Menu!

#1 One pot pasta w/ breadsticks
#2 crockpot tortellini
#3 crockpot clam chowder w/ tossed salad
#4 mac&cheese w/ hotdogs
#5 deep dish pizza


NYE treats!
one bowl brownies
Cherry pop

Our "elf on the shelf" adventures!

Here are some highlights of our elf from this Christmas!!

Menu!

Christmas brunch menu

french toast bake
brunch egg bake
banana bread & pumpkin muffins
cheese ball
yogurt & granola


oven fajitas & spanish rice
chicken noodle soup w/ bread
crunch wrap supreme

Menu

#1 crockpot pork chops w/ asparagus
#2 lettuce wraps
#3 crockpot honey sesame chicken w/ fried rice
#4 mac&cheese w/ corn dog muffins

chocolate chip cookies

Menu

#1 Baked ziti (dinner + 1 bonus freezer meal!) & tossed salad
#2 chicken tortilla soup
#3 frito chili pie
#4 spagetti & meatballs & fresh bread

salted carmel pretzel bark

Menu

#1 crockpot chicken parmensan w/ garlic pull apart bread
#2 crockpot chicken chili w/ cornbread
#3 hamburger stroganoff w/ tossed salad
#4 busy day pork chops w/ crockpot mashed potatoes

Menu!

#1 Tomato Basil soup & grilled mozzarella sandwiches
#2 Toasted ravioli w/ breadsticks and tossed salad
#3 crockpot pulled pork w/ baked potatoes
#4 Spinach strawberry salad w/ grilled chicken

SNOW!!!!!

The first real snow of the season....we have had a couple dustings recently but yesterday it was the first significant snow of the year!!! It continued all night and we have at least 2" on the ground this morning and its still coming down....the girls are beyond thrilled and it really makes you get into the Christmas spirit!!!!!

Menu!!

#1 white chicken chili w/ corn bread
#2 crockpot mac & cheese w/ tossed salad
#3 taco salad
#4 penne w/ italian sausage & fresh bread

my contribution for turkey day feast!! mascarpone chive mashed potatoes & pumpkin cookies

Menu!

#1 Chili Colorado burritos w/ spanish rice
#2 Spagetti w/ meat sauce w/ fresh bread
#3  Stuffed pork chops & rice pilaf
#4 Cheesy Chiken & Rice w/ tossed salad


chocolate granola bars - recommended by a friend so gotta try!
pioneer woman granola bars

Menu!

Meal #1 meatloaf & crash hot potatoes
Meal #2 Oven fajitas & spanish rice
Meal #3 baked ravioli w/ tossed salad & fresh bread
Meal #4 chicken & dumplings
Meal #5 sweet & sour chicken w/ fried rice

HAPPY Halloween!

Happy Halloween from our cat & mouse!!!! 

Menu!

cream cheese chicken enchiladas w/ spanish rice
spagetti & meatballs & breadsticks
chicken caesar salad w/ fresh bread
pop-up pizza casserole w/ tossed salad
chicken noodle soup


 chocolate chip muffins {savannahs halloween party treat}

Weekly Menu

Meal #1 beef stew w/ biscuits
Meal #2  mac&cheese w/ carrots & ranch {Emerson's pic for the week!}
Meal #3 Olive Garden salad w/ paninis
Meal #4 crunch wrap supremes w/ chips & salsa

1 left over from last week!

banana chocolate chip oatmeal bread

Weekly Menu!

Meal #1 Creamy chicken and rice soup
Meal #2 Salad w/ creamy apple poppyseed dressing
Meal #3 Crockpot chili w/  cornbread
Meal #4 Chimichangas w/ spanish rice
Meal #5 Baked ravioli w/ tossed salad & fresh rolls

pumpkin frozen yogurt
cinnamon sugar quick bread

HAPPY 8th Birthday Savannah Lee!!

Today our oldest turned 8! {WOW, how can I have an 8 year old?!}  This was the first time she has ever had to go to school on her birthday, it usually falls on the Columbus Day weekend so she always gets the day off.  She took her favorite flavors of DD munchkins and clementines made up like jack-o-lanterns as a class treat! 








From Emmie she got the Winx Club Barbie she has been dreaming of and from mom and dad she got the HUGE surprise of an ipod touch!  For dinner on her special day she chose to have birthday brinner, her favorite pancakes and bacon. She knew exactly what type of cake she wanted and decorated it by herself!  She is becoming quite the independent little lady and its hard to believe she is growing up so quick! 

She is having a Barbie Bowling party with all her friends this weekend then all the festivities will finally be over! Happiest of birthday wishes to you my sweet girl, you are my gem!

Weekly Menu

Meal #1 pot roast w/ potatoes & carrots w/ fresh rolls
Meal #2 no peek chicken & tossed salad
Meal #3 corn dogs & french fries
Meal # 4 fajitas w/ spanish rice

1 left over from last week so thats all folks!

Weekly Menu

Meal #1 Chicken Enchilada Soup
Meal #2 Fettuccine alfredo w/ fresh bread & tossed salad
Meal #3 crock pot honey/apple pork loin w/ twice baked potatoes
Meal #4 Chicken & Rice casserole w/ green beans
Meal #5 Million dollar spagetti w/ breadsticks

2 ingredient pancakes

Weekly Menu!

Meal #1 Sausage w/ penne & fresh bread w/ tossed salad
Meal #2 Baked tacos w/ spanish rice
Meal #3 Chicken Riggies
Meal #4 Creamy grilled chicken picata w/ garlic bread
Meal #5 Meatloaf w/ green beans & salt potatoes


Cinnamon sugar bread
granola bars

Weekly Menu

Meal #1 Beef & Cheese manicotti w/ tossed salad
Meal #2 Mexican Pizzas w/ chips & salsa
Meal #3 Lasagna w/ fresh bread
Meal #4 Crockpot BBQ chicken w/ oven roasted potatoes
Meal #5 Creamy tomato tortellini soup w/ turkey paninis

Look who's a WING!

Cannot believe this will be my baby girl's last year of preschool!  Emerson started the Cazenovia Children's House program in the Sunshine room at the age of 2, moved onto Sprouts last year at the age of 3, now this year she is a Wing...next Fall off to kindergarten....CRAZY!

She picked her outfit all on her own & has been waiting to wear it for over a week now!  No tears at drop off and had a GREAT first day!

Weekly Menu!

Meal #1 Ravioli w/ tomato alfredo sauce & breadsticks
Meal #2  Turkey Breast of Wonder w/ spiral potatoes
Meal #3 taco cupcakes w/ spanish rice
Meal #4  Stuffed green peppers w/ parmesan roasted green beans

extras
mini pancakes (going to make a big batch & freeze for easy school morning breakfasts!)
pretzels (didnt get to these last week & dying to try them!)

DIRTY Girl!!!

Dirty Girl Mud Run! 

 

 

WOW, what an amazing way to spend the day with the greatest of friends running up a ski hill & crawling through the mud...going over & under obstacles and having a blast!!!

Pre Mud with part of our group of amazing beautiful ladies!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

  Post Mud with those hardcore tough mommas I am lucky enough to call friends!!

 

3rd grade here we come!

Today was the first day of 3rd grade for Savannah! 

all about the sequins!!

shoes are SUPER important as always with this girl!
 

She was not thrilled summer was over but so happy when she got back after her first day. She loves her teacher and loves 3rd grade is what she proclaimed right off the bus! 

 

This GIANT cookie has been a first day of school tradition since kindergarten!  She made sure to remind me this morning as she was heading out not to forget to make her special treat!

Mitey Mites!!! ~ Go Cazenovia Lakers ~

Savannah....my little homebody who never wants to do any extracurricular activities has fallen in love with cheer!!!! A month of practicing 4x a week and countless hours at home teaching Emmie paid off because today was the first big game and the whole squad looked GREAT!!!!

Weekly Menu!!

Meal #1 egg & cheese sandwiches w/ yogurt & granola
Meal #2 chicken salad sandwiches w/ fresh fruit
Meal #3 enchiladas w/ spanish rice
Meal #4 no peek chicken w/ fresh bread
Meal #5 steak on the grill w/ coleslaw & sweet corn

no bake oatmeal peanut butter chocolate chip bars
fluffy buttered pretzels
granola

Weekly Menu!

Meal #1 Strawberry Spinach Salad {this dressing & I add grilled chicken, mozzarella cheese}

Meal #2 Heroin Chicken w/ sweet corn & tossed salad

Meal #3 Spagetti and meatballs w/ breadsticks

thats it....we are on a little mini farewell to summer vacation part of this week!

if its not too hot I want to try these:

lofthouse style cookies

Happy 4th Birthday Emerson!!!

WOW....4 already?!? Where the heck does time go?  You are a super crazy wild girl with a heart of gold!  You are rugged but a girly girl through and through!  I love you like crazy and cannot wait to see what this year brings...hard to believe this time next year you will be off to kindergarten!!

We had a Hello Kitty party with your friends yesterday, so much fun!! You got to choose the menu and plan it all...jello jigglers, popcorn, watermelon & pink frosted brownie cupcakes {with sprinkles of course!}

Today you finally got your American Girl Bitty Baby from mommy & daddy and had an amazing cake from our great friend Miss. Nicki - sprinkle cake just like you had your heart set on!

Weekly Menu!!

Meal #1 Watermelon salad w/ fresh bread
Meal #2 Chicken ranch fajitas w/ spanish rice
Meal #3 Pizzucchini w/ tossed salad & fresh fruit
Meal #4 Chicken Tacquitos w/ chips & salsa
Meal #5 Breakfast pizza w/ fresh fruit

extras!
pretzels
oatmeal choco/pb no bake bars

Weekly Menu

Meal #1 Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Meal #2 Hamburgers w/ homemade buns & french fries
Meal #3 Taco Pie & Spanish rice
Meal #4 Pork Chops w/ biscuits & baked potatoes
Meal #5 Italian calzone wrap w/ tossed salad

things to try!
Instant mac & cheese (Emerson=mac&cheese addict so this will be great if it passes her test!)
single ingredient ice cream
donuts

Weekly Menu!

Meal #1 Mississippi roast w/ carrots & potatoes and biscuits
Meal #2 Taco salad w/ chips & salsa
Meal #3 Linguini w/ shrimp scampi w/ tossed salad
Meal #4 Grilled pizza w/ baked mozzarella sticks
1 left over from last week!

Mad Cow 5k ~ Sole Sisters Style!

August 4, 2012!  Mad Cow 5k race in Nelson, NY!!!  So much fun, wicked heat but we rocked that race & are now all addicted!  Our team was myself, my niece Alyssa visiting from AZ for the summer, and my 2 amazing friends Jenn and Nicki!

Pre Run photo - still looking all fresh and confident with no idea what we are in store for!

Post Run photo sweaty and whipped but still smiling!

I am so very thankful for each of the girls & beaming with pride for our accomplishment!  Love them all and now onto Dirty Girl 5k next month!!!!

Weekly Menu!

Meal #1 Apple Chicken Salad - dressing & salad w/ popovers
Meal #2 Coconut chicken fingers & tossed salad
Meal #3 Chicken Caprese Pasta & fresh bread
Meal #4 Spinach Lasagna roll ups & tossed salad
1 left over from last week!

Extras:
frozen hot chocolate (we didnt make it to Serendipity on our NYC trip so making it ourselves!)
energy balls

Meal #1 Crunch Wrap Supremes with chips & salsa
Meal #2 Chicken Caesar Salad w/ breadsticks 
Meal #3 Chicken Taquitos w/ spanish rice
Meal #4 Grilled Tilapia with Mango Salsa w/ Chips & Salsa
Meal #5 Manicotti w/ tossed salad and mozzarella sticks

brownie cookies
pb banana smoothie

Weekly Menu!

Meal #1 Olive Garden Salad /w breadsticks
Meal #2 Crockpot fajitas w/ spanish rice
Meal #3 lasagna w/ fresh bread & tossed salad
Meal #4 tilapia tacos w/ peach salsa & chips with salsa
Meal #5 French toast w/ sausage

Extras:
chocolate covered frozen PB banana bites
pb & jelly icecream

Weekly Menu

Meal #1 Strawberry Spinach Salad w/ grilled chicken & popovers
Meal #2 Creamy White Chicken enchiladas & spanish rice
Meal #3 Grilled Mozzarella sandwiches w/ pasta salad
Meal #4 Shrimp w/ avocado mango salsa grill packets & chips with salsa
1 left over from last week!

extras:
microwave chips
macaroon kiss cookies

Weekly Menu

Meal #1 crunch wrap supreme w/ chips & salsa
Meal #2 Grilled honey orange chicken salad w/ fresh bread
Meal #3 chicken tacos with spanish rice
Meal #4 spagetti & meatballs w/ tossed salad & baguette
Meal #5 tilapia tacos with peach salsa

extras!
energy balls
granola bars

Weekly Menu!!

Meal #1 Hawaiian Grilled Chicken  w/tossed salad
Meal #2 Taco Salad & cilantro lime rice
Meal #3 Parmesan Chicken Salad & macaroni salad
Meal #4 Fish tacos w/ mango salsa
Meal #5 Grilled Margherita Pizza  w/ tossed salad

extras:
salsa new recipe to try out
chocolate chunk coconut icecream
pumpkin chocolate chip muffins

Weekly Menu!

Meal #1 Spinach Strawberry salad w/ grilled chicken w/ fresh bread
Meal #2 Sweet & Sour Chicken w/ fried rice
Meal #3 Chipotle Chicken Tacos /w spanish rice
Meal #4 Inside out Bacon Cheeseburgers w/ grilled potatoes
Meal #5 Chicken & artichoke w/ angel hair pasta

Extras:
4 ingredient cookies & cream icecream
cherry limeaide popsicles

Weekly Menu!

Meal #1 Sonoma chicken salad sandwiches w/ french fries
Meal #2 Grilled 7-up chicken w/ mac&cheese
Meal #3 Crunch Wrap Supreme w/ chips & salsa
Meal #4 Crockpot Chicken w/ corn bread
I have the OG salad leftover from last week's menu

Extras:
nutella cookies
strawberries...went picking today so need to use em up!

All GrOwN UP!

Recently took a trip to Arizona for a long overdue visit with family and friends!  While I loved seeing all my nieces and nephews, this trip was for a very special occasion..my oldest niece, Alyssa was graduating from high school!  This makes me feel horribly old since I was a senior in high school myself the year she was born!?!?  I was so proud and could never miss this huge moment in her life! She is coming to stay part of the summer with us before heading off to college in the fall and I am thrilled to get to spend this time with her! She has grown into an amazing young lady who my girls adore and I respect as a role model for them. I love you Smitty and cannot wait to see what becomes of this new chapter in your life!

A picture the night of my senior prom with the precious little bundle!  I remember telling her mom, my sister Paula that I would not hesitate to drop her if she even looked like she was going to puke or poop on me!?! HAHA

A picture before heading out to Highland High School to watch her grab that diploma & say hello to adulthood! I totally would have pushed her to the side if she looked like she was going to puke or poop on me!?!



See that $ in her hand, that was for a fine for a lost text book, nothing like waiting till the last minute & giving your parents a heart attack!

I hope you remember to always be true to yourself and know that you are capable of anything you put your mind to! Your Auntie Nichole is here for you through whatever, whenever!

Weekly Menu!

Meal #1 Manicotti w/ tossed salad & baguette
Meal #2  Beef enchiladas w/ spanish rice & chips w/ salsa
Meal #3 Chicken Caesar salad w/ asiago bread
Meal #4 Grilled tilapia w/ mango salsa & cinnamon tortilla chips
Meal #5 Olive Garden salad w/ miracle bread

treats
chocolate muffins
I want to marry you cookies {with a name like that I gotta try it!}

Weekly Menu

Meal #1 Grilled Chicken & pasta salad
Meal #2 Zucchini pizza & tossed salad
Meal #3 Pork tenderloin w/ marinade w/ macaroni & cheese
Meal #4 Margherita Flat bread pizza w/ fried cheese & tossed salad
Meal #5 Chicken tacos w/ spanish rice

 extras:
choc pb cookies
creamy chocolate fudgesicles

Teacher Appreciation!

Rather than 1 big gift this year we decided to go with little gifts each and every day!  Thanks to pinterest for all the amazing ideas I never would have come across searching blogland!

Day #1 - creative juices

Day #2 - potted flower with blooming note

Day #3 - customized post-it holder

Day #4 - m&m's with poem

Day #5 - colored pencil vase

No more complaining jar!

So...its no secret I am addicted to Pinterest!  Well the other day I came across this amazing idea & unlike the hundreds of other pins I have I went to work on this one right away!!

Here is the general idea.....if you have little kids, listen up!  We are going on our second week & I swear its working like a charm!  This is based on the bible verse, Phillipians 2:14 - "Do everything without complaining or arguing."  We are not huge church people but do try to instill good values into both our girls, plus I am tired of the endless whining.  Savannah has a bible from VBS so I found the verse and made cute jars for each girl!  If it has sparkles on it & rewards attached I knew my girls would be all over it!

We took the original idea, expanded a bit and ran with it!! We sat both girls down & explained the bible verse and how this whole system would work.  They start the week with $5 in quarters in their special jar.  Every time they complain or whine 1 quarter is removed and put in their sisters jar {DOUBLE Whammy!!} If they argue with mom or dad same thing, if they argue with each other, mom & dad get a quarter from both of their jars! At the end of the week the girls can take their moola to the store and buy whatever they choose, or save up for something they really want!  The better behaved they are, the sooner they will get that item they have been dreaming of!

See the original idea on Born Fabulous Baby

Weekly Menu!

Meal #1 honey sesame chicken w/ rice & tossed salad
Meal #2 paninis w/  olive garden salad
Meal #3 hamburgers w/ tortellini salad
Meal #4 chicken marsala & tossed salad with rosemary bread
*1 meal left over from last week so thats it folks*

extras
breakfast cookies
choc chip cheesecake cookies

Weekly Menu!

Meal #1 Penne with italian sausage, tossed salad & fresh bread
Meal #2 Chicken Caesar sandwichs w/ macaroni salad & fresh fruit
Meal #3 Fettucinne alfredo w/ breadsticks & tomato cucumber salad
Meal #4 Pepperoni rolls w/ baked cheese balls
Meal #5 Sesame noodles w/ chicken & eggrolls

extras:
peanut butter banana smoothies
banana bread breakfast donuts

My gems!

We had a crazy heat wave for a CNY Spring....near 90 in March is crazy!!! We celebrated by hanging poolside at a friends house and soaking in the sunshine! That dear friend happens to be an amazing photographer and managed to capture these great shots of my girls {who everyone knows are IMPOSSIBLE to photograph!}

















As we are having WAY below normal temps this week I was drawn back to this day and wanted to share!  Thank you to Jennifer Wolsey for being an amazing magician behind the camera!  Check out her work here & here & of course on FB!

Weekly Menu

Meal #1 Fajitas w/ spanish rice & chips w/ salsa
Meal #2 Baked chicken parmesan w/ tossed salad & fresh bread
Meal #3 Pork Chops w/ parmesan roasted potatoes & fresh fruit
Meal #4 Apple Harvest Chicken Salad w/ fresh bread

Extras!
frozen yogurt bites
choc chip coconut oat cookies {I have made these before, SO good!}

Weekly Menu!!

Meal #1 Chicken salad sandwiches w/ grapes & french fries
Meal #2 Italian shrimp w/ garlic rice pilaf & asparagus
Meal #3 Pancakes w/ fresh fruit & sausage
Meal #4 Chicken Tacos w/ spanish rice
Meal #5 BBQ Chicken w/ tomato cucumber salad & honey beer bread

peanut butter banana oatmeal squares
chocolate chip cookies

Weekly Menu!

Meal #1 Crockpot Chicken Parmesan w/ tossed salad & bread
Meal #2 Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad w/ breadsticks
Meal #3 Smoked gouda & bacon mac & cheese (recipe below) w/ fruit salad
Meal #4 Enchilada casserole w/ chips & salsa

Easter dessert - Cheesecake tartlets & chocolate cheesecake strawberries

Smoked Gouda & Bacon Macaroni and Cheese (courtesy of my friend Sheila!)

- 1 pound (1 box) of elbow macaroni
- 6 cups water
- 4 tablespoons of salted butter
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 4 cups milk
- 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 pound smoked Gouda cheese, grated
- bacon, cooked and crumbled OR real bacon bits

Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat, Add the 4 tablespoons of flour and start whisking it constantly for about 2 minutes, Slowly add the 4 cups of milk, stirring constantly. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of white pepper. Allow the milk to come to a light boil as you continue to stir, taking care not to burn it. At this point, start boiling the noodles so that they can be finished cooking around the same time as the sauce. Boil for about 8 minutes. Continue whisking the sauce until the noodles are done. Turn the heat down on the sauce to very low and quickly drain the noodles. Start slowly adding the cheese and stirring until it’s pretty smooth. Combine the cheese sauce and macaroni in a large mixing bowl and serve.

Weekly Menu!

Meal #1 Pepperoni Roll w/ tossed salad
Meal #2 Fuji Apple chicken salad (my most fave item at Panera & hope this copycat measures up!)
Meal #3 Spinach & Cheese Ravioli w/ tossed salad & breadsticks
Meal #4 Chicken quesadillas w/ spanish rice & chips w/ salsa
Meal #5 Pork chops w/ garlic rice pilaf & fruit salad

extras!!
granola bars
chocolate peanut butter cookies (I have chocolate pb from the amish store so I skip that step!)

Another great Quote!

image via pinterest