Oh the excess and 5 frugal things

Hello there!

This hasn't been the most frugal week but I did try. Payday is next Wednesday and I had to resort to taking some change out of one of my banks to have some kind of money in my purse. I hate being without money in my purse, just in case of emergency!

Today we went to Costco, for the first time in 20 years to have my picture taken for my card (and Dad's).

OMG! I couldn't believe that Christmas stuff was already out, especially cookies and chocolate! Now tell me you will be able to resist for 3 whole months!!!

I couldn't get over the size of the food containers, so huge! Do we need a gallon of mayo, NO!

I didn't feel a lot of need to buy stuff. But we bought:

We bring coffee to work a lot and those travel mugs are

fantastic! No spill, no mess and it beats buying a coffee from Starbuck's or

Second Cup!

2016 Cat calendar

I can't live without one of these for the office, it brings me soooo

much joy!

so usually I pay $13.99 with Amazon.ca.

We also bought Halloween candy because we decided that we will give out candy this

year after 19 years!

I am already planning an old school Halloween decor

Now for the 5 frugal things:

1) I made chicken stock from scratch from the chicken bones from last week's chicken.

2) I roasted fresh red peppers for freezing so much cheaper than the jarred ones

3) I salvaged some forgotten zucchinis from certain garbage death by making a zucchini cream soup

4) I went to a garage sale this morning at 9:00am but they hadn't put any stuff out so I came home

without spending a cent!!!

5) We share diner and laughs with my Dad 5 times this week! 

So have a wonderful week my friends I will try to blog in the next few days

sleep well :)

5 frugal things

So we are still getting our groove on, unpacking, recycling, giving to thrifts.....

I have been reading blogs too. One of my new favorite is The non consumer advocate. Every week she posts 5 frugal things...

1-Today we brought 10 bags full of packing materials to the curb for recycling and 6 bundles of flattened cardboard boxes.
2-I baked healthful gluten free apple muffins from scratch to use the free apples I got from my work last week.
3-I air dried my laundry
4-I packed our lunches from stuff in the fridge (leftovers)
5-I used public transport and I walked!

6- I also made a tomato sauce form scratch for the freezer.

I have yet to visit a thrift store....but it is just a matter of days.....

Stay cool and rested!

The Pantry

We are still settling in and things are going relatively smooth....

We still have boxes to try to fit in the kitchen. I'm still looking for ingredients, like Worcestershire sauce and oyster sauce....but I have most of my dry spices.

I was in my old kitchen for 20 years and preparing food was like a well oiled machine. I am so inefficient in my new kitchen it is ridiculous. I know I will make it work but these things take time.

And as any old house the cabinets are so high I need a step ladder ALL THE TIME!!!

On the frugal front: we decided to make a new budget and to take a really close look at grocery shopping.

I always shop for food and staples on sale but I am out of a lot of essentials and finding them can be a challenge since I was used to supermarket shopping ( I had 3 chains near my house) to one supermarket I don't like as much and several specialty independent grocers or small chains.

But I am proud to say that I started filling the freezer with bargain meat and seasonal veggies! I love having some sliced frozen leeks on hand to add to soups...yummy!

We also need to deal with assorted food issues...Dad doesn't eat wheat or cow and goat milk products but can eat sheep milk....Dan doesn't want to eat wheat or corn or regular chicken and an assortment of legumes. I really don't like the Eat right for your type book....It is an eating plan for your specific blood type...It might be valid, but practically I think this SUCKS!

If you follow this, and in most households you can find different blood types,,,well that is different meals for each blood types....

For my part, I have digestive issues if I eat too much wheat or too much bread (could be gluten free, it doesn't matter)....and I get weird if i eat too much sodium bicarbonate (i.e biscuits and such) I get all bloated

So just to be safe it is protein and veggies, low carbs....

Sleep tight!

And so the displays begin

It is nothing definitive. We are still unpacking all those boxes....

But it is going were well.

Yesterday we started working on the displays....

 The plan is....

Books, Pyrex, barware, knicknacks

So far so good.

Bandito loves it here....

The commute is around 25 minutes.....LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

Be well my friends 

I found the onions....

Hello there!!!

I am writing to you from the big city (Montreal) we finally left the burbs (Ile Perrot) .

We are really happy to be here. There is still a lot of unpacking to do....

                                             So many boxes!!!

                                             Our first comfort breakfast . Homefries, bacon and an over easy egg

 The view from the dining room

 As you can see Bandito is settling in just fine...

The first day we wanted a cup of coffee but we couldn't find the mugs.

Then we couldn't find spoons....the next day I couldn't find knives....

Yesterday,  I wanted to make chili for lunch...I couldn't find

oregano and onions....Thank God the downstairs neighbor (Dad) is really nice and

friendly.....

I was really excited to unpack the Pyrex....

This was the saddest box so far!

I lost the Utility Lime Green lasagna dish, a Lime Green pie plate,

a Desert Dawn pink round cake dish and a Flamingo round cake dish.

So 4 pieces in one box....so far the only casualties but sad never the less!

Earlier this afternoon, I found the onions....so all is fine and dandy in our

new home!

Sleep tight!