The Switch Will Happen Soon!

Excuse my lack of posts in recent days. I am working behind the scenes on switching my blog over to Word Press. I am so excited to unveil the new Mom's Plans. I am hoping it will be live tomorrow!

Food Waste, 9/30/10

No picture today. We wasted two pita bread. I had no intention of wasting these, but they started sprouting mold in just a few days. Perhaps I should have put them in the refrigerator, but then they would have dried out a bit.

Total waste = .50

Waste since February 1st = 90.78

What's In Our Lunch Today - 9/29

I am beginning to discover that my son’s request for no foods in his lunch box that are supposed to be served hot is a sneaky little way to get more of the foods he likes.

We had homemade pizza on pita bread the other night for dinner, so I made him this extra one for his lunch with a face on the top. Now, since this pizza should be served hot, I didn’t think he would like it, but as he loves pizza any which way, he declared it delicious and requested this in his lunch again sometime. Carrots and melon rounded out the meal.

For great lunch box ideas, go to What's For Lunch Wednesday.

Don't forget, there is still time to take advantage of the great deal over at Easy Lunchboxes--buy one container set and get a free cooler pack as long as you are willing to wait until mid to late October to get your set. (I wrote a post about it here.)

I shared this post at No Whine Wednesday.

Sophia's Tutus Halloween Costume Giveaway!

I have always wanted to be crafty, but for the most part, I am not, AT ALL! So when I find someone who does amazing, beautiful work, I am always in awe. Such is the case with Sophia’s Tutus.

I recently found Sophia’s Tutus on Etsy. Let me just tell you that the pictures of her tutu sets, while impressive, do not do the clothing justice. In person, her clothing is just beautiful. I am not kidding when I say these costumes are a work of art.

The owner, Sovi, began making tutus when her now six year old granddaughter was just a toddler in dance class. She wanted to make her cute, original tutus with matching tops and leotards. She kept busy creating new outfits for her granddaughter for dance and then Halloween, Christmas, pictures, etc. Soon family and friends started asking her to make tutu sets for their daughters, and then the children at dance began to ask. She opened a shop in 2006 and began working full-time at making tutus. She just recently opened her Etsy shop. In the past she has also sold her items on eBay and Craigslist. Through the years she has developed a strong customer base thanks to the quality, variety and value of her products.

(The back of the gorgeous tutu outfit she sent my daughter)

She sent my daughter a ladybug tutu costume for review. My husband, who is not one to care much about clothes, was impressed with her work. The tutu is nice and full and is embellished with a large black flower with a rhinestone in the center, black ribbons, and black pom poms mimicking the lady bug’s spots. The shirt features a ladybug on the front, and the wings also mimick the lady bug look. The wings are trimmed with soft black feathers, and each black dot is outlined in gold glitter. The costume also comes with a headband covered in black fabric with antennas on top.

(She can't stop looking at the wings.)

These costumes would be wonderful for Halloween, school plays, or even a trip to Disney. (She has a few Disney tutu costumes in her store—Minnie Mouse and Cinderella.) Considering the quality of her work, these costumes, which generally include the tutu, top, wings and headband, are a bargain at $34.00.

In addition, Sovi is a pleasure to work with. She is extremely detail oriented and provides stellar customer service. One of her customers commented:

It was such a pleasure doing business with SophiasTutus. She was communicative, prompt in her delivery, and very concerned with my satisfaction regarding the order. The item I ordered was packaged carefully and arrived in a timely fashion. I will definitely order from SophiasTutus in the future. It was an extremely positive experience doing business with her.

I couldn't agree more!

The Giveaway:
Sophia’s Tutus has generously agreed to offer one lucky winner the costume of their choice (up to a $35 value.)

To enter this giveaway, please visit Sophia’s Tutus and come back here to leave a comment about which costume you would choose should you be the winner.

Additional methods of entry:
-Follow Sophia’s Tutus on Facebook

-Follow Mom’s Plans or leave a message stating that you already do, if that is the case.

-Follow Mom’s Plans on Twitter

-Blog about this giveaway or post it on Facebook or Twitter and leave a comment with your link.

This giveaway will end on October 12th. The winner will be chosen via random.org. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address in the comments so I can contact you if you are the winner.

I received a costume for review from Sophia’s Tutu. (Thank you!) I received no other compensation for this giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Which Skillets Do You Like Best?

CSN stores, the wonderful online store that sells everything from modern bedding to kids' toys to kitchen accessories has generously offered to let me review one of their items again. I would really like to either buy some skillets or pots and pans to enable me to cook a little faster during freezer cooking days. (As it is now, I only have two pans that are large enough for freezer cooking; I have to stop several times during the day to wash them.)

I am looking at these Rachael Ray skillets. We have tried stainless steel in the past, but I don't like how much oil I have to use to keep the food from sticking. We are also trying to move away from Teflon.

I would love to know, do you have a favorite brand of pots, pans and skillets? I would love some recommendations.

Making Summer Dresses Last Longer

My daughter has about 8 adorable, sleeveless summer dresses. Now that the weather is turning cooler, we are packing up summer clothes and bringing out the fall clothing. However, I couldn’t stand to put away all of her cute dresses!

To stretch her dress wardrobe further, I have a simple white turtleneck to put under those sleeveless dresses to keep her warm when the temperature is only in the 60s. When it falls even further, I have a basic pair of leggings to put on her under the dress. By doing this, she will be able to wear her sleeveless dresses into late October. By then she will have probably outgrown them. Works for me!

I shared this post at Works for Me Wednesdays.

Carmelized Onion and Bacon Spaghetti Squash

When I mentioned making spaghetti squash and meatballs last week in my meal plan, some people asked for other ways to make spaghetti squash. Here is another way we like it:


Carmelized Onion & Bacon Spaghetti Squash (recipe found on food.com)

2 lbs spaghetti squash
1/2 lb bacon
1 large onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
salt
pepper
parmesan cheese, to taste

-Cut the squash in half and carefully remove the seeds. Coat the edges that will be on the pan with oil. Turn upside down in a baking pan. Bake at 350-degrees for about 45 minutes.


-Cool for 10 minutes, then using a fork, scrape out squash into serving bowl.


-While squash is cooling, cut bacon with scissors into 1 inch pieces. Cook bacon to half done. Drain off most of bacon grease.


-Add onions and garlic to bacon in pan. Cook together until bacon crisps and onions caramelize, about 5 minutes.


-Pour bacon/onion mixture over squash. Season with salt, pepper and parmesan cheese.


Note: The onion did not carmelize for me before the bacon was done leading to extra crispy bacon. I would add the onions sooner than the recipe states. I also blotted the grease off the bacon and onions.

I shared this post at $5 Dinners, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Homemaker Mondays, What's on the Menu Wednesday, Recipe Swap Thursday, Pennywise Platters,

Decluttering Challenge Update - Week Six

This week started out slowly. I wasn't going to do any decluttering, but knowing that the rules I set for myself only required 35 items a week, I decided to go ahead and go through some of the kids' toys. I got rid of 24 items that way:

Then, later in the week I tried to give my 5 month old daughter a bath in her baby tub. Her head reached the top, and with all of her joyful kicking, well, the floor got more of a bath than she did! Clearly she has outgrown the tub. She also never takes a bottle, so I got rid of some of her bottle paraphanalia and a kitchen tool I don't like. That got rid of 6 more items.

This weekend turned sharply colder, so I spent several hours weeding through clothes that no longer fit the baby or that we just don't like. (Many were given to us as hand me downs.) It was a little sad to pack up the baby onesies because my husband and I always wanted four kids, and to know that we won't be able to have the 4th one is a little bit sad. I am of course, very blessed with the three we have, but there is still that little tinge when packing up the baby items. We got rid of 122 pieces of clothes!

All items this week went into our garage sale pile for next summer. This week I got rid of 153 items, for a total of 406 items since the decluttering challenge began.

Have you been doing any decluttering? If so, feel free to link up!

Menu Planning, 9/26/10

This weekend was a busy one! We had a rather relaxing day on Saturday, but today, after a rather chilly weekend, I had to pull out the kids' winter clothes and put away or get rid of their summer clothes. This is always such a big chore! But now it's done and their room looks much better. (I'll post a picture of all that I got rid of tomorrow in the Declutter Challenge.)

Here is the menu plan for this week:

Monday--Steamed Baby Bok Choy and Broccoli and Breaded Pork Chops
Tuesday--BBQ Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli
Wednesday--Sweet & Sour Chicken Bowls (recipe is at the bottom of the page)
Thursday--Turkey and Bean Burritos, Salad with avocado
Friday--Pepsi T-Bone Steak and Grilled Garlic Zucchini
Saturday--Pioneer Woman's Macaroni & Cheese and Carrots
Sunday--Dinner out

Breakfast will be the usual--toast, oatmeal, omelettes, smoothies, cereal, etc.
Lunches will be leftovers or sandwiches.

Link Love, 9/24/10

Good morning. I hope you are having a good Friday!

I found a link to a woman who not only had A Very Hungry Caterpillar cake for her daughter's first birthday, but the entire party was fashioned after the book. What a cute idea! I might have to make this cake for my baby's first birthday.

Over at Money Saving Mom, a guest post written about "5 Ways to Repurpose Newspaper" got me thinking about what I could do with all of our old newspapers besides recycling them.

This video on Yahoo! about the "Top Five Ways People Are Irrational with Money" has at least one way I can identify with. Chances are you or someone in your life falls into these categories.

Yahoo! had another article about Lynnette Khalfani-Cox who gives insight into her journey out of $100,000 of debt.

Have you read any good posts this week? Please share them in the comments.

Somersault Snack Pack Giveaway

There are not a lot of snacks out there that are truly good for you.

My son needs to bring a portable snack to school each day to eat in the classroom, and I often struggle with what to pack for him. I want snacks that are not loaded with sugar or processed ingredients.

The products from Somersault Snack Company fit the bill perfectly. They contain simple, whole food ingredients: sunflower seeds, whole wheat flour, sesame seeds among others. They also come in four flavors sure to please every palate: s.s. sea salt, chez cocoa, salty pepper and santa fe salsa.

The two big hits in our household were salty pepper and santa fe salsa. They had a hearty crunch and a delicious, nutty, spicy flavor.

These snacks are a nice alternative to chips or pretzels, and you don’t have to feel guilty about eating them. Each flavor has 6 grams of protein or more in a one ounce serving (approximately 15 pieces), and 3 grams of fiber. They don’t contain trans fats and have no GMOs.

You can order these snacks at Somersault Snack’s web site, or you can buy them at Caribou Coffee. They are also beginning to appear at other retailers. When you Like their Facebook page, you become eligible for 20% off your first online order.

The Giveaway:
Somersault Snack Company has generously agreed to give one lucky winner a snack pack with all four flavors.

To enter this giveaway, Like Somersault Snacks on Facebook and post a comment here that you did that (make sure to include your e-mail address so I can contact you if you are the winner.) This entry is mandatory.

Additional Methods of Entry:
Follow Mom’s Plans or leave a comment that you already are, if that is the case.

Follow Mom’s Plans on Twitter or state that you already are, if that is the case.

Blog about this giveaway or post it on Facebook or Twitter

This giveaway will end on Thursday, September 30th. The winner will be chosen via random.org. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you are the winner.

I received a sample of all four flavors for review purposes. (Thank you Somersault Snack Company!) I received no other compensation for this giveaway. All opinions are my own.

New Monthly Goals

I haven’t written down our financial goals since before the baby was born, so I decided it is about time to do it again. I will post a progress report every month.

I am on a paid leave of absence right now, which has truly been a blessing. However, that will end in January when I move to unpaid leave of absence. After that I will have seven more months off before I have to return to work (which I don’t want) or turn in my resignation. In light of that, we are making the following financial goals:

Save 8 months of living expenses. This is a VERY ambitious goal, but I am setting it because I find when you put it down on paper it is more likely to happen.

Write a budget and stick to it. Do not go over.

Strategically use coupons to pay no more than $300 a month on groceries.

Have two no spending months. (During these months we commit to spending no more than $500 for the month on gas, groceries, going out, misc., laundry, etc.)

Spend less than $200 on Christmas gifts.

Have a pantry challenge for one month.

Earn $1000 from selling items from the Declutter Challenge on eBay.

Save all of our change every month and put in a new car fund.

Research places I can potentially publish articles and try to get some published.

If I have to go back to work, nearly my entire salary would go to paying daycare for my two little ones and private school for my son. I really don’t want to do that. If we can do all of this, we should be in a strong enough position that I can quit my job.

Bereavement Rates at Hotels

Last week, my mom travelled over six hours with her brother and sister to attend their aunt's funeral.

When she called the hotel to make a reservation, she happened to ask the clerk if the hotel was close to the funeral home. The clerk then kindly told my mom that if she was staying at the hotel to attend a funeral, she was eligible for their bereavement rate.

Originally, the hotel room was going to cost $90. After the bereavement rate, it was only $60. I knew that airlines offered bereavement rates, but I did not know that hotels did too. It is something to keep in mind if you have to travel out of town for a funeral.

Food Waste, 9/23/10

This week we wasted about two servings of homemade baked beans (.80) and 6 fig netwon cookies (.40).

The cookies I bought right before I found out I had a dairy intolerance. My husband and daughter tried to eat them up, but it turns out they don't really like fig cookies.

The beans, I don't know what happened except we had too many meals and sides in the refrigerator and we couldn't get to them all. I am trying to manage this so we don't have too much at one time.

Food waste for this week = 1.20

Food waste since February 1st = $90.28

Grocery Shopping, 9/19/10

I was able to stock up a bit this week and go under budget. I like weeks like this

Food4Less:

2 cartons Silk Soy milk - 5.36
1 carton cottage cheese - 2.68
2 cans biscuits - 1.30
5 jars applesauce - 5.00
1 box sandwich bags - 3.58
2 pkgs. tacos - 2.16
1 bag hamburger buns - .89
1 loaf bread - .99

1 bag bagels - .99

1 Healthy Choice Meal - $1.50
10 green peppers - 3.67
nectarines - 1.28

1 lb. bag carrots - .88

3 tomatoes - 1.37
1 spaghetti squash - 1.86
1 cantaloupe - 2.00

2 onions - .68

fuji apples - 3.94
bananas - 1.18

1 avocado - .88

1 18 ct carton eggs - 1.65 (not pictured)

Total - 45.65

When I got home I froze 7 of the peppers for use this winter when peppers are so expensive:

Dominick's:

6 jars Prego spaghetti sauce - 7.50
1 box facial tissue - 1.59

2 cans soft cat food - .60

3 sticks string cheese - 1.00
3 pkgs sliced cheese - 5.97
1 Weight Watchers frozen meal - 3.00
1 gallon milk - 1.99

peaches - 2.49
pears - 1.27
3 lbs. grapes - 2.99

Total - $32.03

Total for the week - 77.68

Total for the year = 3130.89 (89.45/week)

I shared this post at The Grocery Cart Challenge.

Save $10 off of a $50 Order at Sears

Go here to print a coupon for $10 off a $50 order at Sears. This coupon can be used in store or online and it can be used for clearance items. This may be a good way to get some cheaper summer clothes for your kids for next summer. (Or, you could use it for yourself!)



There are many clearance items online.

Find Great Family Friendly Deals and Earn Money for Your School!

Would you like to save money on your entertainment and family friendly activities AND support your local school? If the answer is yes, then you will want to check out the deals on Mamapedia.

Mamapedia works a bit like Groupon. Each day there is a new local deal, and you buy it now to save money later. For instance, if you live in Chicago, today’s deal at Mamapedia is pay $10 for $20 worth of food and drinks at Andies Restaurant.

What puts Mamapedia above other deal sites is that 5% of your total purchase price goes to the local school of your choice. Imagine all of the money you and your friends could make for your school while saving money on entertainment yourself

Currently Mamapedia is available or being developed in the following cities: Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix, Portland, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle and St. Louis.

What's In Our Lunch Today - 9/22

My son informed me last week that he did not want anything packed in his lunch that was normally heated up because he didn’t like eating those items cold at school. So, in an effort to break out of the sandwich rut, I made him a lunch this morning of one hard boiled egg with little cheese sails, little fish cut out of toasted bread, little boats made out of lettuce leaves and filled with cottage cheese and grapes.

He was so excited about his lunch! He couldn’t wait to show his friends.

And then when we were leaving our apartment for school, he slipped on a step, fell down 3 of them and landed on the back of his head. He said he was okay when he went to school, and I didn’t feel a lump, but I let his teacher know just so she could watch him. 15 minutes later school called me to tell me that he had a lump and he said his vision was blurry. Then he started to complain that he felt nauseous and his lips drained of color and turned white.

We spent three and a half hours in the emergency room, and he was a brave little boy when he had his CAT scan. Luckily, everything looked okay on the CAT scan and he finally started to perk up in the afternoon.

His lunch sat at school until I retrieved his belongs in the late afternoon. He was so excited about his lunch and he didn’t even get to try it! I guess I will be making this for him again soon.

For more great lunch box ideas, visit What's For Lunch Wednesday.

Get $5 off a $15 order at Uno's Pizza

Get $5 off a $15 order at Uno's Pizza. Details here.

Buying Coupons on eBay

I have made no secret of my love/hate relationship with coupons. I lack the discipline to sit down and cut them all, file them, and then weed through them when they are past their expiration date. I have tried just marking the date on the packages of coupons and keeping the inserts whole, but that doesn’t seem to work either.

However, recently I have found something that does work for me—buying coupons on eBay. Each Tuesday when I receive the new store fliers, I see if there are any items I need, such as the cat food I bought last week. Then, I look on eBay for the coupons. Most coupons can be had very cheaply on eBay, averaging 7 to 10 cents per coupon. Some sellers also offer free shipping.

I also go to A Full Cup and check CVS and Walgreens there. They list the ads for CVS and Walgreens (and plenty of other stores) a week or two in advance. In addition, people match up the coupons with the sales, so once again I know what I am looking for on Ebay.

Once on eBay, I just type in the name of the coupon, for instance, “Purina One Cat Food coupon”. When buying the coupons, read the auction carefully. You want to check the expiration date, and make sure the coupon comes from the newspaper; I would not advise buying a coupon the seller printed off the Internet. I tend to not bid on coupon auctions because I don’t want to wait for the end date. Instead, I buy coupons at a fixed price so I can buy it now. I have had good luck with sellers sending me the coupons within a few days, well in advance of the end of the sale. Of course, make sure the seller has high feedback.

I think my relationship with coupons may be improving. Hopefully there are more sales combined with coupons in my future. Works for me!

I shared this post at Works for Me Wednesday.

Stacked Tacos OAMC

When I talk about freezer cooking or once a month cooking (OAMC) people often tell me they are worried that the food won't taste good after it comes out of the freezer. However, I find that if you make recipes specifically tailored to freezer cooking, they taste as good as they did when you first put them in the freezer.

The above meal, Stacked Tacos, is a freezer meal, and yet it looks (and tastes) fresh and delicious. This is another recipe I got from 30 Meals in One Day. (This one came out of the Lunch Is Ready cookbook.)

Stacked Tacos

2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 - 15 oz. can tomato sauce
1 - 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
2 cups salsa
1 - 10.75 oz. can tomato soup
1 - 1.25 oz. package taco seasoning

-In a large saucepan, brown ground beef. Drain fat.

-Add remaining ingredients to pan and stir. Let simmer for 1 hour.

-If freezing, place in two Ziploc freezer bags, seal and freeze.

-To serve: Thaw and heat up filling. For each serving, cook 3 corn tortillas in hot oil for about 15 seconds on each side. Drain on paper towels.

-Layer hot tortillas, meat, and cheese. Top with lettuce, tomato and avocado.

Note: I am trying to lose weight, so instead of frying the corn tortillas, I broiled flour tortillas in the oven for a minute or two on each side. (Watch this closely! I had to discipline my son while preparing these and came back to a black tortilla and smoke pouring out of the oven. Ooops!!!)

Serves 12, or 6 per Ziploc bag of frozen mixture.

I shared this post at $5 Dinners, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Tuesdays at the Table, What's On the Menu Wednesdays, Ultimate Recipe Swap, Recipe Swap Thursdays, Thursday Recipe Spree, Homemaker Mondays, The Grocery Cart Challenge, Food on Fridays,

The Declutter Challenge - Week 5

This week I got rid of 58 clothing items. 24 items went to the garage sale pile:

34 items were listed on eBay:

I have now listed almost 83 items on eBay and have sold 27, making $295 so far. That is averaging out to almost $11 an item. (Of course, it will be less than that after I deduct eBay fees.) I will keep you posted on how much I make overall.

In the 5 weeks since I started this project, I have now gotten rid of 253 items. Almost all of these items have been clothing, and I still have many more clothes to go. Yikes. I knew I had a lot of clothes to get rid of, but not this much!

Have you been decluttering? Let us know how you are doing. Link up or leave a comment.

Menu Planning, 9/19/10

The weeks just keep flying by! I can't believe we are already this far into September. I am enjoying the cooler weather though. After spring, fall is my favorite season.

Here is the plan for the week:

Monday--Cheesy Chicken Biscuit Bake
Tuesday--Stacked Tacos (recipe for this coming later today)

Wednesday--Chili with Cornbread

Thursday--Eggs, Hashbrowns, Turkey Sausage, Smoothies

Friday--Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti with Meatballs

Saturday--Dinner Out

Sunday--Leftovers

Lunches will be sandwiches and leftovers.

Breakfasts will be omelettes, eggs, fruit, cereal, muffins, etc.

Enjoy Life Foods

I am still finding my way in a life without dairy. I find restaurants and outside events particularly difficult. I went to a funeral this weekend, and I did not dare try any of the foods at the luncheon because I did not know how they were prepared.

At home, too, it takes some adjustment. My diet is slowly shifting from dairy-laden items to stir frys and other healthier options.

One bright spot is a company I recently found, Enjoy Life Foods. This company manufactures all of their items without the 8 most common allergens--wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, soy, fish and shellfish. More importantly, their food tastes delicious; even if you don't have an allergy you will find these foods tasty.

Enjoy Life Foods recently sent me four of their popular products, and one that I really enjoyed was their Snickerdoodle cookies. (These cookies were even featured on Food Network's Unwrapped. See the video here.) These little cookies are so moist and have a pleasant spice taste. I love these cookies. They are not overly sweet; just sweet enough to curb my sweet tooth.

Much to my surprise, I also enjoyed their No Nuts Beach Bash Trail Mix. This trail mix contains sunflower kernels, pineapple, pumpkin seeds, cranberries and apricots. All of the flavors blend perfectly; there is sweetness from the dried fruits and a little crunch from the seeds. Yum! My husband called this trail mix "addictive."












Another nice treat was their granola. I tried the Cinnamon Crunch Granola, which was very good until I got to the bottom of the bag where all of the cinnamon had settled. The last bowl was a bit overpowering with cinnamon. I have since bought another bag of their granola, this time the Very Berry Granola, and I think I might like that one even better than the cinnamon.

The last item I received was the Perky's Crunchy Rice. Before I tried this cereal, I thought it would be a bit like Rice Krispies, so I was surprised when it wasn't. It had a firm crunch, more like Grape Nuts. I did not like the Crunchy Rice by itself as cereal. However, I mixed it in with some soy yogurt and blueberries and it was delicious.

I am very happy to have found Enjoy Life Foods.

I received the above items for review purposes. (Thank you Enjoy Life Foods!) All opinions are my own. I received no other compensation.

Vitalicious Super Sampler Pack Giveaway!

Are you looking to eat healthier or maybe shed a few pounds but you still want tasty food? Look no further than Vitalicious. Vitalicious was the first to market 100 calorie servings, and their 100 calorie muffin tops and brownies are not only good for you with 5 to 6 grams of fiber each, but they taste great. In addition, they are vitamin fortified and contain 4 to 5 grams of protein.

With Vitalicious, you get to indulge your sweet tooth yet still feel good about what you are eating. According to the Vitalicious website, most of their products on average will take between 13 to 15 minutes to walk off. Compare that to a candy bar!










Recently, we were sent a Super Sampler Pack which contained:

4 Low Fat Deep & Velvety VitaBrownies
2 Low Fat Chocolate Mint VitaTops
2 Low Fat Banana Nut VitaTops
2 Low Fat Triple Chocolate Chunk VitaTops
2 Low Fat Deep Chocolate VitaTops
2 Low Fat Fudgy Peanut Butter Chip VitaTops
2 Low Fat Golden Corn VitaTops
2 Low Fat CranBran VitaTops
2 Low Fat Apple Crumb VitaTops NEW
2 Low Fat RaisinBran VitaTops
2 Low Fat BlueBran VitaTops

They were all tasty, but my husband loved the Fudgy Peanut Butter Chip VitaTop heated up and topped with a scoop of caramel ice cream. (Maybe that defeats the point of 100 calorie muffin tops?)

I enjoyed the Banana Nut VitaTop as well as the Apple Crumb, but truthfully, they were all good. They are flavorful and they don’t taste low calorie or high fiber. They taste like ordinary brownies or muffins, but perhaps even better.

Made with all natural ingredients, Vitalicious products will need to be stored in the freezer. You can heat them up in the microwave in their plastic wrap to retain moisture or let them thaw on the counter. Since each one comes individually packaged, you can take these as an on the go snack or breakfast. On the Rachael Ray show, Hungry Girl turned them into low cal Whoopie Pies.



The Giveaway:

Vitalicious has generously agreed to give one lucky winner a Super Sampler pack just like I received for review. (R.V. $35.99).

To enter this giveaway, go to Vitalicious and leave a comment here telling me one thing you learned. (Be sure to check out their great recipe section!)

Additional methods of entry:
-Follow my blog or state that you already are if that is the case

-Follow Vitalicious on Facebook

-Follow Vitalicious on Twitter

-Follow Mom’s Plans on Twitter

-Blog about this giveaway or write about it on Facebook or Twitter. (Include your link with your comment.)

This giveaway will end on September 27th. The winner will be chosen via random.org. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address in your comment so I can contact you if you are the winner.

I received one Super Sampler Pack for review purposes. (Thank you Vitalicious!) I received no other compensation for this giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Link Love, 9/17/10

As you know, I am a big proponent of freezer cooking. I loved the article, "Freezer Cooking for the Elderly" and wish my family had thought of this while my grandmother was still alive. If you have an elderly neighbor or relative, this could be something you could do for them. I am sure they would appreciate it.

Are you getting ready to send some of your children off to college? If so, be sure to read "How One College Student Beat Tuition Costs." This student finished his undergraduate degree with no debt and even wrote a book about how to do it.

I found the article, "6 Benefits of Getting Organized and Slowing Down" inspiring. I continue to trudge through our clutter and write about in my Monday posts, The Decluttering Challenge. I am hoping some day to enjoy all of the benefits she wrote about.

Lastly, I will be attending my first blogging conference in mid-October. I am excited and a bit nervous. I enjoyed the information and the humor in the article, "Conference Survival Guide."

Have you read any great articles or posts lately? Feel free to share them in the comments.

Stocking Up on Purina One Cat Food at a Great Sale Price!

Since they were kittens at a shelter, my cats have been feed Purina One. The vet recommended we continue with that, but it is expensive! On sale I am lucky to get a 3.5 lb. bag for $6.99. That doesn’t last my two cats very long.

Recently there was a $2.00 off any size Purina One coupon. I bought several of those coupons off eBay, and took advantage of the opportunity to stock up.

All told, I bought 23 - 1.2 lb. bags (that were on sale for $2.29 each, giving me an out of pocket cost of .29 per bag and 53 – 6 ounce bags (some were 1.99 at some Walgreens giving me an out of pocket cost of nothing). On my last day of shopping, I found some of these small bags that were on clearance for .49 each! One $2.00 coupon covered 4 small bags.

The coupons cost approximately .10 a piece, and I bought 55 of them. ($5.50). At the stores, I paid $8.59 (not including tax).

I bought the equivalent of 13 – 3.5 lb. bags (which would cost $90.87) on sale for $14.09, or $1.08 per 3.5 lb. bag.

Hopefully I am stocked up until the next great sale!

I shared this post at Life as Mom.

Food Waste, 9/16/10

There is danger in having the refrigerator too full!

This week the yogurt with blueberries in it (.80) and half of a small loaf of Lighter Meatloaf (1.10) went to waste simply because our refrigerator was too full and we did not find these two items again until it was too late.

We also didn't use up the apple juice. I had been using quite a bit of it for smoothies as a replacement for milk. Then I ran out of frozen fruits, quit making smoothies and neglected to drink the rest of the apple juice. (.50)

Food waste for the week = 2.40

Food waste since February 1st = $89.08

Do You Pay Attention to the Sales Tax Rate?

Recently I shopped at several different Walgreen's to purchase cat food. (That post is coming later today.) I live in a large suburban area, so I may pass through three different villages in a 15 minute drive.

When I looked at the receipts in detail, I noticed that some villages charged 8.5% sales tax and others 9.5%. This makes a big difference! Now that I am cognizant of this, I will try to shop only at the villages with the lower sales tax.

Take a look at your receipts. You may be surprised by what you find.

The Time Keeper Household Planner Giveaway

Last year, the first giveaway I won was for the Time Keeper Household Planner. Was I ever lucky to win this! This is the ultimate planner for busy parents.

The creator, Starla, had tried many planners to organize her time, which was at a premium with 4 young sons at home. In 2008, she decided to create her own planner that would have all of the features she was looking for.



















This planner has it all. Each week includes one page that lists each day with several lines to schedule appointments, practices, events, etc; the other page includes a space for a daily menu for each day and a to do list. At the bottom is a small calendar of the last month and the upcoming month.















New this year are grocery list pages that tear out. How great is that!

In addition, many pages contain inspiring quotes such as "Great works are performed not by strength, but by perserverance" or inspiring Biblical quotes. I enjoyed reading these; they gave me motivation.

The Time Keeper is small enough to fit in many women's purses. This planner is a way to keep yourself organized but also for keeping peace in your life and for reflecting on the use of your time. Starla states, "I believe that God is honored when we make the most of the time He gives us every day."

The Giveaway:

One lucky winner will receive a 2011 Time Keeper Household Planner.

To enter this giveaway simply go to The Time Keeper website and state one thing you learned about The Time Keeper.

Additional methods of entry:

-Follow my blog or state that you already do, if that is the case.

-Follow me on Twitter

-Blog about this giveaway or write about it on Facebook or Twitter.

This giveaway will end on Friday, September 24th. The winner will be chosen via random.org. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address in your comments so I can contact you if you are the winner.

I received no compensation from The Time Keeper for this giveaway.

A New Plan for the Budget: Hoping This One Works!

My husband and I sat down and looked at the budget last weekend. That is a rare event. Usually I am the lone person responsible for the budget.

We both agree that it is important for me to stay home with the kids after my leave of absence is up. The tricky part is finding out where the several hundred dollars we are short each month without my paycheck will come from without us dipping into savings.

We have been very spoiled in that the budget did not have to be as tightly controlled as it did early in our marriage. Now, we are trying to get back to managing finances like we did when we were struggling as newlyweds.

Here are the changes we are implementing:

-Have the budget cycle run from the 16th of the month through the 15th of the next month (follows my husband's pay cycle)

-Use cash only

-Keep all cash in the budget envelope system

-Write down all money spent for the month in a notebook at the front of the budget envelope system.

-Keep a print out of our monthly budget next to my checkbook and bills so I can check off each item as I pay it (so I make sure not to miss any bills as I have done a few times since the 3rd baby has been born)

-Clear all money that is extra beyond our budget out of the checking account and into savings so we don't have the luxury of over spending.

What do you do to keep your budget on track?

I'll report back next month on the 15th.

What's In Our Lunch Box Today

We are trying to move beyond basic sandwiches for my husband and son's lunch.

Last weekend I put some chicken breasts in the slow cooker and cooked them with Famous Dave's BBQ sauce. When they were done, I shredded them and added a little more BBQ sauce.

I also had some pita bread in the freezer, so I unthawed it, broiled it for a few minutes in the oven and then topped it with the pulled chicken. No pizza sauce or anything else, just pulled chicken covered in BBQ sauce, with cheese for my son and husband on top and plain for me. It was a big hit!

Check out What's for Lunch at Our House for more inspiring and artistic lunches.

A Way to Save Money on Expensive Car Repairs

I have a relative who found a used car from the 1990s that had low mileage because it was owned by an elderly woman. However, the car is still 15+ years old, so it needs some major replacements.

Luckily, while perusing the newspaper one night, she found that the local community college was looking for people to bring in their cars so the automotive students could practice on them. Each month the automotive students study a different part of the car: January—engine mechanical, February—manual/automatic transmissions, etc. My relative just makes an appointment and brings her car in.

This has been a tremendous cost savings to her. For instance, many times when she used the brakes, she heard a loud clunk. During the unit on brakes, she brought the car in. It turned out the brakes were not bad but that some component needed to be tightened. They tightened it and gave the car a full oil change, and she was only charged $25.

Another time she needed several repairs—the water pump bearing was worn, the power steering belt was loose and the hose to the coolant overflow was loose and the clamp holding the hose was worn out. They tightened what needed to be tightened and replaced the pump bearing and clamp for a total cost of $249.59. After calling around to other locations, she found this service would have cost her $500.

Perhaps try checking in your area to see if a similar program is available. The cost savings is well worth it. Just keep in mind that the students who are making the repairs are students, learning, so there may sometimes be errors. But in general, the cost can't be beat. Works for me!

Grocery Shopping, 9/14/10

Dominick’s:

8 bags of cat food = 18.32 – 8 $2.00 Qs = 2.32
1 Healthy Choice frozen meal = 2.00 – 1.00 Q = 1.00
2.71 lbs. bananas = 1.36
2.72 lbs. pears = 2.09
Total = 10.28

Jewel:

3.75 lbs. red grapes = 3.50
1 2 liter Pepsi = .88
Total = 4.50

Food4Less:














1 – 24 oz. bag cheese = 4.48
1 - 6 oz. bag deli cheese = 1.98
1 tub yogurt = 1.88
4 cans soft cat food = 1.84
1 can juice = .98
3 green peppers = 2.34
18 eggs = 1.88
1 lb. lunch meat = 2.78
2 red peppers = 2.65
7.5 lbs. chicken breasts = 15.69
1 carton soy milk = 2.68
onions = 1.42
1 avocado = .50
nectarines = 2.07
peaches = 2.04
wheat tortillas = 1.08
broccoli = 1.31
green beans = .19
1 bag spinach = 1.98

Total = 54.17

Total for the week = 68.95

Total for the year = 3053.21 (89.80/week)

Frugal Finds - 9/14

My son and I were grocery shopping on Sunday when I decided to stop by Dress Barn. I found three fall/winter tops there on sale. I bought all three of them for $24; the full price was $23 per shirt, so it was like getting three shirts for the full price of one. I was quite happy with that.

Best of all, I will be able to wear these clothes when I attend the Relevant Conference next month. I am so excited to be going to my first blog conference! (Thanks again for 30 Meals In One Day for helping to make this possible. If you haven’t done so, check out their once a month cooking cookbooks with matching software that helps you plan your grocery list and meal plan! You can read my review of their product here.)

I am hoping for some exciting changes on this blog in the next two months. But that is another post to be published a little later.

How about you? Do you have a frugal find this week? If so, link up!

Freezer Cooking Demystified - Ask Your Questions

I got an e-mail from a reader asking for more details about freezer cooking. She said she would like to start freezing meals but did not really know where to start. She was also concerned about the taste of the meals after they came out of the freezer.

My love of freezer cooking built slowly. The first few months I really did not like doing it, but over time, I have come to really appreciate it.

However, the reader's question got me thinking. Do you have a question about freezer cooking? Do you have a concern? Are you thinking you would like to start but don't really know how?

If so, please either leave me a comment or e-mail me. (You can find my e-mail on my profile page.) I would love to write a post or two demystifying freezer cooking.

Peanut Butter Cookies - Dairy Free

I know, what is a peanut butter cookie without butter? Well, believe it or not, a peanut butter cookie without butter is delicious and probably better for you.

I found the original recipe online, but then I couldn’t find it again. I have changed it quite a bit over the several times I have made these. They have a nice texture; they are a bit chewy and taste to me like a mix between caramel and butterscotch.

1 cup peanut butter
½ c. brown sugar
1/2 tbsp baking powder
1 egg

Mix the peanut butter, brown sugar and baking powder together with a mixer on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes.

Add the egg and mix a minute more or until the batter clumps together. Mixture will look (and feel) very greasy at this point.

Roll into balls and place on an ungreased baking pan. Bake at 425 for 7 to 10 minutes. Enjoy.

Makes 18 to 20 cookies.

I shared this post at Mouthwatering Mondays, Meatless Mondays, $5 Dinners, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tuesdays at the Table, Delicious Dishes, Tasty Tuesdays, Thursday Recipe Spree, The Grocery Cart Challenge.

The Declutter Challenge - Week 4

This week I got rid of 29 clothing items. 16 items (the two piles stacked together) went to the garage sale pile and 13 items (the single stack) were listed on eBay.

I have now listed almost 60 items on eBay and have made $220 so far. Not bad for decluttering! I will keep you posted on how much I make overall.

In the 4 weeks since I started this project, I have now gotten rid of 195 items.

Have you been decluttering? Let us know how you are doing. Link up or leave a comment.

In the Chicagoland Area? Check Out the Grooupon for PeaPod

If you live in the Chicagoland area, check out today's Groupon for $60 worth of groceries from Peapod for $30. You must be a NEW customer to take advantage of this offer.

I tried Peapod before, and I really liked it. You can read my opinion of it here.

Menu Planning, 9/12/10

Ah, the week after the big freezer cooking day. (Actually not so big this month.) Now it is time to pull out those meals and enjoy not cooking, or only cooking a little! I am also embarking on a pantry challenge for the next two weeks, so I am trying to use up the meat I have in the freezer.

Monday--Macaroni & Cheese, cubed chicken, broccoli
Tuesday--Stacked Tacos, avocado, salad
Wednesday--Freezer Burritos, salad
Thursday--Turkey & Bow Tie Pasta Skillet Dinner, spinach
Friday--Autumn Glazed Pork Chops (pushed back from last week)
Saturday--Mustard Marinated Steak, Carrot Coins, Mashed Potatoes
Sunday--Quick Slow Cooker Turkey Chili, rolls

Lunches will be leftovers, sandwiches or something else we create. (See our lunch box ideas here.)

Breakfasts will be omelettes, toast, fruit, granola, Cheerios, smoothies, etc.

$25 Gift Certificate to AddieKat Boutique - Halloween Costumes Giveaway

UPDATE: The winner is ReggieM1961@ Congratulations!

















My daughter, who will be two next month, is obsessed with Sesame Street. Her favorite characters are Elmo, Abby and Zoe. For Halloween this year, she will be Abby Cadabby.

I was delighted to find that AddieKat Boutique on Etsy makes Halloween Abby Cadabby tutu outfits. This is the best of both worlds! Ever since my son had his dance recital back in June, my daughter has tried to sing his ballet song, (yes, imagine a 22 month old singing “Let It Be” over and over) while twirling around the room and holding her hands above her head. This adorable costume matches her two loves—Abby and dance.

(My daughter in her Abby outfit. She is looking at her brother who is off to the side.)

Kim, the owner of AddieKat Boutique is the mother to three children, a nearly teenage boy and two little girls. She started making her daughters’ hair bows to save money, and then she branched out into other clothing. In her store, which opened this past May, she has over 60 adorable, hand-sewn items including many tutu outfits. (You may even be able to find one with your favorite sports team on the shirt!)

She generously sent my daughter the Abby Cadabby outfit to review, and we loved it! When we received the outfit, it was nicely wrapped in colored tissue paper. The tutu skirt is full and the sewing is superb. The t-shirt is made out of a thicker cotton, not the flimsy, thin t-shirt material some people use. Of course, the Abby face on the front is just adorable.

Since receiving this outfit, my daughter has worn it several times. She loves it. When she wants to wear it she tells me “Abby tutu.” I can’t wait for Halloween so she can go trick or treating in this cute outfit.

The Giveaway:
Kim has generously agreed to give away a $25 gift certificate to AddieKat Boutique.

To enter, please visit her Etsy store and leave a comment here as to what you would like to buy should you be the winner of the gift certificate.

Additional methods of entry:

-Follow AddieKat Boutique on Facebook

-Follow Mom’s Plans or let me know you are already a follower if that is the case.

-Follow Mom’s Plans on Twitter.

This giveaway will end on September 22nd. The winner will be chosen via random.org. Please make sure you include your e-mail address when leaving a comment.

I received an Abby Cadabby tutu outfit for review purposes. (Thank you AddieKat Boutique!) I received no other compensation for this review and giveaway.

Great Deal on Easy LunchBoxes, If You're Patient

Have you been thinking about buying an Easy Lunchbox System? If so, now might be a good time.

Due to overwhelming demand, Easy Lunchboxes has sold out of all of their containers; they expect to have new containers to ship by mid-October. To reward those customers who purchase container sets now, knowing that they will have to wait to receive them until mid-October, Easy Lunchboxes will include a free cooler ($7.95 R.V.).

If you don't mind waiting, you could purchase the container set now. The full system with containers and cooler is normally $21.90, but you can get it for $13.95, factoring in the free cooler. (Note: You will not have a choice in the color of the free cooler sent to you.)

Free Swag Bucks Code Until 5 p.m. PST

Do you have a Swagbucks account? If so, please go here for a code for 9 free Swagbucks.

Thanks Couponing to Disney!

Link Love, 9/10/10

If you think all billionaires are out spending all of their money, think again. The article, "Seven Spending Tips from Billionaires" presented information most wouldn't expect. There are frugal billionaires out there. (Who would guess?)

A problem Suze Orman often touches on are spouses who hide debt from one another. In the article, "How Debt Can Destroy a Budding Relationship" one man actually broke off his engagement when he found out about his future wife's student loan debt.

Finally, if you have not heard of Ann Voskamp, I invite you to read her blog, A Holy Experience. She is a powerful writer that routinely brings me to tears. She is now in Guatemala meeting a child she sponsors through Compassion International. Her moving post, "How To Make Your Life an Endless Celebration" is about meeting the little girl.

Have a good weekend.

Try a Sample Menu From E-Mealz

In celebration of Family Week, e-mealz is offering a free Family menu. Use the link above to click over to e-mealz. On the left hand side is a family week banner. Simply enter your e-mail address and a free menu will be sent immediately to your e-mail address.

If you have been thinking about joining e-mealz, this is the perfect way to try it out. If you decide to join, use the discount code DAVE to save $2.50 off your first 3 months. (You will pay $12.50 for three months instead of the usual $15.00.)

To see my review of e-mealz, go here.

A Look Back In Time - Life Without Clutter

My husband brought up our very old computer and has been using it at home to run data reports. When I am working, I often look at the screen saver pictures; we stopped using this computer roughly four years ago, so the pictures are a snap shot of our life during that time.

The first few times I looked at the rotation of pictures, I marveled at how small my son was (the pictures are from his birth to about 18 months, and he is now 6), and how much my son and baby daughter look alike.

But then I started noticing something else—how empty our house was. The hall way from the study to the dining room/living room was completely empty! Now there is only a narrow path because there is a standing book shelf filled with kid’s board games and my eBay shipping supplies, and a chest that holds all of our blankets. Resting on the chest are clothes I haven’t listed on eBay.

In the pictures our living room is also sparsely furnished with only a couch, tv and tv stand and kitchen table. My son had the entire area to play with. Now, there is a standing toy box, another large book shelf, a small book shelf, the playpen, a big bouncy seat, a couch, a kitchen table, and end table, a tv stand and tv.

So, what happened? Six years ago we were just starting to dig ourselves out of credit card debt from my graduate school education. We did not have a lot of money, and we did not have a lot of STUFF. But life was much more enjoyable.

Now we are overrun with STUFF. Part of it is from having three kids in the apartment, a large part of it is from my eBay business and, more importantly, a lot of it is from just buying too much. Too much that we don’t need and don’t use. Too much that I am now trying to cull for the decluttering challenge.

We bought STUFF thinking we needed it or because we wanted it, but all it did was clutter our home and our lives. STUFF has affected us in many ways:

- Maintaining the home is difficult when I am always having to move piles of stuff. Our home is not nearly as attractive as it used to be.

- Having STUFF can begin to feel oppressive; it makes me feel trapped sometimes

-Having too much STUFF makes me feel out of control

I started the decluttering challenge 3 weeks ago and have gotten rid of over 160 items. There is so much still to do, but I find inspiration looking at those old photos and seeing how sparse our home was. It can look that way again. I’ll make sure of that.

Food Waste, 9/8/10

Our food waste happened earlier in the week, so there is no picture. We had two slices of lunch meat and half a bag of baby carrots. I estimate the lunch meat to cost about .20 and the baby carrots .75.

Food waste for the week = .95

Food waste since February 1st =86.68

Udi's Gluten Free Bakery Products Giveaway!

UPDATE: The winner is EmmaPeel@ Congratulations!

As I have shared my story about becoming dairy intolerant, I am amazed at how many readers have left comments about other conditions that leave them unable to enjoy every day foods.

Recently I was introduced to Udi’s Gluten Free Foods. Their gluten free breads were developed by Udi’s Certified Master Baker, Chadwick White, who had a friend with celiac disease. He developed a delicious bread that is not only gluten free but dairy, soy and nut free. Udi’s Gluten Free Foods extends beyond bread to many baked goods.

I was given the opportunity to sample their Whole Grain Bread, Chocolate Muffins and Pizza Crusts. Honestly, they were all delicious. My favorite was the Whole Grain Bread. It was moist and had just a hint of sweetness to it. I had it for breakfast toasted and topped with either peanut butter or jelly. It was a delicious way to start the morning.

Their Chocolate Muffins had a rich chocolate flavor, yet they were not too sweet They had chocolate chips inside which gave them a decadent taste. These are best served when you buy them; I did put some in the freezer, and they dried out a bit.

The Pizza Crust came two to a package and had a nice crispness to it. We would definitely buy all three products again.

If you or a loved one has a food intolerance or allergy, consider buying Udi’s Gluten Free Foods. If you sign up for their e-mail newsletter, you will get $1.00 off your order.

The Giveaway:

Udi’s Gluten Free Foods has generously offered one lucky winner:

*1 loaf Whole Grain Bread
*1 loaf White Sandwich Bread
*1 package of 2 9” pizza crusts

Alternatively, the winner could opt to instead receive 3 coupons, each for a free Udi’s product.

To enter, visit Udi's Gluten Free Foods and leave a comment about another product you would like to try.

Additional methods of entry:

-Follow Udi's Gluten Free Foods on Facebook

-Follow Udi's Gluten Free Foods on Twitter

-Become a follower of Mom's Plans or let me know if you already are

-Follow Mom's Plans on Twitter

This giveaway will end on Saturday, September 18th. The winner will be chosen via random.org. Please make sure to leave your e-mail address in your comments.

I received the above mentioned products for review purposes. (Thank you Udi's!) I received no other compensation for this giveaway.