weekend recap & menu for the week

We had a great and busy weekend and did well staying on track with our spending!  My sister and nephew came for a visit and we had some fun outings!  Everything we spent is in the "entertainment" budget for October, so it was all guilt-free fun!  (The best kind!)  We went to Stone Mountain one day and I only had to pay for 1 of the 3 of us since my youngest and I have season passes.   Lunch at the park was 20% off for me and my oldest and free for my youngest since I "brown bagged" it for him due to allergies.   (Had I been totally on top of things, I would have packed a picnic for everyone!)

Yesterday we went to see Moneyball and loved it!  We had a "bonfire" one night in our backyard and spent one of the days at the boys football games. (Both free activities!!!)  All in all, I think I spent about $60 on activities/snacks for our weekend fun!  Not bad!  Add the $30 we spent bowling on my son's birthday last week and we're still inside our $100 budget for this month.

One area where we continually struggle is with our Food Bill!  But when I plan our meals for the week, we do much better sticking to our grocery budget.  So, I made time to plan it out this week.  Here is what we're serving:

Tonight - Fried chicken, squash, mac & cheese, brown rice, biscuits
Tuesday - Smoked Chicken and Roasted Veggies
Wednesday - Chilaquiles
Thursday - Soup Night (not sure which kind yet...)
Friday - Shrimp and Pasta
Saturday - Date Night (Kids will have something out of the pantry or freezer)

I have most of the ingredients on hand and will just need to buy some vegetables!  Not sure what we'll have Sunday yet.  Maybe some Venison or a Smoked Turkey?

How about you?  Have you decided what to cook this week?

spring break

Spring Break is this week and I got to sleep in this morning!  Well....it was only an extra 30 minutes that I was able to sleep because I had to get up to go to boot camp.  Speaking of which...I really had an "off" week with my eating and exercising.  We're supposed to exercise every day that we're not at boot camp and I skipped 3 days of my homework/exercise.  Also, I didn't track my food intake for most of the week and know that I didn't make the best of choices.  I'm not looking forward to weighing in this week.  I'm pretty certain that there is going to be an increase not only on the scale, but also on the measuring tape.  I'll report my results on Wednesday.    I'll keep repeating Thomas Edison's quote to myself,  "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."


So - things to do this week?  It's a short week at home and I need to get some things before we head out on our trip (trip details tomorrow!).

Today:
Pay bills
Complete 2 loads laundry
Get our house key & notes to my dog sitter
Clean the hall bath
Clean my bath
Vacuum the basement
Buy flip-flops for the boys
Sweep wood floors
Mop wood floors
Stop by Blockbuster and see about movies on sales (our store is closing and has some great deals!)
Make my packing list for trip (food and clothes)

Dinner tonight - Chicken penne pasta with pesto and roasted peppers


Tomorrow:
Vacuum stairs & upstairs
1-2 loads laundry
Pack
Drop off donations at Goodwill*
Get cash for month
Print out directions/maps for trip along with our itinerary
30 minutes exercise
Have my husband cut my youngest son's hair
Run by grocery store for any thing else I need to add for trip

Dinner tomorrow - leftovers and/or sandwiches

Wednesday:
Everyone tidy bedrooms and make beds
Tidy kitchen & den
Leave for trip!!!!!

*This is the bag I filled from Saturday's Clean Your Closet Challenge.

That's all for today!  I hope everyone's having a great Monday!  I'll share trip details with you tomorrow!

the week ahead

We're on the countdown to Spring Break!  whoo hooo!!!!   I think I'm as ready for it as my boys are!  So - I'm trying to get my lists taken care of so that I can take care of "business" before going out of town.  That way when we get back home from our trips, we won't be behind the 8-Ball.

So - here's what's on the menu for the next week:

Tonight - Sandwiches and Mac & Cheese (hubby out of town...)
Wednesday - Spaghetti (hubby out of town...)
Thursday - Oriental Chicken
Friday - Tuna and Quinoa
Saturday - Steaks
Sunday - Burgers & Hot Dogs
Monday - Ziti
Tuesday - Leftovers & Pizza
Wednesday-Saturday - vacation!!

**I'll add veggies and fruit to all the meals...depending on what looks good and what's on sale at the grocery.**

As for that To-Do list?  I've really enjoyed my "Fun Fridays" where I've kinda taken the day off from housework.  This week Wednesday will be a better day for taking off, so my Fun Friday will actually happen tomorrow.  Which should be good because there is a 100% chance of rain, which will be a perfect day for being lazy!

Things to do:

Today:
30 minutes cardio
Mail golf shoes that I sold on e-bay
Get oil changed in my car
Take charm bracelet to jeweler to have charm added
Sweep and Mop wood floors
Clean boys bathroom
Edit basketball pictures & email
Email about 3rd grade testing snacks
Work on April budget
Finish laundry that was started yesterday
Complete one more load of laundry
Tidy kitchen
Pick up contacts at eye doctor

Wednesday:
Boot camp
"Fun Friday" -- scrapbook

Thursday:
Dentist appointment
30 minutes cardio
Round Up in the backyard (if not too wet)
Pick up trash in woods
Dust
Vacuum upstairs & stairs
Wrap up March expenses/e-mail overview to hubby
1 load laundry
Buy Frontline for dog
Return to Sam's

Friday:
Boot camp
Bank - get cash for month
Dust upstairs
Clean my bath and hall bath
Dust, vacuum basement
If time, start on cleaning windows
Drop off clothes at cleaners
1 load laundry


That's some exciting stuff, huh?!?  So...I'm off to get busy so I can PLAY tomorrow!  How about you?  What does your week look like?

this week's menu

To stay inside my grocery budget it's a must to plan ahead for meals.  Here's what we are (and have been...) eating this week!

Monday:  Leftover pizza from Sunday's Super Bowl and Mac & Cheese
Tuesday:  Spaghetti w/meat sauce, salad, bread
Wednesday:  Sour Cream Chicken, Rice, Peas, Salad
Thursday:  Out to eat after Talent Show
Friday:  Sloppy Joes, fruit, chips
Saturday:  Out to eat for my birthday
Sunday:  Steaks, Veggies (whatever looks good and is on sale...)
Monday:  For Valentine's I'll make the boys favorite:  Ribs, Beans, Mac & Cheese, Cornbread, Chocolate cake

As of today, I've spent $62 on groceries and I'll need to spend about $40-50 for ingredients I don't have on hand for Friday-Monday meals.  I should be under my $125 grocery budget for the week and that makes me very excited!   I'm still "shopping" from my pantry and freezer to plan my meals.  For our menu above these things I already had on hand:  spaghetti, chicken breasts, peas, chips, steaks, and cake mix.

In two weeks we take our vacation, so next week it'll be much easier mentally to be frugal and tell the kids (and myself!!) that "we need to make frugal choices this week so that we can have the extra money for our vacation next week!"

lent update

I mentioned in an earlier post that for Lent, I gave up eating at restaurants and fast-food joints (drive-thrus included). Well...it's has been so much easier doing this than I ever imagined. I admit though that I did have a slip up yesterday. I was out running errands. It was 15 minutes until the kids would be home from school. I hadn't had lunch. I was STARVING. I knew that I had to get something to eat before the kiddos hit the door or I would be a huge grouch. Blimpie was right there and on the way home. I stopped. I cheated.

But other than that, for 17 days now I've prepped 3 meals each day for myself and usually everyone else in my family. (My kids sometimes buy a school lunch instead of taking their lunch kits) And yes, I do know that lent started more than 17 days ago, but we were on vacation when it began and so we began our Lenten Journey the day we got back home.

Things I'm learning...

It's amazing how much we've used fast food due to lack of planning. A trip through the drive-thru on a Saturday afternoon easily costs our family $25. It doesn't take long to sit down and plan out a menu. My children are (finally!) good eaters and so it's pretty easy to think of things that the whole family will enjoy. On nights where I know we have practices or meetings, I have been using the crock pot. On Saturdays when we are running home in between games, I make sure we have leftovers that can be reheated or have things to make a good sandwich. And don't get me wrong, there are often times that chicken nuggets and french fries get thrown into the oven for a quick meal.

I'm learning that it is not that difficult to prep meals at home and avoid eating out. It takes some planning, but it saves so much money and it is so much healthier.

What about you? How often do you cook and eat at home? How many times each week do you eat at a restaurant?

what's for supper?

I'm spending part of the day making up my grocery list and shopping sales and coupons with The Grocery Game. I'm doing this as I procrastinate cleaning that craft room! I still have that on my list of Things to Do this Week!

Here's what we'll be eating this week. Hubby is out of town Monday-Thursday which explains lots of the kid-friendly food!

Tonight - Hamburgers & Hotdogs
Monday - Banquet for me to go to & Chicken nuggets, Fries, Fruit for the kids
Tuesday - Spaghetti and Meatballs with fruit
Wednesday - Tacos, rice & beans
Thursday - Frito Chili Pie
Friday - Jambalaya
Saturday - Pork Ribs, Beans & another veggie
Sunday - Steak and Veggies

menu and things to do...

It's taken a while for me to sit down and map out my goals for this month, along with what we're eating this week. Here goes...

This week's menu
Last night - French toast, sausage, biscuits, fruit, cinnamon rolls
Tonight - soup and sandwiches
Thursday - Picante pork chops, mashed potatoes, peas
Friday - homemade personal pizzas
Saturday - Sloppy Joes...steak for me and hubby
Sunday - burgers and hotdogs

Things to Do!
I did pretty good with my February goals. The only things I DIDN'T tackle were renewing my passport, opening new accounts for the kids, and downloading pictures to a memory stick. I also need to move organizing the coat closet, cabinet above dishwasher and thinking of my bucket list to March.

For March, my goals are the above things I didn't get done in February along with a few other things. I think I'll do better by looking at my goals and breaking them down my the week instead of listing them for the month. I'll try that for March and see if I'm able to accomplish more.

Here are my things to do this week...since it's already Wednesday, it's going to be a shorter list.

Finish organizing/cleaning my craft room
clean out the cabinet above the dishwasher
clean out/organize the coat closet
Decide which pictures/artwork to frame
Hang frames on wall

whatcha got cookin?

Here's what we're eating this week!

Last night - Bean and beef burritoes, chips & salsa, grapes
Tonight - Cranberry baked chicken, potaotes, green beans, grapes
Tomorrow - Pork loin, broccoli w/cheese sauce, brown rice, cantaloupe
Thursday - Soup and sandwiches made w/left over pork
Friday - Smoked chicken and veggies
Saturday - Pasta with turkey, garlic bread
Sunday - Breakfast for dinner

this week's menu

Here's what's cookin' at our house this week. My husband is going to be out of town for 3 nights this week, so we've got some kid-friendly food planned.

Tonight - Baked ziti, garlic toast
Tuesday - Fish sticks, mac & cheese
Wednesday - Fun nuggets, strawberries
Thursday - Spaghetti, meatballs, garlic toast
Friday - Out to eat for my birthday dinner
Saturday - Our V-Day Dinner...baguette, spinach dip, salmon, couscous, asparagus
Sunday - Pizza Delivery

Should be a low-spending week at the grocery store, as I have most everything on hand already. I'm checking coupons and sales today for any stockpiling items we need!

food for thought

It's been a while since I've planned my menu for the week in advance. Here's what's cookin' at our house over the next few days!

Last night - Beef stew with potatoes, carrots, rice, fruit and crescent rolls
Tonight - Pork chops, rice, peas and garlic toast
Thursday - Spaghetti with meat sauce and meatballs and garlic toast
Friday - Pulled pork tacos (for me and DH) and Sloppy Joes (for the kids)
Saturday - Cream of Poblano Chili Pepper Soup (for me and DH) and l/o Sloppy joes (kids)
Sunday - Ham, black eyed peas, potatoes, carrots, biscuits
Monday - Jambalaya w/beef
Tuesday - Beef tacos
Wednesday - Grilled chicken sandwiches and fruit
Thursday - Baked ziti and salad, bread
Friday - Beef and bean burritos