Song: “I Need a Silent Night” by Amy Grant
After a busy week of celebrations this song came to my mind. Sometimes we get so “wrapped” up in all the activities we don’t take the extra time to truly enjoy the reason for the Christmas season. In the chaos of the season’s activities take a some time to spend in quiet reflection.
What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan
Jake was gone most of last week on work related trips so the girls and I planned simple meals. This week is full for fun events so our “normal” weekly schedule is a little different. Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:
Our Weekly Menu Plan
- Monday (Beef Entree): Spaghetti and Meatballs, Garlic Bread
- Tuesday (Seafood or Pork Entree): Cheesy Octopus Sausages, Fresh Fruit
- Wednesday (Chicken Entree): Special Event
- Thursday (Pasta or Vegetarian Entree): Special Event
- 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 entree, Tuesday a seafood 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
Last week was full for Christmas Celebrations, activities, and work travel. I am thankful to have Jake back at home with us and look forward to spending some quality time with my family over the Christmas Holidays. The girls are now out of school so I debated whether or not to do a goal list this week because I want to make sure to spend any “extra” time with them. I am going to try to keep it short this week for that reason.
Here is the update on last weeks goals:
Family Goals
Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everydayRead a book to the girls everydayHave the girls read 1 book to me 5 days this week- Do devotions with the girls every night (sometimes it gets late and we rush to get them into bed) – had a couple late nights, really need to work on doing better with this one.
Do the 25 Day of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. activities with the girls this week
Personal Goals
- Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week – did a few days
- Go to bed by 10:30 or earlier on Monday and Thursday – with Jake out of town I stayed up later to work on projects instead of going to bed on time
- Finish reading The 60-Minute Money Workout by Ellie Kay – got it started
Start Reading and listen to the next section of Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper
Home Management Goals
Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by MondaySpend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house- Dinner on the table by 5:30 PM (Monday through Thursday) – it was late a couple nights
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one dayWrap and send out all Christmas Cards / Presents that need shipped or mailed
Business Goals
Spend 10 minutes a day cleaning and organizing my deskPay all bills that come in the mail this weekWork on ideas for upcoming blog posts- Review my 2011 Business Goals and start planning ones for 2012 – didn’t even look at them this week with all the busy activities going on
Ministry Goals
Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requestsMeet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
Financial Goals
Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4- Pay off remaining debt – working on it
- Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses – finishing up the debt so we can get rolling on this one
Here are my goals for the upcoming week:
Family Goals
- Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everyday
- Read a book to the girls everyday
- Do the 25 Day of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. activities with the girls this week
- Spend extra time with my family while the girls are on Christmas Break!
Personal Goals
- Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
- Listen to Dave Ramsey’s Dumping Debt audiobook
Home Management Goals
- Get suitcase packed for our business / family trip
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Wrap all the Christmas Gifts
Business Goals
- Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
Ministry Goals
- Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests
Financial Goals
- Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
- Pay off remaining debt
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
Pampers Gifts to Grow – 5 Free Points
You can receive another 5 free points from Pampers with a new Gifts to Grow code!This code is different from the previous codes I have given.
Use Code: TWITVJB16CD2011
The code didn’t have an expiration date but they usually expire in a few days so be sure to add it to your account soon!
You can save up the rewards to purchase gifts!
For more information about the Pampers Gift to Grow Program and how you can start earning Pampers “Gifts to Grow” Rewards for your family go to Pampers Gifts to Grow!
Book: “The Family Read-Aloud Christmas Treasury” selected by Alice Low
Several years ago I picked up this book The Family Read-Aloud Christmas Treasury selected by Alice Low at a local Goodwill store. The girls love getting this book out every year and reading through the many (over 50) Christmas stories and poems. It includes a mix of traditional Christmas stories. I like that it has The Birth of Jesus Luke 2:1-20 in the book and other religious stories as well as a few stories about Santa, Snowmen and more. I think the “make believe” stories are neat to read with the girls as long as they know the true meaning of Christmas. Probably one of my favorites is at the very end of the book:
The Joy of Giving
by John Greenleaf Whittier
Somehow, not only for Christmas
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you;
And the more you spend in blessing
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart’s possessing
Returns to make you glad.
Living on a Budget: Groceries $40 for 4
It was a week full of traveling, work, and Christmas celebrations! I was able to stay under budget and stock up on some goodies, including produce and other fridge & pantry products! I am thankful that South Carolina does not have any tax on groceries, this is very beneficial when I am trying to stay within the grocery budget down for our family. Here is my weekly update on our Groceries $40 for 4.
Groceries from Ingles and Dollar Tree Ingles Groceries:
- $12.77 at Ingles for 1 fresh Cantaloupe, 1 bag Grapefruit, 2 bags Brussel Sprouts, 1 bag Broccoli, 1 bag carrots, 1 bag Peanuts, 1 jar Claussen Pickles, and 1 container Honey Ham. (Everything I bought this week at Ingles was on sale, marked down, or on clearance. All the produce including the huge bag of grapefruits were marked down to $0.99 cents! The ham was marked down and is perfect for making lunches, the Claussen pickles are my husband’s favorite pickles but I rarely buy them because they are so expensive but since they had one marked down I snagged one for him this week!)
Dollar Tree Groceries:
- $1.00 at Dollar Tree for 1 loaf Nature’s Own White Wheat Bread
Groceries from Whole Foods Whole Foods Groceries:
- $2.14 at Whole Foods for 2 jars Tikka Masala Curry, 2 jars Korma Curry, and 2 jars Jalfrezi Curry. (Used a coupon, part of a gift card, and they were on sale this week especially since I typically do not shop at Whole Foods since it is across town! I was SUPER excited to get six jars of curry for only $2.14. Our family enjoys having curry every few weeks so this will come in handy, plus we have family coming to stay with us who loves curry too. The only thing that I was really disappointed to see was that Whole Foods no longer carries the curry packs like they used to, either way I was still happy to get these for a little over $2! The lady in front of me spent $194.00 which is more than my budget for the entire month on just a few things in her basket and the lady behind me wanted to know how I got all of this for so little. Thankful for an opportunity to save AND share with others.)
This week I spent $15.91 on groceries. Even though I was under on my budgeted amount for the week I was able to stock up on some items at the same time plus it allows me a little extra to spend next week if I find a great deal. I was thrilled to stock up on produce as well as other great fridge & pantry items this week. Now I am hungry for a “curry” dinner! 🙂 I hope that next week is better week and we can come under budget!
It is my goal to give you regular updates on this budget section so you can celebrate the good weeks with me and thump me on the bad weeks! As always you are welcomed to join the journey with me. I would love to hear your story and how you are doing too. The purpose of our family doing this it to watch our grocery spending while allowing us to feed our family, enjoy life, share with others, and yet stay on track with our budget.
Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances. Life doesn’t always go as planned. We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given. Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life. A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others. There is so much more to life than having all the stuff. We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, and wear hand-me-down clothing…..however, if our family is taken care of and have love for each other and others we have more than all the riches in the world.
Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Dip
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Dip
I haven’t made this dip in a couple years so when I came across it again I figured it was time to bring out the recipe especially since we had several upcoming Christmas parties! The recipe is easy to put together, add a few items to dip and you have a great party food to share with family and friends. The last party I took it to we came home with an empty platter! 🙂
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Dip:
- 8 ounces softened Cream Cheese
- 1 stick softened Butter (unsalted)
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- 1 cup miniature Chocolate Chips
- Dipping Items – Teddy Grahams, Graham Crackers, Pretzels, or Animal Crackers
Blend together butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla to the cream mixture until mixed well. Stir in the miniature chocolate chips. Eat immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve the dip. Serve dip with teddy grahams, graham crackers, pretzels, or animal crackers.
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Dip with Teddy Grahams, Graham Crackers, Pretzels, and Animal Crackers
Gift Giving: Christmas S’mores in a Jar
My friend Bre shared this adorable jar of goodies with us. If you are looking for a fun teacher or neighbor gift this is a great idea. It is called “Smores in a Jar”. The gift is beautiful and tasty, the perfect combination! Here’s what you do:
Smores in a Jar
What you Need:
- 1 Mason Jar
- 1 cup Crushed Graham Crackers
- 1 cup Holiday M&Ms
- Marshmallows
- Fabric
- Paper & Tape
Layered Ingredients:
Wash and dry the mason jar. Add the crushed graham crackers to the bottom of the jar. Pour in the M&M’s and fill the remaining spacing (approximately 1 cup) with miniature Marshmallows.
Print Out these Directions:
- Remove Marshmallows and set aside
- Combine ingredients in the jar with 1/2 cup melted butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Press mix into a 9 inch square baking pan
- Place marshmallows on top
- Bake at 350 degree for 15 minutes
- Cool Completely
- Cut into bars and enjoy!
Cut out a circle in the fabric 1 inch larger than the lid of your jar and place on the top then screw down the ring. Tape the directions on the outside of the jar and give as a gift!
Gift Giving: 12 Days of Christmas Appreciation
12 Days of Christmas Appreciation
Last year I did the 12 days of Christmas for the girls so this year as I was putting together the 12 Days for the girls I was thinking about ways I could be a blessing for my husband as well. I wanted to do the 12 Days of Christmas for him but the problem is he is traveling for work several days prior to Christmas. He travels pretty lightly so for me to squeeze in an extra few gifts into his suitcase would be difficult. I thought about doing 12 Days of “Love Notes” but I already send him a folder when he travels with “I Love You” notes from myself and the girls. I eventually came up with 12 gifts and “love notes” for my husband’s 12 Days of Christmas Appreciation that would easily fit into his suitcase.
Here is what my 12 Days of Christmas includes:
Day 1: You stole a “Piece” of my heart! (Reese’s Pieces)
Day 2: We are “mint” to be together! Love You! (Junior Mints)
Day 3: Thanks for being my “lifesaver” so many times! (Life Savers)
Day 4: We know how to have a “jolly” good time together! (Jolly Rancher)
Day 5: You are the brightest “star” in my sky! (Starburst)
Day 6: I call you “sweet”pea because you are the “sweet”est part of my life! (Sweet Tarts)
Day 7: You are an amazing Daddy to our “kids”! (Sour Patch Kids)
Day 8: You have o”fish”ally stolen my heart! (Swedish Fish)
Day 9: You are my “M”agnificant & “M”arvelous life partner! (M&Ms)
Day 10: You are my “Baby”love and my “Baby”cake! (Sugar Babies)
(“BabyLove” & “BabyCake” are two of the nicknames I have for my man, just ask the kids!)
Day 11: You are my smokin “hot” man! (Hot Tamales)
Day 12: I love traveling and going to “Charleston” with you handsome! (Charleston Chews)
Once that was done I wrapped the boxes, put a bow on top, and set it up for him. The neat part about using these boxes is they are all fairly uniform in size so they make putting your 12 Days of Christmas Appreciation stack together really easy. You can put together this entire stack of gifts for under $12 if you paid full price for everything. Walmart sells these boxes for $0.98 each everyday so if you can find some of them on sale at another store or use your Extra Care Bucks at CVS or Register Rewards at Walgreens you could easily put this together for less than $5. If you don’t have time to put this together for Christmas consider doing it for Valentine’s Day (for your “sweetheart”), the month of your anniversary, your spouse’s birthday, or another special occasion. The point is to express your love and appreciation for your spouse.
The girls helped me pick out a couple of the boxes of candy. They were excited about his gifts and told me that “Daddy is nice so he will probably share some of his candy with us.” You know what, they are right! Their Daddy is sweet and generous which means the girls will most likely get a taste of his 12 Days of Christmas Appreciation. Here’s a picture of the wrapped stack:
12 Days of Christmas Appreciation Stack
I am grateful for a loving, caring and hard working man that loves me despite all my craziness. This is just one way to share my love with him not only for the Christmas Holiday but remind him even when he is away from home that I love him dearly. It was a lot of fun putting together the sayings, wrapping the gifts and giving them to my man to put into his suitcase. It is my intention to show appreciation to my husband at least once a day. Thankful for an extra opportunity to say “I love you” to my best friend and life partner!
I received my inspiration from The Dating Divas after seeing her “You stole a “Piece” of my heart!” and “You have o”fish”ally stolen my heart!” After the jump start on the idea I came up with the other goodies and sweet sayings for my hubby.
Recipe: Rice Krispy Christmas Wreath
As a kid I remember my Aunt Becky making mini Christmas Wreaths with Rice Krispy treats around the Holidays (which were a huge hit at the family potlucks). Since I had the ingredients on hand and people coming to visit I decided to make a festive dessert for dinner. Instead of making mini wreaths I decided to make one big one that everyone could share. I made a batch of rice krispy treats, put in a few drops of green food coloring in the marshmallow mixture, formed a Christmas wreath on a plate and decorated with red licorice, red hots, and pearls. The girls thought these rice krispies were extra special and it really didn’t take me that much longer to put the wreath together. You can make your wreath as light or dark green as you like, each one of mine (as you can see from the two pictures) are a little different. I have included the rice krispy recipe in case you do not have it on hand.
Rice Krispy Recipe:
- 1/4 cup Butter or Margarine
- 10 oz Marshmallows (usually 1 bag)
- 6 cups Rice Krispy Cereal
- Few drops Green Food Coloring
Melt butter in microwavable bowl. Add marshmallows and microwave until completely melted. Stir the marshmallows and butter together until melted and smooth. Mix in a few drops of green food coloring. Add cereal and mix until evenly coated. Put spoonfuls of rice krispies on a platter in a circle. Butter your hands and form the rice krispies into a wreath. Garnish with red licorice, red hots, m&ms, skittles, pearls or anything else you want.
The girls requested that I make the “Christmas Wreath” again for another Christmas party and for their school party. The only problem was I didn’t have any more red hots or pearls to decorate the wreath, but we did have Skittles! The girls thought the Skittles were a beautiful and tasty addition to the Christmas wreath! Plus this is an easy recipe that the kids can put together with your kids.
If you have an upcoming Christmas party this would be another easy recipe to bring and share. Enjoy! 🙂
