Today I took a little trip to Kroger. There were a few things that we needed and a few coupons that needed to be used by the end of the month. If you are looking at ways to save money on groceries it is really not hard to do.
Kroger has had leg quarters on sale for the past couple of months. For $5.90 (the cost of one value meal at McD's) you can get 10 pounds of chicken (leg quarters). That is $.59/lb for meat!! You are not going to find much better than that! How many meals can you make out of 10 lbs of chicken? I can think of lots! And here's what I do: Cook the first meal...whether it's baking, grilling or broiling. Next, debone the leftover and have chicken salad or use the chicken in another recipe. Lastly, boil the bones for chicken broth. If you don't want to can it, freeze it in 2 cup containers. When it is just frozen, remove from containers and put them in freezer bags. This way the broth is premeasured! When a recipe calls for 2 cups of chicken broth, grab out one block.
Anyone need toothpaste?? Kroger has Crest on sale for $1.00. This is the large 6.4 oz tube. I had a couple of $.50 off coupons which they double so they were free. I also have a whole stack of $.75 off coupons. So for $.25 we will be in toothpaste for a while.
Deodorant? Kroger has Speed Stick on sale for $88. I had a couple of coupons for $.50 off, which again, they double, so it's free. I don't really like Speed Stick (or Lady Speed Stick) but it's good for the boys.
On this trip I also got free Dove soap, Free Smart Ones meal, 2 free yellow rice and free coffee. With very little effort I got a lot of free or almost free stuff.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
School Again
Well, it's that time of year again. Where does the summer go? I have spent the last couple of days cleaning out the homeschool room. It's amazing how much stuff can accumulate in one area! I have a whole list of things that I am selling so if you are a local homeschooler email me and I can send you the list. I have it posted on the Oblique website and on the MHIS group.
We are trying a new approach to school this year (it seems like we try something new every year). We are starting A World of Adventure unit study. I have been reading through it tonight and it sounds like it is going to be really good. There are a lot of hands-on projects that make school so much more interesting. We are going to have an Egyptian meal the very first day. The only downside that I can see is there is a lot of reading. I won't have a problem with that but it will be an adjustment for the boys. I told them that we will try the first 30 day study and then evaluate it to see if we want to go on from there. That seems fair to me.
Oblique, our homeschool group, has some really great things going on this year. I am excited to be a part of it and I am anxious to get my kids more involved. Of course, my favorite part is Mom's Night Out. I never thought I would enjoy it but it is so nice to meet other Mom's that go through the same struggles you do as a homeschooler. I've gained priceless knowledge from all of them but I have to admit I have learned the most from Jen, our fearless leader. She has taught me to relax and enjoy the ride...not that I have completely learned this lesson, but I am on my way.
I am very thankful to be able to homeschool my kids. It has taken years to get to the place where I don't miss work and to feel that this is what I am supposed to be doing. I am here now and I plan to take advantage of every minute with my boys. God has truly blessed us and I want to be found faithful with the things that he has entrusted to me.
We are trying a new approach to school this year (it seems like we try something new every year). We are starting A World of Adventure unit study. I have been reading through it tonight and it sounds like it is going to be really good. There are a lot of hands-on projects that make school so much more interesting. We are going to have an Egyptian meal the very first day. The only downside that I can see is there is a lot of reading. I won't have a problem with that but it will be an adjustment for the boys. I told them that we will try the first 30 day study and then evaluate it to see if we want to go on from there. That seems fair to me.
Oblique, our homeschool group, has some really great things going on this year. I am excited to be a part of it and I am anxious to get my kids more involved. Of course, my favorite part is Mom's Night Out. I never thought I would enjoy it but it is so nice to meet other Mom's that go through the same struggles you do as a homeschooler. I've gained priceless knowledge from all of them but I have to admit I have learned the most from Jen, our fearless leader. She has taught me to relax and enjoy the ride...not that I have completely learned this lesson, but I am on my way.
I am very thankful to be able to homeschool my kids. It has taken years to get to the place where I don't miss work and to feel that this is what I am supposed to be doing. I am here now and I plan to take advantage of every minute with my boys. God has truly blessed us and I want to be found faithful with the things that he has entrusted to me.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Coupons: Evil or Good?
My opinion of coupons change every week or so. There are some weeks when I see a huge reward and I know that all of my work is worth it. There are other weeks (like this one) when I look at the sale papers and see that I cannot really save any money on things that we need. On days like this I wonder why I even bother.
Like you, I have better things to do with my time than sit down and clip coupons. I feel especially overwhelmed when I let them stack up and don't cut them out or organize them in a timely manner. I also heap guilt on myself when I go to the store and forget my coupons. Inevitably I will find something on sale that I know I have a coupon for and I have missed out on a great deal.
I am trying to teach myself that this is just a way to save money. It is not something that should drag my emotions along with it. If I find a great deal and can add coupons to make it even better then great! If life gets in the way and I can't do everything I need to do with coupons then we will live! It's ok.
Do you have these same issues? Maybe your issue is not coupons but something else. Is it something that you NEED to have emotions attached to or is it pressure that you are putting on yourself? Think about it and try to find an area in your life where you can give yourself a break.
Like you, I have better things to do with my time than sit down and clip coupons. I feel especially overwhelmed when I let them stack up and don't cut them out or organize them in a timely manner. I also heap guilt on myself when I go to the store and forget my coupons. Inevitably I will find something on sale that I know I have a coupon for and I have missed out on a great deal.
I am trying to teach myself that this is just a way to save money. It is not something that should drag my emotions along with it. If I find a great deal and can add coupons to make it even better then great! If life gets in the way and I can't do everything I need to do with coupons then we will live! It's ok.
Do you have these same issues? Maybe your issue is not coupons but something else. Is it something that you NEED to have emotions attached to or is it pressure that you are putting on yourself? Think about it and try to find an area in your life where you can give yourself a break.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Mardi Gras Gumbo
It has been a while since I have had a chance to blog. You know, it's hard sometimes to make time to just sit down and write. It's not that I don't have anything to say but that I am having a hard time prioritizing my days lately.
For those of you that don't know, the boys and I just got home from a week of camp. This was their first time going to youth camp and my first time going as a counselor. All of us had a great time. I had 18 girls ages 10-12 in my cabin. I lucked out and had wonderful girls. We had very little drama! We are all looking forward to going back next year.
Now, the bad thing about camp was that when I got home my kitchen was covered in produce. My husband did a great job of picking the garden while I was gone but I was a bit overwhelmed when I got home. Instead of resting I had to jump right in and start canning, freezing and cooking. I even took 110 cucumbers to church Sunday to give away.
I did finally get everything put up but I am still picking the garden every day. I've been able to sell a little of the extras that we had and I am still canning and freezing. I used a lot of our fresh goodies on this recipe that my Mom sent me (you can use canned or frozen if you don't have fresh). We really enjoyed it and I hope you will too!
Mardi Gras Gumbo
2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken, cut into 1 inch chunks
28 oz. diced tomatoes
16 oz. corn
16 oz. okra, diced
28 oz. chicken broth
1 T. hot sauce
1/2 t. liquid smoke
Salt & Pepper to taste
Saute chicken in olive oil until slightly cooked. Add all other ingredients in a large pot and place over high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. Simmer for about 45 minutes~ until chicken is cooked and gumbo thickens.
Now, I know some of my family and friends that know "gumbo" will say this is not a gumbo b/c there is not a roux but I didn't make up the name so don't shoot the messenger! It's still really good and very fresh tasting. I served it over brown rice.
For those of you that don't know, the boys and I just got home from a week of camp. This was their first time going to youth camp and my first time going as a counselor. All of us had a great time. I had 18 girls ages 10-12 in my cabin. I lucked out and had wonderful girls. We had very little drama! We are all looking forward to going back next year.
Now, the bad thing about camp was that when I got home my kitchen was covered in produce. My husband did a great job of picking the garden while I was gone but I was a bit overwhelmed when I got home. Instead of resting I had to jump right in and start canning, freezing and cooking. I even took 110 cucumbers to church Sunday to give away.
I did finally get everything put up but I am still picking the garden every day. I've been able to sell a little of the extras that we had and I am still canning and freezing. I used a lot of our fresh goodies on this recipe that my Mom sent me (you can use canned or frozen if you don't have fresh). We really enjoyed it and I hope you will too!
Mardi Gras Gumbo
2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken, cut into 1 inch chunks
28 oz. diced tomatoes
16 oz. corn
16 oz. okra, diced
28 oz. chicken broth
1 T. hot sauce
1/2 t. liquid smoke
Salt & Pepper to taste
Saute chicken in olive oil until slightly cooked. Add all other ingredients in a large pot and place over high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. Simmer for about 45 minutes~ until chicken is cooked and gumbo thickens.
Now, I know some of my family and friends that know "gumbo" will say this is not a gumbo b/c there is not a roux but I didn't make up the name so don't shoot the messenger! It's still really good and very fresh tasting. I served it over brown rice.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Kid in a Candy Shop
It's 8:30 a.m. and I have just completed my garden work for the day. I came into the house looking as if I had just walked out of the shower. This heat and humidity makes life hard!
I will admit though, that I am much like a kid in a candy shop. I get so excited to see what is growing and what is ready to pick. I am amazed that I can pick cucumbers one day and go out the next day and pick more. There seems to be no end in sight.
I am a little disappointed in my squash this year. It is not producing as well as it has in the past but my tomatoes are making up for it. They are completely loaded and the largest plant I have is one that came up on it's own in the compost bed. The "critters" are out now too. I found my first horn worm yesterday and I have collected 2 caterpillars eating tomatoes. They all became snacks for the chickens!
My biggest garden concern is that my green beans and tomatoes will all start coming in the week that I am gone to camp with the boys. You know, I put so much tears and sweat into that garden that I hate to miss any of it!
I guess there is no point worrying about the future. I will be gone that week and that's that. For today - it's pickle making time!
I will admit though, that I am much like a kid in a candy shop. I get so excited to see what is growing and what is ready to pick. I am amazed that I can pick cucumbers one day and go out the next day and pick more. There seems to be no end in sight.
I am a little disappointed in my squash this year. It is not producing as well as it has in the past but my tomatoes are making up for it. They are completely loaded and the largest plant I have is one that came up on it's own in the compost bed. The "critters" are out now too. I found my first horn worm yesterday and I have collected 2 caterpillars eating tomatoes. They all became snacks for the chickens!
My biggest garden concern is that my green beans and tomatoes will all start coming in the week that I am gone to camp with the boys. You know, I put so much tears and sweat into that garden that I hate to miss any of it!
I guess there is no point worrying about the future. I will be gone that week and that's that. For today - it's pickle making time!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
$79.21 FREE...thanks CVS
I finally had a few minutes yesterday to sit down and look at Sunday's ads and organize my coupons again. The coupons have been pretty neglected lately! I knew that I did not really need anything from Kroger this week so I just looked at Walgreens and CVS.
I started by looking for items that I know we need and checking for coupons on those items. I then circled the picture in the ad so I would not forget when I got to the store. I also wrote x2 or x3, etc if I planned on buying multiples of an item. I pulled all of my coupons and paper clipped them to the front of the ad.
Today I made it to CVS and I think this was my best purchase to date! I began in the pharmacy. I had a coupon that offered a $25 gift card for any new or transferred prescription. I transfered one of mine that only costs $2 to fill and I got the gift card.
I purchased the following:
6 Dove Deoderant 2/$5 - I used 4 coupons for $2 off. I recd $5 ECB for spending $15 - final cost $2
2 Old Spice Deoderant $3.99 each but had BOGO plus I used 2 $1 off coupons and rec'd $2 ECB - final cost $FREE
2 Tampax @ $2.97 each minus 2 coupons for $2 off - final cost $.97 each
Dawn Dish detergent on sale for $1 minus $1 coupon = FREE
You get the idea... I used my ECB's from my previous purchases and by the time I was finished the total due was $11.35. I paid using my FREE $25 gift card and I rec'd $12 back in ECB's for next time.
I do believe CVS has surpassed Walgreens as my favorite place to shop. Today has certainly renewed my enthusiasm for coupons!
I started by looking for items that I know we need and checking for coupons on those items. I then circled the picture in the ad so I would not forget when I got to the store. I also wrote x2 or x3, etc if I planned on buying multiples of an item. I pulled all of my coupons and paper clipped them to the front of the ad.
Today I made it to CVS and I think this was my best purchase to date! I began in the pharmacy. I had a coupon that offered a $25 gift card for any new or transferred prescription. I transfered one of mine that only costs $2 to fill and I got the gift card.
I purchased the following:
6 Dove Deoderant 2/$5 - I used 4 coupons for $2 off. I recd $5 ECB for spending $15 - final cost $2
2 Old Spice Deoderant $3.99 each but had BOGO plus I used 2 $1 off coupons and rec'd $2 ECB - final cost $FREE
2 Tampax @ $2.97 each minus 2 coupons for $2 off - final cost $.97 each
Dawn Dish detergent on sale for $1 minus $1 coupon = FREE
You get the idea... I used my ECB's from my previous purchases and by the time I was finished the total due was $11.35. I paid using my FREE $25 gift card and I rec'd $12 back in ECB's for next time.
I do believe CVS has surpassed Walgreens as my favorite place to shop. Today has certainly renewed my enthusiasm for coupons!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Oh, To Blog Again
Roma TomatoesIt has been a while since I have sat down to blog. In fact, I feel like I rarely have time to sit down and do anything! I will take a few minutes to tell you what has been going on.
A lot of my mornings are spent in the garden. It looks like I will have a bumper crop this year! Everything looks really healthy and is growing well. You can see a picture of my Roma tomatoes at the top. I have already begun picking yellow squash, blueberries and blackberries. I have a few tomatoes that are starting to turn pink too. It is so exciting to watch things grow! If I could, I would post pictures of all of my baby vegetables for you to see but I am sure you would not be as excited over them as I am.
My husband and oldest son have kept me busy the last two weeks sewing "period correct" costumes for them. They are both members of FCF (Frontiersman Camping Fellowship). This is where grown men dress up in garb from the 1800's. Personally, I don't understand why anyone would want to do this but they enjoy it. I finally finished all of their requests and sent them packing on an FCF camping trip.
We added a new member of the family last Sunday. A friend brought over a half chihuahua/ half poodle puppy. He is all of 1.06 lbs (note - not 1.6 but 1.06). I know his exact weight because of our emergency run to the vet Tuesday morning. But let me back up a little. I had decided not to get another dog yet because I am still struggling with the death of Prancer. Cissy brought this little pup over with the understanding they would take him home if we didn't want him. Well, I didn't particulary want him, even though he's a doll, but Doug and the boys were already in love so he stayed. Monday morning I took him outside and he immediately went to sniff of our downspout. As soon as he reached his nose up, a wasp flew out and stung him on the back. The poor baby cried and rolled on the ground. He didn't know what had happened to him. Tuesday morning he decided to wake up at 4 a.m. and not go back to sleep. Josh finally got up around 6 and I handed the dog over to him so I could take a shower. As soon as I headed to my room I heard the puppy cry and Josh yelling for his Dad! The pup had jumped out of Josh's arms and landed on the concrete porch. Doug checked him out and decided he probably had a broken leg. So, off the the vet we go! He stayed at the vet all day. They originally told me he had a broken humorous and would be in a splint and bed rest for 6 weeks! By the end of the day they had decided he was not broken at all but had a dislocated shoulder and would not need a splint. He would have to be kept in a kennel for 2 weeks and only allowed out to go potty.
Last night Blake had a friend over to spend the night. He went home around 2. Now, all is quiet in the house....just the clicking of the keyboard. I am trying to decide what to do next. Do I take advantage of the quiet house and take a nap, sit down to all of the paperwork that I need to do, or go back and work in the garden again.... I guess I will have to decide soon.
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