Costco Mom Hour: How to Host Holidays Without Killing Your Food Budget

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This post is sponsored by Costco. Since we think Costco is pretty awesome, we’re thrilled to partner with them! Not a Costco member? Get excited. As part of the upcoming Costco Mom Hour event, Costco is offering an AMAZING DEAL on membership! Head to the bottom of this post for more info.

The holidays are fast approaching and if, like me, you are a transplant to Portland, these festive times mean lots of out-of-town visitors. While we love hosting and getting to show off our city, having guests can kill the weekly food budget. Thankfully, we have Costco and (bonus), on November 4, we have Costco Mom Hour, which will make holiday guest prep a breeze!

how-to-host-for-the-holidays-without-killing-your-budget

Here are some of my “go-to” food items for weekends when I know I’ll be feeding extra mouths. Here’s a secret: I bought it all for about $100. God bless Costco.

Breakfast

Because our guests are usually from out of state, we try to pack in as much activity as possible while they are here. Factoring in nap time means that most of the “get out of the house” plans happen early in the day, requiring breakfast be quick, easy and, if possible, portable. This is why I love the Costco Bakery Muffins and the Kirkland Red Grapefruit Cups. Throw in a yogurt or a hard-boiled egg and you and your crew are out the door with little to no kitchen mess to deal with once you’re home.

Lunch

Once we’ve enjoyed our morning at the Children’s Museum or cruising 23rd Ave., it’s time to head home for naps and lunch. Because we live in the PNW, it’s safe to assume it’s probably a bit chilly and definitely raining. Bring on the soup. Kirkland makes a couple different varieties of soup but our favorite is, hands down, the Broccoli Cheddar Soup. It’s filling and delicious and a little goes a long way. I’ll usually set out a basket of Costco’s fresh baked rolls for dipping and a simple side salad as well. Comfort food for the win.

Snacks

It’s 3 p.m. and suddenly you’ve got a house full of people who need a snack. Not to worry. Grab a bag of Kirkland Ruffle Potato Chips and pair them with your favorite dip. Done and done. For a sweet treat option, we love the Kirkland Chocolate Covered Almonds.

Dinner

Here is the meal where you earn your hostess gold star. The Kirkland brand has tons of great options for budget-friendly, delicious meals that will feed many mouths. We have two favorites that always go a long way and/or work great for lunch leftovers the next day. The first is the Sausage and Meat Lasagna. It comes in a two-pack so, depending on how large your crowd is, you can bake them both or have dinner for later on in the week. Our other favorite is the Smoked Pulled Pork. Add BBQ sauce for sliders (using the fresh baked rolls you still have from yesterday’s soup lunch), throw it into taco shells with chopped cilantro and onion on top, or even use it on homemade pizza. Delish.

Dessert

Two words: Pumpkin Pie. Costco has some amazing dessert options but when it comes to feeding a large crowd, pumpkin pie wins every time. It’s delicious, serves up to 12 people, and is only $5.99. Because we love ice cream, I usually add a scoop of the Kirkland Vanilla to complete the festive plate.  Also, pumpkin pie pairs well with coffee. For breakfast.

Drinks

One of our favorite items to buy at Costco is wine. Their selection is awesome and the prices are hard to beat. We especially love the Kirkland Pino Noir and at $9.99 a bottle, it’s a great way to offer a high quality wine to your guests without breaking the bank. Another favorite beverage is the Kirkland Sparkling Water. With all the additional calories the holidays bring with them, it’s nice to have a drink choice that tastes good without the sugar and guilt. Throw them in your fridge and your guests can grab and go as they head out for another Portland adventure.

More awesome things about Costco

  • Kirkland products are rated higher than most leading brands.
  • Costco is leading the nation in organic sales.
  • Costco’s meat department is USDA Choice grade or better.
  • They offer FREE healthy heart screening and osteoporosis screening to all members and non-members.
  • They offer a 100-percent member satisfaction guarantee if at any time you are not satisfied.
  • Costco offers many services in and outside of the warehouse: Auto Buying, Check Printing, Travel and Car Rentals, Insurance, Mortgage Financing, Water Delivery, Leaf Guard, Flooring and Windows, Identity Protection, Pharmacy, Hearing Aid, Optical, and Photo Lab.

Ready to shop? Let’s do it together!

Here is everything you need to know about Costco Mom Hour:

When: Friday, Nov. 4 | 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. (an hour before the stores open to the public)

Where: Hillsboro, Clackamas, Portland, and Vancouver sites only

Who: All Portland area moms (and kids) (and dads, too!)

Why: To give you a chance to shop without the masses and get some awesome FREE stuff! The first 100 shoppers will receive a swag bag filled with awesome Costco products. There will also be 3 fantastic giveaways of 2 $100 Costco Cash Cards and a year-long supply of Tide Laundry Detergent! Did I mention there will also be extra samples and FREE continental breakfast?

portland-costcoNot a member? Grab this deal!

Costco is offering its BEST DEAL EVER on membership for this event only! New Gold Star members will receive a $20 Costco Cash Card AND $43 worth of coupons! Want to upgrade to the Executive Membership? You’ll receive a SECOND $20 Costco Cash Card! Signing up is easy and can be done prior to Nov. 4 by clicking on the link below, filling out the application, and bringing the printed form to Costco (hint: signing up now will also give you more time to shop and less time waiting in line at the event).

But wait, there’s more…

Can’t attend the event on the 4th but want to take advantage of the killer membership deal? No problem! You can still use the link to apply for membership. Just print your completed application and bring it to any Costco between October 15 and November 4.

Please register for the event here and help us spread the word by sharing with your friends!

2 COMMENTS

  1. Any chance Costco could host one on west side? Beaverton? Tigard? Any location for close-in West Side Portland????

    • Hi Helene! Beaverton and Tigard are not participating this year, but Hillsboro is! Costco selected which warehouses they wanted to have participate this year – with a maximum of four per metro area. If you’re close-in west side, you might see which is closer to you – Hillsboro or Clackamas.

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