Menu Plan Monday 12/17

Chicken Fries, Chicken Wraps with homemade fries
Chicken with rice
Pasta
Salsa Sloppy Joes with mac and cheese
Leftovers
??
??

Last week went pretty much according to plan except Thursday and Friday switched.  Sunday was the night without a plan until I saved a little ground beef that I cooked Tuesday so I made Philly Cheese Steak Pasta and used up a box of shell pasta which is a new one for us but it didn't turn out super good because they got stuck inside each other and some were under cooked..  

This week I am totally not sure what I am making but we have family coming into town so we might be out and about.  I guess I will make it up from the stuff in the fridge and freezer if we are home or we can do breakfast for dinner or soup and sandwich. 

Menu Plan Monday 12/10

Chicken Fries, Chicken Wraps with homemade fries
Tacos
Pasta
Chicken with rice
Leftovers
Dinner Out with Friends
??

Last week, we had my son's favorite meal on Monday like normal.  We had a chicken stir fry with white rice and edamame.  Wednesday was Pasta night.  Thursday night I made Chili with cheese and Fritos.  Friday night we had Steak with Hassleback potatoes.  Saturday was Cube Steak with white rice.  Sunday was Turkey and Rice Soup for my husband for lunch so he was pretty full so we ended up with a late dinner and he had a grilled burger and I had Roasted Corn Soup.  It was an easy week with construction done and I was at the store a lot because of super doubles.  Luckily, with a great meal plan, I got dinner on the table every night and here is hoping that I can get that luck this week.

Old Black Magic Book Review

I was searching for some more books to read while I was at the library when I saw some new releases that I hadn't read yet.  I grabbed Robert B. Parker's Old Black Magic (Spenser) by Ace Atkins at the library.  I was excited to see what trouble Spenser had been up to since the last book.  I have not done the best job keeping up the new releases for the series that I enjoy so it was great to find something quickly to read.

Iconic, tough-but-tender Boston PI Spenser delves into the black market art scene to investigate a decades-long unsolved crime of dangerous proportions.
The heist was legendary, still talked about twenty years after the priceless paintings disappeared from one of Boston's premier art museums. Most thought the art was lost forever, buried deep, sold off overseas, or, worse, destroyed as incriminating evidence. But when paint chips from the most valuable piece stolen, Gentlemen in Black by a Spanish master, arrives at the desk of a Boston journalist, the museum finds hope and enlists Spenser's help.

Soon the cold art case thrusts Spenser into the shady world of black market art dealers, aged Mafia bosses, and old vendettas. A five-million-dollar-reward by the museum's top benefactor, an aged, unlikable Boston socialite, sets Spenser and pals Vinnie Morris and Hawk onto a trail of hidden secrets, jailhouse confessions, and decades-old murders.

Set against the high-society art scene and the low-life back alleys of Boston, this is classic Spenser doing what he does best.

I was excited to see that Spenser was still up to his old tricks with his detective business.  He was working for the museum to help recover stolen art work that was stolen 20 years before.  It was fun to watch him follow the bread crumbs and try to find the art work even after he was fired from the museum.  He continued to follow until he found the painting.  Since we was well known with the good and bad side of Boston, people trusted him with information that they wouldn't tell others.  He uncovered lots and many people died but he stayed safe through the book which might be a first...not saying that he wasn't shot at or people attempted to murder him.  You have to pick up the book the to find out what he finds out and where he chases the clues to and what they uncover.  I hope that you check out this book and the rest of the series.  I have really enjoyed this series and the quirky character.  Even though these are written by a different author, I feel that he has stayed so true to the original that you might not even know!!  I hope that you enjoy.

Christmas to Remember Book Review

A Christmas to Remember: An Anthology by Lisa Kleypas was a book on the new release shelf at the library so I put it in my bag because of my love of Christmas books!!  I didn't know that it was another anthology that I picked up from the new release shelf and I hadn't read any of the authors.  I was interested to see what it was about.  Quickly realizing that it was a historical book set in times very long ago, I was interested to see if it was something that I would relate to.  I normally find the historical books to be a little hard to get into but these stories were all great.

Romance stars Lisa Kleypas, Lorraine Heath, Megan Frampton, and Vivienne Lorret prove in this collection of stories that love is the most magical during Christmas…

"I Will" by Lisa Kleypas

To be reinstated into his father’s will, Andrew, Lord Drake, must court a respectable woman-his friend’s spinster sister, Miss Caroline Hargreaves. After he blackmails Caroline into helping him, the charade begins-but is it really a charade once love takes hold of their hearts…?

"Deck the Halls With Love" by Lorraine Heath

Alistair Wakefield, the Marquess of Chetwyn, devastated Lady Meredith Hargreaves when he proposed to another. But when he becomes free to pursue her, it’s too late for she’s on her way to the altar….. As Christmas approaches, Chetwyn vows to lure Lady Meredith back into his arms.

"No Groom at the Inn" by Megan Frampton

James Archer detests his mother’s matchmaking ways. When ordered to attend a Christmastime house party filled with simpering maidens, he produces a fiancée-Lady Sophronia Bettesford. James and Sophronia pretend to be in love for one month. But their pact soon turns into love.

"The Duke’s Christmas Wish" by Vivienne Lorret

To the Duke of Vale, science solves everything-even marriage. When the impulsive Ivy Sutherland makes him question all of his data, he realizes that he’s overlooked a vital component in his search for the perfect match: love.

Four previously published stories together for the first time.

The first story was about a Lord who was written out of his dying fathers will because he was always chasing women and not picking women that were suitable for marriage.  He decides to deceive his father with a women that is a sister of a friend.  It turns out that this relationship has to seem real and it starts to seem just that to Caroline. It is a great story that you have to read to believe but it will have you pulling for love to win out.  The second story is about Chetwyn who is upset when the women he loves is proposed to by another.  He was set to be married to a dying friend's wife to make sure that she was taken care of when she falls in love with another.  He is then free to pursue love and might be too late.  Although this sounds confusing, the writer does a great job of explaining and has you in the middle of the story and hoping for the best.  The third story is about James who is going to attend a party with all single women to be set up by his mom so he decides to come back home with a fiancée to take with him.  Sophronia has just lost her father and is having to move in with distant relatives in order to have a home.  She decides to help James with the deception so that she can ensure her future.  The last story is about the Duke of Vale who loves science and data and is trying to figure out with data the best wife.  He is working to find his future wife at a big party at his house but finds that the data although it might be easy to work with, does not tell who he should fall in love with.  As is often the case, the last one is always my favorite because it was the last that I read so I might be biased.  It is maybe my favorite story to watch unfold especially the ending which you have to read to believe.  I hope that you check out this book for yourself and see all the great stories included.

Menu Plan Monday 12/3

Chicken Fries, Chicken Wraps and homemade french fries
Chicken Stir Fry with white rice and edamame
Pasta
Ground Beef Chili
Steak with Potatoes
Leftovers
?

Last week was a blur but we went with leftovers on Monday and moved the original plan down a day.  Tuesday we had Chicken fries, Chicken Wraps, and homemade fries.  Wednesday was Pasta with Sausage Sauce and breaded zuchini.  Thursday was Pork Chops and mac and cheese.  Friday was Grilled Buffalo Chicken Wraps with white rice.  Saturday was a church program where we got to have pasta and garlic bread before doing some fun Christmas crafts.  Sunday we were going to have soup and sandwiches and then changed to get Pizza Hut instead.  Exhaustion and scheduling made it the best option.

I went through the freezer and we are scrapping at the bottom of the meats in the freezer so I am going to have to get creative to make it through the month and use up more of the freezer items but I am determined to get more things gone before buying more.  Fingers crossed with the next few weeks meals!!

Never Christmas Without You Book Review

I picked up this book at the library and knew nothing about this book except that it was Christmas book.  Never Christmas Without You: An Anthology (Kimani Romance) by Reese Ryan was another anthology of Christmas stories.  It was nice to read the shorter stories which were perfect to read before going to bed at night.

All you need this Christmas are these sizzling stories full of love and a touch of holiday magic…

Just for the Holidays by Nana Malone

Justin Morrison would do anything to make his ailing grandmother happy. Even if that means inventing a fake girlfriend to take home for the holidays. His best friend, Alex Winters, reluctantly agrees, but it’s not easy to keep her long-buried feelings for Justin under wraps when they’re sharing a room…a bed…a kiss. Christmas in Catalina is turning out to be hotter than anyone expected, but is theirs a love for all seasons?

His Holiday Gift by Reese Ryan

Pleasure Cove’s prodigal son just got the ultimate Christmas surprise—Madison, his five-year-old daughter he knew nothing about. Maddie’s aunt, Mikayla Mitchell, was once one of Dash Williams’s best friends…and his secret admirer. Now, seeing the sexy, ambitious lawyer with his little girl, Mikayla’s more smitten than ever. And Dash is starting to realize Mikayla’s the only one who could make his days merry and bright, and fill his nights with bliss…

The first book was Just for the Holidays which was about Justin Morrison trying to make his grandmother happy.  She wants to set him up with different women so that she could see him happy.  She wants to make sure that he is taken care of after she is gone.  She ended up in the hospital so he decides to bring home a fake girlfriend.  It is fun to watch how their relationship unfolds and you have to pick up the book to find out.  The second book was His Holiday Gift which was set in the small town of Pleasure Cove when Dash comes to spend time with his new found daughter.  He learns that he has a daughter and her mother has died but she is being raised by her aunt and his childhood best friend.  They become friends again until she learns that he was out to take away the only child she ever knew or could have.  It is a crazy roller coaster that you have to read to believe but I promise you won't be disappointed.  I hope that you check out this book and the fun stories in it.

End of November Grocery Spending and Eating Out Summary

I maintain a monthly budget of $160 for groceries and $40 for eating out to keep my total spending under $200.  I work to shop sales, use coupons and any deal to get the most groceries under my budget.  I have a lot of thing in my pantry, fridge and freezer so I am trying to make a dent in those items and not spend as much time in the grocery store this month.  I normally use the majority of the November budget for two turkeys but I already had one in the freezer so I only got one and my spending was pretty low this month.

Below are the pictures and descriptions of everything that I got with my budget this month.  The purchases at the beginning of the month are broken down here but all the pictures are shown below.

Aldi $3.32

Aldi $18.16

Shoppers $0.10

Giant $32.40

Shoppers $0

My son was in charge of picking out his special treat and paying for it and it ended up free without any tax.  He was pretty excited and the lady at the register was excited for him too!!

Aldi $4.08

I needed potatoes and I knew that they were going to be going on sale with the holidays so I asked my husband to stop and get 30 pounds because it was so heavy and my shoulder was killing me.  He got three bags and one of them had a gross potato that was yucky so I had to go back and return it and get a new one so I got $2.04 back and a free bag.  Of course, I told my husband to check each bag which he said he did but I was happy with my 30 pounds of potatoes for $4!!!

Aldi $10.81

My husband and son went to Aldi in Manassas because there were out there watching a friend play in a soccer game.  There are much cheaper prices out there but I totally forgot what I needed so they grabbed a bunch of things that we will totally use.  We were out of tortilla chips and almost out of corn shells.  The tub margarine is $1.39 close to the house and $0.85 out there so $2.70 savings with that stockup.  The Nacho chips were $0.75 so my husband grabbed those and my son told him that he wasn't allowed unless he called me to ask.  I think that was the answer my son got when he asked but it made me laugh still!!

Aldi $5.20

I went back to the store again and returned the  potatoes and got the ice cream that was requested and celery because it was on sale for $0.99 which is way cheaper then it has been.  I used all of the remaining one to make stuffing so it will come in handy for fried rice and more.

Harris Teeter $30.40

I went to the store the day before Thanksgiving.  I missed the sales for the week and it was the last day so I was a little surprised that it was like Black Friday in the busiest mall because I don't normally head to the store then.  I had to wait for another car to pull out to get a spot.  They were out of one of the sodas that I wanted but grabbed lots more of everything including the baking soda that was $0.19 each.  I was trying to put all the sodas back into the cart and packing the bags with cranberry juice but I guess the coupon didn't scan.  The cashier lady said this doubles to $1 right and I said yes.  She said how many did you get 4 and I said yes and then she put the credit on and I didn't pay attention but she gave me $4 instead of $2.  My distraction was easily seen because I left my cell phone on the thing by the cashier and the guy behind me in line had to point and tell me.  I am obviously not cut out for holiday grocery shopping!!

Aldi $3.57

I went to the store to return the turkey that we had because my husband said that it was gross and the expiration was December 24th so I brought it back and got a free replacement.  The money was then put back towards my grocery total so I didn't have to pay as much.  They have been out of Extra Sharp Cheddar so I got another block of Sharp Cheddar cheese just in case we need it because we are out of cheese.

Giant $0.10

I went to get my freebie yogurt that was loaded on my card.  They were out of the flavor that I wanted so I was thinking that I was going to head to another store but I asked and they went into the back and found it for me.  I got the Cheerios free after printable coupon and there was an additional electronic coupon that gave me $1 overage so I got a box of cake mix to make my son's birthday cupcakes.  He really likes store bought cupcakes so I try to make them for his birthday since I make everything from scratch the rest of the year.  So sad that those are his favorite!!

Shoppers $0

I got to save my freebie on Friday and got to get it today before it expired.  I figure that we will save it for a party but great for free.

Total Retail $252.07

Total Savings $143.93

Total OOP $108.14

I wasn't feeling really well this month so I didn't get to the store to get a lot of deals.  I had plenty of food in the house to work through and still came in way below budget.  We currently have a very full fridge and freezer which I am trying to work my way through things before getting more but hoping to finish lots of things before getting more deals.  Frozen food month is in March so I try, usually without a lot of luck, to empty the fridge before there are more sales.

Eating Out

We took a family trip at the beginning of the month and we bought pizza at Pizza Hut for $22.40.  We were running errands and stopped at Panera to get some treats for all of ours.  I had a gift card which paid for all of it.  We went to Pizza Hut again (my son's favorite new place) and spent $10.60.  Total spent was $33.  We only had $7 left for the month for eating out. My parents came and took us out to my son's favorite restaurant and then bought Chinese the next day.  I feel like we ate out too much this month but that might have just been me!!