Menu Plan Monday April 14, 2014

Last night some of my great friends came over to my place for girls’ night at my place to celebrate my birthday a little early.  They brought me a cake, Just Baked cupcakes and gifts.  We had some great food and girl talk.  I always enjoy when we get together.  I always overeat too!  But seeing as it is my birthday week (yes, week) as well as Easter, a lot of food is going on.  So for all the other meals I plan to go back on Weight Watchers Simple Start (or stupid start as I call it – only because I want pizza and chips and can’t have them!  hahaha)  Actually it is smart, easy to follow and super healthy – mostly.  I plan to tweak it just the tiniest bit to make it more long-term friendly.

I spent a good portion of my paycheck grocery shopping.  Overflowing cart at Aldi and then more from Kroger.  My kitchen is just filled up with fruits, veggies (both fresh and frozen) chicken, fish, ground turkey, whole grains, herbs spices, etc etc.  I get paid every two weeks, so I bought enough to get us through (and probably even further than) two weeks.

 

Breakfasts :

breakfast “hash” – eggs, diced potatoes, peppers, onion and turkey sausage with a piece of fruit

baked banana oatmeal with a boiled egg

whole wheat mini bagel with fruit and a string cheese

overnight refrigerator oats

(Kids add cereal and blueberry pancakes with turkey bacon)

 

Lunches:

Salad topped with protein (chicken, beans, etc) and a piece of fruit

1st week – Taco soup with veggies and dip

Leftovers with side salad or fruit

2nd week –  Veggie soup with beans, yogurt, fruit

Turkey or chicken and veggie wrap with veggies and dip

(Kids add turkey sandwich or pb&j )

 

Dinners:

Baked chicken in Crockpot with potatoes, carrots, onions & green beans

Tilapia with bulgur pilaf, broccoli, green salad

Red beans w/ turkey sausage in Crockpot over brown rice, green salad

Spicy Fish Taco Bowl 

Turkey burgers on the GF grill and oven fries, veggies and dip

Chicken burritos with avocado crema  (simplified)

Vegetable/whole grain spaghetti with turkey meatballs, green salad

Chicken grilled on GF with roasted cabbage and carrots and brown rice

We will have Easter and my birthday dinner over my parents’ house with family, plus another night over the two weeks.

(Kids – add chicken nuggets and french fries or mac n cheese if they don’t like what i cook)

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Homemaker Monday

I finally have a home to take care of once again – so I am happy to be back on Happy Homemaker Monday!

 

 

 

As I look outside my window:::  One of the first *true* days of spring.  Skies of the sweetest blue, air warm enough to crack the windows just a little, birds at the feeder.

Right now I am:::  Taking a break from cleaning!  Most things are pretty tidy and I deserve a break!

Thinking and pondering::: About the things I still need for my new home.  So many touches of *me* needed in each room.  Still waiting for the right tables to come along, pictures, etc.

On my bedside table::: A lace doily, white lamp with yellow striped shade, Kindle. Emily’s phone charging.

On my tv this week (I watch all my shows online!)

Ghost Adventures

Believe

The Following

The Blacklist

When Calls the Heart

Hannibal

Sherlock

Chicago Fire

The Voice

The Red Road

 

Listening to:::  Birds chirping, dogs barking and kids playing!  Spring!

 

On the menu for this week:::

Monday – Beef & gravy over rice with green beans & salad
Tuesday – Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti and broccoli, salad
Wednesday –  Dinner with family
Thursday –  Salsa Chicken with black beans and corn in the Crockpot served with tortillas or rice
Friday –  Kids’ choice – breaded baked chicken legs, oven fries, green beans
Saturday –  Dinner with family
Sunday –  Ham & scalloped potatoes with corn in the Crockpot

On my to do list:::

Happening this week:::
Monday – Work, pick up Jake from school & take him to Best Buy, daily chores

Tuesday – Work, get couch for living room, daily chores

Wednesday – Work, kids & I go to parents’ for family dinner, daily chores

Thursday – Work, daily chores

Friday – Work, watch movie with kids

Saturday – Family day, church

Sunday – Cleaning and planning day

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::  Nothing yet, but I have plans to re-cover an ottoman and make a matching pillow to go with my blue and cream plaid chair.
My simple pleasure:::  Relaxing in the evening catching up on my shows!

 

Lesson learned the past week:::  It’s better to tell a hard truth and get it over with than to hide it away and feel bad about it!
Looking around the house:::  Everything is clean and put away, beds made, fresh table cloth on the dining room table, laundry in the dryer.

 Prayer List:::  My children and family, a woman who goes to my church’s little boy who is having surgery next week, a young teen who is struggling with pain and another adorable young boy recovering from a traumatic brain injury.

Bible verse, Devotional:::  Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

 

Have a blessed week,

 

S