Not My Best Week....

I ended up not having a very good week last week.  There were moments!  Great, healthy moments you can't wait to track and discuss in groups.  Raw veggies, salads, and lots of water!  But on the opposite end of the spectrum, there were also things that you'd never even whisper in front of your closest friend.  Fast food.  Junk food.  Lethargy......

Today is a brand new week.  I will plan.  I will follow plan.  I will have a healthy week!

Breakfasts:  Oatmeal all week long!    But it's oatmeal with a TBS of almond butter OR a hard-boiled egg) and a piece of fruit  with a cup of tea

Lunches:  Sandwiches on whole grain sandwich thins, or a salad with added protein, or leftovers, plus Greek yogurt. 

Work snacks:  (Not all of these in one day - but these are my choices)  String cheese, almonds or Triscuits, fruit, veggies & hummus, boiled egg, seafood snackers (I love these things - 80 calories, no fat, full of protein!)  

Dinners:

SUNDAY:  Stir-fried pork with lots of veggies and brown rice + green salad

MONDAY:  Turkey dogs + mac n cheese  (Daughter's choice - will utilize control!!!  That is the plan anyway! 

TUESDAY:  Steak, baked potato, and green beans

WEDNESDAY:  Spark Recipe - Chicken & Asparagus Pasta (I'm going to stick in extra veggies though!!!) 

THURSDAY:  Eat Out Night - Probably Subway! 

FRIDAY:  MediterraneanChicken & Brown Rice Casserole with Syrian-style green beans with tomatoes (minus oil!)  (Spark Recipes) 

As the Year Ends.....

Yes, it's been at least forever since I've updated my blog ....  but I have missed it and I plan to do so with much greater frequency in 2013!

So I have been in New Hampshire for the past couple of months and I have the most amazing job.  I'm working as a patient advocate for those who have been in auto or work accidents.  I help them get their hospital bills paid so they don't end up seeing a bill or even be put into collections.  It puts together a lot of my favorite things and (i think) plays to my strengths!  The company is wonderful, my co-workers are friendly, and my boss is incredible.

Other than that, I am not crazy about NH.  I have not acclimated well.  I miss Michigan.  Thanks to God and my very selfless family, my dad drove all the way to NH to bring us home for Christmas!  I've been here for a week and it has been really great!  Spending time all together as a family was the best Christmas present!

I'm working on my NY's resolutions.  I know a lot of people hate resolutions.  Or they hate calling them resolutions.  Or maybe they just despise change in general ...   but I love planning.  I love making lists.  I want to put things down in writing and give myself the hope of a better me in the future.  Nothing harmful in that as along as you try, right?  Doesn't mean you have to accomplish everything on the list - but at least strive for improvement.

On a different note, I hit some great after-Christmas sales.  I got a few work blouses for 60% off and some really inexpensive makeup and perfume with sales and coupons!  Now I have to put the shopping bug away and save, save, save so I can get my family into a cozy little home so I can stop living like a nomad!

So that is what I have been up to.  I hope anyone reading this is doing well and feeling blessed!

Sherry

Happy Homemaker Monday from New Hampshire

Linking up (a day late) with Sandra at Diary of a SaHM for Happy Homemaker's Monday.

For the next few months I am going to be a displaced homemaker.  We are in New Hampshire for awhile, staying with my best friend in the world.  The job market in Michigan was so bare that I had been looking for work for nearly 5 months to no avail.  I've been in NH for a week and have had 7 interviews!  I hope to start one of these jobs within the next few days :)

The weather:  It's been pretty gray and dismal most of the time that we have been here.  It's been anywhere from 25 (at night) to nearly 80 one day.  I think the weather is crazier here than in Michigan.  But oh, is it beautiful!



Right now I am:  Coloring my hair!  The roots and white hair were showing through much too much!  I am also puppy-sitting my Goddaughter's sweet little Charlie.



Thinking:  About several job interviews that I have lined up - and how I will fit homeschooling around work.  My best friend works from home, so she will be there to make sure that the work gets done!  LOL  But the important time spent together learning and growing will have to be a priority.

On my reading pile:  I just finished reading a really cute mystery set in an inn in Maine.  I've already forgotten the name - it was a freebie on my Nook.  Reading Pride and Prejudice with Emily for homeschool.  Hopefully will start another book tonight.

On my tv:  Mostly have been watching kid/teen shows (a lot of Drake & Josh!) but I plan to watch Glee, Grey's Anatomy, and Bones this week.

Menu: Well this is a bit different since I am staying with my friend - some nights we all eat together as a family and other nights it's just us.  I do plan on making a baked bowtie pasta casserole and I've been wanting some homemade guacamole and breakfast burritos. 

On my to do list:  Job interviews!  Laundry, homeschooling, puppy-sitting, sight-seeing, picture-taking and spending as much time as I can with my bestest and Goddaughter while we are here.

What I am creating:  Well, we did make some nature art this week - but that is about it at the moment!

From the camera:  We visited this cemetery yesterday - it was just so incredibly beautiful! 




In my prayers:  My kids, my friends, the country & the election.

Bible quote/devotional:  I am doing the Adventurous Prayer Bible study right now (my church is doing this back home and I am following along here somewhat) 

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know"  Jeremiah 33:3

Have a very blessed week,

Sherry

Thoughts for Tuesday

Weather-wise this is my favorite time of the year.  The sky is such a saturated blue with fluffy white clouds, most of the trees are still green with a teasing of brilliant red and orange.  The morning glories are full and abundant, growing over hurricane fences, up drain spouts and rose trellises.  Potted mums are popping up on front porches next to early pumpkins, bales of hay and scarecrows. 

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I pulled out my winter clothes today.  My favorite denim jacket, black cardigan sweater, flannel nightgown, and soft, warm loose-knit fair isle sweater.  I folded up all my summer clothing yesterday in preparation to be boxed up and stored for the next 6-7 months. 

The plan for tonight was chicken stir fry, but I think I might change it up and do this super simple chicken and dumplings made with biscuits.  The cool air coupled with my need of comfort food makes this a great choice!  LOL

Emily and I have a heavy school load for today.  Biology, world history, grammar, literature with Little Women and Pride and Prejudice, math, Shakespeare, Bible, current events, president study, etc. 

I'm stopping by a friend's house to help her with a quick task, doing laundry, and have to stop and get some dishwasher detergent, toilet paper, and garbage bags. 

Tonight I'll be watching some episodes from Criminal Minds season 2!  My current addiction. 

That's about it for today.  Life is going to be turned upside down in the next week, so these last quiet days at home are really ones I'm cherishing!

My Scripture for the day:  Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Happy Homemaker Monday

I am linking up with Sandra from Diary of a SaHM for Happy Homemaker Monday!

The Weather:::   I'm loving the fall weather.  It was in the 30's last night!  The afternoons are in the mid-60's to lower 70's.  *love*

On my reading pile:::  I am about 1/2-way through two books this week - "A Year with Austen" about a woman who travels through South America having book groups and discussing Austen novels (true story) and "The Covenant" by Beverly Lewis. 

On my tv:::  I watched the 1st Glee episode for this season with my girls.  Other than that I watched season 1 of Criminal Minds on DVD.  

On the menu for this week::: 

Sunday  -  Spaghetti and Meatballs

Monday – Crockpot bbq ribs, green beans, brown rice w/ spinach

Tuesday -  Ham, scalloped potatoes and corn (also Crockpot!) 

Wednesday -  Chicken stir fry over brown rice

Thursday – Jake’s football game & then dinner with family

Friday -  Baked chicken legs and french fries, steamed broccoli and carrots

Saturday -  Dinner at my parents’ house

On my to do list::: 

Homeschooling 

Laundry

The usual

Looking around the house:::  It's cool with the kitchen window open and it smells like cranberries from the burning candle in the entryway. 

From the camera:::  

 

Starting on Pride and Prejudice today for the homeschool book club.  I found this Jane Austen finger puppet and simply couldn't resist!

 

On my prayer list::: 

Friends from church

My best friend who is going through testing for breast lumps

Upcoming election & our country

Scripture:::  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.  In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.   1 Peter 5:7-10 NLT

Bifocals....Seriously?

It seems I have a very good prospect for a job.  I feel full of hope as if this is the interview which will lead to the job God has in mind for me! 

As for this morning, it was so chilly I actually donned a sweater and turned on the heat in the car to drive Jennah and Jacob to school!  Jennah looked so cute in her favorite knit beret and two-tone gray-striped, button-up cardigan!  Some fingerless gloves too  

Jacob is having yet more football troubles.  After practice he is so tired he is falling asleep while doing his homework and not getting it done.  He has a few English papers that we will have to do together in order to turn them in late.  He is the most difficult of my three to help with homework.  (or to teach anything for that matter)  He has a very short attention span, but thankfully up until now his intelligence has gotten him through with good grades.  Now that he is in highschool, he has to actually study and do homework!!  So we are working on a new schedule and place for homework to be done - one that is NOT easy to fall asleep at!

My homeschooled girlie is sick today.  She got me up about 445 this morning with stomach pain on the left side.  I gave her some Pepto which soothed her somewhat and she is finally back to sleep here in the living room. 

I have a breakfast concoction in the oven ("crust" of hashbrowns topped with breakfast sausage, spinach, eggs, and cheese)  I think it will be quite tasty for a late breakfast with some yogurt & fruit. 

I am supposed to go and pick up my new glasses today.  BIFOCALS.  OMgoodness.  But I do so much reading and computer work that they are needed.  And I will use them and appreciate them!  But I will still feel old :/


I have some errands to run today as well, depending on how Emily feels.  We may have a shortened school day if she still has a stomach ache.  I'm sure it will get her out of some math at the very least!  LOL 

I found a recipe for homemade Carpet Fresh online  using baking soda and herbs.  Lots of different ways - some use 1/2 baking soda, 1/2 borax + herbs & spices.  I made mine with baking soda, ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg.  Costs about 50 cents to do the whole place!  25 cents if I can catch a really good sale on baking soda!  One way I want to try is to use ground up lavender.  Also you can use essential oils (it says to leave it mixed overnight before using it so the powder absorbs all the oil)

I have a load of towels in the dryer and I just love folding them and putting them away.  Fresh smelling and warm. 

Have a blessed day and remember to enjoy the little things.

Sherry

Typical Tuesday

You would think that a woman who is diligently looking for a full-time job would have a lot of time on her hands.  Not so!  My days are full and I wonder how I will ever fit it all in once God places me in the job He wants me to have!

Today is Tuesday and it started just like most days do - up at 6:45 to take Jennah and Jacob to their respective schools!  Jennah is in 11th grade now and she is involved in the Spanish club, a book club, and another school club I forget at the moment!  LOL  She is fully focused on her studies and I couldn't be more proud of her! 

Jacob is all about football.  Every year in late summer and fall he is at practice 5-6 days per week and has a game every Thursday evening.  His asthma has really been giving him problems this year.  He had pneumonia when he was 8 which weakened his respiratory system and he has had minor asthma since.  For some reason this year it has worsened and he has to use his inhaler daily before practice. He is in 9th grade this year, and out of my 3 kids, he is the one most concerned with name brand shoes and shirts, the "RIGHT" way to wear a baseball cap, and pretty much having the need to just blend in.

Emme started 7th grade this month - but she is my homeschooled kid!  This year has started off SO well.  7th grade is a lot more work than any other year we've done.  Biology, world history, math, French, nature study, grammar, literature, election study, president study, religion, phys ed, Shakespeare, art, and more, more!  I'm more involved this year - even though she is able to work independently in many subjects, we are working on note-taking, outlining, etc in several subjects so I am helping her get the feel for it. We also have homeschool group and just started a girl's middle school book club! This is a typical Em photo:

I got back home at about 7:50, put a load of laundry in the washer, and unloaded, reloaded and started the dishwasher.  (I've been under the weather the past few days and got a little behind!) 

Popped in a CSI DVD and have been doing little odds and ends.

Emily and I will be going to Walmart today to replace our broken printer.  I have needed a printer so many times since school started!  Then going to Kroger to finish up our 2-week grocery shop.  Then I am going to see about getting my cable turned back on.  Thought we could live without it - but it's just not happening!

Emily and I will do school work through the afternoon and I will do housework while she is doing independent work. 

 

The weather has cooled to where it is perfect open-window temperature.  But thanks to the little guy below (Jasper) I need to reinforce the screens this afternoon.  He has a bad habit of pushing the screens out and going out on the town!  Thank God he has always come back to us! 

Dinner tonight is going to be chicken fajitas with blue corn chips and fresh guacamole. 

We are supposed to go to a Lia Sophia party tonight, but I am not sure if I am up to it.  I've been in bed most of the past 2 days - cough, headache-y, and an on & off again fever.  If I can make it through all my plans today and still feel alright, then I will be spending time looking at jewelry!

Have a blessed day!

Sherry