November 2012 Menu Plans

 

I am trying something new this month.  I am planning the menu for a month at a time.  I know this could seem daunting but it actually wasn’t that difficult.  I sat down with a calendar and went to town.  I looked at the month’s meetings etc. and decided to give it my best shot.  I am going to try this for a few months and see if I notice a savings too.  Don’t be afraid of leftovers.  You can always add a salad or different side with them.

I am trying to buy my meat at Costco and stick to Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods for the rest.  I am buying my organic bread at Costco because I can get 2 loves for under $6. I buy a loaf for each week and they freeze well. Organic ground beef and milk is also very affordable at Costco.

Use Pinterest and my cookbooks for meal planning and recipes.  We have tacos at least once a week because the Miller boys love them. 

I know there will times that I switch up days but that is ok.  I can also then just go weekly for fresh fruit and dairy.

November 2012

 

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
				1	2	3
4 Tacos Corn	5 Lasagna Garlic Toast	6 Chicken and Noodles Applesauce	7 Leftovers	8 Bunco Grilled Cheese Tomato Soup	9 Turkey Burgers and Salad	10 M - 42 Davis Dinner Party
11 Spaghetti Spinach Salad	12 Oven Tacos Carrots and Ranch Pinterest	13STM 4 All Leftovers	14 Ground Beef Stroganoff Broccoli Pinterest	15 Roasted Chicken Stuffing Green Beans	16 Cheese Pizza Salad	17 Leftovers
18 Meatloaf Mashed Potatoes Peas	19 Ravioli Casserole	20 Grilled Cheese Tomato Soup	21 Newton	22 Newton	23 Newton	24 Tacos Carrots and Ranch
25 Chili Cornbread	26 Hickory Cheddar Cauliflower Soup Pinterest	27 Chicken Nuggets Mac n Cheese	28 Leftovers	29 Mandarin Orange Chicken Rice Peas	30 Salmon Asparagus Potatoes

what’s happening around here today…

 

::  Spring cleaning, trust me I am feeling my age after scrubbing the kitchen floor on my hands and knees.

::  Peanut doing what she does best.

::  Finding all of the new awakenings in the yard.

::  Washing diapers and getting to put them out for a sunbath.

::  Painting a file cabinet that I found in one of my Urban Treasure Hunts.

::  Baking St. Patrick’s Day cookies with my Cameron and Henry.

::  Enjoying this amazing day!

how did i do it?

This weekend I decided to challenge myself.  The challenge was to see how cheaply I could feed my family of 4.  I gave myself a $60 budget for the weeks groceries.  Crazy, you say?  Maybe? Possibly?  Could it be done?  Yep, I did it!

I planned my menu.

Monday ~ Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Tuesday ~ Taco Tuesday

Wednesday ~ Black Beans and Rice
                       Kielbasa and Tilapia
                       Salad

Thursday ~ Spaghetti Rice
                   Broccoli

Friday ~ Terriyaki Chicken with Rice  (Recipe found in my Easy 30 day Gluten Free diet)
               Green Beans

Saturday ~ Black Bean Soup (Recipe found in my Make it Fast, Make it Slow book)
                  Frito's, Avocado, Sour Cream

Sunday ~ Chicken and Rice
                Green Beans

Not a bad menu and all Gluten Free.  I shopped at Hy-Vee and I spent $56.49, yep under $60 and I only used 2 coupons.

The trick is to see what you have on hand when planning your menu.  Look in that Freezer, dig in your pantry. 

I had the ground beef and a roasting chicken in the freezer from the last "big meat sale".  The chicken itself will cover 2 meals this week and give me another casserole next week.  Black beans, hello buy in bulk and soak yourself.  You save so much money that way.  I also take the Cecelia's Gluten Free Market Guide with me to the store.  You would be surprised at how many off label store brands, especially Hy-Vee, are actually gluten free.

Oh yes I did buy for lunches and breakfast too.  Buy your yogurt in the large container.  Make your own muffins, pancakes or eggs for breakfast.  PB&J is a staple in Cam's lunch and Henry, Mr. Miller and I will usually clean up leftovers from the night before.  This can be done and it is not hard.

Watch for your sales on meat and use that freezer.  When you make your soups freeze some of it for a night down the road.  Good luck and I hope this helps.

new season

Yesterday Henry and I removed the last of Christmas in the house.  I was hoping to get the outside done as well but with Scouts last night and helping some friends out it didn't happen.  Tonight is a different story.  We will get it put away because there is rain in the forecast, I wish it was snow but I will take the rain.

New seasons seem to be all around me, from putting out a few Valentine decorations here at the house to a new season for several aspects in my life.

“Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and look at all beings with eyes of compassion.” --Thich Nhat Hanh

 My friends who own Happybottomus, where I have been working part time, have decided to close their doors.  It is a bittersweet time for them and me.  I am sad to see them go through the pain of closing this chapter and for me it brings back the memories of the Harold's liquidation days of 08-09.  Thank goodness I am not 8 months pregnant this time and that this is a short ending.  I am trying to help physically, prayerfully and mentally for them since I have been down this road before.  Please keep them in your thoughts as they transition into this new season for them.

Mr. Miller and I are working on moving the basement around to make my new sewing/create space.  I am eagerly awaiting the delivery of my new sewing table this week.  We lucked into a great butcher block on metal base conference table that will be perfect for me.  I can set all 3 of my machines up and just roll down the table to use each.  I am going to try and get the boys play area relocated temporarily today so we can move the storage area into their old space.  By moving the storage area we can set up the Green Acres Closet Manufacturing Headquarters.

New seasons are always good no matter what they bring.  They can bring sadness but also joy.  I think that if you look at the fork in the road in these 2 ways you will always succeed.

The past is no longer an option and your future is whatever you make of it.

a clean slate

2012...is it possible?  I am not sure where 2011 went.

I look at the year and I feel very blessed.  There have been some great opportunities given to us this last year and they are making 2012 look promising.  Mr. Miller and his promotion, Cameron doing well in school, Henry growing up and of course Green Acres Closet taking off for me.

I plan on continuing the focus on my faith and family first in this year.  I had a friend ask the question on New Year's Day "What will you do today that will make you proud in a year?".  This is such a great question for every day.  I plan on using this question daily. 

I will continue to build Green Acres Closet.  We are in the process of giving me a bigger work space downstairs.  It seems that I have outgrown my quaint little room.  It will be a great playroom for the boys.

We will regain our rhythm of being gluten free here.  I fell of that train hard and I am feeling the pain from it.  Please send me any suggestions and/or recipes that you have in your gluten free diet.  I am always looking for new ideas.

Lastly I hope all of you have an enjoyable start to the new year!

some of my favorite childhood books

As a child I always loved to read.  I give that credit to my parents.  Growing up in Seattle we spent a lot of time outside using our imagination. Mom and Dad used to take us not only to the Library on a regular basis but since my Dad was a student at the the U we spent a fair amount of time at the Bookstore.

My mom would spend hours reading to us girls. One of my favorite childhood authors was Stephen Cosgrove.  He wrote the Serendipity series of books.  Wonderful books with a moral always attached.

 Today I got to read one of those books with Henry and I am so looking forward to Cameron reading one to me today for his final book report for the quarter.  My absolute favorite is the Wheedle on the Needle.

Wheedle is a very grumpy orange sasquatch who is upset with all the people moving to Seattle.  All he wants is a quiet place to sleep, but he is finding that this is close to impossible. When he heads for the top of the Space Needle and unleashes a never-ending rainfall, everyone stays indoors, and the city is quiet once again. Now, it's the Seattleites who are grumpy — who wants to stay inside all the time? Is there a solution that makes everyone happy?

Being a Seattleite this is a classic.

Go to the library check these books out.  They are wonderful!

hello again...

No I have not been abducted by small children, laundry or aliens. Plain and simple I have bitten off more than I should have in the last 3 weeks. Here is a brief run down.

1. Big changes at Cam's school with one of our very favorite teachers leaving. Mrs. O has been an amazing part of Cameron's continued success in school. I truly feel she is a gift from God and we will miss her at STM but we are lucky enough at Green Acres that we get to still see her. Yep she has definitely been granted family status here. Yes, that goes for her whole family. I have learned that during this transition my child as well as the 37 other kids directly affected by her leaving are truly supported. We had over 100 people at the school board meeting last week and things are going to get turned around.

2. Hit the big 41 on the 10Th. I am 41 and definitely embracing this one!

3. STM Auction, whew let's just say that I am glad it is done! I donated a Perfect Picnic Blanket in Pinks and Greens.

4. Finally I have been focusing a lot on Green Acres Closet and I am proud to announce that I am in the talks with 3 retailers on carrying my line. Healthy Baby Boutique in Newton and Wichita, Kansas will be getting their first shipment by the end of the week. I am continuing to sew and I know the etsy looks a little thin but don't worry the workshop is full of wool and I am constantly sewing. I will have more listed this week.

Thank you all for inspiring me in so many ways to follow my dreams.

balancing act

I am working on my circus routine, you know the balancing act that we all do when we have a lot going on.  Trust me I am not complaining, I am merely getting my balancing act back.

This last week was my first one where I worked 3 days out of the home at Happybottomus, shhh I am loving the retail gig again.  I never, I mean NEVER thought those words would come out of my mouth again.

Green Acres Closet is doing better than expected.  I am having sales in the Etsy Store and I have 2 retailers working out the fine details of carrying my line.  The Lord has blessed us greatly these days.  I am so thankful.  It really proved to me that if you relax, pray and turn it over HE will help you.

So this is where the balancing act comes in.  I am sewing a lot lately, trying to clean and organize, plus be mom and wife and lastly come up with fun marketing ideas for Brookie at the store.

Here is a look at what I am working on in my workshop.

I would love to chat more but Mama has to get moving today.  Laundry, shipping sold items, sewing and cleaning Junior Mints room are a few items begging for my attention today not to mention 3 special Miller Men in my life.  Hope all is well with you and enjoy this day!

fire in the hole

Any of our neighbors can confirm the alert of “fire in the hole!” coming from our back yard.  It started with Cameron years ago and it has now continued with Henry.  It can be sounded off at any number of occasions such as the boys playing in the backyard, Mr. Miller using is torch to burn off brush or my favorite when I am lighting a fire in the fire pit. 

We had our first fire of Fall on Saturday night.  It had been a wonderful day of football and projects.  We decided that with the nip in the air we needed a fire.  None of my 3 boys complained a bit.

What is it about fire that is so fascinating?

We had a lovely evening.  Cameron fell asleep in his chair and Junior Mint cuddled on my lap.  Mr. Miller put the boys to bed and we shared a bottle of Cabernet under the stars.  Oh how I love Fall!

our gathering place

I have found that in order to keep rhythm here we have to have a gathering place. Our gathering place is the dining room table. It has taken on many jobs over the last 11+ years for Mr. Miller and I.

It has changed shape, color and direction. I love sitting around our table with friends and family. The laughter shared over a cup of coffee, glass of wine or a meal shared. The tears that have flown from my eyes and others. The hours of homework with Cameron and life lessons are amazing. My favorite role is that of sharing a meal in the evening with my family. Cameron and Henry have taken to setting the table. We gather, fold our hands and bow our heads and give thanks to the Lord for our blessings and then share our meal. We talk and separate from the world outside by no TV, no phones or computer. We might turn on some music but that is it. It has taken on the role of my blogging place lately since I moved my desk into Cameron's room so he can concentrate on his homework. If this table could talk.

This week in my quest for fall I changed out the dining room chairs once again. We found these chairs about 5 years ago at a "going out of business" store. I love these chairs!

The “Daddy Chair” so proud and tall. Ready to listen and give guidance.

The “Mama Chair” that is in her favorite shade of yellow. Sits closest to the kitchen, between her boys and across from her beloved.

“Brother’s Chair” in Cameron’s favorite color red. I was also thinking that the darker shade would hide more. Obviously it didn’t hide the snags on the side from Delani’s days with front claws. I must really get those scissors out soon and take care of that. I’ll add it to that never ending list.

Lastly, “Junior Mint’s Chair”. He does have a red one just like Cameron. However I need to get a leg fixed on it. Yep, just penciled that down on the list too.

What does your gathering place look like?

i seem to have lost something…

   I seem to have lost something…

Where did this confident Mama go?  Where has she placed her rhythm, her confidence, her structure?

This picture was taken 2 years ago when I started this quest to find a simpler life.  I seemed so together with a plan.  When did my sights get so foggy?  Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by life that you just want to dig a hole and crawl in?  Well if so come on the water is warm. 

This year has been so full of obstacles that I feel I am on a constant roller coaster.  Sometimes it is the ride of my life with sheer excitement and other times I just close my eyes and pray that I don’t fall off.  Between Cameron and the ever changing rhythm of Asperger’s, Henry and the two’s (enough said there), the constant change of members in the Sippy Cup Gang…I have lost my way.  Where is the Map, Garmin or trail boss because I have lost my way back to my “Rhythm of the Home”.

Mr. Miller and I had a long talk last night on the patio, long overdue, and he pointed out that I haven’t been myself and he is missing me.  Wow, that hits home in so many ways.  It’s true.  No spark, passion, mojo or whatever you want to call it.  I quit writing, sewing, reading and just plain enjoying my world around me.   Mr. Miller is willing to help me in any way he can.  We decided that maybe, just maybe I need routine as bad as my Cameron does.  Does routine = rhythm?  I don’t know but it is at least a starting point.

My first attempt has been planning next weeks menu for both dinner and the Sippy Cup Gang lunches.  Cameron is going back to school next week and it will be welcomed on so many levels.  I love my little man but he needs his school day routine as bad as I need my routine here.

I am going to work on getting my lesson plans in order for the Sippy Cup Gang as well.  Livi and Henry are ready for preschool and there is no reason that I can’t do this.  I have found some great resources, more to come later on that.

Thank you for listening and letting me put it all out there.  It does make me feel better.  I would ask for prayers, suggestions and kind thoughts if you want to share.

back to basics

I have decided to get back to basics around here. Lately I have fallen out of rhythm per say. I am not sure where I lost my path or way but I feel I am getting it back together. I fell into the easy quick fix meals and processed foods. Not shopping organically or for whole food type items. Mr. Miller and I had both not been feeling so great and we had noticed especially with Cameron more behavioral issues. Last week I saw and read several articles about artificial colors and the link to ADHD, not that it causes it but that is increases the symptoms. That was my "post it note". Got it God, check! Get this Mama back on path. The first question was how can I get back to buying from Whole Foods again instead of Aldi, Walmart, etc? Well you know I had to go to my "University of Google" and there were several sights with helpful tips. Tips such as these:

1. Go to www.wholefoods.com and print their sales fly er. Plan your menu for the week based off of that.


2. This leads me to on of the most important things a family can do in these hard times, PLAN A MENU and stick to it. It makes your grocery list so much easier.


3. Use their printable coupons, again available on their website. Be careful though, just because a label has a coupon it still doesn't mean it is the best value


4. Buy the 365 label brand. Great value and we find it to be just as good.


5. Buy fruits and vegetables that are in season.


6. Stick to the outer perimeter of the store.


7. Buy in bulk. I found this true on buying flour and dried beans this week. Even though the packaged items were on sale it was still cheaper to buy in bulk.

I found I still spent more money than I had but I think that was due to the initial bulk buying. We will be charting and seeing how it goes. I had been spending $120 a week and we still ate out about 2 times a week, which for a family of 4 is an easy $25 per meal. I spent $160 and we didn't eat out all weekend and I figure with that alone I am ahead by $5. Please note that I didn't just throw all the food that I already had in the pantry and freezer out. We are replacing the items as we use them. If you have any additional tips please share!

I also made the decision to get back to baking our own bread. Have you read the label on a simple loaf of bread from the mainstream store? Crazy! For about $1.50 I just pulled out a beautiful loaf of sandwich bread. I used my bread machine to do the kneading and rising and then put it in a buttered loaf pan, let it rise for another 30 minutes. I baked it for 40 minutes and my house smells like a bit of heaven right now.

In the next couple weeks our Farmer's Markets will be open again. This is a great way to buy locally and save money too.

I am making Black Bean and Spinach Enchilada Casserole tonight and I started soaking my black beans this morning and this meal will make great lunches for Mr. Miller and I all week.

Eat your leftovers! Don't let any go to waste. Yes, I think I have found my way again. I am hoping to see a difference in Cameron too.

simple cooking with fresh ingredients

 

I am really trying to get back on track and get things in order for school to start next week.  Yes, I said next week!  My little Cam Man starts 1st grade next week and we are all so excited for a myriad of reasons.

So in order to get us back in gear I am trying to simplify some recipes, my shopping routine and just plain how I feed my family.  For 2 weeks now I have been diligent in making a menu and making a shopping list.  I wait until my Fresh Connect order comes and then I make the menu based on what produce has come there and what is ready at the Green Acres Garden.  I have shopped at Whole Foods again and have stayed within my budget.  I can’t tell you how pleased this makes me.  I want to really pay attention to what I am giving my family.  I do firmly believe that a lot of the obesity, behavior issues, pre pubescent development has  a direct correlation to all of the additives and processed foods that we have become accustomed to in our quick and easy lifestyle that we all want. 

I am choosing to stand up and say “NO MORE” in this household.  I am going to make it work within our budget to buy wholesome, organic with no artificial ingredients.  I know I can do it.  I am pulling out the cookbooks and making simple meals that are good for us, heck I think we are having our own “Food Revolution” here at Green Acres.  Join me, look in your pantry and see what changes you can make.  We can do it.  Share ideas and recipes I would love to hear them!

the whole deal

 

I have been trying to get back to our Rhythm here again at Green Acres.  It seems that we go along just fine and then “boom” I can derail so fast.  I know that the last 3 weeks have been crazy getting ready for the celebration and the last tee ball games but it is time to get this train back on track.

I was making our menu this morning and realizing that in our derailment I had been pretty lax in what I was feeding our family again.  I am not going to throw these items away but once the processed is gone it is gone!  It is so easy to buy the packaged junk but am I really saving money?  Isn’t it more realistic to think of healthy snacks instead of reaching for ease.  What am I doing to my body let alone my kids and Mr. Miller? 

I went to the  Whole Foods website this morning to look for ideas and they now have their Whole Deal available for printing off at home!  Great ideas and over $45 in coupons.  I know where I am going tonight.  With the garden in full swing and my once a month meat delivery I might be able to do this venture in a reasonable manor with a list and the coupons.  Wish me luck!

job jars, chocolate and wine

 

I have recently had several conversations lately with new Mama's and it seems their question for me is "how do you do it all in one day?"  OK time for confession, I DON'T, or at least not in one day.

One way that I keep my house in order, now I said in order and not immaculate, is to have a "job jar".  When I was first married and working full time I had Monday's off.  I used to cram everything into Monday's.  Laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, ironing and on and on.  I was so exhausted by the end of the day I didn't feel that I even had a day off.  I had a friend, K.C., and she was home with 2 kids and her house was always put together.  How in the world did she do it?  I mean if you are home with your kids you don't work, right?  Wrong, trust me I wish I sat around here eating "Chocolate Covered Strawberries and drinking Wine" (thanks for the analogy Melissa).  K.C. let me in on her secret, she said she had a "job jar".  She put down every chore, one by one, on a slip of paper and kept them in a jar and she pulled a couple out every day and did them at some point during the day. That way at the end of 7 days every chore in keeping house had been accomplished at least once.   Ingenious I say!   

These days I still practice that method.  Of course while using cloth diapers I am running laundry every other day, the dishes are done everyday and my OCD pushes me to sweep and vacuum.  This method has worked for me for over 10 years, both working at home and away from home.  These days I make a task sheet for the week and I divide up the chores that way, but none the less it is the same idea.  

Finding that your chores are overtaking you, give this a try.  It worked for me to give me more time and I am all about those "chocolate covered strawberries and wine".  No I am not perfect and some days well the dusting or cutting fabric can wait until tomorrow because "Mama" is needed at that moment, but my job is "Mama" these days and that is just fine with me.  After all Cameron said it best, “you are not a lady, you are just a Mama and Mama’s are special!”. 

my corner

Mr. Miller has been working feverishly on the back corner of the yard. We have decided to make a meditation area and also a nice place to enjoy the garden and a glass of tea. This area is already a key player in Mama being able to keep the Rhythm alive here at Green Acres. It is so important to take time out for yourself. Ask yourself the questions, "how do I feel today", "what do I want to do". Don't let yourself go when you are busy taking care of everyone else. I know balance is hard, but it is key to the Rhythm of your home. It is OK if that load of laundry doesn't get folded before bed or if there are still dishes in the sink. I know I am rambling but this helps me to cope with the fact "I am not perfect, I don't keep a perfect house and I am not the perfect Mama or Wife" but who is? I love myself, family and the life that God has blessed me with and for now that is all I can ask for.

I asked for a bird bath and this is what he came up with.

The pavers were found throughout the yard buried by years of neglect. I am not sure what they were originally leading to out there. Most of them were around the area where he put the patio in last year. We found the basin last weekend at Lowes. It was a little more than I wanted to spend but I compromised with it being my Mother's Day Present.

I can see it coming together nicely. We still need the mulch and few other plants but the Red Bud is beautiful and the Cardinals are loving it.

I can also sit over there and admire the apple blossoms. It is too bad I have no idea what kind of apples these are.

Thank you Mr. Miller for making me a corner for my "timeouts". I love you!

Rhythm of the Home

This has been a very exciting morning here. I had a recipe featured in my friend Heather's online magazine. Rhythm of the Home is a quarterly online magazine featuring fellow bloggers and the ways that share their inspirations, tips and recipes. Please check it out by clicking the button on the side of my blog. You will find me under the CELEBRATIONS tab and my recipe for Sour Cream Banana Cake.



Thank you Heather and Bernadette for including me. This is a good day indeed!