Some of you know, some of you don't but we are doing the Dave Ramsey plan. I never tire of talking about it and sharing our story, our tips and what has worked for us in the year and 1 month that we have been on the plan. Just ask me about it!!
One of my goals is to write a budget inspired cookbook to help others who are struggling with a grocery budget, or with a working budget period. I want to help make grocery shopping and planning family meals easier for anyone who is interested and looking for a solution.
I am not quite halfway through the cookbook but do want to share that this will be different than other cookbooks.
First of all it is budget centered. I grocery shop for a family of 4 every 2 weeks. Each trip is $120 or less. I have worked hard to keep this budget and that includes NO DINING OUT and NO PRE-PACKAGED foods. I make all the meals all the time and although that is tough, we are doing it and we are getting rid of debt because of this contribution.
Secondly it is about using your pantry. It is about options. I may serve this dish on spaghetti, egg noodles or rice. Whatever you have you use and none of the ingredients are crazy or anything you haven't heard of.
Thirdly, I do not coupon. This isn't about spending 3 hours a week trying to get groceries for free. Although I applaud the families that do this, I am a stay at home mom with 2 part time jobs and a household to run. I do not have the time and do not have the energy to put in the effort for couponing. Kudos to those who are dedicated and can find the time.
Fourth, I am not a trained anything. I cook because I like it but even if you don't I appreciate that quick meals are important. I work a night job a few days a week so I utilize the crock pot and casseroles so there is a hot dinner for my family even on the nights I can't be there. You can do this too and I will show you how.
Finally, it is about easy, fun and good food. Lots of these are family favorites. Lots of these are things that the children love to help making too. I have an array of foods and desserts that are "on the cheap" and very good to eat. We enjoy food and don't think we have to suffer just because we are on a budget.
I can't wait to share this cookbook and ask for your support. I plan on finishing and printing then sending this cookbook to Dave Ramsey himself as well as Aldi grocery stores as they are the source of our low cost grocery budget. With some planning and creativity you can feed your family for pennies on the dollar and bring back the "old fashioned" family meals to your life. Everyone in our family benefits from our family dinners and "Big Breakfast" weekends. You can too!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
The worst part of being a parent...
This may differ for each parent out there but this week I had my worst parenting experience. Of course, it wasn't when my son was kicking screaming and acting a brat. It wasn't when my daughter blatantly hit me in the face to get a reaction. It is not moments like these that add up to my worst parenting moment. Weird huh? You would expect those would be the moments that would be terrible.
My worst parenting moment started Monday night when I arrived home from work around 1am. Getting ready for bed and my son starts to cry. I am thinking, "he must have to pee or something" so I head up there and he tells me he has to poop and immediately pukes all over me!! He ate hot dogs and I am wearing a white bathrobe. I panic and don't know what to do so I start CATCHING IT IN MY HANDS??? Yup until I realize "What the hell am I doing???" and I lose it and grab a blanket that is sitting there and him and run downstairs. I wake my husband up with a holler and he heads up to clean the mess that has covered the bottom bunk.
(Listen I had an intolerance for hot dogs when I was a child. Speaking from both perspectives I will say that hot dog puke is the worst for the "giver" and the "receiver")
Thank God for the sectional sofa. I set him up a sick bed with barf bucket and cold water and washrag in tow and set myself up on the other sofa. I couldn't sleep cause he kept saying he had chest pain. Chest pain??? When I finally do fall asleep I am lucky that before he gets sick he tosses and turns cause he is uncomfortable and that wakes me to be by his side. We spend the whole night like this but get pretty much no sleep.
His face was white. His lips were white. He was limp in my arms and shivering as he is trying to puke or poop or what he doesn't know? He is writhing in pain and I CAN'T DO A THING. It was the most horrible moment of parenting I have ever had. I couldn't take it away. No matter how much comforting I did he still had to get it all out of him and I just cried. I prayed for him and I cried. I know that I will have many more moments that I want to take away the pain. I want to take away the hurt and the sick. This is the sickest he has been and it broke my heart. It broke my heart for so many reasons but mostly cause he is my baby. I remember what it was like. I remember that no matter what Mom or Dad did I just had to get it out. I remember their hearts breaking while I was sick or hurt or just not myself.
It is moments like these that remind you of how much you love someone. Your baby. Your blood. Your life's work. Your child.
My worst parenting moment started Monday night when I arrived home from work around 1am. Getting ready for bed and my son starts to cry. I am thinking, "he must have to pee or something" so I head up there and he tells me he has to poop and immediately pukes all over me!! He ate hot dogs and I am wearing a white bathrobe. I panic and don't know what to do so I start CATCHING IT IN MY HANDS??? Yup until I realize "What the hell am I doing???" and I lose it and grab a blanket that is sitting there and him and run downstairs. I wake my husband up with a holler and he heads up to clean the mess that has covered the bottom bunk.
(Listen I had an intolerance for hot dogs when I was a child. Speaking from both perspectives I will say that hot dog puke is the worst for the "giver" and the "receiver")
Thank God for the sectional sofa. I set him up a sick bed with barf bucket and cold water and washrag in tow and set myself up on the other sofa. I couldn't sleep cause he kept saying he had chest pain. Chest pain??? When I finally do fall asleep I am lucky that before he gets sick he tosses and turns cause he is uncomfortable and that wakes me to be by his side. We spend the whole night like this but get pretty much no sleep.
His face was white. His lips were white. He was limp in my arms and shivering as he is trying to puke or poop or what he doesn't know? He is writhing in pain and I CAN'T DO A THING. It was the most horrible moment of parenting I have ever had. I couldn't take it away. No matter how much comforting I did he still had to get it all out of him and I just cried. I prayed for him and I cried. I know that I will have many more moments that I want to take away the pain. I want to take away the hurt and the sick. This is the sickest he has been and it broke my heart. It broke my heart for so many reasons but mostly cause he is my baby. I remember what it was like. I remember that no matter what Mom or Dad did I just had to get it out. I remember their hearts breaking while I was sick or hurt or just not myself.
It is moments like these that remind you of how much you love someone. Your baby. Your blood. Your life's work. Your child.
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