To every thing there is a season...

Week 4 Pantry Challenge It's OVER

2012-01-30T08:35:00.000-05:00

So this week we spent $72. That makes the month total $377. Yea haw!! I'm thrilled with the results. We haven't spent so little on groceries for a month in years.

While I didn't quite accomplish all my goals we did a lot of them. I canned grapefruits, 20 pints I believe. I used up a good portion of our canned butter and this week bought enough to replace it but still have to get it into the jars- sigh. I canned 14 pints, 14 pints is 14 pounds, of chicken breast that had been in my freezer since the end of August. Having this done will mean a few quick and easy lunches, chicken enchilada dip, chicken salad, bbq chicken- well you get the idea. I also got one full meal in the freezer which is about 4 or 5 shy of what I wanted but the canned chicken makes up for that.

I didn't make applesauce as I had hoped but the orchard will have apples for a few more month so hopefully this month we can make some. Even if I had bought apples I'd would have still been under budget.

As for the money saved, I spent it already-sigh. I mailed out checks for the remaining 4 seminars that I need to keep my dental hygiene licence up date. I'm kind of mad scrambling to get that done before #6 enters the world:-) Well at least having to do that didn't cramp our style at all.

I'm going to shoot for $500 for the short month of February. This is completely doable as our freezers are still loaded.

Thanks to Jessica at good(cheap)eats for the challenge.

Here's what we bought this week.

Aldi $21 and Costco $36

"Take a picture of me and the food"

"Rice krispie treat" without the rice krispies, using up a cereal that no one would touch:-)

Not pictured, 6 four packs of YoBaby yogurts $6. And 3 loaves of bread $12.

Pantry Challenge Week 3

2012-01-22T17:59:00.001-05:00

My little grocery shopping helpers.

So Wednesday is grocery shopping day and so far this month I've only gone shopping once a week, lots of store but all done in one day. The hubby did stop a couple of time but let me tell you getting it done in one day make for a smoother week. And staying out of the store means you can't spend money:-)

First Stop ~The Discount Food Store

Fruit twist - 4

Yogurts- 6

70% Organic Chocolate- hey no judging:-)- 12 bars

Second Stop~ Aldi

Cucumbers- 6

Bananas - 2

Green Onions -1

Cauliflower -1

Seltzer Water- 2

Heatlh Store and Dollar Store

Health Store and Dollar Store~

2 dozen eggs

2 loaves of bread

dish washer detergent

Meijer~

more grapefruit

potatoes

cantaloupe

grapes

3# of deli ham

cilantro

ice cream

pasta sauce

ketchup

apple sauce cups - only 67 cents a package

tomatoes

cake mix ~ for my child obsessed with the show Cake Boss:-)

Some of this we don't "need" but I don't want to have to pay full price before the next sale so I grabbed a few.

I believe the total for this week was $98. More than I would have like but way better than what I normally spend. So around $305 for the month so far. I'm thrilled with that number, my kids are hallow and they never stop eating so we go through mad crazy food.

Only one more week to go! Go see how everyone else is doing.

Eating Well.

2012-01-18T13:35:00.000-05:00

Well I haven't had to be rather creative with this challenge as our freezers are stocked but some imagination has made in a little more fun.

Saturday lunch I stared in the fridge. I could just feed them a sandwich but there wouldn't be enough bread for salmon melts on Sunday. So what to feed the wolves that frequent my kitchen.

Hot Dog "mummies"! They went over fabulously with the kids.

I had hot dog buns thawed from a get together we had this fall but the hubby was not impressed with me thinking about feeding them to the kids and honestly either was I. In the trash they went.

Racky is not a fan of plain hot dogs and how can you blame the kid- hot dogs are pretty low on the food chain. So what is a mom to do.

Well I made a half batch of biscuits and flattened in as thin as I could. I then cut it into thin strips and wrapped it around the hot dogs. I baked a touch longer than the biscuit recipe call for to ensure the hot dog was fully heated. Served with a little ketchup. Easy- peasy and they think I rock!

Also I've made pancakes twice this month- I hate to make pancakes, all that flipping and they take for ever to fill the kids up. But they are cheap and filling, after they eat 5 or 6, and they love them. We top them with homemade powdered sugar, strawberry jam or maple syrup. Bear and mickey mouse heads go over well too. Same boring food but kid friendly.

Tomorrow the plan is to make breakfast boats- half baked potatoes filled with breakfast sausage and maybe a veggie snuck in there. Come on breakfast boats sound better to a kid than twice baked potatoes with sausage.

Week 2 of the Pantry Challenge

2012-01-14T15:23:00.000-05:00

Aldi run week 2

So this week was much better than last week spending wise. And you know what, we didn't starve. Here is my run to Aldi. While I rarely go to Aldi they had a great deal on clementines and we go through those things like water around here. Here's what we bought.

#10 lbs potatoes
4 bags of bags clementines
2 frozen veggies
2 bananas
2 blueberries
lettuce and tomatoes
Total of $19.78

Discount Food Store, sorry I can't find the picture.
3 Amy's organic frozen pizza at $2.49 a piece I couldn't pass them by, the kids ate 2 of them while the hubs and I went on a date:-).
5 YoBaby organic yogurt 4 packs $1 each
2 LeCreme 4 packs of yogurt. $1 each
I don't normally buy single serve yogurts for one they are expensive and another ever try to find a full fat yogurt in single serves. Well these all were FULL fat- yumm-o!
Total of $14.97

World Market
Rice Paper Wrappers for the hubs.
$2.49

The hubby stopped at the health store again for me- 2 loaves of bread $7.40.

And that is all she wrote for the spending this week. $44.64 for this week. Total for two weeks is $206.50. Not so bad. The 400 to 500 buck total in obtainable.

I did end up finally canning last weeks grapefruits. 20 pint jars now line our shelves. I used 3 bags plus a couple extra grapefruits, the rest were devoured, so the total cost about a buck a jar with lids.

Jars waiting to be put away after being washed.

I do have to shop again this week. We are out of eggs, cereal- which only matters to one kid, and veggies. Also we are going to a dinner party on Friday and I need to make a fruit salad of that, can you say expensive. Oh well it will be fun.

Stop my Good(cheap)Eats to see how everyone else in doing.

Week 1 - What I Bought

2012-01-08T18:23:00.000-05:00

$161.86- gulp!

Health Store $25 The large mayo was almost $10- ouch!

Benna, Benna look at mommy! Smile! Whatever- Meijer $45.35

Hey mom, I'm busy here!

Costco- $80.01 saving of 35% if I did the math correctly:-)

Again to Meijer to get the tomatoes because they were out on the first try. And the discount food store for the yogurts. $11.50.

Highlights-

The grapefruits were on sale, stinkers made the bags smaller this year. Last year it was 18 lbs for $4.99 now the bag is only 15 lbs for the same $4.99.

The chickens are $1.74 a pound when purchased by the case at Costco. It's pretty much like 8 bucks a bird instead of 11.

The cherry tomatoes were 45 cents after coupons. The ice cream is for Lula's birthday this week. Strawberries were because I brought a little person with me:-)

Head here to see how everyone else is doing.

Pantry Challenge Begins

2012-01-02T15:16:00.001-05:00

So it's here, challenge time. I really should have no problem staying under $500 as I mentioned earlier. If I meet that goal I hope to buy some tattler reusable canning lids with the savings.

Our "food room", (our walk in pantry in our basement), as we call it is stuffed. Both freezers are packed and right now the fridge is full.

Here is what we are hoping to eat this week.

Monday: burgers

Tuesday: breakfast sausage over baked potatoes and veggie

Wednesday: ground turkey- veggie meatloaf and mashed potatoes

Thursday: taco soup and guacamole and corn chips

Friday: baked chicken and rice

Saturday: chicken enchilada dip with chips or tortillas from leftover chicken

Sunday: Lunch- Salmon melts on toast or tomato slices. Dinner- chicken sausages and whatever is left in the fridge.

A little shopping will happen this week. The hubby is hoping to eliminate a few foods that can cause bloating, onions, garlic, etc. He already knows that gluten and corn are no good for him but there still is something bothering his stomach.

Also grapefruits are $4.99 for 18 lbs. this week and I want to can some of those. Hopefully I can hold it together and not spend too much:-)

Pantry Challenge

2011-12-29T16:09:00.000-05:00

Grocery Challenge time again. I know I've tried time and time again but it's better to try and fail than to never have tried at all.

Well Jessica at Good Cheap Eats, a blog that I just found- how have I missed it, is making it official. January is the month.

The rules: make up your own rules.

Well my rules will be to try and shot for $500 a month WITHOUT depleting our food supply. I know $500 sound like a lot and it is but we are feeding a family of 7 and a half:-) The hubby tries not to eat things out of a box and is pretty much grain free. And well I'm kind of a food snob. So anything less would be extremely difficult and would cut into our pantry.

I also want to freeze a handful of meals for when I just don't want to cook or I'm sick or something. I could of used a few of those earlier this month.

Also, can applesauce which I never did this fall. After I finished those pears and the first trimester was upon me I just didn't do it. The peoples love them some applesauce around here:-)

I don't want to deplete our food supply just clean it up and use anything that needs to be used.

Here are the things I can think of off the top of my head that need to be used up.

Frozen asparagus- why did I freeze #50 when I'm really the only one who eats the stuff with out force.
A case of "healthy" sun chips that no one is really digging. Keep bringing them out until they are gone.
Butter I canned two years ago, use it and replace it.
Try the cherry pie filling I canned this summer but have yet to use.

Well anybody else up for the challenge? Should be fun! See you in the kitchen.

Kalahari 2011

2011-12-22T20:53:00.001-05:00

The last few years we have been able to take advantage of Kalahari's BOGO free night. Well this year we took full advantage and stayed 4 nights! Fun for all. We were upgraded to a stellar suite instead of our one room we were planning on. Can you say full size kitchen and two separated bedrooms- yeah! Thanks to Tara and Josh, who came too, for getting us upgraded, I guess it never hurts to ask.

(I just looked it up, for the room we had for four nights with the number of wrist bands for our family would need would normally cost $1519.00- ouch!!!)

Love these guys.

Lettie LOVED the wave pool, she spent a huge amount of her time in there.

My boys. I know they're fat, must be all that butter:-)

These two were inseparable.

Benna soaking it all in.

I did a whole lot of this, it was great.

2011-12-08T20:27:00.001-05:00

The wife does not like different but at least it works. cheerio

testing

2011-12-08T20:26:00.001-05:00

if it works i will be happy

2011-12-08T19:02:00.002-05:00

“God appoints people who do disappoint – to point to a God who never disappoints.”

Thanks to her for this.

So sweet..

2011-12-06T12:51:00.004-05:00

Today at lunch I asked Racky to pray.

....and help mom to feel better. Not just because we want to go to Kalahari but just so she feels better. ....

He makes my heart melt! Love that kid.

Bring a hankie

2011-11-27T14:07:00.001-05:00

If you have an hour go here. Bring a hankie, you'll need it. Then go hug your babies.

So I deleted the past post...

2011-11-11T14:17:00.002-05:00

Sorry if you missed it cause it was pretty funny but it did lack discretion. I can't have something on here I wouldn't want my kids to read, maybe when they are adults I'll put it back up:-)

Would you like some bread with your butter?

2011-10-29T13:02:00.003-04:00

Here is my very unscientific explanation on why you need to eat fat and why it won't make you fat in return.

1- fat makes you full and satisfied.

Ever try to eat a whole full fat cheese cake? You don't even want to do you? A sliver is all you need or want. One sliver of New York cheesecake is 350 cal. and 24 grams of fat and 26 grams carbs. Now, ever try to eat a large Oreo blizzard, 980 cal. and 36 grams of fat and 145 grams of carbs, 109 of sugar? Yup, it goes down pretty easy. Now I know the blizzard has more fat but when you compare the fat to carb ratio is is crazy low in fat. All that sugar keeps you shoveling it in.

2- fats make you happy.

My second child was VERY sensitive to everything. She never slept until we started to feed her olives. We did a rotation diet for years so we became quite good and figuring out what food did what. On olive day she slept- aahh. A full, non sleep deprived child is a sweet child. Olives became an everyday food.

90 % of the human brain is made of fats, if growing brains don't get enough REAL fats they get crabby. Serve butter on everything!!! By pass all low fat dairy products. Skim milk on a bowl of fruit loops will make kids so hungry and crabby in two hours you'll have to send them off to school because you won't be able to stand them. Also don't trim the fat or the skin on your food. If you are buying grass fed animals they have healthy fats.

Ever notice how "dieters" are know for being crabby? Everyone would rather have a fat mom than a crabby mom. Sure eat a salad but please skip the low fat salad dressing. Pour some olive oil on there or some sliced olives or avocado or hard boiled eggs. You won't want to chew your arm off in an hour or your kids head off.

3- your food will taste better.

You know everything tastes better swimming in butter or covered with gravy or cream. Nuff said.

4- fats slow carb digestion.

Popcorn, potatoes, bread all NEED fat to slow the carb digestion so your blood sugars don't spike. A diet coke and air popped popcorn with no fat is a recipe for diabetes. If this is your afternoon snack you will eat any and everything not tied down while making dinner. Unless you have super human self-control, which I do not possess.

5- because this is how our great grandparents ate, hey I told you this wasn't going to be very scientific, and only a very small percentage of them took medications or graced the inside of a hospital. I heard half of the ALL population is on a prescription- HALF.

6- I don't know about you but if I eat a sugary dessert or something I have this strangely intense hunger the next day for the whole stinking day- feed me!!! If I keep it real and don't eat junk at night I can go the next day as normal. No caffeine is needed to mask the low energy levels because of the sugar roller coaster from the day before. I just feel normal, strange I know. Sure I get tried but I nothing a good lunch and an afternoon nap can't fix:-) Hey I am pregnant, I'm allowed naps!
7- it aids in vitamin absorption- make those carrots backstroke through that butter!

I know there are lots of scientific reasons to eat fat you'll have to go elsewhere for those. I just know it's yummy and so far my kids and hubby are far from fat. Me, well I blame my weight woes on the 5 kids and the one baking:-)

(Yes fat has lots of calories but you won't want to eat as much because your blood sugar levels will be more normal. After lots of carbs your sugar levels spike then proceed to crash causing you to want to eat again to lift sugar levels back up, ever try to walk way from the dessert table once you've started. Fats slow and level blood sugar levels.)

Yup it's true, number 6! I can still hardly believe it:-)

2011-10-14T13:04:00.000-04:00

Organized Sports Rant

2011-10-12T17:13:00.010-04:00

I was talking with someone today about my kids and he chimes in with "if they play any sports that could really make things messy."

I told him we probably don't need to worry about that:-)

Yes, so far none of our kids are athletic. No one is overly competitive.

So it hasn't really been an issue. Racky did take karate for a year or so but it was a complete waste of his and my time.

Organized sports for kids is relatively new. None of my grand parents played on a tee ball team, took dance class or played basketball on a team. Guess what they turned out just fine, great actually. They were well rounded individuals, imagine that.

Kids used to be the kids. Adults ruled the world not the other way around. Kids schedules were made to work around the parents not vise versa.

Yes, kids played games with other kids but it didn't cost the family money, wear and tear on vehicles or their sanity by trying to juggle it all. Mom didn't have to get a job to pay for gas and uniforms, sign up fees and pizza on the fly.

If kids needed fresh air they were sent outside to play. Yes, play, like use their noggin and come up with something to do all by themselves. No "coach" guiding them so they don't have to think for themselves. No false reassurance, telling them great job even though they stink at a particular thing.

Here are my rebuttals against the reasoning's behind sports.

"He just needs to go, go, go." AKA my kid drives me nuts get him out of here.

People that "can't" stand to be home need to learn contentment, especially girls as we are called to be keepers of the home, hard to do if you "have" to go, go, go. Give him more work to do, channel his energy into something worth while.

"I don't want him to miss an opportunities."

What to be a ballerina or play in the NBA, okay whatever:-)

"It teaches him sportsmanship."

Play games with him and teach him yourself how to be a good losers and winner.

"It's good exercise."

So is jumping on the tramp or taking a walk or playing a game at home. Playing is also great exercise along with work.

"He needs the social aspect of it, he's a people person."

Great, there are people at home, neighbors across the street and strangers in the store let him talk there. Talking with a wide variety of ages will teach him more about people than a group of his immature peers.

I think its funny how people are willing to accept the fact that a family like the Duggars with their 19 kids don't participate in organized sports. They would never be home so clearly they can't. On the other hand if you choose to say no because you don't buy into all the hype you're mean and depriving your children of a full childhood.

Now don't get me wrong there is nothing sinful about these things. Just this summer two of the kids took a 4 day sports camp. But these activities didn't dictate our lives. Our marriage would be strained if we were gone too much. My hubby and I would hate missing family dinners and devotions as a family. I might be stretched to thin to have time for my hubby, which in turns makes for an unhappy family. Or else we might have to schedule a date night just to see each other. One night a week is not enough! He would feel more pressure to provide for false needs which is an unnecessary burden for him to carry.

Ask your husband what he wants. Does he really want to be Johnny's cub scout leader or would be rather have the family free for impromptu picnics and family day trips. Do these things take away from what God commands you to do?

When reading Shepherding a Child's Heart he suggest that you only do things as a family. While I don't think you have to do everything together is Billy's soccer season dictating the whole families next two months? Are you eagerly waiting for it to be over? Pull him out right now. Cook a big family dinner and just sit and talk together. Go jump on the tramp together or walk to the lake.

Alrighty then, I think I'm done:0)

So I might of come off a little harsh, sorry. As the hubby says I'm not the warm and fuzzy type, he too is the honest type:-)

So let me clarify. If you want your kids to play sports or whatever, have at it. Just last week I asked Racky if he would like to be in the school play. Parent involvement was a requirement so we had to hash this our first. He decided that he didn't want to, great even though I think he would be good at it. I told Lula she couldn't try out. Call me mean, she didn't want a speaking part- um no. Just make sure you know why you are putting your kids in these activities. If you marriage is on the rocks and money is tight and you have to forsake your family to work for these things really, really examine your life. They will turn out fine probably better with out them.

The Pill?

2011-09-26T12:18:00.003-04:00

Go here for an excellent read about the pill.

Ignorance sometimes can be bliss but in this case it can sometimes be so much more.

Half way!

2011-09-19T21:34:00.002-04:00

We're almost half done with the pears, yippee!!! 46 jars line my counters, its a nice feeling.

I have a tip, a wonderful tip. It was learned from the Prudent Homemaker, she is my new BFF she just doesn't know it yet. Give her time:-)

Oh, okay, the tip- place the pears in boiling water for 45 to 60 seconds then drop in cold water then proceed to rub the skin off with your fingers- ZERO peeling.

Racky can do 6 a minute and Lula 7. Puddin can do around 4. Hello that is 17 pears a minute!!! I can't even halve and core them as fast as the peel them.

My life just got easier.

In which I equate another thing to child birth

2011-09-15T15:06:00.002-04:00

I tend to equate any thing torturous to child birth. Beginning another homeschool year, 18 holes of golf and CANNING PEARS! You just don't want to do it again.

I'll be trilled with the outcome but all that work- augh!

Remember last year and the 97 jars of pears that I canned? It was torturous, crabby mom, crabby kids and a disaster of a house. And yes, they are all gone- already!

At the time I vowed never to do it again, ever.

I told myself I would spurge and buy the big pears so there would be less peeling and peeling and peeling....but a year later I did it again and bought the much cheaper small pears. Why oh why do I torture myself. Oh yes I remember because I'm cheap.

Well they're ripening in the garage so I have a few days to prepare myself. Like you can prepare for that. Like child birth you just got to go through it and pray you make it out on the other side a stronger albeit slightly more traumatized individual.

Now on the other hand if the hubby has the audacity to ask me why I didn't make it to 100 jars like he did last year he might want to take cover:-) I jest! Okay not really.

Vacations Pictures

2011-09-10T08:23:00.010-04:00

Benna walking in the sand was priceless as she looked like a drunkin' sailor. She's not the most graceful already so she gave us quite a few laughs. The obligatory Mac Dune Rides. The kids thought is was great. Daddy and grandma and grandpa were golfing so this was our activity while they are away.

Racky took this picture by zooming into the rear view mirror on the truck, quite imaginative.

After climbing the lighthouse we had a picnic at a park with a channel that leads from Silver Lake to Lake Michigan. It was pretty chilly that day but we still had fun.

On the top of the lighthouse. They wouldn't let me wear Benna in the baby carrier up the lighthouse. Everyone has to be able to walk up it alone so daddy went up with the other four kids. We watched a handful of sunsets. That week was the first time the hubby and I ever watched a sunset together:-) A walk out on the Pentwater Pier. While walking down it grandpa keep telling Lula that he was going to walk off the end of the Pier. She kept saying "no you're not!" Well we all did, pictures on the rocks at the end of the pier.

While we were there puddin' had a birthday. We wanted frosting for his dessert. Well I forgot the cake mix and frosting so we hunted down three different kinds of baked goods. Chocolate brownies, pumpkin cake and white cake.

His face was priceless the next morning when he jokingly asked for cake for breakfast and I said YES. It was so worth feeding him sugar for breakfast just for that face.

That's pretty much all the picture because my sweet four year old deleted all the pictures off of my camera, so these are from Racky's. Thanks for taking some pictures baby!

Most quotable quote of the week:

Lula to Racky as they were leaving to ride their bikes down to the beach- "we have to watch Puddin' like he is a $5000 dog!"

!??!?

Stay tuned!

2011-09-07T09:53:00.004-04:00

I'm HAVE TO CLEAN my house and I mean REALLY clean my house. I should look at the kids school stuff too as we start TOMORROW. Whatever.

Oh deary I'm off, but first a picture of my peeps, the reason for the insanity! I love these people!!!

Budget Blowing and a Uterus Quiverer

2011-08-25T07:40:00.008-04:00

Nuff said. Last Saturday we went to Trader Joes and Whole Foods on a little road trip. Seeings how they don't have a those stores by us you have to stock up:-)

Pretty much everything is treats, lots and lots of treats. Stevia pop, izzi's, tortillas, chips, candy, cereal, sparkling water, and cheap bananas. Ginger snap anyone? The hubby LOVES them he says they are more addictive than crack, not that he's ever done crack, that just what he says. I personally don't like them. Now those tortilla smothered with cream cheese and a few veggies- yum. Our vacation is coming up so we went a little crazy.

They also sell "three buck chuck", aka cheap and tasty wine. Don't fret my pet it's not all ours, we were taking orders. Other people also like the "three buck chuck":-)

Well I'm not counting a dime of it seeing how the money came out of the hubby's wallet:-) I did spend about $50 last week at the butcher shop and the health store. So I'm still on track, hahaha. I do plan on spending about 50 bucks of our vacation stash to grab a few more things like guacamole, brats, cheese and some chocolate otherwise I think we have pretty much everything ready to take with.

And on a totally different note here is Benna in a bucket, can it get much better. I tell her daily that she is so cute that she makes my uterus quiver. Hubby could do with out those kinds of words coming out of my mouth:-) But really she is so stinkin' cute!

Food Budget Update

2011-08-15T20:46:00.002-04:00

No I haven't forgotten about the food budget, even though I wish I could:-) I balanced the checkbooks today so I have renewed vigor, if you know what I mean, wink, wink.

Anyways...

I went to Meijers last week Wednesday. I spent $55. Fruit a few veggies, yogurt, tortillas, wine, etc, etc.

Then Friday I stopped at the health store for 3 loaves of bread and a dozen eggs- $18. Ouch!

Today was the dutch store to the tune of $2.

So I'm at $205 so far with two weeks left. $95 is possible I suppose. Our bread habit kills the budget. Lula's bread cost $5.79 a loaf!! I'm optimistic, as the gardening season is upon us and we have quite a bit of meat in the freezer. And hey if we can make that box of wine last for the next two weeks we're golden:-)

We are hoping to make a Trader Joe's run so that could totally blow things out of the water but we'll see.

Weekend Shopping and a few Pics of the Kidlets

2011-08-08T19:11:00.007-04:00

$14 and some change. Really how do people have 40 dollar food budgets?
Hair things were BOGO free.

Friday the infamous hubby treated us to the Coast Guard Festival. Here are the kids waiting to go up, just to plunge back down again. I think they liked it. I last ride, Lettie approved.

Benna and daddy on the carousal.

In which I went shopping but we still have "nothing to eat"

2011-08-04T20:17:00.005-04:00

Don't you just hate when you drop a bundle on groceries and you still don't have anything to eat? That's just what we did. Costco $82 and Meijer $34, I think I can't find my receipts.

The basics, butter to Vodka:-) We hope to make some infused vodka, aka Sneaky Pete with the vodka. The white flour is a first time purchase at Costco so I can try the artisan 5 minute a day bread that has been floating around the internet.

Meijer has the buy 5 salty snacks get $3 off so we bought 5 bags of rancid vegetable fat chips- yum:-) Hey we can't be perfect.

Highlights:

Corn chips, it's salsa season.

String cheese

10 lbs potatoes, I want to try make and freeze potato boats for easy lunch and breakfasts.

Carrots to shred and mix in with summer squashes and freeze for meatloaf this winter.

BUTTER- of course!

Guacamole to go with the chips and salsa.

Must get in the kitchen and make some food ASAP! Lots of ingredients, no food.

To Protect?

2011-08-02T14:52:00.002-04:00

Is hiding thing from our kids in the name of protecting them a good thing? Is trying to hide death from them a noble thing?

Yesterday we found out that someone the hubby knows took his own life. Heartbreaking. You get the feeling that someone punched you in the stomach to hear something like that. It is simply awful.

Well this morning we went to grab a card to send to his wife. Leave it to Lula to want to know what is going on. So I let her know that one of daddy's friends husband had died. Well how, she wondered. So I gingerly told her that he took his own life. Her face dropped. She was obviously very confused. I didn't sugar coat it or throw my opinion about anything in there, just the minimal facts.

A few hours later she asked if they had any children. No was all I said. You could tell she was still processing the information.

I could have easily blown her off and told her to mind her own business. Yet children are so much better off to learn about death and sin from a distance if at all possible so I talked to her.

Our kids have been to a hand full of funerals and another hand full of visitations. We walk up the casket, we show them the body, we talk about how it is better to be the house of mourning than out having fun. They have seen marriages crumble and homes broken they have seen the results of sin. We talk about these things as unbiasedly as we can. Only telling them what God thinks of these things.

I know other disagree with me on this. They feel like a child's life should be butterflies and sugar plums but it's not.

Learning these things from the safety and security of a loving home is by far better than finding out when they experience it first hand.

Ecclesiastes 7:2
It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart

Hiddy-ho there neighbor!

2011-08-01T19:50:00.005-04:00

( Kobe Dean and Benna earlier this summer)

So it been a while...sorry I've got no excuse. Unless you take in to consideration that I'm just to lazy to come up with a rousing and lively post for you, my three readers.

We've been eating way to much ice cream and swimming at the pool way too much. (We have cut back because we can't be having us any punk country club kids:-) But really it's been hot and it is so easy to spoil your kids when you have the means to.

I have a to-do list about a country mile long to do but who really wants to paint or the like when it is 90+ degrees out. So this month will be busy.

I'm going to try a food budget again, but really we know how I am this those:-) $300 buck for the next four weeks...we'll see.

Why would I torture my self again? Well August is a huge month in the canning and freezing food world. Apricots, plums, tomatoes, peaches, and pickles are all on the to-do list. When you drop lots of money on fruits and veggies it got to come from somewhere.

Our vacation is coming up and last time I checked that too wasn't free. So we must horde a little money for that.

We also swapped our furniture for a cream colored floral sofa and love seat which means new paint, rug and curtains. Plus we would like to buy a couple of chairs for the living room now.

Tuition payments are due soon and making payments is yuck so must scrounge up some moo la for that too. So that my friends is why I'm torturing my self.

There is always something to spend money on isn't' there? So stay tuned for grocery pictures and living room redo picture and maybe even a few of my kidlets.

2011-06-27T17:15:00.002-04:00

"A woman is the only creature that can conquer by surrendering."

The Morning After

2011-06-16T07:45:00.003-04:00

Today is the day I start my "diet". So you know yesterday was the day I showed zero, zip, nada self restraint and ate whatever I wanted. I even ate food I didn't really want just because today I "can't" eat it, sigh.

I feel it. My hands are somewhat stiff. I had dragon breathe. My feet we're sore when they first hit the floor. What you didn't know that these are prediabetic signs. 33 year olds should not wake up sore and stiff, well unless they exercised- gag.

Now while I know heredity does have a bit of influence how we were raised and what we eat is the bigger part of it. Two of my brothers and myself show these signs. They are much much worse than I. They have a physically hard time walking in the morning, not cool. They drink pop and I mean they drink LOTS of pop. Like over a 2 liter a day- yuck. They also eat some seriously fake food. Can you say frozen pizzas and Wendy's daily. I should make they a salad stat.

So today is the day I take charge of my health and with the grace of God try to prevent and very preventable disease.

I'm going low carb, or primal or on the GAPS diet. Whatever it is you want to call it. Meat, veggies, LOTS of butter, tallow and olive oil. With a helping of fruit for dessert.

I haven't quite made up all of the rules yet so we shall see. I do know that 86% chocolate will be included as will the occasion adult beverage. On the other hand there won't be any eating cool-whip by the spoonful though, stinkin strawberry shortcake.

So here's to being proactive before I'm forced to be.

Have a fabulous day.

Daniel Boone Shmoone!

2011-05-26T13:51:00.003-04:00

I've been reading the kids a book on Daniel Boone. The cover says an American Hero. Ha the guy is less than a hero.

I've been so irritated I can hardly finish the book. If you are unfamiliar with the story good old Dan is a Mr. Visionary and a wanderer. Not once but TWICE he told his wife that he would be gone a few months hunting and it just happens to turn into a few YEARS!

You know it's long when you have a baby while your hubby's away. I'm really quite appalled that he is considered a hero. Yes he could hunt and track and map out the country but really who cares.

I don't care if your the best at whatever in the country or the world if you pull crap like that I won't and don't like you. So take that!

2011-05-24T07:59:00.003-04:00

Well I'm jumping back up on my soap box here today so you might want to come back another day. Just thought I'd let you know:-)

Why oh why does everyone think just because a child is "legally" old enough to stay home by ones self that he should? What reason is there for a kid at the age of 10 to be left to his own accord?

Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

Yes at the age of 10 kids are long since on their way out of the rod stage of life but now is when the reproof age is really setting in.

Webster's defines reprove as-
: to scold or correct usually gently or with kindly intent

How can one reproof if they aren't there? That's right, they can't.

Also by leaving them at home they are missing out on so many learning opportunities.

Patience and long suffering. Ever grocery shop with five kids? Enough said.

Home economics. Food costs a lot, wise and prudent choices need to be made.

Self restraint. Do you see the junk by the check out?

World wide economics. Gas and food price correlation has been talked about a lately in our running around town.

How to communicate with others. This can be done safely with mom only a step or two away.

The are also learning that the daddy's need to make quite a lot of bacon to support a family. Like it our not it's a fact so boys get ready.

Car rides give you a great chance to communicate with your kids. No interruptions or distractions. They also have to listen, no place for them to wander off to.

They will be grown and out of the house soon enough. Keep them close and near to you it is a wise investment of your time.

Don't worry by the time Benna is 6 or so I'll probably be lax enough to let her stay home alone. Just as long as she keeps her cell phone handy and her biker boyfriend Bo and his buddy's are over to protect her. HA!

OAMC Real Food Style

2011-05-17T07:51:00.013-04:00

When most people go to grab dinner out of the freezer is usually consists of something in a box, and most likely is involves cheese and pepperoni along with about 35 other ingredients. Well as of right now there are no boxes in my freezers. Please don't talk to me later after the co-op is delivered as I broke and ordered some deeply discounted fish sticks:-) Hey we can't always do it all.

Well blogger was down over the weekend so here is my OAMC, once a month cooking, marathon I did last Thursday.

First I boiled 10 pounds of red skin potatoes and 4 pounds of sweet potatoes to make mashed potatoes for shepherds pie and dinner that night. I chose red skins so I'd only have to peel a few sweet potatoes, it was going to be a long day no sense making it harder than it needs to be.
The night before this was full of ground beef, 27 pounds to be exact. Good this it was blinging hot because come morning they still had a long way to go before they were thawed.

As the potatoes were cooking I assembled three 8x8 pans of meat/ veggie loaf.

Meatloaf

1.5 lbs ground beef

chopped carrots

shredded zucchini out of my in laws freezer

chopped onion and a few chopped mushrooms

Sugar free ketchup

Seasonings- lots of them

Sorry I never use a recipe. (Meatloaf ingredients)

After the meatloaves made it to the freezer I browned three packages of beef for Shepherds Pie. Again no recipe. Pretty much beef with layers of carrots, onions, canned tomato, broccoli and topped with mashed potatoes.

After those were assembled and in the freezer another batch of meat was cooked and seasoned with taco seasoning, three meals worth.

While the taco meat was cooking yet another pot of beef was cooking. This pot I added onion and a few leftover chopped carrots. These will be used for spaghetti and what not. Three meals again.

And again I made another pot of meat to make three meals of sloppy joes.

Finally I chopped up a package of these chicken sausages from Costco, onion and mushrooms and bagged three meals out of it. These are lunch sized meals.

(Ice bath to cool meat before putting it is freezer bags.)

Here is how I cooled the pots of beef before putting them in freezer bags. I just plopped the whole pan in a ice bath. Please never put warm food in plastic bags unless you like to eat plastic.

The meatloaf and Shepherds Pies were put in glass pans covered with parchment paper then wrapped with foil and plastic wrap.

The final tally-

27 pounds of beef

5 pounds of chopped carrots

14 pounds of potatoes

2 bottles of sugar free ketchup

5 canned of diced tomatoes

lots of onions

1 package of chicken sausages

a few packages of mushrooms
salt and seasoning

= 20 meals -YIPPEE!!

By the way it only took about 5.5 hours with five kids under foot.

This is liked to Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

2011-05-10T06:43:00.004-04:00

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

So spring is upon us, aah I adore spring.

Playtime and free time abound. Relaxing days with out the school pressure. What more could a girl want. Freedom to step out side with out ice cold winds chilling you to the bone. Popsicles on the front porch with my favorite group of peoples. Sweet handfuls of dandelions from my loves. Seeing sweet Benna wave excitedly when we are heading out of doors.

Bliss pure bliss.

So what does spring and child training have to do with each other? Tons.

We have a family golf/ pool membership at a local country club. So that being said how does this deal with my kids?

We have decided even though we can all golf there for free if the kids go with out daddy, because this mama don't golf:-) They have to pay. Yes with COLD HARD CASH out of there sweet little piggy banks!

Do you know what the next verse is after the very famous to train up a child?

Proverbs 22
7The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

Life is not about play. The Bible repeatedly talks about the slothful and idle and the borrower. And not in a good way. If we allow our children to expect leisure over work we have failed them. It is already in our sin nature to want the easy way out but we must fight it and guide them.

The kids also want to take summer classes. Puddin' wants soccer, Lula wants anything with her cousin, and Racky wants to take a Lego Robotics class. Well guess what? They have to pay half.

Racky's class in the most expensive. So he has been working up a storm to pay for it. No more thinking about it when I offer a job. He is on it. Also it is that job or no job. No picking or choosing. If he were working for a real employer he couldn't say I'll pick up sticks but I don't like to pull weeds. Also we pay by the job not the hour. So it is in their best interest to work quickly and see if mom will offer up another job.

What really kills me is the fact that I need to work along side of them and teach them to work. It is so much easier to do something by myself than have 5 kids helping me. So many people send their kids out into the world and let other teach them to work. That's not how it should be it is the parents job.

Genesis 3:19
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground;

The Zoo

2011-05-06T14:52:00.005-04:00

Yesterday our zoo membership expired. Thus one last trip to the zoo. We went to the "far away zoo."

We haven't been there in years so it was new and exciting.

Benna LOVED the animals. She would pull herself close and just stare. I love seeing the world through their eyes.

Own it

2011-05-04T20:22:00.005-04:00

Lately the idea of starting a new blog, an anonymous blog, has been bouncing around my head.

Why? So I could shout from the hill tops my opinions with out backlash or repercussion. I could spout off whatever I wanted.

This my friends would not be good. I'm sure my very few reader all know that I am of the very opinionated sort. Pretty much its my way or the wrong way. I know I'm working on this.

Well lately I've had a big hang up with people not owning up to their mistakes. They want people to cover for them or simply pretend its not there. Or even better they want to shift the blame to others. OWN IT FOLKS! Talk about erk me.

Then it dawned on me. An anonymous blog? Surely I wasn't being like them?

Why yes I was. Ugh! I didn't want to own it or stand behind it.

Ouch that hurt.

If I can't put my name on it I shouldn't write it. Even if it was always anonymous and perfectly hidden someday I will still have to own it.

Proverbs 18:7
A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

Weekend Blessings!

2011-04-19T14:21:00.004-04:00

We've been sick! All weekend long and still today we aren't quite up to snuff. No one wants to hear that so here our blessings just from this weekend.

Friday our wonderful SIL watched our five kids plus her three plus her daycare kids while the hubby and I went to a business meet and greet thing at Fredrick Meijer Gardens. Thanks Sharon we owe you big time!!!

While we were there we were drawn for a $25 gift card to Panera. So we after stopping at Chipolte our date night full of wine, cupcakes, and finger foods and butterflies and yummy burritos bowls only cost us $15. Not bad for a nice night out who says dates have to cost a lot of money.

Saturday said sister in law called to let us know that the Walker Bike Trail group was giving out bike helmets at the local fire station. Well two kids "needed" new helmets. Benna and Hubby both received bike helmets free to us.

While standing in line for the helmets a girl gave us 5 free kids meals to Applebee's and 2 free frosty's- only two of the kids like frosty's!!

Sunday morning everyone was well enough to go to church!! A hour later not so good but at least we made it.

Monday we received a phone call that Puddin's name was drawn from the helmet thing and he won some car washes, Ucello's and subway gift cards.

Not 20 minutes later we got yet another call that Lettie had one a free pizza and Lula won a BIKE. Yes it's a boys bike and too big for her we were still quite stoked!

God is good!

Mr Steady

2011-04-12T12:37:00.007-04:00

Hey Racky who do you want to be like when you grow up? "ME!" He answers.

Oh to be so comfortable in ones own skin.

This kid is great. He is a kid that is truly fine with someone out running him or being stronger or smart than himself. He doesn't worry about the small stuff or even care.

While he does have a little bit of a short fuse in him he hates injustice. He just can't grasp people being mean just because they can. He's bewildered by the teenager texting on the car next to us, "she might hurt somebody". Dumbfounded by the kid who doesn't listen to his teacher at school. And don't even read him a book on slavery or the like.

Young innocents. I hope he never out grows it.

Purpose to Smile

2011-04-07T07:23:00.003-04:00

I was watching 19 kids and counting or maybe is was 16 kids and counting or 17 kids and counting.. what ever you know what I'm talking about. And Michele Dugger said that when her kids where little she would "purpose to smile at them". Even when she was overwhelmed and knee deep in toddlers and she couldn't do anything else she smiled. What a wise woman. That just always stuck with me. A smile reciprocates a smile.

Food.. again

2011-03-14T15:38:00.006-04:00

Again with the food!

I found out where our local supermarket gets their pineapples from and went directly to them to buy them for cheaper. Yippee!! $1.90 each and they are the big ones. That turns into this...

9 pineapples= 14 quarts. $1.32 each with lids.

So with that turning out pretty well I went down the street from them with my SIL to see what else we could scrounge up.

5 lbs. mushrooms -split with SIL

35 lbs. potatoes - split with SIL

40-45b lbs. spaghetti squash

6 pineapples - yes more.

5 lbs. mandarins. - these were fabulous!!

$55, yes that takes a huge chunk out of your grocery cash but if it saves me a buck or two I'm game. We have enough bellies to fill and will go through it all that it's worth it.

If you think of it in terms of pounds of food it's a steal. $55 divided by about 90 pounds equals 61 cents a pound for REAL food.

I'm hoping to go back and get more pineapples so that I can hopefully get about 25 quart jars more. I didn't get them all at one time because I couldn't spend all of my money in one spot you know.

Mr. Visionary

2011-03-06T13:24:00.002-05:00

My sweet little Puddin' Pie as we so affectionately call him. Now this kids wife is going to have to be quite something to put up with this guy.

He is so the third child, he has no idea what to do by himself. He must have something or someone to entertain himself at all times. He also says strange things for a boy of his age.

"When are we going to move, I'm bored of this house?"

"When can I have a new blue thing for my bed?" aka comforter.

"I'm bored of my bed that way, can we move it?"

Oh my sweet child you look so much like your father but are so different all that the same time. I'll take my Mr. Steady any day. I pray that the Lord is creating a little beauty out there who will be able to deal with you and your grandiose ideas.

Love

2011-02-25T13:14:00.002-05:00

I have this little running game with the kidlets. I tell them I love them but don't tell anybody. Then the proceed to say "but mom everybody already knows you love me."

Today the oldest added on that all mothers love their kids. I told him a few don't but yes most do.

Then I got to thinking about it. According to Biblical love most parents DO NOT love their children.

Heb. 12
5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Proverbs 13:24
24He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Hebrews 12:6 (King James Version)
6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

As we can see Biblical parental love is not an emotion, it's an action.

There is a reason why Titus 2 commands the aged women to TEACH the young women to LOVE their children. It just doesn't come naturally to us. They must teach and we must be willing to learn.

Titus 2
3The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Do you see that last phrase there,that the the word of God be not blasphemed. This is serious business ladies.

Have you loved your kids lately. I know I have one sweet bundle that could stand to have a little more biblical love applied.

Alright I've had enough rebuking for the day how about you:-)

Emphasis mine.

Gas Prices?!?!

2011-02-24T14:57:00.003-05:00

So everyone knows that gas is super expensive right know but how really does it hit home?

Well yesterday was run around town day. I filled up at 9:00 to the tune of $75- ouch!

By 3:45 I had drove 65 miles. I picked up the SIL and went to two Target stores, the "meat" store, the discount bread store, dropped off SIL, home, to school to pick up kids, to the discount food store, the bank, post office, back to school to pay for volleyball camp for Lula then home again jiggidy jog.

Well our 12 year old paid for mini that we love and adore because she is paid for, get 15 miles to the gallon city and 17 miles to the gallon highway. Yes I know that is awful but remember she is paid for and very cheap to insure for so we deal with it.

So my 33 dollars spent isn't the actual cost if I add gas it cost me an additional 13 bucks, so much for being frugal. Do you know how much food I could buy with 13 dollars -ugh?

So for the next week or two I am declaring 3 mandatory stay at home days. Mon., Tues., and Thurs.

So how much are you spending? How much does that quick run the Meijer really cost you, I know it cost me almost a whole gallon of gas to run there. How about those extra activities that the kids are in?

So here's to being "green" and saying no to the extra trips even if they are good deals.

Photo Credit

two worlds collide

2011-02-23T13:42:00.005-05:00

You know the world were the bathroom is clean enough to take a picture and the world were I actually take the picture. So here finally are the pics of the bathroom you have all been waiting on pins and needles for:-)

So here is our new floor. It's she beautiful!!!

She used to be half linoleum and half WHITE CARPET!!! Gross!!! Gag!!! Yuck!! Who puts carpet in a bathroom? Definitely not somebody with a handful of kids.

Okay in all honestly this is what is usually looks like, sigh. The house will be clean when they all move out right?

Target Run- Run to Target ASAP

2011-02-22T13:48:00.003-05:00

Target is running a pretty sweet frozen food deal this week. Buy ANY 7 frozen food items get a $5 gift card!! Here is what $23 bucks will buy you.

If you take off the fruit snacks our total would be just under 19 dollars.!! 19 dollars for 42 items. That's an average of 45 cents a piece. Or you can just think of it as taking 71 cents off each item. Veggies 99- 71 = 28 cents!!! OJ 1.19-.71= 38 cents!!! Mini ice creams 99-71= 28 cents!! Fruit bars 1.99- 71= 1.38!!! Old orchard juice 99-71= 28 cents.

This week is the week to buy veggies and juice. The kids are begging for more fruit bars because they are so yummy but we'll see.

Our Valentine's Day

2011-02-16T13:19:00.005-05:00

Here is a few pictures of our Valentine's Day candle light dinner. Who knew that eating burgers by candle light would make them SO happy. The candles lead to hearts and decorations strung from the ceiling fan. In the back of the kids is the valentine that Lula made for Isaac and I, love her!!!

Little fun fact for you too. Kids are much easier to get out of bed when the pancakes are heart shaped.

I hope you had a happy day with your special loves!

Pics

2011-02-08T19:20:00.009-05:00

Here is my attempt to take better pictures of my kids than the gal at Sears. They're not great but better than lasts night family picture disaster!! She's one today!!! Sweet baby girl!

Modesty- please go read!

2011-01-26T13:34:00.003-05:00

I’m growing more and more aware of this issue as my sons get older. How dare women and teens make my job as a parent and my son’s growing up challenges more difficult than they already are? I’m working hard to show my sons what true femininity and godly womanhood are. Please don’t cause my sons to struggle. We’re trying to prepare them to be true to each of their wives some day.

After reading this book it is even more important to me. Men are visual, it is not their fault, that is how GOD made them. Yes they have to turn the eye and fight the good fight, but it is kind of hard to do when you are talking to them. And according to this book they have a mental Rolodex of images in there. I don't want to be in anyone's Rolodex unless of course I'm sleeping with him:-)

Here's a verse for you, totally out of context? maybe but it sure does fit.

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required. Just replace the him with a her. If you got it COVER IT UP!!!

I don't want a picture of you and your stuff lodged in my guys heads. Raising God-fearing children is hard enough with out all the immodesty in this world.

Would you be embarrassed to have your pastor see you dressed like that. What about your grandpa. What if the Lord came back right now, or are we just hoping he doesn't come back when we're playing at the beach or pool.

Yes look nice and girly. And yes I know I need to improve in this area too but it can be done.

My life feels like it revolves around food....

2011-01-24T13:36:00.004-05:00

Saturday shopping!!

Big Lots $33 after the printable 20% off coupon. They are a great place to get organic convenience foods. Yes I know they're aren't healthy but at least they are organic junk.

Highlights; Bathmat $3 for my new bathroom floor- pictures soon

Quarts of tomatoes 80 cents!!

Crackers $1.19 a box

Granola bars $1.60 a box-they have no nuts!! This is the first granola bar my kids have had! The bread outlet in Cutlerville. $7.42 Sorry the donut were only 49 cent so I caved and bought them, again a few of the kids had never had a donut. They made one little girl very crabby!!!! You are what you eat.

FRUIT

2011-01-21T20:42:00.003-05:00

I'm weak!! I ate fruit today and it was wonderful.

This morning after being in bed for about 9+ hours I felt really shaky. Not a fun feeling. So I caved and devoured a banana. DELICIOUS!

Well the whole reason for doing this diet is to help sweet Benna who is starting to have all the same signs and symptoms of Racky when he was a baby. So not cool. I taped egg and milk to her back a few weeks ago and with in 3 minutes she had hives from the eggs and the milk left a red spot so I know those are no no's.

But this diet was effecting my milk supply. I've never made it to a year nursing any of my kids and am really hoping to nurse her as long as possible. She'll be 1 in a few weeks?!?! So what good is sticking to a diet when I end up having to supplement her and my milk supply drops.

So with a little ever so slight nudge from the hubby I'm back to eating fruit. I hope to remain grain and refined sugar free.

So here is what I ate today.

Banana

Breakfast- asparagus and canned venison

Lunch- Chicken and a few carrots

Snack- Apple on the way home from the orchard

Dinner- Venison, onion and mushroom burgers with onions, tomatoes, lettuce and sugar free ketchup. And another apple!

Snack- a handful of raisins- wowsers those things are sweet.

need food....

2011-01-20T21:05:00.003-05:00

Just kidding but I've been REALLY hungry today. I'm sure it is a lack of protein. I know everyone is different but I could NEVER be a vegetarian let alone vegan!!

Breakfast- Salad (this did not hold me over well- I was starving 2 hours later.)

Lunch- Soup, guacamole with cucumber slices

Snacks- Carrots and more guacamole sounds kind of strange but veggies and guacamole really work together

Dinner- leftover spaghetti squash spaghetti and another salad

Snack- some mushrooms drowning in melted butter then some mixed veggies in the leftover butter- yummy!

Tomorrow I must cook up a chicken or something to eat off when hungry because thinking about food all day long is not cool.

Still going strong

2011-01-19T19:05:00.004-05:00

Breakfast- Peas, lots and lots of peas drowning in butter and salt

Lunch- Mixed veggies from Costco and roast

Snack- had a few cooked mushrooms and onions before I threw the venison in the pot.

Dinner- Venison Spaghetti with spaghetti squash. There is *1* Meijers Naturals jarred spaghetti sauce that has no sugar- yippee and it's only $2.19 a jar!!

Sippin' a cup of Dandy Blend

I really am not hungry eating this way. I obviously would LOVE to eat something sweet but the cravings really haven't been too bad.

Day 2 - still no sugar

2011-01-18T20:45:00.002-05:00

Here it is!

Breakfast- chicken and peas

Snack- soup and raw carrots

Lunch- Soup

Snack- soup

Dinner- salad and roast

I did add coconut milk to my Dandy Blend this morning and it didn't seem to treat the babe real well. Otherwise all is going well.

It's almost over!

2011-01-17T19:26:00.002-05:00

The first day that is.

So what did I eat?

Breakfast- 2 chicken drumsticks that I baked last night and peas with butter.

Snack- some roast out of the crock pot and cucumber slices

Lunch- some more roast and half of the not so tasty tomato. I did eat two or three slices of apple off of Letties plate, its a mom thing- oops.

Snack- carrots and lemon water

Dinner- baked chicken, cooked carrots with butter, and salad topped with olive oil and apple cider vinegar.

More lemon water.

Cooking on the stove right now is a pan of chicken enchilada dip for lunches tomorrow which will be served over lettuce. There is also a pot of chicken stock going so I can make some soup tomorrow.

I wasn't hungry per say today but the hubby was. He said he needs more food tomorrow:-)

He had Ezekiel bread with apple butter and butter and a grapefruit. Chicken, rice and green beans. Olives, cucumber slices, dries fruit- apples and raisins and fruit leathers. He had the same dinner as I with the addition of some rice. Know he's sipping a mocktail.

Tomorrow he starts the protein drink and drops a few more foods from his menu.

See you tomorrow and eat a cookie or two for me!!

Coupons and me

2011-01-16T15:22:00.005-05:00

Here is a picture of a Target shopping trip right before our vacay to Kalahari. If I remember correctly it cost $20. Wipes, swim diapers, paper plates and paper towels were all full price, they were needed for the vacation. That means that everything else was pretty much free.

Target had $1 off suave products so the tall bottles of shampoo were money makers because they were only 82 cents. The kid shampoo was like 87 cents after the coupon but that difference was covered by the extra 18 cents of the big bottles.

Target also had 75 off any up feminine product making the panty liners 14 cents so for the price of one 1 got 8. That's enough to last for about the next three years if not longer!!:-)

Naturally I would love to buy all natural organic products but the budget does not allow for that. So thing that get rinsed off are run of the mill shampoos and soaps. We do not use lotion or anything else like shaving cream and such. They are just more chemicals for your body to process- gag!

Things that I try to make sure are natural are sunscreen and bug spray. The hubby had a cousin that stuttered for a long time after her father sprayed her and her siblings down with Deep Woods Off. Wait what about The West Nile Virus? That is about the 198, 563rd thing on my list of things to worry about, really not worried about that AT. ALL.

But Esther Suave makes my hair all funky looking.

One little squirt to swish the toilet. Kid friendly!
A bigger squirt with a sprinkle of baking soda to scrub the tub. Kid friendly!
Diluted a touch to fill the hand soap pumps. Kid friendly!
A squirt with a splash of vinegar in a bucket of water to wash the floors. Kid friendly!!
Have the boys use it for their hair.

Soap is Soap!!!

The only "real" house cleaner I buy is Method window cleaner and that is just because that stuff is awesome.

So that is just a few thoughts about coupons. Make coupons work for you!!!

Sugar Free Challenge

2011-01-15T22:08:00.006-05:00

Kimi at The Nourishing Gourmet is holding a Sugar Free Challenge. Now I know I should be sugar free, even starch free all the way down to my beloved potatoes for the sake of the baby. I was doing fairly well for about 3 weeks but I didn't see any difference in the babies skin so I've kind of fell off the wagon.

Meat and veggies are yummy and all but so is fruit and potatoes. Ah potatoes, I love thee....

Also nursing an 11 month old almost exclusively makes you pretty hungry!!!

The hubby is going to join the fun and do a 10 day detox- yippee!

Cooking could be interesting. He can't have beef but can have eggs and chicken. He can also have fruit but I am going to try and refrain from anything other than meat and veggies. Benna is highly allergic to eggs, nuts and dairy so those are a no go for me.

Wish me well as I live in my kitchen for the next week or so!!

Resolutions!!

2011-01-05T12:52:00.003-05:00

( Nothing to do with this post but aren't they so sweet. At the zoo this fall.)

It's that time of year again, resolution time. While I don't make resolutions per say it is a good time to reflect and embrace change.

There are the obvious, eat better and exercise. Gag- on the exercise:-)

Spiritually- working at being much more forgiving. Life is too short to harbor ill will.

Marriage- building up the points in the ole marriage bank. A five minute head massage or making his lunch with out complaint are just little things but the little things all add up.

Mothering- be more of a "yes mom." Reading one more chapter or stopping by the park on the way home, go for a walk. Life is about the little things.

Homeschooling- make it through the year without going insane, sorry but that's all I got on that one.

Financially- actually stick to the budget.

The one thing I believe will help me be a better person in all these areas is pulling my hind end out of bed at least 2 hours before the kids. Strange?

No not really. I'll have quiet time to read the Bible and pray. Time to gather my thoughts and have the house ready for the day to begin. It is amazing what some Bible reading, a shower, the dishwasher emptied and the laundry begun will do for your spirit before 5 children descend on you like a flock of locust. School goes much better when I'm not trying to do laundry and dishes and brush my teeth all between 6 million questions.

Simple routines give me so much more time in my day. I hate to feel like I'm always trying to catch up. Routine also makes the kids easier to handle, they too love to know what is next.

So as much as I love to snuggle up to my man all warm and cozy in the morning. I just need to face the fact that in the summer he has to slip out the bed before me, in the winter it is my turn.

Kalahari 2010

2010-12-30T21:27:00.006-05:00

This year was our second time going to Kalahari in Ohio. The kiddos and the parents LOVE IT. Super fun!! And the when its buy one night get one free you got to jump on it. Chillin' by the wave pool.

Watching the boys body board.

Patiently waiting have a try again.

Sweet baby flesh.

Sorry no pictures of Lula she was off playing with Ambry the time I remembered to take the camera out of the room.

Beverage Anyone???

2010-12-27T20:09:00.003-05:00

Just kidding.

So I thought I'd try my hand a making homemade vanilla. Everyone is doing it you know! Well at least her and her.

I read the ingredients on my bottle of vanilla- water, ethyl alcohol, vanilla bean extract, sugar. What SUGAR?? WATER??? Gag. Really can't thing be what they are supposed to be. One fifth of vodka, vanilla beans plus six months to age and voila I'll have so REAL vanilla.

Guaranteed to flavor this sweet peas yogurt with out the "extras".

Total price just in case you were wondering Vodka 23 bucks and vanilla beans 20 bucks.

a fish out of water!

2010-12-27T20:04:00.004-05:00

Nothing like stretching the snot out of my sweater's sleeve!!! Good thing she so cotton pickin' cute:-)

Jetpack Anyone?

2010-12-27T19:14:00.000-05:00

Nothing like a belt and bucket or a belt and gun when you need a jet pack. Just call them MacGyver!

Hopefully next they don't figure out how to make a bomb out of a piece of gum and a paperclip.

squash

2010-12-15T13:12:00.004-05:00

So we are still trying to eat more veggies. So I had to come up with a plan and put it into action.

Monday we had Tex-mex squash soup -which used up the butternut and acorn squash.
Thursday was Spaghetti with well used up the spaghetti squash.
All that is left is pumpkin which will be made into custard or plain pie filling tomorrow.

Monday morning I popped them in the oven so they would be waiting for me when I needed them.

All done!!! Cut open, discard seeds, and scoop out flesh. Puree flesh with stick blender until creamy. This cooking before cutting worked awesome on all except them spaghetti squash, it was kind of hard to get the seeds out with out everything else coming out.

So 4:30 rolled around and I cooked up the meat and onion and added the rest to the pot. Yummy!!!

Tex-mex squash soup

1 quart tomatoes

1.5 lbs venison

leftover salsa frozen from this summer

4-ish cups of squash

1 quart stock

taco seasoning and chili powder to taste

Simmer and serve!! So easy and I can pronounce every ingredient!!!

The poor pumpkin will be used up tomorrow, probably pie for my peeps.

Mt. Washmore

2010-12-15T13:05:00.003-05:00

This was my action packed Monday!! The next time I think a laundry vacation is in order remind me that I and the baby do not have enough clothes to go more than a couple of days with out laundry let alone a week!!!!

That would be eight loads just in case you were wondering. I didn't even begin on the bedding yet....sigh.

Hooked on Phonics

2010-12-14T16:40:00.002-05:00

So we were working on the grocery list together. This is what we came up with.

1.) cetchup
2.) Bhanas
3.) letis
4.) kale
5.) tumatos
6.) cuc- shortened so she didn't have to write too much.
7.) oluv oill
8.) uyens

There were illustrations also just in case I couldn't read her writing!!

Here is the list for you non phonics readers!:-)

Ketchup
bananas
lettuce
kale
tomatoes
cucumbers
olive oil
onions

Operation: Eat More Veggies

2010-11-29T20:04:00.005-05:00

So the long weekend is over. I don't know about you but we ate way to much crap.

We even took the kids to McD's for the first time ever this weekend! It was the end prize of the room cleaning competition, boys vs. girls.

So this evening I grabbed a food pharisee in training, Lula, and hit up the grocery store. This is what 42 bucks will buy you. I feel better already. The rutabaga is the "new" veggie for us. The kale is slowing becoming a staple.

Racky the other day, "I'm beginning to like kale chips!" Hallelujah!!! I did hit up Rite Aid yesterday $1.60. They forced me to buy the candy bars, okay not, but she said I had to spend 62 more cents so that is what I grabbed. I'm down $3 UP rewards but the toothpaste alone would have cost $5.49. I hope to get better at making coupons work for our "needs".

(Don't you just love to see what people spend their money on? I do!)

What would you choose?

2010-11-27T13:54:00.002-05:00

If given a choice animals will choose the good stuff. What would you choose?

Very interesting article.

Remember these...

2010-11-22T19:22:00.002-05:00

They finally have been made into applesauce. What a relief!

Here the math, because I'm a nerd like that.
$3 for lids
$20 of apples

So $23 divide by 60, we got 60 quarts out of it plus they ate mad crazy gobs of it all day today.

.38 a jar!!!!!

Not too bad I do say.

Baby Talk

2010-11-20T13:10:00.006-05:00

The other I lay in bed and heard her say "mama" over and over again. It has to be one of the sweetest sounds. (She is 9 months old already.) Now this beauty was saying mama really early, like before 6 months, and she hasn't shut up yet:-)

I love seeing their different personalities come out. They are all so unique. If Benna, the baby, talks as much as Lula I pray that the Lord is merciful and pours out grace to be able to stand all the questions! Or I might just lock them in a room together!

People perform to what you inspect.

2010-11-18T14:13:00.002-05:00

So today I was correcting about 10+ of Racky's math lessons. His normal average of 2 wrong has gone up. "People perform to what you inspect."

He had answers like "I don't know what they are talking about??" And "Huh?"

Nice! Why not just ask me?

So I guess I need to start checking his work daily or at least every other day:-) The joys of a homeschooling mother.

Hmmmm....

2010-11-16T16:28:00.004-05:00

So I picked up this book from the library. I'm really not sure if I should read it.

I tend to be closed minded and take offense to things that aren't even directed at me. I'm afraid I will judge my sweet man unjustly.

What to do? Do I really want to know.....

Can you tell she's my favorite?

2010-11-12T10:47:00.000-05:00

Go read it, she's great!!!

VEGGIE!

2010-11-04T21:00:00.000-04:00

The big kids go to school on Wednesday. The hubby gets paid on Wednesday. So the little girls and I usually restock on Wednesday.

This does cause a problem for making lunches come Wednesday morning.

Veggies to the rescue! Slather your bread with butter and pile high with veggies, the more the better!

No meat needed, this is so yummy.

(Do I get a prize for using Wednesday about a zillion times in one post?)

Just so you know..

2010-11-03T20:30:00.002-04:00

We bought more butter! 8 more pounds line my fridges door. We're good for a few weeks now. All is well:-)

It's Finally Over!

2010-11-02T12:41:00.003-04:00

October is finally over. Hallelujah!!!

I exceeded the budget by way too much! I just can't handle the pressure;-)

The hubby did end up picking up 4 dozen more eggs and a couple of loaves of bread. $17.

I also spent a nice chunk of change on a quarter of a grass feed cow. But we're not going to talk about that because I still don't have the meat and it cost quite a bit.

If anyone was counting here is a rough estimate of a few staples.
12 pounds of butter
14 dozen eggs
13 quarts of yogurt
10 bunches of bananas
13 loaves of bread, including rice bread, Sami's gluten free bread, Ezekiel bread and hot dog buns
1 box of wine (what wine isn't a staple at your house?!?!?)

We have lots of food left too. We only used 2 pounds of the venison, and 2 pieces of salmon. We also have a package of chicken sausages from Costco we haven't even opened. Plus about 18 packages of the chicken sausages from Meijer. Also we have salsa for the the next month or month and a half. And toilet paper we have plenty of that for a while.

The hubby wasn't really into my little experiment. He kept buying chips, and cookies and ice cream. I know if things get to the point that we really do have to watch what we spend that he will realize that those things are optional and are empty calories of no nutritional value. He usually doesn't go to the store that much but I was stuck home with a bunch of kids with the chicken pox so I was at his mercy. He was of a great help this month.

Things I didn't need to buy diapers and toiletries other than toothpaste. I have only spent about 85 dollars of diapers of the baby so far and she is almost 9 months old. Shampoo and soap and other essential are picked up for pennies and horded for future use. Fruit was another thing I didn't buy much of we still have tons of canned pears and peaches.

Because we have the means I stick to buying organic things off the dirty dozen list like potatoes, lettuce and celery. Also meat we try not to buy cheap meat.

We also didn't go out to eat, not once. Now how many families in our day and age can say that?

The numbers:
$720
$23.22 per day
$3.87 per person per day
$1.29 per meal

Well I'm off to Costco to buy more butter!!!!

Let's Talk Butter

2010-10-30T16:58:00.002-04:00

This month my sweet family have devoured 12 pounds of butter! TWELVE POUNDS! That's 48 sticks or 1.548 sticks per day. 38,400 calories of butter a month or 1,238.7 calories per day.

That is over 200 calories of butter per day per person. This is just butter and not all the olive oil we've gone through. If I had to guess on olive oil I would say about 5 to 6 tablespoons per day for us. Or another 100 calories per person.

I usually eat three whole eggs and about 70 calories of butter for breakfast. Between the egg yolks and butter most of the calories are from fat.

People fats do not make you fat!!!!!

I am nursing so I get to consume a mass amount of food so this does help. But bring on the cream on top yogurt and eggs yolks, butter, olive oil. Eating a bowl of granola and full fat yogurt to the tune of 4 or 5 hundred calories keeps me from diving head first into a bag of chips or cookies at 10:30 in the morning. Fats digest slow causing you to not have to eat every two minutes.

Full fat milk will not make you fat, skim milk will. Extra calories will make you fat. And you will eat too much if you constantly feel hungry or starved for nutrition. You will eat mixing bowls of ice cream made out of skim milk but try eating more that a thin slice of full fat cheese cake or scoop of coconut ice cream.

Real food is hard to binge on. When is the last time you over indulged on broccoli or carrot sticks. Keep it real and you body will figure the rest out.

More Shopping

2010-10-29T08:26:00.003-04:00

You're not surprised are ya?

To the tune of 25 bucks.

The salsas were 50 cents a jar- be picky some contain preservatives and others don't.

Yes that is crap chocolate but at 50 cents a bag and three girls COVERED with the chicken pox it is helping save my sanity.

I also bought three things of toothpaste, per the hubby's request, and rented a movie for the girls so 8 more dollars for that.

I'll be doing more shopping too because we're almost out of eggs. Yes we have less that a dozen eggs left, we ate over 4 dozen eggs this week. I think its safe to say we have a big family and big families eat a ton of food.

Please Go Read This!!!

2010-10-26T12:37:00.002-04:00

I oh so want to do the Happy Meal experiment with my kids next to a real hamburger. You know see which one is real by seeing which one rots.

We've looked up the four year old cheeseburger on YouTube that even mold and bacteria won't touch. But now the bakery goods!!! I wonder what would happen to those Costco cakes everyone raves about. GAG!!!

So please go read this WITH YOUR KIDS!!!

If it doesn't rot don't eat it!!!!

Health Store Trip

2010-10-24T17:34:00.002-04:00

Here is our Friday midday run to the health store. The bread is delivered fresh around noon so we show pretty close to that. $34. Yes that's more yogurt. That will make 13 quarts for the month! They were out of eggs;-( So the hubby made a few stops for five dozen eggs. Yes that's right FIVE DOZEN. The shear amount of food we devour amazes me.

We also were gifted a deer which we had to pay to have process so $45 for that.

Maybe it because you're watching me but I can't seem to stop spending money. Really the money is flying out like crazy.

Apples Crisp

2010-10-23T14:28:00.006-04:00

The apples pre- topping. Don't you just love the color! For the love of butter. Waiting it's turn in the oven.

Half a gallon of granola out. Time to melt that butter.

Time to hunt down little people to polish this off.

SAUSAGES!!!

2010-10-21T09:55:00.006-04:00

Can you find the kid in this photo?

She is my official grocery stacker. 51 more dollars. Really I have no restraint! But these were REALLY good deals! My receipt said I saved $171!!!!! I used $65.49 in coupons!!!!

Sausages- $1 (I bought 24)
Olive Oil -Free
Toilet paper -$1.69 each
Cans of MSG - .09 each

I needed contact solution and few groceries, bananas, canned salmon and corn.

More Shopping!

2010-10-20T10:01:00.003-04:00

$25!! Well a few things are missing, bandaids and more dishsoap. The dish soap was supposed to be free but I didn't realise until I got home I didn't get my Catalina from it;-(

The Epsom salt and sparkling waters are for my patients. Puddin and Racky have the chicken pox- ugh!!!

The hubby also picked up bread and eggs for me on Friday but it came out of "his" money so I'm not counting it.

Stuff!

2010-10-16T10:52:00.002-04:00

We have TOO much stuff!!!

I am forever having to go through the house to get rid of stuff!!!!

If I turn my back it breeds, like bunny rabbits!!!

I sometimes wish I too lived in a simpler time. A time without the plastic trinketty crap. A time of true contentment.

Go here and read this. It is so worth your time.

A Place For Everything!

2010-10-16T01:04:00.000-04:00

What are you to do with no place for a clock or a book or a drink of water when you're the one on the top bunk? One thrifted tray and some ribbon to the rescue! Our bed has flat sides with some width to them so this was an easy fix.

Drill a few holes, run ribbon through them and tie them on!!!

All done!!!

Something out of Nothing

2010-10-15T12:50:00.004-04:00

One mans long sleeved button up shirt, $1 at the second hand store and one roll of 99 cent ribbon= one bed skirt!!!

It only needed to be on one side of the bed. The front of the bed is a trundle but the side wasn't finished. Lula didn't think the plaid would work but with a little splash of pink ribbon- tada it works.

Okay not really nothing but for pretty inexpensively.

P.S. Bunkbed was purchased off of Amazon and I love it!!! The pottery barn look for way less!!

Love It!

2010-10-14T19:32:00.003-04:00

Sorry I know it small but it is hilarious!!

Thanks to my cousin for this beauty, I snagged it from her Facebook page.

Today's shopping trip

2010-10-13T11:58:00.003-04:00

Just shy of $21.

My receipt says that I saved 38 dollars??? The cans of MSG, I mean cream of mushroom, are for my mom, she uses them so she might as well get them while they're cheap- 9 cents a can. Canning lids are 49 cents a box after coupon- must hunt down more coupons. Taco seasonings were 14 cents a package- they will be donated. The Franks hot sauce stuff was 15 cents, it is the hubby's new favorite, well that and mustard!

I also had a Meijer $2.50 off any dairy coupon so I bought more butter, well you know we have a thing for butter around here. That sweet darling in the picture eats it with a spoon straight from the dish.

Things I didn't buy but wanted to: garbage bags and mint flavored toothpaste. Whoever came up with berry and orange toothpaste has some serious issues but I will use them up before we get more. As for garbage bags were using paper bags and just dealing with the mess that they make.

Well better scoot off to the kitchen and get food in order for the next few days so we can make lots and lots of applesauce.

Apples!

2010-10-12T16:04:00.006-04:00

So I was checking our Craigslist the other day and searched "organic". There was an ad for organic apples, $2 for a five gallon bucket and $3 for a large bag.

Sounds good to me! So the kidlets and I took a 45 minute road trip to pick us some apples. 8 five gallon buckets and one bag later we have lots of apples.

I paid $20 bucks because I didn't have correct change but still that is a good deal. I'm guessing its 5 plus bushels. One five gallon bucket had a 1/2 bushel basket heaping full.

They do have some spots and are small but they can easily be turned into lots and lots of applesauce. Seriously for the price could throw a fourth of them away and still have it be an awesome deal.

Also the kids got to learn how to pick apples. They did really well. We only spent about a 1 hour and 15 minutes and that's with all the kids along.

Okay she really has nothing to do with apples, but look how big she is getting. Last week she pulled herself up on a chair to the standing position. Really baby girl please slow down and be a baby a little while longer.

Birds and the Bees: an Intro

2010-10-11T17:41:00.006-04:00

Look at that not so stylish bunch- aren't they cute?

The actual fish ladder that the fish jump up.

So today we ventured to the Fish Ladder to watch the salmon jump. Before we left we read about salmon and spawning in the encyclopedia. Words like eggs, males, females, fertilize and sperm were used. Lula even asked if the boy and girl fish are like mom and dad and always find each other, so monogamous was even used.

You think they are too young?? Ha, these kids have some ideas and questions sometimes.

"Wow God gave Aunt Michelle a baby really quick after they got married! You (me) had to wait a few years before he gave you one." Lula

"Our babies come every two years. I wonder what the next one will be. We're going to need a bigger car." Racky

"Mom you probably saw the baby first because you probably heard her crying." (Like I had been sleeping or something when she "appeared".) Puddin'

See, their little brains are full of ideas and one of these days I'm going to have to let them know how and why.

It was great fun had by all.

The Basics!

2010-10-09T19:51:00.005-04:00

Eggs, bread and ice cream:-) Also not pictured a case of rice milk. $47 minus $5 because the hubby used his personal money to support his ice cream habit. So we're down another $42-ugh!!

We were gifted like 10 to 12 boxes of cereal by the in-laws. They wouldn't let me pay for them, I think they think we are destitute. I'm just frugal so we don't BECOME destitute:-) They also gave us a couple of cans of soup and 5 bags of dries apples. Thanks mom and dad!

Homeschooling Ramble

2010-10-08T07:14:00.002-04:00

Am I doing enough? Are they learning what other kids their age are learning? Am I hurting or hindering their future? Will they be prepared for "real" life?

Homeschooling is scary and daunting. Easily overwhelming most days. It is also a great mirror for all my shortcomings.

What have I taught my kids? To count, to read, to multiply? Have I taught them to be patience with one another? Have I taught them contentment? How about doing everything to the glory of God. Have I taught them to love wisdom? Do they see God's mighty hand a work all around us? Have I shown them Christ's love. If they could not hear me and could only see my actions what would they be learning?

What am I not learning from them?

Yes they need to know their "school" but somethings are more important....

What will I teach them today?

How we're hangin'

2010-10-08T00:02:00.002-04:00

No money has been spent since Costco, yippee!! We are faring really well. We obviously have tons of food in the house right now. We even have 3/4 of a box of cereal left.

Today we ate:
Oat/ rice pancakes topped with butter, lots of butter, and either jam or powdered sugar.

Lunch was left over taco soup, yogurt, corn chips, apple slices and leftover diced potatoes.

Dinner: Salmon casserole (just think tuna casserole)

Snacks were more pancakes and apples with a little chocolate throw in there:)

So far so good.

They make my heart go pitty-pat!!!!

2010-10-07T16:45:00.002-04:00

I just love them.

These were take the Sunday of Labor Day. Daddy suggested we go have a picnic in the park.

Flying a kite with a stick widdled with a steak knife because a piece was missing. Being swarmed by bees whenever food was out. And driving home for sweatshirts because it was cold. Sweet memories:-)

Blah!

2010-10-05T13:41:00.000-04:00

So it's only the fourth of October and I am almost out of money, how depressing.

If I count half of my co-op order that is scheduled to arrive tomorrow I'll have even less money to work with. Ugh!!!

How discouraging. I'm feeling defeated already, this shouldn't be this early in the game. So should I give up? Continue on? Go find a j-o-b so we can continue eating this way- okay no? I just don't know.

We could still go with out going over budget sure, but we'd have to learn to eat oatmeal, and eat soup at least once a day maybe more. Snacks everyday would be popcorn and raisins.

So really it boils down to the fact that we are spoiled!! Lots of people in the world would be very happy with that.

Okay so that was how I was feeling yesterday. But today is a new day and I WILL keep plugging along. I may fail but at least I didn't give up.

So today was co-op delivery day. Thanks Aunt Jacque for helping me yet again, you are so sweet!!

We got another case of rice noodles, 1 lb of pink salt, 1 lb of cinnamon, 1 lb of fiesta chili powder, 1 lb of pepper corns, 88 oz. of oil olive, and 16 pints of orange rice dream (dairy free ice cream;-) I thought I ordered vanilla ice cream but thankfully they love the orange flavor. It tastes like a push up.

So another $59 for that. (Half of my total because we order every eight weeks.)

Photo Credit.

Costco

2010-10-03T16:30:00.003-04:00

REALLY!!!! $150. Butter is up to 9.95 for 4 lbs. Canned salmon was more than I remembered. Frozen salmon is up $4 a bag.

The foil pans are super cheap there. But you have to buy 30 at a time. They come out to 20 cents a piece which is awesome compared to say Family Fare or Meijer for them.

This is NOT Looking Good

2010-10-03T14:06:00.002-04:00

So I spent even more money yesterday. 21 bucks more!!! Yesterday was the second of October!!!!!

We, my mom and us, keep getting 10 bucks off anything at Kohl's so we had to go spend those. First 10 off we got Lula 2 pairs of tights and Lettie and pair of sandals for next year- .94 cents- sweet.

Then Racky's turn, lounge pants. Well he happens to be tall and REALLY skinny so the only ones that fit were $17.50 before our gift card, who on earth would spend 17.50 on a pair of pj pants for a kid?? So just under 8 dollars for those- ouch.

Lastly I hit up Family Fare again for more yogurt and some ice cream for the hubby. $12. The ice cream cost more than all the yogurts.

I did turn so of that yogurt into some waffles that the kids love this morning. I must make some more for the freezer. This isn't going so well. I haven't even been to Costco yet.....

October 2 Shopping

2010-10-02T13:17:00.007-04:00

Health store $34.

5 loaves of bread, 2 multi grain, raisin Ezekiel, Ezekiel and rice bread. Rice bread is $6.29 a loaf- ouch!! Also a bottle of sugar free ketchup for Puddin', we're taking him off sugar for a week or two. Can't forget the eggs, three dozen.

Next the "meat" store. $85

2 lbs. of ground turkey.

7 1 1/2 lbs packages of ground beef.

10- 4 packs of drumsticks

5- 4 packs of thighs

1 bag of local cherries

Meijer and the orchard

2010-10-01T15:19:00.006-04:00

First stop the orchard. $6 for half a bushel.

Then Meijer. $73. I left with $7 off for my next trip. It did cost a little more that I hoped. The Capri Sun %100 Juice were not on sale but I had already told the kids so I caved and bought them anyways. The did produce the $2 cat fortunately.

Boxed wine is the cheapest way to drink wine unless your three old lets it pour all over the floor!!!

Meijer had a 50 cents off one frozen veggie coupon so I bought 18. I would have bought more but this was all they had in the freezer. 50 cents a bag is cheap way to eat veggies.

The crackers were 67 cents a piece after coupons and catalina. I don't normally buy them unless they get me $10 off Hanes products or something like that but this could be a long month. Shh, don't tell the hubby, he does NOT like the kids eating those things.

Well I'm off the make tortilla's for individual pizza's tonight. More shopping tomorrow!!!

Let the games begin

2010-09-30T13:16:00.005-04:00

Family Fare $4.58.

That's 76 cents a piece. Even if you don't have any coupons they are buy 5, on sale for 3 for 5, get the 6th free or $1.38 a piece which isn't a bad price for a quart of yogurt.
I usually buy one quart of organic yogurt a week. That one yogurt costs only a few cents less than what these six cost all together. The Activia is for the kids school lunches as a treat, have you ever read the ingredients on that stuff?? (The things I buy when I have coupons;-)

I have read that Dannon uses milk produced with out growth hormones so I don't think it's too much of a compromise.

I may have to buy more before the week is up....

Thanks to Saving Addiction for the tip!

In which I don't quit my day job to star in movies!

2010-09-29T12:46:00.003-04:00

So here is what we are working with food wise. We would be pretty hunger if we couldn't buy food for more than a week. I must restock meat supply stat!

The buckets by the random food shelves contain oats and popcorn. They have a few spaghetti squash sitting on top of them. I also found 2 more bags of flour-yippee!

Also I miss spoke the sugars in the buckets are sucanat and demerara.

Ghee is purified butter if anyone was wondering.

Please tell me my voice doesn't always sound like that!!! I sound like a squirrel.

The Menu

2010-09-28T14:31:00.004-04:00

So here is the menu for October. I briefly scanned the food in the freezer down stairs and there are a few thing we need to use up before we get another part of a cow, steaks!

I try to write our a menu monthly. It really doesn't take to long and saves me a lot of staring into the fridge around dinner time wonder what to make.

You should be able to click on it to make it larger. Please do notice the liver and onions:-) The hubby doesn't believe that it is fit for human consumption. The rest of us gladly gobble it down with a little ketchup.

The top has list of a few things I will need to buy. And the bottom is some ideas for food for the freezer.

Now I'm off to make the master grocery shopping list.