Avocado = Delicious

I really cannot express the fun that I am having with my weekly E-meals plans.

It has to be the best $30 that I have EVER spent.

Cooking is fun again and even hubby is enjoying the adventure of new recipes.

I love that the recipes usually take only 25-30 minutes to prepare.

Saturday I was encouraged to try a new salad dressing.

I guess that I would call it Greek Avocado Dressing or Guacamole Dressing.

Hubby said that I was not to let that recipe slip through the cracks.

He really wants to see it again.

We enjoyed it on plain red leaf lettuce with a little Mexican blend cheese.

It mixes up THICK and hubby plans to use the leftovers with some tortilla chips :)

Greek Avocado Dressing

1 large avocado, peeled and cube

2 tsp lemon juice

1/2 c plain Greek yogurt

1 tsp hot sauce

1/4 olive oil

2 cloves garlic

3/4 tsp salt

Blend in blender until smooth.

Serve as desired.

Weekly meal plan:

Sunday - Tuscan Sausage and Peppers

Monday - Greek Sausage Frittata

Tuesday - Citrus Salmon with Capers

Wednesday - Lentil Soup with French Bread

Thursday - Greek Seasoned Pork

Friday - BBQ Stuffed Potatoes

Saturday - Tuscan Beans over Rice

Friday Forum: Less or More

I told you earlier this week that I was challenged to do some extra cleaning projects this week.

I did find more than 35 things to discard.

I completed 4 of the 5 tasks.

I did not clean the freezers - mostly because both are PACKED right now.

Some of the jobs were easy.

I was not looking forward to cleaning under all of the furniture...

but ...

I was surprised -  

between paring down  for the move

and being more deliberate in keeping the clutter out,

that job was not so hard.

I did find about 2 1/2 bunnies under my bed

and another 3 behind the fridge,

but they were easily swept up.

I have not always wanted to live simply,

but I am becoming more of a believer that 

"Less is More."

We are trying to find more efficient ways to exercise,

more deliberate ways to be healthy,

and after the easy clean this week - still desiring to keep the "stuff" to a minimum.

Are you in the "less is more" camp?

or

Maybe you have many treasures and 

don't mind the work that comes with them?

Health and Challenge

Today I am thankful for renewed health.

No one is a fan of sickness.

After 4 days of a bad cold,

I am happy to be feeling better ...

still not 100%, but I can breathe again :)

I am also thankful for others who challenge.

One of the blogs that I follow offered a 4 week clean home challenge.

The challenge is broken into 5 projects each week along 

and removal of 35 items from the house each week.

I have begun this week.

So far I have ...

cleaned the fridge,

cleaned my purse,

and vacuumed the furniture in the living room.

I still need to clean under the beds and behind large pieces of furniture

and clean the freezer.

I did find about 40 items to remove from the house - 

some were clothing items,

some were unused jewelry,

some were food items I no longer desired to use,

and some were expired medications.

Budgeting

Proverbs 22:27 

If thou hast nothing to pay, 

why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

The Biblical approach to finances is far different from that of the society around us.
Hubby had to attend a financial management course a few years ago.
We were pleased that debt was discouraged,
but we were amazed that mortgages and car loans were encouraged.
Doesn't make sense, does it?

Of course, it is easy to justify mortgages and car loans.
Everyone should have a house, right?
A car is a necessity in order to keep a job, right?
You would have to save forever to pay cash for a house!

I know that the arguments seem to make sense,
but the instruction of God's Word is clear:
Avoid debt.

It is tough today -
we want what we had growing up ...
we don't want to wait to reach our goals ...

The future is not guaranteed,
where might debt leave you if ...
you lost your job,
you got sick,
...

The wisdom of the world is so enticing,
but the wisdom of God is ... well, the wisdom of God!

Colossians 2:8 
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, 
after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, 
and not after Christ.

The Good Shepherd

Still down with the cold ...

Have worked on some cleaning projects ...

and meditating on the Sunday School lesson for Sunday.

The lost sheep and the lost coin.

Psalm 23:1

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Do you ever feel like this little lamb?

So glad for the Shepherd ...

Under the Weather

Doctoring myself today ...

A head cold ...

eating garlic,

drinking tea and water with lemon,

sinus rinse,

essential oil in a steaming bath ...

Praying for a quick recovery.

Weekly meal plan:

Sunday: Hoppin' John

Monday: Skillet Chicken with Rice Noodles and Dill Carrots

Tuesday: Athenian Tilapia and Lemony Potato salad

Wednesday: Red Beans and Rice Frittata with Basil Broccoli

Thursday:  Hearty Minnestrone

Friday:  Honey Dijon Chicken breasts and Asparagus

Saturday: Southwestern Black beans and Quinoa with Avocado Wedge Salad

Friday Forum: The Saturday Edition: Staycation or Vacation

As I wrote earlier this week,

I love to travel.

I love to get away.

I love to see new things.

I love to learn new things.

I love being out of the kitchen.

To Vacation or to Staycation

Since leaving the Navy,

with many job changes in the intermediary years,

there have not been many opportunities for either.

While I love vacations,

they wreak havoc on discipline and routines.

We lean toward staycations.

The opportunity to sleep in your own bed.

Maintaining the usual study and exercise routine.

The resources to still enjoy a meal out.

Most importantly - undivided time with hubby.

How about you?

Staycation?

or 

Vacation?

Christmas in February

No - we are not reliving our Navy days.
We once celebrated Christmas and Easter within days of each other in March
because hubby was gone for Christmas and we both love the Christmas holiday.

I mentioned yesterday that hubby's work had taken us to Pigeon Forge, TN.

It really is a tourist trap.
Though the lights and activity draw me less and less, I still love to travel.
The good part about the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area is the variety of lodging options.

Enter ... The Inn at Christmas Village

Entrance complete with doormen.

Since both hubby and I love Christmas and its decorations,

when I found a Christmas-themed hotel

that was more reasonably priced than many of the normal places we stay,

I just thought I had to take a chance.

It was a great choice.

Christmas decorations EVERYWHERE.

Comfortable beds.

And a continental breakfast to beat all others ...

made to order omelets,

hot breakfast items such as potatoes, bacon, sausage, fresh carved ham,

fruit,

even a cheese platter!

Definitely nice for our diet limitations.

Enjoy the tour.

 

 Plenty of greenery in the room - and a Christmas tree lit up.

A Glockenspiel strikes the hour
and plays carols.

A different seasonal display on each floor by the elevator.
Enjoy the scene while listening to Christmas music as played on an old disc music box.

Changing

Hubby's job frequently takes him away for training.

This week was no exception.

At his former job, training was often in Atlanta, GA.

The new job typically takes him to Raleigh, NC.

But, this week took us to Pigeon Forge, TN.

Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg ...

A tourist trap to beat all others ...

or as we now call it ... a modern vanity fair!

When we first got married,

this would have been paradise to me ...

mini golf on every corner ...

souvenir shops galore ...

fancy dining ...

but yesterday as I walked around town,

there was emptiness in it all ...

an emptiness I was pleased to feel.

While there is still room to grow more,

I am thankful that God has worked to change my focus.

I am thankful for His patient work in my life

and thankful for the changes that are yet to come!

A Serious Matter

Proverbs 22:15 

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; 

but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

On Friday, the forum was a reminder to take the Bible literally -
to think Biblically -
to not play with sin especially in the area of pride.

The reminder fits well with today's verse.
Foolishness.
I am not a parent,
but from the outside,
it seems that many parents are fearful to address foolishness.

It is easy to call it by other names -
childishness, immaturity, playfulness ...

God calls it foolishness
and gives the plan to follow.

The question then ...
Will you heed it?