Saving and Homemaking 4/22

Forsythia blooms

Spring has arrived where I live, and with it a renewed interest in tending to the outdoors and freshening up our home.

Planting

This week I planted some herbs in pots inside. I started with dill and basil.  We have a sunroom so hopefully I will have some very inexpensive herbs in the coming weeks.  I was inspired to try this because we have been planting seeds with the junior kindergarteners at school.

Saving

Our local grocery store has e-coupons, and every Friday they issue an e-coupon for a free item as well as some other loss leader deals requiring the e-coupon.  I have been too lazy to log in to their website since the school year started.  I tell myself I’m too busy or there’s not time for everything.  In truth it look about 4 minutes!  I think I will commit to checking their deals on Fridays… this week was a free box of Annie’s Mac and Cheese which is appreciated.

Watching

This week I watched ‘The Ultimate Guide to Penny Pinching” while I was on the treadmill.  This documentary was filmed in England, so it amused me to see the grocery scene in the UK.  If you are a fan of saving money at the supermarket, you might enjoy it.  My favorite couple interviewed were putting on a wedding with a very tight budget.

Cleaning

This week I worked in the sunroom, since I was already there staring into my pots waiting for my herbs to sprout.  I gave the houseplants a deep soaking outside, moved the couch to vacuum under it, got cobwebs out of the corners, and went through the always accumulating mail.

Reading

Every moment I get I am sneaking a few chapters of the excellent middle grade book “The War that Saved my Life” by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.  The topic is the children evacuated from London to the countryside at the beginning of WWII.  This Newbery Honor book is for anyone 4th gr and up.

Cooking

“Using up” is the theme for this weekend.  Finishing off ham in the freezer with ham and eggs after church.  The evening I am grilling some odds and ends from the freezer and making potato salad from scratch because I have celery, onion and mini red potatoes.  Our local food co-op had organic pastured beef on sale so I made up some taco meat for the freezer.  Tonight I will sit down and think up a meal plan for the week.

How was your week?  Any savings surprises or spring cleaning?

Menu Plan Monday – Apr 4/16

Despite my natural tendency to want to “figure it out later”, I’m back at it with another menu plan for the first week after spring break.  We have an unusual number of after-school happenings this week, so I’m keeping it manageable.

Monday – Tacos… meat is already made in the refrigerator, zucchini

Tuesday – Black bean soup and cheddar rolls.  Go here for my easy recipe.

Wednesday – Chicken Rosemary Ravioli

Thursday – Dinner out/Take out

Friday –Happy Hour Meal!  This is my new take-away idea from our mini-vacation.  Our hotel had a happy hour reception with various snacks set out.  We were missing our vacation lifestyle so my daughter and I planned our own family “Happy Hour” reception last week.  It looks like olives, hummus, something warm like chicken fingers or French bread pizza, fruit, guacamole.  Very flexible and fun and it gets the weekend party started.  We like to watch a “Tiny House Hunters” as a family while we nibble.

For more menu inspirations, visit orgjunkie.com

Menu Plan Monday – Apr 6/15

This week’s menu is heavy on convenience because we have a lot going on after school.

Monday – Tuna salad, deviled eggs, pea pods (time to use up those colored hard-cooked eggs!)

Tuesday – Homemade chicken fried rice and Trader Joe’s egg rolls

Wednesday – Make your own sandwich night

Thursday – Spaghetti and turkey meatballs (the Trader Joe’s marinara sauce is delectable!)

Friday – Dinner out!

For more menu inspirations, visit orgjunkie.com 💗

Vacation – Finding Hidden Worth

Hoppy Easter? This flower creation was spotted at Walmart!

We are back from a short get-away to a nearby state (one that is a little bit warmer)!  While it was just a few days, I came back with some fresh perspective on the value of getting away.

One realization I had is that being immersed in the busyness of work and school seems to encourage filling schedules up even more.  My daughter and I talked today and determined her summer schedule is going to be pretty open.  Theatre camp in late summer, and a 1 week ballet intensive in the evening.  That’s it.

There are so many neat things to do in summer, but choosing those things means we won’t have time to do the things we want to do together — the short list includes going to the beach, rummaging for American Girl dolls to revive, going for walks, picnics, blogging, and Grandma teaching us to sew.

The other thought I brought home with me was that I need to get back to stricter meal planning.  My new job this year has been mentally demanding, and while we are still eating at home most of the time, I can see that I could be more organized in terms of shopping and planning ahead so I am not making emergency trips to the store.  Those extra trips drive our grocery costs up, and I hate to think I am using the life energy I give to employment so I can go to the grocery store with abandon.

Do you find that vacations give you perspective that you can’t get in your daily life at home?  You can expect more meal planning posts from me to keep me on the wagon!

Menu Plan Monday Jan 12/15

Last week’s menu plan included quiche, which was a huge hit with all parties.  It was even better the second day!  This week’s meals are a little less inspired because we have a number of things on our calendar this week. In winter we appreciate even a simple meal at home when it is cold and dark out.

Monday – Shrimp and twice-baked potatoes, broccoli

Tuesday – Brats and beans, salad

Wednesday – Sweet and sour chicken, broccoli

Thursday – Pizza and salad

Friday – We have a free take-out meal coupon.  Night off!

For more dinner inspirations, connect with other bloggers at orgjunkie.com

Menu Plan Monday – Sept 29

Monday – Chili (already made in freezer) and cornbread

Tuesday – Jazzercise night! Frozen pizza & salad for husband and daughter

Wednesday – Veggie masala patties from Trader Joes, naan, tahini and tabbouleh

Thursday – Shrimp fried rice and egg rolls already in freezer

Friday – Going to Jason Gray concert with daughter!  Dad’s on his own 😀

View more menu plans at orgjunkie!

Menu Plan Monday – May 26

Monday – Memorial Day in the US… dinner plans uncertain due to weather.  Hoping rain can hold off and we can cook out

Tuesday – Teriyaki Glazed Tofu, Vegetables and Rice

Wednesday – Make Your Own Pizza on Naan

Thursday – Turkey Burgers and Oven Fries

Friday – Taco salad

For more menu planning inspirations, head over to Orgjunkie!