A Letter to My Teething Baby

Dear Bulldog,
     Your gums are on fire, and you have spears being driven through your gums. I shouldn't have any joy because of this, but I do. You see, for a little while there, I was afraid that you wanted to wean, that you didn't need me in that special way anymore. Because of your teething pain, you've wanted to nurse A LOT this week. The milk has analgesic properties, so it helps to soothe your pain, and our extended snuggles provide comfort, letting you know that I'm here for you. By being chained to the couch, your favorite nursing spot, I've been forced to take a much needed rest from my daily routine. As a bonus, your amazing big brother has taken to join us on the couch for cuddles. I get to spend my day watching Sesame Street and Thomas the Tank Engine while cuddling with my two favorite boys.
     At night, you want only me to help you get to sleep. Daddy just won't do. In spite of the medicine and nursing, you still hurt too much to fall into a peaceful sleep. So I rock you, and sing you every song I know, and pray over you. I pray with more sincerity than I have in a while. As I try to comfort you, I am comforted by my Father. I get a glimpse of what He feels when I hurt, and I know that He is here for me, just as I am here for you. I thank you for that.
     I promise, this pain won't last forever. It will end, and it is for a purpose. It is for your good. Once you have teeth, you can eat really awesome stuff like steak. You're just like your daddy, so I'm pretty sure you'll love steak. I wish I could say that this is the last time you'll feel pain like this, but I can't. Life has many times of great pain, but it doesn't last forever. Try to find the joyous moments in the pain, and remember that the Lord and I are watching over you.
Love,
Mommy

Saving Money at Costco

     3 months ago Hubby and I decided to get a Costco membership. Our boys eat A LOT of fruit. Bananas at Costco are 20 cents a pound cheaper than the ones at Publix. We did the math. We go through 6 pounds of bananas a week. By buying bananas at Costco, we'd save at least $62.40 a year. Just in bananas! The membership is $55 a year, so we knew this was something that needed to happen.

     I've been told that prices at Costco aren't any better than the grocery stores. I laugh at people who try to convince me that we're wasting our money there. Yes, if you go off your list, you'll rack up a huge bill from stuff you don't need, and not everything at Costco is a great deal. However, a consumer who is aware of product costs and sticks to his/her list is likely to come out ahead when shopping at Costco. We have neither an extra freezer nor a lot of pantry storage. Hubby and I have bought exactly 2 impulse buys in our 3 months as Costco members. Even so, we've already saved enough to cover our membership and then some.

    I don't know all of the prices off the top of my head, but this is a list of things I know are cheaper at Costco than at our local grocery stores. I've included the prices for the items that I know. I'll write down the prices for the others on my next trip and update.

Coconut oil- I love this stuff! A 4 pound jar is about $16 at Costco. A 1 pound jar is $13. I go through a jar a month, so that's $12 a month in savings.
Olive Oil
Lemon juice
Baking soda
Yeast (if you bake a lot)
Rice
Annie's Mac and Cheese (I know it's not "real food," but it's a convenience food that I can live with.)
Flour (if you bake a lot)
Sugar (if you bake a lot)
Cinnamon
Garlic powder
Mrs. Dash
Dried oregano
Dried basil
Sea salt
Canned organic tomatoes
Canned mushrooms

Bananas- Costco: 3 lbs at $0.49/ lb  Publix: $0.69 / lb
Strawberries- Costco: 4 lbs at $1.99/ lb  Publix: $2.50/ lb
Onions, red and yellow
Apples
Garlic
Cantaloupes-  Costco: 3 for $6 Publix: $2.50 each on sale
Berries of any kind
Fresh organic spinach
Grape tomatoes
Mushrooms
Celery

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts- Costco :$2.99/ lb  Publix: $2.99/ lb when they're on sale. I love not having to wait for a sale!
Whole chickens- Costco: $0.99/ lb  Publix: They were just on sale for $1.29/ lb.
Ground beef- Costco- $2.99/ lb  Publix: The cheapest ground beef is $3.69/ lb. Costco's tastes much better, too.

Almond milk- Babyzilla has a dairy sensitivity, so we use a lot of this. The price works out to be buy 2 get 1 free.
Yogurt
Eggs

Freezer bags
Garbage bags
Baby wipes
Children's Tylanol (Kirkland brand)

Gasoline- We save about $0.10 a gallon by buying our gas from Costco, and it saves a trip since it's right there.

I've been told that coffee, dog food, maple syrup, and toilet paper are all good deals at Costco, but I haven't confirmed these as we don't use coffee or dog food and are still using toilet paper from my last stock up.

If your family uses any of the above, a Costco membership might be something to consider.

It's the Little Things

     So many people think that romance is what they see on the Bachelor; exotic vacations, outrageous dates, and candle light dinners. Real life isn't like that. Real life romance is sitting on the porch during a summer storm after the kids are in bed, getting up early to wash the dishes that your spouse was too exhausted to finish the night before, and picking up a cookbook from your office's freecycle table because it made you think of your spouse. Between you and me, I prefer real life romance.

Strawberry Bread

For the first time ever, our 4 pound clam shell of strawberries from Costco started getting mushy before we'd eaten all of it. There's a popular adage in our church: Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. This was a time to use it up. I searched through my cookbooks for a good way to use up strawberries. I found this recipe in my Food Storage cookbook from the LDS cannery. It was SO good!

Strawberry Bread

3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
4 eggs
1 1/4 cup vegetable oil (I use melted coconut oil.)
2 cups sliced strawberries

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add eggs, oil, and berries. Mix until just moistened. Spoon into 2 prepared (greased and floured) loaf pans. Bake at 350 F for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Cool in the pans for several minutes. Remove from pans and finish cooling on a wire rack to cool completely.  

Frozen PB & B Bars

Hubby works for our state's government, and I'm a full-time student and mom. We're not rolling in money by any stretch of the imagination. For the time being, we're receiving food assistance in the form of WIC. In case you aren't familiar with WIC, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, infants, and children up to age 5 receive checks for a monthly allotment of milk, cheese, beans, cereal, etc. One of the things we get a lot of with WIC is peanut butter. The problem is, Babyzilla (who's almost 2 and a half now) doesn't really care for peanut butter. I can eat only so many PB&Js. I use it as a dip for apples and celery, too. Still, I had 5 jars of peanut butter in my cabinets. That's how these beauties were born.

Frozen PB&B Bars

Ripe bananas
Creamy peanut butter
Graham crackers

Mix together bananas with enough peanut butter to make a goopy, yet speadable mixture. (The paddle attachment on a stand mixer is perfect for this.) Spread a spoonfull onto 1/2 of a graham cracker square, and top with the other half. Place the sandwiches in a freezer bag and freeze for at least 2 hours.

The first time I made these, I used 5 bananas and about half of a jar of peanut butter, but use what you have on hand.

Zucchini and Beans with Pasta

One of my favorite things about summer is the bounty of available fresh vegetables at low prices. Our farmers' markets are full of zucchini and yellow squash. The beans and pasta in this recipe make a complete protein and a cheap, delicious meal.

1/2 pound of dried Great Northern beans
6 cups sliced zucchini
2 T olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped (any color)
1 large garlic clove, smashed
1 29 oz can of tomato puree
3/4 cup water or vegetable broth
Salt and pepper
4-5 fresh basil leaves OR 1/2 tsp dried basil
Dash of crushed red pepper flakes (more if you like extra kick)
1 pound elbow macaroni or other small pasta
Grated Romano or Parmesan cheese (optional)

Prep: Soak beans overnight
1. Cook beans according to package directions. Drain, reserving 3/4 cup of the cooking liquid.
2. Start heating heavily salted water for pasta.
3. In a large pan, on medium heat, cook the onion in the olive oil until it begins to soften. Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook until the garlic becomes fragrant (about 30 seconds). Add zucchini and saute, until slightly softened.
4. Add tomato puree, water or broth, reserved bean broth, salt and pepper. Bring to bubbling. Simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Add beans and basil. Cook 5 more minutes. If it is too thick, add water.
6. Place cooked and drained macaroni into a serving bowl. Spoon 3/4 of the sauce over the pasta and mix. Pour remaining sauce over the top and sprinkle with grated cheese, if using.

Meal Plan 5/27/13

Monday:
     Breakfast: Cereal and fruit
     Lunch: Black-eyed pea burgers, cantelope
     Dinner: Dinner out with Papaw and Gammy
Tuesday:
     Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and strawberries
     Lunch: Macaroni and cheese, broccoli
     Dinner: Chicken enchilada zucchini boats (recipe to come), rice, steamed carrots
Wednesday:
     Breakfast: Oatmeal and berries
     Lunch: Quesadillas with beans, applesauce
     Dinner: Beef stir-fry, rice
Thursday:
     Breakfast: Cereal and fruit
     Lunch: Pasta with chicken and peas
     Dinner: Crock-Pot Lentils, quinoa, and broccoli
Friday:
     Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and fruit
     Lunch: Ground beef with rice and yellow squash
     Dinner: Zucchini and beans with pasta
Saturday:
     Breakfast: Cinnamon chip pancakes and cantelope
     Lunch: Grilled cheese
     Dinner: Lasagna
Sunday:
     Breakfast: Cereal and fruit
     Lunch: Crock-Pot Lima beans and cornbread
     Dinner: Pork chops, couscous, squash, and cinnamon apples (recipe to come)

PPD-Talking About it

     In January, I made a decision. I decided that I could not continue living with the depression that consumed me. I decided that the deep, dark hopelessness and the fits of rage were not normal, nor were they healthy. Ultimately, I realized that my depression was affecting my ability to parent the way I want. Thanks to some great friends and Hubby, I decided to talk to my doctor about what I was feeling. She prescribed a low dose antidepressant and counseling. For the first time in a long time, I felt hope. I felt like... me. Hubby even commented about how happy he was to have his wife back. Now, I'm enjoying my kids and hopeful for the future.

     One of my big priorities this summer is to get into counseling. I put it off this semester because I just could not add another thing to my plate, even if it would have been helpful. My local ICAN group has a list of therapists/ counselors who have dealt with birth trauma. I'm making my first appointment this week. If you're dealing with depression, please get help. There's no need to live in a pit of dispair. You're not crazy, and you're not alone.

Weekly Meal Plan 5/20/13

 Monday:  
     Breakfast: Cereal, melon
     Lunch: Pasta, chicken, broccoli
     Dinner: Pineapple BBQ pork loin, brown rice, carrot chips
Tuesday:
     Breakfast: Oatmeal, blueberries
     Lunch: Quesadillas, red beans, oranges
     Dinner: Pork chops, black eyed peas, spinach, stewed apples
Wednesday:  
     Breakfast: Eggs, apples
     Lunch: Macaroni and cheese with tuna and peas
     Dinner: London broil, broccoli, yellow squash, rice
Thursday:
     Breakfast: Eggs, strawberries
     Lunch: Red beans, rice, spinach
     Dinner: Black eyed pea patties, rice, peaches, salad
Friday:
     Breakfast: Cereal, fruit
     Lunch: Cream cheese crackers, carrots
     Dinner:  Enchilada zucchinis,  fruit cocktail
Saturday:
     Breakfast: Baked oatmeal
     Lunch: Leftovers or quesadillas
     Dinner: Fajitas,
Sunday:
     Breakfast: Cereal, fruit
     Lunch: Hubby's Crock-Pot lima beans, cornbread,
     Dinner: Curried lentils, brown rice, spinach

Saving Money the Old Fashioned Way

     There was a time, not too long ago, when I was a "coupon queen." In any given week, I would save $50 or more in coupons. Most weeks I even made money on purchases. $0.10 for a box of pasta, $0.25 for a box of crackers. Most of the time, it was cheaper overall to buy more items than the one we needed. It was a rush. The feeling was doubled when we'd give missionaries bags of food after feeding them a meal in our home or box after box of food and vitamins (money makers) with my mom, who distributed it among the people she knows who are in need. It was great to be able to bless so many lives and help my family in the process.

     Then the well of coupon craziness went dry. Everybody and their mother (including mine) started couponning. There were stupid reality shows about it. Manufacturers couldn't afford to give our as many good coupons, so , instead of getting $1 off something, we get $0.25 off. I'm not complaining, I promise. Manufacturers have to make money. I get that. However, it has made saving money on groceries tougher. I've had to go back to basics to keep us in budget.

• BeansDave Ramsey suggests eating "rice and beans, and beans and rice" to save money. Beans are FULL of fiber, protein, and other nutrients. A one-pound bag is anywhere from $1.25-$1.75. They're even more economical if you buy larger bags.
  
  Growing up, I never ate beans because my mother never made them. She didn't like them (and didn't know how to cook with them), so they never made their way to our table. My husband comes from a Southern family. Beans are a staple. Black beans, red beans, black eyed peas, pinto beans, lima beans (baby and large), and the list goes on. When we got married, he made beans and made me try them. Yes, I felt a bit like a 5 year old being told "Try it. You might like it." But he did it with the love and humor, not in a patronizing way. A crazy thing happened- I fell in love with beans! Now, one of my favorite lunches is brown rice cooked in homemade stock with black beans, and some red onion. Lentils take 25 minutes to cook and don't require soaking, so they're very popular in our kitchen.
  
  I credit this book with teaching me to cook with beans and lentils. I had no idea that beans can be used in so many ways! Now that I have Pinterest, I get new bean dish ideas all the time. They best part is that they taste REALLY good. I have a bunch of easy, delicious bean recipes in the works. I'm hoping to have a couple of them up by the end of the week.
• Cook more from scratch/ Use the freezer
  I lump these two together because making use of my freezer allows me to cook from scratch, even when I don't have a lot of time. Often, I can throw made-from-scratch meals into the Crock Pot and cook some spinach or make a salad to have a complete meal. Other times, I'll have the most time-consuming part of a meal ready in the freezer.
  
  When I was couponing, we ate more convenience foods than I'd like to admit. Not as bad as many Americans, but still. The lack of amazing coupon deals combined with my resolve to get crud out of my family's diet, especially with 2 young kids, lead me to get back to real cooking. I can make homemade "helper" for pennies, surprisingly cheaper than I could buy it even with coupons.
  
  My big money saver is broth. It's FREE! When I cut up vegetables, I toss the scraps into a gallon-size freezer bag and store it in the freezer. When I get a couple of bags worth of peelings and ends, I throw the contents into a pot and cover with water. I add some salt and pepper, and let it cook down for a couple of hours to release all of the flavor and nutrients. Then I strain it, and freeze 2 cup portions in freezer bags.
  
  Like I said, I like to have the most time-consuming part of the meal done with and hanging out in the freezer. Taco meat and shredded chicken are prime examples of this. We buy our meat in bulk. (Thanks, Costco!) I take 1-2 hours to do my freezer cooking from start to finish. I brown ground beef with salt and pepper and freeze some of it as it is and add taco seasoning (homemade, not from a packet) to the rest. I bag it and freeze it. On the nights we're having tacos, I take the bag out of the freezer (because I never remember to defrost it) and put it in a pan to heat up while I cut up tomatoes and lettuce. A full taco dinner is on the table in under 20 minutes!
  
  I boil boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a pot with salt, pepper, a bay leaf, and onion powder. (While they're boiling, I'm browning the beef.) When the chicken is done, I put 3-4 breasts at a time into the bowl of my Kitchen Aid mixer and use the paddle attachment to break up the chicken. It takes about 30 seconds. After the shredded chicken cools, I bag it and freeze it in 2 cup portions. I use this chicken all the time! I use it in my Enchilada Zucchinis (recipe to come), and I add it to soups, pasta dishes, and quesadillas. I add some barbecue sauce to make sandwiches. The possibilities are endless.
• Make the most of what you buyI may be aging myself a bit here, but I remember these things called leftovers. They were nasty. They had a weird texture, and their temperature was always wrong. Most of the time, they became science experiments that got thrown in the trash. So what's a thrifty girl to do when she has extra food? Use it, but use it in a different way. Those left over green beans aren't going to taste as good if you just microwave them, but they're delicious in soup.
• Meal PlanI know, I know. You're probably sick of hearing this one, but it really does work. My meal plan is based on three things. 1) What's on hand. 2) What's on sale. 3) What's in season.
  
  I make my plan on Friday morning, so I can do my shopping on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. I browse the ads of my local grocery stores, and check my pantries, freezer and fridge. I see what needs to get used up and build meals around those things. This week, I noticed that I have apples that are getting old (something very rare in our house of fruit-lovers), so I've planned to make stewed apples with the pork chops I have planned for Tuesday night. I've also planned to add them to the baked oatmeal I'm making for Saturday's breakfast.
• Not buy
  This one is the hardest for me. I grew up with my Depression-era grandparents. I was taught to always stock up on food, because you never know. I've had to learn some self-control. If something isn't in the budget, no matter how good a deal, it isn't in the budget. Period. If it's that important, I need to put something else back.

I still use coupons and take advantage of sales, but they're no longer my most important means of keeping in my budget. What are your favorite ways to save money on groceries?