Friday Potpourri

Whoot Whoot

we are doing the Friday dance this morning

while I was off last week I took some pictures of my decorations

which looking back through the last couple of years

I tend to do the same things over and over

tried and true

or stuck in a rut

this is new this year

and I brought some greenery in from the yard

I think it need a splash of red

what do you think?

this is still one of my favourite things

choosing which ornaments go where

I make it into bigger job than it needs to be ~ I am sure

cranberries ~ pine cones ~ greenery

they all say Christmas to me

I even found these in the bottom of a box this year

and pulled them out

they are old as the hills and my Grandmother gave them to me 

and they are made out of soap!

got this picture of my furry boy the other night

all decked out in his Christmas finery

I think he looks handsome

we had a great date night

work is crazy busy

and I am so thankful for Friday this week

we brought the tree in last night

so I will put the lights on it tonight

so we can trim it over the week-end

I have a bit more baking

and wrapping to do

a party to attend tomorrow night

and Sunday is mine

mine mine mine

Hope your week was a good one

and that the week-end treats you kind

xo

Wordless Wednesday ~ Snowy White

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I was not sure if a white Christmas was going to be in the cards for us

but Monday took care of that and even if it does not stick around

it made us all realize that the big day is closer than we think!

Date night tonight with my man

dinner and shopping ~ looking forward to it.

Happy Wednesday!

xo

Monday Recipe Recommendation

Tis the season where everyone is busy

with events and holiday prep

so I thought I would share with you today

a quick and easy recipe that is delicious too!

Bruschetta Chicken Bake

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1 can (19 fl oz/540 ml) stewed tomatoes - undrained (I use diced)

1 pkg Stove Top stuffing mix for chicken

2 cloves of garlic - minced

1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast cut into bite size pieces

1 tsp dried basil leaves

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Heat oven to 400

Mix tomatoes, stuffing and garlic until stuffing mix is moistened

Spread chicken over the bottom of a 3L casserole dish ~ top with basil and cheese

Cover with stuffing mixture and bake for 30 minutes

See ~ easy peasy!  I use low sodium tomatoes and stuffing mix

and use whatever cheese I have on hand which is usually marble

I call this Trev's signature dish as he has put this together and popped it into the oven

on a week night ~ as long as the garlic is minced and the chicken is cut up

he is good to go!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

My shopping trip with the girls was a success

we were a bit silly and had a great talk over dinner

my cold really knocked me on my butt on Saturday

we went out to run some errands and I fell asleep on the couch

when I got home and didn't even cook supper

soup from a can ~ chicken noodle please...

Sunday I bounced back a bit and we went to get our tree

I mixed up the dough for the cookies I posted about from here

and puttered around getting my wrap centre all ready to go

I ended up baking some cookies on Sunday night

and they are yummy

we had some with hot chocolate while we were watching the finale of

the Amazing Race.

Wishing you all a great week ahead!

Friday Potpourri

Fa la la la la

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taking the week off for the last bit of my vacation

was one of the best decisions I have made this year

I have done so much and don't feel like the weeks

leading up to Christmas will go by in a blurr

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 Monday was baking day ~ 4 kinds of cookies

I still have a couple of things to make

but they are quick and easy things that can be done

in an evening

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 the house is fully decorated ~ not that I did a lot this year

but things look festive ~ pics to come...

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this week-end we will go out and get the tree

so we can bring it in next week

and I will putter away at the lights and we can decorate it

when we want

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 I have not done any wrapping yet 

but I love putting on the lights and the music

and spending an evening wrapping ~ curling ribbon ~ signing tags

all with love

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 I thought my cookie baking was done until Barb posted these on Wednesday

so I have added them to my list

check out the recipe over here

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 tonight I am picking up my girls after school

and we are headed to the mall

once I have their wishes filled ~ my shopping is basically complete

cards and parcels are in the mail

and despite my dear husband passing on his cold to me

on Wednesday ~ I am feeling a little under the weather

but we will soldier on

Hoping that you weekend is filled with

festive fun!

Just Call me Cookie

Good morning sweets

hope everyone had a great week-end

I got lots done but also did not go full tilt 

like I usually do as I knew I had more time to get 

some things accomplished

so the halls are decked ~ the cards are written

and the parcels are ready to go out in the mail

today is baking day and on the menu is 

cookies

I tend to make family favourites ~ ones that I know

that everyone loves and some that I only make

this time of year

peanut butter blossoms are my go to recipe

if I am going to a cookie exchange

they are always on my list

I started making my grandmother's oatmeal gumdrop cookies

a couple of years ago and now I want them every year

they are quick and easy and good!

birdnests are another cookie that I remember from my childhood

every woman on my Dad's side of the family made them

and they are a Christmastime staple

and they have to be filled with raspberry jam

any other kind of jam just wouldn't be right

I found this chocolate chip shortbread recipe last year

but never got a chance to make them ~ so this year

they are on the list again

I am thinking of starting out with them today 

so I can ensure they will get completed!

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 there are so many other great recipes out there

especially since we now have virtual recipe boxes

on Pinterest and the other great cooking websites 

and blogs out there

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 my mother in law is making shortbread cookies, 

peanut butter balls and cherry surprises along with a 

couple of other yummy things ~ so we trade off with each 

other ~ it works for us and gives us both a great

variety for the holiday season.

Are you baking this year?

What are your favourites or must haves

to celebrate the Christmas season?

I don't think it would be Christmas here without 

peanut butter balls and shortbread cookies

just sayin....

Happy Monday!