So we went grocery shopping today. HyVee has some good sales this week.
I'm loving the idea of planning 7 meals and just doing a rotation. So That's what I'm doing again. HyVee has pasta 10 for $10 so we are going mostly with pasta meals. Chicken was also on sale. I did decide to splurge a little and get charcoal for our grill, because it will save the house from heating up.
All in all, I spent $330 and a little extra for perishables and some extra snacks we decided we wanted for vacation.
For those of you who are school shopping, go check out Dollar Tree. I know Walmart and Target run .50 or $1 sales right about now, but if you can't find what you want or need there for cheap, check your local Dollar Tree (or you can buy a case on their website and have it UPS delivered). I found some great worksheets at ours today. And they have little marker boards I'm debating about grabbing next month.
On my homeschool sites, I often see questions about teaching kids to budget. In my opinion, budgeting is a must. Everybody (unless you're a millionaire) needs it. So might as well teach our kids early. And I think they learn best when led by example. If you don't want your kids helping with your grocery list, give them some random amount and the grocery ad. Tell them they need to meal plan and make a grocery list that fits within that amount. If it doesn't fit, it can't go on the list. The grocery ad is good for all areas of basic math and life skills to boot.
That's all to report for now.
I'll be back in a few weeks with vacation tips.
-Tabitha
Triple Clicks
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Vacation Food Shopping
Well, we made an unexpected trip to the city today, so decided to do most of our vacation food shopping. I'll hide the goods in the office so the kids don't eat them.
We've decided we prefer something fresh (Subway or the like) or something hot (think Arby's sandwiches or KFC type).. So we'll get the entree off somebody's dollar menu and use out of our stash for the rest of the meal. Most everything will last us beyond vacation, but that's ok.
I got variety boxes of cookies and chips and we all love Gardettos, so I got those for a salty snack. Now normally I just a big bag then portion it all out, but in this case, I just bought the boxes of single serving packs.
Hubby and I (ok..more me) love our coffee. So since Sam's had the Starbucks Frappucinos on sale, I got a little case of those. Also got Dr. Pepper for him and 7 up for me. The kids got a case of juice boxes and I grabbed a flat of water. If we need more water, we'll just find a grocery store and grab another flat.
I was going to get the kids those squeezable applesauce pouches (they love those things), but I couldn't find just applesauce, so I got a variety pack.
Now, since the plan is to NOT get kids meals, we also made a stop by Dollar Tree. We got a toy for lunch for each day we plan to be gone. One of these days during nap times, I'll put them in paper bags we already have with name on the bag. New toys are always a good distraction. We also grabbed a few new coloring and activity books.
All of this will get stashed away until vacation next month. But I ended up saving $10 by getting it now.
Have a good week!
Tabitha
We've decided we prefer something fresh (Subway or the like) or something hot (think Arby's sandwiches or KFC type).. So we'll get the entree off somebody's dollar menu and use out of our stash for the rest of the meal. Most everything will last us beyond vacation, but that's ok.
I got variety boxes of cookies and chips and we all love Gardettos, so I got those for a salty snack. Now normally I just a big bag then portion it all out, but in this case, I just bought the boxes of single serving packs.
Hubby and I (ok..more me) love our coffee. So since Sam's had the Starbucks Frappucinos on sale, I got a little case of those. Also got Dr. Pepper for him and 7 up for me. The kids got a case of juice boxes and I grabbed a flat of water. If we need more water, we'll just find a grocery store and grab another flat.
I was going to get the kids those squeezable applesauce pouches (they love those things), but I couldn't find just applesauce, so I got a variety pack.
Now, since the plan is to NOT get kids meals, we also made a stop by Dollar Tree. We got a toy for lunch for each day we plan to be gone. One of these days during nap times, I'll put them in paper bags we already have with name on the bag. New toys are always a good distraction. We also grabbed a few new coloring and activity books.
All of this will get stashed away until vacation next month. But I ended up saving $10 by getting it now.
Have a good week!
Tabitha
Monday, July 6, 2015
The Next Month
The next month will prove to be a busy one... like I ever have non busy months. LOL
For meals, I've decided on a 5-6 meal rotation. For the most part (unless somebody gets sick from a meal), it's going to be Spaghetti, tacos, stir fry, pork chops, bbq chicken, leftovers. Then we start all over again. I am trying to keep dessert of some sort in the house in case somebody doesn't get full on the supper.
Around the house we have been cleaning and will be prepping for a garage soon. There's just so much stuff!
I am doing my homeschool lesson plans, getting everything ready and we'll start again in August. Still Kindergarten things, but Andrew is determined to learn to read, so we have to learn all the letters and their sounds.
Lots of sewing projects and still working on the stockings...still on my first of six, I forgot how tedious cross stitch is.
I'm also planning furiously for vacation this month as we go beginning of August. I'll go to Sam's soon to grab some snacks and drinks while they are still on sale and then stash them in the office until needed. One of the biggest vacation expenses is always food. Our plan is to get hot sandwiches of some sort, then have drinks, chips and cookies in the van and either eat in the van or have a picnic and let the kids get some energy out while we eat. The van also needs vacuumed and the car seats washed before we go.
I'm way behind on laundry. I'm really trying to not use the clothes dryer, and that has put me behind with laundry as we have been blessed with many rain showers this last week.
We'll get to pick our mulberries this week, the kids are really excited. They seem to be small, but are turning black so they are ready.
That's about all the excitement happening here. Hope you are having a good summer, too.
Tabitha
For meals, I've decided on a 5-6 meal rotation. For the most part (unless somebody gets sick from a meal), it's going to be Spaghetti, tacos, stir fry, pork chops, bbq chicken, leftovers. Then we start all over again. I am trying to keep dessert of some sort in the house in case somebody doesn't get full on the supper.
Around the house we have been cleaning and will be prepping for a garage soon. There's just so much stuff!
I am doing my homeschool lesson plans, getting everything ready and we'll start again in August. Still Kindergarten things, but Andrew is determined to learn to read, so we have to learn all the letters and their sounds.
Lots of sewing projects and still working on the stockings...still on my first of six, I forgot how tedious cross stitch is.
I'm also planning furiously for vacation this month as we go beginning of August. I'll go to Sam's soon to grab some snacks and drinks while they are still on sale and then stash them in the office until needed. One of the biggest vacation expenses is always food. Our plan is to get hot sandwiches of some sort, then have drinks, chips and cookies in the van and either eat in the van or have a picnic and let the kids get some energy out while we eat. The van also needs vacuumed and the car seats washed before we go.
I'm way behind on laundry. I'm really trying to not use the clothes dryer, and that has put me behind with laundry as we have been blessed with many rain showers this last week.
We'll get to pick our mulberries this week, the kids are really excited. They seem to be small, but are turning black so they are ready.
That's about all the excitement happening here. Hope you are having a good summer, too.
Tabitha
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Shopping Trip June 4th
Yes, I know I'm a little late, it's been a little crazy around here.
The ads looked like normal, not too much on sale. My predicted amount put us way over our wanted $300-with no extras, but we have to eat, right? And with the apparent bird flu (according to the news anyway) killing chickens, our meat of choice is going to go up. I'm not looking forward to that.
Since I can generally get chicken around $1 a pound at Sam's (it depends on what I get-whole, whole organic, breast, tenders, legs, thighs....) we decided to experiment this month. I'm going to try some sort of stir-fy style for the most part for suppers. Weekend lunches are hamburgers (40, 1/4 pound pre-frozen patties at Sam's for $30, I just add some homemade seasoning) and homemade french fries on the weekends, chips on Sundays (because I don't have an hour to mess with french fries). We also have fish and we're experimenting with vegetarians meals using quinoa. Lunches for the kids and I are whatever we can scrounge up around the house-my canned food cupboard is overfilling. Dennis is eating salads.
So Friday and some of Saturday was spent chopping and portioning all the chicken and the vegetables so I can just get them out and thaw when needed, I'll have the whole meal there minus the rice-but that's easy enough. I'm loving the simplicity of these meals already. Throw the chicken in with garlic, ginger and coconut oil, cook until done, remove from pan. Throw the veggies in, cook for about ten minutes, then put chicken back in until veggies are done. All the while the rice and sauce are cooking ride beside. Easy as pie and the kids seem to be loving it-which is always a plus, but my picky eater comes next week so we'll just how interesting this will get.
Today I still have some prep work to get done for Dennis' lunches. Chop the broccoli and the lettuce and put it in containers or baggies so it's ready for his lunches. I cut up melons Friday, so those are ready to go. But other than that, it's mostly done.
I did get very frustrated at Fareway stores again. To the point where I'm DONE. I will NOT be going back there-I don't care how good the sales are. There were two things that impressed me about Fareway two years ago when they came to Sioux Falls, I was told that it was local meat (yeah, not the case-it's Tyson, which is anything but local...and I just don't like Tyson, so like Farmland products I avoid unless I can't avoid). This last time, they had in their ads Oscar Meyer lunchables (just the simple ones with meat, cheese and crackers) for $1 each. Get to the store and it was Armour brand, apparently a 'misprint'. Yeah, not cool. Usually I don't mind off brands, but the Armour brand just doesn't have as much. Fareway was the last grocery store we went to so I because of what I had planned for lunch while driving, I didn't have too much of a choice at this point. If something is going to be printed in their ads, they need to honor that ad. If they don't have that product in the store at all, there needs to be signs-on the door, where the product should be at that they don't have that, but this brand would be honored for the sale price-no such notice at Fareway Foods. To top it all off, the guy that took the cart to car decided it was a good idea to fill my toddlers' car seats with groceries-he reached over the back of the back seat and put them there instead with the rest of the groceries in the back of the van. I have no doubt that if I didn't ask him SPECIFICALLY to NOT put the frozen foods on my hamburger buns, I would have had squished hamburger buns. Sorry Fareway, I'm done with you.
Have a good week!
Tabitha
The ads looked like normal, not too much on sale. My predicted amount put us way over our wanted $300-with no extras, but we have to eat, right? And with the apparent bird flu (according to the news anyway) killing chickens, our meat of choice is going to go up. I'm not looking forward to that.
Since I can generally get chicken around $1 a pound at Sam's (it depends on what I get-whole, whole organic, breast, tenders, legs, thighs....) we decided to experiment this month. I'm going to try some sort of stir-fy style for the most part for suppers. Weekend lunches are hamburgers (40, 1/4 pound pre-frozen patties at Sam's for $30, I just add some homemade seasoning) and homemade french fries on the weekends, chips on Sundays (because I don't have an hour to mess with french fries). We also have fish and we're experimenting with vegetarians meals using quinoa. Lunches for the kids and I are whatever we can scrounge up around the house-my canned food cupboard is overfilling. Dennis is eating salads.
So Friday and some of Saturday was spent chopping and portioning all the chicken and the vegetables so I can just get them out and thaw when needed, I'll have the whole meal there minus the rice-but that's easy enough. I'm loving the simplicity of these meals already. Throw the chicken in with garlic, ginger and coconut oil, cook until done, remove from pan. Throw the veggies in, cook for about ten minutes, then put chicken back in until veggies are done. All the while the rice and sauce are cooking ride beside. Easy as pie and the kids seem to be loving it-which is always a plus, but my picky eater comes next week so we'll just how interesting this will get.
Today I still have some prep work to get done for Dennis' lunches. Chop the broccoli and the lettuce and put it in containers or baggies so it's ready for his lunches. I cut up melons Friday, so those are ready to go. But other than that, it's mostly done.
I did get very frustrated at Fareway stores again. To the point where I'm DONE. I will NOT be going back there-I don't care how good the sales are. There were two things that impressed me about Fareway two years ago when they came to Sioux Falls, I was told that it was local meat (yeah, not the case-it's Tyson, which is anything but local...and I just don't like Tyson, so like Farmland products I avoid unless I can't avoid). This last time, they had in their ads Oscar Meyer lunchables (just the simple ones with meat, cheese and crackers) for $1 each. Get to the store and it was Armour brand, apparently a 'misprint'. Yeah, not cool. Usually I don't mind off brands, but the Armour brand just doesn't have as much. Fareway was the last grocery store we went to so I because of what I had planned for lunch while driving, I didn't have too much of a choice at this point. If something is going to be printed in their ads, they need to honor that ad. If they don't have that product in the store at all, there needs to be signs-on the door, where the product should be at that they don't have that, but this brand would be honored for the sale price-no such notice at Fareway Foods. To top it all off, the guy that took the cart to car decided it was a good idea to fill my toddlers' car seats with groceries-he reached over the back of the back seat and put them there instead with the rest of the groceries in the back of the van. I have no doubt that if I didn't ask him SPECIFICALLY to NOT put the frozen foods on my hamburger buns, I would have had squished hamburger buns. Sorry Fareway, I'm done with you.
Have a good week!
Tabitha
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Planning For Vacation
Sometimes I plan too much. I can admit that. But the planning keeps me sane.
We are planning on taking a vacation in August which will include a nine hour road trip-and that's just one way, straight driving.
A few months ago, hubby and I went through Google maps and found points of interest along the way, put towns into a trip planner. Depending on kids, how we're feeling and what not, we might stop and eat lunch.. Well, we'll eat lunch, the kids can play at a park or rest stop, or we'll eat in the car. While we have a rough itinerary written down, we're not sticking to too much of it.
I'm keeping track of everything in a notebook. It's all in one place and if I find something else we might want to explore, it goes in the notebook. Honestly, it really does a hinge on how high gas gets and the hotel price as to what else we can do. But we do have quite a list of free things to do to make it fun for everybody.
This morning, I sat down with my notebook and wrote down how I want to pack the van.
In the back seat with Andrew and Eva, they'll have their toys, notebooks with school worksheets (my kids are geeks, what can I say?), coloring pages and crayong and pencils. Blankets to cover with (they are weird), extra blankets for sunshades if the need arises. And under the seat will be towels for spills or accidents, simply because we will have a van of littles and you never know.
In the middle seats will be Grace, snacks and drinks in a small cooler for easy access, the atlas, toys blankets, snack cups, drink cups, and the diaper bag with a change of clothes for the kids so I don't have to dig through the suitcase if the need arises.
The front seat will get what hubby and I will need, MP3 player and charger, phone charger, Tom Tom and charger, camera.
The back is going to be challenging. Suitcases-one for me and Dennis, one for the kids. Big cooler, extra snacks that don't need the cooler, stroller, play pen. I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but it's all big stuff.
I'm still working on the meal plan, but we are planning on taking most of our food to help with costs.
-Tabitha
We are planning on taking a vacation in August which will include a nine hour road trip-and that's just one way, straight driving.
A few months ago, hubby and I went through Google maps and found points of interest along the way, put towns into a trip planner. Depending on kids, how we're feeling and what not, we might stop and eat lunch.. Well, we'll eat lunch, the kids can play at a park or rest stop, or we'll eat in the car. While we have a rough itinerary written down, we're not sticking to too much of it.
I'm keeping track of everything in a notebook. It's all in one place and if I find something else we might want to explore, it goes in the notebook. Honestly, it really does a hinge on how high gas gets and the hotel price as to what else we can do. But we do have quite a list of free things to do to make it fun for everybody.
This morning, I sat down with my notebook and wrote down how I want to pack the van.
In the back seat with Andrew and Eva, they'll have their toys, notebooks with school worksheets (my kids are geeks, what can I say?), coloring pages and crayong and pencils. Blankets to cover with (they are weird), extra blankets for sunshades if the need arises. And under the seat will be towels for spills or accidents, simply because we will have a van of littles and you never know.
In the middle seats will be Grace, snacks and drinks in a small cooler for easy access, the atlas, toys blankets, snack cups, drink cups, and the diaper bag with a change of clothes for the kids so I don't have to dig through the suitcase if the need arises.
The front seat will get what hubby and I will need, MP3 player and charger, phone charger, Tom Tom and charger, camera.
The back is going to be challenging. Suitcases-one for me and Dennis, one for the kids. Big cooler, extra snacks that don't need the cooler, stroller, play pen. I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but it's all big stuff.
I'm still working on the meal plan, but we are planning on taking most of our food to help with costs.
-Tabitha
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Winter Has Returned
Well friends, with as busy as it looks my summer will get I can't promise I'll make it on here all the time.. Case in point-look at the last month.
Unfortunately for my garden, it seems that winter has decided to return.. Snow just 50 miles north of us, while a tornado has destroyed a small town about 50 miles south of us.
My garden was planted beginning of last month, so things should start sprouting soon. I haven't been brave enough to take my sprouts out. Broccoli and Tomato are sitting next to my sewing machine waiting to make sure the weather will stay warm.
Next week I hope to get all the saplings cut down or dug up for somebody to plant in their yard with help from my dad and mom. Lots of those to get cleared.
We bought a new lawn mower as ours bit the dust... Now we just have to figure out how to work the bagger.
On the inside of the house, I have many sewing projects. I'm also finding new recipes and working on getting the diet more rounded. Or at least the suppers. The hardest part of that is finding money for more fruit and veggies, so we've been looking into Bountiful Baskets and Fruit of The Month Club. At least with the cold weather I'm getting caught back up on inside chores.
Unfortunately for my garden, it seems that winter has decided to return.. Snow just 50 miles north of us, while a tornado has destroyed a small town about 50 miles south of us.
My garden was planted beginning of last month, so things should start sprouting soon. I haven't been brave enough to take my sprouts out. Broccoli and Tomato are sitting next to my sewing machine waiting to make sure the weather will stay warm.
Next week I hope to get all the saplings cut down or dug up for somebody to plant in their yard with help from my dad and mom. Lots of those to get cleared.
We bought a new lawn mower as ours bit the dust... Now we just have to figure out how to work the bagger.
On the inside of the house, I have many sewing projects. I'm also finding new recipes and working on getting the diet more rounded. Or at least the suppers. The hardest part of that is finding money for more fruit and veggies, so we've been looking into Bountiful Baskets and Fruit of The Month Club. At least with the cold weather I'm getting caught back up on inside chores.
Friday, April 10, 2015
Busy Busy Busy
Whew it's been hectic around here!
Had a Jamberry party (love those now!).
My oldest came up for Easter and we had her birthday party. She turned 10 this year.
This weekend we'll do my son's birthday party. He's turning five, where did the time go?!?!
The biggest is we are making some health changes around here. Hubby is going on a diet, which in our house, that means everybody is going on a diet. It certainly can't hurt any of us to eat healthier.
We started off by looking in Atkins, but now are wondering if we should combine Atkins with Paleo. We're still looking into possibilities and recipes, trying to find a happy medium with all the allergies in the house-and enjoying our last month of junk food. I went shopping right before we decided to do this, but I think I'll end up making a mini trip to get some more veggies and fruit. I was really surprised, and disappointed, to find the Atkins didn't allow for much fruit at all. I know that fruit as a lot of sugar, but it's not processed and easier absorbed by your body than eating junk food. Fruit is not something we are willing to give up, limited as it may be with what Eva can be-it's just not going to happen. Which is why we are thinking to incorporate the paleo approach into this-that and it had better looking recipes.
I spent yesterday looking around Facebook trying to figure out how to put homemade foods into the Atkins daily diet plan. Man was that a pain, we spent 2 hours last night doing that! We also cut a bunch of foods just from looking at that first day.
This morning I'm looking into paleo and downloaded some free ebooks I'll print off to read as I'm able. Lots of information out there, but it seems to be easier than anything else we've looked at and a lot easier to fit into a tight budget-which is important.
Unfortunately, school has been put on hold for a few weeks until we wind down again. I am making notes on my calendar, so I know when to plan vacation days. (Speaking of school, Eva is sitting beside me with the Google TV keyboard copying my finger strokes as I type.) The kids love the Heart of Dakota preschool curricula, but I'm going to try putting together my own curricula for when this book is out and see if I can do it. I know I have plenty of worksheets I found for free, it's just a matter of planning.
I have found, despite following the instructions on the seed packets, I planted way too early, so I'm hoping I can keep the plants alive until time to plant-come on spring! My broccoli seems to be faring is it came up great. My poor tomatoes have been cut in half because they molded. (who knew?) My green peppers did not take when they were transplanted to a pot and my garlic molded too. Seriously, what is it with my poor plants and mold? I'll put garlic straight in the garden soon when I plant the rest. I also bought marigolds on the advice of a friend to plant amongst my vegetable plants. It's supposed to help with pests.
Well I think that's all that's going on around here. Not much at all! lol.
Tabitha
Had a Jamberry party (love those now!).
My oldest came up for Easter and we had her birthday party. She turned 10 this year.
This weekend we'll do my son's birthday party. He's turning five, where did the time go?!?!
The biggest is we are making some health changes around here. Hubby is going on a diet, which in our house, that means everybody is going on a diet. It certainly can't hurt any of us to eat healthier.
We started off by looking in Atkins, but now are wondering if we should combine Atkins with Paleo. We're still looking into possibilities and recipes, trying to find a happy medium with all the allergies in the house-and enjoying our last month of junk food. I went shopping right before we decided to do this, but I think I'll end up making a mini trip to get some more veggies and fruit. I was really surprised, and disappointed, to find the Atkins didn't allow for much fruit at all. I know that fruit as a lot of sugar, but it's not processed and easier absorbed by your body than eating junk food. Fruit is not something we are willing to give up, limited as it may be with what Eva can be-it's just not going to happen. Which is why we are thinking to incorporate the paleo approach into this-that and it had better looking recipes.
I spent yesterday looking around Facebook trying to figure out how to put homemade foods into the Atkins daily diet plan. Man was that a pain, we spent 2 hours last night doing that! We also cut a bunch of foods just from looking at that first day.
This morning I'm looking into paleo and downloaded some free ebooks I'll print off to read as I'm able. Lots of information out there, but it seems to be easier than anything else we've looked at and a lot easier to fit into a tight budget-which is important.
Unfortunately, school has been put on hold for a few weeks until we wind down again. I am making notes on my calendar, so I know when to plan vacation days. (Speaking of school, Eva is sitting beside me with the Google TV keyboard copying my finger strokes as I type.) The kids love the Heart of Dakota preschool curricula, but I'm going to try putting together my own curricula for when this book is out and see if I can do it. I know I have plenty of worksheets I found for free, it's just a matter of planning.
I have found, despite following the instructions on the seed packets, I planted way too early, so I'm hoping I can keep the plants alive until time to plant-come on spring! My broccoli seems to be faring is it came up great. My poor tomatoes have been cut in half because they molded. (who knew?) My green peppers did not take when they were transplanted to a pot and my garlic molded too. Seriously, what is it with my poor plants and mold? I'll put garlic straight in the garden soon when I plant the rest. I also bought marigolds on the advice of a friend to plant amongst my vegetable plants. It's supposed to help with pests.
Well I think that's all that's going on around here. Not much at all! lol.
Tabitha
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