Cheap and Easy

My new lifestyle make-over is going great. It takes my type-A tendencies, love of lists, planning, and organization and smooshes it all together with saving money (a new concept, no?), quality family time, and stress reduction. I am still on board.

It took a pretty good chunk of time Saturday, but I planned my menu for the week, and then reviewed all the sale flyers, to see where I should shop for the best deals. I ended up with three grocery stops, but after spending $175.55 total, I saved $66.31!

Here's the scoop...I shopped Wal-Mart for probably 75% of my items. Paper towels, snack foods, and basic canned goods and other staple items will be cheaper there most of the time. But my local W-M store's produce and meat are horrible. I won't buy either there. I only saved a little $$ at Wal-Mart with coupons (try coupons.com) so my biggest savings was $1.50 off swim diapers. (Tell me about it...Fat Baby should totally not even need them any more...but you try to tell him not to poop in the YMCA pool & see how that works out for you!)

Then, I hit Winn-Dixie for my meat and produce needs. I bought two chuck roasts at $23 and change...buy one get one free. They were GINORMOUS--so, I made the investment, cut them in half, and have one for this week (recipe below) and now have THREE MORE servings in the freezer. I also bought country style ribs on buy one-get one, (more freezer stocking) which Pop will barbecue to sheer perfection!

Finally, Food World has 12-pack cans of coke products, 4 for $11. They also had a coupon in their flyer for $2 off milk (huge score!) when you buy two boxes of poptarts (2 for $5). Now, I'm stocked up with "emergency" breakfast-on-the-go food, and cheap milk.

I told My Baby's Daddy that it seemed kooky to go to three different grocery stores like some crazy coupon freak. He reminded me of the Dave Ramsey motto, "Live like no one else, so you can live like no one else." True that. Besides, all the stores are close to home and each other. I didn't really go out of my way. And by shopping on a Saturday---no kids to schlep in and out, it was pretty quick. I also had a really good list.

Here's the menu for the week, with a great easy recipe.

Sunday: grilled pork chops, rice pilaf, green beans
Monday: spaghetti with meat sauce, salad
Tuesday: country style ribs, cole slaw, corn
Wednesday: crock pot barbecue sandwiches, chips
Thursday: BLTs or gumbo (in freezer from great restaurant at the beach)
Friday: beef brisket (barbecued by Pop...yum-already in freezer) or dinner out




Crock Pot Barbecue
· 3 c. chopped celery
· 1 c. chopped onion
· 1 c. ketchup
· 1 c. barbecue sauce
· 1 c. water
· 2 Tbsp. vinegar
· 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
· 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
· 1 tsp. chili powder
· 1 tsp. salt
· ½ tsp. pepper
· ½ tsp. garlic powder
· 3-4 lb. boneless chuck roast

Combine all ingredients except roast in slow cooker. Mix well and add roast to mixture. Cover. Cook on high 6-7 hours. Remove roast, cool and shred meat. Return to sauce and heat well. Serve on hamburger buns.

This is so very easy and yummy. It's great for a group, and always gets rave reviews.

Edited to add: This is a great website with unlimited resources for organizing your world!

Back...by popular demand

Kind of. My friend Amy e-mailed to say she missed the blog. Only then did I realize another month had passed without a post. I am constantly blogging in my head. Too bad I didn't get it on here, y'all have missed some great stuff!

Indulge me a little while I catch you up with all the latest Southern Fried Family happenings.

I traveled out of state alone with the boys for the first time the 4th of July. My Baby's Daddy had some previous work commitments that kept him from being able to attend a great holiday weekend at my aunt's house on the lake. The road trip was pretty smooth, but being the only parent on hand with Fat Baby loose on an open body of water...not so much fun. I did get some great photos & memories...which I've been scrapbooking in my head. (I've accomplished a lot in my head, if not in real life!)

My Baby's Daddy & I enjoyed mindless appointment television by watching The Bachelorette this season. As long as creepy, stalker Jeremy didn't win I was okay with any other choice she made in the final three. I was relieved when she sent Graham home, too. She was so trying to make him be something he wasn't just because he was smokin' hot-a-licious. Eye candy does not a relationship make. I was rooting for Jason, but I'm okay with Jesse, especially since they did a little something with his hair.

In light of the recent sucky economy, I've been really paying attention to our spending and wasteful or unnecessary habits this summer. I sacrificed monthly pedicures in the name of economizing, and My Baby's Daddy gave up our lawn treatment service. I know I watch way too much Jon & Kate Plus 8, but I think that anything that works for a family of 10 could also benefit my family of 5. She feeds her family organic foods as much as possible, and takes a little time & effort to not just give them cheap crap.

One thing that really makes things easier for me is planning menus. I found a template on this website for simple menu planning. It makes shopping more efficient & helps my week flow more smoothly. I write any scheduled events on that day's grid (baseball 6:00 p.m., picnic lunch at pool, etc.) So I can look over the week & see that dinner should be easy & early on Tuesday, and I need to have sandwich ingredients on hand for Monday and Wednesday. Since I usually work on Tuesdays, I try to plan a dinner with left-overs Monday night to take for lunch. I've also been concentrating on using the perishable items I purchase each week. I actually made banana bread on Sunday rather than letting some fruit go bad & throwing it away.

I really feel good about making things fresh for my family instead of buying the quickest (and almost always less healthy) alternatives. It did occur to me in thinking about this lifestyle make-over....Kate is kind of forced to be at home all the darn time. Not the Southern Fried boys & me...if we get the house clean, we've gotta hit the door before somebody (or two somebodies) trashes it again. We like to get out & do things together. It's very do-able to participate in lots of fun activities with only two boys. If it took half the day to load my brood of kids in the car, I'd probably find more fun things to do with them at home. (They'd probably get more hot breakfasts & home-made treats, too....Monkey Munch anyone?)

Finally, we just celebrated The President's 8th birthday. We hosted a sleep-over with 6 boys. It was great! Even though my outdoor activities were rained out, they still had a blast. There was a karaoke talent show, movies, and lots of video games. I had the cutest red & white striped popcorn boxes for movie time...and the biggest hit of the evening was the make-your-own trail mix. I labeled red plastic cups with each boy's name & they could fill it with their choice of cereal, marshmallows, goldfish, raisins, gummy worms, milk duds, m&ms, etc. We all had so much fun. After a pancake breakfast, all the boys were picked up by 10:00 a.m.

On his actual birthday, The Pres wanted to make a new Build-a-Bear for his gift from us. So, we did that & had lunch at a Japanese steakhouse (also his choice). We were seated with a couple of older ladies who were less than thrilled to be sharing our festivities. One of them said, "Cute kids." Just like that. That was the extent of their enthusiasm. Even after Fat Baby walked in & said, "Excuse me wadies....it's the President's birthday!" How could they resist?

What is up with me?

So, we are leaving for the beach tomorrow afternoon and I don't have a single thing packed. Sure, I've got my planny mcplan-plan categorized list all together like nobody's business...but it's now time to actually do something. I was even in the house all alone(!) last night (cue crickets) and all I did was pull out the boys' big overnight duffel bag. Tomorrow morning, I will go do all our grocery shopping (yes, I do have my list already done) before we leave, so we can go straight to the condo & unload.

Before Pop came to be a permanent part of our home, I always used the guest room as a "staging area" before a trip. Then, I could put stuff in there on the bed and close the door. When I returned it would still be there just as I left it. Now he lives there & I don't think he would appreciate sleeping under 40 pounds of our crap.

The kids are always in & out of my office, and there's really no place to put things where they wouldn't go in and plunder through it.

So, I'm sitting here at way-to-early a.m., unable to sleep but also unable to really do anything.

Oh, and I get to clean out the van of chaos & have the oil changed today. Joy. It's already about four thousand degrees outside, and have I mentioned I'm not motivated?

In case you're wondering if I've been abducted by aliens...I am so excited and have great things planned for this trip. Homemade pancakes for breakfast! Glow stick bracelets & necklaces for the kids to wear on the beach at night! And the coolest travel games from Target. (They're in the coolest vintage tins--magnetic tic-tac-toe & license plate scavenger hunt). I'm putting together a bag of entertaining items for restaurant waits, too. Ideas?

I know I will get it all done. And it will be fabulous. If you need me I'll be on the beach with a trashy book.

Celebrating My Neuroses...

Hi. Remember me? I used to write a blog here. If anyone is still checking in on my sorry ass, please be patient with me as it's the end of the school year and my calendar is double & triple-booked most days. Where did April go, anyway?

One reason I've been scarce is that we had a big blow-out bash for my friend who's moving in the next few weeks. It was last night & we managed to keep it a surprise. The party was great fun with friends who have also been neglected due to my crazy-ass schedule lately. We partied old-school, complete with a lot of booze, a band, and My Baby's Daddy upchucking after we got home at 1:15 a.m. He smelled like a damn brewery and I went to sleep in the bottom bunk in the boys' room. Good times.

I am now officially on the countdown to my annual girls' beach trip. Since it is less than two weeks away, today has been list-making day. Nothing makes me happier than a good list. Besides my list of what to pack, and what to do before I go, there is the Snack List. Some years we bring homemade snacks, and others we just buy everything when we get to the beach. But since fuel is forty bajillion dollars a gallon, we decided it would help our budget to bring some stuff from home. I tend to think of myself as The Queen of Snacks, and take my title quite seriously. I'm thinking of taking a couple of old favorites and debuting something new. Any ideas?

I also plan to take pre-made labels with everyone's name on them to stick on the ziplock bags when I (being a food snob, control freak, and born entertainer) make everyone's sandwich to enjoy on the beach. In years past, we've had to label them with a pen or some other crude and inferior method. People will either envy me or think I am a neurotic control freak. Whatever. If they want their damn sandwich, they'll sing my praises like a bunch of canaries. Don'tcha think?

Purging

So, just one short week ago I could not move my head without tossing my cookies. I had a raging intestinal virus that was. not. pretty. The good news is that it helped out the WW weigh in last week & I've lost almost 25 pounds since January. I guess that's one reason there hasn't been an original and entertaining post around here in a while.

Upon my recovery, I resumed the tedious and much too labor-intense process of tackling the Spring 2008 Official To-Do List. It involves much organizing, decorating, and just plain old throwing crap away.

While I was recently away at a scrapbook week-end, My Baby's Daddy treated himself to a new bigass television, which he plopped on a new TV stand (very tasteful...which was a surprise. I never knew if he really had bad taste or was just cheap. I guess just cheap...although the stand wasn't. But it's to hold the new tv, so you know, no expense spared. Whatever. If he's going to freelance on furniture without approval, it better damn well be something I like. But I digress.) I am glad to see that he does have some taste deep down. I mean, I know he married me & all...I do love the new tv cabinet, so all's well.

Anyway, we now find ourselves with this big armoire that housed our old (normal sized) television. I have moved it into my our office, and it is being converted into a lovely home for scrapbooking supplies, gift wrap, stationery, and other essentials of life. It, and the room from which I blog, will soon be completely fabulous. For the first time, evah. Look for the quality and frequency of posts to improve. I've stolen found many great ideas on several of my new favorite blogs for inspiration.

So, I have plenty of projects to keep me busy until summer. At which time, I will be holding down a chair by the pool, occasionally glancing up from a good book to make sure both my children are above water. My Route 44 Diet Coke with Lime from Sonic may or may not will be topped off with Malibu coconut rum.

Edited to add: Please go to nbc.com and vote for Roger for the Biggest Loser finale! I will follow up with an in-depth Biggest Loser post, and tell you why I want to show Roger the love! (I love Mark, too--by the way!)

Give me a break...really.

We're on Spring Break. Hooray! I do so enjoy a break...of course, if Christmas break is any indication it's not much of a break for me. I don't like to travel during Spring Break, because I don't want to waste a trip on iffy weather. I will however, plan non-stop days o' fun. Here's how our week is shaping up:

Friday a.m.: take everybody to school and frantically clean house and make sure all the linens are clean for sleepover guests (before I go to work)

2:40 p.m., Friday: Spring Break offically begins when school is out.

Around 3:45 p.m.: My mom, step-father, sister, nephew and niece arrive for a visit. Since I worked (outside the home!) on Friday, I opted for us to go out to dinner instead of cooking.

Saturday a.m.: make delicious and healthy fruit salad for breakfast, color 5 dozen hard-boiled eggs with kids for egg hunt later in the day, stuff plastic "prize eggs," organize treats and prizes

Noon-ish: prepare for a late lunch (hamburgers & hotdogs on the grill), hide and hunt eggs, and again...and again....lots of fun memories & photo ops, finally have lunch about 3:00

6:00 p.m.: family leaves...na na na na hey hey hey goodbye!

6:01 p.m. until bedtime: frantically try to restore some semblance of order to house

Monday: leave kids home (thanks, Pop!) so I can work a few hours. Pop gets combat pay for taking them to McD's on Spring Break.

This morning, 11:00 a.m.: leave the house for mandatory shopping, as we have Easter on Sunday and a wedding to attend Saturday...I put off the two hardest to fit (Fat Baby and moi) until the very. last. minute.

12:30 p.m.: My Baby's Daddy meets us for lunch, and takes a little extra time to entertain the troops while I try some things on.

1:45 p.m.: Time to say good-bye to daddy, and I've purchased an outfit & a back-up. Feeling pretty good.

About 2:15 p.m.: Cut the brothers some slack & take time-out for a carousel ride. (Thanks, Mommy!)

2:30 p.m.: Hit the children's section of my favorite department store for Fat Baby's spring wardrobe. Score some cute (on sale!) and fabulously preppy things that help me forget that I'm in mourning that The Era of The Jon-Jon is over. I loved the jon jon...dress it up, dress it down, wear it for play, for church, barefoot, with shoes, and with a monogram...forget it! It just doesn't get better than that! That boy could work a jon jon like nobody's business! Why don't they make jon jons in size 6 for a three-and-a-half year old?!?! Ummm, okay, never mind.

3:30 p.m.: Leaving the mall. Fat Baby's eyes are closed before we even leave the parking lot. Less than 5 minutes later, he begins to cry/moan with no tears and his eyes still closed. I thought he was uncomfortable & couldn't get to sleep.

3:40 p.m.: Fat Baby tosses his cookies. A lot.

3:42 p.m.: Pull into a Texaco station to attempt cleanup effort.

3:50 p.m.: Leave Texaco with pukey clothes tied up in shopping bag. Fat Baby asleep by 3:51.

6:00 p.m.: My family gets BLTs for dinner, with Oscar Meyer ready-to-cook bacon that I make My Baby's Daddy heat in the microwave. They better be glad they even got to eat.

Tomorrow's plan may include seeing the doctor, and definitely includes seeing a matinee of Horton Hears a Who! I'm not going to let a little throwing up stop me...oh, and three diarrhea diapers (about 5:15, 7:00, and 15 minutes ago).

Tomorrow night I plan to make Easter forgotten cookies. I'll post the recipe next time, because if you're even still reading this now you deserve a medal. Anyway, the cookies are cool and teach children the Easter story as they bake them.

Friday, we're taking a little side road trip to the Georgia Aquarium. Then a distant family wedding (also in GA) on Saturday. Come home late Saturday, Easter Bunny shows up, up Sunday for church...did I mention it's my week to teach Sunday school?!? and then Easter. Oh, and I guess we'll need a special family Easter lunch celebration...

When does school start back?

What's New in the New Year?

My attitude, for one! 2007 was really difficult for me. A lot of stuff happened, and a lot more happened that I did not even begin to address on the blog. Maybe someday, but not now. Bottom line is, sometimes blessings don't come easy. I've been given a lot of responsibilities, and like most women, I completely neglected to take care of myself. I'm sure that it showed by the end of the year.

Knowing I had to do something, I've started the new year off making myself a priority. I started back to Weight Watchers (lost 4.5 pounds last week!), going to the gym at least three times a week, and taking a little time off every now and then. I've been able to ask for help (which is completely out of character) and accept help when it's been offered (even more out of character). If I'm falling apart, I'm no good to anyone else. When I get totally hawt, I'm sure I won't be able to resist posting a picture. I lost 60 pounds after Fat Baby was born on WW, so I'm pretty confident in my ability to follow the program.

The new year finds us on a pretty tight schedule. I don't mind too much, because I really function better with maximum structure. Fat Baby is in preschool three days a week (hooray for preschool!). The President is taking karate two nights a week, and I have Weight Watchers one of those nights. I am working in the grant office one day a week (and occasionally more as needed). My dad & I are going to the gym together a couple of times each week, as well. My Baby's Daddy has his regular, full-time sales job and a evening/ week-end real estate job that is his passion. And we all sit down to a healthy, homecooked meal together every night except Thursday. (I am totally not kidding about that--it is very important to me...and Pop helps with the cooking sometimes).

I'll leave you (breaking my last-year rule of no kid pictures) with this image of our last day of Christmas vacation. It goes without saying that Fat Baby was ready for some structure, too!

Checking It Twice

Today is the first chance I've had to get my butt in gear for holiday planning. You all know that I love the planning almost as much (if not more) than the event itself. I am lost without a list, and finally the 2007 Christmas season has started in the Southern Fried household. Wow, I feel better with multiple lists made, and a game plan working. I was totally inspired by this post. I bow down to Clemson Girl's organization and planning, and look forward to her example to help reign in my chaos. I said I like planning and organization....I didn't say I was as good as I'd like to be.

As soon as I can get the boys a haircut, the holiday card is the first order of business. By the way, thanks for all the input...I did get a pre-lit, artificial tree. I am also doing a smaller tree with boy stuff for the boys' room as a surprise.

Oh....AND I totally got the boys' closet done for winter yesterday! (Yes, it's still that warm here!) All the outgrown clothes, gone. Things for next summer, boxed. This year's fall clothes neatly folded and put away! Hooray!

This is how my mind works...

I am so tired of that trick-or-treat post, I can't even tell you. I wish I had time to post every day. This time last year, I was doing NaBloPoMo (national blog posting month). Great fun, got a lot of new traffic, can't commit this time. Too bad for me. I seriously wish I could clone myself, as I really don't have time to be sitting here right now.

Because I know all 6 of you who read this blog are on the edge of your seats...here's the news around here:

*We've all been in bed by 8:30 every night this week. Thank you, Jesus for the time change!

*I can't believe that Sabrina was voted off Dancing With The Stars. She was seriously the best dancer.

*Recently overheard, The President to Fat Baby: "I've got three words for you, Fat Baby---SHUT YOUR PIEHOLE!!!! Actually, that's two words and a compound word." I'm so glad he's learning something in school this year.

*For the first time in my life, I will be cooking Thanksgiving dinner at my own house this year. I feel like such a grown-up, I'm totally excited! My Martha-genes are working overtime. The only other time we've not traveled to visit relatives for Thanksgiving was the first year we were married. We lived about 4 hours away, and My Baby's Daddy (who was just known as My Hubby then) worked as the director of dining services on a college campus. Their football team was in the playoffs, and consequently he had to be there to supervise their holiday meal. I spent the day alone in a town I hated, and when he got home (late) we had turkey subs from Subway. That's love, people. We did have a family thing later in the week-end, so you don't have to feel too sorry for me. I felt plenty sorry for myself! Anyway, I am going to rock the house with my first ever Turkey Day meal!

*I've kind of started a little borderline holiday shopping. No lists yet, though.

*I have two ideas for our Christmas card picture. Coming soon.

*I'm considering a pre-lit artifical tree. Where's the best place to go? We usually have a live Frasier fir, but I've heard there's a tree shortage, and since they're going to be $$$$, I might as well invest in something permanent and convenient. I'm willing to entertain arguments for and against. Offer up your opinions!

Boo, Y'all!

I am up to my eyeballs getting ready for various classroom festivities. There is a room-mother who I think has potential, but I'm pretty sure I can take her...

Happy Trick or Treats, everybody! If you need me, I'll be plundering through the boys' bags for the good stuff! I'm so going to need a big drink when tomorrow is over!

Chillin'

Finally! I sit here in the heart of dixie with socks on my piggies. There is the potential for a little gas log action this evening. Wahoo! I love fall. I do love that I live in a climate where I can wear jeans, a t-shirt, and flip-flops pretty much until Christmas. (That reminds me of something cute. Fat Baby has a new little boy in his preschool class named Christian & he calls him Christmas. I love it.) Anyway, the mercury has finally dropped a little. I love to let the house stay slightly chilly & then just spot heat with the fireplace. So cozy! I can't wait to get everybody in pjs tonight, so I can be lazy. Anyway, the office is the coldest room in the house, so I had to break out the socks. Being a good Southen girl, I love to be barefoot whenever possible. To minimize the inprisonment of my feet, I guess I'll wear Crocks today. (Wow, this is an exciting post....yawn.)

So, what's new around here? Wheezing, hacking, coughing....that's pretty much it.

Pop is having a birthday this week-end. His sister & I have planned some birthday festivities. I am baking the famed Italian Cream Cake & making a Paula Deen dip. (Spinach, bacon, 5 kinds of cheese, hot and bubbly---yes, please!) We are going to stay overnight at my aunt's house. All the kids are bringing their costumes, and we'll do trick-or-treaty stuff. Bobbing for apples, face painting, pinata, etc.

Since I am the family activities director, I am supposed to bring games for the adults. I am bringing my bunco set (standard at all family parties), and maybe a card game like Phase 10 or Uno. Any suggestions?

I thought of doing pumpkin carving, then each family could take their pumpkin home for Halloween.

I know it's going to be fun laughing, eating, and hanging out. I am really looking forward to it.

While I'm thinking of costumes and Paula Deen...I had the great idea to spray my hair gray, sport and apron, and dress as Paula for Halloween. (It would so work, believe me!) "HEY,Y'ALL!" Anyway, I ran the idea by The President, because I would be wearing it to an event at his school this past week-end. He said, "No, mama....I want you to be a supermodel or a princess!" (He's not brainwashed or anything). How could I disappoint my sweet boy? I had to put on the glam. So instead of going the Lane Bryant supermodel route, I wore a long, straight black skirt and black sleeveless shell with blingy jewelry, a white boa (chosen by The Pres), a tiara, and a ribbon sash that had "Mom of the Year" in gold glitter. It was fab-u-lous! I teased up my pageant hair & everything. I was totally into it. In fact, I'm still wearing it. Just kidding. (Counting the days 'til Wednesday, though...)

I'm older & I have better insurance...

It's a super great lazy day around the Southern Fried House today. Everyone except me & the Fat Baby are off enjoying some SEC football. We spent a few happy hours purusing a new Books a Million--heaven on earth--followed by Target. A double dose of wandering bliss. I bought a bunch of crap I didn't need. I bought many lovely, useful and wonderful things that will bring me great joy. Including three books, Monster Mash Mojito Mix (add rum & freeze--makes 20 cocktails), a new planner (because I'm an OCD, type A, planning fanatic--and it makes me happy happy), and some fabulous hooks for the boys' room to hang their backpacks on. Finally. (Have been looking for those for months).

When the window of opportunity for fun-time-with-a-preschooler was closing, and we were leaving the Tar-jay, I began to back out of my parking space just as I always do. Car in reverse, foot on break, creep back, and check rearview and side mirrors. I almost always have my kids in the car, and their safety is #1 priority with me. Driving the big ole Honda Oddysey doesn't inspire reckless abandon--ummm, kay? Anyway, as I was doing my preliminary ease back I heard somebody honk their horn. At moi?!?! No one could have been more careful than I at that moment. (I do admit that I am by no means the best driver around, but I do. not. take unnecessary chances with my kids). I look around to see the source of the rudeness. Three skinny little heifers who barely look old enough to drive. She was probably sitting on phone book to see over the wheel. I caught the whole "mean girls" look, and the whole, "look how cool I am--I can honk at some mom in a minivan."

Pissed me off. I thought about flipping her off, but what kind of example would that be to Fat Baby. (And besides I was afraid he'd do it at church tomorrow if he saw me do it). So, pulled out & passed them, I looked the driver straight in the eye and smiled (fake, bouncy cheerleader smile) and waved my ass off. They probably thought I knew their mom. Whatever. They all looked very perplexed, but I'm sure they will think about the attitude next time. Nah, probably not. I'm going to do my "I Don't Have a Girl" Dance now.