I'm experiencing deja vieux. The days, the weeks, maybe even some hours blur together. I'm finding it hard to come up on ways I have maximized effective use of time, resources, and money, but I know I must be. I'm digging deep for a few of these.
Time 
- DH did a little care and maintenance on my old bike, not really that old, but one buried deep in the garage. DD2 has enjoyed the new wheels-almost as much as she enjoyed being able to drive her car again on school breaks.
- DD1 came over on Saturday and helped me clear a space for the garden as well as get the yard cleared of sticks and matter. DH then mowed on Sunday and the yard looks a bit better for relaxing outside.
Resources
- No food waste week. In fact, I have regrigerator clean out soup ready to go in the crock pot.
- The 1/4 pound of green beans my MIL wanted were out of stock in bulk. I found one prepackaged bag, same price with a bit over 2 pounds inside. I split the bag so she got a bit more than she wanted, set some aside for DD1, and then we kept the rest. If things are too much in bulk, consider splitting the large quantities with others.
- Used the last of the very old Coors Light from last fall in another beer bread loaf. There's a few bottles of Leinie's that show February best by date, but I'm chancing it and will make it our happy hour beverage of choice this weekend.
Money
- While we splurged on pizza on Monday, I used coupon deals that basically got us a free extra medium pizza and a stuffed cheese bread. I froze most of the cheese bread for a future meal side, and we got two suppers out of the pizza, plus DD2 had for lunch Tuesday, and two of us will eat lunch with the leftover/leftovers. We maximized the splurge.
- DD2 and I were so tempted to stop for a coffee drink on Sunday after our river walk. Instead I googled Frappe recipe's, figuring out in my head substitutions with stuff I had on hand. On Monday, I blended 4 ounces of chilled coffee, a scoop of ice cream, and a few ounces of milk, with a couple ice cubes. My daughter proclaimed it pretty good. I made her one yesterday and added some hot chocolate mix to make it a chocolatey and upgraded it to "that's so good". The last time we got her a Starbucks frapacinno, I know it had to have been close to $6. I'm guessing all ingredients maybe allied $1.
I guess I did find a few things. Not buying stuff, not wasting what we do have, using the clothes line, spending free time with the dog on long walks, and wearing the same clothes. This is the thrifty stuff of my life right now. It's not half bad.
I have not wasted much food except for the chicken that spoiled in the outage. Maybe your daughter will ride the bike after all this is over. It sounds like things are settling down in your life as far as stress.
ReplyDeleteShe's always enjoyed bike riding, but had outgrown hers, and wasn't quite tall for the smallest adult version, but she must have either grown a 1/2 inch or so, or is wearing shoes with a bit more heel to adequately reach the peddles. As for stress, no, nothing has reduced-different day, different crisis, but mentally I have better days and more resiliency than other days.
DeleteI like the idea of using the hot chocolate in a blended drink. We have a couple lurkers. I’ve been getting super creative using up stuff. I made a banana cream pie for the first time ever, using up two bad bananas, stale vanilla wafers, lingering heavy cream. If you have any instant coffee around, try making Dalgona coffee with it. So simple and delicious. Hang in there. I think you are doing great :) JoAnn
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking I would love an iced coffee and this cold sounds right up my street. Thank you for this idea!
DeleteCreating home brews is such a good idea and so so much cheaper. We probably have 10 kinds of tea and 2 kinds of coffee since we work from home normally and like variety - plus flavored creams!
ReplyDeleteI bought a pomegranate tea a few weeks ago, and not enjoying it as a hot tea, but cold, it tastes so much like one of the Teavana teas Starbucks uses for iced teas, whihc I love-at probably 25 cents as opposed to $3.
DeleteFor some reason, DH bought two gallons of milk, and I have some heavy cream I bought at Costco before Christmas (yes, it's still good) so today I am going to put my October gift-to-me Cuisinart ice-cream maker to work and make ice-cream. I don't know what DH was thinking with the milk, other than it was on sale. Only one kid eats cereal, and that's only if we have it, which we typically don't, and only one other drinks milk, and that's only if we have Tim Tams, a very expensive cookie. (Tim Tam slams!) So, ice-cream it is!
ReplyDeleteWe are still reaching in to the freezer for our meals. Last night's slow cooker chili is going to get turned back on for lunches.
My main goal for the weekend is to pretty up my flower beds. I found lots of Foxgloves on our property, as well as a Rhododendron under a dying pine tree. I squealed when I saw that! Looks like I have some transplanting to do!
Every so often I have ended up with a large quantity of something we don't even use in small quantities. It is a struggle to figure out how to use. Homemade ice cream though-what a treat.
DeleteAll sounds excellent and lots of inspiration for others to try your ideas. Arilx
ReplyDeleteNot sure if inspiring, but I know I get ideas from others posts.
DeleteGreat post love it!Thanks for sharing!
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I'm curious about your blog.
DeleteWe don't drink coffee but we sure do like a diet coke.
ReplyDeleteThat's just not right! LOL-My husband is not a coffee drinker or pop drinker but man he puts the lemonade down. I bought frozen concentrate last week which is half the ready made and I can keep an extra on hand.
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