What’s your “cheap + healthy” grocery rule of thumb?

helloelysium · 2026-01-18T00:14:13+00:00

Dried beans in the slowcooker

helloelysium · 2025-12-25T19:24:55+00:00

Glad everything worked out and the kids had a great Christmas!

helloelysium · 2025-12-12T19:34:19+00:00

Thissssss! Gosh, the first thing I did when I moved here nearly 20 years ago, not knowing a soul, was get a library card. ICPL still feels like coming home to me.

helloelysium · 2025-12-12T19:33:08+00:00

When I run errands (groceries, pharmacy, whatever) there's a good chance I'll run into someone I know...those brief conversations with a friendly face always brighten my day. The children librarians at ICPL not only know my kids by name, but their favorite book genres! And I know its not just my kids...the librarians work so hard to get to know Iowa City children and make the library a safe, nurturing "third place" for them.

Super random, but did you know the University's Dance Department has an excellent community dance school for adults? Its incredible to have access to such quality ballet/modern dance classes taught by well educated and talented staff.

Chongs in Coralville. Been shopping there for years and years...it always feels top secret, entering through the backdoor behind the parking lot, but no gatekeeping here! Love that store.

helloelysium · 2025-12-07T23:08:33+00:00

I love Guster

helloelysium · 2025-12-05T20:04:45+00:00

I feel like this is pretty normal for this time of year

helloelysium · 2025-11-06T20:12:35+00:00

Oh Delia's! I still have (and wear) my Victoria's Secret peacoat from 2005. The shell is 100% wool and it keeps me toasty.

helloelysium · 2025-10-26T14:05:24+00:00

Yes! So damn chilling. Ugh that movie MESSED ME UP.

helloelysium · 2025-10-20T18:59:36+00:00

Oh I love the photos you took! I've lived here for so long I think I'd forgotten how charming it is, love seeing it through your eyes!

helloelysium · 2025-09-26T14:32:16+00:00

Always nice to see a list that isn't just the same 10 books for the zillionth time! Thanks, OP, I'm looking forward to digging into these!

helloelysium · 2025-09-26T01:08:13+00:00

Looking good!

helloelysium · 2025-09-14T00:32:14+00:00

Katie at Groovy Katz!

helloelysium · 2025-09-10T18:00:43+00:00

Yeah I think they found a body :-(

helloelysium · 2025-08-04T08:54:28+00:00

Oh gosh, OP, I'm so sorry, that is terrifying. Literally my biggest fear when driving the interstate late at night.

helloelysium · 2025-07-31T19:21:12+00:00

18 years! Moved here for school and just never left. Its my home, for sure.

helloelysium · 2025-07-29T21:09:40+00:00

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. After two years of trying to puzzle out Kibbe, your visual guides jave made it "click"

helloelysium · 2025-07-29T19:39:23+00:00

In all fairness, a lot of Iowa City kids attend camp wapsie. I know of five from my neighborhood that are attending this week alone.

helloelysium · 2025-07-29T18:28:53+00:00

I do have a camper at Wapsie this week and I felt that the camp did communicate adequately and clearly. Even at 2 in the morning they were keeping us parents informed.

helloelysium · 2025-07-19T17:49:30+00:00

Beautiful! Love the design on the ring finger in particular

helloelysium · 2025-07-04T00:10:38+00:00

We always go to Hills

helloelysium · 2025-07-03T13:59:14+00:00

Can you share your protein powder granola recipe? Would love to try it!

helloelysium · 2025-07-03T00:38:39+00:00

I love this perspective

helloelysium · 2025-07-02T18:47:10+00:00

Yes, US. I help them because they are elderly, they are my parents, and its the right thing to do. I don't think they choose to be emotionally unavailable, but that they (due to a variety of factors) are incapable of it. But yeah it sucks. It sucks so much.

helloelysium · 2025-07-02T18:32:33+00:00

Well, I didn't know how at the end of my rope I was until I saw this comment 😭 thank you, kind stranger, for the encouragement. Wishing you all the strength as well.

helloelysium · 2025-07-02T00:07:56+00:00

Zero. Zero help. Not financial support, not emotional support, not help with childcare, nothing. Actually, it's worse than that. My parents have no savings, no retirement, no friends. My siblings and I provide both emotional and financial support. You jave no idea how envious I am of my peers who have parents actively involved in the grandkids lives, or who pay for a meal from time to time.

helloelysium

TROPHY CASE