Snow Day

Ok, I know most folks from the Abilene area posted about their snow days yesterday. But, because of the snow the basketball game that Phillip was going to last night was postponed so I didn't have quite as much free time as I planned. So, here's our snow day.

Emily was quite excited and wanted to go out before breakfast. Here are a few pictures I took. It looks like the second one is a bit fuzzy, but, actually, that's the snow coming down!


After breakfast, Emily wanted to go back out, so we bundled back up (thanks, Leah, for the snowsuit!) and headed back out for a while.

After Papa got home at 10:45 (school let out at 10:30, we went out again after lunch. This time we took videos. (There really isn't much sound, so you're not missing anything.) She loves going up and down the steps at our neighbors house and we do that on a regular basis. I guess she likes them better because they are open on both sides, but whatever the case, she sure loves them!

One other thing....Emily started saying "Papa" yesterday. She doesn't always say it and we have to prod her, but it's a huge milestone for her!

Meal Plan Monday

Sorry this is late, but I forgot to post before we left for the weekend.

Monday: hamburgers

Tuesday: Whole wheat pancakes with homemade syrup
Wednesday: Angel Food meal
Thursday: Desperado Casserole, salad
Friday: hot dogs

Edited to change Tuesday's menu in honor of International Pancake Day, which was apparently last Tuesday. But, IHOP has declared the Tuesday after Ash Wednesday to be National Pancake Day...which is TODAY!

Winner again!

Although I have never purchased anything from Kelly's Closet, I am a huge fan!! Last spring, I came across their Fluff Friday contest on their blog and started entering. They give away cloth diapers every week! How cool is that! Last March, I was surprised to find that I won their St. Patrick's Day prize...3 green diapers and a pair of green BabyLegs. Love them! I kept entering, because you can't win if you don't enter.

Then, last October, I won 2 fitted diapers and a wool cover. I became a wool cover convert for night time! They are so much better overnight than the PUL covers I'd been using. So much so that I even made a wool cover from a sweater I bought at Goodwill!

I've had a Google Alert on my blog for quite a while now. It tells me when my blog address is used on the internet. This morning, I was shocked to find that it was linked in the Fluff Friday winner post on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer's blog. I won 3 all-in-one pocket diapers by Tot Bots! How cool!!! So excited to try new diapers. When I started cloth diapering, I had no idea how addicting it was!

Meal Plan Monday

As I mentioned last week, I plan at least two weeks at a time. Because I only go to Abilene every two weeks (at least that's the plan!), I have to plan for meals in between my trips. Here's what's on the menu for this week.

Monday: MOPS and Pops dinner
Tuesday: leftovers
Wednesday: chicken fried deer, pinto beans, broccoli, cornbread
Thursday: Picante Sauce Chicken & Rice Bake, Cornbread
Friday: in Abilene for the weekend

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to serve with fried rice? My recipe contains peas, carrots, ham and eggs.

Snow Day

Today is Emily's 20 month birthday. (She really is happy, but this is the best picture I could get!) We've had quite a bit of fun!

Out plan today was to meet for coffee with a friend this morning then do some running around and meet my dad for lunch. However, as you'll see from the pictures below, we decided to postpone (at least until the afternoon).

(fountain still founting!)

So, this morning, we made cookies!


Now that the roads aren't as bad and Grandpa's home for the day (ACU closed at noon), we're going to head out for lunch and our errands.

Meal Plan Monday

This week was exceptionally easy to meal plan. Emily and I will be in Abilene for the week while Phillip is in Austin at a convention. So...we'll eat whatever Pearlie makes for us! Just kidding, sort of. I'm sure I (maybe we) will help out in the kitchen getting supper ready. But, it sure made meal planning easier knowing that I only had one week to plan. (I actually plan at least two weeks at a time because that's the amount of time between my grocery trips.) Stay tuned next Monday for next week's meal plan!

Yummy Toes

Go check out my sweetie here. I entered this picture of Emily in a cloth diaper photo contest. Maybe we'll win!

Meal Plan Monday

...uh, ok, I know it's Wednesday, but I try not to have more than one post a day. I may be weird that way, but if you're not reading me in a reader, you might miss all the important things I post about! ha ha!

Anyway, in following up with my goals, I'm putting out my (supper) meal plans each week. So, here's the start.

Monday: Angel Food meal
Tuesday: Lotta Beans, homemade sourdough bread, spinach salad
Wednesday: spaghetti with garlic bread
Thursday: Sirloin, Allie's Delicious Mac & Cheese, blueberry/strawberry/pineapple, cornbread
Friday: Lotta Beans, mixed fruit, french fries

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I realized I never followed up on The Pantry Challenge about my goal to spend as little on food as possible. After using this spreadsheet that I found at The Coupon Project, I found that I spent only $97.45 on food in January. I spent $155.96 on nonfood items for a total of $253.41 out of my budget of $350 for the month. That extra money will be set aside for our vacations!

Goals Update-January

Back here, I talked about my goals for the year. Here's how I'm doing.

Do my household cleaning chores each week, 80% of the year: 80% for the month

Follow my to do list each week, 80% of the year: 60% for the month

Exercise (walk or Wii Fit Plus) 4 days a week, 80% of the year: 60% for the month

Meal plan each week, 80% of the year: 80% for the month

Be under budget on groceries (food and household items) every month: yes

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Also, go check out this link. You'll find the cutest little girl I've ever seen!

Eat from the Pantry Challenge Update 2/1

I have a poll at the top of my blog. If you're reading my blog in a reader, please go check it out.

Just wanted to give a quick update on the Eat from the Pantry Challenge being hosted by moneysavingmom.com and lifeasmom.com. The Pantry Challenge has been great. My freezer is getting emptied and so is my pantry! I've still got a lot in there, though, so I'm going to keep going, even though the official Challenge is over. Once I finish the Challenge (whenever I feel that my freezer is sufficiently empty!), I'll start once-a-month-cooking. I'm really looking forward to it!

Monday, 1/25-MOPS!
Breakfast: oatmeal for me, 2 NutriGrain bars for Emily
Lunch: chicken torta at Alfredo's
Supper: leftovers

Tuesday, 1/26
Breakfast: cereal for me, Emily didn't want to eat
Lunch: enchiladas (school lunch) for me and Phillip; crackers, cheese & fruit for Emily
Supper: leftover pizza for me; yogurt for Emily

Wednesday, 1/27
Breakfast: cereal for me and Phillip, 2 NutriGrain bars for Emily
Lunch: Chick-fil-A for me and Emily
Supper: poached eggs and sausage balls

Thursday, 1/28
Breakfast: cereal for me and Phillip, yogurt for Emily
Lunch: leftovers
Supper: Italian dressing chicken, sweet potatoes, broccoli

Friday, 1/29
Breakfast: cereal & zucchini bread for me; yogurt and NutriGrain bar for Emily
Lunch: chicken sandwiches, french fries & tater tots
Supper: penne with spaghetti sauce for me, penne with garlic butter for Emily (I think she got a better deal!)

Saturday, 1/30
Breakfast: cereal for me, Nutrigrain bars for Emily
Lunch: steak, baked potato and garlic toast at Phillip's parents' house
Supper: leftovers

Sunday, 1/31
Breakfast: cereal and cinnamon bread for me and Phillip, Yogurt and cinnamon bread for Emily
Lunch: Sonic
Supper: chili cook-off at church