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!

June Syllabus

Edit HTML
Picture from Style Me Pretty

June. Month of roses, marriage and the pearl.
It's named for Juno, Mother of the Gods.
Well, at least she got a month named after her. I have a hard enough time taking care of one human child. God-children? No thanks.

So the meal plan for the week.

Monday - Baked Pollock with homemade macaroni and cheese, and Ruby's favorite, peas.
Tuesday - Taco Joes, Southwestern rice, corn on the cob with lime butter.
Wednesday - Asian Chicken Noodle Salad with Green beans
Thursday - Vegetarian Fried Rice
Friday - Date Night(I do have a plan but I can't say yet because he might read it)
Saturday - Family Pizza Night
Sunday - Slow roasted BBQ rubbed chicken, Potato Salad, and farmers market veg.

I'm really digging For the Love of Cooking. I'm looking forward to trying the salad recipe. I'll post pics and the official Ruby review.

So we know the dinner-time schedule, let's talk about the "home"work.

Monday - Clean out the fridge
Someone should probably take away my sanitation license for not practicing at home as well as on the job. I mean it's not that bad, mostly a little embarrassing. More embarrassing that it's been worse.

Tuesday - Mop kitchen and bathroom floors
Again with the ew. Normal people just do this stuff right?

Wednesday - Bathroom deep clean
I'm usually pretty reliable with this one - no worries here.

Thursday - De-clutter Day.
Pick one small space, before and after pictures.

Friday - Vacuum a la husband.
He's pretty good about this one too.

Saturday - Toy purge/switch(every other week) and
Our family's Good 'ole-fashioned Laundry party. Yes - We know how to have a good time on a Saturday night. Honestly it's because we share a laundry room with eleven other neighbors and there is NO competition on Saturday night.

Sunday - Farmer's Market and Pancakes.

I'm excited about this. So far, seems pretty doable.

Projects will be revealed tomorrow as I am getting the sleep queues from the Roo and I have approximately 5 minutes until she official reaches monster status.

Where does the time go?!

A month? Seriously...wow. So I'm going to pretend that didn't happen.

Here are some of things that happened.

"Hi Mommy!"

"Yes I do know how cute I am."

Mystery tree flowers/leaves/things that I love.

"Mommy. Is this a worm on my shirt?"
And for my next trick I'll need a volunteer."

On to business. I have decided that every Monday will be the day I put up my syllabus for the coming week. This Monday will be no exception. The syllabus will include the following:
A menu
Goal for the week
Daily 'Home'work Assignments
A monthly Personal project or the update
A monthly House project or the update
A monthly Group assignment or the update

I have a list of tons of project ideas. We've come up with a meal plan. I'm excited and ready to go. Since this post was a little more a catch-up post, I will make the official syllabus for this week a separate post to follow...after dinner but before bath time. Promise.