MEMORABLE MOVIE WEEK

Morning there guys and gals! How are you doing this morning? Its another hot and humid day here in Texas and I sit here sweating gallons in the early morning hours. But its ok, fall will be here before I know it and there will be a rebirth of spunk and vitality! LOL. So whatcha doing today? I got a tip for you today... never try cooking and eating frozen cheesesticks if you don't know how long they have been in the freezer LOL! You're tummy might not feel so great afterwards!

Alright folks, the New York Times is giving Frugal people, particularly men, a bad name! They are saying that it's not sexy, etc. I don't know about you, but I think I would find it a wee bit awesome if a man I was dating thought the same frugal thoughts I did! Do you agree? Check out this article and let me know what you think!

How to Be Frugal and Still Be Asked on Dates
The New York Times On Saturday August 21, 2010, 1:00 am EDT

Saving may be making a comeback, but it still hasn’t gotten its sexy back, particularly if you’re a man.

Earlier this month, the Commerce Department reported that the personal savings rate in June was a much-improved 6.4 percent and that the number had risen as high as 8.2 percent in the depths of the stock market doldrums in the spring of 2009.

Those who are single may not have been rewarded for their parsimony, though. Now comes some survey data from ING Direct, the people who would like you to save more money in their online savings accounts. In June, the company asked 1,000 people which words would come to mind if someone was fixing them up on a blind date with someone described as frugal.

Just 3.7 percent answered “sexy,” while 15 percent picked “boring” and 27 percent chose “stingy.”

Anyone who urges better money habits on the masses for a living ought to be gravely offended by this, though Ramit Sethi, author of “I Will Teach You to Be Rich,” tried to take it in stride. “The term frugality has been so perverted that it now means ‘No, no, no’ to everyone, whether it’s shoes or lattes or travel,” he said. “I don’t think it’s the right word.”

Yet it is a term that the online dating company eHarmony screens for in its patented compatibility test, asking people to rank themselves on a seven-point scale for frugality (along with things you would expect, like compassion and generosity).

“It makes sense, right?” asks Gian Gonzaga, 40, who has a doctorate in psychology and is eHarmony’s senior research director. “You look at the attractiveness angle, but farther down the road, money and finances are one of the biggest conflict areas couples traditionally face. And a lot of that comes down to having enough or not having enough.”

Well, maybe it makes sense and maybe it doesn’t. If your frugality has the potential to turn off nearly half of the mating pool, it raises a question: How best to broadcast your financial values and seek significant others who share your approach without coming off as a tightwad or a gold digger?

This challenge is a fairly recent one. Several generations back, personal ads could not have been more explicit about finances, since everyone knew that women generally had no income and a marriage involving a man of means was the only way to live comfortably.

This posting, from The New York Herald in 1860, was about par for the course, according to Pam Epstein, an adjunct professor at the Newark campus of Rutgers University, who wrote her history Ph.D. thesis on older ads. “A young lady, rather good looking, and of good address, desires the acquaintance of a gentleman of wealth (none other need apply), with a view to matrimony,” the ad read.

Ads from men from that period seemed custom-built to fit that bill. “The advertiser, a successful young business man of good education, polite manners and agreeable address, having recently amassed a fortune and safely invested the same, wishes to meet with a young lady or widow,” one said.

“There was this idea that men were very frugal,” said Ms. Epstein, 33, who posts copies of some of the ads she’s dug up at advertisingforlove.com. “You were going to work hard and save your money, and then by doing so, you would be able to support a wife in comfort. I do see a lot of ads saying ‘I’ve been wrapped up in business all this time and now I can support a wife comfortably.’ ”

Flash forward to today, however, and things get more complicated. Some people do put down an income range in their online dating profiles, though it’s not as if anyone is auditing the figures for honesty. Many men, meanwhile, pose peacocklike in front of their cars or boats or homes. The message here is less clear, though. Are these meant to be trophies, a sign of a fortune already amassed? Or is it the mark of a spendthrift? Or an indication that he’ll spend all of his time on the water, and you’d better be ready with the Dramamine if the relationship is going to work?
“There’s nothing admirable in frugality, because it’s invisible,” Ms. Epstein notes.
But even if you could transmit that value through an online dating profile, would you want to? It turns out that the answer to that may depend on whether you’re a man or a woman.

The ING Direct survey, which was conducted by phone and has a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points, presented one more potential label for that frugal blind date: smart. And in a promising sign for the nation’s solvency, that was the term chosen most often, picked by 49 percent of respondents. EHarmony also crunched the numbers for me on 30 million matches it made in July and found that both men and women were 25 percent more likely to have a potential mate reach out to them if they identified themselves as a saver rather than a spender.

Curiously, however, 56 percent of men in the ING Direct survey gave “smart” as their favorite answer while just 42 percent of women did. (The numbers were similarly flipped on stingy: 33 percent of women labeled the potential mate that way, while just 20 percent of men did.)

What’s going on here? “My suspicion is that the value of frugality depends on whose money will presumably be spent,” said Reuben Strayer, 34, a physician in Manhattan who does not broadcast his profession or true income in online personals. He always pays for the first date and does not object to providing for a wife one day, he adds; he just doesn’t want to attract the kind of woman who is specifically looking for someone who will do so.

But even if many men still make more money than women and are wary of mates who would want them to spend it, they may not want to advertise it. “Frugality may or may not have anything to do with how much he loves you,” said BJ Gallagher, 61, an experienced online dater and author of several self-help books for women. “But for a lot of women, love looks like ‘Take care of me and give me things.’ ”

My jaw dropped listening to some of the dated stereotypes coming out of Ms. Gallagher’s mouth and I told her so. “I try not to get into right and wrong,” she replied. “I’m not a professional finger-wagger. I just hold a mirror to things. I’m descriptive, not prescriptive.” She said she’d been in relationships where she provided most of the income and had seen plenty of gay and lesbian couples where one mate provided the “masculine” energy that kept things in balance.
Fair enough, but what should you do if you want to communicate prudent financial values to a potential mate without dropping the unsexy F word?

Robert Epstein, a psychologist who has studied online dating, said he struggled with this during the seven years it took to produce a beta version of the relationship compatibility test now online at arewegoodtogether.com. He suggests that people who feel strongly about good money habits talk about how they love a great bargain.

Topher Burns, 27, a Manhattan resident who is about to move in with a man he met online, said he realized that he had it a bit easier than heterosexual men who might feel compelled to pay for dates all of the time. But he still took a subtle approach in his online profile by talking about how he loved discovering the newest cheap eats. It shows, he explained, both a love of quality and a respect for value, which seems like a fine message to send no matter who is picking up the check.

The trick, it seems, is to use such subtle codes, the same way people slip in mentions of their jogging habit rather than coming right out and saying that they’re not overweight. So rather than projecting frugality outright, try dropping a classic investing book like “A Random Walk Down Wall Street” by Burton G. Malkiel, into the list of things you’ve read recently, suggested Deborah H. Levenson, a financial planner with Braver Wealth Management in Newton, Mass. ,who recently became engaged to a man she met online.

“That might give someone a sense that you were a Vanguard investor,” she said. “I think Vanguard is sexy.”

All of that said, when reading these profiles, keep in mind that these are advertisements. They will stretch the truth or lie outright and may contain not just delusions of grandeur or wealth but ones of financial prudence, too.

You may be able to tease out any inconsistencies once you get to know a potential mate. But don’t ask about them directly. One thing that everyone I talked to this week agreed on was this: Frugality may or may not be sexy, but few people want to hear about your asset allocation on the first date.

Now if you have some new or soon-to-be mommies on your gift giving list this year, why not make them a neat and roomy diaper bag. Sturdy to handle lots of baby essentials and stylish enough (depending on your fabrics) to be "trendy" if ya know what I mean. This bag is a really long tutorial and it has great step-by-step photos and instructions to help any level crafter make this great bag!



Craft Idea of the Day: Diaper Bag or Tote Bag with center divider

Like the blog said, it was made by a mom who needed a diaper bag, but ya know, as long as you don't use baby fabrics, I think it would be a great tote bag for anyone. The center divider makes it wonderful to hold papers, books, or maybe one of those small notebooks or Ipads, while on the other side could hold makeup bags, wallet, you name it! I am a firm believer that most anything can have another purpose if you just think on it! So if you see something cute, before dismissing it, ask yourself if you can use it in any other way.

Alright folks, its time for another day of MEMORABLE MOVIE WEEK! Today is a classic pick called "The Godfather"! There are approximately 61 scenes in the film that feature people eating/drinking, or just food. "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli." is a super quote most people can identify with this movie. There is a scene where Clemenza is showing Michael how to make some gravy, because “you never know when you're gonna need to feed twenty guys”. Here is another famous transcript that even offers a "recipe" of sorts...

“Heh, come over here, kid, learn something. You never know, you might have to cook for twenty guys someday. You see, you start out with a little bit of oil. Then you fry some garlic. Then you throw in some tomatoes, tomato paste, you fry it; ya make sure it doesn't stick. You get it to a boil; you shove in all your sausage and your meatballs; heh?... And a little bit o' wine. An' a little bit o' sugar, and that's my trick.”

So now we are gonna make some of those famous dishes! For more great meals, grab some of your cannolis and rent "The Godfather". Eat & Enjoy!



"Spaghetti Sauce" from The Godfather

Anyone who is familiar with pasta will tell you that once cooked, pasta needs a sauce for flavouring. Otherwise, consuming what is essentially a paste of wheat flour and water tends to taste a little bland.

The following recipe for spaghetti sauce is one of the most famous, having been featured in the 1972 motion picture, The Godfather. It will yield enough sauce for 8-10 servings of pasta. Chefs may assign the resulting dish any of the following names:

Spaghetti Coppola (after the director of the film, Francis Ford Coppola)

Spaghetti Puzo (after the writer of the script, Mario Puzo)

Spaghetti Castellano (after the actor who explained how to cook the sauce, Richard S Castellano)

Spaghetti Coppolapuzo (after both the director and the writer)

Ingredients

2 14oz tins whole tomatoes or 12 Roma or plum tomatoes, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves of garlic, crushed and chopped finely
2 small tins or 1 large tin tomato paste
1 teaspoon each basil and oregano (not seen in the movie, but useful nonetheless)
1lb/500g meat, either cooked sausages, sliced, or meatballs
2 tablespoons dry red table wine
1/4 cup sugar

Method

In a large pot or metal casserole dish, heat up the oil over medium heat and cook the garlic.

Add the tomatoes. Cook until soft.

Stir in the tomato paste, basil and oregano.

Add the meat. Stir until the meat is thoroughly coated.

Stir in the wine and sugar.

Reduce heat to low to medium-low and let simmer for at least 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Ladle over large bowls filled with cooked spaghetti, toss in each bowl and serve.
This is a basic sauce which lends itself to a variety of personal tastes. For example, some people prefer adding a tin of chopped anchovies along with the garlic, to add body. Others may use beefsteak tomatoes (which are rounder and more acidic than Romas) and either double the sugar or add a grated carrot to cut the sourness.



Homemade Cannoli

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons shortening
1 egg white
3/4 cup red wine
1 1/2 quarts oil for deep frying
1 1/2 pounds ricotta cheese
1/2 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons chopped candied orange peel

Directions

In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Blend in the shortening and egg white. Add the red wine one tablespoon at a time until the mixture forms a ball. Knead the dough enough to bring it together. Cover and let rest for half an hour.

Heat oil in deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Divide dough into 2 parts. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into 4 inch long ovals. Place a cannoli tube onto the oval lengthwise and roll up with edges overlapping; seal with a dab of egg white.

Fry cannoli shells 2 or 3 at a time in the hot oil. When golden brown, remove from the oil to drain on paper towels. Remove tubes.

To make the filling: In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese and confectioners' sugar. Fold in the vanilla, chocolate chips and candied orange peel. Chill for at least half an hour before filling shells. Drain off any excess liquid. Fill cooled shells and smooth off the filling at the edges. Keep refrigerated until serving.

Ok kids that's it. I gotta get off here and tend to some business. Then maybe I can get some sewing in today. But whatever life finds you doing today, be safe, be smart, and above all... be frugal! HUGS!

STUPENDOUS SATURDAY

Good Saturday morning everyone! How are you doing this super start to the weekend? I'm doing good really. I want to publically thank my mother for A. cutting all my hair off yesterday, and B. helping me in the room to declutter! So did you eat the salmon or the shrimp last night? LOL! Yes folks, she got her seafood and such I had in my freezer for her LOL! And to Tabitha, the "Renee-ism" LOL... I like that term!

Ok kids, for our frugal moment of the day, I am talking celebrities. Now before you get all bunched up, I know that 99% of celebrities are FAR from frugal, but I was logging into Yahoo and I saw this article about a girl many of us (including me) grew up with... at least watching her grow up at the same time I did LOL! Drew Barrymore is known around the world... ya know the Covergirl/actress/director/etc. who was the cute little girl playing with Aliens in E.T. or setting things a blaze in Firestarter? Yep she embodied frugal (literally LOL) and made news and I want to share it with you cause I think it's super cool!



Drew Barrymore's $25 Red Carpet Hit

by Ariel Kaiser, The Thread Stylist, on Thu Aug 12, 2010 4:47pm PDT

Talk about mixing high and low fashion! What did the adorable Drew Barrymore choose to wear to host the Nylon magazine/Express party this week in Los Angeles?

This gorgeous $25 metallic-printed 3/4-sleeve shift dress from a thrift store paired with $760 Yves Saint Laurent "Tribute" pumps, of course! I love the 1960's vibe she's got going on; the psychedelic print, the cut, and the pumped-up voluminous feel of her hair is a total win.

It's so refreshing to see someone mix it up and have fun with fashion. Just last month she made an appearance in an Oscar de la Renta runway dress--a far cry, financially, from an Austin, TX thrift-store find.

Don't you love it when vintage Drew -- the irreverent, quirky, girl power praising, throw-a-daisy-in-her-hair Drew that we all idolized in the 90's--steps out on the red carpet?

Alright, today's craft idea is an item that you can keep for personal use or fill and give as a gift for the frequent traveler on your gift giving list. Personalizing this for a man or woman simply depends on the fabric you choose to use. It could also be used for holding craft stuff, young ladies personal items in school lockers, you name it! Make sure you visit the site because the crafter has the greatest step-by-step photos and instructions! I think you will have fun with this one! Enjoy!



Craft Idea of the Day: Zippered Dopp Kit

Materials:

3/4-yards of Far Far Away 2 Yellow Roses (or any other upholstery weight fabric)
A 12-inch separating zipper in Fuchsia or any other bright color.
2-yards of Polka Dot Bias Tape

Now... Time to eat my faithful compadres! Today is day 6 of HOPPIN JALAPENO week and I grow sad as its almost over... but I've had fun, have you? Today we are spotlighting the wonderful pepper in chicken meals! Chicken is extremely healthy for you -- high in protein, low in fat and calories -- yet it can often be quite boring. But not when you bring in the jalapenos! You'll never want to prepare chicken without jalapeno peppers again.



Jalapenos and Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken

Ingredients:

16 ounces ground chicken
3 ounces cream cheese
3 jalapeno peppers, 1 sliced into rings, 2 diced
2 teaspoon Cajun seasonings
1 ½ cups bread crumbs
1 egg
jalapeno pepper jelly for topping

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, egg, 1 teaspoon Cajun seasonings and 1 cup bread crumbs

Mix well

Form 4 4-ounce patties with the chicken mixture

In a separate bowl, combine cream cheese, 1 teaspoon Cajun seasonings and 2 diced jalapeno peppers

Mix well

Add ½ of your jalapeno cream cheese mixture onto one chicken patty

Top the cream cheese with another chicken patty and mold the patties together to surround the cream cheese

Repeat with other 2 patties and remaining cream cheese

Set stuffed chicken onto a lightly oiled baking dish

Top with remaining bread crumbs

Bake 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through

Remove from oven

Top with jalapeno jelly and jalapeno slices

Serve



Jalapeno Guacamole Chicken

Ingredients

2 jalapeno peppers
2 chicken breasts
4 slices cheddar cheese
1 avocado
1 tomato
1 teaspoon garlic
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon cilantro
1 tablespoon taco seasoning
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Here are all the ingredients, pre meal. Slice the chicken breasts into thin halves and season with the taco seasoning, as shown.

First, prepare the guacamole by peeling and chopping the avocado. Mash it with a fork.

Chop 1 jalapeno pepper and the tomato and add to the avocado mash. Add cilantro, garlic, and lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well.

Heat a frying to pan to high heat. Add seasoned chicken breasts and sear each side, about 1-2 minutes each. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until chicken is no longer pink in the middle, about 5-6 minutes each.

Slice remaining jalapeno pepper into rings and cover chicken breasts, as shown.
Top jalapeno peppers with cheddar cheese and cover. Heat until cheese is melted.
Serve!

Alright everyone... I gotta get off here and see what we want to do today... could be sewing, could be shopping, could be cooking, you never know! All I know is that I am gonna find out something to do to have some family fun today. I hope that you get out and enjoy some quality time with your loved ones too! I'll see you again tomorrow for another excited blog from the Frugal Mom! Until tomorrow... HUGS!

GROOVY 60'S BABY

Good afternoon boys and girls! I apologize for my tardiness... will you believe the DH's computer bluescreened on me? Oh yes, I guess its not my month for messing with electronics! But I learned alot about his computer... or should I say DINOSAUR? LOL! Hey I am not gonna complain... it's still letting me online! (Knocking on wood here!) I also had a rather rough night... this ol' gray mare just ain't what she usedabe! LOL! And of course, I want to thank my parents for the great comments from my parents yesterday. Dad made me cry!

Like I said, last night was rather interesting... I had morons all around me shooting off fireworks to where my neighborhood sounded like a war zone! I was freaking out a bit and praying for more of that rain that's been hanging around LOL. Then I finally get to sleep and about 4am, Mittens starts screaming her lungs out! AND it was the first night that the boys, Gizmo and Miracle, were allowed to be out in the big room all night. For the most part, they behaved... until Mittens woke up! Then Miracle found Me-om's "tail" and decided he wanted to play! OHHHH NOOO! Those boys are getting so HUGE in just the couple of weeks they have been here... what's it been, 2 weeks? I gotta write all this stuff down (birthdays, new arrivals, etc!) LMAO!

Ok now, I saw a rather interesting article on Yahoo green that I had to share with you... check this out!

Five unusual ways to stay cool
By Chris Baskind, Mother Nature Network

In the Northern Hemisphere, there's no doubt summer is here — and with it, the perpetual quest to stay cool. For those of us interested in sustainability, the thought of huge summer cooling bills (and all the greenhouse emissions they cause) is enough to send a chill down the spine.

You've probably already heard the basics of summertime energy management: Keep your air conditioner filters clean, make sure your weather stripping is tight, draw the drapes during the heat of the day, and avoid the use of big heat-creating appliances like ovens and ranges whenever possible. If you want a quick review of hot weather energy-saving ideas, check this giant list of summer cooling tips.

But there are other ways to keep your cool through the summer. We've rounded up five for your consideration, including several tried-and-true methods from the days before central air. Give one or two a shot, and see how they work for you.

1) Go tropical
Take the lead of those who spend most of their lives in tropical climates: loose, lightweight cotton and linen clothing rules.

The guayabera, sometimes called the "Mexican wedding shirt," is constructed to cool you naturally. A relative of the traditional Filipino barong, the guayabera wicks moisture from the skin and is worn untucked to promote air circulation. Madras is another good summertime choice for both men's and women's clothing.

Don't forget the old standard of the American Deep South: seersucker. Originally an Indian import, its crisp cotton and cooling ridges make it a hot weather classic.

2) Cool that pulse point
When you were sick as a child, your mom may have brought you a cold facecloth. This idea works the same way.

Chill your pulse points by running cold water over your wrist for a minute or so each hour. Splashing water on your temples or face can produce a similar effect. And be sure to put some of that tap water into a glass and stay hydrated.

3) Don't eat: Graze
Ever notice how you feel hot after a big meal? It's not just because the food was served warm.

Big, protein-laden meals force your body to stoke its metabolic fires. The solution is to break up your eating into smaller, more frequent meals. You'll feel cooler — and it's better for you, anyway.

4) Eat to sweat
Latin America, India, Thailand — some of the world's hottest places. And they happen to serve some of the world's hottest foods.

Scientists have argued for years over why this is the case, but the most likely reason is that spicy foods make you sweat without actually raising body temperature. Chalk it up to capsaicin, a chemical found in things like hot peppers. Once your skin is damp, you'll feel cooled by its evaporation.

Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to also reread our article on choosing a safer deodorant.

5) Stay cool under the covers
A lot of people find it difficult to sleep in hot weather.

Want to cool the bed down? Fill a standard hot water bottle with ice water. Use it to cool your ankles and the back of your knees — it works. You can also try bagging your sheets and tossing them in the freezer for an hour or two before bed.

Cooling your head cools your entire body. Opt for a cool and absorbent pillow of organic cotton if at all possible. Put aside down and latex pillows until the weather cools down this autumn.

Now the food theme I have chose inspired the craft idea I chose. LOL its a recycling craft for another bag... utilizing an old pair of children's overalls! How retro is that? LOL... if you don't have a pair of childrens' overalls, check local thrift stores, ask friends, or even use a small adult pair for a bigger bag! Have fun!



Craft Idea of the Day: Recycled Overalls Bag

Materials:

Child's overalls
Sewing Machine
Scissors

Directions:

For this project you will need a pair of old children's overalls from a thrift store. The larger the overalls the bigger you bag will be.

If your overalls has any pockets on the front it will make a great little mobile pocket on the outside of your bag.

Start by cutting the leg's off, making sure to cut above the crotch or you will end up with a tuft.

Turn the bag inside out and using an overlocker or a sewing machine sew across the bottom to close it up. Make sure you do 2 zig zag stitches on a sewing machine to strengthen it.

Trim off any threads and turn the right way out.

Well, if you didn't guess already, I picked yet another interesting food theme. In the short time as I have been looking up info, I have learned alot actually! So this week, I am proud to present you with the GROOVY 600's BABY! I'm gonna bring you some of the dishes that were popular in the 60's as well as some neat food trivia facts, etc. In the United States, the 1960s was a stormy decade shaped by the clash of conforming tradition and radical change. Culinary wise? WWII rationing was a distant memory, 50s casseroles were old & boring. The 60s encouraged showy, complicated food with French influence (Julia Child, Jacqueline Kennedy), suburban devotion (backyard barbecues), vegetarian curiosity (Frieda Caplan) and ethnic cuisine (soul food, Japanese Steak houses). This was also the decade of flaming things (fondue & Steak Diane) and lots and lots of junk food (aimed at the baby boom children). "Average" suburban families patronized family-style restaurant chains like Howard Johnson's. Did you know that it was the space program that made Tang a household name. In 1965 the Gemini astronauts took this drink into outer space. And the first Wendy's restaurant opened in 1969! So let's get started with the first Groovy recipe of the week... I hope you enjoy!



Beef Burgundy

Ingredients

2 pounds sirloin tips, cubed
1 medium onion, chopped
12 ounces mushrooms, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed golden mushroom soup
1/2 cup Burgundy wine

Directions:

1. In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, sear beef on all sides. Stir in onion, and saute until golden brown. Add mushrooms, butter, mushroom soup and wine. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 2 hours.

Well kids, that's all for me this afternoon. I need to get motivated to get some things done around the house. I am just hurting to that point where nothing sounds good except laying in bed all day... ever felt that way? LOL Ok I hope you will join me back tomorrow for more fun and food! HUGS!

JUST “BEET” IT

Good morning boys and girls. How are you today? We are super swamped here with all the rain bans from the storm actually, but other than that pretty good. I am also very sore LMAO! I forgot how it was having a baby around! But oh boy did we have some fun!

The littlest kitten is doing well. I finally got her to eat some shredded wet food along with the kitten milk and pedialyte I have been giving her. However, every time I pick the poor thing up for a feeding, it shivers and shakes beyond control, so I don’t know what’s up with that. But she even tied playing with me last night LOL. She only woke up once instead of twice during the night, so I think that is progress! And she pottied in the makeshift litter box I put in the carrier! YAY! It’s a slow process, but hopefully she will get there.

With all the “mommy work” going on with all the baby kids, cats, and bunnies, I want to share this cute little article I found about moms. This should start your day out with a smile!

"Why God Made Moms" answers given by elementary school age children to the following questions.

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring...
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work & work at home, & dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

OK now you all know how I love making unique bags. Well I found this bag that recycles old neckties and I figured it would be right up my alley LOL! Visit the site for some great pictures that will make this craft much easier to replicate along with all the detailed instructions..



Craft Idea of the Day: Neck Tie School Bag

Materials:
Okay, you'll need a bunch of ties. Mine are all paisleys. A lot of lining fabric - mine is black velveteen.
One 18mm magnetic snap
Heavyweight stabilizer
Large graph paper (or newspaper) for pattern
Basic sewing supplies

Directions:

SECTION ONE: Let's start with the gusset/handle:

SECTION TWO: Now we are going to make the pattern for the front and back of the bag.

SECTION THREE: Now we are going to make the flap.

SECTION FOUR: The pocket

SECTION FIVE: Now we will line the bag.

Turn bag right side out - and voila!

Ok, now its time to eat. Time to feature some more Dollar Store Dining! Today we are gonna sing like Michael Jackson and “Just ‘beet’ it”! LOL! I am gonna feature a couple of recipes I found in the book that feature a vegetable that doesn’t get much attention… beets! Some people like them and some people don’t. If you haven’t tried them, perhaps you should using these recipes and it might surprise you! So Eat & Enjoy!



Gingered Beets

Makes: 4 servings
Cost: about $3.99

Ingredients:

1/3 cup of Spreckels sugar
¾ teaspoon Spice Box ground ginger
2 teaspoons Hartford House Corn starch
¼ cup of Apple cider vinegar
2 ½ cups of Libby’s canned beets, drained
2 tablespoons Danish Creamery butter
1 tablespoon Spice Box chopped parsley

Directions:

1. In a saucepan, blend sugar, ginger, and cornstarch and gradually add the vinegar. Stir until smooth.

2. Cook over medium heat, stirring until thick.

3. Add the beets and butter and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Serve hot sprinkled with parsley.

(***HELPFUL HINT***) A teaspoon of apple cider vinegar a day helps keep the doctor away. I like it with sparkling water and a dash of bitters.

Beet and Chive Toasts

Makes: 4 servings
Costs: about $1.99

The rich color of the beets makes this an eye-catching appetizer. For Hors d’oeuvres, serve a dollop of the beet mixture on Grilled Stars (another recipe in the book).

Ingredients:

1 (15oz.) can of Libby’s beets
¼ cup of Spice Box dried chives
½ teaspoon of Morehouse brown mustard
½ cup sour cream
Tabasco sauce to taste
½ teaspoon Master’s Lemon Juice

Directions:

1. Coarsely chop beets.

2. Add the chives, mix in remaining ingredients, and bland well.

3. Chill.

4. Serve on chilled plates with toast as an appetizer, or in a chilled bowl with a plate of toast for a buffet.

(***HELPFUL HINT***) If you’re game, a redhead, or both, reserve the liquid from the beets and use it as a hair rinse. Add 3 times the amount of water as there is beet juice and apply after shampooing for a temporary fun tint.

Alright everyone, its time for me to get off here and get busy with my daily tasks LOL. I hope that you are safe and well and will join me back here tomorrow for more crafts and food and fun! Until tomorrow… HUGS!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

Good morning everyone and a HAPPY Father’s Day to all my male readers out there… especially MY DAD! Love you Daddy! So how is everyone doing this sultry Sunday morning? Me… can’t complain- I woke up with air in my lungs, a roof over my head, and my family all around… so I’m good! And I have lots to share with you today, so let's get started.

OK now, yesterday, I managed to get some crafting done. And boy let me tell ya…. I think you will like it!



Intriducing… the Monopoly money bags!! Aren’t they super spiffy?? I attached all the bills together and then covered them with vinyl and proceeded like normal totes. Although when it was just the sides covered in vinyl, I have to admit, they would have made really cool place mats too LOL! I am going to take one of them and make it into a “Monopoly package” with a matching makeup bag, etc. and make a notebook out of the cards, etc LOL. I think it will be cool! What do you think?



These are super jumbo puzzle pieces and I spray painted them. Once they were dry I drew around the edges with some special glue and then sprinkled different colored glitters on it. Pretty sparkly huh? I am thinking that I might make them into magnets or package tags or… well I just don’t know.



These are some more cell pouches that I made, but since I am out of snaps, I used velcro. I think they are pretty neat really. All these materials were scraps from the green crate (as were the inside fabrics of those purses). I am slowing working my way through that crate LOL! I’m running out of time, so I better get cracking huh? Anyway, the roses and skulls material is the ones I used for making my DB’s bedroom set. He said he is waiting for more (bedroom sets) LOL! Might be an idea for the Christmas Countdown challenge… not sure yet. Gonna start my list probably next week. I’m sure that crate will diminish quickly once I start the Christmas Countdown LOL!



Seeing that I have a wretched landlord who has not yet done anything about my possessed stove, I am cooking meals that are either stovetop, crockpot, grill, or just eating the premade meals I froze in the freezer. I also made a couple of casseroles at mom’s and brought them home too, but those are already gone LOL! Anyway, I had a whole buzzard and I threw that in the crockpot yesterday morning with some Lipton’s vegetable soup mix and a can of Rotel. Seasoned the chicken with the normal S/P/G and then also used some cumin and allspice. Let that puppy cook on low for a few hours and it was falling apart moist LITERALLY! I paired that with some noodles with veggies in them (and I put some of the stewed Rotel on top the noodles) and then some buttered garlic Italian bread I had and voila! A mouthwatering no fuss super That everyone devoured!



What’s a dinner without dessert? Here is our colossal cookie! Super chocolate chunk and oh so… sweet!!! TOO SWEET for me actually. It was given to us the other day and it was the perfect treat… for THEM! I had one bite, it hurt my teeth, and I said oh no! LOL But I have no fear they will make it disappear LOL. Its cute though… very cute!



I ended my day with a rescue. Aren’t those the sweetest little faces you have ever seen? See, as many of you know, I am a member of several different yahoo groups for various things. Frugal Living, Cooking, freecycling, etc. Well I guess, on one group, I have been deemed the “cat lady” LOL. One of the members of my local freecycle group called me pleading for my help. She said the momma cat was hit by a car and these kittens were out on the side of the road (still with the momma) and she couldn’t catch them so they didn’t get hurt or die. So at 7:30 last night, I drove over there and was able to get the kittens to come to me. I started crying at the condition of these poor things. She couldn’t keep them as she owns pits and they would “not be pleased” let’s just say. I had no choice… so home with me they came. I know I know… crazy! They look maybe 2-3 months old, so malnourished, and COVERED in fleas! So the first thing was they got washed and sprayed with flea stuff (cause I am allergic to fleas to boot LOL. I know an animal owner/lover allergic to a common pet problem- go figure! Talk about irony!). They were really not digging that, but the fleas just started falling off, so that was good. I can’t get them to eat yet, and I am praying they were not still nursing! Otherwise, HEY MOM… I MIGHT need some of that kitten formula you have! My inside cats were NOT happy with me last night, and I am hoping things get a little better should these kittens stay. So I have been loving on my cats all morning to try to ease their “hurt feelings” LOL! We have named the kittens Gizmo (cause his ears are bigger than his head LOL) and Miracle (because it’s a miracle she is alive and quite frankly will be a miracle if she survives). Say hello everybody! DH just got all teary eyed and said that I was a good hearted person... cats and kids I rescue them all! LOL! He's just odd LOL!

Now I had found an article that, by reading the title, led me to believe it would be a great Frugal tips to share with you all here. BUT… after further reading (past the title and jibberish) I am not real impressed and have come to the conclusion that the author is not necessarily giving the best advice. I’m gonna share the article and then MY humble O’s… and lets test just how frugal she REALLY is…

5 Ways to Cut the Fat From Your Grocery Bill

Kerry K. Taylor
Friday, June 4, 2010

Eating is an expensive habit. And if you're anything like me, then food probably consumes a significant portion of your budget. On average, American families spend $9,478 a year on food alone -- that's 13.3 percent of their total household budgets, according to a recent survey by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

To help you get a grip on this tasty but often expensive cost-of-living, here are five ways to cut the fat from your grocery bill.

1. Make a grocery list and check it twice. Going through your kitchen before hitting the supermarket is free, and planning ahead can fatten your wallet by preventing expensive impulse buys. You might even save on gas by being organized because you won't need to make a second shopping trip to buy those forgotten items.- OK… not gonna argue her point here, because I do the same thing. I keep a running list of what I need, how much of it I need, etc. AND I take at LEAST 4-6 hours to plan a grocery shopping spree… planning DOES help!

2. Stop clipping worthless coupons. Take a good look at the grocery coupons you're clipping before getting excited about the deal. Many coupons offer deals on highly packaged foods low in nutrition and high in unpronounceable ingredients. Skipping the worthless coupons and opting to pay a little bit more for whole foods may be a better deal for your health in the long run.- OK… BIG NO NO here! While I agree that whole foods ARE better for you, not everyone has a ton of money to eat just whole organic foods… some do depend on some prepackaged items. PLUS you can also find coupons for produce and such… they are usually called wine tags. AND you can also take that package of whatever you got for just 19 cents after your “worthless” coupon and turn it into maybe a part/component to a very healthy meal! It just calls for a little creativity! IMHO, NO coupon is WORTHLESS!!

3. Watch the price scanner. Mistakes on price scans are common at the grocery store and can cost you additional dollars. A Consumer Reports survey found that 6 percent of respondents were overcharged at the grocery checkout, and no particular chain stood out as more or less accurate. Watching while your grocery prices scan and verifying their accuracy at check-out can save you money and may even score you free food -- many grocery chains will give you the item for free if it scans at the wrong price, but it's up to you to spy the error.- Another good point here… and also be aware of the store’s price scan policies! Some have it where you get the item free if it scans wrong, some give you the item free AND cash back on your order…. SOOOO it can pay to be super-hyper vigilant on your register!

4. Buy generic items over big brand names. Save a huge 10 to 50 percent on every shopping trip by switching your brand name buys for generic items. It costs big bucks to market brand name products, and you're paying for that expense when you buy a food item with a recognizable label. Compare many generic items to the brand name equivalent and you'll find that the brands are not necessarily better than their less-advertised alternatives.- Ok I really dislike when people write like this! They try to make it sound like you can ONLY buy generics in order to save money, which is SO not true! UGH! Sometimes, if you Clip those coupons and compare prices (especially if your stores double or triple coupons like mine does), its actually far cheaper to buy BRAND NAME items!!!! About 75% of the stuff I buy is brand name… and ya know why? Cause I’m a SMART COUPON SHOPPER! (Oh it frustrates me so bad! Sorry… was about to go all soap-boxie!)

5. Skip the cans, buy dried beans in bulk. Why are you buying beans canned in captivity? Buying dried beans in bulk and soaking them overnight is a frugal way to add protein to your diet without paying for the high cost of meat. Besides, dried beans are extremely cheap and expand when soaked, so your family gets more meal for every dining dollar spent by forgoing the canned variety.- Again, this is a SEMI-good point. A lot of times, the bulk dry beans ARE cheaper… again UNLESS YOU HAVE A COUPON! If you can get your Gebhart pinto beans at 79 cents a bag or 19 cents a can… which one will you pick??

Finding simple ways to cut your everyday food expenses takes a bit of practice, but the payoff can be huge. Keeping track of your budget can also help you save money on all your other living expenses.

This author has a few valid points, but I think that a vital key to her article is missing. COMMON SENSE. A truly frugal person will know to cut the coupons, which can add up to some serious savings. A truly frugal person will know that by planning/preparation and paying attention, you can score some major bargains. A truly frugal person will know that repurposing items, when possible, will help to save money, reduce clutter, and be unique. So who do you think is the truly frugal one here?

Ok let’s get crafty! Now my mom called me the bag lady once in once of her comments after a day of tote making, and since I made more yesterday… well maybe it should be a “specialty” of mine. So I am gonna show you how to make another bag! “Gift bags are often the last step when giving a gift for Father's Day or a birthday. But they also add a significant cost to what you have already spent. Would it not be a relief save those extra dollars on paper or a bag that will be crumpled and tossed aside in seconds? Now you can make your own reusable gift bag for free. All you need are common items you already have, like the Sunday comics and an empty cereal box. Here's how:



Craft Idea of the Day: Cereal Box Gift Bags

What You Need:

Cereal box, or other box, into which the gift(s) will fit
Sunday comics section from the newspaper
Glue stick
School Glue
Scissors
Plastic grocery bag
Colored straws or leftover ribbon

Instructions:

1. Choose an empty cereal box (or any box) and cut off the top flaps. Trim the box shorter if desired, leaving it at least 2 inches higher than the gift will be inside.

2. Take the Sunday comics and neatly wrap the bottom and sides of the box. Secure with glue or tape.

3. Trim the top edge of comic paper so that it is about one inch higher than the top opening of the box.

4. Carefully fold the comic paper over the edge of the box so that the cardboard is neatly covered. Secure inside with glue.

5. To make handles for the gift bag, you have two options:

Option A: Plastic Straws
Cut two lengths of about 6 inches from plastic grocery bag handles. Cut colored drinking straws (wash and dry if you are reusing them) into shorter pieces. Thread the straw piece onto the plastic handles. Cut two small, index card sized pieces of scrap cardboard. Staple each end of the handle to the cardboard. Using school glue or strong tape, fix the cardboard to the inside of the top edge of the box, so that the handle is up.

Option B: Ribbon
Cut two lengths of about 6 inches of leftover ribbon. Punch holes in the sides of the box. Thread the ribbon through the holes and knot the ends of the ribbon to secure handles. If knots are too small to keep handles secure, staple ends of ribbon scrap cardboard and glue inside as described in option A.

6. Cut one long rectangle of comic paper that is slightly smaller than the area of the bottom plus two larger sides of the box. Use this sheet to line the inside of the box. Use a glue stick to secure the top edges with glue.

7. To make mock tissue paper, cut one or two large plain squares of plastic from grocery bags, avoiding the printed areas. Note: White plastic usually looks more like tissue paper than plastic from colored bags.

The advantages of these reusable gift bags are many. They better for your wallet and the environment. You can be relieved to avoid the cost of disposable wrapping and perhaps have more money to spend on the gift itself. Even if you haven't bought the gift yet, you can make this gift bag ahead of time if you know the size of gift you will get or make. And if you keep the bag in the family, whether it is a birthday, Father's Day, or other holiday, you have a gift bag for your next occasion that is ready to go.”

Time to talk some food! I hope you have enjoyed our journey to Hawaii this week. I hope that I have represented the people’s food the best I can based on the information I could find. I am gonna close this week with some bread. You normally see flavored breads around the holidays, but it is very commonplace to see flavored breads at Luaus at any time of year. Banana bread is very often served at Luaus. But another bread also served is this tasty treat, made with the freshest island ingredients, is Mango bread. What a “sweet” way to wrap up this food week, eh?



Mangoes are one of the best sources of Betacarotene, Quercetin and Astragalin. These are powerful antioxidants that neutralize free radicals. Free radicals can damage cells and lead to heart disease, cancer, premature aging and degenerative diseases. One small mango provides a quarter of your recommended daily allowance for vitamin C, nearly two thirds of your daily quota for vitamin A, good amounts of vitamin E and fiber. They also contain vitamin K, phosphorus and magnesium. Mangoes are particularly rich in potassium which can help reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

Mangoes also contain pectin, a soluble dietary fiber, which has been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels. Recently, scientists at The Institute for Food Research, discovered that a fragment released from pectin binds to, and inhibits galectin 3, a protein that plays a role in all stages of cancer progression. Other population studies, including the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer, have identified a strong link between eating lots of fiber and a lower risk of cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. Mangoes are a considered a ‘high volume’ food which means you get a lot of food for a relatively small amount of calories – one mango contains around 135 calories. However, they are quite high in natural sugar with one mango containing around 30g. So keep that in mind when you try this tasty loaf of golden goodness!



Mango Bread

A recipe for mango bread using fresh mangos and macadamia nuts.

Ingredients:

2 cups flour, sifted
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon allspice
½ teaspoon salt
1½ cups sugar
3 eggs
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup melted butter
2 cups partly mashed, partly diced mangos
½ cup chopped macadamia nuts

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two loaf pans. Combine all dry ingredients.

Beat eggs.

Add oil and butter and beat for approximately 2 minutes. Add dry ingredients and mangoes. Add nuts.

Bake 45-55 minutes.

Alright everyone, I am gonna get off of here and find something to do to occupy my mind- which obviously has too much time to think sometimes LOL! I will probably go check on the kittens and see if I can get them to eat, and then maybe do some crafts after I call my Dad (I doubt he is awake yet LOL). I hope all the dad’s out there have a GREAT day and I will see you again in the morning! Until tomorrow… HUGS!

LOTS O NEWS

Well a big sticky good morning to you all! How are you doing today? I am doing good… just waiting for the rain to start YUCK! I had a great day yesterday really. I got a lot of sewing done and my Mom and Dad came over for dinner for some Amazing ribs last night! LOL! My Dad was wonderful enough to put a screen door on my back door so I can let the Springtime in my house while keeping the wasps and stray cats out and my sweet baby kitties inside! Not to mention, it saves on the electric bill too! LOL! Isn’t my Dad just super awesome!? THANKS DAD! And of course, I always have tons of fun with my mommy! She’s super awesome too! We had the best time quietly annoying the manfolk LMAO!



Then my mom and I were “wandering” in my garden and we noticed a few more cherry tomatoes were red and ready to become a snack! SOOO I picked them LOL! Mom says “Here’s one too” as she plucked it off the vine and it went right into her mouth! LMAO she said it was so tasty and flavorful! LMAO… I now deem her the Dickinson Tomato Bandit! LMAO! So I plucked my tomatoes and cut some fresh parsley for dinner as you can see… it’s so wonderful to eat the fruits of my labors (no pun intended LOL).



Hazel, thanks for your comments and feedback! And to answer your question, you can also use cola, beef broth, or just water even instead of the beer for the ribs and it turns out just as delish! I use the cola most, as there are no beer drinkers in this house anymore, but occasionally I will go pick up a single one at the convenience store. Last night, however, I used beef broth and everyone thought the ribs were absolutely divine (you can see our dinner pictured here). My mom was “cutting” them with a fork they were so tender. I roasted a ton of veggies: yams, potatoes, yellow squash, zucchini, red and green bell peppers, carrots, onions, and fresh garlic cloves minced up. I tossed all the veggies in olive oil and seasoned them with salt, pepper, and a hint of Italian seasoning and they were absolutely OMG YUMMY! Especially the yams LOL! The DH and I were fussing over them LMAO! It was cracking my mom up!

Ok, I keep forgetting to bring up the Jamie Oliver special. Jean, it’s on Friday nights on ABC… so whatever channel is your ABC (You’ll have to check) but here it is Friday night at 7pm I think… Ok, so the one this past Friday was him trying to conquer a High School. It was absolutely gut wrenching and when the main woman told him that FRECH FRIES counted as a veggie!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I was jumping around like a p’d off gorilla yelling at the screen! LOL… I know, what an image right? Anyway, Jamie Oliver gathered a group of teens and they are trying to make an impact on the school. To see the kids’ faces when he took away their fries was priceless. The kids ended up cooking a healthy meal to a restaurant full of guests, including their parents/families and their state senator! You should have seen the adults faces when they learned the kids did the cooking. Well one of the teens names is Bridget (I think) and she is a big girl. At the end of the dinner, each teen got to say a small piece on why they thought Jamie’s program was so important. Bridget states that she has always had weight problems, and the doctor found spots on her liver and has given her 7 years to live if she doesn’t make some dramatic changes. I so incredibly lost it right there! When I had cancer many years ago, the doctor gave me one of those time frames… gave me an expiration date if you will. It’s a terrible thing to hear and it just terrifies you to no end! You start thinking about what you will miss out on, what you could do, etc. For me… it was my kids. They were very young (not even in school yet) and at that time, I just wanted to be around to watch them graduate. I cried so much! That’s when I saw the world really had color and that I was not really living, I was just existing. I got to eating better, and fresher, and living life as best I could. Here I am now… in remission, feeling pretty good, and only 2 years away from my DD graduating! YAY! GO ME! And a big raspberry to all those doctors who said that word I hate… “CANT”. So my heart goes out to that young lady named Bridget and I hope all the best for her and that she can make some major changes to save her life! This weeks episode is gonna be pretty good by the looks of the previews! Ya know who really gripes my hide on this show, aside from Alice the cafeteria lady at the elementary school? That stupid radio DJ! He needs a good old fashion can of Whoop A** opened up on him! Stupid “good old boy” mentality! I wonder if he realizes his poor attitude is partly what is killing their kids!? (Sorry for the language, but he really irks me!) Well he gets pretty humbled this next show as the preview shows him with Jamie in a funeral home and they show a double wide coffin for the larger citizens. It was quite scary actually. Either way its gonna be a great show! Ya need to watch it!

Ok, to my Jeanie in Ohio LOL… Aww I feel so loved! Thank you! 88 cents a lb. is a GREAT buy! Way to go! I hope you stocked up! Tyson whole fryers were 77 cents a pound last week here… I picked up a couple LOL! So how did the soup taste? I am glad my crafty challenge is keeping you motivated to make some great things. You can use those crafts for gifts or you can find numerous outlets to make an extra buck or two! Either way, keep it going girl! And if your in the mood to start sowing some seeds… get yourself an empty egg crate and make some holes in the bottom and plant some seeds. Bring them inside at night and place them outside, perhaps on a table or bench or something, during the day! You will have sprouts in no time and by the time you are ready to put them outside permanently, it will be nice and toasty for them! And to hear you talk about making something for donations was wonderful! It warms my heart!



Now let’s get to talking about what I accomplished yesterday. I started out the day sewing a couple of purses and all the accessories. This one is the yellow “Support the Troops” ribbon. It comes with a lapel pin, photo album, calendar, coupon holder, make up bag, eyeglass case, tissue holder, cell phone pouch, and scrunchy!



Then I did a U.S. Navy one. This one comes with a lapel pin, photo album, calendar, coupon holder, make up bag, eyeglass case, tissue holder, cell phone pouch, lanyard, and scrunchy!



Then I saw a little pile of cut strips. I got the thought… SCRUNCHIES! I made these 8 Breast Cancer scrunchies.



I made music note ones after that. I have 9 of the yellow with music notes, 9 of the white with black music notes, and 2 of the rainbow music notes on black. Cool huh? I always like to have extras because it never fails, either the girls in the band always want one, or their moms or even just people at the various band competitions… so I throw a few extras of these bad boys in my bag and make a buck or two just sitting on my bum! LOL!



And once the smoke was clear, the screen was up, and the guests were all gone, I accomplished one more craft for the day… another one of those Crayon totes in the Disney Cars theme fabric (from one of the bolts). I was just looking at the fabric and HAD to make a Disney one for like a little boy. I thought it was adorable.

And that was it for the night. With my swollen feet and legs, I shut it all down and headed to stretch out and cry in my nice soft bed LOL! OK, now today is Day 3 of the Fabric Challenge… so what’s on tap? Not sure… I’m noticing this challenge is one of those fly by the seat of your pants things. Maybe it’s my mind’s way of not getting bored LOL. However I have an awesome craft idea I want to share with you today! With the super hot Texas summer creeping in on us quickly, these are a great idea for anyone who is going to be outside for extended periods of time no matter where you are!



Neck Coolers

step 1: Gather all materials

Materials: 100% cotton fabric (prewash all fabric so that colors will not bleed when cooler is wet) thread Water absorbing (sodium polyacrylate) polymer crystals; Tools: Scissors or rotary cutter and mat sewing machine or hand-sewing needle *The most common brand of crystals is Watersorb. You can visit their website or you can also sometimes find them at garden centers and hardware stores.

step 2: Create fabric tube

Cut fabric into a strip 4 1/2 inches wide by 40-45 inches long. This can most easily be done by cutting from selvage to selvage. (Selvage are the finished edges of the fabric as opposed to the raw edges that fray.) Fold right sides together along a long edge and pin. Sew along the edge to create a long tube.

step 3: Turn and Press

Turn the tube right side out. Press (iron) the length of the tube with the seam at the center, not at a fold.

step 4: Stitch across and add crystals

Find the center of the tube and stitch across the center. Make sure to lock your stitches each time by backstitching a few stitches so the dry crystals won't shift. Using a funnel, fill both halves of the tube with 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of crystals. Shake them down until they reach the center seam. Do not be tempted to use more. The crystals hold a tremendous amount of…

step 5: Finish ends.

Cut your ends at an angle and fold the edges inward to create a hem. Iron flat and sew across this hem to finish your cooler.

step 6: How to use.

Soak your neck cooler in water for 30 minutes to activate the crystals. (I soak mine in the fridge.) After the first 10-15 minutes, smoosh the crystals around to evenly distribute them in each pocket, then soak for the remaining time. Once it has expanded, lightly squeegee the excess water off the outside with your hand if you don't want it to drip on you too much. Tie around you neck

Now the other day I gave you an idea to use that left over ham from your Easter dinner… but what happens to all the extra CANDY? YUMMY! Well if, by some slim chance LOL, you can’t possibly eat all those stockpiled bags of jelly beans you acquired, I’ve got a sweet new idea for you! Check this out!



Jelly Bean Bark

Ingredients
1 pound white confectioners' coating
1 pound jellybeans

Directions

Line a jelly roll pan with waxed paper and set aside.

Melt the white confectioners' coating in the top of a double boiler over just-barely simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching. Spread the melted white confectioners' coating onto the prepared pan. Sprinkle the jellybeans over the top.

Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until firm. Break into pieces to serve.

Doesn’t that sound sinfully delicious? Can you say YUMMY! LOL well that’s all the time we have today kids. Tune in tomorrow for another crazy day of the FC, good food, and crazy fun! Until tomorrow… Peace, Love, & lots of HUGS!

GOOD FRIDAY

Well Hello there my lovely lads and lasses. How are you doing on this sticky Friday morning? I’m quite exhausted really. Yesterday I did a lot of grocery shopping for my mom in the morning and then bulk shopping for me in the afternoon. Cases of veggies and pastas, gallons of milks, dozens of eggs, pounds of sugars and such… the cashier I guess was new because she was a little shocked I think LOL! 2 carts of just “staples”. Didn’t even cover fresh fruits, veggies, or major meats yet!

Ok everyone give Jean a big round of applause! She got me with the ONLY April Fool’s joke pulled on me yesterday! OMG I read the first part of that comment and almost cried! Then I scrolled down. VERY funny LOL! Everyone around me didn’t dare try to pull one over on me LOL. About gave me a heart attack! LOL!



Oh I so have to tell you about this book my mom got for me from Amazon.com. Its called “The Forager’s Harvest: A guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants” by Samuel Thayer. I had mentioned how I wanted to go on a wild foods scavenger hunt, remember? So after that and the wild onions in my mom’s yard, she got me a surprise! It’s got glossy pictures and from what I have read so far, it’s very easy to follow! I am gonna have the best time with this book. Gimme a couple of days and I will have this book read cover to cover! Its one of those “I can’t put it down” kind of books. But from what I see, you can apparently eat way more things than I could’ve ever imagined!



Ok so I make purse packages and sell them as you know… they all contain a tote bag, photo album, calendar, coupon holder, eyeglass case, makeup bag, scrunchy, cell phone pouch, and lapel pin. I do them in all kinds of prints and I sell them for $25 (plus shipping when necessary. Would you like to see them for sale here on the site? They make great gifts too! Post comments and yes or no’s and if ya’ll do, then I will work on a paypal order link!). This one you see has the Autism material I have been talking about. So today’s craft is the makeup bag out of this package. Of course, you can use any fabric you like. They also make great pencil bags, a small sewing kit, a travel first aid kit, and tons of other uses!



Craft Idea of the Day: Zippered Bag

MATERIALS - for one pouch

fabric - 1/4 yard
7" all purpose zipper
contrasting or coordinating thread
25 mm bias tape maker
straight pin

Instructions:

Wash, dry and press fabric. If you do this before you sew it up, you'll be able to throw your finished zippered purse in the wash without worrying about it.

Cut two 8 1/2 inch x 4 inch pieces of fabric. Press a 1/4 fold along one long edge of each piece of fabric. This is where the zipper will be sewn in.

Pin one side of the zipper (right side up) onto the pressed edge of one of the pieces of fabric.

Attach the zipper- Using your zipper foot, slowly sew along the zipper.

If you don't have a zipper foot, you can use your regular foot, as shown below. After you pin the fabric to the zipper, open the zipper halfway. Sew about 1/8" away from the zipper.

When you reach the zipper pull, put the needle in the "down" position and lift up the foot. Move the zipper pull to the top of the zipper. Continue sewing to the end of the zipper.

Repeat for the other side of the zipper.

When you are done, open out the pouch and cut out 1/2" squares from each corner of the pouch. This will reduce bulk in the corners when the pouch is complete.

Cut two 2 inch by 9 inch strips from the remaining fabric and create bias tape. One of the strips will be cut in half for the sides of the pouch, and the second strip will be used for the bottom of the pouch.

To use a bias tape maker, insert the strip right side down into the tool as shown below. Pull the tool across the strip so that the fabric comes out at the small end with the edges turned in. Press the tape with a hot iron as it comes out. If you need help getting the fabric to come out of the small end of the tool, you can move it along with a pin by inserting the pin into the opening in the plastic part of the tool.

For the sides, cut a piece of bias tape that covers the bottom of the zipper to the cut corner of the pouch, plus 1/2" (this will be about 3 1/2"). Open both ends of the tape and fold under 1/4". This will create a non-fray edge for the bias seam. Press both ends closed.

Fold the pouch in half, right sides together. Pin the bias tape along one edge of the pouch, making sure to enclose both pieces of the pouch.

Sew the bias tape down, taking your time. Make sure to have the top edge of the tape not too far up near the zipper, or else the zipper will hit it. Repeat with the other side.

Before you sew the bottom up, make sure to open the zipper or else you'll end up with a permanently closed bag! Use the second piece of bias tape and sew the bottom up the same way you did the sides. The final touch is to sew along the cut corners of the pouch to reinforce the corners. Sew along the bottom of the side bias tape binding (as close to the edge as possible), put the needle into the "down" position, rotate the fabric, and sew along the side of the bottom bias tape.

Turn your bag right side out. It's complete! When you look inside, your bias taped sides and bottom should overlap each other. Enjoy and Fill your bag up with sewing notions, knitting notions, or whatever you like!

Ok, so we only have 3 more days of casseroles, so I hope you have found one you enjoy… this one I heard a lot about a few years ago, so I decided to try it out for myself. Yet another popular dish around here, so take a look-see and see if it is something you and yours might enjoy!



King Ranch Casserole

Chicken layered with a spicy sauce and cheese--popular in Texas and now made more healthful for Tex-Mex lovers everywhere.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 cup skim milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt
1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
1 4-ounce can chopped green chilies, drained
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
salt & freshly ground pepper to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons canola oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 red or green bell pepper, seeded and diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups diced skinless cooked chicken
10 corn tortillas, cut in quarters
1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Bring chicken broth to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Whisk together milk and flour in a small bowl to make a smooth paste. Add to the broth and cook over medium, whisking constantly, until thickened and smooth, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in yogurt, tomatoes, chilies, cilantro (or parsley), chili powder, oregano and cumin. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender-crisp, about 3 minutes.

Line the bottom of a shallow 3-qt. baking dish with half the tortillas. Top with half of the chicken and half of the onion mixture. Spoon half of the sauce evenly over the top. Repeat layers with remaining tortillas, chicken, onion mixture and sauce. Sprinkle with cheese and bake until bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes.

Alright kids, I am out of here for the day. Gonna go make another run to the store this morning and then come back and probably sew. Dad’s got kid duty so I can go “consult with the Easter Bunny” LOL! I think some of the kids want to hang out today… at least from the sounds of what MY kids were jabbering. And I want to get lots of sewing done today hopefully… so this is the Frugal Mom signing off! HUGS!

HUMAN NATURE

Hello there my faithful followers. I hope this article finds you well. I want to apologize for my absence yesterday. I had a health emergency with a family friend that required my presence. Everything will be ok, and without going into personal particulars, let’s just say it will be a long road of recovery ahead for them. The stress and hustle has left me quite drained last night and today. I want to thank you ladies and gents for your emails and comments. It’s wonderful to know that you care so much! The compassion and all around good nature of my readers is one of the most precious gifts life has ever given me! YOU are why I do this blog.

To Jean- thank you so much for your heartfelt comment. It brought a tear to my eye and then made me chuckle as well. I am so glad that you (and hopefully lots others) feel that this is a blog worth having and reading.

To Melissa- OMG are you serious? He likes them that much? I think that is SO COOL! Tell your hubby I say HELLO THERE! LOL… let him be a part of this… its good to have guys around LOL! I am so glad you liked the wing recipes… and by making them at home, over time you will save so much money compared to going out! Congrads to you both! Give him that addy girl and tell him he has to share it with at least 1 other person! LOL…

OK remember how I told you that on Tuesday I was going to make a huge Kroger run on the last day of the 10 for $10? Well check this out…



There are things I don’t normally by here, but when you have coupons to make them free, why not right? I saved $209.35 in coupons and spent $185.22 YAY! I thought I was pretty awesome LOL! And that included a book and a kitchen set I thought was just too cute and am going to make into a gift basket… so I guess that doesn’t count, right? LOL Minus that and I only spent $159.27 on food, toiletries, diapers, and OH SNAP! I gotta take off the diapers and wipes and stuff too cause THAT is a craft/gift for one of the kids teachers… ok take off another $17.96 for baby goodies (cause my DS repaid me for all that)… leaves the total at $141.31 for foods, HBA’s, and toiletries, etc. Not to shabby I think!

I want to share a site with you that you can earn some extra cash in these stressful times… all from the comfort of your own home. If you like to write or take pictures, then this might be a site for you. It’s called SEED.com and after you register, you can pick your assignments, read a brief synopsis about what they would like, see how much it pays, and take the job if you want it. Granted, I haven’t gotten paid for anything yet, as I just joined not too long ago, but I have submitted 2 articles for a total of $100 in payments if they use them! And what were they about you ask… what do I know about the most? Crafts and Cooking of course! LOL! Check it out, it might be good for you! OK one of the articles I wrote for SEED was about T-shirt crafts… and I want to share it with you. So this leads us to the…..

Craft Idea of the Day: T-shirt crafts

Have you ever gone through your closets and dressers during a spring-cleaning fit only to find tons of (or even just a few) T-shirts that you can't wear? Perhaps you hold on to it for the sentimental value? Believe me, I've been there and done that! But now, in the stressed economic times, recycling and "Going Green" has been a rising trend! T-shirts are no exception. There are lots of crafts and uses to give that old shirt new life! Turn those silly vacation souvenir shirts into things like pillows, tote bags, quilts, framed pictures, baby bibs, and even toddler clothing!



Tote Bags: You can make a reusable tote bag or purse from an old shirt many different ways. To make a simple tote, start by laying the T-shirt on a flat surface. Trim the arms off the sides at the bodice seam. Then cut straight across the width of the shirt just under the collar line. You should now have a rectangle of shirt. Cut the shirt apart down the bodice seam on each side, separating the sides. Now cut 2 pieces of another material (I suggest duck canvas) the same size of your T-shirt pieces. Place each T-shirt piece on a piece of canvas, and sew together down the sides. (I use both a straight stitch and a zig-zag stitch for double the reinforcement.). Then repeat with the second piece. You can use a folded over hem on the top edge of your bag side or you can also top with a piece of color coordinated bias tape to match your project. Using poly-webbing or fabric strips, sew handles on the inside top portions of your side bag piece. Place both completed pieces together and sew along the 3 sides. Turn ride side out and you have a cute T-shirt bag you can use for shopping, papers, or whatever you heart could desire!

Pillows: Another easy craft you can do is make a pillow You can simply make it look like a whole T-shirt or you can trim it down to a square or rectangle. To make the stuffed shirt pillow, simply turn the shirt inside out and sew the arms and neck closed. You can sew part of the bottom closed, just leave enough of an opening to stuff the shirt. Once sewn, flip the shirt right side out and stuff with whatever fill you like- old fabric scraps, pillow forms, or cotton batting. The choice is yours! To make a square pillow, simply trim the pillow of the sleeves, cut straight across under the neckline, and you can even shorten the length to however big or small you would like your pillow. Sew the pieces, right sides together, along the sides, leaving an opening for stuffing. Flip the square right sides out, stuff, and stitch the seam closed. Voila cute and Eco-friendly places to rest your weary head or dress up your home!

Framed Pictures: You can center the silk screen from that favorite shirt you just can’t fit anymore into an embroidery hoop or frame and trim to fit. Hang on the wall for a funky fresh reminder of your favorite vacation or whatever sentiment your shirt may hold for you.



Quilts: Also known as memory blankets, I always have friends asking me to make these for their sons and daughters who are graduating High school, college, etc. However this one is very detailed and takes some planning. First off, you have to be saving the T-shirts and such for a long time. Remember these shirts contain childhood memories and you can’t replace them if you mess up! Take your time, be patient, and if you have never made one, there are lots of sites on the Internet which can show you the labor involved in making these. They are a great way to stop time for that special someone!

So there’s what I wrote for them and wanted to share with you! Now let’s move on to my OTHER favorite subject… FOOD! I found some boneless skinless chicken breasts on sale, so I picked some up. And do you care to guess what I am going to do with them? Check this out…



Asparagus and Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Ingredients

4 (4 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 pound fresh asparagus spears, trimmed
4 slices of Provolone cheese
4 1/2 teaspoons olive or canola oil
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup chopped green onions
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 cup chicken broth

Directions

Flatten chicken breasts slightly. Place a slice of cheese on the inside of the breast piece. Wrap each around five asparagus spears; secure with toothpicks. Place in a 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray. Combine the oil, lemon juice and seasonings; pour over bundles. Cover asparagus tips with foil.

Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with the onions. Bake 12-15 minutes longer or until the chicken juices run clear and asparagus is crisp-tender. Remove bundles to a serving platter and keep warm.

In a saucepan, combine cornstarch and broth until smooth; stir in pan juices. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove toothpicks from bundles; top with sauce.

OK boys and girls… I am off to go be with my friend again today… at least until the kids get out of school! Ya’ll have a wonderful day and I will see you here tomorrow… HUGS!