Meal Plan {October Week 2}

Kids are out of school for most of the week, guessing we will be with projects a lot of the week before sports in the evenings. Quick and easy is my goal for the week!

Monday~Pork Roast

In the pressure cooker with green enchilada sauce and rice! No recipe, it's too easy for that!

Tuesday~Chicken Spaghetti

Because we could use some leftovers for Wednesday! And everyone loves this!

Wednesday~Tater-tot Casserole

I have made a couple versions, not sure what I will throw together, depends on what we have in the cupboard!  

Thursday~Taco's

Easy Easy Easy! We need an easy day!

Friday~Grilled Cheese & Soup

Or mini pizza's. I haven't decided yet. 

Whichever we have more of the ingredients for and the time for!

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12 Weeks of Christmas {Week 2}

Alright, now that I have my list of things we want to do and things we will need to do all done I am moving on to week 2. I am keeping my lists of things to do on my phone, so much easier, no chance of losing it. I always have it, etc. 

 I also wrote some down though, things we need to decide on as a family.

Week 2 for me is about budgeting, and scheduling! Now that we have some ideas of what we want to do, we can narrow the budget down and start getting things on the schedule (flexible) before things get crazy!

There are a lot of methods to budgeting, or saving year round for Christmas.

$5 Method

Weekly Savings

Monthly Savings

Whichever way you do your budgeting, having it in place is kind of freeing and a great guideline to get started!

And if you are like me and don't like to cross stuff off in your planner, you can print off blank calendar pages and use them until things are more set in stone. We have to wait for basketball schedules, family parties we aren't hosting, etc.

 

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Planners make me happy! Here's why

6 Reasons I use a planner!

1. I don't over schedule!
 If I make plans without my planner handy, there are bound to be overlapping things going on where I don't want them, creating stress and dysfunction.

2. I am a better friend and mom!
 I don't want to be that flaky mom/friend that is rescheduling (often) because I didn't use my planner.  It still happens when things come up last minute, but I wouldn't want it to be a regular thing.

3. I save money!
 I can group my things that need to be done in town, saving me the extra trips, and wasting gas!

4. I do my job better!
 I can prep ahead of time and spend 5 minutes instead of waiting until it's sprung on me and spend way more time, and sometimes money! Creating less stress because I can be prepared!

5. I have more time for important things!
By combining all of the above, I leave time for family, and I make time by keeping things streamlined and grouped together, like errands.

6. It makes me HAPPY! 
I am a nerd, no shame in that. I love the stickers, the great pens and I feel good knowing I have my act together (a little)

I love and USE an Erin Condren Life Planner
I can't wait to share more about how I use it!

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Pumpkin Roll Truffles

I LOVE Pumpkin Roll, but I am also impatient and not so good at making them. 

I needed something easy, few ingredients that I could make a lot of in a hurry, we only get 1 good nap around here!

I had a little extra time and a few ingredients the other day, so I threw these together!

SO easy! Just a few ingredients and a little time.

1 yellow or vanilla cake mix

1/2 C water

1 Can Pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

8oz room temp cream cheese

3 Tbsp Powdered Sugar

1 Tbs Pumpkin Pie Spice

White chocolate chips

Mix the first 3 together, spread in a 13x9 greased cake pan

Bake following directions on box

While that is baking, in a large mixing bowl.

Mix together the cream cheese, spice and powdered sugar.

Once the cake is done, take half of it and crumble it into the
cream cheese mix and mix it together well. 

Using a cookie scoop, scoop onto parchment or wax paper lined cookie sheet.

Freeze a couple hours

When you are ready, 

melt the chocolates, dip the truffles and put them in the fridge to set. 

They won't last long!

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