Here comes the New Year!

Wow... 2013 is already closing and a new year is coming quickly.
It's enough to make a girl's head spin.
But the promise of a fresh start, a blank slate, draw me in.
This year has been a sweet one, in many ways, and a very bitter pill in others.  I'm looking forward to a new beginning.

In January, we always do a Pantry Challenge.  I will also be out of town for much of the first week of the new year.  I'm mapping out our month, but here's what we're eating this week:

Sunday~ Leftover roast with pan gravy, homemade bread, mashed potatoes and spinach.
Monday~ Cleaning out some leftovers: leftover steak, leftover chicken (probably turned into salads), and a little Christmas ham
Tuesday~  NYE party; we're taking layered Mexican bean dip & chips
Wednesday~ My mom's amazing lasagna (she gave us a pan as a Christmas present!), salad, Pioneer Woman's decadent Cheese Bread using Rosemary Olive Oil Bread as the foundation! For dessert, apple pie with ice cream.

Thursday~ Sticky chicken, collard greens (from last summer's garden), cheese & cracker salad (a family recipe), and maybe another veg

You can see the collards in the back - that's what they looked like when they were picked from the garden!

Friday~ lunch with my new daughter-in-law (long but exciting story), then a Mexican fiesta a la Pioneer Woman for dinner: queso, refried beans, and tacos (her menu calls for pollo asado, but if I serve my man chicken two days in a row, there may be a revolt!)

Saturday~ I'll decide after a trip to the Farmer's Market!

We'll be eating well this week, as I try to load up the fridge with food before I leave to go out of town, in hopes that my guys will eat this food instead of going out.  A girl can hope, right? :)

Check out Menu Plan Monday for more ideas and inspiration.

And Christmas is here!

When my 13 year old son said, "Mom, I can't believe how fast this year has gone," I knew that it wasn't just me.  As an adult, I expect for life to move quickly, but when a child feels it too, it gives me pause.

What can I do to slow it down?
How can I make it simpler?
What am I doing to treasure the moments as they come?

Christmas seems to have jumped on us this year with no advance notice.  I was sick on Thanksgiving weekend, which is usually when we purchase and decorate our tree and house.  The tree finally happened exactly 10 days before Christmas.  It came into the house 3 days ago.  It has two ornaments on it.

But we are happy.
Airman Son has arrived, and we have been enjoying time with him.
We will visit with family, and enjoy some quiet moments at home.
Even with the lack of decorations, I'm hoping it will be meaningful.

And what are we eating, you may ask?  :)

Sunday~ I went to the doc (AGAIN) and got big meds.  So no cooking... chicken from Publix, along with potato salad and baked beans.  I did buy a box of Annie's mac'n'cheese and made that, but that was all the cooking I did.
Monday~ the shot from the doc took effect. I feel MUCH better.  Airman Son arrives.  Beef tenderloin, twice baked potatoes, tossed green salad, rolls.
Tuesday~ going over to my parents' house to celebrate with them.  Mom's Lasagna!

Wednesday~  CHRISTMAS DAY!! Organic ham, pasta salad (hubby's request), Ellie Krieger's Maple Citrus Salad, swiss beans, crescent rolls, and chocolate cake for dessert (again, at hub's request).

Thursday~ Spaghetti.  Simple and comforting.
Friday~ Various leftovers from the week.
Saturday~ Airman Son returns to duty; I'll decide then what to cook.  Maybe some soup.

May your holiday be blessed with love and peace.

Visit Menu Plan Monday for more menu marvels!