Precious In Pink...

For days Georgia has been asking Chris to have her fingernails painted pink. It's amazing how she picks up on these things because I generally do not have my nails painted and don't really encourage her to be "beautified" but never the less she wanted pink nails. So, yesterday I painted her nails. It was such a special moment with her sitting so still as not to smudge her paint and getting so concerned over the fact that it could come off when she washes her hands. After much reassurance, Georgia washed her hands and came out of the bathroom with a huge sigh of relief!

Anyway, while we were painting nails she asked me why my fingernails weren't painted and I told her I really don't like my fingernails painted, just my toes. (Polish on my fingers makes me claustrophobic! I know, commit me now...) Then she asked why I have red polish and not pink and I told her it's because I like red polish better. (Truly it's because I need all the hubby sex-appeal I can get so I go with red to counteract the hairy legs!! I figure it's a wash.) Georgia then began to talk about how it's okay that we like different things because we love each other no matter what. I was so proud and, in with my dig-deeper tendency, I took it a bit further with a light talk about people's differences in hair color, skin color, favorite things etc. We talked about race, gender and nationality. Who knew this could all come from nail polish?!

It was a joy to breathe in the moment and look into G's eyes which were filled with a plentiful measure of joy and curiosity. By far, my favorite moment of the day.

Memorial Week Meals:

This week I shopped at Sunflower Market (primarily produce - this week's ads made it clear that SM's produce was much less expensive) and Safeway. I did buy a few convenience foods (Goldfish, Fiber-One Bars, Potato Chips)... It seems like I can really cut the budget for over a month or so and then I get burnt out on being so "homemade" and "budget conscious". So, this was a more expensive week and I spent a total of $110. This includes, however, 4 discounted deodorants for Chris and a few bulk paper product purchases that I only make every few months or so.

Anyway, here's the scoop on this week's menu:

Dinners:

• BBQ Ribs w/ Broccoli and Parmesan Cornbread Muffins
• Mango Curry Salmon w/ Rice and Artichokes
• "Oven-Fried" Chicken Strips w/ Corn On The Cobb
• South Beach Pancakes w/ Fruit and Hash browns
• Fried Chicken Legs w/ Garlic Zucchini

Lunches:

• Turkey Sandwiches w/ Potato Chips and Fruit
• Breakfast Cous Cous
• Homemade Mac'N'Cheese w/ Mickey Mouse Noodles (Reese's choice)
• Peanut Butter Sandwiches w/ Goldfish
• Pasta Salad

Snacks:

• HomemadeBanana Muffins
• Fruit and Goldfish
• Homemade Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• Fiber-One Bars and Fruit Leather
• Popcorn
• Homemade Tapioca Pudding

Baking:

• Fruit Pie
• Wheat Bread w/ Flax and Honey

Hope...

Last night Chris and I were laying in bed and just before we fell asleep Chris said quietly, "Sorry honey." I said, "Sorry for what babe?" and Chris said "Sorry for where we are." It broke my heart as I tried to encourage him that we're living an upright and respectable life and waiting on God to reveal the next phase. Chris has been working so hard doing any and everything to support us and I see he's feeling hopeless right now.

So, this morning I concentrated on the subject of hope while doing my devotion. This is the verse I have written on a sticky note and posted by his bedside. My prayer is that the Truth bring Chris hope and also bring hope to anyone who needs this verse today.

Psalm 42:11
But O my soul, don't be discouraged. Don't be upset. EXPECT God to act. For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise Him for all He will do. He is my help. He is my God.

We have so much to be thankful for even now and I EXPECT God to act in more amazing and wonderful ways. I anticipate greatness with a thankful heart.

Meal Plan 5/19 - 5/26

This week I shopped at Sunflower Market b/c I didn't need as many dry goods as usual and those that I did need I could by in bulk at a significant discount (rice, dried beans). Also, last week I spent $6 for a cantaloupe at Safeway and then saw the SM ad with cantaloupe for $1 ea!!! So, this week I shopped great produce and a few necessary bulk items. The rest is coming from the freezer and pantry. This week's grocery bill was $29!

Our menu reads like this:

Dinners:

• Grilled Cheese, Fruit (Cantaloupe and Strawberries) and Broccoli
• Sweet Potato Chowder w/ Cornbread Muffins
• Slow Cooker Pot Roast and Veggies
• Chimichangas w/ Rice, Beans and Zucchini (made from left-over pot roast meat)
• Breakfast for Dinner (fritatta, waffles or something w/ hash browns...)

Lunches: (all supplemented w/ fruit and veggie sides)

• Homemade Mac'N'Cheese
• Turkey Sandwiches (from left-over frozen turkey breast)
• Left-over Chimichangas
• Yogurt and Fruit
• Peanut Butter Sandwiches and Smoothies
• Egg Salad Sandwiches

Snacks:

• Jello
• Pudding
• Smoothies
• Whole Wheat Bagels and Cream Cheese
• Cheese and Apple Slices

Recipes under separate post...

YoYo Menu Week...

Well, it's late on Monday and I still have yet to make my grocery list and go shopping. So, I plan to have a "YoYo Week (You're On You're Own)" in which I only go to the store for fresh produce (under $25) and cook out of the pantry and freezer. The meals are generally less inventive but I do this about once a month to take a bite out of the budget and clean out the pantry.

Here's what I have planned:

Meals:

• Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with Broccoli
• Black Bean and Beef Burritos (w/ avocado, sour cream, cheese, salsa)
• Grilled Cheese and Fruit
• BBQ Sandwiches, Corn and Baked Beans and Watermelon (frozen bbq pork from large batch)
• Pizza with homemade crust and assorted toppings (refrigerator raid, usually end of week)
• Fritatta (w/ sauteed potatoes and assorted veggies) and fruit

Snacks:

• Popcorn
• Biscotti (left over from last week)
• Peanut Butter Tortillas and Fruit
• Smoothies (w/ flax, yogurt, fruit, water)
• Apple Slices and Cheese
• Homemade Banana Muffins
• Homemade Buttermilk Pancakes (for breakfasts, lunches or snacks - I freeze them and then pop them in the toaster whenever I want them)

Lunches:

• Ham and Cheese Sandwiches w/ Carrots and Ranch Dressing
• Scrambled Eggs, Toast and Fruit; Chocolate Pudding
• Left-Over Pizza, Mango and Popsicles
• Grilled chicken w/ Ranch, Yogurt, Fruit and Veggie
• Cheese Quesadillas, grilled chicken, pineapple
• Quiche - made w/ leftover pie crust from last week

I'll post some of the recipes a little bit later. Hope this helps!

Lunches and Snacks...

Well, since my last meal post several people have said that I didn't include snack and lunch details. So, I'm going to list the things I gave the girls the past several days. And hey, if you have any good ideas post them on here and share your insight with the group!!!

Snacks:

• String chees and apples
• Popcorn and pineapple
• Homemade pudding
• Pretzels and strawberries
• Homemade cornbread muffins

Lunches:

• Cheesy bagel bites - whole wheat bagels w/ melted cheese cut into bite size pieces w/ scissors; applesauce
• Macaroni and Cheese spiked with sour cream and carrot puree; steamed broccoli
• Yogurt, strawberries, pretzels
• Turkey kielbasa sausage on toothpicks w/ ketchup, carrots and ranch, canned peaches in juice concentrate
• Scrambled eggs w/ whole wheat tortillas and watermelon

Meal Mania...

Several of my girlfriends have mentioned their frustration with creating weekly meal menus while maintaining a tight budget and serving both hubby and kid-friendly food. I certainly do not have the meal planning down to a science but the whole process is something I really enjoy. So, I thought I'd post my weekly meal plans on my blog site and see if my little ideas can make your lives easier.

My weekly routine is this:

Sunday afternoons -
1. Review weekly Safeway and Sunflower Market mailers to determine good sales and compare produce prices.

2. Pick recipes that contain most of the ingredients I already have in my pantry and may use sale-items from the current week's grocery sales. Note: I usually only plan 4 official dinners and 4 snacks for each week because we usually have easy dinner one or two nights (mac-n-cheese, frozen pizza, breakfast for dinner and the like) and then eat left-overs another night.

3. Make a grocery list and post my weekly meal and snack plan on my calendar.

4. Grocery shop with list and DO NOT buy anything not written on the list. Avoid center aisles of the store and always shop by unit price listed on the price tags not by sale price listed.

Meal Plan 5/4/08 - 5/11/08:

Snack/Dessert Options: (all homemade and, depending on my motivation level, I may only make 2 or 3 of option listed below)

• Banana bread made w/ applesauce and flaxmeal
• Rice crispy treats
• Almond Biscotti
• Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• Panna Cotta (from a mix I bought on sale)

Produce to buy on sale: (Safeway)

• Mangos
• Watermelon
• Strawberries

Meal Options: (again, all homemade not store bought = less sodium/less $$)

• Quiche (ham, onion, spinach) and fruit
• Lasagna (1/2 sausage, 1/2 vegetarian)
• Chili w/ Parmesan-Cornbread Muffins (chili frozen from double batch made last month)
• Burritos (ground buffalo, black bean/served w/ leftover fruit or veggies)
• Breakfast for dinner (french toast and bacon)

I'm trying to think of a good way to post recipes... Any suggestions are welcome.

Hope this helps!