Bountiful Baskets - Eating Well on a Budget

So I originally posted a blog about Bountiful Baskets shortly after getting our own in December. For those of you who don't know what in the world I'm talking about go to Raising The Ruth's Blog for an easy how to.  And Bountiful Baskets to order. :)

My husband and I were both unemployed, him for 9 months, and me since I became a stay at home mom in summer of '08 until I became an indie author.  It was because of this trying time that I made a goal of feeding our family of 3 for $250 a month... its very trying, it requires a lot of focus, and in truth as close as we've come a few times we've not hit it yet this year!  But one of the best steps we have taken has been with Bountiful Baskets.

A Bountiful Basket is roughly 30 lbs of fresh produce for $16.50 (a little more for your first basket), and they're available through a large portion of the country.  The catch is that you don't know beforehand what fruits and veggies you get.  But the one basket tends to last us for two full weeks, meaning we spend $8.25 on 15 lbs of healthy fruits and veggies a week for three of us.  At least half of what we were paying before.

I have been impressed with their quality, the flavor of their veggies is great, and the variety is fun too, every once in a while we'll get something we don't like (or don't know we like!) but we have discovered we enjoy a few more mellons than we've ever tried, and I even like brussel sprouts!  For those things we don't love we either gift them to my mother-in-law (who is a huge fresh veggie eater) or we trade or toss them (I hate wasting food, but it isn't much)

Picture Frame Project - 6 frames for Under $10!

My Completed Frame

Ok, so the actual costs unfortunately will vary, but I spent $4.88 at Lowes on black "metal" spray paint and $2.76 on painters tape and used 6 frames that I had or was gifted.  I did six frames, two 8x10s and four 4x6s, and still have at least half of a can of spray paint and most of the roll of painters tape.  If you don't have any portion of the frame you want to keep in its "original" state you won't need the painters tape.  Check the $1 Store, garage sales, and Goodwill for old frames too.  Remember you're only looking for the structure of frame.

The Original Frame

Using painters tape and taking your time, cover any part of the frame you want to keep in its original state.  The key to getting a crisp sharp line is PRESSURE.  Rub the painters tape with an eraser or firm pressure of your finger to ensure its snug, if you need to make a corner-overlap the bit and rub it down too.

Fully and Carefully Taped Frame

Once finished taping (by far the longest part of the redesign) I took the frames outside and set them on a big old cardboard box.  You might want to secure them with a little tape onto the cardboard box, I bumped my box once and sent them all skittering about a few inches, made me nervous!

Set Up Your Work Area 

Make sure there is enough space between each frame to get to (notice how the bottom on the right are close together?  I had to bump that one to get to those two sides, don't risk a finger print!)

First Coat

When you are applying the spray paint don't soak it, read and follow the instructions (shake a full minute before spraying then spray 8-10 inches above the frame and left to right, release and shake the can, right to left, release and shake.)  I ended up applying 3 coats taking a 5-10 minute break between each coat and I think they look perfect.

The Second Coat (I hadn't left enough room and had to bump my frames around!)

I noticed as soon as my first coat was finished that the frames were too close together, and the slightest bump sent the lighter frames shifting.  So do remember to secure them and leave yourself space!

Completely Dry

Be sure to wait until they are fully dry.  My spray paint was done in 40 minutes, but I gave it the full hour the can requested.  Don't peel the tape off beforehand or you'll risk fingerprints or drips!  You should have a nice clean line if you took your time with the tape.

Peel The Tape Off

Completed Picture Frame

The "Used" Bread Store

When I was little I remember going with my grandpa about one morning a month to the bakery and filling up the trunk with bread to put in the freezer. I always thought it odd, but now I make my monthly trip to what my husband calls the "used" bread store. Its called a Bimbo Bakery Outlet, and I can get the good bread (the stuff you get from the grocery store for $3-5, 9-grain, Russian Rye, Dill Rye) for $1.25.

Bimbo Bakeries Outlet Stores

If you live in the Denver area, there is one by I-225 and Mississippi, in the same shopping center as JoAnn Fabrics.  If you don't go to Bimbo Bakeries Website and enter your zip code to see if there is one by you!

The Outlet is always hopping, people practically tripping over each other to grab good loaves, but their specials  tend to be around half price.  Plus they have punch cards and double punch card days that offer you additional discounts.  If you spend $8 at one time too they'll give you an extra loaf of bread for free.  We stock up our freezer about once every two - three weeks with Orowheat whole wheats, ryes, and bagels.  Sometimes we get english muffins or cookies (they always have them on their shelves, but sometimes their deals are too good to pass up!)  

Its been really great to have the breads we fell in love with when not stressing over our pocket book, and are nutritionally great for you for the price of discount breads.  On a budget anything for cheaper is better.  :) 

Originally posted on my letiamichelle.wordpress.com site

About Me

Me and My Family 2011

Doesn't every blog need to start with an "about me" section?  Something to prove to you that I am an awesome authority and you should totally swing by and read my junk all the time?  Well, despite the fact that its been done before, and its a "classic" style to follow, I will step into that mold!

My name is Letia Michelle, and in truth I am bringing over this blog from my wordpress.com site.  Frankly it ticked me off every time I used it and this "little mama" (as She-She has been referring to me lately) doesn't need that sort of stress in my life!  I am an indie author, and sometimes I'm sure I will cross post things about my writing business here.  This blog is completely a hobby blog of mine, but I do hope to be much more regular on it then I was on my other one.  I love doing all sorts of projects around the house, gardening, painting, writing....I consider myself a dabbler.

She-She and Daddy

I am a stay at home mom of a beautiful little girl, She-She, who turned two last fall.  Being a SAHM is something that has made my life a million times happier and harder than I ever thought it could.  She is a really bright two year old, has an astounding command of language, and loves to play outside, eat fruit snacks, and watch Blues Clues and Veggie Tales.

My husband of eight months, and lover of near seven years, works in tech support in a payroll firm here in the Denver area.  He is a great cook, an all around fix-it guy and helper of my projects, and likes to bang on medieval style-armored guys with rattan sticks (who are also banging on him!) in the SCA.  (More on that later.) He also dabbles in mead making, and is currently helping me build my daughter a wooden dollhouse fit for a princess.  

We all live in a little three bedroom two bath house in the Denver, CO area in the middle of the U.S. right next to the gorgeous Rocky Mountains.