I’m pretty sure that a combination of animals AND coffee all in one colouring book should go over well with everyone! (I know those are two things I’m rather passionate about. For instance, I REALLY love cats.) This cute little colouring book will give you hours of colouring fun and relaxation. And, it would make an ideal gift!
Coffee and Animals Colouring Book – was $9.69, Now $5.81!
CL Cuisiluxe 3-Piece Set Immersion Blender 50 % off Sale!!
* Powerful 300 watt immersion blender comes with a food chopper attachment AND a whisk attachment
* Use to make delicious, healthy smoothies
* Also ideal for pureeing soups
* Whisk attachment makes it easy to whip up egg whites or whipped cream
This would make a beautiful wedding gift, as it’s basically a 3-in-1 appliance! You can blend up smoothies and soups, whip cream, or use the food chopper to chop things like nuts or vegetables. Very handy indeed! And at $49.99 it’s our bargain of the day. 🙂
Tea towels are one of those things that I just adore! Something that is necessary and functional – to either wipe your hands OR wipe the dishes – can also be something pretty cute. Tea towels or kitchen towels do NOT need to be boring to do a good job! And, tea towels are always a practical little gift idea, too. They add a splash of colour to any kitchen, and a touch of fun.
So, when we found these adorable printed tea towels – we just had to share! Ramen lovers are sure to love these tea towels that feature bowl after bowl of ramen soup. If you need a gift for a ramen lover, well here you are and you can thank us later! 😉 Oh, and did I happen to mention that these are under ten bucks?
Now Designs Ramen Print Tea Towel are a well made tea towel by Now Designs. (My favourite kitchen towel maker!) 100% cotton and nice and absorbent. Super cute ramen bowl design will please noodle soup lovers. $9.99 each
Now, when you slop your ramen soup, you can easily wipe up with this very appropriate tea towel! Remember a gift giving hint here too: A nice tea towel makes a perfect alternative to gift wrapping paper.
Disclosure: We use affiliate links. When you make a purchase through our links, we earn a small commission – which doesn’t cost you a penny more! Thank you.
We’re all trying to keep stocked up on groceries during this pandemic, and yet we’re also trying to keep within our grocery budgets, too. Not an easy task, bargaineers! And one thing I’ve noticed that can be insanely expensive during our weekly jaunts to the grocery store is spices.
Whatever type it is: cinnamon, basil (which, yes is an herb!), parsley, nutmeg, cloves…and on and on. Any type of dried herbs or spices can be very expensive, especially when we’re just shopping at one store right now. (We have, in fact, discovered one store that is pretty quiet early in the mornings. So, we just shop there, and only one time per week. But boy, are their spices PRICEY!!)
So, I discovered some online choices that will allow you to buy your dried herbs and spices in bulk and save a LOAD of money! You could even buy a bag or two and share with a friend to save even more money.
1 pound bags (454 grams) of Organic Cinnamon
Splendor Garden organic Cinnamon Ground,454.0 Gram
This is an awesome deal right now! (As always, prices on Amazon can change quickly, so snag this deal while you can. I am too!) We go through an awful lot of cinnamon – to sprinkle on homemade lattes, to add to oatmeal in the morning, and to use in baking. So, this 1 pound bag is a great deal. $10.85
Half pound bags of Organic Thyme (227 grams)
Splendor Garden Organic Thyme Leaves, 227 Grams is another great bargain by Splendor Garden! A great big bag for only a bit more than a fancy (and tiny) jar would cost you in the supermarket. Thyme is a wonderful addition to all sorts of savoury cooking, especially roasted meat or tomato sauces. $10.99
Organic Basil Leaves (dried) – Large 1 pound (454 grams) bag
Splendor Garden organic Basil,454.0 Gram
Basil is one of my very favourite herbs to cook with! I put plenty into any homemade spaghetti sauces I’m making, and it’s also delicious added to homemade salad dressings or dips. This big bag is on for only $16.30 – a bargain!
Large 1 pound bags of Organic Ginger Powder
Splendor Garden organic Ginger Ground,454.0 Gram
Yum! Dried ginger powder is an essential ingredient in scrumptious homemade baking like gingerbread cookies, ginger cake, and spice cake. This large bag will last you a long time! $13.43
Storage Tins and Jars for your Spices
When you buy bulk herbs and spices you definitely save oodles of money. But, since they’re not sent to you in cute little jars or bottles, you’ll need a few options on how to properly store these spices. Remember to keep your spices in a cool, dry place to retain the flavour and intensity of the spices the longest. All of the containers we chose are highly ranked for sealing well, which means your spices will stay fresh longer.
12 Pack Bernardin 125 ml Mason Jars with Labels
Bernardin 20125 125ml Regular Mouth Mason Jar, Clear – Pack of 12
You can’t beat a well made Mason jar! These useful jars are just perfect for storing large quantities of spices. Plus, they come with cute decorative labels to properly label and organize your new spices. $8.99 for a pack of 12
Stainless Steel magnetic spice jars and tins – pack of 12
Bekith 12 Pack Magnetic Spice Tins Multi-Purpose Storage Tin, Clear Top Lid with Sift or Pour, Magnetic on Refrigerator and Grill.
If you’re short on space, these magnetic spice jars might be exactly the solution you need! You can literally fill them up with your favourite spices and herbs, and then store them on the side of your fridge!! And, this is a great gift for a grill master – they can keep all their favourite BBQ rubs and spice blends in a tin and store it on the side of the BBQ! (Awesome, right?) These jars have openings on the side so you can just shake out the spices, rather than having to open the tin up. And, this set comes with 144 labels. Can you tell I really love these? Ha! $26.99 for a pack of 12 with 144 labels
I hope our post helped you snag an amazing deal on some dried herbs and spices. Instead of paying up to $10 for a small jar, you can pay around the same and get about ten times the amount! That is a huge grocery bill savings, and we can use all the savings we can get right now.
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Ooh, baby! They are little, and adorable…and boy do they need a lot of stuff! New parents may feel overwhelmed by the list of necessities their little ones require, and that’s where the rest of us come in….by selecting a helpful baby shower gift. Yes, it’s time for another one of our baby shower gift lists!
Right now, baby showers feel entirely different, as we’re all staying home and staying safe from the pandemic. But, these online shopping options allow you to purchase a baby gift and send it directly to the proud new parents. So, it may be a baby shower over Zoom, but it’s still a baby shower! And if you send the gifts ahead of time, the parents can still ooh and aah over their new baby gifts, and show them off to you via Zoom. It’s a different format to be certain, but it’s still a memory to cherish.
Makes breastfeeding OR bottle feeding a more comfortable endeavour for both Mama AND baby! Made of memory foam, it keeps baby at a comfortable position while feeding, unlike many feeding pillow which go flat very quickly. $39.99
Baby K’Tan Cotton Baby Carrier *Wrap/Sling*
Baby K’Tan Solid Cotton Original Baby Carrier Black – Size 6-8
This baby carrier is made of high-quality one-way stretch cotton material, allowing you and your baby the most comfort as you tote your little one around. And for Mom it’s as easy to put on as a t-shirt! Ergonomic positioning of baby means less stress on your back! $74.99
WaterWipes Baby wipes – Value pack
WaterWipes Baby Wipes Value Pack These wipes are about the purest baby wipes you can buy! Made of only purified water, and a small percentage of grapefruit seed extract, these wipes are super gentle on even a newborn baby’s skin. Package of 4 x 60 wipes=240 total wipes in this pack. *Hypoallergenic* $19.99
Skip Hop Luxury Diaper Bag Backpack – Quilted Look (Vegan Leather)
Skip Hop Linx Quilted Diaper Backpack Black
Wow, if you’re looking for a diaper bag as a gift for a very fashionable new Mama, this might be the one! This gorgeous quilted (vegan) leather bag is super stylish, and super functional.
* Easy access wide opening with plenty of pockets
* Insulated front compartment for keeping bottles cold
* Adjustable backpack straps
* Goldtone hardware
* Easily wipes clean Was $136.99 Now $101.00
Babyganics Bath and Skincare Essentials Kit
babyganics Bath & Skin Care Essentials Kit Chamomile Verbena
Babyganics makes gorgeous organic baby stuff, without any: parabens, sulfates or petrolatum, artificial colours or scents. Lovely! This little set includes: Shampoo and Body Wash; Baby Moisturizer; and Baby Bubble Bath. All in a gorgeous natural chamomile verbena scent. $19.99
Ahhh…there is nothing sweeter than a new little baby! And even in this unprecedented time of needing to stay home and stay safe, a baby shower can be a beautiful thing. Any of the baby shower gifts we chose today can be directly shipped to the new parents. We hope you had as much fun browsing through some truly beautiful and useful baby gifts as we did. 🙂
It’s funny where you can find inspiration for a blog post! As I was sipping on a can of Save On Food’s own brand grapefruit sparkling water today – boom! The sweet combined colours of lemon and pink just looked so perfect together. These colours truly epitomize what spring is! A splash of these very pretty pastel colours are just what your kitchen might need to drag it out of the wintertime doldrums.
So…here’s a little colourful inspiration for some new goodies for your kitchen. Whether you love the colours of pink and yellow together or on their own, they are lovely accents to brighten and cheer.
Pink Butterfly Table Napkins will cheer up any meal! Isn’t there just something about butterflies that fills your heart with happiness? $5.99
Lemon Theme Table Runner is bright and cheerful, with its unapologetic lemon theme. This lemon table runner is waterproof, and can be used indoors or out. $10.56
Cupcake To Go container in a cheerful shade of pink is the perfect way to tote a cupcake with you wherever you’re going! Or, if you want to drop off a gourmet cupcake to a friend, this is the ideal way to do it. (PS. A cupcake for a friend is ALWAYS a fine idea!) $6.29
Now Designs Jumbo Pure Kitchen Towel, Lemon, Set of 3 Now Design teatowels are some of my absolute favourites! They make beautiful cotton kitchen towels that really stand up to constant use. These ones in a fresh white and yellow pattern will add some springtime colour to your kitchen. AND they’re well made, absorbent and super useful.$22.00 for a pack of 3
Peony Bouquet by Torre & Tagus These lovely flowers really look perfect nestled into a white pitcher or a simple vase. An easy way to add a touch of pretty pink colour to your kitchen – and as low maintenance as can be! $24.95
I’m still drooling over that teapot, to be honest with you. And in that shade of yellow? LOVELY!! Anything at all can be made a bit better with a good, strong cup of tea if you ask me. Enjoy these springtime choices, and have a wonderful sunny Saturday!
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PC Express grocery pick-up during Covid-19, sounds like an interesting idea. Because right now we live in a world of social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus. With PC Express, you do not even have to enter the grocery store. All you do is place your order for groceries online, pick an available pick up date and go to one of the designated parking spots to pick up your groceries. You don’t even have to get out of your care as they will even load your groceries into your trunk if you pop it open for them. Sounds like an awesome way to do your grocery shopping during the pandemic. My wife and I thought we’d give it a try.
PC Express Grocery Pick-Up During Covid-19 – Expect Delays
Last weekend my wife placed our order online to PC Express and as expected pick up times were filling up fast. We expected this as we assumed many would try this. However, there was one slot available – a pick up time of Wednesday at 6 pm and we took it.
A few days later, on Tuesday Superstore sent us an email that our order could be delayed a day or more and they would contact us once our order was ready. We had no problem with this as we knew they would be busy and actually appreciated the email letting us know. We weren’t in a rush to get the groceries. Two days later on Thursday we got another email message stating that our order was ready to be picked up. I got ready and went to Superstore to get our groceries.
PC Express Grocery Pick-Up During Covid-19 – Things Get a Bit Chaotic
As I got to Superstore the first thing I noticed was that the place was packed with cars! I think the sunny day was partly to blame for this. As I drove to the PC Express stalls (they had 8 marked stalls), I noticed all of them were filled with cars, all with their trunks open waiting for their groceries. I also noticed over a dozen other cars around these stalls with their trunks open waiting to pick up groceries. Immediately I thought, “Houston, we might have a problem”.
I found a parking stall as close as I could to the PC Express ones and then called the phone number that had been given to me in the email. As soon as I finished dialing the number, I immediately was given the message, “the phone call you attempted has failed”. That was weird, so I tried to call again a few more times and got the same message. I then called my wife at home and asked her to call from her end. She could not get through as she got a busy signal. We both kept trying. My wife finally got through and was told to leave a number to be contacted later. She did and as soon as she did she got cut off. Not knowing what to do, I decided to go in the store.
PC Express Grocery Pick-Up During Covid-19 – Things Get a Bit Unsafe
I went to customer service and was directed to the PC Express area, which were by the check out aisles. As I got to the area, there were grocery carts full of food everywhere and I assumed that these were all the pending PC Express orders. By these carts was the PC Express area. It was a small room about the size of a small bedroom. There was a large fridge and groceries in there along with about four people working feverishly in it. All of them looked completely overwhelmed. I felt for them. Unfortunately, only one person had a mask on. The rest did not. Also, they were working pretty much shoulder to shoulder, so social distancing was not being practiced. But how could it be? The room was way too small for it.
I managed to talk to one of the workers and tried to keep my distance (fortunately I was wearing a mask, googles and gloves) and explain my situation. He was at least wearing gloves. He took my license plate number and make of my car and told me to pop my trunk and expect a long wait. I went back to my car and waited.
After a Long Wait, Go into the store again
I waited for an hour in the car and tried the number a few more times but to no avail. So I decided to go back in again to check the status of my order. As I got to the PC Express area there were still a lot of carts with food parked. There were also a few people lined up to talk to PC Express and I lined up behind them trying to keep my distance between people. One person beside me had a mask on which gave me a little relief.
However, we were lined up in the area where people exit the check out aisles. Also, the PC Express carts with food were also in the area and all of a sudden, things were very congested. There was no chance of practicing safe social distancing, as we were constantly moving to avoid people leaving with their groceries. It was a bit unnerving.
No End In Sight
As I got closer to the front of the line, the person in front of me said that her original pick up date had been Tuesday. At that point, I realized that I might have a long wait yet. When it was my turn to talk to the employee , she said that there were 7 or 8 orders ahead of me and that once they got to me that they would then make my order. I thought that was weird as the email they sent me said that my order was ready. At this point I started to feel a bit angry.
I asked if could just take my order myself. She said that I would have to wait and when I asked how long – she said she could not tell me. She had no idea how long it would take. I tried to explain to her that I’d been there an hour ago asking the same questions. She said she was just there helping out. No further help was provided.
Time to Flee!
I then realized “This is not right!” Here I am talking to this poor stressed out lady who is trying to help. She’s not wearing a mask and has no gloves on. We are only standing three feet apart. The people in the PC Express department behind her weren’t wearing protective wear, and were way too close and are touching people’s grocery orders. The people beside me were way too close and the people going by us wee way too close. Not good!! We were all in danger.
Why would Superstore overbook their pick up Service so much? Why would they not provide their employees with protective wear? And why did we have to line up in a main exit for customers?
I realized right there and then that I had to leave and protect myself and my wife at home, as staying there longer increased my danger of getting infected. I said to the lady to cancel my order immediately and I left as quickly as I could and went home. When I got home, I immediately took off the clothes I was wearing put them in the storage room (our sort of decontamination zone) and took a shower and calmed myself down.
Conclusion
I would not use PC Express grocery pick-up during Covid-19. It is way too risky. They don’t have enough space, manpower, or organization to make this work safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. You would be safer just going into Superstore and shopping yourself. Or even safer, just go somewhere else to shop. (A place that is smaller and far less busy.) I do have a friend who says the service is great but she shops at a different location than the one I went to. I was pretty freaked out by the experience.
Also, yesterday the news reported that the location I went to has a case of Covid-19 with one of their employees. The employee hasn’t been to work since April 12th but I wasn’t surprised in the least based on my experience. I really hope that Superstore improves their PC Express service – in particular at this location. Because people’s health and lives are at risk. However, I am not going to take the chance to find out. Instead I will be shopping somewhere else where I feel safer. Stay safe everyone.
I recently bought some new cotton sheets. No big deal, right? Well, it felt like an awfully big deal to me! It had been a couple of years since I’d last bought new sheets. When I unpacked them, and made up the bed with them – the cute aqua floral pattern just seemed to brighten up the whole bed, and entire bedroom! (You can see them for yourself here. I chose the aqua colour….they are so cute!!) The price was right too, of course – I am a bargaineer, after all!
Sometimes when spring hits, we get that sudden and intense urge to clean! And freshen, and brighten up the surroundings in our home. And yes, this can absolutely include new bedding and sheets and duvets. If a silly set of new sheets can make me so incredibly happy, just imagine what an entire new bedding set would do. Gracious, I could probably barely handle the excitement. 😉
But, enough about me. If you want to freshen up your bedding easily, without a lot of effort or searching, then Bed in a Bag sets are the way to go. I love the simplicity of ordering one product and getting the sheets, pillowcases, and duvets or comforters all in one convenient set. Perfect!
Spring Inspired Queen Bed in a Bag sets
I know this spring is unlike any we’ve ever known. We’re all stuck indoors WAY more than usual, while coping with this coronavirus pandemic. So, what better time to add a touch of spring beauty to your bedding? I went on a hunt to find super cute bedding to add a touch of spring whimsy, freshness and colour to your bedroom. Here are the best bedding sets I found. *Please note that the links are Amazon links. I am an Amazon associate and earn a small commission if you purchase a product, with no extra charge to you. Thanks guys!*
Currently $86.02 with free shipping on Amazon
So, I love the PRICE of this set, but look at that splash of aqua flowers on the corner of this pretty bed in a bag set. I like the neutral grey background, and the beautiful springtime flower accents. Plus, this set comes with a beautiful little accent cushion. I am a SUCKER for a cute accent cushion, folks. And, it gets a solid 4-star rating on Amazon! Win, win, flower win!
I actually gulped a little when I saw this one. The pretty, pale combination of the leaves in shades of yellow, aqua and grey are just so soothing. This set currently is $153.87 with free Amazon shipping.
The 9 piece set includes the comforter, sheets, pillow cases and shams PLUS another cute little accent cushion. Love this. Good high ratings too – a solid 4/5 stars.
And our final springtime selection…this lovely offering of bedding with a beautiful cascading floral motif in grey and purple. So pretty! It reminds me of a springtime garden just popping into life.
* Currently $153.87 CDN for the set – free Amazon shipping *
Comes with a comforter, bed sheets (and please note – the sheets are COTTON!), pillow cases and pillow shams. And again, an adorable little matching accent pillow.
Springtime Sheet Sets…Found!
This was an awful lot of fun – finding sweet sheets, all in a springtime motif. I hope you find just the right set to add some much needed spring colour to your bedroom. If we’re stuck at home a lot, snoozing and reading and snacking in bed, we might as well do it with pretty bedding!
Last night, I heard a knock on our apartment door. I was sure I heard it, but then there was just silence. I thought I must’ve been imagining something. I do have a good imagination after all! Then, this morning when my husband was going to wander outside to take out the garbage (funny what constitutes an exciting outing nowadays!) he nearly tripped right over that telltale smiling brown box that meant a shipment from Amazon was here!
Yes, I do rely on Amazon groceries right now. We do our once a week grocery shop at local grocery stores, but I supplement this with some online grocery shopping. I used to get some supplies on Amazon anyway, so now when we’re stuck inside, it’s easy to order there occasionally.
Tips for Ordering Groceries on Amazon during coronavirus
There are some new tips for ordering online groceries through Amazon right now, in this unprecedented time in which we live.
Order quickly – Of course, you can still put an item into your Amazon shopping cart and hold it there until the next time you plan to place an order. But, I’ve discovered the hard way that doing that means the item might be out of stock by the time you’re ready to order! So, be quick and decisive when you really want something Amazon currently has available.
Order a little extra – No, there’s no need to hoard. But, if you are allowed to purchase multiples of an item you use all the time – let’s say granola bars – then buy those extra boxes of snacks while they’re available. You’ll be glad you did if they’re not available again for quite some time. (And sometimes – like our grocery deals of the day listed below, you have to order a minimum quantity. In this case, it’s 2 of each item.)
Check supplies on Amazon often – Even within the same day I’ve seen major changes in what grocery items are available. So, check a few times. Then, when you see what you need – order it! (As we already mentioned in #1, above!)
Be patient – Order times are longer right now, meaning it’ll usually take at least a few extra days to receive your parcel. Please be patient. I think of the Amazon workers and delivery drivers who are slogging through all of these additional orders, and my heart truly goes out to them. Be willing to wait longer to receive your orders. And then, be grateful when they arrive! (I sure am! And as I mentioned in our Should I Disinfect our Groceries? post, I wipe the box and all items inside down with a Clorox or Lysol disinfecting wipe.)
Today’s Best Amazon Deals on Groceries – April 9, 2020
Like I mentioned above, snag these while they’re still available! Stock runs out quickly. (And sorry for the boring looking text only links – Amazon wasn’t allowing me to post pictures of the products for some reason! We are part of the Amazon Associates program. We will receive a small commission when you purchase groceries via our links. We thank you!)
PRANA is best known for their incredible packets of dark chocolate snacks. (Is it just me, or are we all especially excited to stock up on chocolate right now? I’m not lying when I say that chocolate even seems to be sneaking into my breakfast each day!) One of my favourites is their Algarve dark chocolate bark with almonds and sea salt. That small addition of the sea salt makes the combination the perfect balance between sweet and salty, and I keep dipping my hand into the bag for more!
#StayHome – Order Prana Chocolate online FREE Shipping with No Minimums
To ensure that you have a full chocolate stash to get you through this self-isolation, Prana is offering FREE shipping across Canada with absolutely no minimums. (I think this is one of the best shipping bargains I’ve come across yet!) So, load up on a few bags of their delicious snacks. Beyond chocolate, you’ll find organic trail mixes, dried fruit, nuts, and even nut butters. (This can be a handy place to order nut butter right now, if your local grocery store stock is still gone.) Their nut butters are: almond butter, pistachio nut butter, and hazelnut butter. (YUM!)
Prana’s online store remains OPEN for business. They are considered an essential business, because they sell food. Definitely pop by and take advantage of their generous shipping offer. Stay home, bargaineers, and stay safe. And add a little dark chocolate to your life, just because.
