Meal Planning TWEETS!

Last week was a huge success. I'm looking forward to our continued meal planning as it has cut out a lot of unnecessary spending and fast food purchases. Today I made my way to the grocery store and surprisingly had a smaller grocery bill as well. Here is what's on our menu for this week as we are using many items from our last week's purchase.

M: Eat on own; Ray's BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) at church
T: pork tacos with corn relish (did not eat from last week)
W: Turkey Burgers with sweet potato fries and dessert to follow at ABF Bible Study
Th: Cheesy Chicken Pasta
F: Leftovers
S: Pizza: Ladies Night

Excited for another week of meal planning and having a more cost effective budget. What is on your menu this week?

Colorful Infinities!

I love that one of my mom's favorite hobbies is to make these beautiful infinity scarves. She finds the most beautiful color combinations that make any outfit look super cute. But more importantly it's like a security blanket that I keep close even though hundreds of miles do stand between us. It's nice to have a little piece of her that I carry with me. Thank you mama for these colorful infinities! I'm excited to see what new colors may find me next;)

My Shopping Drama

Well I have to be honest. I am not a Shopaholic. I do not suffer from the spending blues or really know much about it. Don't get me wrong. I love looking at clothes and wish I had this or that. But I've never been someone who is familiar with the latest trends or has an abundance of clothing. I go to my few select stores and find an item of clothing every now and then.... but I'm really looking to expand my wardrobe. I'm kind of in between sizes and am looking for things that are nice but comfortable. I am allergic to a ton of different fabrics which make clothes buying a bit of a challenge. Cotton is my best friend and enemy. It shrinks, gets holes, and really doesn't last as long as some of the nicer pieces but oh I love the feel of softness and the plain comfort of cotton. Anyway I was just wondering... what are some of your favorite stores? Where do you find your jeans or work pants? Those seem to be one of the biggest challenges I'm facing these days. I need some stretch. Ha! Anyway looking forward to slowly expanding the wardrobe and making a style of my own... inexpensive, comfortable, and classy:)

Room by Room

I love being a home owner. I would gladly trade the 650 square foot apartment for our house any day. But with great space comes great responsibility.With that being said, I have to say with the craziness that is life... we have kind of let certain areas go. Last week during my Monday off, I decided it was time to get my hands dirty. I mean really dirty. Our pantry has been a place of costly frustration. We have spend unnecessary amounts of money on items we already had but just couldn't find. I decided project productivity was a must. Here is a video (excuse my voice) to Ray showing him the mess that I created. Enjoy!


After realizing the mess that I had created, I threw a small pity party for myself. Once I emptied all pieces from the pantry it was sure an easier task. We do have a lot of great space here. I hope this will help our little family to stay clean and organized. And this video will be a great reminder why we should NEVER let it get this bad again.

On this Saturday, we are "enjoying" a Zellner work day in the casa. Who's idea was this again? Oh that's right... mine sadly. While I feel we tried to take on a bit too much in a short time period, I do feel that we were pretty successful. My goal was our closet, bathroom, and bedroom while Ray made delicious crescent roll and turkey sausage gravy biscuits. He then mastered the kitchen and living room. We are still not finished as I would love to tackle the laundry room and garage. Those can wait for another day. I'm still in denial about unpacking the upstairs. I figure that can wait until the summer. If we haven't used it yet, is it really necessary?!? I'm sure more will be updated as we go ROOM by ROOM in our quest to fill our house. Wishing you a productive Saturday!

  Before

After

I Have a Dream!

The topic of dreams have filled my classroom for the past week. With the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday right around the corner, my first grade classroom dove head first into the importance of having dreams and changing the world. I was so proud of my kiddos that I wanted to share their dreams with you. From the mouth of first graders...

I have a dream...

 I will do my best. I will be healthy.

No more wars.

So kids dont get stolen.

 About keeping the earth clean.

no sickness.

That everyone will be treated fairly.

That we all clean the environment.

 That everyone would work together.
No more bad guys.
That nobody will litter and treat others how you want to be treated.

  So thankful for kiddos and for their dreams!

Fuzzy Wuzzy

 Fuzzy Wuzzy was a Bear!

On Sunday, I enjoyed a wonderful afternoon with this sweet bear and his mama.What a special day with this little Fuzzy Wuzzy, catching up with my dear friend, and enjoying a beautiful Sunday outside.

A Special TWEET!

This week after making this cute little dessert banner, I decided that I too would jump on the meal planning bandwagon. Shouldn't all meals be a special TWEET?!? I am also looking forward to this weekly post holding us accountable to eating healthy meals at home and maybe cutting out a bit of the unnecessary fast food runs. So here we go!

M: Chicken Sandwich and pretzels

T: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup with fresh veggies (or canned based on what we have:) fresh is best but let's be real, sometimes canned is cheaper for the week

W: Freebirds: Engage Dinner at the church; dessert to follow at the Hjertstedts during ABF small group

Th: Crock pot pork sandwiches, fruit, pita chips

F: Chicken and chorizo paella (see 5 course meal menu) with fruit and raspberry sorbet

S: Street Tacos (chicken) with corn relish

What special TWEET's will you and your family be having this week?

Afternoon Tea!

This afternoon, I enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea with several sweet friends from my ABF at the Chocolate Angel.

Our afternoon was super sweet.

 

 

 Thank you Anna for setting up our sweet afternoon ladies tea.

5 Course Meal

  

For months, the husband and our good friend, Dustin, have discussed putting together a double date dinner with a delicious 5 course meal for the four of us.

 

This Friday, Paige and I were spoiled with an assortment of Spanish inspired delicacies. 

Our menu included...

Goat Cheese and Roasted Beet Stack with Creme Fraiche

  
Soup

Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Corn Relish

Grilled Pineapple with Maple Syrup

Salad
Golden Beet and Jicama Salad with a Lime-Chili Vinaigrette

Pallet Cleanser
Raspberry Champagne

 Pasta
Chicken and Chorizo Paella

 Tequila Infused Watermelon with Cotija Cheese and Mint

 Entree

Beef or Chicken Carpaccio with a Red Pepper Foam on a bed of Polenta

Dessert
Sopapillas with a Shot of Flan

 What a fun and delicious night with friends. Here is the aftermath... but all worth it.

The pups were able to help with the clean up as well. Thank you to two amazing chefs who sure know how to spoil these ladies. We will gladly be your taste testers any day.

January Facebook

This blog post is Facebook inspired. So here are some fun January updates.
... Ray and I enjoyed a Top Chef inspired Christmas gift and dinner for two.
... I shared a bible verse on January 4th: 1 Corinthians 13 ESV: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; It is not irritable or restful.
... The husband and I cheered on our winning team at Kelly's with two fabulous ABF friends.
... Ready for a great church service, an errand or two, a little cleaning, and a lazy Sunday before my return to school tomorrow. Happy Sunday!
... I finally cut my hair after a 5 month hiatus.
... 5AM will come very early tomorrow. Good night and a great first day back for my teacher friends.
... Has enjoyed a great two days with my kiddos! Looking forward to another! Then it's a date night with my college roommate, Daniela. Excited to enjoy a great dinner date with my old roommate! Love this opportunity to spend together!
... On January 12th, I loved receiving a package with our Zellner family photos in it. So thankful for Gabby Malcuit Photography.
... Ray and I dinned with his office at Pappasitos for a celebratory New Years dinner.
... Better late than never! Running behind a little this morning but so enjoyed staying in a warm bed! Now off to church, a meeting, and then back at home for some extended laziness.
... The husband and I enjoyed our monthly brunch with our college crew.
... On Monday, I met up with my sweet high school bestie for dinner at Fireside Pies.
... It's snowing! I would so rather be home making a snowman!
... On January 16th, with about 100 children in first grade I think it's about time... time to say NO to cupcakes! Or at least be super picky!
... A good friend Paige and I were spoiled by our two main men as they cooked a beautiful 5 course meal for us.

What did your January look like?

There's No Day Like SNOW Day!

Zellner Family Christmas Photos

 The moon is right,
the spirit's up.

 

We're here tonight,

and that's enough.

Simply having a wonderful Christmas time.

Simply having a wonderful Christmas time.

 The party's on,

The feeling's here.

 That only comes,

Once a year.

 

 Simply having a wonderful Christmas time.

 Simply having a wonderful Christmas time.

The choir of children sing their song.

Ding dong. Ding dong.

Ding dong, ding oh oh

 

 Simply having a wonderful Christmas time.

 Simply having a wonderful Christmas time.

 The word is out,
About the town.

To lift a glass,

Ah, don't look down.

 

Simply having a wonderful Christmas time.

 Simply having a wonderful Christmas time.

As one of Ray's favorite Christmas tunes, a wishing of holiday cheer sprung into my mailbox when I received his package a few days ago. It was a CD of our Zellner family Christmas photos. These are many (I know I liked a lot) of my favorites!  While I fully knew that rain would burst from the clouds at any moment, I have to say our pictures turned out so well. Thank you Gabby Malcuit Photography for capturing these special moments on a dreary gray day but it sure was filled with lots of love and Zellner eye brow raises!