PSA: Kroger ClickList

Well, friends, it's been quite a start to the summer.  The first week of the tennis program started off with a bang and while I thought it was just that stress that was causing me to feel like my heart was going to explode, I landed in the ICU the second week.  All is great now though!!  After a little shock (literally) my heart is back in rythm and it finally feels like summer can begin.

After all this excitement, Hubby and I just needed a few days to rest, relax, and take it easy.  With that in mind, we decided to try Kroger ClickList and boy were we glad we did!  It was incredibly easy, convenient, and allowed us to stock the fridge quickly with very little effort.

How it works:
Simply login to your Kroger account and click ClickList.  From there you can complete your shopping by adding items to your cart.  If you use a Kroger Plus card, there will be a special section for items you buy frequently.  If you're anything like me, this will speed things along as I tend to buy the same items over and over.  You can also shop sale items, by category, or simply search the item your seeking.

Within your selections you can give instructions, for instance green bananas or ripe avocados.  You can also choose whether or not to allow substitutions.

After your cart is full, simply choose your pickup day and time and head to the store.  (Hubby did this, and when I asked him to snap a few pics he looked at me like I had complely lost my mind. So, no photos....)

There are designated ClickList spots to park.  Call the number on the sign and within minutes your groceries are being loaded into your car.  They will alert you as to whether anything has been substituted and you have the option to decline the substitution.

This was absolutely perfect for our situation, especially considering the service fee is waived for your first three orders.  This would also be perfect for the busy working mom, ordering for a sick friend who lives far away, or when you arrive home from vacation to an empty fridge, not to mention when you just don't feel like shopping.

Now that the fridge is full, it's time to head to the pool for some more R and R....doctors orders, right?!?  ;)

Happy Shopping!

*This is not a sponsored post, just something that made life easier that I wanted to share with you!

Five Tips for Back to School Organization

It's hard to believe that we've been back at school for a month at this point!!  With the pool officially closed I guess I can't deny the fact that summer is over any more (even if it is in the 90s here this week!!).  I don't claim to be the most organized individual, by any means, but I've found these tips work well for me.  I tend to start the week rearing to go only to fizzle out by Wednesday or Thursday.  These tips help circumvent that fizzle.

Preparing for the Week

The new year (I know, I know, it's not all that "new" any more) kind of snuck up on me with all that was going on with Hubby.  We're still getting settled and back into the swing of things.  With all the new beginnings, I figured it was the perfect time to put a new planning system in place.  It's been working like a charm, too!

I picked up a simple sugar paper planner at Target.  (You're in luck...they're on sale now!!  Find them here.)  It's a slight departure from what I usually choose.  Each month has it's own section with both monthly and weekly sheets.  What drew me to this particular calendar is that the entire week is on one sheet, with a facing sheet for notes.  Until now I was forever scribbling little reminders in the margins, along the side, etc., etc.  No rhyme or reason to anything, whatever popped into my head went wherever there may be space...Enter my new system....

DIY Oatmeal Packets

During my meal prep bonanza last week, I whipped up some quick DIY oatmeal packets while I was at it. It's not that it takes that much time to make a bowl of oatmeal, it's that for me, in the morning, every minute counts!  Making the packets myself rather than the ready made ones from the store enables me to adjust according to my taste.  This time I added brown sugar and cinnamon. I also enjoy them with dried fruit like cranberries and sometimes nuts.  The sky is the limit, throw in whatever sounds good to you!

What's Always in Our Kitchen

Last week Miss Dixie shared her favorite items that she always has her kitchen.  I love talking food, and am a firm believer that one can always learn from others, so was delighted to see her thoughts.

I can still picture Hubby standing at the fridge peering in after we first got married commenting on the fact that we didn't have any milk.  Or bread.  Let's just say he was annoyed perplexed.  In fact, he may or may not have even muttered something about them being staples.  To me, they weren't really because they weren't something I always reached for, which is how I define a staple.

In our kitchen you can always find:

Feta, Greek Yogurt, Olive Oil

This was literally all this Greek girl purchased at Costco the other day.

Fresh Fruits and Veggies

Weekly Meal Prep

Now that school is back in session it's time to buckle down and get organized.  Hubby and I were pretty relaxed this summer with the meal planning and unfortunately it shows both in the wallet and the waistline.  I took some time yesterday to prep our food for the week.  Typically I pack my lunchbox and a few snacks for the week, but haven't prepped beyond that.  Yesterday I did anything I could ahead for meals.  Hopefully it will pay off.  Hubby says I was a little overzealous and that this much food will last us longer than just a week, but better to be over-prepared than under, right??

In My Lunchbox [Southwest BBQ Chicken Salad]

Last week I shared Shredded BBQ Chicken as "what's for dinner x 2" and as luck would have it, I managed to get lunches out of the same recipe, too!  My kind of recipe...cook once and eat three ways.

With the new school year starting today...yep, you read that right, today....I snagged some new bento boxes from Amazon.  I love that they came in a set of 10.  I'm able to pack lunch and even breakfast, if I choose to, for the entire week.  I know myself well enough to know that if I don't do it on Sunday, it won't get accomplished later in the week.

While I'm happy with these, and the quality is fine for a what I'm using them for, I think next time I'll go with these instead, for no other reason than I like the way the sections are divided a little better.

I also ordered these silicone muffin cups to divide further if needed.  Unfortunately, I didn't read the description very clearly and they're smaller than I anticipated.  Happily, though, they still get the job done.

The only thing that made packing lunch even easier this week, was using part of the shredded BBQ chicken to whip up a little salad.  Couldn't be more simple.....

Chinoiserie Inspired Weekly Planner

I'm so bummed to say it, but we're back to school this week.  Staff reports on Thursday and the kiddos arrive next Monday.  So. not. ready.  Between school and tennis, Fall (and I'm using that term liberally considering it's only JULY!) is a crazy time of year in our hive. In an effort to organize things a bit, I whipped up a little weekly printable for the fridge (I have to say it's a huge improvement over last year's notes usually scribbled on the back of an envelope from the junk mail).

In My Lunchbox [Vegetarian Bento Box]

I originally started to title this post a Lenten Bento Box, but I just couldn't do it, as it includes eggs.  Growing up my family always fasted for Lent. (Although it was not the strict fast like my grandmother and great aunts, where no animal products, fish, oil, eggs, dairy products, or alcohol are allowed.)  Even as an adult before marriage, I was very good about it.  Then came along Hubby, who is not Orthodox, didn't grow up fasting for Lent, and is a meat lover.  It became much harder.  This year, however, I'm determined to be better.  I am reminded of a sweet childhood priest who discussed that the Lenten period is about deciding on what exactly you will do, and sticking to it, which will be my personal approach this year. 

Levenger Circa Notebooks

Hubby says I have a problem.  I will purchase all kinds of organizational tools (baskets, bins, desk organizers...you get the idea....) in hopes that someday I will finally be organized.  If I'm being totally honest, he's right.  In my defense though, sometimes these organizational tools actually work, and then a portion of my life is orderly and organized. 

15 Minutes a Day

Fifteen minutes a day.  That's all it's been taking for me to get a little lot more organized in 2015.  The thought of reorganizing the entire kitchen and pantry all at once was a little daunting.  Setting aside 15 minutes a day (typically while dinner is cooking) is much more doable.  I literally set a time are attack one drawer, one cabinet, one shelf at a time.  Things are coming together in our little hive and it's feeling great. 

Christmas Binder

There have been some moments of slight panic around these parts this week.  Y'all, I have lost my Christmas binder.  I have torn the house apart, searched high and low, and it is just no where to be found.  I can't even think of any more places to look.  So, if your card arrives in the mail and it looks just like last year, just pretend it doesn't.  (No kiddos, so no photo cards here....I mean who wants to see a picture of just Hubby and me?? Ha.)  Or even worse, if you receive the same gift as last year (because clearly it was a brilliant idea if I gifted it the first time) just smile and please forgive me.

Freezer Cooking [Marinades]

Between school, tennis, and the summer tennis program (which is still in session, even though I'm back at school), there's not much time left for cooking.  This post is a short and sweet little tip that I love.   Freeze your meat in a marinade.  Yep, that's it.  I buy my meat in bulk, mix up a huge batch of marinade, and pop it in the freezer.....pretty simple.

This week's meat was pork tenderloin.  I usually get a large one at Costco, but happened upon a couldn't pass up deal at Kroger.  I cut the huge tenderloin into four smaller ones (although probably could have done even more).....

Back to School [Monogrammed School Supplies]

I texted this picture to Bestie KP with the caption: I may or may not have a monogramming obsession.  She simply responded with: "may"......

In My Lunchbox [A Gardener's Bento Box]

Well, it's that time of year again....school starts tomorrow.  I am determined to have an organized, stressless (ha) year and am taking some steps to help achieve that goal.  I've already mentioned my love of packing lunch  for the entire week on Sunday, and tonight was no exception. 

The beauty of this box was that I simply stepped out to the garden and everything else fell into place.  This week's Bento Box includes: cucumbers, a couple snap peas, hummus, and Indiana melon (not from my garden, but Indiana grown).

 

In My Lunchbox [Bento Lunch I]

It always seems that I start my week determined to be organized.  I always plan to pack my lunch and make home cooked meals for dinner......then Thursday (or sometimes even Wednesday) hits and that plan goes right out the window.

One of my favorite ways to combat this issue is to simply pack a week's worth of lunches on Sunday.  Then I'm all set.  It takes minimal time, but reaps a big reward.