I'm In "Love With Food"

ok, while this is nothing new for those that know me...thats not totally what I meant!! lol 
I am in love with the "Love With Food" subscription box.  Subscription boxes seem to be the big thing right now...if you didnt know, subcription boxes are basically campanies that ship you a box of goodies for each month that you "subcribe" to their services.  There are makeup subscriptions, food, clothing, coffee,tea, crafting, pretty much any and everything that you can think of.  Google "Subscription Boxes" to see all of the awesome-ness that is out there, I'm sure you'll find something for your tastes and budget (if you are like me---money is always on your mind!!) LOL

So anyways, after hearing about "Love With Food", I decided to try it out for a number of reasons...mainly because, YES, I LOVE food, but also because the box is cheap well within my budget (only $10 a month plus $2 for shipping BUT your box can be even less depending on the length of your subscription), because for every box that is purchased, Love With Food donates a meal to someone in need and because April's box was hand selected by Mr. Bizarre Foods himself, Andrew Zimmern.  Mr M. & I are huge fans of his television shows, so I HAD HAD HAD to try out his picks.  So basically this one was just a win-win all around. 

Even though I've heard mixed reviews...this box DID NOT dissapoint. And after this one...I'm excited to see next month's box which has a Mothers Day theme (OMG---YAY my very first mommy's day!!!) Another great thing is all of the products that are included in your box are available for purchase on the love with food website. That way when you discover something amazing..theres a way to get more!!! If you are interested...definitely check them out!! There's a link to your right!!!

My cute little box.

 

One Box. One Meal.

 

My First look.

Creamy buffalo ranch dip...can't wait to taste this

Green olives with lemon & Garlic. 

I am not a fan of olives At. All. But Mr. M likes them...so this sample is all his!! Lol

Air popped Sorghum Grain.

Andrew actually ate this one of of his shows. Its sorta like popcorn. I havent tasted it yet.

Smoky Chili & Lime chick pea snacks.

Roasted sunflower seed snacks...these were SOOOO good!!!

Fennel Pollen.

I'm not quite sure what to do with this little seasoning packet just yet.  Luckily love with food has some recipe ideas on their site.  Guess I'll have to start there!

BTW...this fennel has a SUPER strong smell..I could actually smell it through the box AND the plastic wrapping.

All natural coconut milk caramels.

I need to eat these like tonight.



Picture My Life.

Back to work!!

My first statement necklace.

Stepped out of my norm with this one and I LOVE it...can't wait to wear it!

I'm getting serious with my coupons!

My new sneakers...so cute and bright.

Maybe these are just the workout motivation that I needed!!

And yet...this is what I had for lunch

Damn you Five Guys.

Another freebie this week...thanks to my coupons!

It's just okay...I like it, but probably wouldn't buy it!

I just don't know!

So I have been struggling with the idea of going back to Weight Watchers. I know for a fact that the plan works (I lost 50 pounds in the past) but ever since they've changed the way that it works, I don't know what happened... it just threw me off.  It just stopped working for me.  Even when I felt like I followed the plan to a T, I just didn't have the results that I had on Momentum.  I loved being an online member, being able to track things online and have the "plan" with me at all times was just the thing that I needed...but now that Momentum is a thing of the past, I just don't know if I'm willing to try the online program again. 

 

When word got out that WW was re-vamping....in a frenzied panic I hit up EBAY for all of the tools that I would need to keep going on my own (mainly a food and dining out companion book) but even with those, I still couldn't do it.  Its like having to track on paper is so much harder than clicking on a hyper link and being done with it.  This process requires time and dedication and responsibility and determination and accountability and all of these other big nice sounding words that I know I have in me, but just cant seem to find at the moment.  But I need to, I HAVE to. After I had the baby, the weight came off like crazy (I'm talking 24 pounds in two weeks) but now that things have sort of evened out with nursing and my crazy pregnancy hormones, my weight loss has slowed considerably and is even starting to go in the wrong direction.  Blame it on the hormones, but I really have to blame it on the mass of hoagies, fried chicken, and buffet dinners that I have consumed as if they were going out of style!

 

So now back to my struggle, I know I need to do something but what do I want to do??  Do I want to try AGAIN for the 1000th time to follow the old momentum plan on my own...calculate and track my points on paper? Try the new Weight Watchers plan online (which also requires me to pay a monthly fee-that I don't really WANT to pay)? Or try and I mean REALLY REALLY try to just do better and make a conscious effort to pay attention to what and how much I eat? I also know that somewhere in there I need to throw in some exercise...which honestly is a bit hard to do with a newborn at home. Although now that the weather is cooperating, I see a bunch of long walks in our future.

 

So what to do? What to do? Any ideas? Suggestions? Tips? Advice? How do I keep myself accountable when its just so easy to slip up? And who's to say that even if I hit some dream/goal weight that I'll even be happy there? I guess it must start with me being happy with where I am first right?

Its working.

Couponing that is!! While I'm determined not to turn into a crazy woman about this, I can't help but get excited about all that I'm saving.  This weekends shopping trip was a HUGE success..I picked up most of the items that I had coupons for (along with normal household things that we needed..like bread and milk) and really saved A LOT.  (come on..dinner for UNDER a buck?!?!?--you SO can't beat it) Taking your time to see what is out there and preparing really does make all the difference.  I can't wait to keep my savings streak going.  Even Mr. M is getting in on it...he's been finding coupons for me, cutting them out and everything.  He's been pretty shocked when I tell him how much I've been paying for things!! I think he's proud of his wifey, getting all domestic and what not!! LOL

 

2 containers of Pampers wipes

4 Voila frozen meals

1 pack stayfree pads

1 pack carving board lunch meat

3 chobani greek yogurts

2 bottles coffee creamer

 

TOTAL COST: $5.92 !!!!!!!!

 

Success

So I am pleased to announce that yesterday's CVS trip was a MAJOR success!! I truly felt like a couponing champ....my list was prepared, my coupons were clipped and attached (I have a really bad habit of taking my coupons to the store and forgetting to use them) and all of my items were in stock!!!

In the end I got about $50 worth of items that I actually needed (and a couple that I wanted ☺) for only $17.59!!!! PLUS with the ibotta app that I just downloaded, I'll be getting back a refund of $1.25. SOOOO not bad for a beginner and I'm really proud of myself.

In case you don't know... ibotta is an app that pays you back for making certain purchases and then uploading your receipts. While some of the offers are enticing...I'm vowing only to use it on things I was already planning on purchasing as opposed to making an impulse buy simply because I can get 50 cents back.

My Haul.

 

3 jumbo packs of Pampers diapers (gotta stock up at this price) $9.50 each ($28.50)

2 packs carefree liners $3.99 each ($7.98)

Clear men's shampoo $4.99

Dawn dish detergent $.99

2 spoiled brand nail polishes $1.99 each ($3.98)

2 NYC brand nail polished $.99 bogo 50% off ($1.48)

 

Total paid (including tax) $17.59

 

YAY.

 

 

This couponing thing really works, sure it takes some time but its so worth it.  I just hope I can keep it up..I'm already working on this weekend's grocery shopping trip.  Hopefully I make out just as good....I love food but I love cheap food even more!! lol

 

Budget madness...

So I'm no extremist when it comes to budgeting and couponing but I love to save money.  I must admit, seeing people with huge stockpiles of goodies that they have gotten super cheap or free evokes such a feeling of jealousy in me that I always vow to run out and buy 8 Sunday papers and coupon like my life depends on it.  Needless to say this never happens and I am left with only my dreams of free paper towels for life.  I mean I've been known to snag some pretty good deals like 17 cent conditioner and 4 dollar packs of diapers but I know I need to do more esp with the reality looming that Mr. M & I need to get on a serious budget.  We really want to pay down on the debt that we are currently in (think a mortgage and 3 student loans!!) and I know realistically that sacrificing is the only way that we are going to achieve our financial goals.

I've heard great things about Dave Ramsey so I'm interested in learning more about his methods (we used the envelope system before and it really did work) but while I want and need to buckle down...I want it to be fun/exciting as well.  I want to feel the rush of couponing...I want to pay damn near nothing for the things that we need (I just realized how corny that sounds lol--but to other couponers out there---you know what I'm talking about) I want to be like those people that I see who make the system work for them and reap the rewards! I want to save! lol (I am fist pumping victoriously as I type this)

So with all that being said...I am now making it my goal to make an effort when it comes to saving money.  And while I know I wont be able to get everything that we need at a discount, I'm gonna try my best to do it and of course I'll be sharing all of my finds and savings with you.

Today at lunch I plan on going to CVS.  I've mapped out my plan and I've got my coupons ready.  I'm hoping that everything I want is in stock (or I'll be pissed disappointed) and I should be able to snag some REALLY good deals. Wish me luck!

Picture my life.

Homemade strawberry shortcake from my MIL.

It was AS good as it looked!!

I soooo needed to buy this towel.

Seriously the story of my life!

A little nail glam!

My new coffee cup

So Cute..it makes drinking coffee fun! LOL

No explanation needed for this one! LOL

Dinner date with the hubs and babygirl.

Miracle roll.

So so so so good!! 

Sushi!