Charisa Darling

Archive for January 2016

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Love to Cook, Hate to Plan: Weekly Menu 24

Plans changed and we didn't have salad and baked potatoes last Monday, so they're back in rotation for this Monday.

Soup on Tuesday and I'm trying a new recipe - Italian Orzo Spinach soup. Hope it's good!

I'll pick up a rotisserie chicken for a quick dinner on Wednesday and roast some veggies to go along with.

Two weeks ago, we were supposed to try this Creamy Mushroom Fettuccine, but we didn't get to it, so I'm planning on it for Thursday.

Pizza on Friday!

Out for dinner on Saturday!

Superbowl snacks on Sunday! Menu TBD...

Have a great week!!

Sharing with: the org junkie and this week for dinner

Let's Connect! Bloglovin' / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Etsy / Feedly

Friday, January 29, 2016

Friday 5

Thank goodness for daffodils! They brighten up my mood on gray winter days. A reminder that spring will eventually be here!

I'm cold and everyone in this house is tired about hearing about it. (This is going to be a long winter.) Hot soup helps and this hit the spot.

Valentine's Day is near and Vaughn has started making hers for the family. I found this on her desk and the sweetness nearly killed me. I mean, I can't even. EYELASHES, people! On a heart with sibling labels, interlocked arrow-arms, a haloed heart, and fireworks. Time please stand still!

This bag of yeasty stuff showed up this week and I may or may not have given it an eye roll. Vaughn, on the other hand, is super excited about the Friendship Bread, and has been following the daily directions explicitly. Soon we'll have starters to share, so watch your back (or your doorstep's!).

I've always loved this line from Biggie's song, "Juicy", so I decided to watercolor it yesterday and was happy with how it turned out. It's now my newest addition to my Etsy shop. (I know it's supposed to be sip, not drink.)

This weekend is supposed to bring us warmer weather, so I'm excited about that and the fact that Vance's basketball practice just got cancelled for tonight! We all needed a night off! Hope you all have a great weekend too. Cheers!

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Valentine's Day Classroom Party Ideas: Fortune Tellers & Estimation Jars

I didn't volunteer to help out with classroom parties this year, but I always get asked, and I can never say no. You'd think planning an hour long party for kids would be a no brainer, but there's many (many!) hurdles to jump that make you want to pull your hair out. Another reason that's weighing on me is that next year Vance will be in middle school, so this is my last year to help out in his classroom. It's bittersweet for sure!

I thought I'd share 2 of the many activities that we have planned for the party, in case you need some quick and easy ideas too.

I channeled my inner 11-year-old and made a cootie catcher, or a fortune teller, as part of the craft for the party.

Click HERE for the fortune teller

And because you'll need a refresher on how to fold the darn things, here you go.

Click HERE for folding directions.

In case you'd like to fill in your own fortunes, then here's a blank one.

The kids always get a kick out of estimation jars, so here's a fun spin on one for Valentine's Day.

Be sure to drop the filled jar off to the classroom a few days before the party, so it can create some buzz.

Click HERE for the Kissing Booth Sign

Click HERE for the Estimation Jar ballots.

Here's hoping the party is a success!

Sharing with:

Ginger Snap Crafts Create It Thursday @ Lamberts Lately Moonlight and Mason Jars Skip to My Lou

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Love to Cook, Hate to Plan: Weekly Menu 23

We get to add one more hurdle to our already busy schedule starting this week, making dinnertimes tricky as ever. I may or may not asked the family if we can't just eat cereal on our busiest days and if so, I'd make it up to them over the rest of the week. They didn't seem to be on board, so here's what I came up with for the week.

Monday will be quick baked potatoes and salad. I do russet for them and sweet for me and have been adding salsa and black beans to mine for an added kick. Ole!

Soup on Tuesday is the best plan of attack because it's 100% ready for whenever who needs to eat it. Since the only home made soup that Vaughn likes is Chicken Pot Pie Soup, that's what I'm going with.

Grilled cheeses and leftover soup for Wednesday!

Green chile enchiladas for Thursday. Love these!

Pizza on Friday.

Kitchen is closed on Saturday.

On Sunday, I'm going to make the controversial Tuna Casserole. The kids hate it but I love it, so it always adds some extra dinnertime panache.

Hope this helps with your menu planning!

Sharing with: the org junkie and this week for dinner

Let's Connect! Bloglovin' / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Etsy / Feedly

Friday, January 22, 2016

Friday 5: Spiraling Out of Control

{Summary of the week}

The kids are a hot, hot, mess. They might look fine to you, if perhaps you see them walking down the street, but at home they let it be known. Christmas break started it off by staying up late, sleeping in, and diets of egg nog and cookies. After break, they went to school for 4 days (with that after Christmas glow and excitement of vacation in the future) and then we were back on vacation and very much in vacation mode for another full week. This past Monday brought another holiday off from school, then back to school on Tuesday, and then no school on Wednesday because of snow, and we're spiraling out of control about now. No one wants to go to bed, no one wants to wake up, no one wants to do homework, and everyone wants all the damn cookies. Hopefully next week will be

normal so they can get themselves back on track.

...............

This week brought cold temps, and it wouldn't be winter without chipping ice off the inside of the windows, blinds, and sills. (The crook who built this house notoriously didn't use the finer things in life...)

This week also brought our first snow, and then subsequently, our first snow day from school.

Snow day = French Toast day

The kids are old enough to play in the snow by themselves, so I had time to make this cute little guy and put him up for sale on Etsy. Have someone you'd like to send a little love to? He (or his brothers below) would be the perfect reminder for Valentine's Day!

click here for the big guy

click here for the little guys

Hope you have a great weekend! Cheers!

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Finally Feels Like the New Year!

Vaughn slept until 10:00 yesterday morning, so waking her up and needing her to be functional at 7:30 might just be the hardest thing I do today.

We've been out of town for the past week, skiing in Colorado. Since I spent the shortened week that the kids went back to school after the holidays prepping for vacation, it feels like the New Year has finally begun.

A whole lot of cleaning happened here yesterday and today, after getting those kids on the bus and doing a quick happy dance, I'm moving onto drawers. Out with the old (so I can fit in the new)!

I'll be back later on with re-cap on skiing! Have a great day!

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Love to Cook, Hate to Plan: Weekly Menu 22

On Monday, we'll have California Roasted Veggie Sandwiches. I haven't made these in years! Disclaimer: The picture in the link is horrible and does not represent how these really look. Trust me!

Taco Tuesday, Ole! I know what you're thinking, but no, tacos on Tuesdays never get old around here. I switch up what type of tacos, but everyone eats them and it makes dinner easy.

Busy night, so soup and grilled cheeses!

On Thursday I'm going to try this recipe for Creamy Mushroom Fettuccine.

Friday is Pizza Night!

Out for dinner on Saturday! Kitchen is closed!

Looking forward to this slow cooked chicken chili on Sunday.

What's on your menu this week?

Sharing with: the org junkie and this week for dinner

Let's Connect! Bloglovin' / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Etsy / Feedly

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Love to Cook, Hate to Plan: Weekly Menu #21

Trying a couple of new recipes this week! It's cold here and all I want is comfort food. Hope this helps with your menu planning too!

Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Chicken for Monday. I'm going to use this recipe as a starting off point. I'm planning on throwing 3 seasoned chicken breasts into a crock pot with a little chicken stock. On top of that, I'll add a package of (drained) frozen spinach and a jar of artichokes. I'll use half a block of cream cheese, cut into cubes, and toss it in on top. Season everything with salt, pepper, garlic, and onion powder. When the chicken is cooked, take it out and cut it into bite sized pieces. Before adding the chicken back into the pot, whisk the cream cheese to blend it into the liquid. Right before serving I added some mozzarella and parmesan cheeses.

Taco Tuesday! Ole!

Spaghetti with Tomato Cream Sauce on Wednesday.

Thursday we'll have salads and baked potatoes.

Friday is Pizza Night!

Out on Saturday night. Kitchen is closed!

Chicken Pot Pie soup for Vaughn on Sunday.

Here's to a great week!

Let's Connect! Bloglovin' / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Etsy / Feedly

Friday, January 08, 2016

Friday 5: Post Holiday Recap!

Happy 2016, Everyone! The kids have been back in school for a few days and I finally feel that things are getting back to normal. Here's a quick recap of what we've been up to!

It was a quiet New Year's Eve for us and we ended up ringing the New Year from bed. I promptly kicked the kids out at 12:01, because Mama tired.

We've been at a non-stop happy hour this holiday season, so everyday at 4:30 I feel the need to have a celebratory glass of something in my hand. Old habits are hard to break and detoxing has begun. (The kids are in on it too - they keep going to the fridge and looking for egg nog, even though I've told them we're out. Poor Vance asked if anyone makes it year 'round.)

While we're speaking of detox...I finished the very last Christmas cookie this week. It feels good knowing there's none in the house or the freezer! Until next year, old friend!

I've been wearing more nail polish lately (I don't know what's gotten into me - maybe fancy nails helps take away from what the cold weather does to my cuticles), but doesn't this half taken off polish look like a little bearded man? Maybe the fumes were getting to me.

Influenster sent me a box of freebies to try, and in my opinion, it's been one of their best boxes. Biscoff cookies remind me of flying as a little girl and I've already used the eyeliner and nail polish. I need to find a little guy to give the SpiderMan Itty Bitty doll to and I doubt I'll use the fake eyelashes (but wouldn't it be funny if I did!). I always like to try out new stuff!

The kids have been glued to their hover boards. They do everything on them and it's still strange to see them gliding and whizzing around Jestson-style. I'm working on a post just for this topic. And no, they haven't caught on fire. Yet.

Lastly, Vance got a haircut yesterday and I can once again see his ears and eyes. He wanted it longer on the top (like the first picture), but the lady got carried away and he looks like a little executive now. He's still cute as ever, he loves it, and it'll grow.