{ A cold wintry day }

The Texas weather is a bit of a phenomenon.  I always heard people talking about how insane the weather was over here, and how it would flip flop from hot to cold and rain to shine.  But when you don't live in the area you just assume people are being dramatic or exaggerating.

Then we moved to this state and for the past 3 years, I often find myself scratching my head and wondering just what on earth Mother Nature is doing.

{ Change of plans is not always a bad thing }

My hubby is no longer going away, well, at least for the moment, which makes me so incredibly happy.  I'm not a clingy person but for some reason, when I'm sick, I like to have him nearby, so this morning when he texted me from work to let me know the TDY had been cancelled, I felt such relief.   I kinda love this guy :)

That bit of news made my day, it's almost like I went back to breathing, as if I had been holding my breath all along.  It's not surprising, it's exactly how I felt when he was active duty and had to leave or deployments.  You tend to go into auto mode and start planning and doing things on your own, a few days before he is even out the door.

{ Slow day - Working on blog to book }

I'm slowly, and I mean very slowly starting to turn the corner with this cold.  Just letting my body dictate how fast or slow I move, and how much I do.

{ Try not to overdo it }

That's the worst thing you can tell a mom/wife/homemaker.

I mean, technically I understand because that's what I tell family and friends when they're unwell, but in reality it's not that easy to follow through.  I think that's why our bodies take it upon themselves to force us into rest.

The past few days that's just what my body has done.  I've had no energy to do anything and have felt so unwell, so I've basically been in bed, taking meds, in and out of sleep, no appetite.  Today was the first day I felt slightly less horrid, and managed to change my bed linens, do some dusting and vacuuming, general tidying up and cooked a meal that I managed to eat. 

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 11/26/2018 }

Good morning everyone, welcome back to my blog :)

I'm sorry this post is going up a little later than usual, but I am down with a bad cold and not feeling well at all.  Thanksgiving went great and then Friday afternoon it came out of nowhere.  I've spent the whole weekend, practically in bed with a sore throat, horrible sinus congestion and headache and generally unwell.

I'm really hoping this cold goes away soon, I just can't function like this.

Anyway, I hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving with your families. 

{ Preparing for Thanksgiving }

The holidays have officially kicked off for us.

I honestly can't believe that Thanksgiving is tomorrow, this whole year seems to have sped by at turbo pace.

As always, there is a lot to do, decorating, planning for all the guests, the menu and then cooking all the food.

I used to do all the cooking on the actual day, but that was when there were only 4 of us and didn't have anyone coming over.  It's easier to take it slow, not rush and not really worry about what time the meal is ready.

{ Getting ready for Thanksgiving - Tips and Recipes }

Thanksgiving is 3 days away.  3 DAYS AWAY!!!

I always love this time of year, the cooking and baking, planning and getting the house ready for guests.  I don't let it stress me out because I look at it as a fun time and the anticipation of family and good food, but if I don't get myself organized it can be a bit overwhelming.

Let's face it, no one wants to be stuck in the kitchen during the holidays, while everyone else is having fun.

Before I give you all some tips and tell you my menu and so forth, if you haven't yet taken your turkey out of the freezer, RUN, don't walk, RUN and pop that baby in the fridge.  I shared this graphic the other day but here it is again, just as a reminder.

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 11/19/2018 }

Good morning everyone and welcome back to my little corner of the world.

I can't believe that by next Monday, Thanksgiving will be over and done with. Goodness gracious!!!

I hope you are all ready for the celebrations this week, spending time with family and indulging in all that glorious food.

I wanted to take this opportunity, and wish you and your family, a blessed wonderful Thanksgiving :)

{ Sunday Vibes }

::::Early morning

{ Slow Day }

Before I even set foot out of bed this morning, I knew it was going to be one of those days.  I woke up with a bad cough, brought on by allergies.  The kind of cough that I seem to get when the dog is shedding and everything that I'm allergic to is surrounding me.

I took an allergy pill and from then on, the day went downhill.

{ Marilla of Green Gables by Sarah McCoy - TLC Book Tour }

 
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (October 23, 2018)

A bold, heartfelt tale of life at Green Gables . . . before Anne: A marvelously entertaining and moving historical novel, set in rural Prince Edward Island in the nineteenth century, that imagines the young life of spinster Marilla Cuthbert, and the choices that will open her life to the possibility of heartbreak—and unimaginable greatness.

Plucky and ambitious, Marilla Cuthbert is thirteen years old when her world is turned upside down. Her beloved mother dies in childbirth, and Marilla suddenly must bear the responsibilities of a farm wife: cooking, sewing, keeping house, and overseeing the day-to-day life of Green Gables with her brother, Matthew and father, Hugh.

In Avonlea—a small, tight-knit farming town on a remote island—life holds few options for farm girls. Her one connection to the wider world is Aunt Elizabeth “Izzy” Johnson, her mother’s sister, who managed to escape from Avonlea to the bustling city of St. Catharines. An opinionated spinster, Aunt Izzy’s talent as a seamstress has allowed her to build a thriving business and make her own way in the world.

{ The Thanksgiving Tree }

I had such a blessed weekend.  It was a whirlwind of activity, overnight guests, games, laughter, catching up and fellowship.  We talked about what we had each been up to, but we also talked about God, about our individual journeys and what the Lord has been doing in our lives.

It was wonderful!!!

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 11/12/2018 }

Good morning everyone, welcome back to my little corner of the world :)

I sure do hope you've had a blessed weekend, mine was a very good one filled with family, church, laughs and games.  You know sometimes the unexpected visits turn out to be the best.

Anyway, let's get right into our post for today and see what is happening around our households.

{ Fall vibes }

{ National Geographic's Space Atlas - TLC Book Tour }

 About Space Atlas

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic; 2 edition (October 23, 2018)

Space Atlas combines updated maps, lavish photographs, and elegant illustrations to chart the solar system, the universe, and beyond. For space enthusiasts, science lovers, and star gazers, here is the newly revised edition of National Geographic's enduring guide to space, with a new introduction by American hero Buzz Aldrin.

In this guided tour of our planetary neighborhood, the Milky Way and other galaxies, and beyond, detailed maps and fascinating imagery from recent space missions partner with clear, authoritative scientific information. Starting with the sun and moving outward into space, acclaimed science writer and physicist James Trefil illuminates each planet, the most important moons, significant asteroids, and other objects in our solar system. Looking beyond, he explains what we know about the Milky Way and other galaxies--and how we know it, with clear explanations of the basics of astrophysics, including dark matter and gravitational waves. For this new edition, and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his moonwalk, astronaut and American hero Buzz Aldrin offers a new special section on Earth's moon and its essential role in space exploration past and future.

{ Being a homebody }

A few years ago, I used to struggle with being a homebody.  Not because of my own thoughts and feelings, but because of the way I was perceived by others, the comments, the digs, the "you're so anti social" and the constant need to make me feel like I was boring and didn't fit in.

It's hard to try and please people and society in general, when it goes against everything you think and feel.  I struggled, a lot, and then one day I thought, to heck with it, this is who I am and I don't need to apologize or force myself to fit into some mold that was created by society.

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - 11/05/2018 }

Good morning dear friends, and welcome to another Happy Homemaker Monday :)

It's a beautiful Fall morning, crisp and clear skies and the gentlest of breezes.  I hope wherever you are reading this from, you are doing well and my wish for you is that you are immensely blessed today, this week and every day after.

Let's see what we are all up to in our HHM.   

{ Weekend in Review }

 

Saturday - Spending time with Eva and taking Jasmine to the airport

I am so excited, my gorgeous great niece Eva is in town with my niece, for the next two months.  The last time I saw baby girl was at her birth and when she was 2 weeks old.  I haven't been able to see her, hold her, love on her since then and I'm loving every second that I get to do it now.

Eva is now 4 months old.  She is not just absolutely gorgeous, but the happiest, friendliest, sweetest little baby in the world.  She just looks at a person and gives the biggest smile, coos, babbles, squeals and so on. 

My Saturday started with an early grocery shopping trip to the commissary.  I came home, got everything put away, started the laundry and then at 12:30 we went over to my brother's house for a barbecue and just family time.

{ Christmas Movie Kick Off - Hallmark and Freeform }

It is that time of year, the Christmas movies start rolling on in and it's full steam ahead until the end of December.

I always enjoy sitting down to watch at least one Christmas movie a day, and while my favorite channel for these is Hallmark, Freeform has a ton of wonderful movies to watch as well, not just new ones but some old favorites.

I put together a list for both the Hallmark and the Freeform movies, as a way to keep track of what is playing when, so I'm sharing those with you today.  Now I know for a fact that many of you out there enjoy these movies just as much as I do, and sharing is caring, right?

It may seem like I'm talking about Christmas a bit early on in the game, but if you know me at all, then you understand that November is pretty much the kick off of the holidays for this gal, so don't fight it, just go with it and enjoy :)

{ Hello November }

It is here, November is finally here, though it didn't come in with an bang or loudly make an entrance, it just sort of showed up out of nowhere.  I can't believe how quickly this year has flown by, my word.

My husband took the day off, something he has not done in a year or so, but he did it for a good reason.

This morning we headed off to the local VA office to get his medical process started, that is a big step for him and I'm so proud of him and everything he has accomplished in life.  I don't talk about my husband too much, but he truly is the best husband I could have ever wished for.  I count my blessings every night for the family I have.

{ Seduced by a Scot by Julia London - TLC Book Tour }

 

Series: The Highland Grooms (Book 6)
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: HQN; Original edition (October 30, 2018)

There’s no matchmaking an unruly heart

When a prominent Scottish family faces a major scandal weeks before their daughter’s wedding, they turn in desperation to the enigmatic fixer for the aristocracy, Nichol Bain. Remarkably skilled at making high-profile problems go away, Nichol understands the issue immediately. The family’s raven-haired ward, Maura Darby, has caught the wandering eye—and rather untoward advances—of the groom.

Nichol assuredly escorts Maura toward his proposed solution: an aging bachelor for her to marry. But rebellious Maura has no interest in marrying a stranger, especially when her handsome traveling companion has captivated her so completely. Thankfully, Nichol loves a challenge, but traveling with the bold and brash Maura has him viewing her as far more than somebody’s problem. Which raises a much bigger issue—how can he possibly elude disaster when the heart of the problem is his own?