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.

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.

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.