I've been noticing a lot of blogs hosting "Menu Plan Monday", and I thought I would really like to add mine along to theirs.  I love reading what other people are cooking and feeding their families!  I also love the new recipes you can find while perusing their lists!

For example, check out Organizing_Junkie's plan and the recipe she shares for chicken bruscetta!  It's a keeper!

So, without further ado, here we go with our first ever:

Monday:  Spaghetti with a slow cooked sausage, peppers, and cabbage sauce made in the crock pot.  It might sound a little strange, but it's rich, yummy, and satisfying!  Served with salad.

Tuesday:  Great Northern beans, fried potatoes, and cornbread.  (Straight from my 2nd generation southern roots!)

Wednesday:  Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore over noodles. 

Thursday:  Pork ribs with garlic roasted potatoes and green beans.

Friday:  Chicken tacos with spanish rice.

Saturday:  Dinner at Mom's house!

Sunday:  Chicken penne pasta 

(This is sauteed chicken with mushrooms, green onions, and garlic.  Using chicken broth, seasonings, and soy sauce, you make a sauce)  You mix it together with penna pasta and top with sesame seeds.  It has been a family favorite for about 10 years now.

   HAPPY COOKING!!!

Sherry

I am looking back at the past two weeks and asking myself:  What changes have you  made?  Whose life have you touched?  Are you doing what you set out to do?

None.  No one.  No. 

30 days to a more simple life.  Ok.  Simple.

I'm saving money.  I started a house savings account.  I have a change jar that has 23+ dollars worth of change in it.  I've started baking more.  Stockpiling.  Cooking and freezing.   I'm getting a lot of great free samples.  I am couponing and rebating to the point where I have lots of free or close-to-free cleaning, bath, and paper products.

This is all good stuff, really.  I mean, isn't it?

So these next two weeks, as I may have mentioned in an earlier post, are being dedicated to the inward journey of simplicity.  There, I've said it.  I'm committed to it.  You are my witnesses!

I believe in my last post I wrote that I am going to start gift baskets for the needy, or to be used in my church.  I am also going to be joining in with my church's Operation_Christmas_Child.  Check it out -- it's wonderful.  I will also be on the lookout for other ways to be more charitable.

I read the first day of the 2nd_week_of_from_chaos_to_calm.  This week is about being a Godly wife.  The first day's article was tough to read, but I am going to try! 

I need to get more involved in church.  With the people in church.  Be more a part of that community.  I will be working more on that in the next two weeks as well.

So those are my plans.  Looking inward.  Trying my best to be more positive. 

Wish me luck!

Sherry

I feel like I'm failing this challenge.  In a big way.  I'm still so depressed.  Instead of turning inward and growing, I'm trying to avoid thinking.  I try to do things to keep my mind busy to keep from evolving.

Today is simple.  I will take my hubby to work.  I will take ds to buy some jeans.  Do a little laundry and run the dishwasher.  That's all that I have to get done today.  But I feel overwhelmed.  Just the thought of having to take a shower is just beyond my scope of comfort. 

What is wrong with me?

Yes, as a couple of you mentioned, it could most definitely be the change in season.  Even though I have been looking forward to this chilly weather.  I like curling up with a good book and my cat when it's gloomy.  I don't outwardly dislike this weather.  But maybe that is it.

I also have a huge financial stressor on my shoulders.  HUGE.  I'm in charge of handling the money, so it's all on me.  DH freaks out whenever things like this happen, and I haven't told him yet.  So, yes, that is weighing on me like a ton of bricks.  I know I have to tell him, and SOON.  He has big plans for our tax money -- he has become obsessed looking at ways to build this thing he wants -- but what he doesn't know is that the tax money will have to go entirely towards the house.  No leeway.  He's going to really get upset when I tell him, and the longer I wait, the worse it will be.  But I procrastinate like a professional and just can't do it yet.

On a good note -- I am getting my extra cash bucks from CVS today and I will get to purchase a bunch of shampoo, etc for free.  On top of free, I will get extra cash bucks back from THOSE as well.  Double free.  I am making up Christmas gift baskets for the less fortunate with some of the stuff that I get.  I might horde shampoo in the linen closet, but it only holds so much!  I know how good Pantene looks to someone who has been using nothing but generic for a year.  So I will be sharing my "wealth" -- so to speak.  I have also been signing up for freebies that I personally don't need so I can donate them to the church or put in Christmas baskets for the needy.  I got a HUGE bag of dog food for free.  I am positive someone can use it, right?

My mother "poo-pooed" my couponing and freebies, etc.  She said "I used to do that.  Run to 7 different stores to get whatever was B1G1F.  It's ok for people who have TIME for that sort of thing" -- the thing is -- for the past 25 years, she hasnt' HAD a money problem.  She's never HAD to budget.  And she REALLY liked the free pen I sent to her house made especially for those with arthritis!!  But she won't stop me.  And I DO have the extra couple of hours a week to spend to save our household a few hundred dollars a month!

Time for that shower.  *sigh*  I can't believe it.  It's like someone said "Time to go to the dentist".  I actually get the same feeling about a shower.  Now that just isn't normal.

Sherry

I actually haven't been in a very good place emotionally and spiritually during this entire challenge so far.  The money is doing better -- the stockpile is growing -- but "I" am not changing -- at least not for the better.

Emme and I went to two different grocery stores today.  I did all my research and cut my coupons and clipped them to the store's sale paper and made lists.  I need to get a store layout like Sarah did.  Check out HER shopping trip!  What an awesome job she did   I wish that my store would give me a 20% off my shopping purchase!  What a find!

So here we go with what I saved (I haven't tallied it up yet, so I will be surprised right along with you, LOL)

Total amount before sales and coupons:  165.16

Total savings between both stores: 76.63

Total out of pocket:  88.53!!!

I will also be receiving a coupon for .10 cents off per gallon on gas for October 4th through November 3rd at the Meijer gas station!  That should save me another 5 or 6 bucks.  (As long as they don't hike their gas prices to compensate!)

There is a Del Monte deal going on if you buy 18 items from 3 different groups you get 10 dollars in free groceries (or something to that effect)  I ALSO got a free 5-pack of Ziplock containers for free for buying 12 Del Monte items and a free bag of Uncle Ben's rice with a coupon(had to buy one bag).  I   LOVE Uncle Ben's long grain rice, but don't usually buy it because it costs too much -- but this made it worth it.  Oh, and I had coupons for all the Del Monte canned stuff and it was all on sale too!  I ended up coming out about even (zero out of pocket) with this deal.

Meijer was having a deal too -- if you bought a 2-pack of Digiornio Pizza (7.99)  you got a head of lettuce, a bottle of Good Seasons dressing,  a bag of Kraft Crumbles and a 2-liter of Meijer soda for free!  (I also had 1 dollar off the Good Seasons so total out of pocket was only 6.99 for all that stuff)

And if you bought Jimmy Dean scrambles (4.49) you got a dozen eggs and frozen orange juice for free. 

It's smart of the companies to do this, because I wouldn't have bought the pizza or the scrambles otherwise.  If only I would have had coupons for them!  Imagine! 

Depressed.  Not feeling bloggish. 

I do want to share my shopping success from today:

Yesterday we went to a memorial for our dear friend, Tree.  Memorials and deaths in particular can really put things into perspective.  He died suddenly and unexpectantly, our friend, and it's really changed the entire feeling in the household.  See, Tree rented the basement apartment of our house for the past few years.  He was like a big brother to me, and a best friend to Mike, an uncle to the children. 

His death is what prompted my 30-day challenge of looking inward and trying to simplify.  I didn't realize that DIRECTLY until I just typed it.  It's also what started my frantic budgeting, couponing, and starting an emergency stockpile.  (The plans for a budget WERE in place before he passed, but that really kicked it into full gear) He died in his sleep on September 6th.  May he rest in peace. 

So, I've been really thinking.  About everything.  And becoming a more responsible person all around is my goal.  Not to the point of having no fun or enjoying life, but enough so I don't have to live scared all the time.

Today I am starting the 2nd week of the 15-week challenge at A_Virtuous_Woman.  This week is all about becoming a better helpmeet.

Here is the direct link to the week I'm working on.   I have to tell you, I think I struggle more in this area than any other.  I love my husband, I honestly do, but our relationship is not nearly as strong as it could be.  I think we are both at fault.  I do know that he is willing to make it stronger.  So I will be working on that this week, and continuing to strengthen my Bible study and relationship with God.

On a cooking note .....  I'm using frozen peppers, steak, rice, and then adding some carrots, onion, celery, etc. to make a beef stir fry for dinner.  It should only take about 15 minutes in total, including the dicing of said vegetables. 

I also made my menu for October's OAMC.  I'm ahead of the game this month because I have extra pork in the freezer, and some chili, tomatoes, turkey bacon, and a little bit of ham.  (This is what will be left after we finish this month's food). 

Did I mention that dh has lost 11 pounds since we started the OAMC??  The switches that I made to 2 meatless nights and healthier lunches (and diet pop) has really helped!  He says his back feels better already :-)  AND he quit smoking a couple months ago, so all in all, I'm VERY proud of my DH! 

(BTW  I still do bake cookies and muffins, etc, but I give him a portion and then hide the rest so he will not eat them all!) 

We are still working out a time to go and pick up the lovely family armoire (I am not sure if this is the right term.  It has a large top w/ 2 doors with glass in them and shelves.  The bottom looks like a long dresser but has two doors that open)  My mother also has some large burgandy print throw rugs she is giving us!  I can DEFINITELY thank my mother for the updates in my living room over the past year!  The rocking chair,  quilt, pillows, the queen anne chair, now the armoire and the rugs!  *sigh*   Now I need to figure out if I should keep the sectional or put it in the garage.  (This was my dear friend's, who passed)  I feel guilty, as I was complaining about his stuff not long ago!  Now I feel guilty about not keeping his couch and table in the living room.  

Well, I am going to go and get the laundry.  I dried one load and the other is going to be hung dry.  I'm trying to hang 1 out of every 3 loads.  Generally I do a lot of dark or bright colored shirts all together -- and that is what I hang.  If it makes a big difference, I will start hanging other things too -- we shall see!

Have a blessed Sunday and a happy home, 

Sherry

Renourish_skin_lotion_sample_free

Dove_Free_SAmples  There are several -- there is a little rotating thing on the bottom with about 6 different samples.  You can sign up for all of them.

Walmart_Samples  Five free samples to sign up for.  They change at a moment's notice, so always check back for something new!

Babywipe_Sample

Purina_Naturals_6oz_Cat_food

and finally, a free sample of

Hot_Texas_Hot_Sauce!

Enjoy,

Sherry

I'm three weeks in to my OAMC and I have to say, I totally dig it.  It's so great to have so many meal options available, and with minimal effort on my part, we have an entire meal.

Tonight was chicken parmesan.  I already had the chicken breasts breaded and cooked in the freezer.  I'm not sure how pasta will do in there (rice freezes great for me so far btw!) so I made some pasta.  I popped a couple frozen rolls into the oven with the chicken and opened a jar of sauce.  Oh yes!  I do have sauce fixen in the freezer and pantry -- but I got 2 jars of Ragu for 50 cents today!  And I do love Ragu now and then!  I topped the chicken breasts with some mozzarella and sauce the last few minutes of reheating and I had a HUGE yummy meal. 

I have decided to allow myself not to be a stickler to my list.  Some nights I have some beef dish listed and I really, really want chicken.  Other nights it's soup, but we want something more hardy -- so as long as it's all used up, I guess it doesn't really matter in what order we use it.

So -- we grocery shopped today!  I have to say, I DID buy some "luxury" snacking items today.  BUT ------- with good reason.  They were on sale, I had coupons AND we got 50 boxtop points for our homeschool group!  Plus, I didn't blow the budget :-) 

I bought some Animal Planet fruit snacks (Emme just loves Animal Planet) and some cereal bars,  Capri Sun Roarin Waters and Chicken Helper chicken fried rice.  I can't help it, I love that stuff and it was only a dollar!  LOL  I have plain cooked chicken in the freezer anyway -- so can't we kinda count it as a freezer meal?  lol  Oh, I also bought some of my all-time favorite SINFUL pizza rolls!!!!!!!  But, I got them about half price -- so not bad.  And Healthy Choice frozen dinners were on sale for 1 dollar and I had coupons too -- I just bought a couple.

I'm definitely still no coupon pro.  So many women can save so much -- but I'm happy even saving the little that I did today! 

With sales and coupons, I saved 24.09 at one store and 29.20 at the other store.

(Coupons alone were:  14.50)   So coupons alone saved me an extra 20%.  For ME, that's good.  I know for people who have been doing this for years, nothing under 50% is good!  But maybe someday.

Yes, today was all about shopping and cooking.  School too.  That was about it.  I feel lazy -- but these are supposed to be simple days.  Right?

Yesterday was day 4 -- so I am a day behind again.

I got a great freebie in the mail from Amtrack.  I got 4 Pokemon bags and inside is a poster, book, and comic!  DS loves Pokemon.  I will give the other 3 to his friends.  I checked the link to give you, but they are out of stock. 

Other than that, I got a free sample of Benefiber, 2 American Girl catalogs, and some other junk.  I can't wait to start getting my good perfume and lotion, etc. samples! 

We went to ds's soccer game.  I think I mentioned that to save money, I bought the mix for Propel water.  Propel at the gas station is 1.59, on sale at the grocery it is 1.00.  I can mix a 32 ounce bottle of it for 59 cents.  (DS won't drink plain water.  He likes Gatorade but we don't want him to have the calories.  He sweats like the dickens playing soccer, so we want him to have something he'll actually drink, hence the Propel!)

Back to the soccer game, ds did a great job!  My dad was sooooooo proud.  I swear, every time that Jake kicks the ball down the field or steals the ball away from the other team, my dad gets all choked up!  He had three girls -- and Jake is the only grandson, so you can only imagine!  Honestly though, it really makes me happy that I was able to do something in life that brings SUCH PURE JOY to my dad.  My dad never misses a game, a practice, nothing.  It's kinda cool.   (I should mention that last year Jake was the kid who went to kick the ball, missed it and fell a lot -- so his vast improvement is even more enjoyable!)

Other than the soccer, not much else got done.  We had an outstanding dinner at my Mom's -- penne pasta with chicken and vegetables with grated parmesan cheese.... I definitely need that recipe!  DH was at work, so I made him a big pot of chili and cornbread when he got home. 

I filled out some surveys, sent away for some freebies -- and *gulp*  I watched t.v.!

There are several shows I watch regularly.  2 of those shows were on last night!  Grey's Anatomy -- which I've been hooked since the 1st show and ER -- which I've been hooked on for YEARS.  Both shows were excellent last night. 

I hate to say I didn't do much else yesterday.  But I didn't spend any money other than gas!  I didn't waste energy or gas.  (i.e. I was lazy and didn't do laundry or run the dishwasher)

So, today I have a lot on my plate -- and I ache all over.  Oh the joy!

I have shopping to do -- I will post my "beginner's couponing method" in my day 5 post.  And also any deals I come across.

Until then my frugal friends,

Sherry

Emme is in a homeschool Brownie troop.  It's a 20-minute drive to get there, and I have weighed the pros and cons of the costs.  It's really done wonders for her.  They are a really active group and it's helping her relate to girls her own age in a group setting.  So we've decided to stay.

They changed the uniform this year.  Instead of the tan pants they wore last year, which I have three pair of, now they want them to wear the Brownie skort.  The 23 dollar Brownie skort.  *sigh*  

This news came right after I found out that Emme needed the "big girl" ballet slippers.  Another 17.00 

I decided I would buy the ballet slippers in this week's budget and the skorts in next week's. 

Then I got an email from the Brownie leader saying she had picked up a pair of skorts 2nd hand for 2.40!  I jumped right up and told her I wanted them!  So you could either say that I am 2.40 over my budget for the week, or that I'm saving 20!  So that was some great news.

Now for a complaint. 

I made a pork roast and potatoes for dinner.  Dh gets off work at 12 midnight and he generally eats about 1 in the morning.  I make his plate and he (sometimes) warms it up. 

He ate a few bites of the pork, directly out of the crockpot -- and then proceeded in eating the salami that is for his lunch for the rest of the week.  So, now I am short of what to send him for lunch for 2 days. 

So I decided to send pork roast and potatoes in his lunch today, instead of his usual three salami sandwiches. 

I know I shouldn't complain about my husband.  I know it.  But the reason I have started budgeting and OAMC cooking, and trying to be a better wife and mother, baking, filling out surveys and for free samples, etc. is to help the money that HE EARNS doing a job he hates, go farther. 

He has had to change the least out of all of us.  He still has his 12+ 2-liters of pop every week.  His milk fetish is satiated.  He has his expensive hard salami and the 2 dollar a loaf of bread for work (see why I'm irritated?)  while we use the 50 cent loaves ourselves with egg salad. 

If you have advice on how NOT to be irritated -- please, I'd love to hear it.  I feel guilt all the time that I can't keep my mind free of negativity when it comes to my husband.  That is part of my 30-day challenge too.  To stop the negative talk going on in my head in regards to dh.  I am not disrespectful TO him.  I treat him like a king.  But in my head -- I treat him more like a jester.

So onwards and upwards -- it's another day -- let's see what we can make of it!

Sherry

It was another pretty quiet, slow day.  I feel like something else should be happening. 

I spent money.  I had to.  Dh goes back to work tomorrow and he only wants a particular bread and salami in his lunch.  So I went to buy it.  I put gas in the car.  Air in my tire.  Dh went to the dr. and then bought himself dinner.  *sigh*  I am trying to build us a nest egg and he keeps eating it. 

It's stressful.  This whole money "thing".  Part of me blames myself, because if I wasn't homechooling, I could find a part time job while the kids were in school.  I HAVE a part time job from home, but barely bring anything in the house with it 

I'm trying SO hard.  But my penchant to spend is strong! 

I DO believe that we will have nearly 200 in the savings account by the end of this month, and that is a start.  My goal was 300 -- but I didn't count on a few things money-wise. 

School went really well.  We did math and phonics at the kitchen table and then went to snuggle on my bed for the rest of the subjects.  We're learning about Native Americans and it just fits in well with the nature and classics we are reading too.  Tomorrow is Brownies.  Emme loves it.  They are a homeschooled group and they are very active.  It's so good for her.  We'll be going to a Native American Pow Wow in a few weeks.  I hope to really get her imagination going for her notebooking.  We read "Hiawatha's Children" today from the "Stories of Early America" book --  (I was going to link you to Amazon, but the only rating and review of the book is mine!).

Anyway -- I'm not satisfied with my progress.  No surprise!

I did change our bedding to our fall/winter set.  It's wonderfully dark in the room now.  Much more private. 

Sorry nothing more to report.

Sherry

I awoke only to find a dismal, gray morning, which soon broke into rain.  It had its desired effect, calming and lulling me.  I didn't succomb, however, and started in on my Bible study and prayer time.  Afterwards I emptied the dishwasher, made my ta do list, had some breakfast, printed out a world map for our "doorschooling", and some phonegram pages from the Jan_Brett website.

Next will be school and some baking.  Emily has ballet tonight, so we will have to leave the house afterall. 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Later in the evening:

It ended up raining nearly all day.  I got more done on my list than usual, felt a bit more calm -- but I spent more time on the web than I wanted to.   I have to keep telling myself that this is a process.  It will take time. 

I made two new recipes today.  I used some biscuit dough we had sitting in the fridge, not planned for anything, and I squished them into a larger circle using the heel of my hand.  I then put in some cheddar cheese and ham, rolled them up and baked them.  Emme loved them.  There are several left for dh too.

Tonight I made more chocolate chip cookies -- and then I made a batch of peanut butter.  I had a few leftover peanuts that I put in them.  I didn't have a recipe, so I just guestimated everything.  They turned out pretty yummy. 

And due to the stuffed cabbages my mother sent home for us last night -- I got out of cooking one of our pre-frozen meals tonight!  So I will save it towards next month's meals. 

Oh, I made and tried those chicken packets (a few posts back) and they were only OK.  Thumbs down from Emme.  I thought they were pretty good, but not good enough to make again.  Ah well. 

I got some cookbooks in the mail today and a free mini mixer.  I also got "Alice in Wonderland" on c.d., a wedding invitation, a letter from Em's penpal in Texas, and a history homeschooling book.

I'm going to try and get to bed before midnight tonight, if you can imagine that!

Until tomorrow,

Sherry

  I must admit that I am a little nervous about my challenge, which starts tomorrow.  It's almost as if I am going to go to sleep and wake up a different person.  A mother with more patience.  A housekeeper who never tires.   A wife who is submissive.  A teacher who inspires.   A woman who walks in the Word.  A Proverbs 31 woman.  A Titus 2 woman even!  *sigh*  So, I'm nervous.  I fall short in every category.  This is why I need to do this. 

Will my kitchen floor finally sparkle?  Will the laundry pile cease to exist?  Will Emme learn to read finally?  Will every meal turn out like the recipe?  Will I stop expecting so much from myself?  Probably not.

I want to be the best ME that I can.  I know I can do better than I am doing now. 

I'm not sure what the hardest part will be for me.  Not buying anything that isn't necessary will be nearly impossible!  LOL  But that, in and of itself, is a necessity.  Not reading all my favorite blogs every day!  Now THAT is going to be tough!  Limiting my computer time.  I've been spending extra (a LOT extra!) time on the computer this weekend.  Like binging before fasting, I suppose. 

Well, it's nearly midnight, and I will be getting up at a decent hour tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

Sherry

30 Days to a Simpler Life: 

Getting back to basics:  The Three R's

What is the first advice that a fellow homeschooler will tell you when you mention that you are faltering?  Get back to the basic!  The three R's!  Well, I plan on doing the same thing!

1.     Relationships

2.     Responsibilities

3.     Reflection

When deciding what I needed to do in my life in order to simplify and slow down to focus, I made a little diagram.  I put my name in the center.  I wanted to surround myself with the most important thing in my life.  First was God.  Next was my kids, my family, and friends.  These are all relationships.  Next I listed: Finances, Home, School, and My health.  These are all responsibilities.  Finally I listed:  Reading and writing -- both which give me reflection.  Then I used a highlighter for each category.  Pink for relationships, green responsibilitie, orange reflection.  Then I realized that God really should be in EVERY category. 

Getting back to the basics - simplifying -- focusing -- it all start with God.  I need to spend more time in His Word.  More time in prayer.  More time in worship.  I want a closer bond.  This is my first priority.  I will be printing out and utilizing this_challenge from A_Virtuous_Woman.  I've been meaning to start this challenge and just haven't gotten around to it.  (Like a whole lot of other things!) 

With friends and family, I want to do things to make them feel special.  I want to send notecards or letters, make creative gifts and send them, have the kids draw pictures and share them across the miles.  Things I keep MEANING TO DO.  I will also be trying to make more friends in my church and homeschool community.  Reaching out more.  And I will have my first "Sunday with Cindy" tomorrow.  We go to church together and afterwards we will go to her house and hone our housekeeping skills!  (Tomorrow we will be baking and washing clothes)

As for the kids, I need to REALLY PAY ATTENTION to what they say.  Do special (free!) things with them -- walks, reading aloud, cooking together, more one on one time,  library, park, nature hikes, etc.  They love to play board games, have movie nights, help me bake (well, the girls do) and I want more time focusing on them. 

So my primary focus will be on relationships.  Nurturing, sharing, hugging, and spending time. 

Simply yours,

Sherry

I've been reading on a couple other blogs about people sacrificing to better themselves.  Dandelion_Seeds is a woman that I very much admire, and she is going to take a month of quiet to really clean her heart.  Over at Square_Space they are going to "fast" by not spending any money on anything except necessities.  BOTH of these women got me thinking.  I need help.  I need help focusing on what is important. 

I don't have all the details yet, so that is why I will be finishing this post up tomorrow after things are more clear.  I do know that there are some things that I have already started to do in my home that will continue.  And other ideas that I have wanted to implement which I have yet to do. 

Beginning Monday, September 18th, 2006 through Tuesday, October 17th, 2006, I am going to simplify my life. 

I will have self - rules -- or challenges.  They are not going to be specific such as "you will bring the wash downstairs at 7 a.m. every morning and hang them to dry at 8" -- these will be more general.  But they will be things that I feel are important for me to do in order to not only simplify my life -- but to live the type of life that I always think is down the road.  Does that make sense?  Like when you say "Once my youngest is "this" old I will be able to do "this"  or "once we have "this" amount of money in the bank I will feel "this".  It's time to live in the NOW.  I'm missing things.  Important things.  I'm planning more than I'm DOING. 

I'm serious about this.  I'm going to be looking inward and getting down to the simple things.  The IMPORTANT things.

Tomorrow I'll be listing my challenges.  That's my assignment for tonight -- to figure out the most advantageous way to spend 30 days.

Sherry

Dove_Body_Lotion   Free sample.  Just take a 30-second survey.

Free_RAchel_Ray_Cookbook  You have to tell about your biggest travel discovery in 50 words or less and they will send you a free cookbook!

Dog/Cat_sample_food  Short survey about your pet -- you will get a coupon for free dog and/or cat food.

7_free_samples) from Walmart!  Always, Olay, Advil PM, etc. 

I'll try to post at least a few free samples every week!  And anything else that looks good. 

Hope you enjoy!

Sherry

 I'm about half-way through my OAMC cooking day!  I've been cooking pretty steadily for about 3 hours now.  I had one mishap with the ground beef.  It was spoiled!  The "sell-by" date was tomorrow and my fridge is just fine!  So I don't know what happened.  All of the pork is in the freezer and all of the chicken.  I still have the beef - stew/steak to finish cooking tonight -- and then I think I will make some type of baked good.  Maybe some muffins. 

I have to say, the filling for the chicken packets (see last post) smells SO GOOD that I want to eat them tonight!  Likewise with the parmesan chicken.....I'm hungry!  But boy does it feel satisfying to see all those Ziplocs piled up in the freezer!  I am marking them with a Sharpie marker so I don't mistake the asian beef with the spanish beef! 

  I still have to cook a very big quantity of beef before I can consider myself "done" for the day.   Strips for stroganoff, pepper steak, tacos, stir fry and quesadillas.  I bought the beef on sale for 1.79 per pound,  boneless skinless chicken for 1.69 a pound, and pork for 1.99 per pound. 

I have to say -- this is most definitely a "learn as you go" process!  I haven't a clue about freezing rice, pasta, vegetables....  I've read up on a few.  Cabbage and carrots can be frozen (in pieces for the cabbage) if you blanch them and then cool them in ice/cold water.  Dry and freeze.  I've read you CAN freeze rice -- I'm going to try it with a little bit and see before I freeze big portions and end up wasting it.  Pasta?  I'll do the same.  One place said to cook it 3/4 of the way and freeze, the other said cook it all the way and freeze.  Hmmmm. 

Oh, and I made vegetable soup the other day from leftover veggies, cabbage, egg noodles w/ a tomato base and it was really good!  Next time hopefully I'll have a tiny bit of beef to use in it too -- maybe hubby will eat it then! 

Well, my break time is over and it's time to get chopping and cooking the beef!  I'm sure it will feel worth it once I am able to get dinners on the table quickly and easily for the rest of the month!

Your frugal friend,

Sherry

  I did my OAMC shopping today.  I also had to do a major kitchen stock up of Ziploc bags and the like.  And you know what?  I learned something today.  I learned that I have been making the mistake of buying the least expensive package of something --- not the one that is the least expensive per USE. 

For example, I buy my generic ibuprofen at the dollar store.  I get 24 pills for a dollar.  I use 4 pills a day.  This ends up costing about 4 cents per pill.  Today I bought the generic Walmart brand of ibuprofen and got 200 pills for 4.53, which ends up being about 2 cents per pill.  This seemingly small savings will add up to 27.74 a year.  Combine enough of these small, overlooked things and you could easily save hundreds!  (My goal!)

I also did the same comparison on cat litter -- I found one nearly half the price of my old one and it is going to save me over 92 dollars a year! 

I could go on and on.  But MY frugalness was COSTING me money.  I didn't want to pay 4.53 at one time to buy in bulk!  I'd rather keep spending that dollar bill over and over!  It didn't occur to me what I was doing. 

So yes, my groceries cost more this week -- but I have enough Ziplocs, garbage bags, kitty litter, cat food, dinners, etc. to last me a month!  All I have to buy at the store next week is lunch and breakfast foods -- and NEXT week, I plan on OAMC-ing breakfasts!  Muffins, pancakes, biscuits.... so I will have 2 meals taken care of for a month (as long as dh doesn't eat them all as snacks!)

So now I have 6 lbs of chicken, 5 of ground beef, 7 of beef roast, 5 of pork, beans, veggies, pasta, rice, baking ingredients, etc. lining my pantry, fridge, and freezer.  The biggest task is going to be getting everything ready to freeze.  Honestly?  I'm not looking forward to this part.  Only time will tell if the effort involved is worth all of those meals in my freezer! 

Tonight I am going to make a vegetable/cabbage soup to use up all of our leftover veggies from last week and grilled ham and cheese sandwiches to use up the old bread, cheese, and ham.  I froze the leftover cubed ham, shredded pork, and shredded chicken I made over the past couple of days to use up the meat I had.  I will use the pork for fried rice, the chicken for salad (upon request of dh) and the ham for omelets, quiche, or even in mac and cheese (dd loves that). 

Tonight while our soup is cooking I am going to brown 3 lbs of hamburger with onion (drain) and then add taco seasoning (I get these 3/1 at a local Sav A Lot grocery store -- which is mostly all off brands).  I'll package the hamburger separately and freeze -- one for tacos, one for burritoes, one for chili.  

I am not going to get into all of the details here -- but I will list what our dinners will be for the next 4 weeks:

Ground beef:  Spaghetti and meatballs w/ garlic toast,  sloppy joes with oven fries,  tacos w/ spanish rice,  burritoes with mexican salad, and chili with corn muffins. 

Chicken:  Chicken hard tacos w/ homeade salsa and cumin rice,  chicken packets (recipe for this one will be posted) crockpot chicken cacciatore, and chicken parmesan with ziti.

Pork:  Pork fried rice, breaded pork chops with roasted vegetables,  BBQ ribs with cornbread and green beans,  crock pot Asian pork loin and potatoes w/ green peas.

Beef:  Crockpot stroganoff over egg noodles,  crock pepper steak over rice,  steak quesadillas w/ cheddar cheese and salsa,  beef stir fry over rice,  steak soft tacos with garlic lime sauce and cumin rice. 

Beans:  Cajun black beans and rice,  spanish beans and rice w/ homeade tortillas,  navy beans, corn bread and fried potatoes; refried bean burritoes w/ spanish salad.

Veggies:  Vegetable stir fry with crunchy chinese noodles, cabbage soup with homeade bread,  vegetable soup with corn muffins,  vegetable french bread pizzas.

Chicken packets are the only thing I'm trying brand new.  The rest are all tried and true.  (i.e. less likely to screw up!)   Here is the recipe for the chicken packets:

Chicken Packets (OAMC)

Recipe #50767

24 ratings

Another Once a month meal that's sure to please. My little girl likes these because they pick up easily in her hands!

by Tish

8

packets

40 min 20 min prep

Change to: packets US Metric

2	cups chopped cooked chicken
1 (3	ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1	tablespoon chives, chopped
2	tablespoons milk
	salt
1/2	cup seasoned croutons, crushed to crumbs
2 (8	ounce) packages refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1/4	cup melted margarine

I"m not trying the above recipe for a couple of weeks, but when I do, I'll make sure to post how it tastes! 

In a post coming soon, I'm going to attempt to make my own laundry soap, softener, and softener sheets!  (Next week)   If those work out, there are so many sites out there that give you great ideas on how to make your own cleaners, air fresheners, dishwashing soap, baby wipes, etc! 

Until then, have a wonderfully frugal week!

Sherry

As you may have read, I've been trying to personalize my living room more.  It is beginning to feel more and more like "me" -- with the help of my mother.

I'm not sure if I mentioned, but I found a gorgeous framed print for three dollars at a local discount store.  It was marked down and it was the perfect colors for my living room.  It is a picture of three burgandy flowers, each in a glass vase, on a background of textured beiges.  Now, the frame is cheap-looking -- but I will remedy that through time with a thrift or garage sale find. 

Another great place to go for artwork is your local museum!  They often sell prints of beautiful art for a few dollars.  I bought two such pictures and will be searching out frames to do them justice!  The Salvation Army, St. Vincent DePaul's, or your local thrift store is the best place to look.  If you are patient, you WILL find them.  Then you are left with gorgeous framed artwork that you absolutely love and you only spent a few dollars!

Here is a site that shows you how to repair_wood_picture_frames. 

Another thing you can do, of course, is find vintage frames from an antique store, thrift, or garage/estate sales and make a collage of family photographs.  This takes some hunting, unless you happen upon a garage sale letting go of a bunch of them at once!  But don't your family photos deserve unique, lovely frames?  This is a project of mine at the moment. 

Finally -- another thing which I love to do in order to fill those empty walls in my home..... taking photographs myself!  Flowers, trees, skylines, lakes, architectures, etc. make gorgeous photographs.  Have a theme (I took a picture of this old, dilapidated farmhouse in the fall, winter, spring, and summer) and blow them up to 8x11 (or print from  your computer!) frame them and voile'!  Instant style!  Do you have a favorite special place?  A restaurant, museum, moviehouse that you and your dh love to go to?  Find a small area of interest -- a cornice over a doorway, a marble inlayed window frame, a potted plant, an architectural area of interest -- and take a picture of it from an odd angle.  This will make an attractive piece of artwork for your home and it will be even more special knowing that it is somewhere that you and your dh have spent time laughing and sharing. 

I hope these ideas are useful for you.  I like to have art on my walls -- I just don't like to pay the price for it!

Happy housekeeping,

Sherry