2023 Word of the Year

Last year's word was resilience which was a great word for 2022. First our family decided to move to another part of the state for my husband's job, so I needed to resign from my position. This was very scary and really affected me in ways that I did not expect. However, I was fortunate to have found a wonderful position that allows me to grow and continue to teach children.

This year I am claiming my word of the year to be BALANCE.

This year I do not just want to survive but to flourish. The world talks a lot about recession and a host of events around the world that seem dark and troublesome. I recognize that I am unable to control the world and most of the things that are going on, but I can control my little piece of the world and bring balance to my life and support my family to find balance. Not everything is bad or hurtful and there are still opportunities to bring beauty, love, caring and hope to our lives. Therefore, I am seeking balance this year.

In order to live a more balanced life this year, I am starting with working on my meditation, focusing on gratitude and practicing saying “no” to things that will create stress in my life.

What is your word for 2023?

Comments

Menu Planning #132

Our meals need to be nutritious, clean, flexible, quick and cost effective. Between our work schedules and after school activities, we need to carefully plan our meals so that we do not end up ordering out. The news is very scary at this time because of all the news of meat plants shutting down, grocery stories limiting the amount of meat a family can purchase and all of the talk about a depression on the horizon. We have decided to keep our grocery budget the same, but to economize any way we can. This week we tried to pick up some shrimp that was on sale, but the store was out of shrimp and not expecting to get any more in. We were grateful to find wild caught salmon for the same price, so we picked that up instead for our Mother’s Day Dinner. What did we spend? Week 1: $96.44 Kroger: $96.44 Rebates: $3.55 IBOTTA: $1.35 Kroger Cash: $0.45 Checkout 51: $1.75 ...

Menu Plan #322

NOTE- 1- Click on the picture and get a link to a post sharing the recipe. 2- Although all prices were correct at the time of the blog postings, the current cost of these dishes may be higher due to inflation and/or location. Published September 2025: USDA Thrifty Food Plan According to this plan, our family has a weekly budget of $190.50. Since October has 5 weeks, our monthly budget is $952.50. We elevate our dining experiences by including fresh fruits, vegetables, and higher-quality meats. Since our family has specific dietary needs, we limit our consumption of highly processed food. Grocery Shopping Tip: Rethink lunchmeat. The deli will provide you with thin-sliced meat or presliced deli meat, but you will pay a premium per pound. ($6.49 to $15.00 per pound) However, if you buy a ½ boneless ham (unsliced or presliced), the price point will drop to between ...

Frugal Five: #133

With inflation rising and salaries staying the same, our ability to make ends meet is becoming increasingly difficult. Therefore, we must be more careful with our money. The Frugal Five is a series that celebrates the daily or weekly activities that help us live a frugal life. This year, my focus is on Simple Abundance , so finding ways to live well while staying on budget will be challenging. Come along and enjoy my journey of elevating joy, enjoying what you have, and finding luxury in my local area. 1- Giving Back to the Community Supporting your community can take countless shapes. Some people choose to write a check, and that generosity absolutely matters. But many outreach efforts require more than funding—they need time, hands, and hearts willing to show up. I’m grateful that I’m able to participate in several programs that make a real difference for the people around me. One of the most meaningful ways I give b...

The Sweet Life On A Budget

Search This Blog