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So I have been so inspired by other bloggers who plan their meals one month in advance that I started doing this back in March. Prior to my first monthly meal, I would plan my meals a week at a time and then grocery shop for that week. It worked pretty well, but found myself struggling each week to come up with new or different meal options for each week. When I lay it out a month in advance I find that I'm more organized and we don't seem to have spaghetti or pizza every other day. I take my meal inspirations from many different sources: my cousin, my family recipes, other bloggers, etc. Also, any time I see or hear of a new recipe, I add it to my binder of keepsake recipes and try to work it into my list.

Today, I finalized my May menu. With all of our craziness this month (soccer, track for both kidsy, my half marathon, etc), I tried to make sure that the nights that are the busiest have some of the simplest recipes. What are we eating this month you might ask? Here are just some of the meals for the upcoming month:

Crockpot BBQ chicken and cornbread
Pulled pork sandwiches
Italian beef sandwiches
Pasta bar (night before my half marathon)
Chicken enchiladas
Hamburgers on the grill (a must for Memorial Day)

I'm interested to hear what you might have on your menu. Feel free to share your recipes and happy eating.

Soccer weekend

So, both kids had soccer tournaments this weekend in Ohio. However, Maryna's tournament was in Cincinnati and Garrett's was in Columbus. Therefore, Brad ended up taking Maryna and I took Garrett. I have decided that it is a lot more fun when all 4 of us are at one tournament as opposed to being split between 2. The weather was beautiful and I know Garrett's team had a really good time (I think Maryna's did as well). Neither of the kids' teams did very well in the tournament, however, my kids individually performed great. Final count...Maryna had 2 goals and Garrett had 4 goals. Maryna's 2 goals were corner kicks that she bent into the net. Two of Garrett's 4 goals were from cutting around multiple defenders for shots and the other 2 were from outrunning the defense and taking the keep 1 on 1. Great work from both kids. Since I couldn't clone myself and my camera, I only have pictures to share from Garrett's weekend.

Easter and Spring Break 2009

Last week my kids were on spring break. I decided to take the entire week off and spend time with them (or at least be at home so they can play with their friends). We had a fun and relaxing week. Monday and Tuesday we were in Cincinnati at the Great Wolf Lodge. Of course, i forgot my camera so if you want to see what's a Great Wolf check out their website http://www.greatwolf.com/. We had a really good time.

Wednesday consisted of cleaning out closets (not fun, but necessary) and then the kids spent most of the rest of the day enjoying the beautiful weather outside.

Thursday the kids once again spent most of their time outside. I tried to accomplish one larger task per day, so on Thursday I cleaned out my fridge and freezer - once again, not fun but necessary.

Friday was a gloomy day. I went to the grocery store in the morning and then the kids and I dyed Easter eggs when I got home. That afternoon, Maryna and I went clothes shopping while Garrett spent the afternoon with his dad.

Saturday, another beautiful day, consisted of cleaning the house, making cinnamon rolls for Easter Sunday breakfast at church, Easter program rehearsal at church and then to the movies with Uncle Ben in the evening. Fun, but busy.

Sunday, Easter Sunday. Need I say more? It was a great day. Went to church and then spent time with Brad's family. Kids had a scavenger hunt that resulted in $10 each and 8 boxes each of different snacks (goldfish, Teddy Grahams, etc).

After we got home, Brad and the kids played outside while I went for a 7 mile run. I had been nervous all week about this run as it's the longest distance I've had to do so far. When I finished, I was pleasantly surprised not only at my time (65.58) but how relaxed I felt. Yes, I was tired but not exhausted. Gives me a little hope for the race which is in 5 weeks (YIKES!!!)

So, as you can see, we had a great week. I loved relaxing, working on NO schedule and just spending time with the family. Now that we are back to reality, the relaxation is out the door (6 kids soccer games in 4 days). Oh well, I truely enjoy every minute.

My favorite Easter song

There are so many great Easter songs (traditional and contemporary). One of my absolutely favorite songs, though, is "Arise my love" by Newsong. If you have never heard it, click here. The lyrics are powerful.

Not a word was heard at the tomb that day.
Just shuffling of soldiers feet as they guarded the grave.
One day, two days, three days had past.
Could it be that Jesus breathed his last?

Could it be that his Father had forsaken him?
Turned his back on his son, dispising our sin.
Oh hell seemed to whisper, "Just forget it, He's dead."
Then the Father looked down to his son and he said..

Arise, My love. Arise, My love.
The grave no longer has a hold on you
No more death sting
No more suffering
Arise...Arise...my love.

The Earth trembled and the tomb began to shake, and like lightening from Heaven
The stone was rolled away.
And this dead man the guards they all stood there in fright
As the power of love displayed its might

And suddenly a melody filled the air
Riding wings of wind, it was everywhere
The words of creation had been longing to hear.
The sweet sound of victory, so loud and clear.

Arise, my love. Arise, my love.
The grave no longer has a hold on you.
No more death sting no more suffering
Arise...arise....

Sin, where are your shackles?
Death, where is your sting?
Hell; has been defeated.
The grave will not hold, the king.

Arise, my love. Arise, my love.
The grave no longer has a hold on you.
No more death sting no more suffering
Arise....Arise....Arise

Let's celebrate this wonderful season and realize that in the face of a tragic death, there was hope on the other end. Our Savior has risen from the grave!

Recipes for a good cause

I found this post on $5 Dinners website. For those who know me, you know my love of collecting recipes, cooking and trying new foods. Check out this information and participate if you feel inclined. Also, post your recipes here as well. I'd love to read what you are submitting.

Virtual Great American Bake Sale

Today Kate from A Simple Walk and Cooking During Stolen Moments shares about how you can get involved in the VIRTUAL Great American Bake Sale this year to help raise money and awareness to help stop child hunger in America.

A few weeks ago, I saw a commercial on Food Network about the Great American Bake Sale program that Share Our Strength runs every year. I knew I had to get involved. The logistics of hosting an actual bake sale that would have a big impact just didn’t seem possible for me with 4 young kids. That’s when the idea for the Virtual Great American Bake Sale occurred to me. I emailed Share Our Strength and they were excited about my idea. So here we are and the Official Virtual Great American Bake Sale will kick off on April 13th.

My passion for helping Share Our Strength started a few years ago when our family was experiencing some very difficult financial times. My husband and I learned what it meant to not know where our next meal would come from. At the time, humbled beyond belief, we went to a local food pantry. We learned about a whole different world filled with organizations that are compassionate and that put children first. Share Our Strength, with their motto “No Kid Hungry” was one of those organizations.

I hope that you all would like to get involved with this project too. It’s super easy to participate and the more people that participate, the more money we can earn for Share Our Strength.

Each year Share Our Strength asks people to host bake sales in their communities with all of the proceeds going to their ultimate mission - making sure no child goes hungry! The virtual bake sale is going to spread this movement to the blogosphere.

The Virtual Great American Bake Sale consists of two key elements:

1. the sale of baking recipes ebooks filled with the recipes of participants (with 100% of the proceeds going directly to Share Our Strength) and,
2. an actual virtual bake sale on April 13th.

On April 13th, I will publish a post on my blog, Cooking During Stolen Moments, that includes links to each participants blog and their recipe. Virtual bake sale visitors will go from blog to blog looking at the recipes, much like you would walk around from table to table at an actual bake sale. Each participant will have a link to purchase the ebooks also. The ebooks will not have a set price. Instead, they will be available for any donation amount of the purchaser’s choosing.

I am asking that recipes be submitted by April 5th so that they can be compiled into ebooks before the kick-off of the Virtual Great American Bake Sale.

To submit a recipe, email a recipe to the official Virtual Great American Bake Sale address (virtualbakesale@gmail.com), or fill out the submission form here. Also, if you have a previously posted recipe that you’d like included in the ebooks, you can just provide me with a link to that post and I can take it from there. Your name and blog URL will be included with your recipe, if desired.

Please also consider spreading the word and asking your blog readers to submit recipes for, and/or participate in, the Virtual Great American Bake Sale. On Twitter, please use the hashtag #vgabs.

I hope you’ll join me in my vision to make the Virtual Great American Bake Sale a success. Let’s support Share Our Strength’s work to make sure that no child goes hungry!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me (virtualbakesale@gmail.com) or leave a comment on my blog, Cooking During Stolen Moments. You can also read a more detailed description of the VGABS here.