Menu Plan Monday: May 19/26

I'm pretty sure the weekends are getting shorter.  Or maybe I am just aching for summer break. It was a pretty laid back couple of days for us.  But tomorrow it is back to grind.  Backpacks are emptied, clothes are laid out and lunch is packed.  Now to focus on this weeks dinners.

I'm keeping it pretty simple this week.  And cheap.  Breakfast is usually toast and eggs.  Lunches are leftovers or sandwiches.  Here is whats for dinner. 

Monday -  Spanish rice w/beef, beans and tortillas. 

Tuesday - Lemon pepper swai, roasted potatoes and salad.

Wednesday - Spaghetti, salad and garlic bread.

Thursday - Pork chops with leftover spaghetti and salad.

Friday - Baked chicken quarters, stuffing and broccoli.

Saturday - Homemade turkey sloppy joes and roasted cabbage.

Sunday - Fridge sweep.  Mix and match of leftovers to clean out the fridge.

When ever I make spaghetti I always make enough to stretch out between two days.  The next day it is a smaller portion served with a meat and some sort of veggies.  There is usually lots of leftovers come Sunday, so its kind of a fend for yourself kinda night.

Quick question for yall.  How much do you spend on groceries?  I will be getting this plus some staples on a $100 a week budget.  Is this crazy? I have talked to quite a few people about this and get such mixed reactions.  I don't use coupons very often.  We don't eat super healthy, but not very unhealthy either.  David takes leftovers to work for lunch.  And I usually buy lots of fruits for snacks, dessert and Anthony's snack for school.  So what what is your grocery budget? Do you shop weekly?

The Great American Backyard Campout

We did it.  We bought a tent.  And we are making plans to go soon.  And since this is our first camping adventure as a family, I want to make sure its nothing but perfect.  So whats a girl to do?  I called on my local blogger group for any advice or posts to help me prepare.  Suddenly we were talking about steaks and cakes and all kinds of good stuff that I almost wanted to bust the tent out tonight!  Im that excited.

Then the ever so wonderful Debi over at SA Busy Kids tells me to check out The Great American Backyard Campout.  Have yall ever heard of this.  How am I just now finding out about this.  Or did I already know and forget?  All I know is this is going to be fun with a capital F!

So what is it?  Every 4th Saturday in June people from all over camp out.  This year it will be on June 22nd.   Write that down and join us!  You can find all the info you need at www.backyardcampout.org.

Have you ever sent your kids outside while explaining how back when you were a kid we played outside with what ever we had and didn't sit inside all day infront of a screen?  I do it all the time. I didn't have a DS or Ipad. Back home we only had two channels on the TV and one was news. We played in the dirt, we climbed trees and make forts!  You too?  Well today only 25% of kids play outside daily.  I will admit, my boys spend way to much time inside and I have been pushing to change that.  And this I think will be the start of many more camping adventures.  

I am debating on forming a team or just going the individual route.  Either way I hope some of you join me!  What do you say?  Sounds like fun right??

It takes 5 minutes to save a life!

Last week I was honored to have the chance to talk with David Fleming.  For anyone who doesn't know, David is the President and CEO of Donate Life.  And organization very dear to my heart and liver!  May 25th will mark my 3rd year on the liver transplant list.

Most of the conversation was based around the results of a survey taken recently to help determine just how well the public understands organ transplantation.  When broken down in numbers, the results are unbelievable.  I will have to cut this into a few post, but I just have to start with this!  Do you know how to register to be an organ donor?

Sixty percent of the respondents were familiar with their state’s donor registry. BUT... 48%  agreed that they really don’t know how to register.  Forty Eight Percent!!  Almost half of the people!  So to keep this short and sweet, here is how you do it!

First go to the Donate Life America website here -----> DONATE LIFE and you will see this!

It will take you a whole second to push Register Now.  And hopefully only a few more seconds for this page to load! All you need to do is select your state from the drop down menu or just click on it!  Easy stuff here right?  

Just hang with me for a few more minutes.  After you click you will be brought to your states Donate Life page.  For Texas we get straight to the point.  Some of the other states you have to look for the "Register Button"  But you have come this far, don't let that extra step stop you now!  Click it!!  Fill in your information and submit it.  I promise you that the chance at saving a life or 8 is worth the few minuets it will take you to fill it out and become an organ donor.  

Now that you have done this here are a few more ways to make sure your wishes are carried out.

• Talk to your friends and family about your decision to be an organ donor.  And encourage them to register too!
• At the DMV, let them know you wish to be an organ donor.
• Let your doctors know that you wish to donate your organs.
• Make sure and include your decision to be an organ donor in your advance directive and or your wills. 

Please share this if you get a chance. The 118,102 people on the transplant list would be very grateful!  If you haven't registered yet, could you tell me why?  There are so many myths about the whole process so I would love to help clear them up for you.  I have a new post coming soon on all the reasons people don't register.  So I would love your input!  

Big shout out to David and all of the people at Donate Life who do all that they can each day to help support and grow an organization that is saving lives.  Thank you for reaching out to me and giving me this opportunity.  I look forward to talking again soon!

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Lets go to the Zoo!

What is it about the Zoo that turns me into a child again.  It might have a lot to do with the memories of going with my family when I was little.  I have only one memory of the Albuquerque Zoo.  That one involved a huge snake that followed me though the glass of its enclosure as I walked along the ledge.  I remember feeling much better once I was back in Dads arms.  I'm pretty sure that started my fascination with the slithery kind.

 

The San Diego Zoo was next.  And many of trips to the Honolulu Zoo helped strengthen my love. We visited one in Massachusetts one Summer.  And we have taken the boys to The Brevard, Houston and of course The San Antonio Zoo.  The boys love Africa Live.  The Hippos and Giraffes are always favorites of theirs.  Me, I could spend an hour in the Snake House.  I love it.  As terrified as I am that one of the glass windows will pop open and a snake will fall at my feet, it is my favorite part of the whole zoo.  That also explains why I have hundreds of pictures like these on my hard drive. These were taken this weekend.  The boys bought me a family pass for Mothers Day.  Perfect!

Did you make it this far?  If you did, what is your favorite part of the zoo?  Did you go there as a child and do you take your family now?  Be back soon with more pictures of the legged animals! Happy Tuesday!