(I came home from vacation to this book waiting for me — cannot *wait* to read it!)
We’re finally back into the swing of things after a 12-day roadtrip with both of our extended families. I’ll share more pictures and details next week.
I know I’ve personally been kind of quiet on the blog here the past two weeks. I gave myself the month of August “off” just because I knew we were going to be gone for so much of the month. Thanks for your patience as I’ve not been posting goals, weekly check-ins, freezer cooking, grocery shopping trips, reading goals, or weekly menu plans.
Truthfully, while it was good to get away and I soaked up the sun, the water, and the quiet, my heart has been heavy. And that’s made it hard for me to be inspired to write here — especially as I try to keep things upbeat. And well, I’ve not felt all that upbeat.
It seems almost all of my dear friends are going through heart-breaking things — one friend is in midst of a divorce, one friend is really struggling with some hard burdens, one friend just got some devastating news, one friend’s husband is deployed and she’s carrying a lot of extra stress as a result, one friend is watching her dad lose his battle with cancer… it just hurts my heart.
I’ve been praying a lot. Hurting a lot for these dear people in my life. And just wishing I could take away all these hard things for all these people I love so much.
What do you do when you feel like your heart just hurts so much for other people? And you feel so powerless to help them? You do what you can do, but it just feels like such a drop in the bucket.
I also have gotten off-kilter when it comes to sleep… going to bed too late and then getting up too late. That’s okay for when you’re on vacation, but it definitely needs to be nipped in the bud right here and now. Because our fall school/work schedule starts Monday. Ready or not, it’s back to real-life.
I’m so glad that I committed to blog through the Rise & Shine Challenge. Because I need it pretty downright desperately.
And that’s enough from me… hopefully you’re having a better week. Here’s to a restful Sunday for all of us!
In case you missed them, here are some of the best deals, freebies, and most popular posts from this past week that are still available:
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We got back from a wonderful vacation with extended family last Saturday, and my husband made an emergency trip to Aldi for a few basic perishables to hold us over until Monday when I could go grocery shopping. I was just SO happy to have survived the long road trip with 4 littles (and multiple stops for carsickness, a diaper explosion, and a 4-hr flat tire incident) that I forgot to snap a picture or save the receipt. He spent around $20 and bought milk, eggs, frozen vegetables, romaine, fruit, and frozen chicken breasts.
Harris Teeter
I bag Organic Limes, reduced – $1.00
1 bag Peaches and Nectarines, reduced to $0.59/lb – $1.67
1 bag Oranges, reduced – $1.00
1 bag Avocados, reduced – $1.00
1 16-oz container Mushrooms, reduced – $1.00
1 bag Apples, reduced to $0.59/lb – $1.30
2 Annie’s Bunny Grahams (@$1.99 each) – $3.98, used 2 $0.75/1 Annie’s printable (doubled) – $0.49/each after coupons
2 bags Food Should Taste Good Tortilla Chip (B1G1 @ $3.59) – $3.59, used 2 $0.75/1 printable (doubled) – $0.59/2 after coupons
2 Vidal Sassoon Shampoo – $4.98, used $3/2 Vidal Sassoon Shampoo or Conditioner, exp. 8/31/14 (P&G 07/27/14), plus $3.00/2 Harris Teeter evic - $1.02 MM after coupons
Total after Sales, Tax and Coupons: $8.87
Walmart
2 5-lb bags Flour ($1.68 each) – $3.36
1 lb Ground Pork – $2.37
1 Onion Powder – $3.00 (this is what it my receipt shows, but this seems high for this brand!)
1 Hunts Ketchup – $1.00
2 pkgs Salad Mix (price-matched Aldi) – $0.59/each
1 Cucumber (price-matched Aldi) – $0.39
2-lb bag Red Onions (price-matched Aldi) – $0.89
2 bags Baby Carrots (price-matched Aldi) – $0.69/each
2 pkgs Grape Tomatoes (price-matched Aldi) – $0.99/each
Total: $15.55
Harris Teeter (Super Doubles #1 Trip)
2 Pantene Hairspray ($4.00 each) – $8.00, used $2.00/1 Pantene printable (doubled), plus $3.00/2 Harris Teeter evic - $3.00 MM after coupons
1 40-ct box Truvia – $4.45, used $2/1 printable (doubled), plus $0.55/1 Harris Teeter evic - $0.10 MM after coupons
1 box Multigrain Cheerios – $2.50, used $0.75/1 Multigrain Cheerios printable (doubled), plus $0.75/1 Harris Teeter evic, plus $0.75/1 Saving Star - $0.50 MM after all coupons and rebates
1 box Trix Cereal – $2.50, used $0.85/1 Trix printable (doubled), plus $0.75/1 Harris Teeter evic, plus $0.75/1 Trix Saving Star - $0.70 MM after coupons
2 cartons Breyers Ice Cream – $5.14, used 2 $1.50/1 printable, NLA (doubled) – FREE after coupons
2 pouches Starkist Tuna – $2.50, used $0.75/2 Starkist pouches printable (doubled), plus $1.00/2 Harris Teeter evic - FREE after coupons
6 Vintage Seltzer Waters (B1G1 @ $0.95) – $2.85/6, used $1.50/6 printable (doubled) – FREE after coupons
3 Naked Coconut Waters ($1.99/each) – $5.97, used 3 $1.00/1 printable (doubled) – FREE after coupons
1 Axe Deodorant – $3.99, used $1.00/1 Axe printable (doubled), plus $2.00/1 Harris Teeter evic - FREE after coupons
2 pkgs Bird’s Eye Recipe Ready Vegetables ($1.67 each) – $3.34, used 2 $1.00/1 printable (doubled) – FREE after coupons
2 pkgs Hillshire Farms American Craft Sausage (B1G1 @ $5.99) – $5.99, used 2 $1.00/1 Hillshire Farms printable (doubled), plus $1.00/1 Harris Teeter evic - $0.99/2 after coupons
2 Chex Mix – $2.79, used $0.50/2 Chex Mix printable (doubled), plus $0.50/2 Harris Teeter evic, plus $0.50/2 Saving Star - $0.79/2 after all coupons and rebates
1 bag Pampers Diapers – $8.99, used $1.50/1 printable (doubled), plus $2/1 Harris Teeter evic - $3.99 after coupons
1 Arm and Hammer Toothpaste – $2.50, used $0.75/1 Arm & Hammer Toothpaste or Whitening Booster, exp. 9/30/14 (SS 07/27/14 #2), plus $0.75/1 Harris Teeter evic - $0.25 after coupons
Total after Sales, Tax, and Coupons: $0.88, plus receive $2.00 Saving Star rebate
Harris Teeter (Super Doubles Trip #2)
3 Cesar Top Sirloin dog foods (I will find a friend with a dog who can use these) – $2.10/3, used $1.00/3 printable (doubled), plus $1.00/3 Harris Teeter evic - $0.90 MM after coupons
1 Tampax Pearl Tampons – $5.19, used $2/1 Tampax Pearl or Radiant Tampon, exp. 8/31/14 (P&G 07/27/14) (doubled), plus $2/1 Harris Teeter evic - $0.81 MM after coupons
3 Laughing Cow Cheeses (B1G1 @ $3.99) – $5.99, used 3 $1.00/1 printable (doubled), plus submit for $1.00 Ibotta rebate – $1.00 MM after coupons
1 16-ct box Lipton Tea Bags – $1.50, used $0.60/1 Lipton Tea Bags, K-Cups, Tea & Honey or Iced Tea Mix Product, exp. 8/24/14 (RP 07/27/14 #2 R) (doubled), plus $0.60/1 Harris Teeter evic - $0.10 MM after coupons
6 Vintage Seltzer Waters (B1G1 @ $0.95) – $2.85/6, used $1.50/6 printable (doubled) – FREE after coupons
3 Illy Issimo Iced Coffee ($3.99 each) – $11.97, used 3 $2/1 Illy printable (doubled) – FREE after coupons
1 L.A. Looks hair gel – $1.50, used $0.75/1 printable (doubled) – FREE after coupons
1 Apple Cinnamon Cheerios – $2.50, used $1.00/1 Apple Cinnamon Cheerios coupon cut from back of a Cheerios box (doubled) – $0.50 after coupons
2 6-pk Zevia Sodas ($5.99 each) – $11.98, used 2 $2/1 Zevia printable (doubled), plus $2/2 Harris Teeter evic - $0.99/each after coupons
Total after Sales, Tax, and Coupons: $0.86, plus receive $1.oo rebate from Ibotta
($20 Post-Vacation Essentials Shopping Trip to Aldi, not pictured)
Weekly Total for all Groceries: $46.16, plus receive $2.00 back from Saving Star, $1.00 rebate from Ibotta
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Cereal x 2, Oatmeal x 2, Scrambled Eggs and Veggies, Smoothies, Fried Eggs and Toast
Lunches
Annie’s Macaroni and Cheese/Carrots/Peaches; Grilled Cheese Sandwiches/Cucumbers/Apples; Baked Potatoes/Oranges; Build-Your-Own-Salad Bar; PB&J Sandwiches/Carrots/Apples; Fried Egg Sandwiches/Peaches/Peppers; Tuna Fish Sandwiches/Nectarines/Carrots
Dinners
Freezer Friendly Barbequed Meatballs (using a ground venison/ground pork mix), Tossed Salad, Steamed Carrots, Make Ahead Butterhorns
Bratwurst on the grill, Homemade French Fries, Grapes, Steamed Broccoli
Venison in the Crockpot, Creamy Milk Rice, Homemade Applesauce, Green Beans
Pakistani Kima (my mom’s recipe) over Rice, Homemade Naan, Tossed Salad
Mini Pizzas (using leftover Naan as individual crusts), Fresh Veggie Plate
Leftovers x 2
