On The Menu

First, a big shout out to Pinterest, Budgetsavvydiva.com,  and Allrecipies.com for kicking my butt into gear to try new recipies...

How many of you have your 'go-to' recipies that you always cook and are comfortable making? Yea -- that's me! To be honest with you (sorry honey) I'm so sick of the same ol' chicken -- so I'm spicing it up a bit!  Grilled chicken, baked chicken, pan fried chicken. UGH!  He's always up my rear end about cooking fish, so, we bought fish, expensive fish.  I found a recipe and he better like it! I found some new chicken recipes that I can't wait to try and a croc pot mac and cheese which I'm so excited to make today because its rainy and gross! Of course it's not healthy and not up to snuff with the mr. but ya know what?!  I want it!

On the menu this week is :

Miso Salmon
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/miso-salmon/detail.aspx

Grilled Chicken Ceasar Tenders
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/garlic-caesar-chicken-tenders/detail.aspx

Croc Pot Mac & Cheese
http://www.budgetsavvydiva.com/2012/03/crock-pot-macaroni-cheese/

Honey Chicken Kabobs
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/yummy-honey-chicken-kabobs/detail.aspx

(Yes, I realize that it's only 4 meals, but Todd's gone 1 night and I'm sure we'll figure the rest out -- these were just new recipes I wanted to try.  Going to try and do at least 2-3 new ones a week)

Meal Planning? I'm not sure how I feel about it.  I have a friend who did it, not sure if she still does, but with the fire house life sometimes it's nice having one less thing to worry about. Sometimes I just like to be spontaneous.  So I pledge to eat healthier and plan meals so we don't resort to the same old same old boring recipes.  And with the nice weather already being here, I already notice a trend during the week and it begins with grill.  Grilled chicken, kielbasa, hot dogs and burgers.  We got into a routine with it and we can still do it, just got to spice it up a bit.

Well, now that I'm starving, I'm going to go make my boring peanut butter & jelly sandwich...

Happy Sunday All :)

Barking Up The Right Tree!

While reading a friends Paleo blog (are you nuts?! I love bread too much! Good for you), I stumbled upon one with home made dog collars and leashes. With my 'Sail Creations' inspired mind and some pretty cool fabrics in mind, a lot of doggie friends.... Watch out world! Meri has another idea!

My parents always had nice collars for the pups and they all seemed to match their personality. Then my mother started calling them clothes. And talking to the dogs saying, where's your clothes!

So, why not make nautical themed (others too!) collars, leashes and maybe even dog beds! Ok - kitty beds too :)

Someone please tell me if I'm going nuts or if this ones for the dogs!

A Fathers Love

The death of a great man, Howie Doliber, has inspired this post...

Don't get me wrong, ones relationship with their mother is untouchable.  She is the disciplinary one, the outline of life, a teacher, a role model, and most of all your mother.  She gave birth to you and grew you from day one inside.  She helps shape you as a person and teaches you right from wrong.  But there is someone else, almost the unsung hero.

Dad.

A few days ago, a wife and four wonderful children lost their father.  They stood strong at the wake as the back bone for their Mother.  Each of them had a different story as we passed and expressed our condolences.  But as I looked at all of the pictures through-out the funeral home I realized that the relationship, the bond, the love between a Father and his child is so great, powerful, and unspoken.

As I spoke to my Dad today, it came to my mind that I never tell him how much I love him. One day he will be gone and I will have to stand there and be strong for my Mom.  Yes, I will always kiss my mother goodbye, call her on the phone, or say I love you -- that will always be.  No matter the conversation, argument, or just random conversation.  But with Dad -- it's like we have osmosis. It's unspoken but the love is so great. 

We share a love of Football, Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Buffett -- although we've BOTH never been to a concert, Baseball, sailing, family, and many more.  There have been the occasional time where I've done something stupid and with out saying a word, he would ask me to do something around the house and I knew automatically that I was being punished.  I will call and just by hearing my voice he'll know something is wrong or I'm in a great mood.  We both know by the raise in an eyebrow to get the heck out of the kitchen.  He helps me when I need things and I help him.  He has taught me the skills in life that I will need someday when we own a house.  Yes -- I know how to change a light bulb and even replace the kitchen floor.  He has pushed me in a way to grow as a person that I will never be able to repay. When we stood in the room before my wedding and he said, 'I don't want to see you cry, don't look at me and we'll make it down the isle together' - that's love.   It's a relationship I am beginning to understand.  It's the relationship that I see now with Todd & Jacob.  It's indescribable. 

In life we all have different roles.  If you are a parent then you get it.  If you are an expectant parent, make sure you stop and look at the things developing around you.  If you have lost a parent, stop, look to the sky and say, 'I love you Mom/Dad. 

You don't know what you've got till it's gone.

That being said.  Dad, I love you.  Thank you for all that you've taught me.  Thank you for helping Mom shape me into the person that I am today.  Thank you for being there when I need you.  Although I may not give you lots of hugs or kiss you good-bye, you will always be my Dad and I'm glad to have you.  You mean the world to me and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

So we'll continue touching index fingers and I'll know what you really mean.