Grocery shopping is probably my least favorite thing to do. It’s tedious and requires spending money. Why is it tedious? Because I am a total scrooge. I have to look at all the Ad’s for all of the stores in my area to see what is on sale. After doing that I can plan my menus—based on what’s on sale.

When I shop this way, scouring the Ad’s for things that are on sale; then comparing all the stores prices; finally making my actual shopping list-- it can take the better part of the day.

That’s why grocery shopping is tedious.

However, I was contacted recently by Deals to Meals to see if I would give their site a trial run. I am all about trying anything that will save me time and money. I used Deals to Meals for a solid two months. I played around on their website, and I have to tell you that I LOVE this site.

Here’s how it works:

· We compare prices of the major grocery stores to Costco, Sams Club, and Wal-Mart.

· We tell you where the best deals are to stock up your food storage and freezer.

· We provide a meal planning service to help you incorporate your food storage into your weekly meals, saving you money by having your meals planned around sale items.

· We design a weekly grocery list to make meal planning easy.

· We share delicious recipes. We give weekly tips & information on food storage.

· We offer a two week free trial with no obligation, no contracts to sign, cancel at anytime.

I tried all of the things that they listed above. Each store has a clickable screen where you can see the great deals (signified in red color) and good deals (signified in blue color). You click on what you want then hit PRINT. That’s right, it will then print off all the items you were interested in, SORTED by stores. I am not kidding. That little feature makes price matching a breeze! If you’re anything like me, you will then take the best prices and rather than go to ninety-bazillion stores, you will just go to Wal-Mart and have them price match. That is the main reason I shop at Wal-Mart—they price match.Well, that and I can continue to participate in that little site called peopleofwalmart.com.

The other really slick thing on Deals to Meals is that they have menus already planned out for you using the items that are sale that particular week. I’m telling you its sweet! I tried the menu plan from March 15^th, and it made my life SO dang simple. They even go so far as to make a shopping list for all the items you will need for that weeks menu, if you choose to go that route.

They also keep an entire month’s menus up on the site, along with the applicable grocery shopping list. Talk about making your grocery shopping experience pain free!

If you are food storage incompetent (like me) then Deals to Meals has a plan for you! On each stores list, it will list the shelf life of the item, as well as how much of the item you will need for a year’s supply. My husband was thrilled with that idea. Food storage overwhelms me.

Deals to Meals has taken the pressure off the whole food storage campaign and I can actually work on it without having a minor panic attack. There are no additional screens to click to see that valuable little feature either. It’s right there, where you are planning your shopping list.

There are other price comparison sites out there, but they just have the actual lists—you still have to do all the work. Deals to Meals not only has the list, but makes it so that after you clicked on all the items you are interested, you can print out just what you want to see. This company will simplify your grocery shopping by leaps and bounds! I love using their product and I think you will too!

Giveaway time!

Deals to Meals & MMB are giving one lucky a years membership to this awesome website.

Head over to MMB to enter for a chance to win!

disclosure: MMB was given a free membership to Deals to Meals to try and review.

I have tendency to not trust women. It’s a hard wagon to pull, but experience has taught me that women tend to stab other women in the back. So, because of that there are only a handful of people who really know me.

Sister Hinckley stated:

"We are all in this together. We need each other. Oh, how we need each other. Those of us who are old need you who are young, and hopefully, you who are young need some of us who are old. It is a sociological fact that women need women. We need deep and satisfying and loyal friendships with each other. These friendships are a necessary source of sustenance. We need to renew our faith every day. We need to lock arms and help build the kingdom so that it will roll forth and fill the whole earth."

When I moved to my new neighborhood (which by the way is not so new anymore), I had a really hard time acclimating myself. I couldn’t figure out where my niche was or even if I did belong. My faith was really put to the test during those lonely years for me.

Some would say that I had a chip on my shoulder, but I prefer to view it as me protecting myself.

There have only ever been a handful of times in my life where I can say a person has been directly brought into my life for a reason—and all of them have been through visiting teaching.

For the last several years, I have had a wonderful visiting teaching companion and two fantastic women that we go and visit. We may not get to their homes on a regular basis, but we are all friends. Like REAL friends. We hang out—outside of church or visiting teaching. These friendships with these women were direct answers to the silent prayer of my heart.

I was lonely and I really needed a friend. And, the Lord heard my plea and again answered it through the Visiting Teaching program.

It’s always interesting to me when I get assigned someone new to visit or be companions with. I find myself wondering which one of us needs the other.

Sometimes it’s apparent and sometimes not so much.

The last few years my partner and the women we visit taught together were exactly what I needed. They were heaven sent. We never would have become the level of friends that we are today if it had not been for visiting teaching.

I trust these women completely—they have carried me through some of the most difficult times of my life. They have helped me through my unbelief and my guard is completely down with these women. I know that they will love me in spite of me.

It seems as though we have truly figured out what visiting teaching means. It’s more than just going to someone’s home and leaving a message. It’s more than the numbers—its relationships and real friendships.

My visiting teaching route was changed last week and to say that I was devastated would be an understatement. These women and I have laughed together and cried the ugly cry together. I trust them and I truly love them. They aren’t just sisters I go visit once a month, they are my friends.

Now, I get that The Lord probably has a reason behind this change and that I can create new relationships with people. But, it’s just not going to be the same.

It’s going to be work, a lot of hard work. There are walls to break down and barriers to cross. I have a hard time trusting people, and because of that I just don’t let people into the “inner circle”.

It's true, you know. Women DO need other women. We need those deep, loyal friendships. They are essential to our growth. Once you have tasted what a "real friend" is like, it is not something you are willing to go without. On the contrary, it is something that you are willing to walk to the ends of the earth to retrieve because you understand completely the value to be had from having "those deep, satisfying friendships."

I love Visiting Teaching and I love the stability it has brought into my life. I know that in time it will all come together and all will be well in Zion again. But, right now? Right this very instant? I'm sad that it all had to change.