Monday Meal Plan

I've been slacking on my organizing of my families meal plan and haven't followed through with hardly

any of my meal plans. When you are both working parents and there is things such as overtime,

friends, family and just plain out trying to have a life, our meal plan turns into a jumble mess on whatever

I decide to cook for that night. I'm starting school in a couple of weeks, yes summer went fast and too short

as always. However, since I'm taking 4 classes this next semester I really need to be on my A game and follow

through with my meal plan for my family. Otherwise, I'm going to go nuts. :)

Sunday: Kiwi Style Sausage Rolls

& Salad

Monday: Homemade Chicken Strips 

& Salad

Tuesday: Pizza (Softball night)

Wednesday: BLTA's &

Ta-tor Tots

Thursday: Last Truckee Thursday's

(Eat downtown). This is a local event

held downtown Truckee where we live. Music, good eats and local merchants.

Friday: Family out to dinner night

(decided the 3 of us haven't gone out to dinner

in a while, so tonight is the night.)

Saturday: Bake Cookies with Mackenna

Turkey Loaf, Salad and Homemade Scalloped Potatoes.

Sunday: Rice, Chicken, Cheese Casserole 

Hope everyone had a good weekend. 

Please remember to give me a click!

I Bought a Hot Mama Bag

It must be around 2-3 months ago, ok maybe not that long ago, that Alysha had a free giveaway

@ thetarrpit for a Hot Mama Bag. I didn't win, but that how it goes with giveaways right... :)

Yesterday, I jumped onto Etsy and remembered that I wanted to take another look at her shop:
Hot Mama Bags

and see if she had additional patterns that were more recent or new. I took a browse and

I finally purchased one yesterday.

I choose this one!

I love the pattern

Not Actually, mine, photo from her shop...

Also, I got a really cute Key Chain to match the Bag as well. 

I will get back to you and let you know how it works and do a little review for you all. I haven't been

asked to do a review by the seller, but I really want to, because they are too cute of bags and I

want you all to see what you can fit in there. 

Happy Friday! Please also click and vote for me. 

Potty Training in Full Swing

My daughter now 2, is ready to be potty trained. I'm ready too. You finally reached a point where you do not want to deal with buying diapers anymore, cleaning the mess up when you child decides they don't want the diaper on anymore. 

For the last couple of night's when I get home from work I've been changing Mackenna out of her diaper and slipping on her training underwear. They are actually really cool. The ones that my Grandma sent to me are made from Gerber. They are like underwear, except they have a padding in them, So if they start to go, it's not going to make the biggest mess they kinda soak up the pee in a way. She seem's to really like it and enjoy getting the diaper off when I'm home. 

I've set up her portable potty in the living room, in case we need to make a mad dash to get her on the potty if I start to see she is peeing. She kinda squats or stands perfectly still and looks down. That's my Queue. We also, have in our bathroom a 2 step stool and a little seat that sits on the bigger seat of the toilet.

{My Tricks}

1. Running the water with the faucet while she is sitting on the toilet. 

2. Having the portable potty in the living room

3. Sticker Chart, she get's to put a sticker on paper after she goes potty 

(or every time she sits on the potty)

I think the most important thing to do when potty training is to always be encouraging them and never get mad if there is an accident. Also, trying not to get anxious and being calm. If they feel your anxiety and feel pressured they will not be interested. What have you done with your toddler's during potty training? Anything that's worked for you?

Real Quick Can you Vote for me.. Please!

100 Followers

Thanks to all of my awesome followers and reader's I've hit 100 followers.

This is so exciting. 

Thank you to everyone that has followed the Mack to My Cheese.

This weekend recap....

Friday night I went out to the bars with my sister-in-law and Jenny, for some drinks to celebrate,

my sister-in-law Amber's 30th Birthday. I even sang karaoke. :)

Saturday I really enjoyed doing not much of anything. I've been so busy at work, I feel

like I'm never at home. So, when I'm home I don't feel like doing much of anything, but

being a couch potato. We rented movies, and watched movies all day and I slept like crazy.

It's weird after I look back on those days I feel guilty for doing it, but in no way did I feel that 

way on Saturday. Everyone needs a lazy day.. Right!?!

Hope everyone has a good week!

Wordless Wednesday

Mack's 2nd Birthday Party Recap

Dear Mackenna,

You have been our pride and joy for the last 2 years. I never thought I could love someone unconditionally, and you have shown me I can. You bring smiles to my face no matter how tough of a day I had. You have made Daddy and Mommy so happy, and we look

forward to continue to watch your grow. 

Love, Mommy and Daddy

My daughter turned 2 on July 25th, 2010. We had her birthday the following Saturday. Here are some of the photos for those two days. It turned out to be a really good party. 

Meal Plan Monday

This weekend was a very successful weekend. We had Mackenna's 2nd Birthday Party on Saturday, 

and my dad left yesterday after being here since Wednesday.

Here is the meal plan for the week

Monday: 

Cheese Burgers, potato salad

Tuesday:

BLT's

Wednesday:

Chicken & Rice Casserole. 

Thursday:

Orange Chicken and Pot stickers

Friday: 

BBQ Chicken and Salad

Saturday:

Leftovers

Sunday: 

Pork Chops, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and Cesar Salad

Here is a photo from Mackenna's Birthday.....

I promise to post photos from this weekend soon. 

Birthday Girl and her Cake.

Daddy and Tyson sleeping after the cake was over. :)

Hope you had a great weekend!


Link Up with me for Meal Plan Monday's

Sorry, I'm a Slacker, my baby turned 2.

Sorry, I've been so busy with Mackenna's 2nd Birthday plans, getting everything ready and my house ready.

The list goes on....

I'm sure all you mommies out there know how it can be when you are trying to plan the best birthday party.

R.I.P my desktop computer, after only 18 months the motherboard goes out.. Perfect... :( I have a love and hate relationship with technology. 

My Dad arrives into town tomorrow morning... If you've been following Fat Friday's, I will be sharing the winner 

this Friday. I think I have my dad beat, but stay tunned for the results. 

Sunday, Was Mackenna's actual Birthday, but party day is this Saturday. I can't wait. 

Still so much to do. 

How was your weekend? 

And here is a picture of the Birthday girl from Sunday.

Twitter.. Smacked me in the face.

Sometimes I live blindly in my life and forget that sometimes we live in cruel world. I've really enjoyed blogging since I started a couple of months ago and I've met so many awesome and amazing woman/mother's out there. I started a twitter account a little bit ago to what all the hype was about, because I didn't really see the point having a Facebook in all. Let me give you my story why I've lost faith in people for a brief moment yesterday and how this world can very cruel to you because of what you believe in and what you think is right. 

{Twitter}

Yesterday, someone tweeted about when to start real milk and transitioning from formula. I tweeted a reply and stated that I see a homeopathic doctor for my daughter and she told me that I could start milk anytime I wanted and to ease it in slowly and see how she likes it. 

That's all I said to this person...

Don't worry it wasn't her that said anything to me. Then I got a reply to that tweet to me saying: if you take your daughter to a homeopathic Doctor, that must mean you haven't vaccinated. Right?

I though for minute, maybe she is just curious. I replied back and stated, that no at this time I haven't vaccinated my child. She then came back to me and said well I hope you child doesn't die based on your irresponsibilities as a parent and good luck. 

I was shocked, my blood was boiling inside me. I would never judge another

person based on their decisions as a parent. How can someone say something so cruel and nasty to another. I've never even met this person she tweeted me out of nowhere. I finally got the courage and asked if she had children. To my surprise, she told me no. I told her that I think it's best to leave me alone because I'm an actual parent and making the best decision I can for my daughter. I also, told her that her opinions could change once she had a living, breathing thing to care for.

I was so heated, I left and went on a walk and came back to another tweet from someone else that I've

never spoke to before joining in on the conversation. 

This was her tweet to me: 

I wonder if antivax is genetic? Cause when your kids die of a preventable disease, at least the gene will be out of the pool.

I looked up this person's profile and she happened to be only 15 years old. 

By this point I was done and logged off twitter for most of the day.

I'm not the mom of the year, and I'm not perfect by any means. However, I don't think anything is worse then being challenged on what you think is right as a parent to your own child. I'm already feeling a little better after sharing this with you, but still can't believe what happened yesterday.

Thankful for the followers I do have and your great comments. 

I received a blog award, plus giving some out.

I received another blog award from Lifeafteryes. Thanks for the award. She has great reads check her out. 

I've been blogging since May 2010. I've really enjoyed it and the people that I've met. It's nice to know I'm not the only mom out there that experiences the things that I do. 

It comes with a few "strings" attached, but nothing I can't handle!

1.  Thank and link back to the person that gave you the award.

2.  Share 7 things about your self.

7 things about myself

1. I live in Lake Tahoe, California for the last 5 years. 

2. I love to snowboard and snowmobile. 

3. I'm a mom to a 2 year old. {this week is her birthday} Enjoying the days and nights of toddler hood. 

4. I like cooking, however i'm more of a baker. I'm better at baking and I feel more creative with baking. I know you can be creative with cooking, but maybe I just don't like to cook. {I know some house wife}

5. I work full time. It's not something I really want but, in way its nice, because no one minds extra money. 

6. I have a sister that is 22 and a brother that is 17. I live closer to my brother now after being a part off and on his whole life between here in the US and New Zealand. My dad is American and my Mom is a kiwi. 

7. I love to get into projects and scrap booking. Organizing doesn't sound like a hobby, but I love it. 

And now -  bloggers who inspire me! I recommend you check out all their blogs, you wont be disappointed! 

Kara @ Ramblings of Marine Wife -  I love reading your blog. I feel like I can understand the lives of those that serve. 

Nancy @ Life of a Dairy Woman -  She has great posts about her family and her life on a farm. Also, she posts photos of things that come out of her garden. 

Shan @ Breaking New Ground -  You always have the must cheery and colorful photos. I love the the name of your blog and I always find myself reading your blog everyday. 

Intervention with our Money

When you have two incomes and you are used to living a certain way you go through the everyday motions of spending and playing and then whoa, you actually look at a credit card statement, or in my case a few and realize that your spending habits are scary on paper. Not only was I looking at credit card statements, but our bank statements as well. I won't go into any more detail because I don't want you to get as scared and anxious as I was. 

{Why do we spend unnecessarily}

I started to break down our bank account statement and went through and highlighted all transactions that I thought were not needed to try and see where we over spend.

Here are some places that we spend too much at:

1. Gas stations (for the quick 6 pack of beer, snack gatorade, etc.) 

2. Full Belly Deli (Next to where I work)

3. Grocery stores (more than twice a week)

4. credit card payments, I mean they are getting kinda silly.

So, you now have an idea where we spend our money, not all of it, but the things I think I can really keep cautious about and try and cut. I'm putting our finances in order and going to be going through debt intervention with our accounts. 

Step 1: Cut up credit cards, if you don't have access to them you can't use them right.

When they are paid down then we can order new ones, maybe considering letting some of them go. 

(I know, letting credit cards go, even a couple, I know I'm crazy)

Step 2: Make grocery lists and stick to the list and meal planning. It will help going to the grocery store once a week and not 2 or 3 times. Avoiding things not needed in the store, the extra's. Try cutting them out for awhile and see how it goes. 

Step 3: Made a strict plan of credit card payments for the next 6 months. By, trying to to save at the grocery store and other spending, I will apply that extra money towards extra on credit card's and open a saving's account. I don't have a saving's account, and I want to start one. 

Why is debt so easy to get into and not as easy to get out of. I love my credit cards and my freedom to spend on them, but there comes a point where the fun stops and you realize how out of control you have become.

How do you Save?

How have you overcome your credit card debts or debts in general?

I would love to know how you all budget and what worked and didn't work.  

Happy Tuesday!

More {Followers} Monday!

Welcome to the very first More {Followers} Monday!

What's More {Followers} Monday?!

More {Followers} Monday was created by three amazing (if I do say so myself) mamas as a way to find some really cool new reads and to gain new followers (and let's face it, we all love followers!).

Want in on this awesomeness? It's really easy to play along...

1) Follow your hosts Me {Mama B}, Little BGCG, and Baby Dickey via Google Friend Connect

2) Grab our button and create a post with the button telling everyone about More {Followers} Monday and little bit about yourself {Think: About Me/Intro}

3) Link up your post and find some great new blogs!!

A little about me, Kristina (Mack to My Cheese)

I'm a full time working mom to a almost 2 year old this week. I've been blogging since May 2010. I've really enjoyed it thus far, and there are so many great mom's that I've met to far and would love to meet more. It's nice to read other's blog's for idea's or just feel better knowing that we all go through the same day to day stuff and we are just all Moms! In addition, to being a stay at home mom, I'm also in school full time and trying to finish up my 4 year degree. Someday I will have it completed. I'm currently not married, but planning to be some day. It may take 10 years from now, but that is ok with me. We aren't in rush, and honestly the legality of it wouldn't change my current life I would just be married and that's the only difference. You can join up with me for Meal Plan Monday's, Thankful Thursday's and Fat Friday's. 

Do you tweet or Facebook a lot. Follow me or "Like" me! I will follow back or "Like" back. 

Don't forget to link up

Fat Friday - 12lbs down!

Happy Fat Friday and Friday!

So, Today marks the 4th Fat Friday post and I'm down....

12 Pounds! 

How have you been doing?

What are some things that you tried?

I'm interested in knowing... how all of you stay fit and healthy. 

Thankful for My Followers

This weeks post is for all of my followers. I've only been really seriously blogging since May 2010. I've 74 of you lovely people that follow and read my stuff. Which I am so thankful of. I've dedicated this post to you this week to let you know that I enjoy reading all of your blogs, because we all have similar stresses, situations and it's nice to read that we all share similar stuff in life. I also love to read all of your comments and see what you have to say. 

To become a better blogger what are some things that you wish I wrote about? 

What do you want to know?

{What I'm Thankful for this week}

45. All of My Followers

46. Time spend alone with Ian

47. Seeing Twilight Eclipse with my brother

48. Beautiful Sunny 90 degree weather everyday

49. Living close to the best consignment shop ever. 

50. Friends and New Friends

51. 11lbs my body was willing to give up :)

52. New vitamins and Fish oils I got this week

53. That we don't have to pay $800 bucks to get the brakes

done on the truck. The brakes are fine. 

{What are you Thankful for this week?}

Link up..

Please also, give me a click and vote for me :)

A Letter to Ian

Ian,

When we met a little over 4 years ago, I would have never thought we would be where we are today. It was December some time and you sent me a Myspace comment saying Hi, Blah, Blah! I don't remember responding back, but waiting it out. Then I returned from Seattle for Christmas and a couple of days went by. One night you instant messaged me and I remember thinking great an internet creep and turns out we knew some mutual people. A couple of weeks went by and I got a phone call from you during the most hectic nights of when my aunt was in the hospital. A couple of weeks went by and we went on our first date. Our first date was January 12th, 2006 right before my 19th birthday. I learned how to drive 40 MPH up snowy driveways in Tahoe Donner. You showed me lots of Truckee and I didn't know. 

This was our first picture together. haha!

By April 2006, we moved in together to Reno. This year we had a lot of fun. You took me to my first Tool concert, I went to the Washington Rock Slides for the first time. You introduced me to Autumn and Tyson, I didn't know it then, but Autumn and I would become really good friends. We lived in Reno for a year and made the commute to Truckee everyday. I'm sorry, but I made you move. (little did you know it would be several times after that). We made the move to Truckee in May 2007 to Glenshire. It was good to be living back in Truckee and making short minutes commute to work. I went on my first booze cruise with you that summer despite my fear of rivers and I had a lot of fun. 

August 2007, things started to get a little weird and I was scared, and frightened of the commitments we had. I started to pull away, and become distant and non communicative with you. I decided that I wanted to move out. I moved out by the end of the August with a friend in Kings Beach. Little did I know what I was actually doing or what the repercussions on my decisions were. After a couple of weeks I reached back out to you and decided that I didn't want you out of my life. Even though, we were separated for a few weeks I knew that I wanted to be back to the way things were. I broke my own heart, and left you to be with someone else. After I composed a letter to you and broke it up into 14 text messages. I got one reply from you I agree and feel the same. (After 14 texts I still only get 4 words from you). You aren't a texter at all. We hung out on and off for the month of September of 2007 and decided to go on a trip to the California Coast in October.

We had a great time in Morro Bay, Cayucos, San Luis Obispo Big Sur. I've never been to the California Coast and you showed me all of your favorite spots. Wine on the beach, driving through the trees and telling me inbred people are going to get me. It was dark and I remember watching the hills have eyes recently before the trip and thought they were in the trees. 

Us in Morro Bay

November 2007, we learned the biggest news of our lives that I was pregnant and we were going to be having a baby in July 2008. We moved back in together by December and spent the next 9 months preparing for baby's arrival.

July 25th, 2008 Mackenna Jane Wright was born @ 4:33am and weighed 9lbs and 21 1/2 inches. You may have almost fainted twice during the epidural and the start of Mackenna's arrival, but you made it. After a long 23 hours of labor, we finally had Mackenna. You got to hold Mackenna first and then me. It was the craziest and longest day of our lives. 

The first year was fun as we discovered to be parents and learned along the way. We got into some arguments and were stressed and tired but we made it through. I went back to school when Mackenna was 6 months old on top of back to work full time when Mackenna was 3 months old. You were a help with Mackenna and taking care of the homestead while I was in school. It was tough going back to school and waking in the middle of the night for Mackenna's feeding. We traded off and nights and it seemed to work. 

Before we knew it was Mackenna's 1st Birthday. We invited all of our friends and family and had a great time at our house. We went to Toys R Us to go shopping for her birthday and went crazy. You even had a lot of fun picking out stuff. 

Now, another year has passed since her 1st birthday and our little girl will be 2 years old this month. You are a great daddy to her and I love you so much. It has been a fun and exciting 4 years with you and I can't wait to see what our future is like. (I'm sure our parents would be like us to be married someday ha! )

Us in Big Sur

Help! Any Ideas for a 2 year old's Birthday?

Sorry, I didn't get around to posting yesterday. I've been real busy at work, so therefore I just didn't have the time to post my meal plan. Anyway's, Mackenna's 2nd birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks and I'm hung on the fence on what to buy her. Kitchen, Train Table with Tracks and Trains or a Art Easel. Or Toy Story toys, because we are so in to Toy Story right now. It's crazy. 

Here are some visuals on my idea's

Also, I've been looking at some kitchen's, but there are so many and I can't really decide on one.

This one is made by Melissa and Doug

3

This one is made by Kid Kraft

This one is also made by KidKraft

Please take vote and give me your idea's on what kitchen you like the best or maybe you have one of these and you can tell me if you like it. Also, what do you think about the train table idea? Yay or Nay? Please let me know. 

Also, What are some things that you have gotten your two year old for their birthday and they really love. I live in Lake Tahoe, CA and looking for more indoor activities, since our summer's are really short and winters are long and cold with lot's of snow.

Thanks for all of your ideas!