Feb 1

February’s Monthly Menu

I can’t believe that it is already February.  January is usually one of those months that takes forever, but this year it passed us by so quickly. Maybe the rest of Winter will follow along.

I’ve got my dinner menu planned for the month. Here’s what I’ll be cooking in the kitchen:

  • 2/1/2017: Chicken Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, and Dinner Rolls
  • 2/2/2017: Chicken or Beef Soft Tacos, Tortilla Chips, and Salsa
  • 2/3/2017: Panko Chicken Sandwiches and Potato Chips
  • 2/4/2017: Pancakes, Bacon, and Breakfast Potatoes
  • 2/5/2017: Marinated Steak, Dinner Rolls, Steak Fries, and Cherry Jell-o Cake
  • 2/6/2017: Homemade Beef rice-a-roni, Hominy, and Dinner Rolls
  • 2/7/2017: Vegetarian Tostadas, Tortilla Chips, and Salsa
  • 2/8/2017: Chili, Saltines, Tortilla Chips, and Cornbread
  • 2/9/2017: Beef Soft Tacos, Tortilla Chips, and Salsa
  • 2/10/2017: Panko Popcorn Chicken and Tater Tots
  • 2/11/2017: Cinnamon Rolls, Toast, Bacon, and Breakfast Potatoes
  • 2/12/2017: Panko Chicken, Spaghetti, Dinner Rolls, and Cherry Pie
  • 2/13/2017: Chili, Saltines, Tortilla Chips, and Cornbread
  • 2/14/2017: Tacos, Tortilla Chips, and Salsa
  • 2/15/2017: Panko Chicken Sandwiches and Tater Tots
  • 2/16/2017: Chicken Chow Mien, Rice, Sushi, Edamame, and some kind of dessert for my birthday
  • 2/17/2017: Vegetarian Tostadas, Tortilla Chips, and Salsa
  • 2/18/2017: Monkey Bread, Bacon,Toast, and Breakfast Potatoes
  • 2/19/2017: Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Stuffing, Dinner Rolls, and Pumpkin Pie
  • 2/20/2017: Grilled Chicken, Baked Potatoes, Roasted Veggies, and Dinner Rolls
  • 2/21/2017: Chicken Fajitas, Tortilla Chips, and Salsa
  • 2/22/2017: Turkey Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, and Dinner Rolls
  • 2/23/2017: Tacos, Tortilla Chips, and Salsa
  • 2/24/2017: Panko Chicken Sandwiches and Curly Fries
  • 2/25/2017: Sausage Biscuits, Breakfast Potatoes, and Fruit
  • 2/26/2017: Chicken Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Dinner Rolls, and Chocolate Pie
  • 2/27/2017: Homemade Beef rice-a-roni, Hominy, and Dinner Rolls
  • 2/28/2017: Beef Soft Tacos, Mexican Rice, Tortilla Chips, and Salsa

I haven’t planned for any take-out evenings, but I’m going to use one if I need to. I’m glad that February is a short month though, it made menu planning a little bit easier.

Jan 19

Thursday: Things to Throw Away

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Have I mentioned that the house is getting to me?!?

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Like really getting to me…

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While the kids were home on Christmas break the messes and piles started sneaking up everywhere. The dishes piled up from constant cooking, and the laundry was everywhere. Last weekend we ended up with a four day weekend, and again I looked around the house and saw messes everywhere. There is a giant pile of unopened boxes from Christmas in the office, papers are all over the dining room table, and don’t even get me started on the kids rooms.

I sighed, booted up my laptop, and started looking at homes on realtor.com . We could really use another three rooms, I could really use a dishwasher, and James needs a home office in a basement.  Then I thought about moving expenses, and rethought my cluttered life.

I’m taking it one mess at a time, and tackling one bag of clutter every Thursday. Today I set in on my unused craft supply dresser. I managed to get an entire full trash bag out of that small space. I gathered up the bag, and got it right out to the trash.

I also started a “donations bin” in the upstairs hallway for all of those clothes that the kids are outgrowing. Dylan has been really good about donating so far. I’ve removed a few more unused items from my closet too.

I would love to live the minimalist lifestyle, but with four other humans, a cat, and a dog, and a serious yarn habit, I don’t think that is going to happen. I’ll still dream of maybe one day moving to a new home, but for now I’m going to focus on what I can do around mine. At one bag a week, I think I can manage that.