Monday, August 25, 2008

Menu Planning Monday:

Well this week I return to work for a few days so my meals need to be quick and definitely planned out. We are going out of town for the holiday so I also included those meals. I have been lagging on going to the grocery store so last weeks meals used a good chunk of my stock pile, although, I was still able to make a little extra in some cases to freeze. This week I am going to try three new recipes. I am not sure if the order here will change, but I hope to make all of these meals. I hope you enjoy your week.

This week’s meals:

Sunday: Three Bean Stew/Chili over brown rice

Monday: Curried Rice and Shrimp (Real Simple Magazine) and an Asian inspired salad

Tuesday: Chicken with creamy spinach (Real Simple Magazine) and chicken rice

Wednesday: Brats, French fries and veggies

Thursday: Egg Frittata with sausage and veggies (something simple because I am making freezer jam with a friend after dinner, plus I have to work all day)

Friday: BBQ, baked beans, grilled veggies (Out of Town)

Saturday: Pork Tacos, Spanish rice with a salad and taco fixings (Out of Town)

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Summer by the Lake Swimsuit GIVEAWAY!!!!



Summer by the Lake Swimsuit GIVEAWAY!!!!

Check out this little swimsuit for your little girl. I don't know how this mom finds time to do everything she does and is so creative and generous at the same time. She truly amazes me.

Garden Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!



Garden Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Check out this darling dress. Yes, from the talented designer at Grosgrain. She is amazing. I agree with her that it would be nice to have this little number in an adult size. Well that is when I get back to my pre-pregnancy size. A gal can hope now. Enter the contest for your little garden gal here.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Family Meals for the week of August 17th-23rd


Well last weeks meals were adjusted a little bit with my MOPS steering team retreat this past weekend. My hubby ended up cooking for the family on Friday and Saturday evening. I had planned a frozen meal for Friday and Brats for Saturday, but he had his own meal plan. The kiddos ate Mac and Cheese (his favorite meal beefed up, but started from a box of Kraft) and then he used the Brats to make Jambalaya. I am just thankful for him for watching the kids and cooking. I enjoyed a wonderful 24 plus hours of no kids, no diapers, no one saying “Mommy," it was bliss; however, with all that said I still missed my kids. Isn’t that strange? When I was a younger teacher I use to feel the same way on my summer vacations, or holiday breaks with my students. I was thankful for the rest, but I missed them. This concept is even stronger with my kiddos who are two and one.

Well on to menu planning for this week. Last night (Sunday) we enjoyed a freezer meal. I didn’t want to use a freezer meal (since I am trying to stockpile for my return to work), but it is way too hot to cook and I don’t have a lot of food in the house at this point. Well enjoy my meal plan. I can’t wait to checkout your meal plans. I always get some great ideas.

This week’s meals:

Sunday: Pork Tacos, Spanish rice with salad and taco fixings

Monday: Dinner at a friend’s house

Tuesday: Special Casserole and a wedge salad (mom is out tonight so making Dad’s favorite)

Wednesday: Stir Fry with brown rice

Thursday: Egg Frittata with sausage and veggies (something simple because I am making freezer jam with a friend after dinner, plus I have to work all day)

Friday: BBQ, baked beans, grilled veggies (getting my hair done tonight)

Saturday: Three bean chili, spicy Indian Cauliflower and a salad

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Nantucket Weekend GIVEAWAY!!!!

Checkout this adorable give away from Grosgrain. She is amazing and she also does volunteer work with MOPS. Wow! I wish I had half of her talent. I would love to win this for Big A. She would look so darling in it and it would be the perfect size for her to enjoy this summer and maybe even next summer.
Nantucket Weekend GIVEAWAY!!!!

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Menu Plan Monday: August 10th through 16th

Well this week seemed to fly by. We are getting ready for the kids to head off to childcare and both mommy and daddy to go back to work. Yes, we have both been off this summer since we are both educators. Now be careful what you wish for (or wish you had) because it is not all bliss to both be home all the time at the same time. I could give you many examples of this from this summer and previous summers, but I try not to air my dirty laundry on this blog.

This week’s meals are aimed at feeding the masses. I am also going to try to double up and build some freezer meals into the mix this week. I don't have much of an appetite these days. I am going to take advantage of the no little appetite and make some family favorites that are not necessarily something that I would eat (I am not a big pasta fan or meat). That is a little background into this week’s meal.

I am getting a little nervous about going back to work and how it will impact things at home. I had a difficult time staying at home, taking care of the kids and managing the home. I feel like now I am just adding a sixty percent job on top of all of that I already do and yet I can't do everything I have to do as it is. Oh well! Maybe it won’t be as bad as I think it will be. I don’t really have a choice so I am going to make the best of it.

This week’s meals:

Sunday: Shells and sausage casserole with a side salad

Monday: Three bean chili, spicy Indian Cauliflower and a salad

Tuesday: Take out sandwiches on sale at a local grocery store $2.99 a sandwich (we’ll get two and the kids will share mine.)

Wednesday: Egg Frittata with sausage and veggies

Thursday: Grilled Chicken, chicken rice and grilled veggies (definitely white corn)

Friday: enchiladas, my favorite salad and Spanish rice

Saturday: grilled brats, grilled veggies and a side of some sort

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Check these dogs out...



I already have a real, live, heavy breathing, smelly, barking, Beagle dog that my children adore, but I think these dogs are more my speed than our current doggie. Check these out. They look so real and yet they don't make any of the mess that a real dog does or take any of the resources (time, love, attention, time). I am hoping to win one for my kids. We would be a great home for one these dogs. I'll trade you...my Beagle for one of these life like stuffed animal dogs. :) Check out the contest here...

Monday, August 4, 2008

Paperdoll Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!


Checkout this adorable give away once again from the fabulous grosgrain designer. She is too talented for words. I hope I win this one for Big A, although, I don't know how I would keep her clean in this adorable little white number. Check out the cute clips if you leave a comment and win the dress they could be yours as well. On second thought, if you don't enter that may give me more chances to win. Just teasing. Check out this darling little number right here.
Paperdoll Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Sunday, August 3, 2008

A Playhouse of a Little Girl's Dreams

I have been drooling over this darling little playhouse since I read it on Linda’s blog last week. Check it out. Isn’t it just too cute for words? I wish my hubby was up for something like that. We have too much other house stuff going on right now, but a mom can dream can’t she. Isn’t this playhouse a little girls dream? I love the attention to detail that Linda used in decorating it and she was thrifty about it as well. Sophie is a lucky little girl.

Meals August 3rd through August9th

I am struggling with my meal planning today. I want to plan wonderful, tasty, nutritionally dense, healthy meals for my family; however, I am confined by a budget and time. I have been trying to have meat be less and less of a focus of our meals, but that is not always easy, especially with a hubby and a son. Big A is fine with just fruit and carbs, but little a really likes meat and dad is a huge fan of it as well. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. How do you feed your family healthy and yet maintain a budget?

Tonight, I made quesadillas for the hubby and myself using part of an appetizer we had left over from company last night. I also made a salad with a bunch of leftover food, but I will be serving it tomorrow night since hubby filled up on the quesadillas. The kids had leftover turkey burgers, olives, beans, cheese and some fruit. We ended up having pork tacos last night instead of that wonderful “Not Your Mother’s Pasta Salad.” We were having company and I thought it would be a terrible night to try a new recipe. I have moved the pasta salad over to this week’s meal since I was unable to make it this past week. I did try the Mu Shu Pork recipe and the hubby liked them. I think I would alter the recipe a little if I make them again.

This Week:

Monday: Left Over Salad

Tuesday: Grill Chicken, brats and Veggies

Wednesday: Three Bean Chili with Spring Pesto (Real Simple Mag. April 08) served with a salad

Thursday: Not Your Mama’s Pasta Salad

Friday: Homemade Pizza

Saturday: Date Night…a night off from cooking