Typical Ramblings, Atypical Nonsense: 2007

Menu for the Week Dec.8-14

>> Saturday, December 8, 2007

Finally got my menu plan done for this week. Our menu weeks generally run from Saturday - Friday so Menu Monday doesn't really work well for me. Anyhow here ya go -

Sat. - Chicken burgers, veggies & dip
Sun. - ~~Spaghetti (homemade sauce), Garlic bread & Salad~~ Meatloaf, Mashed Taters & Veggies
Mon. - ~~Crock pot Cheesy Chicken, Noodles & Steamed veggies~~ Spaghetti (homemade sauce), Garlic bread & Salad
Tues. - ~~Beef Stew & Homemade Rolls (make extra rolls for tomorrow night)~~ Fried Egg Sammies
Wed. - ~~Meatloaf, Mashed Taters, Corn & Rolls~~Crock pot Cheesy Chicken, Noodles & Steamed veggies
Thurs. - Leftovers
Fri. - Crock pot Sausage & Meatball Hoagies (leftover homemade sauce & Hoagie rolls)

That is the plan anyhow. I do have some quick meals always on hand, like pancakes or Soup & grilled cheese if something comes up, or if I get too tired or sick to make a big meal. Have a great week!

Our 25 Days of Christmas

>> Friday, December 7, 2007

This is the second year our family has done the 25 days of Christmas. What I do is try to plan something fun for us as a family for each day from December 1st through the 25th. Sometimes things don't go as planned, like last year there was no snow for a sleigh ride at christmas time, so we improvise and come up with something fun to do. :)
Here is this years list.

Make Advent Chains
Put up and decorate the Christmas tree
Write Letters to Santa
Christmas movie (Dennis The Menace Christmas), Popcorn & Hot chocolate
Family Game Night
Read a Christmas story before bed
Christmas Family Dance @ School
PJ Day - Popcorn, munchies, pizza & watch Christmas movie marathon on ABC Family
Make Christmas foam Craft (purchased kits @ Walmart)
Paint Christmas door hangers
Reilly's Christmas Concert
Regan's Christmas Concert
Christmas Video
Go see Santa
Sleigh Ride (?)
Polar Express
Make Christmas Cards for Teachers
Make Popcorn balls for Classmates
Christmas Shopping for Parents & Siblings
Wrap gifts & Listen to Christmas music
Make Reindeer Food
Drive around & look at Christmas lights in the neighbourhoods (take popcorn & hot chocolate)
Deliver Christmas gifts to family & friends
Make Gingerbread house (morning/afternoon), Supper @ Chinese Resturant, Track Santa, Watch the Nativity Story.
Merry Christmas!

This helps our family slow down and enjoy one another during the holidays. Hopefully you and your family can find some ways to make the season special and create some great memories for your children to take with them as they grow.

Menu Plan Monday #1

>> Monday, October 1, 2007

My mom is supposed to arrive sometime today from Michigan. So the menu may be switched around here and there depending on what is going on. It's going to be great to see her. We didn't tell the kids that she was coming so they are going to be very surprised. :)

Anyhow here is the plan for the week:

Monday: Homemade mac & cheese, green beans

Tuesday: Soup & grilled cheese

Wednesday: Oven BBQ Ribs, baked potatoes & steamed broccoli w/cheese sauce

Thursday: Sloppy joes on homemade rolls, corn and oven fries

Friday: Baked ham, Scalloped potatoes, green beans & rolls

Saturday: Tacos & Spanish rice

Sunday: Homemade ham & bean soup (freeze leftovers)

For more menu ideas, please visit Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

The Amazing Freecycle

>> Saturday, September 29, 2007

I was completely amazed today. Ok for several reasons. One, I got my darling husband to help me clean out our storage shed. We have had stuff in there for 3 years that family members had brought for us to sell at our yard sale. So the stuff that never sold I had every intention of getting rid of right after the yard sale...well my hunny just couldn't see why would should get rid of ohhhh say the cat travel box (the fact that we don't have a cat had no bearing on his case). Well, finally today he did it! We did a clean sweep of the shed. We had a keep pile, a trash pile and the freecycle pile. The keep pile was so small. I was very very pleased with how little we had to put back. Then I came in the house to start listing on freecycle.
People have been telling me for a couple of years that I should freecycle. I had this idea that you would list the stuff then have to wait days for them to come haul it away. And when I clean...I want that stuff gone yesterday, so I just didn't see how freecycle would work for me. Well to my utter amazement I listed the stuff an within 5 minutes I had replys! Everything we had to go is gone...Today! So my friends, if you have never freecycled and you are cleaning/decluttering for christmas, please give freecycle a try. If you don't know how to get started just go to freecycle.org, browse for a group near you, join and start posting your treasures.

Friday's Feast #1

>> Friday, September 28, 2007

Orginally I had planned to blog about a craft I have been working on. Went to take pictures of it and surprise the batteries in my camera are dead. Going to try to replace those over the weekend and see if I can get that craft posted by Monday.
On with plan B...

Appetizer
How are you today?

I'm Grrrreat! The morning sickenss is alot better. I woke up with a headache but that disappeared rather quickly. :) And it's Friday!! WoooHooo!

Soup
Name 3 television shows you watch on a regular basis.

Heroes, CSI (the orginal) and Survivor.

Salad
What’s the scariest weather situation you’ve experienced?

Hmmmm, that's a tough one. There was one summer storm I remember when I was really little. We lived in Michigan and had recently moved into our new home. I remember that my mom was at the dining room table sewing when the sky turned really black. She had my brother and I go to the basement and play while she stayed upstairs sewing. I just remember thinking what if a tornado comes and she is still up there sewing. Everything turned out fine though. :)

Main Course
If you could wake up tomorrow morning in another country, where would you want to be?

Switzerland - if only I could drag my hunny with me!

Dessert
What do you usually wear to sleep?

Well, this time of year most nights it's a pair of my fleece jammies. I'm a bad one for taking a shower after I clean the house and just putting on a clean pair. Only getting dressed to real clothes if I MUST go out. I know..sad sad sad.

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Thursday Thirteen #1

>> Thursday, September 27, 2007

Thirteen Things I Love About Fall

1. Seeing the leaves turn into beautiful colours
2. Hot Apple Cider
3. The smell of burning leaves
4. Cooler days and nights
5. Being able to wear my fleece jammies again
6. Putting more blankets on the beds
7. Taking the kids to the pumpkin patch
8. Hearing the leaves crunch under our feet on walks in the woods
9. Going to all the farm markets
10. Baking
11. Melting Autumn Wreath tarts from Yankee Candle
12. Decorating for Fall and Halloween
13. Spending more cozy evenings inside with my family

Happy TTing Everyone!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. Rebecca
2. Amy
3. Blue Momma
4. Carol Anne
5. Shiloh Walker
6. Happy Mama To Three
7. Sniz
8. kc
9. David
10. kats
11. Veggiemomof2
12. Anglophile Football Fanatic
13. mama's moon
14. sandierpastures
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Fall Into Reading 2007

>> Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Just the other day Dh and I were saying to one another that we needed to get some new books. Fall is here and the cooler weather just makes me want to curl up with a blanket, a book and a hot cup of cinnamon apple tea. Well what better way to make sure I do that often than to join in Katrina's Fall Reading Challenge.
Here is my list of books that I hope to read this Fall:

1) Marie Antoinette: The Journey - I've been wanting to read this book for about 2 years now. No time like the present!

2) Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth about Pregnancy and Childbirth - I've heard great things about this book. Now that I am pregnany it would be nice to read a book that deals with pregnancy and all the issues in a fun way.

3) Middlesex: A Novel - This is a BIG book. I need some big books because I tend to be a very fast reader. Also has great reviews - so we shall see...

4) The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate - I've been wanting to read this book for I don't know how long...3 or 4 years at least. It's been recommended to me more than once. Gonna buckle down and do it!

5) The Remnant - On The Brink Of Armageddon - This is book 10 in the Left Behind Series. Working my way to get caught up.

6) Armageddon: The Cosmic Battle of the Ages - Book 11 in the Left Behind Series.

7) Glorious Appearing: The End of Days - Book 12 and the final book of the Left Behind Series.

8) The Rising: Antichrist Is Born - This is the first book in the series that is the prequel to the Left Behind Series.

9) The Regime: Evil Advances - Second book in the preequel series to Left Behind

10) The Rapture: In the Twinkling of an Eye - Count down to the end of days. The third installment to the prequel series to Left Behind.

11) Kingdom Come: The Final Victory - The last and final book to the Left Behind Series.

Whewww I think that's plenty to keep me busy on during my quiet times. Who knows may even throw in some surprise reads if I finish this list. :)

Wordless Wednesday

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Lookie Lookie!

I finally decided to give it a go and make my own blog. I got the great idea for it while I was in the shower. Yes, the shower. Don't you get the best ideas while in the shower? I do! Either that or around 3am when I've woken up and I can't fall back to sleep, but then, of course, I do fall asleep. When I wake up I know I had a great idea but its gone. So at least this idea came to me in the shower or you may never have seen me actually blogging. lol (Do people do "lol" in blog?) The idea came about mostly because I am pregnant and I have questions. Lots of them! It's been over 7 years since I last got to do this and WOW there is alot of new stuff out there.
I have been looking at wraps because I have decided to wear my baby alot this time. I loooove to hold my babies and figured that wearing them would just be so much easier. I can actually do things; like laundry, run the vacuum, wash some dishes and not be tied down to a chair while snuggling my little bug.

This is the wrap I want to use for the new baby. It is called the CuddlyWrap™.
On to the big question. What kind of diaper bag do you use when you wear your
baby in a wrap? I was thinking at first maybe a backpack, but then that seems bulky and might look a little odd. Maybe a messenger bag? That might get uncomfortable with the strap. No stroller to hang the diaper bag off of, so I really need some input here. What do/did you use when you wore your baby out for the day?
Thoughts, ideas, and suggestions are all welcome! :o)