Has it really only been a week between Mondays? Feels as if years have passed as the last week was a long one! Topped off by the adrenaline pumping, heart-breaking Chiefs game last night.

Maybe next year, Chiefs. We still love you.  I’ve already seen the comparisons tossed around to the 2014/2015 Royals. And how the baseball team came back and won the World Series in 2015. Maybe they took a page out of that playbook. At least, spring training is soon enough. Oh, baseball weather, how I miss you!

Speaking of the weather, let’s get to the categories our host, Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom provides for the link up each week.

The Weather

Still sweater weather. 

Cloudy all week. Today, warmer but I can already hear the wind. Good chance of rain (maybe turning into snow) tomorrow. Good news, if we want a blizzard around here, we’ll have to head to Dairy Queen. Not sure how far we’ll have to head to find some sunshine.

Right Now I Am

Working on this post while the boys (plus a few friends of G) sleep. No school due to the holiday. Also, trying to stay out-of-the-way while my husband fixes the garbage disposal (always something).

Thinking

Bit too early and I haven’t had enough coffee yet. Really, I’m just hoping for this week to be a bit calmer with everyone healthy.

On My Reading Pile

Finished The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. Tried to renew my books only to see 12 people discovered my large-print edition trick and 22 (!) people were waiting on Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Start Up by John Carreyrou. No renewals allowed.

No need to worry as I read Carreyrou’s book in a day. Non-fiction but read like a fiction thriller. Then, I noticed an e-book I’d wanted to read on sale for 99 cents so I also read Better in the Morning by Fern Ronay. A shorter, lighter read about a young professional guided by her late grandparents as she makes career and romance decisions.

And I guess for returning my books on time, library karma gifted me with finding a brand new copy of An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen just sitting on the shelf! I’ll start it today.

On My TV

Not sure. Whatever I can find on Netflix (I finished Stay Here, an interesting one about remodeling home rentals). And Seal Team (hopefully, it’s back this Wednesday).

Favorite Blog Post

Not a blog post but a really interesting article entitled How One Cup of Coffee Inspired a Journey of a Thousand Thank Yous by A.J. Jacobs.

On The Menu

“Everyone wants to be a food critic but no one wants to cook the food.” said to my family about their obsession with watching Gordon Ramsay. Decided it’s time to go back to “take it or leave it” dinner options.  Lots of question marks this week as I still need to go through the fridge/freezer and grocery shop.

MONDAY: Deconstructed Cabbage Rolls (found a recipe to try while cleaning out the cookbooks)

TUESDAY:   Pork chops, baked potatoes *I work 10-4* *G has pep band*

WEDNESDAY:  Spaghetti?  *I work 2-3:45*

THURSDAY:  Lemon chicken? *I work 8:15* *J has a baritone lesson*

FRIDAY:  No idea *I work 8:30-4:30*

On My To-Do List

1. Everything from last week except clearing the clothes
2. Finish clearing out books
3. Start on clearing out paper
4. Write and schedule a few blog posts
5. Give my unavailable dates to my work

Creating 

Bird feeders from recycle materials. Not pretty but functional. 

Looking Around The House

Not awful. Needs a good “everybody needs to get out so I can clean” cleaning.

From The Camera

The birds are back! 

On My Prayer List

My husband’s grandfather and family in Oklahoma, friends going through some hard things, family members who spend too much time with politics, and all the politicians to find some peaceful solutions to their differences. And of course, everyone reading this blog.

Quote For The Week

We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

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What’s on your agenda for this week?

If you’re local to the Kansas City area, you’d have to be living under a rock to not know the Chiefs finally won a play-off game. And even then, you’d probably still know.

Great story here about a homeless man who helped a player get to the game on time.

The last time they won a play-off game was in 1994. Way before the existence of my blog. My marriage (I think I was possibly dating my husband) and my kids. So just a “few” years ago.  Our area is just a tiny bit excited. If I was super cool, I’d show you the Chiefs snow sculpture I built like the ones on the news. However, I’m not and didn’t build anything.

Closer to this corner of KC, I did fall on my behind taking the trash out on Saturday morning. Ouch! Taking the trash out because J woke up puking. Yuck! And my husband left super early this morning for Oklahoma as his grandpa took a turn for the worse last week. Sigh.

Time to plan the week ahead as it looks like it’ll be a dicey one. Linking up with Sandra from Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom. Be sure to check it out her blog!

The Weather  

Snowy morning indeed! Not snowing but lots of snow left-over on the ground. Normal (for January) temperatures. Another storm on the way for the weekend. Local kids (well, mine) are annoyed with the weekend storms as they want a snow day. So do I!

Right Now I Am

Working on this post in a super quiet house while J is still sleeping. And still running a fever. I’m afraid he has the flu. Relieved my husband sent a text to let me know he arrived safely in Oklahoma.

Thinking

I need to let the little gray cat back inside soon.  Also, thinking about all the things I’d like to get accomplished around here today.

On My Reading Pile

Last week I read The Next Person You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom and loved it. Didn’t think I’d be disappointed as he’s one of my favorite authors. Started in on The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.  Watching her show first set a better tone to start reading her book, I think.

On My TV

Regular TV: God Friended Me and Seal Team and football, of course!

Netflix: Finished The Magicians, tried starting Narcos but found it a bit too intense. Re-watched some of the Marie Kondo show.

Favorite Blog Post

Two for this week. First, my friend, Carrie, over at Northwoods Scrapbook, returned from her break! Then, I enjoyed reading Rachel’s weekly update on her yearly goals. Inspiring me to perhaps do something weekly with my word of the year. More on that, tomorrow!

On The Menu

Tough category this week. Shopping the house for it. A lot of last week’s menu didn’t work quite as planned. This week’s menu may get shuffled around a lot depending on what happens this week.

MONDAY: Probably chicken soup for J (and maybe me), BBQ sandwich for G (from freezer)

TUESDAY: Chicken legs (if J feels up to it), salad (probably just for G and myself)

WEDNESDAY: French Toast sticks and scrambled eggs

THURSDAY:  Frozen Pizza *J has a baritone lesson if he feels better and the weather is decent*

FRIDAY:  Country Style Ribs in Crock Pot *Boys off school for teacher work day*

On My To Do List

1. Pay bills
2. Clean off this desk
3. Marie Kondo my clothes (yes, I’m using her name as a verb)
4. Laundry
5. Get end of January and February birthday cards ready

Creating

Some day…I will have something for this category!

Looking Around The House

It’s not too awful for a Monday morning after we were home all weekend. Just the usual things need attention.

From The Camera

The photos below are from yesterday, when I went for a short walk.

Lots of snow. Here’s a picture of my hot cocoa from Saturday to warm you: 

On My Prayer List

Family in Oklahoma including my husband’s grandpa, family here including J, hoping he recovers swiftly from this flu bug. The many in our area still without power from the weekend storm. Everyone reading this blog.

Quote For The Week

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)

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What’s on your agenda for the week ahead?

It appears I’m jumping right into busy work days this January. Last week I ended up working Wednesday through Friday. This week (so far) I’m working full days on both Monday and Wednesday.

There was a bit of a schedule mix up last week and so I’m wondering if those are the only days. Need to confirm things tomorrow. I do hope to spend a little bit of time in a quiet house this week. Missed it last week.

However, since tomorrow is a full day at work, I’m putting my Happy Homemaker Monday post together tonight. Be sure to go check things out over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom!

Let’s look at the upcoming week.

The Weather

Nice but weird for January. Predicted high of almost 60 tomorrow! Exciting for a preschool work day minus the now 70% chance of rain tonight. Rain = mud. Not as fun as you might think. Coldest day this week is Wednesday with a high of only 38 degrees.  Could change, of course.

On The Breakfast Plate

Planning on my new favorite Chobani Flip flavor, coconut snowball. And coffee. Always coffee.

Right Now I Am

Working on this post, half-listening to the documentary on Theodore Roosevelt my husband’s watching.

On My To Do List

1. Finish laundry, sort through our clothes
2. Finish putting away Christmas (tell me I’m not the only one)
3. Mail one last Christmas gift (plans changed so now I’m mailing gifts)
4. Go to grocery store for produce/lunch items
5. Get a new purse (zipper broke on my current one)

Currently Reading

One of the Amazon Prime Kindle First choices, Rock Needs River: A Memoir About A Very Open Adoption by Vanessa McGrady. I’m not sure what I think about this one yet.

On The TV This Week

On Netflix: Got pulled right into Tidying Up With Marie Kondo. I like it, very positive and inspiring. One episode left to watch.  Also, watching season 3 of The Magicians.

On regular TV: watched God Friended Me tonight and will likely watch Seal Team on Wednesday. Decided those are my 2 “go to” shows for now. Everything else is hit and miss.

On The Menu This Week

MONDAY: Spaghetti and meatballs, salad, bread sticks *I work 8:30-6* *G has pep band*

TUESDAY: pork chops, baked potatoes *G has pep band*

WEDNESDAY: BBQ sandwiches, French Fries (already in freezer) *I work 8:30-6*

THURSDAY:  Tacos *MNO*

FRIDAY: Leftovers

Favorite Blog Post This Week

Since I enjoyed the Marie Kondo show so much, I looked to see if she had a website. Of course, she did! Thought this post about what to do with gifts you don’t really like  was interesting.

From The Camera

Changed up our

Three Kings Cake a bit this year. Made it chocolate and used some gold stars on top instead of my traditional colored sugars. 

Quote For The Week

Gratitude can transform ordinary days into Thanksgivings, routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. (William Arthur Ward)

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Happy New Week! Happy New Year (tomorrow)!  Getting a quick start on my post as I have a hair appointment in about an hour. Wondering if she can take 10 years off the front and 20 pounds off the back. Alas, probably not.

Once I hit publish on this post, my “join in with Sandra for Happy Homemaker Monday every week” goal completes! Didn’t do all (okay, a lot) of the things on my 18 for 2018 list but I did do this one.

So for one last time in 2018, I’m joining in with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday. Be sure and visit her & all the other lovely bloggers linking up.

The Weather This Week

The year’s ending on a cold, rainy note. It’s in the mid 30’s and raining this morning. It’s also showing a chance for some snowflakes but nothing serious as the predicted high is 40. First week of January 2019 seems typical with highs in the upper 20’s and 30’s.

On The Breakfast Plate

So far just coffee though I should grab something before I go get my haircut. *UPDATE* I ate a Chobani Flip Coconut Snowball yogurt and a slice of bacon.

Right Now I Am

Debating if 25 minutes is enough time to eat breakfast, get ready, and finish this post. Might come back to my post. *UPDATE* Said in announcer voice, she did not have enough time.

On My To Do List 

We’re still on Christmas break until Thursday (my work starts back on Wednesday but I’m trying to hold off until my boys return).

1. Pay bills including property taxes
2. Figure out dessert to take to get-together tonight
3. Deliver belated Christmas gifts
4. Go get hair cut
5. Finish laundry, put away Christmas sweaters until next December
6. Plan some blogging posts
7. Pick up on hold book at library

Currently Reading

I finished reading Reshaping It All by Candace Cameron Bure last night!  Funny the first book of hers I wanted to read ended up being the one I liked the least. I knew it was meant as a weight loss book and some of it appealed but it hit too much of a preachy tone at times. Her later books strike a more balanced and kinder tone, a lot more motivating.

On The TV This Week

I’m not sure. Probably more Netflix and I need to find out if Seal Team is back this Wednesday night or next Wednesday night.

On The Menu This Week

It’s definitely time to get back to eating healthy meals together at the table. We’ve been very lax during our break!

MONDAY: Spaghetti (out at friend’s for New Year’s Eve, we’re taking a dessert). Not sure what the boys will eat (J has a party and G is undecided on his plans).

TUESDAY:  Salsa Verde Chicken, Salad, Black-Eyed Peas (I make mine a bit like salsa)

WEDNESDAY: Pork chops, broccoli, baked sweet potatoes

THURSDAY: French Toast, bacon or sausage, orange juice *School resumes*

FRIDAY: Homemade Pizza, salad *G has pep band*

Favorite Blog Post This Week

Can I have two?

First I loved this post from LeeAnna over at Not Afraid of Color titled Looking For Joy.

And a friend shared a link to this fun article on Facebook. It’s so accurate, it’s spooky: Why Teenagers Are Like Cats.

From The Camera

My youngest cat  teenager agreed to go around the block with me last night. It was on his terms which meant an hour after I had asked, right as it was almost dark and almost too cold. I’m so glad I went along with it instead of saying it was too late. Otherwise, I would have missed this stunning sunset: 

Quote For The Week

Embrace the amazing potential magic of today’s small everyday moments. (Zina Harrington)

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Happy, Happy New Year to everyone who reads this little blog! Hoping much happiness and good health finds it way to you all in 2019!

 

Thought about not doing a Happy Homemaker Monday today. However, I set a goal to do one each week in 2018. A lot of everything and nothing going on around here this week.

If Sandra, our host, does her post I’ll link up over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom. Let’s just get right to it.

The Weather This Week

So far it’s been beautiful! Our Christmas Eve is starting off green and bright but it looks like instead of a white Christmas, we’ll be getting a wet one. Rain is in the forecast for later tonight and into tomorrow. Temperatures are in the upper 40’s and 50’s though. Makes last-minute shopping a lot more pleasant.  Rest of the week is about the same.

On The Breakfast Plate 

Which one? I’m apparently eating breakfast like a Hobbit today. First I had a sugar cookie with my coffee. Then, I had a Chobani Flip Cookies and Cream yogurt (not a huge fan of that flavor). Ran an errand. Came home, made more coffee and had a Pfeffernusse cookie with it.  So um, really, cookies.

Right Now I Am

Waiting for J to wake up so we can go finish his Christmas shopping.

On My To-Do List

1. Clean the house
2. See if the library is open today (or at least return books to the drop box)
3. Pay bills
4. Finish Christmas shopping
5. Get ready for tomorrow

Currently Reading

Blasphemy by Douglas Preston. Hope I can renew it for a second time.

On The TV This Week

Finished Fuller House and now I’ve moved on to The Travelers, both on Netflix.

On The Menu This Week

Christmas chaos!

TODAY: Probably left-over spaghetti, maybe out. No idea really

TUESDAY: Christmas dinner at my brother’s house. He’s making a ham and I’m taking Crunchy Coleslaw per request.

WEDNESDAY: Pork chops? *J has a baritone lesson at 2*

THURSDAY: Chicken Strips (carry over)

FRIDAY: Leftovers, clear out the fridge/freezer

New Recipe I Tried Or Want To Try This Week

I tried Rebecca’s sugar cookie recipe! A big hit, we all agreed it wins over the Betty Crocker cookbook one.

From The Camera

I wrapped presents yesterday. And yes, our tree is quite sparsely decorated this year.

Quote For The Week

Linus says it best:

Merry Christmas!!