Yesterday I replenished my produce stash.
I got everything at the regular grocery store. Grapes were on sale for 88 cents/pound, vine-ripe tomatoes were 2.49/pound, oranges were on sale, basically it was one big sale-fest.
I buy everything at the regular grocery store or TJ’s, except….
…..Vegenasise. I went to Whole Foods for that singular item. Walk in, don’t stop, don’t browse, you will get sucked in$$ if you don’t have a clear mission.
I needed to replenish my Vegenaise stash so I could make more Vegan Slaw Dressing
Sometimes I make Broccoli “Salad” (minus the bacon and sometimes minus the raisins, i.e. so just plain broccoli) and that gets smothered in slaw dressing.
Or sometimes I’ll make Horseradish Relish Dressing with Vegenaise. No charge for the extra kick that comes with it.
And I went to the post office, mailed a parcel, and replenished my stamp stash. I try to pay all my bills online and do everything as paperless as possible, but sometimes I can’t avoid using snail mail and need stamps.
I do try to avoid paying retail for all dry goods, household goods, protein powders, body wash and tons more and order everything from iHerb.com
I order things like:
5 pounds of bulk white stevia powder
to bulk cinnamon orders and re-filling my existing jars and saving $30 in the process
to Nooch for 15+ recipes that I use it in
to using iHerb for the probiotics and other supplements I take
I highly encourage you to give iHerb a try. And never pay retail or WF prices again!
If you do try iHerb, you can use code: AVE630 at checkout to save $5
From my last post about my new camera bag, thanks for the compliments on it!
And thanks for letting me know if you’re purse and bag junkie like I am and what, if anything, you’ve ever had custom-made.
Dessert: Chocolate Macroons (Raw and Vegan)
If you don’t have a dehydrator, feel free to bake them in your oven.
Questions:
1. What do you buy online vs. in a regular store?
I love saving money by ordering my bulk items, non-perishable food items, and dry goods online.
Produce, certain specialty food products, my Target trips, my trips to the mall and MAC store, well, those things I buy in a real store.
2. What have you replenished lately?
I replenished my produce stash at the grocery store.
I replenished my nooch, probiotics, and steiva stash from iHerb
I replenished our clean clothes by doing laundry
And I replenished my sanity by going on a glorious run in the 70F and sunny weather and then I came home and did 20 minutes worth of workout moves in my garage.
What have you replenished lately?
I replenished my almond milk stash!!! We need to stock up for vegan week :-)
Ha! You are totally right about Whole Foods. You really have to go with a plan, and not hungry, and DON’T BROWSE. I haven’t been to WF in awhile. We have a local (used to be locally owned, now not) store near my house which is very similar. Delicious prepared foods.
I haven’t replenished anything yet, that starts today. We are out of milk. My friend K and her boyfriend just bought a large amount of cow that they are selling some to me. I don’t generally eat very much meat, but this is organic, grassfed, free range cow direct from the farmer. At $5 (ground) and $13 (steak) a pound, it’s going to eat up all of my surplus from my $50/week experiment, but will also likely last me a very long time.
I buy most everything at TJ’s. However for bulk items like lentils and beans, I’ve been going to WF, the fancy store up the street, or the produce store. My friend K, however, is a member of the local co-op, and I visited yesterday. Man, small store, GREAT prices, best price on nooch I’ve seen (half of what it is everywhere else). I think I might have to join.
Ordering in bulk is the way to go! I’d love to be able to buy a huggeeee thing of oats, actually! I’d probably have to stick it in my laudry room, though. :P
I totally need to order in bulk like you do, Ive ordered from there before but really need to get back into bulk purchases to cut back on the waste and it saves so much money. I love Whole Foods but it is so easy to spend $100.00 and walk out with only a bag or two .
Haha! Totally…go to Whole Foods, shut your eyes, grab what you need, pay, RUN OUT! I hear that. :)
I also too just stocked up the fridge. Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Farmer’s Market and Ralph’s. Ugh! full time job right. But at least we have the blessed lives to have all this. :)
I also stiocked up on the peanut flour from T Joes.:)
Have a great weekend Averie.
I am so jealous of those grapes. They are still close to three bucks a pound here! My son begs for them everytime we go to the store :(
I replenish my produce every Sunday but I will have to visit tomorrow – I am out of bananas. I just replenished our personal hygiene items, juice for lunches, laundry for clean clothes, and medicine for this crazy sickness that is plaguing my house.
I have never tried iherb, I will check it out today! I like to buy my books from amazon. You can always get a better price from there. I usually buy a lot of my gifts for Christmas online from amazon as well, great prices on electronics & jewelry (for kiddos).
I buy my “healthy” foods online all the time – because they aren’t available in the shops here!
I’ve recently replenished the veg stash like you – and had trouble fitting it all in the fridge :-)
I wanted to say thank you too for your microwave banana cake recipe… there might have been one day this week I didn’t have one for breakfast – but only one!
all of my supps/spices online. i shop for clothing online a ton too for discount prices. i very rarely buy clothing in stores! i shop 1x weekly for groceries produce/canned items.
My boyfriend and I are both students so we stick to a routine for the most part. Each week we get groceries from the same grocery store but tend to only buy what’s on sale. However, we did just replenish our coffee supply… thanks to his mom! She supports us in many ways, but one of those ways is to purchase and then give us this wonderful fair trade, organic, shade grown coffee. The exact kind we get is here: http://www.levelground.com/bolivia/
We don’t have a lot of money so it can be difficult to make a difference, so we are both really thankful that we can enjoy coffee that hasn’t ripped off a farmer.
I am about halfway through cleaning the apartment for its weekly clean. It feels a lot more calming. My sanity is coming back to me, slowly! :)
Hi Averie! That’s a wonderful bunch of produce you’ve gotten there – so much freshness! :D I’m stillwaiting for the day when stevia is admitted for sale in Europe, it’s such a shame that you can get icky things like aspartame in every supermarket while natural products like stevia are held back.
I’d die without stevia…the Euro rules need to be changed, for sure :)
is that a new Veganaise? i haven’t seen it here…yet :P but it looks like its much better than the regular one…i usually get the green expeller pressed one but i want a flax healthy oil blend instead! haha yea i remember when you talked about the price of Whole Paycheck..er…Foods. definitely gotta put “blinders” on in there and head right to the product in mind..no looking elsewhere ;)
thank God the sun came out yesterday to replenish my vitamin D stores!!! <3
xoxo
It’s not “new”…it’s been around for about 18 months I think…I like it b/c it’s less…”gloppy” than the full fat one and seems to blend wonderfully for making dressings. Try it if you can find it.
Great to hear from you hon! Hope life has been good by you!!!!!!!! :)
I can’t find your chocolate macaroon recipe. I clicked on the chocolate snowball one, but it redirected me to a post that didn’t have it…
sorry about that!
i changed the macaroon post link
http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2009/10/vegan-chocolate-macaroons.html
that will direct you to
http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2009/10/raw-vegan-chocolate-coconut-snow-balls.html
Sorry about the bad link….I was multitasking a little too fast yesterday :)
The post office has to be my very least favorite chore! Ugh.
Whooa, that photo replenished my sun deficiency! Actually, the sky is blue and sun out here, but it’s cold cold cold…
I’m with you on getting stuff on sale and getting stuff online if it’s way cheaper. Am bummed that I have no cacao butter to make chocolates with and V-day coming up, but I have other options, all kinds of recipes that don’t have to make choc from scratch. But that’s something I’m about to replenish…
Funny that I haven’t been to a “regular” grocery store in ages, I’m so obsessed with Whole Foods and TJ’s with occasional Costco trips. Great produce score, I need to replenish this weekend.
1. Depends, I buy a lot of bulk ingredients through Amazon, like dried beans, hemp seeds, cacao powder, protein powders and nooch. But I buy produce at Whole Foods, TJ’s and Costco and have been getting a lot of nuts and seeds incrementally as I need them from TJ’s and Whole Foods bulk foods department to see if that saves money – defo saves space in my kitchen!
2. Produce, lots of produce and I have to go shopping again this weekend.
I need to look into buying the nooch and probiotics online. :)
I got more protein powder at Whole Foods yesterday!
I don’t buy much online, but this is the best deal on stevia I’ve found, and the only place I’ve purchased it from for the past year: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007CZ4BQ/ref=oss_product (I’m not affiliated w/ them at all!) Just want to share a good deal. Its 2 two-ounce dropper bottles for $6.79. I’d say this is half off retail at least. There is minimal shipping, but when you get multiple two-packs, the shipping goes up only in tiny increments, so the more purchased, the better deal on shipping. Hope this helps someone! I’m also looking forward to checking out iHerb too!
I need to replenish my probiotics! I’m consuming kefir in the meantime and I’m also going to pick up some kim chee at the Asian market this weekend!
Yay for sales and all that produce! I buy shoes online because Zappos is a great site and I woke up today to feel that my health has been replenished! I finally feel like I’m awake, for the first time in quite a few days. Runs are great for replenishing sanity!
“Walk in, don’t stop, don’t browse, you will get sucked in$$ if you don’t have a clear mission.” Ummm, AMEN sista :) That store is one giant money trap. I’m an online person for sure – In fact, my UPS guy told me I get the most packages on the block (half embarrassing, half funny). Normally, I use either iherb or Amazon. I like iherb though, because sh*t ships fast :) Fast is always good. Amazon on the other hand, has been taking anywhere from 1-2 weeks for shipping lately (not cool).
I just bought nutritional yeast flakes for the first time using your promo code at iherb! Thanks! I could not figure out how to get free shipping as you indicated, but I did get the $5 off which was great!
the free shipping was an error (sorry!) and I edited the post to reflect that…another reader brought that to my attention. But so glad you are trying nooch!
I buy as much as I can online, but some things I either can’t find online or they are the same price locally. Those things I buy locally to save on packaging. During the summer we get 95% of our produce from a local farmer for $20/week. Saving money and getting better produce too :)
Replenished my unsweetened cocoa stash last night. Tonight I’m making a Double Chocolate Walnut Brownie recipe (from Elana’s Pantry blog) to take to a birthday celebration on Saturday.
I have to replenish a lot – heading to the stores after work. iherb is awesome – great deals and super fast shipping. Next time I’ll definitely trust them to buy more.
Because of you I just ordered my FIRST ever nooch and probiotics! From iherb of course, with the discount. :) I’m excited to try both!
well thanks for telling me and i know you will enjoy them! :)
I’m still in pjs and glasses so I haven’t replenished a damn thing. Except my stomach, with coffee.
And I am out of coffee, so there is a trip to the store to replenish that on the agenda for the day.
I went to the store the other day to buy grapes and they were SO pathetic looking. Yours look sooo plump and juicy!
I need to follow your WFs rule today :) I need to go in there for raw cashews for cashew cream! Hopefully I’ll have the strength to just go in and get what I need! The grapes look yummy! Hope you have a really nice weekend
I always enjoy seeing what people get at the store. I don’t shop online a whole lot…mostly because I don’t get to shop a whole lot in general! But, when I do get things online it’s something like xanthan gum powder or nooch that I cannot get within a 50 mile radius here… Which reminds me- I will be using iHerb this week!
PS. I am SOOOOOOO impressed that you can go into WF for ONE thing!!!!! OMG, I couldn’t do that even if I were blindfolded! LOL
walk in, walk out, do not browse, do not stop, do not look. It’s lethal$$$ if you do anything but in & out!
:)
Thanks for the tip on iherb – I just ordered some hemp pro 70 and nutritional yeast!
awww, thanks for telling me! glad it worked for you!!!!! :)
I am addicted to Amazon, I buy tons of grocery items there like my coconut butter. We have a small WF so they don’t have many things that I want and when they do they are pricey. I will have to try iHerb.com. I am such an online shopper its so hard for me to go shopping with a baby and a little girl, so its just more convienent. I buy my fresh produce from grocery stores and items I don’t buy often like toiletries. Recently I stocked up on paper towels, toilet paper, and some protein powder.
I used to do so much bulk buying when I was cooking for my family. Now that it’s just me most of the time, I don’t buy in bulk as much.. BUT.. I am STILL going through 5 lbs of Nutritional Yeast I bought over a year ago!
I love your produce scores.. those grapes look so good..
I have an awesome Lowfat Vegenaise Recipe.. .. it’s super cheap and really yummy!
http://melomeals.blogspot.com/2011/01/frugan-lower-fat-vegenaise-substitute.html
Honestly I buy almost everything at Target! I buy my protein powder and supplements at a little natural food store near my house, groceries come from the chain grocer or TJs or Target, and I buy almost all gifts online — no need to scour stores looking for the perfect item. This happens most of the time.
I haven’t been to Whole Foods in MONTHS — I end up buying way more than I need and my $ spent is super high. I’ll stick with TJs!
yes target is a one stop shop for tons and tons!
and your other comment to me, re losing dates, you know TJs has the best and cheapest dates around, right? IMO only of course :)
Ahhhh, I love looking into my refrigerator and seeing tons of produce!!
I need to replenish my sanity this weekend :-)
Produce!:) I should start buying my stuff from iherb, everything is SO much cheaper in bulk!
Seems like i”m always replenishing my fresh produce supply! I recently replenished my Q-tips stock, lol.
I buy lots of things online, especially bulk items like gluten-free flours. I just bought 4 tubs of Spectrum vegetable shortening on Amazon for $21 bucks (free shipping with the Amazon membership thingie). I LOVE buying things in bulk! When things go on sale, we’re all over them like white on rice. We have no shame in buying 10 bundles of TP at once, LOL. :D
I just tried to use the code at iherb, but it wouldn’t give me free shipping…am I missing a detail?
Restocking feels so good — having a full fridge and pantry makes me feel more creative in the kitchen!
sorry about that…I guess they changed it to just $5 off rather than also including free shipping.
I edited the post.
Shipping is still only a flat fee of 4.99 though if you spend more than $40 (easy to do!)
Thanks Averie!
Replenishing…there are 5 of us in our family and I don’t think I have a specific time that I replenish things all at once. It’s more of a “Hey we’re out of this…and this…and this….” and I’ll head to the store and get it.
I usually shop on soap.com and diapers.com to get toiletries/soaps/detergents/etc. It’s easier for me to have them delivered than head to the store with all three kids in tow :)
Also, I purchase the same kind of Nooch that you use, although I get mine through Amazon. I’ve never tried iHerb…might have to put that on my “To Do” list :)
i used to use diapers.com for everything when skylar was a baby…even tho i cloth diapered mostly, they still are great on all kinds of other stuff!
Oh! I cloth diapered too – even knitted the diaper covers :)
How much do you pay for the liquid vanilla stevia at herb.com? I looked for it at my recent grocery store trip and it was $14.99 for the tiny bottle! Yikes! I really want to try it but that’s a bit steep when I don’t even know if I’ll like it. :-)
I think it’s about 9.99 on iherb.
You can look it up but it’s cheaper than 14.99 i know that for sure :)
and if you dont like….RETURN it! they are cool that way but you will love it, i promise :)
Dang you stocked up! Is that nooch better than red star? I am now hooked and am about to need more. I don’t really order much, but I feel like I need to really start looking around to order things at a better price. Nice produce ya got there…that is my kind of restocking! Oh and I so need sunshine. I really want a pretty weekend so badly. Have a great day Averie!
i have never tried Red Star, only the one I showed (Kal brand) and I love it!
i keep forgetting to get more nutritional yeast! hehe. Its always in a weird isle. I replenish veggies and fruit weekly. Its the best feeling. I try to get it at sprouts, organic and a better deal!
I love iHerb. They have such great prices. I think I learned about iHerb from your blog, so thank you! Love those big canisters of nooch.
I love your camera bag! I had a bag made by chicleather at Etsy last year and it’s my favorite bag ever.
I buy pretty much all of our perishables from the regular grocery store. I make runs to Ann Arbor (our closest TJs and Whole Foods) once a month for vegenaise and Daiya and other vegan specialty items the grocery stores in podunk Ohio have never heard of.
glad you like iherb too!
and your bag sounds awesome!
i order my calcium supplement online, otherwise, shop in-store.
love your philsophy on WF shopping: yup, don’t look around, in – out, do not stop! i do the same thing at the health food store, the bulk food store, or i end up walking out $50 lighter with stuff i don’t really *need!* at the moment!
yes if you stray and browse, big mistake$$$
haha!
You buy your nooch from iHerb? I’ll have to check that out. My last container cost me and arm and a leg at WF.
I use Vegenaise for my broccoli salad too. And tempeh fakin’ bacon. Mmm! :-)
yes buy it from iherb, about 40% cheaper!
nice gooods!! I love iherb and definately use it!! they have everything there its a one stop shop! it also helps that I dont have to go to a store because I will spend way more moneythan I should if I see the items in front of me LOL! :)
I usually buy supplements on line (vitamins, protein powder) only because I usually get some free shipping coupons or things like that so its much easier! i also order sneakers online for the same reason! its great :) and tey just show up at my doorstep!
I used to buy clothes on line much more but lately I have been having to go try on since my body is changing a bit i never know what size I am!
have a happy friday!
I’ve replenished my probiotics too :)