Daily Archives: October 5, 2009

Daybook: October 5th

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Today…

Outside my window: It’s pretty nice out – huge fluffy clouds. We’ve had a lot of rain lately but it looks nice right now. Weather man says high of 63 today. It’s 51 out right now.

I am hearing: “High ho, high ho, high ho, high ho!” We’re watching Snow White one last time before my review tomorrow at Mommas Review.

I am thinking: that I still have no idea what I want for lunch today. Nothing in particular sounds just right. And nothing is going to top the Pumpkin Pancakes I had for breakfast this morning, so…

I am hoping: the cloth diapers come out clean the first time today. I’m getting tired of rewashing them when two rinses doesn’t prove to be enough.

I am reading: Queste by Angie Sage and I’m also reading Close Encounters of a Third Grade Kind on the side. Both are really good so far.

I am creating: nothing but I’ve got Dan the Man creating all sorts of things. Requests currently on order: taking in three pairs of jeans for me so that they don’t look ridiculously large and baggy on me anymore, making baby leggings for Miss BB out of some ladies crew socks we picked up, new winter hats and scarves for the family. He just finished an adorable hat for BB – those seem to be a pretty quick gig for him, it took him about 2 days, a few hours each night. He could have done it in one night but we picked up some extra things for it on day two.

I am wearing: Gorgeous new pajamas. So pretty I don’t want to take them off just yet. I’m slowly trying to replace the old, ratty remains of my wardrobe – too big for me, bought with a Clearance Rack mentality in mind – with pretty, nicer pieces. A less is more mentality – quality over quantity. I picked up this top and these capris and also this cute pair of flannel sleep pants at Target and <3 it.

In the kitchen:

  • Monday: BBQ Chicken with sweet potatoes and frozen veggies
  • Tuesday: Chicken Parmesan with whole wheat dinner rolls
  • Wednesday: Hamburgers, Hot Dogs & Macaroni and Cheese
  • Thursday: Cheesy Shrimp Rice
  • Friday: Bratwurst (hot dogs for the boy) with corn on the cob

Around the house: Last night I had a cleaning spree – I tackled the bathroom countertops like never before – eliminating so much clutter. It looks fantastic. I also did a lot of dishes, breaking down old cardboard, etc. Oh and over the weekend I picked up a cute little wicker basket at Gordmans that we’re using as a little remote control caddy with a couple of DVDs thrown in that are currently in major rotation. I think I got the idea in my latest issue of Family Circle but I could be wrong.

Plans for the week: My daddy is coming to visit! He and his wife will get here late Thursday night and are staying until Tuesday morning – I am soooooo excited and cannot wait for them to meet their new grandbaby!

A few of my favorite things: the Evil Ogre Daddy stories that have taken our household by storm. A month or two ago MM asked me to read him a story, which turned into many, many stories. And eventually we ran out of books nearby so I made up a story about Brave Prince MM rescuing the Fair Princess BB from the Evil Orgre Daddy (my alias is Beautiful Queen Mommy if you were wondering). Just silly stories but MM was instantly smitten and we do it all the time now. Often he’ll tell the stories himself and it’s just so cute. In daddy’s defense, I’ve started trying to tell stories about Dashing King Daddy, too, and how the Evil Ogre Daddy was really more like a Frog Prince and just needed a kiss from his one true love to turn into a king… but MM still refers to all the stories as Evil Ogre Daddy stories. I’m working on video taping some stories for you guys because it really is adorable.

A picture thought:

Great idea, right?

Monday Mentions: October 5th

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Monday Mentions is an easy way to share any and all of the fun things you’ve discovered recently, online or otherwise. For more information read this post by the mastermind behind this whole thing, Jen @ Daily Mish Mash. Here’s what I’ve discovered this week…

First off, I want to give a major shout out to the “Note in Google Reader” function which made organizing all the fun things I’ve found this week SO much easier. If you aren’t using this feature yet, I highly recommend it. I can’t find a direct link to this feature but when I’m looking at my shared items in Google Reader, it has a little button the top right hand corner of the page saying, “Share anything on the web! Just drag this bookmarklet to your browser’s bookmark toolbar.” Easy right?

Anyway, moving onto said amazing things that I’ve shared in Google Reader this week that are worth a mention or twelve:

Blog Love

  • “Why I Am Not Afraid To Take Your Money” by Amanda F*&@ing Palmer – My soon to be brother in law shared this post on Facebook last week. Amanda is a musician who makes a lot of her money from webcast performances and has been getting a bit of heat for it. This post is really worth a read.
  • “Mom Fashion – 5 Things To Keep In Mind” by Audrey at Mom Generations (which I found @ Blissfully Domestic) – What things do you automatically check for when shopping for clothes? Like beyond color, size, or price. I loved this quick article on the things moms look for in fashion. “Can you BEND down to change a diaper?” or “Can you DANCE and do “Ring Around the Rosy” on command?” were my favorites.
  • This recent post by The Bloggess really had me cracking up, specifically the whole “Alternate Versions of the Little Engine That Could” bit towards the end. A sampling: “The little engine that did and then found out it was overrated and then got disillusioned with life and stopped showering.”
  • Two potentially controversial articles from Write Anything were tweeted my way via @WriteFromKaren. “Books Are Outdated” and “Hard Graft” are both worth a read. So are Karen’s tweets.
  • Another great post Karen tweeted out last week was “Weight and Wisdom” by Carrie Fisher – stellar post – I know you want another sampling: “I think the folks that insult & mock celebrities who DARE to pack on ten pounds or—–God forbid——MORE than ten!…..I would think it only fair that they post a photo of themselves along with their poisonous observations!  And you know what else would be SUPER cool??? Their IQ! ALL the numbers! An approximate count of Weight AND wisdom!”
  • I’m almost done (maybe not?) I swear. “Your Someday is Here: Making Lists That Matter” encouraged me to write my own 40 by 40 post last week. I love this idea – sort of like a written out vision board of sorts.
  • An Open Letter To All You Moms-to-Be by Amber Page Writes (one of my newest bloggy finds) was so heart warming and spot on – a must read!

Things I’m Coveting

  • Of the not so bloggy variety, my dad shared an engadget article about a very cool looking camera phone by Samsung that is seriously the first cell phone I’ve truly coveted in like ages. I’ve been looking for the cell phone of my dreams for awhile and was pretty sure it didn’t exist, but I was wrong. It’s just maybe only going to be available in Korea. Details.
  • Inspiration Corner Library at ohdeedoh.com had me swooning for that perfect little toy room or better yet a home library complete with a kid’s only reading nook.
  • Dry Erase Paint – need I say more?
  • Book Of The Moment: I’m dying to check out Bundle of Trouble by Diana Orgain – anyone else heard about this new mommy mystery series?

Visual Variety

  • #gno on Twitpic It says, “Because next time, you’ll just buy the damn cookies.” I bet your wishing you hadn’t turned down the sweet little girl who showed up on your doorstep last night now, aren’t you? To be safe (or because they are delicious) I bought two boxes when some neighbors came by yesterday selling cookies. I probably maybe definitely wasn’t picturing this twitpic when I did it.
  • Speaking of pictures, “How To Photograph Babies” at Blissfully Domestic had me crawling on the floor, snapping pictures of BB within minutes.

  • This awesome video was tweeted my way by @TheEllenShow

Mouth Watering Finds

  • We made Jen & Vic’s Taco Salad last week and oh my god, so delicious guys! Luckily we had leftovers, because this one was love at first bite.
  • These Blueberry Lime Cheesecake Bars at Rookie Cookie look soooo delicious – I haven’t made them yet because I’m afraid I’ll eat the whole thing!
  • @ThePioneerWoman tweeted this recipe for Rainbow Cake that looks soooo pretty – I might make this for the next kiddo birthday around here.

That’s all for this week. If you’re playing along, make sure you link up at Daily Mish Mash!

Monthly Menu Plan: October

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I’m back with another month of menu planning!

For those who’ve never planned a month long menu or haven’t read my little posts on them before, here’s the deal: Rather than planning my family dinners night by night, or week by week, I’ve taken the habit of planning out one menu for an entire month. This makes my grocery shopping much easier since I’ve already decided what dinners I’ll be making, I only have to pick up the ingredients missing for that week and the very regular cast of breakfast and lunch foods.

And the looming nightly dinners are now much less intimidating. No longer having to stand in front of the refrigerator scratching my head, trying desperately to figure out something nutritious and delicious to make for dinner? Love that. And by doing this monthly rather than weekly, it leaves more time for life in the days in between. It isn’t rocket science, and thanks goes to Simple Mom who inspired me with this idea.

So here’s my menu for the month of October:

Week One (1 lb chicken, bratwurst, shrimp)

  • Saturday October 3rd: Leftover Spinach Feta burgers
  • Sunday: Breakfast For Dinner: Pumpkin Pancakes with fresh fruit smoothies and sausage
  • Monday: BBQ Chicken with sweet potatoes & frozen vegetables
  • Tuesday: Chicken Parmesan with whole wheat dinner rolls
  • Wednesday: Hamburgers, Hot Dogs & Mac & Cheese
  • Thursday: Cheesy Shrimp and Rice
  • Friday: Bratwurst, Hot Dogs & Corn on the Cob (dad is visiting)

Week Two (2 lb ground beef, 1 1/2 lb chicken, 1/2 lb salmon)

  • Saturday October 10: Italian Style Meatloaf with mashed potatoes & salad (dad is visiting)
  • Sunday: Homemade Pizza or Calzones (dad is visiting)
  • Monday: Grilled Chicken with sweet potatoes, carrots & dinner rolls (dad is visiting)
  • Tuesday: Spaghetti with Italian Sausage
  • Wednesday: Soup & Sandwiches
  • Thursday: leftover Enchilada Pizza
  • Friday: Salmon with rice & black beans & salad

Week Three: (1 lb chicken, 1/2 lb shrimp, Italian Sausage)

  • Saturday October 17: Chili with cornbread and salad
  • Sunday: Leftover Irish Beef Stew
  • Monday: Chicken with carrots and mashed potatoes
  • Tuesday: Fettucini Alfredo with grilled chicken and spinach
  • Wednesday: Grilled Chicken Burgers with sliced cucumbers, tomatoes and mayo
  • Thursday: Meatloaf Sandwiches (using leftovers)
  • Friday: Grilled Shrimp Caesar Salad

Week Four: (breakfast sausage, 1 lb chicken, 1/2 lb salmon, 1/2 lb beef)

  • Saturday October 24: Homemade Pizza or Calzone
  • Sunday: Breakfast for Dinner: French Toast, Sausage & Fresh Fruit
  • Monday: Grilled Chicken with sweet potatoes & salad
  • Tuesday: Fettucini Alfredo with grilled chicken, spinach and tomatoes
  • Wednesday: Jen & Vic’s Taco Salad
  • Thursday: Spaghetti with diced tomatoes and seasonings and dinner rolls
  • Friday: Parmesan Baked Salmon