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When baking, follow directions. When cooking, go by your own taste. ~Laiko Bahrs









Friday, February 25, 2011

Sticker Shock

I just got home from picking up a pizza from a little country store 2 miles down the road. While I was there, I noticed that I needed to get gas in the van. Normally I would not pay attention to prices of gas and just stick to my 87 unleaded. Normally, I would pay no more than $45 to fill up. The last time I got it was $3.05 a gallon, last week. As I noticed the sign above the store, $3.29 a gallon, I watched as my $ amount soared past $45. I can remember just a few short months ago, getting gas for around $40...Even around Christmas. My husband said as he drove by the store this morning that I should go ahead and get it at $3.09 a gallon. How can it go up $.20 in just a few hours. I was thankful when the pump clicked off at $50.00. When I first got then van about 3 years ago, I remember gas prices being a little over $4 a gallon. We had also had a hurricane and oil spill in the gulf.... I asked the clerk at the counter what she thought and her comment was..."they say its going to be up $5 or more a gallon by summer"....WOW! I recall summers before, they threatened to raise it to $5 but never got more and a little over $4. Still....$4 for a gallon of gas is CRAZY...

How do they expect people to pay for gas...

I guess it is time for people to really budget and get control of their spending...

We have a budget program that we follow. I purchased it at Office Depot several years ago, I... we LOVE IT!!! I try to stick to it as much as I can but there are some weeks we get off a little. Guess I will be sticking to it now! Considering I only get gas once a week, you would think that it would not be a bad bill. $200 a month for one vehicle, that is. My hubby drives a PT Cruiser and gets gas twice a week. It usually takes $33-35 to fill up so I budget about $70 a week for him for a grand total of  $480 a month, rounded to an even $500 for those special trips!

And the food bill......

That's another rant....
Just because gas prices go up, that doesn't mean they can raise the price of milk. I have been purchasing organic milk at Whole Foods, which is the same price as regular milk at Kroger. But, I have noticed that it is going up each week...penny by penny. 

I guess its more menu planning and stretching in my future and I hope yours too! If you have comments on the gas/food prices going up, comment or link up below!!



~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Thursday, February 24, 2011

What a week!

~WOW~

These past 2 weeks have been very trying on my nerves! First, my laptop goes out...Found out it could be part of a lawsuit (and if it is, I will get a brand new one!), so I am having to go old school with the desk top...which runs slower. Second, The kids have been battling double ear infections and hubby and I have been sick with the head/chest cold stuff. I have been going on 7 days with it but I am much better today.

As far as menu planning, schedule planning and so forth, there has been none of that. But, I have managed to get groceries this week.
 
I went up to Whole Foods and bought some meats, milk, cheese and fruits. I love knowing that I am purchasing items that have not been tainted with growth hormones and pumped full of antibiotics and sprayed with gallons of "pest" killers that are so called "safe" for human consumption. I must add that the Applewood fresh bulk bacon that I purchased was very delish and I will be purchasing more of that in the future....next week!!
I borrowed my moms juicer about 2 weeks ago in hopes of juicing, but I have not managed to get that far yet. Maybe over the weekend I can get things together to start next week! I will be posting a couple of blogs about juicing and the health benefits!

I had to pick up a few things at WalMart today and as I was walking past the magazines, I picked one up...CHICKENS. Yes, I purchased a chicken magazine. We have a chicken coop with 4 chickens and I wanted to read more about them and possibly learn some new tricks for keeping them occupied and not bored. I am only half way through and I am hooked! I love all the varieties out there. We are planning on getting more chicken in the spring and expanding our coop so this is a great way to learn how, the proper way! Its all about raising your chickens on a farm, not industrially. The Hobby Farm Magazine put out this edition and there are 3 more coming this year. I will be purchasing those as well!!

As far as exercise and diet goes, I have not stuck to a diet since I have been sick. It's one of those "only eat because you have too" sicknesses. Before I got sick, I was doing Zumba on the Wii a couple of days a week and I must say....I AM ADDICTED!!! I Love it!! I highly recommend that if you have a Wii, you purchase this workout. You don't really feel like you are working out! It is fun for the kids too, they get to try and dance as well! It has programs that you can set up and it changes up your dances. SO MUCH FUN!!!

Menu Planning.....UGH!!

I take a very deep and long breath as I contemplate on what to write....

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Ok, I have come to the conclusion that though I may plan a certain meal for that day, I want to eat what I plan on making the next night..... So, instead of sticking to set nights for meal plans, I am going to make a list of main dishes and sides that we can have that week. That way, when I wake up in the morning, if I don't feel like making stuffed Pork Chops, I can make Chicken  Tender Salads instead, because I know we have the items in the pantry and I just mark it off the list. I will "officially" start this Monday. We are kinda "flying by the seat of our pants" the rest of the week and weekend. 

We have a busy weekend ahead of us! We must finish tiling the shower (which we started 2 weekends ago and have been using the kids bath since) and we are going to The Home Show Saturday! I am so excited! We have plans of remodeling the house this year and this will give us many ideas and FREEBIES!! Love it!!

I know this blog has been long today but I had some catching up to do!! I should be back on schedule! I hope everyone has a very blessed and HEALTHY day!!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~