Meal Planning

Wow.  Long time no-type...

Hope you have all been enjoying time with family since I last wrote... AT EASTER!  Talk about neglect.  If any of my readers follow me on social media, you know that I've recently started a small, home-based business.  It's been taking up so much of my time but I'm so thrilled to be doing it! That's a post for another day, though.

Today, I'm talking meal planning.  I meal plan religiously and NEVER grocery shop without doing so.  So many of my girlfriends have been asking how I do it so I thought it would make for a good post.  Most of us are too busy enjoying the gorgeous summer weather to be focused on craft projects anyway, right?

I am a proud stay-at-home-mom.  Adam and I made this decision when I was pregnant with our first. Initially, it was a decision made of practicality when considering the cost of child care in comparison to my salary.  The more we talked, however, it became a personal conviction that one of us stay home with our children.  It's what was right for US and OUR family.  I firmly believe that each family's circumstances are unique.

With that being said, we are by no means affluent and we changed our lives dramatically to accommodate this lifestyle.  Thus, I meal plan!  Even if you are not on a tight budget, why not save where you can?  I think this is an excellent way to be good stewards of the money God has blessed us with.

Before you start:
Before starting a meal plan, I think it's important to start with a family budget, in general.  I'm sure most of you have a dollar amount, at least an approximate one, that's set aside each month for groceries.  Meal planning is simply applying that dollar amount in the most beneficial way possible.

Have you ever come home with $100 worth of groceries but still didn't have everything you needed to make dinner?  So then you ordered take-out or ran back to the store a half-dozen times over the month?  Are you constantly eating out?  Do you go grocery shopping each. and. every. time. you. want. to. cook.? While you're there, how many extra things get tossed in the cart?  Yeah... not good for the pocket book OR the waistline.

In a nutshell, the benefits of meal planning are:

• Saving money. Meal planning isn't something I necessarily WANT to do (though I do enjoy it)... It's something I MUST do for the sake of our finances.
• Saving time.  Have you taken 2 kids under 4 to the grocery store?  Yeah, I'm only dealing with that noise 1 time a month, not 17, thank you. Plus, it's only fun when you do it once. After that, no thanks.
• Saving my waistline. Preparing great meals at home is SO much healthier than eating out/take out.

Below is a step-by-step list of how I prepare a meal plan:

• Budget - As I alluded to previously, Start with a family budget and decide how much you are going to spend each month on groceries, household items, and toiletries.
• Count - Look at a calendar and decide how many dinners you need, how many lunches you need to pack and how many lunches you will have at home, and what you want to have on hand for breakfasts.  I do 18-20 dinners/lunches at a time and grocery shop every 3 weeks, for example. I rarely have any food spoil.  (There will be some tips below.)  However, you can easily shop weekly, just divide your budget for the month accordingly.  The point is to organize your funds in a way that is manageable for your lifestyle.
• Choose - Select your meals.  TV, magazines, online, and friends/family are all great resources.  Just be sure to get it on paper.  Try building off items you already have, if you can.  This is a great way to eliminate waste and save you money!
• List - Make a list of your meat and decide, roughly, how much this will cost.  This is the biggest portion of most grocery budgets.  If you find it's adding up too fast, go back and change out a meal or two for something more economical.
• Expand - Fill out your list with all other necessary ingredients for those meals.  Take a look at what you already have! Don't forget pantry/stock items and your household items/toiletries.
• Wants - Once your "needs" are on paper, add the things you "want" like snack items or paper plates.
• Add - Write a $ amount/price next to each item.  Think about what you paid approx, for that item the last time you shopped. Now add these numbers.  Are you within budget?  Revise if need be. It is rare that I need to do this.  It will be for you, too, the more you do this.

Here are some additional tips to save you cash:

• Avoid prepackaged meals.  It's rare to find prepackaged anything that isn't loaded with salt and calories and if you do find a healthy option, it certainly is NOT cheap. We do our very best to keep this type of food to a minimum.  To give you an example, I can buy a whole chicken and veggies for the same price as a bag of chicken nuggets.  That being said, there's a time and a place for everything.  Just something to consider, if you can.
• Cook at home.  You can easily prepare a meal in 30 minutes or less,  There are at least 3 TV programs I can think of right this second that are devoted to the topic.  You'll find recipes on their websites for FREE.
• Use your freezer and a slow cooker
• Become passionate about cooking.  Know what's going into your body and on your children's plate.  Cooking can be SO relaxing and a great stress reliever.  Best of all, it's a learned skill.  You don't have to be the next Iron Chef, just someone who wants to feed your family.
• By half your produce fresh and half frozen to last you through an entire month or split your meal plan in half and shop twice.
• Add what you're tossing into your cart as you shop and cross items off your list.  If you came in under budget at the end of your list, THEN you can toss extras in the cart.  Otherwise, if it's not on the list, it doesn't go in the cart.
• Shop where you know you can get a good price.  I have my favorites and will share them with you if you ask ;)
• When planning your meals, choose dishes that will feed you twice or even 3 times.
• Consider adding vegetarian dishes to your meal plan.
• Make this FUN!  Grocery shopping is one of my favorite things to do with the kids.  I always pack a picnic style lunch for the kids, go at lunch time, get a mommy cart (the kind with a bench seat and is the size of a semi), and they eat while I shop.  It's once a month people... we eat good lunches at the table every other day of the month so spare me... lol
• Once you're home, write down your meals in order (approx.) of food spoilage.  You'll rarely have any rotten food to throw out, thus saving you money.  Plus, you'll always know what's for dinner.
• Cook with your children.  Being able to prepare a meal is a life skill.  This is something your children will need to know how to do one day.  Provide them with those skills.  This is time to bond.
• Adam is rarely home when I cook but I know how much it means to him to come home to a good meal.  That's a source of pride for me and I find it fulfilling.  If he is home, he keeps me company and plays on the kitchen floor with the kids while I cook.  Bottom line, this time is special because we make an effort for it to be that way.
• Eliminating paper products is not only a trendy thing to do as it's "green", it's also practical.  We use towels, not paper toweling, cloth napkins, and I wash dishes.)

Final thought:

• If, even after trying to get into cooking, it's not your thing... look up "minimal ingredient recipes", "15 minute dinners", "slow cooker recipes", "dump recipes", etc.  You've gotta eat, people. haha.
• Most slow cooker recipes rarely require anything more than putting raw food in the cooker.  It is your best friend if you hate to cook.
• Start small. Try to buy half the amount of prepackaged meals as you usually do and start there. 

  

They say that the proof is in the pudding and here is mine:  I did my budget, meal plan, and grocery list in 1 hour today and immediately went grocery shopping.  I shopped for 3 wks for our family of 4 and came in $15 under budget, even after tossing a few special things in the cart.

I wish you all lots of success with your next trip to the grocery store and hope that I gave you some good ideas.  Please... if you have questions, ASK! You CAN do this!

Cheers,
Alyssa.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

HOPPY EASTER!!!!

Oh my goodness!  It's here!  It's here!  It's here!  My second most favorite holiday of all time! EASTER!  Why yes, I do believe I'll have some chocolate bunny ears for breakfast, thank you.  Why yes, I am going to eat half the jelly beans while I fill all of the plastic eggs for my kids' baskets.  Welllllll... most of them, anyway.  I am going to giggle like a kid while I watch my little ones on an egg hunt and I am going to have a blast dying eggs.  Sigh.  I love Easter.

As much as I love chocolate, candy, and silly family traditions, that's not why I love this holiday so much.  I love Easter because... It is finished.

Just a few short months ago, we celebrated the birth of our Savior and King.  God made manifest in a tiny babe; humbled to live life as a human.  He did it and He did it perfectly.  He knew the horrific and painful death that awaited him yet, He went willingly to the cross.  He suffered the death I deserve.  He did it in my place.

On Good Friday, I dress in all black and I dress our children in all black, too.  It's an easy object lesson for them and a good reminder for me.  Wearing black, for me, is a sign of mourning and a sign of the love and respect I have for my Savior.  On Friday, we mourn and we reflect.  Thank God that's not where the story ends.

On Sunday morning, our Savior rose triumphantly in perfect fulfillment of scripture.  Everything that tiny baby came to do was finished.  Because of His gift, we have the promise of eternal life.  I do not fear my death; I know where I am going. What a thing to celebrate!

I've said over and over and over again in this blog... You can find Jesus anywhere if you CHOOSE to put Him there.  So, yes, we do celebrate Easter in the secular sense, too.  Chocolate bunnies, baskets, and tacky plastic grass, included.  Our children are taught what Easter is, why it's important, and THEN... IN SECOND PLACE... the bunny thing.  While we totally respect that many Christian families have chosen to do away with Santa, the Easter Bunny, and Tooth Fairy, we have not.  I believe that these things are a matter of christian freedom and there is no right or wrong answer. Each family should discuss what their motivation is in such matters, pray, and come to a decision that's right for them.  With that being said, if you are a family like ours, one that may be looking for ideas to teach kids to prioritize the season, here are some things we do:
 

•  We regularly attend church, study scripture, and discuss our Savior.  The Holy Spirit works in the tiniest of hearts and if I ask my 3 year old right now, "What's Easter?" I am confident the bunny won't be the first thing she brings up.
• The day revolves around going to worship.  We wear our best, most special clothing to honor Jesus; much like you would if any distinguished person were coming to visit.  I'm not insinuating that you need to spend all kinds of money.  We bought our kids' outfits used.  It isn't about it being new or fancy; it's about wearing our best because God gave His best.  For some people, that might mean you wear your very best play clothes :)  God looks at the heart. 
•  We do allow our kids to search the house for their Easter baskets and we include a note which reads, "Find the empty egg! It's there to remind you of the empty tomb and the gift God gave." Obviously, we have a mess of filled, plastic eggs in their baskets and there is 1 which remains empty.  As a side benefit... no jelly beans to pick out of the previously mentioned, wonderfully tacky, Easter grass. ;)   
•  My mom is our "cake lady".  She makes the most beautiful and tasty cakes EVER.  She puts so much effort and love into them and I think that's what's the most special.  Each year on Good Friday or Holy Saturday, she bakes a special "Lamb Cake" with my kids.  We talk about how Jesus is our perfect lamb and the symbolism behind it.  It's a special tradition that I know they will come to appreciate more and more each year.

I hope these few ideas bring some inspiration to your Easter celebrations!  I've included a photo of my "Empty Egg" note cards below.

Happy Easter.  He is risen.  He is risen indeed!

Alyssa

St. Patrick's Day Shenanigans

   By Now, I'm sure you all realize that my faith is important to me.  In fact, my Savior is THE most important thing to me with my husband, family, and friends right behind.  I don't believe in luck, destiny, or chance; I believe in God's divine plan.  I saw something once that really stuck with me: "I have a God not a genie.".  So, for that reason, I really struggle with what St. Patrick's Day.

   We simply don't believe in luck.  We've even gone so far as to remove that term from our vocabulary.  We don't say, "Oh my goodness!  You're so lucky you get to go on that vacation!".  Instead we say, "Oh my goodness!  What a blessing that you get to go on that vacation!"  It might be excessive to some people but for us, it is a matter of living our faith and maybe in a small way, letting our light shine.

   With all that being said, we ARE decendants of Irish immigrants. My mother-in-law's family is Irish and in my ancestry, an Irish boy was adopted into our family.  I think it's important that our children realize where they came from, how our family came to live here, that it is a privilege and not a right, that it was earned through sacrifice and we are only here in the U.S. by of the grace of God and the hard-work of people before us.  This is worth celebrating.

   I decided we will use the day as an opportunity for such a discussion with our oldest AND for an opportunity to have a little silly fun... without the word "luck".  Most of my ideas below are totally, 100% lifted from another mom; one whom I really admire. Our next-door neighbors growing up were AWESOME.  My parents still live next door to this wonderful family and I really miss them when we go without seeing one another for a spell.  They are the family that would, and have, dropped everything to help their friends.  Raising a child takes a village and they are absolutely part of mine! They are devoted to their faith, family, and friends and their children have grown in to wonderful, contributing members of society.  If Adam and I do half as well, we will be really... blessed... see what I did there???  haha

   Here's what we will be dong on the 17th:

• Green outfits
• I'll surprise the kids with green milk - food coloring kind, not the science project kind...
• Green pancakes for breakfast
• I'll use green food coloring in the potty
• I'll change some of the light bulbs to green ones for a surprise as the day goes on
• Mommy will have a green beer... or two...

I hope you enjoy celebrating the holiday!

Cheers,

Alyssa

Happy Valentine's Day!

   I've been out of sorts as of late and haven't done very many original crafts with the kids in a while.  We've been enjoying some time together reading, coloring, and helping mommy organize after a VERY chaotic couple of months.  We've begun crafting for Chunky's 1st birthday party and can't wait to share some of those ideas with you soon!

   In the mean time, here are a few ideas for those of you in the Valentine's spirit:

Go Pre-Packaged!
Check the seasonal departments of your favorite craft stores!  We recently found project kits for $1-$3 and they provided HOURS of entertainment for the Little Lady.

Keep It Simple!
Chunky Monkey is too little to really enjoy art projects so I will often put him in his highchair with a spoon or a truck and flour.  It keeps him busy long enough to do the dishes and that's a big deal, people.  It wipes up faster than you'd guess, too. Add some colored sprinkles to jazz it up for any holiday.

Dough!
There are HUNDREDS of dough keepsake projects on pinterest.  We made some candle holders and the Little Lady made "Love Bugs" with the scraps.

Biblical Conversation Hearts
Jesus can be anywhere, even in Valentine's Day, if you CHOOSE to put him there!  We made biblical conversation hearts last year.  They kept well and look great on our table again this year!

   I've included a few pictures below and dough recipe ideas can be found on my "Christmas Ornaments" post!

Cheers and Lots of Love,
Alyssa

Love Bugs - I spy a cute green one!

Flour!

We made some small hearts and painted them to use as fillers in my jars.  I also used a heart punch to make confetti out of colored card stock, as you can see!  Enjoy searching for your favorite biblical passages about love.  Think about God's love for us, the love we have for our children, and the love we have for our spouses.  You'll find a wonderful variety.  May the Lord bless your search and your study of His Word!

Biblical Conversation Hearts

More Winter Projects and Party Ideas

   This past weekend, it was our honor to celebrate my parents' 30th anniversary with one heck of a party!  Mom and dad rented a space and our incredible family and extended family PACKED that place with food, cocktails, dancing, and because we live in Packer country, a big screen TV to watch the game.  We may be out of the running this season but that didn't stop us from having a blast!

   When my mom asked if I would help out with the decorations several weeks ago, of course I jumped for joy.  You all know by now how I thrive on this stuff.   What I wasn't expecting was all the fun I'd have with my mom and sister.  It took some sweat but there were lots of laughs, good conversations, and I even found a new drink; have you ever heard of hard orange soda?  Oh. My. Yum.

   The moral of the story?  TIME.  Spend time with the people you love.  Build a life, make some memories. Don't sit around the living room, each on your own phones.  Talk.  Play cards. Make something together.  We are never promised another day, after all.  I was reminded over the course of this party and all the planning along the way, that I was blessed with some fantastic memories with my parents and you better believe I want that for my children.

   As I type this, I'm exited for my husband to come home from work tonight.  I'll be happy to put my phone away and listen to all he has to say about his day.  I'm looking forward to sharing a meal together with our children.  I'm looking forward to lots of evenings like that, in fact.  I'm curious to see what memories we will have on our 30th anniversary.  Heaven knows we have a wonderful example of a successful Christian marriage...  Thank you mom and dad. xoxo

   We made SO many things together but two particular projects stand out.  The first were jars, made from dough.  Each was decorated and had a name printed on them.  They served as both a place card and a party favor.  I think they added a little charm, personally.  I also made this family tree and hung our immediate family's jars there.  In the background, you'll also see a cross hanging at the highest point.  The idea was to symbolize that a marriage should be a marriage of three, with Christ at the center.  I wish I would have printed that on the cross though our immediate family all knew what it meant.  For the cinnamon salt dough recipe, please see my blog post, "Christmas Ornaments".

   I also enjoyed making these signs out of old scrap plywood, rope, and paint.  I used stencils for the lettering and once I got over trying to make them absolutely perfect, they were fun!  Actually, the little imperfections made them fit into our "rustic winter" theme.  Embrace the imperfections, people!

   I hope you enjoy these ideas and will consider using them for your next big celebration!

Cheers and Happy 30th Mom and Dad!
Alyssa

Mark 10:8-9 "The two will become one flesh." So they are no longer two; but one.  Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.

The Princess Talks 2016

   As I said in my Thanksgiving post, I'm a sucker for ANY holiday.  I'll take any excuse (as if I need one...) to party with my family.  Maybe I should have named my blog "The Holiday Honey" or something equally as ridiculous.  Joking aside, just because another beautiful Christmas came and went does not mean I've given up posting for the year!  In the months ahead, I'll be posting crafts and ideas for nearly every holiday you can imagine, birthdays, family gatherings, and to simply share the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

   With that being said, Happy New Year!  Now, I realize the start of the new Church year already occurred but I will maintain this simple fact:  You can find Jesus ANYWHERE, even in the secular, if you CHOOSE to put Him there.  That's a reoccurring theme you will read throughout the life-span of this blog.

   I think the start of a new calendar year is a wonderful opportunity for us as Christians to spend some time in reflection.  As I posted on my personal social media page, "2015 has been one of the very best, filled with an abundance of love and happy memories".  How could it not be?  We welcomed our Chunky Money into the world and more importantly, into God's family.  We became a complete family with his arrival and to watch the way our daughter loves him is impossible to articulate.

   Our year wasn't all sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns, I'm sure you realize.  Yes, there were difficult days, there were marital disagreements, there were struggles with screaming children and a drama queen toddler, there were uber-tight budgets, and there were days we were thankful to have, yet happy to know would pass with the setting of the sun.  As I look back on those times, I know they were there.  I know they happened.  Yet, I have a difficult time remembering the context or details of even one of those days.  What a blessing!

   No, we are not perfect.  We don't have a perfect family or a perfect marriage.  We ARE, however, PERFECTLY FORGIVEN.  Think about that.  Perfectly forgiven.  There's no, "I forgive you but I don't like you."  Perfectly forgiven; red to pure white.  Done.  Over. In the past.  May we always be slow to anger and quick to forgive.  May we also forgive perfectly, just as we have been.

  I know many who will read this struggled this year and some of you also suffered loss.  I'm not insinuating you ought forget those struggles and if you don't, then you must be, in some way, inferior.  Not at all.  I'm simply asking you as we embark on this new year, to reflect on all that has happened and to await God's merciful plan.  We don't know why He chooses to remove His protective hand but we do have this promise: Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

   What a humbling thought.  Even our struggles will benefit us in the end.  He promised us this and we have proof in His Word that our Savior keeps His promises.  Worry is an easy emotion to succumb to and if I'm honest with myself and those reading this, I know that it's my "pet sin".  Well this year, my resolution is to give up worrying like the bad habit it is.  I'm giving it up because it's toxic for my health but more importantly, because God demands it: Luke 2:25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life."

   Draw near to your Savior this year.  Hold true to His promises.  Let go of your fear, worry, and your anxiety.  Leave it all at the foot of the cross.  I'm filled with humility and awe, when I reflect on what He has worked for my benefit in 2015. I wonder what He has planned for 2016?  Come quickly Lord Jesus!

May the Lord bless you and keep you this new year and all the days of your life!  May you humbly await His plan!

In Him,
Alyssa

Luke 2:1-20 - NIV 1984

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.