Menu Plan - January 2nd - 8th

This picture doesn't have anything to do with menu planning but I thought it was sweet of me and my baby. And yes, that is my favorite shirt...I wear it all the time, living on less, remember?

Second week of $75/week budget

- Well last week went so well with spending no money (except that stint at Mcd's), I think I will do it 1 more time to get us deep in the black and start the new year off right.
This week I will be relying on leftovers….still (heard of the roast beef that wouldn’t die?) and meats that I have stocked up on in the past when the price was right.

DINNERS
Grilled Chicken Leg Quarters w/BBQ sauce & veggies (such a deal at less than $1.50 for my chicken)
Turkey Spaghetti w/fresh garden salad (fresh from my garden!)
Chicken & Dumplings (The other $1.50 of those leg quarters and homemade dumplins!)
Shrimp fettuccini or red sauce which ever I have on hand
Beans & rice w/a little leftover ham (see below)
Mexican Beef n rice casserole (this is that roast beef again)
Left over ham sandwiches from our New Years ham – from Logan Farms w/$50 gift card from Billy’s work (yep The Lord will provide!)

Breakfast
Yogurt w/fruit
Eggs & cheese w/toast
Oatmeal w/ pure cane syrup
Cinnamon & sugar nuggets w/ syrup
Cereal
Blender batter waffles made with whole grains (literally…they have not been ground)

Lunch
Tuna sandwiches
ramen noodles
Pb & J, fruit & yogurt
Mac N Cheese w/hotdogs wienies
smoothies
Spagettio’s
frozen pizza (I know soooo bad)
Well, this is going on my second week and I am super excited. This has allowed for us to use our money elsewhere.

All of these items I have in my storage/leftover except I will need the following:
- milk (whole milk) - 3 gallons - $4.50/gallon - $13.50
- creamer (coffee is my major weakness) - 2 quarts - $2.70/quart - $5.40
-cheese – three 8-ounce bags of shredded cheese about $6

$24.90 + tax

Coconut Oil, Baking Soda & Vinegar

This photo was taken from www.mountainroseherbs.com. This is the website where we order all of our coconut oil, our glass bottles for extract and many of our bulk herbs. Go there and get you some coconut oil!

These are three of the most necessary items to have in your home. These three things clean, condition, can clear up a baby's bottom & can unstop drains...how is that for bang for your buck??

Baking Soda
Not only is this fine white powder a deodorizer and teeth whitener, when powered with vinegar it cleans & unclogs drains.
• In fact if you put ½ cup of baking soda (mixed with a splash of water) down your drain and follow with ½ cup of vinegar, it will keep your drains nice and clear.
• If you have a little nephew that comes over and draws pretty pictures with permanent marker all over your wood, then couple baking soda with toothpaste, scrub on, wash off and stare with amazement. But don’t get too excited and clean the whole play kitchen ( I hyper focused just a touch here)


Vinegar
• One of the most natural cleansers for your kitchen and bathroom is straight vinegar with water. I added about 5 drops of cinnamon essential oil to cut the smell. (Essential oils are also something to keep on hand, but more about those later).
• This can also be used in a Downy ball as the fabric softener….your clothes will not smell like vinegar, they smell fresh.
• This can also be used as a rinse for your hair. Come on all you long haired ladies, give it a try. It cleans SO well and make your hair soft, shiny, and smooth….well I have curly hair so lets just say it made it smoothER.
• As stated above, when used with baking soda it keeps those drains clean.
• Use it in the dishwasher as the rinse aid….so great!


Coconut Oil - purchase from http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/
• This is by far my favorite kitchen staple! It is know for building immunity as well as weight loss! I cook my eggs in it, I fry my chicken in it, I fry pancake mix in it and add powder sugar, I add it to my melting white chocolate pieces when making baked goodies….it is just that something extra!
• This is also GREAT for conditioning hair. If our hair is a tad fuzzy I just rub a little (key word, little) but through the ends and voila!
• This is also so great for BABY BUTT RASH!! Seriously with an investment like we have of cloth diapers, you CANNOT use products like desitin or other store brand rash cream. It repels water and stays on the diaper. But whether or not you use cloth diapers, coconut oil will clear up that baby’s rash in a hurry. I lather it on Wyatt everytime he gets a little rash and it has cleared up by morning.
Not only are these all natural ingredients, they are cheaper than commercial chemicals AND they are better for your family! (and better for your wallet….did I mention that already?)

XOXO

Ashley

Turkey Stew

I am excited to report that my first 3 days of my new goal have gone exceptionally well. (except we did spend $17 today on McDonald's chicken nuggets and a newspaper)(we stayed in town too long and the kids were starving and we ALL know that hungry kids make stressed out parents!)

1. I cooked the BBQ sanwiches and it was edible. Note to self: next time you are turning any beef into pulled beef (beef falling apart in BBQ sauce) start the crockpot in the morning when you make breakfast. My sandwiches were like sliced beef bbq...not my style.

2. The Turkey Stew was surprisingly FANTASTIC! What I did was put the turkey bones with meat intentionally left on (you dont have to carve it so closely to get all the meat off) into a crockpot Saturday night. Sunday morning very early (too early if you ask me) I was awoken by a delicious smell in my house....it was the turkey simmering in water and spices. I added the leftover roasted potatoes and half a bag of frozen (gasp) mixed veggies. *remember I am on a budget now and that means I HAVE to use those bags of frozen stuff/or canned stuff that has been hiding out waiting for its expiration date to be tossed into the trash.

I walked in the door from church with an optimistic attitude and the stuff was GREAT! We put a roasted red potato in each bowl, mashed it, covered it with the veggies & turkey and added some of the broth. It was really good. So there was a free meal from leftover Christmas turkey.

***I forgot to mention that Billy did pull the turkey out of the crock, deboned it, and put the edible meat back in all before I got out of bed this morn. He know I hate that part.....awe.....

2 poor man meals down, 5 more to go!!

Menu Plan - December 26th to January 1st

Well, I am gearing up for my Live on Less challenge this coming year! I am so excited, I hope I will be this excited in 4 more weeks!

Since I have company (which I love play hostess!) I need to be sure that my meals are feeding 7-12 people each night. I also am coming off of spending hundreds of dollars for Christmas dinner and gifts (which I am purposing not to do this next year! In part by planning ahead.) SO....I am going to reuse a lot of leftover meats and make them into totally different meals.

Here is my plan:

First week of $75 budget
- Actually use $25 for this weeks budget
- $50 for the next week

7 Dinners
Turkey stew – turkey, pasta, veggies (leftover turkey &veggies/pasta is in the freezer)
Gumbo – Chicken & sausage (all leftover)
BBQ beef – (leftover brisket)
Roast w/rice & gravy – gravy packet (roast is in freezer, I bought it on sale)
Spaghetti w/fresh garden salad (ground beef I bought on sale - in freezer)
Beans & rice (in the cupboard - always a low price go to! Keep bacon fat/lefovers to flavor)
Beef & cheese quesadillas (use part of that leftover brisket for these)

Breakfast
Leftover quiche & fruit
Yogurt w/fruit (I make my own yogurt to save a TON of money and it is whole fat)
Eggs & cheese w/toast
Oatmeal w/cane syrup
Cinnamon & sugar nuggets w/ syrup
Cereal

Lunch
Tuna sandwiches
ramen noodles
Pb & J fruit & yogurt
Mac N Cheese w/hotdogs wienies
smoothies
Italian chicken w/corn
Hot dogs w/buns & fruit

All of these items I have in my storage except I will need the following:
- milk (whole milk) - 3 gallons - $4.50/gallon - $13.50
- creamer (coffee is my major weakness) - 2 quarts - $2.70/quart - $5.40

$18.90 + tax

I may need to pick up the 3 packs of ramen noodles as well (my kids LOVE these stinkin things!)

This menu will use lots of leftovers (not wasting food is key when trying to keep a low budget) and it will provide larger 1 pot meals for feeding big groups.

Now lets just see if I can get out of that store without spending a ton of money! haha!

UPDATE: I did make it out of the store without buying ANYTHING extra!! YEAH!!

MY secret: I sent Billy to the store...hahaha

Living on less!

This is my New Year’s Resolution….to live on less.

Live on less money, live on less STUFF, live with less commitments, live with less stress.
I think it is sad that I have failed at properly budgeting our money. I am inconsistent with my spending in every category. In groceries I fluctuate by well over $100-$200 each month. In clothes, I spend large amounts ($600-$1000) twice a year. Now, if I would set the monthly budget aside to make those bulk clothing purchases it would not be such a big deal but I don’t.
Needless to say, consistency is not my strength.

My plan to live on less is as follows….(no gasping allowed)

Spend $75 a week for all grocery items
• Clip coupons
• Plan budget conscience menus
• Limit snack foods
• Focus on whole food & meatless meal diet
• BE ACCOUNTABLE
Spend $5 per week/per child for clothing - $25/week total (this one scares me!)
• Sew as many clothes with repurposed materials as possible
• Buy used clothing
• Save clothing for younger siblings
Grow 75% of all produce this year

Plant 5-10 more fruit trees to increase fruit harvest in coming years

Spend no more than $75 per child per birthday (party & gift)

I am committing to bring $100/month into our family budget through talents I have.

I am so excited and optimistic about this plan. I have had these ideas and desires floating in my head for a couple of years at least but I never made a plan. I am so nervous and so excited at the same time. Of course while I want to sew everything the kids wear, I also have to realize I do not have much extra time. SO….I must budget my time with a balanced schedule and plan ahead.
I will plan at least 3 months ahead. I will hold 1 major planning day at the beginning of each month and then 1 smaller planning day each week.

On Wednesday’s I will plan my menu for the following week based on my coupons and the sale papers. I will go to the store on Thursday or Friday and report my success/failure. I am tracking the prices so that I can accurately plan my menus.
I will be working on clothing items each week and will post about those as well.

Christmas is Almost Here!

I love this time of year. Christmas.....A celebration of the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. It is so easy to say that without realizing the true impact of its meaning. HE was BORN to SAVE us!!! How awesome is that!?!?

He saves me daily from my flesh, my selfish ways! Only through him am I able to be the best wife and mother I can be. Thank you Jesus that I have you to rely on.

Just last night I prayed for God to give us a family to bless this year with gifts and food and not even 24 hours has passed and my beautiful Aunt told me of a family that she came in contact with that was in need!! I watched her in amazement and told her the simple prayer I had prayed JUST last night! We both started to cry at the realization that she had been divinely placed at a particular store and a particular checkout line so she could ASK FOR THE lady's name and give it to us!!! Thank you God that she was sensitive to His will!!

WOW!! That is all I can say! WOW!! Thank you Jesus. Now my children will have the most amazing Christmas experience of all.....giving.

Happy Holidays

I love this time of the year. It can be so joyful and full of well wishes. IF we allow it to be! I have noticed that my family's enjoyment of the holidays is directly related to whether or not I am allowing God's love, grace, mercy and joy shine through me!

I am committed to enjoying this season, everyday, even if laundry mountain has had an avalanche!

I am also looking forward to the coming year! I have great changes in store for myself and my blog. I have been praying about a few things and will be very excited to share them very soon!

Much love and blessings,

From the Fowlers

My Family

Family Weekend 2009

The ones who started it all.....Thanks Pops & "E"

Here are the kids through out the weekend. Hannah loved the ability to run back and forth between our tent, Rick's tent and the jumpers! Notice she is having a COKE at 4:35 PM!! and of course that was NOT at our tent, that was her "Sue Sue". Uh-huh. No wander she never wants to come home.

Wyatt showed up in his pj's Sunday morning but since they were Halloween pj's, I felt they were fitting to the occasion.

Costume Contest

SO...FUNNY!!

Bill got the kids dressed for the costume parade since I was busy chatting. Well.....we forgot her Tink shoes AND she left her undershirt on!....HAHA. SO funny.

I love my kids

I am so in love with my life. I really feel like I have it all. I have a wonderful husband, fantastic kids, a great family, and I get to stay home. I have a great family and a great family-in-law.

I just want to say "Thank you, God".

Disney Summer 2009

Learning to Teach

As a mother, I am maturing more each day.

Yesterday, Billy and I went to the local School Aids store and bought some games for the kids. We bought 2 puzzles that are wood and only have about 12 pieces. We bought a Go Fish game that we played for a while last night AND we bought a puppet (mouse) and named him Uncle Oscar. We have been reading the kids a chapter of Stuart Little each day so we though that Uncle Oscar would be an appropriate narrator.

I have actually set aside the "prepackaged" curriculum for the past 2 weeks and have just enjoyed learning about things with the kids. We went to the library and checked out books with BIG pictures and lots of facts. It is amazing what those little minds can recall. We are learning about farm animals. Hannah wants a horse. Hannah is learning to read & write so well. William is so good at playing. He can build towers & Castles out of just about anything. Wyatt is just all about chasing his brother and sister around and getting into whatever they have. He is almost walking. He has taken a few steps. He does crawl up next to the french doors and talks to his reflection.

Abi is enjoying her summer researching different historical events. Her first even was WWII and now she is studying William Shakespeare. She is such a joy.

Tuesday

What a wonderful day today is. It is amazing when you set your routines, wake up early enough, and follow your plan, what you can get accomplished before 9:30AM!!

I have done my morning cleanup

*made up bed
*showered
*gotten dressed
*clean both toilets & sinks
*picked up Billy's late night icecream bowls (hehe)
*cleaned off my dresser
*helped the kids make their beds
*changed 2 boys cloth diapers
*got boys dressed
*fixed girls hair
*fixed MY hair
*took a walk
*nursed Wyatt
*fed Wyatt
*gave Wyatt a snack..haha
*fixed free range scrambled eggs with mozz cheese (cooked in coconut oil)
*cut a melon
*cleaned all the dishes from breakfast
*started the laundry
*put Wyatt down for a nap
*ready the kids their daily Bible story
*and...I lived to blog about it.

This is all because of my terrific man as he made me coffee this morning and practically carried me to the couch....haha. Watch out! If you tell him "PLEASE make sure that I wake up early", he will do it!

Wyatt is almost sleeping through the night IN his bed. We are really close to that and the puppy is going all night w/o being let out. So I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I just might be back to the routine I LOVE (getting up at 5AM with Billy) this month!!

I will also be 30 this month. I am excited about that. I would really love to go out of town with the one I love for my birthday but I just cannot justify spending the money. We are doing SO well on our budget. Maybe next year.

To all my family that is reading my blog. I love you! Thank you for loving me!

A Tribute to my Mothers

My 5 year Anniversary

It has been 5 wonderful years of marriage! We celebrated our 5th anniversary on April 5th 2009. Everytime I think of what my marriage is compared to how the majority of the world sees marriage, I cannot help but be amazed. Amazed that a man would love me so much that he would spend most of his time working to allow me the joy of staying home to raise my children. Amazed that even though I am a very distracted housewife, often choosing a mini project over laundry, he still loves me and is proud of me. Billy Fowler has single handedly won the label "World's best husband"

Thank you baby for the life you have provided for me! I love you!

Your bride

To celebrate our love, we went for coffee & pedicures, dinner at Texas Roadhouse, then off to see the play Smoke on the Mountain with some best buddies! Thank you to my sweet mommy and "E" & Pops for affording us such luxuries!!

Hannah is Home

Last night about 6PM Daddy brought Hannah June home. She is still so sick and weak but she is home.

Thank The Lord!

Prayer Requested for Hannah

Well we started off the week with a few days off to visit our Daddy where he is finishing up his Master's Practicum. Hannah got really sick last night, and after she was obviously dehydrated and then became unresponsive, we rushed her to the ER where her Daddy was doing his study. They rushed us right in and started an IV for fluids. They had to try 4 times to get a good stick. Poor angel, she was so patient. They have admitted her and expect us to be here for 2-3 days.

Please pray for this little firecracker that we all adore!

Ashley

A Better Way

Well often I have found myself in the depths of despair (the Anne of Green Gables sort of despair) and I have said "There has to be a better way." This is often followed by an intense spike in internet research and a revelation of sorts.

This past month I have become "sick and tired" of being "sick and tired" and sought out how I can change the health of my family. Thus my health, holistic journey began.

As Wyatt got sick again this last week I discovered that rubbing cinnamon essential oil on your feet aids in relief of congestion!! (It also turns your feet a little yellow, but hey no pain no gain)

We have also seriously increased our vitamin intake adding fish oil and vitamin C to our daily regime. On top of that our snacks now consist of almost totally healthy foods (with an occasional cheeto!)

Today I went to the grocery and this is what I bought for this next week:

Yogurt
granola
bananas
grapes
oranges
apples
whole wheat bread
cheese stix
cheese stix (cheddar)
water bottles (dont worry Grandaddy, they were SUPER cheap)
protein powder for smoothies
frozen fruit for smoothies
skim milk
spinach for smoothies (dont tell the kids!)
chicken breasts
sweet potatoes
skim milk
pretzels
corn
broccoli
brown rice


BAD STUFF
Sprite
saltine crackers
dr. Pepper (ok I caved!)

After I got home I made a green smoothie for all the family and they LOVED IT!!

Here was my recipe:

1tbsp OJ concentrate
skim milk
ice
frozen fruit (any)
a few leaves of fresh spinach

It was green! It will be good for my baby with yellow feet to drink the green smoothie...haha

EGG CHAMPION

I am so proud of my girl!!! Abi took Champion at the 4-H Cookery Contest in the Egg Main Dish Division. She is currently competing against the Sr. Champion to see whether she will be able to do to District. We will update you on that next week when we know more.

Abi made a Chicken Cordon Bleu Quiche (original recipe)

Here she is chopping the ingredients











Mixing it all together












Hannah eating all the Black Forest Ham...hehe


Will, mad because noone was listening to him....."I want some"

With her medal!!

Doesn't "E" look beautiful in this pic!!

GO ABI!! I AM SOOOOOOOOOOO Proud of you

Emergency Preparedness

In keeping with the Proverbs 31 woman, it is safe to say that God expects us to be prepared in case of emergencies.

*

It is sometimes comical around hurricane season we always start getting really "prepared". My sweet hurricane-vetran-aunt gives us all a crash course in how to weather a storm.

*

Well, this year Aunt P., I will be prepared. I am begining my journey to prepare our home in case of disaster.

*

I will be putting together a 72-hour survival kit, a 3-month food storage kit, and an emergency car kit.

*

Here is the blog I will be using as a guide to help me on this quest:

http://www.safelygatheredin.blogspot.com/

*

Homemade Laundry Soap

I have making our own laundry soap off and on for a few years. It works great for us and is super cheap. Here is the recipe I use:

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/09/making-your-own-laundry-detergent-a-detailed-visual-guide/

I challenge you to add these ingredients to your shopping list THIS week and try it!! My 10-year-old can do it!!

We also use straight vinegar in a downy ball for the rinse cycle!

Goodbye

ALIENS ARE COMING TO EARTH ON FRIDAY AND THEIR MISSION IS TO ABDUCT ALL GOOD LOOKING AND SEXY PEOPLE.

YOU WILL BE SAFE,

BUT I'M JUST POSTING TO SAY GOODBYE.

Passionate Homemaking

This is a blog that I frequently read as it has wonderful tips on being frugal, green, and Godly!!

They are giving away a book called "The Mission Minded Family."

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the entire world raised their children to be mission minded, always seeking out the people who are in need and do not know Christ!!

Go check it out!

www.passionatehomemaking.com

I have had a sick baby boy so my posts have been very sporatic.

Be Careful Little Eyes What You See

O be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little eyes what you see
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little eyes what you see

O be careful little ears what you hear
O be careful little ears what you hear
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little ears what you hear

O be careful little hands what you do
O be careful little hands what you do
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little hands what you do

O be careful little feet where you go
O be careful little feet where you go
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little feet where you go

O be careful little mouth what you say
O be careful little mouth what you say
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little mouth what you say

This childhood song has so much truth in it.....Our mind will house forever what we look at for a second.

To my children my heart cries out!! "OH Be CAREFUL little eyes what you SEE!! It is a sad day when I cannot let my child watch a wholesome cartoon on t.v. because indubitably there will be a commercial that contains an explicit message.

"That is just the world we live in" Well that may be true, but it does NOT have to be MY FAMILY'S reality!!

Oh be careful my little babies, when mommy is not there....

Psalm 101:3 (King James Version)
3I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes

It is a good thing to be different, set apart....do not be embarrassed for the stand you are taking!

Oh, be careful little eyes what you see........

Dear God let this burden not pass from my heart, to ensure the salvation of my children!

Jessie Robinson: Auteur de Invite'

Today we have an Auteur de Invite' (guest writer). This beautiful young lady is as amazing on the inside as she is on the out. Her call and stand for homemaking at such a young age is a testimony to Christ. There is a great need for leaders for our daughters. Thank you Jessica for sharing your love testimony and your heart with us!! I know God will use this to touch someone's heart!

The Love Testimony

Hello from Kingsport, Tennessee- “The Model City”. I’m Jessica Robinson and I live here with my husband of two years, Andraé. We met 7 years ago when I began attending his church. It was love at first sight for me. It was took 2 years and many prayers, but in the end he fell in love with me too! You see, I’m 9 years younger than Andraé and it was rather unimaginable on his part that he might fall in love with a 15 year old, but fall in love he did. We chose the route of a non-traditional courtship and sought our parent’s blessing as we moved through the many wonderful stages of our relationship. We wanted to become best friends before we became lovers. From first-dates and through heart-aches, in the happy times and in the hard times, God has blessed our marriage and our friendship immensely. I am married to the man God designed for me, and there’s nothing so wonderful or that brings more contentment than to know you have God’s blessing.

A Call To Women Everywhere

I live in the “Model City”, I have the “model husband”, I lived the “model love story”, but am I the “model” wife? The “model Christian?"

Do I do anything that would make others want to be like me?

I have no desire to be on a pedestal, but as a Christian my life is supposed to represent Christ.

I am plagued with these thoughts daily. I’m torn. The Bible shows us that as omen we have such an amazing opportunity to minister in our homes. But we’re constantly being pulled by the suffocating pressure to follow the world’s models of womanhood.

I want to stand up and tell the world, “NO!! It’s not working!” The very sad reality is that the world replies, “Ok…then show us how!”

It’s at that point I look around and see that there are very few true Christian models of womanhood to look up to. No wonder our young girls are as hopeless as they are, they have no one to look to. Christians have followed the world’s models for far too long, someday someone is going to have to change that.

I think that someday is now. I want to devote my life to being that Christian woman that younger ladies can look up to. I want to show them that there’s more to life than boy syndrome. I want to give inspiration…homemaking can be a blast…..I love it!

So pull your courage out of the old, dusty cabinet and join me, Ashley and our families in this journey to find out what God’s models are and to bring happiness and joy back into our homes.