Shopping and Wash Balls -Do They Really Work?

Today was a shopping day.  Daughter number three and I went to Yankee Candle with a buy two, get two free coupon in hand.  We each spent some time sniffing and checking out colors and jar shapes.  After about thirty minutes we made our decisions and walked away with two candles each and a free votive for each of us.

I (and she) chose holiday scents that would warm the atmosphere with cozy scents.  I chose 'winter glow' and ;silver birch'.

Daughter three went home, but I continued on to a thrift shop.  How surprising to see everything in the store was fifty percent off.  I found a Campbell's soup cookie jar from 1999 for 2.50$ that I was hoping daughter 2 would like.  A posted pick and a question to her on Facebook, revealed a 'yes, sir'!  As soon as I can find an appropriate box to ship it, she will have it in her kitchen.



I checked on ebay and there was only one I found that was selling for $34.95.  Daughter two gets excited when I find good deals.  She's impressed with my prowess when it comes to deals.  I thank her for that, it makes me feel I'm still productive - even at my age.

The most exciting part of this post is (drum roll please)  I bought a washing ball.  When they hit the market a few months back they were selling for $40.00.  Not a good deal for someone who only does two to three washes a week.  I figured out that the 1000 washes they're good for would take me about ten years out.  A container of detergent lasts 80 washed which will take me through almost a year. (about twelve weeks short)

The price on amazon has been reduced to $9.95 and since I had credit card points hooked into amazon, I took a chance if for no other reason than to let readers know if they work well.  The reviews were mostly good, but there were a couple that had only one star.  The one star reviews had me a bit apprehensive.  But, it didn't cost me anything, so I went forward and bought them.  (I have prime, so no shipping charges either.)

Here's what happened.  I began a wash, but stopped it on the spin cycle as I was leaving the house.  Murphy's Law would suggest if I let the cycle continue when I wasn't home, I would come home to a disaster of some sort.  When I entered the house by the back door - which is near the laundry room - I smelled something rather pleasant and fresh.  After a couple of sniffs I turned the washer back on and didn't give it another thought.  Wash was done and time to place the clothes in the dryer.  The smell was back.  Could it be the wash ball?  I thought that would not be possible as the contents were natural beads of some sort.  When I smelled the contents, I had to smell it a few more times.  The ball did indeed project a great fresh scent. 

I also noted that the white slippers I washed came out pure white.  I wish I would have taken a before picture of them, with the dirty toes, but I didn't really think the ball would work.

After wondering why the ball didn't work for a few people, I wondered if they crammed clothes in the washer so there was no room for the ball to agitate and do it's thing.  If a person wants a clean load of clothes there must be room in the washer for things to move around so the agitation can remove dirt and grime.

I do not receive any compensation for this post.

This is what the wash ball looks like. The ball is made
from rubber, but I'm not sure what the beads inside are
made from.  The instructions say to place it in the sun
before use and then every thirty days thereafter.

The slippers I wear around the house.  The toes were quite dirty
before I washed them using the wash ball.



Stay safe

 

The Week at Angie's House

The house is officially decorated for fall.  A few pumpkins and the highlight of the garland on the fireplace.  Just in time for the fall weather to blow in.  I'm not sure if the weather will continue to be fall like, but I certainly appreciate the cooler air and wonderful wind that's ushering it in.

Another thing I do to prepare for the colder months is bring out the quilt my daughter made for me from my husband's clothes.  It was in storage for the summer in a bag so out on the patio to air out it went, after a quick tumble in the dryer with an odor remover.

Yesterday I had a salesperson in to give me a quote for a storm door.  I was thinking along the lines of using the sun to heat the house during the colder months, hopefully saving money on heating costs.  Sticker shock hit me so I began to rethink things.  I need to get another quote before I make any decisions.  At a price tag of 685.00, it would take a long time to recoup my losses.  The ten year warranty doesn't do me much good at my age - who knows if I'll ever be walking the earth in ten years?

I received a package from a friend yesterday that lifted my spirits, changing the direction of my thoughts.  She sent me a cool set of cards in a little plastic box that contained the profiles of some of the saints. My favorites are: St Michael the Archangel, Gabriel, Mary, and St Josephis behalf.h.  I've recently added St Joseph out of respect for the love my husband had for him.  I'm becoming quite fond of the man my husband modeled himself after, in his mature years.

A little story about my new found friendship with St Joseph.  My younger brother has had a number of strokes and is confined in a wheelchair with no use of his right side.  I did a novena to St Joseph in his behalf.  Two days after the novena was complete my brother called me all excited.  He did a push up!  This was exciting news.  The news dampened my spirit when I told him I did the novena and he should thank St Joseph for his prayers to God on my brother's behalf.  His response was he did it,  It was all him.  Why is it so difficult for him to say a simple thank you to someone who has the power to go before the thrown of God on his behalf?  Not worshipping him, St Joseph would not like that, just thanking him for his caring and loving nature.  I'll never understand the ego of man.

So, onward.  A young man in my neighborhood is coming to my house to help me with the changes in my back yard.  The blackberries need to be cut back as do the strawberries.  The part of the task I'm looking most forward to is removing the grass and replacing it with sand and large pavers.  I have discovered I have a hate relationship with grass.  I only left it so the pup would have an area to do her business.  She prefers the rock area for that.  So goodbye (I hope) grass.

I checked the grocery ads this morning and saw oranges were three for a dollar and Special K cereal was 1.99.  My mission today is to gather those items and stock up.  The price on the oranges tells me the price is soon to go way high.

I did more damage this past Sunday while watching a shopping channel.  They had a name brand food processor with juicing and blender accessories.  Great price and no shipping charges. I've bee wanting to get into juicing and I hate my current food processor, so the time was right.  I have been waiting over two years for something I could afford.  Not only is price important to me, so is quality.  This machine completes my kitchen needs.  Especially since it also grinds meat.  I can choose a cut of meat and turn it into hamburg knowing exactly what I'm eating.  It also kneads bread.  I'm loving it.

Pup went to the vet this week for a nail trim.  On close inspection her ears revealed an infection.  She's such a good girl and takes her medicine like a trooper.  She also had a shot for kennel flu so yesterday she was down and out a bit.  This morning she's back to her normal energy level.

Stay safe.

How to Negotiate

In the position I retired from negotiating contracts was a huge part of my job description.  Even though the contracts were worth -sometimes - millions of dollars, my approach to them was basically how I would haggle for a price for a kitchen appliance or domestic contract.  My technique was so simple that the vendors who were peddling million dollar machines, couldn't see through my approach.  They weren't paying attention to the way their wives / spouse got all those great deals for their home and family.

This is where I should reveal I retired as a Medical Imaging Director.  I exceled in the field and loved the position.  I had freedom with very little over sight once the COO realized I didn't need to be managed.  We met often, I ran things by her and she would get behind me 100%.

I contracted for CT machines, x ray machines, ultrasound, and mammography units.  Added to that were contracts for all consumable items used to support these modalities, such as gowns, film, maintenance contracts, all the way down to band aids and alcohol pads.   My skills saved my employer multiple millions of dollars a year.  All because I used the skills I developed as a home maker.

This information has been held close to my heart since I retired.  What's done is done so I left it behind me.  I admit, however, it's comforting to see this in print to remind me I have offered society quite a bit in this field.  Something I often forget.  I tend to spend most of my days in the here and now.  I am revealing this for a reason.

This morning I negotiated a contract with serius radio.  I reduced the annual bill from 219.00 (fees and tax included) to 119.62 (fees and tax included)

Here's how I negotiate:

1.  Always remain polite, yet firm.  Negotiating is an act of business, it's not personal.  When we make it personal we are giving the opponent the lead before we get started.

2.  Never reveal anything personal until the deal is closed.  Saying I'm retired before then gives the opponent information to work with. 

3.  Be fair, but move the contract in your favor.  Going too far will close negotiations.  Serius offered me a lower price, but I wasn't happy with it so I politely refused the offer.  Following that offer was a better one which I felt was fair for each of the parties involved.  Less than 10.00 a month for commercial free radio is a nice deal.  I also refused to give my credit card number to them and they will bill me through the mail.  This was an important part of my negotiations.   I feel unsafe when a company has my card information in their files.  After all, if I don't protect myself, who will?

4.  Have a notepad, pen and calculator with you so you can quickly figure out amounts.  It is common for companies to hit you with lower costs for shorter terms.  When this happened this morning I was prepared to politely turn down the offer.

Simple tools for simple negotiating tactics.

5.  Be patient.  If you can't reach your goal during the first negotiation encounter, wish them a good day and leave the 'table'.  If they really want your business, they will pursue you.  I once did a contract that took over nine months to complete.  I received the lowest prices in my community and no delivery charges.  On top of that the vendor wrote a letter to my employer saying some delightful
things about me.  This is a good area to learn the art of patience because a person can witness the benefits of the act.

6.  Be prepared to walk away without the item you're asking for.  There's always a small chance that a company has archaic policies and hasn't thought about customer retention.

It's that simple.  I bet if you think about it, you already do most of these things.  I only put the process in black and white.

Stay safe.

HobbyLobby? Oh Yeah!

I've not felt well for two days.  So those days were spent with a box of tissue and my pillow.  I woke up on Wednesday with a new vigor and began to scrub the house of the invisible germs that I could just feel were around me.  The kitchen got a scrub down first, cupboards included, then the floors, living room, powder room, and laundry room.  With those areas complete the bedding went into the wash with tea tree oil to remove any germs.  I ordered in a ravioli dinner because food was sparse and, to be honest, I got lazy after the morning cleaning marathon.

My grand daughter called me from up North and asked me what Marley was doing.  Then, it goes without saying, I had to ask what her dogs were doing.  A giggle escaped when she quite honestly told me they were in the yard pooping.  The conversation continued as she reported details of the family trip to the local zoo.  Her favorite animal was the bear, however she did like the rabbits who were eating carrots.  Her brother asked a zoo keeper where the DNA lab was.   I probably never mentioned my family is full of science nerds with me at the helm!

Nights have been cool, but the days have been sunny and warm.  A nice warm that heals he body from the inside out.  The perfect opportunity to open windows for fresh air to permeate the rooms.

Grocery ads were delivered this morning with nothing much I need in the way of sale items.  Last week was a marathon week for sales so my pantry is stocked well.  I will pick up some grapes at 1.29 a pound and price match at Wal Mart.  Other than that there were no items that interested me.  Chicken legs are on sale, but that's a no go for me. So many years of eating chicken for my husband's diet and I have a hard time even saying the word 'chicken'.  I like stock and chicken salad sandwiches with a load of mayo and lettuce, but that's where it stops for me.

Daughter number three invited me to go to Hobby Lobby.  I was suppose to wash my hair, but saved that for when I got home because I had never been before.  Oh my, they had so much stuff in that store that we both called it quits after an hour of looking around.  Too much stimulus, even for adults.  I did find the most gorgeous woven basket the shape of a large bowl that would make a nice home for my yarn.  The price was reduced to just under six dollars after my daughter pulled up a coupon on her cell phone.

I fell in love with this woven basket.  It'll make a good home for my
yarn and placed under the coffee table on the lower shelf.

I also found what is referred to as 'candle jewelry'.  I've never heard of it before, so number three explained it to me.  Quite simply an embellishment is poked into a cheap candle to make it look decorative.  So when I got home I pulled out a piece of grosgrain ribbon to wrap around a dollar store white candle and held it in place with the jewelry.  The 'jewelry' was 4.20, on sale, the candle was 1.00, and the ribbon was free.  I'm very happy with the results.

How cool is this?  No need to look further for decorative candles.
This piece of jewelry is made from metal and glass and is
extremely sturdy.  Of course, knowing my creative juices popped
to the surface when I thought about putting a ribbon around
the candle was a pls.  There just may be hope for me yet!




That's it for today.  I'm saving the charity shop finds for another post.
Stay safe.

First Aid Kit Basics

A while back I posted a list of pantry basics.  This post will include a list of first aid and medicinal basics.  The list I'll provide will include some items that a family with small children should have on hand.  Please realize it's been a long time since I've had little ones at home, so if you've anything to add, please feel free to do so in a comment.  Also, I don't suffer from 'ailments' such as heartburn, so my kit feeds my needs.

Basic First Aid Kit for Adults and Children

Band aids of various sizes
Antibiotic cream
hydrogen peroxide OR
alcohol 70% or higher
Ace wrap
Gauze wrap
Paper tape
Small scissors
Tweezers
Small flashlight
Gloves (disposable)

Aspirin or pain reliever of choice for adults
Pain reliever for children
Saline spray for stuffy noses
Benadryl for allergies or to bring down swelling in an emergency (See your provider for this one)
Anything else that is need to meet a specific health issue in your family.

It would be wise to purchase a container to keep these items in for quick and easy access in time of need.  I would nor suggest a dollar store container because the lids are not too stable on most of them.  Even a large zip top baggie would serve as a container.

The free bag I got last week at Walgreens for
purchasing 3 first aid items.

I put peroxide in a small travel size bottle so it
would fit in the case.  All of these items fit in the
expandable bag.  My flashlight is too big for the case,I 'll
have to look for a small one soon.

Orange Cleaner (Repeated for New Readers)

I've had a request to post a recipe for a cleaning product.  This is my favorite and is so frugal to make.  The only thing needed is a bit of patience.

Orange Cleaner

1. Clean glass jar with lid
2. Orange peels to fill the jar.  You can collect these and keep them in the refrigerator until there is enough to full the jar.
3. Enough vinegar to cover the peels in the jar.
4. Place filled jar in a dark cool area and wait 2 weeks for the oils in the skins to meld with the vinegar.
5. Strain and put in a spray bottle for use.

Use to clean most surfaces, but not wood.  (Sinks, counters, toilets, showers, etc.)

The Week in Review

I'm not sure if my USA readers know this, so I'll jot it down in case there's someone who doesn't know.  WalMart  price matches all flyer prices of local grocery stores.  It's safe to bring the flyer with you to get the lower price, but if you forget and are challenged by the cashier, their customer service has the weekly flyers.  The only items WalMart does not price match are store brand items or buy one get one free when there is no price in the ad.

There's a Kroger where I live and this week they have some prices that can't be ignored.  Kraft block cheese is 1.49 and Honey Nut Cheerios are 1.29.   I know most kiddos like apple juice and this week's price on Motts brand is -get this - .99 cents for the 64 ounce bottle.   Bumble Bee tuna is .50 a can, well worth a trip across the street for some price matching activity.

At Kroger you have to purchase five items to get that price.  At WalMart, you don't need to.

Here's the Kroger ad for this week.  Keep in mind the prices may vary due to location.  I have a friend in the Midwest who has better prices than we do in my area.

https://www.kroger.com/weeklyAd

I took the short journey to the farmer's market yesterday for tomatoes.  I pad 3.00 for nine tomatoes and received 3 large ones for free.

Since I was on a roll crossing off items on my list, I went to Walgreens to buy rubbing alcohol.  I got 6 bottles and with them came two free first aid pouches.  After I load them with the appropriate items one will go in the vehicle and one in the house.

Next on the list was returning an item to Target and checking out the dollar spot.
I had some luck at the dollar spot because all the new fall items were in.  They had grill fire starters, tissue, and goodie bags for Halloween.   Three dollars later and I am more prepared for the fall season of running noses, trick or treaters, and grill meals.

Sunday my daughter and her family came for a meatloaf dinner.  The weather was perfect because a cold front came in the night before and brought a feeling of fall air.  I had bought five pounds of organic carrots for 2.99 that were huge, so I only needed two to feed the five of us.  A nice sauce of brown sugar and butter and they were so good.  The meal was topped off with a salad and a big pot of rice (the mix recipe I posted in a previous post) and banana bread for dessert.

I prepared two meatloaves because I thought if we could all get on the same schedule we could enjoy each others company.  But, daughter number three's family schedule didn't match up, so her family will come another time.  The second meatloaf is patiently waiting in the freezer.

On Sundays there is a cooking show on QVC.  I turn it on as background noise and like to see what's new in the kitchen.  I seldom purchase anything, but today I bought a cookbook.

My readers know that I covet my grandmother's sauce and meatball recipes.  Even though my cousin and I spend a lot of time in the kitchen with grandma D, neither of us paid attention to most of her recipes.  This cookbook is put together by Frankie Avalon, who is also 100% Italian.  The recipes are his grandmother's - straight from Italy.  I know the food is different in the regions in Italy, but I'm hoping there will be some of my grandmothers recipes in the book.  One can only hope.




I brought down the fall garland I bought last year and enhanced it with paint that matches the wall color.  I like things muted so I was happy with the outcome.

The garland is drying.  I'm not sure it looks so good in this
picture, but it looks very nice to me as a finished product.  When
the sun is up, I'll take a picture of it on the fireplace to show-
vase how nice it looks.
 

Also this week I dried more mushroom stems and celery.  The celery needs to be blanched before it's dried,  After it's dried it is so small, but it rehydrates to look the same as before it was dried. I now have enough veggies to make a quick soup in the winter when I'm in a lazy mood.  The soup will be packed with vitamins from peppers. celery, carrots, mushrooms, bay leaf, and parsley.

The celery before it went into the dehydrator.  When it came out
it was the size of a tiny stone.  After it's cooked, it will look
like this again.

I hope your week went well.  Let us know what you accomplished this week in the comment section.

Stay safe.

Better Than Boxed (Think famous brand) Rice Mix

Rice Mix
2 C uncooked rice
1 C uncooked spaghetti, broken into small pieces
1/4 C dried parsley
6 T. chicken or beef bouillon
2 t. onion powder
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/4 t. thyme, optional

Mix all ingredients well and store in an air tight container. Cook for twenty minutes as you would any rice on the stove top.

Pigs in a Blanket, Italian Style!

My son called me today from 'up North' which is around 900 miles from my home.  He wanted my recipe for pigs in a blanket.   A little shy about how I murder the original Polish recipe, I asked if it was my own recipe he wanted or the real one.   You see I'm 100% Italian and my husband was German and Polish.  The recipe came from my husband's grandmother, but I felt an inert need to Italianize it. 

He wanted my own recipe.  It follows for him to use or anyone who has a need to eat Polish food with an Italian twist.

1 large head of green cabbage
2 cans of Hunts spaghetti sauce
1 cup uncooked rice (makes three cups of cooked rice)
1 pound hamburg
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

Remove leaves from the cabbage by placing the head in boiling water for a minute or so.  Remove and use a sharp knife to remove the outer leaves from the core.  Rinse and repeat until all the leaves large enough to roll a mixture in are removed.  The inner leaves can be turned into cole slaw or cut up and cooked with the pigs in a blanket.  Slice off the hard spine of each leaf so the leaf will be easier to roll.

In a pan of water, cook the rice for 10 minutes.  Drain and rinse.  Place in a bowl and add hamburg and salt and pepper.  Mix well.

Place desired amount of mix in the center of the leaf and fold down the top part of the leaf.  Fold in the 2 sides, then the bottom.  Repeat with each leaf.

Line the bottom of a 9x13 oven safe dish with most of the first can of sauce.  Place the pigs on top of the sauce.  Cover the pigs with the remaining sauce.   Cover and cook 40 to 50 minutes in an oven on bake setting.

This recipe fed 6 people with a couple leftover for one lunch.

Serve with fruit and a salad.  Frugal and yummy!

Guest Post, Elise Griffith

Angie has a special treat for you today.  Cookbook author, Elise Griffith, has written today's post.  One of the many things that binds us as friends is her desire to feed healthy meals to those in need.  I know you will enjoy this post and I hope you'll comment to thank Elise for her efforts.

 

More families today are cooking and eating at home than were a decade ago. Part of the reason is to save money--the food budget is often an expense we can adjust more easily than fixed bills. Another motive is to know what it is we’re eating. At the grocery store, we can pick organically grown produce, meats from animals that haven’t been fed hormones or antibiotics, and read labels. As food prices for certain items rise, we can adjust what it is we buy. We can stock our pantries with basics and take advantage of sales. Angie recently gave an excellent, comprehensive list of pantry staples to keep on hand so your family can always have a nutritious meal available.

While you’re shopping for those staples, would you be willing to pick up one extra item to donate to your local food bank? As blessed as many of us are to be able to shop for food, a growing number of folks (mainly children and seniors) aren’t always sure where their next meal will come from. Very often when I’m in one of the three grocery stores in my town, I’ll see a man or woman in their 70s or older picking up a package of meat or some other item and pondering whether to add it to the very few items in their cart. Eggs in my coastal area are currently $5.00 or more per dozen; what was once a cheap source of protein is now as expensive as a pound of beef or lamb.

One of our neighbors is 94 years old and still volunteers every week at our local food bank. As a “thank you”, volunteers receive one bag of food. It used to be an independently run program where volunteers picked up donations from the grocery stores, sorted and distributed the food to the needy here. A few years ago, though, our county had to partner with Feed America… all donations going to a warehouse to be sorted and bagged, then sent to individual community food banks. The result has been brown paper “Harvest Bags” filled with smelly, spoiled meats and rotten produce. Can you imagine receiving such a bag? What if that was a critical source for food in your household? Would you want any child or elderly person eating gray-green, foamy meat or soft, moldy vegetables?

Angie loves Dollar Tree, and I do, too! Canned meats, chili, stew and beans are available there and provide a source of protein; canned vegetables or fruits are better than spoiled “fresh” produce. No matter how tight your budget, a dollar (or less) can help one person in need have a safe meal. Often ordinary citizens are able to make a huge difference with very little time or money spent.

Here’s a recipe using Dollar Tree food items that would feed a family:

Pepperoni & Mushroom Baked Spaghetti

 

·         ½ (16 ounce) package spaghetti noodles, cooked, drained and cooled

·         1 egg, well beaten

·         2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

·         2 medium, Roma tomatoes, diced

·         2 cups sliced mushrooms

·         1 (26.5 ounce) can spaghetti sauce

·         1 (1.75 ounce) box sliced pepperoni

·         1 cup part skim, shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 9 x 11 inch baking dish with cooking oil spray. In a large bowl, combine pasta, egg, parmesan cheese, diced tomatoes and 1 cup of sliced mushrooms, tossing with two spoons until evenly mixed; transfer to baking dish and spread evenly. Spoon and spread spaghetti sauce over pasta mixture, arrange pepperoni and remaining mushroom slices over sauce and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Remove from oven, cool slightly, cut and serve.

 

Angie's two cents.

I was thinking about the idea of providing unspoiled foods to the country's population that can't afford to put balanced meals on the table for themselves or their families.  I feel like my personal efforts are a dim representative of the need in this world.  WHAT IF:  Each of us writes a commitment in the comment section - a simple 'I do' - to provide one item for a local food pantry each week?  A can of on sale tuna, fruit, veggie, spice, anything that will provide nutrition to another.  I would be a happy girl if this idea grew across the globe.  If we encourage our friends and family to commit to purchasing one item a week, this could be a movement that demonstrates that there are plenty of good and caring people in this world

. I would be so happy if we gathered together to make an effort to prove that good can overcome  all the evil that appears in the headlines.   Are you with me?

 

Stay safe.  

 

 

 

 

Stocked Pantry List

There have been times I've posted about organizing the pantry mainly because I have a difficult time with how to organize it.  I have to be satisfied that I make a stride each time I tackle the problem.  Although it's taken me about three years to get to where the pantry is, I know there is still a ways to go.

One thing I have never addressed is what should be in a well stocked pantry and why the foods could some day be very important to have available.

The major reason I am comfortable with a well stocked pantry is I have no idea what the future may bring.  We've all seen life turn in a matter of minutes.  A job could be lost, or illness could strike. or the weather could prevent us from leaving the house.   There are a number of reasons why it's prudent to have a stocked pantry.

When I say pantry, I'm referring to any area that your food is stored. You may live-in an apartment or small home or a mansion.  The space doesn't matter, how the space is used is what does matter.  When we were raising our family my husband made shelves above the stairs going to the basement for storage.  Being creative with the real estate you have is a good idea if you're looking for space.

A well stocked pantry includes:

Baking Supplies
flour
sugar
brown sugar
honey
confectioner's sugar
yeast
baking soda
baking powder
salt
shortening
vanilla
evaporated milk
dry milk
molasses
corn syrup

Vegetables
canned
dry (dehydrated)

Fruit
canned
dry (raisins and apricots contain iron)

Meat
canned chicken
tuna
beef
Spam
bacon bits

Spices
parsley
dried onions
garlic powder
Italian seasoning
cinnamon
any spice blend you use on a regular basis
chicken cubes
beef cubes
salt
pepper

Cooking oils and fats

Grains (and more)
oats (can be ground down to add to bread)
bread crumbs
dried eggs
dried tomatoes
dried beans (your choice)
corn meal
rice

Condiments
vinegar (lots of uses for vinegar including disinfecting)
ketchup
mustard
mayo
jam
peanut butter
canned cream soups
Any additional items you use on a regular basis

If you have eggs, milk, flour, grain, baking supplies, fruits. veggies, spices; any dish can be made.
A sampling of the dishes can look like this:
pancakes and eggs
corn fritters
cakes
casseroles
rice and beans

If you have anything to add to this list (it was made from memory) please add a comment to help other readers be prepared for life's little hiccups. 

Stay safe.

Corn fritters with peach jam.

Strawberry jam.

Home made bread before the oven!

Preparing breading for fried green tomatoes.

Yummy herb bread.

Dill picles

Canned beans and veggies

This Week's Accomplishments

The weekend went quickly for me. I spent Saturday night with our youngest daughter, which was a pleasure to be waited on. (she made dinner)  We cleaned up the kitchen together then went on the back porch and talked about all sorts of things.  It was very relaxing.

Earlier in the day I went to Ross with our eldest daughter so she could search for a few shirts for the nine year old.  No luck so far this year for her in that department so she's turning to the internet to check out  some of her favorite haunts.

After a restful weekend I hit the floor running this morning.  I cleaned the kitchen and living room, as well as the powder room.  A load of lights just finished drying and the house was sprayed with the home made bug spray.

I also have gotten itchy to put out fall décor.  I changed out the pillows in the living room and changed the centerpiece on the kitchen table.  Somehow a turkey found it's way to the center of the coffee table, as well.

I know this is a glitch in me, and I have no idea why, but I discovered I don't like color in my home.  I like whites, shades of browns, and muted greens.  So I have decided to paint the fall garland I bought last year for the fireplace an off white.  A can of spray paint should do the job.

For the first time in my life I have a desire to change things up a bit in my home.  Just small things.  There's a plant in the living room that I bought when I moved in nearly four years ago. I repotted it and put it in a different container I had laying around the house.  The container was meant to be a kitchen utensil holder, but I wasn't loving it in that capacity.  I do love it as a planter. I put rocks from the garden at the bottom to catch any extra water and trimmed the plant.  This I'm loving!

I've been trying to match up a new shade with a living room lamp.  After finally finding the right one, I discovered the current shade is not removable.  Who knew?

A visit to the meat store netted a heavy bag with four pounds of hamburg and one pound of Italian sausage.  I found a new recipe for meatloaf that I want to share with my family.  I mixed it up today and froze most of it in two loaves.  A small loaf is in the toaster oven so I can have cold meat loaf sandwiches.

After washing a sink full of dishes, I hope to have enough energy to bake a chocolate cake for tonight's dessert.  The two oldest grandchildren will be spending some time with me on Wednesday, so they can frost it if they like.  (What's left of it!)  This one will be made from a box mix I picked up on sale for .89 cents recently.  As soon as the weather turns cooler, I will make banana bread for the five year old as he asks me every time he sees me if I made some yet.  I tell him I will bake when the weather gets cooler, but I don't think he has figured that one out yet.

The melons were picked and cut into.  The meat is orange and tastes like cantaloupe, but not so sweet.  I put a small amount of sugar on the slices to sweeten them up a bit.  Now they are yummy!

Let me know what you've been up to in the comment section.  Until next time, stay safe.

Home Made Baby Wipes, DIY

I found a make it yourself recipe for baby wipes.  They're called baby wipes, but the ingredients are so natural, I don't see why the wipes can't be used to remove makeup or wash hands or anything else when the need arises.

Home Made 'Baby' Wipes

2 cups distilled water at warm temperature (78 degrees or thereabout)
1 T coconut oil
A squirt of organic shampoo
A squirt of organic baby oil
A roll of good quality paper towel, cut in half (One half per batch)
The less expensive towels tend to break down, even Bounty Basic.
Storage container.  Even a gallon size baggie will work.  Or Glad containers. 
The container only needs to be as big as the paper towel roll is wide.  The length of the roll can be squished down with a cover.

I am assuming if organic items are beyond the budget limits, then non organic items can be substituted.  Making your own is easier on the budget and you have the knowledge of what you're wiping on a baby's bottom.

Mix all ingredients.  Pour over paper towel.  Wait a few minutes then remove the cardboard roll from the towels.  You can then pull a wipe out from the middle of the roll.  Cover.

Washing, Bargains, and Family Ties

Today is the day our youngest daughter moves into her first home.  The buying process had a few details in it, but that's to be expected.

My contribution is to wash all the bedding so everyone will have a fresh bed to slump into tonight.

My granddaughter's quilt isn't quite dry. It's draped over the
kitchen table to dry while the other loads are being washed.

My two year old granddaughter called me last night and 'read' me a story about fish.  She's quite the little chatterbox and I couldn't help but smile and giggle during the call.  She even continued to chatter when her mom was talking to me.  She also has quite a large vocabulary, as do all of our grandchildren.  Mastering the English language is important to us, as it represents quite a bit of who a person is.  I think it's human nature to make decisions about others by their ability to speak well. 

Speaking of the English language, our eldest daughter's books are doing quite well on amazon.com.  She also has been picked up by a publisher for her  next series that will be out later this year.  Here's a link if you are interested in intrigue and romance, with real romance and no scummy content.   (I couldn't think of a better word.)

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_0_15?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=carolyn+laroche&sprefix=carolyn+laroche%2Ckitchen%2C141

Her first book, The Crazy Lives of Police Wives, was co written with Carolyn Whiting who is a retired police officer.  All proceeds from this publication are donated to police charities. 

Needless to say Carolyn (LaRoche) bases her novels on the knowledge she has obtained by being a police wife and a background in forensic medicine. She studied under Dr. Lee - of the OJ trial fame.  Detail is accurate in her fiction stories.

It was also a treat to talk to my son twice in the same week.  All is well on his home front.

A prescription was waiting for me at Rite Aid yesterday, so I took advantage of the 75% off summer sale to purchase a couple of small items.  The total cost for three items was .75 cents.  I think Santa will put a couple of these items in Christmas stockings.  The other item, ice cube trays, will be used to form wax blocks for my Scency warmer using residue candle wax that has run out of wicks that burn.  There's all this talk about burn rate (Whatever that could be.) saying that candle wax can't be used in the burners.  Could this term be manufactured by a company who super over charges for their wax blocks?  Your guess is as good as mine.

I made turkey soup for dinner two nights ago which was a major flop.  I ate it one night, but the salt content was way too high for me to eat any more.  So the pup had a little and the trash ate the rest.  I don't feel good wasting food, but there comes a time when I just have to give in.  This was definitely one of those times.

Our evenings are beginning to cool down a bit so sleeping is more comfortable.  The plants seem to like the change, as well.  I grabbed eleven berries from the black berry bush last night with more to come this evening.    The marigolds are now flowering because of the cooler weather, as well.  I thought the seeds I planted didn't take well because there were no flowers for quite a while.  I had to remind myself marigolds are a fall flower to keep from pulling them and pitching them.

These marigolds are from seeds I saved from last year's plants.
This is the third generation of plants that grew from the seeds of
plants I bought when I lived in the North.  If you would like me
to send some seeds to you, write your address in a
comment and I won't publish it, but only use it tosend the
seeds.

The last thing I did this week was find two 'bar' stools for the kitchen counter that is high.  I've waited three and a half years to find good quality at a reasonable price.  The stools were wrapped and put in my vehicle them my son in law brought them in the house for me.

I now have seating for all of us when we share a meal.  The stools are
well made and match my décor perfectly. 

A Quick Tip

I know cleaning out the dryer filter can be a pain, but if this is done after each load, it saves time, frustration,  and money down the road when it's clogged and has to be cleaned.  If the vent gets clogged, a fire can occur, as well.  I turn off the dryer when I leave the house to be on the safe side.  I don't relish the idea of coming home one day to a burned home - just to err on the safe side.  A clean filter also saves on power usage because the clothes dry faster.  There are also times I dry the clothes in the sun, which saves on a large portion of power costs.

Some Savings and Piddling Around the Kitchen

After a quick appointment yesterday afternoon, I drove across the street to grab a few groceries for the next two weeks.  Even with the organic choices I made the total spent was 56.14.  That breaks down to just a smidge over 28.00 per week.  I did splurge and bought a holiday magazine   I call it a splurge because the cost was just shy of 8.00.  As I've said in a past post, magazines no longer interest me too often.  I'm thinking because I'm having a difficult time waiting for fall, I had a weak moment when I spotted the fall colors on the cover.

The last time I was at Harris Teeter, I bought organic strawberries.  I swear just the top layer was organic to be followed by the other kind.  I politely asked the produce manager if this was a possibility and he explained that there were federal laws against such practices.  He asked if I would like another container.  I replied I didn't bring in the berries. His response was, " So you don't want a pack of berries?"   Confusion set in for a moment, then I realized he was offering to replace my loss.

In another aisle (cookies!) I found one of my favorite baker's cookies.  I was so excited it was difficult to retain my composure.  (I did, though.)  I asked the manager if he could contact the vendor to ask if they could stock a certain cookie that I have been craving for,  He took my name and number and said he would call me when they arrived. 

This store knows how to retain their customer base.  It's also the store that has great buy 2 get three sales.  If you remember, I bought five bags of coffee on such a sale paying a bit over 2.00 a bag for the coffee.

Purchasing sale items, the savings was over seven dollars and the berries were at no charge.  I left with a smile in my heart.

This morning I hit the ground running and cleaned the pantry, dated the cans, and reorganized - not only the pantry - but the cupboard I keep my dehydrated foods in.  Finally realizing this task needs to be a monthly occurrence, I put it in my date book to keep on top of it.  Thankfully, there was no waste with the exception of some cookies that I will give to the pup for treats.  I don't buy dog treats because I can't be sure of the quality.  Besides she likes apples and bland people cookies better.

 

I was excited to find an additional carton of 2 quart jars.
The jars that are still empty have water in them in
 preparation of hurricane season.  Since the jars take
up space, I thought they shpu;d be useful. 

Another acquisition this week was two 40 ounce bottles of Tide detergent for 1.99 each.  I used a dollar coupon on double 1.00 day.  They were 2.99 each with a 1.00 off two.

Some time was put aside to grind bread into crumbs, wiz the dried parsley, and mushroom stems into powder.

When the bread crumbs were done, I sealed the jar with the food saver.
I seal jars that I seldom use to keep things fresh for a longer period of time.
 

Pickled Beet Recipe

A reader asked for the recipe for pickled eggs.  Her wish is my command! It's such an easy recipe to put together.

Pickled Eggs
1 dozen hard boiled eggs, shelled and cooled
One 15 ounce can of beets, juice included
One can water (Use the beet can)
One can vinegar, white or apple (Use the beet can)
Raw onion, thinly sliced, to taste.

Pour beets and all liquids into a glass or ceramic container.  I use a big recycled pickle jar - with the lid.  Add onions and peeled eggs.  Cover and refrigerate.  You can begin to eat them two hours after they are made, but best if consumed after 24 hours and beyond.  The brine can be stored in the refrigerator and reused at a later time when the eggs are gone.   The longer the eggs sit in the brine, the more pickled they become.

I only pickle six eggs at a time, so I use the full can of beets with half a can of water and vinegar.

I love the beets and onions, too.  This is a fermented food which I'm told is a healthy choice for digestion.

Pickled eggs after 48 hours.

Accomplishments and a Confession (of Sorts)

I have to say I was feeling a bit sad Sunday evening, but decided I would take that time to say a few prayers - specifically - Hail Mary's.  I seldom feel lonely, but after seeing quite a few pictures of my grandchildren on FB, I felt an empty spot in my heart.  On the fourth Hail Mary there was a familiar knock on the door.  It was my son in law with a surprise dinner for me.  I held back tears while I thanked him and we chatted for a few minutes.  He's a chef that no one would turn away food from him.  He grilled a steak and a potato for me.  I thanked God for His care of me and chowed down on a delicious meal.  Of course, Marley had to have a taste, as well.  Just a small one.

I went to make the peppermint bug spray this morning finding out I had only a few drops of peppermint oil left.  I added tea tree oil and will order more peppermint today.

Since I pulled the cucumber plant I took the five small cukes that were left and cut them for snacks.  I also pulled the tomato plant that produced one red tomato and one green tomato.  The plan is to fry the green one and indulge in the goodness.  It was just last year that I discovered the yumminess of fried green tomatoes.

This morning the charity shop finds I posted about last week got washed and hung in the sun to dry.  I washed them twice, then rinsed them in warm water with a few drops of thieves essential oil in it.

Today the floors will get cleaned and the house will get dusted along with the tasks I perform each day.

It's been a few months since I cleared paperwork off of the counter and set up the armoire in my bedroom as an office space.  I was happy that the task was accomplished, but became confused as to where items were.  I had seven containers with supplies in them. When I was in TJ Maxx last week I found a six drawer unit with no price on it.  After asking, the associate priced it at 19.99.  I'll take it!  Most of the small bins went to new homes and all of my items are neatly behind the drawers.  I made a list of what was in each drawer to make it easier to grab what I need.

The pickled eggs finally went into the brine on Friday.  The recipe is simple and has been passed down from my husband's family to me, then to our children.  This morning's breakfast consisted of cucumbers and a pickled egg.  When posting tis is done, I'll add a peanut butter toast and a glass of milk.

A big warm welcome to the three new readers.  I'm not able to access the part of the blog that tells me who you are, but the welcome stands, non the less.

Dollar Tree and Charity Shops

I made my weekly trek to the Dollar Tree this morning.  I found my favorite cereal, Special K with Berries, in a pack of four single serve boxes.  I was so excited my first thought was to wipe the shelves clean of them.  Then common sense invaded because I knew this was no deal as I normally won't pay over 2.00 for large single box.  If I run out and can't find this price, I just wait until I do.

Also in the basket was a can of peach halves - from South Africa.  At first I said no, wrong country.  Mainly because I have been trained to think only our food is good. That may have been true at one time, but not any more.  So I checked out the ingredient label.  The first ingredient was, in fact, peaches.  The second ingredient was sugar.  Real sugar.  Not corn syrup or fructose, but real sugar. You bet I want that can of peaches in my cart.

Added to the cereal and peaches was chicken stock, a name brand package of feta cheese, and raisins.

 I also checked out two charity shops for winter tops.  Again, I did well, spending 9.00 for three long sleeve pull over shirts.  The black one is a Ralph Lauren that sells for 48.00 online, the aqua shirt is an Architect which is listed for 22.00 online.  Both of these tops cost1.99 each.  The striped shirt was from Old Navy and cost the most at 4.99.  Goodwill sells all of it's long sleeve shirts for 4.99.  I went there first this time.  The next time I will go to the other shop first.  A lesson well learned.

Angie's Quick Organizational tip:  If a task takes a few seconds to do, do it right then.  Example:  Putting  away an item or washing up a knife.  Your home will feel so much better to you with as few items out as possible.

If I Had Any Wish to Come True, It Would Be....

Have you ever seen a beauty pageant contestant  asked the question, " If you could have any wish what would it be?'  (Paraphrased)  The answer most likely will have something to do with world peace.  We'd all like to see the world's peoples get along, but as things stand at this moment it appears we have a while to wait. 

If I were asked that question my response would be I'd love to see good healthy foods on every table in the world.  I'm not talking about a huge bounty of food.  I'm talking about good food.  The word organic is a buzz word in this country, but that's exactly what I would like to see -if I had my way.

The American population is so tired of 'enhanced' foods that even an East Coast chain now offers a burger with no hormones or antibiotics.  Of course we don't know the country of origin.  Our food in this country has been desecrated and most of us are in the know.  The only thing is prices can be so overwhelming that young families can not always afford the prices demanded for pure organic foods.  Therein lies my heart. 

I'm saddened when people can't afford food.  I'm a proponent for the food stamp program only because no one should go to bed with an empty stomach.  The numbers say we are an obese nation.  The numbers don't give a glimpse into the reason why.  We do over eat, but it's because we are often hungry because our food has been boxed and chemicalized. (Is that a word?)  If you can pronounced the ingredients on the food package label it simply means you have a master's in chemistry.  We are becoming an unhealthy nation. I'm so glad people are starting to buck the agri - system.  In any way they can.

One of the benefits of being broke when the kids were small was that I couldn't give in to requests for food items that were not basic.  If we had a cake on the table it was made at home.  Potatoes were bought in bulk and milk was always available, but no fruit roll ups or individually packaged
oatmeal with swirls in it were on the list.  Our kids were taught to eat well. 

I will say here that I'm no food Nazi.  I've been known to finish off a box of cheap chocolate covered cherries in two days.  Or enjoy a Hostess snowball with a glass of milk and insist it's a breakfast of high protein content.  Not often, but I get it.  Sometimes we just have to buck the system.

This post has nothing to do with political views.  It is nothing more than the cries from the heart of a mother who wishes nothing but the best for the world's children.

I can't say how blessed I feel to be able to purchase organic
fruits and veggies, along with the minimal success of
my garden this year.  The strawberries were on sale for less than
the 'regular' ones and the bananas were .79 cents a pound.
I only bought two bananas this week to offset the cost of the berries.
The one apple will last for two snacks and supply more potassium.
The cookies have lots of spice in them which contributes to a
healthy diet.  I also bought a block of cheese.


Today's Breakfast
Cheese with crackers
Strawberries
Black coffee
It doesn't get much better than this!
Stay safe

Financial Freedom, What a Relief it is

The simple life can be lived in an apartment in the dead of New York City.  Or, in a two story colonial in a suburb.  Even in a small farm house in the country.  Your home can be rented or owned or paid in full.  Living a simple life is not a territory.  It's an intangible ideal. It's a comfort zone free of outside influence.  The simple life is, well, simple.  No fancy foods that have the cost of a loan to them, unless that is your choice.  No shiny cars with all the gadgets, unless that's your choice.  Not the desire to have a closet bigger than some homes to house clothes, unless that's your choice.  No.  It's enjoying what we have and working with what we have, freely choosing to do without because we want to.  Or not doing without because we want to.  The key, the way I see it, is finances.  Specifically debt.  Debt is a killer.  It has been known to harm relationships, create stress, and even create physical harm.

I don't feel I'm an expert in this field so I'm going to refer you to a couple who has gone from irresponsible finances to owing nothing in a short period of time.  If becoming debt free interests you check out their yoo toob channel, His and Her Money.  They have a video on this subject every Sunday evening.  The link follows.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCnXqVJZq_cD9wpycpml9LQ

I do wish you luck if you decide to go this route.  I'll be your biggest cheerleader.

Stay safe.