Monday, November 28, 2011

It's a boy! Baby weighs 8 oz. now and both baby and mommy are healthy and that is all that matters!

Trying Again

Now that I'm ready to start blogging again, I keep losing internet connection. Windstream has been to my house every week for the past month. He really has! As if that isn't enough, I find out yesterday during his weekly visit that they have finally found the problem and it will be two more weeks before they can fix it! I am trying so hard to keep my patience, but it is starting to run really thin!

Get to find out today what Sweet Pea will be. A boy or a girl!! So excited. I vote girl, but we will see.

I had a great Thanksgiving. It is always good when my family is around me. Then I got to go shopping with my favorite sister Saturday! We drew names after Thanksgiving dinner. I got my sisters name and she got mine. lol

All joking aside, I am very thankful for my sister. The Lord has brought her threw a lot and blesses her more everyday. I can't help but think of the song "Where Would I Go". How true the words are to this song. I just asked my sister this weekend what in the world would we do if it wasn't for the Lord?! How do people who are not saved make it without him in this world? I'm so glad I don't have to worry about that.

Have to get off of here and head to work. Hope everyone has a blessed day. May God bless you!

Blessings,
Tammi

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Hello To All!

Thought it was about time I posted on here. Been gone longer than I had planned on being. So much has happened since March 2011 since my last post. Let's see...where to start.

Well, we moved from the backwoods to the outskirts of a neighboring city and we love it! I am only minutes from work now instead of 30 minutes. I had been wanting to move for over 20 years and I finally go to! I am happy, happy, happy!

Then my car died and had to buy another vehicle, which I did not want to do. I had my car paid for and was enjoying no bank payment. I always drive my vehicles until they can't go no more. I want my money's worth! lol

We then added a brand spanking new son-n-law to the family and now Matt and my daughter Kelli are expecting their first child (which I have nick named Sweet Pea) and our first grandchild. We are all so excited! It will be the first grandchild for us and for Matt's family also, and the first great granchild for my parents and Matt's grandparents. We will get to find out whether we have a boy or a girl on November 28th. Next Christmas at this time we will have a beautiful grandbaby to spoil and share it with.

I guess that is the major changes that have went on in my life. Oh yeah, I broke down and done something I said I would never do. I bought a dog. Her name is Bella and she is a Bischon Frise. She is four months old and hyper, hyper, hyper! But can turn around and be the sweetest thing. She is great company for me. I will try and post pictures as soon as I can.

Hope everyone is doing fine. Have a great evening!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Don't Leave Me Spring!!



It is supposed to be in the 70's here today and then drop down in the 40's tomorrow with a possibility of strong storms and hail this afternoon! The only bad part about these warm days we have been having is that the winter just doesn't want to let loose and keeps coming back. Spring is my favorite time of the year. I just love looking at all the easter flowers and the trees blooming out. God's work is always so amazing!

I am writing this while on lunch break with the office door open while listening the the birds chirp away. So relaxing. I am eating leftovers from supper last night. Grilled steak, baked potatoes and a salad. Yummy! Now, if I just had some ice cream....awww. lol

I have the GEM class to teach at church tonight. What a great bunch of girls I have. We are going to be studying about Hannah and the importance of prayer in our lives. All but 1 of these girls comes on the church bus and their parents or guardians do not come with them so teaching them the simple things is very important. Making sure they know that Jesus is always there with them not matter what goes on in their life. An adult may come and go out of their lives on a regular basis, but the Lord doesn't come and go. He is always there for them. I plan on helping them make a prayer journal in a couple weeks. If anyone has any ideas please let me know.

Have a blessed day! Hope to see ya at church tonight.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Back On

So, so good to have my computer back. It had a nasty virus so I had to take it to the computer hospital. lol I sure do miss it when it is gone.

Really looking forward to the sun today and for the temperature to go to 70! My bones will be happier!

Have a great day everyone.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Giveaway

Please visit Patty to enter in a drawing for an awesome giveaway! This is her first giveaway and it is a great one. Look around on her blog while your at it. She does a really good job!

Easy Rolls



Another recipe I found from the above book. We loved it. It was quick and easy (my new motto), frugal and delicious! We gave it a 5 out of 5.



Easy Rolls

1 (1/4 oz.) pkg. yeast
1/4 c. sugar
1 egg
4 c. self-rising flour
3/4 c. oil

Mix yeast, 2 c. lukewarm water and sugar. Set aside for 5 minutes. Add egg and mix with whisk. Ad flour and oil. (Batter will be thin.) Pour into container, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375.

Spoon batter into sprayed muffin cups about half full. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes. Serves 6-10.

I used a 1/4 c. measuring cup to fill my muffin cups. I filled each cup about 3/4 full. I made this on Sunday and made 12 out of it then stuck the container back in the fridge and made 10 more on Tuesday. They were just as good on Tuesday as they were on Sunday.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Coupon Deals for March 5th



I was really proud of myself last week. I saved $17.80 by using coupons. Not as much as some I know, but that was a good amount for me and as long as I'm happy with it then that is all that counts. lol My best deal was getting 12 Mega rolls of Charmis toilet paper for $1.97 by using a Kroger coupon and a printable one.

Hope to do well this week also although I do not see much that is on sale that I use.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Twist Sticks


(Click on picture for a closer up view).


I made these last night for supper also. They were good. Not pretty, but good. lol Despite finding it messy and difficult to twist these in a more attractive way, we still gave them a 5 out of 5 because they were so good.

TWIST STICKS

1/2 c. sour cream
1/2 (1 oz.) pkg. Savory Herb with Garlic Soup Mix
1 (8 oz.) pkg. refrigerated crescent rolls

Preheat oven to 375. Combine sour cream and soup mix. Spread out crescent rolls into 1 long piece of dough and press seams together. Spread mixture evenly onto dough. Cut dough into 1-in. strips and twist each strip loosely. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Serves 6 to 8.

Noodle Coleslaw



This is another recipe I made from this book.




This was so, so good. We gave it a 5 out of 5.

1 (16 oz.) pkg. coleslaw mix
1 c. sunflower seeds
1 green bell pepper, seeded, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
2 (3 oz.) pkgs. chicken flavored ramen noodles
1 (16 oz.) bottle Italian salad dressing

Combine coleslaw, sunflower seeds, bell pepper, onions and seasoning packets. Break ramen noodles into smaller pieces and add to colelaw mixture. Toss with dressing and refrigerate overnight. Serves 4.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Bean and Corn Salsa

This was ok but I wasn't crazy about it. I am not keeping the recipe. I thought maybe someone would like it.

1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained
1 (8 oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (16 oz.) jar thick-and-chunky salsa

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Refrigerate. Serve with chips, enchiladas or other Mexican food. Yields 1 qt.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Classic Guacamole

Oh, how I love this stuff!! Too bad I only made half a recipe though.

4 T. finely chopped white onion, divided (I didn't use this much)
1 T. plus 1 1/2 tsp. coarsely chopped fresh cilantro, divided
1 or 2 fresh serrano or jalepeno peppers*, seeded and finely chopped
1/4 tsp. chopped garlic
2 lg. soft avocados
1 med. tomato, chopped
1 to 2 tsp. fresh lime juice
1/4 tsp. salt
Corn Tortilla Chips

*Serrano and jalepeno peppers can sting and irritate the skin; wear rubber gloves when handling peppers and do not tough eyes. Wash hands after handling. (This is very important! And no younger sister, I will not be sharing of how I personally know this. lol)

Combine 2 T. onion, 1 T. cilantro, peppers and garlic in a large mortar. Grind with pestle until almost smooth. (Mixture can be processed in blender, if necessary, but it will become more watery than desired.)
Cut avocados lengthwise into halves; remove and discard pits. Scoop out avocado flesh; place in bowl. Add pepper mixture. Mash roughly; Leaving avocado slightly chunky. (I used a potato masher).
Add tomato, lime juice, salt and remaining 2 T. onion and 1 1/2 tsp. cilantro to avocado mixture; mix well. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate up to 4 hrs. Serve with corn tortilla chips.
Makes 2 cups.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Corn Tortilla Chips



Above, Tortilla Chips, Guacamole Dip, and Bean and Corn Salsa. I fixed taco salad to go with this. I will post the other two recipes tomorrow.

I made tortilla chips tonight and we loved them! They were so good, crisp and most of all salty. This was all the chips that was left out of what I fixed. I copied this recipe from a book that I bought at the Dollar General Store right before Christmas last year. It was called 1001 Recipes Short, Easy, Inexpensive. This is the best cookbook! I only paid $5.00 for it.



We rate this one a 5 out of 5.

12 corn tortillas (6 in. diameter), day-old*
Vegetable Oil
1/2 to 1 tsp. salt

*If tortillas are fresh, let stand, uncovered, in a single layer on a wire rack for 1 to 2 hours to dry slightly.

Stack 6 tortillas. Cuttng through stack, cut tortillas into 6 or 8 equal wedges. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
Preheat deep fryer to 375. Fry tortilla wedges in a single layer 1 minute or until crisp, turning occasionally. Remove and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt immediately. Repeat until all chips have been fried. (I kept the ones that had already been fried in a glass bowl in my oven at 200 degrees to keep them warm and crispy while the other ones were cooking.)

Grocery Shopping

My grocery trip this week was a bit more expensive. Although I said I was going to only shop for 1 wk. at a time now, well, there was some good meat sales that I could not pass up so I bought extra for my menu next week. I spent a total of $211.00 and saved $29.99 by using store cards and coupons. So my total was actually $181.01. My best deals was getting my favorite deodrant for only .25 and getting 3 Dawn dishwashing detergents for free! Can't beat that! I also bought a Febreeze refill (which was on sale) and got the warmer for free.
I bought extra items that I had coupons for that just happened to be on sale this week. I now have enough paper towels to do me literally for 6 months and dog food, deodrant, Dawn, and toothpaste! Of course, Rite Aid was already out of the Downy and the Advil that was on sale by the time I got there.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Grocery Update

So sorry to have just left ya hangin, but I have just been super busy! I got caught up on some housework that needed done this past weekend and then had some friends over for lunch after church Sunday. Bridget had saw my post earlier in the week of my menu and I think she was worried she was gonna have to eat Pigs-n-a-Blanket! She didn't have to although her husband didn't think the idea was bad at all! It is so nice to be able to fellowship with others who love the Lord!

Anyway, I had to go back to the store this weekend as I thought I would. I can't help it, I just do not like going every two wks. Just tears my thoughts all up!! I spent $50.00 making my total for two wks. somewhere around $164.00 which is about $82.00 a wk. I needed milk and bread and then I forgot to get enough stuff for Eugenes lunch for two weeks so had to get that and a few more things that I did not get enough of to do me two weeks for. I think I am gonna go ahead and make up my two week menu. I liked that part so if I see anything on special that I know I will need for the next week then I can go ahead and get it.

I noticed Kroger has a 10/$10 sale this week. This is a list of what I see so far that I will be getting (everything is not necessarily 10/$10): sour cream, mini carrots, eggs, whole chickens, Pork loin, sugar free ice cream (yum!!), Manwich, Ravioli, Nature's Own Bread, Bounty Paper Towel (gotta check my price book first on this though), bacon and Cheerios. I have coupons for some of these things so it will be even cheaper. Go me!!

The area I live in is in a flash flood advisory for tomorrow and Friday. Hope everyone is very careful and stays safe.

God bless!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Grocery List

I went to 4 stores. 3 in my hometown and 1 not. The only deal on found on meat this week was at Save-A-Lot on chicken breasts. It was .99 lb. so I bought 2 packages although I just needed one.

At Save-A-Lot

Milk/1 gal. $2.89
Frozen garlic bread $1.99 (Two meals)
Whole chicken (.99 lb.) $4.63
2 Supreme Pizzas $4.58
Chicken breast (2 pkgs.) $6.76
Idaho potatoes (10 lb.) $3.99
Onion Soup Mix .79
White Lily Flour (5 lb.) 1.99
Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese $2.69
Buttermilk Biscuits (5) $2.50
Cream of Mushroom soup .59
Yellow Mustard .69
Yellow Onions (3 lb.) $2.29
1 head lettuce $1.39
Canned greens (2) $1.38
Tomato Juice $1.39
Egg Substitute (4) $5.96
Sugar Free Grape Jelly $1.69
Dog Biscuits $1.29
Country ham slices $9.98 (Breakfast every day for 2 wks.)
Canned diced tomatoes .65
Vegetable shortening $3.49
Celery $1.29
5 lb. Granny Smith Apples $3.00 (OMG!! I just now realized I bought the wrong kind!!)
Fishers Weiners $1.49
Cabbage $1.66
TOTAL $71.04

My husband bought his lunch snacks at the Dollar Store for a total of $6.12 for 6 items. (I won't bore you with these items as if you are not already. lol)

At IGA I bought:
Chicken wings $5.92 (2 meals)
Hamburger $6.48 (at $2.41 this sure wasn't even close to a sell!!)

TOTAL $12.40

At Wal-Mart I bought:
Peanut butter $2.48
Ham lunchmeat $3.98 (Husbands lunch)
Fiber One Bars $2.42 (But I had a .50 coupon)
Rolls $1.98
Dog Treats $3.33
Mountain Dew $4.38 (for my husband, I drink water)
Hogie Buns (husband's lunch) $2.48
Loaf of bread $1.18
Margarine .88
Vitamins (me!) $5.00 (but I had a $1.00 coupon)
Roast beef lunchmeat (husband's lunch) $3.98

TOTAL $31.35

So my total spent for two weeks of groceris was $114.79! I thought I done pretty darn good. Now I will have to go back on Friday to buy a few more things such as milk and bread that I do not have room to buy and freeze up but I think it is still pretty good.

As far as the coupons go, I saved $1.50 by using coupons. Not a lot but better in my bank account than the grocery stores!

What do you think?

2 Week Menu

Fixing a two week menu was harder than I thought it was going to be, but maybe not like you are thinking. I had no trouble at all coming up with the menu ideas. The problem was I kept changing my mind!! As I was going through my recipes I kept changing and changing, erasing and erasing. They just all looked so good!I finally decided I was going to have to stop changing and settle for what I had on paper! lol

Here goes, in not any particular order. This is just what I have on the menu to fix for the next 2 weeks.

1. Speghetti and meatballs, salad, garlic toast.
2. Potato Soup, cornbread.
3. Pigs-n-a-blanket, mashed potatoes, green beans.
4. Hamburger goulash, mashed potatoes, corn, cornbread.
5. Open face turkey sandwiches, potatoes,cole slaw, corn.
6. Pizza, salad, chicken wings with homemade ranch dressing.
7. Fried chicken and chicken livers, green beans, cole slaw, mashed potatoes,
homemade biscuits and macc-n-cheese.
8. Onion Chopped Steak with Easy gravy, mashed potatoes, asparagus,cornbread,
homemade Italian Parker House rolls.
9. Salmon patties, fried potatoes, greens, cornbread.
10. Grilled chicken breasts, baked potatoes, salad, rolls.
11. Hamburgers, homemade french fries.
12. Pork chops and gravy, potatoes, beans or corn, rolls, and macc-n-cheese.
13. Vegetable soup, cornbread.

I will be posting tomorrow my grocery store items and how I did on the cost.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Snowed In, Again

I have spent my day at home instead of work. I was not able or willing I should say to slide off my mountain to go to work. I haven't felt good anyway so I guess it was a blessing I could stay home and lay around.

I got a few rooms cleaned. Took me forever though. I would rest a while and work a while. I sure hope I feel much better tomorrow.

I have been in the process for many months trying to gather all my recipes together and finally accomplished that today while I was home. Now, just getting them typed in on my computer. I am such a paper pack rat!! You just have no idea. So, as a way to help cut down on my a lot of the paper I have stashed everywhere, I am going to type my recipes up on my computer but, the most important thing is to make sure I back them up! Been there, done that.

I am also crocheting an afghan for Matt (dds boyfriend) using camaflouge yarn. I made my son an afghan so now it is Matt's turn. I will post pictures when I feel better.

I must go. I have an appointment with the tax lady tomorrow and need to finish up the information I need to take with me. I really dread this so, so bad!! All I can say is, "Lord help us!" lol

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Snowy Tuesday

Yes you heard me right. Another snow on the ground. I so long for the days when I wake up and the sun is rising. It just does my body good. lol

Due to the rising gas prices I feel I need to start doing a two week menu and go every two weeks to grocery shop instead of every week like I do now. I tried the every other week thing once before and didn't like it because it seemed all the good sales was on the week I didn't go to the grocery store but I have no choice now so I am going to give it another try. Of course this includes only going to Wal Mart every other week also (which is about 30 miles from my home). Boo! Hoo! I have to keep telling myself this will save me money!! Ya know, it's sad when going to Wal Mart every weekend is the highlight of ones life. lol

I tried to spend only $80.00 on groceries and household goods last week but couldn't do it. I spent around $98.00. I am trying to find a good number for my budget that I can live with comfortably. My husband is a meat, potatoes and corn bread man. Messing with his food is NOT where I want to go! lol

I will share my menu once I have it down on paper and how I do at the grocery stores this week.

Have a blessed day!

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Changing Background

Yep, again, I changed my background. I really need something more cheerful to look at when I open my blog. Something to remind me that sunshine is around the next bend bringing warmer weather with it.

I am so, so behind on my housework from all my health issues. All my household routines and schedule has been blown completely right out of my Household notebook! Need to remind myself to take it one step at a time. Maybe I need to go back and read my Flylady reminders. My goal today is to catch up on all this mess as much as possible. Starting with getting off this computer! lol

Have a great weekend everyone!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Cinco De Mayo Skillet

Edited February 12th.

This recipe come from the Beverly Mills and Alicia Ross from the cookbook Cheap, Fast, Good! It was very easy, quick and, cheap!

Salt for cooking rice
1 c. long-grain rice
1 lb. hamburger
1 pkg. Taco Seasoning
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves fresh garlic
2 cans (14 oz. each) Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
Juice of 1 lime
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 large ripe tomato, chopped
Shredded lettuce, shredded
3/4 c. shredded Mexican-blend or Cheddar cheese
Sour cream, optional

Bring 2 cups lightly salted water to a boil in a covered medium-size saucepan. Add the rice, stir, and reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan and simmer until the rice is tender, about 20 minutes.

Brown hamburger with onion in a 12-inch skillet. Drain. Return hamburger and onion mixture back to skillet. Add taco seasoning and cook according to pkg. directions.

Meanwhile, make a Mexican tomato sauce by peeling the garlic cloves. Turn a blender to high and drop the garlic cloves through the hole in the lid. Process until finely chopped. Turn off the motor and add the tomatoes with their juice and the lime juice. Cover and pulse to finely chop the tomatoes. Add about half of the tomato sauce to the hamburger mixture; stir well and simmer 10 minutes. Add the cooked rice to the skillet and stir well.

For each serving, top 1 c. of the hamburger mixture with 2 T. of the cheese, 1/2 c. of the lettuce, 1/3 c. of the diced tomato, 3 T. of the reserved tomato sauce and sour cream.

We ate this with tortilla chips. My husband loved it which surprised me since he is not a fan of black beans.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Side Tracked

Well looks like I am going to have to put Weight Watchers to the side somewhat for a little while. I have a lot of health problems to begin with and just have had a rough time here lately.
Last year when I began WW and exercising I just started feeling so good! I had so much energy, my sugar levels didn't drop, my thryoid levels were stable and so on. Then I discovered that I had a ruptured disc at the top of my spin (being in my neck), so I had to stop all exercising until I was able to get that fixed. By the time I had healed (after surgery) I was out of the mood to exercise, let alone diet.

In October I started just feeling so draggy again and tired all of the time so I figured if I got back on WW I would not only loose some extra pounds but it would help me to start eating better again and exercise and I would start feeling better again. Well, that idea sounded good but it just didn't work. I have just kept on going down hill so I finally broke down and went to the doctor yesterday. This was my report, iron and blood pressure too low, and thryoid medicine too strong for me right now. I knew something had to be wrong more than what I had originally thought because everytime I exercised It left me so weak I could hardly move!

Got to eat lots of beans and liver and take iron medicine! I am on Toprol for a heart condition but this medicine is alos used to lower blood pressure. The doctor is wanting to cut me back on this to see if my blood pressure will increase some but, I really dread this because then my heart rate will be out of control again. But, here I go!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Weigh In Went Well

I lost 1.8 lbs. Happy for myself! I exercised for 30 minutes for 5 nights last week. I guess it payed off. Maybe this will encourage me this week as I am going to up my time some. Oh how I hate exercising!! I have lost a total of 5.8 lbs. Week 3, here I come!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Weigh In

Well, just as I thought, I didn't loose very much at the weigh in last night. But I did loose .4 lbs. Better than gaining but I had just expected at to loose at least a lb.! Like I said in a previous post, I didn't exercise much that week so I didn't loose much. Starting over today. This is a new week!

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Really Nervous

I am really nervous about weighing in this Monday. I have only exercised 2 days this week so far and I cannot loose weight if I don't exercise. Darn it!! And to think, I used to pray to the Lord when I was growing up to be able to gain weight!! I was always underweight and everyone always made fun of me. I just didn't know how lucky I was! Now I pray to the Lord to take it away! lol I bet he wishes I would make up my mind. lol

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Here I Go Again!

In December 2009 I made lifetime doing Weight Watchers. You'd think after all that hard work that I would not want to have to do all that again wouldn't you? Well, as of January 3, 2011 I again find myself back at WW. I only needed to loose about 7 more lbs. (I have already lost 3.6) to get back to my goal that I set in 2009 but I would like to loose more this time so....I need to loose 14.4 more lbs. to be at a new goal.

I will be posting each week the amount of weight I have lost so you can help me be accountable!

Wish me luck!