In the Storm

47 before I'm 48

Thought I'd recap my 47 before I'm 48 list. I am doing ok but I'm going to have to put a dent in some of these this summer to accomplish my list. Some of these things made it onto our summer activities list so hopefully that'll be a motivation. 

47 before 48

1. have a great first year of homeschool

2. swim 2 miles straight

3. read 52 new books

4. paint the guest room Done

5. decorate the guest room Almost there, just need wall decorations, curtains, and a side table and lamp. Still. And now it is messy because of the Great Room Change

6. learn how to use my Canon xTi in manual mode

7. grow tomatoes

8. grow herbs

9. grow jalapenos

10. finish my MBA Done!!!! Graduated with a 3.83 GPA!

11. lose 48 pounds On the road – lost 6 pounds

12. visit new Orleans  Done! We had a great time - but tiring!

13. start and finish Project 365 Started - Not doing very well. Hope to get back on track.

14. finish the Geer family recipe book

15. take a spiritual retreat once a month

16. go on a cruise Done!! Went to the Bahamas.

17. make gratitude journals with the boys

18. Meet my brother for lunch Meet Rich on the 25th of Feb for dinner after we visited the MOSH. He took us to a place called Soul Food Bistro which was amazing! Good to see him.

19. save for wood flooring

20. clean out attic

21. learn something new every week

22. make homemade laundry detergent

23. get a massage It’s not a massage but I completed physical therapy which helped immensely

24. go to the farmers market

25. go camping with family

26. go to the Tea Room with family or friends

27. make and send 10 surprise gifts 2 sent

28. teach and/or participate in 6 bible studies  In progress! Finished Precepts (Lamentations, Nehemiah, and Esther); and the Uncommon Woman

29. make a shadow box of Jeff’s military awards/decs

30. go on a dolphin hunting trip

31. watch my daughter graduate from air force basic training

32. visit the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta

33. build a Lego city with the boys with all the Legos the boys own

34. complete a walk, run, swim, 500-mile challenge with Jeff and the boys started; The boys are over 50 miles completed

35. Visit St Augustine

36. Drink more water than soda

37. Visit Washington D.C.

38. Make 30 new recipes (3 in January, 9 in February, 4 in March, 6 in April, and 4 in May) Only 4 more to go!!!

39. Complete a Week in The Life Challenge (Ali Edward’s prompt) I posted my pages on my blog

40. Complete One Little Word challenge  My word is GIVE

41. Make ‘word’ tags for Christmas tree (2011)

42. Begin making handmade Christmas gifts (2011)

43. Go on 12 field trips with John and Jarrod (for homeschool) 1 down (we visited the MOSH in Jacksonville)

44. Paint bedroom We have the paint color picked out but we painted the office/scraproom first and the little hallway.

45. Organize kitchen cabinets Organized the spice cabinet

46. Take a Big Picture Scrapbooking class (Maybe One Little Word!!) WOW! I’m taking the One Little Word class with Ali Edwards!

47. Keep track of this list 5 months complete!

I am also realizing that some of these things might just not get done. That's ok because I think it'll have been a good year anyway.

47 before I'm 48 - how am I doing?

47 before 48

1. have a great first year of homeschool So far sooo good!

2. swim 2 miles straight I’m up to a mile (almost straight); I’ll get there

3. read 52 new books

4. paint the guest room Done (Dec)

5. decorate the guest room Almost there, just need wall decorations, curtains, and a side table and lamp. Still (Jan)

6. learn how to use my Canon xTi in manual mode

7. grow tomatoes

8. grow herbs

9. grow jalapenos

10. finish my MBA Done!!!! Graduated with a 3.83 GPA! (Jan)

11. lose 48 pounds 6 pounds so far

12. visit new Orleans  Done! We had a great time - but tiring! (Jan)

13. start and finish Project 365 Started - doing ok, but not everyday - and that's ok too! (Update: this has stalled – that’s ok though – I’ll come back to it.)

14. finish the Geer family recipe book

15. take a spiritual retreat once a month

16. go on a cruise

17. make gratitude journals with the boys

18. Meet my brother for lunch Done! Meet Rich on the 25th for dinner after we visited the MOSH. He took us to a place called Soul Food Bistro which was amazing! Good to see him (Feb).

19. save for wood flooring

20. clean out attic In progress (Mar) - still!!! Gonna’ have to because we are moving John and Jarrod upstairs and my scraproom downstairs!!!

21. learn something new every week

22. make homemade laundry detergent

23. get a massage (No massage but I’ve been doing physical therapy 2x a week and it has worked wonders on my neck and upper back – awesome!)

24. go to the farmers market

25. go camping with family

26. go to the Tea Room with family or friends

27. make and send 10 surprise gifts 2 sent (Jan, Feb) I surprised my Mom with two movies from Amazon (the Big Easy and What's Up Doc) that she used to have but lost somehow - her favorites

28. teach and/or participate in 6 bible studies  In progress! Taking Precepts Esther; teaching (the Uncommon Woman); I began Becoming a Woman of Simplicity also

29. make a shadow box of Jeff’s military awards/decs

30. go on a dolphin hunting trip

31. watch my daughter graduate from air force basic training

32. visit the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta

33. build a Lego city with the boys with all the Legos the boys own

34. complete a walk, run, swim, 500-mile challenge with Jeff and the boys started; Jeff took the lead this morning; he runs 1 mile and walks 1 mile; Jarrod is now in a close second.

35. Visit St Augustine

36. Drink more water than soda

37. Visit Washington D.C.

38. Make 30 new recipes 16 down 14 to go (3 in Jan; 9 in Feb; 4 Mar.)

39. Complete a Week in The Life Challenge (Ali Edward’s prompt) Done! March; I documented it on my blog and with digital pages; I do plan on doing another Week in the Life in July)

40. Complete One Little Word challenge  My word is GIVE

41. Make ‘word’ tags for Christmas tree (2011)

42. Begin making handmade Christmas gifts (2011)

43. Go on 12 field trips with John and Jarrod (for homeschool) 1 down (we visited the MOSH in Jacksonville, Feb)

44. Paint bedroom

45. Organize kitchen cabinets Organized the spice cabinet; many more to go

46. Take a Big Picture Scrapbooking class (Maybe One Little Word!!) WOW! I’m taking the One Little Word class with Ali Edwards!

47. Keep track of this list  3 months in a row!

47 before I'm 48 - Revisited

47 before 48

1. have a great first year of homeschool

2. swim 2 miles straight

3. read 52 new books

4. paint the guest room Done (Dec)

5. decorate the guest room Almost there, just need wall decorations, curtains, and a side table and lamp. Still (Jan)

6. learn how to use my Canon xTi in manual mode

7. grow tomatoes

8. grow herbs

9. grow jalapenos

10. finish my MBA Done!!!! Graduated with a 3.83 GPA! (Jan)

11. lose 48 pounds

12. visit new Orleans  Done! We had a great time - but tiring! (Jan)

13. start and finish Project 365 Started - doing ok, but not everyday - and that's ok too!

14. finish the Geer family recipe book

15. take a spiritual retreat once a month

16. go on a cruise

17. make gratitude journals with the boys

18. Meet my brother for lunch Meet Rich on the 25th for dinner after we visited the MOSH. He took us to a place called Soul Food Bistro which was amazing! Good to see him (Feb).

19. save for wood flooring

20. clean out attic In progress (Feb) - still!!!

21. learn something new every week

22. make homemade laundry detergent

23. get a massage

24. go to the farmers market

25. go camping with family

26. go to the Tea Room with family or friends

27. make and send 10 surprise gifts 2 sent (Jan, Feb) I surprised my Mom with two movies from Amazon (the Big Easy and What's Up Doc) that she used to have but lost somehow - her favorites

28. teach and/or participate in 6 bible studies  In progress! Taking Precepts (Lamentations, Nehemiah, and Esther); teaching (the Uncommon Woman); I began Becoming a Woman of Simplicity also

29. make a shadow box of Jeff’s military awards/decs

30. go on a dolphin hunting trip

31. watch my daughter graduate from air force basic training

32. visit the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta

33. build a Lego city with the boys with all the Legos the boys own

34. complete a walk, run, swim, 500-mile challenge with Jeff and the boys started; Jeff took the lead this morning; he run 1 mile and walked 1 mile; I'm in a close second.

35. Visit St Augustine

36. Drink more water than soda

37. Visit Washington D.C.

38. Make 30 new recipes 12 down 18 to go (3 in Jan; 9 in Feb)

39. Complete a Week in The Life Challenge (Ali Edward’s prompt)

40. Complete One Little Word challenge  My word is GIVE

41. Make ‘word’ tags for Christmas tree (2011)

42. Begin making handmade Christmas gifts (2011)

43. Go on 12 field trips with John and Jarrod (for homeschool) 1 down (we visited the MOSH in Jacksonville, Feb)

44. Paint bedroom

45. Organize kitchen cabinets Organized the spice cabinet; many more to go

46. Take a Big Picture Scrapbooking class (Maybe One Little Word!!) WOW! I’m taking the One Little Word class with Ali Edwards!

47. Keep track of this list 2 months in a row!

So there is February. I noticed I've not gone a spiritual retreat each month. I really need to schedule that in. New recipes have been YUMMY! Homeschooling is awesome! The Georgia Boys and I looove it.

I Cook, I Shoot

A new recipe. Check. Project 365. Check. Giving my Georgia Boys healthier foods. Check.

Pam at For the Love of Cooking makes amazing sandwiches. On my quest to GIVE I decided to include giving my sons a healthier lunch - regularly. So I hit Pam’s blog of yummy, creative sandwiches and bought the first ingredients for several of her sandwiches when I visited the grocery store today. We made the first one this afternoon for our lunch. I also bought a larger variety of fruits, besides bananas, for the boys and me to eat. We had a wonderful, healthy lunch. Here’s what I made:

 
Turkey, Spinach, Swiss Wrap Sandwich

3 Spinach and Garlic tortilla wraps

12 slices of very thin deli turkey

5 slices of very thin Swiss cheese

3 T Chive and Onion cream cheese

3 individual size packages of dried cranberries

½ C. baby spinach

Spread each tortilla with the chive and onion cream cheese then layer the turkey, Swiss cheese, baby spinach and dried cranberries. Wrap up the tortilla. Cut in half. Serve with ½ C. of red grapes.

 

The flavors in this sandwich were awesome. I heard nothing but yummy noises from the boys while they chowed.

47 before I'm 48 - How am I doing?

47 before 48

1. have a great first year of homeschool

2. swim 2 miles straight

3. read 52 new books

4. paint the guest room Done

5. decorate the guest room Almost there, just need wall decorations, curtains, and a side table and lamp.

6. learn how to use my Canon xTi in manual mode

7. grow tomatoes

8. grow herbs

9. grow jalapenos

10. finish my MBA Done!!!! Graduated with a 3.83 GPA!

11. lose 48 pounds

12. visit new Orleans  Done! We had a great time - but tiring!

13. start and finish Project 365 Started - doing ok, but not everyday - and that's ok too!

14. finish the Geer family recipe book

15. take a spiritual retreat once a month

16. go on a cruise

17. make gratitude journals with the boys

18. Meet my brother for lunch

19. save for wood flooring

20. clean out attic

21. learn something new every week

22. make homemade laundry detergent

23. get a massage

24. go to the farmers market

25. go camping with family

26. go to the Tea Room with family or friends

27. make and send 10 surprise gifts 1 sent

28. teach and/or participate in 6 bible studies  In progress! Taking Precepts (Lamentations, Nehemiah, and Esther); teaching (the Uncommon Woman)

29. make a shadow box of Jeff’s military awards/decs

30. go on a dolphin hunting trip

31. watch my daughter graduate from air force basic training

32. visit the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta

33. build a Lego city with the boys with all the Legos the boys own

34. complete a walk, run, swim, 500-mile challenge with Jeff and the boys started; 6 miles down

35. Visit St Augustine

36. Drink more water than soda

37. Visit Washington D.C.

38. Make 30 new recipes 3 down 27 to go

39. Complete a Week in The Life Challenge (Ali Edward’s prompt)

40. Complete One Little Word challenge  My word is GIVE

41. Make ‘word’ tags for Christmas tree (2011)

42. Begin making handmade Christmas gifts (2011)

43. Go on 12 field trips with John and Jarrod (for homeschool)

44. Paint bedroom

45. Organize kitchen cabinets

46. Take a Big Picture Scrapbooking class (Maybe One Little Word!!) WOW! I’m taking the One Little Word class with Ali Edwards!

47. Keep track of this list

So that's where I'm at. Many months to go. I have plans to strike a couple more off my list in February. I am definitely going to do this again. I will re-visit my list and how I'm doing the end of February so LIST see you then.

I Cook and Day 16

 
Day 16 - Two new recipes for my "47 before I'm 48" challenge; Day 16 of my Project 365 challenge. And again according to the Georgia Boys, "A keeper!!" I loved this Philly Cheese Steak. This will probably be my go-to philly cheese steak recipe - so easy because of the crock-pot. The oven fries were spicey and sweet

Another Philly Cheese Steak

 

2-3 lb beef chuck roast

1 bottle Zesty Italian Dressing

2 Tablespoons Butter

1 whole Small Onion, halved and half moons

1 whole Small Green Bell Pepper, sliced

4 whole Hoagie Buns, Split

1 C. Shredded Monterey Jack cheese

 

Combine roast beef and Italian dressing in a crockpot. Cook 8 hours. Shred the beef. Preheat a 350 degree broil oven. In a skillet, melt butter; add sliced onions and peppers, saute until translucent. Split hoagies and place on cookie sheet. Top with roast beef, onions and peppers. Sprinkle Monterey Jack cheese. Broil till golden brown and cheese is melted. Enjoy!

 

Oven Roasted BBQ Fries

 

6 small Russet potatoes
1/4 cup Canola or peanut oil
½ tsp. smoked paprika

½ tsp. garlic powder

½ tsp. onion powder

½ tsp. black pepper

½ tsp. cayenne pepper

½ tsp. chipotle chili powder

2 T. brown sugar 

Preheat your oven to 375º. Wash the potatoes, and dry them with paper towels. Cut each potato in half lengthwise, then cut each half lengthwise into three equal wedges, and put them in a large plastic ziploc bag. Add the oil and the spices. Toss to coat all the potatoes
Pour the potatoes (and all the spiced oil) onto a cookie sheet. Arrange them so that each wedge is sitting on the skin side (cut sides up). Bake for 45 minutes, until the fries are golden brown and crispy.

Serve and enjoy!

I Cook and Day 15

 
Day 15 - We had a new recipe on Saturday. As part of my "47 before I'm 48" challenge I want to make 30 new recipes. Here is number 1 'new recipe'. According to the boys, "It's a keeper!"

Roasted Veggies with Smoked Sausage & Penne

2 whole Yellow Squash

2 whole Zucchini

1 whole Red Bell Pepper

1 whole Green Pepper

2 pound Smoked Sausage

1 teaspoon Ground Sage

1 teaspoon Ground Oregano

1 teaspoon Ground Italian

Salt And Pepper, to taste

2 T. extra virgin olive oil

2 cups Cooked Penne Pasta

Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese (about ½ C - ¾ C.)

Chop veggies into chunks. Slice Smoked Sausage into 1/4 inch rounds. Place cut veggies and sausage in a bowl. Sprinkle herbs and spices over veggies and sausage. Sprinkle with the good dose of extra virgin olive oil and give the whole thing a good toss. Place in a 9×13 pan or rimmed cookie sheet and put in a 350 degree preheated oven and let it roast for 35-40 minutes, stirring a few times throughout the cooking process. When veggies are nicely roasted and the sausage has crisped a bit, remove from the oven. Mix in the COOKED penne pasta and toss. Add a little more olive oil, if desired. Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese.