Confessions of a Working Momma

As some of you have been reading, I was in charge of purchasing all of the food to feed 11 people 5 meals and snacks over the course of 3 days. Here is how I did. Also head over to the Grocery Cart Challenge and see how Gayle and the others did this week. Pathmark 2 Utz Pretzels 6.00 (sale -$1.00) 5.00 2 Hunts Ketchup 3.38 (sale -$1.84) 1.54 2 Mustards 3.00 (sale -$1.46) 1.54 Lays Chips 3.99 (sale -$1.49) 2.50 2 Large Lipton Ice Tea Mix 16.00 (-$6.04 sale -$1.00 MFR coupon) 8.96 2 Country Time Lemonade Mix 6.00 (-$2.00 sale) 4.00 8pk Bounty Basic Paper Towels 7.50 (-$1.62 sale -$1.00 MFR coupon) 4.88 Aluminum Foil 1.39 (-$0.62 sale) 0.77 2 Trash Bags 2.00 (-$0.46 sale) 1.54 3 Softsoap 8.40 (-$6.09 sale -$1.00 MFR coupon) 1.31 3 Strip Steaks 38.66 (-$19.68 sale) 18.98 Total before Savings 96.32 Total OOP 51.02 Target 2 Jet Puffed Marshmallows 2.04 ( 2 -$1 Target coupon 1/1) 0.04 2 Graham Crackers 6.58 (-$1.58 sale) 5.00 Total before Savings 8.62 Employee Discount -10% = 0.50 Total OOP 4

So we are back from our fabulous family vacation. Have you ever come home from vacation and needed one to rest from it. That's how I feel. I did some shopping before we left and then picked up some other things when I got back. Also check out HERE to see how I did buying all the food for 11 people. Then head over to the Grocery Cart Challenge and see how Gayle and the others did this week. Giant 9 Box of Jello 6.75 -0.36 sale -(3) $1 MFR -(3) $1 doubler = 0.39 6 Pk of ready Jello 16.14 - 1.14 -(3) $1MFR -(1) $1 doubler = 11.00 10 Powerade 10.90 - 0.90 sale = 10.00 Organic Hummus 3.59 - 1.00 MFR =2.59 - should have rang up 2.50 to start So refunded my total cost (So FREE!! plus $1) Hummus 2.99- 0.49 sale - 1.00 MFR= 1.50 2 Breyers Ice Cream 8.98 - 3.80 sale -$1 MFR = 4.18 -5/50 coupon (bought stuff in this trip for vacation) TOTAL OOP 21.07 Target 22 pk Frito Lay Snack Packs 6.99 3 Quaker Granola Bars 6.00 15 pk Gatorade 8.99 Jif PB 4.54 Gallon Whole Milk 3.34 Gallon 1% Milk 3.09 Cr

I didn't do to bad this week. Really didn't need a whole lot since we are leaving for vacation on Friday. I am in charge of gathering all of the food this week to feed 11 people (2 teen boys and 3 grown men that eat like teenagers!) So check back next week and see how I do. Target 2 Flat Earth Chips 5.38 -$1 MFR 1/1 -$1 MFR 1/1 = 3.38 Smartfood Popcorn 3.33 -$1MFR -$1 Target = 1.33 Smartfood Popcorn 3.33 -$1 Target = 2.33 5 Quaker Rice Cakes 8.35 -(5) $1 Target 1/1 = 3.35 100 Calorie Snacks 2.04 -$1 MRF -$1 Target = 0.04 100 Calorie Snacks 2.04 -$1MFR -$1 Target = 0.04 3 Crystal Light 11.97 -$1 MFR -$2 MFR 1/2 -(3)$1 Target = 2.97 Whole Grain Goldfish 6.49 4 Lean Cuisines 10.66 -$2.66 sale = 8.00 (not pictured) 4 Kraft Natural Cheese 7.96 -(2) $1 MFR 1/2 -(2) $1 Target 1/2 = 3.96 (not pictured) Triscuits 2.04 -$1 MFR -$1 Target 1/2 = 0.04 Wheat Thins 2.04 -$1 MFR = 1.04 2 Kraft Dressings 3.98 -(2)$1 MFR 1/1 -$1 Target 1/2 = 0.98 Total before coupons 69.61 Employee Discount -10

This is our meal plan for our family vacation. We are going with a total of 11 people. Thank god there is not anymore, because I am not sure I could handle it. I have agreed to do all the planning and all of the shopping for the major food. With everyone else pitching in and bringing personal food and snacks to share. To check out what other ladies are making for the holiday weekend, head over the Organizing Junkie . Check back next week, to see how the weekend went and how much I spent to feed all of these people. Friday - Dinner is on your own. (We and my parents will be eating steaks on the grill, potatoes & Salad.) Saturday Breakfast – Fruit cup, muffins, OJ, coffee, milk Lunch – Sandwiches, chips, pretzels, snacks & drinks Dinner – Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Rolls, Fruit, Snack and S’mores Sunday Breakfast - Eggs, Bacon, Toast, OJ, Coffee, milk Lunch – on your own Dinner – In Town Monday Breakfast – Cinnamon Buns, Cereal, OJ, Coffee, milk My Shopping List for the weekend: Fruit

So this week is the week before vacation, so you know what this means... it's crazy here. My to do list is longer than there are hours in the day. Daddy and I both have meeting on different nights this week plus, I have taken off a couple of extra days to pack, cook and get it all together. Here is the plan up until we leave for vacation. Check out HERE to see what we will be eating and feeding 11 people on vacation. To check out what other ladies are making for the holiday weekend, head over the Organizing Junkie . Monday: Soft Tacos with Beef, Black Beans, Tomatoes, Cheese, Sour Cream Tuesday: Eggplant Parm & Salad Wednesday: Super nachos made with refried beans, black beans, lettuce, tomato & sour cream Thursday: Steaks on the Grill, Sweet Potatoes & Salad Friday: Vacation Saturday: Vacation Sunday: Vacation

So on Sunday Daddy surprised me by telling me that he didn't have to work all day and he was going to spend it with Sassy and I. I was very excited and then I realized he wanted to go grocery shopping with me and he wanted to change the menu for that night. Let me just say, I have a plan for a reason, I like, NO I love it! I need a plan to help me keep my sanity, but sometimes that is thrown out the window. Let me also say everytime Daddy comes with me to the store we ALWAYS end up over budget! No matter how hard I try. Also no pictures this week since Daddy helped unpack and put most of it away for I could stop him. So needless to say this week was no different. We did hit some really good deals at both Target and Pathmark, but I am still $37 over budget and I was just informed that we are almost out of soda, so I guess I am heading back to the store for more of at too. I do not plan to shop next week except for neccessities and the rest of the menu for the huge family vacation, s

How was your Mother's Day? Mine was wonderful, Sassy and I went to Church in the morning and then we went grocery shopping and loaded up on items, tell you about that later. My gift this year was a Wii , Wii fit and a great cardio game to go with it. I am loving it right now. I had to rip myself away from it to type this up. No this was not in the budget until July, but Daddy wanted to surprise me and that he did. He wants this to be my Mother's Day and his Father's Day gift, I am sure I will do something else for him, but I married the best guy ever!! So the prep has begun for the family vacation to the mountains. This year we have included my entire family for a total of 12 people. We set the menu this weekend and now I am in charge of buying all of the food and bringing it up with us. What was I thinking when I said I would do this!! I am purchasing 6 meals for 12 people plus snacks for my family to bring to share with everyone. So we are going to be eating out of the

So this week, I actually went to 3 different stores. This is out of my norm but all were having really good sales and I was going to be in the area of all three in the course of one day, so I hit them all. I actually stayed within my budget. I was only over by $7, not to bad. I probably will go over later in the week, since I am having an EcoMom's meeting here and I need snacks for the ladies and I. Anyone have any good, cheap and healthy snack ideas for adults? Please share. See how Gayle and everyone else did this week over at the Grocery Cart Challenge . Here's how I did.... Wegmans 4 Blocks of Cheese 7.96 Cream Cheese 1.29 4 Yogurts 1.60 Gallon Organic Milk 5.79 Tater Tots 1.99 4 Smart One Meals 9.96 (-2.00) (-0.50 coupon doubled) 6.96 Frozen Lite Whipped Topping 0.89 Hershey's Chocolate Syrup 1.99 2 Baked Beans 2.58 (-0.60) 1.98 2 Black Beans 1.38 Mild Salsa 1.59 Total Savings 3.60 Total OOP 33.42 Giant 2 Quaker Rice Cakes 4.30 12 Powerade 13.08 (-1.08) (-4.08 for buyi

So we have started Elle back on milk this weekend, so we will see how that goes. I am really hoping that she will do okay and we can start to incorporate some fun things back into our menu, like lasagnas and cream of chicken and rice casseroles, etc. I am having my mom's group over on Friday night, Bill is working and a babysitter is watching Elle, so who knows what dinner will end up being. Check back tomorrow to see how my grocery shopping went for this week and check out everyone else's meal plans this week over at Org Junkie . Monday: London Broil on the Grill, Baked Potatoes & Salad Tuesday: Eggs & Toast Wednesday: Crockpot Chicken with Black Beans and Cream Cheese over Whole Wheat Egg Noodles Thursday: Eggplant Parm & Salad Friday: To Be Determined Saturday: Blackberry Pancakes Sunday: Homemade Pizza’s Crust , Sauce, Cheese, Pepperoni