Catching Up and A Few Meals

It's been a while, so let's play catch-up...shall we?

 Easter with the family was wonderful. Lots of food, lots of confetti, and TONS of fun!  I usually host Easter and this year we had my cousin and her family come in from Lubbock to join the fun.

A few days after Easter, I headed to Round Top with the girls to shop and dance the night away at the Junk Gypsy prom.  If you're in Texas and you've never been to Round Top for Texas Antique Week, you must consider going!  It's one of my favorite weeks of the year!! 

This past weekend I spent some QT with my oldest.  He took me on a "date"...Cracker Barrel (his pick...opened doors, pulled out my chair, and even asked for "a table for two, please" at the hostess stand.  I cherish my one-on-one time with both boys because those times are so few and far between.  Reminds me to make time for more of that!!!  

We even managed to visit my parents to meet their precious new puppy.  There was a huge hole in our hearts when their dog of 13 years passed away last month and we were so excited to meet the newest addition to the family....Bella :)  She is the sweetest!  Such a cuddler!  And the boys are completely smitten!!!

This week my littlest bit turns 7 (where'd the time go?!?!?!) and my mother-in-law, father-in-law, and aunt will be coming in for a visit.  That means I'll be spending the next few days cleaning :)  Such a mess we've made and I've been too lazy to clean it, so naturally I've got my work cut out for me.  

Here's what's on the menu until the family arrives.  After that it's anybody's guess :) 

MONDAY:  BLACKENED FISH TACO BOWLS

TUESDAY:   TACO TUESDAY (soft turkey tacos for the boys, taco salad for me & dad)

WEDNESDAY:  Little Man's Birthday!  - Dinner is his pick and he's still deciding 

THURSDAY:  CHICKEN ENCHILADA PASTA (a crowd favorite and my most pinned recipe!)

FRIDAY BREAKFAST:  BEST BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

SATURDAY BREAKFAST:  SNICKERDOODLE MUFFINS 

SUNDAY BREAKFAST: BETTER THAN CINNABON CINNAMON ROLLS

MONDAY BREAKFAST

Monday Meal Planning & A Catch Up!

Spring Break is officially over and the boys couldn't wait to go back to school to see their friends!  They were so excited to tell their teachers all about their vacation.  It's been a busy two weeks around here...conference traveling, visiting family, baby showers, and vacation.  Whew!  Now it's time to prep for Easter...I usually host this holiday and I'm SO far behind!  Dang!  

My mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and niece flew in from Indy to spend a few days with us week before last.  I took them to Waco to check out Magnolia Market.  There was some definite white knuckle driving going on (awful weather!!!), but it was totally worth it!  Absolutely LOVED our day visit and can't wait to go back when we can enjoy everything on the property and not just the shopping!  I walked away with a few things I adored and we even managed to make a trip to Harp Design Co., too!!  If you haven't been yet...and if you're a fan of Fixer Upper...put it on your list of things to do!  I'm so glad we went!

I had to snag this sign because I adore everything about it and knew it would be a perfect fit for our bedroom.  I think this was my most favorite purchase!

Love Is Patient Sign - Magnolia Market

And I couldn't leave without a #shiplap tee, some cotton stems, a vase, and a Bakery sign for my kitchen.  Overkill.  I know.  But we'd been planning on adding a few things to the house so that was how I justified it ;)

Cotton Stems (large) /  #Shiplap Tee / (Large) Ceramic Vase / Bakery Sign / Ladder (Harp Design Co.)

We checked the kids out of school a little early the Friday before Spring Break so they could spend some QT with our family.  We won't see them again until the summer so we wanted to them to spend as much time with each other as they could!  So we decided to spend the afternoon at the Museum of Science...my favorite in Houston!!!  They loved it!

As soon as the family left to go back to Indy, we packed up and flew to Breckenridge for the week (Spring Break)!!!   The boys have never been and we couldn't wait to show them our favorite little town.  We got 36 inches of snow while we were there...a Winter WONDERLAND!!!  And as much as I thought I'd never say it, I loved every single minute.   And so did the boys!  They were bawling on the last day of ski school because they didn't want it to be over, hahaha!!!  I learned to ski and loved it so much..I can't wait to go back and do it all over again!  

All that to be said, I'm happy to be home and looking forward to the warmer weather ahead.  

If you've been following me on Instagram, then you may have seen some of my bible journaling that I share from time to time.  I'm no expert, but I'll be back tomorrow to share my journey with this form of worship and answer some FAQ's I get on IG when I do share.  I'll also be talking about my favorite supplies, tools, and fellow bible journalers, so check back tomorrow if you're interested. 

Now it's time to get back on track with cooking.  I have gained a ridiculous amount of weight since October.  My "winter fluff" as I like to call it.  It's time to shed the extra LBS. and get ready for bathing suit season...YIKES.  Here's what's cookin' this week....

MONDAY:  Broccoli and Chicken Stir Fry

TACO TUESDAY:  Plain soft tacos for the boys, 

Shredded Chicken Taco Salad for the grown-ups

WEDNESDAY:  SAUSAGE, POTATO, & PEPPER SKILLET

image & recipe via See  Vanessa Craft

THURSDAY:  LEMON GARLIC HERB CRUSTED SALMON WITH ROASTED ASPARAGUS

FRIDAY:  3rd Annual Crawfish Boil (YUM!)

SATURDAY:  Dinner out with the family

EASTER SUNDAY:  Pulled pork, baked potatoes, ham, and tons of fixin's...still working on it!

Meal Planning and Stuff

Took a week off from my little corner of cyberspace here and now I'm dusting off the cobwebs.  Can you tell I love to take breaks?!  Before I get started with a little meal planning for the week, how cute is this tee?!?!  

I don't know if it's the Kindergarten teacher in me or what, but this tee is the cutest!  I'm definitely too old to sport it, but that didn't stop me from ordering it.  Ha.  My boys will get the biggest kick out of it!  And fries are my biggest weakness, so this fits me to a tee! (< ----- see what I did there?!)

Speaking of fries, I also ordered this...

I've got to do something about my ever-expanding waistline, y'all.  And I'm obsessed with this guy right now!  I ordered this DVD a few weeks ago and am (im)patiently waiting for it to arrive.  I love watching his videos on FB.  Truth be told, the music sold me :)  I can't wait to get my step on.  I'm such a sucker!!!  

My boys have their championship basketball game tonight (they're on the same team), so it's a short week of cooking for me!  

MONDAY:  Dinner out with the family!  Woo hoo!

TUESDAY: Ground Turkey Taco Wraps with Cilantro Lime Crema

WEDNESDAY:  Spicy Shrimp and Zoodles

THURSDAY:  Southwestern Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

FRIDAY:  Chicken Fried Rice

Good Book, Great Friends, & Delicious Food!

On the way to school this morning, my youngest said, "Mom...the weekends are NEVER long enough!!!"  I totally agree, but especially this past weekend.  Not long enough at all!!!  I did manage to read a new book and that was pretty amazing.  And by read, I mean listen.  I love listening to audiobooks on long road trips!  This one ended up being 9 hours so I had to finish it up when I got home late last night.  It was SO good!!

The Things We Keep: A Novel 

 This book has two story lines and one is about a young woman (38 years old) who has early on-set dementia.  She checks herself into a residential care facility and meets a man (41 years old) who also has early on-set dementia, but a different type.  The story is told from the perspective of three different characters and I love the way it unfolded.  The last chapter tied everything together so beautifully!  My great-grandma suffered from dementia/Alzthiemer's, so this book really struck a chord with me.  I loved how the main character was able to dialogue her feelings and thoughts when she would get confused or frustrated so that the reader could see that she was still herself, but she was just getting lost in the disease and felt so misunderstood.  Such great descriptions for something so tragic.  It was a little sad yet uplifting at the same time.  I usually don't gravitate towards stories like these, but I couldn't stop listening!!!  It took no time for me to feel engrossed in the story and I absolutely loved the narrator's voice...I'm sure that helped, too :)  Such a great read and a nice change of pace from the mysteries and psychological thrillers I normally read.  

I got to spend the last couple of days with some of my best friends.  It was a last minute trip back to Dallas to celebrate the gift of friendship with some of my most precious friends.  When I moved from Dallas to the Houston area (almost 5 years ago!!!), leaving my friends was the hardest.  I loved the bond we shared...all of us raising boys who were the exact same age. Friends since they were in diapers!!!  It has been such a special friendship with these girls...playgroups, playdates, mom's night outs, slumber parties, and everything in between.  It seems like our boys were never this little (and I can't remember ever looking that young, LOL!)

Even though distance may separate us all, our friendship remains the same.  There's truly something to be said for friends who feel like family.  No matter where you are in life...no matter how long it's been since we've seen each other or talked...we always pick right back up exactly where we left off...like no time has ever passed.  QT with my girls will always be my favorite.  

Friday was pretty low key...lots of catching up, a few cocktails, and Thai food!   We started our girly day of fun on Saturday at the Dry Bar.  That was my first time and it was nothing short of wonderful.  The perfect way to start our day!

Next up was lunch at the T Room at Forty Five Ten and a champagne toast to our friendship :)  Since it was such a last minute trip, everyone couldn't be with us.  But we made sure to toast to them like we were all in the same room :) 

The food was outstanding!!  I loved my signature panini and roasted tomato basil soup!!!  

We had to walk off some of those calories, so we spent the rest of the afternoon shopping and then treated ourselves to the most amazing hour-long foot massages at the YaYa Foot Spa in the Bishop Arts District.  They were serious about the silence so we had to force ourselves not to talk for 60 minutes.  That was next to impossible.  However, the foot massage was to-die-for!!

After our massages we walked down to Stock and Barrel for dinner and drinks.  The food was excellent (we shared a charcutere board, crushed avocado toast, fries with truffle mayo, bolognese, and short ribs).  We finished off the night with the toffee croissant bread pudding and ohmiword...it was like a symphony of flavors colliding on my taste palate.  Hands-down the BEST dessert I've ever had.  Words couldn't possibly articulate how amazing it really was!!!  And we all shared the same sentiment!  If you live in the Dallas area, you MUST head to Stock and Barrel for that dessert (if nothing else!)

We said goodbye Sunday afternoon right after a delicious meal at the Yucatan Taco Stand on Lower Greenville.  HUGE portions and delicious fare!  

As you can see, our weekend revolved around food :) And there's nothing I love more than sharing a meal with great friends!!!  Speaking of food, here's what's on the menu at our house this week.  Trying to keep things simple and tasty and these meals definitely fit the bill!!!

Monday:  Hearty Chicken Tequila Soup

Tuesday:  Dena's Crunchy Black Bean Tacos

Wednesday:  Southwestern Chicken Chopped Salad

Thursday:  Italian Stuffed Peppers

Friday:  Shrimp & Red Pepper Pasta

Monday Meal Planning

This morning my youngest groggily woke up and...very dramatically...threw himself on the sofa crying, "Why are the weekends so short???"  I feel ya, buddy.  Something tells me we're going to have problems getting him motivated to get up for school in his teenage years. Yikes.  In his defense, we had a pretty busy weekend which always makes time go by so much faster.  

The boys are both on the same basketball team and played their second game of the season on Saturday.  It's always such a trip to watch them play.  After playing for two seasons prior to this one,  my oldest finally understands the game and is starting to play more aggressively and take more risks with shooting.  This is the first season for my youngest and ohmiword...he keeps us laughing!!  The most precious, hilarious thing to watch!

My mom and dad came to the came and took the boys with them to spend the night after it was over.  I was hoping for a date night with Mr. Spouse, but he was sick.  Like laying on the couch and covered in a blanket with chills kinda sick.  Sadsville.  So I started a new series on Netflix.

If you liked Dexter, you'll LOVE this one!!!  It's like an Irish Dexter (the accents are my favorite).  Dexter was one of my favorite series.  I binge watched that one in about 2 weeks time (much to my husband's dismay).  I was SO sad when it was over!!  The Fall isn't exactly the same, but it has a lot of similar elements.  There are only two seasons available right now with a third set to air sometime this year.  SO good!!!  The first episode is a little hard to get into, but if you can make it past that one then you'll be hooked!

We celebrated my dad's 60th yesterday and it was the perfect little family day.  I sure do love this man.

He has the best sense of humor so we wanted to gift him something we knew he'd appreciate :)  We pitched in for a gift card so that he could put that toward the deep freezer he's been eyeing and we presented it as part of his "birthday cake".  Thank you, Pinterest!  Hahahaha!!!  I was cracking up putting it all together.  Buying the items was a whole other story.  Ha.

We added toilet paper rolls for the base and middle tier and topped it with a 6-pack of Ensure and a container of Germ-X in the middle.  Then we added a box of ibuprofen, Aspercreme, eyedrops, sleep aid, laxatives, cold/heat compress, prep H, a can of Barbasol, Rolaids, Tums, Glucosamine....you know, all the essential items for a man in his 6th decade of life.  He definitely got a kick out of that!!!! 

We also presented him with this card (Pinterest again!!)

Such a great day celebrating our hero :)

Now it's back to meal planning for the week.  Thanks to a work trip in the middle of the week, I'm only cooking 3 days!  I'm leaving the guys to fend for themselves on Wednesday & Thursday.  I'd love to say that I'll be eating somewhere glamorous, but it will more than likely be room service and airplane peanuts.  Delish, no?!   I have a pound of scallops leftover from last week and I'll be using those in a new recipe tonight and can't wait.  The rest of my meals include a slow cooker and a quick soup and well, you just can't beat easy...and GOOD!!!

MONDAY:  Lemon Butter Scallops, Roasted Veggies, and Baked Potatoes

photo via Damn Delicious

TUESDAY:  Chipotle Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Avocado Ranch Sauce

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY:  The boys are on their own and I'll be dining at a hotel and in an airplane.

FRIDAY:  Chicken Enchilada Soup

Meal Planning & A Look Back

I like to take long breaks during the holidays.  LOOOOONG breaks (if you can't tell).  I'm actually not sure why I'm even updating anymore considering that I'm certain no one reads thanks to these looooong breaks, hahaha.  For the handful of people who still check-in every now and then, hello and Happy New Year!!!  

Our holidays were full of family & Christmas fun....

...parties...

...lots of decorating...

...NYE with dear friends and family...

...and lots of togetherness with my favorite people...

Now it's time to press on with 2016 and we couldn't be more excited.  And tired.  And 10 pounds heavier.  Not even kidding.  I'm living in leggings because I can't button my pants and I'm not even a little ashamed.  I guess it's time to shed the fluff.  And with that, let's get back to Monday Meal Planning...it's the only thing that keeps me on track and accountable.  

   Monday:  Leftover Italian Chicken Soup (need to get rid of it!)

Tuesday:  Pan seared scallops, grilled shrimp, and roasted veggies

Wednesday: Buffalo Lime Chicken Stuffed Anaheim Peppers and Salad

image via Clean Food Crush

Thursday:  Steaks and Roasted Asparagus

Friday:  Broccoli & Chicken Stir Fry