The Year of the Elephant!
(not really…. but you’ll see what I mean… keep reading!)
How have you been?? I know I’ve been a little M.I.A. for a few weeks. I took serious advantage of the holidays to relax, reset, and make some plans for the new year! I started writing down a few of goals I’d like to see for our family this year. Well… as I started writing, my few goals became a few pages of ideas. UGH! I started feeling super overwhelmed. When I get overwhelmed I tend to just throw in the towel. It’s too hard to eat an elephant, right?
This year, instead of backing away from a challenge, I decided to put my big girl pants on and try to eat that elephant after all… one bite at a time. That plan of attack has lead me to map out a WHOLE slew of small tasks that can have lasting impacts in all areas of your household.
I don’t know what to call it yet… but I hope you are ready and willing to take on a few fun challenges this year!!
Alright… Let’s get started…
Raise your hand if your New Year’s Resolution to lose that holiday weight is starting with a good cleanse…. (Two hand WAY up over here)
Let’s give your bank account a good cleanse for the next 2 WEEKS!!
I want you to PURCHASE NOTHING. Give your bank account a break after all that holiday binge spending. You can pay bills, and set aside a few dollars for fresh fruits, veggies, and dairy. Other than that… STOP! Right now!
…CHALLENGE…(CUE THE MISSION IMPOSSIBLE THEME MUSIC)
How long has it been since you cleaned out your fridge?
Did anyone just cringe?? It had been quite a minute at our house and sadly I waited until it was highly necessary! There was something FOUL in there! It was BAD!! 🤢
So… I waged a little war. I spent about 30 minutes cleaning this bad boy top to bottom and inside out. I got a little idea as I was putting things back in order that could help save your family a nice chunk of change.
While I was putting things back IN I started taking a little inventory. I had some frozen left overs, a ham bone, tons of frozen veggies, and loads of other stuff I completely forgot was in there!
BONUS – I even found a yummy soup to warm up for dinner which means I can keep my kitchen clean today! I was really surprised at the amount of meals I could put together and then it hit me…Â I could probably go a whole two weeks without even needing to go to the store!
Try and skip the store for a WHOLE WEEK!
For my family of 7 this could get interesting! But what a great way to save a few dollars and not waste what we have. I am often asked about my biggest grocery saving trips. My most successful weeks are always the weeks I don’t have to shop :).
If you have been couponing for a little minute you probably have a decent stockpile to work with, so let’s start with what you have!
So my challenge for you this week is to clean out your fridge, your freezer, and your pantry. Jot down what you have on hand and plan out the next week’s worth of meals for your family. Can you get two weeks done??
PRO TIP: When tackling a job you really don’t want to do, set a timer! Work as hard and as fast as you can before the timer goes off! You’ll be surprised at how much you can get done under a little pressure 🙂
Need some meal ideas?? Check Pinterest, Allrecipes.com or just google some of the ingredients you found. Get creative. Try something new!
I would love to hear about the meals you were able to throw together.Remember it doesn’t have to be pretty… just edible 🙂
