My favorite Crock-Pot! (and DF days 9-16)

I have to rave about my crock pot for a few minutes.

I have had this crock pot for about 6 years.  It has seen me through many a cold winter and provided my belly with delicious and hearty meals.  About a year ago, I was getting ready to make a pot of soup when I noticed the handle on the lid was partially broken.  If you know anything about crock pots and their lids, you understand my challenge.  You really need to be able to lift the lid without getting burned by the heat/steam/etc.  I was making due with the back end of a spatula to prop up one of the sides and using a pot holder, I could grab the other side and lift the lid in order to stir or add other ingredients, BUT this was only a temporary solution.  So for a period of time, I just stopped using the crock-pot, all together.  Then over the summer, I read an article that expressed the level of value companies place in customer service.  I took a shot and emailed the customer service department for "Crock-Pot". 

What do you know?!

The asked for some key pieces of information and sent me a new lid FREE OF CHARGE!

I received it in a few days and have been using it and raving about the brand, "Crock Pot" ever since!

Why do you love your crock pot?  Do you think one brand is better than others?  Have you even had a situation where a company replaced a part FREE of charge?

Let me know in the comments below.  And don't forget to subscribe!

Be blessed!

Teri

Coupons....for organics! **UPDATED**

What a wonderful summer and staycation!  Over the last month, I enjoyed a wonderful time with family, I decided not to blog during the time and really had a great opportunity for relaxing with them.  These moments were quite necessary.  :)

So, over the past little while (and probably longer while in process-mode in my head), I've been developing - or trying to develop - my own savings strategy while grocery shopping.  As it stands now, in order to get all the products I use/eat, I have a few stores that are rotated into or out of the rotation - depending on savings and distance - for shopping needs while also trying to keep costs at a minimum to fit in with my budget needs. 

Some of my favorite stores include:  Giant, Aldi, BottomDollar, Wegmans, Walgreens
Be aware that not all stores take coupons, Aldi for example doesn't take coupons (or credit cards, it's debit or cash only here) - unless they issue it: they occasionally will offer a $10 coupon (to use on your next purchase (dated)) when your purchase is at least $40. Sounds easy, right?  I've often gone to Aldi and not spent $40 though - their prices are that good!  If you have never been to an Aldi before, make sure to take your own bags or buy a few there (unless you are lucky enough to get there when they have boxes out - take them - they're free!). You will also need a quarter (or 25 cents) to "rent" a shopping cart which you will get back upon returning the cart.  What a great deal, though! 

BottomDollar does accept coupons, however bring your own bags.  They also accept credit cards and of course cash. There are usually boxes available if you would prefer - and the boxes are free!  I usually take a few to make the 'taking the trash out' chore a bit easier.  Some stores require renting the cart for a quarter which you get back when you return the cart.  (There is a slot on the cart for it, you'll see it.)

Walgreens does something that Rite Aid and CVS haven't (yet) and that is to provide a monthly paper coupon booklet located at the front of the store along with the current weekly flier.  You can find really great deals, find it on sale and use the coupon on top of that!  You can also virtually clip coupons to your Walgreens card

Rite Aid has printable coupons which is wonderful!  

CVS has printable coupons also, for use at any one of their participating stores.

I often recommend Aldi or BottomDollar to college kids if it is near their school. Wish they were around when I was in school, I could have eaten 2x as many boxes of mac and cheese - ha!
So, if your shopping trip doesn't include Aldi, check out these two great coupon sites that offer you guessed it - coupons for ORGANIC products - YEAH!:  

Mambo Sprouts - I like this especially because it lists also if the product is a Gluten Free, Non-GMO, or other classification important to consumer needs.  

Common Kindness - This site is twice a great because you can actually choose to have your coupon "work for" a charity of your choice once you print and use them.  They also have other couponing options for online shopping and discounts. You can even donate food to a local (to you) food bank. The site name really suits it and what a great idea!

Check them out and see what you think.  

Please share your comments and don't forget to subscribe below.  What are your experiences with coupons? Do you use them?

Thanks and Be Blessed!

SLEEP-less (Originally posted 6/1/2014)

So. Here I am again… WIDE AWAKE!

I had been trying to sleep for the past 3 hours, so I got up and followed my “can’t sleep, need at least ‘X’ hours for ‘Y’ tomorrow” routine (where X is however many hours of sleep I will need to function and Y is whatever event I have to be alert for)

I went into the kitchen to make some chamomile tea along with some of the raw honey I just bought - expensive but I'm willing to guess worth it. I figure I’d kill 2 birds with one stone (No birds ..or stones.. were harmed, I promise!).  The label claimed it helps with allergies and coughing so I was hopeful the allergy or cold would soon leave my chest and throat.

I chopped the remainder of the red onion from the fridge and put the chopped pieces in a little container – I’ll be happy when I make my morning omelet. Maybe I can actually shave off a few minutes from chopping as I cook tomorrow - or today as the case may be? 

I thought about chopping up other ingredients but the tea was ready and the intent was to become sleepy enough for lasting sleep.  At least I have the red onion done; I use that in a lot of recipes.

When I experience times like these, my natural tendency is to try to figure out ‘what is keeping me awake.’ It is the analyst in me. I'm also a logical thinker who tries (without a second thought) to come up with solutions to challenges.. This time, the pain was worse than usual and any position I chose was not comfortable.  Then there were the many things rolling around in my brain which still need doing or finishing. There was also the new pain that presented itself tonight. I also wondered if my cutting out processed foods could have had anything to do with this.  Then going with that last one, I tried to count the number of weeks since I had started trying to move toward clean eating. I guessed about 4, maybe a little more.  So I dismissed that.  After all it takes you 21 days to create a new habit; right? 1 month was on average 30 days. That’s over 21... 

Hmm.  No dice..still awake.  Hmm.  Back to square one.  Maybe I can find something else to chop.

Teri

I FINALLY FOUND IT!

I Finally found Grass Fed Beef and Pastured Eggs! YAY!

So I was at a locally owned organic food store today, I shared that I was a new customer and came for the pasture-raised eggs.. The owner, Terry, showed me around and acquainted me with some of their products..(so yay to pastured (Soy Free) eggs, and yay to grass fed beef), but when I asked if they carried pastured chicken meat, it seemed that he was trying to cover for why they didn't carry it, he was like 'pasture-raised chicken meat would be too tough because the chickens are running around all the time..and it's okay to eat organic grain fed chickens' Then he took me off topic..without my fully realizing it. [Seriously, I was standing there like.. 'Um, are you kidding me?!  What do you think the Grass Fed Beef is doing?' (I didn't say this out loud).]  I think he was trying to "cover" for the fact that they just didn't have it (yet).  So I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.. :)  In fact, I'm sure he's sitting at home kicking himself for saying that very thing.. hahaha  just kidding.

Although, I was already already buying grass-fed beef and eggs.. so ... it's not like I wouldn't have bought it anyway.. who knows.. I just thought it was weird.. on the positive side though, I FINALLY got pasture raised eggs!!  I've been missing my morning eggs!  AND I got some Grass fed beef patties and ground (grass-fed) beef.  I may just have to settle for purchasing online pasture-raised chicken.....

I didn't get the organically-fed chicken that he recommended as a good brand..  I need to look into the brands they carry first, they are organically fed - but not pastured (they don't forage for their food but they are "cage free and/or allowed to run anywhere they want.. which I"m still not sure about - because that would mean they still have them in a large barn with no outside access.  I guess saying "outside" is a key word when speaking with grocers.  I will remember that next time.

Their meats are local though (Lancaster, PA) and humanely treated throughout, the farms he purchases from have a strict policy against any violators of treatment of animals.  He was also quick to point out the chickens are air cleaned? chilled? as opposed to water.  Anyway.. this post is too long..

Please share your comments and don't forget to subscribe below.  

Thanks and Be Blessed!

Teri