Menu Thursday

I can tell by my menu that fall is in the air and who doesn't love the fall.

Especially Fall cooking.

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Crockpot Balsamic Pot Roast.

Can't wait to try this out

Taco Chicken Bowls 

These are super good.

The Best Chili 

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Navajo Taco

Made with left over chili.

Sweet Buffalo Chicken

BLT's 

Still have some garden tomatoes.

Bonus 
How to make Bread

Schultuete

My brother and his family just moved to Germany.

When I say just I mean like 3 weeks ago.

Right after they left I found out about the Schultuete (school cones).

Thank you pinterest.

They're a German back to school tradition that started in the 1800's.

Its basically a cone filled with school items.  Germany's make huge ones with

first day of school outfits, pens, markers, anything you could need for school really.

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I new right away that I wanted to make some for my brothers kids heading off to a new school 

in a new country.  He only has 2 in school full time right now but I decided not to leave out the

little ones and made one for each.

Since I didn't have a lot of time on my hands and I wanted the schultues 

to reach them before they started school.  I used mostly what I had on hand.

I ran to Targets dollar spot it get the school supplies.

I also sent some Chic Fa La sauce for my brother and his wife.

Who doesn't love this sauce?

If you want to find out more about this fun back to school tradition go here.

If you want to find out how to make your own go here.

Parent Preview

First off I want to take a moment to remember what happened 12 years ago.

I pray we never forget.

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My Tuba playing Dallin, had his parent preview last night for his field show.

I love watching my kids doing what they love.

Davis High was established in 1914, so this graduating class will be the 100th.

With this in mind the show represents what was happening in 1914 and the next few years after.

Europe has just gone to war and America is safely out of it,

but as the show progresses America can no longer ignore what is happening overseas.

The show ends with 3 trumpets playing as the rest off the band marches off the field in silence, as if off to war.  Not going to lie it was moving, especially with the next day being 9/11.

I can't wait to see how it grows over the Field Show season.

Good luck Davis High Marching Band.

3 lessons I have learned at Target.

I have had a few Oprah style Ah ha moments at Target.

May be I spend to much time there?

Who's to say, right and come on it's Target and when Lauren was still

a wee lil lase she found a good luck penny that made her day.

Here are my 3 life lessons I am so glad that I learned at Target.

1. A child was throwing the biggest fit in the clothes department.

I heard 2 older women complain loudly that there children would never act

like that in a store.  ( which I thought you guys are so the old ladies you have forgotten)

The screaming child made me grateful that I was able to run to the store without any of mine.

Then I saw another older woman walk up to the little girl and start talking to her.

She got down on her level and soon had the little girl happy again.

She didn't stop with that I saw her help this young mother with the rest of her shopping.

She held the baby who started crying and entertained the once screaming toddler.

She taught me so much of Christ like love and service.

2.  We had just found out that we had lost our Levi.

I needed to run by Target before I delivered him to pick up somethings I knew

that I would not want to after.  I felt raw to the world.  My world had just

been thrown up side down and as I walked threw Target it felt odd that

no one new.  They went about there shopping complete unaware of my heartache. 

This taught me to be kind.  You have no idea what the person shopping next to you

is going threw.  I don't ever want to be guilty of adding to someones heartache because 

I am in a hurry or think they are being rude.  You never know.

3.  Right after the Sandy Hook School shooting.

I was feeling like most of us, sad and confused.  I was shocked by

the evil in the world and scared by what it had in store for the future.

I was sad to be buying my kids Christmas stocking candy knowing that somewhere

a mom was morning the loss of her little one and that there would be no stockings for them.

A young family was shopping by me when their daughter threw up everywhere.

Not going to lie, kinda gross. 

A woman by me left the candy isle as I did.  I watch her run to the toddle section and 

grab some pants.  She took the tags off ran them to the mom then went and paid for them.

She taught me there is always goodness in the world.  No mater how dark things seem, if

you look for light you will find it.

Menu Thursday

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1. Hawaiian Bubble Bread with fresh fruit.

2. Grilled BBQ Glazed Chicken with salad and a veg.

3. Breakfast

4. Pizza Pockets with salad.

I make this with store bought puff pastry. Super easy.
Also the leftovers are great for school lunch.

5. Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Never made these, so on the menu again.

Bonus I already have everything to make them.

6. Sub Sandwiches with fresh fruit.

I'll get the bread from Jimmy Johns. 

Remember 50 cent loafs.

7.  Chicken Quesadilla.

I make these with Costco rotisserie chicken,

chili verda sauce and cheese

Uncontrollable

With the start of school, comes school lunch.

I mostly have my kids take a lunch. 

It's healthier and cost less, but is not without it's own down side.

My problems our as follows.
I have to make them lunch.

I have a small kitchen and treats are stored on top of my fridge. Ugly.
I have to make them lunch

The second I bring home snacks my five vultures eat all of them up.

I have to make them lunch.

I have solved 2 of those pesky problems.

I bought 2 metal bins from Walmart.

They fit perfectly on top of the fridge.  Ugly no more.

I spay painted a T and a S, then glued them onto the metal bin.

T stands for, if your a hungry little vulture you can take freely from me.

S stands for school lunch only.  

Don't even think of eating anything from here unless your butt is sitting in a school cafeteria.

Ugly before.

Nice and organized after.

I also packed a treat bin for the car.

This has come in so handy.

In fact it saved me today.

I had just done a super amazingly hard work out and didn't have time to go home

for my recovery snack before story time started at the library.

Never been so happy to have trail mix in my life.

I am pretty sure without it I would have died.

I'm not saying a treat bin in your car will save your life, but are you willing to take that chance?

I'm not and am alive today because of it.

McNoway

Hi I am Kem, and I like to eat out.

Its not a pretty part of me, its one that I have tried in the past to best.

This time I have a plan.

I am not your most organized person and I am not

a homebody by any stretch of the imagination.

So most of the time when I grab a quick bite to eat, its for lunch.

I am out and about and have not planned accordingly.

So knowing that is one of my underling causes.

The other is $1 drinks from McDonald's,

Whoever came up with that is a marketing genius, evil genius.

So with all that knowledge of my inner monologue. 

Here's how it's going down.

1st. I have a snack bin in my car for those moment of unplanned lunch time outings.

2nd. I will try my hardest to not be out around lunch time.

I have some fun fall activities I am going to be doing with my little ones that should help with this. 

3rd. It's well know that you can reprogram your brain

and in most cases it takes about 21 days to start or break a habit.

So September is my no eating out month.

Period.

What about date night you ask?

We can eat at home then go for a hike or to a movie

or whatever floats our boat.

 4th. I joined a 12 week challenge at my gym.

I am accountable for my progress or lack of.

I also am sorta competitive and I will kick some weight loss butt.

5th.  If for some reason I don't win the 12 week challenge 

which is a flat screen TV or a Spa package.

With the money that I saved I am going to go and get myself some new clothes.

Who am I kidding I am going to do that even if I win.

6th.  I am going to rely on my Lord to help me be strong.

At times of weakness I will pray for help.

I also love this because if fits perfectly with my goals for this school year.

I love how one thing such as not eating out fits in so many of them.

Spiritual.

Anything that makes me a stronger person and teaches me that the Lord is their is

welcome in my life.  This is not a habit I want and the money I am

spending is a gift from our Savior and I am accountable for how I use it.

Financial.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

Health

Are you kidding me? 

A doctor pepper a day doesn't keep the doctor away. 

I think this fits with all my goals but I'll just focus on those 3 for now.