Happy December 1st! ♥

Hello Friends! Happy December 1st! ♥

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving weekend! My preparations started on Wednesday. I was a busy bee in the kitchen all day, doing everything I could ahead of time. I put on my mother's apron, put an old movie on, and did my thing. I enjoyed the process, nice and slow - with Carey Grant & Loretta Young in the background (The Bishop's Wife - one of my favorites!) keeping me company.  That lead to White Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life after that.  I was truly feeling the old timey spirit by that point! 

 

The table was set the night before - I used my mother's china and nothing too fancy elsewhere. For me, it was perfect. 

The morning of I concentrated on the getting the turkey in the oven, mashing the potatoes (which I did with a ricer for the first time - LOVE), and making the appetizers.  

♥

Once everything was ready, there was nothing else left to do but eat and enjoy the day.  

Which we did! ♥

Isn't it the best feeling when all the work is done?  

It's out of your hands now and all you can do is relax ♥

Rob poured the drinks, my brother-in-law carved the turkey, my Dad said grace, and John was in charge of music. 

It's so weird to me when I think about all the Thanksgivings of my childhood where my mom prepared everything...and now...I'm the mom! At 51 that still amazes me ♥

My sister-in-law brought the pies (which I forgot to photograph).  

They were delicious!  ♥

We played some games after that and John even treated us to some live music.

I was happy and grateful my Dad was feeling well everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.  All dishes were done before the end of the night (thanks to Rob :).  

I was able to take a walk around the neighborhood by myself to digest and decompress after everyone left.  I was happily in bed by 10.  

Another Thanksgiving in the books! ♥

(I promise you there's turkey in there somewhere! )

Side note: I was very glad I put up my parent's tree early so we could all enjoy it Thanksgiving eve. 

There is something very special about pie and coffee with the glow of the Christmas tree in the background.  What a nice way to kick off the (official) Christmas season!

We have arrived! ♥

I haven't done one stitch of shopping yet, and that's OK.  

I'm noticing as the years go on, my list of priorities is getting smaller.  Smaller and more meaningful, if that makes sense.  I no longer do things "just to do them." I only do things that are important to me.  I only buy meaningful gifts for people I love, and I do make sure I prioritize myself, so I don't get sick and run down (like in the past).  Once I accepted these things, I felt a huge weight lifted from the holiday stress.  It doesn't have to be stressful.  And it won't be. The house doesn't have to perfect, and neither do I. 

Thank God!! ♥

 

And now here we are ♥

December 1st.  It was very cold and bare out there this morning.  Most of the leaves have fallen and I can smell winter in air.  We are expecting snow tomorrow! 

Yesterday I put up my tree upstairs. 

I love this tree ♥

It has all my favorite ornaments on it. 

I smile every time I look at it :) 

So now off we go friends! Christmas movies and cozy nights by the fire.  Crowed stores and Amazon deliveries.  Wrapping, baking, visiting, writing cards, and reminiscing about holidays gone by.  Celebrations and delicious food we only see once a year! : ) 

We have 25 days to celebrate! 

Let's enjoy it and never forget the real meanings of this glorious season ⛪

Have a wonderful day my friends!  Are you still eating leftovers? We are! :) 

I'll be checking in with you all soon! xx 

Stay cozy!! ♥

Monday catch up: my tree is up ♥

Good Morning Friends! Happy Monday! ♥

As usual the weekend flew by and all of a sudden here we are again! I've got the Monday blues, and it usually takes me to Wednesday before they shake off, just in time to get ready for the weekend. Thats how it goes with me.  I'm always headed for the weekend : ) 

 The weather here in New England has gotten very cold!  I lit my first fire on Saturday and now there's no stopping me.  The first thing I did this morning was light another one.  While the kitchen warmed, I put on a pot of coffee and got dressed.  By the time I was done and having my first sip it was nice and toasty in here.  We have a lot of wood left over from last year that I'm going to burn and I love it because I don't have to run the heat during the day.  Some people say they don't light fires because they don't like the smell, but I rather enjoy it.  It smells like winter and the holidays and that's what I love.  

Very very cozy ♥

Last night after dinner I made this easy bread recipe I saw on TikTok.  I thought I'd give it a shot.  If there was a chance of having fresh bread in the morning, I was willing to risk it.  

#fingerscrossed! 

It came out amazing! My cinnamon toast tasted soooo good!! 

  

Here's a screenshot of the recipe.  I'm telling you, it was a sinch! And so worth it.  Something about homemade bread makes me feel like I'm doing something right in this world. 

 Is that too dramatic? I don't care.  It's good, so try it : ) 

Something else I want to share before I forget is I finished this book last night...OH MY! 

 Full disclosure I listened to the audiobook and I could not stop listening! I highly recommend if you like thriller mysteries!  I listened while cleaning, doing laundry, and making dinner.  I was a machine because I didn't want to stop listening.  It had 3 narrators, so it was like listening to a movie play out in my head. I really loved it.  

Anyway....on to what's really important....♥

 

My tree is up! Yay! ♥

I'm so enjoying it in the early mornings and evenings.  It's very peaceful and calm.  

My goal was to have it up by Thanksgiving and I'm happy that it's done so we can enjoy it for the full festive season. I have little bits and bobs of other decorations scattered around but I'm not fully decorated yet.  I'm enjoying the little things and decided not to go overboard. 

I had an epifamily the other day while doomscrolling making a mental list of all the home decor things I want run out and buy to make my home look like all the pretty Christmas homes on Instagram.  What am I doing?...I thought.  I already have so much and don't need anything else.  I'll use what I have and in fact, every year I tell myself I have too much (I'm talking Christmas and holiday decorations in general).  Bins and bins full!  Do I need anymore? No I don't. I put my phone down.  

I'll use what I have and it will be just fine.  I'm so easily swayed sometimes but I'm fighting the urge.  

Have you ever felt that way? Sometimes you have to stop yourself.  At least I do. 

I decided to focus more on food, family, and friends, rather than making my house look like a magazine and buying things I really don't need. 

I went on to more important things, like food! I started a little notebook that I've been writing my holiday menus and recipes in - mostly so I don't forget next year! I have purchased our Thanksgiving turkey and he's all cozy in the freezer.  Check that off the list.  In addition to the usual stuffing, mashed potatoes, and roasted carrots - I'm adding a few new things this year.  Corn casserole and sweet potatoe casserole! I've never done either but am feeling ambitious. My mom would be so proud. And remember the cranberry brie bites I was talking about a few weeks ago?  They look so easy and will make a lovely appetizer.  

Best Cranberry Brie Bites Recipe

I saw a tip that says you can mix the cranberry sauce with a little orange marmalade or apricot jam and that sounded good too.  I'm going for it! ♥

Meanwhile, outside Fall is in full bloom.  

Yesterday I was treated to visit from my duck friends who were having a very lively conversation! 

They will enjoy the river before the winter comes and they fly south.  Like all smart ducks do.  For now, I love watching and listening to them. 

 I always have ♥

And a weekend wouldn't be complete without a little baking.  I revisited an old recipe for Oatmeal bars which were very yummy. Rob has requested I make another batch for this lunch this week so that's on the agenda today! 

They were originally oatmeal raisin bars but I substituted the raisons for white chocolate chips.  

If I had dried cranberries I would have added them but unfortunately, I'm out.  

However, they are just as yummy, chewy, white-chocolatey, and delicious and you'd think they'd be.

Here's a link to the recipe.  I left out the nuts too! ♥

Oatmeal Raisin Bars - Shutterbean

They remind me of old school lunch box treats so it's funny Rob asked me for another batch for his lunch! Actually, when I first blogged about them they were for John's lunch (in 2015!!).  

I love revisiting old blog posts to see where I was at that time.  It was winter and I was in full nesting mode - ironing things, making chicken pot pies, and planning a spring garden.  John was taking swimming lessons and I was deep into 1980's sitcoms and Downton Abbey!  Aside from the swimming lessons, not much has changed! LOL 

I also love seeing our old house.  I used to put white twinkle lights around our kitchen window in the wintertime.  I miss that window! (go back in time HERE : )   

Well, that's all the catch up I have for you today, friends!  I have lots of computer work to do today and I must get at it or I never will.  Thankfully, it's lunch time so this Monday is half over! 

 I hope you find your peace this week ♥ 

 Thank you for visiting me today.  I'll be catching up with you all too! 

Stay cozy! ♥

Byeeeee! xoxo

Butternut squash & cranberry risotto ♥

Good Morning Friends and hello lovely November! ♥

The older I get, I have a whole new appreciation for November. I used to not give her that much thought, as she served just a bridge to December.  But really, November deserves her moment.  It's a month of calmness before the chaos.  A month of anticipation and preparation. I hope she takes here time because I actually love her. 

 And she's pretty too ♥

The colors are in full bloom now and every day it looks like it's raining leaves.  

Nature is prepping for winter ♥

 And so are we.  It's freezing. Have you put your heat on yet? I held out as long as I could but we had to do it.  The house is toasty and I'm looking forward to many cozy fires this season.  

I didn't get as many trick or treaters as I'd planned for.  It was the least amount we've had in years!  Has "truck or treats" squashed old fashioned trick or treating? I'm not sure, but what I do know is I have way too much candy left over and that's not good for anyone around here.  Especially since we're about to enter the biggest eating season of the year.  Ugh!  

Somebody stop me! ♥

*Breakfast of champions*

Right now I'm in that weird state of savoring every last bit of cozy fall while simultaneously being so excited for Christmas and wanting to decorate and do all the things!  I'm slowly putting away pumpkins and a bringing out holly and twinkle lights.  I want to have the most Christmassy Thanksgiving we've ever had.  I've started to make my menus and lists galore! Have you ever heard of baked brie cranberry bites? Me either but I want to make them :)  

Yes it's early, but I don't care.  The tree is going up soon. The music has started and so has the decorating and the shopping.  It doesn't mean I don't care about Thanksgiving.  It's only making it better in my opinion.  The holiday season is so short as it is, so why not start early. 

♥

Here's a weird thing about me... I find it very comforting to scroll Pinterest for DIY Christmas gifts that I will probably never have time to make, while listening to David on QVC talk about kitchen products that I'll probably never buy.  Why do I love that so much? I don't know but it's my happy place and I do it almost every day.  Do you watch David?  He's been part of my life my years.  I adore his commentary and kitchen tips.  

And speaking of kitchen....♥

Today I wanted to share with you a yummy recipe I posted years ago but deserves another moment.  It's a very easy butternut squash and cranberry risotto.  I make it as a side dish but I could easily just eat this for my meal.  It's perfect for this festive season! 

 

1 butternut squash (medium size)

2 tbsp olive oil

6 cups chicken stock

6 tbsp butter (3/4 stick)

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup risotto (Arborio rice)

1/2 cup dried cranberries 

salt & pepper

Peel butternut squash and remove the seeds.  Cut into 3/4 inch chucks.   Cook in microwave (on fresh vegetable setting) until tender.  (*could also be roasted in oven*)  Set aside.

Meanwhile, heat the chicken stock in a covered saucepan.  Leave it on low heat to simmer.

In a large saucepan melt the butter and saute the onion - about 10 minutes.

Add the rice and stir to coat the grains with butter.  Cook for 2 minutes.

Add two ladles of stock to the rice (about 1 cup) and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. 

Stir and simmer until stock is absorbed, 5 - 10 minutes.  Continue to add stock, 2 ladles at a time, stirring every few minutes.  Each time, cook until the mixture seems a little dry, then add more stock. 

Continue until the rice is thoroughly cooked (and you are out of stock), about 30 minutes total. 

Remove from heat and stir in the cooked squash. Then stir in the dried cranberries. The mixture will be thick and creamy. 

Transfer to a pretty dish (because that is what this risotto deserves to be served in) and enjoy!

Have a great day my friends! I must get some work done now and do some Christmas dreaming.  

Need more coffee too! ♥

Stay cozy! xoxox

12 Days of Christmas // Seeing the Lights ♥

Last night we made our annual trip to Edaville Railroad to ride the train and see the holiday lights.  I've been coming here ever since I was little, so this place holds many memories for me.  I feel like I've grown up here so its always special to bring John.  For the past few years we've come with my friend Julie and her family. The lights are spectacular! 

 

We arrived before sunset so we were able to see the lights come to life ♥

 

 

 

 

 

Hot chocolate and a treat are essential ♥

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also took time to go on a few Thomas the Tank Engine themed amusements. 

The weather was cold but luckily the sun kept us (somewhat) warm... : )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So here we are on the 24th! All of my "Christmas to do's" have been checked off my list! 

 

Thank you so much for joining me here as we count down the days till Christmas! 

 

I wish you all a warm and heartfelt holiday ♥

 

Please visit my friend Madison's blog today.  She's talking all about self care and doing an awesome giveaway.  You don't want to miss it! ♥

 

Self care is something we all need during this busy time.  So pour yourself something hot in a mug, get a cookie, cozy up and wait for Santa! 

 

Merry Christmas my dear friends! I love you all so much!!! xoxo