Frugal Friday

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The train station downtown!

I didn't go Black Friday shopping.  In general, I don't like crowds.  I had searched through the sales fliers Thanksgiving morning, but there was absolutely nothing that I felt we need enough to go out and fight the crowds.  I know a lot of people pick up excellent deals on Black Friday, but I'm not willing to leave my family and head out to fight crowds just to pick up a bargain.  With kids grown and out of the house, I want to spend time at home with them when they are home.

I did go out and support our local businesses on Small Business Saturday.  I went down to the Historic District, and bought a few things - chocolate bars for my chocolate addicted sister in law, snow grabbing shoe-hugger things for the kid who lives in snow country and walks to and from campus daily.  I even signed up for a yoga class at the sports store.  I saw lots and lots of friends, and kids who have now grown into adults. I had lunch in one of the cute little restaurants, and I spent some time down by the river.  It's a beautiful river when it's low! (And deadly dangerous when it's high.)

Sunrise at the stoplight.

The turkey has continued to nourish us long after Thanksgiving.  Turkey Pot Pie, Turkey Soup, and Turkey Pumpkin chili, as well as lots of turkey sandwiches and a wonderful turkey-cranberry wreath made from crescent rolls.  (I couldn't eat the wreath, because of the gluten, but the boys really loved it!)  Have you ever tried a turkey cranberry wreath?  You can find the recipe here.  It's a link to the Pampered Chef recipe.  I don't get anything back from the link.  I just really, really like the recipe, it's quick and easy to make from things on hand, and it looks beautiful!

My new favorite snack.

I didn't actually go grocery shopping this week.  We've been busy finishing off turkey leftovers.  However, I did get the bargain of the year.  I had an appointment with the store nutritionist.  I'm serious about getting and staying healthy, and I think that the nutritionist can help me figure out what I need to do in order to help me lose weight.  For a one hour session, I paid $20, and received one on one advice that correlates to my goals.  I tried some new and unique food that takes the edge off of my hunger and is easily portable.  I found "perfect portion" bags.  She took me through the store and showed me new and different healthy food options that I hadn't found before - because they live on the top shelf and the bottom shelf.  We set up a goal for daily caloric intake, and I began a food journal.  At the end of the session, when I went to pay my $20 to Customer Service, I received a $20 gift card from the store to use on my next trip.  Whoa, wait, what?  I exchanged $20 in cash for $20 in gift cards and an hour of my time?  I feel like I'm the one getting paid here! 

I hope that you are enjoying your Christmas Holiday Season!  Find ways to spend time together with your family, and spend some time building some Christmas Traditions together.