Slim Down Sunday

Goal: Continue losing weight at a steady pace.

Pounds: Lost: 41.4 total (1.4 this week!)

How is it going this week?  I had a good week.  No real problems.  It was an encouragement to see the scale move this week.  Last week I was discouraged and feeling like it wasn't going to move again.

My plan for the week ahead:  Just keep doing what I've been doing.  This is going to be a busy week so I'm not even going to think about exercising.

Join Slim Down Sunday and link up here.

Free copy of Warrior Prayers

Recently I wrote about the book Warrior Prayers and how much I liked it.  For a very short time you can get a pdf version of this book FREE.  You'll find the details here.

Don't miss out!! Then consider participating in the 21 Days of Prayer for Sons challenge beginning September 26.

Food Meme that looked like fun

I saw this on an old blog post and thought it would be fun to answer and hopefully get some others to join in too!


What’s the last thing you ate? Cherry Fage yogurt and a Luna Bar

What’s your favorite cheese? Cheddar (provolone is a close second)

What’s your favorite fish? Cod

What’s your favorite fruit? Hard to pick just one.  I love melon, grapes, peaches, strawberries, pineapple and on and on

Amanda Bennett $5 Frenzy

Over the years we have used many of Amanda Bennett's unit studies.  Last year several of the children used Download N Go and Amanda Bennett Unit Study Adventures as their main curriculum.  I highly recommend these studies and have many reviews of Download N Go units on this blog.

They are currently having a $5 Frenzy Sale.  Don't miss out on this!  It ends Sunday, July 31, 2011.

Don't forget to download your FREE August Summer of Fun calendar while you are there.

And finally, today is the last day to enter to win a $100 CBD gift card!

Taking Inventory

As part of my Goal Planning for this week I listed clean out the freezer, take inventory and make a list of meals (to make with what I have on hand).  I originally only planned to do the freezers but I ended up taking an inventory of almost everything I have in the house.  It's pretty overwhelming actually.  I was going to post the list of what I have and what I am going to make but it was just too long. So, I think I'll share my list of upcoming meals.  I do have a short grocery list of items that I'll need to complete a few of these meals.  (It's kind of embarrassing to admit how much I have on hand but I'm very thankful that the Lord has blessed us so abundantly.)

Grilled London Broil, Tangy Green Bean casserole or maybe this
Grilled Chicken, Grilled Asparagus, Pasta salad
Very Veggie Lasagna
Homemade pizza
Spicy Noodle Edamame Salad
Corn Chowder
BBQ Hash
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Chicken Tetrazzini
Country Chicken Pot Pie (probably served over toast rather than in a pie crust)
Stir Fry Beef and Broccoli with Rice
Hamburgers and Chips
BBQ Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken
French Toast and bacon
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Hotdogs
Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
Zucchini Garden Chowder

Red, White and Blueberry Muffins
PB & J scones
Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins
Zucchini Bread

I will need to purchase eggs, milk, toasted sesame oil, potatoes, BBQ sauce (unless I make some with ketchup and spices), Thai sweet chili sauce, fresh broccoli, frozen mixed vegetables.  I might need to buy more mozzarella cheese too.  I have other foods on hand...crackers, chips, ice cream, ingredients for cookies and bread, cold cereal, popcorn, yogurt, oatmeal etc.

There are a few items on this list that I won't eat because they are either too high in calories or I don't know what the calorie count is and I have plenty of things on hand that I can eat instead.

Free Summer Issue of TOS Magazine

TOS magazine is offering a free digital copy of the current issue of  free. This is the only homeschooling magazine I subscribe to.  Check it out.




You can download your free issue here.

Goal Planning week of July 25

Mama Manuscripts is hosting Goal Planning Monday.  I always get so much more accomplished when I have a list.

So, here goes:

Meal Planning for the week (I've already finished this. YAY!)

Finish prep for VBS crafts.

Finish reading book and start writing review.

Mail card.

Stick to my "diet".

Blog at least 3 times.

Finish ordering the remaining curriculum I need.

Clean out the freezer, take inventory and make a list of meals.


Start making prayer cards.

I may add more to this but that is all I have for now. You can post your list of goals here.  If you're visiting, I'd love for you to follow me or leave a comment!

Menu Plan Monday

I have really gotten out of the habit of meal planning and I'd like to get back on track.  Before Sadie was born (she's 22 months old!) I would post a menu of lunches and supper on my fridge every week.  I am not sure why but for the last 2 years I just haven't been able to pull that together!  Maybe I can get back on track with Menu Plan Monday. Thank you to my friend Becky who shared this on her Becky's Healthy Life Blog.

Monday- Grilled chicken, grilled corn on the cob, mashed potatoes

Tuesday- Zucchini Garden chowder and bread

Wednesday- Curried Chicken and Broccoli casserole

Thursday-Spaghetti and Meatballs with bread

Friday- leftovers

Saturday- hamburgers and chips

Sunday- French toast or pancakes

Add your own meal plan at orgjunkie.com

Slim Down Sunday

Since October of last year, I have lost 40 lbs.  I am currently keeping off the 40 and I'm anxious to lose more but I've hit an annoying plateau.  So frustrating, but I will not stray from trying.  I started out on the Flat Belly Diet from Prevention magazine, then later followed The 400 Calorie Fix plan.  (There are several books in the FBD series.  My two favorites are The Pocket Guide and The Family Cookbook.) Both diets are compatible but the FBD has more restrictions and is a healthier plan.  Basically I eat four 400 calorie meals a day.  Sometimes I exercise but I really haven't in a while (nor do I really feel like it but I might have to to get the scale moving down more quickly!)

Goal:Continue losing weight at a steady pace

Pounds Lost: 40 lbs

How is it going this week? I have been eating this way for about 9 months now and I don't really feel like I am "on a diet".  It has just become the way I eat. I don't think too much about it really and for the most part I do not struggle with it.  (I do get discouraged when I am eating just the way I should and I don't see any weight loss.)

My plan for the week ahead: Just keep on keeping on.

Are you on a weight loss journey?  Tell me about it.  It's always encouraging to hear from others.  You can blog about it and link up at Heartfelt Homeschooling.

Anxiety and Prayer

I love summer because I have more time to read and since I bought a Kindle I seem to be able to read a lot more often.  In the last couple of weeks I read two books which I enjoyed immensely and wanted to share.

The first book is Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow.  I owned a hard copy of this book for many years but it was sorely neglected and I gave it to a friend. Recently it was available as a free download for my Kindle so I figured I'd grab it and if I had time I would take a look at it again and I'm so glad I did.  This book can be read on your own or as a 12 week study with a group.  If you struggle with anxiety at all you will be blessed by this book.

The second book was recommended to me by my friend Lori at Deeper with Jesus in Rhode Island and she loaned the book to me (on my Kindle).  A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul Miller is a life changing book.  This book has helped me to think about (and start to put in place) real ways to pray for people...to not forget to pray for people and to pray without ceasing as in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.  I HIGHLY recommend this book.  I will likely end up buying it.

What are you reading?  I am currently reading, How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids by Rachel Carman for an upcoming TOS crew review.  Look for my first TOS crew review in about a month. :)

New Friend Friday

I'm looking for ways to keep my blog more active so I thought I'd try some daily memes.  This morning I saw New Friend Friday from Molding Minds Homeschool Blog.

This is what she says,
"This is just a fun way to meet new bloggers and to get your blog out there a bit more. So if you are a FAMILY FRIENDLY blogger and want to participate here are the directions:

1. Add your blog using the Mr Linky at the bottom of the post.

2. Post a small blurb linking back to this blog post.

3. Follow at least 3 of the blogs already linked (the first few will have to come back later in the day to get 3).

4. Comment on their blog letting them know that you are following from Follow Me Friday at Molding Minds.

5. Follow anyone that comments on your blog."

So I'm off to find some new friends!

Warrior Prayers

I recently read the book Warrior Prayers:  Praying the Word for Boys in the Areas They Need it Most on my Kindle.  This is an eBook designed to help you in the pursuit of reaching for the hearts of your sons and raising godly men.  In it you will find scripture prayers listed by category such as anger, fear, joy, love, purity, humility, integrity, lying and more. I really enjoyed this book and will use it often in the future.  

Brooke McGlothlin has written this wonderful e-book which is available for $4.99 at Amazon. You can read about her 21 Days of Prayer Challenge or the available leader's guide if you would like to use this book with a group.


I really want to pray for my boys (and girls) and this book makes it so easy to do. I also enjoyed the easy to read style and the peek into the life of the author's family.  

Blogging Hiatus

Well, I guess I fell down on the job of keeping up my blog once we finished our Download N Go unit studies for the year.  I am gearing up for a new school year while we continue our summer vacation.  Here are a few pictures from our recent trip to New Hampshire.

the path from our condo to the river

swimming in the Saco

Ellie

Katie, Jenna, Connor, Emma and Ryan on the turtle ride

Ryan and Sadie waiting for the others on the flume

in the pumpkin house

My parents have a picture of me sitting here when I was little.

Ellie and Daddy in the swan boat

Cinderella's castle

3 pumpkins in a pumpkin

bending the bars of the jail

Emma

Jenna

Emma

Rebecca

Rob warming up by the fire...ha

The view (AHHH) from the top of the ferris wheel

watching some of the other kids on a ride

Jenna, Katie and Emma

tired baby girl and her Daddy

Rebecca (my oldest), Me and Sadie (the "baby")

Ho Ho H20!

cupcakes

Sadie LOVED this ride.

a picnic before taking the ride back to the condo

Ellie in her new bathing suit

I love the white mountains.

The church we attended while on vacation.

In line at DQ

Connor and Jenna at the Christmas Loft

Emma

Connor

Silly boy

We had a fabulous time on our vacation.  Can't wait to go back next year!