Meal Planning ~ Essentials shopping list

Happy Tuesday, one more day closer to the weekend. YAY!

I spent the better part of yesterday meal planning, organizing myself for the week, and writing up an essentials shopping list. You know a list complete with the stuff you buy every month, or week. As I started writing the list. I noticed that it was easier if I just included everything, even the stuff that we don't buy every month. I am just going to highlight the things at each shopping trip. That way I never forget anything. I think that this is an easier way for me to manage our monthly groceries.

If you have never made a list like this, this is my first time too. I will let you know how it goes. If it is helpful. I hope it is. I also hope it is going to help me coupon. YAY!

I have an idea, let's look at last weeks meal plan and see how well we followed it.

• Monday  - Spinach and Ricotta Tortellini, We actually had this.
• Tuesday  - Hamburgers/Hot dogs, We did not have this we had Roundtable.
• Wednesday - Verde Enchiladas, I have no idea what we ate on Wednesday.
• Thursday -  Bruschetta chicken http://www.mommyhatescooking.com/slow-cooker-chicken-bruschetta, Averie and I had soup.
• Friday - PIZZA! I make my own dough. https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017334-quick-pizza-dough,  I made Caprese Panini's. YUM
• Saturday - Roast Chicken and potatoes. Check out Dinner a Love Story for her recipe. It is my favorite. Brian and I went out for a date night. I made Averie and Grammy Mexican rice, and taquitos.

So I wouldn't say meal planning is a fail for us, but we definitely change things based on circumstances. Let's give it a go this week.

Meal Planning:

• Monday: Spaghetti, and balsamic dip with Rosemary bread.
• Tuesday: Steak Fajitas
• Wednesday: Fried Chicken and Mash potatoes
• Thursday: ?
• Friday: Pizza
• Saturday: Roast chicken

I also plan on making a loaf of banana bread for the week. I think I have mentioned this recipe before. It is the Bethenny Frankel Boo Boo Banana Bread.

It's so easy and delicious. The only change to the recipe that I made is mini chocolate chips. The recipe calls for chocolate chips, which I assume is regular size. I like the mini the best. I also sometimes add walnuts. This post is making me so hungry.

I better head off and eat something before baby boy gets mad at me. EEK.

Talk to you all tomorrow.

Weekend recap

Happy Monday, and I hope that everyone had a terrific weekend.


I can honestly say mine was pretty uneventful. I won't say relaxing cause I don't feel relaxed at all, even now. On Saturday we ran around a little bit. Typical weekend stuff, the grocery store, the bank, Brian's parents house, and then back home. I cleaned on Saturday, and baked a little. I love cooking and baking. I wish I could do it more and under different circumstances. Having a toddler pull at you makes it just a smidge stressful. She has started to help, but for her to do that it requires a little more planning on my part.


Sunday was spent lounging around the house, and more cleaning. I did finish up my gallery wall. I love how it turned out, and there is still room to grow. The "K" really completes it right!?

Oh on Sunday I did clean out my car. I even had help. Isn't she the sweetest. She always wants to be my helper, and that is a quality I hope never goes away. However.......

I do hope that this quality goes away. This was not her finest moment. We spent ten minutes picking these goldfish up, while singing the clean up song. Why is it that this song motivates my child to clean up? I guess I shouldn't question it and just be grateful.

We did manage to go out in the evening, but that was just a quick run to the store to grab a couple of items that we missed on Saturday. One of which was another case of Guinness Blonde. They are so good, and I felt like I needed to be rewarded. During this car trip the little one fell asleep. She is so peaceful when she is sleeping.


Well we are ready for another week. Averie is on Spring Break and Brian and I are into another work week. That means we are onto Meal Plan #2. I am really enjoying this part of my weekend. It takes a lot of thinking off my plate during the week.

One Week Meal Plan:

Monday - Pesto Chicken with Zucchini

Tuesday - Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken

Wednesday - Hamburgers

Thursday - Caprese Lasagna Roll-ups
Friday - Pizza on Homemade dough

back to work and a weekend recap

Good Morning everyone! I hope y'all are ready for Monday. I am back to work and feeling pretty good. I am currently sorting through work emails, and drinking a large cup of coffee. There is something relaxing about being at work before everyone else and just going through the motions.

Let's recap on the weekend.

Saturday, Averie and I just hung around the house. I cleaned a lot, and we read books and played games, and of course watched cartoons. The rainy weather limits us, so we have to make do with inside activities. I made Averie tuna salad for lunch and we had a cupcake for dessert. Yummy right! Dinner was not planned, so Brian used the buy one get one Chipotle coupon we got in the mail last week. What a deal, I think he walked away paying 8 bucks for dinner for the three of us. STEAL! Then I planned my blogging for the week (applause), watched a little TV and off to bed we went.

Sunday was busy, busy. I woke up with Averie @ 5:30am, wait.... 6:30am. Time change is a stinker I tell you. I went to bed late on Saturday, so waking up at 6:30am meant I needed coffee, and lots of it.  I made breakfast, which we ate in the living room. Once the wave of breakfast ended and was cleaned up I gave Averie a bath.

Once we were dressed the day could begin. First stop Walmart for some necessities. Then back home to prep dinner, make Minestrone soup for the upcoming week, and organize our backpacks. I put Brian to work on hanging more pictures around the house, and cleaning out the garage. Things that have to get done eventually.

Averie and I read books late in the afternoon, and by golly she fell asleep. So what did I do..... funny you should ask. I relaxed for what seemed like hours, but really was only about 30 minutes. This is what happens when I relax. I snack and I watch television and read a magazine all at the same time. Just trying to fit it all in people. *laughs*

 

Later that evening my parents stopped by, and brought me flowers. I love when family visits. I love entertaining. I had made a lot of chicken for dinner so I invited them to stay. So we ate Teriyaki Chicken. I think they were impressed how good it looked and tasted. I guess they didn't know that I am not to shabby in the kitchen.

This recipe has been a staple in my rotation for months now. I think the sesame seeds and scallions make the dish. It just looks all fancy. It was nice to talk to my parents and catch up. I guess this is one perk of us living closer. Random drop-ins by loved ones. After my folks left, It was back to preparing for the week ahead. Meal planning, and finishing up laundry. 

One Week Meal Plan:

Monday - Pork Tenderloin with Fingerling Potatoes

Tuesday - Fajitas 

Wednesday - Slow Cooker Bruschetta Chicken 

Thursday - Tortellini with Sauteed Zucchini
Friday - Pizza on Homemade dough

I have to say that the only reason I got into meal planning is because of my best friend Amber. This time last year I went to visit her in North Carolina and every week she would meal plan and then shop for the things that she would need. I thought to myself, what a great idea, and a time saver. To this day I love it when she texts me her meal plan for the week. It is also a great way to share recipes, which we also do. Actually the Minestrone recipe that I used over the weekend is one that she passed down to me. It is easy and delicious. 

Well I think I covered everything that went on this past weekend plus some. 

Have a great Monday everyone!