{ Grocery shopping was interesting }

I've tried to be nice about this weather, but I'm now over it.  Today was much colder than Thursday, we woke up to ice all over the cars and lawn, and a bitter cold that really cut to the bone.

It was 18 degrees.  I know I probably have no right to complain about the cold, because I think some of you are in much colder areas and still dealing with a ton of snow, but as bad as I feel for you all, I still dislike this cold we're having over here.  

Cold weather usually calls for a bowl of hot oatmeal, and the one I always make in my instant pot, always hits the spot.  I don't think I've ever made a creamier oatmeal, so good.

 

I added in a chopped banana that I had in the fridge, it was already super ripe and no one was going to eat it.  

I got my bed made, got dressed and ready for the day, and then headed out to drop Jasmine off, and head to the commissary.

I hadn't been to a grocery store for a while, I've been using the Walmart pick up, but I missed the actual shopping in person, and was very excited to get in the store.

It was an interesting grocery trip.  I think it was the first time that I really struggled to get what I needed, lots of empty shelves, and the prices seem to have doubled and tripled.  My first reaction was to get a bit worried, you can't but feel a bit scared.  

But I quickly felt a peace come over me.  It was as if God was telling me to stop and not let it scare me, to remember that He is in control and that He is our provider.

I was also quickly reminded that this is when I thrive.  That sounds a bit strange to say, but what I mean is, I love cooking and love a challenge, and trying to figure out what meals to make with what I have on hand is quite exciting for me.

So, the way to get through this is to pray on it, leave it in God's hands and then get to work being creative, and making meals that are inexpensive but still delicious.  At least that's what we are hoping for, right?

Ok, so for groceries today, I think this was the most I've paid in many many years.  My total came to $332.  

 

I am so glad that I've always menu planned, because it does help a lot when trying to stay on track and not overspend or impulse buy at the store.

 

I got just what I needed for the next two week's meals, although there were a few items that I had to buy because we were completely out of.  Things like toothpaste, deodorants and then some spices that were empty as well.  Those things are not things I buy on a regular basis, but it just so happened that today was the day I had to replenish them. 

I noticed that the fridge with the coffee creamers , was quite empty.  There were only a few in there, and they were so expensive.  I just grabbed a French Vanilla and walked away.  

 

The big Great Value Vanilla creamer you see on the shelf above, is from my last grocery run.  I've been making it last.  I also never make coffee with just creamer, because it's too sweet and it will finish really quickly.  I always do milk and then a splash of the creamer.

Do we love our creamer in the coffee?  Yes.  Is it absolutely a need to have?  No.  I grew up drinking coffee with just milk, and if need be, it will go back to that.  It's all about adjusting and going with the flow.

We need to start looking at grocery shopping, as wants and needs.  Some things are needs, of course, but a lot of our groceries are sometimes wants or splurges.  Extras so to speak, and if we need to go without those for a while, then we do.

Perfect example of a want and not a need, is this bag of salad.  I make salad at home all the time, but this one looked good and I've never tried it, so grabbed a bag.  Thankfully, it was only $2, so not a splurge per say.

Fresh vegetables is something I always pick up as well.  This time I got some carrots, zucchini, and bean sprouts for some egg rolls I'll be making next week. 

Also picked up tomatoes, and I always pick the roma tomatoes because they're cheaper.  I am not at all a person who has to pick the best brand or the best of this or that, I've always tried to be very thrifty when I shop.

Onions, broccoli and some peppers.

Got some sliced cheese, the Freedom's Choice brand which is the military commissary brand.  It is usually a lot cheaper than other brands.  

Got some of the cheaper ham and shredded cheese as well.  One thing I did notice is that the shelves with the pillsbury products was completely empty, save for a can or two of biscuits, and thankfully some crescent rolls which I actually needed for tonight's dinner.  Everything else was completely bare.

 

I got some ground beef, chicken and pork, and then some soups, canned tomatoes and spaghetti sauce, pasta, coffee, oil, butter and such. Nothing really out of the ordinary, just my usual groceries. 

 

And some cat treats and food.  Oh and a downy ball for my washer.  I've never used one but it was only $2 and I'm having the worst time with my washer leaving stains on my clothes from the softener, so hopefully this eliminates that issue while leaving my clothes smelling good.

I do love pulling the laundry out and having it smell wonderful.  I'm not a big fan of dryer sheets, but I've been making do for a few week with those.  Will have to see how I like the downy ball.

I don't feel like I got a lot, but my wallet surely felt it.  I wasn't the only one taken back with the prices of everything and the bare shelves, there was quite a few shoppers complaining to the cashiers and the manager.

Goodness!

But as I said, I refuse to let this get me down or worry me.  I am leaving it in God's hands and I'm just moving on, and concentrating on my home and family.

I've started planting and regrowing some of my veg, in preparation to get them in the ground, as soon as the last frost is done.  Which I'm hoping is soon, considering we are supposed to get another snow storm next week.  

At least inside it looks like Spring.  I already have lettuce, green onions, 4 avocados that are rooting at the moment, and I even grew a cactus from seed.

Also, I promised  to share with you my teas every day, and this morning's tea was,  A Bronze Dragon's Brew.

It is a caffeine free Rooibos tea.  So good!!!

The rest of the day, I paid bills, got some housework done and then fixed us a yummy dinner.  I try to do quick meals on Fridays and Sundays, it's usually either pizza or sandwiches, chili dogs, just simple meals like that.

 

Today I made French Dip Squares.  They are so good, and a fun dinner to have.  I'll have the recipe up tomorrow.

 

I've kept the food blog updated, been trying to add at least a recipe a day, so if you're interested in any of the food I show here on my main blog, be sure to head over to Full Bellies, Happy Kids and check those out.

 

And with that said, I am going to call it a night.  Thank you all so much for the sweet comments, and the excitement over the fact that I'm daily blogging.  It means the world to me.

Starting tomorrow, I'm going to try to come and see you all, I'll also start replying to your comments here on the blog too, so we can interact and chat back and forth.

Have a wonderful night friends.

xoxoxo

{ Cardinals, cold day and hot tea }

The kind of day that you step outside with your camera in hand, thinking that you will try and get some good shots of the rain coming down, but really can only manage to be out there for 2 minutes before your hands freeze.

It's been steadily coming down, not stopping, not changing intensity.  Just a constant almost kind of misty freezing rain that leaves you chilled to the bone.

I will say that I'm enjoying it because it's been a while since we've had a good rain shower around here, but I'm also very eager for Spring to just arrive and this coldness to subside.

{ Ironing and my favorite Vlogmas Channels }

My skin has been so dry the past month or so, it's quite awful and no matter how much wash it or apply lotion, it just doesn't seem to help.  So this morning, I decided to start with a Rose Face Mask which I've had on hand for a while but hadn't yet gotten around to trying it.

It smells amazing, and it worked really well hydrating my face.  I'll have to keep using it throughout the winter months.

*SIGH* new shifts bring new stresses

When hubby changes shifts, which usually happens every three months, it's stressful to say the least. This is the thing about being a family, what one does affects everyone else, and when he gets thrown into a night shift, we're all running around discombobulated for the first few days.

I'm feeling like the lady in the picture to the left. See that??? Just that I don't have the baby, so picture it without the bottle holding baby. The two kids on the bottom are exactly like Jasmine and Nicholas when they decide to provoke each other. Something that happens at LEAST once a day. Sibling rivalry at it's best!!!

So we're trying to get used to this shift. The worst part of it, is the fact that Jasmine only sees daddy on the weekends. She gets up for school and he's asleep, when she gets back home he's already gone for the day, and then he gets home around 11pm, she's been asleep for hours. It takes it's toll on her, she misses him, she's cranky, which in turn causes fights with her brother and spats between me and her.

Here in a day or two, we'll all start getting used to this and then he goes to mid shift (graveyard shift) next week. Constant change, that's the military way of life, but you know it's well worth it in the end :)

I'm still sick and woke up with no voice today. Frustrating for me, but the kids think it's wonderful, after all, they can do whatever they wish without the nagging voice of mommy in the background.

I've been trying to get all my laundry caught up, so far it's taken me THREE days. This is what happens when you don't do anything for a week. I started feeling sick last week and really didn't have the energy to do much, other than cook meals and take care of the kids, that's all I could really manage to do. The laundry suffered, my floors suffered, but at least everyone was fed and happy.

So I stayed up late last night, sorting the laundry, putting away mine and hubby's and today I have to do the kids. I still have all the bed linens to wash and a couple blankets, plus some ironing.

It's raining outside and only 50º, I truly feel as if Fall arrived days earlier, and I'm thrilled of course. So I'm sitting here sipping Hot Autumn Pumpkin Spice Tea. It's quite delicious and makes me crave pumpkin pie, which in turn makes me crave Thanksgiving. Here's the thing, it's always just the four of us, but we still make a HUGE meal, then we spend the rest of the day eating, laughing and talking, playing games and just having fun. I can't wait!!!!

Since I'm not feeling well, I decided to have tea instead of coffee, I put in some honey too, it soothes my throat and hopefully in a few hours I will have my voice back.

Of course to finish it off, I have some ginger cookies on the side. What can I say??? I'm an Autumn kinda gal!

One thing that I really miss about autumn and winter in Portugal, is the Castanhas "roasted chestnuts". Any street you walk down, you're certain to find someone roasting these and then serving them in newspaper funnels. Nothing like it, I tell you. Here's some pictures, they surely bring back wonderful memories for me :)

I was reading my "Day by Day" book this morning, and realized that I had somehow missed the entry for September 17Th I went back to read it and low and behold.....

"The tongue is a small thing but what enormous damage it can do..." James 3:5

It brought to mind Barb's post yesterday , and most importantly, my own issues with my unruly tongue. I've said many times on this blog, that I should buy mouth guards. It's not that I intentionally upset people or say the wrong thing....it's just that sometimes, due to life, or personal circumstances, stressed and worries or even my own inability to think before I speak, I've said things that I couldn't take back, but that in turn really upset someone.

"Unkind words are easily dropped, but we can never take them back again."

How true is that??? Over the years I've learnt to curb my tongue in a way, I think before I speak and I try really hard not to gossip. We all know that we're daily surrounded by it, so and so says this, and that one did that, it's all too easy to fall into the rhythm of it and not even realize that the words were speaking are hurtful and many times untrue. I've been guilty of this many times, but with the Lord's help, I've really taken a hold of my thoughts and tongue. It's not an easy job I tell you, and I'm nowhere near being free of it....but I just keep going and when I do mess up (often I might add), I realize that I'm Human...just like Barb said.

So I leave you this morning with a prayer for the day,

Might my words about another, be ones that are spoken in the spirit of Your loving kindness, Father.






Last night I made Chicken Tetrazzini, it was SO SO good, you really need to try it, so go check out the recipe on my food blog.

Right now I have the wonderful aroma of Mushroom-Beef Stew in my slow cooker. It will be served over hot noodles and for dessert I have Carrot Cake with Easy Cream Cheese Frosting. Both recipes will be up on the food blog this morning :)





Rachael Ray - *New* UPN 12pm (mountain time)

House - *New* NBC - 7pm (mountain time)

Law and Order SVU - *New* NBC- 9pm (mountain time)

Laundry
Mopping kitchen floor
Updating Food Blog
Updating Book Blog
Knitting Scarf
Resting and hoping to get my voice back