Ready, set, go!

It seems as though this entry didn't post...uh, duh. Kinda important since the REST OF THE BLOG MAKES NO SENSE! LOL! Apologies and please carry on.

Hello 2010! *tap*tap* You out there? Everyone hungover? Hello? Well, when you are able to peel yourself from the sheets and get that cup of coffee in your system...I have what you've been waiting for.

My pantry challenge menu for the month of January; I know you've been on the edge of your seat in anticipation. I dunno how to do that fancy shmancy stuff so it actually looks like a calendar, so you will just have to deal with my "list" format. Oh, and I'm missing 4 days so feel free to comment and leave me an idea!


1-taco night
2- chix dumpling soup
3- chili
4-pot roast
5-BBQ beef sandwiches using leftover roast meat
6-grilled cheese/tomato soup (duty night)
7-teriyaki chicken/stir fry veggies
8-mini meatloaf
9-burgers/baked beans/deviled eggs/fried potatoes
10-
11-artichoke & caper slow cooker chicken/rice
12-breakfast casserole
13-bruschetta chicken/garlic rolls
14-beef portabello stroganoff (using ground turkey 1/2lb)
15-skillet lasagna using other 1/2lb of ground turkey
16-kalua pork/rice/mac salad
17-frozen pizza (I have a TS party)
18-birthday/anniversary restaurant dinner
19-
20-
21-fried chicken/mashed taters/green beans
22-pancakes/sausage
23-
24-tarragon chicken/lemon parm penne/green beans
25-deli sandwiches/mac n cheese
26-grilled chicken kabobs/rice
27-spaghetti w/meatballs
28-chicken enchiladas/spanish rice/refried beans
29-teriyaki pineapple chicken meatballs/rice
30-frozen pizza (I have a TS party)
31-BBQ chicken/baked beans/deviled eggs/corn on cob

The year in review

It is over done and cliche, but I am ALL about that stuff. Here is our year in review through pictures...ENJOY!

January, living in Hawaii - Deegan and his BFF doin' what they do best :)

In February we moved to the mainland and my baby rode the bus to school!

In March I flew to LA to pick up my car and drive it across country with a few stops.

In April I caught up with old friends and their new additions.
In May, DevilDoc came home!

In June I prepared for a new sibling.

In July my baby brother got married....

....and we went to Disney World!

In August we moved to Great Lakes, IL.

In September DevilDoc pinned on Chief Petty Officer :)

In October we took Magoo to see Miley Cyrus.

In November I went to see the Pioneer Woman!

In December we had our first white Christmas in a loooooong time.

It's not official yet

but I just wanted to give an update on the pantry challenge. It doesn't "start" until January 1 but today we went to the commissary and Costco. My commissary trip was WAY more than it normally is because I had to replace darn near everything that was in the fridge since it went "kaput" last week :(

Commissary: Before coupons $179.95 After coupons $163.76 (that includes the "surcharge") for a savings of $16.19 or 9%. I'm kinda disappointed b/c I usually am in the 20% and above savings range. I am blaming it on having to buy lots of replacements.

Costco: $74.77 Purchased pork tenderloin, golden pineapple, frozen chicken breast, shrimp cocktail, chicken meatballs and dentyne gum. Definitely could have done better but I feel good about it nonetheless.

Off to build a monthly menu :)

The pantry challenge

Okay...new year, new ways. DevilDoc and I are turning a new leaf financially and one thing I want to do is use what we already have in the house instead of purchasing new things. So, I was really excited today to find Money Saving Mom
doing an "Eat from the pantry challenge". I'll try to keep up here weekly so check back to see how we are doing.

**I should note that we have to make a MAJOR trip to the store in the next couple of days to replace everything we lost the weekend before Christmas when our fridge quit working.

We are cutting fast food out of our lives. If you don't order it from a server and leave a tip; we don't eat there.

We are cutting out soft drinks...period.

We are cutting out bottled water. We have enough re-usable water bottles to go around and we will fill those and throw 'em in the fridge.

I will add to this as I think of more, but that's it for now.