Life As A Domestic Goddess: 2 Week Menu Planning

Hey Everyone,

I have a long post about my 2 week menu plan! As an Army wife, with payday every 2 weeks, it is very important to plan out a menu for two weeks and STICK TO IT! Military wives must make do with shoestring budgets. So, here’s my menu, links to recipes that are online, and my grocery list!

1Feb-14Feb

• M- Yakitori Chicken
• T- Turkey Chili
• W- Tomato & Basil Soup w/ Tortellini (schwans)
• Th- Sausage and Penne Soup (Ashley N. Newell’s Recipe)
• F- Laura’s Lasagna
• Sa- Erin’s Chicken Tacos
• Su- Bloody Mary Chicken (Susan Opel’s Recommendation)
• M- Asparagus Carbonara
• T- Baked Cheesy Enchiladas
• W- Keilbasa, Peppers, and Onions
• Th- Frozen Pizza Night
• F- Toasted Orzo Soup
• Sa- Grilled Cheese & Soup
• Su- Leftover Lasagna
• M- Spam, Veggies, & Rice (Our islander family LOVES spam!!!!)

GROCERY LIST (some items for the recipes are already in stock)

Canned/Dry Goods:

Coconut milk, water chestnuts, pinto beans, hot chili beans, diced tomatoes, 2 Spaghetti Sauce, Lasagna noodles, whole tomatoes, penne pasta, italian herbs, bloody mary mix, black beans, salsa, orzo pasta

Produce (I use green bags to extend the life of my produce):

green beans, sprouts, 3 garlic bulbs, basil, spinach, lettuce, tomato, cilantro, asparagus, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, zucchini, flat leaf parsley, lime, ginger

Dairy/refrigerated:

mozzerella cheese, frozen peas, cream cheese, sour cream, mexican blend cheese

I bought all of this plus the necessary cleaning items and milk, bread, eggs, cereal, snacks, etc. for under $200. My grocery budget is $300 every 2 weeks, including eating out.

WHAT IS YOUR GROCERY PLAN!!!?

Etsy Inspired #73

This week's challenge is brought to you by...

Click to go to shop!

Isn’t the model TOO CUTE for words!!!! And look at those adorable handmade hats!

My Card:

A little birdie told me...

I created a card for a mom-to-be! This card with one of those cute hats would be awesome!

Materials:

• American Crafts Letterpress Zing Finish Paper
• American Crafts Letterpress Flair
• PTI Ribbon Dark Chocolate
• Maya Road Stick Pin
• Prima Marketing Flower
• Sewing Machine and Thread

For more details about this challenge and the special new release, Blueberry and Strawberry Fairies, from Pixie Dust Studio, go to the Etsy Inspired Challenge Blog! Pixie Dust Studio is kind enough to give away one prize package of the new releases to one lucky participant!

New Bam Pop! and it’s ON SALE!

I adore Bam Pop! Stamps and have already ordered all the new stuff! Just click on the pictures above and it will bring you straight to the Torendi Sale! Also, check out Jenn’s BLOG CANDY and CHA Anaheim 2010 posts HERE!

CHA Anaheim: Susan Opel and Yours Truly

Me and Susan Opel

Meeting this spectacular lady has made my year! Susan Opel has been such an inspiration for me! The entire Paper Crafts Magazine crew was so sweet and patient with all us groupies 😉

If you get a chance, you’ll definitely want to purchase Stamp It! Cards! It’s my favorite issue yet with tons of inspiration and innovative designs as well as some easy to execute designs for those short on time!

Meeting Elizabeth Kartchner (aka Dear Lizzy)

Kelly, Latisha, Elizabeth, and ME!

Elizabeth Kartchner is one of the sweetest people in the industry! She’s genuine and kind!

Be sure to check out her new book, 52 More Scrapbooking Challenges! Courtney Baker and I were talking about how much we loved the book! I’ve gone through it a dozen times 🙂

Dear Lizzy, the line from American Crafts, hits stores in March, so keep your eyes peeled for this delightful line!

picture taken by Charlene!

Some pictures from CHA :)

Here’s a photo collage of SOME of the peeps I met at CHA! There are more pictures to follow!

CHA Peeps!

From Left to Right:

1. Ashley N. Newell, Me, Eryn, Angela
2. Cutie Pa-tootie Amy, Me- wish I spent more time with ya girl!
3. Me, Ashley C. Newell
4. Kelly, Claudine Hellmuth, Me
5. Ashley N. Newell, Me, Eryn, Angela, Brooke, Tenia
6. Me, Ashley C. Newell
7. Me, Kelly
8. Jenn, Me, Kelly, Lisa A.
9. Me, Tina, Charlene, Carly
10. Me, Paulina
11. Me, Kelly, Jenn
12. Me, Kelly, Jenn

Check out Torendi’s special report from Amy Tsuruta HERE! She took lots of good pictures of her favorite things from CHA Anaheim 2010!

CHA Anaheim: Favorite Releases (Assorted Picks)

Kasiercraft (KAY-ser-kraft) Storage binders!

Kaisercraft’s booth had tons of product I had never seen before! I thought they were all pearls and rhinestones until I saw their clear stamps, beautiful papers, and 6×6 pads! Check out their blog for challenges and inspiration!

Kaisercraft 6x6 Pads for cardmakers!

Here’s my favorite line from Basic Grey:

Green At Heart

Favorite from Pink Paislee:

Queen Bee

Cosmo Cricket’s Garden Variety is SO FUN and whimsical:

Garden Variety

Check back at my blog throughout the week for more personal photos from CHA Anaheim!

CHA Anaheim: Favorite Releases, Jenni Bowlin

The Jenni Bowlin Booth was Jaw-droppingly Gorgeous! The ladies there were SUPER sweet and fashionable too! The Jenni Bowlin ladies had earrings made from the new stick pins and sweaters adorned with the new buttons and button creations on their clothes! It was awesome! I love seeing different ways to incorporate product and they totally rocked it!

OH, and FYI, Jenni Bowlin is the only manufacturer that I found at CHA that has all her newest product in stores by the time they’re at CHA! Everyone else doesn’t start shipping until after CHA and around March!

Shemille.com has the best photos from CHA, in my opinion. Here are some of my favorites from the JB Booth:

The Butterflies are ALL THE RAGE!

Check out a card using these beauties made by Stephanie Howell HERE! You’ll also find those cool stick pin earrings that Doris Sanders was wearing here too!

Tiny Alphas, Dotted Labels, And PENNANTS!

These stickers are perfect for cardmakers!!!! THEY’RE SOOOOO stinkin cute! Check out a Jenni Bowlin’s Blog and how she used the pennants on a scrapbook layout!

Buttons

The ladies promised they would post pictures of a sweater they altered with these buttons! When they post the pics, I’ll update you all!

***These photos are NOT MINE and I do not take credit for them! Click to go to Shemille.com!

CHA Anaheim: Favorite Releases, American Crafts

My Cool Tote!

My all-time favorite release from CHA Anaheim is the new release from American Crafts, Dear Lizzy! Not only is Elizabeth Kartchner gorgeous, but she also has exquisite taste!

Sidenote-The shade of red incorporated is my favorite shade of red and I actually hunted down a sheet of cardstock thinking it was Bazzill, and when I found out it was American Crafts, I purchased 10 sheets 🙂

My favorites include the pennant paper, the rosette ribbon trim, the berry thickers, and the fabric paper! Dear Lizzy told us that her favorite item from the release is the pennant paper as well!

Click to see release!

The other American Crafts Releases ROCK MY SOCKS too!

Check out I Do, Abode, Botanique, and Heat Wave!

CHA Anaheim: Favorite NEW Schtuff, Scor-Buddy

Do you have the original scor-pal? If you do, you’re going to LOVE this! It’s for cardmakers (like myself) and it’s got more 1/8″ score lines, whereas the scor-pal only has 1 1/8″ scorline!