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Friday, May 29, 2015

{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. 

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Monday, May 25, 2015

Menu Planning Monday - May 25th






Much like the blogging, I haven't been menu planning as much, and the chaos from not having a plan is evident. It also involved my kids asking me a thousand times, in a span of a couple of minutes, what is dinner that night. *sigh*

Just recently as of this week, menu planning is getting trickier, as my youngest daughter has decided to go vegan. She's all but jumping in "cold turkey", just whatever we have left at home for milk/cheese/eggs, after that's gone, no more. She was the same when she went vegetarian 3 years ago. The oldest wants to slowly change over too (she's being more flexible then her sister in transiting, eliminating 1 specific food item/group at a time). I'm ok with it, as I've been (very slowly) leaning that way myself. Thankfully my son rarely eats meat already, and my husband will eat just about anything vegan or not, The girls do realize that even if daddy eats vegetarian/vegan at home, he may not while we are out (at family/friends, restaurants, etc). At this time, I suspect I will still be buying my son and husband regular milk and cheese.

Monday - Memorial Day - BBQing steaks, hot dogs, italian sausage, and vegetarian sausages, pasta salad

Tuesday - BLTs (with either real bacon and real mayonnaise, or vegetarian bacon and nayonase)

Wednesday - Pasta night

Thursday - French toast casserole (using the last of the eggs we have on hand, likely will not be buying anymore)

Friday - Fend-For-Yourself night

Saturday - Pizza night (homemade, using daiya cheese)

Sunday - "chik'n" fajitas


Be sure to check back with me next monday to see how we are doing transitioning to a vegan household - and be sure to check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning tips and ideas!







Oh blog, how I have been neglecting you....

If it helps any, it HAS been weighing on my mind, how I've seem to let life get away while this blog has been sitting around collecting dust, so to speak.

Before I jump back into blogging, I thought I'd post a recap:

I should have know it was going to be a crazy school year with the way things started. I started college classes less than 2 weeks after graduating from practical nursing school - before even sitting for the license exam! The kids also started school too, I posted a sweet picture of my son after his first day back. I thought it was so sweet he was all tucked out trying to get back into a school routine. Long story short - 36 hours after I took that photo we were in his doctor's office, with a suspected cause of Lyme disease. He was started on antibiotic treatment and they took blood to test, and he did come back with a positive for Lyme test result. Thankfully, we caught it very early (about 3-4 weeks from when we suspect he was bitten by a tick) so he shouldn't have any lifelong, chronic issues.

After we got over the initial Lyme hurdle, the girls came down with the stomach bug, J lost his job on Veteran's day, the car was in and out of the shop for various power issues. Lizzie developed pneumonia, Andrew got the flu (and had various illness (unexplained fevers, leg pain, stomach issues, etc) since diagnosed with Lyme). J got a new job, Alexis had tendonitis in her left wrist, and just as soon as that was healed, broke her right forearm. I've interviewed numerous times for various nursing positions, and haven't had any lucky, expect for a 1 week camp nurse position I will have at the end of June (and so looking forward to it!). I finished my spring semester of classes and trying to decide if I should start applying to RN programs now, or wait till Alexis graduates from high school so I'm not in nursing school her senior year.

I also passed the licensing exam for practical nurse



Alexis was confirmed in Church


Elizabeth took a more active role in advocating for herself (orange and blue for psoriasis awareness!)



Andrew learned how to ride a 2 wheel bike without training wheels


And we got 2 new cats, Pepper and Toothless (littermates). 



I think that's about it - though of course there is always more, that pretty much sums up the past 9-10 months for us! I'll be working to update the blog more regularly now, and will be updating the college header (it's about 2 years old!) with some fresh photos. For now, I'm more looking forward to a calmer, if still busy summer of summer camps, travel soccer, and hopefully visiting family and friends. 


Friday, October 10, 2014

{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. 

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Monday, September 22, 2014

Menu Planning Monday - September 22nd




Autumn weather has certainly started here now, even though today is the last day of summer for this year. Hopefully this means so exciting new ideas for the menu that will have us going steady through are busy and hectic week! Cub scouts is in full swing, 2 open house recruitment events for Girl Scouts, and bell choir at church. I suppose somewhere in there is my college course work, studying for the NCLEX-PN exam and maybe taking care of my family too! Weeks like this is why I find menu planning so vital to my family, and my sanity!


Monday: Fend-For-Yourself

Tuesday: Chik'n pieces and rice, broccoli (carry over from last week)

Wednesday: Pasta night with homemade marinara sauce

Thursday: Breakfast for dinner

Friday: Perhaps dinner out? Homemade Chinese

Saturday: Homemade Pizzas, salad

Sunday: You're On Your Own (shopping day)


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


P.S. - I've been having issues with my scheduled posts over the last 2 weeks. I apologize if they suddenly come through all at once, once I have the problems sorted out!

Monday, September 15, 2014

Menu Plan Monday - September 15th




Another week, another menu! If you are visiting here for the first time - welcome! My blog had been on hiatus the last year or so, and I'm slowing getting back into writing here. For my Monday menus, it is a mix of vegetarian and meat-eater options, and I will link recipes as possible. I hope you stick around!

The weather here has grown cold, and I honestly glad. While we didn't have an overly hot summer this year, I absolutely love autumn. And it's not for the pumpkin lattes (I really dislike pumpkin)! But all the apple items (like cider) I've been looking forward to since last year! Apple cider slushies are especially a lovely treat on the warmer autumn days.

So, the craziness of school year schedules starts this week. Cub scouts resumes on Tuesday, bell choir resumed practices last week, and the first of many open house events at school for the kids (since none of them are in the same building) is Thursday. And a camp out activity for Cub Scouts this weekend also, and bells is also playing Sunday morning! So, let's have a menu to sustain us through it all!

Monday - Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese, broccoli or salad
Tuesday - Hot dogs, veggie burgers and corn on the cob
Wednesday - Pasta with my favorite slow cooker marinara sauce
Thursday - Picnic in the Park Open House event at school
Friday - Quorn chik'n with rice pilaf
Saturday - Pizza
Sunday - Fend-for-Yourself (shopping day)

Make sure to pop over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for the Menu Plan Monday link up!

Monday, September 8, 2014

Menu Planning Monday - September 8th




First full week of school - thankfully I have 1 more week before any activities start!

Monday - Fajitas (carry over from last week)
Tuesday - chef salad night, breadsticks, soup/broth
Wednesday - Ziti and salad
Thursday - Breakfast night (pancakes, breakfast meat for meat eaters, veggie options for vegetarians)
Friday - Homemade fast food night (veggie burgers, "chicken" nuggets, fries, salad)
Saturday - Fend-For-Yourself night
Sunday - Homemade pizza, salad

Make sure to check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for the Menu Plan Monday link up!

Friday, September 5, 2014

{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. 

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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Wordless Wednesday

A little photo for a mid-week pickup


Monday, September 1, 2014

Menu Planning Monday - September 1st




Running a bit behind - it's been a crazy holiday weekend getting the kids ready for back to school tomorrow! Thank goodness we have a couple of weeks before after-school activities start!

Monday - BLTs
Tuesday - Fend-For-Yourself 
Wednesday - Pasta 
Thursday - Fajitas
Friday - Subs/veggies/chips
Saturday - Veggie burgers and fries
Sunday - Homemade Pizza

And of course, make sure you pop over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning ideas and links!

Friday, August 29, 2014

{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. 

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Monday, August 25, 2014

Menu Planning Monday - August 25th




Wow, it's been a while since I've posted one of these, over a year!

So while I may not have been posting my menu, I have usually had one in mind while I purchase the weeks groceries, even if it's not always concrete give the schedules we had over the last year.

I have a feeling it will be nice to feel somewhat "normal" for a while...

Monday: BBQ Chicken, corn, chips, pasta salad
Tuesday: Tacos
Wednesday: Baked ziti, salad
Thursday: Chef Salad,  soft bread sticks
Friday: homemade "fast food" night
Saturday: Pizza night!
Sunday: fend-for-yourself (shopping day)

I'm hoping to also get ready for back to school the following week and get some baking done and frozen ahead of time. Snack items (cookies, granola bars, etc), breakfast items (muffins, breakfast burritos), etc are all things I'm hoping to get around to baking this week.

And of course, make sure you pop over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning ideas and links!

Saturday, August 23, 2014

What a year...

I know I've been neglecting this blog for quite sometime now.

The short story is that I applied and was accepted into Practical Nursing school... which I just graduated from this past Thursday evening. The last 12 months has been a whirl wind of school, studying, and all of my "extras" such as Girl Scouts, bell choir and taking care of the kids. Needless to say, this has left very little room for blog.

It's a bit long (12 minutes), but this is a slideshow of what the last year of my life has been a part of.




I am hoping now that the chaos of the last year is behind me, and while there is still much coming up (new fall classes, Scouts, church, etc), I can devote some time to reviving this blog.

For those who have stuck around, I thank you.

Friday, August 22, 2014

{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. 

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Monday, July 29, 2013

Menu Planning Monday - July 29th







I feel terrible that I have been neglecting my blog this summer. Time has just seemed to get away from us and I haven't caught up yet. I thought the kids would be less busy once they were done with school for the summer?

Nothing much to do about the past - but we can press forward from now though! Here is this weeks menu, leading up to when 4 out of 5 of us will be gone away for 1 camp or another!

Monday - Pasta night
Tuesday - Chicken (Quorn "fake" chicken pieces) and rice
Wednesday - BBQ hot dogs, burns with corn on the cob
Thursday - Homemade macaroni and cheese
Friday - Picnic dinner at the beach
Saturday - Pizza night!
Sunday - My husband will be solo for the next 3 days - so whatever he wants!

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

Monday, June 10, 2013

Menu Planning Monday - June 10th




Just 2 more weeks of school - we can make it, right?!?! With the addition to summer soccer now for the lil man, I feel like we are even busier then usual, especially on Monday (karate from 4:30-5, soccer at 5:30 on the other side of town). Thankfully it's only Mondays that have the dual activities, and thankfully only for about 6 weeks. End of the school year activities are picking up, with addition to 3 out of 4 kids having birthdays in the next 2 weeks - I'm just praying for July to get her, and swiftly!

Monday - Picnic dinner of sandwiches, strawberries, carrots and drinks for Andrew and I, microwave meals for the rest (first night of summer soccer, right after karate class!)
Tuesday - BLTs
Wednesday - Chef salad
Thursday - Subs, veggies and chips
Friday - One pot pasta night (8th grade moving up celebration)
Saturday - Pita pocket pizzas
Sunday - fend-for-yourself (shopping day)

And make sure to check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning links and ideas!

Friday, June 7, 2013

{this moment}

{this moment} - inspired by SouleMama

A Friday ritual. A single photo(s) - 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.

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Monday, June 3, 2013

Menu Planning Monday - June 3rd




Anyone else already "checked out" for the school year and ready for summer? For those you read this and are already onto summer vacation, let me say I'm highly jealous! But I'm pretty such I checked out end of February, right after winter recess and the start of state testing prep for the kids. But I'll leave that for another time..

So This week is my last regular Girl Scout meeting before summer vacation starts. I still plan on meeting a couple of times a month over the summer for girls who want to have the chance to earn their second Journey award, so they have a chance to earn the summit award before they bridge to Cadettes next year *weep* My girls are growing up! An orthopedic surgeon appointment post-surgery for my knee, a spring concert, karate class, a Zoo (1st graders) and Hospital (girl scouts) field trip will help round out this very busy week also. Thank goodness summer vacation is right around the corner! I may complain about how busy I am, but I do love it. And it keeps me out of trouble... lol Plus, my kids still want me around for their activities, I'll take that for as long as they want me!

So to that end, here is this weeks menu to keep us feed while we're sprinting around town this week!


Monday - Nuggets (chicken and vegetarian ones) and tater tots
Tuesday - Breakfast for dinner night (french toast, sausage, eggs and regular toast)
Wednesday - Bar-B-que chicken (and vegetarian burgers), salt potatoes, salad
Thursday - Pasta night
Friday - Subs/sandwiches and chips, veggies and dip
Saturday - Pizza and salad
Sunday - Not sure yet... shopping day so I want to see what the weather is like, maybe grilling outside

Make sure to check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu tips, links and ideas!

Friday, May 31, 2013

{this moment}

{this moment} - inspired by SouleMama

A Friday ritual. A single photo(s) - 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.
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Monday, May 27, 2013

Menu Planning Monday - May 27th




It's no shock that I've been a bit lacking in the blogging department. Spring (and the winter holiday seaso0 seems to be such a busy time of year, I barely have time to breath.

Summer will be better, right?

It's seems like a short week for us, just getting back home after spending the Memorial Day holiday weekend at with my sister and brother-in laws house. And my adorable nephews. You can still call boys adorable at ages 12 and 8, right?

Without further ado...

Monday - Baked Ziti with garlic and herb french bread (in Watertown!)
Tuesday - Pizza
Wednesday - Grilled teriyaki chicken and croissants.
Thursday - Sandwiches
Friday - Perogies and asparagus
Saturday - Homemade pizza
Sunday - Grilled chicken halves, salt potatoes, salad

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