Penny Pinching or Smart Thinking

I have had several things going on today. The first I wish to share is my goodie bag I have from Nessa and Con Agra Foods and HEB Stores. I won in a giveaway over at Ramblings of a Texas Housewife. Look at all the goodies I received.

• A reusable ConAgra shopping tote
• $25 HEB gift card
• Peter Pan peanut butter
• 4 - pack Low Fat Snack Pack Pudding
• Healthy Choice Fresh Mixer
• LaChoy Creation Sweet n' Sour Chicken
• LaChoy Soy Sauce
• Chef Boyardee Whole Wheat Beefaroni
• Hunt's Ketchup
• Marie Callender's Homestyle Creation

The best yet is there is a $25 gift card in that photo. With that card College Girl is stopping at the HEB in the town where she goes to school. She can use that card and buy 4 items and we will get 10 items free. See the shopping list that I am getting this way.

1. H-E-B Fully Cooked Burgers 24 - 32 oz.
2. H-E-B Hot Dogs, 16 oz.

• GET 7 items free!
• H-E-B Dip, 8 oz.
• H-E-B Potato Chips 4 oz.
• Hill Country Fare Mustard, 16 oz.
• H-E-B Bake Shop® Hamburger Buns 8 ct., regular
• H-E-B Bake Shop® Hot Dog Buns, 8 ct. 
• H-E-B Soft Drink 2 L btl.
• ChefStyle® Chip Clips, 2 pk. 

1. H-E-B Fully Cooked Beef Meatloaf with Red Sauce

• get free!
• Simply Macaroni & Cheese, 20 oz.
• Pepperidge Farm Garlic Bread, 10 oz. 

1. 8 Piece Mixed Fried Chicken

• get free! 
• Hill Country Fare Buttermilk Biscuits 4 ct.

Now add that to the goodies in the bag and dear heart I have struck the mother load!  It adds up to 6 meals for my family and several items that College Girl can use for lunches at school.  And none of this cost me a red cent.  I have to say thanks so much to Nessa, HEB stores and ConAgra foods for helping me out this way!

Next is today's make it work lesson. First long story shortened. Lunch did not go the way I planned. We were going to have sliders. I had the hamburger meat, buns (or so I thought) and onions. So will at the store to drop off scripts for Dear Hubby I picked up a jar of dill pickles, sliced cheese and some lettuce. Well in our produce section they have discounted $1 bags. Today I snatched up a bag with a head of lettuce and 3 cucumbers. Now that saved me .29 cents on just the lettuce and made the cucumbers free. I went home and sliced up the lettuce for the sliders. Longer story there....did not work, did not have buns and hamburger meat fell apart cooking. So we had sliders in tortillas instead. Worked. Ha Ha.  Tonight the rest of the meat, lettuce and onions are going to help me make taco salad.  Have all the stuff here and will get another meal that way. 
But I used the cucumbers to make us 2 jars of homemade pickles for later use.  I sliced up the cucumbers and packed them into jars. 

Nice thin slices made with my lovely Yoshi ceramic knife. That was a birthday present this year and I adore it. Have not even cut myself which is the norm for me.

Next I drained the juice from the pickles I had bought into one jar. The other had 2/3 vinegar and 1/3 water in it.

I then added just a lil (oh about a tablespoon) of dill pickling powder that I already had to the first jar. The other jar I put in about 3 tablespoons of it.

Here is the Ball spice that was in the back of my cabinet already. Well I shook them up real well and stuck them in the fridge. I am going to let them cold pickle and hope to have two jars of pickles later on.

Well? What do you think? Are there things like that you do?  Ways to stretch the dollar.  Or ideas of gosh this did not work so what can I do with it?  Do you even try to cut corners.  Does it work or do you find that you just have to fix the "homemade" item with a store bought?  I know I really do try and stretch the almighty dollar and feed our family of 4.  With just this today I will have a total of 8 meals and the only extra cost was just under $5.00 today.  This is how we work to live frugally yet still be happy with our choices. 

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Let Us Interrupt the Regular Schelduled Programing

I was going to post a great post....but got side tracked.

A phone call from Nessa yelling Help! Ok, Ok be right there.

What is it. Dish pan hands emergency? Son being too much of a boy? Housework attacking you?

Image via Wikipedia

No....it is Dog in Tree.

Yes--------DOG IN TREE! 28 ft in the air in the tree. I am telling you, dogs do not belong in trees. And not 28 feet in the air in trees. And most certainly not there all night long and never made a sound in the tree.

Honest.....Go read this......You will be shocked.

And I will get back to my regular scheduled programing tomorrow.

Busy Weekend Coming Up

Image by newwavegurly via Flickr

I have tons on my plate right now. And no it is not that super wonderful melting hot chocolate lava cake either. (Oh how I wish it was!) Instead it is cleaning, organizing, kiddos, road trips and praying for a lot of fun too!

Well first of all today is morning child care and dog care. I am wondering if I can apply the same techniques to each set? Hummmm? I am having my grandbabes here this weekend again. Since last time I was ill and Grandma had her heart issues. So we are looking for a redo. But I want to get set up for it. So one of the things I have to do is dog baths. Whew! Do they ever need them. And with 5 dogs of various sizes it will be a chore. I think that I will have Nessa's kiddos help me assembly line style. One bath, one dry and one to chase the wet ones back!

Once they are dried I am going to do the preventive measure of spring fleas. Yeah, it is getting that time again. But I am well prepared. I have Flea, Ant, Roach & Rodent Guard. It covers everything doesn't it. What is great about this is it is all natural and non-toxic to kids and pets. So I feel good about using it and still having the grandbabes coming. Oh did I mention the good part? It does not stink! Really! I love the great mint scent of the peppermint, spearmint and wintermint mint mix. I can put this all over the house and get rid of all kinds of lil pesties while making it smell wonderful. You can try it for Free to...well there is a $5.00 shipping and handling fee though.

Next I am taking a road trip to pick up the Grandbabes. Thankfully I am able to kidnap Nessa's two and have them for company. This is about a 5 hour round trip with 4 kiddos but I am sure we will have fun. I have songs to sing and stories to listen too. Tonight we are doing a big ol pile in the living room sleep over. I want to be able to snuggle in the middle of them all and have popcorn, sodas and watch the new Curious George 2 DVD. It is Follow that Monkey and since I have been a fan of Curious George forever I am happy to share it with the kiddos. I love that the voices are done by Tim Curry, Jamie Kennedy, Matt Lauer and Jerry Lewis. Wow what a line up. This came out on March 2nd so it is out there if you want to join us. And did you know that on PBS this fall they will have a whole new TV season? I know that the kiddos will be looking forward to playing the Curious George's Cross Country Caper Game. Wow what a tongue twister that was. And of course dancing to the exclusive music video too. With bonus shows we should be able to round out the night.

Well off to start laundry, sweep, mop, do dishes, make beds and then oh, yeah! The dog baths. Later gators!

Old El Paso Winner

We have a winner!
And I did not rig this...I promise!
Random number generator picked #9 and that was a comment by

NESSA!
Yeah I admit a fellow blogger, best friend and my neighbor.
So Congrats and I will pass the info on to Old El Paso.
Special thanks to Old El Paso and My Blog Spark for sponsoring this giveaway.
Old El Paso Tackle the Taste Gift Pack:

1. Two free cans of Old El Paso Green Chiles
2. Football-shaped ceramic serving platter
3. Two sets of football-themed plates
4. Cocktail napkins
5. Themed table runner

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World Vision Winner

I have to say Thanks again to World Vision Gift Catalog for sending me their information. I love knowing that the small things I can do will make a difference in someones life. I am sure you feel the same way. And also thanks so much for the beautiful handcrafted Thai necklace that they have offered as a giveaway for one lucky winner. I think it is beautiful and will be a wonderful addition to any woman's collection.

We do have one lucky winner and that is:

Nessa said...

I would love to be able to give a flock of sheep to a family. All of us were very into the idea of the fishing kits; what a great thing to give!

Please tell her congrats! But even more so please help in giving to the World Vision Gift Catalog. This is a great organization that helps so many people all over this earth.

It is amazing how so little can go so far. Remember you can donate for overseas relief or help right here at home too! And you small amounts will help provide:

- $16 will buy two soccer or basketballs for a child

- $17 will buy improved hybrid or drought-resistant seeds for a nourishing harvest and income

- $18 will buy enough bed nets to protect an entire family from malaria

- $25 will provide $350 worth of school supplies in the U.S.

- $25 buys two chickens to provide a lasting source of nutrition and income for a family

Also remember you can give even when your own pockets are empty. Pop over and add this button to your blog, facebook and twitter to help contribute. HotelsCombined.com will add $20, $10 and $5 donations for those lil extra deeds. That is $35 that can provide $490 worth of clothing.

I recommend HotelsCombined.com and sent $20 to World Vision!

You can shout and help too.

Relish! Winner

And the Winner for the FREE 1 yr subscription to RELISH! is..........

Drumroll please,

TA-DA!

Nessa said...

The almond crusted chicken fingers sound great!

Congrats Nessa. I know you will be using this service with all the amazing food you cook already. And thanks to Random Number Generator for picking all my winners for me.

CG is moving things OUT early

Today College Girl and I are going to help her new room mate move into the dorm. This way we

Image via Wikipedia

are able to help with the room set up. Well, CG is also sneaking in some of her things too! She is so eager to get back on campus.

And we have aready loaded the Ram with her things. (she did that last night) Now all we have left is to finish sorting her clothes from last year and a few things of the sort in her bedroom. Yesterday I did a purge of my and Dear Hubby's closets and came away with some things we do not or can not wear. More from my side than his but easier to do my own. I also wish I could get these floors swept and stay that way. Alas, no can do with all the doors and windows open. I am tired of having gritty feet.

This week Nessa is going to help me get back on track with my Curves diet BIG TIME. I have

Image via Wikipedia

fallen off the band wagon too much and need the boost. I am repaying with help around her place. It seems a fair trade. I like to clean and organize and she likes to cook and plan meals. So it seems like a win win situation.

Well I just have an hour to get my chores done, cleaned up and dressed then drive CG to college so must dash. Hey, I can do it. I have the energy of a bunny rabbit and CG would kill me if we were late anyway. Ta Ta for now blog world.

Happy Early Birthday to Me

Today I was sitting on the front porch writing a letter to my brother when the Fed Ex guy showed up. Now that is not new as he is here often with Nessa living across the street. She is always receiving a new book or something to review. Actually I am finally getting a few myself. But today the Fed Ex guy seemed a lil confused. So I asked if I could help. Was he here for Nessa? Nope it was for my address. He then asked if I was expecting a large or small package. Honest I was not expecting any package so I was a bit baffled. He dug in the front, he dug in the side and finally dug around some more in the back. I was ready to go and help him dig too!

He pulls out this really good size box. Says yep this is the one for me. "No-no-no, I don't think so" I replied. Yeah had my name and address on it. But why oh why would I receive a box from . . .

Image via Wikipedia

DELL?

Yeah, DELL. I sign for the box and pull open the packing label first.
WOW!
It is from my very best friend of 35 years.
She sent me a new DELL tower hard drive.
WOW!
And now I am sitting here typing to you via the new DELL.

I am shocked, awed, amazed and blown away.
Wouldn't you be!

I am an Internet Film Star!

Hey I am making my first internet film debute'!

Go and see me and my friend Nessa to enjoy our family fishing trip!

And then pretty please with a cherry on top come back and tell me wha'cha think!

Kreativ Blogger Award and More!

I won an award and so did my Mom and Nessa!

First I have to say a thank you to Turtle Springs Farms for the Sisterhood Award that she sent on to my Mother and my neighbor Nessa. It was so sweet of her to recogonize my mom who is a very new blogger! And of course we all love Nessa and her money saving tips!

Here is what Turtle Springs Farms had to say about my mom.

Marge @ http://www.coffee508.blogspot.com/ I recently stumbled across this blog & I'm so glad I did. I am amazed at the stories this older lady is sharing of her hard work as she raised her own children long ago....and laid brick, hung sheetrock, built a porch.....what an example.

Next I won an award from JustJoycee.

It is the Kreativ Blogger award. How cool is it to be told your Kreativ! Sure did make me feel fantastic!

Of course there are a few rules to the awards so here is the qualifiers for this one.

And here are the rules for this award! (I love awards, and typing award!)

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

So here are my 7 things that you might find interesting about me.

1. As many of you already know I am working on my weight as it has worked on me for years now. SO...I have lost 27 lbs and 21 inches so far. But I have 87 lbs to go. That is the size of a decent size child. It would be amazing to get it all off but I know will take some time and determination.

2. I love to color my hair. I am a natural mousey brown headed woman who lives through Ms. Clariol. Due to my desire to be outgoing and coloring my hair helps me, I stay a brilliant red head the majority of the time.

3. My #1 diet aid is crushed ice and a spoon. If I am wanting to nibble I find this is great. No calories, adds to my water count and give a satisfying crunch too!

4. I am shy inside and try my best to hide it! Honestly! I found in high school that I was tired of being hidden. So instead of being shy, I pretend I am not. You know the saying...do something long enough that it becomes part of you.

5. I still have my tonseils. And they are flaring up again!

6. It is hot in Texas. Really, really hot. And we are not turning on our a/c due to cost. So I am learning to appreciate sweating. I look at it as a way to "slim down". Actually I am getting use to it so I find that I can now walk in the heat and do pretty well. That sure does help with exercise.

7. I have hammer toes. Yeah, like you wanted to know that. lol But because they are so small and curl down I am sure I wear a size smaller in shoes than I would if they were straight like they are suppose to be.

Now for my 7 nominations for the Kreativ Blogger Award.

Drum Roll Please........................................................................................

1. Josie My newest follower. Thank You! I love her site. The Poor College Students Guide to Raising a Baby. Now that takes some Kreativ challanges.

2. I have to put on here Creative Bloggers. A site just for those who know how to bring their ideas to fruition.

3. Macaroni and Glue features so many beautiful artist and their works. I am awarding her so that she can continue to promote these amazing people.

4. Fearful Penguin has so many projects to help you sew, knit and create. How I wish I had that kind of talent. Pop over and join in on a craft.

5. Mr. C's Class Creative Writing is a wonderful place to visit. It is so enjoyable to read these words that so many have shared with Mr. C. Interesting writings and wonders on what is to come.

6. Today's Creative Blog also shares the talents of others with us. I love how scrap booking looks but I do not have the patience it takes.

7. Last and never least is Jenn at I hate Whine! She is the most Kreativ since she just created a brand new life. Go over and meet Avery Catherine, 7lbs, 15.2 oz. Welcome to the World Baby Girl!

Summer Showers for the Flowers

We had quite the gully washer around here last week.
Even Nessa and Dan went tornado chasing.
YEAH!

But the heavy rains sure did help.
Our grass is green, the air was cooler and oh all the wonderful flowers that have bloomed.

Now I can just take time to smell the flowers.

P.S. College Girl took this photo too!

Kitchen Organization

Nessa keeps me so busy.
Honest she really does.

You should see all the things she accomplishes.
They moved into a house that had sat empty for a long long long time.
Then they emptied the house as it was left as it was when the owners had passed.
Next it was all the yard that had overgrown.
Then electrical, sheet rock, paint, decorate, gardens...and now they are working on the kitchen.

She is going to have MY kitchen. Yeah, really!
Red and white country kitchen.
And I know just what to add to it for her.

A hanging enclume pot rack.
You know where your can reach up and pick the pot or pan you need to cook with.
Wait! Problem with that.
Nessa is....well on the short side.

Ok they have enclume pot racks that hang on the wall.

No still the issue of too low on the wall.
I can't help it that Nessa is short, I mean small.

Ok, Ok, I can still do this.
There are enclume standing pot racks.
There we go.
Nessa can use that.
Oh and a step stool.

Colleting those Pennies and Dimes

(I want to purchase the vintage ethnic children myself! lol)

Come one, Come all!

Nessa is having a garage sale.
And I am so ready to go through all of her junk.

Wanna come and join me.

Dot Com Here They Come

I still feel like most of the stuff online is all greek to me. I am never sure what works with what program. Or how to make your web site work? Mostly I rely on Nessa to help me. Honest.

She does so much to help me with my blog. I have had so much advice on how to set things up. And when she moved over to a dot com site I was just as excited as she was. Of course how she set it up and moved everything is back to that "greek" language to me.

Now there is help online. Well, that is where I find most of my help. You can find information on
web hosting with a click of your mouse. It is so handy to have a site that will lead you on that journey. It gives you a list of free domains, like here on blogger. It also has information on how to make money web hosting. And for those of y'all who are trying to stay "green". There is even "green" web hosting. Honest! These hosts use alternative and renewable energy, plant trees, recycling waste and purchase RECs to power their data centers. That is a great thing to keep in mind.

So when your ready for that big move to a dot com site, then pop over to find your best budget deal or one that will give back to our earth. Let me know so I can show up with all the balloons and food for the party. We will have a great kick off. And if you have trouble just call on Nessa. Remember she is my go to girl for all things internet.

Smile!

This is Juls, Big Daddy, Hannah and Maeci
from
Everyday is a CRAZEE Day

They have had some trying times to say the least.
I have had them in my mind daily.
In my prayers constantly.

And I miss them.

We had a great visit early in the summer.
Short but fun.
I think we may have scared them a lil.
Nessa says we can be quite overpowering.
That I do not doubt.

Anyway, Juls I am thinking of you.
And wanted to let you know.
I also wanted everyone to see how beautiful you and your family are.

What's Up with This?

Tonight my husband has a date.

And it is with a much younger woman.

The hardest part about it is that I am asked to be the chaparone.

Which I have agreed to since I feel I need to know what is going on.

Also my college girl is going out tonight with a much older man.

I want to warn her of this folly.

But you know when your 22 what does your mom know.

So what should I do.

I think I am going to ask Nessa to help me out.

She is so much wiser than me in ways to handle family problems.

I think that it is time for me to uncover my wicked ways.

As your well aware I adore my husband.

But I have set him up.

Yeah with my daughter.

LOL

Tonight we are going to "The Last Picture Show" Drive In Theater.

It is a request my daughter wanted.

She pointed out that it was something that her generation does not have.

So we found one in Gatesville Texas.

And a fantastic bargin too.

The double feature this weekend is "UP" and "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" .

At only $10.00 a car load.

We have asked Nessa and her gang to join us.

So what are your plans this weekend?

Taking a Trip with a New Me

Oh ladies and gents I just have to tell you on my plans for the next few days.
I am so excited.
You would be too!

Tomorrow morning my college girl and I am on our way to visit one of my best friends I had growing up.
We have not see each other in over 20 years!
Yes, that long.

I have search for this friend over and over again.
And finally this spring a friend of hers saw one of my messages looking for her.
The information was relayed and then I received a great phone call.
I was dancing all around when she called.

Now--finally I am going to get to see her.
WOW

I am not sure what we will get to talk about first.
Oh and I get to see her mom too!
I love that.

So I will be off and Nessa is going to do a guest blog for me.
So she is going to be one busy lady.
What another great friend I have.

What a blessing I have.

OH, OH, OH, you have to know this also!
I have now lost 21 lbs and 25 INCHES.
WHOOT!
I am really excited about everything.

Nessa has a Cooking Column

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
Come May 25th Nessa will have her first column up for
Homemaker Barbi!
You can pop over to where the announcement was made.
I can not wait to see what all she comes up with.
Nessa is great with frugal meals, good recipes and how to help the new kitchen cook.
Yippeeee for Nessa!

Acobay!

Thanks to acobay for their logo.

Well I am looking at a new social network called Acobay.
Have you heard of it?
I know that Nessa is on it too, as I found her when I was floating around.

There is a twist to this site.
You meet others according to the items you are interested in or own.
An example would be that I use a Mac computer.
So I can go on and meet others who use Mac's.

I am still getting to understand this place.
I am not always that computer savvy.
But looking for ways to continue to meet other people.

Have you used Acobay?

Help for Nessa's Itchy Itchy, Scratchy Scratchy

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife: Itchy Itchy, Scratchy Scratchy
Well Nessa, I do not have the answer to the Mosquitoes. But I do have an ol time'y answer to the bed bugs.