As you can see from this list~ our house was empty. I have failed to venture out into the frozen tundra and tackle the grocery store. We haven't been starving, but the meal time selection has been limited and I need options because I am not that creative when it comes to cooking. I think I am more of a mood cook, what I am in the mood for and that includes prep time and cleanup. I have been working on this list. I used the Meals Matter site I posted a little while back. I selected some recipes that looked easy without a ton of ingredients and that the kids would enjoy as well. This website is great. I have been playing with it and I hope that I can be disciplined enough to stick with it. As of right now I have all meals planned through next week Wednesday!! I have NEVER done this before. Usually I stock the pantry and fridge with the basics, then stand there at 4 pm wondering what I can come up with. On top of having meals planned, I sat down with the grocery sale ad~ circled the things that I would need for my recipes. Cut out the coupons that my mom always brings over here and I never end up clipping before the expiration date...yeah I sat down and cut them out~ Imagine that! I ended up having a ton of coupons for things on sale...double bonus! So in the end this is how I did...remember my house was empty, we are talking wipes, diapers, paper towels, toilet paper, laundry soap~ you name it and the bottle was upside down with one last drip. Here's what my list looks like. Isn't it great~ yeah it's in order by the aisles in the store~ how cool is that! I didn't do it, the website did. I'm telling you it's great! Below is a picture of my receipt~ exciting huh, yeah but do you see that, I saved $21.65 in coupons~ Another $60.54 just on the sale items~ and then another $2.00 for I don't know what...do the math... that is a Total of $ 84.19 Yes my grand total spent on groceries was over $200, but I will not have to buy these things for a LONG LONG time, so hopefully if I can stick with this, I will only be doing smaller trips for awhile. So I know this is a bunch of boring grocery talk, but this was a New Year's Resolution of mine... and I am actually doing it! That and I wanted to share with everyone that the Meals Matter site really is great, so if you didn't check it out before, head on over there and give it a try. I'll share some of my recipes for dinners this week on my other blog...if your interested.
Ok, so I can't leave this as a boring grocery post, here's a fun story that I am sure all of you diaper toting mothers can appreciate. On my way out of the store yesterday, I am ON TIME. I have to go pick up Lolo from preschool and I am EARLY. Then I hit the parking lot and was instantly tardy. Have you ever tried to push an overflowing cart through snow, slush and ice? I am pushing with all my might, then I hit an ice chunk, you know those chunks that collect behind your car wheel? I can't see where I am going AND push the cart! So I run into it and all of a sudden Ugh, I am stopped. I kick the ice chunk out of the way and start pulling on the cart...I made it two inches! Seriously! Some kind man sees me struggling and comes over to help, I have never been more grateful! I mean yes I am a strong capable MOM, but ya know it was nice to have some help. So he is pushing and I am pulling and we make it about one car length. Thankfully I am the third car...I got a kick ass spot and was all giddy about it...normally I am the person that parks way out and walks, but this day I took the spot. Anyways, we are almost to car #2 and then THUG we hit something and Ugh to another stop. EVERYTHING falls off the cart and lands all over the place. The man looks at me and laughs~ Ha~ as if it's funny, does he not realize I am LATE now! Ok, so it's not the end of the world, pick it all up and proceed right? Here's the fun part... the diaper box fell off the bottom of the cart and slid UNDERNEATH car #4!!!! Yeah it slid right past my car and went under the next car. So here is me, LATE, on my hands and knees in the parking lot, going under someone elses car, trying to reach the box. I can't go home without diapers and besides they are the most expensive thing on my list. Go Go Gadget Arms... The one time I am thankful to have really really long arms~ I reach the box, load the car, race out of the parking lot. And pulling out of the retirement home is a lady (whom I am sure is very nice, but I didn't think of her that way) going 15MPH! Ok, God I get it! You want me to slow down, you want me to arrive safely. You want me to stop and smell the flowers, I mean freeze in the icey snow, but same thing. I get it...just not right now~ I have a preschooler to pick up and preschoolers don't understand LATE. I followed slow nice lady ALL the way to the school. Pull into the parking lot and the kids were outside playing in the snow. My Lolo is the last one to be picked up. I am getting out of the car feeling Guilty, How do you explain diapers under a car to a preschooler? Here it goes... "Lolo I am SO sorry I am late, Guess what happened..." "Mom, why are you here already? I want to play in the snow some more, why do you have to come so fast?" Ha! And I thought this was going to be hard, who knew I was actually EARLY!
23 comments:
That God, he is great and he was definitely trying to teach you something.
HAHAHA...you needed to remember, this was Miss Sunshine Lolo you were going to retrieve. Have you ever known a more "glass half-full" child, EVER? :) And I am so sorry, but I was L'ing MAO over the visual I had of you and your cart in the parking lot, because that is EXACTLY what always happens to ME in the grocery store parking lot. After I have gone through the whole store with the gimpy-wheeled cart that makes strange squeaking noises and everybody stares at me, probably thinking I could do WITHOUT groceries for a while! HAHAHA!
And just so you know, I like your grocery posts and the recipes, too! I always check out your other site to see if there's anything new; I get so stuck in making the same things all the time. So keep the recipes/meal planning sites/etc. coming! And doncha just love coupons now? All it takes is one good round of coupon savings to see the difference it makes! You'll be clipping every week now :)!
Wow, you have motivated me to actually use coupons and to plan my meals! I can't believe that for a family of six you only spent $200.00 on your big shop.
Cute story of Lolo! I love when kids surprise you like that :)
And I must admit, although I totally feel for you, I was laughing at your story through the parking lot!
I will definitely checkout the mealsmatter site. I seriously need meal planning help!
I am laughing at your story not at you :)! I can just pictue myself in exaclty the same predicament. Kids are so funny, what we worry about they don't even think about.
I love when I go the the store with a plan and a complete list, it makes life soooo much better! You will be so glad you shopped that way with meals all planned out. I no longer dread making dinner!
Christina
I love your parking lot story. I will have to check out that site you mentioned. I never cut coupons. When do you have time to do it all? Thanks for the laugh. Theresa
I am laughing because I have been there! Thanks for the meal ideas. I could sure use any ideas I can get here.
I am so sorry for laughing. I am sure you were worried about Lolo. LOL, she wanted to play. Isn;t that always how it is.
We are in a frozen tundra too. I feel your pain. It is SO hard to get out.
♥ Glad you made it okay. I'm sure you can't wait for some sunshine! So cute that she didn't even notice you being late. Emma used to get upset when I'd come and pick her up from play dates... She'd tell me I needed to leave and come back later... :)
Amazing grocery list! I Am going to have to try that! Wow! Such a huge savings!!!
That story is hilarious. In a not so funny way, of course.
Now if I have one more person from a warm, sunny, tropical area tells me they wish they had snow I am going to send them over here so they can see why the snow is so sickening! Ack!!!
At least Lolo was having fun, right?
Hi, Girlymom!
Sorry about your grocery store incident, funny to us hearing it, not so much while it's happening, I'm sure!
I was late one time (well, I'm sure more than once) but this one time I got stuck at Target during Christmas shopping in a check out line that wasn't moving very fast. I had already unloaded everything and the person in front of me was questioning the price of something, so they were doing a price check and calling the manager, the whole nine yards! I was panicing because I was going to be late picking up Brian from Kindergarten. He was in the morning class, and I knew that his teacher would be waiting to go to lunch. I wanted to just leave, but didn't know what to do with all the items on the check-out, so I muttled through and got to the school as quickly as I could. When I got there, Brian was in the school office sitting in a chair waiting for me. His teacher had left and gone to lunch, and here's me running in feeling about one inch tall! He was fine until he saw me, and then he burst into tears and said he didn't think I was ever going to come get him. I've never felt so bad, even to this day, I don't think as I did that day. I'm so glad you got to the school on time, and little Lolo, she's as sweet as can be! I guess you can chalk it up to that old saying, "sh_t happens!"
Lizzy
i'm going to have to check that site out. i am HORRIBLE at budgeting for food and planning meals. mark works 2nd shift so he is rarely home for dinner and my kids are picky so cooking is no fun!
You had a great shopping trip. I'll have to check out that site. Thanks for the info!
That is great you saved all that money. That was quite a list.
I will check out that Meal Matters.
I aspire to be you... the list making... not the incident.
I have to admit that I get super excited when we save money on groceries too!!
Great post!
:-)
If I am late getting my son I have to pay $25 a minute
Glad she did not notice
Look on the bright side just like your daughter
Life in Michigan - sucks don't it? :) Have you dug yourself out of all the snow yet? We still got a ton here.
I'm tired of the slush and ice but at least I got the boys to help. They don't like it when I say Ya Mule - go figure.
Uuuugh! I hear you on the grocery shopping aspect. I too made a well needed trip to the grocer so our family could eat this week. We were soo depleted there wasn't even ramen in our home. Sheeeesh.
Lolo is funny. Boy if kids don't bring perspective huh? Here we are sludging and shlushing in the inconvenient weather... grumbling all the while (If you weren't I most certainly would have been) to come upon a wee one playing in the blessings of that same "inconvenient weather".
Loved the recap. Have a wonderful weekend. (We're getting pummeled with snow and freezing rain.... ICK)
Great job with the grocery shopping! I try to plan meals too! I will check out that website right now!!!
Go you! That's great!
i always say that I wish i had go go gadget arms!
Kids, just when you thjink you understand them they throw a curve ball and totally surprise you. I guess this time it worked in your favor.
As for the grocery shopping I have been there and done almost that too many times to count. It seems to me I always get the crappy carts that dont steer right and my arms are aching by the time I am finished from trying to keep the cart from veering off into the isles.
have a good weekend!
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