Just because Thanksgiving is coming doesn’t mean my food budget is going through the roof. Nope. Not happening in this house! Every November I see it. The turkey, the butter, the pie fixings, the “just one more thing” trips to the store, and suddenly the grocery bill has doubled. Then January shows up with the…
Be honest with me. Have you ever bought something you didn’t need, just because buying it felt good? Mm-hmm. Me too, friend. Maybe it was a lousy day. Maybe you were bored, stressed, or just needed something to look forward to. Then the clearance rack winked at you. Or a little “Only 2 left!” popped…
For years, Market Basket was my go-to grocery store. I knew the layout, I knew the prices, and I felt confident that I was getting a good deal on our groceries. But you know what? Things change. Grocery prices change, sales change, and sometimes the store that used to offer the best prices simply doesn’t…
I changed the toilet paper roll and thought, “There’s another one for the list.” Yes, really. Apparently, even going to the bathroom is a content opportunity around here. We use Scott toilet tissue, and when I open a new roll, I tuck the paper wrapper into the empty cardboard tube. There’s a fire starter for…
Someone asks me how I’m going to fix something, and my answer is often, “I don’t know yet. I’ll figure it out.” That probably explains quite a bit about me. I cook, garden, sew, repair things, and take on projects I haven’t done before. I don’t always know exactly how something will work when I…
So here’s the thing. Nearly two years ago I started a weight loss journey, and I’m not going to be humble about it: I’ve done remarkably well. Yay me. But nobody warns you about the side effect. Suddenly you’re standing in front of a closet full of clothes that don’t fit, and honestly? That’s a…
I’ve always said: waste nothing if it still has something to give. My freezer helps me put that into practice. It holds ingredients for future dinners, little odds and ends that still have a purpose, and homemade meals for those days when I have absolutely no interest in cooking. Nothing fancy. Just a few bags,…
Sunday is a good time to look at the week ahead and figure out what we’re going to eat. Nothing elaborate. I don’t need every bite assigned a time slot, but I do like knowing what’s for dinner before everyone starts asking. We are a “stock the pantry” kind of household. An ingredient household. We…
Yesterday I glanced at the chicken broth on the store shelf. $3.39. For that little container. Excuse me? Meanwhile, I’ve got FIVE chicken carcasses sitting in my freezer, bagged up and waiting for their moment. Today is that moment. Today is chicken broth day! Here’s the best part. This is the easiest thing you will…
I am retired now, so I’m usually around to let dinner cook for six hours and check on it when needed. Before retiring, I worked from home for 13 years as a recruiter. Being home, however, did not mean I had all afternoon to fuss over dinner! We loved this one. Salsa chicken is a…
