Perdue Oven Ready Roast

Over the last month and a half, the entire family has been sick at one point or another ( a couple days EVERYONE was sick!). That means that we have been making convenience meals when we want to eat, and I have been making easy meals! I don't know about you but I am sick and tired of eating processed, easy meals.

Enter Perdue Oven Ready Chicken Roast!



I was super excited to try Perdue Oven Ready Chicken Roast, because it was real chicken (not processed chicken nugget form which we ate way too many of) and it was easy to prepare, even for someone with no energy and recovering from the flu like me!

First let's talk about "real" chicken:  Perdue Chicken is fresh, all-natural chicken that's verifiably good. That's why all their PERDUE^® OVEN READY Products are USDA Process Verified and follow an all vegetarian diet, no animal by-products, and are raised cage free.

Now let's talk about my chicken: The directions were simple: open the outer package, cook and then serve! Simple-- which is what I needed!

In it's packaging

Cooking in the oven, alongside some cheesy potatoes

Chicken and green beans. Yummy, healthy, easy dinner for the kiddos.

My observations: the chicken was VERY moist and yummy! It was super duper! It was super easy to cook, and clean up was a breeze. There was so much meat on the chicken that we had dinner that night, sandwiches the next day and I still have a large container of meat in the freezer that I will use for chicken enchiladas! Yay!

I will definitely be buying these again just for the convenience. As we look to 2013 I am committing to cook more at home and cook healthier foods and Perdue Oven Ready Roasts will fit the bill!

Disclaimer: I received a coupon for a free product as part of a BzzAgent campaign in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

January Low Spend and Decluttering Challenge

As the kids and adults in our house have been sick for the past month and a half, I have had a lot of time to think about what I want our 2013 to look like and what I want to accomplish. As I look back over previous years I can see that I have made goals that were too loftly, or were doomed to fail from the beginning. Part of that I think is that I look at the big picture and don't break goals down into manageable steps. I make goals for the year that I ultimately forget about in 2 months.....

Well NOT this year. I have decided that 2013 is the year that I make smaller mini goals--my ideal is to make a monthly goal that I want to work on for that month.

January is the month where I feel like I get a start over in redoing our finances and also a redo of our house, when I get rid of excess and feel the urge to declutter. So I was so excited to see that the lovely Carla over at My 1/2 Dozen Daily was hosting a January Decluttering and No/Low Spend Challenge. I have decided to join in!

 

 

My goals for this January challenge:

 

- Financial goals:

• Spend no more than $320 on food for the month. (This averages out to $80 a week). I need to get our grocery budget down as this past 2 months we have been averaging $130 a week for our family due to illnesses and holidays.
• Spend no more than $150 on household items (diapers, wipes, toilet paper, Tide, dish detergent and trash bags)
• No Eating out
• The EXCEPTIONS:
•  Hubby and I are looking into buying new cell phones (ours are over 3 years old) and getting a cheaper plan (if we buy pre-paid we could potentially save $30 a month over our current bill)
• We have to get a title and tags for our new to us van that we were gifted
• This does not affect our utilities, rent, gas for our vehicles, etc.
• As always family emergencies, medical, dental, etc. are not counted against this as well.

-Decluttering goals:

• I have one decluttering goal for this month---the huge closet (it is the size of a half room) off the bathroom that has become a dumping ground for stuff and storage. It is horrible! Would like to donate/sell at least half of the stuff in there. Here are a few before pictures:

The view looking in from the bathroom

 

Behind the door

So there you have it....my financial goals and decluttering goals for January. I hope I can meet them and make them a stepping stone for success for 2013!

 
 
 

 

 
 

 



Sunday Night Chit Chat

I think that I can say that I am back again to blogging....after having everyone in my house sick for the month of December, I think (fingers crossed) that we are all on the mend I hope. (We did have to take Benjamin to the ER one night last week due to a very high fever....turns out he has an ear infection in the other ear than the one he had 2 weeks ago and a virus. Thankfully he is doing better!) We do still all have coughs but from what I am hearing from friends and family, these coughs could last for a few weeks after we feel better. But I am planning on being back full time to blogging again (barring any more illness). I am starting tonight.....

 

 Time once again for Sunday Night Chit-Chat...hosted by our friend Carla! (I can't believe it has been over a month since I got to play along! )

 

To play along simply start your post with a photo or quote... Copy and paste the starters and link up to Carla so she and others can visit you and see what you've been up to!

SO HERE GOES:



Kiddos and I on Christmas Eve, wearing our new PJs from Santa!

What are you.....

Reading?

Nothing right now. I have read 4 books over the last couple weeks for reviews. That is what happens when you have an eight month old who wants to be held when he is sick and will only sleep when you are holding him.

Watching?

Hubby and I watched "Dear John" last night. Cute movie, but I liked the book better. Right now, kids are watching "Wow, Wow Wubbzy."

 

Listening to?

The TV is on, Benjamin is playing with his new toy remote from Santa, and Jacob is running around.

  

Cooking/Baking

Nothing. I have gotten really bad about cooking, and we have been eating way too many easy meals due to us being sick. I am hoping to get back into cooking this week and to help get our grocery bills back down.

Happy you accomplished this week?



Got the kids' rooms cleaned out and decluttered before we put away new toys and books. Took out 4 bags of toys to donate. Also got the game/ dvd closet cleaned out and have a tote full of VHS tapes to donate to school. Also got all the Christmas stuff taken down and put away so that we could get our house back in order.

 

Looking forward to next week?

The New Year! Diving into a couple challenges.

 

Thankful for today?

For my husband, who puts up with my many mood changes and who loves me for me.

Bonus question: Are you looking forward to 2013 or sorry to see 2012 leave? 

I am looking forward to 2013. 2012 has been HARD, especially the last month or so. Let's go 2013!

 

So there you have it. A little glimpse into my world on this Sunday night! Hope everyone has a wonderful week and remember to link up to our wonderful chat host Carla! :)

Merry Christmas

To all my blog readers, I wish you a very merry Christmas from my family to yours!

I know I have been lax lately about blogging but the craziness of being sick basically for this whole month has really thrown a wrench in my plans. I am going to be spending the next few day with family and enjoying my hubby and kids (sicknesses and all!) and then I hope to be back with lots of posts, including a great giveaway and I am joining in on a January challenge! Until then, I say Merry Christmas and I hope your holiday is merry and bright!

Sickness....

Take your pick when you come to my house....we are now featuring....the flu, strep throat, and an ear infection. Hubby is recovering from having the flu all week. I was at urgent care 2 times yesterday...once with Rebecca who has strep throat and a fever of 102. And then with Jacob who has a fever of 102, possible strep (the rapid test came back negative) and an ear infection. Tonight I am feeling cruddy.....

Very quick update....

The last 2 weeks have been h*** and have been stressful and just tough. A few quick highlights:

• My Mom's bladder cancer is back, another tumor was found last wednesday
• My mom had a bad stress test for her heart last Monday
• My mom was sent to the ER on Friday morning and spent Friday-yesterday in ICU with heart problems
• Hubby woke up Monday night/Tuesday morning throwing up and high fever. He now has the full blown flu
• Missed work on Friday due to Mom's hospitalization
• Have 5 cakes and 5 cookies plates due to school by Friday morning for St. Nick dinner.
• Hubby's parents are calling about setting up a time for transfer of van
• Coworkers are dropping like flies with the flu so HAVE to work.

That is why I have been MIA. That is also why I am so behind on book reviews, and a product review and giveaway. Pray things get better.