Menu Plan Monday: 02/10/2014

I cannot believe that valentine's day is already upon us.  Monday Joe has a Dr appointment, and I'm cleaning the house.  Tuesday we go for our 31 week baby doctor visit, and we'll probably run our shopping errands after that.  We are going to work at Joe's grandfather's house on Thursday to get ready for our next flea market in March.  And then Friday is Valentine's day!  It will be a full, productive week, but it should also be fairly easy-going.  I have a couple new recipes I want to try out this week, but other than that, I kept the menu fairly simplistic...

Breakfasts: Yogurt with Granola and Special K Bars for Me, Pineapple White Chocolate Chip Muffins (*new recipe) for Joe

Lunches: Leftovers, or Sandwiches

Dinners:

Sunday - Potato Soup, Homemade French Bread

Monday - Parmesan Pasta with Broccoli (*new recipe), Garlic Bread

Tuesday - Baked Fish Sticks, Baked Onion Rings

Wednesday - Onion Gravy Chicken (*new recipe), Rice Pilaf, Vegetable

Thursday - Working at Joe's Grandfather's House, probably out to Chili's with him :)

Friday - Valentine's Day! Smoked Ribs, Baked French Fries, maybe Tossed Salad

Saturday - Homemade Pizza

Extras: PB Chocolate Chip Oat Bars (*new recipe)

For more AWESOME menu plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report: 02/02-08/2014

This week we went over budget, but I think it will work out by the end of the month.  Coming out of a month long pantry challenge, there were some things we just needed, like cat food, and I really wanted to take advantage of stocking up on things (like our favorite frozen pizza) for after the baby is born.  Overall I'm very pleased; I feel like I got a lot of quality items for my money, and that's what really matters.  Here's how the week went down...

• Sunday's Target Trip (no picture, 2 large bags Cat Food, used Target and MC): $21 oop, Earned $5 Gift Card
• Sunday's CVS Trip: $11.79 oop, Earned $13 ECB's
• Sunday's Giant Trip: $14.79 oop
• Sunday's ALDI Trip: $15.83 oop

• Thursday's Thrift Store Trip: Zero oop, used Christmas $ (got 12 items for $12, Saved $22.88 with Dollar Days Sale, 1 Long Sleeve, 1 3/4 Sleeve, and 2 Short Sleeve Shirts for Me, and 3 Onesies, 2 Leggings, 1 pair Overalls, and 2 Sweat Shirts for Baby Rogers in bigger sizes, which it is very hard to buy neutral in!)

• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip (no picture, just 2 newspapers): $2.12 oop
• Saturday's Wal-mart Trip (no picture, just 1 jar PB): Zero oop, used gift card
• Earned 1-$5 Amazon Gift card from Swagbucks  
• Earned $6.75 from Amazon

Total OOP: $65.53
Total Earned: $29.75
Total Remaining for February: $134.47

Linked to Couponaholic! 

ALDI Deals, Starting 02/05/14

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

• Weds. 02/05 ONLY: Cattlemen's Ranch Fresh USDA Choice Filet of Beef Garlic Peppercorn 16 oz $5.99 ea
• Weds. 02/05 ONLY: Fresh Family pk Chicken Breasts $1.59/lb 
• Bananas $0.44/lb
• Cantaloupe $1.29 ea
• Blueberries $1.39/6 oz
• Grapefruit $0.39 ea
• Strawberries $1.99/1 lb
• Pineapple $1.39 ea
• Belmont 9" Chocolate Sampler Cheesecake 50 oz $9.99 ea
• Beaumont Flavored Cappuccino Cups  Assorted Varieties 6.35 oz $5.79 ea
• Baker's Corner Fudge Brownie Mix 18.3 oz $1.29 ea
• Fit and Active Yolk-free Noodles 12 oz $1.29 ea
• Stonemill Essentials 4-in-1 Gourmet Seasonings Assorted Varieties 4-5.3 oz $3.99 ea
• Savoritz Oyster Crackers 10 oz $0.89 ea
• Chef's Cupboard Condensed Cream of Mushroom, Celery, or Chicken Soups 10.5 oz $0.59 ea
• Chef's Cupboard Cream of Potato Condensed Soup 10.75 oz, OR Chicken and Rice or Chicken with Stars Soup 10.5 oz $0.79 ea
• Chef's Cupboard Hearty Soup and Chili Mix 10.4-12 oz $2.79 ea
• Priano Cheese Tortellini 19 oz $2.49 ea
• Happy Harvest Fire-Roasted Tomatoes 14.5 oz $0.89 ea 
• Happy Harvest Whole Tomatoes 28 oz $0.99 ea
• Assorted Bouquet Assorted Varieties $3.99 ea
• Valentine's Love Bug Mini Roses Available in Red, Pink, or White $3.99 ea
• 6 Stem Rose Bouquet Assorted Colors $3.99 ea
• O-Cedar O-Duster Robotic Floor Cleaner $19.99 ea

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

Sunday's Giant Trip

We were able to pick up some great deals at Giant.  I love being able to get organic and all-natural products with coupons; it enables us to eat well and stay within our monthly budget!  Here's what we ended up with...

1 bag Cascadian Farms Frozen Organic Blueberries $3.59 - $0.30 Sale - $0.85/1 MC doubled to $1.70 = $1.89
1 bag Cascadian Farms Frozen Organic Corn $2.29 - $0.85/1 MC doubled to $1.70 = $0.59
6 cups Yoplait Yogurt $0.75 ea - $0.25 ea Sale - $0.60/3 MC doubled to $1.20 x 2 = 6/$0.60
1 Newman's Own Frozen Pizzas $6.69 - $1.69 ea Sale - $1/1 MC x 2 = 2/$8
2 jars Muir Glen Salsa marked down to $1.99 ea -$0.50/1 MC doubled to $1 x 2 = 2/$1.98
2 pkgs Pampers Wipes $2.55 ea - $0.55 ea Sale - $0.50/1 MC doubled to $1 x 2 = 2/$2
+ $0.18
- $0.15 Reusable Bag Credit
Total OOP: $32.84 - $18.23 Savings/Coupons = $14.79!  Savings of 56%!!!

Sunday's CVS Trip

Since the weatherman was calling for snow early this week, Joe and I decided to go out Sunday and run our errands.  I'm glad we did, since we woke up to 4 inches of snow yesterday morning.  CVS was stop #1.  I had a $3/$15 coupon to use as well as some ECB's to roll, I could have kept my out of pocket lower by doing multiple transactions, but my preggo self just didn't feel like it this week.  Here's what we ended up with...

2 bags Mars Miniature Mix Candies $4.49 ea - $1.49 ea Sale - $1/2 CVS Coupon - $1/2 MC - $2 ECB wyb 2 = 2/$2
2-4 pks Travel Colgate Toothpaste $3.29 ea - $3 ECB x 2 = 2/$0.58
1 Colgate Max Fresh Toothpaste $3.99 - $0.99 Sale - $2.25/1 CVS Coupon - $1/1 MC = Free + $0.25 Money-maker!
2 Curel Itch Defense Lotions $8.49 ea - $1/1 MC x 2 - $5 ECB's wyb 2 = 2/$9.98 ($4.99 ea)
+ $1.48 Tax
- $3/$15 CVS Coupon
- $12 ECB's used to Pay
Total OOP: $11.79, Earned $13 ECB's for next time!

Linked to Simply CVS!

Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday: Onion Gravy Pork Chops

This wasn't the prettiest recipe to photograph, but it was super tasty, especially served with a side of mashed potatoes.  Onion gravy pork chops is a perfect recipe for a pantry challenge (like the one I did last month).  It's easy to make, takes only a couple of inexpensive ingredients, and they taste delicious.  I plan to try this recipe with hamburger patties, and maybe chicken breasts as well.  Here's how you can make your own...

Pork Chops (I used ones that I de-boned and trimmed myself, about 1/4-1/2" thick

Salt and Pepper

Cayenne Pepper

1/4 c Flour

2 Tbsp Butter (I have used olive oil, but butter gives it a richer flavor)

2 c Chicken Broth

2 Yellow Onions, thinly sliced

2 cloves Minced Garlic (I used the jar minced, about 1 tsp)

Worcestershire Sauce

1.) Mix Flour, Salt, Pepper, and Cayenne.  Trim your pork chops and roll them in the flour to coat, shake off the excess.

2.) Melt butter over medium high heat and brown your pork chops about 3 minutes per side, remove to a plate.

3.) Add onions to skillet and saute until softened.  Add your garlic to the skillet and cook a minute longer.

4.) Push the onions to the outside edge, add the pork chops back into the middle of the skillet, along with the chicken broth.  Add a couple splashes of Worcestershire sauce on top.  

5.) Cover and cook until pork chops are done, this will depend on the thickness of your chops.  Mine took about 20 minutes.  Once they are cooked through, make a water/flour thickener for your broth.  Whisk it in and let it all cook another few minutes uncovered until the gravy has thickened.  

Serve with rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes, and a steamed vegetable, and you have a delicious, cheap, and easy dinner!  Refrigerate any leftovers.  Enjoy!

Linked to One Project at a Time, the Homestead Barn Hop, and Homemade Mondays!

January Goals Update

So far, so good!  I've made a lot of progress this month!  Some of my goals won't get crossed off until December, but that's okay, I really want to work on perfecting those.  Here's what went down in January...

Household:

1. Prepare a Nursery!  (this will probably have several update posts along the way) - We worked quite a bit in the nursery this month, progress post coming soon.
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. - Not there yet.

Family:

1. Give birth to baby Rogers, and be the best mom I can be! - Not there yet.
2. Try every day to be a loving wife.  Some days this is harder than others. :) - I tried really hard this month to not nag the way I usually do about the house.  It was really hard, but I think Joe appreciated it, and a LOT got done in the nursery too!  Also, I made sure to keep some kind of sweet treat made every week for Joe.  This he really liked; he has such a sweet tooth!
3. Take a trip to Maine in June with the hubby, and the baby. - Not there yet.
4. Get together with family at least once a month.  (probably for dinner) - Since we were just together with everyone several days in a row the week of Christmas, we decided to take this month off, and I'm okay with that.  February has two birthdays, so we'll be getting together to celebrate those :)

Blogging:

1. Have 2 Freezer/Pantry Challenges (January and July), post updates on the blog, and defrost the chest freezer - One down, one to go!
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. - I did really good with this one.  I did my regular posted every week, plus I posted a Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday recipe post every week, and posted several shopping trips throughout the month.
3. Plan and execute a 31 days post for October. - Not there yet.

Health:

1. Lose at least 20 lbs (I did accomplish losing 20 lbs in 2013 as well, so it seems doable) - Not even starting this until after the baby is born in April
2. Drink plenty of water, eat healthy, and do exercise of some kind everyday. - I drank plenty of water, ate a LOT of veggies and salads, and did my hip physical therapy exercises everyday but 2.

Financial:

1. Do at least 6 Flea Markets throughout the year, and list at least monthly on Amazon. - first one isn't until Feb. 1st.  I did list on Amazon this month though.
2. Earn Swagbucks everyday by completing the daily poll, toolbar log-in, and NOSO offers daily. - did this every day, plus started using the SBTV to earn additional Swagbucks.  I earned 3-$5 Amazon Gift cards!
3. Set a monthly budget, and coupon and deal shop as needed to stay within our budget. - I did a great job this month, and I blogged about it here.  It was really tight though, and I had to dip into our Christmas money, and gift cards.  I'm glad to be back up to $200 for the month in February!
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.  :) - Still working on this.

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. - Haven't started this one yet, and probably won't until we get the nursery finished, first thing's first.
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! - January I tried 2 new recipes, and blogged about them here and here.

Linked to Money Saving Mom!

Menu Plan Monday: 02/03/2014

We awoke this morning to more snow on the ground, so I was very glad I ran my errands yesterday.  I have a lot of projects that I want to accomplish this week since I only have 10 weeks left before the baby arrives, I need to get my butt in gear and get back to crossing things off the list.  I have a couple of new recipes picked out for this week, as well as a few simple, easy meals for the days I'm planning on being busy.  Here's what's on the menu for this week...

Breakfasts: Chocolate Chip PB Muffins for Joe (*new recipe), Yogurt with Granola and Special K Bars for Me

Lunches: Leftovers, Sandwiches

Dinners:

Sunday - Nachos

Monday - Fried Pork Chops, Crock-pot Baked Potatoes, Steamed Vegetable

Tuesday - Orange Chicken (*new recipe), Jasmine Rice, Steamed Broccoli

Wednesday -Ground Sirloin with Mushroom Cream Gravy. Egg Noodles, Steamed Vegetable

Thursday - Homemade Pizza

Friday - Working at Joe's Grandfather's House, so probably Chili's with him

Saturday - Potato Soup, French Bread

Extras: Homemade Brownies (*new recipe)

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

January Budget Update

This month we did a Freezer/Pantry Challenge, so my goal for our budget, including household and health and beauty items was $160.  We did pretty good I think...

Week #1: $17.85 OOP, Earned $27.80 from Amazon, Earned $5 Amazon Gift Card from Swag Bucks

Week #2: $37.46 OOP, Earned $3.35 from Amazon, and $13 ECB's

Week #3: $48.61 OOP, Earned $10.79 ECB's, Earned $5 Amazon Gift Card from Swag Bucks

Week #4: $46.46 OOP, Earned $20 ECB's, Earned $5 Amazon Gift Card from Swag Bucks

Week #5: $8.96 OOP, Earned $7 ECB's

Grand Total OOP for January: $159.34
Total Earned: $96.94
Net OOP: $62.40

Weekly Spending Report 01/26-02/01/2014

This week there were a LOT of great deals to take advantage of, so I pulled out some of my Christmas money for Giant, and since half my list was out of stock at CVS, I picked up some rain checks as well.  All in all it worked out pretty well, I was able to get the things were were in need of, grabbed a lot if great deals, and stayed under budget for the month!  February is going to be a LOT easier since we are back up to our normal $200 budget, and there are only 4 weeks.  We have managed to clean a lot of misc. items out of the freezers and pantry.  It feels good to know we are using those tid-bits up, and they aren't going to waste.  I'm going to continue cleaning out the freezers and pantry throughout February so we can get the chest freezer defrosted, and continue to save some money.  Here's what we ended up with for the week...

• Tuesday's Wal-mart Trip (no picture, 1 large Vinegar, 1 Hairball Medicine for the Cats, and lots of TP): Zero oop, used gift cards
• Tuesday's Pet Co Trip (no picture, used a coupon for a free can of cat food): $0.06 oop (tax)
• Tuesday's ALDI Trip (no picture, 2 boxes Fruit and Grain Bars, and 1 pouch Yogurt Covered Pretzels, all for Joe): $5.58 oop
• Tuesday's CVS Trip: $3.32 oop, Earned $7 ECB's 
• Tuesday's Giant Trip: Zero oop, used Christmas money

Total OOP: $8.96 - $7 Earned Rewards = Net OOP: $1.96
Total Remaining for January: $0.66!