This is it my friends: the mother of all organizing tools. It takes me about five minutes to plan ONE MONTH of meals. I added cookbook references for things I don’t have memorized. All I need to do is make a shopping list at the start of the week.
I started by typing meal ideas into an Excel spreadsheet. I used precious meal planning pages and my three most often used cookbooks. Then I split them up by protein type: poultry/beef/vegetarian/fish/pork. I also made a category for days when I am not cooking and we are either eating out, having leftovers, or what have you. I printed them on color-coordinated cardstock and laminated them. Then cut them all out and added magnets. I have over 80 meals here.
Now I’m working on a sheet with side dish ideas for the nights that I have”entree and vegetable” written down, and salad ideas as well. That way I can just pick and choose. No more sitting around trying to come up with something. I made some blanks to write in new meals, but I can always add to this! I am obsessed.
I hosted the beautiful Nora’s baby shower. I am anxiously awaiting the birth of her sweet baby boy, who I really hope will have red hair (and he should, as I think it’s a dominant gene in both parents.)
Here are some fun details from the day:
I made this fun entryway circus tent with plastic tablecloths.
The mantle display involved several of Jacob’s toys.
I had this beautiful banner (and cake toppers) made by the same designer that made the invitations.
If my friend Samantha is reading this, I need to return your farm basket! 🙂
I told Jacob that the circus peanut candies, above, were yucky. He began the party telling everyone that he had yucky candies for them. Then he ate one and changed his tune, saying “they are orange and they are good!”
This last picture is before I set up the food, but I put chips in the big popcorn buckets and hot dogs in the retro foil wrappers on a big tray. 
I’ve been wanting to make these for a while, but boy were they difficult! My helpful assistants, Josh and Jacob, helped me flatten the spoons with a forklift!
Then I took out my metal stamps and went to town. It was very difficult to stamp on the flattened spoon portion. I had much more luck, on my last try, stamping the handle of a knife (all the other handle styles were too narrow). As with my other metal stamping projects, I colored the letters in with a sharpie and removed the excess with rubbing alcohol. I also metal stamped these pretty copper plant markers from my mother in law. They barely needed any pressure to stamp.
It’s here! I finally typed it up all nice and pretty so you can print it out!
Click the link below for my pickled vegetable salad.
Later on, I’ll post a recipe for pickled vegetables!
Before I share this cute story, I should explain:
When Jacob and I go to Bible Study, he knows it as “Jesus’ house.” Therefore, anything that comes from there is from Jesus. Any church is Jesus’ house, so when he makes a craft at Sunday school, it’s also “from Jesus.”
This morning, we were listening to the VBS cd in the car. The song lyrics said “Jesus was more than just a good man.” I asked him why? He said, “well, because he has better snacks.”
I guess they had cookies yesterday at VBS, and that is way better than the snacks he gets at home. Way to go, Jesus. 😉
Throwing a baby shower and now being sick. (Boo!)
But much is happening.
Pictures to come of the baby shower for my friend Nora…
And Jacob’s first days at VBS!
Beets are good for your heart, and you can tell because they look like your heart. Freaky! This is the beet life cycle at my house: from germinating seed to plant, washed and trimmed, to pickled. Yum!
Josh and Korey 