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

Oatmeal Raison Bars & a little catching up ♥

 

Hello March! I am so happy you are finally here. Could this mean Spring is coming?  I hope so! Here in the Northeast we’ve had quite a winter! Nothing but snow, snow, and more snow.  In Boston we’ve hit over one hundred inches! Craziness! My son had a full week of snow days in a row.  I’ll admit at first we enjoyed it, but after the umpteenth blizzard, cabin fever began to set in.  Roads (and traffic!) were treacherous so venturing out into the world was a chore. 

 

My car is not ideal in the snow and I get very nervous driving in it.  I got stuck twice in one day and that was not fun. My yard is still completely covered with snow and the snowbanks are taller than I am. When will it all melt (and where will it go) are the million dollar questions. Hopefully my crocuses are surviving underneath it all.

Downton Abbey and Pinterest are the things that have gotten me through this long winter ♥

 

 

I don’t think anyone around here is sad to say goodbye to February 2015. I’m dreaming of a time when I can open the windows and hear the birds sing! This past weekend I put the remainder of my winter decor away and decorated for Spring. Little pops of color and bunnies are cheering up the house no matter what it looks like outside. I ironed spring linens and replaced the multicolored Christmas lights around my kitchen window with white twinkle lights. The window looked so sad when I took the lights down. I just couldn’t bare it! LOL
 

 

 

 

They say “In like a lion, out like a lamb”….well, we’ve had the lion – bring on the lamb! ♥
 

 

 

I also like to call this past February “eat month” because it seems like that’s all we did – chicken pot pie, meatloaf, roast pork & sweet potatoes! Oh my.  When the snow finally melts hopefully we will be able to squeeze ourselves out the door.  The more I’m home the more I cook.  It’s as simple as that ♥
 

 

 

 

On the flip side, we are thinking about joining a health club! Yes, I just said that!  My son loves swimming so our main motivator was to get him involved in a swimming program. We visited the Y last weekend to try out the pool and check out the facility.  He loved it! The pool is great fun and they also offer so many other things that we as a family can take advantage of. I’m thinking about getting back into yoga which I haven’t done in years ♥ 

 

 

Nervousness about the snow caused me a bit of anxiety and I found myself having trouble sleeping.  I went for a two week period where I was literally wide awake at all hours of the night. That has never happened to me before. (thank God for TV - I watched a lot of 1980’s sitcoms, let me tell you!)  I had heard that warm milk might help so I googled it and found a cure! I don’t know if there is any science to this or if it was all in my head but this concoction really worked for me.  PS – if it didn’t work I was fully prepared to go for broke and add a shot of whiskey!

 

Heat one cup of milk in the microwave for three minutes.  The milk will be very hot and frothy.  Stir in one teaspoon of honey, 2 drops of vanilla, and a dash of cinnamon.  Mix it all up and drink slowly : )

 

 

 

 

I’ll keep this recipe in my back pocket if that ever happens again.  Actually I think I’ll just make it when I want to relax because it’s really delicious!  Just because ♥

 

Speaking of Downton Abbey (and I’m not going to say too much here because I am preparing a special post about it) but if you watch it like I do you will understand how I have become completely obsessed with Rose’s wedding gown from two weeks ago……

 

 

 

It’s beyond gorgeous! Every time I watch that show I literally want to jump into my TV and slip into one of those beautiful dresses! I will admit that I did tear up at this one.  I am still speechless about it.  If only to do it all again I would want to wear this dress - headpiece and all. Someone please transport me to 1924.  I am ready! So sad that the season is over. I will get into it later…. : (

 

Before I go I want to share with you quick and easy recipe for Oatmeal Raison Bars.  I’ve had the biggest craving for oatmeal raison lately. This recipe is so simple and comes from one of my favorite blogs www.shutterbean.com I had everything on hand and the best part is that you press the dough into a pan (no need to scoop out cookies) and then just cut them into bars.

 

 
 

Easy Peasy – Thank you Tracy for another awesome recipe!  

 

 

 Oatmeal Raison Bars
 

¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter

¾ cup packed light brown sugar

¼ cup sugar

1 large egg

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup all- purpose flour

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1 cups raisons

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9 inch glass baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides.  Spray the parchment with non-stick spray. 

 

Whisk together the butter, sugars, egg, salt, and cinnamon until smooth. 

Add the flour, oats, and raisins until just combined. 

 

Press dough into the prepared pan. 

Bake 25 – 30 minutes.  The center will still be soft and a toothpick inserted in the center will come out with moist crumbs attached.  The edges will be golden brown. 
 

 

 

Let cool completely in the pan.  Use the parchment paper to remove onto work surface, and cut into bars.  Store in an airtight container : )

 

 

 

These bars are completely delicious. I’ve been sending one a day in John’s lunchbox all week. I think the next time I make them I will add either dried cranberries or chocolate chips (or both!).  The possibilities are endless ♥

 

 

   

Well, that’s all for now.  Here’s hoping the sun is shining on you today and there is no snow in your forcast! That’s what I’m wishing for myself too! ♥  xo