Sunday, April 11, 2010
I just had a couple of random thoughts as I was going about my day…
Frozen bananas: Now that your baby is older, or you are planning ahead for when your baby can eat a few more solid things, pick up a bundle of fresh bananas. They are extremely inexpensive, around $.49 per pound, and babies think they taste like candy. Mash the bananas with a fork and dump them into the baby food jars/tubs that you have been saving. Pop ‘em into the freezer, and they stay VERY fresh-tasting! I usually thaw them in the microwave for about 30 seconds, and most of the banana is thaw, and some of it is frozen. Emily especially likes the frozen part, as it tastes like a popsicle. This is a great trick for teething babies and sore gums.
Other soft foods for growing babies: Where you used to puree all of your baby’s vegetables, they may be at the age where they can handle some solid vegetables. Steam a bag of peas, portion the peas out into the baby food jars/tubs that you’ve been saving, and freeze. When you’re ready to eat, pop them into the microwave for around 45 seconds, and sprinkle them onto your baby’s high chair tray. They will love the independence of picking the peas up for themselves, and you might have a few moments to start dinner or rinse some dishes.
Formula popsicles: If your baby is still young enough to drink formula, formula pops are great for a warm day outside, or for those sore gums. Most grocery stores sell popsicle molds very inexpensively, or you could always fill an ice cube tray. Simply measure the amount of liquid that the mold holds, and you will know how much powder to add to the water.
Washable dry mop: I used to use my Swiffer Wet Jet to mop the hard wood floors, and even the tile floors on occasion. The Swiffer Wet Jet pads are pricey, and I was going through about 3 pads a week, so I needed a new box of pads every time I turned around! Instead of continuing on with this, I decided to purchase a mop with a removable microfiber pad. I still purchase the Swiffer Wet Jet spray solution, but I bought a large squirt bottle at Dollar Tree. I empty the solution into my spray bottle, and spray the floors by hand. After I am finished mopping, the microfiber pad gets tossed into the washing machine and is dry by the next day. I don’t have to continue purchasing Wet Jet Pads, and I don’t have to replace the batteries on the Swiffer Wet Jet, which is GREAT because the messes are getting bigger!
Showing posts with label baby food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby food. Show all posts
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Savings this weekend!
Friday, March 26, 2010
This weekend, I will be taking advantage of several email coupons and discounts I have received in the recent past.
Kid to Kid
I received a coupon for Kid to Kid Children’s and Maternity Consignment in my email this week. The coupon is for $5 off when you spent $25.
Plato’s Closet
Plato’s Closet is my favorite local consignment boutique for men and women. When I took some items in to consign, I entered my email address into their database. About an hour after I left, I received a coupon for $5 off my next purchase at Plato’s Closet.
Save-A-Lot
There was a segment on the local news this morning about Save-A-Lot Food Stores. The segment highlighted Save-A-Lot’s dedication to low prices and fabulous online coupons. I visited their website, and discovered that there were over SIX PAGES of printable coupons for a variety of grocery items. I am interested in being added to their mailing list (the segment this morning mentioned receiving a coupon for $5 off when you spend $20) and discovering even more savings opportunities. The woman that led the segment on the news purchased $80 worth of groceries for $44!
Remember…these are simply guidelines. If you do not live in the North Texas area, or are in a community where none of these stores are available, I encourage you to venture out and discover what IS available to you. Maybe you have a Job Lots instead of a Big Lots. Maybe your children’s and maternity consignment store goes by a different name. Start thinking about the venues where you can experience significant savings. ALWAYS REMEMBER – deleting unwanted emails from your inbox IS FREE, but you can’t receive savings if you don’t sign up!
This weekend, I will be taking advantage of several email coupons and discounts I have received in the recent past.
Kid to Kid
I received a coupon for Kid to Kid Children’s and Maternity Consignment in my email this week. The coupon is for $5 off when you spent $25.
Plato’s Closet
Plato’s Closet is my favorite local consignment boutique for men and women. When I took some items in to consign, I entered my email address into their database. About an hour after I left, I received a coupon for $5 off my next purchase at Plato’s Closet.
Save-A-Lot
There was a segment on the local news this morning about Save-A-Lot Food Stores. The segment highlighted Save-A-Lot’s dedication to low prices and fabulous online coupons. I visited their website, and discovered that there were over SIX PAGES of printable coupons for a variety of grocery items. I am interested in being added to their mailing list (the segment this morning mentioned receiving a coupon for $5 off when you spend $20) and discovering even more savings opportunities. The woman that led the segment on the news purchased $80 worth of groceries for $44!
Remember…these are simply guidelines. If you do not live in the North Texas area, or are in a community where none of these stores are available, I encourage you to venture out and discover what IS available to you. Maybe you have a Job Lots instead of a Big Lots. Maybe your children’s and maternity consignment store goes by a different name. Start thinking about the venues where you can experience significant savings. ALWAYS REMEMBER – deleting unwanted emails from your inbox IS FREE, but you can’t receive savings if you don’t sign up!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Make-your-own baby food
Sunday, February 28, 2010
When I made the transition to being a stay-at-home-mom, I was searching for ways to save that would truly impact my family. I have found that making my daughter’s baby food myself is a true savings! For instance, a 16oz. bag of Great Value brand frozen broccoli runs just over $1.00 at Wal-Mart. By steaming and pureeing the vegetables yourself, you can get about 6 - 4oz. jars of baby food for around $1.00 instead of spending around $.45 for each jar at the grocery store. Here is the process:
1. Steam the vegetable according to package directions or slightly longer for easy pureeing.
2. Drain the water from the vegetable, PRESERVE WATER
3. Puree vegetable using a food processor or hand held processor.
4. The more of the preserved water that you add, the smoother the pureed vegetable will be. It is more useful to use the vegetable’s water than tap water because the nutrients from the vegetable are still contained in the water.
5. Portion into plastic baby food jars or small containers. Before I began this process, I started collecting the plastic 4oz. food containers that her packaged baby food came in. Once I had about 20 containers, I felt prepared to make her food myself. I then let the vegetables cool on the counter and freeze. I have tried boiling chicken, but it was a bit dry for my taste (and hers), probably because I didn’t add enough of the preserved water. It was crumbly and she did not care for it. I now purchase her meats. I also purchase her fruits because it is usually not cost-effective for me to buy frozen fruit and puree it. I can save myself the work and simply purchase her fruits at Big Lots (see yesterday’s blog!). However, frozen vegetables (or even when the raw carrots are getting a little bit dry and ready to be tossed, steam ‘em up!) are very inexpensive and they are sold in a variety of combinations. I have yet to find a vegetable that my daughter refuses to eat. (Ok, ok, I know I’m fortunate when it comes to her eating. Don’t hate me!) I prefer to make the mess only once and steam/puree all of the vegetables that I can prepare given the amount of containers that I have. Try it, I think you’ll really find that its kinda fun and saves a TON of money!
When I made the transition to being a stay-at-home-mom, I was searching for ways to save that would truly impact my family. I have found that making my daughter’s baby food myself is a true savings! For instance, a 16oz. bag of Great Value brand frozen broccoli runs just over $1.00 at Wal-Mart. By steaming and pureeing the vegetables yourself, you can get about 6 - 4oz. jars of baby food for around $1.00 instead of spending around $.45 for each jar at the grocery store. Here is the process:
1. Steam the vegetable according to package directions or slightly longer for easy pureeing.
2. Drain the water from the vegetable, PRESERVE WATER
3. Puree vegetable using a food processor or hand held processor.
4. The more of the preserved water that you add, the smoother the pureed vegetable will be. It is more useful to use the vegetable’s water than tap water because the nutrients from the vegetable are still contained in the water.
5. Portion into plastic baby food jars or small containers. Before I began this process, I started collecting the plastic 4oz. food containers that her packaged baby food came in. Once I had about 20 containers, I felt prepared to make her food myself. I then let the vegetables cool on the counter and freeze. I have tried boiling chicken, but it was a bit dry for my taste (and hers), probably because I didn’t add enough of the preserved water. It was crumbly and she did not care for it. I now purchase her meats. I also purchase her fruits because it is usually not cost-effective for me to buy frozen fruit and puree it. I can save myself the work and simply purchase her fruits at Big Lots (see yesterday’s blog!). However, frozen vegetables (or even when the raw carrots are getting a little bit dry and ready to be tossed, steam ‘em up!) are very inexpensive and they are sold in a variety of combinations. I have yet to find a vegetable that my daughter refuses to eat. (Ok, ok, I know I’m fortunate when it comes to her eating. Don’t hate me!) I prefer to make the mess only once and steam/puree all of the vegetables that I can prepare given the amount of containers that I have. Try it, I think you’ll really find that its kinda fun and saves a TON of money!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
