Shopping 2022- week 1

One of the things that surprised us when we moved to Kansas from NY seven years ago was that in Kansas you pay taxes on food. So this year along with keeping track on how much we spend on food, I am also going to track how much tax we pay on groceries over the course of the year. 

I am considering the shopping I did on 12/30/2020 as part of this year's food budget since I would have done this big shop on 1/1. Except we were getting a winter storm and I would much rather shop on a 40 degree day then a 0 degree day. 

This time around the big budget items were ground beef, chicken, and canned chicken as I had been working our way through the freezers for the last 2 month trying to use up what we had. 

I am trying to keep to the actual food budget this year 440 a month ( 40 is for taxes) , so I will be bringing back using a price book. A price book is a way of keeping track of what you pay for food over the course of time, so you know when you are getting a good price and should stock up. Most stores run sales on items like meat and cheese every 6 to 8 weeks. 

This week I went to Sam's Club, Aldi's, 88 International ( one of our local international stores) and Hy-Vee. The hardest item to find this time around was cabbage of all things, finally found some at Hy-Vee and they only had 4 heads of the organic kind. 

The special request items for this shopping trip were ice cream and spaghettios, and I was able to get both of these items.

I spent : Alidi's 104.71 ( 8.73)

              Sam's Club 237.12 ( 19.78)

              Hy-Vee 13.80 ( 1.20)

              International Market 19.80 ( 1.81) 

Total - 375.43 ( 31.52)

I did a second shop this week to get Milk, Bread, Eggs, Banana's and soda and more ice cream for family game night. 

                Walmart : 38.77 (3.48)

Weekly Total- 414.20 ( 35)  

As of today I have already spent the money budgeted for the whole month of January for food. I will likely have at least one more big shop this month. So I am just going to hope that it balances out by the end of the year. But then I haven't actually spent any of 2022 food budget yet, as the funds for January have yet to be deposited into my grocery account. I used Decembers food budget for the shopping listed above. 

Making Chicken Broth

  I started with one normal size pressure cooker a few years ago and when my crockpot met an unfortunate incident with the floor the husband bought me a even larger second one. Having two has made chicken broth day so much easier. 

 When it comes time to make chicken broth which happens every three or four months it is a whole day affair. But it doesn't take up much of my actual time, but it is a day that I need to be home to keep an eye on the pressure cookers as they do the work.

I like to use the cheapest chicken that has bones in it for making broth, this time around it was drumsticks.

I use carrots, garlic, onion, and mushrooms along with the chicken to make the broth. I do not season the broth when I am making it as I like to that when I use it. 

When it comes to the carrots if I am using whole ones I just give them a good scrub and don't peel. Often I use whatever sad looking carrots are in the fridge, which sometimes could be baby carrots.

The onions just get a quick peel and cut in half 

The garlic just gets the ends chopped off, I don't even peel it as I strain the broth.

As a family we don't eat mushrooms, they just don't appeal to us but when it comes to making broth I toss in a container, I think it adds something to the broth. 

All of this in then placed in the pressure cookers, I use enough of the mixture to fill the cookers almost to the top and then add water and a splash of apple cider vinegar  to break down the chicken bones. Set the pressure cookers on the chicken setting for one hour, and I let them naturally cool for about 30 min after the cycle finishes. Then strain and place the broth on the stove in my extra large pot that holds 17 quarts.  Then place the now mushy mix of  veg and meat back into the pressure cookers add more fresh veggies and chicken if you have them left from the beginning add water and repeat the process. I do this about 3 times just keep reusing the veg and chicken and I will have about 17 quarts of broth. This takes about 8 hours, during this time I leave the broth that is finished simmering on the stove and that reduces it some more. 

If I am doing this in the winter and it's a nice cold day, I will portion it out into the containers and then place out in the snow until the broth cools and then I freeze it. If it's summer time I will try my best to have a open freezer and place the broth in there, also a sink of ice helps to cool it quickly. 

Lots of wonderful chicken broth to use in soups, and other recipes. 

 Let's start this year of blogging with a topic that fits in well with the name of this blog What's One More.

Yes that was the family motto for 2020-2021. At first we thought that we would be moving to GA, and in fact the husband was in GA from July of 2020 to June of 2021, while the rest of us where here in KS. So we spent time in 2020 trying to pair down belongings and make a plan for moving. Then we learned in the beginning of 2021 that we would not be moving to GA, something that we thought was going to happen. So not one more move for us.

Instead it became a remodel job, if we were staying in KS we needed to make our house work better for us. After 7 years here we had a pretty good idea on what worked and what didn't. The hard part was trying to make what needed to happen not only fit in the budget but in the space we had. So I spent a lot of time getting estimates for work . Some projects were tabled due to cost and others we made choices on what parts could we do and what parts needed to be done by a contractor. 

In the end we decided to remove all carpet in the family room and replace with tile, wood floors to replace the laminate in the kitchen and living room, a shed for the yard , and some new furniture that fit the rooms better. Then there are the What's One More projects that seemed to be natural extensions of the original plan.

I had asked for a new sink and countertop for the kitchen to be included in the plan, and here comes the first of many what's one more project in 2021. Lets just remodel the whole kitchen says the husband who remember is in GA at this time. After some thought, I was on board, and the planning began.

So the final projects ended up being a total kitchen remodel, which is still has bits not finished but we are getting closer. New wood floors in the kitchen, livingroom, hallway and front staircase. New railing and a 1/2  wall to replace a railing. Plus painting the whole upstairs and downstairs, a fireplace mantel project. Tile floors in the downstairs, tiling the upper 1/2 of the boys bathtub/ shower walls. And some new furniture that makes the rooms work as needed. Some days I felt that if I had to make one more decision my head was going to explode, as these were choices that I was going to have to live with for the next 20 years. What if I made the wrong one ,so much second guessing.

The house is more ours now, it works great with only 2 of the kids living here at home, and when we have guests or college kid comes home for a break we have a space for them. If the college kid moves back in after college, we might need to rethink some spaces. 

Here are some before and after pictures of the living room. I will be sharing more of the remodel as the year goes on room by room. 

                                                              Before and then the After

                                                       

 So I normally make my yearly goals in August, but this year I was just not into thinking about things I wanted to work on since we were in the middle of a kitchen remodel that was one issue after another. The kitchen is still not completely done but is closer then it was, and no longer takes up a ton of my brain space.

So here we go, at the top of the list is work/ life balance. I work in school nutrition, and like most places this year we have been short staffed and have had procurement issues. I also have a personality that leans toward over focusing. My plan to make this goal work is to first not check my email before 6:45am, my work day starts at 7am but a quick check at 6:45 will let me know if I need to head to a school or the office. If I am needed at a school before that time, they can call me.

Number 2- Menu planning, I seem to have this one as a goal every year, But I know that it helps to have a plan, I spend less and waste less. I think I need to remember that a meal plan can be flexible and that its ok to to serve the meal planned on Wednesday on Thursday if that works better that day as the week proceeds. I don't need to give up, if I can't seem to follow the plan, each Sunday is a new start. 

Number 3- Blogging- yep if you notice it's been a while since I have posted. I just haven't been feeling it, the last two years have been crazy. I had been thinking about trying vlogging but have realized I am more a blogger at heart. So as goal number three I am aiming to post 3 times a week. 

Number 4- To Do List- yep this one has also been on the list before. I am aiming to get at least 1/2 of my list completed each week to start and work from there, with a goal that at the end of the year I will be either completing my list each week or will be better at making a more realistic list. 

Number 5- Game time I really want to play a board game once a week. I do have a selection on two person games and also larger group games. I am going to list this on my to do list each week and let the others who live here know. I am thinking Friday nights.

Number 6- Personal Habits: I will be using a Habit tracker to keep track of the following.

 Get up and Move- If it is a day that I end up in a school kitchen, I am counting that as exercise  4 hours of non stop moving counts in my book. On days that I am in the office , I will take the stairs and if it's not to cold try to get some walking in. 

Drink More Water- Just like it says, drink more water and that will equal less soda drinking I hope.

No getting Fast Food during the week work- As I travel between schools a lot during my work day I tend to stop for fast food. This has lead to two issues one it costs money that I can use for something else and it's not good for my waist line . Still working out on how to stop doing this, as I don't know for sure which days a packed lunch would be good and which days I will be at the office and can have lunch there. I am thinking maybe some freezer type meals that I can heat in the microwave if I miss lunch at the office, and maybe some packaged food that will do fine in my car. Just need to do some pre planning. 

Number 7- Have a clean kitchen before bed each night, I know this sounds easy but on some days I just don't get it done. 

Number 8- Garden - this last year I didn't have a garden at all, the house remodel took up all my brain power and energy. I haven't fleshed out this goal but I will have a garden this summer. 

Wish me luck, I hope that I can meet these goals this coming year. If I can I think that it will be better for me mentally and physically, 2021 was rough on both fronts.

Goals 2019-2020 Update

Well It's time for an update, and a good time to also modify and add some new goals.

1) Take a college class - thinking this will be a spring semester goal- This goal is being removed for now, with current life I just can't find the time. 


2) Walk one mile per day on purpose for 26 consecutive days. - Was thinking of doing this in September but with the pain my knee is giving me I may need to postpone this one, but I think I will at least still try. - This one I am going to start on Monday, my knee stills hurts even though it was better after surgery the pain has returned. I am changing it up in that 1 mile a day may not be possible I am going to walk for 20 min and will let the knee figure out how fast and far I go. I figure I can fit it in to the time I spend waiting to pick up my son after-school, and still make a family phone calls.


3) Menu plan every two weeks- I have learned that if I sit down and menu plan I am more likely to actually feed the family.- Well this one I was sort of doing ok at it but not great, so I changed it up and made a menu plan for whole year, I only need to add from the list to the calendar. It is a 4 week rotation with a Winter/Fall and a Spring/Summer option. 

4) Paint a picture- I am not a creative type person as far as painting is but it is something I want to try this year so once again I see you tube videos in my future.- I did it was a great night of fun and my son even joined in. My picture well at least you can tell it's a tree.

5)Complete at least 75 percent of weekly to do list- I like lists and each Sunday spend some time making them but they don't always get done. This year I wanted a goal to help me focus on completing more of the weekly to do list. - This one has been going ok, I do realize that I need to make the Saturday list smaller and have a plan to make it more reasonable.


6) Do a 5k walk- This is going to be late Fall or Early spring - Need to see how the knee comes along, we are going on a vacation in June and it will involve a lot of walking I am thinking that I may turn day into my 5K. 


7) Monthly organizing project- See below


8) Make Dinner 5 out of 7 days a week.- Friday's my 12 year old makes pizza and Sunday's is leftovers.- Does stopping to get take out count, no I don't think so .Need to do better at this one for both our budget and health, I am going to start keeping track on my to do list to see if I am doing this regularly. We also are changing left over day to Mondays.

                                                                    Aidan's Pizza


9) Family Game time at least 1x a week- I am going to aim that every Friday we play a game since we have no outside commitments usually that day. I will also aim to try to play a game with Aidan on Sunday afternoons. Well we have played a lot of games over break and with one of my new goals I think that fitting in more time for games with Aidan will happen.
                                                          

10) Family dinner at the table with no devices at least 3x a week- We are a busy family and as much as I would like to eat together at the table every night as we did when the kids were younger that is just not happening. But I think we should be able to do it 3x a week if I write it on the family calendar, and most importantly no devices. This hasn't been happening but I am hoping with the spring schedule it might be more possible.

11) Take one picture every day and write about it. This is one goal that I think I will enjoy the most, and hope to print out at the end of year into a photo book.- Need to work on this, there are days I take a lot of pictures and then there are times I go days with out taking a picture.


Break down of the Monthly Organizing Goal so far


September- My side of the Garage - DONE- and needs to done again in the spring

October-  Yard- done at least till spring when it all start again.

November- The back of the garage -1/2 finished

December- Under the stairs, the Christmas stuff- Not yet we painted the kitchen instead

January- Filing cabinets- did 1/2 of this one in November.

February- All the bookshelves in the house

March- Closets


April- August still to be decided.

For the new goals that I am adding:

1. Stay off Facebook from 3:30-8pm - This will be hard but it will give more time to play games, craft, and blog. 

2. Garden and garden some more. It is getting to be that time of the year for seed catalogs and planing the garden. This year I will beat the squash bugs, I seem able to grow lots of tomatoes, peppers, lettuce. But my squash, cucumbers I get maybe two before the bugs kill them.

3. I loved the painting goal so much that my new one is to create something at least once each month. It can be paint, baking, sewing,canning, other crafting. Just making the effort to create something, and enjoy doing it, extra pats on the back if I do it with someone. - I have done something already for January, I made soap again and did it this time with my Shadow my son's girlfriend. I do have one more long weekend this month and I am thinking of doing something that day with Aidan maybe a baking project that he pick out.

Rose soap made  with olive oil and coconut oil

4. Keep better track on what we spend on for food, this month we are eating out of the pantry/ freezer, So hopefully not to much spending. So far 38 dollars at Aldi's for food, 3 dollars at Starbucks for a tea while waiting for Nolan to finish his driving lesson, and another 5 dollars at Mc D's for soda and breakfast sandwiches also while waiting for him to finish his next lesson. There was also an unexpected stop at Wal Mart to get chips, dip and soda for a football game per the hubby's request that was about 15 dollars give or take. Hoping that I can spend nothing more this week and next.

New Goals for a New School Year

It's the time of the year that I start to think about new goals for the year.

1) Take a college class - thinking this will be a spring semester goal

2) Walk one mile per day on purpose for 26 connective days. - Was thinking of doing this in September but with the pain my knee is giving me I may need to postpone this one, but I think I will at least still try.

3) Menu plan every two weeks- I have learned that if I sit down and menu plan I am more likely to actually feed the family.

4) Paint a picture- I am not a creative type person as far as painting is but it is something I want to try this year so once again I see you tube videos in my future.

5)Complete at least 75 percent of weekly to do list- I like lists and each Sunday spend some time making them but they don't always get done. This year I wanted a goal to help me focus on completing more of the weekly to do list.

6) Do a 5k walk- This is going to be late Fall or Early spring

7) Monthly organizing project- See below

8) Make Dinner 5 out of 7 days a week.- Friday's my 12 year old makes pizza and Sunday's is leftovers.

9) Family Game time at least 1x a week- I am going to aim that every Friday we play a game since we have no outside commitments usually that day. I will also aim to try to play a game with Aidan on Sunday afternoons.

10) Family dinner at the table with no devices at least 3x a week- We are a busy family and as much as I would like to eat together at the table every night as we did when the kids were younger that is just not happening. But I think we should be able to do it 3x a week if I write it on the family calendar, and most importantly no devices.

11) Take one picture every day and write about it. This is one goal that I think I will enjoy the most, and hope to print out at the end of year into a photo book.

Break down of the Monthly Organizing Goal so far

September- My side of the Garage
October-  Yard
November- The back of the garage
December- Under the stairs, the Christmas stuff
January- Filing cabinets
February- All the bookshelves in the house
March- Closets
April- August still to be decided.

And finally a wrap up of last years goals-

1. Read one non-fiction book per month :

I tried but I guess my real love is fiction and cookbooks.

2. Monthly date with the husband : 

With him working shift work, and me also working monthly dates didn't always happen this year. But I think we have done well in making time for us when we can, lately we have been binge watching Friends at night. We also have a just the two of us dinner out planned for later this month.

3. Weekly Game Night : 

It hasn't happened every week but we have some new favorites like Code Words and after a visit with a friend Labyrinth.

 
4. Try a new recipe each week - We ate a lot of old favorites this summer.

5. Fall-Spring Garden-
Oh my how the summer garden grew, well at least the tomatoes. Have been giving away tomatoes for at least a month. The cucumbers never set, and only a few zucchini. The greens did well and the rabbit has been very well fed this summer on kale, lettuce and more.

6. De-clutter- 

Have a new plan for this year

7. Loose some weight- 

Yep didn't happen, so changed this goal up for next year.

8. Learn a new skill - 

I made soap, this year and it was fun. I look forward to making some more this winter and really sometimes you just need to step outside your comfort zone and try something new.

9. Reduce trash- 

Bit by Bit

10. A Financial goal-

I think I met my goal this year.

Goal Update 4/14

Well it has been a while but a busy month.

1. Read one non-fiction book per month :

Not happening unless you want to count cookbooks.

2. Monthly date with the husband : 

In the last few weeks we have traveled to Branson MO and enjoyed some time with our current everyday family of three. I also fit in an at home date with the husband with a tray type dinner eaten in bed while watching a movie together. While the youngest ate pizza and watched a movie downstairs.

3. Weekly Game Night : 

In the last month we have played many games but one of the favorite things was a trip to a place called the Boardroom which was pretty cool, pricey but it was fun to spend an evening with all the children playing lots of different games. In fact we came home with a new game called Code Word. 

   

4. Try a new recipe each week - This month there hasn't been much cooking going on as I have been spending more time outside,cereal does count as a meal right. I am looking forward to more cooking once school lets out for the year and the garden is producing.

5. Fall-Spring Garden-
The last few weeks have all been about the garden from adding fencing to building beds and so much more.

              Had some extra help in  moving this pile of dirt from the                                 front to the back to fill the new beds.

Old beds moved to new spot

Fencing added to separate the dog from my garden

                     

Fire Pit all cleaned up

Building the new beds

  

All the new beds in, fencing up, lattice up.

Spring Veggies planted and starting to grow

6. De-clutter- 

Still haven't done the garage but have gone though the boy's clothes and after seeing how big the doesn't fit pile is, will have some shopping to do for summer.

7. Loose some weight- 

Need a new plan

8. Learn a new skill - 

I made soap, it wasn't nearly has hard as I thought. I did a hot process soap using a crock pot and have been using the lavender coconut oil / olive oil soap I made. Just the other day I made another using coffee, and have plans this week to make another using oatmeal. I can safely say that everyone is getting soap and towels for Christmas.

9. Reduce trash- 

Bit by Bit

10. A Financial goal-

Getting there dollar by dollar