Grocery Shopping

Like most people I tend to loath grocery shopping and as I have gotten older, all shopping. Spent the better part of the day working on the grocery list and the menu plan for the month. I have finally finished my master grocery list for the things we would normally buy.

The kids help with making the menu so of course they also get to help with the cooking and occasionally the shopping.

We started off talking about what we like to eat and of course what we tend to eat the most of during a month. We ended up with roughly 18 different dinners which includes a 'Fend for Yourself Night'.

Here is what our list looks like:

• Homemade Mac & Cheese
• Pizza
• Lasagna
• Spaghetti
• Meatloaf
• Hamburgers
• Chicken Strips
• Salmon
• Cod
• Pork Chops
• Pork roast
• Pot Roast
• Steak
• Pork Ribs
• Tacos
• Fajitas
• Breakfast
• Steak Strips
• New Recipe

I realize these are all fairly general but when I start with a blank month we think in terms of beef, pork, chicken, meatless, seafood, pasta, Mexican, & new recipe. We then build the menu around those main ideas adding sides, salads, vegetables etc. Once I have the month started we will work on the week by week menu's the week before so we do not repeat the same foods over and over again.

I have noticed we are in a food rut...nothing sounds good and we have ended up having so much of the same things this past month. Just the thought of food is disgusting right now.

Here is a copy of my master grocery list to download...click here.

I am also going to attach a master copy of a monthly budget to check out...click here

101 in 1001 Days Life Challenge ~ Update

Update #1 1/26/2013

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past – frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

The Start Date:
1/1/13

The End Date:
9/27/15

Goals in progress are italicized, goals completed are bold

1. Visit Pearl Harbor
2. Get My Bachelor's Degree
3. Lose Weight
4. Get a New Tattoo
5. Visit Graceland
6. Go to Disney Land or World, makes no difference
7. Drive an Expensive Car one time
8. Be in Four Places at Once = 4 Corners
9. Road trip with the family
10. Washington D.C.
11. Grand Canyon at Sunrise & Sunset
12. Visit the South
13. Save a Dollar for Every week it is - easier than I thought it would be
14. Start My Master's Degree
15. Let Go of the Past
16. Write a Piece of Legislation
17. Advocate for Those Who Cannot Advocate for Themselves
18. Our Own Home
19. Mount Rushmore
20. Blog More
21. Eat Healthier for a Whole Month
22. Continue with Genealogy
23. Knit a Sweater
24. Enjoy Life More
25. No Regrets
26. Do More with Family of a Vet
27. Attend a College Football Game
28. Teach Our Son to Drive
29. Learn to Relax
30. Decorate OUR home
31. Encourage someone else to make a list like this
32. Garden
33. Make 10 different things from Pinterest
34. Save Money for Christmas Shopping
35. Explore a New City
36. Spend One Month During School Traveling
37. Find a Church
38. Go to the movies at least 3 times a year
39. Take More Pictures
40. Read 3 Classics
41. Try 2 New Recipes a Month
42. Make my own Font
43. Project Life = continue and do not get side tracked
44. Do not let life get me down
45. Open an Etsy Shop for my Jewelry
46. Send cards or notes in the mail more often
47. Try to be more patient
48. Attend a Caregiver Retreat
49. List My Favorite Quotes or Sayings
50. Read 75 Books ~ 1 down
51. Go Camping twice a year
52. Take a vacation with the kids
53. Teach my daughter to knit
54. Be Thankful
55. De-clutter our life
56. Download all my favorite songs
57. Geo-caching with the kids
58. Go to a baseball game
59. Love my Family
60. Learn Photoshop Better
61. Try something new
62. Be encouraging to others
63. Give Back
64. Stress Less
65. Go to a National Park I have never been to
66. Enjoy the Rain
67. One weekend with no destination and GO!!
68. Be Positive
69. Organize our life
70. Make a New Friend
71. Get a Passport
72. Be Creative
73. Go Out to Dinner without the Kids
74. Paint a Room
75. Celebrate Debbie's Life with Honor
76. Weed out the Negative People in my Life
77. Telescope at night with the kids
78. Smile More
79. Watching for Shooting Stars
80. Visit Albuquerque once a year
81. Keep homeschooling the kids
82. Don't keep feelings all bottled in
83. Send treasures to niece and nephew in NM
84. Do something great for someone and not tell a soul
85. Drop 2 sizes
86. Be Happy
87. Art Museum Tour
88. 10 Year Anniversary
89. Laugh More
90. Write More
91. Visit the Cemeteries - Genealogy
92. Have Fun
93. 45th Birthday
94. Create an Outdoor Haven
95. Celebrate Life Often
96. Random Acts of Kindness
97. Stand on the Corner in Winslow Arizona again
98. Don't give up on myself
99. Relax
100. Pay $10 for every goal not completed to Charity or a Non-Profit Organization
101. Make a New List for the Next 1001 days

Free Your Mind Friday, Week One.

Welcome to Free Your Mind Friday! I hope that you all will join me as I take on this challenge. Every Friday from today, until 50 weeks from now, Fridays will be devoted to answering one of the 50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind. You can add your link each week to my post so that you can connect with other bloggers, and challenge yourself to answer the questions as well.


Each Friday from today until I finish, Friday’s will be devoted to answering these questions. The List of Questions are under the Free Your Mind Friday Tab, take them, think about them, write up your answer, and then come back here to link-up, with others who will also be participating!

These questions have no right or wrong answers.

Because sometimes asking the right questions is the answer.

Week One, Question One:

 How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? 

There are days when I feel so very old, there are other days when I wonder where all the time went and how did I get to be 44 years old. After losing my sister this past summer I truly felt OLD. Not a number old mind you but spiritually old. I have always been older and more mature then others of my same age. In kindergarten I tried to 'mother' the other kids in the class. My reports would say things like, "Pam is so serious". Of course I am serious, it is just how I was made.

I am not sure there is a way to actually assign an age to how old I think I am since it can change depending on the circumstances. With my kids, I still feel young , at least younger than I am chronologically. There are times with my mom and I feel older with the dreaded responsibility. My husband on the other hand gives me a little of both world. When I can relax and we get to laughing, like things used to be, I feel like we are both 25-26 years old again. Other times when the weight of our challenges start to weigh me done, or I am fussing too much, I feel like I am in my 50's and so over this.

Age is more than a number, age is experience with a dash of fun, love, and challenge.

All About Me in 40 Questions

1. Where are you from?  Tacoma, WA
2. How long have you been married?  9.5 years together for 16.5
3. How many children do you have?  2  (a boy and a girl)
4. When’s your birthday?  Oct. 30th
5. Where did you get married? Ocean Shores, WA
6. What’s your favorite color?  Greens & Purples
7. What’s your favorite food? comfort foods
8. Do you cook? What’s your favorite dish to cook?  Love to cook anything
9. Do you have a pet? If so, what?  3 dachshunds
10. What type of movies do you like?  Action/Adventure, Comedy, Old Movies
11. Do you have a favorite movie?  Gone With The Wind and MANY more
12. Which is your favorite restaurant?  Mexican or Italian
13. What type of music do you like? All music
14. What’s your favorite artist or band?  So many to list...80's hair bands, Tim McGraw, Toby Keith...the list could really go on
15. Do you like reading? What type of books?  Love to read, crime thrillers, historical fiction
16. What are your hobbies?  knitting, sewing, jewelry making
17. Do you play any sports?  nope
18. How many languages do you speak? Which ones?  does sarcasm count as a language
19. Are you a nature person? Do you like ‘outdoorsy’ stuff?  Love the outdoors & camping
20. What’s your favorite place that you have visited? Albuquerque & The Grand Canyon
21. Where do you work?  At Home and all around me
22. Did you go to school, or were you homeschooled?  Went to school, homeschooling was not the thing when I was growing up
23. Did you go to college? What was your major?  College Student - Business Major
24. Where are you parents from?  Tacoma, WA
25. Do you have any brothers or sisters? 1 sister, 1 brother, 1 half sister & an Angel Sister plus step-siblings but still siblings
26. Have you ever been outside your state? How about outside of the USA? Been to 14 Western States and to Canada
27. Where would u go on vacation if money wasn't an issue?  Italy, of course
28. If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?  Every state in the US
29. List the top 5 places you’d like to travel to.  Italy, France, Germany, London, & Sweden
30. What are you passionate about?  Beliefs, God and my family
31. List the top 5 things you’d like to accomplish before you die.  That is a hard one for me right now
32. What is one thing on your bucket list?  Travel with my Love
33. Who is the most important person in the world to you?  Toss up between the Hubby and the Kids
34.  What’s your dream job and why?  Working as a consultant from home
35. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Do you have a plan?  Thinner?!?!
36. If you were marooned on a desert island, what 3 things would you take?  My Kindle, Power Cord, Diet Coke
37. Describe yourself using 5 words.  Determined, Dedicated, Organized, Loving, Caring
38. What’s the craziest thing you’ve done?  not sure
39. What’s the funniest thing you’ve done?  ??
40. What are 3 things you’ve never done, but you would like to try?  Sailing, a Cruise, and Hang gliding

Mid-Week

Hard to believe it is Wednesday. Monday was Martin Luther King Day as well as the inauguration and a lazy day here at home.

DH is finally feeling better and has been up and around again but I am trying to catch whatever he is sharing.

I am feeling very anxious lately between the VA, personal issues, and waiting for answers. We applied for a home through Operation Homefront in December and we have submitted all necessary documents. The case worker is now out of the office until mid-February due to surgery. I am trying to be patient but we are back to the waiting. Am I worried about this, not in the least. Things will fall together.

Worked on taxes last week and those have to wait for e-file until the 30th of January. Again, a wait.

I feel like there is so much to say I have no idea where to start. There has been a hint of snow in the air for two weeks now and nothing to show for it but a couple of pics of the 'snow dust'. We are in the midst of Girl Scout Cookie Pre-Sales, which makes me so glad DD did not set a ridiculous goal she could never achieve.

I have been working on my 101 in 1001 Days Life Challenge, I will work on an update this week.
But I can tell you that I have finished one book and have started on a second. I think I will update my Shelfari with this info as well.

I have picked up on my Project Life I started last March and never finished after Debbie was killed. I rounded out some of last year with some pictures and some bits on info and started fresh with 2013.

Finished another pair of socks and started another. I love knitting socks, they are so easy. Now I need to work on getting the correct sizing instead of winging it.

I have also completed another course, Statistics and Probability and now on to Literature, Art, Humanities.

          "Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for you'll be criticized anyway."
                                                                                                - Eleanor Roosevelt