New Year Fun - 2014 in Review

Hello friends, well, here we are, the last few hours of 2014.  As with every year, I always do a Year in Review.

I can tell you that I am very much looking forward to seeing this year behind me, so much has happened, so many sad moments, deaths of loved ones and some struggles.

I'm waiting for the blank pages to open up, and for the opportunity to start fresh.

New Year's Resolutions?  None....more like goals, and really if I think about it, it's just some changes that I want to focus on, some things I stopped doing that I want to bring back.

So, let's see what this year was like.

If you want to join in, here's what you need to do.

Post the first sentence of your first blog post of each month. You can also add a favorite picture from each month.

Happy New Year everyone!

******************************************

January

I'm so excited about this challenge, I've never really joined any challenge before as I don't like committing to something that I am  not sure I'll be able to stick with.

February

Oh goodness, it's February already? I'm afraid this year is going to zip by just as fast as the previous ones.

March

Well first and foremost, happy 1st of March. Can you believe it?

April

Though not with some lingering cold weather. Brrrrr!!!

May

It is such a beautiful glorious Spring day.

June

Good morning friends, happy Sunday!

July

Happy 4th of July my sweet friends!!!

August

Oh my friends, I want to sit and just cry. Have a good, good cry, maybe even one of those ugly, nose running, mascara smudged, loud cries.

September

I can't believe it is Monday afternoon already, this long weekend sure flew by didn't it?

October

Hello my sweet friends, how are you all doing?

November

Hello friends, how was your Halloween?

December

I am a little shocked that we are already at the end of the year, it seems it was just January. Goodness!

Happy Homemaker Monday - 12/29/2014

Good morning everyone, here we are, the last week of 2014, or rather, the last few days.  I can't believe that we are finishing up one more year of Happy Homemaker Monday.

It's been going strong for a long time, much longer than I thought it would and I'm so thrilled about it.

I do want to try and maybe change up the categories a bit for the new year, so if you have a suggestion and would like to see a certain category up, just let me know :)

The weather outside is::::

Snowy.  It started coming down again this morning but seems to have stopped now, and honestly, I hope it stays that way.   

On the breakfast plate this morning::::

Cup of coffee, and here in a few minutes I will have some leftover chocolate chip pancakes that Jasmine made yesterday for breakfast.   

As I look outside my window:::

Frost everywhere, but blue skies.  It looks really pretty actually, but then Winter time for me is one of the most beautiful times of the year. 

Right now I am::::

Sitting at the kitchen table, watching the snow falling outside and the cars driving by.  Still in my pj's as I'm too cold to go change out of them, but I will have to get that done very soon.

As I look around the house::::

It looks so much better with all the Christmas stuff removed.  I need to give the living room a quick tidy from the weekend, it's mostly Nick's gaming stuff. 

On today's to do list::::

Laundry....Not too much, did most of this weekend so only have to throw in Jasmine's laundry, but I have to wait for her to get up so I can get into her bedroom. 
Cleaning....In the kitchen, Unload the dishwasher and reload with breakfast dishes, clean the chalkboard wall, water the plants. 
In the living room....Vacuum, sweep and mop.  Tidy up the couches and brush off the dog hair.  Open blinds and windows to let in some cool air.
In the bedrooms....change the bed linens, vacuum, dust.  Open blinds and windows. 
In the bathrooms....Toilets, sinks and mirrors.  Sweep and mop.
Homeschooling....we're on a break, but Jasmine and I need to catch up on some overdue lessons for her and tomorrow I'm having my niece over too so we can get some work done. 
Cooking.....lunch today will be Ham and Cheese Sandwiches.  Dinner tonight, Pepperoni Pasta Bake.

Currently reading::::

Nothing, absolutely nothing.  I don't know what is going on or if it's just due to the busyness of the season, but I haven't felt like reading at all. 
 

On the TV today::::

Downton Abbey and Call the Midwife Christmas specials.

On the menu this week::::

Monday - Pepperoni Pasta Bake
Tuesday - Pork Chops, Baked Potatoes
Wednesday - Pizza
Thursday -
Friday -
Saturday -
Sunday -

We are so sick of food at the moment that the next few days we'll be having very simple meals.  I need to work on the next menu today and will hopefully go grocery shopping on Friday.

What I am creating at the moment::::

A tidier house, post Christmas.    

New recipe I tried or want to try this week::::

Nothing new.  I am hoping that as the new year kicks in, I will be able to pay more attention to my food blog.  It's been poorly neglected.   

Favorite photo from the camera::::

Prayers, Inspirational Quotes or Devotionals::::

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

Psalm 56:3-4

PLEASE, don't add links to this list that are not part of the Happy Homemaker Monday. I've asked numerous times, and I'm frankly quite tired of having to remove links to other posts that shouldn't be in this list. Please be respectful of my request!

Winding down!

Oh goodness, I feel like I haven't been on my blog in forever, and truth be told, it really has been almost a week.

Life has been full, absolutely full, of laughter, of family and food.

It's been a wonderful past week, we had one of the best Christmas Eve's in a very long time, a freak snow storm that blew in right before minute and left us with no power for 4 hours, and opening presents by candlelight.  It was a little weird at first, you couldn't really see much but it did make for a very magical setting with the snow coming down outside and the fire burning inside as we laughed and scrambled for gifts.

Christmas Day was spent at my brother's house, a very low key, nice meal and just some catching up and relaxing from the crazy rush before the holidays.

Friday we were home, trying to take it easy.  I wanted to do absolutely nothing, to sit in my pajamas all day, to drink coffee, watch a movie or read a book, but the family had other ideas, they wanted to go by Walmart to use some gift cards we got from family.  Thing is, we weren't the only ones with that idea as I think half of America was doing the exact same thing.  Just can't get away from the crowds can we?

Saturday was spent cleaning up from Christmas.

I like the holidays but honestly, the day after, I am already itching to put everything away and get my house back on track.   Just seems like everything looks so cramped for the month of December, and once it's tidied up, the house suddenly seems so much bigger.

Anyway, today we woke up to this.....

It snowed overnight, it snowed a little throughout the morning and it is supposed to continue snowing for the next two days.

I love snow, but I don't like the fact that my car is absolutely horrid in icy conditions, don't to the point where I can't drive it if there is a lot of snow outside.  I need to get new tires, and unfortunately that is not something that we can afford at the moment.

Truth be told, at moments like these, I miss Arizona and the warmer weather. 



So yeah, I know that may have sounded like a total squirrel moment, but it's just frustrating when you need to go somewhere and quickly realize that you are stuck in your house because the car can't even make it out of the driveway.  Not a good thing.

I'm hoping, and really hoping that the weather lets up a bit.

I'm trying to get myself mentally ready for the new coming year, it's weird thinking that we are just a few days away from 2015.  Time usually flies but 2014 for me seems to have gone by quicker than usual, right?

I don't usually do resolutions, but this coming year there are a few things I want to get back to doing, just a few changes that I think will benefit me immensely.


Water is a huge one for me, so I'm choosing to focus more on drinking it, instead of turning to diet coke, which I love.   I also want to go go back to drinking my green tea daily, and I'm definitely returning to my one hour of Zumba each morning.  I have missed it so much and I'm dying to start again, so I'll be doing that on Thursday for sure.  Starting the year off right.

How have the past few days been for you?  Are you looking forward to the new year?

Blogmas 2014 - Day 23 Favorite Christmas Story

 

From Luke 2: 1-20

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Blogmas 2014 - Day 22 A day in the life as we prepare for Christmas

Well, it's 9:30pm and I'm starting to type up this post.

Let me just say that I am a gal who goes to bed around this time every night, but for the past week I have been staying up way later than usual, and I think my body is getting a little used to it.  Problem is that even though I'm going to bed later, I'm not getting good sleep at night and still getting up early, so it's not really working for me.

But, anyway, today's prompt is a day in the life as we prepare for Christmas.  I was supposed to do some baking but ended up not doing it, so it's on tomorrow's agenda :)

Here are some pics from my day::::



First thing in the morning, has to be a big cup of coffee.....



The kitchen counter is forever being used as a catch all, it drives me quite bonkers to be honest, especially when it looks like this every morning even though I clear it out at night.....thing is, I go to bed before everyone else and these brats of mine are always in there for snacks.



Dishes are just never ending.  I load the washer, I empty the washer, I wash by hand, I soak...and on and so forth and rinse and repeat, literally.



This brat only likes going outside when it's not raining or snowing, look how happy she was today with the rain gone and the sunshine out.



Still loving that some of the trees have retained some leaves.  What a beautiful sight!



I am desperately wishing for snow for Christmas, BUT, I don't know.  I just wish the snow on those mountains would make it over here to us.



Rainy days are good for one thing though, candles and warm cozy feelings.






My poor tree is starting to die, I told the family we should just open the presents now, but they are not falling for it.  Again, RUDE!  hahaha



Tomorrow as I said, I'll be in the kitchen getting the final things done for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  I do hope that you have all been enjoying Blogmas as much as I have.  I also know that some of you are not able to keep up and have had to stop, that is ok, I myself may end up putting the Blogmas prompts for the 24th and 25th on Friday 26th.