Monthly Archives: May 2026

May In Review

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May has been a super busy and exciting month! I am exhausted! Kendall graduated on Friday night!  Zach is officially a junior and I have four days left of this school year!  I will include a copy of my summer goals at the end of this blog post simply because it will make it easier for me to stay accountable.

Groceries- Goal $800 per month.  We spent $653.50  for the month of May.  This is a huge accomplishment!  I am hoping to stay at or below budget for all three months this summer as this will allow me to restock without spending a fortunate.

Gas- Goal is $400.  Total spent was $492.54 for gas  this month. Gas prices are currently the highest they have EVER been. We have seen the price drop below $4. a gallon in the last four days. I hope this is a trend that will continue.

Blogging-The goal will be 15 posts per month.  I am really proud of this number and feel like I have finally found a new routine that works for me.

Debit-   The goal for 2026 will be to pay off the Home Depot Credit card without interest.  We have several months with large credit card payments now thur September. I am working on paying this off and not adding to our overall debit.  I will be sharing how things are going at the end of the summer. I will be making the first huge payment on this card the first week in June.  I am even more optimistic at this point that we can do this!

No Spend Days- Goal for 10 no spend days a month. Not even going to suggest that I have a clue about this. I will try very hard to keep up with this!

Health/Exercise-I am no hanging out between 171 and 175.  Still here, still the same. I have a doctors appointment and am going to ask about increasing my dosage as well as stopping a prescription medicine.  I have not needed a shot in my knee in over a year! This is a huge accomplishment!

Foster Care- Matt and I completed everything needed for our application on March 31, the actual application was not submitted until May 5 or 6th as of last Wednesday May 27th, we have been approved as licensed foster parents in the state of North Carolina.

Summer Goals

1. Make and order 8 photo books.
2.  Read a total of 8 books.
3. Make and freeze 12 baked ziti’s
4. Make and freeze 6 million dollar spaghetti pies
5. Make and freeze 6 pans of chicken enchiladas.
6. Either walk or exercise 3 times a week for at least 8 weeks
7. Make and freeze 6 taco pastas
8. Make and freeze 6 chicken, broccoli rice casseroles.
9. Make at least 50 meatballs and freeze

Monday Menu Planning

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2 full weeks!  That is all we have left until the end of school!  I am using a week of parental leave at the end of the year so that both E and I will be finished at the same time.  I do anticipate that the next two weeks will be non-stop chaos but hey this is life!   I am not sure how much longer I will actually be meal planning ahead of time and not decided what sounds good each morning!  I like to be able to change things up on a whim during the summer to make sure we are using what we have and also what good deals I can find.  Sad find of the week, we are down to 5 pints and 1 quart of salsa!

Breakfast- Saturday- I had bacon, eggs and toast. Matt had a BLT Sunday-French toast Monday-breakfast bowls using 24 eggs so I have enough for breakfast all week and then some! .   Tuesday, Wednesday,  Thursday   and Friday– find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts ,cereal bars, pancakes and eggs).

Lunch- Saturday- Nachos with left over meat from last week   Sunday-Panda Panda   Monday- BLT’s Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday- I went ahead and made up another salad and we are eating leftovers for sure. Friday- definitely eating out!

Dinner- Saturday- Chicken Alfredo with bow tie pasta  Sunday- Everyone had left-overs  Monday-The favorite Leftovers again, I really need to clean out more of the fridge!  Tuesday- Spaghetti. Wednesday-Chicken nuggets and french fries Thursday- Cheese quesadilla and Mexican rice    Friday- Pizza

Sunday Garden Update

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The rain was exactly what we needed!  The garden has taken off as you can see in these pictures. I am most excited that we now have full water barrels and have even purchased a third barrel. Because of clean out, I am not sure when we will be able to use it but that will put us at over 900 gallons of rain water!  First up is the tomato beds! I did not lose a single tomato after planting in these beds!  I am equally excited at the row of sunflowers that have started in the front!

Next we have watermelons!  I am positive these will not be ready to enjoy until at least late August but I am still excited!

Everything in the garden beds are green and growing! We have been enjoying lettuce on BLTs and even enough for a couple of salads!

Finally the Greenstalk planters are alive and beautiful!  I am hopefully for lots and lots and lots of peppers this year!

We have determined that the peacock from next door is munching in the garden! I am so hopeful that we have stopped his access!

5 Things Friday

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1. For the first time in 22 years, Matt and I have made plans to go away for the weekend without any children!  I need a break and this worked out to be just at the prefect time.  I am not going to give any more details till we are home safe but I am super excited!
2. The garden is looking really good! One big change is the amount of watering we are doing. With that in mind, the current plan is to get one more tote to fill with water. So that even in drought we should be able to not use water that cost money!
The up front cost should be around $50. We are hopeful to get this put in place this weekend as we have a solid week of rain chances and have already filled most of the 2 tanks we have.
3. Foster care is stressful.  I have a ton more stress in relationship to the agency and it’s policies, procedures and expectations than actual dealing with every day kid stuff.
4. Kendall has to attend graduation practice next week otherwise she is completely finished with High School. Zach took an exam today and he is also finished. Davie County has 9 official days with the last one being an early release day. The count down to summer is really really close. I have less than that due to Kendall’s graduation!
5. Since this is Memorial Day weekend and we don’t have school on Monday, I want to finish the book I am reading. And do small repairs on both the Tahoe and Rogue.  Added stress of the Honda has stopped again!

Monday Menu Planning

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These next two if not three weeks are the busiest yet!   I am grateful that we were able to do some meal prep this weekend and I am hopeful to continue to start getting things used up and organized so the real meal prep can start the first week I am home. Sunday morning we made a huge batch (two full loaves) of French toast. The best part is that I went ahead and flash froze and moved to bags so they are ready to heat and eat!   Last night (Sunday) I made up 4 bags of muffin mix into mini muffins. Matt was able to package these up for grab and go as well! My goal is to have a realistic plan and stick to it for the remaining 3 weeks of school. I would like to think I could get a jump start on the summer but right now I want to focus on surviving!  Meal planning is not fun right now but needed!

Breakfast- Saturday- I made an omelet. Sunday-French toast Monday-mini muffins.   Tuesday, Wednesday,  Thursday   and Friday– find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts ,cereal bars, pancakes and eggs).

Lunch- Saturday- Raman noodles and left-overs   Sunday-Kimono’s   Monday Wednesday, Thursday- I went ahead and made up three salads to use these days!  Tuesday- depending on how long Kendall’s awards day is I am hoping to eat at home if not I will grab something on the way to Mocksville. Friday- definitely eating out!

Dinner- Saturday- salad spread and crackers  Sunday- Everyone had left-overs  Monday-Crockpot Queso Rice over chips Tuesday- Mashed potatoes and country style steak, green beans. Wednesday-Blackstone meal  Thursday-  Hamburgers and French fries   Friday- Breakfast for dinner

Sunday Garden Update

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This is the happy update that I have been waiting on posting!  Except for the need to start supplementing our rain water with spigot water, the garden is coming along nicely. First up our barrier is working and nothing is eating the plants. We also have okra growing!

Our tomatoes are doing awesome! We actually have a couple that are taller than the bed! I am most excited to report that we did not lose any in the regular bed!

We have lots most of the tomatoes that were in the regular beds. I think we are down to 2 tomatoes but the ones that are lower are still looking good!

We have lots of cucumbers that have germinated along with the ones I purchased and planted

. We have around 6 watermelon plants that are growing and lots of cantaloupes

I am very pleased with the squash and zucchini that have finally germinated!

We have two vertical towers on the back deck, one is entirely peppers and the other is peppers and herbs!

We have two planting of green beans ,both are a bush variety!  I will plant vines after the sugar snap peas come out probably in the next 2 weeks!

Finally we have sunflowers growing in front of the tomato beds!

And look how pretty my front door planter is

Five things Friday

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  1. Fun Fact of the day that explains how busy my life really is. The last time I posted a 5 things Friday was March 20th, almost two months ago
  2. We are currently still in a significant drought. We did get some rain a week ago but we are quickly using up all of our rain barrel water. I am hoping that we can keep enough water to support the gold fish and algae eaters that we purchased and put into two of the rain barrels. My current plan is to use regular water in addition to Epsom salt to the barrel for the tomatoes. We don’t have enough to fill from rain barrels so hopefully the Epsom salt will be beneficial.
  3. Kendall graduated from Davidson Davie Community College yesterday. This marks the beginning of the end of the year. Next week both Zach and Kendall go to school but the following week, neither are required. E and I have a full week after they finish but that is only three weeks till Summer Break begins!
  4. Matt and I are scheduling lots of fun trips this summer.  I will get to visit Disney World for close to two weeks!  We also have a beach trip planned to Myrtie Beach as well.
  5. I am hoping to have some extra time this summer to rest and recharge!  We have been doing some extra cleaning both inside and out. Last year, I paid a maid for the first and last cleaning but I don’t think that will be necessary this year!

Monday Menu Planning

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This week I am going to admit that menu planning has been a struggle. I know one of the reason is that I don’t have any “Convivence” freezer meal and I also don’t have time to add in. I am also trying to be mindful of using up items we have purchased such as salad supplies but I really am tired and don’t want to cook. I have  three weeks before my summer break so I have to finish strong even with Kendall’s graduation, foster care pressures and just life.  I finally made a menu plan and my goal is to stick to it!
This week we started with graduation activities for Kendall on Thursday, she will receive her associates degree from Davidson Davie Community College.  I am also going on a field trip with E and we have two additional appointments related to foster care.

Breakfast- Saturday- pancakes made by Matt. Sunday- I had peanut butter and jelly on a toasted hot dog bun.(yeap this is honest)    Monday-Cereal bar Tuesday- strawberry baked oatmeal, Thursday- I plan to make mini muffins for everyone   Wednesday and Friday– find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts ,cereal bars, pancakes and eggs).

Lunch- Saturday- Chicken tacos from the freezer  Sunday- Steak and baked potatoes.  Monday- Friday- I want to make at least one salad and use left-overs but I also know I will be eating out on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday due to a busy week of “fun” stuff.

Dinner- Saturday-  Chinese from Panda Panda Sunday- Dinner at Cracker Barrel  Monday-Dorito Chicken Casserole  Tuesday-  Grilled chicken salad Wednesday-Sloppy joes and french fries Thursday-  Spaghetti   Friday- Insta pot hamburger helper.