New Blog is Live!

I’ve had my finger hovering over the publish button for almost a week now! I don’t know why I’m so nervous about the release of my new blog. Probably my type-A tendencies. My inner perfectionist cringes because everything isn’t exactly the way I want it.

There have been a lot of late nights googling things like “how to remove border around widget images,” and “unlink header and post title.” The first I figured out, the second I did not. But I do know how to delete plugins and start from scratch with new ones! I’m okay with the fact that things aren’t perfect, because it is a more accurate reflection of who I am. Thanks for joining me in saying goodbye to my old friend, Spinach and Skittles, and hello to my new adventure:

Leila Dishes!

Please update your bloglovin, twitter, instagram, pinterest, and now facebook to add my new blog. I hope you enjoy the new look and format as much as I do!

Meal Plan Monday: September 16-22

Where did the weekend go? I spent mine working on my new blog! I’m switching to a self-hosted blog soon, and have spent a great deal of time learning enough html code to get into the CSS editor and switch some things up. It still isn’t perfect, so I’m not ready to reveal it yet. But I’m changing blog names, and am very excited about what is on the horizon!

I also spent a good chunk of time painting the living room gray. Well, kind of. We started painting it last weekend, only to discover the paint color we chose didn’t look right after it covered 2 entire walls instead of one little chunk in the testing area. After borrowing a gray from another friend and testing a patch, we decided on the new color. Still needed is a second coat, painting the dining room a darker gray, and painting the baseboards and ceiling white. In less than two weeks.

Why in less than 2 weeks? Because little miss G will soon be 1! We’re having a birthday party and need the place to be presentable. Hopefully without all the furniture in the center of the room too!

p.s. Thank God for Elmo! He kept G mildly entertained as we finished that last wall!

We also attended my nieces birthday party. I attempted to get a shot of the 3 little ladies. “Look at Aunt Leila,” didn’t work as well as we hoped.

Oh well!

This week is a busy one! Friday my co-teacher is taking an all day Masters class, so I’ll be teaching all day. With no prep. Save me! Meal planning helps though 🙂 Thanks for hosting again Racheal & Deneene.

* (F) indicates freezer meal (L) indicates leftovers

Monday: tomato basil ravioli with salad and homemade shallot honey mustard

Tuesday: chicken & dumplings w/salad & homemade shallot honey mustard

Wednesday: girls night out at Downriver Grill

Thursday: (F) tacos with the most delicious organic local beef from Wild Aspen Ranch

Friday: (L) chicken & dumplings w/salad & homemade shallot honey mustard

Saturday: sweet potato veggie burgers – this is a recipe I pinned forever ago. I really hope it’s tasty!

Sunday: wild card, hopefully something with lots of leftovers!

• last weeks wildcard menu item was chili from the freezer, which I need to get around to posting. And on the side I made my favorite zucchini cornbread muffins. I HIGHLY recommend making these. So good!

Workouts will be 12 miles walking/jogging again. I didn’t meet my goal last week, but I’m already 6 miles in to this weeks goal 🙂

What is on your menu this week?

Meal Plan Monday: Sept 9-15

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? The hubs and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary on Friday with a very sick baby. Poor G was miserable all weekend long, but appears to be mostly back in good spirits now. Hopefully we’ll go out to dinner this coming weekend instead.

photo by Hannah Bergman

Today marks the first day of the first full week of school. Last week was all about establishing routines, procedures, and expectations. This week I’m adding in more academics, while still practicing what we’ve established. It is mentally exhausting! Hopefully we’ll get in our grove soon so I can start attacking my curriculum. I have a lot to pack in this year!

I’m happy to be participating in Racheal and Deneene’s meal plan link up again. Being organized at school is something I excel at. I’m trying to bring my structured work-self home a bit, and be better about meal planning. Thanks for helping me be accountable ladies!

* (L) indicates leftovers

** (F) indicates a freezer meal (read my method here)

Monday – black bean burgers with zucchini chips

Tuesday – (L) taco Tuesday with Sunday’s wild card menu item: pot roast tacos with horseradish sour cream. I added garlic, cilanto & lime juice to the horseradish sour cream and was quite pleased with the results.

Wednesday – (F) Mustard lime chicken with red wine pasta and zucchini

Thursday – (F) paleo mini meatloaves and quinoa with roasted zucchini and carrots

Friday – (L) pot roast burrito bowls over zucchini cilantro lime rice

Saturday – dinner out for our belated celebration

Sunday – wild card

Workouts will be walking, elliptical, and painting. I did not meet my 12 mile goal last week (only clocked 6), which I’m okay with. The first week was too tiring and overwhelming to stress about such things. I’m going to be more on top of things this week though!

Oh, and if you have a moment, pop by my friend Jill’s blog – The Pinspired Mama. She just started it, and it looks great! I’m going to add some of her recipes into next weeks meal plan for sure!

What should I make this weekend for my wild card menu item? Something in the crock pot would be awesome since we’ll be painting all day.