Hello Monday and Hello Road To Recovery!

 

Hi Friends and Happy Monday!  Sarah and I are so glad you stopped by!  If you blogged today, grab our graphic above and link back up with us below.

So if you have been following along, then you know I had surgery on Thursday.  I had a full laparoscopic hysterectomy and thank God all went well.  The suspicious cyst on one of my ovaries is being sent to pathology but my doctor is hopeful and does not suspect we will get any bad news.  I am recovering...in pain but fighting through and taking short walks with Robby B each day...here is what our last few days have looked like...

Thursday

The girls stayed with Papa and we headed to the hospital for 9am to get checked in.  My surgery was scheduled for 11:10 but didn't end up starting until 12:30...not sure why...I was knocked out and don't remember anything...I will do a full post on this experience eventually.

I was able to come home that night...rough night of sleep and getting up to go the bathroom several times but Robby B was my champion.

 

Friday

 

It was all about rest and I had a visit with a basket of treats from Cass and Laurel which was so nice...also had some special deliveries throughout the day...felt spoiled 

 

 

Diana and I watched The Nutcracker- ha!  T Minus 2 weeks until Auditions but who's counting ;)

and the girls went for a swim/read...hmmm ;)

 

Mike made us dinner...Lea told him to...ha!  It was amazing

My mom made some of my favorite dishes too so we have been well taken care of

 

Rob and I have binging "Last Man Standing" and we are pumped that we have nine whole seasons to enjoy

 and we snuck in a short walk!

 

 

Saturday

 

It was a better night of sleep!  We then started the day with a short walk...trying to walk a little every day because it helps the recovery :)

 

 I also took the best nap of my life!  I slept on the chair in my office and it was such a deep sleep, it felt so good!

 

Later on, Rob drove me to a spray tan appointment and then a hair appointment...I know I know...the only reason was so I could look presentable at Kayla's bridal shower on Sunday...however long I would last

 

 

That night, Beth Ann brought us dinner and my brother brought us some treats and my parents came to visit as well.  It felt good to have everyone around me and then it was early to bed.

 

 

Sunday

 

 Kayla's shower was beautiful and I was so happy that I could be there for it...I made it through!  Will do a separate post on this wonderful day later...for now...going to rest and recover...thanks for following along :)

 

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Monthly Musings: Easy Fall Recipes/Dinners Edition

 

Hi Friends!  Patty and I are so glad you stopped by!  We are talking easy Fall Recipes/Dinners and hope you will share some great ones!  Answer the questions above and link back up with us below- c'mon it'll be fun!

1. Easiest Dinner You Make?  Will You Share The Recipe?

I think I would have to say this easy skillet recipe- the win of it though is that it gets gobbled up every time- I start by sauteing an onion until tranlucent.  Then I add in 1 lb. of ground chicken and season with salt and pepper.  Once cooked, I add a 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes and then season with salt, pepper and garlic powder.  I let that simmer for about 15-20 minutes. At the same time, I steam a bag of broccoli in the microwave and then toss the cooked broccoli into the skillet.  Sometimes, I will steam up some rice cups and toss the rice in too.  Once the skillet is ready, I top it with some shredded parmesan cheese.  SO easy and SO delish!  (I usually tweak it each time too- sometimes I will add peppers and sometimes a different kind of cheese- it is a flexible dish too)

 

 

2. Crockpot?  Instapot?  Both?

I love using our crockpot and Rob loves occasionally using our Instapot so I guess I have to say BOTH 

 

 

I love Jimmy Fallon's Crockpot Chili Recipe.  You can find it HERE

 

and another fave are the Crockpot Dr Pepper Ribs- Yum!  Find the Recipe HERE

 

3. Are you a member of a wholesale club?  Which one? Any fave items?

No we are not! 

 

4. Do you meal prep or menu plan?  Do you follow any set themes?

 

Yes...yes and yes...

 

I meal plan most of the year.  I have also been doing better about prepping meals on the weekends.  That saves even more time during our crazy weeks.  When I am hyper-focusing and bringing my A game, I will follow this theme:

Meatless Mondays

Taco Tuesdays

Pasta Worthy Wednesdays

Anything Thursdays and

Pizza for Friday Night Pizza Nights

 

5. Best Dinner Tips for Busy Nights?

Throw it all in the crockpot!

 

6. Do you use certain ingredients more in the fall?

Yes!  Pumpkin (duh), Butternut Squash  and Apples and you will find me making more soups too!

 

 One of our faves is my Autumn Chicken and Squash Risotto.  You can find it HERE

 

7. Any back to school dinner tradition?

I just try to make it special and something the kids love.  Last year, we followed Heather's lead and did the "Let's Taco About Going Back to School" dinner- we had different tacos, homemade guac and chips and all of the Mexican decor...it was fun.  This year, we are having an Italian feast in our little "Italian Cafe" ...Italian is my girls fave :)

 Last year's feast is HERE 

 

8. Do you own an air fryer?

Yes and it is our FAVORITE- we love the way chicken comes out in there as well as brussel sprouts, potatoes, fries...really everything.  It is so easy and very healthy!

 Our new fave recipe is from Skinny Taste and it is called Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken- you make it in the air fryer- so goood and healthy!  Find it HERE

 

9. Favorite Grab and Go Items?  Homemade or store bought?

Built Bars- Peanut Butter Flax Seed Bars at my favorite Coffee Shop in town "Village Bean" and I love the pre-made salads at Whole Foods- for the kids, it would be easy snack bags with bottled waters in the car on the way to dance/sports

 

10. How many nights a week do you cook?

It is usually 4-5.  Definitely Monday through Thursday and then one weekend day  most of the time as well.

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Happy Birthday Diana!

 Our Dear Diana is 14 Today!  She is a feisty, fiery, passionate, hard working girl.  She is nervous to go into high school and yet she still has her goals laid out for this year....

I am praying she does well...gets involved...and makes good friends....and most of all I am praying that she is happy

Love you my Baby Bird!

Monthly Musings is Thursday!

 Hi Friends!  Just a quick reminder that Monthly Musings is Thursday!

 

Patty and I hope you will join us!  We are talking Easy Fall Recipes/Dinners

Hope to see you then!

Hello Monday (August 22, 2022)

 

Hi Friends and Happy Monday!  Hope you all had a great weekend.  If you blogged today, grab our graphic above and link back up with us below.  Sarah and I are so glad you stopped by!

Here is what our little weekend looked like....

Friday 

When we picked up the girls from Dance Intensives, we got to see their performances- a Character and Contemporary Dances for Eva and a Ballet Dance for Diana- it was fun to see the perform and see  what they had learned and worked on.

 

 Eva's Character Dance

 Eva's Contemporary Dance

 

Diana's Ballet Dance

Obligatory Photos!

That night, Rob had a gig and Diana went to see some friends in a show so Eva "Pidge" and I did some Japanese takeout and chilled :)

 

 

Saturday

 

Diana and I headed up to the beach first thing for our Annual Mommy Daughter Boogie Board Day 

 

I just looked back on the blog and realized this was our NINTH year doing this- OMG!  THIS POST does a good job of recapturing the years and this tradition :)

 

 

Anyway, we spent the morning at the beach...riding the waves...talking and chilling...wish I could freeze time...more emotional right now because of my impending surgery and just want to be there for my girls :(

 

 Anyway, I am snapping out of it...here are some glimpses of our joy...

While we did that, Daddy and Eva shared some special time with a breakfast date at Mary Ann's, some bike riding and basketball :)

That night, we all headed to my parents to celebrate my Dad's Bday- look how amazing he looks for 81!  My mom cooked an Italian Feast- we ate like Kings!  It was a great time :)

 

 

Sunday

 

Daddy and Eva headed to hockey 

 

 

and Diana cleaned her room and got a presentation done for school that needs to be turned in on the first day.  I relaxed for a bit then got some cooking done so I don't have to worry about cooking this week.  My BFF Lea set up a meal train because she's the best like that so we have friends bringing meals later this week so my fam will be taken care of- warms my heart!

 

 

Yesterday afternoon we all headed to Finn's Birthday party and the kids had a blast in the pool and with this new concept of a "foam party"...many laughs were had and it ended up being such a great afternoon with some of our dance fam.

 

 

That's a wrap!  What were you up to?

 

I could use prayers this week so if you are the faithful kind, I would appreciate an extra shout out..Thursday is the big day :)

 

 

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