Welcome to Small Victories Sunday! This bi-weekly post will recap for you the reading I’ve done during the week, the recipes I’ve cooked, the posts I’ve written and the small victories I’ve celebrated in my personal life. When I started this blog over a year ago, I wanted a place where I could focus on those accomplishments in my life, both big and small. It’s helped me to focus and gain a healthier, more positive attitude as I juggle my 3 boys and the physical impairment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (a chronic and incurable illness). I thought Sunday would be a perfect day to reflect on the week that passed and look forward to the week ahead.
This Past Week I:
WAS READING
I had a cold last week so I didn’t get much read but I did finish Karma Gone Bad by blogger Jenny Feldon. A sometimes humorous, sometimes offensive travel memoir about living in India for 2 years, I’m still trying to wrap my thoughts around this one to share with you.
I didn’t listen to any audiobooks so though I donwloaded Count of Monte Cristo from the library, I didn’t even start it!
WAS COOKING
With a cold, I did some cooking from scratch but also relied on meals I had previously frozen. That said, we still ate pretty well without having to eat out. Click on the pictures to be taken to the recipe’s home page.
Photo Credit: Baked Spaghetti from Taste of Home
Photo Credit: Lazy Greek Baked Chicken from The Rachael Ray Show
Photo Credit: Mediterranean Quinoa Salad from Skinnytaste
Photo Credit: Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala from Cooking Classy
Baked Spaghetti from Taste of Home, 4*. Kids love this baked spaghetti, it makes a ton and gives us enough to have for dinner a couple times and to heat up in the morning for kids to have a hot thermos lunch. It freezes and reheats well also, a comforting casserole!
Baked Greek Chicken is my own easy concoction but I used the crumb topping and baking instructions from the Rachael Ray Show recipe pictured and Mediterranean Couscous Salad (substituting couscous for the quinoa recipe from Skinnytaste.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala from Cooking Classy, 5* This recipe is fantastic and tastes as close to my mom’s as I can get! I had frozen the leftover curry the last time I made it. I cooked up some cubed, fresh chicken breast in a skillet and added it to the partially frozen curry in the slow cooker. Reheated on low for an hour or two and it tasted like I had just made it. Small victory!
WAS BLOGGING
Signed up for Netgalley November reading challenge
Accidentally Green by Hilary Kimes Bernstein Book Review – easy read that inspired me to make small changes towards a healthier home and lifestyle
Lethal Circuit by Lars Guinard Audiobook Review and Giveaway – stop by, it’s an exciting spy thriller and 6 chances to win and e-book or audiobook.
OTHER SMALL VICTORIES
We won tickets to the Bon Jovi concert and watched in style from Superhubby’s employer’s suite, complete with leather chairs, a lounge area and room to dance! It was a fantastic concert and a fabulous date with my gorgeous Superhubby. We danced and partied like when we met in college, a great way to reconnect and he spoiled me rotten with a rockin’ red T shirt and wine. I’ll definitely go see them in concert again, it was a great show!
* I’ve been trying to teach my boys to cook so we’ve been having fun in the kitchen. They are excited to help and even more excited to eat what they make. Score!
* I’ve been tracking what my kids and I read together towards my goal to read 1,000 books with my kids during my lifetime. I am keeping track on Goodreads, and we have rated/reviewed 20 so far. Those are just what we read for homework, that doesn’t include all the ones we read at bedtime! But we are off to a good start and my sons like to give me their thoughts on what to write. If we aren’t already Goodreads friends, send me a friend request!
Next Week I Plan To:
READ & LISTEN TO:
I’ll be knocking out some more of my author review and Beating the Lunchbox Blues for my Netgalley challenge so I can catch up!
MENU PLAN – some of the yummies I plan on making next week
Photo Credit: PF Changs Lettuce Wraps from Food.com
Photo Credit: Tempting Tuna Parmesano from TLC Cooking
I will probably make French Toast and Hash Brown Casserole for breakfast and some Jerk Chicken with Roasted Peppers and Onions from Rachael Ray’s Yum-O Cookbook too.
This post is linked up to Saturday Sharefest with The SITS Girls, Spread the Love Linky Party with Love at First Book, Mommy Monday Blog Hop with Squishable Baby, It’s Monday, What Are You Reading with BookJourney and Little Things Thursdays with A Beautiful Ruckus. Click on the buttons to be taken to their blogs and see what others have to share.
Grab my button if you’d like to share on your blog or a Small Victories Sunday post to share it with me. Need inspiration? Click here for Small Victories writing prompts, but the sky is the limit so share whichever Small Victories you want to celebrate! Ready? Share your link below and let’s celebrate our small victories together! Remember to visit as many of the other participants as you can and cheer them on.
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I’ve added a second link too, I did an Acrostic Poem for my Clean Out Your E-Reader challenge today 🙂 It was fun!
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews recently posted..Review: Introductions (The Academy #1) – C. L Stone
I can’t wait to see it and share it Lexxie!
That Bon Jovi concert sounds truly awesome! I have loved this group since I was a teenager, and I think they’re still going strong 🙂 I’m happy you and hubby had such a good time.
I am so busy with school work these days it’s hard to visit your blog as much as I would like to! four weeks more, and then the semester is over.
Happy reading, Tanya 🙂
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews recently posted..Sidekick Showcase #27 – One of a Kind
Where do you find time to read with 3 boys??? Those recipes look delicious, especially the baked spaghetti. U are an inspiration for all that you do with RA… I don’t consider being supermom a small victory. All those small victories, make you SUPER MOM!!
http://www.coastalkel.com
Kelly Sue recently posted..Healthy treat
Only after they are in bed. In the dark. On a kindle. Then I can stay up as long as I want enthralled in a good book.
I appreciate your kind words Kelly Sue. I love recipe hunting and sharing what works for my family. Collecting recipes is a bit of an addiction, good thing many of them are online now! I hope you’ll stop back by and add a post to the linky!
So jealous that you got to see a Bon Jovi concert!! Jon has always been a “rocker crush”. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog, and for inviting me to your link up. Going to poke around a bit after my kiddos go to bed.
Jennifer @Making Our Life Matter recently posted..Thanksgiving 2013:What Is On Our Menu
Thanks for the link up! I added you to my link up directory! If you have any more link up parties you would like to put on my directory, please do! You can find it at http://livinthemomlife.com/link-up-party-directory/
Carli recently posted..A Lesson In Unconditional Love
Wow! The baked spaghetti and the chicken tikka masala look delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Heather @ Ex Libris recently posted..It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 16.0
I think the Bon Jovi concerts tops your week! I would love to go to one of those! I’m glad you are getting your boys to love the kitchen. Their wives will thank you for that!
Jill @ Called To Be A Mom recently posted..Don’t Forget 4 Items At Home When You Fly International!
Those meals look delicious! Have fun reading this week.
Take a look at what’s on my reading list this week.
Ha! Our weeks had some similarities! I had a cold and won tickets to a music event as well!! Lol.
Karma Gone Bad looks good! I love to read memoirs like that, especially set in India. I will have to check it out! 🙂
Erin @ Quixotic Magpie recently posted..It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
That slow cooker Chicken looks A-May-Zing! I need to break my slow cooker in and try it out! Thanks for sharing and linking up with us at the Mommy Monday Blog Hop!
Tiffany recently posted..Mommy Monday Blog Hop With Mrs_AOK, Lisa & MrsTee !
I hope you’re feeling better! The Bon Jovi concert sounds amazing! Beating the Lunchbox Blues is on my reading list for this week too. Have a good week.
Vasilly recently posted..DNF: The Color Master by Aimee Bender
The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favourite classics!
Can I just say how insanely jealous I am of the Bon Jovi concert??!! If I were to ever leave my family (which I won’t) it would be to follow Bon Jovi around the country like a total groupie! ;)-Ashley
thedoseofreality recently posted..You Know You’re A MILF When…
Wooo hoooo BON JOVI…. congrat for the ticket. I do really like your wrapping up. Your cooking sessions are awesome. You have accomplished a lot of things although in a cold. Take care yourself.
Adelien recently posted..When The Light Went Out
Congrats on the Bon Jovi tickets! Sounds like it was an amazing evening.
Diana Leigh recently posted..Book Booty and Blather (6): Christmas Card Exchanges Around the Blogosphere
Glad you have fun at the concert! Enjoy your week.
Jenea @ Books Live Forever’s Sunday Post
Jenea @ Books Live Forever recently posted..The Sunday Post #77
The Bon-Jovi concert sounds like a blast, and yum your meals looks awesome. I hope you are feeling better!
kimbacaffeinate recently posted..Sunday Post #82 Sharing blog news and book haul
I’m totally pimping out my mom’s post today on your Small Victories Sunday! 🙂
Rebecca @ Love at First Book recently posted..Spread the Love Linky Party: Sponsored by David-Michael Harding
BON JOVI! That is so awesome! I mean, reading and food is cool, too, but Bon Jovi is way better 🙂
Allison @ The Book Wheel recently posted..8 Popular Books I Didn’t Like or Finish
Glad you had a fab time at the Bon Jovi concert, Tanya. And hope your cold is a distant memory. And love the idea of reading 1000 books with your kids- what a fab goal! You are such an inspiration. And thanks for the recipes, mouth watering as usual. Have a fab weekend!
Renita D’Silva recently posted..Indian Fiction: Why Reading is the Perfect Escape.
Glad you had a fab time at the Bon Jovi concert, Tanya. And hope your cold is a distant memory. And love the idea of reading 1000 books with your kids- what a fab goal! You are such an inspiration. And thanks for the recipes, mouth watering as usual. Have a fab weekend!
Renita D’Silva recently posted..Indian Fiction: Why Reading is the Perfect Escape.
Sounds like you had an eventful week and I wish I could have rocked out to Bon Jovi with you. I like the idea of tracking how many books you’ve read. I may have to do that as well. I usually just download them to my kindle but there are actual hard copy books that I’ve read. Great idea! Happy Weekend!
Growing Up Madison recently posted..Personalized Letter from Santa With Surprises from The North Pole
Your cooking section made me hungry! Didn’t do a lot of from scratch cooking this week — except spaghetti squash and venison meat sauce. Perfect for fall!
I haven’t made spaghetti squash before. Is it as hard to cut as butternut squash? I have given up on trying to cut butternut squash, it’s too hard on my hands. But I love the taste of it.
Thanks for stopping by One Mommy, hope you will stop back by and add a link to the linky!! I’ve been sharing on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook too.
You know, you guys have too much fun with these link ups. I am new to the blogging community, but I will have to start somewhere huh? One day I will have to join you guys!
Alicia recently posted..Mommy Must Read #1
You should just add your link, I have been sharing them on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest 🙂 just copy and paste one of your favorite links, enter your name..easy, peasy, no need to wait!! 🙂 would love to have you join us!
I always like seeing what you are cooking. I really need to try putting a bunch of healthy meals together and freezing them!
Jeannine G. recently posted..Memoir x 2
The baked spaghetti would be really easy to freeze half cause it makes so much. Normally I just freeze the leftovers once my family gets tired of eating it and before they go bad. It at least helps to have something good to reheat for a simple lunch or dinner.
I hope you will add one of your book reviews to the linkup, I’ve been sharing on Facebook,Twitter and Pinterest 🙂 and would love to share your great reviews too!
I did! Thanks for reminding me!
Jennine G. recently posted..Memoir x 2
Thanks Jeannine, glad you enjoy the recipes. It’s easy for me to forget what I have frozen but it certainly came in handy when I need dinner in a pinch and didn’t feel like going out to the grocery store. Thanks for linking up again this week!!
JEALOUS about the Bon Jovi tickets!! How much fun was that?!
Missy Homemaker recently posted..Saturday Soapbox: Food Stamps Cuts…oh SNAP!
Seriously a blast, I gotta write about it!!
You managed to accomplish quite a bit with a cold. Your recipes look delicious especially the baked chicken. The Bon Jovi concert sounds awesome.
Savvy Working Gal recently posted..Should Everyone Graduate With a Liberal Arts Degree?
Thanks Savvy! To be fair, they are not my food pictures this time. I did give photo credit to the blogs/websites they came from so if you click on the picture, it will take you to the recipe. While I wish my food looked that great, it’s my small victory that my family gobbles it up anyway!
They have requested the Baked Sweet & Sour Chicken AGAIN this week, so we’ve added that and jalapeño burgers to our menu plan.
Bon Jovi was awesome, I really need to write about it! 🙂
Looks like you guys had an awesome time! Bon Jovi was my first crush growing up. I even wrote him a letter inviting him to stay at my house if he ever came to Jamaica 🙂
Tanya Patrice recently posted..#WeekendReading {Redemption In Indigo} Wine {Bully Hill Vineyards Banty Red}
Lol, you’ve got good taste in crushes. That’s so cool you wrote him a letter, did he ever respond? What I loved about the concert was he was not only a great entertainer, getting the crowd into the songs, but he was also so humble and thankful for his fans. A lot of his newer songs are more about faith, which I thought was pretty awesome too.