Savings for February

The first of the month I started back couponing. I don't have a lot of coupons yet so I was limited in what I could buy. I took advantage of manufacturer's coupons and store coupons. I only buy products that my family uses.........I don't just buy products because I have a coupon........one exception.......if product is free I will get it and pass on to someone who uses that product.

I was able to stretch my money by using $81.31 worth of coupons. I am also getting back a Walgreen's Gift Card for $6.91. I also have $1.50 in Fred Meyer coupons to use on anything I purchase my next shopping trip, $1 in RR from Walgreen's and a free can of dog food from Walgreen's to use next month.

I know that next month I will do better as I'm just getting into couponing after not doing it for several years. I recently won 400 coupons on a giveaway and I will be able to add them to my coupons.........I can hardly wait to get them. I'm having printer issues right now and cannot print coupons online.......let's face it I need a new computer. My old 1999 computer is on it's last go round........maybe I can find a coupon for a good deal on a new computer......LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Recipe of the Week

NOTE: Recipe of the Week will returning to Wolf Spirits. I've decided to only post my Meals on Deals on my other blog........Stretching Your Food Dollars! Sorry for any problems this might have caused anyone.

SOFT ROLLED SUGAR COOKIES

1 cup soft margarine
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 1/2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Cream margarine and sugar. Add eggs, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir flour with baking powder and salt; blend into creamed mixture. Divide in half. Cover; chill 1 hour. On lightly floured surface roll each half to 1/8-inch. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Bake at 350 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE!!!! Makes 13 dozen cookies.

When I'm in a hurry I roll dough into walnut size balls and place on cookie sheet. I take a decorative glass and press dough into circle about 1/8-inch thick. Then I sprinkle with plain or colored sugar and bake as directed. You don't get as many cookies as you do when you roll dough out.

See you on Monday......this will be the regular day for Recipe of the Week!!!

DQ Sweet Deals

Dairy Queen is offering Sweet Deals. You can choose 4 items for $5. I would choose a cheeseburger, regular french fries, medium drink and a small dipped cone.

Rich and I will have to go check out the Sweet Deals soon as DQ is one of our favorite places to eat a quick meal.

Walgreen's Photos

Last week I ordered on-line some prints from Walgreen's. This was the first time I have every ordered prints from anywhere. I had a code for 1 day to order 20 free prints.

It was very easy to navigate Walgreen's photo department. It took a while to decide what photos I wanted printed. After I ordered my prints they said that I could pick them up at the local store (no shipping charge)after 2:30pm. I had ordered them around 11am that morning.

I had some shopping to do at Walgreen's.....had to get my bargains and use my coupons. I finished shopping at 1:45pm. I went over to the Photo department and told the cashier that I was early.....he asked my name and told me that my prints were ready. I told him that I had never ordered prints on-line before from Walgreen's or anywhere. He told me to go ahead and look at the prints and see what I thought............I was totally amazed at the quality of all the prints that I had ordered. They were clear, sharp and the color was amazing. I told him that I loved them and would order more prints in the future.

I now have a code to order 50 prints for $5. I will be ordering 50 prints and a free 8x10 print with the coupon that was attached to my envelope.

Now I have to decide what prints that I want to order.........you would think that anybody that could take 860 photos on a 4-day vacation wouldn't have a problem deciding on what prints to order........NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So tired!!!!!!!!

I'm so tired today. Yesterday Rich and I rode the DAV shuttle from Roseburg to the VA Hospital in Portland, OR. We left Roseburg at 5am and returned to Roseburg at 5:30pm. Rich and I both felt it was a wasted trip! All the doctor told him was they feel he has several problems in his neck and shoulder area that is causing him to lose strength in his arm and hand. We have to go back up to Portland in a month for further testing and to see the doctor again. The information we received yesterday could have been told to us over the phone and saved us a grueling all-day trip to Portland.

We got home last night and we both went straight to bed after playing with Misty for a while. Her nose was out of joint when we got home. She wanted her moist kitty food and her kitty potty cleaned out immediately upon our arrival home last night. After we went to bed she curled up in front of the dresser and went to sleep........until 4am.......breakfast time for her. Rich got up and fed her and crawled back in bed. We finally got up around 7am this morning.

I think I'll go take a nap before it's time to prepare our afternoon meal.

Crazy Chocolate Cake

Mom Bishop gave this recipe to me after Rich and I was married in 1973. It is a favorite of the family. Mom told me the story about how Rich made this cake one day as a surprise while her and Dad were out grocery shopping. It seems he couldn't find any cocoa........so he used Nestle's Quick. Instead of granulated sugar......he used powdered sugar. I never found out from her how it tasted, because she was laughing too much. Rich told me that it was as flat as a pancake. He said he didn't even think about not having the ingredients for the cake because Mom and Dad were shopping for groceries.

3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
6 Tablespoons cocoa
2/3 cup oil
2 Tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups cold water

Mix and sift dry ingredients 3 times. Add liquids and bake in 9x13-inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Frost as desired.

Most of the times I don't frost. We eat it with a scoop of ice cream or Cool Whip.

Rich's Headaches

Poor Rich has been having horrible headaches at times. They get so bad that he has to lay down and cover his forehead with a cold washcloth and rest until they go away. I've been trying to figure out what is causing his headaches. The last couple of weeks I've been focusing on what he eats or drinks right before he gets a headache.

BINGO!!!!!!!!! I think I have figured out what is causing his headaches. Everytime he eats foods that contain monosodium glutamate-MSG he gets a horrible headache.

So yesterday I did some research and what I found out scares the POOP out of me. Did you know that there are 100's of ingredients that have hidden MSG in them?????????? I sure didn't. I thought it was only listed as MSG........NOT!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm still doing research and let me tell you what I've found out is I'm going to have to check each and every label for not only MSG.....but the hidden MSG.

Yesterday for dinner Rich stopped by Figaro's pizza and bought our favorite pizza and 2 bottles of soda.....Diet Pepsi and Root Beer. Sure enough about a half hour after we ate Rich started getting a headache. I jotted down the MSG and hidden MSG in the pizza and the soda.........there was 4 ingredients in the pizza and 6 ingredients in the soda that are classified as MSG or hidden MSG. That's scary.

This morning Rich said that his headache had lasted thru most of the night even after taking Tylenol.

Rich was telling me that one of his friends discovered he was allergic to MSG. He said that his friend told him that he had made a major overhaul in the foods that he ate. He said that after making the change he didn't hardly ever have headaches.

Rich and I are still discussing this matter. Rich does not make any kind of changes in his life easily. This will be a major change and I'm not sure that he will be able to do it or not. I think if I can slowly change his foods and the way I prepare them gradually.......he might make the change easier.

Now, I have to get busy and gradually eliminate all the MSG and hidden MSG in our kitchen and pantry.

So long...........Hambuger Helper (only used when I could get for next to nothing), prepared soups, Top Raman, Snack Crackers, Potato Chips, the list goes on and on.

Basically we will need to start eating more fresh fruits and veggies, homemade breads, crackers, chips, soups, the list goes on and on. In other words we need to eliminate all the junk food and packaged foods and drinks from our diets.

Back to doing more research!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fantastic Giveaway from I Never Grew Up

I Never Grew Up is having a fantastic giveaway on her site. The giveaway is a Spoil Yourself Package from Lily Pond Soaps.

Check it out and enter today. Hurry contest ends February 20th @ 7PM (MST).

Friday the 13th

Instead of dreading Friday the 13th....I look forward to it. It is a lucky day for me as 13 is my lucky number. By the way...I also love black cats!

I have an uncle that will not even get out of bed on Friday the 13th......I'm serious he won't even get out of bed for the necessities in life. One Friday the 13th my Dad was surprised to see my uncle arrive at the work site. Dad told others not to mention that it was Friday the 13th to my uncle. Anyway they worked 9 hours and nothing bad happened to any of the men......including my uncle. At quitting time one of my Dad's friends showed up and was talking to Dad and my uncle. He happened to mention that it was Friday the 13th. The next thing you knew my uncle had cut his hand on his chain saw while loading it in the truck. After a few curses and bandages later my uncle was all patched up and on his way home. I wonder if Dad's friend hadn't mentioned Friday the 13th if my uncle would have made it home that day without injuring himself????????

Websites for Valentine's Day Crafts

I love to make handcrafted items for holidays....either for my home or to give to others. I was searching this morning for some ideas and came across several sites that had lots to offer. I thought I would share them with you today.

AmazingMoms

Craftown

Craftbits

Allfreecrafts

4kraftykidz

Happy Birthday, Danny

The photo was taken in November, 2003 in Hawaii. Mom Gairson took all 3 of her children, Danny, Bonny and Lonny to Hawaii for a month's vacation. They stayed with her brother, Dale. This was quite a feat for Mom to do......as Danny, Bonny and Lonny all had disabilities. Danny had ALS, Bonny has fibromyalgia and Lonny is paralyzed from the waist down from a auto accident. Those disabilities didn't stop them from enjoying the sights and sounds of Hawaii. They went to luaus, para-sailing, and sightseeing.

Danny was diagnosed with Bulbar ALS in April 10, 2003 and died December 26, 2004. He was only 54 when he died. He was finally getting his life in order......to have it end too soon.

Today, would have been Danny's 60th birthday!!!!!!!! Happy Birthday, Danny!!!

My Valentine for Hubby

A few days ago I posted about Frugal Valentine's Day Gifts. Here is what I made for my hubby for Valentine's Day!!!!!!

Large Cup - 95 cents
Troll - 45 cents
Minus 10% discount for Large Cup and Troll - 14 cents
2 bags of Valentine's Day candy - $2
Tissue paper - recycled
Valentine's Day card - 50 cents

Total cost for gift.........$3.76

There was one more expense I forgot to list.........LOVE!!!!!!!!!! Of course, you cannot put a price on LOVE.....so we will just have to list it as PRICELESS!

To some it may seem that I'm cheap because I bought items from thrift stores, Dollar Tree and recycled the tissue paper. I could have bought some cheap looking piece of junk with my $5 that was my Valentine's Day budget.......instead I was artistic and creative using my limited funds.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Starting New Blog

I'm starting a new blog called
Stretching Your Food Dollar. I will continue posting on Wolf Spirits......quilting, family stories, scrapbooking, etc. I will be posting recipes and frugal tips to stretch your food dollars on the Stretching your Food Dollars blog. It should be up and running by Monday. I do hope that you will visit my new blog and find something that will help you stretch your food dollars.

I will leave all the tips for using coupons, rebates, etc. to the experts. I will have several of those blogs listed in my side bar.

I'm back to preparing my 2-week menu and grocery shopping list.

Frugal Ideas for Valentine's Day

Once again, Valentine's Day will be upon us before we know it. I've been racking my brain to come up with frugal ideas for Valentine's Day gifts.

THRIFT STORES

Recently I was browsing in the local Sally Shop and they were just putting out Valentine's Day gifts, etc. They were also having a 10% off entire store sale. I found a large coffee or soup cup that has a squirrel on it and says "I'm nuts about you!". Cost: 95 cents. I also found a cute little troll doll dressed as a Devil and says "Hot Stuff". Cost: 45 cents. Total for both items: $1.40 - 10% discount = $1.26

Now, how I'm going to use both of these items to make Rich a gift for Valentine's Day.

I will place some red tissue paper in cup. Then add small bags of candies, gum, and nuts inside the bag. I will place the troll's arm through the cup handle. Hopefully, I will be able to buy my candies, ect. on sale and with coupons.

I will post a photo of this gift as soon as I get it finished. I will also post what the total cost of making my gift, too!!!!!

Hopefully, by this weekend.

DOLLAR STORES

Local Dollar Stores have lots and lots of nice Valentine's Day items. You can make a nice gift basket or bag very inexpensively. I used to work in a Dollar Tree in Carson City, NV. We would make up gift baskets and sell them. I loved it when I got to make them. We would make baskets for adults and kids. We tried to have $5, $10 and $15 gift baskets.

What I like to do when making up baskets is to start with a nice basket. Then add shredded paper, Easter grass, ect to the bottom and around sides. Then I take the tallest item and place in center back. Then I add items beside and in front of it that are lower. You want to be able to see all the items available in the gift basket. Then I add small items to fill in the spaces. After the basket is finished I like to place plastic wrap across the items to keep them stable. You can criss-cross 2 pieces to go around handles if needed. You can add ribbons and bows. Or, you can add ribbons and bows without adding the plastic wrap. It all depends upon if you are giving directly or if you are having to ship the basket.

HOMEMADE GOODIES

A nice plate of homemade Valentine's cookies would be a welcome gift to family and friends. You can use my Soft Rolled Sugar Cookies to make them. I posted it here a few days ago. You can cut them into hearts and sprinkle with sugar or frost. Or cheat like I do and roll in balls and squish with bottom of decorative glass and sprinkle with colored sugar.

Cover a plate of homemade fudge with plastic wrap and decorate.

Decorated cupcakes would be a great gift.

Any of the Coffee/Tea/Chocolate mixes bagged and placed in cups would be a nice gift.

COUPON BOOKS

Make coupon books with coupons geared toward the individual who will receive it. Examples: Movie Night.......Dinner Out.......Back Rub......Videos......Get out of dishwashing........1/2 hour Quiet Time........Walk in the park.....Day at the Zoo......you get the idea.

Use a art program to design your coupons and print on white cardstock. Make the front and back cover of their favorite color and decorate in a theme to match the person that will receive the coupon book.

HANDMADE CRAFTS

Whether you crochet, knit, sew, paper craft, scrapbook, etc. you can always make a handmade gift for family and friends.

You can find thousands of patterns for Valentine's Day gifts on the internet.

HANDMADE CARDS

You can make your own personalized Valentine's Day cards for pennies. You can find lots of ideas for making cards on the internet. You can take old Valentine's Day cards (if you can part with them) and recycle them into new cards. Embellish your cards with bits of ribbon, buttons, paper doilies, glitter, etc.

Remember don't stress out making your Valentine's Day gifts.........have fun and enjoy knowing that whoever receives your gift will be honored to know that you made it especially for them.

Awesome blog I found for graphics.

Yesterday as I was surfing blogs I ran across a blog that had free graphics daily. It is called The Graphics Fairy. I love it!!!!!!!!! They have a different graphic for free each day. The photo of the Victorian ladies is one of them that I found yesterday.

I've added a link on the right side of my blog that will take you to their site. Enjoy!!!!!!!!!

I love using graphics in my scrapbooking, Artist Trading Cards, Greeting Cards and posting them on my blog.

Recipe of the Week

I've decided to start posting a recipe of the week on Mondays. I hope that you will enjoy some of my favorite recipes. You will find that my recipes are not fancy.......just good old home cooking.

The recipe today is one of Rich's favorites.

COUNTRY FRIED STEAK

1/2 cup flour
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 cup crushed saltine crackers
4 cube steaks (1#)**
3 T. oil
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 cup milk

**I use 1# of extra lean hamburger shaped into 4 patties instead of the cubed steak.

In a plastic bag or bowl, combine flour, salt and pepper. Place buttermilk in a shallow bowl. Place saltine crumbs in a plastic bag or bowl. Coat steaks with flour mixture, then dip into buttermilk and coat with crumbs. I find that I use small plates for the flour and crumbs that it works better than using plastic bags.

In a large skillet over med-high heat, cook steaks in hot oil for 2-3 minutes per side or until golden and cooked to desired doneness. Remove and keep warm.

Add soup and milk to skillet; bring to a boil stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Serve gravy with steaks.

Serves 4.

Super Bowl disappointing.......yet good game.

The photo is my hubby, Rich. He used to work in Security and had to keep his hair cut short. When we first started dating he had long hair and I loved it. He always promised me that when he no longer worked in Security he would let his hair grow. Well, this is what it looks like now and growing every day.

Yesterday his hair was flying while rooting for the Cardinals!!!!!! He was disappointed that they didn't win......yet said it was a good game. He enjoyed his Super Bowl Feast.

Maybe next year his beloved Seattle Seahawks will be in the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl Sunday has arrived!

After much waiting........Super Bowl Sunday has arrived. To some it is a day of watching the game on TV.......as my dear hubby, Rich will be doing today. Yes, it's only 9am......is is sitting in his comfy recliner, breakfast on his TV tray and watching the interviews that they are having pre-game!!!!!!!! I just asked him a question and got a UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!! I guess that is better than nothing.

Me......I'm going to be working on some quilt projects while the Master of the House sits on his throne watching his beloved Super Bowl Game......of course there will be times I'm up preparing the Super Bowl Feast and won't be able to devote myself to my projects.

I have already got most of the feast prepared. I just have to prepare the Chicken Wings. I have everything else ready.

Super Bowl Feast Men

Hot Wings
Potato Salad
Veggies and Dip
BBQ Potato Chips
Black Olives
Green Olives
Coke and Diet Dr. Pepper
Crazy Chocolate Cake

Well in parting.........Go Cardinal's Go......I hope I'm rooting for Rich's team.

I'm a Winner in the Quilt Dash Challenge

I can't believe that I was one of 27 winners in the Quilt Dash Challenge. This was my first time to join the challenge. I had fun going to all the quilt shops and look for the Quilt Dash logo. There wasn't as many quilt shops as the Shop/Hop Challenges I have done before......and also won prizes......I won 2 $10 gift certificates in 2 different Shop/Hop's.

I won a "All About Me" Kit valued at $50. I'm not sure what the kit is all about as I couldn't find it on their website.....just the photo on the winner's page. In my email telling me that I had won they said it would be shipped next week. I will post a photo of my prize for all to see after it arrives.

I'm off to find some more contests, giveaways or free samples!!!!!!!!!!!!!