budget, what budget

My plan for $30 a week is not working out; it's shocking, I know. It will though. I am determined. Quite determined. However, it will be after the New Year when it works out because last week my sister was visiting and this week, well I really haven't bought anything yet, so maybe this week I can meet that goal! At the end of next week my family comes. New Year, new goals, right? Isn't that what everyone does??



In the meantime, I've been loading pictures like crazy onto my computer tonight so a few to leave you with on this lovely winter evening just days before Christmas.

Tommy was baptized on Sunday and it was awesome!!


We had a Christmas party to wrap up Wednesday youth time. Family Feud was involved.


Tommy, little cousin Joseph, brother Bradley. Ice skating in Tennessee at Thanksgiving.


Family picture December 2010. It was really hard getting a picture with dogs participating. Eli had to be bribed with my water bottle. I can't imagine how difficult it will be with kids!


And my sister was in town for 10 days. I didn't get a single picture of her sadly but only have this picture of the aftermath. The dogs got really used to playing all day and being around people, so when we left them alone on Monday to go to work, we came home to a chewed up step. Their talent is unbelievable sometimes.

a different kind of Christmas

Christmas this year is very different. For the first time ever, I won't be going back "home" to Tennessee to spend Christmas with my family. We are staying at our new home in Maryland- just Tommy and me. I have to work Christmas this year. I'm off on Christmas day but have to work Christmas Eve and the 26th. The fact that we are not going to be spending Christmas with family and I will be working makes this Christmas feel very different. It will be hard and different and probably somewhat sad, but it will also be fun and exciting and new for Tommy and I to spend this special time together at our home. We also have wonderful friends who have invited us to have Christmas dinner with their family, and we are looking forward to that. And my family is coming up for New Year's so we will get to spend some of the holiday season with family.

I mailed packages today and am officially DONE with Christmas shopping!!!

Yesterday we had our monthly OB appointment, and it was great. We heard a nice, strong heartbeat. Only a few weeks until we see our baby again on the ultrasound!

tecnically speaking

So one of the good things about a new week is a new chance to try to spend less than $30 on groceries. I think the only way that I can successfully do this is to stay away from all stores. Makes sense, right?


Here's the deal: technically, we've already spent beyond $30 in groceries this week. Sunday we stopped at the grocery store for a few items that turned into $21. Secondly my husband decided he wanted to scoop up the last of the fresh apples from our local farm to freeze and enter a dessert contest. One box of fresh apples = $18. So while that shouldn't really count as our groceries for the week, we spent the money this week. How does that work? Anyone who's done this before have suggestions? And what do you do for those things that you have to buy but last a long time-- like corn starch, flour, etc. Do they count in your weekly $30?? I need help please!!

ps Happy Wednesday!

target failure

The Target trip for $30 for groceries was a major major epic failure. It failed in bad, bad ways. I spent sooo much money there! So much money on groceries. So much money on other stuff. I obviously way overshot my $30 goal. Tremendously. I'm very disappointed in myself. And have in fact, since been to Target for another terribly expensive trip. What is wrong with me?!?!?

today's challenge

Today I am going to Target. Target is my favorite place and my arch enemy. I cannot go to Target and buy one thing or 2 things, or 10 things. It's ridiculous. Today I am determined. I am determined to spend less than $30 on groceries that will get us meals for tonight, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The beginning of the week has been crazy so I didn't have a full meal plan. We had leftover Minestrone soup from my in-laws on Monday and Tuesday. I love this soup so much! It was so nice to have a delicious dinner that I didn't have to cook! :)

Rest of the week's menu:

Thursday:
Farmhouse BBQ Muffins (my mom's recipe)
Green Beans


Friday:
Petro Night!


Saturday:
Bean burrito/taco/make your own night
7 layer taco dip


Sunday:
Leftovers.


Less than $30! That's the goal...

back in action

If anyone is still reading my blog, thank you. I know it's been a long long long time since I have posted anything. I, like most people I think, took some time to evaluate my blog and the time I was spending reading and writing (although a lot more reading than writing as you can tell) blogs. I miss it. I miss being in the blog world. I miss sharing things and learning things and want back in. So I'm back and ready to take on the challenge of improving this blog.

A few updates on life first...


BABY NEWS!
Tommy and I are so blessed and happy to announce that we will be expecting our first little baby in May! I am 15 weeks and we are trucking along getting more and more excited for our new addition to the family. We are so thankful for this blessing and cannot wait to see how we grow and how our lives change as a new family.


Holidays
Thanksgiving was wonderful. We spent the holiday in Tennessee for a much needed and extra much enjoyed vacation and time with family. It could not have been a better time. My only complaint is that it went by way too fast!


House
A mess. We moved 4 of the rooms in our house around and are still trying to get afloat from that craziness. It was a good decision and works well for us but who knew it would be so challenging. On top of that we have lots of unpacking to do (still) from the trip to Tennessee. And I have not gotten out one Christmas decoration yet. But tomorrow's the day! We are hoping to get our tree tomorrow.


Work
I am learning a lot about the direction that I want to go as a dietitian. Working in a clinical setting is something that I have always wanted to do, but it's not living up to the dream. It is a fine job that I am thankful for but not what I had envisioned. I am glad that I am learning this now, and I'm glad that I am getting clinical experience. Thinking lots of thoughts for where I want to be in May and after Baby Morgan arrives, as well as long-term. Working on thinking outside of the box.


I think that is all for now. I'm on a new mission that you will be seeing a lot of on this blog. Cheap groceries. I go through phases but I mean this one :) I want to see if we can really spend under $40 a week on groceries. ??? I don't know if it can happen but it's my new challenge. I know the keys will be menu planning and grocery list making and not going to Target because I spend $1.6 million EVERY time I go there!