Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Menu Plan Monday - Week of May 25th



Menu Plan Tuesday.  Because it was a holiday weekend and I'll likely be a day behind all week.  I'll just accept it now :) 

We had a busy, but great, weekend.  So grateful for a long weekend this week!  The weather was awesome so we were able to enjoy quite a bit of time outdoors.

My sister got married this weekend!  Friday evening was filled with the rehearsal and a cookout at my parents' house afterwards.  We had some errands to run earlier in the day and Jack and I made dessert for the cookout. He's a great helper and the cream cheese squares suggested by a friend were a hit (and utilized some items I already had on hand that needed a purpose - win)!  After the festivities we were late getting home and I still had things to do to get ready for the following day.



4 hours of sleep later, Saturday was an early day.  I had a 4.30am (yes, that's still night time in my book) wake up call to get up, grab last minute things, hot roller my hair, and be out in the door in time to make it to my sister's house at 5am 5.10am.  7 bridesmaids, 2 kids, the bride, hair, makeup, dresses, mimosas, breakfast, pictures, and several hours later we were ready for a wedding!  Everything went wonderfully and a good time was had.  Jack acted as ringbearer and did really well!  I basically let his 5-year-old cousin handle the situation and I was right in doing so!  Molly had a blast at the wedding and looked adorbs in her dress.  Now my sister and her new husband are off enjoying a beach honeymoon and I'm jealous of their getaway!



Sunday we did some things around the house and I had an interview.

Monday we enjoyed a bonus weekend day by visiting the Ice Cream Festival.  The weather was perfect and it was a good time.  We explored, the kids played, we had lunch, and of course ice cream was consumed because you can't go to the ice cream festival without eating ice cream!  Molly even enjoyed her first few bites of ice cream and she approves.  Although I think she's a little confused about why it's so cold.  She also enjoyed playing with the spoon.  I'm unsure why it fascinated her so, but it was funny!



We don't have too much on the agenda for this week and it's a nice feeling!  I'm sure we will still have plenty to keep us busy. 

Here's what we're eating:


Sunday:  Out

Monday: Grilled Burgers with Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Tuesday:  Tacos

Wednesday:  BBQ Chicken Salad with Cilantro-Lime Dressing

Thursday:  Leftovers

Friday:  Out

Saturday:  Out


I'm linked at Menu Plan Monday hosted by OrgJunkie.com

Monday, May 19, 2014

Menu Plan Monday - Week of May 18th



We kicked off our weekend by attending a huge Touch-a-Truck event on Friday morning.  Jack had a blast!



Saturday was kind of rainy and icky, but I did the early morning gym thing, then had a prenatal visit, stopped by the library, and headed home to get a grocery list together so Mark and Jack could make a store run.  Molly and I stayed home to do some laundry, destroy all the things (Molly), and watch Cheese Paradise whilst way too hungry to torture oneself by watching a show about cheese fries, grilled cheese, and all things cheesy delicious (Me).



Sunday brought beautiful weather and after the boys went on a bagel run and brought me some disappointing coffee (Boo, Panera, boo!) we visited a local greenhouse to pick up some plants for the garden.  This is our year - I can feel it!  Or maybe that's just my black thumb twitching.  Urrgh.

Why I can't seem to grow things is beyond me.  I give plants sunshine, water, love.  What more can a seedling ask for?  I feel like I'm the only person in Ohio who can't plop a zucchini plant in the ground and end up with more zucchini than they know what to do with a few weeks later.

Clockwise from back left: beefsteak tomato, cherry tomato, bush beans, early girl tomato


None the less, this is it.  Every year has been a little better than the last and this is round 4.  Last year we did get minimal produce and some herbs, at least it was something.  I've got a couple of new ideas we're going to try out and good things will happen!  This is the year our garden is a true success!   Hopefully... 

Clockwise from back left: zucchini, red pepper, jalapeno, lettuces


Jack is very excited about the garden this year (as he was last year too) and he was a great helper with preparing the beds and getting plants in the ground.  He even watered the plants.  (Please grow, plants!)  Molly has a check-up at the doctor's this morning and then hopefully we'll hit a garden center to pick up a few larger pots for our herbs.  I'm hoping maybe some more dirt and space will yield healthier plants this year.



Sunday also brought smoked ribs and other yummies.  Because: Rib Sunday.

My sister is getting married this weekend!  My bridesmaid dress is with a seamstress getting about a foot of fabric hacked off the bottom and I pretty much waited til the last minute to begin this process.  Hopefully I have the dress in-hand and wearable soon :)

Here's what we're eating:


Sunday:  Smoked Ribs with Mac & Cheese and Green Beans

Monday:  Bang Bang Chicken and Veggie Skewers with Cilantro Lime Quinoa

Tuesday:  Chicken Enchilada Verdes with Mexican Rice (from the freezer!)

Wednesday:  Kentucky Hot Brown Burgers with Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Thursday:  Leftovers

Friday:  Wedding Rehearsal

Saturday:  Wedding


I'm linked at Menu Plan Monday hosted by OrgJunkie.com

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Menu Plan Monday - Week of May 11th



Goodness it has been busy around here!  Hence, Menu Plan Monday: Wednesday Edition.

This weekend was kind of crazy with little sleep due to a long labor situation, but I got to spend part of my Mother's Day supporting a mother bringing her new baby into the world.  If that doesn't celebrate the essence of motherhood I don't know what does!

My first little Mother's Day gift from Jack.  He brought home from school this little potted flower and a card.  Adorbs!


I did get to enjoy my own Mother's Day celebration as well.  We went to a lovely brunch with family and Mark and the kids gifted me with a hybrid tablet/laptop (I don't even know if that's the right term because I know nothing about electronics) and some accessories.  Really nifty!  I have no idea how to use it, but Mark insists it will be great for business purposes.  I think he's right I just have to learn how to best utilize it!

And both kids cooperated for a picture.  This has pretty much never happened before.  Wonderful treat!


After brunch it was time for fun (not) things like laundry and while the boys were grocery shopping and Molly was napping I used the quiet time to do a much needed massive closet clean out.  I'm an admitted hoarder and despite the fact that a solid 90+% of the items in my closet were merely taking up space it was super hard for me to clean it out.  It was all getting too ridiculous, even for me, so I finally buckled down and did what needed to be done.  Mark loaded all the bags up and took care of donating them and now my nice spacious closet and I are happy that the task is done!

Jack is finishing up his last few days of his first year of preschool (ahhh!) and Molly has learned how to climb up on furniture much too high for my comfort levels.  Yesterday I found her standing on the TV stand like she belonged there.  Uhm... no.  My life just got more challenging.



Sunday:  Late dinner - apps

Monday:  Grilled Burgers with Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Tuesday:  Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppyseed Dressing

Wednesday:  Macadamia Crusted Tilapia with Mango Pineapple Salsa

Thursday:  Leftovers or Homemade Pizza

Friday:  Out

Saturday:  Out


I'm linked at Menu Plan Monday hosted by OrgJunkie.com