Playing a little catch-up and Menu Monday

More days than usual have passed since I have written a post. I've been missing my blog, but at the same time, it was a nice little breather.
Saturday we celebrated my Little Lady's 2nd Birthday with a small family party. I made some delicious (from scratch) strawberry cupcakes with strawberry buttercream frosting. They got rave reviews from the party guests, kids and adults alike, which made me happy.

(I got the great printable shown above HERE)

Sunday was her actual birthday. I took her to get her ears pierced.

 It was a day of mixed emotions for me, for a few different reasons, and honestly, I just didn't feel up to posting my normal "What I Love About Sundays". But her new 'bling' is probably something that would have made the post. I think they look so pretty in her sweet little ears!

Yesterday, I missed Menu Monday, so here will be a quickie version:
Monday: Homemade Chili with Flour Tortillas
Tuesday: Take-Out
Wednesday: Chicken, steamed veggies, green salad, pasta or rice side.
Thursday: Taco's and Refried Beans
Friday: Pork Chops
Saturday: Pasta Casserole (similar to baked ziti) green salad, garlic bread
Sunday: To be determined.

My sister in law is out visiting from Florida right now, so she took The Boys to the Aquarium of the Pacific today.  Shortly after they left I said to Little Lady "What should we do today while The Boys are gone?" and then I replied to myself  "Duh, we should go to Disneyland!". And so we did. Yay! It was her first time going!

I sent a message to my friend Illy asking her what she was doing and she said "Wishing I was at Disneyland". Now if that wasn't kismet, I don't know what is! So she met us there! Another awesome thing about this day was that today was the 57th Anniversary of Disneyland opening, and we were there! Fun!
We  had a fabulous lunch, rode a few rides (Little Lady LOVED them all!) and she got to see Mickey, who she was very smitten with. She gave him kisses.

We have a few more things going on this week, but hopefully not anything that will keep me away for too long. So now that I feel like I am no longer neglecting my cyber-baby blog I will go get a few hours of shut eye.
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Menu Monday: How Much TIME do You spend menu planning?

How much time do you spend menu planning? Sometimes it takes me only 10-15 minutes, and other times (like yesterday) I spent 1-2 stinkin' hours on it. Still worth it though. By planning what we'll eat in advance, I spend less money at the store, and we get less take-out, which also saves a ton of money. I know some people plan for a whole month at a time, but I haven't gotten that brave yet. How do you menu plan?
Do you do food prep in advance? I typically don't, but I always have intentions of doing it. Yesterday I did a small bit of food prep for the week, and I'm hoping that it'll make a bit of a dent in the time I spend cooking meals each night.
Here's what's on our dinner menu for the week:

Monday: Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, Green Salad

Tuesday: Taco Salad (The Hubs favorite meal, for his birthday)

Wednesday: BLT's, carrot sticks, homemade fries

Thursday: Sloppy Joe's, Carrot sticks, melon, tater tots.

Friday: Put me down for a big fat "I Don't Know" for tonight.

Saturday: Little Lady is turning TWO!! We're BBQ'ing with family and having cupcakes!

Sunday: Chili with ground turkey and tortillas.

Share with me where you post your menu plan too!
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Menu Monday: 99¢ Store Shopping

Hello Friends! I hope that all of you had a lovely weekend. We did. It was nice and relaxing on Saturday. Sunday The Hubs and I went down to the Santa Monica Pier and had lunch and walked around while the kids went to a company picnic with their grandparents.
Here's what's on the menu this week:

Monday: Ground Turkey Burritos (made with leftover ground turkey meat from last week) with Mexican Rice and Refried Beans.

Tuesday: Teriyaki Chicken with broccoli/carrots, Steamed Rice, Egg Rolls, Chow Mein. (This was on the menu last week and didn't get eaten. So it appears here again.)

Wednesday: 4th of July!! Hot Dogs on the grill, watermelon, carrot sticks, chips.

Thursday: Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Coleslaw, Sweet Potato Fries.

Friday: Something quick and cheap! The Boys are spending the night at my moms, and it's  my turn to host BUNCO this week!

Saturday: Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, Green Salad.

Sunday: ???? Something Grilled

If you have a Menu Monday on your blog, share the link in a comment here! I love checking out other peoples menus.

In an effort to be exceptionally frugal this week, I did quite a bit of supplemental shopping at the 99¢ Only store. For less than $20.00 I fully stocked up on tons of fresh produce, picked up a few snack items, 2 packs of Polish Sausage, a few cans of beans, a bag of rice, some seasoning salt,and even a pack of Mighty Beanz for each of The Boys (they are obsessed with these). I love the way that store always helps me supplement my grocery shopping with fresh, quality items at an affordable price. Now this week, the only thing I need to go purchase is milk.
Also, I have recently discovered a GREAT resource for recipes using ingredients from the 99¢ Only Store. Click here to check it out! Do you have a 99¢ Only Store near you? Do you utilize the great offerings they have?
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I would also be Super~Dee~Duper Excited if you would "like" me on Facebook. 

Menu Monday and FABULOUS GIVEAWAY!!

Hello Friends! I hope that you all had a great weekend! Mine was full of fun in the sun and wonderful family time. I love the weekends when The Hubs is home with us. His job requires that he commutes, so we don't see much of him during the week most of the time.
Here's what's on the menu for this week:

Monday~ Pasta, Garlic Bread, Green Salad

Tuesday~ Tacos (ground turkey), Mexican Rice, Refried Beans

Wednesday~ Teriyaki Chicken, Steamed White Rice, Veggie Spring Rolls

Thursday~ Chicken Kebabs,  Foil Pocket Potatoes, Cucumber & Onion Salad

Friday~ 10 Year Wedding Anniversary!!! We're going out to eat!

Saturday~ BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Coleslaw, Sweet Potato Fries

Sunday~ BBQ Chicken Legs, Corn on the Cob, Pasta Salad, Green Salad

For anyone who hasn't gotten it yet, you can get a great weekly meal planning printable for free here.

Now, onto the GIVEAWAY!
I am so excited to share this with you all! Recently I was chosen by houseparty.com to be a hostess for their Redbook Happy Hour House Party. If you aren't familiar with House Party, I urge you to head over to their website and check them out! It is such an awesome program! Here's a little bit about House Party from their website:
"House Party makes it easy to have a party in your own home and get exclusive access to awesome products for you and your friends. We provide the fun, you provide food, your friends and feedback and promise to have an amazing time.
Our parties are sponsored by the brands you love. By hosting, you and your guests get to try their products and receive an incredible Party Pack chock full of goodies! You don’t pay anything or sell anything. It’s a no-pressure party. Just tell us what you and your guests think.
But it’s more than just you and your friends who are having a blast. Thousands of other hosts and guests from across the US are also having an amazing time, on the same day. Your party just went from event to epic!"

So does that sound like fun, or what? Between myself and my mother, we have been fortunate enough to host some fabulous parties, and to get some super fun loot in the process! If you haven't already, you should absolutely get in on the fun and sign up with House Party!
This recent party that I was lucky enough to host was sponsored by Redbook and Loreal Paris, as well as Lipton Tea, Best Foods/Hellmans, and by Nook. (Thanks to Lipton, I'm sitting here enjoying a delicious glass of Lipton Tea & Honey Mango Pineapple Iced Green Tea! YUM!! I'm not much of a tea drinker, but this stuff has me hooked!). A few of my invitees didn't show up for the party, and they missed out on these great products. So, their loss is your gain!!
The Grand Prize Winner is going to get a tote bag full of some super fabulous items, including Loreal Paris Youth Code Dark Spot Correcting & Illuminating Skincare Serum Corrector, Voluminous False Fiber Lashes mascara (black), Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner (black), Loreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer, Loreal Age Perfect Hydra-Nutrition Golden Balm (.5oz),  5 predetermined shades of Loreal Nail Polish, 2 predetermined shades of Colour Riche Balm for lips (I LOVE this product because it goes on so nice and sheer, with just a tint of color AND it has an SPF in it!), 3 sample packs of Loreal hare care products, a one year subscription to Redbook Magazine, and various coupons, samples, and information. (Whew! That was a lot of goodies to list!)

There's MORE!!!
The 1st prize winner will recieve a tote bag including, the Voluminous False Fiber Lashes mascara (black), Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner (black), Loreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer, Loreal Age Perfect Hydra-Nutrition Golden Balm (.5oz), one nail polish, one Colour Riche Balm, 1 hair care sample, various samples/coupons, information and a 1 year subscription to Redbook Magazine!

But wait!! There's MORE!
5 third prize winners will recieve a Free 1 Year Subscription to Redbook Magazine.

Okay friends! Start getting your entries in with the Rafflecopter form below! The winners will be announced on Tuesday July 5th! Good Luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


****I received products as part of the House Party program, and I am simply passing on the fun to you! In no way was I asked to write this or host the giveaway or compensated for this post/giveaway.

Menu Monday and Father's Day Recap

Hello friends! I hope that you all had a great weekend! How was Father's Day?
I cooked a breakfast of omelets, bacon, and biscuits & gravy for The Hubs. The kids gave him their gifts and we spent the first half of the day relaxing and then we went out for a late lunch/early dinner, and visited our own dads. They enjoyed the gifts we gave them, which was great since I made them on the cheap!

Now, on  to this weeks menu! As usual, it's nothing gourmet, but it fills our tummy's.

Monday~ Homemade Chicken Nuggets, Sweet Potatoe Fries, Pasta Side.
Tuesday~ Hot Dogs, Tater Tots, Carrot Sticks (The Boys and I are going to Disneyland, so a quick dinner when we get home.)
Wednesday~ Orange Chicken, Veggie Chow Mein (these are from Fresh & Easy), and white rice.
Thursday~ Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, Green Salad

Friday~ Hamburgers, Baked Beans, French Fries, Fruit

 Saturday~ We will be at a birthday party.
Sunday~ BBQ Ribs, Corn on the Cob, baked beans, green salad.

What's on your menu this week? If you feature a Meal Plan or Menu Monday on your blog, share the link in your comments!!

Here's my free Meal Planning Printable for those of you who would like it!

Click HERE to download the printable!

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I would also be Super~Dee~Duper Excited if you would "like" me on Facebook.

Menu Monday 6/11/12

Hello Friends!! I hope that you all had a delightful weekend. Are your kiddos out of school yet? My preschooler is out, but my 2nd grader has 3 more days. Can't wait for the more relaxed days that Summer brings to our home!
Our Little League season ended over the weekend, so that means that my menu planning is going to be less stressful now that I don't have to plan around games and practices. Yay for that!
Here's what's on the menu for this week:

Monday~ Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Green Beans, Biscuits.

Tuesday~ Hamburgers and French Fries with Melon

Wednesday~ Roasted Chicken, Pasta Side, Broccoli, Green Salad

(Substitute Broccoli for the Green Beans here)

Thursday~ Chicken Enchiladas (made from leftover chicken from the night before), Refried Beans, Mexican Rice.

Friday~ Sloppy Joes, Tater Tots, Carrot Sticks, Fruit

Saturday~ Homemade Chicken Nuggets, Veggies, Sweet Potato Fries.


So what are all of you eating this week?
As always, feel free to use my FREE printable for your menu planning needs!

Click Here for Printable Version!!!

Menu Monday Week of 6/4/12

Here's our menu for the week!! What's on your plate?
(To get your own FREE printable version of this menu plan page, go here)

Monday~ (Teriyaki) Chicken Kebabs with Bell Peppers and Onions. Steamed white rice. (The Big Boy and I also had artichokes with ours)

Tuesday~ (Little League Night) Hot Dogs and Mac & Cheese with veggies & fruit.

Wednesday~ Tacos & Refried Beans

Thursday~ Spaghetti, Green Salad, Garlic Bread

Friday~ Hamburgers on the Grill

Saturday~ End of Season Pizza Party for Little League

Sunday~ Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Green Beans, Biscuits.

Menu Monday 5/28/2012 and FREE Menu Planning Printable

Hello Friends! I hope that you are all enjoying your extra day off of school/work. Please take a moment to remember that Memorial Day isn't all about sleeping in, catching a good sale, or having a 'free day'. Memorial Day is a day to honor the brave and selfless Americans who have died while serving our country. Please take a moment (at the very least) to remember our fallen hero's and to give thanks for the blessings that you have.
Now, onto the food part of the week. Here is my plan for this week:
Monday: Chicken Kebabs on the grill with bell peppers and onions. Corn on the cob.
(This ended up being chicken noodle soup & Saltines because The Hubs was sick.)
Tuesday: (Little League) Hot dogs and baked french fries.
Wednesday: Spaghetti (or Rotini) with marinara sauce. Garlic Bread. Green Salad.

Thursday: Tacos & refried beans.
Friday:Preschool Farewell Party. Dinner provided free.
Saturday: BBQ Ribs, Baked Beans, Corn on the Cob, Green Salad
Sunday: Baked Chicken, green beans, pasta or rice side.

What are you eating this week? I love checking out other menu plans!

Do you have a system for planning your meals? A big whiteboard in the kitchen? A small list stuck up on the fridge? A detailed calendar?
As for myself, I prefer to use a week at a time list page. I had created this printable and I thought that it would be fun to share with my readers. I hope that all of you find it helpful in your meal planning!

To get the printable version of this, please click here.

I had this printed at my local Staples Print & Copy center. I put it on the heaviest white card stock that they carry. It cost me about a dollar. Then I put it in a sheet protector and have it up on my fridge. With it being in the sheet protector, I'm able to use dry erase markers and use the same printable again and again. (I do need new markers though!)

As always, I'd be happy to have you join me as a follower here on Blogger or though Google Friend Connect. And I'd be SUPER excited if you would "like" me on Facebook!

Menu Monday (Lost Cause Edition...)

Okay, this week is pretty much a lost cause for me. Between both of my boys playing baseball this year, our evenings have been so out of whack. Seriously...

Monday~ Little League game. Grabbed dinner @ the drive through on the way home.
Tuesday~ Baseball practice. (still haven't had time to get to the grocery store... wonder what I can scrape up for dinner?)
Wednesday~ Another Little League game. Should be able to go to the store in the morning. Antipasto Salad.

There's olives in there too, but apparently I buried them.

Thursday~ ANOTHER Little League game. (Ugh!!) Hopefully I can get to the store, and we'll have BLT's after the game.
Friday~ Pizza Night
Saturday~ This is my Big Boy's 8th Birthday. His dinner choice was steak from the grill, baked beans, salad & breadsticks.

Sunday~ Dinner at my parents house.

So what are you eating this week???

Menu Monday and My Homemade Gift for Grammy

Hello friends! I hope that you all had a joyful Mothers Day. Mine was pleasant. After my menu for the week, I'm going to share with you the gift that I made my Grammy for Mother's Day.
Here's what we are (tentatively) eating this week. It's kind of a touch and go week, so this is really just a sort of vague outline:
Monday: Hamburger Helper (Ugh... yes. About 3 times a year I make this. It's all I can handle. But the kids like it, and if I make it with ground turkey instead of beef, I can tolerate it.) with buttered bread.
Tuesday: It's Little Boy's 5th Birthday!!! His dinner of choice is Chicken Nuggets, with Mac & Cheese. I will throw in a veggie too.
Wednesday: Hot dogs, baked french fries, carrot sticks. (Little League Night)
Thursday: Baked chicken, rice side, veggies.
Friday: Pizza Night! My favorite pizza place added fried pickles to the menu just for me and they debut this weekend!
Saturday: BBQ at home
Sunday: Birthday Party for The Boys.
What are you eating this week? I love checking out other menu plans!


Now, onto the lovely gift I gave my Grammy for Mothers Day. My grandma is a very important person in my life. I'd be lost without her. I was inspired to make this from seeing many similar ones on Pinterest.

When I was a little girl, my Grammy and I would sing this song with/to each other. It was "our song". I created the image using my "Microsoft Digital Image Pro 10" software. (Yep, I know. It is old and outdated, but it still gets the job done!) Then I ordered it as a photo from Walgreens photo center and picked up this document frame for super cheap at Ross. I love the way it came out, and my Grammy loved it too!

Return from Screen Free Week! Menu Monday 5/7/12

Hello Friends! I'm so excited to be back online today! We had a very interesting experience with our Screen Free Week, and I'm anxious to share that with you all. I'm shooting for tomorrow with that one.
Today, let's talk about food! Here's what's on my menu this week:

Monday: Seasoned Chicken Breasts (I think I've been putting these on my menu for 3 weeks now, and we still haven't gotten around to eating them!) with Fresh Green Beans, and a pasta side.

Tuesday: Burritos made from Cinco De Mayo leftovers. Carne and Pollo Asada, cheese, beans, rice. (Little League night, so quick & easy is key!)

Wednesday: Corkscrew pasta with marinara & meatballs. Garlic Bread. Green Salad.

Thursday: Pork Shoulder Strips, Rice, Veggies.

Friday: Sloppy Joe's, Tater Tots.

Saturday: We'll be eating at a relatives party.

Sunday: Mother's Day. I am not planning for this day.


What's on your menu this week? Happy Eating!

Making Memories, One Meal at a Time

(Due to our participation in Screen Free Week, this post was written and scheduled in advance!!)

Do you and your family eat together every night at the dinner table? Every night, or maybe only once or twice a week? Or do you all eat scattered around the living room with your eyes glued to the TV, lacking conversation and not even savoring your meal?
If you aren't eating together as a family, at the table, then you are missing out on some invaluable family time. Dining together not only increases and improves the family's communication and connection, but also results in more well adjusted (i.e. HAPPY and well behaved) children.
Studies have shown that children who regularly eat dinner with their families do better academically, have increased language skills, and healthier eating habits. Does any of that surprise you? (read more about the benefits here)
In our home, we eat dinner together as a family almost every single night. It is something that is very important to me. This may be one of the only times each day where the whole family is together all at once. Why would anybody sacrifice that? As a family, we talk about our day, make jokes, tell stories and bond with one another.
Meal planning in advance is a good way to improve the amount of dinners you eat together. If you already know what's going to be on the table, you're more likely to end up at the table! Let your kids help you prepare the meal... it may take a little bit longer, but children love to help cook, and it may inspire them to try foods they wouldn't have otherwise wanted to eat. Kids take great pride in the creations they make!
If dinner isn't a time that you can all be together, why not try carving out time for breakfast? Just simply striving to share a meal together each day will reap huge benefits.
Last week I was thumbing through my Better Homes & Gardens magazine and I saw mention of The Family Dinner Project. If you need inspiration to start dining together or to improve the quality of your meals together, then check it out!
Happy Eating!

Menu Monday: 4/30/12

Today marks the first day of our Screen Free Week. (This post has been written and scheduled in advance.) I've mapped out a bit of a game plan to get the kids and I through the week, and have already scheduled several posts in advance, that way it's not a ghost town around here. Is anybody else going Screen Free?
As part of our Screen Free Adventure, I've tried to accommodate the children (who will undoubtedly be "bored") with kid friendly dinners that they can help me prepare, and for the most part, enjoy eating as well.

Monday: Sloppy Joe's, Tater Tots

Tuesday: Hot Dogs on Buns with Sweet Potato Fries (Little League night)

Wednesday: Seasoned Chicken Breasts, Green Beans, Rice, Green Salad

(Will serve rice instead of pasta)

Thursday: Spaghetti or Rotini, with Marinara sauce, Garlic Bread, Green Salad

Friday: Chicken Enchilada's (possibly with beans & rice)

Saturday: Homemade Pizza

Sunday: To be determined

What are you eating this week?
I hope that you all have a lovely week!

Menu Monday: 4/23/12

Eeeek! I don't have photos yet for most of this weeks meals, so you all get a bland and boring post today. I'll add pictures as the week progresses!

Monday: Roasted Chicken, Fresh Green Beans, Pasta Side.

Tuesday: Homemade Tacos This ended up being Mac&Cheese with Hot Dogs cut into it, because The Hubs worked late. No need to cook a whole meal without the daddy home!

Wednesday: Chicken Parmesan, Garlic Bread, Green Salad

This turned out SO TASTY!

Thursday: Tacos & Refried Beans

Friday: Dinner Out after Little League game.

Saturday: Sloppy Joe's, Tater Tots, Carrot Sticks

Sunday: Pork Shoulder Strips, Pasta Side, Fresh Green Beans.

What are you eating this week?

Menu Monday 4/16/12

Here's what's in store for us this week. Trying a new recipe on Monday, having a steak night on Saturday (not common around here.). 

Monday~ Homemade Chicken Nuggets, Fried Pickles, Mac & Cheese, Green Salad.

Tuesday~ Burritos (ground turkey) and Quesadillas (quick, "on-the-go" dinner due to Little League)

Wednesday~ Meatloaf, Fresh Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy.

Meatloaf, FRESH (not canned) green beans, REAL (not instant) mashed potatoes. YUMMY!

Thursday~ Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, Green Salad.

Friday~ Taking my Big Boy to Disneyland. My two Little's will be with Grandma, The Hubs is on his own.

Saturday~ All the boys are going to the races with Grandpa, so Girls Night Out for me and Little Lady!

Sunday~ Grilled Top Sirloin Steaks, Brussels Sprouts, Baked Beans, Green salad, Watermelon.

What are you eating this week?