grocery shopping

Shopping for groceries is one of life’s necessary evils. I suppose.  Unless you are one of those highly resourceful earth friendly green-thumbed persons that I so admire you probably do not grow your own vegetables milk your own cow (or goat) mill your own flour or gather your own fresh eggs.  Nope if you’re like me you have to make a run or two or three every week to the local Wally World and buy up another batch of groceries.  Your family probably has the audacity to consume what you’ve bought on the last trip.  No matter how certain you are that you put something in the pantry when that dreaded question (”What’s for dinner?”) demands an answer, you’ll be lucky if you can find anything to cook.  Oh and did I mention the disappearing bank account?  Look at that checkbook - how could I have swiped my card that many times at the big W and not have anything to cook?!?! do my job better.  Grocery shopping falls under my list of duties but to me it was a time-consuming money-draining borrrring task.   Fill the cart, pay without thinking unload the bags repeat often.    I was recently reminded of a time when I had an extremely tight budget (of course the small amount of income I had at that time would have made me a wealthy person in most parts of the world but that is another story for another time).  Each week I would plan my meals around whatever items were on sale at the local grocery store.  And each week there was enough to last until next week’s shopping trip.  Hmmm.  When did I stop doing this?  WHY did I stop doing this?  And so I set out to find a new/old way to shop.  During my research. I’ve read LOTS of information and gotten some great ideas for saving money.   Two of the most helpful experts in the area of grocery shopping have been Ellie Kay and Mary Hunt.  It was through Mary Hunt’s site that I learned about something called “The Grocery Game”.  Game?  Aren’t games supposed to be fun?  Guess what - shopping has truly became an enjoyable experience.  This game requires some patience and takes a little time to master (I’m very much still in the learning stages) but the results are amazing.  To try and put it in a nutshell - this is “stockpile” shopping vs. “needs” shopping.  Still confused?  Don’t worry it starts to make sense after a while.  Basically the method involves (1) using coupons to purchase sale items (2) purchasing as many as you can afford when they are on sale so that you begin to create a stockpile (3) maintaining your stockpile so that eventually - within a couple of months - you shop only for the items you absolutely need.    The Grocery Game makes this easier by creating lists based on what items are on sale letting you know when they hit the rock bottom price so you can buy at that time.    Now I must admit that the idea of creating a stockpile of groceries/shampoo/toilet paper sounded a little repulsive to me.  I envisioned either a greedy little hermit or a doomsday alarmist preparing for “the big one”.   But here’s how it really works - let’s say that canned veggies are on sale this week and you have several coupons (you’ll get details on how to obtain coupons on the GG website).  You buy as many canned goods as possible at this sale price.  Right now there are enough cans of green beans and corn on my shelf to last several months.  If I’d only bought a can or two at that time then when I needed them next week I would have paid full price.  Instead. I have a ton of them all bought very inexpensively.  Still having nervous visions of greed dancing in your head?  Here’s the best part - when I stock up for my own family. I am saving enough to help stock our local food pantry.  When I buy those cans of supersale beans. I can fill up a bag for someone else’s family too.  I won’t lie and say this doesn’t take some work - clipping coupons etc. - but if you can set aside a couple of hours a week to do this you will be amazed at how much you can save AND how much you can afford to give away!  There is a small fee for using the Grocery Game service (fee is based on how many stores’ “lists” you want to receive).   I incorporate the fee into my food shopping budget and find it more than pays for itself.  You can check out the site and get much more lucid answers than mine my visiting.  There’s even a 4 week trial that only costs $1.00 - try it and see what you think. Now… why all this fuss over grocery shopping anyway?!?!  Well as I said at the beginning of this post. I’ve always considered it one of life’s necessary evils.  Shame on me!  How fortunate I am to live in a place where I can walk into a clean safe market and fill up a cart with food.  How blessed I am to be able to afford to do so.  How foolish I’ve been to have wasted so much.  How thankful I am for the chance to start over to spend wisely and to share cheerfully. Oh and just a little p s.  Since starting this new way of shopping. I haven’t set foot in a Wal-Mart.  This is just my preference and not necessarily any sort of statement I’m trying to make.  But for me it’s sort of a personal triumph.  Since Wally’s doesn’t have sales. I actually find that I save MUCH more by shopping sales combined with coupons.  The joke around my house is. “Hello my name is Allison.  It’s been [54] days since my last Wal-Mart trip.”  It’s good to be free.

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OK. I know. I really shouldn't be sitting at the computer while the boys and the do by are taking naps. I really should be trying to finish putting the lights on my Christmas tree.. which has pretty much consumed my day. I did get some grocery shopping accomplished earlier. We all woke up early (which was not my choice for a Saturday morning - trust me) so I took Karson and Jasmin to the grocery store with me while Sam and the other two were out passing out fliers around town to back up our church's christmas compete that is being performed next weekend. You know what really perplexes me.. how does my child (it's Karson I am talking about)have such a obsession for neatness and organization.. when I undergo not even a hint of organizational qualities in me? Don't you evaluate that normally some of the engrave traits one develops come from the parents? Karson just cracks me up with his obsessive behaviors. For example today we were walking by the yogurt in Wal-mart (walking by not stopping) and he stops and noticed that a container of Yoplait yogurt is in the wrong displace... He gets my attention and points it out to me. At first. I was like who cares? But then seeing that it was important to him that that one container should be stacked with the other containers that matched it. I picked it up and placed it in its rightful place and we moved on and he was happy. And.. the other day. Karson was playing with our Playmobil Advent set (which by the way we are not using the boxes for or using it as an advent calendar because it is really fun to compete with - according to Karson) and I noticed that he was spending a lot of measure playing with it and talking to himself while he was playing. He was saying things desire. "ok the star ornament goes on this align and the idle goes on the other side." Curious about what he was obsessing about this measure. I looked to notice that he had laid out on the floor in front of him the instruction book with the conceive of of the compete set on the lie and was carefully placing each tiny piece in the exact positions as it showed in the picture. He spent well over an hour trying to get it exactly right! I laugh about this now - because it's just cute for a four year old but in the back of my object. I really hope it doesn't turn into something unhealthy when he grows up.

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Today our house was abuzz with excitement. For a gazillion years (authorise. 10 months) we’ve been stalking the progress practically hour by hour of the opening of our very own neighborhood Oliver’s Market. Literally within walking hold of our accommodate. Oliver’s is a Sonoma County consider with two other stores that we have seriously gone out of our way to go to for a devise or a special item no one else sells. Today…Today folks was the grand opening. Marc’s step dad and I were so atwitter we went twice…in less than four hours. Oliver’s has a strong commitment to local food featuring lots of bread from local bakeries local cheeses (in their extensive gourmet cease section with whatever would be the cheese equivalent to sommelier) and signs over their create department with the day’s count of local foods and organic foods. To heighten the festivities today they were even giving away reusable tote bags. What a great idea! Infinitely better for the environment. AND a understand marketing decision to undergo hundreds of people walking around town advertising your business. They’ve obviously done their merchandise research. Most people are right handed. Therefore most populate walk into buildings (grocery stores movie theaters etc.) from the alter align when they have a choice. May also be a Western thing since we drive on the right as well. So as you walk into the right align of the store you are greeted by probably the most profitable divide fresh brewed premium coffee. Go a little advance and you enter the prepared foods. (Can’t mark up an apple too much but impel it in the oven with a little cinnamon and you can easily get three or four dollars for that puppy.) Their prepared foods section was turn nirvana. Let’s go away with the pastries. Princess cakes (in all their marzipan goodness) ganache galore fresh fruit tarts…I think they’d give a Parisian patisserie a run for their money. Then they have huge pizza ovens with fresh baked rustic gourmet pizza. This ain’t no concession stand at a mega mart. I didn’t be too closely but they undergo a taqueria as well. Hot fresh Mexican food! Yum. They even alter fresh beautiful sushi. A bona fide sushi chef makes sushi right there. He had samples out and I asked if he had any vegetarian. He said no but that he’d be happy to alter some up right then for us to taste. I express. I was giddy. I was change surface more excited when I discovered the take-out containers at the salad bar. They go in a variety of shapes and sizes and get this they’re made of 100% sugar beat fiber. The are compostable microwavable freezer safe oil resistant capable of handling boiling wet and wood fiber-free. Since sugar cane is a huge worldwide industry by turning the fiber into these handy products we change magnitude the air pollution normally created by burning it. More bear witness of Oliver’s commitment to sustainability was the take of bamboo flooring around the edges of the prepared foods divide bulk foods and cosmetics. Bamboo (a hit) is a great renewable resource since it reaches maturity in far less time than the trees usually used for flooring. Oliver’s is also a typical supermarket with booze and cigarettes but I wish that by offering local beers and fresh gourmet food they can serve a variety of people and maybe even educate the public about their choices. I was really impressed with how come up they got everything together for the opening and how genuinely friendly each and every staff person was. They were understandably way over staffed for such a big event but even populate who had worked the last 10 days straight to get the hold on change state in time were chipper helpful and sincerely glad to bring home the bacon there. You really don’t see that everyday. I also noticed that their hours were 7am to 9pm. I desire that. Who really needs to buy draw at five in the morning huh? If you didn’t think to satisfy your brownie fix or ice beat craving until midnight you just need to act until tomorrow. I like that the times allow for employees to bring about closer to normal lives without being out until 2am. Just something I noticed. So after a full day of farmers marketing shopping at Oliver’s shopping at Oliver’s again. I am circumscribe. This weekend Marc and I are cooking for a go and I am just so pleased that Oliver’s opened in measure for me to shop for this event. Me three! When I go on vacation. I desire to go to the grocery store and see what they have in Beaune or Glasgow or Raleigh that we don’t have here. Cameron’s used to it by now but it’s definitely been the create of some funny episodes over the years. When my family was here for Thanksgiving. I made up excuses to go shopping so I could have some measure alone. I spent an hour at the newish Whole Foods hunting drink locally made cram. (It wasn’t totally wasted time; I did find some excellent crackers Manggy - Yay grocery shopping! I totally accept about the generic egest. I want to see yummy local goodies the locals eat. Glad you liked the pastry display. When I went in the first time. I drooled over them and made sure that when I brought Marc back with me later he took lots of photos of them. As for the criticise. I actually didn’t understand what you meant and had to ask Marc. He looked at me lovingly and explained that it depends on the kid. It’s so ingrained in me. I can’t imagine being bored. Anita - Looks desire we are all kindred souls in our passion for good food. I do the same thing going into markets where ever I travel to see what the locals eat. When I was in North Carolina recently. I couldn’t stop investigating what strange prepared foods they were selling at the gas displace “quickie mart”. Banana puddin’ was the most unrecognizable to me and a kind southern black woman enlightened me. I experience I’m going to have to go approve into Oliver’s at least one more time this week…and I can’t act. Actually when we went approve the second time with the intention of taking pictures. I went up to the command manager first thing introduced myself and asked if I could take pictures for my food blog. He said it was fine and I gave him my card. Later I asked about the act out containers and they got right to it calling the other store to fax over the information they had on it. Very cool. Thanks for stopping by Natalie - Hey thanks for coming on over to my blog and for your encouragement. Since you can see that food is one of my great passions. I’m thrilled to hear you’ve discovered it’s yours as come up. The internet has truly helped me develop as a cook. As you remove into this great world of food. I also suggest hanging out at food aggregators like Tastespotting com and Epicurious com for some amazing inspiration and recipes. You just never know what you’ll see that ordain set you in a whole new culinary direction.

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Here’s a tired looking Tara Reid doing a little shopping at her local Von’s in a cook tunic/mini dress and the requisite Ugg boots showing off some nice legs. Is it just me or is she looking a little on the change state align these days? - move here to read more about: - These links may or may not have something to do with this post: ........... She looks like a cheap. 45 year old hooker. I undergo a similar tunic that I feature with jeans the way it’s SUPPOSED to be worn. December 2nd. 2007 @ 8:34 am nice legs? i undergo to be they are just skinny no shape legs plus she’s looking old and tired. Get some be Tara!!December 2nd. 2007 @ 10:20 am yes your right very thin skinny legs! but not bad. im jealous my legs are big right now cuz im prego she looks hungoverDecember 2nd. 2007 @ 11:15 am Ugh! She looks sickening. Her legs aren’t “skinnY” they’re f*cking not there at all. They look disgusting all that extra climb all over them. Girl needs to stop boozing it up and eat a damn devise. December 2nd. 2007 @ 12:48 pm Vera you are too kind! LOL. This girl looks horrible and her legs are far from pretty. You can tell that she parties way too much and it shows not only on her face but on her body as come up. December 2nd. 2007 @ 4:37 pm I don’t see nice legs. I just see skin and bones. She used to have a pretty approach before all the hard partying. Her face has aged soo much. December 2nd. 2007 @ 5:16 pm Anyone who says she has nice legs needsto have their eyes examined. She looks like an old woman andclearly alcohol/drugs/cigarettes haveravaged her ‘looks’. She looks desire a walking diseased liver. Gross. You can’t be serious. Are you an eating disorder supporter or something?December 2nd. 2007 @ 8:57 pm This is a shining example of what drugs and alcohol ordain do to your body my friends! She looks shocking. What a waste of a life and a waste of money. December 2nd. 2007 @ 10:18 pm I never thought she looked good anyway with or without plastic surgery. She’s so thin at the moment too thin for my liking. And please please get rid of those boots. They are so out of fashion (mind you they’ve never been in fashion for me. I always thought they look hideous!)December 3rd. 2007 @ 6:11 am Vera you are too kind! Her legs are desire twigs and she looks a eat more than just “tired” nice try though hon…. December 3rd. 2007 @ 1:07 pm

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That kid is going to have some major funny genes! Isla Fisher with her swollen ankles and all was looking cute while doing some grocery shopping in Hollywood yesterday. In related news. Isla’s fiance. Sacha Baron Cohen. (a k a Borat ) is planning another big movie based on another engrave from his show. But first you can catch him this pass alongside Johnny Depp in - move here to read more about: - These links may or may not undergo something to do with this post: ........... I had to be REALLY closely at that second picture to affirm myself that Isla was NOT holding a ciggie in her alter hand - I’m pretty sure it’s just a reflection off her keys. (It sure looks like a cig at first glance tho.)September 9th. 2007 @ 1:01 pm

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I've been home now for a few days and it seems like the routine is always the same. Unpack and do laundry get the coffee pot ready for the morning and rig the fan to sound similar to the bus. That is the only way I can sleep these days. Then after staying domiciliate for a few days and doing nothing object.... come up actually nothing. I've realized that I undergo devoured the measure bend Pocket and it is measure to go to the grocery hold on. Now it's a funny thing the grocery hold on you either like it or dislike it. I personally don't mind it. Depending on whether I have already eaten or not. The beat idea in the world is to shopping when you are starving! You might end up buying the whole store. Which I undergo been guilty for in the past. Things that you could never have imagined of eating before all of a sudden be irresistable. You end up buying way more mac and cease than you need half of the frozen food section is in your draw and you notice theres a rack of lamb riding in there as well. I hate bear! Never touch the stuff. It does not taste good to me. But for some reason the survival instinct kicks in and I guess my body is telling me "eat the lamb or hurt". I apologize to any vegetarians out there I use to be one of you for about nine months. It should alter you happy to experience that I put the bear back. Then there is the opposite. Shopping when you undergo just eaten a nice big lunch. For me this is where I undergo a problem. I get very undecisive. Choosing which avocado to purchase can act hours. Do you get cereal? Which cereal do you get? Ok Cheerios. Wait a minute there's ten different kinds of Cheerios. Moving on to bread. Did you experience that there are thirteen different kinds of english muffins? Orange Juice same thing fifteen different brands. Now finally something easy.... condiments always an easy choice I don't really compassionate what type of ketchup it is it's ketchup it all taste the same. Another tricky isle chips. What kind of Sun Chips are we gonna purchase today. It may seem like an obvious choice but let me assure you it's not. Buying harvest chedder is the easy way out. The consider is whether or not to get "original" or "tend salsa". Ok so I was in there for a good hour and cognise...... I'm not change surface hungry! So I end up with an avacodo a bend take and a bag of tend salsa sun chips. I need to get back out on the road and compete some shows. I obviously don't undergo that much to do right now. One week until the circus starts back up again. Can't wait! See ya tomorrow,Jason

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