Menu Planning Monday - July 19th

Here we are again. As much as I do enjoy meal planning, it can become a bit, monotonous. Especially in the summer, with all the kids home. I feel like I am constantly making someone SOMETHING to eat. Let's not forget that with so many "picky" eaters, mostly me, that coming up with something everyone will eat (and not waste food), is a challenge. I HATE wasted food, I rather make everyone a different sandwich then make a great big meal only 1 or 2 (out of 5) will eat.

So - here it is:

Monday: BLTs (we ended up not having these last week, as the hubby was out for his final tux fitting)

Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner (last time i did pancakes, so we'll be going for french toast this time)

Wednesday: Pasta night

Thursday: Hot dogs on the grill, salad, maybe some watermelon too

Friday: Chicken fajitas

Saturday: Pizza night (thinking of trying grilled pizzas - yum!)

Sunday: we'll see where the week takes us!

Breakfast:
toast
eggs
cereal
pancakes

Lunches:
sandwiches (various, from your typical PB&J to grilled cheese, etc..)
mac and cheese

It's suppose to rain either Friday or Saturday, so I'm looking to doing some baking (in the evening, after kids are asleep, so it may survive a day or two).. esp after the HUGE zucchini my mother-in-law sent home with us!

chocolate zucchini muffins
blueberry zucchini muffins (from this bread recipe - works great as muffins)
homemade hot pockets (ham and cheese, and using home made dough)
Breakfast puffs (made ahead w/ the drizzle)
and if I get ambitious, English Muffins

and as always, make sure you hop over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for my menu planning inspiration!

30 day Blog Journal - Day 20

Only 10 more "days" to go! YAY!

Today's topic is - a hobby if mine.

I already touched on this in my last entry - my talent of being creative. I love to knit and crochet, and often have more then 1 project going at a time.

But, I'll touch on another hobby of mine.... baking.

Oh how I LOVE to bake.

Being sans oven right now makes it a tad more difficult then usual. I hope we are able to remedy that soon, but until then, i can do little baking. Muffins , cupcakes, even small square or round cakes.

In the past i've baked all our own breads (both quick breads and yeast breads), cakes, cookies, muffins. I've done "special diet" baking, including vegan (no animal products at all) as well as tried gluten-free baking (Lisa liked those cupcakes! heck, so did I!)

But I really shine during the holidays. I bakes some wheres around 7 different kinds of cookies, as well as making candy (esp fudge... and most esp peanut butter fudge!). as well as special holiday breads... my mouth is watering just thinking about it!

I don't know if you all consider baking a hobby, but i most certainly do!

Technical Difficulties

Please excuse my lack of blogging the past few days, esp after posting that I would be blogging again! Our DSL has taken to not staying connected for more then a few minutes at a time since a huge storm passed through here Tuesday evening.

Unfortunately with a wedding and a baptism to attend this weekend, we are not going to even have the change to get to a payphone (since our phone is Vonage, which is VoIP, can't use that if we cant stay connected - UGH!) to call and complain about this.

Hopefully I'll be back up and running smoothly on here again soon!!

{this moment}

{this moment} - 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 inspiring moments, swing of to SouleMama.

30 day Blog Journal - Day 19

After my much needed break from reality, here I am, back at finishing the 30 day blog journal entries.

Today's topic - a talent of mine.

First, what is talent? Merriam-Webster defines talent as a characteristic feature, aptitude, or disposition of a person or animal, or the natural endowments of a person. Wiki says that talent (in the sense of natural ability or giftedness) is not the same as skill, which is a learned process, and one which is enhanced or inhibited by an underlying talent.

So, a natural ability or endowment, and not a learned skill. So, what is my talent?

After posing the question on Facebook, and doing some thinking, I would have to say my strongest talent is being creativity.

In my teens, this would have been focused in music... I played the flute (but stopped after 2 years due to practice time being too early in the am, I never got back into it), sang (at school and in church, both in a choir, as well as few solos) and played hand bells at church.




As this has changed a bit as I've grown. Lacking time to hone my musical skills, I've taken up working in fiber arts. While I've known how to crochet since I was 8 or 9, I've really only done well with it, since becoming a mother (and naturally felt the need to prepare for my baby). Since I re-started working with fibers 11 years ago, I've nailed down counted cross stitch, and finally learned to knit 2 1/2 years ago. I've done a little sewing (scrub tops and skirts, doll diapers...). My hope is to learn needle felting next. I've also done some pretty creative baking, something I think I get from my father (who was a fantastic baker). And, something that I think helps keep me grounded, I started to play hand bells after years of not doing anything musically. Music really does touch my creative soul.

Without having written this post, without really thinking about it, I may have said I am talent-less. But I truly don't believe anyone is. We all have talents, it just takes recognizing, honing, and using them .

Come back tomorrow, where our topic will be... a hobby of mine.

Menu Planning Monday - July 12th

Here we are again. Finally after the craziness of planning and going, then returning form our vacation to my brother-in-laws river lot in PA (see pic in previous post - it was lovely there!), We are back into a routine.

Even with it being summer, we're tremendously busy! This Saturday my husband will be a groomsman in his brother's wedding. My 7 yr old is in summer reading camp at school for the next few weeks, and my oldest has book club twice a week as part of her summer reading project for school. I'm also assisting again this year with our local Vacation Bible School - I LOVE IT! Again, working on games for the kids (last year I was in charge of the preschool class games) with a lovely lady, I have yet to meet, but I am sure it will be a blast. It's so inspirational to work with children! I know what it does for my faith...

but I digress... we're menu planning! So I have time to take all the kids to their things and still feed them great meals to keep them healthy and growing.

Monday: BBQing hot dogs, pasta salad and chips

Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner

Wednesday: Pasta, salad

Thursday: BLTs, fruit salad

Friday: Chicken Fajitas

Saturday: Wedding day - who knows where we'll be at dinner time!

Sunday: Not sure, we'll be driving to and from my in-laws to pick up the youngest rug rat... so something simple and easy, maybe pizza

Lunches this week will include:
leftovers from dinner the night before
Nutella and fluff sandwiches (the girls LOVE these!)
veggie and fruit tray
"brunch"

As always, make sure you hop over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning inspiration!

Back into the swing

For the (very few) reads of my little blog, you may have noticed i haven't written in over a week. Mostly due to being out and spending the holiday with family. It was lovely and nice... and I'd give just about anything to be back there now (though 4 days does seem to be the limit for a few family members, esp sans shower and laundry abilities! LOL)

our view off the camp lot looking at the west branch of the Susquehanna river

some fishing

some boating

some swimming

some fireworks

and of course a big bonfire

Rather then try to play catch up on all my posts I normally would have done, I'm just going to start fresh.

I hope everyone had a happy, healthy and safe holiday!!

{this moment}

{this moment} - 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, swing over to Soulemama

30 day Blog Journal - Day 18

Today's topic is - my wedding.

My wedding was not a huge affair. Our original Date was selected for June 19th, 1999. After having a preemie at the end of 1998, and my husband changing jobs that would result in us getting insurance, you hastily moved the date to the Friday before, February 12, 1999.

We don't have many pictures of the event, as we did things very simply and last minute. In fact, I only told my dad about the nuptials 7 hours before we were to wed! Any young ladies reading this, I HIGHLY suggest you give your father more notice then that! (a few months, preferably!) And what photos i do have are currently in storage and needing to be scanned into the computer.

Given though what my husband and I have endured, the obstacles set before us, I don't think anyone (even ourselves) imagined that at 11 years and counting, we were still be here, together and strong. We've had ups and downs, I think ever marriage does. But, we were 20-somethings, with a child, and little else when we married. Surely accord to statistics we should be divorced by now, maybe even divorced from a 2nd marriage!

But here we are, and I like it that way.

30 day Blog Journal - Day 17

Sorry this is a day late - We have been busying ourselves for camping this upcoming weekend.

Today's topic is a piece of art. This is hard for me. I don't hate art, but music seems to be my preference as far as my artistic ability, and interest.

But, now and again a few things catch my eye, and this piece i saw online, did just that.

Escher's "Relativity" in LEGO®

And while I know "Relativity" is a piece of art of it's own accord, the scene kind of reminds me of a part near the end of the movie Labyrinth (which I LOVED as a youngster).

Our next topic is my wedding/future wedding... Guess I better get to it and catch back up!

30 day Blog Journal - Day 16

So here we are, another day, another post. Almost makes you happy that after today, i only have 13 days left, doesn't it?

So today is a song that makes you cry (or nearly). And my choosing is the Moody Blues song I Know You're Out There Somewhere.



Those who know and are close to me in real life know that my dad died in August 2003. And my dad was a HUGE Moody Blues fan... HUGE I tell you! And while I know it's a continuation of the love song "Your Wildest Dreams", the chorus really spoke to me in my grief and in missing my dearest father.

I know you're out there somewhere
Somewhere, somewhere
I know you're out there somewhere
Somewhere you can hear my voice
I know I'll find you somehow
Somehow, somehow
I know I'll find you somehow
And somehow I'll return again to you

I do think I will see my dad again, I do believe in an after life. Every day I miss him, and i do cry when i hear this song (or really, almost anything Moody Blues, because that was such a "him" thing as was calling him Buddha). I love you dad

my dad holding a newborn me - circa 1978

Dad holding my first born - Nov 30 1998

Come on back tomorrow, where the day's topic is an Art piece.

30 day Blog Journal - Day 15

Yeah! The half way point in this journey though a 30 day blog journal!

Today's topic: Your dream house.

like I haven't been thinking about a dream house for.. oh.. DECADES!

Now, when most people describe their dream home, it's huge. Ginormous even. My idea though, it a lot more down to earth. I don't believe bigger is always better, and homes are blew up since I was a child. Too large and impersonal. I want a small, cozy... home.

Anyone who has thought of a small home, may have heard of the The Tumbleweed Tiny House Company.


This is a company that specializes in tiny and small homes. Many of the homes are even built right on trailers! And while I wouldn't want a house THAT tiny with a family (100 sq feet or smaller), but small home is what I have in mind.

Lucky me - they make some "bigger" houses too! And I have had my eyes on their B-53 design for as long as I can remember now.


Their biggest stationary house to date, the B-53 is a 2 bedroom house, at 743 sq ft. There is the option for a 3rd bedroom, making the total 837 sq ft. But if you look at the plans, it does not seem lacking to me! The bedrooms are plenty big, especially the 2 upstairs (the add on one is slightly smaller), and while the kitchen seems small, for some, I grew up in a tiny kitchen with not much more space then the fridge, stove/oven unit, sink, and a couple of cupboards and zilch counter space. I love the built-in kitchen booth, and you could even expand the space if you decide to build this over a full basement, rather then a simple foundation.

What isn't there to love there? I already know that I would like the exterior to be some fake log looking siding, and as much real hard wood inside as humanly possible, maybe not full walls, but 1/2 wall, have drywall maybe. I'd like to paint a little too. Solar power/heating as much as possible... and then sit this on some acreage with plenty of trees, and land to garden.

Now if i could only win the lottery :-D

Come back tomorrow for... a song that makes me cry. oh joy *insert sarcasm here*

{this moment}

{this moment} - 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, take a swing over to Soulemama

30 day Blog Journal - Day 14

Apparently I'm playing blog catch up today.

Today (for actual today) is about a non-fiction book. And the last non-fiction book I actually finished is The Simple Rules for Christian Living by Jeanne Torrence Finley.


Three Simple Rules for Christian Living is a reflection of the three principles of Christian living as illuminated by John Wesley in the General Rules, and revisited in the book Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living by Rueben Job. Using the words of John Wesley, Ruben Job, and the Bible, the book reflects what those rules may have meant during Wesley's time, as well as what they can mean to us today. The book is presented as a six week study in which the three rules; Do No Harm, Do Good, and Stay in Love with God; are studies and presented in how to practice them in daily life. The study presents an early Wesleyan understandings of spiritual disciplines that can transform us and the world that we live in, and leas us to a more faithful way of living as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I did this as a Lenten study via facebook with the church our family attends this year. And it was a real eye opener on many levels. If you ever have the chance to partake in reading or following a study using this, I highly suggest it.

Please come back tomorrow, where I will elaborate on my dream home.

30 day Blog Journal - Day 13

Today's Yesterday's topic - a fictional book.

I'm assuming that this is suppose to be about a fiction book I've recently read, as we've already covered all the "favorites" during the first few posts for this 30 day blog journal.

So that last fictional book I read was The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom.


Here is one summary from a review, as shown on Amazon.com

Wearing a work shirt with a patch on the chest that reads "Eddie" over "Maintenance," limping around with a cane thanks to an old war injury, Eddie was the kind of guy everybody, including Eddie himself, tended to write off as one of life's minor characters, a gruff bit of background color. He spent most of his life maintaining the rides at Ruby Pier, a seaside amusement park, greasing tracks and tightening bolts and listening for strange sounds, "keeping them safe." The children who visited the pier were drawn to Eddie "like cold hands to a fire." Yet Eddie believed that he lived a "nothing" life-gone nowhere he "wasn't shipped to with a rifle," doing work that "required no more brains than washing a dish." On his 83rd birthday, however, Eddie dies trying to save a little girl. He wakes up in heaven, where a succession of five people are waiting to show him the true meaning and value of his life. One by one, these mostly unexpected characters remind him that we all live in a vast web of interconnection with other lives; that all our stories overlap; that acts of sacrifice seemingly small or fruitless do affect others; and that loyalty and love matter to a degree we can never fathom.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and finished is in only about 3 hours, so it's not a very long read.

Be sure to come back, as our next topic is on a non-fiction book!

30 day Blog Journal - Day 12

Well, this is an easy topic, considering I have OCD! Mostly I am thankfully that it doesn't rule me to the point of needing medication to control myself (think excessive hand washing till having sores and bleeding, not leave w/o checking the stove 1,000,000,000 times, etc). Most of my OCD habits are space defined and food related.

So, to pick just one, I'll pick a easy one. I have to chew food equally on both sides of my mouth. If I take a bite with the left side, I then do so on the right side. If I pop 4 green M&Ms, in my mouth (because I could never pick up M&Ms randomly), I automatically chew 2 on each side... and don't get me started with Reece's pieces! I eat 3 on each side at a time, 1 of each color, for as long as I have enough to split them up so. And so on and so forth....

Yeah... weird right? And that is just 1 OCD trait I have.

So tomorrow I'll be back with a fictional book, I'll pick something I've read recently.

30 day Blog Journal - Day 11

Ok - again I admit that 99.2% of the time I'm the one behind the camera. But today's topic, a recent picture of myself, is gonna spoil that.



I'm the fluffy one holding the extremely cute birthday boy.

Come back tomorrow for a non-photo related post! I'm overjoyed with that prospect!

Menu Planning Monday - June 21st

Happy Solstice!

We are finally past the birthdays! Well, we have the birthday party this upcoming weekend., but there is no stress about the cake or presents, etc for that! Just praying for good weather!

Between the heat, and saving for our upcoming trip to my brother-in-laws in PA, we are having very simple fares for dinner. I am still going to try and have 1 new recipe a week, likely light salads and summer time soups.

Monday - sunny side up eggs and pancakes! (they look like big suns, right?)

Tuesday - Pasta

Wednesday - Meatballs and sauce (with rolls to make subs or pasta to spoon over)

Thursday - Taco Turkey Wraps

Friday - Finger Food Night

Saturday - Birthday Party! (menu below) Likely just eat leftovers when we get home

Sunday - Church picnic that afternoon... Still trying to decide what our dish to pass will be!
Dinner will likely be pizza from Wegmans!

Birthday Party:
mini sandwiches for a crowd
Fruit salsa and cinnamon tortilla chips
Veggie tray
Lemonade & water
and cake, of course


And make sure you head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more inspiration for your own menu!

30 day Blog Journal - Day 10

So, I'm trying to figure out why types of topics are lumped together.. like having 5 photo entries in a row.

So today is a pic of me, more then 10 years old.



Ok, I admit it. It's not the best looking scanned picture of me I have. I think this may have even been a picture of a picture. But hey, I was still a cute baby, no? :-D

Tomorrow I plan on torturing you all with a much more recent picture of myself (and thankfully i think that is the end of photo topics for this 30 days blog journal)

30 day Blog Journal - Day 9

Another photo this post, and it's as simple as a photo I took. Easy, since 99.1% of the time, I'm on the backside of the camera...

J and EB, summer 2004

Here we have daddy cuddling with his lil girl. She had been in the blowup pool, and was cold after getting out. Daddy's used his shirt to cover (the question of if he had it on or standby, is up in the air), and together watched bib sister splashing away in the pool. Such a beautiful, precious moment....

Come back tomorrow for a photo of me *YIKES* that is 10+ years old!