I am still MIA

Hi mommas,

It has been real busy for me this whole week but don't worry I will be back with more stories, new outlook on meal planning, current book I have been reading, and my little garden update.

Miss you all

Working Orthodox Mom

ps Second round of potty traing...FAIL

I want amen

My son comes running up to me saying "I want amen, I want amen, I want amen", I was of course confused by exactly what he wanted so I asked him a few question to really understand what he was saying;
Me: Do you want to say a prayer?
Monkey: No
Me: Do you want to bless yourself?
Monkey: No
Me: Did you do something bad and now trying to be cute?
Monkey: No
Monkey: “I want momma's amen" *Me: really confused bc now it's an object*
Me: (best question to ask a 2 year old when you don't understand him) What COLOR is it momma's "amen"?
Monkey: yellow
Me: Ok go get momma's amen *He runs off and I didn't follow bc I now learn to grab the popcorn and sit back*
5 minutes later he comes running back but runs into the dinner room, and placing one my icon that I favor in my prayers of on the chair, then blesses himself, kisses the icon, bless himself again while spinning in circles (don't ask) then finally yells AMEN.

I am sorry

I was on vacation last week and thought I had a schedule post stating I was on vacation and taking the week off, sorry about that.  Anywho, I am back to business have some more funny stories to share but first I have to get some work done (I have over 75+ emails to attend to).

Where are my wonderful mommys?

My little monkey will be starting preschool in September, we are excited, sad, and nervous all at the same time.  We have to start getting prepared alittle early because we will be on vacation the week before he starts preschool.  So I am starting to think about what to pack every day in his lunch box (just thinking about him carrying a lunch box gets me sad).  Now the preschool has a fridge and microwave but I don’t if they have room to keep every child’s lunch cold and I don’t want Monkey to sit and wait forever while the teacher heat all the lunches up either. So what do I pack in his lunch box?  I have been so blessed not to worry about this until now. I also don’t know if the preschool is waste free or peanut free, I will ask the next time I go back.

Here are some of my thoughts
Seasonal fruit of course, something that I can cut up ahead
String Cheese and Yogurt
Rice and Beans (in a thermos)
PBJ sandwiches

I am going to try next week to see if he will eat…
whole wheat pasta with minced broccoli and a touch of olive oil
Raw Veggies and hummus

Meal Plan week of 7/16-7/22

I had to use a lot of disciple this week, can crab meat is on sale and I wanna to try crab raviolis but it would turn out to be a $10 meal, which is ok for date night, however I already have a few expensive meals this week and there is no date night this week :(  Also Monkey and I are hanging out home next week so I have to make my big batch of meatballs and sauce, they take all day to make but they are totally yummy and I get at least 5 dinners for less than $20.

Dinner
Saturday: Chicken parmesan with Penne (total cost $7.5 serves 4)

Boy’s Night Sunday: Sweet Heat Pulled Pork Sandwich with green beans (total cost $9.5 serves 4)

Monday: Buffalo Chicken mac&cheese bake with hidden diced squash (total cost $11 serves 8)

Tuesday: Tacos with Spanish rice and green beans (total cost $5 serves 3)

ReMake Night Wednesday: Fry Mac and Cheese balls and tomato soup (total cost $2.5 serves 3)

Potty Training Thursday: Spaghetti and meatballs (total cost $5 serves 3)

Potty Training Friday: Order in Pizza ($15 serves 3)

Snack-n-Sweets
Peach Cobbler (total cost $4)
Peanuts ($1)
Fresh Fruit (Banana-Apples) $5
String Cheese $4

Breakfast&Lunch
Ricotta with berries $2
Cereal, Coffee, Juice, and Milk $5
Sandwiches, chips, V8, water for Lunch $20
Pasta, Pizza, Nuggets, Fruit, Veggies for Monkey’s Lunch $7

These entire recipes can be found on kitchen monki, you search for the recipe or just find my recipe (Amanda Ann)  expect for the fried mac-n-cheese balls and the peach cobbler, I don’t know how to make them yet lol

God Bless

everynight Monkey and I end our prayers with our God bless list...tonight he asked God to bless Apple Juice, Buzz, and Woody

My Silly Son

I have two stories just from one weekend (it was one of those weekends)

First one happen at the supermarket, we were in the last aisle when he saw the restroom sign (I didn't even know he knew what it was) when he yells on top of his lung " I gotta go potty, I gotta go potty" at least 5 times I lost count...I look in my cart and see the fish, ice cream, and milk also noticing everyone else starring at me because my son needs to use the potty and I'm not doing anything about it.  So I simply told my son to just go in your pants (the looks I got!) he was wearing a diaper, he isn't even potty trained.

The second story takes place in church, nothing like a 2 year old church story.  I had to go to the bathroom so I took my son with me; he would of flipped out if I didn't. The bathroom is in another building so we walk over, I do my thing and of course he tries to go potty too (no success). We walk back to church, and the moment we walked in the church my beautiful son yells "DADDY I MADE PEE PEE" as he walks to the front of the church, where I follow behind him shaking my head no, telling everyone who is laughing, that he just sat on the potty.  and yes I said Potty not the toilet seat.

I love him

My Little Garden

My Little Garden is full of bright green leaves and pretty flowers but NO fruit to eat! I am getting really hungry over here.  Well I had about 5 little blueberry so far lol, those are some expensive blueberry lol.  However I did take a great picture of a little bug snacking away on my parsley!

So far I have A LOT of basil and parsley (if you live nearby please stop by and pick)

TALL bell pepper plants (no peppers)

WILD cucumbers (no cucumbers)

Little watermelon (I don't have high hopes on)

Meal Plan week of 7/9-7/15

My family will be sick of blueberries by the end of this week, but they are so cheap and heathly, how can I pass them up!  Also instead of having "left over night" I will be having ReMake night by creating a new meal with leftovers (trying to please DH)

Dinner
Saturday: Out to dinner with friends (total cost $?)

Sunday: Marinade Steak with Pasta Salad and Corn on the cob (total cost $6 serves 4)

Monday: Grilled Chicken with rice and veggie kabobs (total cost $5.5 serves 4)

Tuesday: ReMake leftovers! Steak and/or chicken wraps (total cost $3 serves 3)

Wednesday: Black Bean Enchiladas with corn bread (total cost $4 serves 4)

Thursday: Inside out Burgers with sweet potato fries and carrot sticks (total cost $5.5 serves 3)

Date Night Friday:  Potato Crusted Salmon with roasted potatoes and green beans ($8 serves 3)

Snack-n-Sweets
Blueberry Lemon Bread (total cost $2.5)
Pop Corn ($1)
Fresh Fruit (Blueberries-Apples) $4
Yogurts $4.5

Breakfast&Lunch
Blueberry-Pear Ginger muffins $3
Cereal, Coffee, Juice, and Milk $5
Sandwiches, chips, V8, water for Lunch $20
Pasta, Pizza, Nuggets, Fruit, Veggies for Monkey’s Lunch $7


Most of these recipes can be found on kitchen monki, you search for the recipe or just find my recipe (Amanda Ann)  expect for the potato crusted salmon and blueberry-pear ginger muffins :( I have to pay Cook's Country for these two recipe so I don't think I am allowed to post them freely

New rule in my house

If it takes me a week to prepare for a party then I get a week to de-party my house. I think thats fair :)

Big BBQ today!

I got everything done with 4 hours to spare!! All that is left is to pray for our blessing, family and friends, and for the wonderful weather that we can share today. If you are in jersey feel free to stop by!

Spoiler Alert: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

This was a great book, I loved all three characters, Aibileen, Minny, and Miss Skeeter.  Aibileen is my favorite character because how she becomes so motivated and scared at the same time.   Minny had me laughing the whole time especially with her revenge. But I was most sympathetic to Miss Skeeter, hoping that she would succeed.  All three characters has such different personalities yet got along for the most part.  The book brings you back to 1960 in Jackson, Mississippi, where the black maids who took care of the household and raised white children but had to use separate bathrooms.  This brings me to the 4th character Miss Hilly, who is an uptight person always impressing everything also the leader/pusher of separate and not equal.  I wonder why the author shared with us that Miss Hilly is actually a good mom, it was really the only nice characteristic she had.  One of my favorite lines is from Minny "It’s something about that word truth. I’ve been trying to tell white women the truth about working for them since I was fourteen years old." I was rolling over laughing.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!!

Side note, there (dreamworks) is making a movie out, here is what I found in regards to the cast and some picutres