Monthly Menus

Do you plan monthly menus for supper or for lunch?

You know, being a teacher, I've always been a planner.  Spontaneity in certain situations can give me anxiety at times, but up until I started staying at home, I had never really been a menu person when it came to preparing food in my home.  For some reason my planning didn't carry over to my home life!

Sure, I had ideas about what I might make during that week, but I remember going to the grocery store, picking out some staples and maybe some stuff in particular that I was thinking about cooking, going home, and still feeling at times like I had nothing to eat.  Sometimes I would come from school and wonder, what are we going to eat tonight?  Sometimes I would have what I wanted in order to cook a certain meal, and sometimes I did not.  It became very old and stressful to think about cooking supper!

I was missing something - a plan!  AND I was spending way too much money!

Well, enter the stay-at-home-mama stage on my life, and all of a sudden a plan was needed. Money doesn't grow on trees, and we don't need to overspend on groceries or anything for that matter.  Gone are the days of casually going grocery shopping and putting whatever I want into my cart only to figure out meals later.  No, that will not do!

Turns out that we spend about the same amount of money, or even less now, on groceries than we did before Callie was born or about the time she was born, which was 5 years ago.

This amazes me!

What is the difference?  Planning out a menu and putting thought and time into what I will buy, how much of it, and staying OUT of the grocery store!

Some women are tempted to buy clothes every time they walk into a department store.  I fall into that category too, but I am the same way at the grocery store!  If I am not careful, it can become a shopping spree.  Am I alone in this?  I see buy one get one free deals, and I feel like a kid in the candy store. LOL

Anyway, so here is my challenge to you.  If you are concerned about how much money you spend out of your monthly budget in groceries, stress out about what you will cook for supper every night, or just casually grocery shop like I used to do, then I challenge you to develop a supper menu for your family.  It can be a monthly calendar or even 2 weeks at a time or even just for one week.  I guarantee you that you will spend less money and feel less stress about what you are going to cook for supper every day! 

I have attached a couple of menus that I have used in the past and still use.  I did NOT come up with these resources!  They come from www.moneysavingmom.com.  Enjoy!  Let me know how your meal planning goes if you try it!

Apples are my new favorite fruit

I looked in my fridge the other day and discovered I had accumulated about 20 apples.

Some of them came from the grocery store and some from Jaemor.

After talking with Ashley, we decided to make some apple butter.  Then, a very smart friend of mine, told me to save the peels to make apple jelly!  Who knew!?!?

Being very impatient as I am, I couldn't wait to do the apple butter (that has been put on hold until Ashley and I can get together), but mama suggested that I dehydrate the apples.  So, I did!

They turned out pretty good too!

Then, it was amazing.  I used a simple recipe online to make some apple jelly out of the peels and cores.  Yes, I used the cores!  It was amazing because there was really nothing wasted! 

I felt so good. Surely all of my organic and green-crazed friends would have been so proud. LOL

It's so cool to think about all of the things I've been able to do since I've been staying at home.

I've really gotten to practice with my sewing machine, do some serious crafting, and try all sorts of new recipes.  And we're talking it's real cooking - not just out of a box!

Most of this inspiration has not come from within though.  I credit my sister, my mother, pinterest, and other people that I talk to frequently with giving me the ideas. 

Anyway, sort of a boring blog post, but I was really excited about the apples yesterday.  Just had to share! :)

Have YOU been working on anything super cool!?  Leave me a comment and tell me about it! :)

My Cup Runneth Over... Sweet lessons from the Lord

Don't you love those moments when you just feel overwhelmed with God's love for you and you almost feel Him just pouring His love and truth into your heart? 

I just had one of those moments and let me tell you my cup runneth over! 

I just finished up reading the "Be the Mom" book that I have been blogging about some.  All I can say is WOW.  If you are a mom, this book is essential for you to read!

I know that ever since I decided to stay at home with Caroline, that I have had a hard time finding my purpose.  Going from working outside of the home and contributing to the family finances to not working and teaching a few piano lessons that amount to less than $100 per month really was a blow to my perception of how to be an effective member and contributing member of my family.

Sure I always knew that being a mama was important, but all last school year I struggled to find myself.  What was I supposed to be doing?  Was I doing this stay-at-home mama thing right? 

I will tell you some things I learned I was NOT supposed to do.

1)  Clean my house all the time and expect it to stay clean.

This wore me out.  I felt like I didn't get anything accomplished. I have two tornadoes that live here named Callie and Caroline.  Neither of them exactly know how to clean up a mess very well or how to keep from making messes.  So, I learned to divide and conquer my tasks and at times to "embrace the mess." Still hard to do, but I think I am a little better than I used to be.

AND

2)  Try to keep up with and be like some of these bloggy stay-at-home-moms.

I don't know about you, but if I start reading blogs online, I start to feel like I don't fall into this stereotypical stay-at-home-mom mold that that says she is supposed to sew all day, have a perfect house, and constantly be doing crafts and educational projects with her kids.  Hey y'all - I can't do all of that!  I admit it!

So, I feel like I wasted a year of time at home in some respects.  I wish I had worked more with Caroline last year on reading to her every day, not worrying about those clothes that needed washing (that could have waited), and spent more quality time with Callie after I picked her up from school.

After reading this book, "Be the Mom," I think I have finally started to realize what I am made for, what I was made to do, and how much God values me as a mother.  No matter what anyone thinks or says, I am the person that God has entrusted to my children to be their mother.  I will mess this thing up many times, but He is here to help me.  You don't ever figure out this stay-at-home mom thing.  You just need to "BE THE MOM!" and the best one you can be at that.

One more story, and then I will end this blog novel. :)

As many of you know, Caroline has NEVER slept well since she was born.  Callie was my dream child as far as sleep goes.  Caroline, on the other hand, has a hard time going to sleep sometimes, and then ultimately she has a hard time staying asleep.  This has left me feeling angry, bitter, and sleep-deprived for almost 2 years now.  I don't know about you, but an almost 2 year old waking me up from my sleep at 3:00 am and demanding certain things and screaming unless she gets her way does not bring out the best in me.  In fact, it brings out the worst.  This leaves me feeling guilty beyond measure.  I realize how selfish I am and how selfless I need to be.

What really got me this morning, when I finished up the book, was reading those last few words of Tracey's encouragement.  She said something along the lines of, "God is using your children to make you the person and woman He wants you to be."

Whew! I'm tell you, it hit me like a ton of bricks.  I felt God speaking this to my heart and reminding me that not only did He make Caroline this way (strong-willed, hard-headed, demanding, yet sweet all at the same time) for a purpose, but He has entrusted her to be her mom because He knew I was the woman for the job.  He's also using her in my life to mold me and shape me into the woman He wants me to be - which is selfless, having a servant's heart, patient, kind, and all of those other fruits of the Spirit.  The thought still brings tears to my eyes.

Oh how He loves us!

I had never put two and two together like that, but it changes my perspective a lot on the entire topic of being a mother to my children.  God loves me so much that He sent me these particular children.  He made me them the way that they are and me the way I am and knew that I would be the perfect woman for the job.  The same goes for you too.

If that doesn't make you feel good today, then I don't know what will!

Love on your babies!

Be the Mom!

Leave me a comment!

Awesome Resource

Here is an awesome website filled with encouragement for moms.

http://traceyster.com/

Tracey is the author of the book I'm reading called, "Be the Mom."  I have been blessed so much by this book!

Sometimes I feel like she is writing to me.

Check it out!

Leave me a comment if you visit my blog!

BB

Weekend Events

Last week was quite a busy week here at the Brown house.  Seems like we had something going on almost every day.  Those types of weeks can either go by fast or slow.  Last week seemed to go by pretty fast. 

Callie is getting more used to school.  She likes her teachers and is making new friends all of the time it seems. 

Caroline is still her feisty-self.  She is actually going to be going to the Level Grove Preschool one day a week for a few hours just so she can have some interaction time with other kids and maybe give me a chance to do some things that I need to do.
She went today, and I was totally lost without her.  I feel like as a mama I am so used to having my kids (at least one of them) with me all of the time.  I felt so strange not having one of them to keep up with.  Perhaps I will get used to it, but I don't really want to. :)

Anyway, the point of this point was to talk about weekend stuff.

Andy's birthday was on Saturday.  He is officially 5 years older than me again.  We did not do anything super special for his birthday, but I did stay in the kitchen a good part of the day it seems.

I made him some bacon for breakfast.  Then, that morning worked on his homemade red velvet cake (Maw Maw's recipe).  Later that evening for supper we had homemade patty melts (Pioneer Woman style!), like the kind at the Waffle House.  All in all, it was a good day for eating!  Callie enjoyed the cake as did everyone else.  She always licks the cream cheese icing bowl clean. Silly girl and her sweets!

Sunday we had a good service at church too, then we ate with mama, daddy, Ashley, Levi, and Silas.   It was some mighty fine eating there too!

Good weekend over all.  I leave you with some pictures of the deliciousness that came from my kitchen this weekend....

 Red Velvet Cake.  My only complaint: I did not use pecans in the icing.  Some people don't like them! ha! Pay no attention to my messiness on the cake platter!

Ooey gooey swiss cheese, sauteed onions, and the patty on rye bread.  Oh yes!

Comments!

Hey! If you happen to read my blog, make sure you leave a comment!  I love to hear your thoughts! :)

Did I Do That? (in my best Urkel voice)

I sit here with my eyes still burning and tingling after crying and having a "weltdown" with Caroline. Yes, that's "weltdown" since "we" had a "meltdown" at the same time.

If anyone was watching (other than our gracious God), I would NEVER EVER receive the Mother-of-the-Year award for the show I just put on. *Sigh....

I was not giving her the attention she apparently wanted so she started crying.  I thought she might be hungry, even though it was close to nap time.  So, we tried food.  No.  She just screamed.  So, then I tried to get her to sleep.  No. She didn't want to be rocked.  She just screamed.  Tried to lay down with her on my bed.  No. She just screamed. 

Do you sense a pattern here? :)

While I was trying to determine what was wrong with her (gave her teething tablets, gas drops, orajel, and a cup of water) NOTHING was working.  It just kept wearing on me until I snapped.  Crying and screaming myself (must have been super ugly) I clearly did not help the situation.  So, after I called out loud to God for help and strength and He starting pulling me back to reality, I began to pray and then feel guilty and feel like the biggest failure EVER!

Why is it that I am so capable of becoming unglued by simple things sometimes? Ever been there?  Ever let your hormones dictate your actions and your reactions? Ever let your almost 2 year old control your feelings and your actions?  Ouch...that hurts me to type!

After God got my attention during my spell, one thing that helped me was to think about the inspiration I have been receiving from the new book I am reading called "Be the Mom."  Dude, this book will OPEN your eyes!!!!  I feel like the author is writing about ME sometimes!  It's so convicting, but I feel like right now it's something God is really trying to work with me on.  So glad He's long-suffering too! :(

God has given me two very different, but beautiful and smart girls to try to raise.  It's my job to "Be the Mom" and not fall down and start kicking and screaming with them, even though it's hard sometimes. :)  Pray for me that I would do better!  It's days like this that make me wonder why I ever tried to do this stay-at-home thing, but then tomorrow might be one of those days where I wouldn't trade it for anything.  Pray that God would get ahold of my attitude.  It's pretty raunchy about almost everything way too much.   Pray that God would magnify the good things I do and my children see and minimize those that are not showing the good side of me.  Being a mama is hard work and a serious job! I appreciate your prayers! :)