Making it work one day at a time.

Menu Plan Monday/Pantry Challenge

2010-01-11T13:51:00.002-07:00

The first week was a success. I was able to pull some stuff out of the freezer and use it. Mostly vegetables. I have bags and bags of frozen vegetables. I did end up picking up a shift at work and had to have the family make do with leftover freezer junk food from NYD.

Last week I went over my budget of $30 by $6. This week I'm proud to say I was under, $27.27. I was worried too becuase Campbells soup was on sale for $1 and I had a couple of coupons I wanted to use. So I added a little to my pantry. The hardest part shopping is not buying meat on sale. I look at the ads and this week, Albertsons had assorted pork chops $.98/lb. Nice price. Don't go anywhere near there or you'll spend $$.

Here's this week's selection:

Monday - Chicken Kabobs, salad, leftover veggies.

Tuesday - Crockpot Pinto Beans, cornbread.

Wednesday - Chicken and Dumplings

Thursday - Bean and Beef burritos (using leftover pinto beans from Tue.), green rice with cheese.

Friday - Sloppy Joe Meatloaf, veggie and salad.

Saturday - Steak, baked potatoes, veggie.

Sunday - Pizza

Lunch is leftovers, sandwiches, pasta.
Breakfast is potato/sausage/egg burritos, peanut butter baked oatmeal and iat applesauce muffins. Trying 2 new recipes this week.

For more menu ideas go to orgjunkie.com. To join the pantry challenge go to Money Saving Mom.

2010 Goals Revisited

2010-01-08T11:56:00.002-07:00

Since it's January 8th, I should probably start looking at these goals and time them out.

1. $$$$
I'll find out Monday if I am returning to an old job of mine. Cross your fingers. I paid bills today and have started a budget. I need to try to figure out how to get $1000 in savings. But that's coming.

2. Break down goals.
That's what I'm going to start today.

3. Purge and Organize
This week/weekend I'm going to start with the kitchen. 15-30 minute increments. Go all out, take no prisoners and put nothing back that I haven't used in a while.
Next week - My closet/bedroom, linen closet, coat closet, toy cubby.

4. School
I've been trying to figure out why I haven't been accepted yet. SO I called today and got it all figured out. CHanged the school code on my financial aid. I should be able to register next week. Finally!!! Then I can order my books and get started.

I've been super lazy this week. Just been working a lot and hanging with the fam. Today, I'm starting to focus a little more before I have to go to work.

Thirsty Thursday

2010-01-07T11:48:00.002-07:00

I picked up a bunch of shifts this weekend to help out my friend. One of the shifts I had to make a Scooby Snack. I instantly asked "Isn't that a Jamaican Ten Speed without the cream?" My fellow co-worker thought I was right. Well I wasn't. Ok, so I get confused between a Scooby Snack and a Jamaican Ten Speed. They are so similar. But thanks to a phone with internet access and my favorite bartending website, webtender.com, I was able to make them right the second time around. Just so you guys don't get all confused between them, or decide which one sounds better than the other, here are the recipes for all three.

Scooby Snack

3/4oz Malibu Rum
3/4oz Midori
1oz Pineapple Juice
1/2oz Half and Half

Pour over ice in a shaker, shake and strain.

Jamaican Ten Speed

1oz Vodka
3/4oz Midori
1/4oz Malibu Rum
1/2oz Half and Half

Pour over ice in a shaker, shake and strain.

Tuesday is the First Day for the New Goals

2010-01-05T09:20:00.002-07:00

Today I'm off to find a new job. I've written down some places that have advertised on Craigslist, and I'm hitting a few others as well. Just some random places. I'm really hoping to find somewhere downtown because I'm transferring to a college down there and it could be a one stop shop.

I'm hoping to find something today, so I can breakdown the rest of my goals and start them tomorrow.

Menu Plan Monday

2010-01-04T10:20:00.002-07:00

Good Morning.

I'm tired today. It's my birthday and I think the first thing I want to do is take a nap. I worked Saturday night and then the Broncos game yesterday.

So I went through my pantry and freezers to figure out my menu for the week. One thing I noticed is that I have 4 packages of hamburgers, beef and turkey. So that's an easy one once a week. I also have quite a few pizza dough balls. Another easy one. So I just need 4 or 5 other meals each week, which won't be hard.

I went to the store on Saturday afternoon with the goal of only spending $30. I went over and spent $35, but I needed cat food and shampoo. Not bad all in all.

Here's what's on my menu this week:

Monday:

Hamburgers and vegetables

Tuesday:

Tofu Parmesan and salad

Wednesday:

Chicken Soft Tacos, black beans and rice.

Thursday:

Pizza

Friday:

Sloppy Joe Meatloaf, baked potato, vegetable

Saturday:

Grilled chicken Parmesan, vegetable

Sunday:

Chicken and Vegetable kabobs, green rice

For more menu ideas go to Orgjunkie.

01-01-2001

2010-01-01T11:39:00.003-07:00

So here it is. It seems to be a day of reflection for many people, I guess for me too.

Yesterday was a terrible day for me. I attended a funeral for a 15 year old boy. This boy is the son of one of my coworkers, Amanda. She is one of the sweetest people in the world. She's helped me out of binds and I've helped her. One of the bad parts about my job is that I mostly work alone. She is a fellow bartender and I only see her in passing and via text messages when we need shifts covered. Her son hung himself Christmas night. My heart literally breaks for her. I can not/do not want to understand her pain. I do want to be as empathetic to her and reach out as much as possible, so I went to the funeral with a group of us from work.

This hit home for me because her son was 3 months older than my eldest daughter. And I'm struggling with her right now and her teenage girl attitude. She has been so disrespectful to her dad and brother that I've had enough and scheduled family therapy sessions. I thought about this through the entire funeral and pretty much lost my shit at one point. I came home and hugged her and her bff and told them tearfully about what I had just witnessed. I had them tearing up at one point.

I was so emotionally drained yesterday that we stayed home. I really had no desire to celebrate anything. I didn't feel like I had anything to celebrate. So that was the end of my 2009.

Today I wake up to a new day. The sun is out and there is hope. My year begins with my birthday on Monday. This is also the first day of therapy for us. I'm forgoing a birthday dinner for this therapy, but I think it'll be a great birthday present eventually. I'm also working for Amanda 2 of her 4 shifts this week, which puts my work load up there. I'm used to working 2 shifts per week max, but starting on Saturday I'm working 5 shifts. I need the money, so I'm not complaining.

I reflect on my yesterday and look forward from here. I look at my list of goals and think in a way that they are trivial, but still needed in my life.

1. Work on my relationships
This is why we're starting therapy. I think we all need it in one way or another.

2. Make Monthly/Weekly Goals
I want to break down the big goals into smaller ones that way I'm more apt to do them.

3. Exercise Regularly
I joined a gym a month ago, I need to use it.

4. Purge and Organize
My house needs an overhaul and I need to be really cut-throat.

5. Get our Money in Order
I've worked on the budget, now I need to find a new job.

6. Keep up with school
I just need to keep it a priority.

That's it. I'm going to break them down tomorrow. Today I'm going to enjoy football and junk food day.

Eating from the pantry challenge

2009-12-29T16:15:00.003-07:00

I saw this and took a look. Now that I think about it, I can totally do this. I have a full upright freeze and two half freezers that are full.

In order to do this, I have to be organized. Luckily I just went to Sam's yesterday, so I do have some snacks.

My budget for 5 is $80 a week. So I want to cut that down to $30 a week. That would save me $200 for the month, I can handle that. We're behind since my job isn't bringing in any money, so our extra will go towards catching up on bills. My shopping will be limited to milk, eggs, dairy, produce, and baking products for snacks.

I totally think I can do this and look forward to the challenge!

Monday on Tuesday

2009-12-29T15:53:00.002-07:00

I was just plain lazy yesterday and didn't post this. This week is a mellow week for the family. We don't do much for NYE. We are going to my mom's for dinner and then we have some options but not sure what we'll end up doing. Right now I'm leaning towards skating and fireworks over a lake in Evergreen, coming home and going to a neighbors to play games and have breakfast at midnight. We have friends in a band that are playing that night, but don't know if a bar is where I want to be. Something low key I think is in the works.

NYD is a fun family day for us. While most people are nursing hangovers, quitting smoking, starting diets and just trying to change they're lives, we're in our pj's watching college football and movies eating junk food. I had to stock up on jalepeno poppers, pizza rolls, wontons, cheese sticks, chips and dip, etc. We have to have some black eyed peas at some point. It's a great lazy family day.

Here's our weekly menu:

Breakfast:
I broke down and bought cereal
Smoothies
Blueberry muffins
egg sandwiches

Dinner
Monday: Baked Ziti, garlic bread
Tuesday: Oven baked Frittata, salad
Wednesday: leftovers, I have to work
Thursday: Dinner at Granny's
Friday: Junk Food day
Saturday: Twice Baked Potatoes with spinach
Sunday: Leftovers, I have to work the Bronco game.

I'll post some of the recipes this week since I'm trying a new recipe book.

For more menu ideas visit Orgjunkie.

Menu Plan Monday

2009-12-21T16:06:00.002-07:00

I don't know if I'm excited about Christmas or not. I'm still not even sure if I'm done. I haven't had a chance to pull everything out and take an inventory. The second I close the door, my kids are knocking away wondering what we're doing.

I am pretty thankful that all our entertaining is over for now. Two weeks of hosting parties took a lot out of my, and my bank account. But that's over. With that being said, I'm having a cheap-eats week.

Breakfasts:
pancakes
blueberry muffins
peanut butter toast
Overnight french toast on Christmas morning.

Lunches:
Chicken nuggets
peanut butter sandwiches
leftover pasta

Dinner:

Monday - Grilled Cheese, tomato soup, salad and orange wedges
Tuesday - Hamburgers and french fries
Wednesday - Ham sandwiches, salad and orange wedges
Thursday - Spaghetti and garlic-cheese bread. A Christmas Eve tradition.
Friday - Turkey, stuffing, veggies and my mom's famous sweet potatoes
Saturday - Left overs
Sunday - Left overs

Friday Musings

2009-06-05T12:26:00.002-06:00

Happy Friday! Friday really has never meant anything to me since I generally work on Friday's. It's on of the busiest days of the week in my business.

Today I'm off to find a new job. It's really slowed down where I work and I need to find something that doesn't have an "off-season." So wish me luck.

I've also decided to quit daycare. It was a hard decision, but one that needed to be made. Since school is getting tougher and tougher, I'm needing to have more time to study. I've been getting way too stressed with watching the kids and trying to get anything done. I put an end to it and it's finishing up at the end of the month! Woo-hoo! Now I need to find that job that will make up for the money I'm losing out on.

That's my day in a nutshell. I need to read more for school and write a few papers.

Have a great day!!

Thirsty Thursday

2009-06-04T12:52:00.004-06:00

So I'm currently a bartender by trade. I consider that my part time job. My full time job(s) being a mom, wife and student.

My plan is to introduce people who would not normally be able to figure out something new to serve at a party, new drink recipes. All of the recipes will be able to convert to however you have use for it, i.e. shot or drink.

Today's selection is one I learned last night, a Florida Apple.

Florida Apple (a take on a Washington Apple)

1 1/4 oz orange vodka
3/4 oz Apple Pucker, or other apple schnapps
3 oz cranberry juice

For shot:
Pour ingredients in shaker tin with ice, shake to mix. Strain to glass.

For drink:
Pour first 2 ingredients in high ball ( 4-6 oz glass) over ice. Fill to top with cranberry juice.

This could be made in big batches for parties. Just remember the ratio of 2:1 vodka:apple schnapps and 2:3 ration of booze:juice.

Calgon Thursday

2009-06-04T12:45:00.002-06:00

It's Thursday. I hate Thursday's. I run a small daycare in my house, mostly made up of kids of friends of mine. Lately, I've felt stressed about this and need a change. I can't take care of these children, study, take care of my children and house at the same time. I'm just not sure how to tell them this. It's not easy to do.

I need more time. Any suggestions?

New at this

2009-05-27T15:58:00.000-06:00

This is my very first blog entry. I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to with this. I know it will be a sound-off for my crazy life, a way to try to organize a little bit better, and hopefully get some input on what I'm doing right or wrong. I can take constructive criticism, as long as it's not mean hearted.

Bear with my while I get this set up to look as cool as some of the other blogs I've seen while putting my own creative spin on it.