Great Lisa Leonard Giveaway at Simple Mom!!

I really love to enter this giveaway - hoping to win one day. She has the most unique and beautiful jewelry items I have seen in awhile. Mind you I am not a jewelry person either. I love the "Be Still" necklace under the Inspired section. Stop on over to Simple Mom - check it out & enter!!

I'm back to the gym..

Well I've finally got a schedule down...sort of.. for the gym. My youngest has school 3 days a week for I have 3 "no excuse" days to get there. Today was my 3rd day this week & I spent over an hour and a half there. I KNOW!! That's just crazy!!! But I am learning to warm up for my runs - so I walk it least a half mile then I run for about 40 minutes. I down loaded the Lance Armstrong Nike+ mix & love it. 4 min run - 4 min walk kinda deal. I almost had my 5K under 40 minutes. I am working towards less than 35 minutes. I need to get back in shape for the "Shiver by the River" series next month. My goals are to get in 30 miles this month.
Plus I have added strength training to my routine. I have a feeling I am going to be sore tomorrow. And OMG I have NO upoper body strength whatsoever. Weakling here!! But I like that feeling - a bit of soreness. It's a reminder that I am doing something.
Beginning Monday I am going to take a yoga class at 6 freaking clock in the morning. I hope this works out, I really want to do learn yoga. So I am getting up early enough to hit up Planet Fitness to run first & then get to the Y for the class. And for Wednesday I signed up for a pilates class - I'll run before the class that day. Wish me luck all!!

Menu Plan Monday

I'm a bit late on this...but here we go!! If you can tell, I have a chicken theme going on this week. I have a bunch in the freezer so I need to use it now. That is before Thanksgiving comes & we have turkey for a week!!

Monday: Crockpot Chicken & Dumplings

Tuesday: Stuffed Shells & Homemade Garlic Bread

Wednesday: Cheesy Chicken Meatballs with Broccoli & Cheese

Thursday: Sweet & Sour Chicken

Friday: Rotisserie-Style Crockpot Chicken with Mashed Potatoes


Have a great week all!!!

Friend Makin Monday

Friend Makin' Monday

What are your favorite candles/scents?

 

When it comes to candles, Yankee has it!!

Autumn Lodge

Which they do not make anymore (very sad about this) but rumor is that they are

bringing it back ext year for a limited run. We'll see - if so need to save & stock up!!

My all time favorite scent has to be my little ones. You know that smell... and I'm talking when they are clean out of the tub & before the lotion & powder. Not so much after they have been rolling around in cod knows what outside. That fresh baby innocence smell that my girls always seem to have. I love it!! 

I love rain on hot pavement, the smell of snow in the air just before it falls, the scent of fall when the leaves are turning, fresh cut grass in the spring, baking bread and a fireplace. 

Friday Fill-In....

A weekly meme hosted by Janet at Friday Fill-Ins

1. Plans and schedules are wishful thinking! Though I enjoy making them!!

2. I'm happy when things go as planned but also when things are unexpected. Like my kids actually cleaning up after themselves - my husband is within this category too.

3. The last thing I drank was chocolate chip tea.

4. One of the most valuable things in my life is my family. It is THE most valuable thing.

5. I like nothing on my pizza. I usually take all the cheese off.

6. Dear November, please bring me some snow!!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to taking my nap before working, tomorrow my plans include watching my daughter try to rollerskate, if I m not working and Sunday, I want to relax!

Thursday Thunks

Not sure if we are to answer all the questions or not but here we go!!!

Sesame Street turns 40 this month. If you were to be on Sesame Street, which character would you want to be in a scene with?

Elmo - just because my daughter, who is 7, still loves him. Makes me happy to see that Sesame Street is just not for "babies" - heck I still love to watch it!!!  She gets so excited when we see him at Sesame Place!! (And wow - I'm a year older than Sesame... :0)

We are out shopping for a new laptop. Which one do you pick and why?

I love my Dell - but I'd considering going over to the "dark side" & tryong a Mac. I'm tired of listening to my 19 yr. old brag about it. I'd like to see what the hubaloo is all about!! Plus the idea of not having continuous updates to clog the memory of my computer....that is heaven.

Have you ever walked out of a movie at the theater? What was the movie, how much was the ticket and why did you walk out?

Yes - my hubby & I went ot see "The Weatherman" with N. Cage. We like him but the movie was awful!!! I couldn't take it & he was sleeping so we left & went shopping instead. It irked me since we rarely get "date" nights & this movie was such a stinker.

 If your neighbor is having a baby would you buy a baby gift for them?

Yes & I have. I think it was a plot - we had 3 of them pregnant at the same time!!

I Want....Wednesday

 

What do you want in a PERFECT bedroom?

I'd love huge windows, hardwood floors and a fireplace. A sitting area would be nice also. Sparsely furnished to give it an airy feeling. Just give me something from Country Living!! I'd want it to be a place I could lounge & read for hours.

Friend Makin' Monday - Halloween

Oh, you know you ate some. At least a little right? If you didn't, you know you wanted to. Whether you ate it or just drooled over it, what is your favorite Halloween candy?

I love - just LOVE Almond Joy's. And 100 Grand bars.....OMG!! 

What about you?

Menu Plan Monday

Well I am pretty excited about this weeks meal plan. I'm doing a whole bunch of crockpot meals. With it chilly outside the crockpot keeps my kitchen nice & warm. No need to turn the heat on in the house yet!!! So green isn't it? (Or kooky if you ask my husband when I tell him this!!) Plus it is time for homemade chicken soup!! MMMM. My mother-in-law has passed onto me her M-I-L's recipe & it is so tasty!!! Add some matzo ball's & it's a great meal. Yum!!

Monday:

Grandma Ruth's Homemade Chicken Soup with Rice
Matzo Balls

Broccoli & Cauliflower Casserole
Homemade Bread

Tuesday:

Crockpot Chicken Stroganoff with Noodles

Homemade Bread

Wednesday:

Stuffed Shells

Homemade Garlic Bread

Thursday:

Crockpot Pepper Steak over Rice

Homemade Bread

Friday:

Pizza

Saturday:

Crockpot Chicken & Dumplings

Homemade Bread 

Sunday:

Leftovers (aka You're On Your own!)

Breakfasts:

I'm going to make batches of pancakes & waffles & freeze them.

Lunches:

Mainly sandwiches & salads. Though I do have some chicken leftover from a roasted chicken dinner this weekend. I need a good recipe for Chicken Salad. Any ideas welcome!!

Desserts:

I am going to try my hand a Bakalva & Rugelach
Wish me luck on these!!