Saturday, October 22, 2011

Menu

I was able to go grocery shopping yesterday, with dh's new job we are only able to do a big shop about once a month with quick trips for bread or milk inbetween. What has helped is making a menu and trying hard to stick with it. I'll be able go on the next big shop on the 18th so here's my menu plan till then!!!

Here's our menu for 10/22-11/18
10/22- Spaghetti, garlic bread
10/23- Invited to dinner at Dh's grams
10/24- Nachos/Tacos
10/25- Fried chicken salad, baked potatoe
10/26- Cheese Ravioli with alfredo sauce, marinated chicken breasts
10/27- Kielbasa, fried potatoes, pinto beans, spinach
10/28- Clam chowder, corn bread muffins
10/29-Burgers on the grill, oven potatoe wedges
10/30- Lasagne, garlic bread
10/31- Hm Pizza
11/1- Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans
11/2- Eggs, fried potatoes, sausage patties
11/3- Beef and Snow Pea Stir fry, rice
11/4- Hm Pizza
11/5- Italian Sausage, onions and green peppers, either on buns or over rice
11/6- Beef Cubes, Mushrooms and Gravy in the crockpot over egg noodles, lima beans,and corn
11/7- Soup and grilled cheese
11/8- Ham slices, fried potatoes, spinach
11/9- Nachos/tacos
11/10- Spaghetti, garlic bread
11/11- Hm Pizza
11/12-Salmon Cakes, baked potato, spinach
11/13- Pork Chops, fried potatoes, lima beans and corn
11/14- Soup and grilled cheese
11/15- Chicken, Alfredo noodles, broccolli
11/16- Beef Roast, Mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans
11/17- Shrimp Fried Rice
11/18- Hm Pizza

Breakfasts are: Muffins, pancakes, waffles, eggs, cereal, oatmeal, cream of wheat
Lunches for Dh- I pack his lunch everyday, he takes normally a sandwich, chips, fruit(fresh, canned, or dried) yogurt, something sweet for dessert
Lunches for the boys- I either pack which consists of: Sandwich, chips, fruit, granola bar, juice or they eat lunch at school
Lunches for the baby and I through the week or for all of us on weekends are: Mostly Leftovers, or hotdogs, ramen noodles, mac and cheese, etc.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Thursday 10/20/2011

THURSDAY!! One more day till the weekend and I can't wait!!

Right now I am waiting for a call from the scout office, then hopefully I can finish up with this Popcorn and be DONE!! Ugh frustrating doesn't cover it, really!! Alot of it is because this is the first year I have been the popcorn chair and I had no idea what I was doing and well you can probably figure out how its been frustrating for me. But oh well its just one small thing really and it will soon be done and hopefully done right by me. :)

So while waiting for that call, I hope to get things straightened up around here finish up more laundry and then finish cutting coupons I can't believe how many I have that need cut.

Also before I forget one of the local fire depts is having a fundraiser bake sale, for a local man who has cancer and is set to have surgery soon, the fundraiser is to help raise money for his wife to be able to stay down close to the hospital with him while he is in surgery and recovering, so all that to say my grandma asked me to bake something so I plan on making a cherry pie and a loaf of applesauce bread for the bake sale.

So that is my plan for today!!

Have a blessed day!!!
Dana

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Wednesday 10/18/2011

Didn't get as much done yesterday as I had hoped but it was still a productive day none the less!!

The cinnamon roll bread made great french toast, but I think next time I will soak the bread a bit longer than the recipe for french bread called for. It was a bit dry in the middle of the slices but still good!!

As for today I have 2 maybe 3 loads of laundry to do.
Regular straightening and cleaning up to do
Finish up my menu
Work on coupons- a neighbor just stopped and brought me more!!! I love saving money!!
I already have the leftover roasted chicken carcass simmering away on the stove in a big pot of water with some boullion and garlic, going to turn this into chicken and dumplings for tonight!! Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm Can't wait!!!

Just a normal day for us today!!
Hope you have a wonderful day!!!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Tuesday 10/18/2011

I have once again neglected this blog... Life as you know has a way of messing up one's plans.. I've learned to just roll with it!!

Thought I would do a mini recap of the weekend and such....

This past weekend we went camping with the boy scouts, this was the first time our cubs had camped with the older boy scouts and I have to say the most of the boy scouts were very acccomodating to the young ones!! Miss Boo and I even went and we had a blast!! I thought we were going to freeze to death in the middle of the night but for the most part we had a great time!! The purpose of this camping trip was to serve the community as parking attendants for the Battle of Cedar Creek Re-enactment. Yall - I was in my glory, all those hoop skirts and long gowns, oh I just have to make Miss Boo one of those for next year. I just couldn't soak up enough history and all the wonderful things set up for us to look at and enjoy!! We helped with parking but there was plenty of time to tour the encampments which were set up just as they would have been all those years ago. Amazing, truely amazing!!!!

Sunday we had to pack up and come home, we also had a committee meeting for our Cub Scout pack and then I went by my mom's to pick up our dog- she doggy sat for us so Gretta wouldn't be alone all day Saturday. Sunday also marked 1 yr since my daddy left us. I gotta admit that I did better than I thought I would. Yes, there were times that I just couldn't keep the tears from falling but I think..no I KNOW he wouldn't have wanted me to sit around crying the whole weekend and would have wanted me to find the joy and live it so I made the decision to go camping with the boys and to enjoy the re-enactment. Don't let me fool you though, I miss him like crazy!!

Sunday night we got home from picking up the dog and visiting with my mom and it was later than I had wanted so we had a simple dinner, grilled cheese sandwiches for the kids and I hard boiled some eggs and dh and I snacked on them as we relaxed and watched a show after the kids went to bed.

Yesterday I spent washing up all the dirty smokey smelling laundry from the camping trip, I worked on scout paperwork and popcorn orders and then made a huge dinner for us to reheat and enjoy after scouts. I packed dinner for my mom and the baby and took Miss Boo over to my moms and then we went to scouts.

After scouts the boys ate and we got the kids off to bed then dh and I ate quickly and we weren't long for bed ourselves. It was a long weekend and a long day monday.

Today is hopefully a little bit more laid back, I still have popcorn for the scouts to work on, and there is always lots of housework around here that needs doing but we will all be home tonight to eat dinner together and spend time together before bed!!

I think tonight for dinner I will make breakfast for dinner.... I have a loaf of hm cinnamon roll bread leftover from camping this weekend and I am betting it will make AWESOME French Toast!! I think I also have some sausage in the freezer to go along with it. Ya know I also have some leftover mashed potatoes in the fridge from dinner last night, I could just make a feast for dinner tonight... Hmm... I'll see what everyone wants to eat but I am thinking:
Cinnamon Roll French Toast
Sausage Patties
Mashed Potato Cakes
Eggs if anyone wants them??
Yep sounds like a feast to me!!!

Hope you have a great day!!!
Dana

Thursday, October 13, 2011

For Cheryl!!

For some reason I am unable to respond to the comments section of this blog. I've tried numerous times and still am unable so I thought I would just comment back in a post and answer you!!

In this state your vehicle must be inspected every 12 months to ensure its a safely opperational vehicle. Some of the things they check are your Tires, brakes, windshield wipers, horn lights, etc. If any of the long list of things they check for are bad or need replaced they fail your inspection and you have 15 days to remedy the situation and obtain an inspection sticker. The inspection and sticker cost 16.00. Since I've already paid this and obtained a fail, once I remedy the wrongs I can have the car reinspected at the same place for 1.00.

All vehicles must have a inspection sticker and a county sticker.

The county sticker is also good for 12 months and it costs 25.00 a year. Its tied into personal property taxes but is a seperate charge we still have to pay personal property taxes in addition to the county sticker.

I hope that explains it a bit better, I didn't take into account how different things are in other states.

Horrible day yesterday but still a praise to share!!

By the time evening came yesterday I was ready to just declare the day a fail and go to bed and hope that today I could get a do over!!

Wednesday for me started out like this:

RAINING- good grief its been raining for what seems like forever with sparse days of dry in between

Then I got pulled over not a mile from my house for a dead inspection, the officer was really nice I told him it had just slipped my mind and honestly it had it wasn't like I was up to anything devious, then he said ok give me just a minute and he comes back with a TICKET!!!! My inspection was only 12 days out of date and he obviously ran my license and saw that I had no record no spots on my licence at all but I still got a ticket. I was sad and dissapointed to say the least, its not like I have an extra 30.00 just laying around to pay tickets with, but I agree I am at fault, I guess the it slipped my mind statement held no water, Maybe what I should have said was it slipped my mind because I have 3 kids, I practically run my entire household by myself because my husband leaves early and comes home late to provide for us, I take care of my husbands 87 yr old grandmother, my mother is a widow I cook and take care of her, I also help when I can take care of my mother's parents who are in their 70's and have health problems, I have 2 sons in scouts, I am the pack secretary and I spend most of my time running errands here and there for everyone but myself, I never take a shower by myself or use the bathroom by myself, I don't get to bed until Midnight or later, my daughter doesn't sleep through the night and I am back up by 6am every morning , I am over worked and totally under appreciated and I truely am sorry that I let the inspection lapse but Thank you very much officer I will gladly pay the 30.00 ticket on the one income that I can barely keep my kids fed with-Seriously they are eating machines, but please sir won't you have a nice day?? Ok I am off my soap box, like I said its totally my fault for not having it done but it galls me that I am getting a ticket for dead inspection but the truckers at the truck stop a mile from the house can pull out in front of you, run you off the road-yes seriously, block the road and tie up traffic for a hour but there is NEVER a cop when you need one but Lord help you if average joe smoe is 12 days out of inspection- beware they are coming for you!!!

Then after accepting my ticket I still had to run about 4000.00 worth of unsold popcorn back to the scout office and I decided to go ahead and get the inspection taken care of, and guess what it failed, yep FAILED, turns out the truck needs new rotors and brakes on the back, I just had new tires put on the front like 3 weeks ago, wouldn't ya think they would have looked it over and gave me the heads up?? Nope Nada!! I'm gonna let that one go there simply is no point to getting worked up over it. I will just have to remember to be more thorough when asking questions and having work done by anyone but my hubby.

Ok so enough complaing here's my praise:
My husband GOD BLESS HIM, puts up with me even when I am a ranting red head!! He has this amazing ability to calm me down and talk me off the soap box. GOD I love him!! I'm lucky to have him!!!He also GOD BLESS HIM is gifted as Jack of All Trades and although he spends his days as my geeky computer guy, he will be able to put on my rotors and brakes as soon as I get them which will be his next pay day.
A big praise is that at least I found out there was a problem with my truck before something serious went wrong and with hubby fixing it for us it will save us a great garage charge!!
So not too bad I guess after all!!

So that pretty much was how my day went yesterday!! Here's praying today is less eventful...Who ever said being a housewife was boring????......Not this red head thats for sure!!!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Not a great way to start my day....

I am out of my favorite coffee creamer~sniff sniff~ lol
Not my ideal way to start the day but I'll manage, lol I decided not to let it get the best of me and have already put sausage patties and biscuits in the oven for the kids. I'm trying something new, They can eat some for breakfast and then I will put whats left together and freeze for some easy and fast, microwaveable breakfast sandwiches for them in the mornings before school. As it is right now, our oldest likes eating breakfast at school with his friends but what he is telling me he is eating and for the price I just think I can do better at home and maybe save us some money,and no doubt hm breakfast at home will stay with him longer than a bowl of cereal at school for 1.30!!!

My plans for today are to continue on with the applesauce, I wasn't able to start it until yesterday because we had such a busy weekend but I hope to make a dent and maybe finish up what I have been given today. The way she talked she might have more for me so I need to be ready when she calls!!!

I also hope to be able to work on my coupons and to sneak in some crafting as well, I can't believe how fast time is flying by and I am no where near ready for christmas!! I gotta get cracking on those hm gifts!!!

Dinner tonight is Skillet steaks, baked potatoes, green beans

Hope you have a wonderful day!!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Blessed = busier than I had planned but happy!!

My Great Aunt just called and asked me if I wanted any apples!! She has been apple picking and offered me the seconds/drops!!! For Free!!!!!

I can't even begin to tell you how blessed I am by this woman!! She always always always blesses us with extra this or extra that!!

Earlier this year she blessed me with extra plants for my garden plus extra veggies she had already harvested!!

Now she offered me the apples, which I will use to make applesauce!!!

She does this every fall I can't believe I had forgotten it. I had just said to dh that I was hoping we could find the money to buy a bushel or 2 of apples so that I could make apple pie filling, canned apples and applesauce!!

We go through so much applesauce, my kids love it!!

I am so blessed to be loved by her!!!!! I feel like a kid at Christmas time!!

My week is booked full there is so much to do, but I will find time for canning applesauce!! Especially free applesauce!!!!

Wednesday in my home 10/5/2011

I've already packed 2 lunches and got Dh off to work and oldest ds off to school, made breakfast for the littles scrambled eggs and toast with fresh apple butter mmmm- oldest eats breakfast at school with his friends- its cooler to do it that way ya know ;) or so he tells me, I've unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher and so I deem that enough to be still a moment and drink my coffee before it cools and catch up a bit in the bloggo world!!

Today 10 yrs ago(~!10!~) I went to my last ob appt., it was on a friday, the baby I was carrying-my first!! had already tried to come early twice!! And I had been dialated to 1-1.5 for about 3 weeks with no change. It was technically 1 day past my due date and the dr asked me if he could find a place for me at the hospital did I want to go ahead and go in...and have the baby?
I was ready oh so ready to meet the little person that had given me such heartburn that I thought I could breath fire, who had kicked my bladder so much I was almost afraid to leave the house for fear I would wet myself with one of those kicks- I had plans of entering the little one in the NFL as soon as he made his appearance as I was sure he could out kick any team in the league, the little one who actually kicked in perfect rhythem when ever we were in the car and his dad played Pink Floyd or Grateful Dead, yes I was ready but the hospital they was packed and so I would have to wait till Monday unless I went into labor on my own over that weekend. It was a great weekend too, nice weather, we got lots and lots done in anticpation of his arrival. I never went into labor that weekend, you would have thought that 2 times of them stopping my labor early on that this child actually wanted to come out but nope he was quite happy, warm and snuggly right where he was and so I would have to wait 3 more days!

What a great memory to have today!! I could sit and ponder memories all day long!! Sadly the housework must be done and I have a party to get ready for this weekend so no more reminiscing for me, ok maybe just not as much... :)

On the agenda is more straightening up, more laundry, Its supposed to a nice warm NOT RAINING day today so hopefully I will get the laundry moved through and can get my rugs washed and hung out...here's hoping!!!

SO ya know the ususal day to day stuff needs done, I better get off here and make a dent!!!
Have a great day!!!
Dana

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Tuesday in my home 10/4/2011

Wow, I'm having a hard time writing 10 as the month. Where has the time gone?? I guess we really have been that busy that we haven't seen it flying past us FTL!!!

Today I am happy to report a day at home. The only time I will leave my home is to put the children on and off the bus and I need to go 1 mile from home to get gas in my gas hog, aka the truck!!

Other than that I will be home, keeping house!!

I have the normal laundry, and cleaning that needs done.

I haven't cut my coupons this week, sheesh I haven't even looked over the sales flyers yet. Oh I'll get to it but it might not be today. After saving 30.05 in coupons last week, you can bet I won't be overlooking them and I will definately find time to get the coupons cut and organized, and matched to sale items. The money just doesn't stretch as far as it used to. Anyone I talk to says pretty much the same thing, the money is much less stretchy these days!!

I've got christmas gifts in the works!!! I've been working on felt food and on the needle right now I have a Luna Lovegood Scarf started in a favorite color of the intended reciever!! Hows that for spoilers?? Not much to go on as to who it actually belongs too!! I'm a little sneaky like that. :) I am also fixin to order the material to make my sweet boys pj bottoms in their favorite character, which at the moment is Doctor Who!! So soon the sewing machine will be humming along as well!!!

It feels good to see the pantry filling up<- albeit very slowly, and also the gift closet filling up. Maybe this year as the cold weather and winter settle in I won't be as stressed?? I surely hope so!!

Not sure about dinner tonight, It will definately be something from the menu posted a couple days ago but I need to consult the menu and see what looks good from what we have available.

So thats my day, cleaning, laundry, etc etc but the important thing is, I AM HOME for the day!! Now only if I could be home with out a million things that needed done...Oh what a lovely day for crafting that would be!!!

Have a great day!!
Dana