Xmas Stuff

We are five days away from Christmas and almost through Hanukkah too.....EEK!

I just wanted to update on here since I don't have time to email everyone individually who sent in cards for Sonya.

These are the cards I have received so far......

S Steiner
D Hartwick(2 cards)
Anne at the Table
N Alexander
Cheap Chick
Jen-Absolutely Sweet Chaos
R Davis(2 cards)
American Dreamer(at least I think it's yours due to the postmark) ;-)
Jen G.
Lorraine-We are Clamco

Keep 'em coming! 8-)))

If you want to email me a note since it's so close to when I need to send these off, I can print that out and include it too.  Just send me an email.

Back later with more "stuff".

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

* I'm a day late with this due to other things going on around Chez Sluggy.....so sue me. ;-)

The "Souper Sunday" Edition--

I wanted to replicate Progresso's Tomato soup w/pasta and veggies.  Came pretty close to doing so but my soup is thicker and has more pasta shells.
Works for me!  I stuck what's left of it into the freezer after 1 week to eat later this Winter.

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week--

1. Sunday--homemade Tomato Soup w/Veggies and Pasta, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

2. Monday--Pork Chops, Grilled Asparagus

3. Tuesday--Fried Fish, Home Fries, Brussels Sprouts

4. Wednesday--Leftover Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad

5. Thursday--Chicken Sausages, Roasted Veggies
6. Friday--Homemade Pizza, Caesar Salad
7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--homemade Tomato Soup w/Veggies and Pasta, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

2. Monday--Apricot Glazed Pork Chops, Mac and Cheese from box, Brussels Sprouts

3. Tuesday--Fried Fish, Sweet Potato Steak Fries

4. Wednesday--Chinese Take-Out

5. Thursday--Leftover Spaghetti and Meatballs
6. Friday--Chicken Sausages, Roasted Carrots and Beets, Latkes
7. Saturday--Baby Back Ribs, real Mac and Cheese, Veggie

Last week saw 5 night of home cooked dinners, 1 nights of leftovers/fend for yourself, 1 nights of take-out and 0 nights of Eating out.
Two trips to just Weis was the extent of the shopping last week and the bill came to $159/75.  That brings December's food spending to $328.63.  There are 12 more days in my shopping month.

My savings percentages last week was 52.84% and the monthly savings so far ends up at 53%(without Rite-Aid trips added in).

Leftovers going into this week.......spaghetti and meatballs, latke mix, ribs, mac and cheese.

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

1. Sunday--Veal Parmesan, Salad

2. Monday--Chicken and Dumplings

3. Tuesday--Eat-Out?

4. Wednesday--Chicken Fried Steak, Taters, Gravy, Califlower

5. Thursday--Chicken Enchiladas, Rice, Beans
6. Friday--Pizza, Wings, Veggie Tray
7. Saturday--Leftovers

This week will see 5 new meals cooked, 1 night of leftovers, 1 night of Take-out/Eat-Out.

The only thing I need to buy to make these meals is nothing I think.  That isn't to say that I won't go to the grocery store however. 8-)

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

And the Giveaway Winner is.......

There were 108 valid entries.  I used Random dotorg to pick a winner and they picked entry #90 so the Winner is...........

Bonnie!

BonnieDecember 16, 2017 at 6:12 PM

Just a couple days left until the drawing!

Congratulations Bonnie!!
Now you have 48 hours from the time stamp this post goes live to email me your full mailing address so I can get this on it's way to you.

Thanks to everyone who played along and don't forget to enter the Second December Giveaway before it ends on December 23rd.  That link to enter is HERE.

The regular Monday meal planning post is coming up shortly......

Sluggy

Last Day to Enter December Giveaway #1

Just a reminder that today is the last day for entering my December Giveaway #1.

Go HERE to enter that one.

And make sure there is a way for me to contact you via email.

Sluggy

The Good & The Bad Around Chez Sluggy Lately

Here are some updates on things going on around Chez Sluggy that aren't a full post worth.

* The Senior Recital was good.
The stage was decorated for the Holidays.

College Boy before his first piece.  He was so nervous....can you tell? lolz

This is his friend Emily, who he had his recital with.  Performance majors get a solo recital but tech and ed students share a recital.

Here is College Boy and Emily performing one of their duets.

Preparing to take their bows with the accompanist Linda.

Relieved it's all over with finally!!!

College Boy with his flute profession/teacher, Mrs. Christine Moulton.

Another photo of the performers.

College Boy and Emily.

Another pose with a borrowed flute(I bet he would have sounded even better with his own flute)but it needed repairs.

 The proud mama......

 And the proud papa......

* Hubs got a phone call from his brother in SC yesterday.  It's only been two weeks since his sister moved there and there is already trouble in paradise.  They are butting heads.  The brother isn't helping matters by telling her "I told you so" about decisions she had in the past.  And he is being not very compassionate with her otherwise.  It's two old people(68 and just shy of 61)who are set in their ways and use to having their own way and living alone having to make concessions.  Hubs told them they need to work it out.  If the brother throws her out she'll have to go to social services and/or a homeless shelter.  She has problems beyond getting along with her brother(a touch of ungratefulness for what folks have done for her)and she can't come here.  Our plate is full but I can't help but have a worry in the back of my mind that things will get ugly before they get better(IF they get better).

* Christmas is quickly closing in on us.  Hubs picked up College Boy on Thursday(another long ride in a cargo van for him).  Daughter finished up exams Friday evening and now her back is giving her problems again.  She is trying to fit an injection in before the end of December(which would be better on our insurance than having it done in January).  This means more medical bills for us. 8-(
I still don't know when the eldest son will be arriving to spend Christmas with us yet.  Next weekend or ???  This will be the first time since 2012 I think since all three kids have all been here for the Holidays.  Daughter moved in 2013 and I don't think eldest has been home for Christmas since then either.

* I haven't made any cookies yet for Christmas!  Last year I went on a cookie making binge and made 7 different types........

Lemon Gooey Butter Cookies
Coconut Macaroon Cookies
Peanut Butter w/PB M&Ms Cookies
Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Italian Ricotta Cookies
Butterscotch Cashew Cookies
Chocolate Chip w/M&Ms Cookies

So many cookies and I ended up throwing out so many!  I guess we aren't big cookie eaters here......well, Eldest wasn't home so that was one less muncher to take care of them.

Last year's Cookie Tray.

* I hit Weis(PMITA)Markets on Friday and Lord!, there goes the December budget. lololz  I don't think I can face tallying up my food spending for the month now.  It's probably not as bad as I think it is(or not?lol).  At least I have my rolled coins, rebates and post coupon envelopes to add and offset this extra spending.  I did pick up a few deals.....Eight O'Clock coffee after stacked Qs and BOGO were $1.24 a bag, more Hershey's Crunch Layer candy for $1 a bag, 2 lb. Hatfield slow cooker roasts were on sale $5(Reg. $8 each)and two that had Tuscan Herb marinate in them had $3 off instant stickers so those cost me $2 per roast($1 per lb.).  I also got a "special deal" on a bag of Huggies diapers....on sale for $6.99 this week and I had stacked $3 in Weis bookletQ and ManuQs so suppose to be $3.99.  I guess I had clipped a digital Q on Weis' website because that came off too(and explains why the register wouldn't take my ManuQ and she had to manually put it through), so another $2 discount making them $1.99 OOP.  I can sell these for $5.50 locally so a few extra bucks to throw at the food budget when I do.  Woohoo! ;-)
I also got baby back ribs for $3 lb.(half price for us locally)which I am cooking up tonight for dinner.

* The cards for Sonya are starting to roll in.  Not too late to contact me and send her a note still.  I want to get these boxed up and sent our the day after Christmas I think, so she gets them in time for her Birthday. 
Consider sending her a cheery note your Christmas Good Deed.  You just don't know how much doing this will help until you've been in a dark place yourself. 
Email me for the address where to send a card.

Ok, I need to go check on dinner and put Chester out.  That dog is turning out to be a snow demon....he LOVES racing through the snow!!

When he isn't sound asleep upside down in his doggy bed......... ;-)


Sluggy