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Happy Winter Solstice! I’ve always loved this day especially when our boys were young when we would hang popcorn in the tree outside for the “snow angels.”

Here’s a link to a short sweet episode of Maurice Sendak’s Little Bear three part “Winter Solstice” tv show that we enjoyed with our boys when they were little.

https://youtu.be/7YfpKSNzQ2g?feature=shared

Maurice Sendak’s books were favorites in our house and the calming episodes on tv brought little bear to life.

Tonight, I’m having a few friends over for a Winter Solstice dinner celebration using some traditional solstice ingredients and flavors.

I’ve taken some photos of my dishes I made yesterday and will again today to share with you.

One of my favorite things to do is cook for my family and friends which I will be doing a lot of over the next two weeks. Yay!

I wish I could cook a meal for all of you. Making food for people is one of the best ways I can share a part of me, I guess writing is another.

I put 100% into the thinking and planning, shopping and meal prep, setting the table, actual cooking and baking, and finally serving a meal made with love. ❤️

I wish you all the best on this longest night of the year. Let go of whatever is no longer serving you and look towards all the bright and wonderful things that lay ahead.

After Marty left for work at school on Monday morning, I made myself a small pot of chia oatmeal, lit some candles, and turned on a winter solstice playlist.

I created a hygge morning in a matter of minutes. As I ate my oatmeal I began to make Indian spiced nuts and apricot chutney.

I had a long to-do list while Marty was at work and I quickly bit off more than I could chew.

I knew things were getting out of control when I started to get that adhd feeling kicking into overdrive.

While I was working on my food projects I started looking for things in my pantry and decided I needed to reorganize the whole thing.

Of course, the other pantry in our back room needed some organizing as well.

I looked at the clock and thought, “oh, shit!” I knew I had to get it together since I still had work to do in the production kitchen.

I walked back into my kitchen and looked around. My peaceful hygge morning went off the rails.

I set a timer for 10 minutes to clean off my island and clean up. Next, I set a 30 minute timer for me to make baked stuffed clams for the freezer for Christmas Eve dinner.

Ding! I made it. Then, I ran out to the production kitchen and set another 30 minutes timer. I got my work done with 4 minutes to spare.

I ran back inside and started caramelizing onions for French onion soup. While babysitting the onions, I cleaned the kitchen and turned on the dishwasher.

I looked at the clock and it was 2:45 pm. Marty would be home in half an hour.

I ran up to change my clothes and make myself presentable enough to go to Bennington with him to go shopping.

I was almost 100% done when he showed up 2 minutes earlier, picking me up than he said. I quickly grabbed my shit and flew out the door.

I still had a few things left on my to-do list, so after dinner, I completed it around 8:45 pm. Whew.

I finally sat down and realized I was utterly exhausted and went up to bed.

I certainly bit off more than I could chew but come hell or high water, I was going to get that fucking to-do list done no matter what. 😜

Wednesday night was our last belly dance class of the year. It was a very small group and I got to actually dance the whole time instead of talking.

Next week, we are having our annual Holiday Hafla, which means celebration. Our students will perform, and Kathleen and I will dance as the Sahidi Sisters.

The first quarter of the year was rough, not being able to dance much due to my lung disease. It was frustrating and sad.

I threw myself into my teaching role and pretended it didn’t bother me. It did. A lot.

In May, I began my physical transformation after having strep though the end of April. I quit drinking and began dropping weight.

With every pound I lost, the better I felt.

In August, Kathleen and I changed our dance time from Wednesday afternoon before class to Saturdays which is so much better.

We can focus on just us and not have to worry about not tiring ourselves out for dance class. We have both improved and are happy how things are coming along.

I’m excited to perform for our students with Kathleen. We’ve been working hard to climb back to where we were professionally, before all this lung disease shit started.

We still have a ways to go but the best part is that we are having fun again! Yip!!

All of our core group of students have improved greatly as well this year.

I am focusing on musicality with some of them and how to start and stop songs with confidence and pizzazz.

We have a two week break since both Christmas and New Year’s days are on Wednesdays.

I always need the break to recharge my batteries and prepare to start off with another 12 week cycle. New comers are always welcome anytime. Hint, hint!

Hopefully we are able to capture some of our performances and we do well enough to want to share them on YouTube which I will share with all of you.

Sam is here and did the dishes for me tonight. I had a couple of pots, sheet pans, and a large frying pan.

He managed to get everything into the dish rack and turned to me with a warning about the jenga of dishes.

I have to admit that I was pretty impressed since I play dish jenga as well.

The glasses and dishes went into the dishwasher so there is no need to worry about any thing breaking.

Goodnight, everyone.

Here is the link to the recipe I used to make the ricotta meatballs. I forgot to add to my original post. 🤓

https://theclevermeal.com/ricotta-meatballs/

The recipe includes a quick marinara sauce recipe as well. I was lucky that I had a container of my sauce in the freezer and used that.

I love meatballs! I’ve written about all my favorites, plus shared my recipes with you guys. Now, there is a new kid on the block

I have made and eaten all the different types of meatballs I love while eating clean, I have lightened them up a bit by using leaner beef here and there. They are still delicious.

I’ve cut way back on saturated fats since eating clean , it’s a good thing too since butter is over $4 a pound!

While I was menu planning I came across a new meatball recipe originating from Sicily, Sicilian ricotta meatballs, also called “polpette di ricotta al sugo.”

I read through the recipe and the next time I went grocery shopping, I bought some whole milk ricotta, I never use low or fat free anything.

The recipe was very easy, I kept thinking this is too good to be true and expecting them to melt or fall apart.

After rolling them into balls I gently set them in marinara sauce that was heated up in a skillet with a lid.

I followed the recipe exactly however, the only thing I would change is not flipping them as early or as often as the recipes says to.

Once they are steamed in the sauce they become larger in size and firm enough to carefully move around with a spoon covering them with sauce.

How were they? Holy shit! They were so good! They had the same texture as my soft and fluffy meatballs.

The ricotta meatballs were flavorful and full of protein. What a perfect meatless entree. I can’t believe I haven’t seen or heard about them before.

I made the meatballs with spaghetti because I love spaghetti and meatballs. I also made an Italian tossed salad with our dinner.

Marty was a little unsure he said he wanted to bite into something but I pointed out they were the same texture as my soft and fluffy meatballs.

We had enough leftovers for Marty’s lunch the next day and two lunches for me later that week.

Now, when I get a craving for spaghetti and meatballs and don’t have ground beef on hand I can always whip up a batch of these ricotta meatballs along with a quick marinara sauce.

If you are an Italian food lover and a lover of cheese, these are something for you to try. They are fast and easy to make and are good for you! A win/win situation.

Buon Appetito!

I fell in love with colors from outdoors this year. I spent a lot of time outdoor and loved every moment of it.

I wanted to continue with last year’s nature inspired Christmas decor I started searching for items in September.

I love sharing whenever I create something. I am super pleased with how our home came out this year. It looks warmer, simplistic, and soothing.

The only two trees that do not follow the nature decor are my small tree with my Mema’s vintage Christmas ornaments.

The tree in our bedroom is girlie. Our room is feminine and elegant complete with a chandelier.

I added just a bit of Christmas in our downstairs powder room and kitchen.

It took me a week to complete the decorating this year. I used to do it in one day, but now I take my time and create as I decorate.

When the boys were small I put everything in the same place year after year and didn’t have to think about it. It was called operation Christmas.

I’ve been decorating our tree alone since the boys grew older. Sam took me to pick out our tree again this year. It’s a mini tradition of ours.

I always play Christmas music while decorating our tree while Marty sits in the living room with me.

This time of the year, I love seeing other people’s holiday decorations on my newsfeed and in the hygge and cozy homes groups I belong to.

They make me feel like it is the most wonderful time of the year.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends, and good morning! I’m sitting in our snug back room with Marty, sipping my Earl Gray tea and watching the snow fall.

The smell of Thanksgiving perfumes the air from the large pot of turkey stock I put on around noon yesterday.

I can’t think of a cozier way to spend Thanksgiving morning. In the other room, Sam, Nelly, and Roxy are enjoying a fire in the fireplace with the soft glow of the Christmas tree lights.

I have much to be thankful for this year: my family, good health, a warm home, food on the table, friends, and our business.

I am most thankful that after learning how to forgive, my heart is finally free of pain, anguish, hurt, and disappointment. In mind, body, and soul, I am a different person than I was in 2023.

It feels fucking fantastic! I am thankful for the little things I never noticed before this year. My life is simpler yet so much fuller.

I feel like I hit the jackpot. I always thought money was the real prize, but I was mistaken; being at peace is the real treasure.

I no longer feel sad that I am not included in celebrations and jealous of copious family photos on my social media newsfeed. Things are not always how they appear.

I wish you all a thankful day, which can be celebrated in private or surrounded by people. Happy Thanksgiving!

I did a diy project over the weekend, I made a dried orange garland.

They have been popping up on my newsfeeds and I fell in love with them. I saw the price of them and decided to make my own. I do have a crafty side.

I didn’t know that dried orange garlands have symbolic meanings. Orange slices symbolize the sun, which becomes more present after the winter solstice when the days begin to grow longer.

Dried orange garlands are made for the winter solstice since they represent the return of light and warmth.

In many traditions, oranges are also believed to stimulate love, prosperity, and a sweet & happy life.

This is a wonderful sentiment to bring into your home during the holiday season. I put mine over my kitchen sink and love how it looks.

I’m leaving it up during the winter as a reminder that the days are getting longer.
It warms up the space just like the sun does.

That’s it! This is a short post since I thought I’d share my diy as an fyi. It was a fun and easy project with lots of how-to articles online.

Goodnite guys. 😴

It’s hygge season!!!!! It’s also the kickoff of the winter holiday season. Since Thanksgiving is late this year, I began decking the halls this past week when it was sunny and in the 50s.

Decorating for Christmas makes my hygge home even more cozy. Last weekend, my sister Jennifer came to visit with her boyfriend.

When she settled in last Friday night around 9:45 pm, she hugged me and told me my home was so hygge-ish.

On Sunday night, I had our friends over for a casual Sunday night supper and Tabetha told me my house was so hygge like.

Yay! I’m proud that writing about hygge last year has opened peoples eyes to the beauty and warmth in your surroundings.

I am on a couple hygge groups on Facebook and saw that my maid of honor Deborah commented on a post. I didn’t know she was into hygge too! Yay!

I am slowly decorating our homes. I enjoy doing it and it brings me great joy. I don’t rush to get it done anymore.

Come to think of it, I don’t rush to do anything anymore. I am more mindful of everything I do these days.

Tonight when we took the girls out I put on their sweaters and they didn’t shiver, they zoomed around yard looking at each other in their sweaters and sniffing them. 😂

We will be getting our tree hopefully Friday or Sunday. We are elevating it to avoid disaster and to curb the girls from dragging my tree skirt through the house.

Happy Friday guys! Thanksgiving is only a few days away, I guess I better get my tail in gear and go to the grocery stores tomorrow.