My 6 year-old makes her own lunch – Toastabags

Don’t let the CHEEZY Toastabags package design fool you.

As seen on TV products often let us down with their empty promises. 
I think we’ve all been entranced by the amazing new products presented through infomercials. They have “one pot kitchen miracles” and cookwear so versatile, you can bake it in the oven and set it on fire. The Toastabag has no glamour or 60 minute commercial touting it, so, here you are for the pitch. It is, a reusable, dishwasher safe, magical bag that allows you to make toasted cheese sandwiches by dropping them in the toaster. I got 2 bags for $5 on amazon.com. As advertised, they make 50 sandwiches per bag.

I said to myself, there is no way this will work.
I looked at those simple looking bags and thought “fire hazard” and while they could be, let’s be honest, anything can be a hazard in a toaster. Then, I started asking myself – what if these did work?  I started to daydream about this – really, I did. There are more possibilities than just sandwiches – I’m talking leftover pizza you want crispy, and FRENCH FRIES. Yes, I went there. Imagine, you are in the office lunch area, and if you have a toaster there, you can have crispy french fries. Anytime it suits you. Just keep a frozen bag of fries nearby, and by george, you are no longer at the mercy of fast food restaurants, or even slurmy fries that have been microwaved. That should never happen to a fry.

Sweet Freedom!
Now – back to the sandwich. My 6 year old can prepare her own toasted cheese sandwich – and she’s motivated to do so. Toastabags give us both liberty, sweet, American liberty. She gains the confidence of being her own cook, and I get to stay on the couch with my face in my phone. Just kidding – really, its awesome – she can even make a sandwich for her daddy. At that age, being able to give a gift like that is a blessing to her.

If you are still in doubt, my local news station does a spot each week demonstrating products, Toastabags is one of them: http://wnep.com/2016/01/28/does-it-really-work-toastabags/

 

I was an ALDI’s Snob. There, I admit it.

A long time ago, when I didn’t care about what things cost, I was embarrassed to be seen shopping the clearance rack, the local discount department store, and there was no way I would take ALDI’s brand anything in my lunch. I was a teenager! And from the way things look, some things just don’t change when it comes to teenagers and brand names. It’s easy not to care what things cost when your parents pay for it or when almost 100% of your income is disposable.

That being said – roughly 95% of what ALDI’s carries appears to be their own label items.
Many of them, sound almost cartoonish: Tuscan Gardens Dressing, Happy Farms Cheese/Dairy products, Little Salad Bar (bagged salad mix) and my personal favorite, L’Oven Fresh Bread. The key to savings at ALDI’s is their “generic” products. My concern when I first started shopping there was the quality of these items, not to mention the taste.

I decided to give ALDI’s a try a couple months ago.
I found that the quality and taste of the food I bought (particularly the tacky names listed above) tasted great, was fresh and MUCH cheaper than at my other local grocery store. My favorite items to buy (and save major money on) are greek yogart, dried cherries, frozen waffles, bag salad, lunchmeat and cheese/dairy products. I save about $25-$50 a week shopping there.

Not only do I save money, but I also save a ton of time.
I can get through that store in 30 minutes or less. The aisles have a constant flow, everything is easy to find and I dont sift through coupons or a huge selection of products that boggle the mind. This is imperative when I have a toddler with me and HATE going to the grocery store in general. ALDI’s has made things a lot simpler.

Now, there are a few things that should be mentioned.
I do go to the regular grocer for discount meat, personal care products that I happen to find good coupons for as well as some brand named items we regularly use. But, I don’t have to visit there more than once a month usually. This has a benefit of buying in bulk and also accumulating gas points, looking back, the trip helps pay for itself in some ways.

ALDI’s does not accept coupons, and frankly, serious coupon clipping is a joke to me. I am a consultant and I look at my time, on or off the clock, as billable. The money I would save with coupons had a few issues. For one, too much time trying to find, clip and match coupons. Secondly, I had a bad habit of buying things we didn’t really need just because I had a coupon, and organizing/printing and disposing of expired coupons drives me batty!

Overall, my experience has been great. I suggest anyone give it a try sometime. Don’t forget to bring a quarter with you – you’ll thank me when you get there.

-b

 

Who needs the Girl Scouts? We have Family Dollar!

Delicious alternative

Ok, the Girl Scouts is an enriching program that I can proudly say I was part of.Waiting for GS Thin Mints all year long is outrageous, and the cost of them is also. I won’t get into the politics behind the sale proceeds that actually goes to the troops – this post is about a delicious knock off that satisfies your fix for those Thin Mint cookies in the off-season.

The product is Fudge Covered Mint Cookies by Family Gourmet via Family Dollar Services, Inc.
They are fantastic! The main difference is that the cookie itself is a vanilla cookie – but I am telling you, that can be overlooked. Yes, that does make the depth of the cocoa flavor that you would find in the GS version, but honestly, not a dealbreaker. Trust me, at $1.50 a box in Central PA – its worth the trade off, and still satisfies the craving for those dastardly cookies.Nutritionally, four is a serving at 160 calories, and 8 grams of fat – I am sure it is comparable. Remaining a luxury treat at that level of nutrition.

As far as I know, they are available all year round.
Family Dollar has their version Samoas and Tagalongs too – Fudge Covered Coconut Caramel Cookies and Fudge Covered Peanut Butter Cookies. So, when Suzy stops by next February with her green sash about, use that as your opportunity to try something new!

 

Having a Yard Sale? This is a great planning resource…

Having a Yard Sale? I found a great, and accurate resource for preparing for your yardsale. http://ow.ly/bnLqk

 

Lestoil: The Stain-Fighter King

Lestoil Moon Women of the Future

The first product I will add to my blog reviews is Lestoil.
It is certainly one of the most important staples in my household. I know, a “staple” is normally a food item, but for me, cleaning agents definitely make the list in this case. Lestoil is a clothing saver – which equals money saver.
Lestoil is a concentrated cleaning agent for no wax floors, but its use as a stain fighter is the primary purpose in my home. Here in central PA, Lestoil costs about $3.00 a 28oz bottle. That is much cheaper than most stain fighter products. It does have a stong smell, which can last on clothing after a wash depending on how much you use. I still keep a bottle of Shout for toddler clothes, with the occasional Lestoil application for tough stains.

I give my mom the credit for this find.
She always used it on her laundry, full strength spot treatment. I will say that my husband came up with the idea of putting the product in a spray bottle – he uses it even more than me actually – I am blessed with a husband that insists on doing his own laundry. The spray covers more area with the same amount of effectiveness, along with less waste. Spot treatment involves covering the open bottle top with the stained fabric and turning it over onto the stain or pouring it on, which can waste a lot if you aren’t careful.

Grease stains are no match!
It cleans my husbands hands after just about any grease or grime related job he gets himself involved in – not to mention the clothes he wears during that job.  The black grease mark you notices on the leg of your khaki capris, you have no clue how it got there. And the oil splatter from cooking or toddler hands grabbing at your shirt – Lestoil’s got your back.

 

An Introduction

I am an American wife, mother and professional. If you are an American, you are aware that we have an endless amount of decisions to make everyday not only in regards to life path, but also when it comes to products, services and food. It seems like we often take a gamble with our money (which is becoming less valuable/more limited by the day) when it comes to a new need within our household, life maintenance or stomachs. Its been on my heart for a while to start a blog that is four parts that will form conclusions on products, foods, etc.: experience, common sense, opinion and preference. My hope is to provide a helpful contribution to readers so when they need to choose, they know someone who has tried it.

The things that have enticed me, or helped me to make a decision to try/purchase something in the first place  usually on one/any of the following factors:
A. Sale
B. Coupon
C. Rebate
D. Low Price Among Competitors/Generic Brand
E. Positive Customer Review
F. Mother Knows Best Referral (there is room for improvement in some cases!)

I hope to inspire – enjoy!

-bwise