Menu Plan Monday 2/20/12

Winter arrived and then left! We are actually having spring-like weather here in north Texas which means we could have winter weather in March.  I remember when I was in high school, we had snow on Easter weekend in March!

Check out my Valentine’s Day Book Giveaway: The Five Love Languages.  Just a few days left.  Low entries.

Monday: Roast turkey & veggies, Low-Cal Pumpkin Custard
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TuesdayLow-Cal Fettuccine Alfredo from Food Network, chicken, salad

Wednesday: Hearty Italian Chicken and Vegetable Soup from Food Network

Thursday:  Francesca Farmer’s Market Veggie Pizza, salad
Friday:  Eat out?

 

Laura Story Wins Grammy Award

I loved the song, “Blessings,” the first time I heard it.  Apparently, people all over the world love this song, too, even in Japan after their last tsunami.   It’s only fitting that Laura Story received a Grammy Award for the “Best Contemporary Christian Music Song.”  Laura says that they “pray that any attention the song ‘Blessings’ receives will be used by God to bring hope to others who are walking hard roads. May God’s faithfulness be seen in this above all things.”

By the way, Laura and her husband are expecting their first child later this year.  That is exciting news, especially after all they’ve been through.  You can listen to the song and read the “Story Behind the Song, Blessings” to find out about this.

If you’d like to know even more, you can read the “Story Behind the Song, Indescribable” which was written by Laura Story and made famous by Chris Tomlin, and you can also hear Laura’s new song being played on the radio.

LCU Online Degrees


If you are looking to expand your knowledge in accounting, finance and human resources then you may wish to consider an Organizational Management Degree Online from Lubbock Christian University (LCU).  You will also increase knowledge and skills in professional communication, social responsibility and ethics, research techniques and much more.  Get your degree online from LCU, a Christian-based university that is fully accredited and well trusted since 1957.

Health Tip: How Much Sugar in a Can of Coke?

According to wiki.answers.com, one regular 12-ounce can of Coke has about 10 teaspoons of sugar. That makes me sick to think about putting that much sugar in a glass of tea, yet most people don’t mind having that much sugar in a Coke or other type of soda. Knowing how much sugar is in sodas makes me want to continue not drinking them except on a rare occasion when I have an upset stomach. When I’m really nauseated from allergies, nothing settles my stomach like a Coke (except sometimes ginger). Otherwise, I’ll stick to my freshly made tea sweetened with KAL Stevia. That tastes so good and doesn’t have any sugar in it!

Menu Plan Monday 2/13/12

Winter has finally arrived!  We are actually having snow here in north Texas.   And Valentine’s Day is nearly here!  If you need an easy dessert, here’s one I shared last week from Brooke at the Yellow Rose Cafe for Cherry Berry Dump Cake with cherries & strawberries. Looks yummy with two fruits in it!

Check out my Valentine’s Day Book Giveaway: The Five Love Languages.

Monday:  Roast turkey & veggies, Low-Cal Pumpkin Custard (we love this recipe)
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Tuesday:  Leftovers from Monday  (I have a meeting after school and will come home tired.  It will be nice to have yummy leftovers ready to warm up!)  Red Velvet Yogurt Parfaits

Wednesday: Hearty Italian Chicken and Vegetable Soup from Food Network

Thursday:  Leftover soup

Friday: Pizza & salad

 

Restaurant Fare: Healthier Chicken Dinners

Want to eat out and want chicken but you want a healthy chicken dinner?  Here are some healthy suggestions for chicken dinners from Food Network.  Check out their site for more info.

  • Olive Garden: Venetian Apricot Chicken
    Nutrition Info:
    380 calories; 4 grams fat…
  • Applebee’s: Grilled Dijon Chicken & Portobellos
    Nutrition Info: 470 calories; 16 grams fat…
  • Ruby Tuesday: Barbecue Grilled Chicken
    Nutrition Info:
    592 calories; 4 grams fat…
  • Outback Steakhouse: Grilled Chicken on the Barbie & Fresh Seasonal Vegetables
    Nutrition Info:
    523 calories; 15 grams fat…
  • Chili’s: Margarita Grilled Chicken
    Nutrition Info:
    260 calories; 7 grams fat…

Veterinary Jobs

Some people have a special attachment to animals.  They just really enjoy being around them, playing with them, and taking care of them.  Veterinary Services Jobs would be something they would probably have a natural interest in and aptitude for doing.  There are certainly plenty of pets in our neighborhood, as I’m sure there are in most of the neighborhoods in our country.  These pets need veterinary services on a fairly regular basis, so I would think there are jobs available right now in this field.  Anyone needing a job who has a love of animals might consider this in their list of job prospects.

Creative Jewelry Maker

There are a lot of people making jewelry these days.  A dear friend of mine makes beautiful jewelry using beads and has had quite an extensive selection of beads to choose from.  I’m not sure what she has now, whether she has any clear glass tiles or any other type of beads, etc., but I do know that I am enjoying wearing the pieces of jewelry in my collection that were made by her.  She’s very creative in her jewelry making and in any artistic project she undertakes.  In fact, she used to be an elementary art teacher so you can imagine how creative she must be.

Sleep Soundly with the Right Mattress

Did you know that we spend, on average, one third of our lives sleeping? That’s a lot of time spent on our mattresses, and all too often, we sleep on inherited, old, or otherwise improper beds. If you wake up every morning with neck or back pain, or simply aren’t sleeping as soundly as you’d like, maybe it’s time for a new mattress. Mattress shopping can seem like a daunting task – there are so many brands, styles, and sizes out there – but it doesn’t have to be.

When making a major purchase like a mattress, it’s always important to do you research. A convenient way to do this is by shopping around online. Retailers like ShopNBC have all types of mattresses, complete with customer reviews and product specifications to help guide you to an informed decision. For example, they carry a plethora of trusted Serta mattresses, a well-known brand with a lot of great reviews. This would be a good place to start when browsing around for a new mattress.

Next, it’s important to consider what type of mattress fits you and your sleeping style best. Perhaps you prefer a standard spring mattress, or maybe you’d like to try one of the new memory foam mattresses that are currently very popular. There are gel-infused foam mattresses, pillow-tops, and more to consider. If you prefer a firmer feel, perhaps a standard spring is right for you (and they also tend to be less expensive). However, if you love to be enveloped by a soft, light mattress, you may want to give memory foam a whirl. Whatever you decide, know that you’re treating yourself to a better night sleep, which has numerous benefits. So sleep more soundly – choose a great new mattress!

 

Neighbors

We have really good neighbors, but I miss getting to see our old neighbors who moved away.  I miss getting to see their kids several times a week and hear what’s going on in their lives.   We did get to see them recently, and their kids have really grown a lot since they moved.  Their daughter loved to ride horses, and so I imagine she’s interested in riding helmets and everything else needed in horseback riding.  Their son is not the little boy he was when they moved.  Now, he’s elementary school age and interested in the usual things that interest boys that age.  One great thing, though, is that we can still keep in touch with our old neighbors through the Internet every now and then.

Headphones

One great invention that I really appreciate is headphones!  Being a school teacher, we depend on headphones to keep our classroom quiet for learning groups while some students are utilizing the student computers and also the listening center where students listen to a prerecorded story and follow along in a book.  If we didn’t have headphones then we wouldn’t be able to do as much with the students as we do.

Music lovers enjoy having headphones to use while listening to their favorite songs.   Monster headphones are even available that are supposed to “capture the sonic detail” for the listener.   And headphones are great for traveling so everybody in the vehicle doesn’t have to listen to the same music if they don’t want to.  I definitely appreciate headphones!

Menu Plan Monday 2/6/12

I can’t believe it’s already February! Are you making plans for Valentine’s Day? If you need an easy dessert, here’s one from Brooke at the Yellow Rose Cafe for Cherry Berry Dump Cake with cherries & strawberries.  Sounds yummy!

If you’re looking for a great book to read, check out my Valentine’s Day Book Giveaway: The Five Love Languages.   And now on to our menu for the week:

MondayEasy Beef Enchiladas, refried beans, avocado slices
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Tuesday:  Leftovers,  Easy Recipe for Pumpkin Custard (made with 1/4 cup sugar & KAL Stevia – we love this low-cal custard!)

WednesdayHearty Italian Chicken and Vegetable Soup from Food Network

Thursday:  Leftover Soup

Friday:  Pizza from Pie Five  (use coupon for one free pizza)