What's Up Wednesday ~ November 2022

 Hey, hey! It's time for another What's Up Wednesday!

What we're eating this week......

Monday - out to eat BBQ

Tuesday - tacos

Wednesday - grilled chicken, sweet potatoes, vegetable

Thursday - ??

Friday - shrimp

Saturday - pizza

What I'm reminiscing about....

While my girls were home last weekend, we reminisced about our time in South America.  Here were two pictures that we talked a lot about. This first picture was taken on a horse back riding trip in Colombia.  

This picture was taken while we were taking a walk on a Sunday afternoon in Cusco, Peru.  Don't mind all the sheep crossing the road!

What I'm loving....

I loved having both girls home last week.  The oldest went back this week to finish exams and will be back the week of Christmas.  My youngest is still home with us and it is so good to have her back in the house.

What we've been up to....

I have been up to lots of Christmas shopping, most of which has been online.  I haven't started wrapping yet though. This is the week to sort through all the packages that will be arriving!

I also had a weekend trip to McKinney, Texas you can read about here and a birthday this month.

What I'm dreading....

I have lots of financial paperwork to organize.  :(

What I'm working on....

I am working on a few details for our NYC trip, meal planning, and this is a busy season at work.  I am also working on a coat drive in memory of my great nephew who was born into heaven in December of 2020.  This is the 2nd year my sister and I collect coats to be donated to two local schools.

What I'm excited about....

I am excited about my trip to New York City this month with my girls!  The last time I went was in 2016.  This has probably been the longest time I have gone between visits to my favorite city!

What I'm watching/reading....

I am watching Christmas movies from Hallmark, Great Family Channel and Netflix.  I will probably be watching them through January at the rate they are airing movies.

What I'm listening to....

I am beginning to listen to Christmas music on a regular basis now.  My favorite is Gwen Stefani's Christmas album!  I am also still trying to keep up with my weekly podcast list!

What I'm wearing....

Leggings and a sweater or tunic top most days, with a few dresses sprinkled in the mix when I go to work.  I wore this new dress for Thanksgiving.  I purchased this on my birthday from Altar'd State.

What I'm doing this weekend.....

I don't have any plans as of yet, other than cleaning and organizing and hopefully watching a Christmas movie or two...or three.

What I'm looking forward to next month....

NYC at Christmas time, good food, Christmas movies, staring at twinkling lights, listening to Christmas music and giving gifts to my girls.

What else is new.....

I recently painted my front door.  Maybe some of you have seen this trend?  I purchased this kit from Amazon and completed the project in 2 days.  It is fairly easy to do.  It doesn't look perfect, but neither does original wood, right? This was the before and the color of our front door when we bought the house almost 6 years ago.

I taped it off for the two different applications.

Here is the finished look...

And now with a Christmas wreath...

Thanks for reading and enjoy your day!

Hello Monday ~ Thanksgiving Weekend 2022

 Happy Monday and hope you all enjoyed the long holiday weekend.  Oh how I wish we had another day with not much going on, but it is back to the list of things to be done on this Monday.

My oldest came home Tuesday evening and after a quick dinner of grilled cheeses, a family favorite, we headed to see the Grizzlies play basketball.  We have become Grizzlies NBA fans and it is fun to watch them play live.  It is more fun when they win, which they didn't this time unfortunately, but we did get to see one of the best players in the league though, Ja Morant.

We stopped by the grandest hotel of the south, The Peabody.  When my girls were younger, we always went during the Christmas season and took pictures.  We were dressed for the basketball game, but didn't miss the opportunity while we were downtown.

Wednesday, my brother and his family came in town.  They won't be here for Christmas, so we enjoyed hanging out at my sister's house.  Here are the 4 youngest cousins.

Eden spent the night with us and it was so fun to wake up and see the signs of life at my kitchen table....wrappers, a deck of cards, glasses.

I had the parade on TV in the background, but honestly didn't get to watch a lot of it due to cooking.  However, I did stop to watch my favorite, The Lion King.  This opening number is the best 5 minute opening number on Broadway, with the tap dance number of 42nd Street being a close second.

We had lunch at my parents house then went to see my niece's new house being built.  Here I am with my 2 girls.

Sweetest cousins

My brother, sister and I

Most of the family on my side :)

My great niece in her Christmas PJ's later in the evening coming to show me something.

And holding the youngest one

Friday, I got out with my girls mid-day to go to a few stores.  There were long lines, but it wasn't too bad.  I did a lot of shopping online too over the weekend and have most of Christmas gifts purchased.  Now to sort through all the packages when they arrive!  This picture popped up in memories from back in 2011 when I took my oldest with me to Target at midnight for shopping.  She still remembers this as being one of her favorite childhood memories.

Saturday, my husband gave my girls a lesson in changing a tire.

We found old Christmas episodes of The Brady Bunch and Family Ties and watched those while we decorated the Christmas tree. (I will share more pictures of this later).

Saturday night, we went to dinner with friends and then church on Sunday & lunch for the 4 of us at our favorite local pizza place.  Now off to a hopefully a good week ahead!

Hello Monday ~ November 21, 2022

 

Another Monday has rolled around and it is a holiday week!

Listen, the favorite of thing of my weekend, or actually last week was just one thing...

My baby girl came home from college Thursday night!  She made the 9 1/2 hour drive by herself and it was so good to have her home! I didn't take an actual picture, but in my mind, I have a picture. I will have the picture in my mind of a long time of when she entered the house and then her reaction seeing her room and diving into her bed.  She left Friday afternoon and was actually gone for the weekend to help with a church youth retreat.  Now, she is back home until January.  

My weekend started with going to our local home show Friday afternoon.  It is always fun to see these houses and the designs.

The rest of my weekend was pretty low key and quiet.  My husband was out of town too, so I was solo.  I made a trip to Wal-Mart Saturday and then picked up take out from Moe's.  I spent some time on the phone, then worked a little more on my Christmas decorating.  I have the inside decorating done, minus decorating the tree. I will share more pictures in a future post.

I watched a lot of Hallmark movies, with my favorite one being "Three Wise Men and a Baby".  It is one of my favorites this season. I did some cleaning, and ventured to Costoco after church Sunday.  I will work today and tomorrow and my oldest comes home Tuesday.  The rest of our week will be spent with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving, so this will be my only post of the week.

I am wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving and time to pauses to share what you are thankful for this holdiay.  

Monthly Musings ~ November

 Good morning.  Today I am linking up with Holly and Patty for Monthly Musings this month about Holiday Prep.

1.  Favorite holiday traditions?

When my girls were little, we always would go to the nice hotel in town to see the decorations and take a picture in front of the tree.  

We also like to take a night to look at Christmas decorations. 

We have a time of just the 4 of us where we exchange gifts between us.  

We attend the Christmas Eve service at church. 

Christmas Day night, we watch the movie "The Nativity Story".

2.  What holidays do you celebrate?

We celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas, but Thanksgiving usually has Christmas decorations in the background :)

3. How early do you shop?  

I try to start with little things as I see them in the fall.  Most of my shopping is probably done on Black Friday and Cyber Monday

4. When do you decorate?

I begin decorating the weekend after my birthday, which was last weekend.  However, I don't decorate the tree until Thanksgiving morning and don't turn on any outside lights until the day after Thanksgiving.  

5. Do you host any holiday festivities?

I am not hosting any this year that I know of yet.

6. Favorite holiday meals or recipes to share?

I made this recipe for a gathering Tuesday night:

Pimento Cheese Stuffed Peppers

1 block cream cheese, softened

¼ c. mayo

1 c. grated cheddar cheese

½ Tablespoon garlic powder

½ Tablespoon onion pepper

Pinch of salt and pepper

1 4oz. Jar of pimentos, drained

½ Package of bacon bits

 1/4 c. brown sugar

6 jalapenos, sliced in half lengthwise and the ribs and seeds scooped out (for less heat)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.  First, make your pimento cheese.  In a mixing bowl, stir together your cream cheese, mayonnaise, grated cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper and pimentos.  Once combined, cover and stick in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.

**Note:  You can also buy premade pimento cheese!**

Scoop your pimento cheese mixture inside the jalapeno cavity.  Mix the bacon bits and brown sugar together and then sprinkle on top of the cheese mixture.  

Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes.  Remove and let cool for a few minutes before serving.

For a sweet dessert, I just like to add Christmas red and green M & M's to cookies and brownies.  I also like this one from Mix and Match Mama:

Oreo Christmas Bark

For a drink, I made this last Christmas morning & it was very good:

Christmas morning punch

7.  Best holiday organization tip?

Label bags/bins as unpacking and packing so you know what everything is.  I found this especially helpful with garland.

8.  Gift wrapping?  Love it or hate it?

I don't mind to gift wrap, but it is nothing ornate.  I may add a ribbon or specialty tag, but that is about it.

9. Holiday coffee drink?

I am not a coffee drinker, but I do love a hot chocolate.  I like hot tea too, but hot chocolate is more of my go-to hot drink in the winter.

10.  Are you a holiday baker?

I do enjoy baking....if I can just get motivated.  All the ingredients just are so expensive these days, but 'tis the season!

Weekend Wrap Up ~ November 14, 2022

 

Happy Monday!  The weather has turned cold and I am here for it! I switched out to my flannel sheets and love the cozy feel of them.  I am linking up today recapping my birthday weekend.

My birthday Friday started with my husband making me an omelette served with a banana. 

I watched a Hallmark movie while getting ready that morning because with 3-5movies a week, it is easy to fall behind! 

It was 11:11 on 11/11....make a wish!

We headed out for lunch and listened to some Huey Lewis.

We ate at a local Mediterrean restaurant outside on the patio.

They have the best pita chips and hummus!

We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping and I used a lot of my birthday discounts.  I am on a list of so many stores and restaurants that give discounts.  Some of my favorites are Starbucks (free drink good only on your birthday), Madewell, Loft, Altar'd State, Sephora, Ulta, and Target.  There are also free meals from Moe's, Salsaritas and free desserts from McAlisters, Chick-fil-A and a few other local places.

I got this salted caramel cheesecake free from a local restaurant for my birthday dessert.  I also picked up a free bundlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes and gave that to my husband.

This was my birthday loot after a day of shopping! After all my travel this fall, I was in need of new luggage.  My other luggage was literally falling apart.  I found this Calpac set at TJMaxx.

I lit my birthday candle that night and watched the movie "Redeeming Love".  It is a tough story to watch, but such a beautiful story of love and forgiveness.

Saturday was spent at home organizing and pulling out Christmas decorations.  It was so good to have a Saturday at home...until we went out Saturday night. We met my parents for dinner and then afterwards, my husband and I headed downtown to see comedian Nate Bargatze. Y'all, if he comes to a city near you, go.  He has two Netflix specials and is so funny.  We saw him a year and a half ago and he was just as funny this time.

We went back to church Sunday after being out for about a month now with traveling. We took advantage of another birthday discount and had a free lunch at Moe's.  I watched a Hallmark movie and did a little more cleaning and organizing.  It is never ending!

Enjoy your Monday friends!

Friday Favorites ~ 11 + 11 = 22

 

Happy Friday! 

ONE

Today is 11/11/22...or an interesting observation is 11+11=22!

And, today I celebrate completing 52 years around the sun, so today is my 52nd birthday.

This month, I am wearing my 11/11 bracelet each day along with a topaz ring. I got the bracelet last year for Christmas and the ring (not pictured) is one I received from my grandmother when I was a teenager. I wear both of these items other times during the year, but I am wearing them daily during the month of November.

TWO

I had a lunch date Wednesday with 2 friends at a new place and it was delicious.  They serve breakfast all day, but also have a great lunch menu.  I chose the brisket scramble, which was scrambled eggs with brisket and it came with queso, which I got on the side.  It was served with hasbrowns, fruit and a biscuit.  I already have a few other menu items I want to try next time I go!

THREE

I visited McKinney, Texas last week and recapped that trip here and here.

FOUR

I am so proud of my brother for completing the New York City Marathon this past Sunday.  He has done several marathons, triathalons, and an Ironman, but this one has been on his bucket list for a while.  I watched some of it on tv, then tracked him the entire race.  I knew when he was coming to the finish line and was able to take pictures through the app and actually got him at the finish line!  I am not a runner, but I love to cheer on people running!

The list is short this week.  It was a quiet week for me. I plan on getting out today to do some shopping,  go out to eat & get dessert to celebrate today.  I am here for the cooler weather coming too!  I plan on some Christmas decorating as well this weekend :).

Hope you all have a good Friday and weekend!