This is My Life

Okay, wow, I'm getting awfully close to the one month mark. Holy cow! I know I've cheated a few times (although it wasn't super bad cheating), but I'm really surprised that I've held on this long. I will admit, the itch to start couponing and stocking up has certainly started back. The Publix list came out this week and I found myself checking it...three times. And then? And then? I checked it over again. Old habits are hard to break. So...Friday. Friday I finished off the frozen waffles with a glass of milk (By the way, I still have to pre-pour my glass of milk and set it in the refrigerator to make it extra cold. Why? Because that's how my mother did it.) Lunch was a Barber's stuffed chicken breast, squash, and okra. So good. Friday afternoon and evening we had a birthday party for a friend's daughter who was turning three so we ended up eating at their house. Pizza. Yes. Sweet manna from heaven. And cake, too. Mmmm.... My latest "food...

Wednesday was a bit crazy. I knew what I wanted to make for small group: Baked Ziti. I knew that I had almost everything for it. What I didn't know was that it would take three visits to the store to complete my list. Here's the recipe and I'll explain as we go. Baked Ziti (from my "Church Suppers" cookbook) Reynolds Wrap Non-Stick Foil (I used regular and YES, the cheese totally stuck to it) 1 lb ground beef, browned and drained 4 cups (32 oz jar) pasta sauce (I used a a 28 oz can and 1 small tomato sauce can) 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, divided 1 package (16 oz) ziti pasta, cooked and drained (I used macaroni elbows. Can you BELIEVE I didn't have any ziti?!?!) 1 package (8 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided (required a trip to Walmart) 1 container (16 oz) ricotta cheese OR cottage cheese (required a trip to Target, only to discover they didn't have it and therefore also required a trip to Publix) 1 egg 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided ...

Terrific Tuesday might be a good description for today...of course, after yesterday it's not saying a whole lot. After a wonderful trip Hobby Lobby (where Baby L made three new girlfriends) we came home to a nice summer rain shower. LOVE those. Breakfast was supposed to be a bowl of blueberries and yogurt but I was only able to get about half of them down before the L-meister started calling. But...lunch was another story. Bologna sandwich on my sandwich thins (seriously, you gotta try these), the rest of my blueberries and yogurt, some ritz cracker crisps, and peanut butter cookies. This weekend I pulled out a tube of cookie dough from about a month ago. I normally grab it when it's on sale and then I have an easy dessert when needed for church, craft, or small group. Saturday I was having a sugar crave so I grabbed them, let 'em thaw (the crave lasted a while) and baked them up. So. Good. My in-laws got back into town yesterday and asked us to join them for pizza at Angel...

Yes, I'm still alive. And yes, I'm still on track. Although we ate out a little this weekend, we did make progress on the freezer and pantry and we did refrain from buying any more food. So...I was a good girl! Today has been one of those days that kinda makes you understand people that drink. :-) My day consisted of a series of: Spit up requiring clothing changes for Baby L and myself (one of which included my BRAND NEW shirt that I adore very much). Baby L waking from his nap after five whole minutes. Laundry mishaps due to a baby washcloth getting caught under the agitator and getting grease on numerous pieces of clothing (my mother is currently working on them)...and my favorite skirt coming out of the washer with a mystery blob of discoloration...I'm still mad about this one. Baby L waking from his nap after five whole minutes. A pile of tissues being shredded on the floor...compliments of Sebastian. Buying two new bras from Target with one missing the price tag. Whe...

We have some friends in our small group that have had a kind of crummy week. They are both so sweet, they love the Lord so much, and well, are just having a crummy string of days. They've been on my mind and in my prayers a lot lately. I woke up Thursday morning and it popped into my head, "You need to cook and take them supper." I'm not the type that does this a lot. It's not that I don't care, I just...I don't know...I should do it more, but I just never think of it. :-/ Thursday morning I got a list made of what all was needed from the store and went to work. I started with Sam's. We needed milk and since it's the cheapest place in town, that's where I normally buy it. Ryan mentioned the other day that he wanted some chips of some type to take to work for lunches. Might as well get those in Sam's in those cute little bags. I justify purchasing the little bags because, as a friend once told me, "No matter the size of the bag, ...

I'm on the downhill swing of my first cold with no meds. Baby L caught a cold last week and not only gave it to his father and grandmother, but also to his favorite person in the whole wide world. Me. (Maybe not his opinion, but until he can speak for himself, I'll call it like I want to.) Since I'm still breastfeeding I haven't taken anything other than a couple Tylenol here and there. So...I haven't felt the greatest the past week...to say the least. By the way? When he's 16 and wants to go to Mardi Gras and I say no, he SO better not give me any crap about it. "Do you know the sacrifices I made for you?!?!?!?!!" Yesterday I trudged through another day of eating what I already have and blowing my nose in between. Why are you always SO much hungrier when you have a cold? I'm sure there's a scientific reason, but dang...I could eat a horse. Possibly raw. Frozen waffles for breakfast (found them while searching for some veggies), Ritz cra...

Hopefully this post will catch me up on the days of my challenge. Yesterday I was very good...only in the terms of the challenge though. As most of you know, I accomplished diddly squat...unless you count a photo shoot that would make any runway model jealous. Yesterday's breakfast was a toaster strudel (yes, I know...totally unhealthy, but oh that icing...can't resist), lunch was another stinkin' ham sandwich, and supper was chicken kabobs. I started realizing that part of my challenge was not only using the foods I already have in my "at-home grocery store" but to also try new recipes. So I started digging and found a neat little recipe for chicken kabobs and decided to try that. Chicken Shish Kabobs 2 pounds skinless, boneless, chicken breast halves (I just used two to eliminate leftovers) 1/2 lemon juice (I didn't have enough so I used white cooking wine...Adria taught me this) 1/3 cooking oil or olive oil 3 or 4 cloves of garlic, minced (again, I just us...