For the Birds!

This wet dreary rainy weather is for the birds!

Who invented that saying anyway?

My home computer is SICK, deathly sick.

Will be taking it in to the Tech Doctor this weekend.

Virus ville.

Someone else is for the birds...

Pottery Barns new collection.

Nest at home

Have you seen it?!

Stunning throw pillows that are definitely for the birds!

In a good way.

Bird eggs and beautiful bunnies! Love that green.

I.want.this.tablescape.

All images from Pottery Barn.

Lots and lots of birds.

Wish I was in that bed right now!
Oh but wait, ya'll know me and know
PB prices are 'for the birds'. 
Sorry this frugal gal will just have to bird watch. ;-)

Longing for Spring.

The sounds of chirping birdies.

Nesting

Sunshine!

So what is your "for the birds" today?

Cherish Everything....

Word for 2010

Yes, I'm running late!  Have ya read the past few blogs where life has really tossed in a few mishaps?

Several years ago, Ali Edwards began a trend in

the scrapbook world.

A single word to focus on for the entire year.

You can read about her process here.

The last 2 years my word has been 'shine'.

Go figure!?!

Last year I tried to embrace another word.

No other word came to mind.

Or felt 'right'.  Know what I mean?

Reflecting on 2009, I now know why.

God had a lot more polishing to do with me,

in order to get me to the 'shine'.

A little quiet time this year and my word came easily.

~ C H E R I S H ~

To continue to SHINE.... I am Cherishing EVERY moment this year.

Every. LITTLE. thing.

Defining Cherish.

Well the dictionary says:

1. a: to treat with affection and tenderness; to hold dear  b:  to keep or cultivate with care and affection, to protect and love
2. to entertain or harbor in the mind deeply and resolutely

Treating others with affection, cultivating with care, protecting, loving is sure to bring out the shine!

Although to entertain doesn't really mean to entertain my family and friends; that most certainly will cultivate a feeling of being cherished to them.

So Cherish works for me in 2010!

~Cherish the moments, for they become a lifetime of memories.

~Cherish my children, for they have grown up so fast.

~Cherish a job, that I truly enjoy.

~Cherish that God has placed the right person in my life at just the right time.

And I FEEL cherished.

~Cherish the joy in my life.

Today a new sun rises for me; everything lives, everything is animated, everything seems to speak to me of my passion, everything invites me to cherish it ~

Ninon de Lenclos 

What will you Cherish today??????

I'm joining in on Your Life, Your Blog over at Real Life.  Check it out!
It's a share your life, something about you blog party.

It's Broke !

And I can't fix it.

My ring finger on my LEFT hand.

The hand I write with.

Typing is difficult.

Oh how did I do it you ask?

Slammed it in a glass sliding door at home.

Not the brightest thing I ever did!

Ouch.

Building a Menu Master List

Crock pot roast and potatoes, with broccoli and rolls 

In order to build your master menu list you need to first consider your lifestyle:  Busy, hectic for most of us!

I'm a working mom, so easy, simple recipes rule the roost.  I also enjoy using my crockpot for nights when I know I won't feel up to preparing a meal or when we used to run to soccer, band or those kid activities. I've also found a few recipes I can make  The rule of thumb is to be flexible!  If you have to rearrange your weekly menu or order delivery pizza...that is OK!

My daughter's favorite meal ~ Salmon patties, creamed potatoes, peas and biscuits

When developing my master list I asked the kids for their favorite meals.  If you have a mate, then be sure to include their favorites too!  Next, keep your recipes handy.  I have many typed up in a file on my computer, pages marked in recipe books and new to try ones bookmarked online.  I like tossing a few new recipes into the mix to keep us from getting too bored with the same tried and true ones. 

Ranch potato wedges (new recipe and family fav!) with pull pork sandwich and slaw

My list is basically dinner menus, as we are out of the house for lunches and do quick breakfast items (cereal, pop tarts, bagels, etc).  However, if your family is home for these meals be sure to add them into your master planning menu.  I would like to say I'm more organized with this, however my master list is on a simple piece of school notebook paper!  I have plans to do a small notebook to keep in the kitchen with the master list and a place for favorite recipes to be at my fingertips.  This will help with making out my grocery list also.

My Master Menu List (click on the links for recipes)

• Spaghetti, garlic bread (optional salad)
• Crock pot roast with potatoes (add in carrots, if you like!)
• Pinto beans and cornbread  (a Family favorite)
• Chicken and Dumplings  (a simplified recipe using Egg noodles)
• Chicken Pot pie
• Salmon Patties, creamed potatoes, english peas and biscuits
• Sloppy Joes with Ranch potato wedges
• Taco Soup
• Tacos, mexican rice and black beans
• Homemade Pizza or Pizza Pockets/Rolls
  
• Chili
• Ranch Chicken
• Vegetable Soup with sandwiches
• Hashbrown casserole (great side dish to add to any meal)
• Taco Salad (from leftover tacos, rice and beans)
• Hot dogs, with either baked beans/chili and ranch potato wedges
• Lasagna Roll ups, garlic bread (optional salad)
• Brunswick Stew
• Pulled pork sandwiches, ranch potato wedges and slaw
• Panini sandwiches 
• Meat loaf, AuGratin potatoes, baked apples
• Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, sandwiches
• Quesadillas - chicken/cheese (LOVE my Quesadilla maker!), yellow rice, black beans
• Pork chops, veggies
• Chicken and Rice (can be done in the Crockpot)

 Recipes I still want to try

• Chicken Alfredo and Rice Casserole 
• Best Chicken Ever 
• Baked Potato Soup 
• Pan Burritos 

I usually try to add in a new recipe to try!  If it gets 2 thumbs up, then I add it in the rotation.  I love checking out the menu lists on Organizing Junkie on Mondays for ideas.  

I also love to bake and have several favorite recipes.  We love snacking on Banana Bread and Strawberry Bread.

Have you made your Master Menu list?  SHARE your family favorite recipe in my comments!  We all love getting new ideas and recipes to try.   Have you Menu planned for this week?  Try it, you just might like it! ;-)

Linking in to Tasty Tuesday at Beauty and Bedlam.  

Menus by the Plan

Menu Planning can be simple or very detailed.

That depends on you.

Above is a photo of my grocery list and an inexpensive menu planner.
Click HERE for a link to printable menu plans.

I prefer a fairly simple method that works for me,

for our life, with a lot of flexibility built in.
A menu plan saves time!
A menu plan saves money. 

By request, I am sharing how I menu plan, along with

some other tips from around the web that may start you on your way

to meal planning in 2010!
Ok so it's mid-January, but it's still the first part of the year. ;-)

Building my menu comes from different sources.
First I check my pantry and frig to see what I have 'on hand', planning meals from those items.
Then I check the Grocery ads.

Many times I will plan around meats that are on sale or simply stock up. I use a lot of boneless chicken because it's easy. Make a list of every ingredient you will need to complete meals. Ever just wander around the grocery store with that glazed over blank look trying to come up with dinner ideas?  I have! But now I can giggle at those with the Deer caught in the headlight expression.  Having a list will save you TONS of time in the grocery store!  And extra trips back to town in the middle of the week for that one item you don't have to complete your meal. I've found planning also saves me money by keeping me out of the stores as often. I keep a running 'what we need' list on the frig. If we run out, we add it to the list.

If you eat leftovers (some people won't) then plan a next day meal from those. My favorite is a boneless pork loin.  I have made several different meals from that one meat in a week. Roasted Pork, shred leftovers for BBQ sandwiches and brunswick stew. Enlist ideas from your family!  The kids loved having their 'favorite' meals added into our menu rotation. Have some fun with it!  Add in Breakfast for dinner, Snack/finger food night, around the world dishes (Mexican, Italian, Chinese nights).  Another favorite at my house is Pizza night.  Usually this happens on the weekend (Friday or Saturdays). This also allows for me to skip my night of cooking (order in).  I've also found some easy and fun pizza variations. Our favorite is Pizza Rolls.

Photo from Cottage Sisters
Everyone gets to build their own from their favorite ingredients. 

But Sherri, menu planning takes too much time!

Maybe the 1st time or two; after that it's 30 minutes or less!
How do I manage it in a short amount of time?
It is now a routine (habit forming).
I keep that running grocery list and just add to it what I need to complete the meals.
I recycle weekly menu plans and use meal ideas from our family favorites master meal list.
I get ideas and inspiration from the web!

Each week there are hundreds of ladies that share their menus, along with recipe links at Organizing Junkie.

So how about it?  Will you TRY weekly menu planning?
I DARE YOU!
To help you out I will even post my humble master meal list.
Look for it sometime this weekend.
Now GO PLAN!

Playing Nurse Sherri

If you only knew the lessons my mom taught me about being a 'nurse'.

When we were little and fell...out rang, "Are you bleeding?"

If the answer was no.... "Then you are OK, get up, hush up".

Sometimes that isn't the case.

I've seen the inside of our local Hospital more in the past month than ever before!

First, my partner's father was in for a week over the holidays with pneumonia.

Then last week, I visited the ER with chest pains; which ended up being bronchitis.

Then this week my partner slipped on icy steps resulting in a broken back.

Fortunately surgery isn't required.

However, it is very painful.

So between working, a teen daughter's truck quit running and playing

Nurse Ratched Sherri, there hasn't been a lot of blog/project time.

In fact, I'm surprised I'm wearing clean clothes! Ha!

I've had Menu Planning blog draft in the works.

Ideas for winter decor, Valentine projects.

Getting it together in the New Year.

Oh and did you catch I'm pretty sure I finally found the Love of my life?

I wanted to just let you all know, I will be BACK!

Would also appreciate prayers for my partners recovery which will be a long and painful one.

Snow Day !

Georgia has snow!

The schools are closed, even the University where I work.

Which is a good thing since I spent several hours in the ER yesterday.

Chest pains on the left side are SCARY!

Thankfully all is ok.  Well, except for a severe cough, along with a bad case of bronchitis.

Strong antibiotics and some great cough pills have me looking at the snow through the windows.

Photos are thanks to my neighbors and friends locally!

I am working up a Meal Planning post...hopefully I can get that finished this weekend!

The roads are icy because face it...Southerners just don't get a lot of the pretty white stuff.

So I am all snug in the house with a huge pot of homemade chicken noodle soup.

Neighbors driveway...mine is the same!

And thanks to Christy Burgess for these:

I love the red pop in this!

Ringing in 2010 !

What are your plans for ringing in the New Year?

Going to a party?

Hosting at your house?

Need a nifty, quick hostess gift?

There is still time with this idea from Stacie

at Park Avenue

A Holiday Potpourri recipe that is sure to make the house

smell delicious!

And if you need an easy snack for tonight

or tomorrow while watching football...try her

Easy Cheese Straws

Staying in with the kids?

How about a fun Countdown idea?

You could put together these Countdown Goodie Bags

with items from the house or a quick stop by

the Dollar Store today.

Thanks to Hoosier Homemade for sharing this!

Even my teen drama queen would LOVE these.

Since I seem to have a case of the crud, complete with a nasty cough

I suspect I will be ringing in the New Year cuddled up on the sofa.

That is NOT a bad thing.

Was hoping to see a bit of this...

Instead we are having more rain.

Working up a post, by request, for some Menu Planning ideas.

Trying to enjoy the last few days of my vacation, before work

kicks into high gear on the 4th.

And really REALLY (did I say really?) looking forward to this New Year!

Happy New Year to you and yours!

See you in 2010.

The Best Gift of All.....

Christmas has come and gone.

I took time away from my blog to enjoy every moment.

And my every moment has been filled with the best gift of all...

Love.

My children are my greatest joy.

For the first year since he was born, my son was not home on Christmas.

We celebrated early on Christmas Eve Eve.

He is a police officer and had to work both days.

It was different for me.

Downtown at night.

I admit, I shed a few tears Christmas by the light of my tree

in the quiet stillness of the morning.

However, I am so very proud of both of these 'kids'.

My life is full of love, joy and laughter from these two.

Leah and I spent Christmas Day at my sisters.

This photo was made Thanksgiving 2009.

We had a house full.

Good food.

Laughter.

Love.

I hope you enjoyed all of life's blessings with your family

celebrating this Christmas
and that the spirit of Love will last throughout
the New Year.

FREE Photo Editing

I had the opportunity to take a basic photography class through my job last week.

I work at a University and the class was taught by one of our IT techies.

A short spill on cameras, lighting and the rule of thirds.

Then a cold stroll around campus for assignments.

Here are a few of my photos:

This is my favorite of the day.  Made with my little point and shoot.

The building in the background is where my office is located.

The highlight of the class for me was the Instructor shared about photo editing.

Did you know there is a FREE version of PhotoShop online???

I didn't!

You have to register, pretty simple.

Photo Shop Online

Here is editing on the above photo in the online version:

So if you need a 'better' photo editing and like a bargain like me; try out photoshop online!