What’s Up Wednesday

Hello and happy Wednesday!

How is your week going? After our summer like weather over the weekend, the temps have dropped again, but at least the sun has been shining! I’ll take it.

It’s crazy to think that this time next week will be April!

l don’t often have my act together enough to link up with Sheaffer and Shay on the last Wednesday of the month, but I’m doing so today!

What we are eating this week:

Thanks to the amazing weather this past weekend, Trav grilled out on Saturday and Sunday. Hadley requested hot dogs, so that’s what we had on Saturday night, and then we had steak on Sunday night.

This Betty Crocker pasta salad saves me as an easy side dish, and we had enough that I’ve had some for lunch the past couple of days too.

Monday night, I whipped up some baked burritos that we haven’t had in a while. I knew it would make enough for leftovers on Tuesday which is what we needed since Hadley had a track meet, and Hayden had a baseball game.

(At some point, the Pinterest link for this recipe was glitchy, so I wrote it down)

Recipe:

• Brown two pounds of ground turkey, drain, add taco seasoning and water. Simmer for a few minutes. Then, I throw in some black beans too.
• In a bowl, mix cream of mushroom soup, 1/2 c. sour cream, 1/2 c. taco sauce. Then, add a bit of that to the bottom of 13×9 baking dish.
• Assemble meat into tortillas – I add a little meat and then a sprinkle of shredded cheese. Roll up the tortilla and place seam side down in baking dish.
• I usually make about 12 little burritos and just squeeze them in the dish.
• Top the burritos with the remaining sauce and sprinkle with cheese.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
• I typically make the microwave Trader Joe’s Jasmine rice and mix it with remaining black beans, salt, pepper, a little bit of frozen corn (if I have some), cilantro and then the juice of a lime. My kids love this…even better than Chipolte rice!

Tonight, I’m making this pasta, and again, I hope to have leftovers for Thursday.

A highlight of my week so far were these pretzel bites that Hadley made. Last week, in her Adv. Foods class, her teacher assigned groups a team in the NCAA tournament. Hadley’s group’s team was the Georgia Bulldogs, and they had to create a menu centered around the theme. The groups presented, and then one group won…which was her group. So, this week, they made “Bulldog Pretzel Bites” and “Puppy Chow” in class. This assignment was so cute! (and delish!) Bonus – she dropped some off for me to try!

What I’m reminiscing about:

I never thought I’d be back being a baseball mom, but here we are. When I look at Hayden in the dugout or the field now, I still see this little kid!

This year, for whatever reason, I’ve been thinking back to previous spring breaks. We’ve really never done the same thing twice for spring break…which was a preference. We always like to go somewhere new(ish) and driveable, and just for a few days. Through the years, we’ve been to Knoxville, Asheville, Nashville, Greenville, DC, and more. I realize just because we’re almost halfway through the high school years, it doesn’t mean the kids won’t mooch off of us for vacations, but I just feel like some of these traditions, like spring break are coming to an end sooner than I’d prefer!

What I’m loving:

A couple of months ago, the TJ Maxx check out line “got me” and I picked up a box of face towels while I was waiting in line. Once that box was out, I bought these from Amazon, and I love them just as much (and the box is more functional than my TJ Maxx one)

This silicone mat has come in so handy for recent travel. I never knew how much I “needed” this. haha

Besides keeping the counter top safe, the pouch on the other side is perfect for storing and traveling with my curling iron.

What We’ve Been Up To:

We’ve been watching all the basketball games. On a whim, Trav’s family decided to do a bracket challenge, and it’s been fun to see the standings change around.

Full transparency, while my bracket was in first for the first couple of days, I’m down to 6th place…I won’t give up though. Hadley’s bracket name made me chuckle…

The kids’ activities are in full swing. Hayden has had a few baseball games, and Hadley had her first meet of the outdoor season last night.

Her track photos came in, and as usual, it was hard to only pick a few to order.

What I’m Dreading:

Hearing that the last day of school is June 3rd is definitely something I’m dreading. I don’t (want to) do school in June, y’all. In 24 years teaching, I’ve only had school in June one other time, and that was before NTI was an option. That’s my biggest “beef” with our situation this year is we had ten NTI days to use per usual, and we only used five. (Really, we’d only used four until recently…and then we used a 5th on St. Patrick’s Day)

What I’m Excited About:

Now that I’ve adjusted to “springing forward,” I’m excited about the sunshine, more daylight and warmer days ahead….

What I’m watching/reading:

As a I said before, we’ve been watching lots of basketball.

I’ve been loving Love Story, and I only have one more episode to go.

Trav and I have been meaning to watch the newest season of Night Agent, but we haven’t had time to yet. I’d say maybe this weekend, but I bet basketball will win out as what ends up being on the TV.

I’ve been listening to the audio book of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. I started it on Saturday, and I’m about halfway through listening to it. I’m really enjoying it.

What I’m wearing:

Layers! ‘Tis the season for all kinds of temps, so I need all kinds of options for clothes. On the colder days, I am trying to wear favorite sweaters one more time. On the weekend, I’m usually wearing athleisure, but I try and look put together when I leave the house.

What I’m doing this weekend:

Actually, we have another somewhat slow weekend…Hayden does have a game, and I need to buy things for the kids’ Easter baskets. I’ve bought a couple of odds and ends and some candy, but I want to take stock in what I have and then go from there.

What I’m Looking Forward to Next Month:

All things April…Easter, spring break, and hopefully Keeneland!

What’s something you’re looking forward to next month?