"Stocking Up Challenge" Shopping List #3!

This week, you will be getting more of some of the things you should have already, and then some!



The things you should get more of are:

beans,
rice,
flour(s),
oats,
and whatever grains you use!



Here is the rest of the list! =)



baking mixes (if you use them),
your favorite cooking oil, lard and or shortening,
sugars, (sweeteners, honey, molasses)
baking powder,
baking soda,
dry yeast,
salt,
pepper,
bay leaves,
coconut,
nuts,
raisins & other dried fruit),
pastas,
cakes mixes (if you use them),
powered milk,
dried cereal,
crackers,
apple cider vinegar,
lemon juice,
fruit juices,
gatorade and or sprite (if you use them when your family is sick!).

If you are a newbie or worrier stocking up, I would recommend at least two of each item listed.

If you are a brave stocker, get 4 or more!

Remember to look for bulk since these are usually cheaper for stocking up! =)

"Stocking Up Challenge" Shopping List 2!

Hey ladies!


Okay I gave ya'll two weeks instead of one for the first shopping list! =) So I am sure you have it all by now! ;)

So this week I have a big list for ya!

This list is just recommended items, as usual. You should get the ones that your family uses the most, but remember this is stocking up too! you want to get foods that will keep for a while and that your family can live off of! Don't get just treats, or things that will not fill your family's belly's!

Here is the 2nd shopping list challenge.
Buy it all canned, jarred or good plastic containers.
I recommend getting about 12 of each item that you need. If you are on a tight budget maybe 6 would be better to start out with.

Tomatoes,
Tomato sauce,
spaghetti sauce,
tomato juice,
salsa,
corn,
greenbeans,
carrots,
peas,
greens,
canned milk,
soups,
tuna,
salmon,
chicken,
jellies & spreads (if you use them & do not can your own)
canned fruit,
applesauce.

This may also be a good week for you to stock up on this list:

baking cocoa,
vanilla,
coffee,
tea,
hot chocolate,
lemonade mix,
peanut butter,
ketchup,
mustard,
mayo,
salad dressings,
seasoning sauces,
and any seasonings you use (or check the shopping list HERE!)!


Okay! Get to it!
You should be feeling pretty good about your stocking up, by the time you get this brought in!

Look forward to whatever you have to share in the comments!

"Stocking Up Challenge" Checking in!

Hey everyone!

How did your stocking up shopping go last week? I hope great!

Are you still saving up money for more stocking up?

I canned some sausage and chicken last week, since we found some meat on sale! It makes me feel so much better to see my jars getting filled with food to feed my family! =)

We finally made it to Wal-Mart the other day too! Yippee! I do not like spending money, so I dread the check-out and have to really keep to my list and what we need.
I wanted to stock up on coffee and found the Wal-mart brand coffee (Great Value) was only $6 for a big can! With the prices of coffee going up, I highly recommend everyone stocking up on some if you drink coffee!

Wal-Mart had all their cleaning stuff out, I guess for spring cleaning!
So I stocked up on some cleaning supplies too!
The bleach was on sell, and so was rubbing alcohol and peroxide.

We use a lot of paper towels, and I want to cut back on that, so I went over and found some wash cloths, hand towels, etc!

After I stomached the check out in Wal-Mart, I finally got to go get me some new jeans at Tractor Supply! Yippee! I think between them and my skirts, I am pretty well set on working in the garden this year! =) And plan to save back a pair or two for next winter.

You have to plan and think ahead!

I love shopping at Save-A-Lot! You can stock up on sooo much and come out around budget! They had the family pack ground beef for $1.99. Not the best deal, but I went ahead and got some. I hope to make some tacos sometime! YUM! And freeze the rest.

I hope this post will inspire you to get out and stock up if you haven't been already!

Remember to buy winter clothes for your family for next winter, when the winter clothes go on sell this spring!!!

"Food Storage - Maximizing Shelf Life" Guest Post By Laurie!

I am so excited to share my first guest post with you today!!! My good friend Laurie (who is one of the best on food storage, stocking up, preservaing food and growing stuff! =)) is sharing some wonderful and Very helpful advice for the Stocking Up Challenge! I hope you enjoy and visit her blog for more advice and encouragement, etc! =)
Thanks so much, Laurie!
~Hannah



"Food Storage - Maximizing Shelf Life

When I think of “food storage”, I think of stocking up on food items that I know my family will use. This includes seasonal storage of garden produce, bulk purchases of basic items (grains, beans, fats, etc.) and buying “extra” when things are on sale.

“Emergency preparedness storage (EPS)” is a little different. While I may purchase some of the same items for both, EPS also needs to take into account the emergency conditions you may be in when the food is needed, such as power outages, freezing, flooding, etc. EPS also extends beyond food, to survival type gear. Hannah has inspired me, and I’ll be doing a series of posts on EPS over the next several months.

One of the biggest hurdles we can face with food storage is how to store things properly to maximize shelf life. Let’s discuss the storage environment.

Avoid Heat – Heat is one of the worst enemies or stored food. Avoid locating your long term food storage near heat producing appliances (like a furnace, stove or powered clothes dryer) or in direct sunlight. If you must store food in a warm area, put the food there that you rotate through the most quickly.

Avoid Moisture – Unless you’re talking about a root cellar , which needs some moisture to keep veggies non-wrinkled, moisture is generally a storage enemy. It rusts cans, and promotes the growth of molds, bacteria and insects. I repackage items in mason jars (such as bagged dried beans) and suck the air out with my vacuum sealer. I have also repackaged bulk items such as dried coconut and oatmeal (purchased through my natural foods buying club in 25 pound heavy paper bags) into roughly five pound vacuum sealed bags. (This also covers the next item on our list.) I use large vacuum seal bags to slip over ten pound bags of sugar. Keeping the sugar in its original bag (inside the vacuum seal bag) keeps the sugar from being sucked into the vacuum sealer and damaging the unit. Dry goods can also be stored in well sealed glass, food grade plastic or metal. Don’t just leave dry goods in the sacks they came in, unless you want to be feeding critters other than your family.

Avoid Oxygen – While essential for our lives, oxygen also feeds the critters, microscopic and otherwise, that will damage our food storage. Use a vacuum sealer if you have one, don’t break factory seals until necessary, and use airtight containers. Non-saturated fats (such as liquid oils, and the fats in nuts and grains like brown rice) can go rancid very quickly when exposed to air. I prefer saturated fats for home use and for long term storage. Their carbon atoms are already “saturated” with hydrogen atoms, so they are more stable.

Avoid Light – Light inhibits mold growth, but it also causes the breakdown of many nutrients. Just think about what happens to garden tools or children’s playsets left sitting out in the sun. You don’t want the nutrition bleached right out of your food. Keep your storage area dark (preferred), or use opaque containers.

Avoid Odors and Dust – If your food storage is in your garage, utility area, laundry room or other strongly scented/dirty area, watch out for odors and dust. Grains, flours and milk and other dry goods are particularly affected. You do not want to eat oatmeal that taste like soap or motor oil. Certain contaminants also present health risks (although hopefully you use primarily non-toxic substances in your home). These areas are probably best used for canned goods, or non-food items. If you must store in these areas, try to use multiple barriers between your food and its surroundings.

The author of “Dare to Prepare” gives a good overview of the shelf life of many basic food items (link HERE). Remember to plan for rotation and using the food you store. No one really wants to eat 20 year old home canned chicken - it might even be dangerous. Years ago I knew a couple that had their laundry room overflowing with canned goods, but it was so poorly organized that they wasted a LOT of money. Food went in and it never came back out. I know most of us can’t afford to do that.

How and where do you store your food? Do you have any tips you’d like to share?


Laurie is a homeschooling mom with a background in engineering and a passion for natural healing, homesteading and gardening.

She blogs at Common Sense Homesteading , and writes a weekly article for Living Well Moms ."

"The Ultimate DVD Read and Share Bible" Review

"The Ultimate DVD Read and Share Bible"

By Gwen Ellis
Published by Thomas Nelson

My Review:

With more then 100 Bible Stories, ranging from Joseph to Revelation, this is a wonderful book and dvd set for toddlers and readers alike!

The stories are slow enough for reading along and yet fast enough and short enough to keep them entertained!

I love this book/dvd set! I have been shopping around for a Bible show that my children will enjoy and I will be satisfied that it is telling them stories right from the Bible, without adding to much to the stories!

The animation is very bright and pretty realistic! This is an great set to help bring your child's favorite Bible stories to life! My children were so excited watching this and kept running to tell me about another story or Bible character/hero!

This is a great dvd set for quiet time too, since the background music is very clam and soothing!

The Bible book itself is another amazing work by Thomas Nelson! I love the hardcover, and beautiful pictures! At the end of every story is a short question or thought, which makes this a great devotion time book!

Homeschoolers and Sunday school teachers should love it! =)
I highly recommend this Bible storybook Dvd set to everyone and it would make a wonderful gift for the special child (children) in your life!!

Thomas Nelson Book Description:
"A Bible storybook with DVDs to help you share the joy and wonder of God’s Word with the children in your life.

These bite-sized vignettes in book and DVD presentations are perfect for the attention span of little ones, and give parents maximum flexibility to fit any time frame. This volume contains more than 100 beloved Bible stories, including time-honored favorites like Joseph, Moses, Balaam, The Promised Land, Solomon, Elisha, Daniel, Jonah, The Boy Jesus, Miracles of Jesus, Jesus’ Death and Resurrection, and many more."

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Stocking Up Challenge Step 3 The 1st Shopping Challenge!

I think I finally have the first shopping challenge for you!

No matter what you already have, I think these list will be very important to getting you stocked up!

I have three list. Pick the one that works better for you and your budget, copy it off and as soon as you have the money gathered up, get out and get it! Food prices are going up right now, so the sooner you get this stuff, the better!



If you have extra money, get extra stuff, or use it to get some other things you use a lot and need to stock up on!

You do not have to stick to these list to the T, but I highly recommend getting as much as you can of everything on these list!



I am going to post the second shopping challenge next Friday, or as soon as I can. You do not have to do them every week that I post, if you cannot afford it, but save the list to do as you can!

When you get done stocking up on these list, I would love to hear you comment on how it went! you do not have to post everything you got! As a matter of fact, it is best not to tell anyone else what you have stocked in your house! It is for you and your family.

1st List

3 kinds of flours, grains, dry cereals (i.e. flour, cornmeal, oats, rice),
1 kind of sweetener (sugar, honey, etc.)
2 kinds of beans,
2 kinds meats
4 different kinds of condiments/seasonings
24 cans of food
1 treat (cake mix, chocolate chips, pie filling, coconut, hot chocolate, etc)
1 large package toilet paper,
1 large package paper towels,
1+ feminine products (per female in family),
1 diapers (if you use them),
1 each bath and hair soaps,
1 dish soaps,
1 laundry soaps.

2nd List

4 kinds of flours, grains, dry cereals (i.e. flour, cornmeal, oats, rice),
2 kinds of sweetener (sugar, honey, etc.)
3 kinds of beans,
3 kinds meats
6 different kinds of condiments/seasonings,
48 cans of food
2 treats (cake mix, chocolate chips, pie filling, coconut, hot chocolate, etc)
2 large packages toilet paper,
2 large packages paper towels,
2 feminine products (per female in family),
2 diapers (if you use them),
1 each bath and hair soaps,
1 dish soaps,
1 laundry soaps.


3rd List

5 kinds of flours, grains, dry cereals (i.e. flour, cornmeal, oats, rice),
3 kinds of sweetener (sugar, honey, etc.)
3 or 4 kinds of beans,
4or 5 kinds meats
10+ different kinds of condiments/seasonings,
60+ cans of food
3+ treats (cake mix, chocolate chips, pie filling, coconut, hot chocolate, etc)
2+ large packages toilet paper,
2+ large packages paper towels,
3+ feminine products (per female in family),
3 diapers (if you use them),
2 each bath of hair soaps,
2 dish soaps,
2 laundry soaps.


Hope you enjoy your stocking up shopping!
I think you will find some joy and peace and satisfaction in stocking up for your family!

"Stocking Up Challenge" The Pantry List!!!!!!!

Okay ladies!

I hope you have your piggy banks filled and a lot of money saved over the past week+!
If you don't, keep saving! you will have it in no time!

Now it is time to get your list ready!

You can find some good shopping, goal, and inventory list HERE at Chart jungle, if you would like to copy some off, or start you a notebook.

Get an idea of what you want to start out with. I would recommend that if you are a Newbie or Worrier you start out with getting at least 25 lbs. of beans and 25 lbs. of rice on your first stocking up shopping trip. These are essentials to pantry stocking! =) Everyone can and will eat them, you can use them for TONS of dishes, and they are staples, so if that is all you have to eat, you will be okay and it will fill you up better then crackers and mac'n chesse!
If you want to/or have the money to get more, go over the list below and a list of what you use on a weekly and daily bases around your home.
If you are Brave on stocking up, make a list of as much as you can afford! =) You may want to get large amounts of a few items at a time, or you may want to get 4-6 items of everything you need! Remember you are stocking up. you want things that will keep for a long time, and you want enough to last you and your family a long time. So when making your list remember to get enough to hold your family size, or how many people you think you will be feeding in the future!!

Here is a kind-of "main pantry food list":

beans (pinto, kidney, white, black, and whatever your family prefers, but make sure you get pinto! You can make more foods with pintos!),
rice,
flour(s),
baking mixes (if you use them),
oats,
your favorite cooking oil, lard and or shortening,
sugars, (sweeteners, honey, molasses)
baking powder,
baking soda,
dry yeast,
salt,
pepper,
cumin,
chili powder,
red pepper,
cinnamon,
bay leaves,
baking cocoa,
vanilla,
coconut,
coffee,
tea,
hot chocolate,
lemonade mix,
peanut butter,
nuts,
raisins & other dried fruit),
pastas,
ketchup,
mustard,
mayo,
salad dressings,
seasoning sauces,
cakes mixes (if you use them),
powered milk,
dried cereal,
crackers,



Canned goods:

tomatoes,
tomato sauce,
spaghetti sauce,
tomato juice,
salsa,
corn,
greenbeans,
carrots,
peas,
greens,
canned milk,
soups,

tuna,

salmon,

chicken,

jellies & spreads (if you use them & do not can your own)

canned fruit,
applesauce


Household/Personal Products

toilet paper
paper towels,
feminine products,
razors & shaving cream,
bath soaps,
dish soap,
laundry soap,
diapers,
school supplies (if you have children, homeschool, or use a lot of paper & supplies)!

Other:
Apple cider vinegar,
lemon juice,
fruit juices,
gatorade and or sprite (if you use them when your family is sick!)

Health/Wellness:
(I think we all need to have a good supply of first aid handy at all times, and I believe in living/healing naturally, so I keep some herbs, vitamins, salves, tinctures, etc. on hand too! I Highly recommend this!). Here are some things you can start stocking up on, and as usual, make a list of what your family needs/uses/may use!

So.....get a first aid kit, or pack your own! And have extra
bandaids, gauze, pads, tape, peroxide, rubbing alcohol, etc. stocked up!

If you take vitamins, stock up on the ones you use.

Stock up on herbal teas.
I recommend having at least red raspberry, chamomile & peppermint!

A healing herbal cream, for bumps, nicks and bruises, is also good to stock up on, and echinacea tincture!


It is very handy to keep a list of what you have and how much, so when you start running low, you can start restocking it.
For those who are Newbies and Worriers, this is a great way to get a pantry over flowing over time, without stringing you out too thin!

Once you have your pantry stocked with essentials, you can slowly or quickly start adding extra things, and treats!

For example, if you have beans, rice, flour, cornmeal, oats, baking mixes, canned goods, in your pantry and some meat in the freezer (or canned), then you can add things like canned fruit, etc!


The important things to remember when you are stocking up...
1.
STICK TO YOUR LIST AND BUDGET!
If you do not stick to your list, you are sure to go over your budget, or get things that are not essential.
2.
Shop (or if you are Brave, Order!), from a store (company/coop) that is least expensive!
3.
Buy in bulk if you can. Things are usually cheaper in bulk.
4.
Remember to keep a look out for sells on the things you need to stock up on.

Okay! I think that should get you going! Now I am going to post on a few challenges for each "Stocking up" level, and you can get to it!
There is much more to come on how to store your stocked items, a freezer stocking challenge, canning challenge, etc!

By the way, I know I have not listed a lot of things so if you come up with a few that you would like to share, please mention them in a comment!
And as always, look forward to what you have to say and share!
God bless!
~Hannah