Monday Musings December 17

Happy Monday Beautiful People!

My son came home on Thursday and my daughter and her bunny come home today (insert Snoopy Dance emoji!)

My painters are back today…we are going on week 3 with no end in sight. I’ve told them we are taking a painting hiatus starting Wednesday until after the beginning of the year. In their defense, they are also fixing some poor caulking and paint areas from previous painters. Do any of you remember Eldin from Murphy Brown?  We’re getting to that point I fear.

I am pretty well-finished shopping…I think! I don’t feel like I have a good handle on it this year…well, for that matter, on much right now.

Still figuring out the holiday menu. FOREVER, I have made cinnamon rolls, sweetbreads, etc. for our Christmas morning noshes. But I want to switch it up this year and move away from the sweets. In general, we have really cut back our sugar consumption this year and so I’m looking for good breakfast noshing alternatives…think savory breakfast finger foods.  Bonus points if they are low carb/gluten-free.  Any suggestions?

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Hmmmmm…a new standard of measurement

What does Love look like? 

Today I hope to start the Beef Shank Ragu that has become our traditional Christmas Eve Dinner.  Oh man, is this stuff GOOD! Because Terry and I try to avoid unhealthy carbs, we use edamame pasta instead of wheat pasta and now really prefer it.

In the off chance you are flying on Alaska Airlines this Friday!

Oh, how darling are these little Gingerbread Houses and this Tablescape!?

No need to run to the store when you run out of gift tags this week! Got a printer and some scissors or a paper cutter?  If so, I’ve got you covered. 11 Free Printable Gift Tags.

How to change your mindset.

If, like me, you are in a quandary as to what to serve for Christmas brunch, check out these ideas.

Need Stocking Stuffer Ideas for the men in your world?

What about the cooks or bakers in your life?

So, in addition to taking a hiatus from painting, I will be keeping it quiet on the blog front for the next 2 weeks.  My time to have all my chicks back in the nest at the same time is fleeting, so I am going to step back and soak that in.

But before I head out, I wanted to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah and Happy whatever ever else you celebrate this time of year.

As you are reading this is Cinncinati or Iowa, someone else may be reading it, at the same exact time, in Israel or South Africa. And that’s a really cool thing about this blog world…the inter-connectedness of us all.

In the words of some of my favorite little mechanical people, ‘it’s a small world after all’ and our digital devices have made it even smaller. So, I send all my friends from around the globe special greetings this time of year.

As much as I cherish this season for the religious significance it holds for me, I also treasure it for the time we set aside to just be with those we love, to relish in our traditions, to reflect on our blessings and to welcome in a new year…oh, and let’s not forget…to consume all sorts of home-baked goodies with abandon.

So, my wish for you is to soak in whatever this time of year makes special to you and your family.

Thanks again for spending a few minutes of your busy day with me today.

Thanks for making my day by SHARING!!