Getting organized...

Because of my new crazy schedule, and the fact that I'm barely home long enough to think about dinner before I'm ready to eat, I decided to revert back to a chart I used to use when we were first married, and I was really making meals for the first time. This chart, though simple, is amazing in helping me feel excited about dinner plans (even though they are much more simple than I would often like), and I am able to avoid extra trips to the grocery store. We plan this the weekend before, add the "ingredients needed" to the running shopping list on the side of the fridge, and I vow to not enter the front door at Kroger until I do it all over again the next week. Week 1 was a success, and week 2's chart is filled out. We'll see how long it goes, but I hope it's successful throughout the rest of my schooling (and maybe the rest of my life). I also make extra and freeze a second portion so it is available for cooking the next week or whenever we are in need of a good, yet fast meal. This planning has also helped our new "out to eat" budget, since we aren't left with running to get something for dinner, and we plan the nights that we will go out.I also got a new planner this weekend, which I love. It is full sized, which I was a bit against in the beginning because it doesn't fit conveniently in a purse, but who am I kidding, I live out of my backpack these days. It has a nice large monthly calendar view, as well as these beach themed daily pages, big enough for my school items on the left side and "life" items on the right. I put in all my tests, assignments, work schedule, SPRING BREAK, and all those important events, as well as quite a nice list of all the homework I still need to get done tomorrow (yes, I have only had 4 days of school and am already hours of homework behind). Also, papers are all hole punched and in my new binders

On a more fun note, I have to share about the amazing deal I got on a dress this weekend too. I have been on the lookout for a dress for "tooth prom" next month, and often browse the sale rack at Banana, but have been quite disappointed so far this year. However, we went in on Saturday night while waiting for our table at dinner, and I found one I loved, my size, classic black, cap sleeve, knee length, perfect. The only problem...the price. It was on the sale rack, yet the tag still read $130. I wasn't sure if it was even on sale, but Grant persuaded me to still try it on (even though I resisted because I didn't want to fall in love with a $130 dress). I of course loved it so asked the employee if she could check to see if it was in fact on sale. She took it to the front while I changed back into my clothes, and met me as I came out of the dressing room to inform me that the dress was actually priced at $27, and all sale items were 30% off. AND...we had a gift card, and note to all, if you use a gift card in January there, you get 10% off your entire purchase (yes weird I know, but I'll take it). Can you believe it?! Final price: $17.01. (You'll have to wait for next month for the pictures of that!)