Sunday, June 30, 2013

Weekly Shopping - $145.52

This week was pretty crazy with my brother here working on the remodel.  I spent a chunk of time several days helping in whatever way I could including digging and hauling dirt, unloading pallets of concrete, and carrying cinder blocks to the basement.  I was tired, but satisfied. 

So I did very little of my normal house projects and the floor needed cleaning much more than usual.  We also had dinner guests twice, a playdate, and my husband threw me a surprise party for my birthday.  In short, it's been a zoo.  Lovely, but kind of insane.

I went to Costco to pick up bargain priced sugar.  I wanted to make jam and it takes a lot of sugar so I picked up a few other things, too.  I can't find my receipt, but I know I spent $41.30 on my debit card.  I bought all this: 25 pounds of sugar (under $10), 6 hearts of romaine ($3.50ish), tortilla chips ($3.50ish), bananas $1.24, #10 can of diced tomatoes ($3??) and 3 pepperoni pizzas for $6 each. 


We had been completely out of cold cereal and the kids were desperate for it so we swung into Albertsons because they were having some good sales and I had a $3/$30 coupon. 
Cereal - $1.29/box (got 2 boxes sugar cereal for camping tradition)
Strawberries - $3.88 for 3# box
Rice-a-Roni - $.50/box  just too a good a deal not to get.  
3 Apples - $1/lb
Tomato - $1.99/lb (needed for recipe)
mango - $1.00
Dressing - $.99
Little Debbie snack cakes (not pictured) = $1.50
2# frozen corn (not pictured) = $2.59 

Next we headed to QFC to pick up sour cream and whipping cream and we scored in the markdown section!  Look at all that cereal!  I spent $21.57.
Cereal - $0.49 per box on clearance.  I bought every one they had and only felt a little guilty.
Pasta-Roni - $0.49 per box on clearance
Butter - $1.67 each
Canned Tomatoes - $0.49 on clearance for a big can
Sour cream - $1.00
Whipping cream - $2.29
Green onion - $.50
Spinach - $1.29/bunch

I was at QFC again for baby wipes and lice shampoo on Saturday.  I thought I spotted nits in one of my girls' hair, but a scrub and comb out showed not a speck.  I guess it was just a really dirty kid which would make sense with all the dirt from construction this week.  I got sucked into a "Buy 10" deal when I saw 1 pound lunchmeat as part of it.  I spent $32.68 on food.
Coffeemate was $2.49 as part of the Buy 10 deal
Ragu was $1.19 as part of the Buy 10 deal
Lunchmeat was $2.49 as part of the Buy 10 deal
Taco Shells - $1.49 (for company)
Chips - $2.00 (for company as Costco chips nearly gone)
Cottage Cheese - $1.79
Sour Cream - $1.00 each (for company)
Danimal drink 6-packs - $1.00 each on clearance
Bananas - $0.69.lb

Sunday morning I took my waffle iron to Sunday School and brought batter I had made that morning.  I've been out of cooking spray for ages and have just been using a water spray bottle filled with vegetable oil to spray the waffle iron at home.  But I didn't think my friends would go for that so DH picked up cooking spray for $2.29 on the way to church. 

A resourceful tip: I had some strawberries on their last legs so I washed and sliced them for the waffles.  They didn't look pretty so I just mixed them with runny freezer jam from last year's batch and voila! Strawberry topping for the waffles.  Also, our guests the night before had brought whipped cream in a can as part of dessert so we brought that for the waffle bar, too.

Milk delivery was $11.16
Eggs were $6.00

Total grocery spending for Week 26: $145.52
Total year to date 2013: $2,355.69
Weekly average: $90.60

We are expecting a quarter of a cow on July 9th or 10th so that will REALLY jump our weekly average . . .

Katie

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Monday Menu Plan & Goals

Menu plan this week is basically survival.  Fast & easy meals are a necessity while my brother is here working on the remodel and I'm trying to gather garage sale stuff.

Dinners:
Monday - Enchilada casserole (to use random jar of enchilada sauce in pantry)
Tuesday - Pizza from Costco
Wednesday - chicken in sour cream sauce with rice pilaf (hosting friends)
Thursday - Birthday dinner?  Don't know if I'm making something or not.
Friday - Dinner at small group - taking Trifle for dessert
Saturday -Taco Bar? (hosting two couples and one extra kiddo)
Sunday -Leftovers

Lunches:
Monday - pizza from Costco
Tuesday - nachos (making jam and this is a fast, easy lunch)
Wednesday - PBJ
Thursday - Mac'n'Cheese
Friday - Homemade pizza for playdate
Saturday - Grilled cheese
Sunday -  PBJ

Goals last week were surrounding getting a few small areas in the house organized and cleaned in hopes that I might stumble across unnecessary items I could take to an upcoming garage sale.  Alas, I cleaned few of those areas though I did clear 90% of my dresser and delved into the box of Grandma's stuff.  I didn't touch my nightstand or the homeschool drawers.

For some reason life just seems busier than usual.  My brother is here working, it's been rainy, and the house is a bit dirtier for both.  Maybe it's because all of our school year activities have ended so we're spending more time physically in the house and it's just messier?

So this week my goals aren't too stupendous:
1) make jam
2) stay on top of the laundry and dishes
3) find some garage sale stuff - Reminding myself that I don't have to have a cleaning/organizing frenzy to locate unwanted items because they are everywhere.

Katie

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Weekly Grocery Shopping - $164.39

This Week wasn't full of shopping, but I managed to spend a huge amount due to Costco and a bulk honey purchase.

I went to Albertson's to score the 3# strawberries for $3.88.  At $1.29/lb this is the cheapest I've seen anywhere all year so far.  I bought 7 pounds a couple weeks ago with jam in mind, but my family ate all of them.  So I'm buying again, hoping for jam.   I spent $20.60.

Rice-a-roni on sale for $.50 each if you Buy 10.
Ken's dressing $.99 each
Strawberries - 3# for $3.88 each

Next stop was Costco.  I recently renewed my membership after a 3 year hiatus.  Truly, some things are just cheaper there and while I can get as good a price at my local grocery stores if I shop sales and use coupons, it's more convenient not have to wait for the sale for 3 months or print/clip coupons.  I spent $ 40.23.
Bananas - $1.39
Shredded Parm - $10.99
Coffee - $4.99 (had a $5 off incentive coupon for signing up)
Feta- $9.18 (My #1 reason for signing up again.  We just luuuurve feta.)
Peara - $5.99 for six pounds
Butter - $7.69 for 4 pounds
Rotisserie Chicken - FREE (with incentive coupon for signing up)

I also bought 2 pepperoni pizzas for $5.99 each that were $12.90 total.  Not sure why unbaked pizza had tax?

My bulk buying group has raw honey coming in about a month.  I placed an order for 6 quarts and paid $77.50.

Milk - $11.16
Eggs - $2.00 (my friend only had one dozen this week)

Grand total for the week: $164.39
Total year-to-date 2013: $2,210.17
Total average spending per week: $88.41

Katie

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Garden Update

Pumpkins flourishing!

Round 2 of cucumbers are settling in.

My First Cherry Tomatoes!

Snap Peas and Lettuces

Raspberries are coming up.  Likely there will be no fruit this summer, but still growing!
Sadly I still have yet to put zucchini and yellow squash in the ground.

Katie

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Monday Menu Plan & Goals (on Wednesday)

Dinners:
Monday - Sour Cream Chicken
Tuesday -  Leftovers
Wednesday - Cheesy Rice Casserole
Thursday - Meatball Subs
Friday - Sausage Soup
Saturday - Pizza
Sunday - Chicken La Viva! 

Lunches:
Monday - hot dogs & pasta salad
Tuesday -quesadilla
Wednesday - Costco pizza
Thursday - homemade pizza
Friday - hot dogs
Saturday - Mac'n'Cheese
Sunday - PBJ

Yes, it's Wednesday and I'm finally posting my menu plan.  Sheesh! 

Goals are a little vague this week, too.  I'm visiting my mom in a few weeks to help her with a big garage sale and she said I can sell my stuff, too.  The problem is I don't have a lot of stuff sorted out so my goal is to be cleaning, organizing, and finding stuff.  So, roughly, these are goals for the rest of the week:

Thursday - Clean off my dresser and organize drawers (furniture not clothing)
Friday - Sort out box on the floor of my bedroom with papers and misc. from Grandma's estate
Saturday - Clean off my nightstand and DH's nightstand
Sunday - Sort through homeschool baskets in the office
Monday - Pantry (includes food, serving dishes, appliances, craft supplies)

Katie

Monday, June 17, 2013

Summer Reading Programs

I am nowhere near my menu plan this week.  I still have until dinner to figure it out, right?

Anyway, a friend and I were discussing summer reading programs on Facebook this morning and I wanted to share a few.

Half Price Books is an old favorite in our family.  We love that the girls get gift card rewards!  This year it is a $5 gift card for 300 minutes of reading in June.  Then you can do it again in July.  Our girls read 20 minutes per day so 300 isn't too hard.  Here's the link to their summer reading program page.

Barnes and Noble has a good one this year, too.  It earns a free book from their list of 20 books when your kiddos reads any 8 books.  Here's the link to their page.

Finally the library obviously has one every summer.  Their prizes are less "cool" but still fun.  Here's a link to the library's summer reading page.  The library is a bit more aggressive with the goal of 1,000 minutes over the course of the summer.  If you have younger kiddos it's the goal of 20 books.

We are heading over to the library to get books today! 

Katie

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Weekly Shopping - $156.21

This week I shopped A LOT.  Perhaps it was to make up for the lack of shopping last week.

I needed vinegar and onions for my meal swap so I ran down to QFC early Monday morning and ended up getting more than I expected.  I spent $32.34.
$3.99 Vinegar
$2.29 sugar
$4.99 Tillamook cheddar
$6.99 4# Strawberries
$2.39 Turkey Bratwurst
$2.49 onions
$1.88 cottage cheese - 24 oz
$1.19 cottage cheese - 16 oz
$0.49 organic yogurt cups on clearance
$0.69/lb bananas

I went to Safeway on Tuesday because it was the last day of the sale for pickles and salad dressing and I found a bunch of stuff on clearance.  I spent  $12.63 on all this!
$0.74 - pickles - $1.49 store coupon ($0.75 MC attached to jars)
$0.99 - 2# macaroni on clearance
$0.99 - salad dressing
$0.25 - yogurt cups on clearance
$0.74 - Sesame ginger chicken frozen meals
$0.54 - Pepperoni wraps frozen meals
$2.89 - huge bucket of Nancy's yogurt

Then I went to Albertson's to get their great deal on strawberries.  I would have skipped this but I was driving right past and my kids had already eaten a huge amount of the strawberries I'd already picked up.  I spent $14.78.
$1.00 each - rice pilaf mix
$3.99 - 3# strawberries
$0.79 each - cucumber
$1.29 - romaine
$0.39/lb - watermelon

I was back at QFC Wednesday to buy snacks for a party I was hosting on Thursday night.  I spent $34.28 - over half on party food.
$0.99 each - Sparkling cranberry drink
$1.49 - 5# potato salad
$1.29/lb - grapes
$1.26 each - 4pack vegan italian sausage on clearance
$10.99 - fancy layer cake (for party)
$2.29 - heavy whipping cream (for party)
$1.09 - salad dressing on clearance
$2.86 - Campfire cheese (for party)
$2.25 - Chocolate Stout cheese (for party)
$2.50 - Havarti cheese (for party)

We stopped in at Champion on Thursday because we were over near Issaquah.  I spent $25.66 on food.
$0.33  each - bags of chips
$1.00 each - boxes of Near East rice
$4.00 - slivered almonds
$6.50 - pecan halves
$2.60 - tea
$3.90 - tea
$1.00 each - white pepper

DH requested macaronada for dinner on Father's Day instead of the meatball subs I had planned.  So off to the store I went again.  We had also run through all of our milk in 4 days so I needed to pick up a gallon.  I spent $8.37.
$2.89 milk on clearance
$1.49 angel food cake on clearance
$0.49 hot dog buns on clearance
$1.00 romaine
$2.50 feta

I also stopped Albertsons on Saturday because DH requested an apple pie for Father's Day.

All of the grocery shopping came to $135.05.
I spent $10.00 on fresh eggs from my friend's chickens
Milk delivery was $11.16

Total for week 24: $156.21
Total to-date in 2013: $2,045.78
Average Weekly Spending in 2013: $85.24

Katie

Friday, June 14, 2013

Resourceful Camping & Backpacking Ideas

My friend, Melody, shared this today on Facebook.  It's originally from buzzfeed and I thought it was worth sharing here.

1. Use foam floor tiles for a softer, more comfortable tent floor.

Use foam floor tiles for a softer, more comfortable tent floor.

2. Point a head lamp into a jug of water for an instant lantern.

Point a head lamp into a jug of water for an instant lantern.
Source: listorama

3. Also: Mountain Dew + baking soda + peroxide = lantern.

Also: Mountain Dew + baking soda + peroxide = lantern.
Source: pinterest.com

4. Make tin-can sandwich bread as a portable food option.

Make tin-can sandwich bread as a portable food option.
Get the recipe here.

5. Familiarize yourself with what the poisonous plants look like.

Familiarize yourself with what the poisonous plants look like.
Source: sheknows.com

6. Bring a tick deterrent.

Bring a tick deterrent.

7. Glue sandpaper to the top of your match holder.

Glue sandpaper to the top of your match holder.
Be sure to buy strike-anywhere matches.

8. Repurpose a coffee can to hold and protect TP.

Repurpose a coffee can to hold and protect TP.

9. Make crescent rolls over the campfire.

Make crescent rolls over the campfire.
For maximum yumminess, fill ‘em with stuff like marshmallows and Nutella. Or wrap hot dogs with them.
Get the directions here.

10. Use Tic-Tac boxes to store spices.

Use Tic-Tac boxes to store spices.

11. Invest in a two-person sleeping bag.

Invest in a two-person sleeping bag.
This one is $84.99 from Cabelas.
Source: cabelas.com

12. Get these seat hammocks for car camping.

Get these seat hammocks for car camping.
Buy ‘em here.
Source: hammocks.com

13. Cut up a straw and fill the pieces up with antibiotic ointment or toothpaste for single-use packets.

Cut up a straw and fill the pieces up with antibiotic ointment or toothpaste for single-use packets.
Use a lighter to seal up the ends.
Source: briangreen.net

14. Make travel coffee bags out of coffee filters and dental floss.

Make travel coffee bags out of coffee filters and dental floss.
Place a scoop of coffee grounds into a coffee filter and tie it up with dental floss. When you’re ready to brew, just make it like you would make tea in a teabag!
Source: scjohnson.com

15. Need your coffee? Bring a few of these.

Need your coffee? Bring a few of these.
They’ll keep you from going into caffeine withdrawal.
Source: pinterest.com

16. Make candle stakes for romantic nighttime lighting.

Make candle stakes for romantic nighttime lighting.
Get the directions here.

17. Make single-use soap leaves from a bar of soap and a vegetable peeler.

Make single-use soap leaves from a bar of soap and a vegetable peeler.
You can also rub soap on mosquito bites to relieve the itchiness.

18. Use an empty laundry detergent dispenser as a hand-washing station.

 
Just fill it up with water.

19. Use a belt and hooks to hang up pots and pans.

Use a belt and hooks to hang up pots and pans.
Source: pinterest.com

20. Make campfire cones!

Make campfire cones!

21. Pack a mini first-aid kit into an old prescription bottle or Altoids tin.

Pack a mini first-aid kit into an old prescription bottle or Altoids tin.

22. Make pancakes with pre-made pancake mix using shortening and dry milk, which don’t need to be refrigerated.

Make pancakes with pre-made pancake mix using shortening and dry milk, which don't need to be refrigerated.
Get the full recipe here. You can also find powdered eggs at most grocery stores (if you don’t shudder at the thought).

23. Put a battery-powered votive candle into an empty peanut butter container to make portable lanterns.

Put a battery-powered votive candle into an empty peanut butter container to make portable lanterns.

24. Make a portable washing machine with a plunger and a bucket.

 
Get the directions here.

25. Make an easy-to-carry fire starter with a cardboard-only egg carton and match light charcoal.

Make an easy-to-carry fire starter with a cardboard-only egg carton and match light charcoal.
You just have to light the carton and the fire will catch on to the charcoal.
26.

27. Make pocket-sized oil lamps out of travel-size or hotel toiletry shampoo bottles.

Make pocket-sized oil lamps out of travel-size or hotel toiletry shampoo bottles.
Get the directions here.

28. Forgo the meat marinade and put the rosemary right on the coals.

Forgo the meat marinade and put the rosemary right on the coals.
Once the coals are uniformly gray and ashy, cover them with fresh rosemary branches. Your meat and vegetables will be flavored with the taste of savory herbs.

29. Bring cheeses in waxed packaging as well as hard cheeses.

Bring cheeses in waxed packaging as well as hard cheeses.
Aged cheddar, Parmigiano, and/or Gruyère will keep for at least a week unrefrigerated.
Source: cutefoodforkids.com  /  via: bonappetit.com

30. Add bundles of sage to a campfire to keep mosquitoes away.

Add bundles of sage to a campfire to keep mosquitoes away.
Source: google.com

31. Try roasting Starburst.

 
Sounds crazy, but it’s actually delicious. Crunchy on the outside, warm and gooey on the inside. Roast it until it’s bubbling.

32. Forgo pasta for a quick-cooking alternatives like polenta, quinoa, or couscous.

Forgo pasta for a quick-cooking alternatives like polenta, quinoa, or couscous.
Polenta is especially versatile because it can be shaped into patties and pan-fried for a sweet or savory meal. Get a recipe for grilled polenta cakes.
Source: bonappetit.com

33. Cook cinnabuns (the canned kind) in a hollowed-out orange over a campfire.

Cook cinnabuns (the canned kind) in a hollowed-out orange over a campfire.
Get the full details here.
Source: trulysimple.com

34. If you’re going to be hiking, use this biodegradable trail-marking tape.

If you're going to be hiking, use this biodegradable trail-marking tape.
Buy it here.

35. Keep the kids busy with a scavenger hunt.

 
Write the items down on a paper bag so they have a receptacle for the items.

36. Use a bucket and a milk crate as an emergency toilet.

Use a bucket and a milk crate as an emergency toilet.
Get the directions here.
Source: rootsimple.com

37. Cotton pads dipped in wax are a crazy easy way to make portable fire starters.

Cotton pads dipped in wax are a crazy easy way to make portable fire starters.
Source: pinterest.com

38. Bring microfiber towels — they’re super absorbent and lightweight.

Bring microfiber towels — they're super absorbent and lightweight.
Source: amazon.com

39. Freeze gallon jugs of water and place them in your cooler.

Freeze gallon jugs of water and place them in your cooler.
They’ll keep your food cold, and you’ll have plenty of water to drink for later.
Other things you can freeze to use for later: pasta sauces, chili, and pesto.

40. Make emergency light sources out of an Altoids tin, cardboard, and wax.

Make emergency light sources out of an Altoids tin, cardboard, and wax.
Get the instructions here.

There are some good ones in there!  The Doritos cracked me up.

Katie