TERRIFIC TOY DAY

Well an EARLY morning HI THERE to all my friends out there in blogspot land! How are you doing today? I’m good really. I got up early to get a drink and now I can’t get back to sleep so I decided to come and write to all of you! So what do you have planned for today?



We ended up going to the 10am showing of the new movie Toy Story and let me admit, it wasn’t all bad. Here is Alex outside the theater in front of the poster. If not for the glare on the glass, I would say that it looked like the toys were right behind him LOL!



After the movie, which was surprisingly quiet BTW, he wanted a “Bullseye” toy. See he has all the Toy Story characters at home with the exception of like 2 or 3 and then the new ones from the movie today. So we searched high and low, left and right… gave up and went to Toys R Us where he had part of a gift card left and luckily found the ONLY flippin bullseye in the whole county it had to be! But he’s happy and it was HIS day… LOL!



After the movie and toy shopping, my little Toy Story junkie got a case of the munchies. So we took our coupons and headed to Jack-in-the-Box and he and DD had some lunch. You gotta love BOGO coupons LOL…



When we got home finally, I gave him the Toy Story bag I had made him and filled with Toy Story goodies. He opened it up and looked at all the stuff and then gave me a big hug and said “I love you mom” and put it back in the bag and said “It’s lovely” LOL! I’ve never heard him say that before so we were laughing quite loudly LOL!



Oh, a little off the beaten path, but I have to show you what I found in the garden this morning as a big surprise waiting for me... not a bug... not a bee... but this pretty pumpkin blossom! Could it be that we are going to get a pumpkin out of this plant yet? My giant pumpkin plant is not doing as well, sadly. But maybe for DD's sake, this one will fruit!

We found a little hole in the wall resale shop on the way home and we stopped. I found an old monopoly game for 50 cents so I got that and some zippers for a nickel a piece, so I picked up a few of those. I got big plans for the monopoly stuff, but I can’t tell ya yet! Maybe I will get to it today LOL!

OK so while I was at JIB with the kids and using the ketchup packets, it got me to thinking about a comment we got awhile back about expiring condiments. Then I was thinking about pantry items, etc. and THEIR expiry dates… and then what do I find on yahoo? Yep perfect timing with an article about things in your cupboard and spring cleaning your pantry. SO I wanted to bring these tips and articles to you today!

When do things in the Cupboard go bad?
By Real Simple Magazine

Surprising expiration dates for 3 baking staples. You make your famously flaky piecrust only once a year, so you want to be sure the ingredients are at their peak. But when it comes to evaluating the freshness of flour and other dry baking ingredients, the proverbial sniff test doesn't cut it. Here's when to refresh your baking staples.

By Stacey Colino

Flour
To prevent pests, replace white flour once a year if it has been stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Whole-wheat and other whole-grain flours should be replaced every six months because they contain oils that can turn, says Mary Ellen Camire, a professor of food science and human nutrition at the University of Maine, in Orono. Whole-grain flour can become bitter after a few weeks. To prevent this, place it in the freezer in an airtight container immediately after bringing it home from the store, says P.J. Hamel, a test-kitchen baker for King Arthur Flour, in Norwich, Vermont, and replace it after
six months.

Sugar
You won't need to replace sugar for two years or longer, because "it's fairly indestructible," Camire says. Brown sugar, which can be softened by microwaving it for 15 seconds, is more perishable- replace it within a year. Keep both in airtight, moisture-proof containers.

Leaveners
Replace baking powder by the use-by date printed on the can. Baking soda should be replaced within a year if it's opened, two if unopened. Both react with moisture and become less stable over time, so store them in a cool, dry place- not the refrigerator. If you use these ingredients when they're old, your cookies won't rise properly or have the right texture, says Hamel. And don't use the box of baking soda that has been in the refrigerator absorbing odors; it can affect the taste of the foods you bake.

Spring clean your pantry: Toss this, keep that
By Sarah McColl

If the pantry shelves are home to a half-eaten bag of Halloween candy and spice jars that smells like dust, it's time for a little pantry spring cleaning. Even if you keep a well-edited kitchen, it's good to survey what's lurking on those shelves. Here's a guide to what needs to find a new home in the trash can and what can stay.

Toss It: Trans Fats
Sometimes you want to geek out and know the exact reason why something is bad for you, so here's the deal with trans fats: they are made in an industrial process by adding hydrogen to vegetable oils in order to extend the shelf life of processed foods you might have in your pantry. Companies love them because they're cheap and easy. You don't need them, though, because they raise your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol and lower your "good" (HDL) cholesterol, increasing your risk of developing heart disease. And did you know that's the number one killer of American women? Go ahead and toss anything in your pantry that lists partially hydrogenated oils in the ingredients and be mindful of it on ingredients lists on future grocery runs.

Keep It: Grains
If you've stored your all-purpose flour in an air-tight container in a cool, dry place, definitely hang on to it. Barley, bulgur, couscous, cornmeal, quinoa, pasta, and rice are all keepers, too. In fact, they are indispensable weapons in the battle to get dinner on the table fast. One exception to this rule is whole wheat flour. It has natural oils that make it spoil faster, so if you haven't been storing it in the refrigerator and it's more than several months old, best to start from fresh with a new bag.

Toss It: Expired Baking Staples
That box of baking soda in the fridge? It has an expiration date on it, after which the active properties that make baked goods rise and clean your counters naturally are less effective. Same with baking powder. If they've expired, spring for new baking soda and powder so you don't have any disappointing baking disasters. Nuts will also go rancid kept in the pantry, so toss those, buy what you need fresh, and keep them in the freezer to extend their life.

Keep It: Canned Goods
Those nights when you're even more time-pressed than usual, a couple cans of beans and tomatoes combined with a whole grain can make a healthy meal on the fly. Hang on to canned fish like salmon, sardines, anchovies, and flaked light tuna packed in water for a quick sandwich or fish cakes. Canned beans like chickpeas, black beans, and kidney beans should stay, as well as tomatoes in many of their canned forms: paste, diced, stewed, and sauce. Other canned vegetables aren't quite as ideal, as their texture can leave something to be desired and their nutritional content wanes over time. Better to stock fruits and veggies in the freezer that were picked and frozen at their peak.

Toss It: High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a shelf-stable sweetener found in many of our pantry staples including soft drinks, juices, and processed foods. Some claim HCFS is partly responsible for the obesity epidemic, noting that it may promote weight gain by behaving in the body more like fat than glucose (the blood sugar in other sweet foods). Some evidence also suggests that fructose may disturb liver function, and unlike glucose, doesn't appear to trigger the switch that tells us we're full -- meaning we can eat a lot of HFCS in everything from salad dressings, bread, and ketchup without even knowing it. And we haven't even addressed the environmental effects of growing vast crops of corn that deplete the soil and require pesticides and fertilizer. Whether you buy that it's "all-natural" or not, a lot of evidence seems to point to tossing this out of your pantry.

Keep It: Healthy Oils
Because you probably cook with it every night, chances are your cooking oils are fresh enough to keep. Stored in a cool, dark place, olive oil will last several months. Light and heat are what will make this go rancid, so tuck it away in the pantry rather than leaving it in a clear bottle next to the stove.Neutral cooking oils like canola and vegetable oil have an even longer shelf life (but you should toss them if they're more than a year old). Move toasted sesame oil for Asian cooking into the fridge to keep it from going bad.

Alrighty, now I can say I have the craft bug today, but what I can’t say is what I plan to make… partly cause I don’t have a clue LOL! BUT I do know that Father’s Day is coming up this weekend and you might need a great idea for a gift, so that’s what I am offering you today! There are lots of great things you could do for Dad… a grilling/bbq gift basket, a survival kit, fishing stuff, hunting, or whatever Dad may be into. He may like cookie bouquets, or he may like Kindle or other electronic gadgets. Only YOU know your dad, so put a little effort into him and make his day.



Craft Idea of the Day: Father's Day Beer Mug

Supplies:

1 glass beer mug
1 large bag of butterscotch candies
10 large marshmallows
cellophane and ribbon

Instructions:

Take glass beer mug (I bought one at Walmart for $2.87) fill 2/3 of the way up with the butterscotch candies ($1.00 at Walmart). Fill remaining area in mug and a little higher with marshmallows.

Wrap in cellophane and wrap with ribbon. I left unwrapped so you could see detail.

By Carol from Massachusetts

Ok now it’s that time again… some more Luau favorites! I know not everyone is a fish lover, so today I am bringing you some fish and some chicken that will hopefully have you hula-ing all the way to food heaven! Try them on for size… Eat & Enjoy!



Lomi Lomi Salmon

Lomi means massage in Hawaiian and you'll see how that name applies to this recipe.

Ingredients:

8 oz. salted salmon filet
fresh tomatoes, peeled and diced
1 medium Maui onion or any mild onion (substitute 3-4 thinly sliced green onions)

Preparation:

This is the most basic recipe for Lomi Lomi Salmon. Additional ingredients can be added based on personal taste.

Wash hands thoroughly. Shred the salmon into small pieces with your hands. Add onions and tomotoes.

Massage this mixture with your hands until all ingredients are broken up and thoroughly mixed. Chill. (You can actually add 6-8 ice cubes and chill.)

If you can only find unsalted salmon, rub the salmon with rock or kosher salt and let stand overnight. Rinse thorougly and soak in cold water for at least one hour, changing the water several times. Also, lox can be substituted for fresh salmon if you cannot locate a salted salmon filet or do not wish to salt your own.



Huli-Huli Chicken

Hawaii's own version of barbecued chicken is cooked with Huli-Huli Sauce (made with pure Hawaiian brown sugar cane along with soy sauce, fresh ginger and more).

Variation 1

Ingredients:

4-5 lbs chicken pieces
1/3 cup ketchup
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons sherry
1 piece ginger root, crushed
1 clove garlic, crushed

Preparation:

Combine ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, sherry, ginger root, and garlic. Stir well.

Place chicken, skin side up, on the rack of broiler pan about 6 inches from the heat or preferably on an outdoor grill.

Baste the chicken frequently and continue broiling or grilling for about 10 minutes on each side or until chicken appears done.

Variation 2

Courtesy of Local Kine Recipes. University of Hawaii.

INGREDIENTS:

3 broken fryers, split or quartered
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup shoyu (Japanese soy sauce)
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/3 cup white wine
1/4 cup frozen pineapple juice concentrate.
pinch of fresh or dried ginger.
drop or two of Worcestershire sauce.

PREPARATION:

Mix ingredients in bowl, brush over chicken pieces. Grill over barbecue, turning and basting with sauce until it is done (about 40 minutes).

Note: Huli-Huli sauce can also be purchased pre-made in bottled form and many supermarkets.

Notice how these foods repeat the names just like yesterday? Mahi Mahi, Lomi Lomi, and Huli Huli? What’s up with that? LOL! It’s Funny Funny LMAO! Anyway, I am gonna get off here and go find some trouble to get into LOL! Maybe some sewing, maybe some… oh IDK… just SOMETHING LOL! I’ll see you tomorrow ok? HUGS!

ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOYS

Good morning everyone! How are you this “OMG-I-have-to-endure-100-minutes-of-cartoon-terror” day? Congratulations on making it to the end of another crazy work week! Maybe you should sit back, host a luau, and drink you some suds over this supposed to be beautiful weekend LOL! You have plenty of recipes LOL! Oh and to Melissa- I'm so sorry I forgot to tell you that the fish markets I go to are in Kemah on the other side of the Boardwalk, but I know you are in Houston. There is a great fish market in same area as Canino's Farmers Market... its right across the street really. Canino's is at Link and Airline Rd (the addy is 2520 Airline Dr, Houston)... you can't miss it! LOL... you, hubby, and the new baby should go check it out. Make a day of it on the weekend (that's when all the little vendors are out back) and get you some great produce, go to the bakery, the spice house, and the fish market. You will have a blast! And take pictures cause I want to see! LOL!



Well, it’s THAT day… the day that I get to go to the theater and listen to tons of screaming children go gaga for toys! LMAO… yes today is the opening day of the Toy Story 3 movie! The first show time is at 10am, but I think we will be making the 11:15 instead. I haven’t fully shook out the cobwebs yet LOL! Oh and get this ok, the first showing of this movie was at 12:04am… WHAT THE HECK?? Are you serious? WHY on earth would you have young children awake at such an ungodly hour? Needless to say, Alex isn’t that lucky LOL! It should definitely be an interesting day least LOL! Oh the things we do for our children!

Ok, so yesterday I brought you some frugal tips to save money and ya’ll added some great ones that weren’t listed. Thanks for your input! Now one of the tips was to use homemade cleaning products. Well last night I got to thinking that for those of you new to the whole frugal way of life, you probably don’t have any ideas on homemade cleaning methods or products right? Well you can find recipes for lots of cleaners online, but I was skimming the yahoo news and low and behold there was a featured article about baking soda! And that got me to read it, and then they had other articles related to it… ways to use common things you probably have in your house… like vinegar and lemons too! So instead of posting the big long lists here, I am linking you to the 3 great articles about cleaning “au natural”! LOL!

40 Fantastic uses for baking Soda by Melissa Breyer

Lovely Lemons: 14 Uses in the Home by Annie Bond

23 Ingenious Uses for White Vinegar by Mel

Now… are you ready to get your groove on? Your craft groove that is?? Today I am bringing you the cutest idea that can be tailored to just about anyone or any theme. They are little “survival kits” and they are the cutest thing! You can make them sentimental, serious, or funny. It’s a great craft to do and I think you would have fun. These are just ideas of items to use… feel free to change them up and make your kits unique!



Craft Idea of the Day: Survival Kits

Everyday Life Survival Kit
Tea Bag - Relax and think of your list of life's blessings
Toothpick - Pick out the good qualities in everyone, including yourself.
Bandaid - To heal hurt feelings.
Mint - You are worth a mint to your family and friends
Glue - So you can stick with it and accomplish anything.
Sunny smile - To remind you its not always raining.
Guardian Angel - Because everyone needs one.
Pencil - To write down your days blessings.
Eraser - Everyone makes mistakes
Umbrella - For those rainy days when it just seems to pour down.
String -To tie up loose ends.
Ball - So you can bounce back quickly.
Glitter - To put the sparkle back in your life.
Velcro dot - So you can keep things together.

Friendship Survival Kit
Toothpick - Pick out the good qualities in everyone, including yourself.
Bandaid - To heal hurt feelings.
Gum - A reminder that friends stick together
Life Savers - A reminder that sometimes our friends need our help.
Cotton Ball - To cushion the bumpy roads ahead.
Eraser - To remind you always start each day with a clean slate.
Happy Face - Smiling is contagious.
Candle - Remember to share the light with others.
Sticky Tape - To tape your lips when you have nothing good to say.
Rock - To remind you of the stability of your friendship.
Rubber Band - So you can be flexible when dealing with friends.

Grandparents Survival Kit
Safety pin - To remind you to keep safe.
Lifesavers - Because grandparents can be "lifesavers".
Marble - For the ones your about to loose.
Pencil - To write down your memories to share with the grandkids
Tissue - For cleaning up little messes
Candle - To remind you that you’re the light in your grandkids eyes.
Mint - Always remember you are worth a mint.
Sugar Cube - For that extra burst of energy.
Sandpaper - For when the grandkids get a little rough.
Peg - A must for changing nappies.
Nappy Bag - This will always come in handy.
Panadol - You're going to need it.
Extra money - Spoiling kids can be expensive.
Sunglasses- For discreet nanny naps.
Extra eyes - You will need eyes in the back of your head.

Growing Old Survival Kit
Bran -To keep you regular.
Whistle -For when you fall down and can't get up.
Glasses - For when your eyesight goes.
Sugar -For extra energy.
Extra Hair -In case yours drops out.
Tooth Pick -To prop your eyes open so you don't fall a sleep.
Rubber Band -To give you your flexibility back.
Panadol -For those extra aches and pains.
Teeth -For when yours all fall out.
Matchstick -To put the fire back into your life.
Doll's Chair -To remind you to sit and take it easy.

Guardian Angel Survival Kit
Toothpick - Pick out the good qualities in everyone, including yourself.
Bandaid - To heal hurt feelings.
Gum - Think before you "Chew" others out.
Smiley Face - Because smiling is contagious
Guardian Angel - Because everyone needs one.
Pencil - To write down your days blessings.
Eraser - To remind you always start each day with a clean slate.
Sticky Tape - To tape your lips when you have nothing good to say.
Star - To reflect what you can be.
Sand paper - To smooth out the rough edges.
Glitter - To make things sparkle.
Velcro dot - Help you get a grip on things.
Rubber Band - To stretch you beyond your limits.
Paper clip - To keep things together.
Candle - To light up your path.

Menopause Survival Kit
Place M&M's into a jar or bag and add this saying/poem.
To temporarily calm your craving for chocolate, eat the BROWN one.
At the first sign of hot flashes eat the RED one.
Eat the ORANGE one to minimize depression.
The GREEN one calms your frustrations, when you want to be left alone.
If you feel a headache coming on eat the YELLOW one.
The BLUE one reduces bloating.
If all symptoms occur at the same time, eat the WHOLE bag.

Parent’s Survival Kit
Cotton Ball - for times when you can't hear yourself think
Rope - in case you get to the end of yours
Rubber Band - to remind you to stretch and grow with your children
Sweet & Sour Candy - to remind you that every child is different
Eraser - to erase what happened yesterday to start a new today.
Puzzle Piece - to remind you that you are an important piece in the journey of your child
Marbles - to replace the ones you've lost
Band-Aid - to fix hurt feelings
Nuts - to remind you to laugh at yourself and go nuts before the children send you nuts.
Tootsie Roll - to remind you to roll with the punches
Candle - so you never feel in the dark about parenting
Do Not Disturb Sign - to remind you that you need time to yourself
Aspirin - for when all else fails...take two
A piece of velcro - for when you need to get a grip

Retirement Survival Kit
Tea Bag - So you can take a well deserved tea break.
Crayon - To colour your day's bright and sunny.
Marble - For when you loose yours.
Jar - For your retirement fund jar.
Mint - For a fresh look at Retire"mint"
Heart - Now you can follow your heart.
Smiley face - So you will have a happy retirement.
Pack of seeds - May all your dreams grow like a garden.
Watch - Time is finally your own.
Marker - Your retirement "marks" the beginning of a special journey.
Chair - Because you earned your rest.

Helping Hand Survival Kit
Lollipop - To help you lick your problems
Toothpick - So you will not be too picky.
Paper clip - To hold things together.
Mint - You are worth a mint to your family and friends
Money - So you will "cents" to realise your own worth.
Bran - To help you loosen up.
Smiley Face - To bring some sunshine into your life.
Band Aid- To help heal the hurt and pain.
Guardian Angel - Because everyone needs one.
Tissues - To wipe away the tears.
Hand - Everyone needs a helping hand.
Sand paper - To smooth things over.
Cork - To keep your head above water.
Ball - So you can bounce back quickly.
Glitter - To brighten your day.
Rubber Band - Be flexible, things may not always go your way.
Sugar - To sweeten up your day.
Safety Pin - So you can pin point the problem.
Heart - In case yours is broken.
String - So you can tie up loose ends.
Band aid - To help heal the pain and hurt.

Aren’t those pretty cute? Like I said, mix them up, put other things in there, make them specific for the recipient, the choice(s) is yours! I am thinking about a couple of people right now who need a survival kit LOL! Yep, told ya’ll I was a smarty pants LMAO! Even my MOM told you yesterday in her comment LMAO! So are you watching that Christmas Countdown real closely? Remember I am going to start my gift crafting when we have 150 days left!!! Time is running out QUICK! Only a little over a month left! I think you should take the challenge with me! Start at 150 and see how many Christmas gifts you can make and how fast you can get done… I would be interested in seeing all of your creations and ideas! So who’s with me??

Now its time to eat. Luau week is drawing to a close rather quickly and I must say I have had some fun bringing you some fresh crazy flavors! Now tell me what Luau would be complete without the fresh and famous Mahi Mahi fish? This recipe is a palate pleaser for me in more than one way. I like fish and I like Macadamias… yum! So you can imagine the combo of craziness we got here! Try it out… eat & Enjoy!



Seared Toasted Macadamia Nut Mahi Mahi

This Hawaiian favorite white, sweet, moderately dense fish is most often served at luaus either baked or sauted.

Ingredients:

4 (6 ounce) mahi mahi fillets
salt and pepper
1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
1/2 cup macadamia nuts, toasted, ground fine
1/4 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
2 tablespoons olive oil

Preparation:

Salt and pepper each fillet as desired.

Combine the toasted macadamia nuts with softened but not melted butter. Add in panko breadcrumbs as well as a light amount of salt and pepper.

Lightly press breadcrumb mixture onto the top of fish and place fish into a pan with the olive oil. Saute fish on both sides until it bounces back slightly when pressed - about 5 minutes per side.

Well kids, that’s about all for me today. I hope you learned something new and had a grand old time. I am gonna get off here and go get ready for our Toy Story 3 day out! Remember, it’s Alex’s big day! We should have a blast, so I will see you tomorrow with a ton of great pictures and surely at least 1 interesting story LOL! See you then… HUGS!

PASS THE PUPU PLATTER PLEASE

Aloha kakahiaka (Good morning) everyone! How are you doing this sultry June morning? I hope you are well in your visit here. Me… well a bit tired and very sore. I was helping my DBgf get some packing done yesterday as they have a big move ahead of them soon. Boy do I know how hard it is to move! Everyone deserves help. So needless to say, there is no big pots of delicious yumminess to share or no spiffy cool crafts to show you… but there will be soon… have patience! LOL!



So what do you have planned for today? I’ll was gonna be chillin with my mommy LOL… but she is not feeling real great, so she’s gonna chillax in bed today. No need for my nurse services. Tomorrow, however, is Alex’s big summer adventure! Toy Story 3 out in theaters! I think he’s planning on taking his TS3 toys with him LOL… yes he has all the “dolls”/toys. Woody, Buzz, Rex, Jessie, etc. all about 12-18 inches tall and they ALL TALK! UGH! LOL… oh well he likes it!

Alright, time to address some comments from yesterday. To Tabitha- I am sorry you don’t like HK… I watch it to see the contestants really… Ramsey is not my favorite person, but I like the cooking and to see the people. Some people’s attitudes really amaze me. As for buying poi, you could check your local supermarket’s in the ethnic sections, but I don’t think it would be there. I don’t really know. I know if you were in Hawaii you could obviously find some LOL. I’m not sure where you are from, so I am not sure of what kind of stores you may have in your area. However, I’m pretty sure you could order some online. Just check it out.

To Melissa- OMG baby crafts… that’s super! My mom is right, it’s addictive. And when the bug bites you/mojo kicks in- beware!! LOL… I have clocked in 20 hours before just crafting because I had such a good flow going! LOL I think I will be starting a club… Crafters Anonymous… where we can confess and get support for our addiction LOL! I would LOVE to see all the things you made the baby! And way to go with the crock pot! Very smart to be freezing stuff! Does the hubby still refer to ME by name LOL!? I’ll be waiting to see pics of your crafting extravaganzas (and the baby too LOL!)…

And to my mommy- OMG stop knockin’ my HK! LOL! The fact that I KNOW you cook better than him is irrelevant! LOL Its entertainment! You have your Smallville, Survivor, and all those other weird things… leave my cooking ALONE! LMAO… you know I am just playing and I know WHY you don’t care for it and I respect that. You never told me you wanted Blueberry plants! I saw some really pretty ones… those and grapes too… just the other day at… it was either Lowe’s or Home Depot! That would have been a much better thing for me to buy with that GC rather than more things and plants that I have no place for! OMG you got to tell me these things!! LOL!

Ok, are you ready to get frugal? Now Stop for a minute and think about what your definition of frugality, frugalness, etc. really is! Then as you dissect your definition compare it to the REAL definition of the word “FRUGAL”. Frugal as defined is 1. Practicing economy; living without waste; thrifty 2. not costly; meagre 3. Practicing or marked by economy, as in the expenditure of money or the use of material resources. It does NOT mean, by any means, that you are a “cheapskate or tends to/will sacrifice quality. So, tell me… are you already or do you want to become truly frugal? I would like to think so… even if just by visiting here, you have a hidden desire to be even just a little bit more frugal LOL! Go on… admit it! No shame in it! LMAO! I am totally frugal and I love it! I recycle, I garden, I craft and sew, I cook from scratch, etc. etc. etc. AND I save money doing it! Quite frankly, I like to amaze people with how I can be eating like a king (Ribeye steaks, etc) or having fun adventures for next to nothing! Watching their face is insane LOL! Can you believe I used to live off of $188 a month?? And that INCLUDED money for bills, etc? Some of it is survivor skills and common sense, but a lot of it is being very frugal. SO, I found some helpful, and common, tips on reducing your outflow of cash… we all need friendly reminders now and then! I know I do!

22 Easy Tips to Save Money
by Frugal 101

We often associate the phrase “saving money” with something unpleasant, such as not going shopping for awhile or skipping our regular Saturday night out. These would certainly help, but there are a number of other easier ways to save money, which many people are neglecting. The reason for neglecting them is probably the fact that you don’t save a lot of money at once. Every time you do or don’t do something you save cents, but if you make them a habit, you will be surprised how quickly these cents will add up and help your budget.

Here are the things which every frugal person should remember:

1. Turn off the lights. If you are in the bathroom, turn the light of everywhere else (unless of course there are family members in the other rooms). If everyone is in the dining room eating dinner, you don’t need the lights turned on in the entire house.

2. Turn the TV off. It is amazing how many people have their television turned on as background noise. If you don’t watch it, turn it off.

3. Drink water. Water has incredible health benefits. Drinking it instead of soda not only improves your health, but saves you money.

4. Write a list before going shopping. If you see something that is not on your list, don’t buy it. Unless you are food shopping and see a great deal on something that you can freeze.

5. Freeze your meals. Cook meals in bigger quantities and freeze them. It will save not only energy but time.

6. Buy low energy light bulbs. They save energy and last longer.

7. Always remember to shut your windows and doors. You don’t need to heat or cool outdoor air. Plus, considering rising crime rates, it is much safer.

8. Use towels and cloth napkins. It will save you money and protect the environment. I would like to recommend cloth diapers as well, but I wouldn’t, because it would make me a hypocrite. I just can’t deal with those.

9. Air-dry your clothes. If you have a backyard, dry your clothes outside (make sure it doesn’t rain though). It will make your clothes last longer and will save you a lot of energy. You will be surprised to see how much energy your dryer eats.

10. Buy generic brands. They are just as good as brand named ones. If you don’t believe me, check he ingredients.

11. Shop end-of-season sales. The best time to shop for clothing and seasonal merchandise is at the end of a season. Stock up on Christmas stuff in January. If you have kids, it is not a bad idea to buy stuff for the next year. True, you don’t really know how much they will grow, but if in doubt, always buy larger size.

12. Do not EVER neglect coupons. Before going shopping, do you homework. Search for coupons online or in your newspaper. Don’t neglect smaller savings, because they will add up.

13. Leave your credit card at home. If you have a shopping addiction, leave your card at home and bring cash with you. In Russia and Eastern Europe people usually pay by cash which is a good reminder of how much money you are actually spending. Remember: credit card is not a magic card. You will have to pay it off and usually, you will have to pay more because of the interest rates.

14. Take lunch to work. It is not difficult to make a sandwich at home and it is certainly cheaper than going out for lunch; and much better for you than eating fast food.

15. Make coffee at home. Stopping at Starbuck or Dunkin Donuts every morning is an evil habit for a frugal person. If you do it every day, you may be spending $30-60 a month just for that.

16. If shopping online, use cashback sites. Always.

17. Cook at home. Learn how to cook from scratch. It is not as difficult as it seems. It is much healthier, it will save you money, you’ll score a point or two with your significant other and make you friends’ significant others jealous.

18. Use home made cleaning products.

19. Shop at local farms. Locally grown food (even if it is not organic) has lower chemicals and pesticide levels and is usually cheaper.

20. Buy in bulk. Join wholesale clubs and buy stuff in bulk. It is always a good idea to freeze meats and refrigerate fruits and vegetables. It will save you money and extra trips to the store.

21. Invest into a programmable thermostat. It will cost you some money, but it is a good investment. You will save a great deal if you automatically turn down the heat or AC when you are at work or are sleeping.

22. Buy produce in season. It is healthier, cheaper and it tastes better. (See the printable season chart I use.)

OK now something you should know about me… I can be a bit of a smartalic LOL! And I am starting to think about my gift giving season which is fixing to go into full swing and there are a couple of people who are VERY hard to give gifts to… either because they buy everything themselves, they have everything, or they just don’t care/desire anything. When I hear them say “NOTHING” when I ask for gift ideas, sometimes I just want to pull my hair out by the roots LOL! SOOO I found this and said OMG that’s it!!!! SOOOO the people on my list better be careful this year! They MIGHT just get EXACTLY what they ask for… like this! LMAO!



Craft Idea of the Day: The Jar of Nothing

Materials:

Empty jar
Sticky label paper
or Paper and Clear Glue

Directions:

For this project all you need is an empty jar.

You can print this saying out onto some adhesive label paper suitable for your printer or print it onto normal plain paper. Use some clear craft glue to adhere it to the jar.

If you want to go all out you can add some ribbon to the jar and even box it up for a great gag gift.

--The Saying---

Did you say nothing?
When you were asked what you wanted for
Birthday, Anniversary, Graduation or Christmas.
Don't you remember saying NOTHING
Well this time someone heard you, searched
high and low and found this perfect gift for you.

Note: These are great for Christmas fund raising stalls

Are you hungry? Well I am gonna start your day off with some tantalizing appetizers! There are lots of items used as Hawaiian appetizers, known as "pupus" in the islands. Today I am going to bring you a few of them to try! (They are pronounced POO-POO btw… yes I know- don’t even go there people! LOL) Eat & Enjoy!



Local Style Ahi Poke
Recipe courtesy Tidepools, Koloa, HI

INGREDIENTS

8 ounces tuna sashimi block, small dice
1/8 teaspoon Hawaiian salt
1/8 teaspoon kukui nut
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
Pinch chili flakes
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon oyster sauce
1 teaspoon green onion, chopped
1 tablespoon onion, chopped
1 teaspoon garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon Furukake spice
1 tablespoon sesame oil

PREPARATION

Combine all ingredients in a stainless steel bowl and gently mix. Make this on the day of use.

Sam Choy's Ahi Poke

Recipe presented on "Good Morning America" with Chef Emeril Lagasse

INGREDIENTS

1 and 1/4 pound fresh ahi, cubed into bite-sized pieces
1/4 cup yellow onion, minced
1/4 cup green onion, sliced
3 tbsp. limu kohu, chopped (a soft, reddish-brown variety of seaweed, prized for its succulent flavor.)
1 tbsp. Inamona (the ground innards from roasted kukui nuts)
2 tsp. sesame oil

PREPARATION

Combine all ingredients. Mix well and chill.



Coconut Shrimp

This is the recipe for coconut shrimp as served at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel in Waikiki, Hawaii.

Ingredients:

24 large raw shrimp, peeled
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs slightly beaten
3 cups shredded coconut
24 - 6 inch wooden skewers

Preparation:

Insert one skewer in each shrimp leaving 2-3 inches of the skewer protruding..

Dredge shrimp in flour, then in eggs. Roll the shrimp through shredded coconut, covering them thoroughly.

Deep fry shrimp at about 375 F, until they are brown.

Serve with cocktail sauce to which crushed pineapple is added according to taste.



Hawaiian Sparerib Appetizers

Marinated spareribs are a favorite pupu or appetizer at many restaurants and family gatherings in Hawaii.
Cook Time: 15 hours
Total Time: 15 hours

Ingredients:

5 lbs spareribs
4 cloves garlic
1 large piece of ginger root, crushed
1 tsp salt (optional)
1 cup sugar
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup catsup
1/3 cup oyster sauce or fish sauce

Preparation:

In a large saucepan, combine the pieces of ribs, garlic, ginger and salt (optional). Add enough water to cover the ribs. Bring the contents to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until all of the ribs are tender. This should take about 1 1/2 hours.

When the ribs are tender, drain the ribs and set aside. Prepare a marinade with the sugar, soy sauce, catsup and oyster sauce. Fish sauce can be substituted. Marinate the ribs overnight in the refrigerator.

Place ribs on the rack of a broiler pan or on the grill. Broil or grill for about 8-10 minutes, basting frequently. Turn and broil or grill the ribs for an additional 5-7 minutes.

Serves about 20 for pupus (appetizers).

OK everybody… that’s it for today. I hope you have enjoyed our early morning chat and will join me again tomorrow for more fun and great ideas about money issues, crafts, and just being alive! I wish you well and safety on your days journey. Until tomorrow… HUGS!

PERFECTLY POI

HI there everybody! How are you doing this crazy midweek day? I am really groggy today with a killer headache, but I just took some Tylenol and hopefully I can shake out all the cobwebs by the end of this entry LOL! OK I hope that I can say my readers are smart enough to be catching on to the fact that not only have I been bringing you foreign flavors, but I have been bringing you language lessons as well! LOL. I figure ethnic recipe weeks could have language lessons too… or do you want me to stop? LOL.



Ok so are you watching HK? OMG last night was a double episode and it was wonderful! We had a late dinner last night… fresh salmon and scallops with Santa Fe rice and corn. They were really digging it. I got some cooking to do today… a few soups, a few skillet meals, etc. I also hope that I can get some crafting done today. Not sure what I will do, but it will be something LOL!

Well, on my never-ending quest to find you all things frugal LOL, I thought about some of the ways to save money and create less waste in a household. A personal favorite of mine… BREAD! We eat tons of bread and then you think about all those plastic bags being trashed, etc. SO I picked this as a short and sweet Frugal tip for today! Yea its a small investment in the beginning, but it more than pays for itself (especially in a house like ours LOL) after a few uses!



Frugal Tip of the Day: A Must Have Item for any Frugal Home
By Frugal 101

I don’t like to spend extra money on things that I can live without, so when a friend of mine told me she bought a bread machine and was highly recommending it, I just nodded and switched the subject.

Bread machine? Why do I need one if I can buy bread at the bakery or make it using my own two hands? Plus, it is probably too complicated to use and is insanely expensive.

I forgot about it until one day I visited her house. As soon as I entered I almost fainted due to a fantastic head-spinning smell. The smell of fresh bread. It reminded me of my childhood. Our home was next to the bakery and everyday, especially when the wind was blowing in our direction, the entire neighborhood would be filled with the wonderful smell of freshly baked crisp and warm bread…

This was the minute I knew I needed to have a bread machine in my house and nothing else mattered.

To my pleasant surprise, the bread maker was pretty inexpensive. The one my friend had (and the one I bought myself) is called the SunBeam 5891 2-lb Programmable Bread Maker. She got it off of Amazon for $55 or so. I got mine from Wal-Mart for a little under $60, just because I couldn’t wait for mine to arrive if I ordered it online.

If you want to go a little fancier and have a little more money to spend here is another great bread machine sold on Amazon: Panasonic SD-YD250 Automatic Bread Maker. It has many great reviews.

It comes with instructions and is very easy to use. You don’t even have to mix anything. Put the ingredients in, press a button and the machine will do the rest for you. When your bread is ready it will beep.

The best part about it is that it saves us a lot of money. We never eat Wonder bread or the like and used to buy real bread from local bakeries, which would cost us $2.50 to $4 per loaf (ouch!). You have no idea how much money we saved with our new good friend – the bread machine.

It can make wheat, rye, raisin breads or even cake. There are hundreds of recipes for bread makers online.

If you prefer to use a book, here is a good one called “More Bread Machine Magic”. It has more than 140 different recipes for use in all types of bread machines.

If you are a sucker for good bread, I highly recommend you buying a bread machine.

OK today’s craft got me thinking when I was cleaning out a box of craft supplies. I found a billion safety pins and wanted to know something to do with them. The first thing that came to mind was jewelry! So I looked it up and found this really cool bracelet cuff that I could make… check it out!



Craft Idea of the Day: Safety Pin Bracelet

Materials:

Safety Pins (enough to fit around your wrist)
Beads ( as much as you want)
Super Glue
Elastic cord (.7 mm or above recommended)

Directions:

1. Open one of the safety pins, and thread beads onto the open prong, leaving enough space to refasten the pin. Repeat the process until all of the safety pins have been beaded.

2. Glue the pin so that it wouldn't open when you're wearing it.

3. Next, cut two 12” pieces of elastic cord.

4. Thread one of the cords through the hole in the top of a safety pin, then through a spacer bead, and then through the hole in the bottom of another safety pin. Continue to thread in this manner until your bracelet is long enough to go around your wrist.

5. Then, take the second cord and thread it through the bottom of the bracelet, adding a spacer bead between each safety pin.

6. Finally, tie the ends of the bracelet together, and it’s ready to wear!

Isn’t that just the coolest thing? I think that would be a good “slumber party craft” LOL! OK its time to eat my faithful followers! Today’s focus is POI. One of the staple foods of the Hawaiian diet, poi is a thick, purple-colored paste made by pounding taro. Poi can be bought fresh or "day-old," which allows a sour flavor to develop. Poi is labeled "one-finger," "two-finger" or "three-finger" to describe its consistency--the thicker the poi, the fewer fingers needed to scoop it up. Today, is it used in many Hawaiian recipes or served as a side dish.

Poi, the fermented paste of the taro corm (from the taro plant) is an ancient and sacred life giving food. Poi is hypoallergenic, naturally gluten free and contains plant-based microorganisms that have been validated by research to be safe and highly beneficial. Poi is also considered to be one of the most digestible foods on earth and has been recently shown in research to kill cancer cells in the colon. The use of Poi is said to have led Captain James Cook and other early western visitors to Hawaii to describe native Hawaiians as being an exceptionally healthy people. More recent scientific studies have substantiated the observation that pre-western contact Hawaiians were among the healthiest races on earth.

Very few food staples exist anywhere in the world that can be considered hypoallergenic, rich in calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, a good source of B vitamins, contain vitamins A and C, minerals, and a small measure of high quality, easily digestible protein. Kalo, or Taro, as it is more commonly known, is not only nutritious but is considered to be a beneficial carbohydrate food that provides a high fiber, slow-release energy food source that may be beneficial for the more than 100 million people worldwide that suffer from diabetes.



The following are just a few of the exceptional merits of Poi:

High in vitamins, minerals and enzymes. The nutrition in Poi is better utilized than other foods due to fermentation (similar to yogurt) and small starch granules

High amounts of alkaline-forming elements in Poi reduce gastrointestinal disturbances and are better tolerated than other foods and reduce acidity in diseases such as cancer

Helps prevent cavities and creates strong bones

Provides valuable, easily digestible nutritional support for individuals who suffer from indigestion, malnourishment, special health challenges and those recovering from illness

Poi, if contaminated by pathogenic organisms may purify itself with naturally occurring lactic acid producing bacteria

Contains numerous and powerful health supporting fermentation compounds

Easily digestible, gluten free and hypoallergenic

Now, let’s see what absolutely perfect pot of yumminess we can make with some POI today, eh?



Poi Cakes

In the '30's and '40's, thrifty homemakers frequently made use of leftover ingredients -- mashed potatoes or other cooked vegetables -- in croquettes (delicate little fried cakes). This version calls for undiluted poi but mashed, cooked taro was often used in this way, too.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 C onion (minced) Butter
3 T parsley (minced)
1 C poi
1C Plain mashed potatoes
Salt (to taste)
2 T flour

INSTRUCTIONS

Preparation: Sauté 1/2 cup minced onion in butter with 3 tablespoons minced parsley.

Blend 1 cup each undiluted poi and plain mashed potatoes with onion and parsley: add salt to taste and 2 rounded tablespoons flour. Form into small patties.

Make a small indentation on top of each cake and put a dollop of butter in it: bake on buttered baking sheet in 350-degree oven for 20 minutes or until a golden crisp.

For pupus (appetizers), deep-fry in 350-degree oil until golden brown. Serve immediately.

Well my little blogsters, its time to wrap it up. I hope you enjoyed our little chat this morning and will Kipa hou mai (Come Visit again) tomorrow for more tales of fun, crafts, and food! Thanks for coming and until we meet again… HUGS!

TIRESOME TUESDAY

Aloha kãkou! (Hello Everyone) How are you this tiresome Tuesday morning? Me… well not real groovy actually, but like Gloria Gaynor “I will survive” LOL! Congrads to my mom on the new additions to the edible yard and to Tabitha, no I have actually never been to Hawaii. My grandmother and Uncle lived there for about 15 years I think though… that was the closest I got LOL! But it’s a lovely place I’ve been told.



I wasn’t feeling particularly great yesterday and that made me not feel so crafty. But I did manage to pump out a couple of things. The first was more Beer cap earrings. No my DH did not drink this beer, he went for a walk and found them in the parking lot around the corner! Nothing like free materials! I gave them a nice long soak & scrub in a bleach bath, and then wham… cute little earrings. LOL DH was so proud, he snapped a picture with his phone and sent it to everyone he knows and they are already wanting to buy some LOL!



This is the “master centerpiece” LOL. It will either go on Madison’s table (which is where SHE wants it LOL) or the gift table. I really never intended to make this, but looking at all the “spare parts” I started piddling LOL. DD says she loves it when I piddle because I come up with the coolest things LOL! She almost choked me with the bear hug around my neck when she saw it! I think it came out kinda cool, right?

Alright kids, you know I am always looking up (or thinking up LOL) some tips for you about Frugality. I was reading some of the yahoo headlines this morning and this one hit me on the head like a ton of bricks… particularly because I just got a new phone (but paid cash luckily). However, I actually thought this was a good article and wanted to feature it as your frugal news for today!

4 Things That Are More Expensive Than You Think
Mark Riddix
Friday, June 11, 2010

Have you ever given much thought to the real cost of an item, compared to the listed retail price? A perfect example is if you chose to buy a new computer on credit. The real cost of the computer would be the purchase price and the interest that you have to pay. The true cost of an item can often go unnoticed and consumers end up paying much more than they bargained for. Here are four things that are more expensive than you might think.

Active Trading

You might believe that it would be exciting to become a daytrader because you can get rich by aggressively buying and selling stocks. All you have to do is buy an investment and sell it for more than you paid. That sounds pretty easy! There are even television shows, software and blogs devoted to helping you with your daytrading. So, should you start actively trading your account in hopes of getting rich? Not if you want to hold onto your hard-earned money.

The only person who is guaranteed to get rich from your constant buying and selling is your stockbroker. Brokerage firms absolutely love customers that actively trade their account. The brokerage firm makes money regardless of whether a stock increases in value or decreases because they charge commissions on every buy and sell order. You could end up paying thousands of dollars a month in commissions, just for the privilege of trading stocks.

Once you see how quickly these commissions eat up your investment return, you won't be in such a rush to quit your day job. This is of course not to say that some don't realize significant profits through day trading, but commissions build up quickly.

Refinancing

Do you remember the refinancing boom of the 2000s? Lots of realtors and loan officers were advising clients to take money out of their homes by refinancing. The theory is that you can get some extra cash by taking the available equity out of your house by extending the years on your payments. Sounds great! Who couldn't use some extra cash to pay off credit card debt or refinish the basement?

Not so fast! Refinancing can cost you more than you think. Not only are you extending your mortgage obligation for more years; you are also draining the equity out of your home. As the recent financial crisis showed, housing prices are not guaranteed to increase. When housing prices drop precipitously as they have over the past few years, you could find yourself owing more money on your new loan than your house is even worth. There is nothing worse than paying a mortgage on a home that you are upside-down in.

Late Fees

Late fees are like little pests that drain your finances and rob you of financial freedom. Creditors are famous for adding late fees to any bill paid after the due date. Late fees may be added to a bill that is one hour late, one day late or one week late. Credit card companies can charge fees up to $35 for late payments, in addition to the interest. Most utility companies charge late fees of $5-10. Cell phone providers, internet carriers, cable and satellite providers will all hit you with at least $5 late fees. Too many people ignore the detrimental effects of late fees by thinking it is only $5 or $10 bucks. Add these little late charges together, and you could be losing hundreds of dollars a year. Over a 30-year time period, you could easily be losing thousands of dollars to late fees. Imagine what that money could be doing for you if you had placed it in your 401(k).

Credit Card Purchases

Credit card purchases should come with the following cautionary warning: This purchase will cost you more than the price advertised! Most credit card users end up paying way more than the stated purchase price. The only exceptions are people that pay their bill in full each month.

Let's say you bought a cell phone for $200 on your credit card and your annual interest rate is 18%. If you don't pay the balance off immediately than you are going to be paying interest on your cell phone purchase. Your $200 cell phone purchase can cost you well over $300 if payments are delayed. Most likely you will not even have the same cell phone a few years later. You could end up owing hundreds of dollars on a $200 item that you don't even use anymore.

The Bottom Line

Small purchases may not appear to be a big deal initially, but over time these little items will end up costing you a whole lot more than you think.

See… Just another tip to help you achieve financial freedom! Ok, as we switch gears now, I think about how you need a craft today… something interesting and fun. Something exciting and new… and of course something totally recycled! I found this instructional for a belt and thought it was pretty neat. You can also do different lengths and make bracelets and headbands and such. So check it out and I hope you like it!



Craft Idea of the Day: Soda Can Tab Belt

Materials:

Soda can tabs(112 makes a 35inch belt)
1cm wide Ribbon or cord

Directions:

Cut the cord into 2 lengths they should be about 10 ft long each. Tie the two cords together about 8 inch in from the ends.

Step 1:

Thread the cords through each hold of one tab.

Thread on a second tab so it overlaps the 1st tab.

Push the cord back through the holes of the second tab and the holds of the first tab. As shown in the picture below.

Step 2-3:

Turn it over and cross over the cords.

Thread the cords (now crossed over) through a third tab.

Push the cord back through the holes of the third tab and the holes in the second tab.

Keep using this pattern until you have a belt big enough for your waist and just knot it when you get to the end. Leave enough cord or ribbon to tie the belt and cut off any remaining cord.

Ok my precious peoples LOL… its time for some kaukau (food). Now I told you that I was going to bring you Luau foods this week. What is the first thing you thing of when you think of a Luau? Yep THE PIG! Now unless you are planning to dig a big hole in your backyard (I know my landlord would SO freak…) I would imagine you could try to do this on a grill or over an open campfire or something. BUT I also am bringing you a classic Hawaiian dessert commonly found at Luau’s! Eat & Enjoy!



Kalua Pig

Ingredients:

1 dozen burlap bags
firewood
about 40-50 imu(round, porous) stones
kerosene
1 pig dressed
five handful Hawaiian(coarse)salt
4'by 4' piece of chicken wire
6-8 dozen ti leaves
4 banana trunks

Directions:

Imu or underground oven:

Dig oblong hole 4 1/2' long by 3'wide and 2 1/2' deep.

Make it larger if pig is larger size. Lay kindling in bottom. Put long stick upright in center of imu. Lay firewood around it using 3-4 bags of wood. Cover wood with imu(round, porous) stones, about 40-50, more if necessary. Make a lighter by wrapping rag around end of long stick. Dip in kerosene. Light. Remove center pole and light kindling through the hole. Burn till wood becomes glowing coals and stones are very hot.

The pig:

1 pig dressed.

Slit between shoulders and ribs to backbone and up to head, being careful not to cut through the skin.

Rub one handful Hawaiian(coarse)salt in slits. Rub 4 handfuls salt inside pig. Put hot stones in slits and opu(abdomen), as many as they will hold. Tie the 4 legs together.

Line 4'by 4' piece of chicken wire with ti leaves. Place pig on it. Then cover hot stones in imu(pit) with 4 banana trunks that have been cut 2' long and crushed with the blunt side of an ax. Lay netting containing pig on banana stalks. cover with 2 dozen banana leaves or 6-8 dozen ti leaves.
Completely cover this with:

1 dozen burlap bags. Cover bags with sand. Allow pig to cook 2 1/2 to 3 hours according to size. Remove sand, bags, leaves, and stones inside pig. Put pig in large container. Cut in generous servings. Serve at once



Haupia

This coconut pudding, haupia, is a staple desert at every Hawaiian luau.

Ingredients:

2 cups coconut milk
1 cup whole milk
6 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 tsp vanilla (if desired)

Preparation:

Pour one cup of coconut milk into a saucepan. Combine sugar and cornstarch stirring into coconut milk. (Add vanilla is desired) Heat over low stirring consistently until thickened.

Add remainder of coconut milk and whole milk and continue to heat until thickened. Pour into 8 inch square pan and chill until firm.

The recipe can be easily modified for personal taste using more or less sugar and cornstarch.

LOL I hardly think the DD would want that monstrous beast at her Momona 'Umi Kumaono (Sweet 16 party) LMAO! But I think it’s cool! LMAO! Okie dokie everybody… time for me to skidaddle so that I can help mom get to therapy today! I hope you have had a blast and maybe a virtual island adventure LOL. And I hope you decide to come back for another visit tomorrow! Take care and see you then… HUGS!