I am pretty sure that 90% of my Facebook friends think I am crazy when I do posts about my grocery shopping trips. Most people probably don’t get it. Here are some reasons why I sometimes snap pictures of my groceries and share what I paid for them. Sometimes I wonder if anybody even cares, but I still keep coming back to it.
Maybe this is why:
-Often when I have a little time to myself and head out to do something I usually end up at the grocery store. If I was doing something more interesting you might be seeing pictures of that instead. I would rather grocery shop alone than go to Starbucks alone and take all 3 to the store later…so to the store I go.
-When I feel the itch to blog, but have had a rough time with the tots I often blog about grocery shopping. Instead of blogging about how I just might lose my mind if my children scream again about the sibling who touched their toy or that the string fell of their pretend pet dog again…I blog about groceries. I don’t mind being real one bit, I just don’t want to fuel any discontentment that other moms are already feeling. When my heart is not in the right place I don’t want to lead others down the wrong path with me.
-Because it is SO fun to go to one store and see an item for $3.99, and then go to another store and see it for $1.49.
-It is a way to feel productive when I know that if I moved more that 5 feet away from the tots the world I came back to might be more than I had the energy to put back together.
-I used to be totally overwhelmed by the grocery store. I did not know what the “good” prices were, I did not know what meat to buy, and I was intimidated using coupons. Now I have more confidence and I actually enjoy shopping. I love that my husband can come straight home from work most nights instead of dropping $35 on a small stash of groceries to get us through the next dinner and restock on eggs and produce.
-Because sometimes I don’t have the energy to delve into the deeper things swirling in my head.
-It is a way to help other families while I am home with mine.
-Because I hope that I can inspire you that you really CAN buy your family good quality food for a price you can afford…even without clipping tons of coupons. There are deals all around!
This week is the Founder’s Days Sale at Fred Meyer. There are TONS of great deals. Check out their online ad to find more great deals. If you do not have an ad you can ask at customer service if they have any left. If not, they have a basket of coupons you can dig through to find what you need (the parkway location was out of ads last night when I checked after leaving mine at home). This trip shows how you can get good quality food for great prices when you watch the ad…even without spending tons of time preparing or clipping coupons. I may even make a trip for more berries and cheese if I get a chance to swing back by.
Organic berries 2 for $4
Tillamook Butter 3 for $5 with in ad coupon (limit 3)
Tillamook Cheese $3.99 with in ad coupon (limit 1)
Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwasher Detergent 40% off $3.83. (I recently bought a box with a coupon and a sale and we discovered we LOVE it).
Cascadian Farm Organic cereal 2 for $4.99. Also included were some great high value coupons on the back for organic products. (Will probably use this cereal for making snack mix since it is a bit sweeter than I like to give the tots for their breakfast).
Sparkle paper towels 2 for $9 with in ad coupon.
Pirates Booty 2 for $3
Dave’s Killer Bread $3.88. (A bit more than Costco, but we needed bread and have never tried it before.)
Yesterday we picked up our Azure Standard order from our Drop Point in Rickreall. It was a more unusual order for us. We desperately needed blueberries and I could not find organic or spray free blueberries for a reasonable price for the life of me. We had gone through our stash of frozen blueberries that we picked from Minto Island Growers quite a while back and we were missing them.
These berries from Azure were the best deal I could find (the picture only shows 5 of the 10 pounds)…and I still almost choked at the price. I am also lso finding that most fruit prices are at an all time high this time of year for things like apples and pears. Although this may seem pretty obvious based on the fact that we are only getting farther away from apple season, it has still taken me by surprise. In season I can get organic apples for close to a dollar, and then they increase steadily. This time of year it seems that my target price is more like $1.50 or less per pound for pears and apples. Now that we are going through a larger amount of produce, I am totally feeling this in our grocery bill. I even bought organic mangos the other day because they were not much more than the cheapest apples. Can’t wait for more fruit to be coming into season. Alright, enough about fruit prices. Sorry.
Why did we buy this stuff?
The steel cut oats are our favorite cheap healthy breakfast. We brown them in a bit of butter and then soak them overnight. The next morning we cook them up and add fun toppings. Maybe I can post more about this later.
The Pau d’ Arco bark is for hubs. A helpful lady at Life Source recommended it when I had a question about his skin issues and supplements for him. We will use it to make a tea. Mmmm. Tastes like tree.
The Chia Seeds are something Hubs wanted to add to our cooking. This will primarily be added to things he eats before he goes for runs/races.
The Gamma Seal Lids are to go on top of 5 gallon buckets and create a good seal, but are also easy to open. We will use them for our bulk wheat berries, different oats, and maybe beans. They are speedy, but we will use them on food safe buckets we are hoping to get for free. This will ensure that our bulk purchases are safe from getting bugs etc.
If you are curious about how to get started with Azure Standard, you can check out this post. Also, you can search “Azure Standard” on my blog in the upper right corner for more related posts.
-Not paid for this endorsement, just a happy customer.
Lately I have become a little bit obsessed with Grocery Outlet. Last night I made a last minute trip to the Salem Grocery Outlet (on D St) to try to get more of a few things I found on a recent trip. I even found a few great markdowns (yes, even Grocery Outlet has markdowns!). I got all of this for $45.00! With the exception of the cheese and Kettle chips, everything was organic! I bought a few things we don’t normally buy, but they will be nice occasional treats for the kids. If you don’t eat organic you will find that some things are even cheaper than what I purchased.
Here is a rough price list from memory.
Organic yellow and red potatoes-Marked down to 99 cents from $1.99
Big tub of organic salad mix- Marked down to $2.49 from $4.99
Kettle chips -$1.99
Athenos feta spread- Marked down to 87 cents
Dill havarti-$1.49
Organic chicken wings -$1.99 per pound and one was 50 cents off
Annies organic chocolate chip granola bars 7ct-$1.99 (6 grams of sugar per bar…not too bad)
Solana Gold organic apple sauce (apple boysenberry and apple strawberry)- $1.99 (On sale at Life Source for $3.99 I believe, and Azure last month for $3)
Country Choice organic sandwich cookies-$1.50 ($3.99 at Fred Meyer)
Annies Bunnies cheddar crackers- 25 cents a piece
Only bummer was when they would not allow me to use a Grocery Outlet coupon they emailed. We were out of a printer for a couple weeks and Hubby hooked it up hours before my trip to the store. As I was getting into the car I saw that it expired 2 days prior. I never try to use expired coupons, but thought that since it was a store coupon for new email subscribers that they might still be able to honor it easily. No dice.
Do you ever shop at Grocery Outlet? Their stock changes often some products are a one time thing.
I feel a bit better now that I let the cat out of the bag. Now don’t you go clearin’ shelves on me. 🙂
-Grocery Outlet has no idea who I am. I am just a fan of good cheap food.
Yesterday was our Azure Standard delivery day at the drop point we use. My friend and I take turns picking it up and it always feels a little like Christmas. We always seem to stop at Burgerville, so it is good we don’t pick it up every time. 🙂 We happened to be out of a lot of our bulk items, and I decided to get bigger 25lb bags of oats and beans this time. I also ordered more hard white and soft white wheat berries. I use the wheat berries in my grain mill to make fresh ground flour (it is healthier and makes homemade stuff taste even better). Hard white is a good average whole wheat (not too dark), and soft white replaces white flour nicely in recipies for pie crusts, cakes, etc.
Here is a list of what I got. Notice that some items did not come. That is one of the only things about Azure that is a bummer. Sometimes they are out of your stuff and you have to just order it again next time. They do have a system now that tells you how many of the item is remaining at the time you add the item. It still catches me by surprise because I often add items to my cart over time and don’t know they are running low on an item. This picture does not include our favorite steel cut oats. We already cracked into them and forgot to put them in the picture.
CE227
Azure Farm Steel Cut Oats (whole grain), Organic
5 lbs.
1
1
$5.35
$5.35
SW137
Wholesome Sweeteners Brown Sugar, Dark, Organic, Fair Trade
Eclectic Institute Elderberry Instant Immune POW-der
2.1 ozs.
1
1
$10.75
$10.75
JC117
Crofter’s @North American Superfruit Spread, Organic
11 ozs.
1
1
$3.30
$3.30
NF225
Biokleen Produce Wash
16 ozs.
1
1
$3.60
$3.60
GR064
Azure Farm Wheat Berries, Soft White, Organic
25 lbs.
1
1
$10.50
$10.50
BE006
Bulk Black Beans, Organic (split with a friend)
25 lbs.
1
1
$34.30
$34.30
SE202
Nutiva Chia Seeds, Organic
3 lbs.
1
0
$16.25
$0.00
EO078
Nature’s Alchemy Tea Tree
0.5 oz.
1
1
$4.70
$4.70
EO067
Nature’s Alchemy Eucalyptus
0.5 oz.
1
1
$3.40
$3.40
BE051
Azure Farm White Beans, Small, Navy, Organic
5 lbs.
1
0
$7.45
$0.00
GR111
Bulk Hard White Wheat, Organic
25 lbs.
1
1
$17.25
$17.25
CE134
Bulk Quick Oats, Organic
25 lbs.
1
1
$18.75
$18.75
CE231
Bulk Steel Cut Oats (whole grain), Organic
25 lbs.
1
0
$18.35
$0.00
My sweet helper always wants to pose with the groceries. She probably thinks all moms line up and take pictures of their groceries. And yes, she does like to wear multiple dresses in the same day. Usually I encourage her to keep the same outfit on, today I let her live it up. Love that girl.
After I refilled my jars I had to figure what to do with all the extras. I wrote the dates on the bags so I can get an idea for how long it takes me to go through them. I will also clip the corners shut with clamps and put them in plastic totes for the time being. I hope to get them into well sealed 5 gallon buckets when we get our hands on some more. I love the Gamma Seal lids on the two that I have. Who knew I would get excited about fancy bucket lids?
Here is a post I wrote about getting started with Azure Standard. You can also find some of my past shopping trips by searching “azure” in the search box.
I am looking out on at least 5 inches of fresh snow and praying everyone is safe driving today. After all the snow we have gotten this year I am starting to feel like I live in an area where snow is a common occurrence. Shout out to my dad and hubby for picking me and my van up late last night after I was having trouble just making it out of the neighborhood I was in.
Here are a few of my favorite organic/natural deals for the week. If enough people are interested in this type of post I will try to make it a weekly feature.
Fred Meyer (through 2/11)
Organic 6oz blueberries 2/$5
Organic Brown Eggs (Chino Valley) $2.99 -Great Price!
Mini Carrots 1lb 2/$3 (Not sure how good of a price this is. We don’t usually buy mini.)
Tom’s of Main Toothpaste or Deodorant 40% off.
Fred Meyer Butter 1lb 2/$5 (decent price)
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Zaycon just opened a SHORT NOTICE ground beef event.
Costco on a Saturday morning…why not? We headed out the door and found our favorite store filled with sample hungry shoppers. People complain about Costco on Saturdays, but it is really not all that bad. After pushing a beast of a stroller through that store for years with the twins, I almost expect to not be able to navigate very smoothly. But, it was no big thing with all registers open and parking for everyone. In fact, the only thing that slowed us down on this trip…ME! The shoppers (and my husband) must have thought I was crazy snapping pictures of price tags every few feet. I heard my husband explain to one male shopper who questioned us, “She has a blog”. I am not sure if that helped explain, or confirmed the fact that I am actually crazy. Some people don’t get the “blog” thing. Some people also don’t get having 3 kids 3 and under. Call us crazy.
Here is a list of my findings. This list is not exhaustive. Also remember that Costco’s stock changes quickly. Sometimes an item will be carried for quite some time, and other times it is just making a brief appearance.
UPDATE BELOW with my findings on my most recent trip in early Jan 2013
This price list is from the Salem Oregon store. Prices and stock carried can vary by store and region. The reader tips are likely from a different store. An astrix (*) at the end of the price indicates that it is their last shipment. Stock up if it is something you love.
Organic and Natural Products roughly broken down by category and area of store
Bybee Foods Organic Frozen Petite Pea 5lbs $1.178 per lb $5.89
Bybee Foods Organic Green Beans 5lbs $1.198 per lb $5.99
Bybee Foods Organic White Cute Corn 5lbs $1.118 per lb $5.59
Firestone IQF Organic Dark Sweet Cherries 4lbs $3.173 per lb $12.69
Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend 3lb $9.69 (good price for these berries although keep in mind that some come from out of country and I am more leery of organic produce from outside of the US because of the possible lack of regulation)
Kirkland Signature 2% Organic Chocolate Milk 24/8.25 oz $14.99
Sun-Maid Organic Raisins 2/2lb bags .125 per oz $7.99
Made in Nature Organic Black Mission Figs $7.99*
Now I will include my older list for price comparison, history of items they have carried, or on the chance that they still carry this item at your store.
(These items and prices were from throughout the first half of 2012)
*= Updated price, new product, or confirmed price on recent trip.
Organic Products
Premium Gold Organic Flax Cold Milled 3lb $5.89 p. p. lb 1.149
Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Sugar 10lb $11.40 p. p. lb 1.149
Bob’s Red Mill Organic While Wheat Flour 25lbs $13.49 p. p. lb .540
Ancient Grains Granola with Almonds $6.95 p. p. oz .204
Natures Path Organic Flax Plus Pumpkin Granola Cereal 35.3 oz $6.99 price per oz .198
Nature’s Path Organic Hot Cereal 32 count $8.99
Coaches Oats Whole Grain Pancake Mix 64oz $7.49 (Stock up! This might be the last shipment)
Truroots Organic Quinoa 4lbs $9.97
Truroots Organic Sprouted Bean Medley 3lbs $9.99
Truroots Organic Sprouted Grain medley 3lbs $8.99
Organic Indian Brown Basmati Rice 10lb bag $8.99 p. p. lb .899
Lundberg Organic Short Grain Brown Rice 12lb bag for $12.99 p. p. lb 1.083
Sunwest Organic Harvest Medley Rice 3.2lb tub (brown rice, wild rice, sweet brown rice and red rice) $8.99 (reader tip)
Kirkland Signature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1.5 liter $10.99 p. p. liter 7.327
Sun-Maid Organic Raisins 2/2lb $7.79
Tree Top Organic Applesauce 36/4oz cups $9.99
Kirkland Organic Salsa (2) 38 oz $7.75
S&W Organic Italian Stewed Tomatoes (8) 14.5 oz cans $7.69 p. p. can .961
S&W Organic Diced Tomatoes (8) 14.5 oz cans $7.69 p. p. can .066
S&W Organic Tomato Sauce (12) 15 0z $7.69
S&W Organic Tomato Paste (12) 6 oz $6.39
Kirkland Organic Chicken Stock (6) 32 oz $10.99
Pacific Organic Creamy Tomato Soup (6) 32 oz $10.95
Amy’s Kitchen Organic Lentil/Minestrone Soup (8) 14.5 oz $11.99
Amy’s Kitchen Organic Medium Chili (6) 14.7 oz $11.79 (Stock up if you like it. Might be last shipment)
Organic Petite Peas 5lbs for $5.89 $1.179 p. p. (they also have organic corn and green beans that I will get the price for next time)
Organic Apples (new crop) $1.34-ish a pound
Organic Spring Mix Lettuce 1 lb $3.99 (updated price)
I am trying to slowly price everything we regularly buy. I was excited to have the chance to get this list together. Hope this helps you with your shopping!
If you have spotted any organic or natural foods at Costco recently and know the prices leave a comment with your item name, size, price, and store location if possible. and I will add it!
Thanks to readers who contributed a price: Kristin Elaine Kayla and Tami
As much as I love the cheap and colorful Ikea bowls (that are supposedly BPA free), I am quite simply drowning in them. By the end of the day the sink is FULL and between all 3 kiddos we have gone through a pile of them. Yesterday we did our coffee filter craft again and I was reminded of a trick my mom used to use with us. Use them for easy disposable snack bowls! They are dirt cheap, have just the right shape, and can wad up miraculously small. Over the years we have moved away from quite a few disposable items, but I will let these pass.
I was stoked when I found out I was chosen to review Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers for my blog through Moms Meet. When the box arrived I was thrilled and did a definite dance for joy.
Crunchmaster Crackers are an alternative to regular wheat crackers. They are natural and certified gluten free. They are made from brown rice, stone ground corn, oat fiber and a 4 seed blend. These crackers are oven baked and have a great texture.
The verdict is in and these get a thumbs up from my family. I love having a great multigrain cracker for the little ones. Our family does not need to avoid wheat, but they get plenty of wheat in their diet and I like to offer a wide variety of foods (and grains). These crackers help us to shake things up a bit. They have the perfect crunch and and come in 3 flavors. They come in sea salt, roasted vegetable, and white cheddar. I think our favorite flavor was the white cheddar. The only thing I would love more about them is if they were organic.
On to the BEST news. They also wanted me to give away a case to my readers!!! So…just enter by leaving a comment below (make sure I have a way of contacting you if you win). What flavor would you be most excited to try?
Giveaway closes Dec 21st.
I would also be thrilled if you wanted to become a “follower” so that I can bring you more awesome giveaways.
She has been notified and 48 hours to respond by email.
Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.
I was fortunate enough to get to sample Kashi Peanutty Dark Chocolate Layered Granola Bars (say that three times fast) . Awhile back I was accepted into the Moms Meet program and occasionally I am chosen to try some fun products. I share them with my group, and then am sometimes asked to summarize what we thought on my blog.
Here is what Moms Meet has to say about the new bars, “Looking for a good-for-you granola bar that also tastes good? Kashi’s all natural TLC® Peanutty Dark Chocolate Layered Granola Bars start with a chewy granola base made with peanut butter and peanut chunks for a nutty flavor. A thick layer of real soft fruit mixed with rich, dark chocolate tops the granola along with roasted runner peanuts and dark chocolate pieces for hearty, natural goodness you can see and taste. And they’re nutritious, too!”
When the box came in the mail we were holding our big garage sale. I was stoked! The kids were just getting up from their naps and they saw the box. They asked if they could try them and we handed them each a bar and sat them on the chair. They sat in perfect silence while they chowed every last speck. I was actually surprised at how focused they were on the bars. When strangers are waltzing around your front yard and taking away your beloved possessions the last thing I expected was them to calmly sit and focus on a snack. They LOVED them and have asked for them many times since.
The main purpose of the sampling is for me to share them with a group I meet with who are interested in natural/green products. This totally fits with the interests of the girls in my Bible Study and so when I get a package from Moms Meet I always take the goodies along.
Here is what one of my friends thought of the bars:
“The texture/consistency was perfect. Chewy, but not gooey. I also thought the flavor had good balance between the chocolate and the peanuts. I am not a big peanut fan, but I did enjoy these.”
If you are interested in any of their products you can check out Kashi’s website.
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Go check out Kashi’s Facebook page to stay up to date on their promotions and be alerted of coupons. I just checked and RIGHT NOW they have a coupon for $1 off a box of their new pita crisps! Pared with a sale this will get you a great deal!
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Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.
