The Momversations: Meal Planning

I've been meal planning, with a few off weeks to eat off freezer and pantry staples, since April. I generally cook 5-6 times a week, and eat out once or twice, depending on the week and what we have going on (and the fact my kids LOVE eating out, and the older two have been practicing ordering their own food). I'm of the personal opinion that eating out occasionally is nothing detrimental and is good socialization, especially for a stay at home mother and a herd of small, younger than school age children.

Anyway, back to meal planning. It's going well. I tend to save a lot of money and a lot of stress by sitting down and writing down what we're going to eat that week. Even if we skip a day, I'll roll it to the next week. My kids are the least picky kids on the planet, so we're not very limited by them. I do simple lunches and snacks, and a large supper.

After I get my meal plan wrote down, I then go to the internet to figure out what's on sale. Whatever is not on sale at my local grocer (we travel often so that changes, but Ingle's, Albertson's, and Kroger have been good to me) I do grocery pickup from Walmart. (If you have never done grocery pickup, you're missing out. You can order whatever you want, the minimum is just $30. You pull right up to the pickup area, and never leave your car. The pickup associates bring it to you, and load it. They've been really great about giving me the longest dated meat and amazing veggies so far. If you've never participated in pickup, and want $10 off a pickup of $50 or more, you can use my code-  http://r.wmt.co/hUYIg)

Then, I do pickup at Sam's on the things I find are cheaper in bulk (I enjoy Member's Mark formula, and their breakfast items are much cheaper) to name a few. Finally, I make a list of what's on sale at the local grocer and the few Costco only items I purchase and make plans to go to those stores.

I spent about $150 a week on weekly items from the grocery store and Walmart and $100 every two weeks from Sam's and Costco (that includes formula, toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies...). I'm not the most frugal, but for me it's quite a narrowed down budget.

Do you meal plan? What's on this week's menu? Please let me know in the comments!

Momversation of the Day-"Hi, I'll never remember your name."

I'm new here.

I'm your typical late 20's suburban stay at home mom-I spend my mornings guzzling sugar filled caffeine loaded beverages while pondering at how my children were up every freaking hour the night before and are STILL tearing up the house with energy unfounded; my evenings marveling over the fact that my fancy wine glasses can hold a half a bottle at once. The middle parts are filled with a mixture of screaming profanity at the horrid drivers from my gigantic soccer mom SUV not much smaller than your average yellow learning vehicle, while hauling my herd of children to terrorize grocery stores, ignore the story hour at the library, and to learn to cheer, do gymnastics, and ballet so ONE of those precious little angels can be the next Beyonce or Tom Brady (or not, but 1 out of 3 isn't bad odds, is it? Mama needs a GOOD retirement home).


I'm fairly sure my neighbors are confused as to whether I'm mothering or herding a pack of deaf cats with balance issues. The latter sounds much more reasonable, and like I might get some sleep because I believe cats enjoy slumber. Children, especially my three, do not. They also particularly don't enjoy a rested mother, because what fun is life if you're not teetering on her very. last. nerve.?


I'm happily married for over half a decade to a wonderful man who suffers from not color blindness, but hamper/dishwasher/overflowing trash can blindness. It's a thing. Bless his heart, he can direct entire crews of grown men on a construction sight, but hitting the hamper with his dirty socks? Damn near impossible.

So I guess this is a hi, how are you, how's the family, and a fair warning that even if you write it on your forehead in big bold letters, I'll never remember your name.

( Ask my kids. I go down the list, "Ennie! Minnie! No, you're Moe!" before I get to the correct one. Sometimes I even give the dog's name a holler, just to spice things up.)


Til next time...