Meal Plan Monday

 

 

 

Good Monday Morning.  I am back to giving my meal plans for the week.  My hubby always loved when I did this so he could look back at the meals that we have had to see what he wants for the upcoming week.  The past two months, I have actually planned out an entire month worth of meals and it works out rather well.  I came up with a system and for the most part, we are sticking to it!

 

Here is our menu for this week:



Monday: Simple Tuna Noodle Casserole (this one is for my hubby who loves it!)

 

Tuesday: French Onion Soup by America's Test Kitchen (I have never tasted better..worth the work)

 

Wednesday: Homemade Rotisserie Chicken with roasted carrots

 

Thursday:  Cobb Salad with homemade dressing (clean eat)

 

Friday:  Chicken Tostadas (clean eat)

 

Saturday: Baked Tilapia with brown rice (clean eat)

 

Sunday:  Chicken Broccoli Braid

 

God Bless,

Lori





Eternal Spring Fever

I'm not sure about you, but I get Spring Fever every year around December 26.  Once the holidays are over, my mind races with thoughts of tasting my first garden tomato and the sweet smell of lavender in the air.  Yup, I've got gardening on the brain.

This year, I started early.  Actually, I started in December reading gardening books.  While most people where holiday shopping, I was spending my evening pouring over fruit, vegetable and back yard orchard books and loving every minute I might add!

Since this is the first Summer in five years that I WON'T be pregnant, my honey and I have decided that it's finally time to add on to the garden.  Right now, I think we are going to redo the entire vegetable garden so it will give us a place to walk as well much more usable space.  We plan to have four raised beds and two of them having trellises for peas and green beans.

This year, I am planning on using Mel Bartholomew's square foot gardening method.  If you haven't heard of this method, here is a little brief summary.  I love, love, love it.  I think because it is a great way to organize and keep your garden weed free!  Did I mention organize?  LOVE-LOVE-LOVE IT! 

The books above are just a few that I read.  Out of all the books, (and there were many) I did fall in love with one particular book.  One that I kept ordering over and over again at the library.  The book Landscaping with Fruit by Lee Reich is a MUST read.  Not only are the pictures G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S, he simply explains how to fill your yard with fruiting trees and bushes.  Now thanks to him, I HAVE to have some fruiting bushes, right?  So along with the extended vegetable garden, I will be adding Nanking Cherry Bushes, Alpine Strawberry Bushes, getting more blueberries and if my husband's not looking add a red currant plant or two! 

If you get one book at all this Spring, I simply request that you look into getting the book Landscaping with Fruit.  I promise, you will want to rush out and plant every type of fruit tree and bush once you have read it, I know I did.  Jason has had to talk me out of several things already! 

 

Returning to My Magnolia Cottage

Currently my magnolia tree is covered in snow and the last time I blogged it was blooming.   I know I have been away from blogging for far too long.

What we have been up to lately is organizing our home to run smoother with six people, managing our money and taking better care with what we eat and finding time to exercise.

After this last baby, I wanted to set personal goals for myself.  Besides the usual lose weight goal.  I didn't want to just jump head first into my personal goals like giving up pop, take out food and junk food and exercising daily, all at one time.  But, I did need to start some where.  If I did too much, I was destined to fail.  So my hubby and I decided to take things month by month...and they are working!

First of all, back in October, my honey got a great deal on bottled water.  So, he had 11 cases of it delivered to our door (free shipping).  That was the end of drinking pop for me.  I quickly started drinking the water in place of the pop that I was drinking.  I used to drink a TON of pop.  Like, if pop was a drug, I was addicted.  So getting off of pop was the first thing I did.  By the middle of November, the bottles were all gone and I just drank filtered tap water now.  We are now a pop and soda free house! 

Next, we decided to stop fast food.  It was so easy to run through the drive-thru to full fill my pop addiction. However most times, I wouldn't just stop for me, I had to get the kids something, right?  So, the month of January, we have put an end to the drive-thru.  Guess what, not only did I last an entire month of not going through the drive-thru, but we made our budge goals. FIRST TIME ever!  All because we stayed  away from the junk food.  I had no idea how much going through the drive- thru here and there would effect our budget!  BUT EGADS..it did!

It is amazing how that all works hand in hand.  I also feel so much better with out the pop and the junk food.  I joined the lovely website called My Fitness Pal to keep track of my exercising and food in take.  I didn't work out every day of January, but I am working towards that goal.

So, that is what is going on here at Magnolia Cottage...I like to call it, Getting my act together.

Stay Tuned,
Lori

Happy Birthday America!

                                                           My little Firecrackers!

Hope you all have a wonderful Fourth of July! 

Here he is:

Our family is growing once again. Introducing "Monkey Joe" born June 20, 2012. He weighed in at a hefty 9 lbs. and 7 oz. and 21.5 in. in length.

June 20th has always been a special day for me. First it was my Grandmothers birthday and also
my brothers anniversary. I have always loved that it was also the first day of Summer. So when I found out that his due date was the 20th, I was very excited. So, I scheduled my c-section for that day.

However, I wasn't the only one who liked that day. At 2:30 in the morning of my scheduled c-section my water broke. So, he came right when he was suppose to. My surgery went great... In fact my nurse just came in and told me all the nurses call me the poster child for c-sections! I am hoping we can leave the hospital earlier then normal. I miss my other little ones.

Here is a picture of two of my three gorgeous men:

Just a few more hours...

In just a few more hours, ok, more like 45 hours, our new little man will be joining our clan. We are so excited to meet him and see his little face.  What will he look like?  Will he look like me, will he look like the other kids, my hubby or his older brother (who doesn't look anything like the rest of us).

We are more then ready here in our home. To the point I think I have actually washed paint off the baseboards because I have scrubbed them so much. Last night My Sweetie was cleaning our carpets and said to me, I was being a bit too obsessive about my house being cleaned. Then I stated something to the fact that I was nesting. His quick response to me was that I have been nesting for the last four years...and I said, I have been pregnant for the last four years! To which we both started laughing.
My bags are packed and the babies clothes are all washed and ready to go. I just pray that the older children will do okay while I am away. I am sure they will be fine with my In-Laws, it's more me. I start missing my kids when I go to the grocery store at night. In fact, if I hear a baby cry at the store, my heart starts to ache every time! I just love my little growing bigger every day family.

I pray my next post that you will be seeing new pics of our new little guy!

Simple Pleasures...

Is there anything better than picking fresh fruit from your own garden? The children picked these fresh raspberries this morning. These are the first of what I hope will be many, many more raspberries.

It was hard for them not to just stand by the bushes and eat them all. But could you blame them?

Some days I just want to say...

Our latest project sneak peak...

This past Winter, My Sweetie and I ponder the many projects that we wanted to accomplish this Spring. A new and bigger deck, a fence, more garden space, landscaping in the back...and the list went on and on. One thing we kept coming back to, is a large playroom and space for the kids.

We will soon be having 4 children being aged four and under and we were desperate for a place for them to play with their toys. We have tried to keep their toys at a minimum over the years and only getting them 2 or 3 toys per Christmas and birthday. However, they still add up and we needed a place for them to be used and to be organized. I have never liked toys in their bedrooms, because I like knowing where everything is located  and organized. So part of our finished basement seemed like the logical choice for their playroom.

The planning started at the beginning of April. We started looking for deals online and picking paint colors. I looked all over Pinterest for ideas and inspiration and found a few I incorporated.  Mostly the room was designed by My Sweetie.  Plus, he added his own technological flair to help keep the kids safe!

Here is just a sneak peak of what we have accomplished so far:

The room is actually 95 percent done, with just a few more shelves and a chalk board to be put in place.  I can't wait for you to see it!

Memorial Day

Today I am celebrating my anniversary to My Sweetheart.  As I look back over the years, I can't help to think about the quote on my brothers wedding invitation from 20 years ago that read, "Today I Marry My Best Friend, The One I Laugh With, Live For, Dream With, LOVE."  I have always loved that quote.  However, it wasn't until I married My Sweetheart that I realized how often I would ponder that quote throughout our days together. 

I am so thankful for My Sweetheart and what a blessing he has been in my life.  When we got married I didn't think I could love someone as much as I loved him.  But as the years have passed us by, I learned I was wrong.   He has made all my dreams come true and I grow deeper in love with him daily.  My heart aches for him while he is away at work and I still get excited when I hear the garage door open and see him walk through the door. 

He has made my world complete.

Thank you my love and Happy Anniversary.

Mornings....

Mornings around the cottage tend to be set to a slower pace. Sissy boo (3) gets up early with me and we head out to water the gardens. She waters the flowers or helps pull weeds. I more or less supervise.

Recently someone asked Sissy boo what she did with a scoop, she quickly answered, "Help Mommy work in the dirt!" I love that answer, because it's something just the two of us do together. She even planted all the veggies this year.

One of her favorite things to do in the mornings is to pick ripe peas. While she was the one that planted them, she has also been the only who has been enjoying them. Sitting on the deck with a big bowl of sugar snap peas has been her breakfast of choice for the last few days.

Mornings like this make my heart full... I am truly blessed.

The Scent of Spring

For the last few weeks, I have had a vase full of lilacs in my kitchen window. The scent has permeated the house in almost a cleansing fashion.

However,I have had my doubts about our little lilac bush. For the past three years,I have watched my little bush stay the exact same size, small with just a few blooms. So this year, I had given up hope of getting the large lilac bush I saw in my gardening books. I even did a bit of research to find out what type we had. We even talked about moving the bush into a sunnier location.

One day after work, my Hubby came inside and said you have got to come out here and look at the lilac bush. Something had happened this year, it was now three times as large and full of blooms. The blooms are so fragrant I can be in the very back of the house and still smell them.

Needless to say, I have enjoyed every moment of its beauty and fragrance this year!

Menu Plan Monday

So, I am sitting here with My Honey tonight watching my favorite movie Notting Hill in between commercial breaks of his favorite movie Braveheart planning our menu for the week. As we sit and chat about our menu, he says to me, "Do you remember when you used to blog, and make up those great menu plans. We always had really yummy stuff". I just laughed at him, because I always make a menu plan. I just don't publish it. I have honestly been trying not to get on the computer as much to focus on my family. Oh well...

So here you go my love:

Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner

Wednesday: *Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken with brown rice

Thursday: *Sesame Peanut Noodles

Friday: *Cheesy Chicken, Bacon, Broccoli and Rice Casserole

Saturday: Corned Beef and Cabbage (Happy Saint Patrick's Day)

Sunday: Chinese Take-Out For Moo Moo's First Birthday. (She loves lo mein)

*New recipes to us.

Hope you all have a wonderful week. Lori

Seabrook Vegetable Beef Soup

This recipe is my Mom's recipe and taste almost extacly like my Grandmother's famous vegetable soup. I love this soup and I don't make it nearly as often as I should. It taste even better the next day and also makes a ton of leftovers.

Ingredients:
Chuck Roast (any size will do)
½ small head of cabbage
1 medium onion
3-4 stalks of celery- chopped
2-3 carrots- chopped
1 lg. can of green beans
1 lg. can of tomatoes-chopped
1 lg. can tomato sauce
½ bag of frozen corn
2-3 potatoes-chopped

Seasoning:
2-3 Tbls. chili powder
Garlic Salt, Salt and Pepper to Taste

Directions:
1. Fill pan about 1/3 full with water and cook Chuck Roast until tender (2-3 hours).
2. Remove roast from pan, remove fat and chunk into
pieces and return to beef stock.
3. Add cabbage, onions, celery and carrots and
cook for 15-20 minutes.
4. Add green beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, corn
and potatoes and add seasoning. Cook
until potatoes are tender.

Perfect for a cold winter's day.

Happy Valentine's Day

As a romantic at heart, I love Valentine's Day. In years past, I have bought large gifts for the kids and hubby, but I wanted to do something a bit different this year. I am trying to simplify not only the kids toys but our budget! This year, I just got little heart cookies and will have a special dessert after dinner tonight for the kids.

For my hubby, the kids and I have made cards and I am making him his favorite dinner. He loves this meal so much and asks me for it every week, but since it's kinds of expensive, I never make it. In fact, I don't think I have made it in almost a year. So, I am hoping he will be surprised.

I hope you all are having a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Menu Plan for the week of February 13-19

Here is our menu for the week of Valentine's Day:

Monday: Takeout (it was snowing and didn't make it to the store, so hubby stopped and got us takeout.)

Tuesday: Chipotle Tamale Pie and Red Velvet Cake (the hubby's favorite meal)

Wednesday: Spaghetti (meatless)

Thursday: BBQ Roast Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

Friday: Blue Cheese Stuffed Pork Chops ( I have been dying to try this recipe for months...and it has....blue cheese!)

Saturday: Turkey Burgers with red onion jam and oven baked fries

Sunday: Seabrook Vegetable Soup (recipe to come later in the week)

Have a lovely week!

The Stork is Bringing....

We recently found out that our little number four is going to be a BOY! Boy oh Boy, we are really excited. With two little girls and one little guy, having another boy in the house will even the playing field.

I still can't imagine what our new little guy will be like. I remember when I first saw Double D, he wasn't what I was expecting. First of all, he had blonde hair and blue eyes. Coming from two brown haired, brown eyed people, it was a shock. But after my shock subsided, pure love flowed from my heart for my little guy.

Also, being an ultra girlie girl, I was worried that I would have a hard time adjusting to boy things. But now, I can't imagine what my home would be like without the trains and dinosaurs all over the place! I love having a little boy.

Now our dilemma, the name game. We are having a hard time coming up with the perfect little boy name. Naming our three other little ones have been easy and they came rather quickly. However, we do have guidelines for naming our children. No trendy names, boys have to be Biblical names and all our children have to have names with several nicknames. Since I was named Lori...and there is no way to shorten it or it have a nickname, I wanted to give my children options with their names.

We are very excited to meet our new little guy, just a few more months and he will be here!

Meal Plan for the Week of February 6-11

My menu for this week includes one of my favorite things: Blue Cheese! Oh how I love the stuff. I try my best to stay away from it while I am pregnant, but sometimes, it just gets the best of me.

I seriously crave the stuff. Plus, it doesn't help that my kids love the blue cheese crumbles. Just yesterday, Double D asked for it to go along with his cherry tomatoes.

However, the best blue cheese I have ever had, one that my husband and I still talk about 5 years later is called Roaring Forties Blue Cheese. Oh my word, is it delish. We had it on a wedge salad at some restaurant in Mississippi a long time ago, and still wish we could get our hands on some. Roaring Forties Blue Cheese is made by the Kings Island Dairy, on an island just north of Tasmania, Australia. The cheese is named after the infamous Roaring Forties gales which frequently bring westerly winds of more than 100 kms per hour to the island which lies on 40 degrees latitude.This gourmet cheese is a handcrafted cow's milk cheese made from milk from Australian cows. The Roaring Forties Blue is a full flavored blue with a sweet, mild, creamy and slightly nutty character, a rich mouth feel and good aftertaste. It is so delish.

Now that I am sitting here drooling, here is the menu for this week:

Monday: Subway (today was a busy, work day)

Tuesday: Cobb Salad with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing (leftover I made earlier in the week)

Wednesday: Turkey Burgers with Baked Potato Skins (craving the baked potato skins)

Thursday: Clam Chowder and fruit salad

Friday: Marinated Flank Steak with Blue Cheese Schmear and Spaghetti Squash with Honey and Ginger Glaze (one of my favorite meals, ever).

Saturday: Papa John's (thank you for the free meal Papa John's)

Super Bowl Menu

I look forward to making food for our little family Super Bowl Party every year. Our Super Bowl Menu for this year is:

Pico De Gallo and Guacomole from the Pioneer Woman
Franks Original Hot Sauce Baked Buffalo Wings with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
Baked wings for the kids
Fruit Salad
Homemade Lime Sherbert

Go Giants!