First Four Days: Not for the faint of heart

The first five days of our no spend month (from here on out= NSM, much easier to type!) have gone pretty smooth.

Thoughts so far:

• Well, I passed the mall the other day and the following all ran through my head at the same time-

1. Hmm, a cinnamon pretzel from Auntie Anne's sounds delicious.  I should get one, I can practically taste it! Crap, I can't. NSM.
2. If I went to the mall I could JUST walk around.  Just look, maybe make a list of things I need.   I need nothing.  Get a grip on it.
3. New York & Company closed, which makes my life a little less awesome.  I should go find a "replacement" store, you know, for when I can spend money again.  Except then I would look, want to buy, and then just be sad. 

• I'm happy to say, after all these thoughts went through-

1. We have cookie dough at home, I can pop some of those in the oven when I get home. 
2. I should look through my clothes when I get home and pull some things I haven't worn in a while to wear soon. Also, since I'm looking through, I can go through and clean up a little! 

I already feel a little bit of freedom since I am trying to turn my thought to what I already have and not what I want, want, want.  I am still thinking probably 4-5 times daily about some item I want like a cookie from Donut Bank : ) or a cappuccino or tea from the gas station or Chick-fil-a, but I am working very hard at putting things into perspective.  

On the cooking front, it is going great.  I have always loved cooking, so it's not that much more of a chore.  One thing that I have tried before is menu planning.  I haven't always done great with this,  but I think it was because we had the fall-back option of going out and picking something up.  But not this month!! I'm going to go ahead and post our suppers for the week.   Some recipes I have posted on the blog before, but ones I haven't I will try to post, especially if there is any interest from my 2 or 3 readers! ; )
2-1-13 Friday
Sally's noodle casserole
Salad (recipe below)

2-2-13 Saturday
Leftovers of Sally's and Two Timin' pasta bake from Pinterest

2-3-13 Sunday
It was superbowl, so there wasn't really so much cooking as much of heating things up in the oven.  But I digress...  We had-
Honey BBQ Boneless Chicken Bites
Baked steak house style fries
Chili Cream Cheese dip w/ chips
Nestle Swirled Valentines chocolate chip cookies for dessert

2-4-13 Monday
Chicken puffs
creamed corn
Cookies from Sunday

2-5-13 Tuesday
Broccoli Deer Braids
Mashed Potatoes

2-6-13 Wednesday
Pancakes and Bacon

2-7-13 Thursday
Spinach  Tortellini Pasta

2-8-13 Friday
Chicken Bites and fries

2-9-13 Saturday
Chicken Enchiladas
 
I will also to take pictures of the recipes I post, but first two disclaimers:

1. I may not take pictures, because I enjoy eating what I make much more than staring at it.
2. My camera is not great and the lighting in our house is pitiful!  

So, you've been warned! : )  Hope everyone's week is going well!