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Money Saving Mom

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Saving Families Money Since 2007

Summer Bucket List

Summer Bucket List.

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Shared Jul 18, 2017 comment

This Week’s $106 Kroger + ALDI Shopping Trip & Menu Plan

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This Week’s $106 Kroger + ALDI Shopping Trip & Menu Plan

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Since we were out of town for two weeks, our fridge was really bare so I did a big shopping trip to stock back up for this week! Here’s what I bought at ALDI:

ALDI Shopping Trip

  • Bananas ($0.44/lb.) — $2.39
  • Organic Arugula — $2.49
  • Organic Spring Mix — $2.99
  • Guacamole Cups (my kids picked this out for lunches this week) — $2.99
  • Cilantro — $0.69
  • Whole-Wheat Bread — $1.49
  • 2 packages of Multi-Colored Peppers — $1.69 per package of 3
  • Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts — $5.49
  • Mozzarella — $1.79
  • Turkey Lunch Meat (my kids picked this out for lunches) — $2.49
  • Bacon — $3.49
  • 2 packages of Cherries — $1.99 each
  • Beef Sausage — $2.19
  • Pasta — $1.29
  • 4 packages of Strawberries — $1.49 per package
  • Tortillas — $0.99
  • Whole-Wheat Tortillas — $1.39
  • Italian Bread (Kaitlynn wanted to buy this for a French Toast recipe she wanted to try.) — $3.69
  • Tortilla Chips — $1.19
  • 3 boxes Vanilla/Chocolate Pudding — $0.49 each
  • 2 jars of Salsa — $1.49 each
  • 2 cans Refried Beans — $0.75 each
  • Half & Half — $1.79
  • Danimals Smoothies (another lunch treat!) — $2.76
  • Natural Peanut Butter — $1.39
  • 2 cans of Green Beans — $0.44 each
  • 2 Avocados — $0.69 each
  • Caeser Salad Kit — $1.99
  • 2 cans of Corn — $0.44 each
  • Milk — $2.37
  • 2 Cucumbers — $0.49 each
  • Tomatoes on the Vine — $0.99
  • Crisp Rice — $1.19
  • Raisin Bran — $1.79
  • Pasta Sauce — $0.99
  • 1 dozen eggs — $0.89
  • Fruit Bowls (another lunch treat!) — $1.59
  • Water Bottles — $1.99
  • Total with tax: $85.17

I also quickly stopped by Kroger to grab some cage-free eggs (our ALDI doesn’t carry them and these are what we use for scrambled eggs, etc.) and to grab some cottage cheese (because I forgot to buy it at ALDI). I also looked at the markdowns to see what they had.

I was excited with the deals I found:

Kroger Shopping Trip

  • 2 dozen Cage-Free Eggs — $2.79 per dozen
  • Cottage Cheese — $1.89
  • 4 packages of Chobani Yogurt (2 yogurts per package) — marked down to $0.79 per package
  • 3 packages Kroger Cubed Ham (I’m going to stick these in the freezer to save for meals over the next few weeks) — marked down to $1.19 per package
  • 4 packages of Chicken Hot Dogs — marked down to $0.69 per package
  • King’s Hawaiian Bread — $1.99
  • Oikos Greek Yogurt — marked down to $0.49
  • Drinkable Yogurt — marked down to $0.49
  • Total with tax: $21.18

All totaled, we spent $106.35 on groceries. We usually average around $125 in grocery spending per week (though recently, it’s been less — in fact, we set aside all of our extra grocery money from the past few months to use for our food spending on our recent vacation!), so I was excited to restock our fridge and have food for all of our meals this week and still stay under-budget!

Here’s what’s on our menu plan this week:

This Week’s Menu Plan

Breakfast — Cereal, Oatmeal, Toast, Eggs, Fruit, French Toast

Lunches — Turkey Sandwiches, Chicken Hot Dogs, Cheese Quesadillas, Caeser Salad, Yogurt, Fruit/Veggies, Chips/Salsa/Guac, Leftovers

Dinners — Baked Ziti, Corn Chowder, Haystacks, Breakfast for Dinner (French Toast/Bacon), Southwest Roll-Ups, Sausage & Peppers over Rice, Dinner Out

New to shopping at ALDI? Read how we save close to $1,000 per year by shopping at ALDI. Also, check out my post with my 25 Favorite Things to Buy at ALDI.

Want to see me break down my shopping trips and talk more about why I bought each item? Watch these videos:

Shared Jul 18, 2017 comment

Gretchen’s $50 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan

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Gretchen’s $50 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

1 bag Chips – $1.19

1 loaf Bread – $0.89, used $0.25/1 Checkout 51 rebate – $0.64 after rebate

1 lb Ground Beef – $2.99

1 dozen Eggs – $0.67

1 bag Frozen Veggies – $0.99

1 bag Frozen Strawberries – $2.09, used $0.25/1 Checkout 51 rebate – $1.84 after rebate

1 bag Frozen Blueberries – $2.29

1 bag Flour – $1.25

1 bag Baby Carrots – $0.99

1 bag Shredded Cheese – $2.49

2 cans Cream of Chicken/Mushroom Soup – $0.49 each

1 bag Spinach – $1.49

1 bag Vine Tomatoes – $1.29

1 can Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies – $0.45

1 bag Frozen Tilapia Fillets – $3.39

1 bag Red Grapes – $2.38

1 lb Butter – $2.59

1 Plain Yogurt – $1.89

1 Cantaloupe – $0.99

Total after rebates: $35.37

Dillons

I used ClickList again since I had 5 coupons for free items if I used ClickList PLUS $10 off $50!

2.94 lbs Potatoes – $2.91

1 Honey Nut Cheerios – $4.49, used Free ClickList coupon – Free after coupon

1 Hungry Jack Pancake Mix – $2.49, used Free ClickList coupon – Free after coupon

1 Klondlike Ice Cream Bars – $2.99, used $1.50/1 ClickList coupon – $1.54 after coupon

1 bag Kroger Frozen Chicken Breasts – $6.99, used $1.50/1 e-coupon – $5.49 after coupon

5 cans Green Beans – $0.39 each

1 Romaine Lettuce – $1.29

1 Martha White Muffin Mix – $1, used Free ClickList coupon – Free after coupon

1 Monster Muscle – $2.50, used Free ClickList coupon – Free after coupon

1 Nature Valley Granola Bars – $2.99, used Free ClickList coupon – Free after coupon

2 Oscar Mayer Turkey/Cheddar Trays – $2.50 each, used Buy One Get One Free ClickList coupon – $1.25 each after coupon

1 Perrier Water – $1.87 (I had a free coupon for this but it didn’t come off when I checked out.)

1 Quaker Overnight Oatmeal – $1.79, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon

1 Simple Truth K-Cups – $5.99, used $1.50/1 e-coupon – $4.49 after coupon

1 Talenti Gelato – $3.49 (I also had a free coupon for this as well but it didn’t work.)

Used $10/$50 ClickList order coupon

I also had a coupon to waive the $4.95 ClickList fee.

Total after coupons: $15.53

Total for both stores: $50.90

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Toast, Eggs & Spinach x 4

Blackberry Coffee Cake

Cereal x 2

Lunches

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Carrots Sticks, Grapes x 2

Mac & Cheese, Grapes

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Tossed Salad x 2

Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Lasagna Casserole, Rolls, Steamed Broccoli

Waffles, Eggs, Sausage

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili, Chips

Grilled Tilapia, Mashed Potatoes, Tossed Salad

Cheesy Broccoli Chicken & Rice, Cantaloupe

Easy Beef Enchiladas, Chips, Fruit Salad, Steamed Veggies

Out to eat

Shared Jul 17, 2017 comment

3 Quick Tips to Morning-Routine Success (plus get my Make Over Your Mornings course for just $10!)

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3 Quick Tips to Morning-Routine Success (plus get my Make Over Your Mornings course for just $10!)

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

3 Quick Tips to Morning-Routine Success (plus get my Make Over Your Mornings course for just $10!)

Need some encouragement to take charge of your mornings? Kalyn Brooke has a GREAT post on Morning-Routine Success!

In it, she shares 3 quick tips to creating a routine, the pivotal ingredient to a successful morning, and a peek inside her personal morning routine.

And if you’ve never gone through my Make Over Your Mornings Course, she also has an exclusive coupon code to get my course for just $10 right now!

Shared Jul 15, 2017 comment

4 Ways to Improve Your Thrift Shopping!

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4 Ways to Improve Your Thrift Shopping!

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Love thrift store shopping? Don’t miss these great tips on how to find the best bargains!

Guest post from Beck

Well, it happened to me yet again.

One morning, I breezed into the office to pick up my mail, as I always do. As I thumbed through the envelopes, my colleague said:

“Wow, what a great outfit! Where did you get that dress?” It had a flashy geometric black and white design, and hit me mid-thigh.

“Believe it or not, from Goodwill,” I answered, smiling.

“WHAT? How much was it?” my colleague fired back.

“$4.50.” (I love that part!) I twirled so she could see the front and back of the dress.

“That’s amazing. How about your boots?” (My colleague was clearly astonished.)

“They were $6.50,” I said, trying hard not to sound too smug. “Also from Goodwill.” (They were a velvety-soft black suede with small kitten heels — a real find as I’d seen a similar pair in an expensive catalogue for around $250.)

“That’s it? You mean to tell me that everything you have on cost around $10? Why can’t I find those things at thrift stores when I’m looking?” she asked dejectedly.

This is a question I am asked time and time again.

4 Thrift Store Shopping Tips

As an experienced thrift shop shopper (some have even referred to me as “Thrift Queen”), I realize I do have certain strategies for finding great bargains.

If you’re a patient and dogged shopper, just follow these simple secrets to great bargains for next to nothing — including name-brand items.

1. Don’t look for a specific bargain.

That’s right. If you walk into a thrift shop looking specifically for something (a teapot, say), you more than likely won’t find it.

My best acquisitions have been when I have not been looking for anything in particular, and just happened to stumble across the exact thing I never knew I needed!

2. Stop in frequently.

Staff at thrift shops are constantly restocking shelves and shifting around merchandise. I usually check out my thrift shops about once a week to see what might be there.

Many thrift shops have certain items on sale just like normal stores, especially at the end of a season. Think ahead, keeping in mind what you or your family might need in the next few months.

3. Take your time.

If you’re a busy working mother, time is a precious commodity indeed. Any type of shopping takes time, but this is even more an issue when shopping in thrift stores.

Some stores are organized by sizes (I call these “Size Stores”), so you can peruse all of the size 10 womens’ pants. Others are organized by color or type of clothes (I dubbed these “Type Stores”), rather than by size; you can therefore shop for all of the women’s’ jeans, for example, but they will have to look through all of them to find your size.

Focus is necessary in such an endeavor, and is probably best done when you are not in a hurry, or when it’s time for your baby’s nap.

4. Check merchandise carefully.

Most thrift stores have a return policy posted, but it is best to ask the cashier what the store’s policy is before you buy the item. Some stores will grant a complete refund for returned items, while others will grant store credit.

Other stores will not accept refunds at all on personal items, such as bathing suits, intimate apparel, hats, or shoes. Find out before you buy so that you are not disappointed if you can’t return it.

Since most of the items in a thrift store are second hand, check carefully for any tears, scratches, holes, stains, or anything else that needs fixing. If it is an item of clothing you are trying on, look at it closely in the mirror from all sides. Take off the item, and check all of the seams in all hidden places, such as under the arms.

Why buy at a thrift store?

For me, the answer is much deeper than getting a deal or paying a certain price.

Of course, shopping at a second-hand store usually is cheaper than buying new, especially as far as clothes are concerned. Children’s clothes can be outrageously priced, and since my kids are constantly growing out of clothes (or destroying them by falling out of trees, spilling ketchup on them, barfing on them), continually buying new clothes is an expensive endeavor.

It simply makes more sense to buy something slightly used that my child can wear without complaining, “I spent twenty bucks on those pants! I can’t believe he tore out the knees again!”

Another reason to buy at a thrift store is that it helps the environment by recycling. Instead of throwing furniture, clothes, curtains, or housewares into a landfill, donate them to a local thrift shop.

Making any type of donation to a charity is tax-deductible, so ask for a receipt from a staff member, and when it’s time to do your tax return, make it part of the receipts you have saved throughout the year. You get extra space in your closet or attic, while the store makes money by selling your items.

Even more importantly, most thrift stores use their profits to benefit a certain organization. The Salvation Army, Goodwill Industries International, and the Humane Society have respect and recognition throughout the United States and the world. I love knowing that what I’m buying contributes to a cause.

I leave the store knowing I’ve helped others in my community who are in need of assistance, whether it goes toward getting a dog spayed, or helps provide someone a way out of poverty or addiction.

Finally, getting a good deal can be uplifting — and FUN! Searching through racks of clothes and finding just the right item has become almost a game for me.

Many times, I leave empty-handed. That’s fine, because I know I’ll be back again, and I’ll find the perfect coat, sweater, pajamas, mixing bowl, or end table.

Beck Lister is an associate professor of music at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, PA, where she teaches voice lessons, vocal literature, vocal pedagogy, and diction. In her spare time, she is a chauffeur for her two teenagers and a dedicated thrift shopper.

Shared Jul 14, 2017 comment

5 Ways to Save Money on Food During Family Vacations

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5 Ways to Save Money on Food During Family Vacations

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post Dawn of Choosing Real

No matter where you are traveling, everyone has to eat — there is no way around that. However, with some advanced planning, you can save a lot of money on food and still have a great vacation the whole family will enjoy.

Here are 5 ways my family chooses to save money on food during family vacations:

1. Find a hotel that offers free meals.

Many chain hotels offer a free continental breakfast, or even a full complementary breakfast. My family tends to seek out hotels that provide a full complementary breakfast.

We are fans of staying at Drury Hotels. These hotels include a full breakfast plus an evening “kick back” dinner as part the hotel price. From our experience, Hampton Inns usually have a good breakfast as part of the hotel price, too.

The food offered by hotels is not exactly healthy food, but being able to save money on food for our family of four is a nice benefit.

2. Pack some of your own meals.

It is not always practical to stay at a hotel that offers free meals. Hotels that have restaurants on site generally will not offer a free breakfast option. Plus, you still have to plan for lunches and dinners.

When packing meals, it is a big help to have a hotel room with a microwave and refrigerator. If you don’t know if you will have a refrigerator, you can pack a cooler and plan the meals that must be kept cold for early in the trip.

Check ahead of time to see if the places you’re visiting allow you to bring in outside food. While you might not be able to bring a cooler into the zoo, you may be able to bring in water bottles and outside snacks and leave the cooler in the car.

I enjoy saving money by packing picnic lunches. Here are some meal options I have successfully packed for family vacations:

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

I love Crystal’s tip to freeze PB&J sandwiches in bulk. I make a bunch of sandwiches ahead of time and think about how many days we want to eat PB&J during our trip (usually no more than 1 or 2 meals).

Ham and cheese sandwiches

I usually plan ham and cheese sandwiches for our first picnic lunch of the trip so there is no risk of the meat going bad from getting warm.

Spaghetti

If you don’t mind eating cold spaghetti (my kids sure don’t mind), this is an easy meal to put in individual, stackable containers in a cooler and eat with forks at a rest stop while traveling.

Oatmeal

If you’ll have access to a microwave, you can cook oatmeal for breakfast in the hotel room, and it is a filling start to the day. I have made family-sized oatmeal packs by mixing 2 cups quick oats, 2 tbsp brown sugar, and 1/2 tsp cinnamon in stackable containers. I also packed frozen strawberries in the cooler and bananas to slice into the oatmeal.

To cook the oatmeal, I pour an oatmeal pack into a 4-cup glass measuring cup and fill it the rest of the way with water and cook for about 3 minutes in the microwave. Then I served in individual bowls in our hotel room and stirred in strawberries and bananas. Just don’t forget to pack dishes.

Easy Sides

Individual applesauce containers travel well. Aldi often carries organic, no-sugar-added applesauce in different fruit flavors that I love to stock up on for summer. Grapes and sliced carrots in containers and served family-style also work great for picnics.

I never would have planned eating a picnic lunch in a parking lot, but looking at this picture and remembering that we did, makes me smile.

3. Pack plenty of snacks.

If packing a cooler is not your thing, at least pack your own snacks. This will keep you from making a last minute stop you don’t really need when everyone is getting hungry and cranky.

For long trips in the car, I like to pack flavored rice cakes, raisins, and graham crackers for snack options that don’t require a cooler.

For the times we are out and about walking, I like to pack individual snack packs in plastic baggies that I can fit in my purse. I’ve done this with peanuts and raisins and also walnuts, dried cranberries, and dried bananas. I love these options because the nuts give an energy boost and the dried fruit provides sweetness that feels like a treat.

4. Pack extra water.

If you and your family are staying well-hydrated, you will be less likely to feel like you have to buy extra snacks while traveling. We all travel with water bottles next to us in the car. Then we will refill our water bottles at drinking fountains when we stop at rest areas along the route.

I often look ahead of time to see if places we plan to visit will allow us to bring in our own water bottles. I like to freeze large bottles of water a couple of days before our trip and use those to keep the cooler cold.

As the bottles of ice begin to melt, we can use those to replenish our water bottles when we need to.

5. Choose restaurants with intention.

You don’t have to prepare every meal — after all, you ARE on vacation!

We tend to pack lunches and snacks, and then visit local restaurants for our evening dinners. We like to look for family restaurants ahead of time that will be near the sites we are visiting.

Chances are we will not be returning to that city for a long time. Because of this, we like to seek out restaurants in the area that are unique to the area and get great customer reviews. We don’t normally visit chain restaurants unless it is a chain we don’t have close to home.

What are some of your favorite ways to save money on food during family vacations?

Dawn is a wife and working mom of two. She blogs at Choosing Real, where she helps busy moms balance the chaos of everyday life so they can provide healthier meals and healthier homes for their families. She believes making healthy choices shouldn’t be a sacrifice.

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Shared Jul 14, 2017 comment

Brigette’s $65 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

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Brigette’s $65 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $2.99

1 bag Classic Cole Slaw Mix – $1.29

1 3-pk Colored Peppers – $1.79

1 pkg Sliced Mushrooms – $1.69

1 bag Zucchini – $1.79

1 3-lb bag Sweet Potatoes – $1.29

1 16-oz pkg Roma Tomatoes – $1.49

1 pt Grape Tomatoes – $1.89

4 ears Sweet Corn – $0.20 (!!)

1 huge Cantaloupe – $0.99

3 Avocados – $2.37

1 16-oz bag Mini Cucumbers – $1.99

1 bag Red Grapes (1.92lb @ $1.49/lb) – $2.86

1 Cauliflower – $2.29

2 1-lb pkgs Cherries – $2.98

1 bunch Bananas (2.30lbs @ $0.44/lb) – $1.01

1 bag Radishes – $1.49

1 16-oz carton Egg Whites – $1.89

2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $3.78

1 64-oz carton Unsweetened Almond Milk – $1.99

1 16-oz carton Heavy Whipping Cream – $1.69

1 32-oz carton Half and Half – $1.69

2 cans Chicken Breast – $3.38

1 pkg String Cheese – $2.79

1 large jar Grape Jelly – $1.39

1 40-oz jar Peanut Butter – $2.89

1 bag Corn Chips – $0.89

Total: $52.78

Harris Teeter

2 boxes Lucky Charms – $3.76, used 2 $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $1.76/2 boxes after coupons

2 boxes Cinnamon Toast Crunch – $3.76, used 2 $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $1.76/2 boxes after coupons

2 boxes Honey Nut Cheerios – $3.76, used 2 $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $1.76/2 boxes after coupons

2 boxes Cheerios – $3.76, used 2 $0.50/1 printable (doubled), plus $1/2 evic – $0.76/2 boxes after coupons

15 Yoplait Yogurts – $5.55, plus used 3 $0.50/5 Yoplait Yogurt Cups – 6-25-17 SS (exp. 08/19/17) (doubled), plus $1/10 evic – $1.55/15 after coupon

PLUS, receive $5.00 catalina coupon for spending $20.00 on select General Mills Products – $2.59 for 8 boxes of Cereal plus 15 Yoplait Yogurts after Coupons and Catalina!!

6 Larabars -$5.28, used 3 $0.50/2 printable (doubled), plus $0.50/2 evic – $1.78/6 after coupons

1 Watermelon – $1.99

1 box True Lemon – $1.49, used $0.70/1 printable (doubled), – $0.09 after coupon

Total after Coupons and Catalina – $6.45

Grocery Total for the Week: $65.68

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Cereal x 3

Yogurt and Fruit x 2

Oatmeal x 2

Lunches

Baked Potatoes with Cheese, Raw Veggies x 2

Chef Salad, Fruit x 2

Veggie Omelets, Fruit x 2

Leftovers

Dinners

(My children are at their Grandparent’s house most of the week – so my husband and I are taking full advantage of Date Nights this week since this only happens once a year! I’m only planning a few dinners, and the rest of the time we will eat out or do take-out :))

Hamburgers on the Grill (I’m picking up 40lbs of Ground Beef later today – I’ll post about it next week), Baked French Fries, Watermelon, Corn on the Cob

Taco Salad, Mexican Rice, Roasted Cauliflower

Grilled Chicken, Easy Whole Wheat Bread, Homemade Coleslaw, Baked Sweet Potatoes

Shared Jul 13, 2017 comment

East Coast Road Trip: Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey (+ yikes! The tolls!)

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East Coast Road Trip: Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey (+ yikes! The tolls!)

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to my 14-day series on our East Coast Road Trip where I share our adventures along the way, how we’re doing this on a budget, honest reviews of attractions & restaurants we visit, and money-saving tips and ideas. If you missed it, read Day 1 here, Day 2 here, Day 3 here, Day 4 here, and Day 5 here.

How is it already Day 6 of our 14-day trip?!? I’m sad that time is going by so quickly!

This trip has been so good for us. We’re spending so much quality time together, we’re experiencing so many memories together, we’re having so many good conversations, we’re learning so much about history, and it’s just drawing us close together as a family.

There’s part of me who wishes we travelled full-time. But I’ll be quick to say that the other part of me loves our community in TN, the routine and rhythm of our simple life, and yes, and our own bedroom with a door that shuts! 😉

After a few full days in D.C., Day 6 was a laundry and travel day.

The Laundromat

The 5-day clothes packing system is working really well! Today, we stopped by a laundromat in Alexandria to do our laundry and now have fresh, clean clothes for the next 5 days.

(Note: While we were really happy with how simple it was to use the laundromat and how clean the place was — we had looked up reviews online ahead of time — it took us quite a bit of extra time to go to the laundromat and wait for the laundry to get done. Next time, we’re going to try to plan it so we choose a hotel with laundry facilities as I think that will make it much easier and less time-consuming.)

Fitting in Work on the Road

While we were waiting for the laundry to run, I got in some blogging time. 🙂 I love that I can take my laptop with me and work pretty much anywhere.

Some of you have asked when I’m fitting in work on this trip. Well, I had initially thought that I’d work in the mornings and then we’d go explore and play in the afternoons. But I quickly realized that plan just wasn’t going to work without it meaning that my family was waiting around on me and I was feeling stressed that I needed to hurry up and get done.

So, for the most part, I’ve just been fitting in work where I can — which is usually when Jesse is driving or at night after the kids go to bed. And sometimes, like today, it was at the laundromat.

Before I left on this trip, I worked hard to make sure things were in good shape business-wise, we cleared my schedule so that I didn’t have any extra tasks while I was gone, and I decided to only focus on doing the basics + blogging/posting on social media about our trip while I was gone. This meant that I was able to cut back to only needing to work about 4 hours per day, instead of my usual 7-8 hours.

(I’m so blessed to have a team in place who works so hard behind the scenes so that I can take a two-week vacation and be offline for half the day — or more! — every day without me having to stress that things are falling apart or the work is piling up in my absence. For years, I tried to do so much of the work myself because I just didn’t have the courage to delegate and trust other people. The more than I’ve delegated and trusted people and focused on doing only those things that I can do/am good at, the more I’ve enjoyed life. Plus, I’ve been able to empower other people to use their gifts and skills to not only earn an income but to also make a difference through this blog/business.)

Our Car Ticketing System

The kids made notebooks for themselves with travel games in them printed from MomsMinivan.com (yes, when your kids get older, they instigate this kind of stuff all on their own and just ask you for permission to do it!!).

They also came up with the idea — 100% on their own! — to implement a ticketing system. They printed these tickets here and then made one baggie for each child.

I set the timer for 30 mins and then hand out a ticket when the timer goes off to everyone who has had a good attitude. At the end of the day, whoever has the most tickets, gets to choose which show we watch as a family when we’re at the hotel.

This system has been very effective — especially on our longer traveling days!

The Tolls

The tolls from D.C. to New Jersey are pretty crazy. We spent about $30 just in tolls today! We were definitely not prepared for that and it shocked us that about every few miles (it felt like!), we had to hand over more cash!

A Stop at Barnes & Noble

The traffic was also really bad in Maryland, so we ended up stopping at Barnes & Noble to take a break since some of us were really car sick. I had a $50 gift card I’d been saving and I whipped that out and we used it for special treats at the cafe plus letting the kids each pick one thing out to do while driving.

Delaware

We passed through Delaware — my first time in the state, if I’m remembering correctly! We didn’t stop anywhere, but at least I can now say I’ve been to the state!

New Jersey!

We made it to New Jersey and are headed to spend the day in NYC tomorrow! I can’t wait for our kids to experience it! (This was my top pick for where we’d stop on the trip!)

What I Read Today

I read this fascinating book by Obama’s deputy chief of staff, Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? (It has a lot of crass language in it and it has very mixed reviews on Amazon, but I personally found it to be a really interesting look at what it’s really like to work in the White House and the stress that comes with the responsibility riding on your shoulders.)

To be continued…

Want to follow along with our trip in real-time? Follow my personal Instagram account here where I’ll be sharing a daily recap + videos and photos via Instagram Stories.

Shared Jul 12, 2017 comment

East Coast Road Trip: Exploring D.C. (Holocaust Museum, Newseum, Chopt, & Arlington Cemetery)

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East Coast Road Trip: Exploring D.C. (Holocaust Museum, Newseum, Chopt, & Arlington Cemetery)

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to my 14-day series on our East Coast Road Trip where I share our adventures along the way, how we’re doing this on a budget, honest reviews of attractions & restaurants we visit, and money-saving tips and ideas. If you missed it, read Day 1 here, Day 2 here, Day 3 here, and Day 4 here.

Y’all. On Day 5 of our trip, I realized just how much I’ve changed in the past year, thanks to my Year of Rest and so much heart work.

Not only did I wear yellow shoes to walk all over D.C. (who knew that the color yellow would make me so happy??), but I randomly stopped into a little shop called Teaism and bought some Heart of Africa tea (Me? Spontaneously purchasing something? Just for fun?? And loving it? Who am I?), and then it poured rain and we got soaked to the bone at the Arlington Cemetery and I just laughed and took in the moment.

This road trip has had its hard moments, of course, but it’s been such a wonderful experience! I am so grateful that I’m so much less high-strung these days so that I can actually enjoy life — even when it’s pouring rain, I’m freezing, we have blocks to walk, and we didn’t bring an umbrella.

Today’s highlights…

The Holocaust Museum

Wow! I have long been interested in World War II and have read many, many books on the topic. So I was really wanting to go to the Holocaust Museum on this trip. I am so glad we went. However, I wish I had been better prepared for it.

Here are some pointers and things to know if you are considering visiting:

  • I didn’t realize that it was so big and would realistically take at least 3 hours to go through. I probably could have spent 5 hours if I had stopped to read most of the signs/watch the videos, etc. We had only planned to be there for an hour and a half because we’d reserved our tickets online ahead of time and had been given an hour time slot. Jesse and I just assumed that this meant we should allow an hour. We allowed some extra time just in case. Well, when we got there, we were shocked at how huge it was and were sad that we hadn’t planned to spend more time there.
  • I also didn’t expect that it would be so crowded. Gratefully, we’d been tipped off by a reader that you need to reserve tickets online in order to actually get to go through the museum. So I’m grateful that we did that because, otherwise, there’s NO way we would have gotten in just by walking in that day. (Read here more about how to get tickets to the museum. It’s free to go to the museum, but it costs $1 per ticket to reserve them online.)
  • The museum definitely covers some topics that might be unsettling or upsetting for kids who are sensitive (or anyone who is sensitive to these types of things). However, I went through the museum with Silas (8) and explained things to him at the level I felt he could understand and take in. We read the signs together and I was there to answer all of his questions. We had many good discussions as a result.
  • There are some pictures that might be disturbing, but the museum did a good job of having any really disturbing videos blocked off with a warning sign so you’d know and could choose whether to watch/look.

In the atrium, they have an area where you can sit down and talk to a Holocaust survivor. I thought this was such an amazing idea!

Like I said, there were a LOT of people there and it was pretty packed, especially in the first parts of the museum. We had to wait in line to be able to see things/wait for people so we could see certain exhibits.

Before you go into the museum, they have you choose an identification card from one of the victims of the Holocaust. I thought this was a beautiful way to make it much more personal and real — and to share the stories of some of the victims.

One of the areas that really impacted our kids was the section where they show the living conditions in the concentration camp barracks — including the bunks they slept on.

No words.

Newseum

I told you in my last post all about the Newseum and how much we enjoyed it. Since our tickets were good for two days and we hadn’t gotten through all of the museum the day before, we went back because we loved it so much!

(I can’t recommend this Museum highly enough if you love current events, news, and/or politics!)

We spent most of our time at the 9/11 section. They did an incredible job of honor the media members who did the reporting of this horrific event — including the photographer who died.

The girls also loved getting to pretend they were reporters — reading from a teleprompter and reporting “live” on different new segments!

Chopt

When dinner time rolled around, we started looking for some place to eat and we randomly found Chopt and stopped for dinner. We’d never heard of it before, but after just 10 minutes of being there, we promptly decided it was our new favorite restaurant.

(It’s so yummy and healthful and pretty reasonably priced, too! Highly recommended!)

Arlington National Cemetery

We got to Arlington after dinner and made our way to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which our kids were fascinated with. It’s so sobering to be there and to think of all the lives lost in order for us to enjoy the many freedoms we do.

We stayed for the final Changing of the Guards. In the middle of it, it started raining and didn’t stop. Which was just about the time we realized that we had forgotten something very important on this trip — umbrellas and/or ponchos.

Since the cemetery was closed after the final Changing of the Guards, we had to quickly walk the long way back to the entrance and back to the metro. By the time we got there, we were thoroughly soaked. But we just laughed and danced in the rain, because it was certainly a memory!

Plus, after spending the morning at the Holocaust Museum, how could we complain about a little rain? It really changes your perspective on life and the many, many blessings we have that we take for granted every single day.

Book read today: The Sacrament of Happy (beautifully written and inspiring to me!)

To be continued…

Want to follow along with our trip in real-time? Follow my personal Instagram account here where I’ll be sharing a daily recap + videos and photos via Instagram Stories.

Shared Jul 12, 2017 comment

Gretchen’s $55 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan

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Gretchen’s $55 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

1 dozen Eggs – $0.46, used $0.25/1 Checkout 51 rebate – $0.21 after rebate (I forgot to include these in the picture.)

1 pkg Green Peppers – $0.99

1 can Black Beans – $0.59

1 Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.89

2 cans Green Beans – $0.44 each

1 lb Ground Beef – $2.99

1 Half & Half – $1.79

1 Grape Jelly – $1.39

1 lb Butter – $2.59

1 pkg Baby Carrots – $0.99

1 bag Sweet Potatoes – $1.49

2 pkg Strawberries – $1.49 each, used $0.25/1 Checkout 51 rebate – $1.36 each after rebate

1 pkg Cheddar Cheese – $1.79

1 pkg Frozen Peas – $0.95

1 pkg Rice Cakes – $1.49

2 Cucumbers – $0.49 each

1 pkg Roma Tomatoes – $1.09

1 pkg Spinach – $1.49

1 loaf Bread – $0.89, used $0.25/1 Checkout 51 rebate – $0.64 after rebate

Total: $26.96

Dillons

1 bag Frozen Chicken Breasts – $6.99, used $1/1 e-coupon – $5.99 after coupon

1 Moms Best Cereal – $1.49

1 Private Selection BBQ Sauce – $2, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon

1 BeechNut Baby Oatmeal – $2.39, used $0.75/1 catalina coupon – $1.64 after coupon

1 Kroger Cottage Cheese – $1.99

3 Enjoy Life Cookies – 3/$11.77, used 2 $1.50/1 printable AND $1.50/3 Mobisave rebate AND $3/3 Ibotta rebate AND 2 $1/1 Checkout 51 rebates – $0.75 each after coupons and rebates (Plus I received a $2 catalina for buying 3!)

1 Kroger Shredded Cheese – $1.99

1 bag Kroger Frozen Broccoli – $1

1 Kroger Salad Dressing – $1.49, used $0.50/1 e-coupon – $0.99 after coupon

2.27 lbs Bananas – $1.34

1 Kroger Peanut Butter – $2.29, used $0.50/1 e-coupon – $1.79 after coupon

1 can Kroger Cinnamon Rolls – $1.59, used $0.40/1 e-coupon – $1.09 after coupon

2 Barbara’s Cereal – $1.49, used 2 $1/1 printable – $0.49 each after coupon

2 pkgs Jimmy Dean Sausage Patties – $2.49 each, used $1/2 peelie coupon AND 2 $1/1 Ibotta rebates – $0.99 each after coupon and rebates

1 bag Cucumbers – Marked down to $0.99

1 Las Palmas Enchilada Sauce – $1.29

1 Romaine Lettuce – $1.29

1 bag Kroger Rice – $0.89

Used $0.25/1 Ibotta rebate for any receipt

Total after coupons and rebates: $28.73

Total for all groceries: $55.69

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Toast, Eggs & Spinach x 4

Cinnamon Rolls & Sausage

Out to eat (My mom is taking us to a berry farm that has a cafe!)

Cereal

Lunches

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Carrots, Cucumbers x 2

Crackers, Cheese, Fruit, Veggies x 2

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Fruit

Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Spaghetti, 30 Minute Rolls, Cucumber & Watermelon Salad (using watermelon a friend gave us), Green Beans

Taco Salad

Chicken & Rice, Tossed Salad

Waffles, Eggs, Sausage

Homemade Pizza, Breadsticks, Spinach Salad

Enchiladas, Steamed Peas, Cucumbers & Vinegar

Out to eat (using a gift card)

Shared Jul 10, 2017 comment

East Coast Road Trip: Exploring DC (Newseum, Madame Tussauds, PRET, A Capitol 4th)

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East Coast Road Trip: Exploring DC (Newseum, Madame Tussauds, PRET, A Capitol 4th)

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to my 14-day series on our East Coast Road Trip where I share our adventures along the way, how we’re doing this on a budget, honest reviews of attractions & restaurants we visit, and money-saving tips and ideas. If you missed it, read Day 1 here, Day 2 here, and Day 3 here.

Day 4 of our 14-Day East Coast Road Trip started out a little rough. I think we were all just tired and needed some quiet… and it resulted in bad attitudes and disagreements and overall grumpiness from most of us (me included!)

So we spent a few hours at the hotel just taking it easy, talking, working through our disagreements, and pressing the reset button. It was just what we needed!

I had promised Silas we’d go on a little morning Metro adventure, so we walked from our hotel in Alexandria to the Metro and rode it to the Reagan National Airport and got out and walked around a little. Then, we hopped back on the Metro and headed back to our hotel.

(I hadn’t even fixed my hair or put on makeup/my contacts before I left on the Metro Adventure with Silas. We just walked out the door and went!! I am learning more and more to jump on these opportunities with my kids. They won’t care that mom had bed hair and bags under her eyes. They will only remember the fun times we had together!)

The Newseum

Our first stop in DC was the Newseum. I hadn’t heard of this museum before, but since it was one of the options we had as part of our D.C. Explorer Pass, we looked it up and realized it would likely be something we’d all enjoy since we love politics, media, and the internet.

You guys! We LOVED this museum and I would highly, highly recommend it if you are news/current events/political junkies and/or if you are a blogger. It was absolutely fascinating to see how the media impacts our culture and how news has played such an important role in major events through the years.

Some Things to Know Before Visiting the Newseum:

  • You can bring food and drinks in, but you can’t eat it inside the museum. We had snacks and water bottles in our backpack and it went through security without any issues.
  • The Newseum is 6 floors and there is a LOT to see. I would recommend planning to be there for at least 3-4 hours. I think you could easily spend a whole day there if you are really into reading the signs/watching the videos and fully experiencing the museum and the interactive exhibits.
  • Tickets are $24.95 for adults. Kids ages 0-18 get in free until Labor Day. We got discounted tickets with our D.C. Explorer Passes.
  • Your ticket is good for two days. We stayed the first day until they closed (5 p.m.) and went back the next day because there was so much more to see. We could have spent quite a few more hours there! But we’re also news junkies! 😉
  • Some of the content of the museum might not be appropriate for younger kids. There is some graphic stuff when it comes to news events. Nothing I saw would be more than PG rated, but just know that some of the exhibits are definitely ones you’d want to go through with your kids and have discussions about. And there may be at least a few things you wouldn’t feel comfortable having younger kids see, depending upon their sensitivity/what they’ve been exposed to.

At the very beginning of the Newseum, they have this amazing Berlin Wall exhibit. We stayed there for quite awhile because our kids asked so many questions about it and were just pretty overwhelmed by thinking about how it would have been to live on either side of that wall.

At the top of the Newseum, they have this amazing observation deck where you can look out and get incredible views of the city. We spend quite a bit of time up there, too!

One of the cool parts of the museum is that they have the front page for that day of a newspaper from every state. We had to find the Wichita, KS newspaper, of course (we lived in Wichita, KS for most of our lives)!

We stayed until they closed and then we headed (in the rain) to the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. (We made a quick stop by Ford’s Theatre on the way.)

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

We wouldn’t recommend paying for the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum as we went through it really quickly and we thought it was WAY overpriced for the experience.

It was fun to take pictures with the presidents (including my favorite president, Teddy Roosevelt!), but we would have been super disappointed had we paid the actual admission fee (it was one of the attractions we got into with our D.C. Explorer Pass.)

PRET

We splurged on an amazing dinner at PRET. We’d never heard of this restaurant before and fell in love instantly. We’ve seen a lot more of them in the following days as we’ve been in NYC and Boston.

If you are not familiar with this restaurant, it’s a fantastic, casual restaurant with organic and healthy food options. I was especially excited they had Rooibos Cacao tea!

We were very impressed with their high quality ingredients, how fresh everything was, and the many healthy options they offered. From what we could tell, they make everything fresh every single day!

The prices are a little higher than you’d typically pay at some place like Panera, but the food is much better, much fresher, and they have so many organic options that I think the prices weren’t unreasonable at all.

A Capitol Fourth

And then we walked for blocks and blocks and blocks to see the White House and experience a little bit of the Capitol 4th of July celebration — along with thousands of others. The crowds were pretty insane!

Though Day 4 of our 14-day East Coast Road Trip started in a rocky way, it ended well and I’m grateful!

Book finished today: Chop Wood, Carry Water. (A great, quick read with lots of insightful nuggets of truth!)

To be continued…

Want to follow along with our trip in real-time? Follow my personal Instagram account here where I’ll be sharing a daily recap + videos and photos via Instagram Stories.

OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!

Click here to download!
Shared Jul 8, 2017 comment

What I Wore This Week (The Minimalist Suitcase Edition)

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What I Wore This Week (The Minimalist Suitcase Edition)

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

This summer, I’m taking the Get Your Pretty On Summer Style Challenge.

So far, I’m loving this challenge and can’t believe how much it’s encouraging me to get dressed in a cute outfit every day, try some new outfit pairings, and just enjoy putting together looks. Plus, I LOVE the Facebook Group where women share their own variation of each day’s outfit. 

This week, we’re on our 14-day East Coast Road Trip, so I am working with a very limited wardrobe and it’s all items that can pack in a suitcase, travel well, and work for lots and lots of walking and different temperatures.

Since I went to Italy and Israel for 10 days and packed in just a carry-on, it’s not too daunting for me to think of packing minimally for a 14-day trip. I drew inspiration from this 10-Day Summer Vacation Packing List and then looked in my closet to come up with what I would pack.

I decided to bring:

  • 5 tops
  • 4 pairs of shorts
  • 1 dress
  • 1 pair of jeans
  • 2 workout outfits + tennis shoes
  • PJs
  • jewelry
  • 4 pairs of shoes (I know this might seem excessive, but since we were going to do a lot of walking, I wanted to change up my shoes almost every day because I’ve found that’s easier on my feet if I don’t always wear the same pair of shoes.)

We’re using this 5-Day Packing System and so far it is working really well. I’m just mixing and matching outfits when I repack them into outfits on Laundry Day to add a little variety.

Here’s what I wore so far on vacation:

I just realized that everything I have on in this picture is from Amazon! I know I’m so weird that I order so much of my wardrobe from there, but it means I don’t have to shop. Which makes me very happy! 

Oh and Kaitlynn (our 10-year-old) did my makeup today!! I think I should let her do my makeup every day since she did a great job and it kind of felt like I was doing a fancy photoshoot to have her doing my makeup!

I love this outfit! It’s kind of a staple in my wardrobe. 🙂

Shirt: Cents of Style
Earrings: Kohl’s Clearance Rack
Shorts: Stitch Fix
Shoes: Amazon

Also, Kaitlynn did my make up again today! She went for a different look and did a great job. I feel completely spoiled!

Taken at the wax museum in DC, just for fun! 

I was trying to go for a somewhat patriotic look on July 4 while using the very minimalist wardrobe I brought with me on this 14-day road trip. I borrowed Kaitlynn’s head band that she got from Dollar Tree to add some red to this outfit.

I’m not digging this outfit and don’t know that I think I can pull off the headband look without looking like Rosie the Riveter, but hey, my husband told me it looked cute. So that’s that! 😉

(White shorts would have gone better with this outfit, but I need to wash them and considering that it rained and we walked through a lot of rain and puddles, I’m glad I didn’t wear white today! See my formerly white shoes for evidence of why white shorts would have been a bad idea!)

Shirt: Cents of Style
Shorts: Stitch Fix
Shoes: Amazon

I rained this day, so I didn’t get a full outfit of the day picture before my dress was completely soaked (we forgot to bring ponchos and umbrellas).
Dress: Amazon
Shoes: Amazon

We were mostly driving this day, so I went for a really comfy casual look and paired it with flip-flops! I can’t decide whether the earrings are way too much, or whether they make the outfit look a little more put together?

Shirt: Zulily?
Jeans: Stitch Fix? (I’ve had these for forever and wear them all. the. time!)
Hat: Cents of Style
Earrings: Amazon

Yes, I wore my Be Still shirt for our day in Times Square/New York City. Because, even when it might be crazy all around you, you can still have peace in your soul and reminders to take time to savor and breathe and be grateful. I’m especially grateful for this wonderful man I get to do life with!

Shirt: Cents of Style
Shorts: Zulily
Shoes: Amazon
Earrings: Kohl’s Clearance Rack

(Want to see more outfits? See last week’s What I Wore post.)

Shared Jul 7, 2017 comment

Frugal Family Fun… When You Can’t Afford a Vacation

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Frugal Family Fun… When You Can’t Afford a Vacation

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Deanna of From this Kitchen Table

Some years, the budget doesn’t allow for even a short trip let alone the vacation you’ve always dreamed of taking your kids on.

It might be easy to feel mom guilt over not being able to give your kids that trip – but there’s no reason to!!!

Instead, focus on the areas you CAN have fun as a family… on a budget!

If your children are young like mine, you can easily find lots of ways to have fun without going anywhere. In fact, if you are excited about the awesome year you are going to have staying home, it will rub off on your kids. If you are down and upset about not going on vacation, that attitude will rub off on them too.

Here are four ways you can have fun with your family on a budget this year:

1. Enjoy the Little Things

Please, don’t let the little things pass over you. Life is made up of way more small, mundane moments than it is big, fancy, elaborate ones. Take the time to slow down and enjoy what the day to day brings.

  • Celebrate small victories with your kids: make a big deal out of the first lost tooth, learning to ride a bike, finishing a list of books, memorizing school facts or Bible verses. Don’t forget you can celebrate family victories as well. When you pay off that debt or reach that savings goal, make a cake and have a little party.
  • Go on lots of evening walks and bike rides.
  • Start little traditions that don’t cost much: Saturday morning pancakes, celebration plate, last day of school ice cream, make up your own holiday, birthday streamers etc.
  • Let your kids work along with you as you cook and do chores.

2. Watch for Free Local Events

Find where your local community (and surrounding areas) posts upcoming events! I don’t live in a large town, but since I’m always on the lookout for free events, we are often finding really affordable things to do as a family.

Some ideas for where to check for events:

  • Local community Facebook groups
  • Chamber of Commerce or your city’s Facebook page
  • Local business pages
  • Flyers at the library
  • Talk to friends that have lived there longer than you

Twice a year, a children’s museum in a neighboring town has a “get in with a canned good donation day”.

One night, our local rodeo has family night and community appreciation night – kids get in free and there is a free BBQ supper.

Recently, a small local museum was celebrating their 10-year anniversary with free admission, giveaways, and refreshments.

You get the idea! I have a feeling you will be surprised how many freebie events you can find near you!

3. Watch for National Promotions

Our town is small enough we don’t have many of the places that do these things, but if you live in a larger area watch for events like:

These are a few promotions I’ve seen over the years. If you live in a well populated area, I’m sure there are many other promotions to partake in.

4. Build Community

Having friends or extended family to do life with is a great way to have fun on a budget and can make those little moments more special.

If it’s been a long week with nothing going on and your kids are going stir crazy, being able to call someone up and plan a simple get together is a great way to make a memory. My kids love spending time with their friends, grandparents, uncles, and aunts.

Here are some ideas:

  • Play dates at the park
  • Inviting someone over for spaghetti or soup (both affordable and easy meals)
  • An evening of dessert and water balloons with friends
  • Meeting up with another family at the free museum day

All easy and cheap ways to excite your kids and have fun as a family.

If you are feeling stressed about not being able to have fun with your family because of financial restraints or goals, hopefully you are able to let that pressure go.

Instead, I encourage you to embrace the season you are in and to even look forward to celebrating and having fun doing all the little things you might otherwise have overlooked.

How do you stay in the loop on free events? What are your favorite budget-friendly ways to have fun as a family?

Deanna writes about real life homemaking on less at From this Kitchen Table. She’s passionate about helping moms learn how to embrace living on less and thrive right where they are. She’s married, has 3 young children, loves dark chocolate, reading, running, & cooking, and gets excited about saving money.

photo source

Shared Jul 6, 2017 comment

East Coast Road Trip: Old Town Alexandria & Downtown D.C.

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East Coast Road Trip: Old Town Alexandria & Downtown D.C.

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to my 14-day series on our East Coast Road Trip where I share our adventures along the way, how we’re doing this on a budget, honest reviews of attractions & restaurants we visit, and money-saving tips and ideas. If you missed it, read Day 1 here and Day 2 here.

Day 3 was a day full of lots and lots and lots of walking! I decided to skip my morning workouts on the days where I know we’ll be walking a TON because I figure I will be getting plenty of exercise! 🙂

Silas wanted to go on a morning walk with me, so we started the day by exploring Old Town Alexandria. It’s such an adorable area with so many cute shops, yummy looking restaurants, and just old town flair!

We found Payne Street so of course we had to take a picture! 🙂


We stayed a few blocks from the King St. Metro in Alexandria so that we could park our car in the gated parking garage the hotel had (we had to pay $20 per day for this, but it was worth it to not have to worry about our car getting broken into, etc.) and then take the metro into D.C.

This worked out really well and meant that we could easily get around the city, but didn’t have to mess with driving in the traffic or finding places to park.

The International Spy Museum

Our first D.C. stop was the International Spy Museum. This was on our must-do list and, despite the long lines and crowds, it didn’t disappoint.

The kids had been here before with Jesse (when I was in South Africa) and had long talked about coming back so I could experience it.

A few things we learned:

  • It’s really crowded in the D.C. area around the 4th of July. And the Spy Museum was a hot attraction… which meant that there was a long line waiting out the door when we got there. You can book your tickets online and by-pass this line.
  • However, we got our tickets free from a 5-attraction Washington, D.C. Explorer Pass we purchased with credit on Groupon. Even though we had these tickets, we still had to stand in line.
  • Tickets are regularly priced at $21.95 for adults and $14.95 for kids (ages 7-11). Children 6 and under are free. If you are planning to do multiple things in D.C., I’d highly recommend checking out the D.C. Explorer Pass. Even if we hadn’t gotten it free with credit from Groupon, it would have saved us quite a bit of money.
  • You can bring food and drink into the museum, you just can’t eat or drink in the museum. For those who have babies and toddlers, note that you can’t bring strollers into the museum, but you can check them at the coat check area.

When you first enter the museum, you choose a cover identity and then you keep that identity throughout the whole museum. They have a few different kiosks where they ask you questions about your identity to see how well you’d do at remembering facts and dates as a spy.

The museum is not as interactive as I expected and I think it’s geared for older kids and adults. Our kids really enjoyed it, but they also are obsessed with spy stuff and history. I wouldn’t recommend it if your kids are younger (say 8 years or younger) or if they aren’t really interested in spies/history.

The museum covers a lot of ground: the history of spies through the ages, spies in different wars, cool spy equipment through the ages, James Bond, information and displays on what it takes to be a spy, and a large section on spies in World War II.

My favorite exhibit, by far, was Spies Among Us which traces the impact that deception and spies played in the success of D-Day and the atomic bomb.

One of the other cool things about the museum is that it has the “largest collection of international espionage artifacts ever placed on public display. Spanning the history of espionage around the globe, many of these artifacts have never before been seen by the public.” Read more here.

 

CitySights Double-Decker Bus Night Tour

After we left the Spy Museum, we walked for blocks and blocks to get to Union Station where we got our tickets for the CitySights Double-Decker Bus Night Tour.

We got these tickets with our D.C. Explorer Pass, but you can also purchase tickets for the bus tour only from Groupon (it’s cheaper to get the 3-attraction or 5-attraction Explorer Pass, if you’re planning to use that, but it’s still quite a bit less to buy the Groupon for the bus tour only than to get it from CitySights).

There was a LONG line of people going on the bus tours, but they were able to accommodate everyone and their staff was very friendly and helpful.

We loved this tour and would definitely recommend it. Not only was our guide incredibly knowledgeable, you could tell he absolutely loved his job and loved inspiring others and sharing interesting stories.

The bus tour was around 3 hours long, with a stop about 2 hours in at the FDR Memorial/Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and Iwo Jima Memorial.

The weather was perfect, the sky was stunning, and I got all sorts of amazingly beautiful pictures. It was really fun to get to have such a great view of so many of the historic sites in the DC area — and to get to see so many of them in such a short timeframe!

We finally made it back to our hotel at 11 pm. Day 3 of our 14-day road trip was a success!

Book I finished today: Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents (I know it’s a heavy title; I’m reading some books on this trip to help me as I walk with one of my kids who is struggling and am trying to think through what I can do now to help prevent issues down the road.)

Shared Jul 5, 2017 comment

East Coast Road Trip: Blacksburg, VA to Alexandria, VA (Frugal Family Fun)

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East Coast Road Trip: Blacksburg, VA to Alexandria, VA (Frugal Family Fun)

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Welcome to my 14-day series on our East Coast Road Trip where I share our adventures along the way, how we’re doing this on a budget, honest reviews of attractions & restaurants we visit, and money-saving tips and ideas. If you missed it, read Day 1 here.


We started Day 2 of our East Coast Road Trip in Blacksburg, VA and ended it in Alexandria, VA. It is SO beautiful in this state! I just can’t get over it!

Using Groupon to Save On Our Vacation

A few years ago, I used to post a lot of Groupon deals here with my referral link (which meant that I would earn referral credit every time someone purchased a deal).

Back in the beginning, Groupon had some really, really fantastic deals and, as a result, we collected a lot of Groupon referral credit. We used it to buy a number of Groupons and then, all of a sudden, the credit stopped working.

In fact, we just plain couldn’t order anything from Groupon at all with our account. It would try to place the order, it would spool forever on the order page, and then it would time out.

I contacted Groupon multiple times and they couldn’t help me. I figured they had just flagged our account because I had maxed out the referral credit (sadly, this has happened multiple times in the past with other companies and I have had thousands of dollars in honestly-earned referral credit taken away just because they said that too many people redeemed a deal through my blog).

As a result, we stopped ordering from Groupon (since our account wouldn’t work) and I kind of forgot about it and about the few thousand dollars in credit I still had on Groupon. And life went on.

But recently, I was on Groupon again and decided to try using the credit again and it WORKED! This was right when we were in the middle of planing our 14-Day Road Trip and it couldn’t have been more perfect timing!

So you’ll see that we are using Groupon for most of our deals on this trip — because not only does it mean we get in at a discount, but since we are buying the Groupons with referral credit, it actually means we’re technically getting in for FREE!

Before we head to a new area, I’m searching on Groupon to see what deals they have available. You have to look closely at the fine print because many area only good for two people or are only good during certain dates.

I’m specifically looking for places that will allow us to buy five passes and that will allow us to use them in one order. This narrows down the possibilities, but so far, there are still some great options that we’re finding!

The Smithfield Plantation House

The Smithfield Plantation House was one such option we found on Groupon. It’s usually $8 per ticket, but we bought the Groupon to get admission for 6 for just $18 (they were running a special to get an additional $6 off tickets through July 6, 2017).

We loved the tour. It was just an hour long, but I couldn’t believe how up close and personal they let you get with everything in the house — including furnishings that were really old and valuable.

Our guide was really fantastic and made the tour so interesting. You could tell she absolutely loves bringing history alive to people!

The grounds were so beautiful and peaceful and it was amazing to hear how much history went down right in this house and area. Our whole family enjoyed this tour and would recommend it — especially if you love American History like we do!

Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea

We left the Plantation with our sites set on making it to Alexandria. However, we only made it as far as Salem, VA before we were all really hungry. We decided to stop in Salem, VA and look for a local coffee shop.

So I googled “coffee shops” and we found this gem: Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea. We instantly fell in love! It was adorable, the food was really good, and the service was excellent.

(One downside: the bathrooms weren’t very clean. I’m not sure if they’d just had a rush of customers that morning or if the bathrooms usually aren’t very clean.)

The Rest of the Day

We then headed to Purcellville, VA to stop by Patrick Henry College, where Jesse went for one year before he moved back home to marry me. What memories!

We didn’t get out and walk around because it was getting late, but it was fun to show our kids the area where Jesse lived for awhile and to reminisce about when I came to visit him there with my dad and brother (my first time to go to DC!)

It was such a good day and we enjoyed so much laughter together, there was very little arguing, and I’m so glad we decided to go on this Two-Week East Coast Road Trip.

Books finished today: The Upstairs Room (read aloud to the kids, we really enjoyed it, but I had to edit out some crass language) and Design Your Day (great, quick read).

To be continued…

Want to follow along with our trip in real-time? Follow my personal Instagram account here where I’ll be sharing a daily recap + videos and photos via Instagram Stories.

Shared Jul 4, 2017 comment

Gretchen’s $26 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan

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Gretchen’s $26 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Dillons

1 can Tuna – $0.99

2 boxes Cheerios – $1.79 each, used 2 $1/1 printable AND $1/2 SavingStar.com rebate – $0.29 each after coupons and rebate

4 American Beauty Pasta – $0.49 each, used 2 $1/2 printable – Free after coupons

2 Ronzoni Pasta – $0.49 each, used $1/2 printable – Free after coupon

4 Ragu Pasta – $1.29 each, used 2 $1/2 printable – $0.79 each after coupons

1 loaf Honey Wheat Bread – $1.89

1 Turkey Hill Ice Cream – $3, used $1.50/1 printable – $1.50 after coupon

1 Half & Half – $2.29

1 Enjoy Life Cookies – $3.79, used $3/1 printable AND $1/1 Checkout 51 rebate – Free plus overage after coupon and rebate

1 Enjoy Life Cookies – $4.19, used $3/1 printable AND $1/1 Checkout 51 rebate – $0.19 after coupon and rebate

1 Sunbelt Granola Bars – $2.69, used $1/1 printable – $1.69 after coupon

1 Kroger Sour Cream – $1

1 bag Kroger Frozen Chicken – $6.99, used $1.50/1 e-coupon – $5.49 after coupon

Used $0.25 Ibotta rebate

Total after coupons and rebates: $18.53

Aldi

1 pkg Tortillas – $0.99

1 loaf Bread – $0.83

2 dozen Eggs – $0.47 each

1 gallon Milk – $1.77

1 bag Potato Chips – $1.09

2 pkg Strawberries – $0.99 each

Total: $7.60

Total for both stores: $26.13

Menu Plan for This Week

We still have a lot of fruits and veggies leftover from last week which I’ll be using up this week. 🙂

Breakfasts

Toast & Eggs x 4

Cereal x 2

Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake

Lunches

Tuna Salad Sandwiches, Carrot Sticks

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Cucumber Slices, Chips x 2

Mac & Cheese, Carrot Sticks

Lunch with our LifeGroup

Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Italian Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

Chicken Noodle Casserole, Strawberries

Homemade Cheese Pizza, Spinach Salad

Spaghetti, Biscuits, Steamed Cauliflower

Chicken Fajitas, Refried Beans

French Toast, Eggs, Fruit Smoothies

Out to eat