A Month Of Meals....!

I usually meal plan for 2 weeks. I've never done a month before. For some reason, it scared me out of my witts. I wasn't sure how much I needed of what. What I did was basically follow this post from Christian Homekeeping to a tee. I figured I would start off using her menu for the month and then see what I used and I liked and didn't use or what we needed more of...and readjust the menu plan to fit our needs next month.

Breakfasts

• Pancakes {made and frozen with 2 in each sandwich bag}
• Omelets and toast {made homemade bread...froze some and have some in bread box}
• Smoothies
• Blueberry muffins {made a couple batches....froze some and have some out}
• French toast {made homemade bread for this as well}
• Oatmeal {stocked up}

Lunches

• Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches {made jam and made bread}
• Tuna sandwiches {made bread}
• Egg salad sandwiches {hardboiled eggs and made bread}
• Leftovers
• Soup {always keep stock and canned veggies on hand for soup}
• Baked potatoes

Snacks {We've never been ones to have prepackaged snacks really in the house}

• Granola Bars {made 2 batches}
• Popcorn
• String Cheese
• Yogurt
• Fruit
• Salad
• Shakes
• Peanut Butter Balls {made 3 batches}
• Hard Boiled Eggs {boiled and in fridge}

Dinners

• Pizza {x 4 on Fridays} {made pizza sauce and froze...will make crust on Fridays}
• Mac-N-Cheese Bake {x 2} {made and froze}
• Sloppy Joes {made sauce and eaten!}
• Pasta Shells {x 2} {made and frozen}
• Chicken and Spinach Rigatoni {x 2} {made and frozen}
• Chicken Divan {made and frozen}
• Mini Meatloaf {x 2} {made and froze}
• Burritos {my Mother-in-law makes beans and rice for us and gives them to us for our busy nights....I know...I'm blessed}
• Tacos
• Brinner

Extras

• Cream of Mushroom Soup {Made it homemade for the Chicken Divan and I will never again buy a can of that soup! It was cheap and didn't contain MSG and the flavor was unbelievable}
• Snickerdoodles {I forgot I made a couple of batches of Snickerdoodles. I put the dough balls in the freezer to take out and bake when needed. This way I don't eat it all at once!}
• Bread Crumbs {with the homemade bread I made...I diced the bread....toasted it...then put in the blender to make bread crumbs}
• Ketchup {I tripled a ketchup recipe and froze them in freezer containers}
• Milk {I bought powdered milk to try. It was way cheaper, has lots of vitamins and tastes about the same. No one has even noticed so far that it isn't cow's milk. They just commented on why it's in a container}
• Banana Bread {made 1 loaf and froze another loaf}
• Jam {made Blueberry-Strawberry Freezer Jam, Apricot-Pineapple Jam and Strawberry}

At first I was shocked at my bill....and then remembered it was for the entire month. I stocked up on flour, yeast, pectin, and sugar. So far, it has cut our grocery bill in half. We'll see what happens by the end of the month if I made enough food.

Growing {Kids}

I cannot say enough about this book...! I read it years ago and it changed my life. I'll save that for another day though. I have been meaning to write a post on my favorite parenting books. Donna Otto writes a chapter in this book about thinking about what types of children you want to grow {want them to be.}

When I read that, my husband and I sat down and thought about what traits we want our kids to have and what things we want them to know before they leave the house.

*

The way Donna did this in her book was she wrote down all the characteristics she wanted her daughter to have, these being some of her examples:

I want her to say yes to Jesus.

I want her to know the Bible....then specifically....Books of the Bible, 10 Commandments, Lords Prayer, Sermon on the Mount, etc.

I want her to be self-desciplined....organized, study skills, courteous.

I want her to have integrity.

I want her to be educated.

I want her to have practical skills....cooking, clothing care, auto care, employment, housekeeping, etc.

*

Before this book, we've talked about things here and there but never sat down and written them in stone.

I have a little different approach just because my brain doesn't think that way. I have to go by ages. So, my papers say ages 2-3 then 4-5 ....preteen...teenager, etc.

Then under the ages, we have what we want them to learn how to do. I opted more for Bible and practical skills. Just because the other things she has written are things that I try to model and teach everyday and can't really be written.

Examples:

From ages 4-5 Know John 3:16

From ages 6-7 Know how to chop vegetables.

Teenage years, change a tire.

Tween years, learn how to balance a checkbook.

*

My brain is able to check off what each child has learned for each age this way.

I want them to say yes to Jesus, but I can't really write that under an age. My two oldest have accepted Him into their hearts. When I first talked about it to Maelyn, she didn't really understand. I then talked about it another year and she was ready.

I try to teach self-discipline all the time. It is their responsibilities to get their homework into school. In fact, Maelyn's teacher would email me on Fridays saying she didn't receive her reading log. We did it....but she didn't turn it in. I wasn't going to turn it in for her. What she was doing was putting the reading log in her room and not in her backpack when filling it out. Then I proposed us putting it on our bulletin board instead. This way she would see it before heading out the door.

Study habits are as follows simple and easy. We do homework first and fast like we do everything else in this family. They get home, relax a couple of minutes with a snack and then get to work on homework. It's done. We never do it at night. I couldn't be able to remember with dinner and bedtime routines.

And that leaves us to what Donna writes about how to cultivate these habits or traits. It comes from Modeling, Teaching, Training and the last thing is to exhert Grace with our children.

I just thought this might be a good way for us all to think about what types of children we want to leave our home. What types of things do we want them to know?

I know when my children leave they will know how to make meals, do laundry, use tools, fill out a job application, balance a checkbook, and pray to God for strength in this world.

{I also promised them they will get all my tried and true recipes and a Crockpot! They're actually excited about this?!}

Smart Money....!

Our family has been slowly paying off our debts that we accumulated over the years. We started off our marriage on a bad note financially. We had our dream wedding that cost us alot of money. At the same time, I was going to school...which left me with school loans. Of course, we needed to buy a car as well...not just any used car...a nice one. I was secretly hoping the lotto would pay it all back. It hasn't happened so far...!

I'm happy to say, we've buckled down more than ever this year. We got rid of a huge payment which was our Toyota Sienna Van...so we have no car payments as of now {which is why I sometimes talk about having one vehicle.} We are going to get another vehicle in a few months but nothing fancy or new. School loans are officially paid off. We have zero credit cards. We are about $2,000 in debt right now, which is the littlest we've ever been. I mean all of our debt even $20 that I might owe someone for BBQ tickets...! The majority of that debt was accumulated a couple years ago when I got really sick. I had 2 surgeries and numerous X-rays, doctors and specialists visits....in fact looking at my bills, I went to every single hospital in my area except for Kern Medical Center. I just can't wait to pay off that debt and put that part of my life behind me...!

By all means, paying off bills is no fun and games sometimes. If you've noticed, we haven't been on vacation in a couple of years. I've been really trying around here so we all don't get bored. We do most of our stuff around the house with things we already have. It may seem as though I buy party stuff all the time...but I don't. I just re-use and save. Noe jokes that I might be the only person in the world with Party Supplies on my side of the closet..! {well, there are no extra closets in my home...we're bursting out the seams} Parties, playdates and projects can all be affordable by making it all. It takes time, but it's worth it...just so we can do it. We see $1 movies at the theater. When we go to the movie theater, it's usually because we have a gift card. Noe always asks for them on Fathers Day, Christmas and his Birthday. I ask for gift cards for Michaels or to get my hair done...oh and people love to be generous and give me Starbucks cards. My Mom and Grandparents are really good to us and never forget us on our special days. I take the kids to really cheap stuff. I know where all the Mommy Playdate times are in town. So, it may seem like we spend....we don't. I just never talk about it to people. Well, last week our friend invited us over and said to bring a pizza from Pizza Hut but I had to tell her it wasn't in our budget for the week. I feel bad about things like that...not being able to go out with the girls sometimes. If it's planned ahead of time, I try to save for it. Another point....planning. To be frugal or more frugal....it's all about planning.

I want to take it to the next level though. Making and canning everything. Meal planning for the entire month. These are my next goals. If you have any tips....send them my way. I need recipes for bread and condiments and freezer meals please...!

I've been glued to christianhomekeeping.com. She has inspired me to go ahead and go for it. I'm going for it today. Wish me luck. I'm menu planning and buying for the entire month today...! Tomorrow, I'll make all my food for the month. I have to get it all done tomorrow....we are hopefully "cross fingers" going to the beach on Thursday for Noe's 30th Birthday...!

I found these videos on her site. The first one has tips from "The Cheapest Family In America." The next video is just a funny "joke"...a sad but true joke.

If you go to youtube.com and type in Depression Cooking with Clara...you will find the cutest 93 year old woman. She gives recipes on how to cook cheaply. While she cooks, she tells stories about the Depression. I can watch her all day. She said she had to drop out of high school because she couldn't afford socks...! They wouldn't let her go without socks. Adorable..!

So, you might see more finance tips on here from time to time. Although, I've read lots of books and have been educated in economics...I never felt too compelled to give any tips or talk about money just because we had debt {I don't like to preach without preaching to myself first.} We still do....I might let you know what we are doing to get back on the right track more.

Muffin Tin Monday {Mr. Potato Head}

For our Muffin Tins this week we decided to make Mr. Potato Heads.

The idea came from my hubby. When we did our Toy Story Movie Night....I was looking around the grocery store and Walmart for Toy Story anything {cookies, fruit snacks} and had no luck. He said "If push comes to shove, you can just have potatoes and decorate them like Mr. Potato Head!"

Great idea...!

I baked some potatoes and put them in these Wilton Muffin Cups that I got from the Muffin Tin Swap last year. These little feet are so cute..!

In the other Muffin Cups, I put some things to decorate the potatoes with.

Olives, Hard Boiled Eggs, Red Peppers, Bow Tie Pasta, Bread Circles.

I wasn't sure how they would stay or how hard of a time the kids would have getting them on. I had some toothpicks and ketchup for glue.

Everything stayed really well, just by itself. The lips had toothpicks going through, but that's about it...!

{Patience's Girl with big pouty lips}

{Carmendee made hers all by herself also before I even sat down!}

{Maelyn's is really creative}

{Noah's reminds me of Wall-E!}

{Animal} Book

I've had this Brag Book for years now. It was a Baby Shower gift. I've been meaning to make something out of it. I was thinking an ABC Book would be cute....but there wasn't enough pages in the photo album.

So, I decided to make the girls an Animal Book.

First thing that I did was add scrapbook paper onto the outside {1 piece in the front and 1 in the back} with Mod Podge. I also added little embellishments and an extra cow shape that I cut out on accident..! They all got a coat of Mod Podge on the top.

I used my Cricut to cut the Title Page...!

I simply put all the words and animals onto index cards. I was being a little lazy and didn't feel like measuring and cutting a bunch of rectangles.

All the animals were cut with my Cricut. I used the Create A Critter Cartridge. I am really loving it right now....!

The animals are really colorful because I didn't use any full sheets of scrapbook paper. I grabbed my scrap basket and got to work cutting all those scraps of paper.

There are so many cute animals...!

Carmendee went to bed with the book in her arms tonight...!

{Summertime} Wreath

Years ago, I bought this sign that says "I'd Rather Be At The Beach."

We were at Pismo Beach and I thought it was adorable. The only thing was...it didn't look too good on my door. When cleaning out my garage yesterday, I found that sign.

It needed a little something extra....!

I used a Straw Wreath Form that I had and added ribbon scraps that matched the sign...all around it. The ribbon was put on with floral greening pins. The only problem with using ribbon scraps is that when the ribbon ends ....sometimes it ends in the front and I had to pin it in the front {instead of cutting it on the back.} I used 1 1/2 inch ribbon and then covered the greening pins in the front with 3/8 inch ribbon...that I hot glued on.

I added the sign in the middle.

I wasn't sure how I would like it. In my mind, I think it looked different. I wasn't sure what ribbon I had anymore.

It's starting to grow on me though. I've gotten compliments from people knocking on my door..!

Constellation {Candles}

Have your children learn about constellations by working on their own candles!

Wash out your cans after opening. Let dry.

Either on the computer or in a book or even from a printout, have your children choose a constellation that they would like to put on their can.

The older kids can look at the picture and draw the dots on the can by themselves {tip: the lower they draw it on the can...the easier to nail....the top isn't very sturdy and bends} The littler kiddos will need help.

The older kids can also hammer their own holes with a nail and hammer. The younger kids can do it with you. Taking turns.

Give them a tea light to put inside when finished.
Pretty Stars...!

Storing Artwork...!

Now we're coming to the subject that everyone dreads....Artwork and Schoolwork Storage...!

Let's face it....even if you don't do extra projects at home, the schoolwork can still pile up.

Each room our house has a place to display their work. I try to rotate all the work that comes in to be displayed. When each papers' "time to shine" is over.....we store the work in these storage boxes.

I used to ask the kiddos what work they wanted to keep. They want to keep everything though...even homework papers that come home. So...I just do it on my own periodically, when taking down papers.

When they write a journal entry about one of our family members, I take those out and put them in a pile to give to their grandparents or aunts, etc.

Cute projects that I don't want to throw out just yet, I might give away also.

These storage boxes were only a few bucks each.

I put their names on them and pictures as well {with my Xyron Sticker Maker} so the little ones know which box is theirs Art.

I really like this way so far. We had art portfolios and they didn't last too long...! Bought expensive ones too and they fell apart.

If you want an inexpensive art portfolio, we made them out of Poster Board another time. Stapled 2 posterboards together. The kids drew on them. These lasted longer than the snooty expensive art portfolios. Go Figure?

If you are not an Organizing Junkie.....you must check out Schoolfolio.com
You can buy cute boxes to keep your children's stuff organized. I totally recommend this website. They are pretty affordable...especially considering you are going to have them for years to come.

Get organized this summer because school is just around the corner! Yikes...!

Boredom Buster...!

The weather here is so incredibly hot. The days they aren't playing outside in the water...we either get up early and play outside or stay up in the evening and take a walk, etc.

The bad part about living in this area is hibernating in the summer..!

The kids were looking a little bored today inside, so I brought out a big bowl...some water...and some apples.

They Bobbed for Apples...!

It's usually our Fall Activity but it sufficed for awhile over here.

The kiddos had fun..!

Poor Maelyn had the hardest time. She has no front teeth!
They ate their apples that they bobbed out and then practiced some more with other ones...!

Oreo Moon Phases...!

Miller Moments posted this Oreo Moon Phase project a couple of months ago.

Let me tell you that the kids loved this....! It was a little confusing for the 3 girls ages 7 and younger. I had to split my time between them and help them. Plus, they were busy licking the spoons the whole time....!

Learning is yummy.

Got Milk? Actually, got Milk-yway?!

{Toy Story} Playdate

We had a Toy Story Playdate with some of our friends. My kiddos haven't seen the first Toy Story in forever, if they have even seen it...! They weren't born back then and I know I wouldn't have bought it for myself.

They ate Toy Story Macaroni-n-Cheese, Popcorn, Hot Dogs, Chips, and Candy. It was a whole lot of Movie Theater Junk Food...! Around 4th of July, Winco had gummi Toy Soldiers so I bought those to put in the little container in the middle of the table.

We're just hanging out, relaxing without a care in the world...!

They liked Toy Story...!

It was just a little something different for them to do. They play outside in the water alot during the daytime. So, to have some friend time inside was a change for them. My kids enjoyed it alot. They want to have them over again soon...!

Phases of the Moon

We've been continuing our Space Theme this summer.

Each night the kids have been recording the Phases of the Moon.

I just noticed this one doesn't have the date. The rest do though.

We go outside and have the kids choose what phase it is on the chart. They then color the phase in. Download the page for the book here.

Download this printout as a reference for each phase.

For a little fun here is an Alien coloring page.

Learning about space can be really fun...!

Money Saving Tip.

Each summer as art supplies and school supplies go on sale, we stock up for the entire year.

We go through our "art cabinet" and get rid of old markers, dried glue, etc....and refill each drawer up. I don't buy anything else for the rest of the year, only during this time.

Walmart has glue and crayons for .25 cents right now. Markers and colored pencils and watercolor paints for $2. {Elmers and Crayola brand. They do have cheaper brands even, I just don't think they last as long} Everything is so inexpensive right now and really worth stocking up.

Have fun shopping...!

Team Noe...!

It was our 12 year Anniversary, not wedding Anniversary but when we first became boyfriend and girlfriend. I know...we celebrate everything. I love it...! It keeps the relationship fresh.

I made him this invitation...inside it says "I knew you would be!" Then it has some quotes from the movie "You're my life now." "Then the Lion fell in love with the Lamb."

He printed out this picture of me and him from last year. He also made the heart magnet. It's adorable. On my bedside table he left me "hugs" and "kisses" the chocolate candies with a couple of letters for me. It was so funny, I walked in and saw him on youtube looking up what I thought was origami...folding papers. He looked up how to fold paper into a heart for my letters.

My "Team Noe" shirt complete with glitter on it.

{Bad hair day, got out of the shower and just put product in it.}

I got the idea for vinyl on my toes from Craft-o-maniac. These have a vinyl apple on them with glitter to get ready for the Eclipse movie.

We tried a new Mexican restuarant. It was delicioso...! We love new places, it mixes things up.

So many men...
Eclipse was really really good. I'm not sure if I'll let the kiddos watch that one. The newer books have more adult topics in them. I love Twilight for the romance. It stirs back old feelings of your first love or when you first met your husband {which is both for me, he's my only love.} The only thing that I didn't like about this movie, which I'll probably have some of you that disagree but the love triangle thing was not my style. There were some really romantic scenes in the movie then the love triangle. I don't like her with both guys. It's kind of icky. Pick one already! I'm a Team Jacob fan...just because I love my Latino men....! {It does feel gross thinking that since he's half my age. Bleh!} I think she is better with Edward though, I have to admit it.
Happy Anniversary Noe.
I'll always be Team Noe...!

Clock Re-do...!

I had a clock similar to the one up above. It's nice and everything, but I'm trying to get rid of the more modern looking silvery style in my home. I had it like that since my husband and I moved in with each other over 10 years ago. I didn't know what style I had back then. I'm slowly evolving and re-decorating. We are on a tight budget right now, so I'm just using what we have.

I was really inspired by Family of Four. She made this clock and I loved it...! I actually had that IKEA clock in my son's room, but it broke within a month {Boo!}

First, I put primer on the chrome clock. Next, I spray painted the sides with Krylon Bahama Sea {my favorite spray paint ever!} I've been resisting the temptation to paint my black coffee table in that color, just because I'm coloring everything in the house. I need something neutral.

After tracing and cutting around my textured scrapbook paper, I Mod Podged it all on.

The lace stickers are from Creative Memories. I put a little Mod Podge over them so they stay put.

With canvas fabric, I made some rosettes and hot glued them onto the clock.

I'm thinking....much better...!