Trying to Save $ By Eating Healthy & Cooking At Home

Every time i look at my account balance and try to figure out where all my moneys gone and why haven't i been able to save something, i end up going through my transactions and see that the majority of my purchases are food related.  Whether its grocery stores or eating out.  I need to remedy this, and the best way i can think is by starting to plan meals and actually cooking for more then one meal.
But this is hard when I've never been much of a cooker and also when i mostly cook from bags, boxes and cans.  I'm unfortunately one of those 'lets do it the easy way' "chefs".  and i really would like to break this habit.  My wallet and health are being affected, and i think it would also be another great way to calm myself from the days events.

Now, with that in mind, I need as much help as possible to find healthy alternatives that are also cheap.  Easy recipes that a beginner can do, ideas on food plans for the week, etc.  I honestly don't know how my mom used to plan out the weeks meals and actually cook them without ever changing her mind.  I mean, she used to have calendars posted on the fridge of what she would make for breakfast, what shed be preparing for my school lunch, options i could have for after school snack, and finally what was going to be for dinner.
Its sad that I used to tease her about this and hated being on a schedule like that, and now that's all I wish I had.  I need to discipline myself and gain some will power.  Have a dinner planned and if something happens that i don't get home with enough time to make the meal and eat before a halfway decent time (730 pm), then i need a backup option.

But enough of the what i would like(s)... I need to focus on the actual cooking part.  Maybe if I actually started cooking and having more confidence in my "chef" skills, then I'll be able to have more confidence in starting and sticking to a schedule.

With that being said, a lovely coworker hooked me on this site:

Budget Bytes
It is an amazing site with many recipes on it and a nice step by step blog journey, costs, etc.  I have quite a few recipes saved that i cannot wait to try and this weekend or the next, I'll be cooking for the week.  :)  Here are just a few samples of what I would love to try:

• Chocolate & Banana Baked Oatmeal
• Parsley Pesto Pasta (or Triple P)
• Spinach Artichoke Pasta (this is the one I'm SUPER excited about!!!!!!!)
• Her Top 10 Freezer Meals (will be perfect for me for work & all)
• Southwest Salad w/Taco Ranch Dressing

Those are just a few that are on my list to try. But those are ones that I'm pretty sure I'll like no matter what. So keep your fingers crossed for me.  I'll hopefully be posting my success (or hysterically not so successful) stories when i finally end up making them.

Now, are there any other websites, cookbooks, etc that can be recommended for healthier eating and beginning cookers?  I'm very open to trying new things and attempt cooking.  :)

~Spring~

PS: this isn't a healthy recipe, but it caught my eye and i CANNOT wait to try it... started salivating as soon as I saw it!! }:^)   So Not Healthy Yummy Gooey-ness!!

The only thing making something IMPOSSIBLE is your PERSPECTIVE

now, before I get into what started and inspired this blog, i have to admit that i struggled with what was the right word for my title.  Perception or Perspective.  I'm still unsure as I think either one would have been right.  But I also still doubt that either one is right. lol

per·cep·tion  [per-sep-shuhn]  noun

1.the act or faculty of apprehending by means of the senses or of the mind; cognition; understanding.

2.immediate or intuitive recognition or appreciation, as of moral, psychological, or aesthetic qualities; insight; intuition; discernment: an artist of rare perception.

3.the result or product of perceiving,  as distinguished from the act of perceiving; percept.

4.Psychology . a single unified awareness derived from sensory processes while a stimulus is present.

per·spec·tive [per-spek-tiv]  noun

1.a technique of depicting volumes and spatial relationships on a flat surface. Compare aerial perspective, linear perspective.

2.a picture employing this technique, especially one in which it is prominent: an architect's perspective of a house.

3.a visible scene, especially one extending to a distance; vista: a perspective on the main axis of an estate.

4.the state of existing in space before the eye: The elevations look all right, but the building's composition is a failure in perspective.

5.the state of one's ideas, the facts known to one, etc., in having a meaningful interrelationship: You have to live here a few years to see local conditions in perspective.

 

Now, sadly, this will bother me most of my morning.  I think I chose the right word, but then I always doubt/second guess myself. lol

 To The Point:

The reason for this blog is because of inspiration.  I was sitting at my computer at work, looking up images of balloons so i can start working on my drawing.  all the balloon clusters that i was drawing from my mind were coming out, quite frankly, looking a little like tapioca pudding or cottage cheese.  Unhappy with my imagination to hand skills, I decided to find something online that I could use as reference/inspiration to get a jump start on how i want my picture to turn out.  Lo & behold, this is what I found:

 'Original' article that will definitely inspire

 Now, I didn't believe this when I was reading the article.  I've heard of the men who have tried to tie balloons to their lawn chairs and take off, and those always have disasterous (yet hysterical) results.  But this man planned and SUCCEEDED in crossing the alps in a lawn chair tied to these things.  Grant it, as I was watching the video completely awe-struck, I started getting clammy skinned and hard to breath as I saw what was holding him up from falling to the world below.  It definitely affirmed my fear of heights and that I won't be rushing out to try this anytime soon.

but this man and what he does, it is inspiring.  Hes done what people thought was IMPOSSIBLE.  So it really is all about perspective/perception (seriously, let me know which you think is better. i whole heartedly think perspective but accept that i just maybe wrong).  if you think its going to be impossible and so you never try, it really is impossible.  But if you think its impossible and try, then you know what? you are a dreamer and a hoper.  Trying and failing is always better then not trying at all.  So when someone tells you "oh you can't do that, its impossible", you can turn around and ask them "have you done it? no? then how do you know its impossible?"

So go out there and dream big and dream vast.  Life is too short to sit there worrying and never living.  Prove that the impossible is a myth and inspire the world like this man has.  I know hes inspired me. :)


~Spring~

Untitled 4-30-12

So, i was looking up videos for different hairstyles for me to try this week, and i happened across a girl who does tutorials that is qwerky and awesome.  But in one of her tutorials she was playing a song that inspired a poem out of me.  now, what i wrote did go with the beat of the song, so i'm going to post the song for you to watch/listen.  that way you can get the beat of how my poem is read in my head. lol 

I think i'm newly addicted to her... :)

You say I dream too big,
That i'm setting myself up for failure.
Don't want to hear my plans,
because you already know their end.
You laugh, tsk & belittle,
thinking you are doing me a favor,
& yet you get angry when i just stare and smile.

Well go ahead and burst my bubble,
poke these balloons with your doubt,
I'll just laugh and thank you later,
as my dreams, my plans, my future
comes bursting out

No confines to hold them any longer,
No doubt stunting their growth.
Your words that tried to draw my blood,
are the very words that set me free,
No longer under your rule,
No longer victim to your scrutiny.

Well go ahead and burst my bubble,
poke these balloons with your doubt,
I'll just laugh and thank you later
as my dreams, my plans, my future
comes bursting out

I know your dreams were taken from you,
and so you've tried to take back your power.
But my biggest wish that i'll dare utter,
is that you'll close your mind,
open your heart,  and fly with me.
Bring that smile back for your world to grow.

So go ahead and fill your bubble,
patch your balloons and lose your doubt.
We will laugh and you can thank me later
when your hope takes flight.







Again, not the greatest of poems.  sometimes i wanted to rhyme, sometimes i didn't feel like it.  But the song inspired the chorus which actually started out as a picture that i'm going to start working on.  For not having my muse visit me in a LONG while, This one makes me feel happy.  Able to get a little bit off my chest about how some important people in my life are about all my 'pipe' dreams.  Just have to stay steadfast and true and know that i'm the only one who can bring me down.  also, need to work harder at bringing my muse back home and keeping her with me...


sweet dreams world.  feels good to get something out on paper (literally & virtually)....

New Beginnings

Things are about to change, and I'm going to make sure they are changed for the better.  I'm currently packing up my belongings, my life, into 3 categories. Keep to go into the new house, storage, and "find-someone-else-who-can-appreciate-what-i-didnt".  I hate packing for a variety of reasons. In the past couple of years, i've done it way too much for my liking, and i've never fully unpacked. EVER!!

Well, now i want things to be different. I want to be able to have time to blog, do artwork, write, workout, travel, etc.  I would like to focus on the things i enjoy and that would make me the person i would like to be, rather then constantly cleaning or trying to situate things.  I've allowed myself to live in an insane clutter and i don't want it to happen anymore.  Its time that i make a difference.  Maybe if i finally live how i've been wanting, i'll be able to focus on schoolwork and have a life.

But the point of this New Beginnings blog is to document the things I would like to change and hopefully how i can do them. :)

Eat Healthy
Exercise Semi-Daily
Save $
Take care of myself and my critters properly and efficiently
Work on my jewelry for friends and to sell
Write (poems, journals, finish my novel)
Work on my artwork and my style
Follow the pinup/vintage fashion that i've been wanting to for years
Finish my Anthropology & psychology degree (& consider furthering said degrees)
Go to school for makeup/costume/set design
Learn to REALLY cook (not out of boxes or cans)
Go out and meet some new friends
Go out and meet SOMEONE
Volunteer
Travel to see family

& I know that there is soooooo much more!!  Hopefully i'll be able to remember them and add them later.  I just know that my 28 years on this planet, i have hardly lived.  Sure, i've lived and traveled with my parents, but I haven't lived myself.  I haven't done what i've said i wanted to do or gone where i've said i wanted to go. 

For example. I wanted to make Irealand happen this year.  Well, it won't be now because of money issues. a nd because i'm having to move in with my parents because of money issues.  I'm hoping ot be staying with them for about 5 years to save up money and get bills paid off and everything.  So hopefully, my first year living with them, i can pay off all debt that i ahve, fix my credit and then be able to save up and go to ireland!!  That is my new goal.

I feel like an idiot for saying i was making Ireland happen this year, but it not happening is completely out of my control.  I know it could be done, but there would be alot of sacrificing of bills, and those need paid off.  I need to fix my past mistakes before i can FULLY enjoy my life and have fun. 

*sigh*.... i guess i must finish this for now.  I have a house to pack and sort thru. 'woo'...

Creative Every Day Challenge - February Theme "NIGHT"

this month has been on thats been nothing but roller coasters.  First, things start to look up and get better, then the rugs pulled out from under me and i feel like i'm suffocating on responsibilities, lies and expectations from others. 
a Year ago i lost someone pretty important.  Dusti Jo Barkley had given birth 2/14/2011.  not even a week later she was taken to the hospital for trouble breathing, in which she was put into a medically induced coma to allow medicines and procedures to take affect.  During this coma, she had  a blod clot that travelled to her brain.  Long, complicated story short, she was declared brain dead 2/24/11 and they took her off life support at midnight 2/25/2011.  She didn't even get a full week with her son, Everett Waylan Barkley.  This has been a rough year for all who knew and loved her, and it was only made harder and worse with the issues and problems that her now widow has caused.  Thankfully those of us who truly knew and cared about her have been keeping her memory going and untarnished.

Having lived up in Flagstaff for almost two years, i had found a spot that became my go to when i need to get away and think.  Hardly anyone went up there at night which made it so much easier to get away when i needed to.  Now that i've moved back down to Phoenix, i miss this spot, especially lately when things have been going south.  That is what has inspired my submission for February.  Because this spot can only be truly enjoyed at night, when it is dead silent and pitch black that you feel like you could reach out and scoop the stars from the sky.  The background picture for my blog is near the my hideaway.  The way the sky is in this picture is compareable but not exact to my view.  Yes, flagstaff is a dark city so the sky is this full and star studded.  It is an amazing place to jsut go, stare, get lost in your thoughts and relax. 
Right now with how things are going in my life, i need my spot more then ever, but must find another one if i'm to survive the trials and tribulations being thrown at me.  I do recommend finding your own safe place and enjoy it often when you need to gather your thoughts and calm down.  It makes a difference in your sanity.

My Submission:

Safe place with the two that keep me sane...

The idea for the picture came while i was just free writing.  I don't care too much for the words, but i'm pretty content with teh picture.  i was sitting at my desk at work when the inspiration hit, so i had to used what i had handy. Different types of pens and a highlighter. :)  Not my greatest piece of work, but it was definitely cathartic for me.