Bridging the Gap with Groceries--and 2 Luxuries

Images above: Roger and Julia, the husband and wife who own Vesta Chocolate, and the shop itself. They roast their own beans, sourced from the Dominican Republic.

On Saturday, October 3, I spent $255 at Kings, then $35 at 212 Salon & Day Spa (all careful Covid protocols in place) to get my hair blown out by Christina, plus $10 in tips for shampoo lady and stylist. To cap it off, a rare treat these days--the perfect small hot mocha, about 8 ounces, from Vesta Chocolate. I'm steering clear of chocolate, but hope that might be okay once a weekend. It is a carefully crafted treat; the mochas from Starbucks and other places pale in comparison. Cost: about $6.30.

The.perfect.mocha. Figgy also likes it made with oat milk.

I want to list the groceries, since the bill was over $250. As I wrote the other day, we are between payments here. Dan and I made a list of what we needed in one grocery trip to bridge the gap. For example: We have pizza dough in the freezer, and red sauce in jars, but needed mozzarella, both regular and vegan shreds, for a weeknight dinner. Some things here were wanted, not needed. I put those in pink. I also forgot to get one thing--tofu. I think I did pretty well. I got what we needed for a number of meals--raviol, quesadillas, pizza, steak, soup, roasted vegs. I'm curious--how does this look to you, what I got for the money?

1. Shredded mozzarella, BOGO.
2. Shredded mozzarella (second pack free).
3. Vegan mozzarella-style shreds.
4. First jar of artichoke hearts.
5. Second jar of artichoke hearts.
6. Piece of Portherhouse steak, on sale, to stretch through 3 meals for one person.
7. First bag of spinach-ricotta ravioli.
8. Second bag of spinach-ricotta ravioli.
9. Presliced deli provolone.
10. Presliced deli ham.
11. Bread Alone peasant bread, one loaf.
12. Vermont wheat bread, one loaf.
13. Pint organic half and half.
14. Pint organic heavy cream to whip for berry table Sunday. (I usually don't spring for Horizon brand, in the red carton. It was $6.79!! But I have to say it was delicious, whipped to pretty peaks without a pinch of sugar or drop of vanilla. Honestly, it tasted like a sweet treat from the farm and had the palest hint of meadow yellow.)
15. Large Cabot Greek yogurt.
16. Large Friendship cottage cheese.
17. Bag of Lil Snappers Honeycrisp "kid-size" apples, on sale.
18. First bag fresh Brussels sprouts.
19. Second bag fresh Brussels sprouts.
20. Third bag fresh Brussels sprouts.
21. Frozen Ezekiel English muffins.
22. Pound Land O'Lakes butter.
23. EVOO cooking spray.
24. Pack fresh mushrooms
25. Second pack fresh mushrooms.
26. Third pack fresh mushrooms.
27. Berry jam, BOGO.
28. Second berry jam, free.
29. Toothpaste.
30. Pack of 1-oz, 100-calorie Cape Cod potato chip snack bags.
31. Bananas.
32. First can Amy's organic soup.
33. Second can Amy's organic soup.
34. Third can Amy's organic soup.
35. Fourth can Amy's organic soup.
36. Kings hazelnut coffee, deep sale.
37. Huge can Chock full o'Nuts coffee, $2 off.
38. Box of Capri Sun juice pouches.
39. Half-gallon fresh apple cider.
40. Pack of Gotham lettuce leaves for sandwiches.
41. Wet dog food x5.
42. Pack of whole-wheat tortillas.
43. Dozen cage-free eggs.

Have a good day.