Thursday, January 31, 2008

Ills

Well friends its finally happened. With all the illness going around it was bound to happen. I woke up with a firery throat. I should have known it was coming. Which leaves me wondering.. is this why Zach has been acting so poorly. He has been coughing, and asking for cough drops, but he never really complains when he is sick. Just acts badly. And of all days I am working at his school today, covering a shift for someone who is sick!! Now either I got it from Zach or Checkers gorcery store. I swear to god everytime we go there one of us gets sick! Last time I got this weird stomach thing, from using the bathroom, well I think that is where I got it. I went there on Tues, cause the welcome wagon lady brought me a coupon for a bunch of free items, so I went to get them.. soo basically I sold my health out for a free bag of chips, 2 liter of soda, box of cookies and a half gallon of ice cream... mannnnnnn
Serves me right for eating junky ......

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Let the craftiness begin!

Okay I got to spend a little time crafting this weekend, hard to believe with all my grocery planning and all right? LOL. Anyways I go the first big section of my quilt underway and here is what it looks like:
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And a pic of the space where I get to do my crafting:
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Pretty cool huh? And since I made a big sale on E-Bay now I can afford the fabric I want for the backing too! Yay!
In other news my mom has found a permanent place for my Grandma in Abilene, KS. She seems pretty happy there and has been enjoying meeting new people, of course as my friend sharon says when you have alzheimers you meet new people everyday right??

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Menu and expenditures 1/27-2/10

Sunday:Country fried(venison) minute steaks, mashed pots, steamed brocc.
Mon: Breakfast for dinner: scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, melon
Tues: Chicken and herbed rice with carrots
Wed: French Onion soup with bread and salad
Thurs: Ghetto tuna noodle casserole with peas
Friday: Leftovers
Sat: Dinner party: Eggplant Rustica and Lemon Chicken Piccatta
Sunday: Meatloaf (venison), mashed potatoes and steamed green beans
Monday: Enchilada casserole(containing spinach and chicken) and refried beans
Tues:Spaghetti with Italian sausage and salad
Wed: Baked chicken with squash and stuffing
Thurs: Red beans and rice with sausage
Friday: Homemade pizza and raw veggies and dip
Sat: Steak, baked pots, sweet pots
Sunday: Breakfast- french toast casserole. The off to the store for shopping

Grocery receipt:
Two bags bagels for DH .88 per bag
1 1/2 gallons OJ 5.76
Frozen chopped spinach .76
Smoked sausage (nitrate free) 2.75
2 loaves organic bread 4.29
linguine pasta .88
penne pasta .88
Organic enchilada sauce 1.15
capers 2.29
All of the applegate brand nitrate homone free lunch meats were .99 for 8oz packs, what a bargain! Lunches for Gene= 2 weeks
Applegate brand lunch meat 4 of them .99 per pack
Earth's best organic mini Bluberry waffles 2.89 but used coupon for $1.00 off so
1.89
Organic refried beans .97
Organic eggs 2.88
Organic gallon of milk 5.88
Half and half one pint 2.08
1.48 lbs fresh eggplant 2.90
organic red and green bell peppers 2.99
bag of onions 1.99
1.11lbs grapes 2.75
2 bags organic salad mix 5.00
Organic brocc 1.89
organic carrots 2lbs 1.99
1 bag boneless skinless chicken breasts( veg. feed, hormone free)
5.99
Organic Jasmine rice (bulk) 2.15
Bag of dried red beans .89

Total for groceries: 65.75+ 4.83 for tax
I will be spending about ten more dollars this week since we are having some company.

So I going to round my total to 80.58
I saved 1.00 with a coupon and got .20 credit for using my bags so I saved 1.20 this week!

Internet business

As most of you know I am always looking for a way to make money while I work from home. Well here is a great way to do it:
If you are interested in learning how to make money with little or no start up cost you should check out this amazing book by Steve Weber "The Home-Based Bookstore". It a great teaching guide for learning how to start your very own website, or a store on Amazon or E-bay.
Here is a link to help you find this very useful tool:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0977240606/turk-20
Good Luck!

Friday, January 25, 2008

I met another mama!

Well I said I was going to do it, but someone beat me to it. Today at open gym, someone talked to me! Our sons played together so nicely and she came over to talk to me about it, cause I guess her twin boys don't play with anyone else. Yay zach! Thanks! She asked me what days I go to the gym and was persistent about wanting to see us again next friday. Her name is Lori, and she has 3 kids. YAY!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Lonely

Sad but true.. I am actually still homesick for Mass. I have met very few moms here, and I am just struggling with it. Its not fun, feeling like an outsider. i usaually adapt very well wherever I go, but not now I guess. Tonite I am going to hole up in my craft room and work on the quilt and try to sew my loneliness away. Geez I must be pre-menstrual, cause I sound pathetic...gasp!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Toot, toot

I just wanted to toot my own horn. But remember that ham I had a few weeks ago? Well I froze the rest of it, 2lbs or more of it. I did not make the strata last week , so I am making it tonite. I have enough for dinner, then I ground the rest of it for a second round of ham salad for next weeks lunches, and I save thed hock( bone with meat) part and the cooking juice for a healthy pot of ham and bean soup for next week, hows that for resoursefulness... more than 6 meals from one 9.00 ham.. Damnnnnnn....TOOT

Quilt squares..

Okay, I laid out my squares this morning and I think I am ready to get started. I am going to go to Hancocks and buy some good thread to get started. Here's hoping...
In other news my brother sewing machine has been acting up, so my mom being generous bought me a cheap $50 off brand machine... I am torn, do I work with this cheap machine or continue on with the brother. Oh the insanity..
here is a pic of the square laid out and ready to go:
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Monday, January 21, 2008

Happy Birthday Grandma

Wow, what a weekend! I spent the weekend with my grandma for her 90th birthday. She would not let me bake her a cake! We did however go out to eat and she had a steak and a beer, she can be such a hoot sometimes! The sad thing is that her Alzheimers has started to take her away from us. She often forgets the names of things, like people and food, and stuff, she lashes out us, and its as if we are strangers to us. She yelled at my son, which was so sad. Luckily he was not upset and just left the room. Perhaps at the tender age of four he just "knows." I had fun taking her to store and thrifting, and she asked me many times why I did not just stay there with her. I just can't I told her. She is constantly accusing my mom(her caretaker) of taking her things and stealing money from her, when in fact my mom has done no such thing. Its hurtful and makes my mom really angry and sad all at once. I know if I were in fact her caretaker it would be me that she chose to lash out at.
The saddest news of all is that today, my mom is having her admitted to a facilty that specializes with alzheimers. The doctors have diagnosed her with a stage 3 with the disease. She can no longer stay at home alone while my parents are at work. She is legally blind now also, but she refuses to admit it, she insists on trying to cook, and burns things often. It is just a sad thing, and I am torn. I wish to god I could take care of her, but I also have a commitment to my own family. She begged me not to leave her "with that woman." ( my mom) I left in a hurry so she could not see me cry. I told her I loved her and would see her soon. I am so grateful that my son has gotten to at least know her, I hope he remembers he as the fiesty old woman that she once was. Now I just wait for the call from my mother to let me know that things have gone smoothly and she has been placed. I know she is going to be angry and resentful, and I anticipate a call from her, asking me to pick her up. But I know I can't do that. I just can't.
Here are the few pictures from this weekend that she let me take of her.
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Farewell great woman, I will visit your stranger soon.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Garden lament

Wow, I was dreaming about my garden last nite. I sure am going to miss it this year. We took it apart and gave all the dirt and fencing away to a woman who was starting an organic farm.
Here are some pics of it early last spring.
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And some tasty carrots from my garden:
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dear garden I am missing you so much, thanks for all the good things you gave us the last two years.
May we find a house where I can garden!
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Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Tale of the missing square

Okay, so I got those fabulous squares on e-bay for my quilt project. I finally got a chance to lay them out and guess what? One is missing. So I count them 3 times, I check my bag. I check the envelope that they came in, nothing. I e-mail the seller, and she tells me I need to count them, I shoot an e-mail back I have counted them!! She e-mails me and tells me that there is no way I have been shorted a square. I have to e-mail her back and tall her I am going to leave bad feedback. Guess what? She says she will send one out ASAP. Bitch! Anyways, so the quilt is going to be derailed until I get my square and can lay them out into my pattern.

In other news, I took DS to his new gym class last nite. He had a blast and the great news is that I can work out while he is there. I did 40 minutes on the treadmill last nite, it was awesome. I did my yoga DVD this morning. ( thanks DINA!) I logged onto sparkpeople to document my food, and after I drop DS off at school I am headed to the gym for an hour. Hopefully I can keep this routine up. Although I am going to my moms this weekend and gasp... the food is always fab, my G-ma is a fantastic cook.
This weekend she will be 90! Wow and she is in as good as shape as any 60 yr old woman, minus the forgetfulness, she is pretty healthy, takes only breathing meds, and loves her bacon and half-and half, you go grandma! Later dudes

Monday, January 14, 2008

Change in Menu

Okay so yesterday DH, asked me what was for dinner, I told him, beef and rice. He asked me if I had anything else I could make, as he was in the mood for indian food. I had already defrosted the beef so here is the recipe for what I came up with:

Indian style beef:
1lb beef diced small ( I used two chuck tender steaks)
1 small can sliced mushrooms
1 can 15oz diced toms
1 can roasted garlic tom. paste
1 diced green pepper
1 tablespoon garam marsala
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons cumin
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions: Heat olive oil in frying pan, add diced beef and brown on all sides. Meanwhile place all other ingredients into large cooking pot. Add browned beef and one can of water using the can from the diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then put on low. Simmer on low for 3 hours with a lid on the pan, stirring occasionally. Serve over hot cooked rice. Made around 5 servings.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Meals for the week(s) 2 weeks of planning and expenditures

Sunday: Beef and mushrooms with rice and steamed cauliflower
Monday: Spagetti with brocc. and Italian sausage
Tuesday: Baked chicken with mashed pots. and steamed green beans
Wednesday: Taco Salad and refried beans and cheese
Thursday: Breakfast for dinner: scrambled eggs and pancakes
I will be out of town for friday, sat, and sunday meals, but DH stills needs to eat, so I will make meals ahead and store them.
Friday: Meatloaf with mashed pots. and brocc.
Sat: leftover chicken with rice and veggies.
Sunday: Ya on yah : this means you are on your own.. figure it out dumbass! (DH)
Monday: Ham Strata with spinach
Tuesday: Lemon Chicken Piccata and salad
Wednesday: Cooked Brats: on homemade buns, baked beans and coleslaw
Thursday: Bierocks and peas
Friday: Veggie stir-fry and rice
Sat: Homemade Pizza and salad
Lunches: leftovers, mac and cheese, grilled cheese, pbjs

Grocery reciept:
2 bags bagels: for DH only 1.76
Orange Juice large jug for DH 4.86
One gallon Hy-Vee brand 2% milk (I usually buy organic, but had a free coupon)
Can of organic baked beans 1.88
Decaf tea bags for DH 2.39
white vinegar 1.32
organic pizza sauce 1.72
organic whole wheat bread 3.49
capers 2.29
2 cans tuna 1.36
Hy-vee organic eggs 2.98
Soyjoy bar )treat for me: free with coupon
Organic squeeze yogurts stoneyfield 3.98
stoneyfield organic fat free yogurt .80
1 3lb bagged boneless skinless chkn breatst 5.77
Hormel nitrate free bacon 3.00
Organic italian sausage 1lb X 2 not marked so was free!
Organic brats 1lb X 2 6.00
Pepperoni 2.39
half and half 2.08
Shredded 2% mozz. cheese 1.99
block of colby X 2 2 .99
organic cuke 1.99
organic salad mix x2 5.76
1lb local organic ground hamburg 6.00
smart chicken whole fryer 6.30
3 fresh pears 1.88
5 bananas organic 2.50
1 can of mushrooms .59
1 bulk bag of basmati rice 3.46

Total: 81.53+ tax 4.81= 86.34

Okay so I went over my $80.00 limit this week, but just barely. And there are enough groceries for 2 weeks. No eating out, and limited amount of junk food.

And I need to review some of my purchases in accordance with my meals: The whole fryer will be baked and end up making 2 meals. The cheese that I bought was only 99 cents per whole 10oz block, so I bought 3 and froze two of them, these are great for snaking on, and can be shredded for another meal too! I found the organic brats on sale for 3.00 a 1lb pack a great deal indeed, so I got 2, but the organic italian sausage was in the same place and unmarked, I asked the natural foods guy and he had no idea it was even ordered, I had picked out two of them thinking they were 3.00 each but instead I got them for free! I always try to buy for future meals when I find a deal! The soyjoy bar, yum a treat for me was free cause I had a coupon for a free one, be sure and use your coupons girls! An lastly I brought my own canvas bags to use for groceries, not only do I help the environment but I get credit for 5 cents a bag.
The bierocks I make and freeze ahead of time. They cost around 8.00 to make 36 of them and since we eat around 8 of them for a meal this is a great time investment to make them and almost like fast food since I only have to defrost and bake them. maybe I will post this reciepe but not today...
So in review, I spent 86.00 but saved this much:
Free sausages: 6.00
free milk: 3.98
free soyjoy bar: 1.23
bag refund: .25

total saved: 11.46
Wow, sometimes I even amaze myself! Hows that for some grocery craftiness.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

The real deal

I am making my grocery list tonite, and I will post my spending and menu for the week tomorrow. Lets see how I can dazzle you ladies with my crafty grocery magic. ;)

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Ode to Jam

I want to be able to sell my Jam this summer at the Farmers market here in Lawrence. WOW talk about red tape! I had no idea, I had to jump thru so many hoops. I made phone calls, left messages and filled out two seperate applications. Apparently I have to have state certification in order to be able to sell my wares... who knew it was going to be this strenous. I may just end up sticking to selling it word of mouth, cause man....
When I sold it in NE, it was to mostly friends and I did quite well! Gulp..we shall see. More on this subject at a later time

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Fruits of labor

Yesterday was a day of much work, I canned and sewed, and did housework until I thought I was going to fall down from the work load. I started on the second bootie that I made for my friend.
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And here is the jam I made:
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I am hoping to make enough jam stock so that I can try to sell some this summer at the farmers market. I guess I had better get to canning!
I am really lamenting our move from Massachusetts, as I can not really pick all the berries I used to for the low prices. My jam may suffer quality because of this, but one can only do thier best under the circumstances.

If you were interesed in making booties for yourself, here is a link to the free pattern for them:
http://www.heatherbaileydesign.com/Booties.html

Its off to the store for more jam supplies, hopefully tonite is the nite that I can start piecing together my quilt squares. :)

Monday, January 7, 2008

Cooking respect..

Okay, I am just going to jump in and be downright bitchy.. I just want a little respect, just a teeny bit for being a good cook and streching the budget.
This is exactly what I am talking about: DH wants me to strech the budget as much as I can which means this week was a non-grocery store week. ( I usually go every sunday). This week however since I have decent stock of food here, we thought we could go without a trip to the store this week. The menu looks something like this:

Sunday: Baked Ham, mashed pots, and steamed brocc.
Mon.: Tatertot casserole
Tues: Homemade Bierocks and green salad
Wed.: Homemade scalloped pots with brocc. and ham
Thurs: leftovers
Friday: Thick chicken and noodles with peas and carrots
Sat: Homemade pizza and salad
Sunday: Blueberry pancakes and eggs for breakfast, its off to the store for next week stuff.
Snacks and Lunches: leftovers, quesadillas, mac and cheese, yogurt, cheese, apples, bananas, pears, pretzles, granola, almonds, cashews and peanuts.

Alright here is my point, not only did I manage to have enough food in the house for two weeks of groceries, I made almost all of the food homemade, from scratch, most ingredients are organic and I only spent around $80.00!!!
Dh husband thinks we spend too much on food, and I am pissed cause I do not think that we do.. Not only did I get 2 meals out of the ham, but I also made a weeks worth of homemade, healthy ham salad for his lunches, because he always take his lunch to work.

On another note: I got my new quilt squares and this is what they look like:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120199409232&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=002#ebayphotohosting
Hopefully I can get started on them this week.