So last year College Boy was on the 14 meal a week Meal Plan at college. And for both semesters he didn't eat all his weekly meals. (Each week starts fresh with 14 meals and none of them carry over to the following week in this plan.) His schedule(both his practice schedule and his wake/sleep cycle) were so screwy that he couldn't get to the dining hall but infrequently.
He's funny about eating......he'll not eat for awhile but then gorge himself at a meal then he'll skip 2-3 meals.....so he was only eating 10 meals a week.
I hate wasting money so this year we moved him to a Meal Plan which isn't so structured so he can eat his allotted meals in whichever weeks he wants without loosing a significant number of them after each week is over.
The problem with this different plan is that it is equivalent to the 10 meal a week Meal Plan(meaning he gets 10 meals per week-or 2 meals per day average during the week and no meal son weekends). He ate so little at the dining halls last year that 10 meals a week Meal Plan should have gotten him through the semester(with the addition of all the extra food I sent with him in the Fall) but it was going to be close.
Well it wasn't close at all.
He told me on Tuesday that they informed him at the dining hall that he was out of meals for the semester, Nov. 17th. He still has 20 days left in the semester to eat there, so just short of 3 weeks left of dining.
For some reason unknown to God and man College Boy decided this semester to go from hardly eating at all to eating 3 or 4 meals a day.
FOUR MEALS A DAY??!??
I reminded him that he is NOT a HOBBIT and does not require FOURTH MEAL daily!
Plus he's been NOT going to the dining hall(where he can get seconds and thirds and fourths at a sitting)and has been going to the contracted(1 meal and out)venues on campus so he's not filling up and then having to grab something else(another meal on his card)to get through the day.
So I had to put Money on his ID card so he can eat for the rest of the semester....$300 worth.
This means that I have now paid the equivalent of a full 19 meals a week Meal Plan(but have gotten far from that amount of food for him).
Sigh.
They don't have a Flex Week Plan on the 14 meal a week level so I guess we are going back to a structured 14 meal a week Meal Plan for the Spring Semester. I just hope he can deal with eating all 14 meals per week since they won't carry over on this plan. A Flex 14 Meal Plan would be perfect for him if he knocks off that 4 meals a day thing but of course they don't offer that. 8-(
You try to save where you can but then your kids change their behaviors and it bites you in the ass.
2.5 more years of this and I am done!
Day 7, Saturday the weather was sunny and it was a good thing too because we had BIG PLANS for that day!
Daughter had to work in the morning and then go pick up her new-to-her car from the dealer so Hubs and I lingered over breakfast.
This Sleep Inn had a right nice breakfast menu. Besides all the crappy carb loaded foods most motels have they had eggs and either sausage or bacon each morning, hard boiled eggs, yogurt and fresh fruit.
Here's my plate from most of our 8 day stay there.....eggs, meat, tea and fruit.
After breakfast we went out to World Market in Shreveport.
I love me some World Market, having discovered it last trip to Louisiana in 2014.
Unfortunately there is no WM around where I live so we stop when we find one on our travels.
We bought a few beers......
One from Utah.
One from Texas.
Lots of strange foods here too.
English goodies.....curried baked beans and mushy peas....neither of which I'd eat. lolz
But I might be persuaded to eat pickled veggies.....
I should have bought these Brussels Sprouts for my eldest.
When I served them when he was younger living at home he HATED them so he'd swallow them whole.
Luckily I never bought LARGE ones...lolz
People buy pickle brine for cocktails? Hmmmm.
A German rose wine in a cat shaped bottle.
This pig barbecue was cute but just too tiny to be useful to grill anything.
I should have bought these when I saw them. They would have made an AWESOME Christmas present for a couple of people I know(and you know who you are!).
Hubs makes fun of me because I can't use chopsticks correctly and I carry a "chopstick training wheels" device to attach to them like Asian cultures attach to their toddlers sticks who are learning to use them.
He suggested I buy these fabulous ones........
We went back to the hotel and awaited the Daughter's arrival.
Here she is with her new car.......
So what did we do that afternoon?
Well, we went to the Shreveport Mud Bug Madness Festival!
First order of business was getting seats inside the shady, tented area where the bands were playing.
Second order of business was finding "adult beverages".
We sort of found seats(out in the aisle, not at a table as people were saving their tabled seats all day long while they walked around--you had to get there early to get a table it seems)and then the drinking commenced.......
Here's one of the bands we heard and glimpsed through the people wandering around in front of us......
Another of the bands we heard....
It was a great place to people watch.
This old lady was drinking and dancing while smoking a cigar. Thank goodness she didn't decide to go topless too!
Or maybe she did later on....lol
Time for a selfie!
Then we walked around a bit.
This vendor had mud bug themed goods......
The shot glass with the woman on it says, "You want me to suck what?" lolz
Hubs bought a spice mixture for making bread pudding from another vendor.
And I bought a hat and a souvenir pin.
Me in my visor/hat once we got home.....
Then we found the FOOD VENDORS and we were starving at this point!
Hey what's on the menu today? Why gator.
Before..........
And After........
Gator on a stick.
Daughter and I went off in search of Boudin Balls but the only vendor serving those had a fryer problem so we ended up getting Boudin Links instead.
I took one bite and my head about exploded it was so HOT!!!
I gave the rest to Hubs and he gobbled it down.
I am a wimp when it comes to spicy stuff.
You know if we end up moving down there I might just get skinny because I won't be able to eat anything they make down there. lolz
Daughter and I shared a mud bug egg roll after that just to get something in me before I passed out from alcohol poisoning. ;-)
Then there was some posing behind silly signs...
Of course I am the short one with the big chest, story of my life. lolz
I think this one was for kids to use as it was very low to the ground and Hubs knocked it over at least once in the process of posing behind it....
Then there was more people watching......
Lots of old people on various wheeled contraptions here.
If this guy's beard was longer he'd have passed for one of those Duck Commander guys.
We didn't actually eat any boiled crawfish at the Mud Bug Madness since the smallest size they sold them in was a 3 lb. container like the old guy above, who I was sitting next to, is eating. Let me tell you the SMELL of those things boiled was horrendous.
Well at least I am hoping that foul smell was coming off what he was eating and not him. ;-)
We passed by the "rides/games" area and saw this...........
As we got to the other end of the Festival Daughter decided to get one of these gimmicky ice cream concoctions.
The link to see a short clip of her licking an ice cream is HERE. Of course it's sideways and I couldn't get it turned but I think it's better this way. lolz
Another family photo to commemorate the adventure.......
And then we started to head for the entrance/exit.
Next to the entrance we had seen a big set-up for Baby Ray's Sauces and Hubs and I had Daughter take our photo with the inflatable bottle of sauce.......
On the way out their booth was open and reps from the company where there giving away barbecue sauce.
Except to get a free bottle you had to pose with a silly sign and let them upload your photo to Facebook.
Sweet Baby Ray's is the Daughter's favorite barbecue sauce so she talked me into posing with her for a photo to embarrass myself on Facebook.
Yah, you know it didn't take much to talk me into that one............
Yes, if you are Facebook friends with me you saw me doing a really bad impersonation of a barbecue sauce bottle this past May. lolz
Hey, it's obvious I have no pride, especially when it comes to free food! (We each got 2 bottles for being such good sports.)
Then it was out the exit under a sign that read, "Thanks for Comin' Tail Pinchers".
Here's a video of someone's trip to the Mud Bug Festival in 2008 HERE. You get more of a sense of the sheer numbers of people there from his video. Evidently he stayed the whole day and night on his trip.
Unfortunately for us, we weren't there when any Zydeco bands were playing which is one of the reasons we went to it. But we just couldn't stay more than a couple of hours at the thing as it was muggy hot(this is LA after all and it was late May), lots of walking and did I mention it was mobbed with people? lolz
We had take-out Chinese for dinner back in the room, swam some more and just relaxed the rest of the day/evening. After an afternoon of sensory overload I was ready for unwinding.
Day 8 of our Spring Road Trip to Louisiana the Daughter took us to a flea market down the road from her house.
Everything was inside of a ramshackle old building that had three corridors and all the vendors were inside this building.
The vendors were a mix of discount, new merchandise and thrift store/garage sale or antique-y type goods.
There really wasn't much I really wanted to buy(except for a case of canning jars that I didn't feel like walking all the way back to haggle for-but I should have)but there was this one vendor selling Confederate themed items.
Comforters and sheet sets.....
to these lovely table lamps with confederate battle flag shades.....
I saw this photo for sale in a vendor area that wasn't open that day but you could see the goods through the chicken wire gate.....
There was a produce vendor outside that we bought a watermelon off of(Highway Robbery at $9!!!)for the picnic we were having the next day at Daughter's house.
Then it was off to find lunch.
Daughter took us to a place called "Superior Grill".
The place was highly recommended but was PACKED!
We had a 20 minute wait outside on the patio. There was a lovely Magnolia tree in bloom out there and the warm breezy day had the patio smelling marvelous.
This place was quite pricey but as Daughter's BF's mother recommended it I am not surprised as she seems to enjoy the high life. ;-)
I had a rare drink at this restaurant(I prefer to drink at home for cheap). A large margarita.....doesn't that look good?!?
I don't even remember what I ate there(too long ago and a faulty memory or was it that Margarita? lol)but it was nothing special and way overpriced.
We went back to Daughter's house to visit for awhile then we decided to all go back to the hotel and take a swim.
I rode with Daughter in her car and Hubs drove our car back to the hotel. I went with Daughter because she wanted to take me somewhere first.
Where?
A drive-thru Daiquiri Store.
This drive-thru daiquiri seems to be quite popular not just in New Orleans but all over Louisiana. I first heard of this on a segment on Anthony Bourdain's old show.
I call frozen daiquiris "Adult Slurpees" myself.
But it's wild that you can by this at a drive-thru window.
I hear that it's also a "thing" in parts of eastern Texas now all the way to Dallas.
A link HERE to Anthony Bourdain's take on this phenomenon from his old show "No Reservations".
Here's the one I got.....Peach Gummi Rings Daiquiri...........
That thing was potent! lolz
Sonya Ann, we have to RETIRE HERE!!! lolz
After sipping our cocktails and a swim(and no, we didn't drown)we ordered a little something for dinner and had it delivered to the hotel.
I experienced a food first that evening. My first real, honest to goodness Muffeletta Sandwich made in Louisiana.
It was an ok sandwich but the beer I had with it, Polygamy Porter, from Wasatch Brewing was outstanding!
I picked it up at World Market in Shreveport and figured we'd hit them again before leaving LA and I could stock up, but alas!, we didn't go back before leaving town.
Sigh.
It's a really good Porter.
And not just because they take the polygamy jokes and run with them, though those are great too. ;-)
I especially like the line on the lable, "Take some home to the wives!" lolz
Seems they had a devil of a time with their advertising in Utah for this beer. Local billboard companies refused their signs so Greg Shrif, the owner, made a commercial.......
It takes real balls to move from Milwaukee to Salt Lake City UT and start a brewery in a state where a large portion of the population doesn't believe in drinking, not even caffeinated sodas let alone alcohol.
Oh heck!
After some talking and tv, Daughter went home and Hubs and I floated off to sleep with full tummies, exercised muscles and alcohol induced dreams.
I seem to be on a shopping binge lately.....well shopping but not much spending of the monies. lolz
First I went to Rite-Aid.........
After the $2 in Plenti Points back I spent $1.29 OOP.
Wet n' Wild polish and lip color was 40% off of the .99¢ each price, so .59¢ each.
4 x Wet n' wild items=$2.36
1 x Sure Deodorant =$2.00
1 x Brut Deodorant =$2.00
1 x Skintimate women's shaving gel=$3.03 w/20% wellness disc.
1 x Edge men's shaving gel=$2.79 w/20% wellness disc.
Subtotal......$12.18
Coupons Used
2 x .75¢/1 Wn'W lip color IPQ=$1.50
2 x .50¢/1 Wn'W any item IPQ=$1.00
1 x .75¢/1 Sure deo IPQ=.75¢
1 x .75¢/1 Brut deo IPA=.75¢
2 x $2/1 Assorted shaving gel RA in-adQ=$4.00
1 x .50¢/1 Skintimate IPQ=.50¢
1 x .50¢/1 Edge IPQ=.50¢
Coupon Total.....$9.00
$12.18-$9=$3.18 + .11¢ tax=$3.29
Used $2 in Points, $1.29 OOP Total.
Received back $2 in Plenti Points.
I may go back later this week and buy all this again on the other Plenti card, but get 2 Edge instead of 1 of the Skintimate and 1 of the Edge since they charge more for the same exact amount of the same exact shaving gel if it's put into the feminine container. Humph!
All this bought again(but no women's shave gel, 2 men's shave gel instead)will cost me .94¢ + tax OOP after $2 in Points back, instead of $1.29.
Then I went to Target to use the $10 gift card wyb $50 food/beverage Deal in the Sunday ad.
I spent $51.24 before coupons on various foods, some on sale and some using Qs but all stuff we can use(and some items to use for food stocking stuffers at Christmas).
After $11.95 in Qs and a $10 Target gift card I had to roll from a previous deal I did there, I paid $29.29 on another Target gift card(gotten free from c/c pts.).
I also qualified for $15 in other specials.....$10 Target gift card wyb $15 of McCormick spices/herbs(you have to apply for this by mail)and a $5 Starbucks e-gift card wyb3 qualifying Starbucks items.
After I send off for these other specials my OOP paid is $14.29.
I also hit the Bread Outlet to stock up before Thanksgiving on various bread products. $11.75 OOP there and I got $51.99 worth of food.
After Rite-Aid again and Weis(PMITA)Markets tomorrow I really need to stay home for awhile.
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
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.
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?
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.
