What's for Dinner this Week?

I hope that my menus each week are inspiring some of you with ideas of what to make your family for dinner!  I know that this is really helping me plan my grocery list as well as it takes the hassle out of the process of figuring out each evening what to cook.

Monday--Sauteed Chicken with Cheesy Alfredo Pasts

Tuesday--Fried Pork Chops and Mashed Potatoes

Wednesday--Beef Tips w/gravy and Rice (this was a hit with the fam!)

Thursday--Chicken Parmigiana Bake with Garlic Bread (Another BIG hit!)

Friday--Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf

Saturday--Tator Tot Casserole

Sunday--Creamy Italian Chicken with Arancini

COOK...EAT...ENJOY!!!

When you're HOT.... You're HOT!!

I will start off by saying that I am so thankful that God made man smart enough to figure out how to make air conditioners!  If we did not have an awesome A/C unit in our house, this Texas Chic would be a melted puddle on the floor!  LOL

I went outside just a little while ago and I am wearing a pair of dangling metal earrings.  Well within 5 seconds, maybe less, my earrings were hot enough to feel like they could burn my neck.  This is no exaggeration friends!  I turned my head and one of them touched my neck, which I quickly responded with "ouch!...Omg that is HOT!".  Then I turned my head the other way to get away from the first scorch and was then immediately scorched on the other side but the other earring...LOL!  YOW!!  According to my weather app on my phone it is currently 111 F at 2pm.  It will probably get a little hotter before the day is done!

I was browsing a forum that I have found to be very helpful for expats new to Abu Dhabi and found this list of "Top 20 Signs When You Know the Weather is Really HOT in the UAE!" (Of course, I think that some of these on this list could apply to back home in Texas too!!)  I hope you have a little laugh at these because I know you can relate!

You know it is really hot in the UAE when....
 
1. You burn your hand on the car handle..  or steering wheel!
 
2. When you can't get in  your car as the heat takes your breathe away!
 
3. When the cold water tap runs hot!
 
4. When children scream and make a U turn back indoors after running barefooted outside!
 
5. When people get angry and  start arguing more often-they just want to be out of the heat!
 
6. When laundry dries within a few minutes.
 
7.  When chocolate is liquefied before reaching home.
 
8.  When you buy extra bottled water
 
9. When you go outside and the fire alarm goes off  (hehe)
 
10. When you keep the  a/c  open all day
 
11. When standing outside becomes unbearable
 
12. When the Corniche is empty even after 5 pm
 
13.  When your pool water starts to boil in the sun
 
14. When the best parking space is determined by shade not by distance
 
15. When it is summer vacation time and not one person is out on the streets
 
16. When you start to wish you had bought cloth seats and not leather.
 
17.  When you need a spatula to remove your clothing
 
18. When you get branded by your seat-belt.
 
19. When your children refuse to get in the car
 
20.  When you see a dog chasing a cat and they are both walking.

Pinterest Much?

Raise your hand if you love browsing and previewing the many, many avenues of Pinterest.  I do...I do... ooh ooh ooh...I do!  Hi, my name is Vonnie, and I am addicted to Pinterest!  LOL  I think many of my friends can relate to this feeling.  It is definitely the thing to do when bored, during free time, when waiting in a waiting room...or just whenever.  You can find so many things.  I have created boards on my Pinterest for crafts, travel, food, gifts, clothing, holidays, cake ideas, sewing, etc... the ideas are endless!  

There is one craft that I have admired and that I have wanted to create for a while now... I believe that tomorrow I am going to tackle this craft... What is this craft? Well it is the photo canvas project... So I am going to attempt this project tomorrow....I will post pictures for you all to see the before, during, and after!  I hope it works!  If you have a favorite pinterest project I would love to hear about it!

(I have also made t-shirt scarves and deco mesh wreaths... both of these are easy and fun projects!)

Dinner is served...

Well I am a little behind on posting this list of dinner plans, but here it is....

Monday: Baked BBQ Ribs and Chops with loaded mashed potatoes

Tuesday: Chicken Parmigiana Bake (usually this is Taco Tuesday, but Clint is out in the field, aka the desert and he really likes Tacos...LOL, so we are postponing it till he gets back.)

Wednesday:  Tacos w/the fixings

Thursday: Bacon Wrapped Cheese Stuffed Chicken

Friday:  Fried Pork Chops and Mashed potatoes

Saturday: Lasagana with Garlic Bread

Sunday:  Chicken Pot Pie

Jackpot!!.... Cake decorator is almost back in business!!!

So months ago I had to hang up my cake diva apron as I loaded all of my cake baking, decorating, and airbrushing supplies onto a moving truck to be sent 1/2 way around the world!  All of my stuff arrived safely...but only one problem.... Where to go to get more supplies?  The supplies that I didn't send and the supplies that I would need to replenish, where would I find these things?  So I started searching the internet and reading forums and asking questions, till I found the name of a store that was said to have Wilton supplies and pans.  So I set out today to find this store....  And find it I did!

It was on the second floor of a very crowded store, that was full of all types of serving trays, food storage containers, silverware, knife sets, glass decorative items, huge cooking pots...etc  All of those items were on the first floor and I was beginning to get a little discouraged.

Then...I saw a small spiral staircase in the corner, so up I went into the unknown.  At the top of those stairs I found exactly what I was looking for!  Ta Da!!!

These pictures show exactly what I was looking at today.  You would think that they had everything a cake decorator might need, and they were pretty close.  They were only missing a few things, but they weren't things that would hinder the creativity!!!

Now to take some orders and get back into business!  Clint has already asked me to do a celebration cake for a rig that has gone 1 year without any accidents, as well as a cake for the people in the office.  I also have recently met a lady that wants to learn some basic cake decorating skills, so I am going to teach her a few things to get her started.

Here are a few pictures of what the first floor looked like...

What to do today?....Laundry!

Now don't think that this is the first day that I have done laundry since our move here...definitely not!  It is almost a daily activity...  I think my children change clothes at least 3 times per day!  Now granted they are helping out with the laundry.  They are responsible for washing, drying, and folding their own clothes.  Yes folks, they all know how!  So on the most part, all three boys are handling their laundry, but ocassionally I will help them.  I am not completely free and clear of laundry duties... I am still taking care of all of the laundry for Clint and I.  

I thought I would share some aspects about the laundry process here...  No, I do not have to take the laundry out to the beach and beat them against the rocks! LOL... I have modern day appliances---SURPRISE!  They are quiet a bit smaller than the washer and dryer that I had in Texas.  At first I was concerned that they weren't going to be able to handle the amount of laundry my family can create.  I have found that they do a very good job handling the laundry loads.  So thumbs up on that!  Here is what the little laundry room looks like.... meager but it works!

The washer and dryer themselves are compact but efficient.... The washer is front loading and uses very little water.  It is very neat to watch how it works!  The dryer has so many settings that it is somewhat confusing as to which one would be best...

Here is a close up of the washer and some if it's features... I have never used a washer that is set up quite like this one.  You pull a little drawer out from the front and you add your washing detergent and fabric softener into little compartments within the drawer.  Then you choose your settings..for example you can determine how many times you want it turn and toss the clothes around and you can change the temperature (30, 40, 60, etc...not just warm, cold, hot).

Pretty neat I think...  I know, I know, it's just a washing machine LOL!  But it works very well...I actually think it does better than my larger washer back in Texas....


The dryer has a unique feature as well....It is not vented to the outside!  You may be thinking...How in the world is that possible?  Well, I thought the same thing!  So this is how it works....As it dries the clothes, it pulls the water from the clothing/towels/etc.. and collects it in a reservoir that you have to empty periodically.  If you don't empty the water, the clothes will not get completely dry.  I have never seen a dryer work like this.  Yes, it is still heating and drying the clothes with hot air but although it isn't vented to the outside, it doesn't really heat up the room!  That was part of the surprise to me!  

 I know that today's post is not extremely exciting but I thought that a few may find it interesting!  Also, I am just proud of myself for staying on top of the laundry LOL!  Oh and one more thing about the washer and dryer.... when they are done washing or drying, it plays a little song.  Not a beep or just a tone... but an actual little chime song!  I think that is pretty neat!  HAHAHAH!!  Well till next time friend... Love you all!