Menu Monday- Week 34

I am finally feeling on top of things around the house and like we are getting into a good routine. Sorry for the time away, but I just wanted to jump right in with a menu Monday post! 

This week I was inspired by Pinterest! :) So glad to have such a great resource when I'm trying to menu plan. I am just putting the finishing touches on our household notebook and I have planned out our dinners for the month of September. I'm looking forward to some new recipes! I'm also really excited about our Friday pizza night! I think the kids are going to love it too! 

On the menu this week: 

via

Ham and Cheese Sliders 

(we actually had these for lunch today and- oh my word- they were delicious!) 

via

Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps

via

Crockpot Ravioli

via

Savory Spiral Stuffed Rolls

via

Garlic Chicken Puffs 

via

Homemade Cheese and Veggie Pizza  

(I know this is vague, but I plan on just using up the extras at the end of the week. I have more exciting ideas for pizza night, don't worry! I always use Pioneer Woman's crust so I can have one fresh and freeze the other!)

As always, you can click on the picture or the meal to get to the website where I found the picture and recipe! 

What's on the menu this week? Comment below with a link to yours! Thanks for playing! 

I think the best part of the menu this week is that it was so budget friendly! 

Menu Monday- Week 31

We had Derek's birthday celebration last week and a few other things pop up, so I still have a few repeats this week! 

via

Sloppy Joes

via

Pasta Carbonara

via

Lasagna (I don't follow a recipe!) 

via

Mexican Chicken 

(I make mine SO similar to Amanda's here but I just throw in a few of my own seasonings and a little sour cream!)

Smothered Pork Chops 

(Trying a new recipe- will share if it turns out good! ha)

What's on your menu this week? Play along and leave a comment so we can check your menu out too! 

Show Us Your Life- Blogging Tips

I have had a WONDERFUL  and yes, slightly stressful, first week at home! I am looking forward to posting about our week soon! Don't worry, I took plenty of pictures! 

Today, I wanted to link up with Kelly's Korner. This week we are sharing our blogging tips! I think this is a really fun topic because I am constantly trying to improve my blog! 

I feel a little silly sharing my tips though! I have been blogging for three years and I still feel like a baby blogger!

Here is what has helped me the most. These are not all my own ideas, just things that I have learned from my bloggers night out and personal opinions! :)

1) Be yourself. I really struggle expressing my full self because I am a total nerd and just a little crazy! Sometimes I feel like that is just a little too much to handle... but every time I open up and really share my heart I am glad I did!

Thomas and I this summer at my cousin's wedding

2) If you don't feel like posting, don't force it! I typically get "bloggers block"... I had my worst case when I was working and would come home pretty much brain dead. I kept trying to make myself post but it just wasn't clicking. I still try to post regularly, but I'm trying to relax and remember this is my way of sharing about our lives so that we can have it to look back on. Once I take that pressure off, I feel so much better and I don't stress if I skip a few posts! 

3) Keep it simple. This may be because I am a simple minded girl, but I have the hardest time reading blogs when there is too much going on! I would rather read a huge long blog post with a million pictures than try to read a blog that I can't really navigate through or read because of crazy fonts. Not to offend or hurt anyone's feelings, this is just my preference.

One of my first blog headers! I didn't even have a header for a long time! 

4) Connect. I love the world of blogging because of how many other moms I can find and connect with! We all share something in common...we all love our children and families and love to blog about it! I try to always stream my posts on facebook and twitter. I also connect with Arkansas Women Bloggers and other blog networking sites. Those are really fun for me because I've learned about so many new, cool blogs through them! 

Blogging started as a way of updating my family but it has turned into an outlet for me. I would not blog if I didn't enjoy it.

One of the first pictures I posted of miss Anna-Kate in 2008! 

 Most of all I love sharing little bits about my day and knowing that I'll have it here so I can remember. I plan on printing out blog books, so my children can look back and see what our lives were like.