Daybook August 31, 2010

FOR TODAY... Tuesday August 31, 2010

Outside my window... dusk of a beautiful day

I am thinking... about things that I should be doing besides watching Chopped and blogging.

I am thankful for... coffee with a friend and time to share our lives.

From the learning rooms... Grom is starting at a Montessori Charter School next Tuesday. Until then we have some homeschool work to get done. And I've been putting together work bags for when he comes to church with me.

From the kitchen... My mom cooked tonight. We had pizza from Costco, salad and fruit. She's finally keeping it simple. We also had an unexpected guest. I love unexpected guests.

I am wearing... dark red tee, black cargo capris (I need a new pair)

I am creating... I framed a couple of things this week. Does that count?

I am going... to pick up our new "son" Thursday night. We have a 16 year old boy from Switzerland staying with us until they are able to find a permanent home for him for the school year. I think he'll be able to teach Grom and thing or two about soccer.

I am reading... A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards. My Pastor recommended it.

I am hoping... our student-parent-teacher meeting at school goes well tomorrow.

I am hearing... wind chimes outside.

Around the house... I've been talking to my artist friend about doing some painting to replace her painting that was destroyed in our remodel. Clouds on Grom's ceiling and some vines and Bible in our bathroom. I think she's going to be able to start soon. I'm so excited.

One of my favorite things... letting Grom pick the nail polish color for my toenails when I get a manicure. It saves me some thinking. Usually he does well... except maybe the time my toes were turquoise blue.

Vocabulary word of the week:

indomitable - (adj.): that cannot be subdued or overcome, as persons, will, or courage; unconquerable

synonyms: unyielding
used in a sentence: I believe the Proverbs 31 woman had an indomitable spirit.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Besides our new "son" (I'll have to come up with an alias for him after I get to know him), we have our annual gigantic end of summer blow out church picnic. It's always really fun. Saturday is also Surferman's birthday. Grom and I are taking him out to a surprise dinner.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...Downtown Brown, my guys and Grom's buddy... and they are all smiling.

How you can be praying for me and mine... consistency and obedience. And that Surferman would feel extremely blessed and spoiled on his birthday.

Check out other daybooks at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Dream Dinners - Italian Pomodoro Burgers - Review

Dream Dinners provides everything needed to assemble dinners for the freezer. They have easy-to-follow instructions and pre-cut ingredients. I choose 6-9 meals from their (new every month) menu of 14 or so items. I started going when I was dieting hoping it would be an easy way to feed the rest of my family a healthy meal. Every month, I'm faced with their menu of items to choose. I have brief descriptions and from those choose the things I think Surferman and Grom will like. Here's my review of another meal.

Italian Pomodoro Burgers

What's in the bag?
ground beef
seasoning bag
red sauce (thick like a pizza sauce)
shredded mozarella cheese
buns

What you do at home?
mix the seasoning into the ground beef
form into patties
grill or broil the patties
toast the buns
top burgers with sauce and cheese

Thoughts during preparation:
Surferman made them. He said they were easy to make.

What did I serve it with?
green salad and watermelon. We also had some leftover pasta. We had 3 burgers and 5 people ate so the pasta helped the burgers stretch a little further.

So... How did it taste?
Fantastic! The patty was juicy and flavorful. The sauce and cheese completed it. The hamburger bun was fine, but I think it would've been better on a ciabatta roll.

Would I purchase this meal again?
Sure would. Easy to prepare. Something Surferman can make. Delicious.

Preparation: 10 (out of 10)
Presentation: 9
Taste: 10

By the way: I can't share recipes. I don't have them and they belong to the nice folks at Dream Dinners anyway. I am not compensated in any way for my review and these are our opinions of the meals we purchased and prepared. As ovens, moods and cooking skills vary so might your experience with this same meal.

And... if you are one of my local friends and would like to give Dream Dinners a try, let me know. I might be able to hook you up.

What's for Dinner - August 30, 2010

Monday
~gymnastics~
Italian Pomodoro Burgers (Dream Dinners)
LO Creamy Spaghetti with Beans
green salad
watermelon

Tuesday
~family dinner~
pizza
salad

Wednesday
~soccer practice~
Hawaiian Chicken & Rice (Dream Dinners)
watermelon
green salad

Thursday
~Street Food at Farmer's Market~

Friday
~Steak and a Movie Night~
steak
baked potato
green salad

Saturday
~All Church Picnic~
~Pie Making Contest~
~Surprise Dinner out for Shawn~
taking pickles and olives to the picnic
pie???

Sunday
~Shoreline Family Dinner~
Baked Pasta Ziti Style (Is it just me or is it hard to find ziti pasta?)
Bread

Random Dozen - 8/25/10

1. What is your favorite Mexican dish? chips and salsa (but it has to be jarred - thick and chunky mild... medium if I'm in a sassy mood)

2. When you were a kid, did you get started on your homework right away after school, or did you procrastinate? I don't remember doing homework until Jr High. I remember a few late nights finishing big projects. I think I was pretty good about getting my day to day homework done right away.

3. What is your favorite store for home furnishings? Ikea. I can always find something I need when I wander through this shopper's Disneyland.

4. When you were young, did you like school lunches? I remember certain things that the cafeteria sold, like a cranberry dessert, hot buttered rolls, butterfinger bars.

5. Is religion a crutch? no and yes. That's all you're going to get today.

6. In your region, what is the "big" (most popular in the community or state) high school sport? I don't really know. Our Youth Pastor coaches Girls Volleyball so that's pretty big around our church. He made 3 girls puke this week. He didn't tell us how many girls cried, but I'm guessing there were a few.

7. Do you consider yourself rich? yes... in so many ways. Rich is not just about $$$.

8. Which of these would you have the best chance for success in administering:
A) CPR
B) Heimlich Maneuver
C) Changing a flat tire
I think I could do any of them successfully. The Heimlich Maneuver would provide the fastest feedback of if I was doing it right or not.

9. Which dance would you prefer to learn & why:
A) Salsa
B) Hip Hop
C) Waltz
D) Swing
Why not all of the above? And let's throw in tap while we're at it.

10. What's the worst news you've ever delivered to someone? I've had to tell multiple people that their loved ones have died. It doesn't get easier. In most of the cases the decedent was someone I cared about too.

11. Name something you learned in college that had nothing to do with classes or academics.
I learned that I was a lot more innocent than I realized. I was shocked by some of the things my friends did or had done. I'm thankful for the way I was raised and for God's protection when I wandered away from Him.

12. New variation on an old question: If there's a song in your head that just won't get out, what is your favorite (or most repeated) line in that song I can't think of a song that's been stuck in my head lately.

Thank Linda for these random questions.

Daybook August 24, 2010

FOR TODAY - Tuesday August 24, 2010

Outside my window... dark and quiet. Today was a wonderful hot day. Thankfully it cooled off this evening.

I am thinking... about routine and order and charts and to do lists and plans and...

I am thankful for... routine and order and charts and to do lists and plans and...

From the learning rooms... Our schoolroom is clean and ready... just a couple of things left to do. We are supposed to be starting school tomorrow, but haven't been given any direction or guidelines yet. We have a parent meeting tomorrow night and I'm hoping everything will be clearer after.

From the kitchen... It's a busy week. Most of the cooking I'm doing is survival. Today I threw together dinner for tomorrow night. I'll be able to pop it in the oven, set a timer and have it ready when we get back from Grom's first soccer practice of the season.

I am wearing... navy blue floral print capris, white tees and flip flops.

I am creating... no time for creating. Talk to me next week.

I am going... I have no idea.

I am reading... emails.

I am hoping... Grom doesn't have any cavities.

I am hearing... Covert Affairs on the TV. It's a fun spy show.

Around the house... Surferman and I attacked the schoolroom and Grom's room last weekend. They look fabulous. Just a few details left in each of those rooms. Our bedroom however is still a bit of a wreck. It's next on the list.

One of my favorite things... tuberose. They smell soooo good and remind me of Hawaii and my wedding. (I wore them in my hair).

Vocabulary word of the week:

calumny - (noun): a false and malicious statement designed to injure the reputation of someone or something

synonyms: libel, vilification, calumniation, derogation
used in a sentence: It is harder to kill a whisper than even a shouted calumny.

A few plans for the rest of the week: getting ready for school, cleaning and organizing, Grom's dental cleaning appointment, soccer practice and FARMERS MARKET (again! 2 weeks in a row!), watching my nieces, and some other stuff.

Here is a picture I am sharing...

A bowl of beautiful pears from a friend.

How you can be praying for me and mine... that we'd establish and settle into the routine of the school year. That Grom's new school would be a great experience for all of us.

Have a great week. Check out other daybooks at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

What's for Dinner - August 23, 2010

Monday
~Campout Cookout~
hot dogs
carrots
potato chips
watermelon
s'mores

Tuesday
~Family Dinner~
~Prayer & Bunco~
my folks cook

Wednesday
~Grom to dentist~
~soccer practice~
~Teacher- Parent Meeting~
Cauliflower Gratin
bread & butter

Thursday
~gymnastics~
Farmer's Market

Friday
Hawaiian Chicken (Dream Dinner)
rice
Broccoli

Saturday
Italian Pomodoro Burgers (Dream Dinners)

Sunday
~Shoreline Family Dinner~
Creamy Spaghetti and Beans
salad
bread

Dream Dinners - Baked Fish and Chips - Review

Here's something new... reviews of the meals I purchase and prepare from Dream Dinners.

Dream Dinners provides everything needed to assemble dinners for the freezer. They have easy-to-follow instructions and pre-cut ingredients. I choose 6-9 meals from their (new every month) menu of 14 or so items. I started going when I was dieting hoping it would be an easy way to feed the rest of my family a healthy meal. Every month, I'm faced with their menu of items to choose. I have brief descriptions and from those choose the things I think Surferman and Grom will like. Here's my review of another meal.

Baked Fish and Chips

What's in the bag?
fish
batter mixture
breading mixture
tartar sauce
french fries

What you do at home?
spray two baking sheets with cooking spray
spread french fries on one sheet
pour breading mixture on other sheet
dip fish pieces in batter and then roll in bread crumbs
bake at 425F for about 25 minutes

Thoughts during preparation:
The batter mixture was really thick. A lot of it didn't get used and I threw a lot of it away.
The tartar sauce looks good - full of dill.

What did I serve it with?
I made an easy coleslaw - shredded cabbage and TJ's sweet poppy seed dressing.

So... How did it taste?
The fish was mild with good texture. The breading was crispy but not greasy. Surferman thought it was a little bland. I thought it had a nice spice - just enough heat. The tartar sauce was tasty although the texture was not as creamy as traditional. The french fries were fine.

Would I purchase this meal again?
This preparation was much healthier than purchasing fish filets and french fries at the grocery store. It was also considerably more expensive. As this isn't a meal that my family eats routinely, I'd probably buy from the market next time.

Preparation: 7 (out of 10)
Presentation: 7
Taste: 8

By the way: I can't share recipes. I don't have them and they belong to the nice folks at Dream Dinners anyway. I am not compensated in any way for my review and these are our opinions of the meals we purchased and prepared. As ovens, moods and cooking skills vary so might your experience with this same meal.

And... if you are one of my local friends and would like to give Dream Dinners a try, let me know. I might be able to hook you up.

DONE #29. Do something creative with the enlarged photo of Grom when he was a baby

A couple of years ago my cousin enlarged a photo of his son. It was a nice photo, but it wasn't his son... it was mine. They gave it to me.

I bought a frame and had plans to add a little paint, some text torn from an old Bible, maybe that lock of hair I cut off Grom's adorable baby head... and every time I thought about making time to work on it, I hesitated. I was afraid of messing it up. Actually I was afraid I'd finish it and have to put it on a wall. I said it was a nice picture. It wasn't great and I had no emotional connection to it.

In a fit of decluttering, I threw it away. It felt great.

8 done... 93 to go

Random Dozen - 8/18/10

1. What is your favorite fair/carnival food? I don't think I have a favorite. I like to go with my family and get a variety of things and share. Surferman always gets a Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich, Grom wants an Icee and I pick whatever new and different thing I can find. Last year I got a stuffed pretzel.

2. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of? Yep... about 200 pounds. If only it were as easy as boxing it up and taking it to the Thrift Store.

3. What is your favorite gift to receive? gift cards to places I like to shop or eat, especially places that I wouldn't usually spend money

4. When was the last time you tried something new? I tried Sesame Seaweed Snacks last week. They are delish. And a reasonable snack.

5. What is your favorite and least favorite book genre?
Memoir, Mystery, Political Intrigue, Romance, Humor, Historical Fiction, Historical nonfiction, Chick Lit, Self-Help, Other
I don't like Romance books. I like most other kinds of books. I'd rather listen to a mystery than read one though.

6.Silver or Gold? silver

7. What makes you sigh? I sigh a lot. I've heard I roll my eyes quite a bit too. I can't see my eyes so I don't know for sure. Family makes me sigh.

8. If you didn't know how old you are, how old would you claim you are? I feel like I'm in my early 30s.

9. Would you break a law to save a loved one? To protect a loved one? I plead the fifth.

10. If you had to teach something, what would it be? I'm a fount of information. What would you like to learn?

11. You're having lunch with 3 people whom you respect and admire. They begin to criticize a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. What do you do? I can't imagine being in that situation. It feels like all my friends know all my friends. I hope I'd let them know of our friendship and not be silent.

12. Which of the 5 Love Languages is your prominent means of experiencing love?
Quality Time
Physical Touch
Acts of Service
Gifts
Words of Affirmation

Not sure which is your most prominent love language? Take the quiz!


Thank Linda for these random questions.

DONE #69. Revive my African Violets DONE #70. Give away my African Violets -except the one in the orange pot (of course)

I have amassed quite a collection of african violets. They usually do very well in the window of our bathroom. I have these great pots that water the violets the way they prefer - from the bottom. African Violets are beautiful. You can count on them to bloom and keep blooming. So many pretty colors - purples, pinks, whites.

They should be fool proof. See.. they get great light in the window. I have fertilizer. If you look though, you'll see droop.

And they all looks as pathetic as this one. Lack of water and attention is the problem.

Plants have always been a window to my soul and life. When I'm busy or stressed or depressed my plants suffer. So if I'm not depressed or stressed, I must be stinkin' busy.

I dusted off their pots. Gave them fresh water and fertilizer and moved them (the shelves in the picture are gone due to our remodeling). They are revived and waiting to bloom.

So I waited... and waited... and they didn't bloom.

And then my friend had a garage sale and I gave them to her and she sold them... except for the one in the orange pot. It's on the counter in our new bathroom. And I'm still waiting for it to bloom.

done and done

7 done... 94 to go.

Daybook August 16, 2010

FOR TODAY - Tuesday August 16, 2010

Outside my window... dark and quiet. Today was a beautiful day and gorgeous evening.

I am thinking... about getting my own domain. What do you think of robinmeaney.com? It's available. I keep reading that my name is my brand. Brand of what, I'm not sure...

I am thankful for... the men and women that I work with. They are the greatest. Sometimes I have trouble getting my work done because I enjoy being there so much. I'm blessed to have amazing fellowship daily at work. (I guess it should be that way when you work at a church, but I'm afraid it isn't always that way for everybody).

From the learning rooms... cleaning and preparing for school. Grom is starting at a brand new Montessori Charter School. We have a registration meeting this week.

From the kitchen... Seafood Chowder. A recipe I created after having delicious soup at a local restaurant (now closed). Fabulous!

I am wearing... orange felted slippers, grey capri pants, black tee.

I am creating... I'm trying to learn how to crochet. I have the basic idea, but need to take time to practice and get the stitches? ingrained in my head. I want to make some hats.

I am going... to help my mom sell some cool stuff that she's made. She's donating proceeds to a dear friend in England (Hi Tobi... surprise!). So if you've ever wanted a cool felted wool purse.... start saving. I've seen what she's working on and it's great for the approaching fall.

I am reading... nothing right now. I just finished the latest Neta Jackson book - "Who Do I Lean On?". It was a nice light read.

I am hoping... Kerry is still reading.

I am hearing... Surferman's robovoice on his computer reading something to him and worship music in the background.

Around the house... still working through some piles. I have problems in our school room, my studio and my bedroom. Grom's room is also a bit cluttered. I'm starting to have trouble getting him to pare down. Any advice?

One of my favorite things... talking with Grom in the car. We have some unbelievable conversations - fun and deep, silly and important, challenging and secret. Lately we've been listening to stories from Storynory . Lately we've heard a lot of stories about gods and goddesses - from Greek mythology and also Japanese. It's been interesting to talk about why they created so many gods when we know that there is ONE true God. We're still working it out. I'll let you know what we come up with.

Vocabulary word of the week:

juxtapose - (verb): to place close together or side by side, esp. for comparison or contrast.

synonyms: appose, bring near, connect, pair, place in proximity, set side by side
used in a sentence: If you juxtapose my twin nieces they are easy to tell apart.

A few plans for the rest of the week: getting ready for school, cleaning and organizing, Grom's friend buddy is staying the night, and FARMERS MARKET (we haven't been all summer, which is quite unexpected for us).

Here is a picture I am sharing...

Grom mid-air off the lifeguard chair on the last day of swim lessons.

He jumped from the 4th step up. He's saving the 5th step for next summer.

How you can be praying for me and mine... direction for Surferman, unspoken for Grom, that I'd get my gumption back to lose more weight - consistency for all of us.

Have a great week. Check out other daybooks at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

What's for Dinner - August 15, 2010

Monday

Seafood Chowder

sourdough bread and butter

Tuesday

Chicken Yakitori (Dream Dinners meal)

rice

green beans

Wednesday

Oven Baked Fish and Chips (Dream Dinners meal)

Cole Slaw

Thursday

~ BBQ at Farmer's Market~

Friday

Italian Pomodoro Burgers (Dream Dinners meal)

green salad

Saturday

????

Sunday

~Shoreline Family Dinner~

Tuscan Chicken Fettucine (Dream Dinners meal)

bread

salad

Looks like I might be blogging again... speaking of bloggers... hundreds of them post their meal plans each week at Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday. Stumped for what to make for dinner? There are thousands of ideas waiting there for the picking.