Meal Plan Monday - Nov. 16

Monday - roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, peas
Tuesday - chicken enchiladas (from leftover roasted chicken), mexi-rice, corn
Wednesday - veal parmesan, pasta, garlic bread (the husbands birthday dinner)
Thursday - the husbands birthday dinner at my mothers, I am bringing the Birthday Cake
Friday - Chili over rice

Dare to DIY - Be Thankful

This is the first week of the Dare to Do it Yourself Blog Party Challenge - Dare to Be Thankful.

For this particular challenge I decided to look around my house and see what I could come up with using things that I already had. I thought about how framing something makes it seem important, and Giving Thanks is always important. This will be a simple reminder for the next 2 weeks in our house to Simply Give Thanks.




Supplies
-frame
-background (cork or burlap)
- sheet of scrapbook paper
-printer or stamps
-bag of fall leaves
-hot glue gun
-acorns or any other embellishment



Be sure to check out the party for more projects.

Nursery Progress

The blank canvas is ready to be decorated. All traces of the office has been removed and we are ready to begin making this an actual nursery.

I'm only showing you a corner of the room because I don't want you to see the furniture until it's done. The walls and trim have been painted. The husband is painting the furniture this weekend and I will be doing the artwork this weekend.

Let me remind you what this looked like several weeks ago.

Nikki's Nacs - Custom Order - Blue and Brown

Here is a new custom canvas I did for a customer to match this bedding.

I am currently taking a very limited number of custom canvas orders. If you are interested please contact me through my etsy shop.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Last week I was really wanting Chinese Food. I originally found this recipe here at My Happy Meals and knew that I wanted to try it.

It is wonderful! It is a new favorite at our house. It's not a quick meal, but really pretty simple to make, and did I already say that it is wonderful? It really is wonderful.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Sweet and Sour Chicken
Chicken:
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper
1 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup canola oil

Cut boneless chicken breasts into chunks. Season with salt and pepper. Dip chicken in cornstarch and then in egg. Fry in a little oil until brown but not cooked through. Place in a single layer in a baking dish. Mix sauce ingredients (below) together and pour over chicken.

Sauce:
¾ cup sugar
4 tablespoons ketchup
½ cup vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic salt

Bake for one hour at 325 degrees. Turn chicken every 15 minutes. If you like extra sauce, make another batch of sauce and bring it to a boil on the stovetop. Stir constantly and let cook over medium heat until thickened and reduced - about 6-8 minutes.

Meal Plan Monday - Nov. 9

Monday - Chili Dogs and Chips for the boys
I will be eating at the Ladies meeting at church.

Tuesday - Chicken Pot Pie Ring

Wednesday - Chili and Rice

Thursday - Breakfast for dinner, French Toast and Scrambled Eggs

Friday - Homemade Chicken Salad Sandwiches
I make really good chicken salad thanks to my friend Anna.

Saturday - Pizza

This week I'm not doing much actual cooking (freezer meals and quick stuff) . We are planning to get a lot more done in the office/nursery.

26 Weeks

I'm excited to be 26 weeks. This means I have less that 100 days until I get to meet my sweet baby boy.

I had my glucose test Tues. and didn't hear anything so that is good. They said they would only call if something was abnormal.

I feel like I'm huge and have 14 wks to go.

My ankles and feet were swollen the entire weekend last weekend. Like I didn't have ankles. I'm trying to be better about keeping my feet up.

I feel like I have cried so much this week over nothing. I'm ready for my hormones to be back to normal. I don't remember crying this much with my first pregnancy.

Baby's room is painted!!!!!! Things are moving right along.

Dare to Do It Yourself Party

The NewlyWoodwards will soon be hosting a new Dare to Do It Yourself Party. I plan to participate, it should be lots of fun. Go check it out and see if want to join in.

Freezer Meal Recipe Request

source google images

I am in organizing, get ready for baby mode. I am trying to plan ahead so that after baby boy gets here meal time will be easy. I am working on compiling a list of meals that we eat regularly with their ingredients so that I will have a quick reference for grocery shopping and meal planning. I figure the less I have to think about the easier.

I am also making a list of freezer meals to make ahead and freeze. I will be doing this at the beginning of Jan, and would love for you to share some of your favorite freezer meal recipes with me. (please include a link)

So far I have:
lasagna
chili
creamy chicken noodle soup
taco soup
stuffed shells
chicken, broc., and rice casserole

13,12, and 2

13 years ago today I started dating my husband.
12 years ago today we were engaged.
2 nights ago we had a great time with all of our friends at a Halloween Costume Party.

Fall Festival

We had our Fall Festival (Hallelujah Night) last night at church and had a great time. I think my little men were quite cute.

Meal Plan Monday 10/26/09

Monday - Green Chile Soup and Cornbread
Tuesday - Steak fingers, Mac n cheese, broccoli
Wednesday - Hallelujah Night at Church
Thursday - Pizza Pasta Casserole from freezer
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Halloween Party
Sunday - ??


Green Chili Soup
1.5 lbs. cooked diced chicken or cooked ground beef
3 (4.5 oz.) cans chopped green chiles, undrained
1 (15 oz.) can pinto beans, undrained
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cups water 1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1 onion chopped
1 clove garlic crushed

Toppings
Sour Cream
Shredded Cheese

Combine all ingredients (except toppings) into slow cooker
High - 4-6 hours
Low - 8 hours

Macho Nachos

We didn't tackle many projects this weekend. We just enjoyed a relaxing weekend enjoying our family. Friday night was date night and the little man got to spend the night at his grandparents. Saturday we went to my parents for breakfast and took the desk to them. I guess I did get to cross something off of the nursery list.

After relaxing all day Saturday I wanted to make something good for dinner, only I didn't want to be in the kitchen cooking. I was looking through my Southern Living Mag and saw The Pioneers Woman's Cowboy Nachos. This made me want nachos so I made some using what I had on hand. Be sure to check out her original recipe, I'm sure that it is wonderful, but I wanted to use ground beef.

These are the best nachos I have ever made, they had just the right about of Kick!

Macho Nachos
1 lb. ground beef (cooked, drained, and seasoned - I used a little onion, garlic and southwestern seasoning)
1 can seasoned pinto beans
1 tsp. hot sauce
8 0z. shredded pepper jack cheese (if you want less heat use monterey jack, but the pepper jack made the nachos)
tortilla chips

Optional Toppings
sour cream
chopped tomatoes
olives
pico de galla



-In a sauce pan heat pinto beans and hot sauce. If your ground beef isn't warm go ahead and add it to warm also.
-On a stone or baking sheet lined with foil add your tortilla chips, meat and beans.
-Top with shredded cheese
-Bake at 425 degrees until cheese is melted

Once your cheese is melted it is time to add any cold additional toppings that you would like. Server and enjoy!

Lovely!

Thanks so much Jesse from Good Girl Gone Glad for this Lovely award! You are too sweet! Be sure to check out her blog. She ALWAYS has such pretty inspiration pictures.

Time to pass it on!
Blooming in the South
Haven and Home
My Life in Transition
Three Men and a Lady

Be sure to check out all of these blogs and pass it on.

The New Office Corner

If you have been reading Nikki's Nacs for any length of time you know that we have been in the process of moving our office to a corner in the dining room to make room for baby.

The move is complete. We were able to find a desk (with a file drawer) that didn't totally overwhelm the room, and it didn't break the bank.

We are still adjusting to using the computer in the dining room, but so far it is working out nicely.

I Can't Get Enough

Chai!


Carrie did a post about Chai Tea a few weeks ago and I have been hooked since. I mean hooked as in at least 2 cups a day. I also really like Green Tea and drink it frequently, but this is just different.

Last night I was getting a few things at Target and found Tazo Chai Latte mix. Wow! It's really good too for a special treat. I might have a "special treat" daily now.

What about you, what is your favorite tea and favorite latte? Do share, I might find something else to add to my rotation.

From Office to Nursery - The List

I am on a list kick, so here is the long list of things that still need to be done to make the office a nursery. To see a before of the office go HERE. I'm sorry so many of my blog posts have been about this project, but I'm sure it won't be the last. It has been a large project and hasn't left much time for anything else.

A lot of this will be done by my super sweet husband as he has the time.

Items in blue will be done by the husband.
Items in purple will be done by me.
Items in green will be done together.

Office
-purge, have yard sale, and donate - DONE
-put together new desk - DONE
-finish boxing up items to store DONE 10/14
-find a place for boxes in garage DONE 11/9
-clean out garage DONE 11/6
-pack up dishes in buffet to make room for office stuff - DONE
-organize office stuff in desk and buffet DONE 10/14
-run cable to dining room for internet DONE 10/17
-move computer and printer to new desk DONE 10/17
-get large desk out of office DONE 10/24
-get large TV and stand out of office DONE 10/17
-move chair and end table from office to living room DONE 10/17

Nursery
-move baby stuff from Cade's closet to Henry's closet - DONE
-buy and cut new shelves for changing table
-get crib and changing table out of in-laws attic DONE 10/23
-paint crib, changing table, and shelf
-paint large canvas
-paint nursery DONE 11/6
-figure out what I want for curtains and make them
-decorate
-organize nursery closet - DONE (I'm sure it will need to be done again as I get more things.)

There are also several other things that need to be done in other places around the house.

Cade's Room
-get Cade a twin size bed (we will need his mattress for the crib)
-headboard project
-re-organize Cade's closet minus all of the baby gear - DONE

Living Room
-make slipcovers for ottomans
-make new pillows for couch (I've got to make that red chair work)

As you can see, my husband has a lot of work to do too. We are getting there. I'll update this list as we get things marked off or find new things that need to be added to the list.

The List

After 30 years I am finally learning that I get a lot more done when I make a list. There is something about getting to mark things off of my list that help me stay on task. It's a good feeling.

I am normally not a SUPER organized person. I don't do things in the same order everyday. Routine is a word that I am working on incorporating in my day to day life. The list is the beginning.

What about you? Do you work better and get more done when you have a list?

Oh, and just so you know that list is lying on top of our new desk in the dining room. We are making progress on the office/nursery project. I will soon be posting a list of all of the things that still need to be done.

22 Weeks

22 Weeks - It's a good feeling to know that I'm a little over halfway there. Some days it feels like the time is creeping ever so slowly, and other times it feels like WOW 22 weeks already.

I'm feeling pretty good. It's nice to not require a nap every afternoon anymore, but I'm going to bed much earlier.

I have had a little swelling in my feet when I'm up doing a lot, so I'm doing what I can. I feel huge already, but that is okay.

I had a great OB visit this week. I love going and getting to hear his heart beat. It is still such a great sound.

Dining Room Wall Revamp

After

I have been super busy working on the office project. I am slowly, but surely making progress. I found a stack of unused frames on the office closet shelf and knew immediately how I wanted to use them.

Before

The frames above my buffet in the dining room needed more height. This was an easy fix. I just turned the large frame vertical instead of horizontal and it made a huge difference. I then filled in with some of the frames that had been hanging out in the office closet. They needed a home anyway. I didn't even have to fix any holes, they are all hidden behind the frames. This might be a little lazy, but I was looking for an easy fix.