DIY mayo
1. Groceries: Since last week, I put together a new grocery budget and shopping list for the summer months. I increased the amount from $130.00 per month to $160.00. I think that will give enough room for comfort without the added stress of too much food. My suspicions of last week continue to be confirmed as I keep throwing out food that has gone bad. Since last week I threw out three slices of moldy bread, two quarts of sour yogurt, four rotted potatoes and a vastly overripe avocado. I'm really looking forward to the end of this food waste. Here's the list I came up with:
On the left are "staple" items; not all of them are on the list, because we have a lot of them already.
We went to Walmart for grocery shopping. I spent just over $47.00 for monthly groceries and this week's fresh things as well. Our fridge got satisfyingly empty before we went shopping, and I found a jar of already-chopped onions before they, too, began to rot. Yay!
2. Cooking: I salvaged several food items that were going bad. I made some cheese with more soon-to-expire milk. When we ran out of mayonnaise, I made some in the blender with an egg, canola oil, and some other ingredients we had on hand. The spinach in the garden began to bolt this week, so I harvested most of it. Then I blanched and froze it in silicone muffin cups. I'll use the frozen spinach during July and August when we won't have any. I plan on planting more spinach for the fall garden.
It felt really good to do some cooking, since I haven't done much at all in the last month or so. I thought it would be a burden that I wouldn't miss, but I guess I like cooking more than I thought I did.
3. Gardening: I planted the rest of my garden last week. This year I'm growing tomatoes on a trellis, growing beans on a tepee/pyramid structure, and also growing lettuce and spinach underneath cucumbers and watermelon. So far, I'm excited about how things are turning out. I saved an old pair of pantyhose to use for watermelon slings and also for storing bulbs overwinter.
4. Sewing: I'm in the process of replacing diaper elastics on some cloth diapers. I moved my sewing machine over to our new house (the good part of the new house, that is) to a room with lots of natural light. I salvaged a desk from my in-laws, so now I can actually just sit down and sew, instead of standing, bending over or even sitting or kneeling on the floor. My, it makes a world of difference. I can't believe how much I've accomplished in a few hours, even while watching my daughter. I love it! Having a designated, well-lit area for the sewing machine is the best thing ever.
In addition to the diapers, I also fixed a free pair of snow pants that will fit our daughter next year.
5. House project: this is coming along well, still. We have a lot of the roof shingled already, and a skylight in the kitchen. It adds so much natural light in there! They poured cement in the garage, and my husband and brother took out the clipped gable at the end of the old part. It looks so much better!!!
We went to Walmart for grocery shopping. I spent just over $47.00 for monthly groceries and this week's fresh things as well. Our fridge got satisfyingly empty before we went shopping, and I found a jar of already-chopped onions before they, too, began to rot. Yay!
2. Cooking: I salvaged several food items that were going bad. I made some cheese with more soon-to-expire milk. When we ran out of mayonnaise, I made some in the blender with an egg, canola oil, and some other ingredients we had on hand. The spinach in the garden began to bolt this week, so I harvested most of it. Then I blanched and froze it in silicone muffin cups. I'll use the frozen spinach during July and August when we won't have any. I plan on planting more spinach for the fall garden.
It felt really good to do some cooking, since I haven't done much at all in the last month or so. I thought it would be a burden that I wouldn't miss, but I guess I like cooking more than I thought I did.
3. Gardening: I planted the rest of my garden last week. This year I'm growing tomatoes on a trellis, growing beans on a tepee/pyramid structure, and also growing lettuce and spinach underneath cucumbers and watermelon. So far, I'm excited about how things are turning out. I saved an old pair of pantyhose to use for watermelon slings and also for storing bulbs overwinter.
4. Sewing: I'm in the process of replacing diaper elastics on some cloth diapers. I moved my sewing machine over to our new house (the good part of the new house, that is) to a room with lots of natural light. I salvaged a desk from my in-laws, so now I can actually just sit down and sew, instead of standing, bending over or even sitting or kneeling on the floor. My, it makes a world of difference. I can't believe how much I've accomplished in a few hours, even while watching my daughter. I love it! Having a designated, well-lit area for the sewing machine is the best thing ever.
In addition to the diapers, I also fixed a free pair of snow pants that will fit our daughter next year.
5. House project: this is coming along well, still. We have a lot of the roof shingled already, and a skylight in the kitchen. It adds so much natural light in there! They poured cement in the garage, and my husband and brother took out the clipped gable at the end of the old part. It looks so much better!!!
I'm starting to look at paint colors for some of the upstairs bedrooms. It is so exciting!
6. Drinking glasses: I taught our daughter how to get her own water out of a water dispenser. This saves time and hassle for me. She's outgrowing her "baby" shot glasses, so I started giving her vintage jelly jars (given to us) to drink out of. They are about the same width around, but twice as tall, so they hold a lot more water.
6. Drinking glasses: I taught our daughter how to get her own water out of a water dispenser. This saves time and hassle for me. She's outgrowing her "baby" shot glasses, so I started giving her vintage jelly jars (given to us) to drink out of. They are about the same width around, but twice as tall, so they hold a lot more water.
7. Thrifting: I went to the thrift store this week and bought some half-off items. A laundry basket for $1.50, two pairs of jeans for $3.00 each, two cups for $0.24, a binder for $0.40, a $0.50 puzzle, and a $0.40 book. I also bought a full-priced custard dish for $0.69. I think it will make a nice heavy-bottomed "bowl" for our toddler.
Phew! I think that's about it for the week!
Til next time,
-Bethany
Phew! I think that's about it for the week!
Til next time,
-Bethany
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