|| Mumma Daze ||

$116 under budget.... yup that's the result for this fortnights shopping. Albeit it may not be a very true reflection as there are four days completely removed from the equation. But hey it makes the bank balance look good, and makes me feel like the extra work I put in is worth it! A note on my satay from last night, it tasted pretty good - not very satayish but yummy just the same. when I told my sister what I'd put in it she yelled down the phone "WHAT! Where did you get THAT recipe?" response "my head..?" she then proceeded to give me a true Indonesian Satay recipe which she is going to write out for me on the weekend...then I shall share it!

A slow start to my shopping day that resulted in only half of it done. Hubby is picking up a bit on the way home from his sporting match and I guess I'll finish it tomorrow. Nearly too buggered to bother preparing the dinner that is planned, but hitched up my pants (literally, my jeans are always slipping!) and got on with it. Diced up the mostly defrosted chicken thigh and rummaged around for the ingredients that I assume go into a satay..now I say first attempt which isn't quite correct, I have attempted satay once before many many years ago but cannot remember the outcome...this and the fact I've never made it again probably mean it was bad...this one WILL be better...positive thinking always works. peanut butter...smooth (we don't do crunchy) cashews, they just happened to be in the cupboard, already opened and probably forgotten about. Figured they'll add some texture. Put them in the happy chopper then into the sauce. soy sauce - which I had to add more ...

Further to what I've previously written about checking Big W out for bulk grocery prices AND checking catalogues for good specials on items you would normally buy.... Bio Zet Laundry powder averages a retail price of $9.99 for a 1kg box at the supermarket At Big W the every day the price is $37.98 for a 6kg tub - this equals $6.33kg - this is their EVERYDAY price...not a special. So you can see that if you bought at Big W at any time you're paying less for the product. BUT checking the catalogues pays too because this week at Coles, a 1kg box is on special for $6! For me this fortnight I've saved myself an extra .33c kg on laundry powder as I was going to head straight to Big W and buy the tub - but now I'll buy it at Coles instead :)

This fortnight is a bit out of the ordinary for a couple of reasons - A) I shopped from my freezer first... because it was quite full from buying in bulk I need to clear it out before I can buy anymore, so my meal plan is based around the meat we already had B) for four nights out of the fortnight I will have guests! So I won't be including the meals for those days! {meal plan} > marinated chicken thigh (possible skewers) w/ fried rice > chicken wraps > home made hamburgers > butter chicken with rice & pappadums > crumbed chicken breast & stuffed potatoes > Hubby's curry > Steak & gravy w/ mash > Potato & Cauliflower curry (this I've never cooked before so is likely to be made as a side or additional to what I'm already cooking!) Now all the meat I'm using I already have, and as you can see we have lots of chicken & mince in the freezer! Also all of those meals are made from scratch, except the butter chicken ...

It comes but once a year.  The BIG one. well the BIG one times four. Toy Sales.... Big W, Kmart, Target, Myer. They release their catalogues online as a sneak preview, deliver them to your letterboxes weeks before and then cram every bloody last nook & cranny of every store with toys...random toys, new toys, sparkly, shiny toys (and personally I think some that are left over from last year too)!! In my opinion this is the PERFECT time to put on a layby, a large one, and pay it off for the next 6 months. They all offer NO DEPOSIT!! and store it until CHRISTMAS EVE!! Now our little mr 18 months celebrates his birthday in January. Just a week and a half after Christmas. In theory that could put ALOT of strain on the wallet. But by shopping around the four major department stores, collecting the catalogues and then racing out like a crazed imbecile on the opening day.... it doesn't :) This is our second year of doing this, last year it wo...

This week I have been struck down with a cold. Thankfully not the flu. But still a yicky very {snotty} cold!! It has put a dampener on organising my shopping trip for the weekend, cooking meals for my boys during the week and in general being on top of everything. This means the last three menu items for this fortnight haven't gone to plan. Honey Mustard Chicken that was meant to be served with rice - so Fried Rice could be made - was had with beautiful curly pasta hmmmmmm tasted good with my sore throat! Fried Rice is out the window now until Friday night. And the last menu item of lamb chops, vegies and pasta was replaced last night by KFC.... O_o .... :D Now we don't do the takeaway thing very often at all and even rarer an occasion it is that we resort to KFC of all things, but I tell you what when it comes to takeaway that was value for money! 9 pieces of chicken, 9 nuggets, large gravy, four breadrolls and two large chips - $24.95. Plenty of food for 2 adults ...

BBQ chicken broken down for sandwiches whole egg mayo (or any mayo you like the taste of) celery finely diced salt pepper dill if you have it or chives sour cream Mix all of this together in a bowl and use as a sandwich filling - this is a great one for parties / guests etc as it has a yummy taste, isn't just chicken and mayo AND the chicken will spread a lot further. yummmmmooooooooo!!!

...and the word change in this sentence has two contexts - I made a change to my life and consequently now receive MORE change at the supermarket!! There are many age old theories and also plenty of new ones regarding how to save money with your groceries. One that I have never applied nor followed is the art of making a meal plan and thus a shopping list....and then sticking to it. For the last 2 - 3 months, that is exactly what I've done and by geez has it worked. Combining the meal plan and shopping list with some other tried and true shopping tricks I have kept my grocery budget and we have eaten beautiful, yummy food every day and every night. This week for me is shopping week so as I complete each step I'll blog it and hopefully you'll see how it actually works. Before we begin, below are my KEY shopping tips to save money that I undertake every shop (for me this is fortnightly)... and because I'm all about sharing my personal grocery budget for a fortnigh...

Sleep when the baby sleeps Eat to keep up your strength Make time for yourself Have someone else feed the baby so you can have a break You hear all of that and more when you're a new Mum, all of it with good intention however it often seems like hounding and honestly how many of us heed it? It all comes down to this... Be Kind to Yourself. Recently I have learnt from a medical professional how important it is to be kind to yourself. If you are not then you will suffer for it. Maybe not straight away, maybe not in a dramatic way but you will feel it. You may feel depressed, anxious, cranky. You may put on weight, your skin my appear dull & listless. No doubt you will be tired to the point of exhaustion. And you will say to yourself and others... I'm just tired, you know having a baby is tiring...or any excuse along those lines. Be Kind To Yourself and you WILL feel better. Get some sun - just 10 minutes in the morning before it gets too hot. Have your cup of t...

Today is the day Mumma Daze begins. Well not truly, as the daze of motherhood for me began on the 8 th January 2010. But this is where I will begin to share with other Mums or anyone who is interested in reading, my ups, downs, sideways and diagonal traipses through what is the daze of being a Mumma. In this blog you will see.. · random thoughts that may or may not relate to children · the rants and vents of a mother at the end of her tether · reviews of ‘products’ that I love or hate…and if I hate them you’ll know it · my hints and tips on saving money in your grocery (and other) shopping…because as you’ll come to learn.. I love a bargain · recipes that I’ve tried, tested, probably failed, then tried again and again · you will also hopefully, quite plainly, see the adoring love I have of being a working housewife and a mother to one precious little boy so, enjoy, relax, provide feedback, stay a quiet follower, join in… I’ll be here J