Finally here are my top 5 favorite Christmas songs to listen to on my MP3 player!
Mary's Boy Child by Harry Belafonte
There are other versions of this song, one by Canadian group Boney M that our local soft-rock station plays at Christmas time, and one that I've heard by Little River Band, both in a faster tempo and more upbeat than this one, but Harry's version was the first I ever heard of this song, and still the best. Quiet and really gets you into the spirit of what Christmas is all about.
O Holy Night sung by Josh Groban.
Josh's voice is so rich and mellifluous I could listen to it all day. Lots and lots of others have sung this song, but his is my favorite. (And btw, my very least favorite version is by Aretha Franklin--I don't know who told her it would be a good idea to sing this song. She sounds like she's bleating and yelling. I had to listen to this version several times one day when it was playing on a looping CD in the Christmas aisle at our store and I was in the next aisle pulling outdates. I wished I had earplugs.)
A Wonderful Christmas Time by Paul McCartney
This simple song, while somewhat repetitive in the chorus, has a certain magic sound for me. Paul is taking joy in the simple things of Christmas, and it's like he's telling us all to relax and enjoy the season. I like seeing him and Linda in the video as well.
Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant
This song almost makes me cry every time I hear it. Beautiful, haunting, and really gets you thinking about how Mary must have felt about her situation and the events to come. Nobody does this song better than Amy.
Stille Nacht as performed by Mannheim Steamroller
This is another song that gets to me every time I hear it. Its quiet spirit epitomizes Christmas and the reverence we should feel at the thought of this tiny babe coming down to the earth to save us.
So there you have it. I like lots of other Christmas songs and have over 200 Christmas songs in my playlist on my MP3 player, but these are my favorites.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Mississippi Mud Cake
A friend was looking for this recipe, and I couldn't find it at the time, but I found it yesterday while cleaning up my recipe box so I thought I'd post it here so she could have it. This is kind of a cake, kind of brownies. Very gooey and messy and delicious.
Mississippi Mud Cake
Cake/Brownie:
1 cups sugar
1 cup margarine
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1 1/2 cups flour
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups nuts (optional)
1 1/2 cups coconut (optional)
(I've never used either nuts or coconut when I've made this)
Mix together all ingredients. Spread into greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Marshmallow Topping:
1 pkg. small marshmallows or 1 jar marshmallow creme
While cake is hot, spread marshmallows or creme on top. If using marshmallows, return cake to oven until marshmallows are melted and lightly browned.
Icing:
1 lb. (4 cups) powdered sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
Mix together until well blended. Spread over cooled cake.
Mississippi Mud Cake
Cake/Brownie:
1 cups sugar
1 cup margarine
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1 1/2 cups flour
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups nuts (optional)
1 1/2 cups coconut (optional)
(I've never used either nuts or coconut when I've made this)
Mix together all ingredients. Spread into greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Marshmallow Topping:
1 pkg. small marshmallows or 1 jar marshmallow creme
While cake is hot, spread marshmallows or creme on top. If using marshmallows, return cake to oven until marshmallows are melted and lightly browned.
Icing:
1 lb. (4 cups) powdered sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
Mix together until well blended. Spread over cooled cake.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Favorite Christmas Songs--Part 2
Well it's been over a week, but here is part 2 of my top 15 favorite Christmas songs.
Christmas Eve in Sarajevo (aka Carol of the Bells), by Trans Siberian Orchestra
Though I mostly enjoy my Christmas carols calm and relaxing, I do enjoy an occasional "rock" Christmas song. This one is a classic. Someone got a good video of it at this concert.
Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth duet with Bing Crosby and David Bowie
One of the stranger combos that Christmas ever produced, but the song is very nice.
Winter Wonderland as performed by the Eurythmics
I have always loved this version of this song--my new-wave roots showing through!
Christmas Time is Here from the Charlie Brown Christmas Special
I grew up watching this show every Christmas season and love this song.
The Christmas Waltz by Frank Sinatra
They play an instrumental version of this song on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, when you go to the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party event. So not only is this a nice song about the joys and pleasures of Christmas, but it reminds me of Disney which is always a good thing! I actually like the Harry Connick version better, but I couldn't find it on YouTube.
So there you have it, 1-5 coming soon!
Christmas Eve in Sarajevo (aka Carol of the Bells), by Trans Siberian Orchestra
Though I mostly enjoy my Christmas carols calm and relaxing, I do enjoy an occasional "rock" Christmas song. This one is a classic. Someone got a good video of it at this concert.
Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth duet with Bing Crosby and David Bowie
One of the stranger combos that Christmas ever produced, but the song is very nice.
Winter Wonderland as performed by the Eurythmics
I have always loved this version of this song--my new-wave roots showing through!
Christmas Time is Here from the Charlie Brown Christmas Special
I grew up watching this show every Christmas season and love this song.
The Christmas Waltz by Frank Sinatra
They play an instrumental version of this song on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, when you go to the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party event. So not only is this a nice song about the joys and pleasures of Christmas, but it reminds me of Disney which is always a good thing! I actually like the Harry Connick version better, but I couldn't find it on YouTube.
So there you have it, 1-5 coming soon!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Favorite Christmas Songs--Part 1
I'm really getting into the Christmas spirit, so I thought I'd try to make a small list of my very favorite Christmas songs of all time. I tried to make it a top ten, but couldn't narrow it down, so it's a top 15.
Tonight's offerings:
Sleigh Ride by the Boston Pops.
For all of my high school years, we played this song every single Christmas in band. This version is the most like the one we played, and brings back fond memories of band class and concerts.
On Christmas Eve, by Andrew Gold.
I found this song on a CD called "The Stars Come Out for Christmas" with the likes of Willie Nelson, The Spice Girls, etc. I don't know why I love this one, but I do.
Hey Santa by the Wilson Sisters
This is a catchy song with good harmonizing. I love singing along to it in the car. My mp3 player seems to like it too, it seems to choose it quite often.
Jingle Bell Rock by Hall and Oates
Hall and Oates is one of my all-time favorites. Their Christmas album was recorded in the early 80's at the height of their popularity. I love the video because it's so corny and they're obviously having fun.
Believe by Josh Groban
Josh has such a beautiful voice, and this is a beautiful song. His "O Holy Night" is one of my favorite versions of that song as well.
I'll try to post again tomorrow with the next 5!
Tonight's offerings:
Sleigh Ride by the Boston Pops.
For all of my high school years, we played this song every single Christmas in band. This version is the most like the one we played, and brings back fond memories of band class and concerts.
On Christmas Eve, by Andrew Gold.
I found this song on a CD called "The Stars Come Out for Christmas" with the likes of Willie Nelson, The Spice Girls, etc. I don't know why I love this one, but I do.
Hey Santa by the Wilson Sisters
This is a catchy song with good harmonizing. I love singing along to it in the car. My mp3 player seems to like it too, it seems to choose it quite often.
Jingle Bell Rock by Hall and Oates
Hall and Oates is one of my all-time favorites. Their Christmas album was recorded in the early 80's at the height of their popularity. I love the video because it's so corny and they're obviously having fun.
Believe by Josh Groban
Josh has such a beautiful voice, and this is a beautiful song. His "O Holy Night" is one of my favorite versions of that song as well.
I'll try to post again tomorrow with the next 5!
Monday, March 30, 2009
A Need to Focus?
Today I don't have much time to blog, and haven't blogged in a few days. But I spent some time looking around on some of my favorite blogs and they seem to have something that mine doesn't: A solid focus. Whether it be family life, saving money, or crafts, they focus on one thing. Mine seems to go all over the place depending on what mood I'm in that week or day. I'll continue thinking about a focus...ooh what's that over there?
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Beadie Pattern for the Day
Here's today's beadie pattern. A more traditional "beadie critter," but still thinking about spring.
Click here: Rainbow Beadie
Click here: Rainbow Beadie
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Beadie Pattern for the Day
I've decided to post a beadie pattern every day. My ultimate goal will be to make and photograph one of my beadies that doesn't have a picture yet. But for now, I will post one that has a picture.
This one reminds me of spring--remember making daisy chain bracelets when you were a kid?
You can find the pattern here.
This one reminds me of spring--remember making daisy chain bracelets when you were a kid?
You can find the pattern here.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
My Scrapbook Pages This Week
Here are some of the scrapbook pages I have made this week.
The first one is from our 2008 Walt Disney World trip. I got some good pictures of the street entertainers that were out before the Block Party parade at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
The next three are from our 2005 trip. I am finally finishing up this album. With the completion of these three pages, I think all I have left to do for this album is the cover page and the ending page. Maybe one other page, since I seem to be a page off in my MGM Studios section of the album. This album is about 70 pages big. Very thick and unwieldy!
My earlier Disney trip albums (2000 and 2004) are two albums, and I am afraid that, even with trying to limit the number of pages I did to a bare minimum (yeah, 70 pages is a bare minimum, I take over 1,000 pictures per trip), I will have to split my 2005, 2007 and 2008 albums into two albums as well, just to avoid too much strain on their spines.
I had fun fitting a little scrapbooking into my week. I find it relaxing.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Our Dinner Tonight: Turkey Delight
Tonight, I made a recipe that I have made many times. I've been making it since I was a child. But this was the first time I've made it in a long time, and I made an important change in it.
My two youngest children have autism, and about 2 years ago we switched to a new pediatrician who is very interested in autism and in particular he subscribes to a lot of methods used in the DAN philosophy (Defeat Autism Now). We haven't been able to follow everything he has suggested (vitamin B12 shots at home, organic food), but one we have followed pretty well is to avoid fish or seafood, due to the possibility that mercury contributes to their symptoms. So we don't have tuna, fishsticks, anything that is fish or seafood when we are at home. At first it was hard because D's favorite lunch food was a tuna fish sandwich. We've had to switch him to other meats. For a while it was Spam Spread, and now it is canned chicken or turkey with mayo.
So back to my story, I haven't made this particular casserole in a long time because the original recipe calls for tuna fish. But finally I thought I'd try it with turkey. And it was pretty good! So here is the recipe:
Turkey Delight (original recipe with tuna in parentheses)
1 large can turkey or chicken meat (2 cans tuna)
2 cans cream of chicken soup (2 cans cream of mushroom soup)
1/2 cup milk
1 large bag potato chips (10-12 oz.)
Crush the potato chips. You can do this by opening the bag and then crushing the chips right inside the bag, or by putting it in a bowl and letting the kids mash it up with their clean hands. Next, add the remaining ingredients and mix it all up. Add a little more milk if it is too dry. Grease a 9x13 baking dish. Put casserole in pan and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.
When we were still making this with tuna, we found that we liked the flavor a little better if we used 1 can cream of mushroom and 1 can cream of chicken. I might try this next time with one can of each, just to see what it's like.
It seems weird to put potato chips in a casserole but it's really good! I hope you'll try it.
My two youngest children have autism, and about 2 years ago we switched to a new pediatrician who is very interested in autism and in particular he subscribes to a lot of methods used in the DAN philosophy (Defeat Autism Now). We haven't been able to follow everything he has suggested (vitamin B12 shots at home, organic food), but one we have followed pretty well is to avoid fish or seafood, due to the possibility that mercury contributes to their symptoms. So we don't have tuna, fishsticks, anything that is fish or seafood when we are at home. At first it was hard because D's favorite lunch food was a tuna fish sandwich. We've had to switch him to other meats. For a while it was Spam Spread, and now it is canned chicken or turkey with mayo.
So back to my story, I haven't made this particular casserole in a long time because the original recipe calls for tuna fish. But finally I thought I'd try it with turkey. And it was pretty good! So here is the recipe:
Turkey Delight (original recipe with tuna in parentheses)
1 large can turkey or chicken meat (2 cans tuna)
2 cans cream of chicken soup (2 cans cream of mushroom soup)
1/2 cup milk
1 large bag potato chips (10-12 oz.)
Crush the potato chips. You can do this by opening the bag and then crushing the chips right inside the bag, or by putting it in a bowl and letting the kids mash it up with their clean hands. Next, add the remaining ingredients and mix it all up. Add a little more milk if it is too dry. Grease a 9x13 baking dish. Put casserole in pan and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.
When we were still making this with tuna, we found that we liked the flavor a little better if we used 1 can cream of mushroom and 1 can cream of chicken. I might try this next time with one can of each, just to see what it's like.
It seems weird to put potato chips in a casserole but it's really good! I hope you'll try it.
I'm Going to Albertsons Today
UPDATE: I did the shopping, but discovered that Albertson's is apparently no longer taking competitors' doublers. Which I guess explains why they now have their own doublers...but now I am limited to doubling 4 coupons there, but they double up to $1 (the ones from Safeway and Thriftway only double up to 50 cents). So I spent $2.40 more than I had planned. Sigh....
Today I have planned a little trip to Albertsons. Their new sale for the week has just started and they have some pretty awesome deals, plus I have coupons. Here's what I'm going to buy:
10 Kellogg's cereals or poptarts. Sale $15 when you buy 10. I have 4 coupons for Frosted Flakes that I printed online from www.coupons.com (you have to register), for $1 off when you buy 2. Albertson's has 4 double coupons in their ad for doubling up to $1, so that will give me $8 off. Then I have a coupon from the Feb. 22 Sunday paper coupons for $1 off two poptarts. Using the double coupon thing from the Thriftway ad will give me another 50 cents off. Total for 10 boxes of cereal--$5.50
3 Hot Pockets. These are on sale for 2/$3, first 4, and I have a coupon for $1 off when you buy 3 (I got this from the coupon printer at Fred Meyer, but I think it will work since Albertsons takes coupons from other stores). Using another double coupon slot from the Thriftway doubler will give me $1.50 off total, so the total price I will pay will be $3 for 3 boxes.
2 Totino's Pizza Rolls. These are on sale for $1 each, and I have 2 35-cent coupons for them, and using the last two doubler slots for the Thriftway doubler will make the total cost for both boxes 60 cents.
Total spent: $9.10
A note about the printables: Coupons.com does limit how many times you can print out a coupon (2 times in one visit) but you can go back on another day and you might be able to print out more. My visits there were a couple of weeks apart.
Today I have planned a little trip to Albertsons. Their new sale for the week has just started and they have some pretty awesome deals, plus I have coupons. Here's what I'm going to buy:
10 Kellogg's cereals or poptarts. Sale $15 when you buy 10. I have 4 coupons for Frosted Flakes that I printed online from www.coupons.com (you have to register), for $1 off when you buy 2. Albertson's has 4 double coupons in their ad for doubling up to $1, so that will give me $8 off. Then I have a coupon from the Feb. 22 Sunday paper coupons for $1 off two poptarts. Using the double coupon thing from the Thriftway ad will give me another 50 cents off. Total for 10 boxes of cereal--$5.50
3 Hot Pockets. These are on sale for 2/$3, first 4, and I have a coupon for $1 off when you buy 3 (I got this from the coupon printer at Fred Meyer, but I think it will work since Albertsons takes coupons from other stores). Using another double coupon slot from the Thriftway doubler will give me $1.50 off total, so the total price I will pay will be $3 for 3 boxes.
2 Totino's Pizza Rolls. These are on sale for $1 each, and I have 2 35-cent coupons for them, and using the last two doubler slots for the Thriftway doubler will make the total cost for both boxes 60 cents.
Total spent: $9.10
A note about the printables: Coupons.com does limit how many times you can print out a coupon (2 times in one visit) but you can go back on another day and you might be able to print out more. My visits there were a couple of weeks apart.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Coupon Musings
Last week I didn't do much couponing because there were some things that I had to get as far as groceries went, that weren't on sale and didn't have coupons, so I went to Winco. Winco has the best prices overall for regular groceries, and if you don't have time or don't want to look for sales or coupons, this is the place to go to at least help with your grocery budget a little.
Next week I'll do better. I've already got my eye on several things at Walgreens.
This past week I also did a lot of pondering on the attitude of some Walgreens managers toward those who enjoy finding bargains using sales and coupons. Some managers will not allow you to use a Walgreens coupon that you find in the Sunday ad or the Easy Saver catalog thing, combined with a manufacturer's coupon. I find that a little sad. I don't think it should matter to the manager; if we use a manufacturer's coupon they're going to get their money, it will just take a little longer because it has to come from a clearinghouse.
The thing that I find ironic, is that Walgreens ads actively encourage this kind of bargain shopping. They offer things that are free after rebate, etc., and proudly advertise them in their ads. But then managers get mad because, I suppose, they feel that the people who are buying these things should spend a lot more money than just buying the coupon/sale/free after rebate things, and a lot of them don't. I think I do my share to support my local Walgreens so I don't feel bad when I get 2 Sense n' Spray air fresheners for free with a small overage that helps pay for the rest of the items I'm buying. I guess I can see them being a little mad when people come in repeatedly and only buy the deals and never shop there for anything else. But like I said they will get at least some of their money when the clearinghouse gets the coupon.
People are trying to stretch their dollars as far as they can. When I am a cashier I am one of the ones helping them use their coupons. The other day I had a customer who had walgreens coupons, manufacturers coupons and a register reward from a previous purchase. The cash register wouldn't accept the register reward, it was giving me an error message about coupon value exceeding purchase price which I knew wasn't true. I remembered that you couldn't have more manufacturer's coupons than items and that register rewards count as a manufacturer's coupon. So I told her she just needed to buy one more small item and she would be able to use her register rewards. She threw in a 33 cent caramel and voila, it worked! She was so grateful for the help. I know that she'll be back.
OK that's enough rambling for today. I'll let you know what deals I'll be getting in a post tomorrow.
Next week I'll do better. I've already got my eye on several things at Walgreens.
This past week I also did a lot of pondering on the attitude of some Walgreens managers toward those who enjoy finding bargains using sales and coupons. Some managers will not allow you to use a Walgreens coupon that you find in the Sunday ad or the Easy Saver catalog thing, combined with a manufacturer's coupon. I find that a little sad. I don't think it should matter to the manager; if we use a manufacturer's coupon they're going to get their money, it will just take a little longer because it has to come from a clearinghouse.
The thing that I find ironic, is that Walgreens ads actively encourage this kind of bargain shopping. They offer things that are free after rebate, etc., and proudly advertise them in their ads. But then managers get mad because, I suppose, they feel that the people who are buying these things should spend a lot more money than just buying the coupon/sale/free after rebate things, and a lot of them don't. I think I do my share to support my local Walgreens so I don't feel bad when I get 2 Sense n' Spray air fresheners for free with a small overage that helps pay for the rest of the items I'm buying. I guess I can see them being a little mad when people come in repeatedly and only buy the deals and never shop there for anything else. But like I said they will get at least some of their money when the clearinghouse gets the coupon.
People are trying to stretch their dollars as far as they can. When I am a cashier I am one of the ones helping them use their coupons. The other day I had a customer who had walgreens coupons, manufacturers coupons and a register reward from a previous purchase. The cash register wouldn't accept the register reward, it was giving me an error message about coupon value exceeding purchase price which I knew wasn't true. I remembered that you couldn't have more manufacturer's coupons than items and that register rewards count as a manufacturer's coupon. So I told her she just needed to buy one more small item and she would be able to use her register rewards. She threw in a 33 cent caramel and voila, it worked! She was so grateful for the help. I know that she'll be back.
OK that's enough rambling for today. I'll let you know what deals I'll be getting in a post tomorrow.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Chicken Enchiladas
Today I'm posting a recipe for chicken enchiladas. My daughter in Florida asked for the recipe so I figured I might as well post it.
Chicken Enchiladas
1 chicken, cooked and cut into small pieces (no bones)(or the equivalent amount of leftover chicken, or cooked cut up chicken breasts, whatever you have)
1/4 large onion, chopped
1 lb. cheese, grated (ok with any kind of cheese, but Monterey Jack or Mexican blend is best)
12 oz. diced chilies
1 doz. flour tortillas
Mix first four ingredients. Place some of the mixture in each of the tortillas. Roll up tortillas and place close together in a casserole dish. Cover with sauce:
Sauce:
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup chicken broth
1 pt. half-and-half cream (can use milk, but use less, because it will thin it out more)
Bake, covered, at 350° for 15 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with grated cheese, and bake for 10 more minutes.
Chicken Enchiladas
1 chicken, cooked and cut into small pieces (no bones)(or the equivalent amount of leftover chicken, or cooked cut up chicken breasts, whatever you have)
1/4 large onion, chopped
1 lb. cheese, grated (ok with any kind of cheese, but Monterey Jack or Mexican blend is best)
12 oz. diced chilies
1 doz. flour tortillas
Mix first four ingredients. Place some of the mixture in each of the tortillas. Roll up tortillas and place close together in a casserole dish. Cover with sauce:
Sauce:
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup chicken broth
1 pt. half-and-half cream (can use milk, but use less, because it will thin it out more)
Bake, covered, at 350° for 15 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with grated cheese, and bake for 10 more minutes.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
My Shopping Deals for This Week, 2/24-3/3
Today I'm going shopping at a few places. Here are the deals and coupons I'm using:
Albertson's
Nabisco Saltine Crackers for 97 cents using in-ad coupon
Eggs $1.19
General Mills cereals and Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks, $1.50 each when you buy 4. I'm going to buy 8. I've got a $1.50 off 4 cereals coupon that the store gave me last week, plus a coupon for $1 off 2 that I printed from bettycrocker.com (I've got 2, the limit that it will let you print), plus a 75 cents off coupon for fruit snacks from the same site. These coupons cannot be doubled. But I will end up paying $7.75 for 8 items in the end.
Walgreens
Reynolds Wrap 89 cents with in-ad coupon, plus a $1.00 off coupon from this week's Sunday paper coupons, I will either get it for free, or get 11 cents back, depending on what the cash register will allow.
Oust air sanitizer $2.99 on sale, plus coupon from Sunday paper a few weeks ago that is Buy One, Get One Free (BOGOF), I will pay $2.99 for 2. Then I will send in for a rebate from the Easy Saver catalog (found at the store) for $1 for each one, so I will end up with $2 back, meaning I really pay 99 cents for 2 Ousts.
Hershey's candy bars, BOGOF with in-ad coupon, plus manufacturer's coupon BOGOF, I will get two candy bars for free.
Safeway
2 Crush 2-liter sodas, with in-ad coupon BOGOF and Manufacturers coupon for $1 off, plus double, I will pay 19 cents for 2 2-liter sodas
1 Mini-Wheats cereal, with in-ad coupon for 99 cents, Manufacturers coupon from Sunday paper a few weeks ago, plus double coupon, I will make 31 cents.
2 boxes Wheat thins on sale, manufacturers coupon for $2 off 2, plus double, I will pay $1.24 each.
Safeway brand butter, 99 cents with in-ad coupon
I will update you on how much I spent and what percentage I saved on each trip when I am home tonight.
Albertson's
Nabisco Saltine Crackers for 97 cents using in-ad coupon
Eggs $1.19
General Mills cereals and Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks, $1.50 each when you buy 4. I'm going to buy 8. I've got a $1.50 off 4 cereals coupon that the store gave me last week, plus a coupon for $1 off 2 that I printed from bettycrocker.com (I've got 2, the limit that it will let you print), plus a 75 cents off coupon for fruit snacks from the same site. These coupons cannot be doubled. But I will end up paying $7.75 for 8 items in the end.
Walgreens
Reynolds Wrap 89 cents with in-ad coupon, plus a $1.00 off coupon from this week's Sunday paper coupons, I will either get it for free, or get 11 cents back, depending on what the cash register will allow.
Oust air sanitizer $2.99 on sale, plus coupon from Sunday paper a few weeks ago that is Buy One, Get One Free (BOGOF), I will pay $2.99 for 2. Then I will send in for a rebate from the Easy Saver catalog (found at the store) for $1 for each one, so I will end up with $2 back, meaning I really pay 99 cents for 2 Ousts.
Hershey's candy bars, BOGOF with in-ad coupon, plus manufacturer's coupon BOGOF, I will get two candy bars for free.
Safeway
2 Crush 2-liter sodas, with in-ad coupon BOGOF and Manufacturers coupon for $1 off, plus double, I will pay 19 cents for 2 2-liter sodas
1 Mini-Wheats cereal, with in-ad coupon for 99 cents, Manufacturers coupon from Sunday paper a few weeks ago, plus double coupon, I will make 31 cents.
2 boxes Wheat thins on sale, manufacturers coupon for $2 off 2, plus double, I will pay $1.24 each.
Safeway brand butter, 99 cents with in-ad coupon
I will update you on how much I spent and what percentage I saved on each trip when I am home tonight.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Updating My Websites
This morning I spent some time updating my personal websites in FrontPage and posting them onto Comcast. I had had them on Geocities, but it seems that a while back they decided to "inactivate" sites that weren't getting a lot of visitors. I tried to "reactivate" it, but even with their "suggestions" I was unable to delete my site and re-post it. So now they're on Comcast, and since I pay to have Comcast internet every month, I assume they won't get rid of my website no matter how many or how few people visit them.
So here are the new URL's for my websites:
http://home.comcast.net/~meadclan/ (Mead Family Website) This one has Primary Helps and the Beaverton 1st Ward Cookbook from 1997 (slightly incomplete) and my genealogy stuff.
http://home.comcast.net/~meadclan/worldkrahenbuhl/index.htm (World Krahenbuhl Website, a genealogy website for the original spelling of my maiden name)
http://www.geocities.com/giftsinajar/ (Gifts in a Jar website. This one's still at Geocities, because evidently it was getting enough visitors to warrant it staying. I might move it later though.)
I'll be adding these to my favorite links on the right later, but for now if you're bored you can poke around in them from here.
So here are the new URL's for my websites:
http://home.comcast.net/~meadclan/ (Mead Family Website) This one has Primary Helps and the Beaverton 1st Ward Cookbook from 1997 (slightly incomplete) and my genealogy stuff.
http://home.comcast.net/~meadclan/worldkrahenbuhl/index.htm (World Krahenbuhl Website, a genealogy website for the original spelling of my maiden name)
http://www.geocities.com/giftsinajar/ (Gifts in a Jar website. This one's still at Geocities, because evidently it was getting enough visitors to warrant it staying. I might move it later though.)
I'll be adding these to my favorite links on the right later, but for now if you're bored you can poke around in them from here.
Monday, February 23, 2009
My Project for Today
Today my let's-waste-time project was updating all my scrapbook page albums on my computer. So just to make it seem like it was something worth doing, I have posted them on Picasa web albums and I'm sharing them here:
You'll notice my scrapbooking style has changed over time. In fact, I went back and re-did some of my very earliest pages because I hated them.
I take pictures of the pages I do because I'm on scrapping e-mail groups and I share my layouts with those groups.
I also have non-disney scrapbook pages, but I haven't worked on very many non-disney pages lately due to limited time. When I first started scrapping, I would spend a couple of hours every day doing scrapbooking (maybe more)--I was a little obsessive. Now I've been able to let go of the obsession but still keep the enjoyment. Disney pages are what I love to do the most.
I also participate in scrapbooking "swaps." In a swap, there is a certain topic, and several people sign up to do various parts of a scrapbook layout on that topic. For example, say there was a swap for the Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin ride at WDW. I might sign up to do the title, someone else would sign up to do a fancy photo mat, someone else signs up to do "deco squares" (a decorative element), someone else might sign up to do borders. I love to do the swaps because I do my best work for them, and so do others, so I end up with ready-made scrapbook elements to make pages with, and all I had to do was make one of the elements, several times over.
So that was my project for today. Now I'm off to fold the clothes that I should have been folding earlier.
 |
| 2008 Disney Album |
 |
| 2007 Disney Album |
 |
| 2005DisneyAlbum |
 |
| 2004DisneyAlbum |
 |
| 2002 Disney Album |
 |
| 2001 Disneyland Album |
 |
| 2000 Disney Album |
 |
| 1999 Disneyland Album |
 |
| 1997 Disney Album |
You'll notice my scrapbooking style has changed over time. In fact, I went back and re-did some of my very earliest pages because I hated them.
I take pictures of the pages I do because I'm on scrapping e-mail groups and I share my layouts with those groups.
I also have non-disney scrapbook pages, but I haven't worked on very many non-disney pages lately due to limited time. When I first started scrapping, I would spend a couple of hours every day doing scrapbooking (maybe more)--I was a little obsessive. Now I've been able to let go of the obsession but still keep the enjoyment. Disney pages are what I love to do the most.
I also participate in scrapbooking "swaps." In a swap, there is a certain topic, and several people sign up to do various parts of a scrapbook layout on that topic. For example, say there was a swap for the Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin ride at WDW. I might sign up to do the title, someone else would sign up to do a fancy photo mat, someone else signs up to do "deco squares" (a decorative element), someone else might sign up to do borders. I love to do the swaps because I do my best work for them, and so do others, so I end up with ready-made scrapbook elements to make pages with, and all I had to do was make one of the elements, several times over.
So that was my project for today. Now I'm off to fold the clothes that I should have been folding earlier.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sunday Musings
I am thankful for so many things. That we have a roof over our head, that we are able to pay our bills, that my kids are healthy and growing, that we don't have a business anymore. I am grateful for the gospel and want to work toward becoming more Christ-like.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Crockpot Recipe Sharing
Last night some women from our church got together to share Crockpot recipes. It was a fun night and I got some good new recipes. Here is one of my favorites:
Hot Crab Dip
SERVINGS: 20
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/3 cup salsa
- 3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, cubed
- 2 packages (8 ounces each) imitation crabmeat, flaked
- 1 cup thinly sliced green onions
- 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
- Assorted crackers
Directions:
In a small bowl, combine milk and salsa. Transfer to a greased 3-qt. slow cooker. Stir in cream cheese, crab, onions and chilies. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours, stirring every 30 minutes. Serve with crackers. Yield: about 5 cups.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
My Coupon Deals for Today
Today I went to Albertsons armed with my list and a bunch of coupons. They were having a deal that if you bought any 10 of a certain list of items, you would get a $10 coupon that you could use like cash on anything you bought on your next visit to Albertsons. So, I bought the following:
2 General Mills Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal 2/$5
1 General Mills Lucky Charms Cereal 2/$5
I had a coupon for $1 off when I bought 3 GM cereals
Plus a double coupon took off 50 cents more.
Total paid for 3 cereals: $6
2 Betty Crocker Warm Delights mixes, 3/$5
I had 2 50 cents off coupons, plus double coupons took off another 50 cents each.
Total paid for 2 Warm Delights: $1.34
1 Pillsbury Crescent Roll, 2/$4
I had a 25 cent coupon, plus a double coupon to take another 25 cents off
Total paid: $1.50
1 Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll, 2/$4
30 cent coupon plus double coupon
Total paid: 1.40
1 Toaster Strudel, 2/$4
35 cent coupon plus double
Total paid: $1.30
2 Cheerios Snack Mix, 2/$4
2 60 cent coupons, plus doubles for 50 cents each additional
Total paid for 2: $2.80
Total paid for all items: $14.34
Then I got the $10 coupon to use on my next visit, so it was like I paid $4.34.
In addition to that, I also bought 2 Romano's Macaroni Grill dinner mixes to try. They were on sale for 2/$7, and I had 2 $1 coupons plus the doubles gave me 50 cents more off each box, so I paid $2 for each box. We tried one tonight, it was pretty good. Duncan ate it even though it had visible tomato and mushroom pieces, and had 3 helpings. He said he "couldn't taste" the mushrooms. LOL He's a vegetable-phobe as well as a fruit-phobe. He stopped eating any fruits when he was a baby and used to eat some vegetables, but has gradually eliminated veggies until the only one he really eats is potatoes.
My other purchase at Albertson's was the Campbells Soup at Hand. They were on sale for 10/$10, so I bought 5. These are a good hot lunch when in a hurry and I lived on these when I worked at Norm Thompson one Christmas. We only got a 15-minute break, so I would spend that stretching my legs and heating up my soup, and then take it back to my station to eat as I worked.
My total at Albertsons was $23.84. I saved $24.29 by using my Albertsons preferred card (to get the sale prices listed above) and an additional $9 using coupons. Total savings percentage was 58%.
I feel pretty good considering that some of the experienced coupon users whose blogs I read to read about the best deals this week, seemed to have felt that the best scenarios for getting the most savings involved getting multiple coupons from ebay or whatever. I just used coupons I'd gotten in one copy of the Sunday paper (a few weeks back) and a few coupons that I printed from the Internet. I was able to print multiple copies of a couple of them and the store accepted them. I am vowing to never buy coupons from anyone or to buy more than 2 or 3 copies of the Sunday paper if there is a really good coupon. I want to use the system, but not abuse it or spend all my time in search of saving a few pennies.
2 General Mills Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal 2/$5
1 General Mills Lucky Charms Cereal 2/$5
I had a coupon for $1 off when I bought 3 GM cereals
Plus a double coupon took off 50 cents more.
Total paid for 3 cereals: $6
2 Betty Crocker Warm Delights mixes, 3/$5
I had 2 50 cents off coupons, plus double coupons took off another 50 cents each.
Total paid for 2 Warm Delights: $1.34
1 Pillsbury Crescent Roll, 2/$4
I had a 25 cent coupon, plus a double coupon to take another 25 cents off
Total paid: $1.50
1 Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll, 2/$4
30 cent coupon plus double coupon
Total paid: 1.40
1 Toaster Strudel, 2/$4
35 cent coupon plus double
Total paid: $1.30
2 Cheerios Snack Mix, 2/$4
2 60 cent coupons, plus doubles for 50 cents each additional
Total paid for 2: $2.80
Total paid for all items: $14.34
Then I got the $10 coupon to use on my next visit, so it was like I paid $4.34.
In addition to that, I also bought 2 Romano's Macaroni Grill dinner mixes to try. They were on sale for 2/$7, and I had 2 $1 coupons plus the doubles gave me 50 cents more off each box, so I paid $2 for each box. We tried one tonight, it was pretty good. Duncan ate it even though it had visible tomato and mushroom pieces, and had 3 helpings. He said he "couldn't taste" the mushrooms. LOL He's a vegetable-phobe as well as a fruit-phobe. He stopped eating any fruits when he was a baby and used to eat some vegetables, but has gradually eliminated veggies until the only one he really eats is potatoes.
My other purchase at Albertson's was the Campbells Soup at Hand. They were on sale for 10/$10, so I bought 5. These are a good hot lunch when in a hurry and I lived on these when I worked at Norm Thompson one Christmas. We only got a 15-minute break, so I would spend that stretching my legs and heating up my soup, and then take it back to my station to eat as I worked.
My total at Albertsons was $23.84. I saved $24.29 by using my Albertsons preferred card (to get the sale prices listed above) and an additional $9 using coupons. Total savings percentage was 58%.
I feel pretty good considering that some of the experienced coupon users whose blogs I read to read about the best deals this week, seemed to have felt that the best scenarios for getting the most savings involved getting multiple coupons from ebay or whatever. I just used coupons I'd gotten in one copy of the Sunday paper (a few weeks back) and a few coupons that I printed from the Internet. I was able to print multiple copies of a couple of them and the store accepted them. I am vowing to never buy coupons from anyone or to buy more than 2 or 3 copies of the Sunday paper if there is a really good coupon. I want to use the system, but not abuse it or spend all my time in search of saving a few pennies.
My First Blog Post
So here it is, I am finally joining the world of blogging. We'll see if it's interesting or if I remember to keep it up on a regular basis. I do enjoy reading my friends' blogs, and blogs about topics that interest me, so maybe this blog will be useful or interesting to others as well.
I'm planning to post my weekly coupon expeditions on here. I've just started discovering the fun of using coupons with double coupons and sales to get groceries for barely any money! Hopefully I'll get better at it as I go along. One thing I've decided I won't do, is buy coupons from e-bay or other sources. I might buy multiple copies of the Sunday paper, but no more than 2 or 3, if there are some really good coupons in it. There are so many places you can get coupons, and limited storage space, even for the greatest deals.
I'll also post an occasional recipe, and maybe some pictures of scrapbook pages or other crafting I've done.
I'm planning to post my weekly coupon expeditions on here. I've just started discovering the fun of using coupons with double coupons and sales to get groceries for barely any money! Hopefully I'll get better at it as I go along. One thing I've decided I won't do, is buy coupons from e-bay or other sources. I might buy multiple copies of the Sunday paper, but no more than 2 or 3, if there are some really good coupons in it. There are so many places you can get coupons, and limited storage space, even for the greatest deals.
I'll also post an occasional recipe, and maybe some pictures of scrapbook pages or other crafting I've done.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
