31 Days to Build a Better Home

As the summer draws to a close, it seems time to refocus and get things back in order around here. The 31 Days to Build a Better Home challenge at Today's Housewife comes at a great time! Want to join in?

Who Wants to Stay THERE??

Our new(ish) home has 3BR on the main level. The layout lends itself well to having a little one. Yet, it also tends to cause our "guest bedroom" to become the dumping ground for the things I am too busy, er - lazy, to take upstairs. This is what we had after several weeks of neglect ...
I spent several hours sorting, trashing, and putting things where they belong. Thank goodness, we ended up with a much more peaceful space that seems inviting to guests now. I think our friends will be glad to come stay a few days!It is so nice to have another usable space in out home. This room also has my desk and Bible study materials in it. I am so eager to have a dedicated space to dive back into the Word. I am eager for a fresh breath from God and so glad to have a quiet, calm space to seek Him!

This post is linked to: Tackle it Tuesday at 5 Minutes for Mom

Menu Plan - Week of July 26

We are in the middle of a tremendous heat wave here. As with many parts of the country, our average temperatures are at least 10 degrees above normal. That's simply too hot to grill ... sniffle! You all know how much I love having DH toss meat on the grill and calling dinner "done." We've actually used to slow cooker a few times this week! This coming week holds a few days of intense cleaning and re-organizing for me, as little man will be at the in-laws farm. I have a list longer than my arm of things I'd like to get done. I'll keep you posted!

Weeknight Dinners:

• Creamy Corn Chowder with homemade French Bread
• Beef tacos, lettuce, tomatoes, etc. with homemade guacamole and chips
• DH and I will get sushi one night while little man is out of town
• Chicken and gravy over saffron rice with green beans

Wishing you a blessed week in your home!

Menu Plan - Week of July 19

There is a bounty of farm-fresh produce in our home right now. Corn, squash, tomatoes, basil, blackberries and blueberries are all filling our counters and 'fridge. We have some chicken and a small amount of ground beef in the freezer also. The plan this week is to stay out of the store - use what we have, enjoy the harvest, and stay out of the heat.

Weeknight Dinners:

• Leftover chicken from grill night with Creamed Corn
  
• Chicken and veggie quesadillas with homemade guacamole
  
• Roasted Chicken with potatoes and carrots
• Salmon patties (similar to crab cakes) with orzo, mozzarella, and tomato salad

Baking, Breakfast, Freezer:

• Zucchini Brownies
• Banana muffins - I started with this recipe, used half whole wheat flour, a bit less sugar, and baked it as muffins. Half are on the counter and half in the freezer already.

A Fresh Perspective

I was watching Ratatouille a few days ago with little man for, oh the 400th time and was struck by a scene at the end of the movie. A waiter asks a famous food critic what he'd like for dinner and the food critic responds with "I'd like some perspective." I know I need some! What's important, what's first, what can I let go, who am I afraid to upset by saying "no," why do I think I should be perfect, what is perfect - anyway?!?!? You see the struggle, right? Please tell me you see it - and maybe feel some of it - too!

My perspective should come from remembering God's call on my life. Plain and simple. I stray from this very often and by NO means am I advocating a "follow me" philosophy. Girls, we'd all be going over the same high, dangerous cliff if you followed me. Follow Christ!!

I started a new Bible study last week with an amazing group of women. The scripture inspiration is from 1 John:4. "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." (1 John 4:10-11) As one of Christ's followers, the most important thing I can do is to LOVE. First God, then loving those around me. It sounds so simple, yet loving requires being vulnerable, being accessible, being sacrificial. Those things are much harder. I am working every day to become more loving. I pray you are too!

Menu Plan - Week of July 5

July 4th ... fun, family, fireworks! It's not often that the holiday falls on a weekend and we get 3 days at home with DH. This year we are blessed to have one more full day to spend with him. How do we spend those days? Well, little man and DH often head out to the local par 3 golf course and play a round or 2.And, of course, we relax with family and friends, eat too much, and usually get a bit pink from the sun. Ahhh ... the joys of summertime!!

Weeknight Dinners:

• Beer can chicken with roasted potatoes and fresh tomatoes with basil
• Beef tacos with all the fixings and Refried Beans
• Creamy Pasta Primavera with green salad
  
• Spicy BBQ Chicken with Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad

Have a blessed week in your home!

Menu Plan - Week of June 27

Hot, Hot, Hot!!! The local temperature hit 101 on Thursday, 100 % humidity. Too hot to even grill some nights. In light of the blazing heat, I am planning simpler meals and will build in several nights to use up leftovers. I am also trying to use up what we have on hand in an effort to NOT visit the grocery again this month ... we'll see! I'll be posting soon about our plans for the coming week. Free movies, parks, pools, and maybe a live baby crocodile are on the agenda!

Sunday: DH is playing in the praise band at church and has a Deacon meeting. We'll have a big lunch and then light dinner.
Overnight Coffee Cake and bacon
40 Clove Garlic Chicken with carrots and mashed potatoes
Grilled cheese sandwiches with pretzels and yogurt for dinner

Weeknight Dinners:

• Beef Machaca on corn tortillas with homemade guacamole, cheese, lettuce, etc. (I'll use the leftover meat to make Beef Taquitos to put in the freezer for easy lunches)
  
• Chicken Salad: leftover chicken from Sunday over green salad with all the fixings
• Spaghetti with homemade sauce and Italian Cheese Bread
• Pizza night with green salad (I have tried time and again to make my own pizza with no luck. We buy ours at a local store for about 7.00 for a huge pizza that leaves enough for lunch the next day)

Breakfast, Freezer, Snacks:

• Peanut Butter Banana Smoothies
• Whole Wheat Cinnamon Waffles with Mamma Callie's Syrup (I plan to make a double batch of both waffles and syrup. I'll probably make them one afternoon and then re-heat in the morning.)
• Chewy Granola Bars - have I mentioned lately that little man can eat a whole batch of these in 3 days?? He LOVES them! I do modify a little bit - I'll post the recipe later this week.

Have a blessed week in your homes!!