Monday Musing & Menus

Today was a really good day.

 

It didn't start out that way...

after Danl left early for work, and Danielle was wide awake, be-bopping around, I hunkered down on the couch under a blanket for an hour, gloomy and glowering. 

Finally I hoisted myself up, brewed some coffee, started smiling, ordered Bloom planners from Amazon for Rhonda and me, completed my morning routine, did yoga, (Danielle joined me! Seriously, seeing a toddler doing the downward dog is just plain adorable!) fixed Disney Princess Spaghettio's and leftover fajitas for lunch, conquered a kitchen mission #flylady, ran to the bank(s), found Jacob an unread book, supervised Neil and Danielle, Instant Potted some venison chili, worked at my desk, ate supper, blended fresh fruit smoothies, hung out with my family, bathed and bedded Danielle, went to bed with Danl, got back up, made a pineapple-raspberry cake and orange 7-up jello for Sewing tomorrow, got hungry, devoured some "tortiyahs" chips & Diet Coke, and now I'm blogging! 

My gorgeous, wood-grain planner gets here Wednesday, and I cannot wait!

Thanks to all of you who sent me suggestions via blog comment or whatsapp! I really appreciated y'all's input!

Here are my menus for this week... I planned them on my phone while in the deer stand. #hungrywhilehunting

SOUL FOOD SUNDAY

Fried Pork Chops

Tossed Salad

Cast Iron Skillet Fried Apples

MAKE WHATEVER YOU WANT MONDAY

Venison Chili

Cheese & Crackers

Pickles

Leftover Jiffy Corn Muffins

Fruit Smoothies

TACO TUESDAY

PW Fried Tacos (venison)

Chips & Salsa

Sliced Avocados

PIE WEDNESDAY

Stromboli

Applesauce

Del Monte Corn

THROW IT ON THE GRILL THURSDAY

Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

Foil-packet Grilled Cheesy Fries

Grilled Green Beans

FISH FRIDAY

Creamy Crab-topped Tilapia

Garlic Bread

Popeye Spinach

SANDWICH SATURDAY

Chili Cheese Dog Bake

(with leftover chili from Monday)
Jello

Cucumber Slaw

Hungry yet?! 

Goodnight!

A Planner, Please!

I NEED a planner! 

Life without a planner feels pointless! 

I just kind of float around, somewhere in la la land. 

I didn't plan not to get a 2019 planner, but neither did I plan to get one before it was too late! 

I've been busy, and I've made lists, but I haven't planned my "19 for 2019!" 

(I definitely did not completely complete my "18 for 2018" but I do know I got way more of it done than had I not planned it! #anotherpost)

Rave reviews are being uttered about the Time Keeper Planner! By the people who planned ahead and ordered them before they were sold out! Argh.

Last year, I found an Eccolo planner at T.J. Maxx for only $9.99 that I loved! It had the best quotes, and instead of crossing things off, it had  these little bubbles to fill in "heavy and dark" just like achievements tests at school! lol

The year before, I splurged on a rad "Bando" planner. It was cool, but hardly worth the extra moolah at $32 plus shipping. 

This year, I'm looking so late that they are sadly picked over! Amidst the rumpled and crumpled ones left at the T.J. Maxx in Daphne, I found a smallish green Eccolo one that's a pleasing shade of green and says, "nevertheless, she persisted." Which I adore. So I purchased it. But, it isn't spiral-bound, and it's pretty small. So I haven't marred it yet. #floaton

Since a couple of my sisters have scored satisfactory planners at our local Walmart, I need to dash up there and check their stock!

Pursuing the perfect planner is proving to be quite a pain! I shall have to settle for something, and soon! Please tell me what planner you love, and why! Or if you even use one! 

Maybe a year of floating would be more fun...

Bring on the Book Club!

Back in July, I joined a BOOK CLUB! Which is something that had always been on my bucket list! Quilting clubs, exercise groups, etc. never held any appeal for me, but Book Club?! Count me in! What could be better than reading a fabulous book and then discussing it with your favorite people while eating food?? There are 10 of us, all local except 2. We plan to read/discuss one book a month, taking turns choosing the titles. 

August - When God Says Go by Elizabeth Laing Thompson. 

September - Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden.

October - MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertche.

 And November was my turn to choose! Always enamored by the French, I selected 

Lessons from Madame Chic by Jennifer L. Scott. 

With the holidays, we got a bit off schedule and didn't have our discussion on it until last night! I had so wanted to meet in the Magical Alleyway in Atmore, but alas. It was far too moist and mouldy out. Instead, we dined and discussed every nuance and then some at the Alabama Wing House which ended up being the perfect location! They seated us in a secluded area, and we had the best time being very American eating finger lickin' good wings, fries, and pies whilst debating the ways of the French! Cups of coffee later, we decided that although none of us feel like we are chic, (btw, this word is always pronounced "sheek") we all share the love of reading and learning and expanding our horizons!

January's book is Chop, Chop by L.N. Cronk. 

Mine is on the way from Abebooks.com and I cannot wait! This first go around, I am getting hard-copies of each book and am making whoever chose it write in it why they chose it and sign it. #sentimental

Rest Up & Dress Up!

Happy 2019!
This is not my New Year's Letter in case you are wondering! I may not even write one actually...time will tell! 

I love to choose a theme word or phrase for the year as per Gretchen Rubin's suggestion. It's a challenge to see what word you can come up with that sums up the ambitions, plans, dreams and schemes that you want to embrace in the new year! 

Last year I chose HOME. 

I wanted to stay home more, to "joy-spark" our entire home, and to learn to love being a homemaker! Overall, I'm mostly happy with how the year went! I "think" I was home more, I consciously tried to have days where I never left the premises. I found a pillow cover for the the couch that says "Let's Stay Home." Danielle even told me one day, "Mommy, I love that you are home." And I loved it too. I didn't get the whole house "joy-sparked" but I think I only lack 4 cabinets, and the drawer under the oven! So that's pretty good! I wish I knew how many POUNDS of accumulated clutter went the way of the waste heap or to WeCare! By the way, I HIGHLY recommend Marie Kondo's method and books.

So...for this year I chose a phrase, "REST UP & DRESS UP!" 

Before you are imagining boa scarves and polka dot socks in high-heeled shoes, hear me out! Obviously, "rest up" is pretty self-explanatory! I simply do not sleep enough. I'm a night owl by nature, and I always want to "over-live" and squeeze every last minute out of each day...not wise. I do realize it's almost midnight now, BUT I actually did my extra resting this morning since Danielle went back to sleep in our bed! Score! Also, I want to lay my unnecessary ambitions to rest this year. I want to choose cuddling over computing, relaxing instead of resisting, being present over trying to be perfect. 

Okay, now for the dress up part! Reading Lessons from Madame Chic by Jennifer L. Scott was revolutionary! Now I am inspired to incorporate the "10 item core wardrobe" idea into my life! (More on that in another post if y'all are interested) I think it will definitely simplify my life! So I will be focusing on clothes! And sewing! I have decided that I love to sew and that it's amazing that I have been taught how to create couture clothing. So there. 

Now off to rest up I go! 

(once I find my other polka dot sock..!!)