Happy Homemaker Monday for February 11th, 2019

I am linking up with Sandra from Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday

What's new this week: We are painting my bedroom and making an office nook for me to work from home.  I'm doing a shabby chic theme.  I love all things pink and flowery!  I'll post pics after it's completely done in a couple of weeks. 

The weather in my neck of the woods.....  We've got a couple of storms this week.  We'll see if they amount to anything. 

Right now I am.... Feeling tired..  Didn't get nearly enough done over this 4-day weekend.  I always seem to be pulled in so many different directions.  

Thinking about.... Giving my two-week's notice tomorrow! 

On the blog last week..... Only HHM

On my reading pile....  Reading "Now That You Mention It" by Kristan Higgins.  Really liking it so far. 

On my TV..... Still re-binge-watching McLeod's Daughters 

Movie of the week......  Nothing worth mentioning this week. 

On the menu for this week....  

Sunday - Mushroom and Broccoli Stir Fry Noodles

Monday - BBQ Chicken with Bacon and Cheese

Tuesday - Dinner out with a friend 

Wednesday - Dinner @ my boyfriend's house 

Thursday - Emily's 19th birthday and she wants Chipotle

Friday - Cooking dinner over Dad's house 

Saturday - YOYO 

On my to do list.... Finish painting my room.  I forgot how tedious painting is! 

In my planners.... Planned but not prettied! 

Looking forward to this week.... Getting my taxes back :D  This was last week's - now hoping they will come THIS week! 

Looking around the house.... Never ends.  Always so much to do! 

Bible Study..... Doing a 21-day study on Youversion called "Rooted" 

Happy Homemaker Monday: February 4th, 2019

I am linking up with Sandra from Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday

What's new this week: I got the job!  I did two interviews for John Hancock to be an at-home customer service representative!  I have wanted to leave my job ever since my boss said I should put my mother in a facility when she had cancer.  When she said I should have her take a bus to radiation therapy.  How I stayed there for another two years I just can't fathom.  February 4th is the two-year anniversary of her passing.  She'd be so happy for me!  It's better money, MUCH better benefits, and I won't be working for that dragon lady anymore!  

The weather in my neck of the woods.....  We had a 72-degree difference in temperature in two days here.  -16 to 56! 

Right now I am.... Exhausted.  I am trying to fit everything into one day - Sunday!  Cleaning, cooking ahead, errands, laundry, nails facial, blogging, etc etc.  

Thinking about.... All the wonderful blessings that God has granted me with lately! 

On the blog last week..... HHM and The Monday Book Report.  Still hopeful that I will start having more time to blog :) 

On my reading pile....  Just finishing up Emma's Gift.  Book review coming tomorrow! 

On my TV..... Re-binge watching McLeod's Daughters.  If you've never watched it - it's on Amazon Prime.  So good! 

Movie of the week......  Bohemian Rhapsody - it was so good!  It has made me look at Queen in a new way. 

On the menu for this week....  Some days are still up in the air 

Monday - Lemon pepper pork loin, potatoes and carrots 

Tuesday - Spaghetti and steamed broccoli 

Wednesday - Dinner @ my boyfriend's house 

Thursday - 

Friday - Cooking dinner over Dad's house 

Saturday -

Sunday -

New recipe I want to try...... Weight Watchers Tuscan Chicken Pasta 

On my to do list.... So much!  Redoing my bedroom so I am planning :)  

In my planners.... I have everything organized and prettied up - but didn't get a chance to snap a pic! 

Looking forward to this week.... Getting my taxes back :D  

Looking around the house.... Got a lot done today - still some odds and ends to take care of ....

Bible Study..... Doing a 21-day study on Youversion called "Rooted" 

Happy Homemaker Monday for January 28th, 2019

I am linking up with Sandra from Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods..... Like a lot of places across the country, we are getting a snow storm!  FINALLY some winter weather!  We had about 4 inches last night and should get another 4-6 tomorrow.  Then comes the frigid weather!  Around -40 with the windchill Wednesday night.  

Right now I am.... Wearing a facemask with green tea right now.  Just finished an at-home mani-pedi.  A girl needs to pamper herself once in awhile. 

Thinking about.... My sweetheart :)  

On my reading pile.... Finally getting around to starting "Siddhartha".  I was chosen as The Classic's Club Clubber of the Month.  If you want to read more about my reading life - you can see their post HERE.  

On my TV.....
Days of Our Lives
Young & Restless 
Maybe some of the Chicago shows 

Movie of the week...... I watched "A Star is Born" with my boyfriend.  Lady Gaga was amazing in it.  I'm not a huge fan of hers, but I was impressed with her in the movie.  I saw the 70s version with Barbara Streisand forever ago - but forgot how SAD the movie is!  Good but depressing. 

On the menu for this week....

Monday - Rotisserie chicken, rice with mushrooms, green beans & green salad

Tuesday - Taco Tuesday (turkey tacos with homemade guacamole) 

Wednesday - Probably have dinner with the BF

Thursday - Mediterranean chicken skewers with hummus, naan, and green salad

Friday - Making dinner @ Dad's house 

Saturday - Dinner with the BF

Sunday - One Pot Chicken con Broc 

New recipe I want to try...... See above 

On my to do list....  
Work 
Catch up on reading
Spend time with my sweetheart 
Write a letter to both of my penpals 
Post at least one more blog this week 
Start on Valentine's for the Valentine's Exchange
Make doctor's appointments
Sign up for new insurance at work 
Take Emily driving


Looking forward to this week.... More snow!  Spending more time with my sweetie.  Having my job interview over with (see below) 

Looking around the house.... It's cluttered because it's so small - but I just don't know what else to get rid of.  I need a bigger place.  Soon.  Everything is pretty good though.  

Asking for prayer..... I have a 2nd job interview on Tuesday for a company that I REALLY want to work for!  The job would be amazing, the money and benefits would be much better than what I have now and my peace of mind and stress level would improve more than I can express.  I'm asking for prayer that the interviewers will find favor with me and ask me to join their team! 

Have a blessed week! 

The Monday Book Report Edition #12

I am linking up with 

It's Monday!  What Are You Reading? 

S0 - I haven't read a word this week.  I need to remedy this immediately!!  However, I was named the Clubber of the Month for The Classics Club!  That was so awesome!  You can read the post HERE.  Learn more about The Classics Club HERE. 

I am starting "Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse tonight.  I began reading it once but for some reason put it down, so I will be restarting it tonight! 

Written in a prose of almost biblical simplicity and beauty, it is the story of a soul's long quest in search of he ultimate answer to the enigma of man's role on this earth. As a youth, the young Indian Siddhartha meets the Buddha but cannot be content with a disciple's role: he must work out his own destiny and solve his own doubt—a tortuous road that carries him through the sensuality of a love affair with the beautiful courtesan Kamala, the temptation of success and riches, the heartache of struggle with his own son, to final renunciation and self-knowledge.

The Monday Book Report #11 - 2019 Classic Goals

I am linking up with 

It's Monday!  What Are You Reading? 

I want to share my 2019 Classic goals and then do my best to actually stick to them!  I joined the Classics Club last August because I want to read more books that have withstood the test of time. 

I've chosen six classic novels that I plan to read this year.  Hopefully there will be may more, but for now, these are the six that I most want to read. 

1.  Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson   

2. Siddhartha by Herman Hesse 

3. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte 

4. Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery 

5.  Tess of the D'Ubervilles by Thomas Hardy 

6. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath 

My Ten (OK, 13) Favorite Books in 2018

I had a really good reading year.  I tried to narrow the list down to 10 books - but of the 61 books that I read this year, I have 13 that I truly found exceptional - and one that truly didn't live up to the hype. 

BEST CLASSIC:  I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou 

"Of all the needs (there are none imaginary) a lonely child has, the one that must be satisfied, if there is going to be hope and a hope of wholeness, is the unshaking need for an unshakable God."

"The world had taken a deep breath and was having doubts about continuing to revolve."


BEST THRILLERS: 

3. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch 

2, The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins 

1. The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn  

BEST CHRISTIAN FICTION: 

Julia's Hope by Leisha Kelly (My review is HERE) 

BEST YOUNG ADULT: 

The Selection by Kiera Cass 

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon 

BEST MOST-TALKED-ABOUT BOOKS: 

2. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng 

1. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes   (Movie was also really good!) 



BEST BOOK ABOUT BOOKS/AUTHORS: 

The Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine Lowell

MY TOP THREE - THE BEST OF THE BEST: 

3. Where the Crawdad's Sing by Delia Owens 

2.  The Storyteller's Secret by Sejal Badani (My review is HERE) 

1.  The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (My review is HERE) 

LEAST FAVORITE BOOK OF THE YEAR: 

Happy Homemaker New Year Monday

Welcome to this week's Happy Homemaker Monday.  I am linking up with Sandra at Diary of a SAHM.  

The weather::: Two months of gray dreariness and no snow.  It's beyond depressing. (Ok, ok - it's sunny today) 


On my reading pile::: I started reading two books that I've been waiting for to come available at my library: 

Girl, Wash Your Face 

The Prayer Box 

Movies or Shows I watched this weekend::: I watched "The Count of Monte Cristo" last night with my sweetheart.  We also watched the Robert Redford version of "The Great Gatsby" earlier this week.  

I watched the much talked about "Bird Box" on Netflix.  It was pretty good.  I read the book a couple of years back and it was MUCH better!  

Currently watching one of my favorites, "Under the Tuscan Sun" 


On my TV::: Days of Our Lives, Y&R 


On the menu for this week:::
Sunday:  Pizza 
Monday:  NYE dinner with my Sweetie 
Tuesday: NYD dinner with my family, the tradition for us is Chinese food 
Wednesday:  Spiced lentils and rice 
Thursday: Tacos
Friday: Dinner with family: TBD
Saturday:  Leftovers of some sort 

On my to do list::: 

Getting rid of this terrible cold/flu dealio 

Taking down the Christmas tree and decorations
Work
Organizing the house/closets/drawers, etc
Spend time with my honey


What I am crafting or creating::: I was seriously busy over the Christmas season - just as many of you were as well.  I really want to start a new junk journal to use as a scrapbook/diary for my new relationship.  I have the supplies ..... just need to get started! 

Happening this week::: New Year's Eve of course.  For the first time in a very long time I will not be at home asleep at midnight!  


Looking around the house::: I've been getting things cleaned and organized but there is always more to do. 

What I'm wearing today::: Not leaving the house today - so in my comfie clothes to clean in! 


One of my simple pleasures::: Reading blogs and watching YouTube videos.



Bible verse, Devotional::: 1 John 4:15, NIV: "If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God."