Failure

I realized I was a failure (not really) yesterday around 2:00 pm. Why, you ask? Well in my menu planning, I had planned on cooking a crockpot meal for that night. Only someone (me) forgot to get out the crockpot and turn it on and get everything in it before work. So I had to go with a plan b. What would have been smart would have been to just swap with tomorrows meal, but that's BBQ, and I like Friday BBQs, makes it seem like the weekend. So I decided to find some casserole recipes and try out one of those. Well, i didn't do a casserole, but I did make enchiladas (which can be prepared in a casserole dish, and then can be frozen, so really, it's like the same thing). And they came out quite tasty. I only had to buy tortillas, I had everything else already! So I have a new tasty recipe (Rachel Ray added cinnamon and chili powder, as well as cumin to the mix, made it have a zing!) that we love.

Recent Pictures:

Matt made us a lovely dinner of chicken, rice, and veggies (sometime last week)

All dressed up for the Seymour Vow Renewal, fun night!

The ants in the corner of our bedroom. It's horrid. We took pictures for proof to show the complex. We also have pictures of the roof leaking into our kitchen.

One last shot of the ants, on the bathroom side of the door. The trap that we have there is now FILLED with ants (it's disgusting) and there are still some alive. It's time to get a new trap. Or tent the building...

Menu Meal #1

Last night went well. Planned menu: Spaghetti, green beans, toasted bread. What really happened: Spaghetti with meat sauce (matt requested that), mixed veggies from a few nights ago, sourdough loaf. Matt and I decided regular bread would be better with the crockpot meal and that sourdough slices would be good with spaghetti. It was very tasty, and the browned ground beef (just a half pound) with spices made it a great meal.

Tonight's surprise: going to a party with a light dinner. I'm just going to do snacks of carrots and ranch before we leave. Pre-cutting and prepping the carrots was a great idea. Matt loves it!

Also

Big Step #3: I made our very own Chex mix. I realized I could save money by making my own snack mix. And we are munchers, so we need snacky food. I can also control how much salt goes in and stuff, so it can be a bit (maybe ) healthier! Yesterday I tried Barbecue Chex Mix (go to www.chex.com for tons of mix recipes). I put a little too much BBQ sauce in it, so it was a little mushy, but hubby still loved it and gave me a big hug. Next week (or the week after, depending on how quickly we got through it), I'm going to try Italian Chex mix! The only bummer is that the directions are for the microwave, and I would much rather do it in the oven, but I could not really figure out how to make it different. Anyways, that's the last little "step" for today!

Groceries

I went shopping yesterday and realized that my goal of only buying things on sale or with a coupon from now on was a little over-zealous. However, I was still very satisfied with our shopping trip.

Big step #1: We walked to Stater Bros. It's not very far, about a block. But it was good to be out and active, and not take the truck, because it's "easier to carry the groceries." I had a backpack and one cloth Trader Joes bag, while Matthew carried the big freezer pack Trader Joes bag and another heavy bag. We arrived home with lots of healthy groceries and feeling healthier about our little walk (Matt wants us to walk more regularly).

Big Step #2: Buying produce. I do not often buy produce, outside of Trader Joes. And everything at TJs is already pre-packaged. So there I was in Staters, weighing out our veggies to figure out the cost and if it was worth it. I also got regular sized carrots and celery (not the bite sized pre-cut stuff) and decided to prepare it at home. Once I got home, I washed all of the produce, and cut the carrots and celery into snack sized pieces, ready for dipping. It's much cheaper this way. I also used some little tiny tupperwares that I bought (last week) to bring ranch and peanut butter to the office. Lunches just got a whole lot healthier!

This week is our first week on a menu. We will see how it all goes. In 2 weeks we will be housesitting for 10 days. That also concides with my 2nd week of school, so it will be a bit of a challenge. I also don't like to cook when I'm at other houses, so my goal is to make some cassaroles in advance and freeze them. Then we won't make much of a mess and we will be able to reheat food quickly. The other challenge will be if I have class at 4, twice a week (I finally get to register tomorrow). When do I find time to eat? Since I will be going straight to school from the office. Any advice? I want to save money by not eating out on those days, that would get pricey.

And I realized I have not put up any pictures from Mike and Sarah's wedding... here are a few:







PS. For those who say we go to lots of weddings. We will be going to a wedding three weeks in a row (Sept 27, Oct 3, Oct 11). Now that's crazy!

I've decided to become frugal

The title of this post says it all! I am determined to save the Nadalet family some money. I think the best way to jump start that is to save money in grocery shopping. For the past few weeks, I have been reading www.moneysavingmom.com for ideas on saving money and eating cheaply. Today I have planned out our menu for next week, and I am planning to go shopping for the items tonight.

But first, I want to share our number 1 rule in finances. God gave us this money and it's really his. So we need to honor that and give him what is His. Right now that is a little over 10% of our income, and we hope to increase it in coming years. That's what my grandpa did, and he left behind a legacy of caring and giving. He was seen as generous, we would both love to be seen in that way. So, as we begin our journey into living cheaply, we want to honor God first, with the money that he gave us. I have no doubt that he will provide for whatever comes our way. Hopefully you can be encouraged by this, and hey, maybe you will encourage me!

Megan

Congo

While researchers have just found a large population of rare Gorillas in Congo, thus raising the known number of this endangered species. The people in Congo still need Bibles. Let me know if you want to buy a onesie. Or if you just want to donate. Either way is good! As Brian Regan says, both good.

Mr. Rogers

I grew up loving Mister Rogers. And I loved when he showed you how things were made (I will always remember how crayons are made, because of him). And this article just goes to show why he was so awesome. Check it out if you have a minute!

Bibles for Congo, Part 2

Here are the rest of the onesies, that I have left. A few have already sold. Anyways, let me know which one you want, and I will take it off the market! And some of them have not been stitched on yet (I use a fabric glue first and then stitch the Africa), so don't be confused if it looks incomplete. It is just so you can see the colors and fabric. They will be stitched before you receive them! And like I said before, let me know if you need a different size or gender option. I can get new ones!

Pink and Teal (sorry it's flipped weird, I don't know why blogger does that!) 12-18 mos
SOLD!

Green and Gold, 9-12 months: SOLD! Yay!

Pink and Green, 9-12 months
SOLD!

Purple and green, 18-24 months
SOLD! Yay!

Blue and Blue, 12-18 months

Green and Blue, 18-24 months

Bibles for Congo

Matthew is back on staff at Trinity, again as the Praxis (college) intern. That means that we are involved in the college group activities again. This summer we are helping raise money to send Bibles to Congo. It costs $6 to send a Bible to Congo, in their native Lingala. Which is pretty sweet, seeing as some of the pastors (like 2/3's of the pastors) do not have Bibles. This is a national project of the Evangelical Free Church (union or however churches are joined by denomination) that we are jumping on. Last week, we met a pastor from San Jose who is either coordinating this whole thing, or very high up in it. He gets emails from the newly elected president of Congo, how cool is that? And sending bibles is just a small part of what the Evangelical Free Church is doing over there. There are also orphanages being built, food being distributed, textbooks being sent over, etc.

Anyways, Mark (the pastor) encouraged each of us to come up with our own, unique way to raise money. One girl designed a shirt with a sweet logo, that has become a trademark for the whole campaign that Praxis is doing. Matt made stickers, using that logo (those are $2 (or $1, I'm not sure), so they buy part of a Bible, but more importantly, they get the word out. Someone bought water bottles at Vons and then re-sold them at Huntington Beach for a donation. Another guy bought a bible for each birdie that he shot in a tournament, and his mom matched him with 4 bibles per birdie. That's 50 bibles right there! We are also collecting change, some people are turning in recycling and using that money for Bibles for Congo. I tried to think of what I could do (bake sale, make hats (which would TOTALLY copy what we did for Invisible Children), etc) and came up with an idea to reach moms, and people with friends or relatives who had babies.

Onesies! So I have sewed on a little Africa and painted on, Bibles for Congo. I will post the pictures here, let me know if you want to buy a specific one. And a little note about the sizes, they run WAY smaller than what they are. So a 6-9 would fit a newborn to like 3 or 4 months. A 10-12 fits a 6-9. etc. I have a few completely finished right now, which I will post, and then I have more (in larger sizes) which are almost done! Let me know if you need a different size and if it is for a boy or girl or one that could go either way (like the orange one). You can either leave a comment or facebook me or email me, if you know that info! Sorry the pictures are sideways, I can't figure out how to change that!

This is basically what the onesie looks like:

6-9 months (I don't know why it's not rotated): SOLD! Yay!

6-9 months: SOLD! Another Bible to Congo!

6-9 months: SOLD!!!! Woohoo

6-9 months

10-12 months

Emily is Married!

So exciting! Their wedding was so beautiful and wonderful and I was so lucky to be a part of it. Joel took some amazing pictures, check out clients.joelflory.com/emilyandmatt to see a slideshow! But being in their wedding made me think about weddings. And how many I have been to or in. Here's what I can think of so far, in dated order (somewhat)

Dan & Maribelle McNely (I was a flower girl)
Bryan & Kelly DeGhetto
Eric & Jennifer (aka Pinky) Grbich
Alan & Jay Yu
Brian & Cassi Nesmith
Aaron & Lauren Grbich
Cody & Amy Moxley
John & Melody Townsend
Dirk & Alicia Dallas
Matt & Megan Nadalet (that's our wedding!!)
Matt & Emily West (Matron of Honor)

And those to come later this year/next year:
Mike & Sarah Atwood (less than 3 weeks)
Bill & Jenna Clayton (September)
Adam & Sarah Belknap (September or October, not sure)
Eric & Shayna Bennett (October)
Corwin & Mandy Wong (May 09)

So 11 so far and 5 more to come! Crazy! Did I forget anyone else?


Oh, and here are a few pics that I stole from Christine of Em's wedding. I will have mine up in a bit.

Getting Ready with some Go-Girls...

Being Sassy... just like Em!

Isn't that bridal party stunning?

Here's Mr. & Mrs. Matt West! Woo!