Week 3- Balance

This week I wanted to focus on balance! With work, the demands of keeping up with our homes, our kids, our marriage or relationships. The single most important thing is to work on your marriage or relationship and make time for one another, or if you are single to make time for yourself. Keeping that in balance will help everything around you seem in synergy! I remember my marriage prep class, with our dear friends Jack and Fran, they were married for many years, and asked us the question, "What is more important, your children or your marriage." The answer is your MARRIAGE. If you make time for it and continue to work on it, it can only become more successful and happy. Doing so will overflow to your family. You will teach your children great love and the importance of commitment. This is so simple. So this week I challenge you to book a sitter, plan a date night and spend some quality time with the one you love!! Get in balance!!

Tip: Don't stress!! If the menu plan doesn't happen just save it for another night!!! Its ok to cheat and order out and grab and go once in awhile! The weeks get tiring so don't feel bad if you don't get a meal on the table! Sometimes its just as fun to go for a ride & grab McDonalds!

Week Two Dinner Plans

Sunday – Calzones, sweet corn

Monday – Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes

Tuesday – Chix Pot Pies

Wednesday – Pork chop, Rice

Thursday – Pig n the Blankets & Fries

Friday – Favorite Take Out

Saturday – Runza’s

Grocery List

·         2 lbs Ground Beef

·         Tyson Frozen Chicken Fried Steak

·         French Fries

·         Pork Chops

·         Hot Dogs

·         2 boxes Hot Roll Mix

·         Frozen Mixed Veggies

·         Country Gravy Mix

·         Pizza Sauce

·         Cream of Chicken Soup

·         Cream of Mushroom Soup

·         Coleslaw

·         Sweet Corn

·         Balsamic Vinegar

·         Grands Biscuits

·         Croissant Rolls

·         Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

·         Shredded Swiss Cheese

 

RECIPES

Sunday –Calvones

            1 lb ground beef

            1 jar of pasta sauce

            Hot Roll Mix

            Moz Cheese

TO MAKE DOUGH:
Make hot roll mix according to package directions for pizza, replacing egg and butter with hot water and olive oil. Let dough stand 5 minutes.

Divide dough into 8 pieces. Roll each piece into an oval about 5x7-inches. Use left over meat from Saturday night, mix in pizza sauce and cheese. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Bake calzones until lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Take out and brush with some garlic butter, heat for another 3 minutes or so.

 

Monday – Chicken Fried Steak

            Chicken Fried Steak

            Potatoes

            Gravy

Heat the Chicken Fried Steak in oven as directed. (Cook 2 extra for tomorrow’s meal) Boil or Microwave your potatoes. Mix up the Gravy as directed.

Tuesday – Chicken Pot Pies

Cut up the two chicken fried steak into small pieces

            Frozen Veggies

            Cream of Chix soup

            Grands Biscuits

            Cheddar Cheese

Preheat oven 350. Mix the chicken, soup and veggies. Press each biscuit into 5 1/2-inch round. Place 1 round in each of 8 greased regular-size muffin cups. Firmly press in bottom and up side, forming 3/4-inch rim. Spoon a generous 1/3 cup chicken mixture into each. Pull edges of dough over filling toward center; pleat and pinch dough gently to hold in place. Top with cheddar. Bake 22 minutes. Thanks for the recipe Megan Carlson!!

Wednesday – Pork Chops and Rice

·         Add to eCookBookLearn more

·         3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

·         1 teaspoon rosemary

·         1/2 teaspoon salt

·         1/2 teaspoon pepper

·         6 (3/4-inch-thick) boneless pork chops

Click to see savings

·         2 tablespoons butter or margarine

Click to see savings

·         2 tablespoons olive oil

·         2 garlic cloves, pressed

·         1 (14 1/2-ounce) can chicken broth

·         1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

 

1.      Cook rice according to package directions; keep warm.

2.      Combine flour, 1 teaspoon rosemary, salt, and pepper. Dredge pork chops in flour mixture.

3.      Melt butter with oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add garlic, and sauté 1 minute. Add pork chops, and cook 4 minutes on each side or until golden. Remove pork chops.

4.      Add broth and vinegar, stirring to loosen particles from bottom of skillet. Cook 6 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half. Add pork chops, and cook 5 minutes or until done. Serve over rice. Garnish, if desired.

Thanks for the recipe Cheri Mastny!!

 Thursday – Date Night – Pig n Blankets

Have dinner ready for the babysitter!  

            Hot Dogs

            Croissants

            French Fries

Wrap the dogs in croissants, pre-heat oven as directed on rolls. Put fries with dogs! And go on a date with your hubby. Take care of your marriage and it will take care of you! Too many think having kids is all about sacrifice. "The happiest parents are those who are disciplined about integrating their old life with their new life," says relationship expert and psychologist Seth Meyers.

Friday – Its your night off, order take out or have your hubby prepare dinner!!

Saturday – Runzas

Ground Beef (Save the remaining 1 lb for Sunday night dinner)      

Hot Roll Mix

            Cream of Mushroom Soup

            Package of Coleslaw

            Swiss Cheese

Prepare dough as box directions. Roll out dough and cut into squares. Brown hamburger and drain. Add coleslaw and soup cook about 10 minutes or until the coleslaw softens. Salt, pepper and season to taste. Let mixture cool before filling dough squares. Brush tops with butter. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.!!

 

 

Week 2

...skip to next paragraph if you are a return user......So I have become quite savvy when it comes to planning my meals for the week. If you plan your menu the week before, you will not only save yourself time but money. I'm a working mom, with two young boys  and a husband. When I get home from work the last thing I want to do is stare into my fridge and think about what I'm putting on the table for my family. So being the organized person I am, I've created a strategic plan when it comes to grocery shopping and planning. You will only have to go to the grocery store once based off your plan. Also your meals each day will somehow have a reflection of each other, so for numerous meals you may use similar items. This way you are not wasting precious ingredients. Read below if you want to establish this basic meal planning lifestyle. You will learn to love it and so will your family!! Good luck!!

So how did week one go for all those who read my last blog??

This week I am focusing on supporting our local farmers market vendors. I drive by those cute stands everyday but don't know what I want to buy!! I highlighted in yellow the items you can purchase from your locals based off the menu for next week!!! Saturday I am planning to hit up the farmers market with my sister & the kiddos in Lincoln. So if you are in the haymarket Saturday don't forget your list!!!  

Week Two Dinner Plans

Sunday – Lasagna, Salad, Garlic Bread

Monday – Meatballs, Potatoes

Tuesday – Sloppy Joes, Baked Beans

Wednesday – Grilled Chicken, Corn

Thursday – Chicken Fajitas

Friday – Favorite Take Out

Saturday – Steak Kabobs

Grocery List

·         3-4 Ibs Hamburger

·         Chicken Breast (4-6 total)

·         Stew Meat

·         Pasta Sauce

·         Lasagna Noodles

·         Garlic Bread

·         Parmesan Cheese

·         Cottage Cheese

·         Salsa

·         Sour Cream

·         Bread Crumbs

·         Eggs

·         2 Red Pepper

·         Onion

·         6 ears of sweet corn

·         2 Green Pepper

·         Mushrooms

·         Zucchini

·         Summer squash

·         Head of Lettuce

·         6 Potatoes

·         Taco Seasoning

·         Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

·         Colby Jack/Mexician Shredded Cheese

·         Pork n Beans

·         1 can campbells French onion soup

·         1 can campbells chicken gumbo.

·         Hamburger Buns

 

RECIPES

Sunday –Lasagna

                1 lb ground beef (Save the remaining 2 lbs for the next two nights)

                1 jar of pasta sauce

                32 oz of cottage cheese

                2 eggs

                ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

                2 tsp of Italian seasoning

                Lasagna noodles

                ½ cup water

Preheat Oven 350. Brown beef. Drain. Add Sauce. In bowl mix cottage cheese, 2 cups moz cheese, eggs, half of grated parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt/pepper. In 9x13 baking dish spread ¾ cup sauce, then noodles, ¾ cheese mixture, & ¼ cup sauce. Repeat layers twice. Top with noodles remaining sauce, and cheese! Add water to edges of pan. Cover with foil. Bake 45 mins. Take out uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes.  Prep side salad & garlic bread.

Monday – Meatballs

                Meat Mixture: 1 lb hamburger (Leave remaining 1 lb in fridge for tomorrows meal.)

                1 Cup Oatmeal

                1 egg

                ½ t. pepper, ½ t. garlic powder, ½ t. salt, ½ t. chili powder

                Chopped Onion

                ½ Cup evaporated milk

                SAUCE: 2 Cup ketchup, 1 ½ Brown Sugar, 2 Tbsp. liquid smoke, chopped onion, garlic powder

Mix the meat ingredients. Shape into balls, place in dish. Pour sauce on top. Bake 350 for 45 minutes. Cut up potatoes and put in microwave for 13 minutes, add butter, salt pepper & dill.

Tuesday – Loose Meat Taverns

1 Ib beef (use the rest of the hamburger meat)

                ½ can campbells French onion soup

                ½  can campbells chicken gumbo.

Fry the beef, drain oil. Add the soups, Let shimmer, Boil water for sweet corn. EAT with buns and sweet corn!

Wednesday – Grilled Chicken

                4-6 Breast on Grill (top how you wish, 3 of the breast cook with salt and pepper you will save and shred for next day’s meal. Cut up potatoes with your favorite topping in foil and throw on grill.

Thursday – Chicken Fajitas

                Left over shredded Chicken

                Cut up your peppers and veggies

                1 cups salsa

                1 cup ranch

                ½ cup sour cream

                Soft Tortillas

In skillet throw in your veggies, once those are soft, put in your cooked left over shredded chicken from the night before and heat on skillet. Get your Tortillas, and toppers ready to make your fajitas!

Friday – Its your night off, order take out or have your hubby prepare dinner!!

 

Saturday – Steak Kabobs

                 Stew Meat

                2 Tbsp soy sauce

                2 Tbsp honey

                3 Cup ketchup

                Veggies: Green Pepper, Onion, Mushrooms, Zucchini, squash.

During the day, cut all your veggies and marinade the meat and veggies in the sauce!!

Tip: Before you go to the store, check your cabinets to see if you already have some of these ingredients, saves money and cleans your cabinets!!! Last week I only spent $66 at the grocery store because of this!!!

 

 

Week One Plan

So I have become quite savvy when it comes to planning my meals for the week. If you plan your menu the week before, you will not only save yourself time but money. I'm a working mom, with two young boys  and a husband. When I get home from work the last thing I want to do is stare into my fridge and think about what I'm putting on the table for my family. So being the organized person I am, I've created a strategic plan when it comes to grocery shopping and planning. You will only have to go to the grocery store once based off your plan. Also your meals each day will somehow have a reflection of each other, so for numerous meals you may use similar items. This way you are not wasting precious ingredients. Read below if you want to establish this basic meal planning lifestyle. You will learn to love it and so will your family!! Good luck!!

Week One Dinner Plans

Sunday – Chicken Alfredo, Linguine pasta, Broccoli

Monday – Chicken Alfredo pizza with Broccoli & Zucchini with Mozzarella

Tuesday – Burgers on the grill. With grilled Zucchini & Onion

Wednesday – Stuffed Green Taco Peppers with Rice

Thursday – Taco Salad

Friday – Favorite Take Out

Saturday – Pork Chops on the grill with rice and green beans

Grocery List

·         Tyson Frozen Grilled Chicken Fajita style

·         Frozen Broccoli Steamer

·         Chicken Alfredo Sauce

·         Linguine Pasta

·         Pillsbury Pizza Crust

·         Pizza Sauce

·         1 Can diced tomatoes

·         A1 Sauce

·         Salsa

·         Sour Cream

·         Zucchini

·         Onion

·         Head of Lettuce

·         4 Green Peppers

·         Taco Seasoning

·         Mozzarella Cheese

·         Cheddar Cheese

·         3 Ibs hamburger meat

·         Pork Chops

·         Box Rice

·         Can of Green Beans

RECIPES

Sunday –Chicken Alfredo

                ½ Bag of Tyson Frozen Grilled fajita Chicken

                1 jar Alfredo Sauce

                Linguine Pasta

                1 bag frozen broccoli

                Basil, Salt, Pepper

Heat chicken as directed on bag. Boil Linguine Pasta as directed. Add Sauce to Chicken. Put Steamer Broccoli in the microwave. Season Sauce with basil, salt and pepper. Strain noodles when complete and dinner should be ready! Set aside 2 cups of chicken alfredo sauce with some chicken pieces and 1 cup broccoli to put in the fridge for tomorrow’s pizza alfredo dinner.

 

Monday – Chicken Alfredo Pizza

                1 bag Pillsbury pizza dough

                ½ Zucchini

                1 cup left over broccoli

                2 cups chicken alfredo sauce

                1 cup of chicken if you need more (grab from freezer and microwave to thaw)

                2 cups mozerella cheese

                Olive oil, Basil, salt and pepper

Prepare the dough as directed on package. Roll the dough on pizza pan or stoneware. Spread the alfredo sauce and chicken on the dough. Again if you need more chicken just thaw more from freezer. Add Cheese. Then top with broccoli, Zucchini, sprinkle with olive oil and add some basil, salt, pepper. Remember to take hamburger meat out of freezer to thaw in fridge for Tuesday supper.

Tuesday – Burgers & Veggies

Thaw 3 Ibs hamburger (Set aside 2 Ibs to save in fridge for next two nights meals) So you will only use 1 Ib for the burgers.

                Zucchini

                Onion

                Butter, olive oil, salt, pepper

Make hamburger patties with salt and pepper, add some A1 sauce for some kick. Dice up your onion and put on foil with butter, oil, salt and pepper and fold together so it can steam on the grill. Slice the zucchini, & do the same with zucchini. Throw everything on grill. Top with sliced cheese

Wednesday – Stuffed Green Taco Peppers with Rice

                2 Ibs thawed hamburger meat you saved from Tuesday.

                4 Green Peppers

                1 Cup Rice

                Taco seasoning package

                1 Cup Cheddar Cheese

                1 Can Diced Tomatoes  

Fry the remaining 2 Ibs of hamburger meat you saved from Tuesday. Drain. Put back in frying pan and add taco seasoning. Cut your green peppers by making a bowl. So cut the top and pull the remaining guts/seeds out so you have a bowl.. Boil green peppers in water for 5 minutes.  Take half of the hamburger put in a bowl to save for tomorrow once cooled put in fridge. So you will have half of the taco meat, pour the diced tomatoes. Add the rice. Bring to boil for 15 minutes. Fill the peppers with meat mixture, top with cheese. Cover with foil. Bake for 20 minutes at 350. Take foil off bake for 10 more minutes.

Thursday – Taco Salad

                1 lb cooked taco meat from night before

                Head of lettace

                1 cups salsa

                1 cup ranch

                ½ cup sour cream

                4 taco bowls (you can find them at Hyvee in the bakery area.

Cut lettuce. Heat the hamburger meat. Fill each bowl with toppings how you wish!

Friday – Its your night off, order take out or have your hubby prepare dinner!!

Saturday – Pork Chops

                 Pork Chops

                1 Cup Rice

                1 Can Green Beans

                1 cup butter

                Salt / Pepper

Prep meat, for pork chops I just heat some butter in the microwave and top the meat with melted butter along with salt and pepper. Put on grill. Prepare Rice as directed. And put your green beans in microwave once the meat is almost finished!

Tip: Always buy lunch-meat, cheese and bread. Great back up plan if you are tired and not feeling up to cooking. Also we eat lunchmeat sandwiches a lot on Saturdays for Lunch and of course during the week too!

Tip: Keep in mind if you make enough or eat the right proportions you should have leftovers for the next day lunch! Sometimes we eat on kids plates to keep ourselves for over-eating!

Tip: Sunday eat a big breakfast, then you eliminate lunchtime meal and eat a big supper early!!

Shut Up!

Still waiting! 39 weeks and 2 days. I get to see Mr. Doc in about an hour and time is going so slow! I can't wait to see if I have progressed. Going to the doctor is the most exciting thing for pregnant people. I love doctor days I can hardly make it through work! My patience is about shot but I'm trying so hard to keep it together. Each night I get off work and either fall asleep or nest. Then I wait for hubby to get home. When he does I follow him around every room. If I dont see him I ask, "where did you go?" I'm so bored and anxious I'm like a leach! Finally 8:00 PM hits and I settling into my couchly dwelling and drift into sleep to "Sons of Guns or Moonshiners" that B loves to watch. Well last night I got a killer cramp in my leg and woke up in a panic on the couch. B was trying to help and say, "straighten it out," well all I could do was get mad and yell "SHUT UP" ...........Oh my I think this attitude is getting the best of me. He is always just trying to help and knows the right thing to do! And me, what a beast! I didn't feel bad until this morning, and apologized to him right away.  I hope I'm not too mean  or unleash this crazy beast inside of me while in labor! I guess we'll see....but for now I can say to myself shut up and quit being a beast!

Practicing Patience

Tomorrow will be the 3•Niner! 39 weeks pregs and still no baby! To say the least I am very anxious and my fears of labor have fully vanished, so here I wait and wonder, "will today be the BIG D day?" I can hardly sit in this anxious room at work and definitely can't concentrate on aviation listings or ad changes. Honestly I daydream, thinking: "what if my water breaks walking to the printer, in front of all these coworkers" or what if: "it breaks while sitting in my chair and the guys around me can hear me peeing my amniotic fluid onto the floor"....honestly... I could care less I think I would jump up and just run out of this place. I'm that ready to have this baby. I will endure any pain, any embarrassment, really whatever it takes at this point! I think that is why God makes you wait 9 months because that last month honestly prepares you physically and mentally to go through whatever!

My latest challenge has been the belly comments. Or that I look so big I'm gonna have this 8, 9, 10 lb giant child. Really why do people think that, I'm full term, almost 40 wks pregnant, almost maxed out..... I'm supposed to look huge and my belly should most definitely be large & round. I have a life size child in there! I want a big ole healthy bundle of joy! All the more cheeks to kiss and rolls to cuddle! Really that is all we care about, people are always judging the outside, and what things appear to be. All that counts is what's on the inside! I guess one more lesson to teach and preach to little bubba bee!

So as I sit anxiously and wait and wait and wait. I have decided to change my mentality and anxiousness. I have no control over what is going to happen or when its going to happen, so I should use this time to practice my patience. I'm going to stop looking at today at tomorrow and obsessing on due dates, time lines, convenience. I need to just live right now and be thankfully my baby is still thriving in my womb! Safely in there with me all the time, I can feel its every movement, I need to cherish this feeling, for this too will pass. Time goes so quickly anyway..... He/She will come when ready and my body will know when that time has come. So for now, I will continue to prepare, enjoy my last days being pregnant, be lazy, waddle around, admire my belly...and just wait to meet my little honey and just live in the moment! Its helping me practice the much needed patience I will need the many years ahead as a parent!

“The most important thing she'd learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one“

Tick Tock Tick Tock!!

Tick Tock Tick Tock.....Its been 38.5 wks that I have been pregnant carrying my first baby. That long...really?! Isn't it crazy to think, I have been creating a human life inside me? Its really so amazing & such a miracle.... ! Some days I can say I think to myself, "what have I done today, what did I accomplish".... I can truly say..."I created a home for my child to grow, a lung for him or her to breathe, a beating heart, a little hand to hold, a beautiful smile to kiss!" I wanted to write a little letter to my baby to wish him or her well into this world. It's a scary place but fear not baby wilson, I am here to greet you with open arms today, tomorrow, and forever!!

Dear Baby -
Here we are just weeks or possibly days away from meeting each other for the 1st time. I have thought about you for months, pictured you in my mind, looked into the future, laughed, and cried for hopes and fears for you. I'm patiently awaiting your arrival into this wonderful world. I already love you more than anything, you already make me so proud, you already have stolen my heart forever! I pray for you everyday and will see to it you always stay safe, loved, and protected. I am here to greet you with open arms today, tomorrow, and forever!!
See you very soon my dear child! 
All my Love - Mommy!