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| Dinner is served |
One thing I keep trying to remember to do is to write a menu. I just need to do four and rotate them. Menu planning is the best way to save money in the kitchen.
You know how much of the ingredients you need and only buy them. You don't waste food by throwing excess in the bin. It also allows you to stockpile most common used items when they are on special, saving more money.
It also saves you time. Knowing what your having each day takes all the guess work out of making a decision. You pop your hand in the freezer take out the meat and put it into the fridge to thaw. Vegies can be prepared the night before or in the morning.
The added bonus is you find you no longer run out of things and so you go to the shop less saving you more time and money because lets face it. Nobody pops in to buy a loaf of bread and doesn't pick up something else.
If you shop fortnightly like I do it saves you a lot more.
Didn't this week fly. With all the dramas at my place this week I totally lost a couple of days.
My weekend will be taken up with looking at bathroom fixtures and a short hop into work.
Winter has decided to remind us that it's not finished with us yet with a rough couple of days ahead.
I'll snuggle up in the warmth when I can and try to finish some things I've got on the go. Might get to some baking if time permits. I will try and catch up with family and see my daughter.
Whatever I achieve I'll remember to take it slow, enjoy each thing, and stay in the moment just like all our four legged friends do.
I'll see you all next week.
Have a safe and wonderful weekend.
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| It's a dogs life |
I don't like winter. It's being cold that gets to me. You know how it is. If your feet get cold your whole body gets cold.
It's not the rain ( god knows we need it ) or the storms. I actually love it when it thunders and lightening lights up the sky. I just don't like being cooped up inside.
But there's a bonus with these wintry days and nights. Comfort food. What can I say. I'm a sucker for all winter meals.
There's nothing like curling up on the couch, reading a book, heater going and the delicious smell of cooking wafting through the house. Stews and slow cooking, roasts and apple pies. Picking up the knitting or craft work and the seductive rhythm that comes from within.
Winter is a time for slowing down. Reflecting on how far you've come and the road ahead. Making new plans and adjusting others. All of which I'm doing myself.
I'm looking forward to spring, sunshine and the busyness that comes with it but will make the most of this time while I can. I still don't like being cold.
I'm watching a program on SBS called Food Factory. A chief tries to discover what's in mass produced items that we eat and drink.
If you ever wondered about the benefits of making your own, besides the fact that its cheaper, you really need to watch this. The ingredients that are used are not even real food a lot of the time.
Besides synthetic food and artificial flavours the amount of preservatives used is astronomical. The products are filled with fillers to plump them up and honestly it has put me off completely.
Can you imagine what all of this is doing to our bodies and our health in general. I have to wonder if this is one of the reasons for the booming obesity in the western world. We have forgotten what real food tastes like and the way it keeps us healthy and strong.
Very thought provoking and worth watching.
Part of my problem over the last year was that my todo list was so long that it was really over whelming. I made a new schedule this week with just the basics logged in. You know the ones. Work, shopping, housework and any outside activities that are non negotiable. It left so much time free. :-)
I penciled in a few "15 minute chore" throughout the week and walked away. My long list is on the side of the fridge out of sight. I'm taking one of them and 15 minutes at a time will slowly attack it till its gone. No more pressure to get stuck in and exhausting myself, no more feeling guilty about not getting on top of the list.
It will all get done eventually but for now I'm enjoying the down time I've made for myself and actually am looking forward to doing my 15 minutes.
Don't forget to take time out for yourself. We are important too.
I've been reading alot lately about goal setting, being frugal and putting yourself first. ( because we all know that as parents we rarely do )
Putting yourself first means different things to each of us. For me it can be as simple as 1/2 hr to just sit to putting in place an auto payment that stops me from having to run around at the last minute to pay a bill.
In other words anything that leaves me tired and run down each day, something that left me rushing around at the last minute or more importantly stuff I really don't want to do but have to, I need to have a good look at and see if I can get rid of it...change it....make the most of it.
Which brings me back to my title. Just because I've always done stuff a certain way, shopped certain places, bought the same brand foods, maybe it's time to try something new and remind myself that sometimes you just have to let go.
Happy Easter Everyone.
What a gorgeous weekend we've had.
The weather was perfect and the time just slowly moved along.
Fiona,Brian and the boys came up Sunday morning for an Easter Egg Hunt and hot cross buns.
It was a great relaxing weekend. I even managed to get one of my projects done.
I'll share the pictures with you on another post.
I hope you all had an enjoyable, safe Easter too.
Jan
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