The What's for Dinner Thread - August 2014 (recipe index in OP)

[dgbg100106]

I am a planner, that is what I do for a living, so i plan all year for Christmas. I write down little hints people give me about what they want or like, and I purchase all year, and then wrap and send out before Thanksgiving. LOL, I know it is crazy but it works for us. David does not have to do anything, so of course he loves it.

Cyber Monday I bought stuff for us, things we wanted or needed, seemed like I was burning up the Credit Cards, but we did good.

Dinner tonight is Veggie Pizza with Tofu Chicken... Even David likes it.

 

[franandaj]

I have been so freaking busy I haven't had any time to drop in here!

We leave in less than 60 hours and I just made my clothes packing list this afternoon. Darcy was amazed that my suitcases weren't packed yet!

We don't exchange any gifts so there's not much for us to do. I wanted my Christmas lights to be up, but that will have to wait until we get back. It might not even happen this year.

Tonight I'm making balsamic chicken, green beans and mushroom risotto. Better get started!

 

[PrincessInOz]

What is that from a museum of neon art?

Believe it or not, they are light "toys". Some of them are like those light chasers that Disney stores used to sell. Others are like light sabres. We even used a bicycle wheel that had the safety lights. Some of the toys we played with....










As to the graffiti....it was actually graffiti on the wall. When you light them with a torch at night, it has that cool neon effect.

By day.....






Just by using an LED torch.....by night.

 

[PrincessInOz]

PIO ~ Your pictures are stunning. You are very talented my friend.

Thank you.

Our Thanksgiving was a bit different. Neither one of my girls were able to join us and that was tough to begin with. Then we felt like this was the last hurrah with Matthew as next year he will also be married and I will have to share him too. But he was so sick the whole time that he or us didn't really have the "fun" we had planned. Then Aunt Bev got sick and was rushed to emergency on Monday and had her gall bladder removed. She got home on Tuesday, tired and weak but feeling ok. Don't get me wrong we had a nice time - just different. I was glad to be home.

The house is decorated and my shopping is almost finished. I still have to wrap my presents and get through 4 birthdays and I should be ready.

Sounds like you're nearly all ready for Christmas!

Oh yea, I have my cards and baking to do yet. Oh my!!

Just cards left.

I'm not planning on sending out cards this year. Australia Post is now charging $0.70 for local postage and international postage is over $2.

At those prices, I decided to boycott sending out cards.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Launch day on Tuesday; and work has been frantic and a lot crazy.
Here's hoping everything goes well and I can find time for my 2D life again.

In any event, I'm taking 3 weeks off at Christmas to do.....NOTHING!

 

[franandaj]

Saturday morning. Within 24 hours I will be flying to Orlando. Just sitting in bed making last minute lists on my phone. Hoping Fran will wake up soon and start to give me clothes to pack. I put all my clothes in our suitcases last night.

We need to do a tad bit of shopping today. I really hope I get some sleep tonight. For dinner last night we went out with Jill from the DIS. We went to the Lonestar Steakhouse and had a great meal of steak, salad and a blooming onion. There was so much food that we have leftovers for either lunch or dinner. If we have the leftovers for lunch, I want to order a pizza for dinner. Anyways, I better get going on my daily activities. I have a lot to do and need to wake Fran and get on with it!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Saturday morning. Within 24 hours I will be flying to Orlando. Just sitting in bed making last minute lists on my phone. Hoping Fran will wake up soon and start to give me clothes to pack. I put all my clothes in our suitcases last night.

We need to do a tad bit of shopping today. I really hope I get some sleep tonight. For dinner last night we went out with Jill from the DIS. We went to the Lonestar Steakhouse and had a great meal of steak, salad and a blooming onion. There was so much food that we have leftovers for either lunch or dinner. If we have the leftovers for lunch, I want to order a pizza for dinner. Anyways, I better get going on my daily activities. I have a lot to do and need to wake Fran and get on with it!

Have a great trip!

I bet you enjoyed dinner with Jill. Envious.

 

[EJ4Disney]

Good happy Monday morning my friends.

Brandi ~ I love to plan also, but sometimes I really get bogged down and I find myself making lists of lists. Thank God for Post it Notes! I have no idea how I could function without them.
I found I did a lot more shopping online than I usually do and MAN it was easy!!

Alison ~ I know I have missed you but hopefully you will check in. Have a great time!!

PIO ~ Good luck with the launch!!! When does vacation start? You so deserve to do nothing, but somehow I know you well enough to know that just won't happen. But at least it will be "stuff" you want to do.

What a busy busy weekend but oh so much fun. We celebrated Liam's 4th birthday on Friday. They had a bouncy house in the Multipurpose room here at the church. It was perfect!! Oh the fun we all had.
Saturday Doug and I went to breakfast then shopping. I am officially finished with all Birthday and Christmas presents. Now I have to get them all wrapped. We watched the SEC Championship game with Marty and Stephanie. I got to cuddle those girls til they were both fast asleep. This was one happy Nanny!!
Sunday saw us at the Middle School for our Community Christmas Concert. I was so proud of Doug - he love this every year. After the concert I got the rest of the decorations up and Doug worked on the hot tub. I hope to be able to use it before Christmas. Oh the joy of old houses. This was not an easy job!! Bless him!

Going to the Y tonight then home to start a bit of baking. I have decided not to do a bunch this year. I talked to each of the kids and Doug and asked what they just could not have - they each picked something so I now need to get busy.

WFDT ~ Chili (in the crock pot) and dough gobs.

Make it a great day!

 

[EJ4Disney]

Twinkling tinsel Tuesday,

It does not feel like Christmas here at all. We are suppose to be in the 60's all week and maybe drop to the upper 40's on the weekend. I want some snow or at least some cold weather. I live in Nebraska for goodness sakes. I remember one year when my parents lived in Las Vegas, I was sitting by the pool in 90 degree weather listening to Christmas Carols on Christmas Eve. That was so wrong - and the last time I spent Christmas at their house. They moved back a few years later.

I think we are taking the night off and going to the Basketball game tonight. Doug is in McCook at a sales meeting all day and I know he will be ready for some fun.

WFDT ~ if we go to the game, we will have a hot dog and popcorn. IF we don't we will eat planned overs. You all know what Doug will want.

Make it a great day!

 

[EJ4Disney]

Wonderful whimsical Wednesday

We had so much fun at the BBall game last night and won the game in the last few seconds. It was a buzzer beater for sure. The team we beat was said to be in the finals for state. Those boys were pumped for sure. So fun to watch.

Tonight I am going Christmas caroling with all of the youth groups. I am needed as a driver, but I would go either way. This is one of my favorite nights. I love it. Then I have to come back and sit in on the Christmas Choir Service rehearsal (this Sunday) so I can make sure the bulletin is going to be right. It will be a long day but a fun one.

WFDT ~ We are bringing pizza in before we leave to go caroling.

Make it a great day!

 

[franandaj]

Ellen,
I don't want you to be the only one Commenting here. We are eating like queens on the cruise!. When we get home, I told Fran that I won't cook again until we get the old house cleaned out. That will be my punishmentand will make me want to get it done sooner.
I'm glad everything is good for you, but I would hate it if it got cold enough to snow. 60s is cold enough for me!

 

[EJ4Disney]

Twinkling Trees Thursday

Alison ~ I am so glad you and Fran are being treated right. How long is it going to take you to get the old house cleaned out? I don't want you withering away to nothing!!

We had a ball last night, but it did upset me a bit at the same time. We have 3 little ladies that have failed so in the last year. My heart just broke. Two of them didn't even know me and the other one says, "I know you, what is your name?" It just made me so very sad. But there were some that had so much fun. They sang right along with us. There was one gentleman that had tears just running down his checks and couldn't thank us enough. Our church does go to the facilities each month and have a hymn sing along. It is amazing to see the ones that can't remember their name but will know each and every word to the old songs.

Today is my "Baby's" birthday. Matthew is 26 today! Talk about where did the time go. WOW!! I called him and sang to him at 6:30 this morning. He was born at 5:17 am but I was a good Momma and wait till I knew he was up. We are all going to meet him and Katlin in G.I. on Saturday. He has chosen Red Lobster. Katlin is taking him out for dinner tonight.

It is suppose to be in the high 60's today. But after today it is to get cooler. No snow but colder. I'll take it.

WFDT~ Chicken cutlets, stuffing and a tomato salad.

Make it a great day!

 

[EJ4Disney]

Fun Filled Friday and weekend.

Ladies ~ Hope you all have a great day and weekend.

Today is to be our last "nice" day. We are to get to the 60's and then tomorrow drop to the 40's with rain. At least it isn't snow as we are all going to be traveling. Matthew and Katlin are coming from Lincoln and we are all meeting in Grand Island to celebrate his birthday. Doug's Dad called yesterday and even he is going to make the trip. Doug, Dad and I are going in a bit early to do a bit of shopping. I am finished but they are not!! Silly men.
Sunday the girls and I are doing our Christmas baking. That is always a very fun day. And one that I completely look forward to.

WFDT ~ Lasagna, garlic bread and a green salad.

Make it a great day and a merry weekend.

 

[PrincessInOz]

The fun doesn't stop at work!!!!
It's been C-R-A-Z-Y and not in a good way.
Even worse.....the 'fun' is going to extend into next week. I'm supposed to be on 3 weeks leave at the end of next week. Now, I'm not sure! But I have to look at the silver lining....the 3 weeks leave was because of the workplace 'shutdown' over Christmas. Not that I'm complaining about having to take 3 weeks off. But if I have to work up to Christmas, I won't complain (too much).
Oh well. May we live in interesting times.

 

[franandaj]

So your project is going so well or needs work that now you aren't going to shutdown for Christmas?

WFD? Wolfgang Puck Grand Café. We're leaving in about 20 minutes so we have plenty of time to get there and browse and stop along the way.

 

[PrincessInOz]

So your project is going so well or needs work that now you aren't going to shutdown for Christmas?

It's the project from hell this week. There were last minute IT issues and we decided to hold off on pushing it out the door until the IT issues were fixed. The thing I don't understand is that some of these issues with major ones and should have been picked up a lot sooner. Thankfully, I'm not in charge of the IT part of the project. There may well be questions asked of IT as to what happened and why it got to this state next week.

 

[franandaj]

It's the project from hell this week. There were last minute IT issues and we decided to hold off on pushing it out the door until the IT issues were fixed. The thing I don't understand is that some of these issues with major ones and should have been picked up a lot sooner. Thankfully, I'm not in charge of the IT part of the project. There may well be questions asked of IT as to what happened and why it got to this state next week.

ugh, you're in marketing right? I hate when something descends into "Project from Hell" status. Since this is the WFD thread I realized that I had screwed up Royally. While I thought we were dining at the "Dining room at Wolfgang Puck Grand Café" we only had a reservation at the Wolfgang Puck Grand Café. I wasn't looking for Pizza, Pasta and burgers. I told Fran there was a Schnitzel on the menu and that there was sushi and other such stuff. Luckily I was able to get our reservation reassigned. Now it's at 9PM and not 7PM, so we need to get going again, but I would have been very disappointed to show up and find that we were eating at an average restaurant that served burgers, pasta and sandwiches when I thought we had a much higher caliber of meal coming!

 

[PrincessInOz]

ugh, you're in marketing right? I hate when something descends into "Project from Hell" status. Since this is the WFD thread I realized that I had screwed up Royally. While I thought we were dining at the "Dining room at Wolfgang Puck Grand Café" we only had a reservation at the Wolfgang Puck Grand Café. I wasn't looking for Pizza, Pasta and burgers. I told Fran there was a Schnitzel on the menu and that there was sushi and other such stuff. Luckily I was able to get our reservation reassigned. Now it's at 9PM and not 7PM, so we need to get going again, but I would have been very disappointed to show up and find that we were eating at an average restaurant that served burgers, pasta and sandwiches when I thought we had a much higher caliber of meal coming!

I'm in the "Business" side of the project, which includes Marketing. It threw all my neat and tidy plans into.....chaos.


Ugh! That's a shame about the dining reservation. Glad you got a re-assignment. Hope you're either enjoying the meal or in food coma by this stage.

 

[EJ4Disney]

Magical Monday - 11 days till Christmas.

PIO ~ I am so sorry that you are having trouble with your project. I really hope that it gets fixed soon and your 3 weeks of vacation isn't ruined. Bless your heart!

Alison ~ Glad you figured your reservation out before you got there. One time in WDW we had a reservation for the restaurant in France - the upscale one up stairs (If forget the name and too lazy right now) and when we showed up it was for downstairs. We were so disappointed, but they couldn't or wouldn't help us. So I know your feeling. But glad it all worked out for you. I keep thinking of you and Fran and wondering what you are doing, so I guess I am living your vacation with you.

Our Choir Sunday Service was yesterday and it was a "hot mess" but in such a GREAT way. The children stole the show. During Peace, Peace at the end, one of the 3 year olds had had it with her pretty hair and proceeded to tear it out. It was hilarious and really lightened the mood for me. I have such a hard time with that every since my Momma died. Lilly, Ethan and Liam were so proud of themselves. Was wonderful from start to finish. The choir directors were mortified in a few spots but to us it was beautiful!!!

ON an angry note - I am SO angry with Amazon. I need to figure out how to complain. I ordered a Fit bit for Stephanie on the 2nd of December. It showed it was available and eligible for Prime. It still hasn't even been shipped!! I realize I live in the boonies - but right on I80. The other things I have ordered should be here tomorrow and those took almost 10 days. I really need to know if the darn thing is going to get here for Christmas or not!! If not I will go out and buy her one. GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!! What good is paying for Prime when I don't get any of the benefits. I might have to rethink this!

I will tell you - I was tired beyond belief last night. I hate to admit it, but I think my age is catching up with me. We shopped all day Saturday and then all the kids met for dinner to celebrate Matthew's birthday. We had so much fun, but the time just flew and he was gone again. Not near enough time together - but better than nothing. Yesterday was our Choir service and right after we all met at Elizabeth's to get our baking done. I can't tell you how full my heart was yesterday. We had so much fun, and got it all finished. But by the time I got home last night I was almost sick. I got my jammies on and didn't move till bed. Slept good and feel great this morning. I hate to admit I'm getting old. Days like that never ever used to bother me. Wow, I was tired.

Cards out, baking finished, shopping done - now I have to wrap it all. We have the girls next weekend and Doug is on call, so it has to be finished before then. I guess I will be burning some midnight oil. Wish me luck.

WFDT ~ Meatloaf, baked potatoes and simmered green beans.

Make it a great day!!

 

[franandaj]

I'm so glad you had such a happy and full weekend. Stuff like that wears me out too. I hate to admit I'm getting old as well, but it beats the alternative! That sucks about the fit bit. I hope you get it figured out.

Tonight we're going to 50's Prime Time and I'm pretty sure we're having fried chicken. I'm in a huge line at Starbucks. Going to pay with my MB for the first time!