{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by Soulemama. A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

circa 2006

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend!
For more moments, hope over to Soulemama.

WIP Wednesday - Winter hat and a handmade holiday update

So it's been awhile since I've done a WIP Wednesday post. I admit, I really have not crafted since the last posting. It's been a whirlwind of family visits, Doctor appointments for my knee, and most recently, the death of my grandmother (who's funeral is in a few hours). So while yes, it's technically Thursday at the time I post this - I haven't really slept yet, so it's still Wednesday to me :-D

First WIP I have is a new winter hat for my daughter Lizzy (age 7). This is a beautiful acrylic yarn I purchased last fall, when our local walmart was being remolded to a super center, and they placed nearly all their craft dept on clearance (boo!). Since I was working for the remodel at the time, I was lucky enough to be there to see them start marking down the yarn. I was able to get about 15 skeins of yarn at $1 a piece, instead of the $4-$5 a piece they would have been (SCORE!). This yarn is in a color that lion brand no longer makes to sells, so when I started running out, thank goodness for ebay! I have 2 skeins on the way and should be arriving this weekend. After accidentally felting her wool hat I made her 2 years ago, I decided that for now, acrylic yarn is the way to go for her.

she doesn't know yet it's for her

Now, on the Christmas gift crafting.... yeah, I haven't started. But I'm not worried either. Yet. But I have started making a more formalized list:

Lexi:
Juggle sticks (I'm buying these, but they are handmade on Etsy, not a mass produced set)
Mixed music cds (we put our entire cd collection on the computer, so we're looking into make a few mixed cds for her cd player)

Lizzy:
Doll repair (new hair, face, etc)
Pioneer dress with a matching one for her doll
Doll clothing

Andrew:
Super Why! dress-up costume (was going to be for Halloween but... hoping I have enough leftover to make a matching one for his doll)
I-Spy bag
Doll repair (wash, few stitches to fix)
New outfit for doll

for them all (most Liz/Andrew)
more crocheted play food
Crayon Roll (I'm considering this pattern over the one I previously posted)

As it is no surprise to me, Lexi is the hardest one to plan for. I'm really hoping i come up with more gift ideas for a 12 yr old, that are handmade, before much longer.

Do you have any W.I.P.s yourself? Doesn't matter the "craft", come share it in the W.I.P. Wednesday flickr pool! You can also head over to Musings From the Fishbowl for a list of fellow Wipsters ! Hope you have a crafty rest of your week!

Menu Planning Monday - October 25th

Another busy week here for us. I'm returning back to handbell choir this week, after being out most of the last month. Lexi has a Halloween dance Wednesday night as well this week. And now that Lizzy is in girl scouts, her meetings are about every other Thursday, so there is that as well. WHEW - tried from thinking about it all!

My grandmother died last night, this week may not end up as planned.

One of my cookbooks (Veganomicon) is missing *weep* but thank goodness for the internet, I was able to find someone blogged the recipe I needed! Check Friday's dinner for that recipe! Gonna be pulling out that slow cooker more too...


Monday: Asian Orange Chicken, rice and broccoli

Tuesday: White Bean and Chicken Chili

Wednesday: homemade baked Mac and cheese

Thursday: Subs/sandwiches

Friday: Pumpkin baked ziti with sage crumb topping

Saturday: Pizza

Sunday: Halloween! Snack food night before trick-or-treating

Breakfast: Pumpkin waffles with Apple Cider Syrup
I also hope to try these waffles and syrup over the weekend for the kids, seems it would make a nice Halloween type breakfast.

As always, make sure you head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning links and ideas!!

{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by Soulemama. A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.



Wishing everyone a lovely weekend!
For more moments, hope over to Soulemama.

Muffin Tin Monday - October 18th

I have not done a Muffin Tin Monday lunch in a LOOOOOOONG time, and took the opportunity today to make one for Andrew before preschool. There was no theme this week - so I just went with what we had (and a nice, easy way to get back into the habit!!

(please excuse the crappy picture)

Top row (l to r): green seedless grapes, apple jelly sandwich in leaf shapes, baby carrots
Bottom row (l to r): American cheese squares, vanilla yogurt, "fruit loops"

Andrew LOVED having his lunch this way! YAY! Normally it's impossible to get him to eat!

If you like, you can go check out this weeks other muffin tin meals at the host blog: Muffin Tin Mom

Menu Planning Monday - October 18th

Feeling really uninspired for cooking lately (and you think with it being cold and finally having a range I would be all about cooking... meh)

Here's what this week looks like:

Monday: Tacos (with TVP filling)
Tuesday: Breakfast
Wednesday: Pasta and salad night
Thursday: Turkey soup (bought a couple of thighs to cook for the "leftover" turkey), rolls
Friday: Grilled sandwiches and leftover soup
Saturday: Pizza night
Sunday: Asian Orange Chicken, rice, broccoli

I'll be back later to do a Muffin Tin Monday post for Andrew's lunch today!

And as always, make sure you go over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning links!

Menu Planning Monday - October 11th

My knee feels to be improving. I'm being conscience of how I'm walking, and trying to not hobble so much - and it seems to be helping. I'll know officially if I tore something, after my MRI (hoping they tell me there, and I don't have to wait to see the jerk Orthopedic surgeon again).

So, my move, push, to being more healthy. I'm going to try and include walking (and hopefully sooner rather then later, running) to my days. I have 3 hours of "alone time" Monday - Friday, I am sure i can fit in 3 days of walking/running (when i am able) in there! I'll be blogging that separately from this blog (which is mostly for my creative endeavors)... you can view that blog here: I Move

On the menu this week (and not ordering out like we did 2 times out of the last week)...

Monday: Italian sausages (mine is a vegetarian one) on a whole wheat roll, and a veggie platter to much on

Tuesday: Turkey Taco Wraps (I'll be having salad and a left over vegetarian sausage)

Wednesday: Pasta night (just plain old shells and jar sauce)

Thursday: Chicken fajitas

Friday: Left over night!

Saturday: Pita pocket personal pizza (decorate your own night!)

Sunday: Slow Cooker Ham and Mashed Potatoes (not sure what I'll be eating, but it won't be salty ham, and I dislike the texture of mashed, so i may do a baked potato for me)

I am also going to attempt to make my own whole wheat flour tortillas this week (though I did buy a package of them as a back up for Tuesday at least), and maybe finally get around to making some pear-sauce for canning... and baking some cookies for coffee hour at church.

Make sure you check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more links to menu planning ideas!!

{this moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by SouleMama. A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.


for more moments, hope over to Soulemama.

An update, and frustration....

*disclaimer: I am not using names, please don't ask.

So, yes I haven't posted here in nearly 2 weeks. Well, my menu, but not a real post.

As I may have mentioned in other posts, I somehow hurt my knee camping in July. Oh man did it HURT then! It started to get better over the summer, and with my Doctor having some screwy summer hours, didn't feel I needed to go in right away, seeing as I had to see him for my thyroid check up anyways. I re-hurt my knee about a week and a half before my appointment, I knew it had to be something more then just me being a wimp over a sprain or such.

So I did bring up the pain issue then, and he believes I have a torn meniscus. Basically, torn cartilage in the knee, and referred me to an Orthopedic surgeon.

Whom I saw and meet today.

Now, everyone local asked who I was seeing and they all have fabulous things to say to be about the surgeon. Even my own Doctor had his torn meniscus fixed by this very man. Apparently I was seeing one of the best locally I could see, and for that I was most happy. Until I met the guy.

Now, first, let me stress that I DO know I am overweight, obese in fact. This very fact does not escape me. The fact I am working towards losing weight (I had lost 25, almost 30 pounds) before being derailed by my knee, frustrates me, to NO end. I DO know that being obese increase the risks for many things, included various diseases, illness and conditions.

So to have some Orthopedic Surgeon tell me that I need to lose weight because I WILL get diabetes and heart disease, and that my weight is why my knee is shot, that it is making my knock knees even WORSE (I have knock knees, this is news to me), and that I should have Bariatric surgery done...

yeah... I'm pissed.

Dude - you meet me for 10 minutes. You do not know me, my history, and what, if any medical issues I have (just the thyroid, really. I just had lab work and the rest looks beautiful!!). And even worse, when I stood up for myself against your "fat attack", you tried to play it down and just talk about the "mechanics" of being so heavy does to my body.

YOU started the damn argument, and by golly I WILL have my say in it.


He didn't like it when I told him, under no uncertain circumstances would I ever have Bariatric surgery (I'm not 100% against it in general, I am 100% against it FOR ME). He acted like I signed my own death certificate. I am not kidding when I say this. He all but SAID that HIMSELF.

Basically I had to totally advocate for my own care. I had to tell him about my primary Doctor's opinion/diagnosis about my knee (the tear) to which he agreed to have an MRI to make sure there is no tear there. He kept stressing how my weight is making the knock knees worse, and that they really no longer do surgery to correct it, and that even if they did, I am a special high risk person to even have surgery... but if there is a tear that going in laparoscopically might be ok to fix a tear.

Dude, I just want to be mobile again.

Add in that he had to put in his 2 cents on what he thought about my husband (who is also overweight, and losing), really did it for me in hating this guy. Sorry, but this appointment was about ME and my KNEE, not my husband and his weight!

So there is it. I go for a MRI next week, and the following week I see him again for a follow up to that. Really, I am HOPING and PRAYING there is no tear, so I can be DONE seeing this doctor.

And now, that I have some insight to my knees, that maybe its the misalignment of my knee causing pain, I'm going to buy one of those braces from the store, and maybe even a new pair of sneakers.

So yeah, for everyone who loved this guy, must have loved him cause a) thy are of normal/average weight or b) didn't really deal with his "bedside manner" and maybe he just a really excellent surgeon.

Anyways....

I will get in shape, I will be healthier... if nothing else then to shut up ignorant, arrogant, assuming pricks, like the Orthopedic I saw today.

Menu Planning Monday - October 4th

What a past few weeks it's been around here! After 3 months of walking around (or rather, hobbling around most of the time) with a hurt knee, I finally got myself to the Doctor office (had to anyways for my thyroid check up). My Doctor thinks I tore the meniscus. Fantastic... I now have and appointment to see an Orthopedic Surgeon this upcoming Thursday.

I'm trying to find some healthy meals that require little prep, so if when I need to send my husband my oldest to fix dinner, it's something quick, easy and won't require skills or patience she may not have yet.

Sunday: Oven Friend Chicken, Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Apple Crisp for dessert.

Monday: Perogies

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday: Broccoli and Cheese Stuffed Shells

Thursday: Corn dogs (yes, i know, but i see the Ortho this day, not sure what I'll be up to making)

Friday: Leftover pasta shells i dont fill wednesday with tomato sauce

Saturday: Pizza (need a new idea, for homemade, not ordering out!)

Make sure you check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more links to menus planning ideas (maybe much more inspiring them mine!)