2015 Goals...Are you on track?

So, it's officially one month down in 2015.
February 1st is upon us.
Super Bowl Sunday.
Shortest month of the year.

My question to you is, how are you doing on your 2015 resolutions/goals?

We are doing ok.
Our main goal is to save money to pay off the debt to save money again.

I think a lot of people are doing this goal.

We took the month of January on like bulls in a china shop.

Not going to lie tho, we did send out for pizza approximately 4 times.  One of those times was completely free except for the tip.  SCORE!

Other than that, our biggest money drainer is eating out.  So I have been meal planning and buying breakfast & lunch items for us.
Those are my two downfalls.  It is just so much easier to stop & pick up, then have to think about & make to bring.

We were able to pay off a huge chunk of our cable bill.  I let it go.

Next is our electric bill.  Eek! I don't even want to look at it.

I have applied to lower my car payment per month.  The van is just sitting out back...dead.
Waiting to get my taxes back so I can get it fixed.
Fingers crossed it isn't more than my tax refund.

Haven't done much of anything that cost money.  The weather is so awful, between snow, rain & bitter cold, we don't want to go anywhere anyway.

Hopefully February will be just as good as January was to us.
I went shopping today.  Even with great deals and coupons, I still spent $170.
Boys, they eat you out of house and home.

Well, tell me, how are you doing with your goals & resolutions?

An Amish Second Christmas by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, Ruth Reid, & Tricia Goyer

An Amish Second Christmas is a book of novellas by four different authors.

Let me start out by saying what a refreshing change this book was from most of the books I have read lately.

Not that the other books were trashy, by no means! These stories are just as sweet, wholesome and tasteful as can be.

I was fortunate enough to win this book in a contest held on a blog.

Don't ask me which one, I have forgotten.  Side effects from being mid-forties.

At first I didn't think I would enjoy the four short stories but I quickly learned I was wrong.

All about the Amish's celebration of the day after Christmas, Second Christmas.  Such sweet stories of tradition with a whole love story told.  I was surprised to see all authors make reference to the young couples spending time alone and sharing a kiss.  It made me think of the Duggars.  Their daughters have to side hug and save kisses til the wedding day.  I tthought, there is wholesome and there is WHOLESOME!  I like the Duggars, so no flaming please.

While all the stories are predictable, they are full of the scenery that you imagine (and if you have ever been to an Amish country, it is even more vivid), family and God.  None of which is thrown down your throat.

Each story in unique and makes you want more.  Makes you want to know how they go one and live their lives.

Definitely a good snuggle under the blanket with a cup of cocoa in one hand & this book in another.

It's a must read.

Tell me, what are you reading currently?

January #EatInChallenge Win Some Lose Some

Hey, before I forgot, don't forget about the giveaway going on.

Check it out here: Eat In Challenge Giveaway

So let's get down to business.
We have been doing really great eating at home for our Buchman Back on Track Financially philosophy.  We eat out way to much and I have already seen the kind of money we are saving.

Last night I made a kick ass meatloaf.  Both Bob & I thought it was wonderful.  We had two plates full & I took leftovers with me for lunch.

Today, dinner was a use what is in the freezer/fridge/pantry night.

So decided on Crockpot Italian Chicken.
The original recipe is from Six Sisters.  If you haven't visited the website, run.  They have fab recipes plus great ideas.

My version may vary slightly from theirs.

Ingredients:
Chicken Breasts (roughly 2lbs)
Packet of Italian Dressing
Block of Cream Cheese (I did low fat)
2 10.5oz Cans of Cream of Chicken Soup. (Also low fat)

You put the chicken in the crockpot, sprinkle the dressing over.

Then heat up the cream cheese & soup til blended.

Pour over chicken, cook 8hrs.

You then leave whole or shred.  I chose leave whole.
You can serve over noodles or rice.  Noodles was a winner.

See:

It's sort of all one color.

I won't tell you what I think the sauce looks like, actually what the whole meal looks like.

I was super excited to make this.

Matter of fact I think I made it before but I can't remember.

Anyway I took a fork, put that meal bite into my mouth and thought:

"OMG! What have I done!"

While not horrendously horrible, it ranked up there as an Epic Fail meal.

It was a bit on the bland side.  Bobster & the kids added hot sauce and said it made it edible.

So, you may give it a try, perhaps you will like it but in our home...never again!

Tell me do you have any meals you were excited about & then whomp! whomp! Let down!

Let me know.

January #EatInChallenge & Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card

As I said in my first post for this #Eat In Challenge, it came at a perfect time because my family is on a strict no eating out/taking out/picking up budget.  If it's no already in the kitchen, you aren't eating or drinking it!
Finances are rough but we will do it.
My husband is totally on board & I was surprised by that, but he likes to keep me guessing.

Anyway the other night, I made a smaller version of our family fav...baked ziti.
Everyone has their own recipe.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Ingredients:
Sauce (I used jarred much to the Nana's chagrin but hey, it works!)
Shredded mozzarella cheese 8oz bag
Ricotta Cheese (Part skim) 8oz
Egg - 1
Parmesan Cheese
S&P
Of course, pasta.  I tend to use Ziti or Penne but once I used elbow mac's & Bobster took a shine to it.

Boil the pasta for just a minute or two under the suggested time.
It will cook more when you bake it.

While the pasta is boiling away, mix the ricotta cheese, egg & S&P, in a bowl til fluffy.

Once the pasta is done, drain & throw back in the pot.  (Less dishes to do).
Toss in the ricotta cheese & however much sauce you like.  We only like a smidge or a tinge.  Just enough to make it lightly pink.

Stir it up.  Add more s&p if you deem necessary.
Then add most of the mozzarella (leave a little for the topping).

Once all mixed up, pour into a greased 8x8 dish.
Pour some mozzarella cheese on top, shake some parm on top as well.  Adds a great flavor mix.

It will look like this:

Place in the oven & bake for 30-35 mins.  Depending on how brown you like your cheese.

It will come out looking like this:

Easy Peasy, Mozzarella Cheesy!
45 mins start to finish.

Delish.

This fed Bob & I that night (Cheeks ate plain noodles & Chris was at his mom's house).  I even had leftovers for my lunch the next day.

This can be made super cheap as well.  Just watch the sales.

Now onto the good stuff.

The GIVEAWAY.
Oh yea.

I am participating in & you get the chance to win.

Check it out.


Networking Perks is challenging more families to eat at home with the Eat At Home Challenge. Sitting down and eating together as a family is important; we take this time to disconnect from all the daily noise, technology, and social media, while reconnecting as a family. Meal time is also important that we provide delicious and nutritious meals to eat. Finding the balance between work, day-to-day activities, and meal planning isn’t easy, which is why we at Networking Perks want to start 2015 with the Eat At Home Challenge. Enter to WIN a $25 Amazon Gift Card while at the same time building your recipe archive with delicious meals. Make 2015 the year of the family. a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclaimer: Participating Blogs were not compensated for this post. No purchase is necessary to enter. One entrant per household, per address. Void where prohibited by law. Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Networking Perks will be responsible for product shipment to winner of this sweepstakes. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. Contact Karie@NetworkingPerks.com if you have any additional questions or comments.

January #EatInChallenge 2015

I don't know about all of you BUT we have made 2015 to be the year of the Buchmans Back on Track (financially).
One of the easiest ways for us to get back, is to cut out eating out & take out & drive through.  We love it, I hate to admit & at the end of a long work day, it's easier than cooking.

Anywho I am participating in the Eat In Challenge with Networking Witches. Who, by the way, are giving away a $25 Amazon gift card.

So today we did roast beef...in the slow cooker.

 (not my photo...from foodpeoplewant.com)

Here is what I did.

Ingredients:

Roast Beef...mine was probably about 5lbs. (we feed 6 with it...it stretched, I have no idea how! LOL)

S&P

Minced Garlic

I do not, I repeat, I do not brown my roast before putting it in the slow cooker.

I am lazy.

Yes, it's true.

So I place the roast in the slow cooker (which is lined with those Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners...best invention EVER!), then I fork stabbed it to death.  I then season with S&P and about 1TBS of minced garlic.

I added a bit of water, probably about 1/2 inch in depth.  It's always good to have a lil liquid in with what you are cooking.  Plus it helps make an awesome aujous!

When I get home from work it was done.  It takes about 6-8 hours in the slow cooker.  My husband added some cut up potatoes when he turned it on.

We served the roast beef, potatoes, mac & cheese & mixed veggies.

It was a hit...sans the lima beans in the mix veggies...no one likes them.

Tell me what did you make for dinner tonight?

Are you participating in any sort of challenge?

Let me know.

Saving Grace by Jane Green

So I tried to post all the books I read last year.

I did well, then fell off the turnip truck.

BUT
I am back this year.

I just finished this one yesterday:

Fortunately, I won a copy and I am so glad I did.

This book will keep you up at night. Not because it's scary but because you can't wait to see what happens next.

The story centers on Grace, one half of a literary power couple.  Has the life of Riley until Beth, a new assistant, comes into her life.  Things start to go haywire and crumble for Grace, causing her world to spiral out of control.  

I feel the story has overtones of The Hand hat Rocks the Cradle.  The antagonist is definitely a character defined by her swarmy ways while the protagonist manages to make you feel as if you are in her shoes every step of the way.

I would recommend as a good read for those winter nights ahead, I also urge you to never hire an assistant.  Just saying.

Tell me, what are reading right now?

Taking out 2014...

Last day of the year.
Last day for me to use my personal time at work so I was off.
Muhahahaha.

A few months back I was fortunate enough to win a contest from Girl Gone Mom.  She was giving away a family four pack of passes to the Adventure Aquarium here in South Jersey.  

Today we decided to use those passes and headed to Camden NJ where the aquarium is located.  It's on the Delaware River, that separates New Jersey from Pennsylvania.  Camden is right across the river from Philadelphia.  Here is the skyline...plus some two awesomely good looking kids!

Do not let the hoodies fool you.
It was freakin cold out.
If you look closely at the 8yo you can clearly see he is freezing.  Don't listen to your mother when she tells you to put your coat on.  Listen to your 16yo brother who thinks a Nike hoodie will keep him warm.  Sigh.
Being that close to the water dropped the temp by about 15 degrees.  The wind was so bad my eyes were watering.

So like any good parent, I told them I would feed them to the sharks if they didn't listen!
Proof is in the pudding, people!

I mean business.
Look at those faces, scared of me now aren't they.

Yes! I know!

Next up we let the younger one touch some sharks.  Figured if I couldn't feed him to the sharks, I would let him play with them.

We were also lucky to catch the tail end of the aquariums diving show for the holidays.
I do believe that is Santa & an Elf.  Guess this is what he does to relax after Christmas Eve!

We even saw a small aligator try to take out a turtle but he lost sight of him, so he popped up out of the water & gave us the evil eye!

Of course, you can experience being in the sea if you wish.
Our fish decided to give it a go:

All in all it was a great family day & I am glad that is how we took 2014 out...as a family.

How was your NYE?

Christmas Recap 2014

First I would like to start with a small disclosure...or confession, which ever you prefer.
Whatever photos you see here were taken with my somewhat older smartphone.  They are not good quality what so ever.  I have great photos on my digital camera.  Love this camera.  The problem? I have a card reader but lost the cable to it and still have not gotten around to getting another cable.  It is not your typical USB cable either or I'd be set with the gazillion ones we have around Casa de Buchman.

The morning started quiet enough.
All of us asleep except the 16yo, who woke up at 7am, crept into the kitchen & started to open and shut the cabinets.  Open and shut, open and slam, same thing.  Bobster told him, go wake up your brother.

That's when the party got started.
We all came downstairs & started to open the gifts from youngest to oldest.
Cheeks was surprised with his "haul", he said he hadn't been the best behaved so he didn't think he would get anything.  When he saw his stuff he was like "I was wrong!".  He got all the minecraft toys he could handle, legos and of course, snow boots.

  Last year in Jersey it snowed if you looked out the window.  He really needed new boots so I got them.  This year we will have nothing.  Murphy's Law.

Christafus when next.  He got some small things then then big surprise.  Bobster and I got a terrific deal on a PS4 from Target.  Thanks to the cartwheel apps, some earned gift cards, an old credit and my red card we saved more than we ever imagined.  Hence the only reason he got.  He set up the system and was good to go.

He had to go to his mom's for a bit but not before we headed over to my in-laws for breakfast.  My brother in law ended up making breakfast, don't tell him but he can really cook.

We did gift exchanged and watched the youngest nephew ride his first fourwheeler at 17 months old.

Back to our house where my family came over for gifts and dinner.

I managed to get a picture of Cheeks with his cousin, B.  Two cutie patooties if I ever saw a pair.

B turned 9 yesterday.  I can not believe how big they both are.

I made dinner for my family.  It was really good.  The Nana brought the pasta salad.  She said it was for Bobster, her son in law, but I managed to sneak some before he ate it all.  All people.  You should have seen the size bowl it was served in.  Good Lawd!

I had to work the day after so Bobster was home with the boys.
He let Cheeks just play Legos all day.
I saw this when I arrived home.

I'm not going to sugar coat...the table still looks like that.
I seem to like my house best at night.  When it's dark & you can't see the mess.

All in all I think this year Christmas was the best.
I got to have dinner with my family, breakfast with the in-laws, all my kids in the morning & at night (minus a certain oldest child who lives in Fl...bummer).  It was a great day spent with both sides of our family and together.
That's what counts.

How was your holiday?

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Bobster, Meghan, Chris & Cheeks

Gin, Gin, Gingerbread House!

Trying to keep the blog going...another entry...can. you. stand. it!

Monday night, as is our tradition, we did our family Gingerbread house.
It was just Cheeks and myself.  The other members are just party poopers.

As you can see Cheeks jumped right in.

I will let you know, I buy a pre-assembled house.
Why?
Trying to get the roof & sides to stay upright & together is a b*tch.  Yes, I said it.

The kit I bought provides the white icing, which I get the pleasure of putting on the house, making windows, doors.  Since I am so handy, the icing shot out of the open end of the bag and ended up on my table.

We finally got down to business & started decorating away.  That's Cheeks fav part...decorate, eat a few pieces of candy, decorate, break a tooth...you know how it goes. He didn't really break a tooth but the candy that comes with kit is really hard.

Here is the end result:

How cute is this!

I also broke out Amy's Chocolate Bunny Graham crackers to add a little whimsy to the house.

I really like the way turned out.
Most of all, I loved creating it with my Cheekers.  This is our own tradition that we started and I hope it lasts forever.  I fully intend to keep doing it with my grandchildren one day.

Tell me, what do you do with your family or friends this time of year.

Update, update, update

Hola my peeps.
As you can see I have not been that great at keeping up with the bloggeroo.  I was doing well with my Sunday Confessions but I didn't really see any feedback so I figured not really anyone was into it.
Then again, they are not overly juicy.

Cheeks has been taking karate since last March.  He has missed a few belt tests due to not enough classes, being on vaca etc.
Well this past Saturday he got to take his test.

He was so focused and determined.

Even Mr. Tony singled him out in the start of the class to have him show the other kids how to do some kick.

Proud mommy moment!!!

He passed his test.

Woo!

Here he is with all the kids and instructors.

Karate is great for him.
He even takes leadership, which they get to use weapons in.  Of course, those are his favorite classes.

Taking karate is really helping him focus in all aspects of his life.  He is doing much better this year in third grade.  He has an aide but she steps back..a lot.  He doesn't like it but he needs that little bit of guidance.  The ADHD is getting better.  Some children will out grow it.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Tell me, what activities do your kids do?

Sunday Confession

I know that's it's Thanksgiving week, for us in the US.  
I love Thanksgiving.  It's my favorite holiday.

I have a confession tho.

I am excited for Christmas this year!!!

Can not wait to put up the tree.
Decorate.
Bake.
Shop.
I love shopping.  Black Friday...my favorite!

Tell me, are you excited for the holidays?

Sunday Confession

Not sure who reads my blog, but for those that do, there were no Sunday Confessions last week.

This week is not so much a confession as much as an explanation.

Last Sunday, my friend/coworker called me to tell me that our beloved boss and good friend, had passed.

This was sudden and unexpected.

She was out walking her dog, when she collapsed from an aneurysm.  Sadly, she was gone.

No amount of resuscitation worked.

At the young age of 48, taken from all those who loved her.

It has been a rough work.

In my heart I know she is experiencing happiness.  She is with her dad and her dog, Chloe.  

She is not suffering from the illnesses she had.

Her passing leaves a hole in all of our hearts.  I have worked with my boss since 1998. We were both bridesmaids in another coworker/friends wedding.  We had fun on a daily basis and she was a very dear friend.

This is why there was no entry.

This is why it's been a rough week.

Things will get better, as they say, time makes it easier.

A little bit of my heart will always have sorrow but most of it will be joy because I knew her and loved her to pieces.

Miss you!

Sunday Confession

Welcome to another addition of Sunday Confession...where I tell you something earth shattering.
Wait?
What?
It's not earth shattering?
Hmm, I thought I was more interesting.

I digress.

Today I am going to tell you something that will amaze you, stun you, make you reconsider life in general.

I am tall.
Like 6ft tall.

Guess what? I like it.

Growing up I was not a fan of being taller than everyone else.  Not even in high school.  Then in my early twenties I started working at a supermarket, where there was not one, not two, but five women all my same height and around the same age.  I started to feel like one of the group.

Then I realized, I could reach things and didn't have to ask for help.  I could stand in back of crowds and usually see what was going on.  I never have to have the hem on my pants taken out (although for being tall, I have short legs).

There are cons to being tall...probably too many to name but I appreciate my height.

I take my "tallness" as a blessing...so tell me how tall are you?

Halloween 2014, Unknown to Protect the Innocent

We have arrived.
Halloween 2014.
Yes.
Like the meme says "At 12 midnight, Bam! Christmas carols everywhere!"
Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

I was fortunate enough to meet up with one of my oldest & dearest, favorite friends ever...Karen.  Her son is a grade ahead of Cheeks, so we watched the parade & then TOT together.

You would think a blogger would have taken photos.
Not so much.

I got like, one.

Here is the child,  I mean the Unknown Phantom.

Lost a glove, wearing shorts, & of course, rocking his ever menacing, neon blue sneaks.

We are keeping his face protected because I have nicknamed the boy, the informer.
He likes to tell a lot of stuff.

Example:  Wednesday, Bobster & I were having a slight disagreement as all married couples do.  Cheeks decides to tell my "new" neighbor that his father said "Marriage is a mistake".  Mortified doesn't cover it.  I was like get in the car! Get! In! The! Car!

Seriously, tho.  it was a great Halloween spent with a wonderful friend and her boy.  Two years in a row we did it, let's go for three!!!

How was your Halloween?

Sunday Confession

I was beaten by an 8 yo.

Yep.

Apparently, we were having a contest but I was unaware.

Well, really, it was a challenge.  The Iron Chef Haunted House Decorating Challenge, as my son called it.

Being the good mom that I am, I picked up a decorate haunted house brownie kit.  We decided today was the day to make them.  You know, with Halloween being less than a week away.

So I baked the suckers, let them cool & we started to decorate.

Exhibit 1: He starts out innocently enough.

Exhibit 2:  He is going to town!

Exhibit 3:  Look at me, I am so cute.  I am just decorating my house, minding my business, not planning my diabolical plan at all.

Exhibit 4: Mommy's house.  I finished before Cheeks & he said "Oh I'll call you when I'm done."

Exhibit 5:  His finished house!

This is where he threw in the challenge.

Ok, I'm game.

We walked our plates into the living room and the judges were his father & older brother.  You know, the men that I painstakingly make meals for, wash clothes and run around to every activity know for man.

Judging was based on the amount of clapping one got.

Well they went crazy for Cheek's house.

Mine...crickets!

I think the child fixed the contest.

Sunday Confession

Ok, we all have that one somebody in the celebrity world that we really "don't get", like why they are a celebrity or how they even go to that status.

Here is mine:

Lena Dunham.

I just do not get it.
I do not see her appeal.

Yes, yes, she's self depreciating, but so am I.
Yes, she's chubby & not afraid to show her curves.
I get that.

I just don't get how she is revered by so many people.

Lena is probably a really nice person, sweet in fact.  It just boggles my mind that she is so popular.
Awkward is in, I know.

I have never seen "Girsl" but from what I hear, she's naked a lot.  If I want to see a naked chubby girl, I'll look in the mirror.  Ok, it might be like Orca the killer whale but either way...

Tell me do you have a celebrity that you just don't get?

Giving Back

This past Saturday I had the very fortunate opportunity to volunteer my time with the Ronald McDonald House of South Jersey.

I took my 8yo with me.  I believe it is hyde time he learns about giving back and service.

A coworker of mine made arrangements with RMH for a few of us to come in and prepare dinner for the families staying there.  Cheeks and I brought brownies.  

What is great about the RMH is that it provides a comfortable place for families with members in the hospital.  I wanted my son to see that other people need our help and kindness, that we are blessed to be in the position to help.

Cheeks got to meet a young boy from Puerto Rico who was staying there.  They played Legos and video games.  He then met a young girl who was from South Korea and they played on the computer.

He also got to see a puppet show.

Do you know what was wonderful about the Puppet show?

It was done by a religious group, who showed the puppets praying to God.

Guess what?  No one was offended in the audience.  They appreciated the time this group spent with them.

No matter what your problems are in this world, someone, somewhere always has bigger problems or issues.  Health is our number priority and so many families have loved ones that have poor, poor health. Making dinner for these families is a great way to show your support for them.  Nothing says comfort like a good warm meal and that is what we did for them.  All the members of the families said thank you and many came back for seconds.

It felt good to help out and make others happy...if only for a few hours.

I want to teach my children to always give to others.  Whether through your generosity, time or abilities, people will always appreciate what you have done for them.

Sunday Confession

What do I have to confess this week?
I know you are all waiting with bated breath.
I can tell.  I'm good like that.

This weeks confession involves my children.  Mostly the youngest, the 8yo, the one I affectionately call "Cheeks".

My confession is...I give in!
I give in to nagging.

I would say it's 80% giving in, 20% me saying No! & sticking to it.

The reason: he just doesn't give up.  It is constant, even if I punish him by sending him to his room.  All you hear is whine, cry, whine, MOM!, cry, whine, cry.  Usually what he is asking for isn't outrageous.  Extra time on video games, stay up a bit longer, burn the house down.  That kind of stuff.

Tell me moms, I can not be the only one who can not take the constant plea of a young child.

Of course, he is not the only one.  Bobster nags as well.  The only one who doesn't nag is the 15yo.  He is even trying to teach his younger brother that if you just leave Mommy alone, life will be easier.  If only my husband understood that.

Sigh.

Am I the only one peeps?

You know....

You know you have been to the WaWa one too many times when the cashier waiting on you says:

"Where's your Sizzli? You usually get a French Toast Sizzli"

You know that you pick the hairs on your chin in the mini van a little too much, when your 8yo son picks up said tweezers, flips the visor down & says "I have to pick the hair off of my beard!"

So, what do you do a little too much?