Family Outings: Ice Skating
Karlie and Brina ice skating for the first time with Daddy!
There is a local ice skating rink in our town that is open all year. The first time the girls went ice skating was for a friends birthday party and they had a blast! Even though ice skating traditionally is a “winter” sport it is a wonderful way to spend a couple hours cooling off during the heat of the summer too! If you look around you can often find tickets to your local ice skating rink as well. Who knows you may even run into a friend or two (we have) which makes it even more fun!
Here are some pictures from another fun ice skating adventure!
Brina skating backwards?! No just turning around to look at Mommy
Karlie getting around on her own….with a little help from the wall!
Daddy pushing his girls around the ice skating rink
Daddy and Brina skating
Mommy pushing Karlie around the ice rink!
Save A Lot: Deals for the week of June 27 – July 3, 2012
The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience. It is a great time to stock up on some Save A Lot deals. Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!
Meats and Seafood
Country Style Spare Ribs – $2.49 lb
Chicken Leg Quarters – $0.79 lb
Beef Sirloin Steak – $3.99 lb
Sugardale Smoked or Cheddar Brats (16 oz) – $2.49
Coby’s BBQ Pork or Beef (11 oz) – $3.99
Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops (10 pack) – $10.00
Eckrich Franks or Bologna (12 or 16 oz) – $1.00
Butterball Turkey Bacon (6 oz) – $1.00
Use $1.00/2 coupon from June 2012 All You Magazine (Expires 8/5/12)
$0.50 each after couponButterball Turkey Bologna (12 oz) – $1.00
John Morrell Smoked Sausage or Links (9 oz) – $1.00
Carolina Ground Turkey (12 oz) – $1.00
Schooner Imitation Crab or Salad Shrimp (4 or 8 oz) – $1.00
Fairgrounds Hot Dogs (12 oz) – $0.69
Pick 5 for $19.99 promo on going! Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts or types of meats, vegetables and more. Here are a few of the specials they have going on with the Pick 5 for $19.99 this week (each item approximately $3.99):
Fridge and Freezer
Oscar Mayer Lunchables (4 oz) – $1.00
Deli Cuts Sliced Lunchmeats (3 – 4 oz) – $1.00
Reser’s Potato or Elbow Macaroni Salad (16 oz) – $1.00
Use $1.00/1 printable coupon from Coupons
$0.00 FREE after couponHormel Sandwich Sliced Pepperoni or Hard Salami (3.5 oz) – $1.00
Fisher Boy Fish Sticks or Shrimp Poppers (4 – 6 oz) – $1.00
Easy Eatin Chicken Nuggets, Strips or Bites (7 oz) – $1.00
Totino’s Pizza Rolls (15 count) – $1.00
Minute Maid Lemonade or Fruit Punch (59 oz) – $1.00
Popsicle Novelties, Orange / Cherry / Grape / Fudgsicle (8 count) – $1.00
Tony’s Crispy Crust Pizza (9 – 10 oz) – $1.00
Hot Pockets Singles (1 oz) – $1.00
Buyer’s Best Crinkle Cut Fries (32 oz) – $1.00
Blue Bonnet Spread (15 oz) – $1.00
World’s Fair Ice Cream (56 oz) – $1.99
Mantia’s Pizza – $1.99
Borden Shredded Cheese (8 oz) – $1.99
Use $0.55/1 coupon from insert 6/17 Smart Source (Expires 8/5/12)
$1.44 each after couponSmucker’s Uncrustables (8 count) – $2.49
Produce
Dole Garden Salad (12 oz) – $1.00
Mini Carrots (1 lb) – $1.00
Red or Yellow Peppers – $1.00 each
Klondike Express Microwavable Potatoes (16 oz) – $1.00
Seedless Watermelon – $3.99 each
Peaches – $0.89 lb
Green or Red Seedless Grapes – $1.29 lb
Vidalia Onions (4 lb)- $2.49
Romaine Hearts (2 count) – $1.50
Household
Wrightware Foam Plates (100 count) – $2.49
Scott Paper Towels (1 roll) – $0.97
Scott Bath Tissue (4 roll) – $3.49
Grocery
Sunflower Seeds (8 oz) – $1.00
Sundia Fruit Cups (8 oz) – $1.00
Pringles Potato Crisps (4 oz) – $1.00
Chef Boyardee Canned Pasta (14 – 15 oz) – $1.00
Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper (4 – 7 oz) – $1.00
Use $0.75/3 coupon from insert 6/3 Smart Source (Expires 7/28/12)
$0.75 each after couponKurtz Ketchup (32 oz) – $1.00
Woeber’s Yellow
Mustard (24 oz) – $1.00Hunt’s Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce (15 oz) – $1.00
Pasta on the Side Pasta Salad (6 – 7 oz) – $1.00
Arizona Tea (42 oz) – $1.00
Deer Park Spring Water (3 liter) – $1.00
Hawaiian Punch (32 oz) – $1.00
Freeze & Eat Freezer Bars (10 count) – $1.00
Hunt’s Snack Pack Pudding Cups (4 pack) – $1.00
TGI Friday’s Snacks (3 – 4 oz) – $1.00
Shelby’s Grove Sliced Peaches (23 oz) – $1.00
Kellogg’s Cereal Cups (1 – 2 oz) – $1.00
Read German Potato or Three Bean Salad (15 oz) – $1.00
Lady Liberty Fruit Preserves (12 oz) – $1.00
Crystal Drinking Water (24 pack) – $2.48
Save A Lot Soft Drinks (12 pack) – $2.48
O’ Day’s Mac & Cheese (7 oz) – $0.39
Kool Aid Unsweetened Drink Mix – $0.14 each
Use Buy 10 get 5 Free coupon from insert 5/6 Smart Source (Expires6/30/12)
$0.09 each after couponFrank’s Original RedHot Sauce (12 oz) – $1.79
Use $0.75/1 coupon from insert 5/12 Smart Source (Expires 7/31/12)
Use $0.50/1 printable coupon from Coupons
As low as $1.24 after each couponA1 Steak Sauce (10 oz) – $2.99
Nature’s Grain Hamburger or Hot Dog Buns (8 count)- $0.88
Jolly Time Microwave Popcorn – $1.29
Tootsie Bunch Pops, Giant Roll Twin Pack, or Junior Caramels (3 – 5 oz) – $1.00
Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals! Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends. For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here. If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list.
Family Activities: Roller Blade Fun in the Basement
Karlie roller blading downstairs….I wonder if she’ll do the splits!
It was hilarious watching as the girls started to learn how to roller blade. Roller blading is a fun indoor activity both on the cold winter or hot summer days! The first few times we had them try out the roller blades on the carpet to make sure they could at least keep themselves upright. It was a little easier to move on the tile but also much easier to fall down too. They had plenty of falls, splits, and crashes that first time but eventually started figuring out how to move so they could stay upright.
Brina working on her roller blading, much more serious and focused on keeping her roller blades together.
As with any new skill your learning you may “crash”! Karlie giggling about her fall.
Brina getting back up after one of her crashes!
Someone’s having too much fun…..Karlie trying to scare me as she coasts across the room on her roller blades
Song: “10,000 Reasons” by Matt Redman
There are so many reasons to sing praises. I am thankful for a loving God who is “rich in love and slow to anger” because I get life wrong so often. One of the reasons I love music so much is it can express my thoughts clearly and bring my heart into a state of worship. Here are some of the lyrics from the song that I enjoy:
The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy nameYou’re rich in love, and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to findWhat’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan
Last week we were in Charleston so our menu planning was not as consistent but we did really well with what we had! Now that we are back home we will have a more traditional menu again. Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:
Our Weekly Menu Plan
- Monday (Beef or Seafood Entree): Taco Lasagna, Fruit Salad, 7 Grain Rice
- Tuesday (Pasta or Pork Entree): Four Cheese Rotini, Easy Vegetable Bake
- Wednesday (Kid’s Night to Cook): Brina & Karlie’s Night to Cook Dinner
- Thursday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Spinach & Chicken Casserole, Ranch Bacon Pasta Salad
- Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting
I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or seafood entree, Tuesday a pasta or pork entree and so forth). It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned. I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.
Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family. On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home. As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes. If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).
As a family of four our life can get busy. What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget. Our family typically eats 6 to 7 dinner meals at home a week. We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat. Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family. Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day. Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends. The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety. We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.
Photo by Liz
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
Jake had to travel last week for work so we tagged along with him since the girls were out of school. We spent a fun week in Charleston swimming, playing, exploring, reading, and enjoying some extra time together. We even made it to the beach which was a special treat! Hopefully this week I will have a chance to get back up to speed with my goals and household obligations. The pets were happy to see us come home too. You will notice that some of my goals have shifted to reflect my priorities over the summer, it is more important to me to spend time with my family while the girls are on summer break then to ignore them so I can meet all my other goals. Yes, I will continue moving forward with those goals as well but my highest priority the next couple months will be family since we have more time together.
Last week’s goals:
Family Goals
Connect with each family member at least once a dayEnjoy time doing one fun activity with the girls every day– spent a lot of time at parks, swimming, and spending time together in CharlestonRead at least one book to the girls every dayListen to the girls read at least one book to me or Jake every day– the girls read through a whole bunch of books at parks, in the hotel and in the car, thrilled to see them get even more excited about readingSpend some extra time catching up with family and friendsFinish 1/3 of the Summer Reading ProgramSpend time at the pool playing with the kids
Personal Goals
Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week– walked with the girls in the parks and went swimming everydaySpend quality time with my kids & Jake– spent time together in CharlestonFinish reading Am I Messing Up My Kids by Lysa TerKeurst- Finish reading More Than Enough by Dave Ramsey – started it
Home Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day- Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week – the dinner menu was based off of Jake’s schedule and whatever coupons we could find for the Charleston area so not every dinner was planned with us being out of town (
but every lunch was planned) Plan Summer Organizational SchedulePay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention – did as much as I could remotely
- 1o minutes a day Cleaning / Organizing my desk – wasn’t able to do this since I was in Charleston
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch- Email the updated schedule to our Community Group – didn’t get the email out but prayed for and tried to connect with each girl in our group
Financial Goals
Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4– actually stayed under with us being out of town, just brought items from home for some of our lunches, dinner, and snacks (breakfast was included with the hotel)- Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses – temporarily on hold as we save for another family car
- Save money for another vehicle to replace the one that was totaled – working on it
- Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes – on hold while until we get another car
My goals for the upcoming week:
Family Goals
- Read at least one book or a chapter in a book to the girls every day
- Listen to the girls read at least one book to me or Jake every day
- Participate in at least 2 fun Summer Activities with the Kids
- Take the girls to Vacation Bible School – VBS
- Get to the 1/4 Goal Mark (500 Hours) on the Girls “Swim Into Reading” Summer Reading Goal (total 2,000 Reading Hours)
- Go to the library with the kids
- Go on a Date Night with Jake
Personal Goals
- Exercise – at least 5 days this week
- Finish reading More Than Enough by Dave Ramsey
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu & Schedule planned out for the week
- Start My Summer Organizational Schedule
- Pay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- 1o minutes a day Cleaning / Organizing my desk
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Email the updated schedule to our Community Group
Financial Goals
- Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
- Emergency Fund – save 6 months worth of living expenses
- Save money for another vehicle to replace the one that was totaled
- Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results
People Are Just As Happy…..
Book: Just Me and My Puppy by Mercer Mayer
Brina loves animals….really any kind of animals dogs, cats, horses, goats, sheep……anything. As she continues to pick out some of her own books to read to me I have started to notice a common theme, pretty much all of them are about an animal. She has read Just Me and my Puppy by Mercer Mayer several times over the past two weeks. The girls have always enjoyed “Little Critter” and all the stories he is in but this one has been a favorite especially for Brina.
The story is about “Little Critter” and his new puppy. It goes through all the different activities Little Critter does to take care of his new pet including feeding and training the puppy. I like that it shows how he is taking responsibility even if everything doesn’t go perfectly. The book makes the kids laugh and is silly but captivates their attention at the same time. They enjoy reading it on their own or to me. If you have a child who enjoys puppies this would be a fun one to read with them.
Fresh & Healthy: Our Garden – Beans, Peas, and Tomatoes….Oh My!
Purple Beans, Green Beans, Snow Peas, Red Cherry Tomatoes, and Orange Cherry Tomatoes
The garden is starting to take off and we are getting more of a variety of color as well as veggies. It is so nice having fresh garden produce in the fridge again! I saw more colors popping out this week too. Our family was able to pick purple beans, green beans, orange cherry tomatoes, red cherry tomatoes and snow peas. There’s nothing like eating a vegetable just picked moments before from the garden. It has been great having these for snacks and meals. I am hoping to see a lot more produce ready to be eaten in the next few weeks!a
While we are out of town the people watching the house and animals gets to pick what they need / want from the garden. Hopefully they’ll be able to get a lot of great food for their family too. It is my prayer that our garden will not only be a delicious treat for our family but a blessing to others as well.
What are you eating out of your garden this week?
Recipe: White Chicken Enchiladas
I found this recipe at Joyful Momma’s Kitchen and it was a big hit with our family. I got double thumbs up from everyone on this delicious dinner! I added more cheese and toasted it longer (we like it extra crunchy on top) as well as used salsa instead of green chillies in the recipe but otherwise it is pretty much the same. The joke around our house is there is no such thing as “too much cheese” sprinkled on top.- 10 Soft Taco Shells
- 2 cups cooked, shredded Chicken Breasts
- 2 cups shredded Mexican Cheese
- 3 Tablespoons Butter
- 3 Tablespoons Flour
- 2 cups Chicken Broth
- 1 cup Sour Cream
- 4 oz Salsa
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×13 pan2. Mix chicken and 1 cup cheese. Roll up in tortillas and place in pan.3. In a sauce pan, melt butter, stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Add broth and whisk until smooth. Heat over medium heat until thick and bubbly.4. Stir in sour cream and chilies. Do not bring to boil, you don’t want curdled sour cream.5. Pour over enchiladas and top with remaining cheese.6. Bake 22 min and then under high broil for 3 min to brown the cheese.
Chicken & Cheese stuffed enchiladas
Creamy sauce poured over the chicken enchiladas
Ready to be baked
All done and ready to be eaten….yum!
