Menu Plan Monday

Menu Plan Monday with Laura at Org Junkie

Monday: Appie Night

We have a night at home and lots of specific foods to use up - so I'll be making Crab dip, BBQ'd chicken wings, Zucchini fries and other easy things like Boursin and Crackers. We might have some friends from Calgary home for dinner as well and therefore wanted something that can easily feed just or house or guests also if needed. 

Tuesday: Zucchini Lasagne

Is lifegroup and I already made Zucchini Lasagna for lifegroup but had to freeze it when LG was cancelled, so this will come out of the freezer and be ready for us to eat. I'll make a ceasar salad to go with it, and throw some garlic bread in the oven as well. Not an overly summer meal, but the Zucchini helps lighten it up. 

Wednesday: Slow cooker Pork with Zucchini Pizza and Orzo

Wednesday Paul is needing to move some furniture so I'm making a good meal to help pay his helpers with. The pork will cook easily while I'm at work and the rest I can easily whip up at home. 

Thursday: Slow Cooker Rice and Chicken

Paul has a camp dinner meeting and I have a wedding rehearsal and dinner to go to, so this meal can easily be put in the slow cooker in the morning and our students can dish up themselves. 

Friday: Crock pot Creamy Chicken Taco's

Friday we need to be packing for our week away, so we're having a meal that's easy. Also we wanted to make sure that it was a meal that everyone loved since they'll be on their own for a week!

Saturday, August 17th to Friday, August 23rd: YOYO (You're On Your Own) 

Paul and I are off to teen camp, Camp 8 at Anvil Island, for a week. We're so excited! Paul will be a cabin leader and I'll be on the program staff. It's a funny way to take our "vacation" but we know it's a place where God will use us!

Meals for while we are away:

Crock pot Chicken Taco Chili (prepped by me)

Brazillian Rice and Beans by Ana

Hamburger Helper x2 (Rachel & Kayla)

Sloppy Joes (Duncan)

After a busy but amazing and relaxing weekend I'm back at the grind - more to come on my weekend tomorrow. What you can expect? Gorgeous views, lots of pics with friends and pictures of me doing decidedly un-Tara like things - fishing and playing with dogs? What??

Sneak Peak Photos from the Weekend:

Yup, pretty awesome indeed.

Entryway Awesomeness

So there are a couple projects I've worked on lately that have made my heart sing with happiness. There are also a couple projects I've worked on lately that do not. Boo. But I'm still trying to salvage those. In the meantime, I'm loving seeing the first set of results from the happy projects. 

Our entry way has been begging for a revamp for sometime. When we first moved in I had NO IDEA how to deal with it. When I was posting pics on here of the new home my friend Marisa told me that if I ever figured out what to do with entryway she wanted to know as she had a similar entry way and no idea what to do with it either. It's a problem area. Here is the entry way in all her before glory. 

Yikes. Also I just noticed how in some lights the carpet looks pink and then looks tan in other lights. Weird. 

The second people started coming over we realized we really needed a shoe rack of some form. We bought some little racks from Zellers. Which we discovered no one ever used. People just threw their shoes all over the floor as they weren't right next to a shoe rack. Beyond frustrating! It's so hard to make an entry way feel welcoming and inviting when you have to step over a graveyard of shoes. It took us a while to work out a better solution. In the meantime I added bookshelves to the top of the stairs and put up a picture collage. That really helped make the space seem intentionally.

I left this area alone for a while. I was disheartened by it. I had no idea what I could put in it's place to help stem the tide of messy shoes AND make the area actually look great (something our wooden rack did NOT do). Then I read Cassie's post on garage organization where she mentioned these galvanized shelves and I fell in love. Then I imagined them painted turquoise and I fell even more in love. I remembered back to my figuring painting post and how much I'd LOVED that turquoise, it was Blue Lagoon's Rustoleum. In that moment I knew it would look awesome on Ikea's galvanized shelves. I immediately set out for Ikea only to discover that they were sold out! Not to be discouraged, I came back the next week and low and behold! They were there. I bought two sets. 

Our living room is full of browns, white and grey's. Case in point:

[Christmas 2012]

[summer 2013]

I like it, and it's cozy but it could use some livening up. Turquoise would be a great accent color. I also have some other painting plans involving turquoise for my drinks stand and my tall hutch and this seems like a perfect way to tie the colors across the house and to the entryway. I decided that having a turquoise shelf at the base of the stairs for shoes and mail and one at the top of the stairs for keys and phones and purses when groups come over would be awesome. Paul didn't believe me that this would be awesome (he has since recanted that belief and LOVED the outcome) but I pressed forward anyways. 

I started by laying out the shelves in our garage to paint and dry. One coat on each side of the shelf and a coat for each side of the legs - it took about 2 and a half cans of paint and a couple days. Once the color was on I was immediately in love. 

Paul helped me put them together and it took about 45 minutes to get the two of them pieced together. Then I got to stage them - they needed to be functional and cute. Our front entryway needed some sort of pow when you walked in. Thankfully some great friends had given me a Michael's gift card for my 30th and so I swung by there one Saturday to see what I could find. And boy did I hit the mother lode. On top of some stuff for other projects there was a big sale on; I got a large basket for shoes for $12 (normally $25), three cool letter balls (P for Paul, T for Tara, M for Morgan - ground breaking, I know), a funky white vase for $8 and two bird houses (normally $15 and $25 each, on for $5 and $8). I was so very happy. 

I found in my house a tall vase to add the balls to and shopped my container collections for two tins from target's dollar section, and an orchid from the throwaway part of my work's move. Lastly I went to Home Sense and grabbed two locker baskets for the top of the stairs for purses. I also turned a white plastic basket into a wire basket with some spray painted and added that to catch mail. 

Speaking of things we were getting rid of at work, we were getting rid of an umbrella stand. So I snagged it. I sprayed it black, taped off some sections and sprayed them gold and voila - new life for an old stand! It's the perfect compliment. 

It's come together beautifully! Now I LOVE my front entryway!

For one final before and after shot - it's my favorite view of the space. 

Vivid

Growing up I didn't really have friends. I definitely didn't have any at school until grade 4 - and even then I had them for a year and switched schools, therefore having to make new friends, which seemed to rotate every year, one friend per year until junior high when I had a small group of friends - though I was never sure if they actually liked me or if they just tolerated me hanging around (I know they like me now though). And through all of that the bullies voices were loud and clear. On top of that school was rGrowing up I didn't really have friends. I definitely didn't have any at school until grade 4 - and even then I had them for a year and switched schools, therefore having to make new friends, which seemed to rotate every year, one friend per year until junior high when I had a small group of friends - though I was never sure if they actually liked me or if they just tolerated me hanging around (I know they like me now though). And through all of that the bullies voices were loud and clear. On top of that school was really hard for me. I struggled to focus and to understand what the teacher was talking about and how to apply any of it. 

That being said I have quite a few very vivid memories from my elementary school days. Must of that time is a blur - between a lack of focus due to the ADD and a real legitimate repression of crap memories - these vivid memories stick out starkly. 

Memory: It's a sunny day - I'm sitting on the grass at Alberni Elementary School, alone. I can hear kids laughing all around me, it's lunch time. I remember that my heart doesn't feel sad not to be included with them, it no longer expects that. I feel happy in my memory - I feel free. There is a light wind and a strong sun.  I have a pile of leaves in front of me and I'm wrapping grass belts around them to make leaf people to play with - only I called them grass people. Every lunch hour I made a colony of new grass people friends to play with. 

Memory: It's the middle of a long class room day - my little crazy mind can barely handle how slow the day feels. It's probably math time. I keep trying to focus but I can't. I'm wearing a sailor styled T shirt and I like that a lot. Still can't focus. In my mind I can see my imaginary dog friend running around the class room. He's barking and playing. Imagining him there makes my heart so much happier. I can also see my imaginary mouse - he peeks out from the wall where I imagine one of those cartoon mouse doors leading into his home. He knows the dog is his friend. He goes out to meet him and they play tag under our desks - the mouse scampering up the legs of my classmates. It's hard not to giggle as they play. 

Memory: It’s the same classroom – of course – the days feel like years. One day is different, the battery went out of the classroom clock and the time is wrong. The teacher pulls the clock down as  we all watch, spinning the time forward quickly. I joke to the boy next to me, “time sure flies when you’re having fun.” He doesn't get my joke and stares at me like I’m crazy.

Memory: I'm sitting on the edge of the school yard on a cement wall waiting. Cars drive by and kids all around me flail their arms asking the passing vehicles to honk their horns. Many cars do this – the honking is such a fun sound. I see my mom pull up and I just off the wall and run to the car – it’s pizza boat day! We drive across the street to the little deli. She orders us pizza boats and my heart is so happy – lunch time date with mom and pizza boats!

Memory: Waiting again for mom to pick me up – School is over and instead of waiting on the wall I’m at the playground, on the tire swing. My red velvet Christmas dress is so pretty on me. No one commented on it in class but I feel beautiful. The other kids are gone – mom is rushing over after work – while I wait I spin on the tire swing. Spinning and spinning – my mind is finally still because the spinning is too hard to focus through. Finally I hear her honking and waving happily. I can’t run over because I am dizzy but I lurch crazily towards her and am happy to be in the car heading to a church party.

Memory: Jenna and I hang from the trees by the road. We laugh and giggle at jokes only we hear. We are finally free from school and free from our piano lessons! We are waiting for our ride home and are so very glad to be done for the day. We make silly jokes and we dare each other to make weird poses for the passing cars. We pile into the car when mom arrives laughing and breathless.

Memory: Dad is waiting on the road just off of the baseball field. I run over and he hands me a helmet and I hop on. As we zip home, my little heart feels so happy – for a moment I am cool and I am free and the wind feels so good. It too drowns out the thinking in my head.

Memory: Dad pulls up to the ballet school on the bike. Mom pulls up to the ballet school in her car. I race to the motorcycle in my leotard and throw the helmet on. Jenna in her leotard jumps into the front seat of the van. Dad shouts to mom, “I’ll race you.” And he does. As we drive back across town sometimes Dad and I are ahead – we laugh and wave. Sometimes Jenna and mom are ahead – Jenna sticks her nose out at us and we all laugh. Dad makes it home moments before mom. We all laugh together outside the house.

Memory: I'm done kindergarden for the day and I'm in Auntie Sandy's van - Jenna's there too and we're on our way to pick up LeAnna. She gets into the car and we are all so excited to be together, as we are every day. We will go home and eat and play. I can see LeAnna's brown curly hair and sweet smile. Jenna's whispy pony tail seem so small in comparison! I am so glad that cousins and sisters are friends. 

Summer Days and Menu Planning

Menu Plan Monday with Laura at Org Junkie

Monday: BBQ and Indian Leftovers

Marinaded Chicken Skewers and Roasted Veg, with naan and rice and much more. Dinner on the deck with the McCarthy's. 

Tuesday: Paul's famous Chili

I have a camp meeting (Paul and I are volunteering at a teen camp in late August and I have a program meeting) that includes dinner, so Paul is making his famous chili, which apparently our roommates have been "calling for". He told me this very proudly when we were shopping in the US on Saturday and he had to pick out his chili items.

Wednesday: Slow Cooker Pesto Spinach Lasagna

Wednesday is my second meeting with the Physiotherapist after work, so I need something that I can just start serving when I get home. This is perfect. 

Thursday: Hamburger Helper

Paul is out and I'm tired, so it's an easy dinner for the students and myself. Hamburger Helper for the win!

Friday: Appie Night! Spinach Dip, Crab Dip, BBQ'd wings and Veggies & Dip

We are having the Whittons over and they love food as much as we do. I always try to make them something tasty

Saturday: YOYO (You're On Your Own) 

Paul and I are away for the day, so our students are on their own. Except for Ana, she'll be with me at the lake for the day and I'll have food for us.

Sunday: YOYO (You're On Your Own) 

Sunday we're out at the lake celebrating a friends birthday, so our housemates are on their own again. But as one of them pointed out while I was unpacking groceries from the states, that's actually just licence to eat awesome prepackaged food when they want. 

It's the time of summer where activities just seem better. 

Saturday we took a drive down to Seattle. Thankfully we left early - the border lineups were already 2 hours long by 7am!! That's unheard of! We drove over to Sumas crossing and got through in 20 minutes and were still on time for our lunch - if we'd waited at the Peace Arch we would have been late for sure! We were meeting up with some of Paul's college friends from Ecola at Cannon Beach. The picnic was great; beach, relaxation, sun - picnics in the park are always lovely. 

[above photos taken by Autumn Wills]

Paul has been talking about his Ecola friends for as long as I have known him. It was a pleasure to finally meet them - they were kind and welcoming. I totally understood why he liked them so much! And the beach was gorgeous.

Later Paul and I grabbed some cold Starbucks and headed out around Seattle, having fun in Trader Joes (a fancy one in West Seattle) and racing through Costco. It was a successful trip. Well worth it. We met up with friends (Rebekah and Tony) for a bit before winding our way home - we didn't make it home until midnight, where our housemates were awake and ready to help us unload - now that's a treat!

Sunday we slept in and then spent the morning tidying and organizing and cleaning. The house was slowly being whipped into shape. And boy was I glad for that! Then it was time for church - I love our family and our friends - how great to be together. 

Also at church I almost matched Lindsay - great minds dress alike!

After church we pulled out our new fire pit ($50 from Walmart) and roasted smokies on our deck, and made s'mores with our roomies. We laughed and talked and drank homemade Black tea lemonade  It was perfect. I even went to bed early, just for fun. 

Monday was a holiday  a classic summer day in BC. We woke up bright and early and headed to the lake, floaties and lunch in hand. Two of our students and my sisters family came - I love water time with my nephews. We played Frisbee in the water, floated and read, took float trips with the boys and sat around and chatted. I got to fool around with the boys and Paul tossed me in more times than I can count. We got home happy and rested and ready to have friends over for a lazy summer evening on the patio. The McCarthy's brought Indian leftovers, and I made some chicken skewers and roasted veggies and it was a lovely evening. Perfect way to end an weekend. 

All in all, sitting here on a Tuesday after a long weekend, I can say that this was a great weekend - and I feel ready to face a new week - knowing that next weekend brings more sun and lake days. Thank you Jesus. 

Quick Take Friday (Volume 8)

--- 1 --- 

This week many of my friends and family members are in Florida, at Disneyworld for our church movements World Conference, ENV GO Conference. I am learning a lesson about not coveting. Because I would give me right hip (that's the bad one) to be at this conference. Not only are vancouver friends and family there, but my SOM 2012 friends, and SOM 2008 friends and ENV Nashville friends AND ENV Canada friends. I would say that over 200 people I know and like are gathered with thousands of church family to celebrate God and all He is doing and I SO BADLY WANT TO BE THERE. That being said, it's wonderful to see them all getting to enjoy life there together - if only my Vancouver peeps and SOM 2012 peeps would connect - y'all would love each other, I'm sure of it. 

So to all my ENV'ers, here or in Florida - I love you and am so glad to call you family. 

--- 2 --- 

Recently at church our friend Nate Lim was preaching. He was talking about thankfulness - "The Path the gratefulness". He was using Psalm 16 as his reference. He said that gratitude without Jesus is directionless and inconsistent. Without God, as a goal, without purpose or a giver, it's hard to maintain thankfulness. Our hearts are so fickle and inconsistent. The same set of circumstances one day can prompt thankfulness in our spirit and the next day, can prompt sadness. 

His main message was what it looks like to live a thankful life, out of this Psalm. The passage says that we must admit that we are broken first. That's our starting point. If we don't realize we are broken, then we won't see that we are saved, and it's hard to be grateful if you don't realize that our lives are a gift. So many of us are "pre-contemplative" - we haven't yet even realized our sickness or even begun to contemplate asking for help. Then before anything else, once we realize we are broken, God hears our cry. As soon as we cry, as we cry - he's not waiting for us to cry out and change, but that God hears our cry - this is first why we are grateful. Part of this cry is calling out to Him. And amazingly, He answers and saves us (vs 5-9). In our current state!!! The Psalmist responds with our only response, how can I repay? The Psalm answers that as well; we received or take the salvation offered by Christ. We aren't asked to give back or to earn something, we are to receive the free offering of salvation from Christ. 

And then, after all that, then we thank. Gratitude is worship to Christ. 

If we are honest, it's a choice to be grateful. It's about Lordship - who is in control of your life? When we are ungrateful we put our circumstances ahead of Jesus. When we are ungrateful we put our right to be displeased in front of Jesus - we turn our displeasure into an idol. Do we say our own needs and wants are more important than Jesus? We pay our thankfulness with the control of our lives to Jesus. Lordship is our response in thankfulness to him.

I found this message very touching this week; I'm a type A personality. I like to control things. We're trying to get pregnant and I think the reason I'm currently m ost bugged that we're not pregnant yet is that I wanted us to be and I didn't get my way yet. If I'm being very honest. 

This message touched me because it seemed God was giving me an opportunity to give up my need to control. To first admit my brokeness, then to cry out to Him and accept his saving grace and turn to Him, in worship, control of my life. What a wonderful moment to experience. It means giving up control, which if I'm honest again, I'm not as good as having as I'd like to. My controlling ways are never as good as His perfect ways. I'm thankful for his gentleness as he teaches me this. 

--- 3 --- 

On a lighter note we had a wine and cheese party at work this week - wine and cheese and meat and oh my, it was tasty. I'll tell you what - didn't mind eating the leftovers today as well. Currently I've had some wine at my desk (allowed of course) and it makes a nice addition to the work day. Of course this is a once off - work time drinking is generally not appropriate or accepted here but for this rare shining moment, it's kind of fun. 

--- 4 --- 

Wednesday night Paul and I went over to Nate and Leah's house for a visit - the goal was to visit for a couple hours - and yet almost 5 hours later we left - now that's a quality time. And to show my husband JUST HOW MUCH I LOVED HIM, I even volunteered to walk to their house! They live less than 10 minutes away from us, but with my chronic back pain, that's a ten minute walk filled with agony. Unfortunately my husband loves to walk. So I picked this moment to speak his love language - and he was very thankful. He saw it for the sacrifice it was. True love people, true love. 

--- 5 --- 

Back update: some of you might remember that I had back surgery almost 3 years ago. Since then I have had a few flareups and have ended up missing a couple weeks of work at a time while each flare up heals. We don't know why these flareups happen or how to stop them. But this last time, the doctor decided he thinks the key to limiting flareups, and having me in a position that if they occur they dissipate quickly, is core strength. 

Ugh. I know, I know, I should be happy that I don't have to do another surgery or something worse but my whole life I have struggled with my core strength and know that working on it is going to suck. That being said I know it will be good for my whole being, and not just my back. And it will also be good for my body when (prayers!) I get pregnant - from pregnancy to labour. 

The doctor suggests 10-15 minutes 4-5 days a week spent on core strengthening. My plan is to see a physiotherapist (appointment this afternoon) to make a plan for what to do in that 10-15 minutes so the exercises can be specifically targeting the right areas for maximum help. Also I plan to take 2 classes a week at a local gym - one yoga type class and one core specific class. 

Right off the bat, I decided that even before I saw someone I should be starting at home. So one morning I got up, put on my exercise gear (which I always wear for bike riding to work) and laid down on the floor at the foot of our bed (with Paul sleeping away). I set my phone alarm for 10 minutes. And I started doing crunches, cycle twists, etc. Almost right away my grunts and groans woke Paul up - he had no idea what I was doing, he couldn't see me, and given the noises I was making, he could only assume I'd fallen and broken something or was in the process of dying. Thankfully neither was true, though the exercises were sure hard! 

I kept plugging away though. I'm a trooper, right? And this is my health we're talking about. After what felt like FOREVER I began to wonder why my alarm hadn't gone yet. Clearly it had been over 10 minutes - my alarm must have malfunctioned. Maybe I had just set the stop watch by accident. I grabbed my phone to confirm and realized that I had been exercising for an entire 3 minutes. Yikes. It felt like forever. This was not a good start to the new regime.

--- 6 --- 

Speaking of new, we know have our friend Kayla living with us for August. That means we have Duncan (male Canadian), Ana (female Brazillian) and Rachel and Kayla (both female Canadian). Then for Sept we have Duncan, Rachel and my friend Lyndsay Kinghorn (female Canadian). We have room for one more. We had a Chinese high school student planning to move in but her visa was denied so she isn't coming here to study anymore. Langara is trying to find us someone and so are facebook friends. I feel confident we'll get the right person. 

I love, love, love our home and having people in it.

 --- 7 --- 

This weekend we're headed to Seattle for the day Saturday. There's a mini reunion for some of Paul's bible college friends. I haven't met any of them and I'm looking forward to it. Plus we'll do some shopping and generally have a good day date together. We'll eat dinner with my friends Rebekah and Tony and then head back to Vancouver. This means grocery shopping, and a road trip! Win. 

We are also spending tonight with Paul's grandparents. Sunday is a rest at home sort of day before church and Monday I'm going to the lake with the Maxwell's before picking someone up at the airport. It's going to be a great long weekend!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

He makes a home for the lonely

It's currently Sunday - it's after church but before our evening plans. We spent the day out at the lake with one of our home stay students, Ana. We floated and rested and my back and heart thank me for today. We came back in time for church - and my heart even more so thanks me for that choice. My spirit is encouraged - God was working at church. On top of that I am continually amazed by God's gift of His people. These are broken, flawed people. I talk to them and sometimes their insecurities are obvious, sometimes not. Sometimes their flaws are blatantly obvious and sometimes they seem perfect. They are human - wonderfully so. They have the power to hurt other people, and in their humaneness they are selfish (as all people are) - and yet they are the biggest gift to me imaginable. The joy of being in community that is real and engaging is unbelievable - unless you experience it you won't understand. It seems impossible to get such joy from flawed people. And yet, that is the system God has put in place. He calls us into community. He makes a home for the lonely. 

I was lonely for so long. Growing up I had family and community but was still so lonely. It was God, first winning my heart and giving me a reason to be secure and be significant that allowed me to embrace family and community as He intended. As He moved in my heart He showed me how to accept and receive love from others. For years I felt the weight of my loneliness as a stone in my heart. When I was young I stopped crying. I will cry in movies and books, no problem - annoyingly easy. But for my own pain, I learned to stop that flow of emotions or I would have cried endlessly in elementary school and Junior High. I would hear about people experiencing community and long for it so much - yearn for that feeling. You know that feeling, like when someone compliments you, and you feel like inside you're just so so so happy and you can't believe they're saying such nice things about you, but equally feeling so awkward to receive the compliment? It's like that - I yearned for it, craved it, but could never imagine it happening. 

The Psalms say that God makes a home for the lonely, He brings the prisoners out of captivity. I was captive in my insecurity and sin for so long - I was in bondange to wishing for relationships and friendships - they seemed impossible to attain. When Christ saved me from my sin - when He forgave me and died for me and EMPOWERED me to live FOR HIM - he did so much more than just save me - He gave me a new life and part of that is community. He gave me girlfriends. He gave me a husband. He gave me friends I can call to talk to. When my back went out last year two friends came with Paul and I to the ER and helped me change and move. When we moved 15 people came out to help even though they knew we owned lots of heavy books. People text and facebook and email to see how we are - to see how trying to get pregnant is going, and how our hearts our doing, and how Paul's job prospects are and how our day to day lives are going. God has given us people that genuinely care about us. He has made a home for two lonely people. 

Paul asked 8 girls to prom and they all said no. I didn't ask anyone to prom because I'm a girl, but I was also not asked to prom or any high school or junior high dances. When Paul and I were young our parents worried about both of us because we both tended to gravitate to adults to talk to since people our age didn't want to talk to us. God has given us a home now and friends. He used those years to make us tender, to teach us to care for others and to know acutely how it feels to be "on the outside". And He now gives us the opportunity to use those painful lessons to love others and draw them into the community He's given us. Now that's fun. 

Now some of you reading this don't have community or feel like you don't have friendships like these. And also you love Jesus. And it's hard. I wish I could tell you that there is an easy answer. I can't. I won't pretend that we never feel lonely. I won't pretend that we don't get hurt by people and get let down by friends. One of my biggest fears is that I will hurt a friend somehow unknowingly and they will cut me off - and that happens at least once a year (to my great sadness). I do know that God is good. He is kind. He has a plan and he is bigger than our pain and our hurts and our joys and our shame. I can't control people. I can't build a community. I can only turn to Christ as Lord of my life - offering Him control of my life in thanks for His graciousness and pray that He meets me there - and He does. Even if it doesn't always look how I expect. 

**Note: None of these pictures are mine. Because I'm in them. Thanks Facebook! 

(and three from Stefany Mailhiot Photography)**

Menu Plan Monday

Menu Plan Monday with Laura at Org Junkie

This week's Menu Plan Monday is full of Zucchini. Paul planted us three Zucchini plants and man they are growing! I'll also be making Zucchini Chocolate Chip Loaf, and Chocolate Zucchini Cake - mmmmmm. 

Monday: Crockpot Cool Ranch Taco's

We have a busy catching up night - laundry, grocery shopping, etc and need something easy. 

Tuesday: Zucchini Lasagne

Is lifegroup and is a great way to use up a lot of Zucchini - plus our gang LOVES my Zucchini Lasagne - I use noodles and Zucchini and it's excellent. 

Wednesday: Slow cooker Pork with Cheesy Zucchini Orzo and Zucchini Boats

Wednesday we have a date with the Lim's at 8, so there's time to make real side dishes if I use the slow cooker on the meat. I'm excited to use up the Pork tenderloin I got on sale at Costco. 

Thursday: Slow Cooker Rice and Chicken

Thursday is my time with Jenna, so slow cooker meals are the way to go!

Friday: Pasta, Zucchini and Meatballs

Easy and uses up things that need to be eaten.

Saturday: YOYO (You're On Your Own) 

Paul and I are away for the day so our housemates are on their own!

Sunday: Zucchini Burgers with Broccoli Salad and Devilled Eggs (from BooMama's book)

I love a good hearty summery meal after church - this fits the bill perfectly.