The Blonde Muse

Cooking Thursday 2/8/2012

2012-02-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

I'm linking this post up with Sandra @ Diary of a SAHM's Cooking Thursday!

Every Saturday morning my eldest daughter, Sweetpea who is 15, and I try out a new recipe for brunch. Once in awhile we will do dinner on Friday night instead, but so far Saturday mornings seem to work best for both of us.

Today we tried a Martha Stewart recipe. While I am DEFINITELY not in Martha's league, I beg to excuse myself as I found this recipe via one of my favorite webistes, Pinterest. If you have not yet tried Pinterest, you absolutely MUST. It is addictive and fun! And if you'd like, you can follow me HERE.

Anyway - Sweetpea and I made these breakfast cups. I will show you both Martha's and mine for comparison's sake - but I guarantee you - they tasted really good!

These would be great to make ahead for quick breakfasts as they microwave well.

Here is Martha's version:

And here is mine: (DON'T JUDGE! LOL)

Here is the recipe from Martha's site:

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

8 slices white or whole-wheat sandwich bread

6 slices bacon

6 large eggs

Coarse salt and ground pepper

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly butter 6 standard muffin cups. With a rolling pin, flatten bread slices slightly and, with a 4 1/4-inch cookie cutter, cut into 8 rounds. Cut each round in half, then press 2 halves into each muffin cup, overlapping slightly and making sure bread comes up to edge of cup. Use extra bread to patch any gaps. Brush bread with remaining butter.

2.In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium, until almost crisp, 4 minutes, flipping once. (It will continue to cook in the oven.) Lay 1 bacon slice in each bread cup and crack an egg over each. Season with salt and pepper. Bake until egg whites are just set, 20 to 25 minutes. Run a small knife around cups to loosen toasts. Serve immediately.

Cook's Note

Standard muffin pans come in 6- or 12-cup size; if baking 6 items in a 12-cup pan, leave empty space in between. Nonstick pans are nice but not essential. Beware of very thin pans, which often lead to burning. Place pans on a baking sheet to make them easier to get in and out of the oven.

Overall on a scale of 0-10, I would rate these an 8. I will definitely make them again, maybe substituting breakfast sausage or ham for the bacon and adding some scallions to mine.

Have a blessed day!!

Sherry

A Little Bit of Everything

2012-02-09T06:23:00.000-08:00

Bright sunny day here in the Detroit area!! I know you can't see it, but this tree has buds all over it!

Work has been a bit crazy this past week so I missed out on Happy Homemaker Monday and Menu Plan Monday :(

I'm working with a very tight budget (again) this week so I came up with a more financially sound and (hopefully) healthier meal plan idea. It's definitely not new, but it's one I haven't done before.

MENU PLANNING

Mondays will be chicken or ground turkey
Tuesdays will be beans
Wednesday we eat at my parents'
Thursday will be whole grain pasta/veggies/meatless night
Friday is kids choice
Saturday is parents' again
Sunday is soup night

Protein will be coming from other sources than meat, mostly. Kids' night is generally turkey burgers, turkey dogs, tacos, homemade pizza, etc.

Breakfasts will be oatmeal w/ peanut butter & banana, yogurt fruit & whole grain toast, breakfast hash (egg/turkey sausage/potatoes) or breakfast cups (eggs, toast, turkey bacon/sausage/ham in muffin tin)

Lunches will be leftovers, lentils and rice topped with salad (love this) grilled cheese for the kidlets, soup, or pretty much anything I can concoct from what we have on hand!!

Snacks are microwave popcorn (6-pack of light & active at Aldi for 1.49) fruit, raw veggies, pretzels, boiled eggs

READING

I am almost done with the 3rd book in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, "Voyager". If you like historical fiction, I cannot urge you enough to read these!!! (*warning - there are some sexually explicit parts in the book - but they are between husband and wife)

Not sure what I will read next as there are SO many wonderful books waiting for me on my Nook!!
FASHION

I read SO many fashion blogs! I follow a bunch of plus-sized fashion blogs and just LOVE them so much! As for my own "fashion......" I have bunches of clothes hanging in my closet that I love but haven't had the courage to wear. A lot of them are long skirts, a couple dresses, and a bunch of tops. I also have a lot of things I could wear differently, but always wear things the same ol' way. So this is something I'm going to work on as well!

I think that will about do it for the day. There is always so much in my head that I want to say and then I sit here and can't think of a thing. Bah!

Have a blessed day!

Sherry

Happy Homemaker Monday

2012-01-30T10:17:00.000-08:00

It's Monday again. I'm more of a happy work-from-homemaker/homeschooler today, lol! Please visit Sandra's blog every Monday to see who else is happily taking care of their homes and families!

The weather:::

We had a touch of snow yesterday and it was very cold this morning when I took the two older kids to school. My fingers were freezing! About 27 degrees now :)

On my reading pile:::
Just finished up "Kisses from Katie" - an amazing story and a must read!
Just beginning "Voyager", the third in Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series.
Just finished reading the book of James in the Bible, now doing a short study on Mark.

On my TV:::
Not much of anything. I will probably catch up on "Grey's Anatomy" on Hulu like I do every week. Really wanting a super good BBC production or a lovely historical movie.... any suggestions?

On the menu for this week:::

You can see my entire menu plan here: Menu Plan Monday including links to recipes and some pictures.

Monday - Creamy chicken noodle bake with green beans

On my to do list:::

WORK: Paperwork, mail, phone calls, return e-mails, list-making, & typing
Homeschool
Housework - Deep cleaning the kitchen counters, stove, refrigerator. General picking up, dusting, organizing, daily chores.

What I am pinning on Pinterest::: (creative ideas since I am not very creative!)

From Dollar Store Crafts - a hanging herb dryer! I thought it would be super cute if you painted the picture frame a shabby-chic color! You can follow me on Pinterest :)

In Homeschooling:::

There are a lot of changes going on in our little homeschool. We are finishing up our study of Benjamin Franklin this week, continuing with French, working on the main idea in language, convection in science, and the Great Awakening in social studies - to name a few.

Looking around the house:::

Castleville is on another tab so I can feed my chickens every ten minutes to make boiled eggs! LOL Paperwork is everywhere :( Dishwasher is running. Emily's school books are next to me waiting to start for the day! (We do 2nd shift homeschool as we are not early risers!)

Something fun to share:::
I found a new cooking blog last night while (what else) pinning recipes on Pinterest! It's called
Plain Chicken

On my prayer list:::
My children
My best friend who is recovering from shoulder surgery
My parents
Children in the Amazima project in Uganda

Bible verse, Devotional:::

I am starting a brand new Bible study today on the book of Mark. Very happy about it!

Part of Mark 1:17 - I think it says it all when Jesus proclaims "Come, follow Me!"

Menu Plan Monday

2012-01-30T06:42:00.000-08:00

I'm linking up my menu plan with the organizing junkie over at Menu Plan Monday!

I found a couple of recipes using what I (mostly) have on hand on Pinterest this week! I do love pinning things, don't you? You can follow me on Pinterest HERE.

SUNDAY: We had chicken enchiladas last night utilizing a little improvisation so I could use up things I had and not have to buy anything new! I used leftover chicken that I cooked in the Crockpot the day before.

MONDAY: Tonight I am making this creamy chicken noodle bake found on All Recipes. Side of green beans.

TUESDAY: Crockpot ham and potatoes with corn

WEDNESDAY: Dinner with my parents

THURSDAY: Spaghetti marinara with roasted cauliflower

FRIDAY: Pizza burgers with seasoned french fries and baby carrots

SATURDAY: Dinner with my parents

One thing I am making for lunch this week that I have been craving is tunafish sandwiches!! I will also make a pot of bean with pasta soup, which I make a few times a month because I love it so much!

And a most definite recipe to try with the kids on Saturday morning.....

Breakfast cups!

Have a very blessed week with your families!

Sherry

52 Books in 52 Weeks

2012-01-29T09:56:00.000-08:00

Of course no one who knows me will be at all surprised that I am behind on posting about the books I have read so far this year!

The 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge is on week number five, hence it should be book number five; however, I am going to be posting about my first three books today! I'll be linking up here!

You see, I started the year off reading Diane Gabaldon's Outlander!

These are truly epic novels.

I remember last year Googling "top historical fiction books" and the Outlander series topped many lists. I kept it in the back of my head but didn't move forward. Then the first in the series was offered for FREE for Nook one day and I snatched it up. I still didn't begin reading it. Stubborn woman that I am!! Finally, a friend of mine also got a Nook and she was perusing my library and saw the book there. She was so excited and she asked me if I loved it as much as she had! That she had read the first five in the series. Well, I figured I had enough nudging in that area and I might as well make it my first book of 2012!

The characters in "Outlander" are so rich and the history of the mid 1700s Scottish Highlands so vivid that you are transported along with the main character back in time. The main character is strong and admirable, making her own way in a man's world. The love story is captivating and full of romance and chivalry. (Not to mention some 1700s barbarism!) There were nearly 900 pages in this first book and I was so engaged in the story that I took my Nook with me everywhere! I stayed up late at night telling myself "just one more chapter"!

Not one minute after I finished "Outlander", I was purchasing "Dragonfly in Amber", the second in the series.

I truly can't go into detail without giving away the story. I can only say that this books was just as good as the first one. The characterization was delved into even more deeply. The romance and love between Claire and Jamie had me in tears more than once, and as the book closed, my heart was aching for the two of them.

(photo credit)

And yes, I did indeed purchase book three (which I have not started yet) "Voyager". An impressive 1,005 pages long!

And the third book of 2012 is completely different from the first two. It is the story of a young woman who, after her highschool graduation, leaves an affluent family, their dream of her college education, and a beloved boyfriend behind, to move to Uganda.

"Kisses From Katie" is a true story written by an amazingly selfless girl who felt strongly led by God to move to Uganda and spread love to the people, and especially the children.

Katie still lives in Uganda and has adopted 14 little orphaned girls, has sent hundreds of children to school, and helps to feed and educate the local villages. She started a nonprofit organization and feels so blessed with life she doesn't know what to do with herself.

Here is Katie's blog - The Journey if you want to see what she is doing for yourself!!

I am going to try and finish all 1,005 pages of "Voyager" by Friday so that I can be back next week!

Sherry

Plan-Ahead Sunday

2012-01-29T08:56:00.000-08:00

Oh my but it's been a week! It's a cold, blustery Sunday here in the Detroit area and I seem to be coming down with something unsavory! Body aches, sore throat, etc. Could be worse!

COOKING:
Tonight I am going to make some chicken enchildadas. Thanks to you, Pinterest!

The original recipe comes from the Women Living Well blog, which I also love.

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

I have most of the ingredients and what I don't have, I will simply improvise, LOL. That's the name of the game here in my kitchen! (I will post my entire menu plan in another post later today)

WORK:
I have a ton of paperwork to get through today for work as well - mostly just organizing into 'like' piles! It's going to be a busy week ahead and anything I can do to make things easier I'll appreciate later in the week.

HOMESCHOOL:
I'm going to be lesson planning today as well. Emily started French last week and she learned the alphabet, numbers 1-10, and 10 family words. Thankfully her memory is better than mine! We're taking two weeks to do an in-depth study of Ben Franklin (tomorrow starts our 2nd week) as well. Last week was mostly basics and this week we will do a lap book, watch some videos, do a web-quest and who knows what else I will think of! I will be posting our entire unit study with links on my homeschool blog later this week!

FASHION:
In "fashion" this week (hahahaha i jest!) there was nothing notable! I tried a new patterned manicure which was an epic fail. This week I plan on doing a manicure I saw (where else?) Pinterest! I think I have the polishes to get the desired effect:

I also have been searching for a dress to wear to my Goddaughter's wedding in June, in New Hampshire. I'm going to keep searching and will share a few of my favorites next week.

READING:
I am trying to follow the 52 Books in 52 weeks challenge this year. I will only have 3 books under my belt for January; however, 2 out of the 3 were almost 900 pages long! So I will forgive myself and move on :) I will be doing book reviews separately, so won't post them here. I will say that two of the books are from Diane Gabaldon's Outlander series and they are a.ma.zing!!! I read probably about 80% Christian books (or have for the past several years) so this one has much more language, violence, and sex than the books I am accustomed to reading - but the story and the characters! Oh my! I plan to read the entire series!!

SPIRITUAL:
I finally finished the 7-week Bible study of James using Beth Moore's James: Mercy Triumphs.

This is the first time I have used a Beth Moore study and I have to say, it was so incredible! I want to do the Jesus: 90 Days with the One and Only study next! I hope to start this next month so it will coincide with Easter.

I guess that will about do it for today. I need to get going on cleaning, menu-planning, lesson-making, paper-sorting, etc!

Have a blessed day,

Sherry

Divine Intervention

2012-01-20T09:23:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have nights where you can't sleep? Tossing and turning with your mind racing to and fro? I was examing my life. 41 years old and where am I? Divorced. Job on the fritz. Living in an apartment decorated in hand-me-downs and thrift store finds. Dating someone new and not sure he's right for me. Dragging my feet on Sunday mornings going to church. Not finding joy in homeschooling like I used to. Procrastinating. I looked at all areas of my life - mother, daughter, Christian, employee, friend, future partner - and I can't find ONE area where I excel. I feel like I am holding on by my finger tips in every single area.

I finally had to recite all of the things that the Lord is to me in order to fall asleep.

The Lord is my strength.

The Lord is my hope.

The Lord is my protector.

The Lord is my creator.

The Lord is my PEACE.

The Lord is my savior.

And on and on and on listing every possible name I could come up with for Him. And you know what? It worked. I was filled with peace and I knew He heard me.

I pictured myself weeping at Jesus' knee with him touching my hair like I would do for my own child. So vulnerable. So bereft. So discouraged.

And I slept.

Soundly.

I can't say I woke up with all the answers. But I do have hope. I do have the peace knowing that God is with me every step of the way & He will guide me.

He knows I am trying. He knows that I don't want to give up. He knows I want to improve in all of these areas.

So that's where I am at right now. Leaning heavily on the Lord.

Sherry

Happy Homemaker Monday

2012-01-16T19:36:00.000-08:00

A very late entry - but we all have those days!!! I am joining again this week at Sandra's Happy Homemaker Monday!

The weather::: We finally had some snow, but it is going to warm up into the 40's for a couple of days. Bah.

On my reading pile::: I am about 1/4 of the way through the 2nd Outlander book, "Dragonfly in Amber" - didn't get a whole lot of reading done this week!

On my TV:::
Watched "Poltergeist II" and "Children of the Corn" last night, lol. Tonight I started the series "A Dinner of Herbs" on Netflix, it is a Catherine Cookson miniseries.

On the menu for this week:::
You can see my entire menu plan HERE. Tonight we had garlic cheddar pull-apart bread and stuffed shells. It was super yummy!.

On my to do list::: Sweeping and mopping floors tomorrow, along with vacuuming, laundry, etc!

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating::: (I AM CHANGING THIS ONE TO HOMESCHOOL HAPPENINGS SINCE I AM NOT CRAFTY TOO OFTEN!!)   I downloaded Kindle for PC on my laptop to get some free classics for Emily to read. (They were not available for free on my Nook) She is going to start with "Alice in Wonderland". We are also starting French lessons this week, at her request!

Looking around the house:::    I see our beloved cat Jasper hopping down off the windowsill, an oil lamp on my bedside table, and a disconcerting amount of paperwork :(

From the camera:::   I borrowed my sister's camera - so next week I will have a pic to share!

On my prayer list::: Family, friends, church-members, military

Bible verse, Devotional::: Psalm 46:10 - Be still and know that I am God.

Weekly Menu Plan

2012-01-16T15:20:00.000-08:00

I didn't stick exactly to my menu plan last week - seems things always pop up at the last minute! But I am not giving up on menu-planning! It has saved my sanity plenty of times.

I am linking up to Menu Plan Monday!

Another very tight week in our household. Please don't get me wrong, we are so blessed, just having a lean moment! I'm using up absolutely everything we have in our cupboards and freezer this week!! Next time I grocery shop I want to load up on some healthier items, as I can see we are pretty carb-laden. I try and have at least one or two veggies with each meal.

MONDAY: Stuffed shells with cheesy-garlic pull-apart bread (We just had this and it was SO good! I made my own sauce out of what we had in the cupboards and it was quite good! Also, we used very inexpensive biscuits from Aldi, cheddar cheese I had left from tacos, garlic powder, and margarine - and it was still amazing!) Seasoned broccoli.

TUESDAY: Beef lo-mein with onion, garlic, carrots, broccoli, celery (made with Ramen noodles without the seasoning packet)

WEDNESDAY: Kids and I have dinner with my parents and sisters

THURSDAY: Creamy chicken and rice with broccoli

I will be shopping on Thursday, so we will have a few more options at this point! lol

FRIDAY: KID'S CHOICE - Breaded chicken tenders (made from chicken breast & Italian crumbs) baked "fries" (potatoes cut into wedges with olive oil and garlic and baked in the oven) with green beans and baby carrots

SATURDAY: Kids and I have dinner with my parents and sisters

SUNDAY: Ham and potatoes in the Crockpot with corn (I don't put the cheese in with the ham and potatoes, but i do add corn, it's really good! I also use Walmart or Aldi brand cream of mushroom)

(photo credit)

BREAKFASTS: I won't lie - we're down to oatmeal or Thomas' Everything Bagel thins w/ an egg. Could be worse!! After Thursday there will be plenty to choose from :)

LUNCHES: Leftovers. Mac N Cheese w/ raw veggies. Stir-fried veggies w/ rice.

Have a blessed week!

Sherry

Weekly Update - Books, Movies, & Food!

2012-01-15T09:32:00.001-08:00

Sunday is always my plan-ahead day. I make up my menu for the week, plan at least a couple of outfits, think about what manicure I'd like to do, fill in my Day Timer, lesson plan for Emme, and put together a visual in my head of what the week is going to look like.

This week my boss is leaving town to visit his mother, so work will be at a minimum. My Sweetness is pretty busy all week, but we will spend Tuesday together. I have a lot of organizing to do in my home office (now that I have the time) - and plan to cook some very frugal meals seeing as I'm still broke! lol

I also want to do several memes this week - some I have never done before and others I used to do but want to start up again.

One thing I am doing right now is downloading Kindle for PC on the mini laptop! I have a Nook Color and I love it beyond love - but there are several classics my daughter can read for school that are free on Kindle & not on Nook! Also there is a book here and there for free on Kindle and not Nook - so why the heck not??

Speaking of my Nook, I am currently reading the 2nd in the Outlander series by Diane Gabaldon. Dragonfly in Amber - these books are amazing!

Tonight's dinner will be cumin-infused lentils and rice with a side of garlic broccoli.

I'll be starting week 7 (final week) of the Beth Moore James study and I really want to do her study on Jesus next!

Oh, and my Sweetness & I will be going to see the movie "A Joyful Noise" with Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton. Looks good! Last week we saw "We Bought A Zoo" and I can highly recommend that as a good, entertaining family movie.

Hope you have a blessed week,

Sherry

Happy Homemaker Monday

2012-01-09T14:06:00.000-08:00

I have missed doing Happy Homemaker Monday for the longest time! Sandra is just the kindest, most wonderful Internet friend to so many people! I want you to know you are appreciated!

The weather:::
We still are not having the typical Michigan winter. It's strange because most years people are walking around complaining to one another about the snow - and here we are complaining to everyone about the LACK of it! Close to 50-degrees here today!

On my reading pile:::
My Nook was under the weather (GASP!) for about a week so I just happily returned to the last 1/4 of "Outlander" by Diane Gabaldon. An epic romance with time travel to the Scottish Highlands!
On my TV:::
If I am completely honest - I will be watching last week's "Grey's Anatomy" on ABC.com tonight! It's the one current tv show I actually still wath regularly!

On the menu for this week:::
Monday - Cinncinnati Chili Five Ways
Tuesday - Lemon pepper roasted chicken with potatoes, carrots, and green beans
Wednesday - Dinner with my parents & kids
Thursday - Ham & Swiss Stromboli with a big green salad
Friday - Tacos with refried beans & spanish rice
Saturday - Dinner with my parents again :)

On my to do list:::
Homeschooling
Work from home
Organizing!
Laundry!

Looking around the house:::
A glass of Coke with ice, My Bible on top of my Beth Moore James study with colored pencils, discarded jewelry I took off in a rush! disorganized paperwork, my cat Sophie curled up on my bed.

From the camera:::

I am camera-less :(

Something fun to share:::
I read on a blog somewhere (sorry!) where she took the tops of strawberries (red portion still attached) and placed them in a bundt pan, covered them with water, and made an ice wreath! I thought this was SO cool! It looked amazing and as it melts the birds will get some fruit.

On my prayer list:::
Family, work, friends, bloggers, troops, church family.

Bible verse, Devotional:::

I have been doing this Bible Study for about 6 weeks now. I never knew how AMAZING the book of James is!

Faith apart from good works is inactive, ineffective and worthless (paraphrased James 2:20)

Menu Plan Monday

2012-01-08T07:33:00.000-08:00

This is going to be a tight, tight week! I have plenty of meat in the freezer but only about $9.00 to
buy additional groceries with. I am going to get two kinds
of pasta, a green pepper, peanut butter, bread, 2 cans of chicken noodle soup
and low-fat microwave popcorn. I'll be shopping at Aldi.

This menu is linked up with Laura at Menu Plan Monday!

SUNDAY: Cincinnati Chili 4-ways

MONDAY: Roasted lemon pepper chicken with potatoes, carrots, and garlic broccoli.

TUESDAY: Leftover chicken with rice and corn

WEDNESDAY: Dinner at Mom's house

THURSDAY: Goulash with green beans and garlic biscuits
(*I make my mother's goulash. It is very light and fresh with green peppers, onions, garlic, diced roasted tomatoes, noodles and lean ground beef)

FRIDAY: Beef tacos with refried beans & salad

SATURDAY: Dinner at Mom's again

2nd Date Jitters

2012-01-02T17:12:00.000-08:00

I am still camera-less :( I hope to aquire a new one shortly & in the meantime, plan to snag my sis's camera for the solitary purpose of taking bloggy pics!

I am going to the movies with my new squeeze tomorrow & and I am on the edge of my seat with anticipation and giddiness. I am going to color my hair tonight with "ultra light natural blonde" - which will probably just end up looking exactly like the pic on my blog. It seems that no matter what blonde color I choose, my hair just always seems to settle itself back into a similar shade. Figures - has a mind of its own!

I haven't a clue what I am going to wear. It's just a casual date, yet I want to make a good impression!! It's that early stage, you know, before he's seen you without makeup and the hair up in a pony tail *grin*.

I think I'm going to wear black pants and my cute black ankle boots or lace up mid-heel oxfords - but as for the top and accessories?? *sigh*

I just finished up my "date manicure" which consists of:

Sally Hanson Insta-Dry in "Magenta Motion" with a slash of Wen n Wild's "Glitz" (a fuschia-purply glitter) on my ring fingers. Topped with Wet n Wild's "Wild Shine".

Magenta Motion #330

Glitz #237

WISH ME LUCK!!!

Sherry

2012 - Off to a Glamorous Start

2012-01-01T07:39:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year all! There is something about a new year, a clean slate, a veritable open book filled with empty pages waiting to be written in. Maybe for some it is just another day with no overt meaning, but there are some, like me, people who get a thrill out of making lists, planning ahead, filling in calendars....well, it's enough to make a girl giddy with anticipation!

I've got my 2nd load of laundry going (I like to start the new year off as glamorously as possible!), hooked up speakers to my computer so I can listen to my favorites on Spotify - currently listening to "Wheel in the Sky" by Journey, my all-time favorite band! What is not to love about Steve Perry? The plan is to tackle my bedroom today. Get things more organized in here. This room is also my home office, and seeing as I work from home, there is a lot of equipment in here!

Money is going to be a bit tight at least for the next few months - so I need to really work my wardrobe to find new and exciting things. I have a great penchant for black clothing - probably 75% of all my clothing is black :/ I also have about 6 or 7 skirts and a handful of dresses that I rarely ever wear. So I want to take some chances. There are so many fashion and "fatshion" bloggers that I just adore and I've read their blogs all through last year without delurking or trying many of the suggestions they brilliantly come up with. That is something I want to change this year!

Again - where money is concerned - I am a big thrifter - love to find really individual pieces and integrate them into my style. I'll definitely be doing more of that. DO YOU KNOW I actually let a genuine LOUIS VUITTON handbag go at a thrift store because of a broken zipper? I'm still kicking myself over that one.

I'm also starting off the new year with a new man :) Through texts and calls from his work to my home last night, we agreed to "date exclusively".... Very excited about the possibilities of this charismatic Christian charmer!

BRING IT ON 2012!!!! I AM READY!!

Sherry

12 for '12 - Life Challenges

2011-12-31T09:23:00.000-08:00

So many people dislike the term "resolutions" - I suppose because it is difficult to find the "stick-to-it-tiv-ness" to follow thru. I've decided to give myself some life challenges instead. Seeing as the "12 for 12" mantra is all over the Internet, I've decided that it's a good enough number for me as well!

12 - Get back to blogging regularly!! I think my problem is that I dont' know where I fit in. I homeschool. I am Christian. I love to cook. I'm a mom. I love to read. I love to write. I LOVE fashion. I am single and dating. I am plus-sized. I try to be a couponer & frugal. So it just feels so unfocused and tangential and all over the place - so I wonder, where would I fit in? But I decided just to blog what I want, how I want - and hopefully someone will get something out of it!!

11 - I really want to get my FLYLADY group up and running again. My friends (these a-ma-zing women) who I really admire and I used to meet several times a year and keep in touch daily via FB or Yahoo group. We still talk but it's not the same FlyLady support as it used to be. No better time of year. This "life challenge" also includes FOLLOWING FlyLady - getting organized, menu planning, etc.

10 - Eat more healthfully (more veggies, less crap) Drink less pop, much less fast food

09- Move more!

08- Do something NEW! Join a book club, take a class - do something to become more sociable.

07- Become better at my job. I learn new things all the time - now I want to be more organized with paperwork, more meticulous, more professional, etc.

06- Read a minimum of 52 books this year. To some of you that sounds like nothing! But for me it is a good challenge number, seeing as I read 40-some books last year & felt like I didn't read very much.

05- Get to know more people from my church. 1700+ members and I know a handful by name. I'm very shy to say the least, but getting into church activities & small groups should mend this!

04- Make Jennah (my oldest) feel special (she is the best 15 year old ever - & due to her perfect grades and sweet countenance, she gets overlooked somewhat as my attention is demanded by the other two)

03- Make homeschooling more fun for Em (she is doing an online accredited homeschool program now & while she is doing well, she's definitely not excited about it - so this is something I need to work on for the rest of the year)

02- Become more involved in Bible Studies (*see #1)

01- I've been doing the Beth Moore Bible study on the book of James. It has been so remarkably incredible and not only have I been touched by the teachings, but by the people in my study group as well. I haven't been as active in the group as I should have been - but their support through the study has been amazing. One of the biggest themes in the book of James is that of WORKS. Faith without works is useless. 2012 will be a year of WORKS.

I'm sure I forgot something important! :) I always do.....

Happy New Year!

Sherry

Where Less Will Be More

2011-11-29T10:48:00.001-08:00

This past week has been very difficult. I think I've been pretty difficult to be around too! A lot of my stress is coming from my job. Part of me thinks my job is such a blessing and I can't imagine working anywhere else. On the other hand, the stress that comes along with it is so overwhelming at times that I can't always focus on what is REALLY important. So I am at a crossroads. I've been praying for months and months about whether or not to change jobs, and I believe God is telling me to stick it out. Yet His voice is not always easy to determine......

I LOVE my life. I have incredible children. An amazing family and extended family. Wonderful friends. And so many Internet friends who bring such joy, wisdom, and community into my life. Right now it's just the job that overshadows everything.

So ........ my hours were cut, yet again. I will make just enough to survive on, barely. And I am ok with that. There are people all over the world that quantify the word "enough" with a temporary structure for a home, one change of clothing, water they have to walk a mile for and boil before drinking, and a burlap sack of rice. My "enough" is a kingdom compared to this. And I try never, ever to forget that.

Anyway - so why am I complaining on my blog? LOL!!! I just want to do an about-face and make this blog more about how to do more with less. How to make people and situations more important and "things" less important.

I also intend to really utilize those drug store bargains and grocery coupon near-freebies work for me in a tangible way. I am going to pick and choose those that will give my family the most bang for my buck!

This week the only thing I'm doing is the Rite Aid Pantene deal. 2/7 and there is a 2 dollar +up reward making them 2/5 and there was a coupon in Sunday's paper for 3 dollars off - which will make Pantene 1 dollar per bottle. I have +up rewards from last week to pay for the 2 bucks.

I spent most of my life being in the throng of shoppers on Black Friday. The past ten years or so whipping out my credit card on Cyber Monday. Was it hard not to do it this year? I won't lie - yeah - a little bit. But not enough to matter :)

Blessings,

Sherry

Thank You

2011-11-24T07:21:00.001-08:00

This has been a big year of changes in my life. Not all of them were especially positive, but I have faith that God has a plan for each shift. I lean on Him, knowing that His ways are the only ways for me :)

I moved twice last year. I am very happy and content in my current home. It suits us just perfectly. Not too big, not too small. Just enough.

"Enough" has become my mantra over the past few months. Every time I have looked at something and wanted to buy it, I have to tell myself that I already have "enough", and to be thankful for all that I have. As long as I have enough to pay my rent, utilities, have gas in the car, and food in my kitchen - then I am above blessed.

My hours have been cut at work recently, and I know that Christmas morning my family won't see as many presents under the tree as they did the past few years. But for each gift that is left on the store shelf, I plan to exchange with a few traditions. Baking together. Making Christmas ornaments. Reading aloud of "A Christmas Carol".

The special man in my life (Mr. Military) is in Afghanistan right now, and will be for the next year. Knowing that technology enables me to hear from him more frequently than women did in the past who were privy to only letters also makes me thankful. Knowing that he is thinking of me and that I can give him any source of comfort in his current situation, makes me humble.

My children are all remarkable human beings. Jennah has a brilliant mind and a compassionate heart. Jacob is full of humor and mischief, yet finds simple ways to show me his love. Emily is steadfast and true, dependable and gentle.

My family is crazy and dysfunctional (in the best way!) but loyal and loving. When it comes down to it, there is nothing we would not do for one another. I'm proud to be a part of it.

My friends are hard-working, respectful, dependable confidants. They bring me laughter, love, and a further sense of stability in life.

I have no place in my life to complain, not even for one bitter, thoughtless moment. I am blessed beyond measure and God has seen fit to give me this life.

Psalm 136:1 ¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.

Thanksgiving Drugstore Plans

2011-11-23T05:52:00.001-08:00

I am very, very short on funds this Christmas - so I need to make do with the little I have!!! Here is my plan for Thanksgiving shopping at Rite Aid and Walgreen this year! Going to do 2 trips to each store.

Rite Aid - 1st Trip

1 pair of ear buds (asked for by my daughter) 5 dollars (receive 5 dollars back in +up rewards)
2 bottles of Revlon Top Speed nail polish (for myself!) 6 dollars (receive 4 back in +up)
2 Dove deoderants (a necessity with 3 girls) 4 dollars (receive 2 back in +up)
2 Wet N Wild 9-piece Little Luxuries nail polish (Christmas gifts) 6 dollars (receive 4 +up)

1st trip: Out of pocket cost: $21 dollars - receive back in +up $17.50

Rite Aid - 2nd Trip

1.99 for 18-pack of Scunci bands (Stocking stuffers) (get 1.99 in +up)
1.50 for 2 Hot Wheels (stocking stuffer for my nephew) (get .50 +up)
5.00 for 2 Secret deoderant (get 3 in +up)
Fuzzy socks 4/2 (stocking stuffers)
2/3 throws (always need more blankets!)
3/2 VO5 shampoo & conditioner (get 1 +up)

Out of pocket - ZERO (pay with +ups) and receive back 6.50 +ups for next week

Walgreen - 1st Trip

2 Secret Body Splashes (ss for girls) 7.50 (get 550 back)
Revlon lip gloss (for me!) 4.99 (get 4 back)
Covergirl Wetslicks (ss for girl) 3.99 (get 2)

Out of pocket cost: 16.50 & get 11.50 back in rewards

Walgreen - 2nd Trip

Walgreen pain reliever PM .99 cents w/ coupon x2 = 1.98 (I use these)
32-count eyeshadow kid (Gift for daughter) 2.99
Tuf paper towels x2 w/ coupon = .78 cents
Oral B toothbrush 1.50 (get 1.50 back)
Cottonell bath tissue 12-pack 3.24 (with WG coupon & .75 manu q)
2/3 Scunci hair bands (more ss) (get 3 in rewards)

Out of pocket 75 cents! Rewards for next week $4.50

So for $37.50 I will have:

6 small Christmas gifts
12 stocking stuffers
2 bottles of nail polish and a Revlon lip gloss for myself
4 sticks of deoderant
2 papertowels
12 rolls of toilet paper
1 toothbrush
2 bottles of pain reliever PM
3 bottles of shampoo/conditioner

and another 11 in rewards to spend next week :)

I know I am not the best shopper and definitely not a coupon queen - I am sure that many others will show better deals and spend nearly nothing - but I am happy with what I can do with what I have!!

Sherry

Menu Plan Monday - Getting Organized!

2011-09-18T07:09:00.000-07:00

Autumn is my favorite time of the year. I always feel encouraged to get organized and bring out my control journal and start menu planning again. This year I want to keep those good intentions going and carry them through into the new year! I am linking this post with Laura at Menu Plan Monday at the Org Junkie blog!

SUNDAY: Today I am going to make a pot of soup. There is a chill in the air that none of us can deny and it always makes me crave soup!

Tuscan White Bean and Cabbage Soup

The soup is for lunch today and leftovers will serve for lunch several days this week.

Dinner tonight will be Rachel Ray's Buffalo Chicken Chili Mac and roasted vegetables

MONDAY: I'm making one of my absolute favorite meals (very tasty and cheap!) Lentils and brown rice topped with salad

(It looks a little something like this - trust me it is really delicious with the salad on top!)

TUESDAY: Haluski with Polish Sausage ( I do NOT use all the butter in the recipe! I use hardly any at all and it is still delicious)

WEDNESDAY: My boy has a football game so it is a perfect day to use the Crockpot! One of my very favorites is turkey ham, potatoes, corn, and mushroom soup. Yum! Green salad on the side.

FRIDAY: Kid's night! Turkey burgers, baked french fries, raw broccoli and carrots

THURSDAY/SATURDAY: We have dinner with my parents :)

Breakfasts this week will be either oatmeal with fruit or yogurt and fruit. One morning I will make breakfast burritos and since I have a lot of bread getting stale soon, french toast!!!

Lunches will consist mostly of leftovers. On Saturday I do plan to make some toasted subs with the kids!

Have a wonderfully blessed week! Take time to really appreciate your family and friends. Notice all the blessings in your life and give thanks!

Sherry aka The Blonde Muse :)

Women in the Word Wednesday

2011-09-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

.................why are you fearful? - Jesus

I've been really fearful lately. I've been saturating my thoughts and actions with the rapidly spinning whirlwind of my emotions. I worry about my finances. I worry about how my children are growing up. I worry that the man in my life doesn't truly love me. I worry that my health may fail. I worry about my parents. I worry about not knowing. I worry that I worry too much. I worry that I will have a breakdown.

But I am a strong woman. I sometimes forget that. I am strong because my foundation is the Lord. He is my strength, my help, my calm in any storm. He is what holds me up when I am falling apart. If God is for me, who can be against me? What can I NOT get past?

I just started reading Joyce Meyer's "Battlefield of the Mind".

I am a big fan of Joyce's. She tells it like it is. She doesn't sugar-coat what needs to be done. And I really like that a lot.

I am also re-reading the book of John. It seems to be the absolute best place to start reading the Bible. After that I am going to re-read the book of Acts. My church is in the middle of a big move. They purchased a building, but before they can move in, they are currently utilizing the local high school. Reading Acts, seeing how the first churches were "built" - well, it just feels timely!

I feel a little lost right now - but I know where to look in order to find my way again. The Lord is steadfast and will never let me down. He is always good.

There is nothing worse than not knowing (i.e. feeling insecure or unstable) to get my emotions to defeat me. I feel like I"m currently in a battle with my emotions. They are trying to overrun me.

I put far too much weight on certain areas of my life. I let them rule over every other area. There is so much goodness and beauty in my life - and I am greatful for everything. I truly am. But I have GOT to defeat this negativity that is trying to ruin me!

One thing I heard today on a Joyce Meyer CD really made me think. I am paraphrasing: It's not what you do when you are at church that shows what type of Christian you are - but what you do when you are all alone. She said to tell yourself 20 times a day: God is right here with me! He sees what I am doing right now! I put something away in the wrong spot at the grocery store today because I was too lazy to walk back to the right place. I looked around to make sure no one was watching before I slid it on the shelf. But you know what? God was watching. HE knew what I did.

Sorry I am rambling. I have so much going on in this battlefield I call my mind.

S

A Walk Through the Graveyard

2011-09-11T15:54:00.001-07:00

I've been thinking about death a lot lately. My grandmother passed away 2 months ago, my Dad wrote his will, all of the tornadoes, tsunamis, and tornadoes.... It makes me realize how delicate life is.

My girls and I went for a walk in the cemetary today. It got us all thinking about life and death. One thing I realized is that I want to be buried somewhere under a tree. I want windchimes, bird feeders, and bird houses hanging above me.

I want a cemetary that has beautiful stained glass in the chapel. One with somber church bells ringing.

I want a cemetary where people who loved me can leave flowers - and hopefully be able to plant my favorite flowers near my headstone; tulips, daisies, hyacinth and other colorful springtime blooms.

This, That, and the Other

2011-09-11T15:54:00.000-07:00

First of all, let me tell you that I made this Crockpot Chicken Parmesan (pretty much same as recipe, added more cheese, because I live dangerously) and served over spaghetti. It was SO SO SO rich and yummy and delicious! It will definitely be added to my "life recipe book"!

Secondly, I have been working all day. Ok, between Facebook and Google Reader breaks :) And finally feel like I've got a foot up on the paperwork that always threatens to disintegrate me.

Tomorrow I work in the office for awhile. The weather is still that in between hot and cold stuff that is so hard for me to dress for. I will probably opt for black pants, a blouse and for the chilly morning a cardigan. Business casual go to outfit, lol.

Emily has to take her placement tests tomorrow as well. We are doing an accredited online school this year and she will be auditing classes in the local public schools. She is still SO incredibly shy and to throw her into a classroom of 30 kids and a possibly disinterested teacher - I just don't think it's gonna happen. So we are going to do this in order to make sure she is up to par on all her subjects and that she is learning the same things as her peers. This does not mean, however, that I will not be adding in additional homeschool subjects! (Post on this later) Definitely doing religion, extra language arts (lots of reading) and nature study, etc.

I also have a lunch date this Wednesday! GASP! Yes, with a MAN! lol A smart, handsome, triathalon-competing man for that matter :) Now let's pray things go well and a second date arises. LOL

My local FlyLady group is going to have a meeting this week too! I'm so excited. it is really motivating to talk to other friends about getting everything organized!

My son has a football game on Wednesday night! I'm very excited for that too. He started school at 4 (Oct b-day) so most of his teammates had a big growth spurt over the summer! He, unfortunately, did not. Now instead of being one of the biggest kids, he's one of the smallest! Hopefully his will kick in soon!!

I guess that should do it for an update. I know I rarely blog anymore, but I would truly like to get ack into the swing of things!

Blessings!

Sherry

Healthy Recipes

2011-05-14T15:40:00.001-07:00

These were found in the comments here:

All the Weigh – Kenz’s Blog

Breakfast cups
Course: breakfast
PointsPlus™ Value: 1
Servings: 12
Preparation Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 12 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup(s) Egg Beaters Southwestern, refrigerated
1/4 cup(s) onion(s)
3 serving(s) John Morrell canadian bacon
1/2 cup(s) low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup(s) spinach
Instructions
Wilt spinach in boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Drain and squeeze excess water out with paper towels.
Mix together all ingredients and pour into 12 greased muffin cups.
Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes or until center is firm.
Notes: Spray muffin pan really well – Pam for Baking works best. Let muffins cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing.

No-Cook Asian Peanut Sauce
Makes 6 servings
PointsPlus™ value | 2 per serving
Ingredients
* 1/4 cup creamy natural peanut butter*
* 3 Tbsp reduced-sodium vegetable broth
* 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
* 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
* 1 Tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
* 1 Tbsp minced peeled fresh ginger
* 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
* 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
* 1 tsp hot red pepper sauce, such as Tabasco sauce
* 1/2 tsp sugar
Instructions
* Whisk all the ingredients together in a medium bowl until smooth and creamy. To store, cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days; whisk before using again.
Serving size: 2 tablespoons

Asian Lettuce Wraps
Sorry, I don’t have actual measurments for this, as I didn’t follow a recipe, but here goes:
About 16 onz lean ground turkey
2 cloves of garlic
1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger
1 shallot – finely chopped
1 large carrot – jullienned
1 cup bagged coleslaw
1 cup -ish chopped fresh mushrooms
one large handful of chopped cilantro
3 Tbsp hoisin sauce
1/2 tsp chinese 5 spice powder
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 head of bibb lettuce
Spritz a non stick pan with some olive oil. Cook the garlic, ginger and shallot until soft. Add the ground turkey. Cook until browned. Add carrots, mushrooms and coleslaw and cook until wilted. Add hoisin, 5 spice powder, soy sauce, cilantro and sesame oil. Heat through.
Serve in lettuce leaves.

Roasted Curried Cauliflower

Southwest Chicken Salad

Garlic Chile Shrimp w/ veggies and rice

Chile Chipotle Shrimp Tacos

Enjoy!

Sherry

Back in Action …… Again.

2011-05-14T14:12:00.001-07:00

So I start and stop. Start and stop. Start and stop. I don’t know if I’m a failure because I keeping giving up or determined because I keep coming back.

I have gained back 5 or 6 pounds since February. I could beat myself up over it or I could just accept it and move on. There have been so many changes in my life

in t his short period of time that I’m surprised that I can even keep up, let alone get back on track. But I’m ready. Most definitely ready.

The place where I work had a monumental event happen in March and 31 people out of 40 people were let go. Praise God I am still there; however, they are

filing for bankruptcy and hoping to carry on – but my job is still in a very precarious position. So that is super stressful.

I’m also in a long-distance relationship and having a whole lot of trouble keeping negative thoughts out of my head. If he misses a phone call or doesn’t

text me with the same amount of exuberance I text him with – all of a sudden my mind is telling me he is cheating, that he doesn’t love me, that I don’t

deserve him, etc. etc. Even though I know he’s a good Christian man, my gut is just telling me there is something wrong. Whether it is because I am very

insecure due to a lifetime of being overweight, or if there is something more to it than that – I just don’t know yet. So my emotions are just going wild.

So lately I have been immersing myself in the Word and in Bible study. I am reading Joyce Meyer’s “Battlefield of the Mind” and she just has a way of

making me understand the Bible. I have also been reading (on my Nook, which I love) “Made to Crave”, which is about turning to God instead of food

when you are depressed, sad, celebrating, etc.

Anyway – I joined a 90-day challenge through my church, which starts the first week of June. I really need the added help because I am really struggling.

I’m sorry I keep disappearing and coming back. I hope to stick around for good this time.

Sherry

Weekly Menu Plan

2011-04-29T14:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Menu Plan Monday, hosted by the Org Junkie! Here is my menu for the week:

SUNDAY:

Breakfast: Banana pancakes and turkey sausage

Lunch: Chicken noodle soup

Dinner: Spaghetti with mini meat balls, green beans

*Cook ahead: Boiled eggs, breakfast burrito filling

MONDAY:

Breakfast: Breakfast burrito (similar to this link)

Lunch: 1/2 pita sandwich, yogurt, banana

Dinner: Arroz con Pollo side of broccoli

TUESDAY:

Breakfast: Oatmeal w/ PB2 & banana

Lunch: Leftovers

Dinner: Lemon pepper tilapia, green beans, bulgar pilaf

*Make extra tilapia & bulgar pilaf for tomorrow

WEDNESDAY:

Breakfast: Boiled egg w/ turkey sausage, banana

Lunch: 1/2 pita sandwich, soup

Dinner: fish tacos, bulgar pilaf salad (Will use leftover bulgar pilaf, chilled, and add a can of Mexicorn, lemon juice, cilantro, and some black beans)

THURSDAY:

Breakfast: Breakfast burrito to go

Lunch: 1/2 pita sandwich, banana, yogurt

Dinner: Parents' house

FRIDAY:

Breakfast: Cinnamon raisin bagel w/ PB2

Lunch: OUT?????

Dinner: Mexican Chicken and Rice Casserole from Spark Recipes

*Make extra chicken breast for tomorrow's lunch

SATURDAY:

Breakfast: Omelet bar (will make mine with Egg Beaters)

Lunch: Cajun chicken salad wraps

Dinner: Parent's house

FASHION POST: AKA I WANT! I WANT! I WANT!

2011-04-29T14:06:00.000-07:00

I'm broke. Beyond broke. Thanks to my work closing for a week and then getting behind on paying us, I have emptied my savings, borrowed, begged, and - ok, well I haven't stolen. But I'm digging myself out of the money pit right now! But that doesn't mean that I am not secretly (or not so secretly?) coveting some lovely spring items right now!

I really and truly want this bag from handbag heaven:

Tina at T-Minus T-Plus twittered a link to this really cute pink scarf. Not sure what I'd do with it - but I love it! Sparkly and pink.

I think the reason why I want this is because of a post I read of Case's yesterday - where she paired a bubblegum pink tank with a gray shrug and pink flower-broach. Really cute.

I also want a pair of wedges - but I have "weak ankles" - aka I've sprained them each about ten times and broken the left one twice. HOWEVER - that doesn't make me not want cute shoes.

I most definitely want to try out a couple of the looks from Fab Finds Under $50's May Inspiratrion Calendar!

I also want some espadrilles, lettuce-edged tanks, a new maxi dress, and some black summery shoes with a flower on top - something like these and these pink ones are cute too!

So these are a few of my favorite (coveted) things - what are yours?

By the way - the only thing I will be adding to my wardrobe this week is 2 lettuce-edged tanks from Fashion Bug - IF I can use my coupon that is ;)

S

*Edited to add: I did go to Fashion Bug! I got a black tank top with small sequins all over the front, a black pj top with cherries on it (already have pj pants) a purple lace and lettuce-edged tank top, and a black and white tank top - used my coupon plus b1g150% off - total? 37 dollars!

Starting Over at Forty (GASP!) One!

2011-04-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

So I've most definitely neglected my blog for some time now. But there is just so much going on in my head that I really need somewhere to "unload".

I turned 41 last week. I've made a whole lot of changes in the past year! There are still a lot more that I need to make.

My best friend in the world came to visit me about 10 days ago. We had a great time just doing fun girly things. Made me realize how much I miss spending time with my girlfriends! I will most definitely be accepting invitations now instead of always turning them down. My bestest and I went to downtown Detroit for an authentic Greek dinner with a couple of my other close friends and my sister, then hit the casino. (Not my scene - but an adventure and fun nonetheless!) We went to a mall I've never been to and a store I have never gone to before that I adore (Torrid). Went to an indoor trade center, several restaurants, and out to a bar with an old friend. I miss her bunches!

Last week my Sweetheart and I spent several days together over my birthday. He spoiled me rotten. What a guy. *sigh* He has a way of making me laugh with just a look. He makes me feel loved, cared for, and even (gasp!) beautiful. He's breaking down walls - I'm tellin ya! There are still a few remaining, but I know those will be gone with time as well. I love this man more than I can express in words.

Anyway - on to the nitty gritty for the rest of the week!

My menu plan:

Tuesday: Roast chicken, rice pilaf, steamed veggies & green salad

Wednesday: Priya's Chicken Vindaloo over rice with a side of green beans

Thursday: Dinner with my parents

Friday: Having a "girls night" with my daughters - so I'm thinking we will have something fun, like tacos, fresh veggies and dip.

Saturday: Dinner with my parents again!

My TA DO list for the rest of the week:

Tuesday:

Take dd14 to school, laundry x2, dishes, vacuum, menu plan, homeschool, shopping, work x6 hrs, errands, take dd11 and dc2 (dear cat, 2) for a walk to the park, and watch special 90-minute GLEE!

Wednesday:

Take dd14 to school, work 9-3ish, spend time doing something fun with the kidlets, homeschool, post office, bank, walk or ride exc. bike, sweep kitchen/bathroom floors, dust. 2 hours work @ home.

Thursday:

Take dd 14 to school, work 9-3ish, homeschool, pick up THE BOY after school, go to my parents house until about 7ish with the kids. Weather permitting, go for a walk with the girls. Watch Grey's Anatomy (I hope).

Friday:

Take dd14 to school. Pay rent. Big homeschool day - lots of fun stuff going on - will post. Walk or bike - weather permitting. Pick up dd from school. Come home for girls night. Dinner, nature walk, and a movie - not sure what yet.

Saturday:

Hang out with my girls. No plans. Just fun :) Going to my parents about 4. Going home at 7 with THE BOY for his special night. Probably going to just watch a movie here at home with some popcorn - unless there is a hockey game on - then it's hockey all the way!

Sunday:

Make a special breakfast - banana pancakes and turkey sausage for THE BOY. Take the BOY to his dad's house. CHURCH. Going to my old church this weekend. I've been feeling the call to go and visit old friends there. Miss everyone and the pastors. Sunday afternoon is lesson planning, laundry, overall home blessing, more work!

Menu Plan Monday

2010-11-28T08:37:00.001-08:00

So we did a whole lot of shopping last week, stocking up with the Kroger sale and our monthly trip to Sam's Club. This week I am just going to get a few things from Aldi and we'll be set!

Tonight I am making a really simple beef and gravy in the Crock pot and will serve it over mashed potatoes (noodles for the 2 of us who don't like mashed) with a side of steamed broccoli and a green salad.

For Monday night, it's jambalaya. Just from a lower-sodium mix - adding onion, green pepper, shrimp, turkey sausage, and chicken. Side of steamed veggies. Kids will be eating chicken nuggets and fries. (Can't please them all. LOL)

Tuesday is my long work day, so I need another Crock recipe. So I headed on over to a Year of Slow Cooking blog and searched under chicken. There I found 69 recipes. The one I chose for this week is Chicken Adobo. It looks amazing! It also looks like something my girls will eat, lol.

Wednesday I have off from work. I thought I'd make a family favorite, Rachel Ray's Taco Pasta Toss.

Thursday we spend at my parent's house for dinner.

Friday I'm going to try a new recipe, Chicken and Potato casserole. I'll serve it with a side of mixed corn, peppers, and asparagus (frozen veggies)

Saturday we'll spend with my parents again!

Have a very blessed week everyone,

Sherry

Shopping, reading, and movie update!

2010-11-21T13:49:00.001-08:00

I hit some of the sales today. At Kroger I got some super cheap frozen veggies, boxed potatoes, cereal, noodles, pies, and lots more. I ended up paying 69 dollars for a huge basket full. I still don't have the focus and skill of some of you super shoppers! But I do love seeing the numbers come down when they take the coupons off!

I began watching Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman today. So far just the pilot. It's funny, but Sandra from Diary of a Stay at Home Mom seems to have almost the same taste in movies, tv shows and books as I do! If she says she is loving a series, I generally do too :) So that is why I put Dr. Quinn in my Netflix queue. And yes, of course, I absolutely LOVED the pilot! I am super excited because now I will have 9 full seasons to watch! Woohoo!

Reading-wise, I just started the 3rd book in the Rock Harbor Mysteries by Colleen Coble. She is a Christian author that I enjoy quite a lot. These are set in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan - near places I've been and the most breathtaking scenery! The books center on a woman, her son, and her search and rescue dog. Very enjoyable reading.

Tonight for dinner I'm making what is becoming an old stand-by - chicken and vegetable curry over basmati rice with a green salad. I didn't use to like anything too spicy or anything with heat - and now I just love it! The kids are eating plain rice, plain chicken, and plain veggies. My kids do NOT have an adventurous spirit when it comes to food! Especially my two older ones.

Oh, back to shopping - I went to Target's 4-day pre-Thanksgiving sale today. I am participating in the Salvation Army's Angel Tree and I chose 2 six-year-old girls and one elderly woman. The girls need clothes, pajamas, and socks and the elderly woman needs pajamas and slippers. The girls wanted games and Littlest Pet Shops and the woman, baking pans. Just about everything on their list was on BIG sale at Target today! I was blessed to be able to get everything they wanted and needed and some special surprises for them as well.

Dinner is just about done - better get the food on the table before the kids revolt!

Sherry

And God Leads the Way

2010-11-20T11:29:00.000-08:00

My mind is a jumble lately. I feel like I'm being led in a certain direction, yet I don't know if I have the courage to follow it. I'm at a crossroads and it's going to take a lot of very hard work to do what God is asking me to do.

Do you ever feel led? Or do you ignore those strong feelings that you should do something remarkable? Do you just think it's a fleeting thought, or do you realize that God is telling you what He expects from you?

I'm stuck in the here and now. On the little things. On the things I can control. The simple. The WIDE path.

I can't do both. I can't continue doing what I am doing AND do what I feel led to do.

Joyce Meyer once said to think of having a locker in Heaven, filled with gifts from God. If you don't take them when you are here on earth, you'll get to Heaven and see all the exciting and wonderful things He had planned for you that you missed out on!

I guess I'm scared because I don't know all the details. HOW I'm going to get from here to where He wants me to be!

For now I'm going to pray about it.

But tell me - have you ever felt like this?

Sherry

October Accomplishments

2010-10-30T21:14:00.000-07:00

So I made some good progress this October with my Mama's Mission. Here was the plan:

I'd quit one of my jobs - DONE
I would not care so much about material things - Um, still working on this.
I'd make arrangements for someone to do part of my "chauffeuring" - Less chauffeuring due to no more football.
I'd watch less television and be on the Internet less - yeah, working on that one too.

I would spend more time in nature - walking, taking pictures, drawing - Em and I went on several outings in nature and started a nature journal with drawings.
I would do family read alouds - Just reading to Em - still want to do this.
We'd do family movie nights - The kids and I have been watching a few shows together, but no movies.
I would go to church regularly and participate in the extra activities with my kids - I am involved with my new church and love it! We did trunk or treat and donated pillowcases for Little Dresses for Africa.
I'd listen to music more - I've been doing this too!
I would make time to write - I've always wanted to and I keep saying I will return to it after the kids are grown - I've been writing! :) And I signed up for Nanowrimo! Exciting!

So overall, it was a pretty good success story. I did enough to pat myself on the back and say:

Let's see what November brings!

Sherry

Two yummy recipes

2010-10-29T14:29:00.001-07:00

I'm sorry that I have been so bad about updating. I spend so much time editing what I am going to say, it's basically whittled down to nothing!

I'll be doing my "Mama's Mission" update Sunday night - and I have to say that looking over my goals, I've done pretty well!

I made a couple new recipes this week - they were both quite good. The first was Mediterranean Chicken. I used green olives in place of black. It was tangy and tasty.

Tonight I made the Fiesta Chicken and it was really good. My 10-year-old had seconds.

I'm trying to come up with some new recipes for next week too. I do like the Kraft site quite a big, and I have subscribed to several recipe blogs.

How it he weather in your neck of the woods? We just had a big storm south of us two days ago and for three days it was really windy! Today was a gorgeous fall day though - and I have pictures to prove it, which I will post soon!

We have a fuzzy brown caterpillar living on our yellow mum outside. The closest I could find on Google is a fall webworm, which is disappointing as it is super cute and I named him Herman. I even pet him daily. Well - after the wind storm the mum was blown over and I thought that was the end of poor Herman. We found him today at the top of our porch, clinging to the brick wall. He lives!

Have a great weekend,

Sherry

Women in the Word Wednesday - Busy-ness vs. Blessings

2010-10-06T09:44:00.000-07:00

BUSY-NESS OR BLESSINGS?

This post is linked at Women in the Word Wednesday at Good Morning Girls!

I am really happy to say that I have been getting my Word in. And as I write that - I realize that it sounds like I'm "making time" or "fitting some religion in" - and that isn't the case. I've been reexamining my priorities (my 'mission' for October) and I realize that making my relationship with God my life's foundation gives me the ability to see blessings amidst all of my busy-ness.

I'm not able to change much of what's going on in my life right now, but I AM able to change the way I view those things.

My one-hour drive to work has been spent listening to Christian radio or Joyce Meyer CDs. I signed up to read the Gospels in 30-days at YouVersion and joined a Good Morning Girls group with other working moms for accountability.

Through a friend on FaceBook I was introduced to Air1 radio online - a really uplifting Christian station with a lot of my favorite songs. Great to listen to while blogging or cleaning house!

So I'm probably doing this all wrong - but I'm really excited and happy about returning to the path that leads to God. I veered off of it for awhile - but I realize that nothing I did made me happy, oh - maybe momentarily, but I never felt JOY like I do when I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life!

Here's a passage I read last night - and the power of the scripture speaks for itself. You just have to read it, feel it deeply, and have a real "WOW" moment!

John 1:1 - 1:5

1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,s
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.

So I'm just dipping my big toe into the Word - but I pray that I gain wisdom and understanding over the months and years go come.

Blessings to all you 'girls'!

Sherry

Mission of the Month: Prioritize

2010-10-03T22:38:00.000-07:00

This post is linked up with Mama Jenn's blog meme, "Mama's Mission of the Month".

I was driving to work a few days ago when I heard the song "Live Like You Were Dying" by Tim McGraw. I've heard it before, but the message didn't sink in. Here are some of the lyrics:

"He said I was finally the husband
that most the time I wasn't
and I became a friend a friend would like to have
and all the sudden going fishin
wasn't such an imposition
and I went three times that year I lost my dad
well I finally read the good book
and I took a good long hard look
at what I'd do if I could do it all again"

Life has been really busy lately. Mostly because of work. I could most definitely drop the second job - but it's sort of security in case my first job goes under. (long story) I also homeschool my youngest, drive my daughter to and from school, pick up my son from football practice, go to all his games, have dinner with my parents twice a week, cook dinner most nights, keep things fairly clean, read blogs, watch some television, read some books, and shop a little too much.

So I heard this song and I thought to myself - if I knew I only had a year or two to live, what would I change?

My Mission for the Month of October is to prioritize - what is really important to me? What do I want to show for my life?

Here's what WOULDN'T change:

I would still homeschool
I'd never miss a football game
I'd have dinner with my parents AT LEAST twice a week
I'd read really good books
Watch only my favorite tv shows and read my favorite blogs

Here's what WOULD:

I'd quit one of my jobs
I would not care so much about material things
I'd make arrangements for someone to do part of my "chauffeuring"
I'd watch less television and be on the Internet less

and here is what I would ADD:

I would spend more time in nature - walking, taking pictures, drawing
I would do family read alouds
We'd do family movie nights
I would go to church regularly and participate in the extra activities with my kids
I'd listen to music more
I would make time to write - I've always wanted to and I keep saying I will return to it after the kids are grown

This is most definitely not an all-inclusive list - but making it made me realize where my life is tilted, towards work and money and tv/Internet.

So I'll be making some changes. This mission will probably take up the entire month. I still haven't figured out what I am going to do about work - but one change I've made already is that I have plans to check out two local churches. I haven't had a home church since I've moved and need to find one!

Have a great October!

Sherry

Menu Plan Monday: The Week of the Crockpot!

2010-09-19T19:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Menu Plan Monday, hosted by the Organizing Junkie!

It's been a rough couple of weeks and we've eaten more fast food than I care to admit. Two of these meals have been on my plan for the past two weeks - we just never got to them!

Today I cooked ahead so we won't have that problem! I made some breakfast sandwiches with Thomas' everything bagel thins, an egg, turkey sausage, and laughing cow light mozzarella, sun dried tomato and basil cheese (so amazing!). There are also a few boiled eggs in the fridge just in case. I cooked ahead chicken and ground beef so there should be no reason why I can't get dinner on the table quickly and easily this week!

SUNDAY: We had the Crockpot chicken and dumplings and they were really, really good! Two thumbs up!

MONDAY: Rachel Ray's Mac n Cheddar Cheese with Chicken and Broccoli with a green salad

TUESDAY: Unstuffed peppers in the Crockpot (recipe is close to what I am making - but I use tomato soup)

WEDNESDAY: I am finally making the White Chicken Chili in the Crockpot! This week for sure!

THURSDAY: Having dinner at my parents' house.

FRIDAY: Angel chicken in the Crockpot over angel hair pasta (*Note - only using 1/2 the butter and using Laughing Cow cheese instead of cream cheese)

SATURDAY: Dinner at parents' house again!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Sherry

Plan Ahead Sunday and One Small Thing

2010-09-19T08:20:00.000-07:00

I am linking up with LLRHomeschoolmom's meme "This Week's Goals".

I do an awful lot of planning on the weekends. I menu plan, lesson plan, cook ahead for the coming week, and try to pick out what I'll be wearing to work each day. If I don't, my busy week will overwhelm me and we will end up eating too much fast food and I may end up wearing a mismatched outfit. Ok - not really, but I do get very frustrated in the morning when I am trying to hurry and nothing I want to wear is clean or ironed or I can't find it. Yes, I'm THAT organized. LOL I also do manicures on all of us girls on Sundays too.

MENU PLAN:
Done! I will post it later tonight for Menu Plan Monday! We got all of the grocery shopping done and I should have every single ingredient I need to make yummy dinners for the week!

COOKING AHEAD:
I'm going to brown some ground beef to use to make unstuffed peppers one day in the Crock. Homemade chicken strips in the oven for the kids throughout the week for when they don't like what I cook (which is a LOT of the time for my two oldest kids). I'm going to make some egg salad and put together some 'healthified' breakfast sandwiches. That's about it.

LESSON PLANNING:
Done! I put my entire lesson plan in the free online Homeschool Tracker. It took a couple of hours to get everything in there, but now I have a printable plan for the week and also at the end of the week can print out reports.

OUTFITS:
I hope to put together three outfits for the coming work week. I work 1/2 day Monday and a full day Tues and Thursday. It's pretty business casual for me. I try to wear dress pants and a blouse most days. Today I want to actually put together jewelry and everything and see how that goes.

I've decided to try and change just one small thing every week to make my life better in some way. I have so many things I need to change that it is just exhausting to think about. But if I break it down into just a small change every week - it may not be so bad.

This week my one small thing will be to bring lunch with me to work every day - even my 1/2 day! I end up starving and going through fast food - which I certainly don't need!

So let me ask this - do you plan ahead, or are you a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kinda gal? Do you have one small thing you'd like to change this week?

Enjoy the rest of this blessed Sunday and have a terrific week!

Sherry

A Day in the Life of Me!

2010-09-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

Today is Friday - and I have all the windows open and the cool air feels wonderful!

I have the day planned as such:
7 - Take Jennah & friend to school
830 - Go back to bed for an hour!
930 - Up, dressed to shoes
945 - Drive out to work and see if there are checks to deposit - nada!
10 - Drive back home
1030 - Computer time
11 - Work doing transcription for ONE HOUR
12-2 - Homeschool with Em
2- Pick up Jennah & friend from school (another 30 minutes of HS in the car w/ Em)
3:15 - Finish up homeschool for the day
430 - Go to store and pick up fixin's for dinner (very unorganized this week!)
5:15 - Start dinner for family of 5 plus Jennah's friend who is staying the night
5:45 - Pick up Jake from football practice
6:15 - Dinner
6:45- Clean up kitchen
7 - Two hours of transcription work
9 - Computer time, t.v. time or movie time or book time :)
11 - BED!

In between everything I do five minute room rescues, clean hot spots, maybe a swish and swipe, 2 minute missions, etc. (If these don't sound familiar to you, check out the FlyLady!)

So what are your plans on this Friday?

Sherry

Kinda whiney post - but I meant well :)

2010-09-15T21:15:00.000-07:00

My son had his first official football game today. He's almost 12 and in 7th grade. I forget what his position is called - I think he's an offensive lineman? Something like that. Anyway - he had to wear a shirt and tie to school today (first time in his life!) and I got to tie his tie this morning and it was just so cool. He's been waiting to play football for a few years now. He always played soccer but didn't really enjoy it. He LOVES football. He comes home from practice exhausted and soaking wet and downs an entire bottle of G2 (think diet Gatorade) in the car on the way home. I'm so happy he's found something he can BELONG to. A group to be a part of.

Anyway - his practices and games are one small part of what is making my life utterly CRAZY busy. A year ago I worked a 4-hour day and then came home and, well, didn't do much of anything to be honest. Now I get up and take my one daughter to grandma's, go to work for a full day, pick her up, come home and make dinner, pick up my son from practice, eat dinner, clean up the kitchen, homeschool my youngest in the evenings and then sometimes work another couple of hours at night. I generally find about 2 hours for myself after everyone is in bed at night (hence the blogging time right now!) But this keeps me up to the point where I am not getting enough sleep. Then there are my days "off" when I drive my oldest daughter and her friend to and from school and work my 2nd job at home.

I love everything I'm doing - but I'm so tired! LOL Some days are so packed there is no time to cook dinner. Just no time. I had "meet the teacher" nights two nights this week. I had a meeting with our work accountant on my day off. There is so much more I want to do - Em want to take a dance and art class - but I just don't know when. Church is Saturday night and I'd like to be in more activities - but how? There are teen nights my daughter wants to go to --

I figured it out - I need a clone. Yep. That's it. A clone mom. She can do ALL the driving! LOL

This is a season in my life and I am grateful for it. In too short a time my kids will be grown and I will be lonely. I'm feeling guilty for working so much yet it's a necessity financially.

Anyway - just thought I'd complain a little before bed. Makes the dreams that much more sweet! LOL!

Have a blessed week,

Sherry

Menu Plan Monday: Using my Crock!

2010-09-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

I'm linking up with the Menu Plan Monday meme over at the Org Junkie's Blog!

I'm going to be carrying over a few meals from last week. We had dinner over my parents' house one night, and another night ran so late we ended up doing hot dogs and french fries!

BIG SUNDAY DINNER: Crock pot roast beef, potatoes, carrots, gravy, and croissant rolls with a green salad

Monday: Chicken with Broccoli - Rachael Ray's Recipe - over brown rice with salad

Tuesday: Long work day for me! Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings. Side of green beans.

Wednesday: DS11's football game. Having dinner over my parents' house.

Thursday: Another long day for me. Crock pot White Chicken Chili.

Friday: Asian turkey burgers and oven fries

Saturday: We'll be having dinner with my parents once again.

Have a wonderful week,

Sherry

Menu Plan Monday - Back to School Edition

2010-09-05T13:22:00.001-07:00

It's a new week and a new season. While fall isn't here yet, the back-to-school season is! This means changes and challenges and more busy times.

I'll be posting more Crockpot recipes now since I'll be getting home late a couple days per week. Plus my son doesn't get out of football practice until 545!

Monday - Labor Day
Breakfast - Breakfast burritos (I use turkey sausage)Lunch - "Sub" sandwiches
Dinner - Grilled burgers, spaghetti salad, banana pudding

Tuesday - 1st day of school, work day, football practice
Breakfast - Egg Beaters and cheese on everything bagel thin, yogurt
Lunch - Peppered ham sandwich on Flatout wrap, apple, 100 calorie pack :)
Dinner - Chicken and gravy over rice w/ salad (Crock pot)

Wednesday - School, Football scrimmage gameBreakfast - PB & J oatmeal
Lunch - Lean cuisine
Dinner - Roast, potatoes, carrots in Crock, green salad

Thursday - School, Work, Football practice
Breakfast - Breakfast burrito, yogurt
Lunch - Turkey and cheese sandwich, baked chips
Dinner - White chicken chili in the Crock

Friday - School, Football practice
Breakfast - Egg Beater "McMuffins" and yogurt
Lunch - Leftovers

Saturday

Breakfast - T oad n th e hole, turkey sausage

Lunch - Mac n cheese
Dinner - Chicken Biryani and green beans

This post is linked with Menu Plan Monday hosted by the Org Junkie!

Sherry

What's Going On - and a YUMMY Recipe

2010-08-18T18:55:00.000-07:00

So things are feeling pretty on track right now. I've got the hang of using my Bodybugg and I am averaging about a 1,000 calorie deficit daily - which scientifically means I should lose 2 lbs per week. That is my goal for right now!

Things have been hectic and crazy around here. Back-to-school shopping, birthdays, moving at work from one office to another, meeting up with highschool friends - a lot of good things.

I went Nordic walking yesterday with my sister. We did about a mile at a local school track. I showed a burn of over 250 calories - which is pretty good for walking. I truly enjoy it, and on a day like yesterday - mid-80's, sunny, blue skies, mild breeze - it was heaven!

Tomorrow is my last day to be able to pack up my office! So it's going to be a long day. I plan on utilizing my crock pot! I haven't used it very much this summer, but I truly rely on it in the fall and winter!

Here is what I'll be making:
Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 8 servings • Size: 9.85 oz • Prep Time: 5 minutes • Points: 3 ww points
Calories: 171.9 • Fat: 1.6g • Fiber: 3.8g

24 oz (1 1/2) lbs chicken breast
14.4 oz can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies
15 oz can black beans
8 oz frozen corn
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
14.4 oz can fat free chicken broth
3 scallions, chopped
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp cayenne pepper (to taste)
salt to taste

Combine chicken broth, beans, corn, tomatoes, cilantro, scallions, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cayenne pepper and salt in the crock pot. Season chicken breast with salt and lay on top. Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours. Half hour before serving, remove chicken and shred. Return chicken to slow cooker and stir in. Adjust salt and seasoning. Serve over rice (extra pts).

I found this recipe on a wonderful blog - Gina's Skinny Taste blog, full of WW recipes!

I went to our storage room a little bit ago and found a few brand new items of clothing that I've never fit in to - just a little bit small. They all fit now! Woohoo! I have a super cute dress for fall, 2 dressier tops for work, and 2 more casual ones for home. Hurray!

Well, that's about it for me. Weigh in is Friday - I am just hoping I won't be retaining water! That's always such a downer!

Sherry

Menu Plan Monday & Weekly WW Update

2010-08-09T14:02:00.000-07:00

I'll admit it - I am not all that great at updating my blog here. I figured I would do a 2 in 1 and get my menu plan listed as well as review my first week on Weight Watchers!

My menu plan is linked up with Menu Plan Monday over at at the Organizing Junkie's blog!

Sunday - We had mini pizzas ! I took Alternative pitas, popped them under the broiler for a couple of minutes with a spray of Pam and granulated garlic, then topped them with pizza sauce, fat free mozzarella cheese, olives, veggies, and mini turkey pepperoni! They were quite good, kid approved, and only 4.5 WW points each!

Monday - Quick dinner as I am busy busy today! Boca Chick'n patty in a flatout wrap with light mayo and pickles. Side of baby carrots.

Tuesday - Mini turkey meatloaves, baked potatoes, green beans, green salad

Wednesday - Mom's house for dinner

Thursday - Thai grilled chicken, broccoli, and bulgar pilaf

Friday - Pizza roll up burritos and spicy oven fries

Saturday - Mom's birthday! Not sure what she is going to have - maybe Chinese? Mexican? I will just have to be extra careful!

So on to my first week of Weight Watchers.

Things went well. I felt like I was eating too much. I had trouble getting in all my points. At mid-week I was CERTAIN I had gained a couple of pounds. I wanted to trust in the process so I kept at it. I ended up losing 5.4 pounds! Woohoo! The best loss I've had in many, many months!

I exercised 5 days. I rode my recumbent bike, did Zoga, went for a walk, did strengthening exercises with dumbbells and a toning cord, and went to the beach and water jogged, treaded water, swam, and did other exercises in the water for two hours.

New foods tried: WW 1 point bars in Red Velvet Cake - um, YUMMY! Unfortunately they are discontinuing them. Boo! WW 2 pt pretzel chips in garlic and herb - they are just OK. Flatout Wraps - multigrain, 2 points - again, YUM! Loved them!

Favorite breakfast: 1 cup Simply Potatoes, 2 turkey sausage links, 1/4 cup SW Eggbeaters, and a couple tablespoons ff cheddar. Top w/ some hot sauce for a yummy, filling 7-pt breakfast! (You can cut back to 1/2 cup potatoes for 1.5 less points)

NSV - (non scale victory) The shorts I bought in the spring which were a little snug can now be pulled down without being unzipped!

I've lost 3.5 inches off my waist, 3.5 inches off my hips, 1.5 off each thigh, 1 off each arm, and 1.5 off my chest since June 20th! Woot!

Have a great week!

Sherry

My First Weight Watchers Meeting

2010-07-30T12:51:00.001-07:00

Boy it's been a busy day! But I am proud of myself! Some of you know, I deal with anxiety issues and have a problem with going to new places and being in new situations. I got myself up and out the door and to my first WW meeting all with very little anxiety! Woot!

Not surprisingly, everyone there was SO nice. The regular leader for Friday's meeting is on vacation, so there was someone else who filled in. We talked about snacking today and what the best snack options are.

There was a 14-year-old girl there with her mother and I told her that I would be bringing my 14yo in the next week or two! (Waiting for letter from pediatrician) They can motivate eachother and hopefully become friends.

I've always said that I feel out of place at WW meetings (I joined several times, the last being about 8 years ago) because it seems like most of the people there need to lose 30 pounds or so. Today when I walked in I was NOT the heaviest woman there! WOOT! HURRAY! There were a few of us with a good 100-200 pounds to lose!

I'm not sure if you know this about me, but I love STUFF. I sometimes even have issues with shopping - it makes me happy. *sigh* But they gave me my little booklet and my pamphlets and oh - I get e-tools too - but I will always be a Spark girl!

After the meeting I bought the new members thingie w/ the dining out guide, recipe book, points book and 3-month tracker. I bought the tracker cover, a box of 1-pt red velvet bars (OMG so good) some pretzel/cracker things, and a water bottle. (told you)

Of course I had a little shopping high - so I went in to Catherine's, which is conveniently located next door! They had an extra 60% off of clearance and I have a 10% off members card. I ended up with a long nightgown (my kids call them moo-moos - whatever, I love them and I will wear them forever) and a black shrug. I only spent 24 bucks! Yay!

Then I went to Meijer and got loads of healthy foods (of course) like Egg beaters and turkey sausage and Flat Out wraps and corn on the cob and some apriums (I think they are another cross between apricots and plums? will look them up) and some dessert pears (no idea - I'll take a pic and tell u what they taste like) and other goodness. I picked up Jillian Michael's book "Winning by Losing" - for motivation. Never can get enough of that.

I bought a measuring tape, measuring cups and spoons too. Our measuring cups are always in the dishwasher. My daughter measures everything too.

So yes, shopping high.

Now I have to finish picking up the house and then I'm headed downstairs for a workout! 30 minutes on the bike and Spark strength exercises.

Dinner is chicken on the grill, corn on the cob, green beans, salad, Texmati rice veggie blend and watermelon. Yum!

Oh, and I will tell u now - I have nowhere near enough points for the day. I have to work on that. I get 38? 39? Will have to check. I eat a lot of veggies and fruits and most of them have 0 points per serving.

Better get back to housework so I can get my workout in! After dinner I am going for a short walk with my sister. My feet are killing me so I doubt I'll even make it a mile - but every little bit counts!

Blessings and hugs,

Sherry

Moving ahead

2010-07-28T12:18:00.001-07:00

So my pity party is officially OVER. I woke up this morning determined and focused! Yay me!

I got up and made breakfast -

Thomas' bagel thin in everything flavor (LOVE)
1 large egg, 3 strips turkey bacon
1/4 cup strawberries, 1/4 cup cherries, 1/2 cup seedless black grapes - yummy!

Worked my way through the Internet, updated my weight loss journal (I have a few - I have a book I keep notes in and a motivational binder and other stuff - I'll share someday!) and then went downstairs for a workout!

I did about 10 minutes of stretching, did squats and lunges 10 minutes of abs, then 40 minutes on the recumbent bike! That is my new record. I did 9.2 miles. Yay me! I've only been using it about 2-ish weeks. I started at 2 miles. I love being able to build up so quickly! After that I used a 32.6 lb barbell and did curls and I'm not sure what the other stuff is called. Then some not even girl pushups (my upper body is laughably not strong - so I use the air hockey table and do pushups off that) and finally used my resistance bands for more upper body work. I was downstairs about 90 minutes! For me that is simply incredible. I feel awesome!

Lunch was a big salad topped w/ protein.

2 cups of "very veggie" Dole salad mix
1 cup English cucumber
3 oz Tyson grilled chicken
1/4 cup reduced fat feta cheese
2 tbs reduced fat italian parmesan dressing
and 1 large banana

I'm not quite ready to divulge my weight here on this blog - but hopefully at some point I will. I'm not sure who I'm hiding from - as everyone who knows me obviously can see how much I weigh! All in good time, all in good time.

Anyway -- I use Spark People (can't say enough good things about it!) and they set my calorie range really really high - like 2250 average? I just try to stick to around 1800 at the moment. I am joining Weight Watchers on Friday and will go with their points system - which if I read right will give me 38 points? Not sure if that is the old system or new. I'll update. (If you go to WW, you now know how heavy I am. ha!)

Dinner was at Mom's. Had tortilla encrusted tilapia with wild rice, corn on the cob and salad. Yum. Sis and I went for a walk after dinner and then I had Skinny Cow strawberry cheesecake icecream. Oh. My. Goodness. That stuff is the best! 150 calories of yummy-liciousness!

All in all a good day.

Sherry

Beware: Wild Woman High on Hormones

2010-07-27T15:47:00.000-07:00

I feel terrible today. Worse than terrible. I feel like my body has been thrown around a mosh pit, only to be dropped and trampled on. Thank you monthly gift.

I've been reading so many weight loss blogs and healthy cooking blogs lately for motivation. And they ARE a lot of motivation. However, today they are making me feel guilty. Everyone seems to have better mojo than I do. If I want to do this, REALLY do this, I need to become more dedicated and determined.

I promised my daughters I would take them to the drive in tonight and see "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" and "Karate Kid". Weeeeeeee. I'm going to take my current read with me, "The Shack" by William P. Young.

Speaking of weight loss and books, I just finished reading the cutest chic-lit book called "He Loves Lucy" by Susan Donovan. It's a highly enjoyable quick read. Perfect for the beach or road trip.

I need to wake up tomorrow with a new resolve. I need NOT TO FAIL tomorrow. I need not to binge. (By binge I mean eat 500-700 calories within 30 minutes before I even realize what I've done. Going off plan for stupid things like pudding and granola bars) I need to stick to my workout plan. I need to get my fat butt to Weight Watchers for more consistency. *sigh*

Tonight for dinner I baked chicken in the oven with some Mrs. Dash and Lemon Pepper seasoning with baked potatoes. I ate a can of chili and some Sun Chips. I'm so ashamed of my lack of willpower. I'm so irritated with myself! I don't want to be like this. I want to be strong and in control and I want to feel HUMAN. Not only that, I want to feel feminine again. I want to more than a mom, a daughter, an employee, a friend -- I want to be ME. I want to be a person. A whole person.

So that was all quite serious. My mood is particularly foul. But tomorrow is another day!

S

And she lives!

2010-07-25T18:37:00.000-07:00

Ok, I absolutely suck and haven't posted in 2 months. Life has kept me busy and blessed.

We went on vacation to Busch Gardens in VA, the Virginia Aquarium, Washington DC, New York City, New Hampshire, and Boston. It was exhausting and tortuous and wonderful.

I'm down 46 pounds now. I officially started on August 7th of last year. I ate healthy and exercised for two months, lost 25 pounds, then I quit for 5 months. I gained back 15 pounds. I restarted in March of this year and here I am. So it sounds like I am the slowest loser in the world if I say I lost 50 pounds in one year (I hope to make the 50-lb lost mark by Aug 7th) so I have to let people know that I was MIA for 5 months of that. But whose weight loss journey is straight and narrow anyway?

Dinner tonight was chicken teriyaki. I diced up about 10 different veggies, chicken, made brown rice and used a low calorie teriyaki sauce. It was pretty good. Served it with salad.

Tomorrow is back to work and I just dread it. My work is just crazy.

I tried a new fruit today. A pluot. It's 30% apricot and 70% plum. Insanely good. Sweet, juicy, and pretty to look at.

Have a great week,

Sherry

The (very) Red, White, & Blue

2010-05-28T12:54:00.001-07:00

It’s been a really hot week here in Michigan. Mostly sunny and until today, humid.

My youngest daughter and I went to a local beach on Wednesday and we played in the lake for 2.5 hours. I was very careful to slather her in waterproof sunscreen several times, but wasn’t so careful with myself. The end result looks something like this:

(not my picture)

My back and shoulders are the worst – but it was my own fault, so I will stop complaining.

So did anyone watch the finale of Biggest Loser? Dancing with the Stars? American Idol? I watched 2 out of the 3. I missed DWTS even though I watched most of the season. I was happy with the Pussycat Doll winning with Derek (love Derek!) and I was very happy for Michael to win Biggest Loser, even though I was rooting for Ashley. On AI I liked the girl better – thought the guy was just kinda “meh” – but again, I didn’t watch the whole season, maybe I was wrong. Where do you weigh in?

Speaking of weight – I lost 5 pounds two weeks ago and the scale has not BUDGED since. I have been eating healthfully, lots of veggies and fruit, drinking almost nothing but water, exercising – and NOTHING! I’m getting so aggravated. I so want to see that number go down!

Last week I read “The King’s Rose” by Alyssa M. Libby and it was quite good. It was the story of Henry the VIII’s 5th wife, Jane Howard. She was only 15 and married to the King when he was 50. Ewww. But it was a quick, simple read and I enjoyed it very much. 4/5

Now I’m reading the 2nd Alaskan Quest novel by Tracie Peterson, “Under the Northern Lights”. This book continues the story of Leah and her brother, Jacob, who run a small trading post in Alaska. I can’t say much about it, because it would ruin book 1 for you!

Well, I best take my daughter and her friend to play put-put golf before their incessant talking makes my brain explode. :) (teens!)

Have a wonderful, safe, and happy Memorial weekend! And may God bless all those men and women who serve (and served) our country! My grandpa was in WWII, I had an Uncle who was in the Korean war, and 3 Uncles in Vietnam. What bravery it must take to protect the US! I am amazed at their dedication.

Sherry

Menu Plan Monday: May 23, 2010

2010-05-28T12:35:00.001-07:00

I wrote this last weekend and I never posted it! So here is what we ate all week….LOL

Sunday: NY strip steaks on the grill, baked potatoes, roasted Brussel sprouts, corn on the cob, green salad

Monday: Garlic Lime Chicken fajitas with roasted asparagus with garlic and green salad

Tuesday: Broiled tilapia parmesan, roasted veggies (red potatoes, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, carrots, turnips, etc.)

Wednesday: Mom’s house for dinner

Thursday: Chef Meg’s Mediterranean Chicken w/ Orzo and Rachael Ray’s oven roasted broccoli

Friday: Linguine with Spicy Shrimp and Rachael Ray’s Zucchini Oven Fries

Saturday: Mom’s house again for dinner!

Saturday’s with Rachael Ray: Red Pepper Pesto and Shrimp Pizza

2010-05-22T11:21:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone! Welcome to Saturday’s with Rachael Ray, hosted each week by Taste & Tell!

Ok, this week I completely forgot to take pictures, and I apologize!

This recipe comes from the June/July Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine. It looked so good that I had to try it!

Here is a pic of the pic in the magazine:

Ingredients;

4 ears corn, husks removed

2 red bell peppers – stemmed, cored and quartered

6 tbs EVOO

1 lp frozen peeled and deveined medium shrimp, thawed

Salt and Pepper

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

3/4 cups basil leaves, 1/4 cup thinly sliced

1 tbs fresh lemon juice

1 12-inch baguette – split, hollowed out and halved

You are supposed to grill the corn in the husks and the peppers. We had a rainy day, so I improvised.

Toss shrimp in EVOO and season with S&P

Cook shrimp on grill if you are able (again, improvised)

You are supposed to food process the peppers, 1/2 cup mozzarella 1/2 cup basil leaves and lemon juice

Spread on french bread, top w/ grilled shrimp and sprinkle w/ mozzarella. Arrange on grill until cheese is melted.

I did all of mine on top of and inside of the oven! I thought they were insanely delish! I’d love to make them again, and use the grill next time.

Oh – and the corn is a side dish, it doesn’t go on the pizzas :)

Have a great week!

Sherry

Menu Plan Monday – Hungry Girl Style

2010-05-16T16:20:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Menu Plan Monday, hosted by Org Junkie. This week I’m trying out several new recipes, both by Hungry Girl and Rachael Ray.

Breakfasts:

*Thomas’s bagel thins w/
egg substitute, turkey sausage & Laughing Cow cheese

*Choco-Monkey Oatmeal by Hungry Girl

*Spinach tomato feta egg wrap by HG

Lunches:

Turkey Reuben Quesadilla by HG (from the book 200 under 200)

Rachael Ray’s Boca Burger Reuben from June issue of her magazine

Cheesy Beefy Quesadillas by HG

Dinners:

Sunday: Grilled buffalo chicken legs, grilled asparagus, oven fries, and Rachael Ray’s cauliflower with lime cream sauce* (From June mag)

Monday: HG taco salad in shell

Tuesday: Broiled tilapia parmesan, wild rice, roasted cauliflower, carrots, and red potatoes

Wednesday: Mom’s house!

Thursday: Shrimp & Pasta Primavera using McCormick Recipe Inspirations (free w/ coupon)

Friday: Rachael Ray mag’s Shrimp and Basil French bread pizzas

Saturday: Mom’s house again!

I hope you all have a great week and enjoy dinner each night with your families and friends!

Sherry

Saturdays with Rachael Ray: Tilapia with Bulgur Pilaf

2010-05-16T16:05:00.001-07:00

I am posting this recipe for Taste and Tell’s Saturdays with Rachael Ray meme!

I am basing this recipe on Rachael Ray’s Tilapia in coucous, except:

1. I am cooking them separately

2. I am using bulgur in place of coucous

Other than that, it has all the same flavors!

Here is the original recipe:

Tilapia Baked in Couscous

Ingredients:

One 10-ounce box couscous
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
1 tablespoon ground cumin
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice plus 1 lemon, thinly sliced
Four 8-ounce tilapia fillets
3 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

Fare exchange
Substitute any thin, delicate white fish, such as red snapper or sole, for the tilapia.

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375°. In a large bowl, combine the couscous, almonds, sun-dried tomatoes and cumin and season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the 1/4 cup olive oil and the lemon juice.
Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange the tilapia fillets in a single layer in the dish, season with salt and pepper and drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Cover the fish with the couscous mixture and arrange the lemon slices on top. Pour 2½ cups water around the fish, cover with foil and bake until tender, about 25 minutes. Top with the parsley.

And here are my pics:

Tilapia ready to go in the oven

My dinner plate:

It was really good! The fish was tender and flaky and full of flavor. I’ll definitely be making this again!

Sherry

Why Starting Over?

2010-05-14T10:14:00.001-07:00

I’ve been separated from my husband for 2 months now. Divorce is in the proceedings. While my life is infinitely better and I am so much happier – I still feel that sense of guilt that I should have tried harder. (I should mention that my 3 children are not from my 2nd marriage – we had no children together)

I gave him ultimatums for 2 years. We went to counseling. We went to church. But in the end, he chose to continue the behavior that tore our marriage apart rather than give it up. My children were not happy, I was living a lie, I was a complete hypocrite. I stopped going to church because what was going on in my house was something I couldn’t share with nearly anyone.

So why am I telling you all this? I commented on another blog that I thought it was important to do some posts with a more “authentic voice”. Most of my posts are written for entertainment purposes – recipes, book reviews, memes… so once in a while I”m going to add in a post that really comes from my heart.

In really good news – I’ve lost 31 pounds! Don’t go congratulating me yet – I have a LOT more to go. But I am so proud of getting over that 30 pound mark! I’ve been sitting at the 27-lb lost mark for a month! I’ve been following Spark People and I can’t say enough how wonderful it is. If you have ANY amount to lose – 5 lbs or 300 lbs – check them out. There are groups and message boards for every age group, hobby, weight and exercise need.

So my new living arrangements are much more conducive to my weight loss. I get out and walk several times a week. My daughters are both walking a lot more too. I’m home a lot more so I get to plan the meals and eat at home most nights.

I’ve started to feel a little bit more human. I got a hair cut and color, shaved my legs, painted my toenails and even wear makeup once in a while. I can see a future. I’m enjoying my kids more. I’m more involved with their lives.

This morning my youngest asked me why I was still in bed. I told her it was my day off work and I felt like sleeping in. She told me I never stay in bed anymore – but at the old house I slept all the time. She said she had to get her own food a lot more too. (She is 10, not like she’s 3 – and she was nuking pizza – not using the oven! )

That statement is what got me to type up this post. I still hold guilt in my heart – but I KNOW I made the right decision. My kids are all happy and even though I THOUGHT I was happy before – I realize that I wasn’t. But I am now.

Sherry

Cooking Thursday – Southwest Casserole

2010-05-13T13:45:00.001-07:00

Cooking Thursday is hosted by Sandra at Diary of a SAHM! Stop by and visit for some yummy recipes!

I think a lot of people have different versions of this in their recipe books, but I thought I would share mine!

Ingredients:

2 bags of Knorr Spanish Rice

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken cut into bite-sized pieces

1-2 cups cheddar cheese

1 can black olives

1 cup crushed tortilla chips

1 can diced tomato w/ garlic and onion

1 can Mexicorn

1/2 can black beans

1 taco seasoning packet

Pam or EVOO

In a nonstick skillet, cook chicken w/ Pam or EVOO and add taco seasoning w/ 1/4 cup water. Cover and keep on low heat. You may shred chicken if you like it this way.

Cook rice according to directions.

Pre-heat oven to 350.

I use my Rachael Ray lasagna pan for this – but any large oven-safe pain will do.

Combine chicken, cooked rice, Mexicorn, diced olives, rinsed black beans, and tomatoes w/ garlic and onions into large pan. Place in oven for 20 minutes.

Add 1 cup crushed tortilla chips (we used Fritos) and top with 1-2 cups cheddar (we like a lot of cheese) and place back in oven until cheese is melted.

Note – this is NOT healthy! lol But it’s super good and my whole family loves it.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Sherry

Gifts and Good Eats

2010-05-12T09:02:00.001-07:00

I hope everyone had a really wonderful Mother’s Day! I wanted to share a picture of one of the things I received because I love it and wanted to tell you so!

It’s from Target, and it’s called Caldrea. The top pic has dish soap, hand soap, and lotion. The bottom pic is surface cleaner. It contains olive oil, coriander and cedar, which doesn’t SOUND like it would smell all that great, but trust me, it does! It’s a clean, fresh, uplifting scent that is perfect to use in the kitchen. And the surface cleaner? I used it on my stainless steel appliances? And it worked great!!! Best stuff I’ve come across so far to clean them! I highly recommend this stuff! The 3-piece set I think is 19.99 and the cleaner was 7.99 - so it’s not exactly cheap, but not over-the-top either.

I also wanted to share some pics of what I’ve been eating this week – so when I weigh in on Friday you’ll know why I gained/lost! LOL

Breakfast yesterday was 2 breakfast tacos using turkey sausage, egg beaters, 2 corn tortillas, peppers, onion, and sausage. Came out to 300 calories total. Plus Yoplait light and creamy yogurt in French vanilla and 1/4 cup blackberries.

This is what I brought to work with me, but I didn’t eat my apple :( Bad girl!

I went out to dinner (a late Mother’s Day gift) to Red Lobster and I was really good!

(This isn’t my pic – and not exactly what I had, but it shows the tilapia!)

I had:

2 unsweetened iced teas w/ lemon and splenda

shrimp cocktail – 150 calories

side salad w/ 1 tsp reduced calorie balsamic – 90 cals

Wood grilled tilapia – 210

Asparagus – 40 (1/2 serving)

1/4 cup rice (1/2 serving) – 70

All in all it was around 570 calories – even with an appetizer! Woot!

Have a great day!

Sherry

Happy Homemaker Monday

2010-05-10T18:51:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Happy Homemaker Monday hosted by Sandra at Diary of a SAHM! The weather in my neck of the woods:

Today was sunny, but windy and in the 50’s.
Things that make me happy:

Birds at my feeders!

Book I'm reading:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

What I'm enjoying on TV:

I’m LOVING Dr. Who on Netflix right now – instant watch. Also currently on the BBC!

On the menu for dinner:

Oven baked chicken, green salad, and roasted root vegetables.

On my To Do List:

It’s nearly 10 p.m. now, so I’m going to read and then go to bed!

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:

I just bookmarked Black bean and corn quesadillas
Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):

Silver Lining

No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

On my mind:

Summer vacation up the East Coast! YAY!

Sherry

Menu Plan Monday: May 10th, 2010

2010-05-10T16:35:00.001-07:00

Welcome to another Menu Plan Monday, hosted by the Organizing Junkie! Check out this meme to find literally hundreds of menus posted every week!

Now last week I said that I wanted to try and eat healthier this week – so that is the plan! We’ll see how long I can do it!

Here are a couple of random pictures from my kitchen:

This is my rooster I found at a 2nd hand store and just love him!

Trying to make apples more appetizing for the kids!

Monday: Chicken dipped in Egg Beaters and then in breadcrumbs and Paula Deen’s Lemon Pepper Seasoning, baked in the oven along with roasted vegetables. (Red potatoes, parsnips, baby carrots, garlic, asparagus) I used a recipe similar to THIS

Here’s what they looked like before they went into the oven:

Tuesday: I am going out to Olive Garden and have already planned ahead. I’m having the lunch portion of the shrimp primavera – and to figure out the calories, I went to Dottie’s Weight Loss Zone.

Wednesday: We are going to my parents’ house for dinner – so no cooking again!

Thursday: I am going to base tonight’s dinner on a Rachael Ray recipe, Tilapia baked in couscous – except I am going to be making bulgur pilaf* instead! I will be posting this recipe with pictures on Saturday if you are interested!

Friday: I’m making whole wheat spaghetti with shrimp, diced tomatoes, asparagus, garlic – similar to this recipe here from Spark People

Saturday: Going to Mom’s house again! Lucky me!

Sherry

No cooking three times this week!

Have a blessed time around the dinner table with your families!

*Bulgur Pilaf: My good friend made this a few times when the girls would get together for dinner. We kept forgetting the name of it (either cracked wheat pilaf or bulgur pilaf) so we started calling it “THE STUFF”. Here is how it’s made:

Ingredients:

1 cup bulgur

1 can low sodium chicken broth/water/veggie broth/etc

1/4 cup vermicelli threads (or you can break up some noodles)

1 TBS EVOO or butter or (I use) I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter

Use a sauce pan and melt butter/evoo and put in vermicelli threads. Cook until golden. Add 1 cup bulgur and 2 cups (or 1 can) broth/water. Bring to boil then turn down to a low simmer. Cover and let cook for about 10 minutes. Fluff with fork.

If you have never tried bulgur – give it a try! It has a better texture and nuttier flavor than couscous!

And while searching – I found another great recipe for bulgur pilaf!

Saturdays with Rachael Ray

2010-05-08T15:50:00.001-07:00

It’s my very first time participating in Saturdays with Rachael Ray at Taste and Tell ! I came upon this meme last week and knew right away I wanted to join in!

I knew this meme was out and I wanted to cook a RR recipe but seeing as I normally go to my parents’ house for dinner on Saturday – I had nothing planned for today! I had just posted how I want to be all healthy and eat less pasta – but since I didn’t plan a meal for today – I had to go with what I have in the pantry and freezer --- chicken and egg noodles.

I Googled“Racheal Ray recipe chicken egg noodles” and found this:

Hearty Chicken and Noodle Casserole

Ingredients

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)

1/2 cup milk

1 cup frozen mixed vegetables ( I had frozen peas, corn, and spinach)

2 cups cubed cooked chicken

2 cups medium egg noodles, cooked and drained

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

And I get to use my Rachael Ray bubble and brown bakeware! Woot!

Directions:

Heat the oven to 400°F. Stir the soup, milk, vegetables, chicken, noodles, Parmesan cheese and black pepper in a 1 1/2-quart casserole.
Bake for 25 minutes or until the chicken mixture is hot and bubbling. Stir the chicken mixture. Top with the cheese. Let stand until the cheese is melted.

I added a little garlic salt and some paprika on top too.

Just out of the oven:

And here is my plate:

I have to say that it was pretty darn good. I’m not crazy about spinach, but it’s good for me so I put it in there to counteract the cheese! LOL My SO had two very large helpings and said it was delicious!

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Please leave me a comment! It gets so lonely!

Sherry

Changes Ahead with my Menus

2010-05-07T18:55:00.001-07:00

Cooking for my family is one of my favorite things to do. I take time to menu plan, make out my grocery list, match up my coupons, shop, prepare, plate, and serve meals. Lately those meals have not been so healthful. We do have lots of veggies and salads and very little red meat – however, our portion sizes are way too big and we eat too much starchy foods (rice, pasta), etc.

I am a member at Spark People (which I LOVE) and I decided to base my daily menu and our family dinners on the Spark-suggested menus. It uses your calorie range and gives you a very balanced diet.

Tonight I had a small piece of chicken I baked in the oven with McCormick Grinders Italian Blend (rosemary, parsley and black peppercorn, with hearty pieces of garlic, onion and tomato) and a mixture of whole wheat pasta w/ 1/2 cup white beans, tomatoes, garlic, and spinach topped with parmesan cheese. I had a green salad, and a side of broccoli and cauliflower. It was good! And the chicken got rave reviews. I got the spice for 15 cents after sale and coupon!

And when I was looking for that picture, I found on the website some great recipes!

Meals Under 30 Minutes

Recipe Finder – Put in your meat and one other ingredient and see what pops up!

So my point is – look for healthier, fresher, yummier recipes to come!

Sherry

My Favorite Recipe Posts of the Week

2010-05-06T20:31:00.001-07:00

I follow over 100 blogs on bloglines and I save a LOT of posts that I want to get back to and generally forget about! I thought I’d list some of my favorite recipe posts of the past few weeks and have them here in one place!

Hopefully you will find them helpful too.

Falafel Recipe from Biggest Diabetic Loser

Diary of a SAHM’s Cooking Thursday

Eat at Home’s Pepper Patch Pasta

Good (& Cheap) Eats Spicy Hummus Wrap

Taste & Tell: Saturdays with Rachael Ray

Rachael Ray Sesame Noodles at Laloosh

What was your favorite recipe of the week?

Sherry

Cooking Thursday

2010-05-06T16:52:00.001-07:00

This is the first time for me to participate in Diary of a SAHM's Cooking Thursday.

I’ve been trying quite a few recipes lately and found one that my whole family will eat without too much altering! It is a recipe I saw on the Rachael Ray show a month ago and decided to try out. It’s called:

Taco Pasta Toss

I made mine a bit different from the recipe. I used:

1 lb whole wheat penne pasta

1 lb lean ground beef

1 packet taco seasoning

1 can sliced black olives

And for toppings:

Tomato

Onion

Cheddar

Salsa

Everyone loves this! Even my picky son who changes his likes and dislikes every week and usually won’t eat anything not covered in mustard or bbq sauce!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Sherry

Who Am I?

2010-05-05T12:02:00.001-07:00

Since this is a new blog for me, I thought I’d write a post for anyone who just might be interested in following me. (Which I would SO LOVE by the way!)

Obviously I just turned 40, like 2 weeks ago. I also made a huge change in my life and have been trying to make the most of it.

I have three children, SweetPea who is 13, THE BOY who is 11, and Daisy who is 10.

I love birds, flowers, trees and nature in general, so I will be posting about that.

I also love to cook new recipes and participate in Menu Plan Monday most weeks.

I’m an avid reader and plan to post more book reviews. I read mostly historical fiction, Christian fiction, classics, and the occasional mystery/horror book.

I’m trying to lose weight, so I will probably complain – uh I mean DISCUSS exercise, weight loss, etc.

I am a fan of television – namely Biggest Loser, Glee, Clean House, What Not to Wear, Dr. Who, My Big Life (Kirstie Alley) Ruby, and anything that starts with CSI. I don’t watch regularly, but I also like House, Dancing with the Stars, Grey’s Anatomy, Trauma, and Mercy.

I LOVE NETFLIX! I have Netflix set up through our Wii system and we watch lots of great tv series, movies, etc. I’m really in to Dr. Who season 1 right now. SweetPea has discovered Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel – she is addicted!

I talk daily walks – sometimes alone, sometimes with the kids. We visit lots of parks to keep it interesting. We bird watch while walking and also look for things to keep in our “Nature Jar” – feathers, eggs, bones, rocks, etc.

I homeschool Daisy. She is in 4th grade and this has worked for us for many years. I have another blog dedicated to this, but I’m sure I’ll be bringing it up here as well.

I work about 15 hours per week doing bookkeeping for a medical practice – Daisy goes with me and has her own school area there. I work another 20 hours a week doing medical transcription at home – which I really love.

Big girl or not, I love fashion and subscribe to several fashion blogs. I love makeup, jewelry, perfume, lotions, potions, etc.

Other things I may (or may not?) blog about:

FlyLady

Couponing/shopping/deals

Random photos

Travel (we are doing a historical vacation this summer! Colonial Williamsburg, Liberty Bell, Washington DC, Plymouth Rock, etc)

Writing (I love to write but don’t do much of it anymore – I’d like to change that, but I am already at the computer much of the time between work and FB!)

Current events

Memes

Other reviews

Ok, I think that about covers it! Me in a nutshell. If you read all of this – you are just about the awesomest person ever. If you skimmed, hey, that’s pretty awesome too.

I hope you will subscribe to my blog or at least come back and visit me again!

Please comment!

(Am I starting to sound desperate?)

Sherry – 40 and daring to change…

Cinco de Mayo

2010-05-05T09:08:00.001-07:00

I just finished watching the Rachael Ray show, (I just adore her by the way and always have!) and she made some yummy-looking fish tacos. I think that is what I’ll be having for dinner over at my parents’ house tonight – except ours won’t be fried, they will be a little more health conscious!

I wonder how many people know why we celebrate Cinco de Mayo? No, it’s not for the margaritas.

“Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of the Mexican people over the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.”

It’s also known as Mexican Independence Day – similar to our 4th of July.

Here are some healthy recipes from the Whole Foods blog: Inspired Recipes

One that I thought looked super yummy is the

Sweet Corn and Black Bean Salad

I’ll definitely be trying this!

What are you eating for Cinco de Mayo?

Mrs. H

Book Reviews

2010-05-04T14:20:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I went with my parents and my youngest daughter to Atlanta to visit my sister and my nephew. I had a lot of time to read on that LONG car ride (12 hours) and finished up 2 books.

The first was “Summer of the Midnight Sun” by Christian author, Tracie Peterson.

Obviously, the book is set in Alaska. A brother and sister run a trading post in a small town. There is a lost love, a mystery, an accident, a police investigation, and a cliffhanger.

I really enjoyed this book and have already ordered the second in the series. It didn’t blow me away, but it was entertaining, enjoyable, and kept my attention. On a scale of 0-10, I’d rate it a 8.

The second book that I read, a gift I received for my 40th b-day from my sister (who is in her 20’s, darn it) was “Saving CeeCee Honeycutt” by Beth Hoffman.

I was drawn in by the writing immediately. I sat down to read the back cover and ended up reading the entire first chapter.

CeeCee Honeycutt is a young girl living with a mom who suffers from psychosis. Circumstances bring her to live with her great aunt in Savannah where she meets many colorful characters and finds a whole new life.

This was a very good read. I’d give it a 9 on a scale of 0-10.

That’s what I read last week, what did you read?

Mrs. H

2010-05-02T16:22:00.000-07:00

Welcome to another week of Menu Plan Monday, hosted by the Org Junkie! Make sure to check it out and get a ton of great recipes and menu ideas every single week!

We had one of our new family favorites tonight, Taco Pasta Toss, another Rachael Ray find! 2 out of 3 kids will eat it, so that is a hit! (The other one eats plain noodles and veggies) I found another bloggie review for this recipe too! Just like pictures above, we top ours with taco fixin's and we also have a salad on the side.

Tomorrow night I am going to utilize Zatarran's Jambalaya mix and add shrimp, turkey sausage, bell peppers, onions, chicken, tomatoes and maybe something else too if I think of it at the time! I love the spices in the mix and never quite match it when I make jambalaya from scratch. I'll serve it up with some steamed veggies and a big green salad.

Tuesday night we'll be having oven-baked tilapia, risi e bisi, steamed broccoli & cauliflower, and green salad.

Wednesday night we go to my parents' house.

Thursday night I'm going to a friend's house for dinner, so the rest of the family will have pizza.

Friday night I'll be making Spaghetti ala Philly and garlic-cheese biscuits with green beans and salad. (The spaghetti a la Philly was found at one of my fav food blogs!)

Have a wonderful week,

Mrs. H

Menu Plan Monday: Last Week of March

2010-03-28T19:42:00.001-07:00

Please check out Org Junkie for more great menus!

Sunday: Out to dinner – Red Lobster

Monday: Buffalo chicken legs, oven fries, steamed veggies, salad

Tuesday: Greek Chicken with Everything Orzo (Rachael Ray) Salad, roasted vegetables

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Pizza Night!

Friday: Shrimp Asparagus Pasta w/ green salad

Saturday: Dinner with Family

Menu Plan Monday – March 23

2010-03-22T20:19:00.001-07:00

Our family tries to stick to a budget while eating pretty healthfully. It’s not always easy, but it’s something we strive for.

Menu planning is a very important part of our routine. Organizing Junkie’s weekly meme helps HUNDREDS of people with their menus!

BREAKFASTS: Reduced sugar instant oatmeal, cereal w/ skim milk, eggs with turkey bacon and light whole wheat toast

LUNCHES: Turkey sandwich on light whole wheat bread with yogurt and baby carrots, soup with Goldfish crackers, Lean Pocket w/ raw veggies and dip, leftovers

DINNERS:

MONDAY: Baked fish, baked potatoes, steamed vegetables

TUESDAY: Crockpot Beef w/ Broccoli over rice w/ salad

WEDNESDAY: Roast chicken, Brussel sprouts, roasted potatoes, salad

THURSDAY: Chicken parmesan w/ whole wheat spaghetti, steamed broccoli

FRIDAY: Make-your-own burrito bar (lean ground beef w/ taco seasoning, fat free refried beans, reduced fat cheddar, olives, onion, tomato, salsa, lettuce, etc.)

Have a very blessed week with your families!

Scarlett