WIS, WWA | Happy 17th birthday, blog!
July 4th marks the birthday of my country (1776) but also my blog (2008). So, The Frugal Girl is 17 today.
I cannot believe I have been typing here for almost two decades. Isn't that wild??
I have been doing this for so long, it feels like breathing: both natural and life-giving.
How would I even live a life without blogging? It would feel almost as impossible as living without breathing, and it is just part of the natural flow of my days.
I know I say this so often, but my goodness, am I ever thankful for my blog and for all of you dear people who pop into my internet home each day. Happy birthday to this wonderful community!
What I Spent
I spent:
- $30 on a Hungry Harvest box
- $106 at Aldi
- $8.50 at Safeway
So, $144.50.
What We Ate
Saturday
I tried the Aldi chickpea pasta (which I mentioned yesterday, in an unfavoring light.) Bleah.
On the upside, I did use up the last of a jar of marinara sauce in the process, so yay me.
Sunday
A tuna melt, because a $0.90 can of tuna makes for very affordable protein (26 grams in a can!) Plus, the slice of cheese adds a little more protein.
Watermelon on the side because I might as well take advantage of the seasonal eating that this diabolical weather brings (you may have already noticed but....I am decidedly not a summer girl.)
Monday
Roasted sweet potatoes, kale salad, and sauteed tilapia.
Tuesday
A ham sandwich, since I realized it can offer a solid 30-ish grams of protein.
Wednesday
Chicken, mashed sweet potatoes, and kale salad.
Thursday
Umm...whole wheat blueberry pancakes. And some cantaloupe. Because that is very easy after a long hospital shift.
Friday
I'm in the midst of a three-day set of 12-hour shifts, so we know it's not gonna be anything fancy. I feel a ham sandwich calling my name. 😉
I'm in the middle of three consecutive work shifts, so I am decidedly NOT going out to watch fireworks tonight. I am going home, eating a quick meal, showering, and going to bed, because Saturday's work alarm goes off at 5:00.
But if you have more fun plans than me for the fourth...enjoy the fireworks!
Congratulations on 17 years! I think I found your blog in late July/ early August of 2008. I'll consider myself a very early reader and follower!
I spent about 50.00 on groceries, and about another 75 between eating out and prepared food from a farmer's market. ( I bought a piece of skor bar cheese cake and ate if for supper on Saturday).
This week I ate fish with roasted potatoes and carrots, rotisserie chicken with salad, and rice with steamed vegetables and a sauce. Last night I went out for supper and had a burger with salad. I have one of the burger patties with the salad for lunch today.
I've got to pick up a few things this week, coffee being the main item and a bit of fruit and veggies.
Thanks for hanging out here with me for so long! 🙂
Congratulations on 17 years!! What a bright spot you and this space have been for so long. Yay!
This week has been a bit of a blur so no idea what I spent or what I ate. 😉
Hope everyone has a good and safe weekend!
I found your blog when your kids were littles. If I recall, it was when Katy @NCA posted a list of blogs to read.
Happy Blog-aversary.
@Mar, I found Kristen on NCA also.
@Mar, yes same way for me. Happy 4th of July for all those in the good ole USofA.
@Mar, I’m just the opposite- I found NCA on this lovely blog!
@Diane, Same here: from our Frugal Girl to Katy's blog was my route.
@Book Club Elaine, Same for me. A. Marie linked to Kristen's blog for some reason I don't even recall. But I'm glad she did!
Happy, happy blogiversary to Kristen--and a shout-out to the entire FG Commentariat!
Now, WIS: $42 at Wegmans, $23 at Ollie's, $33.50 at Price Chopper, and $26 at the Regional Market.
WIA: The week's highlight was the stir-fry I made yesterday, with Reduced for Quick Sale boneless pork rib meat, some elderly mushrooms, snow peas from the Regional Market, and two types of weeds from my garden: wild amaranth (aka redroot pigweed) and lamb's quarters. Both of these make excellent stir-fry greens.
@A. Marie, hey, guess what? I'm going to NYC next week. Thanks to you, the Jane Austin exhibit is top of my list. (Also going to the renovated Frick and the Sargent in Paris exhibit.)
@WilliamB, while you're at the Morgan, don't miss out on the Julia Margaret Cameron photography exhibit. And I'm sorry I didn't make it to the Frick. But there's always next time, I hope.
Happy birthday to your blog! It's almost old enough to vote. 🙂
Saturday: I had a whole ham that had been in the freezer for months, which is why I essentially made Christmas dinner in June. I baked the ham in the morning while it was still cool, at the same time cooking a pan of scalloped potatoes. Then I just re-heated those two things in the microwave at dinnertime when it was 90 degrees. I also had some cooked collard greens in the refrigerator, and those who aren't fans of collards had raw cabbage.
Sunday: Leftover ham fried in butter to make it crispy, leftover mashed potatoes or scalloped potatoes, pureed calabaza, still-frozen green beans, and a sour cream cake with whipped cream and rhubarb/currant compote.
Monday: I found a whole quart of heavy cream that had gotten hidden and was past it's used by date. It wasn't spoiled, just starting to sour, so I made a pasta dish with ham and peas that used about about half of it.
Tuesday: Meatballs baked in barbecue sauce, mashed potatoes to use up the rest of the souring cream, grape tomatoes
Wednesday: More ham! This was the last of it, again fried in butter. I had some par-roasted potatoes in the freezer from when I had the excessive quantity of potatoes from commodities, so I dumped some of those in a skillet with tallow and fried them until they were crispy. I also had just a bit of leftover curried split peas that I put on everyone's plates to combine with their food as they wished, or not. Cucumber and watermelon.
Thursday: I had baked bread, so to take advantage of the soft, fresh bread, we had tuna salad sandwiches. I used some plain cooked pasta to make a pasta salad, too, and then we had some apricots my husband brought from town.
Tonight: A patriotic feast! Grilled meats--probably ram chops and beef steak--baked beans I made yesterday, coleslaw using garden cabbage and carrots, potato salad (the classic American kind with mayonnaise), and our traditional cake decorated very inexpertly like an American flag. And ice cream and watermelon. 🙂 Maybe toasted marshmallows if we end up burning the burn pile in the pasture tonight.
Happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans!
@kristin @ going country, My 5G grandfather fought in the American Revolution - I know he'd be hugely disappointed with what is going on in the US today.
Happy birthday! Congratulations on 17 years! You go girl!
Happy Blogiversary! I started my family blog in November of 2008 and it feels like part of the fabric of my life. I have always loved writing in some form or fashion. (: This week, the heat has dictated that the menus stay mostly simple:
M - A small bowl of rice and meatballs with green beans
T - Big dinner salad with rotisserie chicken, romaine, olives, tomato, cucumber
W - Taco skillet with sweet potato and avocado
T - Pulled pork on another big crunchy salad that had some very crisp sweet spicy pickles - this was so good!
F - tonight I will fix a "freezer surprise" for dinner. I've got dibs and dabs of things to throw together in the freezer, and the pantry. Then I will pack up two days worth of lunches for the weekend job!
No fireworks here, as we have thunderstorms in the forecast alllll day!
Happy Birthday to the blog!
Monday: Roasted sweet potato with a mushroom omelette.
Tuesday: Chilli mac and cheese
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Spinach and cream cheese over pasta (also with onion, garlic and mushroom
Tonight: It's not a holiday for me but I'm ordering pizza because it's the start of my summer vacation (so it IS my summer holiday which is worth celebrating!)
Happy Independence Day, Kristen!
WIS: 33 buckeroos @ Aldi on the way home from vacation for milk, soft fruit and salad greens. This haul included two big packs of chicken thighs that were marked 50% off.
WWA:
Friday: crunch wrap tacos (both tortillas and corn tacos) and my version of Mexican street corn: frozen corn, butter, feta and tajin.
Saturday: salmon burgers and leftover tacos.
Sunday: we got home and it was so hot that we couldn’t eat much, let alone cook, so we had cheese and crackers, cucumbers and hummus and cherries.
Monday: still hot: microwaved nacho plates.
Tuesday: starting to be a reasonable temperature, so I cubed up all the chicken and cut the “ick” off. I packed the newly christened “chen” into six one pound bags, froze five of them and marinated the fifth in salad dressing and the remains of a mustard bottle. I pan fried it and added it to salad greens. We also had blueberries and buttered bread.
Wednesday: I worked really hard on cleaning the basement and forgot to eat lunch, so I was starving at 5:30 and asked my husband to make the fastest dinner he could think of. It was sandwiches. 😉
Thursday: I made a big bowl of pasta salad: tricolor rotini, canned chicken and black beans, celery leaves, a diced orange pepper, halved cherry tomatoes, cubed Colby cheese, half a bottle of Italian dressing and chiffonaded basil from the garden. It made a lot, but the hordes of locusts that are my children ate it all. We also had fruit cups for dessert.
Tonight: the house is finally cool, so focaccia is back on the menu!
Happy weekend, everyone!
@Becca, a bit jealous your husband (and the husband of others) have no issue with a sandwich (with or without chips) for dinner.
I spent $82 at Kroger.
Happy 4th of July!
– Sunday – grilled strip steaks, grilled eggplant with feta, homemade pasta salad with cucumbers, tomatoes onions, feta and parmesan cheese, olives and garbanzo beans.
– Monday – spinach, mushroom and mozzarella quesadillas with a lettuce salad.
– Tuesday – Salisbury steak with gravy, rice, cucumber kimchee.
– Wednesday – take-out pizza and salad. Couldn't cook because we had a plumbing repair going on in our kitchen.
– Thursday – Mexican chicken breasts, corn on the cob, green beans, leftover salad from pizza night.
– Friday – We're going to à minor league ball game in town. I've declared it a no cool night so we're eating junk food at the ballpark.
@Joyce from Arkansas, cucumber kimchi sounds so good!
@Gina from The Cannary Family,
It is! A Korean friend introduced us to it, makes it often and shares it with me. There is a good recipe on eatingwell.com
Happy Fourth of July to all and blog birthday to Kristen!
Congratulations on 17 years of Frugal Girl.
Though I have not been here since the beginning, it definitely is part of my (most days) daily routine also. I look forward to reading your blog & challenging myself a little more to learn & be more frugal ways of life that are new to me. I have learned many new ideas from your blog & the readers/community that I truly enjoy sharing info with others, sometimes to the point of teen saying to me 'do you really need to tell everyone."
May your journey continue to allow you to blog & share with others. You truly are an inspiration & blessing to all that are privileged enough to be part of your blogging life. To many more Frugal Girl years to come. <3
Happy 4th of July everyone.
@Regina, tell your son that the answer to his question is yes!
Congratulations on the blog. I’ve enjoyed it for quite a few years!
Our eldest granddaughter is spending the summer with us and doesn’t eat red meat and for now (while some health issues are being sorted out) is gluten-free and dairy-free. A challenge for sure!
Saturday-fish, baked potatoes, coleslaw.
Sunday-Waffle House after church
Monday-leftovers from Saturday plus green beans and cottage cheese with fresh peaches
Tuesday-black beans and rice (ours had ham, hers did not) and salad
Wednesday-air fried ground beef taquitos (hers were bean), salad
Thursday-rice bowls with chicken and veggies
Tonight-cookout with our daughter’s family: hotdogs, turkey burgers, baked beans, chips/dip, corn-on-the-cob, fruit and apple pie.
Forgot to add, congrats on your blog's birthday! Not many things last 17 years any more! I'm a few more years, it'll be an antique!
Wow, happy birthday to your blog! That shows a lot of dedication. I'm glad you enjoy it, too--it makes it more enjoyable to read, knowing it's not a slog.
Saturday: At my parents' we had fish, lots of vegetables, and I think potatoes and bread.
Sunday: I don't remember. I cooked something.
Monday: Mr. B barbecued chicken, I made herbed rice, and the 3 year old made salty cucumbers (they were VERY salty because it's lots of fun to sprinkle salt.)
Tuesday: Canada Day! We had my brother and SIL over for dinner and firework-watching. Hot dogs, carrot salad, blanched broccoli and green beans (cleaned out the crisper drawer,) frozen fries.
Wednesday: My mom was over. We had breaded, baked tilapia, peas, and mashed potatoes. My mom brought some fruit to share.
Thursday: takeout pizza night, at last
Friday: Mr. B is making salmon, vegetables, and challah.
Congratulations, Kristen - that is amazing to have a 17-year history with the blog! I wish I had found it sooner than I did, but I’ve been with you for several years now. The “new kids” on the staff always get the holiday shifts, so bless you for doing it so cheerfully - the patients will appreciate that, as well as your “off” colleagues!
Happy blog birthday, Kristen! I wish I had known you from the beginning.
This week, we spent $86 ($64 @ Aldi; $22 @ Trader Joe's) and we ate:
- Vegetarian sloppy joes made with TVP (textured vegetable protein)
- Egg bake with broccoli
- Israeli couscous salad
- Salad sampler: sweet potato salad and potato salad (x2)
- Plant-based meatballs and roasted veggies
- Cold tomato bisque
@MB in MN, I forgot about TVP. My dad was vegan in the 90s, and I remember my mom using TVP to make him chili.
@kristin @ going country, TVP is a very frugal meat substitute (or extender)!
@MB in MN, and may Selena *never* have TVP pass her lips. Such a huge ick when one comes from a long (and I do mean long, since at least 1660) line of farmers.
It is possible to let others enjoy their frugal TVP without commenting on it. And the same goes for black beans. 😉
@Selena, to each their own.
@MB in MN, What's your best source for TVP? We're vegan and my huge ick is animal flesh (and those who push it on plant-based folks). Mainly use and enjoy beans and veg for our protein but looking to add that in. Your meals sound wonderful!
@Bonnie, I get my TVP in the bulk section at a natural foods coop where one can buy as little or as much as needed. Good luck in your TVP adventure!
@MB in MN, thank you!
Happy Blogiversary! And thank you for this space. You are an inspiration to many of us here, for so many reasons.
Congratulations Kristen and here's hoping for 17 more years.....I'm in if you are:)
Happy 17th Blogiversary!
**Making America (& the world) more frugal, sustainable, kinder, thankful and happier since 2008**
Happy blog-a-versary!
You’ve been my big sister mentor for nearly two decades as I’m an OG reader. Thanks for all your wisdom, Kristen! My oldest almost an adult!! Would I ever love to know exactly how I found your blog!
Happy Independence Day! My home is forever thankful for religious freedom!!!
Would you be a summer woman if you lived in Greater Boston or the mountains of Colorado where there’s not as much humidity? I’ve been surprised how pleasant New England is in the summer. Do you have a bucket list IF you pursue travel nursing in a few years?
What a milestone! I am a relatively new reader, but look forward to many (many!) years of happy reading ahead.
Congratulations! 17 years blogging is a true accomplishment. WWA:
Saturday - leftover chicken curry, rice, papadams with chutney
Sunday - meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn
Monday - airplane food (while DD and I were on our way to Ireland)
Tuesday - Nando’s chicken, french fries, tomato salad
Wednesday - Mark’s & Spencer’s lasagna at our accommodations
Thursday - a steak/chicken restaurant meal after an exhausting day of touring/hiking
Friday - we will have leftovers with a couple of previously purchased M & S sides at our accommodations
Wishing everyone a joyful week ahead
@kj, hope you enjoy your time in Ireland!
I remember the first post of yours I ever read was about a pair of child size capris. I have 2 children Boy 24 and Girl 26, at the time they were in elementary school. That summer was a very lean summer and they wore the same size. I had cut off 4 or 5 pairs of jeans and bought several white t shirts at a garage sale and with cheap flip flops made it through the summer. I was encouraged by your post. Unfortunately I lost that computer and had a few years of not reading until I found you again through another frugal blog. Happy Birthday The Frugal Girl!
@Amy cheapohmom, I looked. It was Pants that won't quit. October 28, 2008
Congrats on 17 years plus you have monetized your blog so an extra kuddos to you. My blog is 13 years going but not monetized. I just write for me as a journal of sorts. Spending has been varied. I spent $100 at Trader Joes and stocked up on some easy prep meals and then spent $75 at Winco but that include some wine.
Happy birthday to the blog! I'm not sure when I found it but, based on what was going on on my life, it probably was just a year or two later.
It might be cool to link to your first post. It was about food waste, if I remember correctly.
Another good source of protein is cottage cheese. I have a recipe for a crepe-like thing where you blend 3/4 c cottage cheese, and egg, and flavorings of choice; spread it thin in a baking pan; and bake till done, just a few minutes.
Hmmm, I have the puréed cottage cheese in my freezer, waiting to be used up. I think I know what I'm having for lunch today.
@WilliamB, I'll have to try that! I made egg bites earlier, which I remember Kristen mentioning. I'm trying to eat more protein!
@Sophie in Denmark, If you’re short on time: I have several spoonfuls of cottage cheese to cap off my breakfast each day. It sets me up for good energy throughout the day. Just before bedtime, I have another several spoonfuls of cottage cheese (on my doctor's advice). It lets me sleep like a baby all night.
@ErikaJS, Thanks! I usually have cottage cheese at lunchtime but not so much during the rest of the day. I have Skyr yoghurt in the morning or evening sometimes.
I am so thankful for the blog, Kristen and all those that comment. Happy blogiversary!!!
Happy Blogiversary! Congratulations on 17 years of publication. 2008 was a year of major changes as we entered a financial crisis and The Great Recession began. It really was the perfect time to the start a frugality blog. I have read many such blogs over the years, but this is now the only one that I still read regularly. You do a wonderful job, Kristen!
My daughter has been visiting this week. Although we ate dinner together, we all prepared our own food at dinner time. I cannot eat gluten or many foods containing certain emulsifiers. My daughter is a vegetarian, and my husband is on a low carb diet/high protein diet as he is trying to get his blood sugar under control. This makes dinner time a little stressful.
I did make a large pan of enchiladas last night with roasted corn, saffron rice, and avocado salad. This was not low carb, but appealed to everyone. During the week, I also made a large bowl of Jennifer Aniston quinoa salad and a vegetarian curry which my daughter loved but I did not. We had a make-your-own-pizza night on Wednesday, and DH took us all out for Food Truck Tuesday. I have know idea about tonight's dinner. I am going to make a GF peach cobbler and homemade vanilla ice cream.
Happy 4th of July to those of you in the United States!
I joined by way of yogurt and I know it's been a few years, but I'd have to think of what other things I was doing at the time to know just when. I have made reading this blog part of my everyday since. It is a soft place to land. Thank you.
Thank you, too, for working this weekend. I am past doing twelves much less three of them. But I did do four-five eights and don't miss those days.
I did work last night following our facilities Independence Day Celebration. It is also the Community's celebration. The nursing home provided food for everyone! There was a very good band that played until dusk. The local fire department was responsible for shooting off the fireworks. The Residents and their families enjoyed it! And the staff had pretty much everything back in order when I got to work at 10p. The residents were tired and slept good. And all needed up for toileting at about the same time!
Anyway, I did not get to make veggie lasagne last Sunday for church meal, but had time to make egg roll in a bowl and had the leftover with rice for one day. I made the very good burger with potato wedges one night and with sweet corn another night. Working on a watermelon. One night I had a bowl of vanilla ice cream with half a banana, fresh sweet cherries and hazelnut spread. Last night at work, I had a hot dog on a bun, (their famous tenderloins were gone quick) some BBQ chips, and jelly bean grapes (came in the Misfit box yesterday).
Happy Birthday USA! Happy Birthday Frugal Girl!
Happy Birthday to the happiest place on the internet! We people from around the country and around the world have benefitted from your dedicated work. I heard a loud, collective sigh of relief when you announced that you will continue your lovely work here.
Your meals sound easy & practical, which is what you need at this stage. Similarly, I started a new job & needed easy meals to transition for this first week of chaos, particularly as DH & DS18 were both in Boulder for DS18's college orientation.
We had:
-Chicken fajitas
-Korean beef & rice
-Hot dogs
-Samosas (x2) with a bowl of fruit, because DS19 & I couldn't find anything else fast & easy
-Breakfast sandwiches, with more fruit
As for tonight, DH is grilling burgers, which we will have with corn & watermelon.
@Hawaii Planner, Congratulations on starting your job! I didn't know you had found one, but I know it's been a stressful period of under-employment for your family. You all must be very relieved.
Happy blogiversary! You top my list of grateful thankfuls when I journal at night, putting the day to rest. I am taking a short break as my shift began 3 hrs early on day 1 of 3 in the ER.
WIS: $6.99 @ Costco for watermelon, $3.99 for Tillamook ice cream
WWA:
It was in the 90's so we ate salads and fruit with various grilled proteins. Lots of fresh eggs for deviled eggs and I made a big batch of 3 bean salad.
Unfortunately there was 4 deaths - mostly parents of dear friends so I made 4 batches of cherry cheesecake bars.
Had a big work party at the farm and fed everyone grilled elk sausages, sauerkraut, refrigerator bread & butter pickles, potato salad, deviled eggs. cowboy cookies and watermelon. Suntea and fresh raspberry lemonade.
Have a safe 4th, I don't want to see you in the ER!
I’m on my regular unit this July 4th! No fireworks for me
Happy Blogiversary! Thank you for being such a pleasant part of my day for so many years!
Friday: Zuppa Tuscana – we had fresh kale from the CSA box and this is always my husband’s request.
Saturday: My husband and I met friends at a brewery that serves tasty pizza. My son raided the fridge and had a mish mash of odds and ends (he may have just had ice cream for dinner).
Sunday: My husband and son had “Dude Night” – typically they cook together but thanks to a rescheduled game my husband made a quick beef and rice dish for the two of them. They still enjoyed their evening together and watched their “Dude Movie.” I was over at a friend’s house catching up with friends and eating snacks for dinner.
Monday: Leftover Zuppa Tuscana or Lentil Pasta (which used up several odds and ends in the pantry).
Tuesday: The last game of the season (also the last time I’ll sit on the sidelines with a few families we have grown close to over the years). We pulled the Aldi BBQ Pork out of the freezer and made sandwiches, waffle fries, and fresh veggies.
Wednesday: Beef Stir Fry over brown rice.
Thursday: Mississippi Roast (I used frozen chopped poblanos in place of pepperoncini), mashed potatoes, fresh veggies, and garlic bread (using the rest of the buns from Tuesday).
Congrats on your blog’s anniversary! I think I began reading in 2010 or 2011; I can’t remember how I found you tho. Best wishes for many years of blogging in your future!
Happy blogiversary! I think my dear friend introduced me to your blog when our babies were still babies, maybe 2010? We started our Christmas cookies tradition back then and have only missed once! So happy to be a part of your community.
mazel tov to you. what a wonderful space you have created out of nothing. you are a blessing to us all and all of your patients. my zoe was born in 2008. she is a blessing to me. so grateful you are still posting. who even notices or cares if you are late. i don't.
Happy birthday to the blog! I've been here since Zoe was itty bitty.
Wow, 17 years -- congratulations! I started reading when you were doing food waste Fridays and your children decorated the shopping with stuffed animals. That was so sweet.
I do a big grocery shopping trip at the beginning of the month and a little past midway through, so this week I spent $132 but did not cook until today as it's incredibly hot. We had cold meals of sliced salami, fresh veggies, cherries, grapes, watermelon, cheese and crackers. Also made homegrown tomato sandwiches with cheese and pickles, frozen pizza cooked fast in the air fryer, and protein shakes for whoever wanted them.
For our holiday lunch, I made burgers with all the fixings, cheese on top for those who wanted it, air fried some crinkle cut fries enhanced with Penzey's Arizona Dreamin' spice blend, and a homemade apple pie. It was yummy.
Congrats on 17 years!!
Happy Anniversary!
@JDinNM, No cooking this past week -- too hot! But we got some much needed rain and I'm cooking this afternoon for next week: roasted sweet potatoes, grilled garlic steak bites, roasted asparagus, spinach tortellini en brodo. Into the refrigerator it will go, and here's to not having to heat up the kitchen for the next few days.
Hooray for 17 years!
I found my way here in 2009, my dad sent me a link to your site as he thought I would like it, and he was right! I believe it was something to do with yogurt making that sent my dad to the Frugal Girl, as we are a family of yogurt and kefir makers.
This is the only blog I have stuck with, some have disappeared and some didn’t resonate with me, but the Frugal Girl is my favourite and now only blog I read.
It’s quite an accomplishment so congratulations Kristen!
I’m a long time reader, and infrequent commenter, but I enjoy all the posts.
Cheers to you!
Congratulations Kristen! I have been lurking for many years - almost since the very beginning!
Congrats on 17 years!
I just want to say that I agree with you on the “Bleah” taste of chickpea pasta. I like chickpeas, but chickpea pasta tastes awful. Ugh!
@Colleen, Some things were not meant to be pasta. /side=eyes shirataki noodles and hearts of palm as well\
Congratulations on 17 years! I really enjoy reading your posts. I found you about 10 years ago and have been following along faithfully from up in Canada.
2008 was a watershed year in my life. I made some audacious decisions and experienced some life-changing events. I also discovered TFG. All these years later, my plans have come to fruition in ways beyond my wildest imaginings. Thank you, Kristen, for helping me get there. It tickles me how far you have come, also in ways you did not expect. Here's to a fantastic seventeen more years!
Congrats on the blog! I found you in Spring 2009 so I have been along for most of the ride!
I spent about $55 on groceries and another $50 eating out. (1 lunch and 1 dinner). Yikes. Eating out was a waste of money because I actually ate very little of what I ordered. A friend took home my leftovers from the lunch but the other meal got tossed. Oh well.
Saturday - tomato soup and a cheese sandwich.
Sunday/monday - Salad with strawberries, apples, almond and chicken.
Tuesday - A friend treated me to a taco and beans at a Mexican restaurant.
Wednesday.- I was in a lot of pain (from falling the day before) and couldn't find it within myself to cook. I door dashed chicken, mashed potatoes and corn from Cracker Barrel. This is the meal I tossed after eating a few bites. It just didn't sit well with me.
Thursday - half a salami and cheese sandwich and some cherries.
Friday -no 4th of July plans. I just made BBQ meatballs in the crock pot and corn on the cob.
Sat - leftover grilled burger w/cheese for me and I fried up the leftover potatoes from the earlier crock pot meal.
Sun - dine out Mexican
Mon -
Tue - leftover Mexican for me, leftover pizza from freezer for husband (likely with a salad)
Wed - grilled cheeseburgers, potatoes
Thu - tilapia, an enhanced wild rice pilaf (rice needed to be cooked longer, enhancements added a bit too much grease), asparagus. A too low fat, low iron meal for me truth be told.
Fri - Yogurt and fried up leftover potatoes for me, not feeling well better half ate a plethora of food from salad to soup with something involving bread in between. Like most males, cranky when not feeling well.
@Kristen, a ham sandwich could make me look like a model and I still would not eat it. A very frequent food during my formative years - a grandparent loved it and to be honest, you can feed a lot of people on the cheap with ham. I started bringing roast beef and turkey for sandwiches at family get togethers. Once I was pregnant with my first kiddo, ham was on the turn my stomach list.
@Selena, Mon was a beef tender, can't remember the side dish.
@Selena, and we spent at least $178 beefing up food supplies in preparation for the economic turmoil.
well done YOU! Congratulations!
Congratulations on your 17th anniversary! I remember finding your blog so very long ago and it has been most relatable ever since!
Because I go to the farmer's market on Saturdays, I usually chop and cook up all the leftover fresh veggies in my fridge on Friday evening. Today, I topped it with thinly sliced Black Forest ham strips and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Very tasty!
I also found these small heads of lettuce at Aldi, that can be transformed into a delicious chopped salad without much mess. That way, I can vary the toppings from German style grated veggies (carrots, radishes and cucumbers) to Greek style chopped ingredients (peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and feta cheese), depending on what I find at the market for cheap. Perfect meal for hot days.
And, of course, fresh fruit and nuts for snacks in between meals.
Hahaha, "diabolical" is the perfect way to describe those hot days of summer. My least favorite season also - those of us in the club must stick together!! 🙂 The summer lovers are always trying to push their beliefs on others. Also, yum (!!) to that tuna melt, it looks so good. I'm gonna have to make one soon.
Kristen, I’ve also tried the chickpea pasta from Aldi. I’m not picky, and I hate food waste… however I threw it out. Blech!
Congratulations on 17 years of blogging! Love your blog!
Hi Kristen, Congratulations on 17 years, you have me beat by 2 years. I'm surprised I didn't come across you early being from New England and now living in Maine.
I found you over on Benable.
Congratulations!
I have been an avid reader since 2013, when I saw the CBN news piece.
Thank you for all you do!!!