Blogmas 2019 - Day #1- Welcome to Blogmas

Hello Lovelies!

So…It’s December 1st…WHAT!! Where did it even come from? I still feel like I am in the mindset of Halloween. The past couple of months have literally flown by. I have been focusing so much on my daughter's school activities as starting a new business with my husband. And then I blink and here it is…TIME FOR BLOGMAS.

Blogmas is kind of self-explanatory. However, I will explain it for those who do not know what it is and what it involves. Blogmas is an event which happens from December 1st until the 25th, although, it may last until the new year. Blogmas involves bloggers posting every day until Christmas. You can post whatever you like. It can be Christmassy or it can just be things that you are interested in. I like to think of Blogmas as a present for all those readers out there who get something to read every day… kind of like an advent calendar. There is also Vlogmas which is the YouTube version that requires a video or vlog every day.

I have decided that a new blog post will go live every day at 9pm to give me plenty of time to write up my posts without them being rushed. I am going to try very hard to ensure that I successfully complete Blogmas. I did finally complete Blogtober this year... so we will see how Blogmas goes.  Please let me know if you get the chance to read some. This year my Blogmas posts will include some Chrismassy content as well, mommy and lifestyle content.

Once again, welcome to Blogmas 2018!!!

Thanksgiving 2019

Hi Friends!!

I just wanted to pop on here and wish everyone a......

I hope everyone had a wonderful day with your families and that you had full hearts and full bellies!

A Holiday Bucket List for Families Plus Some of Our Family Traditions

 Well, the holidays are just around the corner and Thanksgiving is a couple of days. Then, it's a mad dash to Christmas and New Year's. It's amazing how fast this year has gone by. So, before things get to crazy, I wanted to share a holiday bucket list for families as well some of our favorite family traditions.

A Holiday Bucket List for Families Plus Some of Our Family Traditions
 

Drive around and look at Christmas lights (we start doing this right after Thanksgiving and have our specific areas we go to. We also get hot chocolate for the ride)

Go Ice-skating

Watch Christmas movies (our favorites are Home Alone, The Family Stone, The Holiday, The Family Man, all the Santa Claus movies, and the claymations that my husband and I watched when we were kids.)

Make cinnamon rolls (we do this for Christmas morning)

Visit Santa Claus (duh of course! We do this at our local mall)

Get a new family ornament each year

Decorate for Christmas (we already did this, this year!)

Open one gift on Christmas Eve

Matching Christmas Jammies pics

New Christmas jammies for the littles (and us)

The Christmas lights a t MSU (new to us this year)

The Polar Bear Express in Wichita Falls (another new thing we are doing this year)

25 Books of Christmas (we read a different Christmas book each day in December and end with The Night Before Christmas)

Adopting a family for Christmas

Take coffee cakes to friends/neighbors/special people in our life

Happy Homemaker Monday {11/25/2019}

Good morning Friends! I Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. We spent some time at the library in a nearby town so that I could renew the library books that I have so that I can possibly finish reading them over Thanksgiving break. My oldest is out of school for the week  and she will be returning to her martial arts class tonight (she is so excited).

Enough with the chatting let's get to today's post!

Weather:

The temps are all over the place this week with rain on Thanksgiving and server weather on Friday.

Monday: Mostly sunny and 68
Tuesday: Partly cloudy and windy 78
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy and 53
Thursday: Rain and 49
Friday: Thunderstorms and 72
Saturday: Partly cloudy and windy and 63
Sunday: Sunny and windy and 50

On the breakfast plate this morning:

Hot chocolate that I added hazelnut coffee creamer and a spoonful of nutella and some peanut butter whipped cream. So good! i also had a piece of the homemade chocolate chip banana bread that I made yesterday.

Outside my window:

The sun and shining with a few clouds in the sky.

Right now I am:

Sitting at the dining room table working on this post and listening to the girls play a video game together.

On today's to do list:

Laundry
Clean the bathrooms
Wash sheets and blankets
Mop
Steam carpets

On the menu this week:

Monday: Leftover Mississippi chicken and roasted potatoes
Tuesday: Tacos, Mexican rice, and chips and salsa
Wednesday: Spaghetti, garlic bread, and salad
Thursday: Thanksgiving dinner  Turkey, dressing, cheesy green beans, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, rolls, cinnamon apple pie bites, and pumpkin pie bites.
Friday: Leftovers from Thanksgiving
Saturday: Sandwiches and chips
Sunday: Beans and cornbread with fried potatoes

Currently reading:

The Outsider by Stephen King. I am determined to finish this book even if I have to read the rest of it online. I will finish it by the end of the year!

Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark

On the TV today:

We are going to watch some more movies on Disney+ over Thanksgiving break and we throw in a Star Wars marathon this week as well.

Inspirational Quote:

What I Am Reading Wednesdays

Hi Lovelies!

Sorry about not posting yesterday but we were gone all day and did not return until really late. My oldest had her walking boot removed yesterday and was given the all clear to resume her normal activities.

We are so thankful that her ankle healed and that she can get back into her martial arts classes next week. Anyway, tonight's blog post is all about the books I am reading. Right now I am reading two books- The Outsider by Stephen King and Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark.

Now, let's get to the post!

What I Am Reading Wednesdays

The Outsider by Stephen King (synopsis from Stephen King.com)

An unspeakable crime. A confounding investigation. At a time when the King brand has never been stronger, he has delivered one of his most unsettling and compulsively readable stories.

An eleven-year-old boy's violated corpse is found in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City’s most popular citizens. He is Terry Maitland, Little League coach, English teacher, husband, and father of two girls. Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland once coached, orders a quick and very public arrest. Maitland has an alibi, but Anderson and the district attorney soon add DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses. Their case seems ironclad.

As the investigation expands and horrifying answers begin to emerge, King’s propulsive story kicks into high gear, generating strong tension and almost unbearable suspense. Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy, but is he wearing another face? When the answer comes, it will shock you as only Stephen King can.

What I think so far:

I am 78 pages into the book and I love it. It's getting more interesting as I read it and I cannot wait to finish it. I plan to check it out again and hopefully will be able to finish during Thanksgiving break.

Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark

 

In this collaboration between “Queen of Suspense” Mary Higgins Clark and bestselling author Alafair Burke, “the snappy pace, layered characters, and many plot surprises will keep readers guessing in this fascinating mystery” (Booklist).

Television producer Laurie Moran is delighted when the pilot for her reality drama, Under Suspicion, is a success. Even more, the program—a cold case series that revisits unsolved crimes by recreating them with those affected—is off to a fantastic start when it helps solve an infamous murder in the very first episode.

Now Laurie has the ideal case to feature in the next episode of Under Suspicion: the Cinderella Murder. When Susan Dempsey, a beautiful and multi-talented UCLA student, was found dead, her murder raised numerous questions. Why was her car parked miles from her body? Had she ever shown up for the acting audition she was due to attend at the home of an up-and-coming director? Why does Susan’s boyfriend want to avoid questions about their relationship? Was her disappearance connected to a controversial church? Was she close to her computer science professor because of her technological brilliance, or something more? And why was Susan missing one of her shoes when her body was discovered?

 What I think so far:

I'm about 100 pages into it and I cannot put it down. I love a good mystery and this book is one of the best.

So, there you have it, that's what I am reading right now. What are you reading?

Happy Homemaker Monday {11/18/2019}

Wow! Today has been one of those days where nothing has gone right. Now that the kids are in bed I can finally take a breath and reflect on our day. First, my daughter's school was on soft lock down because of an incident that happened in a nearby town. Talk about being nervous and worried and not knowing what was going on. Then, I had a slight problem with my computer. It's fixed now (which why this post is going up so late). Third, I think I have another sinus infection. So, yeah, it's been one of those days.

Anyways, I need to stop my complaining so we can get on with today's post, which is Happy Homemaker Monday! Yay! Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy!

Weather: This week the temps are all over the place! Some days it's going to be warm and other days it's going to be chilly. I hate weeks like this. When the weather is this way one or all of us always wind up with colds.

On the breakfast plate this morning:

We had cinnamon rolls, hashbrowns, and scrambled eggs.

As I look outside my window:

All I see is darkness and the occasional set of headlights going down the street.

Right now I am:

Sitting at the dining room table typing this post.

On today's to do list:

Just the usual housekeeping chores and a few phone calls that need to be ade.

On the menu this week:

I haven't had a chance to meal plan for the week. I hope to sit down tomorrow morning order my groceries ( I love Walmart grocery pick up!), and figure out a meal plan for the week.

Currently reading:

Still reading The Outsider by Stephen King and Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark

On the TV today:

Disney +, Netflix, and Hulu

Inspirational Quote:

How I Organize My Refrigerator

When it comes to organizing your refrigerator, it can be the center of organization and chaos all in one. With an organized and clean refrigerator you can,

1) prepare better meals
2) utilize  everything with less spoilage
3) prevent buying duplicate items

I find the best time for me to wipe down and organize my refrigerator is right before my big grocery shopping day so that I can see what I need to add to my ever growing grocery list. Keeping the refrigerator clean and organized will make it easier for your family to find what they are looking for. As well as maximize your food's shelf life.

It is important to have a system implemented with your refrigerator and to put things back in the same spots. Older items should be kept in the from, so that they can be used first, and newer items should be kept in the back. It is also important to keep the outside of the refrigerator clear and organized with limited paper. If you do have papers remove any outdated or unnecessary papers. Keep things of the top of the refrigerator and remember to wipe down the front and sides as well.  You can put a basket on top to place lose items that your need to store there.

Here are a few suggestions that will help keep your refrigerator clean and organized for good.

 1) place healthy items that you need to eat more of in the front and place the fatty foods in the back. By doing this it will ensure that you are eating healthier.

2) Keep a list of leftovers with the date that it was prepared.

3) Use clear, plastic handled baskets to contain loose items that constantly falling when you open the door

4) Use a drawer in the refrigerator to store bottled water. This keeps them from rolling around.

What are some helpful tips for organizing your refrigerator. Please leave them in the comments below!!