Winter Resolutions

 

So here it is my Winter resolutions. To recap I do seasonal resolutions not yearly.  I don't usually stick to things long term like schedules, exercise, diet or anything really. What I can be honest with myself :) So instead of beating myself up for not following through for a whole year. I decided I was more of a seasonal resolution gal and now I pick things 4 times a year that are important goals to me. If it so happens that a resolution is still important from one season to the next, then I repeat it. If I have already reached one, or it doesn't pertain or I don't feel it is worthwhile anymore. I leave it behind.

The last 2 seasons I have continued be organized! I will do so again now.

#1 BE ORGANIZED!

#2 BE FIT. I have committed to a half marathon so I think I am well on my way. And I just bought new running shoes and clothes so I am in this.

#3 With Valentine's Day on the horizon, I am reminded about dating...REMEMBER THAT :) I hate that Valentine's Day creeps up and everybody feels like it is time to make up for a year of not doing it right. So my #3 is about making it a priority to celebrate my Valentine all the time, not just one stupid day. That way I can laugh and say I don't need the world to designate a specific day for my love. We get it right all the time :) Even if we just hit Lowe's Home Improvement store together or sit together (not on separate couches :) and watch a movie after the kids go to sleep. That will be a great step in the right direction.

#4 Just as I want to make time for Joe and I, I want to also make time for just I. I think the easier plan at this point sounds like adding more hours to the day: 

Dear Earth, 

Please spin slower

All my best, 

Ashley

No? OK Fine, but I think with #1 I can figure out how to sneak some more in. I have made time to run, but usually that includes Maddie. I also have this wonderful blog but I am usually doing it at 1am, wishing I was sleeping. So maybe more then me time I just need TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS. That may be it. I'll let you know.

#4 SAVE MONEY I have been thinking a lot about the similarities and differences of needing to save money and wanting to save money. Sometimes you NEED to save money, but don't want to, and sometimes you WANT to save money but don't need to, but the truth is to be responsible we should save money whether we want to, need to or not. SO this is where I start...SAVING MONEY.

WINTER RESOLUTION CHALLENGE!!!

NO STORE...3 WEEKS!

SAY WHAT?!!!?

I have 4 kids, a husband and a house. So all this costs a lot to run. We are pretty responsible when it comes to spending but I am sure there are places to save so I have started combing through our bills. Both fortunately and unfortunately there isn't many places to save there. So next I moved to monthly spending. Again we have 4 kids and I love to cook... I have also spoken before about my LOVE of grocery shopping. Since I don't really do a lot for myself necessarily: cooking, shopping to cook and eating are amongst my favorite things that I do to make myself happy. But in an effort to revamp for the New Year I am ready and willing to strike a deal. And since I am always game to challenge myself, here it is. 

Can I cook inexpensive, mostly nutritious meals and SAVE on groceries??? My hypothesis is that I don't think I'll cut my grocery tab in half necessarily but I think I can shrink it enough that I can be proud, all the while wasting less, and bringing in my #1 goal, be organized!

Any good kitchen/restaurant manager will tell you that the key to making money in their business, relies heavily on knowing what they have, what they need and NOT WASTING! So since I can't make money by doing these things at home, I can at least save some. I started yesterday with Inventory. I took everything out of my freezer and went shelf by shelf through my fridge and pantry looking to see what was there. 

 Freezer inventory was key because I have a drawer freezer and it is really hard to roganize, so things get lost very easily if I don't pay attention.

 By making a list of what is there and in our garage fridge/freezer I will be able to stay more organized. Or so is the plan. I had no idea but I had tons of frozen meat and fish. So I think we will be good to go. That's the most expensive part of the meal usually anyways! As I use things I will cross them off the list and keep track of what we need to get when we do eventually get to the store.

After debating whether this would nullify the challenge aspect of this. Today I did go to the store just to be sure I had some basics in my pantry. I went to Trader Joe's because I wanted good items for a good price. I think I did great. I can't even tell you the last time I got 4 bags of groceries for less then 100 dollars. All of this including the 3 extras Maddie snuck into her little cart (yogurt, blackberries, and a Z bar:) cost only $77. Pretty good I thought!

I got pizza dough to keep in the freezer. Some extra cheese (a necessity for us) Some Mac and Cheese for when I am super desperate. Flour, Chicken Broth, Tomato Sauce, beans, bread to keep in freezer, rice, potatoes, Marinara Sauce, and fake Parm my kids favorite for spaghetti. These are all things that I usually have on hand.

FRIDGE: Block of cheddar cheese, salad dressings, bacon, tortillas, juice, milk, yogurt, butter, eggs, veggies, fruits, condiments including but not limited to ketchup, mayo, mustard, soy sauce, teriyaki, Franks Red Hot, BBQ Sauce, and more.

 PANTRY: Canned goods like enchilada sauce, tomato sauce, chicken and beef broth, pasta, rice, stewed tomatoes, creamy tomato soup, flour, sugars, baking powder and baking soda, crackers, bread, some cereal, oatmeal, oil (olive oil and canola) vinegar, syrup and some more. I wanted to be sure I had the very basic things where as my stash dwindles I may be able to kick it old school and make things from scratch.

So here is my challenge. I started thinking 2 weeks no store, but I think after grabbing the few things today I can go 3. Here is my disclaimer though I will STILL BE GETTING MY DELIVERIES! 

Klesick for my box of produce and eggs. 

Smith Brothers for my milk, juice, yogurt, butter, and sour cream. 

I know this sounds like a lot. But please note...

I don't pick what comes in my produce box except that I always get a lemon and an onion.

AND

I have to get fresh milk! THAT is a necessity.

So just to give you a taste of how I will work this. Now I have my inventory. Next I will do my menu plan. I will need to at least go a couple days at a time, if not more. I will set alerts on my phone and computer to remind me to defrost things a day before I need them. And I will definitely be figuring out ways to re-use our leftovers. 

Last night I made chili out of leftover turkey meat marinara. Proof you really can make my Kitchen Sink Chili out of everything but the kitchen sink. I used the frozen marinara sauce, it already had ground turkey in it. I added Chili Powder, Cumin, Chunky Salsa, some frozen stew meat I defrosted and chopped then browned before throwing it in. Then I added a can of corn, a can of pinto beans, a 2 cans of black beans I borrowed from our neighbors. Joe and the kids actually had NO idea it was any different then normal. 

I served it with crackers and brown and serve dinner rolls I found in the freezer. I had a bunch of those left over so I thought...hmmm...breakfast... Brown and Serve Roll French toast! I can make it tonight and they can heat it in the morning. Check it out!

 Slice

 Soak in egg, milk, cinnamon and vanilla. NO IDEA HOW MUCH :)

 Cook in buttered pan. I tried not to overcook them since we'd be re-heating them in the microwave.

 YUM!

My good friend Mandy and my Aunt Linnie both did this type of challenge this Fall. They were so happy and proud of themselves. I am excited!

The goal 3 weeks no store!

The rules:

Yes to fresh dairy

Yes to fresh produce

No to impulsive buying and menu planning!

So who is with me! Let's clean out those freezers and pantries and use what we got! Save some money and really some time and energy too!

HAPPY WINTER! HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

enJOY!