Saturday, October 15, 2011
1500 or Less Success
Here are the photos of my meals this week! It was an amazing challenge that I'll be doing for the rest of the year. Let's see how it goes. Wheeee!!
Much Love,
Nella
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The Challenge: J $1500 or less
Just like anyone experiencing difficulties during the
recession, I am in a financial mess. My finances are seriously out of whack and
I’m basically living week to week off my lunch money. Not to mention that I’m
indebted to a friend of mine. So what’s a girl to do? Challenge myself to spend
less and save more of course; and so that is exactly what I’m trying to do.
The Challenge:
How can I use only $1500 Jamaican dollars and get a healthy, yet filling 5 days
worth of lunch?
How I’m doing it:
1. 1) Every week I plan a menu of what I’d like to eat
for the week. Same thing or different things for the relevant days, it really doesn’t
matter as long as you can be creative with your ingredients.
2. 2) Then, I make a list of items that I intend to
buy at the supermarket. I follow the list and try to avoid impulse buying which
is a serious cause of overspending for most shoppers.
3. 3) I try to buy some things in bulk or excess. You know
the things that you know you will more likely need for the month at the beginning
of the month so you don’t have to buy it at a later date. This usually works
out to be cheaper than buying the same thing every week.
4. 4) And finally, after cashing I keep a track of my
expenses by keeping the relevant receipts and noting the prices to see if I can
get value for money elsewhere.
This week’s
ingredients were:
From CariHome Supermarket, Manor Park:
·
1 box, Reggae Jammin’ Burgers- J $349.69 +tax
·
2, Breadbasket Marble Cake 170g- J $93.75*2= J
$187.50 (This was an impulse buy. See how much I could’ve saved? Almost J $200
Total: J $598.39
From Hi-Lo Food Stores, Manor Park:
·
3, Dr Lushus Wheat Cheesebread- J74.03*3= J $
222.09 (-J $6.67 discount)
·
1 pack, Bulk fries-J $95.27 +tax
·
3, Noel-Poz Club Crackers- J $13.95*3= J $41.85
+tax (-J $1.26 discount)
·
1 pack, Grace Macaroni- J $58.93 +tax
Total: J $444.30
Grand total for
the week: J $1042.69
The Menu:
So from the looks of my ingredients I guess you’ve figured
out that I plan to make some burgers and fries this week. But where’s the
lettuce and tomatoes? Well remember that bulk shopping I spoke about earlier? That’s
where that come in. Things like vegetables that you should use often due to
their high vitamin and mineral content, great nutritional value and not to
mention filling effects, I like to buy at the beginning of the month. I also
plan to do a pasta dish using the macaroni, the burgers and vegetables on some
of the days. Later this week I’ll share
with you pictures of how it turned out.
Other tips of the
trade include: Finding out if your supermarket has a customer loyalty
program or has magna rewards. Hi-lo food stores has both so I tend to get
discounts when I shop. It may not be a lot but it helps. I also tend to buy
snacks for those during the day or late night munches every two weeks and I usually
buy low cost, healthier snacks like whole grain crackers or such.
Anyone else care to take the challenge and tell me how it
goes? It doesn’t matter which country you’re from, the point is to do budgeted
shopping and eat great. Share your stories with me if you do at verdenella@gmail.com.
Coldplay paradise
Turn me on to my coldplay obsession
Let the rhythm control my mind
Sending jolts of mirth through the arcarde of my vessels
Electrifying and magnetizing the frame of my nerves
An enchantment far beyond the grasp of gentle
Music far greater than the sirens'
Seduce my soul will your lyrical words
Let it entwine with it's faithful mate
Spirits intermingled
Lives engraved
Captured by the essence of your song
Lingual melody in the voices of angels
Paradise calls
Shouting out for ecstasy
Imagining pleasure beyond simple mirth
At the pinnacle of my being
Melodious words carry me away
Leading me towards a passion unknown
A journey untravelled by many
Still,
I yearn for more of your sweet song
You've read the poem, now listen to the song ans tell me if you likes. Don't be shy leave a comment!
Also check out this link for the video with the lyrics: Vimeo- Coldplay paradise
Much Love,
Nella
Made in Jamaica
Product Review: Whitfield’s Ointment
Our Jamaican have always faced fierce competition from our overseas counterparts. No matter what the product, whether or not it’s grown or made here, or if the price is fairly manageable and non-taxable, our products are always facing a serious challenge.
Part of it comes from the stigma that Jamaican products are not good or are inferior to our overseas counterparts or that our local producers send the best overseas and leave the little ‘flaw-flaw’ to the locals. Another part stems from the fact that many claim our local products are too pricey (despite the fact that many of our local products are non-taxed and actually work out cheaper than the foreign goods after tax is added). And others are just very foreign minded. Whatever the reason is it needs to stop and it needs to stop NOW!
I’m a firm believer in Buy Jamaica and trying as best as possible to purchase our local products. Yes it may be a bit difficult since we do not make everything but the fact remains that if we don’t buy it who will? This neo-colonialist mentality where we appreciate overseas products more than our own needs to change and we need to start paying some attention to our own goods. Think of the multiplier effect if we did, I buy more local products, local business booms and invests in locals, more jobs, more income, less government taxes. The possibilities are endless!
That being said, I want to dedicate some time on my blog to promote as many local products as possible. My country, my products, my voice! So the product I want to introduce and speak to you today is called Bunny's Whitfield’s Ointment made by a local company called Bunny Products.
This is an antifungal agent that treats fungal infections on areas such as the feet and sad to say I was a victim of this. It’s very embarrassing to admit but on the sole of my left foot I was having a fungal problem. It started with noticeable stripping off of the feet in one area and then completely spread across my feet to the heel and sides everywhere! It was a disaster and I was so embarrassed. I went to doctor who gave me an ointment and admittedly it came off at first but then the problem started again and the next 2 times I received the ointment didn’t help. What was I going to do now? L
One day I went shopping in Halfway Tree with my aunt and we went into Woolworth. We were looking around and that’s when I saw this random product on the shelf. I read the label and just shrugged and said 'I guess it couldn’t hurt' and purchased it. What a surprise it was at how good the product was; within days I saw improvement in my foot’s appearance and I was happy. I was even more pleased when I realized that this was a product of Jamaica. I loved it! My foot still has some way to go before it’s completely healed but I’m proud to say that most of the affected areas are all cleared and just a little way to go.
GO JAMAICA!!!!
Much Love,
Nella
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Abs of Steel Challenge
What do supermodels, singers, movie stars, athletes and Bob Harper have in common? Some ab-mazing abs. Well I don't know about anyone else but I've always wanted to have that flat stomach that's the envy of girls around the world and the desire of men everywhere. And you know what? I used to have them but age started to 'lick mi fi six' and somewhere along the line I lost them sadly :( But gone they are no more because I'm putting myself on an Abs of steel challenge to see if I can get my flat tummy back. So who's with me?...... How about YOU!!!
Since starting my journey I discovered this site: Random Abs that is great for getting a versatile ab workout. Everyday it generates a different set of ab moves to and gives you instructions, pictures and videos on how to do them so everyday is interesting. So if you have some time and want to get those sex abs and that flat toned tummy then go on Random Abs and check it out. It can do nothing but help.
Well that's it for tonight folks! Hope you enjoy the rest of the week! And don't forget to keep up with me on twitter! Lots of love : D
Much Love,
Nella
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