Weekly Meal Plan

How's that name?!

Sunday: Steaks on the Grill
Monday: BLT + Mac N Cheese
Tuesday: Burgers, Carrots, Cucumbers, Chips + Dip
Wednesday: Baked Chicken + Potatoes (split chicken breasts) in Italian Dressing--I recently saved this recipe but cannot remember whose blog it came from. Here it is though:

Chicken Potato Bake

2-3 split chicken breasts
3-4 red potatoes, chunked
3/4 cup zesty italian dressing
1 T italian seasoning
3/4 cup parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400º. Grease a 9x13 baking dish. Meanwhile parboil potatoes to soften slightly. Drain and add around chicken breasts. Drizzle chicken and potatoes with dressing. Sprinkle with cheese and seasoning. Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes. Uncover and bake 20-30 minutes more.

Thursday: Carryout
Friday: Stuffed Green Peppers (I got the Stouffers on sale about 2 wks ago) my kids will likely have hot dogs
Saturday: ?
Sunday: Birthday dinner for my sister at my Mom's (Pork Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Homemade Dressing--I must share this recipe b/c she makes the best, most unusual dressing!) I am a little excited about this meal :)

As for car shopping, the Acura ship has probably sailed :( I test drove a Honda Pilot and really liked it too. I am currently suffering from sticker shock so the whole thing may be on hold for awhile. Pin It

recipe review and car shopping

First, the Tortellini Bake was delicious. Rich, rich goodness. I made it with the asparagus and wish I had gotten it out a bit sooner b/c they got mushy, otherwise this was a big winner with salad and garlic bread. I think this would also be good with broccoli and b/c it is so rich, a plain noodle instead of tortellini would be sufficient. It made a lot. Oh, and without chicken I think it could be a great potluck side dish too.

Today we, including the children, spent 3 hours looking at and test driving vehicles. It's exhausting and overwhelming...dang, new vehicles are expensive. Topping the list right now is the Acura MDX but we'd have to obtain a 2010 to even make this feasible.

(Acura MDX)

Our main priority is a vehicle with a third row seat since neither of our kids is big enough to sit in the front seat. If each of them has a friend, we've got a problem. That limits the playing field dramatically. Off the list, the Chevy Traverse. I so wanted to like it, but I just could not see out well and did not feel safe with all the blind spots.(Traverse)

I will say, the Traverse has the most roomy interior. Inside, it is much like our mini van and you can move about as easily.

So, the hunt continues with me wildly hoping for a call regarding a 2010 Acura that will somehow fit our budget :) Prayers, anyone? Pin It

love the one you're with

I recently read about this movement, it may have been the basis of a book, where the idea is to use the camera you have on hand. Basically, make do with what you have but don't miss the memory. This theory has led me to use my iphone as a camera a lot more. Case in point...an impromptu visit to Shaw's farm on Monday. I did not have a camera with me but instead captured these, total keepers, with the Hisptamatic App and my trusty phone.

Quite honestly, the rest of the week has been mostly a blur with tons of activities and commitments.
One commitment...heading up the Cook and Bake committee for the school PTO. Part of this included me bringing home dirty dishes two nights this week after the teachers' dinners. Above is a scary photo of what that looked like on Tuesday around 9p. Cleaning 3 crockpots= dislike.

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meal plan monday...on tuesday

Here I am again. On Tuesday.
Monday: Grilled Pork Chops, Steamed Broccoli, Bob Evans mashed potatoes
Tuesday: Taco Salads (hamburgers for the girlies)
Wednesday: Chicken Pot Pies, Salad (chix nuggets for the girls)
Thursday: Dance class + school conferences = fast food night
****I am organizing dinners for the school teachers on Tuesday and Thursday b/c they stay all day and night for conferences. I am making this super easy and yummy potato casserole for Thursday.*** ( I just layer the ingredients together, I don't mix them all first. And sometimes I use potato chips instead of corn flakes for the topping, depending on what I have on hand).
Friday: Tortellini Bake, Salad (It is going to cool off and this sounds like the epitome of comfort food!)

Want to read a whole boatload of meal plans and recipes? Go HERE. Pin It

accepting a compliment

Today at church with my girls, right after the sign of peace (for those of you who are not catholic, during this time we shake hands with those seated around us) the woman next to me said: you have two very beautiful girls. I was caught a bit off guard and simply said: thank you, thank you very much. Typically if I were not at church and forced into a short response, I would have likely made a joke or said something more like: thanks but they are high maintenance.

In the next few moments of silence in the church, it dawned on me the merit of simply just saying thank you and accepting a compliment. I hope I can remember that.

And because blog posts without pictures tend to be boring, how about this nugget:

Today only, you can buy 10 digital scrapbooking kits for just $10 at Little Dreamer Designs. Pin It