Menu Planning Monday

I'm still having nausea issues, so while this is the plan, it may or may not be followed depending on how I'm feeling!

Dinners:
Sunday- turkey tetrazzini, rolls, oatmeal scotchies
Monday- a steamfresh Asian noodle dish with chicken and veggies
Tuesday- eggs, waffles, bacon
Wednesday- tuna casserole with broccoli
Thursday- grilled cheese
Friday- fish sticks, french fries and a veggie
Saturday- roast, potatoes, corn and carrots, and I'll try to bake sourdough

Lunches for the week will be leftovers or sandwiches with fruit, veggies, yogurt and cookies.

Super Savings Saturday: Holiday Edition

I did some regular shopping plus some holiday / Black Friday deals this week. I did what I could manage, and we did get some things we needed at very good prices, which is always a plus!

Meijer Groceries:
bananas .89
english muffins 1.29
2 ICBINB @2.08
orange juice 2.09
apples 2.99
3 birdseye meals @5.99
string cheese 6.58
celery .76
4 frozen veggie @1.00
2 meijer frozen potatoes @1.99
2 dinenr rolls @1.99
2 bacon @2.29
oranges 2.00
2 lil smokies @2.50
2 ice cream @2.50
laundry detergent 6.99
potato wedges 2.51
bread 1.25
cucumber .69
After all my coupons, I paid 28.13 for my groceries.


Meijer Thanksgiving specials that I picked up Thursday AM:
2 pairs shoes for Mike @buy 1 get 1 for $1
2 pairs shoes for me @buy 1 get 1 for $1
hostess gift (live plant) for Kati
2 Christmas gifts for Mike

Kroger:
On Sunday, I stopped by to get the buy 1 get 1 free card games and combined it with a b1g1 mfc. The front end manager / supervisor lady (that I've had issues with before) gave me Issues with a capital "I". I prevailed and told her that I was following the verbiage of the coupon and that I would be calling to make another complaint about her treatment of me. I paid $.40 in tax for the two games. Stocking stuffers for Mike.

CVS
This week I did the huggies deal, the complete eye care deal, and then for the 3-day sale I did the hershey's candy, mars candy, bic soleil, schick quattro, colgate toothbrush and toothpaste, just for men, degree deodorant, herbal essences, viologie, st ives, vaseline lotion and philips headphones on both cards, and on one card I did the tums and the other I did the hershey's kisses, and came out with a slight "cost" on each when I added everything up (under $5 for each). I had lots of coupons that matched up with the deals, and the two stores I stopped at were fully stocked. There were a couple of deals I wasn't interested in and didn't bother with. It was nice to get some goodies, baby diapers, both for us and for my parents,and some things to donate as well!

The funny thing was that on Thursday morning at each store, there was hardly anyone else in the store. I expected the store to be busier, given the economy. Though, there were fewer deals and lower limits as compared to last year. But I'm satisfied with what I got!

Walgreens- Again, the store was nearly empty and fully stocked with the things I was interested in. The cashier didn't care about me doing lots of transactions, so I had my fun. I got (over 2 days at 2 stores):
8 crayola
2 toblerone
1 right guard
1 infusium
2 johnson & johnson
6 dove deodorant
And after my coupons, I came out with just a $.33 cost! Fun. Those crayons were a deal I could not pass up, what with a kid who likes to color and there's always a birthday gift to be given. Again, I didn't get all the "frees" (just didn't want the other ones) but I was pretty happy with what I did get.

Friday I went to Joann's, and used two gift cards to stock up on fabric including felt, fleece, and flannel, plus a couple of fabric paints to eventually make Natalya a special shirt. There was no line to get the fabric cut, or to pay. I could hardly believe it.

Then I went to Sam's Club, and used saved cash (extra from other months grocery budgets) to buy things we routinely use in large quantities (deli meat for Mike's lunches, Nesquik, baking supplies, Parmesan cheese, yeast). No line, no wait and lots of parking. Amazing considering it is next to Walmart!

Then we went to Target, which had the busiest parking lot and was very crowded. I finished my Christmas shopping and purchased a baby shower gift there, and used a coupon to get a free drink- an icee that I shared with Natalya.

Last, over to Hallmark to use my last $5 off coupon, Natalya helped me pick 2 rolls of wrapping paper which came to just over a dollar after the coupon.

We made it home before 11am, having gotten done everything I'd hoped to do. She behaved very well and we had a nice day together!

I think my camera is dying... it's been making a funny noise when it turns on, and for whatever reason, all the images are getting blurry.

Thanksgiving Rest / Frugal Friday

I have a lot to be thankful for this year! Here's a non-all-inclusive list:

• My family, especially Mike and Natalya and the baby in my belly!
• Good health. Nausea seems to be helped slightly by wearing sea bands.
• Friends. You know, those people who "get it" when family doesn't!
  
• Our jobs. These afford us the ability to be financially comfortable, providing for our own needs (now and future) and allowing us to give to others. They also exercise our minds, allow us to socialize with adults about things other than "Eat your food or you're not getting a sucker!" that we talk about at home!
• My education. Even if I opted out of the workforce or changed in direction at some point, I am thankful that I had the opportunity to pursue the education that I wanted.
• My cats. Stinky as they are, they provide us with love, entertainment, laughter and companionship.
  

I took a literal rest yesterday, skipping my usual exercise routine (which I rarely skip) in favor of getting a little extra rest, doing some shopping nearby, and making two tasty pies that I took to our friend's house for Thanksgiving dinner.

I did put Mike to work though: hauling up all the Christmas decorations from the basement, putting up the tree and stringing the lights! And peeling apples for the pie. And hauling up my maternity clothes so I can go through and see if there is anything I need / don't need / needs washed and so forth.

Natalya got off her usual routine and refused to eat any lunch or dinner, sticking to a diet of all liquids and frustrating us a great deal.

I'm hoping to get out for a while later in the day with her (I think we have library books to return, if nothing else), and I hope her behavior is better today. She spent much of Thanksgiving screaming and crying!

Works for Me Wednesday: Coping

While I cope with my 'morning' sickness, I've been feeling a little guilty about having to avoid some meals and sitting at the table while Mike and Natalya eat food with odors that make me want to puke. So rather than make myself miserable (and gross them out with gagging noises while they eat), I'm making other food for myself (eggs 'n' toast) and taking it into another room.

Although this is not my ideal situation, it is working for me, for now. Now if I could get the cats to do their business at times I am not in the vicinity of the litter box, and if I could make every odor* go away in my presence until my nausea subsides, that would be a very good thing. However, I live on Earth and not the so called vacuum of space, so this will not happen. Behold, the can of neutra-air!

Now, if I can survive making two pies and attending Thanksgiving dinner with all the food aromas, that will be a good start.

*Yesterday during a walk at lunch time, I simultaneously passed a food vendor on the sidewalk and a smoker. The combined smells of smoke and grilled onions started me gagging and wretching, which was slightly inconvenient because I was on the phone with my husband at the time!

Topic of Choice Tuesday: Black Friday

Last year, I took Natalya to Joann's on Black Friday and we had a good time for an hour and a half in the fabric cutting line (then another half hour in line to pay). This year, I would like to go to Joann's and Hallmark on Friday, but I'm not sure if I will have the energy to do so or or not (what if I get the heaves in the fabric store??!!).

My only other plans for the long weekend for shopping are to go to Meijer, which has a few grocery deals and then a Thanksgiving day sale on games and shoes, and CVS / Walgreens for the freebies (I live so close to these stores, that going there is not a big deal, while Joann's is a longer drive and in a high-traffic area on a normal day). Again, during this season of life, getting some fantabulous deal is so not worth the energy expenditure, and honestly, there just isn't that much that I need.

So I will be happy if my sidekick and I get to Joann's for a restocking of our crafting goodies, but if it doesn't happen, so be it. We'll color pictures at home instead!

Menu Planning Monday

Sunday, we had grilled pork chops and I made stuffing for myself, rice (which was from a box, and was AWFUL), and peas.

Monday: spaghetti, green beans and garlic bread
Tuesday: beef and noodles, leftover garlic bread
Wednesday: waffles and eggs and sausage for Mike & I; leftovers for Natalya
Thursday: brunch at home / Thanksgiving dinner with friends
Friday: ?? for lunch, grilled cheese for dinner
Saturday: either homemade pizza or homemade soup for dinner

Again, this is touch and go for me and my belly. I have to accept there is a need for flexibility right now!

Super Savings Saturday: The Minimum

I've been so nauseated (24/7), tired and now having a lot of trouble with dry heaves / nearly puking at seemingly random moments, that I only got to one store for grocery shopping, I only did one transaction, and I was trying to get out of there as fast as possible because I was feeling awful.

I really did want to get a turkey to put in the freezer for another time, so I did at least get there.

Meijer:
bananas .84
hamburger buns .78
eggs .79
2 can pineapple @.99 -.35/2 mfc
2 can fruit salad @.99 -.55/2 mfc
3 bags meijer frozen veggies @1.00
can pumpkin 1.99
2 wheat bread @1.00
3 milk @1.75
oranges 2.00
celery 1.67
hen turkey 13.67-10.00 instant discount for buying $20 of groceries
I paid 24.15.

I couldn't even take a picture because I had to run to the bathroom as soon as I got in the door from shopping.

Thanks to my very nice sized stockpile of food, I can get away with shopping like this for another month if I need to. It's actually probably a good thing, as I have a lot of pasta and such that does need to be eaten.