Happy Homemaker Monday - 11/25/2013

Happy chilly Monday morning to you all. Brrrr indeed!

Hope you had a fantastic weekend and are ready for this busy week we have ahead. I can't believe we are but a few days away from Thanksgiving, goodness. Sure do hope you all spend it well and enjoy all the yummy food you'll eat, might be a good idea to set that scale back 10 pounds right? Hahahah

Here is this morning's HHM, complete with a new little button that you may use, if you wish :)

As I look outside my window:::
The beautiful sun is just coming up.  It's a very chilly 17 degrees outside and of course, we have frost covering everything, and I mean everything, including the 3 towels that I completely forgot were hanging on the line.  Oh boy!

Right now I am:::
In bed, under the covers.  Oh what a wuss I am!  But in my defense, my husband is still fast asleep and it's nice and warm in here, which I think is the perfect place to right up this post.  Oh and I have my cup of hot coffee, so I did venture out and braved the cold for that. 

Thinking and pondering:::
On Thanksgiving, reminding myself to take the turkey out this morning.  Making a list of everything I'm cooking, what I am preparing/cooking the night before and what must be made the day of.  Also thinking about my Christmas tree, I'm itching to go and get it but hubby is very patiently reminding me that it is too early and that the tree will die.  Bummer!

On my bedside table:::
Reading The Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Pamela Mingle and so enjoying it.  It's just my kind of book.
Also have an Apologetics Study Bible that my mother in law gave to my husband, but I'm going to use it for myself right now as I think it will really help me with my Bible reading.

On my tv tonight:::
Catching up on:
Reign (love this show)
When Ghosts Attack
Tudor Monastery Farm (oh goodness, I have to come and tell you all about this and give you some links)
American Horror Story

Playing on the radio:::
Smoky Mountain Christmas playing on my laptop.  Have you ever heard of this album?  Check it out if you haven't, I think you'll enjoy it.  :) 


On the menu for this week:::

Monday -Shepherd's Pie
Tuesday - Big Eddie's Rigatoni with Salad 
Wednesday - Bifes c/ molho de cerveja (Portuguese steaks with beer gravy), fries
Thursday -Thanksgiving (Fried Turkey, Gravy, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce, Sage Stuffing, Homemade dinner rolls, Sweet Potato Casserole, Miss Kay's Honey Pecan Pie, Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Cobbler
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Sriracha Honey Wings, Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Sunday -  *not sure yet*

On my to do list:::
Put all the laundry away
Run to the bank
Pull out Christmas decorations
Bake Cookies

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
Have a few ideas for the holidays but really need to get on it. 

My simple pleasure:::
Listening to Christmas music or watching a Christmas movie on tv. 

Lesson learned the past week:::
Again, to trust in the Lord.  My husband is currently looking for another job, he wasn't happy at all at his previous one, and let's just say that they didn't seem to like military people very much.  It's hard to see your husband being disrespected and treated unfairly.  I truly believe the Lord removed him from that situation and has something else in mind for him.  We are just continuing to be thankful for everything we already have and trusting in Him to guide us.

Looking around the house:::
My cute pugs are fast asleep on the bed, all curled up by our legs.  I can hear Nicholas and Colby upstairs in the living room playing.  Sounds like the teen girls are still asleep too.
I know I have a few breakfast dishes in the sink needing my attention and some picking up and tidying needs to be done in the living room. 

From the camera:::

Sunrise this morning....

Prayer List:::
My husband, he had an interview on Friday and is waiting to hear back this week.  Also has a few others lined up, I'm praying for the right job for him.
Praying for all those struggling through the holiday season, and I know it's usually a hard time for many.

Bible verse, Devotional:::
I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
Psalms 7:17

Around here

there's been housework and relaxing and a lot, and I mean a lot of Christmas movie watching.  For me, at least.

I think without fail, the best time of the year is now, right before Thanksgiving and the weeks leading up to Christmas....and the reason?  Hallmark Channel!

One after the other, all day long.  Is there anything better than that?

The one above I actually watched earlier today, such a sweet movie and I wish I could remember the correct name but I think it was something like Help for the Holidays?  Now I'm watching Window Wonderland, another sweet Christmas movie :)

But among all these cutesy, sweet movies, there are other sweet cute things around me, like these adorable little calves that have taken to visiting me.  They come right up to the fence and just stand there staring.

The minute mommy moo's, there they go scampering back to her side.

Adorable, and one of the things I most enjoy about living in the country.

It's been downright chilly here and every morning we are greeted with a white blanket of frost.

Beautiful :)  You wouldn't even know that these are individual blades of grass frozen in time. 

There's been yummy eating, like this Chicken Pepper Pasta which you can find over on the food blog.

Starting tomorrow you may see a few more reviews and giveaways around here, they usually seem to ramp at this time of year, just in time for gifts.  So if you're interested in winning some cool prizes, be sure to check this space from time to time.

I'm also trying to decide what exactly I'm crocheting and knitting for Christmas.  It's kind of late already but I think if I keep it easy and simple, I should be able to get them done in a month.  We shall see, as there have been many years that I start off with the best of intentions and tend to lose myself in too many projects. 

Are you going handmade this year?  Wanna share with us what you're making?  Maybe you'll give someone else a good idea.

I'll be posting a list tomorrow of some handmade gift ideas that I think would make great Christmas gifts. 

Right, I am going to finish watching this movie, then head on upstairs to get dinner started.  Upside Down Pizza Casserole and some Garlic Bread Knots.  Yum!

This week.....

Hello friends, I'm the lady who is supposed to be updating every day but has been having a real problem trying to find enough hours in the day to do everything.

Another whole week has gone by and I'm just now getting a moment to sit down with my laptop, and compose a little update post for you all.

Reading and visiting other blogs?  Forget about it, I haven't had a single moment to do it though I miss you all so very much and am wondering what you've been up to.  I've decided that tonight is an early night for me, and as soon as I'm in my comfy warm pj's and sitting at this chair, I'll be doing just that :)

This has quite possibly become my favorite corner of my bedroom, I get to sit here with my crochet, enjoy the warm fire and either listen to music or watch some tv. Just perfect for the winter :)

A week full of rain, and I've loved every moment.

What I haven't loved though is waking up the past 2 mornings to ice puddles in the driveway.  Pretty too look at but not as pretty to drive on.

The frost has been everywhere, covering the grass and anything left outside with a beautiful sparkly blanket.

And even if it may not seem like much from far, when you get up close and personal you see just how intricate the frost really is, how visually stunning.

Food has been centered around stews and soups, which to me are the favorite meals when it's cold. Warms you from the inside out and fills you up too :)

Veggies, loads of veggies make a very nutritional soup.

And speaking of nutritious, I've been enjoying Cinnamon Apple Water which is supposed to be a detoxifier and a metabolism booster...or so says Dr. Oz.  We'll see how it goes.  For one, it does taste very yummy.

I've also been enjoying this book which is coming up on the blog as a review. 

As you can see, life has just been going on and even faster now that we're approaching Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Guess it's time to kick it into a higher gear, if that is possible without burning out.  Hahaha

How are you all doing though?  Anything exciting going on, are you ready for Thanksgiving?

I'll come back and let you all know what my menu is, but right now I really should get into the kitchen to start dinner which will be a Chicken Pepper Pasta.  Hoping to get it finished before darkness falls so I can get a picture for the blog.

For now, you can head on over to Full Bellies, Happy Kids to get the recipe for these fluffy yummy Buttermilk Pancakes.  Your family will love them, I'm sure :)

Balance Bar Giveaway Winner!

Thank you all for participating in the Balance Bar Giveaway :)

I used Random.org to draw a winner and the number that came up was:

#11 - Annie Lee

Congratulations Annie Lee, I will be contacting you shortly. :)

Slow Cooking Thursday - Chunky Minestrone Soup

Well, another week has flown right by.  I always say that time is flying but am I the only one who seems to feel that it's going at lightning speed the past few months?  Even faster than usual?

Anyway, here is today's recipe, which comes straight from the blog Repeat Crafter Me.  Now this is a soup I think would be delicious on a cold snowy day.

Chunky Minestrone Soup

- 1 28oz can of crushed tomatoes
- 1 14.5oz can of diced tomatoes
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 15oz can kidney beans rinsed and drained
- 1 15oz can cannellini beans rinsed and drained
- 1 1/2 cups cooked Rotini pasta. Boil pasta for no more than 7 minutes.
- 1 cup sliced carrots or throw in a bunch of frozen crinkle cut carrots like I did :)
- 1 onion chopped or a bag of Birds Eye Recipe Ready frozen chopped onions (I keep these well stocked in my freezer).
- 8oz of frozen cut leaf spinach or chopped spinach (I used half of a 16oz bag)
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic ( I have a jar of Litehouse freeze dried garlic... much easier to keep on hand and you can use it just like fresh garlic).
- 1/2 teaspoon basil
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano


1. Combine all ingredients in crock pot EXCEPT for kidney beans, cannellini beans and the rotini pasta.
2. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. I cooked mine for 6 1/2 hours.
3. Add beans and pasta. Cook for another 30 minutes or until heated throughout.
4. Serve and enjoy! Makes about 8 servings.
You can even top it with a little shredded parmesan cheese. Delicious!

If you have leftovers sitting in your fridge and you notice it has absorbed most of the broth. Add more vegetable broth, mix and re-heat.