Menu Plan Monday 10/14

I am sure you were just waiting for this.....Ha!

Again, I haven't participated in MPM for quite sometime but feel like I need to get back in the game....


I am going to switch it up a bit to show what I will be making this week but I have decided that I am not going to match it to a day.  Sometimes I find what I have planned, just not feeling it....I am including a few links to the recipes.



So in no particular order here is what we are having for our dinners this week:


BBQ Flank Steak
Baked Potato
Caesar Salad


Hot Dogs (from home)
DQ French Fries (special treat)

Faux Chicken N' Dumplings
Applesauce

Mini Pizzas
Pear Slices

Chicken Stir Fry
Brown Rice

Cheesy Tuna Casserole
Peas
Orange Slices

Pork Tenderloin
Butter Noodles (Linguine Noodles with light butter sauce)
Salad

I am linking this up to I'm An Organizing Junkie Menu Plan Monday. 

What are your dinner plans this week?



Catching On, Catching Up

It's been a bit of time since I last posted so I thought I would take a minute (or 10) to play a little catch up for you all that are still out there reading my blog ever so occasionally.  Time just gets away and it has been too precious of late to spend on the computer blogging.  As I come upon my 3 year blogoversary I am going to switch things up a bit and try and write more on the weekends with the post timed to publish throughout the week so my blog can stay fresh rather than stale like it has been.  I did that early on in my blogging days and it seemed to work but then not sure where I veered off course.  Oh well, I know it happens to the best of us. 

Another thing that I finally have caught on to is that, this mom needs some me time.  I am finding when I have some alone/me time just to veg out, do whatever I so choose then that makes for much better days with family.  I have been getting a bit overwhelmed lately with all the activities, work, school, etc that at times I feel like I have been  possessed. No seriously ask my husband.  So right this very second, here I sit blogging, while my family is at church.  Yes, I skipped church to have some alone/ me time.  I don't like doing that but for today I did.  What do you do when you get overwhelmed with life?

So catching up....Fall is in full swing in our neck of the woods and the wind and the rain are clear proof.  Another piece of proof that I love about fall in our area is the changing colors everywhere.  Fall foliage rocks!  And the Columbia Gorge area is one of the best areas in the country to venture out into for changing colors.  And I am not just saying that because I live here...It is a known fact...even Huffington Post included us in an article a couple years back. (And you know if it is in Huffington Post, that it must be true).  What is your favorite part of fall?

We had a couple more firsts this past week.  Hayden started playing organized basketball.  His first game was Saturday.  It is so funny to watch the kids at this age.  Comic relief that is for sure.  The only rule, is there are no rules.  I guess technically when the ball goes out of bounds then the whistle blows so that is one they stick to but other than that...game on.  He did real well for his first game.  He even got the ball a few times and attempted to make a couple baskets.

Tyler had his first homecoming bonfire.  Homecoming football game (he was part of the freshman homecoming float that took second place).  And homecoming dance, however they will be getting a second chance for this first since about an hour into the dance, they were put in lock down.  Yup, some person in a neighborhood near the school was seen with a gun so police blocked off the area and put the school in lock down.  Instead of dancing the night away to thumping music, they got to sit in the dark in the back of the school in silence until all was clear.  Now don't get me wrong, it is a serious matter and I am glad everyone is ok.  It ended up being a false alarm but these days it is better to be safe than sorry, I know.  It just makes me sad that our kids can't even go to a school dance and be safe or feel safe for that matter. School officials allowed parents to pick up their kids around 1030pm and said it will be rescheduled.

And did I mention we celebrated a birthday this week!  Tyler turned 15!  Hard to believe my second born is already 15.  He is chomping to get his drivers permit now.  Watch out.

 



Kaylyn has a princess tea birthday party that she was invited to this next week.  I found a frilly pink princess dress at Goodwill ($4.99) the other day that fits her perfectly.  She is so excited!  It is all she has talked about since we received the invite.  I found a tiara, some fake jewelry and a wand at Dollar Tree ($3.00).  No all I need is to get her some tights.   She is going to look so purdy.  I will be sure to post some pictures.  Do you dress your kids up for Halloween? What are they going to be?


I also found a cute fall centerpiece at Goodwill for $1.99!  Now my kitchen table looks purdy.

Check back tomorrow for my Menu Plan Monday post.  Yup, I am writing it right now. 

Until next time!  Have a blessed day!

You're My Hope And Stay

Lord, I Need You by Matt Maher.


Lord I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the one that guides my heart


Lord, I need You, oh I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You


Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Yes where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me


So teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay

Walking Dead

Alternately titled...Autopilot.

Alternately titled....Brain dead.

Alternately titled....I'm exhausted.

So no, I am not talking about the show.  Heard of it.  Never had the "pleasure" to watch it, not that I would anyways, not to offend Walking Dead fans by any means, just not into the whole zombie thing (even though not too long ago I did see World War Z; grant it I didn't really know it was about zombies in my defense).  Sorry, if I just ruined it for you...if you hadn't seen that movie.

Moving on....what I am talking about is....school started, routines back in play but yet....I feel I just can't get a grip on it all.  As I type this I am still dealing with major mom guilt because I spaced back to school night at Hayden's school Thursday night...he reminded me about it, an hour to late.  I remembered it at the beginning of the week.  It was even on the calendar in our "command center" but yet...I.F.O.R.G.O.T.  In all my excitement of "thinking" that it was a stay at home night. Anticipating the joy of being able to actually make dinner more leisurely since we didn't have to run out the door for the next event.  I could help Hayden with his homework at a slower pace. Give kids a bath and let them splash around in the water for a bit.  Tuck them into bed at the normal bed time hour and maybe just maybe sit down for a second myself to regroup. Ha!  Well not so much ha, because that was what I did but again I FORGOT back to school night. Did I mention that!

These past couple weeks have just been a blur.  I have literally been on autopilot day in and day out.  Not sure what I am running on these days.  Pure adrenaline is all I can guess since I don't drink coffee.  Which I am rethinking because Lord knows I need a little more pep in my step. 

It was completely apparent last night that we all needed some more rest.  After a long crazy week at work, did I mention we have a skeleton crew these days due to people moving on and vacations, literally a couple of people doing the work of like 10.....I came home and vegged out as much as I possibly could with two small children running around; take out pizza it was for dinner.  By about 8pm we were all ready to head to bed. I barely heard a peep out of the littles before they were sawing logs.  But per usual I was up super duper early this morning....had to do a little work that I brought home since so far behind but I am however at a local Starbucks and I am done which is how I can write this post.  A little bit of my own time, even in small increments, work wonders.

Now onto the next.  I have to head out shortly to do the weekly grocery shopping and then back home to figure out what the plans are for the day.  Probably not a whole lot since we are now officially into the fall weather...Raining!  It is actually supposed to storm quite a bit here this weekend so it might be a cartoon marathon, play games, anything in doors type of weekend.  I can already tell this is going to be a long fall/winter.  I already miss the warm weather.


When life is on overdrive for you/your family what do you do to recharge?



I Think I Am In Love



It has been awhile since I have felt this way.

I have been searching high and low for that warm and fuzzy feeling.  That pure bliss of happiness.

But by golly I think I found it yesterday.

My heart was fluttering as I exited my car. 

It was not planned.

 It was so spontaneous.

Exactly how it was supposed to be.

It was perfect. And just like that. I knew.

I found an angel.  At last.  I am honestly not sure how I have made it this long without you. 

 It was literally within my grasp. 

I was nervous, thinking of all the what if's.

I had to let that all go quickly and just let it happen naturally.
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I walked up to the lady.

How much I asked.  "$5.00," she replies.

Does it work?  Can I test it?

I plugged it in.  It did.

The skys opened up and the sun started shining, like a spotlight on the star on a stage.

I paid the lady and shuffled to my car with a grin from ear to ear.
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.


I found a Eureka Quick Up at my local garage sale for $5.00!  Brand new normally around $40.00. I have been wanting one of these.  Light weight.  Can vacuum bare floor and low pile carpet.  It is exactly everything I need and want.

It has already made my life easier.  No more lugging the heavy vacuum up the stairs, nor vacuuming the stairs with the heavy vacuum, which is no easy feat.  No more sweeping the kitchen/dining area 45 times a day.  Now plug it in and off I go. 

 Eureka Quick Up where have you been all my life?

I am in love.