Happy Homemaker Monday - 12/16/2013

Good morning my friends, hope you're all staying warm.

I had a good relaxing weekend and now I'm ready to face the new week ahead, I am sure the Lord is going to bless us immensely in the next few days.  I can just feel it. 

Now, it's time for our Happy Homemaker Monday :)

As I look outside my window:::
Foggy and cloudy with a temperature of 13 degrees.  We are supposed to be in the upper 30's this week though, so we'll see how that goes.  I do hope we get some snow for Christmas. 

Right now I am:::
Still in bed with my hubby sleeping soundly beside me.  I should have gotten up already but I'm so cold that I'm not sure I want to brave the cold quite yet. 

Thinking and pondering:::
About life, about Christmas, about things in general.  My mind is quite muddy the past few days. 

On my bedside table:::
The Witches of East End.  Just watched the season finale on TV last night and there's no way I'll make it until next year for the next season, I really want to know what is going to happen LOL 

On my tv tonight:::
Catching up on:
Tudor Monastery Farm
The White Queen
Started watching Dexter, not sure if I like it yet
Breaking the Faith

Listening to:::
The snoring of the pugs next to me and the crackling fire.

On the menu for this week:::
Monday - Chicken Spaghetti
Tuesday - Savory Beef with Rice
Wednesday - Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans
Thursday - Pork Chops, Cilantro Lime Rice, Salad
Friday - Roast Chicken, Roast Potatoes, Broccoli with Cheese Sauce
Saturday - Baked Manicotti, Salad
Sunday -  Vegetable Soup, Sandwiches, Jello Dessert

On my to do list:::
Homeschooling
Housework - laundry, sweeping, vacuuming, dishes etc
Get ready for my in laws arrival tomorrow night

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
Everything is on hold, I haven't had a chance to work on anything, but still have the blanket and the head bands in progress. 

 
My simple pleasure:::
Baking Bread   

Lesson learned the past week:::
To turn the other cheek.  It's such a hard thing to do when you feel you've been unfairly treated, but it's so easy to lash out and say things in the heat of the moment and then regret them right away. 

Much harder is to stop, breathe, and think before replying.  I've had a very difficult week, many things that were thrown at me were heartbreaking and not something I wanted to deal with or hear, or see or find out.  I struggled big time, especially with control and giving it over to God.  But I pulled through and was once again reminded that with HIM everything is possible.  I may not always have the support of others, but as long as I have God and live for HIM, I will continue to be blessed. 

Looking around the house:::
Need to wash the breakfast dishes, I'm sure the kids have already had theirs.  Living room needs a little tidying up and my bedroom needs a bit of rearranging too. 

From the camera:::

Prayer List:::
My husband and brother have both been for a few interviews and they are waiting to hear back this week, praying that something comes through for them both. 
For me.
Family, that they are reminded of how much we love each other and how some things are just not worth fighting about.
My friend Jen who's son had surgery this morning.

Bible verse, Devotional:::
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:31

In bed I stay!

Stress can play such a huge part on your well being, not just emotionally but physically.

I am down for the count today, woke up feeling extremely nauseous, stomach just not feeling right at all, but also have a headache and stuffy nose.  I'm thinking I may have a cold coming on but a little stomach bug as well.

So I'm hanging out in bed with a bowl of chicken soup, some kleenex and the crackling fire.

It's a bit of a wonky day weather wise too, not as cold as usual but very cloudy and dreary and I'm thinking it may be just the right conditions for some Jane Austen movies.  What do you think?

Ok, I'm getting off here, and going to rest, I can't be sick with my in laws arriving in just two days.

Blessings,
Sandra

Moleskine Evernote Notebook Winner!

Thank you all for the comments and the entries on the giveaway.  If only I had one to give every single one of you :)

I think there was some confusion though, the giveaway was not for a tablet like mine, but for a Moleskine Evernote Digital Notebook. 

Anyway, I used Random.org, and the winner was:

#18 - Elisa

Congratulations, will be contacting you shortly :)

Draining week!

Oh my friends, I have had one of the worst weeks in a long time.  It's been so draining, and so exhausting that I'm just glad to see it come to an end.

I always feels that December seems to bring a lot of sadness and trials for some people, and this week we've been extremely tested as Christians.

I feel like I've been put through the ringer, faced with certain situations and really had to dig deep inside to be the Christian that I say I am and want to continue being.

Not easy.  Human nature has a tendency to have us react in certain ways which don't always portray who we really are, so it's been tough trying to not fall into that trap, to turn the other cheek, to be the better person.

Exhausting, I tell ya.

But, here I am, intact and still up on my feet.  If it weren't for the almighty God I serve, I doubt I would be.

I have finished all my Christmas shopping, and everything is wrapped.  It's a little hard to believe, actually it's VERY hard to believe that Christmas is just in 11 days.  I'm usually not done with the shopping this early, but this year with having more people around, I've had to organize myself and make every single second of my day count.

We've been having some cold days and even getting down into the negatives.  Woke up one morning to a white wonderland.

Enjoyed a beautiful performance by my niece's Senior Company.  This was her first ever ballet performance and she looked like a pro, so proud of her.

Received and early Christmas present from my wonderful husband.  This man knows me so very well.  What else would an ex Air Force Wife want, but an airplane necklace?  I love it so much!

And so that is just a few highlights from my last week, tiny little tidbits that made an unbearable week that little bit better to cope with.

I think we sometimes get so caught up in the craziness, that we forget to take time to reflect and to be with the people who matter.  So as we go into this Christmas season, I decided to focus on what's important......getting ready for Christmas with my family, getting ready to welcome my mother and father in law next week and just being in the moment.  It means I've also taken a break from Facebook so you won't see me around there.

It's needed.  But for the moment, I think what is really needed is my ripple blanket, a cup of coffee and one of my books.

Have a blessed weekend,
Sandra
xoxoxoxo

PS....I have drawn a winner for the Moleskine Notebook and will announce it in the morning :)

Digital Organization Campaign - Google Nexus Tablet Review and Giveaway!!!

I am so thankful to my blog, because it has brought me amazing opportunities to review some really great products.

Today, I'm joining Staples and collaborating in their Digital Organization Campaign.....and I'm also going to be telling you all about my husband's favorite new toy.  Yes, my husband's, because even though the tablet was sent to me, he quickly claimed it and it has been quite difficult prying it off his hands LOL

Google Nexus Tablet

World's sharpest 7" tablet screen (323 ppi)

Powerful battery, up to 9 hrs of active use

Quad-core speed and performance, 2GB RAM

Powered by Android 4.3, the latest version of world?s most popular mobile OS

If I had to ask my husband exactly what he likes about it, his answer is quick and simple "Everything".  He is absolutely besotted with it and uses it not only for college classes, but for reading and even playing games.

I did manage to pry it off his hands for two days so I could enjoy it for myself.  Let me show exactly what it does because the possibilities are endless, it really is like having a mini computer in your hands.

First and foremost, I can access my blogs just as easily as if I was on my laptop, which makes it so easy for me when I'm in the kitchen and trying to cook from a recipe on my food blog.  

The images are sharp, the text is easy to read, and it's so light that I can carry it to any corner of the kitchen, much better than walking around with a bulky laptop taking up valuable counter space in this tiny kitchen.

I'm able to store recipes in the tablet, which I find very useful as I jot them down, save them, and then later I can upload them to my blog without having to go anywhere else.

It's got everything I could need, right there on the main screen, and at the touch of a button, I can access all the other apps available.

I use so many of these on a daily basis.  I was able to enter in my email information and now I can access my email account through the tablet.

Netflix....brilliant quality and I haven't experienced any lagging or buffering issues whatsoever.  I've been able to catch up on my favorite TV shows, watch movies and best part, take it anywhere I go that has wifi access.

Facebook.....it's like being on my laptop, same quality, easy to use and the pictures look amazing.

Crochet patterns....because you know I'm all about those.  I LOVE having them on the tablet.  It's so much easier to slide the tablet into my crochet bag and take it wherever I need it, knowing that with just the touch of one button, I can have the pattern right there at my fingertips.

Games.....I don't play them but my husband does and he LOVES it.  He's all about the good graphics and the speed and whatnot, and he has really been enjoying the tablet.

College....he has been able to access his grades and read his text books.

Homeschooling....I was so excited that I could access the online website and even do some of the lessons.  It's going to be soooo handy knowing that I can take the school lessons  with no matter where we go.

I have yet to figure it all out and I know for a fact that I'm nowhere near finished unlocking all this tablet has to offer.

I'm thinking this would be the perfect gift for someone on your Christmas list.  Can't tell you how much we are loving this tablet. 

For more information about the Google Nexus Tablet, you can check out this link.

Twitter: @Staples
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/staples

Now, for the giveaway, up for grabs is a Moleskine Evernote Smart Notebook!!!

The new Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine uses Evernote's Page Camera feature to capture the pages of your notebook with your smartphone or tablet. Plus, each Evernote Smart Notebook comes with a 3 month Evernote Premium subscription! Evernote Page Camera is the iOS version for iPhone and iPad. Evernote Ruled Smart Notebook features the unique "Evernote ruled" page style with dotted lines designed to ensure a clean image when digitally capturing your notebook. Smart Stickers introduce Smart Tagging into your workflow. When you capture a page with Evernote, the Smart Sticker icons become searchable, digital tags that make it easy to keep your ideas organized and to keep your digital and analog workspaces synced.

How awesome is that???

-- The contest is open to US residents only.  Please leave a comment including an email where I can reach you if you're picked as the winner.

-- Let me know in the comments if you would keep this notebook for yourself or f you would give it someone else, maybe a family member or friend?

-- Contest will run until Saturday 14th, 2013.  As always I will use Random.org to determine a winner and will then contact them.

-- Please remember you will have 48 hours to claim your prize, if you don't, I will draw another winner.  

Good Luck everyone, and feel free to share if you think that someone would be interested in entering the contest :)