January--Goal Update

1. Plan a weekly menu.
   Menu planning is my sweet spot.  I can do this and grocery shop like it is my job.
   
2. Organize all tax paperwork.
   I hate taxes.  I love getting my money back, but I hate taxes.  I have it all piled up in the dining room to work on and one day I will actually work on it.
   
3. Clean out master closet and dressers.
   I started in my closet area and dresser as well.  I still have some work to do since I have a 4-6 size range of clothing to choose from.  I also have a LOT more than I actually need.
   
4. Clean out master bathroom cabinets & organize them.
   This was actually kinda fun and it didn't take me very long.  Expired medicine and cosmetics take up a lot of space in cabinets...  I love having a 'clean cabinet.'
   
5. Begin cleaning out the playroom closets and  storage dormers.
   We lost a pretty expensive Christmas gift this month, so the playroom got searched by default.  I also reorganized all the toys into bins and encouraged my kids to keep it clean that way!  It is so much easier to find the toys when they are in the right place!
   
6. Exercise 20 times this month.
   Nur.  That's a NUR from me.  I didn't even come close to this.
   
7. Start process of ceiling repair in kitchen.  Either hire a contractor OR DIY.
   Nope.  Moving this to February since we have a break from school and I hope to get it done then!
   
8. Clean giant window at front of house.  Caulk it.
   I need a giant ladder that's clean... anyone?  Once I get that ladder I can get this done!
   
9. Print a canvas of the latest family photo session for the living room.
   Printed.  Ordered.  On the way!
   
10. Select a color theme for the MK & dining room.
    I have decided to do a light blue/green and grey theme for both.  I'm excited to get this done in the spring!
    
11. Research cruises for family in 2018...
    Nope.  But I still have a ton of time for that.  I decided I should wait for the wrestling schedule to be released so I can compare times to cruise departures, etc.  

I like the idea of breaking this down monthly.  I need to compare my yearly goals to this monthly list and do the difficult/important things first.  I know the things that take up a lot of time need to be done early too!  

He's seven.

This kid of mine.

I posted this picture a few months back and I can't help but love it a lot this week.

He turned seven this month.

That is more than one hand...

It requires two hands to indicate his age now.

He lost 3 teeth in the month of January, technically one weekend.

He just got notice that he has tested INTO the gifted program in our schools.

He's a genius, no denying it now that we have proof.

I love watching his kindness on display for others.

He is cautious and calculated with every move he makes.

He follows the rules and is motivated to do all the things.

I love watching him with his sisters.

He wrestles tomorrow and I'm already a nervous wreck.

Seven years ago this month I was learning about love.

I had no idea what it was like to be a parent.

I was terrified and still am, most days.

But if he's the first edition, then we are doing alright.

He's my favorite boy in all the world.

Budgeting and Menu Planning

I recently had a friend who asked me how I planned our menu and what I did to prepare our food.  I had some time over my break from school to think about it and I decided to blog about it.  It goes much farther than our menu to embrace our whole lives and what we do each week.

1. I look at our calendar and plan our menu around our weekly activities.  In this season of life we have wrestling two nights a week, gymnastics one night a week, and at least one other night when we are busy!  So I plan to cook at least 4-5 nights a week.  I adjust leftovers and pizza night around our lives.
   
2. I stick to at least 2 things I already know how to cook and don't make plans to learn new things until I'm ready... so weekends are times I try new dishes!  I adjust my schedule so the EASIEST things to cook (crock pot meals) are on my busiest days or the days when I know I will be tired... Mondays and Thursdays usually win!
   
3. I plan the meals.  I examine our pantry, fridge, and freezer to see what we have on hand.  After I have taken stock at home I make my grocery list.  Sometimes I plan my menu around what we already have on hand.  I am trying to develop the habit of using the foods we have instead of trashing them...   Sometimes I notice that I already have a whole meal on hand (spaghetti noodles, sauce, and venison in the freezer) so I only have to buy a salad and bread.
   
4. I make my grocery list for meals and recipes.  I also take stock of the kids' lunch stash and their breakfast items.  I like to make breakfast on the weekends, so I look at that too.
   
5. I know this all sounds like a LOT of steps, but I think I probably spend 20 minutes doing this whole process.  I bring my laptop into the kitchen, pull up my Google calendar, and compare it to the wall calendar.  I begin my Walmart grocery pickup list while I'm in the kitchen!
   
6. Once the menu is made and my meals are planned, I begin the process of prepping for them.  Sometimes I make freezer meals ahead of time, but mostly I prep the day before or the day of.  If I have a lot of leftovers I make a freezer meal... or have it for lunch that week too!  :)
   
7. I put away the groceries after the pick up day and then write our dinners for the week.  I adjust the menu as needed once the week starts.  Sometimes what I planned for Tuesday actually works better for us on Wednesday, etc.  Either way, I have all the ingredients on hand to make the meals for the week.
   
8. Sometimes I have to adjust plans as the week unfolds and we have to move a meal to the next week.  I try to be flexible.  I also try to keep my grocery budget to $100 a week or less.. that includes the household goods and the cleaning supplies...
   
9. "Shopping" in my pantry, fridge, freezer before going to the grocery store or even making a list helps me save money AND time!

January 2017 To Do List

1. Plan a weekly menu.
   
2. Organize all tax paperwork.
   
3. Clean out master closet and dressers.
   
4. Clean out master bathroom cabinets & organize them.
   
5. Begin cleaning out the playroom closets and  storage dormers.
   
6. Exercise 20 times this month.
   
7. Start process of ceiling repair in kitchen.  Either hire a contractor OR DIY.
   
8. Clean giant window at front of house.  Caulk it.
   
9. Print a canvas of the latest family photo session for the living room.
   
10. Select a color theme for the MK & dining room.
    
11. Research cruises for family in 2018...