Weekly Meal Plan: Better Late than Never!

{image from here}

So we did so-so on following the menu plan last week. We didn't quite make it through our planned meals because we might have eaten out more times that I planned for, but it's a start. And I did drag myself into planning this week. Here goes:

Mexican Lasagna (ingredients all ready to go from last week!), guacamole & chips

chicken tenders, Greek salad & cheesy bread

cold cuts platter (Not sure what to call this one yet, but it's a new go-to fave with sliced meat [ham/sausage/salami/turkey or whatever], variety of cheese, avocado & tomato slices with crackers and fruit. I slap it down on the table on a big cutting board and everyone builds their own cracker stackers. It also goes quite well with a glass of wine for the mom and dad :-) Any ideas for a better name for this meal? I have a feeling I'll be offering it up often!

paninis (with the leftovers from the platter)

That's all I've got so far. I'm thinking I might round the week off with some stir fry, but I'm going to let the meat section at the store guide me.

What's for dinner at your place?

Giveaways make me Smile!

What better way to end this week than a giveaway?! I mean just the fact that it's Friday is gift enough for me, but this makes it even sweeter:

I'm partnering with CSN to give a lucky someone $80 to spend as you please on their site. I'm telling you: this site has it all! From bedspreads to dining room sets to lamps, you will have so much fun spending your money! They literally have millions of items to choose from on the CSN site.

I am so excited about this giveaway because I recently won one a CSN gift certificate over at a fave blog of mine. I used it to buy a sewing machine. The process was so swift... It arrived in record time, although it's still in the box because I really don't even know where to begin. Another lesson perhaps...

Anyways, you can totally have one too. Or you might choose this or this as those two guys found their way into my shopping cart for consideration. All you have to do is make sure you're officially following along (just click the "follow" button over at the right) and then leave a comment here. Spread the word and come back to leave a second comment if you'd like. You're chances are great here on my little blog... I'll announce the winner next week on Friday. Have fun browsing!

A Quote to Share...

Trying this one on for size...

If this quote is true, I've been quite interesting this week (very much so, depending on who you ask). With that being said, we've done good to keep the crazies at bay. I'm calling it a imperfectly successful week, even if it is only Thursday. (Seriously, how could it not be Friday yet??) It's all in your perspective, don't you think?

Weekly Meal Plan: Back at it!

I sent my precious daughter off to the second grade today. The summer was such an awesome one, but I have to admit that I'm actually looking forward to getting back to the ole grind. I'm craving some routine and predictability. It's so funny how that exactly what I'm looking forward to ditching come June 1 is what I'm missing when August starts coming to a close. Sooooo, with the start of the school year, I have committed (seriously, sworn to the hubby) to start planning our weekly menu. I think I'm going to be a little looser this year with the days. That way I can switch things around as our schedules demand. Here's ours for this week. I was not very ambitious... Just keeping it realistic!

breakfast for dinner and fruit

BLTs with cheese and avocado

spaghetti and meatballs (similar to this recipe, with some added mozzarella!)

Mexican Lasagna and salad

And we'll round it out with going out to eat once this weekend to celebrate the week.

What's on the menu for you?

Overheard At My House: Crazy Times

Here's the scene: We're driving in the car talking about the first day of school... What teacher to you want? Who do you hope is in your class? What are you going to wear on the first day of school? And the likes.

daughter: Oh, this is when the crazies begin!

me: What do you mean by that?

daughter: Oh, you know... "Hurry! Hurry! We're going to be late! Let's go!"

me: Well, (long pause) let's try hard not to let the craziness begin... Let's try to continue our summer laid back attitude, with a little preparedness thrown in.

daughter: That sounds good to me!

Those were her exact words, quoting what she remembers my exact words being. I must have been spewing it all the time. How sad. I'm really going to try my darndest to not let the "crazies" begin. It might mean getting up a few minutes earlier. And taking a few deep breaths went I'm tempted to start barking orders. And practicing patience.

Anything you're practicing or working on?

What are you trying to do differently at this moment?

Lookie what I made:

Okay, so I was all set to post this little diddy:

I Got Nothing...

Seriously. I'm absent over here because I've got nothing to offer. In a way it's a bit alarming, but in more ways it's been liberating. I do feel some creativity and ambition eeking it's way back in though. I've been making lists, bookmarking inspiration, doing some daydreaming and finding time to surf the web a little. But mostly, I'm just mommy-ing. There's two weeks left of life as we've known it to be for the past 2 and a half months and we're working our free time over here. I even spent a bit of last week moseying back to the beach on a whim (with just 1 kid... Talk about liberating!). While I'm over here hanging doing I-don't-know-what, you keep on rocking it. I'd love it if you stay tuned... Who knows what's to come!

Then I went to a sewing class last night. Oh yes, this never-touched-a-sewing-machine gal took a class. I'm not kidding either. The extent of my sewing skills are to sew a button back on using my handy dollar store plastic sewing kit. I can't remember the last time I tried something that was so out of my comfort zone (maybe it was starting a blog. Ha!). It was so fun! Although learning to sew is on my bucket list, it definitely wasn't on the immediate to do list. It totally wasn't my idea and I even thought about canceling due to scheduling issues. (Thanks, Jennifer, for making it happen!) I thoroughly enjoyed it and I feel reenergized. I'm sure I'm not going to be a stellar seamstress, as I had the hardest time just remembering to put down the foot or boot or whatever it's called... And I actually had an apron at home to compare it to made by my friend for a show we did, and mine paled in comparison (really, it did)... Oh, and I see that pesky string hanging there... BUT it was such a neat experience learning something new, and I'm super proud (just so happen to be wearing it now :-) and pumped to do more.

Any ideas on what I should create next?? Okay, okay. First I should go back to class a few more times.

My Baby Isn't a Baby Anymore

He's 3 years old today {sniff}.

Hey little guy... Because of you I know what a front loader/excavator/backhoe loader/skid steer is. Because of you toots and the word underpants are now funny. Because of you I now see painter's tape as a potential racetrack and a makeup sponge (or any other incline for that matter) as a ramp. Because of you I'm interested in motorcycles, baseball, and vehicle types. Because of you I can't pass a construction site or see a helicopter without pointing it out very enthusiastically. But mostly, because of you I am more patient, more loving, and so happily more loved. I love you my sweet baby boy. Happy third birthday!