Menu Plan Monday 9/23

Pasta
Tacquitos and Mini Tacos/Chicken Fries with french fries
Philly Cheese Steak Pasta
Chicken and Rice Casserole
Leftovers
Pizza Hut
Chicken Fries, Chicken Wraps and Fries

Last week I changed from grilling to ground orange chicken stir fry with snow peas and pot stickers.  It was super tasty and even though I used almost every pan that I owned but kept everything else on the menu in place.

This week, I made a plan and totally didn't post it so I got to change the menu because the week went a little crazy and I didn't get to take food out of the freezer.  I changed French Dip Sloppy Joes to Philly Cheese Steak Pasta because it was easier to defrost the small cooked meat that I already had made.  The Pizza Hut was a late addition because my son earned enough coins with his new system of chores so he picked Pizza Hut.

On a Clear Day Book Review

I pulled another book off the shelf to read something that I owned and still hasn't gotten a chance to read.  On a Clear Day: An Anthology by Debbie Macomber was a book that contained two stories.  I wasn't sure what was going to be the story but I was interested to find out.

STARLIGHT 

A Man's Future 

Rand Prescott believes that his chances for happiness are limited because he's going blind. But when he meets Karen McAlister one magical starlit night, he begins to imagine a different future—one filled with love. Karen already knows she wants to be with him for the rest of her life. But Rand refuses to consider marriage; he refuses to bind her to a man who can't see. Brokenhearted, Karen is prepared to walk away, but can Rand really let her go?

PROMISE ME FOREVER 

A Woman's Resolve 

Joy Nielsen is a private nurse and physical therapist who's never been daunted by the challenges of her career. And her latest patient, businessman Sloan Whittaker, isn't going to change that. Confined to a wheelchair after a serious accident, he's lost the will to walk. Joy is determined to make sure he recovers, and once he does, she's prepared to move on to her next patient, no matter how strongly she feels about Sloan. There's only one problem. She doesn't think she can get over him….

The first story is about Rand Prescott who is going blind and thinks that he doesn't deserve to have happiness.  Karen McAlister was at a dance when she met Rand and everything changed.  Karen decides to follow a relationship with Rand and it only leaves her broken hearted.  You have to pick up the book to find out what happens.  The second story was about Joy who is a nurse and is working with Sloan as her newest patient.  Sloan is getting over an injury that has him confined to a wheelchair.  Sloan's personality has changed because of the accident and he has pushed away all of his friends and family.  Joy brings a new perspective to his life and tries to change his outlook to improve his health.  You have to pick up the book to find out what happens for both of them.  I hope that you check out this book and enjoy the two stories as much as I did.

You Belong with Me Book Review

I got a new book to review from a publisher which has been a long time since I have gotten a book delivered to my mailbox.  I was excited to check out the new book and I just finished reading another book.  You Belong with Me (Restoring Heritage) by Tari Faris was the book inside the envelope that I opened.  Isn't that a pretty cover!!

Realtor Hannah Thornton has many talents. Unfortunately, selling houses in the town where her family name is practically poison isn't one of them. When a business tycoon determines to raze historic homes in the small town of Heritage, Michigan, and replace them with a strip mall, Hannah resolves to stop him. She sets about helping Heritage win a restoration grant that will put the town back on the map--and hopefully finally repay the financial debt Hannah's mother caused the town. But at first no one supports her efforts--not even her best friend, Luke.

Luke Johnson may have grown up in Heritage, but as a foster kid he never truly felt as if he belonged. Now he has a chance to score a job as assistant fire chief and earn his place in the town. But when the interview process and Hannah's restoration project start unearthing things from his past, Luke must decide if belonging is worth the pain of being honest about who he is--and who he was.

Hannah is living in the small town where she grew up and working as a realtor but having problems selling the historic homes to people who don't want to maintain the house.  There are many developers looking to change the town and Hannah doesn't want to see that happen.  It makes it very hard on her career and ability to pay the bills.  Hannah finds about a way to save the town with a restoration grant and comes up with a plan to do it.  Her biggest problem is that she lets her emotions get in the way of thinking about things first.  It is the problem that many of us have so it is very relatable.  Luke also grew up in Heritage and is still trying to find his place.  After being a foster kid, he feels like he doesn't belong in the tight knit community.  His best friend is Hannah and he is the first person that helps her with her missions.  At the same time Luke is going through remodeling his house and trying to make peace with his past.  You have to pick up the book to find out what happens to Hannah and Luke but I know that you will enjoy the ups and downs in this book.  I thought it was a great read that was hard to put down because I kept reading even when I should have been sleeping.  I hope that everyone picks up this book and checks it out.

Not at Eight, Darling Book Review

I had this on my shelf but after starting reading, I think that I might have read it before.  Not At Eight Darling (Silhouette Desire) by Sherryl Woods was on the top of the shelf so it is what I grabbed to read when all my library books were read.

Barrie MacDonald gave everyone involved with the TV sitcom she produced consistently high ratings—except executive Michael Compton. Charmingly persuasive, Michael was clearly interested in Barrie, but he also wanted to reschedule her show, which would be a disaster.

Was Barrie's commitment to the program worth her tuning Michael out completely? She wasn't sure she could deny their attraction. But when she realized the romance of her on-screen heroine was beginning to echo Barrie's real-life dilemmas, she felt that things were getting out of control!

It was interesting to read a book where a lot of things were dates like the phones and no one having cell phones.  It was funny to read all of the Hollywood drama that goes into planning and recording a new television show.  It was fun to set aside the past and see the relationship start to bloom between Michael and Barrie.  They were in business relationship that frequently got in the way of the personal relationship.  Barrie jumps to conclusions a lot and if she was patient and asked questions, this books would be even shorter.  Make sure you pick up the book and find out what happens! I hope that you get a chance to check out this book and I have put it into my pile to get rid of so I don't end up reading it again.  On to the new books in the pile so that I don't read this one again.

The Quiet Side of Passion Book Review

I got the last few new books in this series and The Quiet Side of Passion: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel (12) (Isabel Dalhousie Series) by Alexander McCall Smith was the last library book in my pile.  I was excited to find out what happens next and to be caught up on the series.

Isabel finds herself grappling with ethically-complex matters of the heart as she tries to juggle her responsibilities to friends, family, and the philosophical community.  With two small boys to raise, a mountain of articles to edit for the Review of Applied Ethics, and the ever-increasing demands of her niece, Cat, who always seems to need a helping hand at the deli, Isabel barely has any time for herself. Her husband, Jamie, suggests acquiring extra help, and she reluctantly agrees. In no time at all, Isabel and Jamie have a new au pair, and Isabel has an intelligent assistant editor to share her workload. Both women, though, have romantic entanglements that threaten to interfere with their work, and Isabel must decide how best to navigate this tricky domestic situation. Can an employer ever inject herself into her employees’ affairs?

Meanwhile, Isabel makes the acquaintance of Patricia, the mother of Charlie’s friend Basil. Though Isabel finds Patricia rather pushy, she tries to be civil and supportive, especially given that Patricia is raising her son on her own, without the help of his father, a well-known Edinburgh organist, also named Basil. But when Isabel sees Patricia in the company of an unscrupulous man, she begins to rethink her assumptions. Isabel must once again call on her kindness and keen intelligence to determine the right course of action, at home, at work, and in the schoolyard.

This was an interesting change from previous novels because Isabel is trying to make the most of her new life as a mother of two children and trying to run a magazine. She finally agrees to get help so she hires an au pair to help with the kids and assistant editor to help with the magazine.  She realizes that what she should do is say no to Cat's requests to work at the drop of a hat in the deli.  She knows that she has to balance her life and she isn't getting any return help but it goes round and round about how she feels like she should say yes but she decided to get outside help and turns the whole family upside down.  It seems obvious from the beginning to anyone that balances their own life but the whole book goes through how she is getting to that conclusion. I hope that you check out this book and the rest of the series. I know that I really enjoyed the beginning of the series a lot but this one is still up in the air.  I was thinking that I would enjoy getting back to the series but I am not sure if the flowery language is great for me because it seems to take longer to get to the point.  I still like the series but I might take a break from the series for another little bit so that I can see if some of the other series fit better with what I like to read.

Middle of September Budget Update

I worked especially hard to be under budget this month because I knew that I was really far over last month.  It seems like September has been flying by so I am surprised it is already the middle of the month.  With the start of school, I thought I would have more free time but I still seem to be just as busy.  I have been been working hard at shopping sales, using coupons and getting the best deals that I could to fill the pantry, fridge and freezer.  I went a little overboard with some treats to make life easier but overall not a ton of spending for the first half of the month.

Below are all the things that I have gotten for the beginning of the month and the breakdown of the items.  Check out what I got this month so far below.

Aldi $15.10

I decided to go with the biggest bag of rice because I haven't gotten a sale and coupon on the rice at the grocery store so I figured that I would go with the cheapest breakdown which was the 10 pound bag.  We were totally out of Chicken fries, salsa, bananas and pepperoni so those were my main goals.

Harris Teeter $6.39

Super Doubles was under way and I got the Quaker Granola bars for soccer snack which were $0.49 per box.  The Famous Amos Cookies were $0.84 per box...YUM!  The Veggie Straws were $0.64.  The Club Crackers were $1.14.  The lettuce is cheaper at Harris Teeter then Aldi so I always try to get it at HT.  The Hi Chew, Pantene and Bacon bits were all free.  The Hot Dogs were $0.34 and I got to do a rebate on Ibotta for $0.45 for hot dogs and any item.

Harris Teeter $8.05

I got Stonefire Naan to make pizza for dinner that night which was fun and they were only $0.50 per package.  The Famous Amos still $0.84 and the Club Crackers were still $1.14 so grabbed a few more.  The Jif was $2.67 for all 4 which is less then one and makes then $0.67 each.  Added in more of the free bacon bits.

Harris Teeter $11.66

I went a little crazy with the Freschetta for $1.74.  I splurged a little and got the Eggos for my son for $1.25 per box.  The beef jerky was a treat for my husband at $1.47 per bag (way better then $6 shelf price) The Kahki and Prime Fresh meats were both free after evic special and coupon. I got back $0.25 Ibotta for waffles.

Harris Teeter $9.30

Way crazy purchase of prepared foods that we normally don't have but they were $1 per box and I got back $0.50 for each box on Ibotta and any item rebate so I got $4.75 back.

Harris Teeter $17.48

I got a bunch of things that were supposed to be one sale but lots of things didn't ring up correctly so it was a lot of corrections at customer service after crashing the computer because the cashier didn't listen and cover up the scan code on the printed coupons.  Sadly, I got the one person that doesn't give you the free item when it doesn't ring up but I did get almost $13 back to correct the pricing.  The Tontino's Pizza Rolls were $1.47 each and the Pringles were $0.22 each after customer service adjusted.  The pasta was $0.25 per box, the Poptarts were $1 (with more Ibotta rebates).  The Famous Amos were $0.84 per box.  The Freshetta Pizza was $1.74.  The Quaker Rice Cakes and Fruit Love were both free.  Too many tasty treats to pass up but we have been enjoying them!!

Harris Teeter $1.82

I went to the store to get the pasta while it was still on a little bit of a sale for $0.29 each.  We were running pretty low so I was happy to add to the stock pile.

Wegmans $15.21

I got this 6 pounds of meat and made two pounds the first night.  I made one pound into tacos and froze another pound for the Hamburger Helper Philly Cheese steak pasta so that I would have it ready to throw into the meal.  I froze four bags of meat for other meals for the next two months.

Safeway $0

I got a few freebies loaded on to my card and I decided to finally get out and get them.  I enjoyed the smoothie that day for lunch and pizza one night for dinner. YUM!!

Total Retail $308.24

Total Savings $223.23

Total OOP $85.01

Eating Out and Take Out

I have had an epic beginning of the month with no take out or eating out yet this month.  We still have our whole budget of $40 which we are going to save to have a yummy meal after soccer one night probably.

Menu Plan Monday 9/16

Frozen Pizza and Naan Pizza
Chicken and Rice
Salsa Sloppy Joes and hash browns
Pasta (maybe easy chicken parm)
Hot Dogs and Sausages on the Grill
Eating Out/Take Out
Chicken Fries, Chicken Wraps and Fries

Last week we had everything according to plan until I didn't defrost the chicken soon enough for Thursday so I made Philly Cheese Steak Pasta on Thursday.  Friday my husband got some food from DC Slices at work so we had that for dinner instead of leftovers and moved the chicken and rice stir fry to Saturday. We had my son's favorite meal on Sunday.  It was interesting to move the most labor intensive meal to Sundays but it works for our schedule way better.  I am hoping that this week goes just as well but we are getting to the end of the frozen chicken so I need to add that to my shopping list soon.