December starts this Friday! Can you believe it? Anyone else feel like they need to just take a moment to say goodbye to the blur that was November? And maybe take some deep breaths because of this:
Just 28 days until Christmas! And the way this year is going, I’m afraid to blink or it might be here.
Better slow down and get on with planning the week ahead with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.
The Weather
It’s frightful! Um, it snowed here Saturday night into Sunday. Way too early for that (Not really as we’ve had snow on Halloween in prior years. However, it seems odd as it’s been so warm for so long this year.). Right now it’s a balmy 27 degrees with a feels like temp in the teens. I’m not rushing off to the grocery store this morning. It is supposed to bounce back up to the 40’s later today and then, the 50’s with a bit of rain for the second half of the week. We need the rain but I hope it lets up on Friday afternoon as J has a concert.
Right Now
I’m working on this post mostly. Glancing at some cyber Monday deals, been a while since I’ve had a cyber Monday off work (that’s good AND bad). Also, checking to see if the grocery store is doing their Chiefs win/grocery discount.
Thinking And Pondering
The upcoming Christmas holiday mostly, that I feel happy when I think about it. This year despite the insane prices and me not working as much, I feel so much more positive than I have in a long time. Pondering the why. Not sure I have an answer and I’m really okay with that. Just enjoying the holidays and thinking about some more decorating I’d like to do and my baking plans.
How I Am Feeling
I feel good, slept fairly well. Breakfast needs to happen soon as I’m a bit hungry this morning.
On The Breakfast Plate
So far, just coffee as I’m trying to decide what I want. Maybe a homemade sausage muffin (reheating sausage my husband cooked yesterday morning and toasting an English muffin). And of course, vitamins!
On The Lunch Plate
Really not sure. Perhaps mac and cheese (from the trusty blue box!)
On The Dinner Plate
We’re having white chicken chili that I’ll put together in the slow cooker before J and I head off to his class.
On The Menu This Week
Trying to be a bit frugal and cook from the freezer/fridge/pantry.
MONDAY: White chicken chili
TUESDAY: Waffles and bacon
WEDNESDAY: Steak soup (new recipe though I might switch this up to spicy potato soup depending on mood, what G’s plans are as he’s not a steak fan at all)
THURSDAY: Pork chops and baked potatoes or hamburgers (husband’s choice)
FRIDAY: Probably OUT as J has a concert at 7 but has to be there for everything starting at 4:30 (he’ll get a dinner break). Last time we did this, I just got him Subway around 2:30.
What I’m Wearing Today
Long sleeved Chiefs shirt (red, of course), jeans, socks and tennis shoes
On My Reading Pile
Two books where the main character in each book is named Holly! I’m reading Holly by Stephen King as it came up from my hold list at the library (I’ve been waiting on it a long time!). And I’m also re-reading Christmas Island by Natalie Normann as it’s one of my very favorite Christmas time reads.
On My TV This Week
I watched SO much Football over the long weekend and was so happy to see a Chiefs win yesterday. Other than that, we got Hulu back (black Friday special) so I was finally able to finish Only Murders In The Building. And I was not even one tiny bit disappointed in the new Doctor Who special, even told G I’d watch it again today with him. Probably finish up Fear the Walking Dead this week and watch my baking show, maybe a Christmas movie.
Looking Around The House
Christmas is coming…I’m taking my time decorating. 
On My To Do List
- Grocery store (we do need a few items)
- Laundry/Cleaning
- Christmas decorating
- Dollar Tree trip
- Bake one kind of Christmas cookie (or make dough for freezer)
- Take my (apparently overdue, oops) books back to the library/pick up holds
- Plan for some upcoming December events: J’s concert(s), my birthday, G’s college graduation, our trip to the symphony, Christmas Eve & Christmas
From The Camera
It was an indoor kind of weekend.
Christmas Tips or Ideas
Make a Christmas notebook! It doesn’t have to be fancy or have 500 organized lists (unless that’s what you like). I just added stickers to a spiral notebook:
I’m left-handed so I turn the pages backwards so the spiral doesn’t bother me when I write. What I write in mine: at the end of each Christmas, I write down what worked/what we liked and didn’t like. That’s one way I knew I wanted to decorate more this year. Also, I write down random gift ideas and thoughts.
My random notes from 2022 (typed here so you can actually know what they say-awful handwriting):
- No more cinnamon popcorn for my husband
- Delegate/ASK for help
- Actually decorate the tree/we like it
- Put tablecloth on table early
- Do Christmas cards FIRST
- Invite people over before last minute!
- Gift idea: small jars of black-eyed peas/cornbread mix with recipe
- Battery operated candles for Nativity/window candles take C batteries/tree candles take AA
- Gift of reusable snack bags w/pretzels
I also start writing in it during the season with gift ideas and thoughts so it’s not a try to remember everything at once process. For this year, I’ve written a question that stuck with me: What brings you joy at the holidays?
Quote For The Week
“May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope; The spirit of Christmas which is peace; The heart of Christmas which is love.”
~ Ada V. Hendricks
(Found at Travelmelodies.com)
I have a Christmas notebook and over the years I’ve dropped categories but what works / didn’t work is the one I keep plus my timeline for when I have guests and the menu and the address list for Christmas cards.
Glad you enjoyed your Thanksgiving, have a great week
It’s so nice to look back and see what works/didn’t work before the start of the new holiday. Hope you have a wonderful week as well!
With much pleasure, I read your blog. It sounds so cozy. And you have snow! I’m waiting for it. Maybe tomorrow morning. Then I’ll open the curtain and see a white world. I’m all for it. But it’s not fun for the road users. In the Netherlands, people aren’t really busy with Christmas yet. First, there’s a holiday on December 5th (Sinterklaas). Many people celebrate that, and only after that do they start thinking about Christmas.
I’ve decided that we’ll just pretend December is July. My husband and I came up with wild plans: we’ll just have our dinner in the garden, like in the summer, with torches. And we’ll… oh no, it was just a joke. But that’s how we talked away the winter blues.
If you’d like to receive a Christmas card, I could send one. I can handle it online 😉 🎄💌
xxx Aritha
Thank you so much! Our snow is starting to melt, I’m really surprised it’s still hanging around but we’re also due another storm system nearer the weekend, rain or snow or a mix. Never know around here. Is Sinterklaas close to what’s called St. Nicholas day here I wonder? Oh, I could get behind a dinner outside in the garden in December…would work well in Australia though 😉 I’m trying very hard to get outside every time I see a sunny day this winter. Oh, I’d love a Christmas card, that’s so kind! Hope you are having a wonderful week!
White chicken chili is one of my favorites. Your pictures are awesome. Can’t believe we are finishing November already and starting December and Christmas.
We did enjoy it, I hadn’t even heard of it until a few years back. This year has flown by and I hope it slows down a bit for the Christmas season.
Hello, my friend. I love visiting here. It is so cozy. I love the idea of a Christmas notebook! Can you even believe we are almost in December??? I love your mug, too!
Thank you so much! I really wish I’d started using a Christmas notebook much sooner. My mug was a secret Santa gift from a coworker a few years back. I love to get out my Christmas mugs at the start of the season (I have to pack away the others but then, it’s fun to find them again once the Christmas fun is done). Love a good coffee mug 🙂
Beautiful tree and I love the kitty picture! We got a couple of days with just a dusting of snow. Today was pretty cold! I love it actually. How is “Holly” by S. King? I keep looking at it but I haven’t read any of his new stuff in quite some time. I absolutely LOVE the idea of a Christmas notebook! I kept something similar a few years ago but it was more decoration than keeping memories. I think I may do that this year! Thank you for the idea. Have a great week!
It’s been oddly cold here though it’s supposed to be warmer today. Honestly, I’m reading it but not really liking this new novel of his. It’s sort of the end of a series I suppose? Have you read the Mr. Mercedes trilogy? It’s another book with those characters though it focuses mostly on Holly. He’s weaved a lot of COVID/Political opinions into it that are detracting from my enjoyment of the book. I’m about halfway through but at this point, it’s a solid 2.5 star read for me. The Christmas notebook’s been very helpful for me, I think because I didn’t try to make it anything fancy. Hope you are in the middle of a wonderful week!
Your tree is so pretty and boy does that kitty look comfy! Your weather is much like ours – we haven’t seen anything above 40 in a week with mid 20 lows at night so outside time is from 1-2:30 ish in the afternoon HA HA
I have a Christmas notebook too 😀 I was forced to change as a kid from left to right handed, but still have left tendencies (wear my watch on the right hand etc…) so I always opt for a top spiral to avoid any issues.
I hope you’re having a GREAT week so far.
Thank you! It’s hard to figure out the warmest time of day. Yesterday, I went on a walk in the morning when it was colder than the afternoon but at work the wind was blowing so good that it felt colder then! Top spirals are great. I think I took my Christmas notebook from my youngest (right-handed) kiddo’s school supply stash, LOL. Hope your week is wonderful (and maybe a little warmer) so far!
Hello Love,
Love seeing the snow covered branches – and grill! Lol
I also love seeing your cozy home and the tree and holiday decorating. Yay!! That kitty Xmas pillow made me Lol. Love it! 😂
Your menu sounds nice and cozy too.
Love your list from last year – some great ones on there – like invite peeps over last minute. Love that!
Your Chiefs play my Pack this weekend…please be gentle 🙈 Lol
Blessings. xo
Snow is almost all gone now, supposed to be in the 50’s and 60’s next week, LOL. Thank you, I wish you lived close enough to come decorate my home for me 🙂 We’re going to have to wait and see which Chiefs team shows up to play your team though I must confess I do hope it’s my super bowl team that makes an appearance 😉 Hope you are at the start of a wonderful weekend!