Menu Monday- 3/19

Ok, we have a light grocery shopping week this week…  Which is good, since we have very little grocery money available right now….  I am really trying to focus on cooking from the freezer and not buying everything in the recipe, but actually looking to see if I have or need it first.  I know..  Brilliant, isn’t it?  ;P 

  Monday:  Pancakes/Waffles

Tuesday:  Tater Tot Casserole

Wednesday:  Soup at Church

Thursday:  Frozen food for the kids

Friday:  Pizza and Movie Night with the kiddos

Saturday:  BBQ Chicken, Potato Salad

Sunday: Sloppy Joes, Fries

 

Menu Monday- 3/12

Is it St. Patrick’s Day already?????  Where has the time gone?  I can’t believe how fast this year is going by!  When did time start to go so fast?  I feel like the first third of this year has been so busy, it’s just a blur.  I don’t even remember a good lot of it.  Am I the only one?

Budgeting this month is going alright.  My husband and I are enjoying shopping together, and it’s good for him to see how much the grocery store costs.  I’m still frustrated at the rising cost of food, but we’re on budget at this point….

I try to do special meals for the holidays, and this week will likely be no different, with some green food on the menu on Saturday

Here it is:

Monday:  Tater Tot Casserole (Didn’t make it last week)

Tuesday:  Boys to make Pancakes

Wednesday:  Soup at Church (I don’t have to cook this week) 

Thursday:  Date Night, White Castle Burgers for the kiddos

Friday:  Pizza and a movie night with the kids…  We’ve been doing this for a couple of weeks, and we really like it

Saturday:  Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshakes, Irish Chicken and Leek Pie, Irish Soda Bread, Colcannon

Sunday:  Group- eating at someone else’s house

Then Sings My Soul- Book Review

Recently, I received the book, Then Sings My Soul Book 3: The Story of Our Songs: Drawing Strength from the Great Hymns of Our Faith (Then Sings My Soul (Thomas Nelson)).  I was excited to get the book in the first place, because, as you know, I love the music of the church.  However, when I received the book and opened it up, I was met with something that I wasn’t expecting at all.  This book is amazingly rich in the format of diverse music types, from traditional to contemporary, and the history of such.  It is set up as sort of a “history tour” of music in the church, starting back in David’s time and bringing us through the ages to the present.  I found some hymns in this book that I have loved in the contemporary setting, and had no idea they dated back so far.  I found myself engulfed in the richness of the music of the church, and my love for it has been deepened significantly. 

The description of the book from the publisher is this: 

The long-awaited third installment! In 2003, Robert Morgan released what would become a future classic for over a million readers, a unique book entitled Then Sings My Soul. This collection of the world’s greatest hymns and the stories behind them stirred an entire generation to better understand the heritage of our faith through song.

Now, in the long-awaited third volume of this series, Morgan expands his material to include the great history of worship, the first biblical hymns, biographical sketches of the most interesting composers, and almost 60 generations of hymn singing. The new book also includes a collection of the greatest hymns you’ve never heard, with lead-sheets included.

All of this is in addition to even more standard hymns and the stories of the composers behind them.

Morgan’s conclusion guides the reader into enjoying all of God’s music, blending the old and the new into a symphony of praise that keeps the worship alive for a new generation.

My review of this book is that it completely satisfies the description of the book, and then some.  I really can’t say enough about how much I love this book.  It is my first experience with the "Then Sings My Soul" Series, and I will definitely be purchasing the other two.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Menu Monday 3/5

Went grocery shopping with my sweetheart last week, and really enjoyed having him go with me.  We’re at a place where I just really, really like to be with him, no matter what we’re doing …  We didn’t spend a whole lot because I had a lot of stuff already on hand, but he did get to see that even with the very little that we bought we still spent some cash!  The one thing I AM doing is trying to avoid the store if it isn’t our grocery trip.  I make one trip to the store last week without him because we ran out of bacon and I needed it for the soup, but I bought the bacon, cream for my coffee, and milk.  I made it a point to not wander so I didn’t fill my basket up.  I only spent $16 that trip which I think is a record!!!  I also have a built in cheap night with our Soup and Bread series during Lent at church.  I’m cooking several of the nights, but soup, so that’s fairly inexpensive   And, having the boys make Pancakes on Monday worked out very well last week, so I think we’ll keep that up for a while and that should also help to lower our grocery spending

Here’s the menu for this week:

Monday:  Pancakes, Fruit Salad

Tuesday:  Turkey.  For Real.  I swear!  LOL  I actually remembered to get it out, but it still isn’t thawed, so it will be ready by Tuesday to cook, I’m sure

Wednesday:  Cauliflower Cheese Soup for the Lenten Series at church

Thursday:  Date Night…  I hope….  Freezer food for the kids

Friday:  Pizza

Saturday:  Tater Tot Casserole

Sunday:  Left Overs

Menu Monday- 2/27

Final week of February, and as I prepared my budget for March I increased the grocery budget.  My husband and I also decided to do the grocery shopping together, because he’s real strict about staying on list.  I’m excited to have him come with me, and hopefully we’ll find some ways to cut our grocery spending together   Plus- he’ll know what groceries we have, so if I don’t wanna cook…….  well…….    He’s usually good about pinch hitting for me when I’m not up to it…  This will just make it easier on him

Something does have to give, though, because we ended the month $200 over our grocery budget.  This area of our budget has been real difficult to tame.  This and gas money….  That’s out of control too   I can think of a LOT of other things I’d rather spend these large amounts of money on!!!  And I certainly would rather have my husband home more, rather than having to work so many hours just to keep us a float!!!!  Obviously, I write to you from a feeling of discouragement right now…..

Anywho- here’s the menu for the week:

Monday:  Court of Honor for Boy Scouts, I’m making Fruit Salad, Boys to make Pancakes for the babies for supper

Tuesday:  Date Night- I’m going to make some picnic foods for Mikey and I to have a picnic since we’re out of date night money for the month   I’ll leave some for the kids too …  Brisket, Potato Salad, Corn Bread Muffins, any left over fruit salad will be good I think

Wednesday:  Soup and Bread at the Church for our Lenten Series.  I’m making a Baked Potato Soup

Thursday:  Chicken and Sauteed Potatoes

Friday:  Pizza and a Movie Night

Saturday:  Trying some recipes out of my new WW Cookbook, “Best Darn Food Ever”: Super Refreshing Limeade, Boston Baked Beans with Spicy Mustard, Fresh Corn and Chive Spoon Bread, and Fried Fish

Sunday:  Turkey (yes the same one I’ve been saying I’m going to cook for weeks), Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

Also, last week, Ashley asked for the Cheddar Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms recipe…  It’s not mine, and they were pretty good…  Hope you enjoy them as well

Menu Monday-2/20

 

Well, my attempts at reigning in my grocery budget so far have gone unmatched.  My grocery budget for the month is WAY over ….  I can only press on, I guess……  Ugh.

This week I shouldn’t spend too much, I’ve got some freezer cooking planned, so we’ll only close out the month a *little* over budget, I hope…  For March I’m going to keep all of my grocery receipts and try to determine from there how I can cut down the bill….

Here’s the menu this week:

Monday:  Fish Tacos

Tuesday:  Shrove Tuesday- Pancake Supper at the church

Wednesday:  Grilled Chicken, Salad, Cheddar Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms

Thursday:  Date Night

Friday:  Pizza

Saturday:  Subway Sandwiches because I’m making a cake

Sunday:  Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Rolls

Thoughtful Thursday- Time

I’m having a real hard time keeping up lately.  Here on the blog, I’ve been able to post only on average 2 times a week, and that is just an outward expression of how my life is going right now.  I’m drowning in a sea of responsibilities with not enough time to accomplish them all.  I’ve looked over my calendar a million times and just can’t find anything to cut.  I’m at a loss.  I’m sorry I haven’t been blogging regularly (with the exception of Menu Monday)…  but it’s the one thing I CAN cut.    I really like blogging, so this is sad for me .

I’m wondering, what do all of you do to help manage your time?  As I write this I can barely see the floor in my bedroom, my laundry is backed up (I’m currently washing clothes so I’ll have something clean to wear today), there are dishes in the sink, and I’m already exhausted…..  It’s 6:20 a.m.  My day hasn’t even started yet…….

Menu Monday- 2/13- Thought on Love

Ah Valentine’s Day…..  A day of eating out, eating chocolate, getting flowers, etc…..  Not in my house!  My husband and I have gone out for Valentine’s Day ON Valentine’s Day only ONCE in our 16 year relationship.  That was the first year.  We decided after that that we would most definitely stay in on Valentine’s Day   It works for us.  My husband doesn’t like crowds, so we avoid them if possible.  We also don’t go out for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.

So, for years, we have celebrated our love for our FAMILY on Valentine’s Day, and you know what?  I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world!  Why does this holiday that’s all about love seem to be reserved for adults?  Don’t our kids deserve to have a day on the calendar that is about loving them too?  Shouldn’t we focus on TRUE love?  That is, the Agape Love that GOD has for us?

I don’t do anything really big, I just got each of the kids (and the hub) a small box of chocolates.  I might decorate the table and stuff, depends on how my day goes LOL…  And, I’ll have a Valentine’s Day themed meal   It’s what works for us   Michael and I will go out for our regular date night later in the week and enjoy each other’s company minus the crowds

So, how do you celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Here’s the menu for the week:

Monday:  Biscuits and Gravy, Eggs, Bacon

Tuesday:  Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Wednesday:  Snack Dinner for me and the babies

Thursday:  Date Night   Kid food for the kiddos

Friday:  Pizza and a movie with the kids

Saturday:  Kids Night In at the church, I’m thinking of taking the older boys to a movie

Sunday:  Sloppy Joes, Fries

Weight Loss Wednesday- Getting Serious

It’s been a rough couple of weeks for me.  Heck, it’s been a rough couple of months!

One thing I’ve learned to be true, though I don’t want to admit it and I don’t like it, is, I HAVE to exercise to lose weight.  Period.  I will not lose weight if I don’t.  The thing about that is, I really don’t have extra time.  I was doing so well this Spring and Summer because I had the time.  I was walking 30 miles a week, 5 miles M-Th and 10 on Friday.  That equated to about 1 1/2 hours M-Th and 3 hours on Friday.  I enjoyed it.  I really did.  But then, school started back up again, the babies therapy schedules increased, and I found that I didn’t have time to do it.  (Even though I was walking from 6-7:30 am.)  Before I knew it weeks had passed with no walking.  Then months…  Then the weight started to come back on….  EVEN THOUGH I WAS WATCHING WHAT I WAS EATING….  Yes, I’ve been going over my points allowance, but that’s part of the problem.  I can’t seem to stay in my range, I NEED THE EXTRA ACTIVITY POINTS.

So, one of my goals for this year was to participate in at least 3 public events (5K’s etc).  I am signed up for one this weekend, I’ll be walking it, pushing a stroller with TWO babies..  That ought to earn me something, right?  LOL 

In addition, I want to RUN a 5K this year…  Now, I am NOT a runner.  I can walk and walk and walk…  But I have NO endurance for running…  But I’m going to give it a real go.  I’ve started a training program called 3 Weeks to a 30 Minute Running Habit.  I’m on day 3.  It is an interval training program, days 1 and 2 started with 1 minute of running/1 minute of walking 10 times.  Today is a rest day and it increases tomorrow.  The first day I wasn’t sure I was going to make it through all the cycles…  Yesterday was much easier and I almost think I’ll be able to make the 2 minute runs tomorrow LOL    I figure if I can make it through this program I’ll move to a 5K training program, and I am planning on running a 5K in May…..  I’m hoping this will kick start my weight loss too…

Menu Monday- 2/6

I’ve had a little bit of a problem lately.  Come time for Friday and Saturday I lack any and all motivation to do anything in the kitchen.  Does anyone else have this problem?  I think I need to make sure that I either have super easy meals on the weekend, or plan to get something out…  I’m not sure…..  How do you handle that?

Here’s my plan for this week:

Monday:  Left over Chicken Enchiladas

Tuesday: Cranberry Chicken (meal from my pampered chef show a couple of weeks ago) with Rice

Wednesday:  Snack Dinner

Thursday:  Biscuits and Gravy, Bacon

Friday:  Sloppy Joes, Fries

Saturday:  Chicken in the grill pan, Sweet Potato Fries, Layered Salad

Sunday:  Chili, Fritos