Menu Plan Monday

Well, last week's menu was derailed due to the fact that I have ZERO appetite for food lately and am now an Accidental Anorexic. (detailed post pending) So I'm trying again this week with a few of the meals I'd planned last week:

Monday - Navy Bean Soup (I've made this about every other week for 2 months running--it's so good...TRY IT!!!), crusty wheat bread, spinach salad
Tuesday - French bread pizza, salad
Wednesday (Halloween!) - Taco Soup in the crockpot w/ shredded cheese & chips
Thursday - Tuna casserole (I've been totally craving this! Why?), broccoli
Friday - Leftovers Buffet
Saturday - Breakfast Dinner (probably whole wheat pancakes and scrambled eggs)
Sunday - Chicken Oriental over rice, broccoli

Next week I think I will try an panty-only menu. I'm curious to see if we could eat solely from our pantry. That menu post will be entitled, "How useable IS Crystal's pantry that consists mostly of cake mixes and chocolate chips?"

Gasp! Heave! (and maybe a little bit of Hurl)

Hoo Boy. This afternoon I headed back to my new favorite running trail, the North Fork Road in the canyon. I was eager to run farther than I did on Friday and headed up today sans family.

Um, the trail is a tad bit steeper the farther up the canyon you go. Imagine. On Friday, my sweetly perfectly sloping trail looked like this:
And today, as I explored farther, it turned into THIS beast of a road: (!!!)It doesn't look like much in the two photos, but I assure you that IT WAS. I barely dragged my butt up and certainly didn't make it to the top. There were many off-road motorists ($#@%&) who were, for the most part (fie upon you, white Suburban!), very courteous to moi on foot.

I was gasping for breath in great gulps of air and finally gave in around Dutchman Flat. And I'm not going to reveal any names, but someone almost hurled. It was at that point that I decided to turn around and run down, trying very hard not to lose control on the downhill and run like Phoebe.

The Dancing Diva

Here is this week's installment of Mimi's dance class at Miss Wendi's. Mimi is the one in the blue tutu; no boring practice leotard for The Diva of Dress-up!

Saturday Morning

This is the pretty sunrise I saw as I was driving home from the gym today! Yes, AFTER the gym. For the past 4 nights running, my eyes *pop* open at 4am. #$%^&*!!!

I've finally given up at 5am and just get up because I can't sleep. It's kind of nice at the gym early Saturday; nobody's there and I have the place to myself!

My 7 Random Factoids

I was tagged by both Kate and Tami to reveal 7 random things about myself. Fun! I love tag! Is this Freeze Tag or Cartoon Tag? Actually, narrowing this down to only seven things was difficult because I am a walking bundle of randomness.

1. I have a very acute sense of smell (inherited from my mom). I've got a nose like a bloodhound.

2. I have a natural tendency toward mayhem (NOT inherited from my mom), but I try SO hard to be organized!

3. I prefer the smell of liquid Tide to any perfume.

4. My first crush was on Ponyboy Curtis. (see clip below)

5. I tend to have major insomnia.

6. I've never broken a bone.

7. I don't like people who are full of themselves.




Here are my 7 people that I'm tagging:
1.Julie
2.Amy
3. Holly
4. Jenna
5. Missy
6. Kay
7. Kristin

Friday Funny

Here's your Austen Fix for the weekend, ladies. (Even though it contains the WRONG Lizzie!!!)

Bliss

Yesterday's run was up North Fork Canyon and it was a true delight. I left my house with my brain bouncing in my skull like the cube on The Office screensaver and returned after-run happy and peaceful. This is the best running path! I can't wait to go back today!(photo courtesy of utahmountainbiking.com)

I dragged the whole fam up with me because I didn't know how deserted and freaky it would be, so I couldn't run as long as I wished. This surprised me, because on the website it is described as a road with "a steady climb that requires a bit of muscle and stamina." Woot! I came home proud of myself. (And I think there may have been more bionic tissue forming on the iron lung...) The return run is mostly downhill, which is hard on my shinsplints so I had to run even slower than my usual grandma-shuffle. This is now one of my very favorite running paths; it is so gorgeous. While I'm shuffling, I have God's grandeur all around. I hope to get back this afternoon and go for a longer session! The ward halloween party is at 6pm though; I don't know if that leaves me enough time to get back home and shower, get ready, etc. Should I go as Forrest Gump?

Cage Match

This is for matchboxmom & hotmama! (see comments from the Wordless Wednesday post) You only need to watch the first 35 seconds. Pop the popcorn!

Wordless Wednesday

Mimi Writes Her Name!

Each morning after I drop Max & Sis off at school, Mimi & I do some schoolwork. Yesterday it finally clicked and she wrote her own name! It's so cute and I know the babyish letters won't last long as she learns how to form her letters, so I had to get a picture.

Here she is, with the typical Hanson Concentration Mouth.

And this is her portrait of me (left) & her (right). She proudly showed me how she meticulously drew my eyelashes (how flattering!) and her little freckles.

Off to School

I have this weird soft spot for taking my kids to school. Ever since Max's first day of kindergarten, I have loved to see him running into his class. When Isabelle started kindergarten, I felt the exact same way. As they both got older and school became more routine, I thought I would get tired of driving them. I expected myself to start shooing them off to the bus each morning. Nope. I just love seeing them scamper into school, happy and well-adjusted and so excited for their classroom and the day ahead. It warms my heart!

Max is in 3rd grade now, and I've driven him to school every single day for 3 years. I keep telling myself that it is so much more SENSIBLE to have the schoolbus do the work for me, but I can't break the habit! It just makes my day to watch them scurry into school.

Woot!

Yesterday I took advantage of the *perfect* October weather and went for a run. I ran and ran and ran and never got tired! (70 mins!) I felt invincible! I think I formed an iron lung whilst running in the high altitude last weekend, where I was at 8500 ft altitude for 1 hour, uphill half the time. So when I went for my run yesterday, I just kept runnin' like my hero Forrest Gump.

Of course, not tiring may also be due to the fact that I go at an inordinately slow pace. And yes. I had my phone with me. You may roll your eyes. I like to take it on this rather remote and lonely trail; it gives me a false sense of security. Alarmingly, I was also texting myself notes for my blog since I now compose posts in my head all day.I need to learn how to operate my ipod without stopping dead in my tracks, so I was practicing and came within a foot of running right INTO the irrigation canal! No kidding.At one point, I was doing my signature shuffle-run and got swamped by the high school women's cross-country team. They rushed around me on all sides and blew me around like a leaf. The coach was at a crossroads timing them and I told him this was going to give me a complex. Then I shuffled off.This is the amazing view! I love this running path. Lately, whenever I feel like my head's going to explode from stress and worry, I throw on my running shoes and just GO. If I push my body hard enough, my brain stops jangling.

This is the next place I'll be going, hopefully this week:
This lovely spot is called the "Julie Andrews Meadow." That's its official name! Looks like something straight out of that breathtaking scene from "Room With a View."

These are not my photos, thus, the bike. I don't have the leg muscles required for biking!

It's Official, Halloween Has Begun

To kick off the impending Halloween spree of candy, parties & indiscriminate costume flaunting, we carved pumpkins tonight. More correctly, MIKE carved pumpkins. He wouldn't let me near a large gourd with a knife and the intent to plunge said knife into gourd. Something not many people know about me is that I am incurably uncoordinated. He contended that I would somehow, as only I could do, end up with the knife stuck into my abdomen.

He's totally right.

Frankenstein Goes to Church

On Sunday I applied the full Frankenstein mask and off we all went to church. This picture is of me & the gang AFTER church, which is why I look slightly hammered. I teach Isabelle's primary class, the 7-year olds, and I come home so exhausted each week. And they're not even naughty!!! They're a really cute, reverent and teachable class! The song leader even said in sharing time that my class was the best and they all got to have a turn coming up to the front to spin the song wheel. Where's my stamina?

I made Mike be IN the picture here! No hiding behind the lense as the "photographer" now that I've discovered self portraits. (thanks Jill, for the SP inspiration! I love your SP's!)

Speaking of Jill, reading her "Sunday Thoughts" posts have become a part of my Sabbath Day ritual. I come home from church, get into my fleecey flourescent Hello Kitty jammie pants, and settle into Jill's Sunday Thoughts with a good snack. She'll probably never know how she impacts little ol' me, a complete stranger. She teaches the Marriage & Family Relations class and always has a good snippet that get my perspective centered for the week to come. Here is something from her lesson this last Sunday that I really enjoyed:

In the February letter, the First Presidency taught that by teaching and rearing children in gospel principles, parents can protect their families from corrosive elements. They further counseled parents and children “to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities. However worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely-appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform” (First Presidency letter, 11 Feb. 1999; cited in Church News, 27 Feb. 1999, 3).

This quote from the Marriage & Family Relations manual instantly made me think of Elder Oak's wonderful talk this last conference. Oh, how I loved that talk. He strongly taught us that nothing--absolutely nothing--should interfere with our essential routines and activities in the home. Nothing, said Elder Oaks, should interfere with family prayer, scripture study, family home evening and even dinner together.

I so appreciate this reminder from Jill's lesson! I found myself cutting & pasting stuff I loved from her lesson and quickly realized I was basically copying her entire post to put on my blog--so just go here to read the outline of her lesson. Her lesson, from the manual, covers how home should be a safe place of belonging and soft words. I love this quote, directly from the manual (i think):

"Remember, 'a soft answer turneth away wrath' (Proverbs 15:1). We must never, out of anger, lock the door of our home or our heart to our children. Like the prodigal son, our children need to know that when they come to themselves they can turn to us for love and counsel."

Oh, do I EVER need to work on this! I have a short fuse. Also, the lesson covers the value of spending individual time with our children. Okay, now I'm just reciting her entire post again! Seriously, go read it!

(Well, I can't resist one last little bullet point: she also covers the importance of extended family. AMEN to THAT.)

Love to all & have a great week!

Menu Plan Monday

I've decided that ramen 6 days a week was a little much.

Monday – blt grilled cheese sandwiches, noodles w/ shredded pork (leftovers)
Tuesday – crockpot chicken enchiladas, brown rice, steamed broccoli
Wednesday – Rosemary pork medallions, spinach salad, broccoli
Thursday – Navy Bean Soup, baked potatoes, crusty wheat bread
Friday – leftover buffet
Saturday - french bread pizzas, green salad
Sunday – crockpot chicken oriental, brown rice, broccoli

Head over to Laura's amazing blog to get hundreds of other menus. Thanks Laura!

This clip is a special treat in honor of hotmama & Kay; ahem, I mean "Cordelia."

Evidently, I am Frankenstein

I was playing marbles with Max today and told him I had to take a quick break to put on my makeup.

"I like you better without makeup," said Max.
"You do?" said Crystal, "WHY?!"
"Because your makeup makes you look like Frankenstein."

Sheesh.

Harvest Boutique

Wendy & I have been reading about this boutique for quite a while on Kelly's blog & today was finally the big day! And let me tell you, this little boutique packed quite a big punch! I honestly have never seen so much creativity packed into such a small space. Kelly's aprons and necklaces were my very favorite. Here I am showcasing Wendi's fine finds.

Magnets, apron and the most luscious little books made by Marta.

All that creativity made us ravenous, so off we went for a luncheon respite at Noodles. Yum.


Speaking of noodles, we saw a tower o'ramen at walmart afterward. Heaven, considering my menu planning of late! I had to pose for shot. (i looked a lot sexier in my imagination)


This is documentation of my narcoleptic behavior. (re-enactment)

Stay awake! This is how I do it. (Or maybe I was seeing how I would look with a facelift?)

We were having quite a good time taking self portraits.

Again with the ramen. Looks like my menu plan for next week is done!

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn."
- John Muir


I'm suspecting that going on a run twice in a day is slightly overkill, but this afternoon I needed nature's peace to flow into me. I drove to my secret running path up the canyon, as seen in the first two pictures. The last two pictures are from the drive on the way down. Not bad for a phone camera!

(p.s. my legs hurt.)

A Forrest Gump Moment

Here are some photos of my mid-morning run. I slept through my early alarm and woke up barely in time to get Max & Isabelle to school! So Mike watched Mimi & worked at home while I went to the gym. I was driving home, couldn't resist the weather, parked and jumped out of my car to run one of my favorite routes. I had my camera in my jacket pocket. You can see in one of the pictures that I darted out into the street & snapped a quick one.