Broccoli and Cheese Soup

Soup weather! Well, for me all weather is soup weather, but a nice hearty pot of broccoli and cheese soup simmered on my stovetop this week. I’m going to share this dish based on an old Cooking Light magazine (remember them?) recipe, but please don’t judge me. It calls for Velveeta and it is delicious. […]

Three Money-Saving Hacks

We all know the money-spending season is upon us, but today Iā€™m sharing three money-saving hacks Iā€™m using now. The Frame TV Samsungā€™s Frame TV is the brilliant solution to embellish your wall with lovely art instead of the black hole a giant TV leaves in a room. It allows you to upload your own […]

Arches and Canyonlands National Parks

Maybe our last road trip for 2022 was a visit to Moab, Utah to see Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Here are a few highlights. We loaded up Big Red once again and hit the highway for another adventure. Moab, Utah has been on my shortlist to visit for quite some time, but national park […]

November Potpourri

Have you already thrown yourself into Christmas planning or are you still savoring the beauty of autumn?  I’m sharing a little November potpourri before I dive into the busyness of the holidays. Let’s say “Bah humbug” and enjoy November! Here we go. Shopping Centers There is really no getting around Christmas if youā€™re out and […]

Chicken and Vegetable Pasta Casserole

Have the cool fall days inspired you to put some comfort foods back on the menu? Here is the gluten-free version of chicken and vegetable pasta casserole I made for a chilly November night. This recipe should probably feed six, but we both had two helpings and there is maybe leftovers for one more meal. […]

A New Housecleaning Routine

As is the case in life, things have changed around here.Ā  We no longer have any cleaning assistance.Ā  Our long-time cleaners have retired and now we are working on a new housecleaning routine. Having the house clean for the weekend when we were likely to entertain was always my goal.  But.  More change.  We do […]

Cinnamon Apple Bread

Hello, November.Ā  Where did you come from all of a sudden?Ā  Hmmm.Ā  Well, November seems like a perfect time to make cinnamon apple bread and get the smell-o-vision going in my kitchen.Ā  Ah, sugar and cinnamon in the oven! This bread is super easy and even a non-baker such as myself can make this successfully.  […]

October Entertaining

October entertaining in Phoenix is so easy.  The weather can be nearly perfect, there are activities galore and between stunning natural beauty and so many cute decorations, it really is the most wonderful time of the year. Last week I posted all the activities around getting ready for guests.  It has been so long since […]

Prepping for Houseguests

We are so excited to entertain our first guests of the season.  By which I mean fall/winter, of course.  Here are a few of the things we did prepping for houseguests. Dear sister and brother in law are arriving for a few days on their road trip stop.  We havenā€™t seen them in three years, […]

TJ Maxx Christmas Selection

I know.  I know.  Itā€™s not even Halloween.  Much less Thanksgiving.  Much less Christmas.  But.  You know how it goes at TJ Maxx and their Christmas Selection.  If you donā€™t buy it when you see it, you most likely will miss out. Trees Unexpected colors of sparkly trees seem to be the highlight this year.  […]