This week's menu plan is going to be interesting because I plan to try to do it mostly from things that I already have on hand.
Jan 21
B - muffins
L - leftovers
D - spaghetti with meat sauce, green beans and applesauce
Jan 22
B - quick shake
L - macaroni and cheese
D - tacos
Jan 23
B - quick shake
L - leftovers
D - crockpot beef stew
Jan 24
B - quick shake
L - out to lunch
D - quick sandwiches and chips (which will be a real treat because I rarely buy chips!)
Jan 25
B - quick shake
L - leftovers
D - burritos
Jan 26
B - pancakes, eggs, bacon and hashbrowns
L - (same as above, will probably be more of a brunch)
D - 4 cheese veggie lasagna
Jan 27
B - cold cereal or muffins
L - french dip sandwiches, french fries, peaches
D - moco loco
Showing posts with label Shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shopping. Show all posts
Monday, January 21, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Finding and Acheiving Balance
I am struggling to find a balance for all of my responsibilities. Any one else have this issue? This week is going to be busy, but not so much that I don't have time to get it all done.
Tomorrow, we don't have school, but I will only be home part of the day as I am going over to Bree's house to help her declutter her clothes' closet (and maybe even get to take home some of the items if I really like them). Tuesday, we have an appointment with our therapist and one of her partners about finally starting a medication regime for Cephas (it's something that we have tried to avoid, but entering the teen years, we feel it is now time) that will take up most of the morning. The rest of the day is fairly empty though. Wednesday, I have to work and then in the evening I also have an appointment at church. Thursday, I will be visit teaching with my teaching companion and then I will be going to a movie with the mother-in-law. We also have the Pinewood Derby in Scouts on this night, so one of our free evenings this week will be spent on creating a car for the Derby. Then Friday, I have blissfully nothing planned for the day yet.
Okay, here is my problem. The week itself, broken up like this, isn't so bad. But I seem to be having issues trying to acheive a balance. Thursday, there is just absolutely no wiggle room in my schedule. None at all. I'll be gone all day from 8:30 am when I take the kids to school until 8:30 pm when we get home from Scouts and Mutual.
These are the "scheduled" items on my list for the week. The "unscheduled" items are things like my personal Scripture study, Scripture study with Bree, tackling one area of the house at a time to declutter and really really clean it, doing all of my regular maintenance-type housework, getting to the gym and working out, and then other regular stuff like school drop off, school pick up, meal planning and execution, grocery shopping and other routine errands as such. I just need to sit down and figure out when and where everything is going to go.
Since I have tomorrow morning free (kid-free with Hubby at home, to be exact), we are planning on working on laundry and our bedroom, which is buried in laundry and clutter that gets shoved in there whenever we have company. Then I'll be going to Bree's house to help her, then I'll be heading back home to get dinner ready so that we can eat before beginning our evening plans. We'll probably work on the Derby car and I also really want to take the kids to the gym that night to go swimming. They really enjoy going and they have such a great time.
Tuesday, I know that my morning is already pretty much gone. We'll probably feed Cephas before sending him back to school (or just let him stay out for the rest of the day - depending on how much time is left in his school day before they are let out) and then that afternoon, we will be working on the Pinewood Derby car, as well as things around the house, maybe even get around to tackling one complete area too. That evening, I want to take the kids to gym again after supper, but I want to do a water aerobics class that I enjoy that evening. It's a TOUGH workout and I feel it so much afterwards, but it is incredible! The older boys can either swim in the other pool or they can shoot baskets in the gym. The little kids will go to the Child Watch center while I am in my class, then maybe we will swim again as a family afterwards.
Wednesday, I'll have work and then I'll do school pickups, home dropoffs (we carpool that day), then get home and make dinner before I have to leave for my meeting at church. When I get home that evening, we'll do finishing touches on the Derby car, and then I'll work on some regular everyday housework and call it a night.
Thursday is my busy day. I'll take the kids to school, go visit teach, then do lunch and a movie with my mother-in-law (it's not something that we've ever done before, so I'm kind of excited for it!) and then it will be time to get the kids from school and a friend's house and hurry home to eat a quick dinner before leaving for the Pinewood Derby. After the Derby is over, we'll call it a night.
Friday, oh how I am looking forward to Friday! I plan to spend my day on Friday (at home, without Hubby or kids or anyone else!), working on things around the house, to get it ready for the weekend. I also want to spend a good chunk of time in my Scriptures this day. I'll need to do this before Hubby gets home, as he has this desire to try to talk to me while I'm reading something (anything!), just as I have the same desire to try to talk to him during a football game or a video game or some other inopportune time for him. Friday night, we will plan on the gym again, but we'll have to see for sure.
Saturday, Hubby has to work and the kids and I will be working on our deep-cleaning chores here at home. My goal for Saturday's chores: have all three bedrooms completely clean! It's a big, giant goal but it's definitely worth trying for.
The one thing that I have, for the most part, missed in this plan is my Scripture time. And maybe that's my problem, that I am not starting with that and that's why I feel like I'm not achieving any balance. So, going back through the days...on Monday, I will do my study time in the morning before Hubby gets up, Tuesday, I'll do my study time in the morning before everyone gets up, Wednesday, I'll do it after dropping kids off at school but before going to work, Thursday, I'll do it after visit teaching, but before the movie, Friday, I'll do it in the morning while Hubby is at work (as I had already planned), then on Saturday, I'll do it in the evening.
Also, on Saturday evening, I'll need to make sure that I have my lesson plan for Nursery completed. I broke up the lesson we are on into two parts, with part one being today and part two being next week. I had also planned to meet with my Nursery co-leader at some point this week, which may end up being on Tuesday afternoon, after Cephas' appointment. I just remembered that we had talked about tentatively setting something up this week to discuss Nursery.
So, that's my week. It will be busy, but the important thing for me to realize is that there is more than enough time to get it all done and to find that balance that I so desire. I love my life and I love all the different aspects and yes, even all of the different responsibilities that go along with it. Sometimes, I just get overwhelmed and talk myself into a situation where I (incorrectly) think that I'm over-scheduled or whatever, even though this is absolutely not the case! So thanks for being here and reading and letting me get it all clear in my head. Most of the things that I was trying to make sure that I had time to dedicate to in my schedule were those things that I had on my goals for this year. It is very important to me to be able to complete those goals and to make that solid lifestyle change. Every little thing that I can do to help me accomplish those goals, I'm willing to do.
Tomorrow, we don't have school, but I will only be home part of the day as I am going over to Bree's house to help her declutter her clothes' closet (and maybe even get to take home some of the items if I really like them). Tuesday, we have an appointment with our therapist and one of her partners about finally starting a medication regime for Cephas (it's something that we have tried to avoid, but entering the teen years, we feel it is now time) that will take up most of the morning. The rest of the day is fairly empty though. Wednesday, I have to work and then in the evening I also have an appointment at church. Thursday, I will be visit teaching with my teaching companion and then I will be going to a movie with the mother-in-law. We also have the Pinewood Derby in Scouts on this night, so one of our free evenings this week will be spent on creating a car for the Derby. Then Friday, I have blissfully nothing planned for the day yet.
Okay, here is my problem. The week itself, broken up like this, isn't so bad. But I seem to be having issues trying to acheive a balance. Thursday, there is just absolutely no wiggle room in my schedule. None at all. I'll be gone all day from 8:30 am when I take the kids to school until 8:30 pm when we get home from Scouts and Mutual.
These are the "scheduled" items on my list for the week. The "unscheduled" items are things like my personal Scripture study, Scripture study with Bree, tackling one area of the house at a time to declutter and really really clean it, doing all of my regular maintenance-type housework, getting to the gym and working out, and then other regular stuff like school drop off, school pick up, meal planning and execution, grocery shopping and other routine errands as such. I just need to sit down and figure out when and where everything is going to go.
Since I have tomorrow morning free (kid-free with Hubby at home, to be exact), we are planning on working on laundry and our bedroom, which is buried in laundry and clutter that gets shoved in there whenever we have company. Then I'll be going to Bree's house to help her, then I'll be heading back home to get dinner ready so that we can eat before beginning our evening plans. We'll probably work on the Derby car and I also really want to take the kids to the gym that night to go swimming. They really enjoy going and they have such a great time.
Tuesday, I know that my morning is already pretty much gone. We'll probably feed Cephas before sending him back to school (or just let him stay out for the rest of the day - depending on how much time is left in his school day before they are let out) and then that afternoon, we will be working on the Pinewood Derby car, as well as things around the house, maybe even get around to tackling one complete area too. That evening, I want to take the kids to gym again after supper, but I want to do a water aerobics class that I enjoy that evening. It's a TOUGH workout and I feel it so much afterwards, but it is incredible! The older boys can either swim in the other pool or they can shoot baskets in the gym. The little kids will go to the Child Watch center while I am in my class, then maybe we will swim again as a family afterwards.
Wednesday, I'll have work and then I'll do school pickups, home dropoffs (we carpool that day), then get home and make dinner before I have to leave for my meeting at church. When I get home that evening, we'll do finishing touches on the Derby car, and then I'll work on some regular everyday housework and call it a night.
Thursday is my busy day. I'll take the kids to school, go visit teach, then do lunch and a movie with my mother-in-law (it's not something that we've ever done before, so I'm kind of excited for it!) and then it will be time to get the kids from school and a friend's house and hurry home to eat a quick dinner before leaving for the Pinewood Derby. After the Derby is over, we'll call it a night.
Friday, oh how I am looking forward to Friday! I plan to spend my day on Friday (at home, without Hubby or kids or anyone else!), working on things around the house, to get it ready for the weekend. I also want to spend a good chunk of time in my Scriptures this day. I'll need to do this before Hubby gets home, as he has this desire to try to talk to me while I'm reading something (anything!), just as I have the same desire to try to talk to him during a football game or a video game or some other inopportune time for him. Friday night, we will plan on the gym again, but we'll have to see for sure.
Saturday, Hubby has to work and the kids and I will be working on our deep-cleaning chores here at home. My goal for Saturday's chores: have all three bedrooms completely clean! It's a big, giant goal but it's definitely worth trying for.
The one thing that I have, for the most part, missed in this plan is my Scripture time. And maybe that's my problem, that I am not starting with that and that's why I feel like I'm not achieving any balance. So, going back through the days...on Monday, I will do my study time in the morning before Hubby gets up, Tuesday, I'll do my study time in the morning before everyone gets up, Wednesday, I'll do it after dropping kids off at school but before going to work, Thursday, I'll do it after visit teaching, but before the movie, Friday, I'll do it in the morning while Hubby is at work (as I had already planned), then on Saturday, I'll do it in the evening.
Also, on Saturday evening, I'll need to make sure that I have my lesson plan for Nursery completed. I broke up the lesson we are on into two parts, with part one being today and part two being next week. I had also planned to meet with my Nursery co-leader at some point this week, which may end up being on Tuesday afternoon, after Cephas' appointment. I just remembered that we had talked about tentatively setting something up this week to discuss Nursery.
So, that's my week. It will be busy, but the important thing for me to realize is that there is more than enough time to get it all done and to find that balance that I so desire. I love my life and I love all the different aspects and yes, even all of the different responsibilities that go along with it. Sometimes, I just get overwhelmed and talk myself into a situation where I (incorrectly) think that I'm over-scheduled or whatever, even though this is absolutely not the case! So thanks for being here and reading and letting me get it all clear in my head. Most of the things that I was trying to make sure that I had time to dedicate to in my schedule were those things that I had on my goals for this year. It is very important to me to be able to complete those goals and to make that solid lifestyle change. Every little thing that I can do to help me accomplish those goals, I'm willing to do.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Happy Birthday Cephas!
Today is Cephas' twelfth birthday, which I wrote about here but I have something special planned to surprise him with today. While he is gone this morning, I plan to work in his and Koren's room and get it 100% clean and spotless. This accomplishes two things. One, he doesn't have to do it on his birthday. Two, it gets done the way that I have been wanting to have it get done for a long time now.
There was a second plan that I made for his birthday today. It was a last minute plan, but since I found out that Cephas and his group will be back in town tomorrow by noon, I decided that I would put together a quick party for him. Poor Cephas has only had a few birthday parties in all of his twelve years. And most of those were when he was too young to remember them. But since this is such an important day for him, I really wanted to do something extra special for it and for him. So, while he was at school yesterday, I called around to some of his friend's parents and asked them all if a party today would work for them and explained that I did realize that since it was last minute, that it might not work out. However, it (surprisingly!) worked out for every family that I talked to, which I was super excited about!
I went to one of our YMCAs here and reserved a party room and so the kids will be able to swim and use the gym both. I'm thinking we will spend the first little bit of time getting everyone ready and then we'll either do the pool or the gym for the first hour, followed by the opposite activity for the second hour and then the third hour, we'll use the party room for cake and ice cream and snacks and presents.
I invited family and friends and a number of youth from our church and from my son's school as well as a few from our neighborhood. I just spent a week's grocery budget on party food and that didn't even include the cake or ice cream! I'm hoping it will be enough and that the kids will enjoy their time and the food and everything else. I'm just beyond excited to have this time for him to spend with his friends and our family and to be able to do something that he enjoys so much as well.
I was trying to make it a surprise party, but the fact that he is going to be with a number of his friends tomorrow morning for about five hours will be the deciding factor of whether or not it is an actual surprise. I am assuming that the parents I spoke to today have told their children about the party and I just don't know if they all passed on the message that it is supposed to be a surprise or if the kids will be able to contain it either. I may just go ahead and tell him about the party before he leaves this morning before his friends have the chance to spill the beans about it.
Then, for the evening we might just have Bree and her kids over to watch a movie and eat more of the junk that's possibly left over. Or we might end up going back over to my inlaw's house to just hang out. The evening is very much up in the air and we are completely open to ideas. But I'm thinking that something low-key to follow the major excitements from today is in order. That and the fact that Cephas has to be up around 6 am on a Saturday, so he may be tired (and Mom most certainly will be!).
I'm also super excited about a gift that I got for him. I wanted to get him a suit jacket but the places that I had looked for one wanted $45 and up for just a jacket! Hubby told me that I might just have to do what his cousin did and just buy one at Goodwill for Cephas. I had planned to go look but have been so busy lately that I just never got around to it. Well, tonight I just happened to be looking around at a consignment group in my area on Facebook and came across someone selling a full suit for only $20. I know Cephas' measurements for pants but since he has never been fitted for a jacket, I wasn't sure of his size for that. So I did the next best thing. I asked the seller what size shirt the person (most likely her husband - but I didn't want to assume it was) wore with it. Turns out that the shirt the person wore with it is only one size up from what Cephas wears and the pants are one size larger as well, which works out really well for us because Cephas' current slacks are just a smidge tighter than I'd prefer for him to wear. I was ecstatic to find that available for the price!
Now, I just need to get him some more ties. I think I'd like for him to have something like 5-10 ties, but I'll be buying them as I can afford them and as I find them here and there. I just love seeing him (and all of my kids really!) dressed up. They just look so nice and they seem to feel better and more mature when they are all dressed up.
More fun will be had later today and I promise to post some about it later on this evening. Until then...
There was a second plan that I made for his birthday today. It was a last minute plan, but since I found out that Cephas and his group will be back in town tomorrow by noon, I decided that I would put together a quick party for him. Poor Cephas has only had a few birthday parties in all of his twelve years. And most of those were when he was too young to remember them. But since this is such an important day for him, I really wanted to do something extra special for it and for him. So, while he was at school yesterday, I called around to some of his friend's parents and asked them all if a party today would work for them and explained that I did realize that since it was last minute, that it might not work out. However, it (surprisingly!) worked out for every family that I talked to, which I was super excited about!
I went to one of our YMCAs here and reserved a party room and so the kids will be able to swim and use the gym both. I'm thinking we will spend the first little bit of time getting everyone ready and then we'll either do the pool or the gym for the first hour, followed by the opposite activity for the second hour and then the third hour, we'll use the party room for cake and ice cream and snacks and presents.
I invited family and friends and a number of youth from our church and from my son's school as well as a few from our neighborhood. I just spent a week's grocery budget on party food and that didn't even include the cake or ice cream! I'm hoping it will be enough and that the kids will enjoy their time and the food and everything else. I'm just beyond excited to have this time for him to spend with his friends and our family and to be able to do something that he enjoys so much as well.
I was trying to make it a surprise party, but the fact that he is going to be with a number of his friends tomorrow morning for about five hours will be the deciding factor of whether or not it is an actual surprise. I am assuming that the parents I spoke to today have told their children about the party and I just don't know if they all passed on the message that it is supposed to be a surprise or if the kids will be able to contain it either. I may just go ahead and tell him about the party before he leaves this morning before his friends have the chance to spill the beans about it.
Then, for the evening we might just have Bree and her kids over to watch a movie and eat more of the junk that's possibly left over. Or we might end up going back over to my inlaw's house to just hang out. The evening is very much up in the air and we are completely open to ideas. But I'm thinking that something low-key to follow the major excitements from today is in order. That and the fact that Cephas has to be up around 6 am on a Saturday, so he may be tired (and Mom most certainly will be!).
I'm also super excited about a gift that I got for him. I wanted to get him a suit jacket but the places that I had looked for one wanted $45 and up for just a jacket! Hubby told me that I might just have to do what his cousin did and just buy one at Goodwill for Cephas. I had planned to go look but have been so busy lately that I just never got around to it. Well, tonight I just happened to be looking around at a consignment group in my area on Facebook and came across someone selling a full suit for only $20. I know Cephas' measurements for pants but since he has never been fitted for a jacket, I wasn't sure of his size for that. So I did the next best thing. I asked the seller what size shirt the person (most likely her husband - but I didn't want to assume it was) wore with it. Turns out that the shirt the person wore with it is only one size up from what Cephas wears and the pants are one size larger as well, which works out really well for us because Cephas' current slacks are just a smidge tighter than I'd prefer for him to wear. I was ecstatic to find that available for the price!
Now, I just need to get him some more ties. I think I'd like for him to have something like 5-10 ties, but I'll be buying them as I can afford them and as I find them here and there. I just love seeing him (and all of my kids really!) dressed up. They just look so nice and they seem to feel better and more mature when they are all dressed up.
More fun will be had later today and I promise to post some about it later on this evening. Until then...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CEPHAS!!!
(in orange because it is often his favorite color)
Friday, December 30, 2011
Last Company Coffee of 2011
Today is the day for the last Company Coffee for the year and I am so excited about Rachel's Small Things coming up this year. And also for the big things that we will be doing as well! Yay! I haven't really tried to create as much Sanctuary here at our new place as I did the at old one. And we moved in July. Yeah. I think that pretty much sums it all up.
As it is right now, my house is in major need of a thorough deep clean, I have window treatments that need to go up. I finally did find some that are in our budget and much like the ones that were already here when we moved in, so that is exciting for me. Now I just have to wait til Hubby gets home after work today to show him.
Although the Sanctuary aspect of our home is missing lately, the kids have definitely enjoyed our little projects and work times together this semester break. We have made and decorated Rice Krispie treats (as opposed to cookies) and we have plans to make and decorate sugar cookies and gingerbread houses. These are projects that we work on while Hubby is at work because they stress him out and the kids and I would prefer to not stress him out.
We had a wonderful Christmas and I hope you all did as well. We have had three Christmas celebrations so far. One for Hubby's mom's side of the family, one for Hubby's dad's side of the family, and then our own little family. Tomorrow, we have one more with my mom and brother. I don't know yet if we are going to my mom's house or if they are coming over here but either way, it should be a great time as well.
We have a very full month. Four family Christmas celebrations, two violin performances, one piano performance, Wolf Scouts, Webelo Scouts, Daisy Scouts, working in the classrooms, field trips, illnesses, company in from out of town, you name it. And I love it!
So without further ado, I will turn you over to the other ladies at Company Coffee! Go check them all out and maybe link up yourself! It's a great chance to get to know some great ladies! Have a very Happy New Year!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Wedding Prep...
My brother-in-law is getting married next year to the most amazing woman. Dan and Jess have been dating for three or four years now and I am so excited for their upcoming wedding! I had been hoping for a couple of years that he'd just propose already and then last year (I believe) he finally did!
So, now we are on to wedding prep. I get to be a part of it, which is super cool to me. Hubby and I didn't have a wedding, so I missed out on all the fun festivities that Jess is planning. And my little Oralee is the flower girl. Tomorrow, we meet with a florist and a bakery and start shopping for flower girl dresses. Of course, we won't actually buy the dress until next year when they are getting married, because Oralee is only five right now and will likely change sizes by then.
I am just so far beyond excited about this whole thing! Jess is amazing and I love her to pieces! She is my sister, even though she hasn't yet become my sister-in-law. We don't hang out (we live about 50 miles apart and we don't travel each other's way very often) but we get along supremely well!
Next year, they are getting married on Koren's ninth birthday. He is ecstatic about it! I mean, how could he not be? He gets to be a part of a HUGE party on his birthday (it isn't his party, but he gets to go to it), he gets to dress up, he gets to stay up late, and he gets his first aunt! ♥ Love that boy!
Hubby has two younger brothers, I have one younger brother. We have no sisters. Jess is greatly needed! :)
And tomorrow, we shop! Can't wait! May even have some pictures to show for it.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Thirty Thankful Days - Day 3
Today we went out to look for a new winter coat for me. I haven't had a winter coat for the past two or three winters because I have a very difficult time spending money on myself. But today, we decided that I was going to get a new coat because I needed one.
I had checked at WalMart and they didn't have anything in my size so I knew that was not an option. Their coats were around $50 so that was my rough base for a winter coat. I knew that JcPenney has decent coat prices so that is where I wanted to look. We met up with some friends who were shopping at the mall (for her) for clothes and we decided to just shop together. We went to Bath & Body Works (for her) and I picked up a $1 bottle of lotion for Oralee (in strawberry!) to give to her for Christmas and with it, I received a little flyer booklet that had coupons in it! (Yay for that!)
Then we went to Lane Bryant (for her) and while there, I decided to get a bra fitting. It's been awhile and I have actually been in need of some new ones. When I was measured, the sales lady measured me at a cup size that was 2-3 sizes larger than what I generally wear. But we went ahead and looked for some bras in my "normal" size and found them. I tried several on and ended up finding two of which I liked the fit and shape and support. They were also having a sale with 40% off AND they were also offering gift certificates for 1/2 of my purchase price along with the sale. So (for example) I buy 2 bras at $41.50 apiece (roughly) and there is the 40% off, making each one around $25.00. New total is $50.00 plus tax (around here, that would make it $53.50) and then you get a gift certificate for $25.00. Not too shabby, eh? It's like buy one, get one free. Or something like that.
Then we went over to JcPenny. I knew exactly what I wanted to get, knew the price I was willing to spend and bee-lined it for the coat section. That's the way I shop. I found what I wanted almost immediately. It was a black and purple 4-in-1 coat and it was seriously on sale. A little bit more than WalMart but this one a) fit me and b) I had a coupon at home that I could bring in within a week and they would give me back the difference in my cost, which would knock it down to roughly the same price as WalMart anyhow.
Actually, here is the link to their site. LOVE this jacket! Catalina's new coat. Isn't that great? Love it! There is actually more purple in the coat I believe and the purple isn't as dark as it shows in the picture on the site. I am so happy with it! I cannot believe I actually have a winter coat! So exciting!
And today, I am thankful for a few things. I am thankful for the ability to buy a coat and new bras. I am thankful for a wonderful husband who encouraged me to do so, even though I was questioning whether or not I should get them. It is so so so hard for me to buy stuff for myself!
And those are a couple of the things that I am thankful for today!
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