SAVE TIME AND MONEY WITH MY ONLINE GROCERY SHOPPING TIPS

Huge discounts, better organisation, and more ‘me’ time are just some of the many benefits you’ll experience from doing your grocery shopping online!

I recently started online grocery shopping, and I can’t for the life of me work out why it took me this long to do so! It has meant so much more than simply saving time and money, and I have actually got the whole process down to quite a fine art. I honestly don’t think I will EVER look back!

I was always a little reluctant to do all my grocery shopping online. I liked to touch and see the food I was buying, and was convinced that walking the aisles myself was necessary in order to save money and be inspired for meal times. Oh how wrong I was! It turns out there are actually HEAPS of savings that are available ONLY to online shoppers, and the freshness of my fruit and veggies is as good as if I’d picked them myself. I also feel like I have a bonus hour each week because I no longer do my routine trip to the supermarket each weekend!

If you have been hesitant about shopping online, please keep reading. I feel like grocery shopping online has been a game-changer for me, helping to simplify my weekends that little bit more.

So what are some of the tricks and tips to making online grocery shopping work for you?

1. MANAGE YOUR BUDGET

ONLINE ONLY OFFERS – with online grocery shopping, not only am I able to shop the in-store sales, but I can shop the exclusive Online Only Offers too! I didn’t even realise that Woolworths offered these discounts until recently, but basically they put a range of products on sale each week purely for online shoppers. I have started buying items from this section in bulk, which in turn saves me even more money!

I recently picked up a few bottles of this Rose & Geranium Hand Wash which were on sale in the Online Only Offers.

EASILY STICK TO BUDGET – when I finish my online order and get to checkout, I sometimes see that I’ve ordered beyond my weekly budget. I have the chance to remove items from my cart (ice-cream and chocolate are usually the first things to go) or replace with a cheaper alternative. When shopping in-store I used to gasp when they told me the total, but it’s a little harder (and more embarrassing) to scavenge through the bags and give items back to the checkout assistant.

2. EASILY BUY IN BULK

It is so easy to buy items in bulk when shopping online, because you don’t have the hassle of actually carting the additional items around the supermarket and piling them on to the checkout. You also don’t have to contend with other people wondering why you’re buying so many rolls of toilet paper – LOL!

In addition to the Online Only Offers that Woolworths offers, they also have Bulk Bundles that are exclusively available to online shoppers – helping you save even more money on your shop!

Woolworths also gives you all the specials for your regular purchase, you’ll find these under “my weekly picks”. I go through this list each week and purchase items I know we use frequently like cereal, tuna, and washing detergent. I buy enough to last a few weeks.

3. SHOP QUICKER

I’m not just talking about removing the time it takes to drive to the supermarket and walk the aisles (although I do love not having to do this anymore!), I am talking about being able to save multiple online shopping lists so that I can easily and quickly place my orders. I’ve created a fortnightly and monthly list for the items I don’t need as often, and I check each week if they are on special and will add to cart if they are. I have also set up an Essentials List, which is packed with all my regular items – feel free to check out my list and use it too!

I’m so excited to partner together with Woolworths who have allowed me to share my own personal lists with you all, helping to save you time when you’re doing your weekly shop too.

4. BE REMINDED

Woolworths have a great system where they know what you regularly buy, and they will remind you before checkout if you have forgotten some of the items you usually add to the cart. Darn you Woolworths for reminding me how much I love the new mini summer rolls.

4. BE INSPIRED

Woolworths Dinner Bundles are only available to online shoppers and are a great way to fill the family up on nights when you’re lacking a little inspiration. I also like that if I am inspired by a recipe that I see during the week, I can easily add the ingredients to my online shopping list from my phone, ready for dinner the following week!

5. GET ORGANISED + AVOID MULTIPLE TRIPS

It’s much easier to plan dinners and school lunches for the week at the same time as I’m doing my grocery shop. I simply fill out my Weekly Meal Planner and Lunch Box Planner Pad for the week ahead, and then make sure all necessary ingredients are included in my online order. Being able to do my grocery shopping from the kitchen also means I can check what items I actually have in the pantry and fridge, which prevents me doubling up on these things, whilst also allowing me to easily replenish items so I don’t run out during the week.

6. SHOP ON YOUR TIME

Being able to grocery shop from home when the kids are doing their homework or whilst I’m watching TV means my afternoons and weekends – when I used to do my shopping – have now opened up. I am now free to spend this time doing things I love instead; like cooking, reading a book, watching Netflix shows I love, or spending quality time with my family and fur babies. I also love that I can add items to my online shopping list throughout the week when I notice that things are running out – and I can do this from my phone or my computer.

7. GET THE CONVENIENCE OF DELIVERY, PICK UP, AND NOW DRIVE THRU

PICK UP – I pick my online grocery order up from Woolworths on my way home from work for FREE! I usually order the night before for pickup the following afternoon. It is so convenient, and it costs me nothing! I’ve only recently discovered that I can do this. My local Woolworths has a drive thru pick up and they help you pack it into your car… winning!! I had always thought that online groceries had to be delivered to your door, but I found it hard to give a 3 hour window for when I was going to be home. Now I can track my order to the hour and also select ‘leave unattended’ if I think I might need to pop out for the school run.

MY TOP TIPS FOR ONLINE GROCERY SHOPPING

Online grocery shopping and picking up from drive-thru is my new thing, and I preach to everyone that will listen lately that they should give it a go. Here are a few of my tips:

1. Take your time to perfect your ordering system – it took me 3 goes to fine tune my online ordering process, so give yourself time to learn and understand how to order online.
2. Create lists – Create lists to help make shopping easier.
3. Use the search option – choose from a variety of different display options for your search results. If you are wanting to save, use the ‘sort by lowest unit price’. I LOVE this feature!
4. You can start adding to cart and continue adding to it throughout the week – place your order anywhere.  You can start your order while waiting at the doctors for your appointment, while in your lunch break at work and finish it off the night before you want to pick it up. If you start an order from my phone, you can even complete it later from your computer because it remembers you!
5. Double check your produce quantities – on one of my first orders I thought I was ordering 10 potatoes, but instead I ordered 10 packs of 2kg of potatoes. Woolworths were very kind and allowed me to return 9 packs 🙂
6. Add notes to items – for example, I like to receive a few green bananas so I know they last through the week, and if I know I am making a mince dinner 5 days from my order date, I add a not asking for the expiry date to be beyond that date of 5 days.
7. Items get substitutes – if they don’t have an item in stock they they will replace it with the closest match at the same price.
8. Let them know when you’re there – as they get your order ready and will have it waiting for you when you arrive.
9. Hot chooks – I have found you can’t order hot BBQ chooks online. We love a nice BBQ chook on rolls for lunch on weekends, so I usually get one of the kids (mine are teens) to run into the store to get it while I go through drive through to pick up the groceries.
10. Use tubs – to pack items into your car and easily take into the house.

How to Survive Winter Grocery Shopping!

Once winter weather hits, even going outside to rescue the morning paper can feel like a dangerous Arctic expedition. Errands like grocery shopping rise to the top of our "Grown-Up Chores We Wish We Didn’t Have" lists.

These four shopping tips will help minimize your number of grocery trips this winter while maximizing the amount of healthy food you bring home each time.

Plan Meals Weekly
Think of this task as a chore you can conquer in front of a cozy fireplace. Before you suit up and head out to buy groceries, plan out enough meals to feed your household for the entire week. List out every ingredient you’ll need to buy for each meal before you get to the store to avoid having to go back out at the last minute to buy something you forgot. Plan meals in proportions that will allow for at least one additional meal of leftovers.

Go Big on Non-Perishables
If there was ever a time to buy that jumbo-sized bottle of ranch dressing you never thought you’d need, it’s now. While it might be more expensive in the short-term, the more of a product you have on hand when the temperatures dip below zero, the more opportunity you’ll have to get creative with what’s in your pantry without having to go out in the cold for more.

Scope Out the Sales
Winter is not the time to be picky about which brand of cereal you choose. Buying cheaper versions of the same foods will allow you to stretch your grocery budget and buy more to last you longer. Keep your eyes — and your mind — open to clearance grocery items as you search the aisles. A seemingly miscellaneous item might spark an idea for a quick meal you can make on a night when it’s too cold to go out.

Collect Healthy Snacks
Some healthy snack foods do come in boxes. Snacks like trail mix, granola, whole-wheat crackers, and some brands of granola bars are perfect snack foods you can store in your pantry for months at a time.

No matter the weather, you can still make the most of every food-purchasing extravaganza. Plan ahead, try new brands, and think outside the frozen food section. Don’t forget your coupons!

The 7 Best Burgers In Taipei!

On the hunt for something to eat in Taiwan? Taipei burger is a solid option for gluttonous-seeking foodies.

From their night markets serving up local street food to their local Taiwanese cuisine, Taipei has no shortage of tasty food.

But, unbeknownst to some, they also have a thriving burger scene here and make some amazing American classics. Here are seven of the best places to grab a mouth-watering burger!

Best Burgers in Taipei

1. Burger & Co.

Burger & Co. is one of Taipei’s most-known burger joints. Their burgers look fast-food-esque but taste very gourmet. The perfect combination in our eyes.

Order the Grilled Bacon Cheeseburger while you’re here and enjoy one of Taipei’s finest burgers.

2. Awesome Burger

You guessed it, the burgers here are awesome, indeed. Fresh, quality ingredients make up their burgers at this price-friendly burger shop.

For those seeking a delicious chicken burger, Awesome Burger has an amazing spicy grilled chicken burger called the Jalapeño OYAKO Burger that you simply must try.

3. Gordon Biersch

At Gordon Biersch, you get what you ask for. Literally. If you have a preference in how your meat is cooked, tell the chef and they will cook it to perfection.

Enjoy a good ol’ fashioned American burger, cooked to perfection, and with all the normal toppings you’d find in a regular burger here. No frills and gimmicks at Gordon Biersch. Just the good stuff.

4. Burger Ray

Burger Ray is another popular shop in Taipei, as you’ll see by the line-ups that tend to form here. But it is because the burgers here are excellent that they are busy.

Their burgers are extra juicy, so Burger Ray is nice enough to include plastic gloves for when you eat tackle it.

Come to Burger Ray if you’re looking to indulge in sheer gluttony with their Heart Attack Burger. This burger is quite the mouthful and comes with foie gras.

5. Wagyu Burger

The Wagyu Burger is one of a few places that serve up wagyu burgers in Taipei. But, they definitely do it the best. Made with 100% wagyu beef, the burgers are juicy, tender, and incredibly filling.

There’s not much seating here so be prepared to eat on the go, but definitely come here for an A+ wagyu burger.

6. Kooks

According to locals, Kooks just might have the best burgers in Taipei. This joint makes its burgers the Western way: quality ingredients with a juicy and huge-sized beef patty.

Buns are freshly baked with tasty sesame seeds, and the fries always golden ‘n crispy.

7. KGB: Kiwi Gourmet Burgers

Vegetarian lovers in Taipei come to Kiwi Gourmet Burgers (KGB) for their veggie burger fix. While they have beef burgers here, with imported meat from New Zealand no less, most people come here for their amazing vegetarian burgers.

10 Must-Eat Street Food You Can Only Try In Taiwan!

Eat your way through Taiwan

Taiwan is home to spectacular hiking trails, a vibrant metropolitan skyline, some of the world’s friendliest people and of course, a fabulous food haven!

If you only have a couple of days to spare in this food paradise, here are 10 unique street eats to put on your Taiwanese food hitlist!

1. Grandma Lai’s Taro Balls

Taro balls, or 芋圓, are ubiquitous in Taiwan – you can find this traditional dessert in almost every region in the country. Served either over chipped ice or as warm dessert soup, the smooth, chewy taro balls are lightly sweetened with a drizzle of syrup.

Though not invented in Jiufen, some of the best taro balls are made by Grandma Lai’s Taro Balls in Jishan Old Street, which makes every component from scratch. Their rendition is served with soft sweet potato cubes and green mung beans. 

Fresh taro is peeled, steamed, mixed with potato starch and diced into bite-sized pieces. They are then cooked in boiling water to attain its famous “QQ” texture. Available in a variety of flavours such as Original, Green Tea and Sesame, this colourful dessert looks just as good as it tastes! 

2. A-Zhu Peanut Ice Cream Roll

Ice-cream spring rolls filled with peanut candy and cilantro?! Sounds like a strange combination – but trust me, this is something you HAVE to try. 

Originating from Yilan, A-Zhu’s Peanut Ice Cream Roll in Jiufen’s Jishan Street sells this unique Taiwan snack. This spring roll lookalike consists of two scoops of taro ice cream, grounded peanut candy (apparently made from the waters of Yilan) and sprigs of fresh cilantro.

The smooth ice cream and sandy, salty peanut candy shavings contrast and balance each other beautifully, with the cilantro adding a herby kick at the end.

3. Tianjing Chong Zhua Pancake

Scallion pancakes, or cong you bing, can be found at streetside stalls and restaurants all over Taipei. But for the best of the best, head to Tianjin Chong Zhua Pancake on the bustling Yongkang Street. 

You can’t miss this place – there’s always a snaking queue in front of the street stall, where you can see crispy Cong you bing being flipped on the hot griddle right in front of you.

Two things take Tianjin's pancakes to the next level: First, the impeccable layers of crisp crust and fluffy, soft dough. Second, the topping options of ham, cheese, eggs and so on – whatever your stomach desires. There’s something special about their pancakes, plain or jazzed up, that warrant several return trips. Plus, for just $1-$2 a pop, what more can you ask out of a street snack? 

4. Grandma’s Iron Egg (Tie Dan)

Iron eggs, or tie dan, originated in the North-eastern town of Danshui and remains a popular snack that is easily available along streets. The best iron eggs can be found at Grandma’s Iron Eggs, a small shop in Zhongzheng Road.

The process of making the chewy tie dan is tedious – the eggs are repeatedly air-dried and boiled in a top-secret broth, to achieve the desired colour and texture. Apparently, each batch of eggs goes through this process 11 times! 

The tie dan is savoury, sweet and slightly spicy, and are quite a popular bar snack amongst the locals. You can get them fresh or vacuum-packed, and they come in a variety of flavours including Garlic, Chilli, Soy Sauce and Original.

Fun Fact: Iron eggs were accidentally invented by a restaurateur who sold snacks at a dock in a seaside town. One rainy day when business was slow, she had to continuously cook the eggs in the pot of broth to keep them warm. This resulted in warm, flavourful tie dan that became a huge hit!

5. Liu Yu Zai Fried Taro Ball

Head to Ningxia Night Market for this interesting street snack, which was awarded the Taipei Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2018!

Liu Yu Zai Fried Taro Ball sells their famous Deep Fried Taro Balls with Salted Egg Yolk fresh in batches, all from their tiny street cart along the narrow Ningxia laneway. Each slightly-sweet taro ball has a thin crisp crust, with the soft taro paste dough wrapped around savoury pork floss and lava-like salted egg yolk. 

Everything is made on the spot, from working the taro paste around the fillings to deep-frying them so they’re fresh and piping hot. Don’t be alarmed by the long queue – once a new batch has been made, the line moves swiftly.

6. Ba-Wan (Taiwanese Meatballs) 

This is not your regular meatball. Taiwan’s 彰化肉圆, or ba-wan, consists of a translucent glutinous dough wrapped around a filling of seasoned pork, bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms and shallots.  Usually served either steamed or deep-fried, the “meatball” is served in a pool of starchy gravy with a drizzle of sweet chilli sauce. 

This unique Taiwanese dish originated from the Beitou region, but you can find it all over Taiwan now. Tonghua Bawan is one place that specialised in ba-wan in Taipei. The contrast between the chewy, slightly gooey skin, soft seasoned pork and crunchy bamboo shoots make this dish something to try when you’re in Taiwan. 

7. Aiyu Jelly

Fancy bubble tea might be all the rage now, but don’t skip out on Aiyu Jelly when you’re in Taiwan! This wobbly crystalline jelly is made from the seeds of a variety of creeping fig and is hard to come by outside of Taiwan – authentic ones, at least. 

Typically served with fresh lime or lemon juice and lightly sweetened with honey, this refreshing treat is sold in night markets and stalls around the country. Head to Alishan to find some of the freshest Aiyu Jelly in its origin region of Chiayi – where the fig fruits are handpicked from the treetops by local farmers. 

愛玉伯ㄟ厝 is a famous shop in Alishan that specialises in Aiyu Jelly desserts and drinks. Enjoy a bowl or mug of this delicious dessert alongside the gorgeous view from the Alishan mountains!

8. Tian Bu La

As you might gather, “QQ” is a popular texture in Taiwanese food – think chewy taro balls and tapioca pearls. The right “QQ” texture is one that isn’t too mushy or hard, but instead, just the right balance of slightly firm and springy. 

Tian Bu La is a savoury Taiwanese dish that, when done well, captures this texture to a T.

Directly translated as “sweet not spicy”, think of this assortment of fishcakes as a Taiwanese version of the Japanese model. These fish paste-based pieces come in various shapes and sizes and are first deep-fried before being boiled in broth. Prior to being served, the fishcakes are smothered in a special brown sauce and a side of sweet chilli sauce.

9. Taiwanese Sticky Rice Sausage 

The Taiwanese have taken the basic bun-and-sausage hot dog and transformed it into a street snack like you’ve never seen before. 

大腸包小腸 (Da Chang Bao Xiao Chang) is literally translated into “Small Sausage Wrapped in Big Sausage” – consisting of a barbecued sweet Taiwanese sausage wrapped in a “bun” of glutinous rice, topped with lettuce, salted vegetables and lots of garlic. 

Talk about carb overload. But trust, it’s all worth it. Head over to the Feng Jia Night Market in Taichung for a great rendition of this Taiwanese street snack – you can get it in Spicy and Black Pepper flavours, alongside the Original. 

10. Xian Dou Jiang from Fu Hang Dou Jiang

Arguably one of the most popular breakfast joints in Taipei, Fu Hang Dou Jiang boasts a simple menu of traditional Taiwanese breakfast items and insanely long lines. When late morning comes around, the queue often snakes down the block and around the corner – with waiting time ranging from 15 minutes to almost an hour! 

You have to order the xian dou Jiang or savoury soybean milk. It’s a hot savoury soup made from curdled soy milk, topped with dried shrimps, pickled vegetables and crispy youtiao pieces. Reminiscent of a saltier, more robust chawanmushi (Japanese egg custard), you’ll either love it or shun it.

Don’t miss out on their sweet soybean milk, egg crepes or shaobing either! Start the day right with a full breakfast, Taiwanese-style. They open at 5.30am, so if you’re looking to beat the queue, it’s best to start queuing by 7am.

How to Make Your Own Speakers!

Speakers produce sound by converting electrical energy into sound energy using magnets to "push" air using the cone of the speaker to push the air in and out at a certain frequency. While entire books have been devoted to this phenomenon, you only need a rudimentary knowledge of sound design to make your own simple speakers. Whether you want to spend weeks developing the next great sound system or just want to understand speakers a little better, read on to learn how to make your own speakers.

Method1

Building a Basic Speaker

1. 
   

   
   1
   Find copper wire, packing tape, and a strong magnet. While there is a lot of calibrating that goes into high-end speakers, the basic technology is actually pretty simple. An electrical current is run through a wire that is attached to a magnet. This current makes the magnet vibrate, and those vibrations are picked up by our ears as sound.^[1]
   

   • To hear the sound well you should also get a small plastic Tupperware or cup. This will amplify the sound much like yelling into a cone amplifies your voice.
2. 
   

   
   2
   Wrap the copper wire around the magnet several times to make a coil. You want to wrap the wire 6-7 times starting from the middle. Make sure you leave several feet of wire unwrapped on either side of the magnet. Tape this coil onto the bottom of your Tupperware, but without the magnet.^[2]
3. 
   

   
   3
   Use a bottlecap or other round object to make another, larger coil. Using both ends of the leftover copper wire, make an even large coil and tape this on top of the smaller ones. Like before, you will leave roughly a foot of leftover wire on each side of the coil -- this is how you will attach your "speaker" to your music source.
4. 
   

   
   4
   Place the magnet on top of the two coils. You want it to sit comfortably within both coils, but don't worry too much about touching every inch of wire.
5. 
   

   
   5
   Attach both copper wires to a music source. The most common attachment is a 1/8th inch cable or "Auxiliary" cord (the input on most headphones). Wrap one end of the wire around the top of the metal input and the other around the bottom.
   

   • Gator clips, which are small clamps that transmit electricity, can make attaching your copper wire to a music source easier.
6. 
   

   
   6
   Tinker with your speakers to get better sound. Try using a stronger magnet, keeping your coils tighter, using different "amplifiers," and playing different music sources at different volumes.

Method2

Building High-End Speakers

1. 
   

   
   1
   Understand the components of a speaker. While the basics of speaker technology have not really changed since 1924, audio technicians have been perfecting the design, electronics, and sound of speakers ever since. That said, all speakers contain a few basic components:
   

   • Driver: Transforms an electrical signal into sound. Drivers come in many shapes and sizes, but all share the same function -- they make noise. Many speakers have multiple drivers to handle many frequencies. For example, "woofers" are large drivers that work well for low-frequency sounds like bass, while "tweeters" handle high frequencies.
   • Crossovers: These small relays take complex electrical signals and break them up into smaller parts to send to different drivers, isolating bass, treble, and mid-range frequencies.
   • Cabinet: This is the shell of a speaker where the electronics are housed. In order to eliminate noisy "resonance" or to get the greater volume, they are produced in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials.
2. 
   

   
   2
   Buy a speaker kit. While you can certainly buy all of the parts separately, it is incredibly difficult to build good speakers without years of studying the principles of sound and electricity. However, the budding DIY speaker enthusiast has another option -- buying pre-designed speaker kits with drivers, crossovers, and cabinets included. When searching for a good speaker kit, you should consider:
   

   • Is the cabinet is included? Many speaker kits only contain blueprints for the cabinet -- you will have to buy, cut, and fasten the wood together yourself.
   • Is the crossover pre-connected? Depending on your comfort level with electronics, you may want to purchase a kit where the crossover is already assembled, or you can attach and solder the pieces yourself.
   • How high-quality to you want your sound? Most audio professionals consult the Loudspeaker Design Cookbook or LDSB, for advice on choosing drivers and crossovers, and you can expect to pay more for better quality components.
   • How powerful, or loud, do your speakers need to be. In general, this is determined by the size of your drivers.
3. 
   

   
   3
   Solder the crossover together following the provided crossover pattern. You will need a soldering iron, hot glue, and a pattern to make sure your crossover works correctly. All speaker kits come with a chart illustrating how to attach everything, and sample patterns can be found with a quick internet search if you are working from scratch. This prevents your speakers from shorting or burning out.
   

   • Make sure you completely understand how to read wiring diagrams before continuing.
   • Once your parts are attached, secure them to a small board with a hot glue gun or zip ties.
   • Finish by attaching your crossover cables to the drivers with speaker wire.
4. 
   

   
   4
   Cut, stain, and assemble your cabinet according to your blueprint. If your cabinet is not provided for you, you will need to buy the wood and cut it to fit your drivers. Most speakers are rectangular, but talented carpenters can play with other shapes, from polygons to spheres, to get better sound. While all cabinets are different, there are a few guiding principles to their design:
   

   • Use material that is at least 1.5" thick.
   • Always measure your wood so that it fits together perfectly -- any sound that leaks out of the speakers will greatly diminish their quality. Fit the speakers together before adhering them.
   • Wood glue is the preferred adhesive, but you can also use a drill and screws or biscuit clips as well.
   • The paint or stain you chose for your cabinet will not affect the sound, but decorate your cabinet before installing components to protect your electronics.
   • Be sure you are comfortable with carpentry equipment before building original speaker cabinets.
5. 
   

   
   5
   Install your drivers and crossover. If you followed your blueprints correctly the drivers should fit snugly into the holes you cut on the front of the cabinet. Adhere the crossover board to the cabinet so that the cables to the driver are not stretched or stressed.
   

   • The drivers are usually screwed into a plastic molding on the outside of the cabinet.
   • Use wood glue or adhesive to securely fasten the crossover to the cabinet.
6. 
   

   
   6
   Fill the rest of your speaker with "acoustic stuffing." This specially designed fabric is meant to dampen sound inside the speaker so that you don't hear weird vibrations or echos. While not necessary, it can help the sound considerably.