Meun Plan for the week of January 9th - 15th

Monday
Crock Pot  - Crock Pot Brunswick Stew
 I recently found Shay's blog http://mixandmatchmama.com/ and I am hooked.  I love brunswick stew and I am so excited to try this.
Cornbread Muffins

Tuesday
Sbarro baked ziti  I will be using Pomodoro sauce instead of the Hunts sauce.
Salad
Garlic Bread

Wednesday
No Peek Chicken
Green Beans
Sliced tomatoes and cucumbers

Thursday
Crock Pot - Crockpot Chicago Italian Beef Sandwiches
Chips

Friday
Homemade Pizza

Saturday
Lunch - Sandwiches and chips
Dinner - Baked tilapia, Parmesan couscous, Steamed Broccoli

Sunday
Lunch - Potato Soup
(Hayden will be participating in the Polar Plunge for wrestling so we will need something to warm us up when we get home.)
Dinner - Brats with onions, peppers, and sauerkraut
Baked beans

Six weeks!!!! I was reviewing our upcoming week in my day planner today and I made the mistake of counting the weeks until Christmas.  I am so far behind this year, I am usually much more prepared.  I am going to spend the next week tackling a few things on my Christmas to do list.  When someone asks what I would like for Christmas I can never think of anything.  I asked my children to make a list for me today and I thought I would do the same.  Here are a few of things that I am loving now.

Mrs. Meyer's Iowa Pine scented hand soap and dish soap.  This is a seasonal scent but it smells like a fresh cut Christmas tree.







I added this robe from Target to my Christmas list.  It is super soft.
http://www.target.com/p/women-s-cozy-robe-xhilaration/-/A-51334715

I have suddenly developed an obsession for cake stands.  I find myself browsing online for them weekly.  I love tis Madera Pedestal cake stand.  I think it is the simplicity of this one that I like the most.

House projects to complete.......

Master Bathroom

1. install wood/pipe shelving on wall behind toilet

2. update hamper

3. some type of storage container for soap/shampoo

Master Bedroom

1. come up with some solution to store iron and ironing board

2. artwork 

Dining room

1. bar cart

2. wine rack for wall

Living with intention

November 5th
Goals for November

1. Healthier eating (I have a goal of a 5lb. weight loss this month.) This is going to be tough!!! Thanksgiving!!!
2. Workout daily - 2 mile daily walk on treadmill.
3.2 creative diy signs for Thanksgiving
4. Plan holiday menu
5.Christmas list
6. Take Christmas pictures
7. Order Christmas cards and mail by December 1.
8. Try 4 new recipes

Today is a day of reflection.

June 16th will be one year since my family moved from Summerville, SC to our current home in Illinois.  To say there have been many changes is an understatement and as someone who is not very fond of change - well you can see how this could be a problem.

My husband and I have been married 20 years!! Yeah us! Our anniversary was in March - it is now May (practically June) and we still have not been out to celebrate.  This brings me to problem #1 of moving - not knowing anyone. In our case we knew one other family when we moved here and I know we were lucky to have them. The last time we moved, we did not know anyone.  However, we were only 3 hours away from family so in an emergency we would have help. Now we are 16 hours by car or a plane ride away so having friends that you can trust is mandatory. We help each other with rides to and from school, activities, etc so I always feel as if it is an imposition to ask them to watch the kids because they already help us so much. My son is 14 (will be 15 in June) so I know he is capable of being home alone for a couple of hours and he is more than capable of keeping an eye on his sister (10 - going on 20). I just don't know how I feel about putting him in that situation.  He is in a new neighborhood, new town, new state.  What if something happened?  He doesn't really know our neighbors -