Menu Plan Monday...on Tuesday

This is my most favorite time of the year and would only be made better if I didn't have to work this week!  I need to think ahead next time and take off!!  For Christmas, I recieved yet another Hungry Girl cookbook so I plan to begin planning ahead and trying out some new recipes.  My goal for 2012 is to meal plan and blog about new recipes. 

Here is our menu....

Sunday - Christmas Day!  Breakfast with my in-laws and Dinner with my parents.

Monday - Fetticini Alfredo (frozen..Stouffer's), Caesar Salad, and Garlic Bread

Tuesday - Hamburger Steaks, Roasted Potatoes, Mac n Cheese, and Roasted or Pan "Fried" Squash and Zuchini

Wednesday - Homemade Pizza and Salad

Thursday - Cheeseburger Casserole (didn't make this the past two weeks), homestyle potatoes, green beans

Friday - Grocery Shopping Night.  Either something fun to make at home or we will pick up something

Saturday - New Year's Eve at Home.  Making junk foods including velveeta/rotel dip, sweet and spicy meatballs, and sausage balls.

For meal plan help, visit Orgjunkie.com's Menu Plan Monday!

Menu Plan Monday

 Less than a week until Christmas!!  I finally finished my Christmas shopping on Sunday afternoon.  Presents are wrapped and under the tree and I have supplies to make several goodies for the holiday weekend. Now if we can make this work week fly by!

Here is our menu plan:

Saturday - Christmas Dinner with Friends - I made ham, dressing, corn casserole, and green bean casserole.  Others brought mac n cheese, cranberry sauce, and hashbrown casserole.

Sunday - Cheeseburger Casserole

Monday - Dinner with in-laws for FIL's birthday.

Tuesday - Taco Salad

Wednesday - Chicken and Dumplings

Thursday - Spaghetti

Friday - Something easy!  Probably out.  Will be grocery shopping for Christmas Eve and Day goodies!

For hundreds of menu plans, go visit Orgjunkie.com's Menu Plan Monday!

A Weekend in the Smoky Mountains

Hubs, my cousin K, and I spent a long weekend in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN in early November.  I love that part of Tennessee and it was the perfect time to visit.  The leaves still held so much of their Autumn oranges and reds yet things were decorated for Christmas.  We spent a full day in Dollywood, Dolly Parton's theme park.  We had dinner and a show at Dixie Stampede.  We had great weather and lots of beautiful scenery.  And we ate...a lot.

Hubs and I at Dollywood

Hubs could have watched the sandcasting and blacksmith guys all day.

K at the Grist Mill

The chapel inside Dollywood.

The steam engine that takes you on a trip through the mountains.

There is tons to see and enjoy for all ages.

Defintely one of my favorite places.

Hubs.

Menu Plan Monday

It has been a while - a long while - but I am back!  This is definitely a super busy time of year with end of my school year, monogramming business is booming, photography, and of course Christmas!  But, I made a meal plan and we are sticking to it!

Saturday - Family Christmas Dinner

Sunday - Eating Out - Going to see Christmas Lights

Monday - Red Beans and Rice and Cornbread

Tuesday - Vegetable Soup with cornbread (well maybe not)

Wednesday - Out.  Going to see our most favorite boy in his Christmas Program and eating out afterwards.

Thursday - Cheeseburger Casserole

Friday - Grocery Shopping Night -  Chicken and Dumplings

Go check out hundreds of menu ideas at Org Junkie!

Everybody Footloose!

I'm generally not a fan of remakes - especially classic movie remakes.  However, I won two free tickets from the radio last week so we gave the new Footloose a try.  It was definitely worth the trip!  The movie was a fresh and funny.  No one can replace Kevin Bacon but the new version was a delight.  The character of Willard was my favorite, the dancing was great, and they paid subtle tribute to the original (ie their prom outfits). 

I would recommend a trip to see this version but don't forget to watch the original too. 

Menu Plan Monday

This week starts a change at our house.  I am beginning the Couch to 5K training program and with that I am working hard to change our menu, eating habits, etc.  I was so proud to go through the checkout line at the grocery store with at least 50% of my items being produce!  That was big for me.

Here is our first week....

Lunches -
Homemade Chicken Salad with whole wheat bread or wheat saltines
Taco Soup
Turkey Sandwiches

Dinners -

Saturday - Gameday Chili

Sunday - Savory Chicken and Rice, Green Beans, White Corn

Monday - Baked Chicken, Roasted Potatoes and Onions, Roasted Asparagus, Rolls

Tuesday - Hungry Girl's Chicken and Sausage Gumbo with Cheese Biscuits

Wednesday - Grilled Chicken (on the Forman grill), roasted squash and zucchini, corn, and baked beans

Thursday - Cheeseburger Macaroni, green beans, and garlic toast

Friday - Grocery Shopping Night!  Not sure what's on the menu!

Friend Makin Monday....on a Tuesday

1.  What are your talents?  I take pictures - they are pretty good, I cook - love to try new things.

2.  What is your best habit?  Wow.  Honestly, I don't know!

3.  If you had to be stuck with someone in an elevator for 8 hours, who would you want it to be?   Ian Somerhalder. He seems very well-rounded and it would be wonderful scenery for 8 hours. 

4.  Share one odd fact about you that we'd never know to ask.  I know the words to virtually every Elvis song.

5.  What's your latest project (work, home, whatever you care to share?)  Becoming a runner.  Beginning Couch to 5k next week.  Also, I have a new puppy and she's definitely a project!

6.  If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?  I have/had psoraisis on my thumb nails.  It literally looks like my fingers have been smashed.  I hate them.  I try to wear acrylic nails whenever possible.  I keep thinking it will go away so when new nail grows, it will be normal.  But, I guess I should count my blessings that is only my thumbs and not every nail.

7.  What do you do in your spare time?  Read, veg in front of the television

8.  What is your biggest pet peeve?  People spelling the term "y'all" wrong.  It is not "ya'll"!  We (Southerners) made up the dang word so the least we can do is spell it correctly!

9. Why do you blog?  My blog is currently a mess of things that interest me.  It is not devoted to anything (except maybe me).  I just enjoy writing things down even if no one ever reads it.

10.  Are you tidy or mess?  I'm both.  BUT even when I'm being "messy" it is like cluttered messy not dirty.  I never have dirty bathrooms or kitchen sinks.  But there might be a basket of laundry that hasn't been folded.

11.  What's the last song that played on your ipod?  Backstreet Boys.  I was boy-band jamming this morning.

12.  Do you cook?  Yes.  Almost every night.  I love to cook.  And I love to try new recipes.

13.  Do you like sports?  If so, list your teams.  I'm a big college football fan and my favorite is the Alabama Crimson Tide.

14.  How often do you read and/or watch the news?  Never watch.  Always read.  More than once a day generally.

15.  Do you stick to your New Year's resolution this year?  I never make them.

16.  What are you looking forward to most in the remainder of 2011?  A random week of vacation in November (a staycation!), starting the Couch to 5K with one of my oldest friends, the Holidays

17.  Shoes, sunglasses, or handbags?  Shoes and handbags! 

18.  How do you feel about sleeping on satin sheets?  I prefer cotton or flannel.  I like to sleep in shorts but I always freeze.  I sleep better when I'm cold.

19.  Do you sing in the shower?  Yes and recite poetry and practice my Oscar acceptance speech, etc.

20.  Describe yourself in one world.  Distinct.

Go participate in Friend Makin' Monday over at All the Weigh. 

Our New Addition

Last week, Hubs rescued this sweet girl from the streets of downtown Birmingham.  She was wet (with thanks to Tropical Storm Lee), limping, and hungry.  Her pretty brown eyes and sweet personality instantly won Hubs heart.  He is not usually affected in such a way but he totally fell for her.

 We named her Shelby and she is right at one year old.  She weighed in a 40.2lbs which is massive compared to our old weinie dog who tops the scale at 10lbs. She is literally the most laid back dog I have ever met.  She loves to play but Coby isn't having that at all.

 We took Shelby over to our friends' house on Saturday.  They have boxer named Brody who loves to play so we thought they would have fun.  They played all afternoon.  We took their almost two-year-old out to meet Shelby and just like I thought, she was a complete doll to EK. 

Shelby just hung out while baby girl rubbed on her.  It was precious.

Menu Plan Monday

So we have half followed our menu plan last week.  And we ended up eating out twice (which was not a part of the plan!).  But it is a new week!  Here goes....

Saturday - Grilled Out with Friends for football game

Sunday - Onion Chicken (baked chicken covered in crushed French's fried onions), green beans, corn, and mac n cheese

Monday - Cheeseburger Casserole and veggies
Tuesday - Chili

Wednesday - Savory Chicken and Rice (since we skipped it last week) with green beans

Thursday - Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni and Corn

Friday - Out

Need Menu help like I do??  Visit Orgjunkie.com's Menu Plan Monday for hundreds of ideas.

Where were you?

In the fall of 2001, I was in college at a local community college and worked two part-time jobs - one as a daycare worker at my church in the afternoons and the other I worked in the office of my cousin's service company two days a week in the basement of his house.

On September 11, 2011, I walked into my cousin's house to find my uncle standing in front of the tv.  He said "Come look at this.  It is unbelievable."  The scene on the television was of first tower just after being struck.  We stood in silence as the newscasters frantically tried to figure out what happened.  Then tragedy struck again as the second tower was hit.

I watched and listened to the news all day long.  It was unbelievable what they were saying....terrorists.  How could that happen in our country? 

I went to my job at the church early in the afternoon.  We were informed by the elementary school that they had not informed the children of anything.  We kept a small radio on behind the front desk but the day was otherwise the same for the children.  It was so hard to try to make the day normal when it was anything but. 

Our church happened to be having revival that week.  Our pastor was a chaplain with the National Guard.  His patriotism was always there and that evening's service was no different.  It was an opportunity to be together, to pray, to worship, and to both honor those who had and would perish in the events and to celebrate the spirit of the people of the United States of America.

On the evening of September 11, President Bush said (paraphrased), "Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts....Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve."

There were a total of 2,977 innocent deaths of which 411 were emergency workers.  There were countless other victims and millions of Americans who could only stand by and watch.

 We will never forget.  Not 10 years later.  Not ever.  

 

God Bless America.

Friend Makin Monday

I'm joining Friend Makin' Monday over at All the Weigh! 

1) What is your favorite food? 
This is a hard one!  It depends on my mood.  Sometimes I am desperate for chinese food and other times I'm craving Italian.  Probably my most favorite food(s) are my mom's homemade specialities - veggie soup, tomato gravy, etc.  Or my granny's chicken and dumplins. 

2)  What is your favorite childhood memory?
My dad's brother owns a horse ranch where he buys/sells/boards/gives lessions.  Because of that influence, we had horses when I was young.  I almost always had a horse or pony all to myself.  I have such vivid memories of riding my pony (Little Man) and running through the pasture with my dad's favorite Quarter Horse (Penny) and her baby (Prissy).  Those horses were as much a part of my childhood as real people.

3) What is your favorite way to burn calories? 
I love the exercise bike at the gym..they have several different kinds to help with upper body as well as cardio.  It makes me want a bicycle of my own.

4) What is your favorite mode of technological communication? 
Text.  I have never been a big phone person and I don't check my home email enough to matter.  I love texting.  It isn't always instant so sometimes if I am texting my mom and I really need an answer quickly it is best to pick up the phone.

5) Who is your favorite actor/actress? 
Oh man!  I don't know!  My husband's top 2 fav actors are Denzel Washington and Liam Neeson.  I would have to agree.  Also add Mark Walhberg and Leo DiCaprio.  I love a good shoot 'em up movie with any of those guys!  For actress, I'll watch just about anything with Reese Witherspoon.

6) What is your favorite lip color?
I am currently using an Avon lip gloss called "Mocha Latte" and I love it.  It isn't too pink and puts just enough shine.

7) Who is your favorite historical figure? 
I'm not good at this chosing one favorite thing!  I have a list of inspirational people of history and those whom I would loved to have had a conversation with - Martin Luther King, Jr., Teddy Roosevelt, Robert Kennedy, and Anne Frank is definitely up there too!

8) Who is your favorite athlete?
I am a HUGE Alabama Crimson Tide football fan and Mark Ingram could defintely be considered a favorite.  He is a Heisman winner, NCAA National Championship winner, and now he plays for the New Orleans Saints.  I think he's not only an amazing athlete but seems like a pretty awesome person who didn't always have the easiest life but he did his best and used his talents.  And he really loves his mom.

9) What is your favorite TV network? 
I haven't had cable in my house in maybe 4 years.  I watch 99.9% of my television shows on the internet via their network stations, Netflix, or (my favorite) Hulu.  So my favorite tv network is any network that makes alternative-viewing (internet) easy.

10) What is your favorite site on the web?
Honestly, probably Facebook.  I just love keeping up with people and their lives.  I love to see that a great friend from high school now teaches at our high school or that my "baby" cousins are no longer babies but pretty awesome leaders in their communities.  I'm a sucker.

Menu Plan Monday

Getting back to it!  I have been MIA from MPM for quite a while!  I have been a bad blogger and bad planner the past few months.  I'm on a quest to get organized in all aspects of my life!  Ha!

Here is our Menu Plan for this week!

Saturday - Went to the Alabama opening game.  We had a late lunch so just did dinner on our own.

Sunday - Snacks and a Movie Night.  We had velveeta/rotel dip, pigs in a blanket, and sausage balls.  No healthy at all!

Monday - Labor Day!  It rained ALL DAY LONG thanks to Tropical Storm Lee so we had to move our grilling plans indoors.  I made steaks in the oven (broil!), sauteed shrimp, baked potatoes, and cheese biscuits

Tuesday - Red Beans and Rice with cornbread

Wednesday - Hubs' favorite - Savory Chicken and Rice Casserole with Green Beans

Thursday - Kraut and Weinies with Mac N Cheese, Purple Hull Peas, and Corn Muffins

Friday - Grilled Chicken, Roasted Potatoes, Corn, and Green Beans

Come join up at OrgJunkie's Menu Plan Monday!  Find lots of food ideas and resources!

History

There are moments in life when you realize you are about to (or just did) witness history.  Friday was one of those days.  I have always been interested in space, space travel, astronauts, etc.  Watching the live feed of the last space shuttle launch was very historic.  The entire history of NASA and space exploration has been one historic event after another.  Just yesterday I was talking to my mom about the launch and she can vividly remember Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landing on the moon and watching Walter Kronkite report the news. One of the best things about the internet and our technology today is the fact that I can go to youtube and watch that same broadcast anytime I want and one day I can share my interest with my children.
 
Back to Friday, I was so excited to watch the launch from NASA's website and hear all of the final engine checks and the countdown.  How some people can not be fascinated by space shuttles and space in general is definitely beyond me.  What a event to watch a space shuttle blast into the sky and within 8 minutes, that same shuttle is in outerspace!  Historic.  Everytime.

The crew of the STS-135 about to board the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

 Godspeed Beautiful Atlantis.

"Do you know these people?"

"Do you know these people?"  I have a strong feeling at some point during our cruise I am going to be asked that very question and I might have to say no. 

My parents hosted a bbq/pre-cruise party so that we could eat insane amounts of delicous food while talking about our cruise.  The party included Hubs and I, my brother, and four of my parents close friends (and their children who happen to not be going with us).  We did eat insane amounts of good food.  And we talked about the cruise...a lot.  Then we did what we do best - karaoke. 

Seriously.  I love these people.  They are so fun to be around and you can't not have a good time.  I can't wait to spend a week partying with them. 

My dad and his friend K.

Hubs and our friend M.  She is a blast.

My mom singing.

This was taken about a minute before she called me her "little baby stick-in-the-mud."

Somebody has to be the adult.

We attempted to sing "We are the World" by Michael Jackson and friends.  D took care of the MJ part.

My dad singing to K.  I think he enjoys making people laugh....and feel slightly uncomfortable.

Crazy, insane picture of me, my dad, and brother.

This is just a glimpse but you can really tell that these people enjoy spending time together and having a good time.  I can't wait to see what they have in store for the cruise.

45 days.

An evening straight from my dreams...

well, sort of....

Two of my oldest friends (16 years now!) and two of my sweet all-grown-up cousins traveled to Nashville in late June for the New Kids on the Block/Backstreet Boys concert (NKOTBSB).  I expressed my love for these two groups in an earlier post.  This concert was awesome.  From beginning to end, the guys rotated singing the best of both groups.  I loved every minute of it.  In fears of overloading blogger and what readers do happen to cross my blog, I am only sharing a small handful of pictures.  

After the show, my cousin had a great idea to hang out by the buses.  Much to my surprise, we were rewarded with glimpes of all four Backstreet Boys.  Nick was already in his bus but thanks to my sweet (and normally quiet) cousin and about 50 other girls chanting his name, he came out to wave. 

I. caught.  it.  on.  camera.  I will be happy forever.  

Top Moment from Nashville

I am planning to write an entire post about my trip to Nashville to see the New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys but I had to share my top moment from my 20 hours in Nashville....

Nick Carter...in the flesh...15 feet away.  Made our night.



A Little Confession...

When I was a little girl, a new "band" came out and I fell in love!  I had a bedspread, pillowcases, and curtains with their faces on it.  It was Bieber fever of the late 80's.  Yes...I had a small obsession with the New Kids on the Block.  I have a vivid memory of my dad taking me to the mall to find NKOTB buttons...you know the HUGE buttons with their faces.  If I remember correctly, I had a Jordan button, Jon button, and Joey button.  Sorry Danny and Donnie.  I was a bit discriminatory at that stage.  I used to walk around listening to my headphones (ie. cassette player).  My dream was to see them in concert but unfortunately that never happened.  I was extremely sad devastated when they disappeared

Then!



Now!

 But fast forward 7-10 years...

I can remember my friend, G, bringing over a cd (GASP!) of some group from Florida.  This group would fill the void that NKOTB left.  The Backstreet Boys would be my favorite group thereafter but especially in my high school years.  I didn't go as wild with the bedspread and such but that is when I discovered BOP, Teen Beat, etc.  Nick Carter was my favorite.  Hands down.  At the beginning of my senior year of high school (which happened to be my birthday weekend), my friends, including G and another best named N, and I went to Atlanta to see 'NSync (yeah...the one with Justin Timberlake) and after the concert my sweet friends surprised me with a little birthday party and my present was a ticket to the upcoming BSB concert.  I was ecstatic!!  I saw them in November from the upper section of the civic center and I loved every minute of it.

Then!

Now!

So considering my childhood and teen years was filled with these two groups, you can imagine my sheer excitement for the possibilty of the two groups touring together.  In December 2010, I purchased 5 tickets to the NKOTBSB concert in Nashville in June 2011. So peeps, I will spend next Tuesday evening with 4 awesome ladies (G, N, K, and C) and experience a show like no other.  I literally can't contain my excitement.  I know that as soon as I hear the music to Hangin' Tough or Step by Step that my 28 year old brain is going to revert back to my shy, nine year old memories. 

I am not ashamed.

Well, maybe a litte. 

No.  Wait.  I'm not. 

Full details, pictures, and more next week!  T minus 5 days!