This Week on the Dining Table

It's the "Would You Wear This?" Edition--

While waiting for Hubs to exchange his jeans on Saturday I poked around the men's department at that store and saw this Christmas Sweater outfit displayed.
What man do you know that would seriusly wear this get-up? lolz
I can see a kid or a young girl maybe but a guy(even a pug lover guy)?  Nope


Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week.......

1. Sunday--Roast Chicken with Carrots, Onions, Potatoes, Cauliflower, Broccoli
2. Monday--Garlic Honey Shrimp w/stir-fry Veggies, Rice
3. Tuesday--Dinner Out(on gift certificate)
4. Wednesday--Meatballs Subs, Caesar Salad
5. Thursday--Leftovers
6. Friday--Tuna Casserole, Brussels Sprouts
7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Roast Chicken with Carrots, Onions, Potatoes, Cauliflower, Broccoli
2. Monday--Garlic Honey Shrimp w/stir-fry Veggies, Rice
3. Tuesday--Subway sammiches
4. Wednesday--Leftovers(I had tacos, Hubs had ravioli in meat sauce)
5. Thursday--Meatball Subs, Caesar Salad
6. Friday--Leftover Roast Chicken stuff
7. Saturday--Leftover Garlic Honey Stir-fry Veggies and Rice

Well the restaurant we were suppose to eat out in was jammed on Tuesday so we got Subway instead and we went back Saturday for lunch to use it and then had leftovers that evening for dinner.
The tuna casserole didn't happen yet again.

As for my grocery spending last week......three small trips to Weis meant $29.56 in spending.  Big Lots! and the local grocer trips added another $24.89 for a total this week of $54.45.   Month to date is $180.37 spent for November.  $28.42 of that spending was for food bank donations.
I still have $119.63 left in the $300 food budget for the month.

Leftovers going into this week....taco filling, garlic honey stir-fry veggies and a small helping of roast chicken and veggies.

Here is this week's "food plan"--

1. Sunday--meatloaf, sweet potato fries, Brussels sprouts
2. Monday--Italian Torta, Caeser Salad
3. Tuesday--Pecan Chicken, Mixed Veggies
4. Wednesday--Kielbasa on Rolls, green beans
5. Thursday--Rockfish, Cauliflower, Garlic mashed potatoes
6. Friday--Guinness Beef Stew
7. Saturday--Leftovers

I'll use up the taco filling and roast chicken w/veg for lunches this week.  Leftover stir-fry veggies may appear in a dinner instead of what veggies are planned.

What I need to buy for this menu?.........nothing.  I went through the chest freezer(had to dig out the turkey breasts for Turkey day anyway)so I also dug up some things from the bottom that we need to use sooner rather than later.  This included some kielbasa, some bagged veggies, a premade meatloaf and a hunk of beef for stew.  The meatloaf is a mix of ground chicken/beef so with the stew, 2 beef meals this week, a fish, a chicken and a pork meal.  There is some sausage in the Torta but it's mostly a meatless dish.

Even though I don't "need" anything this week I'll buy some mayo for the food bank(and mustard if it's cheap enough).  I also plan to go to Target this week and use that $10/$50 food/beverage coupon to pair with ManuQs and my free to me Target gift card.

My thanksgiving shopping list is still just celery, rutabaga and whipped cream and I'll buy those the end of this week or beginning of next week.

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?

Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten last week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week?

Sluggy

More Food Bank Shopping

Saturday saw Hubs and I go down to the town South of here to exchange 1 pair of the jeans I bought him the day I went to the movies.  I inadvertently picked up 1 pair the wrong size. sigh.

But that's all taken care of and though I tried to talk him into other new clothes while in the department store(they were having a good sale on basics)he resisted.  I did however talk him into getting a nice Winter fedora to wear to work and when going out.  It was half-price and a mite better than that dopey bucket hat(I call him "Gilligan" when he wears it lolz)he wore all Summer/Fall.
We also picked up a couple of Christmas presents while in that store that I can't tell y'all about just in case someone is reading this. '-)

Then we went over to Big Lots! because I like the one in this town more than the 1 in Wilkes-Barre.
I found some things to pick-up here including some more food for the food bank donation.
6 bottles of ketchup for .60¢ each.  $3.60 OOP for the ketchup.

We bought a few foodstuffs as well.


Then after lunch out(finally getting to use that gift card we didn't the other night for dinner)Hubs came home and took a nap and I hiked up to Weis(PMITA)Markets to do the Mega Deal........

The Mega Deal was buy an assortment of 10 particular included items and get $5 off Instantly.
I had Betty Crocker coupons to pair with this deal......

6 x BC cake mixes $1.19 each.
4 x BC potato casseroles  $1.19 each.

$11.90-$4 in coupons=$7.90-$5 instant discount=$2.90 OOP for all 10 boxes.

Now before I get comments that boxed taters and cake mixes aren't nutritious, even people who don't have enough money for food still like to have treats like the rest of us.  8-)
And condiments are always on the wish list at our food bank so this ketchup will be gratefully accepted too.

I was going to get mayo as well. Hellman's is $1.47each wyb2 after sale/qs this week at Weis but I forgot 1 of my coupons for it.  I found it in the garbage when I got home.....it inadvertently got throw out with the paper scraps. 
So I'll be going back for 6 jars before the sale ends on Wednesday.

I also picked up 2 jars of low sodium pickles $2 on sale and a box of facial tissue(.94¢after Weis Catalina Q I had that expired on Sat.) for our stockpile.

$7.90(.06¢tax)OOP, $2.90 for the food bank stuff and $5 for pickles and tissue.

So here is everything I have as of now for the food bank........

From the last 2 weeks I've gotten 8 laundry detergent, 6 ketchup, 8 tuna, 6 cake mixes and 4 boxed potatoes. 
I also have from earlier this year--5 barbecue sauces(were free), 6 boxes of organic mac and cheese(almost free), 3 boxed rice mixes(almost free, 4 cans of chunky or home style soups(about .50¢ can).
I have 4 boxes of tampons and 4 boxes of pads which were bought quite awhile back(also free at Rite-Aid and CVS)that Daughter never used so they get put into the pile.

I'll glean a couple of bags of toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant and shampoo from the Toiletries room this week to throw into the mix.
Still to buy are mayo and mustard and maybe something else if there is a deal in the Weis ad that starts on Thursday and this lot will be finished off.

With the mayo I have yet to purchase this week I've spent $37.24 from my November food budget on this donation.  The other food items bought in the last couple of months add on another $5+/- so this all "cost" me $42.24.  Retail value is much MUCH more than this.
By shopping strategically and over a few months I can get food/toiletry items wanted by food bank clients and not blow up my budget.
Just picking up a good deal here and there helps so much.  You don't have to be wealthy to afford to donate food.  It just takes some time and effort of which I have plenty.  If you can't take the time to shop for food for donations give in other ways--write a check.  If you are young and healthy, go volunteer at your local food bank.  It all helps.

And that's my exciting Saturday.

Sluggy

Finding More Genealogical Cousins Who Are Friends

Genealogy is just the gift that keeps on giving, isn't it?

Online friend and blogger, Frances, mentioned awhile back that her mother's maiden name was FOSTER and hinted that we might just be related.......come on! Who am I NOT related to at this point?! lol

So with nothing better to do(yah, riiiight!)I started rooting around in Frances' family tree to compare with mine.
And surprise of surprises I did come up with a connection and although it was on her maternal side, it wasn't down the Foster line.
Well it was Foster for 2 generations, then it was Slayden for 2 more, Smithson for another 4, Chiles for 1, then Edwards for 1 until you get back to our connection, at the joining of the Holt and Mason families in 17th century Virginia.

Frances' 9 x GGrandmother was Elizabeth Holt.
Elizabeth Holt's brother was Thomas Holt, who married Frances Mason.
Frances Mason had an older brother named James Mason who is my 8 x GGrandfather.

This makes Frances & I 11th cousins(actually 11th cousins 1 x removed because she is one generation below my generation on the cousin level).

We also have a connection because Elizabeth and Thomas Holt's father, Randall Holt II married Elizabeth Hansford(Frances' 10 x GGs).  Elizabeth Hansford is the daughter of Elizabeth (might be Reade or might not) and John Hansford(Frances 11 x GGs).

Elizabeth Reade married second Edward Lockey and they had a daughter, Mary Lockey who married John Myhill/Mills, and Mary and John are MY 9 x GGs.  So we share ancestor Elizabeth Reade in her daughters, as these daughters, our direct ancestors, were half-sisters.

Of my 8 Great Grandparents lines, The Mason/Holt connection is up my Baker line and the Mills/Myhill/Hansford is up both my Tucker and my Driskill lines.

Is everyone confused yet? ;-)

I also have direct HOLT ancestors on different lines but I have yet to link them up to the Randall Holt line or not.  One line may be the same as Frances' Randall Holt ancestor line but the other may be a later line that immigrated to America(well not THAT late as we are still talking 1600 and 1700's here).

Randall Holt II was the son of Randall Holt I,who came to Jamestown in 1620/21 on the ship "George".  He lied about his age(he was only about 14)to make the passage and at the expense of Dr. John Potts.  Once here he was an indentured servant in the household of Dr. Potts.  In 1625 he is described at being 18 years old.  He married Mary Bailey in 1629.  Mary had been orphaned as a child and as the only child of John Bailey she inherited his estate so came into great wealth at her majority. This estate included a large tract of land known as Hogg Island on the James River, which is now Hog Island, a wildlife preserve.
Randall Holt knew what he was doing. ;-)

So Frances, my friend and cousin, if you ever get the urge to join the Jamestowne Society, Randall here is your ticket in.

Sluggy

Hope

Pray, send healing energy and hold those affected in your thoughts and hearts.

Aujourd'hui nous somes tous français.

Sluggy



 

The Secret to My Grocery Success!

Now that I am a "woman of a certain age" I have discovered the secret.
Which secret you ask?
Why the secret to getting all your grocery needs for almost free!!
It's the best secret out there, right?

And just how do I do this?

1-Pick a cashier at the store when you are ready to check-out who is young.
2-Sound like you know what you are talking about at ALL TIMES(even when you don't). Do NOT let cashiers intimidate you.
3-Throw your cashier off kilter by doing something totally unexpected while checking out(them being young will not have had much experience with staying in control when things go awry in their world).

That's it!
Easy as pie.

At least this is what worked Wednesday at Weis(PMITA)Markets when I tried to buy 6 bags of frozen ravioli and 2 bags of frozen green beans.
I went into the store fully meaning to pay the correct price for these items after sales/coupons.

But that isn't what happened in any way, shape or form!

So grab a drink, have a seat and get comfy and try to follow along.  ;-)

Mama Rosie's ravioli was supposedly on sale again for BOGO and it was the last day of the sale so I hiked up to Weis to get me some.
I also wanted 2 bags of Hanover veggies on sale 2/$4(had a $1/2 Q so those would cost me $3 for 2 bags).
This transaction wasn't rocket science.......or WAS it?!?

I got the raviolis out of the freezer case and noted that the BOGO shelf tag was affixed to the shelf, Good.  The plan was going swimmingly.

I go up to the Express register(as I only had 8 items)and proceed to check-out with a young(high school age or close)cashier.
I noticed as she scanned the ravioli that it was ringing up 2/$5 or $2.50 each.
HUH???
I believe the reg. retail price at this store was $3.29 a bag thus this was all kinds of wrong no matter how you spun it.

So I panicked(internally only-outer shell was calm and collected)and thought maybe I hallucinated seeing the BOGO sale shelf sign?, so I reached into my coupon case for a rain check I had for this item(from the last time it was BOGO and they were out of them) and said, "Oh, I forgot to give you this rain check before you started ringing up those ravioli...I should get them for a Buy One, Get One Free price."

This spun the cashier's grocery world on it's ear and she just stopped and stared at me like a deer in the headlights.

After the wheels in her head began to turn again, she said, "So I'll just only ring up 3 bags and not scan the other 3 you are buying and that works out the same.".
"Um....NO!", I said to myself. lolz

So I tried explaining to her that the bags should be 1 reg. retail price and 1 free, but these were ringing up a sale price of $2.50 bag and not their regular price.

So she asked me what the regular price was and I said I don't remember exactly(I "thought" it was $3.29 but I didn't want to say in case I was wrong and mislead her.) and that she'd have to find out and price modify or whatever they needed to do to get this rung up correctly.

Having her ring only half the bags up at $2.50 instead of $3.29(or whatever the reg. price actually is) would have meant I paid less than I should have so that's why I didn't just shut UP and let her do it HER way?  (3 bags at $3.29 would have been $9.87 while 3 bags at $2.50 would have been only $7.50...costing the store $2.37.)

Everyone still with me here?

The poor cashier looked even more confused now so she called over another cashier/front end-floater person and tried to explain the problem to her and get her take on what to do.

My logical mind's thought was to cancel the transaction and start over without giving my loyalty card first(so the ravioli wouldn't ring up at this sale price but the regular retail price), then price modify the bags using the rain check and thus giving me the correct total of $13.87-$4 in coupons I had to also use=$9.87 OOP for all 8 items.

So I started to talk as well to explain the situation to the new cashier/floater but then a little voice inside my head(or maybe it was a devil on my shoulder?)screamed inside my cranium, "SHUT THE FRICK UP YOU IDIOT! and just let them figure this out themselves!!!  If they do it the way young cashier wants to, it won't be right anyway but you'll end up saving $2.37 so SHUT UP ALREADY!!!?

So for once I listened to my great big, pushy, little voice and clammed up mid-sentence.
Oh heck, they weren't paying attention to me anyway so why bother fighting to make this right? ;-)

So young cashier and floater cashier decided between them the proper way to proceed was to ring up all 6 bags(at the $2.50 each price) and then void out 3 of them and THIS was the CORRECT SOLUTION to this problem.
So I just nodded, "Ok, sounds good.", and let the cashier proceed.

By this time a rather long line had compiled behind me at this Express register and between being flumoxed by my whipping out a rain check mid-transaction, items ringing up incorrectly and my protestations and then the huddle with the other employee, young cashier was a mite flustered and just wanted me GONE from her check-out I think.

Before I knew it she was done ringing up/voiding out various items, all done while I was trying to put on my reading glasses so I wasn't paying full attention to her actions.  She announced my total as I handed her 4 coupons and said, "And just to complicate matters more, I have these 4 coupons."

Again, I got the deer in the headlights stare from the cashier.  She reached over expecting money from me and I gave her coupons. lolz

Three seconds later she sprang into action, scanning the coupons..........
$1/2 Hanover green beans.....check!
$1/2 Mam Rosie's ravioli.....check!
Then the second of the three ravioli coupons beeped.
And I knew it would since she "supposedly" voided 3 of the 6 bags so according to the register's computer I hadn't bought but 3 bags and the 3 coupons meant I needed to buy 6 bags.

A second later young cashier sighed and must have said, "Screw it!", internally and manually "forced those 2 coupons through.
She then announced my total....."$5 please".

Just wanting out of this Register Hell myself now, I handed her a $20 and she handed me $15 back and my receipt and I slipped out to my car before she changed her mind.

When I got home I finally looked at the receipt to see what voodoo had happened back in that store.

I was expecting to pay $7.50 with the pricing solution young cashier and associate had decided upon at the register so I KNEW a $5 total was way off!

But that little voice in my head just kept shouting me down with SHUT UP!! in the last moments of that ill fated transaction.

I just had to find what cashier had actually done to get my total OOP to only $5.

You probably can't make it out from the photo but the Hanover veggies rang correctly(as I expected)and those cost me after sale and coupon $3 total.
But the bags of ravioli?
Oh those bags of ravioli........

Cashier rang up 2 bags and voided out 1.
Then she rang 1 more bag....that was it, thus I only "bought" 2 bags of ravioli at $2.50=$5.00.
Then she scanned or pushed through $3 in ravioli coupons....$5.00-$3.00=$2.00

$2.00 for all that ravioli + $3 for 2 bags of green beans=$5.00

The savings rate shows at 58%......that would be 58% if I had in fact only bought 2 bags of ravioli and 2 bags of veggies.
I actually saved over 79% on this botched up transaction when all is said and done.

I walked out of Weis paying $2 for 6 bags of ravioli and they watched me do it.

So there is The Secret of My Success.

Act like a confident doddering old fool and people just want you to get as far away from them as fast as they can make you.  8-)

Sluggy