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A Sudden Turn of Events...

I've been blogging here at Life in #3 for a little over a year now. Since that initial post, this blog has taken many forms, and I've thoroughly enjoyed learning about blogging and becoming a part of the wonderful online community.

But now, I've realized, it is time to move on. To explore something new, fresh and exciting. It is time for me to let Life in #3 be just as it is- the documentation of our lives while living in apartments number 3 in Ft. Thomas, KY. To morph it into something else would be disrespectful.

So, as I make the move from married college student and transition into my role as a mother and dedicated writer, it is time for a new blog- one that emcompasses more of who I am and what my family is all about.

Our move into a new apartment in a new city has and will require us to pack our belongings and start somewhere fresh. And Life in #3 will be packed up as well... It's a bittersweet farewell, but I'm excited for what's next!

Thank you for reading and sharing here with me this past year, it's been quite the ride!

Freezer Cooking Day- Attempt #2

It's officially freezer cooking weekend again! Boy, that month went by fast! I am so glad I did some freezer cooking last month- it really helped during those times when I didn't feel like cooking. This time, I'm going to make sure I don't run out of flour.

Because we are moving next month, I don't want to put too much into the freezer. I'll be keeping my recipes simple and won't be double batching much.

Here's my plan:

• 2 Batches of Chocolate Chip Pancakes


• 10 chicken fajitas with cheese and salsa


• 1 package of cookies


• my special chocolate cake (sister's bday)


• 2 batches of pizza dough (bread machine)


• 2 batches of chocolate chip muffins (can you tell we like chocolate?!)

This should provide us with some quick lunches, breakfasts and desserts, but it won't be so much that there is a lot leftover. My plan of attack:

• Saturday- Pancakes, Muffins, fajitas, pizza dough
• Sunday- Cake, cookies

If you would like to join in on the Freezer Cooking day challenge, link up at MoneySavingMom.com, where you can get ideas from other ladies doing the challenge. Here's more information about OAMC or freezing cooking.

Kroger Savings and the Coupon Mom

Recently, I've been reading, Greatest Secrets of the Coupon Mom to help refresh myself on maximum grocery saving ideas and learn some new ones. I became so inspired, I just had to go to the grocery. I'm counting it as part of next week's budget, because it was all stockpile. Here's a picture of what I got:

After shopping at Aldi all month, it was nice and refreshing to pick up some name brand idems again. And Kroger milk is soooo good, in my opinion! Everything I bought I had a coupon for (the milk was a promotion). Before coupons and sales, the total for everything above would have cost $41.61...

My total bill was $13.85! That's 67% savings!

I could have bought more (for example, the chicken was at its lowest price point), but I need to keep the freezer low since we will be moving out of town in less than a month.

The book really inspired me to further reduce my grocery spending. I already don't spend much at the grocery store, but now I'm learning strategies on how to get it even lower. One of the things I'm currently working on is creating a price book for the three major stores I shop at. I will be updating this price book once a week for two months to help identify trends in most sales. And since the stores I shop at are major chains, I won't have to worry about figuring out a new store once we move.


If you are looking for ways to cut back in your budget, I highly recommend Stephanie Nelson's book. She is the grocery shopping and couponing guru of today.

Linked to: Works for Me Wednesday

CVS savings week of 2/21

I was able to go snag some CVS deals this week again. It feels so good to get great deals on household products I would otherwise have bought down the road anyway.

My transaction was pretty simple this week. I bought a Lady Speed Stick deodorant on sale for $2.99 and a Colgate toothpaste on sale for $2.99. I used one coupon for each product (0.50/1 and 0.75/1), bringing my total to $4.50. I also bought a resuable bag tag for $0.99, so before taxes my total was $5.49.

I had $4 from ECBs last week, so I only paid $1.49 plus tax for these three items. And I earned another $4 in ECBs to use next week as well! My resuable bag tag was scanned, so after three more trips to CVS, I will earn back the initial 99 cents I spent on it too.

I didn't go to Walgreens this week, since the deals were slim to none, and I always end up spending more out of pocket there anyway. I sure miss the days when Walgreens still had their giftcard rebate program!

Menu Plan Monday- Feb. 22

This is the last week of the month, hooray! I am so ready for spring! I love new months too, because it means a chance to start over with the grocery budget. I'm happy to say that we only went $5 over budget this month (this included lots and lots of fast food). For the past two weeks I have only spent between $13-20 at the grocery, so next week's $50 budget will seem like a lot. It is amazing how much you really have in the pantry once you look!

Menu Plan, week of Feb. 22nd
(ONE WEEK MENU PLAN)

BREAKFASTS:
Pancakes, chocolate chip, x1
Muffins and fruit x2
Cinnamon Rolls x1
Scrambled eggs, toast x2
French Toast x1

LUNCHES:
Chicken noodle soup and PB&J x1
Breakfast burritos and apple slices x1
PB&J sandwiches w/ carrots, celery and crackers x1
Pizza Pockets x2
Tomato Soup w/ Grilled Cheese x1

DINNERS:
MON- Spaghetti and garlic bread w/ broccoli
TUES- Apple and Sage Pork Chops w/ Rice
WED- Refried Beans Burrito w/ rice and salsa
THUR- chicken fettuccini alfredo w/ salad and breadsticks
FRI- open
SAT- leftovers
SUN- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

SNACKS:
String cheese
Fruit- apples, bananas
Popcorn, freshly popped
Freshly baked bread and butter
Chocolate Chip Muffins
Yogurt
Cookies/ Crackers
Chocolate milk

Linked to: Menu Plan Monday

Decluttering Update

As one of my New Year's resolutions, and to help prepare for the baby, I've been working on de-cluttering our apartment the past month and a half. I thought I would post a little check up on how I am doing, and encourage you to keep up the good work too!

Yesterday we finally sold some items on Craigslist. We sold a guest bedroom dresser and mirror and a hat and coat stand. I am also in the process of selling some of our old sleeping bags, a backpack, a printer and 3 tennis rackets! It feels so good to make money off of things that would have just been eating up space anyway. My new motto: Less is More!

I was also able to clean out our storage unit in the basement yesterday. Note to self: never let the hubby organize such a small space! It was chaotic in there! We had many boxes with only one or two items, a broken Christmas tree, random plugs and a host of other miscellaneous items. I filled a reusable tote with items to donate to goodwill, and also made a trash pile. End result? Only 30% of our storage unit is being used! You can actually walk into it now, which would have created a disaster beforehand.

Our bookshelf in the living room has long been in disarray. It has been a catch-all for random items for the past two years. Old school papers, books and school supplies were pouring out, making it look unattractive and overstuffed. No wonder this is our second bookshelf (our first one broke due to extreme weight that was put on it)!

I managed to fill 2 reusable totes with books to donate to goodwill, 2 to throw away (old papers and such) and 1 to sell (textbooks, new novels etc...). Our bookshelf looks so much better now! I even bought Ikea magazine holders and decorative shoe boxes to help with aesthetics:

So far, I'm pleased with what I've accomplished. However, I still have a long way to go! Sometimes de-cluttering makes a bigger mess than what one started with, and I am actually afraid to walk into the guest bedroom right now. One step at a time, though...

And now, we have a deadline for de-cluttering and organizing- we're moving! Hubby has secured a job in another town, and we are packing up and relocating. The good news? The new apartment has a bonus room! Perfect for a growing family like ourselves! I promise to stay updated on our progress, and how I plan on having an organized and smooth move.

Why I Don't Shop at Walmart Anymore...

Last year, one of our New Year's resolutions was to never shop at Walmart again. After reading a very informative book, The Walmart Effect, we became convicted and vowed never to support that business again. It was a personal choice to help reduce stress and enrich our lives by consciously choosing who we let serve us in the retail industry.

Over the past year or so, we have stuck to our resolution, save a few times when we had no choice. For example, whenever one of our phones goes out, we buy prepaid phones for less than $50 rather than spend $100 or more for a new phone from the ATT store. Walmart seems to be the only store in the area who carries ATT prepaid Pay-As-You-Go phones for a good price, so we sucked it up and bought it from them. This past weekend, we needed another phone since my 3 and a half year old cell phone went kaput.

Let's just say, I was brutally reminded as to why we no longer shop there.

Before we even got out of the car, it was a circus outside in the parking lot. Cars were zooming past the front entrance at remarkable speeds, and people were spilled out in the middle of the driveways. We finally found a spot in the back and cautiously walked to the front entrance, trying not to get run-over by drivers backing up out of their parking spaces.

As we entered the store, I immediately noticed the ground-which was covered in filth. Now, I understand that it's winter and the floor gets dirty very quickly, but it was to the point where it looked unsanitary. I was shocked, because I didn't remember it being so dirty the last time I went into a Walmart. This particular Walmart was a fairly new super-Walmart as well, if that helps.

Making our way to the back of the store, where the infamous electronics section is located, we dodged many a person and family scrambling to get whatever they needed. People were, in general, very rude and pushy. Kids were running around like wild animals, knocking over the few displays still standing. I noticed the aisles were in complete disarray, meaning it would be very difficult to find what one was looking for since all the items were pushed all the way to the back.

When we finally made it to the electronic's section, we waited in line for an attendent to unhook our product for us. While in line, I became squished by more people eager to get their things, without so much as an 'excuse me'. The electronic's section has got to be the craziest area of the whole store. My husband and I kept exchanging glances, remaining silent as we observed the chaos unfolding before us.

Since we also needed a loaf of bread, we stopped by the grocery section to pick one up. Most of the bread was gone. I picked through what was left, shocked at how expensive bread was at Walmart. I am used to paying less than $1 a loaf at both Kroger and Aldi, but the cheap brand at Walmart was at least $1.50. The cheapest brand wasn't even a brand! It had clear wrapping on it, with the words 'white' or 'whole wheat' scrawled across it. I am normally ok with off-brand food products, but even I had to turn up my nose at this one.

So we looked for a more expensive bread, but this wasn't successful either. One loaf we picked up seriously looked like there was something growing in it!! My husband exclaimed, "WHAT is THAT?!" in utter disbelief at the unidentified specimen. Eventually we found a reputable brand that looked acceptable, although it did expire within three days so we would have to eat it quickly.

The checkout line was pretty bad too. Out of the 20 or so checkout lanes available, only 3 were open. Lines were wrapped around the front of the store. Even the self-checkout lanes were long. We stood in line for 15 minutes before the check-out machine in our lane broke. Then another one broke. Pretty soon, the lines started resembling queues at an amusement park. The poor lady who was managing all the self-checkout lanes looked extrememly flustered as she began ringing up everyone herself, making the wait three times as long.

We left Walmart an hour after we arrived, having only bought a loaf of bread and a prepaid cell-phone.

And that, my friends, is why we don't shop at Walmart.

Note: I understand that not all Walmarts are like this, and that there are some nicer ones out there. I was an avid Walmart shopper for many years myself. I know that things are cheaper there- but they are cheaper for a reason. Many of the products are designed specifically for Walmart using cheaper materials that break down quicker. One of the biggest problems I have with Walmart is the treatment of their employees. My recent trip confirmed that they were being un-necessarily over-worked and under-paid, and I feel for them. For more information on how Walmart operates and how they treat their employees, read The Walmart Effect. I assure you, it will open your eyes. Please understand that this is my personal view of Walmart, and I in no way am condemning anyone who chooses to shop or work there. This is simply a reflection of my personal experiences and my greivances against the company itself.

Linked to: Works for Me Wednesday

My CVS and Walgreens Deals

I managed to grab some CVS deals for the second week in a row! This week's deals were pretty good, and they came when I needed new makeup and shampoo. I was so happy since we are working with a limited grocery budget this week and didn't want to pay full price for them.

For my first transaction, I bought the Covergirl powder and foundation, which were on sale for $6 each. I had a Buy-One-Get-One free coupon as well as a $1/1 coupon, bringing my total to $5 plus tax! I used last week's $3.50 in ECBs, bringing my out of pocket expense a little over $2 after tax! You can beat that! Plus, I got a $5 ECB, meaning the makeup was essentially FREE.


My second transaction I bought toothpaste, on sale for $2.99 and used a .50/1 coupon, making it $2.49. I also bought Aussie Shampoo for $2.99 and used a $1/1 coupon, making it $1.99. I got a CVS reusable bag in this transaction as well (not in picture). My total was $6.50, and I used the $5 ECB from my previous transaction, making my out of pocket expense around $1.50 plus tax. I also got another $4 in ECBs for next week!


Next, I went on to Walgreens to snag a couple of their deals as well.

The deals weren't great, but I needed Peanut Butter and had $4 in RR to spend. Skippy peanut butter was on sale for $1.50 (Aldi regular price is $1.39) and I had a .40/1 coupon, making the total for this only $1.10.

The toothpaste was $2.29. Walgreens had a $1.50/1 coupon in the February coupon book, which I stacked with the .75/1 coupon from the newspaper inserts (You can stack manufacture and store coupons), making the total cost for this only $0.04!

Aveeno Hair Care was on sale for $5.99, but I had a $2.50 coupon, making it only $3.50.

Since I had more coupons than items, I purchased two 'filler' items- a desperately needed nail file (.99) and clearance valentine's candy (.25) (not shown in picture because hubby ate it as soon as I came home!).

I used my $4 in RR to cover the total of $6.88, bringing my out of pocket expense to $2.88. Plus, I got a $1 RR to use for next week!!

All said and done, I spent $5.88 plus tax OOP for all the items, and received $5 in store credit for next week.

Eating From the Pantry and Freezer Cooking

This week, our menu is based off of what we have in the pantry. I am truly going to try and spend no more than $13 at the grocery this week to keep us on budget for food and groceries! A great resource I use to help plan meals from the pantry is supercook.com. You can enter the ingredients you have on hand and a list of possible recipes will pop up! I love it!

In order to make this successful, I am having another mini-freezer cooking day! My plan is to make the following...

• Homemade Pizza Pockets (after the success of my pretzels, I feel more ready to try these
• 1 dozen Chocolate Chip Muffins
• 1 dozen bran muffins (store batter for extra dozen)
• Crock Pot Whole Chicken, Shredded (why am I so afraid to cook this?!!)
• Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup to freeze

I may or may not add to this list, but these are the top items I need to make. I will post an update on how it goes!

Menu Plan Monday- Feb. 15th

This week, we'll be eating mostly from the pantry since last week the menu plan wasn't followed at all. We ended up eating out quite a bit, making my grocery budget for the next two weeks incredibly low! I'll be doing a bit of freezer cooking today to help get the ball rolling.

Menu Plan, week of Feb. 15th
(ONE WEEK MENU PLAN)

BREAKFASTS:
Pancakes, chocolate chip, x1
Muffins x2
Scrambled eggs, toast and red potatoes x2
Whole wheat waffles x2

LUNCHES:
Chicken noodle soup and PB&J x1
Breakfast burritos and apple slices x1
PB&J sandwiches w/ carrots, celery and crackers x1
Grilled cheese w/ mac and cheese x1
Tomato Soup w/ Grilled Cheese x1
leftovers

DINNERS:
MON- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
TUES- Apple and Sage Pork Chops w/ Rice
WED- Spaghetti and Broccoli w/ garlic bread
THUR- Shredded Chicken, mixed veggies and mashed potatoes
FRI- Crock Pot Chili

SAT- Black Bean Burritos w/ Rice
SUN- open

SNACKS:
String cheese
Fruit- apples, bananas
Popcorn, freshly popped
Freshly baked bread and butter
Chocolate Chip Muffins
Granola bars
Fruit snacks
Yogurt
Peanuts
Cookies/ Crackers

linked to: Menu Plan Monday

The Grand Attempt to Re-Create Auntie Anne Pretzels

I'm a pretzel lover. It's my one weakness. Frugality gets thrown to the wayside when I walk past an Auntie Anne's stand in the mall (I can actually smell it from the front door now, however, now that I'm preggo). I always cave in and buy a pretzel. Or Two. Or Three. Ok, just two, but I usually really want a third, though the guilt factor finally stops me from rashly offering my debit card to be swiped again.

Just the mention of an Auntie Anne pretzel conjures up images that make my mouth water. I really wanted one today after a friend mentioned it on facebook. But the closest mall is 15 miles away, and even though I am probably crazy enough to drive that distance just to get a piece of heaven in my mouth, I'm not that obessed. (OK, maybe a little...)

So I did what any sane, frugal and pregnant housewife would do- I googled the recipe. After hubby and I made a quick run to the grocery for a pound of real butter and a case of course salt, I was ready for my first attempt.

Things started out well. I decided to make the dough in my bread machine using the dough setting. But, by accident, pushed the basic setting instead. Oops. I managed to take the dough out just in time before it started actually baking it, so I think it was ok. Even if it did come out with steam, all stuck to the bottom of the pan like a mound of mashed potatoes.

Rolling the dough into the pretzels shape was the funnest part. Except, hubby got a bad piece of dough and continued to struggle making a snake shape in deep frusteration. I coaxed him into trying another piece, but not before he had chucked the bad dough against an unsuspecting wall.

By the time the pretzels were baking in the oven, I thought I had really failed. We would have to start all over again with new dough and wait another hour for it rise. When smoke started creeping out from the oven door, I panicked and took the pretzels out. They were a little burnt on the bottom and resembled nothing like an Auntie Anne pretzel. Sigh. Maybe next time.

But, just to be sure, I rolled one in melted butter and topped it with salt to give to hubby to taste.

"Mmmm. Not too bad," came his muffled reply.

I tried one myself, and to my astonishment, the pretzel was pretty good. Not quite Auntie Anne, but VERY close. I mentioned that they tasted liked an overcooked Auntie Anne pretzel (you know, the kind you get when they're really busy). And that, my friends, is always better than no pretzel at all.

Linked to: Friday Fails

Linked to: Frugal Friday

Inexpensive Valentine's Day Date Ideas

Valentine's Day can be a wonderful time to spend with your husband. The only problem is, the Big Date can cost a bundle, expecially if you go out to eat at a fancy resturaunt or see a show. I've found that it is really easy to come up with cheap Valentine's Day dates, and most of the time, these types of dates are much more fun anyway!

Valentines Day doesn't have to cost a fortune. Choose budget friendly Valentine's Day ideas for a romantic and meaningful date with that special someone...

Read more at Suite101: Valentine's Day Ideas on a Budget: Inexpensive Date Ideas

This post is linked to: Works for Me Wednesday

Saving Money at CVS

I love shopping at CVS. It saves us a lot of money on toiletries and other household items when I use my Extra Care Card and earn Extra Care Bucks (ECBs). Since the closest CVS to us is over 15 miles away, I don't get a chance to go very often. Only when the deals are worth the gas to get there will I take the trip.




This is actually my first CVS trip for the year, and the first since becoming pregnant. I fell off the couponing bandwagon when morning sickness hit, and am just now starting to get back into the money saving groove. (And it was obvious I hadn't been in a while when we drove there last night, and found out, to my horror and immense disappointment, it was CLOSED!! I went back today in desperation). Here's what I snagged:

There was sale going on for Nabisco crackers- 5 for $10 (these are normally $3.99 each, so they were essentially half off) AND earn 3 ECBs (store credit I can use for furture purchases).

I had 2 $2/1 coupons that I printed as well as a $1/1 coupon. This brought my total down to $5.00. I also earned 3 ECBs to use.

After coupons and ECBs, I paid $2.00 OR $0.40 a box! Go me!

How Far Does $45 Go at Aldi?

Over the past year, our monthly grocery budget has been set anywhere between $160-200. For the most part, this has been relatively easy to do with a little planning. We are currently spending $200 a month because of the need to buy more protein (meat) for me and baby. At Kroger or any other conventional grocery store, this budget would go fast. Enter, Aldi. You know, the store where you have to bag your own groceries and pay a quarter for a shopping cart.

I love Aldi. Recently, I noticed we had been going over our grocery budget due to shopping at Kroger. So I did what any sensible, frugal pregnant woman would do- I shopped at Aldi instead. Wondering what $45 will get you at Aldi? Here's a photo of this week's groceries:

That's a lot of food! In no particular order, here's a list of the items (excluding the coffee maker and toaster, which we already own :-) -

• 2 4-packs of toilet paper
• 1 loaf of whole wheat bread
• 2 dozen eggs
• 1 package of celery
• 1 package of Pork Chops
• 1 bag of frozen corn
• 1 bag of frozen peas
• 3 cartons of frozen orange juice
• 1 package of carrots
• 1 bag of baby carrots
• 1 head of lettuce
• 2 gallons of milk
• 1 box of fruit snacks
• 1 can of kidney beans
• 2 bags of flour
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1 can of tomato sauce
• 2 cans of chili
• 1 syrup, lite
• 1 can of disinfecting wipes
• 1 package of sliced cheese
• 1 package of shredded cheese
• 1 can of cooking spray
• 1 package of hot dogs
• 2 toothbrushes
• 3 containers of yogurt
• 1 box of granola bars
• 3lb bag of apples
• 1 bag of bananas

That's 39 items!! NO coupons or sales needed. Everything was regularly priced.

I understand some of you Super Mama's will argue you can get the same amount at a regular grocery store using coupons and sales. I totally agree. However, for the sake of convenience and time, I think shopping at Aldi, rather than hopping to three different stores each week, is a perfectly fine alternative.

You might be thinking- that's an awful lot of food for just two people in one week! Well, that's true. I am planning on stretching these groceries over the next couple weeks. My normal bill is really closer to $30-35 a week.

I've found that shopping at Aldi saves us so much money. And although you can't get everything, buying most of your weekly groceries there is easy and feesable.

If you're wondering how the food tastes, I'll let you in on a secret- MOST of the food I buy at Aldi tastes BETTER than the value brands at major grocery chains. SOME of the food tastes BETTER or JUST AS GOOD as the name brand item. I've only had a FEW items where I thought the taste was inferior to other brands! Shopping at Aldi certainly saves money and time, without sacrificing taste.

Menu Plan Monday- Feb. 8th

This week's menu plan is similar to last week, simply because I am trying to use as much food in the pantry as possible. This helps to lower my grocery bill. After baking many items over last weekend, it was much easier to eat from the freezer when I wasn't feeling up to cooking or extensive preparation. I think I will plan another weekend like this before the month is over to help restock and try out new OAMC techniques.

We'll be out of town in the middle of the week for two nights, so I only had to plan for 4 dinners this week.

BREAKFASTS:
Oatmeal or cereal with fruit x1
Muffins x2
Scrambled eggs, toast and red potatoes x2
Whole wheat waffles x2

LUNCHES:
Chicken noodle soup and PB&J x1
Breakfast burritos and fruit x1
PB&J sandwiches w/ carrots, celery and chips x1
Grilled cheese, fruit and chips x1
Italian Salad x1
Tomato Soup w/ Grilled Cheese x1

DINNERS:
MON- Shredded chicken sandwiches, mixed veggies and mashed red potatoes
TUES- Crock Pot Chili
WED- Out of town
THUR- Out of town
FRI- black bean burritos with Rice
SAT- Leftovers Or Salad
SUN- Fried Rice w/ veggies

SNACKS:
String cheese
Fruit- apples, bananas
Popcorn, freshly popped
Freshly baked bread and butter
Bran Muffins
Granola bars
Fruit snacks
Yogurt
Peanuts
Cookies or chips

For more menu plans and ideas, visit OrgJunkie.com, the host of Menu Plan Monday!

Snow Day Winter Wonderland

We woke up to what looked like the snow apocalypse this morning...

The walk to our car (which was parked in the street), revealed more of winter's touch (note that the tree branches are only 2-3 feet from the ground in this picture!)...

Looks like I'll be in hibernation mode the rest of the day!

Cloth Diapering: You're Kidding, Right?

Cloth diapers. Just the word would freak me out. I mean, seriously, how is the issue of poo really handled? Wouldn't it be time consuming to repeatedly wash cloth diapers? Let's just say, I was not tuned into the idea.

Enter pictures. Aww, now they look cute! Pictures of little baby bums clad in colorful and soft fabrics had me gushing. So I checked them out; did a little research.

Verdict? My adversion has vanished. No, I won't be heading into cloth diapering full frontle like some of my friends and fellow bloggers. BUT I am open to the idea. In fact, I find myself browsing cloth diapering sites more frequently. In fact, if this keeps up, Little Olive (who is growing in my belly) might just enter the world with a secret stash of these puppies.

Prefolds, Inserts, AIOs and fitteds are slowly and unexpectedly entering my day to day vocabulary. This could get very interesting folks.

Freezer Cooking Day- Results

My first attempt at freezer cooking went well, and I was able to bake many items on my list! My sister, Jessica, came to visit this weekend and helped out with the baking on day 1. It was so much more fun to bake and cook with someone rather than being cooped up in the kitchen by myself!

What we tackled:

1. 2 batches of Waffles (stored in giant freezer bags)


2. 1 dozen cookies (candy cane sugar cookies)
   
3. 1 loaf of banana bread


4. 1 loaf of whole wheat bread (my first successful Whole Wheat loaf I've made in the breadmaker!)


5. 3 bags of marinated chicken

Today I was also able to make 1 Sausage and Potato Casserole as well as my special chocolate cake (since hubby's birthday is today!). I was going to bake some muffins tonight, but then, the most terrible thing happened- I RAN OUT OF FLOUR! haha!

All in all, I think my first freezer cooking experience went well. Although I did not get to many of the items on my list, I still managed to stock up the freezer decently. Next time, I'll make sure I have plenty of bags of flour on hand for days like these!

The 28 Day Organizing Challenge

I've gotten a nice start to my New Year's resolution of decluttering our apartment. However, in order to keep the clutter I've cleaned out from coming back, I need to organize! So, I've decided to take on Organizing Junkie's challenge to organize one room or small space during the month of February. She's offering tons of great prizes as well, so if you need to organize, join in for motivation and support!

The room I've decided to tackle is our living room. This will definately be a challenge for me, since it tends to be a breeding ground for clutter and disorganization. We have so many knick knacks that just pile up one on top of the other, and even though these items are used fairly often, it really needs to be organized. I'm glad we have a month to finish this, since it's a large area to cover.

Here are the 'before' pics!