ALDI Deals, Starting 01/01/2014

Here are some of the AWESOME deals this week at ALDI...

• Thurs. 01/02 ONLY: Fresh Family pk Chicken Breasts $1.49/lb
• Thurs. 01/02 ONLY: Custom Made Meals Fresh Italian-Style Stuffed Meatballs $4.29/lb
• Organic Apples 3 lb bag $4.39 ea
• Organic Bananas $0.69/lb
• Anjou Pears 28 oz $1.49 ea
• Blueberries 6 oz $1.29 ea
• Grapefruit $0.39 ea
• Pineapple $1.49 ea
• Cantaloupe $1.39 ea
• Blackberries 6 oz $0.79 ea
• Breakfast Best Heat and Serve Turkey Sausage Links 6.4 oz $0.99 ea
• Millville Nutrizone Bars 8.8-9.5 oz $3.99 ea
• Millville 90 calorie Fiber Now Bars Chocolate or Chocolate PB 4.1 oz $1.89 ea
• Season's Choice Frozen Sliced Strawberries or Frozen Mango Chunks 32 oz $3.29 ea
• Simply Nature Kids Fruit Twists Strawberry or Grape 3.8 oz $1.99 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Beef or Vegetable Broth 32 oz $1.79 ea
• Simply Nature Pomegranate Plum Juice 64 oz $2.49 ea
• Southern Grove 100 calorie Nut Assortment Assorted Varieties 3.29-4.41 oz $2.19 ea 
• Fit and Active Multigrain Waffles 12.3 oz $1.29 ea
• Fit and Active Light String Cheese 10 oz $2.49 ea
• Fit and Active Nonfat Yogurt Plain or Vanilla 32 oz $1.99 ea
• Fit and Active Frozen Meals Assorted Varieties 8 oz $0.99 ea
• Fit and Active 2% Milk Shredded Cheese Sharp Cheddar or Mexican 11 oz $2.99 ea 
• Fit and Active Rice Snacks Ranch or Chocolate 6-7 oz $1.99 ea
• Fit and Active Lean Philly Cheese Steak or Lean Meatball Sandwiches 9 oz $1.89 ea
• Fit and Active Protein Meal Bars Chocolate Caramel or Cranberry 9.5 oz $3.99 ea
• Fit and Active 94% Fat Free Mini Microwave Popcorn Bags 12 oz $1.99 ea
• Fit and Active No Sugar Added Fruit Snacks 7.6 oz $2.19 ea
• Fit and Active Whole Grain Penne Rigate or Rotini Pasta 13.25 oz $0.89 ea
• Fit and Active Select Light or Fat Free Dressings 16 oz $1.39 ea
• Fit and Active No Salt Added Pasta Sauce Traditional or Garlic and Onion 23.5-24 oz $1.19 ea
• Crane Exercise Ball 22, 26, or 30" $7.99 ea
• Crane 36" Fitness Trampoline $24.99 ea
• Crane Body Fat Scale $16.99 ea

For more information about shopping at ALDI, visit their Homepage!

Goals for 2014

Photo Credit: http://www.prosperouscoachblog.com/set-coaching-business-goals-2014/

I did ok with my goals in 2013, some got met, some didn't.  I think I kept them too general, or not definitive enough.  So I went through the year saying, yeah I did that, but I could still work on it, so not a lot got crossed off.  This year, I'll try things a little differently, since part of the satisfaction of reaching your goals is getting to cross them off your list.  Some of my goals are larger than others and will need to be broken down into manageable chunks, like preparing the nursery.  However, for the sake of space and time, I'll just list the actual goal here, and then I'll list any stages in a reveal/update post if there is one.  So without further ado...

Household:

1. Prepare a Nursery!  (this will probably have several update posts along the way)
2. Do a Deep-Spring, and Deep-Fall Clean in March and November.  As well as keep up with my weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly cleaning chores.

Family:

1. Give birth to baby Rogers, and be the best mom I can be!
2. Try every day to be a loving wife.  Some days this is harder than others. :)
3. Take a trip to Maine in June with the hubby, and the baby.
4. Get together with family at least once a month.  (probably for dinner) 

Blogging:

1. Have 2 Freezer/Pantry Challenges (January and July), post updates on the blog, and defrost the chest freezer
2. Post my Menu Plan, Aldi Deals, and Weekly Spending Report every week, along with at least 1 other post per week.  This may be an update, a reveal, a recipe, a shopping trip, or a frugal find.
3. Plan and execute a 31 days post for October. 

Health:

1. Lose at least 20 lbs (I did accomplish losing 20 lbs in 2013 as well, so it seems doable)
2. Drink plenty of water, eat healthy, and do exercise of some kind everyday.

Financial:

1. Do at least 6 Flea Markets throughout the year, and list at least monthly on Amazon.
2. Earn Swagbucks everyday by completing the daily poll, toolbar log-in, and NOSO offers daily.
3. Set a monthly budget, and coupon and deal shop as needed to stay within our budget.
4. Pay off my credit card by June, and start putting extra onto Joe's credit card every month.  We won't have his paid off this year, but we'll be on the right track to have it paid off within the next year or two.  :)

Hobby-Related:

1. Catch up my scrapbook.  I'm only about 8 years behind, but I think once I get rolling on it, I should be able to push through and get it done by the end of the year. ;) I also want to start one for the baby, and work on it monthly.
2. Try something new at least twice a month and blog about it.  I have a LOT of new recipes and crafts I want to try, and this is the year! 

For more AWESOME Goals, visit Money Saving Mom!

Pantry Challenge Goals For January 2014

I am joining the Pantry Challenge that Jessica at Good Cheap Eats is doing for the month of January.  My goals for the January Freezer/Pantry Challenge are simple:

1. I want to empty out the chest freezer enough to defrost it.  We've had it for 2 years now, and have yet to do that - whoops!
2. I want to empty out our freezers and pantries as best we can, especially of those bits of misc stuff, that need to be used up before they are past their prime.
3. Spend no more than $40 per week on groceries including health and beauty, and household items.  Or a total of $160 for the month.
4. Hopefully find/create some new family-favorite recipes out of the stuff we have to work with in the kitchen.
5. Document our progress on a weekly update post with pictures.
6. Eat well and have fun!

What about you; are you doing a Freezer/Pantry Challenge this month?

Tuesday's Giant Trip

Joe and I stopped into Giant Tuesday to use up some of my coupons before they expired at the end of the year.  We got some good deals, and some treats for New Year's Eve.  Here's what we ended up with...

1 Yoplait Yogurt $0.75 - Free Item Coupon = FREE!

1 box TGIF Potato Skins (Treat for NYE) $9.99 - $2 Sale = $7.99

2 pints Talenti PB Cup Gelato (Treat for NYE) $4.99 ea - $1/1 MC x 2 = 2/$7.98

1-1/2 gal Organic 2% Milk $4.29

1 bottle Gold's Horseradish $1.99 

1 bag Florida Crystals Raw Sugar $2.99 - $0.50 Sale - $0.55/1 MC doubled = $1.39

1 pkg Pampers Wipes $2.39 - $0.50/1 MC doubled = $1.39

2 Annie's Mac and Cheese Cups $1.49 ea - $0.35/1 MC doubled = 2/$1.58

1 bag Newman's Own Organic Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies $2.69 - $0.50/1 MC doubled = $1.69

+ $0.12 Tax

Total OOP: $38.17 - $9.75 Sales and Coupons = $28.42 oop

Menu Plan Monday: 12/30/2013

Last week was a whirlwind of meals with family, and friends, present opening, cookie baking, meal prep, house cleaning, relaxing, and fun!  It was a great week-long celebration, but I'm ready to get back to my usual everyday schedule, and start work on the baby's nursery!  I kept the menu super simple this week...

Breakfasts: Bagels with Butter, Fruit

Lunches: Leftovers, Sandwiches, Salads

Dinners:

Sunday - We're taking Joe's grandfather to a B-day party, so we'll eat with him there.

Monday - Homemade Pizza

Tuesday - Steamed Shrimp for New Year's Eve!

Wednesday - Homemade Potato Soup with French Bread

Thursday - Leftover Soup and Bread

Friday - Pork Chops, Jasmine Rice, and Steamed Broccoli

Saturday - Shake and Baked Chicken, Buttered Egg Noodles

Extras: Leftovers Christmas Cookies, and Cheesecake

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report: 12/22-28/2013

This week Joe and I did a lot of after Christmas deal shopping, but I haven't listed it here because I came out of a different budget.  We were able to stock up on cups, and plates, and got quite a few Christmas presents bought.  It was so much fun; I look forward to it every year!  Here's what we ended up with in the home front...

• Thursday's Wal-mart Trip (no picture, 2-12 double roll pks Wal-mart TP): $13.72 oop
• Thursday's Thrift Store Trip (1 'bring the baby home from the hospital' outfit, if it's a boy, 2 short sleeve shirts for mommy, 1/2 price day!): $7.97 oop
• Friday's ALDI Trip (no picture, Cleaning Wipes, 2 Sour Creams, 5 blocks Cream Cheese (for cheesecake!), Onion Soup Mix, Broccoli, and Croutons): $15.29 oop

Total OOP: $36.98, much better than last week, and next week we are starting a freezer/pantry challenge, so it should continue to stay in check!

ALDI Deals, Starting 12/25/2013

Here are some of the AWESOME deals this week at ALDI...

• Cucumbers $0.29 ea
• Avocados $0.59 ea
• Baby Carrots $0.49/16 oz bag
• Multi-Peppers $2.59/3 pk
• Celery $0.79 ea
• Grape Tomatoes $0.99/pint
• Clancy's White Rounds Tortilla Chips 13 oz or Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips 11 oz $1.19 ea
• Clancy's Party Mix Traditional or Cheddar 15 oz $2.29 ea
• Casa Mamita Salsa con Queso 15 oz $2.29 ea
• Casa Mamita Salsa Mild or Medium 24 oz $1.69 ea
• Little Salad Bar Hummus Quartet Classic, Roasted Red Pepper, Jalapeno Cilantro, and Garlic 20 oz $3.99 ea
• Frosty's Nightmare Winter De-Icing Salt Jug 12 lbs $4.99 ea
• Welby Digital Thermometer $3.99 ea
• Welby Fever Cooling Gel Pk $1.99 ea
• Welby Ibuprofen 100 ct 1.99 ea
• Welby Complete Multivitamins Adult Senior 100 or 125 ct, or Children's Gummy Vitamins 60 ct $3.79 ea

For more information about shopping at ALDI, visit their Homepage!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope everyone has a joyous and happy holiday!

Love,

Joe, Laura, and Baby Bean Rogers!

Menu Plan Monday: 12/23/2013

This week has a lot of fun things in the works!  Sunday was our Christmas eve service at church.  Monday night we are going to a friend's house to have our annual Christmas dinner with their family, we look forward to that every year!  Tuesday Joe's family is coming up for Christmas Lunch, and present exchanging.  Wednesday is Christmas; my family is coming up for Breakfast, and we'll exchange gifts with them then.  In the afternoon, my pregnant self is so taking a nap!  Then the day after Christmas Joe and I always start our Christmas shopping for next year, hopefully we can get a few people crossed off our list!  Then Saturday evening we are going to my Aunt's house for my family's Christmas dinner.  We are having BBQ and Potato soup, not typical fare, but yummy and simple!  I'm in charge of dessert, and I am serious contemplating making a cheesecake, but we'll see!  What is everyone else up to this week -- Hope you all have a merry Christmas!

Breakfasts: Pop-Tarts, Chipped Beef Gravy with Pancakes and Bacon on Christmas

Lunches: Sandwiches, or Leftovers

Dinners:

Sunday - Homemade Pizza

Monday - Christmas Dinner at a Friend's House

Tuesday - Christmas Lunch with Joe's family and some of my family (Ham, Mac and Cheese, Scalloped Oysters, Rolls, Chips, and Pecan Pie), we'll have leftovers from in for dinner

Wednesday - Leftovers

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Homemade Pizza

Saturday - Christmas dinner at my Aunt's house, I'm bringing dessert

Extras: Christmas Cookies :)

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report: 12/15-21/2013

This week was a little crazy, as you can see...

• Monday's Giant Trip: $14.79 oop
• Tuesday's CVS Trip (no picture, 2 pkgs Raisins): $2 oop
• Tuesday's ALDI Trip (no picture, 2 boxes Granola Bars, 4 boxes Pop-Tarts, 1 pkg String Cheese): $14.23 oop
• Thursday's Staples Trip (no picture, 1 ream of paper, used $3.99 Coupon): $3.71 oop, Earned $3.50 Easy Rebate
• Thursday's Giant Trip (no picture, just chips, and water): $15.53 oop
• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip (no picture, 2-4 pks Pudding Cups, 2 xmas gifts, and 2 pks 'Zyrtec'): $6.12 oop
• Saturday's Giant Trip (not pictured 3 lbs Laura's Lean Ground Beef): $35.34 oop

 Used coupons to get the detergent for $0.77 ea, and the bread for $2 a loaf, usually $4.29 ea!

• Saturday's Walgreen's Trip (no picture, 6 mailers, used in-ad coupon): $2.60 oop
• Saturday's ALDI Trip (no picture, Granola Bars and Pop-Tarts for Joe, Onions, Lettuce, and Pecans): $11.54 oop

Total OOP: $105.86 - Wow!  I'm looking forward to almost no shopping next week!

Linked to Couponaholic!