Month: January 2009

  • A FunBlog....

    Audrey is doing  365 Days of Mom Fashion Advice.  Very cool.  I am still working on getting caught up on it!!  It is very interesting.   I need all the help I can get!

    Have you ever heard of the neck test for trying on pants???   I hate trying on clothes and sometimes I buy pants at Sam's Club where you really can't try them on.   I am going to try this and I will let you!!  Very interesting...Check out the Video....try it and let me know if it works for you!!!

    Are you weraing the right size bra????  BraSizeInfo.com

    SHoes and Handbags....YEAH!!! 

    Copy Celebrities Style???  http://www.myfashioncents.com

     

  • Grocery Shopping Results....

    I am back from my grocery shopping trip.  Today I went to Aldi and Festival and I am very happy with my results!  I was at budget and I bought quite a bit of meat for future meals.    I bought enough groceries for two weeks and stocked up on meat.   I found 2 pounds packs of 90/10 hamburger for $2/ 0ff per pack at Aldi.  I bought 8 pounds.   I also bought 1/2 a pork loin that was 11.47.  Hubby will cut this up and make center cut pork chops. We should get another 3 to 4 meals out of that.  So I spent about 31.62 on meat that wasn't on the list, but was a very good deal.   I have to keep my eye out for those sort of deals as it helps with my overall budget. 

    I also picked up some things for my oldest son.  Some soup, tylenol, and thermomotor as he is sick.  It is so hard to have him living on his own when he is sick.  He called around 5:30 this morning saying he was sick.  It was all I could do to not get dressed and run over there.   We stopped by to see him this afternoon and take him some things.   I think in my mind, he will always be my baby.   Poor Kid. 

    Sara Lee Bakery - 4.32

    Sam's Club - Grapes - 6.87 and SunnyDelight - 2.37 = 9.24

    Aldi - 115.38

    Festival - 31.10

    Total = 160.04 / 80.02 per week

    Wasting Food......

    I starting reading the blog of The Frugal Girl and she posts a picture each week of the food that she had wasted.  She does very well and has very little waste of food.  I need to do better about keep track of what is in the fridge, so I am going to join her and post my food waste for the last two weeks.

    100_2067

    Here is what I had to throw out today when cleaning out the fridge.  2 peppers (yellow and Red), cut up cukes I forgot to take to work for lunch.  One piece of lone lost celery and a container of Spaghetti.   Now I will admit the spaghetti was probably  fine, but it was a week old and I am not comfortable eating anything that old.  

    Hopefully next time I will do better.  Not too bad for the first time!

    Jen C

     

     

  • Menu Planning Tutorial

    How to Prepare for Grocery Shopping.....

    1.  Complete a basic inventory of meat/protein on hand.   I take a notebook and write down what is in my upright freezer.   This week we have:

    1 pkg bacon
    steak - 4 meals
    Flounder - 1 meal
    Rotisserie Chicken - 2
    Country Ribs - 2 pks
    Kielbasa - 1
    Chicken Breasts - 2 bags
    Pork Chops - 3 chops
    Hamburger (raw) - 1#
    Hamburger (cooked) - 1#
    Country Style Ribs - 1
    Whole Chicken - 1
    Meatballs - 1

    Fries - 2 bags

    2.  Based on the meat on hand I plan my meals for the 2 weeks.  When planning my meals I look at my calendar for the next two weeks and see how my work schedule will effect my meals.   Some nights will require very quick meals and some will need to be prepared in the morning or hubby will need to cook since I will be working late. 

    OUR MENU FOR 1/20 - 2/1/09

    Mon - 19 - Breakfast:  French Toast, Eggs and Bacon 
    Tues - 20 - hubby home- Sausage Lentil Soup - Carry over from last week
    Sausage Lentil Soup

    • 1 lb. smoked sausage, sliced
    • 1 lb. (about 2 cups) dried lentils, rinsed and drained
    • 1 cup ham, diced
    • 1 medium onion, chopped
    • 1 small green pepper, chopped
    • 1 medium carrot, chopped
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • 1/2 Tsp thyme
    • 1/4 Tsp pepper
    • 1/4 Tsp cumin
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 2 cans (14.5 oz. each) beef broth
    • 2 cans (14.5 oz. each) chicken broth
    • 2 cups spinach, coarsely chopped

    Combine all ingredients except for the spinach in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for about 6 hours or until lentils are tender. Add spinach and cover. Let stand 5-10 minutes or until spinach wilts. Remove and discard bay leaf.

    Wed - 21 - working late- Spaghetti and Meatballs - garlic Toast 
    Thurs-evening meeting 6-8 - Versatile Slow-Cooker Chili  - Freeze some leftover for Baked potato Bar Night
    Friday - Family Night -mom in Duluth - Frozen Pizza
    Saturday -24 -  Baked Ham - Easy Mac and Cheese (Family Favorites 121) - Green Beans
    Sunday -25 - Garlic -Lemon Chicken  (Family Favorites 134) - Uncle Bens Rice - Carrots - Fench Silk Pie
    Mon - MPTP - LEFTOVERS
    Tues - Easy Chicken Parmesan over Angel Hair Pasta - Peas
    Wednesday - Grilled Cheese and Soup
    Thursday - Baked Potato Bar - Chilli/ Broc and Cheese
    Friday - BBQ Pork Sandwiches / Fries  - Carry over from last week
    Saturday 31 - Winterland Dinner and Dance at Church
    Sunday - 1 - Rotisserie Chicken (crockpot) - Cheese Oven Fries (Family Favorites 164) - Gr. Beans

    3.  Next I take the meat on hand and plan the meals I could make with each item.  This list was used to complete the menu in #2.   First I list the day I need meals and if I will cook or not.  Then I go back and add when we will eat. 

    1 pkg bacon - Breakfast
    steak - 4 meals
    Flounder - 1 meal
    Rotisserie Chicken - 2
    Country Ribs - 2 pks - BBQ Pork Sandwiches
    Kielbasa - 1 - Sausage Lentil Soup
    Chicken Breasts - 2 bags 1. Garlic Lemon Chicken 2. Easy Chicken Parmesan
    Pork Chops - 3 chops
    Hamburger (raw) - 1#
    Hamburger (cooked) - 1# - Chili
    Country Style Ribs - 1
    Whole Chicken - 1 -Rotis Chicken - Mac and Cheese
    Meatballs - 1 - Spaghetti

    Fries - 2 bags - Using 1

    4.  My last step is to go through each recipe and figure out what ingredients I will need to purchase and add those items to my shopping list.

    5.  Budget for Grocery Shopping - Cash -$150 + 50 Festival Gift Card = $200 for the week.  I try to make do with only 160.00 for the two weeks.  I will let you know how well I do!!  Wish me luck!! 

    Next week:Make this for hubby...........

    http://www.recipezaar.com/Banana-Cream-Pie-8143

  • I was making steak tonight and didn't have any seasoning.  I found this on the web and I had all the ingredients.  I will let you know how we like it!

    Outback Steakhouse's Steak Seasoning Ingredients

    2 teaspoons salt 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
    1 teaspoon paprika 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    1/2 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper 1 dash coriander
    1/4 teaspoon onion powder 1 dash turmeric

    Instructions for Outback Steakhouse's Steak Seasoning

    Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl.

    To prepare steaks with this seasoning: Preheat a flat grill or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle some of the seasoning blend over both sides of each cut of beef.

    Grill the steaks on each side to your desired level of doneness. Be sure to use tongs to sear all the edges of each steak to a rich brown color.

    This recipe yields about 4 teaspoons of seasoning.

  • I am going to try and make this bread this weekend.  I don't think I have ever baked anything besides quick breads, but my hubby really loves bread.  I will bake it and have it with supper one night.  Hmm...maybe with a soup???

    http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=944

     

  • BBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...

    What else can you say, but BRRRRRRRRRRRRR.  I am dreading heading out to work.  I need to fill gas too and it is so cold.  Our thermometer is reading at -22 degrees.  Yes, that is a negative before the 22!!  I can't wait until this cold front moves alone.  Today will defintiely be a long john wearing day!!!  I am more appreciative of my new windows on days like this!

    So keep warm folks!!!  Well I am off to get Tommy ready for school and head to work!

    I am spoiled rotten!!  Hubby had gotten me my wii fit for my birthday, but this morning he bought me a new laptop!   Woot.com has a very good deal on a tablet if you are in the market for a new machine.  Only $5.00 shipping, you can't beat that!

    Jen C

  • Great new frugal  blog to check out............

    http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/

    Movie Night Food.....

    http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=647

    Making Homemade Yogurt....I am going to try this!

    http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=90

    How to make Grape Jelly....who knew!!

    http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/?p=486

     

  • Still recovering....

    I don't think I have shared here, but I was hospitalized on Thursday of last week.   I absolutely hate being in the hospital.  I do behave myself as a patient, but I hate it. 

    Starting Wednesday night while making supper I had pains along my left arm.   I thought it was weird and commented to my hubby that my arm really hurt and I haven't done anything out of the ordinary.   Then by bedtime my chest was beginning to hurt a little bit.   I woke up at about 2:30am with severe arm and chest pain all concentrated on the left side.   I took some pepto, thinking it might be heart burn and tried to go back to sleep.  At 6:30 when it was time to get the kids ready for school, I was feeling terrible.  Hubby got up and got the kids ready and went back to sleep.  I slept until about 12:30.  

    I got up after noon and thought I might be feeling better.  I decided to get ready for work.  On my way to work the chest pains got worse again so I called the clinic to see if I could see my Dr.  The care nurse asked me a number of questions, and would not let me be seen at the clinic.  I need to go to the ER.  She wanted me to call 911.  That was not going to happen.   Against her wishes, I drove myself to the hospital from my office.  Hubby would meet me there later. 

    I got all checked in and they started to try to lessen the chest pain.   Nothing really worked.  They gave me some pain meds that knocked me out and another anti inflammatory medication.  They also gave me some MOM with a pain killer in it.   None of this really alleviated any of the pain.   Finally they gave me Nitro, and that lessened the pain and bought me a night in the hospital.  ARGH!!!!

    I was admitted around 8:30 and had a few more doses of Nitro that evening.  The nitro took away the pain, but make me feel terrible.   None of the Drs could really figure out what was causing the chest pain, but they wanted to rule out a heart attack.   So I saw a cardiologist and had a stress test completed on my heart.   That was on Friday afternoon.  Once the test came back that my heart was fine, I was releases with the same chest pain I came in with.  

    They think it might be something viral and that it will pass, so I am home today from work.   I take motrin and tylenol and as hard as it is for me, I am trying to take it easy.   So I spend time on the computer or nap to refrain from cleaning, etc.I was thinking I should go to work today, so that meant I should stay home one more day!!  We all know I try to race back to work too fast. 

    I am going to work a bit by remote desktop and do some documentations, etc.   So that is my excitement for the last few days.  I still have the chest pain off and on.  I take the Tylenol and Motrin and nebulize to alleviate any inflammation that might be going on.  Hopefully this will be gone soon!!!!! 

    Jen C