Duly Noted

Sometime in the last few years, I started weekly menu planning to guide grocery shopping, save money, and reduce the frequency of the question- "What's for dinner?"  Although we allow a degree of flexibility (the temptation of half price burger night at our favorite local spot can be strong), menu planning helps us to stick to our food budget, eat healthier, and eliminate the stress of pulling together dinner after a long day at work. Mike and I were pretty proud of ourselves when The Biggest Loser*** gave each contestant $70 to pay for one week of healthy groceries.  70$ per person?!  That's not much of a challenge.  We listed the groceries we would've added to our cart: rolled oats, bananas, milk, eggs, grains, vegetables, dried beans, olive oil...Basically, we know how to feed ourselves well and that's something to be proud of. Here's this week's menu: Sunday: Carrot Soup with tahini and roasted chickpeas, homemade pita chips with sesame seeds Monda...

Sometime in the last few years, I started weekly menu planning to guide grocery shopping, save money, and reduce the frequency of the question- "What's for dinner?"  Although we allow a degree of flexibility (the temptation of half price burger night at our favorite local spot can be strong), menu planning helps us to stick to our food budget, eat healthier, and eliminate the stress of pulling together dinner after a long day at work. Mike and I were pretty proud of ourselves when The Biggest Loser*** gave each contestant $70 to pay for one week of healthy groceries.  70$ per person?!  That's not much of a challenge.  We listed the groceries we would've added to our cart: rolled oats, bananas, milk, eggs, grains, vegetables, dried beans, olive oil...Basically, we know how to feed ourselves well and that's something to be proud of. Here's this week's menu: Sunday: Carrot Soup with tahini and roasted chickpeas, homemade pita chips with sesame se...

Tonight, I head to my hometown- dear old Milwaukee- for a baby shower...my baby shower!(?)  I've been looking forward to this weekend since our dear family friend offered to host a gathering of all the women who have watched me grow.  "Watched" is the wrong word here- these women have been a part of my formation since I was in diapers.  I've spent countless hours in their homes and nearly all my childhood memories and stories are associated with these women.  Afternoons playing games in triangle park, fourth of July lakefront fireworks, New Years Eve parties, accidents (involving baseball bats and staircases), everyday trips to the supermarket, summertime at Elm Grove pool, 9 years at Mother of Good Counsel, endless days playing in Lake Michigan at Terre Andre... When I think about the kind of mother that I hope to be, these women come to mind- attentive, affectionate, playful, creative, calm, strict, loyal, supportive, patient.

It's been a quiet weekend around here as Mike is in Milwaukee for Serbian Christmas. I am holding down the fort here in Minneapolis with Rachel The Dog.  Really, a girl couldn't ask for a better buddy than Ray Ray.  We are actually very compatible creatures.  We move around the house following the sunlight.  We get anxious and depressed if we don't go outside.  We both feel so happy after running.  We both love it when Mike comes home.  We like to go to bed early. Rachel has some weird tendencies. She'll shred paper (but only certain paper) if she is home by herself for too long.  She'll hide whenever the oven is on.  She is such a rascal when there is are small dogs around (or as Mike calls them - drop kick dogs).  I have some weird tendencies too that Rachel knows about but she since she can't write, these tendencies will go unreported. Anyway, the point is, I love my dog.  I think she is awesome.