Menu Plan Monday

First week of school....I need yummy food...nuff said.  Soooo, I headed over to The Pioneer Woman.

I know this is Menu Plan Monday, but I'm starting with Sunday and posting on Saturday because there is no way I can blog the first week of school!

Sunday- Lemon Basil Pasta with grilled chicken
Monday- Italian Drip Beef a la Hyacinth
Tuesday- chicken and noodles
Wednesday- my favorite salad (romaine, rotisserie chicken, pineapple chunks, bacon & cheddar chunks topped with ranch and lots of cumin)
Thursday- Spaghetti with Bolognese
Friday- Dave's parents are coming in town from Florida for my birthday weekend- I'm sure we will go out to eat.
Saturday- my birthday!  Both sets of parents are coming over...I will probably make a Standing Rib Roast from our cow

Saturday Stumbles

I stumbled the blog, Enjoying the Small Things this week. Not only is her photography beautiful, her daughter's birth story is a must read. She gave birth to her baby girl with a room full of friends and to their surprise, she had Down Syndrome.  Her details, along with photos, are gut-wrenchingly real and honest and beautiful.

From that blog, I found Stumbo Family Story, a blog about a family who has one daughter with no disabilities, one daughter with Down Syndrome and adopted a third daughter with cerebral palsy.

From her blog I found Reece's Rainbow, the International Down Syndrome Orphan Ministry.  Oh my...to look through those poor children, mainly in Eastern Europe, who are destined for the institution unless they are adopted.  It is truly heartbreaking.

On a happier note,  Mila's Daydreams is totally, stinkin' cute! This blogger takes a photo of her baby every day in a wonderfully artistic pose. This one is called Bookworm.

For more Saturday Stumbles, head over to It's Come 2 This.

...and the winner is...

Comment #17 is Mary, which is none other than my sister-in-law's sister!  Yay Mary! 

Imprint Mat review and GIVEAWAY!

 I was recently given two of the Imprint Comfort Mats by Sublime to review- www.imprintmats.com. The mats are made with an eco technology that helps prevent lower back, leg and foot pain that is so often felt when you stand on hard surfaces to cook and clean.

The mats are very attractive and enhance the decor in any kitchen, bathroom, entry way, etc. They are available on www.imprintmats.com, as well as Amazon, lnt.com and in Bed, Bath and Beyond locations. The mats retail in the $70 range and come in two styles, four colors and three sizes.

I have scoliosis and have to go to a chiropractor regularly, so needless to say, I have back pain. My mats arrived while I was on vacation, so my friend opened it up to check it out.  Being on the phone with her was hilarious- all I heard was "oooh, aaah, oh".  I can guarantee she will be entering this contest! I got home and had the same reaction.  My kids laugh at my footprints left in the mat after I've stood on it for a while to do dishes.  It's like looking at footprints in the sand!

 I love the mat so much that I have decided to take the long one with me to work.  I'm a teacher and am on my feet all.day.long.  I am often standing in front of my electronic smart board and this is the perfect size to go in front of it!  Plus it will keep the kiddos away from my feet...no more tripping over kindergarteners while teaching. 

If you'd like to enter the contest:


-1. (mandatory) Visit the Imprint Mat website and tell me which size, color and pattern you will choose if you are the winner!


-2 for a second entry- tweet the contest with something like this: 


head over to @TheVioletFig to win an Imprint Comfort Mat!  Contest ends Monday ! http://bit.ly/bJChJn 


-3 for a third entry- promote the contest on facebook


-4 for a fourth entry subscribe to The Violet Fig


Make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry. 

Now, if only I can figure out how to replace all my wood flooring and carpet for the imprint mat material!

Disclosure: I was given two comfort mats to review by Locker Public Relations. As always, the opinions are completely my own- this is a GREAT product!

Top Ten Tuesday

We just got back from a wonderful, two week vacation to New Mexico to see my 2 month old twin nieces.  Here are my top ten favorite photos from the trip!

1. From left, Maria, Jenny, Lilly, Jason, Sophie and Sierra at the twin's Simchat Bat- a Jewish naming ceremony.

2. Dave and I a few minutes after arriving- we look rough- we had just driven 22 hours!

3. Jake and Sierra trying on funny hats, while Dave peeks in from behind!

4. Lilly's super-power...the stare.  Oh, her eyes are so funny!

5. My mom and John- both are my brother's step-parents.  This is such a great pic of both of them!

6. My dad, Jason and Dave went fly fishing- an experience of a lifetime!

7. Jenny and I took the babies on a roller coaster...and we found out that Lilly is a Trekkie.

8. The cousins at the Zoo...which costs almost nothing to get in to!  Big change from the high prices at Zoo Atlanta.

9. My best friend had these bloomers monogrammed for the babies- too cute!

10.  Dave and Jake at the Simchat Bat- I love this pic of them!

11.  Jenny and I at the Simchat Bat.  I love this girl and am so glad to have her as a sister!

12. Jason and his two sisters- we're only a month apart!  If only I had their height and skinny-ness!

13. The babies...I took a million pics of the babies- I love this one with them holding hands...and in outfits I bought them! Liliana is on the left and Sophia is on the right.

Okay, okay, so it's technically not a Top Ten Tuesday, it's more like a Top Thirteen Tuesday...so I'll just go with TTT.  If you'd like to see more, head over to OhAmanda.com!