Wordless Wednesday!

My three kids (a few years ago)

Brown B(r)aggin'

I'm linking to I'm an Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday.

Monday:
The Princess - roast beef bells (cut roast beef in half lengthwise; spread with thin layer of lite Boursin cheese; add two strips of bell pepper; roll up. The bell pepper strips should stick out of the top which  is the not flat side of the roast beef), blueberries, pistachios
Not-too-big-to-say-he-loves-me - turkey sandwich, chips and salsa, orange

Tuesday:
The Princess - Canadian bacon slices, grilled pineapple rings, crackers, blueberries and grapes,celery and hummus
Not-too-big-to-say-he-loves-me - Minestrone soup, crackers

Wednesday:
Baked Potato, pistachios, blueberries

Thursday:
Ziti, pita bread wedges with hummus, celery or carrots, oranges

Friday:
Chicken Pot Pie, mashed potatoes with turnips, apple slices

Menu Plan Monday!

I'm linking up to I'm an Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday!

Baby, it's cold outside! The cold temps have really hit us here in Charleston, South Carolina! For a place where we often welcome Christmas in our shorts and t-shirts, we're really scrounging to find enough warm clothing. It is so very hard to face 29 degrees first thing in the morning. This week, I'm attempting to warm us to the bone.

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Minestrone Soup

Monday: Minestrone Soup and Corn Bread Muffins

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Who doesn't love a baked potato?

Tuesday: Baked Potato Bar with all the fixins - chicken, sauteed spinach and mushrooms, cheddar cheese, chives, broccoli, sour cream, and butter



Wednesday: Ziti with Squash, Eggplant, Chick Peas, Black Olives, and Tomatoes, Rolls, and a Salad

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Yummy Berry Dessert

Thursday: Chicken Pot Pie, Mashed Potatoes and Turnips, and Berries with a dollop of sour cream and sprinkling of brown sugar

Friday: Family Game Night Throw-Down Pizza, Salad, and Brownies

Related articles

• Travel + Leisure: Charleston, South Carolina Has the Most Attractive Residents (shoppingblog.com)

Thirsty Thursday!

You guessed it...it's time to play Fill That Glass!

Today, I'm serving up Mimosas! Now, in the past, I've gotten fancy with Mimosas, adding pomegranates or raspberries. But today, I'm going with a good old-fashioned, run-of-the-mill recipe. Just oj and champagne. Feel free to squeeze your own juice. I, however, will be pouring mine right out of the carton. I'm filling the flute somewhere between half-way and a tad bit more. (Sorry to be so exact!) The rest of the flute is reserved for the champagne. Relax. You don't have to buy an expensive bottle of Dom. In fact, the cheaper brands work the best when your mixing drinks. Save the pricey stuff for a grand toast.

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The gorgeous and always glamorous, Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Oh, and while we're talking flutes, the one in the photo came from Tiffany's. Yep, the blue box company. As in Breakfast at Tiffany's. We received a set of these beauties from the company my husband worked for right out of college. Every Christmas, they would shower their employees with Tiffany gifts. Extravagant. But it was the late-80's and early-90's. No big deal. They're out of business now.

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Yummy raspberries and blackberries would be a great garnish.

You can always garnish your Mimosa with an orange round. Or, add berries to a festive pick and stick that in. But, as you remember, I swore to go run-of-the-mill and I will adhere to that. Mimosas are best served with brunch or breakfast foods. Which works out great for those Breakfast for Dinner nights!

As you know by now, it's time to play Empty That Glass! Cheers!

Wordless Wednesday!

Old Crafty Hen Tuesday!

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What a relief! It was questionable but I was able to squeeze in a craft today! That  means, another round of Old Crafty Hen Tuesday!

Several weeks ago, I came across this kit for an Advent Calendar on Sugar Bee. It was a mere $6 so I ordered it. I thought, at the time, it came with everything I needed. Because, apparently, I was so excited with the cuteness of the finished product that I read right over that part. That, or, I just hadn't had enough coffee that morning. However, when it arrived (very soon after I ordered it), I discovered, it was paperless. There was no paper. I had to supply my own. No big deal. I love to peruse scrapbook stores and scrapbook aisles at the craft store. It just meant I couldn't get started as soon as I wanted. Again, no big deal. As long as I got it done before December 1st, I'd be happy.
Yep, I'm happy! It was super easy. You can follow her tutorial. I think it turned out great. And, it's November 30! Just in the Nick of time! ;)

What do ya think?

Brown B(r)aggin'

Yay! With just two days of school this week, that means only 2 days to pack lunch!

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Yummm...pistachios!

Monday:
Princess - Wild Rice; Pistachios; Danimal Smoothie; CheezIts; Cookie
Not-to-big-to-say-he-loves-me - Turkey Wrap; Pistachios; Pretzels

Tuesday:
Chocolate peanut butter and banana sandwich; grapes; carrots

Menu Plan Monday

Image by MGF/Lady Disdain via Flickr

I think cranberry sauce is my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner. Do you prefer slick or lumpy?

Monday: chicken breast; roasted fall veggies; whole grain rolls

Tuesday: birthday dinner out

Wednesday: spaghetti; bread; salad

Thursday: turkey; dressing; cranberry sauce; brussels sprouts with chestnuts and sage; sweet potato casserole; rolls; baked apples with cranberries and almonds; ginger cake with caramel apple topping; pie

Friday: broccoli and corn calzones; salad

Saturday: C.O.R.N. (clean out refrigerator night)

Thirsty Thursday!

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You guessed it! It's time to play Fill That Glass!

As I write, Hubby is recuperating from hernia surgery. I am totally exhausted. His surgery started at 1:45. It took less than an hour and an hour after that, I was in the recovery room with him. We left the hospital in just enough time to sit in rush-hour traffic. From there, a quick stop at the pharmacy to drop off his scrips then I took him home. Man-cub watched him while I ran to the grocery store to pick up something for dinner and back to the pharmacy to get the pain meds. Then, I fixed dinner, checked on Hubby, put away groceries, cleaned the kitchen, checked on Hubby, did homework with the Princess and Not-too-big-to-say-he-loves-me, checked on Hubby, made lunches for tomorrow, gave Hubby his meds, and had a glass of wine!

Tonight's choice: Pinot Evil Pinot Noir

Cheers!

Related articles

• Inguinal hernia repair - All Information (umm.edu)

Wordless Wednesday

Old Crafty Hen Tuesday!

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Another round of my Crafty Tuesday...

I am so excited to finally be starting this craft! I found it waaaaay back in August and knew I had to make lots and lots of these. Of course I'd want one (or several) for myself but I couldn't stop thinking about what a great gift these would make!

Button Rings!

I found the tutorial at Rubies and Pearls and I must say, I love the one she made. That flower button is just the cutest! In my search for buttons, I think I found some really rad ones. Most were bought as sets of three that coordinate. I did buy one honking burgundy button all by itself. Didn't know what I'd put with it but I couldn't pass it up. All of my buttons came from Hancock Fabrics.

So, I started with these buttons...

Of course, you know me, I made a change or two to the tutorial. Instead of a glue gun, I used E6000 adhesive. I find it holds better; and, since some of these are going to be gifts, I didn't want them to fall apart while being worn. So, after my one little change, this is what I ended up with...

The first 5. All buttons.

The second 5. I got a little crazy and added some beads I had.

Now the big decision...which do I allow myself to keep and which will I give away???

Brown B(r)aggin' 11/15

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Aren't these gorgeous carrots?

Lunch for the Princess and Not-to-big-to-say-he-loves-me:

Monday: Chili; Corn Bread

Tuesday: ham sandwiches; celery with peanut butter; apples

Wednesday: Soup; Rolls; brownie muffin

Thursday: Quesadillas; Chips; Salsa; Grapes

Friday: Chicken and Pineapple Slaw Wrap; Carrots; Pretzels

Menu Plan Monday 11/15

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Monday: Quesadillas

Tuesday: Chicken adobo soup with bok choy; rolls

Wednesday: Spaghetti; salad

Thursday: Chicken Pineapple  Slaw Wraps

Friday: Girls' Night

Saturday: Veggie Plate - Roasted Fall Veggies; Quinoa Salad

Thirsty Thursday

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Let's play Fill That Glass!

Yum! It's my first installment of Thirsty Thursday, where I feature a drink of the week. Hope you enjoy!

The Cocktail for This Week is the...
Bogie
(a variation of the Arnold Palmer)

Step 1: Make sour mix (To do this, you make simple syrup. Combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Allow to cool. Next, you add 1/2 cup lemon juice to 1/4 cup of the simple syrup and refrigerate.)

Step 2: Combine 2 oz. Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and 1 oz. sour mix in a cocktail shaker. Shake and strain over crushed ice.

Step 3: If you wanna be fancy, garnish with a sugared lemon wedge.

Now, it's time to play Empty That Glass!

 

Wordless Wendesday

Hubby and The Princess

Old Crafty HenTuesday!

Happy to start posting my version of Crafty Tuesday! : )

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Couldn't find anything about A Middle-Aged Crafty Hen (LOL)

Tuesday and Thursday are my days off. Every Tuesday, I craft. Nothing extravagant. Nothing that takes all day. Just one craft. Something. Anything. Creative. Today, I made a Thankful Tree. I found the idea on Coupons Are Great! I opted to make one slight change. Instead of hot gluing the leaves on the branches, I punched a small hole in each leaf (using my Crop-A-Dile II) and used a piece of string tied in a knot to attach them. I thought it would be easier to use the tree this way. Don't want any burnt fingers! I was also worried about Trouble Makers 1.0 and 2.0 eating the leaves before I was able to get them glued on. This way, after the Princess, Not-Too-Big-To- Say-He-Loves-Me, Man-cub, Hubby, and I record our thankfulness, we can simply slide the stringed leaves directly on the branches. The excess leaves lie waiting on a tray beside the tree.

Leaves-in-waiting

Here's how mine turned out. I kinda like it!

Weekly Menu 10/11

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Monday:
Pork Loin

Acorn Squash (halved, patted with butter, sprinkled with cinnamon, allspice, and brown sugar; cooked at 350 for 30 min)


Tuesday:
Calzones









Salad


Wednesday:

Chicken and Sweet Potato Stew
Dinner Rolls

Thursday:
Sandwiches
SunChips

Friday:
Fresh Veggies (TBD at CSA pickup)

Saturday:
Quesadillas

Weekly Lunch Menu Sept. 21

I must confess, since I was sick, the kiddos had to eat school lunch on Monday. None was happy, until their lunch boxes were waiting for them on Tuesday!

Tuesday:
Crab Dip with crackers or canadian bacon with mozzarella sandwich
grapes
cookie

Wednesday:
ham roll-ups
apple puzzle
carrots
mac and cheese muffins

Thursday:
turkey on a stick
berries
cucumbers
cheese cubes

Friday:
Potato Soup
Corn bread muffin

Menu Plan Tuesday 9/21

Ooops! I was sick Monday and missed making and posting my menu! Feeling a bit better today. At least better enough to realize my family needs to eat. So, here's what I put together...

Tuesday: Hot Dogs, Sweet Potato Fries, Cole Slaw

Wednesday: BBQ Chicken Quesadillas with Mango Salsa, Salad

Thursday: Pork Tenderloin with figs and onions, rice, green beans

Friday: C.O.R.N.

Saturday: Sesame-Orange Shrimp, Snow Peas, Rice

Weekly Lunch Menu Sept. 13

Mediterranean Monday:
Pita bread triangles
hummus
black olives
grapes

Turkey Tuesday:
Turkey on a stick (pretzel rods)
oranges
celery with peanut butter or cream cheese

Wow Wednesday:
Ham and Cheese kabobs
Apple sauce
carrots with ranch
blue corn chips

Thirsty Thursday:
Peanut butter & banana sandwich or Pimiento Cheese sandwich
Apple puzzle
Carrot & Celery with Ranch

Fun Friday:
Cheese Quesadilla
blue corn chips and salsa
oranges

Menu Plan Monday Sept. 13

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Monday:
Pasta with fresh okra, zucchini and squash
Salad
Orange slices

Tuesday:
Smokey Ham & Corn Salad
Bread

Wednesday:
Broccoli & Corn Calzones (we eat these a lot but the family loves them...and they're so easy!)
Salad

Thursday:
Joe's night to cook!

Friday:
Clean Out Refrigerator Night (CORN)

Saturday:
Out with friends

Yikes! That took longer than I expected!

Wow...that was some recovery, vacation, and hiatus from life! Just as the doctor said  it would, it took me a week and a half to recover from my concussion. I thought he was crazy when he said it. So I followed through with all my plans. We were well into our vacation in the North Carolina mountains before my head stopped hurting. I tell you, the first morning I awoke without a headache, I felt like a new woman! Wish it had happened sooner so I could have truly enjoyed the Bele Chere festival.

As you can see, I still had fun.
Here I am with my BFF, Leslie.

 Here's a shot of our entire group...

(Man-cub is to my right;
Not-too-big-to-say-he-loves-me is in front of me;
The Princess is in the front row wearing the dress;
Hubby was taking the picture.)

Which begs the question...was this year's festival not as much fun as last year's because of the concussion...or was it all those kids? Next year, I'm hoping for no concussion and no kids!

After the festival, Not-to-big-to-say-he-loves-me went away for a week to Camp Rockmont, in Black Mountain, NC. This was his first camp experience. He loved it. Well, what boy wouldn't love all this...

The Lake. Do you see the Blob?

Belly Gusher

That's right...a zip line into the Lake!

Top bunk, Baby!

He's already making his plans for next year. Guess I'll start saving now.

So now, concussion is gone. Camp is over. We're all safely home in our house near the sea. Time to get back to every day. To prepare for the start of a new school year. To tackle this thing called life.