At Home Meals, Cont.

So, a few of my prior blog postings were based around eating on a budget because we were starting to spend too much $ on food, plus when you cook at home you usually eat a healthier meal.  The goal was to buy food for the week, cook most of the meals, and do it under $100 (for both my husband and I).  We are starting back again this week after being sidetracked during the holiday season. We went grocery shopping yesterday and bought enough food for 4 dinners, 5 lunches, 5 breakfasts, and snacks for 2 people.  Here's what we're making:

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Stir-fry with pork (1lb lean porkchops, 1 bag of carrots, shallots, pad thai noodles, teriyaki sauce)

Spaghetti  (1lb italian sausage, noodles, tom sauce, onion)- There are a few other ingredients but I had them already at home

Mexican Pizza with Green Chili Soup (2 pizza doughs, mozz cheese, corn, black beans, BBQ sauce, tomatoes, green chilis, cream cheese)- Already had a few other ingredients at home as well

Salad with Sandwiches- (salad mix, caesar dressing, wheat bread, pepper jack cheese)

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Foods for breakfast, lunch and snacks when not eating leftovers:

Yogurt

Blueberries

Crackers

Water (for fish tank)

Turkey slices

All of the food bought is either natural or organic, we spent a total of $92 and some change.  So, I know if we can do this, and we love to eat, then you can too!

More about food to come soon... Oh and ps... I will be updating about those house projects... again was sidetracked by the holidays!!

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011

I can't believe there are only 3 days left, including today, in 2010.  Where did the time go?  2010 was marked with a lot of growth and fulfillment, as well as very hard times.  It was my first full year of teaching (although I started in 2009), my first full year of being married to my wonderful husband in which we also celebrated our first wedding anniversary, and my first full year in my home (which I am still trying to decorate!).  I've had wonderful relationships grow and found people who I feel will be a part of me and my husbands lives forever. Sadly, I've also had people leave my life for whatever reason.  I've had family who left, come back to stay.  I've helped family celebrate big milestones (turning 50).  My husband and I finally got to go away together (Oct. beach trip).  I found out that I am becoming a stronger person and somehow overcoming physical ailments I have suffered from.  My husband and I bought a new car (his dream car).  The biggest thing I am taking away from 2010, is to not dwell on the negative, only to think about it long enough to know how to turn it into a positive. I will try not to worry about the little things and over-stress/over-anaylize because that does more harm than good.  Everything happens for a reason in our lives!

I've been looking forward to 2011 though.  The start of a new year means the beginning of new memories and a chance to make new resolutions and goals.  My resolution is pretty much the same as it always is, to be more healthy as a whole person which includes a lot of things.  I've already been thinking about this coming summer and some things that I want to accomplish with my time off of work, even though I might work part time again.  This year I want to work out at least every other day (this includes the other months too, not just summer!), I want to volunteer somewhere, I want to take a class of some sort at least once a week or every other week, have game nights, do a few beach trips, decorate more, and a couple of other more personal things.  Those I guess are more of my goals than my resolutions.  Although, I could sum it up as "to be more accomplished" and state it as a resolution.  Either way, the start of each new year is a a chance for us to start over in a way, to grow more as a person, to take a chance and reflect on the past year, and to become more happier.  What are some of your resolutions/goals?  What in 2010 was good for you?

Holiday Decor and More

Whoa, what a busy month this has been!  Between work, snow, getting ready for Christmas, my husbands birthday, my moms birthday, and all of the other daily stuff that comes along, it has been non-stop!  Anyways, I finally have just about every done!  I have biscuits in the oven now as I type... hopefully not burning! haha

I didn't want to spend another fortune this year on decorations, so I was trying to be "creative" once again.  I was a VIP customer to Michael's, AC Moore and then received a few things from mom.  Here are the results of a lot of hard work but I really like how it all turned out!


                                                                Tree in our bedroom

Tree in our dining area thanks to my mom. "The beach tree".

                                      Presents.  I love monograms and got this idea from InStyle Magazine, the one with Carrie Underwood on the cover!  

Staircase going upstairs.. remember the Fall decor that was once there? We also painted the front wall in the picture.

                Main tree or "the big tree".  I tried to incorporate all of the colors on this level of the house...

     Wreath on front door.  I did have a before picture of this but not sure where it went. hmm. Anyways, it was a red berry wreath, now silver and gold thanks to lots of spray paint layers.

I found this idea on the internet... wish I could tell you what website but it has slipped my mind.  We finally decided to hang it at the entrance to our upstairs.

Dining table.  This picture came out dark.  I wanted it very simple so there wouldn't be a lot of clutter to remove before eating.  

Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child is a program through Samaritan's Purse that strives to make sure children this holiday season have a Christmas gift to open.  The church that we usually attend is involved with this and asked the members to help with the mission.  We packed a box (shoe box size) and filled it with toys and hygiene products for a boy.  The boxes that were filled will be sent to a packing location and shipped off to give to children in need.  To create your own box visit http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Pack_A_Shoe_Box/
to get all the details.

Upcoming Projects!

I'm very excited.  There will be lots of projects going on around the house soon.  They will be mostly DIY and include refurbishing.  I have so many ideas and inspirations that I want to use and try myself.  I will be posting more about all of this soon and will let you know how it all goes... the good, the bad, and the ugly of it all!

Fall Decor

Wow what a busy past couple of weeks it's been!! I have managed some time to put some of those Fall decoration ideas into action!  More to come soon!

Below is a picture of our front door.  A friend and I made these wreaths together using supplies we got at AC Moore.  I believe my total cost was around $26.  The pine cones are scented so there is a nice smell when you come up to the door!  I was able to just stick the flowers and the berries in the weave of the wreath without glue or anything.  I wrapped the pine cones around the wreath using wire then tied it to the back to secure them in place.  The yellow flowers to the left are hot-glued in place.

These are the stairs by our kitchen that lead upstairs.  I bought these VERY real-looking leaves that came in a bundle, tied them together, then used a ribbon to tie it to the banister.  I got the corn from the local farmers market and tied it around the finial using a rubber band, then used the chocolate brown satin ribbon to cover up the rubber band and finish off the look.  This decor cost me about $7.

Autumn in the air

I love a season change.  A change of scenery, change of clothes, change of temperature... it's all fantastic.  My favorites are going from Spring to Summer and Summer to Fall.  What I love about Fall: pumpkins, apples, acorns, pies, cider, fireplaces, scarves, foliage, and blankets.  We are finally having some cooler days and nights here in NC and I am able to take advantage of a few of these.  I got a new furry blanket a couple of weeks ago, the most amazing blanket I think I've had.  I have woken up freezing and have beckoned to this blanket!  The fireplaces in our house definitely were a main attraction for us and we are lucky enough to have one in our bedroom.  I plan to be using them very soon as well.

I haven't really decorated for this season much in the past.  A pumpkin here and there, maybe an Autumn plant but that was about it.  This year though I am all about it, of course it has to be on a budget but I have found ways to make that work nicely.  I will soon be posting some pictures, recipes, and ideas that I will be using.  In the meantime, Happy October!