Day 4 & a lesson in being together

Sorry bout’ that…sometimes the days get away from from me.  So Days Four and Five have come and are almost gone, and the challenge is going really well so far.  No major urges to spend, no major slip-ups.  No major meltdowns while driving past Chipotle.  This in part to not having driven past any.  Ahem.

I would like to say that you might think this challenge merely prevents me from my 1st love, The Big C.  But it has actually manifested itself in many ways.  Like when we had a slight home emergency yesterday that required spending $32.  We were loathe to see that money spent, but it was a must.  And those are exactly the things I warned you about.  Stuff happens.  Life happens.  However, the look on our sons face when he saw IRON MAN/CAPTAIN AMERICA decals for his room – and Mommy and Daddy both wanted to give in and just get em’?  Yeah.  That’s not a must.  And they might be gone when we go back in October.  Yes, they might.  But as Anton likes to keep saying “it’s September…”  And for us, September = “days of nothing”.

Otherwise we’re doing really well.  Sunday we had a lovely breakfast together…wait.  Can I just stop right there for a sec?  If you have such a busy life (and many of us do) that you have not been able to get your family around the table – this challenge is the perfect solution for that.  No TV on in the background.  Just family time.  We have the sweetest conversations and moments with our kiddos during mealtime.  Not to mention the joy of seeing our kids excited over their meals – that many times Daddy lets them help prepare.  Sunday was awesome for being together – I’ll show you why…

Breakfast:  Fabulously fresh eggs, sausage, hash-browns, (and some homemade ones too) fresh ground Ethiopian coffee (to. die. for), toast with strawberry preserves.  Delicious!

Love the look of joy on Quint's face...

I LOVE the way Q’s little hand slid into this shot.  He was dying to get his mitts on that toast!

Yes, don’t mind if I do….

Lunch:  Left-overs.  Sort of.  AB and I didn’t eat.  But the kids were hungry – so they had a fruit/meat/cheese/crackers combo.  We were saving all our room for…

Dinner:  We invited some friends over for a good old-fashioned Texas Brisket, corn on the cob and summer yellow squash (thanks to R!), beans, sliced onions, and pickles.  Anton made homemade BBQ sauce…out of this world.  Everything was delicious, right on down to the amazing “cake” that E brought.  Ummm, something like sugar cookies on the bottom, oreos, then brownies, then vanilla ice-cream.  People.  ohmygarsh.  Needless to say, I stupidly didn’t get a picture of it.  Such a great time…  And can I just add, that eating together as a family, or getting together with friends make the no spending bit seem very insignificant.  You’re having so much fun, you really don’t think about it.  And honestly, you’re a lot more comfortable in a home most times.  And then there’s seconds.  There’s that.  No judgment!

Day five to come tonight…

Day 3 - I heard the bells

The bells.  Ah, yes.  They are the tingling in your mind.  The sound of want.  The distant jingle jangle of what could be, with merely the swipe of a debit card.  

I heard Chipotle, friends. 

It called to me tonight.  Just a bit.  Jingle, jingle…right about the time I was trying to decide how to feed myself and the children.  Rather, what to feed us.  But I use the word “how” because I am so woefully inept in the kitchen. 

So yes, Day 3 and I’m already hearing the bells.  Not a great sign – but 27 days left to go and I can already guarantee you that I will be first in the lunch line at “Big C” on October 1st.  Can’t be helped.

Moving on…

Today's Menu had only one, and I mean ONE precious highlight.  That, my friends, was breakfast.  AB was back in the kitchen and I have to say, my mouth was watering just watching the prep of my favorite morning meal.  I give you, Anton's Eggs Benedict: (an AB specialty for sure)

Seriously.  No…SERIOUSLY.  Who gets up on their Saturday and takes such great joy in preparing this wonderful treat for their wife and kiddos?  And people, my kids CLEANED THEIR BOWLS.  Nothing left.  Not a drop.  This man can COOK.  And yes, the Hollandaise sauce is homemade – from scratch – totally and utterly melt in your mouth amazing.  Amen.

Lunch was a wash – we were still full from our amazing breakfast, so it consisted more or less of some casual snacking on left-overs. 

Dinner – I’m embarrassed to admit was of little substance.  We still weren’t that hungry. (Way to go AB keeping our tanks going all day!)  Since Anton had to work, we were left to our own devices and it was pared down, to say the least.  Ok, I’m beating around the bush.  It was fruit and yogurt.  Also some cheese and salami slices.  Very light.  The kids were deliriously happy not to have MEAT/RICE/VEGGIE pushed on them for a night, and I was happy to have found a way around putting a pan on the stove.  Lazy.  I know.

Which is where I come full-circle in telling you that this was about the time when I heard the bells.  Calling to me.  “Burrito Bowl”….”Chips with Lime Salt”….”guac”….oh. my. gah.  And then I remembered something:  having all of that means two things.  1) that I have eaten very well for dinner and silenced the bells, and 2) that I have failed miserably three days into a challenge that I knew full-well would be difficult for me.   Enter sad face here.  Can’t fail.  Not an option.  My debit card is quite happy to have a rest.  No guts, no Chipotle GLORY.

Also?  I’ve heard from many of you in the Challenge to say that you’re struggling as well.  Starbucks, pedicures, purses, shoes, not to mention all the Labor Day sales this weekend.  I can only say to that – BE STRONG.  You can DO THIS!  Remember; everything that you never knew you even needed will be beckoning you.  Opportunities will seem way too good to pass up. 

Pumpkin Spice Latte’s will seem completely and utterly irresistible.

You WILL hear the bells.

Keep walking, friend.  Just keep walking.

Day 2–piece of cake

No, really.  I had it easy today, with very little time to even consider how I would have spent money had I given myself the permission to plunk it down.  Which I didn’t.  Give myself permission.  I attended a lovely ladies brunch at our church, followed by an afternoon snack at home, followed by a GLORIOUSLY prepared meal at a friends home.  We were spoiled!  See for yourself…

Breakfast:  Ladies Brunch – egg casserole, muffins, fruit, juice (so yum)

Lunch:  Snacked on some cheese/crackers/salami

Dinner:  Grilled Tri-Tip (to. die. for) with an amazing red-wine reduction sauce and crumbled blue cheese (seriously, it was like eating at a fine dining joint) mushroom risotto, roasted onion and broccoli spears….and plenty of good wine and even better conversation.  We. Loved. It!   Thanks Jen and Ryan!

So you see, today was like a big freebie on the spending diet – because I had so many good dishes, I hardly had time to even consider the challenge.  Though I will say this:  after the brunch, Keira told mama she was hungry and for a split second my mind jumped right to running through a drive-through for her.  Oops.  Then I remembered we would need to trek home for her lunchtime.  You know…what with the whole CHALLENGE I’m supposed to be doing.  Couldn’t believe how easily I had already forgotten – even momentarily – and how quick the urge was to spend.  Only day 2, people.  This is what I meant about the many ways we lose sight of how our schedules/time constraints/needs interfere and often influence our spending habits.

To check in on how other bloggers are coping with their 30-Day’s Challenges – head over and give them some encouragement.  It’s harder than you might think!

Anna at My Debt Free Road
Lauren at Young Creations

Shelley at Finishing our Family from China
Kayce at Our Boy and His Cricket
Christy at Hockey and Hairbows
Jen at Seriously, When is Naptime?
Sweet Mama Luv U at Little One Full of Giggles and Wiggles
Suz at Just an Ordinary Family
Lynda at From Guang Mei to Lauren Mei

Meanwhile, I’ll leave you with this:

I simply have to share the world’s SWEETEST, CUTEST, MOST AMAZING little girl with you…I want to eat her with a spoon!

Thank you, Grandma Nina for all the dress up clothes for our little princess!

   

Day 1 and isn’t it easy?

Ahem.  Well, it’s always easy the first day, isn’t it?  And the second, and often the third.  Those are the glory days.  When the zeal is still HOT.  But admittedly by days 4, 5, and 6, you might start to hit a wall.  We’ll tackle that on day 4 - right now, let’s just stick with positive thoughts.  If you haven’t visited in a while and aren’t sure what I’m talking about - you have stumbled upon our first day of 30 Days of Nothing - a Challenge to NOT SPEND for the month of September, outside of absolute necessity.  I have written several posts detailing the rules, the concept, etc. and you can read those here:

Back to 30 Days of Nothing
It’s Official
Two Days Left
One More Day & Some Rules

Also - I think it’s really important to mention that while there are MANY people signed up for this challenge -  not all of them are bloggers.  However, there were several who were excited to blog about their journey through the Challenge and I am HAPPY to point you in their direction so you can see what this looks like for different families, and not just my own.  Heaven knows you’re gonna bail after my 6th day straight of mac-n-cheese.  (cough)

Check out these lovely ladies...(and by all means let me know if I left you out!)

Anna at The Dave Ramsey Road
Shelley at Finishing our Family from China
Kayce at Our Boy and His Cricket
Christy at Hockey and Hairbows
Jen at Seriously, When is Naptime?
Sweet Mama Luv U at Little One Full of Giggles and Wiggles
Suz at Just an Ordinary Family
Lynda at From Guang Mei to Lauren Mei

 

After having a very full day yesterday, and a late meeting that went past 10pm, I came home to a lovely
(and final spending) surprise from my wonderful husband...

So I will admit to staring longingly at the last "thing" we bought prior to the spending freeze, and I’ll continue to do that as the days progress.  Aren’t they amazing?  Dreamy sigh...thank you, love of my life!

Ok - let’s talk about the menu that got us through Day 1 - and for the record, I definitely won’t always take pics - because life is too hectic and there are only so many ways you can capture the mac or the cheese in all its glory.  Capish?  And who has that kind of time?  Not I. 

But on those days when AB is preparing some delectable delight, I’ll be sure to share the beauty.  On the other hand, I will always report back to you what we had, if we spent $$ (gasp! better not!), and whatever the latest "feeling" is about the Challenge.

Breakfast:  English Muffin with Strawberry Preserves, Scrambled Eggs with chopped Ham, Coffee with cream

Lunch: this one was easy because we got to "go out" (I know, right out the gate and all).  No judgment though...because we accepted an invite for a mall picnic/play-date.  We got creative, packed up our lunch in a small cooler, and had a fabulous time playing with friends.  On the menu was PBJ rounds, watermelon, cheese, salami slices, baby dill pickles, Capri Sun, and water.  Ok, I threw in a package of Andes Mints for a treat.  Chocolate makes it all better. 

Dinner: well, this was admittedly pitiful - but I knew going into tonight that it was kind of an "anything goes" night.  AB had to work late (thus the lack of culinary delight) and the kids and I had Back to School Night - so it was a bit slapdash.  What you see is what you get.  Mama had a frozen burrito, which was so very pitiful that I refused to take a picture.  We all know what they look like, am I right?  (sad face here)

Ok, so we made it through day one and that means only 29 to go.  I mean...how hard can this be, right?  Gulp.  I didn’t even think about Chipotle much at all today.  Not even 15 times ONCE! 

Double gulp.

Onward my friends - nothing ventured, no monetary gain.  Or something like that...