Menu Plan Monday 4/12

 

 

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce and Garlic Bread Pizza (Penne with garlic bread for my son)

Grilled Montreal Chicken with Rice (Hashbrowns and Bacon for my son)

Ground Beef Salsa with mac and cheese (Crispy Pepperoni)

Chicken Enchiladas and corn bread (Chicken Fries with tater tots)

Pizza Hut Take Out Movie Night

House Autry Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes or twice baked potatoes

Chicken Fries, Chicken Wraps and Homemade French Fries

 

Last week, we had everything according to plan and used up all of the things that I thought we would.  I got cheers when I announced take out this Friday and I am going to be excited to not be cleaning the kitchen. I have already spent the monthly grocery shopping budget and the overage from take out on the grocery shopping for the month.  I know that I have to make a lot of extra treats from scratch in order to make sure that we make it through the month and maintain the limited budget that is left. I think that we should be set up to finish all the meals that I have on the menu so we just need to make sure we have breakfast and lunch and snacks!!  Going to start baking now!

A Year Without Couponing

 I have been couponing for over 10 years and enjoyed all of the stockpile that I gotten at super low prices. I never thought I would go back to not couponing but I guess it would take a pandemic to shut down the system.  I stopped getting newspapers because the library was closed.  Even before the libraries closed, there were less inserts and less coupons in the inserts. It wasn't worth buying the inserts to save the money that I spent on the paper. Now with a crazy infection spreading in ways we were still learning about I was staying out of the stores and shopping once a month to save on exposure. We didn't know what the year was going to bring.

We got the notice that my son was going to stay home from school on March 13, 2020. Little did we know that we would be out of school over a year and we wouldn't even be going back to get our things.  

By March 14th, grocery store shelves were cleared of many foods and household goods.  My husband drove me from store to store so that I could run in and grab a few things to make sure that we had a stock of the important things my son's favorite Chicken Fries, Bacon, Pringles, Cool Whip, Ice Cream and ingredients for Rice Krispie Treats. We got gas in the car because my father (and living through multiple ice storms) taught me to always be prepared. 

 

March 15th brought notice that all school buildings were closed so my husband and son were both home now. I knew that I was going to have to create a schedule before things were crazy in my house.  My son had a check list of all of the things he had to do in a day in different categories so that he could pick.  He did Mo Willems Lunch Doodles to do art and had a ton of fun. He did Coloring Squared to do Math and other fun things.  He started making cakes, brownies, rice krispie treats and kool aid by himself in the kitchen.  He built things out of Legos and made marble mazes. He started doing lots of biking and playing outside. We all watched Cincinnati Zoo Home Safari to learn about different animals.

By March 25th, we realized that this wasn't passing anytime soon and I headed off to the store.  I got food that I thought would be fun and still distract my son like we were on spring break for real and enjoying life although Dad was obviously still working every day from the dining room table and we weren't going anywhere fun.

 

The beginning of April was when we realized that we needed masks going forward to leave the house. It also meant that germs were everywhere and we were told that we had to wipe down everything coming into the house so we had to wait in long lines at the grocery store and shop quickly with plastic gloves and face masks and hand sanitizer. There were no longer returns or exchanges in stores, no rain checks and shelves were still empty so you got what you could and went from store to store just to get enough to make it through until the next fun shopping trip.

The middle of April is when we learned good terms like synchronous and asynchronous because school was going to start up but only online and we had to know when we were supposed to be where and which platform to sign in on. My son quickly caught on even though he had over 10 different google classrooms and just as many teachers to balance. We did virtual teacher appreciation and end of the year parties and made the most of the year finishing it out with our class.

 

Home hair cuts started in May and hand made masks from Grandma showed up in the mail in June. School was over and the pool finally opened even though it was a little different since we had to swim in lap lanes. Life was different but we were trying to adjust and make things seem like normal.  

 

We decided to go to our July beach rental with driving straight through with no stops. We just made it a totally different experience with only one trip to the pool and no eating out. We went to the beach when it was quiet in the morning and left when it started to get busy. We rented bikes to ride around town. Overall it was weird but an amazing change to being at home for over four months. We thought we were recharged to make it through this because it had to end soon right?

We are now going for a full year out of the physical school and finishing up this school year online by choice. We are making the most of what we have and enjoying time outside but what have we learned.

What has this year taught me?  I can still make my budget work in the short term by cutting out a lot of things and being very creative.  I am grateful that I make our bread, rolls, cookies, cakes, quick breads and more. If I make a few things a week, the groceries don't seem to be as limited because we have a fun breakfast and dessert. I make at least one batch of homemade bread and one batch of rolls.  I make pumpkin bread or blueberry muffins or chocolate chip scones. I make a yummy dessert treat like cake, brownies, cookies and more. We have homemade french fries, hash browns, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, and twice baked potatoes so we use 15 pounds of potatoes a months now.  We also need at least two bags or flour and two bags of sugar for the month to make all of the meals and treats.

What was a grateful for? We use a lot of cleaning products in the middle of a pandemic but I had lots of things on hand to pick from when stock was low at stores. Although cleaners are getting lower, I still have enough toilet bowl cleaner, laundry detergent and trash bags to last the next year or longer thanks to great sales before the pandemic. In the pantry, I still have plenty spaghetti, hot sauce, salad dressing, syrup and a few other items to last for over a year. The personal care selections included tons of extra shampoo, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes which we enjoyed.

I wish that we had couponing where I could still get lots of things for free and go to the store daily to get the things that we want that are on sale. But I am grateful to have stocked up on the things that that I have and really use the last year and many to last us through the coming years. I am certain that I am going to get better at knowing how long things last so we can have a good inventory like I know a box of 80 trash bags lasts me over a year.  I still don't know how long the laundry detergent and dish detergent last us. Going back to tracking how long things last to see what we need to keep on hand.

I still make my monthly meal plan the same way with an inventory at the end of the month of things in the pantry, fridge and freezer.  I have been making a big effort to use all the things that we have that we haven't used like the BBQ sauce and the Grape Jelly that we don't like were mixed together and I used it on chicken with a little of a seasoning that we had.  We both thought it made an amazing BBQ chicken sandwich on grilled homemade rolls.  Stir fry was made with Franks Stingin Honey Garlic mixed with the Teriyaki sauce that we hadn't been using and a little soy sauce. It turned out to be such a favorite that we are sort of sad that we are running out of the Teriyaki sauce. We had Orzo in the cupboard and I decided to add it to a rice dish which made it taste amazing like homemade Rice A Roni. I have used spices that I haven't touched in ages and things in the pantry that really needed to be used up. It has been easy to plan with the things on hand and add a few things to the list to get for the month to stay under my $160 grocery budget.  My monthly shopping trip is mostly getting things that are on sale to stock up in the coming months. I hope that I can continue the same but as things run out and grocery prices increase, I wonder if my budget is going to have to change. 

What have you learned this year that has changed the way you shop and meal plan??

Superb and Sexy Book Review

 I was excited and sad to get to the third installment of the Sky High series because I knew which character it was going to be about but I also knew it was the last one.  Superb and Sexy (Sky High Air) by Jill Shalvis is the book that lets us get to know Brody, the last member of the Sky High company.

 

Buckle Up. It's Going To Be Quite A Ride.

Despite his brooding bad-boy attitude, Brody's luxury charter airline, Sky High, provides the perfect escape route whenever things get complicated. And lately, things have become very complicated, thanks to the insanely passionate, or perhaps just insane, kiss he shared with Sky High's gorgeous, wisecracking concierge, Maddie. He's tried to keep his distance, but now Maddie desperately needs help, and it's triggering alpha-male urges Brody didn't even know he had--especially after he finds out that Maddie and her twin sister Leena are in big-time trouble. To save Leena, Maddie and Brody must pose as husband and wife. Good plan, except it's hard to tell if the heat in bed is acting or something too good to be true. . .

Brody and Maddie have both been in all of the books in the series because they both work at Sky High but this book lets you get to know them both better.  I was glad to get all of the history for both of them because understanding where the character comes from is always helpful in this goal.  Brody always seems grumpy and brooding while trying to keep his distance from Maddie who works as the concierge for all the rich clients. Maddie is attracted to Brody but always fighting with him so avoids him when she can.  Then this book has Maddie recovering from the gun shot wound in the last book that Brody blames himself for her injury.  Maddie has been out of work for 6 weeks and Brody goes to find out what is going on.  He gets turned away twice and then decides to break in to the back door because Maddie looked like she was upset so having a bad boy past comes in handy. Once he is inside the house, he realizes the truth.... Maddie has a twin sister and although they are alike in many ways, Brody can tell the difference in their expressions.  He is there to help both of them and ready to do anything that they need but neither of the sisters will tell him what is wrong.  Leena disappears and then Maddie finally lets Brody help but you have to pick up the book to find out what happens along the way. I hope that you check out and enjoy this last installment of the Sky High series with the fun loving pilots.  I know that I really enjoyed this series and read through them very quickly.  They were all hard to put down and fun to read.

Menu Plan Monday 4/5

 

 

Spaghetti with Meatball Sliders (Penne with garlic bread for my son)

Grilled Spiedie Chicken with Rice (Hashbrowns and Bacon for my son)

Chicken Paninis with tater tots and shoestring fries

Spicy Honey Mustard Chicken with chopped salad, mac and cheese and corn bread

Homemade Pizza (Pepperoni, Garlic Chicken, Buffalo Chicken and Pizza Knuckle Roll Ups)

Fried Rice, Egg Rolls, Potstickers and Edamame

Chicken Fries, Chicken Wraps and Homemade French Fries

I totally forgot to post the meal plan this week with the beginning of the month grocery shopping getting in the way.  I had made one for the whole month already made though I promise. We weren't really out of that many things but there were a few things that we needed and I knew that it was best to get most of the things that we needed for the month.  I went to Aldi, Lidl, and Trader Joe's.

Last week went great and we had everything on the plan.  We really enjoyed the Lemon Chicken with Orzo and Rice.  I was sort of sad that I didn't put it in the April meal plan so we are rethinking that and might have to trade it out with a planned meal.  The Roast that I did in the crock pot and the twice stuffed baked potatoes were very tasty and I was excited to have a little leftover so that I could use it for my Panini this week.

Smart and Sexy Book Review

 I had a bunch of books that I grabbed at the library when it was closing it's doors again but I wasn't sure what I was getting because I started throwing books in the bag as fast as I could because there was a limit on the time spent in the library. One of the books that went into my bag was Smart and Sexy (Sky High Air) by Jill Shalvis and the third book in the series.  I reserved the second book in the series so that I could read the series of three books together but I was running out of time because they were all due back to the library and I still hadn't read them....oops!!

 

A widowed ex-model in search of hidden money hijacks a sexy pilot in this romantic suspense series opener by the New York Times bestselling author.

Noah Fisher has worked for months to make Sky High the most prestigious charter airline in California. He's long overdue for a break—something involving ski slopes, cold beers, and hot ski bunny babes. The itinerary doesn’t include being hijacked by Bailey Sinclair, gorgeous widow of one of Sky High's wealthiest (ex-)clients. But here he is, crammed in a cockpit with a scared, stubborn, unbelievably sexy former model who could get him in serious trouble . . .

Noah Fisher was working hard as a pilot but was involved in a plane crash.  He was taking a break to recover and ready to head to ski and relax.  Of course nothing goes according to plan when he is hijacked by one of his clients, Bailey Sinclair. He has often had thoughts about her but she was married at the time so Noah kept his distance.  She has recently lost her husband and obviously going through something.  Noah was willing to help her in any way that he could even though she was holding him at gun point...well, pen point but he didn't know. Bailey is running away from people who are trying to chase her because of the mistakes that her husband made.  She has to find the money that he has hidden to pay back the people that her husband stole from so that she could stay alive.  Noah helps to fly her to the different resorts that she is trying to find the money that her husband has stolen.  She is escaping everyone and is pulled to Noah.  Bailey and Noah go through a lot together and they are pulled together by the chase and Noah is working to protect Bailey the best that he can.  There are tons of chases and challenges and I hope that you enjoy the ups and downs of this fun book. I hope that you check out this book and the rest of the Sky High series. Super fun series with the fun group of friends that came together to start the Sky High company and spend their lives flying.

Strong and Sexy Book Review

I was excited to reserve the middle book in this series from the library and get it in so that I could read through the whole series together. Strong and Sexy (Sky High Air, Book 2) by Jill Shalvis is crazy priced on Amazon but luckily the library had it for free.  Another great reason to love the library!!

 

A pilot and a zoologist tackle inescapable danger—and passion—in this romantic suspense novel by the New York Times bestselling author of Smart and Sexy.

Shayne Mahoney is the laid-back, easygoing rebel in his family. But running Sky High Air—a charter airline catering to the rich and famous—is a dream come true, especially with in-flight specials like kissing his client’s beautiful, brainy daughter in a cozy coat closet. But before Shayne can say “Fasten Your Seat Belts,” Dani claims to witness a murder, gets stalked in her own apartment, and, as an added bonus, gets them both shot at by a mystery sniper. Normally Shayne would be strapping on his parachute and jumping out of the plane by now, but with Dani’s delicious body clinging to his, letting go is the last thing he's willing to do . . .

Shayne Mahoney was known as a laid back pilot that was easy going and out for a good time. He is working on starting his charter airline business with his best friends and focused mostly on business.  He is hosting a party and ends up in the coat closet, kissing a girl under the mistletoe.  He finds out that she is the daughter of a wealthy client so he tries to distance himself but she quickly reappears claiming to witness a murder. He is worried about her after checking the parking lot to find nothing out of the ordinary and then tries to help her.  It ends up turning into a crazy roller coaster ride for both of them with people shooting at them and apartment break ins and the same dead body showing up again.  I know that you won't be disappointed if you pick up this interesting murder mystery and figure out who did it!!  I hope that you check out this book and the rest of the Sky High series about these fun pilots. I know that you will enjoy all of the action and adventure that there is in these books.

Nobody But You Book Review

 I was enjoying the series and was excited to start Nobody But You (Cedar Ridge, 3) by Jill Shalvis.  It is the third book in the series and I had to read it quickly because I totally forgot to review the book.  I guess I returned it to the library before making a note of it.  Luckily I remembered to go looking for the third book in this series since I didn't see it on my list.

 

Sometimes You Can Go Home Again . . .
After an overseas mission goes wrong, Army Special Forces officer Jacob Kincaid knows where he must go to make things right: back home to the tiny town of Cedar Ridge, Colorado. All he needs to scrub away his painful past is fresh mountain air, a lakeside cabin, and quiet solitude. But what he discovers is a gorgeous woman living on a boat at his dock.

Sophie Marren has nowhere else to go. She's broke, intermittently seasick, and fighting a serious attraction to the brooding, dishy, I'm-too-sexy-for-myself guy who's now claiming her dock. Something about Jacob's dark intensity makes her want to tease-and tempt-him beyond measure. Neither one wants to give any ground . . . until they realize the only true home they have is with each other.

This was super amusing and a great read.  After meeting the whole family, it was great to meet the member that we haven't met yet because he was away with the Army.  I wasn't sure which family member we were going to meet when I started the book and I was surprised that it was Hudson's twin, Jacob Kincaid. Jacob has left home after high school graduation and joined the Army.  He thought that he was going to be leaving with his brother and because he didn't leave with him, they hadn't spoken in years.  It was sad to read the family drama with these twins separated because they are both stubborn and didn't want to admit that they were wrong.  You have to pick up the book to find out what happens between these brothers and if they can get over old wounds. The book also followed Sophie Marren who is trying her hardest to get over a failed marriage and all she walked away with was the boat that her husband treasured the most.  She decided that she would take the only thing that he loved but the horrible part is that now she has to live on the boat because she has no other money to find some where to live.  There is no where to dock the boat and she spends her time being seasick and working as many jobs as she can to make ends meet.  Sophie is instantly a character that you want to find out what is going to happen to because it seems like everything in her life is going wrong so make sure you pick it up to find the next thing in her life that goes wrong!!  I hope that you check out this book and the rest of the series.  I know that you enjoy it as much as I have but sad because this was the end of the series that I saw so I still have hope that there will be others in this great series.