We were able to spend a few days in Branson with part of my family last week and got to meet my almost 5 month old niece for the first time! It was a lot of fun swimming, shopping, playing and hanging out with everyone. We went to bed late, got up early, and had a toddler who didn’t want to sleep. In spite of lack of sleep, the kids did really well and now that we’ve had a weekend to catch up on naps and putting the house back together we are as back to normal as we can be.

Playing in the creek!

Cousin Fun!

I went to my grocery store for the first time in 3 weeks and have restocked the refrigerator with fruits and veggies for the next couple of weeks. Hooray for options and lots of produce again!

On this week’s menu we have a staff party and two days where my husband will be working over 12 hour days. I’m planning leftovers for those nights so Shaun can bring them and reheat for a quick supper before working the event they radio station is putting on at the old drive in theater.

We are throwing around doing a Whole 30 in the next month or two. Have you ever done one before?

Suppers:

• Staff Party – Bring Salad and Dessert (I brought Sesame Ginger Salad and Mini Cheesecake Bites)
• Chicken Chow Mein (also known as the meal my husband cooks, but I always seem to end up doing a lot of prep work for)
• Chili (using homemade chili beans from the freezer)
• Homemade Pizza
• Leftovers x 3

Lunches:

• Pizza
• Fajitas
• Cucumber Tomato Salad for the 3 year old and myself x 5 (we love this stuff)
• Lettuce Salads for my husband x 5

Breakfasts:

• Pancakes from the freezer
• Oatmeal
• Refrigerator Oatmeal
• Smoothies (maybe)

Goals:

• Start the next Hello Mornings Bible Study
• Begin the #mindbodymat 3 week pilates challenge (Today is the first day so you can join in! Each day’s workout is just 5-10 minutes)
• Finish Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Matters and Praying for Boys: Asking God for the Things They Need Most by Brooke McGlothlin. There are so many books I want to read I need to start reading regularly
• Publish 2 more posts
• Budget meeting

What’s on your menu? Any goals you are trying to tackle?

Linking up to Menu Plan Monday

Even though we had nothing planned this week it flew by! Cleaning and projects around the house took up a lot of time and we didn’t even get everything done that we wanted. I had hoped to get reading in and I barely found time to pick up a book. I think one of these months we are going to have to plan a staycation so we can tackle all those little things that never get done. I spent a lot of time cleaning and organizing in the kitchen. I made good headway on that project – a kitchen with cleared counters always makes me feel better! Now to just keep it that way.

Last week I attempted three new recipes from scratch! Angel food cake, swiss meringue butter cream (using up all the egg whites I had in the freezer) and mayonnaise. The angel food cake was deemed tastier than one from the box and it wasn’t too difficult to make. I want to try making it again and see if not having the egg whites get so stiff helps it get a little higher. The swiss meringue butter cream was actually pretty good but next time I want to try a different recipe. This one would have worked for spreading on a cake but wasn’t near thick enough for piping.

The mayonnaise didn’t come together for me the first time so I pulled out the trusty KitchenAid mixer and attached the mix. With the addition of another egg yolk and slowly drizzling in my failed batch, it worked perfectly! It was even a little too thick. Next time, I’m using the KitchenAid from the beginning.

Suppers:

• Dinner with friends – brought angel food cake
• My birthday dinner. . . I think we might use a gift card.
• Leftovers x 3 (I have a couple back up meal options if we run out of leftovers)
• Dinner with friends
• Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken
• Radio Station event

Lunches:

• Red White and Blue Nachos with homemade chili beans
• Salads
• Bean Tostadas

Breakfasts:

• Oatmeal
• Yogurt (if I get it made)
• Smoothies

Goals (affiliate links):

• Go through coat closet, living room bookshelf, and remaining kitchen drawers.
• Read Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Matters and Praying for Boys: Asking God for the Things They Need Most by Brooke McGlothlin. I just have to make this a priority. Maybe if I haven’t read during the day read at least a chapter of each before bed.
• Exercise 3 times! Got this done last week. Went on several power walks pushing the double stroller and pulled out some exercise dvds. Hope to do the same this week.
• Publish 2 more posts.
• Spend time with friends.

What’s on your list for the week?

Linking up to Menu Plan Monday

It’s been a fun weekend at home full of tackling lots of little projects. The carpets are steam cleaned, tile mopped, grass mowed, and other exciting tasks accomplished.

We had friends over Saturday night for pizza on the grill (love making it this way in the summer) and chocolate chip cookie cake.

Last weekend was pretty much non stop go, so this weekend was a nice change of pace. I like going places and doing things, but I truly enjoy quiet weeks and weekends at home. They recharge me and I feel much better when we are able to check off some of the to-dos on the seemingly endless list. Yes, I am an introvert. 🙂 The next few weekends we’ll be going again, so I enjoyed the quiet to the fullest.

The little guy woke up from his afternoon nap with his hair looking a little crazy for the first time ever. It made us laugh and I think he knew he looked a little goofy.

Suppers:

• Garlic Butter Salmon grilled on a cedar plank
• Pizza on the Grill
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Sweet Potato Chicken Curry
• Leftovers

Lunches:

• Pizza
• Leftover Bean Tostadas
• Salads

Breakfasts:

• Smoothies
• Oatmeal
• Oat Flour Gingerbread Muffins

Goals:

• Read Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Matters and Praying for Boys: Asking God for the Things They Need Most by Brooke McGlothlin,. I finished Surprised by Motherhood last week and made progress in all the others. I want another easy read to start for my plane ride later this week.
• Exercise. Continuing the 3 week Pilates Summer Challenge. Did this earlier in the summer and decided to go through it again. Am also still doing this move and hope to get in a few walks.
• Birth Certificates
• Sales Tax
• Scrapbook a recipe album for a friend’s wedding.

Linking up to Menu Plan Monday