Week 50: 52 Bags in 52 Weeks

Our quest to de-clutter our lives continues, one week (and one bag) at a time.   You can do the same!

Week 50:

In anticipation of adding a bunch of toys in about 2 weeks, we forced ourselves to part with more toys from the kids’ playroom (basement) to make room.

Jill filled a big Rubbermaid bin with 0-12month toys for her BFF, Kristen, who is having her 2nd baby in the spring … 8 years after her first one.

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Next week:  only *2* more weeks to go, WOW !!

Your Favorite Holiday Movie That Sucks You In?

It happened over the weekend, then again last night … I can’t stop it!

The holiday movie that stops me in my tracks, and I have to watch it all the way through?  The Santa Clause!  I know, I should be embarrassed, but I can’t help it …

What about you?  The one holiday movie you can watch endlessly?  Share with us above!

Is It Too Early For New Years’ Resolutions?

One of my Facebook friends is already locking in his goals for next year …

… he wants to be a vegetarian for at least one month.

Isn’t it too early for setting goals like that?  Usually I don’t even start thinking about resolutions until after January 1st.  

What about you?  Share with us above!

What Are You Most Looking Forward To This Season?

Six days into December and I feel like the holidays are already racing by …

What are you most looking forward to, in the next few weeks?  Top three answers thus far:

* Relaxing at home
* Enjoying Christmas dinner with the family
* Watching friends & family open their gifts

What about you?  Share with us below!

SHOCKER: an ELF visited our house this morning!

Woke up this morning and discovered that one of Santa’s elves had decided to move in …

Did this happen at your house too?   Roy named his elf Wocket (as in, “there’s a wocket in my pocket!” from his favorite Dr. Seuss book) … hope he comes back tomorrow morning!

What about you?  What did your kids name their elves?   Share with us above!

Am I crazy for feeling this way?

I realize it’s the weekend BEFORE Thanksgiving, but it’s almost my favorite time of the year …

How early is TOO early to put up your tree?  I really want to do it this weekend, but on top of that feat, we actually need to buy a new [artificial] tree this year too.

So many questions … what do you think?  Share with us above!

Is October 5th too early?

Shopping at Carsons last night after the show, and I ran into SEVERAL displays of a certain kind …

… Christmas gifts & decorations!

Is it just me, or is it way too early for that?   Have you seen these elsewhere?  Share with us above!

Jill’s Chicken Pie Crockpot recipe, as prepared by Grandma Sheena this morning

Ingredients

3 cups diced cooked chicken or turkey
3 cups cubed peeled potatoes
2 cans (14 1/2 oz each) chicken broth
1 package (16 oz) frozen mixed vegetables
1 medium onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper, divided
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1 bay leaf
1 cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 (9-inch) refrigerated pie crust

In Crockpot Slow Cooker, combine chicken, potatoes, chicken broth, mixed vegetables, onion, celery, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt and bay leaf.  Cover; cook on Low 8 to 10 hours or on High 4 to 6 hours.  Remove bay leaf.

Preheat oven to 400F. In small bowl, mix milk and flour. Gradually stir flour mixture into Crockpot.  Stir in remaining 1 teaspoon pepper, poultry seasoning and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. If using a removable Crockpot, carefully place 9-inch pie crust over vegetable-meat mixture. Place removable crock inside preheated oven; do not cover. Bake 15 minutes or until crust is browned.

For a non-removable Crockpot, spoon vegetable-meat mixture into 13 x 9-inch casserole dish. Roll out pie crust and carefully place on top of vegetable-meat mixture.  Bake in oven for 15 minutes or until pie crust is brown.

Serve immediately.

Makes 8 servings.