? 🙂 Though I am making a cookie cutter wreath for the front door and hubby started the outdoor lights and hopes to finish today or tomorrow before the rain begins on Thursday night.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I had the whole month planned, but am having to make adjustments so will take it one week at a time.
  • DVR/TV We’ve been watching WAREHOUSE 13 & then WINGS late night. I’m also up to date on the holiday cooking shows.
  • THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY Fuzzy socks when it’s cold, finding that perfect gift for special people that they didn’t even know they needed, a lazy Sunday with good football games, the first time for the Christmas lights each year…

READING TIME

I found a fun new author, Deany Ray, with a similar series similar to Jana Deleon and am going to start reading book #1 COMING IN HOT. I hope it measures up 🙂 Jana also has Book 29, COEDS AND CATTAILS out, of the Miss Fortune series out that I’ll begin next.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
12/1 MONDAY
12/2 TUESDAY
12/3 WEDNESDAY
12/4 THURSDAY
12/5 FRIDAY
12/6 SATURDAY
12/7 SUNDAY
DINNER
BAKED CHICKEN & RICE 
CORN/YOYO  clean out refrigerator or you’re on your own 
 BEEF STEW & DUMPLINGS
SPLIT PEA & HAM SOUP with CORN BREAD 
CORN/YOYO  clean out refrigerator or you’re on your own 
CREAM OF CAULIFLOWER SOUP & CHEDDAR DROP BISCUITS 
 NAVY BEAN & HAM SOUP & CORN BREAD
DESSERT
 
 UPSIDE DOWN NANTUCKET PIE CAKE
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

We live in a small town right next to another small town and within 10 miles of the next small town that is actually twice the size of both of our side by side towns. BUT, you would think they would talk to one another and coordinate their times for events so all can be attended. YET, last night at 6PM they ALL held their tree lighting ceremonies!

We didn’t go to ANY of them, but I will get pictures one evening this week of the lit trees. These pictures are from Saturday afternoon where our town and the one next to us set up their trees. The Christmas tree farm we buy our wreaths at supplies the live tree for Oakland (not California) whereas our town went techno several years ago.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • REUBEN BRAID
  • WALNUT GORGONZOLA STUFFED MUSHROOMS

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

With the holiday last week I never completed the links so will be repeating them this week.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY, RECIPES & MENUS week 47 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.328

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

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

It was a busier than usual week plus mom had her knee replacement surgery last Wednesday. And this will be a “short” week, so let’s just jump into it.

Happy Thanksgiving week! I won’t be hosting anything this year, but going to a friend’s house with a couple favorite recipes in tow. The thing is though that when you host Thanksgiving you have the leftovers and more time that weekend for family time. Fortunately, for me anyway, the friend hosting is a snowbird and leaving the next day so I still get leftovers 🙂

When I was a kid we always hosted Thanksgiving and my dad would put up the tree the day after, sit me down with a pile full of presents to wrap, Christmas cards to address, football on television, a freshly made leftover turkey sandwich… aw the memories…

Not having the weight of getting the house ready though has freed me to concentrate on BLOGMAS which I will begin on Friday November 28th. I’m also going to do it a little different this year in hopes of freeing up some extra time. There will only be 10 actual blog days for BLOGMAS, each of which will cover multiple topics that have been grouped together to make things easier. I hope you can play along and enjoy the simplicity of this year 🙂

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

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 got all the laundry done yesterday.
  • TO DO: GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’m avoiding as many stores as possible this week. I will do virtually no Eagle’s shopping either. Mom does have a late PT appointment on Wednesday, her first since last week’s knee replacement.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menus are planned through the rest of 2025 and I’m making them as anti-inflammatory as possible.
  • DVR/TV Who has had time?
  • THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY Cold foggy mornings when I wake up early and snuggle deeper into my winter quilt to read for a bit before coffee, soft fuzzy slippers to slide into when I do get up followed by a hot cup of coffee to sip while I check the weather and decide what to wear.

READING TIME

I’m back to falling asleep quickly, but need to spend more time reading!

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
11/24 MONDAY
11/25 TUESDAY
11/26 WEDNESDAY
11/27 THURSDAY
11/28 FRIDAY
11/29 SATURDAY
11/30 SUNDAY
DINNER
 Auxiliary meeting night so it’s CORN/YOYO
 SPAGHETTI BOLEGNESE and PARMESAN MEATBALLS
 CHICKEN BROCCOLI SOUP with BUTTER BISCUITS
 THANKSGIVING @ SHIRLEY’S I’m bringing the stuffing and dessert and bringing home leftovers 🙂

 CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
 LASAGNE & GARLIC BREAD
 BEEF BARLEY STEW
DESSERT
 
 
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

Don’t judge, but my tree is up 🙂 since we aren’t hosting Thanksgiving I got a jump start on Christmas decorating. The new star for the tree top arrived and we love it.

There are 2 barns in particular that I just love to see when we take the back route to town. If I’d have had to make a prediction years ago I would have picked the one still standing as the one that would falls first. If we get a good wet snow this year I really believe the second one will fall completely.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • SLOW COOKED MUSHROOM BEEF STROGANOFF
  • CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE BARS

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY, MENUS & RECIPE LINKS week 46 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.321

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

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

Last week was busy, but I’m so glad I broke it up with a lunch date with hubby, a little junk hunting for some craft parts and then the painting class. It was a super small class (just the 3 of us), but that made it really nice. And then on Saturday I went for a GIRLS DAY OUTING to a first annual craft fair at a fairly local (less than 40 miles away) casino along with lunch and then drinks at a favorite haunt on the way back. Now this week I will catch up on all the things I DIDN’T get done last week. 🙂 

Public service announcement: 10 days until Thanksgiving and only 38 days until Christmas!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

We’re having our traditional start to winter with much cooler and wet weather here (50’s for highs and 30’s for lows), so it’s definitely sweatshirts, flannels and UGGs for me 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 have a bit of clutter to finish cleaning up from the Christmas set up and a couple of loads of laundry to do.
  • TO DO: GROCERIES & ERRANDS I made a list last night and hubby has a couple errands he’s added to my list so I guess we’ll be heading to town today to get our personal shopping done instead of trying to cram it into the same day as the Eagle’s shopping.
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS I finished my Nutcracker painting and am hoping I can make the MAGI date work to take that class still. If I can’t, I will probably try it on my own, but classes are more fun 🙂
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Good through the end of the year 🙂
  • DVR/TV We watched a silly movie on Netflix PLAY DATE with Kevin James, Sarah Chalk and Alan Ritchson.
  • ON MY MIND Happy heavenly birthday daddy. I really miss you! Getting ready for my mom’s knee replacement Wednesday. Dealing with the new angst (2 women quit the kitchen with no notice) of Eagle’s issues (AGAIN) and the strain of having to go back to covering the kitchen on a day I previously gave up and finding someone to cover yet another.
  • THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY The feel of freshly laundered sheets, laughing until I cry with good friends, the smell of fresh baked cinnamon rolls, curling up under a soft blanket with a good book, …

READING TIME

I’m still trying to finish THE BOOKCLUB FOR TROUBLESOME WOMEN by Marie Bostick, but have also started FORGET ME NOT by Stacy Willingham. I really enjoyed the thought provoking way she told A FLICKER IN THE DARK so thought I’d try another of hers.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
11/17 MONDAY
11/18 TUESDAY
11/19 WEDNESDAY
11/20 THURSDAY
11/21 FRIDAY
11/22 SATURDAY
11/23 SUNDAY
DINNER
 CHICKEN MACARONI SALAD & BUNLESS BURGERS
 CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
 CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
 FLYING FARMER SALAD
EFFIE’S DELICIOUS DISH 
 CHICKEN CARBONARA
 APPLE BBQ CHICKEN SALAD
DESSERT
 
 
 STUFFED SNICKERDOODLES

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

Saturday’s GIRL’S DAY OUTING LUNCH was fantastic. I LOVE this group of friends from the Eagles. Our ages are REALLY varied, but that’s okay!! I didn’t get any pictures of the craft fair, but it was a first annual and was pretty good also. I was looking for specific items and I found the main one (a new tree skirt for this smaller tree), so was happy with the day. 🙂

Out of all of us there was A LOT of the same meals ordered, but these were the best in my opinion ~ Shrimp Tacos and a Lemon Ricotta Chicken Papperdelle. There was also a popular Wild Rice Butternut Squash dish, but it didn’t photograph well.

A little indulging is ALWAYS allowed during this season!

No judging allowed! Our tree is up! BUT, we’re not having Thanksgiving here 🙂 I did also order a new tree top star that will be here on Wednesday.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • BAKED CHICKEN MARSALA 
  • AZZOLINA SPAGHETTI

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS