February Grocery Shopping - Week 2

February 13 Groceries

I went grocery shopping on Monday, February 13 and bought:

1 box pancake mix = $1.99
1 loaf bread = $1.00
16 oz. jar unsalted roasted peanuts = $2.99
2 cans condensed milk, @$1.69 = $3.38
1 can corned beef = $5.99
1 lb. butter @ $3.99 - $.40 coupon = $3.59
Bananas @  $.69/lb = $.79
1 cucumber = $.50
1 container (6 oz.) blackberries = $.99
1 package chicken split breasts with ribs and skin, @$.77/lb. = $3.47
Total = $24.69


I have come to the end of the box of pancake mix I have in the cabinet and I opened the last can of corned beef I had, last week.

I found it interesting that the same, store brand, unsalted roasted peanuts cost $2.99 for a 12-oz can, but the 16 oz. jar was also priced at $2.99!  No explanation for the price difference.  All the different kinds of store brand peanuts (salted, honey roasted, etc.) were priced the same - $2.99 for the 12-oz cans and $2.99 for the 16 oz. jar!  Maybe people assume that the can will be cheaper?  Personally, I'd rather have more peanuts for the same price and a reusable jar, as well!

Yes, I finally caved in and bought the butter at $3.59/lb with the coupon, as I was down to half of the last stick of butter.  It's $3.99 otherwise and $4.49 without the store's club card!

The two oranges in the picture above weren't bought; I picked them from my tree.  I just included them in the picture because I picked them on my way from the garage to the house and I dropped them in one of the bags with the rest of the groceries!  

February 13 Receipt

I spent a total of $36.64 at the grocery store, but $11.95 of it was for cat food, which is not included in my grocery budget.  The groceries came to $24.69.

February grocery budget = $75 + $20.53 carried over from January = $95.53
Spent to date = $10.11 + $24.69 = $34.80
Balance remaining = $60.73

The new grocery ads came in today's mail and I took a quick look.  No exceptional sales, but that's OK.  All I'll need next week are more fruits and vegetables and maybe some fish for a change.  Also, maybe some frozen puff pastry to make sausage rolls with the sausage I bought on sale, last week. 

How is your February grocery budget coming along? 

Busy Monday

Monday was another sunny day.  We reached a high of 82F in the afternoon!  An opportunity for us to dry out a bit before the next rains that are forecasted for the end of the week.

I didn't fall asleep again, last night, until 4:00 a.m.  Then, I woke up around 6:30 a.m. and went to the bathroom, but managed to fall asleep again, and slept till 10:00 a.m.  I didn't have to work, today, so I didn't feel bad about sleeping in.  When I woke up, I still felt a little tired, so I didn't do anything much - checked my blood pressure and sugar levels and noted them on the chart I am keeping for my primary care doctor, had my tea, put away the laundry from yesterday, put away the washed dishes, responded to blog comments, read the news, etc.  Then, showered, got dressed, and went to my radiation oncologist's appointment.

My appointment was for 1:00 p.m. and I had called and confirmed it before I left the house.  I was at the clinic at 12:40 p.m., but I didn't get called in until 1:40 p.m.!  The appointment went well, but the doctor was perplexed to see that I still had an inflammation.  It has been six months since my surgery and I am due for the follow up mammogram, but I voiced my concerns about undergoing a mammogram when I am still not fully recovered and the doctor agreed.  He has put me on another course of antibiotics - Prednisone - and he increased the dosage.  I am to return for a follow-up visit in two weeks' time.  He will hold off on putting in the referral for the mammogram until after that visit.

I picked up some lunch on the way home, even though I had food at home.  I had been wanting a teriyaki beef bowl from one of the Japanese fast food places I like for awhile now and I had a buy one, get one free coupon that was ending at the end of this week.  Each bowl is enough for three meals for me!  I ate part of one bowl when I got home around 3:00 p.m.; served half of what was remaining in the bowl to another container to take to the office for my lunch, tomorrow, and there's a little more in the bowl for another meal, the day after.  I divided the contents of the second bowl into three containers and froze them for future meals.  I paid $6.24 with tax for the two bowls and I have enough for six lunches!

 

After lunch, I went to the pharmacy to get the prescription filled and did some grocery shopping.  I will post my grocery shopping in a separate post, tomorrow.  Then, I put gas to the car on my way home.  After I came home, I took the trash cans to the curb for trash pick up tomorrow morning.

By this time, it was around 6:00 p.m.  I put away the groceries, had a cup of tea, called my daughter, and watched the evening news.  I was relaxing a bit when my aunt called to check on me.  After that, one of my cousins called and asked if she could come over for a visit.  She brought some documents for me to sign and we talked for awhile.

After she left, I cooked the chicken breasts I had bought today.  I had intended to make a curry, but I was feeling too tired to cut the meat and make a curry.  Instead, I sprinkled the chicken breasts with curry powder, chili powder, and salt and baked them!  There were 5 breast halves in the package; I ate part of one with some corn and a salad for dinner and froze the other 4, individually, for future meals.

 

Video chatted with daughter, did the dishes, emptied the kitchen trash, cleaned the litter box, chose my outfit for tomorrow, and now, I need to get ready for bed, as I am planning to go into the office, tomorrow.

 

Today, I am grateful for:

- Access to medical care

- Having medical insurance

- More antibiotics

- Another productive day

- My daughter, family, and friends.

I couldn't finish my to do list today, but I got a lot done:

Monday's To Do List:
- Grocery shopping - DONE
- Menu plan for the week - DONE
- Finish clearing the dining table
- Paperwork/Filing
- Doctor's appointment - DONE
- Put gas to the car - DONE
- Take the trash cans to the curb for pick up on Tuesday - DONE
- Vacuum? 

- Pharmacy - DONE

- Cook - DONE

- Put away washed laundry - DONE

- Put away washed dishes/do dishes - DONE

- Clean the litter box - DONE

Tuesday's To Do List:

- Go to the office

- Bring the trash cans in

- Finish clearing the dining table

- Paperwork/Filing

- Vacuum (I am going to keep this on the list, but I doubt I'll be able to get to it until Thursday)

- Another load of laundry (sheets I use on the family room sofas to keep the cat fur off)

 

Today, I spent:

$15 co-pay at the doctor's office; $2 for parking

$36.64 at the grocery store ($11.95 of it on cat food)

$14.96 at the pharmacy

$26.15 for gas

How was your Monday?  Did you have a good start to your week?

Sunny Sunday

Front Flower Bed (taken earlier in the week)

Sunday lived up to its name!  We had bright sunshine, blue skies, and warm temperatures.  I couldn't fall asleep until 4:00 a.m., but woke up at 9:00 a.m. and didn't go back to sleep.  I spent a relaxed morning, drinking my tea, reading news on-line, reading and commenting on blogs, etc.  The friend I called and left a message on Saturday returned my call in the morning and we chatted a bit.  Then, my neighbor called for our weekly Sunday morning chat.  I considered making a big Sunday brunch of eggs, bacon, hash browns and/or pancakes, but couldn't motivate myself to cook, so had a bowl of leftover macaroni and cheese from last night's dinner, instead!

I had planned to go grocery shopping and wrote out a shopping list, but I felt disinclined to go shopping!  I felt that, if I go shopping today, I will feel too tired when I come back to do any of the housework I wanted to do.  I will grocery shop on Monday.

Once I had decided on that, I put away the laundry and the dishes from yesterday and did another load of laundry and hung it up to dry.

Then, I started on my closet.  I pulled out all my clothes and piled them on my bed.  Then, I tried on some of them.  I dislike trying on clothes and I find it tiring. I also find it hard to decide what to do with the clothes that are too big.  Do I hold on to them, in case I gain weight again?  Do I try to alter them to fit me?  Do I just donate them and buy new clothes?  Decisions!

There was a pair of cream colored pants that I had been keeping thinking I'll be able to fit into them again, one day.  Well, I tried them on today and they were too big!

One of the Dresses my Mother Sewed

I did find that I am able to wear at least two of the three dresses my mother had sewn for me, which I had held on to for all these years!  They are all in the same style as it was a favorite style of mine.  I tried on two of them and washed one of them, today.  I will wash the others another day.

I also realized that I couldn't make any decisions on any of my blouses and dresses until I buy a better fitting bra!  Eventually, I just put almost everything back in the closet, again!  Things are arranged in order - from left to right - my formal/evening wear, pants, dresses/2 piece outfits, skirts, tops, cardigans and jackets; all are grouped by category and, within each group, by color.   My sweaters, however, are stored in a chest of drawers, and not in the closet.  I will try them on, again, a few at a time, and then decide if they fit me, if I want to keep them, alter them, or donate them. 

I didn't put back the stack of clothes (mostly skirts, but at least one pair of pants) that I had tried on and were too big.  I need to decide if I want to alter them or donate them.   

After I went through my closet, I decided to continue cleaning the family room.  I had started on Saturday, when I cleared the coffee table.  Today, I gathered all the remaining holiday decorations and stored them in a box in the garage.  Then, I cleared the small dining table that is in the family room and that led to dusting all the furniture!  Finally, I started on the big dining table, putting away things that had piled on there, such as holiday wrapping paper and ribbons, the last of the mugs my daughter decorated to give as gifts (we still haven't exchanged gifts with some friends and family!) and my box of buttons!  There's a pile of paper, as well, and I sorted through and filed some of it, but then, I got tired and I decided it was time to stop.  I didn't want to overdo things.  I spent most of the rest of the evening video chatting with my daughter.  One of my aunts phoned, too, and we had a nice chat.

I was able to declutter a few items when I was tidying and cleaning - they included a small flower pot, some bubble wrap and packaging items, magazines and catalogs, the paper tube from a roll of wrapping paper, a reusable fabric grocery bag (strap had broken and I was planning to resew it, but I noticed that the bag was tearing, as well).

 
Sunday's To Do List:
- Put away dried laundry - DONE
- Do another load of laundry (whites/lights) - DONE
- Put away washed dishes - DONE
- Clear dining table - 90% DONE
- Paperwork and Filing - STARTED
- Grocery shopping
- Menu plan for the week
- Take the last of the holiday decorations to the garage! DONE
- Start organizing my closet - DONE
- Tidy/dust family room - DONE

Monday's To Do List:

- Grocery shopping
- Menu plan for the week
- Finish clearing the dining table
- Paperwork/Filing
- Doctor's appointment
- Put gas to the car
- Take the trash cans to the curb for pick up on Tuesday
- Vacuum? 

On Sunday, I was grateful for:
- Sunshine after all the rain we've had
- A relaxed morning
- A productive afternoon and evening
- A closet full of clothes, even if some no longer fit!
- Family and friends calling and emailing; talking with my daughter

How was your Sunday?  What have you planned for Monday?

Productive Saturday

Saturday has been a partly sunny day, after Friday's rain.  We had some rain clouds, but it didn't actually rain, at least not where I live.  There were flash floods in other areas of So. Calif, according to the local news.  

I forgot to post the updated To Do List for Friday in my blog post, yesterday.  I didn't finish the list, but I got a fair amount done:

Friday's To Do List: Update
- Leave a note to the gardener - DONE (he left a phone message saying receiving the note was just like old times, after over a year of me being home when he came to do the garden!)
- Pack a lunch to take to work - DONE (took roast beef cold cuts sandwiches, grapes, crackers)
- Go to the office - DONE (even though my supervisor said to stay home if I wished to!)
- Continue to update the monthly budget (DONE; still tweaking things, but I am OK with how things stand for now)
- Do the dishes
- Clean the litter box - DONE
- Water the indoor plants
- Call 2 friends - Called one friend and a cousin
- Call the tax preparer

The things I didn't do got moved forward to Saturday!

I had a relaxed morning, on Saturday.  I slept in, read blogs, chatted on the phone with one of my cousins, etc.  Later, I made the rest of my phone calls, did a load of laundry and hung it up to dry, aired out the house (was unable to do so, yesterday, due to the rain), tidied and dusted the living room, cleared the coffee table in the family room, did some paperwork and filing, watered the house plants, and did the dishes.  I also tried on a few additional clothes, but I didn't go through the closet, yet.

Saturday's To Do List

- Do the dishes - DONE
- Water the indoor plants - DONE
- Call 2nd friend - DONE (she wasn't home; I left a message)
- Call the tax preparer - DONE (I rescheduled my appointment with her and brought it forward)
- Do a load of laundry - DONE (washed the darks and they are hanging up to dry)
- Tidy living room - DONE
- Dust living room - DONE
- Clear the family room coffee table - DONE
- Paperwork and Filing - DID SOME
- Pay bills - DONE 
- Wipe kitchen counters - DONE

On Saturday, I was grateful for:
- A sunny and bright day
- Cousin calling to check on me
- Finding more clothes that fit me
- Getting the living room tidied and dusted
- Video chatting with my daughter

Sunday's To Do List:
- Put away dried laundry
- Do another load of laundry (whites/lights)
- Put away washed dishes
- Clear dining table
- Paperwork and Filing
- Grocery shopping
- Menu plan for the week
- Take the last of the holiday decorations to the garage!
- Start organizing my closet

That's a lot of lists for one post, isn't it?

How was your Saturday?  Did you have a busy day or did you relax?  What are your plans for Sunday?

Casual Friday

I didn't take a picture of my outfit, this morning, but it being Friday, I dressed rather casually - the pair of black pants paired with a grey-green sweater.  A black cardigan over that and a black jacket, as well.  And since it looked a bit drab, I wore a necklace of multi-colored beads. 

When I called my supervisor to let her know I was coming in (but a little later than my regular starting time), she asked me if I was sure I wanted to come in, saying it fine with her if I wanted to work from home.  But I insisted I was well enough to come to the office.  I took sandwiches for my brunch, grapes and crackers for snacks.  Dinner was leftovers.

It rained a bit on the drive to the office, but traffic was fairly light, since it was Friday and since the morning rush hour was over.  I had a good day at the office, but after working at home, where it is relatively quiet, I am finding the background noise in the office to be fairly distracting - phones ringing, people talking, people playing back their voice mail messages on speaker phone, etc.  I know I'll get used to it, again, given time.

It was raining when I left the office in the evening and the commute home took over 1 1/2 hours!  Bumper to bumper traffic, but at least, no accidents.  Came home, returned my cousin's phone call, called a friend, had a cup of hot cocoa, and took a nap!  Later, video chatted with my daughter.

I didn't finish my To Do List, so I'll carry it forward to Saturday. 

On Friday, I was grateful for:
- More rain for the garden
- Safe drives to the office and back
- Feeling well enough to go to the office
- Naps on the sofa
- Family and friends

How was your Friday?  What have you planned for the weekend?

Peach on Thursday

Today, was a sunny day.  I woke up later than I had planned to because I turned off my alarm and went back to sleep!   But once I was up, I felt fine.  I called my supervisor to let her know that I'll be in, but a bit later in the morning.

Today, I wore an outfit I had knitted, back in the 1980s, a peach colored sweater and a matching skirt.  The sweater is the same pattern as the cream colored one I made for my mother and wore earlier.  The skirt became too tight for me to wear and I had put it away, although I continued to wear the sweater.  I put in a new elastic to the skirt's waistband, last weekend, and it fits perfectly now, although the sweater is a bit too big now!  I need to figure out how to pull up the sleeves at the shoulder, without taking it all apart.  But I thought it wasn't too bad, and I received a lot of compliments on my outfit, today:    

Knitted Peach Two Piece

My day at the office went very well and I stayed at the office till 5:30 p.m.  Which meant it was 6:45 p.m. when I got home.  I turned on the news, chatted on the phone with my daughter until 7:15 p.m., returned phone calls from a cousin and an aunt, had a cup of tea and fell asleep on the sofa while watching the news!  Woke up at 8:30 p.m., made some pancakes for dinner, video chatted with my daughter, replied to blog comments, paid a bill, and did a bit more office work to make up for going in late in the morning.  All very well and good, except I didn't do any housework!

Today, I am grateful for:
- Clothes from the closet
- Flexible work hours
- Compliments on my outfit
- A safe drive to the office and back
- Naps on the sofa

I haven't been posting any To Do lists, lately, because I wasn't getting a lot done and was getting stressed about it!  But I think I might get more done if I do make and post a list, so, here goes:

Friday's To Do List:
- Leave a note to the gardener
- Pack a lunch to take to work
- Go to the office
- Continue to update the monthly budget
- Do the dishes
- Clean the litter box
- Water the indoor plants
- Call 2 friends
- Call the tax preparer

How was your Thursday? 

Quiet Wednesday

I woke up feeling tired, so called my supervisor and informed her I will be working from home.  She was fine with it.  I took plenty of breaks while I did my office work.  During one of the breaks, my aunt called and I had a nice chat with her.  During another break, I walked up and down my block for a bit, in the afternoon.  One of the benefits of working from home is I can take as many breaks as I need.

However, as a consequence of taking frequent breaks, the work day got spread out from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., which was when I sent an email to my supervisor giving her an update on the project I'm working on currently.  After I was done with my office work for the day, I did the dishes, chatted with my cousin and a friend who called, and video chatted with my daughter.

I am grateful for:
- Being able to work from home
- A sunny day
- Phone calls and emails from family and friends
- My daughter always sharing a detailed account of her day with me
- The flowers blooming in the garden

Another benefit of working from home is, I get to watch Dancer sleep in front of the heater:

Sleepy Kitty

How was your Wednesday?