Food Waste Friday (8/1/14)

No waste this week! T’was kinda easy actually – we didn’t buy that many fresh / perishable items AND we’ve been diligent on eating up leftovers. Spaghetti with meatballs for breakfast anyone? 😀

How’d you do?

On Friday’s, I share what food items that I have ‘wasted’ by letting spoil during the week from forgetfulness and/or neglect. Kristen over at The Frugal Girl has inspired me to publicly post in hopes of reducing waste. (Food Waste Friday is now being co-hosted every other week with Simply Being Mum – pop on over to take a peek!)

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Dollarama Finds – July 2014

While popping into the local Dollarama to pick up a few items, I happened to walk past the HBA section and noticed more brand name items being sold there. This is partly due to the fact that the prices have gone up (where has it not?) but the max you can pay is $3 per item  I believe.  I couldn’t resist picking some of these up because they were needed. My next shopping stops were the grocery store and WalMart for these actual items – well hair conditioner to be exact. (I’m trying to work through my stockpile of HBA items and have discovered that I didn’t have conditioner as stockpiled as well as I thought. Read more about that challenge here).  Do you know how elated I was to see these babies there on the shelf for HALF THE PRICE I’d have paid for them at WalMart?!  People thought I was nuts with a huge ‘A-HA!’ look on my face.

I know how Pantene works with my hair and I haven’t tried Dove since they first made hair care products (yes, I’m that old lol – shut it!) and I’ve only seen the Infusium. Never willing to risk the money to try it – especially since it’s usually priced over $6/bottle.  Who’d want to get stuck with a product that they can’t / won’t use that they paid a hefty fee for?

I was able to purchase three brand name conditioners for just over the price of one. Does that make me cheap or frugal? 😉

What’s your latest dollar store find(s)?

 

Food Waste Friday (7/25/14)

Slacking. That’s all I can say that I have been doing in this department. This lil guy takes up a lot of my free time, if not all. Love him to pieces and its worth it to waste a bit of food. Wait, what?!

The past 3 weeks list of wasted food: head of romaine, bag of coleslaw, leftover homemade home fries, 1/2 of a 1KG tub of yoghurt, 4 lil pots of Activia yoghurt, 1L of lactose free skim milk (trying to see which dairy – if any – upsets baby’s tummy aka elimination diet starting with dairy), 1 orange, 1 avocado, 1 apple and lastly 1/2 tub of salad as someone bumped the temperature gauge while putting something into the fridge. The salad literally froze and when thawed on the counter – things were slimy b/c of the freeze/thaw of the cucumbers in there. Ick.  So for 3 weeks – is that really bad?

How’d you do?

On Friday’s, I share what food items that I have ‘wasted’ by letting spoil during the week from forgetfulness and/or neglect. Kristen over at The Frugal Girl has inspired me to publicly post in hopes of reducing waste. (Food Waste Friday is now being co-hosted every other week with Simply Being Mum – pop on over to take a peek!)

Summer Goal 2014

There’s something about summer that I associate with reading.  I grew up reading non stop all summer long as the library was just around the corner, had activities and programs as well as air conditioning. Yes, I admit it – I spent summers in the library reading and enjoying their air conditioning. Somewhere, somehow I seem to have strayed from reading.  The mandatory reading curriculum in schools was a huge part of it.  Then in university, it was the same thing but amplified. I think that’s when I lost my desire to read.

It’s been quite a few years and I still long to read but just haven’t been able to hunker down and get back into it. I mean, of course I read on a daily basis: signs, magazines, packaging, internet etc. Everything under the sun except a book for pleasure.

My goal for the summer –  try to get myself back into reading  for pleasure vs reading out of necessity.    Like everyone else, I have plenty of things to check off on my ‘to do’ list but yet they seem to have time to read. And for pleasure. Surely there’s a way I can get back into it?

If you’re like me, how did you get back into pleasure reading?  Where do you like to do your reading? Do you have a particular set up you find comforting? And lastly, any book suggestions?

Food Waste Friday (7/4/14)

Ugh – long time no update but I’ve been busy trying trying to find the right balance in terms of running errands, grocery shopping, doctor appointments and taking care of the lil one. During that process, a lot of produce has gone through the fridge and into the compost bucket.  My sister tried to help and kept making our weekly tub of salad for us but her way ie trying to make the produce go further by dicing things super fine. Where I’d use 2 bell peppers for the tub, she’d use 3/4 of one.  As a result, it was much harder to eat, so we didn’t when she wasn’t here to dish it up for us.   She also tried to help by buying produce for the hubster’s lunches. He’s not picky by any means, nor am I – we’ll pretty each anything – but for some reason her selection was not appetizing. So that sat for a couple of weeks until it’s time came and went.

This week’s waste – 1/2 of a steak, coleslaw, an avocado and a handful of grapes. All things that got pushed to the back or hidden. Booo!

How’d you do?

BTW: Happy 4th of July to my US readers 🙂

On Friday’s, I share what food items that I have ‘wasted’ by letting spoil during the week from forgetfulness and/or neglect. Kristen over at The Frugal Girl has inspired me to publicly post in hopes of reducing waste. (Food Waste Friday is now being co-hosted every other week with Simply Being Mum – pop on over to take a peek!)

Happy Canada Day 2014

 Just popping in to wish y’all a Happy Canada Day!

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It’s pretty hot and humid where I live and for everyone’s sanity, we’ve decided to stay indoors out of the sun and in the air conditioning. We’ve recently learned that the lil one does not enjoy the heat & humidity combo and was sure to let us (and everyone around us) know.  The pup is quite alright with this decision as well since each time we take him out, he does his business and immediately walks back to the door with no desire to sniff around or play.

Stay safe everyone!

Food Waste Friday (6/6/14)

No waste this week!  T’was kinda easy actually – we didn’t buy that many fresh / perishable items AND we’ve been diligent on eating up leftovers. Spaghetti with meatballs for breakfast anyone? 😀

How’d you do?

On Friday’s, I share what food items that I have ‘wasted’ by letting spoil during the week from forgetfulness and/or neglect. Kristen over at The Frugal Girl has inspired me to publicly post in hopes of reducing waste. (Food Waste Friday is now being co-hosted every other week with Simply Being Mum – pop on over to take a peek!)

Freebie Samples & Products Used Up – May 2014 Update

Continuing on in my challenge to use up the HBA items I have stockpiled as well as all samples/trial sizes I have stashed away, its time for an update.  You can read about why I started this challenge here as well as my last update here.

Let’s get to the nitty gritty shall we?

Trial / Travel Size

Bioderma Sensibo AR (anti redness) Face Cream (x4)

Bioderma Aquasource Deep Hydration Gel (for face)

Bioderma Aquasource Deep Hydration Cream (for face)

Cesar’s Palace Organic Lemongrass Shampoo (x3)

Cesar’s Palace Organic Lemongrass Conditioner (x3)

Cesar’s Palace Organic Lemongrass Shower Gel (x2)

Cesar’s Palace Organic Lemongrass Body Lotion (x2)

Head & Shoulders Classic Shampoo

Pantene Aquasource (shampoo & conditioner)

Tresseme Moisture (shampoo & conditioner)

That’s a total of 21 tiny bottles outta that cupboard! 

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Full Size

Alba Botanica Very Emollient Bath & Shower Gel – Papaya Mango

Sensodyne Toothpaste

Tom’s of Maine Natural Anti-Perspirant

Nivea Pure & Natural Hand Cream

Glysomed Original Hand Cream

Glysomed Unscented Hand Cream

Vichy NUTRIextra Hand Cream

Dove Body Wash – Sensitive Skin

Simple Kind To Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes

Simple Kind To Skin Vital Vitamin Day Cream With Sunscreen

Live Clean Fresh Face Refreshing Facial Wipes

Total of 11 full sized items outta that cupboard!

Now as I read over the list, I’m quite shocked and impressed that I’ve been able to use up all these products. Can you imagine how much all of this stuff costs?!  In a way I feel blessed to have a stockpile to pull from but at the same time, I want to go out and try/buy new ones. In good conscience, I can’t spend that money on new versions of things I already have.  It just doesn’t make sense.

Oh and by the way, in case you’re wondering –  I have been enjoying the empty spaces I am seeing in the cupboard however now that my lil one arrived early, its starting to fill up with necessary items for him.  However, I am not stockpiling his items. Yet. 😀

If you’ve joined me (or wish to join me) in this challenge – how have you been doing? What have you used up lately?

Food Waste Friday (5/30/14)

I am back. Kind of. Sort of. Well, we’ll see how we this goes shall we? LOL

Been MIA for a short while but life has definitely given me another lil adventure.  I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy back in April (announcement can be read here) and have been focusing on him vs what’s been thriving and dying in my fridge.  Hrm. That sounded awkward. Anyhooo….due to the hiatus, the fridge contents have been left to fend for themselves and thrive and survive with my dad and sister caring after them.  I know a plethora of produce had been wasted and to be honest, I didn’t care.

Finally able to settle into some sort of a ‘non-routine routine’ – I’m starting to re-take inventory of the fridge contents and have been trying to use/eat up anything starting to turn/spoil. Frankly, I’m enjoying the semi-full fridge vs the usual overstuffed version.  This is partly due to my dad only being able to carry so much back from the grocery store daily (its a bit of a small walk for him) and my sister only popping by once a week or so to take him out to run his errands and do his shopping.

Hopefully next week, I’ll be back to start reporting again, trying to keep our household accountable and save money (as its truly needed elsewhere now 😉 ) Wish me luck!

How’d you do?

On Friday’s, I share what food items that I have ‘wasted’ by letting spoil during the week from forgetfulness and/or neglect. Kristen over at The Frugal Girl has inspired me to publicly post in hopes of reducing waste. (Food Waste Friday is now being co-hosted every other week with Simply Being Mum – pop on over to take a peek!)

Happy 2nd Bloggiversary!

 

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Another year has past, making this the official 2nd full year I have been blogging!  I’m rather impressed with myself as my life seems to take on many uncharted twists and turns.  True to form, I find posts regarding food to be the most popular lol. I won’t argue that as I am guilty of surfing the web for food porn myself. 😉 Even if I don’t plan on making whatever I am ogling at the moment, its just plain fun to ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ over it.  (You can read about my first year blogiversary here)

The most memorable event from the past year would be getting pregnant, enjoying pregnancy as much as I could given my situation and giving birth to my beautifully sweet son. Yes, I’m fully aware that he’s not ‘food’ nor anything close to ‘food porn’ but he’s so cute that I can’t help but want to gobble him up! 😀 That phrase “Mothers that want to eat their young” or something along that line – I have been told by other fellow mothers that I may soon fully understand that phrase  – YIKES!

I’d like to say a big  ‘Thank You’ to those that have read, followed, shared and commented on my blog as well as the continued support. (BTW: To all the new followers – don’t think I don’t see you there *waves* Thank You to y’all as well!)  Here’s to year ahead – can’t wait to see what myliladventures will bring.