Monday, April 26, 2010

Menu Plan Monday: 4/25-4/30


Babies, babies, and more babies!  It's official that there is only one more to go!  We will be traveling a lot, plus there are birthdays and anniversaries, which means very little cooking for me.  I have no idea how much I'll be blogging between now and the end of school (5.5 weeks and counting!).  Here is the plan for the week:
Monday:
Spaghetti (with cottage cheese and meat sauce), salad, strawberry shakes (my husband makes amazing ones)

Tuesday:
Armsteak with carrots/onions (we are actually going to finally make that hunk of meat that has been in our freezer for months), potatoes

Wednesday:
Leftovers

Thursday:
Awards banquet (no cooking!)

Weekend:
Grilled steaks (given to us by family, thanks!), steamed broccoli with garlic, pineapple

For more ideas, visit Organizing Junkie.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

The Importance of Lists


I am a list person (it's ok if you're not-my husband isn't and still gets tons done), and I get it rightly by my mom.  I used to sit and watch her write these gigantic lists on the weekend full of things that I knew that she would never get to and would wonder why she did it.  Now I do the same thing and I understand completely.  Seriously, I do.

When I get to my school each morning I write down on a piece of paper most of the things that I need to do, even though they are pretty much the same tasks each day.  Do you know why I do this?  Because of days like yesterday, when I was so excited about a project that I was preparing for my Geometry students which required me going out to the football field during my prep period, that I completely forgot that we were on a shortened schedule that day and that I had yet to write up all of my notes on the overhead.  Luckily I came in before the bell rang to release the kids to come to my class.  Who knows what would have happened if I had still been outside! 

I also write lists to remember the "weird things."  You know what I'm talking about.  The random request by someone to show them how to do __________, or to send them directions to _____, or to please drop off ________.  In others words, tasks that would rarely ever be on your list. 

My husband has been incredible by nicely (that is the key) keeping me on task and remembering first things first.  He helps remind me to prioritize my lists.  I never used to do that because I would just stay up until all hours of the night to get things done, but now that would not work.

This summer I have completely and utterly off.  I have already started making my lists for the summer, so that I won't forget that the windows need to be washed (my husband noticed this, and I honestly don't think I would notice that windows are dirty until I could no longer see through them), the doors need to be painted, the ceiling in the bathroom needs to be touched up, I have a photo project I want to do, stacks of books to read, more Spanish to learn, a garden to keep, updates to all lesson plans, family to visit, etc.

If you are a teacher I highly suggest making an excel spreadsheet for your goals for the summer.  I have broken my lists down my type -school, home, business, volunteer.  I plan on assigning each of my goals to different weeks.  I only have 10 weeks, so I have to make the most of it!

If you are wondering how I got on this slightly boring, and yet important to me topic go here to read an interesting article that I found (that I might have shown to my husband to show that I am not the only weird list person)about the worth of lists- to some people.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

$20 Challenge!

Money Saving Mom has found an absolutely fabulous blog Life as I See It that includes a post about a $20 challenge between her and her husband.  In summary they both have $20 that they can use to grow and make money throughout one year (they can also sell things).  At the end of the year they will see who has made the most money.  I think this is such a fabulous way to force yourself to think outside of the box!  I have kind of gotten into a rut with just focusing on saving and not thinking so much about creative ways to grow my money.

I plan on taking this challenge starting in the summer to help push me a bit(possibly hitting up some garage sales!).  Go to her blog to join in on the fun!

Free Event Season Grand Opening!

Tonight was the official beginning of free event season.  We went to our county's Taste of Ag.  There are barns, barns, and more barns full of all kinds of booths, some with information, many with animals, and few with my absolute favorite..... freebies!

The night began with some rousing Ag Olympics, which included dressing up a piglet in baby's clothes.  Who needs to pay anything to be entertained when you can watch four groups of high schoolers try to clothe a baby pig who is of course not happy about it and it showing it by wiggling and making a mess (if you know what I mean).

This was then followed by a children's peddle pull.  It was so much fun to watch the little kids try so hard to peddle a tractor down the strip.  It was amazing how they had rigged up a pull cart just like a real one for the kids!

The barns were full of free reusable shopping bags, seedlings (tomato, green pepper, cabbage, and broccoli), notepads, pencils, coloring books and crafts for children, balloons, meat samples, cheese samples, popcorn, and even yummy frozen yogurt!

I enjoyed tonight so much, I'm looking forward to the rest of spring and summer full of free events in all of the parks near us!

Menu Plan Monday (or Tuesday;)


Whew!  I'm back after a fabulous vacation.  It was really wonderful and I have to say that I relaxed so much that by the end of the week I was ready to come home and get to work!  This spring/summer is going to be full of weeks that will be a bit abnormal to plan meals for, since our plans could change daily.  My husband is still in the middle of doing a remodel job for my parents, so some nights we eat with them.  There have also been a significant amount of other family events and there will be many more (did I mention I'll be an aunt three times over in the next few weeks?!).  Furthermore, whether good or bad, I have been really digging deep into my teaching now that I am much more comfortable with my job.  Each day I spend a significant amount of time researching for my lessons which leaves me coming home a bit later. 

Over the next few weeks I am going to try to find some really tasty, at least somewhat healthy, easy, quick, and of course cheap homemade meal recipes.  If you have any that fit in those categories (I know I'm asking for a lot) please respond!  I love to try new things.

Here's the plan for this week:
Monday: Grilled out hotdogs on whole wheat (on sale!) buns, carrots, strawberry shakes

Tuesday: Ham rolls, salads, bread

Wednesday: Rotini with meaty tomato sauce (and some sneaky spinach, hopefully my husband won't notice), broccoli

Thursday: Pizza bread or Crockpot arm steak, salads, cut up apples

For more menu plan ideas, visit Organizing Junkie.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Vacaciones!- Vacation!

This is a little late, but I have been so busy that I could not write.  I will not be writing for the remainder of the week because I am with family on vacation!  If you need inspiration visit any of my favorite blogs (they're on my side bar).  Enjoy the week!

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