Taking Me Work Home With Me!

I am a Registered Dietitian, have been for 17 years and counting.  I learned so much in school about different foods and their nutritional value, but also, things that would help me in life.  Today, I'm talking about menu planning.  In school, we had to learn about all the different aspects of a good menu and meal planning.  Have I mentioned that I never planned to marry, have children, or cook???  Well, never say never because here I stand having done ALL THREE!!  My cooking experiences are a whole different story for a completely different day....all I can say is that it is a miracle my husband still lives to tell the story of my first few meals!! 

Anyway, every week I make out a menu for the week and I start by using the sale paper.  I tend to go to one local grocery store here in town, because who has time to run around??  Not me!!  That's really why I make a menu and try to stick to it, because I don't have time to wonder what we will have for dinner.  We know before we leave for the day.  Anyway I list out 5-6 days at a time and fill in what we will be having on those days.  I take into consideration if it's a dance day, or gymnastics, gotta be something quick and easy!  I then start my list and always go in order of the grocery store (is there any other way)?  This makes my trip super quick and easy.  I do try to match coupons with sale items and things I need to buy at the store so I can save a little extra.  My 15 year old daughter LOVES this part!  She likes nothing more than a good deal!  Anyway, that's just scratches the surface of my little "meal planning".  Here's a look at what I'm talking about......


Do you do anything special to plan for meals?

My computer is not wanting to comply with pics, so I'll have to get it tomorrow!

To Ninja or Not to Ninja....

Well, I've been trying to decide what kind of appliance to buy to help me with my smoothie and "Jamba Juice" adventures.  We don't live an area where there is Jamba Juice, but we had it in Houston last year and my youngest daughter has talked about it since.  Roaming through the grocery store last week, found Jamba Juice in the freezer section.  OH EM GEE, pretty excited.  Couldn't wait to get home and try it.  Unfortunately, I have a blender that couldn't cut butter...which leads me to do I want a Ninja or the Magic Bullet?  I have friends and family that have both and am not quite sure which one I want.  I have heard the pros and cons of both, but can't quite decide.  Will have to think on this one, and use my poor little engine that could blender until then......HELP! 

Gonna be one of those Weeks....

He, he, I thought Daisy looked sad last week!  I think she had decided to throw in the towel and call it a day!  She's so cute, but so spoiled!  I actually do not feel this way.  We actually got a lot accomplished this weekend.  We decided to forge into the depths of our laundry room (aka dust room).  We pulled out the washer and dryer and cleaned behind them and I can't even tell you what was back there b/c of all the dust in my face.....embarassing.  Our dryer vent hose has been broken for months and hubby and I thought it would be a good idea and a quick fix to duct tape it (duct tape does fix everything)!!!  Anyway, it didn't really keep the lint and dust from taking over the laundry room.....didn't even take a before pic b/c it was sooo bad.  Anyway, gonna post a pic at the bottom of this post and ask for suggestions on livening this room up.  It is colorless and quite depressing.....as if laundry in itself isn't depressing enought!

A little dark, but you get the idea.

 

 

White, White and more white.  To the right of the washer/dryer, I have rack for hanging clothes and to the left is a ton of cabinets.  Will try to get better pics later.  Just brainstorming.

 

Is this how I look? Cause this is how I feel....

Long time no post...I am going to get back into the swing of things.  My poor little doggie Daisy looks so sweet.  If I could lay around all day and get petted by people and eat everything I want, I'd be sweet too:)  Crazy days.  Trying to get my house picked up, so I can clean, and then organize!  Never.....Going....To....Happen.  Just sayin'.  I think I have ADD. Not the H.  Hyperactive I am not.  I actually NEED a fire under my behind.  My house looks like no one even has time to live there!  One day I may take a picture just so the world can see what I am talking about....or maybe not....we will see.  I will be ashamed.  Maybe that's what I need?  Did I say this is how I feel?  Did I say I have ADD???....!

Who's 40???

Well, hair cut successful! She loves it and I haven’t heard anything about it….yet. She flipped that hair around so much last night, I think we are gonna have a sore neck today! I’ll have to post a picture later. KK mentioned getting her hair cut, but decided to wait for a couple of weeks before she goes to a camp. She is going to be counselor at a day camp for young people with developmental disabilities. I am so proud that she wants to help and is excited to help. And, she’ll have fun too!
Went to bed last night thinking about Mr. C’s 40th birthday. His bday is fast approaching and we have decided to have a party for him, but I haven’t ironed out the details AT ALL! He knows about the party because I cannot surprise him! He pays waaay too much attention to everything going on around him. And, he is hypersensitive to his birthday because he claims he wants to just let it pass on by. Well, not gonna happen around here. When I was growing up, birthdays were a BIG deal. And, they still kind of are. I have 3 brothers and a sister and I still get a call every year from all of them and their spouses and kids. And of course, my parents call and sing “Happy Birthday”-it’s awesome. I guess as you get older, you are supposed to act like your birthday is no big deal, but really, it is. At least you’re having one!!! Ok, I got really off track. Mr. C’s party still rambling through my brain. Didn’t come up with anything last night in my sleep, so will have to research some things today. Will keep ya posted. Until next time-JC

Hairy Decisions

Today was very hard for me to get up out of the bed and head to work. Just sluggish-guess it’s Hump Day! Anyway, not much on my mind today. Thinking about taking Em to get her hair cut. She has long, wavy, beautiful hair, that she NEVER wears down. It is up in a ponytail all the time. Well, she’s been saying all summer that she wants to cut it and she wants some sort of bangs! Seriously? This is a dilemma for me…..do I let her do what she wants and let her deal with the consequences of the short, bangy hair??? (which really means I’LL be dealing with the consequences!). Or, do I try to convince her to hold off and work on styling that long, pretty hair she has? The dictator in me wants to lay down and the law and “Just say no”!! But, the flower child, peace lover in me wants to say “What the heck” and just let her do it! I know that I usually give in, so why am I even having this conversation with myself? Because I’m bipolar, that’s why. Tripolar, quadpolar (you get the idea). Not really, but I do feel that my personality is directly related to my mood on any given today. Em’s lucky, today I’m feeling like the peace loving flower child!!  Off to get the chicky a haircut! Until next time- JC

Inspiration

It’s funny where you may think inspiration comes from. Any kind of inspiration. Inspiration to get up in the morning, to do your daily routine, or write a diary entry. Mine came yesterday. I was washing the dishes after supper, (I know crazy right? Who is inspired by that!!). Anyway, I was going about my chores, doing my dishes, and realized, this is what’s life is about! The mundane things. Dishes, laundry, kids. You think I’m crazy yet? Then, I decided, my life is wonderful. I have a wonderful husband and two great kids who add so much to my quality of life. I want to remember all of these little things one day. All these little stories that seem unimportant now. I will cherish them later. And I will have these entries as my reminders. I thrive on the fact that I am going to come home from work every day to the same man I have been coming home to for 15 years. That my two girls, 13 and 9, are going to be waiting for me to walk in the door with ONE MILLION questions. My little fat dog, Daisy, is going to be waiting at the end of the line to wag her tail and give me her hello! I think if we all took a little more time to stop and enjoy our “everyday” lives, we wouldn’t look so much to make them extra-ordinary. Just saying.
We built a house almost 6 years ago, and oh my goodness, the thought and preparation that went into that! My husband and I went back and forth (not fighting, we really didn’t butt heads during the whole process), about what we wanted, what we could afford. We knew that this would be our “forever” house and wanted it to be as right as it could be. So, I take great pleasure in looking outside my big windows into the backyard to see my children outside having the time of their lives. Or, having the family room and kitchen all one big room, so we can all be together during the busiest parts of the day. And, all of this, while doing the dishes……..and being thankful for just being able to absorb it all, and do the dishes - Till next time…JC