Money is tight for families everywhere but especially if you have 4 kids. Our food budget is only $400 for the month. Yes, you read that right, $400. I cook and plan meals out for 2 weeks at a time. Over the past 2 weeks I have really felt the pinch at the grocery store. I am an avid coupon cutter and user. I have not been able to stretch my grocery dollar as much as I used to. With our food taxes and so called “convenience” foods being more expensive I have been on a mission to slash every cent that I can. I have been doing a little experiment to see if making "homemade" items is truly less expensive than their box/jar/package counterparts. I was pretty certain that yes it is cheaper and healthier to make the item from scratch but I wanted to see for myself and actually put this theory into action.
My kids LOVE instant oatmeal, but let’s face it Quaker Oats brand is $4.99 for 10 servings. That is just about .50 per packet (.49 to be exact). Sure you can find it on sale and use a coupon but you have to time it just right and lately it has NOT been on sale nor have I found any significant coupons to bring the price down to something I could live with. So my first experiment was born.
I bought an 18oz bag of quick cooking oats from Fresh and Easy, and made my own "instant" oatmeal. My kids like the maple and brown sugar kind. We know how much sugar is in those individual pouches so I put in a scant amount of brown sugar and ½ cup of liquid to. I poured 1/2 cup quick cooking oats, milk, and brown sugar into a bowl and cooked in the microwave for a little less than 1 min. Eureka! "instant" oatmeal. My kids ate every drop, never questioned the taste or consistency and I saved money. My homemade version was far healthier than the pre-packaged version.
Here's the breakdown as I see it:
• 1/2 cup quick cooking oats .10 per 1/2 cup serving ($1.28 for 18 ounce bag)
• 1/8 tsp brown sugar .001 per 1/8 tsp serving (.99 for 1 lb.)
• 1/2 cup milk .06 per 1/2 cup serving ($1.79 per gallon)
One serving was less than 17 cents. For 10 servings (the same as pre-packaged name brand) the total would be $1.70. Now let’s see, $1.70 versus $4.99. That's a savings of $3.29! To me that is significant AND I control the amount of sugar in my kids' breakfast. You cannot beat that.
This is just one of the examples of how you can make your own "convenience" foods AND save money at the same time.
Here are a few more pantry staples that I have made over the past 2 weeks and have eliminated the package/jar or box versions:
• Taco seasoning
• Spanish Rice
• Salsa
• Pancake mix
• Sweet and Sour sauce
All of the above examples tasted BETTER than their box counterpart. This is a slow progression for me. There are a few items that I need to fill my pantry with in order to make a smooth transition from a box cooker to truly homemade. I am happy with the results so far and will continue to try new recipes for my pantry staples and hopefully to save money. When you are a family of 6, every penny saved helps.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Personal Gift Idea
This past weekend I went to a baby shower. I love baby showers. I love that everyone is coming together to celebrate the upcoming birth of a baby. Who doesn't love babies? (maybe that's why I have 4 kids)
I also love the idea of giving something personal for the baby. When I was pregnant I always remembered the personalized gifts. The idea that someone took the time to make something by hand truly meant a great deal. With schedules and family priorities people don't have the time to do that anymore, that's what makes it extra special.
I wanted to share with everyone a super simple, personal gift to give for baby showers or graduations, weddings etc. It is a framed personalized scrapbook page. If you are super crafty you can make the entire design with your Cricket machine or some other scrapbook tool or you can purchase a one-in-all page at Joanns or Michaels and put your page together. I have to admit, I did a little of both. I found a book of papers and die cuts at Big Lots a few months ago. All the papers, sayings, die-cuts etc. are color coordinated for boys. There are blues and yellows and greens. It is really cute. I went through the book and chose a few items and placed them on the 12 X 12 sheet that I liked. This was so easy and really quick. I then borrowed my moms Cricket machine and added a few fancy words and put the baby's name at the bottom. I framed it and Ouila! Instant personalized gift. This is the
2nd time I have done this for a baby shower gift. It really becomes quite special if you ask them the color of their nursery or what colors are in their baby bedding. You can also personalize colors according to wedding colors or school colors for a graduation gift.
The next time you know you will be attending a shower or have a wedding to attend, make this quick but from-the-heart gift. I assure you, the recipient will appreciate your efforts for years to come.
Slap the Bull everyone, Slap the Bull!
I also love the idea of giving something personal for the baby. When I was pregnant I always remembered the personalized gifts. The idea that someone took the time to make something by hand truly meant a great deal. With schedules and family priorities people don't have the time to do that anymore, that's what makes it extra special.
I wanted to share with everyone a super simple, personal gift to give for baby showers or graduations, weddings etc. It is a framed personalized scrapbook page. If you are super crafty you can make the entire design with your Cricket machine or some other scrapbook tool or you can purchase a one-in-all page at Joanns or Michaels and put your page together. I have to admit, I did a little of both. I found a book of papers and die cuts at Big Lots a few months ago. All the papers, sayings, die-cuts etc. are color coordinated for boys. There are blues and yellows and greens. It is really cute. I went through the book and chose a few items and placed them on the 12 X 12 sheet that I liked. This was so easy and really quick. I then borrowed my moms Cricket machine and added a few fancy words and put the baby's name at the bottom. I framed it and Ouila! Instant personalized gift. This is the
2nd time I have done this for a baby shower gift. It really becomes quite special if you ask them the color of their nursery or what colors are in their baby bedding. You can also personalize colors according to wedding colors or school colors for a graduation gift.
The next time you know you will be attending a shower or have a wedding to attend, make this quick but from-the-heart gift. I assure you, the recipient will appreciate your efforts for years to come.
Slap the Bull everyone, Slap the Bull!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Rudeness and The Question of The Day
I like to think I am pretty open-minded to new ideas, new opinions, new people. I try to implant that into my kids. I want them to respect others decisions and really TRY not to judge. I know that is not the case with everyone. I was in Sam's Clublast week with my mother and Alexander. You see every year our ENTIRE family gathers for a big family picnic. We are talking 60 - 70 people here. We invite a few close friends also. We all look forward to it and of course, my mother and I plan everything. The menu, where it will be held, the invitations, the collecting of money etc. So anyway, back to the Sam's Club incident. We are loading our cart with standard picnic food: Hebrew National 100% beef hotdogs, buns, chips, juice boxes etc. Well we know how curious kids say things aloud don't we? There was this little boy sitting in a cart and his mom was pushing and he goes "Mom, can we get some chips?" and the mother goes quite loudly and snooty says, "no, We don't buy chips because WE know they aren't good for us." Now if you don't know that most chips are not good for you than you must have been living under a rock for the past few years right? I was more than a little pissed off that she would actually say that loud enough for me to hear. Why you ask? Because she was being a pompous ass thats why. She was judging my purchases. I get that she chooses to not buy chips but the circumstances for me to buy 2 huge boxes of chips she was NOT aware of. I am very well read on healthy eating. However, I do not judge people for their purchases and I would certainly not loudly tell my child that someone elses purchases don't live up to our elitist high standards.
I think this judgement goes farther than just what she chooses to eat. What else does she assume or judge in her everyday life? I know, I know I probably am reading a lot into this one incident but its not unlike what I see people do everyday (myself included)... judge. It just got me to thinking, its no fun to be on the other end of the presumption. I try to surround myself with like-minded people but I also seek out those who are of different nationalities, races, political bacgrounds, religions and gender than myself. I think to hear different opinions and life circumstances helps you grow as a person and keeps you from being a pompous ass. You start to think your way is the only way and it's not. Where do you think that saying "There is more than one way to skin a cat" comes from? Here is the question of the day....Do all of your friends, look alike, think alike and sound alike? Just wondering.
I think this judgement goes farther than just what she chooses to eat. What else does she assume or judge in her everyday life? I know, I know I probably am reading a lot into this one incident but its not unlike what I see people do everyday (myself included)... judge. It just got me to thinking, its no fun to be on the other end of the presumption. I try to surround myself with like-minded people but I also seek out those who are of different nationalities, races, political bacgrounds, religions and gender than myself. I think to hear different opinions and life circumstances helps you grow as a person and keeps you from being a pompous ass. You start to think your way is the only way and it's not. Where do you think that saying "There is more than one way to skin a cat" comes from? Here is the question of the day....Do all of your friends, look alike, think alike and sound alike? Just wondering.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Apple Muffins and Granola Bars
Okay all, I know I said I would post this yesterday but of course the day really got away from me. I am running last minute errands before our big Las Vegas wedding trip next week. I have added the granola bar recipe because it sounds really good. I have not yet tried it but received a request for it. The muffins were moist and very tasty. Here's a picture of the muffins I made. Muy Delicioso
Apple Muffins (Ellie Krieger Food Network)
cooking spray
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1 cup natural applesauce
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup lowfat buttermilk
1 apple, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4 inch pieces
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat 12-capacity muffin pan with cooking spray. In a small bowl mix together 2 tablespoons of the brown sugarm the pecans and the cinnamon. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose and whole-wheat flour, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, whisk the remaining 3/4 cup sugar and oil until combined. Add the eggs, 1 at a time whisking well after each addition. Whisk in the applesauce and vanilla. Whisk in the flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with the butermilk. Whisk jujst until combined. Gently stir in the apple chunks. Pour the batter into the prepared muffin pan and sprinkle with the pecan mixture. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to remove any air bulles. Bake for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of 1 of the muffins comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the muffins to loosen them and unmold. Cool completely on the rack.
Jennifer's note: If you don't have buttermilk make your own by pouring 1 cup of milk in a measuring glass and add 1 tblsp of acid (either white vinegar or lemon juice) and let set for at least 5 minutes
Granola Bars (Alton Brown Food network)
8 ouces old-fashioned rolled oats, approx. 2 cups
1 1/2 ouces raw sunflower seeds, approx 1/2 cup
3 ouces sliced almonds, approx 1 cup
1 1/2 ounces wheat germ, approx 1/2 cup
6 ounces of honey, approx 1/2 cup
1 3/4 ounces dark brown sugar, approx 1/4 cup packed
1-oounce unsalted buter, plus extra for pan
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp kosher salt
6 1/2 chopped dried fruit any combo of apricots, cherries, blueberries
Butter a 9 by 9 inch glass baking dish and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spread the oats, sunflower seeds, almonds, and wheat germ onto a half-sheet pan. Place in the oven and toast for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. In the meantime, combine the honey, brown sugar, butter, extract and salt in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook until the brown sugar has completely dissolved. Once the oat micture is done, remove it from the oven and reduce the heat to 300 degtrees. Immediately add the oat mixture to the liquid mixture andd the dried fruit and stir to combine. Turn mixture out into the prepared baking dish and press down, evenly distributing the mixture in the dish and place in the oven to bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completelyh. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Be sure to let me know how your muffins and granola bars turned out! I hope you enjoy.
Apple Muffins (Ellie Krieger Food Network)
cooking spray
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1 cup natural applesauce
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup lowfat buttermilk
1 apple, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4 inch pieces
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat 12-capacity muffin pan with cooking spray. In a small bowl mix together 2 tablespoons of the brown sugarm the pecans and the cinnamon. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose and whole-wheat flour, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, whisk the remaining 3/4 cup sugar and oil until combined. Add the eggs, 1 at a time whisking well after each addition. Whisk in the applesauce and vanilla. Whisk in the flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with the butermilk. Whisk jujst until combined. Gently stir in the apple chunks. Pour the batter into the prepared muffin pan and sprinkle with the pecan mixture. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to remove any air bulles. Bake for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of 1 of the muffins comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the muffins to loosen them and unmold. Cool completely on the rack.
Jennifer's note: If you don't have buttermilk make your own by pouring 1 cup of milk in a measuring glass and add 1 tblsp of acid (either white vinegar or lemon juice) and let set for at least 5 minutes
Granola Bars (Alton Brown Food network)
8 ouces old-fashioned rolled oats, approx. 2 cups
1 1/2 ouces raw sunflower seeds, approx 1/2 cup
3 ouces sliced almonds, approx 1 cup
1 1/2 ounces wheat germ, approx 1/2 cup
6 ounces of honey, approx 1/2 cup
1 3/4 ounces dark brown sugar, approx 1/4 cup packed
1-oounce unsalted buter, plus extra for pan
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp kosher salt
6 1/2 chopped dried fruit any combo of apricots, cherries, blueberries
Butter a 9 by 9 inch glass baking dish and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spread the oats, sunflower seeds, almonds, and wheat germ onto a half-sheet pan. Place in the oven and toast for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. In the meantime, combine the honey, brown sugar, butter, extract and salt in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook until the brown sugar has completely dissolved. Once the oat micture is done, remove it from the oven and reduce the heat to 300 degtrees. Immediately add the oat mixture to the liquid mixture andd the dried fruit and stir to combine. Turn mixture out into the prepared baking dish and press down, evenly distributing the mixture in the dish and place in the oven to bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completelyh. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Be sure to let me know how your muffins and granola bars turned out! I hope you enjoy.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Getting a healthy jump on the day (or so I thought)
For some unknown reason I was full of energy last night. After dinner was done and the kitchen was cleaned (with help from my oldest son,) I decided to make this muffin recipe that has been on my "recipes to try" list for about 2 weeks. I have a hard time getting my kids to eat breakfast in the morning. They love granola bars, NutriGrain bars and anything that they can grab-and-go. Well of course a couple of weeks ago I was watching Elie Krueger on the Food Network fix these scrumptious muffins and since my kids love apples wanted to give them a try. They were extremly quick (15 minutes to whip up) and simple (I used everyday ingredients) to make and my huband was checking the oven timer every 5 minutes to see if they were done because they smelled "heavenly."
This muffin recipe caught my eye because they are low fat, low calorie, low sugar and they are made whith whole wheat pastry flour. We could all use some fiber right?
I was positive that my children were going to be excited that I took the time to make these right? WRONG! Anisa was the brave one and tried them and was eating them and saying how good they were until her mouth centered upon a small diced cooked apple inside the muffin. She pointed to the apple and said "what are these?" Apples I said. "I don't like those." It was downhill from there. Andre didn't even want to try them saying "I don't like muffins with apples in them." "How do you know?" I say. "Because I know and I don't want to try them." Alexander gets up and I say "do you want to try the muffins mommy made?" "Yes I do!" he says with excitement. I give him one, he curiously looks at it, says "I don't like these" "You haven't even tried them. They taste just like cake" I say trying to get him excited about them again. He licks the topping and thrusts the muffin back towards me and says "No, I don't want to eat this."
My kids are the pickiest picky eaters there ever occupied this universe. I truly loved the flavor of the muffins. They were moist and not at all heavy. The topping was to die for! Gerald wanted to eat 2 last night but he said he would save some for the kids to try.
Anyway, I was a bit disappointed in their lack of excitement but as a mother I understand my kids. I have a granola bar recipe that I want to try and this time I won't tell them what's in it.!
I will post the recipe and pics later today because I would recommend you try these good-for-you muffins!
This muffin recipe caught my eye because they are low fat, low calorie, low sugar and they are made whith whole wheat pastry flour. We could all use some fiber right?
I was positive that my children were going to be excited that I took the time to make these right? WRONG! Anisa was the brave one and tried them and was eating them and saying how good they were until her mouth centered upon a small diced cooked apple inside the muffin. She pointed to the apple and said "what are these?" Apples I said. "I don't like those." It was downhill from there. Andre didn't even want to try them saying "I don't like muffins with apples in them." "How do you know?" I say. "Because I know and I don't want to try them." Alexander gets up and I say "do you want to try the muffins mommy made?" "Yes I do!" he says with excitement. I give him one, he curiously looks at it, says "I don't like these" "You haven't even tried them. They taste just like cake" I say trying to get him excited about them again. He licks the topping and thrusts the muffin back towards me and says "No, I don't want to eat this."
My kids are the pickiest picky eaters there ever occupied this universe. I truly loved the flavor of the muffins. They were moist and not at all heavy. The topping was to die for! Gerald wanted to eat 2 last night but he said he would save some for the kids to try.
Anyway, I was a bit disappointed in their lack of excitement but as a mother I understand my kids. I have a granola bar recipe that I want to try and this time I won't tell them what's in it.!
I will post the recipe and pics later today because I would recommend you try these good-for-you muffins!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Taking care of oneself; lesson learned
A few months ago I had a not-so-good experience with my endocrinologist. He was treating me for my thyroid and at the time I should have listened to my instincts and switched doctors. I didn't. I went through radiation and drug therapy with this man that literally would whisk into the room, barely say hello, continuously write in his chart and tell me what I was doing wrong. Well I finally decided enough was enough, I deserved a doctor that listened to my concerns (my escalating weight, my concern about diabetes running in my family). I switched to a WOMAN doctor and let me tell you the difference is night and day. I have never had so many blood tests and educational pamphlets in my life! I had never been tested extensively for: vitamin D deficiency, iron deficiency, glucose levels, A1C, hemoglobin, platelet count, and cholesterol. Because of my doctors thoroughness I found out I was extremely anemic (I now take 2 iron tablets a day) extremely low in vitamin D (I started out needing 50k IU 1x a week but now my levels have increased and I take 2000 IU's per day, my A1C (diabetes marker) is in the normal range, and my hemoglobin and platelet counts have increased.
Why am I sharing this? Because I got up this morning and didn't feel tired for the first time in a llooooonnnnggggg time. Because all the supplements and medication that I take every single day is kicking in. Because I have learned it is important to be your own health advocate. Because it is important as a mom to take care of yourself. Since I have a chronic thyroid condition I go through good and bad feeling days BUT I don't feel run down EVERY SINGLE DAY. I was clearly not listening to my body and taking care of me.
Now if I could only get my weight under control everything would be peachy keen!
Slap the Bull everyone, Slap the Bull!
Why am I sharing this? Because I got up this morning and didn't feel tired for the first time in a llooooonnnnggggg time. Because all the supplements and medication that I take every single day is kicking in. Because I have learned it is important to be your own health advocate. Because it is important as a mom to take care of yourself. Since I have a chronic thyroid condition I go through good and bad feeling days BUT I don't feel run down EVERY SINGLE DAY. I was clearly not listening to my body and taking care of me.
Now if I could only get my weight under control everything would be peachy keen!
Slap the Bull everyone, Slap the Bull!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
There's nothing like saving money
I went to the store today and although it took me 120 minutes to shop it was so worth the trip! For those that aren't aware the first Wednesday of each month is Senior Discount Day. No, I am not a senior but my mother is. If you know a senior, take them to the store and use their Fry's, or Basha card and they will take 10% off of your bill. (Albertson's also does this but a card is not needed.) Now my store of choice is Fry's. It's close to my house and the cashiers know me so I feel right at home there. Now before I tell how much I actually saved today, I need to back up.
Going to the store is a HUGE undertaking for a family of 6. The following steps took place between the hours of 9:00 am and 11:30 am. (That's my ode to 24.) Anyway, I started by scanning carefully ALL of the sales papers to see which store had the best sale for what I needed. Since my pantry is about bare it was stock-up time. Fry's was the chosen one. I then made my list using the sales paper as a guide, being very carefull to choose items that were on sale. Now, here comes the REAL work. I look through every stack of coupons and match them up to the sales item. I also visit http://www.coupons.com/ and http://www.redplum.com/ to get even more manufacturer coupons. Now as I am doing this, I simultaneously make my menu for the next 2 weeks making sure I don't have any repeat recipes from the previous 2-3 week cycle. I want to make my menu from items off my grocery list and items in my pantry, which right now doesn't have much in it. Okay, this can be an extremely long process but I like to challenge myself to see if I can save at least 50% of my total bill. Anything less and I am a little disappointed in my effort. I know, I have issues, but hey if I didn't take this little challenge our grocery bill would be out of this world and on one income that could spell D I S A S T E R!.
On to the next steps. I have made my grocery list, made my 2-week menu, and clipped all of my coupons. I am feeling pretty good because my stack of coupons are pretty thick. That should translate into some great savings. The following takes place between the hours of 1:15 pm and 3:15 pm: I meet my mother and my grandmother at the store and I start shopping. I have filled every crack and crevice of my grocery cart with a grocery item. By the time I get to the check-out my arms are tired because that sucker was heavy. Of course you always get the wise-cracking cashier "It looks like you hit up every aisle. Did you find everything okay? HeeHee HeeHee." I just laugh and start putting my groceries on the conveyor belt. I was going so fast Jamie Sommers would have been proud! Anyway, I hand the cashier the coupons and my mom's savings card.
Drum Roll Please! I spent $149.56 and I saved a whopping $168.22. I had 32 manufacturer coupons. Thirty-two! That has to be my all-time record. That savings was 53% of my bill. I was excited. How many items did I get for $149.56? 105. I bought 105 items. Not bad. Oh, I almost forgot, the Senior Discount of 10% totaled $21.94.
Saving money on groceries is not for the weak of heart. You have to have patience, organization and did I mention patience? This whole production took almost the whole day (actually 4 1/2 hours) but the good thing is I did not go over my grocery budget of $200. I now have some left over to head to Sam's Club and buy some great bulk items as well as buy some whole wheat pastry flour from Sprouts.
Let's all remember Wednesday, April 7th. That is the next Senior Discount Day. Whohoo, there's nothing like saving money.
Going to the store is a HUGE undertaking for a family of 6. The following steps took place between the hours of 9:00 am and 11:30 am. (That's my ode to 24.) Anyway, I started by scanning carefully ALL of the sales papers to see which store had the best sale for what I needed. Since my pantry is about bare it was stock-up time. Fry's was the chosen one. I then made my list using the sales paper as a guide, being very carefull to choose items that were on sale. Now, here comes the REAL work. I look through every stack of coupons and match them up to the sales item. I also visit http://www.coupons.com/ and http://www.redplum.com/ to get even more manufacturer coupons. Now as I am doing this, I simultaneously make my menu for the next 2 weeks making sure I don't have any repeat recipes from the previous 2-3 week cycle. I want to make my menu from items off my grocery list and items in my pantry, which right now doesn't have much in it. Okay, this can be an extremely long process but I like to challenge myself to see if I can save at least 50% of my total bill. Anything less and I am a little disappointed in my effort. I know, I have issues, but hey if I didn't take this little challenge our grocery bill would be out of this world and on one income that could spell D I S A S T E R!.
On to the next steps. I have made my grocery list, made my 2-week menu, and clipped all of my coupons. I am feeling pretty good because my stack of coupons are pretty thick. That should translate into some great savings. The following takes place between the hours of 1:15 pm and 3:15 pm: I meet my mother and my grandmother at the store and I start shopping. I have filled every crack and crevice of my grocery cart with a grocery item. By the time I get to the check-out my arms are tired because that sucker was heavy. Of course you always get the wise-cracking cashier "It looks like you hit up every aisle. Did you find everything okay? HeeHee HeeHee." I just laugh and start putting my groceries on the conveyor belt. I was going so fast Jamie Sommers would have been proud! Anyway, I hand the cashier the coupons and my mom's savings card.
Drum Roll Please! I spent $149.56 and I saved a whopping $168.22. I had 32 manufacturer coupons. Thirty-two! That has to be my all-time record. That savings was 53% of my bill. I was excited. How many items did I get for $149.56? 105. I bought 105 items. Not bad. Oh, I almost forgot, the Senior Discount of 10% totaled $21.94.
Saving money on groceries is not for the weak of heart. You have to have patience, organization and did I mention patience? This whole production took almost the whole day (actually 4 1/2 hours) but the good thing is I did not go over my grocery budget of $200. I now have some left over to head to Sam's Club and buy some great bulk items as well as buy some whole wheat pastry flour from Sprouts.
Let's all remember Wednesday, April 7th. That is the next Senior Discount Day. Whohoo, there's nothing like saving money.
Friday, February 26, 2010
On The Slow Rode To Sanity
Okay, so I need to put blogging on my radar again. I have been extremely neglectful. *Sigh*
I have made some great progress in the last few months on my quest to learn new things and put the fun back in mommydom. For sure there are things I take pleasure in; my garden, teaching the kids and helping with homework and then the not-so-fun; cleaning and the endless mounds of laundry. But I have been doing a better job of taking the bitter with the sweet and really concentrating on living up to the saying "Bloom Where You Are Planted." Right now I am a stay-at-home mom and it's up to me to be the best because there are so many people counting on me EVERYDAY. So I am planted in this season of my life and I think right now I have found ways to still feel that I am moving forward and doing things for me. It has helped that over the last few months I have implemented a Chore Chart, planted a garden, learned to knit, and read several books for pleasure.
My Chore Chart: I have been a stickler for this and it has paid off big time. I feel that I have more time for me (see below). I also like the fact that it helps keep me on track. When I get up in the morning I know exactly what needs to be done. No more running around like a chicken with its head cut off just to complete one task. One unexpected upside: my husband has commented on how nice the house looks everyday so he has noticed the change. There are a few organizational items I want to do over the next couple of months to make life even easier but other than that no complaints.
My Garden: I am sooo excited about this and having a garden has allowed me to connect with my dad on another level because he is a gardner too. My kids have also learned to love collard greens because we have them a couple of times a month. I have more greens than I can handle so if you want some shoot me a text, a facebook mssg to let me know. The caterpillars got to them so there are more than a few holes in them but they are clean and organic oh yeah, and GOOD! What a sense of accomplishment as I go out to pick vegetables that have flourished because I have cared for them. Wow, I can't believe how successful it has been. I even have tomatoes starting to come on the vine. My long-term goal for those would be to can and/or freeze my own pasta sauce and seasoned tomatoes. What a money-saver that would be! Check out the latest photos.
This is a photo of my entire garden. Do you see how many collard greens I have. They are in the middle of the box. 
My tomatoes are starting to grow! I planted these back in October so it's been a looonnngg time coming. I didn't think they were going to grow but low and behold they have! 
This photo is from a couple of weeks ago. This is my green leaf lettuce after I picked it and washed it. We had a crisp, great tasting salad. Look at the vibrant color. I was so pleased with the outcome.My knitting: I have made real progress here too. I have completed my first project! A knitted scarf for Anisa with a crocheted ruffle border. (Who cares that it is about to be spring and she probably won't wear it until later in the year...LOL) The fact that it is complete is the big kudos. I have begun many, many projects only to let them go by the wayside but I actually completed this one! It was so fun and relaxing to knit while I waited for Anisa's dance class to be over, while I watched Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, and while I visited my parents.
You can't tell but this scarf is almost as long as Alexander is tall. It took me a good while to complete. I used the stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl the next). It is a simple stitch and is really the stitch people think of when you think of knitting. I want to learn more stitches. They say if you can knit and purl you can do any other stitch. Let's hope that is true.
My Reading: I have read more books over the last couple of months than I have over the last 4 years. I am telling you, the Chore Chart works and allows for so much more extra time. I also recommend menu planning. Those are two HUGE time savers for me. Check me out on http://www.goodreads.com/ to see the books I've read and my reviews.
My Career Aspirations: Okay I've had a few jobs in my life but not many that I can call a career. I have been thinking about what it is I want to do and it is so exciting doing research and reading up on what is out there. I have not necessarily found my calling but I am taking steps in the right direction and will keep you updated.
I have made some great strides towards sanity in the past few months. It feels good to keep moving forward and Slap The Bull.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Check Out My Garden!
Two days ago I picked some fresh collard greens from my garden. I am so very proud of myself! I not only started this project but more importantly I finished it! Sometimes we think it is easier to just let things go and not finish what we have started. Well I went ahead and stuck with it and you can see the fruits of my labor. I would recommend everyone start a garden. It doesn't have to be big and elaborate. You can start a small herb container garden or plant a single crop. I planted collard greens, basil, strawberries, leaf lettuce, swiws chard, spinach, carrots and tomatoes. Unfortunately, my tomatoes started out strong but fizzled. They bloomed with yellow flowers (which is what the are supposed to do) but never produced buds. I will be starting my spring garden soon and would love for you to start yours.
You know what my ultimate wish is for my garden? I want to be able to can, yes I said the "c" word, my own tomatoe sauce/tomatoes and have enough veggies to freeze for future use. Right now what I pick is what we eat.
My garden is organic so I have not used any spray to kill any of the pests that like what I have planted. I went out there the other day and there were 3 green caterpillar-like worms tearing my collard greens up! Oh well, this is a learning process and I am so excited that this worked out. I am in a great place emotionally, and spiritually and I truly believe its because I have taken more time to explore the things that I have always wanted to do. I am not finished yet....The journey continues.....
Monday, October 26, 2009
Back in the Saddle
Well it's been some time since I have posted anything new, My kids just went back to school last Wednesday after a very lengthy Fall break. We went to Disneyland for 4 days and it was a whirlwind of playdates, sleepovers, and playing, lots of playing. Whew! now that that's over I can go back to my schedules. My house looked like a cyclone struck it up until this weekend. Man when the kids are home for extended periods of time there is no use trying to pick up. Plus we were'nt home too much. Now, let's get back to "normal" shall we?
First order of business....Christmas. I know, I know it's only October, but listen, the time to plan is now. My kids have been working on their lists for Santa because I plan to have items bought and hid this year. I don't want to go out on Christmas Eve looking for a gift. It can be a mad house out there. I am also making a few gifts this year so I better get started. I'll save the details for another post.
Secondly, my garden. Things are doing fairly well. I do have a white fly problem that I am trying to combat but I a m super excited that I see young sprouts popping through the soil. My carrots, spinach and swiss chard are all doing nicely. I have not seen hide nor hair of my cilantro or my lettuce. Where are you lettuce? I'm treating you with lots of love. Anyway, gardening has turned into a family activity. Alexander loves to water the garden with me and everyday when he comes home from work my husband asks me how the garden is doing. It's not too late if you want to plant a few things.
Lastly, I am continuing my journey by re-discoving hobbies I've loved in the past. Reading is a big one. Check me out on www.goodreads.com if you want to know what I'm currently reading. I am also still knitting. My next goal is to find a project I can finish. Knitting really is very relaxing. As I continue my journaling I have noticed that I feel more balance in my life and it is a great time. Maybe that is what I needed. We shall see. There are new things for me to discover right around the corner and the anticipation I feel about trying those makes me feel alive.
First order of business....Christmas. I know, I know it's only October, but listen, the time to plan is now. My kids have been working on their lists for Santa because I plan to have items bought and hid this year. I don't want to go out on Christmas Eve looking for a gift. It can be a mad house out there. I am also making a few gifts this year so I better get started. I'll save the details for another post.
Secondly, my garden. Things are doing fairly well. I do have a white fly problem that I am trying to combat but I a m super excited that I see young sprouts popping through the soil. My carrots, spinach and swiss chard are all doing nicely. I have not seen hide nor hair of my cilantro or my lettuce. Where are you lettuce? I'm treating you with lots of love. Anyway, gardening has turned into a family activity. Alexander loves to water the garden with me and everyday when he comes home from work my husband asks me how the garden is doing. It's not too late if you want to plant a few things.
Lastly, I am continuing my journey by re-discoving hobbies I've loved in the past. Reading is a big one. Check me out on www.goodreads.com if you want to know what I'm currently reading. I am also still knitting. My next goal is to find a project I can finish. Knitting really is very relaxing. As I continue my journaling I have noticed that I feel more balance in my life and it is a great time. Maybe that is what I needed. We shall see. There are new things for me to discover right around the corner and the anticipation I feel about trying those makes me feel alive.
Monday, October 12, 2009
No More Procrastinating
A few weeks ago I mentioned that My dad and I attended a gardening how-to class and that I had always wanted to start a garden but had never taken the time. Well now is the time. I have taken the plunge. My dad built me a small raised garden plot from scrap wood to get me started and furnished me with some seeds that he used for his garden. Okay so it did take me a couple of weeks to actually get down to Home Depot and buy the remaining items that I needed but the point is I did... yesterday. The family and I high-tailed it down to the big box store and bought some dirt to fill the box and some additional starter plants. My initial investment so far has been $54. If you have pretty good soil in your backyard your investment will be even less. Our soil is extremely clay-like, rocky and it doesn't drain well so I thought I should give the plants a good foundation and start with some good soil.
We came home and started right away. Gerald helped me dump the dirt into the raised bed and the kids took great pleasure in helping me spread around the dirt. I bought 3 different kinds of dirt and mixed it together. I will keep you updated as to how this works.I planted the starter plants first: tomato plants, basil, and strawberries (my hubbys idea). Next I planted a row of lettuce, cilantro, spinach and swiss chard seeds. I hope they sprout because when you grow things from seeds you just never know. I have to admit, there is something fun and relaxing about digging in the dirt. This is definitely something the kids are excited about and that is a plus. I'll have help when it is time to pull weeds (maybe).
Check out the picture of our garden plot. It is small, but since this is my first year I didn't want to take on too much. If all goes well, I will add another plot for the spring planting season and add a greater array of vegetable choices. I would encourage you to head on down to Lowe's, Home Depot or your local nursery and get a couple of vegetable plants. You don't need anything elaborate, you can even try container gardening.This is one thing I can scratch off my " I've always wanted to..." list. Boy does it feel good to get out there and begin something new. My journey continues....
Thursday, October 1, 2009
I had a problem
I had a problem that I have been working on for the past few days. This problem had totally taken over my life. I had anxiety about it, I had frustration about it and my kids were starting to emulate it. I was........(gasp!) a PILER,PAPER HORDER! I had piles of newspaper articles and recipes I wanted to keep, I had piles of important school paperwork that I needed or wanted to keep and one of the biggest piles was the kids artwork that I thought I should keep. Well over the past week I have implemented a system that allows me to touch paperwork ONE TIME and actually know where it is supposed to go. Please, please hold your applause until the end.
I have always been a piler and an incessant keeper for most of my life. It all started when my family moved us across country from Indianapolis when I was 12. My mom wanted to cut down on items for the moving van so she was throwing away my treasured items all the while saying things like "this will weigh the moving truck down" (she was referring to my paper maiche pig that won 1st prize at the county fair. We all know how much paper maiche weighs don't we?), or you don't really need this, as she put my prized Babie Townhouse in the giveaway pile. As I got older I started to save every momento that said something, anything about my life. Now don't picture a home that needs to be visited by Neicy Nash and her CLEAN HOUSE crew. I have always kept things somewhat under control and certainly kept it to one box of momentos; My highschool graduation gown, my college graduation cap, my pet rocks, my Jamie Summers Bionic Woman doll with her stop-action feet. Well I was on the road to recovery until October 22, 2008 when we lost all of our possessions in the fire. Thank God, we only lost possessions because the fire was moving quite aggressively. Well there went my momentos, again as well as any artwork, kids mother's day cards, handprint, report cards, and class pictures that I had been saving for my kids or should I say myself. Now I'm not telling you this to generate sympathy, I'm telling you this because I know that I had a problem. (SEE ABOVE). Notice I continue to use the word HAD. I know I am not cured but if I talk about it enough it will come to fruition.
Here is the system I have implemented for our household. I have 5 binders filled with page protectors and tab dividers. Each binder is labled with a childs name with one labled household (Cabb, Andre, Anisa, Alexander, Household). Within the individual child's binder I have tabs like, report cards/progress reports, calendar, stellar work, keep, return. From the week of endless papers that are sent home we choose 1-2 items to put under stellar work, reading logs are kept under "keep," I have a monthly print out of the current month for their activities. In the household binder I have the master calendar for the family, restaurant coupons, and coming events that I may want us to attend as a family. I actually filed the recipes in my recipe box.
To say this is a work in progress goes without saying but it already seems to be working. For example, we went to Parent Teacher conference yesterday and was absolutely inundated with work, artwork, report cards and the like. Both Anisa and Dre, came home and put their "stuff" in their own binders with everything else being recycled. (I have to keep telling myself: It's okay not to keep all of their work.)
After I completed this project I was proud of myself. It felt good to look on my counter and in my kitchen drawer and not see any paperwork. To know I will be saving time looking for lost reading logs, lost field trip slips, recipes and upcoming events makes me happy.
Whew! Now if I could magically make my laundry disappear I would be super happy!
I have always been a piler and an incessant keeper for most of my life. It all started when my family moved us across country from Indianapolis when I was 12. My mom wanted to cut down on items for the moving van so she was throwing away my treasured items all the while saying things like "this will weigh the moving truck down" (she was referring to my paper maiche pig that won 1st prize at the county fair. We all know how much paper maiche weighs don't we?), or you don't really need this, as she put my prized Babie Townhouse in the giveaway pile. As I got older I started to save every momento that said something, anything about my life. Now don't picture a home that needs to be visited by Neicy Nash and her CLEAN HOUSE crew. I have always kept things somewhat under control and certainly kept it to one box of momentos; My highschool graduation gown, my college graduation cap, my pet rocks, my Jamie Summers Bionic Woman doll with her stop-action feet. Well I was on the road to recovery until October 22, 2008 when we lost all of our possessions in the fire. Thank God, we only lost possessions because the fire was moving quite aggressively. Well there went my momentos, again as well as any artwork, kids mother's day cards, handprint, report cards, and class pictures that I had been saving for my kids or should I say myself. Now I'm not telling you this to generate sympathy, I'm telling you this because I know that I had a problem. (SEE ABOVE). Notice I continue to use the word HAD. I know I am not cured but if I talk about it enough it will come to fruition.
Here is the system I have implemented for our household. I have 5 binders filled with page protectors and tab dividers. Each binder is labled with a childs name with one labled household (Cabb, Andre, Anisa, Alexander, Household). Within the individual child's binder I have tabs like, report cards/progress reports, calendar, stellar work, keep, return. From the week of endless papers that are sent home we choose 1-2 items to put under stellar work, reading logs are kept under "keep," I have a monthly print out of the current month for their activities. In the household binder I have the master calendar for the family, restaurant coupons, and coming events that I may want us to attend as a family. I actually filed the recipes in my recipe box.
To say this is a work in progress goes without saying but it already seems to be working. For example, we went to Parent Teacher conference yesterday and was absolutely inundated with work, artwork, report cards and the like. Both Anisa and Dre, came home and put their "stuff" in their own binders with everything else being recycled. (I have to keep telling myself: It's okay not to keep all of their work.)
After I completed this project I was proud of myself. It felt good to look on my counter and in my kitchen drawer and not see any paperwork. To know I will be saving time looking for lost reading logs, lost field trip slips, recipes and upcoming events makes me happy.
Whew! Now if I could magically make my laundry disappear I would be super happy!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
I'm on my way!
I have officially entered the gardening world. Now I'm not Ina Garten yet with her vast herb and vegetable garden BUT I did start my compost pile. I have to admit when I first heard about backyard composting I was a bit intimidated but the Vegetable Gardening 1 2 3 class answered my questions, and the city of Chandler supplied me with a free backyard composter. Well it's more like an old garbage bin, with holes drilled in the tops and sides for aeration and the bottom sliced off, but hey, I did mention it was free right? If you would like more information and you live in Chandler call the city recycling line.
Composting is so easy to get started. Save some newspaper, pesticide-free yard clippings (no weeds), some discarded cut up fruit, veggies, eggshells and coffee grounds. Layer with some dirt and you have a compost pile. I will admit to you the thought of maintaining this pile, because you do have to stir it, water it, and feed it more clippings etc, is exciting. Yes, I did say exciting. I've wanted to have a garden for the past 2 years so having a compost pile means I am actually following through with one of my dreams and that is extremely exciting to me. That's what this blog is all about. Get back to basics girl, find the things that used to make you happy while simultaneously stepping out of your box to explore something new. Dang! If only this site accepted pictures taken from my phone carrier you could see what the actual garbage, I mean compost pile looks like. It literally took less than 10 minutes to finish the first stage of this gardening project. I should start my actual gardening in a week or so. Here's hoping my backyard doesn't turn into a scene from Mimic.
Composting is so easy to get started. Save some newspaper, pesticide-free yard clippings (no weeds), some discarded cut up fruit, veggies, eggshells and coffee grounds. Layer with some dirt and you have a compost pile. I will admit to you the thought of maintaining this pile, because you do have to stir it, water it, and feed it more clippings etc, is exciting. Yes, I did say exciting. I've wanted to have a garden for the past 2 years so having a compost pile means I am actually following through with one of my dreams and that is extremely exciting to me. That's what this blog is all about. Get back to basics girl, find the things that used to make you happy while simultaneously stepping out of your box to explore something new. Dang! If only this site accepted pictures taken from my phone carrier you could see what the actual garbage, I mean compost pile looks like. It literally took less than 10 minutes to finish the first stage of this gardening project. I should start my actual gardening in a week or so. Here's hoping my backyard doesn't turn into a scene from Mimic.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
The Early Results Are In!
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Can I just say I love the Chore Chart that I created? It has helped me be a little more organized when it comes to housework. This chart is just like having Ritalin for my housework ADHD! I have stuck to it all week and have had time to 1) read an entire book, 2) practice my knitting AND 3) complete ALL of my laundry. That hardly ever, ever, ever happens. I’m talking sheets, towels, cleaning rags, everything! Granted, this was the first week but I was extremely proud of myself so I will definitely continue to incorporate this into my everyday TO DO list. To finish off this week’s chart I went ahead with my grocery shopping and meal planning today. I wanted to share with you what we will be having over the next 2 weeks. Now I don’t cook everyday but I do cook most days.
· Ground Turkey Meatloaf, Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Frozen Veggies (2)
· Chicken Chimichangas, Spanish Rice and Refried Beans
· Fried Chicken, Sauteed Spinach and Rice Pilaf (2)
· Grilled Chicken, Salad, Baked Beans
· Chicken Alfredo, Garlic Bread, Green Beans
· Rotisserie Chicken, Mac and Cheese, Frozen Mixed Veggies
· Chicken Parmesan, Salad, Rolls (2)
· Frozen Pizza, Popcorn
· “Ham” and Beans, cornbread
As you can tell, Fry’s has chicken breast on sale this week so I made my menu from their sale paper. Where you see (2) these are planned leftover days. That is where the cooking most days comes in. In my family I literally have to place the leftovers in the fridge right after I prepare the food or it will be gone! I like how this menu looks because of the variety and the limited amount of pork and beef that are in the dishes. “Ham” indicates it is really our version of vegetarian as there is not any real meat in this dish just a packet of ham flavoring. This actually turns out better than you would think. I will post that later in the week or maybe next week, whenever I decide to fix that.
Another thing you will notice is I have not assigned days to the menu. I don’t want to box myself in. I can choose what I want to fix from the above menu instead of saying, on Monday I will fix. I like it better that way.
The other part of my menu planning was to go to the grocery and I will let you briefly know about that: First I spent $138 for the next 2 weeks for a family of 6. Now I still need to go to Sam’s club (for a few items, I try not to go crazy even though Sam’s Club is a definite $$ trap, I’ll save that topic for another day) however, I do keep a well stocked pantry to cut down on my grocery bill. I buy multiples of these items when they are on sale. Second, we take part in a fruit and vegetable co-op called Bountiful Baskets and we get all of our fresh fruits and veggies from there. If you would like to know more, please visit their website listed below. This saves us a TON of money and we only take part 2x per month. Here’s a partial list of what we got this past weekend:
· 8 ears of corn, a bag of green beans, 8 med. sized sweet potatoes,
· 2 big bags of grapes, 8 apples, 10 plums, 10 peaches, 8 pomegranates
· 1 head of cauliflower, 2 bunches bananas, 2 heads leaf lettuce,
If you would like more information about this all-volunteer fresh fruit and vegetable co-op please visit http://www.bountifulbaskets.org/.
I continue to journal, try new things and not outwardly complain. This seems to be working for me. Let me know how you are doing in the comments section. Keep Slapping the Bull everyone!
Can I just say I love the Chore Chart that I created? It has helped me be a little more organized when it comes to housework. This chart is just like having Ritalin for my housework ADHD! I have stuck to it all week and have had time to 1) read an entire book, 2) practice my knitting AND 3) complete ALL of my laundry. That hardly ever, ever, ever happens. I’m talking sheets, towels, cleaning rags, everything! Granted, this was the first week but I was extremely proud of myself so I will definitely continue to incorporate this into my everyday TO DO list. To finish off this week’s chart I went ahead with my grocery shopping and meal planning today. I wanted to share with you what we will be having over the next 2 weeks. Now I don’t cook everyday but I do cook most days.
· Ground Turkey Meatloaf, Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Frozen Veggies (2)
· Chicken Chimichangas, Spanish Rice and Refried Beans
· Fried Chicken, Sauteed Spinach and Rice Pilaf (2)
· Grilled Chicken, Salad, Baked Beans
· Chicken Alfredo, Garlic Bread, Green Beans
· Rotisserie Chicken, Mac and Cheese, Frozen Mixed Veggies
· Chicken Parmesan, Salad, Rolls (2)
· Frozen Pizza, Popcorn
· “Ham” and Beans, cornbread
As you can tell, Fry’s has chicken breast on sale this week so I made my menu from their sale paper. Where you see (2) these are planned leftover days. That is where the cooking most days comes in. In my family I literally have to place the leftovers in the fridge right after I prepare the food or it will be gone! I like how this menu looks because of the variety and the limited amount of pork and beef that are in the dishes. “Ham” indicates it is really our version of vegetarian as there is not any real meat in this dish just a packet of ham flavoring. This actually turns out better than you would think. I will post that later in the week or maybe next week, whenever I decide to fix that.
Another thing you will notice is I have not assigned days to the menu. I don’t want to box myself in. I can choose what I want to fix from the above menu instead of saying, on Monday I will fix. I like it better that way.
The other part of my menu planning was to go to the grocery and I will let you briefly know about that: First I spent $138 for the next 2 weeks for a family of 6. Now I still need to go to Sam’s club (for a few items, I try not to go crazy even though Sam’s Club is a definite $$ trap, I’ll save that topic for another day) however, I do keep a well stocked pantry to cut down on my grocery bill. I buy multiples of these items when they are on sale. Second, we take part in a fruit and vegetable co-op called Bountiful Baskets and we get all of our fresh fruits and veggies from there. If you would like to know more, please visit their website listed below. This saves us a TON of money and we only take part 2x per month. Here’s a partial list of what we got this past weekend:
· 8 ears of corn, a bag of green beans, 8 med. sized sweet potatoes,
· 2 big bags of grapes, 8 apples, 10 plums, 10 peaches, 8 pomegranates
· 1 head of cauliflower, 2 bunches bananas, 2 heads leaf lettuce,
If you would like more information about this all-volunteer fresh fruit and vegetable co-op please visit http://www.bountifulbaskets.org/.
I continue to journal, try new things and not outwardly complain. This seems to be working for me. Let me know how you are doing in the comments section. Keep Slapping the Bull everyone!
Friday, September 11, 2009
The Great Chore Chart Experiment
I've been thinking lately, what would make my life easier? How can I get more time in my day? I mean the amount of housework that hits me in the face everyday is truly overwhelming. Our house is not that big (1300 sq. feet), and with a family of 6 it seems there is always something to do. I feel like I am spinning my wheels when it comes to this issue. Hire a housekeeper you say? Well, for some of us that is just not an option so on Tuesday I made up a Chore Org. Chart. Oh yes I did go there. What's the purpose of this? Well here is my plan: the org chart will help me stop running through the house and doing a little of this chore, a little of that chore, but truly getting nothing done. I will have days to complete an entire chore so that I feel like I have actually accomplished something. Has that ever happened to you? You start off in one room picking up and as you go to another room you see something you want to pick up in there and soon you have Housework ADHD! So this is an experiment that I am sharing, the Chore Org. Chart. Here's what mine looks like:
Sunday - Laundry, Menu/Dinner Plan for the week ahead, Sunday night: have kids pick up their 'stuff" from family room and put away so we can start the week off right
Monday - Masterbedroom, (clean, vacuum, change sheets), Dishes This is a "light" day because Mondays are generally rough for me, I can barely function Monday night: have kids pick up their 'stuff" from family room and put away
Tuesday - Clean Master Bath, steam mop entire house, dust/glass cleaning, Tuesday night: have kids pick up their 'stuff" from family room and put away
Wednesday - Laundry, vacuum, paper/mail purge, dishes, Wednesday night: have kids pick up their 'stuff" from family room and put away
Thursday - Laundry, clean out microwave, pickup in Master Bedroom, dishes, Thursday night: have kids pick up their 'stuff" from family room and put away
Friday - Straighten up counters, and clean as necessary in Master Bathroom, steam mop entire house, dishes, Friday night: have kids pick up their 'stuff" from family room and put away
Saturday - Laundry, change kids sheets, Saturday night: have kids pick up their 'stuff" from family room and put away
Monday - Masterbedroom, (clean, vacuum, change sheets), Dishes This is a "light" day because Mondays are generally rough for me, I can barely function Monday night: have kids pick up their 'stuff" from family room and put away
Tuesday - Clean Master Bath, steam mop entire house, dust/glass cleaning, Tuesday night: have kids pick up their 'stuff" from family room and put away
Wednesday - Laundry, vacuum, paper/mail purge, dishes, Wednesday night: have kids pick up their 'stuff" from family room and put away
Thursday - Laundry, clean out microwave, pickup in Master Bedroom, dishes, Thursday night: have kids pick up their 'stuff" from family room and put away
Friday - Straighten up counters, and clean as necessary in Master Bathroom, steam mop entire house, dishes, Friday night: have kids pick up their 'stuff" from family room and put away
Saturday - Laundry, change kids sheets, Saturday night: have kids pick up their 'stuff" from family room and put away
If you notice there are certain chores not listed. There is not much vacuuming because we have only carpet in our bedrooms with a small rug in the family room. I do not clean my kids bathroom. My oldest son Cabb cleans that every Saturday with Andre, who is ten, picking up in there during the week. I do not do laundry for my two oldest kids, (18, 10) because that would truly be too much laundry. I have mountains just for four folks can you imagine trying to do laundry for 6?!! I know there are some of you that do it so I give you kudos. I do not take out trash or recyclables. I supervise my kids cleaning their room with me fighting the urge to go back over it. If you have older kids I would say deligate, deligate, deligate. I decided to add have kids pick up their 'stuff" from family room and put away every night because you have no idea how much time I spend picking up other peoples shoes, dolls, psp's, books, etc. Listen, my name is not Hazel, or Florence or Alice. They actually got paid to pick up other peoples stuff, I do not. I'm putting my foot down, its your stuff, pick it up.............daily. I have not listed monthly chores like cleaning out the fridge, cleaning baseboards or wiping down walls. I need to get a handle on the day-to-day so I am not swimming in chores. Now who knows how this is going to work out but I am going to try it and see how I like it. Already I like the fact that I know which chores I am going to do when I get up in the am AND I can see light at the end of the tunnel. Of course this is my list, yours may look different, especially if you work, but you can do something everyday and not let your laundry, or dusting or whatever pile up until the weekend. Share your ideas in the comments section. Do you have a better way? What do you do about housework that saves you time?
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Harder Than I Thought
Okay, so last night I attended the Vegetable Gardening 123 class with my father at the Environmental Education Center. Which by the way is gorgeous. Its out on Chandler Heights and Lindsay. Anyway, I mentioned this class about a week or so ago. Let me start by saying it was chock-full of information and this was only the 1st class out of 2. Now I have absolutely NOTHING started. No plot, no compost, not anything. My dad keeps asking me. "Have you started your compost pile yet?" "Well no dad I haven't. DUH!" My father has had a successful garden for about the past 3-4 years. He went with me to see if he could learn something new about gardening since he was self-taught. He learned a couple things but the first class was geared toward the beginning gardener. I learned that starting a completely new garden has lots and lots and lots of preparation. I don't know why I was thinking I could just dig up some dirt, throw in some seeds, water them and BAM! instant garden let's eat. Well, I need to re-think that plan, or lack thereof. Seriously, it is going to be an undertaking and quite an investment for beginning materials. I want to have a raised garden but here is where the investment comes in. You have to buy materials to build the garden, you need to buy good dirt as well as an irrigation system as well as stakes and so on and so on. I may scale down what I want to plant since this is my 1st year so I don't have to take out a second mortgage just to get started. I did enjoy hanging with my dad and getting his ideas for my garden. That was a definite plus. I can't wait until next week when we talk about what grows well here in AZ in the winter. I am blessed to have my dad living in the same area as I do but if your dad lives someplace else you can still connect or reconnect with him. Call him up and ask about his hobbies, or explore a new one together albeit long distance. Take an interest. If your dad is anything like my dad, he is not really a talker, he's a doer. Now I have something else to talk to my dad about when I see him. You know what makes it even sweeter? This is our thing. No one else in my family has taken an interest. It feels special, sort of like when I was younger and we would get up every Saturday morning and wash our cars side by side and we would talk. Makes me smile just thinking about it.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Stepping out of the Box
Yesterday I had two huge Slap The Bull moments. First I joined a Meetup group. What's Meetup? Its a website you go to to find a group of people that are interested in the same things you are i.e. hiking, or scrapbooking or in my case, knitting. I've been wanting to learn knitting for a few years but have never taken the plunge. So, I went to www.meetup.com, searched for a knitting group that meets in Chandler and....wait for it......attended a meeting! Before you ask, no I did not know anyone before I went, I just went. It was quite rewarding. Everyone was extremely nice and because I have NEVER knitted before I was taught how to cast on, how to knit and how to purl right at the meeting. I was also given some knitting worksheets and a website, www.knittinghelp.com for future reference. We met at Wildflower Bread Company at Chandler Mall, so it was very close to my house. I enjoyed watching the more experienced knitters zooming along as they worked toward the end of their projects. I also learned two basic stitches, stockinette which is to knit 1 row, turn, and purl one row, and the garter stich which is to knit every row. Peep pics of my beginner's kit with my practice stitches below. I was extremely proud of myself for throwing caution to the wind and learning something brand new AND meeting some new, interesting people to boot. I would encourage you to get out there and learn something new today. Your brain, and your spirit will thank you.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Reflection
Recently, a friend of mine posed a question to most everyone she knows,
and to tell you the truth, I could NOT answer. I think this question is not unlike the "Who are you?" question. You want to say something really profound, or really intelligent, or really witty but all I could muster up was a measly-sounding "I don't know." Since then, this question has been on my mind, not because I am trying to answer but I want to know why couldn't I answer. How utterly frustrating it is to feel you dont know yourself as an individual anymore. To be so out-of-touch with your wants, dreams and desires that all you can say is "I don't know." Now when I was in the working world I was taught if you don't know something it is perfectly acceptable to say you didn't know IF you followed it up with a "But let me find out for you and get back to you." I absolutely know what I used to want and what I used to enjoy, and certainly before October 22, 2008 what I used to materially have but I know it's not the same anymore. There are so many variables that have shaped me as a person over the past 5 years: my stint as a stay-at-home mom, my marriage, the fact that now I am on the OTHER side of 40, the all-encompassing tragic loss of a fire, the death of loved ones, unexpected chronic health problems, my husband's cancer............... I could go on and on, but you get the picture, they affect you as a person and alter what it is that you want in life. I have been so busy living in the fast lane of motherhood I have not taken the time to stop at the rest stop and recharge myself. Listen, don't get me wrong, I have seen some very funny, insightful, inspiring, and proud moments as a mom, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world, but I can say that I have had tunnel vision probably for the past 10 years. Focused on one thing: my family. Making sure our experiences as a family have been memorable, because after all that is what a mom is supposed to do right? Making sure my child is NOT the child that starts Kindergarten not knowing all the right things, or meal-planning, or budgeting, or......the list goes on. Life comes at you fast and I so wish I could have quickly answered that question but for now "I don't know, I'll find out and get back to you."
"what is it that, deep down in your heart, more than anything else, you want to be, have or do in life? What do you want to be famous for?
and to tell you the truth, I could NOT answer. I think this question is not unlike the "Who are you?" question. You want to say something really profound, or really intelligent, or really witty but all I could muster up was a measly-sounding "I don't know." Since then, this question has been on my mind, not because I am trying to answer but I want to know why couldn't I answer. How utterly frustrating it is to feel you dont know yourself as an individual anymore. To be so out-of-touch with your wants, dreams and desires that all you can say is "I don't know." Now when I was in the working world I was taught if you don't know something it is perfectly acceptable to say you didn't know IF you followed it up with a "But let me find out for you and get back to you." I absolutely know what I used to want and what I used to enjoy, and certainly before October 22, 2008 what I used to materially have but I know it's not the same anymore. There are so many variables that have shaped me as a person over the past 5 years: my stint as a stay-at-home mom, my marriage, the fact that now I am on the OTHER side of 40, the all-encompassing tragic loss of a fire, the death of loved ones, unexpected chronic health problems, my husband's cancer............... I could go on and on, but you get the picture, they affect you as a person and alter what it is that you want in life. I have been so busy living in the fast lane of motherhood I have not taken the time to stop at the rest stop and recharge myself. Listen, don't get me wrong, I have seen some very funny, insightful, inspiring, and proud moments as a mom, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world, but I can say that I have had tunnel vision probably for the past 10 years. Focused on one thing: my family. Making sure our experiences as a family have been memorable, because after all that is what a mom is supposed to do right? Making sure my child is NOT the child that starts Kindergarten not knowing all the right things, or meal-planning, or budgeting, or......the list goes on. Life comes at you fast and I so wish I could have quickly answered that question but for now "I don't know, I'll find out and get back to you."
Monday, August 31, 2009
Caramel topped Apple Gallette with a Butter Cookie Crust
Yesterday was a very satisfying day. I wasn't idle at all, physically, emotionally or spitirually. At about 10 am I was baking an Apple Gallette with a Butter Cookie crust drizzled with Caramel Sauce. Yes you read that right, I was baking on a Sunday morning. How did I go from reading the Sunday paper to baking you ask? Great question. I knew that I was to attend a pot-luck with some friends I had not seen or spoken to in awhile. I also knew that I had not been to the grocery store and that I didn't want to go to the grocery store so I rummaged through my fridge, my cookbooks and my cabinets to see what I could come up with. Well I finally settled on a recipe for a Blueberry Streusal Gallette. I changed the recipe to include apples (its what I had on hand) and no streusal topping (I didn't have any rolled oats or oatmeal packets). As I started mixing, and sifting and creaming, Alexander (my almost 3 year old) rattled off a barrage of questions: What are you doing? What's that? Why you cutting apples? Can I have an apple? What are you doing? The original plan was to make a quick caramel sauce with the standard sugar, water, and heavy cream but of course I didn't have heavy cream and no, I still was not going to go to the grocery store, so I settled for the jarred caramel ice cream topping we all have in our pantry.
So you start out by making a simple butter cookie recipe (see below for recipe) and refridgerated the dough. ment.
I then cut my 5 apples (that's all I had), put some reconstituted lemon juice on them so they wouldn't turn brown. You know, the handy dandy little lemon juice that comes in the plastic lemon container from your produce section. This is where I debated putting cinnamon and nutmeg on my apples like when you make an apple pie. I decided against it as I didn't want the spices to overpower the caramel sauce since I was kind of going for a caramel apple flavor.
I used half of what I made and froze the other half. After 45 minutes I then retrieved my butter cookie dough, and rolled it out on my new silicone baking mat
I sprikled my apples with 2 TBS. of sugar and placed on the butter cookie crust, folded the sides over but left the middle uncovered. This is a classic step in making a Gallette. (this is according to the recipe I altered as this was the first time I have made one) I threw it in the oven and hoped for the best. NOTE TO SELF: Do not take a shower and ask your oldest to keep an eye on your Gallette. Okay, so when it came out of the oven I was a little disappointed to say the least. the edges were overly browned and how the heck was I going to get this thing onto a serving dish in one piece, the cookie crust was already starting to crack because of its extended oven stay.
Well instead of keeping it in one piece, I pre-cut the dessert in bar-like pieces. I would drizzle with caramel sauce when I got to where I was going. Could I just say, the flavor of the butter cookie, which is one of my favorites, could not have been better. It was flaky, and buttery and for the most part the right consistency. Where the apples and the crust meet was like an apple party in your mouth. Subtle but you still knew it was there. I thought it worked on so many levels and I was proud to say I tried this recipe, and made it my own. Most importantly, my friends said they thought it was great. That's all you need to feel a new recipe has been a success, glowing reviews. That was a fun "Slap The Bull" moment.
Butter Cookies (From Williams-Sonoma Desserts)
3 cups all-pupose flour
2 1/4 cups cake flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 1/4 cups unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 TBS pure vanilla extract
Sift together the all-purpose and cake flours and salt into a bowl. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on low speed, beat together the butter, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the flour mixture and mix just until a moist dough forms. form the doug into disks and wrap separately in lastic wrap. Chill 1 disk until firm.
Caramel topped Apple Gallete with Butter Cookie Crust (adjusted from Williams-Sonoma Desserts Blueberry Streusel Galette)
Butter Cookie Dough
5 apples
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 TBS granulated sugar
Roll out the dough onto a rimmed baking sheet with either a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Prepare the apples. Slice apples into medium-sized pieces and sprinkle with lemon juice so they won't turn brown. Add 2 TBS granulated sugar to apples. Transfer to your butter cookie crust. Fold crust over apples loosely leaving the center open. Bake for 40 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Let cool on the pan. Cut into bar-like pieces and drizzle with store-bought caramel ice cream topping. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.
So you start out by making a simple butter cookie recipe (see below for recipe) and refridgerated the dough. ment.
I then cut my 5 apples (that's all I had), put some reconstituted lemon juice on them so they wouldn't turn brown. You know, the handy dandy little lemon juice that comes in the plastic lemon container from your produce section. This is where I debated putting cinnamon and nutmeg on my apples like when you make an apple pie. I decided against it as I didn't want the spices to overpower the caramel sauce since I was kind of going for a caramel apple flavor.
I used half of what I made and froze the other half. After 45 minutes I then retrieved my butter cookie dough, and rolled it out on my new silicone baking mat
I sprikled my apples with 2 TBS. of sugar and placed on the butter cookie crust, folded the sides over but left the middle uncovered. This is a classic step in making a Gallette. (this is according to the recipe I altered as this was the first time I have made one) I threw it in the oven and hoped for the best. NOTE TO SELF: Do not take a shower and ask your oldest to keep an eye on your Gallette. Okay, so when it came out of the oven I was a little disappointed to say the least. the edges were overly browned and how the heck was I going to get this thing onto a serving dish in one piece, the cookie crust was already starting to crack because of its extended oven stay.
Well instead of keeping it in one piece, I pre-cut the dessert in bar-like pieces. I would drizzle with caramel sauce when I got to where I was going. Could I just say, the flavor of the butter cookie, which is one of my favorites, could not have been better. It was flaky, and buttery and for the most part the right consistency. Where the apples and the crust meet was like an apple party in your mouth. Subtle but you still knew it was there. I thought it worked on so many levels and I was proud to say I tried this recipe, and made it my own. Most importantly, my friends said they thought it was great. That's all you need to feel a new recipe has been a success, glowing reviews. That was a fun "Slap The Bull" moment.
Butter Cookies (From Williams-Sonoma Desserts)
3 cups all-pupose flour
2 1/4 cups cake flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 1/4 cups unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 TBS pure vanilla extract
Sift together the all-purpose and cake flours and salt into a bowl. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on low speed, beat together the butter, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the flour mixture and mix just until a moist dough forms. form the doug into disks and wrap separately in lastic wrap. Chill 1 disk until firm.
Caramel topped Apple Gallete with Butter Cookie Crust (adjusted from Williams-Sonoma Desserts Blueberry Streusel Galette)
Butter Cookie Dough
5 apples
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 TBS granulated sugar
Roll out the dough onto a rimmed baking sheet with either a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Prepare the apples. Slice apples into medium-sized pieces and sprinkle with lemon juice so they won't turn brown. Add 2 TBS granulated sugar to apples. Transfer to your butter cookie crust. Fold crust over apples loosely leaving the center open. Bake for 40 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Let cool on the pan. Cut into bar-like pieces and drizzle with store-bought caramel ice cream topping. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
An unusual cinematic experience
Yesterday I was tired so while my mom took Alexander to the Science Center I decided to look at a movie on HBO. I didn't want to watch just any movie. I wanted to watch something that I normally would not get to see (for a myriad of reasons.) As I was searching I came across "Brokeback Mountain." Now I know everyone remembers the tremendous hype surrounding this movie. At the time it came out I did not want to see it. Not for the reason you might guess but because it was over-reviewed (everyone and their mama had an opinion on it whether they saw it or not), over-hyped, and the stars were literally inundated with questions about certain scenes in the movie. Well, I had made a conscience effort to not view this movie. Hey, it took me 12 years just to watch "Titanic" and I was so very very disappointed. Anyway, I sat down, actually, I layed down and watched it, uninterrupted for 2 hours and 10 mins. The scenery in the movie was breathtaking. The cinematography was like candy for your eyes, so very sweet. The story took place in Wyoming although I'm not sure that is where they shot it. I was mesmerized by Jake Gyllenhalls performance. He was very good playing the role of an emotionally distraught cowboy. Heath Ledger, who I had always liked, was equally as good, although his role was tougher to play. He played a cowboy emotionally dead because of something that happened in his childhood. I think I was surprised at how I enjoyed this story, at how I started to care about these characters. Ang Lee, the director, did a fantastic job of putting his vision for these characters to film. I must say WOW! Now let me also say I went into this movie knowing it was just that, a movie, entertainment so I don't want to get into anything biblical or moral or the like. I treated this movie like a book. As a matter of fact this movie was based on a short story. The bigger picture is that I tried something new and once again made a conscience effort to "Slap The Bull."
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