Weekly Menu

Happy Friday!

I hope those of you who are getting back into the swing of the school year are doing well and those of you who are getting ready are getting some extra fun in before school starts!

Click here for a downloadable printable of this week's menu.

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken from Real Food Dieticians
Tomato Basil Turkey Meatloaf from Little Bits of
Chicken Broccoli Pasta Salad from Belly Full

Motivational Monday: Just Focus on the 24 hours ahead of you

Let me know if you can relate to this.

When I think about a big goal...for example, my biggest goal is to lose weight (a lot of weight)...I get overwhelmed and discouraged because it will take just about forever to reach that goal. Sometimes, I get so discouraged, I set myself back.

This year, when I set up my goals for 18 for 2018, I was able to take those goals and break them down. I had a year to accomplish all of these things.

Even though I didn't include "lose weight", I did include some goals about changing my eating style and adding regular workouts to my week. With those goals, I worked up to achieving them. Every day, when I am looking at these goals in my planner, I focus just on what I can do that day. I can walk or go to the gym. I can avoid foods that make me feel droopy. I can get through the day. And tomorrow is another day. I can focus on tomorrow when tomorrow arrives.

We are just about 2/3s of the way through the year and I never imagined I could have gotten to where I am today when I started this project. By focusing on each day as it comes, I am making great strides in my life and you can too!

Are you working toward a goal? Or are you paralyzed by what it takes to accomplish those goals? Share below, let's chat!

Weekly Menu

Happy Friday!

Have a good week!

Click here for a downloadable printable of this week's menu.

Slow Cooker Beef Tips and Rice from Southern Bite

One Pot Creamy Ziti with Andouille Sausage and Mushrooms from Diethood

BBQ Chicken Tostadas from Cupcakes and Kale Chips

Sheet Pan Kielbasa and Veggies

This is my favorite recipe! It is one of those dishes you can throw together with little planning and even littler time...don't grammar police that.

In the recipe I will be sharing below, I am going to share my favorite way to make this dish, but you can make it with any variety of kielbasa and any veggies you have on hand that need to be used.

First, you slice up the kielbasa and add it to an aluminum foil covered baking sheet.

Then, you prepare the veggies and add them to the baking sheet.

Third, you coat everything in the oil of your choice. Season to taste.

Finally, you bake it in the oven for 18-22 minutes at 425 degrees.

And ta-da!  So good!

Recipe:

1 polska kielbasa, sliced
8 oz broccoli florets
3/4 lb baby carrots
1 pint of baby bella mushrooms, washed and dried
1-2 handfuls of frozen shredded hashbrowns

Mix everything on a sheet pan, coat with olive oil. Season with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.

Bake at 425 for 18-22 minutes until vegetables are cooked to desired texture.

Road Trip Fun & Games

Summer vacations often mean road trips. Without some planning, road trips can be stressful, but with a little planning, road trips can be the best part of a trip!

I remember when we were younger, my parents took us on a trip to Grandma's house in the pickup truck and we took the highway instead of the interstate.

As we were driving along, the seat belts in the backseat would pull in a click as we went over the bumps. My brother and I were complaining and my parents kept saying "Push it in and pull it out". After we complained about it probably about 30 times, my little brother announced he had a wedgie and my dad, frustrated by our seat belt complaints, grouchily said "Well, push it in and pull it back out!"

We all just stared at him and started laughing. We talk about that to this day, like 20 years later.

So, how can you make road trips fun?

Games and Snacks!

Some of my favorites are...

1. I Spy!

This is a game best played on a highway, not an interstate, where you describe something you see by color or shape and the other people in the car have to guess what it is.

2. Red Car!

In this game, you count red cars. Everyone can count a red car, but if you pass a church, it clears out the count on the side of the car the church was on. So, if you pass a church on the right, everyone on the passenger side loses all of their cars.

3. The License Plate Game

You get a list of states and cross off the ones that you see while you are driving. Highest count wins!

4. Spot the Car

You get a list of car models and you cross off the ones that you see. Highest count wins!

5. I'm Going on a Picnic

In this game, the first person says "I'm Going on a Picnic and I'm bringing a __________ (something that starts with an A)". The second person says "I'm Going on a Picnic and and bringing a (what the first person said for A) and a _____________________ (something that starts with B)." Then, you continue through the alphabet.

When someone forgets the list, they are out. The games ends when you get to Z or when all but one person is out.

And those are my 5 favorite mostly prop-less car games!

Have fun road tripping!

Click here for a link to a page with the License Plate Game and the Spot the Car Game.

Motivational Monday: Don't compare your life to others

We live in a world of highlight reels. From Instagram to Facebook, people tend to share their best moments. Good hair, good makeup, good memories. So, it is easy to think that your life doesn't compare to other people's lives.

It is important to remember that people don't necessarily share their worst moments, worst hair, worst makeup, deepest struggles. Think about your Instagram feed...do you easily share yourself without a filter makeup free? I absolutely don't.

Think about someone's feed that made you feel less than recently. Behind that pretty smile and good hair may be a failing marriage, a sick parent, a waffling career, or worse. You don't know their full story, but you do know yours.

And your story is something to celebrate! If you are in a rough patch, that rough patch is going to make the next time life feels easier feel even better. Each rough patch builds character and strength and brings on even brighter light when things even out.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that life is a series of highs and lows. Each high seems higher because of the low I have climbed out of to get there.

So please don't compare your life to others. You will get your time to shine.

Are you having a rough patch? Are you going through an easy time? Share some of your story below. I would love to start a conversation with you.

Weekly Menu

Happy Friday Everyone!

I hope you have a fantastic weekend...here is another dose of weekly menu for you.

Click here for a downloadable printable of this week's menu.

Italian Paleo Chicken Fingers from Tastes of Lizzy T
Slow Cooker Beef Teriyaki from Evolving Table
Sheet Pan Chicken Shawarma from Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen