With 4 teens and 2 adults in the home, the largest expense aside from rent/mortgage is...food.
How to budget food and make good meals for 4 hungry teens and 2 adults. Processed foods are so salty, but so convenient. Although, I do like several sites that I am going to try and make better use of:
Six Sisters Stuff, Yumprint, The Pioneer Woman and many books. I particularly like Rachael Ray's 30-Minute Meals, The Convenience Cook by Finlayson, Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilippo and Easy One Dish Meals by Cookbook Resources LLC.
Six Sisters have great ideas and with, well six sisters? Lots of input. I first discovered them on Facebook with a posting about freezer meals. Tried it, and learned a lot. First I learned that order of items is (almost) critical. Chopping is something you definitely want to do first, so that packaging goes more quickly.
I really have to say that having items in your freezer to just load into your crockpot is VERY convenient and takes some of the thought process out of your day.
The hardest part is finding recipes that don't repeat very often, although my husband and boys would be very happy with that, I like a bit more variety. Then add in seasonality of your eating habits? It makes meal time a challenge at my house. I have salad eaters and people who would consider being in a green room close enough. I have found that fruits are a big hit with everyone and try to have them available for snacking and we even put the fruit bowl on the dinner table, so that there is at least a choice.
Yumprint is a great add-in for your internet window. I like what they have done. I browse the internet, stalking recipes and when it detects a recipe-like format on the page, it pops up a little tab. The interface is easy enough, click the tab, review what it has pulled from the page, edit if need be, and then categorize your recipe. You can make a menu, or simply track what you have tried and like. The only real complaint I have, is their shopping list feature. I have tried several times to use the menu planning and then click the shopping list, but it never seems to combine things properly.
Of the books, it is kind of hit and miss. I will recommend The Practical Paleo because she REALLY thought out the layout. It is a good book to have even to just read about the tips and tricks of cutting and chopping, not to mention the recipes have been GREAT! I loved the "Perfectly Baked Bacon" and several other recipes. Yes some of the textures are different from what you would normally expect, but so far, I have not had any of my eaters, refuse anything I have pulled out of the book.
The next venture will be into window gardening. I have been watching videos on making window growers out of plastic bottles. You can buy something already made at WindowFarm.com, however I would like to recycle some items I already have around the house.
Well, that's my crazy for the day.
Have a great one everybody.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
It's a crazy life (aka Thank God Summer is over!)
Back to the blogging now that I have time.
Summer was CRA ZY! We had 2 kids in summer school, one in ESY (Extended School Year is for children with substantial learning challenges), a family visit, a family member moving into our area, and...I am sure that I have forgotten many things in that list. I am however, very happy school is back in session.
Oh and on top of all of that, I have taken over the finances for the menagerie, and my husband was informed, very nicely, that "The company is going in a different direction, and while we think you are very talented and have great skills, they just aren't the ones we need right now."
I mean really. They could have gone the scandalous route and called him in for an "early meeting" and while giving him the heave-ho, packed his office for him (I've seen it done), but they have given him the respect of letting him close things up, cleanly pass things on, and leave on good terms. I liked the company before, but now I can respect them too.
On the child front:
Eldest daughter is starting college classes today. She decided to take a year off from school and then go back. Glad to see her following through on it, and very proud.
Eldest son did a class in summer school and passed with a B, to get ahead. Kudos! He is struggling a bit with school this year, but it is just the beginning and he just needs to get a routine down. He also took an AP test just before school ended in June and got a 5 out of 5. So woo hoo! A college credit for him!
What I also like is that he is getting involved in school and making friends. Aspergers can make that social interaction such a challenge and he is having a blast with his Improv club.
Youngest daughter. She did really great this summer with her diabetes. She brought her A1C down from over 14% to 10% in only 5 months time. She has fallen off the wagon a bit, but I am trying to help her get back into the habit. She also attended summer school to make up a credit and got a B as well. She has also challenged a class and is taking 2 mathematics classes this semester. Eeek! BUT, she is very smart when it comes to math, so if she applies herself, she will do very well. Her favorite thing this year? Culinary Arts class. She loves to cook and is having a blast. I also signed her up for an after school exercise class and she seems to be enjoying that as well. I know we are enjoying her class, since I had a very tasty classic English Scone for breakfast this morning.
What I am looking forward to for her, is the education presentation she is going to give at her school for staff, parents and students about Type 1 Diabetes. It is a great presentation. Very proud of her. I hope she is able to make a group that meets and supports each other. It seems to be helpful for her.
Middle son. ESY was fun for him, he had a blast. The summer for him was go, go, go. The boys mother and her family took all three boys to Walt Disney World in August and apparently, Middle LOVES roller coasters. It figures though, he has little or no fear. The picture his mom sent, had him smiling from ear to ear.
During his time in Florida, mom forgot to give him his fluoxetine(Prozac which is used for OCD issues as well), and we didn't see much difference in his behavior, until it was completely out. What most people don't know is that this chemical has a "half-life" and for lack of a better term, wears out of your system. Well, 2-3 weeks later, his "self-soothing/stimulating" was becoming much more emphatic. There was a bruise on his hip, the size of a large orange, more vocalization, more hand movement (not flapping per se, just more hand movements). My husband and I decided to restart the medication and over the last week or two, his behavior has become much less emphatic, and less self injurious.
Now Youngest son, is just the baby of the family and is going into 1st grade this year. He is still testing waters at the house, seeing what he can get away with and what he cannot, typical kid stuff. His is whip smart and bores easily. HOWEVER, our relationship is getting better. We are interacting more and hanging out a bit more too. It's nice. Not use to having a small one around the house, and his battery is just on FULL all the time.
Other items:
Budgeting. Hate it. Regardless, I am just going to have to get over it. I am not looking forward to that part. With 7 people in our immediate family and the ex-wife, we are basically supporting 8 people. Something has to give and I think it is going to be my sanity.
Me time. I am going to have to start taking better care of myself, and that means, dare I say it? Exercising. Guh! I like the results of the actions, it just performing them that really drags me down, however the workout high, is great, and it will have wide spread affects for me. Lower my blood pressure, lower my BMI, lower my anxiety, and help me sleep better. Now. if I could only figure out how to exercise without having to actually do it. I'd be a bazillionaire!
Well that's the crazy for today.
Have a great one.
Summer was CRA ZY! We had 2 kids in summer school, one in ESY (Extended School Year is for children with substantial learning challenges), a family visit, a family member moving into our area, and...I am sure that I have forgotten many things in that list. I am however, very happy school is back in session.
Oh and on top of all of that, I have taken over the finances for the menagerie, and my husband was informed, very nicely, that "The company is going in a different direction, and while we think you are very talented and have great skills, they just aren't the ones we need right now."
I mean really. They could have gone the scandalous route and called him in for an "early meeting" and while giving him the heave-ho, packed his office for him (I've seen it done), but they have given him the respect of letting him close things up, cleanly pass things on, and leave on good terms. I liked the company before, but now I can respect them too.
On the child front:
Eldest daughter is starting college classes today. She decided to take a year off from school and then go back. Glad to see her following through on it, and very proud.
Eldest son did a class in summer school and passed with a B, to get ahead. Kudos! He is struggling a bit with school this year, but it is just the beginning and he just needs to get a routine down. He also took an AP test just before school ended in June and got a 5 out of 5. So woo hoo! A college credit for him!
What I also like is that he is getting involved in school and making friends. Aspergers can make that social interaction such a challenge and he is having a blast with his Improv club.
Youngest daughter. She did really great this summer with her diabetes. She brought her A1C down from over 14% to 10% in only 5 months time. She has fallen off the wagon a bit, but I am trying to help her get back into the habit. She also attended summer school to make up a credit and got a B as well. She has also challenged a class and is taking 2 mathematics classes this semester. Eeek! BUT, she is very smart when it comes to math, so if she applies herself, she will do very well. Her favorite thing this year? Culinary Arts class. She loves to cook and is having a blast. I also signed her up for an after school exercise class and she seems to be enjoying that as well. I know we are enjoying her class, since I had a very tasty classic English Scone for breakfast this morning.
What I am looking forward to for her, is the education presentation she is going to give at her school for staff, parents and students about Type 1 Diabetes. It is a great presentation. Very proud of her. I hope she is able to make a group that meets and supports each other. It seems to be helpful for her.
Middle son. ESY was fun for him, he had a blast. The summer for him was go, go, go. The boys mother and her family took all three boys to Walt Disney World in August and apparently, Middle LOVES roller coasters. It figures though, he has little or no fear. The picture his mom sent, had him smiling from ear to ear.
During his time in Florida, mom forgot to give him his fluoxetine(Prozac which is used for OCD issues as well), and we didn't see much difference in his behavior, until it was completely out. What most people don't know is that this chemical has a "half-life" and for lack of a better term, wears out of your system. Well, 2-3 weeks later, his "self-soothing/stimulating" was becoming much more emphatic. There was a bruise on his hip, the size of a large orange, more vocalization, more hand movement (not flapping per se, just more hand movements). My husband and I decided to restart the medication and over the last week or two, his behavior has become much less emphatic, and less self injurious.
Now Youngest son, is just the baby of the family and is going into 1st grade this year. He is still testing waters at the house, seeing what he can get away with and what he cannot, typical kid stuff. His is whip smart and bores easily. HOWEVER, our relationship is getting better. We are interacting more and hanging out a bit more too. It's nice. Not use to having a small one around the house, and his battery is just on FULL all the time.
Other items:
Budgeting. Hate it. Regardless, I am just going to have to get over it. I am not looking forward to that part. With 7 people in our immediate family and the ex-wife, we are basically supporting 8 people. Something has to give and I think it is going to be my sanity.
Me time. I am going to have to start taking better care of myself, and that means, dare I say it? Exercising. Guh! I like the results of the actions, it just performing them that really drags me down, however the workout high, is great, and it will have wide spread affects for me. Lower my blood pressure, lower my BMI, lower my anxiety, and help me sleep better. Now. if I could only figure out how to exercise without having to actually do it. I'd be a bazillionaire!
Well that's the crazy for today.
Have a great one.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Staying home...never thought it would be my kinda gig.
Quitting work: So back in January our caregiver/nanny gave notice. The move to the new house was too much for her and her family on a daily basis, considering she was on until 7pm at night. So, we went through all the places Husband had used previously to locate a caregiver, set up interviews, met people, read "Thanks, but no thanks" email responses, either had no response from Middle boy to the person, or the person didn't respond to Middle OR they didn't want "part-time" work.
When has having a profoundly autistic child, or ANY child for that matter, been a part-time gig?
Anyway, after much angst, debate, number crunching and MY all-time favorite, the Pro's and Con's list, it was decided that I would give notice at work to stay home and take care of the family. It was a big decision. I had never been a stay-at-home mom, and I really liked what I was doing and who I was working with/for.
So with much sadness/anxiety I gave a one month notice at the beginning of February and stayed home.
Staying home: March came, I woke up the first week and went through the paces.
I was really starting to get into a routine, and even had time to do some short notice stuff too. Like taking Eldest boy to appointments when Mom couldn't due to a conflict. It was nice.
Going back to work: So I got a call the last week of March from my old boss. Wanting to know where I wanted to go for lunch for my birthday, we discussed it and plans were made. Oh, and by the way, would you mind coming back for a few hours a day to help with the work loads? Would I?!?! Heck yeah. I love these ladies, and it is during the time that the kids are in school.
I never thought I would like being a stay at home mom, but I really kinda like it. I don't know if I could do it with small kids. I like when they go to school and I can get some time to do what I want.
Well, that's the crazy for now.
Have a great day.
When has having a profoundly autistic child, or ANY child for that matter, been a part-time gig?
Anyway, after much angst, debate, number crunching and MY all-time favorite, the Pro's and Con's list, it was decided that I would give notice at work to stay home and take care of the family. It was a big decision. I had never been a stay-at-home mom, and I really liked what I was doing and who I was working with/for.
So with much sadness/anxiety I gave a one month notice at the beginning of February and stayed home.
Staying home: March came, I woke up the first week and went through the paces.
- Kids up. Check
- Kids fed. Check
- Kids who needed medications, medicated. Check
- New alarms working, so I don't miss anything anymore. Check. (I may have missed the bus a couple times and had to drive to school for Middle)
- House cleaned. Kinda check. (We still had boxes to unpack from the move 2 months prior)
- Some projects marked off the list. Check and check.
I was really starting to get into a routine, and even had time to do some short notice stuff too. Like taking Eldest boy to appointments when Mom couldn't due to a conflict. It was nice.
Going back to work: So I got a call the last week of March from my old boss. Wanting to know where I wanted to go for lunch for my birthday, we discussed it and plans were made. Oh, and by the way, would you mind coming back for a few hours a day to help with the work loads? Would I?!?! Heck yeah. I love these ladies, and it is during the time that the kids are in school.
I never thought I would like being a stay at home mom, but I really kinda like it. I don't know if I could do it with small kids. I like when they go to school and I can get some time to do what I want.
Well, that's the crazy for now.
Have a great day.
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