Week #5: Motion

A body in motion...

Stays in motion, right?

Well this body has been idle for far to long.

Have you ever seen a train "take off".

It strains and shutters under it's own berth quite awkwardly.

But once it's barreling down the line there is no stopping it.

No Excuses!!!

Well, frankly, I feel more like the train just taking off.

I pour my heart into 1 or 2 days than have the day of rest only to find it twice as hard to pick up where I left off. I keep telling myself, don't focus on the change you see on the outside, focus on how good you feel about yourself for doing what is best and good and right to take care of your body. That helps a little, so does reading motivational quotes on Pintrest. What helps most is just asking God to give me the strength and endurance I don't have on my own.

Let's Dance, But Not Dirty

It truly amazes me the way God provides. What I hate more than a daunting workout is straight up cardio.

I abhor running, I all but fall asleep in cycle, I have not a single competitive bone in my body.

So I said a simple prayer.

"God, help me find a way"

Do you know, the next day I was sharing my struggle with my husband and my son, overhearing our discussion, interjects with, "Dancing is good cardio mom, we should have a dance party every week."

Huh

Now, I most certainly would not shake it in a zumba class, I have the coordination of a bat with no radar.

But for my son, I would do just about anything.

For two week's now he has been my DJ and dance partner for no less then 30 minutes.

Prayer Answered

Time to get back into motion.

This Week We Purchased The Following: 

The total spent was $90.83

Our allotted budget is $130 but the goal is to stay under $100

Breakfast Options For The Week

English Muffins

Breakfast Burritos

Oatmeal

Pineapple, Mango, Cantaloupe Kabobs

Bagels

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

This year is picking up quick, I really

need to recommit to my calendar time.

We have had meetings and obligations out the

wazoo, but I think I may still be in Holiday mode.

Time to get back to work in the kitchen.

February 1st - February 7th

Monday:

Lunch - Hawaiian Chicken Spread

Dinner - Spinach Manicotti, Side Salad

Tuesday:

Lunch - LO Manicotti

Dinner - Honey Ginger Dump "Chicken", Rice

Wednesday:

Lunch - Grilled Cheese 

Dinner - Copy Cat Cheesecake Factory/ Sun dried Tomato Fettuccine

Thursday: 

Lunch - Loaded Sweet Potatoes

Dinner - Beef and Broccoli Casserole

Friday:

Lunch - Egg Drop Soup

Dinner - Shake N Bake Pork, Lemon Dill Rice, Oven Roasted Asparagus

Saturday:

Lunch - 50 Cent Soup

Dinner - "Restaurant" Night (A.K.A. Fridge Dive)

Sunday:

Lunch: - SUPERBOWL

Dinner: - WHITE CHICKEN CHILI, CORNBREAD

Snacks:

• Black Forrest Cake
• 100 Calorie Snacks
• Funnel Cake
• Muffins
• Popcorn

Drinks:

• Coffee and Hot Tea
• Water - that's a biggie here
• Hot Chocolate

• MYO Arizona Green Tea 
• MYO Lemonade Concentrate 

I Don't Leave Home Without It

I generally plan on Wed when I have 30 minutes before mass chaos begins.

I shop on Fri so our family menus (posted on the fridge) run from Fri to Thur.

How do I keep it all straight without pulling my hair out? I use Pepperplate.   

This site/App keeps all my recipes, super easy to upload from other sites, 

my shopping list which automatically uploads, my weekly/monthly planner, 

AAAND  (with best infomercial voice I can muster)   So Much More! 

(Nope I didn't get paid to say that either.)

Isaiah 65:24

Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.

Week #4: Blue

Blue

Like Carolina Blue Sky?

 

Blue

Blue like the ocean?

 

Blue

Blue like Carolina Pride! Yea, that kinda blue.

Interestingly enough this was the year my nine year old son hit football puberty.

Last season dad would all but beg lil'man to come watch a game with him.

But he would have it not.

First preseason game, here he comes running down the road from a buddies house yelling from the top of his lungs, "You didn't tell me foooooootttttttball started!!!!!"

Could he have picked a better year?

Now that Carolina is headed to the Super bowl I may have to let him stay up late for the game, his teachers are sure to love me on Monday.

 

 

Our allotted budget is $130 but the goal is to stay under $100

$80.63,  Wooh Nelly, we are getting awfully close to that $100 mark.
Pantry needed a little restocking this time around,
so did the cleaning supplies.

Breakfast Options For The Week

Eggs in a Hole

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Oatmeal

Crumb Coffee Cake

Bagels 

Frittata with Lemon, Artichoke, & Peas

Copycat Burger King French Toast Sticks

Is it really the last week of January ALREADY!
We have a busy week ahead, the theme this week
is easy peasy and reuse, reuse, reuse.

Monday:

Lunch - Skinny Pizza

Dinner -  T-Bone Steaks, Baked Potatoes, Oven-Roasted Asparagus

Tuesday:

Lunch - Tuna Salad

Dinner - Crock Pot Split Pea Soup, Copy Cat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Wednesday:

Lunch - Twice Baked Potatoes

Dinner - Crock Pot Roast Beef All in One

Thursday: 

Lunch - LO Soup

Dinner - Michigan Pasty, Side Salad

Friday:

Lunch - Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Dinner - Ocean (Shrimp) Wiggle, Garlic Parmesan Swirl Biscuits, Side Salad

Saturday:

Lunch -  Chicken BLT Salad

Dinner - Cauliflower Snob

Sunday:

Lunch:  - BLT, Potato Salad

Dinner: - Creamy Apple Bacon Chicken, Wild Rice, Side Salad

Snacks:

• Popcorn
• Muffins 
• 100 Calorie Snack Packs

• Yogurt & Fruit
• Meringue Kisses

Drinks:

• Coffee and Hot Tea
• Water - that's a biggie here
• MYO Arizona Green Tea 
• MYO Lemonade Concentrate 

I Don't Leave Home Without It

I generally plan on Wed when I have 30 minutes before mass chaos begins.

I shop on Fri so our family menus (posted on the fridge) run from Fri to Thur.

How do I keep it all straight without pulling my hair out? I use Pepperplate.   

This site/App keeps all my recipes, super easy to upload from other sites, 

my shopping list which automatically uploads, my weekly/monthly planner, 

AAAND  (with best infomercial voice I can muster)   So Much More! 
(Nope I didn't get paid to say that either.)

Luke 16:15
And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Week #3: Guilty Pleasure

Guilty As Charged

I really don't need an excuse to get carried away. It's shameful really. I know I need to get the laundry done, boil the chicken, or make those bagels but so often I get mega carried away by a good netflixing.

This should be what Netflix asks, right?

Don't you love how Netflix asks if your still watching? No I went on a marathon run and forgot I left the show on, YES I'm still watching. Breath, in the nose out the mouth. With the wonderful snow that came trough it was the perfect occasion to sit mind numbingly in front of the television. For hours on end, I would think I'll make lunch after this episode, then ,oh, never mind I'm not hungry. Eventually I drug my booty out of the house and walked the neighborhood enjoying the tingle in my nostrils and lung with each inhale of cold snow laden air. I can't believe I almost missed it.

Really, you like that?

And what show prey tell could keep me cooped up for 4 days straight? X-Files. Yea, you heard me, and what?
I loved this show back in the day and with the upcoming release on FOX I could help myself. I didn't make it through all nine season's that would be preposterous, no I only made it through seven.

It's like Christmas all over again

Sunday January 24 after the football game.

Scully, Mulder and I will be reunited, but only for six episodes.

Do you have that thing from your youth that you get excited over, well sadly this is my guilty pleasure.

My family doesn't get it either, that's perfectly okay with me. It means it's my thing and I don't have to share it.

Here's to conspiracy theory's and freaks of nature!

Our allotted budget is $130 but the goal is to stay under $100

$71.05. Lets keep rock'n through January

Breakfast Options For The Week

Yogurt and Peaches

Blueberry Muffins

Oatmeal

Fruit Breakfast Bars 

Bagels 

Eggs, Toast, & Jam

We don't get too many snow days in these parts.

So when it does snow the town shuts down and everyone

stays home. Thank goodness for stock piling the freezer.

Monday:

Lunch - Poor Boy Sandwich (not Po'Boy)

Dinner - Rotisserie Chicken, Collard Greens, Potato Wedges

Tuesday:

Lunch - Salad w/chicken, boiled eggs, & cheese

Dinner - French Toast, Bacon, Scrambled Eggs

Wednesday:

Lunch - Egg Salad Sandwiches

Dinner - Hibachi Steakhouse Meal (Chicken)

Thursday: 

Lunch - Egg Salad Sandwiches

Dinner - Bacon Corn Chowder, CC Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Friday:

Lunch - 50 Cent Soup

Dinner - Dump Spaghetti

Saturday:

Lunch -  Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Dinner - Baked Ham with Pineapple, CC Sister Rolls, Succotash

Sunday:

Lunch: Ham Salad Sandwich 

Dinner: Ham & Broccoli Mac-N-Cheese 

Snacks:

• Popcorn
• Muffins 
• Homemade Potato Chips 
• Cookies
• Yogurt & Fruit
• Hard Boiled Eggs & Deviled Eggs

Drinks:

• Coffee and Hot Tea
• Water - that's a biggie here
• MYO Arizona Green Tea 
• MYO Lemonade Concentrate 

I Don't Leave Home Without It

I generally plan on Wed when I have 30 minutes before mass chaos begins.

I shop on Fri so our family menus (posted on the fridge) run from Fri to Thur.

How do I keep it all straight without pulling my hair out? I use Pepperplate.   

This site/App keeps all my recipes, super easy to upload from other sites, 

my shopping list which automatically uploads, my weekly/monthly planner, 

AAAND  (with best infomercial voice I can muster)   So Much More! 
(Nope I didn't get paid to say that either.)

Matthew 11:25-26        
At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. "Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.  

Week #2: Mornings

Not a morning person

I'm not sure much can be added to that. 

It is just a fact of life,

Morning is mean.

Or Threw At You

I would love to wake up singing "The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of Music" but alias try as I might I have never been able to wake up chipper. The reality is I'm lucky I don't break the alarm clock when I go to hit the snooze button 3 times or throw my phone across the room.

In fact my dear husband, who is much better at mornings than I, has even at times, attempted to help be get going in the morning at great risk and peril. Praise God he is a determined soul.

It Smells Like Coffee

On most nights I go to bed with the best intentions. I intend to wake up and work out. I intend to put on make up and do something more with my hair than a ponytail. I intend to have a delightful breakfast ready and waiting for my children before sending them off to school for the rest of their day. 

I intend on being a Doris Day for my husband, all smiles and roses.

I know the possibilities are endless.

But then this happens...

I have a solid hour drive into work. On most days it's still dark when I leave, but as I make my way in, I get to watch the world wake up. And, very slowly, I wake up with it.

I see the many way's God paints the sky. I watch as the sun breaks the horizon over abandoned farms with empty fields. I see the way the colors of the sunrise bounce off high rise buildings as I enter the city. I get to smell bakeries and coffee shops preparing their wares. I get to have quiet time, in my car, uninterrupted. Sometimes, if I turn off the radio and I listen and watch and smell, I swear I can hear God.

This Week We Purchased The Following: 

 

Our allotted budget is $130 but the goal is to stay under $100

$72.53! Not as close to $50 as I would like, but
I'll take it.

Breakfast Options For The Week

Yogurt and Peaches

French Toast (Fz)

Oatmeal

Eggs & Toast

Blueberry Pancakes (Make & Fz)

It's Little Man's Birthday. Saving up with

budget meals during the week so that 

celebrating won't take a hit to the 

old budget.

Monday:

Lunch - Tuna Salad Wrap 

Dinner - Cabbage Chicken Saute, CC Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits  

Tuesday:

Lunch - Egg Salad Sandwiches

Dinner - Goulash, CC Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits (LO) 

Wednesday:

Lunch -  LO Goulash

Dinner - Chicken Vegetable Soup, CC Jiffy Cornbread Muffins 

Thursday: 

Lunch - PB & J

Dinner - Potato Perigee, Caramelized Onions, & Large Salad

Friday:

Lunch - Crab & Swiss Stuffed Mushrooms & Salad

Dinner -Hot & Spicy Grilled Pork Chops, Potatoes & Onions, Steamed Broccoli 

Saturday:

Lunch - Fifty Cent Soup 

Dinner - Honey Sesame Chicken, Scalloped Potatoes, Side Salad 

Sunday:

Lunch: 

Dinner: Graydon's BIRTHDAY!!! 

Snacks:

• Popcorn
• Muffins 
• Carrots & Dip
• Granola Bars
• Apples and Peanut butter OR Carmel Dip
• Yogurt & Fruit
• Hard Boiled Eggs & Deviled Eggs

Drinks:

• Coffee and Hot Tea
• Water - that's a biggie here
• MYO Arizona Green Tea 
• MYO Lemonade Concentrate 

I Don't Leave Home Without It

I generally plan on Wed when I have 30 minutes before mass chaos begins.

I shop on Fri so our family menus (posted on the fridge) run from Fri to Thur.

How do I keep it all straight without pulling my hair out? I use Pepperplate.   

This site/App keeps all my recipes, super easy to upload from other sites, 

my shopping list which automatically uploads, my weekly/monthly planner, 

AAAND  (with best infomercial voice I can muster)   So Much More! 
(Nope I didn't get paid to say that either.)

Psalm 139:18

And when I wake up, You are still with me.