Goals Update Week 10

1.  Save All of Our Change for the Year

I added a few coins to the jar.  I also rounded up all of our credit card purchases to put a bit extra toward the credit card bill

2.  Plan Ahead for My Business

This past week was spent on orders and a few small items that can be sold at the farmer's market later this month.  Until then I will put them in my shop booth.  Unless something dramatic happens in the next two weeks, I will be leaving the shop.  I will put focus on Etsy and local farmer's markets/festivals where I am actually selling some things. 

3  Use the Dehydrator More

We had so much rain this past week that I gave up on even trying to get out to the building where the dehydrator is.  I moved the peach fruit leather to this week. 

Sunday Book Reviews

The Way I Heard It by Mike Rowe is a collection of stories from his podcast.  It is a mix of history and personal stories from his life.  Readers will be reminded of Paul Harvey.  This is easily my favorite book of the year thus far.  I was constantly stopping to to say to my husband, "Hey, listen to this."  I especially loved the stories about Deadliest Catch star Phil Harris.  The stories are short and easy to read, but I found myself wanting to read just one more time and again.  I was truly sad to reach the end of the book and will be looking into the podcast series.

This is Going to Hurt by Adam Key is marketed as the secret diaries of a medical resident.  Unfortunately the title refers how I felt while reading the book.  I appreciate that medical residents have a strenuous and stressful schedule.  Mr. Key assumes that the rest of us are complete idiots who have never heard of any medical procedures or illnesses/conditions.  The fact that practically everything had to be explained was a red flag that he was searching for filler.  The secret diaries were just brief lines for the most part of things that may (or may not) have happened to the author.  Better books dealing with the same subject are available.  I am encouraging you to skip this one and avoid the pain I felt!

The Pollinator Victory Garden by Kim Eierman is a resource for those looking to attract a wide variety of pollinators.  I love seeing my garden full of bees, butterflies, wasps, moths, and other insects so I was anxious to read this book.  This book is better for beginning gardeners than long time ones.  While it had a variety of information, it is much too basic for those who have been gardening for years.  I do recommend this for general information, but I encourage people to find books geared toward their growing region for the best information.

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!

Grocery Spending Week 9

My plans for a big grocery shop were put off this week.  I ended up just buying a few things to get by with plans for the big shop next week.

I bought:

barbecue sauce
Hebrew National Hot Dogs (on sale)
carrots
bananas (planning smoothies this week)
half & half
fish fillets (on sale)

Total Spent:  $19.59

The half & half will last for several weeks.  I can get at least two meals each from the hot dogs and fish.  The carrots are mostly for the rabbits.  We have heavy rains in the forecast for this week which makes foraging for rabbit greens not fun.

January:  $80.41
February:  $140.27
March:  $19.59

Grocery Spending Weeks 7 & 8

I decided it was best to catch up on my grocery spending for the year.

Week 7 I had hoped to skip the grocery store, but W was gifted some milk and wanted cereal.  I needed something for breakfast so I picked up almond milk for oatmeal.  The total was $6.07

Week 8 was mostly things we were out of and items for W's birthday meal.

flour
cheeses
cackers
jams
brownie mix
sour crream
pizzas (lunch on errand day)
lettuce
tomato
roast beef
cream cheese

I spent $34.43 on that shopping trip.  That brought my February total to $140.37.

This week I am planning a big shop for the month so I can hopefully stay out of the grocery stores at least one week.

January:  $80.41
February:  $140.37

Back to Basics

W and I went to several Dollar Generals last week.  I got seven more backpacks to donate.  I also stocked up on cheap Valentine candy.  I give my Bible class students a small treat at the end of each class if they have followed a few rules (listen, stay in your seat, and keep your hands to yourself).  This should keep me stocked for several months.

W had a birthday.  Dinner out is not really in the budget nor are there any fabulous places to eat here.  I asked what he wanted for his meal at home.  He chose roast beef sandwiches, cheetos, and a peanut butter brownie dessert.  I also used lemon juice from the freezer to make lemonade.  He was happy, and we made two meals out of it.  

 

I planned laundry around the weather so I could dry clothes on the line.

I ordered can cat food from Amazon as it was cheaper than anywhere locally.  

I found a crochet pattern that I needed for a custom order on sale.  It will do double duty.  I needed the farm animals for a baby mobile, but the pattern also included a barn pattern.  I will make a second set of animals that are stored inside the barn.

W was working at his shop but sent me to an estate sale right down the road from our house.  He wanted vases for flower arrangements at the church.  I found two and spent just $25.  

Goals Update Week 9

1.  Save all of our Change for the Year

I added a few coins to the jar this week.  We also found 12 cents on the ground while out running errands.  That money went into the jar too.  W and I have taken to scanning the parking lot when we get out of our vehicle.  I think many people drop change when they are getting their keys and just do not bother to pick it up.  It is never going to make us rich, but it adds a bit to the jar.

2.  Plan Ahead for My Business

This past week it was all about orders.  This week will be more of the same.  I have been focused on getting the Easter orders done early in case any others pop up.  It will also give me time to work on some more general items.  I am considering doing a couple of festivals this year so I am slowly trying to stock up on items.

3.  Use the Dehydrator More

Peach fruit rolls are definitely on my to do list for this week.  It will be a healthier sweet snack for us to have on hand.

I am happy to be back on track with my posts.  Perhaps the new year should start around March.  I seem to be more settled into a routine now than I was two months ago.

Sunday Book Reviews

The 5-Ingredient  Fresh & Easy Cookbook offers over 90 recipes for busy cooks.  My favorite part of this book is that it included a short list of easy to find ingredients along with simple preparation steps.  The recipes also include tips and/or ingredient swaps.  This cookbook is definitely geared toward those who are interested in avoiding processed foods while not spending all day in the kitchen.  I marked several that I felt my family would enjoy which is always a sign of a good cookbook.  I look forward to putting it to good use!

Fresh Flavors for the Slow Cooker promises reinvented meals.  Some of the recipes included ingredients geared toward less than adventurous eaters.  I found many of them had multiple steps.  When I think of slow cooker meals, I want to use mainly just the slow cooker.  I do not mind a few recipes with prep work, but these recipes just do not fit in with my life at present.  That does not make it a bad cookbook.  It is simply not what I need at this point in time.

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!