Glass of Sass: After the Grocery Store

Check out the latest Q&A in our new Glass of Sass column. We know our sassy fans have questions, and we've already poured a glass of wine so we're ready to fire off some answers!

Got a question of your own? Send it in and we will answer it in a future column!


I've been keeping up with your articles about grocery shopping and shopping lists. Do you have any tips for what to do once you're home from the grocery store? It seems like shopping is only half the battle - by the time I get home I have all sorts of stuff I need to organize and prepare!

Good question! We suffer from the same thing. You go to the store, get out alive, and then still have to deal with putting everything away. What a pain! But it has to be done so here are some of our tips:

• Unload by category. Of course you want to put frozen stuff away first, but after that how do you divide and conquer? Personally I like to place all the pantry stuff together and all the refrigerated stuff together, then put each category away all at once. Some people like to put the items away as they go, but to me it seems like I'm opening and closing the fridge every few seconds when I do it that way. The refrigerated items can handle a few more minutes on the counter - take the time to separate stuff out then out it away all at the same time.
• Wash up. Wash your fruit and veggies right away so they'll be ready to eat throughout the week. Even though you may not feel like doing it right after getting back from the store, force yourself to spend a few minutes now and it will save time in the long run. Plus you're less likely to let it go bad if it's ready and waiting for you.
• Prep your meat. I like to buy ground beef in bulk and then divvy it up according to how I'll be using it during the week. For example, I might use 1 lb. of it that night for chili, so I'll portion that out and leave it in the fridge. Then I'll divvy the rest of the meat up into 1 lb. sections and put them in freezer bags. That way I can move them from the freezer to the fridge in the morning of the day I need them. Saves money by buying in bulk, saves time by organizing it up front. And if you really have it in you, prepare your chicken by cutting off the fat and nasty bits, then storing in an airtight container, either in the fridge if the meal is in the next day or two, or in the freezer if it's later in the week. Sucks now, but you'll be so glad later that it's done!
• Recycle (or trash it) now. One tip for neat and organized storage is to remove all excess packaging and recycle it (or trash it if your local recycling doesn't take it) right away. Then when you're ready for, say, your pudding snack, just grab one out of the fridge instead of wrestling with the packaging. Bonus: they look so pretty lined up nicely in the fridge!

What tips do you have to get the kitchen in order after shopping? How do you save time throughout the week when making dinner? Share in the comments!

Glass of Sass: Making Grocery Shopping Less Sucky

Check out the latest Q&A in our new Glass of Sass column. We know our sassy fans have questions, and we've already poured a glass of wine so we're ready to fire off some answers!

Got a question of your own? Send it in and we will answer it in a future column!


I read your column last week and was so excited to find out about your shopping list! Do you have any other tips or tricks for making grocery shopping easier?

We're thrilled to hear you read our column like our shopping list! We totally find it helpful and are glad when other people agree.

So you want some more shopping tips? Makes sense - grocery shopping is unfortunately something we need to do, whether we like it or not. Check out our tips for making it easier:

• Always use a list. Our shopping list is broken out by store layout, which prevents you having to run back and forth all over the store. If you prefer to write your own list, take the time to reorganize it according to the layout of your store before you leave home. You'll save an average of 5 minutes and it will only take you 1 minute to write the list.
• Stock up. Look around your house for anything you're starting to run low on and if it's something that won't go bad quickly, grab it while you're already at the store. No need to make 5 separate trips during the week because you forgot something!
• Do your shopping on the same day every week. Pick a day and time of the week that are low volume (for example, Tuesday nights) that works with your schedule. Once you're in a routine it won't seem so bad - you'll know it's on the schedule and you'll know when you'll be done with it so you don't have to worry about it the rest of the week. You may need to supplement this trip with a quick weekend stop-in for some fresh veggies or meat, but the trip will be much faster since you've gotten your bulk shopping done.
• Research products in advance. If you're trying one of our easy recipes, print off the shopping list with images. If you're using a coupon for a new product you'd like to try, look at the picture and read the fine print. If you want to try some new tooth whitening gel, look up some info online first. It's much easier to get certain information in the comfort of your home, instead of getting frustrated running all over the store trying to find something specific.
• Don't go to the store when you're hungry. Aside from the old diet tip that says to avoid this so you don't have too many impulse buys, it's just a good idea to not go to the store if your tummy is rumbling - you'll be focused on that instead of efficient shopping. Plus if you're anything like us, you'll be grumpy and the whole experience will be more irritating.

None of this is rocket science but it sure makes our shopping trips more pleasant. Happy shopping!

Glass of Sass: The Dreaded Shopping List

Check out the latest Q&A in our new Glass of Sass column. We know our sassy fans have questions, and we've already poured a glass of wine so we're ready to fire off some answers!

Got a question of your own? Send it in and we will answer it in a future column!


I found a ton of easy recipes on your site that I can't wait to try. But I'm not familiar with some of these products - I'm totally new at cooking! Can you help me get out of the grocery store with the right stuff?

Glad you found so many recipes you want to try. Though we can't say we're surprised - I mean, we do think our easy recipes are quite tasty if we do say so ourselves!

As for your shopping dilemma, we've got you covered. Take it from shoppers who've been there before! We know what it's like to think you know exactly what you're looking for, then go to the store and get completely confused by all the options. Lucky for you, our shopping list makes grocery shopping a breeze. In just a few easy steps you'll be on your way.

1. Create an account with us. It's free and all the cool kids are doing it. Plus, it only takes a few seconds and even the busiest of people has that. Or you can log in now if you already have an account.
2. Browse your new favorite recipe site (FunnySpoon, duh) and click the "Add to Shopping List" button on each recipe that you want to add to your list.
3. When you're done selecting recipes, click on MyShoppingList in the upper right. Here you can review the list, then click the icon to print. And because we love you, we let you pick if you want to print with images or without. The first time you try a new recipe you might want the images to help with your shopping, but then once you're familiar with the products you can save a little printer ink and just print the products.

Bonus: We know that you eat at least a few meals each week that aren't from FunnySpoon. We're OK with that because we know you still love us. So we went ahead and put your regular weekly grocery items on the list as well so you can pick them up at the same time. Happy shopping!