Monday, December 31, 2012

Menu Plan Monday 12/31



I know it is the 31st but technically this will be the first week of MPM for the New Year.  I am excited, are you?

I am turning over a new leaf this year, Operation Shed Some Pounds has begun and my MPM posts will hopefully show that we are eating a bit healthier (not that we were eating unhealthy but...I am throwing in lots of exercise now too).  I am kicking the full on vegetarian eating to the curb because honestly I think that was more counterproductive than it was beneficial for my body and even my doctor agreed.  I will still be making some vegetarian meals but also eating leaner meats and barely any red meat still since that is where I have most of my digestive problems.

Here is what is on our menu for the first week:


Sunday

Homemade Mac N Cheese*


Monday

Spacon Penne Pasta (Spinach and Turkey Bacon= Spacon)
Green Salad

Tuesday

Crockpot Pork Tenderloin
Baby Red Potatoes
Carrots

Wednesday

Red Bean & Rice Burritos
Applesauce

Thursday

Mexican Shepard's Pie (w/lean ground beef)
Tostitos Chips & Salsa

Friday

3 Bean Chili (w/low fat sour cream & cheese)

Saturday

TBA

Yes, you may have noticed several Mexican dishes.  We like Mexican food as do the kids AND in honor of the Oregon Ducks who are in the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday we tailored our meal plan accordingly.  Quack! Quack! 

*This is definitely not a healthy meal. My husband made this for dinner while I was at a basketball game with our older son.



What is cookin' in your kitchen this first week of the New Year?


 
happy new year 2013
I am linking my menu up with I'm An Organized Junkie and so can you!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Six Word Saturday



If you have been reading my blog at least since last year at this time, you know I chose a word,along with several other bloggers, that we wanted to *live* for the following year. 

To recap, my word last year was:  Gratitude.  I really tried to be grateful EVERY.SINGLE.DAY for all that me and my family had been blessed with and although there were still definite pity parties  (more so I think in the last couple months) overall I *think* I was *intentionally* more grateful than in years past.  I made it a daily priority to be grateful for whatever was thrown my way, good, bad or indifferent. 

My 6 words for this Saturday are:
 
 
My word for year 2013: Accountable.
 
 
 

Definition of ACCOUNTABLE

1: subject to giving an account : answerable <held her accountable for the damage>
2: capable of being accounted for : explainable
 
 
Although much of this post may sound a bit selfish...
and maybe it is, first and foremost I need to be
Accountable to myself and for myself.
 
Accountable to take care of myself; mind, body & spirit.

Accountable for vocalizing my own needs.
 Telling others when I need help rather than  
enabling them and then resenting them later.
 
Accountable to tell others no when
I am feeling overwhelmed;
only I can do this.
 
Accountable for my own actions AND reactions
therefore putting me on a better path of a positive well being.
 
In a nutshell, Accountable for putting my own health
and well being above all else;
knowing with that I can be a better
Lord loving, wife, mother, friend, employee.

I feel that these last couple years I have put everything and everyone
before myself and I have lost my mojo.  I have run out of steam and it
clearly is apparent in my lackluster motivation of late.


Obviously, I will still be there for my children, take care of my children,
be there for my husband, take care of my home, work, etc...
but I am going to be much more intentional about taking time for ME,
taking care of ME.

And I have already taken the first step down my ACCOUNTABILITY path.

Operation Shed Some Pounds has begun.

I went and bought a new pair of running shoes this past week
and I am heading to sign up at the gym today.

 
 



I have never been as heavy as I am now. 

My goal is to lose 75-100 lbs this year. 

No gimmicks. 

No weight loss pills, shakes, payed for eating plans. 
Just a whole lot of hard work at the gym,
a sensible diet and everything in moderation.



I plan on posting weekly about my weight loss journey and hope that
you can join in helping to encourage me and motivate me. 

I will post a before picture soon (when I muster up enough
nerve and then will post more as I progress).

I know I can do anything I put my mind to but encouragement always helps.



What is your word for 2013?


I am linking this post up with Cate's 6WS at Showmyface.com.

If you want you can join in too. 

Post what is going on in your life at the moment in 6 words. 

Elaborate, shows pictures, or not.

It is up to you.


Hope you all have a fab weekend and Happy & Safe New Year!









 
 
 
 
 

Monday, December 24, 2012

In The Midst of Chaos...


 
Let us not forget the reason for the season.
 
 
The Birth of Jesus.




 
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
 
 
 
 
Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

They Come In Threes



Bad things.  Tragedies.  They happen.  And I often times see them come in threes.  I am sure I am not the only one that *believes* that or has seen that...but this close together and this tragic?  Three tragedies in just as many days.

I started writing this post actually last Wednesday (12/12/12) after a local tragedy hit close to home; a shooting at Clackamas Town Center, a shopping mall that our family has visited numerous times over the years.  A mall that my husband and I often go to the movies at because it has one of the better sound systems.  Clackamas Town Center the *safest* of the two malls within 15-20 minutes of our house.  I am not sure that says much these days since nowhere is sacred these days. 

They come in threes. 

And since I began writing this post two more unthinkable, incomprehensive tragedies have taken place...Another on US soil and another travesty in China.  I am sure there were several others acts of violence that have occurred, just not as grand (as horrible as that sounds, calling a violent act grand).  

I have retitled and rewrote this post several times because it almost seems surreal all the violence that has been taking place.  Words can not even do justice to what people are feeling.  Sadness, fear, anger, grief.  All rolled into one and then some.  And these feelings are felt by the people that are not personally touched by the tragedies.  I can't imagine what the families of the victims are going through especially those families in Connecticut having to bury their 5 and 6 year olds.   I have a kindergartner.  My heart breaks. I can't even begin to imagine what those children went through, what the survivors are going through now.   

I remember after the Aurora shootings at the movie theater, I couldn't go to the movies for quite a while afterwards and even now the first thing I look for are the exits and pick my seat a bit more stratigically.  And the mall, you can bet you won't find me there anytime soon.  I know that might sound as if I am living in fear and maybe I am a little but how can you not?  When you can't even feel safe sending your children to school, there is a problem. 

And now, how to solve that problem is the question so many people have on their minds.  But why does it take another tragedy of this magnitude to get action?  That is what frustrates me.  A combination of drastic measures need to take place or this will not be the last tragedy that our nation will see, you can guarantee that.  

I know we can't repeal the Second Amendment of the US Constitution; right to bear arms but we can limit it further as to the types of arms. Why does anybody need military type weapons?  I am not necessarily anti gun, I don't like them, nor do I own any, but I think it is a right people should have in order to protect themselves if/when needed.  I however do not think there is any reason your average everyday citizen should have high powered rifles, AK-47's, etc.  It just does not make any sense.  And anyone living with a person with mental illness, SHOULD NOT have firearms accessible in the home, just sayin.

Not to make excuses for those that have committed these heinous acts but mental illness does seem to be a big factor in many of the recent cases.  Many of them clearly show a history of some type of mental illness whether formally diagnosed or not.  We can not rush to say that is the "sole" reason why they act out violently but we can't sweep it under the rug either.  Mental illness.  It leaves such a nasty taste in your mouth, doesn't it? It has such a stigma that nobody talks about it.  That has got to change.  We need to talk about it, get help for those that are suffering in silence.  The signs are there.  We, and yes, I mean you and me, regular individuals, need to be observant of those signs and reach out with compassion to those we see suffering.  One person can possibly make the difference.  Not always, but we don't know unless we try.

And funding, the government, needs to put funding back into social services.  How much more clear does it have to be to see that there are people out there that need help!  And often times without government assistance, they can not get help.  They need counseling to learn how to cope with things that you and I may think are trivial, but to someone with mental illness, the littlest things can send them over the edge. They need medication but do not have a job that provides prescription benefits.  They may need to be commited at some point but there is not enough funding for state mental hospitals so they are left to be taken care of by friends and family who are not trained in mental health issues.  They do the best that they can do, sure, but it is obviously not enough as you see in some of the most recent cases. 

I know that these are not the end all be all answers by any means, but we have to do something.  We can not just sit around in lie waiting for the next violent act.  And I do know even with banning certain guns, helping those with mental illness, that if people are bent on hurting others they will find other ways to do so.  But we as a nation, a government, need to come together and make it much more difficult to act in this way.  We don't need to lose any more innocent victims to a few sick individuals.

In closing, I am sure you may have already seen this blog post that has been all over the internet, Facebook, twitter, etc...but it really brings home, how it could as easily be you or I that has a child with mental illness and to make it clear that although I don't agree with Nancy Lanza and her having guns in her home with a son who *possibly* had a form of mental illness, she is also a victim.  Let us not forget.

Originally, this blog post was titled, Thinking The Unthinkable and was retitled I Am Adam Lanzas mother by media outlets.  I have never read this persons blog until now and I have read that there has been some controversy about her blog and this particular post but it still brings to light a serious issue that needs to be openly discussed.  It is a sad day when incarceration is the only alternative for getting help for someone with mental illness.


(slowly climbs down off the soapbox)


If you would like to help the victims/families of the Newtown tragedy, please send donations to:

Sandy Hook School Support Fund
c/o Newtown Savings Bank
39 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470



Photo By LUCAS JACKSON/REUTERS


Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Tuesday Archive Link Up 12/18

Bring it on! Tuesday Archive Link Up.

Sorry I have been a bit absent lately, the holidays are getting the better of me.

I have been writing a post for the last several days about all the tragedies our country has been seeing lately, one last Tuesday, right by us. I haven't finished but I hope you stop by again soon and check it out. It is a bit heavy, rightfully so. Until then, hold your loved ones closer and make sure they know that you love them no matter what.

Ok, on with the show.

TALU brought to you by me and these other fab ladies:

Anne, author of Life On The Funny Farm

Debbie, author of Wrinkled Mommy

Make sure to visit the other blogs and let them know you found them on TALU.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Menu Plan Monday



Welcome back to another edition of Menu Plan Monday hosted by non other than Laura over at I'm An Organized Junkie.  How I wish I could be like Laura....but I guess for now I will have to suffice with myself, a Lord loving, a somewhat completely disorganized homemaker, a nagging wife, an over worked, under paid employee, mother of 4 not so perfect children that I adore. 

This week I have decided to plan menus around things I KNOW my children will eat because lately they have been giving me a run for my money.  I decided a long time ago that I am not a short order cook but lately, they just won't eat many of the dinners I have been making so lots of left overs and lots of waste.  I hate waste. 

With that in mind I have come up with this  menu that they will be sure to eat hopefully eat.  Here goes nothing....I guess if I don't try, I won't know.


Sunday

Bagels w/cream cheese
Yogurt

(We had a late lunch.  Nobody was very hungry so we opted for this simple snacky type meal)

Monday

Beefy Cheesy Rice Roll Ups
Apple Slices

Tuesday

Grilled Cheese
Tomato Soup
Carrots & Ranch


Wednesday

Beef with Sauteed Green Beans & Mushrooms
Apple Sauce

Thursday

Vegetable Fried Rice
Mandarin Oranges

Friday

Cheesy Tuna Noodles
Pear Slices

Saturday

TBA


What is the one go to meal that you are certain your children will eat?  I need some more "new" ideas.





Thursday, December 6, 2012

Perspective


Gift of Love
By Ashes Remain



What's the season all about
When all we do is run around
Living for ourselves
Leaving mercy on the shelf
Walking by a homeless man
Who is holding out his empty hand

Doesn't anybody care
Does he even have a prayer

When will we realize and open our eyes

Salvation came to earth
Let us celebrate the birth
Make ourselves the offering
Meet the broken in the streets
The gift that came alive
To take the blame and die
For a world that lives in fear
Let us give the gift of love this year

What's the season all about
With everybody running around
Let's forget about ourselves
Take mercy off the shelf


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Tuesday Archive Link Up 12/4



Good morning. Good day. How do you do?

I hope your week has started off well.

It is Tuesday so time for TALU!

It is a party and everyone is invited.

Link up a favorite post that you think deserves a second chance. Visit other links and let them know you saw them on TALU!


And then spread the word and come back again next week. Yup, we do this every week. Me and these other fabulous ladies.

Jessica, author of Sugar In My Grits
Anne, author of Life On The Funny Farm
Debbie, author of Wrinkled Mommy


Saturday, December 1, 2012

Six Word Saturday





Christmas Tree. Decorating.Shopping. Ohh My!
 
 
Is what my day consists of.
 
 
Up at the crack of dawn.
 
 
To get the busy party started.
 
 
Throw in a bunch of cleaning.
 
 
A couple basketball games for Tyler.
 
 
I am exhausted thinking about it.
 
 
No rest for the weary, right?
 
 
 
 
 
I am linking up my list of 6 words with Cate at showmyface.com
 
You can too! 
 
Describe what is going on in your life in 6 words and then link up.
 
 
What are you doing on this lovely Saturday?
 
 
P.S. Check out my new pictures on the Other Non Superheros page.
 
 
Source
 


 
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