weekly menu: week 33

{sigh}
feeling sad now that the games are over.
luckily i have a few nights of the games recorded in case i need to get my fix.
at least i get time back now.
time for all those things i haven't done in the last two weeks.

summer is definitely winding down.
but we'll squeeze in one more getaway.
and a little more relaxing time before it's back to the books.

making this week:

monday: shrimp tacos (didn't make those last week)

tuesday: chicken shu mai, rice, salad

wednesday: eat out

thursday: bbq 

friday: turkey chili

saturday: pasta with turkey meatballs

sunday: eat out

wishing you a happy {non-olympic} week!

looking forward to...

-getting back to the beach one more time.

-getting over this cold.  where did it come from?

-buying the boys' new beds.  their rooms are almost done.

-watching the closing ceremony on sunday. not so excited that the olympics will be over.

-having menchies for dessert tonight.

-a weekend at home.

-dancing the night away with the kids tomorrow.

-tomorrow's 1/2 marathon meeting.  asking myself if i can want to do it again.

-fall weather.

-fall clothing.

-a little adventure.

-the next 2 1/2 weeks before school starts.

have a great weekend.

currents 8.9.12

time: 10:26am
place: my room
eating: a sun dried tomato bagel with light cream cheese
drinking: coffee with caramel macchiato creamer
feeling: rested
watching: the olympics, what else?
thinking: i need to clean our room
creating: lots of great summer memories
hoping: to get them all documented
needing: to go to target to finish school supply shopping (almost done)
wishing: we didn't have to go out in this heat

beach day

"I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.'"

-Kurt Vonnegut

love and marriage

this past weekend we were with family celebrating the wedding of yesenia and mark.  over the past 13 months bobby's family has gotten together for five weddings.  all cousins, all so special, all unique and romantic in their own way.

this was the 3rd wedding that bobby has officiated.  what made this an even more special occasion was that he wasn't just joining together this man and this woman, but their family.  she has a son and a daughter. this day was about completing a family.

yesenia looked beautiful as her dad and son walked her down the aisle.

the ceremony was touching, funny and inspirational.

the vows blew us away.  i've been touched by all of the vows at the different weddings.  true proclamations of love and dedication.

 bobby really wanted to do something different at this wedding.  in the past he's done the hand ceremony which is so beautiful.  after some research, we found this hand fasting ceremony and it just seemed to fit.

jose and janizette actually did the binding as a symbol of unifying the whole family.  then they pulled their arms apart and "tied the knot."  not a dry eye in the house.

it was just perfect.

the next generation of cousins.  no weddings for them for a long time.

the reception was on the same grounds under a big tent.  music, italian dinner and lots of dancing.  bobby and i especially loved the photo booth.  so much fun for the guests.

the first dance was a highlight of the night.  they started with a traditional dance, but this is not a traditional couple.  they played all kinds of music as the bride and groom had a "dance off".  songs like ymca, staying alive, can't touch this, macarena, and the chicken dance.  it was a huge surprise and a lot of fun.  what a great way to get the party started.

we had a wonderful time with everyone dancing the night away.

this wedding may mark the end of the weddings in this family for a while.  but you know what that means?  lots of baby showers!!  no pressure guys.

we wish mark, yesenia, jose and janizette all the happiness in the world.  we love you guys!

weekly menu: week 32

last week, with the kids away, bobby and i indulged in all of our favorite foods; mexican, sushi and italian.    

this week we are taking it easy, enjoying the olympics, and finishing up school shopping.  basketball season has ended, the beach is calling our name and we are getting back to a menu of good food.

making this week:
monday: chinese chicken salad
tuesday: pasta with turkey sausage
wednesday: shrimp tacos with homemade flour tortillas
thursday: bbq chicken nachos
friday: pizza
saturday: bat mitzvah
sunday: eat out

looking forward to every bite.  have a good week!

hello august

source: shrimp, salad, circus

hello new month.
hello last month of our summer.
hello to crossing a few more things off our summer list.
hello to new adventures.
hello to old routines.

seriously this summer is zipping by.  school starts at the end of month and i am not quite ready, mentally or otherwise.  i've bought some books, some school supplies, zero clothes.  doing a lot of clearing out while the kids are away.

i have a few goals this month as we prepare for the change of pace that is back to school.

• spend more mornings outside - having coffee, reading, writing this blog post, enjoying the sounds, the quiet and the coolness.
• prepare - i've done pretty good so far.  working ahead to get things going for the pto.  a lot has been done already.  last week i did some research on high schools - that decision is coming up quickly. i'm working on a homework/organization system for the kids that will hopefully make the "i need a shoebox for my book report" , "when is your project due?", "mom, tomorrow is mixed up, crazy hat, pajama day" things a little easier.
• grill once a week - come on, that should have been on my list at the beginning of the summer.  i find it easier to put the indoor grill on and not deal with the big outdoor grill.  but bobby grilled salmon and chicken last weekend and it was so good.  it's a must do this month.
• take some pressure off - we've been relaxing mostly this summer, having fun and it feels great.  i've worked on being realistic about not taking on too much for me or the kids, honestly it's been easy.  i want to enjoy that feeling and commit to it in the coming months when it's not so easy to do, yeah december i'm talking about you.
• start swimming - i'll admit, i'm inspired by the olympics. but swimming has always been a favorite sport of mine.  i took a class in college that gave me the fundamentals for all of the strokes.  i've been to enough of jordan's practices to do some drills and the y has an adult class to improve my stroke and endurance.  i would love to add a swim rotation to my workout schedule in the fall.
• finish reading - i'll reserve my thoughts on gone girl until i am done. i'm also reading the creative habit and have two more books that i can't wait to start, animal, vegetable, miracle and quiet: the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking.  i've come to terms with the fact that i'm a very slow reader and that's ok - remember i'm taking the pressure off.  but i can't let that list get too big.  there are lots more books i would like to add.  might have to watch less olympics and read more if i want to finish before the end of the month...nah, go usa!
• be all there - this month is going to go by even faster than the last two.  i want to enjoy these moments, the kids being stress free, having a lot of extra time, sleeping in, a few last getaways, 2 great celebrations, and some quiet family moments.  

ok august, let's make it a good one.