Meal Planning

Ladies and gents, it's time to get back on the wagon. As I have mentioned before, I have been trying to reduce our grocery budget. However, this has sort of become a half-hearted effort because instead of combining meal-planning with coupon clipping, I traded one for the other. I don't know that I was saving much money because I wasn't planning effectively to get the best deals.

Well, no more! This week I started meal planning again and I am really excited! Of course I had to go and get motivated and made a 3 week plan. But I will most likely do 2 weeks at a time. Starting next week, I will post on Mondays with our weekly meals and include recipes for the ones that are interesting to me :-)

Since it's Tuesday, we'll just say I got a late start and give you a recipe anyway! Tonight's dinner will be CrockPot Brunswick Stew. Here in the South that seems to take on a different meaning than the one I am used to. If you are familiar with Southern Brunswick stew, this recipe will not be familiar at all, but I guarantee it's delicious! It is a recipe from my Mother's own kitchen many times removed from an old recipe book. It is always requested at holidays and family gatherings at our house and I am salivating just thinking about our yummy dinner!

I'm pretty sure I don't even need words....

Sneak Preview

Oscar is attending his very first wedding today! I thought it would be fun to get him a tie except all the ties I saw (in the one store I looked in) were zippers or clip-ons and too expensive for a one-time deal. So, I decided to make one! I found this pattern online through Sew Mama Sew and followed it loosely. In the end, my tie was too small to turn right-side in, so the seams have a rugged "frayed" look. Even though it was completely accidental, I really like it! This was also my first time sewing "on the bias" and it was hard! Especially the cutting. I need a new rotary cutter or to get mine sharpened or SOMETHING.

Anyway, I am excited to see Oscar all dressed up! Since he is currently napping, we'll just have to make do with this preview....

All ready to go! Just insert baby!

We wear shoes to weddings :-)

Krust borrowed the tie for his job interview yesterday.

Oh there I am....

The Whalewatchers - photo by Geoff Wood

Last night I went to see my husband's band play at a local bar downtown. It's a small smokey venue and several of our friends were there so it had that 'everyone knows your name' kinda vibe. I haven't seen them play in over a year due to being pregnant and steering clear of all things cigarette. So when I went back last night, I almost felt out of place. Like a tag-a-long or an intruder. Or a guest. It was as if I was visiting friends out of town in their city, going to their bar and listening to their music. Kinda trippy.

But then something happened. I don't know if it was the sip of PBR, VH1 Storytellers on the TV in the background, the smell of liquor and smoke that was both nauseating and familiar, or being with friends, but I remembered a part of me that has been dormant for a while. Just a carefree girl who was chilling with friends listening to music. I realized that having a baby doesn't change you completely, it just adds another layer. I have been focusing so much on that one layer that I think I had myself convinced it was all that was left of me.

But that's not true.

Jerry and I found ourselves joking around and flirting like we used to, giggling and making inside jokes and knowing glances. It seems silly to say, but I felt young at heart. Of course I was checking my phone every 2 minutes for calls or texts from Monica saying Oscar had woke up and was screaming, but they never came. He was awesome the whole time I was out and never even knew I was gone.

Jerry and I have gone on a few dates and try to be intentional about spending time together and that has been great. But for whatever reason, going to the show was really special for me. I had a wonderful time and it was so refreshing to know that I am still in there. I still enjoy the things I enjoyed before having a baby. Only now, I get to enjoy them and then come home and snuggle with my little Oscar on top of it all! And I am so thankful.

Calling all Readers

I hope to be more proactive in my upcoming posts. I'll still have the same updates with pictures of Oscar, musings about my life as a mommy and wife and home improvements projects, but I am hoping to venture out into other topics as well. I am planning to start a weekly series and am looking for ideas! That's where you come in! What do you think would make for good reading? Or should it be a photo series (like around town, in my fridge... etc) I want it to be fun and educational! Or maybe just tolerable.

What say you internet?

I'm working on it...

Last night Oscar slept for 11 hours with only one waking. And, I actually slept too! It was as if God tucked us both in and said, for the love of Me, get some sleep! And we did. And it was good. Today, Oscar and I didn't know what to do with ourselves in such a rested state. So we played on the floor and laughed at each other and ate cereal. It was a good day. Oscar also decided he wants to laugh like mommy. Or at least try :-)

Happy Birthday Grampa!

Yesterday was my dad's 64th birthday! My mom had to work so we had him over to the house for lunch. Jerry and I made Chicken Burritos and fresh guacamole. Yum! It was a lot of fun to hang out with my dad and talk politics, Jesus, and Barbershop :-) Oscar slept most of the time but woke up for some hugs and kisses from Grampa! Oscar is so funny when other people are around. He goes from curious, to interested, to happy, to weeping in a matter of minutes....or less. Nevertheless, Grampa loves his grandson and was happy to see him! Happy Birthday!