Sunday, October 28, 2012

Whirlwind Changes

Sometimes it is crazy how fast things in life can change! Our gut reaction is usually to grind our heels in and try to slow it all down so we can comprehend what is going on. But is that always the best method? Or is it wise to just go with the flow and see where everything takes you?

To be honest there really isn't a right or wrong answer to this, but I can tell you one feels better in the long run and one is more painful along the way! Sometimes trying to slow down everything that is going to go on no matter what is only going to hurt your heels and wear out a great pair of shoes!

After all the changes that I have gone through in the last year or so, I am starting to really believe it all happens for a reason and sometimes its easier and less painful to just go with it and give it a try! I know there are a lot of people that don't believe in fate, or a destined path for us, but I am starting to think there is a reason that these things happen when they do!

Here is my current example, all in one month this is what has happened to myself and my family:
    *Nick got a promotion and started at a new store in our area so no move was needed
    *One of my daughters got tested for Celiacs, tested negative, then went to a GE Dr who said that infact she did have Celiacs.
    *During that appointment I find out that I display all classic symptoms of also having Celiacs, tests in process on that one.
    *While looking for great Gluten Free options for meals since we are hitting this as a united front, I learn of a new product my mom and sister in law found at a womens expo in my home town. Turns out that this is a direct sales company that is looking for an Area Developer in my area. No other reps in the area at all so the whole region would be mine.
    *Find out that the it might be time to get rid of one of our vehicles, which means an additional car payment that we had just cut out of our budget in May.


Now, I have to digress when I talk about my husbands promotion...this is great for the family since we did not have to move for it. BUT we still have to levels to go until he is done with his promotion track. This means, chances are the next move we have will not be anywhere close to where we are now. So here is where the option comes in....drag my heels and figure out what is all going on and which route should we go, or just go with it and realize that maybe things happened this way for a reason.

First, since finding out one of my girls has Celiacs, there is no draging my feet on this one. The diet is gluten free all the way and I jumped head first into this change! No problem there, mainly because my oldest brother was diagnosed with Celiacs at age 2 so I am pretty comfortable with this diet and process. Plus this is my childs health involved, there is no question that I would just go with the flow on it.

Second, finding out that I potentially have Celiacs also, again this one is a no brainer...if my daughter has to have a gluten free diet, we are going at it as a united front. The house has gone gluten free!

Third, the potential new business opportunity for me. Now this is the tough one! The company I am looking at is incredibly amazing. I have been so impressed with everything I have seen so far and think that it is too good of an opportunity to pass up on. Here is why, first its a ground level opportunity so I would have huge potential and no one above me to benefit from my growth(in direct sales that is an amazing opportunity!), second the company invests in you to get started so I have a hand up with getting it all going, third the company offers gluten free products and is looking at trying to expand their gluten free product line.

Ok does this sound amazing or what!?! So you are probably wondering why I have any issues with this at all. Well if we go back to my digression on my husbands promotion, we could move at any time and I would have to up root everything that I would be building here. See  my dilemma....do I start something that could be amazing just to have to move away from it? This is why when we moved up here, we decided I would just be a stay at home mom so I wouldn't have to up and leave something when the time came. The worst part is when my husbands company decides its time to move...its immediate! Such as in November of 2011 we did our first move...he interviewed 11/15 and started working almost 300 miles away from home on 11/28! Yes that gave us 13 days to process it all! Plus then I had to pack up our home and prep it for sale all by myself with 3 yro twins! Fast forward to this October...he interviewed on 10/2 and started 10/15! Again a 13 day turn around with the promotion process! Lucky for us the new store was just south of us so no move needed. Next time though we could be looking at anywhere in an 8 state area! Do I want to start and then leave a business I have built up from the bottom?

Grrrr....can you hear and feel my feet digging into the ground!?! So what does a person do? Well like I said earlier...I have started to realize that maybe just maybe there are reasons for it all! So tomorrow I set up an appointment to speak with the owner of the company to get things rolling with the company! The crazy thing...once I accepted this in my head I was able to get a full night sleep, and physically could feel my shoulders lighten!

So whats the whole point behind this post? Really I am not sure if there is a specific point, other then sometimes whether we dig our heels in or roll with it, things are going to change regardless. So sometimes its just easier to take the easy route and go where the wind takes you! It could be the best thing that happened to you...and if it isnt, change isnt that far away!

Monday, October 1, 2012

Just take a chance and try it!

I have been so busy lately that I have been horrible at posting, but I am back and I have a list of things to post about! Such as today's post! With a blog about changing your path in life and how to survive it, I figured I needed to live the lessons of my blog.

We tend to get ourselves in ruts that are just easier to live with then break, but these ruts can be damaging to us whether its emotionally, physically, or even budget wise. So sometimes we just need to take that chance and try something different even if it doesn't feel normal! Today I took that chance and was shocked at how well it turned out for me! In the past last 3-4 months I have been so consumed with my brothers wedding(which was amazing!), getting things ready for preschool, and helping with the rush of Cornhole Boards that I just was going through my monthly and weekly grocery motions and not finding more savings. Well with the amazing news about my husbands new promotion we got last week, I was forced to rethink the budget due to the increase of drive time and gas he will have.

To cover this new increase in our budget, I wanted to see if I could shave $10 off my weekly grocery budget to cushion the gas budget. So I set a goal to get the full weeks worth of groceries for less then $40! I was determined to do it and figured if I really wanted to amp it up, I needed to take a chance! I had the afternoon free since the girls were in preschool so I figured I would go a little out of my way and try a new grocery store. I am an avid couponer and budgeter so I am pretty familiar with prices of the items we like to get, plus I was equipped with the Sunday ads from other stores so I knew what price ranges I wanted to beat. With all this on my side I figured it was safe to jump head first and try a new store. I am so glad I did! Not only did I get everything on my list, but I also got 4 pears, 3lbs of apples, 2 avocados, 2lbs of red grapes, and an 8pk of Fruit & Veggie juice boxes....final total....$31.86! YES!! Not only did I come in $8.14 under my new budget, but I also got extra produce that I hadn't planned on! BONUS!!

So I know this isn't a scary jump or a big change, but it was a change that I was anxious to make. Now I am kicking myself for not trying this earlier! Sometimes we need to take those little steps to help make the bigger ones a little easier!

Saturday, July 21, 2012

School Supplies or more?!?

I have to be completely honest...School Supply season is my favorite! I can't make it out of Target without getting a couple new supplies! I feel that school supplies are a staple for everyone, and not just those that have kids in school. Plus when you can get them so cheap, why not stock up. So you are probably wondering why I need to stock up on them if I don't have kids in school...to stay organized!



Everyone always tries to get organized in January and set themselves up for the year, but I think this is a great time to restart, recharge, and get organized. During these awesome sales you can stock up on binders, notebooks, notecards, markers, highlighters, dry erase boards, planners, everything! Plus we are entering the most expensive part of the year...winter! You need to start thinking about how you are going to organize time, money, and life in general. School will be starting which means kids getting involved in more activities, then holiday seasons, gift giving, colder weather, higher bills...its all coming. So why not start planning it all now?

Here are a few items that I always like to stock up on and why:

PLANNER: I think that everyone should have a planner! Period! It is important to have one central place that you can put all of your events, appointments, and activities. One central guide book that will keep you on track and not in a constant late cycle.

HIGHLIGHTERS: I think these are important for keeping your priorities straight. I like to highlight my dates in my planner so I know when Nick works evenings vs mornings. To keep straight what are important appointments and what are just events available to attend if we have time.

BINDER: I like to keep things put together by keeping binders. They can be used for your monthly meal planning, organizing your recipes, keeping finances in track, or just to keep clutter together. I have my important binders for meals, coupons, and recipes...but I also have binders for fitness, home decor, crafts, and so on. I simply take pictures out of magazines that interest me and then three hole punch them into a binder. This way I can keep them in one spot, and get rid of a bulky magazine that I have already read through. With this I will also stock up on the clear plastic sleeves for additional organization.

NOTEBOOKS: I like to have notebooks around for easy notes, lists, and also for the kids to have access to. It is so much easier to make a list of whats for dinner that week and include the shopping list with a spiral bound notebook.

CRAYONS: Now these are not a necessity, but I usually can get a box of 24 for less then $0.50, so I like to have extra on hand. First because crayons are less messy then markers for kids, they are easy to pack for a car ride, and frankly kids love them. PLUS I like to use them for little gifts at valentines and Halloween too. We take broken crayons or ones that have been well used and put them in a special container. Then when a holiday comes up I can simply toss them in a themed silicon mold pan and melt them down. I use a glue dot and adhere it to a valentines or Halloween card. This is a hoot for the kids to make, plus then I can give a fun little gift that does not involve candy!

NOTECARDS: I am a notecard junky! I love to have them on hand for writing down recipes, they are great for little kids to write on and fit in any small container. They are also great for organizing lists. During the holiday time I like to add a name to the top of a card, then add the suggestions for gifts to the card. This way I have several ideas for each person I need to give gifts to. They are also great for flash cards for kids! Super cheap and very good at multitasking!


So although its "School Supply" season, I hope you look at the multitude of other uses and consider this "Organization Season"!

Friday, June 29, 2012

But I eat "Fat Free"

We have all walked the aisles at the grocery store and seen the big labels screaming "FAT FREE" or "LOW FAT" next to our favorite products. Instantly we think to ourselves..."Great, I can have what I like without the guilt". Or is that really what you are getting?

The reason that many of your favorite foods can claim to be Fat-Free, is because in order to cut out the fat, they have added various chemicals, additives, and preservatives. So although your body may not be taking in the additional fat that you are worried about, it is taking in chemicals that are not easily digested like real foods are.

Also along with adding these additional chemicals, many times the products also have increased amounts of sugars added to the product to achieve the same enjoyable taste without the fat. The downside to this, is the body then needs to work harder to burn off the additional sugars it is taking in. So really the fat you are saving isn't as beneficial as it really seems.

Plus on top of the various chemicals you are putting into your body, studies have shown that our brain processes the consumption of these "Fat-Free" products differently and in turn allows us to easily over eat when we are eating what we feel is a 'healthier' option. We feel that because it is fat-free that we can splurge a little bit more, so we usually still consume the same amount of calories if we would have eaten the more natural, whole fat product in the first place. The worst part of this...is even when we do eat these products we feel that we haven't truly satisfied our cravings and feel guilty or eat additional servings to reach that satisfaction we wanted.

Something we also need to remember, our bodies need fat! I know that is not what people want to hear when they are trying to lose weight, but it is the truth! We need to have enough calories and fat to maintain our bodies needs in order to lose weight. If our body does not get what it needs to survive...it will shut down! The down side to this? No matter how hard you are working out, you will not be losing the weight you should be. Nor will you be building the muscle you need to keep your metabolism up and motivated all day long.

So what should you do? You should opt for the more whole product with the fat, and eat it according to the serving size. This way you can get the satisfaction you wanted, plus taken in a whole product that your body can easily digest and burn. If you are going to splurge, then do it right! Make it worth the calories, and set your body up to easily work it off!

Monday, June 25, 2012

Cha-Cha-Cha CHIA!

Since I was a child of the early 80's, I grew up with all the fad products that were heavily advertised on all the major TV channels...especially on Saturday morning during my favorite cartoons. We always saw various commercials for the Chia Pet, which came in numerous styles, shapes, and designs! Everyone thought they were so cool...no real function other then adding another plant to your house. Little did we know at the time that these seeds were more then just a crazy looking plant for your desk.

These amazing seeds are mild in flavor, just a slight nutty flavor, that are packed with fiber and calcium. This awesome seed can also absorb up to 12 times its own weight in liquid so it is great for helping you curb your appetite and allowing you to feel full without those crappy weight loss pills.

Here are my favorite ways to use these seeds:

1. Add to my smoothies/protein shakes: I add 1 tablespoon to my smoothie and blend it up right in the smoothie. This helps me stay full all morning long without getting cravings!

2. Add to my salads: I like to sprinkle a tablespoon of seeds on top of my salads as an added crunch. Its essentially like adding sesame seeds, but much better for you!

3. Chia Pudding: In a covered container I add 3 tablespoons of chia seeds to a cup of liquid such as almond milk or Greek yogurt. To add more flavors I will toss in some cut up peaches, raisins, or dried cranberries. Then simply place in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours or overnight, and then devour! It reminds me of tapioca but much better!

4. Added to Protein Bars: I love making my own granola and protein bars so I know exactly what is going in them, and this allows me to add extra crunch and fiber! This way not only am I getting a great protein packed bar, but its also going to fill me up so I don't have to battle cravings throughout the day!


To find these amazing seeds, simply head to your grocery store! Most have them in the baking section, packaged by Bobs Red Mill:



Now that you know where to get them and how to use them...start adding them to your daily diet! It is easy to toss in here and there, and you won't regret it!

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Whats your eating style?

Anywhere you look there is a new fad diet system, program, or product that is supposed to promise a quick fix to your weight loss needs. For me, I am not about the fad diets that usually are only good for a quick temporary weight loss that easily comes back. I think that if you truly want to change your body and health, you need to change your lifestyle. Just changing for a temporary amount of time is only going to give you a temporary fix, so to get a life change you need a lifestyle change.

So how do you change your lifestyle? First its going to take some commitment and a little research. Most of all though, it is going to take a want and need to change. If you continue to do what you have always done, you will continue to receive what you have always received. So to see a different you, you are going to need to feed it differently. Once you have the determination to change your lifestyle, you need to decide what lifestyle is right for you.

Like I said, there are lots of fad diets out there trying to tempt you...but if you do your research you will find that there are some great styles of eating and living that are not only logical but also easy! I could go on for days with all the different things you can try, but I don't want to waste your time! Instead I am going to share 2 of my favorite lifestyle choices that are similar in style but slightly different based on your idea of including grains and beans in your diet. Here are the two lifestyles that I feel are a great start for a healthier you, along with some links to blogs that I have found helpful:

Clean Eating:
*Eating food in its natural state
*No white foods (flour, sugar, rice, ect.)
*Avoiding all refined or processed foods
*Lean proteins and healthy fats
*Lots of fruits and veggies, pref organic
*No preservatives, fast foods, or ALCOHOL
*No or limited dairy

The title is pretty self explanitory in this lifestyle of eating. You want to put just clean foods in your body. When you are adding processed and refined foods to your body, it makes it harder for your body to break down the foods. Also by cutting out the processed foods, your body is going to get everything you need out the food you are eating so it doesn't need to store the crap that turns into unwanted weight!

Favorite Sites:
He & She Eat Clean at http://www.heandsheeatclean.com/
*Great recipes, motivation, and fitness tips

Rabbit Food for My Bunny Teeth at http://rabbitfoodformybunnyteeth.com/
*Although she has all vegetarian recipes, still lots of great stuff

The Gracious Pantry at http://www.thegraciouspantry.com/
*TONS of awesome recipes, tips, and information


PALEO:
*Known as "Primal" Eating
*Lots of grass fed lean meats
*Lots of fruits and veggies, pref organic
*Lots of nuts and healthy fats
*Consuming food in its most natural state
*No Sugars, Beans, Grains or Dairy

The premisis for this style of eating is to eat how our primal ancestors ate. Essentially like a caveman! You are going to eat food that we can easily find in nature...no processed foods! The reason for no dairy is because in nature no species consumes dairy in any form after infancy/youth. Since you are eating just nature based foods your body is only taking in what it needs and nothing more, again allowing you to lose weight and detox your system.

Favorite Sites:
*Tips, info, and lots of recipes

Multiply Delicious at http://www.multiplydelicious.com/
*An awesome mom that does paleo easy, including weekly menus

Everyday Paleo at http://everydaypaleo.com/
*Lots of easy recipes and motivation


***********************************************************************************

Now that I have shared some of my faves about both of these lifestyles, I want to share about how to be successful with a lifestyle change like this.

First, remember you are human! You will slip up, you will be tempted, you will have cravings and challenges. So embrace this and set yourself up for success not failure. You should go through your pantry and fridge and eliminate items that no longer fit your lifestyle and would just temp you. Think of it as a cleanse for your life and a benefit to your local food pantry!

Second, stop torturning yourself! Understand that when you do have a slip up you need to move on and get back on track. Just because you slip up once doesn't mean you have to give up. Accept it and keep moving forward!

Third, understand that nothing has to be 100%. For myself I try to eat 85% Paleo and 15% Clean Eating. Basically I eat mainly off the paleo standards but allow myself some grains on occassions. I still stick with the guidlines Clean Eating establishes for the grains I allow myself though.

Lastly, you have to allow yourself a splurge or two. If you have been invited out by the girls and you are going out for the evening...set your rules up ahead of time and allow yourself a splurge. Make sure to follow your rules and if you are going to indulge do it right. First decide what your splurge is going to be...for me I love dessert so I want to have an indulgent dessert everyonce in a while. So in order to do this, I make sure to set out my rules for the night so I can reward myself without the guilt. So my rules may be no alcohol, salad with lean protein, and 3-4 glasses of water throughout the meal. Then when I get my dessert I will be less likely to finish it all, and if I do I have set myself up for a healthy beginning to my meal so the splurge isn't as damaging! Now here is the most important thing about a splurge...if you are going to do, do it right. Thats right...splurge on the real thing. Studies show that if you splurge on the full fat, naughty items you wanted, you are less likely to over indulge and feel more satisfied. They have found that if you skimp on your splurge you feel like you not only cheated yourself, but feel guiltier because it didn't even hit the spot like you wanted it to!

So now you have some options to look into! Don't by any means think that these are your only options, but look at them as a start for your research into a healthier you!

Friday, June 22, 2012

10 Super Foods

Whether you want to look good for swimsuit season, get into that super cute pair of jeans, or just drop a pant size...we need to remember that 80% of our success is based in the kitchen and not the gym. Yes, I said the kitchen! No matter how hard you bust your butt in the gym...its still gonna jiggle if you are feeding the wrong foods!

So, what should you feed your body to make sure you aren't destroying your hard work in the gym? Thats where your Super Foods come into play. These are foods that easy-to-eat and full of the nutrients you need to stay healthy. By keeping these items in your kitchen you are going to set yourself up for success. I bet you are dying to know what these super foods are aren't you?!? Well here you go:

I got this list from WebMD.com where they give an in depth reasoning for them being a Super Food:

1. Low-Fat or Fat-Free Plain Yogurt. I like Greek yogurt because of the creamier texture and high amounts of protein. Plus I love how versatile it is in the kitchen. I use it in my smoothies/shakes in the morning, with fruit and honey for a snack, or on top of tacos or enchiladas like sour cream.

2. Eggs. I love to always have hard boiled eggs on hand because they are a quick and easy snack that is packed with protein, low in fat and calories, and just plain tasty! You can make easy omelets, scrambled eggs, and quiches that are all quick and good for you.

3. Nuts. Although they are high in fats, they are good fats that our body really needs. A totally fat-free diet is not good for us. They are great as a snack or to add into your main meal as an alternate source of protein. I like to always have almonds on hand at our house so I can grab some quick or add them to a salad for some crunch.

4. Kiwis. They are full of nutrients and antioxidants, plus super tasty! They are great to eat alone, but also work great in your morning smoothies. Because they can go bad quickly I like to slice them and lay them out on a lined baking sheet and freeze them. After they are frozen I place them in a ziplock bag that I keep in the freezer so I can quick grab a few slices and toss them in my smoothies. I also will toss a few in my water bottle to add a little extra flavor.

5. Quinoa. This is a new super food for me. I have recently started eating this and I am loving it. First it is gluten free which is great for those with Celiac or any other gluten related allergies. Second, it is very versitle and can easily be made to be sweet or savory. You can use it as a side dish, add it to a wrap, or make it a center of your entree.

6. Beans.  Beans are usually not on the top of most peoples lists of favorite foods, but trust me they are soo good! You can do so many things with beans! I love them in salads, mexican food, wraps, and even desserts! Yes, I said desserts! I love Black Bean Brownies...you would never guess that they are even in the brownies! Plus added bonus, they are super cheap which is nice on the budget. I recommend getting dried beans so they are easily shelf stable and making them up as you need.

7. Salmon. Now that it is grilling season, this is a great food to have in your diet. You can easily grill it up and make a super delish meal. But remember you can easily make it in the kitchen all year round so don't forget to keep it on your grocery list!

8. Broccoli. Whether its fresh or frozen, broccoli is an amazing food for you. You can eat it raw with a little dipping sauce (use greek yogurt with ranch seasoning to cut out some of the fat and calories and add extra protein), or bake it, broil it, and stir fry it!

9. Sweet Potatoes. These root vegetables are packed with all sorts of amazing nutrients for your body. They are so easy to transform into so many things so you should always have them on hand. Next time at the grocery store grab these instead of standard white potatoes. You can bake them and grill them in wedges for yummy healthy 'fries', or mash into yummy healthy mashed potatoes. I like to also cut them into small chunks and broil them with a little salt and pepper and add them to a salad.

10. Berries. Ok...what is not to love about berries? Low calories, full of antioxidants, and high in
fiber...yes please! And really there is not much you can't do with berries. Just remember nature has already made them sweet, so they dont need a lot of extra sweetners added to them!

Now you have the list...so add them to your grocery list! You can easily add all of these items into your monthly meal planning, and not break the budget so get on it!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Can I refill your water?

Have you started drinking your water yet today? Your body is made up mostly of water and we need to continue to replenish ourselves to maintain a healthy body...so then the question is, how much water do you need to drink?

The answer to this question isn't a set number because you really need to take into account your weight, the amount of time you spend working out that day, if its hot or extremely cold. As a general they used to say"8 and 8" was the rule of thumb, so you were to drink 8 glasses of 8 oz each...but that only breaks down to 1.9 liters a day. In all actuality you should be drinking 2.2 liters for women or 3 liters a day for men. Again though, you should increase this amount in extreme heat or when you have long workouts.

Here are some excellent reasons why you should be drinking enough water each day:

  1. Our bodies are made up of 60% water, so it is essential to continue to replenish our body daily.
  2. Water helps our body flush out toxins from our vital organs.
  3. Water helps carry nutrients to our cells.
  4. Lack of water can lead to dehydration causing:
    1. Headaches
    2. Low Energy
    3. Constipation
  5. Helps with increased weight loss
  6. Can lower Cancer and Heart Health risks
  7. Helps your skin stay hydrated and appear more radiant
  8. Staves off cravings and false hunger
So you just aren't a fan of drinking water all day? Well spice it up a little bit with different flavors! An easy way to do this is by adding a Crystal Lite pack to your bottle of water. They are just 5 calories per pack, and add a great flavor to your water. I usually use 1 packet in my 1 liter bottle because I find them to be a little too sweet. Another great option is adding fruit right to your water! I like using fresh fruit when it is available, but adding frozen fruit is just fine too! Plus it helps cool down your drink! I like to squish some berries or watermelon in with my water. You can also add lemon which is a natural diuretic...this will help save you from the bloat! Plus try something different and add a little mint or cucumber!

Also remember to spread this across the whole day...there is no sense trying to chug 2 liters of water 30 minutes before you go to bed! You are just going to get up 6 times at night and pee and thats no way to spend your night! Start right away in the morning!

Here are some tips on when to drink water to help with weight loss:

  • Drink 8oz right away in the morning to start up your metabolism and flush your system from the night before
  • Drink a full 8oz of water 30 minutes prior to each meal. This will allow you to fill up faster and prevent over eating.
  • Drink water along with your snacks...this will help your feel more satisfied with your snack
  • Drink before, throughout, and after your workouts. Its important to be hydrated before, during and after a workout!
  • Drink while outside in extreme heat or cold...both pull moisture out of our bodies through our skin so its important to stay well hydrated
So now you know why water is so important...go get a glass now!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Whats on your plate?

You are spending time in the gym doing the routines and workouts that they recommend, and you still are stuck at a plateau? Well it might not be the gym's fault...instead it could be your diet. Yes bodies are sculpted in the gym, but they are made in the Kitchen! No matter how much you work out, if you aren't feeding your body right you just aren't going to get anywhere in the gym!

So how can you tweak your diet to help you push through your plateau? The first thing I recommend is really pay attention to what you are eating...you might be surprised as to what you are taking in during your day. You need to pay attention to what is really in your foods, because although you think that Granola you have been eating is good for you...some granola can have tons of excess sugars, calories, and fat. So here are some things you really should pay attention to when shopping:

  • Serving Size:
    • Make sure you check out what the serving size is...just because its in a small bag, that doesn't mean its just one serving!
      • Ex: 20oz Lipton Green Tea has 2.5 servings per container...so 1 bottle has 200 calories vs just the 80 it says per serving
  • Calories:
    • Verify the amount of calories, and compare them to the nutrients you are getting...is it worth the calories you are taking in with this item?
  • What's in it?
    • Look at the ingredient list on the label...the most prevalent ingredients will be listed first. So make sure these are items you want to take into your body, and try to have them be natural and whole ingredients. The fewer additives the better for you!
Here is a label I got off of www.health.gov to show how to look at your labels when shopping:


Now that you know what is in your food, make sure you are following the recommended serving size. Its important you don't just graze at your food throughout the day, instead before you start eating it make sure to pull out just your recommended serving. This is one area that we really can add on blind calories without realizing it, why sabotage your workouts before you even get in the gym?

So how do you make sure you aren't adding calories in when you don't expect it. Here are some tips that I use to help keep it under control:

1. Figure out what your calorie intake should be. To figure this out easily simply take your weight in pounds times 11 if your are not working out more then 2 hrs a week, or 12 if you do work out for more then 2 hrs a week. This would be your goal number. Make sure to strive for that each day, and remember too few calories can be just as bad on your diet as too many! Starvation will get you no where!!

2. Pre-pack your food! At the beginning of the week package your snacks and meals in individual serving size containers. Make it easy on your self so all you have to do is grab and go on busy days.

3. Aim for super foods in your diet. These are foods packed with nutrients that help you hit your daily recommended intake. Try to get eggs, yogurt, nuts, Kiwis, quinoa, broccoli, berries, sweet potatoes, beans, and salmon into your diet. These foods are packed with the things your body needs to run efficiently and thus burn that fat and calories effectively during your workouts!

4. Eat off of a plate and not out of a bag! By putting your food or snacks on a plate instead of eating out of the manufacturers package, you are able to visualize the amount you have eaten...thus not over eat!

5. This is my favorite tip....DRINK MORE WATER! Before diving into a snack because you are sooo hungry, drink 8 oz of water and wait 10 minutes. Chances are your 'hunger' is simply thirst that easily gets confused!

6. Write down what you eat throughout the day. You need to write down everything little and big you eat. You would be surprised what take in everyday. Plus you will find, if you have to write it down you may be less likely to eat it!

Try these tips and see if they can help you push yourself past your weight loss plateau!

I'm Back!

Sorry I was gone for a few days! I was out of town and then as soon as I got back we had family stay with us, so it was a busy week last week! But fear not...I am back and its posting time! This week I am working on meal planning including the healthier options we are using at our home. Plus I will start going into more of fitness and health...since this has been a big change of path for both Nick and I!

So stay posted...and feel free to post your own comments and requests!

Friday, June 1, 2012

3 Meals, 1 Night!

If I can save time and make several meals all at once, I am all for it! I like to switch it up and make several variations of the same meal at the same time so I can easily use them in one months meal plan without getting bored! Tonight was one of the nights that I wanted to not only make several meals but wanted to see just how little I could do it for!

Here was my ingredient list:
4 Italian Sausages $2.99 with coupon
1 Bag Spinach $2 on sale
2 Containers Ricotta Cheese $1.29 each with coupon
1 egg $0.14
1 bag Mozzarella Cheese $1.79 on sale
1 box of Penne $0.66 with coupon
1 box Lasagna noodles $0.76 with coupon
1 32 oz jar Marinara $1.50 on sale
1 can Petite Diced Tomatoes $0.50 on sale

Total: $12.92 for 3 meal main dishes...thats $4.31 per main dish!

To start off the meals I removed the casings off the Italian Sausages and browned them in a large pan. Once browned I added the jar of sauce and can of petite diced tomatoes and let simmer. Then boiled the Penne noodles for tonight's dinner. That easy for meal one...Penne Spaghetti!

For the last two I did two 8x8 Lasagnas that I will freeze for later meals. I like to line up all of the ingredients and get them ready before assembling so I got the sauce, spinach, mozzarella cheese, and noodles out. I then mixed the ricotta cheese with one egg and some Italian seasoning. I didn't add that into my meal cost, because we all have that in our pantry anyway!. Then I used the 8x8 GLAD Ovenware pans because they are just so easy to use! First I put a large spoonful of sauce in the bottom of both 8x8 pans. Next I broke the noodles down so I had an even layer above the sauce. After the noodles were in I spread a layer of the ricotta mix on top of the noodles followed by the spinach and mozzarella cheese. Then started again with the sauce and so on. I did 3 layers in each pan to reach the top of the 8x8.


If you did not want to do lasagna, you could easily do stuffed shells or manicotti too. Or even do on lasagna and on stuffed shells by adding just one box of noodles...thats only $0.66 more the what we originally had.

So for just 15 mins more work then I already was doing for the evenings meal, I got 2 additional nights worth of meals! Can you spare 15 mins extra one night a week? If so you can add 104 extra meals into your year of meals!

So GLAD!

I am a huge fan of planning my meals and making meals ahead of time to save not only time but money! If you can buy in bulk and get the meals made for a lot less and just freeze them, why wouldn't you? So the issue most people run into is how do I freeze my meals in a safe way, and keep them organized in my freezer? My solution...Glad Ovenware! It is by far my favorite Freezer Meal Planning item!

These oven safe 8x8 and 9x13 pans are perfect for meal planning and freezer meals! They are safe in both the freezer and the oven, they wash up nicely, and they stack wonderfully! So simply make your meals in the ovenware, let cool to room temperature, and then label and place in the freezer! Your set and ready to go! I simply place a piece of clear tape on top and write what I have inside so that I can easily remove the label and reuse the ovenware!

So where do you find these awesome jems? Well so far the only store that I have found them in is the Hy-Vee's in Sioux Falls, SD. BUT they are making there way into more and more stores! They are usually located right by the foil, sandwich bags, and other reusable bowls. If you don't have a store near you though, you can easily order them online via Amazon and directly through the GLAD website. I was able to get mine for $2.99 for 2 9x13s or $2.99 for 3 8x8s! Since they are reusable that is a great deal!

Best part is they are good for more then just making dinners! I use them for making bars and then freeze them. This way I can have bars on hand, and off the counter where I would munch on them every time I enter my kitchen!

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

5lbs is not always 5lbs!

We all know we should eat our fruits and vegetables, but they can easily turn into a budget buster. Especially because it is incredibly rare to find coupons for fresh produce. So how do you save your pennies when this is such an important staple? Here are a few tricks I love to use to save all the pennies I can:

Weigh your options:
 As you look through your produce department, chances are you will find individual items and bulk bagged items. As I said before I like to break things down based on per ounce costs to find out which is the better deal...usually buying individual is the better deal with produce because it can spoil quickly and if it isn't used, you just lost that cost. BUT there are instances when you should buy the bulk bag. Such as with items like potatoes, onions, and apples. Reason being is they last longer then your regular produce, they can be put in multiple items and freeze up in things well. Example: use the potatoes in your freezer meals or the apples in a pie to freeze or make up apple sauce.

PLUS when you can get the bulk bag at a great price, it will break down to cheaper per pound costs then the individual. Now here is the big tip...WEIGH THE BAGS!! Yes it is labeled as a 5lb or 3lb bag...but I promise that is not the exact amount in the bag! Usually you will find that you can get as much as .25 to .75 lbs more then what the bag is labeled as. THAT IS FREE PRODUCE! Take advantage of this and weigh several bags before selecting your bag! And to be honest, I do this will all produce that is packaged and sold as a unit. If I am going to spend I want the best price!

Local is better:
 When possible get your produce at your local Farmers Markets! Trust me, you will get better prices and better tasting produce! Do your research first though...find out what is in season so you get it at the best price! Also bring cash...most do not take credit cards or checks so cash is the way to go! I also like to bring my own bags so I am not wasting plastic bags at each vendor.

 When shopping at Farmers Markets, pay attention to what you can get for bundled prices. Some vendors will lump items together so you can get a better deal. Also walk the vendors first before just jumping on the first table. Chances are there is another vendor with the same product at a better price! Lastly...get there early! The early bird really does get the worm when in comes to Farmers Markets! The best deals and produce will be snatched up early so get in on it by shopping early!

Need to find a Farmers Market near you? Check out http://www.localharvest.org/ to find one close to you!

Store Correctly:
 Not all veggies and fruit should be stored in the same way. Some need to be refrigerated, some should set out on the counter, and some should be in a cool dark place like a pantry. Know where everything goes so you get the best bang for your buck out of your produce purchases! Plus learn tricks that will keep items fresher longer.

One trick I have learned is to freeze certain fruits that I know we don't eat as quickly. I use a parchment lined sheet pan to freeze fruit by placing various berries, sliced and peeled kiwi, and sliced and peeled bananas on it and in the freezer. Make sure to do them in a single layer so they freeze evenly. Once frozen place in a large freezer bag and keep in the freezer. Perfect for smoothies, on top of yogurt, and even in cereal! The kids love the unexpected frozen pop while eating in the morning!

Prep right away:
 When I purchase my produce I like to cut up items right away that I may not use if it wasn't already prepped. I do this with veggies such as peppers, onions, mushrooms, broccoli, and zucchini. I store them in easily stacked containers so they are ready for easy lunches and to be added to my meals for the week. This again will save you time, plus you will find if it is cut up and ready to go, you will use them more often! This is awesome for wraps at lunch, or salads!

Now you have no excuse to not get your daily veggies and fruits in!

When do you Grocery Shop?

There really is no right or wrong answer to this question, unless you say whenever I need something! Studies show that even if we go into the store with the mindset that we just need the 1 gallon of milk, we on average will walk out with 5 or more items totaling more then $20. So your 1 gallon of milk just cost your budget $17 that you didn't intend. If you break that down to one extra trip a week across one year, you just spent $884 a year more then what you had intended. Think of what you could do with $880 across a year. That could be your car insurance for a year! So how do you cut that out? Here are some shopping trip tips that I have been using and stick to!

Set a Date!
 I set a date to do my shopping each week. I really like Sunday or Monday, but that doesn't have to be your day. If Friday works best for you, then set that as your day. Then stick with it! If you shop according to your date and your menu plan you will find that you won't need those extra trips because you have purchased based on your weekly needs. I like to even schedule it as a set time...I know its not necessary to do this, but I find that if I have it down as a 'date' then I feel more motivated to get to it and get it done. Plus have you ever tried shopping at stores at various times during the day. There are times that the store is packed and times that it practically empty....I prefer the empty times! By sticking with my dates, then I ensure that I hit those times and don't feel rushed to get out of any aisle or through the checkout so I can make sure I am getting the best deal!


Plan Ahead!
 By planning ahead and making a list based on your menu and your coupons, you will spend less! This is why I tend to shop on Sunday's and Monday's because I have just gotten my paper with the ads and coupons. This way I know I am getting the best deals possible. Also by having a list, you don't need to stress over 'do I have that or not in the pantry'...because when we do, we tend to err on the side of getting the item just in case. Thus adding items to our cart that are unnecessary and busting our budgets.

So what should be on your list? I include on my list the grocery items that I need based on my menu and my coupons. I try to organize my list based on the order of the store...this way I am not running back and forth trying to get everything. This is a good reason to have a notebook with your coupon binder...write down the aisle headers so that you can know your store in and out! Once I put the items on the list, I also write down the cost in the ad and if I have the coupon. Mine show C for coupon, SC for Stacked Coupons, C+G for Coupon with Giftcard (Target always have certain items that if you purchase X amount of the items you get a giftcard). I also include at the bottom of my list the meals I am making for the week.

Once you have your list, stick to it as best you can! By sticking to your list you are able to not only save money, but also time. You won't be wandering up and down aisles trying to decide what you need, or what you want for dinner this week. Now with saying that, there are a few times to stray...but only if its a budget saver not a budget blower. Example: You are planning on having lasagna this week for dinner, your list includes 1lb of hamburger which is $3.98 a lb. When going to pick up that hamburger you find that 1lb of ground turkey is on sale for $2.98. Since this is a great swap...stray! You just saved your budget $1 but stuck to the meal plan and list!

Pay Attention!
 Here are some things that I always try to pay attention to when making my list and filling my pantry. First pay attention to how fast you are going through staple items such as milk, eggs, bread, and so on. This way you will know that 3 gallons of milk will be enough for 1 week, or 1 dozen eggs will last a week. By knowing what your family needs you can always be stocked and save extra trips to the store.

 Also pay attention to the sales at the store. I like to make note of when high priced items go on sale...like meat, cheese, and cereal. These are items that we can always use but add up quickly! By watching when they are on sale and not, I can find the pattern the store has so I can plan accordingly!

 Lastly, pay attention when you are at the store. This is why I like to go when the store is least busy so I can take the time to find out the unit costs and compare, without worrying that I am always in someones way. I like to check how much the price is per ounce or unit...this way I can ensure I get the best deal.

Set a Budget!
 My last tip is to set a budget, for your week, month, and year. Start small, set a goal for your weekly groceries, and go from there. For us, I set my goal to spend $55 or less per week on groceries. Everything left over from the $55 goes into a jar in our room for a trip we are saving for. By knowing that I only have $55 to spend I make sure to keep track of what goes in my cart...plus by knowing all the extra left over goes towards my trip encourages me to stick to the budget and list that much more!

I hope you take these tips and start using them in your weekly grocery routine! You will find that they add up to some pretty awesome savings!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

DIY Weekly Menu Board

I am all about saving where I can, so when I wanted to add a weekly menu board to my kitchen I made it myself! Sure I could have easily went to the store and bought one that would work just as well, but I figured why not save that money, make it myself and have it be exactly what I wanted!!

To make my board I decided what style I was looking for and an approximate size. Then the search was on to find something that I could upcycle into the perfect menu board. I tried to think outside of the box and figure out what would work best. Then after adding a pin to Pinterest about putting chalk board paint on the inside of your cabinet doors to organize your cabinets, it just hit me! Use a full cabinet door for the board! Since my hubby works at Menards I figured I would go check out their bargin areas for a returned or damaged doors, but unfortunately there were none available at that time. So off I went...to the goodwill, rummages, and finally IKEA's As-Is section! There in all its glory was this large cabinet door...the front was in perfect shape, but the whole cut on the back for the hardware to mount it had cracked. Well obviously it was not suitable for hanging on a cabinet base any longer, but it will do perfectly for what I needed...BONUS it was only $9.75! Thats right, $9.75 for a solidwood cabinet door that was in great condition without any touch ups!

Now that I had the door I simply got the few extras that I needed to create my board. The best part, most of the items we already had around the house! Here is what I used:

Cabinet Door
Chalkboard Paint
Paint Roller
Sandpaper
Painters Tape
Picture Hanger Clips

To get the best finish when repainting or finishing a project always make sure to sand the area that you want to finish. This will ensure your paint will adhere correctly and smoothly! For my board I wanted just the inner panel of the door to be chalkboard paint to the remainder would frame it out and look nicely finished.

1. I taped off the area that I wanted to paint. Make sure to use a high quality painters tape...this ensures a tight seal and no leaks!


2. Sand the desired area to rough up the surface. It doesn't take much time, and it doesn't need to be sanded down to the the wood...just enough to remove the top poly coat.

3. Paint on your chalkboard paint. I did several coats and made sure to smooth over each coat before letting it dry. This ensured a smooth writing surface for my completed board.

4. After fully dried remove the painters tape and add the Photo Hanger Clips on the back. Since my board is a solid wood cabinet door, I used 2 clips to help distribute the weight!


Tada, my board was complete! This can be used for so many things beyond just a menu board so feel free to jazz it up to fit what you need!


Hope you start watching the As-Is sections and rummages and upcycle your own boards and start organizing our life in a pretty fashion!



Monthly Menu Planning

What's for Dinner? How many times a day do you hear that or think that exact question? Well with a monthly menu there is no questions or worries about whats for dinner! Not only will Monthly Menu Planning save you a lot of time, but it will also allow you to save money each week by setting up a well planned list and cut out extra trips to the grocery store!

So what do you need for a successful Monthly Menu Plan? It's really a lot more simple then you might think! Here are some things that I recommend having for the ultimate meal planner:

A Three Ring Binder
Monthly Calendar Printout
Recipe Cards & Box
Notebook

Unfortuntately Blogspot will not let me upload a Word Doc to show you my calendar but here is a picture of it and I will give you step by steps on how to make it:
To make this simply open a word doc, change the layout to Landscape. I then clicked insert, table, and first did a 1x7 for the dates so I could have that thinner. Then went back in and did a 5x7 table for the week days. I made sure they were fairly large so I could write out the meals in them easily. Underneath the table I simply did an ingredient list. I elected to do 5 lists since I had 5 weeks...this way I could group my ingredents per week based on what I already had in the kitchen and pantry.

Now here is the point that you will need to decide how far into the menu planning you want to get, either one week at a time or the full month at a time. Its totally up to you and how far out you like to plan, but for me I think its easier to just tackle the full month so I am all set with no worries. Keep in mind though I do mine in pencil so I can adjust as I go if necessary depending on sales or mood changes.
Here are the steps I go through to get mine going:

1. Go through the calendar and mark off dates that you won't be home for dinner...no sense planning for a day that doesn't need planning! In ours we knew we were going to be out of town the weekend of Mothers Day and Memorial Day so those I put an X through them
 
 
2. Once I have my dates figured out, I like to put Leftovers as the meal plan the night before we will be out of town. This way I am not making a meal that will be wasted if we don't eat it all, plus its a great way to save you time on a packing night, and clean out the fridge before being out of town. Along with doing leftovers before going out of town I also like to do them once a week, even if we will be home. I usually pick a night that we tend to be busy due to what ever our schedule has planned.
 
 
3. Now its time to start plugging in meals! Remember I suggested having recipe cards...well this is where my meals come from. I try to make it as easy as possible so what I did was get a recipe box in the $1 section at Target...they always have them in various colors and they come clear plastic dividers in them. I also get lined recipe cards to use in them so its all organized. Then its time to start putting down your recipes! Now this sounds harder then it really is...you don't need to hunt down long lost recipes or find a ton of new recipes. I literally write down all the things the family loves to eat, even if I don't need a 'recipe' for it persay. Example, this week we had Pigs In A Blanket...I obviously do not need a recipe for it, BUT I write down all the ingredents that I need for it. This way I don't miss anything when I am going to the grocery store. Plus I find that if I don't write them down and have them available to pull out I forget to add them into our rotation. **I will do a post on recipe cards and how to organize them later.** Finally I select a side to go with each meal. Usually just rotate out veggies that we like. Again I have recipe cards for various sides so I have the ingredent list needed if any!
As I go through the week/month I try to pull from different food groups so we don't end up having 3 italian dishes in one week. I also try to lump meals together by what types of protiens are in them, this way I can save money by purchasing meats in bulk. I don't necessarily like to have chicken two nights in a row, but will have it several times in one week in various ways. Check out my Saving with Whole Chickens Post to see how easy this is.

4. Lastly...Go through the ingredents. All you need to do is go through what you have on hand and what the recipes call for. Simple as that! I section off my grocery needs at the bottom of my mothly menu so each week I know what I need for the specific recipes that I have listed. Then all I have to do is add those items to my weekly list when I go shopping. This way, one trip to the grocery store and I am set! You will save time, gas money, and added 'extra' purchases at the grocery store!

**To help save even more, try variations on your recipes that include protiens that you have on hand from previous meals that week. So if you have grilled chicken breast on Monday, then on Wednesday when you have tacos, repurpose your grilled chicken into chicken tacos! Or if you have Spaghetti one night, brown up extra hamburger and set it aside for enchiladas the next night!**

After I have my meal plan for the month, then each week I post it up so everyone knows what we are having. This way if I am busy my husband knows exactly what to make for dinner! You can do this by actually hanging up your calendar or have a weekly meal board. I made one out of a cabinet door I got in the AS-IS section at IKEA. **Post to follow with how to make!!**


So now you know how to get your Monthly Menu Planner Started...but my guess is you would love to have some meal ideas to start off your planner!! Well here are some that are on my calendar now:
Meal Ideas:
Chicken:
Chicken Fajitas
Tacos/Nachos
Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Chicken Kabobs
Grilled Chicken
Enchilada Lasagna

Hamburger:
Spaghetti
Grilled Burgers
Lasagna (can be chicken)
Chilli

Pork:
Grilled Brats
San Fran Pork Chops

Family Favorits:
Breakfast for Dinner (will switch out between pancakes, french toast sticks)
Pigs in a Blanket
English Muffin Pizza
Wraps (usually leftovers for fillings!)
Grilled Ham/Turkey Cheese Sandwiches
Homemade Pizzas (BBQ, Asian, Buffalo, ect)
Homemade Mac'N'Cheese (usually have chicken with this)

Now you have the basics to get your planner rolling! I hope that this gets you motivated to get your dinners under control! Once you have your dinner plan down, try branching out and planning your lunches too! Whether you are a SAHM or a working mom, you will find that this will help you out a lot! Lunch is much easier to plan out, but you will find that just being able to take that task out of your daily routine will save you lots of time! 

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Score Savings with Email

We all have our favorite products that we just can't live without or take substitutions on...but how do we get the best savings on those specific products? Let the company know you are a fan of their specific products!

There are many ways to do this now in the age of Social Media, but the most common is still by signing up on the companies website. All the sites will request your email address and occassionally additional information but then reward you with extra savings only available to those signed up on their site. Some of my favorite sites to sign up are www.SilkPureAlmond.com and www.Kellogs.com because these are two lines of products we always use, but don't always have coupons in the Sunday Paper.

Sound great? Well it really can be...but be warned that when you sign up for these sites you will get not only coupons but also notifications of new products, information about their products, recipes, and so on. So before you quick rush to all these sites and sign up, I highly recommend that take a special step first...get a special email address just for savings! I created an email address that I use just for signing up for things so my real email address doesn't get overwhelmed. I made it fun since its just for savings and went with apennyhereorthere@yahoo.com just because it made me giggle!

Once you are signed up, the savings will start! Now don't think that you are going to get emails everyday with the exact coupons you want, but trust me its a great way to get ones that are rarely in the Sunday Paper on a more regular basis!

Along with email, make sure to check out if the manufacturer has a Facebook site...many times they will run promotions on their site that are only available to those that follow them! Beyond just the manufacturer, become a fan of the places you like to shop too! I am a South Dakota girl through and through so my favorite place to get groceries is Hy-Vee. I went on Facebook and found out that each Hy-Vee in Sioux Falls has their own page, by 'liking' each page I get special Facebook only deals that they are running! Just the other day they had 12 packs of Ortega Hardshell Taco's for only $0.50...thats a $1.29 saving per box! All you had to do was tell the cashier you had the Facebook Deal! How awesome is that!

Best part about all of these deals? Its free to sign up, and is just pennies to print the coupons! So get started saving now! You will be amazed how much you can save!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Splurge to Save?!?

One of my favorite business based sayings is "Don't put the penny before the dollar", which essentially means sometimes you have to spend a little to make a lot. Well in this case sometimes you have to spend a little to save a lot! So you have to ask yourself, when is it better to splurg to save in the long run? Everyone knows their finances best, so its always best to keep that in mind when making purchases, but here are some splurges that I think are really worth your bang for your budget buck:

Stand-up Deep Freeze: Depending on the size you get, these freezers can run from $250-$1000+, but can offer monthly and yearly savings that total more then the upfront cost. When looking for a freezer it is important to shop around and find your best deal. Remember that some stores will match and beat competitors prices so if you bring in the ad in you can get yourself an even better deal. Also watch for extra specials that stores are running. Currently Menards (yes a plug for my husbands employer!) has their 11% rebate sale. So on top of getting the item on sale, you also will get a rebate check that you can use for additional products.

When shopping for a Freezer, make sure to keep your families needs in mind so you get what you need out of it. I recommend getting at least a 14.1 cubic foot model so you have several shelves, along with door storage. This will assist in making your organization a breeze, and your savings add up. You will be surprised how much you can save when you can buy certain items in bulk and freeze them. (More to come on Freezer Meals and their savings!)

Club Memberships: Whether its Sam's, Costco, or any other big box warehouse in your community, look into the memberships that are available to you. Also look for savings on top of these memberships, many of them will offer gift cards when you sign up, so will offer additional savings, and so on. I personally like having a membership at these locations because you can get some amazing savings...BUT you can also really blow a budget quickly at these locations. These stores are a 'stick to your list' type location. Also like I mentioned in my Couponing Do's and Don'ts post make sure to pay attention to the per unit cost when shopping at these locations. Some items look like a good deal but really its not as much of a savings as you would think. Some of my favorite buys at Sam's:
Skippy Naturals Peanut Butter, 2 40oz containers $8.88...$4.44 unit price
*if you buy at Target 1 40oz container is over $6

Kraft Mac'N'Cheese 12 pack $10.12...$0.84 unit price
*if you buy at Target $1+ unit price

Tysons Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast. 6lbs $13.83...$2.30 per lb
*If you buy at Target $4.99+ for 2lb bag...$2.50 per lbs

Buying the Sunday Paper: The Sunday paper costs around $1.50-$1.75 depending on where you live. Usually you can sign up for a discounted rate if you get it delivered each week, check them out at your local papers website. Although you are paying for this paper each week, you will get a HUGE return on your cost. On average the Sunday paper has $160+ in savings via coupons. Yes I understand that you are most likely not going to use every coupon in these ads, but even if you use $10 worth of that $160 (which I know you will!) you have already more then quadrupled your original cost with the savings! Also I know you can get coupons online at various sites, but then you are printing them at home which costs you ink, and then still cutting them out. Plus another advantage of getting the paper is you also get the store ads in hand to compare prices, sales, and discounts. This is very handy when making you list for the week, or saving a trip from store to store when you can simply ad match at one store! In my eyes...this splurge is worth the savings!

Couponing Do's and Don'ts

Couponing can save you hundreds each year in grocery, health and beauty items, cleaning products, and much more. BUT if you don't coupon right, it actually can cost you more in the long run. So how do you make couponing work for you? Here are some do's and don'ts that I feel really help you keep your couponing more focused and less likely to hurt your budget!

DO: Keep your coupons organized. Set time aside every Sunday (or what day works best for you) and go through your coupons. I know we are all busy, but really if you set time aside and keep it up, it maybe will take 20 mins at the most each week.

DON'T: Clip every coupon you see just to have it. I go through the ads and clip just what my family needs. We don't have any pets, so obviously I am not going to clip coupons for pet food! Thats a pretty obvious example, but really think about the items that you are clipping. Yes there might be a coupon for M&Ms, but do you really need them? Or there might be a coupon for chips, but is it something that your family needs and really eat? This is where some people blow their budgets because they think just because there is a coupon they need to clip it.

DO: Match your coupons with specials. Just because you got the coupons today in the Sunday paper, that does not mean you need to use them today. First look at your meal plan for the week(don't have one, you need one!) and see what fits with your meal plan. If it doesn't apply to something you need immediately, then hold on to it. I find that most coupons have their best bang for their buck a week or two after they have been issued. You want your coupon to stack on top of a manufacture/store sale...thats when you really start to save!

DON'T: Buy just to buy. Just because you have a coupon, does not mean you need to buy it. This again is a budget buster...if you have no need for it, its not on sale plus the coupon, and its not something that your family really enjoys, then just stay away. Yes, you may have a coupon for it, but just buying because of the coupon is a waste!

DO: Stack your coupons! Watch your coupons and use them wisely. Most of the time you can use the coupon when the store has the item on sale, plus if you watch the retailers website you can also stack the manufactures coupon with the store coupon! This is my favorite because you can get a huge savings this way. Some of my best scores are from Target with their coupons and the manufacturers coupon. Example: Activia on sale 2 for $4, manufacture coupon $1 off the purchase of one, Target coupon $1 off the purchase of 2. Buy 2 of them and use both coupons and you get 2 4pks of yogurt for just $1 each. Thats $0.25 a container...most yogurt is $0.67 a container!


How do you know its a Manufacture Coupon vs Store Coupon:
~Manufacture will say the manufactures name on it
~Store coupons will have store logo and say valid only at the specific store

When looking online at Target.com for their coupons you can't see the coupons ahead of time so to help you print the right ones here is the giveaway:
~Manufactures will only say the products name and the amount
~Target coupons will say "With Purchase of" or "When you Purchase"

**Bonus tip...go to the Target Gift Registery Kiosks and access the Target site and you can print your coupons there to save on your ink!!

DO: Use your coupons with clearance items! Thats right, just because its on clearance doesn't make it off limits to use coupons! This works great with body care items and specialty packs of cereals. Example: Target had Gillette Mens Body wash with Free travel deoderant on clearance for $2.28, Regularly $3.99. Manufacture coupon $1 off with the purchase of 1, Target coupon $1 off with the purchase of 2. Final cost was just $2.56! Originally these items would cost $9.96 so that is a $7.40 savings on items that don't expire and are perfect for stock piling!

DON'T: Over stock pile. Yes you want to take advantage of great deals, but there is a difference between stocking a pantry and going extreme! Trust me when I say you do not need 40 bottles of shampoo, 40 bottles of body wash, and 80 gallons of speghetti sauce! But if you know your family really likes a product then get a reasonable amount when you can get a great deal! My family goes through a lot of cereal, so I always watch the prices on cereal and when I can get a great deal I take advantage of it. BUT again this leads back to a previous Don't...don't just buy cereal to buy it. Make sure you are stocking up on the types that actually will get used. For us, I really like Raisin Bran, but no one else does so I don't buy as much because there is just no way I can eat 8 boxes by myself. Also think logically based on expiration dates. Yes you might get yogurt for $0.25 a container but if you have to throw half of the containers away you actually paid $0.50 a container then.

DO: Read your coupons fully before hitting the stores. Make sure you fully read what your coupon is requesting you buy before using them. Some request that you Buy 1 for $X.XX off, some Buy 2 for $X.XX off, some are Buy one and Get one, Some are Buy of This and Get one of That. There are several different things you will see on the coupon so make sure you are reading right so you get a great deal. Example of a bad deal: Buy one Secret Clinical Deoderant get $1.00 off 1 Olay Body Wash product. The Secret Clincal was on sale but the Olay Body Wash was not...because of this the sale really wasn't a great bang for my buck. Also make sure to verify size/quanity of the product to make sure you get the right product.

DON'T: Always buy the biggest package. I highly recommend actually breaking down your sales based on size. We all have calculators on our phones, so we need to use them to get our best savings. I always will make sure that I am paying the least per unit price by taking the cost divided by the units in the packaging. Yes it may be the same product, but you might just be surprised as how much you can save by looking at how many ounces per cost you are getting. This stands true with most items. Example: Charmin Toliet Paper 12 pack is $9.99 and an 8 pack is $6.59 plus you have a $1.00 off coupon. The 12 pack is costing you $0.75 a roll where the 8 pack is costing you $0.70 a roll. Now I understand that is only a $0.05 savings per roll, but when you think about how many rolls of toliet paper your family goes through it adds up. Lets say you go through 1 roll every 2 days, by going with the 8 pack you will save $9.15 a year. Thats just one item out of the hundreds we use across a year! It adds up!

DO: Share the wealth. If you know a friend that just had a baby, but you no longer have a diaper wearer in your home...clip the coupons and drop them in a letter for them. They will love it. Plus if you hit a jackpot with an amazing steal...stock pile and donate to your local food banks and charities. If you have a coupon but know that you just won't need additional items before it expires, leave it on the shelf with the item because someone else might need it more then you(do this with coupons clipped from the paper and not printed though so people can't abuse your printed coupons)! Lastly, when your coupons do expire, donate them to Military Families because they can use them past expiration dates on the bases. For more information on this check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ExpiredCouponsforOverseasMilitary

I hope that these Do's and Don'ts help you kickstart your couponing! Just make sure that you keep your family and budget in mind and you will see a big return on your time!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Saving with Whole Chickens

We all want to speed up the time we spend in the kitchen, and sometimes that means we cut corners by buying premade meals and boxed meals. Although this can speed up your time in the kitchen, it usually means not that great flavors, added preservatives, and sometimes even more work then a good home cooked meal! So how do you have the best of both worlds? Whole Roasted Chickens! Now I am not saying that this is going to be as quick as a box of Mac'n'Cheese the first time you do this, but trust me it gets to be a quick and easy process that will promise to help make your cooking faster all week long! Plus added bonus, this is a very cost effective fix for quick meals!

I will buy whole roasting chickens whenever they go on sale...this way I usually pay $0.69-$0.89 a pound compared to $2.50+ per pound of boneless skinless chicken breast. I simply toss the chickens in the freezer until I need to restock my chicken stockpile. When it is time to restock I take the whole chickens (I like to do 2 chickens at a time to save future time!) and place them in a sink full of cold water. I usually can defrost them fully in about 3 hours that way. You can take them out the day before and place them in the fridge to defrost also.



Once defrosted, I place in my roasting pan on a bed of carrots, onions, celery, pepper, or whatever left over veggies I have left over at the end of the week. You do not need the veggies though, I simply like to do this on Sundays so I usually have veggies that need to be used up and figure why not add them in! I also put salt, pepper, and our favorite grill seasoning on the chickens (Chef Mates, found at HyVee). I sprinkle them inside the cavity of the chicken and on top of the chicken. Then I put the lid on (or foil) and place in the oven for roasting. Depending on the size and your days plans you can roast them low and slow or as high as 350 for 45 mins or so. There are usually tips right on the packaging for best cooking times and temps.

After the chickens have finished cooking I remove them from the oven and let cool to room temperature before taking on the breaking down task. This is usually when I go shopping for the next weeks worth of groceries...got use every minute productively! Once they are cooled its time to dive in and break them down. I find my hands work the best...simply pull the skin back and start pulling the meat out.


After you have all the meat pulled off you can toss the bones or use them for stock...that recipe will be posted later! I like to shred the chicken, but you can also cut it into cubes. I break it down and usually can get 3 different uses out of one chicken. Depending on how my freezer looks, I will either start making meals right away with it or I will package it up into containers and freeze the meat on its own. It's always nice to have chicken on hand for last minute meals, quick made potluck/party meals, and for sandwiches/wraps.


Here are some uses that our family loves:
Freezer Meals:
Chicken Enchilada Lasgna
Chicken Spaghetti
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Various Chicken Burritos
Chicken Noodle Soup

Potluck/Party Meals:
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Chicken Tacos
BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Sandwiches/Wraps:
Ceaser Chicken Salad
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Ranch Chicken Sandwiches

Crescent Braids:
Chicken Ranch BLT
Chicken Enchilada
Chicken Pot Pie

Don't worry, I will be adding all of these recipes as I keep the posts coming!

Couponing: Where to Start

Couponing is all the rage right now, but this is one fad you don't want to pass on! Now is the time to jump on this budget saving bandwagon...but where do you start? Here are some beginner tips that will get you rolling. Once you have these down, we will really get into the meat of couponing! Please be warned though, I am a couponer...not an Extreme Couponer! I am not here to get you stockpiled into 2025, just comfortably stocked and saving money!

First thing is first...you need to get coupons! My first source is my Sunday paper, which usually has all the same coupons you can find online. I like to save where I can, so I only sign up for the Sunday paper and not the whole weeks worth. Also when I signed up, I did it at a local retailer that had a newspaper representative visiting. Since I signed up through this retailer vs just online with my local paper, I was able to get all of the Sunday papers for just $26 for one year...thats a savings of $1.25 per Sunday paper. PLUS since I signed up at the retailer, I got a giftcard for $25 to that retailer. So in turn I got all the papers for just a $1! Places that I have seen these retailers are Lewis, HyVee, Menards, and Sunshine.

Now that you have the paper being sent to you, your stockpile of coupons can begin. Along with the paper I receive at my home, I also let friends and family know that I am couponing so if they don't want their coupons that I will pick them up from them! You would be surprised by how many people don't use their coupons! Also along with letting people know, I will increase my stockpile by purchasing an additional paper or two if there are more then $200 in savings in that weeks paper. Most Sunday papers will have the total savings in the top corner on the front page!

This next step is the most important when you are couponing...storing and sorting your coupons! Your coupons are no good to you if you don't have them organized for easy use! There are many coupon holders out there that you can buy, but to be honest my favorite is a plain old binder with clear pocketed sleeves. I recommend checking out your local rummage sales because I would put money down that you can find either of these items for super cheap at a rummage. If you aren't into rummaging, or are starting during the winter as I did, you can easily go to Wal-Mart and get a cheap binder. For the pages I recommend using baseball card sleeves...they come in different sizes so I recommend getting a varity because coupons come in different sizes!


Once you have your coupons cut out, organize them in your binder based on catagories. I have mine broken down by how I shop and what I group on my shopping list. So I put all meats on a page, cereals are grouped followed by fruit bars and juices, and sauces by the pasta coupons. I also keep my groceries seperate from my health care and cleaning coupons. Now this binder is your couponing lifeline...keep it with you at all times! I keep mine in my car until Sunday when I update my coupons. This way anytime I stop at a store it is right there and ready to go...no excuses!

On Sundays I first go through the paper and cut out all coupons that fit our needs. Then as I stock my binder I pull out any expired coupons. This way everything is updated every Sunday all at once!