Freezer Meals For The Win!

So as many of you know, I am expecting a baby in 6 weeks! I'm SO excited and my head has been buzzing for months trying to make sure I get everything accomplished for when the baby arrives. If you know me at all, then you probably know that I am a planner and an organizer. I like to think and plan ahead, so that things run more smoothly. So when my sister-in-law told me that she wanted to help me make a bunch of freezer meals for when the baby comes, I was totally on board! She is (in my opinion) an expert on the freezer meal front and wanted to show me the ropes. (Her blog is http://shalahgale.wordpress.com if you want more details!) I was excited to minimize the cooking after our child is born and for the convenience that these freezer meals would provide, but I was also a little overwhelmed at the idea of making so many meals and preparing them for the freezer. Turns out, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought and dare I say it, I may even repeat the freezer meal process again in the near future!

First, I did a lot of research on the different meals I wanted to make. Turns out, you can freeze almost anything! I found some blogs with freezer recipes and I also found this link to be very helpful (http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/08/50-easy-freezer-meals.html). I am a huge fan of any Six Sisters Stuff recipe, so I was excited to see that they had freezer meal options as well.

Then, I compiled a list of 8 different meals and figured out which ingredients I needed. I already had a lot of it on hand which was very helpful! Always check your own fridge before going grocery shopping and you will be amazed how your shopping list dwindles. I chose to print out a list of the ingredients I needed, so that I could keep it all straight. It helped me to have a list in my hand that I could check off during my shopping trip.

Once I had my list of ingredients, I headed to the store. First, I went to Aldi to buy my produce. Then I went to Kroger for the rest of the ingredients. I took my husband with me and that was very helpful. We knocked out the shopping trip fairly quickly and it was nice to have an extra set of hands. I also picked up gallon size zip lock bags and disposable cooking trays to store the meals in. You will need foil, a sharpie and cling wrap if you don't already have that on hand.

The next day, my sister-in-law visited and we started our freezer meal adventure! We divided the recipes up and got to work. Many of the recipes only require assembly before they are ready for the freezer, while others require you to actually cook the meal first and then freeze it. I took on the cooking portion while Shalah began assembling the uncooked meals. With each meal we completed, we labeled the bag or cooking tray with the date, the name of the meal, and the cooking instructions. This system worked really well for us and we ended up knocking out 8 different recipes in about 4 hours total. I would definitely recommend having a partner help you out unless you want to be in the kitchen all day!

The preparation and time that went into making the freezer meals was definitely worth it! I ended up with almost 20 meals (each meal made at least 2 portions) and I only spent $130 total! At the end of the experience, I couldn't help but think I will be doing this again in the future. It's very cost-effective and will be extremely helpful for a new first-time working mommy.

The 8 recipes I ended up making were:

1. Chicken Pot Pie
2. Spaghetti Sauce
3. Slow Cooker Sweet and Tangy Meatballs
4. Meatloaf
5. Ham and Cheese Potato Casserole
6. Slow Cooker Black Bean and Corn Salsa Chicken
7. Taco Soup
8. Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

If you are interested in any of these recipes, please let me know and I would love to pass them on!

Here are some pictures from our freezer meal day! We had a blast!

Saving Money on Food

Hello Readers,

Hopefully you are still with me! I haven't posted anything in a while as my life has been quite hectic. Between work, church, my husband starting his fall semester, and baby planning on the forefront of my mind, writing has taken a back seat. I did, however, want to get out a small blog post about something else that has been a priority of mine lately and that's saving money. Saving money on food that is. 

My husband and I are in our mid-twenties. We both work and work hard, but at this age I feel like most of us are still in that money saving, majorly budgeting stage of life. This only gets more complicated when you are expecting a baby exactly 4 months from today (crazy!). I'm constantly trying to figure out the best way to budget our money and where we can save. Like most people, one of our biggest expenses is food, definitely not very exciting, but it is where a huge chunk of our money goes. Lately, I have found a few successful ways to save money on food. I thought I would share them today in hopes that maybe some of you are in the same "Where-Can-We-Save-Money?" battle. Here are a few tips I've learned so far!

1.  Don't go grocery shopping in-between weekly trips. I don't know what you do, but I tend to go to the grocery store once a week. I'm pretty good at sticking to this, but there are usually things I forget or things that pop up during the week that I need but don't have. Lately, instead of going to the store mid-week to get those few random things that I could probably live without, I have been waiting until my weekly shop to go back to the grocery store. Only going during my specified times really helps cutting down on food cost because I'm not spending money there multiple times a week. I only go once a week. Obviously if there is something you really need, go get it. I just know I could go every day if I really wanted (we always need something), but I would end up spending much more money that way.

2. Use up what you already have. This goes off my first point. Instead of constantly buying new things once you run out, use up what you have first. This is something I've been doing more recently and it's shocking how long we can last on the food we already have without having to buy more. Lately, I've been trying to make my weekly shop very minimal and instead use up the food I already have on hand or use what I already have as the base of a recipe rather than buying all new things for a new recipe. If I run out of a particular ingredient, I see what I have on hand that would make a good substitute instead of running to the store to buy something new. This is a great way to save money and you will be surprised how much food you have built up in your pantry and freezer.

3. Only get what you NEED instead of buying ahead of time. This one all depends on sales and how much you like to plan ahead. Personally, I struggle with this one because I am a planner. If I see we are low on something, I like to go ahead and buy the replacement item immediately, so we don't run out. The problem is I find myself buying things a little too far in advance when I could wait another week to replace that item, therefore spending money before I have to. If you see something on sale or you know you will run out of it before your next shopping trip, buy it. I have just found that I can last longer without replacing items than I thought I could. I also limit what I buy to what we actually need instead of what would be nice to have. We could have 3 different kinds of chips, 4 different cereal boxes, 2 kinds of lunch meat, 3 different types of desserts and 5 pounds of ground beef, but we don't need that. I want to have choices, but only having limited choices is okay too.

4. When going out to eat -- share a plate or take a box of leftovers home with you. Josh and I rarely go out to eat, like almost never. But on the rare occasion that we do eat out, I have found a few ways to save money. Eating out can kill your wallet, I would know. Before Josh and I were married, we ate out all the time and it was such a waste of our hard earned cash. When we go out to eat now, I like to do one of two things: either share a plate of food or take half my food home and eat it as another meal. Obviously these two choices aren't always possible, but it's nice to do it when you can. We all know most restaurants give you a huge amount of food, so it's easy to share a plate with your partner or a friend. Sharing a plate means getting two meals for the price of one -- score! Another way to get two meals for the price of one is only eating half the meal and taking the rest home with you. I do this all the time. Josh and I don't really have the same food interests -- he loves pizza and I love salad, so we prefer to order separately. I am usually given much more food than I could ever finish in one sitting though. I used to let them throw away all the extra food at the end of the meal, but I have started always getting a to-go box if I have any extras. I can usually make a whole second meal out of it, therefore saving money and eating good food twice!

These are my "Saving Money on Food" tips and tricks. Sticking to these rules has allowed us to save and been very helpful for our family. These tips may seem like no-brainers to a lot of you money saving pros, but to me they are new found lessons that I felt were important enough to share. Let me know how you save money when it comes to food. I would love to hear your tips and tricks!

Our Story

Today marks 3 years since Josh and I began dating! It's been a whirlwind and I wouldn't change it for anything. In light of today, I am feeling quite nostalgic and started thinking back on our story from the beginning. We get questions all the time about how we met and started dating, so I thought I would share a little bit of our story.

Most people don't know that Josh and I were actually friends for a year before we ever began dating. We met in May of 2010 through a mutual friend. My best friend, Caylyn, and Josh both went to the same college and were already good friends. I went to visit Caylyn the weekend after my junior year of college ended to kick off the summer. While I was there, I met Josh. He came over late one night after getting off work at Papa John's. He was in his uniform and covered with dough, but I instantly knew there was something different about him. It's funny because I remember being interested in him immediately. I knew he was a good, Christian guy and he was fun to be around. I also knew I needed more people like this in my life. I left GCSU that weekend thinking that he was a nice guy who I wanted to get to know more. I then asked to be his Facebook friend, so technically I originally initiated it ;)

We talked over Facebook chat for over a year and got to know each other a lot that way. We both enjoyed talking to each other and would stay up late into the night getting to know each other more. It slowly developed into a solid friendship. Although there was always a spark between us, the fact that we lived almost 3 hours away from each other (I lived in Carrollton and he lived in Irwinton), discouraged anything more from ever developing between us...until the next summer.

I went on a mission trip to South Korea in May of 2011 and because Josh had also gone on many international mission trips, we began talking much more frequently. Little did I know that he was actually starting to pursue me. We talked more after I got back from my trip and one day he decided to call me. We talked for hours. Calling turned into Skyping and soon enough we were spending a lot of time in communication with each other through calls, texts, Facebook chat, Skyping, etc. I was completely blind to the entire thing though! I was in a place where I really wasn't looking for a relationship. I had told God that I needed a break from guys and wasn't going to be looking for a boyfriend any time soon. Well, God and Josh had a different plan. At that point, I thought of Josh as a really good friend and loved his company. I was content being single, so I wasn't pushing for anything more. I do remember thinking, there's no way my future husband is someone I already know (not realizing that he was actually right under my nose the entire time). After heavily pursing me without my knowledge, Josh finally asked me out on a date. (Apparently everyone was aware this was going to happen except me). I thought; why not give him a shot? And the rest is history.

We only went on two dates before he asked me to be his girlfriend and I happily said yes. It all happened so fast, yet it had been building up for a year. Starting a relationship with Josh was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Our relationship was different than anything I had ever experienced and I was immediately smitten. I knew this guy was different than anyone else. He was my best friend and we had so much fun together. We could talk for hours and the conversation never got dull. Josh is such a wonderful, Godly man and a perfect match for me! Since July of 2011, our life together has been far from boring. We started off driving 3 hours to see each other every weekend and visiting each other as much as possible. Josh was finishing his last semester of college, accepting the call to seminary, and transitioning into post-college life while trying to find a "real" job. I had just graduated college and moved back home. I was bouncing around from job to job and was really trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. We came into each other's lives at the perfect time, but it was far from simple.

We have been through a long distance relationship, college, seminary, moving, new churches, new jobs, engagement, marriage, buying our first house, and now expecting our first child. Transition is a word I would use to describe the past 3 years. We have been constantly transitioning from one thing to the next with little stability. The one thing that has remained solid throughout everything has been our relationship. We are far from perfect as is our relationship, but we are genuinely so happy together. We bring out the best in each other and challenge each other to be better. We have worked hard for our relationship, but at the same time, it's always come easily and been very natural. I have never laughed so hard or had so much fun as I have in the past 3 years. I'm so thankful to have Josh by my side through thick and thin to encourage me, love me, and continuously pursue me. God blessed me with a man and a marriage that far exceeded my expectations for myself and I couldn't be more grateful.

So, that's our story. Here's to all the blank pages still left to be filled with amazing memories and adventures. I can't wait for our future together because I know the best is yet to come!

 

Costa Rica

I am here to tell you a little bit about our big adventure this summer. We are so excited to be going on a mission trip to Alajuela, Costa Rica. Alajuela is the second-largest city in Costa Rica after the capital, San José. Alajuela and its surroundings are famed for having "the best weather in the world". There is also a mountain, a rain forest, and the ocean within a small area -- such a variety! The main exports of the region are coffee, sugar-cane, maize, beans, tobacco, citrus fruits, strawberries, tubers like cassava, flowers and ornamental plants. I have been told that if you want to try the freshest fruits, then you need to go to Alajuela. If you aren't quite sure where that is (like I was), here is a map :)



















We are taking the trip with a group from Josh's dad's non-profit, Unto the Least of His. Josh and I are quite excited because it will be our first mission trip together. We have both done many trips, but we know there will be a special aspect added while serving with your spouse. Josh has actually been on this trip many times, so he is much more familiar with the area. I have never even been close to Costa Rica and I can't wait to see all that there is in this beautiful country.

We will be there for 1 week and we will be doing a variety of activities. Our team will be running a Vacation Bible School for the week. We will be working with the local children and teaching them about the Bible, as well as, building relationships with them. We will also be doing service projects and helping out with construction related things in the community.

The local language is Spanish and rice and beans is a very common meal there. I have been told to expect that particular dish almost every day. The area we will be visiting is very poor and the people there have very little. Our goal is to love on these people and encourage them while we are there. We want to share the hope of Jesus with people who might feel hopeless.

We have created a fun video to tell you more about our mission trip to Costa Rica. Enjoy!

http://vimeo.com/91854798

If you are interested in supporting our trip, please visit our GoFundMe.com website. :)

http://www.gofundme.com/joshandbrittanytocr

The Cooking Diaries: Cooking with Brittany

I have recently embarked on the adventure that is cooking. For some, this might be an exciting time, but for me it was definitely intimidating. I've never been one to cook. I'm that person who is content having cereal for dinner and usually brings something store bought to any type of event. I haven't ever really dabbled in cooking because I had no clue where to even start.

When I got married, I felt the desire to try to cook for my husband. I got off to a good start, but slowly began to fall away from it as life got in the way. We also lacked a full kitchen in our basement apartment which played a big part in not being able to put together a basic hot meal. I felt overwhelmed with trying to come up with ideas, so I just gave up. It was always hard for me to go to different events where people brought all homemade dishes and I showed up with my store bought cookies that paled in comparison. My friends always knew to count on me to bring the rolls to a meal. I felt embarrassed and somewhat like less of a women because not only did I not know how to cook, I truly had little desire to even learn. When we moved into our new home, with a full kitchen, I decided that this was my chance to start fresh. I was going to learn to cook whether I liked it or not, but I was also hoping to gain an appreciation for it. I wanted to actually enjoy cooking not just do it out of obligation.

It's only just begun, but I can say that it's already been a much better experience than I was expecting. Thanks to things like Pinterest and Facebook, I was able to make a list of simple recipes that I was willing to try. It was also beneficial for me to just ask people I knew for a few meals that their families loved. I started meal planning and making a list of the collection of recipes I had gathered along with the ingredients I would need when I went grocery shopping. For me, planning has been key. As long as I buy the right ingredients and have everything on hand that I need to make a certain dish, all I have to do is assemble the meal. I don't have to worry about scrambling last minute. It's crazy how much less complex it became when I just put a little effort into the meals I was making. Taking the few extra minutes to research, swap recipes with friends, and make the proper grocery list has really helped make this process much more pleasant and not as overwhelming for me.

I'm letting myself off more easily by not expecting perfection. I am obviously a beginner, so I have to accept that I will screw up. I had to learn when something is cooked, overcooked, and undercooked...which I have on occasion had to find out the hard way. I've learned that you boil water on the "big" burner on the stove or else you will end up waiting a very long time for your water to boil. I'm realizing that there is almost an art involved in having each part of the meal ready around the same time. If you don't time it perfectly, then your potatoes may be ready 20 minutes before the chicken and a lot of things will end up being reheated. I've found out that if flour goes unused for a long period of time, it can get little bugs in it even if it is in a sealed container and if you are boiling noodles and drop the one you are trying to taste test on your bare skin that it will burn the crud out of you and leave a nice pink burn mark for a while. It's been a journey full of mistakes, but I am gaining more knowledge of how to cook in the best way.

I am venturing out into uncharted territory, but I have had a few success stories. I will share with you a few of the dishes that I have made that have turned out well! I have tried a variety of things from chicken to beef, from casseroles to crockpots. I am trying to not be intimidated by recipes that have more than 4 ingredients (which I used to always skip over). Some of the dishes I have successfully made are:

Green Bean Casserole
Corn Casserole
Pigs in a Blanket
Chicken with Broccoli & Rice Casserole
Apple Pie Oatmeal
Taco Soup
Sausage Gravy and Biscuit Casserole

Well, that's it for this addition of The Cooking Diaries. I may keep documenting my cooking journey and sharing different recipes and things I have learned along the way. If you happen to be interested in any of these recipes, let me know! Happy Cooking!

FRIENDS

Each season of life is unique in its own way and each comes with different struggles and adaptations, but I must say that the phase in between college and "real" adulthood is by far the strangest I have yet experienced. You are technically an adult, but you wouldn't consider yourself one. You are left learning to navigate for yourself without the roadmap you have always held -- you don't know how this time period is supposed to look. There is no right or wrong answer which makes it harder to make decisions. You determine where you want to go and you have to figure out exactly how you will deal with and adjust to the changing circumstances. It's funny how things change when you get older, things that you would never expect. There are certain trials that happen in life that no one tells you about. There is no warning or preparation; it just happens. Sometimes you just aren't prepared for everything that growing up entails.

In high school and college, I definitely would have defined myself as a social butterfly. I was always out and about doing things with friends. You would rarely find me home on the weekends because I made it a point to fill up my schedule. In college, I regularly had lunch/dinner dates with girlfriends and would go to the gym or go running with friends. It was very rare when it was just the roommates in our townhouse because we always had people over. I kept myself busy and constantly in contact with everyone because in college there are almost always people around at all times in the day. You have to try really hard to fit a quiet moment to yourself in. I wasn't used to spending much time alone or struggling with friendships.

When I graduated and moved home, things changed. My once booming social life soon began to dwindle and I struggled to maintain friendships, let alone make new ones. No one ever warned me about this particular dilemma. I never realized that part of my life was going to change so drastically. I have now been out of college for 2.5 years and I am still dealing with this change. It's a lot harder to make friends when you are older and tend to see the same people day in and day out. I don't come in contact with as nearly as many people as I did when I was in school. It's also harder to keep friends because we don't live as close anymore and people tend to be scattered in different cities or even different states. It's not as easy to just call someone and ask to hang out spur of the moment. Everything has to be planned and scheduled. It's an awkward phase and it was tough for me.

Life seemed to get in the way of what used to be one of my first priorities, my friends. Many nights when my husband would have a night class, I would dread going home because I knew I would be there alone with nothing to do. When there were things to do, I wasn't always able to make it to hang out like I used to because of work or the long drive. I missed out on fun events because I had to be up early the next day or I wanted to spend rare quality time with my husband. There were also times where I just didn't get invited to hang out with friends like I used to. I was sometimes forgotten or maybe just not as close to that group anymore. I've had friends move, get married, get new jobs, get in consuming relationships, etc. and they weren't around to spend much time together anymore. Some people assumed that because I was now married, I wouldn't be as interested in spending time with friends as I once was. This was completely false, but I noticed myself getting invited to do less and less. I found myself almost always being the one who had to make the effort to make the friendship happen. It hurt and it was hard for me to see other people having so many "friends" when I felt like I had very few who were truly there for me.

I slowly realized that I wasn't the only person in this boat. I actually found out that many people my age dealt with the same problem and also felt like I did. Little did I know, I wasn't alone in this at all. It's still hard for me, but I am becoming more content with the friends that God has blessed me with. Getting older has allowed me to have less surface level friendships with lots of people and instead dig deep into a few friendships that really matter. It has taught me to cherish the friends that I do have because I know how hard real friends are to come by. It has drawn me closer to loved ones knowing that these people are worth investing in because they will be there for me until the end. I've gained a brand new perspective and a deeper understanding of relationships as a whole. I am also learning that there are times where I will just have to accept being alone and that's perfectly okay.

No matter how happy I am with my marriage, my family, my job, my church...I will always crave genuine friendships. It took me a while to realize this, but I still have those friendships. They may look different as I get older and they might require a little bit more effort, but they are still there.

2013

2013 -- Wow, what a year! I can honestly say it was probably the best year of my life thus far. So many memories and milestones. A year filled with lessons and firsts. My heart is full just thinking about the blessings I experienced this year.

~The year started out with getting to marry my best friend -- it was the most perfect day being surrounded by family and friends who came together to celebrate our love for each other. I cherished having each person I loved in the same room. It was such a special day. AND -- I became Mrs. Joshua Gale which is by far the best title I have ever held :)

~We went on a cruise to Mexico for our honeymoon and got a much needed vacation. 

   (Cafe Du Monde at our port in NOLA)

~I learned more about cooking, cleaning, and other wifely duties. 

~I cut 10 inches of my hair off and donated it to Locks of Love. 

~Cedric became OUR dog -- I love him!

~Josh and I went away for the weekend to Nashville. It was the first time we had ever gone and we had a blast. 

          (Country Music Hall of Fame)

~We went to birthday parties, cookouts, and pool parties.

~We attended my brother's graduation from college!

~We went to the beach with the Gale family.

~I went to lots of weddings, bridal showers, and bachelorette parties.

~Josh and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary since we started dating.

~I celebrated my best friend's time in Georgia and went to a special Going Away Party for her.

~I went to a New Kid's on the Block and 98 Degrees Concert with my sister-in-laws -- so much fun!

~We celebrated the Fourth of July with Samuel, Emma, and Sophia.

~I ran -- a lot!

~Some of my friends had babies :)

~Josh and I coached a kid's soccer team at our church.

~We joined Mountain View UMC and Josh became the Youth Pastor there.

~We went to the fair.

~I went apple picking with all of my nieces and nephews and sister-in-laws.

~Josh and I went to Helen for the day and went back to the spot where we got engaged.

~We celebrated my 25th birthday and Josh's 24th birthday.

~I crafted this year and actually tried Pinterest creations.

~We enjoyed Thanksgiving in Savannah.

~I said goodbye to my brother who moved to Texas for an awesome job.

~We participated in Bethlehem Walk.

~We moved from our basement apartment into our own home!

~We celebrated our first Christmas as a married couple.

~We hosted the Hailey family Christmas at our new house.

~Josh preached throughout this year and did an amazing job!

~I had a wonderful year with my friends!

~I spent a lot of time with my mom, dad, and brother this year -- more thankful and appreciative for them as each year passes. Grateful for everything my parents do for me!

~I joined the Gale family and I love being a part of their family!

~I started this blog back in August. It's something I've always wanted to do and I've really enjoyed getting back into writing!

~To top off the whole year, Josh and I have experienced more generosity and love this year than ever before. We are so blessed to be surrounded by an amazing group of family, friends, and church family who constantly give, help, support, and shower us with love. I have never witnessed so many selfless acts before and I am blown away that many of them were towards my family. It is truly humbling and encouraging.

I am beyond grateful for everyone in my life who has helped make 2013 such a success. Thanks to my husband for putting up with me during this crazy year and for an amazing first year of marriage. I can't wait to see what 2014 has in store for us! See you next year folks!