Menu Plan Monday December 29 -January 3

Monday 12/29/08 - We're going to a Christmas/New Year's/Wedding Anniversary Party. The folks throwing the party have been married 19 years!

Tuesday 12/30/08 - Turkey Enchiladas (I made an after Christmas turkey dinner and we have a few leftovers)

Wednesday 12/31/08 leftovers

Thursday 01/01/09 Sloppy Joes (A special request from Greg. Of all the meals to request after coming home from a long deployment, he asks for sloppy joes!? I would have thought of something grander and gourmet, nevertheless we are ringing in the new year with sloppy joes)

Friday 01/02/09 Something on the grill-perhaps this

Saturday 01/03/09 Something different-I'm thinking about this sandwich

Our Christmas Tree

This year's Christmas tree was made entirely out of paper. Our frugality or more appropriately our cheapness really shined and made itself known to all our friends. This classy tree bought a few laughs and lots of comments.
Maybe next year we'll pay the big bucks for a "real" Christmas tree. This year was kind of a step backwards compared to last year's Christmas tree alternative.

Making Christmas Cards

Just before Christmas I hurriedly worked to finish my cards in time. I invited a friend over who was interested in making her own Christmas cards. I set up a "card making station" and we got to work. We stayed up late into the night making cards and visiting. That same night we were due to pick up a friend from the airport, arriving at 2 am.

embellishing the simple

I'm participating in an ornament exchange. I opted to make some ornaments rather than buy them. They turned out rather simple and plain to me. To make them seem more special I embellished my gift wrap. I used some remnant Christmas paper with poinsettias in the print and added a fake flower and homemade tag to dress it up. I think my gift wrap makes up for my so-so ornaments.

Menu Plan Monday December 8-December 14

It's been a while since I posted a menu for Menu Plan Monday, here it goes

Monday 12/8 Vegetable and chicken soup - this is so good, I'm eating it as I post here, It's just a made up spontaneous soup recipe (carrots, celery, onion, and garlic cooked in a little olive oil, I threw in some baked squash which "melted" into the soup and gave it some thickness, I added a bunch of chicken broth, some spinach and leftover chicken and some salt and pepper to season. YUM!)

Tuesday 12/9 Leftover soup (what else?)

Wednesday 12/10 Frittata


Thursday 12/11 Pizza

Friday 12/12 dinner at a friend's home for a birthday party

Saturday 12/13 Dinner at Outback Steak House (my first time ever on Guam) my wives group is having a big dinner party.

Sunday 12/14 Restaurant leftover- I can never eat a whole plate of food when I go out

Locked Out

For the first time ever I was locked out of my house! I had a trunk full of groceries, I brought in half the groceries and dropped my purse (with my keys, phone and wallet)on the counter. I went outside to pick up the rest of the groceries, shutting the door behind me and right away I knew. UGH! I had cold groceries inside the house and outside the house. All my neighborhood friends had empty driveways.
I walked down the street, found someone who was home and made a new neighborhood friend. She allowed me to put my groceries in her fridge and use her phone, I was so grateful. After I got off the phone with the housing office I learned that I would be charged $67 to have someone come out and unlock my house. YIKES! what a costly mistake. My neighbor offered to drive me down to the housing office and pick up a key so that I wouldn't be charged.

I think a plate of cookies and a thank you card is in order for this new neighborhood friend.

Jet Lag

I'm feeling the effects of jet lag. I woke up at 3 am today wide awake. My body thought it was 7 am Hawaii time or maybe 9 am Washington State time.

In route to Guam, I stayed the night in Hawaii, a very nice retired couple who flew on the same flight as me, rented a car and allowed me to tag along to and from the hotel and the terminal. It was nice to save on taxi fare and even nicer to meet good people.

My trip home to see my family was wonderful. The month of November flew by.

But now it's back to life as usual.

a blessing

I've been a little overwhelmed with too much on my plate this week:

-staying up way to late and still getting up early to go to work
-planning a stamping/craft party at my house with dinner
-finishing up a very BIG project for the 150 plus sailors on my husband's boat
-making a few crafts for a craft fair this weekend (and dealing with getting a business license and regulation garage)
-signed up for a 5k run (not sure what I was thinking at the time)
-starting to feel a little under the weather (as is every other student and teacher at work)
-preparing for a long trip home to visit my family
-fixing a flat tire
-dealing with my husband's ever-changing schedule
-recruiting a secretary and second co-chair for my Wives Group

and the list goes on and on.....whew! isn't there some kind of scripture about anxiety and stress?

When I woke up yesterday feeling unwell and even worse today I took my cares to the Lord, I can't be sick and I still feel like I've got too much going on but I know it's time to relax a bit and put God in control. Everything will get done and be ok.

Today the school secretary called me at 6:30 am to let me know that I can come into work at noon. Praise God! I could use the few hours to clean up my house and finish up a few things, (of course I should be resting, but I'll feel better knowing a few more things have been crossed of my list and these few hours allow me to do so) What a blessing.

Menu Plan Monday October 27-November 1st

Monday 10/27 grilled tuna and cheese sandwiches

Tuesday 10/28 I'm going to try and talk my hubby into going out this night

Wednesday 10/29 Vegetable and chicken pasta

Thursday 10/30 White Chili

Friday 10/31 Pizza

Saturday 11/01 Leftover White Chili

What to write?

I have many thoughts in my head, personal thoughts, and I just can't decided whether to blog them or not. I don't want this blog to be my personal pity party page, I can't share about the awesome gift I just made (I'm sure the birthday girl is reading and it would spoil the fun), I won't talk about Navy stuff, ARGGGG....what to write, What to write?! how about just a few feelings/thought snippets.

I'm happy my husband is home, I'm mad that he has to work EVERY day midnight to noon until he leaves again

I'm happy I went to the Navy ball with a girlfriend last night (her husband was suddenly deployed and mine had to go to work/sleep)It was all very last minute and we had a lot of fun. I felt awkward to see my doctor a few feet away dancing and kissing his girlfriend/wife.

I'm concerned that my absentee ballot has not arrived yet, the election is a couple of weeks away.

I'm teaching a Sunday School class today. I hope I have a helper today, a class of two year olds can be a challenge but it's down right awful when it comes to bathroom breaks and there is not a second person to help out. (I've only been stranded once before)

I'm taking most of November off to visit my family (so happy.) I haven't told the school yet. I've become a well liked substitute, I no longer get called in when they need help, I just come in everyday for work. I shouldn't be but I'm nervous and I don't want to tell them I'm leaving for a while.

I've fallen of the blogging band wagon, but not to worry, I'm picking myself up and hopping back on. I'm going to do my best to post more often.....starting tomorrow....tonight my time is devoted to my husband, who's been away at sea and I'm glad to have him back home for a short time. I only wish I was more productive while he was gone.

Humidity

A dear friend moved away this week, she's very glad to be moving off Guam. She made a comment before she left that she's looking forward to pouring a packet of sugar into her coffee.....oh the joys of free-flowing sugar. It's true the humidity here is very high and dry foods like salt, sugar, baking soda (you name it) forms clumps.

Well today I found another victim of our humid climate. Envelopes. I'm participating in a craft fair with some friends and I was cleaning out my craft supplies and Christmas card collection to make a few things to sell. I have built up quite a collection of envelopes. Today I found all of them sealed shut, the humidity in the air must have moisten the glue on the flap. My envelopes are now scrap paper. Maybe we should get a dehumidifier for each room. We have one in the laundry room with a 2 gallon reservoir, we empty it twice a day, morning and night. That's a lot of water in the air!

Menu Plan Monday October 6-12

Monday Leftovers (yesterday I went to a good-bye lunch for a friend moving away, we went to California Pizza Kitchen, I have 2/3 of a pizza leftover just enough for a lunch, dinner and maybe a snack)

Tuesday Tomato Soup and grilled cheese (No joke! I have 46 cans of Muir Glen whole peeled tomatoes, they have been priced at 50 cents a can, a super deal on it's own but I have several coupons for $1 off any Muir Glen product. Every can of tomatoes was free plus 50 cents off my grocery bill! Each time I'm at the store I've picked up a few cans, it's gotten to the point where my pantry is strapped for space and I need to start using up these tomatoes, I was going to use them for marinara sauce but I really need to come up with other uses for whole peeled tomatoes besides pasta sauce and soup. If you have any recipe ideas send me a link

Wednesday Leftover tomato soup

Thursday Salad-not sure what kind yet but I've been in a mood for a big dinner salad

Friday Pizza

SaturdayLeftover pizza

SundayTop ramen soup jazzed up with veggies (my neighbor moved away and gave me the remnants of her pantry which included a couple of top ramen packets. I haven't had top ramen in years, pretty sure I was single the last time I had top ramen)

It's good to be loved

Last week some orchids were delivered to our house, from my parents in-law. They are beautiful, I've put one in the living room and the other in our bedroom.

I'm trading my sorrow
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord

Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Menu Plan Monday September 15-21

Monday 9/15 Potato Soup ( I made this for lunch yesterday, soup is always so good the next day)

Tuesday 9/16 Chicken Pot Pie

Wednesday 9/17 Leftovers

Thursday 9/18 Pizza Night (I love pizza)

Friday 9/19 Dinner with Friends

Saturday 9/20 Chicken and Veggie Pasta (I haven't made this in ages, it is so simple and so good, the first time I made it I didn't read the ingredients carefully and I used a whole stick of butter the recipe calls for a half stick, it's very rich and yummy with a whole stick but just as tasty and less guilt-ridden with a half stick)

Sunday 9/21 Dinner with Friends

Ice Cream

I bought store bought ice cream today, the first time in months. I've been really wanting ice cream but have resisted since I didn't want to give into pregnancy cravings and gain a lot of unnecessary weight, which seems to be piling on no matter what I eat. In truth, I always want ice cream pregnant or not. I tried fruit juice bars to satisfy my ice cream cravings and while lower in calories and tasty, it's not the same.

I'm having friends over on Tuesday for dinner, I was trying to think of a good dessert when I decided to just keep things simple and serve ice cream, plus there might be leftovers for myself later on. I might make a homemade chocolate or caramel sauce to go along.

I was going to make ice cream, because I love homemade ice cream and I love using my ice cream maker, while it may not be a low-calorie treat I know that it's natural when I make it myself.

I decided against making ice cream when I realized that it will cost me nearly double the cost to do so.

pint of heavy cream $2.80
dozen eggs $2.20
quart of milk $1.75 ( I would have bought the half gallon at $2.50)
I have sugar at home and all the "extras"

I decided to save myself time and money and just buy ice cream, I like Breyers since it's all natural, read the label it's great. Of course if another brand is on a super sale I'll go for that but my first choice is an ice cream with a short ingredient list.

I must have spent 10 minutes in the ice cream aisle, freezing my hiney.
All the brands (all three of them, you got to love selection on Guam)were $4.00 give or take a quarter. The price didn't bother me to much though, the size did! Did you you know that they now sell ice cream in 1.5 quarts?! What ever happened to 2 quarts or the 1.75 quarts size, the price is the same the container is smaller. I dug around in the freezer and found a container in the back that was 1.75 quarts, there were a couple left. Perhaps homemade ice cream isn't more expensive if I calculate the quantity made. I just may need to do a test and find out.

The nerve of Ice cream companies selling me less ice cream and charging the same amount!

It could have been a frugal choice.....

I'm doing my very best to be ahead of the game (not true, I just am trying to stay busy while my husband is away)I've spent the last two days making my Christmas cards. Oh they are going to be so pretty, I can hardly wait to send them out (3 more months)I make my own cards because I like to and because it's a very frugal thing to do. This year it was not so frugal, I could have made all my cards for mere pennies, I have several Christmas themed stamps I have lots of paper and I have stacks and stacks of old Christmas cards just perfect for being remade into new Christmas cards. But no I've spent LOTS of money more than I've ever spent on any crafting project. I do have my husbands permission and blessing and our gift fund is paying for it but still I do feel a little bit guilty about my splurge this year when I didn't need to. I have bought:
2 ink pads
glitter
paper
ribbon
special super sticky adhesive
A new stamp set - it is oh so lovely and can be used for many projects not related to the holidays
small clear page protectors (I'm making a small "brag book" of sorts, it's a card but with a few pages inserted for my letter and pictures

Everything I bought (minus the paper) can be used again and again for other projects.

I can't help feeling guilty with myself, what could have cost me literally pennies by using what I have has turned into a project that costs well over $80.

Yes they will be beautiful cards
Yes I'm having a great time making them (I'm quite proud of my efforts)
and Yes I'm feeling a wee bit wasteful and I'm not sure it was worth it.

I'd post a picture of my Christmas card but I want it to be pretty surprise for my family.

Money was not an issue, we set aside for Christmas expenses but my frugal spirit is torn. What do you all think about a splurge like this?

Cooking Class Disaster!

I've been teaching a cooking class, it's been a lot of fun and I've met a lot of neat people but today I had a Cooking Class Disaster! The theme of today's class was healthy snacking. I made my healthy oatmeal cookies with flax seed and wheat germ ahead of time that way participants could taste them but I wouldn't be strapped for time to make them during the class and I really wanted the oven for my granola bars the highlight of my class. I made the granola bars first so that way we could move on while they were baking. Usually I haul all of the ingredients from my pantry to the class and I make several trips to and from my car, this time around I decided to consolidate and I mixed up all my dry ingredients for the granola bars ahead of time, that way I would only have to bring the liquid ingredients and I could leave my boxes and bags of flour and other ingredients at home. It was a pretty good idea, except that I forgot to add the oatmeal (A key ingredient) and of course I didn't bring the ingredients with me because I was saving space and time by mixing it ahead of time. I also forgot my mixing bowl, so while teaching the class I'm trying to stir together granola batter in a short square Tupperware container and right away I realize that the batter doesn't look right, it's awfully liquidey, and when I poured it into my baking pan I saw that I had about half the amount of batter that I normally do and it doesn't really look like the granola bars that I've made several times in this past. And right after I put it in the oven I realized that I forgot to add the oatmeal the MOST important ingredient. I went ahead and baked them anyways, it turned out like a fruity nutty unrisen cake. I apologized several times and told everyone in the class that they really were tasty granola bars and they should try and make them again at home.

The rest of my snacks took a whopping 15 minutes to make so we stood around and waited for my granola bar disaster to finish baking. We had ants on a log (celery with peanut butter and raisins) we made yogurt parfaits, and veggie sticks with homemade ranch dip. I felt terrible just standing around and waiting,I'm usually over prepared and we have too much to make and eat.

worst class ever, if I was a student, I wouldn't come back.

Stamp Something Challenge

It's been a long time since I've participated in a Stamp Something Challenge I just bought a new stamp set on eBay, I have big plans for my Christmas cards with this set which is so pretty and so versatile. After playing around with my new tree set I decided I might as well make something with a purpose and decided to join in on a challenge. I scanned my card instead of taking a picture, my camera has been acting up lately. I was going to stamp a sentiment on the card but I was afraid I'd ruin my pretty picture so I left it as a nature scene with no sentiment. I've never made a card quite like this before and there are a lot of stamping "firsts" for me. I layered my stamped images which I've always been afraid to do and I used a reverse masking technique, totally fun to try out new methods.

Menu Plan Monday September 8 - September 14

I have a couple of crafty girlfriends, we've been going to each others house the past several weeks and making cards, sharing all our crafting supplies and gadgets, and chatting it up. Last night we decided that when we have "crafting days" we should do dinner also, all our husbands are out and none of us really like eating alone, so this week I'm being treated to dinner with my friends twice! Next week it's my turn. Crafting and Cooking two of my favorite hobbies, it's so nice to have found some friends who share my interests. On to this week's menu:

Monday 9/8 Soup and Salad, I may add in a half a grilled cheese sandwich (those have been a favorite lately)

Tuesday 9/9 Dinner and crafts at my friend Liz's house

Wednesday 9/10 Tomato and Sausage Risotto (something new to try)

Thursday 9/11 Dinner and crafts at my friend Jessica's house

Friday 9/12 Pizza Night

Saturday 9/13 Ravioli and Salad

Sunday 9/14 Leftovers

Cardboard Testimonies WOW!

Watched this video in church today, so many emotions! I was deeply saddened and than filled with immense joy every few seconds. We serve a good and gracious God.

Free Chris Tomlin Song

We just received the new Chris Tomlin Album in the mail, we pre-ordered it since we are big Chris Tomlin/David Crowder/Matt Redman/Passion Band fans. It's a super awesome very worshipful album.

I was just at the Walmart site checking out any possible Free samples when I found that they give away free music downloads. Right now you can download Chris Tomlin's new song Jesus Messiah for free.

It's a fabulous song, we have sung it in our church and I love it, I was so happy to see that Walmart is offering it for free (probably this week only)

Go now, download it for free, you'll love it.

homemade gift wrap

I love it when my crafting hobby saves me money. I've been invited to a baby shower this weekend for my neighbor. After digging through my box of gift wrap supplies it became clear that I needed to head to the store and buy some "baby" gift wrap or try and make something on my own. True to my frugal ways I decided to take the challenge and make my gift wrap. While my husband thinks it's the greatest thing ever to receive a gift wrapped in newspaper or a brown paper bag I really didn't want my gift wrap to look that frugal. For lack of supplies I did use a brown paper bag but I tried to dress it up a bit. I stamped "bubbles" all over the front, hoping that they look like polka dots. I than used a letter stamp set which I thought could be interpreted as baby blocks. Not satisfied with my baby blocks I cut out a baby rattle (the best I could, it's a little plain but it still looks like a baby rattle)
I added ribbon for the handles, I wish I had pink or white ribbon but the cream doesn't look terrible and again I was working with what I had.
My gift wrap definitely looks homemade but I don't think it looks half bad.

A delicious change of plans

I had big plans for my menu this week I was going to try out new recipes and do my best to enjoy eating for one (or two I guess.) Well my plans for the Chicken-Sausage Asparagus Saute over Cheesy Grits (from the May 2008 edition of Everyday Food) was not going to happen once I saw the prices and selection at the grocery store. Chicken-Sausage on Guam? forget about it! there is no variety whatsoever. Grits? no way! but I was probably going to substitute cornmeal and make a soft polenta instead. But the real kicker.....Asparagus nearly $6 a pound! I decided to pull the plug on this meal plan. While at the store I picked up a package of mushrooms for $2 which I know sounds expensive but the last few weeks a package of mushrooms has cost well over $5 and one week they were $7, produce prices are never a constant here. I didn't have plans for the mushrooms at the time but I knew I could put them to good use.

Well tonight I made a delicious mushroom soup, accompanied by a grilled cheese sandwich. I had a tasty, simple, and satisfying meal. I was pleased with my meal substitution I still got to try a new recipe and I didn't spend a fortune to do so.

My husband's a funny guy....

I love my husband. Sometimes I just don't understand him. This summer I started a tradition of making a card and hiding it in his sea bag every time he goes out to sea, even if he's leaving just for a short while. He's been in and out to sea several times this summer. Usually just a couple of weeks at a time. Every time he packs up to go he usually finds his card early, hidden amongst his folded t-shirts or stuffed in his toiletry bag and every time he makes it a point to roll his eyes at me and shake his head in an effort to make it clear to me that he doesn't want or need a homemade card.

Well this time around I hid his card in a Ziploc bag of tea bags (He hates the coffee on the boat so he takes tea with him). Before he left he asked me in a very nonchalant manner "What no card this time", I told him it's a surprise, and if there was a card I wanted him to find it while he was under the sea and missing me. I'm not sure if he thought my comment was cute or annoying.

The truth is he LIKES my homemade cards. I just received an e-mail from him and I NEVER receive e-mails this soon after he leaves. Short and sweet: "Where is the card, I couldn't find it?" And to think that I thought he didn't care for his homemade cards. Make's my heart glad to know my efforts are not in vain.

Menu Plan Monday September 1-7

Just for fun I'm trying out a couple of new recipes. Several days ago I went to a Pampered Chef party and won a recipe book, I'm trying out the Aloha pizza in the book.

Monday Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Tuesday Wraps

Wednesday Ravioli and Salad

Thursday Leftovers

Friday Aloha Pizza

Saturday Chicken-Sausage Asparagus Saute over Cheese Grits - I searched for several minutes on the Marta Stewart website and couldn't find this recipe from my Everyday Food May 2008 issue, In frustration I did a Google search for the recipe

Sunday Leftovers (I'm sure I'll have plenty of leftovers to finish off)

So sweet!

After work today, I was checking out at the front office when a student came up to me and said here this is for you and she handed me a newspaper clipping. It was a picture of me from when I was in the local newspaper way way back in April, It was a fluke thing I just happened to be at a restaurant at the same time as the paper photographer was taking pictures and asking patrons questions for an article.
I was touched that this little girl had recognized me in the paper and saved my picture all spring and all summer in hopes of giving it to me at school. So sweet, I never remembered my substitute teachers when I was in school.

Back to work!

School started yesterday. With an expecting baby I did not aggressively seek a teacher position but decided to keep substituting for as long as I can before the baby is born. After talking with other substitute teachers and my experience last school year I was expecting a very slow start. In fact I wouldn't have been surprised if I didn't get a call to work until late September even October. Last school year while in South Carolina I wouldn't have worked but a few days during the first few months of school had I not landed a long-term substitute position early in the year.

Today, the second day of school, I got a phone call to come into work. So surprised and so excited. I'm back to work! While I haven't been feeling my best, I've found that If I eat a little bit I usually feel better. I think I'm ready and I'll be armed with a purse full of granola bars.

book recommendation

Last month my friend lent me a book, she said it was really good (she was right.) I didn't think much of it, and I finished the other books I was reading and finally got around to reading my borrowed book nearly three weeks later, I finished the book in two days, two days! over 400 pages and I finished it two days. I don't remember the last book that I just couldn't put down. It's such an easy, quick and enjoyable read. Enjoyable may be the wrong word, some parts are quite horrific and heart-wrenching. The book: Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall. It's about a young girl who grew up in a polygamous sect, was married at the age of 14, escapes the church, and later goes to court as a key witness against the corrupt leader in the church she ran from. The story of courage and heroism is captivating..like I said I couldn't put it down. Go to your library and check it out.

Menu Plan

I've been a little lazy in my blogging pursuits.
I'm about 4 days late on posting my menu plan, but better late than never (right?)
here's what I'm eating the rest of the week

Thursday- Pasta and broccoli (this will be kind of thrown together, no recipe just pasta, garlic, broccoli, pine nuts, and what ever else I can find to add)

Friday-Pizza

Saturday- Leftovers

Sunday-Enchiladas, rice and beans

Pink Cupcakes!

My good friend and neighbor is moving back to the states to go to school. A couple of other friends wanted to pool some money together and buy her a cake to take to dinner tonight. It was decided that I should bake something instead (a much more frugal and tasty choice)I decided to make cupcakes since we'll be taking these to a restaurant and I thought it would be difficult to cut and serve a cake. Cupcakes seem easier for a crowd.
These white cupcakes are topped with raspberry frosting (easily the best frosting I've ever tasted, so yummy)flavored with raspberry jam instead of the strawberry jam the recipe called for.
I made little paper flower toppers(which look better in person than in picture)
I can't wait to share my cupcakes.

eating well

I confess when my husband's gone I don't eat as well as I should. I get lazy. Real lazy. I find myself eating cold cereal for dinner, once I ate popcorn for dinner (Popcorn!)I knew I was making unwise choices in my diet but it didn't bother me much because I knew it was temporary and I figured I was allowed to be lazy and eat what I want when I'm alone.
When I poured myself a bowl of cereal for dinner the other day it hit me that it's not OK for me to be lazy and make unwise choices when I eat. I have a baby growing inside me, and growing fast. I read online that last week my baby was about the size of a sesame seed, this week my baby is about the size of a lentil and next week my baby will grow to about the size of a raspberry. AMAZING!
I have a responsibility to eat well, it's not just me that I'm eating for.
So I'm going to do my best to stick to my menu plan and eat well-balanced meals.
No more cold cereal or popcorn meals for me.
My husband is going to be gone more often the next several months and it's my duty to take care of myself and our little one yet to come.

Choosing a name

I know that 6 weeks along is early to start deciding on a name for your baby but choosing a name is so difficult that I'm going to need the next 8 months to decide. Finding a name I like is not giving me a hard time. The problem is finding a name that we both agree on. I don't know what my husbands requirements for a name are but these are mine:

1. no overly popular name (but I do want a classic name)

2. no strange or bizarre sounding name

3. prefer a bible name

4. a name that has a special meaning

My friend sent me to the Social Security Website which lists the most popular names given. I knew I wanted to stay away from the top ten names.
Two names I've been thinking about were on the top ten list Hannah for a girl and Daniel for a boy, I had no idea those names were so popular, I must have good taste. I haven't seen Hannah or Daniel as common names in school classrooms at work, but than again the names on this list are names given to kids that are just now entering school. Both names have been shot down by my hubby and now after seeing them on the top ten list I guess those names weren't mean to be.

The baby name search continues on....

Menu Plan Monday August 11- August 18

I'll be dining solo this week, which means lots of leftovers and meals that my husband doesn't always appreciate as much as I do. Although I'm not sure how much I'll be eating, today I had my first battle with morning sickness, nothing terrible just a queasy stomach and a feeling of nausea off and on.........Yes I'm Pregnant! we found out last week and were totally taken by surprise, we are very happy and excited. I'm only 6 weeks along and there is a lot ahead for me. The more I think about it the more I just love my blog name, I feel like I have been given a very good and perfect gift straight from heaven. Be forewarned....you'll seeing a lot baby posts in the future, my mind has been overtaken with thoughts of baby and the upcoming future.

Without further ado here's my menu:

Monday 8/11 Frittata

Tuesday 8/12 mostly likely leftover frittata

Wednesday 8/13 Soup and Salad (I LOVE soup.. my hubby doesn't think it's a real meal)

Thursday 8/14 Leftover Soup

Friday 8/15 homemade pizza night ( I can't skip pizza night)

Saturday 8/16 Turkey spinach lasagna (I ate this at a friends house on Sunday and it was great, I had to have the recipe to try myself)

Sunday 8/17 leftovers

Flip Flop Cake

My friend and I worked together to create a flip flop cake for a friend's birthday.
Our frosting was droopy (I think from the warm weather and humidity) my boarder was not crisp and my flower looked more like a mere dollop of frosting, I rescued the flower by adding some almonds to look like pedals. The straps are fruit roll-ups.
We traced a shoe on paper to use as a template. (marked the top so it wouldn't touch our cake) When we cut out the "shoes" there was a little cake left over. My friend had the great idea to use up the left over cake pieces as "sand" we pulverized the crumbs in a food processor, I think it looked great.