Monday menus #98

Well darn.

I was all excited about drinking "dirty diet cokes" with the new flavors of creamer that have come out, until I got the results from my food sensitivity test...

It turns out that eggs, milk (casein)*, almonds, garlic, poppy seeds, and pomegranate are the trouble makers.  Plan B is to get some sugar free Torani syrups, Plan C can be to explore dairy free creamers, and Plan D can be to drink plain old diet coke and coffee.  I'm going to finish up what I have in the way of creamers, in either case.

Monday - kitchen closed

Tuesday - Chicken and Peppers, jasmine rice {on call}

Wednesday - Pulled Pork, chopped salad {roast a small turkey, morning telehealth appt., afternoon dietician appt., on call}

Thursday - Happy Birthday, Gina! {dinner out, Candlelight Concert}

Friday - Turkey over chopped salad {might put the trees up, but I probably won't decorate them}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

*Many foods contain casein, which is a protein found in milk.  For example: milk, butter, yogurt, ice cream, half and half, sour cream, pudding, custard, sherbet, hot dogs, lunch meat, sausage, creamed soups and veggies, soup bases, white and milk chocolate, and dietary supplements and protein powders.

Gina

5 thing Friday - November, fire extinguisher, new car, cranberry sauce, Thanksgiving plans

 I cannot remember where I found this printable:

But I printed it and it lives above my desk and is EXACTLY what I want for myself this month.  And maybe the rest of the year, too!  I have been feeling better and that always translates to me getting things off the back burners and DONE.  But also?  I am trying hard to stay present, and experience peace in my inner thoughts.

One of the Fall projects was to get my extinguisher refilled.  Turns out, it was not the refillable type.  So I ordered a new one, complete with hanging bracket, and will be installed in a central location of my house today.  God-willing, I will never use it, but it will be there, just in case.

I sold the truck as a trade-in towards my new car.  Goodbye forever, stinky truck.  You helped me do a lot of things and I am thankful I had you for some of the hardest stuff.

Hello, new car. {she needs a name!}

I promise to drive you gently and take good care of you as you may be the last car I ever buy.  I am proud of myself for finally gathering my wits and courage and taking care of both things yesterday.  As I told the Subaru lady, I have paid for many a vehicle, but never actually bought one on my own.  And I think I made a good choice.

One of my sisters convinced me to make my own cranberry sauce, and I'm glad I did.  Whatever doesn't get eaten before Christmas will be used for Cranberry Oat Bars.  I also got a small turkey, which I will roast next week, then debone to make my Turkey and Biscuits for Thanksgiving Day, and also make stock from the bones.

Will I miss not making a full Thanksgiving dinner?  I don't think so.  And I have to work that day anyway.  I did very much enjoy my sammie last week made with canned cranberry jelly, deli sliced turkey breast, and Stovetop Stuffing.  I'm good.

Gina

Monday menus #97

On the advice of a friend I took a test to see which foods might be causing me some issues - bloating, irregularity, stomach upset, reflux...and the usual all over gross feeling after a meal. 

Drumroll...

Turns out that I am sensitive to eggs, cow's milk, almonds, pomegranate, and poppy seeds.  So after I use up or get rid of those components and see how an elimination diet works for me, I will report back.

Monday - kitchen closed

Tuesday - Chinese takeout (save half for a weekend meal) {tattoo day}

Wednesday - Taco Salad (no cheese)

Thursday - Chicken Pot Pie, side salad

Friday - Crockpot Chicken Drums, baked sweet potato {payday}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Gina

Moving peacefully

It feels impossible not to think about Christmas now that Halloween is over and we are past the election.  Maybe I just want to feel hopeful and happy and move on.  I see blogs, Instagram, and stores in full on Christmas mode.  And that's fine, but I am enjoying this peaceful Fall time before Thanksgiving.

Even so, I found these cinna dough ornaments leftover from last year and decided to turn them into ornaments.  They still smell great!  I bought nothing for this "craft", just used some supplies I already had.  I added thin florist wire to hang them, and will tuck them into my tree to add a soft scent of cinnamon.

I don't see myself getting much more crafty than this, though I love seeing how other blogs are stretching their creative muscles.  I was going to put the trees up last week, but I think I would rather "live slowly" and just wait until closer to the end of November.  

Everything about the holidays feels very different to me now, but I am discovering new ways of thinking about it.  In the last couple of years, I felt like I had to make Christmas special for other people - to somehow fill a huge gap.  Which in reality, cannot be filled.  So my goal is to move more peacefully through the holidays.

How about you?

Gina

Monday menus #96

 Pizza rolls and pizza, along with chocolate chip cookies and Caesar Salad were enjoyed on Halloween night aka Scout's birthday.  The three of us listened to "spooky" music and ate by candlelight in the kitchen.

No candy was purchased, which solved two problems: having to hang out near the door or outside and hand candy out over the space of two hours, and/or having candy leftover, which I then would have had a hard time staying out of.  

Monday - kitchen closed

Tuesday - (freezer) Chicken Fajita Salad

Wednesday - BBQ Shrimp, skinny mashed potatoes, zucchini {morning telehealth appt.}

Thursday - Bowtie Pasta with Meaty Marinara, side salad (make an extra for the freezer), the rest of the chopped salad

Friday - Thanksgiving Sub - make an extra one for the weekend {morning audiologist appt.}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Hooray for November!

Gina

5 thing Friday - Thanksgiving sub, widowing, front door spiffing, walking, Fall heat

 One day last week I had a Thanksgiving sub from Firehouse on the suggestion of a friend - and I also ate it al fresco at a local park.

It was delish, but I thought "Oh, I could make a better one", then I remembered I wasn't going to make a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  I'm going to have to buy the ingredients to make one these sammies.  I'm thinking some sliced deli turkey, a box of Stovetop, a can of cranberry jelly, and a sub roll.  I'm already looking forward to recreating it.

I know some people will be shocked to see this ring on this blog, but I feel like wearing it on my wedding ring finger will make me chuckle and give rise to some very honest thoughts.  I didn't want to be a widow and I hate having to do everything that Mark never showed me how to do, no matter how capable I feel.  And I think it is normal and OK to express that.  I'm not wearing it for anyone but me.  Same as the tat.

I did a load of errands the other day (getting my hair cut, mailing a box, doing a bit of thrifting) and as I passed Home Depot I remembered I wanted to replace the front door outside mat.  Decisions, decisions. I picked the black and brown one which matches the front door.

I also popped in to Hob Lob for a spray of artificial Fall leaves to add to the hanging basket.

I wiped down the door, spiffed the basket of greenery, swept the bricks.  Pretty soon it will be time to take Fall down and decorate for Christmas!  I was going to put up the trees today (no ornaments) but we will see how industrious I feel.

I know it looks like Fall in this photo, but the A/C is on at my house and the temp outside is 83.  In November!  This dead tree on the grounds of the church a few blocks away looks like it could tell some stories.  This whole area was pasture way back when.  Imagine how many cows sat under its shade.  I like that they left it here like some kind of sculpture!  I have really enjoyed my walks and see something new every time, but I wish we could get a break from the heat.

Happy November!

Gina

Monday menus #95

 I spent a gleeful 30 minutes finding and printing the perfect photos for these cute gourd place card holders that  I got from someone on the FB Buy Nothing page:

Will my peeps notice them here?  They make me laugh to see them.

Don't trash all the photos where your kids are acting the fool.  You might use them someday.  Follow me for more decorating tips, ha ha.

Monday - kitchen closed

Tuesday - Chicken Pad Thai {buy groceries, catch up laundry, on call tonight}

Wednesday - Grilled Pork Chop, (freezer) baked sweet potato, (freezer) veggie {thrifting, on call tonight}

Thursday - Pizza Rolls, chopped salad {Happy Birthday, Scout!}

Friday - (crockpot) Pulled Pork, (freezer) corn, rest of the chopped salad {putting up the Christmas tree - no judging, taking myself to a movie}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Gina