I just wanted to come in and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!!
I won't be posting a Happy Homemaker Monday tomorrow as I'll be busy with family, and I'm quite certain you all will too, so I'll see you back for that next week. :)
However, there will be blog posts throughout the week, so I won't be too far.
Hope you all have a wonderful time with your families, and that you really soak in every moment and keep in mind, the real reason for the season.
As I've gotten older, it seems that the Christmas spirit has been diminishing.
I recall in my younger years, where I anticipated the season and loved every single minute of it. The tree, the decorations, buying the gifts, wrapping, cooking and baking.
While I still enjoy all that, it just takes me so much longer to get into the spirit, and as we linger a day just before Christmas Eve, I find myself quite apathetic to it. And I wish I wasn't!!!
I am hoping that by tomorrow, I can really start feeling the Christmas spirit and indulge in it all before the season passes us by. Let's hope.
The epitome of a perfect winter day. I've always been a lover of Winter. Not to say that I don't enjoy the other seasons, because I do, I think each has a beauty all it's own and pros and cons, but for me the cold, the dark days and the soft glow of candles, screams cozy and warm.
The rain has been coming down non stop for the past two days, and so our meals have mainly consisted of hot, filling soups, like my Caldo Verde (Portuguese Kale Soup), which was devoured so quickly that I only got a bowl of it before reaching the bottom of the pan. It's on the agenda to make next week again.
This time of year also means slowing down, and I know that sounds insane considering it's Christmas and there's gift shopping and baking and family get togethers, but for some reason, it's when I finally feel like I can take a breath and relax. Anyone else?
Christmas gifts are bought, and wrapped, and under the tree.
I am going to start my baking tomorrow, as you all know we celebrate Christmas both the Portuguese way and the American way. I grew up opening presents on the 24th and it's always been a huge deal, the table is set with a bunch of different finger foods and we sit around and eat, talk, play games until midnight.
The next morning, we open the stocking gifts and gifts from Santa, I make breakfast and we have a pretty laid back day, having either Christmas lunch or dinner later on.
I'm not sure yet how many people will be over this year, we are waiting to hear back from my brother in law and mother in law. As it stands it's just us 4 and then my brother, sister in law and nephew. I'm not complaining one bit, because to be honest, I could do with a quiet small Christmas this year. There's days that I actually miss our small holidays back when Curt was still active duty.
Anyway, it is very foggy this morning, so even though it's almost 9AM, the house is dark and cold. One more thing I love about Winter days? Lighting a fire.
I've taken this time to work on my blog to book, just finished year 2012 and have started 2013. As I worked through these books, I left out all the Slow Cooking and Cooking Thursday recipes, because I want to put those in a separate book with just recipes and no blog posts.
I may start on that book really soon, and the minute it's available I'll let you all know, in case some of you want to purchase one for yourself.
Now I'm going to go and pop some veggies in a pot to make some soup for lunch, for the kids and I, then crack on with more laundry, give the kitchen a quick clean and at some point force myself out of my warm Cath Kidston PJ's and into some clothes for the day. :)
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: HQN Books (November 28, 2017) Sarah Morgan is back with more love and laughter in her acclaimed series, From Manhattan With Love, which Publishers Weekly calls a “sweep-you-off-your-feet romantic experience.”
Determined to conquer a lifetime of shyness, Harriet Knight challenges herself to do one thing a day in December that scares her, including celebrating Christmas without her family. But when dog walker Harriet meets her newest client, exuberant spaniel Madi, she adds an extra challenge to her list—dealing with Madi’s temporary dog sitter, gruff doctor Ethan Black, and their very unexpected chemistry.
Ethan thought he was used to chaos, until he met Madi—how can one tiny dog cause such mayhem? To Ethan, the solution is simple—he will pay Harriet to share his New York apartment and provide twenty-four-hour care. But there’s nothing simple about how Harriet makes him feel.
Ethan’s kisses make Harriet shine brighter than the stars over moonlit Manhattan. But when his dog-sitting duties are over and Harriet returns to her own home, will she dare to take the biggest challenge of all—letting Ethan know he has her heart for life, not just for Christmas?
USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes lively, sexy contemporary stories for Harlequin.
Romantic Times has described her as ‘a magician with words’ and nominated her books for their Reviewer’s Choice Awards and their ‘Top Pick’ slot. In 2012 Sarah received the prestigious RITA® Award from the Romance Writers of America. She lives near London with her family. .
This was such a sweet holiday romance. Picture if you will, Manhattan and Christmas, adorable dogs and two people trying not to give into their feelings.
It has everything that a romance story needs and more.
Harriet has given herself a challenge, which includes doing something that scares her or makes her uncomfortable, every day in December. It is this decision that leads her to Ethan's door, and a proposal from him that she should not accept, but does so leading to some really cute moments between them, all surrounded by the beautiful sights and sounds of Christmas.
Now I know that this is the last in the Moonlight over Manhattan series, but they really can be read as stand alone books, and if you love a good cutesy romance book, then you definitely need to give this one a go.
Good morning friends and welcome to another Happy Homemaker Monday.
I am so frustrated with myself, because I realize that lately all my blog content is my weekly HHM and a random book review here and there. It's certainly not what my intent was for my blog when I first started it, but unfortunately it's what has become. The frustration comes in from the fact that I know I could do better and if I shift my schedule around a bit, here and there, I can make it happen but alas, I haven't yet.
Anyway, my hope for the new year is that I can finally get on track. The more I work on my blog to book, the more I realize that after we left Arizona, since my husband's retirement, the less blog content I have. It's quite sad, but I can't do anything to change what has already been, so I can only try and change what is from now on. *sigh*
Sorry about the little venting, just needed to get that out. Let's crack on with our HHM.
Breakfast time....what is on the plate this morning::::
Cup of coffee and two small sausage biscuits. I don't often have those but it really hit the spot this morning.
Right now I am::::
I just started a load of laundry, and I also turned on the TV to the Hallmark channel (of course). There's a Christmas movie playing in the background while I work on this post.
The weather outside::::
Intense fog this morning and supposedly lasting until around 11am. It's 30 degrees but feels so much colder out there. We're also quite excited as there seems to be some snow headed our way this weekend and the next. It would be truly amazing if we could have a White Christmas.
Looking around the house::::
It's all cozy and Christmasy. I love this time of year, truly.
On today's to do list:::: Cleaning.....Usual kitchen clean up involving dishes and dishwashers and such. I've been doing laundry so all my folded laundry is currently on my dining table, I need to move that and put it away. Want to do some quick dusting. I cleaned Nick's bedroom yesterday, from top to bottom, and I'm hoping to do the same with Jasmine's today. Homeschooling.....We have but 3 days left of school before the Winter Break. Nick has some semester Exams to take so he'll be working on that. Cooking....Yesterday I made some Caldo Verde (Portuguese Kale soup). The kids and hubby were out watching the new Star Wars movie, so they filled up on snacks etc. I was the only one that had the soup but my husband loves it, and so he's popping home for lunch today so that he can enjoy a big bowl of Caldo Verde :)
Currently reading::::
This morning I'll be reviewing B.J. Daniels book "A Cowboy's Legacy" and tomorrow Moonlight Over Manhattan. I'm currently reading "Just Sit" which is a book all about meditation for a review in January....but for my personal reading pleasure, I'm reading Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon which is part of her Outlander series :)
On the TV today::::
So bummed out that Outlander is finished.
I'm starting Howard's End today.
Also, end of the month we have some really good period drama series coming up....Little Women and The Minituarist.
On the menu this week::::
Monday - Bacon Cheese Topped Chicken, Mashed Potatoes Tuesday - Pepperoni Pizza Bake, Garlic Bread Wednesday - Chicken strips with mushrooms and tomato sauce, Rice Thursday - Beef and Potato Moussaka Friday - Pasta Alfredo Saturday - Flatbread Tacos with ranch sour cream Sunday - Christmas Eve (Sausage Rolls, Fried Chicken Drumettes, Carne Vinha D'alhos [garlic pork bites], Vetkoek, Ham and Chourico Bread, Bolo Rei [King's bread], Chocolate pyramids, fruit cake, Tiramisu, Milk Tart, Cherry Cheese Coffee Cake, Rabanadas [Portuguese french toast], I think that's all but I may be missing something)
If I have a few minutes to myself, I will::::
The Christmas gift blanket is complete, you can see it below. I'm working on another one now for another gift.
Looking forward to this week::::
I've wrapped all the presents I had on hand, but I do have a few more orders coming in this week, so I'm looking forward to getting it all wrapped and under the tree.
Favorite photo from the camera::::
Sun rising a few days ago.
Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses::::
I am so incredibly thankful to God for bringing my daughter through this disappointment. Here's the funny thing, my daughter is completely changed, in a good way. We feel like we have our little Jasmine back again, it was unbelievable just how much she had become a different person while dating her ex. He was not good for her at all, and sometimes you don't see it until it's all over.
Though it broke her heart at first, the fact that she came to find out he was cheating on her all along, just made the light bulb go off in her head and she is so happy to be away from him. We haven't seen her this happy in years. Thank you Lord!!!
My mother in law had another scare. She was fighting breast cancer all of last year and finished her treatments just 2 or 3 months ago and was doing well. Unfortunately she had found another lump and again it turned out to be cancer, but thank God it is localized and not spread. She is starting radiation soon, so please if you could keep her in your prayers, we would really appreciate it.
