Happpy Friday!

This week has turned out to be a good week. Nothing in particular happened, and sometimes that is exactly WHY it's a good week. I really think the description words "uneventful" and "boring" are really blessings. To me, there's nothing better than having a weekend of nothing-ness. Life gets busier and busier as you get older, doesn't it? There always seems to be something that needs to be done.

The past few weeks have been a little tougher for me than usual, but I would say that this is normal for anyone who is managing one (or more) chronic illnesses. It's NORMAL to have periods of time where you are stressed out, down, and wonder how you are going to manage your disease every day, for the rest of your life. It can feel overwhelming sometimes. Most days I'm fine, but every so often I feel overwhelmed. And lucky for me, when this happens, I have a wonderful DOC and celiac disease community to lean on and lift my spirits. Somehow the words that come from another diabetic or another celiac are often times more lifting than when they come from a person without the disease.

This weekend is going to be a low activity weekend. I had plans, but they fell through and I'm not disappointed by it. The weather is going to be awful again here in Minnesota, so I'll be happy being inside the house with my sweet-faced dog. Tonight I need to finish my menu planning for the next week, following by grocery shopping, and Sunday I'll complete all of the prep work. I am a huge FAN of menu planning. Let me tell you what happens when I don't menu plan (which I haven't done for the last 2 weeks): I eat BAD. I WASTE money. I eat processed, quick foods that are nutritionally void of anything good and are NOT cost-effective. As an example, one day this week I bought and ate an Amy's frozen meal, which was on sale for $3.09. This is no deal! It's expensive and I was still hungry afterwards. I could have stretched that money a lot further if I had used it at my discount grocery stores (Aldi, Walmart).

I've always been frugal with my money, but even more now that I am half way through the Financial Peace University class. I am learning many different ways to strettttch my dollars every month. Chronic disease is expensive, and I don't make a lot of money, so I am very stingy when it comes to making purchases, especially when it comes to food. Do you struggle with finding easy, healthy, inexpensive recipes you can make during the week? I am going to start posting at least one new recipe a week that I've made during that week. It will be easy, healthy and inexpensive to make. You can always alter them to fit your taste buds. I cook a lot with my crock pot; it's a life saver when you are short on time. I love taking a big chunk of meat (like rump roasts or chuck roasts that go on sale), rubbing it with seasoning (I like Lawry's Seasoning Salt and garlic powder), tossing it in the crock pot on low at night with a little bit of water and in the morning PRESTO! I have a few lunch and dinners. A quick add on is warming up some frozen veggies with some seasoning as a side dish, or make a salad if you have time. Voila, done.

Well, I'm at work and my lunch time is over. So that means this post is over, too. Hope you have a nice weekend! If I have time this weekend I'll share with you my upcoming menu plan and maybe some yummy food pics. :)