Frugal Friday 63

Happy Halloween Frugal Friday!

Here is how we saved money/spent money wisely this week:

- We hosted our Homeschool Group for a craft day on Saturday. Originally, I had wanted to make cute foods but it was digging into my craft budget. So, I switched gears and just served sandwiches, goldfish crackers, and desserts. Another family brought fruit to serve. Because I saved on the food, we were able to provide each family with a canvas to paint to hang in their home.

Annabeth chose to make purple and yellow hand prints for her tree.

This is not what I had envisioned but she loves it.

I am learning to let go of "perfect" projects...

- A family canceled late in the week, so I had an extra canvas. I made a painting for our dining room based off something I had seen on Etsy that was too expensive to purchase. Saved: $35.00

- Monday, we hosted our Homeschool Group for a fall party. Again, I went with more simple foods and just added some inexpensive Halloween foods - Bugle chips (purchased with a coupon) as "witch fingernails" and jello jigglers cut into Halloween shapes.

- As part of our fall party, we did a pumpkin hunt and painting. I purchased the pumpkins at our church and all of the proceeds went to fund missions to Guatemala next year.

- I took Annabeth to the library for a free Halloween Party and Trick or Treat Event.

Annabeth as Sofia the First.

Costume from Auntie Rose and glowing tiara from Daddy. 

- I went to the mall and used $10 Old Navy cash. I was able to save $25 total on 4 shirts.

- Annabeth painted beautiful cards for the Stair family. We will take the cards to them after their new baby Harper is born next week. We love to make our own cards and we save lots of money by not buying overpriced store cards.

- Shutterfly is offering 101 free prints through Saturday. I ordered Easter - 4th of July prints. Saved: $15.15

- Annabeth enjoyed a free Science Space Lab at our library this week. It was a fun science class geared towards 3-5 year olds.

Total Saved: $75.15

We had so much fun this Halloween week and hope you did too!

Happy Savings to All!

"Buy Used and Save the Difference"

Frugal Friday 62

Happy Frugal Friday!

Here is how we saved money/spent money wisely this week:

- I clipped coupons and sent some in the mail with letters and thank-you cards. I always try to send diaper, formula, and wipe coupons out to the friends who can use them as those items are so expensive.

- I cashed in Pampers Rewards points and ordered Annabeth's birthday book for FREE! Saved: $29.99

- We had Saturday dinner at Mark's parents. They sent us home with a bag of red potatoes. I used them to make Crockpot Mashed Potatoes for the first time. Yum! Thanks to our friend Anna at Life Through Green Eyes for the recipe pin on pinterest.

- We were in need of art supplies for a Homeschool Group Art Day that we are hosting tomorrow. I stopped at the Greenwood Kmart last weekend because they are closing soon. I was able to get all of the supplies I needed for 20% off! I was SO excited because I couldn't find any coupons for what I needed so a sale was a good thing! Saved: $9.90!

- We did grocery shopping for our weekend gathering and for some restock supplies. Saved 20% on our bill with coupons. I still dream of being able to save 80%+ or even 100% with coupons. Someday...

- Annabeth and enjoyed our lunches at home and used up the week's leftovers.

- I sold a wall hanging we no longer are using on a Facebook garage sale page. Made: $7

We have all been a bit under the weather this week with allergies and the penny incident so we have just enjoyed a quiet week at home.

Hope all are healthy and happy at your houses!

Happy Savings to All!

"Buy Used and Save the Difference"

"I can't spit 'is penny out!"

Sunday afternoon, after a morning at church, lunch, a park date, and an hour in the backyard we came inside to rest. I fell asleep on the couch within minutes. Mark had worked all day and still needed to study for class this week, so he put Annabeth in her room for quiet time.

I woke up to, "Mama. Mama! MAMA!" coming from her room. Mark went to get her and when she came out this conversation happened:

Annabeth: "I can't spit 'is penny out. See?" Spit. Spit. "My penny went all way down my heel!"
Mark: "What penny? Let me see in your mouth now."
Annabeth: " 'Is penny! See?"
Mark: "No! I don't see anything in your mouth. Let Mama look."
I looked. Nothing.
Me: "Okay, tell me what happened."
Annabeth: "I put 'at penny in. Then it went down in my heel!"
Mark: "Are you pretending or being serious?"
Annabeth: "Pretending."
Mark: "Remember to be truthful."
Annabeth: "I serious. Penny in my heel!"

**Apparently what Annabeth eats goes straight to her heels. I think we may need to do a human body unit soon so she can learn about her digestive system**

At this point I took Annabeth to her room to try to get her to act out what had happened.
She reached down, pretended to pick up a penny, put it wwwaaayyy in the back of her mouth, swallowed, and said "and then it went to my heel."
I heard Mark say, "I have an idea" as he grabbed his van keys and ran out to his work van.
When he came back he had his metal detector. He scanned the floor no beeps and then scanned her belly Beep! Beep! BBBBBEEEPPPP!

I panicked! Mark was calm. Annabeth was running and laughing. I called Immediate Care and they reassured me that kids swallow things all the time and that the item(s) usually pass within three to five days. They told me that we could take her in but that unless she showed certain symptoms (of which she had none) that she would probably be fine.

Then, I spent 30 minutes on the internet reading that 90% of these cases work out fine but that coins can get stuck in the airway, lungs, digestive system, etc. Mark kept reassuring me that she was fine, which she was. She played and ate dinner and enjoyed Sunday Family Night. She ended up sleeping in our bed, which was fine by me! I wanted to keep a close eye on her!

Monday morning I called our doctors office and they restated what Immediate Care had said. Annabeth still wasn't showing any reason for concern so we just waited to see the penny again.

Tuesday, Annabeth asked me about 100 times if her penny had come out yet. No not yet... I tried not to worry.

Today, "Mama! I poop and now my penny out!" Thanks to our metal detector I determined that yes the penny was out and that her belly was free of any other coins.

In the end what was Annabeth most concerned about?
The fact that I did not let her clean the penny and put it in her piggy bank.
"But I love save my money Mama!"
Well, kid, not even I am frugal enough to save that coin.

Freezer Meals: Part Two

As promised, here is the followup to Freezer Meals: Part One.

The menu I used was from this blog.

We have now made each of the meals one time and I thought I would leave the exact recipe I used and what our family thought about each one.

BBQ Chicken

2 Onions

4 Potatoes

4 Cloves Garlic

2 Chicken Breasts

400g Tomato Sauce

1 Tbsp Worcester Sauce

1 Tbsp Sugar

1 Tbsp Dried Mustard

1 Tbsp BBQ Sauce (per bag)

Split all ingredients between 2 freezer bags

Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

- This was the perfect size meal for our family of three. Mark and I were each able to eat our normal serving size and Annabeth had a large toddler portion as well. If you are a family with more people and/or older child(ren) you would want to put all of this into one bag for a complete meal. 

- As for taste, this really was not a BBQ Chicken meal as we generally think of BBQ. Mark said it was more of a sweet tomato chicken meal. 

- Her original recipe did not contain more vegetables - which I omitted because Annabeth is allergic. It also added salt which I did not do because we do not salt our food.

Mediterranean Pork

1/2 Cup Olive Oil

2 Cups Chicken Stock

4 Cloves Garlic, Chopped

1 Sweet Potato 

2 Tbsp Dried Oregano 

2 Tbsp Dried Basil

6-8 Pork Chops

Split all ingredients between 2 freezer bags

Cook on low for 6 hours

- Again, this was a good size meal for the three of us. I do think I would use one sweet potato per bag in the future.

- Mark and I both really liked this meal. Annabeth did not. That surprised me as she likes pork as well as sweet potatoes so it must have been something in the seasoning. 

- Next time I think I will use that recipe for one bagged dinner or double to have two freezer meals.

Teriyaki Chicken

6 Carrots

1 Red Onion

1 Can Chopped Pineapple

2 Cloves Garlic

2 Potatoes

2 Chicken Breasts

1 Cup Teriyaki Sauce 

Split all ingredients between 2 freezer bags

Cook on low for 8 hours

- This meal made four healthy sized portions. It was the first of these meals that I would consider working for a family of four.

- Again, Mark and I both liked this meal and Annabeth did not. Mark did say the sauce had a strong taste so it may have been too much Teriyaki for her taste.

- I served it over rice which was quite yummy!

Overall, I am glad that I tried freezer meals. I had such a hard time figuring out which ones I wanted to use off the internet but these three recipes were all very good and were ones that I would use again. Back to Pinterest for more ideas... 

Homemade Peach Pie Filling

This past week, we overbought/underused our fresh produce.

Mark did the grocery shopping Sunday afternoon before us girls were back in town and by today, Saturday, we still had two apples, four peaches, and green grapes left in the fridge. We ended up eating away from home more than planned this week as we ate out one night, went to a potluck, and did some more visiting than we had planned. In turn, I had fruit that I needed to use up!

I knew the apples and grapes would get eaten but that was a lot of peaches! So, I hopped online and Googled "Fresh Peach Pie Recipe." I found an easy recipe that I had all of the ingredients for. I was also excited because it was just a recipe for the filling that could be refrigerated for up to one month!

Fresh Peach Pie Filling

(The link goes to the original recipe

but here it is for easy making for you!)

Ingredients:

1 Cup Water

1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice

1 Cup Sugar

1/4 Cup Cornstarch (I used Rapunzel Organic GMO Free)

1/4 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

3 Cups, Peeled and Chopped

Instructions:

1. In a large saucepan, combine first four ingredients. 

2. Stir over medium heat until thick and bubbly. Cook 2 minutes more,

stirring constantly.

3. Remove from heat. Add vanilla and peaches. 

4. Cool to room temperature and use immediately or refrigerate.

**The original states that this is not for canning due to the cornstarch.

Also, storing in the fridge may cause ingredients to separate. 

Reheat until combined and

thickened again. **

I am looking forward to using this filling next weekend to make a pie for a homeschool craft day that we are hosting at our house. I think it should be quite good with vanilla ice cream! Yum! 

Frugal Friday 61

Happy Frugal Friday!

Here is how we saved money/spent money wisely this week:

- Annabeth and I went to Owensboro/Evansville for a visit. I came home with Christmas wrapping supplies from Momaw and a new shirt from my sister!

Annabeth, enjoying some of the first crunchy leaves of the Fall. 

We were in Owensboro visiting Momaw 

and her dear friend Miss Piny who is 97 years old!

- We enjoyed a trip to the Owensboro Museum of Science and History while visiting family. Admission is just $3/person (ages 3 and older). We had a lot of fun playing with her cousins on a rainy day.

- I had a freebie come in my e-mail from Shutterfly. I only paid shipping. Saved: $9.99

- After the consignment sale, I split things into sizes and passed along to a couple of families. I love hand-me-downs and I love sharing hand-me-downs with others.

- I met friends out the outlet mall and, for once!, shopped a bit for myself. I was able to find a new pair of shorts ($2.98) and a new pair of jeans ($6.99) on summer clearance. Saved: $100.03

- We enjoyed our family meal out for the week on Kids Eat Free Tuesday. Annabeth and I also each had enough leftovers to eat for lunch the next day. Saved: $4.99

- Mark needed some supplies from Lowe's for work. At the checkout, the cashier gave Annabeth a free Build and Grow kit - a haunted house! Mark and Annabeth enjoyed building it together.

- We enjoyed a potluck at a friends house to celebrate Halloween. All of us Mamas, enjoyed making fun fall foods and that the kiddos got an extra wear out of their costume!

We hope you all are having a fun and frugal fall as well!

Happy Savings to All!

"Buy Used and Save the Difference"

Halloween Potluck

Friends of ours invited us over for a Potluck Halloween Party.

I got on Pinterest weeks ago to see what fun food ideas where out there. I was shocked to find so many really gross looking foods! Some looked so lifelike (bloody and such) that I did not think they even looked appetizing - especially not for children! So, I went went some gussied up grocery finds. They were basic but cute, simple, and went over well.

First I made little turkey sandwiches. I used cookie cutters to make some pumpkin shaped and some bat shaped. It also helped tell the difference between the condiments on each one.

I also saw a cute idea for little mandarin orange cups with jack-o-lantern faces drawn on them. I thought it was such a simple idea and yet really fun. I also wanted to make sure that if the kids didn't finish everything we would be able to use the rest of them up. Since they are individual packs I can just open them as we need them.

Annabeth and I dressed up as Mickey and Minnie for this party. She received her costume from her Nana and PawPaw for her birthday. I found my sweater on sale and then modified some Minnie ears we found at Walmart to make them work for Mickey. I had fun dressing up too!

"Laughter is timeless, imagination knows no age,

and dreams are forever." ~ Walt Disney 

Happy (almost) Halloween!