Tiny Changes (Week 8)

Another week of my Tiny Changes Challenge, done! The challenge last week? A second attempt at following a cleaning schedule. It kindof happened. I mean, I can say the bed was made every day. The laundry was done every day. The dishes were done every day. The counter tops were wiped down every day. As far as the whole vacuum on this day and clean the toilet on this day: it just ain't happenin'. I will save all of that rat-a-tat-crap for a Spring cleaning overhaul day when we have guests coming over. And yes, I just said "rat-a-tat-crap" because I'm apparently a 67 year old Jewish man making up nonsense terms to convey my outrage.

So, let's move on.

My tiny change challenge for this week: To drink water.

I have been avoiding this, friends. Water bores my face off. Back when I was a youthful, agile 21 year old living on the mountaintops of Colorado, I biked and ran daily with a Camelback back pack perpetually strapped to my shoulders like some weirdo lifelong H20 IV. Constantly sucking that (flavorless) stuff down like it was some super-power-fueling Kool-Aid. And now, I am at a cynical 27 and I want my coffee and my Diet Coke and my OJ (I live in Florida... you can't even enter the state without them forcing this stuff down your throat) and I want it right now, dagnabbit! #selfcensoring

But, I figure I need to toss in the towel and just drink that recommended amount (what is it again? Googling it...) so I can feel healthier and lose weight and maybe add a few years to my life. :)

So, there it is. I resolve to drink my recommended daily amount of water. Boom.

Ps- Look at this woman totally faking that she likes water...

As always, here's the meal plan for the week! :)

Recipes To Try This Week:

SUNDAY: VMA Party with friends. Sausage balls and guacamole. Healthy! ;)
MONDAY: It's the hubs day off. He cooks and he's always got a surprise up his sleeve.
TUESDAY: Cheesy Stuffed Meatball Sliders
WEDNESDAY: Bistro Europa 
THURSDAY: Black And White Chicken Chili 
FRIDAY: Crock Pot Split Pea Soup
SATURDAY: Roasted Corn Caesar Salad
I use Ziplist to keep my recipes and shopping list in order and so should you! :)

Tiny Changes Made So Far
• Flossing (totally sucking at upholding this one...)
• Food Prep And Leftover Consumption
• Keeping The Car Clean
• Using Reusable Bags
• Meal Planning
• Abiding By A Cleaning Schedule (psh!)

Linking up with:

Menu Plan Monday

Tiny Changes (Week 7)

I survived another week of my Tiny Changes Challenge! The challenge last week? To start following a cleaning schedule so our busy lives don't turn our apartment into a hot mess. Y'all. I did not even come close to making this happen.

Not even going to lie.

And I could.

Because this is my blog.

But, I did take responsibility all day on Saturday in a litter box emptying/ sweeping/ mopping/ vaccuming/ counter-wiping whirlwind of a frenzy. So, before I move forth in tackling another tiny change, let's try this again shall we?

MEAL PLAN FOR THIS WEEK 
My husband can pull meals out of his culinarily gifted arse. I, the sad pathetic wannabe cook, have to use recipes. Here are some that I'd like to give a go this week based on what's on sale.

Recipes To Try This Week:

SUNDAY: Crockpot Sesame Chicken With Ginger Dressing Salad
MONDAY: Working all day. The hubs cooks and he's always got a surprise up his sleeve. :)
TUESDAY: Barbecue with friends.
WEDNESDAY: Chicken And White Bean Stuffed Peppers
THURSDAY: Crock Pot Split Pea Soup
FRIDAY: Clean Eating Jamaican Jerk Turkey Burgers
SATURDAY: Chicken Quinoa Parmesan Bake
As always, I use Ziplist to keep my recipes and shopping list in order and so should you! :)

Tiny Changes Made So Far
• Flossing (totally sucking at upholding this one...)
• Food Prep And Leftover Consumption
• Keeping The Car Clean
• Using Reusable Bags
• Meal Planning
• Abiding By A Cleaning Schedule

Linking up with:

Menu Plan Monday

Tiny Changes (Week 6) Cleaning Schedule

I survived another week of my Tiny Changes Challenge! The challenge last week? To set up a meal plan based on grocery store sales and follow it. I didn't try every recipe on the docket but I did do three of them! Favorite recipes will be shared later this week. It was so nice to know what we were going to eat, but not be such a stickler that the spontaneity was gone (definitely ordered local pizza on Monday night).

This Week's Challenge:
To start following a cleaning schedule so our busy lives don't turn our apartment into a hot mess. Using this for inspiration!

MEAL PLAN FOR THIS WEEK 
My husband can pull meals out of his culinarily gifted arse. I, the sad pathetic wannabe cook, have to use recipes. Here are some that I'd like to give a go this week based on what's on sale.

Winn Dixie:
- Beef ($3.99)
- Bagged Salad (BOGO)
- Bird's Eye Veggies (BOGO)
- Spices (BOGO)
- Fresh Tomatoes (BOGO)
- Broccoli ($1.99 Each)
- Bagged Onions (BOGO)

Publix:
- Ragu Pasta Sauce (BOGO)
- Barilla Pasta (BOGO)
- Sargento Cheese (2 for $5)
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Chicken Breast ($2.99/ lb)
- Green Bell Peppers ($1.69/ lb)

Recipes To Try This Week:
- Chicken Quinoa Parmesan Bake
- Velvety Broccoli And Feta Pasta
- Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers
- Savory Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
- Crockpot Sesame Chicken With Ginger Dressing Salad

Tiny Changes Made So Far
• Flossing (totally sucking at upholding this one...)
• Food Prep And Leftover Consumption
• Keeping The Car Clean
• Using Reusable Bags
• Meal Planning

Linking up with:

Menu Plan Monday

Tiny Changes (Week 5): Meal Planning

I survived another week of my Tiny Changes Challenge! The challenge last week? To actually use our reusable bags. We were about 70% successful. I completely rocked it out when it came to remembering to keep them in the car (after every shopping trip, I hung them by the door so I wouldn't forget). Then, sometimes I royally sucked at remembering to actually take them into the store. We are working on it and doing MUCH better than before.

This Week's Challenge:
Now that I've begun to incorporate food prep into our weekly routine (which has been mostly great for lunches), I am now looking to actually planning our meals. We play the "what do you want for dinner?" game most nights of the week. I thought it would also be wise to base our meals on what's on sale. Winn-Dixie and Publix are our closest grocery stores so I went ahead and checked out what's BOGO this week that would be a staple in the kitchen:

Winn Dixie:
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (BOGO)
- Bagged Salad (BOGO)
- Curly's Smokehouse Sausage Links (BOGO)
- Bird's Eye Veggies (BOGO)
- Spices (BOGO)
- Kaiser Rolls (BOGO)

Publix:
- Ragu Pasta Sauce (BOGO)

My husband can pull meals out of his culinarily gifted arse. I, the sad pathetic wannabe cook, have to use recipes. Here are some that I'd like to give a go this week based on what's on sale.

Recipes To Try This Week:
- Clean Eating Tuna Casserole
- Baked Quinoa Chicken Parmesan
- Super Fast Kale And Sausage Soup
- Slow Cooker Stuffed Cabbage
- Slow Cooker Springtime Minestrone Soup
- Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Sandwiches

Tiny Changes Made So Far
• Flossing (totally sucking at upholding this one...)
• Food Prep And Leftover Consumption
• Keeping The Car Clean
• Using Reusable Bags

Tiny Changes: Week 4

I survived another of my Tiny Changes Challenge! The challenge last week? To keep my car clean. The result? Pretty. darn. good. It's just as simple as, "I will not leave this water bottle in here today, nor that plastic bag or lunch box." I even carpooled this week to the response of, "Your car smells like Christmas!"

This week's challenge? To actually use the 507 reusable bags we own that are piled in big wadded clumps in our kitchen cabinets. Not only does this free space, but it, of course omits waste and helps this sweet little environment we call Earth. :)

Tiny Changes Made So Far
• Flossing
• Food Prep And Leftover Consumption
• Keeping The Car Clean

Tiny Changes: Week 3 Operation Clean Car!

Last week was an arse-kickin' week that forced me to abandon my mini struggle for change. Regardless, I upheld the previous week's challenge of food prepping. Timothy and I have found an unprecedented success in our relationship: we haven't let ANY leftovers go to waste for two whole weeks!

This week is all prepped!

- Salad
- Mixed Berries (Cranberries, Strawberries, Blackberries, Blueberries)
- Roast Beef Sandwiches For Hubs
- Fold-Out Turkey and Swiss Sammiches for Me
- Steamed Shrimp For Hubs

WHAT? I know. We're kindof more amazing than Martha Stewart.

This week's tiny change is in tribute to my newly repaired car. My pride and joy, my sweet baby Honda Element suffered radiator damage from an after market fan mishap. 4,000 buckaroos later (she says while shaking her fist at the car gods), my car is all better and more like new than when I got her. So, I'm looking at this (stoopidly) expensive overhaul as a clean slate.

I'm a very clean person in all departments of life SANS the car. It's so simple to abandon that travel mug and leave this bag... and that bag... and that umbrella... and that piece of mail... and that napkin... and that pair of shoes... and before you know it, all of the objects in your house have found themselves conveniently tucked into every corner of your poor car.

So, today it stops!

And what better way to start than with a little Pinterest inspiration? The Car Emergency Kit. Most pinners suggest using an old baby wipe container. I ain't got no babies so I ain't got no wipe container. I grabbed a plastic tote from the Dollar Tree and kablam!

Because I have a plethora of free samples (it's an addiction, kids), I used what I already had on hand. I also scored 25 cent (for a THREE-PACK) air fresheners at Walgreens. I bought every single one they had left. My car will smell delightful for all of eternity now.

In My Car Kit

- Lint Rollers

- Facial Moisturizer

- Shampoo/ Conditioner

- Body Spray

- Razor

- Mouth Wash

- Instant Coffee

- Granola Bars (If you live somewhere warm, don't use CHOCOLATE bars like I did)

- Hand Lotion

- Chapstick

- Lady Products

- Flashlight

- Ink Pens

What I intend to add: 

- Q-Tips

- Mini Scissors

- Band-Aids

- Tweezers

- Deodorant

- Hair Brush

- Eye Drops

- Pain Killers

What's in your kit? Check out my inspiration right here! 

The No Drama Mama & The Good Life Blog

Tiny Changes: Week 2

I survived Week 1 of my Tiny Changes Challenge! It's a miracle! The challenge? To floss every day. The result? I did it! I did it! Will I keep doing it? HA! We'll see!

Confession: I was a blog omitter-of-truth yesterday. I made the fridge clean-out sound like it was based only on my view of a messy fridge as a nuisance. But, there was a little more to it than that.

Everyone is falling head over heels for this meal planning/ Sunday food prep bidness. Having just dropped $4,000 on car repairs last week, I'd be lying if I said we were anywhere close to rich. We've never been careless with our grocery/ meal spending. Nonetheless, we could do better.

I got a little heads up on this week's tiny change yesterday by starting some mini-food prep for the week. I bagged lots of fresh fruit and veggies, I "hard-boiled" eggs (I actually do mine in our totally awesome Chinese steamer basket- SO much easier), and I even made Crockpot Salsa Chicken (recipe to be shared and reviewed later this week) to use for lunches and dinner.

I will keep you posted on how my little food budget mission is going. :)

Tiny Changes Monday: Week 1!

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF JULY!

... oh God, my birthday is in five days. Say it ain't so.

It has become increasingly apparent to me that the woman I mean to be is more of a Stepford-y, beast of beauty and talent and success and perfection than an actual person. I want to be better than I am but I know the impracticality of it happening over night and I know that I'll never be perfect. So, as I enter this 27th year of Candacehood, I'm taking action my way. I am going to take the advice of my dear friends in 1978's The Wiz and "ease on down the road." Keyword: ease.

How do I intend to ease?

One goal a week. Just one.

It might be as simple as saying a prayer every morning or as gruesome as adding a horrific ab workout to my daily cardio. I'll keep you abreast of my little successes and little failures along the way. And feel free to join me on my mission and tell me about it!

This Week's Goal: Floss Every Day
Thoughts: Yeah, this is going to suck. I never remember to floss. Here's to clean teeth!