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Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Buying in bulk on Amazon!

Today, I would like to share the benefits of buying in bulk on Amazon to get closer to a "whole" lifestyle. While trying to lead a healthier, or "whole" lifestyle, a lot of people are discouraged by the price tag of "health foods". I believe that it definitely takes some time to really get in the groove of finding what works best for your household budget and finding deals whenever you can. I know how discouraging it can be to see 2/$5 snack cakes all over the grocery store, that you know will provide you with 12 snacks, and have to decide if you'll get your money's worth from spending the same amount on half the amount of "healthy" snacks. But, to really choose your health over a few dollars is the most important step in gaining a healthier lifestyle. Believing that your body, the only body that you will ever have, the body God gifted you with to represent Him on this earth, is worth the time and financial investment- that is the most important part. I do not aim to lecture but that is my belief.

Now, realistically healthy to you and healthy to me are probably two different things. Everyone is somewhere in this journey. To me, eating healthy is trying to buy and make food that is as close to "whole" as possible. I don't believe in buying lowfat butters or orange juice with calcium added, even though a lot of people find these as "healthy choices". I believe whole and from the Earth is healthy. I rather have the extra calories, fat and carbs and natural vitamins of what I consider real food, than less of those things in foods that have been modified. We try our hardest to make it to the market and buy local produce, meats, make our baked goods from scratch and that type of thing.

Amazon is definitely different than buying at a warehouse store, like Costco/BJ's. I have gotten great deals at those stores as well but several things I have found at better price points on Amazon.
To reap the benefits of shopping on Amazon, I believe a Prime membership is the best route. You can look at that fee like you would look at a membership fee at any warehouse store.

With Prime, you do receive free 2 day shipping but the catch is that you have to find products that qualify for Prime. That membership is more expensive than my BJ's yearly membership, but there are tons of free shows and movies to watch also so that definitely makes up the difference in cost. And Prime Music was just launched! I know there are e-Books but I haven't taken advantage of that.

Now to really "save" any money, you do have to be willing to make an investment in a bulk purchase. This is cheaper in the long run, but spending more upfront. I would rather spend $40 for 3 months worth of a product, than going to the store for something and spending $10 every two weeks. I'm not becoming a millionaire off these pinched pennies, but hey $100, $200, $300 it adds up.

Ok, enough of my babble!

Products I use often are what I look for deals on because we have a small apartment and there is not a ton of food storage. I would love to buy more in bulk but wherever shall I place gallons and gallons of heavy whipping cream and half cows??!? The struggle is real.

Oats, dried fruits, honey, molasses, nuts, coconut flour- those are the type of items I have dry storage space for. And use tons of! Especially with my new Brunchin Yummies shop :)

One of the ideal situations for buying in bulk is this example of Bob's Red Mill Oats. At just $0.11/oz that is at least two cents cheaper per ounce than what is available at my local stores. Four bags will probably last me a month or two, $14 investment, free 2 day shipping, and you can choose to subscribe and save for $0.10/oz. So that's down to $13, at the store these four bags would cost me $16. Let's say it it lasts two months, for a year on Amazon it would be $78- versus store costs of $96 plus my time and gas of the trip to the grocery store. That's an $18 savings. If you could do that with 5 items you regularly use, that is at least 1 romantic dinner out with your sweetie, or a manicure and pedicure treat for yourself, or a little shopping spree, or some savings, or a small room paint job upgrade. Imagine all the fun things you could do with $100!
Whewww! Did you absorb that?

Ok, let's do another.

Coconut oil.

This is something that has been really hard for me to find a good price on, and I can't guarantee this is the absolute cheapest. I do feel better about not buying 7 containers to equal these two containers and having all of the waste. Also, the time and gas going to the grocery store is a big deal for me!
Organic, Virgin Coconut oil with no GMO's, free Prime shipping, and subscribe and save eligibility at $0.37/oz. That is the same price I pay at the grocery store, but I seriously buy 16 or 32 oz containers of Coconut oil every two weeks to a month. This is easier for me.

Coconut flour.
Amazon: 3 lbs at $0.24/oz
Grocery: 16 oz at $0.63/oz
Subscribe and save eligible, free shipping available with $35+ order
Total money saver!

So, I really hope this helped and maybe you need one of these things! Now, go figure out some good deals for your family! Share them with me :)



This post was not sponsored, these are my own ideas and opinions and I am not receiving any form of payment for expressing them. However if you purchase any of these items by clicking on a link , I may receive a small portion of the sales as an Amazon Associate. 

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Operation Sunscreen

Every year, I do a campaign to raise money to provide sun care packages for our troops. Last year, about 15 packages were provided but my goal was 75. This year I am determined to get to 75 and when it happens, I am matching the donations to provide 150 soldiers with sun protection. I want to complete this in July, so the soldiers can have sun protection through the next few continually hot months overseas.
Please visit my Go Fund Me page and donate! www.gofundme.com/avb5is



Friday, June 27, 2014

#brunchinyummies

Ready for some Etsy Shop Love??
Go check out my new shop, BrunchinYummies- hence my favorite meal is Brunch and it best be yummy.

Get your own secret stash of my homemade granola and granola bars rich in yummy molasses.

www.etsy.com/shop/brunchinyummies


Granola bars available in Choco butterscotch and Molasses Nut.
Granola in Molasses Nut.

I hope to come out with new flavors soon! Mmmm Apples and Cinnamon, Cookies and Cream! Any suggestions?

get your own! #backawayfrommygranola


Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Easy Stovetop Granola

Who wants a fresh batch of granola at breakfast time? YOU!
Who's going to give it to you? ME!

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but we don't all make time for it. Make yourself something quick and easy and kiddo friendly. You can definitely make this ahead, and in larger batches, but this fed my granola hunger a few mornings ago.

This is definitely healthy with only one tablespoon of honey and no other sugars, so you won't get a sugar crash after breakfast. Serve yourself up a big bowl of Greek yogurt, fruit and granola (and bacon if you're lucky)!

The recipe I got this idea from is at Being Frugal by Choice.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, craisins, raisins blend
Juice of half an orange
1 generous tbsp of honey
Little less than 1/4 cup Shredded coconut flakes




Melt your coconut oil in a heavy skillet (I prefer cast iron), over low heat.
 Add your oats and coat in the oil.


Add your honey and let melt over oats. Watch it closely so it doesn't start burning. 
Stir constantly so the honey coats the oats.


Your oats will start browning as you coat them in the honey. 
Squeeze the juice of your orange over the oats as you're stirring them.


Add your seeds, walnuts and dried fruits. Keep stirring because the dried fruit will burn really easily. Keep stirring for about 5 minutes or until browned to your liking.


When the oats are browned, add your shredded coconut. Stir for 2 more minutes. 
Don't burn your coconut!

All done!!

 From start to finish this should take 10 minutes max! Now that's a quick breakfast!

Yummmmm

 *HEY! You see me down here?? If you click on a link and purchase something I may earn a few dollas'. Thanks, youdabest!"

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

This app I love!

Do you watch Shark Tank??
Well, I don't. But I do love this app that was founded on Shark Tank. I went to a friends' and she had these super cute little books stacked full of great pictures. When I flipped to the back and saw that it was an app, I jumped right on it!
ain't it cute! every book has a different pattern
It's called GrooveBook. They are absolutely wonderful! You get great quality photos printed and shipped for a mere $2.99. The app is totally free, you just pay for the book. The photos are great quality and it has really pushed me to take more photos. How many of us won't have pictures to show our kids and grandkids? I know I absolutely love going through old family photos so I think it's a great 2014 spin on that old tradition. The best part is, all the photos can be separated from the book with the perforated edge that is provided. I have taken up to 15 photos out of a book and it still holds together. I have a quite a few framed and they look great! You get 100 pictures each month and you download them straight from your phone to the app. That's right, just one tool- your phone! I believe it is available on the Apple App Store and Google play.

GUESS WHAT!? You can get your first one for free!! Use the code MCWILLIAMS86, and your first book will be free.

use this coupon code to get your first book free!


a few photos from one of my books. this barely does it justice, but they're great quality prints. 


This post was not sponsored, these are my own ideas and opinions and I am not receiving any form of payment for expressing them.

HAPPY TUESDAY!!

Monday, June 9, 2014

Sea salt caramel coffee

Best part of waking up, GET ME SOME COFFEE.
I do not play with my coffee. It is a necessary component to my day or I will be a zombie. Serious stuff.
I am, like many, a dedicated Starbucks drinker and fan of many delicious concoctions such as caramel lattes. Oh so good, yet oh so bad. Like serious I don't even want to know how many calories are in a Venti Caramel Latte. It's really a shame. Things that are a task to consume, like turnips, should be high calorie since I have to force myself to eat it. But fantastic beverages and sweets should be low calorie since they are so easy to gulp right down. It just makes sense. Who is in charge of this system? We need to talk.
Anyway, I'm about to save you a ton of money and I think calories. Not sure about the latter.

INGREDIENTS

-baking caramel squares (2 per cup of coffee) [if you are very fortunate you will find caramel baking chips which are a luxury in life but for whatever reason they are super hard to find and no one knows what you are talking about when you ask grocery store employees for them- you will get the blank faced whatchu talkin bout lady stare- ugh]
-strong brewed coffee (one generous tbsp of grinds per cup of water)
-milk
-whipped cream (homemade is best of course)
-evaporated cane juice (whatever sugar you use will do) <<that's a really good price 
-sea salt 

1. Put your coffee and caramel baking squares into a small pot on the stove on low heat. This will caramel flavor your coffee while also sweetening it, YUM. Stir this every few minutes

2. Put 2 tbsp of milk and 1 baking square into the microwave, stir every 15-20 seconds. Microwave on med heat. This is some dangerous stuff, make sure you monitor closely.

3. Add 1 cup of milk per 2 or 3 cups of coffee to your pot. This is open to taste preferences. Add about 1 tsp of sea salt. 

4. Once your caramel is completely melted in your coffee, as in you can no longer feel the squares when you stir the pot, turn it off and transfer it to your mugs.

5. Top with whipped cream and a drizzle of the caramel& milk mixture from the microwave. 

6. Mix 1 tsp of sea salt with 1 tbsp of the evaporated cane juice. Sprinkle liberally over your coffee.  Enjoy this beauty!


a picture almost didn't exist because I drink them so fast. shameful, I know.

You could totally do this with hot chocolate too! It is freaking delicious. I haven't made an iced one yet, but I'm sure it is possible. 

 *HEY! You see me down here?? If you click on a link and purchase something I may earn a few dollas'. Thanks, youdabest!"

Monday, June 2, 2014

Spicy Black Bean and Avocado Dip

Ever been going somewhere/inviting people over... and you need an appetizer super fast? But you also want to look fancy? And healthy? Ahaa! Thus was born, spicy black bean and avocado dip.

This dip is a hit! My boyfriend enjoys it with Black Bean and Quinoa chips from Trader Joe's and all my lady friends enjoy it with fresh peppers. I'm sure you can be more creative with what you choose to dip.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 avocado
1 can black beans
4 tbsp Olive Oil
1 tbsp minced garlic
4 tbsp Crushed Red Pepper (adjust for how spicy you'd like it to be)
2 heaping tbsp tahini

1. Rinse and drain your black beans



2. Add all ingredients to food processor/blender/mortar and pestle, whatever floats your boat. Of course I used my Twister jar.


i was lazy and used pre minced garlic, no judging







unfortunately, not the most beautiful color
 *HEY! You see me down here?? If you click on a link and purchase something I may earn a few dollas'. Thanks, youdabest!"