Menu Monday

One thing I do to try and save money is planning a menu for the week. I shop at Aldi's once a week....usually. If you haven't tried Aldi's, YOU MUST! Make sure you take your own bags and a quarter to "rent" your shopping cart. The quarter will be returned when you return the cart. One of my goals for 2008 is to not use the plastic bags...i.e. Wal-Mart bags....instead I take my own bags to the store. Wal-Mart does sell recycled cloth bags for $1.00 and I do use those. I like how they have the flat bottom on them. I also have 3 insulated bags. Aldi's is about 30 minutes from home and I need to keep the cold stuff cold.

So, here is my weekly menu:

Monday - Pasta Primivera (using chicken I grilled yesterday), hot rolls and salad

Tuesday - Red Beans and Rice w/ Smoked Sausage, tortillas (fresh from the farmer's market)

Wednesday - Baked Ravioli, salad, garlic bread

Thursday - Grilled Hamburgers, baked fries, baked beans

Friday - Going to a party - taking lemon bars, chip dip

Saturday - Family Reunion - taking deviled eggs, lemon bars, chip dip

Sunday - Turkey, dressing, corn, gravy, potatoes

How to Scare the Bejeebies Out of a Teenager

Ok, try not to scroll down too quickly....I have to set up the crime scene. My middle daughter is the jumpiest child and is sooooooo easy to spook. When I got the sewing dummy to display the oldest daughter's cap and gown at her reception.....I KNEW I had to do something else with it. Now, the two oldest share a bedroom that has a bathroom in it. Their closet is off the bathroom...and they NEVER shut the door.....so, I shut the door to make this more effective because....you see...



When you open the door, their prom dresses are hanging RIGHT THERE with the PLASTIC and all.....sooooo, when the door opens, the plastic gets sucked out....see in the picture? This makes it RATTLE....and by the time she is somewhat startled by the rattling.....she gets THIS.......

BOO!!!!

She screamed so hard, I thought she was joking....til she came RIPPING through the bedroom and stopped dead at the wall and started crying (I didn't know that her eyes could go in two different directions...I guess she had one on the boogie man and one on the wall she was about to hit!).....yes, I felt sort of bad about the crying.....then I felt really bad that I laughed so hard I peed my pants.......ba haaaaaaa....oh, uh, er, evil laugh...bwwhaaaaaaaaa. Ok, I know I won't get a MOM OF THE YEAR award now.....so, guess I'll go do some laundry. She swears she won't do this kind of stuff to her kids and we've all told her it is part of her legacy...my papa used to do that stuff to us.....besides, if she doesn't do it......WE WILL!!!

Don't start commenting me on what an evil mom I am..... I ALREADY KNOW IT!!!

The Gift Fairy has Visited......

Now that I am back online....I can show you the apron my dear mother had sent to me from http://www.stitchthrutime.com/index.html and the books that my wonderfully thoughtful friend, Kim, gave me. Thanks ladies....I LOVE THEM!!!
I couldn't get a picture of ME wearing the apron...because no one is here to take it and also.....I LOOK LIKE I'VE DONE NOTHING WITH MYSELF TODAY.....who am I kidding....I haven't done anything with myself today. SooOOOOoooo, here is a pic of the apron....doesn't it look just loverly on my sewing dummy? Remind me to tell you how I scared the beegeebies out of my middle daughter with that sewing dummy.....rofl.

Oh Where oh Where has the Wheat Gone.......

If you look carefully, you can see that the wheat harvest has started......that THING poking up there is my mister husband's level the ground...before grass...thing. Yes, it has been there for MONTHS.....he even WEEDEATS around it...lol. I'm thinking I could plant a climbing rose bush there....what do you think?
Look closer......yep, that is a pitiful crop of wheat.....what you are seeing is mostly weeds....the wheat IS in there.....somewhere.......
....and this..... is RAIN......which of course means NO HARVEST TODAY.....

Amazing.....

The whole family went to see THE PHANTOM of the OPERA last night. WOW!! If you ever get the chance to see the Broadway show, PLEASE DO IT!! My youngest read the book...yes, the actual book.....in 3rd grade....ON HER OWN and UNDERSTOOD IT. She went through a freakish phase where everything was about the Phantom.

I need to pause and let you know that this daughter has ALWAYS had an obsession with SOMETHING. Right now it is RUNESCAPE....everything she talks about is Runescape this, Runescape that..... Her obsessions started at a young age when she saw Beauty and the Beast. Well, most girls love that movie, story, etc....for Belle....well, not Regan, she loved the BEAST....she even would cut out little paper claws and tape them to her knuckles and feet.....and walk around on her toes like the beast....including the BENDED legs...lol. I made her a cape for Christmas that year and it almost touched the ground. She wore it until it was at her knees...that was at least 2 years!

Then, she went on to Ancient Egyptian stuff....MUMMIES in particular....You know the Hermit crab plastic cages? Well, she made a Barbie Mummy ( don't think Mattel has made that version of Barbie) complete with a sarcophagus (aka Hermit Crab Cage) and yes, actually carried it around with her. We could have won $10,000 on AFV for peoples reactions when they asked what was in the case....rofl. Some actually jumped back when she told them. This phase came and went several times...each time she learned more and more about history. We took a trip to Washington D.C. and she got to see an actual mummy.....what a highlight. While there, a school class came through and she walked them around and gave them the "tour"....even the teacher listened. I think she was 7 or 8 at this time. We were in a furniture store and she found a painting done on papyrus paper...framed and all for $30. She asked if she could put it on layaway and the lady let her! Regan went home, told her dad that she wanted to sell her beloved pet goat, Thunder. Long story short....no more Thunder and hello Egyptian painting.

Well, that is enough....that is just to give you a taste of my eccentric daughter's life...She is always amazing us.

Anyhow, the costumes in the Phantom are amazing. I shouldn't even mention the music....ahhhhhhhh, the music. I found myself tearing up several times. We had a beautiful night.....I enjoyed being w/ my mom and dad, sister, and husband and three daughters. I LOVE YOU!!!

We Interrupt this blog......

Are you a watcher of reality TV? We've had fun watching CW19's FARMER WANTS A WIFE! Tonight is the finale'....woohoo.....GO BROOKIE COOKIE!!! I will be sooooOOooOoOooo surprised if he ACTUALLY proposes to one of the girls. I really think Christa is just playing a game.....she will do anything to keep Brooke out of the game. I don't think she really would stay in a small town and be a farmer's wife.....HeLLLLOOOOOOOooo, she is from NEW YORK CITY! (I said that just like the Pace Picante Sauce commercial....could you hear it?)

I do worry that Brookie is quite young though.....well, at least they would make a cute couple. My mister farmer husband thinks that they will reveal that "the farmer" is really an heir to the Budweiser family......it is in Missouri and not far from St. Louis.

We've decided that if they do the show again....my oldest daughter will try out for it and act like a "city girl". All the girls are supposed to be "city" girls. They are tired of the arrogant men in the city. They want a REAL man...with manners and someone who will put his wife before himself......

I'm glad to say that I found that man!!! I LOVE YOU HONEY!!! Ok, got to go get ready for the show.....I'll let you know who wins!!!!

EDITED TO ADD THE WINNER.....

BROOKIE COOKIE.....and that is all we know, there was no reunion show or anything....we don't even know if they are still together. Sheesh, that was a low blow.......I wonder if they even have a national news.....like the way Survivor winners are interviewed the next day....hmmmmm.....what a disappointment.

Weight Loss Wednesday

Woohoo....even with the reunion, I managed to lose again.

-1lb. Total loss = 3 lbs. in 2 weeks

I didn't think I did too well early in the week. I started really doing much better about Monday. I feel like I'm finally getting into the groove.

SCREAMING.........

Yes, I'm in mourning(thus, the black font)....my internet is down. We had a very loud thunderstorm yesterday and one BIG BOOM and it was gone. I'm glad to say that my computer survived, it iwas just the internet. Although I'm sure my father-in-law, Charles, might have to take some antacid pills, due to withdrawal....tee hee. I have other alternatives.....THANKS MOM!! So, posts might be few and far between until it gets up and running.
Also, wanted to post that I got a wonderful little package in the mail yesterday....scroll down......remember the apron? Wellllllll, my beautiful mother had one sent to me.... I LOVE YOU MOM........as soon as I can post on MY COMPUTER, I'll post a pic. They are very well made aprons....and it has a pocket for my cell phone....ba haaaaaa....no, I think it might be for something else.....I used it for a cell phone. I put a towel in the pocket....and COOKED DINNER....then did the rustic SHUCKING OF THE CORN.....well, mister wonderful did most of it since there were WORMS in the top......and I had a hard time not FREAKING out when I touched one. This morning, I put them in the dishwasher...yes, the corn, in the DISHWASHER on a quick rinse cycle.....killed any little buggers that wanted to stay on the corn......then I dumped it in ice cold water. I then used my handy dandy vaccuum sealer, Food Saver...no house should be without one of those.....I got 12 packages. The cost was around $1.15 a package....is that a bargain? I don't know, don't care...it is FRESH!!!!

My Weekend in Review

For your enjoyment, a few pics of our reunion on my husband's side. It was hot, but so much fun to get to see everyone again and some that we've never met. We had family from California, Texas, and Arizona to name a few....probably more people from a far than those who lived nearby..... If you want to see more pictures, click on MY WEB ALBUMS to the right and look for my public albums.

TATTOO

THis is SYDNI w/ a Sharpie tattoo done by a cousin.....FREE HAND. Isn't it amazing...although I'm not too keen on the skull theme...gag.