Menu Plan Monday

Last week was extra hectic. We are putting our house for sale and after our meeting on Monday, we had a few small "projects". Our evenings were spent working on those and so we ate out way too much, but it was so much easier. Not to mention, it kept our kitchen clean!

Monday: Ate out at Texas Roadhouse...we met with a realtor about our house and by the time we were finished it was late. We decided to just get out and get dinner.
Tuesday: We had LOTS of leftovers from our trip to Roadhouse...well enough for both of us to have a meal.
Wednesday: Ate out at Chuy's
Thursday: Hot dogs (I wanted to try the "new" way to make them, but we were short on time, so I just popped them on the grill...yes I heat up the entire grill for a few hot dogs.
Friday: Ate out at Cotton Patch...we used a coupon...so we saved $5....that should count for something.

This week we plan to have:

Chicken and Pasta box meal by Macarroni Grill
Sandwiches
Beef stir fry
Homemade Pizza
Speedy Chicken Cacciatore
Ground Beef Stroganoff
Chili Grande

Until next time...Gig'em!

Stockshow Weekend

This past weekend was the local county stockshow. I really wanted to take Taryne last year, but she was just too small and her allergies are too bad. So this year, we thought we would take her to see the animals.

She has little window clings of baby farm animals and always looks at them and now she is learning to say their names and sounds. She loves to "mooo"!

She liked all the animals, but she was FASCINATED by the rabbits. Maybe because they were small. Most of the other animals were big and she could not get close enough to pet them.

This was the "petting zoo"...a few rabbits and some baby pigs. They had a box with chicks, but had not let them out yet.

Petting the rabbits...

Until next time...Gig'em!

A Green Thumb...

This past weekend, Taryne and I planted flowers in the front flower bed and in a few pots. We planted ALOT of flowers.

She was so interested in the process and the plants and the tools. She helped me plant a few then became very interested in the little plastic 6-pack containers and plants stakes. So I let her play with them.

While I continued to plant, I began to notice that my pile of unplanted flowers was growing. She was coming behind me and digging them up. And plucking the flowers off some. Sigh.

Finally we planted the leftover flowers in a few pots. She really had fun adding the potting soil and helping me plant.

Until next time...Gig'em!

Menu Plan Monday

Last week went really well also. We are getting pretty good at eating at home and losing the excuses to eat out.

Monday: Breakfast for dinner-waffles and bacon
Tuesday: Pan fried fish sandwiches with cole slaw
Wednesday: BLT's
Thursday: Ate out at Casa Ole'
Friday: King Ranch Chicken

You can find the recipes for some of the above dishes by following the link or going to Old Army Kitchen. I will get the King Ranch Chicken recipe up this week. We have been super busy this past week and weekend (one reason I am posting so late on Monday).

This week we plan to have:

Sausage
Chicken with pasta (TBD)
Sandwiches
Hot Dogs (trying my friend's way of cooking them in the crock pot)

I know, not too adventurous this week, but I just didn't have the time to go through recipes for the week.

Until next time...Gig'em!

Big girl fun at the park...

Taryne is now a "big girl" and can climb the jungle gym and slide down all by herself. However, one of us is  typically on top since there are usually lots of bigger kids around. And we are a little nervous that she will want to go to the of the "openings" that a bigger kid could use to climb down.

Until next time...Gig'em!

200th Post!!

Wow! So I never really thought I would have enough to blog about to reach 200 posts! I am super excited about that.

Now my next goal is to get more followers. I know several people that read my blog, but don't "follow". So if you can, I would LOVE it if you clicked the little "follow" button over to the right.

In my next 100 posts I hope to share new things with you...like more crafty projects, recipes and of course what our family is doing throughout the year.

If you want to see something special, just let me know. I have also been toying with the idea of doing a giveaway. I see so many other blogs (big and small) doing them and I love to share with others. I have also been very fortunate to have won 2 blog giveaways over the past year.

Well, here's to the next 100 posts!

Until next time...Gig'em!

Want a chance to win $100 Visa Gift Card...

As you know, I read blogs ALL the time and I enter to win stuff ALL the time. So far I have been successful with 2 entries. I won a planner and most recently I won a signed copy of Martha Stewart's new book Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts. I can't wait to get this book.

Often you are given several ways/options to enter...sometimes it is "liking" that blog or facebook page. Other times you get extra chances for comments or tweeting or blogging about the giveaway. Well Picky Palate along with Tropican Orange Juice is giving away a $100 Visa Gift Card. Now who could use an extra $100? I know I could.

You can try to win too! Just hop on over to Picky Palate and make a comment for a chance to win.

Good luck!

Until next time...Gig'em!

Fun times in the pasture...

This past weekend we went to Llano because my mom and her friend hosted a Thirty One party. The party was a great success and we were able to visit with both of our families throughout the weekend.

On Sunday, we took a ride through the pasture with my parents. Taryne kept insisting she wanted to play outside, so we all went outside for a while.

Getting ready to go out in the pasture...

Kyle, Taryne and Papa rode up front and me and Mimi rode on the back....

We stopped to walk around a bit and climb on the rocks...

I just love this picture....so sweet...holding daddy's finger...

Not the best picture in the sense of actually posing, but a sweet picture...especially if you look at the way Kyle is looking at me and Taryne...

Until next time...Gig'em!

Menu Plan Monday

Here is a recap from last week:

Sunday: Ribs and homemade BBQ sauce
Monday: Leftovers (Ribs)
Tuesday: Tacos
Wednesday: Leftovers (Tacos)
Thursday: Ate out at Rudy's
Friday: Travel

Last week was a bit hectic with traveling and other things. We also managed to have TONS of leftovers, so I sucked it up (I hate leftovers) and ate the leftovers. It wasn't that bad...This week is spring break, so things should be pretty quiet around here. Unfortunately, I work all week but Friday for spring break. However, with all the students gone, we can actually eat out if we want! Whoohoo!

Here are our dinner plans for the week:

Sandwiches
Breakfast for dinner
Pan Fried Fish
Sausage
Something with chicken
Quesadillas

Until next time...Gig'em!

18 months

My baby girl turned 18 months this Saturday! I still can't figure out where the time goes...she is growing super fast and is learning so much. She amazes us on a daily basis.

At 18 months Taryne is:

• running
• walking
• climbing
• sliding
• talking
• trying to dress herself
• asking for a diaper change
• eating with a fork and spoon
• playing well with others
• putting things away
• asking for things (especially ESPN in the mornings and milk)
• says "out" when she is finished eating and wants to get out of her seat
• says "side" when she wants to go outside (working on getting "out" and "side" as one word)
• tries to buckle herself in the car seat
• can actually color now instead of drawing dots on the page
• knows several words in sign language (thanks to day care)
• loves to wash her hands (and she does it properly...adds soap and washes for at least 15-20 seconds)
• Knows to put trash into the trash can (we have found empty milk cups in the trash as well...guess she thinks it is emtpy so it is trash)
• VERY opinionated about cloths, food and toys
• And so many more things!

Until next time...Gig'em!

Toys Revisited...

Taryne has managed to acquire a large amount of toys over her 18 months on this planet. So many, that she often "loses" them amongst the other toys. I really try to rotate the toys so she always has something new to play with and I have started pulling toys she doesn't seem very interested in anymore. I am putting those aside for another day and for the next child...at least that is the plan, whenever that may be.

She recently "found" some toys that she played with a ton and then "lost" (or forgot about them).

She saw me turn this toy on with my foot one day...so now about half the time she tries to do the same....

She found the pillow that matched with her nap mat cover from her last day care...

The popper....

Her book stash...we really need to get her a bookshelf, but I am not sure where it would go....

Reading her book...

Until next time...Gig'em!

Menu Plan Monday

Well, last week went better than I had hoped. We ate at home most of the week and we tried several new recipes.

Here is the breakdown of our week:
Monday-Spaghetti (I just made a meat sauce, no meatballs)
Tuesday-Hungarian Goulash Casserole
Wednesday- Leftovers: Spaghettie Sandwiches
Thursday-Ate out at Casa Rod in Bryan
Friday-Ranch Crispy Chicken
Saturday-Slow Cooker Pepper Steak

You can visit my cooking blog, Old Army Kitchen for these recipes.

For this week, we plan to have the following:

Pork ribs with homemade Sam Houston's BBQ sauce (We actually made this Sunday night)
Pan fried catfish sandwiches or Fish Tacos
Tacos or Quesadillas
Breakfast for dinner

It will be a short week for meals at home. We are visiting family so we will not be the ones cooking this weekend.

Until next time...Gig'em!

Facebook Page

I took the plunge and created a Facebook page for my Thirty One business. I hope to use it to share updates and specials. I would LOVE for you to "like" my page!

You can go here to "like" my page.

Thanks!!

Until next time...Gig'em!

Basketball

Last night, after dinner, Taryne decided she needed to get snacks to watch the Aggie men play Kansas. She decided that the Gerber cheese poofs were an appropriate game time snack.

She had so much fun watching and cheering during the game. We had to get her settled down...we were scared she would jump right off the couch!

Until next time...Gig'em!

March Madness

March is here. And with that comes the madness known as the NCAA tournament. While basketball is not our number one favorite sport in the Rode household, it is definitely watched, especially in March. Both men and women. And most definitely as long as the Aggies are still in the tournament.

March (well, technically February) also brings baseball and softball. Yay! We have already attended a softball game and I think that is Taryne's new favorite sport...next to football of course.

So, do you fill out a bracket for the tournament? For fun or for an office pool? I have never filled out a bracket ahead of time. Why you ask? I have worked in athletics so long and know that it is against NCAA rules for any athletic employee (even part time) to participate in any sort of sports betting, whether at the college or professional level. I don't even fill out a bracket before the tournament starts for fun. I fill mine is as the games are decided. I love athletics and working with athletes so much I would never want to jeopordize a chance for a full time job in athletics.

I can't wait for Selection Sunday for the men and Selection Monday for the women. The tournament this year will be great! We have 2 of the top 5 women's teams in our conference and I know A&M is really working hard to get a number one seed in the tournament. Bracketology is a fun and addicting thing.

Until next time...Gig'em!

March Specials

I just love my Thirty One business! I am not sure I can say that enough. Thirty One has blessed me so much so far and I can't wait to see what else this awesome company can do next for me and my family.

March also marks the debut of the new 31Kids line! Great new products and prints for the kids and new baby.

Each month the company offers a great customer and hostess special. This month, the customer special is spend $31 and get any purse for 1/2 off!! And...if you spend, say $62, then you can get 2 purses for 1/2 off. Such a great deal! Now is the time to start thinking of birthday and holiday gifts for the year. Would your mom, daughter, teacher, friend enjoy one of Thirty One's great purses for a birthday, Mother's Day or Easter gift? I bet they would! Customer Special Flyer

The hostess special this month gives you two different levels of deals. If you host a party with sales of $450 or more, you can purchase the Market Thermal Tote for only $10, a savings of $28. If your party sales reach $750 or more, you can get either the Market Thermal Tote OR the XXL Everyday Tote for $10. This is all in addition to the great hostess benefits all hostesses earn with a qualified party of $200 or more. These include a percentage of the total sales in FREE product, at least 1 half price item, FREE shipping on parties with $500 or more in sales and an opportunity to get one or two of the Hostess Exclusive items at a discounted price. Hostess Special Flyer

I have a few days open for parties in March. Let me know when you want to plan an evening with the girls and do a little shopping from the comfort of your home. We can do home or catalog parties and if you want a more informal setting, your party can be come and go. You decide how you want to party.

As always, you can shop online.

Until next time...Gig'em!