June Goal Recap

Finances:
• Have a budget meeting with my husband
Not so good on this front, but the first one is scheduled for Monday
• Track our grocery budget and menu plan again (this is probably the spending category we have most control over)
Finally did it retroactively (less helpful) but set up a more ambitious plan for July (more to come in another post)
• Pack lunch every day.
I did okay on this, but can definitely do better. I have to plan lunch food better, as I still get very hungry (maybe due to nursing?)
• Set up a college savings account for Baby S
Did the research, just have to open it up.

Home:
I made no progress on this front… Yuck!

Me!:
I have decided not to track this goal on the blog – it is not really on-topic, and while I love reading about other people’s journeys and successes, I’m just not that interested in writing a weight-loss blog.

On to July...

Menus and Food Budget

Food Budget
Our food budget is $100 per week for groceries, plus $200 for Costco. (or less for weekly and more on Costco, but total spending should be $600) Meals out are limited to $200 per month.

This week's Safeway bill was astronomical... there were a few things I should probably have passed on - such as ten dollars of sliced mango, and two bottles of wine.  It also included a $15 giftcard for an upcoming occasion.  Total $217.11  Yes, ouch.  And then there was also costco today (for dogfood and clams) $51.89.

Menu Plan:
Sunday: Grilled Paella

Monday: Pasta with clams

Tuesday: Spicy Salmon Cakes, rice, salad

Wednesday: Chicken with chunky tomato salsa, rice, corn

Thursday: Individual meat loaves with potatoes, roasted beets.

Friday: Ravioli with heirloom tomatoes and goat cheese.

Saturday: Chicken Tikka Masala, roasted eggplant, coconut rice, and pistachio brittle with ice cream.
(This is my attempt at adventure this week)

Breakfast: Oatmeal, or eggs on toast, or smoothies
Lunch: leftovers from previous night's dinner or salad
Snacks: Crackers and cheese, fruit, yogurt

Gratitude Sunday - Father's Day

I have so much to be grateful for this Father's Day! It is my husband's first time to celebrate, and he is such an amazing daddy to out little man! It has been wonderful to see him interact more and more with our little guy - smiling and talking to him, making funny faces, and even reading to him. As a husband he is increasingly carrying part of my load around the house too, as he has been cooking for me when I'm tired, cleaned the house yesterday, and folded load after load of laundry. I am blessed to have a husband like you honey, and if I don't say it often enough, here it is again - I appreciate you, and I love you.

I am also grateful for my Dad, who walked into a ready-made family with patience, perseverance, and a sense of adventure. Daddy, I know it couldn't have been easy, so thank you. Thank you for helping me with math homework, for teaching me to love learning and be self-sufficient, and most of all, for continuing to inspire me with your determination and curiosity. I love you very much, and hope that some of the lessons you taught me sticks.

Third, I have to say I'm super grateful for the lovely dish of paella my husband cooked on the grill today so the house could stay nice and cool - it was delicious.

PS: Watch this space! I was inspired by Amanda Blake Soule's fabulous "Ten Things" post the other day (http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2010/06/ten-things.html, so for next week's Sunday post, I'll try to have pictures.

It’s Good to Have Goals

Or "Where I do a bit of an update on goals – frugal, green, and otherwise"

We are apparently moving overseas – will not happen this year, may not happen next year, but will definitely happen. In preparation for this eventuality, I need to do a serious declutter of our home, our finances, and my body. (Simultaneously.) I also have to do something about my career, but I’ll leave that for another month.

Finances: I think I have figured out some long term goals… We will be completely debt free (including the student loans and mortgage) by the time baby S. graduates high school. In the more medium term, I would like to have all consumer debt gone before we go overseas, but as that is a moving target, at the latest by June 2013. (Giving me three years.) For the very frugal of you, I’m sure three years doesn’t sound like a very lofty goal, but for us, between the mortgage, the student loan payments, the daycare payments, and various medical expenses, three years is super ambitious. To accomplish this, I have set the following mini-goals for this month:

• Have a budget meeting with my husband
• Track our grocery budget and menu plan again (this is probably the spending category we have most control over)
• Pack lunch every day.
• Set up a college savings account for Baby S (while this will not reduce our debt right now, I should help us avoid new debt in future)

Home: Our biggest clutter, as I’m sure it is for most people, is paper. If I could get rid of our mailbox, our home would be much neater! There are a few small goals related to this issue this month:

• Stop more junk mail (seems you have to redo this process every few months)
  
• File magazine clippings and recipes I would like to try
• Declutter/chuck/etc all magazines, except the most recent issue.
• File bills and other things I have to keep

Next month – the baby’s closet!

Me!: Declutter the baby-weight! I’m almost back to my pre-pregnancy weight, but that was no great shakes either, so I would like to continue working towards my healthy weight. This is important for several reasons but also dovetails nicely with my other goals – eating meals I brought from home will save us money, not having to buy (yet another) size clothing is definitely a huge money saver, and having only one size clothing inn my closet will be a fantastic decluttering exercise. Who wants to move five sizes of clothing halfway around the world anyway? Mini goals for this month:

• Keep a food journal (being honest with myself is always a good start)
• Pack gym bag to exercise at lunch time!
• Pack lunch every day (see above)
• Drink more water (I think I eat when I am actually just thirsty… besides it is hot as anything here right now.)

Monday Menu and Food Budgets

Food Budget
Our food budget is $100 per week for groceries, plus $200 for Costco. (or less for weekly and more on Costco, but total spending should be $600) Meals out are limited to $200 per month.

Good news! I didn't go grocery shopping at all last weekend (mostly because I ran out of time) so it end up I can make a week's worth of meals out of the pantry/fridge/freezer. We did, however, go out twice. Once because we were just too tired to cook, and then for pizza and beer after church.

Menu Plan:
Sunday: Grill! Steaks, potatoes, and tomato salad

Monday: Pasta with roast vegetables

Tuesday: Flounder with dill yogurt sauce, potatoes, peas

Wednesday: Curried chicken and rice salad

Thursday: Husband is eating out, so I'll make do with leftovers

Friday: Scallops with tomato and capers

Saturday: Pot roast (with enough for a meal next week)

Breakfast: Oatmeal, or eggs on toast, or smoothies
Lunch: leftovers from previous night's dinner or salad
Snacks: Crackers and cheese, fruit, yogurt