Home Musings: September 2013

Monday, September 30, 2013

Happy Menu Planning Monday! Following are my menus for the week. Hope they are a help to you in planning for your own family.

And remember:

Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon. -Doug Larson

Monday - Asian Chicken Salad,

Tuesday - Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry, White Rice, Fruit

Wednesday - Chicken Salad Hoagies, Tossed Salad

Thursday - Black Eye Peas & Ham, Brown Rice, Veggies & Dip

Friday - Cajun Tilapia & Cabbage, Oven Fries, Sliced Tomatoes

Saturday - Baked Turkey Drumsticks, Spinach Salad, Rolls

Sunday - Crockpot Turkey Breast, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Cooked Carrots and Salad

For more Menu Planning Monday posts, please check out Organizing Junkie!

Have a great one!

Friday, September 27, 2013

Hello, One and All!

I have been kindly and graciously given the Liebster Award by Patti at Home and Lifestyle Design.
This award is given to bloggers who have fewer than 100 followers and is a gift of encouragement.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Following are some questions that come with the award and which I will answer to the best of my ability!

1. Why did you start blogging? What is it you hope to accomplish by blogging? What is the purpose of your blog?

I began blogging some six years ago, though I had to take a two year break when life, and lack of a computer, intervened. I began blogging to be part of an online community and hopefully to be a source of strength and encouragement to other women. I think that is pretty much the purpose of my blog now.

2. In what ways have you found it successful for you to connect with other bloggers?
I like to be a part of linky parties and also to offer series on my own blog that hopefully are of interest to others. Right now, I have a Rediscovering Joy series every Tuesday.

3. Are you using Pinterest to connect with everyone? You can find my Pinterest account here. Are your finding Pinterest valuable to you in your blogging and if so how are you using Pinterest to build a following?

Gosh, I just joined and am only now learning how to use it. I am a little behind the curve, I guess, but am trying to catch up quickly!

4. Have you ever been to a blogging event and if so what ones and did you find it beneficial and would you recommend it to other bloggers?

I have wanted to go to a blogging event, but have so far been unable to do so.

5. What do you love about blogging?

I love gaining inspiration from other women about home life/spiritual life and love trying to be a source of encouragement for other women.

6. Are you on Google+ and if so have you found it beneficial for building connections for you and your blog?

Well, I will have to google "Google+"..... :)

7. What did you do prior to blogging?

When I had the time, I loved to write and read.

8. What type of photography equipment do you use and how important do you think photography is to your blog?

Photography is uber important to a blog and I have a nice Canon camera that I use.

9. Do you entertain a lot in your home and if so what sort of entertaining is it that you most enjoy? Do you blog about your entertaining?

My entertaining usually centers around extended family or really close friends and I have, in the past, blogged about it.

10. What does your immediate family and extended family and friends think about you blogging and are they supportive of you?

Some are, some not so much. My husband and children are very supportive.

11. The final question! What are your future aspirations for your blog? Where do you want your blogging to take you?

My current series and some others that I have in mind I would love to use for future books.

OKAY, THAT'S IT FOR ME...

Now, I nominate the following for the Liebster Award:

http://iwonderwoman.blogspot.com/

http://junkindisorderly.blogspot.com/

http://www.cafechatterbox.com/

http://countrywingsinphoenix.blogspot.com/

http://momzblotter.blogspot.com/

Okay nominees, now it is your time to answer my questions!
1. Why did you start blogging? What is it you hope to accomplish by blogging? What is the purpose of your blog?

2. In what ways have you found it successful for you to connect with other bloggers?

3. Are you using Pinterest to connect with everyone? You can find my Pinterest account here. Are your finding Pinterest valuable to you in your blogging and if so how are you using Pinterest to build a following?

4. Have you ever been to a blogging event and if so what ones and did you find it beneficial and would you recommend it to other bloggers?

5. What do you love about blogging?

6. Are you on Google+ and if so have you found it beneficial for building connections for you and your blog?

7. What did you do prior to blogging?

8. What type of photography equipment do you use and how important do you think photography is to your blog?

9. Do you entertain a lot in your home and if so what sort of entertaining is it that you most enjoy? Do you blog about your entertaining?

10. What does your immediate family and extended family and friends think about you blogging and are they supportive of you?

11. The final question! What are your future aspirations for your blog? Where do you want your blogging to take you?

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

REDISCOVERING JOY - Week #3 What Are You Drawing to Yourself

In our quest for finding greater joy in our daily lives, I have a question for you:

Is there something in your way of thinking that might be robbing you of the very thing you seek while you are searching for greater happiness?

Please stop a moment and think about this.

I'm sure you have heard the idea that we draw to ourselves the things we think about and put our attention on, even and especially the negative experiences that happen to us. There is a lot of information out there in books and on the Internet that promote this belief. Whether or not you completely swallow that EVERYTHING that happens to us is a result of our own thinking, there is no doubt in my mind, at least, that MUCH of what transpires in our lives is an end result of HOW WE PERCEIVE what is happening to us and HOW WE CHOOSE to react to it.

Think about that.

Now, I am going to tell you a story:

Years ago, when I was a lot younger than I am now, I was complaining and whining to a very close friend about how so many of my friendships at that time were problematic and what a source of pain they were for me. Instead of commiserating with me and saying something compassionate, my friend finally grew exasperated. She interrupted me with this comment:

"This is hard for me to tell you and you may not want to hear it. But, the problem isn't these people. The problem is the type of friends you have CHOSEN. If you continue to CHOOSE to be around them, you are CHOOSING to continue to have painful experiences."

OUCH! My friend put the problem squarely on my shoulders to solve. Although, her words hurt me some (what had I done to deserve this, after all?!). I had to admit she was right (In the end, I continued to associate with the same people).

That is just one of my experiences that taught me a profound lesson about happiness and what I can do to create it for myself. However, you may be struggling with something else in life.

So, let me ask you this:

Do the same types of difficulties keep happening in your life? Do the same types of difficult people keep showing up?

This is usually a HUGE sign, that you might be making the types of choices that bring the same problems around, over and over again.

What was it that Einstein said?

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Woah!...

Is there something that you are doing over and over again with the same negative results? If so, What is it? What can you do to change it now? Remember..

A small change at the hinge, swings wide the gate!

Resolve to make a positive change now, even a small one,...and watch how great the end results can be!

On to greater Joy!~

Monday, September 23, 2013

Menu Planning Monday - September 23rd

"Food, like a loving touch or a glimpse of divine power, has that ability to comfort."

- Norman Kolpas

I am thinking COMFORT FOOD this week!

Monday, is here again! Does it seem to you that Mondays are coming around quicker and quicker these days? Yes? NO??? For me, the pace is picking up!

So, once again, I present to you my Menu Plan for the week, replete with pictures. I hope they inspire you to devise your own culinary delights, or at least to get just a little more organized with the meal thing.

Enjoy!~

Monday - HEALTHY RED BEANS & RICE,

Tuesday - CROCKPOT BRUNSWICK STEW, Warm Bread Rolls (purchased) & Salad

(The hubby is in the hospital this day for his kidney stones...Pull out the crockpot!)

Wednesday - SHEPERD'S PIE, Fruit Salad

Thursday - CROCKPOT DAY!!! Game Day!! TOMATILLO CHICKEN SOUP, Tortilla Chips & Tossed Salad

Friday - HOMEMADE PIZZA, using this dough recipe, Tossed Salad

Saturday - SPICY SIRACHA CHICKEN WINGS, STEAK FRIES, Finger Veggies & Dip

Sunday - Grilled Steaks, Twice Baked Potatoes, Salad

For more Menu Planning Monday posts, please visit Organizing Junkie!

Have a great one!

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Rediscovering Joy - Week #2 - SEEK OUT THE INSPIRING!

I almost didn't get this post entered today, so much came up that I wasn't sure I would be able to get on the computer for personal time at all...

Those of you who read my post last Tuesday know that I have begun a series about Rediscovering Joy. Every week I plan to post something that I have found to help me in the direction of feeling/finding greater passion in life.

Well, today was so crazy, I kept wondering what do I write, if I have time to write at all? Then, tonight, my husband and I really needed a break so we decided to watch a movie. We no longer have cable so we are dependent on Netflix and Amazon.com for our entertainment. I had ordered a movie called "Something The Lord Has Made":

It is the true story of "white surgeon Alfred Blalock (Alan Rickman) and his black assistant, Vivien Thomas (Mos Def), who teamed in the 1940s to develop a procedure to save children suffering from a heart defect. But Thomas's status as a second-class citizen prevented him from getting recognition, as Blalock took all the credit. Their relationship, while close, was complicated by the social realities of the time."

This Emmy Award-winning HBO movie is extremely inspiring and uplifting, without sacrificing realism, or great writing and acting.

Watching this I suddenly remembered that one of the ways to Rediscover Joy is by reminding ourselves how good and wonderful the world really can be by reading or watching true stories of great men and women who contribute to welfare of their fellow men with selfless acts of service.

Yes, I am plugging the movie. But I am also encouraging you so seek out for yourself wonderful, life-affirming true stories. Remind yourself of all the good that is being done. Yes, the news headlines may scream of endless crime and terrible stories, but at the same time ordinary people are doing absolutely EXTRAORDINARY things.

Have a beautiful day!

Monday, September 16, 2013

Menu Planning Monday - September 16

Happy Monday! And it wouldn't be a good start to the week without a trusty menu plan.

Monday - Asian Glazed Chicken Thighs, Basmati Rice, Spinach Salad

Tuesday - Pinto Beans, Whole Wheat Cornbread, Tossed Salad

Wednesday - Slow Cooker Cassoulet, Peas, Sliced Tomatoes

Thursday - Salmon Patties (with Lemon Sauce), Cajon Potato Wedges, Asian Salad

Friday - Spicy Chicken Sausage Pasta and Greens, Fruit

Saturday - Homemade Pizza, Salad

Sunday - Grilled Steak, Mashed Potatoes and Salad

Hope you have a wonderful week - Bon Appetit!

For more Menu Planning Monday posts, please check out I Am An Organizing Junkie.

Friday, September 13, 2013

FALL DECORATING - The Hutch - SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY!

FALL DECORATING... I don't know the weather is in other parts of the country, but here in the Intermountain West, the mountains are just beginning to exhibit Fall colors, which always inspires me to follow the same in our home. My first decorating effort is our hutch. I am using it to display some lovely butternut-colored splatter enamelware that I found in a yard sale this Summer.

The color is perfect for Fall...

It's such a happy color...

Autums leaves go beautifully with it...

I purchased this gourd from a local farmer...

Can you see the two black love birds in the center? They were a gift from my husband.

Have you begun decorating for Fall?

If you are interested in see more Show and Tell Friday posts, please click here for a link to My Romantic Home!

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Outdoor Wednesday/September 11 - Our Trip to New Orleans, Pt. 1

This week I am sharing photos from our 20th Wedding Anniversary trip to New Orleans this past April. I had never before visited the old city; my husband visited there during shore leave in the military decades ago (and you can imagine what different type of trip that was!). I must say that this was one of the funnest experiences I have ever had in my life. This visit was alive with interesting people, fabulous music, wonderful food and fascinating history!.

First off, we spent the week there at the Maison St. Charles motel on St. Charles Street, just above the Garden District and right on the trolley line. It was such an oasis after returning everyday from fun in the French Quarter. The rooms are cozy.

Here is sweet husband waiting for a trolley...

We happened to schedule our trip around the weekend of the French Quarter Arts Festival. So, our first view of the French Quarter was when it was absolutely PACKED with people

There were street performers of every kind...

Wonderful music from folk to jazz, big band, country...everything

We really enjoyed the unusual signs at various places of business, some of which have been open since the 1800's.

How would you like to have a Jazz Funeral??

Artists displayed their works along the gates of Jackson Square...

Mark and I had our pictures drawn...

Here is the French Quarter/Jackson Square on a different day when the Festival was over and things had calmed down...You can actually SEE the buildings.