Menu Plan Monday 10 - 25 - 10

A new week a new plan. This week is going to be a little crazy because my hubby is not working his normal schedule, so somedays he is home when he normally isn't (I have to think of a real lunch option - not leftovers) and he'll be gone when he is normally home (I can have "girl food" for dinner).

By the way, I experimented with making my own cheese crackers this week. I think it counts as my frugal failure for the week. My 2 year old (who will eat anything) took one bite and handed it back to me. I tried again a few times to see if she just wasn't hungry, but nothing doing. My husband told me that he thought I was torturing her by offering them again and again after he tasted them. Oh well, better luck next time. Have you tried this recipe before?? Was this user error, or do we just not have a taste for these??

Monday - Lunch - egg salad sandwhich
Dinner - Going out!

Tuesday - Lunch - Tuna
Dinner - Sloppy Joes

Wednesday - Lunch - Sandwhiches
Dinner - Popcorn Chicken, Green beans, homemade bread

Thursday - Lunch - ??
Dinner - Chicken Pesto Wraps

Friday Lunch - ??
Dinner - Family night

Saturday - Pizza

Sunday - Spaghetti

For more great menu planning ideas check out orgjunkie.com

CVS Savings

Savings!

Our CVS trips this week were kind of crazy this week, but when all was said and done I think we did OK. We had $5 ECB’s from last week to work with, but I forgot the first time I ran in, because we were out of band aids and CVS was just the closest place. We managed to get 2 boxes of 60 for $7. Not great, but not bad either. Then the next day my DH ran out of deodorant (I didn’t even know he was lowJ ). I had a B1G1 for the kind he uses and had the $5 ECBs, so I spent a total of $1.80 on that trip. Then on the way home from something else the same day DH wanted chocolate milk so we stopped there on the way home. To my surprise (and joy!) regular milk was not only on sale ($3.19) but had 1 ECB back, so I got 2 reg milk and 1 choc and spent a total of about $7. Then this morning (Sunday) I went in for my regular Sunday shop and was able to get 2 cans of Tuna, 2 bottles of laundry detergent, and 2 boxes of dryer sheets for $10.45. I spent more than I would normally spend in a week (thanks to all of the separate trips I am sure) but all in all it was a lot of great deals, and needed items, so …Success!

Bookin' IT! ~ My Version

I have been reading a lot recently, but haven't been so good at keeping up with what I have read.
I finished Better Off: Flipping the Switch on Technology - by Eric Brende and I loved it. It made me think a lot about how I use technology and how technology uses me. :) It really is a good read, but slow in some parts. Basic idea is this a MIT student and wife move to an Amish style community to see how things work for the families in the commmunity. It's really interesting to see how they use "labor saving devices" with out using electricity or technologies that we might use every day.

I started reading Amish Grace and so far it has been really interesting. It starts with the tragedy at Nickel Mines where the 5 amish girls were shot and killed at school and talks about the Amish community and how they forgive. I haven't finished it, but thus far it has been really interesting. It talks about how the Amish community's reaction to the gunman's family and how they reached out and helped them in their time of tragedy. I'll let you know later if it is worth the read

My for fun book this month was Stranded in Paradise by Laurie Copeland and it was fun! Think of everything that could possibly go wrong for someone and that is where you find our heroine 3 minutes into the book :). I love a good "easy read". Something that doesn't really make my mind work, but will amuse and entertain for awhile, and Christian fiction is where I usually go for that kind of book.

I read a few others, and I am still working on my "Bible in 90 days" idea. Ok, I am probably 120 days in and still in 2 Samuel, but I'm sure I will eventually get there. :)

Menu Plan Monday 10 -18 - 10

If you want to see pictures and what actually happened last week at our house you can check out this last post. Here's the plan for next week, we'll see how it goes.

Monday - Chicken Pot Pie

Tuesday - Mushroom Onion Chicken

Wednesday - church

Thursday - Popcorn Chicken, green beans, rice

Friday - Family Night

Saturday - Sloppy Joes

Sunday - Spagetti or Tacos

I already know I'll have to shift this around, because I know I won't want chicken 4 nights in a row and beef 3 nights straight, but I don't have beef at home right now. For more great plans check out orgjunkie.com.

Super Savings :)

I spent about $35 on monday at publix, and another $18 Friday and we shouldn't have too large of trip this week for groceries. So that shouldn't be too bad on budget. My big score last week was my free feta cheese, it was B1G1 and I had a B1g1 coupon, so free fore me :)! My CVS trip today was pretty cool too. I went in for the Schick Razors that were on sale with the 5 ECB's back. I had a $4 coupon, $2.99 ECB and the coupon machine spit out another $1.50 ECB, so my purchase was a big $1.01 and I got $5 back! SCORE!

Frugal Friday (Night)! - Mop Pads

Last week I found a link to a site where a woman made tops for her swiffer mops that she could throw into the wash instead of throwing them away. When I saw it, I had just cut out coupon for the rubbermaid version of the same thing. I was feeling pretty frugal for having a coupon, but when I saw the post I realized I could do better. FREE is a lot better! The process was fairly simple, cut a burp cloth down to size, sew on pockets from the scraps, and clean. Only one problem - I am not a seamstress, in fact I couldn't remember the last time I had used my machine. :) But, nonetheless I was fearless, I got everything out and pressed ahead. I'm glad no one was awake to see the carnage, but the end result was two great mop covers and the pride of accomplishment. :)

Menu update

Here's how my menu is going so far this week.

Sunday - Stuck to the plan and ate lasagna.

Monday - We tried the Chicken Broccoli casserole, and I didn't love it. It was good, but I don't know that we will make it again. It was still pretty though :) Tuesday - I planned on Shrimp Alfredo, but the in-laws called and had Sonny's at their house, so off we went to their house.
I have had a chance to work on some of my kitchen extras, check out my pound cake.

Today's Wednesday, I'll update the rest as I go. :)
Wednesday we ate at church.
Thursday we had our family night with extended family.
Friday I was too tired to function, and Hubs was working, so Chick-fil-a with my toddler. :)
Saturday I was ready to go back to eating at home, but just as I was pulling stuff out of the fridge my MIL called to say they had extra burgers and fajitas, and did we want to help them finish them? So, again we ran from the house and enjoyed dinner with them.
Sunday I finally got to make shrimp alfredo. I cooked the shrimp for just a few minutes in balsamic vinagrette w/ 2 cloves of garlic (minced) and then did half of this alfredo recipe. We all enjoyed the dinner. I highly recommend it.

Shopping and Saving!

I only spent $35 at my publix shopping trip on monday, but I didn't have to buy any meats. My excitement for the week was my two CVS trips. On Sunday I went and just bought the Toothpaste that had the extra bucks and used a coupon to make a few cents on it. Today I went back with the $2.99 ECB and $10 from last week. Today I bought all of this below and used my ECB's, a CVS coupon for $1, a pampers coupon for $2, and another coupon on the candy for something I don't remember how much. All told, walked out for $3.91. Yay! PS Mom, if your reading, the candy isn't for me I promise. It is to donate to the library at church.

Homemade Hot Chocolate

I found a hot chocolate recipe on the back of my powdered milk and made it this week, and it is pretty good.

It is just 2 cups Nonfat Milk Powder
1 Cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)
1.25 t salt.

Just mix 1/4c of the mixture into 1 cup of boiling water.

Great with those little marshmellows. :)

A few fun kitchen extras this week!

I am going to get a few fun kitchen extras done this week, at least that's the plan.
I'm going go make
1) Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix.
2) a Pound Cake
3) Mix and Match Bread (probably Carrot) - I'll get the recipe up soon. It's from Frozen Assets.

I'd also like to so some other basic breakfast meal set up like
1) Oatmeal Packets
2) Baked Oatmeal (Peanut butter and Chocolate)

Menu Plan Monday ~ 10 - 11

I am thinking that I should really post my "what actually happened last week" so you could all see my...um....creativeness :). This week I'll keep track and update by monday next week :). I really need to buy some meat this week, because I really have very little left in my freezer, so some of this may really change depending on what I can find by way of meat at the store.

Sunday - Lasagna, salad, and homemade garlic rolls. These Garlic Rolls are great and they don't take a lot of effort (even though they do take a lot of time). They should be a great complement to the meal.
Monday - chicken broccoli casserole, salad
Tuesday - Hotdogs, salad, chips, baked beans
Wednesday - Church
Thursday - Shrimp Alfredo
Friday - Family night
Saturday - Game night, something easy- Tortilla Pizza's are a good bet - just put pizza toppings on a tortilla and bake in oven or toaster oven for 5- 10 minutes at 350.

I also want to get a few fun kitchen extras done this week. I'll let you know how I do.

For more great menu ideas check out orgjunkie.com

Menu Plan Monday 10-2-10

I love having a plan. I don't always love making a plan, or following a plan, but I love having a plan. So here is the next plan, and I am starting to think up ideas for my next freezer day, so if you have a favorite let me know, maybe it'll make the plan :)

Sunday - Spaghetti!
Monday - Chicken Pot Pie
Tuesday - Burgers, baked beans, and salad
Wednesday - Church
Thursday - Steaks
Friday - Family night
Saturday- I'm planning on tacos, but it is game night, so...who knows. :)

For more great plans check out orgjunkie.com