menu plan monday: breakfast & lunch

A couple of years ago, I shared a series of posts on meal planning which included breakfast and lunch ideas. I went with the [eat the same thing all week] plan, which really worked out great plus saved a lot of money on groceries since I only had to buy a few items for those meals for the week.

BREAKFAST

We aren't big breakfast eaters, or lunch either for that matter, so starting my day with a good, healthy breakfast had to be a good thing! This week, I started back on this plan and thought I'd share it again.

-EGGS-

Eggs are probably my favorite breakfast food, and while there are a gazillion ways to fix eggs, my fave is an "Egg in a Basket"

how to make: melt a little butter in a hot skillet, butter one side of a slice of bread then cut out a hole with a biscuit cutter. Put unbuttered side down in the pan and break an egg into the hole. Salt and pepper to taste. Flip toast and cook until done (I don't like runny eggs, so I make sure it's cooked through). And there you have it....an egg in basket! Mmmmm! Don't forget to throw the little piece you cut out in the pan too....I love how the bread gets nice and toasted.

GROCERY LIST

eggs

bread

juice

fruit (used for lunches too)

* items on hand: butter, coffee

These items covered breakfast all week.

LUNCH

Lunch was easy too...pita pizzas or pita w/tuna, fruit and/or baked chips + soda (still haven't kicked that habit! I did give up diet Coke, but regular Pepsi is my drink of choice at the moment! What is it with me and cola!!!)

how to make: super easy....top one pita with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and sprinkle with oregano. Microwave about 1 minute or until cheese melts. Add fruit or chips on the side and there you go!

For tuna- just mix it the way you like it (I add mayo, dry oinon sometimes add relish too), serve in half a pita w/lettuce, pickles or whatever you like with tuna.

GROCERY LIST

pita bread

pizza sauce

mozzarella cheese

tuna

baked chips

soda

*items on hand: mayo, dry onion, relish, pickles, lettuce

Not a bad list for a week's worth of breakfast and lunch! 

{fall mornings - 10/01-1/07}

*H*E*L*L*O* OCTOBER!!

{fall coffee center post HERE}

HOCUS POCUS I need COFFEE to FOCUS!!

my new Rae Dunn Halloween mug!! 

(thanks Kayla!!)

Nathan thinks I'm lame for posting my coffee mug pics....but look what he sent me on his first morning on the back deck in his new home!! :O) :O) :O)

It's SATURDAY!!! 

(so it's okay to eat cake for breakfast--right??)

my friday faves!

I'm starting a new series {My Friday Faves} posting and linking all of the awesome things that I've seen/liked during the week on Instagram stories and bought or put on my wish list.

My first favorite thing....IG stories!!

OBSESSED!!

I love posting my own stories and I really love following other IG ladies! 

If you aren't watching....you need to get on over there...now!!

Each week, I'll share a link to one of my favorite Instagrammers!

This week.....
Kellie ---> withlovekellie on IG and here's a link to her blog!



I love her style, decor, and hearing about life with 2 littles under 2. Go check her out!

-BOOKS-

I'm always looking for a good devotional and actually got this  link from Kellie.

I didn't realize it was the same author as from the book Present Over Perfect which I've been planning to read. So, on my to-order list are both of these books.

{LINK}

-STYLE-

I've been looking for a new striped shirt, and this one from Nordstrom looks perfect (and it's on sale for $19.00!!) Comes in several colors/stripes, but I like this one best.

{link}

-DECOR-

Check out this awesome deal on jute rugs from World Market!

6 x 9 Natural Basket Weave Jute Rug

Original $169.99 on sale for $135.99 minus 30% off @$40.80 = $95.19
(+ $12.95 shipping if you are like me and don't have a WM store nearby!)

{LINK}

-PROJECTS-

I noticed several of my favorite IG'ers got courtesy boxes from Magnolia Market---whattt???
Maybe my following will be big enough some day that I'll start getting #happymail from Joanna & Chip!!

Their boxes included their CHALK PAINT ,wax, and brushes (among other cute stuff!)
this color is called, what else, SHIPLAP :O)


Paint tips from Joanna {HERE}
I have yet to paint anything with chalk paint but may do a little more research!
side note: you get 15% off your first online order!


-TRAVEL/GETAWAY-

I would LOVE to see Kari Jobe - The Garden Tour in Virginia Beach on Thursday Oct 19th!!!
Unfortunately, I just found out about it and didn't make plans. I know it will be a fantastic concert! Hopefully, I'll get to one of her concerts in the future.



this one is still one of my faves!

-FOOD-

Mom introduced me to OUI yogurt and now I see it all over IG. If you are a yogurt eater...you will love, love this!




-JUST FOR KIDS-

BabyBjorn 2 -pk Soft Bibs {LINK}



I see lots of my mommy IGers using these....maybe I should get a pack to try for the K & R. :O)

Check back weekly for more FRIDAY FAVES!!

menu plan monday + reviews

 

I was [once again] spending toooo much money on food and had gotten so off track with planning meals, I never had any food on had, I had to do something!! I finally sat down and planned out two weeks worth of meals and made a list. Peter took a morning last week and went to stock up on groceries. I also ordered a box full of groceries/supplies ($5.99 s/h) from Prime Pantry and a few bulk items from Jet.com. I already cooked the highlighted meals, and several of these made enough for dinner for Kayla & Nathan too! :O)

Menu Ideas:

Mississippi Roast/Mashed Potatoes/Asparagus Bundles

Roasted Chicken/Gravy/Mashed Potatoes/Roasted Acorn Squash/Corn on the Cob

Steak Subs w/fixins/Fries

Grilled Steaks/Grilled Onions/Baked Potato/Corn on the Cob/Tomatoes in Vinegar

Turkey Pot Pie

Neopolitan Casserole/French Bread

Blue Apron Meal: Sweet & Spicy Beef

Marley Spoon Meal

Crab Cakes/Deviled Eggs/Baked Beans

Corn Chowder

Tomato/Basil/Garlic Pork Chops on the Grill/Glazed Carrots

Blue Apron Meal: Spicy Chicken Sandwich (2 meals for me)

Spicy Chicken Sandwich w/ Napa Cabbage Slaw & Roasted Potato Wedges

best.checken.sandwich.ever

This meal was delicious!!! I'm back to cooking for just me again while Peter is at work, so I made this yesterday (and did the other one today). It was super yummy and very filling!!! I am such a fan of these boxed meals and have only been disappointed with the free box I got from a fellow Instagrammer from Green Chef!

INGREDIENTS

2 boneless chicken breast

2 ciabatta rolls 

1/2 lb Napa cabbage

1 russet potato

3 oz. pickle chips

1 T mayo

1 T red wine vinegar

1/2 cup crispy chicken spice blend 

(flour/garlic powder/onion powder/dry mustard/smoked paprika)

2 tsps. sriracha

1 T sugar

1/4 cup buttermilk

HOW TO MAKE:  {HERE}

The last meal from the BA box isn't getting a rave review, in fact, it was pretty yucky.....

Viennese Beef Sausage w/ Cheesy Mashed Sweet Potato

It should have given me two meals, instead, I could barely get through one....I ate some of the mashed sweet potato, the kale and a few peppers. I normally love kielbasa sausage, but this was NOT good. I had taken the time to cook it so I tried to get at least one meal out of it.

I'm not even going to link it because I don't recommend anyone making it!! 

-----------------------------------------------

I have one meal from the last Marley Spoon box. I ended up freezing my accounts for awhile because I missed pausing twice in the last month!

I'm already working on another two weeks of meals and a big grocery list that we will get once Peter gets back in two weeks. Now that I'm home from work there is no excuse for not being more organized. I love waking up knowing what's for dinner and having all the ingredients on hand!

{fall mornings - sept 19-26}

I slipped in a little Kamry visit right before crew change. I got to spend the whole day with Lindsey and Kamry - doing a little shopping in Salisbury, lunch at Panera, then a fun night hanging out!

<3 <3 <3

{my lunch: Napa Almond Chicken Salad + Autumn Squash Soup}

YUMMMMM....

I found Kamry this cute Peppa Halloween shirt at Old Navy :O)

She recently discovered "MO" and I just happened to have working Tickle Me Elmo that was Nathan's from 20 years ago!!! She wasn't a huge fan...neither was Allie!!

She did like the beanie Mo though...

We had gotten Pumpkin Spice Iced Coffee + Pumpkin Donuts on our day out, so I had a repeat the next morning! yummmm.....

Nathan came home on Friday (9/22) a few days early from crew change because they were moving in the house and Kayla was going to have to go in for monitoring 2x a week for her HBP. She was VERY ready to have the baby and tried various "labor inducing" suggestions ;O) including eating fresh pineapple (and she doesn't even like pineapple). LOL ((there may have been a jet ski ride too which is still staking claim to her being induced the very next day)) :O)

I found the yummiest PUMPKIN SPICE coffee at Home Goods. :O)

more candy corn......:O) :O) :O)

***that face***

I have a long blog post about Rowen's birth that is almost ready to post, butttttt......I got this video from Kayla last night and had to share!!!!!! I am so in love with that face!!!! <3 <3 <3

{Fall Coffee Center}

It's FALL Y'all!!!

- hanging wooden pumpkin (big lots)
- "but first coffee" sign was a gift from Lindsey

- fall banner (target $ spot) 

- a mix of fresh white pumpkins + fake orange pumpkins
- cow creamer is a thrift store find (but Pioneer Woman has one @walmart)
- framed fall printable

- sign, galvanized pumpkin, and apothecary jar (40% off @hobby lobby)
- candle was only 2 bucks on sale @kohls

- black metal drying rack a.k.a. my mug rack @worldmarket
- Rae Dunn Mugs (bought on mercari or from rae_dunn_4sale or collected)

love love love my Halloween mug from Kayla!!! :O)