family & food

If you were to ask me if I considered myself competitive I would quickly say no. I enjoy the laughs along the way and am happy for whoever wins. Well, I was just thinking about this today and I think my answer might have to change a little.

You see today is grocery shopping day. What does this have to do with competitive-ness? Just keep reading…My husband gets paid every two weeks and I make a meal plan and go to the store for what’s on my list- and nothing extra. Because we are trying to cut back to pay off bills and etc. the grocery list has been reduced to the minimum. $60. Yes that’s right people, $60 for 2 1/2 people for 2 weeks! You have to plan ahead but a lot of it can be fun too. This is the time when you look at what you’ve got in your pantry, look at cool food sites and put your creative hat on. Sometimes I even make dough parties with whoever and we make huge amounts of dough for many recipes. The best part is it’s all hand (heart)-made, healthy and you get to hang with cool people.

OK, so back to the competitive-ness. I was thinking that some of the reason why I love shopping (yes I love grocery shopping-you can pray for me ) is because I feel like it is the store against me. And trust me- I will win. I walk in to the store and see all the ways they lure people into spending way to much and on silly things like 5 lbs of peanuts. Who wants 5 lbs of peanuts?! There are huge colorful signs luring me to whatever ‘sales’ they might be having and even sometimes a voice is heard telling the ‘lucky costumers’ about a sale going on in the produce. * roll of my eyes.

OK, you go on a mission and you go. If it helps- don’t go with your kids, I can remember asking (OK I begged and did whatever I had to do) my mom for treats when we went shopping. And I always got one little thing. Good memories. I plan it with my hubby and he takes care of our little Emma and I go alone with my hand made grocery bags (so simple!) and i-pod. When I go through those doors I blare whatever music I want and go on my mission. It’s actually enjoyable!

What things do you do that helps you stick to your food budget for the month?

OK, so this is going to be my temporary blog until Travis can help me with what I want.
I made my list of to-do’s and it’s a full day- hope I can blog again about something of value.
Until then have a happy Thursday!

Please be patient with me as I am changing my blog again! It doesn’t have the ‘feeling’ I want. (I am such a girl! lol) Emma needs me right now and so I am having to leave this half done…what things do you have that you love on your blog?

oh and I must say that this blog is a favorite so far! You must check it out!

There are days when you feel like even though you might not have tons planned- the day feels as though it sped by like a whirl wind. Today I volunteered for a couple hours, got home to pay bills, talk with a construction guy because Emma’s ceiling is leaking bad, fold laundry and hurry to go to a meeting. I had to leave early (1 1/2 hr long meeting with Emma….yeah) and we’re having small group here tonight.
That is probably the highlight of my day, although it hasn’t happened yet. I love small groups and even though that may sound cliche I love them. Travis and I are starting our second and it should be great. We already are leading one that meets every other Sunday and this one will be meeting every other Tuesday. There is something about people that I like.
I used to think that I didn’t relate well to people (girls in particular) and I would stray off feeling uncomfortable. That did nothing for my first impressions. Trust me- I have a best friend now that thought I was intimidated for the first 6 months we knew each other. Intimidating! ME! Once you get to know me that’s laughable. * sigh. But I’m going through this class called, “Genesis” and it peels back the emotionalism of life and deals with the why questions. Why did I stray away and feel awkward around people? Well, I have learned a lot and now see myself through a better/healthier lens.
So when we have people over I can be myself and genuinely be interested in their lives instead of fighting my personal silent civil war inside.
On another topic- I am in love with the blogging world. There are so many new and exciting blogs that I can now see how people can get sucked into the realm known as the blogesphere and never return. However I have a baby so she makes me deal with the realities of life. I love her. OK, well of to make dinner in 30 min. – Rachele Ray you got nothin‘ over me!

Here is a video of my beautiful daughter laughing. I was gone and my friend was watching her and captured this- thank you Charis!

http://www.chariskay.blogspot.com/