April Meal Plan

April Meals

After being all over the diet map since January, we have finally found an eating style we can live with forever. We are not gluten-free, we are not carb-free, we are not dairy-free, we are Mediterranean.

In a nutshell, this is what we started doing the middle of March and it has been wonderful. Mike and I are losing weight, the kids are getting plenty of good nutrition, everyone feels well, and we are enjoying it. When we want to eat something off the plan, we do, but just a little and just once in a while. The boys more often, but usually just for their snacks. We all eat the same dinners and they all like them, so that's the best thing.

The Mediterranean Diet Plan is basically: lots of fruits and vegetables and whole grains and legumes,
                                                              some dairy and nuts and olive oil,
                                                              a little meat, mostly poultry and fish, and lean cuts of pork or beef

Generally Mike and I eat whole grains for breakfast and fruits. Somedays we make veggie omelets with a little cheese also. Occasionally I'll have a fruit and yogurt smoothie. I have herb tea every morning and fill up a 32 oz. water bottle which I usually finish before the afternoon is over, and then I drink a couple of glasses of water with dinner, and that keeps me well also.
     
For lunch I make Mike a big salad for lunch with a little nitrate free meat or beans and lots of veggies. I usually have the same for my lunch.  Sometimes I'll sprinkle a little blue cheese crumbles or goat cheese on top. We also like celery with PB2 on it. Do you love that stuff? All the great peanut butter flavor with only 1.5 g of fat! Some fresh fruit is often eaten also.

Sometimes I'll make soups with grains and veggies and a little meat or cook a whole grain and add lots of veggies and salsa to that. Really, whatever the Lord made I'm good with. That's pretty much with how this eating plan works.

I also found some snacks that are store-bought that I like too. The Cliff Bars I've found, regular and Ultra, use whole grains, no processed sugar, and have some great flavors and are packed with protein, so if I'm craving something for dessert in the middle of the day and feeling like I need a good energy boost, those will do the job. I've only had them a couple of times but I'm open to looking for healthy-er snacks. Beats Oreos and Nachos. Everyone has to find what works for them, and apparently eating every 3 hours works for me. Basically I eat at 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 6:30pm and I feel more energetic. I have exercised a little, and I need to do more, but all this eating healthy and drinking plenty makes me want to keep improving. We took a couple of good walks/hikes last week over Spring Break. Its just so much more fun in nature than on the treadmill. Now that the weather's getting warmer (hopefully less windy soon) I hope to spend more time out enjoying it all. And just for the record, I believe Sunday dessert just makes that day all the more special. :-)

                                                           
Tues. 1 Tilapia, Roasted Asparagus, Greek Salad, and Apples
Wed. 2  Chicken Tortilla Soup, Banana Pineapple Salad, Cucumbers and Carrots
Thur. 3  Chicken Parmesan, Green Salad, Italian Zucchini, Whole Wheat Rolls, and Cinnamon Apples
Fri. 4  7 Layer Dip with Hamburger Crumbles, Vegetable Dippers, Green Salad
Sat. 5  Tuna Wraps with Lettuce and Tomato, Guacamole with Crudites and Apple Slices
Sun. 6  Roast Turkey, Lemony Green Beans, Two-Potato Casserole and Red Green Salad
Mon. 7  Green Chile Mock Enchilada Casserole with Blueberry Pecan Green Salad
Tues. 8  Shrimp Creole with Israeli Couscous and Roasted Asparagus
Wed. 9 Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup, Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges and Almonds
Thur. 10 Pork Tenderloin, Spicy Coleslaw, Stuffed Mushrooms
Fri. 11  Spinach Artichoke Healthy Dip, Crudites, Turkey Meatballs, Roasted Onion and Mushroom Slaw
Sat. 12  Turkey Lettuce Wraps with peanuts and  Brown Rice and orange wedges
Sun. 13 Date Bars for dessert
Mon. 14  Chicken Fajita Salad
Tues. 15  Shrimp, Zucchini Boats, Mushroom Barley Risotto
Wed. 16  3 Bean Chili, Green Salad, Strawberry Smoothies
Thur. 17  Italian Broccoli Cheese Bake, Green Salad, Pan Roasted Red Potatoes
Fri. 18  Eleven Layer Salad, (Spinach, Lettuce, Bacon, Green Onion, Tomatoes, Mozzarella Cheese, Peas, Chicken, Avocado, Dressing, Hard-Boiled Egg,) and Strawberries
Sat. 19  Hamburger Wrap Sliders, Spinach Mushroom Salad, Pears
Sun. 20 Nitrate free Ham, Deviled Eggs, Branson Potato Casserole, Green Beans, Vegetable Platter and Mini Strawberry Cheesecakes for dessert
Mon. 21 Chili Cheese Bites, Green Salad, Peaches
Tues. 22 Mahi Mahi, Cannelini Bean Salad, Broccoli
Wed. 23 Sausage Kale Potato Soup and Greek Salad
Thur. 24  Salmon Patties, Red Pepper Hummus, Celery, Carrots, Olives, Green Bean Salad, Peaches
Fri. 25 Chicken Cashew Stir-Fry (cabbage, scallions, carrots, broccoli,) with Brown Rice and Strawberries
Sat. 26 Chicken Artichoke Tomato Orzo, Green Salad
Sun. 27 Sirloin Steak Bites, Italian Zucchini, Blueberry Pecan Green Salad, Roasted Cauliflower
Mon. 28 Turkey Tacos in Whole Wheat Pita Bread
Tues. 29  Orange Roughy, Spinach Salad with Manadarin Oranges and Almonds, Roasted Broccoli
Wed. 30 Carrot Soup, Beef Gyro Wraps, Blueberry Smoothies

Blue and Brown Quilt

The top is done! Yeah!!!

This is for MyGirl's birthday coming up in over a month. I should be able to get this all finished by then.

However, since its Spring Break and everyone's home, I probably will have less time.

Littlebuddy told me a break meant "not to add to much stuff to the schedule. We need to relax."

I, on the other hand, so happy to have everyone all together, want to plan fun activities every day. 

So this is how much fun we're having. Haha

Sunday night at dinner I told them to all think of two fun things they wanted to do this week and we'd meet again at 8pm to finalize ideas and figure out when it would work best. I told them to keep their two to under $100.

I reasoned its much cheaper to spend $300 over Spring break than fly faraway, book a hotel, rent a car and pay that much for one major attraction you know? Plus eating out all the time.

But apparently my children are even cheaper than I am. Wow!?!

Littlebuddy's idea - Go to Costco and have free samples.

(Okay, well that did cost me near $300 but its the only time I'm going for the next month, and groceries weren't part of the spring break budget.)

Seriously, he thinks that's FUN?????

Yes, he explained he misses all the samples while he's at school and feels like he's getting gypped. Plus it gave him more time to hang out at home and do nothing, (i.e. play with this electronics.)

Until. . . . he found out each day has a 1 hr. time limit on electronics. And I was encouraging at least a half  hour and perhaps more of Scouting a day. Yeah, I'm the mean mom.

Other than that, he didn't really have any plans.

BigBuddy wanted to go to a lake about an hour away in the mountains, do some hiking and take a picnic.

Okay, just the cost of gas. 

And go to the movies. Cheapest on Tuesdays between 4-5:30 so we're going tonight. Lake tomorrow. Not too expensive, but things everyone likes to do, so kudos to my boy who knows how to have fun.

MyGirl wants to go to a park. 

That's it?

Okay, then she said she wanted to window shop too.

Eye rolls from her brothers.

But, when I suggested downtown Castle Rock, a place we haven't visited too much, they were game.
Again, spending not more than probably treats for the boys.

So, yeah, I've raised frugal children. 

And when I suggested going to the library to see the quilt display and perhaps check out free movies and feed the ducks, I was met with - are you kidding? However I'm still going this week. If you've seen my Pinterest board you know I LOVE looking at people's homemade quilts. I am so inspired by the creativity in others and hoping to push myself more this year to make harder patterns and improve my skills.

Then they came up with the idea of going to the local school down the street and playing basketball, which they did yesterday for almost two hours and had a great time. Which proves one of my points. My children may be frugal but they know that being together is really the most fun of all.

Happy Spring Break everyone! Whenever you get your break, may you all enjoy your time together. 

Sneak Peak

You probably know by now that I love Pinterest. . . . and yesterday I learned that today was National Quilt Day. Hmmmm, it just seemed wrong that I would completely ignore it.  Since I cut everything I needed to make a quilt for MyGirl's birthday coming up in about six weeks yesterday, today I planned the fabric layout. Here is a little sneak peak. MyGirl picked out this layout idea from looking at my Quilting board on Pinterest, but since I couldn't find the directions I created my own based loosely on what I saw, and here we go. . . . its exciting to have another one ready to piece! And thank goodness she didn't have her heart set on a compass quilt! That would have been trouble. Fortunately, she wanted a modern quilt in blues and browns to match her bedspread and long enough to cover her when she wants to cuddle with it on the sofa. I've designed it to be 56 x 70. It will be my largest quilt yet. . . . Fun just waiting to begin. . . . 

Graduation Cards and Organizing

Well, the pantry is done and has stayed totally organized for almost two weeks! Shocking I know. 

We took (MyGirl and I) all the small boxes or bags that don't close tight after you open them and put them in quart size canning cars and labeled them including directions on how to cook them if we knew we didn't have that info in our heads. Helpful, looks a lot better, and will be more healthy.  

Cost: FREE (canning jars just sitting in boxes waiting to be used)

 We also went to the DollarTree and got little white wash bins to group like items. We got 8. I learned I had duplicates of some items because I couldn't see clearly when I already had one. Now its easy to see what's needed when I go to the store, and even easier to put it all away when I get home because everything has its place. I also got 2 mesh baskets at Michaels on sale. I use those for potatoes and snacks.
                                   Cost:  $14.80 plus tax
                                          Mesh baskets $3.40 each
                                           Dollar Tree $8

Nothing fancy. Not even Pin worthy, but does the job for cheap. I just wish I'd done it a long time ago!

A friend asked me to help come up with some cards for the upcoming graduation of her twins. Here are some I either already had lying around or made up quickly to give her an idea of stamps I have. I find I'm having a hard time putting a lot of energy into my paper projects anymore. Unless I really want to express my love for someone with a card, I'm just whipping them out as fast as I can. Quilting on the other hand . . . I spent over an hour yesterday with MyGirl discussing patterns and fabrics for a quilt I want to make for her birthday in a little over six weeks. Fortunately she likes modern design, which makes the pattern fairly simple and I already have most of the fabrics I want. We're heading out to quilt stores tomorrow to pick out a few more and a back. Fun times in store!!!

Missionary Cards

Our church has a lot of missionaries serving all over the world. When making cards,  especially ones that are going internationally, that translates into - they must be flat. I love to decorate with embellishments and ribbons that have knots, buttons and burlap, etc., but these are all flat cards except that first one. That is actually going to a local friend who is having a hard time.  This is made with the Ariana paper pack, and Ruby and Crystal Blue Cardstock with just a few sparkles on the sides.

 These next three cards are all the same pattern, but using different  papers and cardstocks, that incidentally are all scraps or from samplers that I had. I inked everything in Outdoor Denim, thus saving more time from having to change inks and wash the stamps.

 The blue and gray ones I'm sending to boys and the purple and teal ones are going to girls. I made nine cards last Sunday night, three of each. Mass production makes the card-making go faster.

This is such an easy pattern  for a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 inch card

patterned paper on left side - 2 inches
small strip in the center -  3/4 inch
solid cardstock on right side - 2 inches

I put the larger pieces on first, then glue the smaller strip in the center to eliminate any white space underneath showing.

The solid square cardstock is 3 inches
The neutral square where I've stamped is 2-1/2 inches
I sponged around the edges of the neutral square and filled in the lights with a bright yellow marker - simple techniques.

Easy, fast, and effective, that's the way to make missionary cards!

March Meal Plan

Well, so far, so good. I'm not sticking to my meal plans 100% but close enough that it helps make life simpler still. Need that because today I'm tackling the pantry. Oh yeah  (haha!)

And congrats are in my order to my beautiful and amazing daughter, who has a new job! Both the store manager and assistant at another Joann's store in Utah are facing major family challenges, and needed to walk away from the new store that is set to open THIS TUESDAY. The current district manager is the first manager Cowgirl worked for at the Orem store and she has proved over and over that she can trusted as an excellent leader. He called to offer her the job Thursday, she accepted Friday, works her last day today at her current store where she is the assistant manger, and will start on Monday at the new store as the main Store Manager - the day before it opens! She'll have her hands full, but is more than capable. And in fact, I think her new team will love her. She knows how to lead with kindness and still make the sure the job is done right.

There is a long story that goes with this, how everything has been lining up for where she knew she needed to make a change. She's been looking around at several opportunities, and when this one fell in her lap, everything was in order to make it happen easily and quickly. She'll even be able to finish her degree all online and because she will make the schedule, she can work it around her tests, etc. to get her business degree completed within two years. All while working full time, and being able to go to church every Sunday. Many blessings!!!

OKay, back to March's meals:

Sat., Mar. 1  Pepperloni Calzones and roast aspargus
Sun., Mar. 2  Bringing Cherry Cheese Pie for dessert to Mom's with blueberry sauce
Mon., Mar. 3 Beef and Bean burritos and green salad
Tues., Mar. 4 Orange roughy, potatoes and broccoli
Wed., Mar. 5 Baked potato soup and romaine, almond, orange salad
Thur., Mar. 6 Orzo with tomatoes, feta, and asparagus and Greek spinach salad
Fri., Mar. 7 Crock pot BBQ chicken sandwiches and celery and carrots
Sat., Mar 8  Turkey meatballs, sweet potatoes, and green beans
Sun., Mar 9 Chicken Cordon Bleu, Layered Salad, Baked Russets, Roasted Asparagus
Mon., Mar. 10 Taco Bake
Tues. Mar. 11 Baked Salmon, Broccoli and Roasted cauliflower with garlic,
Wed., Mar. 12 Crock Pot Portuguese soup with sausage, kale, and potatoes and Greek salad
Thur., Mar. 13 Chicken Cacciatore with Polenta, Green beans
Fri., Mar. 14 Hash browns, Broccoli Egg Fritatta, and Fruit Smoothies
Sat., Mar. 15 Tuna Sandwiches, fruit salad, and Homebaked Potato chips
Sun., Mar. 16 Sausage Tomato Bites, Creamed spinach, Greek Salad, Carrot Coins
Mon., Mar. 17 Green enchiladas, Green salad, Green grapes
Tues., Mar. 18 Shrimp Paella and Green beans with lemon
Wed., Mar. 19 Crock pot Chicken Noodle Soup,  Greek Chicken Salad, Rice Flour Rolls
Thur., Mar. 20 Chicken Parmesan, Angel Hair Pasta, and Asparagus
Fri., Mar. 21 Sloppy Turkey Joes, Fresh Veggies with dip
Sat., Mar. 22 Turkey Lettuce Wraps with brown rice and Orange slices
Sun., Mar. 23  Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin with carrots and potatoes, Zucchini and Corn Casserole, Rolls and Fruit Salad
Mon., Mar. 24 Chicken enchiladas, spanish rice, black beans, and green salad
Tues., Mar. 25 Crab cakes, potato salad, green beans and cornbread
Wed., Mar. 26 Italian Wedding Soup, cheese biscuits and green salad
Thur., Mar. 27 French dip sandwiches with peppers and onions, and Broccoli salad
Fri., Mar. 28 Out for hamburgers - day of fun for spring break
Sat., Mar. 29 Turkey and ham hoagies for the guys while women are at Women's Broadcast and dinner
Sun. Mar. 30 Roast turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, red and green salad, rolls, and cranberry sauce
Mon. Mar. 31 Turkey quesadillas and green salad