Thrifting

I know I've posted about my adoration for thrifting before but today was one of those days where the stars aligned - both of my youngest girls were content while I looked for clothes for myself.

You read that right - myself.

I was able to find some really great items to add to my closet.  One thing I love about thrifting (other than the price and the idea of recycling) is that the clothes are typically brands that are no longer in my budget and are good quality - often fairly new.

Today I scored:

Wool Suit Coat - Banana Republic
Sparkle Shoes for Sanne - Toms
Norwegian Sweater - Hanna Andersson
Rain Coat for Sanne - Gap
Mustard Pencil Skirt - Limited
Sweater - Daisy Fuentes
Black Flats - Clark
Striped Sweater - Gap
Dress - Calvin Klein
Off White Shirt - Ann Taylor Loft
Summer Sweater - H&M
Gray Sweater Tunic
Kid's Umbrella
2 unique Mason Jars
Navy Fall Coat
Pewter Christmas Bowl
Winter Tall Duck Boots

All for less than $100

Brands are certainly not everything but buying items that are good quality at a low price always makes this girl happy.

Wknd.

We've been spoiled by a few really nice days here in Chicago.  And it leaves me with wanting more.  It's amazing how the seasons changing shift me in so many ways.  My whole schedule, the way I cook and my general energy change.  My friend said it best when she said she thinks she may be solar powered.

Every winter I question our decision to stay living in the midwest.  Why oh why do we choose to put up with below freezing temps and wind chill when we could be enjoying mild weather and blue skies? Family and community, that's why.  Don't get me wrong, I love snow and the coziness that comes with dark days but summer in Chicago redeems my love for the city.

Here are some fun and free kid friendly events today:

Kite and Kids Festival at Montrose Harbor

Land of Nod 10th anniversary

Home Depot crafts at each Home Depot location



Have a great weekend!

Laundry on a dime

In an effort to avoid harsh chemicals by substituting with natural products we have switched to homemade laundry detergent.

I have also attempted homemade dishwasher detergent but have yet to find the right recipe.  If you have one please share in the comment section.

Below is the recipe that we used for laundry detergent and it turned out great!  This recipe not only avoids chemicals but is incredibly inexpensive (about $2 for 5 gallons!)

One bar of Fels Naptha
1 C borax
1 C washing soda
5 gallon bucket

Grate the 5.5 oz bar of Fels Naptha and place on heat with 4C water until the soap is dissolved.
Pour warm water into 5 gallon bucket until half way full.
Pour water/soap mixture into bucket.
Add essential oils if you would like to add a fragrance.  (1/2 to 1 oz.)
Fill bucket with additional water until full.
Mix thoroughly.

Place lid of bucket and let sit for 24 hours.  The detergent will have the appearance of egg drop soup.
Use 1/2 C to 1 C of detergent per load depending on your machine.

Substitutions

Now that my greatest resource is time rather than money I have been able to cook much more.  This is a gift to me because I love to cook and try out new recipes.  I remember when I was newly engaged making a meal for Nathan at my apartment.  I made one of my favorite dishes I had in Greece, Moussaka.  The recipe I used has many ingredients and by the end I'm pretty sure I had spent over $30 just to make the dish.  Doh.

When I make meals now I often just use substitutions and short cuts where I can based on items I may already have in the pantry.  Here's tonight's dinner with substitutions noted:

Lasagna-Stuffed Portabellos

Yield: 5-6 servings

INGREDIENTS

4-6 large portabello mushrooms * one sale this week at our grocery store
3 cloves garlic, minced * I usually have fresh on hand but also buy the frozen cubes of herbs that I love.  Who ever uses up all of their fresh herbs?
1½ tbsp. olive oil
Coarsely ground salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup ricotta cheese * I substituted with cottage cheese because we are more likely to use the leftovers.
1 large egg, lightly beaten
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
6 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided * I buy whole and shred myself.  Much cheaper.
2/3 cup drained frozen chopped spinach * I had fresh spinach left over from another meal last week
½ tsp. Italian seasoning * Just added my own spices.
1 cup tomato sauce * recipe can be found here.

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat the oven to 425˚ F.  Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.  Remove the stems from the mushrooms and carefully scrape the gills from the caps with a spoon or paring knife; discard.  Place the mushrooms caps on the baking sheet.  In a small bowl, combine the garlic and olive oil.  Brush the garlic-oil mixture over the inside of the mushroom caps.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Roast the caps about 10 minutes.  Remove from the oven, maintaining the oven temperature.  If excess liquid has collected inside or underneath the caps, blot it away with a paper towel.
• Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, egg, Parmesan, about ¾ of the mozzarella, spinach, and Italian seasoning.  Season with salt and pepper.  Mix until evenly incorporated.  Divide the mixture into the roasted portabello caps, spreading gently to fill them evenly.  Top each with 1-2 tablespoons of the tomato sauce.  Sprinkle the tops with the remaining shredded mozzarella.
• Return to the oven and bake 10-15 minutes more, until the cheese is melted and the filling is warmed through.  Serve with additional tomato sauce, as desired.
  
  This recipe comes from annies-eats.com

Spring Cleaning

I know I'm a little behind on this but I'm finally using up all of our chemical sprays and replacing them with homemade cleaning supplies.  Not only is it a cost savings but it feels like such a healthier option.  Who wants to breathe in all of those chemicals while cleaning the bathroom?

This weekend we got to cleaning our windows which were in serious need of some love.  The joys of living in the city leave us with very dirty windows come spring.  Here is the solution we used along with additional recipes -

We were really pleased with the streak free results of this cleaner.

What are your favorite recipes for cleaning supplies?

Story Time

One of the great things about living in a big city is the crazy amount of free things to do with your kids. Below is a list of free story times throughout Chicago as shared by Red Tricycle.

Read All About It! Free Story Hours Every Weekday

Some days, you need a pinch hitter when being a parent gets too overwhelming. Scratch one more duty off your list; we found people who will take over story time — for free.

Every single weekday in Chicago, there’s a playful story hour to discover.

MondayNature-themed stories and hands-on activities get young explorers excited about the outdoors at Chicago Botanic Garden‘s weekly story time.

When the book closes, pick up an activity card at the Information Desk and take a walk through the garden and greenhouses. Tailored to ages 2-5, with caregiver. 1000 N. Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe, 847-835-5440. Held through May 20 at 10:00 am.

Tuesday
Earn points whenever you come to Pottery Barn Kids’ story hour. After you attend five, you get a coupon for $10 off a book. Reads like Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann are always a big hit with the preschool crowd. 2111 N. Clybourn Ave., 773-525-8349. 11:00 am.

Wednesday
Northsiders are known to make the trek to 57^th Street Books, a cozy Hyde Park fave that holds story time in the back of the store. Little bookworms adore the booming voice of the yarn spinner who has a magical ability to speak louder than kids cry. You may hear gems like Karen Beumont’s Where’s My Truck or Roger Priddy’s B is for Bear. Since the bookstore is across from an elementary school, attendees tend to be tiny siblings of “graders.” 1301 E. 57^th St., 773-684-1300. 10:30 am.

Lincoln Park Zoo’s look into books focuses on animals, naturally. But themes also include learning the alphabet, numbers and colors. After a few good cover-to-covers, kids get inspired to experience the real deal and check out the nearby animal exhibits.

The small barn where storytelling takes place fills up fast, so get there early. Main Barn, 2200 N. Cannon Dr., 312-742-2000. 9:15 am and 10:00 am (also held at those times on Fridays).

Thursday
After attending the gratis music show at Lincoln Park’s Whole Foods at 10:00 am, walk a few blocks over to The Land of Nod, where story time starts at 11:00 am. If your child liked listening to Oliver Jeffers’ The Incredible Book Eating Boy, you can buy it when the reading is over. 900 W. North Ave., 312-475-9903.

If you’re on the Southwest Side, register for free story time with Ms. Jenna at Roosevelt Library in University Village. She captures the attention of even the smallest readers (including babies) with songs, puppets and books.Call for info on ongoing registration dates for these free sessions. 1101 W. Taylor St., 312-746-5656. 10:30 am.

FridayIf you haven’t heard Nili Yelin (aka: The Storybook Mom) yet, then push that stroller as fast as you can to The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square to meet one of the best storytellers this side of the Atlantic.

Her voice morphs as different characters spring to life on the page, and interaction with the crowd is a given. Nili grabs books off the shelf, which means each week holds a new surprise. One of her favorites is Bedtime for Mommy by local scribe Amy Krouse Rosenthal.4736 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-293-2665. 11:00 am.

Mystery Solved

Many readers have asked me how we keep such a low grocery budget.
Here's an example of this week's menu planning and grocery purchases for our family.

I'm a creature of habit and like to go each Wednesday morning to Mariano's when it's quiet.  It's also double coupon day so when I do have a coupon it's a great deal.  Ivy gets a donut if she behaves in the produce section so everybody wins.

Wednesday
Breakfast - Ann Sather's Cinnamon Rolls (splurge) and champagne mangos
Lunch - bagels and cream cheese, orange slices
Dinner- Portabella mushroom burgers with english muffin buns and sweet potato fries

Thursday
Breakfast- homemade bran muffins and cantaloupe
Lunch - peanut butter and jelly, apples
Dinner - dinner at church every Thursday night ($10/family)

Friday
Breakfast - homemade granola and yogurt
Lunch - bagels and cream cheese, cantaloupe
Dinner - Mama Cozzi's pizza and roasted broccoli
(pizzas are $5 at Aldi - we add our own veggies and have it with a salad).
Fridays are always dinner and a movie night at our house.

Saturday
Breakfast - eggs and potato sausage (made at Thanksgiving and frozen)
Lunch - grilled cheese and tomato soup
Dinner - kids - mac n' cheese, adults - wilted spinach salad with balsamic onions and craisins *

Sunday
Breakfast - cinnamon rolls (I made these a month ago and froze the dough), yogurt
Lunch - leftovers
Dinner - Shepherd's pie and brussel sprouts, salad

Monday
Breakfast - leftover bran muffins and fruit
Lunch - peanut butter and jelly, fruit
Dinner - Spaghetti and french bread (bread was made and frozen a month ago)

Tuesday
Breakfast - cereal and fruit
Lunch-  bagels and cream cheese, fruit
Dinner - soup from the freezer


Groceries purchased for this week's meal
ranch dressing - to get the kids to eat salad
1 gallon almond milk
graham crackers - family size
pasta sauce
organic, grass fed beef - 2 lbs.
gardein veggie burgers - 2 packages, 8 burgers total
bananas - 1 1/2 lb.
kiwi - 3
cantaloupe
broccoli - 1 lb.
red potatoes - 2 1/2 lb.
yellow mangos - 3
bartlet pear - 1 1/2 lb.
brussel sprouts - 1 lb.
portabella mushroom - 1 1/2 lb.
white onions 1 3/4 lbs.
on the vine tomatoes 1/3 lb.
avocado - 1
sweet potatoes - 3/4 lb.
blueberries
spinach - 1 package
unsalted butter - 2 packages
colby jack string cheese - 12
cage free eggs - 2 dozen
mountain high yogurt - 2 cartons

Total $59.89 y'all.




* We feel it's important to all eat the same food at the table but once and a while make an exception when I really want something and know it's going to cause a total drama for the kids.

** If you're interested in any of my recipes just let me know in the comment box.