Saturday, February 27, 2010

I Heart Aldi's

I love going to Aldi's. I love saving money at Aldi's. For those of you who haven't visited an Aldi's lately, this is not your grandma's store! As far back as I can remember, my grandma has shopped at Aldi's. Recently an Aldi's opened here in town, and I decided to give it a try. I am now an Aldi's addict and proud of it! We did some test runs of products because Aldi's doesn't really carry name brands. After trying everything from cereal to butter to popsicles, Aldi's has become our #1 place to shop to fill our pantry with the things we can't get good deals on elsewhere. Here's the rundown of the monthly shopping trip I did this morning:

Lg. Box Chicken Broth (2)
Dijon Mustard
Lemon Juice
Enchilada Sauce-lg. jar
Baked beans (4)
Corn Muffin Mix (2)
Beef Bouillon Cubes
Chicken Bouillon Cubes
100 ct. sandwich bags-resealable
5 lb Sugar
5 lb Flour
Taco Seasoning (2)
100 % Apple Juice
Seasoning Salt
Dried Parsley
Apricot Preserves (2)
Mini Beef Ravioli (3)
Ketchup
Hot Sauce
Cake Mix (2)
Animal Crackers- lg box
Thin Pork Chops-2 lbs
Filet of Sirloin- 24 oz
80% Ground Beef- 2 lbs
Gen. Tso’s Chicken- 2 lbs
Sugar Free Junior Popsicles
French Toast sticks
Broccoli Florets
Tater Tots
Corn Tortillas
Frosted Puffs Cereal (2)
Spanish Olives
Solid White Tuna
Cheddar Cheese Slices
Provolone Cheese Slices
Shredded Sharp Cheddar- 3 cups
Shredded Mexican Cheese- 3 cups
Plain Bagels
Shredded Parmesan Cheese
Shredded Romano Cheese
Bag of sweet onions
Lg. Sour Cream
Butter Quarters (2 boxes)
Jar of Sliced Peaches (2)
Applesauce (2)

Total Cost? $98. Yes, $98 for all the staples I will need to cook for the month and some staples that will last me several months.

I heart Aldi's.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Seasons

I am 29 years old. I am about 300 days away from 30. While this is by no means old, it has prompted me to reflect on my journey from child to teenager to pseudo-adult to full fledged, responsible 29 year old. As I reflect on the transformations in my life, I think about the seasons I have passed through. I also find myself waiting for new seasons to arrive with eager anticipation, for I have learned that ALL seasons are good and that each season is God's special way of talking to me. As I begin this blog, there are some key seasons I want to reflect on, and some current seasons I want to relish and enjoy. I pray that this blog helps me to continue in a spirit of reflection and joy, and that those of you who enter the journey with me will find yourselves challenged, entertained, uplifted, and inspired- not by me, but by the hand that guides me.