Is That a Pepper in Your Pocket or Are You Just Happy to See Me?

The Fiancee and I recently had a night out, we went to as restaurant that specializes in spicy food...some of it is crazy hot. Which is good with us, we don't mind a little kick to our food. We are not eating ghost peppers or anything but we don't mind our food to be a little sassy.

One of my favorite spice blends is Caribbean Jerk...at least it was until the other night. 

After two bites my mouth was burning.

Half way through the meal my eyes were watering.

By the last bite my cheeks were flushed and my mouth was on fire.

At first I thought it was because they make their Caribbean Jerk spices hotter than normal but The Fiancee took a bite and didn't think it was hot as I did.

Then I thought the reason it burned my mouth was because I am getting older and strange things happen when you are getting older. 

Some times your knees creak when you get up, and your hair isn't as thick as it use to be and for me I guess I can't eat spicy foods like I did when I was younger. 

I have two options; I can either stock up on cottage cheese or I can just suffer the side effects and eat spicy foods.

I love spicy foods and I hate cottage cheese....spicy foods it is.

Rules for Menu Weekly Planning

The other day my sister asked how I menu planned. I always have a plan and don't stress the nightly question...what's for dinner?

I try and menu plan a week in advance but have recently challenged myself to do 2 weeks at a time.  I have a hard time shopping for two weeks, I always end up going back to the store for something I forgot, today I forgot the frozen spinach. It was on my list and everything. I have considered planning the menu then shopping for the first week one day and the next week another day but I really want to just go to the store once for the two weeks. I am working on it.

I believe its important to keep dinner simple but yummy not just for your self but to get the kids to eat. I have a couple rules I try and follow to keep my cost down and to make it easier for me and everyone involved. It doesn't matter if it's for 1 week or 2 these rules work for us.

I didn't just wake up one day and immediately had a plan that worked for my family. I had to experiment and and tried different things until I found what works for us best. These rules may not work for your family but hopefully it will give you a place to start when developing your own plan.

The Rules

1. Once a week we have a vegetarian meal - The Fiancee (formerly The BF) is not always a fan of this night but is a good sport and eats whatever I prepare.
2. At least one crockpot night - sometimes we have three or 4 of them but I love my crockpots.
3. One new recipe - sometimes no one likes the new recipe but we tried it.
4. Tuesday's are the night the "pseudo" step-son cooks so that is kid friendly easy dinner night 
5. One family favorite - yummy dinner night; taco soup, hamburger soup, spaghetti, tomato soup, taco 
6. One pot meal - I like to do this a couple nights a week.

So those are the rules I use to decide whats for dinner but where do I get the recipes. Like a lot of people I get them from my pinterst board but before I start looking for recipes I go through the pantry and freezer to see what I have on hand. I try to stock up on sale items we use a lot and I never buy meat unless its on sale.

After I figure out what I have I then find recipes from pinterst, cookbooks, websites or the ones I just know because I have been cooking them for 15 years.

The Menu

• Monday: Corn Chowder (rule 1)
• Tuesday: Pineapple Chicken and Rice, Vegetables (rule 4)
• Wednesday: Creamy Ranch Pork Chops, Potatoes, Carrots (rule 5)
• Thursday: Hamburger Stew (rule 2)
• Friday: Turkey Stir Fry and Rice (rule 3)
• Saturday: Tacos, Chips (rule 2)
• Sunday: Turkey Noodle Soup (rule 6)
• Monday: Meatball Sliders, Vegetables (rule 3)
• Tuesday: Pigs in a Blanket, Mac n' Cheese, Beans (rule 4)
  
• Wednesday: Enchiladas, Rice, Vegetables (rule 5)
• Thursday: Italian "Wonderpot" (rule 1)
• Friday: Tomato Soup, Grilled Cheese (rule 2)
• Saturday: Quesdillas (rule 6)
• Sunday: Sub Sandwiches (we are actually eating out this night)

That is what we are having for dinner for the next two weeks. 

Bonus Tip: Be flexible if you are having one of those days were you want to run screaming into the night...pick up pizza on your way home. You can always have that nights dinner the following week.

Are You Being Poisoned?

Since its a new year I figure it is time to get rid of the bad in our life.

There are many ways yo be poisoned.

1. You could ingest toxic chemicals. 
2. You could be bitten by a venomous spider or snake. 
3. You could be eating foods that are slowly poisoning you. 
4. You could have people in your life that are not good for you.

The last one is what I will be my topic today. Are the people in your life poisoning you?

There are several times of "bad for you people":

1. The first is the everything is the "anti-silver lining": No matter what happen its always bad. They get a promotion, they hate their job. They go on vacation but only talk about the dirty house they came home to. They get 97% on a test, it's not 100%. They find the one rain drop in the sky and its now a monsoon.
2. Next comes "the my life is better". Congratulations you got engaged but your story isn't very romantic is it? Mine on the other hand was wildly romantic and better than any other story ever.
3. My favorite is the "fun sucker": Similar to the anti-silver lining person, this person has the uncanny ability to take the most awesome amazing moment and drain every ounce of joy right out of it.

It's not always easy to get this people out of your life especially when they are coworkers and family but you

can limit your exposure to them as much as possible. Having people like this in your daily life will put a strain on your mental, emotional and physical health.

I am  not advocating you go around only looking at puppies and rainbows...sometimes life is hard and sad but these people make it worse with their unsupportive and negative attitude.

Instead you should surround yourself with the following 4 types of people:

1. The Helper: Protects you when you are vulnerable, and likewise your wealth, being a refuge when you are afraid, and in various tasks providing double what is requested.
2. The Enduring Friend: Telling you secrets, guarding your own secrets closely, not abandoning you in misfortune, and even dying for you.
3. The Mentor: Restraining you from wrongdoing, guiding you towards good actions, telling you what you ought to know, and showing you the path to productive life.
4. The Compassionate Friend: Not rejoicing in your misfortune, delighting in your good fortune, preventing others from speaking ill of you, and encouraging others who praise your good qualities.

In addition to surrounding yourself with these people you should also become them to the different people in your life. 

Who in your life can you be The Helper? The Enduring Friend? The Mentor? The Compassionate Friend?

Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014

Before I say hello to the new year I thought it would be fun to review some of the most memorable memories of 2013.

According to Facebook:

1. Going to see Les Miserables with friends: it was for The Ex-Wive/Friend's b-day, she cried like a baby.
2. Making the following family rule that we don't always follow but we try: I made a new family rule, from the time I get home from work until after dinner no tv no computer and no cell phones. Everyone seemed to handle it well except me....I was freaking out that I couldn't check my phone.
3. Celebrating my puppies 10th birthday. 
4. This status: Tonight I had strawberry shortcake for dinner....it was my mothers day gift to myself
5. Admitting I graduate high school 20 years ago.
6. The loss of a dear friend.
7. My 38th birthday and the 38 cupcakes my sister made me. 
   
8. Candy making with the family.
9. My Engagement. 

And the most popular post from 2013:

1. I Am a Lazy Cook Part 2...Or More Freezer Meals.
2. Casserole Freezer Meals ...The Not So Lazy Freezer Meals
3. He Put a Ring On It
4. Stocking, Garters and Corsets...Oh My
5. Christmas Bookmarkers

My favorite moment was The Fiancee's (then The BF's) surprise proposal. Can I say I am still in shock about it.

Okay on to 2014.

I don't like resolutions but I love setting goals and I only have one big one for the new year. I want to learn to sew...yup I am shocking everyone by becoming more and more domestic.I just want to make a nice simple quilt for The BF The Fiancee and I.  Do you think I can do that in 365 days?

What are your favorite memories form 2013?

What are your 2014 goals?

He Put A Ring On It - My Engagement Story

If you follow me on Facebook than you know that The BF completely surprised me by proposing over the weekend and I said yes (like I was going to say anything else). Since I share all my other stories with you: how we met, our weird conversations, our "disagreements', the time line of our courtship...I guess I should share our engagement story also.

When I say completely surprise me, I am not kidding. I had no idea it was coming...that doesn't mean I haven't dropped hints or told him this is how you should do it and this is the ring I want. You know the normal stuff but I didn't think it would be this weekend or this year or even this decade.

Its not easy to surprise me, mostly because I am a great big control freak and I plan out a lot of our lives. I even tell him what to get me as gifts for my birthday and Christmas. He has learned to stick to the list. Its never good to deviate from the list or what I have planned.

To be honest I hate surprises...I hate them so much I once planned my own surprise party. I am not kidding. So you can see what a feat it is to catch me unaware but that is exactly what The BF did yesterday morning.

The day started innocent enough...we had a lot of things happening. The BF had to work early, then a family party at my mom's and then later a family party at The BF's family. Lots to do and we were on a schedule (did I mention I like planning everything).

After The BF returned from work he jumped in the shower and I was putting my makeup on while sitting on our bed watching a rerun of The Pioneer Women's cooking show on Food Network (I love her show, blog and books). Just as The Pioneer Women starts sharing her wisdom on keeping the romance alive in your relationship, The BF walks over to me partially dressed and starts kissing me and telling me that he loves me.

I thought he was being silly after all romance was the topic on TV. I kissed him back asserted my return affection but told him we need to get moving. When out of the blue he drops down on one knee next to the bed.

Then he opens his hand, he was holding a ring, places his hand on the bed and asks me to marry him.

I was stunned, shocked and in disbelieve.  I asked are serious and he smiled and said yes. I asked like really serious, change your Facebook status tell everyone serious. He said yes...and so I said yes. Like I said I was shocked and completely caught off guard. Luckily I had just painted my nails....even if I had painted them black.


He says he has been thinking about how to ask me for month and just decided to do it....he does keep me on my toes.

And that is how I got engaged while watching The Pioneer Women, with no makeup on and The BF was not fully dressed...I guess I need to start calling him The Fiancee from this day forward...until The day I get to call him The Husband anyway.

Now I need to answer the question, do I want to be a Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter bride?