Monday, October 25, 2010

Menu Plan Monday

I have a great new menu worked up for this week - we're trying some new recipes :)
Last year I tried the site E-Mealz. I liked the concept, but we didn't use enough of the recipes to justify the cost.
It's $15 for a three month subscription; once a week you log on and print off a menu and shopping list for the week. There are a lot more options now, than a year ago! There are family plans - 7 meals feeding 4-6 people and meal plans for 2 - 5 meals feeding 1-2 people. There are regular meal plans and specialty meal plans: low fat, low carb, gluten free, points system and vegetarian. You can also choose any store or store specific options.
This time we're trying the Low Carb family meal plan. I will see how it goes over the next 3 months and then decide if I want to renew. So, here's our plan for this week:
The only thing I changed is we're not having the fish meals planned for this week, because I didn't want to buy any fish and we really wanted Taco Soup, so I nixed those two.

-Pork Tenderloin
w/ Brussels Sprouts
-Crock Pot Chicken Chili
-Ground Beef  and Cabbage Casserole
w/ Roasted Carrots
-Dijon Skillet Chicken
w/ Broccoli
-Herbed Porkchops
w/ BLT salad
-Taco Soup

We'll be eating leftovers and sandwiches for lunches and waffles or breakfast sandwiches for breakfasts :)

Thursday, October 21, 2010

The Telling-review

In The Telling, the conclusion to the Seasons of Grace series, Lettie's secret is finally revealed, Grace makes her choice and Heather starts her journey to healing and learns some unusual news along the way.
It was a beautiful wrap up of all our questions and a heartfelt ending for all involved. Beverly Lewis again delivered a touching story. When Grace and Heather set off to find Lettie in Ohio, they wonder whether she'll be pleased or refuse to come home. Lettie, is struggling with the choices she's made and ready to make things right with everyone involved. However, did she consider the consequences for everyone else if she chooses to reveal her search?
 I was quite pleased (and slightly surprised) with the ending of this series! I don't want to give away too much information, but if you made it through the first book, you'll definitely want to finish to the end!

Per the back of the book:
The anticipation of a homecoming, a chance to set things right...yet will "the Telling" cause further pain?
Accompanied by her new English friend, Grace Byler has left Bird-in-Hand to search for her mother in Ohio. But what if Lettie refuses to be found? Meanwhile, Lettie continues her private quest to find the missing piece of her life, though she is increasingly torn between the family she left behind and the yearning for her long-lost child. Will mother and daughter find the answers they seek?


*I received this book as a part of the Bethany House Review Program in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.*

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

The Missing review

Seasons of Grace series, book two, The Missing by Beverly Lewis was a great continuation of The Secret.
Lettie is still missing from her family and her daughter Grace is trying to decide what to do about it.  In her search to find her mom, she strikes up an unlikely friendship with a visiting English girl with a secret of her own. Heather has her own battles, but feels drawn to Grace Byler and her struggles.  Grace and her family are all dealing with her mother's disappearance in their own way. And did she make the right decision to remain single until she's figured out what's going on with her family?
This was much more the style of writing I'm used to with Beverly Lewis. I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel and cannot wait to read the final installment!


Per the back of the book:
A painful absence, a desperate heart...is it too late to find Lettie Byler?
Grace Byler longs to uncover the secret that drove her mother to leave the family weeks ago. When all hopes are dashed for such a search, an unlikely friendship leads to a surprising invitation. Meanwhile, the young Amishwoman Grace thought was courting her best friend takes a sudden interest in her, and Grace's decision to remain single is challenged even as her determination to find her mother grows. 






*I received this book in exchange for my review from Bethany House Review Program. All opinions are my own.*

Monday, October 4, 2010

the week of Purging...

I have been saying for a few weeks now that I wanted to get back on track with several things: housecleaning, school work with my son, exercise, and eating well again. Now that life has slowed back down to a "normal" pace (haha), I've decided it's time to change things up! So, this week I'm purging! Today is the kitchen. I'll be going through our food, dishes, everything.
Tomorrow it's going to be clothes. I'm pulling out our fall/winter stuff, so it's about time to sort through it all and see what needs to go and what can stay.
I'm not too worried about every day chores this week, it will all get done one way or another as I go through each room. 

Those are the two main areas that need changes right now - clothes and food/kitchen stuff. If anything comes up later in the week that needs to be done, I'll update!

Now, off to clean the kitchen!