weekly menu:: week 16

this weekend went by way too fast.  we had great weather and lots of fun.  2 birthday parties, a baseball game and playing cards with my family.  always a good time.

sofia is on spring break this week. and then everyone has friday off.  here's what i have planned for dinner.

monday - chicken rollatini with prosciutto and cheese, and a spinach salad
tuesday - turkey burgers with oven fries (i have a pampered chef party to go to)
wednesday - pork chops with cornbread stuffing and green beans
thursday - pasta with mixed vegetables
good friday - grilled snapper with brown rice and vegetables
saturday - eat out or leftovers
sunday - easter and mom-in-law's birthday.  (i'm sure we'll be eating something good.)

kicking some things into high gear this week.   i'm really feeling the spring cleaning vibe.  and that includes cleaning out my diet.  feeling like i need to get my diet balanced.  as andrew's friday folder reminded me this morning, summer is just a few weeks away.  that means bathing suits and bridal showers and mini vacations and WEDDINGS!  today seems like the perfect day to get motivated.

hope your weekend was outstanding.

five on friday:: scrapbooking wish list

i am falling in love with scrapbooking all over again.  or is it more the product that i am falling in love with?  i really enjoy seeing what other people create with paper and pictures and i take bits and pieces of what i love and put it into my layouts.

i think the fact that i am taking a class is reigniting the creative flame.  i've been doing some virtual shopping lately and here's what i would love the ups person to deliver to my front door.

1.  fancy pants it's the little things paper pad
i picked up a couple of sheets of this at a scrapbook store a few weeks ago but now i want it all.  love the color mixed with the black and white. text, lines, florals.  i could see myself using entire sheets and bits and pieces of it on a layout. maybe i should get 2 pads just in case.

2. elle's studio handmade layers
again, i could see myself using every last bit of this. the whole line of embellishments is awesome. and i love that it can go with anything.

3. studio calico may kit
i used to subscribe to their monthly kit club but gave it up for a while.  the sneaks for their upcoming kit came out this week and i am in love.  it even has bits from some of the things on my wish list.  may have to make a purchase this month.

4.  mists
i have resisted for such a long time.  i even own a bottle in silver but have only used it once.  but i love what others have done and now i want to try it too.  my first purchase will be the aqua color . . . or the yellow . . .or the green . . .

5. cardstock
a gigantic stack of white, cream, kraft and light gray cardstock.  i seem to have used it all up.  to me it is the perfect base for a layout that you can add any color, pattern or picture to.  and i absolutely love what marcy does with a simple sheet of white paper.

thinking about all these supplies makes me want to go to my little corner and make something fun and happy.  i'll definitely be doing that this weekend.

please share your wishlist with me.  there's always room for more . . .

five people twelve times:: 3.11

is it in like a lion out like a lamb?  or in like a lamb out like a lion?  either way march came in with a roar and ended very quietly.  march tends to sneak up on me.  i guess because i am just feeling like i am getting used to the new year or maybe because february is such a short month.  either way, it comes too fast. here's the roundup on last month.

he: 
broke his finger playing baseball one sunday morning.
made a beautiful video for our sister-in-law's 40th birthday that made everyone cry.
worked hard and made it count.
rode his bike to the gym, until he broke his finger.
didn't just coach the cardinals, he inspired them.
he supported her for 3.2 miles and then some.
played a mean game of words with friends.
beat his grandparents at scrabble - oops did i say that out loud.

she: 
turned 41.
blogged like a mad woman.
learned that pictures really are worth a thousand words.
felt cautiously optimistic.
hurt her ankle while running 4 miles, but continued to run 5.
crossed the finish line in record time.  ok she doesn't have a record.  well now she does.
had ideas and creative thoughts that kept her up at night.
lost a very special uncle.
had too much on her plate but somehow kept it balanced.

jr: 
took cartooning as his elective and loved it.
earned a scholarship from his school for the second year in a row.
had a parent teacher conference that made them proud.
learned that effort and care directly affect his grades.
went to a middle school dance and didn't dance.

aj:
pitched one inning in his little league game.
learned that speaking up is the only way to be heard.
rode space mountain for the first time and loved it.
had a parent teacher conference that made them proud.
was an adorable oompa loompa.  but doesn't see theatre in his future.

sg:
had tons of playdates with her friends.
made orange juice with oranges from our tree with her dad.
got pink eye and was so patient at urgent care for 2 hours.
learned her limits the hard way.
loved being the snack girl and planning the menu for her friends.
is officially signed up for kindergarten.

we:
went to disneyland with the grandparents and had so much fun.
went to san diego and spent time with family.
filed our taxes early and got our refund.
couldn't believe we were paying almost $4 a gallon.
focused on supporting, teaching and listening to each other.

check out the past months 5x12 here.

wordless wednesday

3 check ups

sorry no photo of jr at the dr's office.  can't believe that one got away from me.
2 shots, one tetnus, one finger prick to check cholesterol.
is only 4 inches shorter than me.
watch his weight gain.
eat slower.
get more exercise.
needed privacy.  from his mother?!
picked up form for school trip.

no shots, one finger prick to check for cholesterol.
may need glasses because he couldn't read the chart. (a surprise to me)
needs to eat more.
focus on high density foods like avocado and figs (both of which he hates).
couldn't remember that he plays baseball when the dr. asked if he plays sports!?
moles look fine.
needed an ear wash.

4 shots, one tb test, and a finger prick to check for anemia.
lots of tears but she handled it well.
needs to eat more.
focus on high density foods like avocado and figs (both of which she loves).
looked so cute while taking her hearing test, which she passed.
could read every letter off the reading chart.
came home with a bag full of toys because the nurse felt bad about giving her so many shots.  she deserved that and more.

i was a little late on getting their physicals done.  they couldn't schedule all three of them at the same time so we did it within days of each other.  i actually liked it that way because i could focus on each one and get questions answered.  they are all healthy and growing well, and cute as can be.

another to do crossed of the list.

weekly menu:: week 15

monday morning.  i have not been looking forward to your return, but i accept you.  i will miss sleeping in.  i will miss the leisure life.  i will miss my boys.  but i accept that life has to return to "normal".

this week's menu.  sorry it's not very inspiring but that may change as the week moves on.

monday - tortellini soup and garlic bread
tuesday - teriyaki chicken, rice and vegetables
wednesday - corn dogs and sausage with peppers and salad
thursday - chicken sopes or tostadas
friday - grilled fish with vegetables
saturday - leftovers or breakfast
sunday - dinner with my parents



this week is teacher appreciation week at our school.  i am coordinating the luncheon on friday at school.  this is one of my favorite events.  parents are so eager to help and show our teacher's and administrators how much we value what they do for our kids.  this time we are serving an international salad bar to go with our school wide theme of ancient world cultures.  i am looking forward to tasting some good food.  and i will be making one of my favorites, couscous salad with a basil buttermilk dressing.  i'll share the recipe next week.


happy monday everyone.

five on friday:: food truck fest

last weekend we did something that we have been wanting to do for a while. sunday afternoon after church we had to go home to pick up our movie passes.  on the way we saw a crowd of people standing in line for the granada hills food truck fest.  we had noticed over the past few months that the food trucks were parking on the major street by our house and had wanted to try them but it never worked out.  today in an instant bobby grabbed some cash from the atm, parked and led us to the madness.  here's what we loved.

1.  it was literally down the street from where we live.  on any given friday, saturday or in this case sunday afternoon we can walk a few yards and get some grub off a food truck.  we had no idea that there was a festival going on.  a whole bunch of trucks with a whole lot of food.

2.  you have to love the names, like slap yo mama serving soul food, papas tapas serving spanish cuisine, and great balls on wheels dishing up gourmet meatballs.  enough said.

3.  everyone gets to choose what they want and stand in line.  in our case we chose two trucks and the two adults did the standing in line.  sliders for the kids from the patty wagon truck.  mini hamburgers on mini buns with mini tomato and mini lettuce.  a side of fries so thin they were more like chips and hansen's natural soda.  then a chickwich for us adults from the tastymeat truck.  chicken shawarma topped with lettuce, tahini, tzaziki and feta sauces all rolled into a warm flatbread. add a side of sweet potato fries from the fresh fries truck with a little chipotle mayo. perfection.

4.  so much more to try.  we didn't want to stand in line for cool haus, a build your own ice cream sandwich truck.  and it's probably better because with flavors like ginger cookies and chocolate bacon ice cream i'm not sure the kids would have been fans.  and i left yearning for the nutella and banana crepes from crepe'n around.  next time i might choose that as my meal.

5.  the crowd of tattooed, pierced and bearded hipsters mixed with families and older couples that all want to enjoy some good food.  and who doesn't want to eat on the sidewalk next to a mannequin?  what an experience for the kids.

who knew our little town would become the cool gathering place?

we did take the kids to menchie's for dessert.  mainstream has it's place.

try taking a walk in your neighborhood this weekend.  you never know what you might run into.