Hi and happy Friday! How was your week?? We had our one year move in punch list work completed, K got new metal in her mouth- a Herbst device, and the chickens got some more fine gravel sand added to their run (it’s a slow process but I love the result I’m getting closer to achieving- easier clean up!). Let’s jump right into it today; so much to chat about!

In Case You Missed It:

• I shared my thoughts on our current homeschool set up and what I’m considering as we start to think about the high school years.
• I recapped our Thanksgiving week, a whirlwind of family, and mom’s first time hosting.
• All my most up-to-date gift guide picks for teens, tweens, him, and her can be found in one easy to navigate hub. I love that this has been helpful; thank you for the feedback!
• If you’re hosting overnight guests and need a delicious and easy breakfast, this is my go to breakfast casserole.
• For a festive, kid-friendly craft, check out these cute ornaments that my grandma taught the girls to make from old Christmas cards or paper scraps.

ONE: Reader Top Five

• Murdle – A book of mystery logic puzzles that H (14) and her friends are obsessed with!
• Fidget Ring – super cute and great for fidgety hands.
• Skylight Calendar – We keep this in a common space so everyone knows what’s going on when; we also use this to easily add chores to lists and to keep track of grocery needs.
• Wellness Pills – because none of us have time to get sick right now.
• Ember Mug – keeps your coffee warm at your preferred temp; David uses his daily!

TWO: Greenville Date Night

I have a list of restaurants on my “want to try” list in Greenville, and David and I checked a great one on Wednesday. We made early reservations at Hall’s Chophouse, a renowned steakhouse right near the river downtown with a frontage of so many windows that showed off their festive holiday decor.

We spent two hours enjoying each other’s uninterrupted company listening to the soft hum of happy people and live Christmas songs, and devouring some delicious food. The shrimp and grits were incredible, the Brussels and onion rings were eh, the wild mushroom risotto was excellent, and the steaks were downright delicious. I went with a bone-in filet, which I had never even heard of, and David went with the dry aged bone-in NY strip. Both were cooked to perfection, tender, and so flavorful on their own that we didn’t opt for any of the recommended sauces. It was a great night out!

Dress linked here

THREE: New Favorite Underwear

I ordered this Organic Everyday Boy Short 5 Pack and I love them so much that I want to shout from the rooftops with joy! However, let me say that just because they are my favorite new pair doesn’t mean they’ll be your favorite. I know this because I’ve purchased and tried other pairs that others have claimed to be the best, so let me tell you what I like about these: Organic cotton. Boy shorts designed so well that they don’t dig in, ride up, or fall down. Tagless. Fits smoothly under clothes. I have a short stature but wide hips and the medium size fits like a dream! Oh the things that excite us as adults…

FOUR: Getting in the Christmas Spirit

We are getting into the Christmas spirit around here. Our halls are decked, Star the Elf is buzzing around while we sleep, and my favorite Christmas candle is almost always lit. We’ve started watching movies, too. We’ve thus far watched: The Santa Clause 1 & 2, Christmas Chronicles 1 & 2, 8-Bit Christmas, The Star, The Muppets Christmas Carol, and Prep & Landing.

Last night we attended a women’s advent event at Mema’s church and it was so beautiful. The tables were incredible, as each one was decorated personally by different women and their personal China and table settings, the music was superb (I might be a bit biased since Mema was the flute player in the trio, but truly, beautiful music!), and the message was a great reminder of how advent is the season of waiting and in it we need to make the time to rest and anticipate the joy of Christ. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle; make sure to take a minute to light a candle, rest, breathe, and reflect.

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FIVE: Eating at Home

After two weeks of intense musical theater commitment in the evenings and fitting in food however we could, it has felt so good to be home and to cook. The lighting at suppertime is terrible right now so I’m not going to impress or convince you with any current pictures, but a few meals we’ve all really enjoyed this past week include:

• Easy lasagna and Caesar salad
• Greek bowls with Greek meatballs, Greek salad, rice, greens, tzatziki, and harissa
• Marinated chicken and noodles (I double the marinade because we love the sauce) with steamed broccoli
• Crispy chicken thighs with mashed potatoes and Italian peas

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And that’s a wrap! Now to get the house picked up as my brother in law and nephew are staying with us for the weekend and I plan to make them (and Mema and Grandpa) cheer for my Georgia Bulldogs tomorrow in the SEC Championship. It might be a tough battle considering their GT fans and probably still not happy with us, but I’ll try 😉 I hope you have a wonderful weekend!