A bit of a later start to planning my week today. I work later today but had to spend the morning dealing with putting our pantry back together. We had an ant invasion over the weekend.

I guess it’s going to be kitchen clear out week around here. Gave the pantry a really good cleaning this morning before returning and re-organizing all the contents. Left me inspired to move on to the rest of the cabinets. Been on my project list for a long time.

Taking a break to plan the week ahead before I return to it and get ready to work later.

The Weather  

Summer is reminding us that it’s still here for another week. Highs in the low 90’s to upper 80’s all week. Chances of rain on Saturday and Sunday. I really hope the rain holds off as J has his first band competition on Saturday.

On My Reading Pile

I picked up I Let You Go by Claire McIntosh at the library. Started it, put it down, and finally last night picked it up again. It’s intriguing but a bit troubling to read at first as it deals with the hit and run of a 5-year-old boy.  Going to be a tough read for me considering I work with 2-5 year-old children.

On My TV

Cheesy Netflix movie for the win. I broke down and watched I Am Mother on there. Not as bad as I anticipated. Not good but not that bad. Alternate title suggestion for them: Terminator: From the Machine’s Point of View.  Also watched a movie I’d requested on disc, Mortal Engines. Clearly a movie produced for effects vs plot though I enjoyed it.

On My Menu

I’m doing another round of the Take Ten challenge so my menu is somewhat set though I’m shuffling some menus due to time constraints and my ongoing freezer/pantry clean out project.

MONDAY: pancakes and sausage (shifting and subbing this for the day that looks like omelets as my husband doesn’t do eggs) *I work 1-3:45* *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: Chicken legs *J has early morning band practice* *I have Bunco*

WEDNESDAY: Looks like some sort of tacos *J has early morning band practice* *I work 7:30-noon*

THURSDAY: Roast in the crock pot *J has evening band practice* *I’m helping prepare food for the band competition day*

FRIDAY: Chicken and pasta of some sort (I may just make chicken cacciatore) *I work 9:30-6*

On My To Do List

1. Pay bills
2. Freezer/Fridge/Pantry (done!)/Cabinet clean & clear out
3. Grocery store for lunch stuff mainly
4. Still need to take items to donate
5. Wash bedding

What I Am Creating

Hopefully, a clean and cozy home that’s ready for fall and winter.

Looking Around The House

We have stuff everywhere! It’s making us all grouchy, I think. Necessary component of remodeling the bedroom but I’m ready to have my living space back.

From The Camera 

Didn’t pick up the camera much last week. Here’s glance at my ant-inspired pantry project. 

 

On My Prayer List

Family, friends, speedy recovery for a fellow teacher who was extremely sick (hospitalized) last week…

Quote For The Week

Don’t let seeds of discontent take root in your spirit. (Joel Osteen)

I needed that message yesterday as well as the run my own race reminder when I happened to flip on the TV to his sermon. Definitely something I needed to work on last week and going forward.

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Don’t forget to go check out Sandra’s blog Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for the Happy Homemaker Monday link up. Such a fun, encouraging place to visit in blog-land.

Happy Monday! I woke up feeling refreshed and well-rested today. Hope you did as well! Ready to start another great September week.

Our weekend was busy with J’s first football game with the marching band (The band did great! The football team is having another re-building year.). Saturday evening, we attended a beautiful wedding of a friend’s daughter while the boys went to a family birthday. And yesterday, of course, we watched the Chiefs game.  In between, I ran errands, cleaned the house, and tried to stay somewhat caught up on laundry.

I also worked more than originally planned. At least this week, my schedule is full with work going into it. Today is my main day off this week. Let’s look at the week ahead.

The Weather 

Summer’s not leaving without a struggle!  Sunny and lower 90’s today, tomorrow, and Wednesday. Chance of thunderstorms on Thursday. Looks like it’s supposed to be nice and only in the upper 80’s on Friday, that should make for good stadium sitting weather.

On My Reading Pile

Plan to start in on Class Mom by Laurie Gelman later today. Just finished reading Love For Imperfect Things by Haemin Sunim and really enjoyed it. Also read I See You by Claire Macintosh over the course of the week/weekend. My reviews for both books are on Goodreads if you’re interested.

On My TV

Finished season 9 of The Walking Dead, watched a really interesting short series called Diagnosis, and a Colin Quinn comedy special called Red State/Blue State, all on Netflix. The fall season of regular TV, hopefully, starts soon.

On My Menu

The problem with the idea of September and fall is it makes you want to cook those warm, filling meals.  The kind we don’t really want to eat when the weather is in the 90 degree range.

MONDAY: I planned steak bites and baked potatoes but J stayed home from school with a sore throat so I may change it. *J may or may not have a baritone lesson tonight depending on how he feels*

TUESDAY: Cilantro Lime Chicken/Taco salads *J has early morning band* *I work 7:45 to ?? (helping with picture day)*

WEDNESDAY: BBQ sandwiches (freezer) *J has early morning band* *I work 7:30-3:45*

THURSDAY: Spaghetti? *I work 7:30-3:45* *J has evening band practice*

FRIDAY: OUT *J has a football game* *I work 7:30-3:45*

On My To Do List

1. Finish Laundry
2. Clean the house
3. Remind husband we need to fix lawn mower (it broke last week)
4. Clean out freezers
5. Take items to donate

Simple Pleasure

Waking up feeling refreshed!

Looking Around The House

It needs a big fall cleaning and clearing out

From The Camera

I’ve been a bit obsessed with the sky and clouds lately.

On My Prayer List

The newlywed couple, family (especially J that he feels better), friends, and of course, the people dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane.

Quote For The Week

The true nature of our mind is like the sky. Our thoughts are like clouds, our emotions like lightning, and the sky accepts them all equally, watching as they shift and move across it. The weather of thoughts and emotions rises and passes away, but the sky remains the same-clear, luminous, open.  (Haemin Sunim)

Words from his book Love For Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection.

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Don’t forget to visit Sandra, the host of the Happy Homemaker Monday link. You can find her at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

What’s on your agenda for the week ahead?

 

Happy Labor Day! The unofficial end of summer and beginning of the fall season (and yes, I know it means other things as well). Who’s ready for a wonderful fall season? Who wonders who just typed that?

I’m surprisingly happy about fall this year. It just feels like it’s going to be a great one!

Getting a bit of a jump on my Monday planning post simply because I have time. And I need to figure out what dinners work with my low-spend, low-sugar September plans. As always, joining in with Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The Weather: 

Amazing skies! Feels like fall already but supposed get back up in the 90’s on Tuesday. Rain on Wednesday. Mostly in the low to mid 80’s. September stuff. 

On My Breakfast Plate:

I had a slice of Guatemalan banana bread, some coffee, and a glass of ice water with lemon and peppermint oil drops in it.

Right Now I Am:

Working on finishing this post in “the dungeon” aka the basement since I’ve okayed my nephew spending the night. They won’t want me hanging out down here tomorrow morning.

 On My Reading Pile:

Last week I read The Beautiful No: And Other Tales of Trial, Transcendence, and Transformation by Sheri Salata, started in on Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection by Haemin Sunim, and took a break to read Beneath the Attic by V.C. Andrews.

Movies or Shows I Watched This Weekend:

Last week I finished watching Humans and binge-watched season 3 of The Good Place (I really love that show, glad they get another season to finish out the story-line). Found an oddly good movie starring Ryan Reynolds called Self Less on Netflix. And of course, at some point today, I’ll start watching season 9 (I think?) of The Walking Dead as they’ve finally added it on Netflix as well.

On My TV This Week:

The Walking Dead on Netflix, not sure what else.

On The Menu:

MONDAY: Ham and green beans (maybe this recipe for the beans) *J still has his baritone lesson at 6*

TUESDAY: Spaghetti and meatballs, salad, bread *J has early morning band practice*

WEDNESDAY: Chicken taco salads *J has early morning band practice* *I work 1-3:45*

THURSDAY:   Leftovers *J has evening band practice*

FRIDAY: OUT,probably Subway (tradition) *I work 1-5* *First football game of the season*

On My To Do List:

1. Clean house/pull out early fall decorations
2. Usual clean fridge/laundry/grocery store
3. One 15 minute de-clutter/organizing project each day
4. Mow the lawn (really should happen today)
5. Write 2 additional blog posts

Looking Forward To:

Going to a wedding with my husband on Saturday night

From The Camera:

What I’m Wearing Today:

Light Turquoise Duluth Tee-Shirt, Khaki shorts, sandals

One of My Simple Pleasures:

Taking a mid-day rest (I don’t nap) with the windows open, a gentle breeze blowing, and the sound of lawn mowers whirring in the background

Quote For The Week:

Life is like a cup of tea…it’s all in how you make it. (Irish proverb)

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What do you have planned for this first week in September?

 

 

The weekend much like the month passed by in yet another blur. Mine started early on Thursday with a night out with friends.

We had a slower paced Friday but an action-packed Saturday. Parent preview for the high school marching band and a start (Hooray!) on making more progress on our bedroom. Lots of clearing out of stuff and moving furniture. Same for Sunday.

A few school-related activities for J tonight and our anniversary on Thursday. Other than those items, just waiting to see what the week ahead holds for us. Let’s get on with planning the parts we know.

Joining in as always with Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The Weather 

Let’s label it fall preview.  Rainy, cloudy, and cooler. We have an enhanced risk for storms this afternoon (whatever that means). Highs in the low 80’s all week and the 70’s for the upcoming weekend (with more chances of storms Friday and Saturday).

On My Breakfast Plate

Not sure yet but leaning toward scrambled eggs and toast.

Right Now I Am

Sitting in the basement as I type this post with an annoying cricket and a cute little cat keeping me company.

On My Bedside Table

Just a few clothes I placed there this morning.

On My Reading Pile

Almost finished with Cozy Minimalist Home: More Style, Less Stuff by Myquillyn Smith. I’ll finish it today but took a break last week to read You’ve Been Volunteered: A Class Mom Novel by Laurie Gelman. A fun, hilarious read! Hoping the person who checked out the first in the series is better than me about returning library books on time.

Movies or Shows I Watched This Weekend

G and I watched Shazam last Wednesday or Thursday. Enjoyable but a bit long. My favorite part of the movie: When G thought Zachary Levi was Tom Hanks. Hey, did you know that’s the actor from the movie, Big? Um…no. However, there were some references to Big in the film.

By myself, I watched The Widow on Amazon Prime (a really good one especially if you like intense action and plot twists). I can’t tell if there’s going to be a season 2. It wraps up enough for me to be okay without one but I’ll watch if they make it. And I started in on season 3 of Humans as well.

On My TV This Week

After I finish up with season 3 of Humans, probably just whatever catches my eye.

On The Menu This Week

It’s the next 5 day set of the Take Ten Challenge so I’m not entirely sure. Last week, I did good for 2 out of the 5 meals with moving some of them to accommodate our schedule. The chicken and nachos worked well. The stir fry just didn’t work out due to timing and my homemade pizza, not a success..I’ll try those two again though. Skipped the dinner dip as I knew I’d be the only one who’d eat it.

Probably the same this week. AND since my husband detests cream cheese, meals including that ingredient probably won’t happen.

MONDAY: It’s a Baked Potato Bar…(probably going to have to have bacon on the side) *High School Open house @ 5:30* *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*

TUESDAY: Pancakes, eggs (adjusting to sausage for husband who doesn’t do eggs) *J has early morning band practice*

WEDNESDAY: Not sure as ingredients call for hamburger, cream cheese, and buns. Think I’ll switch it over to Runza burgers *J has early morning band practice*

THURSDAY: Our Anniversary! OUT. *I have a hair appointment at 2* *J has evening band practice*

FRIDAY: Roast in the crock pot?

On My To Do List

1. Clean out the car (still)
2. Pay bills
3. Grocery store (again)
4. Clean out fridge
5. Laundry

Looking Forward To

A quiet Labor Day weekend

From The Camera

Before:  At Work: 

After: 

Still a lot to do but it’s progress. I’ll take it!

What I’m Wearing Today

Striped tee-shirt and navy blue shorts.

One Of My Simple Pleasures

The first few sips of coffee on a cool, cloudy morning

Quote For The Week

Love is never wasted, for its value does not rest upon reciprocity.

(Attributed to C.S. Lewis on Pinterest but a search to confirm led me down the rabbit hole to this fun site. I still like the quote, even if it’s not from C.S. Lewis after all)

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What are your plans for this last week of August in 2019?

 

 

 

Since I work a full day tomorrow, I’m starting this post on Sunday evening. This week marks the first full week of classes as a high school freshman for J (and the first week with those 6:30 AM band practices).  

It’s also the start of G’s time as a college student. He’s opted to live at home and attend the local community college. It’s a different plan than we expected but he gave it lots of thought and worked hard to switch. He’s excited to start his classes on Tuesday.

We’ve also started the small progress of maybe just maybe finishing our bedroom. We won’t talk about how long it’s been in the in-between stage.  Lots of exciting changes around here!

Also means I’m temporarily (maybe?) banished to the basement for my desktop/office type computer needs.  Anyway, on to the weekly planning with Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The Weather  

Rain/Hot/Repeat. Pretty much sums it up. Storms brew up over night cooling things off. It warms up during the day causing more storms overnight. All weekend and predicted again for tonight (Sunday). Slight chance every day until Thursday. Highs in the upper 80’s and low 90’s.

On My Breakfast Plate

It’ll probably be a Chobani Flip yogurt and coffee.

Right Now I Am

Typing this post in the basement and trying to watch the time. It’s almost 10 PM and I don’t want to stay up too late since tomorrow is a get up early school day and work day for me.

On My Bedside Table

My phone (forgot to bring it down here with me), the same box of space saver bags, an oil mist diffuser, and a phone charger.

On My Reading Pile

Working my way through Cozy Minimalist Home: More Style, Less Stuff by Myquillyn Smith. Also read I’m Fine and Neither Are You by Camille Pagan (not that good). However, I went to the library today! Excited for my next pile of books!

Movies Or Shows I Watched This Weekend

I watched the 7 or 8 episodes of Tiny House Nation that were on Netflix. I find it fascinating and enjoy the problem solving aspect of the show but I don’t think tiny house living is for us.

On My TV This Week

Just waiting for the fall premieres at this point and I know I have a while to wait.

On The Menu This Week

Doing something a bit different this week and I signed up for Take Ten Challenge run by Laura over at Heavenly Homemakers. Basically, it’s taking 10 minutes each day to meal prep but it also comes with a meal plan of sorts.

MONDAY:  marinated chicken, veggies, salad, and fruit *I work 8:30-5:30*

TUESDAY: I’m not sure as the challenge doesn’t give exacts but the ingredients are raw veggies, olive oil, and garlic. Oh and I’m also hosting BUNCO on this night (My plan for that: lasagna, salad, bread sticks, meatballs for my gluten-free friends, cheesecake for dessert) *J has early morning band practice* *I have Bunco*

WEDNESDAY: Nachos (ingredients: hamburger, nacho toppings, and chips…) ? *J has early morning band practice*

THURSDAY: Pizza (might need to do something else for J, only my kid…no longer likes pizza?) *J has evening band practice* *I work 1-3:45*

FRIDAY: Sounds like maybe taco salads?

The nice thing is it looks like I may be able to shop my house for quite a few of the ingredients. Especially since the grocery store trip that didn’t happen tonight will likely not happen until Tuesday morning.

On My To Do List

1. Grocery store!
2. Get car tags (ugh)
3. Post at least one additional blog post this week!
4. Call hairdresser (I’m not liking my haircut as much as I thought I might)
5. Clean out the car!

Looking Forward To

A finished bedroom!

From The Camera

What I’m Wearing Today

Pink fringe-y mid-sleeve cotton shirt and pink Capri pants plus my slide sandals.

One Of My Simple Pleasures

Sleeping in during a rainy/stormy morning.

Quote(s) For The Week

Found two I like this week, both by Dodinsky:

Do not become a stranger to yourself by blending in with everyone else.

The key to being happy is knowing you have the power to choose what to accept and what to let go.

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What’s on your agenda for this second to last Monday of August?