This week is sort of a strange week as with Veteran’s Day on Wednesday it splits the week in half.  Both Easton and I have doctor’s appointments this week and we have a football game on Friday which adds to stress. I am once again reminded of how I am thanking my previous self for preparing meal that can be heated and eaten this summer. If you notice all the meals this week have some prepped items except for Wednesday.  

Breakfast- Saturday- I had Oatmeal from a packet. . Sunday-  Chocolate/Peanut Butter Baked Oatmeal. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,  Thursday  and Friday– Find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts ,cereal bars, French toast, breakfast burritos  and eggs). My goal is to make some type of muffins or fruit bread this week but I am not sure if this will happen. 

Lunch- Saturday- Sandwiches  Sunday-Baked Ziti  Monday,   Tuesday   Wednesday, Thursday, Friday- Leftovers or salad. I will be eating out on Friday but that should be it. 

Dinner- Chicken nuggets and Mac and Cheese   Sunday- Left-overs  Monday-Million Dollar Spaghetti Pie  Tuesday Chicken Enchiladas  Wednesday- Since I am home not sure, either a soup or breakfast for dinner   Thursday- Salisbury Steak, mashed potatoes and green beans.    Friday- Eat on the way to Zach’s game! 

I am trying to just start and get myself back on track. In reality, I finally feel I am not behind on the important stuff and the house is half way decent. But I just have not had the energy to focus on the blog in several months but I know I need to and I know it will help me focus on other things as well so this is my starting small. I am continuing to try and not let food be wasted due to it going bad and to use what we have.
Another way I am starting small is that we did not eat out after church yesterday!  This saved us easily $100, we already have a plan not to eat out next Sunday as well. So No spending is at least off to a decent start. 

Breakfast- Saturday- Sausage balls and Dutch boy pancakes (some in freezer as well). Sunday-  bacon, eggs and toast Monday- bagels   Tuesday, Wednesday,  Thursday  and Friday– Find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts ,cereal bars, French toast, breakfast burritos  and eggs). I would like to make a baked oatmeal one morning but no promises. 

Lunch- Saturday- Costco   Sunday-baked potatoes   Monday,   Tuesday   Wednesday, Thursday, Friday- Leftovers or salad. I will be eating out on Friday but that should be it. 

Dinner- Saturday-left-overs   Sunday-Dad’s chicken Stew   Monday-Pick a soup Tuesday Big Mac Salad using lettuce from the garden!  Wednesday- Taco Pasta  Thursday- Pepperoni Pizza   Friday- Eat on the way to Zach’s game! 

This weekend was absolutely fantastic but as I am looking ahead and I realized that we seriously need to clear out some food before it goes bad.  I think the first major difference is that we are down to one refrigerator in the house we need to reduce the extra food because if it is moved outside it definitely will not get used.  My plan this week is to clear out as much as possible and only make enough food for one meal so that we don’t add to the choas and food waste.  I will be cleaning out any bad food tonight (Monday) as well !   Almost forgot to add that meals on Saturday and Sunday look very different as they were part of our trip fun!

Breakfast- Saturday-Omega House (local to Ocean Lakes) Sunday- Campground store as I am working on laundry  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,  Thursday   and Friday–I am going to try and make a loaf of sweet bread to go along with the other food we have. Find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts ,cereal bars, French toast, breakfast burritos  and eggs).

Lunch- Saturday- food trucks   Sunday-meatballs sliders on the way home (our new favorite travel food)  Monday,   Tuesday   Wednesday, Thursday, Friday- Leftovers or salad. I will be total honest and admit that sense most of my week is in my office, lunch out will happen likely 3 days.

Dinner- Saturday- hot dogs and smores  Sunday- start eating these leftovers!   Monday-Clean out the fridge night  Tuesday Chicken Tacos (this will be the last of these) Wednesday- KFC bowls using the mashed potatoes already made  Thursday-  Kielbasa and rice  Friday- One box of hamburger Helper

As I am looking ahead to the last two month of the year, I am planning to focus on using up the food we have aka starting the pantry challenge and going for four months! My rules will be to only buy fresh fruit if I am at the store, ordering diary as needed, Sodas are a must but bread will be a combination of ordering if we need something else and making our own.  A couple of exceptions will be for parties, holiday meals and trips of course.  Ok so a modified pantry challenge for at least three of the four months!

We had our second freezer stop working properly last week. Luckily were were able to plug up the electric cooler and set it to freeze and only lost a couple of items which are really not lost as they went to feed the chickens. We are currently looking at our budget to decide how quickly we need to replace it. The problem comes in when we make a Costco trip and need space for convivence items. I was able to make a batch of spaghetti sauce on Saturday which we used for two meals and I canned two more jars.

Breakfast- Saturday-Banana bread  Sunday- Sausage Crestant rolls  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,  Thursday   and Friday–We have alot of breakfast leftovers from our Sunday dinner. This was planned and should make the week much easier. Find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts ,cereal bars, pancakes and eggs).

Lunch- Saturday- meatballs,  Sunday-NC Cancun(Weherley’s choice)  Monday,   Tuesday   Wednesday, Thursday, Friday- Leftovers or salad.

Dinner- Saturday- Spaghetti and meatballs   Sunday- Breakfast for dinner   Monday-Cheesy Taco Potatoes   Tuesday BBQ chicken legs and baked beans , Wednesday- Cheeseburger pizza  Thursday-  Chicken pie  Friday- chicken nuggets

I am officially half way finished with my summer break. I have 5 weeks left until I return to work full time. The exciting part is that I am actually going to be out of town for three of those five weeks. Another “change” is that next week, our church will provide dinner each night as part as VBS. I will likely cook some type of lunch but maybe night just depends on the mood I am in.  I really want to get at least half of my summer goals completed this week but I am not even sure if that is possible. I have to keep reminding myself that some progress is better than no progress.

Breakfast- Saturday- Matt and I worked on getting 12 batches of biscuits in the freezer. I also made some homemade gravy to go with our biscuits that morning. Sunday-I had cereal.  Monday- Tuesday, Wednesday,  Thursday   and Friday– find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts ,cereal bars, pancakes and eggs). We also have some French toast and Dutch boy pancakes in the freezer.

Lunch- Saturday- Gyros.  Sunday Olive Garden for Kendall’s birthday. Monday-  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday- I want to keep on top of the left-overs but sandwiches are always a choice as well. We also have some left-over pizza that needs to be eaten as well.

Dinner- Saturday- left-over pizza   Sunday- left-over pizza  Monday-French Dip sandwiches  Tuesday- Pasta Salad Wednesday- Honey Garlic Chicken  Thursday- Hot Dogs at the member appreciation day at the pool.  Friday- Spaghetti and meatballs.

Week three of summer break starts today. It promises to be much busier than last week with several appointments this week. We are also heading on a short but exciting trip at the end of the week.  I don’t plan on getting alot of extra food prep done this week but need to focus on cleaning.

Breakfast- Saturday- I made a breakfast casserole and actually froze a second one Sunday-Breakfast bar..  Monday- Tuesday, Wednesday,  Thursday   and Friday– find it (oatmeal, omelets, cereal and milk, sausage, pop-tarts ,cereal bars, pancakes and eggs). We also have some French toast in the freezer, left-over Dutch boy pancakes as well as grilled cheese sandwiches.

Lunch- Saturday-Sandwiches.  Sunday-Gregg’s   Monday-  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday- I want to keep on top of the left-overs but sandwiches are always a choice as well. Easton has started enjoying a pack of crackers and a pack of gushers.

Dinner- Saturday- Olive Garden    Sunday- Matt and Lily made sushi  Monday-Pork Chops and mac n cheese Tuesday- Pasta Salad Wednesday- Chicken Enchaladias   Thursday- Fish Sticks with French Fries Friday- Eat on the road.