Friday Faves {06 November 2015}

Hello, friend!

How are you on this fine Friday!? November has come in with so much beauty! I love Virginia and all her colours.  

Here are a couple of my favourite shots lately . . . 

Check out a few of my favourite deals going on today . . .

I think this would be so cute in a family Christmas photo!

Mantle or Shelf Banner - only $6.99!

http:// 

Wow! 64% off - Colorful Fashion Rainboots! 

Need a teacher gift idea? Teacher Lanyard + Pendant Charm!

Do your iPhone/iPad cords tear or wear out easily? They do around here, so I'm thinking a "strong" cable is next on our list!

76% off - Apple Certified Strong Cable (only ($9.99)!

‪

This is a fun one! Pick Your State Home Tees - 54% off!

And in case you missed my post earlier this week, don't miss these Thanksgiving Deals going on now!

This is not a favourite yet, but I am thinking of putting this on our Thanksgiving menu! It looks delicious. I mean . . . pumpkin, espresso, AND coffee rum glaze?! Yes, please!

Pumpkin Espresso Bundt Cake

I haven't tried this yet either, but it looks like something my whole crew would enjoy. And I like the ease of a crockpot meal.

Crockpot Chicken Gnocchi Soup

And my favourite inspiration for this week is a Facebook post by Bethel Music. Please don't miss it, especially if you have any illness or pain in your own body or have someone in your life who is ill. Be encouraged! God is GOOD.

We Speak Life

Have a great weekend!

Blessings and love. xo

Disclaimer: This post contains my affiliate links. This simply means that when you choose to purchase through these links, there is NO additional cost to you, and I make a small commission. Thank you!

Weekly Menu Plan {September 20-26}

Hello and Happy Sunday! We've had a lovely weekend, complete with lots of activities and work. We normally have clean the house day on Saturdays, but schedules are a little crazy, so it's getting done in bits and pieces. The weather was quite warm yesterday, so Bob and Austin were able to cut tree limbs and get some things accomplished in the yard. I have been planning and organizing, cleaning out closets (with the kids' help) and taking bags of clothes and household goods to the local thrift store (with Bob's help). It feels so good!

I hope you're weekend is going well. Are you as excited as I am about welcoming Autumn this week (if you are in the Northern Hemisphere, of course)!?!? 

Here is our menu plan for this week:

Sunday - Taco Salad

Monday - Chicken Pot Pie and salad

Tuesday - Crock Pot Pinto Beans and Sausage, cornbread

Wednesday - Leftovers 

Thursday - Tacos, chips, guacamole

Friday - Hot dogs, baked beans, chips

Saturday - The Best Lasagna Ever, salad, garlic bread

May you have a refreshing Sunday and a week full of good things.

Blessings and love. xo

Weekly Menu Plan {September 13-19}

Hello! I'm going to make this speedy. I've had a wonderful, full-to-the-brim weekend and desperately need to get to bed. I hope you're weekend has gone well!

Here's our plan for this week:

Sunday - Turkey chili for our Family Fellowship night.

Monday - Chicken fajitas, Spanish rice, chips and guacamole

Tuesday - Leftovers

Wednesday - Ben's birthday meal! I think he's decided on the chicken wings I made last Wednesday. They have become a family favourite!

Thursday - Burgers, baked beans, salad

Friday - Homemade pizza, salad

Saturday - Flank Steak Sandwiches with Bleu Cheese, potato salad 

Have a wonderful week! 

Blessings and love. xo

Weekly Menu Plan {September 6 - 12}

That last week just flew by, didn't it?! Wow. I can't believe it's Monday already. Happy Labour Day! We have worked around the house all day and are just sitting down to watch a movie before bedtime. 

Did you relax or work today?

Here our menu plan for this week:

Sunday - Baked potatoes, salad

Monday - Crock Pot Cheese Tortellini, Spinach and Sausage, salad, homemade French bread (Thank you, Emma!)

Tuesday - Salmon with Bok Choy and Apple Slaw, rice

Wednesday - Grilled Chicken Wings (I made this recipe a couple of weeks ago and it was a HUGE hit!), squash casserole, baked beans

Thursday - Beef Stew (Ben's night to cook)

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday - Homemade Pizza 

Have a wonderful week!

Blessings and love. xo

Weekly Menu Plan {August 30 - September 5}

Hello! 

We are starting school tomorrow, plus several children are starting new jobs and/or new activities, etc., so I have been putting a lot of time into planning and getting my calendar organized. I love writing all the different ink colours on the clean, white squares. New beginnings. New adventures. New skills. New knowledge. New experiences. It's all exciting!

I am simplifying breakfasts and lunches for the beginning of the school year. It had gotten to the point where everyone would fend for him or herself, so there might be six or seven different things going on (think oatmeal, scrambled eggs, bacon, cereal, baked beans, leftovers, etc.), which was just too haphazard and disorganized (not to mention the state of the kitchen when it was all over. Eek!). I love that they all have different tastes and that they can get their own meals, when necessary, but we need a new system. 

So, I am taking over breakfast and doing one meal for everyone. I'm thinking eggs and bacon or oatmeal and bacon. Simple, eh? I think it will be a nice change. For lunch, we're just going to have sandwiches, either PB & J or turkey/cheese. I am feeling a huge need for simple. 

Here is my menu plan for this week:

Sunday - Popcorn, fruit

Monday - Beef Stroganoff, salad

Tuesday - Leftovers

Wednesday - Chicken Pot Pie

Thursday - Spinach and Feta Mac and Cheese

Friday - HM Pizza, salad

Saturday - Chili, cornbread

What's on your meal plan for this week? I'd love for you to share your menu plan in the comments. I enjoy seeing what you're serving at your house!

Blessings and love. xo

Weekly Menu Plan {August 23-29, 2015}

Hello friends,

It has been so long since I posted a menu plan, but after a difficult summer, things are looking up! Just in time for school to start again, I am getting back into a more regular routine. We don't start back until the 31st, but I want to get some things in place, starting this week. 

Here is what I'm pencilling in my planner for the next week's suppers:

Sunday - Grilled Chicken Wings, tomato and cucumber salad 

Monday - Hot dogs, veggie tray and chips

Tuesday - Chicken Souvlaki, hummus and pita

Wednesday - Leftovers

Thursday - Spinach and Feta Mac and Cheese (I made this earlier in the week and it was yummy and simple!)

Friday - Emma's birthday dinner (yet to be determined)

Saturday - Homemade Pizza (I used this recipe last night and it was a hit! I have not kneaded any bread in a LONG time, so it provided a shoulder workout, for sure!)

What's on your menu plan this week? 

Blessings and love. xo

Pamela's Heavenly Treats {review}

Disclaimer: I received a product in exchange for my honest review. All opinions, photos and experiences are entirely my own.


I have something sweet and delicious to share with you today - homemade granola from Pamela's Heavenly Treats!

Well, at least the ONE BITE I was able to taste was sweet and delicious. {ahem}

My family members tell me that all the other bites were just as sweet and delicious as my one. As soon as I had taken photos of all the goodies Pamela sent me, they thought it was a free-for-all and dove in to the granola goodness! I can't really blame them. They enjoy delectable foods. They are picky. Not in the sense that they only eat chicken nuggets and goldfish crackers picky. No, no, no! They are picky in that they thoroughly enjoy high quality food. They have fairly distinguished palettes, for being children. They know when foods contain a bunch of artificial junk. They know when foods are more natural and healthy. Maybe a better word for their pickiness would be "selective." I am very thankful for this. The word "healthy" doesn't send them running for the hills, and actually, the older they get the more mindful they are of what is healthy and what is not.

Here's my lovely friend, Pamela . . . 

I have had the honour of getting to know Pamela on Instagram (social media gets a bad rap sometimes, but I am thankful for the connections I make in that arena!). She actually lives fairly close to me, but we have yet to meet in person. Maybe one of these days! She is one busy lady, with running her own business from home and taking care of her family, which includes homeschooling her younger children.  

I love that Pamela uses natural ingredients in her products. Some of her main ingredients include: gluten-free rolled oats, extra-virgin olive oil, light brown sugar, unsweetened coconut shreds, cinnamon and 100% grade A maple syrup. This is not a complete list, but it gives you a good idea that her varieties of granola are healthy and full of flavour. She often posts photos on IG and makes everyone who follows her hungry, myself included!

Pamela sent us these flavours to try:

Cranberry Cinnamon Spice

Southern Comfort Spice

Peach Spice

Peanut Butter Crunch

My one bite was of the Peanut Butter Crunch granola, and I could have eaten the whole bag by myself. Yum! These products are great with a little milk poured over them or to eat as a snack right out of the bag. They are perfect for a healthy breakfast (or for my crew who love cereal and granola anytime of day - lunch or supper!) or to take along with you to a soccer game or ballet lesson.  

Please check out her website Pamela's Heavenly Treats to order your box of homemade goodness today.

You can follow Pamela on Instagram or Pinterest.

And Pamela's Heavenly Treats will soon be on Amazon, so be sure to look for them there, too!

Blessings and love. xo

Our Weekend Recap

Hello! 

How was your weekend? Ours was H.O.T.! We have been enjoying the mid-80's for much of the summer, so having the temperature crank up to mid-90's plus humidity?! Yikes. I am so not a heat person. Why, you may ask? Well, because I am already hot all of the time anyway. With the heat index near or over 100, I really do feel like I may melt. I seriously thank God for our pool and that this house has AC on the second level! It's the little things. 

The kids were in the pool a good amount of time (the water therapy is so good for Ava's injured foot!). Friends and neighbours came over to play. Friday night, our neighbours invited us over to have drinks and appetizers. I made a Black Bean and Feta dip to take and share. The kids were amazed at how warm their pool is compared with ours. The temps were quite pleasant that evening, and we had so much fun laughing and visiting. It was the perfect way to end the week, as I shared on Instagram . . . 

That night, Bob and the boys started a new tradition they designated, "The Inaugural Royce & Sons All Night Brisket Smoke-Off'! It was a huge hit. Well, until the next afternoon when they all needed naps, but what a fun experience for the Royce men. I don't think it will always take place over night, but I do think the practice of smoking meat will be a more frequent occurrence around here.

Saturday was rainy and stormy in the morning, so I didn't walk down to our Farmers' Market as planned. I did take time that day to start planning our school year. Our summer has been a little odd this year, with taking care of Ava and getting her injury healed. It's hard to believe school will start in just over a month. So, I tried to start getting some things out of my brain and onto the paper. Have you started planning for school yet or doing your back to school shopping?!

I'll share a new idea I'm putting into play for this school year in the next week or so. And if you're new to homeschooling or just need a little encouragement, I highly recommend this post from Sarah at Amongst Lovely Things! 

I hope your weekend was great and not too hot! 

Blessings and love. xo

Weekly Menu Plan {27 April}

Disclaimer: This post contains my affiliate links. Thank you for your support!

Hello, my friend! How was your weekend? We were both busy and had some down time, so it was a nice balance. The weather turned chilly, again, though, and I'm glad I kept some of my sweaters handy when I packed up my winter clothes. The spring blooms are all "showing out", as my Grandma used to say, and we are enjoying each and every shade and hue.

What are you planning to serve for supper this week? We're eating out of the freezer this week. Here is our menu plan . . .

Monday - Sautéed Salmon, kale sale, rice

Tuesday - Our Favourite Grilled Chicken, broccoli, scalloped potatoes

Wednesday - Taco Salad

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Crock Pot Rosemary Chicken, mashed potatoes

Saturday - Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, vegetable soup (leftover from when a friend made it for us awhile back)

Sunday - Snack-y Supper

Link-up: Menu Plan Monday

Don't forget to sign up for The Essential Oils Revolution!

Art At The Mill 2015

It's time for Art At The Mill at the historic Burwell-Morgan Mill (c. 1782) in Millwood, Virginia! This is truly a Clarke County treasure and one of my favourite events to attend. Walking into the old mill is a stunning experience that elicits the senses. The still-working mill is a pleasure in and of itself, and then add in all the wonderful pieces of art, and it is a sight to behold. During the show, you can view more than 1,000 pieces of artwork created by over 300 artists from our surrounding area and more than a dozen other states. You may even get to chat with one or two of the artists, whom I have always found to be so personable and willing to answer any of my questions. One year my little girls even enjoyed a simple art lesson given by one of the local artists. It was a special touch added to an already enjoyable experience.

Art At The Mill is a lovely day excursion. Shop at the art show, browse through the gourmet food shop, The Locke Store, maybe even pick up a few things for a casual picnic on the beautiful grounds of the mill. The surrounding horse farms also make for a relaxing drive in the country. The Shenandoah River is close by, as well, and you can get a peek at the delightful and unique Virginia Bluebells along the river banks.

These photos are all from last year's Art At The Mill event. I cannot wait to get there this year to see what all the talented artists have been up to in the last twelve months! I hope to see you there.

Join the Clarke County Historical Association for the 2015 edition of Art At The Mill:

Art At The Mill will be open April 25th-May 10th, 2015 during the following hours:  

Monday-Thursday 10-5

Friday and Saturday 10-6

Sunday from 11-5

Adults $5

Seniors $3

Kids 12 and under are free

Blessings and love. xo

Weekly Menu Plan {20 April}

Disclaimer: This post contains my affiliate links. Thank you for your support!

Good morning, my friend! 

I wanted to share some exciting information with you about how you can learn more about using essential oils in your home! The Essential Oils Revolution is coming soon and is being offered absolutely FREE of charge! We use essential oils in our home on a daily basis and are thrilled with the results, yet I know that I still have so much to learn, so I have signed up, as well. The list of speakers and topics is impressive, and I am looking forward gleaning from them and finding out how we can benefit even more from using essential oils in our home! 

You can sign up here if you're interested . . . Sign Up Today! 

What are you cooking this week? Here is our menu plan:


Monday - Sausage, Peppers and Onions with buns (or not - for those who are cutting carbs)

Tuesday - Roast Chicken, salad, broccoli

Wednesday - Beef Stew, crusty bread

Thursday - Pioneer Woman's Shrimp Scampi 

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday - Burgers on the Grill, baked beans, Kale Salad

Sunday - Snack-y supper

Sign Up Today!

Linking up: Menu Plan Monday

Blessings and love. xo 

Weekly Menu Plan {13 April}

Good morning, Friend! How was your weekend? We are enjoying the sun and warmer temps and new blooms so much! 

Here is one photo I took last week of our magnolia tree.

We have another full week and with soccer practices and games I am trying to be more organized with meals and planning. It helps my mental state as well as my budget! No panicking at 5:00 every afternoon. 

What's on your plan for this week?

This is what we'll plan to make:

Monday - Penne Pinching Pasta, salad

Tuesday - Turkey Chili, chips, grated cheese, sour cream, avocado

Wednesday - Chicken Curry, basmati rice, naan

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Carne Guisada, mashed potatoes

Saturday - Pizza

Sunday - Snack-y supper

Linking up: Menu Plan Monday 

Blessings and love. xo

Weekly Menu Plan {6 April}

Hello and Happy April! We are back to school and work and regular routines this week, with a few new things added in to the mix. We had a nice week off and are enjoying every warm moment of springtime in Virginia!

Here is our plan for this week:

Monday - Chicken and Bok Choy Stir Fry

Tuesday - Country Fried Steak with Gravy, mashed potatoes, salad (Austin's birthday requested meal!)

Wednesday - Taco Salad, chips, salsa

Thursday - Salmon with Avocado Salsa, rice, sautéed kale

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday - Turkey Meatball Subs, veggie tray

Sunday - Snack-y Supper

What's on your menu plan for this week?

Linking up: Menu Plan Monday

Blessings and love. xo

Weekly Menu Plan {23 March}

Good morning! How was your first weekend of spring? We had a nice one, visiting with friends and neighbours, getting geared up for a new soccer season and watching a little March Madness. 

Here is our plan for this week:

Monday - Our Favourite Grilled Chicken, broccoli, rice, salad

Tuesday - BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizzas (with leftover chicken from Monday), salad

Wednesday - Baked Ziti, salad

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Crock Pot Pinto Beans, cornbread

Saturday - Burgers on the Grill, pasta salad

Sunday - Snack-y supper

Linking up: Menu Plan Monday

Blessings and love. xo

Weekly Menu Plan {9 March}

Good morning, Friend!

I have so much on my heart this morning. I know some of us are experiencing great struggles and challenges in our lives. I know some are feeling hopeless. This is not what I usually write about on my menu plan posts, but I just have such a strong desire to encourage us (myself included) this morning. As a believer in Jesus, I cannot look at my circumstances to determine ANYTHING. My surroundings may look bleak, even impossible at times, but I choose to fix my eyes on The King. I am learning more and more about who I am in Jesus, more and more about The Kingdom which cannot be shaken and my place in that Kingdom.  I hope to write more on this soon. 

If you are in a place of despair, do not give up. The Father sees you and knows you and is for you! He will never leave you or forsake you! Declare His truths over your life. Stand strong in faith. The best is yet to come! And if you'd like me to pray over you, please feel free to say so in the comments or email me (scarlettroyce(at)gmaildotcom). 

Here is our menu plan for this week:

Monday - Easy Rice and Lentils (something similar to this recipe)

Tuesday - Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, tomato soup

Wednesday - Crockpot Chicken, rice

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Turkey and Dressing

Saturday - Mexican Baked Beans

Sunday - Snack-y supper

Linking up: Menu Plan Monday

Blessings and love, dear one. xo

Weekly Menu Plan {2 March}

Hello, friends! Happy March and the countdown to spring! Do you have any big plans this week? Do you have any special meals to cook? I always mention that I'm linking up with Menu Plan Monday in these posts, and I hope you will take time to hop over and see some of Laura's great menu ideas (plus, don't miss her fantastic organizational tips!), as well as the other ladies who are a part of the link-up. They have offer all kinds of recipes for special diets or just regular ones. 

Also, if you are interested in having a menu all planned out for you, don't forget about 5 Dollar Dinners! Click the banner to find out more about these meal plans tested and ready for you to put into place for your own family. There are plans specifically for Costco, as well.



Now on to our very frugal plan for this week:


Monday - Chili, cornbread

Tuesday - Vegetable soup, cornbread

Wednesday - Pasta Carbonara (Ben's night to cook)

Thursday - Turkey & Provolone Sliders (Emma's night to cook)

Friday - Tortellini, salad

Saturday - Creamy Pumpkin Soup, toast (Austin's night to cook)

Sunday - Snack-y supper

Have a great week!

Many blessings and great love. xo

Disclaimer: This post contains my affiliate links. Many thanks for your support!

Weekly Menu Plan {23 February}

Hello, friends! I hope you are starting off this week on a warm and cozy foot. We had a big snow storm over the weekend, which is still beautiful. The temperature also warmed up significantly yesterday. That meant that the pipes, which had been frozen all week, thawed, and I could do a week's worth of laundry. I don't think I've ever been so happy to do laundry in my life!!!

We're trying to cook solely from the freezer and pantry this week, so here's our plan:

Monday - Tilapia and Veggie Stir Fry

Tuesday - Baked sweet potatoes with black beans

Wednesday - TBD (Ben's night to cook)

Thursday -Rigatoni with Chicken, Goat Cheese and Rosemary  (Emma's night to cook)

Friday - Caesar Salad (Maya's night to cook)

Saturday - Baked chicken, mashed potatoes, veggie tray

Sunday - Snack-y supper

Have a great week!

Linking up with Menu Plan Monday.

Blessings and love. xo