I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. I want to start by saying we are very blessed and thankful for the blessings and the place we are in right now.
This year because we were so blessed I wanted to help others out. We were able to "adopt" three children from an angel tree and get them a Christmas. I hope it made there lives a little happier. I also was able to be an LDS Angel for a LDS mom group I am in on CafeMom and sent a Visa giftcard to a lady whose family was struggling. However she probably won't get it until Monday or Tuesday since I didn't get the address until Tuesday night.
On Thursday Grandma and Papa Mitchell came over then Paul, Margaret, Margaret's mom, Kimra, Tony, and Devon came over for a big dinner. I must say I was pretty proud of my self for it:) I made my first turkey and it turned out yummy and juicy. I made mash potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, rolls, and a relish tray. Mom brought a cheese ball and stuffing. Then the others brought drinks. It was all yummy.
Our family picture.
Then we made graham cracker houses. Donny and Italia took the stucko approach. With a tropical flair. Italia kept saying that her house needed more bananas. Christmas morning I was too excited so I woke everyone up at 8. Then we waited to go downstair.
This is Italia walking in the room checking out her loot.You can't see them but on the floor are Zhu Zhu pets and she was intently watching them move around their little play house.
Donny and Italia got a joint gift....The Wii. This is them boxing. Don't mind the toys scattered around, we had a wonderful Christmas.
Earlier today when I started this post I thought of a lot more ideas. By the time I got done writing all the fluff I couldn't think of as many. If I think of them I will post more later.This is long but the ideas are at the bottom and if you do anything to save money on food let me know.
When people find out I coupon they always say, "Man I need you to teach me how to do that." Which is great. However, saving money on food and groceries takes more than couponing. And even though couponing is grea to fully get the effect of coupong it takes planning, time, research, patience, and practice. So if you don't want to or can't do those things it may feel you have no hope in saving money on grocery shopping.
Wrong. There are many tricks to saving money on groceries that don't take coupons. So here is my list of tricks. ( after some background) I try to do these things but I am not perfect and sometimes I get in a rut and have to get myself back on the money saving train.
I want to give you a little background of what I use to do and how far I have come. when Donny and I first were married I usually went groacery shopping every other week. I would spend about $150-200 every time. Plus we went out to eat a decent amount as well. I usually bought my lunch at work because my store was in the mall's food court and it was just way to easy to buy to much. Donny usually took leftovers or frozen type food to work.
I like to cook and try new things so it was very common for my grocery list to be a mile long and many of the recipes I tried I had to buy every ingredient even spices so my home cooked meals where not very price effective.
When I was prego we grabbed a burger way too much because after work or school I was usually to tired to cook. After Italia was born the eatingout for lunch stopped because I was no longer working. I probably only went grocery shopping about every 2 to 3 weeks spending about $200 each time. Also I would usually hit Costco when I was out and pick up some grocery items there, which I don't know if I have ever left that store without spending $100. the burgers continued though:)
When we moved into my parents house while we where building I spent a lot. We didin't literally pay rent so I bought the groceries. I was buying for 5 people and doing a lot of specialty buying. I was not caring what we bought or how much. I didn't have to. I was buying stuff for Donny to take up to the mine and then buying stuff for everyone at the house. I started coupong here and got some great deals but those were seperate trips not the normal grocery shopping and most of it was toiletry not food items. I was shopping every week and spending $200+. so once we moved into our house I couldn't do that anymore.
Now I go on a big grocery shopping trip $200+ about every three months. I do maybe $50 dollars a week on fresh produce and coupon shopping. Every now and gain I do a bigger food storage purchase but those aren't set. My pantry is never empty and my freezer is always full, th eonly thing that goes empty is the fridge. I can always make a dinner if I tr. Italia might not like it but she never likes anything I fix lately. We could live off our food propbably close to a year. We could eat well for 3 months.
Somethings I do to help food stretch.
I really try not to go tot the store for one item that I am missing. I have made meals missing an ingredient or improvising it. I use to not make the meal unless I had everything perfect. Now even if itwould be better with sour cream I will still make the tacos or what ever it is because if I ran to the store I am sure it would be at least a $20 trip.
I rarely by food specially for Donny to take to the mine. He takes leftovers and things I got on a good deal with couponing.
Even if it seems we are out of food aka the fridge is low I will try to creat something from what we have even if it wasn't a planned meal.
I try to do a food storage recipe every couple days they are usually cheap and it is important to know how to use your food storage other wise what is the point in having it.
Donny is out of town a lot so what I tend to do is make one meal for me and eat it for a couple of days. When Donny is home that is when I try my food storage recipes and any other recipes that I want to try.
When I do try new things that I have to buy a lot for, especially if you have to buy a whole package for a small amout, I try to find other recipes that call for that ingredient and try them to so I kill two birds with one stone.
One common thing I do is make breakfast burritos. Eggs, flour tortillas, and cheese are the most important ingredients and the cheapest, I usually have them in my fridge.
Shop the sales. Buy in bulk if you can that way you can take advantage of things on sale longer than when they are on sale.
I am not brand loyal. I buywhatever is cheapest even if that means not using a coupon. there are some things that the brand makes a difference but most things are about the same.
So last Saturday was Grandmas work breakfast with Santa so we went. Italia went upstairs with Grandma to find Santa to bring him down to breakfast. And when Santa walked in the door he greated her with "hi Italia" she was quite shocked at how he knew her name.:) If you can't tell Santa is Uncle Paul She held his hand the whole way down then was the first on his lap. She didn't really like him when all the other kids where around but loved him when she was by herself.
Just to let everyone know if anyone wants or needs a place to go for Christmas Eve dinner and/or activities is invited over. Lots of good food for sure. Dinner probably around 5 oclock.
Before I felt if I can't do it all the way all the time for the right amount of minutes then why do it.
But now I realize that unless I completely stop eating or only eat lettuce I am not going to lose weight with just diet. I can do a very restrictive diet for a short amount of time but I can't keep it up.
I just like food to much I also like cooking and baking so its not easy to totally avoid it.
I came to the conclusion I have to exercise. I have no choice in the matter if I want to lose weight and be healthy. I also know most likely I won't be exercising 4 times a week for an hour. But I can try to do more than I did before. I hate exercising when I feel pressured I can enjoy exercising but I have to get past all that past emotional issues I have against exercise.
So what have I done? I signed up for an adult dance class. It is once a week for an hour and they provide the babysitter. Some days I get a good workout. Somedays mainly just good stretching.
I also try to go to zumba...a latin style dance aerobics. I love zumba, even if I feel like I can't walk afterwards :) I am never sore in the morning though. I really stretches my bad hips and that is why I feel like I can't walk. The class is offered Monday and Thursday nights at 8pm. I go when Donny is home. I seriously would go every night if I could. I really need to find a babysitter for when he is not home.
Anyone know a babysitter in my area. I have lost weight. I am not exactly sure how much because I don't know for sure what I was at when I started. I believe I have lost more inches than weight I am in a size smaller pants. I notice all my clothes feeling looser or fitting better. I have even worn some clothes that haven't seen the light of day for more than three years. I am not trying to get skinny over night. I am trying to change my views and life style to a more healthy active one. I also want my weight loss to remain with me not just to gain it back as soon as I stop thinking about it so I am doing it slow and stead...thats what wins the race right!
I won a ZHU ZHU pet. I randomly found a blog giveaway for a zhu zhu pet and signed up and won. How crazy is that. These are like the hottest holiday toy. They are almost impossible to find. Go here to see what they are.
Monday night Donny got home from work around 4pm and I left and took the dogs to the kennels than came home and we finished packing. Donny and I got the opportunity to go to California for his work. We were leaving early tuesday morning so we decided to spend Monday night at my moms since she was watching Italia while we were gone and we figured it would be easier. Italia new something was up all day and so she didn't take a nap until we left around 6 and she fell asleep in the car. So bed time was a joke. She ended up falling asleep in Grandmas bed around 11pm that night. Needless to say I did not get much sleep that night since we woke up at 4:30am.
Our flight left at 11:30am but since you are suppose to be at the airport 2 hours early we figured we would be hitting SLC during a busy time and wanted to plan accordingly. Anyone who knows me also knows I have to be way early. We were also planning for it to take longer to get going in the morning with Italia. Needless to say we got to the airport freaking early. We stopped and got gas, stopped and got breakfast and saw probably the least amount of cars I have ever seen in SLC. We ot to the airport at 8:30. Which wouldn't have been to bad except we were flying JetBlue and they don't have anyone at the ticket counter until 10:00 so we had to wait in the front part of the airport for an hour and a half before we could check in then were finally able to get into the airport so that we could walk around for awhile.
After we got to the airport caught a cab and made it to the hotel we grabbed a quick burger and just relaxed until it was time to get ready for the dinner. That night the dinner was in the hotel ballroom and it was a nice buffet dinner with many different things to choose from. Then we headed back up to the room and went to bed because the day was long and I had an even longer day ahead of me.
One of the wives was bound and determined to go to the price is right so we left the hotel at 4:15am and were in line at 5:30 where we were handed an order of apperance then we had to be back at 8:15 to stand around until they decided to let us in. We pretty much stood in line and moved from benches to different benches until they finally let us in at noon. The actual show was fun but I could have done with out the early morning and waiting session. None of us won:( but we didn't really count on it. But the two girls who made it to the show case where both seated near us so we will probably be shown on TV so look for me on Jan 21 2010. Then we headed back and made it back to the hotel with just a few hiccups. Then I got ready and headed to Dinner. This night the dinner was at the Richard Nixon Library it was beautiful and the food was very fancy and nice. They had different buffet areas set up with some of the past presidents favorite food. I was trying to be adventurous and brave and give new foods a chance and not pick through everything:) It was very hard but I was semi successful in my goal. I even tried oysters on a half shell...it ended up in my napkin:)
The above picture is of the gardens at the Library I really wish my brain wasn't already sleeping so that I could have looked around and learned some neat facts and not just look at everything because my brain was glazed over:) They had the original house were Nixon was born and he and his wife are buried there. They also have an old presidental chopper and bullet proof limo.
The following morning I was planning on sleeping in then heading to the exercise room then get ready and find something to fill the day. That did not happen. Donny woke me up t 730 asking if I wanted to go to breakfast with Katie (another wife) I was so confused and outof it I kept asking Donny what he was talking about. Since I didn't want to be rude I got up. After breakfast I went back to the room and laid down then was woken up again to go to a shop with Katie. So I got up and went. Later I went with Donna(Donny's bosses wife and co owner) to Cheesecake factory it was pretty good. We then went to another mall. That night one of the Idaho Falls sales reps took us out to dinner to Roys. It is a hawaian fushion resturant. I decided to try sushi. I have always wanted to try it but was a little worried about trying it at some random place I figured this would be a good place. I have mixed feelings on it. Mainly it would be the textures I would have to get use to. Some I liked better then others. Donny had a yummy fish. Afterward we ran next store to Cheesecake factory I grabbed a red velvet cheesecake to take to our room. It was delish. All the time I was off playing Donny was at an Automation Fair. He saw a lot of neat things for his trade and took a couple classes on controls and touch panels.
Friday morning we woke up at 5 to head to the airport. We got a limo to take us. We got to SLC around ten and headed home.
On Thursday we did our pumpkins. We decided to have Italia paint hers but I think her hands got more than the pumpkin. :) She also decided she needed to cut it so I gave her a butter knife.
Grandpa came to join the fun.
Donny getting in on the action. This is at Grandma's ward truck or treat. This is Italia "helping"
Halloween night. Italia was mulan and this is Donny's finished product of his pumpkin and Donny's gargoyle that is our only decor:) Italia had fun going trick or treating with daddy and getting lots of treats then we went to a little neighborhood family halloween party. Overall I think we had lots of fun. Oh and Friday we took her to trick or treat street and got more candy and another chance to dress up. We met up with Ben, Destinee, and Dreadyn.
Last Tuesday everyone was in town at once and had no other plans so we headed to the pumpkin patch. We tried a new one by the zoo and I liked it a lot better. Italia had lots of fun and I will do a 2nd post my pics were having trouble so the train ride that she got to go on will have to be another post.
They had a little maze for the kids and tons of pumpkins Italia loved running and looking at all the pumpkins.
So Italia loves horses. Something she gets from her dad cause I sure don't like them. I don't know if I would say I hate them but its close they just scare me being so big and I always hear of people getting hurt on them so I just don't like them. Donny's parents have horses and Donny has been talking about taking Italia up to ride horses for awhile now but he has been so busy with working out of town that he just hasn't done it yet. So since he had a few days off in a row and we were no longer sick he decided to go and I tagged a long to make sure Italia was safe:) I am a big time worryer!
So there was some good coupons and sales on some stuff that we needed so I was determined to go today and get some good deals. Italia has been eating these quaker oat chewy granola bars that I picked up at Sam's for Donny's hunting trip but she only likes the peanut butter ones:) And the other day I was thinking that I really needed to keep my eye open for cheap pasta.
I got: 10 boxes Chewy Granola bars (mostly peanut butter) 4 boxes grownup granola bars:) 6 boxes instant oatmeal (Donny eats this most morings cause its fast easy and filling) 20 boxes pasta (smart taste and whole wheat) 1 hormel complete meal 2 packages bacon some apples some bananas before sales and coupons total $145.92 after sales and couponstotal $18.05
Italia wanted her pic taken after I took the coupon pic So have you seen the movie 7 brides for 7 brothers? If not I am sorry you have been deprived of one of the worlds best movies:) well on the movie there is a song that says "Wonderful, wonderful day" many times and so now Italia goes around singing "Wonderful DAY!" It is way cute except for when she is singing it in her crib when she should be sleeping. The other day she insisted that I take a "cheese" of "Wonderful Day". So these pics are of her singing and dancing to Wonderful Day.
Well since we have been sick me having the worst of it I have been laying around doing nothing. On Thursday Italia was feeling all the way better and I was very tired and feeling yucky and Italia was full of pent up naughty energy. I was to tired to do much about it so I just let her run a muck, destroying everything in sight. So Friday I was determined to give some things to help her get her energy out. I took her to dance class and she did so much better this time. Then she didn't take a nap which is really unusual for her after dance usually she is super tired but I guess because she had been lying around so much for the past week that she was not ready to take a nap:) So I was determined to make sugar cookies with her that day. Please don't mind my messy kitchen like I said I have been sick.
She had a lot of fun making the mess or should I say baking cookies.
Iknow it has been awhile but I don't have anything good to post. Donny came home on tuesday last week a day early cause his back was hurting. He has been to the chiropractor a couple of times and is feeling better. He is now back in Challis. He was going to have a long weekend and we had a lot of stuff we were planning on getting done but then he hurt his back so we thought well maybe I can get some of the projects I want to do while he plays with Italia. Well then we all got sick it started wednesday night and by thursday we all had it. Luckily it is not the flu just a cold and I think I had the worst of it. I am still trying to get over it so we haven't done anything and both Italia and I missed our dance classes. I did go to this other work out class its Zumba it is pretty much latin style dance arobics I liked it I will be going as much as I can.
Happy birthday Donny the big 30! You are a great Dad and Hubby We love you!
This picture has nothing to do with Donny's birthday. So Italia is obsessed with water if its in her sight she will find away to it, Donny has a problem with leaving his water where Italia can easily get it. So we were watching a movie and I notice Italia is over by the side table so I say "Donny I think Italia is in your water" Donny reached over to grab it and this is what he found.
So over at Todays Creative Blog she is having her Fabulous Friday Giveaway go over and check it out. I love her blog she features other crafty blogs so its a great way to get inspired.
Okay so I know this is a horrible pic but it kindof shows my hair. This is the best I can do by myself Okay I have only tried a couple times:)
On Monday we were able to go to the fair. Grandma came too. We all had a good time. Italia loved all the animals.
Donny getting ready for his elephant ear
Italia feeding the baby goat in the petting zoo. She is not afraid of animals which is good and bad. Riding the tractor She loved all the neighs aka horses
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Okay so I joined this online class here on Sunday and school started on Monday and I forgot to go! So I am starting with today's assignment and may try to catch up:)
Homework: Pick one or the other, or be inspired.
~Read something on your book shelf for sheer pleasure.
~Blog about a book you've read over and over. Prompt: "I can rifle the pages of ____and easily find my favorite part about____."
"As the book finishes, I go as slow as I can. I don't want to leave this book's world."
Well this was not hard for me. I read from my book shelf for sheer pleasure pretty much on a daily basis. But right now I am trying to read all the books on my shelf that I can not remember everything about to see if they are worth keeping around or if I should sell them. You see I have run into a dilemma...I have a lot of space on my built in bookshelves in my closet, however, it is already overflowing and I keep finding more books. So I need to make room for the books I truly enjoy plus I am sure I will constantly come into more books.
I can rifle the pages of __Work and the Glory, or the 1st book in the Boxcar Children series(my childhood favorite I reread it every couple years I had to buy a new one because my original is falling apart)__and easily find my favorite part about_I have a favorite part in each of the Work and the Glory Books and in the boxcar book it is when they go to the dump and find treasures.___."
So any of you who know me well know I love shoes. I love them because they always fit and make you feel good unlike clothes:) Some of these shoes are horrible and if you own some I am sorry for offending you but please contact me for some shoe advice. Also these pics came from Zappos.com. And the shoes I like aren't necessarily the shoes I wear just wish I wore:)These are horrible even in pink and they came in about a hundred colors come on.
These lovely little things make me want to puke. Good new they are on sale for $450.00 These remind me of early 2000 late 1990's but bad. These however I do enjoy!
And these beauties I have never seen in this color but own them in red and they make me drool everytime I see them in my closet. To bad I am not very good at walking in them I have mixed emotion on these I do like these with a cute black and white outfit a lady in my ward has similar ones but with bows and are way cute. These last to I enjoy but I am not sure I would buy them they kind of remind me of lingerie
Donny and I have been married for 5 1/2 years. We have a beautiful little girl who is 2 1/2. She loves dancing, singing, horse, helicopters, airplanes, and anything Disney. We just moved into a new house that Donny and my dad built. I love it and now we are just trying to get it all settled and the yard in.
Our family picture.
Then we made graham cracker houses. Donny and Italia took the stucko approach. With a tropical flair. Italia kept saying that her house needed more bananas.
Christmas morning I was too excited so I woke everyone up at 8. Then we waited to go downstair.
You can't see them but on the floor are Zhu Zhu pets and she was intently watching them move around their little play house.
Donny and Italia got a joint gift....The Wii. This is them boxing. Don't mind the toys scattered around, we had a wonderful Christmas.
