Jumpin on the Bandwagon

Oregon has one of the worst unemployment statistics in the nation right now.  But we have a job.  We are one of the lucky few that has weathered a very bad storm and come out the other end.  Patrick doesn't make nearly the amount of money that he made in Utah but it's not too shabby if I do say so myself.  We are able to pay all of our bills on time and in a 3 short months, we will have our bankruptcy filed and finished and we can start paying back some of the smaller debts that we owe.  It's a good feeling.  That being said...things are very different.  Our house is smaller.  Our priorities have changed.  We have paid for junker cars.  We go to the Movies in Newberg because it supports a local business and it's cheaper.  We have our kids enrolled in dance classes  in a local Sherwood company because it sustains our local economy.  It's not the best place around, but it helps our community.  Our family dentist is local.  He is not a part of a big corporate entity like Gentle Dental.  We have a fabulous toy and book store just down the road.  I'm doing my part to keep my local economy strong.  But I can do more. 

Something new my family is doing is supporting this local dairy.  Also, I am going to have this produce company deliver to our home every couple of weeks.  Instead of sundaes at Dairy Queen we can go to this cupcake store.  Starting March 1st, for one month, I am going green.  What that means for me is I will try and buy only locally grown things or shop at independently owned businesses.  Why?  Well I want to put as much of my money back into the local economy as possible.  If we all did this, I believe would could see a real difference in our economy.  Target, buh bye...same to you Costco...forget Joanns...and Michaels...I am going to Thriftway, the new produce stand in Sherwood, or this for fabric, or this for gardening supplies.  Can I do it?  It's worth a try.  I have a birthday to plan in March and I am going to have to spend more time researching to figure out where I can get things that I can't live without like chocolate that is made in Oregon... and what about a movie rental place?  Of course...no chain restaurants and in Portland, that is far better anyway.  The local barber instead of Great Clips...local mechanic instead of dealership...resale or boutiques for clothes instead of Old Navy...appliances at Walt's instead of Best Buy...Powell's instead of Borders...you get the picture.  If you want to take a look at a documentary go here.  As you probably can tell, I don't shop at Walmart.  So if I am jumping on a bandwagon...I don't think it's a bad one....unless you work for a big company.  It's ok.  I'm just one person.  And this is what I want to do, so I am going to do it.  Rock on my small business friends.  I'm in your court now.

Costco is King!

Long ago, in a land far away...well not really, but sounds good huh?! Seriously, what would I do without Costco? I had a chance to live that nightmare for 4 long months. We just couldn't afford the membership fee. Now that Patrick is employed, we braved the Costco parking lot and entered into it's air conditioned vastness today. How did I survive without this store? And then a ah ha moment came as I was loading up a bag of pretzels...your kitchen is a mess all the time because you can't go to Costco.

Really? It's true. Being cheap and having lots of time on my hands has afforded me the opportunity to think way too much about food and the cost of all things. So rather than plunk down 3.50 on a bag of flour Tortillas, I just make them myself. My children make a far larger mess because their is no corn dogs or Mac and Cheese on hand. The pot stickers are gone. No Nachos are made because mommy wont pay more than $4 for 2lbs of cheese and don't get me started on Tortilla chips! You can't beat 3.35 for a 3lb bag of them anywhere! So I have to cook lots and make huge messes to save a buck. I am the queen of homemade lately. But then something horrid happened, we ran out of the basics.

What brand of garbage sacks can compare to Kirkland? How does one afford Ziploc Bags if they are not purchased in bulk? How can small children be tricked into eating dairy if it is not in the form of a Gogurt or Cheese Stick. Baby wipes, does it get any better than Kirkland brand? How about 10 lb bag of Chocolate Chips? Basics are a steal at Costco. I'm not buying Salmon and Wine or a new mattress, just basics. So now I can quit trying to find the cheapest bottle of Vanilla, Costco beats them all. I can sleep at night knowing that all my produce is frozen in Ziploc bags and the garbage can be hauled out for pennies on the dollar compared to the store brands. Butter is back in my household and seriously, I defy you to find 2 gallons of milk for 3.59 anywhere (the new containers are a pain, but who cares if it saves you money!)

Not only can you get great deals, but feed your family lunch if you time it right. 4 kids got bread with jam, orange juice, veggie chips, salad with ranch and even a salmon patty all for free! And if you don't time it right, huge slice of pizza for $2 or a 1/2lb hotdog and a drink for a $1.50. Can't go wrong with that!

I was seriously shocked at the checkout line when my total was flashing in my face, but we had run out of everything...even plastic wrap. ( I think those 2 rolls lasted me 5 years) My kitchen will stay cleaner longer now, and no preteen boys will be dying because the lack of "good food." Thank you Costco for making my life so much easier in this lack luster summer. I'll be forever grateful...

Wheat and Rice and Corn....OH MY!

So all of you who know me well, understand that I am a little bit of a news junkie. I love current events, and I am not talking about what star is in rehab! CNN,KSL in Salt Lake, KATU in Portland, Glenn Beck, FOX news, are all on my favorites list. So if you haven't been keeping up with the whole food shortages and runs...news flash. Flour is more expensive, and rice is being limited in COSTCO. So I ask myself, Self are you prepared for things like this? Now my pantry is full. I have rice and flour and oats. Oil is in no short supply. Powdered milk, beans, chili, and soup starter are in abundance. We are not about to run out anytime soon, but I pose this question to you in cyberspace....what can you do with all this stuff? A crash course in cooking with food storage has been my only pastime this past month. With my husband's job situation, I have tried to live on a lean budget and use my precious flour,rice, and beans. But alas I have come to the conclusion that man cannot live on bread alone. Bread is my friend. We have been consuming copious amounts of the marvelously leavened creation. The sweet smell envelopes the whole house every other day. But I need more. Eggs are an absolute essential along with butter. Without these two ingredients, most of my wholesome creations cannot be made. Our diet these past few weeks has consisted of soups and stews with bread, pasta dishes, tuna and toast points....homemade Mac and Cheese. All of these things are yummy and my grocery bill has gone down dramatically but could I live on food storage alone? Not unless I had a freezer, chickens, and milk products such as cheese and yogurt. Does anyone think they could actually live on Pantry items for a year? Has anyone ever done it? Just making brownies requires eggs...and we all know that brownies are a must have in any food storage plan!