Dinners for the month of October

I start a new job in 7 days and I couldn't be more thankful for the opportunity. God is so good! In the meantime I am trying to get my house in order and dinners planned for the next month. Yes, you saw that right for the next month. I'm used to having dinner on the table for my family around 5:30 and starting next week I won't even be home until nearly 6. In order to have dinner ready in a snap I am going to have to plan further out as well as do some of the preparation in advance.

This is what I have on my menu list for the month of October, in no particular order:

Meatloaf

Tacos

Potato Soup

Lasagna

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Sloppy Joes

Chicken Pot Pie

Pizza

Bierocks

Green Bean Chili

Salisbury Steak

Hamburger Chili

Chicken Cheese Enchiladas

Cajun Shrimp and Rice

Taquitos

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken and Rice Casserole

Spaghetti Pie

Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Rotisserie Chicken

Chicken Nachos

Tostadas

Chicken Wings

Fried Chicken

Ribs

Steak

Chicken Salad on Croissant

Corn Dogs

Upside down day- Breakfast for dinner (biscuits/gravy and bacon)

Hamburgers

Turkey Club Sandwiches

Now it's time to put them in order and plan the shopping list(s). Wish me luck!

Linking to Organized Junkie's Monday Meal Planning.

Score! my $5 resale find

I have been on the lookout for some of these! Actually just one.. but I was delighted to find a pair. And $5 for both of them?! A steal!

They need a bit of cleaning, but I can hardly wait to use them in my decor! I really like when I find something I am hunting for!

There are garage sales everywhere right now! My house rule is something has to leave for everything that comes in. I have a box of items in my car waiting to be donated. I take this rule seriously. It's actually easier than you think to abide by this rule, there is always a shirt or SOMETHING that is no longer being used. How do you keep yourself from collecting too much stuff?

Linking to2nd Time Around.

Hubby's salmon dinner

Our week's menu got switched around when the hubby offered to make dinner for me tonight. Salmon is one of the delicious things he bakes and tonight it was as delicious as always.

His secret ingredient...

If you like salmon and this is not in your spice cabinet, go buy some! You will not be disappointed. Salmon, butter and this seasoning is all you need for some wonderful baked salmon. If you have never baked salmon before you can follow the easy baking instructions on the back of the 'Magic Salmon Seasoning' bottle.

I am so grateful for a hubby that offers to make ME dinner for no reason whatsoever.

Linking to Wednesday Gratitude.

Monday Meal Planning

Here is our menu for this week!

• Monday -- Chicken Nachos
• Tuesday --Meatloaf w/ mashed potatoes
• Wednesday -- Baked Salmon
• Thursday -- Spaghetti w/ garlic bread 
• Friday -- Bierocks
• Saturday -- Another attempt at Butter Chicken w/ this yummy naan
• Sunday -- Waffle and Bacon Brunch and "Seek and you shall find" for dinner (aka: left overs)

If you missed my post about the Asian home cooking class I hosted this week, check it out here.

Linking to Organized Junkie's Monday Meal Planning.

Blooming Flowers

It's fall and my flowers are still in full bloom. I'm not complaining, I'm going to just keep on enjoying these flowers which have been blooming for months. I think I only paid $1.19 for the packet of seeds!

Carmel Apples

I made the cutest little caramel apple bites that I found on Christy's blog.












 I used a melon baller and made little bite size caramel dipped apples just like she instructed.

All went well until..... I put them in the fridge for a while and all of the carmel mixed with the apple's juice and became a big gooey yummy mess. Note to self.. eat bite size caramel apples right away.. DO NOT TELL family that they can't have them until later. Serve as soon as they are finished!

Asian Cuisine- Home Cooking Class

Last night I hosted a cooking class for some of my friends/family that enjoy cooking. Some of the awesome Hmong gals I work with came over to teach us how to make homemade spring rolls, egg rolls and a peanut sauce. Everything was so delicious! After we all helped prepare we sat down and had a nice dinner together.

If you know someone that likes to cook and has a specialty you should try hosting something similar. It's interesting how much you learn.. and how much fun you will have! Two of us bought the ingredients, mainly because I left the Asian store shopping up to to them, and then we just split the total grocery bills between the 10 of us. $5 a person and that included dinner, a night of entertainment and a cooking class... what a STEAL!!

Homemade Serving Stand- Total cost $.98

 

I made a cute little homemade serving stand the other day for a total cost of $.98

First I purchased this blue dish for $.49 at a resale store...

And at the same store, during the same trip, I also purchased a white plate for another $.49. I had some left over red spray paint from recent project (that I will be sharing soon) so I used that and sprayed the blue dish red.  I just wanted something red to use this fall and winter, I had nothing against the blue.

 

Next I simply placed the white plate on top. It fit in a way that it wouldn't slip. I did not attach the two so I could take it apart for easy storage.























 
 Linking to Metamorphosis Monday.

Basement-Still coming along

A few weeks ago my hubby and one of his best buddies installed the basement kitchen cabinets. I snapped a photo because I wanted you to see the first thing to go into my new cabinets... their beers!

 

Then today my dad helped my hubby install the kitchen sink and garbage disposal! Yea!

It's so wonderful to have a great family that is always willing to lend a helping hand. And while the men were at work I had some quality time with my mom.

Next on the list... finishing up the basement bathroom!

Autumn Welcome

 

 One of the many things I love about pulling out my fall decor is the smell of cinnamon. I usually close my eyes and take in the scent that I haven't had a whiff of in months. It's funny how the mere smell can make me feel so warm inside. Do you have a different smell that affects you in a similar way?

Today when I experienced that warmth I said a prayer for all of the people and things I am thankful for.

Yes, I know it's not Thanksgiving yet and I will be the last to rush you into a holiday that you are not ready for yet. But shouldn't we give thanks all year long?

I have been blessed beyond comprehension! And by that I mean I do not feel deserving of everyone and everything God has given me. You might think I'm just lucky, but it really has nothing to do with luck. Our God is just so amazing, open your heart and you too will be blessed!

With school underway for the boys and the basement nearly completed (photos to follow soon), it is nice to have some time to myself. One thing I enjoy doing with my alone time is curling up with a good book and appreciating the silence. Off to read I go! Happy Autumn everyone!

31 lbs?!

This morning when my 10th grade son left for school it was raining and I offered him a small umbrella to take along. He said "Mom, I don't have room for anything else, I'd rather just run through the rain."

This afternoon I picked my 6th grader up from school and he was hunched over all the way to my vehicle, I soon realized it was because of the weight of his backpack. 

Tonight both of the boys went to hang out with their friends so I decided to see just how much stuff they had in their backpacks.  I could not believe how heavy they seemed, so I decided to weigh them. The 10th grader had a book that didn't fit in his backback, I weighed the book and his bag together... 30 lbs! Are you kidding me!?  Then I went on to weigh my 6th grade son's backback, 21 lbs! 

How ridiculous is that? They aren't carrying anything in those bags that aren't school related. 

Both insisted that they didn't have much in the way of homework before leaving for their friends. When they return, I look forward to hearing why they carried so much stuff home if they don't have much homework! Does anyone else worry about the weight our kids lug around these days?