Sunday, January 30, 2011

Meal Plan Monday

On the menu for the Elliott Household this week:

Waffles, Sausage, Eggs - we usually have breakfast for dinner at least twice a month in our house!

Chicken Teriyaki - a super, easy crockpot meal that is pretty good!

Taco Bowls - I found this recipe in one of my Kraft Family Food magazines I subscribe to.  It is just like regular soft tacos but it said to take the soft shells and put them in your muffin tins and bake them that way so the kids can fill them up - I thought it would be a neat change from regular tacos!

Layered Mexican Chicken - A weight watchers recipe that is delicious!!

Ravioli with Marinara Sauce - another one of our favorites and I had some leftover in the freezer from the last time I made it (helps trim the grocery bill!)

Bacon Chicken Alfredo Pizza - I haven't made this in years and can't wait to have it again!

Steak-n-cheese Subs - I'm actually making these in the crockpot at the suggestion of the BFF.  I'm super excited to try them out!!

Are you trying anything new this week?  How often do you repeat meals?  Do you struggle to come up with new meal ideas?

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Meal Plan Wednesday

I know I'm a couple of days late and there isn't really much to this weeks plan because.... 1. we're having leftover shredded pork taco's tonight (which were absolutely scrumptious) 2. on Friday we're headed to Monster Jam in D.C. and will eat on the way up there and 3. I'll be at an all day crop on Saturday! 
I'm still fasting red meat until the 31st so it's all chicken, pork or turkey!

Turkey Burgers - Fries and a veggie will accompany my favorite Jennie-O brand turkey burgers.  I almost love them more than regular hamburgers!

Sausage, Corn, Potato Chowder - one our favorites around here!  I usually serve it with garlic bread!

Fried Chicken - Made with Kentucky Colonel Seasoning, we'll have corn bread, mashed potatoes and a veggie too!

What's for dinner in your house?

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Awakening

A few people know I'm fasting this month and I mentioned it in Meal Plan Monday blog yesterday so I thought I'd elaborate.  I, along with many other people from my church, are participating in a 21-day prayer and fast called Awakening.  It is actually a worldwide event and hundreds of churches from around the world kick off the New Year with this time time of dedicated devotion with God.  Last year I heard testimony after testimony of how God moved powerfully in the lives of those who participated and I was bummed I had missed out - I didn't adequately prepare for the fasting part!  

This year, I prepared way ahead of time in regards to fasting.  There are several ways to fast, but I know my body can't handle a full fast and because I've been experiencing a lot of problems with my hyperglycemia lately, I knew it probably wasn't in my body's best interest to even do a Daniel Fast (which excludes dairy products and I tend to eat eggs for breakfast to help with my blood sugar).  The point of fasting is to draw closer to God, so you can fast social media (Facebook, Twitter, the internet all together), TV, the phone, anything that keeps you distracted from time with God.  But I knew I wanted to fast food of some sort because of the discipline that it required and ended up going to red meat.  At first I didn't know if it would be enough of a fast because while I was taking red meat out of my diet, I would be replacing it with another food, but in my Awakening devotion I found that fasting red meat is actually quite common and I actually have to be quite careful of what is in my food.  Buying a frozen pizza became a task when I realized that pepperoni had beef in it and when we went to a Chinese buffet, sometimes you don't know what everything is and having to bypass some of my favorites was quite hard!

So that's the deal - I'm fasting red meat until the end of January, I'm making time for God everyday in the form of devotion, Bible reading, and prayer. I haven't had too many cravings for hamburger or steak which is saying A LOT because I could live off of red meat if my heart would allow me too!  I am nervous for when my fast is over and when I introduce my body to red meat again what that will be like but this experience has allowed me to draw closer to God and to make healthier eating choices - it's a win-win!

Monday, January 17, 2011

A Tribute

The world lost an amazing and incredible person last Friday, but I write that with hesitation because Heaven gained a remarkable soul!  Her name was Lois Herbert-Stroup but to my brother and sister, she was Noie.  I've known her as long as I've been alive and while I wasn't extremely close with her, my brother, mom and aunts were very close with her and her death was and still is extremely hard on them.  I wanted to write this blog because I wanted to share with you her unconditional love and the tolerance she shared. 
She took my mom in as a pregnant teenager who was left with nowhere to go and since I've known Noie, she has taken in anyone or anything that has needed help.  She was always there for you - no judgment, just love. Anyone that knew her will tell you about her love for animals - she always had multiple dogs running around and her passion for taking care of them was obvious.  Her backyard was always full of squirrels, birds and other wildlife there to take refuge knowing they were safe in her care. 
Her smile was always genuine and took up her whole face - the love that she had inside came out with every smile.   She is the type of person that can take the title of hero and not because she fought in a war or fought for a cause but because she was what every person should strive to be.  I don't know a single person who wasn't touched by her love and generosity in some shape or form.  Here are some of the things that were shared on facebook after word of her passing:

  • "Lois was an amazing woman and I know how special she was to your family"
  • "Today we lost one of the greatest people to ever grace us with her presence. We all love you and miss you soo much Noie"
  • "Why can't the people like her be the ones that live forever? She will be missed"
  • "Lois was one of the classiest, coolest, warmest, and compassionate person we've ever met. We loved and enjoyed being with her talking about life. She was a wise woman and so kind hearted. Lois took in strays of all sorts whether it was lost animals or lost souls."
 Her impact was incredible and I hope she knows how special she was to so many people.  She was a mom to those without a mom, an aunt to those without an aunt, a grandmother, a friend, a mentor - she filled every role, easily without question or hesitation.  I hope that she felt the love in return and she knew how much she meant to so many people.  

Thank you Noie for being such a light to so many people in this world, myself included.  I pray that you are resting comfortably in heaven with our Lord and Savior and I pray for the day we meet again.  You will forever be missed and your absence will be noticed, but I pray that your impact made a lasting impression and that your light would transfer into those of us here and we can carry on your legacy.


My brother with Noie - 2009

Meal Plan Monday

I liked this idea so much that my dear friend Casey is doing each week, I thought I'd give it a try! 
I'm still fasting red meat until the end of the month, so you'll notice that it is absent - but I'll make it through!  :)

In no particular order - only what I feel like making that night!


Creamed Chicken and Biscuits (courtesy of momswhothink.com) - kind of like a really, easy chicken-n-dumplins!  It's super easy and super fast and I guarantee you that you already have all of the ingredients in your pantry!

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches - Emma got me a cookbook full of crockpot dinners and this comes from that!  Can't wait to try this one out!

Shredded Chicken Enchiladas - I cook my chicken ALL day long in water and chicken broth and then shred it to put in my enchiladas - simply scrumptious!

Pancakes, Sausage and Eggs - You can't go wrong with breakfast and the girls LOVE having pancakes for dinner!

Roast Chicken  - you can scratch that one off the list, Matt made a wonderful roast chicken with all the fixins tonight!

Cheese Ravioli with Marinara Sauce - Since I'm fasting red meat until the end of the month, I can't have regular spaghetti meat sauce, but I love, love, love Bertolli's marinara sauce!

Voila Chicken Meal - Since we're usually busy at least 3 nights out of the week and even though we're back in time to make dinner, I usually want something fast!  Thankfully, Matt's Mom gave us some of these last week - they are quick, easy and pretty good!

I'm also making Weight Watchers Zero Point Soup to have throughout the week.  I find the soup to be delicious if I'm counting calories or not and I figured I'd put my fasting to good use and eat a little better!

What are you having for dinner?

Friday, January 14, 2011

Top 12 Signs I'm a Mom

So, I actually stole this idea from another blog that I follow but I thought it was really cute and made me think about all the ways that I'm a Mom!

1.  The bottom of my purse is usually filled with broken crayons and candy wrappers!
2.  I know the channel numbers for Nickelodeon and Disney but have to use the "Guide" to watch my own shows!
3. I have a secret stash of chocolate so I don't have to share :)
4. I look forward to bedtime so I can enjoy quiet, "me" time but usually crash by 9:30pm!
5. I may only have 2 arms but can hold and finagle as much as an octopus that has 8!
6. I don't go anywhere without an extra set of pants and undies (for Hannah) in case of an accident
7. My shower has become a place of solitude!
8. The top of my grocery list includes milk, juice, goldfish, string cheese and hand sanitizer!
9. My pantry is always stocked with macaroni and cheese in case of emergency!
10. Only a quarter of the laundry I do is my own!
11. I can dress any size doll in clothes (rubber or cloth) that were made by people that obviously don't have kids!
12. I look at my watch before letting my girls have a sip of my tea (think: caffeine) to determine how close it is to bedtime

In what ways are you a Mom?

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

My Wish

Even though Emma gets to blow out the candles on her cake and make a wish - this is the wish I make for both of my girls every year!  I love this song and it really speaks volume to what I want for my kids (and usually brings a few tears to my eyes)!  You can watch the video here.

Rascal Flatts - My Wish
I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big

A Birthday Interview

Last year I wrote Emma Facts all about Emma in honor of her 6th birthday.  I thought this year it would be fun to do another interview of sorts to find out all about Emma in honor of her 7th birthday!  Here goes...

What is your name? Emma
How old are you? 7
What grade are you in? First
What school do you go to? Farmington Elementary School
Who are your best friends? Abby Rae, Kayla, Emma D and Nico
What do you want to be when you grow up? A Farmer (this has been a change in just the last week – for the last year plus, she has wanted to be a vetinarian!)
What was the best part of being 6? I don’t know
What are you looking forward to about being 7? I don’t know
Favorites…
Food – chicken nuggets and French fries
Drink – apple juice
Color – blue, pink and purple
Book – any book about horses
Show – Spongebob
Movie - Flicka
Game – Mario Kart Wii game
Toy – horse with the stable
Animal - horses

Not much else has changed since that post last year!  She's becoming more set in the things she likes and really becoming who she'll be forever. As much as I want to slow down the time, I kind of can't wait to see who she turns out to be and what her likes and dislikes are each year! 

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Interview with Hannah

I did an interview with Emma for her birthday that I'll post on her actual birthday but Hannah wanted to participate so here is her interview for your reading enjoyment!

What is your name? Hannah
How old are you? 3
What grade are you in? preschool
What school do you go to? preschool
Who are your best friends? Hope-e, and Princesses
What do you want to be when you grow up? A monkey
What is the best part of being 3? Going to preschool
What are you looking forward to about turning 4? Going to my birthday party
Favorites…
Food – cheese
drink – apple juice and thslolate milk (that would be chocolate pronounced Hannah’s way!)
color – pink and purple and brown and orange
book – peter man (Peter Pan)
show – Yo Gabba Gabba and Dora
movie - Princesses
game – Dora
toy – Barbies
animal - Frogs

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Not a baby anymore!

Emma turns 7 in just a couple of days - yep 7, no typo there!  Hard to believe how fast it went, I literally feel like we skipped a few years.  I'm starting to really understand the whole "they grow up in a blink of an eye" and "they'll be grown before you know it" statements!  This is the last year she legally has to ride in a booster seat and her last year before officially reaching tweenhood!  CRAZY!  This last year has been one of the hardest parenting years to date - I've shed many tears and punched many pillows in the last week year.  Sometimes I wonder where I've gone wrong and while some things I recognize there I could have done different or handled a differently, other things I realize they are just her personality and I don't know how to parent her personality effectively.  The last year or so has also been the transition to making sure her morals and values are shaped and she knows why not just making sure she looks both ways before crossing the street and reminding her of her "please" and "thank you's".  I now how to worry about boys and monitor what she watches on TV since she has moved past the safe zone of what was once Noggin.  Not only does Degrassi come on during the day but I've had to put a stop on shows as simple as iCarly that encourages lying and being sneaky - Emma's two biggest issues.  Last year I had to address a SERIOUS issue with the teacher regarding inappropriate behavior from a boy in another class.  This year when she announced she had a boyfriend, her teacher thankfully addressed boyfriend/girlfriends with the entire class.  Other kids were encouraging her to kiss the boy.  What happened to boys having cooties in first grade?  The internet is obviously, also, not a safe place.  She has to play near me and only on nickelodeon, disney or pbs websites.  Last night, we were looking online for images of horse cupcakes for her birthday and a photo of a woman with icing on her bare breasts popped up.  Emma giggled and asked why that was there and we discussed how it wasn't appropriate.  We kept scrolling and another woman in a very skimpy bathing suit popped up - we had to end our search.  It's so hard to protect our daughters when you can't even do something as simple as look for images of how to make horse cupcakes! 
As she approaches the upcoming years we'll be reaching the birds and the bees.  YIKES!  She has already mentioned to me that she knows how to spell s-e-x (she spells it, but doesn't say it) but I haven't been able to ask her what she thought it meant.  She won't be getting the details of sex just yet, but she'll be learning a little more about her body this year. 
She asked me last night why I was married twice.  Thankfully she got up right after asking, because I had not yet thought of what I would ever say to that.  She knows her Dad and I were married but she assumes Matt has always been around (funny the way kids think!).  My brother and his wife are separating.  My sister has gone through a divorce and then remarried while Emma has been old enough to know what is going on.  I worry this might skew her image that marriage is supposed to be forever.  I don't want her to think that relationships are dispensable. 
I know this blog has been all over the place but it's hard to believe she'll be 7 and all of the ways I now have to think of to protect her.  What is she hearing on TV? What are those song lyrics (ahem Katy Perry and her music video that gets played on Nick)? What are the kids on the playground telling her?   What types of clothes are they marketing to her age?  There is so much I have to teach her before she reaches the critical teen years and I wonder how successful we'll be!