Hospitality: Mankind is divisible into two great classes: Hosts and Guests

Welcome to the weekly link-up recently turned Blog-Hop Just Enough Info or just, JEI for short. This lovely Blog-Hop is hosted by The Zelie Group and we would love for you to join us! This week we are discussing Holiday Hospitality! It is the holiday season and I do love it! Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas and New Years! So many traditions to share with friends and family. Let's get started with this week's questions:

What's your go-to "someone's coming over" recipe? 

I really enjoy quick and easy appetizers for when I have guests over. Meat and cheese tray, a vegetable tray with dressing and hummus and some delicious spinach dip! I like to throw things together to make my recipes and almost never "measure" the ingredients so the recipe I am about to share is a rough guesstimate. This is a basic recipe and I do add mushrooms, water chestnuts or other goodies to spruce this up at times.

Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip:

1 lb Frozen Spinach

1 Can Artichoke Hearts (diced)

2 Jars Cheese Alfredo

1 Package of Cream Cheese

1 Tbsp Minced Garlic

Pepper to taste

Drain and cut the artichoke hearts and dump all the other ingredients into the crockpot. Cook on high for 1-2 hours or on low for 3-4 hours. Serve with tortillas chips or fresh veggies. Enjoy!

You have 5 minutes to tidy before guest arrive. What are your tidying shortcuts? 

This one is a toughie! My house is normally in a state of disarray, especially because I have two crazy kids and I have been working more due to the holiday season. So if I only had 5 minutes, I would try to hit the areas that would be used by my guest with a quick wipe down and moving articles that may get in their way. These areas would include the main bathroom, living room and if I had time, the dining area and kitchen. I don't expect things to be pretty but at least clean enough to use comfortably. 

What sort of music sets the mood for the perfect gathering?

I like to play the sounds of the season! Normally when I have people over it is for a holiday or specific event so I will normally play something that is similar to the season. If there is no special music for the season, I am a HUGE fan of Celine Dion and similar musicians. Honestly, I prefer playing party games so most of the time there is no need for background music. 

You have all week to answer this week's questions all about Hospitality:

1. What's your go-to "someone's coming over" recipe? 

2. You have 5 minutes to tidy before guest arrive. What are your tidying shortcuts? 

3. What sort of music sets the mood for the perfect gathering?

Next week we will be discussing Religious Education:

1. Do your children attend your parish’s religious education program? 

2. Do you or have you ever taught religious education? 

3. What is your favorite religious education resource for kids?

The Zelie Group has some fun questions coming up in the next few weeks so make sure to follow us on Facebook and we would love to hear what you are interested in! What are you looking to learn about? Do you have questions about the Faith? Questions about the Liturgical Year? We want to help and learn and grow with you and your families!

Also stop by the new Page I created on my blog for new information concerning The Zelie Group. It is a work in progress but it has a good start!

God Bless!

{JEI}: Do Small Things with Great Love

Welcome to another week of Just Enough Info with The Zelie Group. This week we are discussing all about chores. I don't know about you but whenever I think about all the household chores and daily to-dos, I think about Saint Teresa of Calcutta. One of my most favorite quotes of her's is "Do small things with great Love."

 I'd love to introduce you to the other hosts of the JEI: Just Enough Info Linkup:

Jessica (myself) – Pinot Noir and Prayers | Instagram | Facebook

Alicia – Sweeping Up Joy | Pinterest | Facebook

Kirby – Under Thy Roof | Instagram | Facebook

Kerry - Fishbowl Fortune | Instagram | Facebook

Warning the images in this post CAN NOT BE UNSEEN! Here are my answers to this weeks Just Enough Info Questions:

1. What chore should you be doing now instead of answering this question?

Well this is a loaded question! We are preparing to travel to attend my cousin's wedding in Kansas this weekend and boy are there a ton of chores I should be doing right now! This includes but trust me is not limited to laundry, dishes, grocery shopping and packing!  I mean you have to have clean clothes to pack on a trip right? And you probably don't want to have a sink full of dirty dishes making your home smell amazing while you are gone for a weekend. The biggest thing I really need to get done is grocery shopping! Not so much that I stock the pantries before we go but so that I get drinks and snacks for our trip. We are a very frugal family and it saves us a ton to bring food instead of stopping at fast food locations every couple hours. Plus it is much healthier to eat food prepared from home than the greasy mess from the traditional fast food locations. Now that I am thinking about it, I should probably clean the boys bathroom. I don't know how it is in other families but I am starting to believe that my boys are attempting to create artwork from their tubes of toothpaste and soap. It covers their entire bathroom! I clean it at the beginning of every week but by the end of the week it looks just like it did at the beginning. The never ending cycle.

2. Do your kids have chores? If yes, what’s your chore system?

Yes, Yes and Yes! Both of my boys have chores. I think it is important to teach my boys that teamwork, responsibility and accountability are necessary to grow into responsible and hardworking men. Little Man is responsible for: cleaning the litter box, taking out the trash, making his bed, and cleaning his room. Goalie is responsible for making his bed, sleeping in his own bed every night, picking up his toys and emptying the bathroom garbage can. Everyone in the house is responsible for putting away their folded clothes, putting away dirty dishes, completing homework and being respectful throughout each day. 

We utilize a chore chart and monetary reward system to incentivize the boys to complete their chores and they are reminded frequently to do what is right. We also give extra cash when it is evident that it is deserving. For example, I received a message from Little Man's teacher earlier in the week that he has the highest grade in Math in his entire class! Goalie also impressed me while we were shopping earlier in the week and he didn't get upset when he was told he couldn't get a toy. He simply put the toy back and continued with us throughout the shopping trip without another word about it. Both boys earned extra for these great milestones. This reward method works for our family the best!

3. If someone gifted you a housekeeping service, would you use it?

Oh goodness! I would LOVE to use a housekeeping service! The only way I would ever use one is if it was gifted though. I am way too frugal to spend the money on it even though the relief of stress would be so amazing to know I could come home to a clean and sparkling house. Everyday is normally a mad dash to complete most of my everyday chores in between other responsibilities so everything looks "half-done." A gift like that would save me an enormous amount of time... even if it was only for one day. I would use the free time to take a nice long nap or enjoy a bottle of wine while I read on my patio. It would be like HEAVEN ON EARTH!

I am so blessed. I have an amazing husband that works hard, I have two amazing boys to love and grow with and I have a great job that allows me to work and still be available to be with my family as necessary. I would be lying is I said I don't get overwhelmed with juggling a work schedule, sports, doctor appointments, fun family activities and household chores because I do! I have to plan my menus so I know I have time to cook and that I have the ingredients necessary to make dinner. This doesn't include laundry, dishes, sweeping, mopping, the bathrooms or anything else that needs a good cleaning. I am sure it is the same for every other family but a girl can dream right? 

Well that is my take on Just Enough Info this week. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Please Join us and Link Up with your answers to this week's questions about Chores:

1. What chore should you be doing now instead of answering this question?
2. Do your kids have chores? If yes, what’s your chore system?
3. If someone gifted you a housekeeping service, would you use it?

Next week we will be discussing Mom Self-Care and here are the questions:

What is your mom beverage of choice? 

What do you do to relax? 

When was the last time you got away with girlfriends or alone (and the grocery store does NOT count)?

I can't wait to see how everyone answers this week.

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