Grandma's Rose

Growing up, we lived in m grandma's house. She planted the roses at her house. My brother bought the house. I told my SiL, if you ever want to get rid of those roses, I want them. She gave them to me. I planted them at my house and this year, they came back in full bloom!!!!

Playing along with Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordful Wednesday on parenting By dummies:-)

First Overnight Camp

This weekend, we tackled my youngest's first overnight camp with the Girl Scouts. It was so much fun, mostly because I didn't have to plan it. I just showed up. They went on hikes (seen below), swam, did crafts, went paddle boating and played a TON of games.




My daughter's reaction?

"This was the best day of my life".

You can't ask for more than that:-)

Playing along with Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom .

Fresh Vegetable Juice

Fresh from the garden or from the grocer to the juicer!

I am doing my menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie. So, here is my menu this week:



Also, $5 Dinners inspires us all to make low cost dinners. In that spirit, I am taking what Pick N Save has on sale, pairing it with coupons and coming up with the tastiest money saving around! Tomatoes were on sales at Pick N Save for .99/lb. I grabbed a bunch because I just got a juice extractor and I wanted to try it out with my featured recipe today:

Vegetable Juice
Ingredients:
3 medium (about 1 1/2 pounds) tomatoes cut into large chunks
7 celery stalks each cut into 3-inch pieces
1/2 lb carrots each cut into 3-inch pieces (do not peel)
1 piece fresh horseradish (2 1/2 by 1/4 inches), peeled (or 2 1/2 teaspoons prepared horseradish)
1/4 tsp coarse salt
2 1/2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice plus lemon wedges, for serving

1. Working in batches, press the tomatoes, celery, carrots, and horseradish through an electric juicer into a large bowl. Stir in salt and lemon juice. Pour vegetable mixture through a fine sieve into another large bowl or a pitcher. Divide vegetable juice evenly between 2 glasses. Serve each with a lemon wedge.

Servings: 4

Cooking Times
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Inactive Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/4 of a recipe (6.4 ounces).
Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients. 3 of the recipe's ingredients were not linked. These ingredients are not included in the recipe nutrition data.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 29.27
Calories From Fat (10%) 2.86
% Daily Value
Total Fat 0.34g <1%
Saturated Fat 0.08g <1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 213.41mg 9%
Potassium 444.96mg 13%
Total Carbohydrates 6.31g 2%
Fiber 2.48g 10%
Sugar 4.11g Protein 1.44g 3%

Recipe Type Drinks



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Planning Planning Planning

It may be summer vacation but I have been working hard on planning for next year. Taking on the roles of both PTO President AND being School Organizer for our Girl Scout program is proving to be daunting.

My goals for the PTO are to hype up the marketing program. As such, I have been playing around with a 52-page Power Point presentation.

As for Girl Scouts, my goal is to plan an all-school bridging. Not a small task because our school is large and the market share is large:-) A good problem to have.

So, I will continue plugging away at my planning in the hopes to have a successful transition in the fall:-)

Playing along with Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom .

Mango and Avocado Salad

This summer side dish is cool, refreshing and creamy.

I am doing my menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie. So, here is my menu this week:



Also, $5 Dinners inspires us all to make low cost dinners. In that spirit, I am taking what Pick N Save has on sale, pairing it with coupons and coming up with the tastiest money saving around! Mangoes were on sale for $0.88/lb. (normally $1.19/lb!) at Pick N Save. I grabbed a bunch to make my featured recipe today:

Mango and Avocado Salad
Ingredients:
1/2 Tbs balsamic vinegar
1/2 Tbs lime juice
1 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
1 mangos, cubed
1 avocados, cubed
1/4 small red onion, diced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:
1. In a large serving bowl, whisk together vinegar, lime juice, salt and pepper to taste. Slowly whisk in oil. Toss in mangoes, avocado and red onion to coat. Serve immediately.

Servings: 4

Cooking Times
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 16 minutes

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/4 of a recipe (3.9 ounces).
Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients. One of the recipe's ingredients was not linked. This ingredient is not included in the recipe nutrition data.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 139.08
Calories From Fat (62%) 86.88
% Daily Value
Total Fat 10.19g 16%
Saturated Fat 1.41g 7%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 4.88mg <1%
Potassium 304.37mg 9%
Total Carbohydrates 13.41g 4%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 7.82g
Protein 1.2g 2%

Recipe Type Salad, Side Dish, Summer

Source Author: Sunny Anderson
Source: The Food Network
Web Page: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sunny-anderson/mango-and-avocado-salad-recipe/index.html

Recipe: $3.63 ($3.22 on sale)
Serving: $0.91 ($0.83 on sale)

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Prolific Grape Vines

Ok...I tried to kill the old grape vines however, it just won't go swiftly into the night. So, I decided to go with it and root it and here is what happened after only 2 days!!!

Maybe these will take off better than my new ones:-)

Thank You Flowers

Look at what my Daisy parents gave me last month:



I am so blessed to have such great people to work with for the good of the girls:-)


Playing along with Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordful Wednesday on parenting By dummies:-)

Irrigation System

This week, I finished up my irrigation system for my veggie garden.

Just in time because it is looking pretty sorry:-(

Playing along with Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom .

Grilled Chicken and Pasta

With school winding day, simple is the order of the day this week. Chicken on top of Suddenly Salad is just the ticket.

I am doing my menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie. So, here is my menu this week:



Also, $5 Dinners inspires us all to make low cost dinners. In that spirit, I am taking what Pick N Save has on sale, pairing it with coupons and coming up with the tastiest money saving around! Chicken was on sale for $1.99/lb. (normally $4.39/lb!) at Pick N Save. I grabbed a bunch to make my featured recipe today:

Grilled Chicken and Pasta
Ingredients:
1 lb Chicken
1 box Suddenly Salad, Bacon Ranch Flavor
1 cup frozen green peas
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 cucumber, halved lengthwise, seeded, and sliced
1 tomatoes, seeded and diced
3 strips bacon, chopped
1/2 cup cheddar cheese shredded

Directions:
1. Grill chicken.

2. Prepare Suddenly Salad per the package directions. In the last minute of boiling, add the frozen peas. Drain and rinse with cold water.

3. Finish the package directions using the mayo.

4. Toss with the cucumbers, tomato, bacon and cheese. Top with chicken.

5. Chill and enjoy:-)

Servings: 4

Cooking Times
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Inactive Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/4 of a recipe (13.3 ounces).
Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 578.33
Calories From Fat (46%) 267.49
% Daily Value
Total Fat 29.52g 45%
Saturated Fat 9.11g 46%
Cholesterol 107.62mg 36%
Sodium 766.72mg 32%
Potassium 593.84mg 17%
Total Carbohydrates 25.79g 9%
Fiber 2.72g 11%
Sugar 6.99g
Protein 37.73g 75%

Recipe Type
Grill, Main Course, Pasta, Salad, Simple Supper

Source
Author: Susan Ewing

Recipe: $12.78 ($7.99 on sale)
Serving: $3.19 ($2.00 on sale)

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Lilacs Are My Favorite

I even had them in my wedding bouquet! Happy Anniversary Honey! Eight great years and counting:-)

Playing along with Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordful Wednesday on parenting By dummies:-)