tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80298387418570728442024-03-17T17:15:09.452-04:00The Cypress Shall GrowIn place of the thornbush, the cypress shall grow, instead of nettles, the myrtle.<br> - Isaiah 55:13Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-59253578001129649222024-03-17T17:15:00.000-04:002024-03-17T17:15:08.186-04:00Bump in the Road (Part 5)<p> As my surgery date approached, I tried to continue life as "normal-for-us" as possible for everyone. I drove kids to/from school and activities, I cooked, and I cleaned. As I went about my daily tasks, I thought through what might need to be modified in the days/weeks after surgery. I was weirdly obsessed with making sure the strings on the bare lightbulb fixtures in the basement were long enough so I wouldn't have to lift my arms to reach them. </p><p>The week of surgery, I had a pre-op with my surgeon on Monday followed by bloodwork. No big deal. The day before surgery, Wednesday, I had a pre-op with my plastic surgeon. No big deal, I thought. But that plastic surgeon kept on surprising me with how important of a role he actually played in this whole drama. I had my husband snap a picture of me before the plastic surgeon came in - I had remembered to set up everything, but this was the end of the line for the boobs I had had my whole life. I had forgotten to remember them. The surgeon came in and drew all over me - marking my entire chest up from armpit to armpit, lines going every which direction. He gave me the marker and told me to redraw any lines that faded between then and surgery the next morning.</p><p>I went home and tried to get some sleep, which was just not possible.</p><p>The morning of surgery, Thursday, January 30, 2020, I woke up early, my mom and dad arrived early to stay with the kids and get them off to school; they would later meet my husband at the hospital to sit with him in the waiting room. My husband and I left and headed up to the hospital around the corner from our house. We checked in, they took me back and started prepping me for surgery.</p><p>I had to take a pregnancy test (LOL! Not a chance I was pregnant), strip down, and get my IV started. The anesthesiologist visited and went over the plan, surgeon visited and went over the plan, the plastic surgeon did not visit before surgery. I had to have a procedure done before being taken back wherein they inject dye into each of my breasts and I needed to massage both well afterwards. This was to track which of the lymph nodes each of breasts drained to so they could take the first few from each side along with the breast tissue to biopsy them for cancer cells. This is pretty standard and created a moment of levity in the room beforehand as my husband offered to help me with the massage. Always a helper!</p><p>Next thing I knew, I was off to surgery. The nurses commented that I was so calm. In their experience, women were hysterically crying and terrified when they were going for mastectomies. I felt emotional; it was scary, no doubt, but this was what would get the cancer out of my body - so LET'S GO!</p><p>When I awoke in the recovery room, my husband was with me. I asked him if I was ugly now and he assured me that I wasn't. I had no pain at all and surprisingly little nausea. I drifted in and out of consciousness the rest of the day. I remember hearing people in my room visiting: my mom, my dad, my brother (in his Police uniform), my husband. When I woke up the next morning, my surgeon came in and refilled my pain pump with numbing medicine so I would remain pain-free for days! He was so kind, he even found my cell phone and brought it over to me. When he left, I took a few selfies. Too embarrassing! I went home later that day and was there when my kids all got home from school/activities. I was so happy to see my kiddos. I had missed them so much and I wanted so badly to hug them as tight as I could.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgejIOMiOIoBoOIP_OVMFNjbhGT0ICCgrPzLVIw9m980GNk-lhVXTO9q7mBv61cr_6SfSZrV_Zg2nUllzsjLMnWUYD4bKV33DBhjSgkcWlBFL4LrMZlJEuBg8wHT-tYfFyWboEn1IEoLa7SOmin41yPv36fpmBNfRrWpgaMleTdrwH9FG6R7AYXLyGyEtcQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="595" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgejIOMiOIoBoOIP_OVMFNjbhGT0ICCgrPzLVIw9m980GNk-lhVXTO9q7mBv61cr_6SfSZrV_Zg2nUllzsjLMnWUYD4bKV33DBhjSgkcWlBFL4LrMZlJEuBg8wHT-tYfFyWboEn1IEoLa7SOmin41yPv36fpmBNfRrWpgaMleTdrwH9FG6R7AYXLyGyEtcQ" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hospital Selfie</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>About a week later, Dr. R called me with the surgical biopsy results. The tumor in my left breast was much larger than expected: 7.5cm x 3cm. There was no cancer found in my right breast - PRAISE GOD! There was no cancer found in the lymph nodes on my right side, but there was cancer found in 4 of the 5 lymph nodes removed on my left side. This would change my treatment plan drastically. I would now require chemotherapy instead of just radiation. She already had set up an appointment for me with an oncologist.</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFUzI00elGK0d7NRML56UvIznP0YTOP5T0eRuKS7UHn23e747sssNdbwK34_4mFhTn_X-O5nFjArkBgIwm8prq2orQyrY_oS4uil0wBw0aiRZBb9lwGHnM_2kB7N4Xgl9zLHmbK-LwX1HY2_WRf9x650uwfhl0sM9icbT09-qZd7waVKAlvhbLDZ1XFShf" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="1056" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFUzI00elGK0d7NRML56UvIznP0YTOP5T0eRuKS7UHn23e747sssNdbwK34_4mFhTn_X-O5nFjArkBgIwm8prq2orQyrY_oS4uil0wBw0aiRZBb9lwGHnM_2kB7N4Xgl9zLHmbK-LwX1HY2_WRf9x650uwfhl0sM9icbT09-qZd7waVKAlvhbLDZ1XFShf" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My reasons to fight!</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>I now went weekly to the plastic surgeon to have my chest expanders expanded. Expanders had been placed under the skin of my chest to create new breast mounds. I did not have skin-sparing mastectomies, so each week the plastic surgeon would inject saline into the "implants" in my chest. The first couple of times I went, I was terrified - the needle was HUGE - so I took some powerful pain meds the plastic surgeon had given me. My mom would just laugh at how silly it made me. I didn't have any pain though! </p><p>Two weeks after surgery, I met with my medical oncologist. He is the sweetest man. Gentle, patient, kind, reassuring, smart - all the things you would want in a doctor tasked with delivering such difficult news to patients. He wanted to come up with a treatment plan, and said I'd need to do a few tests to verify that the cancer had not spread beyond the lymph nodes and that it was truly a Stage 3 cancer and not a Stage 4. Stage 4 treatment is very different from Stage 3 treatment. And it carries a very different prognosis.</p><p>Cue the tears.</p>Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-87174117377039937062024-03-17T16:45:00.001-04:002024-03-17T16:45:40.344-04:002024 Menu Plan for March (week 3)<p>On the menu this week:</p><p>Sunday: Spaghetti with homemade meat sauce, breadsticks & salad</p><p>Monday: <a href="https://life-in-the-lofthouse.com/crock-pot-beef-and-broccoli/" target="_blank">Crockpot Beef and Broccoli</a> with rice from <a href="https://life-in-the-lofthouse.com/" target="_blank">Life in the Lofthouse</a></p><p>Tuesday: <a href="https://www.budgetbytes.com/creamy-garlic-chicken/" target="_blank">Creamy Garlic Chicken</a> from <a href="https://www.budgetbytes.com/" target="_blank">Budget Bytes</a> with <a href="https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/crock-pot-mashed-potatoes/" target="_blank">Crockpot Mashed Potatoes</a> from <a href="https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/" target="_blank">Dinner at the Zoo</a> and salad</p><p>Wednesday: <a href="https://iamhomesteader.com/wonton-soup/" target="_blank">Wonton Soup</a> from <a href="https://iamhomesteader.com/" target="_blank">I am Homesteader</a> & Spring Rolls. To save time, I'll use frozen pork wontons & spring rolls from the grocery store, and I'll also add a little powdered ginger to the broth (not a lot, maybe 1/4-1/2 tsp, it just gives it a little extra flavor).</p><p>Thursday: Leftovers!</p><p>Friday: <a href="https://www.howsweeteats.com/2017/10/crunchy-roasted-chickpea-pitas/" target="_blank">Crunchy Roasted Chickpea Pitas</a> from <a href="https://www.howsweeteats.com/" target="_blank">How Sweet Eats</a>. I plan to serve it with store-bought pitas, hummus, and Lebanese garlic sauce. We live in metro Detroit, so our grocery store has a variety of stellar Middle Eastern foods available in the deli making it easy to throw together a dish like this. If I had more time on my hands this week, I would make my own pitas. <a href="https://natashaskitchen.com/" target="_blank">Natasha's Kitchen</a>'s <a href="https://natashaskitchen.com/pita-bread-recipe/" target="_blank">pita recipe</a> has worked very well for me.</p><p>Saturday: <a href="https://www.plainchicken.com/no-peek-monterey-chicken-rice/" target="_blank">No-Peek Monterey Chicken & Rice</a> from <a href="https://www.plainchicken.com/" target="_blank">Plain Chicken</a>. </p><p>XO</p><p>-Mrs. Amen</p>Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-21708697060292212362024-03-12T14:11:00.003-04:002024-03-17T13:19:22.792-04:002024 Menu Plan for March (week 2)<p>Because every time I open my kitchen cabinets post-it notes with weekly menus rain down upon my head, I thought it would be a better idea to type up my weekly menu plans and post them here. I'll include links to the recipes I use and general links to the main page of the blogs I get them from.</p><p>I keep raw vegetables (crudité) on hand for everyone to eat at dinner (typically carrots, cucumbers, celery, broccoli & cauliflower are the favorites). Sometimes I have a fruit tray for "dessert" where cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon, strawberries, kiwi, grapes, & pineapple regularly make appearances.</p><p>These are my plans. Of course, in family life, we know that plans can go awry quickly, so I'll post updates on how the plan panned out.</p><p>Here's the plan for the 2nd week of March 2024:</p><p><b>Sunday:</b> <a href="https://www.eatingonadime.com/crockpot-chicken-pot-pie/" target="_blank">Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie</a> (from <a href="https://www.eatingonadime.com/" target="_blank">Eating on a Dime</a>)</p><p><b>Monday:</b> Hot dogs & Sausages with <a href="https://www.budgetbytes.com/fried-cabbage/" target="_blank">Fried Cabbage</a> (from <a href="https://www.budgetbytes.com/" target="_blank">Budget Bytes</a>)</p><p><b>Tuesday:</b> <a href="https://mixandmatchmama.com/2016/08/bbq-ranch-chicken-sandwiches-slow-cooker/" target="_blank">BBQ Ranch Chicken Sandwiches</a> (from <a href="https://mixandmatchmama.com/" target="_blank">Mix and Match Mama</a>) with green beans</p><p><b>Wednesday:</b> <a href="https://mixandmatchmama.com/2011/10/dinner-tonight-slightly-sweet-sloppy/" target="_blank">Slightly Sweet Sloppy Joes</a> (from <a href="https://mixandmatchmama.com/" target="_blank">Mix and Match Mama</a>) with steak fries & crudité</p><p><b>Thursday: </b> Leftovers!! Clean out the refrigerator day :-)</p><p><b>Friday:</b> <a href="https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/easy-creamy-low-fat-tomato-basil-soup/" target="_blank">Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Soup</a> (from <a href="https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/" target="_blank">365 Days of Slow + Pressure Cooking</a>) with breadsticks & salad</p><p><b>Saturday:</b> <a href="https://www.plainchicken.com/garlic-parmesan-crusted-chicken/" target="_blank">Longhorn Parmesan Crusted Chicken</a> with <a href="https://www.plainchicken.com/creamy-noodles/" target="_blank">Creamy Noodles</a> (both from <a href="https://www.plainchicken.com/" target="_blank">Plain Chicken</a>) and salad</p><p>XO</p><p>-Mrs. Amen</p><p>Update: This menu worked out quite nicely for our family this week. There was only one change: Friday night, my husband ordered cheese pizza, salad, and breadsticks from a favorite, local restaurant. I wasn't feeling great (caught the cold one of my kids had) and though I planned on making the soup, he wasn't feelin' it, so pizza to the rescue.</p>Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-14063973355110103522024-02-25T11:41:00.005-05:002024-02-25T11:41:54.816-05:0015 Meatless Meal ideas for Lent and Beyond!<p>This time of year many people are on the hunt for meatless meals that are a step up from fish sticks, tuna casserole, and cheese pizza. I have a few ideas that we’ve used over the years for meatless meals that you might enjoy as well.</p><p>I don’t prepare fish at home, so all my ideas are vegetarian or can be made vegetarian through easy substitutions (veggie broth for chicken broth) or omitting a garnish (bacon).</p><p><a href="https://www.shutterbean.com/2016/zucchini-parmesan-sliders/" target="_blank">Zucchini Parmesan Sliders</a> from Shutterbean. So delicious and the texture of the breaded zucchini is amazing.</p><p><a href="https://carlsbadcravings.com/million-dollar-macaroni-cheese-casserole-recipe/" target="_blank">Million Dollar Mac and Cheese</a> from Carlsbad Cravings. If you love cheese, this recipe is THE ONE! Use veggie bouillon instead of chicken. I’ve made this an embarrassing amount of times and it’s always a hit. It makes a very large casserole and there will be plenty. It’s truly a great dish for sharing…make it in 2-8”x8” pans instead of one large 9”x13” pan and give some to a neighbor.</p><p>These <a href="https://www.loveandoliveoil.com/2015/03/soy-sauce-noodles.html" target="_blank">Soy Sauce Noodles</a> from Love and Olive Oil will bring you to tears. So flippin’ good. With some vegetable egg rolls on the side. Mmmmm.</p><p>The Cozy Cook outdid herself with this <a href="https://thecozycook.com/spinach-pie/" target="_blank">Spinach Pie</a>. The earthly spinach, gooey cheese, buttery pastry. I’m drooling just thinking about it.</p><p>My kids ask for <a href="https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/spanakopita-recipe/" target="_blank">Spanakopita</a> from Dinner at the Zoo all the time. I’ve had one kid ask for it as a birthday meal; it’s that good. </p><p><a href="https://cookieandkate.com/mujaddara-recipe/" target="_blank">Mujadara</a> from Cookie + Kate. If you’ve never tried this Middle Eastern dish, you may want to give it a shot. It’s the crispy caramelized onions for me. </p><p>Half Baked Harvest has some veggie burgers that are out of this world. Two family favorites are this <a href="https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/epic-crispy-quinoa-burgers-topped-sweet-potato-fries-beer-caramelized-onions-gruyere/" target="_blank">Crispy Quinoa Burger</a> and this <a href="https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/roasted-zucchini-burgers-garlic-whipped-feta/" target="_blank">Roasted Zucchini Burger with Whipped Garlic Feta</a>. If you’re craving burgers on a meatless day…these will not disappoint.</p><p><a href="https://www.howsweeteats.com/2021/07/grilled-zucchini-boats/" target="_blank">Grilled Goat Cheese Stuffed Zucchini Boats</a> from How Sweet Eats. Tangy goat cheese, zucchini that still has some bite to it and the crispy breadcrumbs on top. That’s a boat I’ll happily sail away on.</p><p>How Sweet Eats comes in with her chickpea pitas and sent me on a flavor journey. These <a href="https://www.howsweeteats.com/2017/10/crunchy-roasted-chickpea-pitas/" target="_blank">Crunchy Roasted Chickpea Pitas</a> are really something else. Endlessly adaptable. And if you search around her site you’ll find some others like <a href="https://www.howsweeteats.com/2022/05/bbq-chickpea-pitas/" target="_blank">BBQ Chickpea Pitas</a> that will blow your mind.</p><p>Looking for soup? Gal on a Mission has this delicious and comforting <a href="https://www.galonamission.com/one-pot-creamy-tomato-tortellini-soup/" target="_blank">One-Pot Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup</a>. Use veggie broth instead of chicken broth…it’s so good.</p><p>How about Budget Bytes <a href="https://www.budgetbytes.com/easy-rosemary-garlic-white-bean-soup/" target="_blank">Easy Rosemary Garlic White Bean Soup</a>? Budget friendly and filling. You will not feel deprived after eating this hearty soup.</p><p>Next up - <a href="https://www.howsweeteats.com/2013/09/cheesy-corn-chowder-with-bacon-gorgonzola/" target="_blank">Cheesy Corn Chowder</a>. Use veggie broth and skip the bacon (though absolutely do have it on another day with the bacon!). How Sweet Eats hooked me on food blogs with this recipe many years ago and her site has been a go-to for me ever since.</p><p>Lastly, Averie Cooks really nailed it with this <a href="https://www.averiecooks.com/best-broccoli-cheese-soup-better-panera-copycat/" target="_blank">Best Broccoli Cheddar Soup</a>. We love it served up in fresh <a href="https://www.lovebakesgoodcakes.com/bread-bowl/" target="_blank">Bread Bowls</a> (Love Bakes Good Cakes has this banger of a recipe). No worries if you don’t have time for the bread bowls, though, I have to say, these are spectacular bread bowls; I’d eat this soup out of an old boot if I had to.</p><p>XO</p><p>-Mrs. Amen</p>Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-64806657409249237612020-08-27T07:00:00.019-04:002020-08-27T07:00:01.277-04:00Bump in the Road (Part 4)<div><p>After telling our kids and family & friends, next I started a list of all the other people I would need to notify:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Our Priest (ask for Anointing of the Sick before surgery)</li><li>The kids' school (principal, teachers)</li><li>Catechism teachers</li><li>Soccer coach & team (I was the team manager)</li><li>Gymnastic coaches</li><li>Dance teachers</li><li>Dentist (get a cleaning before surgery)<br /></li><li>Endocrinologist (have thyroid checked and monitored during recovery)</li><li>Notify Be the Match (bone marrow donor registry that I am on) <br /></li></ul><p>I also started a list of all the things I needed to do to prepare for recovery:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Cancel the gym membership for our son (we wouldn't be able to take him)</li><li>Cancel my monthly facials</li><li>Cancel my monthly eyebrow shaping</li><li>Buy recovery clothing items</li><li>Buy recovery equipment</li><li>Stock up freezer meals</li><li>Figure out out plan for a soccer tournament that was already scheduled out of state</li><li>Send out Valentine Day Party planning info for Kindergarten (I was room mom)</li><li>Prepare a daily schedule for my parents who would be helping with the kids </li></ul><p> I called the principal and asked if I could drop by to chat for a few minutes. Mr. J is a wonderful Christian man who leads our local elementary school. I went up to his office and shared the news with him. He immediately reassured me that he and his family would be praying for me. He reassured me that our school community would rally around the kids and would support them in any way they needed. He said he would let the teachers know for me and would reach out to the social worker just in case they started seeing the kids acting out or upset during the day at school. </p><p>A couple of amazing moms from the 2nd grade offered to set up a meal train and a ride train to get the kids to school & home each day. What a blessing that was! I was so nervous to accept help; I'm very independent and asking for and accepting help is absolutely foreign to me. I am the helper not the helpee. But I really couldn't have made it through without all the incredible families from our school who drove my kids to/from school, took them on play dates, and brought us meals. I'm blown away by their generosity. We love our Wolves!</p><p>There is actually a lot of equipment that can help make recover after a mastectomy much more bearable. It's not all 100% necessary for everyone, but here are the items that I really found useful and comforting (none of these are affiliate links, they are just products I found that I used & liked - I also tried to buy from small businesses as much as I could in the time frame I had - many are run by breast cancer survivors):</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A recliner: my sister loaned me a reclining chair to use during recover. Life saver! I couldn't lay down comfortably for several weeks/months. Having the recliner to sit and sleep in was so helpful.</li><li>A contoured pillow for across my chest and under my arms. I bought <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/523615739/breast-cancer-mastectomy-pillow-soft?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=mastectomy+pillow&ref=sc_gallery-1-1&plkey=0f394d005944ddf99c5d31ef473fddf9c6676e23%3A523615739&pro=1&col=1" target="_blank">this one</a> from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/pinkpepperco?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=523615739" target="_blank">Pink Pepper Co.</a> and really loved it. I still use it more than 6 months later. It is very comfortable to keep your arms away from your drain sites and to protect your sensitive chest.</li><li>A seat belt pillow. I bought <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/555285752/seatbelt-pillows-cushions-for-post?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=mastectomy+pillow&ref=sr_gallery-1-13&organic_search_click=1&bes=1&col=1" target="_blank">this one</a> from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/PinkAnchorPillows?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=713106933" target="_blank">Pink Anchor Pillows</a> and still use it in the car whenever I have to go somewhere. This was one of those items that I would say borders on necessary. Like, they should give prescriptions for them.</li><li>A <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/742082596/shower-lanyard-for-mastectomy-surgery-jp?ref=shop_home_active_49&pro=1&frs=1" target="_blank">shower lanyard</a>. My plastic surgeon made me a rudimentary one in the hospital but breaking off a piece of oxygen tubing and tying it in a knot, but the lanyard was much easier to use. After surgery I had a relatively heavy pain pump hanging from a pouch around my neck and two bulb drains that hung from my sides (from the ribs under my breasts). When I showered I would just hang the pain pump and drains on the lanyard so they didn't hang and pull. So much easier than trying to juggle them in my hands. I already needed help in the shower (thanks, mom), but this freed up my hands to help me stay balanced and wash myself.</li><li>A few zip up hoodies. I bought some Hanes brand ones from Amazon. My surgery was in the winter, so zip up hoodies were a must for staying warm. You won't be able to lift your arms so putting on a shirt over your head is impossible. Zip up and button down tops are your friend. For many, many weeks. I didn't go with "mastectomy" style shirts with built in drain pockets because I thought they were pretty ugly, and didn't come in black, which is my favorite color. Also, I just couldn't picture myself wearing them after recovery...but zip up hoodies. Yes, I'll wear those forever.</li><li><a href="https://www.pink-pockets.com/" target="_blank">Pink Pockets</a>. While I didn't purchase mastectomy shirts with drain pockets, I would still need something to hold up the drains and keep them from hanging and pulling. They had attached safety pins at the hospital so I could pin them to my clothes (they pinned them to my gown), but that seemed impractical at home. I found these Pink Pockets that use double sided fabric tape so I could stick them in any shirt or robe and remove them when I didn't need them anymore. I bought 2 packs, but really only used 1 package. They stay on much better than I anticipated...in fact, they are still in my zip up hoodies after dozens of washes.</li><li>A comfy robe. I'm not a robe wearer, but I bought one to have in case I needed it after surgery. I don't think I ever wore it. It's a lovely robe and maybe I'll use it one day, but I didn't find it necessary. Just not my particular style or comfort level. I found it at Target.<br /></li><li>Button up pajamas. I found 3 pairs of button top pajamas in very soft fabric at Target. They're all Christmas pajamas - they were on clearance. I still wear these because I have hot flashes at night so if I wear a tank top under them, I can rip them off pretty fast.</li><li>Slippers. Again, spending so much time at home and being a little unsteady on my feet, slippers were great. I found some at Target.</li><li>Post-surgical bras. Your surgeon or plastic surgeon should give you a Rx for one. You get them at the medical supply shop or there are some specialty shops that sell them. I bought 2 extra and got one that my insurance covered. I ended up not using them much. The drain holders were awkward and the under breast elastic/gathering was very uncomfortable for me due to the type of incisions I had. Also, I lost a lot of weight after surgery so by the time I could tolerate wearing them, they were too big for me. One of them is tank top style and I use it occasionally. By the time I was ready to start wearing a bra again, I ended up going with <a href="https://www.amoena.com/us-en/pocketed-clothing/pocketed-leisure-wear/valletta-top-purple-44658/" target="_blank">these</a> (my favorites) and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073YNS8JQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">these</a>.</li><li>Other useful items: water bottle to stay hydrated, small table to keep your things on near where you sit, books/magazines, tray for eating meals in your sitting place in case you don't feel like sitting at the dinner table, a stack of thank you notes and stamps.</li></ul></div><p>The last thing I did was prepare info for my husband and parents. I made a weekly schedule that included the who, what, where, when and what supplies were needed for everything in our calendar. Our weekly activity calendar was pretty crazy between school, safety patrol, catechism, soccer practices and matches, gymnastics team training, and dance classes. I also made a list of what each kid takes in their lunch and for snack. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaTVNGnlI4VUOqWctNLN2K_hNlbNDOgcVW1AeiZS1Twmwddoq-t3TNsjBcM9uAMy8GcUGJdCjw9ABJe_faECEY5Z8t_6TYYv52TRZ_Y3l4s4bF65rygdxytkFAGP6pCMn5IQmRlkiogWA/s704/kids+stuff+ready.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="704" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaTVNGnlI4VUOqWctNLN2K_hNlbNDOgcVW1AeiZS1Twmwddoq-t3TNsjBcM9uAMy8GcUGJdCjw9ABJe_faECEY5Z8t_6TYYv52TRZ_Y3l4s4bF65rygdxytkFAGP6pCMn5IQmRlkiogWA/s640/kids+stuff+ready.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJA6l8-eDlYhpim3I38Smm8JYHM7ImAFKB8fxuecDFpst5g76VrLU41rhxE42CdsF9DyRc8Dha-tVHbrkx1sc0XN3m3VqL35iH7H81Q2Hoz8o4y_QSA0UQjOM0nreUFYgdcR1CNrlsDIS/s865/Weekly+Schedule.jpg.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="865" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJA6l8-eDlYhpim3I38Smm8JYHM7ImAFKB8fxuecDFpst5g76VrLU41rhxE42CdsF9DyRc8Dha-tVHbrkx1sc0XN3m3VqL35iH7H81Q2Hoz8o4y_QSA0UQjOM0nreUFYgdcR1CNrlsDIS/s640/Weekly+Schedule.jpg.png" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-26858185743289265802020-08-24T10:50:00.000-04:002020-08-24T10:50:16.337-04:00Bump in the Road (Part 3)<div><p> Once I had a surgery date I felt like I could let people outside of my family know and start notifying the people and places who would need to be aware. We also needed to tell the kids.<br /></p></div><p>I also stopped at the Cancer Resource Center at my hospital. The nurse navigator there, "G", was so helpful and patient with me. She listened to my concerns, she loaned me a couple of books from their library about how to tell the kids. She gave me a book called The Silver Lining to read. The book is about one woman's breast cancer story; she is a nurse and shares all the details, encouragement, funny stories. I devoured this book in about 2 days. It was extremely comforting to read her story and hear her experience. It took away a lot of the fears of the unknown. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesaM6KhePFYlX5vHtymN3DZ2fMyL9_9ScgR6gagWCGlCUrF1KqXpEscNaalf6pC45V5BSmtoFDvZL4Se2AdajTpjGbR9BVyky4gLzulOK6Q_Ylnq7MMycojqtcCwcATApN5pz1USsLUBC/s624/2020.01.18+Telling+the+World.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="467" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesaM6KhePFYlX5vHtymN3DZ2fMyL9_9ScgR6gagWCGlCUrF1KqXpEscNaalf6pC45V5BSmtoFDvZL4Se2AdajTpjGbR9BVyky4gLzulOK6Q_Ylnq7MMycojqtcCwcATApN5pz1USsLUBC/s0/2020.01.18+Telling+the+World.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>I also read the books about telling the kids in an age appropriate way. At the time our kids were 5, 7 and 11. The younger two girls fell into the same age category for their ability understand and what their main concerns would be. Our older boy fell into a different category. Remembering that our kids don't have experience with the word "cancer" and that it likely wouldn't trigger strong emotions and worries about death, we sat them down on the couch after dinner one evening and began a discussion with them. We started with the fact that they probably noticed mom going to the doctor a lot lately and that they probably had seen me crying sometimes. </p><p>We said that the doctors told me that I have breast cancer; we explained that our body is made up of cells that all do specific jobs - some carry oxygen, some make us strong like our muscle cells, some help us absorb food and convert it to energy, our skin cells protect our body from germs - normal cells are healthy and do their job right to keep a person healthy, they make enough copies of themselves to keep our bodies healthy. Cancer cells are not healthy cells - they do not make a person healthy, they can make a person very sick, plus because they're broken they don't know that they're bad and they make too many copies of themselves and they all group together and make a tumor.</p><p>We explained that God gave scientists and doctors so much knowledge and wisdom that they can help people who have these bad cancer cells. They can do surgeries to cut out the bad cancer cells, they can give people medicine to help kill the bad cancer cells, and they can even shoot them with lasers to kill them. I would be having surgery to cut out the cancer cells. My doctor would give me some medicine that would make me sleep and while I'm sleeping, she would cut out those nasty cancer cells. After that they would wake me up and give me medicine so I don't hurt too much while my cuts heal. We assured them that the doctor was very confident that she could help me get all better and that she would do her very best. </p><p>I told them that they might see me crying sometimes and it was because I was scared. It's OK to be scared. Some things are big and hard to understand and that can be scary. If they are scared, it's OK. They can cry if they need to do that; they can also ask me any questions and I will do my best to answer them. If I can't answer their question, I can ask someone who can answer it. </p><p>We told them that it would be a very difficult year for all of us, but that we would make it through it as a family. After my surgery I would have to rest a lot and I wouldn't be able to drive them to school, soccer, gymnastics, dance or anywhere else for a few weeks. We reassured them that grandma and grandpa would be here a lot to help me and to take them to their activities. They might have to miss something every now and then, but if they had to stay home we could spend time doing something at home together like a game or a puzzle.</p><p>The kids cried a bit, mostly because I cried a bit. Our youngest, Miss E, didn't like it when I cried because it made her cry (sweet baby). As anticipated, their concerns and questions followed the age appropriate things we read about. The youngest was concerned about what would happen on her birthday (about 1 week after my surgery). Miss A, our middle child, was concerned about her activities and how it would affect her. Our oldest, Jr., was more worried about what his friends would think and what extra things he might be asked to do around the house. Each kid over the next several days was taken aside and given an opportunity to ask me anything they wanted to ask. The littler two just wanted to make sure I wouldn't feel it when they cut the cancer cells out. The older one had some more specific questions about cancer that we answered honestly and with age appropriate information.</p><p>Next up was time to share the news with others outside the family. I had told a couple of girlfriends already; I had actually told them about the call back and that I was a little nervous because of the "spiculated margins" wording and what I had found on Dr. Goo.gle. These particular girlfriends have been my crew for more than 25 years. We have been through so much together and it definitely didn't feel right to keep this from them. I also knew they would pray for me, which is the most important thing!</p><p>My mom had been given the go-ahead to tell extended family. So all I needed to do was put together a Facebook post. What a weird thing to say. I keep in touch with most friends on Facebook and there are so many people dear to me, I would run out of time if I had to contact each of them individually and have a separate conversation about this every single time. Of course, after I put it on FB, many friends called and texted, which was wonderful to hear from so many people reaching out in support and faith. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMKqhyphenhyphenqrBU0CYMIPoe64IP3JRca93ODATmn_NF7zI4nuZNrrEVZBHUDjamsR-C18xE5OuAFU8kiu3GzyzIVpziwlL1fySR5aXIM_xGM-2bmYtemXbLot7-VwGRzTfRTiK0VkMgasZ3NNr/s954/FB+Post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMKqhyphenhyphenqrBU0CYMIPoe64IP3JRca93ODATmn_NF7zI4nuZNrrEVZBHUDjamsR-C18xE5OuAFU8kiu3GzyzIVpziwlL1fySR5aXIM_xGM-2bmYtemXbLot7-VwGRzTfRTiK0VkMgasZ3NNr/s640/FB+Post.jpg" /></a></div><br />Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-40009272993952007062020-07-29T12:11:00.001-04:002020-08-24T12:01:14.696-04:00Bump in the Road (Part 2)<div><a href="http://thecypressshallgrow.blogspot.com/2020/07/bump-in-road-part-1.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a>, in case you missed it. <br /></div><div> </div><div>Finding out I had cancer was terrifying.</div><div><br /></div><div>My thoughts went immediately to my kids. They are so young. My son had just turned 11, my middle daughter was 7 1/2, our youngest was 5, almost 6. How could I look at my kids and tell them I have cancer without scaring them? I didn't want them to see their strong, active, always on-the-go mom as sick and weak. Like a lot of families, mine doesn't run well without the mama running it. I had to focus on getting better for them and my husband.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwHeTljOAwYfTjvsTMS0YMOgDbyK4VpmZ772Cb-hrztlGfZuAOToc2IdmzmQ4VnV_OlS9K444bGfa0Pg1bDryztYRVwz_TzSW5XvesPP2aB_qG4emJhDXSWRrBk9SeZ8kdRzOVUCJREdB/s959/2020.01.04+How+Do+We+Tell+Them.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="959" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwHeTljOAwYfTjvsTMS0YMOgDbyK4VpmZ772Cb-hrztlGfZuAOToc2IdmzmQ4VnV_OlS9K444bGfa0Pg1bDryztYRVwz_TzSW5XvesPP2aB_qG4emJhDXSWRrBk9SeZ8kdRzOVUCJREdB/s320/2020.01.04+How+Do+We+Tell+Them.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>When we got back from the OB/GYN, my mom was at our house watching the kids. She could tell by my tear-streaked face that it was cancer. She hugged me tight, I took her in our bedroom to tell her what I knew (not much). She said she would come to any appointments or watch the kids anytime and that she could completely clear her calendar to be as available for us as we needed. As she left, I told her to text me when she got home so I could call and tell my dad when she was there with him. My dad doesn’t always deal well with stress and has been battling his own serious health concerns, so I didn’t want him to be alone when I told him. My parents are strong Christians and so I knew I could count on them to begin praying immediately.</div><div><br /></div><div>The nurse had given me a list of surgeons after the biopsy. One of the doctors on the list was familiar because I had had surgery with her about 12 1/2 years ago. I called her office to make an appointment as soon as we left the OB/GYN's office after officially being given the diagnosis. They got me in on Monday, January 6th at 9am.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next I called my sister. She can be a tough one to reach. I called and she answered but asked if she could call me back in a couple minutes. Now, I know my sister and know that when she says that I won’t hear from her from months. I said, “that’s fine, but you actually need to call me back. This is important and urgent.” She said that she could talk now instead. Told her the news and she started crying and wanted to know what she could do to fix it. Obviously, nothing, so I told her I’d call her when I knew more or needed something. Next up was calling my brother and sister-in-law; my SIL wasn’t home, so I talked to my brother and asked him to tell his wife the news. My brother was awesome; he prayed with me immediately, but was very emotional. I’m close to both my siblings and these calls were terribly difficult to make.</div><div><br /></div><div>My mom went with me to this first appointment. First I met the Nurse Practitioner, T1. She is the sweetest, gentlest person. She was so compassionate toward me and my mom; meeting her was a great comfort for my mom especially. Then came in Dr. R. She is a tiny, but powerful woman, an amazing surgeon and has the perfect bedside manner for me. She is very data driven, very evidence based. She had already looked at my radiology images, examined me, then did an additional ultrasound there in her office. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After that, we sat down in the conference room with her Nurse Navigator, T2. T2 was also incredibly compassionate and kind. She gave me a binder that the hospital gives to all newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. The binder contains information about the types of breast cancer, how they are graded and all the treatments for cancer: surgery, medical (chemotherapy & other drugs), radiation. It talks about reconstruction options and what to expect during each stage of the process. It had information about the Cancer Center at the hospital with all the resources they offer to patients and families (dietician, social worker, library, shuttle, support groups, educational seminars, etc.). It had information about integrative medicine; a section for me to keep my medical records; a spot for me to keep all the business cards from my care team. Later, my husband and I would say that if you're gonna get cancer, this is the type and now is the time - there are so many resources and so much money being thrown into researching and finding a cure for breast cancer. Hopefully one day soon there will be a cure for every woman who is diagnosed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally Dr. R joined us again. She told me that we had caught it early. I had probably an early Stage I or Stage II Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. If the 2 spots were truly separate, than it would be Stage I. If they were really just one spot (they were connected), then because they were less than 5cm apart it would be Stage II. They didn't suspect any spread to my lymph nodes (good). I would need a Breast MRI to confirm what she was seeing on the other tests. If it all came back as suspected, she recommended a lumpectomy. She said that with the type of cancer I had, when the tumor is smaller than 5cm a lumpectomy is just as effective as a mastectomy. She also recommended I undergo genetic testing. And if I was considering any type of reconstruction on my breast (a lumpectomy would've left me very uneven) I should meet with a plastic surgeon. I also needed to go have some bloodwork done and a chest xray - I was sent immediately for those two after I left Dr. R's office.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The great part about having a Nurse Navigator is that she handles booking appointments and coordinating tests for me so I don't have to do it myself. T2 made me an appointment with Genetics for the next morning (January 7, 2020). I filled out their online survey/questionnaire (detailed family tree and history) before going. The appointment was pretty easy and I went alone. I met with a genetic counselor, K, a phlebotomist came in and drew a couple vials of blood and that was that. They would call me before running the tests to let me know how much it would cost. They would deal with checking with my insurance for me and if my insurance didn't cover it, they had various pricing models for help. It would take several weeks for results to come back.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next up was meeting the Plastic Surgeon. My Surgical Oncologist, Dr. R, referred me to Dr. M. She has worked with him for years and thought I would like him. T2 made my appointment with Dr. M for Monday, January 13 at noon. My sister had been wanting to come to some appointments with me to help support me and so she joined me at the Plastic Surgeon. The nurse, D, met with me first. She took a few pictures of my chest, and explained the process of reconstruction to us. She showed us the different types of implants. I asked her about reconstruction using my own tissue (such as DIEP flap and others). She said Dr. M doesn't do those types of reconstruction, but they would be happy to refer me to another doctor so I could get all the information I needed to make the best choice for me. Then Dr. M came in - he's totally cool. He was very professional, had a compassionate bedside manner, took time to answer our questions. My sister had more questions than me, which is why you take a second set of ears to all these appointments. I think I was just in too much shock to really comprehend what was being said or to think of questions. I thought the Plastic Surgeon was a pretty low stakes appointment, but I was wrong.</div><div><br /></div><div>Turns out, the Plastic Surgeon is extremely involved in my surgical care. I thought it was more like, he shows up at the end of the surgery and tosses in an implant. Um, no. Implants are the last step in this process and don't go in until after radiation is all done. He would place a tissue expander in my breast at the time of the first surgery; then I would need to go get it filled every week until it's the correct size. Then after all the cancer treatments are done, we do the reconstruction with the implant. Didn't see that coming and I think my poor, sweet sister was traumatized for life after that appointment. She tried really hard to be strong for me, but she called my mom after the appointment and cried.</div><div><br /></div><div>T2 had gotten me an MRI appointment for noon on Friday, January 17th, but my surgeon, Dr. R, wanted it sooner - she didn't want to wait that long, so they were able to move me up to 8am Tuesday, January 14th. For that appointment, my mom came with me again (many of these hospital locations are women only, so my husband couldn't come to these appointments). I changed and the technician took me back. This was pretty easy. Lay on my stomach on a table with my boobs hanging down through a hole. Lay very still...do not move for 15-20 minutes. The machine whirred and clicked all around me while I prayed a Rosary. That was it. Results would be sent to the doctor right away.</div><div><br /></div><div>Later that day at 3:16pm, Dr. R called me with results from the MRI. She said the 2 spots were connected; they were actually one large tumor that was 7cm across. There was no evidence of cancer in my right breast and no evidence of cancer in my lymph nodes. Because the tumor in my left breast was over 5cm, a lumpectomy was no longer an option. I would have to have a mastectomy. My choice was now to do a single or double mastectomy followed by radiation. Due to my age (44) and the cancer being invasive lobular, there was a high chance of the cancer returning in my right breast in the future, so a double mastectomy could be medically justified, but not required.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I chose a double mastectomy with reconstruction to start immediately. I confirmed my decision with my husband and called the surgical coordinator at Dr. R’s office to get scheduled. She worked with Dr. M and the hospital to coordinate everyone’s schedule and get me scheduled for surgery on January 30. </div><div> </div><div>Keep reading <a href="http://thecypressshallgrow.blogspot.com/2020/08/bump-in-road-part-3.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a> <br /></div>Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-24198320635288148902020-07-23T12:43:00.000-04:002020-07-23T12:43:13.262-04:00The Week Links (vol.1)Every weekend I grab my iPad and sit for a couple hours scrolling through lots of blogs. A few of my favorites include links to things the writer loves...recipes, clothes, articles, etc. These are some of my favorite posts to read and it’s how I’ve found lots of the blogs and sites I follow.<div><br /></div><div>Maybe you’d like some of the things I’ve used or saved recently? None of these are affiliate links - just stuff I found that I loved and wanted to share.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>I’ve been Cooking & Baking</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div>We grilled out last weekend and I made <a href="https://damndelicious.net/2015/05/15/grilled-lemon-garlic-zucchini/" target="_blank">this zucchini</a>. So tasty and different.</div><div><br /></div><div>The grilling out was an excuse to have my parents help us eat <a href="https://www.chowhound.com/recipes/pavlova-with-lemon-curd-and-fresh-berries-29539" target="_blank">this Pavlova</a>. It was definitely worth eating and was probably the best thing I’ve eaten this year. My niece and I are doing baking challenges and this was our first pick. What a winner!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSUFYrV2R9AWtiXwiFe7j5F-Z0Kv_Tv75awpxYWwjc77TI76Vy7YKWHJbkTypGW9rg_m307-DPLoDv978ESYMuOpo44r7awKV3XSrlq7s1Iw9ZYJb1ASp51X2I6Ztg02baTf_Y04fMjSA/s882/2020.07.23+Pavlova.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSUFYrV2R9AWtiXwiFe7j5F-Z0Kv_Tv75awpxYWwjc77TI76Vy7YKWHJbkTypGW9rg_m307-DPLoDv978ESYMuOpo44r7awKV3XSrlq7s1Iw9ZYJb1ASp51X2I6Ztg02baTf_Y04fMjSA/s320/2020.07.23+Pavlova.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div></div><div>Had a craving for chocolate chip cookies, so I tried out <a href="https://thestayathomechef.com/rachels-perfect-chocolate-chip-cookies/" target="_blank">this recipe</a>. Delish and the cookies were still soft the next day! <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamV65A1DqxKGRnSOpEQl_NWPzfMPs0ysMx0otxXuHbi1k2pYa8tsOGgbxxE0gtGJcaa4d4JC0XxwS-g9Yusyb-D5hzsGnkK2i7WAxNOwtK7o0y717m34nMkrOl1Wu1n2EQSR-ocuUEN07/s743/2020.07.23+CCC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="575" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamV65A1DqxKGRnSOpEQl_NWPzfMPs0ysMx0otxXuHbi1k2pYa8tsOGgbxxE0gtGJcaa4d4JC0XxwS-g9Yusyb-D5hzsGnkK2i7WAxNOwtK7o0y717m34nMkrOl1Wu1n2EQSR-ocuUEN07/s320/2020.07.23+CCC.jpg" /></a></div><div></div><div>We had some <a href="https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/222352/jamies-sweet-and-easy-corn-on-the-cob/" target="_blank">corn on the cob</a> too and this version never lets me down.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then needed some <a href="https://cookiesandcups.com/perfect-rice-krispie-treat-recipe/" target="_blank">Rice Krispie Treats</a>. Who could resist?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANKYsDpPO3dxFr6QNLsOnqCnAvxjR5ttou6qQZ3BphNDyzhnveO4vmhLhd9kIys_lpMmVIekkGGHhTmqe3qStQsGxktD7wYdNvt9Cy4pXy_aN07e17YUX7LIkMlV2XA91PbnzwdD9-Ge-/s791/2020.07.23+RKT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="611" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANKYsDpPO3dxFr6QNLsOnqCnAvxjR5ttou6qQZ3BphNDyzhnveO4vmhLhd9kIys_lpMmVIekkGGHhTmqe3qStQsGxktD7wYdNvt9Cy4pXy_aN07e17YUX7LIkMlV2XA91PbnzwdD9-Ge-/s320/2020.07.23+RKT.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Recipes to Try</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>For Breakfast:</i></div><div>I think my little monkeys would enjoy <a href="https://bellyfull.net/breakfast-pull-apart-bread/" target="_blank">this</a> for breakfast.</div><div>I want to believe I could get up early and surprise my family with <a href="https://insidebrucrewlife.com/raspberry-cheesecake-danish/" target="_blank">these</a> one Saturday<i>.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><i>For lunches or snacks:</i></div><div>I know <a href="https://kitchendivas.com/crispy-parmesan-bacon-bites/" target="_blank">they’re an appetizer</a>, but I’d make it a meal at lunch.</div><div>These <a href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/focaccia-sandwiches/" target="_blank">sammies</a> look easy and scrummy!</div><div><br /></div><div><i>For dinner:</i></div><div>I’ve never cooked pork tenderloin, but <a href="https://www.recipetineats.com/pork-tenderloin-with-honey-garlic-sauce/" target="_blank">this</a> looks like something I’d eat.</div><div>This <a href="https://sweetlittlebluebird.com/easy-cheesy-beef-enchiladas-4-ingredients/" target="_blank">easy dish</a> will save me next Taco Tuesday.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>For dessert:</i></div><div>I can’t seem to make cannoli shells, but with <a href="https://www.lovebakesgoodcakes.com/cannoli-cones/" target="_blank">these</a> that problem is solved.</div><div>Look how delectably dark <a href="https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/dark-chocolate-mousse-cake/" target="_blank">this chocolate mousse cake</a> is. It’s like it’s ready for Halloween!</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Amazon love</u></b></div><div>This <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081YSDC5X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">t-shirt</a> is out of this world. Runs a smidge small, but so cute!</div><div>Ordered <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MCBQ3SC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="">this dress</a> and it’s perfectly soft against my sensitive skin.</div><div>My new <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YG11C7R/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">infinity scarf veil</a> came in plenty of time for Miss A’s First Holy Communion next month.</div>Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-78341099939612386592020-07-05T16:34:00.003-04:002020-08-24T11:59:11.153-04:00Bump in the Road (Part 1)<div>On November 18, 2019 I took this picture:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jlEX6pfFJE0v8RhIAJN5P-nbhFaYj-pOLop2D2KISwSTIkMVYarSBkUkLNIC_mORssycMFPSTi-HLhUNCUlQ_mSOFW7Kl4r7-4Zuapyh7op09UQMKiEbB-I0qbw0Mk_9pQnrBYEXof6c/s1909/2019.11.18+Mammogram.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1909" data-original-width="1432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jlEX6pfFJE0v8RhIAJN5P-nbhFaYj-pOLop2D2KISwSTIkMVYarSBkUkLNIC_mORssycMFPSTi-HLhUNCUlQ_mSOFW7Kl4r7-4Zuapyh7op09UQMKiEbB-I0qbw0Mk_9pQnrBYEXof6c/s320/2019.11.18+Mammogram.jpg" /></a></div><div></div><div>I was at the hospital for my annual mammogram. #over40perks <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I remember thinking I would post it on Facebook with a reminder to my lady friends to do their self breast exams and get their annual mammogram. I know many women put them off, though I had never found them painful or uncomfortable, I know that fear is a very real deterrent for plenty of women.</div><div><br /></div><div>I ended up not posting it. I either forgot entirely or I got self-conscious. It certainly isn’t the most flattering photo I’ve ever taken. 😂</div><div><br /></div><div>On December 5th, I received an email from the hospital to check my online portal. Something I NEVER do. But something made me check it that day. There was a letter saying they wanted me to come in for “additional images.” No big deal. I’ve been called back before for “additional images” so I wasn’t at all alarmed. I simply called and made another appointment. They set me up for December 23rd (Monday). They didn’t seem in much of a rush to get me in. Then the hospital called to schedule the additional images, but I had already done that. Then my OB/GYN's office called to tell me to call the hospital to schedule additional images, and I told them I had already done so. All those weird calls made me check the online portal to read the radiology report and see why they wanted these “additional images.”</div><div><br /></div><div>I opened the report and scanned it. The phrase “spiculated margins” stood out. I had no idea what that meant, so I googled it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Do NOT google it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Do NOT EVER google it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The search told me there was a greater than 87% chance of the spot being cancer. I closed google and have not googled anything related to medical stuff since.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I tried to put it out of my mind. I went about the rest of December doing all the things we do in December I stayed busy with the kids and their activities; I decorated and prepared for Christmas. I baked.</div><div><br /></div><div>Monday, December 23rd (Festivus) arrived and I went to the hospital for those "additional views" bright and early at 8:30am. They were already behind so it took ages before I was called back. I snapped a picture and sent it to my anxious husband at home telling him I was still waiting for my turn. How do you like my purple dollar store reading glasses?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUk93TuQtTzH4LQMX5pkyqiBhKzj_AgfGlwTqH7bsXmYpPrMwTg_IKFLYRB1Sr-ledlA6QAuMZ5nANyeCHfYRGSTVH4z-9ZjjQj-lT7HVQBKT7L5gYKsdpueb2awo8lVBZNGeeoeNGloL6/s770/2019.12.23+Additional+Images.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="578" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUk93TuQtTzH4LQMX5pkyqiBhKzj_AgfGlwTqH7bsXmYpPrMwTg_IKFLYRB1Sr-ledlA6QAuMZ5nANyeCHfYRGSTVH4z-9ZjjQj-lT7HVQBKT7L5gYKsdpueb2awo8lVBZNGeeoeNGloL6/s320/2019.12.23+Additional+Images.jpg" /></a></div><div>I had a mammogram with multiple views, then an ultrasound, then another mammogram. They said I would have results before I left, so I sat back in the holding area to wait. The nurse came to get me and took me to a small conference room. She sat me down and said I needed to have biopsies on Friday, December 27th. Because of where the 2 suspicious masses were located they would have to do two different types of biopsies. One would be ultrasound guided (for the one they could see on ultrasound) and one would be mammogram guided (for the one they couldn't see on ultrasound, but could see with mammogram).</div><div><br /></div><div>It was Christmas. I have kids. My husband was sick in bed with flu-like symptoms from December 23rd-26th. I had this hanging over my head and tearing at my heart, but needed to push through and make good memories for the kids. I think we ended up having a good holiday - I don't think the kids really knew what was going on. But then again, they did notice me crying occasionally. I was being extra permissive with them.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>On December 27th, my mom met me at the hospital for the biopsies at 9am. My husband, since he was still sick, dropped me off and stayed with our kids at home. Besides, they don't let men back in the mammogram radiology area anyhow. We checked in, I got changed and we sat down in the waiting room until they called me back.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally it was my turn. The nurse said they would do the mammogram guided biopsy first and she took me into the procedure room. When I saw the table & machine, I broke down sobbing an hyperventilating. It was all of a sudden very real. The reality of getting a biopsy for suspicious masses in my breast hit me hard. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The nurse offered to talk to the doctor and see if they could try to biopsy both areas using the ultrasound guided method since one of their best ultrasound technicians was there that day. The doctor agreed to try it and the ultrasound technician came to get me.</div><div><br /></div><div>She was a young woman, probably in her 20s and her name was Agatha. As in St. Agatha, patron saint of breast cancer patients. She was as good as they said she was and the doctor was able to get the biopsies from both spots. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaFCzv7tEzSKwIzlZwIkvWcSO0GgIjBZBFGs86o5Lw7Ff_hskEJVzPGmGXEc3Mczr2q1lEd3bKTydOOV23cZLjU9_vaIrfaTN1kOOb57hpshtybhgeJL3iBJZMpCZ3BICydvPtKODhrLl/s946/2019.12.27+Biopsy+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaFCzv7tEzSKwIzlZwIkvWcSO0GgIjBZBFGs86o5Lw7Ff_hskEJVzPGmGXEc3Mczr2q1lEd3bKTydOOV23cZLjU9_vaIrfaTN1kOOb57hpshtybhgeJL3iBJZMpCZ3BICydvPtKODhrLl/s320/2019.12.27+Biopsy+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>Results would take 3-5 days.</div><div><br /></div><div>My doctor's office called to make an appointment with me for 8am on December 31st to get the results. On December 31st, at 7:40am, my doctor's office called to move my appointment to January 2nd since results weren't available yet.</div><div><br /></div><div>ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I would have to wait over New Year's to get the results?! I knew they wouldn't release them in my online portal until after I spoke with my doctor, so checking for the results there was pointless. Not that it stopped me from checking relentlessly.</div><div><br /></div><div>Later in the day on December 31st, I noticed that the results in the online portal changed from "in progress" to a couple specific hormone receptor tests. I'm not a doctor and I'm not in the medical field, but I know that they don't run hormone receptor tests on healthy tissue. So on December 31, 2019, I realized what I would hear from my doctor on January 2nd, though it didn't really sink in and I couldn't bring myself to tell my husband or family.</div><div><br /></div><div>That night, I went to a New Year's Eve Party at our Parish with my parents and my girls. My husband stayed home with our son who was ill. Here's me trying to pretend I didn't know what I knew:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jpHx-ZKuSLLVusL75ZwScF2r0PEbhsWsdQ4h-U-uZTBHs_KNjUpRWxD8WSwrOajEH4w_tSxck4p_9EjZsJD8cYbAlLKxbMjMHgvez38xT2uftm_weNoItdajqvlachBs4PpZRCWn7GMI/s967/2019.12.31+Pretending+I+didn%2527t+know.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="967" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jpHx-ZKuSLLVusL75ZwScF2r0PEbhsWsdQ4h-U-uZTBHs_KNjUpRWxD8WSwrOajEH4w_tSxck4p_9EjZsJD8cYbAlLKxbMjMHgvez38xT2uftm_weNoItdajqvlachBs4PpZRCWn7GMI/s320/2019.12.31+Pretending+I+didn%2527t+know.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>On January 2nd, 2020 my husband and I went to my OB/GYN's office at 8am for the results. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>She said she was sorry, it was cancer. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>She said I had done everything right by going for my mammograms every single year. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>She said they had caught it early. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>She said I would be fine. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>She said this would be a bump in the road.</div><div> </div><div>Keep Reading <a href="http://thecypressshallgrow.blogspot.com/2020/07/bump-in-road-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a>, <a href="http://thecypressshallgrow.blogspot.com/2020/08/bump-in-road-part-3.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a> <br /></div>Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-17207428034538214302018-03-09T15:45:00.001-05:002018-03-09T15:45:23.863-05:00Where Travel Soccer Takes Over Our Lives: Fall SeasonI mentioned that our son had tried out for and made a travel soccer team. Well, we looked forward all-summer to the season kicking off with a week long soccer camp. Camp did not disappoint.<br />
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The price of camp was included in our club fees. Junior went Monday-Friday from 9am-11:30am. He got to work with coaches from his local club and coaches from the main International Academy that came over from England for the week.<br />
<br />
Camp was awesome! It was a great way for him to get to know some of the kids from the new club, though he didn't work only with kids from his own team. It was a great introduction to the Club's philosophy and coaching style. They made it such fun that I don't even think Junior realized he was learning anything at all.<br />
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As an aside: I was extremely concerned about the cleanliness of the facility. Each day my son was covered in what seemed to be a fine, black powder, sweat dripping down his face. Each night I was using copious amounts of OxyC.lean to get the black powder mixed with sweat out of his white (why, in the name of all that is holy, did they choose WHITE?!?!) training jersey. Because in travel soccer the kids wear uniforms to trainings & games. My girls were filthy by the end of practice as well from playing on the bleachers. I was told they deep clean the facility top to bottom once a month, but I have not seen any evidence of such a cleaning ever taking place except for once in a while it seems extra humid in there. It's so gross.<br />
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Practices started the next week (end of August) twice a week on Mondays & Wednesdays from 6-7:30pm. We had our first tournament on the weekend after the first week of practice. It was an absolute disaster. The boys played really badly; it was embarrassing...but we were assured that it is like this every year. This first tournament is always terrible.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvKlw3qKOOyV2HH-hqcg0Z4V9cnPQVt_JNjDdSH8FxlBCDvGwP2N0LNHJxLPbW1yrh71WIJGL0HzuL8bpuFiD6tWIlqDFhed8iRCqRtW_JH4yhu-tM3_8e8gS_7YglRkdzLOl17BVDVy7/s1600/Junior+LFCIAMI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvKlw3qKOOyV2HH-hqcg0Z4V9cnPQVt_JNjDdSH8FxlBCDvGwP2N0LNHJxLPbW1yrh71WIJGL0HzuL8bpuFiD6tWIlqDFhed8iRCqRtW_JH4yhu-tM3_8e8gS_7YglRkdzLOl17BVDVy7/s320/Junior+LFCIAMI.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
A couple weekends later we had a second tournament. We did much better and if it hadn't been for some atrocious calls by the refs, we would've gone to the finals. The boys, more than likely, would've won since they had beat the team they would've faced in regular season play a couple times.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbZ77qL5IlTpnb5sT3DBxJ5tK8q9e_4_LoBqHf5VFZ2ugLvBZngMw27B5N7rpDZTnP1f_dugkRE9yZ9L6osQh7pFBdrArxyysZl3dsbe3dB9Z9jxOUfkwX7ja7mG_gEEup0XzKC18UVEc/s1600/20170911_071222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbZ77qL5IlTpnb5sT3DBxJ5tK8q9e_4_LoBqHf5VFZ2ugLvBZngMw27B5N7rpDZTnP1f_dugkRE9yZ9L6osQh7pFBdrArxyysZl3dsbe3dB9Z9jxOUfkwX7ja7mG_gEEup0XzKC18UVEc/s320/20170911_071222.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cleat marks & a huge bruise from getting stomped on by another player</td></tr>
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Games averaged 1-2 per weekend. Luckily, though this is a travel league, the farthest away we had to travel was less than an hour. I'm certainly not complaining about the "travel" just yet. Games changed at the last minute with regularity. There was a game a 45 minute drive away from our home at 7am on a Saturday morning; and we needed to arrive 30 minutes early to warm up. I haven't been up that early on purpose in more than 5 years.<br />
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Our boys won their division in the Fall league. We were very proud of them, but a little disappointed there wasn't even a trophy or certificate for them. The boys didn't care though, so whatever, less junk collecting dust on his dresser.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-qnKxZH_wkVChrpEomFRV4XJIjhzZ6PFKt96wkfSK6SW9LGc2os1L5I_cTKN3zTVfVLmULFgHdYE-GnN11-A55Vab52DRx7zCBm_Ivtsvqjz7SBeY3wntTwfO3fLsgxJsE5YJnWO1oIH/s1600/Mom%2526Dad+cheering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-qnKxZH_wkVChrpEomFRV4XJIjhzZ6PFKt96wkfSK6SW9LGc2os1L5I_cTKN3zTVfVLmULFgHdYE-GnN11-A55Vab52DRx7zCBm_Ivtsvqjz7SBeY3wntTwfO3fLsgxJsE5YJnWO1oIH/s320/Mom%2526Dad+cheering.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Amen and I in the cheering section</td></tr>
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<br />
Junior also "played up" several times with older teams and/or more experienced teams. He held his own quite well and even scored goals for those other teams. His own coach sees him as a primarily defensive player, sometimes he is put as a midfielder. Regardless of where he is, his coaches consider him a "wrecking ball" for his ability to break up a play and for the physicality of his play. He's like running into a brick wall. Though he is the youngest player on his team, he is 80 pounds of solid muscle. They've suggested we consider letting him play rugby in a few years as well as soccer.<br />
<br />
1 week of camp <br />
19 team training sessions<br />
4 training sessions with private technical coach<br />
17 games<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><u><b>The Good</b></u></span><br />
<i>*Progress, progress, progress in all areas of play</i><br />
<i>*New friends</i><br />
<i>*Winning games</i><br />
<i>*Fun at Tournaments</i><br />
<i>*Family time spent in the car and at games</i><br />
<i>*Playing up with older/more experienced teams</i><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><u><b>The Bad</b></u></span><br />
<i>*Dirty, grimy grossness</i><br />
<i>*So much laundry </i>(seriously, I went through so much OxyC.lean and had to add a daily reminder to my phone to wash uniforms so I didn't forget before going to bed)<br />
<i>*Last minute game schedule & location changes</i><br />
<i>*Schedule conflicts with other activities</i> (Friday night prayer group conflicts with Friday night dance classes and Friday night games; Saturday morning work conflicts with gymnastics & Saturday morning games)<br />
<i>*So much money </i>(a monthly payment plan helps, but wow! At least the price we were told was all inclusive except for travel costs & uniform)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><u><b>The Ugly</b></u></span><br />
<i>*Politics & bickering among the parents/coaches </i>(ummm, I had no idea people could be this intense about 8 & 9yos playing soccer, but well, they are)<i> </i><br />
<i>*Divide and conquer </i>(DH & I have to go in different directions more often than we'd like to get everyone everywhere they belong)<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><u><b>The Other</b></u></span> <br />
<i>*Soccer experience for our daughter </i><br />
We let our 5yo play with their mini program since we were already in the building at the same time, so she got some soccer experience. She liked it and was invited to move up to the next level. But ya'll...the cost!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1jF2eqL1xBqjV74FcZlDFGeG4dZy8UnDBhauD4_m96J978pFM7MaV8IABL60niKLkec-f6-Iy8DEdoNcWFfZWaA0mX8YsjfxBvnmpHSaxlFtHhQ33prb_v5XbFDZOvwuqyHDj2OsN7bi/s1600/20170905_171504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1jF2eqL1xBqjV74FcZlDFGeG4dZy8UnDBhauD4_m96J978pFM7MaV8IABL60niKLkec-f6-Iy8DEdoNcWFfZWaA0mX8YsjfxBvnmpHSaxlFtHhQ33prb_v5XbFDZOvwuqyHDj2OsN7bi/s320/20170905_171504.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>*Catechism</i><br />
We were very lucky that our Pastor is also a soccer player because the training schedule conflicted with Catechism. Catechism is only offered at our Parish on Wednesdays from 6:15-7:30pm. We talked with Father about how we could make this work because his RE is very important to us. I can teach him Catechism, but I can't teach him soccer. Father knows we are a committed family, so he allowed us to homeschool Junior for Catechism and if his training schedule changed, we could just start bringing him to class.<br />
<br />
<i>*My Hair</i><br />
I dyed my hair with red peek-a-boo highlights to support our team :-) Over the summer I had dyed purple peek-a-boo highlights for the local semi-pro team we support, so once their season was over and Junior's started up, he wanted to know if I would dye my hair for his team. So I did. It didn't last long; the red faded out much faster than the purple, but he thought it was pretty cool to have his mom's hair match his uniform.<br />
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<br />
So that was the Fall season of Year 1 of Travel Soccer.Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-56621984714547522692018-02-12T14:46:00.001-05:002018-02-12T14:46:43.657-05:00Meatless Friday Ideas: BurgersHere come meatless Fridays, folks!<br />
<br />
I struggled for ages coming up with meatless meals on the Fridays of Lent...but now we eat a mostly vegetarian diet, so I have TONS of ideas.<br />
<br />
We are a burger loving people in our house, so here's 5 meatless burger recipes to choose from when you just can't do fish sticks and macaroni and cheese one more time. <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVLTz7XAUnybSLsmH49gWicmJPhmd8MQ4VKuOJw-3obSomOhZpnoz3wRfy0zVh-Rx5dR9rM3p6pOchECQmi9i-JgmSvk2NtQ43FFoSBGu6sevNX66iKvcOOC4ukgDO_1luiFeakT_1LH_/s1600/Roasted+Zucchini+%2526+Quinoa+Burger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVLTz7XAUnybSLsmH49gWicmJPhmd8MQ4VKuOJw-3obSomOhZpnoz3wRfy0zVh-Rx5dR9rM3p6pOchECQmi9i-JgmSvk2NtQ43FFoSBGu6sevNX66iKvcOOC4ukgDO_1luiFeakT_1LH_/s320/Roasted+Zucchini+%2526+Quinoa+Burger.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/roasted-zucchini-burgers-garlic-whipped-feta/?highlight=burgers" target="_blank"><u><b>Roasted Zucchini & Quinoa Burgers with Garlic Whipped Feta</b></u></a><br />
My tips on these: Make your quinoa ahead of time using veggie broth instead of water (extra flavor!!) Use 1 3/4 - 2cups of panko. If you don't have fresh basil on hand (and I never do) use 1/2 tsp dried basil. Be generous with the salt & pepper.<br />
<br />
I form the patties by scooping 1/2 cup of the mixture into a measuring cup and emptying it onto silpat on a baking sheet, pressing it down and shaping it with my hands. Don't skip the fridge chill out session! Bake these in the oven instead of frying them; I do about 15-20 minutes per side at 400<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">°</span>F.<br />
<br />
For the Garlic Whipped Feta: use 1 Tbsp fresh dill and 1 tsp lemon juice. Unless you like big lemon flavor and lots of dill...then just use her quantities. I found the dill & lemon to overpower the garlic & feta, and I reallllllllly like the garlic & feta.<br />
<br />
So. Delicious. I love them with some raw purple onion and iceberg lettuce (soak the onion slices in ice water for 5 minutes to help take the "bite" out of them).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/09/smoky-sweet-potato-burgers-with-roasted-garlic-cream-and-avocado/" target="_blank"><u><b>Smoky Sweet Potato Burgers with Roasted Garlic Cream</b></u></a><br />
My kids loved these! The first time I served these, Miss A was not sure she wanted to eat them. She had recently declared herself a vegetarian (thank you Kindergarten lesson plans personifying turkeys in November) and also that she didn't like vegetables. I explained that this is the kind of food vegetarians eat, so if she was going to be a vegetarian, she'd have to eat this. She did and she loved it!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/epic-crispy-quinoa-burgers-topped-sweet-potato-fries-beer-caramelized-onions-gruyere/?highlight=burgers" target="_blank"><u><b>Epic Crispy Quinoa Burgers</b></u></a><br />
Make the fries to go on top. And the egg. Oh, yes, the egg<br />
gg<br />
gg<br />
gg<br />
gg<br />
ggg.<br />
See that runny yolk pooling on your plate just waiting to be sopped up with this epic burger??!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.shutterbean.com/2016/zucchini-parmesan-sliders/" target="_blank"><u><b>Zucchini Parmesan Sliders</b></u></a><br />
Oh my. I can't adequately express how amazing these are. I might have made a second batch after people went to bed just so I could eat more without sharing. Ah, who am I kidding?! I did.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Sloppy Lentils</b></u><br />
This one was really easy to throw together on a weeknight. The kids gobbled it up and said these were the best Sloppy Joes I've ever made. They didn't even notice it wasn't made of meat.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 1/2 c dried lentils (green)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3 c veggie broth</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 sweet onion, chopped</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 can tomato soup (10 3/4 oz)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3/4 c ketchup</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 8oz can tomato sauce</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/4 c dark brown sugar</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2 T Worchestershire Sauce</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 1/2 tsp yellow mustard</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/2 tsp garlic powder</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Buns</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rinse lentils well under running water (pick our any rocks or deformed lentils). Add lentils & veggie broth to a medium saucepan. Bring to a rapid simmer, then lower heat to a slow simmer (few bubbles, a little bit of movement). Cook uncovered for 20-30 minutes (older lentils take longer to cook). As soon as they are tender, remove from heat and strain. Set aside.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Heat EVOO over medium heat, add onion. Saute until translucent (you can saute them until they begin to turn brown & caramelize a bit if you prefer). Add strained lentils and all remaining ingredients and combine well. Simmer for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and serve on buns!</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
You can also add grated carrot and/or chopped peppers if you like that sort of thing!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Well, wishing you your BEST LENT EVER! And with these burgers, it will be.</div>
Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-750740736524426702018-01-29T12:46:00.004-05:002018-01-29T12:46:34.247-05:00Egg CupsMy Health Coach suggested that I start eating breakfast as a way to jump start my metabolism and (hopefully) lose weight.<br />
<br />
I've gotten into a bad habit of not eating breakfast, rarely eating lunch, eating a regular dinner, and having some ice cream before bed (not every day, but many days). I've found that if I eat breakfast, I'm not hungry the rest of the day. <br />
<br />
I've been not eating breakfast for more than 25 years, so that's a big change.<br />
<br />
Big. HUGE. GIGANTIC.<br />
<br />
Our plan was to eat something small, almost like a snack instead of a whole breakfast. She asked what sorts of breakfast foods I like and I answered that I like omelets.<br />
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<br />
It's not realistic for me to make an omelet for myself every day. Or most days. Or even any days. I just don't have that kind of time in my schedule.<br />
<br />
Enter the make ahead Egg Cups. I spent a half an hour making a batch of these (including bake time) after getting home from dropping off my kiddos at school this morning and now I have breakfast for the whole week, except Sunday when I make pancakes.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMvWKOWePJQL29WSmaH8FtUAEzFTtELt5RBi8f4ojDGAiUdM0mjT6I5YhZo_Vy01l0D-30R7Fl_hQ43QsXw00kI-VXWTK56rNoo9rfqHT7F5SSZpID4aFEN4Kn-OH9_gqXY9uevaW8l4U/s1600/Egg+Cups+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMvWKOWePJQL29WSmaH8FtUAEzFTtELt5RBi8f4ojDGAiUdM0mjT6I5YhZo_Vy01l0D-30R7Fl_hQ43QsXw00kI-VXWTK56rNoo9rfqHT7F5SSZpID4aFEN4Kn-OH9_gqXY9uevaW8l4U/s320/Egg+Cups+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<u><b>Egg Cups</b></u><br />
<i>Servings: 6</i><br />
<i>Prep Time: 5-10 minutes</i><br />
<i>Cook Time: 20 minutes</i><br />
<i>Total Time: 25-30 minutes </i><br />
<br />
6 large eggs, beaten<br />
2 cups fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped<br />
9 tsp crumbled feta cheese (more or less, depending on your preference)<br />
fresh cracked pepper to taste<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Preheat oven to 350<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">°</span>F. Spray 6 wells of a muffin tin with non-stick spray. Set aside.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Divide chopped spinach between the 6 prepared muffin wells. Sprinkle 1 1/2 tsp feta cheese over the spinach in each well. Add pepper to taste (I used one turn of my pepper mill in each well). Pour the beaten eggs over the spinach & feta to fill each well, stopping about 1/4" from the top.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, use a knife to loosen Egg Cups from the muffin tin. Cool completely on wire rack. Store covered in the refrigerator; heat in the microwave for 30-40 seconds before eating.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Variations: Add some chopped onion or mushrooms. Instead of spinach & feta, try broccoli & cheddar, asparagus & parmesan, bell peppers & ham or choose your own combination.</div>
Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-29331323399416948912017-08-29T21:30:00.001-04:002017-08-29T21:30:15.301-04:00Travel SoccerWhen Junior was finally old enough to start some activities we tried many different things hoping to find one he was passionate about.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaGKtvQURiDUJq_ZiSS2tlZHGORXQ5lMUs8lLenCzYiPal01kJ_tc1iUEC0Yj4tg632kRyDyCfx3xG15isp3OMuE2ctUCgBNvqhfUAUUFYePoynOyCWd1dYnGHCgR9KlxPWebsMe95pZO/s1600/swim+class.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="574" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaGKtvQURiDUJq_ZiSS2tlZHGORXQ5lMUs8lLenCzYiPal01kJ_tc1iUEC0Yj4tg632kRyDyCfx3xG15isp3OMuE2ctUCgBNvqhfUAUUFYePoynOyCWd1dYnGHCgR9KlxPWebsMe95pZO/s320/swim+class.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
We put him in swimming; he liked it.<br />
We put him in gymnastics; he liked it.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4NJljCS6U6jRq3Rot_91gxArz8U3Gk8Ud45cQxJ93AcprCumitlbTBXNhW_OK_gq4m7a_V1S7appk4LECvvd5YzxSUHz0Vy5mDzNoEAWN7RzOGMPW6du9ySM0MvmezPI5CB8LpLL7jAb/s1600/IMG_8685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4NJljCS6U6jRq3Rot_91gxArz8U3Gk8Ud45cQxJ93AcprCumitlbTBXNhW_OK_gq4m7a_V1S7appk4LECvvd5YzxSUHz0Vy5mDzNoEAWN7RzOGMPW6du9ySM0MvmezPI5CB8LpLL7jAb/s320/IMG_8685.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such a tough little man!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We put him in karate; he liked it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTjfobSrV9uI0t57fQGLzhVCT4ipeJDXHduueAW6N-1MFONZ8wYQFl3b3jXAFMLmHYdf6QElSkqyV5uBknk657FPPUYub9y9RL-ULIIMhSQSx8JlGNZnZtnqoFotx1oV0nZN7NM2ZmKJ5/s1600/DSCN2093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTjfobSrV9uI0t57fQGLzhVCT4ipeJDXHduueAW6N-1MFONZ8wYQFl3b3jXAFMLmHYdf6QElSkqyV5uBknk657FPPUYub9y9RL-ULIIMhSQSx8JlGNZnZtnqoFotx1oV0nZN7NM2ZmKJ5/s320/DSCN2093.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He wanted tackle, but flag would have to do.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We put him in flag football; he liked it.<br />
<br />
We put him in soccer; he LOVED it.<br />
<br />
Ahhhh, finally! He found his passion.<br />
<br />
A local Lutheran church's hosted an Upward Soccer League. The league is designed to reach out to the community through sports and to evangelize the kids & parents. It's a great idea, reminds me of CYO sports in the Catholic Church.<br />
<br />
After the first season though, we realized this league was not a good fit for him. He dominated when he played scoring goal after goal and more than one kid was injured when they ran into the brick wall that was Junior on defense. He played a much more aggressive brand of soccer than they wanted and the parents complained loudly that our kid didn't belong. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2BHCRoAp0TKPBJLjpCfXFIBBsIoyJf8rzbdR3cU7w9kGGDvWrA61Ta3zj44-F3xJ2rHgOTfc9zQuCDp4HMEUhbSwQQY2aKCVCOvuSL5rC9irqmVYzLSITou_CdHFjsHAWvRc4AepAp29/s1600/IMG_0530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2BHCRoAp0TKPBJLjpCfXFIBBsIoyJf8rzbdR3cU7w9kGGDvWrA61Ta3zj44-F3xJ2rHgOTfc9zQuCDp4HMEUhbSwQQY2aKCVCOvuSL5rC9irqmVYzLSITou_CdHFjsHAWvRc4AepAp29/s320/IMG_0530.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sideline cuties ready to cheer for big brother!</td></tr>
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After that we put him in the local recreational league. He had some better coaching in this league and learned a ton. The level of play was up a notch from the Upward league, but still, he dominated the pitch. He played 5 seasons with this league. The boys on his team were mostly from his elementary school and they would "practice" at lunch & recess. Every. Single. Day.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2r8Q6fl6vfaozkC3fE4Dhq14HrYdHBS40PBtnHeZc7Jnl6U2EelqRNSXqtUMEzBj4Vin_DGDs3ZNuSkURD2EQRj9OXBffvJT59CekM8T3Vy1HPWwXeHktJM5ajahTtgKX2o3IlsIk-XA/s1600/IMG_0565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2r8Q6fl6vfaozkC3fE4Dhq14HrYdHBS40PBtnHeZc7Jnl6U2EelqRNSXqtUMEzBj4Vin_DGDs3ZNuSkURD2EQRj9OXBffvJT59CekM8T3Vy1HPWwXeHktJM5ajahTtgKX2o3IlsIk-XA/s320/IMG_0565.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
His team did very well, but at times I felt like there was both too much pressure on Junior to perform & carry the team and too much resentment from other players & parents because of his skill level. This past year I started keeping stats on Junior. Last fall he scored 47% of the goals for his team - and he had to sit out 2 games because of a back injury. This past spring, he scored 58% of the goals for his team and missed two games (one for his First Holy Communion, and one when he had the flu). The only games his team lost were when he was not there. Talk about pressure!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCW0lS62IkN9xxCS0cYdJvM0zm0Xs_gTl8zGEoJ9nF1KQskC1ZRF8nWhAn_xyAbhFYQujBaXTDw-LLXLQ9h_QEcTXAM_s-Hv48NQJf6rfYMaseEuPm8WKt7Sl6pKS5SQVYmkVMsaE07b7/s1600/Javi+Trophy+TSC+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCW0lS62IkN9xxCS0cYdJvM0zm0Xs_gTl8zGEoJ9nF1KQskC1ZRF8nWhAn_xyAbhFYQujBaXTDw-LLXLQ9h_QEcTXAM_s-Hv48NQJf6rfYMaseEuPm8WKt7Sl6pKS5SQVYmkVMsaE07b7/s320/Javi+Trophy+TSC+2016.jpg" width="180" /></a>Last fall, after a great season and as a reward for an excellent report card we took him to a private soccer coach for a 1-on-1 90-minute session. The coach worked with Junior on technical skills and Junior absolutely loved it. We decided to allow him to work with this particular coach up to twice a month to improve his technical skills and get a little more finesse to his play (it's expensive and we aren't made of money!). We also let him do another "development league" over the summer to keep him active and learning.<br />
<br />
In his last game of the Spring season, the opposing parent-coach directed his team to go after Junior during the match. My inner Mama Bear rose up. My kid was shoved, kicked and knocked to the ground repeatedly with no penalties called. Finally, the referee blew his whistle motioning that my son was getting the penalty after he was knocked down in a particularly nasty and on-purpose way. My husband had to physically restrain me from rushing the field. My loud mouth could not be restrained though and the referee corrected his mistake quickly. I told my husband when he let me go that if my child was fouled again, I would be out there and he wouldn't be able to stop me - and we were not coming back to this league again anyhow.<br />
<br />
We had been toying with the idea of letting him try out for a club (travel soccer), but this past Spring season cemented that decision. His private coach helped us find a club that would be a good fit for Junior and made contact with the coach for his age group. We had the opportunity to take Junior to train with them for the last few weeks of their season. Finally over Father's Day weekend, Junior tried out for the Club and made one of their teams.<br />
<br />
And so begins our adventures with Club Soccer/Travel Soccer.<br />
<br />
I'll blog about our experience as we go through this year: the good, the bad, the ups & the downs. I'll tell you everything. I'll give you a blunt perspective of travel soccer; letting you in on the secrets as I learn them. This will be fun (I keep telling myself), eye-opening (and how!), and hopefully helpful to other parents considering making a move to a travel sport for their own child.Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-87666491952371873352017-08-14T16:00:00.003-04:002017-08-14T16:00:45.249-04:00A Life RemodeledAfter a nearly 2 year silence, I think I'm ready to jump back in here.<br />
<br />
I've remodeled my life in the past 2 years!<br />
<br />
I have had major overhauls in the following areas: diet, exercise, prayer life, intellectual pursuits, relationships, hair/makeup, wardrobe, activities, work, habits, schedule.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Diet</b><br />
We went from a traditional meat & potatoes family to a flexitarian diet. We prefer vegetarian fare, but eat meat without complaint when its offered.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54eex435glFngNoejJ9FVEbb-PX7ZE7izGH_hiWyyiMdt8Te2S-rlm0N8mGbmwwluqwcClpVSa_1IhQWDSPp4BmNlt5DB_4grxnUBBY9r47cjlN_9ta-qaubMMvNBz9g0oRCzICVOy_Wz/s1600/Asparagus+Parmesan+Orzo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54eex435glFngNoejJ9FVEbb-PX7ZE7izGH_hiWyyiMdt8Te2S-rlm0N8mGbmwwluqwcClpVSa_1IhQWDSPp4BmNlt5DB_4grxnUBBY9r47cjlN_9ta-qaubMMvNBz9g0oRCzICVOy_Wz/s320/Asparagus+Parmesan+Orzo.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parmesan Asparagus Orzo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Exercise</b><br />
<b> </b>I joined a gym. And I go there to exercise.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-f5Lc9jiFeC7RQL7ofeesiS4bfoCXop43qEzeItDVLvLyvTM1ybGle0hU5IGAVcw3KgSMzOAIo1uK_i62y624si1iEMXUOOHRNuPcsi8sDeQ2lRrUCysQfBowMPwi0OTB_f5WSLFx0rt/s1600/Million+Dollar+Mac+and+Cheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-f5Lc9jiFeC7RQL7ofeesiS4bfoCXop43qEzeItDVLvLyvTM1ybGle0hU5IGAVcw3KgSMzOAIo1uK_i62y624si1iEMXUOOHRNuPcsi8sDeQ2lRrUCysQfBowMPwi0OTB_f5WSLFx0rt/s320/Million+Dollar+Mac+and+Cheese.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exercise is necessary to work off the Million Dollar Mac & Cheese</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Prayer Life</b><br />
I read A Mother's Rule of Life and took her advice to just schedule it in my day. My entire day is soaked in prayer now and I love it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEIvkUJKTBWRwoltT94QZfMHkIMs7c-oGGsuQRjAHVt8uOSxHM6OBvJfG95aoZ17AASFRzNKgmNAZqd5gZ3Pw_5jJNSavpV8OANY2Jb62CVqI-2PTNBjS7-0oa2VB9L43eu4g3GH6S8Fp/s1600/lilly+pads+%2526+flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEIvkUJKTBWRwoltT94QZfMHkIMs7c-oGGsuQRjAHVt8uOSxHM6OBvJfG95aoZ17AASFRzNKgmNAZqd5gZ3Pw_5jJNSavpV8OANY2Jb62CVqI-2PTNBjS7-0oa2VB9L43eu4g3GH6S8Fp/s320/lilly+pads+%2526+flower.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Intellectual Pursuits</b><br />
I've made some time in my days to do some reading & learning about topics that interest me. I'd love to have some time to take a class...but that'll have to wait for now. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1EIN2kVAg_CEBQ7pfpEMErW-V43Tm_Qf9I8nyKNPYWmBqFjzpCqPPCKno74l-3IzJf66Ltb5_vq25meIl1ych2fdsf-dMjWohxrwlYqISKYVX7E52jI7sTO1KGtVTkz-9tvXlFVp5oX_/s1600/striped+flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1EIN2kVAg_CEBQ7pfpEMErW-V43Tm_Qf9I8nyKNPYWmBqFjzpCqPPCKno74l-3IzJf66Ltb5_vq25meIl1ych2fdsf-dMjWohxrwlYqISKYVX7E52jI7sTO1KGtVTkz-9tvXlFVp5oX_/s320/striped+flower.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<b>Relationships</b><br />
My DH and I joined Teams of Our Lady. Our Team has 6 couples that meet once a month to share a meal and pray together. It's an awesome time to spend with other Catholic couples who want to strengthen their marriages & Faith. I've worked on setting boundaries in other relationships in my life as well. Difficult, but necessary.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9trJjKpsbAgt9q7A_bp4MUkqaSvxzN7lDyqmDTz9k-1Q-fAK8pMlNySDIibjcFeNelHKzTih-NRT6jBacU8iQQpC1BYzyChZ_AZPkO4rj8FVdZqlAV20h2yZItroBqlJZtzQJX69lcSQ/s1600/Red+Flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9trJjKpsbAgt9q7A_bp4MUkqaSvxzN7lDyqmDTz9k-1Q-fAK8pMlNySDIibjcFeNelHKzTih-NRT6jBacU8iQQpC1BYzyChZ_AZPkO4rj8FVdZqlAV20h2yZItroBqlJZtzQJX69lcSQ/s320/Red+Flower.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Hair/Makeup</b><br />
Please don't think I'm being shallow with this one. I promise I'm not; I had just neglected myself for so long, this was actually huge for me. I cut my elbow length hair into a stacked bob with an undercut. Plus, purple peek-a-boo highlights. And I started using makeup regularly after a makeover at Seph.ora. So much confidence!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmXaBXNFpfcGDGES_a1dNFQ_9f6fKyr_aWCLbi-oVHoxZyg_KSfETe80qOZSVa3RXTmh0MafLIZN2bWRhws41ZKL1CVMpu5C-x1e_O5wLQFcPFyBUuB_xOkCmqiKNUZ1H8_oICOvBdIrl/s1600/Broccoli+Cheddar+Soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmXaBXNFpfcGDGES_a1dNFQ_9f6fKyr_aWCLbi-oVHoxZyg_KSfETe80qOZSVa3RXTmh0MafLIZN2bWRhws41ZKL1CVMpu5C-x1e_O5wLQFcPFyBUuB_xOkCmqiKNUZ1H8_oICOvBdIrl/s320/Broccoli+Cheddar+Soup.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broccoli Cheddar Soup in a homemade Bread Bowl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Wardrobe</b><br />
This maybe doesn't count as a "remodel" but it should count as something. I finally admitted that I have (weird) preferences about my clothes and I have just decided to be upfront about those preferences and go with it. I only wear black shirts, so sue me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5Il7qtKm-Az2_bc-pQhQPqXCXUKNnfp0y7Fy3_mAHtqKOyPxT5KYlw0bhgJbzXm5K6qlkApv-kRXX347jrUfvkBu9TjZ25Eo8D4tTH3grenpmKmTYaseUeazRrAWsKWKNqFnb48JcIpb/s1600/Roasted+Zucchini+%2526+Quinoa+Burger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5Il7qtKm-Az2_bc-pQhQPqXCXUKNnfp0y7Fy3_mAHtqKOyPxT5KYlw0bhgJbzXm5K6qlkApv-kRXX347jrUfvkBu9TjZ25Eo8D4tTH3grenpmKmTYaseUeazRrAWsKWKNqFnb48JcIpb/s320/Roasted+Zucchini+%2526+Quinoa+Burger.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roasted Zucchini & Quinoa Burger with Garlic Whipped Feta Sauce</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Activities</b><br />
Oy vey! The activities: travel soccer, recreational soccer, ballet, hip hop, gymnastics, swim, preschool, work meetings, NFP classes, parish volunteer time, catechism. Sweet, bouncing baby Moses, so many activities. Mostly kids stuff, but some of my own.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0d9eI10LjorLOOnsWe0OSjBA6k4Cqnnf5b7Jc8d8NsZceFq23dT2tYVy2NBvqW0LgGkEk9ZL1L7tSuMKYRglZncaD0xn-seyG3h6PfhPT_HZ9OIQNgHmDsuTO0hxZpuJFPPH0RqK4QGLp/s1600/Vegetarian+Meatloaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0d9eI10LjorLOOnsWe0OSjBA6k4Cqnnf5b7Jc8d8NsZceFq23dT2tYVy2NBvqW0LgGkEk9ZL1L7tSuMKYRglZncaD0xn-seyG3h6PfhPT_HZ9OIQNgHmDsuTO0hxZpuJFPPH0RqK4QGLp/s320/Vegetarian+Meatloaf.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vegetarian "Meat"loaf</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Work</b><br />
I got a part-time job. It's been fun, challenging, and crazy. <br />
<br />
<b>Habits</b><br />
I have developed some good ones (routines) and ditched some bad ones (Coc.a-Co.la and daily ice cream).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ieN5q17j2gGM-Q-8RVcJVkd50_BG9ZWhBVP5ejet_652-VtHmgBqbV68SMQTKsbUYipP1nvRS6Pg1AjT9zu2d3MekJlRha55B0CImHz3doACW5JufaCbeoxBFO9ibSoGGAi2eY_bex1Z/s1600/Italian+Orzo+%2526+Spinach+Soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ieN5q17j2gGM-Q-8RVcJVkd50_BG9ZWhBVP5ejet_652-VtHmgBqbV68SMQTKsbUYipP1nvRS6Pg1AjT9zu2d3MekJlRha55B0CImHz3doACW5JufaCbeoxBFO9ibSoGGAi2eY_bex1Z/s320/Italian+Orzo+%2526+Spinach+Soup.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But I'll never give up this Italian Spinach Orzo Soup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Schedule</b><br />
I'm not a morning person. I never have been, I'm probably never going to be. I have embraced it and made a schedule for myself that works and takes my night-owl personality into consideration. Goodbye wasted time, and time wasted wishing I could make someone else's schedule fit in my body.<br />
<br />
So I'm living a remodeled life and loving it.Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-60421859057544119742015-10-21T12:21:00.001-04:002015-10-21T12:21:04.793-04:00Inside OutI disappeared from this space rather abruptly. I thought I'd turn myself a inside out for a few moments to explain myself.<br />
<br />
I <a href="http://thecypressshallgrow.blogspot.com/2015/08/honestly-its-honesty-thats-stunting-my.html" target="_blank">said awhile ago</a> that I wanted to be more authentic. To let people really meet me. So here I am. This is me being unbelievably vulnerable. This is me sharing thoughts I have never spoken aloud.<br />
<br />
A friend posted this on Facebook:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oG26pHeWzg04UdwjTyVSnb-iTCvk4GWNra8Ry9_IngZQhw6NihGVxLo_xhBgIvhiKVKerxXBINI6RB4EViEC_oq8F3JNejh2uUoL_E-_vMQMrKRSjhCmSABH4BwFQF4nUiAtOaPh-b0p/s1600/Anxiety+%2526+Depression.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oG26pHeWzg04UdwjTyVSnb-iTCvk4GWNra8Ry9_IngZQhw6NihGVxLo_xhBgIvhiKVKerxXBINI6RB4EViEC_oq8F3JNejh2uUoL_E-_vMQMrKRSjhCmSABH4BwFQF4nUiAtOaPh-b0p/s320/Anxiety+%2526+Depression.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
All I could think was, "that's me."<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"It's caring about everything then caring about nothing. It's feeling everything at once then feeling paralysingly numb." [sic]</blockquote>
<br />
Here are a few of the things I worry about:<br />
<br />
If I died, who would know how to make my kids' sandwiches the "right" way? No one will take the time to put the peanut butter on both pieces of bread before putting the jelly on top of the peanut butter so the jelly won't soak into the bread and make it soggy. No one will know not to cut Junior's sandwich, to cut Alice's into triangles and to cut Lizzie's into 6 rectangles. No one will cut the sandwich by pressing the knife into the bread to make clean edges instead of sawing at it making crumby edges.<br />
<br />
Who will wrap my husband's sandwiches in wax paper and fold them up like a present? If they put his sandwich in a baggie, will they know to wrap it in a paper towel first? That's how he likes it.<br />
<br />
Yet, I wait until the last moment to make lunches...usually close to midnight when I am too tired to take my time. <br />
<br />
Who will wipe the peanut butter, cream cheese or other sticky substance from the knives before loading them in the dishwasher if I am not here? My family will be eating with dirty, food encrusted knives.<br />
<br />
My son will surely die of anaphylaxis from exposure to his allergen if I do not frantically check every label on every ingredient multiple times each time I buy it, each time we eat out, each time someone offers him food away from home. Too many adults don't take food allergies seriously or don't understand them and my son is in constant danger.<br />
<br />
I worry about my husband not being able to manage the house & kids in my absence should I ever be absent...while dreaming of being absent just to watch him squirm a bit and really experience & appreciate everything I do.<br />
<br />
But I have to do so many household things, I give up before I even start...because who really cares anyhow? No one will notice if the toilets go one more day (or week) without being cleaned. No one will notice that I spot cleaned the kitchen floor instead of giving it a proper mopping. I might as well leave the crayon on the wall since they're probably going to draw on that other wall with a pencil while I'm focused on cleaning the crayon anyhow. <br />
<br />
What if I die and my husband forgets to do spelling homework with Junior on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and forgets to fill out and sign the form and send it back on Fridays? And he forgets to have him color his "I can read 100 books" thingy? Or he doesn't check his math homework and have him fix the mistakes? Or he forgets to pack him a lunch or give him bagel money on Fridays? Or no one shows up on the days we signed up to be the secret reader in Junior's class because I wasn't there to pick out a book and remind the person to show up?<br />
<br />
So I forget to have him color his 100 books thingy and end up doing it myself. <br />
<br />
I have so many things to get done, so many things asked of me and I get them all done. And everyone loves the work I've done and the end product is great, but it isn't up to <i>my</i> standards. I know what I am capable of and it is both more and better than what I have done. I know I could do better, but I can't seem to drag myself out of the fog to do it.<br />
<br />
I have days, weeks and sometimes months of good days. Clarity. Foglessness. Days of productivity. Days where the worries vanish like M&Ms left out in a candy bowl in a room full of kids.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.</i><br />
<i>In green pastures he makes me lie down;</i>
<br />
<div class="poi" id="23023003">
<i>to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul.</i></div>
<i>
</i>
<br />
<div class="poi">
<i>He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name.</i></div>
<i>
</i>
<br />
<div class="po" id="23023004">
<i><b>Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,</b></i></div>
<b><i>
</i></b>
<br />
<div class="poi">
<b><i>I will fear no evil, for you are with me;</i></b></div>
<i>
</i>
<br />
<div class="poi">
<i>your rod and your staff comfort me.</i></div>
<div class="poi">
<i>- Psalms 23: 1-4</i></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="poi">
This are what my "valley of the shadow of death" looks like. This is my comfort. I will make it through. I will walk through the valley. God is with me as I walk and I do not journey alone. I remember that there is a shadow because a great light stands behind that which I fear beckoning me forward, encouraging me to keep walking. Only He can restore my soul.</div>
Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-80548696323554634852015-09-21T11:53:00.004-04:002015-10-02T13:25:50.462-04:00Miam Miam Monday (Menu Plan) v9Our Alice is wearing purple lip gloss today. And even though..."growing up too fast"..."let her be a little girl," and "3 year olds shouldn't wear makeup" are all swirling around in my head, I couldn't be happier about it.<br />
<br />
Only big girls who poop on the potty get to wear purple lip gloss. You feel my joy?<br />
<br />
Now, let's talk about our food plan for this week!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>BREAKFAST</b> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/trisha-yearwood/power-balls.html" target="_blank">Trisha Yearwood's Power Balls</a> (we replace the peanut butter with WowButter so they're nut free)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/banana-cinnamon-muffins/479aaf26-88aa-47f2-a5c0-3f4448ecdfd4" target="_blank">Banana Cinnamon Muffins</a> (without the butter/sugar on top)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bagels & Fruit</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cereal & Fruit</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<b>LUNCH</b></div>
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PB&J Sandwiches with fruit & veggies</div>
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Roasted Garlic Hummus with Pita Chips & veggies</div>
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Tuna fish on crackers with cheese</div>
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<b>DESSERT</b></div>
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<a href="https://miammiammena.wordpress.com/2015/09/21/cakey-fudgy-brownies/" target="_blank">Cakey, Fudgy Brownies</a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvRkDN8LvRHGij3Xo6nzPCQxS6bNPvpQbngEAXfN-g5pduYr5jcjt-6J2eGrev3qJx_0W6qKhfIgWiOpmzMvbxVUNVFD0nOqmrvaA3EyJvtqkxY6Dv9KxycYY1IvPRO_0jlWSS0Pjs55E/s1600/Cakey+Fudgy+Brownies+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvRkDN8LvRHGij3Xo6nzPCQxS6bNPvpQbngEAXfN-g5pduYr5jcjt-6J2eGrev3qJx_0W6qKhfIgWiOpmzMvbxVUNVFD0nOqmrvaA3EyJvtqkxY6Dv9KxycYY1IvPRO_0jlWSS0Pjs55E/s400/Cakey+Fudgy+Brownies+TCSG.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
These brownies really have the best of both worlds. They are thick and cakey, but still fudgy and chewy. The top is crispy & crackled like it should be and the edges have the perfect bite to them. <br />
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<b>Monday</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/asparagus-green-onion-goat-cheese-quiche" target="_blank">Asparagus, Green Onion & Goat Cheese Quiche</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuwhyLNAkRkiVa0KBdwcCJgUQ-YUzoHFtxNz9k0YhDWsf4Hq0ks_XlolPkR5gB0_T48nrIkUdLZyZ_5xiM4iTIfKO8s9j8M_mSFb0VqF7i-iDbB0I2agVdw0UmTHZFHv5XIGowuldhjXV/s1600/Asparagus+Green+Onion+%2526+Goat+Cheese+Quiche+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuwhyLNAkRkiVa0KBdwcCJgUQ-YUzoHFtxNz9k0YhDWsf4Hq0ks_XlolPkR5gB0_T48nrIkUdLZyZ_5xiM4iTIfKO8s9j8M_mSFb0VqF7i-iDbB0I2agVdw0UmTHZFHv5XIGowuldhjXV/s320/Asparagus+Green+Onion+%2526+Goat+Cheese+Quiche+TCSG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have some goat cheese sitting in the bottom of the cheese drawer that needs to be eaten before it needs to be thrown out. I have been craving a simple quiche - and this one is pretty easy. And very tasty. You can (read: should!) use a pre-made crust because the crust is the most challenging part of the recipe - it's not difficult, but it is time consuming and the dough is fragile and I can never flute the edges like in the recipe pictures. </div>
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I'm already annoyed that my kids probably won't eat this. They like asparagus & eggs, they love goat cheese & crust, and they are indifferent to green onions. But combine them all - and I'm sure those little loveys will let me know that "it's not [their] favorite" which is our family's preferred way of saying we don't like something (because mommy <i>refuses</i> to listen to a constant chorus of </div>
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"YUCK! ME NOT EAT DIS!"</div>
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<b>Tuesday</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.mixandmatchmama.blogspot.com/2013/03/dinner-tonight-brooke-deens-meat-loaf.html" target="_blank">Brooke Deen's Meatloaf</a> with <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/roasted-sweet-potatoes-with-honey-butter-recipe.html" target="_blank">Roasted Honey Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes</a></div>
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I also have some ground beef that needs eatin'. So meatloaf is a quick way to use it up. The kids & husband love them some Brooke Deen Meatloaf. I also bought some sweet potatoes to try to get the kids interested in more exotic vegetables.</div>
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That's right. I just called sweet potatoes an exotic vegetable.</div>
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My kids are going through a picky phase. And I'm not having it.</div>
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<b>Wednesday</b></div>
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Tuna Noodles</div>
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Not really a casserole...more like egg noodles with tuna & mayo. The kids & husband will happily eat it without complaint. I'll live through it. I'm banking on leftover quiche & sweet potatoes.</div>
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<b>Thursday</b></div>
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<a href="https://miammiammena.wordpress.com/2015/09/21/veggie-club-sandwich/" target="_blank">Veggie Club Sandwiches</a> with Sweet Potato Chips<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcnuJZyEEeBhoMUL9T97nbmeluqQuII6fLSZ9OiFj2CcTxkNypkbFEuvbj4fHMSweSnC1BVtgiBh09ZbOqsw7tOhmo8VQjHgcT22RE6a_j-5CNq5-uAqbBW24wQn8mMTaWw5KK0ODFkCn/s1600/Veggie+Club+1+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcnuJZyEEeBhoMUL9T97nbmeluqQuII6fLSZ9OiFj2CcTxkNypkbFEuvbj4fHMSweSnC1BVtgiBh09ZbOqsw7tOhmo8VQjHgcT22RE6a_j-5CNq5-uAqbBW24wQn8mMTaWw5KK0ODFkCn/s400/Veggie+Club+1+TCSG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO</div>
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EEEEEMMMMMMMMMMMM</div>
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WWWWWOOOOOWWWWW!</div>
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A hundred years ago when I lived in Tulsa a little deli opened up downtown; they made a garden veggie sub that was so good I was willing to speed walk pretty far to get it at lunchtime. Flashbacks to that sandwich have been intense for me lately, and I had recently found a similar veggie sandwich online that looked yummm, so I saved it. But when I went to pull up the recipe I had found it has vanished. So going off my memory (which is frighteningly bad) and adding a few more ingredients to make it super filling and over the top, I came up with these. Talk about exceeding my expectations for how scrumptious a veggie sandwich could be! </div>
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<b>Friday</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.averiecooks.com/2015/01/best-broccoli-cheese-soup-better-panera-copycat.html" target="_blank">Broccoli Cheese Soup</a> in <a href="http://www.chef-in-training.com/2011/12/homemade-bread-bowls/" target="_blank">Bread Bowls</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxHtXgyNMqiomlRRpWdDJlcvHCYsAByJJUsb8_pHxHvgDNKPotpGWG1Efb4qXqaW0ZgxK1E0pie7OU2HfaWrt0i9MexPsPLSEBLdgjkuKhwCVdb6XFA-tNdq0haAsbiTMNWDLRNUvD9SV/s1600/Bread+Bowls+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxHtXgyNMqiomlRRpWdDJlcvHCYsAByJJUsb8_pHxHvgDNKPotpGWG1Efb4qXqaW0ZgxK1E0pie7OU2HfaWrt0i9MexPsPLSEBLdgjkuKhwCVdb6XFA-tNdq0haAsbiTMNWDLRNUvD9SV/s320/Bread+Bowls+TCSG.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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This recipe is billed as being even better than Panera Copycat soup. And it totally lives up to that billing. It really needs the bread bowl in my humble opinion because I'm pretty sure it's unAmerican or unCanadian to serve a creamy soup without a bread bowl. Or something like that.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbbW-603RKFO0G-ZZNJm90SX_m-mwxMXciAuQ28u80mfoAIK1tQQOt5ifkGyse-zbfWkCo6hPs8cwMQusaYE1aJmXIoinDcA4pqUU9thUGX3DcFj8ygcmS12hW_GdqyCDU9E3DUfK3SUk/s1600/Bread+Bowls+2+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbbW-603RKFO0G-ZZNJm90SX_m-mwxMXciAuQ28u80mfoAIK1tQQOt5ifkGyse-zbfWkCo6hPs8cwMQusaYE1aJmXIoinDcA4pqUU9thUGX3DcFj8ygcmS12hW_GdqyCDU9E3DUfK3SUk/s320/Bread+Bowls+2+TCSG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I know you can buy anything at the grocery store these days, but taking the extra few minutes to make the bread bowls at home is worth it. The whole house smells amazing when you take fresh bread out of the oven and layer in the scent of homemade soup. </div>
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Plus the leftover bread bowls can be sliced up the next morning for French Toast. I'm not saying you <i>have</i> to eat French Toast the next morning...I'm just saying you probably should.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUfFOOk_fYBduSIhB9UTBpqmdh2iCZID0rGKBIvnoD4uzIfQksDOM4odzwU994LLE0jwCenbpih_EunU6s8uCGHFYitahQzxYFC7MjQUM4c7CTTla6TPAkBdAn-kMcFxH3hEfNsbDUfUF/s1600/French+Toast+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUfFOOk_fYBduSIhB9UTBpqmdh2iCZID0rGKBIvnoD4uzIfQksDOM4odzwU994LLE0jwCenbpih_EunU6s8uCGHFYitahQzxYFC7MjQUM4c7CTTla6TPAkBdAn-kMcFxH3hEfNsbDUfUF/s320/French+Toast+TCSG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Saturday</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2013/10/caramelized-pear-crispy-prosciutto-blue-cheese-pizza/" target="_blank">Caramelized Pear, Crispy Prosciutto & Blue Cheese Pizza</a> with <a href="http://www.laurenslatest.com/fail-proof-pizza-dough-and-cheesy-garlic-bread-sticks-just-like-in-restaurants/" target="_blank">Bread Sticks</a></div>
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You know the drill. We love our pizza 'round these parts. I'll substitute some Jamon Iberico direct from Spain to use up in place of the prosciutto. I love pizza night.<br />
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<b>Sunday</b><br />
Spaghetti and salad<br />
We're going to my mom & dad's for Sunday dinner where we'll enjoy my mom's homemade spaghetti with Italian sausage and a garden salad.<br />
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Onward to soccer, school, homework, errands, exercising, baking & cooking, reading & coloring, lovin' & disciplinin' this week.<br />
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Linking up with Simcha Fisher over at her <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/simchafisher/" target="_blank">blog</a> for her Friday <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/simchafisher/2015/10/02/whats-for-supper-vol-7-meatloaf-a-tragicomedy/" target="_blank">What's for Supper</a> feature. She had a great take on meatloaf...if only I could sculpt like she can. </div>
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Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-19277467547322345252015-09-15T10:49:00.000-04:002015-09-15T10:49:25.707-04:00Back to School Cookie BarsI had to make a special treat for my boy for his first lunch at school. I found this recipe for <a href="http://cookiesandcups.com/pms-bars/" target="_blank">PMS bars</a> and they immediately appealed to my PMSing self. And though he is completely capable of explaining what PMS is (he's sat in on enough NFP classes that he could probably teach them himself), I'm not ready for that awkward call from the school just yet.<br />
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Thus, the "<a href="https://miammiammena.wordpress.com/2015/09/15/back-to-school-cookie-bars/" target="_blank">Back to School Cookie Bars</a>" were born.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EVZI9rAC2h8LY-UugwVRv4ad-QvnVp0ExAuX1w10YTIyD5r_FeB-YUnkEtOSiOM8E_4WphbBrHYASomoyK9wU1lpv_G486Wb1lBVKdp47YLat-Yx4Z9XKMnAqpvJTjYOWmMqk4r_U234/s1600/Back+to+School+Bars+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EVZI9rAC2h8LY-UugwVRv4ad-QvnVp0ExAuX1w10YTIyD5r_FeB-YUnkEtOSiOM8E_4WphbBrHYASomoyK9wU1lpv_G486Wb1lBVKdp47YLat-Yx4Z9XKMnAqpvJTjYOWmMqk4r_U234/s400/Back+to+School+Bars+TCSG.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
Unfortunately, the peanut butter chips just don't do it for me. Their flavor is too muted and the peanut butter taste can't quite overcome the other flavors in the cookie bars.<br />
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Butterscotch chips to the rescue. <br />
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Yes, these are incredibly sweet. The touch of salt in the crust and on the pretzels helps keep the sweetness from overpowering you though.<br />
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A mega-hit all around.<br />
<br />Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-91638130637582003382015-09-14T22:08:00.003-04:002015-09-18T13:21:51.916-04:00Miam Miam Monday (Menu Plan) v8OK, was it just me or was that the longest 4 day week ever? Our son started 1st grade on Tuesday and stayed home sick with a virus on Wednesday. So, you know, off to a strong start here.<br />
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Oh well, at least our dinner game was on point.<br />
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Last week threw me off with all that crazy, cold weather here in Michigan. We even turned on the furnace one night (sick kids & a mommy who is not in the mood to extend the sick any longer than its already hanging on)!<br />
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This week we're expecting temperatures in the 80s again, which makes my Autumn soup plans fall a little flat. Nothing like a hot, hearty soup in your belly as you wipe the sweat from your brow and go sit in the kiddie pool to cool off. I'll pass. I slipped a soup into this week's plan out of sheer necessity.<br />
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<b>Monday</b></div>
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<a href="https://miammiammena.wordpress.com/2015/09/15/caprese-burgers/" target="_blank">Caprese Burgers</a> with <a href="https://miammiammena.wordpress.com/2015/09/15/oven-fries/" target="_blank">Oven Fries</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLv2SpQh66ZTvFh9FsAagiMcqHjHVU6XQKVN7IcJc5z4YlHKzDXslTZwSfWDZ8pnOot-3D3c8nGrxaVKyPOC-3eU1e5r2nkNszK8eLYgmxglgANuSYM53PEgSqjAyGeHs6gseUzMJ9J_cX/s1600/Caprese+Burgers+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLv2SpQh66ZTvFh9FsAagiMcqHjHVU6XQKVN7IcJc5z4YlHKzDXslTZwSfWDZ8pnOot-3D3c8nGrxaVKyPOC-3eU1e5r2nkNszK8eLYgmxglgANuSYM53PEgSqjAyGeHs6gseUzMJ9J_cX/s320/Caprese+Burgers+TCSG.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
These burgers are super easy to pull together. I hide some seasoned, grilled burgers under big, thick slices of mozzarella and let the cheese melt. Then I put the burgers on my <a href="http://thecypressshallgrow.blogspot.com/2015/07/accidental-fastastical-burger-buns.html" target="_blank">Accidental Fantastical Buns</a>, top with homemade Bruschetta and serve 'em up hot with some Oven Fries.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInfo7XdlO9-evZPDPSOqkkbjIiy9-R-L6B18GylIW_HeWa6v6vvKdsFpdl7eLUtlg2MsNbPO-5TsrSuYH_0e-6H5ZGFakecAijMXg0tWZhnUIEDEPfTsEide8VrsvWFkKg5c7RFHjqOrB/s1600/Oven+Fries+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInfo7XdlO9-evZPDPSOqkkbjIiy9-R-L6B18GylIW_HeWa6v6vvKdsFpdl7eLUtlg2MsNbPO-5TsrSuYH_0e-6H5ZGFakecAijMXg0tWZhnUIEDEPfTsEide8VrsvWFkKg5c7RFHjqOrB/s320/Oven+Fries+TCSG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Tuesday</b></div>
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<a href="http://kitchenmeetsgirl.com/slow-cooker-potato-soup/" target="_blank">Slow Cooker Herbed Potato Soup</a></div>
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Because Tuesday is soccer practice, we have to have something that doesn't require me standing over the stove to get the meal to the table. That's where slow cooker potato soup comes in. The herbs really add something special to the soup, kicking it up a bit from the usual bland baked potato soup. You can still top it with all your potato soup favorites like cheddar cheese, green onions and bacon if you want. But I find the toppings unnecessary because the soup is tasty enough on its own.</div>
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<b>Wednesday</b></div>
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Leftovers</div>
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Time to clean out the fridge ahead of my Friday grocery shopping trip!</div>
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<b>Thursday</b></div>
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<a href="https://miammiammena.wordpress.com/2015/07/28/onion-chicken/" target="_blank">Onion Chicken</a>, Green Bean Casserole, <a href="http://www.averiecooks.com/2015/08/balsamic-roasted-brussels-sprouts.html" target="_blank">Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts</a>, and <a href="https://www.jiffymix.com/product.php/12/Corn_Muffin_Mix" target="_blank">Cornbread</a></div>
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Onion chicken is a stand by for the kids. I know they'll eat the chicken and cornbread (we like the <a href="https://www.jiffymix.com/product.php/12/Corn_Muffin_Mix" target="_blank">Jiffy Mix</a>), but the green bean casserole (the Thanksgiving standard from the back of the French Fried Onion can) and Brussels Spouts will be a much tougher sell. We adults, however, will devour the Brussels Spouts like candy because these are so delicious. I probably won't even eat the chicken - I'll just fill up on the Brussels Sprouts, green beans & cornbread.</div>
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<b>Friday</b></div>
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Hot Dogs & <a href="http://www.onceuponachef.com/2009/07/french-grated-carrot-salad.html" target="_blank">French Grated Carrot Salad</a></div>
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Hot dogs (for the kids) and Carrot Salad for the grown ups along with leftover soup. The <a href="https://miammiammena.wordpress.com/2015/09/07/slow-cooker-french-onion-soup/" target="_blank">French Onion Soup</a> I made on Sunday and the Herbed Potato Soup from earlier in the week will need to be polished off. </div>
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<b>Saturday</b></div>
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Japanese Noodles</div>
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There's a Japanese steakhouse with which my sister and I used to be <i>slightly</i> obsessed. And by <i>slightly</i> I mean, we would eat there one or two times a week. They made these amazing noodles to go with the hibachi dinner. Really, the noodles are so delicious I could go there just to get the noodles. But, alas, the budget doesn't allow it these days. Instead, I run over to the Asian grocer near our house and grab a package of rice noodles ($1.49) and cook them up. Julienne some carrots, slice up some green onions and a sweet onion, saute them in a little garlic butter & vegetable oil, add in some salt & pepper & lite soy sauce...and for less than $4, I can feed the entire family and have leftovers.<br />
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If you wanted to get fancy and make it a little heartier, you could saute some chicken or flank steak to add in. A few additional add-ons, if you're feeling fancy: sugar snap peas, baby corn and fresh bean sprouts for some crunch. </div>
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<b>Sunday</b></div>
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Grilled Pork Chops, Scalloped Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli, and Rolls (at my Mom & Dad's house)</div>
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There's the week folks! Any tailgaters out there? Who's your team and what's your game day tailgating must-have?<br />
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Linking up with <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/simchafisher/" target="_blank">Simcha Fisher</a> for her Friday feature "<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/simchafisher/2015/09/18/whats-for-supper-vol-5-shut-up-bouillon-cubes-you-dont-know-me/" target="_blank">What's for Supper?</a>" where she poses a great question. The answer is: cleaning knives that have been used to spread peanut butter or soy butter or cream cheese. Go see what the questions was. Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-46086302257372545492015-09-07T15:34:00.001-04:002015-09-11T11:55:00.938-04:00Miam Miam Monday (Menu Plan) v7It's back to school week here at our house, so we're going with simple meals to get in the groove. Our big boy starts 1st grade at the neighborhood public school. Here's a simple equation to show you the mindset going on here:<br />
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(His excitement level + cost of new school clothes & supplies)<sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3</span></sup> = My anxiety/Alarm set to 6am<br />
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But I know it will be alright.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.<br />
- John 14:27</blockquote>
So onward to this week's menu plan! <br />
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<b>Monday</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.theblackpeppercorn.com/2012/04/greek-marinade-for-grilled-chicken/" target="_blank">Greek Marinated Chicken</a> & <a href="http://miammiammena.wordpress.com/2014/04/23/spinach-balls/" target="_blank">Spinach Balls</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIt1MLSw0FTX3jDEhzSVNZSKn87AytcCx5h8Aj-7LfxBhXjyTZaSGDKI38gy6QFp3WZ2EP66b31ATM0lwaI-g3OpJjx5erv3ti5QnZrk2twWaaufntmW2JZxr-_Xm1ijf4DOqGbhknt6U/s1600/Greek+Marinated+Chicken+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIt1MLSw0FTX3jDEhzSVNZSKn87AytcCx5h8Aj-7LfxBhXjyTZaSGDKI38gy6QFp3WZ2EP66b31ATM0lwaI-g3OpJjx5erv3ti5QnZrk2twWaaufntmW2JZxr-_Xm1ijf4DOqGbhknt6U/s320/Greek+Marinated+Chicken+TCSG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I found this great Greek marinade for chicken and when I amp up the garlic a bit, I think it is just perfect. Now, I am too scared to use our grill (propane scares me), so I bake the chicken at 350<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">°<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span>F for 25 minutes, which works perfectly since the Spinach Balls also cook at 350<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">°<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span>F for 20 minutes. I like to serve it with chicken flavored rice with vermicelli (Aldi brand) and a homemade Tatziki sauce, but the sauce isn't strictly necessary, and store bought would be just fine here too.</div>
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<b>Tuesday</b></div>
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<a href="http://brokeandfabulousblog.tumblr.com/post/69835233341/bremer-gyro-kit-aldis-gyros" target="_blank">Gyros</a></div>
These are a frozen meal package found at Aldi - we'll just add the fresh sliced onion & tomatoes. My husband went grocery shopping with me a month ago and found this and bought it. Umm, not my style. But since we have 2 evening activities on Tuesday - a quick, throw it together, put it in foil and run out the door meal will have to suffice. The link above gives a more thorough review of the product...so we'll see what my husband and children think.<br />
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<b>Wednesday</b></div>
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Spaghetti & <a href="https://miammiammena.wordpress.com/2015/09/07/easy-italian-meatballs/" target="_blank">Meatballs</a></div>
This is one of those meals that I will double or triple so I have plenty of leftovers to stock the freezer. It's just as much work to make a big batch of marinara sauce as it is to make a small batch, so I'll do a big batch and save some time for future me. The meatballs are pretty easy and absolutely delicious. They are broiled just long enough to get the outside seared, then I finish cooking them in the sauce (or freeze them to use later) so they stay juicy and flavorful. Broiling them for a few minutes before adding them to the sauce prevents the sauce from getting greasy - there's nothing worse than a greasy tomato sauce.<br />
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Plus, I can use the leftovers for meatball subs, meatball pizza or whatever else I can think of to use up meatballs.<br />
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<b>Thursday</b></div>
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<a href="https://miammiammena.wordpress.com/2015/09/06/fruity-waldorf-chicken-salad/" target="_blank">Fruity Waldorf Chicken Salad</a> on French Bread</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZYo5kffKRJ-uSpsPWcjuqExUGrUjetePEOX0ythUmLROS_aE0fxQIjM7atXIACfKS4oVoF4ONvn7t5Q_9l1aS8kfuSrtcn8mvxFV1-9FsKSPUfQCjUJlonVIClO_WelXp6VblZbOKDkx/s1600/Fruity+Waldorf+Chicken+Salad+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZYo5kffKRJ-uSpsPWcjuqExUGrUjetePEOX0ythUmLROS_aE0fxQIjM7atXIACfKS4oVoF4ONvn7t5Q_9l1aS8kfuSrtcn8mvxFV1-9FsKSPUfQCjUJlonVIClO_WelXp6VblZbOKDkx/s320/Fruity+Waldorf+Chicken+Salad+TCSG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I love Chicken Salad and Waldorf Salad is one of my favorite varieties. This one is extra fruity and is easily nut free by omitting the walnuts (I always leave 'em out because - allergies). The leftover salad just gets better over the next several days, so if you have time to make this one ahead, I'd recommend it. I'll also throw together a loaf of French bread in the bread machine. We can eat lettuce wraps with it on Saturday for lunch too!<br />
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<b>Friday</b></div>
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<a href="https://miammiammena.wordpress.com/2014/04/09/waffles/" target="_blank">Waffles</a></div>
What is easier than breakfast for dinner?! Nothing, folks, nothing. And as an added bonus, at my house there will be no complaints when I serve waffles for dinner. All the kids love them, so I endure no "YUCK! ME NOT LIKE THIS!" comments from my 3yo.<br />
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<b>Saturday</b></div>
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Pizza & Bread Sticks</div>
I am dying for a regular old pepperoni pizza, so I moved pizza night to Saturday from our usual Friday. I make the <a href="http://www.chef-in-training.com/?s=pizza+dough" target="_blank">dough</a>, I make the <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/easy-pizza-sauce-21202" target="_blank">sauce</a> (and freeze leftovers for future use), and I make the <a href="http://www.laurenslatest.com/fail-proof-pizza-dough-and-cheesy-garlic-bread-sticks-just-like-in-restaurants/" target="_blank">Cheesy Garlic Bread Stick</a>s. I buy the Ranch dressing in bulk for dipping. Lizzie, our 1yo, uses Ranch as facial moisturizer...so that's partially why we go through so much of it. <br />
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<b>Sunday</b></div>
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<a href="https://miammiammena.wordpress.com/2015/09/07/slow-cooker-french-onion-soup/" target="_blank">Slow Cooker French Onion Soup</a> with leftover Cheesy Garlic Bread Sticks</div>
This slow cooker French Onion Soup couldn't be easier and leaves the house smelling amazing. We'll eat it with the leftover cheesy garlic breadsticks. My husband can take the leftovers to work as lunch a few days this week too!<br />
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That's our week in dinners! What's your favorite thing on your menu plan for the upcoming week?<br />
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Linked up with Simcha Fisher for her <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/simchafisher/2015/09/11/whats-for-supper-vol-4-workin-on-my-night-cheese/" target="_blank">What's for Supper</a> feature. Her menu is much funnier than mine. Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-91493034604349475932015-09-02T15:38:00.001-04:002015-09-02T15:38:45.961-04:005-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse Pie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJoim6UOvAaoOYFogWpBOgCXIkyjaZlLXKc1deB6pY-oulDT8klu0kvsawfNg7QL7HhnZ7AJhrShaXCc1npR-mTruXRh1_iCm3PJrOgO2MDk_cXZEpuaYPhmO-d_rQctH2qyqWcVDlpkd/s1600/Chocolate+Mousse+Pie+-+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJoim6UOvAaoOYFogWpBOgCXIkyjaZlLXKc1deB6pY-oulDT8klu0kvsawfNg7QL7HhnZ7AJhrShaXCc1npR-mTruXRh1_iCm3PJrOgO2MDk_cXZEpuaYPhmO-d_rQctH2qyqWcVDlpkd/s320/Chocolate+Mousse+Pie+-+TCSG.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Because I love you, I'm going to share one of my secret recipes with you.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvuxYiJN9-kKg44jkzzhJ4UTd7CiYihwREoN5zB-yuVd7tFpQEmonHyeVd5ZQk3ptHGWK0djZSfUGBb9YKdg0Naw5TBqlOBiWGls5ARm9yqC3f1jZL7El8PI9x5I2bk19l2wUS7Ky-3L1/s1600/5+ingredients+Chocolate+Mousse+Pie+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvuxYiJN9-kKg44jkzzhJ4UTd7CiYihwREoN5zB-yuVd7tFpQEmonHyeVd5ZQk3ptHGWK0djZSfUGBb9YKdg0Naw5TBqlOBiWGls5ARm9yqC3f1jZL7El8PI9x5I2bk19l2wUS7Ky-3L1/s320/5+ingredients+Chocolate+Mousse+Pie+TCSG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Whenever we get invited to a potluck or a holiday party or a gathering where I am supposed to bring food I try to get assigned a dessert as my dish to pass.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PmSTxcVKLt7bfaKwuIbLWJ1ETv91h9TDv3HUA6CVNb2Pbw3hXahmqiAvm5INd5wcqpHBYlFBHsF4gf0nDNp5XP4kjAYv4dkvoa98qgrEB8cqDX6m_vZ7s8a3uQpC9qNmjaHEEmjqgfq_/s1600/Into+the+Microwave+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PmSTxcVKLt7bfaKwuIbLWJ1ETv91h9TDv3HUA6CVNb2Pbw3hXahmqiAvm5INd5wcqpHBYlFBHsF4gf0nDNp5XP4kjAYv4dkvoa98qgrEB8cqDX6m_vZ7s8a3uQpC9qNmjaHEEmjqgfq_/s320/Into+the+Microwave+TCSG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The reasons for this are as follows in no particular order:<br />
<ol>
<li>I <i>LOVE</i> dessert and an evening out without a killer dessert is just a bummer in my book.</li>
<li>I <i>LOVE</i> making desserts. I love making cakes, pies, cupcakes, fudge, truffles, cookies, and candy. If it qualifies as dessert I want to make it.</li>
<li>I feel like people are (rightly) finicky about the foods they eat, but it's hard to pass up a good dessert.</li>
<li>Like good wine, there should always be a chocolate dessert offered at every occasion. </li>
<li>Recipe taste testing & leftovers are all <i>MINE</i> when I make the dessert.</li>
</ol>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BQiP1OC6CjCEykJoAP1d6rLijicatpZ7a_w5PkeBFceukNKvZsHnjjEJd8TrpVyaks36qTyuDr6GVAkVbeP0ljNHMYqTok9J5iSMFSXXJ7x6dz-EfPq6HH-wu97rdOiG81MMiFtvRKDx/s1600/Let+It+Cool+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BQiP1OC6CjCEykJoAP1d6rLijicatpZ7a_w5PkeBFceukNKvZsHnjjEJd8TrpVyaks36qTyuDr6GVAkVbeP0ljNHMYqTok9J5iSMFSXXJ7x6dz-EfPq6HH-wu97rdOiG81MMiFtvRKDx/s320/Let+It+Cool+TCSG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This pie has been brought to dozens and dozens of events over the years. Once people taste it, they always ask me to bring it again the next time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9Weym_2x_DTixyqqXJxSIJDjLtk8yqr_R0_lV8OaMCoe2h40PZeLYEsb-oP7cE39MB7qyjQjeCyTD2ON8adMQHi9Eh8Scw1k2kctkjJJhbuVHi83NKXRxIoU1ncqOEKxfWzpaHYY1X_L/s1600/Whip+It+Good+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9Weym_2x_DTixyqqXJxSIJDjLtk8yqr_R0_lV8OaMCoe2h40PZeLYEsb-oP7cE39MB7qyjQjeCyTD2ON8adMQHi9Eh8Scw1k2kctkjJJhbuVHi83NKXRxIoU1ncqOEKxfWzpaHYY1X_L/s320/Whip+It+Good+TCSG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I am only too happy to oblige. You're welcome <insert my fancy curtsy here>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2gtOKmf1CK21_ii5Vr61Tf_kjVffEgsI12FHF0PMRSKnEntq2F2psln9FUzNrbPEI8pJFFs1DddiUfoQucv8irfo9RKX40mb9HBAx5STlEqR2vUOULQPPiXUh8pk_b7LtKZNbOXXECrL/s1600/Fold+It+Nicely+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2gtOKmf1CK21_ii5Vr61Tf_kjVffEgsI12FHF0PMRSKnEntq2F2psln9FUzNrbPEI8pJFFs1DddiUfoQucv8irfo9RKX40mb9HBAx5STlEqR2vUOULQPPiXUh8pk_b7LtKZNbOXXECrL/s320/Fold+It+Nicely+TCSG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Even though there are never any leftovers, no one ever asks me for the recipe. I guess they just assume it is really difficult and time consuming to make such a luscious mousse, but they couldn't be more wrong.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjjXtkZouwfeABVP7-e2LGOeEdew-U7v6FHUo-iIxZoGrkHvCf4uMraQAkJNE-iBS0zIkVM3P_cNZdpX-rABRLdpArCial2Ad8chrIALVPtT5NvTQ5yPMYlN0C2-bS1yuEDnbakzGURby/s1600/Nice+%2526+Smooth+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjjXtkZouwfeABVP7-e2LGOeEdew-U7v6FHUo-iIxZoGrkHvCf4uMraQAkJNE-iBS0zIkVM3P_cNZdpX-rABRLdpArCial2Ad8chrIALVPtT5NvTQ5yPMYlN0C2-bS1yuEDnbakzGURby/s320/Nice+%2526+Smooth+TCSG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Plus when they see my smokin' guns they figure they don't have what it takes to whip the cream into submission. J/K - I use a handheld mixer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gaNse4CKoFtW97kjyD0tDbQ5G3wNzLpHNLhVIXUykgCBbZWdD5laJdJ6uRJWJuo9MGW9HHlUo5dnQ4AndH8SijF62bvhdfkhYb1Pke4YjFnrvMK81LBaMRz3lGURuTdrkO0pCwPSwEie/s1600/Chocolate+Mousse+Pie+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gaNse4CKoFtW97kjyD0tDbQ5G3wNzLpHNLhVIXUykgCBbZWdD5laJdJ6uRJWJuo9MGW9HHlUo5dnQ4AndH8SijF62bvhdfkhYb1Pke4YjFnrvMK81LBaMRz3lGURuTdrkO0pCwPSwEie/s320/Chocolate+Mousse+Pie+TCSG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Not only does this recipe have only 5 ingredients, but (cover your eyes if you're French) it is a microwave recipe too. I know, I should be ashamed, but I've tasted it...and there ain't no shame in my chocolate mousse game.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KmjMMnnHX_o__FI58ymemxy62JO0kgtl4kPHnrm_ya1mW1gDow5SWDB-ejic34kApi4hbRd0OGmjMPjybDZ7HuijYW16v3zQvcIYRtZxFajvgs2lt3oDlODjfiyN0hXZd-OLep1GB62P/s1600/Pie+Closeup+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KmjMMnnHX_o__FI58ymemxy62JO0kgtl4kPHnrm_ya1mW1gDow5SWDB-ejic34kApi4hbRd0OGmjMPjybDZ7HuijYW16v3zQvcIYRtZxFajvgs2lt3oDlODjfiyN0hXZd-OLep1GB62P/s320/Pie+Closeup+TCSG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Go ahead and make it for your Labor Day cookout. What a great way to (un)officially end the summer!<br />
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To get the recipe click <a href="https://miammiammena.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/5-ingredient-chocolate-mousse-pie1.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-1816365378420355222015-09-01T22:56:00.001-04:002015-09-01T22:56:25.827-04:00#5Faves: My New Day PlannerYou guys!!!! I got a new day planner.<br />
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Yes, I know they have apps for that now. Yes, we use Cozi (family calendar, shopping lists) for the great pop-up reminders.<br />
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And I'll tell you what...even though Ver.izon gave me major side-eye for threatening to switch to T-Mo.bile because, <i>blah, blah, blah</i>, "their network coverage isn't as good", <i>blah, blah, blah</i>, "you get what you pay for"...I never can get on Ver.izon's fancy-schmancy network when I am out and about anyhow. Seriously, standing in the doctor's or dentist's office trying to make my next appointment saying, "sorry, my phone is going so slow. Ummm, sure just book it and I'll call to change it if it doesn't work when my calendar finally loads." I should've followed through on that threat and made the switch.<br />
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Nothing beats a paper planner in my world.<br />
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So I thought I'd share my new planner with you and tell you my #5Faves about it.<br />
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I got a <a href="http://www.myfaithfulplanner.com/" target="_blank">My Faithful Planner</a> and you guys - SWOON!!! <br />
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<i>(This is not a sponsored post. I bought this planner on my own, paid for it with my own money, then </i><i><i>after I fell in love with it, </i>asked if they'd mind if I told you all about it.)</i><br />
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<b>#1</b></div>
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<b>Changeable Covers</b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudFulMzMR-sMdxfq6scbeFn3Wj8yFv92MXwYYf7lqfvcEXDSkljw_CbMHZc2vgziMKiJX17p_8RoEo-eQHjkaitVNl41Wakt5zSQ8ER0XrSdeUPKjrSHUuuCljFC6xU3uK-ifA7hXRQUD/s1600/Planner+Cover+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpfFa9cgUOhkjD_Fxl4pgtrg3q-QXmNDKceNOh21pNkR1VELUsU7FgElME1mIh0bxe5SazX_OtEYC4CvdJLALc9s8ZpAk2UvUUMHrMKEUQQlQBgpe49fAwgkNVafivtLmSr8h0tkwjGD3/s1600/Planner+Cover+Collage+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpfFa9cgUOhkjD_Fxl4pgtrg3q-QXmNDKceNOh21pNkR1VELUsU7FgElME1mIh0bxe5SazX_OtEYC4CvdJLALc9s8ZpAk2UvUUMHrMKEUQQlQBgpe49fAwgkNVafivtLmSr8h0tkwjGD3/s400/Planner+Cover+Collage+TCSG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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They have over <a href="http://www.myfaithfulplanner.com/collections/frontpage" target="_blank">100 cover designs</a> and you can even upload your own photos for the cover (outside, inside, front or back). I selected a beautiful painting of <a href="http://www.myfaithfulplanner.com/collections/covers-mary/products/madonna-child-ii-covers" target="_blank">Our Lady holding Jesus as an infant</a>. On the inside covers I put pictures of my family along with my name and phone number (in case I lose my planner). You can change your cover because the disc binding allows you to just pop it off and pop a new one on. My next cover is probably going to be <a href="http://www.myfaithfulplanner.com/collections/covers-angels/products/the-assumption-covers" target="_blank">this one</a>...or <a href="http://www.myfaithfulplanner.com/collections/fun-abstract-covers/products/travel-covers" target="_blank">this one</a>...I can't decide.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>#2</b></div>
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<b>Month View Layout</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8y-IhPmTFZUxuA1hMTvwkqsmm4ShiVOpHKm0ntna8Y-zPtW-UqdJ4wWJq_52GqJ4NiTdzTfP-b9TAdTWnCxbhIwkwtVfmOUNtDTmNuKhyphenhyphenCNwRx2urqkt__XkBApvJt4sLnngTMpAU38h8/s1600/Month+View+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8y-IhPmTFZUxuA1hMTvwkqsmm4ShiVOpHKm0ntna8Y-zPtW-UqdJ4wWJq_52GqJ4NiTdzTfP-b9TAdTWnCxbhIwkwtVfmOUNtDTmNuKhyphenhyphenCNwRx2urqkt__XkBApvJt4sLnngTMpAU38h8/s320/Month+View+TCSG.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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There are two different <a href="http://www.myfaithfulplanner.com/pages/overview-monthly-calendar" target="_blank">month-at-a-glance</a> views included in the planners that have lots of space for writing in important events, birthdays, holidays, whatever. But I use my month-at-a-glance layout for menu planning. I write in events that have us away from the house at meal-times (or events that keep me away from the house during my usual meal prep times) so I can plan our menus around them. Then I just write in our menu plan right there.<br />
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<b>#3</b></div>
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<b>Weekly View Layout</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLdnYH75Q057iTEreQdjF6wT7kdQ3GrXzWMXl7jGv7xxJhYRLbktgk8Z4WkUOG8XR-KkB7XvKtrIjfuyb4sIX_UhvVWB4RV1C_fzw4wugcJjhlSgR-cKUWh-h73-bTylGP0NjY0AkXlpV/s1600/Weekly+View+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLdnYH75Q057iTEreQdjF6wT7kdQ3GrXzWMXl7jGv7xxJhYRLbktgk8Z4WkUOG8XR-KkB7XvKtrIjfuyb4sIX_UhvVWB4RV1C_fzw4wugcJjhlSgR-cKUWh-h73-bTylGP0NjY0AkXlpV/s320/Weekly+View+TCSG.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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First of all, I love the pretty colors - it just makes me cheerful, which if you know me is not an easy feat (pessimist that I am). They offer their layouts in black & white too, in case you are one of those naturally cheerful people who needs to hold it back a bit lest the rest of us <strike>slap</strike> hug you.<br />
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They have <a href="http://www.myfaithfulplanner.com/collections/all-layouts" target="_blank">5 layouts</a> to choose from; I requested to have my weekly layout customized just a bit from the <a href="http://www.myfaithfulplanner.com/pages/overview-layout-5-student" target="_blank">Student Layout</a>. I needed the space below each day so I could assign tasks for myself to specific days, but I also needed the weekly To Do list space so I could keep a running list of things that need to get done, but don't necessarily have to be done on a specific day.<br />
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I also asked to have my days broken into Morning, Day & Night instead of the hour running along the side. Having the time there just stresses me out because I know I'll always be running behind and with little kids underfoot strict schedules fall apart quickly leaving me feeling like a failure. Feeling like a failure because I didn't make a phone call at 9:30am like I scheduled, leads to me, overwhelmed, in my pajamas, eating chocolate chips on the couch while my kids tear the house apart. So, no hours for me, just general times of the day.<br />
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<b>#4</b></div>
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<b>Liturgical Calendar and Pope, Saint, & Bible Quotes</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBDWRLUC78Gmrp9Yf5vze-wTI9cmDY6lR35jqH5q587kb4jRjpIp_pnX2WDN-x_vmbfwvXtlm3mVcWoTONY8JQtk-hcdEWSTNtCWX8-k957FiI7Eo4uhyoViY6cv0tJegxVHnz2p1VQ-z/s1600/Liturgical+Calendar+Collage+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBDWRLUC78Gmrp9Yf5vze-wTI9cmDY6lR35jqH5q587kb4jRjpIp_pnX2WDN-x_vmbfwvXtlm3mVcWoTONY8JQtk-hcdEWSTNtCWX8-k957FiI7Eo4uhyoViY6cv0tJegxVHnz2p1VQ-z/s400/Liturgical+Calendar+Collage+TCSG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">My Faithful Planner has a <a href="http://www.myfaithfulplanner.com/pages/overview-liturgical-calendar" target="_blank">Liturgical calendar</a> for each month already done! All the feast days are marked, all the days of abstinence are marked, the liturgical colors are all there - for Ordinary Form or Extraordinary Form or both. How cool is that? Hint: Tr<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">è</span>s chic!</span></div>
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Additionally, sprinkled on each page are quotes from our beloved Popes, our favorite Saints, and our Holy Scriptures. What a great way to get some more good, holy reading and meditations in! I really love trying to memorize the quotes on the pages - especially the bible verses, because isn't it wonderful when the Holy Spirit just brings a scripture to your remembrance when you need it? I enjoy immersing myself in the Word of God and I've found it to be a great way to bring a smile to my face, usually when I need it most, at random moments in my day.<br />
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<b>#5</b></div>
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<b>Add ons</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93mZ46sb4VqlZhWKsZImfOEkEMxTzQ6d3h23aIfEtr4qb-jD_3lLdcVE-CoYl8VnGIT7tD1aNvwsq2lWlty2GKD4UK6_wKrYZNVmzXA3eGWCX_S7-oy9yV1ukZdAnD4ovbhoTV8KVjuh0/s1600/Add+Ons+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93mZ46sb4VqlZhWKsZImfOEkEMxTzQ6d3h23aIfEtr4qb-jD_3lLdcVE-CoYl8VnGIT7tD1aNvwsq2lWlty2GKD4UK6_wKrYZNVmzXA3eGWCX_S7-oy9yV1ukZdAnD4ovbhoTV8KVjuh0/s320/Add+Ons+TCSG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I added a few dividers onto my planner to make it easier to get to the current week and other frequently used features (there is a place for important phone numbers, website logins, etc. in the back). I also got some folder pockets so I can place papers I will need inside without them getting lost. They have pen holders and elastics for holding it all closed. It's just so fun to configure your planner exactly how you want it to make the best possible solution for you and your life.<br />
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I have to say that <a href="http://www.myfaithfulplanner.com/pages/about-us" target="_blank">Yesenia</a> at <a href="http://www.myfaithfulplanner.com/" target="_blank">My Faithful Planner</a> was a pleasure to work with; she was very attentive, prompt and efficient answering my questions and accommodating my requests. She and her lovely family have put so much time and effort into creating these beautiful and useful products. Their customer service was fantastic - my planner arrived much sooner than I expected especially considering I had requested some customization. <br />
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This planner has been a blessing to me and my family already, helping me organize my projects and our family's days and weeks.<br />
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I hope you check out <a href="http://www.myfaithfulplanner.com/" target="_blank">My Faithful Planner</a> and you are as inspired by them as I have been and that you consider purchasing one for yourself or as a gift to bless someone special.<br />
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Linking up with <a href="http://callherhappy.com/" target="_blank">Jenna</a> for this week's edition of <a href="http://callherhappy.com/5faves-homeschool-preschool/" target="_blank">#5Faves</a>. Check out what other bloggers are finding useful, inspirational, fun or yummy these days!Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-41345457327034818612015-08-31T08:46:00.002-04:002015-09-04T13:57:49.879-04:00Miam Miam Monday (Menu Plan) v6DH is on the mend and we are off the bland diet. Wahoo!!<br />
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Since school starts for us after Labor Day, this week I'm practicing getting in school mode. That means 6am wake ups for me (Lord, have mercy!), all three kids dressed & fed by 8am, lunch ready & packed for Junior, clothes laying out the night before, and naps that end by 3pm to facilitate after-school pick ups. I'm getting ready to turn to slow cooker and easier meals to facilitate eating between school, homework, soccer practice, soccer games, catechism, school meetings, Parish Commission meetings and everything else we have going on in this crazy house.<br />
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Don't worry, I bought a case of Coke to help me through.<br />
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And yet I still failed spectacularly this morning. I got up 40 minutes late because the kids were still asleep and dagnabit WHY DO THEY ONLY EVER SLEEP WHEN I HAVE TO GET UP?!?! Talk about not fair. All kids were fed by 8am, but only 1/3 were dressed. Now to practice walking up to the school to get an idea of how long it will realistically take to make that walk. I'm gonna end up driving him to school aren't I? <br />
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Here's my plan for this week:<br />
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<b>Monday</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.stockpilingmoms.com/2014/01/funeral-rolls/" target="_blank">Funeral Rolls</a></div>
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This one is a favorite around here. The sweetness of the Hawaiian Rolls, with the saltiness of the ham, plus the tangy saucy marinade...perfection. It is so easy to throw together in the morning to toss in the oven in the evening. It really is a winner.</div>
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<b>Tuesday</b></div>
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Nachos</div>
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Remember when I made my <a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/italian-shredded-beef-sandwiches" target="_blank">not-favorite shredded beef</a> <a href="http://thecypressshallgrow.blogspot.com/2015/08/miam-miam-monday-menu-plan-v5.html" target="_blank">last week</a>? For this easy meal I grab a portion of shredded beef leftovers from the freezer in the morning and let it thaw. In the evening, I pour a bag of tortilla chips on a baking sheet, top the chips with the beef (draining some liquid if necessary to keep the nachos from being soggy), cheese, a can of black beans, and frankly whatever else we like on nachos, and pop in in the oven for a few minutes to heat it up & melt the cheese. Serve with salsa, guacamole & sour cream and you've got yourself a Nacho Tuesday Party.</div>
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<b>Wednesday</b></div>
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Stadium Sausages on Croissants</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIL1ifsn67b0VVpIGsATRVbOHxysOe2hN4GQbIMIz-E2ptYiOZItHVzVTg6bKh06nRrRXIsdcjIvOgLHbwFrOxifmfUm9pUsZqOHyKWh7Z01Xx0iEskg5PyNDsx6JWqBMHp1dH8cuBIM2/s1600/Croissant+Dog+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIL1ifsn67b0VVpIGsATRVbOHxysOe2hN4GQbIMIz-E2ptYiOZItHVzVTg6bKh06nRrRXIsdcjIvOgLHbwFrOxifmfUm9pUsZqOHyKWh7Z01Xx0iEskg5PyNDsx6JWqBMHp1dH8cuBIM2/s320/Croissant+Dog+TCSG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm not typically one for hot dogs or sausages, but my mom made Stadium Sausages from Kowalski a few weeks ago and I've been craving them ever since. </div>
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But I also saw <a href="http://www.climbinggriermountain.com/2015/07/french-croissant-hot-dogs-with-crispy-bacon.html" target="_blank">this recipe</a> from <a href="http://www.climbinggriermountain.com/" target="_blank">Climbing Grier Mountain</a>. </div>
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So combine those two things and you get Stadium Sausage on Croissants with Bechamel Sauce and Crispy Bacon.</div>
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You should eat one or two. You won't be sorry.</div>
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<b>Thursday</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sloppy Toms</div>
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One of our family's favorite <a href="http://mixandmatchmama.blogspot.com/2011/10/dinner-tonight-slightly-sweet-sloppy.html" target="_blank">Sloppy Joe recipes</a> is found over at <a href="http://www.mixandmatchmama.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mix and Match Mama</a>. Go a little light on the liquids to make it a smidge less sloppy and double the recipe so you can freeze some leftovers for another night. I simply make it with ground turkey instead of ground beef...and like magic...Sloppy Toms.</div>
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<b>Friday</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.crazyforcrust.com/2013/07/grilled-pizza/" target="_blank">Pesto Avocado & Corn Pizza</a> & <a href="http://www.laurenslatest.com/fail-proof-pizza-dough-and-cheesy-garlic-bread-sticks-just-like-in-restaurants/" target="_blank">Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mmmmm, pizza night. You guys, I'll share with you my perpetual dilemma: (1) I like my pizza on Friday nights, and (2) I like my pizza with pepperoni, and (3) I never want meat more than I do on Fridays, and (4) I try to do a meatless Friday.<br />
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Yet, with this pizza, I don't miss the pepperoni and I still keep a meatless Friday.<br />
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Win, win, win, win.<br />
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The link has a bonus dessert pizza recipe too!</div>
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<b>Saturday</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/crock-pot-rotisserie-style-chicken-448861" target="_blank">Slow Cooker "Rotisserie" Chicken</a></div>
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You know when you are walking through the grocery store at dinner time and you smell the Rotisserie Chicken and you walk out with one (or more) in your cart, some Hawaiian Rolls & pre-made mashed potatoes or mac 'n cheese? </div>
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You know exactly what I mean.</div>
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Well, now you don't have to take a trip to the grocery store to smell a delicious Rotisserie Chicken. And won't you be proud of yourself for not scrapping whatever dinner plans you had for a grocery store chicken? Puff up that chest, and wipe that dirt from your shoulder because you should be way proud. <br />
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<b>Sunday</b></div>
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My day off! I'll be listening to Junior whine about having to go to bed <strike>"early"</strike> on-time and "only one more day until school starts" and "it isn't fair" and life is so hard when you're 6. So, it should be fun.</div>
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What's on your plan for this week? Are you starting to switch out summer recipes for Autumn favorites yet?<br />
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Linking up with <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/simchafisher/2015/09/04/whats-for-supper-vol-3-so-much-pork/" target="_blank">Simcha</a> again! Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-5058436224880616442015-08-26T09:26:00.001-04:002015-08-26T09:26:11.355-04:0020 Questions + 1 moreHannah at <a href="http://gokienotes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Gokie Notes</a> posted her answers to these <a href="http://gokienotes.blogspot.com/2015/08/20-questions.html" target="_blank">20 questions</a> and I giggled aloud at several of her answers because (1) she's adorbs, and (2) she's apparently my opposite twin (black socks?!?! No, no, no. White tube socks, all the way).<br />
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These are always fun. I love seeing the answers everyone has - we are all such a bunch of special little snowflakes. In my case, after reading this, you'll think I'm just a flake (I'm a strange one).<br />
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<b>(1) Favorite food?</b><br />
Since "all of it" is not an appropriate answer to this question, I guess I'll have to be more specific. I will say medium Filet Mignon with garlic butter, dipped in Alfredo sauce. Too much?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHs_H5KTfTT6FhBN_wUVvkjkfMDChuO4EQ2DfAuBt-HQ221ChVkwvt-f-IbuhPYeEcB0QvoX8Fj4kBY12GYfNH-oEeGnLD6YhmQUbg8hD-kIGsxolHBjfK16e8iEmibOYUOCvJ15I8SdV/s1600/Black+Magic+Brownies+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHs_H5KTfTT6FhBN_wUVvkjkfMDChuO4EQ2DfAuBt-HQ221ChVkwvt-f-IbuhPYeEcB0QvoX8Fj4kBY12GYfNH-oEeGnLD6YhmQUbg8hD-kIGsxolHBjfK16e8iEmibOYUOCvJ15I8SdV/s320/Black+Magic+Brownies+TCSG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
How about brownies?<br />
Or cupcakes - yellow with chocolate frosting?<br />
Or pizza with broccoli and sweet tomato sauce?<br />
Or a super juicy burger stuffed with blue cheese and topped with caramelized onions & crispy bacon?<br />
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Did I mention I like food? Oh, I like food.<br />
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<b>(2) Flip flops or high heels?</b><br />
There was a day when the answer would have been high heels. Because I wore heels to work every day and I enjoyed finding a perfectly wild pair of 4" heels to wear to my ultra-conservative workplace.<br />
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These days though...flip flops. I blame it on my kids. Wrangling these little minions in high heels is dangerous work, so flats for the win. Though I live in a constant state of worry for my poor toenails' demise. My kids have kicked my toenails off more times than I care to count (let that sink in for a moment, <<shudder>>), so while I wear flip-flops leaving my poor lower digits exposed & vulnerable, said digits are almost always scrunched over like the claws of an eagle. Scared, size 11W eagle talons. That is what is found at the southern most end of my body. In flip-flops.<br />
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<b>(3) Favorite places to shop for yourself?</b><br />
Hmmm, I guess "the grocery store" is not gonna suffice for this one. If money were no object (and they sold clothes that fit my lusty & busty frame) White House Black Market would be my choice. I like my clothes black. More realistically though, I find some good stuff at Sears on sale, I like Lands End stuff. And t-shirts from Target. Can't go wrong with a fresh set of black t-shirts each year at Target.<br />
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<b>(4) Standard coffee order?</b><br />
None for me, please and thank you. I have never gotten into drinking coffee. The aroma causes me to dry heave.<br />
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That makes me think of a gift I received: a necklace made of coffee beans.<br />
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Oh you want to see a picture of that? Sure. Here it is.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmmm, coffeeeee. Around. My Neck.</td></tr>
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May I please have an ice cold Coke? Or a hot chocolate? Or a chocolate shake? Or a peanut butter chocolate shake? Or a peanut butter chocolate fudge & Oreo chocolate shake?<br />
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<b>(5) Road trip must-have snack?</b><br />
None. No eating on road-trips. I don't have anything against eating in the car per se. I have a thing against <i>me</i> eating in the car. Because cars don't have bathrooms. At least mine doesn't. That's all I have to say about that.<br />
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<b>(6) DIY or hire it out?</b><br />
DIY for sure. I love doing projects. I would use the money I save from DIYing to hire a babysitter so I actually could DIY without everything I am DIYing (and everything I am not currently DIYing) being destroyed.<br />
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<b>(7) Top 5 TV Shows</b><br />
Friends; The Office; Parenthood; The A-Team; Dukes of Hazzard.<br />
<br />
Boom!<br />
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<i>Friends:</i> Watched this one from the beginning to the end. I just adore this show.<br />
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<i>The Office:</i> Got into it late. Fell for it instantly. I love the quirkiness of all the characters. And the realness of Jim & Pam. And the silliness of the rest of them.<br />
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<i>Parenthood:</i> Binge watched the first 3 seasons on Netflix over the course of 3 weeks. Then the 4th season came out on Netflix and I watched 'em all in about 3 days. I watched the fifth season as it unfolded each week on TV. TORTURE! I ugly cried myself through the last 2 episodes. And when I say "ugly cried" I mean "soaked my t-shirt with tears and snot ugly cried."<br />
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<i>The A-Team:</i> Obviously. They were awesome and my cousins and siblings and I used to play A-Team in the backyard. We had more cousins than characters on the show, but that never stopped us. Plus we were mostly girls. So our version was not an accurate representation of the show, but it was darn fun.<br />
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<i>Dukes of Hazzard:</i> How cute were the Duke boys?!?! Muy. Muy. Guapo. Bo & Luke Duke were where it was at. Still a fan of awesome car chase scenes, and frequently find myself humming, "dadaldadaduhduhlduhdadadaduh!" when I get a little heavy footed in the old minivan.<br />
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<b>(8) Favorite book</b><br />
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Cliché much? I know, but it is my favorite. Along with all the movie versions of this classic. The best of the best is the BBC version with Jennifer Ehrle as Elizabeth Bennet and Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. Swoon.
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<b>(9) Favorite form of exercising?</b><br />
Again, none. I do NOT like to exercise. But I should (see #1 & #4 above). If forced to pick something, I'll rollerblade because that does not seem like real exercise to me.<br />
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<b>(10) How tall are you?</b><br />
I always thought 5'8", but was measured 2 years ago at 5'7". So shorter than I always thought, I guess.<br />
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Funny story. Two years ago during my annual <i>required</i> physical my height was reported (for BMI calculating purposes) as 5'7". Last year despite measuring the same 5'7" tall, my health insurance company sent me a report where, when calculating my BMI, they listed me as being 78" tall. Except 5'7" = 67" not 78". 78" = 6'6". They congratulated me on lowering my BMI so dramatically over the prior year. Apparently it didn't seem strange at all to them that a 38-39 year old woman grew 11" in one year. I guess in their world it is reasonable that my BMI was lowered so drastically by me growing almost a foot while not changing my weight at all. Think they'll notice this year if I shrink 11" and my BMI returns to it's pre-growth spurt level?<br />
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<b>(11) Do you try something new at restaurants or stick to something your favorites?</b><br />
Oh, I stick to my favorites. I don't like to try new things at restaurants. I blame it on my allergies and needing to know exactly what goes into each dish. But mostly it's because I am incredibly boring and predictable.<br />
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<b>(12) One makeup item you can't live without?</b><br />
Again, none. I rarely wear makeup. It irritates my skin. And my mascara runs down my face about 18.3 seconds after application because I forget I am wearing it and rub my eyes.<br />
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Can I answer lip gloss though? I use it to bribe my 3yo into going #2 on the potty. She is allowed to wear purple lip gloss when she successfully gets her business done in the place deemed acceptable by her personal tushy wiper.<br />
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<b>(13) What's on your nightstand?</b><br />
A stack of clothes that I need to donate. And my Bible.<br />
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<b>(14) What's one thing motherhood has taught you?</b><br />
That I am able to sustain a relatively high level of functioning on precious little sleep. And that I needed to quit swearing. And listening to rap music. Kids are like parrots.<br />
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<b>(15) Music that reminds you of high school?</b><br />
C&C Music Factory - Everybody Dance Now<br />
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit<br />
Extreme - More Than Words<br />
Aerosmith - Love in an Elevator<br />
Tag Team - Whoomp! There It Is<br />
Pearl Jam - Black<br />
Stone Temple Pilots - Plush<br />
Vanessa Paradis - Joe le Taxi<br />
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I have eclectic musical tastes. What can I say?<br />
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<b>(16) If you could live anywhere in the world besides your current city, where would you live?</b><br />
I always want to say, "I'd love to live on a farm/ranch in the middle of nowhere in Texas/Oklahoma."<br />
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Then I laugh at my silly self, remember how much I detest bugs and snap back to reality (oh there goes gravity)!<br />
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Paris. France not Texas. I'd live in Paris, France. And eat croissants and bread and cheese and chocolate and croque monsieurs. <br />
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<b>(17) Tell me something about you we might not know.</b><br />
I get "European Flush" when I drink alcohol. With just a few sips of alcohol, my face & chest turn bright red, my skin burns & itches, I have heart palpitations, my speech slurs, my legs and arms feel very heavy & tingly and all I want to do is go asleep immediately. It's delightful. But mostly embarrassing.<br />
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This all developed after my first pregnancy and has been my reaction to any alcohol consumption ever since.<br />
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This reaction is more common among people of East Asian descent. But I am not of East Asian descent. We are European through and through. The cause of "European flush" is unknown and the only "cure" is avoiding alcohol. Lucky me.<br />
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<b>(18) Websites you read/browse?</b><br />
There's a flat ton of websites I read and browse. I have about 50 food blogs I read regularly, plus all the blogs on my blogroll. I also enjoy reading the <a href="http://www.ncregister.com/" target="_blank">National Catholic Register</a> website, <a href="http://www.churchpop.com/" target="_blank">ChurchPOP</a>, and I am found on "the Facebooks" from time to time.<br />
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<b>(19) Morning person or night owl?</b><br />
Night owl. Just say no to mornings. If only I could get my kids on board with this one. I think my son is headed towards being a night owl like his mama. And Alice, the 3yo, would stay up late into the night hours...which wouldn't be so bad if she would sleep past 7am. It's the LizzieBeth that's driving me batty here. That girl wakes up at 5am. No, just no. There are no babies allowed out of their cribs before 7:30am unless we have somewhere to be. The end.<br />
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Peri-menopause is a wonderfully infuriating thing in that I feel tired all. the. time. But can't sleep, because insomnia. I can go to bed at midnight, but I'll just lay there awake (but still as a statue lest I wake the children) until almost 5am. You know, when Lizzie wakes up. Maybe I should start using under eye concealer and make that my #12 above?<br />
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<b>(20) Favorite breakfast meal?</b><br />
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An ice cold Coke.</div>
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Or a homemade cinnamon roll.</div>
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Make that "and." <i>And</i> a homemade cinnamon roll.</div>
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<b>+1</b> = <b>(21) If you could have a do-over in life, what would it be?</b><br />
Oh, so many bad haircuts I could stop with a do-over, but I'd need lots and lots (and lots and lots) of do-overs to stem the tragic tide of mushroom & helmet headed horrors.<br />
<b> </b><br />
I'm going to go with con(re)verting to Catholicism much earlier. I really wish I wouldn't have taken so long to come home to the Catholic faith. I'd been on the path to con(re)verting for more than 10 years before I actually did it. That's too long<b></b> without the Eucharist.<br />
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Your turn! Do it! You know you want to answer them too!Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-69269881587770607852015-08-25T08:07:00.000-04:002015-08-28T10:55:06.056-04:00Miam Miam Monday (Menu Plan) v5Last week I didn't post my menu plan. I meant to do so, but a couple things happened that threw me for a loop and required a major overhaul to my plan and continuing adjustments on the fly.<br />
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And that is not how I like to spend my week in relation to food. I much prefer knowing what we are eating all week, having the ingredients on hand (or knowing when I need to go to the store to buy fresh items), and being able to plan my days accordingly.<br />
<br />
First, my DH was supposed to be headed out of the country on a business trip which would have made my food life easier as my kids do not require the variety that my husband does. They are more than happy with a nice easy rotation at dinner of pancakes & fruit, noodles with veggies, hot dogs & corn on the cob. And I am happy to just have a salad or sandwich for dinner - and take a break from the more elaborate cooking I normally do. But he didn't go.<br />
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Secondly, my DH didn't go out of town because he fell ill and the doctor didn't think it would be wise for him to travel out of the country taking a chance of having to undergo emergency surgery in a less developed nation should his issue progress rather than resolve. And his sudden illness required a liquid diet for 48 hours, followed by a bland diet.<br />
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I don't cook bland food. At least not on purpose.<br />
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Nearly everything I had planned needed to be tossed and we all joined daddy on his odyssey of noodle soup, jello, boiled chicken, rice and mashed potatoes and crackers. I made the food daddy could eat, then tweaked it so the rest of the family would enjoy it as well.<br />
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All I have to say about that is - time for daddy to get better already.<br />
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He's not back to 100% yet, but here's the plan for this week anyhow. If I have to bland it up again for my husband, I will, but the rest of us are eatin' like normal.<br />
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<b>Monday</b></div>
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Fettuccine Alfredo with Broccoli & Chicken </div>
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This is using up some leftover poached chicken and canned Alfredo Sauce. I'll steam the broccoli on the side because DH can't eat broccoli at this point so I want to keep it separate.</div>
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<b>Tuesday</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/fried-rice-recipe/" target="_blank">Veggie Fried Rice</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4GE8apzyVoD1w-YSY0VBV9jqm3absDmFN1hGSOTMfFJFlrslvsQ1keMLJF_s7oAK5lY9k3NNCrwnWuqwiFc7tCMmm6fBwcVRpUvALKa_G0dby_c3YajhH2sb04cJ-N8dP2ZpaBIZsB3G/s1600/Fried+Rice+TCSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4GE8apzyVoD1w-YSY0VBV9jqm3absDmFN1hGSOTMfFJFlrslvsQ1keMLJF_s7oAK5lY9k3NNCrwnWuqwiFc7tCMmm6fBwcVRpUvALKa_G0dby_c3YajhH2sb04cJ-N8dP2ZpaBIZsB3G/s320/Fried+Rice+TCSG.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/fried-rice-recipe/" target="_blank">This</a> is an easy version of fried rice (less the oyster sauce - because allergies!) - made even easier by using a 16oz package of mixed frozen vegetables instead of chopping my own. The rice is leftover bland food that needs to be used up. I can add in chicken too if we still have some leftover. </div>
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<b>Wednesday</b></div>
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Onion Chicken (for the kids) and <a href="http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/caprese-avocado-toast/" target="_blank">Caprese Avocado Toasts</a> for the grown-ups<br />
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The kids love my <a href="https://miammiammena.wordpress.com/2015/07/28/onion-chicken/" target="_blank">Onion Chicken</a>. I'll serve it with some green beans and buttered rolls and call it a night. For the grown ups - we're going with these delicious avocado toasts. Seriously, so, so fantastic.</div>
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<b>Thursday</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/italian-shredded-beef-sandwiches" target="_blank">Italian Shredded Beef Sandwiches</a><br />
This isn't my favorite shredded beef recipe (that one is <a href="https://miammiammena.wordpress.com/2014/04/02/french-dip-on-homemade-buns/" target="_blank">here</a>). But without the chilies it is certainly bland enough not to upset my husband's tummy. This recipe makes a ton of shredded beef...more than we can eat in 1 sitting. Even if we eat some leftovers for lunch and/or dinner...there is still too much to use up so I'll freeze 'em to use in nachos, enchiladas and/or tacos over the next few weeks of soccer season.</div>
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<b>Friday</b></div>
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Pizza and Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks<br />
I am thinking we'll go with a <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/chicago-style-deep-dish-pizza/" target="_blank">Chicago Style Deep Dish Veggie Pizza</a>. And our usual <a href="http://www.laurenslatest.com/fail-proof-pizza-dough-and-cheesy-garlic-bread-sticks-just-like-in-restaurants/" target="_blank">Cheesy Garlic Bread Sticks</a>. Since I'm trying to come up with ways to save some kitchen time, I'm going to make the usual batch of <a href="http://www.chef-in-training.com/2014/04/perfect-pizza-dough-recipe/" target="_blank">pizza dough</a>, but use half of it to do something a little out of the ordinary. I'll tell you all about that next week though :-)<br />
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A cliffhanger. Expect the unexpected here folks. I'm like the Spanish Inquisition over here.</div>
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<b>Saturday</b></div>
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Burgers and grilled veggies<br />
I'll offer these two variations. <a href="http://mixandmatchmama.blogspot.com/2015/06/bacon-bleu-burgers.html" target="_blank">Bacon & Bleu Burgers</a> and <a href="http://mixandmatchmama.blogspot.com/2014/05/dinner-tonight-cheddar-beer-burgers.html" target="_blank">Cheddar Beer Burgers</a>. Pick your poison. I know which burger I'm pickin'. One of each, DUH!<br />
I like to make 'em mini and enjoy them on tiny homemade slider buns.</div>
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<b>Sunday</b></div>
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My night off. We'll be at my parents' home enjoying something delicious. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>*NOTE: These are NOT affiliate links. I don't benefit financially or in
any other way by linking to any of these blogs. Miammiammena.wordpress.com is my personal food blog where I post my recipes from time to time. </i></span><br />
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Linked up with <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/simchafisher/" target="_blank">Simcha Fisher</a> for her <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/simchafisher/2015/08/28/whats-for-supper-vol-2-now-with-link-up/" target="_blank">What's for Supper</a> feature. Check out her Monday meal...it's got just the sort of name that could get my kids to eat it!Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029838741857072844.post-40686218053681344782015-08-20T15:04:00.002-04:002015-08-20T16:03:13.580-04:00Chocolate Chip SconesEach weekend, I enjoy making a "treat" breakfast for my family. One of the breakfasts my kids request with regularity is <a href="https://miammiammena.wordpress.com/2015/08/20/chocolate-chip-scones/" target="_blank">Chocolate Chip Scones</a>. I can't blame them.<br />
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This <a href="https://miammiammena.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/chocolate-chip-scones.pdf" target="_blank">recipe</a> makes fluffy scones that definitely will never be confused for health food. But that is what makes them a weekend treat. If you don't think you and your family will finish all 12 scones for breakfast (I'd be impressed if you could), panic not, my friend! These are delicious at room temperature later in the afternoon as a snack.<br />
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Chocolate chips not your <i>thang</i>? You could substitute the chocolate chips for butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, cinnamon chips. Or any crazy combination of those you can think of (hello chocolate chip, peanut butter scones - alas, I'm not as crazy as you think!).<br />
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I hope your family enjoys these as much as mine does!<br />
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Mrs. Amenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13284519769561973038noreply@blogger.com0