Happy Homemaker Monday 09/14

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Carrie Ann Alexis

The weather has been rather chilly, but it looks like it will warm up this week a bit. Had a nice weekend, it was the twin’s birthday on Sunday, they turned 20!! Even though they still live at home, it is difficult to get everyone together at one time. I cherish these times with them, as I know all to soon they will be few and far between…basically I blinked and they are now two wonderful young adults. *sigh*. Hope everyone has a great week ahead!!

Linking-up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

CURRENTLY READING/HAVE READ:
I really only got the opportunity to read the other Blogbattle entries. Blogbattle is a weekly “contest” where anyone can join in and write a short story (1000 words max) using the word that is given for that week. There are some very good stories that come out of these battles each week. Anyone can join in to write, and anyone can also vote for their favorite story. All you have to do is read all the stories, and then cast your vote for your top 3. The poll goes on the page on Wednesday.

This was started by Rachael Ritchey 6 months ago. I cannot believe it has been that long. I joined in on week 6, and only missed a couple weeks along the way. It is a wonderful community of very talented, passionate writers, encouraging each other, and having fun with something we enjoy doing. I know we are getting more and more writers involved, but I don’t know how many just readers there are. Rachael has asked the blogbattlers to:

Invite all your friends and followers on social media to read our free stories every week and vote…so we can share the experience with people who just enjoy reading a good story and like to have a say in the winner of a little friendly competition. The more people reading and voting, the better!

I would love to see it grow to a community of writers and readers. Anyone who loves to read would enjoy reading the stories, and being able to pick their favorite, which then encourages the writer if their story is chosen for the week. If you, or know anyone who loves to read, share the link with them please 🙂

#BlogBattle

NEW RECIPE I TRIED THIS WEEK/RECIPE TO SHARE:
My daughter and I did make the Cinnamon Roll Bread Twists. They have a good flavor, but I’m not used to working with bread dough. I did use frozen bread dough. I like things nice and simple, and I thought they were more work than they were worth.

This is one of my sons favorite desserts, so I made this for him for his birthday. The twins aren’t big cake people. This is a recipe that my grandma used to make, simple and delicious.

Butterscotch Rice Krispies

1 c. Peanut Butter (I think Skippy works the best for taste)
1 bag Butterscotch Chips
5 c. Rice Krispies Cereal

Melt the peanut butter and butterscotch chips in a double broiler, (or on low heat) until they are creamy. Stir in Rice Krispies so they are coated. Spread flat in a 9 x 13 pan. Refrigerate until set. (about an hour). Keep in the fridge.

LOL CHUCKLES, AND GIGGLES:

THINGS I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO:
Football!! Sunday was the official start of the NFL football season, we are Chicago Bear fans!! I don’t always get to sit and watch the whole game, I’m usually in the next room doing my lesson plans, but from time to time I’ll get to watch part of the game, especially after the living room erupts into cheers, high fives, and chest bumps. #boys

But if the game is in the winter and it’s snowing…then I’ll sit and watch it, snuggled up with some hot chocolate, and my Bears Snuggie (yes…I said snuggie…don’t judge 😉 )

FAVORITE VIDEO/BLOG POST:
“Calligraphy is Music for the eyes!!” I’ll be getting my pens soon, and found the books I want to get…it’s only a matter of time. This guy makes it look so easy!!

FAVORITE PHOTO(S) FROM THE CAMERA:

❤ Happy Birthday to my twins Joshua & Olivia!! ❤

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES (PRAYERS OR DEVOTIONALS):

Happy Homemaker Monday 08/31

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Carrie Ann Alexis

I cannot believe it is the last day of August. The summer went way too fast. Already in our second week of school, and we have a beautiful week ahead, all sunshine and 80’s. Have a great week!!

Linking-up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

CURRENTLY READING/HAVE READ:

Reading another Elisabeth Naughton book, Hold on to Me. When Simone and Mitch find themselves running from gunfire, each one thinks that their pasts have caught up with them. A really good story line, I don’t want to give anything away. Very suspenseful, but keeps you wanting to read just one more chapter, and before you know it, you’ve read five, and it’s 2 o’clock in the morning 🙂

NEW RECIPE I TRIED OR WANT TO TRY THIS WEEK:

I did try Carrie’s recipe for BBQ Bacon Cheesy Chicken. So much flavor, it was a big hit here. I will be making it again in the next couple of days. I served mine with green beans, chicken flavored fettuccine noodles, and corn bread. My youngest son was trying to come up with a new name for it, but I think he was distracted by all the flavors assaulting his taste buds, lol. I’m sure he’ll come up with something this next time around. 🙂

LOL CHUCKLES, AND GIGGLES:

Yes…I remember this all too well.

FAVORITE VIDEO/BLOG POST:

My fellow Blogbattler Phoenix Grey posted this on Sunday. I was familiar with this song, but never stopped and listened to it all the way through. Such a great song. I always think of my young adult/teenagers and all that they face as they make their way in this world, bombarded by so many messages through media. They need songs with positive messages like this. I like to call these kinds of songs life anthems 🙂

Here is the post from Phoenix you can check out, and here is the video:

Also, Phoenix has been writing her Blogbattle stories about a Fairy named Winter. I just love this character and all the stories about her. You can read these stories here or by clicking on the BlogBattle: Winter tab on her blog.

FAVORITE NEW WEBSITE:

Litographs.com

These T-shirts are so awesome!! A T-shirt created from the text of favorite books. The designs alone are so cool, but then when you look closer, the colored part is the words to a book!! You can really zoom in on each shirt on their site. They also have posters, totes and tattoos.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA:

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES (PRAYERS OR DEVOTIONALS):

Found this after my Five Minute Friday post.

Happy Homemaker Monday 08/03

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Carrie Ann Alexis

Linking-up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

Happy Monday!! Had a good weekend, it was extremely hot out here. Took the boys to a Back to School event on the Lakefront…see below for more on that. The dragonflies out there were crazy, I felt like I was in a creepy movie. I’ve seen more than usual around the house as well. I Googled it and it seems to be a thing along Lake Michigan due to the weather, heavy rain, migration and wind patterns. Whatever it is…it’s creepy to me. Anniehow…on with my post.

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

A beautiful week ahead!!

CURRENTLY READING/HAVE READ:
I haven’t started reading this one yet, I just got it, it’s called First and Goal – What football taught me about never giving up by Jake Byrne. It’s a devotional book that has a devotional to go along with the terms used in football. Jake Byrne was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 14, but went on to play football in high school, college and the NFL. Looks like a very encouraging book for anyone to read but especially the young people.

ON THE MENU (so far):
Chicken Parmigiana, Salad, Fettuccine Noodles, Toasted Bread
Dorito Casserole
Spaghetti and Meatballs, Garlic Toast

NEW RECIPE I TRIED OR WANT TO TRY THIS WEEK:
There are quite a few I would like to try, I keep adding them to my recipe folder, I just need to get at them. Recently I have found recipes for S’mores Dip, Peanut Butter Cup Cookies (which are gluten free too) and Deep Fried Lasagna Rolls. You see I always lean towards the snacky food, LOL. But the Fried Lasagna Rolls look delicious, I’ll let you know when I try them.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO IN AUGUST:
There’s a Murder Mystery program at the library, where you try to figure out the murder by going from place to place in the library asking questions to the different characters. I’ve never been to one, sounds like fun though.

Sidewalk Chalk drawing contest for the boys, they each participated in one at the library already, and my 14-year old won 1st place and my youngest won 2nd place for their age groups.

Oh yeah…and school. I have a 5th grader and a freshmen this year to home school. Been there, done that and have two amazing young adults to show for it!! 🙂 (My twins will be 20 next month!!)

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA:
Here are are a couple of photos from the event we went to over the weekend on the Lakefront. It was a Back to School Mascot Extravaganza. Our city is planning on having a Mascot Museum built here in 2017, so the Mascots come out for a lot of our events. There were several NBA mascots as well as Tommy Hawk (Chicago Blackhawks) with a fake Stanley cup, Clark the Cub (Chicago Cubs) and Bennie the Bull (Chicago Bulls) who also did some tricks with the Acrodunk team.

This is the Acrodunk Extreme Dunking Team that performed. It was hotter than blue blazes out there, but this was a lot of fun to see these guys perform. Check out their web site acrodunk.com I had video, but couldn’t upload it 😐

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES (PRAYERS OR DEVOTIONALS):

Happy Homemaker Monday 07/20

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Carrie Ann Alexis

Linking-up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

It’s Monday again, having a late post here, had some running to do this morning, nonetheless, here’s what’s up, just a few things I wanted to share. Hope you have a wonderful week ahead!!

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

Looks like a nice week. No rain yet today.

CURRENTLY READING/HAVE READ:
Sunset Bay by Susan Mallery is sitting here waiting for me to pick it up and read it. 😐

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:
Still need to plan and shop. I grilled some hamburgers and hot dogs yesterday, so we have those to finish. I do have some chicken I might throw on the grill as well.

NEW RECIPE I TRIED OR WANT TO TRY THIS WEEK:
I had forgotten about this recipe, and made it the other night. My kids all but inhaled this thing. So I’m making it again tonight, LOL. It’s really easy and a good alternative to Nestle Tollhouse Squares, I think they actually taste better. I originally found the recipe on Facebook.

Lazy Cake Cookie Bars

1 box Yellow cake mix
2 eggs beaten
1 stick butter or margarine – melted
2 cups chocolate chips

Mix all together, I’ve added a little milk if the batter is too thick. Spread in a greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake for 20 minutes at 350*. Pour yourself a glass of ice cold milk and enjoy!!

WHAT I’VE CREATED LATELY:
I added a page to my blog, that has all my short stories in one place. I created the graphic that is on the top of the page. Loved that pic with my favorite things, coffee and cookies, and yes, that is actually my handwriting. 🙂

MY FAVORITE BLOG POST/VIDEO THIS WEEK:
This was such an interesting article, I had no idea that the Queen of England had corgis. This is the kind of dog that my daughter and I really want to have one day. They are so cute!! The article said that since the 1950s, corgis were bred on the grounds of Windsor Castle. At one point the Queen actually owned 30 of them, but sadly she is down to only two. Even The Queen of England enjoys that unconditional love of a dog.

You can read the whole article here.

WHAT I’M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS WEEK:
It should be something I am looking forward to, but I’m not a big fan of crowds. This weekend our quiet town will be inundated with Pierogi Fest. This is a big fest out here, and was actually featured on The Food Network. Yes, Polish Food, Polish People, and People who think they are Polish only because they eat a few pierogi and have stayed too long in the Beer Garden. All kinds of food booths and people…lots and lots of people, almost 200,000 people. This fest takes place only a couple of blocks away from our house, and we definitely see the increase in traffic; car and on foot. But it’s a huge fest, and people come from all over and enjoy it…me, not so much…*hands over her Polish card neatly folded in her babushka*.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA:
If you look hard enough you can find amazing things

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES (PRAYERS OR DEVOTIONALS):

Happy Homemaker Monday 07/13

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Carrie Ann Alexis

Linking-up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

It’s Monday again. Not much going on, here’s to another week…hope you have a good one!!

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:
Looked like it was going to rain all day today, but it has turned out to be a sunny day.

CURRENTLY READING/HAVE READ:
Currently I’m reading Almost Home by Susan Mallery as part of the Summer Reading program. I’m halfway through it, and it’s very good so far.

After 10 years as a sous-chef, Jenna finds herself back home and in front of a store front with a for lease sign in the window, impulsively she signs the lease to open up her own cooking store. With no business experience, she hires a manager named Violet, who has a troubled past, but the two become fast friends, determined to make the store a success. As if running a new store wasn’t stressful enough, in walks Jenna’s free-spirited biological parents, who now want to be a part of her life, though she is very happy with the conservative adoptive parents that raised her. Very good characters again, Susan Mallery’s stories are always fun to read.

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:
I need to do some more shopping, but have these few things planned:
Chicken and Rice casserole
Lasagna Pasta, salad, garlic bread
BBQ pork sandwiches and fries

NEW RECIPE I TRIED OR WANT TO TRY THIS WEEK:
I’ve recently started making this casserole again. This is my variation, I really don’t remember the original recipe. Also, I would make this after Thanksgiving using left over turkey meat, which is good too, thus the idea of serving it with cranberry sauce. But for everyday, you can just use chicken.

Chicken Casserole

Ingredients:
1 ½ lbs cooked chicken
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can or frozen green beans
1 8 oz. Container sour cream
1 pkg. Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned cubed stuffing
1 cup Chicken broth
Poultry Season

Cook chicken however you like. I put mine in the crockpot and season with Poultry season and pepper. In a large bowl, mix together chicken, soup, green beans sour cream chicken broth and half of the cubed stuffing. Sprinkle poultry season over top of mixture and mix in. Place in a greased 9 x 13 pan. Cover top of casserole with the remaining cubed stuffing. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes at 350. Serve with cranberry sauce sliced over the top.

MY FAVORITE BLOG POST/VIDEO THIS WEEK:
Those of us who grew up in the 80s all remember Live Aid, can’t believe it’s been 30 years (yes that shows my age 😉 ) This is a lengthy article, but fun to read, as some of the alumni from the live concerts reminisce about what actually took place during that time and what Live Aid was all about. As Martha Quinn (one of the original VJs of MTV) is quoted as saying “Live Aid 1985 was probably the pinnacle of rock ‘n’ roll.”

Find the article and videos here:

https://www.yahoo.com/music/an-oral-history-of-live-aid-the-ones-who-made-a-123778461786.html?soc_src=mags&soc_trk=copy

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS WEEK:
Cruise Night. Once a month our town opens up the main street for car enthusiasts to showcase their classic/muscle cars, with 50’s music playing as you stroll down the street. So much fun…so many cars, almost 10 blocks worth. This month there will be some Hollywood cars showcased.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA:
This is the little garden oasis my mom and I constructed over the last couple of years.