Great Date Night Idea

So tonight I went on a spontaneous random date with my husband. Pulling several different ideas from what I've heard or read about I made it into my own thing. I had 6 different envelopes and in each one I put 1 sheet of paper with instructions on one side and a random question conversation starter on the other with a verse under it. Then I put the amount of money chosen for each one in the envelope along with the instructions (ended up being $30 for the whole evening and we didn't even end up spending it all). You end up driving (or walking) around to a lot of different restaurants and  locations for a fun filled evening. Before we started I shuffled up the envelopes and than without looking have your spouse draw 3 and you draw three. Than you can do what ever order you like.This is kind of what it looked like:

1st Envelope (Labled "Drink") 
           Instructions: You have $3 to spend. You must pick a drink from a restaurant of your choosing that both you and your spouse will enjoy, but have never tried before. Good luck and enjoy!
           Question: What are 3 essential values we want our children to embrace above all others?
           Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:18
2nd Envelope (Labled "Appetizer")
            Instructions: You have $3 to spend on an appetizer of your choice that you think your spouse would enjoy the most. Pick wisely for afterwards your spouse gets to rate it from 1-10. 1 being a poor choice and 10 being right on. If you rate under 5 you owe your spouse extra kisses and an extra bite of your food.
             Question: What is the best way for me to encourage you when you are feeling down?
              Verse: 2 Cor. 4:16
3rd Envelope (Labled "Entree" )
              Instructions: Congratulations you have been given $10 to spend on an entree of your choice. Pick any restaurant, but the catch is you must let your spouse decide if you order 1 meal to share or 2 to not share. Which ever it may be tray and keep both you and your spouses likes in mind. Have fun and don't forget to get napkins.
              Question: In what area of you spiritual walk would you like to improve on.
              Verse: Song of Songs 1:2
4th Envelope (Labled "Fun")
               Instructions: This ones just for kicks. You have $0 to spend but must come up with some activity that you know your spouse will enjoy. Be creative with it and step into your spouse's shoes.
                Question: Tell me one thing that I did this past week that impressed you
                Verse: Song of Songs 8:7
5th Envelope (Labled "Fun")
                 Instructions: Now here's the fun one! You have been given $10 -- $5 for you and $5 for you spouse. You need to pick some cheap store (Walmart, Target, Good will, Dollar General, ect --you choose) and you and your spouse will have 15 min (So set your watch) to find a present for the other person within the time frame. Try not to let the other person see you and make it back to the car and wrap it. Later open the presents and rate who did the best job. Have fun and think smart!
                   Question: If you could have witnessed any biblical event, which one would you choose?
                   Verse: Song of Songs 1:16
6th Envelope (Labled "Dessert")
                 Instructions:Married couples unit! You have been given $4 to pick up any dessert you choose to drive off into the sunset or starts with. Let your spouse pick the restaurant of his or her choice and you get to choose any dessert that sounds good to you to share. Than drive off and find some place romantic to snuggle and share it with--In the back seat of course ;).
                  Question: What do I do that pleases you the most physically?
                   Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:13

This is a great one because you can personalize it in so many different ways with different instructions, questions and verses so it's not the same every time.

Christmas Decorations!

Our Christmas Decorations this year--For our very first Christmas together!

                                                        Ignore the clutter on the stand....

 I was trying to get a good picture of our first ornament that we've bought together, but this was the only one that half way turned out.

 It was so nice--Justin's grandma gave him one ornament for every year growing up, so we had plenty to put on the tree :). And I have to say it was a whole lot of fun unwrapping each one!

 This little guy looked a lot better, but he took a tumble and I haven't took the time to fix him up yet. He's sitting in our office window...of course on top of a speaker.

 Justin always laughs at me for putting a bear on top of the tree--as if he's hanging on for dear life, but it's a tradition of mine :) ....and I think he's just adorable!

It's one of those light up neon trees--I don't know what they are called, but it's cool looking in real life.

P.M.S. Night (Pasta Mushroom Skillet)

So it was one of those nights where I was in a crazy mood and didn't want to make what was on the menu and if people saw me they might say I was acting a bit insane. But out of insanity I ended up making a meal that wasn't all that bad--I actually really liked it. 

So here it is-- the Pasta Mushroom Skillet!

Ingredients

1/2 Box Bow Tie Pasta (Or however much you want)

1/2 c. Mushrooms (I might have used about 1 cup 3-4 whole cut up mushrooms)

1 Jalapeno (chopped)

1 Medium zucchini (sliced)

2 Slices of a big tomato (chopped up)

1/4 tsp Garlic

1/4 tsp Basil

1/8 tsp Parsley

1/4 C. Spaghetti sauce

1/4 C. Garlic Alfredo sauce

Directions:

Bring water to boil (I added a couple shakes of garlic and a little salt). Once water is at a rolling boil throw in pasta. 

While Pasta is boiling, saute all the veggies with Garlic, Basil, and Parsley in a skillet with some olive oil until tender (about 10 min).

Once Pasta is done drain and put back in pan on Medium low. Stir in Veggies. Stir in Spaghetti and Garlic Alfredo sauce. Serve. Makes about 2-4 helpings depending.  

Warning: Measurements might be a little off--since I didn't measure anything as I threw it in, so use your own judgment.

Fall Decorations

 So I didn't have much for this season of Fall, but I'm happy with what I was able to come up with. It gives the house a little extra feel that this fall season has definitely arrived. :)

 Beautiful roses my Husband brought me when I wasn't feeling the best! Caught me totally by surprise, but they make a wonderful centerpiece for the coffee table in the living room.

 Cheap leaves I picked up at Joann's and strung together to make a garland for the door to the office.

 I just wrapped up the most "fallish" candles I had and stuck some leaves around them to place on our desk out in the living room. 

 This was a walmart buy I had purchased last year in December and finally got to put up this year. It looked kind of bare so I decided to put one of our wedding pictures in it.

 I bought this horn basket at a garage sale back when I was in high school. I must have decided to hang on to it, because I found it recently and it worked quite nice once I put some leaves and a pumpkin in it.

 This was one of the center pieces my mother-in-law made for our wedding rehearsal dinner. I just took the liberty of putting some fall leaves in it to give it a little bit more of the Autumn feel.

 Another one of my last year Walmart after season buys. I just stuck them in a jar of rice and put some leaves and candles around them. They look very cute in our big kitchen window.

I actually did this set up for a tea-party I threw for my youth girls....it was our drink table. The idea kind of stuck. So, for the chilly autumn nights or days when we have company or just want some tea it's already out and ready to go.

Menu--filled out

And this is what the menu looks like all filled out. 

In total I spent $140 on Groceries and saved $58.75-- a total of 30% for the month. Well, not quite for the whole month, there are a few things I will still need to pick up as the month goes by, but for the main bulk of things---I'm content with it (we'll see how things turn out). 

My monthly Menu

So I've been working off of a meal menu for about 3 months now, but have never actually made my own template. So this was my fist attempt using excel, to plan a month long menu. We shall see how it works. Now, for the more tedious planning of actually making the menu-- trying to stay within our budget. :)