Hobby Lobby

Just a quick post to let you know that Hobby Lobby has Christmas stuff on sale for 80% off!

Christmas Decorations

Just a few shots of decorations around the house for the Christmas Season!

My Midnight Mass Outfit

It is hard to see but the skirt and base colour of the blouse is a dark blue. The sweater is a pretty, rich, pink.

Planners, Calendars, And More- Oh My!

Folks, it is that time of year when I order my planners for the new year-woo hoo! My place of employment used to allow employees to choose the planner of their choice but this year we were limited to only a few choices. I went ahead and ordered the planner and will use that one for work.
The one pictured below is what I used to obtain for work but since that is over- I decided to purchase it for my home office. The format of this calendar is perfect. I wish I could combine it with the second planner/calendar-which is Catholic.

 This calendar/planner includes all the holy days for Catholics, feast days, fast days, and stories to fill your mind! I just wish it was in the format above.

So, why do I need two planners for home, a wall calendar for home and a planner at work? Because I'm sick, that's why but just for giggles- let me attempt to justify....

The Catholic planner I keep in my handbag. This allows me to always be aware of holy days and fast days.
The second planner (as stated above) is kept in my office at home. I use this one to jot down appointments for the family, pet, bookstore, and church.
The wall calendar is used more as a glaring reminder for upcoming events, holy days, ember days and such. I also keep track of Confession on that calendar.

So... do any of you keep calendars/ planners? Do you use your home computer, phone, or go old school? You know my sick mind wants to know all the seedy details... I am totally drooling right now... paper does that to me.

Pro-Life Packets

Here are a few pictures of the information I have put together in the pro-life packet I put together for the abortion clinic.

News report about Nick Cannon talking about Planned Parenthood and Eugenics

The packet also includes information on each abortionist. It includes the lawsuits and arrests.

Musically Manic Monday

Work: Lots of deadlines before the end of the month!

Church: Bookstore has been busy with Advent and Christmas orders and sales. We've actually done very well with Advent items.

Home: Hubby and I continue to clean out the house and get rid of things we aren't using. I want to have the house in some kind of order before we start decorating for the Christmas season.

Budget: I am behind on the record keeping and I blew the budget for Christmas gifts. 

Pro-Life: I have put together packets with information on the different abortionist that come to the clinic in addition to the help we can offer. 

Dinner: I have been making weekly dinner menus and that has helped. 

What's going on in your world?

Dinners of the Week

Sunday: sauteed hot dogs, onions, and peppers.

Monday: steak and salad

Tuesday: taco seasoned ground beef with salad

Wednesday: chicken stir fry

Thursday: bacon and eggs

Friday: baked fish with roasted vegetables

Saturday: Free Day

RECIPE PROJECT 2016: TAMALES

Boiled the red peppers and then pureed and ran through sifter.

I decided to tackle red (and green) pork chile tamales.

Used hot water to soften the corn husks

Here is the masa being spread on the husks

Adding the red chili/pork



Steaming the tamales. I placed a wet cloth in the center to ensure the tamales weren't burnt. Every ten minutes I added water to the pot.

TaDa!

The process to make tamales isn't hard but it is time consuming and tedious. This isn't something you want to tackle for only a few tamales. I made about 20-24 tamales both red chile pork and green chile.

I made the masa using bacon fat which really added to the flavor. 



St. Andrew Christmas Novena-this starts today!

Things My Husband Says

Me: Did you take your lunch?

 

Hubby: YES. I am fat because of you.

 

Me: Chicken and veggies make you fat?

 

Hubby: Eating does.

 

Me: I won’t make dinner tonight.

 

Hubby: You better.

 

Me: Didn’t you just say that eating makes you fat?

 

Hubby: Eating lunch.

 

 

Me: So eating lunch makes you fat and eating dinner doesn’t make you fat. Is that the correct statement?

 

Hubby: It could be. But don’t quote me on it.

Advent Is Here!

Ah! Advent! My second favorite time of year! I love the spiritual preparation before the Christmas season. It allows one to really work on a predominant vice and gain so many graces through effort!

I have cracked open my liturgical book for the season and have also added additional prayers and fasting to this period of time. Did you know that Advent used to be 6 weeks? It was 40 days and mimicked Lent but not quite as stringent. During Advent, we think of the end of times as we prepare to celebrate the beginning of Christianity- how wonderful and wise of the Catholic Church!

So, let me ask- do you have any special traditions in your home? Does your family give up something in particular or pray a certain prayer together?
Do you fast all week or on certain days? Do you give up sweets or anything else?

Wishing You A Happy Thanksgiving

pumpkin bundt cake with lemon/vanilla glaze

 

Italian subs

 

Wheelin' Wednesday?

My dryer's knob is not working properly... so I have created a quick fix....

A Couple of Pictures....

I recently purchased these two prints which include an octopus and a mermaid. I finally framed them and hung them in my mermaid bathroom.

Another Clip of My Concert

 

All Saints Day

 

1. 

Musically Manic Monday

Work: I am working new hours and I love it! It gives me more quiet time to handle a full work load!

Church: Handling bookstore orders and cleaning projects. I am also helping with a wedding.

Home: I did some major cleaning over the weekend and now I am desperately trying to keep it up. I actually came home from work and vacuumed, started laundry, and put away dishes- go me!

Budget: I am behind on the record keeping but Hubby and I have been conservative with our spending this past month.

Pro-Life: Working my schedule to see when I can go out again.

Dinner: I've been too boring lately but I have found two new recipes to try.

Music: We just finished our Autumn Concert (video upload below) and start the Christmas practice this week.

What's going on in your world?

Sometimes There Is Too Much.....

 

Doesn't that look nice?

 

My mother-in-law had given me an entire new set of dinnerware. I continued to hold onto the old stuff and it overwhelmed my drawer! I finally buckled and sifted through all of it. I kept a couple of sets to take to work in lieu of using plastic ware and the rest I am donating.

Things My Husband says....

Email conversation started because husband refuses to take leftovers for lunch.

 

Me: I might pick up Chic-Fil-A for you since you won’t eat leftovers. What would you like?

 

Hubby: I took the ground beef. I’m leery of the sausage since it’s from Sunday. Plus I think the grease caused some issues within my SYSTEM!!!! I even brought the veggies. You need to be nicer to me. I’m the only husband you got.

 

Me: I made the sausage fresh for you. It wasn’t from Sunday, love.

 

Hubby: You made sausage on Sunday.

 

Me: Right and I had an unopened sausage that I cooked for your lunch the day I made the ground beef and spaghetti. It wasn’t from Sunday.

 

Hubby: Okay. Quit giving me the third degree. Probably going to die from eating all this old food, though.

 

Me:I’m not. I just think you are assuming I am not taking care of my man and I am.

 

Hubby: I never accused you of that. Now I feel sad. I need a Criterion dvd.

 

Me: “You need to be nicer to me. I’m the only husband you got.”

 

Hubby:Because yr yelling at me for not eating.

 

Me: Stop it. I am discussing a topic. Nobody is angry. I have to help my anorexic husband.

 

Hubby: I’m so fat. I need a book to comfort me.

 

Me: You need a book because you are fat and a dvd because???

  

Hubby: My wife yelled at me.

 

Me: But she didn’t.

 

Hubby: She doth protest too much

 

Me:Maybe the husband is too picky.

 

Thoughtful Thursday: Bridal Shower Gift

 

I attended a bridal shower recently and decided to create the "Wedding Day Emergency Kit" for the bride to be and it was a hit!

 

I purchased a cheap tote bag and filled it with all sorts of essentials that would cover an emergency on the wedding day.

It included:

 

umbrella

mints

mouthwash

sewing kit

first aid kit

floss

lip balm

hairbrush

hair spray

stain remover

bobby pins

tissue

water bottle

snack

 

I have another friend who will be married next year and she asked for a bag just like this!

 

Things My Husband Says

 

 Email exchange between Hubby and me about books........ 

 

 

 

 Hubby: BTW, I hope you are okay with us appropriating a few of the Ignatius titles for our own library.

 

Me: Uh, No

 

Hubby: I already put them on the shelves! You’ll never find them!!!!

 

Me: I will use the invoice and scour the bookcases.

 

Hubby: I shredded all the invoices.

 

 Me: I have an email version with me at work.

 

Hubby: I just sent a virus to your account that will eliminate it.

 

Me:The drastic measures you take just to keep a book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Busy!

Hello All! Just a quick post to tell you what is going on in my little world. 
My weekend schedule has been busy with choral practice, Mass, symphony concerts, pro-life work, and visiting with friends.
My poor house has received the brunt of this hectic schedule and so I took an extra day off to clean and finish a painting project. Unfortunately, I spent too many hours outside and will have to just do an hour of painting a day until done.
That's about it for now! What is going on in your world? How are the kids? Any new projects? Any interesting events?

2016 Reading List.... ahem....audiobook update

I am no longer on the phones at work and, therefore, able to listen to audiobooks. I just finished this book recently and can't recommend it enough! It will blow your mind as D'Souza goes through the history of America and how the democratic and republican parties came to formed. A huge background story to help you understand the sick twisted world of Hillary Clinton.

RECIPE PROJECT #10 : ARABIC FALAFEL

Dried garbanzo beans

Must be soaked at least 24 hours

Grind it up with garlic, cardamom, onion, and parsley

Make into balls

Fry for about six minutes

I was watching this guy on YouTube who travels all over the world trying all sorts of food (see Mark Wiens, Migrationology). He was in Jordan and kept talking about falafels and so I thought I would give it a try.

Falafel is ground garbanzo beans (aka chic peas) that are deep fried. The flavoring is very Arabic and something I have never tried before.

I found a recipe online to try and here are pictures from the adventure.

I think I would have liked this better without the parsley flavor. I just don't like parsley and it really overpowered the dish.
Would I make this again? No, it just wasn't for me but you might be interested!

What's Going On......

Hey All!

My apologies for such infrequent posts. I have stuff going on but I am not sure it merits an actual blog posts.
I am working full time and have been going to choral practice. I am still involved in the pro-life movement. I also continue to coordinate the cleaning at my chapel.  Keeping up the house is a constant struggle for me. I guess when a family has a lot of interests then things will get messy!
We hope to work on the landscaping around the deck in October but the weather is still warm these days.
I also want to paint my front porch and we all know that paint does not gel with a clumsy person like me!
Hmmmm.... I continue to be banned from purchasing make-up.... and it is a bit painful these days.

Hmmmmm... there has been a lot of auto maintenance taking place, hence the reason for the recent completion of books! Waiting for a car repair can do that for you-ha!

Doesn't that look yummy? It was!



Reading List Update 2016

I don't have a picture or anything but I just finished about a 100 page book on Pope St. Pius V. If you are looking for inspiration then this is the book for you!
I think I might send it to my mama.



2016 Reading List Update

1. Abortion Free
2.Codes and Ciphers
3. Lady Audley's Secret (Braddon)
4.Uncle's Dream (Dostoevsky)
5. Winter Notes on Summer Impressions (Dostoevsky)
6. A Gentle Creature (Dostoevsky)
7. Short Stories (Dostoevsky)
8. Humiliated and Insulted (Dostoevsky)
9. Ruth (Gaskell)
10. The Paraclete
11. Treatise on Prayer and Meditation  (Alcantara)
12. The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ
13.Consecration to Mary
14.Finish the writings of St. John of the Cross
15.Continue reading The Liturgical Year (this is every day)
16. The Book of Gomorrah (St. Peter Damian)

17. All for the Love of Mothers
18. Saint Vincent De Paul

19. The Obesity Code
20: Luther's Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results
21. Divine Parables Explained; or, The Church of the Parables

22. St. Pius V

2016 Reading List Update

 

I just finished this book containing three of Dostoevsky's short stories. As usual- I love his books and writing!

 

2016 Reading List Update

1. Abortion Free
2.Codes and Ciphers
3. Lady Audley's Secret (Braddon)
4.Uncle's Dream (Dostoevsky)
5. Winter Notes on Summer Impressions (Dostoevsky)
6. A Gentle Creature (Dostoevsky)
7. Short Stories (Dostoevsky)
8. Humiliated and Insulted (Dostoevsky)
9. Ruth (Gaskell)
10. The Paraclete
11. Treatise on Prayer and Meditation  (Alcantara)
12. The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ
13.Consecration to Mary
14.Finish the writings of St. John of the Cross
15.Continue reading The Liturgical Year (this is every day)
16. The Book of Gomorrah (St. Peter Damian)

17. All for the Love of Mothers
18. Saint Vincent De Paul

19. The Obesity Code
20: Luther's Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results
21. Divine Parables Explained; or, The Church of the Parables



Musically Manic Monday

Work: I am struggling with making changes which would be beneficial to the department. A lot of push back from management, unfortunately.

Church: Handling bookstore orders and cleaning projects.

Home: My house is a huge mess! I really need to step it up and get things cleaned up!

Budget: I am so messed up here. 

Pro-Life: Looking up information for another abortionist.

Dinner: I've been too boring lately.

Music: Two concerts this season with two sets of music.

What's going on in your world?

2016 Reading List Update Book Review

 

Someone at church donated this book and I immediately swooped in and devoured it! What a fantastic book! To receive a deeper understanding of the parables Christ used is a treasure for all Catholics! I recommend this book to all!



2016 Reading List Update

1. Abortion Free
2.Codes and Ciphers
3. Lady Audley's Secret (Braddon)
4.Uncle's Dream (Dostoevsky)
5. Winter Notes on Summer Impressions (Dostoevsky)
6. A Gentle Creature (Dostoevsky)
7. Short Stories (Dostoevsky)
8. Humiliated and Insulted (Dostoevsky)
9. Ruth (Gaskell)
10. The Paraclete
11. Treatise on Prayer and Meditation  (Alcantara)
12. The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ
13.Consecration to Mary
14.Finish the writings of St. John of the Cross
15.Continue reading The Liturgical Year (this is every day)
16. The Book of Gomorrah (St. Peter Damian)

17. All for the Love of Mothers
18. Saint Vincent De Paul

19. The Obesity Code
20: Luther's Own Statements Concerning His Teaching and Its Results
21. Divine Parables Explained; or, The Church of the Parables