I’ve heard nothing but good things about Aldi, but it is rarely a place I shop for groceries. That being said, there was a stretch of time these past few months where I was near Aldi, so I stopped by once a week or so.
Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite finds.
Pretzel tray, Oreo muffins, crackers, and cranberry cinnamon goat cheese!
The preztel tray I bought on a whim when my mom and Gma were visiting. It was a Sunday afternoon, and I thought it would be good to have a snack on hand. This tray comes with two bags of pretzels and two dipping sauces. This was definitely a great buy! We all enjoyed them. That being said, baking them in the oven is the way to go. Hadley microwaved a couple, and they were as hard as a rock.
I bought the Oreo muffins as a dessert, and the kids loved them. What’s not to love?!
I’ve purchased the goat cheese a couple of times, and it’s a great snack or appetizer with the crackers.
Up next: some snacks
I’ve purchased the pretzel and cream cheese packs from Kroger before, so I knew I’d like these.
These “Sweet Snack Selects” are actually why I was making time to stop by Aldi once a week. Now, I buy quite a few of the 3 packs at a time. They are the perfect (healthy-ish) sweet treat. They have white cheddar cheese, milk chocolate chunks, dried cranberries, and graham crackers bites. 10/10 recommend!
I LOVE the caramel rice cakes. Actually, last time I went in there, they didn’t have any, and I was so bummed!
The prosciutto, provolone, and breadstick pack is an easy and delicious snack.
All of these are convenient for me to pack at for school or just enjoy at home.
…and…a couple of lunch items…
The “Everything” Bagel Skinnys are perfect for making sandwiches.
The Panera soup is a great option for a school lunch for me.
Do you shop at Aldi? Amy is who got me to go back there…she shared about the pumpkin K cup coffee they had, so I went there for that, and have continued to find things that I love.
I know y’all are used to my Trader Joe’s hauls, but today I’m sharing something different…my recent trip to Aldi.
We have an Aldi in Lexington, but I rarely shop there. Honestly, when I do, I always wonder why I don’t go back often. I guess I’m just used to my routine of Kroger and Trader Joe’s but Aldi has lots to offer.
Some Facts about Aldi:
Aldi is known having a basic layout and “no frills.”
Bring a quarter because that’s how you get your cart. When you return your cart, you get your quarter back.
Bring your own bags because there are no Aldi bags at checkout. There are often a few boxes that you can use to bag your purchased items.
Speaking of bags, you do the bagging yourself!
Some Aldi purchases:
Well, this past trip all started with a ham. My Gma was visiting, and suggested picking one up to have an early Easter/Palm Sunday supper. She shops at Aldi, and says they have the best ham for the price, so that’s where we headed to get our supper planning started.
I think she found the biggest ham in the bunch.
Since I hadn’t been to Kroger yet, I decided to pick up some things I knew we’d eat for the week.
Oven roasted deli meat
Grilled chicken breast strips
I would have picked up the deli meet and chicken strips at Kroger anyway, so I thought I’d give these a try.
Bagel Skinnys – I had one of these with turkey and cheese that I picked up at Aldi. Very good!
Mini Bagels – I picked these up for Hadley. I got up something similar at Target a few weeks ago, and she loved them.
Crackers – We got these to go with a goat cheese log for an appetizer.
Mini quiche- We put these in the air fryer to have as another app, and they were so good!
Mini bear grahams: I thought the kids would enjoy these for a school snack.
Honey Crisp apples: I started buying a similar pack at Trader Joe’s because I like how small the apples are. The ones at Kroger are always too big for one person.
Chex Mix: A fave for all.
Bob Evans mashed potatoes: Of course, these are at Kroger too, but I snagged them for a side dish to serve with the ham.
Aldi has a huge cheese and meat selection as well as charcuterie options. Some pre-packaged ones included meat, cheese, olives, nuts, dried berries and more!
Gouda – to go on the crackers or sandwiches
Goat Cheese (Cranberry Cinnamon) – This goat cheese (served with crackers) was SO good. I would go to Aldi just to pick it up!
Caramels – My Gma said how great these chocolate covered caramels are, and they didn’t disappoint.
I didn’t do a ton of price comparison, but I do feel like most everything was a bit cheaper.
The thing about Aldi is I don’t feel like I can go in with a specific list. Of course, I know they will have cheese, crackers, meats, etc., but, for example, if I want Sparkling Ice drinks, those are at Kroger. Kroger really is one stop shopping whereas Trader Joe’s and Aldi have specific finds that make them unique.
That being said, one of the things I like about Trader Joe’s is just going in there to pick up whatever looks good or something knew I’d like to try. I can do that at Aldi too.
Do you have an Aldi near you? Do you shop there? I hope to stop in there more often now that I have a few faves from there!
This month’s topic is let’s look…what’s in our grocery cart.
Well, it’s pretty rare for me to do major grocery shopping in the store, so my “cart” is typically online via the Kroger app.
Before making my grocery list, I meal plan and write down any ingredients we need for dinners for the week. Then, I check out our pantry/cabinets and fridge to see what staples we need. Then, I head to our basement fridge to see what drinks and frozen items might need replenished. While in the basement, I also check on laundry detergent and paper supplies like paper towels and toilet paper.
Then, I place our weekly grocery pick up using the Kroger app.
Our list of regular items is pretty long but a few are:
Milk
Salad, green beans
Cottage cheese
Coffee or K-cups
Bread
Ground beef
Chicken
Eggs
Ice cream
Peanut butter and / or Nutella
Lunchmeat / cheese
Cheezits, Goldfish, chips
I also do a small round up at Trader Joe’s most weeks to pick up produce and a few things.
This was my cart on Monday after school:
Examples of things I buy weekly:
Fruit – always strawberries and apples…and then either grapes or cantaloupe
Egg bites for my lunches on Mondays and Tuesdays
Cheddar chicken sausage for lunch too
(There are usually a few other things I pick up too if needed, including fresh flowers in the spring and summer months)
Then, probably once or twice a month I have a bigger haul, and I get other odds and ends like frozen Jasmine rice, chips the kids want, mac and cheese, etc.
I’ve been frequenting Aldi somewhat regularly over the past few months. When I go to Aldi, the three things I’m looking for are:
Sweet Snack Select
Chicken Patties
Caramel Rice cakes
I only go to Aldi once a month or so, and just pick up these “staples” and other odds and ends I might want to try.
The price of groceries always blows my mind. I know I’m feeding two teens, and they are always hungry, but it sure adds up. When my dad visits, he opens the cabinets and says, “Is there a chip you DON’T buy?” haha
Again, teens.
I truly don’t know how large families…or moms of all boys do it!
I try to be conscious of price, and plan our meals, but we still end up throwing food away every week which is never my intention when buying groceries.
We probably spend $150/week at Kroger and then $25-$50 more at Trader Joe’s every week. We don’t shop at Sam’s or Costco…It’s just not convenient for us.
So, that’s a look at what’s in my grocery cart(s)!
Well, I felt like I was a little late getting my porch together, but really, it was probably only about a week later than I have done it in previous years.
Every year, the porch looks similar but different. We always buy a couple of cornstalks, a few mums, and lots of pumpkins!
Here’s a peek at the porch:
I’ve had this cute garden flag for years. I love the mix of orange with black and white.
I went to my favorite spot to pick up a variety of pumpkins, but the goose neck gourds came from Trader Joe’s.
The “mum man” comes to my husband’s work, and he always has the best price on mums.
I’ve had these pillow covers for a couple of years, and the jack-o-lantern is from a friend.
On a whim, I recently bought a new black and white plaid rug at Aldi’s, and then I’ve had the door mat and door hanger for years.
I always love pulling up in front of my house this time of the year. ‘Tis the season!
Shew! This week was a busy one. I know we stay pretty busy, but this week just had extra things for me like meetings, trainings, and open house. Plus, Travis was still pretty busy with work.
I’m definitely ready for the weekend. TGIF!
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Like the past two weeks, I’m continuing with Erika and Shay’s Photo Challenge and sharing my week that way.
Here are some favorites from the week:
September 15: OOTD
Last Friday, I was having a moment for green, I guess. I wore this sweatshirt to school and then changed into even comfier clothes, including this SSYS shirt and leggings, for Hayden’s cross country meet. I had very casual OOTD.
September 16: Apples
I’ve been burning one of my Honeycrisp Apple candles from Trader Joe’s pretty much non-stop since I got them.
September 17: Friends
Hadley and friends had fun at the UK game on Saturday. (Hayden and friends did too, but I never saw them. haha) Homer, our best friend, looked so cute snuggling on the couch.
September 18: Made me smile
Amy shared about these pumpkin K-cups at Aldi, so I was happy when I found them on Monday. They are delish.
September 19: Cozy
Fall mornings are cozy with candles, pumpkins, a blanket and coffee.
September 20: The letter L
L is for lights and leaves. My house is feeling festive.
September 21: Traditions
Going to the pumpkin patch and carving pumpkins are two of my favorite traditions.
Other faves:
A few other favorites…
Hayden had a couple of cross country meets this week. He had a top 5 finish and 4k PR at a really competitive race in Louisville on Friday…
…followed by a first place finish at a local race on Tuesday.
Hadley was excited to see her cousin at Friday’s race. Then, Hayden spent the night, so he got family time too.
Some new candles arrived on my doorstep yesterday. I’ve never ordered from Life in Lilac, but I love following Jen Reed, and I knew her candles would be amazing. I ordered Fall Fever, and I can’t wait to burn it.
I took advantage of some Bath and Body Works points, and ordered: White Pumpkin, Pumpkin Cinnamon Bun, and Vanilla Pumpkin Marshmallow.
I *think* I’m set for the fall season!
Favorite Mom Meme:
Ugh…Hayden’s shoes stay scattered around the house! Honestly, Travis is a close second with this bad habit. haha
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:
Look at this toothless smile! Kindergarten Hadley is too cute.
Weekly Recap:
I had a variety of posts this week…meals, fall decor, and all about fall!
It might be that our evenings are busy with cross country and volleyball, but I felt like we all had to manage every minute of our evenings this week. The kids have really seemed to have a lot of homework, so they were up late a couple of nights.
Anyway, we’ve made it to the weekend!
As always, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are my favorites from the week:
On Saturday night, Hayden ran in distance festival at Bellarmine. Thomson Training, my nephew’s running club, hosts this event in honor of Trav’s dad. Some of the best runners in the state were there. Hayden ran a great race around the track with a sub 5 mile.
It’s been amazing to see how this event has grown in the past three years, and it’s inspiring to see all the runners there in honor of Trav’s dad who was a huge supporter of cross country.
On Sunday, we went to the UK volleyball game. Some of Hadley’s friends went too, and my brother, his family, and my mom were there as well.
Kentucky won, and it was a fun afternoon at Rupp!
Since my mom was visiting, she brought the kids their birthday gifts a few days early.
The main reason my mom came to visit was to go to the Eagles concert. They are on their “Long Goodbye” tour. She really wanted to go, so my brother and I went with her. It was a late night on Tuesday, but we really enjoyed the concert. The Doobie Brothers opened for them, and I knew most of their songs too!
Hadley had quite a lot of fans at her volleyball game on Wednesday. Besides my mom and brother, my niece and nephew came too.
Remember my trip to Walmart on election day? I picked up these two trees, and I finally put them up over the weekend. They are perfect!
I can’t wait to get my other Christmas decorations out…maybe this weekend?
I’ve shared these in previous years, but these wireless outlets (with remote!) continue to save the day, especially during the holidays. I used one for the tree in my room, one for the tree in Hadley’s room, and then one for these trees. It’s difficult to get behind the mirror, so I plugged the trees into a power strip, and then plugged the power strip into the wall.
Every night, I use the remote to turn off all the trees. (Hadley sometimes turns her tree off by clicking the button on the outlet before I go to bed.) So, you don’t have to use the remote.
Anyway, I just thought I’d share in case they might come in handy for you.
Our weekend includes a volleyball tournament, a cross country race, some basketball games, and we’re squeezing in some time to let the kids have fun with their friends to celebrate their birthday.
Hello and Happy Friday! How was your week? Per usual, we had a good one, but I will say I felt like we (ME!) had to manage our time wisely and plan for every second. Besides baseball or track in the evenings most nights, both kids had tests to study for, I had some errands to run, and more.
As always, I linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are some favorites from the week:
I’m rewinding all the way back to the weekend.
I’ve been loving the Beachbody workouts, and I’m so glad that I purchased this subscription last summer. With so much going on, I’m still not perfect about getting workouts in, but it’s so nice to just head to the basement when I have thirty minutes to spare.
I completed the Morning Meltdown 100 program on Saturday. I very rarely did these workouts in the morning, but I really enjoyed them. Like most programs, Jericho (the head instructor) provides a mix of cardio, weights, yoga, and more.
This is the second program I’ve completed (also, Muscle Burns Fat) where it is the instructor’s first program with Beachbody. I know it may seem silly, but the last workout is always so special; they often tear up with gratitude for those who’ve joined them on their journey. I sure did get used to Jericho and her cast and I enjoyed this program.
With my mom and Gma visiting, we we out to a late lunch with my brother’s family on Saturday. I got the New Mexican Breakfast, and it was delish.
Saturday night, Travis and I went to see Black Jacket Symphony with some friends. They covered songs by Police, and it was a good time.
Hadley after church with the cherry blossoms in bloom are a favorite, for sure.
The kids loved all the Easter goodies they got from my mom and Gma. The kids thought it was fun that the baskets (that my mom made!) included edible grass.
On Monday, I tagged along with the Criminal Justice class to EKU. We toured the College of Justice, Safety, and Military Science, and it was so interesting. We ate in the food court on campus which of course high school kids thought was so cool. Chick-fil-A and Moe’s in the middle of the day was so fun for them. I love a college campus.
Hayden had two baseball games this week, and thankfully they were the earlier games.
Lucky #7
He touched an awesome game last night which was fun.
The kids had a track meet on Wednesday. Hayden ran his first ever 3200 and then turned around and ran the 800. Hadley ran the first leg of the 4×200, and did great. It’s always so fun seeing friends from other school as well.
Favorite Kid Quote:
Due to the storms we had on Wednesday, the kids’ school didn’t have power all day yesterday. When we asked how school was, Hadley said, “It was fine. We just did paper/pencil work. Back to 2019, baby!” 🤣
Favorite Mom Meme:
This! haha Why is it so hard to open a box correctly?!
Friday Fun:
Well, I guess “fun” is all relative, but have you heard of the website http://www.typingtest.com? Someone mentioned it recently, and I checked it out.
In high school, two of my favorite classes were Keyboarding 1 and Keyboarding 2. I can’t believe those were classes, but I loved typing.
Actually, when I was in middle school, I asked for a typewriter…and it was the kind that could go back and white out errors. I swear I had friends. Why do you ask? 😆
There are one minute timed tests. I don’t want to brag, but my highest WPM score was 80 WPM on the medium test. If you try it, let me know your score!
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday
In honor of their first track season that is currently underway, here is a pic from October 2015 which is when they ran their first ever mile for a districtwide PTA run.
They crossed the finish line together.
{Real talk: I remember at the start of the race legitimately being worried that my two kindergarteners were going to get lost during this race! I mean we just let them go! I was like, “STAY TOGETHER!” and was worried until they crossed the finish line…
…which they did…together!
This pic of them made the local Lexington magazine which is too precious!
Weekly Recap:
This week we had our Not Just a Mom link up, I shared all about my trip to Aldi, Let’sLook at date night, and then my easy Easter table for our dinner last weekend.
Y’all, the Aldi post was so popular on my Facebook feed. I honestly neglect that space and mostly just have it set up to share my blog posts. Anyway, that post had probably triple the number views and tons of comments that day. Who knew Aldi was so popular?!
What are your weekend plans? I’m honestly not sure what we are up to tonight and tomorrow, but we’ll celebrate Easter with family on Sunday.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and thanks so much for reading.
How was your week? We had amazing weather, but I feel like the temps heated up quickly! It was nice to be outside a bit more, go for walks, and enjoy some time on my front porch.
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are some favorites from the week:
Well, I know I share about track every week, but this really is a fun season (of track…and of life), and I can’t say enough how much I love that track is the one thing they both still do.
Friday night, I got this sweet pic of Hadley cheering Hayden on as he ran the 3200, finishing with a state qualifying time.
Don’t get me wrong…there are many times they don’t get along, but I do think they encourage each other more often than not.
Hadley has had her eye on the prize trying to run a state qualifying time in the 200m, and she’s accomplished that the past couple of meets.
Friday night was a late one, but my mom got this pic of the kids after the meet, and I think it’s a good one!
The last cotillion dance was a fun one! Hadley’s dress was my favorite one she’s worn so far. It’s the “fun is calling”dress from Hello Molly, and it comes in a variety of colors.
The moms of the girls in this group have shared some dress stories…some dresses never arriving, wrong material, not what they ordered, etc.
Thankfully, for these dances, we’ve had lots of luck from Hello Molly and Lulus. (FYI for returns, Lulus will give you a full refund if return within the window of time…but Hello Molly only does store credit. Believe me, I learned that the hard way. haha)
I stopped by Aldi’s for a few snacks, and this “charcuterie party platter” was a hit.
My mom came to visit last week, and we celebrated her birthday a bit early. I was going to order a bundt cake, but I thought an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins sounded good.
It was pretty and tasted delish.
Smiles and ready for cake…
I shared some new book trackers and added them to my Instagram highlight.
These have been a fun and creative outlet for me.
Feel free to use them to share what you are reading! Tag me if you do. 🙂
I ordered this in early spring, and I was excited to wear it yesterday now that the weather is warmer. It’s the “Taylor” dress, and while sizes do seem limited, there are a few colors. I wear my typical size large, so I think they do a great job running true to size with what they design.
Favorite Mom Meme:
Honestly, I am surprised that I don’t feel like we have more laundry than we do. Sunday continues to be laundry day, and everyone usually has one load. One thing that still is an issue is getting the laundry put away! The kids put their own clothes away, but tend to be on their own timelines for that. haha!
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:
I’m sure I share this every year, but the week of Derby is big around here…even at school…especially elementary schools.
The kids made these hats in kindergarten, and were so excited to show them to me when they got home.
Weekly Recap:
Here are my posts from the week in case you missed one:
We have a slight break from sports this weekend, but today is the Kentucky Oaks, and tomorrow is the “most exciting two minutes in sports” is when the Kentucky Derby horses “run for the roses.”
Hello! Last week, I shared my Easter decorations, and today I’m sharing how I decorated my kitchen table for our pre-Easter dinner.
Last weekend, my mom and Gma were visiting. After my Gma mentioned picking up a ham at Aldi, we decided to have an early Easter dinner.
Kind of like “If you give a mouse a cookie…” Well, if you give Jen a ham, she feels the need to throw together an Easter tablescape. So, I’m sharing what I got together pretty quickly to make a festive table for our dinner this past Sunday.
After Aldi, I stopped by Michael’s because I couldn’t find the craft paper at home that I used last year as a table runner. Well, Michael’s was out of craft paper, but I picked up these cute egg shell baskets to fill with decorative eggs.
While at Kroger, I picked up some flowers and put them in Mason jars. I cleared off the normal tray items (napkins, S&P) but kept my mini Antique Candle Co. candle out on the small white pedestal.
I pulled out some placemats and chargers that I’ve had forever, and added in the cloth napkins and napkin rings.
In April of 2020 when just the four of us were home for Easter, I traced the bunnies and glued a cotton ball on as a tail. I just tape them to the napkin ring. Last year, we hosted Easter, and I made a few more and laminated them before adding the tail. Now I keep all the bunnies in a baggie to reuse each year.
The table looked pretty and spring-like very quickly with just a few touches.
That being said, it was driving me crazy because I couldn’t find the craft paper that I used last year as a table runner. I’m not a big fan of tablecloths, and most runners and pretty small for our farmhouse table. The craft paper was perfect last year, but it’s still missing. {I’m going to buy more and make sure it stays with the wrapping paper which is where it should be anyway.}
Once we decided to have a nice dinner, I wanted the table to be special as well.
The menu:
We had…
ham
Bob Evans Mashed potatoes
bagged Caesar salad
Sister Schubert rolls
green bean casserole
Last year:
I’m sure I shared this last year, but here’s how I set the table in 2021 when we hosted Easter for Trav’s side of the family.
The kids’ table was cute too!
With Easter just a few days away, I’m hoping you’ve found a few ideas if you are hosting!
We got about five inches of really pretty snow yesterday, and had a great snow day.
Today, I’m continuing with…
In the past, I’ve shared many Trader Joe’s hauls and even a few Aldi finds too.
Since Saturdays are typically when I pick up my Kroger Clicklist order, I got to thinking about some of the things that I buy every week. I’m sharing those with you today.
Clicklist has been doing the most for me for probably eight years or so…
Of course, I meal plan our dinners and plan a few of my school lunches. Those items tend to change week to week although I almost always pick up green beans, a bagged salad, eggs, and fruit.
The kids’ requests can vary as they go through phases of what they want to eat, but here are some things I every week….lately.
(and…of course, I’m typing this on a Friday when I don’t have all of the things on hand…so I turned to the Kroger app for pics too)
1. Cinnamon Swirl Bread
This has been Hadley’s favorite thing for the past couple of months. While I don’t typically eat breakfast, one slice is a nice afternoon snack. This week, while being home, I’ve decided to embrace the relaxed schedule, and I’ve had a slice with my coffee most mornings or as a part of my lunch.
2. Frozen Waffles
If Hayden’s not eating oatmeal or cream of wheat, he’s on a waffle kick. For quite a while, I bought Eggo chocolate chip waffles…and all of the sudden, they are nowhere to be found. So, we’ve transitioned to these cinnamon toast ones.
Sometimes, if I have a lazy dinner for myself, I have a waffle along with fruit and a hard boiled egg.
3. Chocolate Milk
I buy a few of these pints of chocolate milk every week for Hayden. He likes to drink one after he runs.
We also tend to have chocolate syrup on hand because Hadley likes to drizzle some on her vanilla ice cream. Hayden will also use it to make chocolate milk if we are out of the pints.
4. Adult Lunchable
I call these Oscar Mayer Naturals “adult lunchables” because sometimes I take them for a quick lunch option. Usually by Friday, this is what I’m having for lunch…or I sometimes have one on the weekends instead of being tempted by Chick-fil-A or Chipolte when I pick that up for the kids.
5. Grab the Gold Bar
These are my newest obsession. They are a good snack and good source of protein and fiber. Again, I oftentimes put one in my purse to eat on the go if needed.
6. Cheezits
When my dad visits, he opens the cabinet and questions if there’s a snack we won’t buy. haha
Also, of course, the kids like a variety of things. Hadley prefers White Cheddar Cheezits, and Hayden likes original. Both kids (and me!) like this snack mix kind, so we buy it the most.
Another favorite of the kids is the colorful goldfish…and I love Dots pretzels.
7. Baked Potato
Whoever invented this seven minute microwaveable baked potato is a genius. I buy one or two a week to have as a side for dinner or for lunch. Usually, I just eat half of one, and it’s easy for me to take for lunch.
8. Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes
Well, I know who invented these…and thank you Bob! There is no easier or delicious side dish than these microwave mashed potatoes.
9. Ramen
Hadley is going to thrive in college because she loves ramen. These are a great weekend lunch for her or even something to eat if dinner isn’t ready, and she has to head to practice…(and then she eats dinner when she gets home)
10. Premier Protein Shakes
I’m always working on finding ways to get more protein in, and these shakes have 30g each. I usually buy a pack every week…and sometimes a couple of packs if Hayden wants them too.
11. Drink Flavor Packets
Fun fact about me: I will drink more water if it’s flavored. I’m still filling up my tumbler at least twice a day to get my water in. I only use one flavor packet a day…usually I fill up my tumbler and add one packet, and then add more water after drinking about half. This grape flavor is my favorite.
12. Ice cream
We buy ice cream every week. Even though I have a sweet tooth, I can say no to ice cream at home. We’re to the point where I typically buy two cartons, and the family fave tends to be Oreo/cookies and cream.
Lately, if I want ice cream, I have one of these Kind ice cream bars that I find at Target, and I feel better about my choices 😉
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