Here it is!
Monday: Pasta Carbonara Florentine, Sweet Corn Muffins, Broccoli, Salad
Tuesday: Steak, Broccoli, Fried Potatoes, Salad
Wednesday: Spinach Lasagna(freezer), Cauliflower, bread
Thursday: Pasta w/ Lemon, Artichokes & Asparagus, Salmon
Friday: Pork Chops stuffed with Feta & Spinach, Brown Rice, Broccoli
It is Menu Monday so here it is!
Monday: Pan Fried Tilapia, Roasted Cauliflower, Roasted Red Potatoes (premade)
Tuesday: Hamburger Helper, Broccoli (Mom’s going out!)
Wednesday: Roast and potatoes(crockpot), Broccoli
Thursday: Cube Steak, Broccoli, Beer Bread
Friday: Spinach Lasagna(freezer), Broccoli, Bread
I will be posting my Roasted Cauliflower soon. Here’s to good eating!
It is Monday so once again it is menu time.
Monday: Chicken Kiev, Broccoli Mac & Cheese (In the freezer)
Tuesday: Boneless Pork Shoulder Ribs(Crockpot), Baked Brown Rice, Broccoli
Wednesday: Pork Roast, Potatoes(Crockpot), Roasted Cauliflower
Thursday: French Toast, Eggs, Bacon
Friday: Cube Steak, Broccoli, Bread
Have a great food week!
So here are my menus for the week:
Monday: Chicken Kiev, Roasted Red Potatoes, Broccoli
Tuesday: Crockpot Roast and Potatoes, Broccoli, Salad
Wednesday: Cube Steak, Broccoli, Beer Bread
Thursday: Pasta Carbonara Florentine, Beer Bread, Broccoli
Friday: Tilapia, Broccoli Mac and Cheese
So this is my objective…Hopefully this is what I am making;). Just ask if you want any recipes!
One of the best way to save money is crafting gifts instead of making them. But those craft supplies can really add up. But there is a way to save a little money. First keep a running list of all craft projects would you like to do. Then make a list of all supplies needed. Then go to a JoAnns store and sign up for mailer coupons. Usually each mailer will have at least one 40% off coupon. Then watch your paper for additional JoAnn ads that will also have a 40% off coupon. Also watch for Michaels ads that each contain a 40% coupon. Here we have a Michaels ad at least every other week but often every week. Also, at least where I live, JoAnns will take Michaels coupons also so I only have to go to one place. I have walked in many times with 3 coupons at one: Mailer coupon, Michaels coupon and JoAnns Sunday coupon. I don’t even shop the ad itself unless the sail item is more than 40% off. Then walk in only getting the things on your list. Don’t look around or take very long. If you are normal, the longer you are in a crafting store the more you will spend.
Something to keep in mind is that you want to more through your whole list this way, regardless of how small the price point. I admit that I have felt self-conscious using the coupons on $1 embroidered letters but I needed them and they were on the list. Now of course you need to make sure that you get the more expensive things first, just to make sure that you get the coupon but… There are some acceptions. After you get used to watching the ads you will see what is normally on good sales(more than 40%). An example is 12 by 12 scrapbook paper (I got these to make birth announcements). They are normally 50 cents a sheet but go on sale for 6 for 96 cents. So obviously I got them on sale and not on coupon.
So that is how I keep my crafting relatively under control!
Here is my proposed menu for this week:
Monday: Cube Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Cauliflower,apple-raisin coleslaw
Tuesday: New Chicken Casserole Recipe, Broccoli, Salad
Wednesday: Crockpot Turkey Breast, Potatoes, Leftover Cauliflower
Thursday: Mahi Mahi, Broccoli Mac and Cheese Gratin, Salad
Friday: Ham and Potato Gratin, Ham, Broccoli
One of my big money saving tips is to take advantage of Walgreens Rebate Saver program. Every month they have some things completely free after rebate and many things just on rebate. One of the nice things is that you can use coupons on every product so if you watch what is out there you can actually get money back on things. I save all my toothbrush and tooth paste coupons for these and I usually get them for free or almost free. I recently got Suave shampoo and conditioner for a great deal. It was on sale 5 for $10 and then there was a $5 rebate and I use 3 coupons that totaled another $1.25 off. So I ended up paying $3.75 for 5 bottles.
Free this month contact solution, foundation, Pantene hair product and toothbrush.
My one recommendation is only buy things you will use not just all free things.
For this week’s Works For Me Wednesday Shannon asked what brands we are loyal to. You know we all have those things that we are willing to spend a little more on. Here in the NerdFamily household we have quite a few. We are loyal to some things just for the taste such as JIF peanut butter, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper and Best Foods mayonnaise. Some things are because they work better for us like SpeedStick (for both NerdDad and myself) and Aveeno skin products. I also have a few household things that just work better overall. Ziploc bags are one of my big indulgences because the bag is thicker and the zipper is stronger. I also really like Dow’s Scrubbing Bubbles. None of the generics or other brands seem to work as well.
So even though I try to be frugal we definitely have specific tastes. I have found that if I balance shopping on the sales matched with coupons (and rebates from Walgreens) the prices can be very manageable.
So where do your loyalties lay?
In order to hold myself accountable I am going to start posting my weekday menus on Monday. So here it goes…
Monday: Tillapia, broccoli, drop biscuits, spinach/strawberry salad
Tuesday: Enchiladas, broccoli
Wednesday: Stuffed pork loin chops (with spinach and feta), potato/leek gratin(trying a new recipe)
***Update: The potato/leek gratin was so/so. I won’t be making it again.
Thursday: cheeseburger pie, broccoli, salad
Friday: Date night with church kids get sandwiches!
If anyone wants a recipe let me know!
I was thinking up a post for this WFMW and I have to say that my best ones are not my own. The way that I organize my puzzle was taken from a book years ago. Why puzzles? For those of you who haven’t experienced this yet, puzzle boxes were not meant to be used. Take the lid off and put it on a couple times and the box is broken in the corners. The other challenge with puzzles is finding the errant puzzle piece and figuring out where it goes. This is a multi-step project but I promise it doesn’t really take that long. First get a box of colored pens. Each puzzle gets a number in a different color (the different colors are only important while the kids are little). Then write that number on the back of every piece. Then put the pieces into a zip top bag and write the number on the outside of the bag. Then cut out the front panel of the puzzle with the picture and all the details. Write the number on the back of the panel. Then get a folder for the panels and a box (a plastic shoebox works well) for the bag with the pieces. You can look at the panels and pick out your puzzle. Then just put it away! If you find a piece the kids left on the floor, you know right where it goes!