Delightful.
Today's drink is strawberry lemon with coconut milk, over ice.
Also delightful.
In other news, I'm happy to report that I'm in my third week of cleaning the kitchen as I go. Which I've never maintained for this long.
Ever.
And, and, AND, we're also smack dab in the middle of week three of budget ingredient shopping. Years ago we had a food budget and then it fell off. I like having a budget again.
A lot.
We spend 60 per week with a flexible 15 extra if needed. It's about having fun, creating new meals/snacks/bakes AND making ingredients stretch. It's not about squeezing a nickel so tight that the buffalo poops.
In other news, I'm locked and loaded with DIY photography craft-like goodies, from today's Dollar Tree run. Sticky-back marble, foam boards, a sturdy box that I thought was groovy and then I decided to take a punt on the purple sparkly paper. Will this DIY work for photography boards and backdrops?
Dunno.
That's the fun part.
And in other, other, OTHER news, the adventures in non-dairy yoghurt making at home, continues. I freakin' love it. As I write, there's a batch fermenting at home, in jars, in the pressure cooker. The budget didn't allow for cashews this week so today's batch is oat-based, only.
Excited to taste it. It'll sit for eleven hours or so. Oh my gosh, I had to look up how to spell eleven. Nothing I wrote looked right. Still doesn't look right.
Eleven.
Looks funny.
And that my Boogerbutts is all that's fit to print. This is Ivy, reporting live from the coffee house, outdoor cafe. Headed home to take pictures of what I bought and post this blog.
Write again soon.
Huggs & Bugs, Me.
I really need to get into the kitchen and sort the pantry too. I made a start, then caught a cold and I'm almost well, just coughing still (STILL!!) but I can't muster up any energy beyond making the bed. I'm happy things are working out for you. I didn't know you could get sticky-back marble paper, can you also get granite?I much prefer granite and now I'm thinking a granite covered cardboard box would make a great castle for a few little redheaded dolls.
ReplyDeleteHey River! I've been there. It's not fun. Here's to getting healed.
DeleteI went to Home Depot and didn't see granite though I'm almost certain that I've seen that before places. Would be great for a castle. There are some textured looking grays that might work.
Here's to you feeling all the way better soon.
Welcome back - and happy baking. And creating. I really like your header too.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sue! I had to just take some time off after Bug. Nice to be back though. Thank you about the header. I am excited to see your frozen bubbles. Headed to your blog now to see if you snagged any. So fun! So fun.
DeleteNice to catch up with you Ivy!
ReplyDeleteHelloooooooooooo Brand New Grandma! Big, Big, BIG congrats to you and your family, Christine. Very, very exciting news. Here's to much fun ahead.
DeleteNon dairy yogurt???? What is it then?
ReplyDeleteHey Ray. Of the ones I make, my fave is the cashew, oat and water mixed with the last batch of yoghurt or, probiotics. Very yummy.
DeleteGood to see you again! You sound like you are in a wonderful place in several ways!
ReplyDeleteHey Marie. It's been a good solid week after a few not so solid ones. Thanks for stopping by. When I see your posts and all the wonderful places you've been, it's very cool!
DeleteNice to find a new post, Ivy, and you have been busy, as always. We like yoghurt but have never thought of making our own.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Been a good solid week.
DeleteOh my gosh, yoghurt at home, is I swear, a game changer. So any uses and don't have to pay crazy prices or have weird and wonky ingredients in it. Hope you give it a go. Just beware, if it turns pink, it goes down the sink. It's bad. One of my batches turned pink. Boooo.
You have me laughing like crazy over the line "It's not about squeezing a nickel so tight that the buffalo poops."
ReplyDeleteHow fun it will be to see how those different items work out for you.
Hey Ann! I confess, I laughed at myself when I wrote that. lololol.
DeleteWith the sticky back paper, the one in the roll worked with the best in both price and ease of use. I will get more and show you guys what I made. Been using that one though the most.
Hi Ivy -- sounds like you're having a great summer so far! Yesterday at the grocery store, I saw that famous Swiss chocolatier Lindt now makes a Vegan chocolate bar that is oat-based. Whaaaaaat?
ReplyDeleteHey Debra! Yes, we've had that bar when it went on clearance - my gosh the price off-sale is CRAZY high at our place. Hershey also dipped their toes into vegan chocolate. Meh. Is what I'd say. Though the oat bar from Lindt, we did like (for the cheap price of clearance though. At full-price, nooooooooo).
DeleteGreat to see you back. You sound so cheerful! I've made yogurt a lot, usually dairy, so I'll be looking forward to hearing how the oat based works out.
ReplyDeleteHey Boud!
DeleteSo ... I like the cashew oat better than the straight oat. The cashews bring a lot of goodness to the party. Looking forward to getting some this coming week.
Excellent that you make yoghurt too. It's so fun!
I don't so much like having a budget (but I do), but I love squeezing out as many meals from something as I can also using what I have to make something new like you. Glad the kitchen cleaning is still going on, and that strawberry drink sounds delicious. :) Have a wonderful rest of your week.
ReplyDeleteHi Erika. Thanks for the wonderful rest of the week, wishes! Right back at you!
DeleteIt is fun, I agree. We get to make up new things or stretch a bit. I like that. I'm not sure why we stopped the budget. Glad it's back though.
YAY!!!! your BACK!!! and happy happy happy and spreading your joy around for us to enjoy with you... So happy you are back and wish I could have been out there under the umbrella with you. Can't wait to see what you did with the Dollar Tree 'finds'.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you here. I've been following along on your smiles. LOVE that you got the fence fixed. Such a wonderful thing.
DeleteWith the crafts, the rolled sticky back was the best of them all for both price and ease of use. The rest worked but not as well as the rolled one. Will post them soon for sure.
Good to see you post. Love the header! I don't have a per se budget - but I mentally do keep the amounts in a certain range.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Hey Cheryl. Thanks for stopping in today. I imagine you save a good bit with your sales and methods. Wonderful. Thank you about the header.
DeleteWelcome back! Good for you being creative with a food budget! We don't have a specific number but I do try to keep it down and make good use of leftovers.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm waiting to find out how the crafts go!
Hey Mari! Of the sticky back paper, the one in the roll was my fave. I just loved it. Will post about it soon. The others, I liked however as far as price and ease of use, the roll won. Hands down.
DeleteYay...so happy to see you today. Sounds like you are having a lot of fun and wow, that drink sounds so good. I may need to take lessons from you on budgeting. My grocery bill yesterday was over 80.00 and my two little bags felt so light. I'm shopping for a good camera...nothing big, but yet something I can add a macro leans...any suggestions? Have a super good day Ivy.
ReplyDeleteDrink very, very good. Refreshing. I must learn how to make these at home.
Delete$80 for two bags. I get that though. Sometimes it doesn't take much. Do you have an Aldi near you?
What kind of camera do you use now? Did you want mirrorless or dslr?
What kind of photography interests you? Macro only? Wildlife? Nature? Sports? People? Street? Something else or a combo?
Do you know what brand you'd like to go with? Canon, Nikon, Sony? OM? Something else?
What's your camera budget? Do you want a kit lens? Or just the body and then buy a lens?
What is your timeline?
What did you shoot on before? And are you looking to learn manual mode or stay in auto (more point and shoot?)
We can start here to figure out what you're looking for.
Crazy me...I'm not sure what I'm even want/need. I had a really nice canon camera and I still do have the large lens that I could use with it. My granddaughter borrowed it and it ended up being hers. I would to be able to use the cannon 200mm lens with whatever I get. I'm thinking a cannon DSLR, but I am intrigued by the photos you can get using a macro lens. Granddaughter is graduating this next year and I want a good camera that I can get good pictures of her with. I most likely would use the Auto button.
DeleteNice to see you! Happy cleaning!
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who thinks "salad" looks funny.
That's funny. Salad. I get that though. Words are funny things.
DeleteGood to see a post from you. I had to laugh out loud at your comment on squeezing a nickel. Too funny!!
ReplyDeletelol. Thanks, Lori! I confess. I laughed at myself when I wrote it.
DeleteThank goodness there's less buffalo poop :-)
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the challenge of coming up with good meals on not much money.
lol. Yes, now with less buffalo poop. A good thing for sure.
DeleteSame! Me too. It's so fun. I love that choices and the creating and just making it work.
How are you feeling?
Hey Ivy! Don't want no buffalo poop. And you only spend sixty a week on groceries and necessities? Holy cow! We spend close to five-six hundred a month.
ReplyDeletelol on the buffalo poop!
DeleteYes, so far week one was 50 and weeks two and three 60. We'll see how week four goes. So far, I love it. I like having to make choices like if I got the cashews, it meant dipping into the flex 15. I didn't want to dip. This budget is only for ingredients and food shopping. For crapper paper, body wash and stuff like that, that's it's own thing. I'll go to Target or Dollar General and just buy what we need either when we need it, or do a day of here's all the house crap. The ingredient/food though, that is the budget stuff. I really, really, love having to make these choices. I enjoy the added creative fun of it. And really, some weeks we will go over, I'm sure. And that's okay. But yes, 60 (with a flex 15), is the goal for awhile. Come winter, that might increase just so we don't have to go out as much.
I'm back from my vacation and I appreciate your comments on my blog while I was away. Your drink sounds refreshing and delicious. I am very impressed that you can eat on $60 a week. I am careful what I buy and look for sales, but in this economy I can't manage less than $125 week. Now I feel challenged to do better. !!!
ReplyDeleteLOVED your welcome back post and how you stayed on track. Very, very good post and you are are super duper cute. Those bar, I have to take a look at those. Would be good for a toss in the bag, when out for photo walks.
DeleteThis closes the third week, we still have some foods left and some used up and stayed at the 60. Didn't dip into the flex 15. It's an interesting challenge. I couldn't just get cashew for my non-dairy yoghurt, and for me, it wasn't worht the dip in the flex 15. I like the choices. I like that part a lot.
And like you in your post, I don't feel that we're going without. I feel empowered.
What a jolly, happy post! That drink sounds great and well done on your shopping and cooking adventure. A budget is a wise thing -- I should follow one more often!
ReplyDeleteHey Jeanie! I really love having a budget back in place. Not every week will be on target and that's okay too. The idea to move forward and really make those choices, is what I love. Thanks for stopping by today. Happy Weekend.
DeleteIt seems like I am forever getting the kitchen in order. I think I have too much space and hang on to too many things I really don't need. Your strawberry lemon coconut milk drink sounds very refreshing.
ReplyDeleteI find that here, things are changing often. I get a new tool and then to make the space for that new tool.
DeleteWhat kind of things are you holding on to that you can't let go of? Anything particular?
I am glad you are so happy. Budget is a necessity here. Happy baking!
ReplyDeleteYes, it really is for me as well. The budget helps with everything. I love it.
DeleteWere you able to find your frog answer?
Your drink sounds interesting. I am off yogurt I have eaten so much of it I can't do more right now. But it was dairy. Good for you for staying on budget.
ReplyDeleteCathy
Hey Cathy. What kind of yoghurt do you like? Are you just tapped out right now?
DeleteI need to try to clean as I go in the kitchen. I'm terribly messy. This is a happy post, I am smiling! Congratulations on setting a budget and sticking with it. Another thing I should do.
ReplyDeleteYeah, this is the last day of week three and we stuck to the 60. We are out of a few things but that's okay. Tomorrow I can run to the market really early or go Monday. It's interesting to me because it becomes about choices and being even MORE creative because I can't just go and get cashews, unless I wanted to dip into the flexible 15 and I didn't. Nooooo.....
DeleteHow goes your baking? Do you bake in the summer too? I do. So fun.
Yes, messy! Same!
I'm glad you have the energy for all that. I'm tired just reading about it all!!
ReplyDeleteHey Stacy! I'm just getting my energy back so it's nice to have. Didn't for a bit. Was sooooooo tired. Like, couldn't keep my eyes open kinda stuff. Thanks for stopping in today.
DeleteI had a big smile on my face when I saw you had posted. I have missed you and I am sure I am not the only one. Lovely to read all your goings on and wishing you a happy weekend :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Denise! I'm reading your blog now and I love the spider flower. What a groovy name.
DeleteHey Ivy! Your'e still here! I was going through some old blog posts and found a note from you. I am on Wordpress still blogging and I have a Substack now as well. I am doing both under my non de plume, Hieronymus Hawkes. https://firefliesandlaserbeams.com/ and https://unfetteredtreacle.substack.com/ I missed hearing from you. I am following you again. I see that Stacy is here as well! I can definitely learn a few things from you on shopping on a budget, I retired in January and am writing full-time now. It's really great to see that you are still active!
ReplyDeleteHey Todd. Congrats on being a full-time writer. That's wonderful.
Delete