More rock is on the menu, as we will be hanging out with Guns ‘n Roses at the MetLife stadium. It’s yet another family-fueled rock education event. We are not partying with Axl and Slash; they will spearhead the entertainment.
I also use concerts to switch off from the day-to-day rat race altogether.
We run around daily thinking about what we must do at work and home and managing it all can be stressful. Not to mention raising three kids!
Attending concerts allows you to sit back and enjoy the music while the world turns. You experience a show, some great tunes, and perhaps like-minded people simply enjoying music.
In addition to rock education and celebration, hanging out with your family before it is too late and the kids have left the nest is essential.
Cows and Carnival
Every year since moving to the US, we have visited the same county fair. I’m not sure how the tradition started, but I’m sure my awesome wife found it.
There are many county and state fairs in the NJ/CT/NY area, but we have settled on the Sussex County Fair. It is absolutely brilliant with all the animals, rides, food stands, horse shows, and many vendors.
Woodmaker in the making!
For the past year, I have dabbled in learning a new skill – woodworking. I cannot make a living from it, and I will not be selling stuff on Etsy, either. This is purely for home use, but it is exciting to learn new skills.
It is rewarding to see a drawing materialize into a piece of furniture or creation we use around the house. Late last year, I made a massive workbench for my daughter’s room to provide a better workspace for her artwork. She loves it.
I also made a fancy book and shelving unit for my son’s room, allowing us to organize his room better.
I’m working on a hanging light fixture made from a walnut slab and putting the finishing touches on the new herb garden for my Thai herbs.
One Pot or Skillet Dinners
For the next three weeks, I will not be sharing any lunch suggestions or preparing lunches for my kids. The extended school year and camp have finished, so the kids will have to fend for themselves.
In reality, I’m still buying ingredients for simple lunches as I know they will not eat proper food if I do not ensure we have options in the fridge.
Dinners this week can all be made in a single pot or skillet, which cuts down on the dishes you have to clean during meal prepping.
We love fish and somewhat spicy flavors, so I made a simple tilapia and spicy sausage mixture, threw in some fresh-cut cilantro, and made a cool fish taco. I prepared pickled jalapenos, pickled red onions, and homemade salsa as condiments. We can still eat nice stuff even when food is fast and simple.
As you know, we love chicken, particularly chicken thighs. So, I cut up a few thighs, fried them in the pan, add some fresh produce such as garlic, green peppers, and celery. Then I added cauliflower rice, chicken stock, half-half, and a bunch of cilantro. For the last 5 minutes, I sprinkled some storebought queso.
The last dinner is a family favorite; bacon, shrimp, and corn chowder. It does not take much to make nice chowder, but it is damn delicious and simple to heat up.
Thursday is our leftovers day, and I always throw some meat on the Trager on Friday.
Meal Plan
| Lunch | Dinner | |
| Monday | No school or camp | Spicy sausage and tilapia tacos, with homemade pickled red onions and jalapenos. |
| Tuesday | No school or camp | Mexican cheesy chicken and cauliflower rice skillet |
| Wednesday | No school or camp | Bacon, shrimp, and corn chowder |
| Thursday | No school or camp | Left-overs from a busy week |
| Friday | No school or camp | Friday Fun BBQ, music, and adult beverages. |
One day, I might get so organized that I will link the meals below to my recipes. We can only live in hope!
Have a fantastic week, my friends. I hope you enjoy these meal plans. It is much easier to make food in advance, although you must invest several hours preparing meals during the weekend.
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