One of the things that I love about my house is the pantry. I think that with every home that you own, there’s always that one area that you love and know you’ll probably never have again. In our last house, it was a beautiful exposed brick fireplace … in this house, it’s the pantry. Hands down. It’s huge!!!

Since beginning The Grocery Game over 3 years ago, it’s been fully stocked. I’ve posted pictures occassionally and many of you have asked to see exactly what is in there and how it is organized.

So, without further wait, here it is: The Pantry Tour.

Here’s what I’m buying this week:

2 – Capri Sun – $2.80
1 – (Kroger) Apple Juice – $.49
4 – Grands Biscuits – $3.66
6 – GoGurt – $4.74
2 – Smart Balance Sour Cream – $.98
1 – (Kroger) Mini Carrots – $.88
8 – 32 oz. Powerade – $2.44
1 – 8 pk. Powerade – $1.99
6 – Chex Mix – $2.94
2 – Refried Beans – $1.18
2 – Fruit Snacks – $1.48
2 – General Mills Cereals – $1.96
9 – Hamburger Helper – $5.76
3 – Purex Laundry Detergent – $2.82
3 – 12 pk. Cottonelle Toliet Paper – $13.47
2 – Pillsbury Sweet Moments – Free
3 – Caramel Bugles – Free
3 – Nature Valley Nut Clusters – Free
1 – Betty Crocker Warm Delights – Free
3 – Revlon Emery Boards – Free

Should end the trip under $50. *Everything I’m buying is a name brand unless otherwise specified. *Price is after the coupon & any other special offers.

Next week, my meal plan recipes call for several ingredients that I don’t have on hand. None of them were on sale this week, so I’ll be waiting to buy them to see if they come up on the next rotation.

Last week, I wrote about meal planning and how I’m really making an effort to get on this train! As I’ve thought more about this, I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to plan at least 2-3 weeks ahead. Since I’m a compulsive coupon user, I need to be able to look ahead to see what ingredients I’m going to need. Along with the meal plan for the week, I also will be planning school snacks. (Our after school care provider includes snacks for after school as part of our tuition.)

In thinking one week ahead … Here’s our plan for the week of August 23:

Monday: BBQ Pork Loin
Tuesday: I’ll be trying a new recipe. I’m giving Creamy Pasta Primavera a try!
Wednesday: Hamburger Helper
Thursday: Fiesta Chicken Enchiladas
Friday: Meatballs (possibly Meatball Subs)
Saturday: California Chicken Salad
Sunday: At some point, we’ll need to have a night of leftovers. Once that point comes, all recipes will shift and take care of Sunday!

School Snacks: I have compiled (with your help via comments), 18 different options. With an average of 20 days per month, that is AWESOME. (PS – We are a peanut free school, so you won’t see any “peanuty” options on my list.)

Monday: Carrot Sticks & Ranch (I’ll put the ranch in a snack bag.)
Tuesday: String Cheese
Wednesday: Pretzels
Thursday: Go-Gurt (I’ll have to confirm this will work when I find out snack times. If snack is in the AM, it will be fine. If it’s in the PM, we’ll have to do something else.)
Friday: Carrot Sticks & Ranch

I’m repeating carrot sticks and ranch, because I’ll buy a bag of mini-carrots. I want to make sure that they all get eaten before they go bad. On fresh items with a quick life, I’ll repeat them during the week.

Are you a meal planner? If so, share what your cookin’ up for the week. I’d love to see what you’re fixing!

If you want a recipe for something that I’m making, let me know and I’ll post it. (The recipes that I found online, I’ve linked above!)

We talked a few weeks ago about the best snacks to send with kids for school. (What awesome ideas you all gave!!!) Now, it’s time for meal planning. This is something that I’ve always wanted to dig into … and many times I’ll make a plan only to have it foiled or things just not work out. I’m really wanting to stick with it this time. It will make our lives so much easier … and let’s face it – it’s cheaper in the long run since you are buying intentionally.

My goal is to have 25 meals that I can alternate throughout the month. Since I work outside the home, I need them to be quick and relatively painless to make.

This is our family meal routine: Monday & Tuesday – eat at home; Wednesday – eat fast food because the kids have choir at church; Thursday – eat at home; Friday – order pizza; Saturday – sandwiches for lunch & dinner at home; and Sunday – lunch out after church & dinner at home. I take my lunch to work everyday. I buy frozen meals in mass when they are on sale. I’ll take leftovers if there is only one serving. Don eats at Subway every day. (Yes, every.single.day.)

Here’s where you come in: Is there a meal that your family loves? Please comment and share the recipe (either here or on the Facebook Page). I’ll make a full list and post it on Sunday, August 15. We can all reap the benefits!

Here are the meals that I have in my pocket right now (I’m thinking fall recipes):

1. Chili
2. Tacos
3. Spaghetti
4. Salad (with tuna or baked chicken)
5. Pork Loin
6. Roast
7. Meatloaf
8. Chicken Breast
9. Hamburger Helper
10. Meatball Subs
11. Salmon Patties
12. California Chicken Salad
13. Chicken Parmesean
14. Homemade Pizza
15. Sloppy Joes
16. Homemade Veggie Soup
17. Lasagna

I receive a Kraft newsletter each week. The recipes always look fantastic, but I’ve not devoted myself to trying many of them. This fall, I’ve challenged myself to trying at least 2 new recipes each month. (I’ll more than likely do these on a Sunday night … more time to prep and really read the recipe!).

So, let’s share! Post some of your favorites – I’d love to see what you recommend.

I have a new found love for Gymboree. The quality of their children’s clothes is fantastic. I worried as my kids grew out of Carter’s and the other brands that I’ve loved that I would “want” for quality clothing. Gymboree fills that need for me. Add to that the fact that they have amazing boys clothes … and I have a winner. (Anyone with a daughter knows that finding clothes for a girl is a piece of cake!)

If you missed my Summer Gymboree Fashion Haul video, you can visit it now and see the cute things we came away with then.

(Best explanation of Gymbucks I’ve come across.)

Let me start by saying “Thank you” once again to Kirkland‘s. What a fun company to work with and what an amazing jewelry organizer. Like I said earlier in the week, this product isn’t available on line (as of this moment), but look for it in your local Kirkland‘s store. You might also want to register with Kirkland‘s. They send out awesome coupons from time to time, and they don’t spam you to death!

So … without further ado …. (note to self: why do you always chose to do vlogs on days that you don’t have to wear make-up to work?)

Congratulations winner. I’ll be contacting you for your addy

Thanks to everyone that entered … I really appreciate you helping me out. There will be more giveaways so keep your ears tuned

Many people don’t have access to a large Sunday newSpaper because of where they live geographically. Then, there are those who do buy a well-stocked Sunday edition, but hate to buy multiples just for the few coupons that they will use.

There is an alternative. Buy your coupons online.

There are several sources that you can choose from, but I use The Coupon Clippers. The coupons that they offer are a fair price and they ship quickly. Since most sales are only for 1 week – that’s very important to me.

The site is very easy to search and it even tells you how many coupons of each item are available! Now that’s convenience … But, my favorite part is that they are active on Facebook and Twitter. I love that they use these mediums to tell customers when coupons are restocked, to remind us of shipping deadlines, and to help spread the word on great nationwide sales.

Every coupon clipping site is different, try several and see what works for you. The main thing is not to pass up a great sale because you are missing the coupons that you need!

When I first started using The Grocery Game, I bought everything in sight. The sales that I was able to make on my list were overwhelmingly good and the thought of saving 75-80% on my grocery bill made me giddy with happiness. What I soon discovered was that much of my savings was going to waste. I didn’t use the items before the expiration date and things sat on the shelf for so long that it was ridiculous.

If you aren’t using the items you save on and you’re throwing them away, you aren’t really saving money!

There is a secret to effective stockpiling. I’ve been hard at this for about 18 months and I’ve noticed that although my pantry shelves are a little thinner … my wallet is a little fatter!

I written before about sales cycles. They come around about every 12 weeks … or in more simple terms, you can find a common item on sale at least once every 3 months. Using that piece of information, you can begin to control your stockpile.

I started by writing a date on my everyday items. If I would open a toothpaste container, I’d write a date on the tube; when I started a new container of laundry detergent, I wrote the date on the jug; as I cracked the seal on apple juice, on went the date. From there, I just made a simple handwritten list noting the date that I began using the item …. and then, the date the item needed to be replaced.

From there, I figured up how much I used in a 3 month cycle. When the items came on sale, I only bought what I needed for 3 months. (If it’s a super great deal …. like free or above 90% off, consider buying and donating the items to a shelter!)

Things that I stockpile regardless of the three month limit are only things that won’t expire: toilet paper, napkins, paper plates, soap, etc.

I hope this method can assist you in saving even more money. Having a pantry that’s overflowing is nice, but throwing 80% of it away is defeating the purpose.

Happy Stockpiling and Remember “there’s no cents in paying full price!”

* This post is part of a weekly segment on KSBJ Christian Radio. For more on segments featuring Stephanie Click, the Texas Money Mom, click here.

Just read – as I’m pulling my weekly grocery/coupon list – that the Grocery Game 4-week trial is now FREE.

If you haven’t tried it yet … now is the time! Use me as a referral, please. Stephanie@stephanieclick.com

Check out my link on the subject to get started.

I used to be the girl that had more shoes than Amelda Marcos. I had a pair of shoes for every outfit and sometimes two pairs for each one! I definitely got it from my grandmother. Now there’s a lady with some shoes!

All of this to say, boy how things change (1) once you have kids and (2) when you get older. Now, the shoes I would once look high and low for end up on my daughter’s feet. She is one sharp dressed little chick. (Somehow, I forget that her momma ought to look just as cute!) And, who ever knew that as you age, your feet just start to give out. I remember having 3 and 4″ stiletto heels – the last time they were in style. (Fashion is all a big cycle, you know.) I could have worn those things from daylight until dark and never thought one thing about it.

Now, I can be fashionable again and my feet are SO incredibly thankful.

I first saw them last year when we were on vacation in Orange Beach, Alabama. We went shopping at an outlet mall and they have a Crocs store. The little beauties were hanging on the wall and I fell in love. The Crocs Cyprus.

Now … I can’t remember if I didn’t get them because I thought they were too expensive or if they didn’t have my size, but somehow I didn’t leave with a pair. (My kids left with three pairs! Typical.)

I couldn’t get the shoes off my mind. I really liked them and wished that I had gotten a pair. Being the saint that she is, my sweet mother-in-law went back to get me some as a surprise for my birthday. Sold out of every color in my size. So, she sent me the money to get them online.

My first pair was/is bronze. They actually look beige. I L-O-V-E them … They are a complete dream on my feet. Everyone compliments them and no one EVER guesses that they’re Crocs. I love looking at the surprised faces when I tell them.

Last week, there was another great online sale at Crocs.com, so I bought my second pair.

Welcome the Black Cyprus. I love them as much as the first pair.

I can’t think of anything else that I own that I have purchased in two separate colors. I’ve thought all day about something else that I’ve done this with … and I’m coming up blank.

You can find these at Crocs.com. In the search bar at the top of the page, type Cyprus and it will take you directly to the page. They are available in 5 colors now.

In a street shoe, I wear a size 6 (wide), and with these I wear a size 6. Because of the material the shoes are made of, my wide foot feels great in here. I can also see where they would fit a narrow foot. Awesome material when a shoe can accomidate both.

Regularly the shoes are $49.99. I normally don’t pay that much for shoes, because … well, I just don’t. But, I’m telling you these shoes are worth every. single. penny.

I’m hitting Orange Beach again in a few weeks and you better believe I’ll go back to the Crocs store. Anyone got a jewel they can recommend to me for my next shopping trip?

You might think that I am being paid by Crocs for this review. I am not. I really like this shoe and hear women complain ALL THE TIME about their feet hurting. This is my answer to fashionable feet without the pain!