From Aliisa:
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Everyone!!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Dishwashing Detergent
From Aliisa:
Awhile back I posted that the homemade dishwashing detergent I made didnt work. It leaves my glasses looking cloudy, so I stopped using it. Now, I hate to waste anything so I have kept it all this time wondering what I was going to use it for. I realized last week that maybe I could use it with the store bought detergent and extend my uses with it. So, last week I bought whatever was on sale and read the label. It said to fill both dishes in the dishwasher with the detergent. Now I have read that you only need 1T - 2 T per load so I measured it out. 1 T of the store bought and 1 T of my very inexpensive homemade detergent and my dishes have come out clean each time I have used it. I am very happy with the results and in the long run, it does save me money.....not as much as it would if I could make it homemade but it saves me money non the less.
So, I encourage you to give it a try. Just mix 1 cup borax with 1 cup baking soda and use 1 T per load added with 1 T of whatever brand you normally use.
hmmmm...I wonder if I could use 1/2 T of each and still have clean dishes.....I think that is an experiment for another day!!
Awhile back I posted that the homemade dishwashing detergent I made didnt work. It leaves my glasses looking cloudy, so I stopped using it. Now, I hate to waste anything so I have kept it all this time wondering what I was going to use it for. I realized last week that maybe I could use it with the store bought detergent and extend my uses with it. So, last week I bought whatever was on sale and read the label. It said to fill both dishes in the dishwasher with the detergent. Now I have read that you only need 1T - 2 T per load so I measured it out. 1 T of the store bought and 1 T of my very inexpensive homemade detergent and my dishes have come out clean each time I have used it. I am very happy with the results and in the long run, it does save me money.....not as much as it would if I could make it homemade but it saves me money non the less.
So, I encourage you to give it a try. Just mix 1 cup borax with 1 cup baking soda and use 1 T per load added with 1 T of whatever brand you normally use.
hmmmm...I wonder if I could use 1/2 T of each and still have clean dishes.....I think that is an experiment for another day!!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Back on the Exercise wagon
From Aliisa:
I know I havent posted in a week but I really havent felt like it. I have spent the week really concentrating on me, something I dont do all that often. It started on Sunday when I found that I couldnt wear my black slacks, they were just a tad bit too tight....which started my day off just perfect. After complaining about it, I wore something else. This led to my evaluation on Monday. Im not thin, havent been in quite awhile, however this week Im feeling even bigger than I have in awhile.....so....I dared to step on the scales. I gained 6 pounds....bad but not nearly as bad as I thought based on how I felt in my clothes...and thus it began.
I have slowly dragged myself back on the exercise wagon that I fell off of before summer. Its so easy to fall off and stay off but man is it hard to drag yourself back on it....I think it moves too fast *lol*.
I managed to workout 4 days this week, I skipped yesterday because I went grocery shopping in the morning which led to putting groceries away and cleaning out the fridge and then cleaning the kitchen again and by the time I was done...my day was close to over and it was almost time for Emily to come home from school.
The progess is slow but Im bound and determined to at the very least, not gain anything over the holidays!!
And to prove how dedicated I am to my exercise and eating right...we are making homemade pizzas for dinner tonight *lol* I think I shall stay away from the dreaded scales for awhile!!!
I know I havent posted in a week but I really havent felt like it. I have spent the week really concentrating on me, something I dont do all that often. It started on Sunday when I found that I couldnt wear my black slacks, they were just a tad bit too tight....which started my day off just perfect. After complaining about it, I wore something else. This led to my evaluation on Monday. Im not thin, havent been in quite awhile, however this week Im feeling even bigger than I have in awhile.....so....I dared to step on the scales. I gained 6 pounds....bad but not nearly as bad as I thought based on how I felt in my clothes...and thus it began.
I have slowly dragged myself back on the exercise wagon that I fell off of before summer. Its so easy to fall off and stay off but man is it hard to drag yourself back on it....I think it moves too fast *lol*.
I managed to workout 4 days this week, I skipped yesterday because I went grocery shopping in the morning which led to putting groceries away and cleaning out the fridge and then cleaning the kitchen again and by the time I was done...my day was close to over and it was almost time for Emily to come home from school.
The progess is slow but Im bound and determined to at the very least, not gain anything over the holidays!!
And to prove how dedicated I am to my exercise and eating right...we are making homemade pizzas for dinner tonight *lol* I think I shall stay away from the dreaded scales for awhile!!!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Links for Frugal Christmas presents under $10
From Sundy:
Here are three links that have many frugal Christmas ideas for under $10.
63 ideas at Better Budgeting
100 ideas at Associated Content
Bunches and bunches at No Brain
Happy hunting! :)
Here are three links that have many frugal Christmas ideas for under $10.
63 ideas at Better Budgeting
100 ideas at Associated Content
Bunches and bunches at No Brain
Happy hunting! :)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Frugal Christmas present idea
From Sundy:
One idea that I've used many times in the last 20 years is extremely frugal (at least for me). I cut out words, phrases, and pictures from various magazines that describe the person for whom I'm making the gift. Then I decoupage them on the inside of a wooden box (the smallest ones at Walmart cost 97 cents). Then I will either paint the outside in the person's favorite color or leave it unfinished with a layer of decoupage over the outside. I suppose one could also put the person's name on the outside.
Voila! The receiver can open the box anytime to see all the love and care and thought inside. Mostly I've made this gift for guys (the majority of men that I know love boxes to put stuff in), but it would work for girls, too.
The decoupage medium is sold at Walmart. I believe it was about $5 the last time I bought some, and I have enough still in the bottle for several more boxes. I've heard you can also use white glue, but I've never tried it.
I cut up an old clean dish sponge to apply the medium, and although I have bought boxes before, I've also used old ring and watch boxes, as well as an old child's jewelry box before.
It is one of the most frugal gifts I've given. My husband still has the one that I made for him while we were dating.
One idea that I've used many times in the last 20 years is extremely frugal (at least for me). I cut out words, phrases, and pictures from various magazines that describe the person for whom I'm making the gift. Then I decoupage them on the inside of a wooden box (the smallest ones at Walmart cost 97 cents). Then I will either paint the outside in the person's favorite color or leave it unfinished with a layer of decoupage over the outside. I suppose one could also put the person's name on the outside.
Voila! The receiver can open the box anytime to see all the love and care and thought inside. Mostly I've made this gift for guys (the majority of men that I know love boxes to put stuff in), but it would work for girls, too.
The decoupage medium is sold at Walmart. I believe it was about $5 the last time I bought some, and I have enough still in the bottle for several more boxes. I've heard you can also use white glue, but I've never tried it.
I cut up an old clean dish sponge to apply the medium, and although I have bought boxes before, I've also used old ring and watch boxes, as well as an old child's jewelry box before.
It is one of the most frugal gifts I've given. My husband still has the one that I made for him while we were dating.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Altogether Tamale Pie
From Aliisa:
Well its recipe swap time again at the Grocery Cart Challenge. If you havent checked it out, head over there. Gayle has lots of useful information as well as lots of recipes to look at.
Today, Im sharing my Altogether Tamale Pie Recipe
Ingredients:
3/4 c. yellow corn meal
1 1/2 c. milk
1 egg
1 c. chopped onion
2 garlic cloves or garlic powder
3/4 lb. ground meat (I used turkey)
2 c. canned tomatoes, crushed ( I used diced because that's what I keep on hand)
1 pkg. chili seasoning mix or 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp cayenne
1 1/2 c. whole kernel corn or 1 can of corn
6 oz grated cheddar cheese
Directions:
Mix the first 3 ingredients and set aside. Cook onion, meat, tomatoes, garlic and chili seasoning together. Add corn and mix. Pour in corn meal mixture and pour into a casserole dish. Bake at 350 for 1 hour 15 minutes or until a toothpick is clean from the center. Sprinkle cheese on top and return to oven until melted.
Well its recipe swap time again at the Grocery Cart Challenge. If you havent checked it out, head over there. Gayle has lots of useful information as well as lots of recipes to look at.
Today, Im sharing my Altogether Tamale Pie Recipe
Ingredients:
3/4 c. yellow corn meal
1 1/2 c. milk
1 egg
1 c. chopped onion
2 garlic cloves or garlic powder
3/4 lb. ground meat (I used turkey)
2 c. canned tomatoes, crushed ( I used diced because that's what I keep on hand)
1 pkg. chili seasoning mix or 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp cayenne
1 1/2 c. whole kernel corn or 1 can of corn
6 oz grated cheddar cheese
Directions:
Mix the first 3 ingredients and set aside. Cook onion, meat, tomatoes, garlic and chili seasoning together. Add corn and mix. Pour in corn meal mixture and pour into a casserole dish. Bake at 350 for 1 hour 15 minutes or until a toothpick is clean from the center. Sprinkle cheese on top and return to oven until melted.
How I survive without a grocery list
From Sundy:
In a perfect month, this is how I shop for groceries. (Of course, I rarely get the perfect month, so I generally try to do as much of this as I can manage.)
I think one of the reasons that I don’t plan meals, per se, is that I know that in any given two week period (my pay period), I’m going to make some sort of Italian/pasta meal, some sort of chili, some sort of Mexican meal, chicken dishes, ground meat dishes, etc. etc.
So, what I like to do is buy all of the basics that I need for those two weeks. They’re generally the same ingredients, and I’ve been using this method long enough that I really don’t think much about it anymore. I just walk down the grocery aisles and get pretty much the same things each shopping trip. That way when I have additional items that I need to add because I’m making something “off the beaten path,” there aren’t that many extra things to remember.
The following are the basic ingredients that I use for most of my meals. How I put them together to create various meals is mostly just a matter of different cooking methods and/or different spices, with the occasional added ingredients that may not be on my basic “Stock Up” list.
This method works for me. Your mileage may vary. (Since I’m not traveling down the grocery aisles as I write this, I may have missed an item or two…but I think I’ve pretty much got them all listed.) When I have a new recipe that I want to try, again I find that I generally have most of what I need on hand already. Anything extra is added to my white board on my fridge, and by the time I get ready to go to the store, I have it firmly in my head what I need to get.
Weekly or bi-weekly (whether I need them or not)
Chickens (2-4)
Ground turkey
Kielbasas
Other meats (depends on sales prices)
Diced and/or stewed tomatoes (seasoned and unseasoned)
Beans (ranch, kidney, black, refried, etc)
Chopped green chilies and/or tomato/chili mixtures
Pastas (I try to vary the types from month to month, but I always have angel hair)
Rice (brown and/or white)
Tuna
Canned and frozen vegetables (esp. broccoli, since we eat a lot of it)
Fresh onions, potatoes, and carrots (my “basic trio” of veggies)
Lettuce (This is only if the prices are low…I find it interesting that lettuce is the only vegetable that is only sold fresh.)
Fresh, canned, and frozen fruits (I try to vary this according to what’s on sale, but as a general rule, I like to have my “basic trio” of apples, oranges, and bananas on hand.)
Hot dogs
Cheese (cheddar, mozzarella)
Refrigerator biscuits (I get the cheapest ones, because I don’t really use them as biscuits, but as quick and easy dumplings, casserole toppers, etc.)
Lunch meats
Milk
Yogurt
Eggs
Cream cheese
Sour cream
Bread
Tortillas (flour and corn)
Monthly or bi-monthly
Olive Oil/Vinegar
Sugar
Garlic (I buy a large jar of pre-minced garlic for $3, which works out cheaper for me than buying individual cloves.)
Cereal/Oatmeal (I buy the largest bags/boxes of whatever has the lowest unit price.)
Peanut butter
Butter
Jelly
As needed (some of these will become weekly or bi-weekly as I up my breadmaking)
Flour
Yeast
Baking Soda/Powder
Parmesan cheese
Spices and herbs
Molasses
Nuts/seeds
Teabags (I generally buy pekoe types for making iced tea and at least one herbal)
Non-grocery items are on an as-needed basis….well, we buy toilet paper at least every two weeks!
NOTE: There are times when I’ve had to seriously trim all of this back (for example, when hubby has a week or two of downtime from his construction work). I do have a $30 grocery list that I fall back on during those times, but because I have a good stock from previous shopping trips, this is rarely a big problem for us.
SECOND NOTE: Most of these are very basic ingredients; however, some are convenience items that I can -- and sometimes do -- make from scratch instead, particularly when we're having to use the $30 list.
LAST NOTE (I promise!): My hubby is slowly coming around to realize that chips, cookies, candy, and soda are NOT basic food groups...but he does bring those home from time to time.
In a perfect month, this is how I shop for groceries. (Of course, I rarely get the perfect month, so I generally try to do as much of this as I can manage.)
I think one of the reasons that I don’t plan meals, per se, is that I know that in any given two week period (my pay period), I’m going to make some sort of Italian/pasta meal, some sort of chili, some sort of Mexican meal, chicken dishes, ground meat dishes, etc. etc.
So, what I like to do is buy all of the basics that I need for those two weeks. They’re generally the same ingredients, and I’ve been using this method long enough that I really don’t think much about it anymore. I just walk down the grocery aisles and get pretty much the same things each shopping trip. That way when I have additional items that I need to add because I’m making something “off the beaten path,” there aren’t that many extra things to remember.
The following are the basic ingredients that I use for most of my meals. How I put them together to create various meals is mostly just a matter of different cooking methods and/or different spices, with the occasional added ingredients that may not be on my basic “Stock Up” list.
This method works for me. Your mileage may vary. (Since I’m not traveling down the grocery aisles as I write this, I may have missed an item or two…but I think I’ve pretty much got them all listed.) When I have a new recipe that I want to try, again I find that I generally have most of what I need on hand already. Anything extra is added to my white board on my fridge, and by the time I get ready to go to the store, I have it firmly in my head what I need to get.
Weekly or bi-weekly (whether I need them or not)
Chickens (2-4)
Ground turkey
Kielbasas
Other meats (depends on sales prices)
Diced and/or stewed tomatoes (seasoned and unseasoned)
Beans (ranch, kidney, black, refried, etc)
Chopped green chilies and/or tomato/chili mixtures
Pastas (I try to vary the types from month to month, but I always have angel hair)
Rice (brown and/or white)
Tuna
Canned and frozen vegetables (esp. broccoli, since we eat a lot of it)
Fresh onions, potatoes, and carrots (my “basic trio” of veggies)
Lettuce (This is only if the prices are low…I find it interesting that lettuce is the only vegetable that is only sold fresh.)
Fresh, canned, and frozen fruits (I try to vary this according to what’s on sale, but as a general rule, I like to have my “basic trio” of apples, oranges, and bananas on hand.)
Hot dogs
Cheese (cheddar, mozzarella)
Refrigerator biscuits (I get the cheapest ones, because I don’t really use them as biscuits, but as quick and easy dumplings, casserole toppers, etc.)
Lunch meats
Milk
Yogurt
Eggs
Cream cheese
Sour cream
Bread
Tortillas (flour and corn)
Monthly or bi-monthly
Olive Oil/Vinegar
Sugar
Garlic (I buy a large jar of pre-minced garlic for $3, which works out cheaper for me than buying individual cloves.)
Cereal/Oatmeal (I buy the largest bags/boxes of whatever has the lowest unit price.)
Peanut butter
Butter
Jelly
As needed (some of these will become weekly or bi-weekly as I up my breadmaking)
Flour
Yeast
Baking Soda/Powder
Parmesan cheese
Spices and herbs
Molasses
Nuts/seeds
Teabags (I generally buy pekoe types for making iced tea and at least one herbal)
Non-grocery items are on an as-needed basis….well, we buy toilet paper at least every two weeks!
NOTE: There are times when I’ve had to seriously trim all of this back (for example, when hubby has a week or two of downtime from his construction work). I do have a $30 grocery list that I fall back on during those times, but because I have a good stock from previous shopping trips, this is rarely a big problem for us.
SECOND NOTE: Most of these are very basic ingredients; however, some are convenience items that I can -- and sometimes do -- make from scratch instead, particularly when we're having to use the $30 list.
LAST NOTE (I promise!): My hubby is slowly coming around to realize that chips, cookies, candy, and soda are NOT basic food groups...but he does bring those home from time to time.
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