Game On!

We got back from our vacation on 7/12.  Shortly after that I went to Costco and got a few grocery items like milk and eggs.  We brought home a lot of fruit from the trip so I wasn’t in need of any. 

Last weekend we went to a party and needed to bring an appetizer so I made a peanut butter caramel dip, since I had the ingredients on hand, and before we got there we picked up some fruit.  The leftover fruit came home with us.

So that’s it.  In over two weeks I have dreaded going to the store and haven’t.  And if you really think about it we didn’t go to the store before we went on vacation since we were going to be gone for two weeks.  I hope I still know where to find the store and where the items are in it!

Due to this lack of store attendance, I have been participating in the games of “How Bare Can We Make the Pantry?”, “I Didn’t Know We Had That in There”, “Let’s Try and Pull This Together”, and “What’s the Expiration on that Can?”.   Have you played those before?  It’s challenging but fun to see how far you can go.  You start to wonder if you can make it all the way to empty cabinets.  Which really is sad in and of itself since so many go without food!

Some of the meals have been good like Raviolis with Sausage/Tomato Sauce (using up some frozen sausage and raviolis).  Some have been a stretch like a Fritata with only 4 eggs and lots of fillings.  It’s amazing how much food is really there and how much we are blessed with, but I think the time has come to break down and go to the store.  We are out of milk, eggs, and fresh veggies.  We are very low on most pantry staples and cheese, and you have to have cheese don’t you?.

So I have adequately, I hope, prepared the boys to expect that we will be heading to the store today.  Prayers are always accepted and welcome 🙂

Have a “Blessed With Food” Day!

 

Let’s go shopping!

I do love to shop.  So we have to go shopping for the A-Z tips.  I would love to focus on non-essential items however as grocery prices increase I think a few grocery tips may help.  Please feel free to add your own as I know many of you have terrific tips yourself.  I want to learn from them.

Let’s go shopping:

• At the store shop the perimeter.  All the sale items will be stocked there.  And you will cover fresh veggies and fruit which is more healthy then processed foods.
• Only purchase fruits and veggies that are in season. 
• Try making your own salad dressings, seasoning mixes, marinades, and biscuit mixes.  They are fairly easy to do and will save you $$$$$.
• Compare price per unit when buying in bulk.  You may not be saving money with some items.
• Keep a list.  This is so true.  All those extras really add up.
• Buy spices in bulk.  You don’t need as much of some spices and spices don’t stay fresh forever.
• Stay away from prepared foods.  They are very expensive.
• Decide if you are a coupon person or not.  If you are not, then accept it and don’t hang on to them and feel defeated.  Instead, shop store brands and use other tips.  If you are then get a good system for using them.  There are also subscription type services like the www.thegrocerygame.com that might work for you. 
• Find lower priced cuts of meat and find recipes on ways to cook them instead.
• Keep a budget for food.
• Eat less meat.
• In most cases, toiletry items are more expensive at your grocery store.
• Have you shopped at a 99 cent store lately?  Mine has veggies and fruit.  I also got a beautiful jar of mixed mushrooms (that looked like something you would get in a gift basket, for –you guessed it–99 cents!
• Use up stale bread to make your own breadcrumbs of croutons.  Easy to do and saves $$
• Know when the sales are for your store.  And you may want to find out when they stock so they are not out of the items when you go.
• Start with a menu and then shop.
• Make your own cleaning products will save a bundle!!!  The companies that produce that stuff is making a ton of $$ as we need very few cleaners yet most households are full of buckets of different cleaners.
• Watch the register.  Make sure someone unloads the cart and you watch the register.  If you are alone, look over the receipt before you leave.
• AND NEVER GO TO THE STORE HUNGRY!

Don’t forget to share your tips.

Contest: Link any of my A-Z tips on your blog and let me know and I will enter you in my contest to win some lovely prozes.  Check out my post- Wanna now what you are playing for? to see them.
Have a “Cost-Effective” Day!

Debbie aka The Real World Martha(S)

 

“B”

B

The “B” tip for the day will be for BEAUTY. 

Take time for a Mom Spa Night.  Either do by yourself or with some friends.

Gather up –

• A Robe (if you own one)
• Slippers
• Pitcher of Water with Lemon Slices (clean the skin of the lemon first) and maybe some Tea
• Some Light Food such as Fruit, Veggies, Bread/Crackers, and Cheese
• Soft Music
• Candles or Soften the lights
• A Journal (if alone) and make sure to write down 10 of your Blessings if with some friends have everyone go around the room to give their list of blessings
• Powdered Milk or 5 tea bags for a nice bath (if it’s just you)
• Something to soak your feet in
• Make a homemade beauty product to try (I have a couple of recipes below that you can try)
• Items for a manicure or pedicure
• Maybe a Chick Flick
• Lotion (get your favorite)

Fresh Face Cleanser

1 Tbsp Plain or Vanilla Yogurt

3/4 c Lemon Juice

Mix together and ally to face.  Rinse with warm water

Hand Softner

Wash hands in warm water.

1 Tbsp Honey

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

Massage into hands.  Cover hands with saran wrap, baggies, or cotton gloves for 30 min.

It may seem like this is bigger than just a tip but the point is to take time for yourself.  Our Mom job require us to be refreshed and feeling good about ourselves.  So plan your day now and put it on the calendar!  That’s an order 🙂

DON’T FORGET – If you ping or link back to my post on your blog (any tip A-Z) you will enter for a chance to win in my first contest.  If you don’t have a blog, leave a comment and let me know that you don’t have a blog and I will put you in the running.

Have a “Beautiful” Day

 

Somewhere between Bulgar and Banquet

While I was at the grocery store picking up my items, and looking at other people’s cart (Does anyone else do that?), I realized I am somewhere between Bulgar and Banquet.  “What does that mean?” you ask.

In my cart I have some products from the “health food” aisle.  Lots of fruit and veggies to boot!  I must be doing great.  But wait….

Behold, there is can chili.  I have several cans of ……green beans.  I’m ashamed..or am I?. 

Milk that is right down the middle of the road at 2%.  Is that healthy or not???  Who knows. 

Pasta that is not whole wheat.  Bread is whole wheat but not with nuts inside (don’t like sunflower seeds in my bread).  

Cereal includes Bran Flakes (plain), that even the kids will eat, and Grape-Nuts but Frosted Corn Flakes (generic of course) for a treat cereal is present an accounted for. 

I bought one frozen lunch meal for my son, that contained a corn-dog and some fake looking dessert.  I still feel guilty over buying something so artificial (but it sure was cheap and easy).

Who would be thinking as much as I do at the store?  Anyone???  OK, I think way too much!!!

So on the scale of Bulgar (Wheat) to Banquet where do you fall?

Have a Somewhat Healthy Day!

Debbie aka The Real World Martha (S)