2 years ago
Monday, November 29, 2010
O' Christmas tree and other Holiday fun
Its that time of year again, time to go on a hunt. A hunt for the perfect Chandler family Christmas tree. I love walking through the Christmas tree farm, analyzing each tree to determine what one has the perfect shape, height and width for out little living room. I am pretty sure the boys (Brian included) would rather I just choose one and go but to me it's something I need to be perfect. This year we did pretty good. Both the boys were such good helpers finding a tree and Eli is practically a lumberjack.
Can't do a job right without at least two supervisors breathing down your neck!
Can't forget the kettle corn! Its part of the tradition
"Dad you untangle them and then pass them up to me. I will clip them to the roof."
Menu plan Monday and shopping trip roundup
This week we are going to try to cut the fat so to speak. One I have a few leftovers to use up and I really don't want to spend more than $30 this week on food. I would like to make up for some over spending I have done shopping earlier this month. Time to make that budget balance! So here is whats on order for the week.
Breakfast - lots of cereal and milk.
Lunch - a mix of sandwich's, chicken nuggets and soups
Dinner
M - Sweet potato and black bean burritos
T - Moms house for dinner
W - movie with friends (I will eat a appetizer out, boys with my mom)
TH - Crock pot potato chowder Yes we see this a lot but its a favorite!
F - Breakfast for dinner (eggs, sausage and toast)
S - home made pizza
S - Chicken chow mien ( I need to post this recipe someday )
Winco
sour cream - 1.48
Shredded cheddar - 1.73
Cream cheese - .98
shredded mozarella - 1.80
pizza crust - 2.08
bacon - 1.98
tomato sauce - .48
black olives - 1.52
3 can chicken broth - 1.50
fruit cocktail - 1.55
salad dressing - 2.78 (.50 coupon)
2 can cream of celery - 1.62
celery - 1.26
2# apples - 1.86
green pepper - .48
green onions - .58
mushrooms - 1.19
total - $24.37
Costco
Bananas - 1.32
salad - 3.99
milk - 3.78
total - $9.09
total for week $33.46
Check out how everyone else did this week at Grocery Cart Challenge
Breakfast - lots of cereal and milk.
Lunch - a mix of sandwich's, chicken nuggets and soups
Dinner
M - Sweet potato and black bean burritos
T - Moms house for dinner
W - movie with friends (I will eat a appetizer out, boys with my mom)
TH - Crock pot potato chowder Yes we see this a lot but its a favorite!
F - Breakfast for dinner (eggs, sausage and toast)
S - home made pizza
S - Chicken chow mien ( I need to post this recipe someday )
Winco
sour cream - 1.48
Shredded cheddar - 1.73
Cream cheese - .98
shredded mozarella - 1.80
pizza crust - 2.08
bacon - 1.98
tomato sauce - .48
black olives - 1.52
3 can chicken broth - 1.50
fruit cocktail - 1.55
salad dressing - 2.78 (.50 coupon)
2 can cream of celery - 1.62
celery - 1.26
2# apples - 1.86
green pepper - .48
green onions - .58
mushrooms - 1.19
total - $24.37
Costco
Bananas - 1.32
salad - 3.99
milk - 3.78
total - $9.09
total for week $33.46
Check out how everyone else did this week at Grocery Cart Challenge
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Happy Birthday Mom!
This year my moms birthday fell on Thanksgiving. I wanted to make it special so along with the pie we had cake! I hope you had a great birthday and we love you very much.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Menu plan Monday and shopping trip roundup
Yay, its turkey time! I love to eat (obviously) and I couldn't be happier that Thanksgiving is here and time to enjoy all the yummy foods that the holidays bring. For the most part I am keeping things simple this week when it comes to our menu and eating up some of the stuff we have on hand.
M - Chili (from freezer stash) and home made cornbread
T - Turkey meatloaf, salad and veggie
W - Home made pizzas
T - THANKSGIVING
F - Leftovers
S - Home made turkey soup from left over turkey
S - leftovers
As for the holiday itself my family and I are all chipping in and bringing a part of the meal. I am responsible for stuffing, rolls, sweet potato casserole and desserts. I am also making cranberry sauce and apple sauce. Boy I am tired already! I will spare you the detail list of the shopping today as it was way over. I had to get things like pecans and walnuts and butter and all that stuff that makes sweets so yummy! It's expensive but worth it and I will have leftover ingredients so come Christmas I will be ahead. It all works out in the end I hope. I wont go into detail today as the list was long but here are some highlights.
12.5# frozen turkey - 3.49
7# apples (gala & Fugi) - 6.00
6 loafs bread - 5.69
laundry soap - 2.48
3 doz eggs - 3.36
11# sugar - 5.07
10# flour - 2.96
total $135.40
check out the Grocery Cart Challenge To see how others fared in the week of feast!
M - Chili (from freezer stash) and home made cornbread
T - Turkey meatloaf, salad and veggie
W - Home made pizzas
T - THANKSGIVING
F - Leftovers
S - Home made turkey soup from left over turkey
S - leftovers
As for the holiday itself my family and I are all chipping in and bringing a part of the meal. I am responsible for stuffing, rolls, sweet potato casserole and desserts. I am also making cranberry sauce and apple sauce. Boy I am tired already! I will spare you the detail list of the shopping today as it was way over. I had to get things like pecans and walnuts and butter and all that stuff that makes sweets so yummy! It's expensive but worth it and I will have leftover ingredients so come Christmas I will be ahead. It all works out in the end I hope. I wont go into detail today as the list was long but here are some highlights.
12.5# frozen turkey - 3.49
7# apples (gala & Fugi) - 6.00
6 loafs bread - 5.69
laundry soap - 2.48
3 doz eggs - 3.36
11# sugar - 5.07
10# flour - 2.96
total $135.40
check out the Grocery Cart Challenge To see how others fared in the week of feast!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
A real live Reindeer!
Who knew the greenwood area of Seattle had a little secret. Its at the Swanson's nursery. They have Reindeer! and a camel and a donkey. And every weekend during Christmas you can feed them. So off we headed to check this out.
They also had a restaurant there with a Koi pond with the biggest fish I have ever seen in it. They were beautiful.
And they had a train too! Very cool if your my boys!
They also had a restaurant there with a Koi pond with the biggest fish I have ever seen in it. They were beautiful.
And they had a train too! Very cool if your my boys!
Stone Soup
Today I got to visit Eli's preschool and be a parent helper. They were learning a lesson on sharing and how when everyone lends a hand, everyone can benefit. All the kids were told to bring a little of their favorite vegetable to contribute to the soup. So once everyone gathered in the fellowship hall they were told this story.
The Story of Stone Soup
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once upon a time, somewhere in post-war Eastern Europe, there was a great famine in which people jealously hoarded whatever food they could find, hiding it even from their friends and neighbors. One day a wandering soldier came into a village and began asking questions as if he planned to stay for the night.
"There's not a bite to eat in the whole province," he was told. "Better keep moving on."
"Oh, I have everything I need," he said. "In fact, I was thinking of making some stone soup to share with all of you." He pulled an iron cauldron from his wagon, filled it with water, and built a fire under it. Then, with great ceremony, he drew an ordinary-looking stone from a velvet bag and dropped it into the water.
By now, hearing the rumor of food, most of the villagers had come to the square or watched from their windows. As the soldier sniffed the "broth" and licked his lips in anticipation, hunger began to overcome their skepticism.
"Ahh," the soldier said to himself rather loudly, "I do like a tasty stone soup. Of course, stone soup with cabbage -- that's hard to beat."
Soon a villager approached hesitantly, holding a cabbage he'd retrieved from its hiding place, and added it to the pot. "Capital!" cried the soldier. "You know, I once had stone soup with cabbage and a bit of salt beef as well, and it was fit for a king."
The village butcher managed to find some salt beef . . . and so it went, through potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and so on, until there was indeed a delicious meal for all. The villagers offered the soldier a great deal of money for the magic stone, but he refused to sell and traveled on the next day. The moral is that by working together, with everyone contributing what they can, a greater good is achieved.
So one by one different foods were called and the kids that had brought that item went up and dumped theirs into the pot. We had a lot of carrots! and once it was all full the other parents and I returned to the kitchen with the pot added some broth and season and cooked up the soup. The kids went to play and to chapel time and then came back to the hall to find that their little bag a vegetables had turned into enough soup for everyone to have some! It was a lot of fun and I "think" they got the point.
The Story of Stone Soup
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once upon a time, somewhere in post-war Eastern Europe, there was a great famine in which people jealously hoarded whatever food they could find, hiding it even from their friends and neighbors. One day a wandering soldier came into a village and began asking questions as if he planned to stay for the night.
"There's not a bite to eat in the whole province," he was told. "Better keep moving on."
"Oh, I have everything I need," he said. "In fact, I was thinking of making some stone soup to share with all of you." He pulled an iron cauldron from his wagon, filled it with water, and built a fire under it. Then, with great ceremony, he drew an ordinary-looking stone from a velvet bag and dropped it into the water.
By now, hearing the rumor of food, most of the villagers had come to the square or watched from their windows. As the soldier sniffed the "broth" and licked his lips in anticipation, hunger began to overcome their skepticism.
"Ahh," the soldier said to himself rather loudly, "I do like a tasty stone soup. Of course, stone soup with cabbage -- that's hard to beat."
Soon a villager approached hesitantly, holding a cabbage he'd retrieved from its hiding place, and added it to the pot. "Capital!" cried the soldier. "You know, I once had stone soup with cabbage and a bit of salt beef as well, and it was fit for a king."
The village butcher managed to find some salt beef . . . and so it went, through potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and so on, until there was indeed a delicious meal for all. The villagers offered the soldier a great deal of money for the magic stone, but he refused to sell and traveled on the next day. The moral is that by working together, with everyone contributing what they can, a greater good is achieved.
So one by one different foods were called and the kids that had brought that item went up and dumped theirs into the pot. We had a lot of carrots! and once it was all full the other parents and I returned to the kitchen with the pot added some broth and season and cooked up the soup. The kids went to play and to chapel time and then came back to the hall to find that their little bag a vegetables had turned into enough soup for everyone to have some! It was a lot of fun and I "think" they got the point.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Eli's mail
how exciting when your a kid (of any age) to get your very own mail! Brian sent Eli a post card from his trip when he went to see the Harley Davidson Factory Tour. Eli was very excited to get his mail and has asked me to read it over and over.
the true cost of a hours time
So how much do you get paid an hour? In my case since I don't make any money I can only measure my time in what it costs me. In the case of the hour I spent watching survivor with my mom last night while the boys played in their room........
It cost me a extra hour of cleaning today!
It cost me a extra hour of cleaning today!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Menu plan Monday and shopping trip
ACK! so what happens when you don't really plan and you don't shop with a list? you spend to much! I have a rough idea of what we are eating this week potato soup, homemade pizza, chicken chow mien the rest of the days will be left overs or at my moms. So I didn't need much for food this week but did need to get a few things. well a few things added up when I shopped without the list. I still did good. got things we really use and things we were out of but this week it just doesn't seem like much.
Winco
2 cans cream of chicken - 1.44
2 cans cream of celery - 2.50
can of pineapple - .88
crisco - 3.98
salad dressing - 2.78
soy sauce - 2.48
bacon - 1.98
butter - 2.48
tomato paste - .78
black olives - 1.52
2 pizza crusts - 4.16
2 shredded moz cheese - 3.60
shredded cheddar - 1.80
6# sugar - 2.82
mushrooms - .77
celrey - 1.01
green pepper - .58
green onion - .38
2 doz eggs - 2.32
2.5# apples - 2.22
apple juice - 5.94
coupons used - 4.55
total = $41.87
Costco
grilled chicken strips - 14.45
2 gal milk - 3.78
clorox wipes - 9.99
canadian bacon - 9.89
salad - 3.99
total = $42.10
grand total = $83.97 over budget! and I for sure thought this week I would be way under. Oh well, just a good reminder to plan ahead and bring the plan!
check out how others did at Grocery Cart Challenge and to learn how you can do it to!
Winco
2 cans cream of chicken - 1.44
2 cans cream of celery - 2.50
can of pineapple - .88
crisco - 3.98
salad dressing - 2.78
soy sauce - 2.48
bacon - 1.98
butter - 2.48
tomato paste - .78
black olives - 1.52
2 pizza crusts - 4.16
2 shredded moz cheese - 3.60
shredded cheddar - 1.80
6# sugar - 2.82
mushrooms - .77
celrey - 1.01
green pepper - .58
green onion - .38
2 doz eggs - 2.32
2.5# apples - 2.22
apple juice - 5.94
coupons used - 4.55
total = $41.87
Costco
grilled chicken strips - 14.45
2 gal milk - 3.78
clorox wipes - 9.99
canadian bacon - 9.89
salad - 3.99
total = $42.10
grand total = $83.97 over budget! and I for sure thought this week I would be way under. Oh well, just a good reminder to plan ahead and bring the plan!
check out how others did at Grocery Cart Challenge and to learn how you can do it to!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
A penny saved is a penny earned
As domestic engineer its my job to make sure that I get the best price for for the things we buy and to stick to a budget. Today I needed diapers since we only had a handful left. Kai has outgrown all but 5 of his cloth diapers so we have ended up using disposables more now since I am to cheap (wait, THRIFTY) to buy more cloth. Disposable diapers in themselves are not cheap either unless you pay attention. At Rite Aid today I paid attention and this is what I got.
Normally one package of 20 diapers is $12.99 today they were on sale for $8.99 plus you could earn $3 up reward on each.
I know I have talked about up reward before but basically its money back in the form of a coupon that you can use on anything they sell. So Its as good as cash in the pocket since Rite Aid sells a little of everything.
So here is the break down for all these diapers.
6 x $8.99 = $53.94
huggies coupons I used = $17.00
Up rewards coupons I used = $11.98
total = $24.96
total up rewards earned today = $18
difference = $6.96 for 6 packs of diapers (123 diapers!)
that makes each package $1.16 or each diaper only 5 cents! Yes I can afford that.
Normally one package of 20 diapers is $12.99 today they were on sale for $8.99 plus you could earn $3 up reward on each.
I know I have talked about up reward before but basically its money back in the form of a coupon that you can use on anything they sell. So Its as good as cash in the pocket since Rite Aid sells a little of everything.
So here is the break down for all these diapers.
6 x $8.99 = $53.94
huggies coupons I used = $17.00
Up rewards coupons I used = $11.98
total = $24.96
total up rewards earned today = $18
difference = $6.96 for 6 packs of diapers (123 diapers!)
that makes each package $1.16 or each diaper only 5 cents! Yes I can afford that.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
movie night
today has been kinda a lazy day and we decided to continue the trend with a movie night. So off to red box we went and rented
to go along with it I made some Stove top kettle corn Let me tell you Kettle Corn is my most favorite thing in the world and I always looked forward to fairs and carnivals and the Christmas tree farm so I could get a bag. Little did I know I could make it here at home and it tastes just the same!
HEAVEN
The boys loved the popcorn and had a great time watching their friend Thomas the Train.
to go along with it I made some Stove top kettle corn Let me tell you Kettle Corn is my most favorite thing in the world and I always looked forward to fairs and carnivals and the Christmas tree farm so I could get a bag. Little did I know I could make it here at home and it tastes just the same!
HEAVEN
The boys loved the popcorn and had a great time watching their friend Thomas the Train.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Sleep over
Jayda didn't have school today (Veterans Day) so she spent the night and stayed with us all day to play. We played at the park, watched a movie and had some popcorn, ate a yummy lunch, everyone took a nap, and we played and played some more. The boys sure do love their cousin and cant wait to see her again soon.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Menu plan Monday and shopping trip
So we are still winging it for most of our dinners and I am noticing that I usually ave left overs since Brian is not here eating too. So Menu's have been thrown out the window and we are eating mostly what we have on hand and using the weekly budget to stock up and some treats for ourselves. I also picked some great deals on bananas so am doing some holiday baking for way cheap!
Winco
2 12 pk diet coke - 3.96
apple juice - .98
2 coffee creamer - 5.00 (1.50 coupon)
3# chicken breasts - 3.98
egg beaters - 2.27
onion dip - 1.28
2 pk gogurt - 3.96 (.75 coupon)
2 honey nut cheerios - 1.96 (1.00 coupon)2 boxes for .96 !
6# pork chops - 12.04
5 cans chicken broth - 2.50 (.75 coupon)
2 cans corn - .56
2 cans green beans - .56
6# sugar - 2.75
3 mac and cheese - 1.14
5# fugi apples - 3.74
7.5# bananas - 1.35
2 sweet potatoes - 2.28
2 bags mini marshmallows - 1.56
tortillas - 1.88
baby shampoo - 3.47 (1.00 coupon)
2 bags chips - 1.96
10# potatoes - .68
Total = $54.86
Rite Aid
2 cans hair mousse - 6.00
Gingerbread house - 8.88
3 box hair color - 17.97
Razor - 13.49
band aids - 1.99
2 crest toothpaste - 5.98
2 Colgate toothpaste - 5.00
6 boxes cereal BOGO - 13.77
coupons used - 27.00
Rite Aids up rewards (remember these are dollars to be used later at Rite Aid)- 11.98
total = 46.08!
Grand total = $100.94
while that may be over my budget I only need to get some perishables next week so the budget will be next to nothing (oh wait I need diapers!) so it will even out.
Check out grocery cart challenge to see how others did this week.
Winco
2 12 pk diet coke - 3.96
apple juice - .98
2 coffee creamer - 5.00 (1.50 coupon)
3# chicken breasts - 3.98
egg beaters - 2.27
onion dip - 1.28
2 pk gogurt - 3.96 (.75 coupon)
2 honey nut cheerios - 1.96 (1.00 coupon)2 boxes for .96 !
6# pork chops - 12.04
5 cans chicken broth - 2.50 (.75 coupon)
2 cans corn - .56
2 cans green beans - .56
6# sugar - 2.75
3 mac and cheese - 1.14
5# fugi apples - 3.74
7.5# bananas - 1.35
2 sweet potatoes - 2.28
2 bags mini marshmallows - 1.56
tortillas - 1.88
baby shampoo - 3.47 (1.00 coupon)
2 bags chips - 1.96
10# potatoes - .68
Total = $54.86
Rite Aid
2 cans hair mousse - 6.00
Gingerbread house - 8.88
3 box hair color - 17.97
Razor - 13.49
band aids - 1.99
2 crest toothpaste - 5.98
2 Colgate toothpaste - 5.00
6 boxes cereal BOGO - 13.77
coupons used - 27.00
Rite Aids up rewards (remember these are dollars to be used later at Rite Aid)- 11.98
total = 46.08!
Grand total = $100.94
while that may be over my budget I only need to get some perishables next week so the budget will be next to nothing (oh wait I need diapers!) so it will even out.
Check out grocery cart challenge to see how others did this week.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
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