My thoughts for today

This is likely the only political post you see from me. I am not one that posts on these topics because personally, I just do not like to talk politics. This is not directed at any one person, so please don't feel singled out. This is just me, expressing my feelings during the turmoil we all seem to be facing.

I have friends on both sides and I hope that you know I love you all but so many things I see today ( again from both sides ) are just making me feel so disheartened.

If you are unhappy about the election results, you are allowed those feelings. You are allowed to voice them the way you please as long as you are not wishing ill on others, wanting to see people die or things of that nature. I can not even count the number of comments that came cross different news stories that I was reading were people were actually wishing death on the new President or Vice President. I am disgusted by this, these men have families, these men are people.

You want to protest, peacefully, have at it. You have that right but the moment you start destroying things, you are no longer a protester, you are a vandal and deserve to be punished for your actions. Throwing bricks at windows, throwing bricks at police officers. It is just disgusting behavior.

Those on both sides that are posting things on social media and saying things that no one should say about another person, you really should stop. You are only hurting people. You claim you love all your friends, regardless of who they voted for, then prove it by watching your words. The things you post can and do hurt others and this is not okay.

Those that are celebrating the election. If you are being cruel in your words, name calling the other side and being hateful, you need to take a long hard look in the mirror because what you are doing is nothing more than petty behavior that does nothing to make your side look better. We are all Americans, we are all people and we all should be lifting each other up. We all need to help our fellow man. People on all sides, if you truly want a great America, it does not start in the White House, it starts with you, in your heart. The way we treat each other makes all the difference.

Meal plan 1/16 - 1/31

I took a break from meal planning, the Christmas season and the following weeks are busy here and I just decided to take a break. I am ready to get back into the swing of it.

1/16 - 1/22
Monday
Breakfast - Oatmeal, cereal or yogurt
Lunch - Mac and cheese with broccoli, apple slices
Dinner - Cheese pizza
Snack - Nutter butter cupcakes

Tuesday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, cereal or yogurt
Lunch - Alfredo and broccoli
Dinner - Skillet lasagna and cauliflower rice
Snack - Pretzels

Wednesday
Breakfast - Oatmeal, cereal or yogurt
Lunch - PBJ or PB and honey sandwiches, half an apple and a kiwi
Dinner - Grilled cheese and tomato soup
Snack - Peach pie

Thursday
Breakfast - Oatmeal, cereal or yogurt
Lunch - Pancakes and apple slices
Dinner - Salsa chicken tacos, refried beans and rice
Snack - Popcorn

Friday
Breakfast - Oatmeal, cereal or yogurt
Lunch - Ravoli
Dinner - Beef tips over rice and veggies
Snack - Pumpkin muffins

Saturday
Breakfast - Oatmeal, cereal or yogurt
Lunch - Chicken and cheese quesadillas and carrots and dip
Dinner - Skillet lasagna and salad
Snack - Apple slices

Sunday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, cereal or yogurt
Lunch - Grilled cheese and tomato soup
Dinner - Chili
Snack - Carrots and dip

1/23 - 1/29

Monday
Breakfast - Oatmeal, cereal or yogurt
Lunch - Left overs or PBJ sandwiches and fruit
Dinner - Shredded chicken sandwiches, baked potatoes and veggies
Snack - Honey toast

Tuesday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, cereal or yogurt
Lunch - Alfredo and broccoli
Dinner - Baked chicken legs, baked potatoes and veggies
Snack - Apple sauce

Wednesday
Breakfast - Oatmeal, cereal or yogurt
Lunch -  Mac and cheese with tuna, broccoli
Dinner - Crock pot pork roast, veggies and potatoes
Snack - Peach pie

Thursday
Breakfast - Oatmeal, cereal or yogurt
Lunch - Eggs, toast and fruit
Dinner - Shredded pork sandwiches, baked potatoes and veggies
Snack -  Cookies

Friday
Breakfast - Oatmeal, cereal or yogurt
Lunch -  PBJ or PB and honey sandwiches and apple slices
Dinner - Roasted turkey, potatoes and veggies
Snack - Apple sauce

Saturday
Breakfast - Oatmeal, cereal or yogurt
Lunch - Turkey and veggie soup or left overs
Dinner - Creamed turkey biscuits and veggies
Snack - Carrots and dip

Sunday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, cereal or yogurt
Lunch - Pizza
Dinner - Turkey tetrazzini, salad and home made bread
Snack - Carrots and dip

1/30 - 1/31
Monday
Breakfast - Oatmeal, cereal or yogurt
Lunch - Left overs or PBJ sandwiches and fruit
Dinner - Spaggetti and meatsauce
Snack - Honey toast

Tuesday -
Breakfast - Oatmeal, cereal or yogurt
Lunch - Alfredo and broccoli
Dinner - Meatload, mashed potatoes and veggies
Snack - Apple sauce

Nutterbutter Cupcakes

Monday brought us a lovely little ice storm and when you are stuck inside, there is nothing better than home made cupcakes. A couple days before hand I found a recipe for nutter butter cupcakes and Chris really wanted me to make them. Unfortunately, the first attempt was a failed one, due to a recipe that just made no sense.

I really wanted to make these so I decided to make up my own recipe and let me tell you, these were one of the most delicious cupcakes I have ever had!

                                                 


Ingredients -
1/2 a cup of softened salted butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
1 1/2 cups of flour
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tbs cinnamon
3 tsp baking powder
3/4 plus 2 tbs milk
4 crushed nutter butters

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream your butter, vanilla, yogurt, sugar and 2 tbs milk.

In a separate bowl mix flour, cinnamon, crushed nutterbutters and baking powder.

Mix flour mixture and milk alternatively into the butter mixture. Do not over mix.

Pour into molds ( about 3/4 full ) and bake for around 30 minutes.

Let cool completely before frosting.


Frosting
1/2 cup butter
1 cup creamy peanutbutter ( we used peanut butter with honey, highly recommended )
3 cups powdered sugar
4 tbs milk

Mix peanut butter, 1 tbs milk and softened butter until well mixed.

Slowly add powdered sugar, adding the other three tbs of milk as needed.

Mix for at least 4 -5 minutes to get the fluffiest texture.

                                              

Pipe onto cooled cupcakes and top the cup cake with a nutter butter cookie.

Enjoy!!

Serves around 12

Home Schooling in the Raw - After a break

I know that many families are like us and are just getting back into a normal routine after the holidays. We took a two week break for Christmas and Monday was our first day back to school.
This week was rough, my kids were not wanting to settle back into their school routine and every day we had one issue or another with getting them to get their work done. The worst offender was my five year old. Amelia was not ready for her winter break to be over. She was not wanting to sit and do her work and all week long it seemed like I was having to tell her the same things over and over again.

Monday was met with much groaning. None of the Walters' kids were real excited to get their work done. Kairi and Amelia did seem to really enjoy the new science lessons we have started ( you can find what we are doing on my blog, it is a unit study on the animals of Iowa ) and Alex and Destiny are enjoying the books they started. Alex is ready James and the Giant Peach and Destiny is reading Peter Pan. We did manage to get school done at a decent hour, I did expect it would take longer since they were still not on schedule. The week rolled on, it seemed like each day got a little better and was met with less grumbling than the day before.

Break times are a lot of fun but each time we break, I am reminded why we do not take the whole summer off! It is hard to get back on track.

I am thankful that is Friday! We made it through the week, all the required work is done and here is to hoping our next week is better, I think they are finally readjusted to their school schedule.