HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

I hope everyone had a GREAT weekend. I have been so busy trying to get ALL the little projects done before we leave on our anniversary trip that the ENTIRE week got away from me before I had a chance to visit with everyone.  I will be better this week!

We are using a "dog sitter" for the first time instead of kenneling the kids.  She came highly recommended by many of the neighbors, but I still have a bit of trepidation in using her. One of the neighbors (who is a perfectly nice woman) BUT is also a "GLADYS KRAVITZ" (you know the extremely nosy, frequently peeking through her curtains type) and a good friend of the dog sitter. I really don't want her in our home when we are not here and have expressed that in a diplomatic way to the sitter... Our own Gladys Kravitz has gone so far as to tell the sitter to tell us how a few things need to happen.  I'm pissed off and annoyed, but also NEED to get away for a few days so will just pray that the sitter respects our wishes and keeps her friend out by going there if they want to socialize.  I'm also not sure how the animals will react to too many strangers in the house when we're not here.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
We had some wonderfully vibrant and loud thunder and lightning storms with quite a bit of rain over the weekend and are expecting more today and through the week, but for now it is just gray and ugly though a bit cooler so am thankful for that.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
Homemade waffles and Coffee - I made waffles yesterday and froze the extras for the toaster on weekday mornings.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
I'm fairly pleased with all that we got done last week and that I was able to keep it picked up and cleaned as we went.  I do have another pile that will load the back of the SUV for donation later this morning.

WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS

• Monday & Tuesday
  
• Wednesday & Thursday 
  
• Friday - Lazy day and Lunch with my oldest and dearest friend on our way home at Jack Allen's Kitchen
• Saturday - Nascar
• Sunday - NFL

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR

• finishing - No More Wasted Time by Beverly Preston
• will start - Diabolical by Jana DeLeon

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
I tried the planned new recipes last week from Count Me In The Houston Fire Department's Hottest chefs share their sizzling secrets.  I haven't had a chance to get the recipes up yet, but was quite happy with most of what I tried!  I will get them up next week.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
BREAKFAST	YOGURT & FRUIT	SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE	OUT	OUT	OUT	BACON & WAFFLES	QUICHE
LUNCH	FRUIT & CHEESE	SOUP & CRACKERS	OUT	OUT	OUT	LEFTOVERS	SANDWICHES
DINNER	C.O.R.N	C.O.R.N	OUT.	OUT	OUT	MEATLOAF	PORK CHOPS
DESSERT

SUCCESSFUL RECIPES and their links FROM LAST WEEK

• PAN SEARED CHICKEN with GREEN CHILE LIME GRAVY

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

• ANNIVERSARY trip this week.  First time we will get away for a LONG time! We are really looking forward to it.
• Daily completion of projects.  It's the little finishing work projects that seem to take the longest!

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.