Happy for the new week...

What a wonderful weekend!  It was just perfect (aside from the Groupon/Dominos issue Saturday night that got fixed Sunday morning via Groupon). It was filled with lots of swim class, family time, shopping, gardening, some inventory, a little cooking, and a whole lotta laughter.  We finally added a trellis for our grapes this year and super excited to watch it grow.  Must take some photos this week of it.  We also planted more strawberries and got a few more plants (cucumbers, snap peas, and more cucumbers).  I have NO CLUE where I'm going to put them but I will find a place.  I always do.  I harvested about 5 lbs of lettuce and bot choy.  It was just screaming for me to snap up and can't wait to start harvesting the celery too!  All in all, it was a great weekend.

Let's plan dinner shall we?

• Sunday: Homemade Meat Lovers Pizza (italian sausage, pepperoni, prosciutto, oh my!)
• Monday: Chicken Satay (Trader Joe's) with wild rice and asparagus
• Tuesday: Marinated Chicken (in a balsamic glaze) over salad
• Wednesday: Veggie Frittata*
• Thursday: Sloppy Turkey Joe's and kale chips (hubby's new favorite)
• Friday:Homemade Beans in the slow cooker*
• Saturday: Out to eat

* denotes meals in the slow cooker/ new recipe list

Let's see, whats on the weekly to-do list?

• Fix irrigation on the hill
• Sheet mulch the crab grass. 
• Add cover to the blueberries and strawberries (evil birds!)
• workout 5 times (run 10 miles)
• Ikea trip (YAY YAY YAY!!!)
• Work on Easter stuff
• Relax

This week is shaping up to a great week.  The weather is looking up and I'm finally back in the routine of working out.  I even went to spin class today!  :)

Any fun plans for the week?

Feeling content

That is the best way to describe the weekend!  Last week's weather was uber hot but the weekend was just pleasant as can be!  Warm but not hot, just right.  Our little Kupcake had her first swim lesson and she did so good!  It was so cute to see all the little kids in the water and what was even better was to see all the dads in the water too with their children!  I played paparazzi and took a ton of photos.  In the afternoon we did an Earth Day Festival promoting green living for babies.  It was wonderful talking to a lot of parents and grand parents about it and teaching them alternatives.  Sunday, we went on a walk and had a play date with some of our friends and it was so much fun to watch the kids play with each other.  I think the Kupcake taught the other momma what needs to be child proofed in their home!  HAHA!  It was a quiet evening with the hubby out of town so dinner consisted of frozen burritos.  YUM! Let's see what we'll eat for the rest of the week:

• Sunday:   frozen burritos
• Monday:  cereal
• Tuesday:  fried rice with veggies
• Wednesday: Ribs* (will post recipe this week!  ☺) and kale chips*
• Thursday:  chicken tacos
• Friday:  terriyaki salmon salad
• Saturday:  ???

**denotes slow cooker and new recipe

What's on the agenda for this week?

• Photos of the garden.  Going to do this this week, i promise!  I've been bad but now that everything is blooming and I figured out how to upload photos via bluetooth from my camera, I will make this a priority this week.
• Work out 5 times. (one down already!  YEA)
• Put away laundry.  I have a few loads sicking in baskets.  
• Clean my room.  I don't know how it gets messy but it does.
• Finish weeding
• Work on online store and put some sales up
• Spray garden with homemade pest control (organic)
• Turn in paperwork for Earth Day Festivals coming up
• Plant blueberry bushes the hubby bought for the Kupcake. She LOVES blueberries like no tomorrow!
• Do the 30day shred DVD at least twice this week.  (I need a kick start)

Seems like a lot of stuff but it isn't.  In fact, I'm looking forward to everything on this list!

What are you excited this week will bring?

Huffing and Puffing along...

This weekend was another good one.  There was a big running/walking event in our neck of the woods.  The hubby did the 10k and walked with us on the 5k.  My lungs aren't back to normal yet but it felt good to get out there. We also had a few brunch dates with our friends.  It was so fun to see the kids together and spend some quality time with other new parents.  The rest of the weekend was pretty relaxed.  Did a lot of inventory and restocking among other things.  Let's just move on to dinner:

• Sunday:  Turkey Panini's and roasted artichoke hearts and potatoes
• Monday:  Baby back Ribs* and sweet potato fries
• Tuesday:  Taco Pizza
• Wednesday:  Chicken Satay* and veggies
• Thursday:  Pasta Casserole
• Friday: Fish or something...
• Saturday:  take out

*denotes Crockpot or new meal

This week is a busy busy one.  We have alot of stuff to do to get ready for a Earth Day Festival we'll be at.

It's a little crazy how fast this month went.  Can you believe next week is going to April?

Fun filled weekend in the backyard

I had the most perfect weekend any dirt loving girl could have.  On Saturday morning, thanks to forgetting what Pilates class I signed up for I was early and got a chance to go buy plants.  I spend the afternoon repotting and seeding, and planting lots of different things like: cabbage, purple king beans, broccoli, corn, squash, zucchini, strawberries, cantaloupe, and watermelon.  I cleaned and tilled and got dirt all over myself and it was just pure bliss.  on Sunday, we took advantage of OSH's no tax sale and bought more dirt, solar lights, irrigation kit, grass seed, and other fun goodies.  It was PARADISE!  Nothing is better than the smell of fresh dirt!  After lunch, my friend and I spend the afternoon putting in the irrigation system, planting lots of sunflowers, garlic, and cauliflower.  Everything is sprouting and blossoming I really need to take some photos to share.  It is just so nice that we have that extra hour now of light.  Now if only I can get the Kupcake's schedule back to normal!  :)

  Now onto this week's dinner menu:

• Sunday: Take out-didn't feeling like cooking
• Monday:  Chicken Pot Pie (with crockpot chicken*) -- Happy ╥ Day!
• Tuesday:  Leftover chicken & garlic lemon pasta
• Wedensday:  Cuban Sandwiches & spring salad
• Thursday: Shepard's Pie* -- Happy St. Patty's day!!
• Friday:  Grilled Salmon & veggies
• Saturday:  eat out...

    *falls into my new meal and slow cooker meal of the week

Looking forward to this week's meals.  What is on the weekly to do list?

• Run!  RUN LOTS!  12 days away till my next 5k race. 
• Start working on Kupcake's first birthday decorations... will talk more about it later.
• Clean up the website
• Finish cleaning our room (seriously, you'd think that I'd want to keep my own private space nice and clean.)
• Get everything ready for a garage sale this weekend
• Finish irrigation system
• lay rock border for shade garden

Yup, that's about it.  This week should be a good one.  I still have to get used to the new time change.  The alarm went off just a little too early for me today!  Need to acclimate myself!

How is your week shaping up?  Doing anything fun?

The good and the bad...

That is the best way to explain the weekend.  Saturday was amazing while Sunday... not so much.  First thing in the morning the hubby threw out his back and became immobile for the rest of the day.  Taking care of the kupcake is one thing, taking care of a person how is at least 8 inches taller than me is another.  Then to top it off I had to take today off so I could be his servant help him.  He's feeling much better and fingers crossed that by Wednesday he'll be able to wait on me.  ☺

Now since I'm so tired from cooking, cleaning, laundry, gardening (of course I'd toss some of that in), I'm just going to get down to this week's menu:

• Sunday:  Easy Quesadillas
• Monday:  Turkey Burgers
• Tuesday:  Slow Cooker Jambalaya*  (Happy Mardi Gras Y'all!!)
• Wednesday:  Fish and Chips
• Thursday:  Turkey and Artichoke Paninis
• Friday:  Mahi Mahi
• Saturday:  Eat out?!

 *falls into my new meal and slow cooker meal of the week

  Now, what's on the agenda for this week?

• Gym Gym GYM!!! Go at least 3 times.  
• Pilates classes (2 -get certified to go up a level)
• Put away clothes
• Clean room
• Finish getting the shade garden ready
• Plan a side dish for get-together on Saturday afternoon
• Set up the teddy bear's physical
• Go to bed before 11pm

Yup, that's me in a nut shell.  Now, I'm utterly beat.  Until tomorrow, peace!

Nothing but Blue Skies....

We had a big downpour on Friday but on Saturday, the storm that was suppose to dump snow in our backyard decided to head north and instead we got beautiful blue skies. We were completely bummed but what can you do, I guess we'll just have to make a trip up to the mountains to see snow this year.  Aside from that, the weekend was just simply wonderful.  We got more plants (a few more tomato plants and two blueberry bushes).  I am thinking of trying to find a fig or date tree this week too, yummmmmm!  I've started to get better about working out again which is nice.  I'm finally not all talk, I'm also action.  I can still feel my abs from my morning of pilates on Saturday.  Sunday I fixed that nagging feeling and did some reorganization in the kitchen.  I think I will finish up cleaning out the pantry tonight and I can breathe again.  :) 

Now, what's for dinner this week?

• Sunday: Chicken Satay in peanut sauce and Garlic Sesame Broccoli
• Monday: Blood Orange Tofu* (inspired by Iowa Girl Eats) with stir fry Bok Choy & Carrots
• Tuesday: Trader Joe's Pizza and backyard Salad (Hooray we have Lettuce!!!)
• Wednesday: Taco Salad
• Thursday:  Chicken and Rice Casserole (crockpot style)*
• Friday: Mahi Mahi Tacos
• Saturday:  Pulled Pork Nachos

 *is part of the new recipe and crockpot meal item on the yearly to-do list

So excited for this week's meals.  I think we will officially start doing one vegetarian meal a week now this way we won't get tired of the same proteins since there are only 3 types (bird, fish, pork) we eat.  I'm also excited to finally start a little harvesting, granted it's only just lettuce but still. This week is a busy one, filled with gym trips and pilates classes.  Let's see what's in store:

• Go to the gym 3 times
• Go to Pilates twice
• Finish organizing pantry
• plant blueberry plants
• Create a new waffle recipe... will blog more about it this week
• Really post about the garden
• Get side garden set up for cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage.
• Find a fig or date tree and buy it 

  What an exciting week coming up and to top it off, it's March tomorrow!  What are you looking forward to this week?  

14 hours to go...

So is it wrong that I'm just waiting for midnight so I can have some type of sugar? It's funny how MANY things have it. Example, the hubby pulled out his box of wheat thins and it sounded soooooooo good, (perhaps with a little bit of swiss cheese -YUM) and before I devoured it I read the ingredients... SUGAR. Really?! Uggh. I'm looking forward to the little things like coffee, or even gum for that matter. I just can not friggin wait.

This weekend is going to be a good one.  Let's see what is in store for us:

• Two pilates classes back to back (they are 30 min each)
• Dinner Sushi date with our family friends and their kiddo
• Home Depot Garden Center (seriously, this store is paradise to me)
• Cleaning the backyard up for next weekend's big job
• Baking with three of my nieces 
• Make your own pizza night and a movie
• Hazelnut Coffee with Hazelnut sugar free sweetener and a splash of almond milk
• Target for misc goodies
• Trader Joe's and Maddy's Market (it's our local organic store... local as in the veggies and fruits come from local farms) for groceries (random note: I rarely... I mean RARELY go to regular grocery stores now...)
• Food Prep and menu planning for the week

 It's going to be high seventies here so I'm busting some shorts and flip flops too and just enjoying the weekend. I cannot WAIT!
 
How are you going to spend your weekend?

Let the withdraw begin...

I made a bet with the hubby about giving up processed sugar for 5 days.  He didn't think I could do it (part of me does too) and I now I am sitting here, going on nine hours without.  Granted 7 of those hours I was asleep but lets not talk particulars here. You see, the last 3 weeks I've been off the sweets wagon and living the high life like I was at Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.  Now there isn't anything wrong with a little sugar but seriously, I must have been consuming a lb a day.  So, what did I give up? Anything with the words like sugar or syrup in the ingredients.  In an effort to be ready for this week (Monday - Friday) I bought lots of fruits and veggies, plain greek yogurt, and cottage cheese for snacking.  What's at stake? A executive car wash.  I'm talking about the fancy one that even cleans the dash and makes it smell nice.  Last car wash I had was ions ago.  I do keep the inside clean and once in a while I run it through the car wash after I get gas.  It looks clean with all the rain we've gotten but still, my baby needs a little TLC.  I will give daily updates on how I do. 

Now, let's move on.  It's Monday so you know what that means: MEAL PLANNING DAY.  Yesterday while at Target, I was browsing the dollar section I found a little dry erase board. What a perfect little thing to keep us on track.  We have a saying at the planner household, "if it's written down then we must follow through." I tossed it in the cart and took it home.  It helped out a lot when I was prepping meals for the week.  So what are we eating?

• Monday: Hawaiian Pork Nachos (we didn't make this last week)*
• Tuesday: Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Turkey & Mushroom Sauce
• Wednesday: Chicken Tikka Marsala with Garlic Naan (naan came from Trader Joe's)
• Thursday:  Prosciutto wrapped Turkey Burgers
• Friday: French Dip Sandwiches (with pork meat)*
• Saturday:  Sushi with friends!  

*acts as part of yearly to do list, slow cooker and new meals.

Desserts this week will be fruit slurpees.  All fruit, no sugar.  :) YUM!

So what did I prep last night?

• Boiled the chicken and now marinating in the Tikka Marsala sauce we bought
• Slow Cooked the pork for Monday and Friday's meals
• Made the Turkey and Mushroom Sauce
• Made Minestrone soup for a side dish for this week's meals.
• Made a week's worth of Banana/Apple/Walnut/Raison Oatmeal
• Made the turkey burger patties

This time around, I had less dishes dirty since I figured out a good pattern to only get the same ones dirty so I was cleaning along the way.  I'm really enjoying my meal prep time now.  I feel more relaxed during the week and have more time to enjoy playing with kupcake.

Moving on to this week's to-do list:

• Work out 3 times during my lunch break (must bring running gear and shower gear to work)
• Finish cleaning my room.  Yup, it's dirty and it needs a good deep cleaning.
• Figure out vacation plans for Memorial day.  I'm DYING to plan another trip.  
• Fix the vacuum.  I broke it... how?  I have long hair and if you do too you'll understand. 
• Finish cleaning the garage.  Hubby did a terrific job this weekend and now all that's left is the shelves.
• Put away little girl clothes.

That's about it.  How is your week shaping up to being?

WHERE'S MY SNOW???!

I woke up this morning and in my haze, opened my phone to see the latest Facebook ramblings.  Funny how almost all of them were from my friends who still live in my home town, all the same thing... SNOW!!!  Now they barely got 2-3 inches but that was still enough to close down the town.  No school, no work, nothing.  If there was any moment in my life where I wanted to live there, right now was this moment.  Oh how I didn't want to go to work today!  I stumbled to the window and said a little prayer, in hopes that there'd be snow outside our home but when I pulled the blinds back I got was wet wet wet earth. No snow, just more rain.  Something I really like but today it wasn't cutting it.  I wanted my snow day.

Now let's get this party started.  Are you ready for a new week? I am.  I spent the better part of my evening yesterday menu planning/prepping for the family.  For the adults and for the little kupcake.  Let's see what is for dinner this week:

• Monday: Roasted Chicken with potatoes and artichoke hearts (*new menu item)
• Tuesday: Butternut Squash Soup with popcorn chicken 
• Wednesday: Macaroni Casserole with Turkey meat sauce
• Thursday: BBQ chicken pizza (using leftover chicken from Monday)
• Friday: Hawaiian shredded pork nachos (*crock pot meal)
• Saturday: Dinner out

*items for yearly to do list challenge

Breakfast and lunch for the week were prepped too:

• Breakfast: Oatmeal.  Mine has Apple, Banana, Blueberry, Walnuts, Raisins, Almond Milk and a hint of brown sugar and Cinnamon.  YUMMM!!!!
• Lunch:  Balsamic Vinegar Chicken salad. 

The kupcake will be eating apples, apples with blueberry, and of course lots and lots of milk!  Exciting huh?

By the time I was done, the kitchen was a MESS!  I'm surprised the Governor didn't issue it a DISASTER AREA!  I made my breakfasts and the chicken for my lunches, made the butternut squash soup, steamed a bag of apples, got the chicken prepped for Monday's dinner, made Wednesday's dinner so it will just pop into the oven when it's time and packaged everything up.  Phew!  It was a lot of work but so happy it is over with.

Now onto my to-do list:

• Get the website up.  I tried migrating stuff over last week but broke something.  Fingers crossed we can open up the store this week and I can finally share it with you!
• Run/Walk 10 miles (must bring running gear to work this week)
• Do two hundred various types of sit ups
• Put away little girl clothes
• Take down last of the Christmas Decorations and pack it all up
• Sushi dinner with friends
• Create a chore list.  See... I totally plan everything out.  Only way to live I say!  
• Get back on track with food.  I ate at least  15 pieces a candy everyday for the past 2 weeks.  I am all for moderation, two pieces a day to combat cravings, but seriously, I dove in and never looked back. 

So that's our life here at the planner household. 

I'm looking forward to moving again.  I feel like a total sloth!  What are you looking forward to this week?

Things to do before 2012

Wow... that year went by fast!!!  Time to do my Things to do List for 2012:

1. Pay my car off
2. Re-Organize back closet for inventory space
3. Get the garden up and going again
4. Launch our online store
5. Go to Hawaii - Big Island
6. Blog 2 Months Straight
7. Cook 1 new meal I haven't cook before every week for one quarter
8. Cook 1 slow cooker recipe every week for one quarter
9. Take a vacation to a destination I've never been to
10. Stay at a Disneyland hotel 
11. Go to Baby and Kids ABC Expo
12. Clean out my closet
13. Go to New Mexico
14. Log 500 miles running/walking
15. Go to the Zoo

What's on your list?

How did I do on my yearly to do list?

1. Pay half my car off by 12/31/10 Pushing this to Q1 2011
2. Finish remodeling the media room DONE!!!3. Get the garden up and going again DONE!!!
4. Design a nursery DONE!!!
5. Teach the puppies some manners DONE!!!!
6. Do one half marathon (SB 1/2 Marathon) DONE!!!
7. Re-Organize (currently doing) DONE!!!
8. Go to Hawaii October 2010 -Kauai!!!!
9. Do one big craft project each month (currently doing) Was great until kupcake came along and wanted to play all day long.
10. Get Back in shape by 12/31/10 DONE!!!
11. Get up to date with all vacation albums DONE!!!
12. Find a yoga class I can go to DONE!!!
13. Reorganize and redo back guest room Done!!!
14. Cook 4 nights a week for 1 month straight DONE!!!
15. Take a vacation to a destination I've never been to (going to Philly for Vday)DONE!!!
16. Work out 5 times a week for 3 months straight Next year...

Not to shabby I must say.  What a great year it was!  Can't wait for what 2011 has to bring!

Row row row your boat...

That's how we all felt today. Southern California is getting quite a doozy of a rainstorm.  If it doesn't let up soon, we'll all have to bow down the hatches and start paddling to and from the house.  I guess we need the rain and really I don't mind it.  I think my only complaint is that I really was looking forward to taking my daughter for walks but I guess that will have to wait till later this week.

  In other news, I am all done with my Christmas shopping.  Thank heaven for amazon's app and prime shipping! HOORAY!!!  I have about 4 more presents to wrap and then completely done.  Now onto more important things... DINNER PLANNING!!!

• Monday - In & Out (grilled cheese of course... no beef for me!!!) YUMMM!!! 
• Tuesday - Shredded Pork and Potato Soup -Must share this recipe with you because it is the BOMB!!  
• Wednesday - Homemade Turkey Meatball sandwiches
• Thursday - Chicken Fried Rice
• Friday - Italian Christmas Dinner with family (it's tradition and it's DIVINE!!!)
• Saturday - Ham and all the fixings... YUMM!!!  
• Sunday - Dinner at the club...perhaps?

Soo looking forward to tomorrow's meal.  I made the soup tonight so while the kupcake was passed out.  The shredded pork will be done in the crockpot.  Isn't the crockpot the best appliance ever?!

  In other news, my weekly to-do list:

• Finish kupcake's felt sushi/toys
• Mail the last of our christmas cards.  I have them addressed but not in the mail box... bad me
• Tidy up the house
• Finish the store front main page
• Clean the inside of my car, it's never been this dirty, it's a bit pathetic.
• walk 10 miles 
• Find my Love Actually DVD. It wasn't in the case and it isn't like it walked off.  One of the best Christmas movies made.  
• Enjoy this week off with my little girl.

 Hope you have a great Christmas week!

Media Room... Before and After

For the past few months (okay, like 6) we've been talking about getting a new couch for our media room. We got our couch when we moved in 2.5 years ago but we learned the hard way that a tan microfiber couch is not one that will withstand the test of time with us and our puppies. We decided it was time for us to stop talking about it and find something we really liked. After several stores we headed back to where we got our new couches in the living room and found one that really fit the bill. Late on Friday we put in the ordered and went on our merry way. Well, that was a snowflake that turned into an avalanche! In the next few days, I happen to win a fabulous giveaway on the most wonderful blog: Silly Little Mischief. It was for some wall art.

When it finally came, that sealed the deal that we just had to redo the room. First we talked about putting it off but then realized we wouldn't want to paint once the new furniture was in there. So I dragged the hubby to Home Depot and got a gallon of paint to add to our ever-growing supply of paint at home. We had this dark dark chocolate color we got when we moved in but never used it and felt this was the perfect opportunity to really do something drastic to the room. After I primed it, the hubby came home and helped paint the room. It only took about 4 days of a few hours here and there to finally get it completed. Once that was done, I made a few extra pillows and a dog bed (craft project of the month), hung up some art work and our new piece we got and just waited for the goods. Saturday came, twenty minutes before our family came over and delivered the most COMFORTABLE sofa and ottoman you can ask for!

Now, onto the photos...
BEFORE




AFTER





Can I just say how much I am in LOVE with how everything turned out? What do you think?

Project 12 - January update #2

So, the days we've been home, I've made dinner. Well, those days have been few and far between this last week. After getting over a cold, I had this ambitious idea I wanted to redecorate the media room. Everyone keeps telling me I'm nesting but to be honest, it was on our calendar before I even knew what nesting was. :) Anyhow, we've been busy with that. Tonight I'm going to try to make dinner in between finishing up some little things I want to start/finish before Friday!

What's been your favorite meal you've made this month? I think ours has to be garlic pasta with pesto turkey meatballs! YUMMM!

Things to do before 2011

I know I said I wouldn't do this but heck, I can't help but make lists to get through the year. So here is my Things to do list for 2010!

1. Pay half my car off by 12/31/10
2. Finish remodeling the media room
3. Get the garden up and going again
4. Design a nursery
5. Teach the puppies some manners
6. Do one half marathon (Rock n Roll Vegas)
7. Re-Organize
8. Go to Hawaii
9. Do one big craft project each month (currently doing)
10. Get Back in shape by 12/31/10
11. Get up to date with all vacation albums (currently 3 behind)
12. Find a yoga class I can go to
13. Reorganize and redo back guest room
14. Cook 4 nights a week for 1 month straight
15. Take a vacation to a destination I've never been to
16. Work out 5 times a week for 3 months straight

I will be keeping track of this on the side bar as usual!

Project 12 - January

This month's theme will be about food. I know, I know how boring is that, but after how many effects I've made to crack down and stick with home cooked foods, I've always feel like we fall off the wagon. The last quarter of 2009, the hubby "cooked" all the dinners since I was always too tired to get in the kitchen. Now with most of my energy back, I want to take back my kitchen and get healthy again. No more burritos, unless it's homemade. No more soup from a can.

Rules for this month:

Time to get more local and buy from the farmer's markets! I don't know about you but I'm very fortunate to have 4, yes FOUR, farmer's markets within a 5 mile radius of us.

Menu Planning in advance! Weekly menus to help make shopping trips a bit easier

One cheat day a week! This will only count for dinners. I know some of us have full time jobs and it could be hard to bring a lunch.

Shop from your freezer! It's high time we start using all that meat and veggies we tossed in there!

Cook a meal each week that never tried before!

Changing things up...

After a few years of making to-do lists, I realized I have gotten lazy in finishing them. Don't ask how many miles I cycled last year or even if I finished all the albums I wanted to. So now it's time for me to start thinking out of the box to get stuff done without the infamous to-do list. Now I want to make sure I keep on this all year long even with a little rugrat due in June.

So, I present to you Project 12! 12 months, 12 new ideas or themes to accomplish! Each one will be something that will hopefully enrich our lives!

Each month a new project will be announced. I invite you to join in on the fun and tell us how it's going for you. I will post shortly about January's theme, with the tag: Project 12. Each month will be a new button to link to my site, if you'd like to publicly join in, I will post a link to your site so others can follow you!

Hope you'll all join in on the adventure!!!




Each Month:
Project 12 - Jan

Project 12 - Feb

Project 12 - Mar

Project 12 - Apr

To Do List before Oct 09 -- Update #1

This month is a cooking to-do list.

1. Cook 30 meals (includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner) -- 22 meals!!!
2. Post 10 homemade recipes --2 posted, 4 more ready to post
3. Use 10 new ingredients -This didn't really happen. I will move this till next month
4. Crack open recipe books and cook from each of them at least once -- I choose to look online for inspirations
5. Re-organize kitchen cabinets (it's a thing to do every 6 months) 6 down, 6 to go!

To Do List before Oct 09

This month is a cooking to-do list.

1. Cook 30 meals (includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
2. Post 10 homemade recipes
3. Use 10 new ingredients
4. Crack open recipe books and cook from each of them at least once
5. Re-organize cabinets (it's a thing to do every 6 months)

Yup, that's about it...

Things to do before SEP 09 -- Update #3

1. Walk/Run 40 miles (21)
2. Cook 15 meals a week (12)
3. Save 60% on our grocery bills (50%)
4. Do one craft project (I'm going to make some things for the dinner table)
6. Work out more frequently and stop making excuses. (making an effort to walk more)
7. Make reservations for upcoming trips (done!!!)
8. Make 7 new meals/recipes I haven't made before. (So far: aug 4: egg pie, aug 12 cucumber slaw, aug 13: poached orange chicken, aug 16: plum torte & homemade granola)
9. Blog more frequently (not going so well)
10. Keeping up on the gardening. (going well)
11. Rain Gutters: measure house, create cost sheet, map out where rain barrels will go. (need to do this one)
12. Go to a fair (done)
13. Host a dinner potluck and game night! (don't think this is going to happen since we're busy for the rest of the month... maybe september)