Diary of a Stay at Home Mom: blogmas 2016

Showing posts with label blogmas 2016. Show all posts

Thursday, December 22, 2016

BLOGMAS 2016 - Day 21 and 22

I missed yesterday, AGAIN hahaha

I am trying, I really am, but life is busy as heck and I think I bit off more than I can chew. Have a lot to do and not quite sure how I'm going to get it all done, but nonetheless I will try my best and by the time the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Eve, I WILL have everything done, and I'll be sitting with a glass of wine watching the family open their gifts :)

Anyway, I'm combining the two days into one, they kind of go together. I've talked about our family traditions in a previous blogmas post so there is no need to repeat.

I'll just talk about what I've been doing to get ready for the big day.

#1 LISTS.....yes lists of Christmas presents and places to go and get them etc. I am super late with gifts this year and as I've said before, I have to get everything done tomorrow. It's going to be insane out there so I plan on knowing exactly what I'm getting who and which store to head to so we can get in and get out as fast as possible.

#2......grocery list and menu planning for the next 2 weeks. Yes, because even though it's Christmas, it has fallen right in the middle of my two week grocery plan. I actually think I may try to do shopping for one week at a time again and see how I do. If it doesn't work, I'll go right back to the usual two weeks.

#3......baking and more baking. I've been in the kitchen for days getting things done, I plan on having most of the food ready before Saturday. I won't have time to do anything tomorrow and Saturday I need to wrap, wrap, and wrap.

This takes me right back to my childhood. I was thinking a few weeks back, that I would love to make this Meat Bread for Christmas, but I couldn't remember the recipe. About a week ago, I was cleaning and reorganizing and found one of my folders with old recipes, some handwritten. In it was my dad's recipe for this Bola de Carne. It is a bread that has ham, bacon and chourico inside. It came out exactly like my dad's and I couldn't be happier. I'm planning on making another one either tomorrow night or Saturday morning.

Here's the recipe if you want to try, it's super simple.

Dad's Bola de Carne - Meat Bread

4 eggs

1 cup vegetable oil

3 cups of flour

2 teaspoons of baking powder

1 cup of milk

Chopped ham, chourico and bacon

In a bowl mix together the eggs and oil until well incorporated. In a smaller bowl, mix the flour and baking powder. Add to the egg mixture, alternating with the milk. Mix well until everything is combined.

This is not going to be your typical bread dough, it is a wet mushy dough. Add in the chopped ham, chopped bacon and chopped chourico. Stir to combine.

Pour into a greased dish and bake at 350 F for about 25 minutes or until brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Enjoy!!!

A Portuguese Christmas wouldn't be real without a Bolo Rei - King's Cake on the table. I made two smaller ones this year, but they are fantastic. Another dish that takes me back to my childhood. :)

I've also made my usual Fruit Cakes, the Rissois are all made and frozen just ready to fry. I am currently in the process of making some South African Koeksisters.

I have a house to clean to be ready for guests, and more baking and cooking.

Just a really busy time for me. How are you all preparing for the holidays?

BLOGMAS 2016 PROMPTS

Day 1 - The Christmas Tag
Day 2 - Christmas Movies on the Must Watch List
Day 3 - Christmas Wishlist
Day 4 - Christmas Playlist
Day 5 - Pictures and Memories of Christmas Past
Day 6 - Pot Simmer Recipes
Day 7 - Cookies to be Baked (can be a recipe you make every year, or some you want to try)
Day 8 - Favorite Family Christmas Recipe
Day 9 - How do you decorate?
Day 10 - Real Tree or Artificial Tree
Day 11 - Stocking Stuffer Ideas
Day 12 - Quiet Christmas or Family Filled Loud Party Christmas?
Day 13 - Christmas Cards (do you send them, show us your favorites this year, or tells your favorite cards to send whether vintage, or bright and colorful)
Day 14 - Advent Calendar
Day 15 - Christmas Party Food Ideas
Day 16 - Winter Tag
Day 17 - Christmas Wishes
Day 18 - Homemade or Store Bought (What are you giving this year)
Day 19 - Recap of Christmas 2015 in pictures
Day 20 - Christmas Decorations Reveal (show us your tree, your home decor, your mantle, anything you want)
Day 21 - Holiday Family Traditions
Day 22 - Preparing for the big day (show us your wrapping skills, are you making lists, getting the house ready for guests?)
Day 23 - Post whatever you wish
Day 24 - Christmas Eve (Are you opening presents tonight, is this your big celebration, what are you doing)

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

BLOGMAS 2016 - Day 20 { Christmas Decorations Reveal }

Day 20....we are now 4 days away from Christmas. Is it just me or did this month just go by in a flash?

Crazy. I'm now sick with a cold, my throat is killing me and I'm all sniffling and stuff. Just really want to kick this crud before the weekend, so God willing I'll be well enough to celebrate with the family.

Right, let's get on with today's prompt, we want to see all the decorations etc. OH and before I post mine, I just want to thank those of you who are still following along and doing your own blogmas, and I do apologize for not being by more often to see your posts. I wish I had double the hours in a day so I can get everything that I want done, done. Ugh!!!

Anyway, let's see what it's looking like around my house.....

And there you have it, some of the little corners of my house all decorated for Christmas :)

BLOGMAS 2016 PROMPTS

Monday, December 19, 2016

BLOGMAS 2016 - Days 16, 17, 18 and 19

Well friends, my Blogmas went to hell. I am so sorry about this, but the past few days I have been extremely busy, lot of commitments, family things, had to take engagement photos for my niece and yesterday I needed a day of relaxation and doing nothing so that I could catch up on my house cleaning and laundry.

So, that meant that I missed 3 days of Blogmas, and I knew that might be happening because honestly, no matter how much I would like to post daily, the closer it gets to the big day, the more I may miss some. I think today I'm going to try and actually get all my posts typed up and scheduled to publish so I won't miss anymore :)

Anyway, let's get on with it......

DAY 16 { WINTER TAG }

❄ Top 2 Winter Beauty Essentials
Good chap stick or lip balm and a really good moisturizer too. Can't go without those.

❄ Top 2 Winter Fashion Essentials
Boots, I wait all year long to wear them. Scarves, super cute scarves are a must for Winter.

❄ Favorite Winter Accessory
Probably some cute beanie hats or slouchy hats.

❄ Favorite Winter Nail Polish
I tend to wear reds, silvers, but even a nice pink with some glitter.

❄ Hot Cocoa or Apple Cider?
Hot Cocoa all the way.

❄ Favorite Winter Candle?
My Snowman scented candle from Yankee Candle

❄ Snowboarding or Skiing?
I do neither lol

❄ Have you ever gone Ice Skating? Are you any good or do you FAIL miserably?
Yes, when I was younger back in South Africa, we would go quite often and I absolutely loved it. So much fun. Haven't gone in well over 20 years though.

❄ Does it snow where you live?
Not really, we got one day of snow last year, or rather, one hour of snow and it didn't stick at all.

❄ Have you ever made a snowman?
Absolutely!

DAY 17 { CHRISTMAS WISHES }

I'm not quite sure if this means wishes for others or wishes for myself.

I guess if it's for others, I just wish for a healthy and blessed Christmas and new year ahead, and same thing for myself and my family, obviously.

If it's for Christmas presents, well I really don't have much I want or need, so I guess I don't really have any.

DAY 18 { HOMEMADE OR STORE BOUGHT }

I love homemade, I really do like knowing that someone took time to make something for me, or that I am giving someone something I put a lot of time and effort into.

This year, I am making two gifts, which will be those candles I showed you many years ago. You print the picture onto wax paper and then use a hair dryer to transfer the image to the candle. They're beautiful gifts and not very expensive, which is something I need this year.

Rest of the gifts will be store bought. BUT, we are keeping it very simple this year, not spending a lot of money and not going overboard.

DAY 19 { CHRISTMAS 2015 PICTURES }

BLOGMAS 2016 PROMPTS

Thursday, December 15, 2016

BLOGMAS 2016 - Day 15 { Christmas Party Food }

Good evening everyone, welcome to Day 15 of Blogmas 2016. I can't believe we are this close to Christmas, and may I just say that I'm nowhere near ready for it?

I've bought exactly ONE present, and it was for my daughter's boyfriend. LOL That's it, no one else has anything, and we don't get paid until next week Friday so shopping will definitely be last minute. Oh my word!!!

Anyway, today's prompt is all about Christmas Party Food, so I'm going to leave below the pictures of what I'll be serving this Christmas eve.

Rissois de Camarao - Prawn Cakes

Rissois de Atum - Tuna Cakes

Bola de Carne - Meat Bread

Pao com Chourico - Chourico Bread

Roast Chicken Legs +

Doce de Bolacha e Leite Condensado - Cookies and Condensed Milk Pudding

Queijadas economicas - Milk Tartlets

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7389/8716193310_eb72b92919_z.jpg

Bolo Rei

Mince Meat Pies

There will also be some chips and dip, a few more bits and bobs on the table, but those are the main ones. This weekend, I'll actually be going over to my sister in law's house to bake and prepare a bunch of these for Christmas.

I've included the recipes I already have up, in case any of you would like to try some of these goodies. :)

BLOGMAS 2016 PROMPTS

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

BLOGMAS 2016 - Day 14 { Advent Calendar }

Advent Calendar, yay or nay?

Let me start by saying that when my kids were little, we always did advent calendars. I would either buy the chocolate ones from the store, or I had my own that I would fill with candy and chocolates for them.

As they got older, they lost interest, and I stopped doing them. It's so sad when you think how your children grow up and suddenly the things you all enjoyed sharing together, are now just a memory. I so wish they were still little.

This was one of the advent calendars I had made, we used it back in 2008.

Photobucket

I fear this post is quite boring, but I just really don't have any advent calendars to share. If we were still using one, I would have shown you what was in them, and nowadays with Pinterest etc, I feel like there are such adorable ideas out there for the little ones. Just wish we had all this when mine were growing up.

Anyway, do you still use an advent calendar?

BLOGMAS 2016 PROMPTS

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

BLOGMAS 2016 - Day 13 { Christmas Cards }

Good evening friends, hope you are all keeping warm. I'm absolutely frozen here in North Texas, this is ridiculous, I feel like I'm back in Idaho hahah

I've had a nice hot shower, I'm all snuggly in my warm pajamas and fuzzy robe and I have a hot cup of Herbal tea, Winter Spice. I'm actually trying it out, I just got it when I went grocery shopping and I'm not quite sure I like it. But I won't waste so I'll drink it.

Anyway, today we're talking about Christmas Cards.

I have to say that my favorites have always been the homemade cards, or the vintage looking cards. Old Santa, and I don't mean as in age, I mean as the old looking Santa. Do you know what I mean?

People kind of look at me funny when I say that, but I honestly think they've changed Santa's image the past 10 years or more, and I just don't like it. Anyway, let me show you some of my favorite Christmas cards.

BLOGMAS 2016 PROMPTS

Monday, December 12, 2016

BLOGMAS 2016 - Day 12 { Quiet Christmas or Family Filled Loud Party Christmas? }

I can't believe we are already on day 12, Christmas is literally just around the corner, oh my word.

Right, well today's prompt is about the kind of Christmas you enjoy, whether the quiet one or the Loud with lots of family and party Christmas.

I would have to say that for me, I like both. For many years, while we were still an active duty military family, it was just the 4 of us. So they were quiet holidays, but fun and memorable nonetheless.

After retiring, we've been able to live near family both in Idaho and Texas, and so our last few holidays have been loud and family filled, which is very reminiscent of our Childhood Christmases, and what I've always been used to.

Though I love the crazy busy holidays, I also find myself feeling overwhelmed and looking forward to some peace and quiet.

As always, this year will be one filled with family, lots of food and a special visit from my niece's fiancee Steven. We're very much looking forward to that :)

BLOGMAS 2016 PROMPTS

Sunday, December 11, 2016

BLOGMAS 2016 - Day 11 { Stocking Stuffer Ideas }

Welcome to Blogmas Day 11, and today it's all about stockings and stuffer ideas.

I have to be honest, I tend to be so bad when it comes to the stocking stuffer and some years I even forget until the very last minute, so I am trying to stay on the ball this year and not mess that up hahaha

Here are my ideas for stocking stuffers this year, for hubby and the kids.....

For the hubby:

Travel Coffee Mug (he needs a new one for work)
Book from his favorite author
Favorite Candy
Movie
Gift Card
Magic The Gathering Cards
Dice

For my 17 year old daughter:

Fuzzy socks
Lipgloss
Hot Topic Nail Polish
Make up
Chocolate
Bath bombs

For my 13 year old son:

Fun Ear Buds
Beanie
Beef Jerky
Cologne
Steam Wallet Gift Card
Candy

BLOGMAS 2016 PROMPTS

Saturday, December 10, 2016

BLOGMAS 2016 - Day 10 { Real Tree or Artificial Tree }

Hello friends and welcome to Blogmas day 10. Today it's all about the real trees versus the artificial trees, and I know there are people on both sides with very strong opinions.

I have to speak for myself, and for us, it has to be a real tree. It's just a tradition that I've had going since I was a little girl, and though we had artificial trees for a few years, we went right back to our real trees. I guess for us, Christmas isn't Christmas without the real thing in the house, mostly because of the scent it allows to permeate through the whole house.

Let me show you some of my trees over the years.

2006

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