Christmas things...

A few Christmas moments...

Christmas was spectacular. I got out of work around 12:30 on Christmas Eve and spent the afternoon cooking and wrapping presents and feeling generally happy, festive and Christmasy.

 I think the grinch cookies were my favorite this year...

The kids and I headed to church for christmas eve service.  

The mister had to work which made me incredibly sad. 

After service we went to my parents to celebrate Christmas with the Nemitz Fam.

My nephews got sunglasses and were totally stoked- they both asked me to take their pictures and laughed so hard when I showed them.

Our Tree

Breakfasty things

This is a pretty great gift the mister found us this year- we are going to have an Otter Experience at The Wild, we are pretty psyched to go play with the otters. 

Mom, Dad, and Grandma came over for Christmas dinner. It makes me happy to be able to gather and feed my family.

Later in the evening I curled up with the pups and my book.

Pretty much a perfect Christmas. <3

midweek. . .

I randomly have this hymn playing in my head...

To God be the glory great things He has done
So loved He the world that He gave us His son
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin
And opened the life gate that all may go in 

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord let the earth hear His voice
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord let the people rejoice
Come to the Father through Jesus the Son
Give Him the glory great things He has done

I read this quote in my devo time this morning- it was in The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp but is originally from CS Lewis... it resonated with me and I was like "ah, so that's why life is so hard sometimes." And now Mere Christianity is on my must read list for 2020

“Enemy-occupied territory---that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

The one goal I think I might actually accomplish this year...
I have 5 books in the works that I will *probably* finish before year's end...

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone *reread- listening to the audiobook <3  have almost a solid 3 hour drive listening to this tomorrow to pick up Mik- just finished chapter 1 and am thoroughly enjoying listening to it this time around
2. One Day in December *paperback
3. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill *on kindle currently at 45%
4. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever *with Hannah just one chapter left
5. The Greatest Gift *my devo read

I am eagerly thinking about reading next year- I have two reading challenges I am planning on doing Anne Bogel's obviously.  I have become such a fan- if she ever comes with in a 100 miles radius- I. Am. Going. Also I need her books in my personal collection. The 2nd- I saw on instagram on sunday from The Unread Shelf- I have loads of books I have not read yet- seems like a good challenge to knock out next year.

We are making a gingerbread house this week- I LOVE Pampered Chef's new gingerbread house molds.

 We're also trying a candy house.

 He was in my spot and wouldn't move.

Seems accurate-->>

I earned more spring products! So excited! Can't wait to find our what they are! ;-)

 Looking for January parties... in-person and on-line :D

December Reads...

The first half of December I have read 5 books- 93 books over all; 7 more to go to hit my goal for 2019.

 
Cheechako Sunrise, Sourdough Sunset: Homesteading in Alaska Shapes the Lives of Two Small-Town Kids from Wisconsin by Don Langdok, Lanna Langdok- kindle/library - Dec 4 - ★★★
Pretty interesting memoir of their life in Alaska.


In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming - print/library - Dec 4 - ★★★★ A mystery involving a baby boy abandoned on a church steps on a cold winter night. The priest who finds the child teams up to solve the mystery of the baby as well as two murders that follow.  I found intriguing and full of twists.  It's the first in the series and I plan to check out the rest.  I also like it was set in New York State 💗


The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick - print/library- Dec 11 - ★★★★
I really liked this story.  The story of Martha Storm.  A bookish librarian who has lived her life to please others.  Until one day she kind of snaps- begins to reclaim her life and finds out her grandmother- who died when she was 15 or so may still be alive.  Family secrets unraveling while also giving understanding into why people/family members were the way that they were. I love Martha, her character sticks with me. I find myself wondering what she's doing now....


The Versions of Us by Laura Barnett - kindle/library - Dec 12 -★★★★
This book I enjoyed. I did find it confusing and hard to follow at first.  It tells 3 different versions of the same story.  Do you ever wonder how your life might be altered if you made a different choice. Its an interesting idea and fun read-  if you can keep all the characters and circumstances straight.


The Joy of Cookies: Cookie Monster's Guide to Life by Cookie Monster, Julie Kraut - print/library - Dec 12 - ★★★★★
Life is short, eat the cookies... I love this book. I found it thoroughly entertaining and endearing.

baking and celebrating

What a weekend it was! =D

I had Friday off and the mister and I had a date day. We went out to breakfast and Christmas shopping. ❤💖❤  I probably should have done more sewing at night but I curled up in the chair by the our tree and alternately read my book and napped. :P

Saturday Hannah and I did some shopping.  She had a piano recital and then I had a Pampered Chef Party.

I made this- Cinnamon Caramel Cheesecake Squares - I just may make a small batch of these tonight in my medium bar pan ;-) stay tuned....

and this... Greek Hummus both recipes were a hit!

Sunday we celebrated December Birthdays- Hannah and Becca.  

 Hannah had a very llama filled birthday :D

Cousins- the 3 youngest Nemitz cousins

I made Sourdough Bread to go with our soup bar for dinner. 

This bread was so good! I was pretty impressed with myself. :P  Actually it was really easy. 

 I used this recipe from pinterest- Easy Sourdough Bread

Happy Monday everyone!

Thursday things...

 There are few pleasures greater than sitting by the glow of a Christmas tree, book in hand.

 Yesterday Hannah turned 13!

 Bruno has been super helpful in my sewing endeavors...

 My favorite time of night

better day....

Working on the attitude today. Shaking it off and determining to find a little Christmas cheer and have a better day.

Hannah and I started reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever together at dinnertime.  A childhood tradition I have carried over with my own children.

Then we watched The Knight Before Christmas again on Netflix.  I worked on my December bullet journal pages while we watched.

 You have to look super close to see him but when I pulled in Tuesday, Chance was in the window wrapped up in a quilt.  I busted out laughing at the sight of his expectant face in the window.  I love that dog. :D

This- from one of my devo's this morning-  She Reads Truth- Advent: A Thrill of Hope Day 4

"As each day of this season passes, my prayer is that I will embrace each day as it comes, in faith. I know what God has promised: the fulfillment of His kingdom, the end of all tears, the everlasting peace and reign of Jesus. But each day requires faith and hope, anchored in God’s Word and the work of the Spirit. It so often feels like I am Abram, staring up at the infinite starry sky, asking, How could this possibly be true? It’s true because God’s promise to Abram came true when his son, Isaac, was born, establishing a long genealogy that would lead to the birth of Jesus Christ. It’s true because that baby was born, and He is Immanuel, God with us."

This reminder from a facebook friend...


December Goals-

• Continue tracking spending- work on developing a budget- especially for FOOD
• Meal Plan to help with the food budget- I currently have ALL of December planned out 
  
  
• Quilts- finish before Christmas J/S/H/M
• Read through Luke
• finish 12 books (2 down- 10 to go)

can you say discouraged...

December came in with a snow storm, leaving me riddled with anxiety.  Driving on snowy roads is probably the thing I hate most in the world. I was hoping with my fancy new jeep it might be better- after the last two days- not so much. :-/

I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around December. I'm tired. I'm frustrated. I'm not feeling very Christmasy at all.

But first November-
I ended up with a whopping 16 miles in November. Thirteen of that being the half marathon of course. I went running one other time in November- Thanksgiving Day. <sigh>  In all of 2019 so far- just over 250 miles - or half my goal for this year.

Books- I did a November Books Part 1 because I read so many books the first half of the month.  Between the 15th & 30th I finished one.

Sourdough- I of course grabbed this one up because of my recent sourdough obsession.  It's the story of Lois, a software engineer turned baker when a sourdough starter is gifted to her. I enjoyed the story overall, the first half was the best part- the middle got a little weird but then I was happy with how everything ended up. I gave it ★★★

My favorite book of November- would be a toss up between The Bromance Book Club and Winter Cottage

November Highlight- Thanksgiving <3

My November Goal list-

• the Making Your Home a Haven Study- I am already behind because of being sick. Hopefully I'll pick it up tomorrow.  Totally failed on this one- just didn't do it. I don't know why... also been struggling in my devo time...maybe part of the attitude problem...
• survive/complete the Syracuse Half  --> I survived!
• Figure out a fall/winter running routine --> yeah not so much :-/
• be grateful and maintain a spirit of JOY--> good days and bad days but that's life I guess
• Try making sourdough bread --> YESSSSS! 
• Host 3rd annual Friendsgiving <3 Welp due to Thanksgiving being so late Friendsgiving is this Friday
• Clear out some clutter! Maybe even get rid of the rest of those unpacked boxes! --> Not all but most... a few more to get rid of
• Start on Hugh's and Sam's quilts- I'm so behind --> started Sam's and bought fabric for Hugh's so progress I guess
• Hit Level 2 of the sell-a-thon so I can get some SPRING products FREE :D --> earned Level ONE- at least it's something 
  
• Sign a new consultant to my Team --> big fat nope :(
• Host Recipe Night for my *adopted* PC Team --> YESSS!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Ok so maybe not quite as big a fail as I thought....

2019 Goals....

• Choose JOY-  not feeling Joyful at all as of late :-/ Feeling a lot more like this-
  
   
• Exercise at least 4 days a week.
  
  
• Hit 10000 steps each day- =|
• Bullet Journal - doing my daily page helps...
• Half Marathon PR - N O P E maybe next year...
• Drink more water - doing terrible at this lately
• Menu plan- including breakfast and snacks -
  
  
• Read 100 books- 88 books (four behind at the moment)
• Run 500 miles- not gonna happen
• Pampered Chef- things are improving. A little discouraged at the moment but hopefully over all still on the upswing.

Twice this week this verse has popped up in devotions- I think it will be my verse for December...

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” MATTHEW 11:28

Also from my devotions this morning. From Ann Voskamp's The Greatest Gift p 23

I think I will hold off on December goals until tomorrow.  Hopefully tonight I will do my December pages and be more productive than I was last night.