Weekly Shopping Trip + Lupus

Just to catch you up: I've not been posting really at all lately, save for some shopping trip reports and a giveaway. I have been cooking. Yesterday I made a delicious meal that I couldn't get a picture of but am going to repeat next week just so I can share it with you.

But mostly, I've been in bed.

I'm in the process of being diagnosed with lupus. I guess it's early to say that, as it can take years to diagnose. But all my symptoms seem to point to lupus. I'm exhausted all the time, and that's the worst part. I see the rhumatologist at the end of March. Hopefully, he will have some treatment for me.

Until then, please be patient with me. I'll do everything I can.

Now then...

My weekly shopping trip. $20 just doesn't go very far these days when you want to buy only natural foods, does it? Sure, I could coupon myself to death and get huge deals on dry cereals, cake mixes, cookies, and stuff like that. But try to stay on the outside of the aisles and stay in budget. Tricky stuff! It takes planning and sale hunting! Here's what I got for just under $20 this morning:

I could have used some lunch meat but I couldn't afford the natural stuff so I went without instead. Here's my list with prices:

• cheddar sliced cheese, 8 oz $1.69 plus 50 cent coupon on the shelf
• whole wheat tortillas (8 pack) $1.29
• Rudi's organic whole wheat bread $1.99 plus a 50 cent coupon on the shelf
• pure maple syrup $4.09
• pummelo (giant sweet grapefruit from what I gather, first time trying) $2.00
• cantaloupe $1.68
• Empire apples on sale for 50 cents a pound - 2.95 lbs $1.48
• cucumber 69 cents
• gallon 1% milk $2.79
• family size orange juice concentrate $1.89

total with surcharge $19.57



I am really trying to stay away from processed foods as much as possible. I can't stop buying them completely (I mean, I could, but my quality of life would decrease) but I am careful about which ones I spend my money on. I don't do diet foods at all. Doing Weight Watchers without diet foods is not only more satisfying, but it's also showing me superb results on the scale!

Monthly Shopping Trip

I did my big monthly shopping trip over the last couple of days. Here's what I bought and what I spent:

Commissary:

• Babybel Cheeses (2) $4.78
• Instant Fat-free Milk $6.96
• Sharp Cheddar Sticks $2.50
• Low-fat Mexican blend cheese $1.89
• Low-fat Italian blend cheese $1.89
• Salted Butter $2.89
• Low-fat Cream Cheese $1.79
• Ice Cream (4) $10.37
• Boxed Frozen Vegetables (4) $3.96
• Bagels (2) $1.50
• Lunchmeat (ham and chicken) $3.50
• Personal Care Items (several) $19.50

Total with Surcharge = $67.01

Publix Trip #1

• 10-grain bread $2.00
• 15-grain bread that I thought was on sale but wasn't $3.89
• diet cola $.79
• bananas (2.5 lb) $1.70
• blueberries $2.99
• strawberries $2.99
• Greek yogurt $3.99
• natural peanut butter $2.69
• ricotta cheese $2.19
• frozen squash $1.39

Total with tax $25.36

Publix Trip #2 (to take advantage of some sales this week)

• frozen garlic bread (2) $2.79
• Simply Orange with Pineapple (2) $6.00
• bananas (2.86 lb) $1.97
• sliced cheese (cheddar and muenster) $4.00
• strawberries (they're so good right now!) $2.99
• pizza crust that I thought was on sale but wasn't $4.79
• frozen boxed vegetables (3) $3.00
• fresh steam-in-bag veggies (stir fry mix and cauliflower) $2.00
• popping corn (2) $4.69
• Publix brand toilet paper $.01
• diet coke (2) $3.00
• vitamin water zero $1.49
• pizza crusts that WERE on sale (2) $3.69

Total with tax = $47.29

Three trip total = $139.66

I'll need another couple of trips for more fruit, some milk, and some eggs, throughout the month. But I'm really pleased with how my budget is shrinking. I owe this to stocking up on sales, mostly, but also proper planning. I don't use coupons, for the most part.

CSN Giveaway WINNER!

Happy Valentine's Day, Lovelies!

The winner of my latest CSN Stores giveaway is......

Andrea, congratulations! I'm so happy for you! I hope you enjoy your prize!

If you didn't win, don't lose heart. I'll host another giveaway really soon!

A Valentine's Day Present for my Readers

It's time for a....

GIVEAWAY!



Dear Friends,

This will be our second Valentine's Day together! Thank you for visiting my humble little blog. Thank you for your encouraging comments -- I love it when you leave me notes! To celebrate YOU, readers, I've teamed up with CSN Stores again. I'm giving away a $50 code good at any of CSN's 200+ sites!

What will you use your code for? It's up to you! Here's how to enter:

1. Be a public follower of this blog via Google Friend Connect. This is mandatory for entry. Leave a comment. Be sure I can contact you, either via your Blogger profile or by leaving your email address in your comment. 
2. Extra Entry: Leave a link to the product you'd most like to buy from any CSN site. Again, make sure I can contact you if you're the winner!
3. Another extra entry: Tell me how you plan to celebrate Valentine's Day this year, either with your partner or your child, or your friend, or yourself!

This giveaway is open to US residents only. I will use Random.org to select a winner from all entrants on Sunday, February 13, 2011. All entries must be received NO LATER THAN 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, February 12, 2011.

Best of luck! And thanks again!