2011 Goals Update

This month has been action packed with work, work, and more work!  Budget meetings, teaching an after school class, handling extra curricular activities and just the daily routine have kept me busy most nights after school as well as weekends.  I'm hoping that things will begin to wind down at work in December, when the holiday social calendar begins to heat up!

I did find time to catch up on some of my goals for the year this month, including spending some quality time with family.  December should have plenty more where that came from, which I'm looking forward to. 

While I haven't found time for the fitness program I was hoping to start, I have been trying to eat healthier, and I've maintained my weight despite the long hours in front of the computer working, so I'm happy about that. 

One of the big goals this year was to make some of the rooms in our house more functional, after a long stretch of neglecting those areas.  We've improved our family room, set up an office area for me in the basement and sketched out the changes we want to make to the common area downstairs. 

As for the thesis that I've been working on forever, I'm scheduled to hand in my revised draft to my supervisor this Friday afternoon.  If the committee are satisfied with it, then they will send it to an outside reader and hopefully schedule a thesis defense for sometime in the new year.  I can't tell you how ready I am to be finished with this!  I really enjoyed the process, but now that the end is in sight, I'm anxious to cross the finish line!!!

So bear with me for the rest of the week.  I'll be posting everyday, but it won't be until the weekend that the holiday tips and recipes will start coming.  I'm throwing a few holiday parties at my house this year, so I'll be passing on my tips to throwing a gluten-free friendly gathering, even when it's a potluck and not all the dishes will be gluten free.  Can't wait!

Quite the Ensemble

This is what happens when he picks his own outfit!

Gluten Free Weekly Menu Plan

Monday: Baked Garlicky Fish and Mashed Potatoes

Tuesday: Tuna Patties with Vegetables

 
Wednesday: Butter Chicken with Steamed Peas and Carrots







 Thursday: Homemade Hamburgers   

Friday: A risotto with Mediterranean flavours

A Few Thoughts on a Saturday

I feel as though I'm beginning to catch up to civilization a little bit today, as my husband picked up the new iPhone for each of us.  It's been years (I'm serious) since I've updated my cell phone, and now all of a sudden I can do more things on my phone than I would have ever imagined! 

I've spent the last half hour just checking out all the features that come with the phone, and I've already browsed through hundreds of free books that I want to download. 

So excuse me if tonight's post is really, really, short.  I have to figure out how to post from my new phone.

Menu plan goes up tomorrow, and since this is my weekend to finally finish my thesis draft, my husband's doing the cooking.  Let's see what he comes up with! 

Friday Five List

1- Today is my brother-in-law Carlos' birthday.  He's 23 years old, which I'm sure seems very old to him.  Feliz Cumpleaños Carlos!






2- Toronto broke weather records today.  15.7C!  Hot, sunny and a beautiful day to be outside. 
3- The weather made up for the 45 minutes spent on a broken down bus waiting to go to the ROM this morning.
4- I'm really hoping to spend a date day checking out the special Mayan exhibit before it's over.
5- The countdown is on, 4 more weeks 'till Christmas!

Thanksgiving South of the Border

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American friends!  I was thinking of all the turkey and football I was missing while at work today.

I hope you had a chance to slow down, relax and enjoy time with family and friends.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

Now get some rest before Black Friday... 

Wordless Wednesday

Mommy's little helper

Thanksgiving Redux

I wrote all about my Thanksgiving in October, since that's when we celebrate here in Canada.  The big day is fast approaching for those of you in the US, so if you're looking for some gluten free menu ideas, fun activities for the kids, or what to do with all that leftover turkey, be sure to check out these posts:

Recipe: Homemade Gluten Free Cranberry Sauce
Recipe: Homemade Apple Sauce
Recipe: Autumn Harvest Soup
My Gluten Free Thanksgiving Menu
Hosting a Stress Free Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Dinner Roundup
Healthy Top Whipped Topping

Putting Up the Christmas Tree!

It's a tradition in my house to put up my Christmas tree the day of the Toronto Santa Claus Parade.  It may be a little early for those of you in the United States, who still have Thanksgiving to celebrate, but for me in Canada, Thanksgiving was a month ago and there's only one month to go before Christmas!

I like having the date put aside each year because I make a point to not make any other plans that day, and instead we spend it at home, listening to holiday songs while we decorate the house and put up the tree, until finally relaxing on the couch while we watch the parade on t.v.

This year my son was old enough to be interested in the process, although I don't know how much actual "help" he provided!  We didn't get all the decorations done, but the stockings are hung, the lights are strung outside, and the tree is trimmed.  There are a few more candy canes that I think need to go on it, but it looks finished enough.  Just a few more indoor decorations, and I'll be ready to finish my shopping and start wrapping gifts!

December is coming soon, and we're already almost all booked up for the month!  As for the blog, I'm looking forward to posting my party planning tips, more holiday recipes and gift ideas for the newly gluten free!  Oh yeah, and my one year blog anniversary is coming up soon!

Here are a few photos of our tree!

Gluten Free Weekly Menu Plan

Monday: Chicken Parmesan with Mushrooms and GF Pasta  (I've prepared the chicken and sauce separately.  I'll cook up the pasta tomorrow and bake the chicken with sauce and cheese tomorrow, or it will go soggy).  This time I used rice crumbs, but I prefer the Nut'N Gluten brand of bread crumbs better.

Tuesday: Jamie's Char Grilled Squid, Rustic Guacamole & Antipasto Salad

Wednesday: Cream of Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
(Goat's milk instead of cream for the soup, GF bread and Goat Milk Mozzarella for the Sandwiches.  Comfort food!)

Thursday: Fritatta and Caesar Salad






Friday: Tacos