Monday, September 15, 2008

Meal Plan Monday - Sept. 15th and some Book Deals

Exhausted...that's what I am. All I can say is that I'm 32, not 70. I thought having 3 kids over would be a cinch. My hubby was gone all weekend on a golfing trip for work (yeah, rough life, huh.) I thought I could handle it...easy peasy.

I wanted to be a good aunt so I cooked great meals, had a huge breakfast after taking them to church and now I am BEAT. Let's not even discuss how my 16 month old peed alllllllll over me right when church started...yeah, peed right on my LAP. I looked like I wet myself something fierce! So, I ran her home (my nieces and nephew were sitting with my in-laws, so I didn't ditch them) changed my clothes and the baby's and ran back to church just in time for the closing. I am not 18 any more...not even close. I'm totally beat.

Next time I'm either making sure the hubby is here or I'm ordering Pizza and fixing cereal in the morning! Not joking.

Here's my meal plan for the week. Easy recipes. The Maple Jack Pork Chops are beyond yummy. Fixing our fave stew on Friday. (click on the links for the recipes) I love food...

Monday: Snappy Meatball Heroes
Tuesday: Chicken Totilla Casserole
Wednesday: Going to family's house for din din
Thursday: Maple Jack Pork Chops SOOOO GOOD!- I'll post the recipe on Slow Cooking Thursday
Friday: Sweet Stew
Head over to orgjunkie.com for more fabulous meals!


OK, time for the DEALS ...
Since I'm all exhausted from the weekend, I'm going to find some Book Deals because when you're tired you know all you want to do is curl up on a big comfy couch, snuggle with a cozy blanket and read a book. I just practically stole some books on eBay this weekend. Nine hardcover books for $4.99 on one auction and another hardcover for $0.55! The shipping was surprisingly low, too. All of the books have been read once and are 'like new'. Love that.

Here are some book deals:
Discounts on popular pre-ordered books
Found this one in the pre-order section that caught my eye...Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics: Fabulous Flavor from Simple Ingredients (Hardcover) - Pre-order and save 34% and get FREE Shipping!

New & Notable Books -- discounted

Book Bargains Under $5!! - Love things under $5!

Not my idea of a relaxing read at all, but hey, some of you out there may need this...
Amazon.com's Textbook Store
Save up to 30% off the price of over 100,000 new textbooks.
Save up to 90% off the list price of millions of used listings.

Book deals for the kiddos - cuz kids love books!

QUESTION OF THE DAY:
So, what's your favorite book or what are you reading right now?

22 comments:

Nonnie said...

That recipe for the Chicken Tortilla Casserole sounds like a good way to use up the left over pork roast from this past weekend that I threw into the freezer. Thanks for the idea!

As for your QotD, I just finished reading Randy Pausch's Last Lecture. I highly recommend it. I'm not sure what's next in my TBR pile, so it will be a surprise when I get home tonight.

Have a great day!

Nonnie

Jess said...

Fave book, I'm reading Rant by Chuck Palaniuk AGAIN.. Its so awesome--he's the author of Fight Club.

I just picked up Left to Die by Lisa Jackson, its a good one.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I can't say I'm reading anything at the moment. My husband and I were talking about some of our favorite books from highschool this weekend, so I'll say mine--Animal Farm.

Becky W said...

The recipes sound yummy - will have to try!!! As for the books, I am now reading Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife. My favorite books - don't have just one - Little House on the Prairie series, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables series, Harry Potter series and Jane Austen.

Anonymous said...

Great recipes! I need to try that Sweet Stew. It sounds like something my family would love.

As for books. I'm horrible. I hardly ever read. I should probably check out some of the book deals you posted. Lately, all I read are kid books to my children. lol

Heather said...

What?! No one mentioned Twilight?! I finished this series a couple of weeks ago, and am still suffering from withdrawal. The movie comes out in November, so I am waiting to re-read them in October.

I have so many favorite books, I can't list them all. But this series is at the top.

Thanks for the recipe ideas...I am ready for some fall baking!

Ritch in Love said...

My favorite books are "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" and "The Good Earth." I do love the Twilight series. I love Harry Potter.
My favorite children's book is The Penderwicks. All girls between 7 and 12 should read this book! And I am currently reading Suite Francais by Irene Nimrovsky.

Melissa said...

ohhh I might have to try some of those recipes. Especially anything with a crock pot.

Holly said...

I picked up the sequel to the book "Island of the Blue Dolphins," which is called Zia. But I haven't started reading it yet.

FROGGITY! said...

Happy Monday...but it sounds like you need another weekend! You're a brave soul w/ 3! I can barely handle 1!

Books I love and am (kind of) reading right now on and off: Beverly Lewis books. They are uplifting and interesting! Cheers!

Melissa said...

I was exhausted just reading about your weekend. You're a good Auntie!

We just read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See for my book club. I don't know yet what next month's choice will be, so I think I'll start one from a list of ones I'd like to read. I have heard so many great reviews of the Twilight series, even friends who usually have nothing to do with the vampire/horror genre so I think I'm going to start the first one.

Anonymous said...

Wow,you are a good Auntie!
Recipes sound yummy...have to try the slow cooking one for sure.

The book I am reading right now is Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah...just started it today, so we'll see.

Get some rest, girl!

Jaime said...

I can not wait for Thursday to see the recipe for those mouth watering pork chops. Yummy! I have some pork chops in my freezer that are ready to be used in your delicious recipe. Can't wait!

Anonymous said...

LOL at the story about your daughter! That's happened to me before plenty of times. Sounds like you were busy all weekend!!

The recipes sound great! Great book deals too.

Fifi Flowers said...

FIRST... yea to hubby playing golf... mine is gone to day playing in a tournament which means NO cooking dinner! YEA!

Second... I love reading books... I think my all time favorite is Shadow in the Wind... trying to read books leftover from summer... I read not one book over the summer... I usually read TONS... so sad! I pick up a book read a few sentences and think of a million things I should be doing and can't remember what the sentence said... sigh :(

Tabitha Blue said...

Oh, wow sounds like a busy weekend and having a baby that doesn't understand the concept of peeing all over... well, that doesn't help! LOL Thanks for the tips on country music! I guess I'll have to expand my horizons.

I think I'm missing out on this Menu Plan Monday thing. I'd like to try it, I'm usually pretty organized, but that sounds like alot of work. You're dinners all look so good though!

As for a book, I'm about to start a new one... The Shack, heard rave reviews about it, so only time will tell. Have a great week!

Sandra said...

Great menu, hope you enjoyed the meatball subs :)

As for books, I'm reading Brides of Lancaster County by Wanda E. Brunstetter, really enjoying it.

Amy said...

Those look like some yummy recipes!

I am working on the Twilight books and then I am starting The Shack, which came highly recommended!!

Anonymous said...

My daughter is in college so the link for the text books is great!

Your menu looks delicious. The pork chops sound yummy. I just may have to try it!

tiarastantrums said...

oh, I wish I coudl read - I get The Twits, Dr Suess and school books right now. No time for actual reding besides browsing mags. I miss reading so much.

I am so going to try this Sweet Stew - BUT what happens if I don't use tapioca - which I REALLY abhor AND what the heck is Kitchen Bouquet??

Pennies In My Pocket said...

Tiaras -- I emailed you the details...

To anyone else who is debating the Sweet Stew because of the tapioca...USE IT...it's FAB! It doesn't taste like it has tapioca at all, just adds a slight sweetness to the stew.

Also, Kitchen Bouquet is a browning & seasoning sauce for beef, meat gravy & stew. It's a liquid in a skinny bottle with a fatter bottom and can be found near the marinades and steak sauce.

Hope you all enjoy the recipes! Let me know what you think. :) If you hate it, send it to me in a box and I'll throw it on myself for ya! hahaha

~melody~

Nicole Feliciano said...

I just finished the review copy of "I'm with Stupid" my Editor at Kirkus Reviews penned it (her first book). I give a B.

What else am I up to? I'm off and running again with three giveaways are up on Momtrends. Visit the blog at:

http://momtrends.blogspot.com/

Here's what we have so far:

Lollitops hat for girls
2 lucy tees for adults
2 Dinosaur tees from Playground Partisans

And at least one more contest to come!