Meal Planning

Do you do it? I can't live with out it! Do you dread when it is 4:30 in the afternoon and you have no idea what you will have for dinner? Take out? Left overs? Cold cereal? For me, its panic time if I don't know what we are having for dinner. 5 hungry people asking you whats for dinner can be a little overwhelming when you are not prepared!

So.....I scour the internet all the time looking for ideas, stock blogs, put it on my FB status that I need an idea for dinner {sometimes i even post some of my own} and call my sisters and good friends and ask: "whatch makin for dinner tonight?"

The trick to good meal planning is: set a budget, how many days will you plan for? Then, I borrowed the Food Nanny's idea and added a theme for each night. This makes it sooo simple to plan and organize when you know what type of food you will eat that night. {We eat A LOT of Mexican food in our family. Can't get enough. All 4 of my babies were made on that cheesy spicy goodness.}

I will usually ask the kids and my husband what they feel like for the week (or 2 weeks if I'm doing it that way). It's usually the same things but they appreciate that I ask them what they want. I do like to change it up every so often and will throw in a new food or recipe on Wednesdays. They are now really liking Tilapia!  Try it with season salt and dill! Delish!!

New Items in My Etsy Shop This Weekend!

This is one of my favorite new things!!! The T-Shirt Scarf. So very comfortable and versatile.  I made one with twisted flowers (above) and then one with ruffle trim (below).

Fun new head bands with ric rac flowers. One on a gorgeous brown velvet band and the other on a gross grain band. Love them both!

This one I made today and it just came together while I was watching Mansfield Park.

Some fun with photo shop on this one.

Wanna see more? Visit my etsy store {here}

Summer fun!

So at the beginning of the month I took all the kids to UT for lots of time with their cousins before our family had our reunion....there are 4 boys and 4 girls in my family so we have a reunion with just our little families all together every other year. This year we went to UT to my mom and dads! On our way we stayed in Las Vegas. This is what we did first! The kids love the pool at Aunt Cathy's and Uncle Jeff's.

If you remember the Jack and Jill hat from a previous post....this is where the original pattern is sold.

Isn't the store adorable?

I LOVE trims and I am really into ric rac right now. Check out the SIZE of these!!! They were like an inch wide!

So, I went to Gracie Lou's to get the Jack and Jill pattern and guess what? They were all SOLD OUT!!!!  Well, my sister says the gal behind the counter "you know my sister came all the way from Cali to get this pattern?!" Next thing I know they call the office down the way and the pattern designer her self is hand delivering a pattern to ME! She was so dang sweet....she has a name, Mona! 

She was so great to take a picture with me! Thanks Mona!!!

Took the kids and some of their cousins to the water park there in town. Can I tell you it was only $4 bucks to get in??? What a deal!

Next day, we went to Provo and shopped at a really cute boutique. It was originally a women's gym and it is still carved in the top of the bldg. Anyway,they turned it into a great shop literally  filled to bursting!

This is my cami and her cousin Taylor....you will see her in the future sometime playing on the Olympic Volley Ball Team. She is that good. 

My Gavin waiting for his burger at the Creamery on 9th. Was great food!

We got a ton of ice creams...I think like 13? for only $15!

Provo LDS Temple. Beautiful views there!

The old Utah County Court House

Restroom Floor

I love that it says "Ladies"

Inside

I read about an old Pharmacy that still has a Soda Fountain in my Country Living Mag I think it was in the June Issue? Anyway, it is in Springville, UT and it's called S.O.S. in case you want to visit. Since they were featured, they have had people come from all over.....even from VA! 

So very reasonably priced! We are talkin about a$1buck for each person to have a float! You can't beat that or their friendly service!

Do you know what she is? The sweetest Soda Jerk ever! 

My sister Linda and me!

        

All of our kids plus two other cousins.

If you are ever in Provo....You MUST visit this place!

Fun at the lake!

Jeff and his cousin Jason on the water trampoline

Look what I've been up to!

Isn't she lovely? I've been having lots of fun making this little #. Been making all kinds of stuff this past week or so thanks to my new BFF who lives like 100 ft away from me and she blogs and she sews, and she crochets, and I could go on and on....did I mention she has two sweet little ones at home? {Some how I have a feeling I will be spending lots of time over at her place when my baby goes to Kindergarten this Fall.} 

I made this out of a T-shirt!!! Isn't she sweet? I would wear her if I could! Can't decide between the double ruffle at the bottom or the trendy flower detail. Love them both I guess.

 Oh, she's for sale in my etsy store! 

So many things to do

There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day.....and I thought that Summer would mean lazy days! {Well, we are being lazy around the pool and working on our tans}OK, I have totally been sleeping in.....that is so not like me. The 1 and 2 a.m. bed times might just have something to do with that! I do enjoy not having to set the alarm everyday and I guess I am just taking advantage of a good thing.

Life doesn't slow down, it just gets busier!

My Summer to do List:

Print out each child's reading list for summer and make encourage them to spend hours and hours reading

Make some Silver Bella style mixed media GORGEOUS greeting cards

Sew..(I've already made two pillow case dresses for Cami.....{thanks Charmain}I used to make them when she was tiny, pics to come) some fun summery things for my girl or maybe a fun vintage style table cloth for picnics!

Figure out how to use that darn Mod Podge....does anyone have any tips?? Or links to someone who knows what they are doing?

Start couponing...and really try to stick to it!

Go visit my awesome family

Go to the beach a few times

Read a book? I think I would really enjoy doing that but I never really get two minutes together in day light hours that are un-interupted! For get about reading at night.....snoooooooz!

Go boutique shopping, antiquing and visit some beautiful gardens

Finally hang my daughter's curtain rod in her room

Have our family picture made {that's how my Granny used to say it}

Try to enjoy every day with my family, we are on the cusp of having a teenager in the house.........times they are a changin' for me!

What are you wanting to do this summer?

BYD {Bishop's Youth Discussion}

So, this past Sunday Mike and I had the fantastic opportunity to speak to the youth of our ward {church} about choosing good friends and being a good friend. It brought back some memories of my younger days and also about how I choose friends today. I got to talk to them and talk with them. There were laughs and tears in their eyes and mine. I love the youth!!! My husband followed and just really had everyone chuckling {no surprise if you know  my Mikey} He shared so many wonderful experiences from his childhood and his group of friends that were all baptized together and all served missions for the church at the same time and how they are still friends almost into their 40s! I was so impressed with the way he captured everyone's attention. I rarely get to hear him speak. {He does it all the time for work in front of LARGE audiences.} So it was a very special treat for me. Then after we were finished, someone spotted his Ovation (guitar) which he brought in case I didn't speak long enough  and had left over time(um, does he not know this girl can talk?) and maybe he would play a hymn or something. That turned into a sing along while everyone had their treats. It was such a fun night.

I made this yesterday

I made it in apple green
working on a grey one and a black one!!!!


I got the tutorial here!

You should make one!