Happy Homemaker Monday 01.25.16

Good Morning!!  Yep…another week, the last week of January already, can you believe it? Now that it’s tax season, I’ll be volunteering at the library on Friday afternoons to help prepare tax returns.  I found this organization that offers free tax preparation, and the training is free as well.  I started my training last week, and it’s a great little group of ladies who will be working out of the library.  It’s something I enjoy doing, and in turn helps people get their taxes done…and…I only have to walk across the street 🙂

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

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

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MOVIE I’D LIKE TO SEE:
Zootopia.  This movie looks really cute and funny too.


LOL CHUCKLES, AND GIGGLES:
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RECIPE I TRIED LAST WEEK:
I did make the Chicken Parmesan Baked Penne, and it turned out really good. Here is the recipe.

Chicken Parmesan Baked Penne

1 lb. Penne PastaIMG_0699
1 lb. Chicken – seasoned with Itailian Season
1 25 oz. Newman’s Own Tomato & Basil Sauce
½ cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
2 cups Shredded Itailian Cheese
Fresh Basil

Mix cooked Pasta and cooked Chicken with sauce.

Drizzle Olive Oil at the bottom of baking dish.

In baking dish, layer:
½ pasta mix
½ cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup Itailian cheese
Sprinkle basil on top
Repeat.

Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

FAVORITE BLOG POST:
I found this story about a New Brunswick Jeep Club volunteering their time during the blizzard to get doctors and nurses to work at the local hospital. How cool is that? That’s how it should be…I got a jeep, there’s a blizzard…you need a ride to work…hey, I’ll drive you!! 😀

You can read the story here.  Jeep Club Volunteers Drive Hospital Workers During Winter Storm

THIS I HAVE TO TRY:
I always come across these tips, and think now that’s clever. But then I forget about them. This I have to try, and now that they are posted on my blog, I can look back and try some of these, this one definitely. I hate cleaning the fridge!!

fridgetip
When things get gross, just rip out the liners and add new ones.  Brilliant!!

FROM THE CAMERA:
More pics from the little trip to the beach with my daughter.

Yeah…about that…

OK…so technically she is not on the ice, she’s actually right at the edge, there’s sand under that snow.

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I wonder how heavy one of those ice sheets are.  The smooth edges and the shapes are amazing!!

QUOTES: 

Yep…it’s this cold…

After my daughter and I went grocery shopping, we decided to take a little detour before we pulled up to the house. This is what Lake Michigan looks like today.

© 2016 Liv's Photography

© 2016 Liv’s Photography

As the wind picked up we could hear the ice quietly crackling.  I also faintly heard the lapping of water against the ice, there must have been a small whole somewhere because there is no open water in sight.  Absolutely incredible to see!!

© 2016 Liv's Photography

© 2016 Liv’s Photography

Mother Nature is awesome like that!!

Happy Homemaker Monday 01.18.16

Hello everyone…it’s a cold one again.  Didn’t want to get from under my nice warm covers this morning!!  We have the day off today from school, but of course I’ve got other things to do. I have  some shelves I need to organize, and am working on our taxes, which is something I actually enjoy doing!!  Enjoy your week!!

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

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:
Snow Squall? What the heck is a snow squall? I think they are starting to make things up now, lol. OK Google…what is a snow squall? A snowsquall is a sudden moderately heavy snow fall with blowing snow and strong, gusty surface winds. Huh…should be fun.

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WHATS FEEDING MY BOOK ADDICTION:
Just finished Hide Your Heart by Tracey Alvarez. This one was pretty standard, she’s hiding out and healing from an abusive relationship. He’s the type of guy that doesn’t settle down, he’s not made that way…until he is.  What I liked was story took place in New Zealand, so that was different. Also the main character was a former model, but now restores cars with her brother, and was quite the mechanic, and could wield a chain saw. The male main character was a photojournalist, which he explained as “Photographers capture nouns; photojournalists shoot verbs.” I need to find a good suspense to read, haven’t done that in awhile.

LOL CHUCKLES, AND GIGGLES:

RECIPE I WILL TRY THIS WEEK:
I will try this one this week, I bought the ingredients when I went shopping. I even have fresh basil to use…my boys will probably ask why there are leaves in the food 😐 Looks yummy. I am also trying a different sauce. I normally use Prego with all my Italian dishes, this time I bought a Newmann’s Own sauce.  I really want to try the Bongiovi brand one of these days, I think Target sells it.  Bongiovi as in Jon Bon Jovi!!  I saw him and his dad on one of the cooking shows, the sauce is their family recipe.  Anniehow…Chicken Parmesan Baked Penne is what’s on the menu this week.

FAVORITE BLOG POST:
This is incredible. This woman is beautifully strong. I couldn’t imagine being that flexible.

THIS I HAVE TO TRY:
If this works, it will be amazing. I love to make Deviled Eggs, but hate to peel them. Also, this would work great when I make soft boiled eggs, you could probably use warm water, so that they stay warm.

FROM THE CAMERA:
He is literally chillin’…I love the seagulls out here!!

© 2015 Liv’s Photography

 

QUOTES:

 

Brrr….

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So glad I didn’t have to go out in this today!!  I did open the back door to drop something in the recycle bin. It.was.cold.

I should have gone out though…because when we get up to 24 later this week, it will feel like spring 🙂