Menu Plan Monday

Monday, Monday! You may remember from last week's post that I have decided to participate in the Eat From the Pantry Challenge this month. I love this challenge because it's a "make your own rules" kinda thing...nothing too strict or unattainable!

Here are my goals:

• Clean out pantry. (DONE!)
• Inventory freezer. (DONE!)
• Set a grocery budget of $50 per week for January.
• Limit eating out to twice in January.

So far I have cleaned out the pantry and inventoried the freezer. I have not been to the grocery store yet this month. It just made me sick when I cleaned out the pantry because I had several expired items to throw away. Talk about throwing money right in the trash can. But, when I inventoried the freezer, I found many items I did not remember I had. Last summer my father-in-law gave us part of a cow he had butched (he has a farm), so I found steaks buried at the bottom of the freezer! Woo-hoo! We will have our own steakhouse night! Now that everything is organized in the pantry and the freezer, I am loving it!

Here's what we had so far for January:

January 1 (Friday) - Pork roast, black-eyed peas, cabbage, greens, rolls, strawberry shortcake.

January 2 (Saturday) - Hamburger steaks, mashed potatoes, corn casserole

January 3 (Sunday) - We at at my in-laws for lunch and had leftovers for dinner. Gotta love a no-cook day!!!

I made a list of all the meals we can eat from what's in the pantry and freezer now.

• Tuna Casserole
• Chicken Piccata (boxed meal)
• Spaghetti
• Hot dogs and chili
• Chicken and rice casserole
• 15-bean soup with sausage
• BBQ chicken and yellow rice
• Baked spaghetti
• Marinated steak and sweet potatoes
• Fried chicken
• Liver and onions
• Cubed steak and mashed potatoes
• Ritz chicken
• Sausage and peppers
• Taco soup (freezer, leftovers from a batch made last month)
• Chuck roast and potatoes
• Baked ham, sweet potato casserole
• Macaroni and cheese with ham

That's quite a few meals, huh?!! I am not assigning meals to specific days because what we want to eat or what I have time to prepare always seems to vary and change with the activities we have going on and with our schedules. Also, if I get to behind with work or kids' activities, a big meal seems too overwhelming to prepare and we just end up going out to eat or getting a pizza, and that's what I am trying to change this month. I will post what we had for dinner after we have it. I am sure I will have to plan a few more dinner menus and/or buy for a few more meals, but hopefully we will have some "leftover" days as well and that will stretch our meals out for the month!

I hope everyone participating in the challenge will have fun! If you are participating, leave a comment!

Saturday 9

I decided I wanted to find a Saturday meme and this is one I found. It's really cute! Here goes! And if you want to participate, blog your answers and leave a comment with your link!

Saturday 9: You Shook Me

1. What celebrity would you just want to shake some sense into? Jon Gosselin!

2. What do you think comes after death? Jesus!!!

3. What is the first book that you can remember reading by yourself as a child? I have no idea!

4. What was the first rock concert that you attended? Metallica...Go figure :)

5. If you were to suddenly become famous, would you choose a stage name? If yes, what would it be? I would probably choose a stage name but I have no idea what it would be!

6. What is the one thing that you wish the media would stop talking about? Jon Gosselin!!!

7. If you could be part of any band, which one would it be and who would you be and why? The drummer...keeps everyone on the beat!

8. Do you live close to your immediate family members? If not, how far away are they? Not mine, but my husband's. My family lives several states away.

9. Last seasonal question (promise): What did you do on New Year's Eve? Snuggled on the couch with my family and watched the ball drop!

Sunday Coupon Preview!

Go here to preview the coupons that will be in the paper this Sunday, January 3, 2010. We should see a Smart Source insert and a Red Plum insert! Start your shopping list now!

Resolution Time

Are you ready for 2010? Seems like 2009 has flown by! I guess that's what everyone says. It seems like when I was a child, time went by so slowly. School years seemed to last forever. Now, it seems like the days fly by and my babies are growing up faster than my heart can stand! I have so many resolutions that I would like to undertake. I think I set myself up for failure when I make too many resolutions. But, I still have them all in my head. I guess I'd better throw them out into the blogosphere so I can have some accountability!

Personal Goals:

1. Follow The Mayo Clinic Diet and use journal. (I recently received these to review...coming later this month!)

2. Follow menu plan and cook dinner at least 6 out of 7 nights of the week.

3. Read at least 2 books for pleasure a month.

4. Blog 5 out of 7 days of the week. Blog "resolutions progress" on the 1st day of each month.

5. Follow the Motivated Moms plan for housekeeping.

6. Bible study daily.

7. Use Wii Fit at least 5 out of 7 days a week.



Professional Goals:

1. Take at least 1 AHDI continuing education course or webinar per month.

2. Take and pass the CMT exam in June 2010.



Family Goals:

1. Take a vacation together this summer as a family.

2. Get all transcription work done before kids come home from school!



Are you making resolutions this year? Leave a comment!

Menu Plan Monday

We are at my parents' this week eating lots of delicious Cajun food! No menu planning for me!!!

Have a great week! I will be participating in the Eat From The Pantry Challenge in January. Stay tuned for details!!! Leave a comment and let me know if you are also participating!

Mary, Did You Know?

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I hope you will embrace the Prince of Peace this Christmas.


Blessings to all,

Busy Julie

Sunday Coupon Preview!

Go here to find out what coupons are coming tomorrow! Start planning your shopping list now!