homemade body wrap (the follow-up post)

So, if you read yesterday's post, you now know that I did not have quite the adventure...

Ahem.

I am cheap.  There I said it...  Cheap is not always better.  I repeat, NOT. ALWAYS. BETTER.  In this case, definitely NOT. BETTER.

I looked online for recipes for wraps and found many, but did not have some of the ingredients needed, so I found some substitutions...since I didn't have clay, the mixture was watery so I decided to use towels for applying it, and since it was GREEN, I decided disposable paper towels would be best, just in case.  This all worked great, aside from the solution dripping down my entire body (instead of just my stomach) and generally getting all over everything in the room.

The primary ingredient in these things is salt (of some form or another)...Such a concentrated amount of salt meant that the drips left white residue everywhere.  My legs looked like some form of a diseased zebra...

I tried another mixture as well, which had coffee grounds as the main ingredient...do you have any idea how messy coffee grounds can be?

source

And, in all my coordinated-saran-wrapping of myself, I somehow managed to completely wrap one of my legs WITHOUT putting the coffee grounds in the wrap...  yeah...that's going to be effective.

And that blade strip on the saran wrap box...that thing is sharp, y'all.  ouch.

So, I finally get everything in place, all saran wrap is secure and I'm dressed in an old T-shirt and running shorts and I definitely realize that I need to use the bathroom....but seeing as I just spent 45 minutes wrapping myself up, that's just not going to happen until after the next 45 minutes of soaking is finished...

No problem, I'll just go sit down and rest, drink some more water as suggested, and do a few things online.

So...I had wrapped my legs pretty well...with multiple layers of wrap...which is MADE to stick to itself...

Do I even need to tell you how well walking went?!?

Or maybe I should describe to you my 4 year old daughter's face when she saw me....?

No.  You have imaginations.  Anything you could come up with is probably closer to accurate than I care to reveal.

So, I make it to the other end of the house, get settled on the couch with the laptop, reach for my water bottle, because despite my previously mentioned needs, I am thirsty after all that work, and realize that my water bottle is at the other end of the house...where it will remain for the next 45 minutes while I try to block out the fact that I simultaneously have conflicting needs.

At this point, I realize the predicament I am in and succomb to the giggles I have been suppressing.  And write the blog post you all enjoyed yesterday.

Blog post finished, a few e-mails taken care of, and my soaking time is up, time to go figure out how to unwrap....

......................

Except that I have had a WARM laptop sitting on my saran-wrapped lap for the past 45 minutes.....

.......................

Yeah....it stuck...and the saran-wrap had pretty much melted to itself.  The saran wrap that had the coffee grounds in it....

I did manage to make it back to the "scene of the crime" and I did manage to get all of the saran wrap and goop off of my body, and I did manage to clean up the room before my husband came home from work...

....and I will NOT be trying the home-wrap-system again.  EVER.

EVER.

As for the benefits of the wrap...I have yet to realize any.  During the process of the wrap itself, I did lose about 2 pounds, but I'm pretty sure that was from all of the effort exerted in the process.  And I drank at least that much in water yesterday.  I was mildly thirsty throughout the day yesterday, but last night I could not seem to quench my thirst, so perhaps that was the salt helping me to detox.  I felt normal all day yesterday until I got in bed and then my entire body (joints) hurt and I had trouble getting comfortable...whether or not it was connected I do not know, but thankfully it eased and I was able to sleep.  Today I have not noticed any difference although I have continued to drink lots of water.

Never a dull moment around here.

Not Me Monday...

A friend of mine from high school often posts very amusing "Not Me Monday" posts, and I couldn't help but think of that this morning... 

I did not get the (not so) brilliant idea to have a spa-day at home and try making my own body wrap...

I did not make some weird looking green and brown concoction of household ingredients and spread it on my body...

I did not then proceed to attempt to wrap my body in saran wrap...

source

I did not use an entire roll of paper towels and saran wrap in said process...

I did not also manage to cover my entire bathroom sink and floor with previously mentioned green and brown goop....

I did not get everything situated only to discover that I had to use the bathroom...

I am not typing this blog post still wrapped in saran wrap wondering how I'm going to get it all off on my own, still needing to go to the bathroom, and laughing hysterically at another one of my crazy adventures...

Oh no, definitely not me.  In fact, that couldn't possibly be me...

I would rather just pay the big $$ to buy the wrap kits or go to the spa like normal people......


(there will most likely be a follow-up post....stay tuned....)

Birthday freebies...

My birthday was earlier this week, and as adult birthdays are prone to be, it was not terribly over-the-top exciting.  It was mostly just an average day, but I did manage to do a few out-of-the-ordinary and fun things.  It is amazing how many companies out there offer freebies for birthdays in exchange for your e-mail address and/or mailing address.  I've read of people who sign up for all of these offers and list their birthday as a different month on each one so that they freebies are spread throughout the year...I understand WHY they do it, but still seems dishonest to me.  Most of the coupons that I received were good for about a week, so I could spread them out, although some of them require you to show ID and are only good on your actual birthdate.  Colin over at Hip2Save (my fave coupon blogger!) posted a very extensive list back in 2010 of companies that offer birthday freebies.  Check it out when you have a few hours, or just browse and enter in for a couple of them.

Some of the ones that I enjoyed this week were...

source

BOGO Blizzards for my husband and me...mine was the Candy Cane, and his was the Mint Brownie...

source

My first Firehouse Sub....

source

Extra Care Bucks at CVS....I used mine for 2 new bottles of nail polish....

source

And finally, one of my favorites...free dinner...

source

Homemade...

This is probably going to be link-overload, but I have tried some really fun and delicious recipes lately that I wanted to share.  As I mentioned previously, I am trying to make more and more things from scratch...  I have found that it doesn't always save money and certainly doesn't always save time, but often it tastes better and is healthier.  There are seasons when I can make more things from scratch and seasons where it is better if I just buy things.  But, here's what I've been trying over the last several months...

Easy Blender Salsa (Easy is RIGHT!  I make this almost weekly!)

Chocolate Syrup (This is a slightly different consistency than store-bought, but I love it!)

Evaporated Milk (This was a recipe emergency...so convenient!)

Ranch Dressing

Healthier Ranch Dressing (use spices from above mix...)

Italian Dressing Mix (haven't actually made dressing, just the mix for other recipes)

Stovetop Granola

Baked Granola

Wheat Thins (These are easier than I thought they would be...just roll them REALLY thin!)

Cheese Crackers (Claimed to be like Cheez-Its...more like cheese straws in cracker form - YUMMY!)

Fruit Snacks (my daughter loved these!)

Jello Popsicles (these have an interesting consistency...I prefer fruit juice)

Granola Bars

More Granola Bars (these taste more like dessert!)

Pumpkin Butter (Super Easy!)

Cinnamon Raisin Bread (I actually did this in my bread machine and baked it in the oven!  Amazing!!)

I make most of our bread, and those recipes aren't online so I can't link to them, but I will work on getting them typed up on my printable recipe page -- I've made white bread (blech!), wheat bread, light wheat bread, sourdough bread, and my latest favorite is a rich wheat sourdough bread.  It has a secret ingredient that makes all the difference!  The whole concept of sourdough bread kind of grosses me out a little bit, but the end product sure is tasty!

Pizza Crust (not my favorite, but it's pretty good.  I didn't pin/save my favorite and my only hope is that I printed it....and it's somewhere in my pile of printed recipes!  I also make a biscuit type crust sometimes.)

Tortillas

English Muffins

I happen to live in a house with a child who would happily live on muffins alone, so we regularly have some sort of muffins in our house for breakfast/snacking.  I'm constantly looking for healthy(er?) recipes for those muffins, so check my recipes page and pinterest board for what sweet breads we're trying out around here.

I also make a double batch of pancakes or waffles when we have them and put the extras in the freezer.  I just lay them in a freezer bag, and we pop them in the toaster or toaster oven when we're ready to fix them.

Taco Seasoning is very simple to make -- I have a recipe from a friend in a church cookbook which I can try to get typed us as well, but a quick google, pinterest, or allrecipes search should bring up some good results.

Blackening Seasoning

Brownie Mix

Instant Oatmeal Packets

I also make cornbread from scratch (the sweet kind so it tastes like the Jiffy box mix).  I had no idea how simple it is to make, and I just keep a bag of cornmeal in my pantry.  This is the recipe I use.

A friend recently gave me a copy of this book and it is a very valuable resource...if you are able to get a copy, I highly recommend it.  I made the vanilla pudding and vanilla ice cream from it last week.

Lots of sauces and seasonings are easy to make and don't require adding too many items to your pantry.  I recently discovered that BBQ sauce is relatively easy to make....just need to work on my vinegar measurements...too much the first time.

You may remember my post about Stretching a Chicken, and I continue to do that to make my own chicken broth, and I save beef broth as well from when I cook a roast.  My freezer was so full of broth that I have stopped making any for right now and it kills me to throw out the chicken bones without making broth from them!

I've talked before about shopping at Costco, and I continue to purchase basic pantry items there.  Most of my baking supplies come from there, and I've started purchasing canned tomatoes/tomato sauce there as well.  We certainly don't use up the huge can in a timely manner, but I've had no problems freezing the leftovers for the next time I need them.  The tomato sauce is used in recipes, for pizzas, and spaghetti, and the tomatoes are used in ALL sorts of things, including salsa, italian dishes, and other recipes that call for diced tomatoes.

Finally, I've been dabbling in some homemade cleaners/household products and so far I've liked what I've made...

Dishwasher Cleaner

Shower/Tub Cleaner

Window/Glass Cleaner

Hair Detangler

Alright -- enough for now.  I'm all linked out. :)  One more plug for my Tried and True board on pinterest, where I'm regularly pinning the things we try.

What homemade things are you making?

Grocery Budgets....revealed!

Hear ye, hear ye – the results are in!  Once again, I have posed a potentially taboo question on facebook, only to be pleasantly surprised at the feedback I received.  After several shopping trips of going over my grocery budget, I started wondering if it was time to increase my allotted amount.  I have not been a faithful couponer as of late, and we have depleted most of our stockpile (except for body wash….my husband will be clean for years.  YEARS.).  

A “lazy” shopping trip for me (meaning one where I’m not using coupons) involves going to Walmart for the things Aldi doesn’t carry, Costco for the things that are cheaper there than at Aldi, and Aldi for the bulk of my shopping.  A “mega-shopping trip” involves all 3 of the stores mentioned, in addition to any or ALL of the following: Bi-Lo, Publix, Target, CVS (using coupons at each store).  So, it is not uncommon for us to make 5-7 stops and YES, it takes ALL day, and my (almost) 3 year old is a trooper on these days!   Lately, I’ve been going the lazy route…and I think that’s what was going on with my budget…that and the fact that the afore mentioned 3 year old is eating a lot more (and loves healthy, fresh food) than she was 3 years ago when the current amount was decided upon.  Ahem. 

So, naturally, I posted on facebook to see if any of my friends were interested in sharing their budgets with me.  This was potentially risky, because discussing this sort of thing tends to breed discontentment and dissatisfaction and comparisons,  and just generally ugly reactions, but I’m thankful that immediately after posting the question, I turned over my daily calendar page to read this verse:

“Do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.  For the pagan world runs after such things, and your Father knows that you need them.  But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”  Luke 12: 29-31

Okay, God….thank you for the reminder.  But…it has been continual – everytime I have been tempted to be discontent, He has been faithful to remind me of what His Word says about His faithful provision for me and my family.  This has come in a multitude of ways – through conversations with other friends who are struggling to feed their families well for little money, friends who are just struggling to feed their families, my husband…who has been diligent to remind me that we all have different priorities and that is OK.  God has placed all of us in different situations, and each of our unique situations has SO. MANY. VARIABLES, that it is almost silly for me to list out what each of us spends for our comparison.  (I said almost.)

What I have taken away from this research is that I need to work harder at stretching the money that God entrusts to me, that I need to be realistic about the fact that we have a LOT of company and in heavy company months my normal amount is probably not going to be stretch-able, and that ultimately it is not even MY money, and I am reminded that I need to be careful to be a good steward.  Each family has to decide what is best for them and what they feel like God is calling them to do, and then trust Him and watch His faithful mercies unfold.

So – here are the numbers that I received…I have tried to keep it as anonymous as possible, and I really appreciate everyone’s willingness to share. 

A = Adult(s)
C = Child(ren)
T = Teenager(s)

E2W = every 2 weeks

2A (South) -- $50 E2W food (coupon master + relying on stockpile + saving for adoption)

2A, 4C (South) -- $150 E2W, food + extras (paper products, cleaning supplies, toiletries, diapers for 1)

2A, 3C (South) -- $150 E2W, food + extras

2A, 1C (South) -- $160 E2W, food + extras

2A, 2C (South) -- $250 E2W, mostly food, focus on very healthy/organic

2A, 3T, 2C (South) -- $250 E2W, mostly food

2A, 2C (South) -- $400 E2W food + extras (includes gas, eating out, non-grocery items)

2A, 4C (South) -- $400 E2W food + extras (diapers for 1)

2A (East Coast) -- $150 E2W, food + extras

2A (East Coast) -- $150 E2W, food + extras

2A (East Coast) -- $250 E2W, food + extras

2A, 2C (East Coast) -- $250 E2W, food (local produce, heritage meat, no proc food, no GMOs)

2A, 2C (Midwest) -- $300 E2W, food + extras (diapers for 2, formula = $60/month)

2A, 3C (Midwest) -- $200 E2W, food only (?)

Like I said – there are LOTS of variables that play into these figures – dining out, types of food purchased, location, priorities, company/hospitality/meal ministry, what this figure actually covers, age of children included, etc, etc.  So – don’t go feeling bad about your number and how it compares to everyone else’s…chances are none of us are starving, right?

In my conversations surrounding this topic, a number of tips/hints have come up and I want to list those here…in random order.  I feel like these are well known, but I realize that sometimes we just don’t think about something or are hesitant to try it, so these are things that real people (my friends and me!) are doing 

and they are working.

*plan menus to include an item multiple times (i/e….a recipe calls for ½ container of sour cream…fix another recipe later in the week to use the remaining sour cream.)  Oh...and menu-planning...a MUST.

*swim diapers can be washed/dried….WHO KNEW?!?!

*eat meatless….there are a LOT of ways to get protein other than meat (think beans, cheese, yogurt, etc.)  Even substituting 1-2 meatless dinners a week helps cut costs.  And, when not forgoing meat completely, meat stretches further if used in casseroles, or just fixing less.   So, instead of fixing 1 piece of meat for each person, maybe try 1/3 to ½…or if a recipe calls for 1 pound, try using ½ pound.

*If you live near an Aldi – SHOP THERE. 

*Check local produce stands – often in-season produce is cheapest there….but make sure to ask where it was grown…sometimes they just buy it at a wholesale place and resell.

*Plant a garden and grow your own.

*Eggs are an inexpensive and excellent protein source.  There are SO many ways to enjoy them!

*Shop wholesale (Costco, Sam’s) when cost efficient.  See my other post on that HERE.

*Buy store brands when possible.

*Use coupons if you possibly can!  Sites like Southern Savers and Time 2 Save take a LOT of the work out of it for you.  If you have kids – put them to work cutting!

*Be creative….have a leftover night in which you clean out the fridge/pantry.  We often do this the night or two before shopping so there’s room for the new stuff.  Just because you’ve never ACTUALLY eaten something together, that doesn’t mean that it might not taste good…give it a try….you might discover something amazing!

*Check out discount bread stores in your area….often they are MUCH cheaper and bread freezes well.

*When you find a good sale, or seasonal produce is particularly cheap, buy a LOT and can/freeze.  A chest freezer (even a small one) is a worthwhile investment.  And cans/jars can be stored under beds.

*Research making things from scratch – this will require more time, but as a SAHM, I prefer to be spending that time with my daughter in the kitchen letting her help me than not being with her.  Some things that I’ve stopped buying pre-made (unless a REALLY good sale or REALLY busy week) are: bread, rolls, tortillas, granola, granola bars, sweet breads/muffins, frozen pancakes/waffles, salsa, taco seasoning, wheat thins, popsicles, etc.  Pinterest is an amazing resource for this sort of thing….just go to the search bar and type in: Homemade (insert item here) and you will be amazed at the results. 

Okay…it’s after midnight and I don’t want to be the grouchy mommy tomorrow, so I really need to get to bed.  But, thank you all for your patience and again for your participation.  I hope this is helpful for you – it has been good for me to be reminded of a lot of things and also to know that I am not alone in my quest for stretching my pennies to care for my family.  God is faithful to provide and He always does….He promises daily bread….not necessarily weekly or monthly, and we have to trust Him in that.  I can testify to His amazing provision and “refilled oil jar” type experiences in my own life and I know He will continue to amaze me with His Fatherly love and protection.  Cling to His promises, ladies, and He will bless your efforts.

Pin It

Garden Gifts...

I'm taking a break from recording my 1000 gifts during March and April, and might resume in May, although I'm not sure yet.  (Hoping to post a picture a day in the month of May...clever, huh?  Not my idea.)  The break comes mostly because I did not get the guide sheets printed in time, so by the 10th of the month when I had to backtrack and record over 30 gifts, I decided to wait.  Not that I couldn't actually COME UP with 30 gifts, mind you, but I AM a firstborn, and I DO tend towards methodical ways of doing things, and I would prefer to actually have the gifts remembered on each given day, and I COULD NOT remember back to each day to think of gifts for that particular day, thus...I decided to wait.  (Our Pastor spoke directly to ME from the pulpit recently...although no one else BUT ME knew, when he said as Presbyterians we often have the attitude of, "If I can't do it THE RIGHT way, I'm NOT going to do it AT ALL."  Ahem...does your Pastor ever speak directly to you?  Yeah...they think we don't realize they have ALL our houses and phones bugged... ;-))

I have however been taking a LOT more pictures lately (read = I need an external hard drive for the next gift-giving holiday!) and often they are of things that I see as gifts.  It's also fun to explore this world through the eyes of a 2 year old, which I try to do on a regular basis.  My neighbors could tell you that it is not uncommon to see me on the ground in my yard, often kneeling or lying down taking pictures of random plants and bugs.  But, then again, there's probably NOT a lot that surprises my neighbors anymore...

So anyway...onto the gifts -- I don't have a ton of time for blogging (read = that I'm willing to devote to blogging) lately, so this is a heavy picture post.  Feel free to step away from the computer for a few minutes (read = hours...days...) while they all load. :-)

Rosemary - used since 500 B.C., rosemary is native to the Mediterranean area (where it grows wild) but is now cultivated throughout Europe and the US.  This mint-family member's silver-green, needle-shaped leaves are highly aromatic and their flavor hints of both lemon and pine.

Chives - related to the onion and leek, this fragrant herb has slender, vivid green, hollow stems.  Chives have a mild onion flavor and are available fresh year-round.  Chives are a good source of vitamin A and also contain a fair amount of potassium and calcium.

Lavender - a relative of mint, this aromatic plant has violet flowers and green or pale gray leaves, both of which lend their bitter pungency to salads.  The leaves may also be used to make herb tea.

C discovered these and called me over to see -- you can imagine how delighted she was at such a tiny spider web.  Compared to the blades of grass and small clovers, you can get an idea of the size.

We acquired 3 rose bushes when we bought our house 5 years ago, and I know little more now than I did then with regard to growing them.  They do pretty well on their own, but I know I could help them do better.  I tend to focus more on the edible plants...the ones we LIKE to eat, that is.  I have been served a salad with rose petals in it and I did taste them.  Apparently, I need to start using epsom salt in my gardening...

Still working on convincing the rabbits that THIS is for them...

Summer squash are high in vitamins A and C as well as niacin.

Corn - the peak season for fresh corn is May through September.  As soon as it's picked, the corn's sugar immediately begins its gradual conversion to starch which, in turn, lessens the corn's natural sweetness.

Tomato - a member of the nightshade family, fruit of a vine native to South America.  Some tomato advocates claimed the fruit has aphrodisiac powers, and in fact, the French called them pommes d'amour, "love apples."  It wasn't until the 1900's that the tomato gained some measure of popularity in the US.  Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and contain appreciable amounts of vitamins A and B, potassium, iron and phosphorus.  

Spinach - originating in the Middle East, spinach was being grown in Spain during the 8th century, and the Spaniards are the ones who eventually brought it to the US.  It is a rich source of iron as well as of vitamins A and C

Lettuce - all lettuce is low calorie and most of it is rich in calcium, iron, and vitamins A and C.  Keep in mind that the darker green leaves contain the most nutrients.

Strawberry - 16th century author William Butler wrote this tribute to the strawberry: "Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did."  Red, juicy and conically shaped, the strawberry is a member of the rose family and has grown wild for centuries in both the Americas and Europe.  The Romans valued the fruit for its reputed therapeutic powers for everything from loose teeth to gastritis.  Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and also provide some potassium and iron.

Lettuce -- see above...

Green Bean - a long, slender green pod with small seeds inside, the entire pod is edible.  Green Beans have a fair amount of vitamins A and C.

Parsley - In ancient times parsley wreaths were used to ward off drunkenness - though proof of their efficacy in that capacity is scarce.  Today, this slightly peppery, fresh-flavored herb is more commonly used as a flavoring and garnish.  Parsley is an excellent source of vitamins A and C.

Basil - called the "royal herb" by ancient Greeks, this annual is a member of the mint family.  Fresh basil has a pungent flavor that some describe as a cross between licorice and cloves.  It's a key herb in Mediterranean cooking, essential to the delicious Italian pesto, and is becoming more and more popular in American cuisine.  

 All of these most entertaining and educational blips can be found in one of my favorite food books EVER.  (And, just in case you were wondering, I think we're pretty well covered on getting our vitamins A and C.)

Pin It

Tuesday Tips: To wholesale or not...

credit

A big thank you to those that responded to my questions in this post about whether or not you think your Costco membership is worth it. I really appreciated your feedback and found it quite helpful. I ended up going to Costco with my husband (who kept my daughter entertained and fed with samples!!) and wrote down just about everything that I thought we might buy there, along with the price of each item. After some food and playtime at Chick-Fil-A, we headed to Aldi where I did the same thing (you'd think I'd have these prices memorized since I go there at least once a week, but they fluctuate and I wanted to be certain). So, for the past week, in all my spare time (which I've actually had more of since I'm still supposed to be resting...ahem), I've been plugging all these numbers into a chart to figure out what was cheapest and where. What a project, let me tell you! I ended up with 4 pages, single spaced, with 1 line for each item. The findings were surprising, because Costco is cheaper on things that I didn't expect them to be and visa versa with Aldi.

One of the main things I have realized is that grocery prices really differ all over the country, so this list is probably not going to be helpful to someone living in a different location. We all have different stores available to us and other variables that cause our prices to fluctuate. So -- my list may not be accurate for your area, just as I discovered that some of the things you all said in your comments were not true for me here. Also, a lot of pricing has to do with what items you are "brand loyal" to -- I am brand loyal on very few items, and our family has been satisfied with the Aldi brand of most things. I realize this is a personal choice for everyone, so again, something that we have to figure out for ourselves and our individual budgets. I will put an asterisk(*) beside the items that I AM brand loyal to. :-)

Some of the big ticket items that are by far cheaper at Costco:

vitamins

ink cartridges*

dog food*

Of course, these items come in a larger quantity, thus making them MORE expensive, but the outcome is actually much cheaper. So...we just have to figure out how to fit a big chunk into the budget and enjoy the wiggle room later...or save up...

Costco sends out store coupons each month that are good for most of the month and you can buy multiple items (there is a limit) with each coupon. These are the ONLY coupons they accept. Just looking at this month's coupons, it seems that there would be significant savings on:

cereal bars

spaghetti sauce

cereal

Craisins

some cleaning supplies

I was surprised at how long the list of items that I regularly purchase that would be cheaper at Costco actually was. My budget is not such that I will be able to purchase all of these at Costco each time we run out, but hopefully I can buy a few things each shopping trip. I make most of our bread (rolls, bagels, french bread included), and I was surprised to find that some of my baking ingredients are about 1/2 the price at Costco!!

ground beef (if not on sale somewhere else)
ground turkey (here's hoping the salmonella outbreak is over...)

fresh spinach

celery

dishwashing detergent* (Finish is the only brand that gets my dishes clean.)

trash bags

raisins

juice

eggs

coffee

butter

cheese

oatmeal

yeast (less than 1/2 of what I've been paying!!!)

vanilla (1/2 of what I've been paying)

cooking spray

lemon juice

honey

bread flour

vinegar

rice

peanut butter

parmesan cheese

Some of the things that I was expecting Costco to be cheaper on and they were not were:

milk (Aldi still wins)
bread/tortillas (brand names compared with Aldi brands)
produce

paper towels and toilet paper (comparing Kirkland brand with Aldi brands)
tea bags (comparing brand names with Aldi brands)
Frozen Chicken Breasts
condiments (comparing brand names with Aldi brands)

crackers/snacks (comparing brand names with Aldi brands)
diapers (comparing Kirkland brand with Aldi brand)

SO...that is the overview of my (rather extensive) list and discovery. I'm looking forward to shopping at Costco and hopefully splurging to try some of the fun stuff when I'm able to do so. We are also planning to purchase gas there, as they seem to be about $0.05/gal cheaper on a regular basis.

I still plan to coupon on a smaller scale, as I still think I can do better than Costco on some of the cleaning supplies and Health/Beauty products. Many items I get for free or very cheap with coupons, so that will be better than Costco pricing...assuming I can still put in the time required.

For any of you locals, if you want to see the whole list, let me know and I'll e-mail it to you (if you can make sense of my system).

linking up at Women Living Well


Pin It

Tuesday Tips: DIY Coasters

Before I get started on this post...here's how we spent a rainy afternoon:

C was making play-doh muffins, and I was cleaning out my coupon binder for the new year.  It was a good time! :-)

One of my favorite Christmas gifts this year was probably one of the least expensive, but there was time and love put into it which makes it very special.  And, it's a super-cute gift!!

THESE are my new coasters!  Are they not adorable?  I love them and it makes me happy, every time I look at them.

It gets even better...my {new} sister-in-law MADE them!!!  She made a set for my mom too, and I have to admit I was a little hopeful after mom had opened hers and I was handed a small, square gift with some weight to it...

Aren't the colors great?  She knows I love bright colors and these look so nice in my family room with the yellow walls and denim couches.

The underside has felt and looks like this...

Okay...ready for the how-to?  This was originally found on pinterest {of course!} and it's 4x4 tiles from Home Depot ($0.16 ea), Scrapbook paper, Mod Podge for adhering, clear spray paint for sealing (she did 3 coats, I think), and felt pads glued to the bottom.

Can you imagine the possibilities for these?!?  You could make a set of coasters for every season, every holiday, and think of all the gifts!  You could have coordinating coasters for every room in your house...  I really could go on and on....

Thanks, Rachel, for a great gift and an exciting blog post! :-)

linking up at Women Living Well Wednesdays


Pin It

Crunching Numbers...

This is my current facebook status:

Costco Shoppers: What things do you save the most on by purchasing at Costco vs. another store? Do you feel like your Costco membership saves you money as well as time? I'm in the midst of crunching numbers...Aldi + couponing vs. Costco...

I'm currently working on a price list to compare prices on items I regularly buy... I normally shop at Aldi, filling in at Walmart or Bi-Lo for items that Aldi doesn't carry. When I have time I try to use coupons matched with sales at grocery and drug stores to save on some food items, toiletries, and cleaning supplies. Couponing requires a LOT of time, and I'm wondering about scaling back. So, I'm looking into joining Costco. It seems that with the coupons that they send out (the only ones they accept), they might be cheaper on SOME items... I'm also factoring in the membership fee, and the savings on gas.

I'll report back once I finish this looooong list to see what conclusions I come to... In the meantime, I welcome any feedback regarding warehouse stores vs couponing, etc.

Pin It

Tuesday Tips (on Wednesday): Reuse!

credit

You know...it is amazing how a search for "butter" on Pinterest provides SO many jokes about Paula Deen....Wow.  

But, on to the topic at hand...  What do you do with these?

credit

I typically throw mine away...but not anymore!  Thanks to my friend, Grete, who suggested saving them to use for greasing baking pans, mine will be neatly folded (messy side in) and placed in a ziploc bag in my refrigerator.  A quick google search suggested other ideas such as using them to push rice krispie treats into a pan (mess-free!), or separating ground meat patties for freezing...

So...do you save your butter wrappers, and if so, what do you use them for?!?

Tuesday Tips: Silverware Baskets...sans silverware

I'm a big fan of organization -- I get excited about organizing.  Don't judge me. :)  That said, I get even MORE excited about using what you have to organize.  I will be the first to begin drooling over an Ikea catalog or The Container Store's website, but to really organize the way I would love to would cost a fortune.  I read a magazine article a few months back about Jamie Lee Curtis's organizational habits, and she is hard core.  Her house, especially the kitchen, is amazing...but I can't imagine the money that is tied up in all those containers.  Not for me.  

While cleaning out a few years ago, I thought seriously about getting rid of the 2 silverware picnic baskets that I have because I only used them when we had lots of people over and I was serving buffet style.  Otherwise, they sat in the cabinet taking up space...  But, I really liked them.  I remembered back to a time when I was visiting a friend and noticed that she had one sitting on her counter and had pens and other things in it and I realized it was a solution to my counter craziness!!

Now, my scissors, pens, and markers are all neatly stashed and easily accessible, and the papers and notebooks I need to have handy are also neatly gathered.  And, it looks pretty enough to have on my kitchen counter (my desk).

A few months later, my daughter moved into the artistic stage and began drawing, coloring, painting and playing with stickers.  So, naturally, she acquired art supplies and that meant more storage needed.  Usually she "creates" in the kitchen, so out came the other basket and in went her supplies.  Our baskets sit next to each other now. :)

If I need to use them for their intended purpose (silverware and plates/napkins), I just place the contents in an out of the way place while the basket is in use and then return the usual items to the basket.  I think these would come in handy for all kinds of household uses...sewing, craft supplies, toys, etc.

Do you have any unusual organizational uses for items in your home?

Tuesday Tips: Saving Money on Spices

I am constantly shocked at the price of spices when I look the shelves in the grocery store.  $4 for that TINY little bottle?!?  You must be joking!  

My friend and neighbor grows a lot of her own spices and dries and grinds them.  I love the freshness of this, but in my present stage of life, I've decided it's just not for me. (other than the basic herbs I grow in my garden and planters.)

Most bulk stores sell spices in large quantities for a reasonable price...but there are very few spices that I would use up fast enough to justify purchasing such a large quantity. (splitting with a friend might be a good option there.)

So -- what to do?  Aldi has a decent selection of spices and they are all about $0.99 for a large jar.  If they don't have what I'm looking for, I will usually check the dollar store or Dollar General and they have basic spices for $1.00 and sometimes $0.50.  

But, one of my more recent finds is that in some grocery stores (I've found one Bi-Lo so far), there is a separate spice section with the ethnic foods and these spices are WAY less than the spices on the baking aisle.  And, they have a better selection than any of the other places I have found discounted spices.  

These bagged spices were $0.79 each and the Thyme filled up my empty jar at home which is average size.  The jar of sage was around $1.59-$1.89, my memory fails me.  But, I had looked at each of these spices at the same store on the baking aisle and they were in the $4 range each.  So...next time I need spices, I'll be visiting the ethnic foods aisle instead of the baking aisle.

Do you have any tips to add for saving money on spices??

PS -- this is my 98th post...I'm having a giveaway for my 100th post!!  stay tuned. :-)

Tuesday Tips (on Wednesday): Saving money on dinner!

Before I begin today's post, I have to share with you that a dear friend of mine (who assisted in the birth of my daughter -- the woman held my leg for 2 hours while I pushed!) is currently in ICU and may not make it through the day.  She suffered some sort of severe heart condition yesterday (attack or failure) and is bleeding internally from her liver.  Surgery this morning was unsuccessful to stop the bleeding.  She is on medication to try to stop it, and her blood pressure seemed to be stabilizing earlier.  Another surgery today would compromise her vitals, so if she makes it through the day, they will try again tomorrow.  Please pray for her, her husband, and for her family.  She is 35 and has 5 daughters (ages 3-15).

Today's tip is about saving money on your grocery budget by serving breakfast for dinner.  We usually have some sort of breakfast food once a week or once every other week for dinner.  Another great way to save is to serve a non-meat meal...if I do this, I usually try to serve some sort of beans or something with protein.  Last night we had Chip Beef Gravy over Buttermilk Biscuits, Scrambled Eggs, and Fruit.

Buttermilk Biscuits (printable recipe HERE)

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup shortening

1/2 cup buttermilk

Combine first 4 ingredients in a medium bowl:

Cut in shortening with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly.

Add buttermilk (or in this case, milk with a splash of lemon juice):

Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened:

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead lightly 4 or 5 times.  Roll dough to 1/2-inch thickness; cut with a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter.

Place on a lightly greased baking sheet.  

Bake at 425* for 13 to 14 minutes or until biscuits are lightly browned.

This recipe comes from the following book that I received as a wedding gift.  It is a go-to book for many recipes!

this is what my kitchen sink looks like after I make biscuits:

Chip Beef Gravy (printable version HERE)

4 tbsp. margarine

4 tbsp. flour

2 pkgs. smoked beef slices, chopped into pieces

3-4 cups milk

1 tsp. salt

pepper to taste

Just a note -- the smoked beef is CHEAP (like less than $1 per pack):

Melt the margarine in frying pan.  Add the chopped beef and fry for about 1 minute:

(LOOK at all that butter!  Paula Dean would be proud!)

Sprinkle the flour over this mix:

Stir until evenly distributed:

Slowly add the milk, stirring constantly.

Season with salt and pepper.  Let mixture thicken over medium heat.  Serve over toast or biscuits.

This recipe comes courtesy of my mom, who received it from a friend from church.  It can be found in the following cookbook, of which I am privileged to own the ONLY copy. :-)

Today I'm linking up over at Courtney's blog...check it out!