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.