Day 29

Day 29

It's day 29 of the new 2013 budget and here is the update.  The food situation is working out pretty well.  Again, it is a lot more work, a lot of planning and a lot of self control at the grocery store.  Yesterday I went to the grocery store to pick up a couple of items so that I can use the rest of the ingredients in the refrigerator before the next shopping trip.  The bagger was shocked at how quickly I shopped.  "I just saw you in the parking lot, that was really fast".  When you have a list it really speeds things up.

Money spent on food for the month of January to date:  $788.91

ATM Withdrawls:  $240.00

The goal for food was $650.00 so we passed that number, but it is still almost $250.00 less than our $1025.00 monthly average last year.  The ATM withdrawls are much better.  $360 less than then monthly average last year.  Still room for improvement, but much, much better.  We have enough food for the next two days so that should be it for the food budget for the month.  

I LOVE THE BELLISSIMO ANGELO NECKLACE

I Just Love The Bellissimo Angelo Necklace

From Stella & Dot

I am still sorting through my new Stella & Dot samples but I need to tell you I have already worn more than a handful of times the new Bellissimo Angelo Necklace.  I just love it.

If you like it as much as I do you can buy it on my website.  Follow the page link at the top of the blog.

Order by 9:00 a.m. P.S.T. to receive it in time for Valentine's Day!

Cooking Every Night

Day 23

Okay, okay, I can see that my New Year Resolution is going to use some tweaking (that word always reminds me of that movie You've Got Mail).  We have leftovers coming out of our ears.  I planned way too many meals or cooked way too much for the week.  The menu I first started out with was:

Sunday:  Minestrone soup

Monday:  Beef Stroganoff

Tuesday:  Chicken Cacciatore

Wednesday: chili

Thursday:  leftovers

Friday:  Baked Potatoes

Saturday:  Spaghetti and Meatballs

There is still minestrone soup leftover and now there is quite a bit of chicken cacciatore left over as well.  Thursdays leftovers is now going to be Wednesday AND Thursday leftovers and who knows maybe even Friday's leftovers.  

If anyone has some suggestions as to better meal planning I would be happy to hear it.  One the plus side I haven't spent any more money on food or taken any more cash out and either has my husband.  Hurray.  Maybe we will last until the end of the month with all this food!

I have been getting some inspiration for meal ideas from Allrecipes.  Has anyone ever tried the weekly menu ideas from them?  You need to be a pro-member which I am not.  If you haven't already guessed I am not the best cook in the world.  I really do not enjoy cooking.  I play a lot of tennis and I play on a bunch of USTA teams.  The thing I hate the most is when we have home matches and everyone has to  bring some kind of dish.  All these other women make these delicious dishes and I bring a family size sandwich from Togos.

On an unrelated topic..I am still working on my new samples for my Stella & Dot business.  I ended up sending back four items and exchanging them for others.  As soon as I have all my samples and my new display organized maybe I will post a video.  I will post some photos for sure.

Speaking of tennis...I am on my way out the door now....AND what about that Sloane Stephens last night at the Australian Open.  Pretty exciting stuff for her.

Cutting Down the Food Budget in 2013

Food Budget in 2013

One resolution that we have as a family in 2013 is to cut down on the food budget and the cash spending.  I ran some reports of our spending from 2012 and we average $1,025 a month on food and household cleaning products and another $600 a month in cash withdrawls.  Where that $600 is going...I don't know, but that is $7,200 per year.  Yikes!  That is quite a bit of money.  

I am not going to go crazy and say that we are spending only $100/week for a family of four, because that is just not realistic for us, but I would like to cut it back to about $650 per month on average.  This means more planning.  Planned menus, planned trips to the grocery store, and managing sales.  Coupons?  I don't know, we will see how it goes.  I will definitely do the coupons available on the Safeway card.  That is simple and convenient and now with the app even if you forget to add stuff to the card you can do it while you are at the store.

So how is it going so far?  Well, so far in January we have spent $698 and today is  only the 21st.  We have 10 days to go.  We did go out to dinner once and we had to do some restocking of staples and meat for the freezer.  Like I said it is going to be on average.  There will be some months where more money will be spent.  One thing, however, is that it does take up quite a bit more time.  On Sunday after going to Costco and Safeway and coming home and dividing the meat into bags for the freezer and putting everything away and making a pot of minestrone soup over 4 hours had gone by.

How about the cash?  Only $120 in cash so far this month.  That is a great improvement.  I cannot help but think that a lot of that cash was spent on food as well.

Here is the dinner menu for the week:

Sunday:  Minestrone soup

Monday:  Beef Stroganoff

Tuesday:  Chicken Cacciatore

Wednesday: chili

Thursday:  leftovers

Friday:  Baked Potatoes

Saturday:  Spaghetti and Meatballs

We need to stick to it.  I am sick and tired of wasting money.

First StyleMint Order Arrived

My First StyleMint Order Arrived

So excited about my first StyleMint order.  I received two shirts for $29.99 +  Tax.  I have always thought it was difficult to find cute knit shirts.  They are either WAY expensive or WAY cheap.  I heard about StyleMint and I think the Olsen twins have a great easy sense of style so I gave it a try. I also think that the shirts will look great with my Stella & Dot jewelry!  

 Cute packaging!

Green Shark Bite Shirt

Medina Necklace and Moondance and Rhea Bangles

Pippa and Demi Necklaces and Pippa Earrings

Zoe Lariat Necklace

Snake Orb Necklace

Needless to say I am very pleased with my purchases.  I am cannot wait until next month!  Plus...the new Stella & Dot Spring line just came out.  My samples should arrive tomorrow.  There are some great pieces that would look fabulous with these shirts.  Cannot wait to start styling.

Another New Subscription - Wen Hair Care

Wen Hair Care

I have been interested in Wen Hair Care for awhile and recently an offer came through via ProActiv.  I have been buying ProActiv for my daughter for at least four years now, maybe more, and we have been more than thrilled with the results she gets from ProActiv.  She is 17 and has only had minimal acne problems her entire teenage years and we think it is all due to ProActiv.  I thought I would give Wen a try.  The offer was for $19.99

It did take quite awhile for the box to come.  I would say close to three weeks.  This could be because of Christmas.  I noticed a lot of shipping was slow over the holidays.  When if FINALLY came we received:

1 16 oz. Cleansing Conditioner in Sweet Almond Mint

1 4 oz. SIXTHIRTEEN Nourishing Cleansing Treatment in Sweet Almond Mint

1 2 oz. Replenishing Treatment in Sweet Almond Mint

1 2 oz. Anti-Frizz Styling Creme

We were supposed to receive another item, but it is backordered and will supposedly come in the next shipment.  Of course, with the Wen and the ProActiv, once you purchase you are put on an automated delivery service.  We have had to adjust the ProActiv numerous times to get the delivery right and I am sure it will be the same with the Wen.  At first it will seem like it is coming constantly.

Photo of the Products Received.

As you probably already know the Wen is a Cleansing Conditioner.  You do not use shampoo and conditioner and Wen is NOT a shampoo.  It does not lather. I used it on my son first.  His hair is crazy damaged because he is in the pool 4x a week.

Before

After

It worked wonders on his hair.  It was not a dry and had a lot more body to it.

Next I tried it on my hair.  My hair is very fine and flyaway.  After the Wen I felt like it had more body and was easier to style.  Since it was actually a Christmas gift for my daughter I had to hand it over to her.

My daugher was next and she has been using it now for about 5 days.  The first couple of days her hair looked wonderful, but that last two it looks a little on the greasy side.  I think there is an adjustment time with the Wen, similiar to the "no poo" method.  Her scalp will adjust and not produce as much oil as time goes on.  

I will keep you posted on what the long term results will be.  If you have used Wen let me know your experiences below.

My Cotton Bunny Subscription Box Arrived

The First My Cotton Bunny Box Arrived

As I stated in my previous entry I signed my daughter up for the My Cotton Bunny monthly box subscription.  I love the idea of these monthly subscription boxes.  I think, for the money, that it is a fun idea.  This monthly subcription is a "period box".  Every month you get your choice of feminine protection, but some little extras.  We are ALWAYS running out and buying tampons because we are NEVER prepared.  She doesn't tell me she is out or she using all of mine without telling me.  It goes on and on.

I signed up on Sunday, December 30th and the box arrived today Thursday, January 3rd via USPS.  I paid by setting up an automated payment through PayPal, they also accept Google Wallet.  They do not take credit cards on their website.  I did not find that to be a problem at all.  I didn't tell her about the box until it arrived today.  Her initial reaction was "this is so wierd".  She liked the extra goodies and when asked if she wanted me to cancel it she quickly stated "NO".

The box is about the size of a shoebox.  It is marked My Cotton Bunny but there is nothing on the outside of the box that states what is inside, which I think is a plus for a delivery to a college dorm.  The box was shipped priority mail.

Box

There is pretty black tissue paper in the box along with a letter thanking us for being one of the first subscribers.  Very nice letter.  The letter also asks for referrals for new clients.

Letter

Underneath the tissue paper were:  a box of Kotex U unscented tampons in Super, 18 count (that is the type of tampon that we chose during the sign-up process), a small tulle bag with two Yogi tea packets in "calming" and "moon cylce"  and a piece of Dagoba organic chocolate, also in the box was a black and white plaid scarf rolled up and tied with a piece of pink yarn.  There were also two postcards in the box.

Box Contents

The tampons were just what we ordered so no surprise there.  The little bag with the teas and chocolate was very sweet and well presented.  The scarf is very cute and versatile.  I think she will get a lot of use out of it.  The one postcard is to pass on to a friend explaining the subscription box and the other one decscribed the contents of the box.  There was a special message stating that if you upload a picture of yourself wearing the scarf that you will get something special in your next box.  

Scarf

Retail value Roughly:

Tampons:  $4.99 (average price, you can get them on sale for $3.99)

Scarf:  $15.00 (postcard inside says similiar scarves range from $10-$40

Tea:  $.65 (box of 16 is $5.00)

Chocolate: $.75 

Shippings:  $4.50

Total Value:  $26.00,  Cost:  $13.75

The overall presentation was very nice.  I was very pleased with not only the quickness of shipping but also the obvious care that went into the box.  I understand that this is not suppose to take place of all of your feminine protection needs, but it would be nice if there were a small box of panty liners as well.  We are definitely keeping our subscription and am looking forward to what future boxes will bring.

We signed up for our subscription at mycottonbunny.com.