One more...

Final! Next Thursday is it. I cannot wait.

Then, I have a couple of weeks until summer semester starts. Yes, I am taking summer classes. Okay, one single summer class, but only because it's the last class I need to get my associates! Woohoo!

Just thought I'd update you guys about the joys in my life ;)

Me and my big fat typing hands!

I don't have fat hands. Nor are they big... in fact, they're pretty tiny.

That said, I get ahead of myself a lot resulting in typos. I know I know... This is a big "no no" in the blogging world.

I'm working on it. I sometimes catch typos...usually not.

I rush to get posts out to you guys! Sheesh!

If you catch a typo and it bugs you, you can let me know, I won't be offended!

Nobody has said anything so far... But I can see it happening so I thought I'd post something about it before I get my head ripped off. :)


Love to you all! :)

How to Save on... Pet Supplies

As you may know, we have a bunch of furry friends and not so furry friends in our home.

Meet our "Zoo":

We have a 7 year-old red-nose pit bull named Hera. She was originally my husband's dog as he has had her since she was a puppy (long before I even met him). She's a lazy butt, but loves to roughhouse with daddy (my husband!). She is trained to know German commands and is a good listener most of the time.

Foo is my oldest cat. He's only 3. I adopted him the month before I graduated high school on a complete whim. He was only 8 weeks old and was the cutest little boy. He's a mama's boy for sure. He mozies around the house finding comfy places to nap. His favorites are our closet and the arm of the couch where he can watch the fish. He loves to cuddle but is scared around strangers. He brings us home dead birds! Yuck!

Our aquarium came next. We've only had it since Valentines Day. Yes, I wanted an aquarium for Valentines! Judge all you want ;) It's 20 gallons. We got everything for it from PetSmart and are very happy with it. We've gone through a few fish... I guess we're still learning.

Esther is the baby we adopted for Easter. She was a present to me from my husband. She's 5 months old now. She's a domesticated lynx mix we think... google it. She loves to cuddle and can't resist sleeping in bed with us (and how can we say no to her cute face!?)

 Baby feet! How could I resist adding a picture of that adorableness!

She loves to play and we know she would be an awesome mouser if we ever decide to let her outside.


That's all. Nothing too crazy. Although it would be easier to handle all the pets with more room. I can't wait until we buy a house in the fall!

Having so many pets can be expensive. Each month we buy dog food, cat food, cat litter, random cat toys if any have been destroyed, and fish supplies/new fish. We used to not have to buy litter because Foo won't use a little box and likes to go outside. The kitten poops like what feels like a million times a day so...


It adds up, but I've found a few ways to save some money on pet supplies!

How to Save on...

Pet Supplies

• Shop around to find out where the prices are generally the best - I get pet food at Walmart, along with litter, but fish supplies at PetSmart or Petco.
• Shopping at these cheaper stores, use coupons when possible - they do come out often.
• Grocery stores and specialty pet stores generally have higher prices.
• It's okay to spend a little extra money for better quality product.
• Example: 
•  My dog is on Iams Healthy Weight formula - it's around $20 for a 30lb. bag. She doesn't eat it too fast because it has large chunks (she used to eat too fast and make herself throw up...making for an unhappy mama!) and I think she gets fuller faster. - It's also not chock full of fillers, like corn.
• My adult cat is on Iams original cat food. He eats it the best and keeps him full - we don't go through as much, compared to cheaper kinds like Special Kitty.
• My kitten is on Iams Kitten Food - It's all real meat products and generally healthier for her. Since she's a kitten, we want to start her out on the healthy stuff.
• Cat litter - the cheap stuff is VERY dusty. It makes me sneeze like crazy and I can't imagine how it affects my cats - plus the baby is getting over a respiratory infection.
• Fish products are worth spending more money for high quality products! - Anything cheap we bought flat-out did not work!
• Dogs and cats seem to eat less food if it is higher quality that keeps them full! - Plus it makes them healthier.
• Canned food adds up to be much more expensive than dry. The benefits of each depends, but if you pet is okay with dry food, stick with that.
• Sometimes it's okay to give your pet a different kind of food, to match deals. If your pet can tolerate it, then there's no reason for an occasional change. Switching food regularly can cause digestive problems. 
• Do not overfeed! Not only will your pet be fat and sad, they will be unhealthy and you are wasting so much pet food and wasting your money. 
• Buy dry pet food in larger quantities. It comes out to be cheaper. The only exception to this is if your pet won't go through a large bag of food before expiration or it going stale. 
• Keep pet food in a cool and dry place, such as a tote. This keeps the food from going bad and also keeps other animals out, along with keeping pets from scratching through the food bags. 
• Sometimes buying items online is cheaper! -I have found cheap but high quality live aquarium plants online, other aquarium products, cat supplies - scratching posts, litter boxes
• You pet does not need top of the line products... The electronic mouse? Oh please. 

*Remember to use your smarts when it comes to caring for your pets! You should know your pet well enough to be able to care for them successfully. Some people might be against Iams, but this is what works for us and is a reasonable price. Remember that just because sometime is cheap, that doesn't necessarily mean it's the safest for your pet.

Thanks for stopping by!

Do you have anything to add to the list?

How do you save on pet supplies?

Other comments?      

Would you guys like to see a post on my reviews about pet products I love? Let me know!

Finals Week and OH so busy!

This coming week is the last week of classes for the semester. It's gone by so fast! The following week is finals week... needless to say, I'm going to be really busy for the next couple of weeks.

I'm going to try my best to stay on top of posting as often as possible.

There are a few posts that I have been brainstorming about...


Spring Cleaning Challenge
How to Save on... Pet Supplies


Those two are going to be the focus for the next two weeks.


Is there anything else you would like to see?
Any questions?
Anything???  

How to Save on... Groceries: Meal Planning

If you read my first post that is about my inspiration for this blog, you will find that a grocery budget is something that I have struggled with since getting married. You could say I'm a "foodie"...and loving to cook doesn't help either! I have come a long long ways past my $400+ spending sprees and have learned a much better way to save money on groceries... while still eating GREAT!

Yes, you can spend little on groceries and still fill your family's bellies... with little work, too!




There are a few important things to keep in mind:

1. Throw in vegetarian meals throughout the week. Also vary types of food and meats for variety.
2. Shop the ads for the best deals.
3. Shop seasonally.
4. Shop after your own belly has been filled.
5. The smaller the shopping cart, the less it can be filled with!*
6. Shop meal-oriented.
7. Don't forget snacks and lots of produce to nibble on.
8. Try to forget about brand names (except when paired with coupons or if it's something you'd rather splurge on!).
9. Shop weekly rather than monthly or even bi-weekly so you can get sale prices! -- This also leads to smaller and less overwhelming shopping trips, a more spread out food budget, and fresher food!
10. Enter the grocery store with an exact budget in mind, not a "goal". If you go over your budget, you have to put something back!
11. Price everything by the pound. Cheese might seem cheap when it's only $8 when ground beef is $10, but that $8 of cheese is for two pounds and the beef can hold 5.
12. Just because it's a good deal, it doesn't mean you need to buy multiples of that item. It's not worth paying for more items if they are going to expire before you can eat them!
13. Don't buy more than you can eat within the expiration date. Also don't over-buy on produce or other items that spoil quickly.

 Not too bad, right? Do you have anything you would like to add to the list?
*#4 is something I have just started to try out. It had never occurred to me that just like keeping meal proportions in check by using smaller plates, I can use smaller carts to keep my budget in check too!




Here is how we do it: 
     I am going to make up a fake shopping scenario so it is easier to understand. I'm trying my best to use realistic prices that I see often. Next time I meal plan, I will post some photos. Enjoy!
  
    I prefer to do my meal planning and actual shopping on different days... 


 1. Gather your weekly ads, coupons/coupon inserts, your favorite cookbooks/computer with internet, a few pieces of paper, a highlighter, and something to write with.

 2. One at a time, go through each ad, circling great deals. I    keep my eye out for meat and produce deals to base my meals off of. Example: chicken might be a great price, but ground beef is spendy this week, so I'll plan on a couple meals with chicken. Also, if a store is having a special deal, such as 10 for $10, circle that deal on the front page of the ad.

 3. After you have circle all of the great deals, on your first sheet of paper, write across the top your options of places to shop. Above the store name, write the store deal.
              

4. Underneath each store, on the far left side of the page, list the great deals. 



5. Under each store, write the particular price for each item next to the appropriate store. Remember to write the price per pound or per each item and keep it the same for each item.


 6. Obviously we can see that some of the stores have competitive prices. For each item, highlight the best price.


 7. Fortunately there never seems to be all the awesome prices at one store. You can choose to make multiple shopping trips, hitting each store for their prices, or you can pick the majority and pay a little bit extra for an item. It's really up to you. It gets too complicated for me to make multiple trips and I really don't have time. So, in this scenario I would pick Macey's. (Which I believe is a Utah based store, in case anyone is wonder. They compete with Smith's in my area.)

    Now we know the prices of good deals. We also know what store we would like to shop at. Think we're done yet? Not quite. A couple more steps, hang in there! 

 8. This is where your stack of coupons or coupon inserts come in to play. Do any of your coupons match with your list? Chances are, if they are meat or produce items, they won't. But with those crackers and cereal you have on your list they probably will! Cut out the coupons that match with any deal items listed in your ads. Next to the item that you have a coupon for, write a "C".


 9. You still there? Good! This is when we get past the numbers, and into the cookbooks! In our scenario, our best deals are on chicken breasts, asparagus, baby red potatoes, medium cheddar, bell peppers, apples, sour cream, and pasta. We are going to use each of these for a couple of meals (obviously this amount of food wouldn't last anyone for a week...again, just a scenario).

    We're sick of ground beef. While it isn't a bad price, we're going to stick with the chicken. Our favorite chicken recipe is for Parmesan Crusted Chicken. Asparagus and baby red potatoes would pair well with those! So we're also going to make Roasted Asparagus with Italian Roasted Baby Reds.   

   On another the other side of the sheet of paper, write your grocery list. Beside that, write your planned meals.

 10. Missing anything? Ohhhh... I already have enough leftover chicken breasts in the freezer, cross that off of the list! See that pasta, cheese, and sour cream? I bet we can make something out of that...
     Check your pantry, fridge, and freezer for items on your list. If there is something on your list that you already have, feel free to cross that off of your list if you don't want to stock up this week. Check your food at home for items to go with other deal items on your list.

•  Cross off what you don't need and change your list accordingly. As OCD as a person can be, I know it sucks to have a messy shopping list, but don't worry! We're almost done.

  11. Add additional items to your list that your family needs, you are out of, or will pair well with sale items. 

  12. Add up an estimate of the total cost of your shopping trip. If it is over your budget for the week, you will need to adjust your shopping list. Try to keep it well under what you are expecting it to be to add room for tax and those "OH we are out of that!" moments.

 13. Go shopping! (See next section on tips for the shopping day!)




 Are you all still there? I know, that was a lot to process and seems like a ton of work, especially if this is the first time you have made a real meal plan. Next week, it will be even easier for you! Soon enough, you will be able to meal plan like a queen. This next part is just some tips for the actual shopping day. 





On the shopping day...

1. Clear out any expired/old food and rearrange your food area for your new groceries. (You don't have to do this on the shopping day, it just helps me remember.)
2. Get plenty of sleep
3. Eat a good meal before going, but not enough to make you exhausted.
4. Pack a few snacks in your purse, just in case!
5. Leave the kids with a sitter if you have the option... it will be easier to stick to your plan that you worked so hard on! If you do bring your kids, make sure they also have had good sleep and food in their bellies.
6. Don't forget your list, coupons, and a pen. I manage to forget a pen far too many times, it's so frustrating!
7. *Bring a calculator/your phone calculator. Calculate the cost of each item as you shop = no big surprises at check out! I promise noboby will even notice you hovering around your phone, they all do it too* :) 
8. Once you get in the store...make sure your bladder isn't as full as your stomach. There's nothing quite like pushing a cart of groceries with a full bladder...we've all been there.
9. Don't be afraid to change up your plan once you are shopping. Sometimes prices aren't how you expect them to be, the fruit isn't very ripe, or they have something out of stock. Try to be flexible. :)
10. Stay calm, breathe, bring your iPod. 
11. Remember you might be new to this. If there are problems, it's okay! 

             
 
When you get home:

1.  Unload your groceries starting with perishable items, such as milk, eggs, and meat, saving items that go in another room or in a cupboard for last.
2. Pull out a cutting board, good knife, and vegetable scrubber. Prepare all of your meat by freezing it (better now than later when it's been in the fridge for 4 days and starts to go bad - Yes! This has happened many times to me! Ahh!). Clean all of the vegetables that you are using for tonight and others that keep better washed. Keep the others unwashed so they can stay better, longer.
3. Hang your meal plan on the fridge, or other place so you can remember what the plan is for the week. Remember that what is not used this week, can carry over to next week.
4. RELAX! You just did awesome :)

Wow, thanks for staying with me through that. What else is a person supposed to do on a sleepless night? ;)

I hope you try out this method. Let me know what you think! This has worked out really well for me and my family. We don't end up with too much extra food, we have well rounded meals, and we don't go over budget. It feels awesome to able to stay within a food budget, especially when it is so easy to go over on.


Thanks for stopping by! I love my readers! Seeing my page views go up every time I visit my blog, makes me excited. I love that others are seeing my ideas. Thank you!

What meal planning tips do you have?

What helps you stay on budget when grocery shopping?

What process do you follow when you meal plan?

What would you like to see next? :) 

Sinful Baked Nachos

Those who are my friends on Facebook have probably seen a post or two about our "Nacho Nights" and wonder what the heck I'm talking about.

Every now and then we like to sit down in front of the TV with a tray of sinfully awesome food. We feel like it's okay to splurge sometimes. Of course, it's important to keep things in moderation.


So maybe you're not one to have nachos for dinner. Maybe it's just obserd to you.

Okay, have them for an appetizer. Serve them at a party. Take them to a BBQ!

The best part? Things are extremely easy, versatile, and you can make enough for a large group!

My mom and I made up this one :)

 

Half sheet size pictured

Serves: 2+

What you need:

cookie tray

bag of tortilla chips

cheddar or Mexican blend of cheese, shredded

 can refried beans

salsa, any variety

sour cream (low-fat is fine)

can sliced olives (optional)

 tomato, chopped (optional)

jalapeno, slice (optional)

leftover pulled pork or chicken (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350F. 

2. Place layer of tortilla chips on cookie sheet.

3. Layer cheese on chips.

4. Repeat layers, if desired.

5. Cook in preheated oven until cheese is melted.

6. Meanwhile, heat refriend beans.

7. Remove tray. With a spatula, add a layer of warm refried beans.

8. Add layer of salsa.

9. Add layer of sour cream.

10. Add desired toppings.

ENJOY!

Tips:

• We use a half sheet size of cookie sheet for the two of us.
• Baking it rather than broiling, results in crisper chips which are least likely to go soggy. If you're short on time, turn the broiler on instead.
• Sometimes I place the sheet back in the oven for a few extra minutes to get the refriend beans and salsa warm. 
• I don't care for tomatoes, so we put tomatoes on half of the sheet. These are like a pizza, you can customize the nachos to make them your own.

What sinful food do you like to make?

What do you like on your nachos?

 

Please remember to vote on the poll at the bottom of the blog page. 

Thanks! 

I love getting on my blog and seeing the page views building, 

it makes my day!

MIA - Easter Weekend

Sorry guys, I've been a little MIA lately... I have been swamped with school and just had to add another shift in at work to cover the cost of my school this summer. Yeah, summer school! Yikes!

I have been thinking of lots of fun new posts to share...so please, come back soon! I have a few series on the way, along with some new recipes and ideas.

I also have a fun little announcement to share...

We got a baby!
...a furbaby that is.

Meet Esther :)

Trase surprised me with her as an early Easter present last Thursday night. She is the sweetest little thing! She is 4 1/2 months old and loves to cuddle. She follows me around the house and will only sleep through the night if she is on the bed with me (spoiled!). She also has a cute little bobtail...

This is the only picture I've been able to get of it so far...she's speedy. She kind of looks like a little bobcat, eh? She makes this little noise like one too.

She curls right up in a little ball.
Can't they stay tiny forever???

We spent the Saturday before Easter with my husband's extended family. We had an Easter egg hunt and ate lots of yummy food! It's so great to have family who lives so close (only an hours drive).

After, we decided to go fishing for a little while before heading home. We dropped by Hyrum Dam in Hyrum, Utah.

It was such a beautiful day! The weather was great. The skies were clear. We didn't get even a bite, but it was nice to get a few minutes alone.

Obviously, we have taken up fishing quite a lot! My husband has been into it lately. My dad and brother have always been very into fishing and anything outdoorsy. We went fishing a few times last year.

Since my husband has been interested in fishing, I got him a new tackle box and gear for Easter. His last one he had since he was a kid.

Yesterday evening, my dad and brother went fishing and Willard Bay. We joined them in the evening. Another gorgeous day! We have had great weather here in Utah for the past week or so. Yesterday we had a brief rain shower, but it really made it feel like spring. The fishing was better yesterday. My brother got a huge (I don't know how huge) carp and a wiper. Soon, we're going to have a fish fry!

This is my husband, Trase. I haven't "introduced" him yet. He's a soldier in the Army National Guard and is also a local policeman. I'm very proud of him!

What did I tell ya? Beautiful! Utah gets trashed on far too much. It really is a beautiful state. After we were done fishing and were walking back to the car, the skies to the west were dark from the storm. Unfortunately my phone battery had died by then (did ya know I take all my pictures with my phone? No wonder...).

Later that night, we went and bought another little friend to add to our family...

Paublo the Puffer Fish!

That's all for the night :) I have work in the morning and afternoon and lots of homework to do in the evening...how does a person ever catch up!?

Coming Up:
How to Save on... Groceries: Meal Planning
How to Save on... Pet Supplies
How to Setup a Budget

Sinful Baked Nachos

Baked Potato Soup

Microwave Brownie

Microwave Oatmeal

Baked Bacon

Microwave Potatoes

Rice Krispie Treat Nests

How to Color Coconut