I returned library books to the S.E. Woodstock location, as it allowed me to actually browse a fully operational library branch. (My library branch is being completely rebuilt and has been out of commission all year.) Although the county set up a mini-branch to pick up for holds and returns, I deeply miss browsing the stacks. I'll definitely be making this my new routine.
My husband's baseball team hosted a "chili dump" potluck party and although I didn't attend, I did assemble a pot of delicious chili from ingredients I already had on hand. This included bulk purchased black beans, as well as a random can of mixed beans that I found in the pantry. There was enough to keep, plus my husband came home with some of the party chili, which now includes chunks of steak.
My husband and I walked to Fred Meyer (Kroger) this afternoon, but made sure to first scroll their digital coupons. I clicked the ones for eggs and Swiss cheese and steered us to the clearance shelves, where I picked up a $1.57 jar of Newman's Own steak seasoning. (Normally $4.49.) It's unlikely we'll use it for steak, but I'm sure I'll figure out another way to use it. Good with potato dishes.
Once again I raked up a monstrous number of leaves from our sidewalk, which filled two yard debris cans for tomorrow's pickup. My neighbor across the street let me put one in front of her house and I'll make sure to do something nice for her in return.
For those who say to leave the leaves in place, it creates a slippery and dangerous walkway for pedestrians.
I'm not working on a "100 must haves" blog post, rife with spammy affiliate links. Nothing would make me happier than for everyone to stop buying unnecessary new things, especially from Amazon. Just say no to overconsumption!
Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?
Katy Wolk-Stanley
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."
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1. I found a beautiful Pottery Barn duvet set at an estate sale for a guest room (I didn't like what was in there). I also found a tortilla warmer, a broom and a scrub brush on stick. These were all thing on my needs/wants list and I was thrilled to find them all in one place. I also purchased a set of flatware that sells well on Ebay. That will more than pay for my other purchases.
2. I blew and raked my own leaves into the weeds on my property.
3. I sold a few items on Ebay and listed several more.
4. I tried a new recipe - Mexican Quinoa Stew. It used items I had on hand and used up a jalapeno that I had no other use for. It made a ton so I guess that will be lunch or dinner over the next week. It's a lot like minestrone, but with Mexican spices and quinoa instead of pasta. It used water instead of broth which made it an especially inexpensive recipe.
5. I purchased gift cards for Texas Roadhouse. We go there often and they were offering a $10 additional gift card for every $50 purchase.
I spent a half hour online last night researching new frugal recipes and printed off a few to try. Having new recipes helps keep me interested in cooking.
I made a meal plan for the week, utilizing ingredients I have on hand.
I started a list for when I do get to the grocery story later in the week.
I made several jars of overnight oats for my breakfasts this week.
I baked two loaves of sandwich bread.
I need to get out & rake leaves as well. It's been very warm for our area (79 yesterday) & we have a lot of leaves on the lawn and into the road. While we don't have a sidewalk, it makes a mess of other yards & gets all over, so I do want to rake them up. On my to do list.
1) Lots of meal prepping this weekend. Used up a ton from the fridge.
2) Picked the 5 pomegranate from our tree. Last year we had 40+, but this year the squirrels picked off all of the small fruit before they ripened. So frustrating. We will make the most of the 5 we have.
3) Picked (and then replanted) green onions that we seem to constantly be in motion planting & replanting, which is so nice. They grow regenerate with very little effort in our climate.
4) Returned a few things I bought & didn't need. Also picked up some sports bras on Buy Nothing, so I can try the brand & see if they will work for me. I find sports bras very difficult to shop for. As a 50 year old woman with a sizable top, I need something with plenty of support when running, but I also don't want it to cut off breathing & circulation. Hitting the mark for that appears to be a challenge for the sports bra makers.
5) I won a 3 night stay & a $1500 credit (for food & the spa) at the hotel we stayed out for my 50th/girls trip a few weekends ago. I thought about going there midweek (needs to be used before the end of January), but didn't want to spend on another flight, which sort of defeats the purpose. Then I got creative & realized that DH & I were already going for NYE, and maybe we could add a few days to that & give the room to my parents & do a couples trip as their Christmas gift. This will cover their room + plenty of food & maybe a massage. They are super thrilled & love going on trips with us. They are at the age where I want to take advantage of the time together as much as possible.
I'm now convinced not having a "sizeable top" is frugal!
Squirrels, what can I say - during a drought 10+ years ago, I had squirrels who developed a "taste" for green (as well as the few ripe) strawberries. Took a few generations for them to lose their interest.
I have found the 'shefit' brand of sports bras a really sturdy yet comfortable solution. they offer different levels of support so you can buy a bra that REALLY helps the girls out. I did buy one size up from what they recommend. You need a bit of agility to use the strap at the back to tighten the bra once it is on, however they are front zip and there are hooks to hold it together before you zip, and zipper end covers that flip over so you aren't bothered by the top or bottom of the zipper. They aren't cheap but they do have sales (it is expensive to ship them to Canada, of course, right now). I can JUMP with these without clutching my pearls/girls, so they get 5 stars from me.
Absolutely fascinated by the concept of a chili dump party!
1. Upon cleaning out my closet, I found vintage pieces I've either never worn or rarely wear. I am friends with the seller, who said that she frequently buys back pieces to keep them in rotation. I brought them to a party we were both at and agreed on a price. While I likely lowballed her I was just happy to recoup some of my costs and get these pretty items back into the marketplace. And hey, I'd rather have a small business owner and friend making a profit instead of them ending up as landfill.
2. We did a massive grocery shop at a cheaper supermarket. I'm talking restocking the freezer, pantry, and fridge. While most of what we bought was non-perishables (they had a sale on canned tomatoes, 50% off) we also got a good amount of fresh produce as well. After eating down the pantry and freezer I am very excited to eat fresh food this week 🙂
3. Made a list of all the meals we can make with what's in the fridge to avoid decision fatigue and make sure we actually cook everything we bought.
4. Took a friend out for brunch to a spot we had a gift card for. Managed to pay the entire bill with the GC except for $2 and tip! Friend picked up the remainder and tip and it was a lovely time.
5. As a constituent of Chuck Schumer, I called his office to register my frustration at the current state of the senate dems given the news last night. I know this isn't everyone's political viewpoint, but the call was free and I felt empowered to give his answering machine a piece of my mind.
Thanks for the reminder about calling Chuck Schumer. I'm a constituent of his too, and I've gotten lax about working 5Calls lately. Besides, I'm starting to think that he needs to follow Nancy Pelosi's example and roll himself to the curb.
1. Gave away a floor protector, watering can and two curtain rods on Buy Nothing.
2. Received protein bars, shortbread cookies, canned pumpkin, peanut butter powder, peanut butter pretzels and two loaves of whole wheat bread from Buy Nothing. Waited until no one else wanted these groceries before indicating my interest; I think the PB powder (opened), the unusual matcha and black sesame shortbread cookies and past expiration dates may have turned some people off.
3. Bought a paintbrush at Habitat Restore and used my 10% off donation coupon.
4. Used the paintbrush to repaint the downstairs bathroom using free high-quality paint from our county's Reuse Room. The previous paint had a high sheen that showed every flaw in the drywall; the new paint is a matte finish and looks so much better.
5. Had the opportunity to listen to several terrific library-sponsored presentations via Zoom. Expanded my brain cells for free.
It's really snowing heavily here in the great lakes! But it will be gone in few days and I will just hunker down.
1. Yesterday I stayed in all day. I made French onion soup and popcorn. Never got around to taking a walk, which is too bad since today is definitely not a walking day. I watched "Wicked" on Amazon Prime and was disappointed.
2. Today I had pumpkin bread with cream cheese for breakfast, also some prunes. For lunch I'm going to make a potato bowl with leftover mashed potatoes, green peppers, onions and cheese. Supper will be frozen pizza -- a flash deal from Jewel -- only paid $1.
3. A friend gave me a bunch of King crab legs left over from an event. I extracted the meat and had enough to make crab salad, a crab salad sandwich, and five crab cakes. All that has been consumed except for three crab cakes that are in the freezer.
4. I committed to a new Medicare Advantage provider for 2026. Right now I have United Healthcare, which seems to be in a lot of hot water regarding too much denial of care. I switched to Essence Healthcare, which was recommended by my doctor's office. It was founded by doctors, which sounds promising. It does not require a premium for the HMO plan, but all the copays are a little more, so I think it will be a wash. We'll see how it goes.
5. Picked up two more books at little free libraries, and I'm happy as a clam.
1. For health reasons, I need to cut my alcohol consumption to close to zero. While I relish a good glass of wine or scotch, this will save money in the long run.
2. My health insurance company participates in diabetes risk reduction program. My numbers are fine, but it runs in my family and I've gained some weight in the past few years, so I qualified. It comes with free coaching, a free scale, and a free FitBit.
3. I will either be gifting the FitBit during the holidays, or posting it on my Buy Nothing group as I already have one.
4. Went out for a date night with my partner on Friday and used gift cards we received from our wedding on a verrrrrry nice meal at a favorite restaurant of ours. Split snacks, small plates, and one entree so we could try many things.
5. Kept my own grocery shopping for the week to a few fresh items we needed, and used the rest of the weekly budget to stock up on shelf stable items that were on sale and had coupons to bring to the neighborhood pantry I volunteer at. Our local grocery store is running some amazing deals and issuing some really great coupons in these uncertain and scary times. They're also donating directly to food banks and such.
I am enjoying the new blog layout!
From the weekend:
1) We made a ploughman's lunch (for dinner) on Friday night using fridge odds and ends. It made a nice snacky "date night at home" meal when paired with two pints of Guinness and several games of darts.
2) A wind storm brought a branch down on the roof, but no damage thankfully. We borrowed a tall ladder from our neighbor to clear the roof and prune back branches. We also cleaned out the gutters while we were up there.
3) Ran to Winco but only bought the bare necessities. Holding out on the big restocking the pantry shop until next week when the "spend $125 and get a free turkey" deal begins. Plus, in the past the beginning of this deal is also when the holiday baking supplies, ie pantry staples, begin to go on sale, too.
4) Picked up a very nice birthday gift for my son's girlfriend, who has a goth style, at the after-Halloween sale at Micheal's. I spent $5 on a $25 gift, and it is something I know she will adore.
5) Made a pot roast in the crockpot last night. We had roast and veg for dinner, then I carved up the rest for this week's dinners. On the menu: a Guinness stew (using an opened can of Guinness we opened on Friday night but didn't finish), French dip sandwiches (using the NY Times no-knead rustic loaf recipe), beef and veggie tacos or quesadillas, and a pot pie from the leftover stew (there's always leftovers from a big pot of stew). That's at least five meals, barring leftovers, for two people from one $15 roast, quite a deal!
1. Was notified that my Woman's World magazine subscription was running out. Notification said that my (automatic) renewal would cost $99. Egads! Called and cancelled.
2. Bought some more (organic) milk on clearance from the health food dept. of our store for $1.99. This had Omega 3 oil in it. Tasted funny. However, it tastes great as a coffee creamer. I'm using it for that!
3. Peanut butter crackers went stale. Using 'em up; using 'em for Snuggles' dog biscuits. He loves 'em!
4. Found my winter sweaters just in time for cold front's arrival. Washed them and hung them out to dry before the cold weather got here. Currently bundled up in one of the sweaters + sweat pants + long sleeved shirt, and have the furnace set lower than usual. I'm feeling comfortable and saving $ on the natural gas bill.
5. Slept under two comforters and a blanket, relying on body heat for warmth, and thus further saving on the heating bill.
$99 for Woman's World (think we talking about the same magazine) - ye gads. You're likely better served buying one here and there at the checkout counter. And there was a stint (years ago) when they just re-ran articles.
Check with your local public library - they might have Woman's World available via Libby, or one of the other library apps that offer magazines to read. (I read Bake From Scratch magazine via Libby, for example).
Raking and blowing leaves, piling them in my compost pile.
So many leaves!
Dead headed the hydrangeas, working on trimming the 50+ roses. Put fresh sawdust on the blueberries.
Threw a rotisserie chicken carcass in the crock pot.
Reported my baby basil to grow in the kitchen window.
Made 8 dozen cookies and delivered this morning to a grieving friend.
Grocery shopping today to prep for out of town guests.
We've had rain, followed by some warm days. I have cuttings growing in my sunniest indoor windowsill-2 fig branches that have already budded, and some orange scented geraniums to give as Christmas gifts in free pots. Having growing plants in the winter makes me happy.
I continue to use the library heavily to read to my grandson most evenings on a video call. Free joy.
We're buying a printer for our son using mostly Staples points from recycling ink cartridges. The balance he's paying by giving me things to sell and I'll keep the proceeds. He's in grad school with no income and a wife and 2 kids. Thankfully he's doing a qualification that has many jobs available and is in high demand.
We cancelled Netflix. We're going to challenge ourselves to use the free channels included in our Roku TV.
We are not exchanging gifts between ourselves and our grown children this year. Instead we are each bringing something to make our family get-together festive. This could be a special homemade food, or a game we already have, etc. I'm making a Jeopardy style game. We're only buying for our 2 grandchildren and my budget is a strict $50. Plus our get-together is the week before Thanksgiving so none of the kids have to feel squeezed between us and their in-laws. This plan makes me so happy and relieved. In my opinion, holidays are about ease.
That’s very considerate of you to have your gathering ahead of time. I wish my parents and in-laws felt that way, everyone wants to see us on the actual day and they get very pouty about it. So we see them both Christmas Eve, but it does mean we are rushed at both places rather than having two relaxed gatherings on separate days.
As a GREAT Grandmother, knowing how many demands everyone has on their time, we do a Christmas Eve cold buffet. Christmas in sub tropical Brisbane Australia demands it! We have sea food, top quality ham, roast chicken, ( I provide those) salads, potato bake( I’m Irish, a potato dish is non negotiable) my grand daughters cob dip, and mini pavlovas for dessert, all provided by others.I have always let the family know that I’m open to date change if it makes life easier/ happier.We do a Secret Santa( for adults) (with wish lists )and a $AUD50 maximum. New format is SO nice and easy to read!
@Kara - we rotated T-day between each side. MIL had Xmas day which fit quite nicely into my side doing Xmas Eve. I worked with a woman who finally put her foot down once she had kids - Xmas Day at her house (had her MIL and her mom/step-dad, dad/step-mom). Good for her. It is a give and take - especially if you kid/kids have living grandparents.
1.Inspired by Katy's previous post with a picture of oatmeal w/ a side of stewed apples. I found 5 hard pears that had fallen off a tree. The homeowner said I could have them. I stewed them in the crockpot & will have them in my oatmeal like Katy pictured.
2. Was tasked w/ making 2 items for Thanksgiving meal at brother's house. I looked thru the pantry for items I already have. Will make a corn pudding with canned corn & other things I have. I did have to buy 3 cans of creamed corn. The corn was on sale for 99 cents per can.
3. Will also make a Key Lime pie. I have graham crackers that can be crushed in the food processor. I will need to buy limes though.
4. Got a crispy chicken sandwich for dinner at McDonalds for dinner. It was 2 dollars on their app. It was surprisingly good with a large, tasty chicken breast. I had green beans & stewed pears on the side.
5. My Nextdoor Neighbor friend gave me three 12 packs of Dannon Lite & Fit yogurt. I put 2 packs in the freezer. I gave her a package of new, unopened king size sheets which I didn't need.
1. Had my daughter's birthday party on Saturday and brought home a TON of food! We had homemade sub sandwiches and peanut butter and sunflower butter sandwiches, plus a few snacks and still about a dozen cupcake left.
2. Tonight we had pancakes planned but there are party leftovers plus regular leftovers so I've declared a mandatory leftovers night.
3. We met some of our family at a Mexican restaurant on Saturday after a full day of running around and birthday-ing, and they surprised us by treating us for dinner!
4. The kids have been enjoying streaming the free PBS Kids shows on tv while they play.
5. Made a double batch of pumpkin muffins and popped them in the freezer. We like to make most of our snacks and freeze for later if possible. I need to do a freezer inventory soon as I know WinCo will have a huge turkey sale soon and I need to make some room and see what needs restocking.
FFT, Making Things Out of Other Things (with Help from My Friends) Edition:
(1) I took my next-door neighbor with the cognitive issues (NDN1) to her favorite Tops grocery last Thursday, since her home care aide couldn't make it that day. I used her Tops card to buy myself a nice whole chicken for 50% off, and have since gone through the whole "chicken cycle": roasting, enjoying the dark meat as is, taking the white meat off and using the carcass and skin for stock, plopping some of the white meat into other things, and (today) making a chicken and orzo soup with the last of my garden dill. (We're under a winter weather advisory for tonight and tomorrow, which will probably mean curtains for the dill.) NDN1 and the Bestest Neighbors will get some of the soup.
(2) I steered NDN1 and myself today through our joint annual furnace inspections from my trusted HVAC company (the owner was an old friend of DH's). Both furnaces were OK--but the tech discovered that NDN1's water heater was leaking like crazy. (None of us had been down in her basement for a while.) I authorized the tech to take some photos and ask headquarters for a bid to replace it, and the owner called me back within 5 minutes. It ain't gonna be cheap--but it's a lot better that we discovered this now rather than later in the winter.
(3) And there's lemonade to make out of lemons in another way here: All the junk in NDN1's basement in the vicinity of the leaking heater is so soaked that even NDN1 agrees it has to go. (As those who have been following this saga may recall, NDN1 has a clinical-level hoarding problem.) I hauled out a first load while the tech was at work on the furnace, and this should keep both me and the home care aide occupied for a few weeks to come.
(4) Not that I'm in any real need of things to keep me occupied: Papers for JASNA's journals have been coming in for copyediting/proofreading/fact checking thick and fast (the next issue of Persuasions On-Line, the electronic journal, goes live on JA's 250th birthday, Dec. 16). And I'm also constructing a "Jane Austen's Family" poster for our local JASNA region's upcoming "Jane Austen 250th Birthday Open House" at the Barnes & Noble where we meet. I already had all the materials I needed for the poster in the house.
(5) Finally, I had the great pleasure Saturday afternoon of a visit from my eventual executor (DH's last and best employee), his lovely wife, and their two youngest children, who all came over to give me a hand with a major cutback of the hedge between my yard and NDN1's. I reciprocated with a generous selection of the beef from my 1/4 steer. (And even the two youngest kids are now 18 and 14. Lordy, how time flies.)
@A. Marie - I swear the older we get, the faster time flies. I was telling my new teammate that I *used* to be the youngest person on my team. Not these days and I find out he is younger than my youngest!
A Marie,
I recently read The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson. It's a fun, Rom.Com. "fluff" read with two main characters that quote Jane Austin to each other. They also mimic Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth in character.
I highly recommend this book for it's entertainment value.
Five frugal things, beach vacation edition:
1. We have a hard time making reservations for vacation because we always have to find somewhere we can cancel up until a few days before due to family members not in the best health. This time we booked a hotel we could cancel but I kept checking privately owned condos and found one just two days before that had reduced the price since it was last-minute. In the end we got a condo on the beach for a total of $250 cheaper than then hotel would have cost us. After we were there the owner messaged us to see if we wanted to add on an extra night at half price because they were going to have a night of empty condo before the next people came. Yes indeed we were happy to add on a night for $60!
2. We only ate out twice while on vacation, both at locally-owned restaurants. Once was for my husband's birthday, and both times we brought part of our dinners home to have for later meals. We brought food from home so we didn't have to shop at the expensive grocery stores.
3. As far as activities, my husband rode his bicycle every day and got 93 miles in and I enjoyed taking walks on the beach both with and without my husband. I always pick up trash on my walks, because why wouldn't I? Taking cigarette butts and bits of plastic that have washed up and putting them in the trash makes me happy.
4. I did some thrift store shopping. Off my list of things to look for I found: a beach hat with a wide brim, a flat sheet, four cloth napkins, and a nightgown in a brand I love but is no longer made. Not on my list but still happy I found are a purse and some books. I also found a luxury brand dress to sell. It's silk and the thrift store had put it in with the nightgowns. I think I paid 2.99 for it.
5. My husband got his free coffee on his birthday, and that was the only coffee he bought out. (I don't drink coffee.)
We have a nervous elderly dog who is hard of hearing so I will only board him in an emergency situation. I paid my sister $85 to stay at my house and take care of him and the cats. She always tells me I don't need to pay her. She is disabled so it gives her a little extra cash, my pets don't have to be stressed with someone in the house that they don't really know, and it's a heck of a lot cheaper than boarding the dog and hiring someone to come by and take care of the cats.
1) I usually give more than receive from the little free library near my house but somebody had brought a huge amount of kids chapter books and I found 3 in a series my son just got into (the I Survived series, which is historical fiction for kids about various disasters) I could get them all from the library but it is nice to have some on hand already as he’s a voracious reader.
2) I got our produce drawer almost empty yesterday, trying to use up what we had so it didn’t go bad (and then I will be restocking today, we go through a lot of fresh produce!) I used a few leaves from a head of butter lettuce to make creamy veggie wraps (basically a variety of chopped veggies mixed with hummus and balsamic vinegar) and then used the rest of the lettuce in a salad for my husband. My salad was made with arugula, which he doesn’t like. I sliced up our remaining cucumbers and bell peppers for snacking. I blended some cooked beets that had been sitting in the fridge awhile with some orange, lemon and mint leaves and made a nice cold soup (we had summer like weather yesterday so timing was good) I also discovered I really enjoy eating rolled oats like cold cereal (put rolled oats with some sliced bananas and berries in a bowl and pour soy milk over it) so that used up some sad looking raspberries and a banana that was “too ripe” for the rest of the family. I still like hot oatmeal too but this is another tasty, faster way to enjoy oatmeal.
3) I’m starting to plan Christmas gifts so I don’t last minute panic and end up spending too much on stuff no one needs. I’m focused on experiences and consumables as gifts so for my parents I’m paying for their hotel on a short trip we are all taking together, for my sister she expressed interest in a specialty food company so I’m getting her a gift box from them. My husband and I never exchange gifts, we go out to a nice dinner in January as our gift to each other. My kids will get some things, they are young enough that they still really enjoy toys, I do try to buy them used when possible.
My husband and I like to “fast” once a month for health reasons . HE does water only for 24 hours.I can’t do that.I am on my own fast of cabbage soup with potatoes for 2 days.It is chock full of veggies. This is frugal as it saves some grocery money AND it promotes our good health which saves money in the long run!
Am SIMPLIFYING my rather too- busy closet and donating old clothes.I am kind of desperate for a simpler, nicely fitting wardrobe.NEEDED some jeans that fit and look nice.Found a pair of Land’s End pull on jeans 50% off and bought 2 pair to last a couple of years. I just can’t find good fitting jeans at my thrift store.
Helping my son sell some stuff on FB Marketplace.
We eat a lot of applesauce.The jar that used to be 1.59 went to 3.99 over time.I buy the apples in a net for $1.25 in the “use now” bin and make a large crockpot of applesauce all the time now.I freeze it in small containers.Love it!!
Am transitioning to using DRY BEANS instead of canned. SAVES A TON!
Thought I needed a new (USED) bike but husband was able to do one more repair on my 40 year old SCHWINN!! YAY!! I love that bike. I ride a bike 5 days a week for exercise.
Frugal 5 Birthday Vacation Edition.
1. My mom gave me a week at a condo in Ormond Beach, Florida for my birthday. Went with my husband and brother-in-law. Airfare and car rental for the week is just $373 each for 7 days.
2. I reserved an economy car, but when we got to the car rental desk, I was told they were out of economy cars and would upgrade us to a Ford Bronco!!! Gas mileage probably isn't as good but it sure is fun tooling around in the giant SUV with it's top open.
3. While getting into our rental car a guy next to us who was returning his car needed help, which we were happy help him. He insisted we take his extra stuff that he couldn't take or didn't want to take on his flight. So we were gifted two fancy ion waters, a bag of roasted pecans, and an unopened bag of "Beaver Nuggets" from Bucees. Yay! If it's free it's for we.
4. Purchased groceries so we could eat in the room 2 meals a day, and just eat out once a day.
5. Walking on the beach every day for exercise, and anywhere else that's within a few miles from the condo.
Well, I just did my usuals, take lunch/breakfast to work, walk in neighborhood, rinse delicates in bathtub and hang outside to dry, made a pot of dried pinto beans for pinto beans tacos from The Prudent Homemaker Website, and made turnip green soup with turnip greens from a local farmer, cabbage, little bit of chicken, carrots, and tomatoes.
Number 5 is my favorite— the “must have” holiday lists of mass produced junk that ends up in landfills is my least favorite part of this time of year. Glad this is a safe place away from that!
1. Made a lovely chicken and lime soup (thanks for the inspo from a couple of days ago, Katy!) using the remaining meat from the last costco chicken that we had taken on our holiday.
When we got back from the trip I took frozen carcasses (from the two chickens we had eaten while away) out of the cooler and immediately put them into the instant pot for broth.
This broth and the chicken meat, plus a couple of carrots, some celery, lime juice and zest, half a not-so-great onion, some sliced garlic and grated ginger, created a lovely soup. I added a cup of a random pasta that was floating around in the pantry. YUM!
With an eye to more broth in the near future, I froze the carcass that I took the meat from .
2. I was going to have company (eek!), so did a clear off of my overloaded coffee table (mostly books).
I sorted out another box of approximately 12 books for my local used bookstore. Half are from the load of cookbooks my thriftstore buddy 'gifted' me. I am working on ways to sort and remove extra books but it is SOOOO hard. With thoughtful self-talk I got one box full - that is all the bookstore lady takes at a time anyway.
The box is in the car ready for delivery.
3. My roommate very kindly gifted my guests a couple of the loaves of bread that we had brought back from our holiday (frozen, and only unused because we had a plethora of bread options). They were delighted, and my roommate now has an excuse to bring more bread home, which is something that brings her a lot of joy.
4. I just rejigged my front entry, moving the hellebores into pride of place on the stairs for winter colour, and setting the hostas into their winter homes under the house eves. No cost to me for now, these are hellebores I have cared for since Spring, when they were replaced with the budding hostas. There is so much more Fall plant moving to do – and I am celebrating that I have started!
5. Pulled the three Amaryllis that have been outside in big pots all summer. The colder weather has had them drop all their leaves, and I knocked off most of their roots so I can fit them into smaller pots (like the ones we get when we purchase them – a tiny pot for a huge bulb. ) I have a bag of houseplant soil that is waiting for me to find energy, but at least the bulbs and their designated pots are in out of the cold.
1. Have been making overnight oats with chia seeds that are allegedly expired and vanilla that someone from our BN group made me.
2. Picked up a sensory table from our BN group for a Christmas gift for 18 month old.
3. Thrifted a nice Patagonia toddler coat yesterday. Arc didn’t over price it for once, likely because it was dirty. It cleaned up perfectly in the washing machine and plan to list it today.
4. Sold a handful of things on Mercari. Scheduling usps pickups to save gas.
5. Going to the zoo today with free tickets from a friend! Packing lots of snacks to avoid toddler meltdowns and overpriced mediocre food.
I use steak seasoning when I grill chicken or pork chops, and sometimes on burgers (depending on what is going on top of them). I really like it in cabbage, my favorite way is to make a foil packet of sliced cabbage, spray with olive oil and shake on lots of steak seasoning. Such a great side dish.
1. I found a beautiful Pottery Barn duvet set at an estate sale for a guest room (I didn't like what was in there). I also found a tortilla warmer, a broom and a scrub brush on stick. These were all thing on my needs/wants list and I was thrilled to find them all in one place. I also purchased a set of flatware that sells well on Ebay. That will more than pay for my other purchases.
2. I blew and raked my own leaves into the weeds on my property.
3. I sold a few items on Ebay and listed several more.
4. I tried a new recipe - Mexican Quinoa Stew. It used items I had on hand and used up a jalapeno that I had no other use for. It made a ton so I guess that will be lunch or dinner over the next week. It's a lot like minestrone, but with Mexican spices and quinoa instead of pasta. It used water instead of broth which made it an especially inexpensive recipe.
5. I purchased gift cards for Texas Roadhouse. We go there often and they were offering a $10 additional gift card for every $50 purchase.
20% off a restaurant gift card is essentially the same as not having to tip!
I spent a half hour online last night researching new frugal recipes and printed off a few to try. Having new recipes helps keep me interested in cooking.
I made a meal plan for the week, utilizing ingredients I have on hand.
I started a list for when I do get to the grocery story later in the week.
I made several jars of overnight oats for my breakfasts this week.
I baked two loaves of sandwich bread.
I need to find some new recipes, I'm kind of burnt out with cooking right now.
I have escaped quite a few cooking ruts borrowing cookbooks from the library!
Also, you might already know about her, Jack Monroe of "Cooking on a Bootstrap" might be right up your alley https://oursouthend.wordpress.com/
I need to get out & rake leaves as well. It's been very warm for our area (79 yesterday) & we have a lot of leaves on the lawn and into the road. While we don't have a sidewalk, it makes a mess of other yards & gets all over, so I do want to rake them up. On my to do list.
1) Lots of meal prepping this weekend. Used up a ton from the fridge.
2) Picked the 5 pomegranate from our tree. Last year we had 40+, but this year the squirrels picked off all of the small fruit before they ripened. So frustrating. We will make the most of the 5 we have.
3) Picked (and then replanted) green onions that we seem to constantly be in motion planting & replanting, which is so nice. They grow regenerate with very little effort in our climate.
4) Returned a few things I bought & didn't need. Also picked up some sports bras on Buy Nothing, so I can try the brand & see if they will work for me. I find sports bras very difficult to shop for. As a 50 year old woman with a sizable top, I need something with plenty of support when running, but I also don't want it to cut off breathing & circulation. Hitting the mark for that appears to be a challenge for the sports bra makers.
5) I won a 3 night stay & a $1500 credit (for food & the spa) at the hotel we stayed out for my 50th/girls trip a few weekends ago. I thought about going there midweek (needs to be used before the end of January), but didn't want to spend on another flight, which sort of defeats the purpose. Then I got creative & realized that DH & I were already going for NYE, and maybe we could add a few days to that & give the room to my parents & do a couples trip as their Christmas gift. This will cover their room + plenty of food & maybe a massage. They are super thrilled & love going on trips with us. They are at the age where I want to take advantage of the time together as much as possible.
I love your trip idea. How nice for you and your parents.
Good for you, sharing your free trip! Proud of ya, girl.
I'm now convinced not having a "sizeable top" is frugal!
Squirrels, what can I say - during a drought 10+ years ago, I had squirrels who developed a "taste" for green (as well as the few ripe) strawberries. Took a few generations for them to lose their interest.
I have found the 'shefit' brand of sports bras a really sturdy yet comfortable solution. they offer different levels of support so you can buy a bra that REALLY helps the girls out. I did buy one size up from what they recommend. You need a bit of agility to use the strap at the back to tighten the bra once it is on, however they are front zip and there are hooks to hold it together before you zip, and zipper end covers that flip over so you aren't bothered by the top or bottom of the zipper. They aren't cheap but they do have sales (it is expensive to ship them to Canada, of course, right now). I can JUMP with these without clutching my pearls/girls, so they get 5 stars from me.
Absolutely fascinated by the concept of a chili dump party!
1. Upon cleaning out my closet, I found vintage pieces I've either never worn or rarely wear. I am friends with the seller, who said that she frequently buys back pieces to keep them in rotation. I brought them to a party we were both at and agreed on a price. While I likely lowballed her I was just happy to recoup some of my costs and get these pretty items back into the marketplace. And hey, I'd rather have a small business owner and friend making a profit instead of them ending up as landfill.
2. We did a massive grocery shop at a cheaper supermarket. I'm talking restocking the freezer, pantry, and fridge. While most of what we bought was non-perishables (they had a sale on canned tomatoes, 50% off) we also got a good amount of fresh produce as well. After eating down the pantry and freezer I am very excited to eat fresh food this week 🙂
3. Made a list of all the meals we can make with what's in the fridge to avoid decision fatigue and make sure we actually cook everything we bought.
4. Took a friend out for brunch to a spot we had a gift card for. Managed to pay the entire bill with the GC except for $2 and tip! Friend picked up the remainder and tip and it was a lovely time.
5. As a constituent of Chuck Schumer, I called his office to register my frustration at the current state of the senate dems given the news last night. I know this isn't everyone's political viewpoint, but the call was free and I felt empowered to give his answering machine a piece of my mind.
I'm also frustrated with their decision.
Thanks for the reminder about calling Chuck Schumer. I'm a constituent of his too, and I've gotten lax about working 5Calls lately. Besides, I'm starting to think that he needs to follow Nancy Pelosi's example and roll himself to the curb.
1. Gave away a floor protector, watering can and two curtain rods on Buy Nothing.
2. Received protein bars, shortbread cookies, canned pumpkin, peanut butter powder, peanut butter pretzels and two loaves of whole wheat bread from Buy Nothing. Waited until no one else wanted these groceries before indicating my interest; I think the PB powder (opened), the unusual matcha and black sesame shortbread cookies and past expiration dates may have turned some people off.
3. Bought a paintbrush at Habitat Restore and used my 10% off donation coupon.
4. Used the paintbrush to repaint the downstairs bathroom using free high-quality paint from our county's Reuse Room. The previous paint had a high sheen that showed every flaw in the drywall; the new paint is a matte finish and looks so much better.
5. Had the opportunity to listen to several terrific library-sponsored presentations via Zoom. Expanded my brain cells for free.
It's really snowing heavily here in the great lakes! But it will be gone in few days and I will just hunker down.
1. Yesterday I stayed in all day. I made French onion soup and popcorn. Never got around to taking a walk, which is too bad since today is definitely not a walking day. I watched "Wicked" on Amazon Prime and was disappointed.
2. Today I had pumpkin bread with cream cheese for breakfast, also some prunes. For lunch I'm going to make a potato bowl with leftover mashed potatoes, green peppers, onions and cheese. Supper will be frozen pizza -- a flash deal from Jewel -- only paid $1.
3. A friend gave me a bunch of King crab legs left over from an event. I extracted the meat and had enough to make crab salad, a crab salad sandwich, and five crab cakes. All that has been consumed except for three crab cakes that are in the freezer.
4. I committed to a new Medicare Advantage provider for 2026. Right now I have United Healthcare, which seems to be in a lot of hot water regarding too much denial of care. I switched to Essence Healthcare, which was recommended by my doctor's office. It was founded by doctors, which sounds promising. It does not require a premium for the HMO plan, but all the copays are a little more, so I think it will be a wash. We'll see how it goes.
5. Picked up two more books at little free libraries, and I'm happy as a clam.
Loving the new layout, Katy!
1. For health reasons, I need to cut my alcohol consumption to close to zero. While I relish a good glass of wine or scotch, this will save money in the long run.
2. My health insurance company participates in diabetes risk reduction program. My numbers are fine, but it runs in my family and I've gained some weight in the past few years, so I qualified. It comes with free coaching, a free scale, and a free FitBit.
3. I will either be gifting the FitBit during the holidays, or posting it on my Buy Nothing group as I already have one.
4. Went out for a date night with my partner on Friday and used gift cards we received from our wedding on a verrrrrry nice meal at a favorite restaurant of ours. Split snacks, small plates, and one entree so we could try many things.
5. Kept my own grocery shopping for the week to a few fresh items we needed, and used the rest of the weekly budget to stock up on shelf stable items that were on sale and had coupons to bring to the neighborhood pantry I volunteer at. Our local grocery store is running some amazing deals and issuing some really great coupons in these uncertain and scary times. They're also donating directly to food banks and such.
I am enjoying the new blog layout!
From the weekend:
1) We made a ploughman's lunch (for dinner) on Friday night using fridge odds and ends. It made a nice snacky "date night at home" meal when paired with two pints of Guinness and several games of darts.
2) A wind storm brought a branch down on the roof, but no damage thankfully. We borrowed a tall ladder from our neighbor to clear the roof and prune back branches. We also cleaned out the gutters while we were up there.
3) Ran to Winco but only bought the bare necessities. Holding out on the big restocking the pantry shop until next week when the "spend $125 and get a free turkey" deal begins. Plus, in the past the beginning of this deal is also when the holiday baking supplies, ie pantry staples, begin to go on sale, too.
4) Picked up a very nice birthday gift for my son's girlfriend, who has a goth style, at the after-Halloween sale at Micheal's. I spent $5 on a $25 gift, and it is something I know she will adore.
5) Made a pot roast in the crockpot last night. We had roast and veg for dinner, then I carved up the rest for this week's dinners. On the menu: a Guinness stew (using an opened can of Guinness we opened on Friday night but didn't finish), French dip sandwiches (using the NY Times no-knead rustic loaf recipe), beef and veggie tacos or quesadillas, and a pot pie from the leftover stew (there's always leftovers from a big pot of stew). That's at least five meals, barring leftovers, for two people from one $15 roast, quite a deal!
1. Was notified that my Woman's World magazine subscription was running out. Notification said that my (automatic) renewal would cost $99. Egads! Called and cancelled.
2. Bought some more (organic) milk on clearance from the health food dept. of our store for $1.99. This had Omega 3 oil in it. Tasted funny. However, it tastes great as a coffee creamer. I'm using it for that!
3. Peanut butter crackers went stale. Using 'em up; using 'em for Snuggles' dog biscuits. He loves 'em!
4. Found my winter sweaters just in time for cold front's arrival. Washed them and hung them out to dry before the cold weather got here. Currently bundled up in one of the sweaters + sweat pants + long sleeved shirt, and have the furnace set lower than usual. I'm feeling comfortable and saving $ on the natural gas bill.
5. Slept under two comforters and a blanket, relying on body heat for warmth, and thus further saving on the heating bill.
$99 for Woman's World (think we talking about the same magazine) - ye gads. You're likely better served buying one here and there at the checkout counter. And there was a stint (years ago) when they just re-ran articles.
Check with your local public library - they might have Woman's World available via Libby, or one of the other library apps that offer magazines to read. (I read Bake From Scratch magazine via Libby, for example).
Raking and blowing leaves, piling them in my compost pile.
So many leaves!
Dead headed the hydrangeas, working on trimming the 50+ roses. Put fresh sawdust on the blueberries.
Threw a rotisserie chicken carcass in the crock pot.
Reported my baby basil to grow in the kitchen window.
Made 8 dozen cookies and delivered this morning to a grieving friend.
Grocery shopping today to prep for out of town guests.
We've had rain, followed by some warm days. I have cuttings growing in my sunniest indoor windowsill-2 fig branches that have already budded, and some orange scented geraniums to give as Christmas gifts in free pots. Having growing plants in the winter makes me happy.
I continue to use the library heavily to read to my grandson most evenings on a video call. Free joy.
We're buying a printer for our son using mostly Staples points from recycling ink cartridges. The balance he's paying by giving me things to sell and I'll keep the proceeds. He's in grad school with no income and a wife and 2 kids. Thankfully he's doing a qualification that has many jobs available and is in high demand.
We cancelled Netflix. We're going to challenge ourselves to use the free channels included in our Roku TV.
We are not exchanging gifts between ourselves and our grown children this year. Instead we are each bringing something to make our family get-together festive. This could be a special homemade food, or a game we already have, etc. I'm making a Jeopardy style game. We're only buying for our 2 grandchildren and my budget is a strict $50. Plus our get-together is the week before Thanksgiving so none of the kids have to feel squeezed between us and their in-laws. This plan makes me so happy and relieved. In my opinion, holidays are about ease.
That’s very considerate of you to have your gathering ahead of time. I wish my parents and in-laws felt that way, everyone wants to see us on the actual day and they get very pouty about it. So we see them both Christmas Eve, but it does mean we are rushed at both places rather than having two relaxed gatherings on separate days.
As a GREAT Grandmother, knowing how many demands everyone has on their time, we do a Christmas Eve cold buffet. Christmas in sub tropical Brisbane Australia demands it! We have sea food, top quality ham, roast chicken, ( I provide those) salads, potato bake( I’m Irish, a potato dish is non negotiable) my grand daughters cob dip, and mini pavlovas for dessert, all provided by others.I have always let the family know that I’m open to date change if it makes life easier/ happier.We do a Secret Santa( for adults) (with wish lists )and a $AUD50 maximum. New format is SO nice and easy to read!
@Kara - we rotated T-day between each side. MIL had Xmas day which fit quite nicely into my side doing Xmas Eve. I worked with a woman who finally put her foot down once she had kids - Xmas Day at her house (had her MIL and her mom/step-dad, dad/step-mom). Good for her. It is a give and take - especially if you kid/kids have living grandparents.
1.Inspired by Katy's previous post with a picture of oatmeal w/ a side of stewed apples. I found 5 hard pears that had fallen off a tree. The homeowner said I could have them. I stewed them in the crockpot & will have them in my oatmeal like Katy pictured.
2. Was tasked w/ making 2 items for Thanksgiving meal at brother's house. I looked thru the pantry for items I already have. Will make a corn pudding with canned corn & other things I have. I did have to buy 3 cans of creamed corn. The corn was on sale for 99 cents per can.
3. Will also make a Key Lime pie. I have graham crackers that can be crushed in the food processor. I will need to buy limes though.
4. Got a crispy chicken sandwich for dinner at McDonalds for dinner. It was 2 dollars on their app. It was surprisingly good with a large, tasty chicken breast. I had green beans & stewed pears on the side.
5. My Nextdoor Neighbor friend gave me three 12 packs of Dannon Lite & Fit yogurt. I put 2 packs in the freezer. I gave her a package of new, unopened king size sheets which I didn't need.
1. Had my daughter's birthday party on Saturday and brought home a TON of food! We had homemade sub sandwiches and peanut butter and sunflower butter sandwiches, plus a few snacks and still about a dozen cupcake left.
2. Tonight we had pancakes planned but there are party leftovers plus regular leftovers so I've declared a mandatory leftovers night.
3. We met some of our family at a Mexican restaurant on Saturday after a full day of running around and birthday-ing, and they surprised us by treating us for dinner!
4. The kids have been enjoying streaming the free PBS Kids shows on tv while they play.
5. Made a double batch of pumpkin muffins and popped them in the freezer. We like to make most of our snacks and freeze for later if possible. I need to do a freezer inventory soon as I know WinCo will have a huge turkey sale soon and I need to make some room and see what needs restocking.
FFT, Making Things Out of Other Things (with Help from My Friends) Edition:
(1) I took my next-door neighbor with the cognitive issues (NDN1) to her favorite Tops grocery last Thursday, since her home care aide couldn't make it that day. I used her Tops card to buy myself a nice whole chicken for 50% off, and have since gone through the whole "chicken cycle": roasting, enjoying the dark meat as is, taking the white meat off and using the carcass and skin for stock, plopping some of the white meat into other things, and (today) making a chicken and orzo soup with the last of my garden dill. (We're under a winter weather advisory for tonight and tomorrow, which will probably mean curtains for the dill.) NDN1 and the Bestest Neighbors will get some of the soup.
(2) I steered NDN1 and myself today through our joint annual furnace inspections from my trusted HVAC company (the owner was an old friend of DH's). Both furnaces were OK--but the tech discovered that NDN1's water heater was leaking like crazy. (None of us had been down in her basement for a while.) I authorized the tech to take some photos and ask headquarters for a bid to replace it, and the owner called me back within 5 minutes. It ain't gonna be cheap--but it's a lot better that we discovered this now rather than later in the winter.
(3) And there's lemonade to make out of lemons in another way here: All the junk in NDN1's basement in the vicinity of the leaking heater is so soaked that even NDN1 agrees it has to go. (As those who have been following this saga may recall, NDN1 has a clinical-level hoarding problem.) I hauled out a first load while the tech was at work on the furnace, and this should keep both me and the home care aide occupied for a few weeks to come.
(4) Not that I'm in any real need of things to keep me occupied: Papers for JASNA's journals have been coming in for copyediting/proofreading/fact checking thick and fast (the next issue of Persuasions On-Line, the electronic journal, goes live on JA's 250th birthday, Dec. 16). And I'm also constructing a "Jane Austen's Family" poster for our local JASNA region's upcoming "Jane Austen 250th Birthday Open House" at the Barnes & Noble where we meet. I already had all the materials I needed for the poster in the house.
(5) Finally, I had the great pleasure Saturday afternoon of a visit from my eventual executor (DH's last and best employee), his lovely wife, and their two youngest children, who all came over to give me a hand with a major cutback of the hedge between my yard and NDN1's. I reciprocated with a generous selection of the beef from my 1/4 steer. (And even the two youngest kids are now 18 and 14. Lordy, how time flies.)
@A. Marie - I swear the older we get, the faster time flies. I was telling my new teammate that I *used* to be the youngest person on my team. Not these days and I find out he is younger than my youngest!
A Marie,
I recently read The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson. It's a fun, Rom.Com. "fluff" read with two main characters that quote Jane Austin to each other. They also mimic Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth in character.
I highly recommend this book for it's entertainment value.
Five frugal things, beach vacation edition:
1. We have a hard time making reservations for vacation because we always have to find somewhere we can cancel up until a few days before due to family members not in the best health. This time we booked a hotel we could cancel but I kept checking privately owned condos and found one just two days before that had reduced the price since it was last-minute. In the end we got a condo on the beach for a total of $250 cheaper than then hotel would have cost us. After we were there the owner messaged us to see if we wanted to add on an extra night at half price because they were going to have a night of empty condo before the next people came. Yes indeed we were happy to add on a night for $60!
2. We only ate out twice while on vacation, both at locally-owned restaurants. Once was for my husband's birthday, and both times we brought part of our dinners home to have for later meals. We brought food from home so we didn't have to shop at the expensive grocery stores.
3. As far as activities, my husband rode his bicycle every day and got 93 miles in and I enjoyed taking walks on the beach both with and without my husband. I always pick up trash on my walks, because why wouldn't I? Taking cigarette butts and bits of plastic that have washed up and putting them in the trash makes me happy.
4. I did some thrift store shopping. Off my list of things to look for I found: a beach hat with a wide brim, a flat sheet, four cloth napkins, and a nightgown in a brand I love but is no longer made. Not on my list but still happy I found are a purse and some books. I also found a luxury brand dress to sell. It's silk and the thrift store had put it in with the nightgowns. I think I paid 2.99 for it.
5. My husband got his free coffee on his birthday, and that was the only coffee he bought out. (I don't drink coffee.)
We have a nervous elderly dog who is hard of hearing so I will only board him in an emergency situation. I paid my sister $85 to stay at my house and take care of him and the cats. She always tells me I don't need to pay her. She is disabled so it gives her a little extra cash, my pets don't have to be stressed with someone in the house that they don't really know, and it's a heck of a lot cheaper than boarding the dog and hiring someone to come by and take care of the cats.
@Susan in TN - I've said it before - good pet sitters are hard to find. Double bonus for your sister and your pets.
1) I usually give more than receive from the little free library near my house but somebody had brought a huge amount of kids chapter books and I found 3 in a series my son just got into (the I Survived series, which is historical fiction for kids about various disasters) I could get them all from the library but it is nice to have some on hand already as he’s a voracious reader.
2) I got our produce drawer almost empty yesterday, trying to use up what we had so it didn’t go bad (and then I will be restocking today, we go through a lot of fresh produce!) I used a few leaves from a head of butter lettuce to make creamy veggie wraps (basically a variety of chopped veggies mixed with hummus and balsamic vinegar) and then used the rest of the lettuce in a salad for my husband. My salad was made with arugula, which he doesn’t like. I sliced up our remaining cucumbers and bell peppers for snacking. I blended some cooked beets that had been sitting in the fridge awhile with some orange, lemon and mint leaves and made a nice cold soup (we had summer like weather yesterday so timing was good) I also discovered I really enjoy eating rolled oats like cold cereal (put rolled oats with some sliced bananas and berries in a bowl and pour soy milk over it) so that used up some sad looking raspberries and a banana that was “too ripe” for the rest of the family. I still like hot oatmeal too but this is another tasty, faster way to enjoy oatmeal.
3) I’m starting to plan Christmas gifts so I don’t last minute panic and end up spending too much on stuff no one needs. I’m focused on experiences and consumables as gifts so for my parents I’m paying for their hotel on a short trip we are all taking together, for my sister she expressed interest in a specialty food company so I’m getting her a gift box from them. My husband and I never exchange gifts, we go out to a nice dinner in January as our gift to each other. My kids will get some things, they are young enough that they still really enjoy toys, I do try to buy them used when possible.
My husband and I like to “fast” once a month for health reasons . HE does water only for 24 hours.I can’t do that.I am on my own fast of cabbage soup with potatoes for 2 days.It is chock full of veggies. This is frugal as it saves some grocery money AND it promotes our good health which saves money in the long run!
Am SIMPLIFYING my rather too- busy closet and donating old clothes.I am kind of desperate for a simpler, nicely fitting wardrobe.NEEDED some jeans that fit and look nice.Found a pair of Land’s End pull on jeans 50% off and bought 2 pair to last a couple of years. I just can’t find good fitting jeans at my thrift store.
Helping my son sell some stuff on FB Marketplace.
We eat a lot of applesauce.The jar that used to be 1.59 went to 3.99 over time.I buy the apples in a net for $1.25 in the “use now” bin and make a large crockpot of applesauce all the time now.I freeze it in small containers.Love it!!
Am transitioning to using DRY BEANS instead of canned. SAVES A TON!
Thought I needed a new (USED) bike but husband was able to do one more repair on my 40 year old SCHWINN!! YAY!! I love that bike. I ride a bike 5 days a week for exercise.
Frugal 5 Birthday Vacation Edition.
1. My mom gave me a week at a condo in Ormond Beach, Florida for my birthday. Went with my husband and brother-in-law. Airfare and car rental for the week is just $373 each for 7 days.
2. I reserved an economy car, but when we got to the car rental desk, I was told they were out of economy cars and would upgrade us to a Ford Bronco!!! Gas mileage probably isn't as good but it sure is fun tooling around in the giant SUV with it's top open.
3. While getting into our rental car a guy next to us who was returning his car needed help, which we were happy help him. He insisted we take his extra stuff that he couldn't take or didn't want to take on his flight. So we were gifted two fancy ion waters, a bag of roasted pecans, and an unopened bag of "Beaver Nuggets" from Bucees. Yay! If it's free it's for we.
4. Purchased groceries so we could eat in the room 2 meals a day, and just eat out once a day.
5. Walking on the beach every day for exercise, and anywhere else that's within a few miles from the condo.
Well, I just did my usuals, take lunch/breakfast to work, walk in neighborhood, rinse delicates in bathtub and hang outside to dry, made a pot of dried pinto beans for pinto beans tacos from The Prudent Homemaker Website, and made turnip green soup with turnip greens from a local farmer, cabbage, little bit of chicken, carrots, and tomatoes.
Number 5 is my favorite— the “must have” holiday lists of mass produced junk that ends up in landfills is my least favorite part of this time of year. Glad this is a safe place away from that!
1. Made a lovely chicken and lime soup (thanks for the inspo from a couple of days ago, Katy!) using the remaining meat from the last costco chicken that we had taken on our holiday.
When we got back from the trip I took frozen carcasses (from the two chickens we had eaten while away) out of the cooler and immediately put them into the instant pot for broth.
This broth and the chicken meat, plus a couple of carrots, some celery, lime juice and zest, half a not-so-great onion, some sliced garlic and grated ginger, created a lovely soup. I added a cup of a random pasta that was floating around in the pantry. YUM!
With an eye to more broth in the near future, I froze the carcass that I took the meat from .
2. I was going to have company (eek!), so did a clear off of my overloaded coffee table (mostly books).
I sorted out another box of approximately 12 books for my local used bookstore. Half are from the load of cookbooks my thriftstore buddy 'gifted' me. I am working on ways to sort and remove extra books but it is SOOOO hard. With thoughtful self-talk I got one box full - that is all the bookstore lady takes at a time anyway.
The box is in the car ready for delivery.
3. My roommate very kindly gifted my guests a couple of the loaves of bread that we had brought back from our holiday (frozen, and only unused because we had a plethora of bread options). They were delighted, and my roommate now has an excuse to bring more bread home, which is something that brings her a lot of joy.
4. I just rejigged my front entry, moving the hellebores into pride of place on the stairs for winter colour, and setting the hostas into their winter homes under the house eves. No cost to me for now, these are hellebores I have cared for since Spring, when they were replaced with the budding hostas. There is so much more Fall plant moving to do – and I am celebrating that I have started!
5. Pulled the three Amaryllis that have been outside in big pots all summer. The colder weather has had them drop all their leaves, and I knocked off most of their roots so I can fit them into smaller pots (like the ones we get when we purchase them – a tiny pot for a huge bulb. ) I have a bag of houseplant soil that is waiting for me to find energy, but at least the bulbs and their designated pots are in out of the cold.
1. Have been making overnight oats with chia seeds that are allegedly expired and vanilla that someone from our BN group made me.
2. Picked up a sensory table from our BN group for a Christmas gift for 18 month old.
3. Thrifted a nice Patagonia toddler coat yesterday. Arc didn’t over price it for once, likely because it was dirty. It cleaned up perfectly in the washing machine and plan to list it today.
4. Sold a handful of things on Mercari. Scheduling usps pickups to save gas.
5. Going to the zoo today with free tickets from a friend! Packing lots of snacks to avoid toddler meltdowns and overpriced mediocre food.
I use steak seasoning when I grill chicken or pork chops, and sometimes on burgers (depending on what is going on top of them). I really like it in cabbage, my favorite way is to make a foil packet of sliced cabbage, spray with olive oil and shake on lots of steak seasoning. Such a great side dish.
Great ideas, thank you!