It’s going to be a long week waiting for the holiday weekend that’s coming. Like waiting for water to boil, watching it will make it seem longer, and I don’t know that I can help myself from counting the seconds. This weekend went by altogether too quickly, and I’m anxious to get a new one underway, even before today is over. Yep. I’m doomed. I’ve been spending a lot of time in my gardens (and showcasing random flowers here), and Ole’s been working on... more

I’m looking to get back into a routine with meals this week. Last week was anything but routine; therefore, the “menu” was revised slightly drastically. It resulted in an impromptu trip to a restaurant where someone other than me did the dishes. That alone was worth it that day, and we made it through the meal without a single grimace or hint of a whine from the kids. We also haven’t been to the grocery store, leaving the supermarket aisles free of the chaos that ensues... more

It’s May! Where did April go? I remember when I was planning for our snowboarding trip the first weekend of April, and now here we are in May, already preparing for summer. This has been a busy weekend full of gardening, baby births (welcome, Baby Wales!), bridal showers and benefit concerts. I have barely had a moment to think, but I did get my herbs planted, and Ole got our new garden area finished. Now it’s time to fill and plant. Tuesday is Cinco de Mayo, and we’ll be... more

Weather affected my gardening plans, and my herb garden is now sitting in pieces in the garage. It is sad and raining outside for the second weekend in a row. The long and short of it is that it’s not going to happen until sometime this week, but it’s going to happen. I bought a new cookbook yesterday, Fine Cooking Fresh: 350 Recipes that Celebrate the Seasons. I was inspired by the book club over at Simple Mom, where they’re reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.... more

Ole’s gone this week until Thursday at a conference for work, so I’ll be utilizing a few make-ahead meals that I’ve been stockpiling. Our local supermarket also has a great deal on grillables (read: steak, steak and more steak in the form of a whole beef tenderloin). So, right before he comes back, I’ll be going to stock up on those. We can actually walk there, and I’m guessing I may need a few walks with the kids to keep me sane this week. Monday – cornbread dressing... more

We’re back from our North Shore of Lake Superior adventure. Bags are being unpacked, clothes washed, snowboards and snow pants are being stored until next winter. We haven’t had much time to plan, but we did come up with a menu focused on clearing out the freezer. We’ll be making our weekly trip to the grocery store tomorrow. Right now, I have to figure out where I packed my face wash so I can crawl in bed and close my eyes before the new week begins. Monday: Chicken pasta salad,... more

In my opinion, planning a menu and finding a system that works for you is an entirely personal function. What works for one family or one individual may be entirely different from what works for another individual in the same type of situation. Personality types, budget, seasonal foods, work and play schedules, grocery shopping trips and more can all play a factor in what works for you. If you only grocery shop on a specific day of the week or once every two weeks, you may need some flexibility... more