Groceries

I recently bought groceries at Costco and Trader Joes and I thought I'd share my finds! {I recently converted from Sam's to Costco because Costco has several organic products.}

I loosely follow Weston A. Price principles, so I can't buy all of my groceries at Aldi anymore. Which means that I must spend more on good quality organic foods. I have to look at buying groceries and cooking whole foods as an investment to our overall health and well being.

Costco
{we invested in a deep freezer last year, so we're able to save by buying in bulk.}
Organic Spinach- $4.29 {1#}
Organic Apples- $6.99
Organic Frozen Broccoli $5.99
Half & Half- $3.29 {1/2 gallon for our coffee}
Shredded Mozzarella- $12.79 {5# broken up into 6 freezer bags}
Blueberries- $4.99 {22oz.}
Mini Peppers- $3.29 {2#}
5 Avocados- $5.99
Organic flax- $7.99*
Papaya- $3.29*
10#Organic Cane Sugar- $8.69
Organic Brown Rice Medley- $3.97
10# Organic Carrots- $6.99
Organic Quinoa- $9.79* {might could get it cheaper in bulk Earth Fare}


Trader Joes
{I don't usually get to shop at Trader Joe's because the closest one is in Atlanta, but it was fun!}

Steel Cut Oats- $3.29
Organic Eggs- $3.99
Trail Mix- $4.99*
EVOO- $7.99
Organic Virgin Coconut Oil- $5.99
Organic Apple Sauce- $2.29
Organic Blueberries- $2.99
Peanut Butter w/ flax seeds- $2.99*
Hummus- $3.99*
Organic O's- $2.49
Organic Celery- $2.29
Organic Bananas- $.19 each- $2.66

*things that were impulse buys and I need to do price checking to see if I got a good deal.

I'm not sure how long this will last me. I don't usually have this much fresh produce on hand because I can't stand for it to go bad. Hopefully Trinity and I can handle it. ;)

I haven't fully converted our family to grass fed/organic meat, yet, because we still have quit a bit in our freezer. I am researching local grass fed beef and organic chicken. I plan to save up over the next few months and purchase them in bulk.

Bento Craze

Trinity's First Christmas

This was our first Christmas with our baby girl, and luckily, she was old enough to enjoy it!! We knew that this Christmas was going to be a little hectic seeing that Christmas fell on a Sunday this year. We had a Christmas Eve and a Christmas morning service at church. When I first found out that there were going to be church services rudely interrupting our Christmas schedule, I was frustrated, to say the least. When I vented to my level headed husband about it, he reminded me that Christmas is the celebration of our Savior's birth, and what better place to spend this special day than in worship and hearing His word. I cooled down a bit, but it wasn't until I went to the Christmas Eve service that I really began to accept and ultimately love the fact that we were having a church service on Christmas. It was an amazing time of worship and I was able to truly reflect on what this day is about.

This being Trinity's first Christmas, Ben and I wanted to start a special family Christmas tradition at our house. We decided to have a pajama day where we eat popcorn, watch Christmas movies, read the Christmas story from the Bible, and indulge in homemade cinnamon rolls (which were a bit dry, but I'll do better next time... it was a new recipe). This was a very special day, and I'll be looking forward to Pajama Day every Christmas!

I've always felt a bit weird about getting gifts at Christmas, and even though I grew up in a Christian home, it's easy to forget the real reason for the season.  We didn't buy gifts this year, and we asked our family to not get us any gifts. They were too excited about buying this first grandbaby gifts, so it didn't seem to be a big deal for them. :)

Christmas morning before the festivities began

Christmas Morning at Meme's House

Pops helped Trinity open all of her presents

• Emma (a hard bodied baby doll) and money toward her college fund - Meme

• Vilot (a Leap Frog talking puppy that's computer programmed to say Trinity's name and favorite things), Fridge Fonics, Jingle (a stuffed Husky who barks as you read his book), an angel necklace - Noni & Pops

• Stuffed owl with baby pouch and teething toys and a banana toothbrush - Uncle Blake & Aunt Magan 

• Bouncing Turtle - JohDonna, Tiffany, and Jo

• BOOKS Galore! (Which mommy loves because they're educational and take up less room than toys ;) ) - Denise
  

The Day after Christmas with Mamaw

Uncle Cody and Trinity playing with her new toys

Trinity's beautiful Aunt Katy

Aunt Wanda got Trinity a Lee Middleton doll

Ben Teaching Mamaw how to use her new computer

• Several outfits, tights, boots, wooden puzzle, wooden blocks, books, spoons, tub toys, and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things... like I said, these new grandparents were ecstatic about buying presents for this rotten baby girl! :) - Mamaw

• Lee Middleton Doll - Aunt Wanda
  
  
  We had an amazing Christmas with our family, and I pray that we stay focused on the real meaning of Christmas every year.

Keeping Track of Memories

My baby girl is growing up and changing so fast!  I thought keeping this blog up to date with her latest milestones would be helpful!  Here goes...