WANT A GOOD LAUGH?

Good morning boys and girls! How are you doing this sunny Sunday morn? I am alright... stiff, tired, and yet cranially stimulated LOL! Mom is in her owm room now YAY! I stayed with her for about 8 hours yesterday. She was laughing and being more like my mom... even griping at me for not eating and such! YAY! I know, doesn't that sound weird that I WANT her to gripe at me? LOL hey she scared the crap outta me this past week, so this is a welcome improvement! I'm gonna TRY not to roll my eyes when she does it after she is home... notice I said TRY! LOL... I want to thank Hazel and Jean for their comments yesterday. I got to read them late last night and I couldn't help but smile. I've always said, I have the best readers in the world, and you guys and girls just keep proving that each day. THANK you so much!

Ok, so I left the hospital yesterday and was going out to her house to do some chores... I stopped by Home Depot on the way to her house and used my coupon for Buy 1 Get 1 Free Tree before it expires on the 26th... oh crap! That's tomorrow and I forgot to grab hers so I can get 2 more trees... FUDGE! Dad if you read this before you leave... stop reading and grab that coupon... put it in your wallet and bring that coupon up to the hospital to me today! Then come back and finish reading LOL... Ok sorry... jello brained. Anyways, you should have seen me trying to fit these 6-8 ft. trees in my little car LMAO! But I did it... so she has 2 pecan trees like she wanted waiting for her when she gets home. Think I will get the lemon trees she wants with her coupon. See, she lost all her trees because of the storm and this Garden Club Coupon was the best thing... so she could replace them. And you guys know me... I HATE letting good coupons expire! LOL!

Ok, so I get to Mom & Dad's house and unload the trees. Then I check the garden if it needs watering, but it doesn't, then I clean the water bowl for the outside cats. I go inside the house and start some laundry. Go in the garage and see a brother has graciously left HIS laundry on the outside washer. Go in the attic and get a few things out of one of my boxes. Then take the laundry in the house. Go in the RV and love on the kitties, clean the cat box, brought in the mail, washed the dishes, and checked how much food Dad has to make sure he is eating properly. Ok... done in the RV so I go back in the house. Change the laundry over and start making mom another bag of ice. I get the ziploc filled and tried to seal it. Ok good... looks sealed. Turn it upside down to "make sure" and WHOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHH! Ice ALL over the dang floor!! Oh did I scream like a banchee and cussed bad enough to make a sailor blush and run the opposite direction!! OK take a deep breath, scream again, and clean up the ice. Now... lets try this again... filled up the bag and snap the seal... walk over to the sink to check (Just in case LOL) and turn it upside down. Ahhh sealed! Finally! Turn around to walk over and put the bag of ice in the freezer and BAMPLOP! Fall on my butt on a stray piece of flippin ice!!!! I'm surprised the cops weren't called cause the neighbors thought someone was being killed cause I was screaming and cussing so loud! Oh this is some good insulation- they can't HEAR me outside LOL! Ok ya know what... I think its time to go home and not touch anything and go to sleep lol!

I get home and DH asks if I would like a glass of tea. Yes please that would be very nice. "Do you want ice?" he said... Oh I started screaming about ice and he looked at me like I was insane LOL! So I had to tell him about the ice and he laughed at me... butthead! Needless to say I stretched out on the floor and that was the last thing I remember. DH woke me up around 10 telling me to go to bed LOL.

So I'm up this morning looking out the window and notice I have sticks where my squash once was! Something has eaten all my blossoms and leaves! My garden is suffering but family comes first. So it looks like Mother nature and I need to have a talk so she will help take care of it in my absense LOL. Anyone know if opposums like squash blossoms?

Ok, I am chomping at the bit to get back to crafting (and don't say anything to mom DAD! Yea I know you are there LOL) but my family comes first... so I am gathering all these ideas for "my big comeback LOL". I am thinking of making my mom a Dammit Doll for while she is up there actually LOL. Can you see the nurses faces when she tells them what it is? LMAO! So until I can slow down below the speed of sound and light, I am stuffing these neat ideas in a box and will eventually pay them a visit. And I am gonna share another one with you today.



Craft Idea of the Day: Survival Guardian Angel Kit

Make this creative gift for a friend. (I've been inspired with this whole ordeal with my mother and I saw this and just nodded my head like yep uh huh... I should do that LOL)

Purchase a small gift bag and fill with the items below, along with a label explaining each token.

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.

I think that would be a neat gesture for someone when you don't know what else to do. You could also make other kits similar to this... I have seen Mother's/Father's survival kits, friendship kits, etc.

Ok, now my head says I'm not hungry but my stomach begs to differ. Its growling and making my feel queezy, but who's got time to eat right? Exactly... well maybe to cook actually. So what does the frugal mom do? You got it... Set it and forget it! CROCKPOT TIME! YUMMMMM



Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Ingredients
1 pound cubed beef stew meat
2 (10.75 ounce) can condensed golden mushroom soup
1 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup water
4 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 teaspoon granualted garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
1 beef boullion cube
1/2 packet of dry onion soup mix
1 container of fresh sliced mushrooms
1 tablespoon butter

Directions

In a slow cooker, combine the meat, soup, onion, Worcestershire sauce and water.

Cook on Low setting for 5 hours. Saute mushrooms in butter and add about 30 minutes before meal is done. Stir in cream cheese and sour cream just before serving.

Ok gang, time for me to get dressed and start another day of sheer chaos LOL. I will see you here again tomorrow for another day of "let my friends laugh at my idiocy" storytime! Big HUGS!

THE BUSY BEE

Howdy there my friends and family! How are you doing this crazy day of days? I am pretty good actually. I have fresh air in my lungs, so I can’t complain really. I’ve taken the kids to school, fed the cats outside, and watered my plants so far this morning. Remember how I told you yesterday how I was full of spunk and went crazy mad busy? I don’t know why or where the mass energy came from cause I was feeling really bad, but I ran with it (not literally though LOL). Well I am gonna walk ya through my day. Sit down, grab on, and maybe take some Dramamine so you don’t get motion sickness LOL!



First I started the day by taking the kids to school… ok no biggie. Then on the way home, I stopped by Zieglers Foods (the locally owned small grocery store) and picked up some of the great meat buys. I nabbed 4 chickens, on sale for 79c a pound, and 1 pork roast which was on sale for $1.09 per pound. Isn’t that some pretty meat?



So I cut the roast in half and rubbed it with spices and such and set each half up in 2 of the crock pots. Then I seared some stew meat I already had in the fridge defrosting. While that sat resting in the pan, I chopped up some onions, carrot, celery, etc. and through all the vegetables in the last crock with some beef broth, mesquite flavoring, spices, and the meat of course. I topped it with a bay leaf and set it to low. YUMMY Mesquite flavored stew!

Then I seasoned some yard buzzards… more affectionately known as chickens LOL… and roasted them in the oven. I let them cool and deboned and shredded the meat to use in other dishes YAY! LOL.



While the chickens were roasting, I was outside in the garden. Do you know how hard it is to work out there with the aroma of sheer loveliness taunting your nose coming out of the kitchen window behind you? LMAO… ok so in the garden, I repotted my living Christmas Tree and pruned it good. See I HAD it on the front porch, but one of the stray kitties decided to dig it up and spray the pot. UGH! So some of it was dying. So it got a NEW and bigger pot, fresh dirt, a haircut, and lots of water and love! Keep your fingers crossed for him… but no get well cards please, as he can’t read LOL!



Then I removed the Porter Dark Cherry tomato plants OUT of my big planter. The celery was hiding it and it was cramped for space and sun. I put both plants in a big pot and fed/watered it well. I need to get a new cage because I hope now it will explode! As you can see they are much smaller than some of the other plants, which is odd cause they were lanted at the same time. I told ya, the celery was hogging all the dang sun, water, everything! That better be the best tasting celery I have ever had! LOL!



Remember me and my Giant Pumpkin plant? Ya’ll keep laughing… I hear you out there! LOL… I will get a 500 pound pumpkin out of that sucker! JUST watch me! LOL! It has WAY outgrown the 4inch pot I had it in, so it got a new gallow pot of yummy delicious dirt for it to thrive in… hopefully soon this too will need to upgrade! LMAO!



I also repotted my daughter’s regular pumpkin plant. These 2 are on their own now… bigger pots means they can no longer come inside to hide LOL! I’m keeping these 2 kind close together so they don’t get lonely. Not sure what pumpkins say to each other when I’m not around, but I’m sure its something seedy! LMAO!!!!!



No this is not a weed! Its corn! Yes my one lonely stalk LOL… I WILL get me an ear of corn!!!! Pretty soon it will have baby brothers and sisters, but right now it is an only child…. A healthy only child, but still an only child LOL!



I also tied up some berry vines and giggled over my pea pods LOL! (For those of you wondering, no I am not going insane, just having a bit of fun LOL). I did a lot of pruning to my tomato plants as they had some yellow foliage that needed to be discarded. Not sure if underwatering or nitrogen is to blame for the yellow leaves, so I am watching them real close!

Alrighty, so I came back in and took out the chickens. Deboned them and put the meat in the fridge. I sat and checked emails and chatted with my mom for a spell and then I was off! I checked the mail on the way out and I got my $5 Petsmart Gift card I was waiting on… YAY! OK, let’s go!

First I was off to Food Town where I found some BEAUTIFUL bunches of Cilantro on sale 3 for $1… got my 29c chicken bags and a few other in-store specials… one being 3 free cans of corn with my purchase with the coupon from their ad! WOOHOO I like free corn! The lettuce was 49 cents a head, macaroni 4 for a buck, tomato sauce 5 for a buck, and some other good sales too!

From there, I went to H.E.B. to get a few advertised deals. I found it was not fresh chicken thighs on sale for $1 a pound but Chicken thigh meat fajita packages 5 for 5… so I got one of those! Then they had Buy a Natures own bread, get a HEB bread (both Honey Wheat) FREE! Ok, got that in the basket. I also have a coupon for Nature’s Own bread, which made the loaf I had to buy cost only 75 cents! WOOHOO! And were walking… and STOP! I see the strangest thing! Dehydrated OKRA! I mean I have seen dried fruits, but NEVER okra! They were called Okra Snax. I tried one, expecting them to be vomitous but OMG they were pretty dang good! BUT they were $6.99… not exactly frugal, so they had to wait. I just grabbed a handful and wandered in the store LOL. OK so THEN I walk by an end cap which has Buy planters peanuts, get HEB Corn chips (generic Fritos) FREE. Hmmm… ok I get Dry Roasted Unsalted peanuts and will use them in an upcoming dinner… although I don’t quite know what yet LOL. Planters on sale for $2.37 a 16oz. jar and get free corn chips… and guess who just happens to have a coupon for $1.50 off any planters purchase!!! YEP! 87 cents for a normally $4-5 jar of nuts PLUS free chips… I’m diggin this! I also picked up a red onion and ¾ a pound of fresh jalapenos (on sale for 64 cents a pound too!) Time to check out! WOOHOO!

Then it’s off to Wal-Mart. Now this was fun… ok I had 2 free $5 gift cards that I got in the mail… well mom got one she didn’t want, and I got one. The store you had to use them at was too far for her… so she graciously gave me hers. Awesome. So I have $10 in free gift cards LOL! I find Tyson Boneless pork clearance for $4 and you guessed it… I have Tyson coupons! $2 off any fresh meat purchase! Gotta love it! So using one on each package made one of them FREE! WOOHOO! I picked up milk and some other things I needed there too. Grand total at Wal-Mart $11.93 minus $10 in gift cards = $1.93 for 2 packs of boneless pork, a gallon of milk, shredded cheese, 2 packs of tortillas, a pack of cream cheese, and about 10 chicken wings I ate for lunch while on the road LMAO! YAY! GO ME! (Ya got motion sickness yet? LMAO)

Oh, I have another bargain to tell you about too! Petsmart this time… I think this offer is running until the 18th or the 25th… I can’t remember which one. BUT when you buy 30 cans of Friskies or Purina (I think) cat food, you get a FREE reusable shopping bag! You have to make sure to pull the coupon from the shelf display. PLUS use those Friskies coupons fixing to expire on 5-7 and you save even more money… not even mentioning the cans are on sale for 40 cents each now. $12 for 30 cans, minus (at minimum… depends on your coupons) $2 in coupons = $10 for a case plus 6 loose cans of cat food PLUS a free reusable bag (retails for $2.99 I think). Then minus the $5 gift card I got in the mail on a rebate offer = $5 for a case + 6 cans plus a reusable bag! Not great, but not too shabby either. I like how the stores are getting on this reusable bag kick! Save the Earth people… Save the Earth!!!



This is what I ended up with, with the exception of the missing chicken and roast from this morning. Less than $25 for all of that + 2 items… pretty snazzy huh? Now THAT’S a FRUGAL MOM DAY! YAY! And before you ask, yes, my coupon folder goes EVERYWHERE with me… just in case ya know… for days like today! LOL! Time to pick up the kids! Band did well... they got a 1 on their performance (the best you can get) and then the school treated them to CiCi's pizza for lunch afterwards. I thought that was great. The kids all came to me excited about the day! I was very proud of all of them!

Ok, so I get home and get all this stuff put away and go to check the crockpots. Mind you the house smells absolutely to die for! I am rotating the pork and the dang bone falls out! Clean as a whistle LOL! Oh that’s gonna be some good eatin’ in a little while! I made some homemade fresh Pico De Gallo and put it in the fridge to chill. Wrap that baby up in some tortillas or cover it with Chili Con Carne and OMG! Are ya drooling yet? LOL!



So with all this going on, you wouldn’t think I had time for anything else, right? WRONG! LMAO… About 5pm, I get a knock on the door. It’s the daughter of one of my customers, needing a gift basket by TOMORROW at 4pm! A little short notice dontcha think? Good grief. Anyway, so she brings me her deposit and I have to go out again to get supplies. I am really appreciating the crockpots now! SO I fix everyone dinner… I eat too much and don’t want to go out LOL! But I head out on my mission. I walk and walk around aimlessly without a clue on what to do… it kinda hits me, so I get a few things I think will be appropriate and I head home. To exhausted to work, I make sure everything is put up and cleaned up and then the DS18 comes and asks me some very odd questions. 45 minutes of questions and answers and then they are off to bed… and so am I! The end to a very exhausting day! So this morning I have to assemble a “flirty” basket for my customer. I’m not sure what else I should do today… but I am wondering if I should fire up the crocks again LMAO!

Now crafty time… I figured I would stay with recycled crafts until Earth day. I know when I did the big recycled crafts weekend, everyone was really super cool into it, so I figured what’s a few more? LOL! Here is a really spiffy idea for some outside lights for things like BBQ’s and parties (color coordinate cans for more appeal LOL!). Just be careful… don’t play with fire and NEVER leave it unattended!



Craft Idea of the Day: Soda Can Lanterns

Materials:

Soda Can
Wire
Exacto knife
Candle

Directions:

First what you do is, you fill the can (not all the way though) with water and freeze it.

Then you cut the sides of the can with an exacto knife or box cutter.

To hang it, you have to leave the pop tab on and use that to attach some picture wire.

To be able to put a tea light in there, you have to hollow out a little niche for it because the bottom of the soda can is convex on the inside.

I just stuck a screwdriver through the top of the can and banged it out. it doesn't look too pretty but once the candle is in there, you don't see it anyway so it doesn't matter.

Isn’t that the coolest thing? You could use Pepsi for the patriotic holidays, Sunkist for Halloween, Squirt for Luaus, Big Red for Valentines, you name it! Now, I don’t know about you, but I am really really craving something sweet! Chocolate and sugar and OMG yummy deliciousness! I know back in the day, a favorite of my mom’s was eclairs. Well here’s how to make a really big éclair at home LOL… Just remember cut it into pieces! LMAO!



Chocolate Éclair Cake

Ingredients

2 individual packages graham crackers
2 (3 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
3 cups milk
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
4 Tablespoons butter
4 Tablespoons white corn syrup
6 Tablespoons of milk
2 teaspoon vanilla
3 cup powder sugar

Directions

Line the bottom of a 9x13-inch pan with graham crackers. In a large bowl, combine pudding mix and milk. Stir well. Stir in whipped topping to pudding mixture. Spread half of mixture over graham cracker layer.

Top with another layer of graham crackers and the remaining pudding. Top all with a final layer of graham crackers. Melt chocolate, butter, corn syrup and milk. Stir in vanilla and sugar. Spread on top of dessert.
Refrigerate until serving.

Ok, now that I am drooling for some chocolate, I’m gonna get off here and go work on putting that basket together and starting my day. I’ve got some parting wisdom for you today… NEVER leave the Ben-Gay by the Preparation-H… it can be a very HOT experience! LMAO! See ya tomorrow… HUGS!

BARGAINS BARGAINS EVERYWHERE!

Well good morning everyone! It’s the dreaded TAX day! Have you gotten your taxes completed and mailed in yet? Me… done, not worried… gonna have a better day than most people LOL! So how you doing today, really? So glad you came by! Here, would you like a cup of coffee or tea? Let’s chat shall we…

I’m sorry I am a bit tardy today… I’ve already been a busy camper. I dropped off the kids at school and stopped by the little store I told you about, Zieglers, because they have whole fryers on sale again for 79c a pound. Picked up some birds and a beautiful pork roast for $1.09 a pound… it was inspiration for dinner LOL! Then I came home and set up the beloved crocks, threw some birds in the oven to roast, chopped veggies, etc. and now I am here for your entertainment! LOL! I have 2 crock’s of todays recipe, Carnitas, going, one of a mesquite beef stew, a T-bone marinating, chickens roasting, chicken legs soaking, and ribs resting LOL! I still have to make some homemade Pico De Gallo and do some other things but it will be interesting. I also want to run to Food Town at some point today because they have leg quarters on sale for 29c per pound in a 10lb bag! WOOHOO! Its chicken roundup/stockup time! I have no problems with that because boy can these people eat some chicken LOL! I also heard HEB has chicken THIGHS on sale 5lbs. for $5… so I might try going there too… as my dad is a serious thigh lover- nothing but thighs LOL! We shall see… I think I might also squeeze in trying to make some jelly (if I even have pectin LOL)! The rest of this week I think will be a “Use-it-before-you-lose-it week”! So got some marathon cooking ahead gang! FUN FUN!

Ok my little bargain hunters… you may not be able to get the good meat deals at Zieglers or my Food Town, but you need to watch your emails for the Home Depot Garden Club email… guess what you get free this time! A TREE! Yes you heard me… Buy 1 Get 1 FREE TREE!!!!!!! OMG I am so super stoked! Remember I talked about planting a tree for Earth Day… well there ya go! There are lots of places to get free stuff this tax day! Check this out!

Free treats and more for taxpayers

NEW YORK (AP) -- Few truths are more universal: No one likes to pay taxes, and everyone loves to get things for free.

Restaurants and other retailers are offering freebies to reduce people's angst over their income taxes -- which must be postmarked or e-filed by Thursday.

From cupcakes and pancakes to dinners and coffee, the offers are meant to help people feel better as they help companies drum up business. No paperwork or proof is required for most of the offers.

Ice cream chain MaggieMoo's is giving away pieces of its new ice cream pizza in its second annual tax day giveaway. The company won't say what it cost to give away thousands of free scoops of ice cream at its 160-plus stores in 2009, but a spokeswoman says such promotions bring in new guests and new sales.

"They'll have free ice cream and then they'll get a drink or a smoothie or something else or take home an ice cream pizza," says Jenn Johnston, senior vice president of marketing for NexCen Franchise Management, the parent company of MaggieMoo's, Pretzel Time, The Athlete's Foot and other chains.

Here are some of the freebies and discounts on offer for tax season 2010.

-- FREE COFFEE AND TREATS

CINNABON: Get two free bite-sized cupcakes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at participating mall locations as part of "Tax Day Bites!" Flavors include Chocolate Passion, 24-Carrot Cake, Vanilla Bliss and Cinnacake Classic.

MAGGIEMOO'S: Get one free slice of ice cream pizza -- ice cream with red frosting to look like sauce and white chocolate to look like cheese -- at participating locations from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.

STARBUCKS: Get free brewed coffee all day Thursday if you bring your own mug, a promotion the cafe chain says is friendly to the environment as well as taxpayers.

-- DISCOUNTED MEALS

BOSTON MARKET: For a "last-minute tax break" -- one free meal for each one you buy Thursday through Sunday -- show this coupon: http://bit.ly/d1YlRO

IHOP: Expanding on the tax deduction parents get for kids, the restaurant chain is offering free dinner for one child age 12 or younger with each adult meal purchased 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. all month long.

MCCORMICK & SCHMICK'S: The seafood restaurant is offering $10.40 dinner and drink specials in the bar on Thursday -- a nod to the 1040 tax form. Bar guests who come in April 15 also receive a $10.40 gift certificate for a later visit. And professional tax preparers, who may have to work right until the midnight deadline Thursday, get their freebie Friday: dessert on the house plus a $10.40 certificate if they show a business card.

P.F. CHANG'S: Get 15 percent off food purchases for dine-in or take-out, excluding alcohol and happy hour food and beverages.

-- STRESS RELIEF

HYDROMASSAGE: Get a free massage Thursday through Sunday at participating locations. The mall-based massage chain suggests calling ahead to book an appointment. Find a location at http://www.hydromassage.com/taxday.

Now sticking with the Earth Day, recycling to me is fun and helpful. I am a big believer in repurposing things that still have life! SO, guess what today’s idea for a craft is? It’s a use for those old coats… either you or the kids outgrew them but you can’t bare to get rid of it? Well now you won’t have to (Hmmm… wonder if I am actually contributing to the hoarders of the world LMAO! J/K)!



Craft Idea of the Day: Recycled Coat Messenger Bag

Materials:

1 old, full length Parka.
Any bright lining, contrast fabric you want
Matching Sewing thread and machine

Directions:

1) Lay out your coat flat on floor and take a good look at it, imagining it in peices, not a whole.

2)Cut a large front section with pocket to be the front of the bag.30cm wide x 40cm long.

3)Cut a long back piece to be the back of the bag, including the part that will fold down over the front.
30cm wide x 60cm long. plus a matching size in the contrast fabric.

4) Cut the sleeves cut to width 20cm, for the side panels, I included the cuff buckle.

5)Cut 68cm length of buttonhole section from down the front of the coat as a handle. Plus a matching length of contrasting fabric

6) Sew the two ends of sleeves together, leaving the cuff end as the top part of bag sides.

7) Attach front panel(with pocket) to what you designate as front of side panels, fold over any spare at top and sew, do this double thick stiching.

8)Attach contrast fabric to back panel (face both back to back, stitch, turn right way round) and do same to buttonhale handle.

9) Stitch back panel to side panel so you have a long flap hanging over the front.

10)Attach handle to side panels, add velcro to front as easy fastener.

Isn’t that just slouchy cool? Ok its time to eat ladies and gents! Tonight is another slow cooker love affair LOL! One of the things I am making is a “fix your own taco” bar tonight, because after UIL, I anticipate some of the kids “coming home” for dinner and celebrations LOL! One pot, I am making Carnitas. Carnitas means 'little meats' and is traditionally fried then braised. This recipe is made much easier using the slow cooker but the results are just as tasty. This makes a great filling for tamales, enchiladas, tacos and burritos. This filling is also great combined with your favorite barbecue sauce and served on buns



Slow Cooker Carnitas

Ingredients

3 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoon garlic powder or 4 fresh minced garlic cloves
3 teaspoon ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoon crumbled dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (4 pound) boneless pork shoulder roast
2 bay leaves
2 cups chicken broth

Directions

Mix together salt, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, coriander, and cinnamon in a bowl. Coat pork with the spice mixture. Place the bay leaves in the bottom of a slow cooker and place the pork on top. Pour the chicken broth around the sides of the pork, being careful not to rinse off the spice mixture.

Cover and cook on Low until the pork shreds easily with a fork, about 10 hours. Turn the meat after it has cooked for 5 hours. When the pork is tender, remove from slow cooker, and shred with two forks. Use cooking liquid as needed to moisten the meat.

Ok kids… my house smells amazing already and I think I need to go check my golden yard buzzards LOL! Then maybe do some sewing while the kitchen works for me… I know its hard to slave all day in the kitchen to make my family a fabulous feast and still get so much else done LMAO! Gonna think about running to grab some more birds and bird parts while the hubby guards the pots LOL! Dunno yet what the day will hold in store for me LOL! Either way, it will be interesting! So be safe, have fun, and I’ll meet you back here tomorrow! HUGS!

THE FABRIC CHALLENGE

Well good morning kiddies! How are you doing this humid day of days? I am alright… my brain is going a thousand miles a minute about lots of different things today! My back is a little sore, but I will just throw on my brace and I will be fine LOL! Yesterday was an incredible day for comments. Thanks everyone! Keep them coming cause you rock!! I love when my readers interact with me!

Ok tell me, have you ever have any super weird dreams that woke you up going WTF? LOL… that was me last night! It involved an old boyfriend (I’m talking like 20 years ago!), my DD and DS18 and HIS supposed 10yr old daughters, a baby (I can’t have any more kids), and me being a High School Teacher! Yea I know CRAZY! And I woke up really feeling like a pretzel, so I guess I really tossed and turned everywhere!



Well, after the kids were at school yesterday, I went outside and spent 3 hours planting seedlings into 4 inch pots in preparation for my plant sale. I am hoping to have about 100 plants for sale at $1 a piece. I think that would be reasonable. So if you are in the neighborhood, come on by and get yourself some healthy, pesticide-free, home grown plants! LOL! If all goes well, I am thinking about making this an annual event! Who knows, it might just turn into something! Now do you think I should try some flowers, or just stick with veggies?



Speaking of veggies, look at this! My first red and ready cherry tomato of the season!! Isn’t he the cutest thing!? I had the honor and privilege of bringing him inside off the vine today. I stuck him in the fridge and when the few others that are already turning red complete, they will become beautiful additions to a fresh tossed salad! YAY!



You know what else is cool? I have blooms and or the beginnings of food on almost all my plants! The peas you see pictured were started from seeds and they have their first blooms… so do the berries and a lot of the veggies! OMG don’t even get me started on tomatoes! This year I think will be a crazy crop of tomatoes! I have 5 very large Romas already and cherry tomatoes as far as the eye can see! My Husky Cherry plants are covered top to bottom literally with blooms and or tomatoes! Its so incredibly awesome!

Ok, yesterday I told you about the Fabric Challenge. I have 6 bolts and 2 crates/boxes to empty by sewing different things by the first day of school in August 2010. This year (the 2010-2011 school year) starts August 23rd, so that gives me approximately 139 days, or roughly 4 1/2 months to accomplish this goal. NOW… if I do as good as I did with the storage goal, we might be done way before then. The problem lies here… sometimes I am just not in the mood to sew. And if I try to sew during those times, I mess things up, get upset, and mess up even more. SO… I have to keep up the momentum and desire and use it wisely when it hits me! LOL… not to mention, I will be making tons of new things for my stockpile of crafts for sale. Cool huh? The more inventory I have, the better I think!



Now this month I am doing a lot of crafts with the Autism Fabric (in honor of Autism Awareness month), but I will be doing other fabrics as well. I don’t want to sabotage myself with just using one fabric, getting bored and stopping and losing my sewing mojo! That would not be cool. SO, yesterday, which was day 1 of the challenge, after I was done with my plants, I made can wraps in all kinds of fabrics. I made some breast cancer support and military ones from the cause box, and a bunch of others from the green crate. Don’t they look pretty cool? I set a goal yesterday morning that I wanted to do 20 of them and by golly that’s what I got done! I even made one in the scraps of fabric I had left from the watermelon print I love so much (remember the fabric I searched for and found for $9 a yard? Yea that’s the one!) LOL that one might just have to stay with me! LMAO!



I also managed to squeeze out a couple of other visors and another music note luggage tag before it was time to shut down both the sewing machine and the seamstress body. LOL! Watching Dancing With The Stars really makes it hard to concentrate sometimes LOL! Is anyone else following that silly show but me?

OK, so are ya feeling crafty? As I begin Day 2 of the Fabric Challenge, I ponder what to make. I might do some pillow cases, shopping bags, or purses… not sure yet. I will just sit at the table and see what strikes me to make. I might make some of these cute Fingertip Mitts for using on microwaved yummies! I found these on Savvy Seams once and they are really cool!



Fingertip Mitts

Downloadable Pattern (PDF)
less than 1/4 yard of outer fabric, lining, cotton batting and mylar/poly batting.
1 pkg. double fold bias tape
thread to match the bias tape

Step 1a: For piece 2, cut two of fabric, two of cotton batting, and two of lining. Assemble each half as shown.

Step 1b: Bind the straight edge with double-fold bias tape. Use a zip-zag stitch to attach the binding.

Step 2: For piece 1, cut one of fabric, one of lining, one of cotton batting and one of metallized poly batting ( or an additional cotton batting layer). Assemble in the order as shown. Zig-zag stitch the layer together. Be sure no to let your stitches drift too far in that they might be seen after you attach the binding. (You can always rip them out at the end if they do, but it's easier not to have to do that)

Step 3: Line up the top pieces with the bottom, matching the curves. Baste them together.



Step 4: Using an iron with lots of steam, shape bias tape around the whole mitt. This is very important if you want to have a nice smooth curve, instead of a bunchy, pulled sort of curve.

Step 5: Sew on the binding using a zig-zag stitch. Try to keep the ends even and tucked under, unlike my example picture.

Now are you already asking “What’s for supper?” Well guess what I am bringing back out today? Yep the old slow cooker! Me and my lovely crock pots are going to make some of the most Amazing Ribs I know how to make! As a matter of fact, you can’t call them anything other than…



Amazing Ribs

Ingredients
6 pounds pork baby back ribs
1 pinch black pepper
1 pinch salt
1 pinch crushed red pepper
4 cups barbecue sauce
2 (12 ounce) bottles porter beer, room temperature
Directions
Cut ribs into small portions of 2 or 3 bones each. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season water a pinch each of salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper to the water. Boil ribs in seasoned water for 20 minutes. Drain, and let the ribs sit for about a half an hour.

Meanwhile, preheat an outdoor grill for high heat.

Lightly coat the ribs with barbecue sauce. Cook the ribs over high heat for a 5 to 10 minutes on each side to get a nice grilled look to them.

Place grilled ribs in a slow cooker. Pour remaining barbecue sauce and one bottle of beer over the ribs; this should cover at least half of the ribs. Cover, and cook on High for 3 hours. Check ribs every hour or so, and add more beer if needed to dilute sauce. Stir to get the ribs on top into the sauce. The ribs are done when the meat is falling off the bone. The ribs were cooked completely in the first process, the rest is about flavor and texture.

Now as for me, I am off to begin the rat race of the FC- Day 2. Curious to see what I crank out today LOL! I would love to hear about some of your projects you might be working on. Leave those comments as I love hearing from you… Okie dokie… see you all tomorrow… this is the Frugal Mom signing off… HUGS!

FOOD & CRAFTS... SO IS THE LIFE...

Good morning guys and dolls! Its a brisk 46 degrees here and we are anticipating SNOW at 29 degrees tomorrow... man that's gonna be COLD! But knowing me and the hubby we will be out playing in it in the middle of the night again- JUST like last year LOL! Hades doesn't freeze over too often, so when it does, we take full advantage of it LMBO! Shoot, I still have a ziploc of frozen snow from last year in one of my freezers LOL!

Ok, so its gonna be a fairly quiet weekend seems like. My 18yo has a basketball tournament, so he and the guys won't be here as much this weekend. And the girls (DD and her BFF) and the other band kids will be getting ready for the Christmas parade and concert too next week, so THEY won't be here alot either. Then of course I have planned my craft sale for this weekend too! Man I'm not gonna know what to do without a house full or even an expected house full! But next weekend will be very VERY full! We have the Christmas parade through the center of town, the band Christmas concert & tea party, the football banquet, and my family and extends as well are participating in a toy run with my brother's car club. Each year, they all get together and drive their sports cars down the highway about a 10-15 mile drive from their starting point to a local orphanage. Everyone takes at least 1 new toy wrapped to the kids. There the kids get to receive there gifts from Santa (who is always in the last car), check out the "cool cars", eat lots of food (donated of course), and just forget about their worries for a while. Its a very heartwarming experience that definitely tugs the heart strings and makes ya teary-eyed. I am proud to say we are carting a large gang this year! My DH and I, our 3 kids, my 2 brothers, and 12 of the kids that hang out at my house! I was so proud when they said they would like to go... it makes me feel like I am doing something right by letting them be in a loving environment and maybe teaching them a good path in life to take. Makes me want to cry... crud... brb! OK I'm back... sorry had a bit of a moment I just had to step away and regroup. Ya know, I've got a good family and even though I didn't give birth to these kids... I would gladly call them ALL mine! So lets change the topic before I start balling again! Today's agenda... Cooking (as normal) and crafts. Why include the crafts today? I'll tell ya...

I had a lady order a memory quilt from me a while back and she just picked it up not long ago. She had saved all her son's sports jersey's, etc since he was little and she wanted me to make a quilt for him cuz he's graduating this year (this kid just happens to be on the football team, so I know him as well lol). Well, she's been going around town telling everyone she knows about my work and showing them the quilt and bragging about my gift baskets, etc. She called me with a BIG order for herself and one from a co-worker, so I am gonna be very busy the next few days. But for some reason I am in (what my family calls) "Susie-overload" LOL! Some people call it "nesting" mood... I just call it the Ohcrap mood... LOL cuz you will say that when you see what all I end up doing.

Seeing as this is a "Jane-of-all-trades" type of blog, you'll get craft ideas as well as food, shopping tips, etc. A little bit of everything you will get here! Let's talk crafts first... I know that alot of people are very tight on funds this year and are stressed about Christmas. DON'T BE! I'm gonna vow that from now until the 24th of December I will give you at least one homemade Christmas gift idea and one recipe a day! I know, crazy huh? I used to be one of those frantic "black friday shoppers" and always worried how in the heck I was gonna pull off Christmas for my brood. Well tip number one (an obvious one really...) shop all year long! I normally buy 1 present per month minimum! I shop after Christmas clearance and stash it away for the next year. For example, 2 people in my family are getting seat massagers- ya know those $30+ ones that you plug in and put in whatever chair you are sitting in? Well I got 3 of them last year clearanced for $5 each!! And these are super snazzy cuz you can plug them into the car charger too!

But let's talk homemade... Ok, last year for my bachelor brother, he kept asking for pot holders cuz he only had 1. So I made a kitchen set in John Deere. I made pot holders, oven mitts, a utensil rack (the kind with hooks you hang on the wall), and a grocery bag holder (for all those annoying plastic store bags running around without a home lol!). Here's a pic...

SOOO this year I am gonna make some embellished hand towels to go with the set and a couple more things to go in the kitchen. This will be paired with a "gift of Renee in a jar" (THANK YOU Jean LOL!) and the crepes cooked for him that he loves so much!

CRAFT IDEA FOR THE DAY:
For that someone you need a gift for, see if they have a theme for their kitchen and make a kitchen set. Include pot holders, oven mitts, grocery bag holders, embellished kitchen towels (towels can be bought at many dollar stores and my local Wal-mart has them for $1 each as well). The set for my brother cost me MAYBE $5 to make. If you need material, look at local thrift stores, freecycle, or remnants at hobby stores. Need patterns? Pull them up online. There are TONS of great sites with free printable patterns.

Now I bet all this reading has made you hungry huh? Well how about some nice fall apart OMG so yummy crock pot roast & gravy? Trust me, its to DIE for and my kid who hates mushrooms eats it up! Its nice to have something -cooking, making your house smell yummy, and you don't even have to worry about all day while you are crafting- for supper on a cold night. That's what we're having tonight. I am lucky to have more than one crockpot, so I do lots of them lol!



Awesome Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Ingredients

2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup diced white onion
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced carrots
1 cup of peeled and diced potato
1 1/4 cups water
5 1/2 pounds pot roast
1 tbsp. worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. cornstarch

Directions

1. Dredge roast in seasoned flour and coat entirely. Sear roast on all sides in a skillet over med. high heat.

2. Place pot roast in bottom of slow cooker. In a bowl, mix cream of mushroom soup, onion, celery, carrots, potatoes, worcestershire sauce, and water. Pour over roast.

3. Cook on High setting for 3 to 4 hours, or on Low setting for 8 to 9 hours. One hour before the roast is done, whisk 1 tbsp. of cornstarch into the pot. Gravy will thicken over last hour.

Well there you have it. Your roast should be just falling apart by the end of the cooking process and melting in your mouth! I'm off to work on MY bbf's quilt Christmas gift and some other crafts while the roast simmers all day. Until tomorrow... HUGS!