Have a great week!

Hi there! I'm on vacation this week, and I'm signing off from FitBit and blogging for the week. 

Enjoy creation, laugh a lot, and celebrate all that brings you bliss. 

This week's Frugal Find

Do you live near a Cub foods? We have one in Rochester, and today's Frugal Finds can be found at Cub! Get this: THEY GIVE AWAY TOTALLY FREE STUFF.

YES - THAT'S RIGHT. FREE. They have something called Friday Freebie. Sometimes there are TWO Friday Freebies. And sometimes Cub has other random coupons in there app for free stuff, too. 

Like this...

I would generally never spend $2 on an individual yogurt. 

But a free fancy organic, whole milk yogurt?

Oh yes, yes, yes. Sign me up!

This yogurt was legitimately one of the best yogurts I've ever tasted. Very much like Noosa. Creamy, decadent, fruity. Yogurt perfection. And the fact that it was free was extra delicious. 

To get the free Cub goodness, you've got to get the Cub app and load the coupons onto the app. Another cool thing about Cub: you can stack coupons. App coupons + paper manufacturer's coupons + store sales = great deals. They also have gas discounts connected with Holiday stations.

There are a number of places in the Rochester area that allow for the stacking of coupons. This includes Walgreens, HyVee (they're rocking it with their Fuel Saver program; people LOVE it!), and Family Dollar. Do you know of others? 

Her'e's what I'm learning...the best deals come through a combination of smart use of cell phone apps, paper coupons, sale prices, Ibotta, and common sense. 

Because it's ONLY A GOOD DEAL IF YOU ACTUALLY NEED IT. 

Otherwise, it's wasted money. 

But - if you combine coupon stacking with the Ibotta app when applicable, you're talking MAJOR savings. Have you already signed up for Ibotta? If not - please use my sign-up code when you create your account. My code is chslbos. You get a $10 bonus after you get your first rebate, and I get a lil' kickback, too. If you're interested, go for it! It's easy and kind of fun. 

 I hope you're happy week full of smart spending and spectacular saving! 

Music Monday on Tuesday: LOCAL NATIVES

Local Natives is one of my favorite bands of all time. 

And they recently released their new album called Sunlit Youth. 

Here's what I'm loving....

Coins

Psycho Lovers

Everything All at Once

Sea of Years

Ellie Alice

*And...Brit-Brit...which reminds me of this great episode of Mystery Show

Weekend recap

Sunday night?! Already! WHOA! Whirlwind!

Thursday night after work was #styleontheplaza. But it rained. Boo. So it was moved indoors in a very modified form. It was fun to get dolled up with hair and make-up; the rain was unfortunate.

Friday: DAY OFF! It was glorious. Justin was in town, and we had a blast.

Saturday: Farmer's market morning. Then preached/pulpit supply in Pine Island at 5:30pm!  Gospel text was John 16:1-13. Then quickly scooted back to Rochester for a 7:30pm event at the Unitarian Universalist church about the Nonviolent Peaceforce.

Sunday: Preached and then installed Rev. Grace at Fountain Lutheran Church and then over at Root Prairie. Such a joyful, celebratory day! Gospel text was John 21:15-19.

This afternoon Mom and I went on a nice long walk. The weather was nice and warm. And then I spent about 2.5 hours cooking and freezing the massive amount of CSA produce that had collected over the last couple weeks. ONE CSA week to go! My favorite tonight was a simple recipe for Ethiopian cabbage! Cabbage, tumeric, cumin, and salt. Turned out great!

It's about 9pm now; the rest of the evening will be spent column writing and then scooting to bed. I think I will sleep quite well! I hope you had a great weekend, too!

Frugal Finds

I'm loving the frugal living. Loving it. Primarily because it's helping me reach my financial goals. It feels good. So...it's that time! Let me tell you about this week's frugal finds! 

I'm learning so much through couponing and frugal living. One of my biggest lessons has been that a person doesn't really ever need to pay full price for anything! There's almost always a way to get a reduced price through the use of an app or coupon or thoughtful shopping. 

Over the past 6 weeks, I've cut my expenses by about 80%. I did that through spending very little money on non-essentials. Beyond bills, rent, and my student loan payment, I'm doing my best to keep the expenses at a minimum (while still enjoying life!). That being said, I do still need to buy some non-food items now and then. I'm learning to make lists and really think through all purchases IN ADVANCE. That's helping me discern needs vs. wants. 

This week's deals....

*Toilet paper....obviously, a need. :) I checked out price points in the local area, and found the best deal to be at Fleet Farm! Several dollars cheaper than anywhere else for the amount in the package.

I was able to add in this $1/1 ($1 off of 1 package), and that made the total cost $7.98 for a 20 roll package. If you have a Fleet Farm handy, I'd say go for it. I was in and out of the store in 3 minutes. 

Next up, baked beans which has become a regular food item in my weekly line-up. I love to make a giant batch of rice at the beginning of the week and then eat it alongside a bean dish and a veggie all week. I found these Asian BBQ beans at Target for $1. The Sriracha and Grillin Beans were both on sale using a $1 off coupon from the weekend paper. 

So 4 cans of yummy beans for $4! I think I'll eventually get planful enough to cook dried beans. But in the meantime, these are a good value and decent nutritional content, too...especially when paired with fresh veggies and brown rice. 

I needed some new hair conditioner, and it was Walgreens to the rescue! They're running at 2 for $5 sale right now. That's cool and all, but following these tips from Hip2Save, I got them basically for free. 

I was also at the bottom of the bottle on mouthwash, which was on sale for $3.50! I had a $2/1 coupon from either the newspaper or coupons.com, so I only paid $1.50. Yahoo. But, if you follow Krazy Coupon Lady's instructions, you can get it for free. 

I am gluten-free so pasta is not my jam. But I do love to use pasta sauce on veggies and with rice! These lil' puppies were a great deal! They're on sale at Walgreens. 2 for $3. Add in two coupons from the weekend newspaper (my mom let me snag her coupons, too!). And then final cost was about 50 cents each! Use your Walgreens register rewards, and they'll be free! You can catch a very similar deal at Target using the same coupon from the weekend paper. 

I like yogurt! It's a daily staple. And I'm usually up for trying something new. These were a little bit of a splurge for me because I can find really good deals on yogurt. But, this was definitely a decent value. These Yoplait GoBig pouches are a new product, and new products regularly appear on Ibotta. This was part of a a 75 cent rebate on Ibotta which I'm not sure is still available. And I had a $1/1 coupon from coupons.com. That made it about $2.50 for 8 large pouches. Decent! And they are quite delicious.   

Snack food of the week: these gluten-free Van's crackers! They're on sale for $2 at Target; if you Cartwheel, you'll get another 50 cents off. and I signed-up for the Van's mailing list and got a $1.25 coupon. So that made this box of crackers 22 cents! Snackin' time!

Have you found any great deals this week on regular-use items? 

This week's column

Tomorrow night is the fashion show in downtown Rochester. Whoo-hoo! Looking forward to a fun night. 

Then a little Friday downtime before another big weekend. Pulpit supply preaching Saturday evening in Pine Island. And then scooting over to two congregations, Fountain and Root Prairie, on Sunday morning. Pastor Grace is being installed; looking forward to preaching and being present for the installation. 

Just one little catch. The Saturday night congregation and the Sunday morning congregations don't have the same readings! So that will mean one sermon for Saturday and another for Sunday. Oh well! More time to dig into the Gospels, right? 

Here's a link to the most recent Post-Bulletin column: You rest, you best. 

Hope your mid-week is going wonderfully!

Quoted

Music Monday

Tunes for the week...

Pop music edition!

Cold Water by Major Lazer and Biebz

Into You by Ariana Grande

Closer by The Chainsmokers *** CURRENT FAV

Never be Like You by Flume feat. Kia

Hymn for the Weekend by Coldplay (live)

Weekend Wrap-up

It has been a busy-wizzy weekend in Emily world. And some nature time this afternoon! 

I led a women's retreat about friendship over at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin, MN on Saturday. Then headed to Our Savior's in Spring Valley on Saturday evening and Sunday to provide some pulpit supply for their pastor who is out of town. Love this week's Gospel text.  It was a joy to get the opportunity to explore the reading in community with others. 

It was a great weekend and went by in a flash. 

Heading off now to do some column writing and meal planning for a big week (it's the week of the fashion show so that means a fitting, a rehearsal, and then the big show on Thursday night)! 

Work has been really fulfilling and productive lately. I'm finding immense joy in it; very grateful for this season of my life. 

Hope you've had a good weekend, too!

September is ITP Awareness Month

September is ITP awareness month! So give your platelets some extra love! My ITP journey started in July of 2010. 6 years ago! Wowzers. What a journey it has been. I'm grateful for lessons learned and a sustainable treatment plan.

To all who have journeyed with ITP and all the family/friends who have supported them: Keep learning! Keep growing! Keep advocating for your wellness and healing. And know that you're never alone! 

Frugal Finds

I'm learning that there are many ways to save money on food and groceries. Couponing and Ibotta and the various apps associated with each store...plus all kinds of tips and tricks available online through blogs and websites.

That being said...saving money can also be a rabbit hole...and a huge time-suck - so I'm trying to balance learning this new language of frugality with continuing to use time in other life-giving ways. I don't want to spend the majority of my time figuring out how to save money on food. But I do want to take advantage of good deals whenever I need to spend money! 

In case you're interested in good deals, too - I have two for you this week. 

Both of this week's frugal finds are at Target! 

First up....

Chobani Mezi Dip. Ticketed price: $3.59 for a 10 oz container (available in the deli section). 

By utilizing the Cartwheel app, I earned 50% off - bringing it down to $1.79. And then using the Ibotta app, I earned $1.50 cash back (which I get put into my bank account using Paypal...but can also be redeemed for gift cards). 

That brings the total cost down to about $0.29. 

29 cents. For a whole container of delicious, nutritious dip!

WHAT?! Yes! Really! I tried the roasted red pepper flavor. It's a yogurt-based dip and terrific with corn chips and cucumbers (which I have in abundance from my Featherstone Farm CSA). The Cartwheel deal expires on September 10, and I'm not sure when the Ibotta cashback expires. If you like dip, I'd definitely encourage you to try it out. And at less than 30 cents, you can't really go wrong. I may go back before the 10th and snap up couple of the other flavors! 

And deal #2: Pumpkin Spice Cheerios (for a giggle, click here to listen to a rant from John Oliver). 

Okay, okay...I get it...pumpkin spice cheerios...sounds a little weird. But guess what? They're good! The sale price at Target is currently $2.50 a box (I snagged the last two boxes on the shelf earlier this week at Target South in Rochester, but I bet they've restocked by now). Using the Cartwheel app saves another 25% bringing the cost down to $1.87 per box. And using a manufacturer's coupon from coupon.com, I saved another $1. Bringing the total down to $1.37 per box! That's a lot of cheerios for just over a buck! 

I've been looking for a good snack alternative to my obsession with protein bars. I like protein bars, but they're pricey and so darn dense. Cheerio bars are just what the budget ordered! I adapted a few recipes and made it in a wok on the stove. 

*Melt 1/2 cup natural peanut butter, 4 tablespoons butter, and a bag of mini marshmallows (I'd been trying to find a way to use those up for ages!)

*After you've got a good goo going, add in 5 cups of cheerios - flavor of choice. Mix it all up. 

*Pack the mixture down into a pan and chill. 

(And then quickly wash everything because that melted goo hardens QUICK)

There are many possible variations of this recipe, but this one turned out great! 

(Though I think I'd add more peanut butter next time). 

Have you snagged any great deals this week? 

Fantastic Sams

These days, I'm all about saving money. Coupons: big fan. Ibotta: yes, please (sign-up here - you earn $10 right off the bat). Selling items on Craigslist: I'm 100% 'bout it, 'bout it. 

Hair, though...I've been hesitant about saving money on my hair. I have color-treated hair and it's fine and breakable. I'm protective of it because I've fried it a time or two along the way. 

But, when Cub Foods had a $13 haircut coupon to Fantastic Sams on the back of the grocery receipt, I thought I'd give it a try. It had been about 3 months and I was due for a basic trim.

And guess what? IT WAS LITERALLY THE BEST HAIRCUT EXPERIENCE I'VE HAD IN AGES!

Candy, my stylist, was so good! Experienced, personable, and efficient. 

Most of all, she expressed a clear understanding of fine hair! I really enjoyed my haircut, and saving a few bucks was a bonus. I'm not sure yet if I'll go back when it's time to address my highlighting outgrowth, but I might. 

Getting a haircut at Fantastic Sams with a coupon was a great learning experience for me. Great haircuts can happen at multiple price points. I like Rochester's fancier salons, too. But my experience at Fantastic Sams was top-notch. 

Where's your favorite place to go for a haircut? How about a highlight or color? 

Fascinating Facts

Found this fascinating fact in a recent issue of Science magazine!

26%: Percent fewer violent infractions committed by inmates at a prison who watched nature videos several times a week over a year, relative to inmates who didn't watch the videos

-Click here for the full study

Music Monday

*First off: Hope you had a life-giving Labor Day. 

*Next: I've learned that people who subscribe to the blog (thanks subscribers!) get updates about new content at totally disparate times from when I actually write and post the content. Sorry about that. I'm not really sure why/how. But in case you tend to get a note in your inbox saying I've "updated" this blog and it's at a weird hour - just know that those emails must be automated to go out at unique times. 

Now: a couple tunes for your week....

The Emotion by Borns

Landslide by Robyn Sherwell (cover) 

Rainbow by Louis Baker

Newspaper

As I got into my car to drive to Rochester from Albert Lea yesterday, I paused to check my email. And I got this great news...

A contest win is always fun! A contest win when you're Queen Frugality....SUPER FUN!

Are you a Post-Bulletin subscriber?

If so - you should make sure you're signed up for the Inner Circle!

Once you're signed up, you can login for contests and monthly deals. 

And guess what? It's the real deal!

I actually won one of the contests (there are several every month). 

It would only take about 2 minutes to enter every monthly contest, so go for it! Inner Circle is a cool perk of being a subscriber. 

Over the past month as I've been cutting expenditures right and left, I really debated on the newspaper. I've decided to keep my subscription, and I'm enjoying it more than ever! There are so many great columns. And the overall content is good, too. I also really like the photography. The Post-Bulletin is a really solid paper with a very good staff. I bet your local paper is the same (if you live outside the Rochester area) 

And the comics alone are worth the monthly cost of $14.50! I clip out at least one every night to send or save. They're funny! I've been a subscriber for the last 5 years, but it wasn't until the past month that I really got into a consistent nightly routine with it. I now look forward to it every day! 

Connections

This was a very good day! I headed over to Albert Lea this morning for a conference meeting. In the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, there are 5 different conferences, and the church leaders of each conference meet once a month. As a team member of the Office of the Bishop, I got to head out to the Blue Earth River Conference meeting. 

I really enjoyed those folks! Wow. Truly! I've had a few experiences over the past week that really re-energized and re-focused my spirit for ministry and life in general. I'm grateful for whatever days I get on this earth, and I want to spend a lot less time being worried/angry/fixated. This week has revealed new insights on those themes. Last night I couldn't sleep...thinking about Sarah's untimely death. I looked back over emails I sent and received from Sarah over the last 6 years. 

Sarah was a wonderful colleague in ministry, and I always enjoyed seeing her at events. But we hadn't spent much one-on-one time together. As I read over the emails, many are related to technical details and updates of information I needed for work. 

One email from May stood out to me. She had sent some thoughts and suggestions for future synod assemblies, and I had responded that I'd love to collaborate with her. 

She wrote: "I would love to connect any time Emily."

The summer zipped by and I hadn't yet reached out with suggestions for times to connect. 

And then Sarah died. Suddenly. Last week. 

I keep looking at that email she sent in May.

Today as I drove the hour to that conference gathering - mostly with leaders I didn't yet know well, I thought about Sarah's email from last May. I thought about connections...and how eager Sarah always was to make them with others. I thought about how sometimes I am hesitant with clergy and church leaders I don't know very well...afraid they don't like me...afraid they won't like me...afraid they'll think I'm a fraud who doesn't belong. 

I try to project warmth and smiles...but I'm not always quick to dive into discussion and connection with other pastors. I guess sometimes pastors intimidate me. 

Today was different. I felt a different sort of motivation...a different sort of conviction. 

"These are awesome people," I thought to myself. "And I'm going to make the most of this opportunity to know them and let them know me. Who knows when/if I'll get a chance like this again."

Such is the nature of each and every day, I suppose.  

Oh Sarah...thanks for being such a connector. For inspiring us all to be connectors. For caring about people and the church in a way that was and remains contagious. 

******

After coffee and a lovely worship service, I had the opportunity to lead the morning's "program" on the topic of "Communication 101." I gained a bunch of new insights from those folks. It was such fun to learn with them. Communication is central to every moment of every day of our lives. It's neat to have chances to discuss that idea with others. 

So that's the scoop from today. A really good day.

Hope you had a good one, too.