How We: Do Christmas Edition

Oh friends...we Christmas HARD....and it has been starting earlier and earlier every year...I think it is because my girls are 10 and 4 and I try to sqeeze as much of the holiday magic in for them as possible...but who am I kidding...I am also the biggest kid around so we all just go with it!!  :)

Linking up with Erika and Shay HERE and sharing "How We Do Christmas"

We have annual traditions that we start with and check off our "Holiday Bucket List"...they have included:

Taking a Family Pic for our Christmas Cards

Enjoying Watching Diana dance in The Nutcracker

Mama and Auntie Cass enjoy Black Friday shopping!

 

We decorate every corner of our home!

 

Stone Zoo Lights with Mimi and Papa

Festival of Trees with Mimi

Atkinson Tree Lighting with the Grahams

and visiting our loved ones at the cemeteries

and newer traditions including

Jammie Cocoa Christmas

and Mama's Annual Holiday Recipe Exchange

 This year, we added in some new fun too!

We took Mimi and Papa to the mansions in Newport RI and enjoyed them all decorated for Christmas

We saw The Grinch live in Boston with besties!

and We enjoyed holiday crafting at Auntie Mar's!

Then on the actual holiday eve and day, this is what happens...

 

On Christmas Eve, we go to Auntie Peggy's for our Family Feast of the Seven Fishes

and on Christmas Day we celebrate with all the kiddos for presents and breakfast and then head to Mimi and Papa's for Christmas Dinner 

Can't wait to read all about your traditions!

How We (Meal Plan and Share Recipes Edition)

So this month we are talking meal planning and recipe sharing....some of my favorite topics.

Linking up with Erika and Shay HERE

 Recipe Sharing

So as far as recipe sharing goes, there are two ways I typically do this

1. Right here on this little 'ole blog- if I think a recipe is a winner, I share it here and tag it in my Recipes Tab above so you can reference it anytime you want and

2. I will email recipes if my friends and fam request them after they have tried one of my dishes

In between all of this, there are many "Pins" happening over on Pinterest...recipes I have made or recipes I want to try and that really is where I get most of my ideas nowadays (outside of this awesome blogging community)

 Today, I thought I would share a few great ones with you here- I have picked fun recipes from different categories....so here it goes!

Appetizer

Shay's Sausage Cheese Beer Dip

Friends?  I made this for my parents this past weekend and it was a WINNER...my Dad even took home the leftovers and that never happens!  You serve it with large pretzels (found in the frozen food section)...seriously you will want to bathe yourself in it and this is the perfect time of year to make it.  Check out the recipe HERE

Cocktail

Caramel Apple Martinis

Another winner for this time of year?  My Caramel Apple Martinis...actually there are two versions...you can find both HERE

Main Dish

Roasted Shrimp and Orzo

I am sharing a very dependable recipe- one that Barefoot Contessa gave us and my friends and fam make now too...check it out HERE

Soup

Mel's Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup

LOVE using my crockpot in fall and winter AND make this soup several times a year so it only made sense to share it with you again today.  Check it out HERE

Salad

Zesty Lime, Shrimp and Avocado Salad

The Zesty Lime, Shrimp and Avocado Salad is an all-time fave.  Eat it with a fork or dip it in tortilla chips- such a fresh, filling and yummy salad/meal!  Check out the recipe HERE

Dessert

Rolo Ritz Marshmallow Treats

Friends?  DEADLY...ask anyone I have made them for....they are like a Rice Krispie Treat only you use Ritz crackers instead of the Rice Krispies AND they are made with Rolos...game changer!!  Check out the recipe HERE

Breakfast

Pumpkin Bread Sausage Bake

Well since it is Fall, it only feels right to share with you a recipe I use for Thanksgiving morning.  The kids all come home and enjoy a family breakfast before doing our town's Turkey Trot!  This one has been a winner for all of us.  It is Shay's Pumpkin Bread Sausage Bake.  Check it out HERE

 and now......for......

Meal Planning

For meal planning, as you know if you have been reading for awhile, we do lots of our planning on Sundays and we are much more serious about meal planning during the school year.  We still do some meal planning over the summer but it is much more relaxed.

Sometimes I stick to the really strict schedule below....

 Meatless Monday

Taco Tuesday

Pasta Worthy Wednesday

Anything Thursday and of course....

Friday Night Pizza Night

If you want to try the above, here are some suggestions for recipes.....

Meatless Monday = Veggie Fritatta
Find the Recipe HERE

Taco Tuesday = Oven Baked Tacos
Find the Recipe HERE

Pasta Worthy Wednesday = Broccoli, Chicken, Bacon Pasta
Find the Recipe HERE

Anything Thursday = Baked Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal 
(I don't know about you but my kids LOVE Breakfast for Dinner so this one fits that category too!)
Find the Recipe HERE

Friday Night Pizza Night= Usually Takeout BUT The Pioneer Woman has some awesome Grilled Pizza recipes and we have tried several.  The Fig Prosciutto Pizza with Arugula is one of my faves.  Check out the Recipe HERE

This week and most other weeks, we keep it even more simplified...here is our menu for this week....

Monday- Grilled Chicken Salads, Broccoli and Brown Rice

Tuesday- Baked Chicken Tacos

Wednesday- Mel's Chicken Tortilla Soup

Thursday- Mama has meetings and will be eating on the fly so Daddy is making the girls Grilled Cheese and Apples

Friday- Pizza Night (Take Out) 


How do you meal plan?  What are some of your favorite recipes?  I get so much inspiration from all of YOU! :)

How We: Do Fall Edition

So....I was just starting to feel in the fall mood this past weekend...yesterday I kept thinking I need to do a fall post soon...and then I remembered it was time for Erika and Shay's fun linkup so perfect timing!  Linking up with them HERE

and I am also linking up with Emily and her Crew for Fall Fashion Faves HERE

Ok I guess I am in the spirit so here goes nothing ;)

Fall Decor

My favorite thing about our fall decor are the planters on our front steps.  I originally go the idea on Pinterest (where else) and have been doing this since the first Fall we moved into our home (so 7 years).  I put large pumpkins in them and then surround them with white hydrangeas and greenery.  They look even more festive when the hydrangeas dry out a bit.  We also put extra pumpkins and mums on the steps around them

I also add pumpkins, a purple cabbage and a festive bow to our mailbox along with a cornstalk...I think it screams "Welcome Fall"...I know just go with it

Inside, it is all about the Yankee Candles of the season- Spiced Pumpkin, Sugared Pumpkin, and Pumpkin Marshmallow...Just want to sink into a blanket and smell these forever

Then in early October, I add the Halloween decorations....we all need a little spookiness.  Last year's edition was "The Window Tapper" and man does that scare everyone (especially Eva and me!) :) 

Fall Fashion

 So I have said it once and I will say it always- fall is the best season for fashion- do you agree?  Outside of not being Lilly's best season, I love the accessories and layers that the season brings.

Scarfs

Camo jackets and vests

Leopard anything...especially ballet flats

Plaid

 

Fall Food

Oh and there is nothing like a warm, homemade meal on a cold fall night.  Am I right?  Some of our favorite fall recipes include

Autumn Chicken and Squash Risotto

 HERE

Pumpkin and Sausage Ravioli

 HERE

Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup

 HERE

 In addition to all of these fall festivity must haves, we partake in various pumpkin festivals and spookiness but I will save that for another upcoming post!

How about you?  How do you do Fall?

 

How We Wednesdays: Packing Lunches Edition

Another fun linkup with Erika and Shay!  Linking up HERE

This month, we are talking about...

How We Pack Lunches.....

This one makes me giggle and it frustrates me somewhat at the same time too...it kind of goes hand in hand with our meal planning.  The days I think I am going to get it right and really get excited about the choices I have given my 9 year old are the same days that she fusses and decides she "doesn't like something anymore" -UGH!  Are you with me? Are any of my fellow mamas out there saying, you know it!?

Anyway...I am more looking forward to reading your suggestions but I thought I would share a couple of things that have worked for me from time to time 

The Yum Box

This one, friends, is a game changer. They sell them on Amazon and they are like a pretty Bento Box.   

You can find them  HERE

They really help to keep the variety in the diet.

Some successful combos we have put together have been pasta with sauce, a cheese stick, strawberries, pretzels and carrots.

Apple Slices with Caramel Dip, Salami and Cheese Rollups and edamame have also worked.

At the end of the school year, last year, however, the little Monkey demanded that she all of a sudden liked sandwiches so we had to abandon the Yum Box for a few weeks and pack her ham sandwiches with crackers, veggies and fruit.

I am grateful that we still have a month before school starts in these parts.  For now, our meals are more relaxed but before you know it, I will be bringing back my Yum Box A Game!  Can't wait to see what has worked for you!

How We Wednesday: Spring Cleaning/Organizing Edition

It's time again to talk about "How We"..... This month we are talking about How We Spring Clean and/or Organize....linking up with Shay and Erika HERE

So....Here goes nothing.....

Deep Cleaning

I have to admit we do have a cleaning lady...it is a guilty pleasure...a luxury and something I do not take for granted.  Since we both work full time and even though we are remote most of the time....we need the help to keep up. Once a year....usually at the end of Winter...we have her do a deep clean which acts like our "spring cleaning" if you will....so instead of the basic vacuuming, dusting and disinfecting, she will also dust the walls and blinds and any extras that we wish!

 Clearing Out The Clothes

So about twice a year, I go through the girls' clothes and gather them up to either donate to Good Will or pass down to a family member or friend with smaller girls.  We are due for our next one soon and it is always a large project.  I feel great though after it is done and I am able to pay it forward.  Our friends have been so generous with passing things down to our girls and I want to do the same.

(The last time my closet was this clean- the day we moved in 6 years ago!) :)

 

Prepping the Porch and Deck

As soon as we see a hint of spring, we get our porch and deck ready so we can enjoy dining and socializing outside as much as possible.  Rob vacuums the porch and sweeps the deck and then we get the deck furniture and umbrella back out.  I dust the sills the in the porch and fluff up the cushions of the furniture.  I have also been known to put fresh flowers in both locations to make them more inviting and when I am pleased with the way the space looks, I light a candle there to show my "seal of approval."  Can't wait to have our first dinner outside!  This has been the longest winter ever and we just want OUT!

Opening The Windows!


Enough said :)

How do you spring clean and organize?