Menu Plan Monday

Busy, busy weekend – but an awesome one.

SuperMan’s birthday was Friday – we went out on a date night (you can read more about that here)

I got to see my brother and two of his best friends on Saturday (haven’t seen him in 2 years! he lives on the west coast and we just haven’t been able to swing a trip out there or here in a while thanks to the economy.) and I got to spend lots of time with my mom. Doesn’t get much better than that.

That was us after dinner on Saturday evening. I asked him how we got so old… neither of us was quite sure. Man, he looks a lot like my dad did when he was that age…

We also brought back some old furniture that was at my mom’s lake house – things that we’re going to restore and find uses for here at home, including this

an old glider-rocker that used to be on my grandmother’s front porch when I was a child. I remember many hot, sticky summer nights spent sleeping on that porch when it was just too hot to sleep inside (no air conditioning). My brother and I would listen to the big trucks rolling down the highway and giggle and whisper for as long as we could stay awake without getting fussed at by Grandma.

I can’t wait to restore it and put it on my back porch for my girls to do the same one day.

I also brought home this

which is an old table from my GREAT-grandmother’s kitchen. We have the “naugehide” covered chairs, too. I can’t wait to restore them and put this puppy to use. Lots of happy Saturday mornings were spent at this table when I was a girl.

So, we are getting back to “normal” today – including planning our menus for the week. I really, really need to go grocery shopping as I’ve been cooking out of the freezer for the last two weeks and we are out of fresh veggies and the like as well.

Here’s what I have planned so far:

Monday: Bourbon Chicken with Rice & veggies (trying a new recipe)
Tuesday: Tacos
Wednesday: Grilled Chicken or maybe this new recipe – Chicken Yakitori
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday/Saturday/Sunday: SuperMan and the girls are on their own as I’ll be in the mountains on a girls’ weekend! Scrapbooking & relaxing.

How about you? Hop on over to orgjunkie.com for some great menu ideas.

Friday adventures

We’re hanging out with family this weekend – SuperMan’s birthday was on Friday and so we’re celebrating with our family.

This picture was from our birthday date night dinner:

His fortune cookie – “You are a happy man.”

We have found this little “hole in the wall” Asian restaurant that is very close to my mom’s house. It’s run by a husband and wife team. That’s it. Just the two of them. She waits tables and does the appetizer service. He does the main cooking and sushi prep. The food is excellent and we always really enjoy our visits there.

I Don't Know How She Does It Poster From there, we went on to the movies to see “I don’t know how she does it” – a new movie with Sarah Jessica Parker (I love her) about a working mom trying to juggle a major career opportunity and two small kids. Her husband gets a huge opportunity for his business at the same time and they are running crazy trying to make everything work.

I sat there thinking “This is my life!” (well, minus the multiple-times-a-month airplane trips, but I’ve done that before, too) It was very well done in terms of representing what most of us modern moms deal with on a daily basis – juggling our commitments to our husbands, children and careers and never really feeling like we’re doing all we can for any of them. Sara Jessica Parker is cute enough to pull off some of the challenges of this world without appearing “preachy” or as if there is a moral to tell in the story.

There were several laugh-out-loud scenes, like when she sends the wrong email message to the wrong person … but I won’t spoil it for you by telling you the details.

Go see it. It’s worth it. Trust me.

Little Bit also had a big adventure.

She decided that she wanted to get her ears pierced. So, we took her to the store and I couldn’t believe how brave she was! My sweet baby – she’s not a baby anymore…

Here she is holding her sister’s hand for bravery. They apparently had a deal that her big sister would stay by her side the entire time and hold her hand if she went through with it.

“Ow, ow, ow”

Such a beautiful girl. I was so proud of her – and I’ll admit, I got a little choked up looking at her being so brave and strong.

Today, I get to see my brother, whom I haven’t seen in almost 2 years (since before my surgery) and his best friends. They’re hanging out down by the coast and doing their annual fishing trip. I can’t wait to see them and spend a little time together.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend – I’ll be back on Monday with more adventures, pictures and (hopefully) the weekly meal plan. Smile

Five Decadent, Mouth-watering Fall Recipes to Try (soon!)

I’m on the hunt for some new recipes to try this fall – revisions of old favorites, new tastes and flavors to sample.

I thought I’d share with you some of the things I’ve recently ear-marked (or bookmarked, rather) as recipes I want to try this fall: (all images are from the website the recipe is linked to)

Caramel Apple Bread Pudding: Just the name makes my mouth water. I mean, seriously – caramel, apples and bread? Oh.my.
Apple and Brie melts: This is like the grilled cheese of the gods. I absolutely love, love, love brie and apples on toast. Why did I never think to make it a sandwich? MUST TRY THIS SOON.
Caramel Apple Trifle: Yes, yet another apple recipe. Hey, I’m getting a half-bushel a week! I’m on the hunt for new recipes to try! Of course, I’m quite content eating them just as God made them, too. Several a day, as a matter of fact!
and just to prove I’m not apple-obsessed ~ Snickerdoodle Bread:this one has me curious. I love snickerdoodles and I love sugar cookies – and who doesn’t love bread? Think this one will be on the list to try the next time we have company for dinner.
And last but not least ~ White Chocolate Toffee Brownies. Seriously? I am sure these taste like what they’d serve in heaven. Got to be. Must bake soon.

Okay, there’s my five, mouth watering treats I must try sometime this fall.

What about you? Any recipes you’re dying to try?

Most of my new favorites are over on my Pinterest recipe boards. Hop on over to check more out!

Project Life Tuesday ~ 13 September 11

Sorry the blog has been so quiet lately. The blog has been quiet but my life has not! Which is why I haven’t had a blog post – I’ve just been so busy!

But I am sharing my recent photos for Project Life Tuesday today. I haven’t taken many, but here are the ones from last week:

a rainy day walk with SuperMan and the pups

Lilly pads on the lake

Walking with the munchkins

Big Girl’s science project on cells

Big Girl learning to shoot the BB Gun with her grandpa.

We have been invaded – by birdies of all sorts – including hummingbirds!

Walking walking walking – that was my week – a great stress reliever.

Join the Project Life link-ups over at these sites:

A little bit of scrappin’

I have been on overload this week. Lots going on at work and at home.

So, I managed to carve out a few minutes of time last night to do a little therapeutic scrapbooking – to give my brain some creative time and my body a little rest.

Here are the pages I did. Not many, but it sure was nice to get some done. I am hoping to do more this weekend.

I can publish CM SBC+ templates if anyone is interested… let me know!

What I’m Reading Right Now

I haven’t had as much time to read since school started a few weeks ago. I’ve been busy with after school activities, homework, and the like – wait, I’m not the one who went back to school! What’s wrong with this picture? Winking smile

I have been getting up before the sun comes up, though, which means that I’ve been going to bed a whole lot earlier – as early as 8:30 or 9:00 most nights – and which translates to less time to read.

In spite of all that, I have managed to pick up a few books. I am currently in the middle of two books – neither of which have really “grabbed” me. They are good, but not spectacular. I think my fatigue and busy-ness also have contributed to the fact that I have not been as engrossed in the stories.

Remarkable Creatures

by Tracy Chevalier

I picked this up in a buy one-get one special at a bookstore near my mom’s house this summer. I’ve been saving it for a day when I didn’t have anything handy to read – and that day came just a few weeks ago.

The story is based on a young girl who finds “curies” – curiosities – which are fossilized creatures found on the beaches of southern England. Also a part of the story is a young spinster who moves to the area and becomes focused on finding curiosities as well. The story touches on the differences in their social classes and the similarities of their love of finding fossils.

It’s a little slow – which is why I can’t tell you much more about the story – and I haven’t gotten too deep in the story yet. It looks like a good story, I just need to sit down and read it!

The Last Letter from Your Lover

by Jojo Moyes

The Last Letter from Your Lover opens with a young woman in the hospital suffering from amnesia and recovering from a terrible car accident. As the story unfolds, you discover her unhappy marriage, a happenstance meeting with a journalist that turns into something more, and her rediscovery of her life.

The book is broken into two parts – the first is focused on Jennifer as she recovers from her accident and deals with the amnesia. The second focuses on a young journalist who stumbles across letters from Jennifer and the journalist and tries to discover what happened to them.

I have gotten through the first part – just started on the second part. I got so aggravated with Jennifer in the first part that I had to put the book away for a few days to get some distance from the story. (guess that means it is a good book!) I’m ready to pick it up again, though, and see how things transpire in the second half and find out what happened to Jennifer and Anthony.

I’ll let you know what my final verdict is…

What about you? Reading anything good these days? Share with us in the comments!

And we’re walking… we’re walking…

I love that line – not sure what movie it is from – anyone remember?

I always think about it when I’m trying to get the kids moving along and they are dilly-dallying as kids like to do…

But today it is in reference to the recent renewal of my walking habit.

I decided I’d like to drop another 10 pounds before the holidays and winter hibernation set in. That means I have to mix things up a bit and do something different… ’cause we all know that doing the same thing only gets you the same thing you always got.

So, I’m walking.

Again.

The fact that it is about 20 degrees cooler outside has a lot to do with my renewed interest in outdoor activity. I have to be honest here.

And I have been loving every minute.

Sunday, we had a nice walk with the entire family – puppies and all. Monday was the same and then Tuesday SuperMan and I walked (with the pups) in the rain. It was marvelous.

Today the girls and I walked together after we finished our school and work day. It was really nice to be together and talk about whatever came to mind. I’d really like to keep that going and make it a habit. I think it would be good for the girls and good for me. And great for our relationships with each other.

Right now, I’m doing about 2 miles. I’d like to be at about double that really soon. How soon? Well, I don’t know. I think I could do more – except that my leg muscles are sore… I think once I get them reconditioned I could probably double it pretty easily. I’m not winded or tired when I get finished… just feel invigorated.

So, I’ll be “kicking it up a notch” in the next few days. Maybe doing a morning walk on my own at a faster pace (or longer duration) and then an easier walk with the girls in the afternoons.

And as long as the weather holds out, I’ll be walking – rain or shine. It’s the heat I can’t handle!

Menu Plan Monday (uh, Tuesday) ~ 6 September

Well, I’m a day off again this week. It’s with good cause, though, because we were celebrating the Labor Day holiday. Had a great day – walking in the rain with SuperMan, the girls & puppies, lazing around the house and then hosting some of our favorite people for a low country boil at the house. It was supposed to be a cookout, but it turned into a “cook-in” because of the rain. That didn’t slow us down at all, though. We had a marvelous time. When you have great company the locale is not as important.

Today we are back to the routine and I’m trying to wrap my head around some menu planning for the week. I’m hoping to cook out of my freezer as much as I can this week, so that means getting creative with my options.

Here are the menu items I’m thinking of making. Days are still open – what I will cook on what day – but this is the general plan:

Veggie chili – using up the things in the crisper drawer.
Spaghetti (leftovers)
Asian chicken stir fry
Salmon croquettes with grits
Beef stew (leftovers)

I’m also planning to make my cheesy chicken pasta this weekend – we’re hosting our small group from church on Sunday. I imagine we’ll most likely eat dinner out on Saturday, too… so that will take us through the week.

What about you – any special plans this week?

Hop on over to orgjunkie.com for some ideas for more menus.

Menu Plan Monday ~ 15 August (loishouston.wordpress.com)
A day late and a dollar short (thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com)
Menu Plan Monday: 8 August (Back to the Grindstone) (loishouston.wordpress.com)

Easy Recipe Ideas for Entertaining

It’s Labor Day in the US. That means lots of cookouts, parties, and get-togethers with family & friends. We’ll be celebrating as well, today, with some of our closest friends. Cooking a Low Country Boil for our friends and enjoying the rain that we are finally getting thanks to the tropical storm headed our way. (We’re going to be having an indoor cookout!)

I love to cook – as I think you already know – but I love to bake and prepare main dishes. I’ve never been much of an appetizer person. Not that I don’t like to eat them – I’ve just never cooked many. I’m too busy concocting the main course!

But I had the opportunity a couple weeks ago to bring some appetizers to a get-together. This required my digging around in my favorite recipe books for something suitable. It had to be easy, quick, inexpensive (without a lot of complicated ingredients) and something filling. Our get-together was going to be a “light supper” that would be comprised of the “heavy appetizers” everyone was bringing. So, SuperMan and I dug around until I found some likely candidates.

First up was Sesame Chicken Drumettes – a sweet and tasty glazed chicken wing concoction. We figured that would be a good, filling contribution. I found the recipe in my Sandra Lee cookbook, but it is available on the food network website, too. The only things we did differently was that we added the sesame seeds after the marinade.

They were a huge hit and everyone really enjoyed them. Even Big Girl, who was the official taste tester before we left. She decided they were not to leave the house – they had to stay with her. Winking smile

Second, I made Pepperoni Pinwheels. A mixture of crescent rolls, pepperoni and cheese. I made them pretty much according to the recipe and I think the next time I make them I’ll make some changes. They were good, but I think they could use a little more flavor. I think next time, I will add some ricotta cheese, garlic and Italian seasoning to the filling mixture.

They were popular, too, but not as popular as the chicken wings were.

Of course, now I need some new ideas for some appetizers.

Anyone have any that are tried-and-true hits?

Some Days There are No Words

Some days, I don’t have anything to say – I think and think and can’t come up with something to talk about in a blog post. Most of the time, I’m just so busy that I can’t quiet my mind enough to concentrate on good writing. Other times, there are things happening but not something I want to share in a public forum like a blog. And then other times, there’s just nothing and no reason at all for it. It just is.

So, today was one of those kind of days.

I was planning to write a post and feature some scrapbook pages, but I’ve been so busy I haven’t had time to scrapbook. Then, I thought I’d do a feature on the books I’ve been reading. Except the one I’m reading now isn’t something that I’m that in love with and I’m not sure I care enough about it to finish it – and that wouldn’t make a good blog post, now would it?

So there I was. Nothing to write about today.

And I’m okay with not having a post some days… I figure I make up for it on days when I feel particularly chatty, so it is no big deal.

and then…

True to the way life is, Life gave me fodder for the blog.

Little Bit had a friend over for a play date after school. They quickly ran upstairs and shut themselves in her room to play Barbie Beauty Shop. I heard lots of giggles and laughter and singing while I was down in my office working.

Good enough. Moving on.

And then I heard lots of bumping and thumping and murmurs and mutters.

And the sound of little feet running back and forth from my bathroom into her bedroom … back and forth… back and forth.

There was a part of my mother’s intuition that said I really needed to go upstairs and see what they were up to.

But, like the ostrich I can be sometimes, I chose to bury my head in the sand and keep working. They were quiet (relatively) and no one was crying. All was well.

And then I heard suspicious sounds.

And then Little Bit came downstairs with white stuff in her hair. Huh?

“Um, honey, what is that in your hair?”

(guilty look) “nothing” (dashes back upstairs)

much more suspicious sounds emanate from the bedroom

(are you cringing? I was)

So, I girded my loins and decided it was time to face the music. I climbed the stairs, afraid of what was going to await me as I turned the corner into Little Bit’s room.

I was amazed.

I was overwhelmed.

I was speechless.

It was SNOWING in her room.

Yes, SNOWING.

Or, at least what LOOKED like snow.

oh.my.gosh.

SERIOUSLY!?!?!

I am not sure what exactly transpired – no one was fessin’ up – but apparently the feather pillow that Little Bit sleeps on “mysteriously” busted open and then the feathers “magically” found their way around the room.

With the ceiling fan on high.

Yeah.

Snowing.

Oh, but it gets better.

They both looked like they had snow in their hair. And they ran away from me as I turned around – with feathers flying behind them as they ran… flying all over my freshly cleaned house. The house that is hosting company this weekend.

sigh.

Can you see them? The piles and piles? of FEATHERS!?!

I decided this job called for some serious horsepower for cleaning up the piles of feathers that were everywhere in the room. I consoled myself with the fact that they were pretty much limited to her bedroom and not the rest of the house.

I got SuperMan’s shop vac and started to suck up the little suckers. I thought to myself, “well, this is not that bad. the vac is getting it up pretty well.”

And then I turned around to move the shop vac closer to me.

And realized it was SNOWING on the landing outside Little Bit’s room.

oh.my.gosh.

Apparently, the feathers were small enough to float right back out of the exhaust of the shop vac.

Seriously?

Back downstairs I went for the more traditional vacuums. Big Girl got the hand-held model for the feathers on the bed and furniture tops. I took the floor model on the floor.

I have never seen so many feathers in my entire life.

And the pillow looks just like it did before it was busted.

Thank goodness THEY were busted before they emptied the whole thing.

I have a sneaky suspicion I will be cleaning up feathers for a long time to come.

Yes, truly, some days, there are no words.

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