And the Winner is . . .

Autumn Christopher

Autumn-just get in touch with me and we'll figure out the best way to get you your prize!

Thanks to all who participated :)

Once A Month Cooking

Today I jumped feet first into bulk cooking, or monthly cooking. Often I will make large batches and divide things up to freeze, but I've never done it in this quantity even though I've thought about it. Lana did this a few weeks ago and filled her freezer and I was inspired. So I set off. My comfort zone was bulk spaghetti sauce divided to use for different recipes, so I began there with my list and then moved on. I brainstormed with things I know and love, things friends have fixed, and a few things I had found on recipe blogs. I am pretty excited to have a full freezer, but Idon't want to eat it-I just want to look at it-and cook more so I don't run out :)

I spent $98.60, but subtract $12.60 for things that didn't involve what I cooked-so that makes it $86.00. I built my meals around chicken with bone in for $.99 a lb and the ground beef I bought was not the lowest fat, but the better meat, and was $1.99 a lb. The meals divide out to $4.30 per meal-I even purchased noodles, tortilla shells, etc. I will need to add a vegetable, fruit, salad, etc. but the biggie for me is not having to decide what to fix for a main course, or go spend a zillion dollars at the store to fix it. And I have a freezer full of veggies like squash, zuchinni, green beans, and corn, that were Russell's grandparents are always so gracious to share with us. I have decided that I will go get a few packs of chicken while it is still on sale and have some in the freezer for if I decide to cook "fresh" or have company-both of which happen occassionally. I also want to get some cheese-I don't usually buy pre-grated, but got it for $1.39 today :)

Beef round 1:
-Beef strogonaf
-Taco Casserole
-Tacos
-Shepherds Pie
-Sloppy Joes
-Taco Soup (x2)

Beef round 2:
-Spaghetti
-Baked Spaghetti
-Calzones
-Baked Ziti
-Lasagna

Chicken:
-Chicken and Dressing Casserole
-Chicken and Wild Rice w/ veggies
-Chicken and Broccoli
-King Ranch Chicken
-Chicken Tetrazini
-Angel Chicken
-Italian Chicken (think chicken spaghetti)
-Chicken and rice

200th Post and a Give Away

It's my 200th post!

Woot-Woot!!!!

And so in honor of it you have a chance to win this basket full of cool stuff :)

Ways to enter:

1. Comment with where you are from (I'm curious who's reading)

2. Comment with how you found my blog (again, curious!)

3. Post on your blog about the give away and link back with McLinky

Bonus: If you are a lurker and have never commented b/f-you get 2 extra entries if you comment!

Do you know. . . ??

How rude people that get PAID to help can be???? In the current economy one would think the objective would be to do everything within one's power to maintain and keep said job-but after my experiences today I would think NOT. In an attempt to get as much done b/f school starts, my assistant and I began donating our time to the great state of SC today. We got furniture in place in the classroom and headed out to purchase our long list of needed items. Store 1-Sam's-no issues-in and out-no big deal. Store-2-walmart-sometimes I wonder why I even go!!!! I wanted to look @ slipcovers, but we @ the Walmart in Spartanburg and I could find NOTHING. attempt 1-So I saw a lady working in the household dept-

me: "Mam, we can't seem to find the slipcovers, can you help us"

walmart employee: "Nope, don't know where they are" as she turns and walks away

me (to her back): "Well, thanks so much for your help"

attempt 2-I find a younger lady, same dept-

me: Can you tell me where I could find the slipcovers?

walmart employee: They are right by the clocks

me: the clocks???

walmart employee: Yes, mam-right beside the alarm clocks.

me: Ok-thanks????

In my head I was saying"If I had known where the clocks were-I would have seen the slipcovers and we would not be having this conversation!!" But I kept my mouth closed and moved on.

I never found more than 1 or 2 and it wasn't what I was looking for and at that point I was so done with the entire thing it wouldn't have mattered anyway!!! I wanted a bright futon cover for my futon at school and a slipcover for the loveseat, think I'll try Big Lots-saw a few neat ones there a while back-and I know right where to look, all by myself :)

Discovery Island Waterpark

We had a great time with our Mommy Group @ the Discovery Island Waterpark!!! It is a lot of fun and has great stuff for kids of all ages. Isaac has started doing so well in the water-I see him do better everytime he gets in :)

Lake Lure, NC

We had a fun family day with the O'shields family last Sunday. We met and went to Lake Lure, NC and enjoyed the beach and water fun there! The bottom of the lake was sandy-a must for me-can't do icky poofy mud. There were sprinklers and water fun for the kids, water slides, and several other fun things to do-can't wait to go again soon!