Monday menus #22

 Its been a long time since I've had a plant on my bedroom window sill.  We always had so much furniture in front of it that it was a pain in the patoot to get to it.  Or there was a cat.  Or the pot was too big for the ledge.

But since I don't have anything blocking the window now, I set the kitty planter here with its new succulent and I rooted a piece of my pathos ivy to pot for Scout.  And I really love seeing the yard in the background. There are places of peace in my home that I appreciate more and more.

Monday - kitchen closed

Tuesday - (freezer) Tamales, cilantro rice, zucchini {afternoon eye appointment, then haircut}

Wednesday - Grilled Chicken salad with romaine, purple onion, olives, tomato, croutons {on call this evening}

Thursday - Focaccia Pizza, HEB deli soup {payday}

Friday - BBQ Pork Chop, broccoli, twice baked potato

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Gina

Little project: managing Christmas decor

 Last week I did more purging in the garage.  {that's just going to be a regular task until everything I have left is something I want to keep and I know exactly where it is.}

Out went the outside Christmas lights that frustrated me so last year.  That led me to moving The Girl's things so that I had better access to my crafts dresser and the Christmas decor.  THEN, I decided to cull through the Christmas stuff and whittle it down.  Which further spurred me to go through one of those clear boxes you see and deal with the kid's ornaments and such.

Down the rabbit hole of Christmas, in May...I unwrapped them all and made piles of them on my bed - I needed a big surface for 80 plus ornaments.

There was an ornament for each kid up to age 20.  Also, some homemade ornaments and some mementos from elementary school.  And, cute ornament tie-ons they each gave to each other.

The flat paper ones went into a zip lock bag, mostly things they made in school.

These have great sentimental value.  Was it hard for me to go through them?  Yes.  A few happy tears were shed as I was going through everything.  We did have some pretty great Christmases when my kids were little.  And it turns out, summer is a better time to go through it all and organize it.

In these clear $4 boxes from Target, I placed flat things on the bottom, layered heavy to light weight ornaments, lined the boxes on the sides, then layers of crushed tissue paper all around to cushion the rest.  No sense in painstakingly wrapping each ornament, they aren't going to get jostled around.

I put everyone's initials on their box.  I'm not going to insist they take them to their respective homes, but someday they will come across these and know what they are.  And I'm letting them live in the top of my closet because I have oodles of empty space in there.

I didn't pack the stockings in there - I reserve the right to fill my peeps a stocking until they have kids of their own!  Swedish death cleaning of the Christmas decor is complete and the rest of the stuff I use fits into three storage containers that can live in the garage.

Gina

Monday menus #21

This probably is not a new discovery to anyone, but I have learned to microwave scrambled eggs!  I spray the little glass dish with Pam, add a little salt...

and they turn out perfect - 32 seconds for one egg.

Monday - kitchen closed

Tuesday - Tilapia with O&P, Trader Joe's street corn salad {last college tuition bill for Bubbie due today}

Wednesday - Pork Chop, Brie and Mushroom Farfalle, zucchini {begin kitchen cabinet refresh}

Thursday - Tacos (beef, lettuce, tomato, cheese, sour cream) {SS webinar at lunchtime, on call in the evening}

Friday - Grilled Chicken, jalapeno poppers, corn {Highlands, chores}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Normally I slip them into an English muffin with some cheese, but this time I served them alongside a leftover burrito.  A fast way to get a little extra protein with my breakfast, and they taste good, too!  Whatcha think?

Gina

5 thing Friday - BBQ lunch, thrifty finds, new earrings, laundromat musings, new coverlet

A couple of weeks ago, I took myself out to a BBQ place in Burnet that Mark and I had been meaning to try.  Better late than never? 

Mark always had a soft spot for a place that was closer to Highlands, probably because he liked the owner so much.  {They are under new ownership now and will re-open soon, which is great for Burnet!}

But this place wasn't bad at all.  I had a sliced and chopped moist brisket sammie with a side of beans for $10 and I couldn't even eat the whole thing.  Then I picked up my wine at Perissos.  It was a fun field trip.  I'll probably do that again.

My latest thrift shopping "spree" netted me a pretty dip-dyed sundress, a new pair of Lee shorts, and three books.  Cheap-ish thrills.

The Girl gave me the pretty blossom earrings for Mother's Day.  I love them!  They are very easy to put on and forget about.  Simple and so pretty. {the mini pearl ones are from her, too - she has good taste!}

I bought a new coverlet for my bed since I wasn't digging the new sheets against the white comforter.  And last time I tried washing it at home it turned into a wrinkled mess.  So, to the laundromat I went.  And I *might have* waited in the truck with Taco Bell.

What a dive this place is.  Gave me the icky feels and reminded me of sub-standard summers spent with my father or an older sister, neither one having a washer/dryer and us kids hanging out at the laundromat for hours.  Boring and terrible.  My kids never knew that in their childhood, and for that I am grateful.

So, anyway, here is the new coverlet.  {Should be much easier to clean in my machine}  I was sold on this gold color the minute I saw it - it reminds me of my high school bedroom which I painted from baby blue to "Apple Cider".  I bought a coordinating comforter in forest green and this color, and my boyfriend and I installed wall to wall shag carpet in forest green to complete the look.

I loved that bedroom!

I took down the framed print that had been up there for ages and replaced it with this wall medallion which seemed to fit the new vibe of the room perfectly.  And I removed all of the traces of burgundy that had been in here before. 

I am pleased  (:

Happy Weekend!

Gina

Monday menus #20

 Last week I was trying to recreate the whole okra dish I used to love for Mark to grill.  Only I thought I could do it in a skillet - which is not even the same thing.  It was merely O.K.

But.

  The next day I poured some lemon vinaigrette over the cold okra and ate it with my lunch and it was DELICIOUS.  It might be my new favorite way to eat it.  Although, I do want to start grilling in my little hibachi soon.

Monday - kitchen closed - pick up take-out

Tuesday - (freezer) Burgers and tots {also on call tonight}

Wednesday -  Sheet Pan Chicken Souvlaki {going to Brenham}

Thursday - Barbacoa Tacos with cilantro, onion, and limes, street corn 

Friday - Chicken Carbonara Skillet (chicken, pasta, broccoli, carbonara sauce from a jar) {yardwork if its not still raining!}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Gina

Mother's Day 2023

It has occurred to me that this little ole blog has become less about our life as a family, more about my life as a widow, and I never would have imagined that.  I do have the other blog, which generally is a place for me to vent.  So maybe I will figure out a way to merge the two, I haven't decided.

Anyhoo, Mother's Day is once again upon us.  And for all of the empty nesters or otherwise child-free among us, its a Hallmark kind of day.  I doubt very much that my "kids" will remember it, even the one who works at a major grocery chain that has a huge display in the front of the store designed to make it easy for men to grab a tray of chocolate covered things as a last minute gift.  So, here's my MD plan, and I'm going into it like any other weekend:

Saturday and Sunday, I will go to work.  I have a couple of small meals for each day, but may still end up enjoying a bowl of cereal before I hit the hay.  Its been slow at work (common for a brand new hospital) so I am going to assemble some things for me to work on. (continuing education, writing my mother a letter, organizing a couple of the XR rooms, gathering serial numbers for the equipment, etc., writing a blog post or two, planning my off days next week, etc.)

I bought myself a new comforter and shams, and something to hang on the wall over the bed.  I gave myself a home pedicure.  I may go get my hair cut today. 

I plan on staying off social media, which makes me feel sad most of the time, and I for sure don't need that. 

 Most importantly, I'm going to remind myself:  the goal of raising kids is to get them to adulthood intact.  I did that.  All while working and being fully a mom.  I'm proud of what I managed to do.  

Its going to be a good weekend - I hope yours is lovely too!

Gina

Monday menus #19

Twice last week I ate out - fast food - after work.

In my defense I was tired, cranky, hungry, and just need to eat and get to bed. 

And fast food is not really the answer to those problems, so I need to do better about packing large enough lunches and plenty of snacks on those days.  That way, if I'm still a little hungry (as opposed to ravenous) I can make do with a bowl of mini wheats.

Monday - kitchen closed {ok, on this day I am getting take-out for dinner, just not a burger!}

Tuesday - (homemade) Shake and Bake Chicken, pan sauteed okra, corn {a little yardwork, buy groceries}

Wednesday - Tamales, refried beans, salad with cucumber and red onion {misc. chores}

Thursday - Roast with carrots and onions, (freezer) mashed potatoes {on call tonight}

Friday - Ginger Garlic Tilapia, the rest of the okra, (freezer) avocado rice {visiting a winery!}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed

Gina

5 thing Friday - closet light, baked oatmeal, new sheets, friends, weekend

 The lighting in my closet is not great for detail.  I end up taking my earring box out to the bedroom to find what I want to wear.

So I ordered this tap light to shine down on the "dressing area" in here.

I'm pleased with it - for $13 it comes with a tiny remote that has a timer function, and you can also change up the brightness.  Plus, you can either adhere it to the surface or screw on two small brackets.

Cookie Baked Oatmeal is a new way for me to enjoy oats in the morning - tastes like a banana oatmeal muffin in a dish!  I made a batch of these for an easy take to work breakfast.  Add a little sugar if you like yours sweeter.  Or a scoop of ice cream if you want a healthy dessert.

Cookie Baked Oatmeal

3/4 c. oats (I used quick oats)

1/3 c. milk (I used almond milk)

1 banana, mashed

2 eggs, well beaten

1/2 t. baking soda

Preheat oven to 350.  Mix everything well. Divide into three small buttered ramekins and top with dark chocolate chips or nuts or blueberries.  Bake for 25 min.

I made a Target run for heavy duty hangers, batteries, nail polish remover, and bumpy arms cream, and came away with all of that plus a new set of sheets.  So I gave my room a little love in the form of dusting, rearranging pretty things, and changing out my old sheets.

I have never owned a set of black sheets and they look a little weird with my grey and white comforter but who else is going to see them besides me? 

 They remind me of a Laura Ashley dress from long ago.  It was high time I bought pretty sheets - I always had a hard time finding sheets that weren't too feminine or too masculine.  But I think Mark would have liked these.

They came in this fabric pouch that I looped around one of my closet rods.  Still wondering what I will store in it, if anything, but its so cute!

Heavy sigh.  A friend of mine sent me a photo of a photo of us long ago in our dorm room - forty two years ago.  How is that possible?  What I remember most from my years at UT was slowly pulling out of a deep depression, and making friends that I would know and love for a long time.  {also I was very thin at 118 pounds} We keep falling in and out of each others' orbits for no real reason.

And speaking of friends who I may or may not see again for a long while,  one of my work friends sent this pic to another (former) work friend to show me that I'm still around at the old place.  It made me shed a tear.  I didn't really say goodbye to them and I do miss them.  They were good co-workers and some of them I had known almost 30 years.  But I actually do need my right marker, so he's going to send it interoffice mail.

And tomorrow starts my second weekend at the new place.

Gina

Monday menus #18

My time off from work is spent either on working on chores or my To-Do list, or feeling bored.  So when that feeling of "I'm stuck and don't know how to un-stick myself" happens, I leave the house for a bit.  Doing an errand or eating lunch out helps me re-focus.

As it did last Sunday when I made my way to H-Mart and had a Korean dog and some noodles.  It was fun to walk around the store, too.  So crowded. And so many things to look at!

Monday - kitchen closed {work}

Tuesday - Chicken Tacos, charro beans, salad

Wednesday - Linguini and Meatsauce, kale

Thursday - Rosemary Lemon Tilapia, chopped salad {possibly a trip to Brenham}

Friday - Smothered Pork Chops, (freezer) mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts {pick up my wines at Perissos and check on Highlands}

Saturday and Sunday - kitchen closed {work}

Gina