It’s November! I love the warmth of hot drinks, soups, and a cozy sweater in the cooler fall months. A chill in the air gives the perfect opportunity to cuddle next to the fire with a good book and a comfy blanket. What is your favorite dessert or meal to make this time of year? Simply reply to this email. I would love to know. I may even try some out! Sometime this weekend I will be making an apple cake. I found this recipe here that I will be using. It looks so yummy. My dad and I are splitting a bushel of apples so send me any apple recipes you have, as well.
To me, there is nothing better than sitting on the front porch with a blanket drinking a cup of hot cider, tea, or coffee, and catching up with a friend or loved one. I have used this Chai tea many times. You can drink it iced or hot. With our weather lately, you may find yourself in a bathing suit in November so having options is a good thing: cold today and hot tomorrow.
Cozy meals
As far as cozy meals go, A pot roast is my go-to. So easy. Just throw everything in a pot, set it, and forget it. It makes the whole house smell so good. This recipe uses the meat for sandwiches but you can also serve it with mashed potatoes and veggies. I have seen a Mississippi pot roast recipe going around the internet that also looks really yummy.
Soups are perfect for a cold night. Not to mention, pretty easy to throw together. Serve this yummy soup with salad and breadsticks. YUM!
Soups are a fantastic excuse to use up all the veggies in your fridge. One of the main reasons I always have chicken and beef stock on hand is so that I can throw together a soup at a moment’s notice. And what goes better with soup than fresh bread? I use this recipe from Thorn Cove and abode in my bread machine. It is so easy and so good. I bought my bread machine from a church yard sale and it works just fine. Here is a link to one on Amazon if you are interested.
Entertainment on a cold and rainy day
Screen time can get out of hand quickly on a rainy or cold day if you are not careful. Board games with snacks are a great way to make fun memories together and pass the time when going outside is impossible. Depending on the ages you may need to use the snacks as a way to entice them into playing something new. My daughter loves playing Clue. She is 12. My youngest son (6) loves to play Spiderman Monopoly. Sometimes he makes up his own rules, but we all have fun playing.
Favorite games
Favorite snacks
- freshly popped popcorn on the stove top with popcorn butter
- Bugels corn chips
- holiday trail mix- popcorn, holiday m&ms, peanuts, or any nuts that you like, corn Chex cereal, covered in melted white chocolate
- Dots pretzels
Even though these moments may feel mundane sometimes, do not forget to take photos! Each year I print pictures and place them into an album, and I love the ones where we are all together the most. Not to mention when they pop up unexpectedly on your phone as memories. Love it! These are core memories. When life gets tough for our kids and they feel sad or stressed out, these memories of feeling safe and happy with you and your family will help them get through it. My childhood memories have done this for me time and time again.
Movies
Oldies but goodies
KIDS
- Frozen and Frozen 2
- Despicable ME 4
- The Grinch 2000 and 2018
- Mary Poppins 1964 and 2018
- Swiss Family Robinson 1960
Grown ups and big kids
- Just go with it – Adam Sandler
- The Mummy movies
- Raiders of the lost arch- all of them
- James Bond movies
- Madea movies
Ok, some of these movies are a little brash or shocking in the adult section, but this is just who we are. Mmm K! These are just a few oldy but goodies.
New movies that we haven’t seen yet
- Red One – Dawayne Johnsons Christmas movie
- Wicked
- The best Christmas pageant ever
- Deadpool and Wolverine
- Garfield the movie
Ok! I hope this helps get you in the spirit of coziness with your family and gives you some ideas of ways to entertain the kiddos while cooped up in the house during these next few cold months. Remember, romanticize it. Make every task seem dreamy in some way. If you can’t think of any, shoot me an email or a DM and I will be happy to help give you some inspiration.
XOXO
Beckie
If you are like me and haven’t made the time to have family photos taken professionally, photos of having fun together as a family make great Christmas cards too. Be sure to check out my Etsy shop HERE for digital family photo templates you customize and print yourself.
Leave a Reply