Menu Plan Monday

This Menu Plan Monday is going to be a little different for me. I've decided I need to clean out the pantry to make room for newer staple items with expiration dates that aren't so soon! So below is a list of items that I want cleared out of the pantry this week. It's my job each day to decide what to make with the following items! *Feel free to leave suggestions!*

Pantry items to clear out:
various creamed soups
canned salmon
Hamburger Helper box (actually I may donate this on the food drive)
a million packs of pudding
Zatarain's rice mix
kidney beans
canned creamed corn
box of mac and cheese
corn muffin mix
canned tomatoes
cookie mixes
large bag of potatoes
large bag of onions
pretzels
nuts

Breakfasts: Oatmeal, fruit-fresh or canned, toast, waffles, eggs
Lunches: Sandwhiches, soups, leftovers, salads
Drinks: tea, koolaid, water, milk, juice
Snacks: Fruit, cheese, cubed meat, snack crackers, veggies

Southern Sundays of my Youth

I can see it so perfectly in my mind. Heat waves rising lazily up from the patio, sunshine so bright it made your eyes water, birds twittering, light breezes, the smell of flowers and pine in the air, and little tastes of sweet and tart plums and muscadines that made your mouth pucker and your tummy tremble with the pure joy of it all.

Those were the Sundays of my youth. Sundays, I spent as a child, going to Church, dinner at Granny's, sweet tea, old reruns of Laurel and Hardy and reading the comics. Naps, running in the sunshine, banana pudding, roast and Daddy Long Legs.

Yes, my memories are probably rose-colored. I'm sure not EVERY Sunday was a prefect, bright sun-filled day with puffy white clouds. I'm sure not EVERY Sunday had the perfect meal and all my favorite foods. I'm sure Granny didn't make dessert EVERY Sunday. But in my memory, it's all perfect. There were no skinned knees, no rainy days, no storms, no hurt feelings, no brussel sprouts--nothing but perfection.

Sure, there may have been a worm or two in the plums, but that just made it even more perfect. Sure, my cousins may have been pig-headed over letting a girl hang out at the "Big Rock", but it was still perfect.

And tomorrow is Sunday. As Josh, Reagan and I rush around, running errands, writing papers, getting in and out of Church, eating, changing diapers, cleaning, naps--it makes me long for the perfect Southern Sundays of my Youth and hope that someday, Reagan will look back on her childhood and see everything through rose-colored glasses and smile.

Show & Tell Friday

Good morning everyone! This morning I'm sharing my wedding toast glasses. They were a gift from my best friend Stacy. They're hand painted and from Czechoslovakia. We've used them twice..once for our wedding--red punch from the fountain! LOL! And once for our anniversary--with milk to go with our cake topper!

This past May, Stacy married her wonderful husband Stephen and they used the glasses at their wedding too! I hope this is something that will become an heirloom!

For more great show and tells, stop by Kelli's place!

Toddler Thursday! -- Pudding Paint

Welcome to the first weekly Toddler Thursday!

As a SAHM, I frequently find myself thinking that Reagan must be bored to death with me (especially during bad weather when we're stuck in doors all the time)and I'm always struggling for us to find something new and fun to do! I hope some of the ideas that I've found (and Reagan and I have experimented for you) will give you some great new ideas to do with your toddler! Please leave comments or questions! And feel free to join in every Thursday!

This week's fun toddler activity is Pudding Paint!

Materials:
small containers
food coloring
vanilla pudding (I used premade pudding cups!)

Put a small amount of pudding in each container and mix in 2-3 drops of food coloring for each color. Tape construction paper down to your toddler's high chair or table and let the fun begin!

I recommend stripping your toddler down to his/her diaper or undies for this project!

Here are Reagan and I enjoying pudding paint!




This week, Reagan and I also enjoyed a new snack-English Muffin Pizzas! They were delicious and really not that messy! The recipe is below:

English Muffin Pizzas

2 English Muffins, split
olive oil
spaghetti sauce
shredded cheese, your favorite type is fine

Preheat oven to 350. Brush the muffins with olive oil and spoon on spaghetti sauce. Top with shredded cheese and bake for 11-13 minutes, until cheese is melted and the muffins are browned on the bottom! Let cool before serving to your toddler and enjoy!

This is my first time joining Works for Me Wednesday! I'm really excited to get some great ideas from the other women who participate!

My "works for me" tip is really simple. I always lose the diaper cream! And at the worst times too (like when Reagan has a icky rash from teething!) So I purchased a large wipes dispenser and keep it filled almost all the way with wipes, and then keep my diaper cream in there too! Now I always have it on hand!




**Don't forget to join me tomorrow for Toddler Thursday!!**

Tackle It Tuesday

I'm feeling very lazy...so my tackles for today are: (I mostly just use this as a reminder to myself!)

1. Take a nap
2. Read some more of First Time Moms
3. Vacuum (Reagan likes to help with this)
4. Mop and dishes after Reagan goes to bed tonight
5. Take Reagan to the library
6. Set the trash out by the curb

My tackles for the week are:

1. Pick up my ring (it was being sized)
2. Work on application for adoption
3. The same thing I do every day Pinky....laundry ;)
4. Pay Verizon and Dish bills

Menu Plan Monday

Ah, it's Monday again! So, after a few weeks of being a slacker and my diet taking a hit from those weeks of slacking, I'm back again with my menu. Enjoy!

Monday: Leftovers from Easter which include roast, carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans and rolls
Tuesday: Baked chicken, rice and veggies
Wednesday: Soup and sandwhiches all around
Thursday: Salmon patties and veggie/salad
Friday: Baked burgers and veggies
Saturday: Homemade vegetable-beef soup
Sunday: Chicken-noodle casserole and veggie

Breakfasts: Oatmeal, fruit, toast, cereal, waffles or egg beaters
Lunches: Broccoli-Carrot soup, sandwhiches, salads, other soups, leftovers
Snacks: Cheesesticks, fruit, popcorn, fresh veggies and dip

Spring Reading Thing 2008!

Thanks to my IRL friend Jana, I am joining the Spring Reading Thing 2008. You can read more about it by clicking on the link to the right! I'm really excited because there are several books I really do want/need to read and by joining, hopefully I can commit myself to reading them!

Here is my (short) list!

Finish: First Time Mom by Dr. Kevin Leman (I'll actually probably have to start from scratch because I started reading it when I was pregnant with Reagan back in 2006!)

Read:
The New Dare to Discipline by Dr. James Dobson
The Bible Code by Michael Drosnin
The Bible Code II by Michael Drosnin
The Happiest Toddler on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp

A big girl room!

Since we are hoping to adopt sometime in the next year and a half, we've decided to transition Reagan (slowly) to a big girl room. So far we've purchased the bedding and rugs, which are just gorgeous and very girly. Next, painting the room and her daddy's old dresser, purchasing bookshelves, table and chairs and a toy box/bench. I'm really excited about this new room for Reagan. I envision it being a place she can go to play without hearing the word 'no' and where everything that she wants to play with is in reach. Here is a picture of the new bedding!



If you have any suggestions for her new room, feel free to post! I would love to hear any thoughts or recommendations!

Happy Easter!!