Rantings of a Grandmother, with Accomplishments Thrown In

It's mid week with Halloween just three days away.  Halloween was always a time to stress for me - as a mother of young ones - because of the creativity factor needed to design a costume.  Thankfully all of our children have inherited creativity from their father's side of the family.  I know for certain that there will be a small Peter Pan knocking on doors in his neighborhood on Saturday.  (Our area restricts trick or treating to two hours.)

A basket full of goodie bags for the grands,  I think my daughters
will be a bit upset with me.  Each bags holds a load of sugar
concoctions.  I know the parents control the amount of sugar
eaten each day after Halloween, so how upset can they get?

The following day the clocks get turned back to usher in darkness at five PM on the East Coast of the United States.  Is our country the only one that changes time in the fall and spring?  I'd be interested in hearing from other countries concerning this. 

I remember the time change was originally brought about for the farmers.  They needed early morning hours of daylight to work their farms.  I'm not sure this is currently necessary because most of the farms are now corporate owned.  (Sad, but true.)

Last night I hopped in the bathtub for twenty minutes to experiment with the detox bath solution I posted.  I used 1/2 cup Epsom salts to 1/2 cup baking soda and 12 drops of lavender oil.  I'm normally an in and out kind of girl, so it took some stamina to stay in the tub for the entire twenty minutes.

Keeping in mind this was the first time I soaked in the detox solution, this is what I found.  My skin is smooth as silk.  I don't have a problem with dry skin except on my elbows.  They are now as smooth as a baby's bottom.  Is it because I stayed in the tub for an extended period of time or because of the solution?  I can't answer that right now.  I do know I felt invigorated afterwards.  I'll know more after a couple more times in the tub, so I'll keep you posted.

My daughter cut my hair this morning in her kitchen.  After the styling and washing I was quite pleased with the outcome.  I know her life is pretty full so I tend to let my hair go for a couple weeks after I should have it cut.  Make note to self.  Stop it!  You feel so much better when your hair is freshly cut.  I also had my eyebrows done this week.  I wouldn't say Italians all have a uni-brow, but I will say I'm much more attractive when the brows are taken care of.

I'm in the process of extending my exercise routine.  I added five minutes this week (each day) and will continue to add five minutes a week until the routine hits thirty minutes.  That's the last frontier to do whatever needs to be done to stay as healthy as possible.

Tonight's dinner will be a package of fresh spinach served warm with vinegar, salt and pepper. I'll add a side of cheese and a glass of milk for protein.  Spinach has so much iron in it(as well as so many other vitamins)  and the vinegar is good for digestion.

This week's major accomplishments are minimal.  I scrubbed down the living room right down to the light switch plates, as well as the master bedroom. The master bath also was scrubbed this past weekend.  Two loads of laundry and an additional one for the bed linens.  I've had the wash ball for a month so I put it out in the sun to rejuvenate.  The powder room and kitchen just got a wipe down this week. Next week will be their turn to be scrubbed.

What did you accomplish this week?  Somehow when the tasks are put to paper, you see a lot more was done than was the original thought.

Stay safe.

Sharing Other People's Ideas

I'm not an internet surfer, but I do have my places I check out each day.  Most time I can't remember where I find good ideas or the ideas are mine.  So today I wrote down a few places I visited so I could share them with you.

Let's start with a detox bath from 'DIY Naturals"  This was on my Facebook page so I saved it to use.  Shame I can't give credit to the person who posted it, I can't remember!  Details, details.

Detox Bath
Handful of Epsom salts (I would guess this would be approximately 1/2 cup.) 
10  drops lavender essential oil.  (amazon has a ton to choose from)
1/2 cup of baking soda
This detoxes and balances the body's PH


The Cutest Ever Soaps and Candles  (Easy as pie, too)
Aprilathena7 makes easy fall gifts that look like candy corn.  Check out her video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agrfjTfWBx4


YouTube channel 'At Home With Nikki' is one of my favorites.  Nikki has great ideas and a beautiful  home.  My taste is different from hers - and yours may be as well - but this lady is creative and informative. In this video she gives tips on decorating with a neutral palette.  Nikki's budget appears to be larger than most of ours, but she does use her resources in a responsible manner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FshWR-59h-k


Another favorite yoo toober is 'Chic Done Cheap'.  Her budget appears to be in line with most of ours as she shops those bargains like a pro.  You may even enjoy her Jersey accent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLtDE9EPbfE


Sundays are a  relaxing day for me as I flip through my favorite videos and drink my morning coffee.  May your day be renewing and worry free.

Stay safe.

Extremely Frugal Gift Craft Idea

I found a craft project that I could create.  Not only could I create it, but the cost is just pennies for each item.  I made page magnets from an old magnet with an advert on it and washi tape from the dollar store.  I know if there was no advert magnet available, I would have to include the cost of store bought magnets.

Page magnets are used in place of a book mark.  You can place them on the side of the page or on the top, whichever is more convenient for you.  AND, they don't fall out when you open to your page.

If I had small children in school I'd make a bundle of these for their teachers as I'm sure a teacher would appreciate the gift.  Making five or six for each teacher to represent holidays sounds like a good idea.

I'm going to try to walk you through the process with pictures and instructions.  If you are interested and any detail is missing from the tutorial, please feel free to ask a question in the comment section.

Supplies Needed:  Scissors, ruler, washi tape, magnet

*  Cut a magnet in two equal pieces, to desired size.  I would suggest the size be no small than 1 1.2 inches long.  Anything smaller and there isn't enough power for the magnet to stick with a page in the middle of it.

*  Place the magnet's magnetic side down on a hard surface.  Space the two equal size pieces about 1/4 inch apart.

The two equal pieces, magnetic surface down.

*  Cut three to five strips of washi tape that will be used to cover the face of the magnet. (Non magnetic side.)  If the size is larger you may need to clip off additional strips.

* Begin covering the magnet by placing a tape strip to the center where the two pieces meet.  This will hold the pieces together and make it easier to cover the remainder of the surfaces.

*  Then continue covering the surface by placing the additional strips next to the center strip of washi tape.  Cover the top piece, then the bottom piece.

*  When the magnet is covered fold it in half at the space that was left between the two pieces of magnet.  Make a strong crease at the fold line.

*  Trim any excess tape off of the sides.

*Open the magnet and admire the ease in which the project was completed.

You can make a holiday series and place them on a piece of stock card or thin cardboard.  Embellish the card in any way you like and marvel at the frugal gift that would please anyone who loves to read, is a teacher, or works in an office.

Since mine will stay at home with me, I used a piece of cardstock
that has an advert on the back.  I made two sizes to see if the 1 1/2
inch animal print one was strong enough.  It was.  Mine are now
in my date book marking the current week's page.  The other is
marking an information page at the back of the
book.  A small way to make life more enjoyable for me.

Heed Your Words - Children are Sensitive

Everyone has deep hurts close to their heart.  Those things that we never want to examine again.  Those things that we perceived as a child as hurtful.  The fact remains that if we experienced them as adults, most things would have little effect on us.

Here's one that I distinctly remember.  I was about six years old and had the most beautiful (my perception) dress with so many under skirts on it that my arms couldn't be placed close to my body unless I used force to keep them there.  The top of the dress was pink and the bottom was grey with pink butterflies in a felt relief that shimmered in the sunlight.  I was so proud of that dress that during a walk around the neighborhood with a happy heart my arms were swishing back and forth so I could feel the skirts.  Every once in a while I would swish my arms and twirl in a circle at the same time.  I was practicing doing two things at a time at a dare from my brother.  I mastered the feat that afternoon.

It was on that day I discovered it was dangerous to be too happy.  As I mindlessly twirled  and swished I was unaware of the old lady on her porch quietly rocking and watching me with disdain. She was not afraid to tell me I was a bad little girl for wanting to show everyone my underwear. HUH?  No, I was swishing and twirling.  How did she get that I wanted to show my underwear?  My sensitive little girl spirit was instantly shattered in a million pieces, never to fully recover.

I now had no where to show happiness.  I couldn't demonstrate it in my home, for various reasons.  Now I couldn't go outside to be happy either.  This one event altered my entire personality.  I became quiet and withdrawn in all things.  My social skills were stunted to begin with, and they suffered an even worse fate. 

I was the perfect little girl because I was quiet and never gave an opinion.  Fear lived within me 24/7.  My cousins didn't connect with me (on my mother's side) because they thought I was 'perfect'.  No, I was deeply injured.  Those injuries still have not fully healed.  I think they have, then some small thing happens and they surface.  I pray then because I know Christ will fully heal my little girl spirit with time. More time.  These things don't hurt like they use to.  I'm an adult now and can rationalize and forgive.  Too bad forgetting is not in the cards.

If I ran into that same woman today, I would laugh and swish even more, then lift my dress to prove she was right.  Therein lies the difference between an adult and a sensitive little girl.

A Nice Weekend Spent With Family

It's pretty cold for these old bones of mine so the camis, knee socks, and long sleeve shirts have come out in full force.  I'm not complaining because where I use to live got snow this past weekend.  Normally there's a frost before the snow falls, but that was not the case this year in the North.  Just thinking about the cold up there brings shivers to the very center of my being.

Saturday was an active one for me.  Daughter three and I went to a yard sale with quite a few vendors at the local VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars).  They hold a sale every fall to raise money for the post.  They also sell lunch food such as barbeque sandwiches and chips to make extra funds.  We didn't eat there, but many others did.

I made a purchase that was unexpected.  I bought six vintage plates that I have no where to store or even a use for bur they were so beautiful I couldn't pass them up.  The edges have 14 karat gold trim so they even need to be hand washed.  Since I hand wash most things anyway, that part is not a problem.  They were marked $10.00, but when the man saw me walk away, he lowered the price to $5.00.  What was I to do, I ask you?  Since I recently de cluttered the kitchen cabinets, I'm sure there will be a place for them.  To take care of the use problem, I'll be using these plates each night for dinner.

I fell in love with these plates.  You could say it was love at
first sight.  It's funny because this is not my normal decorative
style attraction.

When we left there we hit up three more residential sales with little luck.  Then home for a rest.

Daughter number one spent the morning at the baseball field with her sons for make up games.  Later in the afternoon she met us at number three's house for an early dinner of spaghetti.  The two of them lined up their kids and walked to a convenient store for cold drinks while I stayed back with the pup and enjoyed the quiet I knew was soon to disappear. 

I have enough quiet at home and also enjoy the noise of happy kiddos playing and even bickering.  Sibling bickering brings a smile to my heart - I do so miss the sounds of family life.

Sunday was a low key day for all of us.  I watched a video about dehydrating food and thought I have lots of dehydrated food.  Perhaps it was time to use some of it to test it's flavor. (Hoping I did things the right way.)  So I got out carrots, green beans, squash, mushroom powder. green peppers and a vegetable stock I had in the freezer.  I made these items into a soup them added a rue to make a vegetable stew which I put on a slice of bread,  I was pleased to note I did dehydrate the veggies correctly as they plumped up and softened to their original state.  The one mistake I made was using stock made from asparagus.  Too strong, but I ate it anyway and so did the pup.

I also decided I had too much celery in the refrigerator so I blanched most of it and dehydrated it.  Even though the celery was cut into small pieces it took about 15 hours to fully dehydrate.  The rest of the day was spent in lazy mode.

My goals today are to wash the bedding and vacuum the rugs.  Let's see if I meet them.  It's not that the goals are lofty, but I've been tired feeling lately - even though my blood work shows no problems.  If there is a day of good energy, I seem to need two days of rest to build up energy again.

Stay safe.

The Sales Are Amazing This Time of the Year

I know I've been missing in action for a week or so.  A number of things have kept me from my keyboard.  One of which this is the season that super sales are happening and I've been scouring the stores to find good deals.  I have found a number of them - some for Christmas gifts.  I won't remember some of the deals but I can start at the Yankee Candle with a coupon for buy two candles, get two free.  Daughter number three and I went and split the cost, each of us walking away with two holiday candles.  It happened on that day they were giving a free votive with any order so we each received a free candle.  (I bought a small item in addition to the split order.)

A local grocery store is having  double coupons up to $2.00 which, of course, I had to take advantage of.  Armed with two $2.00 coupons as well as a few $1.00 coupons I came away with two free large tubes of toothpaste, two boxes of herbal tea at .50 each, free granule honey, (new item on the market), and olive oil for $3.39.  What I like about this store is if they have a BOGO item only one can be purchased at half price.  The oil was half price with a doubled.55 cent coupon.

Out of pocket cost for these six items was 4.39. 
I know there are people who can do quite a bit better,
but I'm satisfied with the deals I got.

We also went to a fabric store that was having 70% off many items.  I picked up two one yard remnants for a total of $1.87.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them yet, but ideas are forming.

The remnant on the bottom is the material that's used
to make fancy dancy kitchen towels.  I'm thinking of
trying m hand at making a couple of those for gifts.

A look through the 70% off rack at Penney's netted two high quality men's shirts for a little over $15.00.

Michael's was on the band wagon with the 70% sales so I picked up 8 pounds of 'gourmet' coffee for  $2.10 each, two which were dark roast.  Those are for me!

I bought a few pieces of clothing from WalMart, but most of them are being returned.  For anyone who's interested they have camis for $1.68.  The sizes are not consistent so instead of fighting it, most items will be returned.  I'm keeping the camis for extra warmth during the winter months.

I had an appointment yesterday and while waiting I did my list for the grocery store, with coupons in hand.  The lady who signed me in showed a bit of interest in the coupons stating that she was unable to take time to coupon and save money.  So this was my chance to jump in and explain to her that she didn't have to be an avid couponer.  To begin by looking only for one type of coupon.  Then as she becomes familiar with that routine, she could move on if she wanted to.  I offered her the address to this blog with the hope that she has a few minutes to check it out.  Our conversation ended at my end explaining how any dollar saved is one that's in her wallet, not a store's.  If you have joined us, I welcome you with open arms and hope there is information here that you can find useful.

Now for a couple frugal hack recipes  to help keep your life simple and hold your cash close.

Confectioner's Sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2T(ablespoons) corn starch
Wiz the ingredients in a food processor until they reach the powdery consistency of confection sugar.  (Icing sugar)

Sugar Sprinkles
Granulated sugar
Food coloring for the desired color
Mix ingredients well in a bowl.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spread the sugar evenly.  Place in a 350F oven (180C) for 10 minutes.  Let cool.  Store in a closed container.

To close I'd like to leave my reader's with this quote that left an impression on my heart.  I don't know where it came from, so I can't give any credit for it. Maybe a reader will know more than I do.

Just for fun!  The fall decorations on the front porch.
The air has a crisp feel to it so all is well in this
part of the world.

'You look in your neighbor's bowl to see if they have enough, not if you have as much as they do.'

How profound.

Frugal VS Cheapskate

I've been searching for a refreshing subject this week, and I think I may have found one.  What is the difference between a frugal person and a cheapskate?  Are there times people are forced to move from the frugal front to the cheapskate front?  What makes up a cheapskate?

All interesting questions to me after watching a number of 'Extreme Cheapskates' on yoo toob.  Without the benefit of a dictionary definition I would define frugal as a chosen way of life that utilizes the resources a person has to the fullest degree.  As an example, being conscious of using power and water.  Both of these are resources that are at our finger tips to be used at will.
  The cash flow into the home is the biggest resource we have.  How much we get to keep in our pockets is up to us.  We have choices in this area, as well.  The choices we make need to be made with the other family members in mind.

I learned that lesson when my husband became agitated when he was refused any goodies in the grocery store.  To say he was agitated is putting it mildly.  Since I was the one who controlled the grocery money, it was my responsibility to change my methods.  At the time we were on a limited income so whatever I came up with had to be frugal.  I added five dollars to the grocery budget for him to choose any goodie he wanted each week.  I took the five dollars from my allowance money.  It was worth it to see him satisfied.

Some frugal hacks that have become a normal for me:

Washing the clothes with a wash ball.  I am in love with the fresh smell the clothes hold when they come out of the wash.

Using dryer balls in the dryer.

Hanging the wash either outside or in the bathroom, depending on the weather.

Using solar lights in the evening to save on the power bill.

Cooling the house (in summer) at night so the air conditioner doesn't run during the day.

Cooking from scratch in large batches and freezing foods for future meals.

Growing a garden.

Canning from the garden.

Dehydrating veggies that are bought on sale for winter soups and stews.

Making bread, but not eating a lot of it at one time.

I have a single serve coffee machine that I use reusable pods in. I fill a pod and use a large coffee cup.  I run the machine on the normal setting, then run it on the lowest setting to fill the cup to the top.  Being single, this routine works well with no waste.  However, I would not insist anyone else do this when they visit.

Boxed prepared foods are something I rarely purchase - even on sale.  I try to take care of my health by using fresh foods or making foods with fresh ingredients.  Since I'm older, I do have a couple of health issues, so I do everything I can to stay healthy.  This saves big dollars on health care.  My biggest fear is that my children would have to take care of a body that's worn out in the years to come.  There are a couple of prepared foods I use such as cake mix.  But not the frosting on a cake. Although, I have been known to buy a can of frosting to eat from a spoon as dessert.

I have recently begun to use rinse water from the dishes to water the house plants.  Just to reduce waste.

I use coupons on health and beauty items or fresh foods.  The fresh food coupons are far and few.

I utilize the dollar store, the real dollar stores. 

Making a pizza from scratch is a great way to save on a food bill.
I made a big batch of dough and froze it in single size portions.
The sauce is home made and brought out from the freezer, too.
I used one fifth of a block of cheese that cost 2.00 on sale.  So for
approximately .60 cents I had two meals to fill me up.  I had a piece of
fruit on the side. No suffering involved, just a bit of work.

It's now time to talk about cheapskates.  A cheapskate will save a penny in any way they can, not taking into account the other family members.  They want it their way - the end.  Family members have been known to be traumatized by their actions in public and at home.  They grab water from public parks in bottles and cover the faucets at home so no one can use the house water so the bill is low.  Or insist that all clothing comes from charity shops, just to save money.  Not because the clothing funds are short, just for the hunt of a bargain.  I have no problem with a single person buying clothes like this, the problem begins when a teen is forced to live like this - all of the time.  There are plenty of bargains in the stores at the end of a season.

Pretty much the actions of a cheapskate are self centered and uncaring of family members.  That sums it up in a sentence.

There may be times of hardship when some cheapskate measures must be upheld.  However, when the crisis is over going back to the frugal norm for a family is an appropriate move.

Being a good steward of our resources is important today more than ever, but so is being a good steward of the people in our lives.

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.