What a Week

This was a crazy week. I spent most of the week wrestling with thoughts, feelings and a lot of emotion. On Tuesday, a family from our church lost their 7 year old little girl in a tragic car accident. She attended the kids program at our church with my youngest daughter, and her younger sister is in the age group I volunteer with at church. I cannot even imagine what this family is going thru having to say good bye to their precious child. I found myself focusing even more on my children this week, giving them extra hugs and NOT saying "just a minute" or "we will do that later or another day". Monday, I will do something I never thought I would be doing, attending the funeral of a small precious child.

We are starting a new sermon series at church this week called "One Month to Live". You can hear the podcast of the sermons at Cornwall Church . The first sermon was tonight, and already, I am giving alot of thought to how I live my life, how I do things, what are my priorities etc. The worship team performed a song by Nickelback tonight If Today Was Your Last Day. If you have never heard it, take a few minutes to find it online and listen to it, hear the words and ask yoursef, if today was your last day, tomorow was too late .........

In other "news"...

Tomorrow I will be meeting up with my best friend to do a big grocery shopping trip. I am going to attempt doing one big shop this month and just shopping each week for fresh fruits/veggies/milk etc. We will make the trip to WINCO about 45 minutes away which I am very excited about. Shopping DURING the super bowl stores will hopefully be empty HA! Pays to NOT be a football fan.

Had a sick little one this week, my youngest son came down with a tummy bug. Thankfully (knock on wood) it did not pass on to everyone else. Last night I was able to go to dinner with some wonderful friends and play catch up on how everyone is doing.

Tomorrow night I will get the February menu/grocery shopping trip etc posted!

Menu Week of 1/25-1/31/09

Sunday- Tenderloin with Garlic Cream sauce, red potatoes in butter/parsley and veggies
Monday- Pork roast, rice and veggies
Tuesday- Spaghetti, hm french bread, green salad
Wednesday- Sticky chicken legs, mashed potatoes and veggies
Thursday- Tacos
Friday- CORD (Clean out refrigerator dinner)
Saturday- Pizza at church

Grocery Shopping Trip Week of 1/25-1/31/09

First the confession. Last week I had an unexpected trip to the store where I spent $24.15 on the stuff to make burgers/fries and a few other snacks for the kids and I. While not expected, it does fit in my $300 grocery budget for the month.

Second, check out my inspiration for this at The Grocery Cart Challenge see what Gail and other bloggers are doing with their grocery budgets!

Now onto this week! I shopped 3 stores today, Wonder Outlet, Haggen and Cost Cutter. Many items I picked up this week are to stock the pantry not necessarily for this weeks menu. However, the prices were too good to pass up since I had the $ in the budget.

Wonder Outlet
Spent: $6.19

2 loaves bread
2 pkg bagels

Haggen
Spent $0!! (used $10 gift card I received for my 4 yr anniversary at work)
6 cans chicken noodle soup
6 cans tomato soup
8 boxes mac & cheese

Cost Cutter
Spent $47.77
These items are for this weeks "needs":
1 bag doritos $2.50
1 Pork sirloin roast $3.18
1# beef chub $2.79
2 cream cheese $1.99 (BOGOF)
1 sour cream $2.79
1.65# baby red potatoes $4.93 (YIKES just realized how much I paid for these :( )
.01 oz peppercorns .13
2 gallons milk $5.78
1 heavy cream $2.69
Sunday paper $1.50

These items were on sale and I got for pantry stock up:
12 oz lunch meat $2.50
2 ketchup $1.94
4 pasta roni $4.00
2 tuna fish $1.00 (store coupon 2/$1 limit 2)
2 2 liters root beer $1.00
2 5# sugar $4.98
3 boxes Kellog cereal $4.00

At Cost Cutter after sale/coupons based on regular price my savings was $122.90!!

My total spent for this last week of the month is $53.96. My goal for the week is $75 so I have $21.04 left if anything comes up this week.

The local paper was also in the store today offering a special to subscribe to the paper. I only buy the Sunday paper, and during garage sale season the Saturday and Sunday paper. They were offering a special $29 for 3 months which is what I would reguarly spend on the paper, however, they gave me $10 in gift certificates to the grocery store for subscribing. I decided to give it a try, that way if I do not go do my grocery shopping on Sundays I do not miss the paper and the coupons!

End of Day Tuesday

I HEART my new Magic Bullet Blender that my mom got me for Christmas. I use it to make one of my favorite drinks Peach Jet Tea . I used to buy these at the coffee place for almost $6 each. Now, I pick up the mix at Cash and Carry for $9.85 and make 10 of them at home YUM!

I am sitting here drinking a peach tea watching Jeff Dunham on tv he cracks me up! Thinking about everything we have going on the rest of this week. Tomorrow I am going on my youngest sons field trip to the Library. My oldest son is going show shoeing and then the 2 oldest kids have Youth Group tomorrow night. Thursday my youngest daughter has ballet and Friday I am volunteering for the read a thon at the school. I also need to get fliers done for the Box Tops for Education for the PTA. Oh this ontop of working 8 hours every day this week. One of these days I will learn to say NO my plate is full.

Tonight I did commercial challenges with my best friend while we watched Biggest Loser. We live 2hours away from each other so we "visit" on Yahoo Messenger and watch BL (our fav show) together. We challenge each other to see how much we can get done during the commercials. During that 2 hours I got the following done:
Emptied the dishwasher, folded/put away 5 loads laundry, took a shower, did pick up of things left laying around the house, hung up the coats in the coat closet, answered some emails, sorted coupons and got a big envelope ready for the coupon train, filled out book orders, wiped down both bathrooms, and started a load of laundry. I also took out the meat for tomorrow nights dinner so in the morning it will be thawed so I can add the marinade and let it set all day.

Sometimes those little commercial challenges are all I need to get a long list of things done and feel like I am having some fun doing it. I finished my 1st scarf last night for my 2009 Christmas gift box (yes I have started on 2009 Chrismtas already) and started the 2nd one. I am off to bed to finish watching Jeff Dunham and work on my scarf have a great night!

Menu Week of 1/18/09-1/24/09

This weeks menu:

Sunday- grilled steak, cheesy potatoes, green beans and salad
Monday- Chicken & rice, veggies
Tuesday- Spaghetti, garlic bread, salad
Wednesday- Carne Asada, rice
Thursday- CORD (clean out the refrigerator dinner)
Friday- Kids choice and they are already throwing out ideas. Its looking like Chili and cornbread is the top choice right now.
Saturday- at church

There is no school on Monday this week so I will fix breakfast (waffles and bacon). The rest of the week will be cold cereal or bagels.

Lunches: Monday will be cheese quesadillas and carrots with ranch
The rest of the week the 3 older kids will eat at school and the youngest and I will eat at home.

Check out Organized Junkies Website and see what others are planning for their menu!

Whatcom Falls Park

After several weeks of snow and flooding we were blessed with a beautiful sunny day today. The older kids were off doing their own things and I decided to take the younger kids to the park. Whatcom Falls Park is a beautiful area. I had never been before but my daughter had so she was excited to lead the way. We walked/hiked the trails and enjoyed the beautiful area. Then we sat and enjoyed some sandwiches and watched all of the people. They also have a fish hatchery which was FULL of fish (Tyler wanted to know if we could come back with our fishing poles HA) Enjoy the pictures!

Weekly Grocery Shopping Trip 1/18-1/24/09

First off, check out my inspiration for my grocery budget at The Grocery Cart Challenge

Second, the picture above is my grocery shopping for the week and a stock up trip I did today (see post below).

I did not need much at all this week. The kids have requested a big breakfast tomorrow so most purchases this week were meat. I had steak in my freezer but it was old and I ended up tossing it. However, I have steak on my menu for Sunday and I want steak!! So I picked some up today.

1 gallon milk $2.89
1 family pack of rib eye steaks $14.49
1 pkg sausage links $3.79
1 pkg bacon $3.50

Total $24.67

Discount Store Stock Up and Double Coupon Trip

This weeks shopping trip is a bit different. I had some extra $ in the budget to do a little stocking up for the pantry of both food and non food items. K-Mart was doing their double coupons up to $2 again this week. Living in the land of no double coupons I try to take advantage of this when it comes up.

I also used some time today to check out the local Grocery Outlet and another Liquidator store that was new to me. I am so glad I did! I am not counting this stock up in my weekly grocery budget I will put that in a separate post (however those items are in this picture).

Sunshine Liquidators

4 pkg bagels ($1.29 each)
1 box granola bars $1.50
1 jar peanut butter/white chocolate mix $1.50
1 lb. ground Starbucks coffee $4.00
5 coffee cups (for 2009 Christmas Gift box) .75
Another item I picked up were 2 packages of cornmeal not to eat but to make this fun SANDBOX project for my youngest son! Total cost $1

Total spent: $13.97

Deals Only

6 Instant mashed potatoes (flavored) $3.00
2 regular instant mashed potatoes $2.98
1 olive oil .99
1 Parmesan spice mix .99
2 bags mothers cookies $1.98
2 bags croutons $1.00
1 bag cat food $1.79

Total Spent- $12.88

Grocery Outlet

1 Cheese puffs $1.49
1 Bag Garden salad .99
1 lg bottle lemon pine sol $2.99
2 lg cans chili w/ beans $5.98
1 blue cheese crumbles $2.99
1 shakey cheese $2.29
1 pkg 18 eggs $2.29
3# yellow onion $1.49
1 snack bag fritos .99 (to quiet a whining child)

Total spent $22.75

K-Mart

Not going to put the price for each because I am not 100% sure. I do know some items ended up FREE. My "original price" total was $93.38. I paid out of pocket $38.83. That is a savings of $54.55!! Well worth the time to clip the coupons and shop the aisles for me this time. I did also pick up a few items that I did not have coupons for that were NEEDS at home.

3 shampoo
2 conditioner
2 of the 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner
2 body wash
3 deodorant
1 kids shampoo
1 dawn dish soap
2 toothpaste
1 kids toothpaste
1 fixodent
1 hair dye
1 bathroom cleaning wipes
1 endust
1 hairspray
1 lotion
2 crackers
1 popcorn
1 box sandwich bags
1 box juice pouches
1 birthday card

Total spent $38.83

My total spent for all of my "stock up" $88.43

Tired Thursday

I am sitting here watching CSI, so sad Grisom is leaving. I do not really watch many TV shows on a regular basis but I have been hooked on CSI Las Vegas since it first aired.

We had a good scare last night. My oldest son (13) hurt his knee at youth group. He was playing catch and jumped the arm of a couch and thought he was going to land on a mattress on the floor but missed and hit the cement full weight on his left knee. Now I just had ACL reconstruction in November so knee injuries SCARE me! This morning was still very swollen and extremely tender so off to the dr we go. They thought he might have fractured his knee cap, thankfully x-rays showed it was ok just a very nasty bruise RIGHT at the knee cap.

Tyler was happy today he got to take his cookies to preschool for his birthday (which was last month) and got his birthday button. He missed taking them in ON his birthday due to the weather. Danielle was back to ballet today after Winter Break and the weather as well.

Cooked a pot roast in the crockpot for dinner tonight. Added in some potatoes, carrots, celery and onion the house smelled delicious today! Unfortunately, the roast had been in the freezer a tad bit too long and did not taste nearly as good as it smelled. So the kids ate mac & cheese and green beans for dinner. BUT this is why I am cleaning out the freezer this month to use up/get rid of anything that's "older".

Looking forward to the weekend. Both of the older kids have plans so I may take the younger kids to play or to a movie this weekend. Hmmm, have to check out and see whats going on around town!

A Funny for Today

25 REASONS I OWE MY MOTHER 1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE . "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning." 2. My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet." 3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL . "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!" 4. My mother taught me LOGIC. " Because I said so, that's why." 5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me.." 6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident." 7. My mother taught me IRONY "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about." 8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper." 9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!" 10. My mother taught me about STAMINA... "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone." 11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it." 12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!" 13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out." 14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!" 15. My mother taught me about ENVY. "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do." 16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. "Just wait until we get home." 17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING . "You are going to get it when you get home!" 18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.. "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way." 19. My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?" 20. My mother taught me HUMOR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me." 21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT . "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up." 22. My mother taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father." 23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?" 24. My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll understand." 25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.

Peanut Butter Recall- Expanded

I am sure most of you have heard about the recent peanut butter recall due to salmonella. However, it has been extended to include Keebler and Austin brand peanut butter crackers. Please check your cabinets and remind your kids to not eat pb crackers from friends at school right now! You can read more here Peanut Butter Recall

Wednesday

Wow where did the week go? One thing I have learned being a single mom is I have to be very flexible. Things are always changing, coming up last minute etc. This week is a perfect example. Due to snow weather, the kids middle school band concerts were cancelled in December. They were condensed into one concert that was held Tuesday night. This concert lasted until 8:30, over an hour past my younger kids bedtime, threw dinner off and the kids normal Church Middle school group night. So we adjust. Danielle stayed with the neighbor, some great friends (THANKS JODI) took Tyler home with them after the 6th graders were done performing so I could enjoy the rest of the concert. I am very proud all of the kids did very well!

My "in the office" day changed starting this week as well which works better for me but is an adjustment to my regular routine (I am all about the routines!). Tonight the older kids were at youth group down the street and DJ comes home he has hurt his knee. Not sure yet how bad will see tomorrow if its going to require a trip to the doctor. I found a new pediatrician for the kids, but a month later the office closed their doors. So I have a NEW pediatrician but none of the kids have seen him yet so not sure if I will be able to get in same day or not. OH to top it off I will have to fit in a trip to the doctor between preschool for Tyler, my work day and getting Danielle to ballet at 4pm. AAAHHHH.

But then I look at the positive side of things. 1. I have a great job that is flexible enough I can do this. 2. The kids have great health insurance. 3. I am great at multi tasking HA!

So the dinner menu changed up a bit this week. I did not cook the fish Tuesday but cooked it tonight instead (Tuesday we had a spaghetti a great stand in from the pantry).

I am messing around a big with the blog trying to get some cool backgrounds and gadgets on board. Between that and catching up with old friends on FACEBOOK which has been a lot of fun!

Fun Designer Lunch Tote Giveaway

Check out $5 dinners blog for her fun Designer Lunch Tote Giveaway! This are so cute. Winner is picked by Random.org (great site use it for work). 1st place you get to pick your own and 3 winners will get 50% off!

Weekly Grocery Shopping Trip 1/11-1/17/09

My budget is $75 for the week. See my inspiration for this challenge at the Grocery Cart Challenge . See my menu plan for the week here Menu Plan . Above is a picture of my grocery shopping trip today minus 2 bags of chips (counted in below but forgotten in the picture). This weeks total spent is $62.14. I was quite a bit under last week. So far for the month my budget has been $150 and I have spent $115.98 so $34.02 under budget. I will watch for possible sales to stock up and fill the pantry with any extra in the budget.

This week I did use $10 of my weekly budget to add to the pantry. Another $10 went to some extra treats for the kids and I (note to self: do not shop with PMS).

This weeks trip to Cost Cutter:

Ice cream $2

4 boxes mac & cheese $2 (for pantry)

2 shoe string french fries $2.30 (1 for this weeks menu the other extra for freezer)

2 green leaf lettuce $1.16

4 budding lunch meat $2

1 bologna $1.50

1 ham lunch meat $3.50

2# block mild cheddar cheese $4.99

1# butter $3.50

1 margarine $1.69

2 ltr root beer $1 (for family game night)

2 gallons milk $5.78

2 bags chips $4

10 cans veggies (beans/peas) $4 (stock up for pantry)

1 head garlic .50

local Sunday paper 1.50

15# flour $7 (will add to pantry stock)

2.35 # bananas $1.38

1 dozen eggs 2.19

1 case Dr Pepper $7.99

1.51 # apples $2.40

Total- $62.14

In review- discovered I was overcharged for the apples (should have been .57 they were on sale) however, I picked up 4 cans of spaghetti sauce for $1 each. They were on sale 10/$10 with coupon. He scanned the coupon and gave me $1 off but did not charge me for the 4 spaghetti sauce. Will mention that next week when I go in (they had brand new registers/system this weekend).

Kids lunches will be - $4 so my total for the week is $66.14

Menu Week of 1/11/09-1/17/09

Breakfast will be cold cereal most mornings this week. Other choices will be pancakes, eggs/toast, homemade banana bread or waffles.

Lunches: at school for the 3 older kids and at home for YDS and I. Leftovers/salad for me and chicken/french fries for YDS.

Dinners:
Sunday- cube steak, roasted potatoes and veggies
Monday- Sticky chicken legs, mashed potatoes, veggies
Tuesday- Halibut, french fries, raw veggies with ranch
Wednesday- Roast in cp with veggies, hm rolls
Thursday- Chicken fajitas
Friday- CORD (clean out refrigerator dinner)
Saturday- at church

Its the Weekend :)

Last week was a long week. When I don't feel well everything falls behind. That's one of the struggles I face as a single mom, when I am sick, there is not another partner to help with the burden of normal day activities. To help get the kids to activities, throw dinner in the oven or run to the store for ibuprofen when I can't see straight from a headache to drive. BUT we figure out a way to work thru it!

The kids and I spent yesterday getting the house back together. I feel so much better when the house is clean! Then it was off to church. Our Pastor gave an amazing sermon yesterday in light of the current economic crisis. He reminded us that our security is not in money but in our faith in God. He gave us a challenge this week that anytime we are worried about money or start to feel that panic about the economic crisis to say these 8 words "My Security is in God not in Wealth". If you would like to hear more you can listen to it via podcast at Cornwall Church

Last night I needed to get out of the house and do something FUN that did not require me to wipe noses, do laundry, settle a kids squabble. My oldest son had a movie he wanted to watch at home, my youngest daughter was staying at a friends and my youngest son passed out after church. So my oldest daughter and I went to see Bride Wars. FUNNY movie it was great!! I don't get out very often so it was nice to get out and see a movie in the theater and to get to enjoy it with one of my kids!

Today I will do my grocery shopping for the week and get my prep work done for the week/menu etc will post all of that later on today! Tonight is Family Game night at our house going to play Pictureka that my sister and brother in law got us for Christmas I will give a review on that game tomorrow on how well everyone likes it!!

Tired Thursday

Tired. That's how I feel today. I ended up with a migraine last night. Have not had one in months. Nothing in the house to take no Imatrex, Tylenol, ibuprofen, not a single thing. So I ended up in bed early last night. Did get dinner made, spaghetti, garlic bread and salad. The older kids went to youth group at the church next door and got home at 9 as soon as they did I was OUT!!

The flooding here is still crazy. The kids had school again today while all the other districts around us were closed. Tyler still missed preschool it was closed. So many peoples homes are being damaged and destroyed its sad. Earlier today the only way out of Western Washington was by airplane. All east/west routes were closed for avalanches and the main interstate between WA and OR is closed because the flood waters are over the Interstate.

I finally found a good deal on a new cordless phone today. Ours died a couple weeks ago and we have been using an old fashioned corded phone. Having used a cordless phone for what seems like forever this has been odd! But finally got a new one a double set for $29 on sale at Target YEAH. Kids are happy they can talk on the phone in "private" again.

Anywhoo I am rambling so I am going to log off and go to bed and hopefully when I wake up tomorrow the headache will be gone and there will be a fresh hot strong pot of coffee waiting for me! Goodnight all :)

Tuesday 1/6/09

Well the snow is pretty much gone and the rain has arrived YIKES! Dinner tonight was chicken soup, not posting a picture of it, the pictures didn't turn out very "exciting" hehe.

DJ and Erika went to a semi formal ball at church tonight for the middle school group. They were really excited! They were getting served dinner and got to get dressed up, well as dressed up as the two of them would get! I am sharing some pictures from before I dropped them off enjoy!

Monday 1/5/09

Well things started getting back to normal around here today. The kids went back to school including Tyler back to preschool. I am back to a normal work week after 2 short weeks for the holidays. The snow is almost gone (insert cheering here hehe).

Tonights dinner:

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie and Salad ($5.14)

1 bag salad mix $2.50

Assorted veggies. I used carrots, celery, onion and potato. Enlist 13 year old son to chop up the veggies in uniform size. (.40)

Leftover chicken from last night (1 whole chicken (bought on sale .69# x 5.45 pounds = $3.76. This chicken will be used for 3 meals so $3.76/3= $1.25.)

1 can cream of chicken soup (bought on big sale) .59

water

1 double pie crust (I used this recipe but cut it in 1/2) .40

You can add whatever seasonings you like, I used salt, pepper, garlic and thyme.

Saute the veggies in a non stick pan with a little water until soft. Add seasoning and mix in can of cream of chicken soup and about 1/2 can of water. Add chicken.

Make pie crust. Press 1/2 in bottom of pie pan and fill with filling. Roll out top crust between 2 pieces of flowered wax paper and lay over top. Cut steam vents. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Lots of leftovers for lunches!

Sunday Dinner and Recipes

Tonights dinner was roasted chicken, mashed potatoes with roast chicken gravy, roasted brussels sprouts and homemade roll.

Roast Chicken ($2.85)

1 whole chicken (bought on sale .69# x 5.45 pounds = $3.76. This chicken will be used for 3 meals so $3.76/3= $1.25.

1 pkg Poultry Herb meadley $2.99 (will be used in 2 meals 2.99/2= $1.50)

1/4 onion- .10

Roasted Brussels Sprouts (.50)

1/4 pgk Brussels sprouts cut in 1/2 (.42)

2 slices bacon (.08)

Saute bacon in a frying pan. Remove. Saute Brussels sprouts in the bacon fat. Move Brussels sprouts to an oven safe dish and crumble bacon over top. Bake in oven for 15 minutes.

Mashed potatoes and Gravy (.63)

I cheated tonight. 1/4 box of instant mashed potatoes (.38) 1 pkg. gravy mix (4/$1) = .25

Homemade Rolls (.40)

I used the recipe from allrecipes.com for French Bread Rolls to Die For

Total for dinner: $4.38!

My Shopping Trip Week of 1/4-1/10/09

Check out my inspiration for what I am doing at the Grocery Cart Challenge Blog! I am working on using up the meat in my freezer this month so my menu has been planned around what I have. This picture is missing a few boxes of cereal and a pkg of bagels but they are added in the totals below. The cereal will last us a few weeks it will not all be eaten this week.

Sunshine Liquidators

4 boxes of cold cereal - $5.00

Big Lots

5 boxes cold cereal- $4.75

1# elbow macaroni- .90

Wonder/Hostess Outlet

4 loaves Wonder Bread- $5.00

2 pkg bagels- $3.61

1 pkg cheese sauce mix- $1.29

Cost Cutter

.90 lb bulk Pinto beans- $.98

3.21 lb. bulk white rice - $2.08

.65lb bulk Organic Popcorn- $.48

French fries- $3.89

Chicken strips- $5.78

bananas- $1.37

2 bags of Caesar salad mix $5

Poultry medley fresh herbs $2.99

2 gallons of milk - $5.00

Total- $27.47

I had a store coupon for the milk (saved .78) and brought my own bags (saved .10)

Kids school lunches- $4.00

My grocery total for the week: $52.02

Shopping on a Budget

I have 2 blogs I love to read on a regular basis, The Grocery Cart Challenge and $5 Dinners . I have decided to participate in their weekly/daily challenges and hopefully it will help someone else and it will help me be accountable!

First for the Grocery Cart Challenge, check out her blog! She feeds her family of 6 on $60 per week. I have set a monthly grocery budget of $300 per month for my family of 5 that equals $75 per week. Then on $5 Dinners, Bloggers Share their dinner ideas that are $5 or less!

Here is my attempt for the week of Jan 4-Jan10th. I am working on cleaning out my freezer so I do not need to buy any meat this month.

Breakfast:

The kids love cold cereal and as long as I can buy it at less than $1.50 a box they can eat it. I usually have toast or a bagel with coffee. On the weekends I fix a big breakfast.

Lunch:

The 3 older kids eat hot lunch at school. The 2 oldest are .40 a day ($4.00 a week) and my youngest daughter gets free lunch (grant program thru our school for K-3 who qualify for reduced lunch). My youngest son and I eat at home. He loves chicken & french fries and I usually eat salad or leftovers.

Dinner:

This week 3 nights dinner will come out of 1 whole chicken. This chicken was purchased on sale for .69 a lb its i 5.45 #. for a total of - $3.76.

Sunday- Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts/green beans, homemade french rolls.

Monday- Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

Tuesday- Homemade chicken/rice soup, crackers

Wednesday- Spaghetti, ceasar salad and homemade garlic bread

Thursday- Pork Chops, rice and veggies

Friday- Homemade Pizza

Saturday- we eat at church between church services (Pizza $8 for the whole family)

Catching Up with Pictures!

I wanted to add some pictures to update whats been going on the past few weeks. There are pictures from Christmas/snow at my parents house, Danielles ballet performance, Tylers birthday and our spread at new years! I will have more later!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from the Graybill's! Well, we were blessed with a white Christmas, now we are ready for the snow to GO AWAY but it continues to fall as I type. We have had snow for 3 weeks I think now. CRAZY! We spent Christmas at my parents house in Concrete where by the time we left on Friday after Christmas there was 4' of snow yes 4 FEET. The kids LOVED it. New Years eve was spent at home with Paige who came up to visit. We did not make it till midnight we are such party animals, but had an awesome visit.

Now I am focusing on the 2009 budget, goals, resolutions and decluttering. I will post pictures and more on the blog later today/tomorrow and have added it to my daily "to do" list to post daily.