I posted last week what our menu for the week looks like and I'm going to do it again this coming week. Planning our menu was essential when I was working outside the home 4 1/2 years ago. Working in a medical clinic you never knew what time you would be home, especially in the winter. So having meat thawed and items in my pantry were a must if we were going to have a healthy meal. Now that I am staying home menu planning is still essential, for sanity reasons, but it has now become something I enjoy. I enjoy trying new recipes and putting together healthy meals that my family will enjoy. Even though cooking dinner is always crazy with hungry kids hanging on my legs, I now have time to do some prep work during naps or put a dish together to be slow cooked in the oven. So here is how I plan our menus. None of this is earth shattering or inventive but maybe it will give you "non-planners" some new ideas.
*I really enjoy reading food blogs and searching allrecipes for new recipes. Mels Kitchen Cafe, Vittles and Bits, and Eighty Twenty are some current blogs I follow. I also hop over to Meal Make Over Moms and Tasty Kitchen too. When I see something I like I'll bookmark it for later when I want to throw in a new recipe for the weekly menu.
*I grocery shop once a week. I sit down the day before and plan our menu and make my shopping list. I use Grocery Gadget to make my shopping list on my iPod. It is compatible with most mobile platforms and has been well worth the $4.
*I have a running list of the meals we like to eat. I also have listed next to it the ingredients I will need to buy if it is not an essential item I always have on hand. This makes coming up with meal ideas and making your shopping list much easier. My mom keeps her meals listed on index cards in a little box and are then divided into categories (chicken, beef, sides, etc.) That way she can easily flip through the box and see what sounds good.
*I always keep our kitchen stocked with the essentials. The essentials for us are basically anything I will need to make our breakfast and lunches, snacks, drinks, spices, condiments, flour, sugar, and frozen veggies. (There are much more but you get the idea) When I run out of one of the essentials I automatically write it down or add it to my shopping app if the iPod or iPad is right next to me so I won't be caught without it in the middle of cooking.
*I often freeze our leftovers if it is a large portion. When I make lasagna I split the ingredients into two 8x8 dishes (one to cook and one to freeze) instead of a 9x13 since we can't eat that much in a couple days. I also freeze soups and chili in quart freezer bags. Lay them flat and they stack nicely without taking up very much room. Having a frozen meal in the freezer is so handy on busy nights! Our Carne Asada, Meatballs, and Meatloaf we ate this week were all in the freezer ready to thaw and heat.
*I have started to move all my recipes to evernote. I can access my recipes from any device connected to the internet. This also means I can use the iPad as my recipe book. Phillip got me an under the cabinet iPad holder here and it works great!
Like I said none of this is life changing ideas but it works great for me!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Pawpaw is a cowboy
One of the highlights of visiting Pawpaw and Nana's house is helping with ranch chores. Ashlyn has been riding in the tractor before she could even say tractor.
My Grandparents moved onto 300+ acres of land when I was a small girl and I loved being able to be a part of the farming and ranching experience when we visited. My grandad taught me how to drive a standard in his Ford F-150 pick up in the cow pastures when I was in high school. He would make me so mad when he'd stop me at an incline and make me clutch up the hill. Almost every time I drive our standard car and have to clutch up a hill I think about my Grandad and am so thankful for the time he spent with me. I also helped do book keeping when they worked cattle. I set my little table up next to the cattle chute and attempted to dodge the shooting blood from the freshly de-horned heads and the thick branding smoke.
One morning while we were there my Dad and Uncle worked cattle. I took the girls down in their pajamas so they could watch Pawpaw. Ashlyn was happy and content to sit on the Kubota seat and watch but Aubrey was trying with all her 20 pound might to get in the middle of the action.
Ashlyn was concerned that the calves had to get shots. She has such a tender heart!
My Uncle Jim is doing really well since his accident in February. He has a couple things still bothering him and probably always will but considering he had a traumatic brain injury, he is doing amazingly well.
Just a little balancing act!
Now my parents live on the family land and I'm so thankful my little city girls will get to experience a little country life every now and again like I did!
Since we've been home Ashlyn keeps saying that her Pawpaw is a cowboy! I think she was impressed!
My Grandparents moved onto 300+ acres of land when I was a small girl and I loved being able to be a part of the farming and ranching experience when we visited. My grandad taught me how to drive a standard in his Ford F-150 pick up in the cow pastures when I was in high school. He would make me so mad when he'd stop me at an incline and make me clutch up the hill. Almost every time I drive our standard car and have to clutch up a hill I think about my Grandad and am so thankful for the time he spent with me. I also helped do book keeping when they worked cattle. I set my little table up next to the cattle chute and attempted to dodge the shooting blood from the freshly de-horned heads and the thick branding smoke.
One morning while we were there my Dad and Uncle worked cattle. I took the girls down in their pajamas so they could watch Pawpaw. Ashlyn was happy and content to sit on the Kubota seat and watch but Aubrey was trying with all her 20 pound might to get in the middle of the action.
Ashlyn was concerned that the calves had to get shots. She has such a tender heart!
My Uncle Jim is doing really well since his accident in February. He has a couple things still bothering him and probably always will but considering he had a traumatic brain injury, he is doing amazingly well.
Just a little balancing act!
Now my parents live on the family land and I'm so thankful my little city girls will get to experience a little country life every now and again like I did!
Since we've been home Ashlyn keeps saying that her Pawpaw is a cowboy! I think she was impressed!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Nana's Pretend Scissors
The first two nights we were at my parents I tried putting the girls down for bed in the same room. Being the typical girls they are, they were not the least bit interested in sleeping and giggled and acted silly until way past their bed time. So, Ashlyn got the boot and ended up sharing a bed with me the rest of our stay. The room we were sleeping in is also my mom's sewing room. She has it decorated with old quilts and antique sewing items.
After one of the first naps Ashlyn took in the sewing room she came out and told me that she cut her hair with Nana's pretend scissors so her hair would grow faster and look like Rapunzel's. (I recently trimmed Ashlyn's hair and to keep her from freaking out I told her that trimming her hair would make it look prettier and it would grow faster. Cause that's what we were always told growing up, right?) I kinda glanced at her head looking for missing patches and didn't see anything too obvious so I asked her if her hair came off when she used the pretend scissors. She answered yes. I causally asked her to show me the pretend scissors. When we walked into the room it looked like Edward Scissor Hands had been in there! She had stepped up on a little stool and found a small pair of antique scissors that were on a display shelf and went to town. She went after ribbon on pillows, thread, the arms and dress off a ceramic doll belonging to Great Grandma (yes, she tore up a family heirloom!), and her hair.
Seriously what do you do! Beat their bottom?? Lock them in their room for days with only bread and water?? Ugh!! She got both, though not anything close to a beating and she only stayed in her room for a small period of time.
This is post Ashlyn cut. Her hair was to the bottom of her shoulder blades. She looooved her long hair!
Post Mommy cut. The sides look shabby and uneven but I promise they're not. :)
It didn't really sink in that her hair was much shorter until we've been home and she sees how different her hair is when braided and in pig tails.
Moral of the story
1. Don't tell your children old wives tales to keep them from getting upset.
2. Make sure the room is child proof before leaving them unattended for hours on end.
After one of the first naps Ashlyn took in the sewing room she came out and told me that she cut her hair with Nana's pretend scissors so her hair would grow faster and look like Rapunzel's. (I recently trimmed Ashlyn's hair and to keep her from freaking out I told her that trimming her hair would make it look prettier and it would grow faster. Cause that's what we were always told growing up, right?) I kinda glanced at her head looking for missing patches and didn't see anything too obvious so I asked her if her hair came off when she used the pretend scissors. She answered yes. I causally asked her to show me the pretend scissors. When we walked into the room it looked like Edward Scissor Hands had been in there! She had stepped up on a little stool and found a small pair of antique scissors that were on a display shelf and went to town. She went after ribbon on pillows, thread, the arms and dress off a ceramic doll belonging to Great Grandma (yes, she tore up a family heirloom!), and her hair.
Seriously what do you do! Beat their bottom?? Lock them in their room for days with only bread and water?? Ugh!! She got both, though not anything close to a beating and she only stayed in her room for a small period of time.
This is post Ashlyn cut. Her hair was to the bottom of her shoulder blades. She looooved her long hair!
Post Mommy cut. The sides look shabby and uneven but I promise they're not. :)
It didn't really sink in that her hair was much shorter until we've been home and she sees how different her hair is when braided and in pig tails.
Moral of the story
1. Don't tell your children old wives tales to keep them from getting upset.
2. Make sure the room is child proof before leaving them unattended for hours on end.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Texas
Two weeks ago the girls and I boarded a plane and headed to Texas to visit my parents. The girls were wonderful travelers! My friend Beth lent me an attachment with wheels that could strap to Aubrey's car seat and basically be a stroller. So, I pulled Aubrey in her car seat and Ashlyn walked beside me. I can honestly say it was a piece of cake!
We kept busy the whole time we were there. We went to two family reunions (my Dad's family and my mother-in-law's family), we went to the movies, we got ice cream at Dairy Queen, we rode the tractor or Kubota nearly every day, we fed the cows, we moved the cows, we checked the cows, we watched Pawpaw work the cows, we went out to eat, we ate homemade ice cream and chocolate buttermilk cake, we played with the puppies, we visited friends, we played in the pool, and played outside. Whew!
Even though it was over a 100 degrees the whole time we were there we spent a lot of time outside. My parents have a great covered deck and it catches a good breeze so we spent a lot of time on the deck.
The first day we were there my Dad was working on a project so all us girls insisted on helping.
And Aubrey kept the puppies entertained by sharing her snacks. The girls love Patches and Paisley and I'm pretty sure the puppies love them too!
Pawpaw blew up the swimming pool on the deck so the girls were able to swim in the shade every day after nap time. We had one big tea party every afternoon, are there other things to play in the pool??
The girls LOVE hanging out in Nana and Pawpaw's bed watching TV. Every morning when the girls wake up they go straight to their room to cuddle and watch cartoons. Ashlyn and I shared a bed while we were there and she would wake up early and whisper "I see a light, can I go see Nana and Pawpaw". My parents also have a VCR in their room so the girls are able to watch my old Disney movies. So fun!
The first Saturday we were there was my Dad's family reunion. It was at a State Park at a camping ground so we were outside most of the day. South Texas is going through a serious drought and the ground is so very dry so you can imagine all the dry dirt. My two prissy pants found every dirt pile on the grounds! They were filthy!!
I attempted to rinse them off in the restroom sink but it didn't work so well!
I debated on whether or not to show this picture but it cracks me up too much to keep it to myself. Ashlyn loves anything princess or wedding. She thinks she's going to marry her Daddy! I told her a while back that my wedding dress was at Nana's house and by golly did she remember to ask about it while we were there. We got it out of the bag and showed it to her but that wasn't enough. She wanted me to try it on. So here I am in all my white glory with my eldest in her swim suit because she caught wind that Pawpaw would be blowing up the pool sometime that day and my youngest protesting on the floor about who knows what!
I love my silly life! :)
Have I ever mentioned that my mom made my wedding dress?? The picture doesn't show all the lace and beading and the row of buttons down the back. Amazing, hu?
We returned home this past Sunday. Phillip was supposed to be gone on a business trip while we were away but it was cancelled a couple days before he was supposed to leave. So the poor guy was home alone for 10 days eating frozen dinners. I'm pretty sure he was happy to see us get off that plane! And would you believe when I got home the house was picked up, kitchen cleaned with an empty dish washer, and there were vacuum lines on the carpets! What a guy!!
We had a wonderful time but are glad to be back home, and I'm pretty sure Nana and Pawpaw are enjoying their peace and quiet! ;)
We kept busy the whole time we were there. We went to two family reunions (my Dad's family and my mother-in-law's family), we went to the movies, we got ice cream at Dairy Queen, we rode the tractor or Kubota nearly every day, we fed the cows, we moved the cows, we checked the cows, we watched Pawpaw work the cows, we went out to eat, we ate homemade ice cream and chocolate buttermilk cake, we played with the puppies, we visited friends, we played in the pool, and played outside. Whew!
Even though it was over a 100 degrees the whole time we were there we spent a lot of time outside. My parents have a great covered deck and it catches a good breeze so we spent a lot of time on the deck.
The first day we were there my Dad was working on a project so all us girls insisted on helping.
And Aubrey kept the puppies entertained by sharing her snacks. The girls love Patches and Paisley and I'm pretty sure the puppies love them too!
Pawpaw blew up the swimming pool on the deck so the girls were able to swim in the shade every day after nap time. We had one big tea party every afternoon, are there other things to play in the pool??
The girls LOVE hanging out in Nana and Pawpaw's bed watching TV. Every morning when the girls wake up they go straight to their room to cuddle and watch cartoons. Ashlyn and I shared a bed while we were there and she would wake up early and whisper "I see a light, can I go see Nana and Pawpaw". My parents also have a VCR in their room so the girls are able to watch my old Disney movies. So fun!
The first Saturday we were there was my Dad's family reunion. It was at a State Park at a camping ground so we were outside most of the day. South Texas is going through a serious drought and the ground is so very dry so you can imagine all the dry dirt. My two prissy pants found every dirt pile on the grounds! They were filthy!!
I attempted to rinse them off in the restroom sink but it didn't work so well!
I debated on whether or not to show this picture but it cracks me up too much to keep it to myself. Ashlyn loves anything princess or wedding. She thinks she's going to marry her Daddy! I told her a while back that my wedding dress was at Nana's house and by golly did she remember to ask about it while we were there. We got it out of the bag and showed it to her but that wasn't enough. She wanted me to try it on. So here I am in all my white glory with my eldest in her swim suit because she caught wind that Pawpaw would be blowing up the pool sometime that day and my youngest protesting on the floor about who knows what!
I love my silly life! :)
Have I ever mentioned that my mom made my wedding dress?? The picture doesn't show all the lace and beading and the row of buttons down the back. Amazing, hu?We returned home this past Sunday. Phillip was supposed to be gone on a business trip while we were away but it was cancelled a couple days before he was supposed to leave. So the poor guy was home alone for 10 days eating frozen dinners. I'm pretty sure he was happy to see us get off that plane! And would you believe when I got home the house was picked up, kitchen cleaned with an empty dish washer, and there were vacuum lines on the carpets! What a guy!!
We had a wonderful time but are glad to be back home, and I'm pretty sure Nana and Pawpaw are enjoying their peace and quiet! ;)
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Meal Planner Tuesday
My sweet friend Jenna is doing a Menu Plan post every Tuesday so I thought I would join her and link up. I love looking through recipes and like seeing what other people eat for dinner plus I think it will be fun to go back years from now and see what I fixed for dinner.
The girls and I got back Sunday from a 10 day trip to South Texas to visit my family. We had a great time, I'll share more later. I feel like we have hit the ground running! We have something going on every day this week. It's not much each day but enough to keep me hopping from one thing to the next without time to upload pictures and blog.
So, back to the menu planning. I am a planner by nature, I like to know what's coming up, and I love my calendar. I am not completely type A personality but right on the edge. Which means I like to have our meals for the week written out and a detailed shopping list to take to the store with me. I'll share more about my "process" later in case anyone is interested.
The recipes I have found on-line I will place in bold so you can click on them and see the recipe. I'll try to be better at posting more of our favorite recipes as time goes by.
Here is what is on our menu this week
Monday- BLG: Baked Ziti (Our Body Life Group gets together on Monday and everyone brings a dish and we have dinner together)
Tuesday- Taco Salad (Seasoned ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, cheese, salsa, plain yogurt- a great sour cream substitute, and tortilla chips), Black Beans, Avocados
Wednesday- Maple Salmon, Roasted Broccoli, Salad
Thursday- Carne Asada, Tortillas, left over Black Beans, Corn
Friday- Dinner at a Friend's house
Saturday- Lunch: Sandwiches, Hummus with Pita Chips
Dinner: Italian Meatloaf, Angel Hair with Red Sauce, Green Beans
Sunday- Lunch: Meatball Subs, Chips
Dinner: Broccoli Quiche, Fruit
The girls and I got back Sunday from a 10 day trip to South Texas to visit my family. We had a great time, I'll share more later. I feel like we have hit the ground running! We have something going on every day this week. It's not much each day but enough to keep me hopping from one thing to the next without time to upload pictures and blog.
So, back to the menu planning. I am a planner by nature, I like to know what's coming up, and I love my calendar. I am not completely type A personality but right on the edge. Which means I like to have our meals for the week written out and a detailed shopping list to take to the store with me. I'll share more about my "process" later in case anyone is interested.
The recipes I have found on-line I will place in bold so you can click on them and see the recipe. I'll try to be better at posting more of our favorite recipes as time goes by.
Here is what is on our menu this week
Monday- BLG: Baked Ziti (Our Body Life Group gets together on Monday and everyone brings a dish and we have dinner together)
Tuesday- Taco Salad (Seasoned ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, cheese, salsa, plain yogurt- a great sour cream substitute, and tortilla chips), Black Beans, Avocados
Wednesday- Maple Salmon, Roasted Broccoli, Salad
Thursday- Carne Asada, Tortillas, left over Black Beans, Corn
Friday- Dinner at a Friend's house
Saturday- Lunch: Sandwiches, Hummus with Pita Chips
Dinner: Italian Meatloaf, Angel Hair with Red Sauce, Green Beans
Sunday- Lunch: Meatball Subs, Chips
Dinner: Broccoli Quiche, Fruit
Friday, July 8, 2011
A pretty boring post!
*We had a fun 4th of July. We drove down to Phillip's parents on Saturday and spent the weekend with them.
*About every other time we travel we are almost side swiped, this trip was no exception. It doesn't matter who is driving either. Our next vehicle is going to be bright yellow!
*Aubrey now officially calls me "Mommy". She has been calling Phillip "Da-ee" for a while but up until Wednesday I was still "momma". It kinda makes me sad!
*Aubrey always tells me she's hungry. It cracks me up, I always make her repeat herself just for a couple more laughs! She will come in the kitchen when I am cooking and throw her hands up and down quickly and dramatically say "I hungee".
*The girls and I went to chick-fil-a for lunch today. It was cow appreciation day. Everyone was dressed like a cow. I never thought I would feel like the odd man out wearing normal clothing to a restaurant!
*Ashlyn is on a kick of not wanting to grow up. She wants to be little forever. She doesn't want to grow taller, she doesn't want to go to kindergarten, she doesn't want to be a mommy. Hopefully it will pass by time she is 20.
*I forgot to pack Aubrey's swim diapers this weekend so I put her in a normal diaper while at the lake. After about a hour of being in the water all the small absorbent gel beads came out and were in her bathing suit. I'm talking about four large handfuls. It was nasty! Disposable diapers have kinda grossed me out lately. Hopefully only a couple more months of diapers.
*Ashlyn was amazingly easy to potty train. Aubrey is either going to be just as easy or I'm gonna lose my mind. Aubrey is either hot or cold in most everything, not much middle ground.
*I'm starting to plan the girl's room in my head. I'm leaning towards the girls sharing a room to sleep in and then have a play room. They play with the same toys and will continue to do so until they outgrow toys. I think it'll make playing and picking up easier. But I have to decide on separate beds or share a full size. Go ahead and move them together in a couple months or wait a while. Separate twin beds or bunk beds. Have any of you shared a room with your sibling that can give me good and bad experiences?
*About every other time we travel we are almost side swiped, this trip was no exception. It doesn't matter who is driving either. Our next vehicle is going to be bright yellow!
*Aubrey now officially calls me "Mommy". She has been calling Phillip "Da-ee" for a while but up until Wednesday I was still "momma". It kinda makes me sad!
*Aubrey always tells me she's hungry. It cracks me up, I always make her repeat herself just for a couple more laughs! She will come in the kitchen when I am cooking and throw her hands up and down quickly and dramatically say "I hungee".
*The girls and I went to chick-fil-a for lunch today. It was cow appreciation day. Everyone was dressed like a cow. I never thought I would feel like the odd man out wearing normal clothing to a restaurant!
*Ashlyn is on a kick of not wanting to grow up. She wants to be little forever. She doesn't want to grow taller, she doesn't want to go to kindergarten, she doesn't want to be a mommy. Hopefully it will pass by time she is 20.
*I forgot to pack Aubrey's swim diapers this weekend so I put her in a normal diaper while at the lake. After about a hour of being in the water all the small absorbent gel beads came out and were in her bathing suit. I'm talking about four large handfuls. It was nasty! Disposable diapers have kinda grossed me out lately. Hopefully only a couple more months of diapers.
*Ashlyn was amazingly easy to potty train. Aubrey is either going to be just as easy or I'm gonna lose my mind. Aubrey is either hot or cold in most everything, not much middle ground.
*I'm starting to plan the girl's room in my head. I'm leaning towards the girls sharing a room to sleep in and then have a play room. They play with the same toys and will continue to do so until they outgrow toys. I think it'll make playing and picking up easier. But I have to decide on separate beds or share a full size. Go ahead and move them together in a couple months or wait a while. Separate twin beds or bunk beds. Have any of you shared a room with your sibling that can give me good and bad experiences?
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