Menu Plan Monday: December 12

Busy, busy, hectic, hectic. That's what my month has turned out to be! We've eaten way too much take out and frozen food (which isn't healthy for the budget any more than it is for the body and waistline!)  So, I'm challenging myself to use the crock pot a lot this week so that I can avoid that. Here goes nothing.

I'm using various recipes, but the main source is going to be the Year of Slow Cooking blog archives. Love me some blog posts from that site. Yup. Yummy. As usual I'll be either using vegetarian recipes or vege-tizing them. I'm also going to plan on starting a crock of soup as I head to bed each night. This will serve three purposes: 1. We will eat something warm and nutritious for lunch rather than cold sandwiches or fast items. 2. By making a double batch I will be able to pop some meals in the freezer for what will be a very busy few weeks with the holidays. 3. The soup will be finished in the morning so that my nurse mother will be able to fill a thermos full before heading to work therefore giving her a warm and nutritious lunch as well. (It also means that I don't have to make a lunch on art class day for the kid because it will be ready in the morning. Can I get a big WOO HOO for being lazy prepared!) We have multiple crock pots so we'll see how running two at a time will work!

I should mention that I'm much more likely to actually stick to this plan because.... wait for it... we got a new dishwasher! YES! No more dish pan hands. No more fatigue at constantly seeing dirty dishes in the sink because you just can't keep up in a house where three to four people are home all day. (Not only do we homeschooling, but the husband works from home as well. We really like being together evidently!) With the handy-dandy dish washing technology strapped under the counter I'll be cooking and loving it once again. Still, I'm going to stick to the crock pot each day so that I can be sure that the schedule won't get in the way.

Not that it really goes on the meal plan, but I'm drooling over tonight's dinner: Baked Bean Soup with cornbread!

Monday:
B: Bagels and fruit
L: Split pea soup (no bacon) - Did I mention that I don't like pea soup? This is the "mom earns points" meal for the week.
D: CP Cincinnati Style Chili over Spaghetti, salad (for my honey)

Tuesday:
B: Apple Blueberry Oatmeal
L: White Chili (add Quorn Chikin Tenders during the last hour or so - but white chili never seems like chili to me so it's white soup in my world ;)
D: Honey and Orange Tofu with broccoli

Wednesday:
B: Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Couscous (this keeps showing up because I have yet to make it. sigh)
L: Corn Chowder
D: Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers (with Quorn Crumbles added in)

Thursday:
B: Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (we need a grab and go since the kid has class in the am.)
L: Moroccan Lentil Soup
D: Baked Spinach and Cheese Noodles and salad

Friday:
B: Apple Dumpling Delight (Got this from a friend: Wrap sliced/peeled apples in crescent rolls, mix and pour over: 1c OJ, 1c melted butter, 1/2c sugar. Bake. Easy.)
L: Mac and Cheese, apples, and broccoli (babysitting day, and I promised them!)
D: Black bean soup and nachos

Saturday: Family Christmas celebration with one side, so we're eating with family!

Sunday:
B: OYO - On Your Own
L: Albondiga Soup (though I don't know if the mint will freak out the child and husband in which case I will use the parsley noted in the blog comments)
D: Leftovers

Check out more Menu Plan Monday entries at http://orgjunkie.com/ .

Review: Coming Back Stronger by Drew Brees

Title: Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity
Author: Drew Brees with Chris Fabry
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
ISBN: 9781414339436
Retail Price: $26.99



Check out this link to read Chapter One for FREE!

Summary from the Publisher's website:
When a potentially career-ending shoulder injury left quarterback Drew Brees without a team—and facing the daunting task of having to learn to throw a football all over again—coaches around the NFL wondered, Will he ever come back? After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, leaving more than 80 percent of the city underwater, many wondered, Will the city ever come back? And with their stadium transformed into a makeshift refugee camp, forcing the Saints to play their entire 2005 season on the road, people questioned, Will the Saints ever come back? It takes a special person to turn adversity into success and despair into hope—yet that is exactly what Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees has done—and with the weight of an entire city on his shoulders. Coming Back Stronger is the ultimate comeback story, not only of one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, but also of a city and a team that many had all but given up on. Brees’s inspiring message of hope and encouragement proves that with enough faith, determination, and heart, you can overcome any obstacle life throws your way and not only come back, but come back stronger.

Review:

Yes! Finally a professional athlete that we can point our children to as a modern day role model. (Many look at sports figures as one, but this time it's ok!)  Coming Back Stronger shares a walk through life experiences well handled, and brings your heart back to New Orleans.

To be honest, I like football but I don't capital letter LIKE football. I probably would not have chosen a book about football under normal circumstances. However, the story of the Saints and the city of New Orleans has just gripped my heart over the last few years so I was interested in reading this book. I was also curious to see how Mr. Brees would express his faith. I have to say that I was shocked at how much I just loved this book! I looked forward to spending time in it each evening. The conversational tone of the writing made it very enjoyable and pleasant, and the explanation of the processes behind the giant that is Professional Football turned out to be fascinating! Best, though, was how the theme of walking on faith through diversity stayed a continuous thread. Don't skip this book if you are not a Christian - you'll pick up a lot from the book as well through his consistent drive and determination. But, it's a great testimony to how a life can be lived when you stick to your principals and faith. It truly contains lessons that we can all related to... athlete or no athlete. The character traits modeled by Drew Brees (and his wife through inclusion in the story) should be present in all our lives. Reading Coming Back Stronger is like hearing from an old friend how he managed to accomplish all he did when so many would have stopped short. It's truly a motivating read. (Plus I found myself giggling at his humor and all around "good guy" comments throughout the book!)

It's settled! I'll be a #9 fan from here on out!


Rating: 4 Stars! I would love to give this book five stars, and nearly did, but I honestly won't read it again simply because I don't tend to read biographies twice. However, I am going to recommend that my uncle, Saints fan and frequent traveler, pack this in his bag during his next flight!

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers for this review.

Holiday Bliss, December 3: Crafts!

I adore holiday crafts! They are just plain fun!

Fridays are babysitting days around my house. I get to spend some time with the daughters of a fellow homeschooler, and we have a good time. Today my mother decided that it was a great day for crafts and made a run to Michael's. (I really should work there part time because I spend way too much time money there!) They came back with the cutest little crafts. We're not talking museum quality art here, but a "good time had by all" kind of foam and plastic bead crafts. Stretch necklaces were flowing and foam snowmen refused to melt. I might have even gotten a little glitter glue crazy, but don't tell the kids. They think we ran out. (It's all mine!!!)

It's the little things in life, and today that meant craft time.

Today's favorite Christmas carol is Three Ships Sailing. There are so many great versions of this song (Sting and Nat King Cole both come to mind) but I have to say that my favorite version is a Celtic one. :) This comes from Orla Fallon's Celtic Christmas. Enjoy!

Fall Into Reading Challenge update #1

Ah, reading... another love of mine. I promised an update to keep me honest and then I went and fell off of the update wagon! Whoops!

You can check out my Fall Into Reading Challenge 2010 page HERE.

Update on goals:

"1. Read a minimum of 30 minutes per day."
Well... Not really. I have been reading every day but I haven't had made the time to read every single day like I wanted. I'm getting better. I am reading, just not list items. News and blogs count, right? ;)


"2. Read my craft books."
Ahh... something that I HAVE done! :) I love reading my craft books. I did lose a few from my library reserve list when I was out of town and failed to pick them up. Here's hoping that I will be able to get them again!


"3. Review as many books as I can."
So far I have two reviews posted, HERE and HERE, and another is coming!


"4. Give a recap on Fridays to keep me honest!"
Again... well... Does this week count? :)

Thursday Homeschooling...

I've been struggling with this section of my bloggy to-do calendar. There are so many versions and views on homeschooling. Do I share reviews? Do I share what our version of a "day in the life of a homeschooler? Do I wax on (wax off?) about my educational views or choices? My goal is to share ME in my blog... homeschooling, crafty, Etsy-selling, book-reading little ol' me. So, we'll see where it takes us.

Today, we'll go with a "Day in the Life" sharing our Thursday routine.

Thursday is ART DAY! I love Thursday, but not for the reasons that most would assume. Thursday our daughter spends the entire day in art classes at our local community center. No, I don't love it because I get a day at home alone. (It is fun, but honestly at this age it doesn't mean the same to me as it would have when she was a toddler or preschooler.) I love it because she spends 5.5 hours with a talented artist who cares about passing her knowledge and talent on to others. As much as I love art, this talented woman is able to give our daughter something that I can't. She teaches her with passion about drawing and painting as well as ceramics, hand-building and pottery using a potter's wheel. I love that she comes home covered in left over colors and clay. I love that she has the opportunity to expand and grow in her art. I get so excited just walking in the building because I know that I'll get to see not only what my daughter created but what other women in her class - young and old - created as well. Her classes are multi-generational rather than defined by age or ability. I love that art can do that! Art has this magical way of breaking down age and economic barriers. Everyone should have an exposure to art. It doesn't have to be dry and dull. It can be colorful and messy. In fact, most of my art through my life has been colorful and messy in one way or another!

Homeschooling doesn't have to occur at home (and some years it feels like most occurs outside the home between field trips and homeschool groups!) We aren't all crazy people who lock our children in cages as it happens on Law & Order, and we don't all use workbooks with timers like you would think - though we have done that when the need was there! Homeschooling is like life.... there are different versions for different people. Homeschoolers are a dedicated lot. We find the opportunities that our children need and use them in ways that fit our live. And on Thursdays, our learning happens in a Community Center.

Here is just a peek at a few pieces my kid, age 13, completed in her very first session of ceramics this school year. I'm quite please with them, and best yet is the fact that she is pleased with herself! (I'd add more but I'm a slacker mom who doesn't have more photos yet to share! Ah... honesty...)

Holiday Bliss: December 2

Brenda at Garden of Learning is at it again! She's hosting a fantastic holiday-themed meme over at her blog. Click through to read some fantastic ideas to bring joy to your holiday through tradition or activity, or join in and share your own!

Our house is still in full on craziness! We most likely won't be putting up a tree this year because of our little blind pug girl, Sophie. She has enough troubles navigating the house in her new-found blindness, so we decided as a family that we aren't going to move furniture and confuse her more. So, I'll be reading through the meme in earnest looking for other ways to bring the holiday into our home without a tree.

Today... MUSIC! I love music, and the holidays are no different. I adore Christmas carols. One of our older girls gave me the best Christmas present many years ago. She bought me a cd set of the Celtic Ladies singing Christmas carols. I love it! I pop in the three cds and just let it play over and over. Our local Christian radio station begins playing fabulous Christmas music - both contemporary and classics - right after Thanksgiving, so we've been enjoying that as well. Music tells so many stories, and it brings a joy to our family when things may otherwise feel overwhelming or even just plain tiring. It's a simple way that we lighten the mood, bring worship into our ordinary moments, and have a little fun while we're at it!

Here's a link to two of my most favorite Christmas carols. A few friends have been posting their favorite carols on Facebook. I'm adding two, one for yesterday and one for today. I might just choose to add a new one each day. Sidebar or in a post? That is yet to be determined. Either way, I'm going to have fun and enjoy the MUSIC! :)

Merry CHRISTmas my dear friends!

The Simple Woman's Daybook: December 1st!

FOR TODAY, December 1, 2010


Outside my window... We had our first snow today! Well, not really SNOW, but flurries. :)

I am thinking... about the items that I need to start making for Christmas gifts, things on my to do list, and my grand need for a new laptop if I am going to continue to work online! (Restarting for the fourth time in an hour....)

I am thankful for... warm clothes! It's chilly today, and there are so many that have need. I am very thankful for my coat and sweaters this time of year.

From the learning rooms... We've gotten a bit behind with the holiday and my grandfather's passing so we're playing catch up this week! Hopefully we'll still be able to adjust our schedule to allow for a good winter break in December.

From the kitchen... Today is the first night of Hanukkah! I'll be making latkes! Yum!

I am wearing... my jammies. :)

I am creating... I'm almost finished with an angel ornament that I've been working on for a friend. It's my first custom order! I'm really excited about how it's turning out. This afternoon I'll start sewing for family gifts.

I am going... to run errands today and prep for the lighting of Hanukkah candles! We'll also start our advent readings. I dropped the ball so instead of kicking myself for missing Sunday's reading I'm going to run it Dec 1 to 25 and connect it to our Hanukkah celebration this week.

I am reading... I'm still reading Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity by Drew Brees. Still love it! I'm nearly done and hope to review it on Friday.

I am hoping... that I'll be able to make a good schedule and stick to it. I have a lot that I want to accomplish this month, and I'd love to have some down time while still getting my list checked off.

I am hearing... my dogs whining. When there is snow on the ground they want to go out constantly to play! Even a little bit of flurries excites them!

Around the house... is a mess! It's not that bad, but I have projects and school books scattered everywhere. Organization is in dire need.

One of my favorite things... Blueberry pomegranate tea. Yum!

A few plans for the rest of the week... I need to finish and add additional items to the WildCrickets shop. I need to work on organization (but I already mentioned that!) Holiday decorating needs to be tackled as well as gift construction! Books to be reviewed, blog posts to be written, and school planning top the list.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

If you'd like to read more hop over to The Simple Woman's Daybook to read about the days of others. Why not take a minute and write your own?