It’s that time again. I need to go over our frugal finds for the week.
My daughter is in college to be an early elementary teacher. I found a great deal in the library book sale room. I found a dvd set of 100 scholastic storybook classics for $5.00. I found several on sale online that sell for between $40 and $60. I am hoping to help her build up her classroom with finds like these.
Speaking of the book sale room, I found two, brand new bestseller hardcovers for .50 each. I bought them for a Christmas gift for next year. I am pretty sure that neither book was ever cracked open and I have someone on my list that loves the genre of book I purchased. If your library has a book sale room, visit it often. A lot of really good stuff is donated to those sales.
Eric found a gorgeous glass bird feeder at Goodwill for $8. It came with the artist information and has proved to be a good buy.
I got a haircut with a $25 off coupon. Haircut came to $23 with tip.
By shopping at Aldi, our grocery bill was $73 for a week’s worth of food for 4 people. I am able to do this by avoiding meat (for the most part), writing up a meal plan and sticking to it and avoiding processed foods (again, for the most part).
Tonight was chicken enchiladas. The original plan was bean burritos, on Tuesday. But, things change and so do cravings. Burritos did not happen on Tuesday, I went to the store today and bought a chicken that I boiled and it gave me enough meat for three meals. Also, that awesome pot holder was given to me by my daughter for Christmas.
Chicken Enchiladas
2 cups of cooked chicken
1 cup sour cream
1 can green chilies
6 whole wheat tortillas
Topping
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup salsa
1/4 cup cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix chicken, sour cream and chilies in a bowl. Fill 6 tortillas and bake for 20 minutes. Mix sour cream and salsa. Top the enchiladas with topping and cheese, bake additional 5 minutes. I served this with a southwestern salad.
I made a really good risotto tonight and used barley instead of arborio rice.
Mushroom Barley Risotto
1.5 cups uncooked barley
3 cups water
1 tbsp butter
1 chopped onion
1 cup water
1 tbsp chicken stock base (I use Penzey’s)
2 tsp majoram
1 pound button mushrooms
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp dried parsley
parmesan cheese (I like a lot of parm)
salt and pepper to taste
Boil water and cook barley. Saute onion in butter for 5 minutes, add mushrooms and saute for 5 minutes. Add cooked barley, add water and chicken broth, garlic powder and herbs. Cook until water evaporates. Add parmesan to taste and serve. Delicious!
Below is a list of books that I read in the month of February. I am well on my way to achieving my goal of reading 110 book in 2020.
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger – In a word, fantastic. This author has proven over and over again to be a master story teller. His books are always thoughtfully told with characters that the reader is meant to genuinely like. His last book Ordinary Grace is another that I would highly recommend. My mom gave me this book for Christmas because she did not want me to have to wait too long on the library hold list. Five stars for this book, without hesitation.
Girls Like Us by Sheila Weller – I read this one for my bookclub. It is a biography about Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Carly Simon. It really gets into their role in the feminist movement, while telling their individual stories. I liked it, but there was about 150 pages in it that could have been edited out. I would give 4 stars.
Mr. Nobody by Catherine Steadman – I had high hopes for this one. After reading her 2018 novel Something In The Water which was a nail biting, brilliant story, I was so excited to see she had something new. Meh. What a disappointment. She had such a great idea with this one, but it was rushed and the ending was really unsatisfying. Two stars, which really broke my heart. I know this author is capable of great novels.
Dracula by Bram Stoker – Everyone knows this story. It was ok at best. I am glad I read it, as it has been on my to read list for years. Three stars just because it’s a classic and his withstood the test of time.
Fierce Attachments by Vivian Gornick – This book was on my 1000 Books To Read calendar, so I ordered it from my library. I had never heard of it before seeing it on that calendar. Mothers and daughters can be so complicated, this book proves that over and over again. This is Vivian’s story about her relationship with her mother. It made me happy that I have the mother that I have, because her’s was a piece of work. Four stars because anyone who came out of that childhood a productive citizen deserves a well reviewed book.
The Winter Sister by Megan Collins – This was another good mystery. It tells the story of Sylvie and her mother, 16 years after her sister’s murder. I had no idea who did it until about two pages before the reveal. This is another one with a pretty terrible mother, who the reader has very little sympathy for. Four stars for this one
The Grammarians by Cathleen Schine – Imagine the most annoying grammar police, times ten on Facebook and you have twins Laurel and Daphne. Their world is grammar and words, making them pretty insufferable to be around. This books tells their story up to the rift that causes them never to speak to each other again. This was an okay book, not great but certainly not terrible. Three stars.
I did not read nearly as many books in February as I normally do because Girls Like Us was so long, well over 500 pages with small print. March should be a better reading month for me, I have a lot on my list. What is on your list for books this year? I need recommendations.
Below is an update on my 2020 goals. I am actually making progress!
I was recently diagnosed with VERY high blood pressure. Until November, it was always normal. Out of nowhere, it has gone up a lot. I am now under the care of a cardiologist who has put me on medication and he is starting a round of tests to try figure this out. So, my number one goal is to get my pressure back to normal. Several of my goals have been set to help bring it down with the help of medication.
I continue to be in the normal range since early February.
Lose 20 pounds. Truth be told, I could stand to lose more than 20. But, small goals are best and 20 seems like a good start. When I hit that, I will add 10 more to lose.
This needs work
Continue to get 10,000 steps a day in. This has never been a problem for me. But now, more than ever, I need to keep this habit in my daily routine.
I was doing such a good job at this one. In my defense, we had some really cold and snowy days. Honestly, I am probably exceeding this with my treadmill use, but I don’t count my steps on the treadmill.
Go to the gym 3 days per week. I need my daughter to hold me accountable with this one. She is so good about getting herself to the gym on a regular basis, I need to follow her lead.
This I am doing
I have spent a lot of time reading about the causes of high blood pressure and what I can do to bring it down. Eat more fruits and vegetables. I eat a lot as it is, but it’s time to add more, especially potassium rich produce.
This is another goal that continues to be a success.
I downloaded the Simple Habit app to encourage meditation on a daily basis. I keep hearing that meditation helps calm the mind. I do meditate, but not daily. Time to start trying to meditate at least 2 or 3 days per week.
Yeah me! I am doing this as well
Get back into the yoga habit. Several years ago I went to yoga 3-4 days per week. I was in great shape, but I fell out of the habit as my kids got older. Since they are now adults, I probably shouldn’t continue to use them as an excuse for not going.
3-4 days a week hasn’t happened, but I am doing yoga again.
Cut down on the alcohol. I really don’t drink very much. I have wine with dinner some nights and enjoy a cocktail when in a restaurant. But, until I get my blood pressure under control, I need to eliminate alcohol.
I drink wine on weekends only.
Now on to other goals. Pay off the house. We had every intention of paying it off December 31. A couple of unexpected expenses put that on hold.
Read 110 books in 2020. I sign up for the reading challenge every year on Goodreads. I don’t think I have ever missed my goal.
21 books read so far
Read 3 classic books this year. I am starting small because in all honesty, I don’t always enjoy the classics. But, my mom and I agreed to start with Call of the Wild in anticipation of the movie. It seems easy to add 2 more to 2020.
Call of the Wild – read
Dracula – read
More dates with my husband. In the past I told myself we would have a date night once a week. That proved to be difficult to achieve some weeks, making it easy to just forget about it. Date night once a month seems easier.
We consistently had a date night once a week in February.
We have a membership to the Milwaukee Art Museum that I plan on utilizing a lot more this year. I really do need to spend more time taking advantage of the cultural activities my city has to offer.
We didn’t visit the art museum, but we did visit the public museum.
Spend more time outdoors. It’s not always easy in the winter to be outside. But in the spring, summer and fall, I need to spend a lot less time indoors. I recently read an article that encourages 1000 hours per year which is about 2.5 hours per day.
I think I mentioned the cold, snowy weather.
Throw away 20 items per day. We have too much stuff in this house and some of it needs to go.
Pretty sure I am averaging more than 20 items per day.
More no spend days. These are so easy to accomplish and the benefit can be seen in your checking account.
This has actually been my easiest goal to achieve this year.
Spend more time with my friends. This is another one that I am pretty good about following through on. I enjoy meeting friends for lunch, dinner and potlucks. In 2019 I reconnected with several old friends that I have spent time with.
I am consistently meeting with friends at least twice per week. It has been so niche to catch up.
Finish a knitting project I started in November and start and finish another. I learned how to knit in 2019 and really enjoy it. I hope to find more time in the coming year to year improve this skill.
I am almost done.
Learn how to can! We usually have a prolific vegetable garden (2019 was a failure). My husband is the one who usually preserves the bounty. But, more job responsibilities means that I should take this one over.
Go on 2 weekend getaways with my husband. A full blown vacation is not going to happen, but a couple weekends away should be attainable.
Today I officially drank the kool aid and decided that it would be best for me to follow the advice of the many news sources out there and prepare for the off chance that my house gets hit with coronavirus. I chose to do this for a few reasons. First, my husband stocked up on two weeks worth of non perishable foods several weeks ago for this reason. He never reacts to stuff like this, ever. He is honestly the most even keeled, non reactive person I know. If he thinks that this virus is worth stocking up on canned vegetables, I better take notice. I will mention that he bought 12 cans of canned peas which I will never eat. Not ever. So those will likely be donated to a food pantry at some point. Honestly, who eats canned peas?
Reason number two I decided to stock up, H1N1 (swine flu) did actually hit my house in 2009, so I know that it is possible for a pandemic to effect my family. Two of my three kids were sick for about 10 days each, back to back. Yes that’s right, I missed close to three weeks of work at that time. I worked in retail and while I never got sick, the last place I needed to be was at a mall passing the germs on to others. My manager politely told me to stay home. Thankfully, I had sick time, so I was paid for those lost work hours. Those two kids have never been sicker than they were at for those weeks. I felt so bad for them. But, we got through it, which is why I felt it unnecessary to jump on the bandwagon. After all, we survived swine flu! But, everything I have read seems to practically scream at us that this will be far more devastating and if a family member gets it, self imposed isolation is the only choice. In 2009, those of us who were not ill did not self isolate for those weeks. My husband went to work, my youngest went to school and I ran errands as needed. Twenty days of swine flu required a lot of ginger ale. My husband has already made it very clear to me, as soon as there is a confirmed case in Milwaukee, he is isolating himself. The benefits of having a job that allows you to work from home.
The third reason I gave in, it just seemed like the adult thing to do. I rarely have OTC medication on hand. I am far too cheap to buy things like that on the off chance we will need it. But, I remembered back to 2009 and my husband driving to Walgreens at 5:00 am when it was clear our daughter had a serious case of the flu, for medication I did not have on hand. I do not want to be caught off guard this time.
So today, after work, I went to Walgreens and stocked up on the items that I have read we should have on hand. Good news, I had $10 in rewards, so I even saved money. Obviously I hope that we are not effected by coronavirus and that everything I bought will be able to go to college with my daughter in the fall or be donated to our local food pantry. But, if one of us, or all of us gets sick, we are prepared to the best of our ability. But like I said, I am never eating those peas. What are you doing to prepare?
Look at all that single use plastic, another reason why I never buy stuff like this.
We recently did a new puzzle that was missing 3 pieces. I contacted the company and they sent me a brand new puzzle. The company is Cobble Hill, customer service like that deserves a shout out.
At work we bring in items we are no longer using or don’t want, to pass on. Someone recently brought in some brand new, never opened, really nice bath products. I let them sit for a day and then took a couple for a Christmas gift. I know, re gifting is tacky. But, this is product that I would have likely purchased for this person anyway.
We checked out 3 really good DVDs from the library. For free we saw Parasite, Jo Jo Rabbit and It’s A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood. Please visit your library to save money.
We paused my daughter’s gym membership for 3 months while her doctor continues to try to get a handle on her grave’s disease. Grave’s is a battle that she is having a tough time overcoming.
I made a chicken on Sunday and made a batch of soup that fed us for two dinners and 1 lunch. I also made a chicken salad for lunch for 1 day. By doing that, one chicken provided ten meals.
On Sunday night I used the last of our Door County cherries to make a cherry crisp. The rest of the world may not know this, but Door County Wisconsin produces that best cherries around. I look forward to them every year. Honestly, nothing tastes better than warmed Door County cherries over a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I am very lucky that my family lives very close to Door County and that a trip up there every summer is not an obstacle. In fact, my dad spent his summers picking those cherries, as that side of my family has very strong roots in that area of the state. Here is my recipe for cherry crisp.
Cherry Crisp
Filling
4 cups of pitted cherries
1 cup of sugar
1/4 cup corn starch
Topping
1-1/2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
5 tablespoons butter, melted
For filling, combine cherries, sugar and cornstarch in a bowl and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Pour in an 8 x 8 baking pan. Combine all topping ingredients; sprinkle over filling.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly around edges.
We all order from Amazon. I like to think that I’m helping save on gas emissions by shopping from home and seeing what my choices are, instead of driving all over town to find just what I need. And there’s the birthday-like feel of having a package arrive at your door, just waiting to be opened…
But I have seen a few posts lately talking about not popping the air packets inside your packages, because of the Coronavirus. The theory goes, these air packets are filled with air from China, which is shipped over to us, and could be infected with unknown pathogens.
Now, I am skeptical for one big reason. It seems silly that the plastic sleeves would be filled with air before shipping. That’s a lot of space to take up on a shipping container/ship/truck/train. Perhaps the sleeves themselves are made over there, but it’s more likely that they are filled at the distribution center.
But, that’s a sidebar. My post today is about reusing that packaging that comes free to you with your Amazon order. Yes, it is satisfying to pop them, and yes, I have entertained my children by giving them bubble wrap and letting them go to town. But this is free packaging, people!!!
Couple of ideas for you:
Save one of those big Amazon boxes and throw the air pillows and bubble wrap in there whenever it arrives. It comes in handy for birthday gifts and around Christmas time.
OR, save them up in a bag and take them to your nearest UPS Store. YES, they take them for free! And YES, they reuse them when someone pays them to ship something.
Either of these options helps the environment by a) keeping the plastic out the landfill after just one use, and b) if everyone started doing this, UPS would have to order a lot less of the new packaging, which is an even better goal. Less need = less production.
So, take a look at the packaging you get next time, and take an extra minute to reuse it or bring it to someone who will!
Life In The Falls 