Menu Plan Monday

Can it really be almost May? After this month, I will have a second grader, a kindergartener and possibly a preschooler (more about this in a different post!) My babies are growing!

I've planned out the menu for the month using this template:

Mondays - Sandwiches
Tuesdays - Mexican
Wednesdays - Breakfast for dinner
Thursday - Asian
Friday - Pizza Friday, of course
Saturday - Mom's favorites
Sunday - Family Favorites

Figuring out what to eat is so much easier when start with a template to follow. I'm also changing my grocery shopping a bit this month. Normally I would make one giant list and buy the groceries to feed my family for two weeks. I only have to go to the grocery store twice a month, but it's a LONG trip and after the first week is over, we are out of bananas, lettuce, milk and other fresh foods and our grocery budget is emptied. So for May, I'm increasing our grocery budget by $100 ($600 instead of $500) and going to the grocery store weekly. The trips will be shorter, I can buy exactly what we need that week and we'll have fresh fruit/veggies more often.

Monday - Burgers (black bean burger for me)
Tuesday - Chicken tacos
Wednesday - Breakfast burritos
Thursday - Sesame noodles and vegetables
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Chicken Parmesan
Sunday - Pot Roast

What are you eating this week?

Are You Sleeping? (And a menu!)

Sleep is an elusive thing at the Rudd household. Our older two do just fine normally, but the little one...ah, that little stinker. She seemed to think that 3 AM was Dance Party time! WOO HOO! She'd finally go back to sleep around 6, which is just in time for me to get the other kids up and ready for school. This arrangement was NOT working for me. We tried co-sleeping. She LOVED sleeping in the "big bed". I did not enjoy sleeping with a bed hog. And we still had our 3 AM dance parties.

A few weeks ago, my older two were on Spring Break. I had them bunk together and started some hardcore "Cry It Out" bootcamp for my little night owl.

To my surprise, it worked! It was so much easier than I expected. She did cry for about an hour the first two nights, but now requests to go to bed. "Bed...sleepy...nigh-night"

I think we were both ready to get a good night's rest on a regular basis.

Here's what we're eating this week:

Monday - Fast food. We only eat it about twice a month and tonight was treat night!
Tuesday - Cool Ranch Chicken Tostadas
Wednesday - Taco salads
Thursday - Roasted Ranch potatoes and salad
Friday - Pizza Friday!
Saturday - Leftovers

Hey! It's Okay Tuesday! (Plus, My Menu!)

It's been a while! But it's still okay to...

• be hurt by a situation that seems trivial to others. You don't need permission to have feelings, just deal with them wisely.
• to have never heard a Luke Bryan song. 
• have so many books you want to read, crafts you want to do, and projects you want to sew that you feel paralyzed and just do nothing. 
• Love British TV. My new favorite is Call The Midwife. So good! I love Chummy.
• think people who buy my kids microphones should be tortured by being forced to listen to loud, off-key versions of Taylor Swift songs. Just. Like. ME. 

I'm keeping my menu simple lately. After trying new recipes my family was less than enthusiastic about, I'm sticking to old favorites for a while. 

Monday - we had chili
Tuesday - we're having goulash (which is just leftover chili with elbow macaroni)
Wednesday - Hamburgers and Fries (I'm making myself a black bean burger)
Thursday - Baked Ravioli
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Hot Dogs

Don't forget to stop by Airing My Dirty Laundry to see what else is okay!

Menu Plan Monday

Our first meatless Monday was a hit last week! Well, it was a hit with the adults. The kids were pretty sure I was trying to poison them. I topped my black bean burger with avocado and tomato. YUM! I'm looking forward to trying more meatless meals. And I'll keep those frozen pizzas on hand for the kids.

Monday - Middle Eastern Rice with Black Beans and Chickpeas
Tuesday - Chicken and Biscuits
Wednesday - Penne and Meatballs (We didn't eat this last week.)
Thursday - Leftover Buffet
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Cheesy Beef Enchiladas

What do you have planned for this week?

Hey! It's Okay Tuesday!

It's Okay to...

• shave one leg and then give up.
• need about a day and a half to catch up on my DVR. I still haven't even watched the last episode of Downton Abbey.
• have a very love/hate relationship with the game Candy Crush Saga.
• Do this to your family:

Head over to Airing My Dirty Laundry to see what else is okay!

Menu Plan Monday

In an effort to trim our grocery budget (and my waistline!) I'm going to try and start having a "meatless" Monday. I didn't discuss this with my family because I'm pretty sure they will hate the idea. But I will press on! And buy extra frozen pizzas just in case...

Monday - Black Bean Burgers and fries
Tuesday - Cheddar Chicken and Potatoes
Wednesday - Penne and Meatballs
Thursday - Leftover Buffet
Friday - Pizza, Salad
Saturday - my nephew's birthday party and I'm eating out with friends!
Sunday - Cowboy Quesadillas

Hey, It's Okay Tuesday!

It's Okay to...

• join the mini-van crowd. I've been spoiled by the huge amount of room and stow-and-go seats. As a friend said, "Once you go minivan, you never go back!"
• think that adult women should not have Easter egg colored hair. A few interesting highlights are nice. Pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness is good. Anymore than that and you should leave it to the 18 year olds.
• track your daughter's poop. Grace has constipation issues and our current tactics don't seem to be helping, so we're tracking and trying to figure it out. And before you ask, yes - there is an app for that.
• love the fact that Brenna had a hard time choosing between a light saber and a princess doll at the store the other day.
• try Flylady again. I really think she's on to something.
• promise to try and blog more. As long as the stomach flu stays away for good!

Check out Airing My Dirty Laundry to see what else is okay!