I have returned

Okay so last month was Crazy - Captial 'C' crazy. So busy. So when last we met I was talking about a giant feast that I was cooking for the SCA. So instead of an actual update I will show pictures.

Menu Monday: The OMG I'm busy edition

Okay so No more eating out this week but no super fancy stuff either. I've got deadlines and detailed lists of tasks to accomplish by certain days and dinners are barely going to squeeze themselves into my plans. Mostly because I think I'm legally obligated to feed the roo-monster and in the long run I'll probably get more things done with the proper fuel.

So:

Monday: Dinner with the in-laws
Tuesday:  Tacos, south-western rice, green beans
Wednesday: Frozen Bag Meal - pasta something, peas
Thursday: Grilled Cheese and Ham, Broccoli
Friday: Feast Transport/Prep - Roo with her Daddy
Saturday: Feast
Sunday: Family dinner night - Pancakes.

Wish me luck. Major updates next week.

Thankful Sunday

Wow - okay so this week and next week has been/is going to be crazy busy. I have two chapters to read, two assignments for those chapters, and two discussions I have to get done by Sunday. I also have that HUGE dinner I'm cooking on Saturday for 200 people. That in itself requires running around and gathering ingredients, doing prep work and packing every day this week. Did I mention I work full time and have that pesky three-year-old that always seems to hang around? The only thing I have to remember this whole time is that I can do it.

So before I dive head first into this new week, my thankful ten:

1. I am thankful for the confidence I have in myself.
2. I am thankful for the help and support of my friends. (Shout out to Will and Andrea! Woot-woot!)
3. For J doing everything he can to help me, even taking a extra day off of work.
4. For my in-laws, even they are trying to make my life easier, and not just, but especially this week.
5. For the confidence my friends, who asked me to do this feast for the 5th time, have in me.
6. Pizza delivery
7. Lists and my love of them.
8. Email - so I don't have to make a bi-gillion phone calls, or if I need help I can just broadcast it.
9. My creativity - though by the end of the week I might think it a curse.
10. My daughter. She does LET me do this crazy stuff. She also always wants to be around me and in my business because she loves me, and I know it.

I will try very hard to remember all of those things this week.

Menu Monday and September: A Preview

That's right! Two, count them two, posts for the price of one. So with one more day until September I am already booked up with things to do until the 13th. Every year around this time I cook a large feast for the SCA group I play with, occasionally. This year is big one. I chose to do a historical documented late period Roman feast. (300-400 C.E.) We're talking end of the Roman Empire, Hello Visigoths! They still ate like the Romans. I mean who wouldn't? After doing all of my research, my conclusion is that they didn't eat much differently than we did and even had fast food places and street vendors. They couldn't even go to their midday bath at the bath house unless they knew there would be snacks.
Anyway, that basically means I'm going to be doing a lot of prepping and I'm making feast my official personal project of the month. I'm already half way done with the papier-mache pig.
Later in the month Ruby will be going to her grandparents house in Kentucky for the first time, sans parents. During which time J and I will be taking off of work and getting the house in order. Purging, painting, rearranging - All good things to accomplish before the winter hits and we go into hibernation. Yes. We are bears. That will be this months home-improvement project.
Also starting on the 2nd, my online courses for my business degree. I've already checked it out. Looks pretty fast paced which I'm happy about. I was a little worried it'd be a little too independent. I definitely know by now that I am a student that needs clear deadlines and assignments. I never liked having to be somewhere at a specific time so online classes seem like a perfect match for me. Thus, the third and final project for September. Don't fret. In October I will return to my normal crafty self. Here's a visual of one of the projects now.

Think two round chair pillows strapped at the shoulder. Cause that's what it is and they're charging 60 bucks for it.

 This weeks menu is still a work in progress because my shopping schedule has been thrown off due to a Sunday sausage-making session. So I will leave some blanks to be filled in after the shopping is done on Wednesday.

Monday: Pan-fried rice cakes, Scrambled eggs, scallions, bacon.
Tuesday: Turkey meatloaf, mashed cauliflower-potatoes, green beans (never made it last week)
Wednesday: Pumpkin hummus, spinach-yogurt dip, pita bread, roasted chickpeas
Thursday:  Brine treated BLSL Chicken Breast, Farro-sotto (feast recipe try out) except with celery and parsnips, Peas.
Friday: TBD
Saturday: TBD
Sunday: TBD

Thanksgiving ThurSaturday

Okay so on Thursday I thought about doing this and then somehow, seemingly seconds later, it was Saturday. Right now. Crazy.

Thankful Ten
1. Finding a meat market that will customize a big order without charging me more for it.
2. The internet
- Where else could I find HUNDREDS of blogs, articles, pictures, and youTube videos on making a papier-mache pig?
3. My brain.
- It's a really great brain. Creative. Thoughtful. Attentive. Industrious. What? I like my brain.
4. The Backyardiagans 
- Finally a show that doesn't drive me crazy.
5. Yummy dinners
- I'm actually sticking to the menu this week and we're all very happy with the results.
6. That my husband did the laundry while I was at work 
7. Ruby wanting to be a donut for halloween
8. Goldilocks and the Three Bears
9. Both my parents still being alive. No really..I mean both.
10. Online degree programs

Menu Monday: The Confession Edition plus Progress Report

Okay so in addition to this being my menu post it will also be a one week until the end of the month progress report. What have I done this month? Not much. I finished the butterfly project. I did an owl craft for a friend of mine. Here are some specific things I haven't done in the entire month of August.
1. Cleaned the kitchen** or bathroom floors.
2. Deep cleaning of the bathroom
3. Fridge Cleaning
4. Put away clean laundry
5. Cleared out anything to get rid of or give.
6. Cared about cleaning at all.

So, I'm hoping that today I can get myself into a manic fit and do it. Maybe all it will take is the lovely smell of bleach water to get me started. Soon if I don't do something a new species of sentient leftovers will be discovered in our home, watching tv and eating popcorn.
ETA: I just finished cleaning the kitchen, its floor and walls. So at least something has been accomplished. I am about to embark on a journey through the clean laundry pile. It has come to my attention that if I would simply fold the clothes as they arrived from the laundry room this would not happen. I have known this for sometime yet still choose to do nothing. Maybe it's a weird genetic thing or medical condition. I'll make a note to get this tested asap but I may have to postpone laundry folding to do so. 

So on to the menu:

Monday: Oven Chicken Nuggets, Sweet potato fries, Broccoli
Tuesday: Turkey-Quinoa Meatloaf, Cheddar rice casserole, Peas
Wednesday: Crepes with Cottage Cheese, Apples, Bacon
Thursday: Crock-pot Chicken Paprikash, Green beans
Friday: Salmon with roasted beet salad, oranges, and avocados.
Saturday: Ham and Cheddar rice casserole(leftovers), peas
Sunday: Shrimp, spinach-yogurt dip, pita chips, cucumbers

Thanksgiving Thursday

Well I'm not running for the hills, screaming like a loon so I guess it's been kind of quiet lately.
It's been a pretty decent week so far. It started with a birthday and is ending with one.

1. Washable Markers
2. Google images - without which I would have no idea how to make frog, worm, and bug cupcakes.
3. That I do NOT own a bedazzler.
4. Financial Aid for Education
5. Quilling kits
6. That Ruby hums when she's contented.
7. That Ruby hums a lot.
8. Being able to get girl time at work. I love multi-tasking.
9. Having lots of time before work in the morning to read or nap in the tub, or whatever.
10. My gas grill and the quick delicious and easy dinners it makes possible.

Birthday Project: Owls

Too many birthdays in August. Seriously. Thankfully J wants new glasses so I'm not making anything but dinner for him. So it was a friends birthday on Saturday. Started the project last week but it wasn't nearly dry in time for Friday delivery. Luckily it wasn't because I was able to tweak it a little and I'm really happy with the outcome.

Oh you want a closer look?

It's inspired from a stamp I saw somewhere. I used mostly scrapbook papers, a craft knife,  markers, and a flower punch. Look how good it looks matted and framed.

Gotta love those Wal-mart four dollar frames. Happy Birthday Abigail.

Menu Monday: More Healthy Food

So this week features J's birthday. In celebration, we will have one day of not so healthy food, since that seems to be his favorite kind. I think we're all doing pretty well with the adjustment. It's been over a week since I stopped going somewhere for coffee/empty calories. Never got to the flank steak from last week so I'll fit it in this week.

Monday: Turkey and Whole-wheat Spaghetti Night with fresh spinach and peas.
Tuesday: The Birthday Dinner: Bratwurst, Brocco-Blueberry Coleslaw, Green Beans
Wednesday: Grilled Chicken Salad with Grilled Zucchini and Chickpeas 
Thursday:  Grilled Chili-rubbed Flank Steak, corn tortillas, Avocado and Grapefruit Salad,
Friday: Date Night (Maybe Medieval Times)
Saturday: Pantry-raided Chopped Salad with Leftovers
Sunday: Grilled Tilapia, Grilled Sweet Corn, and Grilled Farmer's Market Veggie or the day.

Breathe

Sometimes I just need to breathe. Song lyrics for a reason, right?
Lately I've been having to breathe so often I'm very close to hyperventilating. I read an interesting blog post earlier in the week about stress being a choice. That if we feel stressed it's because we're choosing to react that way to a certain situation. I agree with that line of thinking though I often find it difficult to come up with an alternative at all let alone a better one. When I sit down and think about the situations that I'm choosing to be stressed about I tend to realize that all of those situations are a result of my actions or most of the time, inaction. So why am I choosing to do these things/not do these things that ultimately lead me to choose to react in such a stressful manner? The only answer I can think of is that I like it.
I grew up in a stress-filled home, with stress-filled parents, that had stress-filled jobs. I think it may be my natural habitat. I may not actually know how to survive in a stress-free environment. I'm still going to try. I have been holding on to a lot of things. Literally things, materials, objects, etc., that cause me emotional and physical stress reactions anytime I look at them. Well it's mostly the placement and sheer volume of these things that cause the reaction, not the individuals items. I'm holding on to them for the following reasons:

1. They represent money I spent and I feel that if I get rid of it I am throwing, giving, losing money. Well it's already gone. No need reminding yourself everyday of past mistakes and regrets. A little sick, really.
2. I think I'll need them one day. Yeah well, actually it's more like I think it'll be nice to have one day. Or that someone will think it's cool that I still have one, it, them, etc. Awesome, I'm storing useless things for possible future validation by others...a LOT sick. 
3. I think Ruby will want it. Yes, Ruby may grow up and think it's really great that I saved her first pair of shoes. Do I really need her first booties, snow boots, sandals, dressy shoes, white shoes for after labor day, kitschy animal shoes, or shoes she never even wore but might want her possible daughter to wear one day? (Okay so seriously, how am I not locked up?)

I know that I'm doing it because I wanted those things. There are a lot of things that I'd love to have from my childhood to give to Ruby, except no probably not. They would be almost thirty years old, have been stored in a house/attic in Florida for most of it, above smokers and frequent users of air fresheners. Upon further reflection I hope no one has those toys and they have been passed on to toy heaven to run in a field all day and play toy games or whatever it is toys do in toy heaven. Besides, most of the cool toys have been remade anyway and are being sold as retro toys for three times what they originally cost. So if I really want her to have something I did, I can just tell one of her four sets of grandparents. Yes, I said four, but that's another story for another day. So to further my healing I will now provide an embarrassing example of my problems.

This is just one corner of our bedroom. Know what it is? A pile of dressy clothes, out-grown baby clothes and other random junk to get rid of. TO. GET. RID. OF. Yes, seriously. Now you know why I want the clean sweep team for a week. Every closet is just as bad. We're drowning in toys and laundry, clean and dirty. Luckily there's a week coming up that we'll be Ruby and work free. It will be dealt with, one way or another. Until then, stress mountain will stand proudly. Mocking me.

Thanksgiving Schmanksgiving

Today is a hard one. Yeah Yeah - Lots to be thankful for. Blah blah blah. Today I'm just not feeling it. Today I just want to hide under a blanket with a never ending pint of Haagen Dazs and call it a week. I'm not though. Dinner is cooking away on the stove. The dishwasher is running. I've even picked up after the first round of Hurricane Ruby. All perk has left the building and I'm not doing it with any joy. I'm guessing a lot of it has to do with the brain melting temperatures outside. There we go...now I know where to begin.

Thankful for:

1. The Air Conditioner: Today it's a trooper - poor little guy.
2. Power. Without which, #1 would not be possible.
3. Walk-in coolers. They are especially awesome when you're dripping with sweat in front of a commercial double stack oven set at 450 degrees.
4. Water. Doesn't even have to be cold. Definitely not hot though. Unless I'm having tea. Today, I'm not.
5. Having a job. If I didn't have one I'd barely be able to leave my home. Also probably wouldn't have one.(A home.)
6. The sore on my tongue from eating too many blueberries. No really. I like blueberries.
7. That my husband provided dinner and child entertainment yesterday when I really needed it.
8. Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream on a VERY hot summer day.
9. My big comfy purple chair.
10. Be-Awesome hamsters.

Birthday Project: Butterflies

So my niece Lilly is turning 6 later this month. Same day she starts her first day of school. She is obsessed with bugs and has been for a few years. First it was ladybugs and now it is butterflies. So when I saw this super cute project I knew I had to make her one. It worked out really well considering they are swimming in toys and asked everyone to lay off buying any. I think there's a six year old that's going to be very happy.

Special Thanks to Sabrina at Honor Roll that I'm pretty sure I saw featured on One Pretty Thing.
Great Inspiration!

Monday Progress Report

So it's diet time. The whole family.
Here's why.
Typical snacks include:

1. Fruit snacks
2. Ice Pops
3. Granola bars(reduced sugar - but still)
4. Cat cookies from Trader Joe's 
5. Crackers - any and all kinds
6. Ice cream
7. Chips

Notice anything? Yeah. So did I. So here are the replacements:

1. Fruit - Apples, Grapes, Berries, Plums, Bananas
2. Veggies - Baby Carrots, Snap Peas
3. Chocolate Rice Cakes
4. Yogurt to make our own frozen yogurt. 
5. Dried Fruit
6. Almonds
7. Popcorn

We have lots of yummy fresh food, an awesome grill, and a tiny bit of motivation that I'm going to squeeze until it's dry. It's time to start teaching Ruby the right way to eat.

Menu Monday: The Diet Edition

Okay so we have all gotten out of control. It's come to the time when Momma put us all on a healthy diet again.
Proteins, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It's sad when your preschooler comes home from Grandma's house and all she wants to eat is fruit snacks, ice pops, chips and french fries. So I still have the snacks around but she's going to only get one a day and she'll have to earn it by eating something good for her first. Of course, we aren't exactly nutritional role models, at least not yet.

On to the menu.

Monday - Grilled Turkey Cutlets, Spinach and Grapes.
Tuesday - Grilled Salmon Salad with Potatoes, Eggs, and Green beans
Wednesday - Grilled Chicken, Corn, Tomato, and Zucchini Salad, Whole Wheat Farfalle.
Thursday - Grilled Tilapia, Broccoli Slaw with Apples
Friday - Turkey Kefta Kabobs, Pita bread, Cucumber-Yogurt sauce, Grilled Zucchini
Saturday - Family Pizza Night
 (probably something with spinach, pine nuts, and maybe some of the leftover kefta.
Sunday - Grilled Chili-rubbed Flank Steak, Avocado and Grapefruit Salad, Corn tortillas

Thanksgiving Thursdays

This is going to be a tough one as this week I seem to have taken a grumpy pill instead of vitamins.

Thank you for:
1. My Home.
2. My Family.
3. That I have the problem of too much stuff.
4. That I have the problem of too much food.
5. That language can be learned by toddlers.
6. That progress can be observed during the above process.
7. Impromptu Spaghetti night.
8. A $3 compass instead of a $20 circle cutter.
9. That my husband hasn't had to work late, or extra at all this week.
10. Weekends at Grandma's with Daddy, while Mommy is at home.

Yay.

Menu Monday - The pauper's edition

Okay so we're a little lean this week. We all have those weeks where ends meet, but boy did you have to stttrrreeettchhhh to make that happen. It's only hard when J and I get paid at the same time, instead of one of us getting paid once a week. I hate it when the calender syncs up like that. We are very grateful because we know it could be worse and we know it's mostly our bad decisions. We're still a work in progress just like everyone else.

On to the menu.

Monday - Fried Rice with Veggies and Veggie"Beef tips"
Tuesday - Thai chicken peanut noodles
Wednesday - Tuna Nicoise-style Potato salad
Thursday - Leftovers night or Spaghetti night
Friday - Date Night - no Ruby TBD
Saturday - Dinner at J's parents house. TBD
Sunday - Farmer's Market Day - no Ruby

Yeah..not really a menu. Ruby is going to her grandmother's house in Iowa, this coming weekend. First time she'll be going somewhere without me that I'm not bringing her to and leaving her there. It's only three days.

August Syllabus, July Report Card B-

August. This is what I think of when I say the word. August. Hot. Very Hot. Also overwhelming. This is the last month before the down swing into the holiday season. I've found that the year is a lot like a roller-coaster. The faster you go up to the top, the faster the drop. Since this year has flown by so far I guess there's really only a few weeks until Christmas. Okay so I'm exaggerating. A little.  I've noticed my anxiety levels climbing lately. I'm starting to freak out worry about practically everything, even in my dreams. I'm starting to fray around the edges a little so my August projects might seem a little more Me-focused, than they have been.

Back to business. July Report Card.

House Projects - B

• Hang Curtains: A
• Find Something for Kitchen/Ruby work surface: C (I did find something. It needs to be painted and brought over. Since that wasn't done maybe I should give myself an incomplete or something.)

Personal Project - C
I did get a binder for all of the recipes I saved. I didn't organize them, but plan on it today. I also have a cute idea to make it look like my existing recipe book but it involves a trip to a color copier and I have not wanted to provide that amount of effort.

Group Project - B+
We went on all of our field trips. We watched less tv - with the exception of yesterday. It was too darn hot. Plus yesterday was technically August.

So based on my superior math skills I say July was a B- and I'll take it.

August Syllabus

House Project

1. Make-up work from last month. Finish the kitchen.
2. Bedroom Makeover. Clean it. Move it around. Get rid of junk.
3. Clutter purge

Personal Project

1. Make-up work from last month. Finish the recipe project.
2. Cousin Lilly's birthday project

Self-improvement Project
Walking program.
I've signed up for a daily newsletter for a walking for fitness and stress reduction plan. Gives goals and set daily requirements and some required thinking activities. I'm hopeful. It seems doable.

Future Projects

Okay, so because my bookmarks are becoming an unorganized mess I've decided to link everything I'd like to do by the end of the year, here.

Bunting Quilt
Using the bunting from our wedding for a new bedspread for our bed.
Rainbow of Butterflies
For my niece Lilly's birthday.
Flower faeries
I thought these would make cute Christmas ornaments.
Felt Fishing Game
Too Cute. I know two little boys who might love these.
Handprint Pillowcase
For the Grandparents


That's a good start.

Menu Monday: Back to Business (Tuesday)

So it was going to be posted yesterday but I was having computer issues, and head-desk issues. So without further ado: 

Okay - enough savoring my birthday week and time to go back to cooking actual meals, not just skating by on grilling a protein and steaming some veggies. It's been hot, so I haven't been wanting to cook, but I'm pretty sure I'm legally obligated to feed my daughter so I've been forcing myself to do so. So, Sunday she and I both went to the farmers market to get inspiration. I let her point to some cherries, "brown grapes" in her language. I'm going to can those bad boys based on this post. I want summer in a jar in the middle of winter, too.
She also pointed to eggplants and asked if they were chocolate. Then looked only more confused when I said they were eggplant. I also got some Yukon gold potatoes, apricots, and grape tomatoes "sweeter than a mother's smile," according to the farmer's sign. I didn't end up cooking the pulled pork last week because of a scheduling error. I ended up being the only one home on Friday so I had Indian food instead. So it's in the slow-cooker for tonight.

Monday - BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Oven baked green beans
Tuesday - Mexican Eggplant Casserole with tortillas and re-fried black beans
Wednesday -  Turkey Spaghetti Bolognase and Snap Peas
Thursday - Grilled Parmesan Chicken Skewers over Vegetable Couscous
Friday - Family Pizza Making Night (zucchini, bacon and mushrooms)
Saturday - Leftovers night
Sunday - Farmer's market surprise probably involving the grill.

Project Wrap-up: Kitchen Curtains

So, June's project was making these curtains. I made them, or at least my version. I changed the bows to tabs, and used some of my leftover wedding fabric and some cute white linen embroidered with pairs of cherries.

Sorry about the lighting. Really small space, bad light fixture, bright window all not great when taking pictures. You can get the idea though. I'm going to paint a bakers rack red and add a wood work surface to it, probably a shelf from IKEA. I'm very happy with them. Total cost was $8 dollars for the curtain rod. I had all the other fabric leftover from other projects. So I guess I'm picking red, pink and white for my kitchen.
I feel so happy that I finished the project completely. Next I plan on making some matching quilted trivets and maybe some matching Mommy-Daughter aprons.

Product Review - Black Mission Fig Goat's Milk Ice Cream

So, as someone who should not eat normal ice cream - at least the kind that involves large quantities of whole eggs - I'm always on the look out for new kinds of ice cream. This is especially true when I'm wandering the aisles of my local Whole Foods wondering what three items I can buy for under fifty dollars. When peering through the foggy glass doors of the ice cream aisle, I spied, on the very top shelf,  in a corner, LaLoo's Black Mission Fig Goat's Milk Ice Cream. The ingredients list egg yolks, not whole eggs, so it's good for me. Even better, there are only a total of seven ingredients, as it should be.  Before even going to the website I decided to do my own tasting and really try and focus on the flavors I was getting from it.
First bite, definitely fig newtons. Even the taste of the soft butter flavored cookie outside was coming through from the butter-rich creaminess of the goat's milk. As I continued, I was reminded of eating a good quality coffee ice cream, slightly bitter in a good way. Then peanut butter came to mind with its creamy earthiness. As I kept tasting, I found the the floral aroma of the goat's milk coming through - that combined with the deep burnt sugar taste from the mission figs reminded me almost of Cajeta - without being sickeningly sweet. It is,  without question, the most delicious ice cream I have EVER tasted. I have tasted some ice cream people. I know my ice cream. I will warn you, if you don't like figs or fig newtons, do NOT try this ice cream. The fig flavor is so pure and prominent that it would be wasted on you rather than savored by me. It even has the occasional grit of a seed that is always involved when enjoying a fig newton.
Summary: A fantastic evolution of a childhood snack into an adulthood luxury. I disagree with the website in only one regard; In my opinion the only thing it should be paired with is a spoon.

Whole Foods - $6.99 for a pint
A+++++

Thanksgiving Thursdays

No. I didn't hit my head and wake up thinking today was Thanksgiving. I decided today, after receiving so many thoughtful wishes and surprising gifts yesterday that I would begin a new blog day unique to this blog that tons of other blogs are probably doing. Thanksgiving Thursdays. Well, I could call it Thankful Thursdays, but I like thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday and I think it is close to being put on the endangered list. It sits between its two natural predators, Halloween and Christmas, with very little hope of holding its own unless we intervene. We have a lot to be thankful for. Medicine, Air-conditioning, Tacos...the list is practically infinite. That's the problem. We have tooooo many things. So instead of being thankful, we're complacent. Maybe worse, we're expectant and take most of it for granted. Did I mention coffee?
Anyway, so Thursdays are now my little day in the middle of my little week where I am going to stop and think(like Dora!) and remember some of the things I am truly thankful for.
I can't teach Ruby to say thank you and mean it if I don't understand and practice the concept myself. Not convincingly at least...and lately she's got to be convinced of EVERYTHING.

So This Thursday's Ten Things I am Thankful For:
1. The Internet
2. The Power that brings me and provides the internet
3. That my daughter's favorite vegetable is peas. (That she has a favorite vegetable.)
4. That my husband has a job, and works it solely for his family.
5. Refrigeration
6. Corn dogs
7. Hugs
8. My friends remembering my birthday in all of their own unique ways.
9. Quiet time
10. Gentle Breezes

Menu Monday: The Blueberry Edition

Went to the farmers market yesterday and found one of the vendors selling California plums. Complete with code stickers on them like the ones found in the grocery store. Not awesome. I don't think they should be allowed to do that. A farmer's market is for local produce. We have plums in Wisconsin and Michigan. Not yet, but in a couple weeks. The whole point of the market is to sell fresh local produce that is in season. It made me sad because the same vendor has the sweetest most delicious cantaloupe I've even had. I dream about it in the winter. Watermelon is awesome too. The melons are local, like thirty minutes away. It broke my heart a little. Did buy the watermelon though. Can't wait to break into that puppy.

Also picked up some yellow wax and some green beans, black raspberries, fresh red onions, cabbage, split-pit peaches, sugar snap peas, and a tomato. Yum.

Monday - BLTS with Apple Coleslaw Salad
Tuesday - Fish Tacos, Cilantro-Lime Rice, Corn on the cob
Wednesday - Spaghetti Pie
Thursday - Beef and Green Bean Stir fry with noodles
Friday - Family Pizza Night
Saturday - Burgers and Hot dogs
Sunday - Chicken Salad Sandwiches

I've got Blueberries and Black Raspberries to deal with. Here's some things I'm thinking about doing with them: 
Chicken with Blueberry Salsa
Blueberry Buckle
Classic Blueberry Muffins

Weekend Getaway

So the second scheduled field trip of the month was a success. We went to the lake house. For Ruby's sake we brought along a brand spankin' new sprinkler that propels balls into the air using a jet of water. It's pretty cool.

Look at my awesome new sprinkler!!!

Then we went canoeing in a lake with jet skis and power boats pulling tubers and water skiers. That was an adventure. The whole time Ruby said we were looking for treasure and a pirate ship. She even brought along a treasure map.

Look Mom! Like Dora!


We had a pretty good time. Very relaxing.

Ten Things that I learned on this trip:
1. I am good a canoeing.
2. Being around water relaxes me.
3. I love driving around trying to find cool stuff in strange places.
4. I still love my daughter's laugh.
5. My daughter has no fear.
6. My husband and I passed the dreaded canoeing/communication test with flying colors.
7. Hippies can't make sandwiches.
8. I love my bed.
9. I love my family.
10. Everything is going to be all right.

Menu Monday:The Birthday Edition

In an effort to observe my birthday and that it's way too hot to eat/cook/breathe, this week's menu is brought to you by the letter L, for lazy.

Monday: Fishsticks, Sweet Potato Fries, Peas, Watermelon. 
all courtesy of Trader Joes (except the watermelon)
Tuesday: Grilled Chicken, Blueberry Salsa, Spinach and Whole Wheat Orzo
Wednesday: My Birthday - Going out for Mexican
Thursday:  Grilled Turkey Cutlets, Jasmine Rice with Corn, Asparagus, and Carrots
Friday: Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Green Beans
Saturday: Chicken Apple Sausages, Broccoli Slaw with Blueberries
Sunday: Crawfish Boil at my Boss's house

I like to think he's throwing that crawfish boil for me...I know it's just good timing. So I'll pretend it's the universe throwing me a party.

Et tu motivation?

Motive[moh-tiv]  according to dictionary.com

-noun

1.something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc.; incentive.

2.the goal or object of a person's actions: Her motive was revenge.

3.(in art, literature, and music) a motif.

 –adjective

4.causing, or tending to cause, motion.

5.pertaining to motion.

6.prompting to action.

7.constituting a motive or motives.

 –verb (used with object)

8.to motivate.

 

What makes us go? What makes us do? Besides food, warmth, and water - why do most people do what they do every day? Most of the things we do daily or are supposed to do, for some reason, aren't only for food, warmth and water. Why then? 

I'm asking this question because my daughter is starting ask this question. 

Why can't she touch everything?

Why can't she go up to strangers that she greets as, "Hi friends?"

Why can't she have a freezer pop for breakfast?

Why does she have to go to bed?

Why can't she have a hang-glider for her birthday?

Sure I can give reasons for why or why not that are rational and sensible explanations but I honestly have no idea why she can't do any of those things. Just like I have no idea why I have to do any of the things I have to do. So, what's my motive? What is making me do the things I do or not do the things I don't do? What's your motive? Maybe that's the difference between happy people and unhappy people. Happy people have a motive. A reason for doing the things they do, other than because that's what's expected. Ruby doesn't do anything she doesn't want to do. Three-year-olds can't be expected to do anything. They won't do it if they don't want to or don't understand why they shouldn't - even then it better be a really good reason like it's scary or a potential owie. You might get them to do it with some incentive but don't ever count on it. I'm starting to think that three-year-olds seem as bad as they do because three is the year that we as parents begin to expect things from them that they aren't capable of doing. We get frustrated and wonder why they aren't conforming to our world, or listening to what we say, or acting the way we want them to be. When I read that sentence it seems like a viscous cycle to me. Aren't we like that even as adults? Sixty-year-olds look at thirty-year-olds with the same contempt. Thirty-year-olds look at teenagers with the same eye-roll and head shake that I give my child daily. No one will ever be the person WE want them to be. No one will ever be the person I want them to be. All Ruby will ever be is the person she wants to be. I'm just the salesperson giving her the costumes to try on before she decides. 

So Mr. DeMille, before my close up, What's my motivation? Who am I in this scene?

Blueberries and Birthdays

Today we FINALLY went blueberry picking. This is what I asked to do to celebrate my upcoming birthday. We went to a little family run place about and hour away from home called Valley Orchard.
I'm so glad I went searching yesterday one last time to triple check that there weren't two hours south of us.

Look Mom! Strawberries!

I spent about a half hour picking blueberries while J spent the half hour wrangling Ruby, occasionally picking a stray blueberry, either from the bushes or other stranger's buckets. It was quick but fun. We went home with about a quart of blueberries. Not a lot, but plenty for the three of us considering only one of us eats blueberries. Ruby vehemently dislikes berries of all kinds and calls anything resembling a berry a strawberry. This of course is only in my presence. For her babysitter, she eats strawberries. For her Grandmother, she eats blueberries. For me, she eats cookies.

All in all I had a nice experience. I got to see what blueberry bushes looked like. I got to taste a fresh berry from the bush. I got to feel the sun on my skin, hear my girl 'make friends,' and walked away with a quart of blueberries for all under five dollars.

Real Blueberries

So far, the end of my thirtieth year is looking pretty good. A nice quiet trip planned for next weekend. Going out on my birthday courtesy of a friend. My boss is even having a crawfish boil the weekend after my birthday that I am jokingly referring to as my, "birthday boil." July is looking pretty sweet.

July Syllabus

July. My birth month. My Month. Starts with independence, parades, and fireworks. Has some grilling, cherries, berries, sun and family fun in the middle. Ends with presents and a celebration of me and all of my awesomeness.
Okay, so I like July. Realistically. It's hot, humid and almost always end up with a sunburn, but hey...it's summer and that's how it's supposed to be.

Whitewater WI 4th of July Parade




Field trips scheduled for this month:
I am determined to go Blueberry picking. There are some farms west of us and a little south. That may happen next weekend but we'll see. There's really only a month worth of Blueberry season and it's been open a week now. Pressure is on people.

We'll be taking another trip to J's parents summer house, on a lake in Wisconsin. We went for a big family gathering for the Fourth of July weekend. We all had a great time. No phone, no internet, no TV. That's what I'll be doing in honor of my birthday. A nice quiet family getaway to bond as a family. How nice is that?

"Hi Grandpa, do you like parades too?"


On to the Syllabus:

Personal Project for July

Since I went through all my magazines last month and now have a mags worth of recipes I'm interested in trying, I feel like I need to put them together somehow. Organize them. Maybe in a binder of some kind. Though not a binder because I think that's ugly. This project will take a trip to the office supply store to check out my options.

House Project for July

Finish the curtains, hang them in the kitchen window. Find new desk, table, workspace to make cooking dinner with Ruby, safer, easier and more fun. Maybe some new pot holders and an apron.

Group Goal for July - Exercise/Activity

I want to get out, once a week, all three of us and walk, bike, play lawn games, kick a soccer ball, or even just my Roo's favorite game of 'runa round.' Acceptable activities include going to the botanic gardens, walking in the forest preserves. Going to a field park and kicking the soccer ball for at least and hour. I know J and I aren't getting enough activity and I'm starting to think Roo would be a little more compliant sometimes if she was a little more worn out toward the end of the day.
To encourage this goal, I am instituting a no TV on Sunday, before 6pm, policy. If I said all day, J and I would never get to watch our shows together. We barely have time to now and we really enjoy the time together.

I am continuing the cleaning schedule I cam up with last month. Seems to work well. I'm also going to continue to try and not throw out leftovers. Speaking of leftovers, Menu to follow.

"Ruby loves swimming and Grandma"

Menu Monday and a PSA

 Public Service Announcement: 
From now on Brine your Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts. 
If you choose not to listen to me, fine. Your loss. I have recently started to brine them and I now feel as though I have been missing out on delicious, moist, flavorful chicken breast my whole life. No more rubber protein source for me thank you very much. Next week I'll be trying it with Pork chops. Yum.


As for this week:
 
Monday - Fish and Chips (Oven roasted potato wedges) with Peas
(didn't have these Saturday as we ate at J's parents cabin that night)
Tuesday - Grilled Chicken, Black beans and Rice, Carrots with honey and lime.
Wednesday - Turkey Chili Cottage Fries
Thursday - Caesar Pasta Salad with broiled Chicken breasts
Friday - Date night cook-in (edit:Sandwiches and a "Lost" marathon)
Saturday - Papa-Grill Hot Dogs, and 'Mac an Cheese' (A Ruby request)
Sunday - Farmer's market bounty mystery meal
Edit: Grilled Peaches and Pork Chops, Sugar snap peas and beerbread


Nothing too exciting. We're pretty much at the mercy of my fridge and pantry until Friday when we can go grocery shopping. Still sounds pretty acceptable, though. Yay me for my stocked supplies!

June Report Card - Solid B

Farewell Month of June. Filled with Family, Father's Day, Farmer's Markets and FUN! 
Apparently, June was brought to us by the letter, F. Thankfully that does not also reflect the grade I'll be giving myself this month.

Goal #1
This month my personal project includes making a new bag for myself.
DONE!!

 

Goal #2
My house project will be new curtains for the kitchen.
Partial Credit.  I have finished one panel of the two. The other is pinned and ready to sew and will be finished today. Since today is technically a Holiday Monday, I'm taking it as a "teacher work day" and doing some extra credit on my holiday to bump my grade up a little.


Group Assignment Goal for the month: NO THROWING AWAY LEFTOVERS!!! 
Done. We threw out one small container of one portion of a stir-fry because it was originally intended for my lunch the day after having it for dinner, but I got a little bit of a stomach bug. Even though J and Roo didn't experience the same thing therefore ruling out the food as a possible culprit, I was gun shy and threw it away to be better safe than sorry.

I finished the Great Magazine Clean Out. Going from having about 40 magazines to about the size of ones worth of pages. My cleaning schedule has slacked off this week. I'm blaming to holiday and a little more stress than usual. Though even in that slacking it's nothing like it used to get.


For the Month of June, I'm going to give myself a Solid B. There was effort, mostly success, clear goals and working toward them. Some things were left off but overall I believe the was a general understanding of the assignments.

S is for Summer Squash Spectacular

Sunday was Farmer's market day and it was a scary, blustery, raining mess. Then for about an hour between ten and eleven the clouds parted and the Universe granted me my Earl Grey tea, Slice of Galette de Rois from my favorite nun, and this week a special guest to market day, my Husband, J. Because the weather was so fowl, We were able to get a lot of great deals. For example instead of the normal 2 for $8 cherry pints, I was begged to take 2 for $6. Twist my arm. A GIANT perfectly ripened candy-sweet cantaloupe the size of two chain store sized melons for $4. Then for $3, I was encouraged to fill a bag of random summer squashes and zucchinis and cucumbers.I was not going to pass that up, and I didn't.
So, Here are some front runners for what to do with my excess of squash.

Courtesy of Martha Stewart Two-Colored Squash Loaf Cake
From Kitchen Daily Zucchini Moussaka
From All Recipes Calabacitas con Elote
From Epicurious Baked Zucchini Fries with Tomato Coulis

Yummy!

Second First Anniversary and a Menu Monday

So Sunday was our First Wedding Anniversary. Saturday night we had Ruby stay the night with her grandparents so that J and I could enjoy a night out to dinner and some time to ourselves. We decided that would be the night we'd stop trying NOT to have a child. So we'll see.
I should be registering for classes soon for the Fall semester. Looking over the courses, they are as necessary as boring as they sound. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.
Things are moving along nicely for the month of June. With two and a half days to go, I still need to make the curtains for the kitchen. When talking to J about it he said that I should give myself a one-day extension due to the last needle on my sewing machine breaking when I was 3/4 of the way done with my bag project. If I need it I'll take it.

I did not clean the hood vents in the kitchen in bathroom last week, so first thing after the post, that's what I'll do. 
Floors were vacuumed. Dishes were done. No leftovers wasted, week 3. Farmer's Market visited and came home with some lovely cantaloupe and a giant bag full of patty pan, zucchini, round zucchini, cucmbers, and yellow squash. I'll have to investigate some squash recipes.

So for this weeks menu:

Monday - Teriyaki Chicken Stir-fry with Pineapple and Noodles
Tuesday - Chorizo, Red Pepper, and Rice Stuffed Round Zucchini Squashes with Quesadilla for the Roo.
Wednesday - Pizza night, bacon, mushroom, and yellow squash a family favorite
Thursday - Sweet Corn Pasta Salad with fresh sweet corn from the farmers market
Friday - Date night with Grilled Burgers and pasta salad, probably some grilled zucchini.
Saturday - Fish and Chips with Peas
Sunday - Fourth of July Family BBQ at J's Parents Summer House.

Menu Monday: The Good kind of Boring Edition

One of the helpful tidbits I've learned over the years is that company = leftovers. So we are swimming in them.
This week's menu is going to reflect that.

Monday: Trader Joes Orange Chicken with leftover fried rice and yakisoba from Benihana, asparagus. 
Tuesday: Tacos in the city with Roo's Daddy.
Wednesday: Spaghetti with Turkey bolognese, salad with carrots and radishes
Thursday: Veggie rice cakes and chicken skewers
Friday: Date Night at Seasons 52
Saturday: Family Pizza night
Sunday: Grill night/farmer's market iron chef

A nice boring menu for a nice boring week.

Father's Day Recap

This was one of those rare weeks when we reached our yearly quota for hosting family and friends in one weekend. We had a very good time. Ruby loved seeing her grandparents and her five year old cousin. They went to Legoland. We painted pictures together. We even played marching band as documented above. One big lesson I learned this weekend was that it seemed easier to parent with two kids around. Granted I'm not saying it is always easier, but the dynamic changed. Instead of feeling like I was constantly at war with my arch nemesis over dyer issues like picking up toys and wearing pants, I felt like the one in charge. For the first time ever I really felt like two kids wouldn't be so bad.

For Father's day this year, J wanted to take Ruby swimming at a fun indoor pool with zero depth entry and a water-play ground. We had a blast. Sunday was the day everyone left for home, so after 11am we were a small boring family again and free to relax and enjoy each others company. All in all a great week.

On to the accountability portion:

1. All cleaning was done according to the schedule.
2. Laundry was even done on Saturday morning and folded/put away by J.  
   Thanks sweetie.
3. The meal plan was altered slightly. We didn't have tacos last week because we had leftovers to eat. All other meals were prepared and devoured.
4. No work on June projects has been started. Thinking about starting later today, but not holding my breath.

No farmer's market as my refrigerator is still overflowing with food waiting to be prepared and eaten.
Today Ruby and I made Banana-walnut-chocolate chip muffins, for breakfast. While the oven was hot I threw together a strawberry-rhubarb crumble for later tonight.

I have been reading. Last week I managed to read Bones of the Moon by Jonathan Carroll. A great short read. I've moved on the The Land of Laughs also by Carroll.
Today is shaping up to be a nice lazy day at home with my baby girl.

Blog post to-do list for the next month:

1. Father's Day craft project
2. Product Review - Mission Fig Goat Milk Ice Cream
3. Second, First Wedding Anniversary
4. Making the curatins
5. Momma's got a brand new bag.
6. Preserving Apricots - Roman style
7. Blueberries and birthdays

Project of the week - Cleaning the kitchen ceiling and the hood vents in bathroom and kitchen.

Menu to follow.
 

Menu Monday

This weeks menu is brought to us by my local Farmer's market.
I LOVE farmer's markets. I especially love my little town's because all the growers are so small and cute. Especially in the early harvest season. Some of the booths have one item now but will have thirty by the end of summer. I love being able to see the change, from lean to bountiful. I also love grocery store rarities like English peas in the pod and local red currants.

Yes, Roo has gnawed off the bottom of the letter 'p'. For your information, that many pea pods yield that many peas(approximately a 1/2 cup and I bought what they had labeled a quart). They will be starring in Monday's dinner courtesy of Martha Stewart.

On with the meal plan:

Monday - Creamy Pasta with Peas, Arugula, and Pine Nuts
Tuesday - Chili-rubbed Steak Tacos with Snap Pea and Radish Salad
Wednesday - Grilled Chicken with Mango Salsa and Edamame Coconut Jasmine Rice
Thursday - Eating out
Friday - BBQ Chicken, Potato Salad, Grilled Asparagus
This is the same BBQ chicken from last week that never got cooked
Saturday - Eating Out
Sunday - Father's Day (Yet to be decided, but will consist of a brunch and dinner since Ruby has a Daddy and a Papa)

At some point this week I have currants to use. I'm wanting to make a very European style tart.
I also have some rhubarb and the sweetest, smallest, beautiful strawberries I have ever tasted and seen.
Did I mention how much I love the Farmer's market?

Monday Progress Report

It's Monday and I believe I have successfully accomplished my goals for the week.

I stuck to the meal plan until Sunday. We made an impromptu visit to the in-laws house to fix my aging and unruly back. I enjoy the perk of having a physical therapist in the family by marriage. After that I was in no mood to cook any of the delicious things I had picked up from the farmers market that same day. Fresh English peas, local red currants, fresh Madeleine cookies baked by a local French catholic abbey. Yum. We ended up picking up our dinner instead. Since technically Sunday is my 'fun' day on the meal plan I still consider it a win.

As far as the cleaning schedule, it was all completed just some of them weren't completed on the same day I had listed. Some early, some late, some like the magazine de-clutter project is still going on. In fairness, I had eight magazine holders full of old Cooking Light, Bon Appetit, Food and Wine, and Cooks Illustrated to go through and keep only the recipes I was likely to make. So far I have removed about a magazines worth of pages from six of those magazine holders. Only two to go and I'm planning on finishing that up tonight.
On the agenda for this week:

Monday - Finish magazines project, grocery shopping
Tuesday - Clean bathroom and wash floors, Fold and put away laundry, unload car and vacuum car out.
Ew to the car. Toddlers are messy and I don't remember the last time we did this.
Wednesday - Vacuum, straighten balconies, Father's Day project
Currently our balconies are being used by an expecting squirrel couple. We've been giving them their space but my parents will expect somewhere to suck on their cancer sticks away from the rest of us.
Thursday - Dinner with a friend, Finish up Father's Day Project.
Friday - Hanging with the parents
Saturday -Dinner with Friends
Sunday - Father's Day

It's a light week because we're entertaining most of the time I usually have to do things around the house.
Next week I'm going to have to start my house project and personal project if I'm going to finish by July.

Now for the obligatory picture of my daughter doing something supercute.

The Asian Chicken Noodle Salad was a big hit with everyone. Even when she had cold leftovers for lunch one day after. This weeks meal plan to follow.

June Projects

I will start this post with a review of my May project.




I made this, kinda.

This dress makes me thirsty

 Here's the back.

Hulk ANGRY!!!

This was my first attempt. I didn't have as much fabric as per the instructions so it came out a lot more casual than the example. For Ruby, it may end up being a good thing. She's a puddle-jumping, mud-wallowing, grassy hill-sliding machine. I do have plans for making more but I think I'm going to try for a ruffle skirt next time.


This month my personal project includes making a new bag for myself. A cute little summer bag for toting around water bottles, fruit snacks, hat racks...you know, the essentials.

My house project will be new curtains for the kitchen. I have a cute white fabric with embroidered cherries on it that is screaming out to become curtains and possible matching oven mitts and or towel trim. Since I've picked red as an accent color that will at least narrow down the main color. Maybe I'll just keep the room white. I do have grand plans for the kitchen redo. Originally that was my project for the month but since I'm starting the month a week late I figured I'd space it over two months.

Goal for the month: NO THROWING AWAY LEFTOVERS!!!
I'm so tired of doing that. It makes me feel bad for wasting for AND I may as well be throwing money away. Actually I guess I really am throwing money away when I throw away food that is no longer edible. The shame. I look forward to coming up with creative new ways of using them or even just scaling back what I prepare. Maybe I'll even look into doing more batch cooking now that my freezer has more real estate available.
Wish me luck!