Practically Proverbs 31

I'm baaaccckk...

2012-01-18T12:59:00.000-05:00

The economy has clobbered me! I'm fortunate to be able to work at a job that I love, but seem to have a hard time striking a balance. Honestly, it seems that the more hours I work, and the more money I make...the more I spend. In other words, I tend to get a little careless in my spending habits, or my time away from home (and kitchen) results in spending more money to keep my family fed. I am preparing food for six adults, and the grocery bill is CRAZY if I don't count my pennies. Please stay tuned for some of my strategies and recipes. It CAN work, I promise! I am a living testimony!

Frugal laundry

2009-02-09T20:04:00.002-05:00

Wow! So the price of Tide has escalated to untouchable for this frugal mama! I am a big believer in the power of Tide, and I always have been, but it was time to start investigating some frugal options. I would attempt to make my own, but I have one of those newer and finicky HE machines, and I'm not sure if homemade laundry soap would work in my machine at all or even damage it.

Choices are limited at the store when it comes to HE formulations. You have TIDE, and ALL unscented, and occasionally GAIN or CHEER HE, but not with any consistency. I'm a sniffer, and I love the smell of fresh laundry, so fragrance is important to me. There's one of the above brands, and I'm not sayin' which that smells like SKUNK. You read that correctly. S-K-U-N-K. There's another of the above brands that has given us all a rash on our sensitive skin. That leaves the other two choices, one of which is difficult to find all the time, and the other is too expensive.

So, in my excursion to Sam's Club, I noticed ECOS All Natural Laundry Detergent. Not that I'm big into environmental causes, because they tend to have their roots in the agenda of the Liberals. However, I am into *natural* when it comes to my family. It's just a preference and I am a believer that petroleum products are not healthy for consistent usage (not to mention all the other toxic chemicals in laundry soap). ECOS was $12.63 for 210 HE loads (or 105 loads in a regular machine). I hesitated because the detergent was lavender scented, which I love if it's not too strong, but how would it register with the males of the house? I bought it anyway. I've had a chance to use it already, as I've always got dirty laundry conveniently lying around. I tried it on a load of fleece and sweatshirts. I LOVE it! No strong smell of lavender noted after drying, yet the clothes have a clean smell and everything is so soft* due to the built in soy-based softener. This is definitely going on my shopping list for Sam's Club. I may even stock up. Once the secret's out, the price will go up.

*I do not use fabric softener, but rather dryer balls.

Pasta is always frugal

2009-02-09T19:39:00.002-05:00

But to me, pasta has the tendency to get tedious...like too much of the same thing. Here's a pasta recipe that I discovered many years ago, right off the giant bag of egg noodles at Sam's Club. I'd forgotten about it until today, when I purchased a bag of those noodle. My family was so happy that I rediscovered this recipe!

Montalcino Pasta Oriental

10 cups egg noodles
2 Tablespoons sesame oil (you can use whatever oil you have on hand)
1/2 cup carrots, julienned
1/2 julienned bell pepper (red is prettier, green is more economical. Use either.)
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
2 tsp. sesame seeds, toasted
1 teaspoon fresh garlic
1 teaspoon dried ginger ( I decrease this slightly. We're not ginger fans.)
1/4 cup soy sauce (or Bragg's Liquid Aminos)
1 cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
salt
pepper

Cook noodles according to package instructions, set aside. In large stir fry pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add vegetables and sesame seeds and quickly stir fry for two minutes. Add garlic and ginger and cook for another minute.

Mix in soy sauce and broth and bring to a boil. Stir in cooked noodles and season to taste. Serve immediately. Serves 6-8.

To add protein, you could throw in some leftover meat, but this is really great the way that it is...and frugal too! My family gives in 2 thumbs up!

Frugal that doesn't feel frugal

2009-02-09T19:17:00.002-05:00

I took another visit to Sam's Club today. Now that I've greatly reduced my trips to the store, it's amazing how empty things can get when it's time to go for another stock-up. I make nearly everything from scratch, not just by choice so that I can control the ingredients, but also out of necessity. I won't gripe here about the economy, by the way.

Now that I know what the good deals are at Sam's Club, I was thinking that the trip in and out of there would be expeditious. But no, I always seem to want to browse in Sam's Club. It's so obvious to me now how convenience entices consumers to spend way more than they should. There were a few things that I strolled around in my cart, but after I mulled them over I put them back. Yeah for me! That reminds me of my sister-in-law. During her last visit, we talked about how easy it is to BUY things, maybe even things that we don't really want or even need. Yet the fleeting satisfaction of making purchases keeps us going back for more. Here's her solution: Visit www.amazon.com or your other favorite online shopping site. Browse around for a while, even place things in your cart if you feel that you really must. When you feel that you've really shopped, shut down your computer for the night. That's right. DO NOT PURCHASE.

There. You've had your shopping fix, and you haven't spent any money.

Several days later, log back in to your cart and look at all the trivial things that you felt compelled to place in your cart. Not only does this give you new perspective, but you will also feel a sense of relief that you didn't foolishly spend all that money.

Mama's Pizzeria!

2009-02-07T18:34:00.003-05:00

When we first moved to our little corner of northwest Georgia two years ago, we almost immediately discovered an authentic pizzeria that became a Sunday afternoon habit. Giovanni's Pizza was the best. The service wasn't always great, but we could get two large pizzas overloaded with stringy, stretchy, full-fat version mozarella for $10. The middle of last year brought a disappointment when, without warning, Giovanni's disappeared. So began my quest to duplicate his recipe. The secret, I think, was in the cheese. Pizza is not a good choice for curtailing culinary indulgence...so no part skim mozarella, if you can help it.

As a family, we prefer a thin crust. Yes, you can have really, really good homemade pizza on the table in 35 minutes (not including oven preheat time to 375 degrees).

Starting with the dough...

In your Kitchenaid, using your dough hook, following ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

You may need to add water to the dough one Tablespoon at a time, depending on the humidity. Your dough should be very pliable, but NOT STICKY!

After you've mixed your ingredients for three minutes on low, separate the dough into two balls and roll out onto your two pizza pans. I prefer to cook on baking stones, well seasoned. I prebake the rolled dough at 375 for 10 minutes, then add my toppings. Toppings are an individual preference, all the way down to the sauce. I use whatever sauce I have on hand, but prefer tomato puree seasoned with oregano, basil and thyme. After you've loaded your pizza with toppings and cheese, bake in oven again for 15 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly.

So easy! And you read that recipe correctly...no rising time for the dough.

Some other variations (think CiCi's!) that we've tried:

Sauteed onions, bell peppers and black olives (for the grownups, of course)

Mexican Pizza: I've been known to use leftover taco meat, but you can fry one pound of ground beef and add an envelope of taco seasoning, prepared according to directions. Replace the mozarella with Jack or cheddar cheese, and after cooking, load on the taco toppings: lettuce, sour cream, chopped tomatoes...whatever you like!

Philly Cheesesteak Pizza: Fry one pound of ground beef, add one envelope of onion soup mix, and one cup of water with two tablespoons of flour (hint: whisk in flour well to the cold water before adding to the meat) . You can grill some more onions, bell peppers and mushrooms for a topping and finish with melted velveeta!

YUM!

A tiskit, a tasket

2009-01-31T16:38:00.002-05:00

You need a TRANSFER BASKET!

This is a great idea, especially for those like myself who want the entryways into their home to resemble the Pottery Barn catalog!

Amanda C., a mom and professional organizer uses a transfer basket to gather everything that needs to go out the door the next day (library books, bills to mail, schoolwork if you're so inclined to take it with you!). The basket is hauled into the car with every departure and brought back into the home when you return to be emptied. Hint: leave it in the same spot near your most commonly used doorway...and make it pretty!

Another idea is to have Prayer Basket. What is it about some of us that makes us want to basket up everything? I love baskets of all shapes and sorts! In your prayer basket, be sure to keep your current devotional book, a journal, your Bible, some highlighters and nice pen to write with. It might also be a good spot to park your MP3 player for times when you want to have some inspirational or Praise & Worship music. I like to keep my morning devotions on the move. Sometimes I may just sit in the living room, other times I will move it outside or on the side porch if the weather is nice.

Menu Planning the {simple} way

2009-01-25T22:12:00.002-05:00

I've found a system that I think might work...maybe not so structured as I thought I would need, but it appears to be simple enough to actually stick with it! I DO need to menu plan. It's one of two surefire ways to keep the grocery budget here at bay (the other is shopping less frequently).

Here's the framework that I'll be using for our menu plans (dinner only):

www.simplemom.net

For breakfasts I'll be starting out slowly with the framework in America's Cheapest Family, which is a very generic Monday - cold cereal, Tuesday - muffins and fruit, Wednesday - warm cereal with fruit, Thursday - eggs and all that, Friday - bagels with cream cheese and fruit, Saturday - something special like waffles or pancakes, Sunday - something make ahead.

Lunches stump me. I have one child who could live on PB&J with milk, and another who lives for those frozen El Monterrey Burritos. Other times we have grilled cheese and soup, or pizza rolls, leftovers, nachos, or quesadillas and salsa, but rarely lunch meat sandwiches (which are expensive, and I'd rather splurge at Subway occasionally). Lunch seems stuck in a rut to me, but I know that I need to have a more defined plan to help with my (soon to be) once every two week shopping trips.

How not to be frugal

2009-01-18T21:54:00.002-05:00

Lesson learned the hard way. I'm not sure how it works for you, but tonight I discovered why I should not take my husband shopping. The last time we went together was over a year ago, when I first embarked on my frugal journey. I've had a year of training in frugality, he hasn't. He simply impulse buys whatever he wants! It really disturbs me to watch someone pay full price (especially when I share the wallet).

Let me back up...

This week has been a week of reading frugal cookbooks, and frugal living books. It's not like basic training for me since I've been doing this for a while, but I am honing my skills in preparation for the worsening economy. I truly do believe that it is going to get much worse. There's one thing that I have learned, and that is that you have to actually USE what you stockpile, otherwise frugality is an exercise in futility. We've spent the past two weeks eating from the pantry and freezer, just as we always do twice a year in January and July. Notice that our yearly cleanouts come at times when pinching a penny helps (right after the holidays and again at curriculum purchase time). We could probably eat from the stockpile for another week or two if necessary, but I fear that it's becoming tiresome for my crew. Now it is time to stock up again!

Normally, I am not a warehouse club shopper. The $40 yearly membership is too steep to recoup for what we actually BUY there. Not all of their prices are so wonderful! However, Sams Club is running a deal through January 21st: if you purchase an annual personal or business membership for $40 ($35 for businesses), you get a $25 Sams gift card on the spot! That makes a year of membership only $10 or $15. Definitely worth it!

Be forewarned...you have to have discipline to shop at Sam's, and you have to know your prices to really know if you are getting the best deal. An impulse buy at the regular grocer may cost you $2 per item. At a warehouse, impulsivity may cost you $8-$10 or more per item!

Here are some good buys at Sam's, based on what we actually use a lot of and price comparison at Publix and Aldi:

Nearly all of their spices are majorly discounted. For instance, 20 ounces of onion powder for $3.48 (I use this as a base in nearly all of my homemade mixes for taco seasoning, spaghetti seasoning and homemade Shake N' Bake).
Pure Vanilla (not imitation!) 16 ounces for $6.67. I go through a lot of vanilla!
Mrs. Butterworth's Syrup, one gallon for $6.34.
Trash bags, 13 gallon with drawstring, 150 for $8.86.
Butter, $1.94 pound
Mozarella Cheese, 5 pounds for $10.87. I shred this into 2 cup portions and freeze.
American Cheese, 160 slices for $11.28. Yes, this'll last a while!
Basmati Rice (the only brand/type we like) 15 pounds for $16.77. Not the cheapest TYPE of rice, but we do eat only this kind. It doesn't get mushy and we use it as a base for fried rice often.

Organic Raw Spinach, huge tub for $3.84. We'll munch on it raw for a few days, in salads, then cook what's left in chicken broth with the Basmati Rice and a handful of shredded cheddar! Yummy side dish!
Cream Cheese, 3 pounds for $6.67.

As you can see, the dairy products are a terrific deal. Cheese rarely goes on sale, and when it does, you still can't beat the price of Sams. Hard cheeses freeze well when shredded. I have a Salad Shooter gadget which can quickly shred mounds and mounds of cheese.

Happy stockpiling...and remember to be trully frugal, leave the family at home!

Miserly Moms and Miserly Meals

2009-01-11T20:30:00.002-05:00

As a result of the new year, new budget and lack of decent coupons in the Sunday paper for nearly six months, I am rethinking our food purchases. I plan to spend even more time at home this year, catering to my family, and making my home a ministry. Since I'll be home more, I'll be making more from scratch (not that I don't do enough of that already!). I was so pleased to find this book through the Georgia Pines Library System. It is a treasure chest of inexpensive (but truly GOOD) recipes. Yesterday, I made a terrific hummus and a superb coffee syrup (to make iced coffee) . In making these recipes, I was test driving the book to make sure the results jived with my family's taste. So far, so good! I definitely intend to add this book to my cookbook collection when I find a copy at McKays!

Blog Awards

2009-01-11T20:17:00.004-05:00

I have been honored by my friend, Nekey, as the recipient of this blog award:

This award is meant for people who are positive, show gratitude,
and of course: make lemons out of lemonade!

The rules for this award are that you post the graphic for it, write a post that links back to the giver, and then pass it on to up to ten others.

Leave a comment on the blogs that get the award, so they know what's happened.

My friend, Jeannie, nominated my other blog, Eyes on the Prize, for the award as well...but due to illness last week, I was remiss in posting those recipients that I had chosen for the award. I feel badly about that, as there are so many blogs that I follow because I enjoy them and glean valuable thoughts and information from them. By now, they have all received the award from other sources. I do not keep a "blogs I follow" on Practically Proverbs 31. It's simply a maintenance issue for me, having a difficult time maintaining two blogs. However, I DO keep a blog list of my favorite blogs on my Eyes on the Prize blog. If you are on that blog list...it means that I thoroughly enjoy your blog. Consider yourself awarded!

And thank you, Nekey and Jeannie! I'm honored!

America's Cheapest Family and New Year's Goals

2009-01-04T19:21:00.004-05:00

New year, new goals and new sources of inspiration (along with the treacherous economy) have encouraged me to once again take a look at our household economics. With the Christmas season came numerous opportunities to blow the budget...especially in the area of food. And we all know that with the new year comes numerous challenges to change our diets and habits. I am on a homeschooling e-mail loop that has been chatterin' about such things, and in particular a few book recommendations to help in these areas. In the spirit of true frugality, I reserved a book at our library entitled "America's Cheapest Family - Gets You Right on the Money". You can check out their link here . I've done some snooping through the pages online. One of their tips caused a particular lightbulb moment for me: Shop less frequently. I knew that, right? Now it's time to put it into practice. They have hinted at once a month shopping, but for me that is simply too overwhelming. I am leaning towards every other week, especially since I no longer have occasion to be out toward my Publix every Sunday night. It will, of course, require tightening the meal schedule a bit, and PLANNING more. We talked about this as a family tonight and we all realized that we are making poor choices in diet (thanks to the merriment of the holidays!). It IS possible to eat a healthful diet and stay within budget. I have also reserved a few diabetic cookbooks for some ideas. None of us are diabetic, but in my cumulative years of nutrition study, I have found the low carb/healthy carb/high protein diet to be nutritionally sound and entirely doable and within our budget goals. Much of that will require portion awareness, which we all need a little coaching in. Smaller portions = less food purchase at the grocery store.

We also talked about eating with a nutrition goal in mind as opposed to eating for pleasure. Food is one of life' s greatest pleasures, isn't it? Children learn that at a very young age...and I admit, I play into it by gifting my children (frequently) with home baked goodies. It's a love language, I think :) The bottom line is that we want our children (and ourselves) to be reminded that occasional treats are okay, but MODERATION is the key.

I hope to be back to blogging more frequently on this blog. It's been neglected out of sheer busyness. Posting here keeps me accountable!

The project that I wish I had time for...

2008-11-25T21:56:00.006-05:00

I have a square table in my dining room. A rustic, extra large square table. 54 inches by 54 inches to be exact. Until last month, I did not sew. Prior to that, dressing my table could be challenging or expensive. Most square table cloths are 52 inches by 52 inches, and difficult to find, so for years I used a pretty shower curtain (70" inches square). Since I didn't sew, my only alternative for table cloths was to order from a restaurant supply catalog or from Williams-Sonoma (expensive and only available in plain white). Skip that.

Tonight as I was web surfing one of my favorite blogs, Nesting Place, I found a link to this adorable table cloth that you can make very inexpensively. You have to look here. It's frugal, simple, and makes a nice statement. I love it!

Pear Honey...well, kind of

2008-11-17T20:25:00.004-05:00

I like to give credit for the recipes, especially since this one is not my own. I found it at Recipezaar. I have been craving it for weeks, and I am not especially fond of any kind of cooked fruit! I tried to be diligent and respond to a post on our local craigslist.org for free pears being offered before the freeze, but the lady never responded to me. I purchased some pears at a 99 cents/pound price. I did learn a lesson about purchasing something for a specific recipe: hide it! My fruit foragers of the family devoured my pears in one day! I grumbled a little bit when I noticed this, because I had already combined the pineapple with the sugar and lemon juice...no turning back now! I improvised and used apples instead, but the result was still scrumptious!

Pear Honey

3 lbs fresh pears, peeled,cored,and finely chopped
5 1/2 cups sugar
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple in juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice

In a 6 quart stainless steel kettle combine all ingredients.
Bring to boiling, stirring occasionally.
Simmer 40 mins.
Spoon into sterile jars, leaving a 1/2 inch head space.
Wipe jar rims, adjust lids.
Process in boiling water for 10 mins.
Makes 7 half pints.

Just a note: In my opinion (and I have a terrible sweet tooth too), this is way too much sugar. I would reduce it to 3 1/2 cups the next time. I only made 1/3 of this recipe, because I'm not into canning preserves and had none of the canning supplies (I usually make freezer jam!). Therefore I only went through step 3 of the recipe.

Plan B

2008-11-11T21:50:00.002-05:00

Plan B is called into action when the children have a severe disdain for what's on the menu tonight. We all have different ideas for how to deal with picky children. I usually give my children the 30 second lecture about how we might not LOVE what is being served, but the point of food is to nourish our bodies and fill our tummies, etc. Then we move on. I do not require my children to sit in front of a plate of cold mush in a dark kitchen for hours on end. They are required to at least TRY a bite, and if they gag unanimously, we move to Plan B.

Tonight that's what we did. Last night, I was their hero as I offered my (Mom's Night Out) Guilt Offering Dinner of Steak and Baked Potatoes. Tonight I decided to use the huge portion of leftover baked potatoes to make a main dish Baked Potato Soup. It sounded good with bacon, green onions, cheddar cheese, sour cream...and husband liked it. The children, however, were relieved that I had made a fresh loaf of crusty bread from which I could whip up some French Toast. I'm sure one night lacking in vegetables isn't going to hurt them. I just had them pop a couple of vitamins and a glass of juice :)

Now, for tomorrow, which is the start of my new menu week, I do believe a family pleasing tray of Mexican Somethin' is in order...

Two days post-frugal anniversary

2008-11-07T11:23:00.004-05:00

Did I blow it at the grocery store this week?

We've almost made it to the bottom of our stockpile! Hooray! I took my weekly trip out to Publix yesterday to collect on their BOGO sales this week. Although I saved $97.58, I spent $132.34! That total sounds really inflated to me, does it to you? I'm sure that the average American family does indeed spend that amount each week in groceries, but they are not as frugal as I and I had to thoroughly examine my receipt when I got home. Usually, I post my bargains. This week I'll post what made my grocery bill much more than it usually is.

Tilapia Fillets, on sale, yet still $12 in fish this week (my oldest son loves fish and eats like a man when I serve it!)

Beef bouillon. I can't do those little cubes, I have to have the good stuff: Better Than Boullion, $5.49. I cannot do the MSG that is in other brands of boullion and soup mixes, so I make my own using the Better Than Bouillon. One jar (has to be refrigerated after opening), lasts me many months. It also makes to-die-for homemade French Onion Soup!

Bisquick. Why is this stuff so pricey? Oh well, at least I had a coupon.

Chicken on sale! Finally! It was a stock up week for chicken breasts ($2.49/lb) as well as leg quarters for .59/lb.

Olive oil, a somewhat expensive must-have. Pompeiian Olive Oil, 32 oz. size was on sale at Publix BOGO this week (final price $4.49 after coupon at www.smartsource.com). It's not my usual brand, but for that price, I can at least try it. I didn't stock up on it for fear of not liking it, but I will try it and go back for more if need be.

Pillsbury Savorings. These are normally $3.99 for a small box of 12. No way would I pay that price, but they this week they were BOGO and will coupons they were $1/box. They are a treat for our family, and my oldest son was in love at first bite. We tried the Buffalo Chicken variety, a bit spicey for my youngest, but very yummy. These would be great for party finger foods for this season. Coupons are available at www.smartsource.com.

It was a good week for stock up on many items. Now if I can keep my family from devouring the stash in one week...

Something from nothing

2008-11-04T18:24:00.006-05:00

It's my one year anniversary for frugal shopping! I wish I would have kept better track at the beginning of my endeavors to chart how much I have actually saved over the course of a year. I'm guessing around $1,800 to $2,000, but that's just a guess, since I only started officially keeping track in April. Some weeks, the bargains were abundant thanks to triple coupons and the grand opening of Publix last December. Some weeks, the bargains were scarce or repetetive, so I skipped a week.

In honor of my one year "Frugalling Anniversary", I decided to make a clean sweep of my pantry and freezer to make room for the holiday bargains at the grocery store. Usually, the coupon inserts plump up a little at this time of year, which will make for some good bargains. I say usually that happens, but that was pre-economic crisis, and I really don't know if the sales will be as wonderful this year.

I didn't do a menu plan this week, but decided to use up my stash. I find that eventually my stash becomes what I don't care much for. I refer to my family as "top feeders", skimming their favorite items from the top racks of our freezer. This week, I informed them, we would be bottom feeders. Some of the creations I've made from what I've found have been Chicken Noodle soup made from chicken bones I had frozen, Lentil Soup made with a variety of leftover vegetables I had stashed in a ziploc bag, and Chili from a small portion of TVP I found in the freezer. I also found hot dogs, which were not our favorite brand (Hebrew National is all we eat now), but they weren't so bad topped with the Chili I made.

Last night we had Roast Chicken Legs with rice and roasted vegetables, and tonight I made something with those horrid Smoked Beef Sausages (WHY did I buy so many? They were near free!). Here's what I made with the smoked sausage:

It was actually good! I crafted it from any kind of cheese leftovers I could gather (cheddar, parmesan, american and even cream cheese) melted into a white sauce with little smidgens of finely chopped onion and garlic and a dash of cayenne pepper. While the sausage is not my favorite food, it is my opinion that cheese makes just about anything palatable, doesn't it?

To finish off the evening with a mega dose of comfort food (I need comfort tonight, with the election results coming in!), I made a batch of homemade brownies. I'd like to share the recipe with you, since it can be made from nothing, except staples.

One Bowl Brownies

2 cups of sugar
1 1/3 cups flour
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts (I leave these out if I don't have them)
2/3 cup vegetable oil
4 beaten eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (I've used just one teaspoon in a pinch)

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Do not overmix! Spread in a greased 13X9X2 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.

(Mamosa's notes: I find that I have to cook these a little longer, sometimes closer to 30 minutes in a preheated oven. If you don't have or like nuts, you can use chopped up candybars or M&Ms instead. I've used shredded coconut for a yummy twist, or even crushed up peppermint candy. Use your imagination!)

Vote Your Values

2008-11-03T20:28:00.000-05:00

Another Publix jackpot

2008-11-03T17:51:00.001-05:00

No picture this time, sorry. I have already packed away all of the loot!

Kraft American Singles (16 count) $2
4 Grain Omega 3 eggs, one dozen FREE
Florida Navel Oranges, 4 pounds $2.50
Luzianne Family Size Tea Bags, 24 count, 3 boxes at 50 cents per box = $1.50
Publix Peanut Butter, 18 ounces for 1 cent

Total OOP = $6.80
Total savings = $12.02

I love it!

What's the big deal about $25?

2008-11-03T17:23:00.003-05:00

Due to some unforeseen medical expenses over the past few months, we have had to pull from other budget areas to keep up with our obligations. For instance, our lawn needs to be reseeded and the gardens need to be mulched, but that will have to wait due to the medical bills. I was feeling a little bit grumpy about it because it needs to be done in the Fall of the year. We missed it again this year.

My older son's pants seem to be unable to keep up with the length of his legs, and my youngest son's hand-me-down pants need to be altered to keep up with his waist. So, I pulled out the sewing machine and learned to hem. Still, there have been some clothing expenses this month as the weather changed. They both need shoes, but only because of extreme wear and not for lack of fit, thankfully.

That's just one example of the many wants and needs that seem to be waylaid due to the struggling economy. More than once recently, I've felt more gripey than thankful, thinking that things never seem to go my way and I never really have been able to get ahead.

And then...

The mail came today with $25 in an envelope as payment from an in-depth survey that I had taken about television viewing. That $25 came on a week that is 4 days shy of my paycheck, but just in time to pay for my son's music lesson payment due on Wednesday. A $20 payment, I might mention, that had the potential to put a crimp on an already strained budget.

And there's enough left over to buy a gallon of milk :)

Matthew 6:31-32

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

My beloved vacuum cleaner

2008-11-01T20:02:00.004-04:00

Way back in 1998, a traveling salesperson came to the door. He demonstrated his wares. Where I saw $$ dollar signs $$, my husband saw an investment. Spend THAT kind of money on a vacuum cleaner? Yeah, right. And we did.

The power behind our Kirby was superior to any vacuum I'd ever driven, and my husband was pleased that we had a quality built machine with solid parts. For me, all of those solid parts meant that the machine was heavy and cumbersome, even with the transmission activated. It was a royal pain to use the attachments, and I found that the edge cleaning capability left much to be desired.

I didn't whine, technically. But when the opportunity for a minor repair (but an expensive, minor repair) arose, I jumped on the opportunity to purchase a different vacuum cleaner. I eBayed and Amazoned and ePinioned and finally settled on a Bissell bagless vacuum ($85). When we moved to our three story Georgia home, we decided to use the central vac (now deceased) in the basement area, the Bissell on the main level, and the Kirby upstairs.

Two years later I am conceding to my husband that I was wrong, and he was right. The Kirby, though overpriced, is a far superior machine to the $85 Bissell and the several thousand dollar central system. Our Kirby broke again from excessive use :) (the plastic tubing that is detrimental to proper suction), and I was very quick to order the replacement part for it. I had a good eBay experience. When I purchased from ValuVacs , I placed my order on Friday afternoon and had the part on Monday morning at a much cheaper cost than buying from the local Kirby dealer.

I see a noticeable difference in my carpet's appearance even after only a few sweeps with the Kirby. It seemed to eliminate the grayish look on the surface and noticeably lifted the pile of the carpet. I am happy. Though I'd love to own a Rainbow because of the nifty things that it can do, I'm finally at peace with my beloved Kirby.

Bloggy Giveaway!

2008-11-01T13:38:00.005-04:00

My fellow homeschooling friend, Gina, is hosting a bloggy giveaway to celebrate her 31st birthday! Visit her blog to enter and win some beautiful jewelry

If it's not broke, don't fix it

2008-10-31T22:51:00.002-04:00

I love to cook, just not when I have to! If I have a menu plan, things go more smoothly and I don't feel like I'm being forced to come up with something at an inconvenient time. So I scan the cooking magazines (I'm a recipe junkie), and my trusty Taste of Home books and I make lists and I experiment.

But.

My boys prefer simple, tried and true. Don't all kids? I loved when my daughter lived here and she would appreciate a good copycat creation of an Applebee's entree or a home concocted Olive Garden pasta dish. My husband doesn't mind food like that, he just doesn't appreciate it as much as my daughter did. I know my boys don't appreciate it. They like SIMPLE.

I have decided that I won't fix what's not broken. Simple is easy. Simple is often economical. Simple is...dull, but I can adjust.

Here's what the big hits were at our house this week:

Mega hit #1: Chicken patty sandwiches (with exclamations of "MAN! Those are big buns". They were!), blackeyed peas, raw veggies, buttered noodles

Mega hit #2: Bratwurst, sauerkraut, garlic potatoes, broccoli and cheese sauce

Mega Hit #3: Lasagna, garlic bread, caesar salad

To me, I see those menus as boring. No experimentation warranted or wanted, but they received nearly unending kudos long after the last bite was taken.

A good day at Publix once again

2008-10-30T20:46:00.003-04:00

I still find it much more difficult than a year ago to snag a good deal, but I got all of this for $25.78, and saved $44.09. It is our junk food stash, so the males in the house were thrilled. Also, note that the Stouffer's Family Size Chicken Lasagna was a dinner entree for our family of four. Tre' was not overly happy with the lasagna, but I filled in the meal with a good salad and some raw veggies, homemade bread and butter, and dessert. I could not have made the lasagna for the $4 that I paid for it, so it was a good deal and Stouffer's claims "no preservatives".

Now that we got the healthy, wholesome part of the blurb out of the way, let's talk about the not so healthy but scrumptious Boston Creme Toaster Strudels. These are definitely dangerous, and each child could probably eat nearly a box, so they are a treat. I won't be purchasing these often as a matter of self-control. They are yummy!

The Steam and Mash Garlic Potatoes, another relatively new product, were good. Normally, I would opt for real potatoes made the inconvenient, old fashioned way...but these amounted to 50 cents per bag after the BOGO sale price and coupons plus store coupons. One caution, the garlic is real, and it is pungent. My husband was not happy with his last bite of potatoes when he bit into whole garlic clove.

Here's what I got:
Family Size Stouffer's Lasagna (regular $7.19, paid $4)
Ore-Ida Steam n' Mash, 2 bags (regular $3.99 each, paid 50 cents each)
Publix Kidney Beans (my only full price item,but I was having a craving, okay?) 89 cents
One gallon of milk $3.39
Toaster Strudels, 3 boxes (regular $2.29 each, paid 97 cents each)
Luzianne Family Site Tea Bags 24 count, 2 boxes (regular $2.19 each, paid 50 cents each)
Nestle Hot Chocolate Mix, 2 boxes (regular $1.99 each, paid 40 cents each)
Green Giant Steamer Vegetables, 2 bags (regular $2.39 each, paid 19 cents each)
Kellogg's Pop Tarts, 2 boxes (regular $2.29 each, paid 67 cents each)
Totino's 40 count Pizza Rolls, 4 bags (regular $4.19 each, paid $1.10 each)
Dristan Nasal Spray (have you PRICED this stuff?! regular $5.49, paid $3.00)

I think I did well!

Time to share a money saving secret

2008-10-30T20:33:00.003-04:00

Not that I was withholding, I had just forgotten about it until we had this recent cold snap here in NW Georgia, and I had to remember how to keep warm!

I don't live in an extremely cold climate, but we have our chilly days and it would cost me a small fortune in natural gas to heat our large home. I bought this Vornado VH2 a year and a half ago at Bed, Bath & Beyond for around $79. I use it to heat the main level of my three story home on the coldest of days. Although it is not intended to heat 1,500 square feet, it does a good job very economically. It takes about 15 minutes to get the warm air moving around enough to actually make the room feel comfortable. I especially like that it does not get hot to the touch and is safe to have around my family, without having to worry about someone getting burnt. When we need it upstairs, it's lightweight and portable. I'll most likely buy another one of these this year to keep in the basement, as it works just as well to heat the 1,000 square feet down there. No more drastic gas bills!

Be sure to note that the reviews on Amazon.com are being pulled down by people mistaking it for a very similar model, the Vornado DVH. The DVH is a cheaper model and apparently not as wonderful. If you decide to purchase, be sure to purchase the Vornado VH2.

A new trend?

2008-10-14T23:47:00.002-04:00

The trends in retail, just as in Hollywood and Milan, are volatile. It seems that everyone and everything has its hay day, and then at the whim of public opinion they are dethroned. Remember Farrah Fawcett hair with its Faberge' Organics patronage? Everyone wanted it and who ever thought it would go out of style? What about Michael Jackson, the one gloved wonder and Madonna prancing around in her lingerie with the rat's nest, bed head, bowed up do? They were IT. And now they're not.

The same with retail love affairs. Walmart professed "Made in the U.S.A" in their glory days, now they are sold out to Chinese imports and employee rights scandals. I actually felt very sad the day that Montgomery Ward shut their doors in the 1990s. Wards was somehow woven into my childhood. Maybe it was the Christmas catalog that we would study in great detail every November. It rivaled the Sears Wish Book, and we were happy to make our lists and check them more than twice. Now there is amazon.com and eBay. How silly does it sound to shop by Blackberry? Would my mother even know what that means?

Trends. I used to be in love with Publix, the epitome of customer service, and now I'm growing disenchanted. They are still wonderful at customer service, but not as good as they used to be. Their reputation preceded them, yet they seem to be tightening their belts as much as the next guy. Case in point: cashiers that scrutinize and question every coupon and make comments with pursed lips about how much I saved. Or empty store shelves by the second day of a really good sale. This week was the clincher: another dud sales ad, even in light of a grand opening in Hixson on October 8th, and inflatable prices, depending on what's BOGO. *sigh*. I hope the love lasts.

What to do with cabbage?

2008-10-11T17:27:00.002-04:00

For certain, it's one food item I'm not likely to grow in my container garden. We're simply not huge cabbage fans. This time of year, however, it can be an extremely frugal food, and it's loaded with fiber and a few other good for ya' things. Sometimes I just sprinkle it with a little sugar and steam it. Sometimes I will disguise it, shredded extremely thin with a mandoline and toss it into fried rice. I prefer it raw, so I make this:

Chinese Cabbage & Noodle Salad

1/2 head of cabbage, shredded thin like slaw
1 package ramen noodles (just the hard noodles)
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
green onions. sliced thin, if desired

1/4 cup oil
1 tablespoon sugar
sprinkle of seasoned salt
2 tablespoons of soy sauce
1.5 tablespoons of vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Shred cabbage. Break up ramen noodles into the shredded cabbage. Add sunflower seeds. Combine oil, sugar, soy sauce, seasoning salt, vinegar, salt and pepper in a separate bowl. Mix with cabbage mixture and refrigerate.

Oh, my!

2008-10-08T18:52:00.002-04:00

If you do not have self-control with scrumptious food, do not make this recipe for Cashew Butter Crunch Popcorn from last week's Times Free Press insert, Relish magazine. We inherited another super huge bagful of movie theater popcorn last Sunday, and I thought I would be clever and try a new recipe that uses popcorn. Well, I don't think it was such a clever idea now. The entire family cannot keep their hands out of it. I am so fearful of overindulging the in the stuff that I sent the bowl upstairs with my husband for safekeeping!

Curiosity Under Control

2008-10-08T10:57:00.002-04:00

This week was an exercise in self control, as we had a brand new Publix open in Hixson, TN this morning. All week, I have debated on whether I should go, or not. I've spent the past several weeks listening to Dave Ramsey podcasts, preparing for worse economic times by debating every dollar spent. You see, my pantry is well stocked, so I really don't need to go to Publix...but Publix usually has some awesome grand opening specials. And then I had to decide if the gas I'd be using was worth the 20 mile drive. I even stayed up 'til midnight last night just to see the new Publix sales ad online with its celebration specials. Would there be something in the new flyer that would cause me to have to go to the grand opening?

You know what? No. The grand opening sales were really not all that phenomenal, at least not like the grand opening in December 2007 of the store closest to me. Perhaps a sign of tougher economic times unlike 10 months ago, or perhaps because Publix is not brand spankin' new to the Chattanooga area. Either way, I'm staying home today. My curiousity is under control!

(note: I am also gearing up for the possibility of Bi-Lo offering triple coupons again soon. They seem to follow a pattern of battling the new competition in the area with triple coupon sales. I'm stashing away some extra grocery money for when that day comes!)

Melatonin Update

2008-10-07T14:05:00.002-04:00

It's still working well! I am so impressed, after years of struggling to get to bed at a decent time so that I can wake up refreshed at a decent time. Refreshed is the key word for me. I have learned that I cannot take the melatonin until about a half hour before I am ready to go to bed. Otherwise, I am unable to keep my eyes open, even if something is really good on t.v.!

I have been waking up on my own at 7:15 a.m. and have had so many productive mornings before everyone else is up in my home. I love it, and I don't think that I will be giving up my melatonin any time soon!

Grocery Budget Breakthrough!

2008-10-06T20:32:00.002-04:00

Finally! After months of trying to get the grocery monster under control (or should I say, The Dining Out Monster?), there is a breakthrough! Are you ready for this? $388 and some change...and that was with eating out a few times due to company and convenience. Nevertheless, I am satisfied that I am back on track with a good stash of coupons and a commitment to menu planning!

My boys have HUGE appetites, Jordan for fruits and veggies; Tre' for meat. Me? Just give me carbs (exactly what I shouldn't splurge on)!

Menu Plan Monday

2008-10-06T20:24:00.002-04:00

A skeletal framework for this week, subject to change, depending on what I find in my freezer and my cookbooks!

Monday: Homemade pizza, raw veggies
Tuesday: Chicken and Dumplings, rolls, salad
Wednesday: Marinated steaks and rice, grilled vegetables
Thursday: Fried Rice and Egg Drop Soup, oriental cabbage
Friday: Beef Stroganoff with egg noodles, broccoli

Visit orgjunkie.com for more ideas!

12 week countdown!

2008-10-06T18:19:00.003-04:00

I made it through September! We had out of town guests nearly every weekend, just when I was feeling like it was time to pull our lives back together with our homeschool and our budget. I love having guests, really I do, so I don't intend for what I have said to be taken as a complaint. It's not! But with the Fall season comes a renewing in our home. It is a time to turn our hearts home and focus on family and the upcoming holidays. With my sights set on the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, everything within me is screaming "Get a PLAN!" For me that means lists: lists for gifts, lists for groceries, lists for what needs to be done during which week. The countdown begins! Twelve weeks until Christmas! One of my favorite planning websites is www.organizedhome.com , with its free printables galore! Do you have a favorite holiday planning website? If so, leave a comment!

Melatonin works for me!

2008-10-01T16:09:00.002-04:00

I have not been sleeping well for the past month or so. In part, I'm sure, because my life has been on hyperdrive. In part, also, because my eating habits have been lax in the areas of sugar and caffeine (I'll blame that on company all month!). I tend to be a night owl anyway, as does my husband...but I've decided to try to change that habit at least little. My first plan of action was to get my husband to sleep a little so we added melatonin 3mg to his nightly ritual. It works for him to get to sleep, but he still has difficulty staying in La-La land. When he wakes up, he turns on the television, or his laptop, which in turn wakes me up. Not only that, but it has been proven in sleep studies that any light (including the tiny glow eminating from your alarm clock) interferes with a solid sleep cycle because it causes your body to halt production of the hormone melatonin. Thus, I have made the decision to supplement myself with melatonin 3mg at bedtime. I am pleased to report that it works. So well, in fact, that when my husband tried to wake me up at (*wink*) 2 a.m., I had difficulty opening my eyes. I was so relaxed that my eyelid muscles did not even want to cooperate! Woohoo! Now THAT's an improvement!

What's on the menu?

2008-10-01T15:57:00.002-04:00

A group of fellow homeschoolers was discussing menu ideas this afternoon, and I thought of something that I hadn't made in quite some time. Here's my recipe:

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

1 beaten egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
3/4 tsp. salt
dash of pepper
1 pound of ground beef (or 1/2 lb ground pork and 1/2 pound ground beef)
3/4 cup cooked rice
6 large or 12 medium cabbage leaves
1 can of tomato soup
1 T. brown sugar
1 T. lemon juice

In a bowl, combine egg, milk , W-sauce, onion, salt and pepper. Mix well. Add meat and cooked rice. Mix well.

Remove center vein of cabbage leaves, keeping each leaf in one piece. Immerse leaves in boiling water for about three minutes or until limp. Drain. Place 1/2 cup of meat mixture on each large leaf or 1/4 meat mixture on each medium leaf. Fold in sides. Starting at unfolded edge, roll up each leaf, making sure that folded edges are included in the roll. Arrange in a 12X7X2 baking dish. Stir together the tomato soup, brown sugar and lemon juice. Pour sauce mixture over cabbage rolls. Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree oven for 1 1/4 hours, basting once or twice with sauce. Makes 6 servings.

Menu Plan Tuesday?

2008-09-23T10:59:00.004-04:00

I have not been on the computer as much, so I missed Monday. However, I wanted still wanted to have a menu plan. It keeps me on track and helps me to spend less at the grocery store. The family seems to be enjoying The Plan also.

Monday: We had Barbecue Chicken, yellow rice and broccoli-dill-cheese bundles (I don't have a recipe, sorry. I made it up as I went)

Tuesday: London Broil with mashed potatoes and peas

Wednesday: Meatball calzones, raw veggies, apple-grape-walnut salad

Thursday: Roman Soldier Packets (recipe below), spinach salad

Friday: Crockpot Lasagna, lemon pamesan broccoli, salad

Roman Soldier Packets
(one of Jordan and Tre's new favorites)

1 pound ground chuck or sirloin, shaped into four patties
4 (or 8) frozen hash brown patties
1/2 sliced onion
McCormick Montreal Steak seasoning
cheese, if desired
mushrooms, optional

Take four large sheets of aluminum foil or foil packet, spray with non-stick spray. In the center of each sheet, place a hash brown (if you have a big eater, stack two hash brown patties). Top the hash brown with the beef patty. Top the beef patty with the sliced onions. Sprinkle with Montreal Steak Seasoning. Top with cheese and mushrooms, if you like. Fold each into a packet. Bake at 400 degrees for one hour (or double foiled on a grill or campfire for an hour). Serves four.

My non-conspiracy theory, non-paranoid, non-obsessive post that should scare you

2008-09-19T09:24:00.007-04:00

People who know me know that I tend to prefer natural over synthetic for health reasons. I don't subscribe to the "somethin's gonna' get ya'" line of thinking, but neither do I feel that we should be lax in being aware of what is being put into our bodies. God has ordained each and every one of our days here on earth, so to be fretful over "what's gonna' get us" is not productive...and neither is sticking our head in the sand. We are called to be good stewards of our bodies. For some of us, that is a daily personal challenge (referring to myself). My selfish tendencies cause me to want to eat what tastes good. I struggle with sugar intake, and I struggle with my weight. I have health issues. Yet, I know that I am called to be a good steward of my body because I need to function optimally to do God's calling while I am here. "You can't do that effectively if you're not taking care of yourself". I know this, yet I am usually my least important priority on the agenda.

I do have a tendancy to be a consumer watchdog. Part of that bent is my attempt to be a good steward, the other reason is that I need to focus on what is just and right which stems out of concern for others. Especially children. I have come across two headlines this week which deeply disturb me.

The following report addresses food dyes that are commonly in American food products yet not permitted in their international counterparts. Why is it that other countries are more stringent with their standards, and yet American consumers are willing to accept substandard or even dangerous ingredients? We should all be complaining a bit!

Report on Food Dyes

This article addresses Bisphenol-A, a chemical compound found many American consumer goods. BPA has been banned in Canada and is in the process of being banned by the European Union. Just last month, our own FDA released a statement that this compound is safe. That should anger you, considering that BPA is in just about everything including the polycarbonate drinking bottles, infant bottles and sippy cups.

Common chemical BPA under scrutiny as study links it to diabetes, cardiovascular disease

This list goes on with products that are allowable and even embraced by the FDA. One of the more notable products is Nutrasweet (also known as aspartame). This should have been banned long ago based on consumer complaints, side effects and lab studies. Most in my circle of friends will not touch the stuff, but I still know people who welcome the chemical into their bodies for the sake of cutting calories and eliminating sugar from their diets. So, okay..."No sugar, just chemicals for me in the name of health?" I don't get it.

And who can recall the recent slew of Chinese products that were tainted with lead or toxins? It's a quite common occurrence, and we should all be demanding to know why. The Cold War ended before I was born (ref: communism in the 1950s), but I still do not believe for an instant that a communist nation has the best interests of the United States in mind when they export millions of dollars of tainted products to the U.S. monthly. China has different quality control standards for products shipped to the U.S.A. than they do for products exported to Canada, Australia and European countries. It's a fact.

To check for the latest food and drug recalls, click here.

To check for the latest toy and product recalls, click here. Test me in this: click on individual recalls and note the manufactured in information in each listing. Guess where?

Do you buy fruit and vegetable wash?

2008-09-16T09:11:00.005-04:00

It can be rather pricey, but it's important to get the pesticide residue off of your fruits and veggies. In the best of circumstances, we could all afford organic produce. I have had to reduce my purchase of organics and non-GMO items for non-vital purchases*, simply due to cost. However, it's important to wash ALL fruits and veggies, organic or not. Better yet, buy local! Here's a good, economical tip:

Wash your vegetables in a large bowl of cool water to which you've added 2 to 3 tablespoons of baking soda. This helps remove pesticides as well as any dirt and wax.

* By "non-vital" organic purchases, I am referring to thick skinned or pesticide resistant produce. For the following items, it is important to buy organic, or grow your own (taken from mercola.com):

Peaches
Apples
Sweet bell peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Lettuce
Grapes (imported)
Pears
Spinach
Potatoes

Menu Plan Monday

2008-09-15T20:56:00.003-04:00

Monday
Lunch: leftover pizza
Dinner: Pork Chops with gravy, leftover rice, peas

Tuesday
Lunch: egg sandwiches, chips, grapes
Dinner: Poppy Seed Chicken, broccoli, apple salad

Wednesday
Lunch: pizza rolls, raw veggies and dip
Dinner: Grilled Chicken, Corn on the Cob, pasta salad

Thursday
Lunch: quesadillas and salsa
Dinner: Ham & Cheese Wraps, frozen fruit salad

Friday
Leftovers!

For more menu plans visit orgjunkie.com .

Encouragement for uncertain times

2008-09-13T23:31:00.001-04:00

Courtesy of my friend, Jackie's blog...um, and the Bible:

For the Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8

The reason why

2008-09-13T22:52:00.002-04:00

I haven't posted on this blog in so long is twofold: one, because I haven't had the time and two, because I really haven't saved any money. I'm sure that the second reason is the result of the first reason. No time to plan, I overspend. I love to harvest ideas from other frugal blogs, but sometimes I don't have the computer time to check them all out thoroughly.

We are smack in the middle of birthday month in our home, compounded by the lack of work (or should I say lack of work on the days that I am available), living on drastically reduced income and having visitors all summer and into September. Whew! I love to practice hospitality, but I am going to have a backup plan, in writing, for when I have surprise guests and a dwindling stockpile. I had a difficult time pulling off feeding 6 adults and 7 children in a frugal sort of way! We anticipate having 8 adults and 8 children over the holidays, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ideas anyone?

Now, typically we buy organic on the necessary items and limit snack type junk food, but my husband likes to have a snack variety on hand with company. You know...for mindless, social grazing!

Here's what we did this time to stretch the budget: Pasta this-a-way and that-a-way too with salads; baked oatmeal, bagels or homemade apple butter (almost free!) for breakfast; chicken fried rice for dinner or a hearty shepherd's pie with a crusty bread. Frugal lunches seem to be a challenge. Lunchmeat is NOT economical unless you do the nitrite laden junk meat (bologna). Blech! We did quesadillas and salsa for lunch one day, but they ate a alot, and I mean A LOT. We blew through a huge bag of mexican cheese and three packages of tortillas! So besides ramen and junk meat, what do you all do for frugal lunches?

Good grief! We are all on carb overload, but hey, carbs are cheap!

So other than rambling on and on and begging for frugal ideas, I will end this blog with a purpose: a public proclamation that come Monday afternoon when the company is gone, and my Coupon Clippers order has arrived, I will do a menu plan and a shopping list. Praise God that He provides, now I have to do my part in being a good steward!

Tiny Love

2008-09-06T21:55:00.003-04:00

Tiny Love is proud to be the recipient of the most prestigious international toy awards for quality, excellence and innovation. You are invited to explore the full range of product offering as you seek to fill your baby’s world with award-winning, developmentally appropriate toys. Take a look! The following Tiny Love products have won awards:

Activitot™ Tropic Isle

Activitot™ Sun Garden

Gymini® Super Deluxe - Lights & Music Activity Gym

Gymini® Duet Activity Gym
Gymini® 3-D Activity Gym
Gymini™ Total Playground™
Symphony-In-Motion™ Mobile
Symphony Light & Motion Mobile
Clip & Go™ Musical Mobile
Developlay™ Activity Center
Musical Stack & Play™
Activity Ball
Taylor the Hug-Me Turtle
Baby's Wind Chimes
Stroller Play Set
Take-Along Arch™
Musical Take-Along Arch™
3-D Activity Book
Double-Sided First Book

To sweeten the deal, you can receive 15% off your online order at www.TinyLove.com.
Just enter code mom2008 !

Grocery Bill Bummer

2008-08-14T18:50:00.007-04:00

I have neglected to tally the results for July, because I knew that we had WAY overspent in the area of groceries. Sure, we had company and sure, we are eating healthier...but our budget cannot handle $893 per month. Yes, you read that correctly. No, I am not exaggerating. As I held my breath, my MS Money program generated last month's report. When I saw the total I had to quickly recalculate manually. Yes. $893.

Of course, it doesn't help the matter when my non-frugal, ice cream craving husband runs to the most expensive grocer in town and buys cartons and gallons of what HE thinks might be a good deal because the sign said SALE. The damage for that particular trip was $27. The ice cream is gone with nothing to show for it except 1 pound on the scale.

Feeling rather poorly (in more ways than one) over the budget matter, I decided to make loads of apple butter with FREE apples from our surprise apple tree in the front yard. I had no clue that it was an apple tree until this spring. Last year, after the buds were set we got a record breaking hard freeze here in NW Georgia. Easter Sunday 2007 never rose above freezing, and thus damaged last year's crops. This year we had lots of fun surprises in the yard...and bushels of apples!

Right time, right place, right price

2008-08-02T14:55:00.004-04:00

Not too long ago, I posted about losing my bread machine paddle. I was back to the (nearly) old fashioned way of making homemade loaves, but I did still make use of my KitchenAid with its dough hook for the kneading. Truthfully, I found my myself purchasing store bought bread more frequently as a matter of convenience and a busy schedule. We were definitely beginning to miss the wholesome goodness of three-seed bread.

I got up way early this morning to go to the 50% off sale at our area's children's consignment sale, making use of my consignor's pre-sale pass. Because I had a pass, I got in an hour and half earlier than the general public. Lo and behold, a breadmaker...nicer than the one I had lost the paddle to, with a price tag of $25, marked half price to $12.50! There was no instruction manual, but I easily found one online as a .pdf file. I more than covered the cost of my purchase with the items that I consigned. This particular breadmaker retailed for $180 new.

I nearly didn't consign at this sale because my time during drop-off week was at a premium. I was right in the middle of last minute preparations for our block party and a week full of company. This was my first time consigning on such a large scale, and I decided to stay up until 2 a.m. last Friday morning to prepare the items I was going to consign. Just Between Friends makes it so easy to consign, but I was just feeling uncertain because I hadn't done it before. I, in fact, used to be part owner of a children's consignment business in Florida in the early 1990's, but it was a lot of work before the era of bar coded tags. We had to do everything manually "back then". Nicole of Just Between Friends is definitely onto something! Had I not consigned, I likely would not have shopped either. So, I certainly feel blessed that I was in the right place at the right time purchasing my breadmaker at the right price.

Dog hair management

2008-07-12T16:44:00.002-04:00

If you are reading this post hoping to get some pointers, sorry.

I am at wit's end trying to manage the dog hair in our home. We have two dogs: one cock-a-poo, and one little terrier type dog. The cock-a-poo is the culprit of my current dilemma. I love my dogs dearly, but the hair adds to my work at least ten-fold. I have to dust mop and vacuum daily, or else. These hair bunnies are so abundant and large that we have considered naming them and adding them to our family of pets.

Currently, our main level a/c is broken and awaiting the repairman on Monday. We are using fans for circulation from the upper level. Therefore, our hair bunnies have taken flight. It's gross, actually. I have a huge fear of serving a meal and discovering that flying pet dander has found its final resting place in our food. Any ideas? We have hard woods and tile on this level. Our dogs basically live in the laundry room (don't feel bad for them, it's large), so they are contained. I have even considered shaving the cock-a-poo. I would probably give the dogs to a good home, but it would break by kids' hearts.

Redmond RealSalt

2008-07-11T21:55:00.002-04:00

My dear friend, Jackie, asked me to post about my use of sea salt, as opposed to iodized table salt. I suppose I should make a disclaimer by stating that my use of sea salt is based on none other than the testimonies of other like-minded individuals, and a little of my own rationale. I prefer any food that I take to be minimally processed, salt being no different. Some sea salts are not as heavily processed as table salt, so they retain trace minerals that are usually removed in the refining process (a health benefit!). Also, most commercial salt manufacturers add iodine (which we get enough of already due to the highly processed American diet) or anti-caking additives like silica or bleaching agents. Since I've been using Redmond Sea Salt for four years, I have developed a discriminating palate. Commercial iodized salt actually tastes bitter to me now. Also, with Redmond RealSalt, I don't have to use as much, which means my sodium intake is naturally decreased. There are many forms of sodium that will raise blood pressure and cause edema (fluid retention) if you have issues with those things, sea salt included. However, based on testimonies, sea salt seems to have less of an adverse effect. Still, as in all things, moderation.

Lastly, salt is essential to life. Our blood is made up of 0.9% saline, which is why it is given via I.V. infusion to normally increase blood volume in ill patients. God amazingly designed our bodies! Sea salt soaks are recommended for a variety of ailments and wound healing. It is a effective treatment for psoriasis and eczema, and well known for its cleansing properties.

Try it!

Nutty.

2008-07-10T21:51:00.002-04:00

No, not me, silly. My diet!

The super thin lady at the health food store was amazed that I had lost ten pounds since the last time she had seen me. You should have seen the look on her face when I told her my diet consists of an abundance of nuts. "What! They're so high in fat!" Yes, lady, they are. But a good kind of fat. And Vitamin E. And Omega 3's. And protein.

And they satisfy me so I eat less with very little need to indulge in other high fat, high sugar foods.

Yes, it's working, and I feel great!

Egg blessing!

2008-07-10T21:32:00.003-04:00

I received a phone call from a friend tonight that she was on the way home from the nearby dairy farm with milk...and 15 dozen eggs that the farmer offered to her. FOR FREE! I love free, and I love farm fresh eggs. So many people have a difficult time imagining me as a Florida farm girl, but I was for three years, just to try it out and have access to food where I could control its integrity. It was a fun hobby, but a lot of work. My chickens were my favorite. It was always a thrill to go out and lift the fanny of a hen to find an egg. I know, it doesn't take much to excite me.

Imagine my excitement to crack open some of those FREE eggs tonight and notice that they were all double yolked eggs. Betcha' never see those from the grocery store!

I am making big plans for my FREE eggs. Currently, I have four loaves of pumpkin-zucchini bread in the oven. The house smells like a farm house, the air laced with pumpkin, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon. Mhmmm.

Tomorrow I will make popovers. If you've never experienced a popover (hollow puffy rolls), you should!

Also, eggs can be whipped up and frozen, defrosted for use in a later recipe. For convenience, I freeze the eggs in two-egg portions.

Yes, this was an egg blessing! They will be put to good use!

Does it only happen to me?

2008-07-10T15:14:00.003-04:00

Back in January, I accepted an e-mail invitation to join the CVS Advisory Panel. In exchange for my time in taking online surveys, I would be rewarded with Extra Care Bucks. I took the first survey in March. It took approximately 20 minutes of my time, and on completion I received an e-mail that my $10 in Extra Care Bucks would show up in my account by April 29, 2008. That date came and went, and I even gave it a little longer in case they were running behind. In June, I called the hotline and told them I never received my ECBs. The operator spoke to a supervisor and the ECBs were placed in my account immediately. The phone call took about 15 minutes while I was repeatedly placed on hold. That means for a 35 minute investment of my time, I earned $10 in ECBs. Not too bad. Then it happened again. I took a survey by e-mail invitation in the middle of June. This survey took 15 minutes to complete, with a promise that my ECB reward would be in my account on June 28th. They weren't. I called today, and was met with a similar response. They would need to have it investigated, and if I was due the ECBs, they would be placed into my account. I'm not a grump, by all means. I do take surveys for other companies, get paid decently for it, and have not had issues with payment like I do with CVS. I'm wondering if I'm the only one?

How about lost or returned rebate submissions? I follow the submission guidelines meticulously, but sometimes they are returned to me stating that I did not follow the guidelines. This happened with a Colgate-Palmolive promotion recently. I had to resubmit the form (there was no mistake on the original), verify the UPCs, send a letter of explanation, and stick another postage stamp on it. It was corrected, I received by incentive, but it took a silly amount of time.

And again, with the Publix/JC Penney gift card promotion back in January. While checking back through my rebate folder, I noticed I hadn't received it, so I e-mailed Publix. I received a phone call from a representative two weeks later explaining that many of the submissions for that promotion were lost. She asked me how many I qualified for, and the next day I received an overnight envelope containing my JC Penney gift card for $10. $10 is still $10, but for the amount of time it took me to resolve the issue, I have to wonder if it was worth it.

How about you? Do you think that rebates are worth it in comparison to the amount of time they take to manage?

My, how spoiled I have become

2008-07-09T23:10:00.004-04:00

My bread machine paddle is missing. This has happened before, many years ago. I most likely pitched it out by accident with the end of a loaf. When this happened 5 years ago, I was able to buy an identical bread machine at a local thrift store for $5, from which I scavenged the paddle. Pretty thrifty, considering that a new paddle from a parts warehouse would have cost $20 plus shipping!

I am in the same position again, except that my bread machine is now 15 years old, and I have to wonder if I should just replace the entire unit. I used to see them all the time at thrift stores, or yard sales, but not so much now that I am looking to buy. And I am spoiled. I have a Kitchenaid with a dough hook, and I have the stoneware baking pans. The only problem with that, is that I have to heat up the entire oven to make it the old fashioned way, and I have to be here to babysit the loaf.

So, what should I do? Replace with another machine, or buy a paddle for $20, or just buckle down and do it the old fashioned way?

Or...should I delegate the job to Jordan, who has taken a fancy to bread making?

My frugal menu plan for this week 7/6 through 7/13

2008-07-08T21:17:00.002-04:00

Sunday - Navy Bean Soup and homemade croutons, salad
Monday - Chicken and Yellow Rice (made with leftovers), broccoli, garlic bread, fruit cocktail
Tuesday - Spaghetti and tomato sauce with italian sausage, garlic bread, salad
Wednesday - more Spaghetti and tomato sauce (my family loves, loves, loves this!), gelato
Thursday - Gorditas (made with Old El Paso dinner kit)
Friday - Accidental Pie (like Shepherd's Pie, but with cheese), vegetables, applesauce
Saturday - Barbeque sandwiches, shredded taters and cheese, green beans

Of course, there are "fill-ins" with the meals. Homemade bread always seems to make a meal more special. Desserts are occasional here, but still make us feel like we've had a special meal. The Navy Bean Soup is not our favorite meal, but it was actually good with the croutons (oyster crackers from Aldi, lightly toasted in butter and garlic powder). The Gorditas were a pantry item from a Publix BOGO months ago. They need to be used up!

Lunches are either frozen chimichangas, sandwiches, or leftovers.

Breakfasts are easy here from an abundance of cereal or bagel stockpile. When we want a change, I will cook up some eggs and toast or make up some homemade muffins or waffles.

Snacks are either fruits, nuts, yogurt or popsicles.

This week I made homemade yogurt in my crockpot. From that, we had smoothies with fruit that was on the verge of being overripe. I also made Zucchini Pineapple Bread. That was a real high fiber, nutritious treat!

I do have an extra, unexpected $27 that I received for payment for Opinion Outpost surveys that I completed in the past quarter of 2008. With that money, I will have some wiggle room if Publix has an absolutely incredible sale that I can't pass up for things we need and use abundantly. God is good!

This pantry challenge is rather exciting to me, just to see if I really can stay out of the store unnecessarily for a week!

Reckless spending, or rising costs?

2008-07-07T11:40:00.004-04:00

I can see my grocery costs rising. I'm just being my typical self to try to analyze why. Obviously, grocery costs are rising. Obviously, healthy eating is a more costly way of eating. Quality food costs more, period. There ARE coupons available for organics, and there are ways to obtain fresh produce at a reasonable cost...if you are willing to drive. Which leads me to debate where the "break even point" is. Driving to the dairy farm for $3 gallon raw milk costs me $5 in gasoline. Worth it? YES! I purchase 10 gallons or more at a time. Driving to the Rock Spring/Battlefield Farmers' Market to purchase vegetables is not worth it to me. However, a fellow local homeschooling family in Catoosa County owns and operates an organic farm and produce stand less then 3 miles away on Three Notch Road. I'll definitely check it out http://burnsbestfarm.com/ and determine the price point that I am willing to pay. Take note of the hours, as they are limited.

Another factor in my increased grocery budget is that the coupons have been scarce. I am still managing to save a large amount off of my total grocery bill, but it is becoming increasingly difficult.

Lastly, my increased spending sometimes just boils down to lack of planning. It takes effort to plan a menu, shop the sales, clip the coupons, and actually shop. If I have an *off* week with other things beckoning at my schedule, the grocery bill seems to take the biggest hit. Reckless spending. As a result, my grocery budget is blown already in the very first week of July shopping. To nip that right in the bud, I will not go to the grocery store this week for anything other than a gallon of milk and some berries and watermelon (which is a good thing, because my bank balance has dipped uncomfortably low!). I have a stocked pantry, freezer and fridge...and I can be a creative cook! I hope to post my menu tonight.

Hot Coupon World?

2008-07-07T10:32:00.002-04:00

I have to tell you that I was baffled by the system at HCW. I thought it would be an excellent way to trade coupons for things that I might use, but after trying to navigate the web site and determining that I'd have to trade on a large scale to make it worth it, I have decided to continue to order through The Coupon Clippers. I have given up all hope of decent coupons in the Times Free Press, and The Atlanta Journal no longer delivers to this area due to gasoline costs. The Coupon Clippers has been working well for me, and I definitely recoup my costs by using the coupons. The only issue I see recurring is that the expiration dates seem to be rolling around much more quickly. For instance, in this Sunday's paper (7/6), most of the coupons expire on 7/31. Perhaps they are trying to discourage swapping coupons or coupon services? What do you think?

Intentional Weekly Goal

2008-06-30T16:58:00.002-04:00

Get back to planned & rotating menus. I have been so bad about not knowing what's for dinner until 2:30 p.m...sometimes not time enough to make homemade rolls or something that might require advance prep. So, my goal this week is to get my menus organized!

Passing on the blessing of Intentional Living

2008-06-29T21:45:00.002-04:00

Over the past month, my life has been incredibly blessed by the ministry of Dr. Randy Carlson. I want to share it with you. Dr. Carlson is part of the Family Life Network. His one hour radio show is in a question and answer format. People can call in, ask questions, make comments, give testimonies, solicit advice in their lives, relationships, finances, etc. The theme of the show is Living Intentionally. Because of the inspiration that Dr. Carlson's show has been, I have been making it a point to wake up, and before I even get out of bed, ask myself "What intentional thing can I do today?" Ephesians 5:10 says, "Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it. " It doesn't even have to be a big thing, maybe it's just a small baby step toward a larger goal...but if it is intentional you most likely will succeed! I have started this with my boys every morning as well. At first, Tre' picked something fairly easy: working on the 3D Spiderman Puzzle on the dining room table. Then, his vision began to broaden and he is getting the knack of living intentionally.

Check out Dr. Carlson!

The Rosedale Diet Update

2008-06-25T10:48:00.008-04:00

I embarked on this new attempt to lose weight (intensely) two weeks ago on Sunday. The first week, I gained two pounds. That, after being so very disciplined with my morning routine of walking over a mile on our mountainous terrain. We live in a an extremely hilly neighborhood. On my first attempts, I had to stop repeatedly to let my heart calm down some and catch my breath. A few times, I felt physically ill, like I wasn't going to make it. The entire first 10 days of attempting to count calories and monitor my carbohydrate intake, I was sick. Sick from the adjustment: lightheaded, dizzy, headache, weak, grumpy. I began to wonder if it was even worth it after all. At least when I ate *normally* I was a fully functioning adult!

In desperation, I searched the internet and read reviews on the most successful of diets. I'd just about tried them all, including Weight Watchers. In 5 months of Weight Watchers I'd only lost 1.25 pounds. Yes, you read that correctly. This was in the early 1990s when I had very little to lose, but was still larger than I wanted to be. I followed WW faithfully, but to no avail. Then came the mid 1990's, when I decided to just starve myself. A few times I did black out, and a few times my legs actually gave out on me while I was walking, all because I had worked out too intensely on the NordicTrack. I maintained a lower weight for a while, but I didn't feel good all the time.

Then came the new millennium, the birth of another child and yet another extra 25 pounds. I was ashamed to have them weigh me at the doctor's office when I went in. I worked with some of these women, and now they knew how much I weighed! To make it worse, one of them was a former cheerleading teammate who had managed to stay thin for 20 years since graduation. How did she do it? She ate nothing all day, just drank a diet Mountain Dew and ate a few lettuce leaves. At what price, I thought? I knew that I could never do that. It's not healthy.

Last summer was a breakthrough in weight loss for me, even with the notorious metabolism slowdown that comes with being 40. I upped my fiber intake, and ate lots of vegetables...but I never could bust past that special number on the scale. Eventually, I stopped losing after 17 pounds (in three months), and eventually fell back into the high carb, high satisfaction rut.

Enter the Rosedale Diet. I have given up on actually looking good in shorts ever again, but I do want to be healthy. On Wednesday, June 18th I picked up his book at the bookstore and started to apply the principals in the book: good oils and fat, no junky carbs, vegetables, nuts and lean protein. Instantly, no more brain fog, no more constant hunger.. On Thursday, June 19th I voraciously devoured the book (as in reading!). Today is Day #7 on the Rosedale Diet, so I weighed myself. Imagine my surprise to find that I have lost 10.2 pounds in one week without starving, eating a healthy diet. I am still doing 35 plus grams of fiber per day, and I refuse to give up my one cup of Lucky Charms for my nightly snack :) BUT...for the first time in my life, I really think that I can do this.

The difference? This diet is doable. Once I understood the science behind eating the right fats and avoiding the bad fats, it made sense to me. Even on an extremely low carb diet, without the right fats for your cells to burn/metabolize the right way, low carb means nothing after the initial shock to your system. You have to retrain your cells. Oh, this makes so much sense!

By the way, I must now confess that I have always been a Lucky Charms addict!

Good fat, bad fat

2008-06-22T22:03:00.003-04:00

I figured out long ago that the standard low fat American Heart Association diet did nothing for my weight loss efforts. In fact, I could probably say that the AHA diet sabotaged my weight loss efforts my promoting carbohydrates as the largest and best part of the diet. My body recognizes carbs as sugar (except fibrous vegetables and fiber). That pretty much eliminates an entire food group for me if I intend to lose weight. No pasta, no rice, no bread...even the whole wheat kind spells carbs.

This revelation has caused me to take a close look at the most successful diets on the charts: The South Beach Diet, Fiber 35, Atkins, The Zone, Weigh-Down, and most recently The Rosedale Diet.

The Rosedale Diet makes sense to me because the author, Dr. Ron Rosedale, explains it very scientifically. Especially with an explanation, it makes perfect sense. Sure, I've noticed that many products are now boasting "No Trans Fats" or "Good Source of Omega 3", but did I really care? Not really, until recently. The Rosedale Diet focuses on leptin, a hormone that regulates the use of fats and how your body uses them. It also talks about insulin resistance (one of the wicked side effects of high fructose corn syrup). But the thing that really made my ears tune in was the testimony of people who have actually used the diet. They all say that their "hunger switch" has been turned off. Being on a diet where I feel hungry and weak and foggy all the time will not work for me, because I don't like feeling that way. I can't function. So, I have given Dr. Rosedale's diet a try since Thursday. I can honestly say that my hunger is tamed, and I have been eating very little. The key to this seems to be eating good fats (polyunsaturated), preferably cold pressed olive oil and never, ever, ever, if you can help it, allow trans fats to cross your lips. The diet is high in leafy green vegetables, eggs, fish and nuts. It allows other food items in moderation, so it is not too restrictive. It does discourage junkie vegetables carbs like peas and corn, as well as the grain-fed chicken and cattle that feast on such grains. This just confirms my desire to eat grass-fed beef!

So far, so good! I haven't completed the book, but I will keep you posted on my weight loss. I've lost three pounds already. I'm just very, very happy that I am not hungry and lightheaded.

It takes very little to excite me

2008-06-17T20:38:00.002-04:00

See? And I AM excited! There is nothing that compares to cooking with fresh herbs, and I usually buy them already lopped off the plant at Publix. For years, I have wanted my own herb garden or at least a garden window over my kitchen sink to have my own supply of fresh herbs readily at hand. This is even better, considering that I paid only $6.50 each for these herb gardens in a pot. The pot on the left contains rosemary, parsley, oregano, mint and basil. It is so fragrant smelling, I wish technology could support scratch and sniff blogging! The second pot contains sage, lemon thyme, garlic chives, rosemary and dark opal basil (that's the purple, large leafed plant). I don't want to move them from their temporary home on the kitchen table, but they need full sun so they will have to be moved to the back deck where I keep my container gardens.

How did I get these so frugally? Our local garden center, Holcomb's, issues Bonus Bucks throughout the year for purchases made at their store. Customers earn 10% back in Bonus Bucks for every purchase. Then, for five days in June, you can shop and redeem your Bonus Bucks for up to 50% off your purchase. Example: these herb gardens were $12.99 each times 2. The total sale was $26 and some tax, for which I paid $13.xx in cash and $13 in Bonus Bucks. This is one of my happiest frugally purchases ever, I feel like a kitty that found the catnip!

New poll, and surprising results from the A/C poll

2008-06-15T15:19:00.003-04:00

Dave Ramsey seems to have caused a revolution amongst my friends. 50% of you responded that you would take money from your emergency fund to replace a broken A/C. That's wonderful that so many of you have an emergency fund that would support such a major repair! Our estimate for a new A/C unit came in at around $5,400 for a 2 ton unit in Florida (estimate was in 2005, so I'm sure the price on units has gone up just like everything else). Incidentally, I'm still not sure that I am willing to deplete my emergency fund for a new A/C. It feels like an emergency, but in reality, it is not. We had my home inspector brother-in-law look at it and suggest a few things. Along with my online research on A/C repair, we have determined by the symptoms that we are low on freon most likely due to a leak. Rather than go through diagnosis and costly repair (which is not feasible due to the unit being 22 years old), we will just continue to run it for a portion of the day, and then shut it off to allow the ice block that forms around the air handler to melt. Hopefully we can make it through the summer season this way and use our tax refund in February 2009 to purchase a new unit. We have two units in our home for the multiple levels. Our plan is to replace one in 2009, and the other in 2010 with our refunds.

Enough on A/C woes, and on to the new poll...

I thought that using old fashioned paper and pen for making lists and writing important events down would be just as efficient as an electronic planner. For me, it hasn't been. As a result, I've had a few embarrassing circumstances come up recently simply because I didn't look at my planner. I've determined that I need to have a planner that is portable and syncable. By being syncable, I mean that I can interface it with my computer daily for backup and also reminders. I can assure you that there are two things that I come face to face with daily: the food stash and my computer screen. Therefore, by seeing it daily I am guaranteed a reminder. My new poll has to do with how modern day Proverbs 31 women manage their time and lists. If you have any suggestions for what has worked for you, please comment me! I'm up for some wise suggestions!

Recalled tomatoes

2008-06-08T20:49:00.003-04:00

...and a recipe for Black Bean Salsa that does not use those recalled tomatoes.

I was in Publix tonight looking for more of those wonderful grape tomatoes that were on sale for $1/pint. When I couldn't find them, I asked the produce manager and he informed me that there was a recall on some tomatoes, so Publix decided to pull the grape tomatoes as a precautionary measure. He also told me that they plan on offering that sale again in the very near future, or I could get a rain check. I'll just wait and enjoy some of my own home-grown, salmonella-free tomatoes in a few weeks.

Here is my recipe for the Black Bean Salsa that was on our salad of several days ago:

1 (15 ounce) can of black beans, thoroughly rinsed, and drained
1 1/2 cups frozen corn, defrosted
1/2 cup chopped green onions (I used red)
2 Tbsp chopped picked jalapeno (I throw in a little extra jalapeno pickle juice or vinegar)
1 cup chopped tomato
1/2 cup fresh chopped cilantro
1/4 cup fresh chopped basil (or 1 tsp dried)
2 Tbsp lime juice (about the amount of juice from one lime)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 to 1 teaspoon of sugar (to taste)
Salt and pepper to taste

In a large bowl, combine the beans, corn, onions, jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, cilantro, basil, lime juice and olive oil. Add sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Chill before serving.

Serves 6 to 8.

Interesting news about Vitamin D and sunshine

2008-06-05T19:13:00.003-04:00

Click here to read the latest research. My brief summary is this: type 1 diabetes in less prevalent the closer you live to the equator, leading researchers to believe that Vitamin D and sunshine deficiencies play a major role in the development of these diseases. That's their summary.

Here's my input:

I'd heard this before, and I also know that sunlight (Vitamin D occurs naturally from sunlight) has much to do with many other diseases. Without enough sunlight (and the further you live away from the equator). Proven: Vitamin D deficiencies cause bone and joint abnormalities, diabetes, serotonin abnormalities such as depression and anxiety, and elevated blood pressure just to name a few. We spend far too little time outdoors in direct sunlight, even avoiding it all together. I know I do. So, how would one increase their intake of Vitamin D? Direct sun exposure on your face and arms for at least thirty minutes daily (without sunscreen, it filters out the Vitamin D producing UVB rays). Some commercially produced dairy milks add Vitamins A & D in them (though I feel that they are not enough). Cod liver oil, again on my list of must haves. I'll say it again...I feel amazing since I started taking this. No more arthritis issues. Please be aware that there are safety limitations on Vitamin D taken orally. You don't want too much, but balance. According to the Journal of Alternative Medicine, safe upper limit of vitamin D is 2,000 IU (50 mcg) for men and women. For infants (up to 12 months), the safe upper limit is 1,000 IU (25 mcg).

Speaking of sun, now is the season to protect yourself from too much sun exposure of the bad kind which leads to sunburn. This year, I am going to try some natural sun protection products such as Burt's Bees (according to reviews this is not easily spreadable on skin), and California Baby Sun Protection (available at Target). We had a bad experience/allergic reaction to a product that contained Parsol which resulted in head to toe hives on my golden skinned son, Tre'. I'm leery of the chemicals that they load into sunscreens in the name of sun safety, so we'll be sticking with micronized zinc ozide (not the white life-guard nose stuff of yesteryear). Again...my personal opinion: your skin in the largest organ in your body, designed to act as a filter. Why would you want to slather toxic sludge on it? Your skin does soak things up, including parabens and petroleum products. You decide what is best for your family, but please be informed.

www.mercola.com

Peculiar: photographs her food

2008-06-04T21:30:00.005-04:00

I wonder if others would describe me like that. It's true. I have a food photo fetish. I love pretty pictures of the food that I create. I wonder if that's how Martha Stewart launched her own empire?

Anyway, here's our dinner for tonight, and it was scrumptious.

Resurrecting an A/C unit

2008-06-04T21:04:00.002-04:00

Our current home was built in 1987, and we purchased it as a bank-owned foreclosure in November 2006. We had it inspected before closing, and purchased a home warranty on it to pay for major system malfunctions up to a certain amount. Still, things happen. With a 21 year old A/C unit, things are bound to deteriorate, even with maintenance. With a used home, there is no guarantee that routine maintenance was done according to the recommended schedules. Inevitably, something is dying on one of our two units. Two days ago, I kept commenting that I was just hot, and couldn't seem to cool down. By that evening, I was sweltering. My husband went down to check out the unit that cools the basement and main level, and it was a solid block of ice around the air handler. We shut it down overnight until it thawed, and turned it back on yesterday mid-morning. The house was not cold, but mildly cool. Today, when we came home from grocery shopping, the house felt stuffy. We turned it off again for a while. Granted, today was a very hot day. I know that I cannot live without A/C, but even with a partially built up emergency fund, I am not sure that I want to use it all (plus some) for a new unit. Financing is definitely out. I will suffer before I will take out a loan for a large ticket item like an A/C, especially the way that the economy is. We will just pray for an A/C unit resurrection...

I'm curious, too, so take my newest poll.

Hamburger Buns of the homemade kind

2008-06-02T20:44:00.003-04:00

I decided to try some homemade hamburger buns tonight rather than run out to the store just for buns (which I thought I had in the depths of my freezer). Besides, have you priced hamburger buns lately at regular retail?! $2.39! I tried this recipe, but I used whole wheat flour instead. They were good. My family raved about them. The grilled turkey burgers that went in them, however, were not a big hit. I thought the burgers were good, but my husband prefers beef and my little vegetarian was not happy with tonight's dinner.

1 cup milk
1 cup water
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon water
I added 4 1/2 tsp. vital wheat gluten

Combine the milk, 1 cup of water, butter, sugar and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil then remove from the heat and let stand until lukewarm (110-115 degrees F). If the mixture is too hot, it will kill the yeast.
In a large bowl, stir together the flour and yeast. Pour in wet ingredients and stir until the dough starts to pull together. If you have a stand mixer, use the dough hook to mix for about 6 minutes. If not, knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning to coat. Cover and let stand until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Punch down the dough and divide into 12 portions They should be a little larger than a golf ball. Make tight balls out of the dough by pulling the dough tightly around and pinching it at the bottom. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. After the rolls sit for a minute and relax, flatten each ball with the palm of your hand until it is 3 to 4 inches wide. You may want to oil your hand first. Set rolls aside until they double in size, about 20 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Mix together the egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of water in a cup or small bowl. Brush onto the tops of the rolls. Position 2 oven racks so they are not too close to the top or bottom of the oven.
Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove the rolls from the oven and return them to different shelves so each one spends a little time on the top. Continue to bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until nicely browned on the top and bottom.

The totals for May are in!

2008-05-30T19:58:00.002-04:00

Look to the left to see why I am very pleased. We have eaten so well this month out of an abundance of stockpiled items and also lots of fresh produce. My new love is arugula (lettuce). Much to my chagrin, the family is not crazy about it. Otherwise we would eat it daily. It almost has a nutty flavor to it. It's a thicker leaf lettuce that looks like tiny oak leaves. Tre's favorite is raw spinach, which the rest of us get tired of. Jordan's favorite is steamed broccoli, which we seem to have often...too often. After the artichoke disappointment several weeks ago, I'm am afraid to try any new veggies. For instance, I saw a rutabaga at the fruit stand. What is it anyway? Another oddity at the stands that I have tried is the star fruit. It makes a beautiful adornment on a platter, but the taste rivals that of those ridiculous WarHead sour candies. My husband and I get a kick out of some of the gourmet presentations on the Food Network. Sure, it looks beautiful...but would you eat it? Maybe presentation isn't everything as some of the cooking gurus suggest.

Rapid Debt Reduction

2008-05-23T13:32:00.003-04:00

When my husband and I were first married, we thought every credit card offer in the mail was wonderful. We thought that because we received the offers, surely we must make good money and were credit worthy. What exactly is credit worthiness anyway? A magic score that indicates that you have been responsible enough to maintain a job or an address for any length of time? Or is it that you even have a job and are willing to pay ridiculous rates after the introductory period. Or that you've never illegitimately filed bankrupty? Who knows, really. If you don't have enough of a credit history, you are not credit worthy to some companies. If you have too much credit extended, whether used or not, you are not a good credit risk. The *experts* will tell you to protect your credit rating with a vengeance as it is one of your most valuable assets. Why? I believe we're conditioned to think that way, as if credit is a good thing. I've maintained a major credit card with a small running balance and a low rate. Without a credit card, you cannot rent a car (I've tried), and there are benefits to having a credit card (purchase protection and also travel insurance policies). Such was my mentality...until today. I received a letter from my (long term) credit card company that they periodically reevaluate accounts to see if the conditions of my credit worthiness have changed. They have. I have not been late on any payments in three years. I have paid off my van. I have paid off thousands in credit card debt. I have closed several revolving accounts. I've done everything right. I have changed jobs several times, and I have moved. Their review found that they needed to increase my interest rate, decrease my account limit and begin charging me an annual fee of $39. Umm...no thanks? I paid the account in full today. A $337 payment that I did not intend to make. I also closed the account. My hasty version of rapid debt reduction*.

*I now have $337 less in my emergency fund. If you are more level-headed than myself when you're angry (I'm working on it), you might want to try a different strategy. Results may vary.

How an economic stimulus check was spent

2008-05-22T23:28:00.003-04:00

When it comes to money, it's always good to have a plan. Our plan was to invest in our grocery supply by purchasing a large quantity of grass-fed beef, purchase a graduation gift for our daughter, and bank the rest. Ours is nearly gone now, with not nearly as much to show for it as I had planned. My daughter's 4 year old notebook computer crashed and burned nearly three months ago, and we wanted to replace it for her. I've been keeping my eye on the prices and features for nearly three months, so I was thrilled that Dell was running a good special on the Inspiron notebook through Tuesday. I will tell you that the details are in the very fine print, and when we were through upgrading their very basic notebook, we spent nearly double the advertised price. Well...I had to order the custom color Flamingo Pink ($25), and the matching mouse ($25), and Microsoft Vista Student Office Pack ($149), and antivirus software ($99). Of course, we had to pay for shipping and taxes, too. See what I mean? I must say though, we are very thrilled that we could do this for her, and thought it was a very appropriate grad gift*. Now, my computer is starting to whine and make strange noises. I will pray it through until next February.

As for the beef, I had good intentions, but it may have to wait. We have an impending trip to Florida and with gas prices the way they are, we may need the extra money for that purpose. For this reason, it looks as though a vacation will also have to wait unless I pull quite a few extra shifts over the summer. I will have to pray about this, because at this point in the year, I feel that we would all benefit greatly from the summer off. Off of school, off of obligations, off of a rigorous schedule. Off of well intentions, over planning, over achieving and the resulting guilt that we didn't get it all done. I am going to try to apply sabbath principles to our summer so that we might pick up in August with an inspired outlook, joyful hearts, and above all...rested.

*If you happen to see my daughter, shhh. It's a surprise, and it won't be here until June 6th!

How to save up to $600 on groceries every year

2008-05-21T00:01:00.001-04:00

Have you ever been overly ambitious about eating fresh foods? Did you realize it after you came home from the store and crammed your refrigerator full of fruits and veggies only to discover them again weeks later: a cellophane bag of moldy, slimy mush? Yeah, me too. And it makes me mad because fresh food is so expensive! I received this article via e-mail today from Sparkpeople.com

How to Keep Fruits and Veggies Fresh

Proper Storage Prevents Spoilage, Saving You Hundreds

-- By Liza Barnes, Health Educator and Stepfanie Romine, Staff Writer

SparkPeople Sponsors help keep the site free!

Eating more fruits and vegetables is a requirement for every healthy eater. But when you buy more fresh produce, do you end up throwing away more than you eat? You're not alone.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans throw away nearly 31.6 million tons of food every year. And a recent University of Arizona study found that the average family tosses 1.28 pounds of food a day, for a total of 470 pounds a year! That's like throwing away $600!

Storing fresh produce is a little more complicated than you might think. If you want to prevent spoilage, certain foods shouldn't be stored together at all, while others that we commonly keep in the fridge should actually be left on the countertop. To keep your produce optimally fresh (and cut down on food waste), use this handy guide.

Countertop Storage Tips
There’s nothing as inviting as a big bowl of crisp apples on the kitchen counter. To keep those apples crisp and all countertop-stored produce fresh, store them out of direct sunlight, either directly on the countertop, in an uncovered bowl, or inside a perforated plastic bag.

Refrigerator Storage Tips
For produce that is best stored in the refrigerator, remember the following guidelines.

Keep produce in perforated plastic bags in the produce drawer of the refrigerator. (To perforate bags, punch holes in the bag with a sharp object, spacing them about as far apart as the holes you see in supermarket apple bags.)
Keep fruits and vegetables separate, in different drawers, because ethylene can build up in the fridge, causing spoilage.
When storing herbs (and interestingly, asparagus, too), snip off the ends, store upright in a glass of water (like flowers in a vase) and cover with a plastic bag.

What to Store Where: A Handy Chart
Use this color-coded key along with the chart below:

Store unwashed and in a single layer
Store unwashed and in a plastic bag
Store in a paper bag
*Ethylene producers (keep away from other fruits and vegetables)

Store in Refrigerator

Apples (storage >7 days)
Apricots
Cantaloupe
Figs
Honeydew

Artichokes
Asparagus
Beets
Blackberries
Blueberries
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Cherries
Corn
Grapes
Green beans
Green onions
Herbs (except basil)
Lima beans
Leafy vegetables
Leeks
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Okra
Peas
Plums
Radishes
Raspberries
Spinach
Sprouts
Strawberries
Summer squash
Yellow squash
Zucchini

Store on Countertop

Apples (storage < 7 days)
Bananas
Tomatoes

Basil
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Garlic
Ginger
Grapefruit
Jicama
Lemons
Limes
Mangoes
Oranges
Papayas
Peppers
Persimmons
Pineapple
Plantains
Pomegranates
Watermelon

Store in a Cool, Dry Place

Acorn squash
Butternut squash
Onions (away from potatoes)
Potatoes (away from onions)
Pumpkins
Spaghetti squash
Sweet potatoes
Winter squash

Ripen on Counter,
Then Refrigerate

Avocados
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums

Kiwi

*More about Ethylene: Fruits and vegetables give off an odorless, harmless and tasteless gas called ethylene after they're picked. All fruits and vegetables produce it, but some foods produce it in greater quantities. When ethylene-producing foods are kept in close proximity with ethylene-sensitive foods, especially in a confined space (like a bag or drawer), the gas will speed up the ripening process of the other produce. Use this to your advantage if you want to speed up the ripening process of an unripe fruit, for example, by putting an apple in a bag with an unripe avocado. But if you want your already-ripe foods to last longer, remember to keep them away from ethylene-producing foods, as designated in the chart above.

Food is expensive, and most people can't afford to waste it. Print off this handy chart to keep in your kitchen so you can refer to it after every shopping trip. Then you'll be able to follow-through with your good intentions to eat your 5-9 servings a day, instead of letting all of that healthy food go to waste.

Yes! There are no appealing reasons to go to Publix this week

2008-05-20T23:39:00.002-04:00

Really. That, coming from the queen of Publix. It's a relief, though. It's better than having, say, one item that was a really worthy deal and going through those doors just for the one item. It works out good for me though. My freezer is stocked, and soon to be stocked even more tomorrow evening when we visit the Addis' farm in Rocky Face for 12 gallons of milk for my *pet* (hint: it's against the law to sell raw milk for none other than pet consumption). That will add $36 to my food tally for May, and then I'm almost done! I intend to dwindle down some of my stockpile in anticipation for a rumored triple coupon event at Bi-Lo.

High Fiber Chocolate Fix

2008-05-20T10:46:00.003-04:00

High Fiber Chocolate Fix

I was purchasing these pre-made high fiber bars...and when the whole family took a liking to them (at $1.50/bar!) I decided to create my own.

1 box brownie mix
1 egg
1 cup water
1/3 cup oil (I used coconut oil, but you can use regular if you like)
1 cup sesame seeds
1 cup oats
1 cup ground flax seed (these must be ground to release the healthy oils, but you can use a coffee grinder)
1 cup finely chopped prunes
1/2 cup Benefiber OR 7 heaping teaspoons of Fibersure

Mix all together in the mixing bowl, spread in a baking pan, bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. This makes 12 servings.

Calories per serving: 436*, dietary fiber: 10.8 grams, cost per bar: 50 cents!

I use these as a meal replacement for breakfast. *It is definitely not a low calorie food...but remember not all calories are created equal, especially fiber calories. This recipe is rich in beneficial oils, omega 3s and phytonutrients. I am working on finding an alternative to the brownie mix to further lower the calorie count.

We should be getting 25-35 grams of fiber daily. Most of us don't even come close! This helps. Be sure to drink lots of water!

Getting an accurate idea of grocery spending

2008-05-19T15:31:00.002-04:00

Trying to get a snapshot of our budget at any given moment has been a challenge, to say the least. I use MS Money to manage my accounts and I can generate a report, but there have been so many unusual scenarios over the past several months that I am having difficulty determining what we are actually spending on groceries. For instance:

We decided to use some of our economic incentive rebate to stockpile some food items, mainly grass-fed beef. So those are actually grocery costs for more than this month, and I have no idea how long a 1/4 side of beef will last us.

Feeding an extra adult in our home has not really impacted our bottom line...or has it? He contributes $100 a month for food, but his renal diet also requires me to purchase specialty items like rice milk (which is pricey), but something I would not normally buy.

Theoretically, I am feeding five adults (myself, my husband, my teenage daughter, my father-in-law, and my 12 year old son who eats double portions of meat) and one child, a vegetarian. That means I am also buying some specialty items for my 7 year old to ensure that he gets enough protein and B12*.

*I also include all supplemental and vitamin items as a grocery cost: cod liver oil, vitamin C, fiber supplements and multivitamins. I don't practice overkill on the vitamins and supplements, because we do eat a very balanced diet. I order from iHerb, which keeps the costs way down. What we do take in the way of supplements actually helps to reduce expenditures in other areas, such as healthcare and prescriptions.

It appears as though I am spending an average of $125-135 per week on groceries, but I'm not sure if that is an accurate picture, or if I am spending less. With my personality, I have a need to know :)

The most wonderful thing about biscotti is...

2008-05-15T11:51:00.002-04:00

it's biscotti! Aside from that, the next best thing is the ends of the biscotti. I got to eat all six biscotti ends for breakfast this morning. Here's the biscotti recipe that I used. The next time I will add more anise.

This is an untimely find, since I have just made the decision to give up coffee. For years, I have been aware that coffee aggravates some of my medical issues (rosacea, tummy troubles and inflammation), but I haven't taken the drastic step to give it up...until now. I am doing everything right for my health now, with coffee being the last vice. Ah well, I will eat my biscotti with my green tea.

No menu planning this week

2008-05-08T17:55:00.003-04:00

Other than a very loosely woven menu. I am enjoying Martha Stewart's Everyday Food magazine, and can't wait for the next one to come in my mailbox! Monday, we celebrated Cinco de Mayo with tacos. Simple (and out of a box), but it pleased my family. I made two separate taco *meats*. One, grass fed beef, and the other, Boca. The Boca mixture was extremely salty, and I'm thinking I'd like to make my own after my stock pile is gone. Any ideas, anyone? Tuesday, we had chili and little mini corn muffins (so cute!). Wednesday, we had Thai Sesame Noodles. Tonight, I made Stuffed Artichokes. The children are all sick, so this was a meal for the big people in the family. I would not make them again. They looked beautiful, but the texture was tough on the outside. This was my first try at artichokes.

My boys are all sick with a sore throat and fever. We have been feeding them elderberry (Sambucol) juice, and soft foods like mashed potatoes and ice cream. Much of the ice cream has landed into the wrong person (me!). It is always a struggle to have this in the house. Jordan seems to be rebounding pretty quickly, but Tre' is very weak and sleepy. If he does not improve some tomorrow, I'm taking him to the doctor for his once a year visit :)

I am on day three of a very special devotional called Desperate for You, as well as reading The Power of a Praying Wife. God works quickly! My husband is, as I type, an hour and a half away in Woodstock, GA at a revival at the Church @ Northgate near Atlanta. He needs this. We need this. I plan on going with him tomorrow night if the boys are better. This has been a week of amazing and anticipated change in my spiritual walk. I don't want it to stop.

The Power of a Praying Wife

2008-05-06T14:17:00.002-04:00

I was searching through McKay's yesterday a book, and instead came across The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian. This book was recommended to me this weekend, and I honestly thought I had read it years ago. When I saw it at McKay's for $1.50, I bought it. Turns out, I hadn't already read it...and now I am currently reading 7 books at the same time. I cannot put this book down. I immersed myself in prayer and reading this morning for over an hour, and I was reminded of the importance of praying for my husband. Yes, even when I don't even feel like I like him anymore, and even when I don't think he deserves it.

One step forward, two steps back

2008-05-01T20:03:00.002-04:00

Lord, I am praying specifically for discipline in many areas of my life. The same issues in my life keep rising up over and over again. Weight loss, budget control, time management, a struggling personal relationship. So, again, here I am, resolved to overcome, asking for the discipline needed.

I have joined back to SparkPeople.com , which is a FREE weight loss tool. I look back at my 18 pound weight loss last June (16 of which I am wearing again), and my keys to success were:

1) logging in EVERYTHING that went into my mouth in my online food journal
2) measuring and weighing EVERYTHING that went into my mouth to tame my nasty habit of proportion distortion
3) increasing my fiber to AT LEAST 35 grams per day, preferably 45 grams. Benefiber went into EVERYTHING that went into my mouth.
4) GRILL, grill, GRILL, grill my food.
5) Never, ever eating in front of my computer. I would like to get a desk in my bedroom to get my computer out of my kitchen. It's too easy to graze mindlessly.

New keys to success that I want to implement:

1) 8 hours of sleep per night
2) Eat within 1/2 hour of waking
3) Don't eat after 8 p.m.
4) More aerobic exercise, preferably bike riding with my family.

My knees feel almost normal (no pain, just crinkly noises) thanks to the Cod Liver Oil, Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM. I have NO excuse now.

So in my Practically Proverbs spirit of being diligent, I am off to get ready for bed so that I can rise early!

Oops, there it went

2008-04-29T19:48:00.003-04:00

Menu Plan Monday came and went, see my penance recipe for Sticky Chicken at the end of this post.

My reason was this: I got a heads up from I-don't-remember-where that Food Lion had whole chickens on sale for 49 cents/pound. Wow! I hadn't seen that price in a while, so it was worth the trip three miles away for the deal. This was Monday morning, early, when I was the only person awake in my house. That way, I didn't detract from our regular schedule. I entered Food Lion with the intent of purchasing 10-15 chickens. However, when I got back to the meat department I quickly realized that I had stumbled on a jackpot of reduced meat. Now, if you remember the Food Lion meat scandal of the early 90's, you're probably thinking "ew, gross", but I think after that, Food Lion probably became one of the safest places to buy meat because of the scrutiny they received. Anyway, I got so many good bargains to last a while. The reductions were just taken (the date said 4/28, which was yesterday). I got several 5 pound Boston Butt roasts for 87 cents a pound. I got beef ribs, which my family adores. We normally wouldn't eat beef ribs because of the price. I also got a few Chuck Roasts, which can be slow cooked in a way that they are tender and juicy. I will be going back to Food Lion again on another Monday for more meat deals.

Sunday - leftover spaghetti dinner
Monday - Southern Barbecue Pulled Pork Sandwiches in the slow cooker, cucumber salad, pasta salad, Bob's Red Mill Whole Grain Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Tuesday - Lentils and Vegetable Soup, leftover pulled pork sandwiches, Green Leaf Salad
Wednesday - Sticky Chicken, Rice Pilaf, Steamed Vegetables, Butter Flake rolls
Thursday - Day Old Bread Casserole (using leftover chicken), rolls, peas
Friday - Pizza night
Saturday night - out of town company = out to eat!

and, now, from the family archives:

Sticky Chicken

Serves: 4

This chicken is an absolute family favorite. My family would eat this once per week, but I wait until I get a really, really good deal on whole chickens to keep it special by not serving it so often. Cooked, these resemble those tiny Tyson Rotisserie Chicken, or the expensive rotisserie chickens at the certain Market store. The skin is crisp, the inside is so moist! For my family I make two, so we have a little leftover.

2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon paprika
3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon white peppers
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 whole chicken
1 cup chopped onions

Combine all spices (first 8 ingredients) in small bowl.

Rinse chicken, inside & out. Drain well.

Rub spice mixture over skin and the inside of the chicken. Place in a resealable bag, seal and refrigerate overnight.

When ready to roast, stuff cavity with onions. Place chicken breast-side-up in roasting pan.

Roast, uncovered, at 250°F (that's not a typo...it's really 250°F). Baste occasionally with pan juices or until pan juices start to caramelize on bottom of pan and chicken is golden brown, about 5 hours.

Anything over 225°F is safe as long as the chicken reaches an internel temperature of at least 180 F, which this does, and more for about 5 hours.

OR

Following regular chicken roasting instructions as follows: Pour melted butter over chickens. Place on roasting rack in shallow dish. Roast at 475 degrees for 30 minutes, then reduce heat to 375 degrees. Roast an additional 30-45 minutes, or until internal temperature is 180 F.

Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Menu Planning Software from DVO Enterprises.

Lessons learned

2008-04-28T20:47:00.003-04:00

My Palm Pilot crashed about 10 months ago, taking with it my addresses, birthdays, important dates, shopping lists, recipes, etc. I'd thought about replacing it, possibly even with a Blackberry that I'd had my eye on. It's interesting that as simple as I am, I enjoy gadgets. However, I've found that sometimes, they just take too much time. With my Palm Pilot, I simply placed it in the cradle at night, hit the sync button, and it would back up and recharge all at the same time. My Palm Pilot files on my computer are now corrupt, as are the back up files...so I am resorting to plain old paper and pen. How simple...and I'm loving it!

Also, now that my way of shopping has changed, thanks to my trusty coupon binder, I realize that it would be difficult to manage my coupons with my Palm Pilot. I've learned that simplicity has its merits!

Here's a picture of my
trusty binder with its cute
and distinguishable Cheep Chick.

Save $5 off your first order

2008-04-26T23:29:00.003-04:00

If you buy any type of vitamins, natural products, supplements, homeopathic remedies or personal care products, you need to check out iHerb. I've been a faithful (and satisfied) customer for 2 years.

Free shipping on orders over $60. Save $5 off your first order.

Referral program (and I get 4% in account credit if you order using my account referral code).

You cannot beat iHerb prices. Test me on this, you'll see!

Use code HEL260 .

FINAL POLL RESULTS: Have you felt the impact of the worsening economy reflected in your grocery budget?

2008-04-26T23:26:00.002-04:00

73% said "yes"
21% said "no"
5% said "not sure"

2008-04-21T23:19:00.003-04:00

Lots of olive oil, fresh vegetables and grains this week!

Sunday: Roast Sticky Chicken (two chickens), toasted pastina with herbs, turnip greens, spinach salad
Monday: Leftover Chicken (chicken nuggets for the picky one), Snap Pea Salad, Cucumber Salad, Basmati Rice
Tuesday: Hamilton Life Church 7:10 Fellowship Dinner
Wednesday: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, Butterflake Rolls, Spinach Salad
Thursday: Boca Taco Salad in Tortilla Bowls (light fare to be followed by music class reception), grilled fajita vegetables
Friday: Who knows?

Cod Liver Oil

2008-04-21T22:47:00.004-04:00

Can't be that bad if it lowered my husband's blood pressure from 210/110 into the normal range. Of course, I think a good dose of fervent prayer helped also!

There has been some discussion on www.moneysavingmom.com about vitamins: to take or not to take, and which one? There are so many to choose from. A lot of them are just junk, loaded with fillers and minerals in a form that your body really can't use optimally. I've never tried the Supermom brand, but they look like a decent supplement. I'm all for green foods like spirulina, alfalfa, algae and sea weeds...just be careful that you do not have allergies to the ingredients before loading up on vitamins. For years I took Nature's Way Alive without Iron, and felt wonderful. I recently stopped because I felt it necessary to start a regimen of Cod Liver Oil and Glucosamine/Chondtroitin/MSM to manage my autoimmune arthritis. Together, it would have been a near toxic dose of vitamin A. After 6 weeks on this regimen, I feel much improved. My knees don't grind, my shoulder has a normal range of motion, and my thumbs never get locked up any more. I cannot praise those little cod enough, they have made a vast difference in the health of my family! I have had to switch to a more palatable capsule, but my husband will finish off my bottle of lemon-lime liquid oil.

You might want to consider cod liver oil, too, if you are seeking a remedy or management for any of the following: high triglycerides, migraines, depression, secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease or stones, and also for inflammatory conditions such as asthma, gingivitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. To read about the merits of cod liver oil, click here.

For more information from a favorite source regarding health-related issues, click here.

Going Mediterranean

2008-04-20T15:50:00.003-04:00

We all have those friends in our lives. You know the ones who inspire us with their motivation or talents? Today I was reminded by the thoughts of one such friend...I need to eat right. Learning about nutrition is something that I enjoy doing. I don't always hop on the latest trend, but I do know a good diet when I see one. On the menu this week: we are going Mediterranean. Our top foods, according to the Mediterranean Book (as well as other successful campaigns like the South Beach Diet) should be:

TOMATOES – cooked, they are rich in the antioxidant lycopene
OLIVE OIL
RED GRAPES
NUTS - full of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
WHOLE GRAINS (fiber!)
FISH (or fish oils, as my case may be. I cannot find a decent, mild fish in this area!)
BERRIES (blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, any berries!)
GARLIC
SPINACH (we like this raw, but we'll eat it steamed also)
ORANGES (rich in folic acid, and vitamin C) this week, we'll be doing lots of lemons!

The Desires of My Heart

2008-04-20T13:51:00.006-04:00

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart: Psalm 37:4

This morning at Life Class, we are asked to take a minute to think about the desires of our heart. What were they? If they didn't come to fruition, would we still believe that Abba Father was looking out for us with our best interests in mind?

I've been all over the field with this thought for the past five hours. I could bitterly remember all the times in my life when I didn't obtain the desires of my heart, when things didn't go according to my wishes. But then, I wouldn't be where I am now...and that has to count for something. I wouldn't have learned many of the lessons that God wanted me to learn had life been so non-stop wonderful. I can tell when my focus starts to shift away from course, when I become content. Not that I wouldn't like to be content forevermore, but there is a fleeting sense of satisfaction when I finally get it. I learn a God-mentored lesson, and in a moment of revelation, I say "OH! Now I understand!"

I also have heard people insist that God wants to give me things. He wants to bless me. Partly I can agree (only because I'm a Mom, and I can understand wanting to give your children nice things), but...what if the desires of my heart may have some undesirable effects later in the game?

What are the desires of my heart? I thought, and thought, and thought some more. What I came up with went something like this:

I. Trivial, temporal desires of my heart

A. A brand new dual oven
B. A hybrid vehicle
C. An entire wardrobe of
size 12s that I can fit into
D. To enjoy exercising
E. My decks to
magically be pressure washed and sealed
F. An entire line of Basic Grey
scrapbooking supplies
G. To not have to work a job
H. A Japanese Maple
I. A 52" plasma, although I only watch two hours of television all week
J. and so on, etc., etc.

II. Desires of my heart that have nothing to do with me, but I want these things for others

A. My sister to be saved, to recognize that there is a Creator, Savior, Friend and Father.
B. My husband to have a renewed vision for his ministry and a renewed joy.
C. My other sister and her three children to stop focusing on the temporal, name-brand satisfactions of his world, and more on the spiritual.
D. My daughter to have realistic post-graduation goals.
E. My husband to be proactive in managing his 210/110 blood pressure.

III. Spiritual desires for myself
A. Tongue taming boot camp
B. One weekend in a hotel room, by myself, with all six books that I am currently reading, and my Bible. I'm certain that the same person that enters the hotel room will not be the same person that leaves the hotel room.

C. To lose 60 pounds. Spiritual? For me, yes. It would allow me the energy to more effectively minister to others.

List I represents my desires that I perceive as things that I feel unjustified in asking for, or that for some reason I would feel selfish about if I were to actually obtain (guilt!?)

List II is the essence of who I am. It's my nature to nurture. I love to see others grow, I love to see others commit their lives to Christ.

List III always seems to be the least of my priorities, or the things that loom the largest and therefore require the extra time/energy that I never seem to have.

How about you? Have you thought about the desires of your heart? Are you living your life in proportion to those desires and where you spend most of your time and energy?

My definition of a good day

2008-04-19T18:52:00.003-04:00

It's Saturday. There is no school. There is no work. The house is relatively clean. The lawn is mowed. The children are happily playing with friends. The cherry on top? I got a new Everyday Food Magazine in the mail, and it was free! Remember when Publix had Land O' Lakes Sweet Cream Butter on sale a month ago? I stocked up, not because we eats tons of butter, but because I will use it eventually and it can be frozen. I have twenty pounds of butter in my freezer ($1.50/pound). The best part is that the UPCs can be registered here, and redeemed for prizes through June. I redeemed mine for 4 FREE movie tickets through Fandango.com, and also for a one year subscription to Everyday Food.

Maybe you think I'm weird for getting so excited about a cooking magazine. I love to cook, what can I say? You may even think that I'm strange for loving Martha Stewart, but I do (sorry, sis!). Combine the two elements and it makes for one dreamy afternoon perusing some new recipes! This magazine is chock full of wonderful recipes. The recipes veer away from the mundane, typical type of home cooking recipes, yet manage to keep the ingredients basic and easily obtainable. Tonight we had grilled chicken, spinach salad and couscous. I added a fresh loaf of Three Seed Bread and some freshly made Sweet Tea with lemon. Mmmm.

When life gives you lemons...

2008-04-17T22:40:00.003-04:00

there's so much more to do with them than make lemonade! I talked to my sister yesterday. She'll be 46 in a few days, and is starting a regimen of nutritional counseling with her chiropractor. What advice did her chiropractic physician give to her? Eat lemons! Why? Lemons are one of God's most beneficial creations. I know that lemon juice is an excellent stain remover and air freshener. Cosmetic reasons aside, take a look at the health benefits:

Lemon juice is one of the best detoxifying agents/cleansing agents ever known to man. The vitamin C in lemons is a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants are necessary to rid the body of damage caused by free radicals.

Lemon juice can resolve nausea, as well as cure heartburn when mixed with hot water.

Lemon scent is a good "pick-me-upper".

For more on the benefits of lemons, click here.

Tonight, while shopping for a new set of salt and pepper shakers in Bed, Bath & Beyond, I came across this nifty gadget. Had to have it (extremely rare impulse buy), and I'm happy I did! The price on the gadget was $9.99, but it rung up as $19.99. They ALL said $9.99, which was a misprice, so the store gave it to me for that price. Then, I pulled out my nifty 20% off any item coupon, for a final price of $7.99! That may seem like a splurge, but we go through so many lemons during the summer, it really was a bargain! This will be a real time saver! Why didn't I know about this before? Culinary life begins at 41, I guess!

The Squeeze

2008-04-16T16:32:00.005-04:00

I've added a new poll, just for curiosity's sake. I suppose I want to feel that I'm not the only one who is feeling the squeeze of the worsening economy. I thank God that I was led to thoroughly examine and adjust the grocery budget 6 months ago, and feel better prepared to deal with an economic crisis. Still, I have felt the impact. We are fairly healthy eaters and the cost to supply the family with fresh produce and good meat and dairy simply does not come at a discount. I make nearly everything from scratch because it is better for us, and the cost savings are usually huge. However, the cost of basic ingredients is climbing. For instance, did you notice that there were no egg sales this Easter? Usually eggs are deeply discounted at this time of year. I've seen them in recent years as low as 79 cents/dozen. This year? $1.89! I buy our milk at the corner store where it's $3.89/gallon for 2% and $3.39/gallon for skim. I have been buying a gallon of each and mixing them (unknown to my picky husband). Until very recently, I was buying organic or raw milk, but can no longer afford it. We could never drink powdered milk, though I do use it for baking. I don't think the cost savings is enough to justify the taste. I occasionally buy soy milk for 50 cents/half gallon at Publix with stacked coupons. I use it for baking also, or for smoothies as a treat.

Another cost saving measure that we may have to take will be utilizing one meatless dinner recipe per week during produce season. Main dish salads are pretty popular in my house, and we already do lots of those for lunch.

It would seem strange to our generation to have to so drastically reduce our food budget. What would you do if the cost of milk rose to $7/gallon, a loaf of bread to $4? The days of government imposed rationing are in our very recent history. My mother remembers government imposed rations. She was born in 1943. My father-in-law was born on October 22, 1929, exactly one week before the stock market crash of 1929, which furthered the damage inflicted by The Great Depression. He remembers the latter part of decade long scarcity, and has spent the last 70 years preparing for another collapse.

I am not an alarmist, but I do feel the squeeze. I thank God for His provision, but I also feel that stewardship is my responsibility. I am so thankful for a group of Godly women who have been my mentors throughout this learning season.

2008-04-14T17:08:00.003-04:00

Tonight is our local homeschool mom's group Mom's Night Out! Hooray! I haven't been since October of last year due to my work schedule, so to say that I am excited about it would be an understatement! We are going to Applebee's, one of my favorite restaurants. I did, however, do the Proverbs 31 woman type of thing and prepare a meal for my family before taking off!

Sunday: Easy Santa Fe Style Stuffed Peppers
Monday: London Broil , red potatoes, green beans (thanks, Jackie!)
Tuesday: Beef Tips and Gravy, Rice, Winter Mix vegetables (couldn't be more appropriate!)
Wednesday: Chicken and Rice, Broccoli, Salad
Thursday: Italian Sausage and Cheese Ravioli, Romaine Salad, Garlic Bread
Friday: Hamburgers on the grill, corn on the cob, picnic fare

Priorities

2008-04-14T12:27:00.003-04:00

One of the biggest challenges to being a mom is scheduling and managing our lives. In life class yesterday, the pastor's wife read an excerpt from Ed Young's Outrageous, Contagious Joy.

Here are our three priorities: (1) relationships (2) worship (3) work . My project for the week is to write down everything that I have to do in the course of the week and to analyze if I am living according to these priorities. I can tell you, I don't think that I am...and I want to! How about you?

Take some time to prayerfully consider your schedules. What works, what doesn't? Why? Are you joyful?

Perpetually striving to be the Proverbs 31 woman...that's me!

And the winner of our grocery store blog poll is...

2008-04-12T16:09:00.005-04:00

Publix! You all do my heart good!

I often hear that Publix is high priced, but as with any store, it depends on what you buy. Publix also does not inflate the price of their BOGO specials, as I've noted with other stores. And of course, the customer service can't be beat.

I did find myself at Aldi last week for the first time in a long time, buying flour for 99 cents a bag. You simply can't beat that price with the cost of a bushel of wheat having risen so dramatically in the past month. I have a stash of Bob's Hard Red Wheat flour in my deep freeze, but I do make my loaves with a mixture of flours, both white and wheat. Here's my favorite recipe that I developed several years ago, trying to copy off of Publix' Seven Grain Bread in the bakery. It's very similar.

Try it!

Three Seed Bread
Can be used for bread machine or makes two stoneware loaf pans, baked at 375 for 30-40 minutes

1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
3 cups bread flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup water
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup ground flax seed
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cups poppy seeds optional

Put in order that your machine says, and put on LIGHT crust setting. The crust will be a little firm and very chewy. Makes the BEST toast grilled cheese sandwiches!

Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.

There is an alternative to bleach

2008-04-10T23:49:00.003-04:00

Chlorine bleach is a hazardous material. Sure, it's an excellent cleaning medium, but do you really, really want the toxic exposure when there are alternatives?

I found this at Publix this weekend: Chlorine-free bleach. Active ingredient? Hydrogen peroxide, citric acid and water, which breaks down into harmless oxygen and water. Does it work? Yes.

I paid $1.50 for mine, works great on stains!

Try it!

Product review: glass cleaner

2008-04-10T23:37:00.003-04:00

A friend recently sent me an e-mail of suggested uses for 3% hydrogen peroxide. Determined not to just jump on the bandwagon (as I had done with vinegar for a while) until I used my year's supply of FREE Windex collected during my initial spurt of couponing, I set the e-mail aside for a later time. When I finally read the e-mail thoroughly, I decided to try the hydrogen peroxide on my bathroom mirrors. WOW! Where has this knowledge been all of my life?! It is amazingly streak-free and certainly economical. I like it better than commercially prepared glass cleaner, and as a bonus, it is FUME-FREE!

I was never too impressed with vinegar as a glass cleaner, but I like the idea of natural.

Try it!

Be a Miles of Marketing Suburban Street Team Member!

2008-04-09T12:14:00.003-04:00

Yes, I get paid to do what I do! Last month I *wore* magnetic signs on my van for two weeks, and handed out 200 FREE samples of Tide with Dawn StainScrubbers. Easy, easy, EASY way to add to the household income! Are you interested?

We were featured on ABC News! You can watch the M.O.M.s marketing to Moms video here.

If you sign up, please mention that I sent you, as I will get a referral fee.

Free Yoplait Kids Yogurt

2008-04-07T22:44:00.002-04:00

Click here! to learn more about Yoplait Kids Yogurt with DHA and 25% less sugar than the leading kids' yogurt. Then click the little box that says FREE COUPON!

2008-04-07T22:29:00.006-04:00

It's late on Monday...but's it's a plan (already in action!). Dinners only.

SUNDAY: Rosemary Cashew Chicken with rice and peas, green salad
MONDAY: Chicken Pot Pie (made with leftovers), homemade croissants, coconut custard pie
TUESDAY: Boca Enchilada Casserole, Mexican Salad
WEDNESDAY: Thanksgiving Dinner (gotta' use my turkey in my deep freeze)
THURSDAY: Hot Turkey Sandwiches (leftover), potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin pie
FRIDAY: Barbeque Beef Sandwiches, corn on the cob, cole slaw, macaroni and cheese
SATURDAY: Crockpot something...we'll be gone all day at Outdoor Chattanooga.

Did you know this about corn?

2008-04-07T09:47:00.005-04:00

With all the great deals on corn, here's a clever way to cook it! Please try to buy local produce...it's better for you, better for the farmer!

You can pull back the husk (but not remove it!), remove the silk, place the husk back around the ear of corn, microwave for 2 1/2 minutes for one ear, 5 minutes for two ears, 7 1/2 minutes for three ears, etc.

Or, if you do not own a microwave or have reservations about microwaving your food, you can cook it in the crockpot:

Remove husk and silk from the ears of corn, place in your crockpot, cover with warm water, and cook on high for 2 hours.

Did I mention how much I love my crockpot?

Publix says "Buy theirs, get ours free"

2008-04-06T15:37:00.004-04:00

From today's Time Free Press insert, back page.

How much will it cost you to buy THEIRS?

Cascadian Farms Raisin Bran = $3.39 - $1 printable
Heinz Organic Ketchup = $2.65
Delmonte Organic Sweet Peas = $1.39

Dealing with Seasonal Headaches

2008-04-06T14:58:00.002-04:00

In a total act of desperation to relieve my seasonal allergy related headache, I took a pill. It was a free pill, Wal-Zyr, FREE after rebate from Walgreens for the month of April. It is the generic equivalent of Zyrtec. It worked, yes. It also knocked me out! I have been feeling exhausted lately anyway, but this little pill really pushed me over the edge and I took a long, long nap after I got home from work yesterday afternoon.

Today, I decided to be more creative and try an all-natural product recommended to me by one of my health-nut friends: HeadOn Sinus Headache Relief. It's the product with the cheesy commercial, but there is nothing cheesy about this product. It worked, and my husband (the skeptic) agrees! I like the fact that it is all natural, and that it did not knock me for a loop like most antihistamines do. I simply rubbed it on my forehead. Most physicians (according to online articles) will poo-poo the idea that it could work, but they do that with most natural products anyway. Perhaps because it is a product that does not require a trip to their office to obtain an Rx? Maybe, maybe not...but something to think about. HeadOn worked for me. I noticed a tingling, cooling sensation on my forehead and the faint smell of BenGay, but not overpoweringly so. My technical guess is that the cooling sensation on the skin diverts blood flow away from your sinuses, thus reducing inflammation. Less inflammation means less pain. I have the need to figure out why things work, so that's my guess. Price $7.99 at Walgreens (BOGO last week, making it $4).

Note: I am not receiving compensation for this product review.

Chickened Out

2008-04-06T14:37:00.004-04:00

Last night I thought about how nice it would be to come home from church to a leisurely Sunday meal, already prepared in the crockpot. I had thawed the chicken breasts in the fridge and had decided on one of my new crockpot recipes, Rosemary Cashew Chicken. Everything is made in the crockpot these days. This, too, shall pass.

Anyway, the Rosemary Cashew Chicken sounded elegant, easy, and just like what a Sunday dinner ought to be. This morning, all I had to do, was put the already assembled crock in the warmer, turn it on low, and it was ready when we came home from church. It smelled heavenly when we walked in the door. But, I discovered something about myself: I don't like rosemary. In my opinion, the only thing rosemary is good in is the Simon & Garfunkel song Scarborough Fair. Yuck, yuck and yuck some more. Why would I post the recipe if I didn't like it? Because you might like rosemary, and it makes a beautiful, spring themed meal spread. This recipe received rave reviews online.

Rosemary Cashew Chicken

1 chicken (3 to 4 pounds), cut & skin removed 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped cashews

1/3 cup orange juice concentrate

1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed

1 teaspoon salt

Place chicken in a slow cooker.

Combine onion, orange juice concentrate, rosemary, salt and cayenne; pour over chicken.

Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours. Remove the chicken and keep warm. Serve with rice, pasta or potatoes. Sprinkle with cashews prior to serving.

I also discovered that I am chickened out (tired of chicken), and need some cooking inspiration. This evening, I'll be pulling out my Taste of Home cookbooks to do some meal planning!

You've found me!

2008-04-05T13:08:00.002-04:00

If you've clicked the link from Eyes on the Prize, you've landed at the right blog!

What you'll find here on my new blog are ways to creatively be a wise steward of resources, my thoughts on managing my home, recipes that I'd like to share, and of course...coupons, freebie links, product reviews and shopping results ( as well as the occasional advertisement). Join me as I attempt a metamorphosis into a (practically) Proverbs 31 woman!