and your total is.... $634!!

I will start off by saying that Ryan and I have a Sunday "ritual" of the following:

church
- Checking what food we have in our house
- Look through adds online (mostly meijer) to figure out what we should buy to use what we have with whats on sale to make the most affordable, healthy meals.
- Go grocery shopping at Meijer

Our problem comes to be that we often don't get there til 8 or so at night. The shelves are pretty picked over of the good things we want (cause of course they are on sale). So we get frustrate.

Well this week Ry was sick so I went by myself. I must have gone earlier than normal cause it was packed and I was able to get everything on my list.

Time for check out.... too many items to do the self scan or the 12 items or less. So I head to the "shortest" line (meaning everyone has a cart full of groceries so it's a judgment of age and competence based on appearance to try and guess which line will go fastest. So I hope in this line. The person in front of me I see has a cart full of groceries and appears to be unloading quickly and things are scanning properly. Then I see it. His wife. At the end of the lane with 2 additional carts full of groceries. He keeps unloading. LOTS of GROCERIES. I am thinking to myself. They must have like 6 kids and this must be their only "alone" time. Neither of them are "fat" or "overweight"-- but I am mentally trying to figure out how much their bill is going to be. I say to the guy. Where do you guys put all this? He replies with a sigh-- "our 4 kids". I said well you must have a big kitchen too (what kinda comment was that I think to myself.). I was just astonished.

The last item is scanned..... a 1/8 inch stack of coupons are scanned. The "u promise" card is scanned (they will need all the contributions they can get). And the total.. $635!!!! And that was after coupons. Are you kidding me? I hope they only shop once a month. I can't even imagine where you would put it all either.

So for those of you with kids... is this a shocking number to you-- or am I just hopeful that I can still be a budget meal planner/ healthy eater when we have kids some day.

*** I should add there were things like mouthwash, and detergent in there too-- but what's $50 on that stuff when you are spending 600+!!??

$634.94

Check back tomorrow for the story behind the title-- I just have to say it was an eventful day at Meijer yesterday. Sometimes God has little reminders that life could be worse!

Hope everyone is having a fabulous day-- sorry I haven't blogged more-- I had a fabulous weekend with my friend Lynde. Nothin like some quality time with a good friend to put a smile on your face!

Off to finish a few things before bed. Check back tomorrow for my adventures at Meijer.
ck

A day off & countdown to the weekend

I had the day off today-- it was wonderful.... mostly cause it was a nice extension to the weekend. However, I know that the rest of the week will go by super fast. It might go by fast since I am super excited about this weekend. My dear friend (who lives on the other side of the state) is coming to visit. I am sure that will make for a fabulous weekend of laughs, fun, scrapbooking, rock n bowling (we are planning to do this with Ryan-- he will pass on the scrapbooking stuff).

It's been SUPER cold- perfect for getting my scrapbook stuff I have left scanned and organized for another blitz on the scrap stuff sales blog. Keep your eyes peeled-- I will post here when I reopen the scrap stuff blog. I put a end to it before Thanksgiving cause I knew I couldn't do that and all the other projects I had going. But, I would like to get my basement back (that's where it's all laid out over the floor. But sheesh-- I have a LOT of stuff and while I got rid of a lot of it-- I have a lot left.

Not much else is going on-- I am sure I will have some pics to post after this weekend. Off to make Taco soup for this week.

Taco Soup

1 large onion, diced
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes & green chiles
1 (11 ounce) canned corn with red and green peppers
1 (15 1/2 ounce) can low-fat or fat-free canned refried black beans
2 cans water (3 1/2 cups)
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 package ranch salad dressing mix (dry)

Saute' onion with vegetable oil cooking spray. When softened, combine all other ingredients and cook until heated through.

Makes 9-10 cups

D-E-LISH!

2 weeks late-- but still fun!!

Here is a shot from new years weekend with some good friends-- Jonathan (read his blog here)and Erin. It was much fun to get together and just hang out-- something I miss for sure! This was a little "self portrait" of us (hard to get 4 adults in a self portrait). This was taken with my new point and shoot camera I got for xmas! Glad to have a camera to have with me no matter where!

ok-- off to get some things together!

gutting, selling.

Somehow in America we tend to live beyond our means, and then store it all in our basements!! I wouldn't say we live beyond our means-- however we do seem to have a lot of CRAP in our basement. So I am gutting-- I am evaluating what we need, selling the rest, and organizing what's left.

I love it!!! I love being organized-- however, I have gotten less organized as life has gone on. I love things being clean (contrary to the mess I might leave behind when I leave a room sometime). I love having the house in order.

Do you keep things (necessary or unnecessary)? How often do you go through things and what reason do you have for keeping or getting rid of something.

CRAZY - I cleaned out our closet the other day and ended up with 4 kitchen garbage bags with clothes to take to re-sale/goodwill + hanging stuff!! WOW! I think I didn't really go through things when we moved here cause I was still not feeling well!

PS-- has anyone ever taken stuff to a re-sale to sell? I don't really know how to do it!
ck

apparently

Apparently in being intentional-- I just didn't blog as much. hehehe! Well, living intentional is going great. It's about taking care of the people around me by taking care of me. There are a few key things that are helping but I won't share those for a couple months. (Just to keep you reading and to keep me motivated).

Some key things that are making my week(s) go smoother:
- Planning meals (both healthier, cheaper, and less thinking after work- always a plus)

- Grocery shopping Sunday night for everything we need for our meals (this saves time later in
the week when we used to just run to the store and get something as well as takes away the excuse that we don't have everything for a meal- so we should just go out)

- Packing my lunch- I still leave work to eat it-- but it saves me from getting something less healthy and makes me bring snacks so I can eat all day long and my blood sugar doesn't drop.

- Not eating wheat (while I am allergic- I haven't done the best at keeping to that rule-- but since the new year-- no wheat, yeast or anything. Tonight at the grocery store I almost had to can a whole recipe cause chicken broth has wheat and yeast in it--even the organic ones- crazy, I know. But we found a great low sodium, and no wheat or yeast.) All in all I feel better
so much better. I forget how crappy I feel when I eat it-- mostly cause it takes a while and the ramifications from just eating one wheat or yeast product don't necessarily do much- but after a while my body shuts down.... literally-- I don't breath well (or get winded easily)- I don't sleep well (major insomnia)- I am moodier-- my digestive system doesn't work-- and it all flashes me back to when I was sooooo sick (almost 2 years ago-- It kind of makes me sick to think it's taken me this long to kick myself in gear-- but I will not let that stop me- I am going forward)

- Date nights- Ryan and I are committing to making sure we are intentional about planning a night together regularly. Saturday I cooked a nice meal and we went to the cheap movies we went and saw "Fred Clause". I love the cheap movies.
Next weekend we are going to go to see the Calvin alumni improv team-- a good laugh for sure.
And in two weeks my dear friend Lynde is coming to town-- I am sooooooo excited. Fun for sure that weekend.

These things are all part of my living intentionally. I feel healthier mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally. Here is to going forward!

Is it really January???

I am NOT complaining! I went to work and it was 54 degrees at 8 am. I came home and it was 64. CRAZY!!

Now the show I had on tv- is interupted for a breaking weather alert-- we are under a TORNADO warning! WHAT!?? Seriously-- not suposed to hit here-- already hit in wisconson, and it's headed to Muskegon. CRAZY!

Anyway. It made me have spring fever. I love storms-- I hope it thunders tonight!
ck

living intentionally: friendships. self.

I think I have decided that I will expand a little bit more on living intentionally-- but I will do it by topics. I guess they are topics that I have just separated in my head as areas that I can be more improved, and intentional about life. (disclaimer: the following may be considered verbal diarrhea, but they are my thoughts- so read at your own will)

Friends.
I am an extravert-- I know that is just a HUGE surprise for most of you-- (ok, if you are surprised you don't know me at all!!) So, friends are a big deal. I have always had lots of people who I call friends. I have always been involved in lots of things..... until I graduated from college. Then my life became work. I had a job that didn't allow me a schedule to get involved in a diversity of activities-- nor did I really know where or what to get involved in. The things I could always think of pertained to my job. So my social life & work & faith were all in one big lump. Not that they should be separate-- but when you feel like everything is your job-- it's not good.

So now that I am married-- working a new job--- involved in a faith that's real and sincere-- what does my social life look like? Pretty non-existent! I know part of that is getting older, part of that is being unmotivated and uninvolved, part of that is my own fear of giving and being burned again, part of it is just change in life & location.

I want to focus on friendships and connecting with people in 2008. I want to recognize this as something that energizes me- something that is important to me (and Ryan). So we want to be intentional about getting involved in a house church (small group). I want to be intentional about following up with friends, encouraging them (and not just counting on them). I think in giving in this way-- I will become again more grounded than I have been in the past few years. I want to be fully present in all my relationships-- not worried about what else is going on, what's next, etc-- simple be in the moment.

Self.
oh where do I start--- this should be a whole post in itself-- but in reality these things are all interrelated and will help me live intentionally.
On our wedding day, one of the only parts of the message I remember was Chris (our pastor) talking about Ryan and I sitting on the front porch in rocking chairs when we are older and realizing that each day we had been married- we woke up and were the best person we could be, as well as we did our best to help the other person be the best they could be.
For being the only part I remember-- I haven't done my part very well. (Now, before some of you quickly sigh and respond that's not true). I am a good wife. I am supportive, hardworking, loving and encouraging. That is not what I am talking about. In the almost 3 years we have been married most of it has been rough. In the first year-Ryan lost his job right before we got married. I was sick almost the whole year (depressed, fatigued, memory loss, weight gain, stomach issues), a year filled with diagnosis after diagnosis. Finally in the second year they figured it out, I lost my job, we moved, I got a new job. This year has been the best yet- even with devastating news of fertility issues. We are just starting to really feel grounded I think. The area I want to focus on in 2008 is being the best I can be. Focusing on taking care of myself. Focus on getting healthy. I know that is "everyone's resolution". But for me it's more than a weight loss issue. It's a mental issue. It's a discipline issue. It's a respect for myself and God issue.

All in all (if you are still reading)-- I want each day to be about being intentional- being present in the present-- not worried about tomorrow or stressing about what happened yesterday. I don't want to just react to life- I want to thinking through decisions and how they will effect me, those around me. I believe I have a renewed gift this year--- that's my life, my personality- and my relationships. I want to live in those things & build on those blessings.

Do here is to the present!

Living intentionally

I know life being crazy is no excuse not to blog--- so here is a post to tide you over. I have lots of ducks to get in a row this weekend. I have been super stressed at work for reasons I can't discuss. I will just say lots of tension, lots of rumors, back stabbing, caddy drama about sums it up! So pretty much it's just like my old job at the church now!

But it's a new year. I am trying to start off on the right foot--- and my goal for this year isn't a list of goals (well maybe in my head there are things I need to do for this to happen)- but my goal this year is for my life motto to be "LIVE INTENTIONALLY"

After much thought, reflection, over analyzing, and prayer as to why I always feel stressed, worried, and caught off guard when life comes my way-- i realized it's cause I am not living intentionally. What does that mean----? More on that later. I have lots to get done so that I can live intentionally and start fresh and that means finishing up these wedding proofs from early December!!

I hope you all had a great new year-- oh yea- I have pictures of that too!

I will post again soon! Off to live intentionally!