Currently... October 13, 2012

I'm joining Harvesting Kale for "Currently". I happened across it while blogsurfing early Saturday morning (as TroubleMaker doesn't care if I stay up late visiting with my sister - 6:30 is 'get up time').

Watching Being home on sick leave has left me a lot more time in front of the TV then I've had in years... However, being the discerning view I am (haha), I'm only currently hooked on Doc Martin, Days of Our Lives and Steven and Chris.

Reading Just finished The Lovey Bones and started reading Drawing from the Right Side of your Brain.

Eating At this exact moment, I'm eating a Jolly Rancher sucker - I'd like to add that is is now mid-afternoon.    I'm also re-finding my love for fried zucchini with garlic and garden carrots with a brown sugar butter glaze.

Inspired by nature. With the fall colours everywhere, I can't help but feel like I should be doing more with the vibrant oranges and yellows I see all around me!

Thinking about taking a nap!

Getting my Craft On! Fall style!

I am a crafty person. I enjoy making crafts. My problem is a lack of time. A few weeks ago, however, while TroubleMaker was spending the night at his Gran's, I got busy... It took a ton more time than it should have as I still have a wounded wing. Using wire cutters with your non-dominant hand is tiresome, painful and not very productive. I also learned I cannot make a bow single handed...

All that aside, it is the best wreath I've ever made. It turned out exactly how I'd envisioned it and I'm immensely proud of the work! I was inspired by this wreath - when I priced out sunflowers at my local craft shop, I rethought my plan and opted for a single sunflower (they were $14 each). My sunflower was actually a napkin ring that I popped off the ring.

I hung it on our front door and it is SO fall! Not wanting to stop there, since I was on a roll, I decided we also needed a centre piece for Thanksgiving... Ten minutes and an existing vase, I whipped it up. I thought I struck pure genius - I always have issues with my silk arrangements staying upright. I've been collecting (not hoarding) rolls - paper towel, toilet, ribbon. I stuck one in the middle of the vase and filled it with leftover bird seed, old popcorn and nuts! I then wrapped it with plastic wrap as my cat, as sweet as she is, cannot leave anything alone and I knew I needed to slow down the eventual spill. See the bumpy green gourds? WE GREW THOSE!!! In fact, we grew like 16 of them!


I'm going to steal a line from the Slap Chop Guy... But WAIT! There's more! Canadian Thanksgiving doesn't have much to do with turkeys (as turkeys are not indigenous to Alberta), but we traditionally eat turkey on Thanksgiving - so why not make some yummy turkey desserts! Inspired by OurBestBites.com and their wonderful homage to the noble turkey, TroubleMaker and I are proud to present our rafter of candy cookie turkeys!

Thanks for stopping by!

Linking up at a few fun places - please check them out for more inspiration!

Funky Junk Interiors SNS!

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Menu Plan Monday - October 7 to 14

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Or at least to my Canadian friends! We had our turkey celebration on Sunday -  and I can assure you I ate my fair share of turkey and I ate so much pumpkin pie; it was delicious!  It was my husband's first time putting together a traditional dinner and he did a fantastic job!

I've been a bit more productive in the kitchen but I spend a good portion of my time on the side lines still "guiding" him through the motions. It is an exercise in patience for us both; I have a hard time not "back seat cooking".

Monday: Ham and turkey sandwiches
Tuesday: Homemade Mac & Cheese
Wednesday: Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Thursday: Swiss Steak & steamed rice
Friday: Nuggets and fries
Saturday: Nachos
Sunday: Spaghetti

Thank you for stopping by and please check out everyone sharing their menus at the Org Junkie's Menu Plan Monday!

Menu Plan Monday - October 1 - 7

Another week as the Arm Chair Chef... Tonight, however, I made dinner as it was my husband's birthday! We've got Canadian Thanksgiving coming up so my husband is going to try his hand at turkey cooking - we are just cooking a turkey breast roast but he'll still be in charge of the dressing (stuffing)! His Mom is bringing Pumpkin pie (made with carrots - it's new - I'll let you know what we thought next Monday).

Monday: Pizza and Caesar Salad
Tuesday: Homemade Mac & Cheese
Wednesday: Tacos
Thursday: Tortellini with Alfredo sauce (FROM A JAR - I may just die from embarrassment)
Friday: Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Saturday: Hamburgers 
Sunday: Turkey with all the fixings

I'm also happy to announce that a suggestion made last week by Ginny from Gabbing with the Gafford's has actually been welcomed by my husband! She plans one week and they eat it for two.. So this week's menu could be repeated next week. When I broached the subject with my husband - as a passing "I can't believe someone would do that!" and he said "that's not a bad idea!"... Especially while he's doing the cooking!

I'm not sure I am totally on board but I think I would do it "every other week" so we may try that. As our grocery budget spirals out of control (my husband actually laughed at me when I suggested a new budget number).

I'm sharing over at the Org Junkie this week. Thanks for stopping in!

Menu Plan Monday - September 23 - 29

This is for my other mother - see, I am trying to post more! Pain and all...

This week we're recycling a couple of last week's meals as we had company in town (my mother) and we ordered dinner in. Tonight, we were hosted by my other mother and dad!


Monday: Beef Taco Quesadillas (something like this)
Tuesday: Chicken Stew
Wednesday: Hot Beef Sandwiches
Thursday: Chicken Salad Sandwiches (scroll to the bottom of the link for the recipe)
Friday: Pork Lo Mein
Saturday: Chicken Wings and Corn Fritters
Sunday:  Special Birthday Dinner (my MIL and my husband's best friend are bringing dinner to celebrate my husband's birthday (on Monday)

That's it for this week - another week of the boys cooking as I'm still down for the count. Soon, I hope, I'll be back in the kitchen and not just coaching from the sidelines! Check out all those linking up at the Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday!

Menu Plan Monday (boys can cook)

Well, it's been months since I've blogged, months since I've shared a menu plan and years since I've been incapacitated. This is what the "Boys can Cook" plan is about! Just about a month ago, I woke to a crick in my neck... By lunch, it was a full blow pain that I could only breath thru. By nightfall, it was agony. By two am, I was in tears waiting for morning so I could go get help. By four am, I was trying to rationalize that it wasn't that bad and I could make it til morning and not have to wake up my husband, son and a grandparent (to come babysit while my husband rushed me to emergency).

I made it through the night, but since August 23, I've cooked four meals (and that doesn't include the one time I dialed in dinner for pick up). What does this mean to our family? Well, my husband does not cook. Let me reiterate:

He does not cook. He cannot cook. He will not cook. The day I got home from my spinal fusion in 2003, I made lunch and cooked every meal after that (until, of course, I had to go stay with my parents because I had another infection and nerve damage - not at all related to his inability to cook).

He makes French toast and macaroni and cheese. Of course, he managed to keep TroubleMaker and himself fed for the two years after my maternity leave and he was the stay at home dad... But that doesn't really compare to preparing nutritious and complicated dinner fare for a family of three (and a schnauzer expecting a bonus in his nightly kibble).

He's done really well and I'm immensely proud of all that he has taken on. It's been a month (almost) and I've cooked a few more meals off the "couldn't be simpler" menu plan but the boys have and continue to be, the keepers of the kitchen.

Sunday: Homemade Pizza w/ Caesar Salad
Monday: Chicken Pot Pie
Tuesday: Chops & mashed potatoes
Wednesday: Baked Spaghetti
Thursday: Monte Cristos w/ Minestrone Soup
Friday: Taco Pizza/Pie (I can't find the recipe and I can't remember if it was supposed to be pizza or pie)
Saturday: Chicken Stew

I had hoped to launch my new (and I hope exciting) blog, but with my recent being stuck on the couch, sleeping sitting up, book reading extravaganza, the crafting and interior design stuff has taking a break. So I'll keep posting here until I can start the transition.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check out all of us sharing our meal planning inspiration the Org Junkie's Menu Plan Monday!

One week...

There is a song I like called "One Week" - it seemed fitting since it's been a week since I've blogged. I guess I'm in a bit of a slump - well, that may be a bit of an understatement... I'm in a BIG slump. I have so much to say and nothing to say. If that seems confusing, it's even worse in my head.

So, I'm going to take a little "blog-cation"! I'll be back, have no fear! I just need some time to regroup and get myself focused!