On the Menu Monday (MPM) - Week 10

One of my favorite weekends of the year did not disappoint. We were so fortunate to have so many of our favorite things all land on the same weekend. The wrap up of Restaurant Week, The Food & Wine Show and The Oscars. The only bummer was not being able to host what had started to become our annual Oscar Party. Just too many things happening all in the same weekend. It seems the Oscars were a bit later this year as well.

We wrapped up the week on Friday out with good friends J & T at Ruths Chris. Dinner was amazing, so good and good to see them. We also ran into friends J & J who were also finishing up dinner. However, they also shared terrible news with us that another good friends sister was very ill, and unfortunately passed away Saturday evening. Too young and too soon. I am sure this will be a tough one.  Saturday we did our volunteer shift at the Food & Wine Show. This was my ninth year, and probably the seventh for the boy. I did miss one year where I had a shoulder injury, but it is always a ton of fun. Recently however, the magazine, Minnesota Monthly, which puts on the show, was bought by another publishing house. There were quite a few staff changes over the last couple of months, and the people who we were used to working under have moved on. The changes were not exactly for the positive I will add. We have, for the past few years, passed out bags, water and wine glasses, greeting attendees as they come in. It is a lot of fun and high energy. The boy does a great job of breaking down boxes and moving things, everything usually works very seamlessly. This year. Not so much. There were a TON of volunteers to begin with, they did not seem to be very coordinated and the staff people that were working alongside us, took on more of a dictatorship role. I will add that the weather has not been cooperating either. It was probably -6 with a -26 windchill and while this was indoors at the Twins Stadium, the doors were open when people were coming in and it was COLD! Also, for people taking ID's and doing wristbands at the door, it was beyond freezing. Volunteering is supposed to be fun though,ad n this just was not all that much fun, so we are re-thinking whether or not we will be volunteering next year or just be attendees.  Saturday evening we met up with friend J & C for dinner out at Bar Louie. It was really good to see them and catch up. They recently got back from a Caribbean cruise so it was fun to hear about their travels. A good friend J, her sister passed away Saturday evening, so I will be traveling with sister J later this week for the visitation and funeral. So tough and never fun and I just cannot imagine what she is going through. We don't have a super busy week, but we do have plans!

Monday Plans - We went and looked at fire place inserts and mantles. Then proceeded to get into an argument at the home materials building store because I am frustrated with the boy and his lack of plan for our project at home. I wish I had more patience. I am such a planner. Lists, timelines, the whole works. He is not. Makes me crazy. Breakfast and Lunch - Yogurt, fruit, chicken noodle soup Dinner -Joey Nova's, local pizza, SO good. Tuesday Plans - Mardi Gras fun at R's Breakfast and Lunch - Yogurt, fruit, power salad from Costco Dinner - Good stuff! Wednesday Plans - Leave for Funeral. Breakfast and Lunch - Yogurt, fruit, chicken noodle soup Dinner - On the Road Thursday Plans - Travel back from funeral Breakfast and Lunch - On the road Dinner - Up in the air. Friday Plans - Remote, we are having our chairs delivered. We will need to move things around to prepare for them. Breakfast and Lunch - Yogurt, fruit, power salad Dinner - Crock pot salsa chicken   Saturday  Plans - Lunch with the boys cousins and their little baby girl (maybe, at this point I think we have to post pone based on how things are going in the living room) Breakfast and Lunch - clean out the fridge Dinner - clean out the fridge   Sunday Plans - Going to take my niece to see Frozen and for lunch. Need to get ready for Tuesday, hoping the boy can get a lot accomplished in the living room. Seriously starting to get really stressed that we have a week to finish that room. Breakfast and Lunch -Out for a girls lunch! Dinner -  Something quick and easy for the boy and I.
For more meal plans and links to recipes, check out the orgjunkie.