Around Here.....

We are waking up to cold temperatures.   But, we are keeping warm indoors with hot coffee and a roaring wood stove.    Our typical outdoor activities (skiing and snowboarding) will be hampered today forcing us to slow down, just a bit.   Which, we all need once in a while.

Over the last few months we have been having so much fun skiing and snowboarding as a family.   Our teenage daughter is getting busier with races and training schedules, so when we at "The Ridge" it has mostly been with our three boys. I am hanging on to this fun stage of parenting where they enjoy spending a full day on the slopes with their mom.

Around Here....

We have been loving our sauna.   It is becoming a typical pattern to come home from school and work and retreat to our sauna after dinner and housework and homework is complete.   We are finding this such a valued addition to our homestead, one that is contributing to both our family's health and happiness.

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This act of sharing photographs and ramblings of our daily life is a practice in gratitude that brings me joy.

I encourage you to reflect on the good in your life.

What are you grateful for today?

Happy Friday Friends!

Cheers to week 2 of this Friday series highlighting fun and interesting things (products, experiences and/or ideas) that I would recommend to others.

Here's what I am digging this week:

Yoga With Adriene

Adriene Mishler is an actress, writer, international yoga teacher and entrepreneur from Austin, Texas. On a mission to get the tools of yoga into schools and homes, Adriene hosts the YouTube channel Yoga With Adriene, an online community of over 4 million subscribers. Yoga With Adriene provides high quality practices on yoga and mindfulness at no cost to inspire people of all ages, shapes and sizes across the globe.

Adriene combines studies of traditional yoga with developmental movement, storytelling and mindfulness. Her approach to regular self care embodies a playfulness, wisdom and humor that encourages all personalities to the mat. With a professional theatre background Adriene works in television, voiceover, film and dance and is a regular contributor for magazines and blogs. She has been recognized as one of the 100 most influential people in Health and Fitness two years in a row and travels to host classes and workshops in yoga, meditation and self care all across the globe.

I use Adriene's videos as much as I can for a home yoga practice.   I highly recommend the content she creates!   I am currently enjoying practices from her free "Dedicate" series.   

Check out her YouTube channel with tons of free videos HERE.

Twitter: @yogawithadriene

Instagram: @adrienelouise

Facebook: Yoga With Adriene

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. and with hope for good I share some of own little peaceful activism with links to some of my writings and school projects: 

Be a Force for Goodness - (My January School Days Column in Minnesota Parent Magazine)

At this Dividing Time, I Choose Kindness - (a post I wrote for mothering.com)

Sharing Martin Luther King Jr.'s Legacy with Young Children - (a post I wrote for mothering.com)

4 Smart Ways to Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s Vision Now and in the Future - (a post I wrote for mothering.com)

Click the image above or click here if you want to check out the activity I created and am facilitating in my kindergarten classroom.   I posted it free on teacherspayteachers.com if you would like to try it yourself or share with a teacher you know.

M is for Martin  I completed this project with my kindergarten students earlier this week inspired by a post on New Creation Preschool.

last week's taco dinner night

I am getting into a routine of sharing my meal plans for the upcoming week.   I know so many of you are challenged, like me, with this ongoing chore, working to prepare nutritious weeknight meals that already before your kids fill up on after school snacks.   Read more of my ramblings on this topic HERE.

I hope you get some inspiration by what I post. Regardless, this practice is beneficial for me, as it is creating a database of dinner ideas (all you have to do is click on the meal planning category tag on the sidebar to see all my posts on this topic).  

I also value your feedback and appreciate your ideas and inspiration as well! 

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Our weeknight family meal plan - Jan 14-18.

Monday: Hot Ham and Swiss Pinwheels

need:  homemade crescent dough, ham, swiss, butter, worcestershire sauce, poppyseeds

Tuesday:   Sheet Shrimp Fajitas & rice

need:   shrimp, tortillas, red onion, limes, spices, cilantro, avocados, rice

Wednesday:   Spaghetti & Meatballs, garlic bread & salad

need:   spaghetti noodles, frozen meatballs, garden pasta sauce, french bread, romaine lettuce, caesar salad dressing, croutons

Thursday:

Quick Sesame Chicken Noodles (Taste of Home)

need:  sesame oil, cooked chicken, carrots, snow peas, ramen noodles, chicken broth, garlic, green onions.

Friday:  Brats & Buns  (going to try this sheet pan dinner style)

need: Brats, Buns, homemade relish, peppers, onions

Happy Friday!

As I am getting in the habit of blogging more frequently, I thought it would be fun to add a Friday series highlighting fun and interesting things (products, experiences and/or ideas) that I would recommend to others.

Here's what I am digging this week:

Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter and Organize to Make More Room for Happiness by Gretchen Rubin.  

Blog makeover!

What do you think?  

Reflecting on what I have been posting, I am realizing I am blogging more about my life as a mom in Northeast Minnesota and not so much chicken tending.    So I am playing with a blog name change.

All of the following domains should direct you to this site:

www.megdevine.com

www.lakesloonsandpines.com

www.kidsandeggs.com

Let me know what you think!

-M

I am getting into a routine of sharing my meal plans for the upcoming week.   I know so many of you are challenged, like me, with this ongoing chore, working to prepare nutritious weeknight meals that already before your kids fill up on after school snacks.   Read more of my ramblings on this topic HERE.

I hope you get some inspiration by what I post. Regardless, this practice is beneficial for me, as it is creating a database of dinner ideas (all you have to do is click on the meal planning category tag on the sidebar to see all my posts on this topic).  

I also value your feedback and appreciate your ideas and inspiration as well! 

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We are heading into the first full week back after winter break.   Our daughter had an out-of-town ski meet this last Saturday so week took the opportunity to stock up at Aldi's.   Here we go!

Our weeknight family meal plan - Jan 7-11.

Monday:  Meatball Subs & Salad

need:   frozen meatballs, pasta sauce, deli rolls (Aldi's), & salad (mix).

Tuesday:   Sheet Pan Pork Tenderloin Dinner

need:   pork loin, baby potatoes, brusel sprouts, mushrooms, onions

Wednesday:   Crock Pot Venison Chili & Corn Bread

need:  ground venison, canned chili beans, canned garden tomatoes, onion, plus cornbread ingredients from my go-to Moosewood Cookbook Recipe.

Thursday:  Chicken Caesar Wraps (*inspiration from J0)

need:  frozen chicken tenders, tortillas, caesar salad (mix)

Friday:  Chicken Tacos

need: chicken, taco seasoning, tortillas, olives, tomatoes, lettuce, avocados, sour cream, chips and salsa

Lunches & Breakfast Prep:  Calzones (pictured above).   Making and baking a big batch of calzones on the weekend has been a hit with the kids for their lunches. 

Last weekend I also made a double batch of homemade bagels (24 total) from the recipe Alana Chernila's Homemade Kitchen cookbook.   I froze half of them so we will be enjoying them for breakfasts this week.

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I would love to hear what you are cooking too!  

Post a comment or shoot me an email.

Have a great week!

The January issue of Minnesota Parent Magazine is available throughout Minnesota and online now.

My ramblings in my School Days Column this month are about how we with our children work to contribute to society in positive ways.

Pick up a print copy, or read the full issue by clicking --> HERE.

Find the online link to my column---> HERE.

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If you like what you see, social media 'shares' are appreciated!

As always - thanks for reading!

I am getting into a routine of sharing my meal plans for the upcoming week.   I know so many of you are challenged, like me, with this ongoing chore, working to prepare nutritious weeknight meals that already before your kids fill up on after school snacks.   Read more of my ramblings on this topic HERE.

I hope you get some inspiration by what I post. Regardless, this practice is beneficial for me, as it is creating a database of dinner ideas (all you have to do is click on the meal planning category tag on the sidebar to see all my posts on this topic).  

I also value your feedback and appreciate your ideas and inspiration as well! 

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The kids and I are returning to school mid-week after winter break.    It is time to get back into the routine of cooking and eating regular meals (we have been doing a lot of snacking the last week!)

Our weeknight family meal plan - Jan 2-4.

Wednesday:   Crock Pot Pork Tacos with coleslaw inspired by a recipe in Alana Chernila's Homemade Kitchen cookbook

need:  pork shoulder, green chilies, garlic powder, oregano, tortillas, radishes, coleslaw mix, vinegar, mayo, tortillas

Thursday:  Power Bowls  inspired by a recipe in Run Fast, Cook Fast, Eat Slow

need: leftover pork, leftover cole slaw, brown rice, eggs, black beans, cilantro, sour cream

Friday:  Quiche

need:   eggs, bacon, pie crusts, asparagus, cheese (my pie crust recipe is also from Alana Chernila's Homemade Kitchen cookbook)

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I would love to hear what you are cooking too!  

Post a comment or shoot me an email.

Have a great week!

Knitting, reading and skiing, those three words sum up the recreating that I have been able to enjoy over my winter break from school.    

Knitting:

I am working on a Brae Cove Tunic.   I like having a large mind-less project that I can just pick up and put down.   Knitting is a perfect accompaniment to long car rides, time spent in waiting rooms, watching movies and listening to audio books.    I am all geared up with my new Grey Duck Bag Co. market tote and collector bag which hold my gear and project perfectly.   

Reading:

I have been enjoying some books both audio books and in print.   Here's what I have been reading:

audiobooks:

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Resilient by Rick Hanson

books in print:

Making Winter: A Hygge-Inspired Guide to Surviving the Winter Months by Emma Mitchell

The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray Hinton

The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings

(my current read-a-loud with the boys)

Skiing 

Both nordic and alpine skiing have been extra special with all of the new fallen snow.  I have been having a lot of fun on my telemark skis, learning as I am going.   I have enjoyed several outings on my nordic skis as well.   

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It has been a good winter break.   I would love it if you would drop me a note and share what you have been keeping busy with too!

Cheers to you and yours as we venture into 2019!