Mandy and Jace

Last weekend we were invited to go to South Padre Island to a motorcycle rally with my family and some of the other riders we know. We drove the truck with a trailer attached so that if anyone broke down we could just load them up and trailer them home instead of wasting time fixing the bike. I don’t think we realized just how far it was to Padre, though.

By the time we all got there we were exhausted, and I can’t even begin to imagine how all of the bikers felt. But, after a good nights sleep almost everyone was good to go the next morning. Notice I said almost.

I don’t know why, but I always get sick either on the weekend or on vacation. I can’t get sick on a weekday when I can get out of work. Nope! So of course, Saturday morning I woke up with some sort of demon bug that caused me to feel like crap, no I’m not pregnant. I managed to pull myself out of bed around lunch time because I was determined to not let all of that driving go to waste. Once we got on South Padre we met all of the bikers at a seafood restaurant where I fulfilled another one of my goals. I tried MahiMahi and liked it (at least going down, bleh)! Sorry, I didn’t take any photos of me with the fish. Didn’t think about it at the time.

Then we went to the beach. I LOVE the beach so I pushed aside my sickness and had fun. This particular beach was strange though. There were people driving on it. So we had to dodge cars and…

motorcycles with interesting characters on them. Someone please call What Not To Wear, this lady needs help immediately.

Sunday we woke up bright and early and headed home. We made the 12 hour drive back with 6 motorcycles, a truck with a trailer, and a very sick passenger. Can we say torture??? We actually had a blast and would do it again, but if we did we would either fly or take a couple more days for travel.

Last weekend Jace and I went on an adventure. When I say adventure, I mean it. We went to South Padre Island with a bunch of motorcycles to the bike rally that is held there every year. Don’t panic, I have much more on the trip later in another post with lots and lots of photos. Now, I’m trying to get the pile of laundry that is the size of Everest done, re-stock our kitchen, unpack, clean up the house and recuperate after our 12 hour drive home. Needless to say, I think the meals are going to be pretty simple this week. We are once again doing a stir fry. They are so quick and healthy that it has become a staple meal in our house. As soon as I can I’ll post an outline on how to make our stir-frys. Then you can change out different proteins and veggies and make it your own.

Here’s this weeks plan.
Tonight: chicken, squash and zucchini stir fry
Tuesday: beef fajitas
Wednesday: nachos with leftover fajitas
Thursday: take out after practice
Friday: date night!

Happy eating!

After waiting weeks and weeks I finally put up my fall decorations. I bought them last month and was itching to put them out but it was still 100 degrees and just didn’t feel right.

I also made my first batch of pumpkin bread and it was so good! I love anything with pumpkin. Bread, waffles, cheesecake, soup, it is all wonderful to me. This recipe for pumpkin bread is leaning more toward the healthy side. I plan on trying the non-healthy version very soon!

Almost healthy pumpkin bread
adapted from Bread and Honey
makes one regular loaf or two mini loaves.

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup applesauce
3 eggs (I used egg beaters and it worked just as well with fewer calories)
1 15oz can unsweetened pumpkin puree
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon nutmeg (freshly grated if possible)
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Combine the sugar, oil, applesauce, eggs and pumpkin in a bowl and set aside. In a larger bowl combine the flour, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Don’t over-mix or it will come out tough.

Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool and enjoy!

Looks like it’s time to switch my closet out from my summer clothes to my winter clothes. I am loving this weather! Today’s high is 80 and I’m about to go put on my work out clothes and enjoy it.

This weeks meal plan is going to be fun. A little bit of junk food and a little bit of healthy food, but it all will be delicious. Saturday when I was shopping for meat the lady behind the counter asked me how we were going to cook our lamb chops and I proudly told her, “as quickly and as little as possible!” Jace, you’ve taught me well. I’ve come a long way from only steak medium well. Maybe one day I’ll break into seafood.

Here’s the plan.
Tonight: fried chicken, mashed potatoes and corn on the cobb
Tuesday: lamb chops and lemon thyme rice
Wednesday: grilled cheese sandwiches and chips
Thursday: take out probably
Friday: date night!

Happy eating!

FALL IS HERE PEOPLE!!!!! Can you tell I’m excited? I have put out all of my decorations on Saturday and this week I will be cooking the first pumpkin loaf of the season. Now if the weather would cooperate we will be in good shape.
I don’t have much of a meal plan this week since we have quite a few dinner plans, but I can give you what little I have.

Here’s the plan.
Tonight: lemon chicken stir fry
Tuesday: Jace’s work dinner
Wednesday: not sure yet
Thursday: chicken salad sandwiches at practice
Friday: date night!

Happy eating!