Oh my, I start teaching this week and redecorating the bedroom, making handbags, baking and canning some tomatoes. I will double the lasagna rolls and freeze half of the recipe.
This week's menu plan:
Sunday: BLT Pizza
Monday: Chicken Parmesan with noodles also a salad
Tuesday: Marinated Pork Tenderloin, with roasted potatoes and green beans
Wednesday: Lasagna Rolls
Thursday: Tuna Melts
Friday: Out
Saturday: Steak, twice baked potatoes and iceberg wedge salad with blue cheese dressing
Grocery List Necessary:
Pizza crust
Boneless chicken breasts
Lasagna noodles
Ricotta cheese
Tuna packets
Rye bread
Lettuce
Cucumber
Carrots
Celery
Already have:
Bacon
Gouda Cheese
Tomatoes
Spaghetti Sauce
Spaghetti Noodles
Mozzarella
Steaks
Potatoes
Green Beans
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Confession: My children are weird!!!
After reviewing some family pictures, I have come to the conclusion that my children like to take weird pictures
Strike a pose
The I have a secret pose, better known as I have some good gossip pose!
The golf pose
Waiting for a text message and shaking the phone pose!
The bunny pose, Playboy or Easter? As the Mom, I say Easter!
Arrgh the pirate pose
A sexy pose?
Ooooh the mom face pose:
Your GQ pose
They get it from their father!!!
Strike a pose
The I have a secret pose, better known as I have some good gossip pose!
The golf pose
Waiting for a text message and shaking the phone pose!
The bunny pose, Playboy or Easter? As the Mom, I say Easter!
Arrgh the pirate pose
A sexy pose?
Ooooh the mom face pose:
Your GQ pose
They get it from their father!!!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Decorating: A bedroom remodel
As you know, my great aunt recently passed away. I had the opportunity to ask my stepfather for my absolute favorite item of my mother's; this picture.
First let me tell you a quick story. My mother had the weirdest taste but this picture was the prettiest thing she ever bought and the only thing she had that I totally coveted. I looked for ten years for the same picture. She bought the picture at a furniture store thirty years ago and I could never find it. So I was thrilled when my stepfather finally gave it to me.
Now I have a new problem. This picture belongs in my bedroom and it totally does not go with my current bedroom. Conveniently, I am tired of the bedroom!! Funny how that works!!!!!
For inspiration, I love Tori and Dean McDermott's bedroom. Love the mirrored night stands, padded headboard and color on the walls.
Absolutely love the armoire and mirror.
So here we go... instead of taking a break from the garage project. I am going to delve this bedroom re-do. Come along for the ride!!! And send me any ideas you have.
First let me tell you a quick story. My mother had the weirdest taste but this picture was the prettiest thing she ever bought and the only thing she had that I totally coveted. I looked for ten years for the same picture. She bought the picture at a furniture store thirty years ago and I could never find it. So I was thrilled when my stepfather finally gave it to me.
Now I have a new problem. This picture belongs in my bedroom and it totally does not go with my current bedroom. Conveniently, I am tired of the bedroom!! Funny how that works!!!!!
For inspiration, I love Tori and Dean McDermott's bedroom. Love the mirrored night stands, padded headboard and color on the walls.
Absolutely love the armoire and mirror.
So here we go... instead of taking a break from the garage project. I am going to delve this bedroom re-do. Come along for the ride!!! And send me any ideas you have.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Baking: A cherry mini-pie
When I received my last Williams Sonoma catalogue, I saw these pie molds.
And I thought, how great would those be. A pie is too large... to many leftovers. And with these molds, you wouldn't need a small pie plate.
So I wanted to experiment and see how easy they are to use and how nice does the pie look.
Just using a store bought pie crust, use the outside of the pie mold to cut the pie crust.
Next open the pie mold and place the heart shaped pie crust in the bottom of the mold.
Spoon some pie filling. I used two large tablespoons of cherry pie filling.
Cover with the other pie crust topping.
Fold over mold and crimp the edges. I brushed with an egg wash and sprinkled with sugar. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.
The mold came out very cute.
And the perfect size for dessert. Williams Sonoma also sells a star pie mold.
Okay, everyone is invited for pie.... Blueberry, Apple, Cherry, Peach and Blackberry. Your choice.
P.S. I apologize for the pictures... I used my iPhone and they look kind of dark.
And I thought, how great would those be. A pie is too large... to many leftovers. And with these molds, you wouldn't need a small pie plate.
So I wanted to experiment and see how easy they are to use and how nice does the pie look.
Just using a store bought pie crust, use the outside of the pie mold to cut the pie crust.
Next open the pie mold and place the heart shaped pie crust in the bottom of the mold.
Spoon some pie filling. I used two large tablespoons of cherry pie filling.
Cover with the other pie crust topping.
Fold over mold and crimp the edges. I brushed with an egg wash and sprinkled with sugar. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.
The mold came out very cute.
And the perfect size for dessert. Williams Sonoma also sells a star pie mold.
Okay, everyone is invited for pie.... Blueberry, Apple, Cherry, Peach and Blackberry. Your choice.
P.S. I apologize for the pictures... I used my iPhone and they look kind of dark.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Sewing: Window Treatments
One of the things I love in any home is window treatments. The luxurious look that fabric can bring to any home. Fabric can transform any home from a plain Jane.
As a novice seamstress, I learned how to sew by making curtains in every home we live in. And this home is no different. I sewed and lined all the window treatments.
The kitchen
Another view
The dining room:
A closer look
The basement
now my office
The living room:
My bedroom; This room is too dark and we are going to totally re-do this room this fall.
Sewing curtains is an easy process. First measure the windows carefully. Secondly, all the seams are straight lines. I will be making new curtains for my bedroom and will show you the process, soon.
As a novice seamstress, I learned how to sew by making curtains in every home we live in. And this home is no different. I sewed and lined all the window treatments.
The kitchen
Another view
The dining room:
A closer look
The basement
now my office
The living room:
My bedroom; This room is too dark and we are going to totally re-do this room this fall.
Sewing curtains is an easy process. First measure the windows carefully. Secondly, all the seams are straight lines. I will be making new curtains for my bedroom and will show you the process, soon.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Organizing: Paperwork
Recently I saw this scanner highlighted in a magazine.
Oh it really spoke to my organizational heart!!!! I totally coveted this scanner.
But no way, I am going to spend $200 for this scanner.... so I pulled over my big printer/scanner and thought, I can make do.
So I scanned this pile of receipts, labeled the receipts and saved them as PDF files. In three hours, I reduced the paperwork by one file drawer!!! And better yet, I can find the dryer receipt if I need it in a minute.
I also scanned a pile of magazine pictures that I love!!!
Warning!!! Make sure you back up your computer because if you lose it on your hard drive, you have lost it.
So ladies and gentlemen!!!! Get out your scanners and fight back the paperwork!!!!
Oh it really spoke to my organizational heart!!!! I totally coveted this scanner.
But no way, I am going to spend $200 for this scanner.... so I pulled over my big printer/scanner and thought, I can make do.
So I scanned this pile of receipts, labeled the receipts and saved them as PDF files. In three hours, I reduced the paperwork by one file drawer!!! And better yet, I can find the dryer receipt if I need it in a minute.
I also scanned a pile of magazine pictures that I love!!!
Warning!!! Make sure you back up your computer because if you lose it on your hard drive, you have lost it.
So ladies and gentlemen!!!! Get out your scanners and fight back the paperwork!!!!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Outdoor Lights
Recently I found these lanterns on clearance at Walmart for $10 each. With five in tow, I wanted to use them for our patio area. Hanging them on a chain and candles. They will set a softer mood for evening entertaining.
Currently, I use Christmas lights and while pretty at night, they sort of remind me of a cruise ship.
Currently, I use Christmas lights and while pretty at night, they sort of remind me of a cruise ship.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Menu Planning Week Ending August 29th
This week school kicks into full gear. I am making dishes that will make wonderful leftovers. The tarts and shrimp fettucini will be used for leftover lunches. Cheese grits will give me one or two breakfasts. Chili... I can use so many ways. And extra corn chowder will be used for a Lobster corn chowder for a special lunch on Saturday. To store in the freezer, I will be cooking three pounds of bacon for BLTs and storing two pounds. Also, I will cook five pounds of ground hamburger and storing three and a half pounds in the freezer.
This week's menu plan:
Sunday: Tomato Goat Cheese Tarts
Monday: Grilled Shrimp Fettucini
Tuesday: Crockpot Chili
Wednesday: BLT's
Thursday: Corn Chowder
Friday: Out
Saturday: Pork Chops with Cheese Grits and Sauteed Snow peas
Grocery List Necessary:
Puff Pastry
Herb Goat Cheese
Pesto
Hamburger
Kidney Beans
Bread
Corn
Cream
Onions
Yukon Gold Potatoes
Snow peas
Lettuce
Cucumber
Carrots
Celery
Pork Chops
Snow peas
Already have:
Tomatoes
Onions
Shrimp
Fettucini
Olive Oil
Bacon
Grits
Cheddar Cheese
1lb. shrimp
1/4 c. olive oil
1 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1 t. shallots, minced
2 T. pesto
4 large tomatoes, chopped
1 pound fettucini
Parmesan cheese
This week's menu plan:
Sunday: Tomato Goat Cheese Tarts
Monday: Grilled Shrimp Fettucini
Tuesday: Crockpot Chili
Wednesday: BLT's
Thursday: Corn Chowder
Friday: Out
Saturday: Pork Chops with Cheese Grits and Sauteed Snow peas
Grocery List Necessary:
Puff Pastry
Herb Goat Cheese
Pesto
Hamburger
Kidney Beans
Bread
Corn
Cream
Onions
Yukon Gold Potatoes
Snow peas
Lettuce
Cucumber
Carrots
Celery
Pork Chops
Snow peas
Already have:
Tomatoes
Onions
Shrimp
Fettucini
Olive Oil
Bacon
Grits
Cheddar Cheese
Grilled Shrimp Fettucini
1lb. shrimp
1/4 c. olive oil
1 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1 t. shallots, minced
2 T. pesto
4 large tomatoes, chopped
1 pound fettucini
Parmesan cheese
Directions
Toss shrimp in salt, pepper and olive oil. Roast at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.
Set a large pot of salted water to boil for the pasta. Once the pasta is cooked, heat oil, salt pepper, and shallots. Saute until shallots are translucent. Add pesto and tomatoes. Cook until tomatoes break down a little. Season with salt and pepper if necessary.
Add pasta and shrimp. Toss together. Top with Parmesan cheese.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
The heart of a cheetah
He looks like a poofy, gentle panda bear.
He has the prettiest blue eyes and will wear my hairbows.
But don't let him fool you!!!
But under all that fur, he has the heart of a cheetah.
He can run faster than any dog I have ever had...
He loves to torment the other dogs because he knows he is much faster than they are.
And he loves to run....
And run
Oh he will play and pretend they can catch him.
But he knows he can be gone in a heartbeat...
To me, he looks as though he is laughing all the way.
He is a cross between: a track runner and a run way model!!!
He has the prettiest blue eyes and will wear my hairbows.
But don't let him fool you!!!
But under all that fur, he has the heart of a cheetah.
He can run faster than any dog I have ever had...
He loves to torment the other dogs because he knows he is much faster than they are.
And he loves to run....
And run
Oh he will play and pretend they can catch him.
But he knows he can be gone in a heartbeat...
To me, he looks as though he is laughing all the way.
He is a cross between: a track runner and a run way model!!!
Friday, August 21, 2009
My Next Project
During our back yard renovation, another neglected casualty was my little greenhouse. I adore this little house because of the story behind how I acquired it. My neighbor owned this house and it sat looking dilapidated (sort of how it looks now) however, I mentioned to the kids how cute the greenhouse was every time I drove by her.
Well for Mother's Day ten years ago, my daughter, 14, at the time, went down to the neighbor and offered to purchase it. She mentioned how much I loved the greenhouse and she and her brother wanted to purchase it for me as a Mother's Day gift. They sold it to her for $100. Yes, that's right but then again, who could turn down a face like this...
(A sidenote: One of my favorite pictures of the kids and my dogs... circa 1998 and sadly three of the dogs have passed on. )
Anyway back to the story. So they surprised me on Mother's Day with the knowledge that I was the proud owner of the greenhouse. Carefully, we removed all the glass, which shattered when we touched it.
Four of us lifted the aluminum house, devoid of glass, and carried it to the new home my husband created. We painted it and reglazed it with new glass. It worked to start new seeds but the house needed a heater.
Fast forward to today: my plan is to completely remove the interior and glass. Repaint and replace the glass. I purchased a heater for the green house. I also have been looking for new shelves.
I am waiting for the weather to get cooler so we can get started.
Here she is in her former glory.
Well for Mother's Day ten years ago, my daughter, 14, at the time, went down to the neighbor and offered to purchase it. She mentioned how much I loved the greenhouse and she and her brother wanted to purchase it for me as a Mother's Day gift. They sold it to her for $100. Yes, that's right but then again, who could turn down a face like this...
(A sidenote: One of my favorite pictures of the kids and my dogs... circa 1998 and sadly three of the dogs have passed on. )
Anyway back to the story. So they surprised me on Mother's Day with the knowledge that I was the proud owner of the greenhouse. Carefully, we removed all the glass, which shattered when we touched it.
Four of us lifted the aluminum house, devoid of glass, and carried it to the new home my husband created. We painted it and reglazed it with new glass. It worked to start new seeds but the house needed a heater.
Fast forward to today: my plan is to completely remove the interior and glass. Repaint and replace the glass. I purchased a heater for the green house. I also have been looking for new shelves.
I am waiting for the weather to get cooler so we can get started.
Here she is in her former glory.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)