12-25-09 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Well the day is finally over with, yeahhh! It's almost 11pm.
The house is wiped out, the dog is passed out and the cat is
hidden somewhere among the boxes as I hear rustling underneath them.
I took a 3 hour hour nap earlier from 3 to 6pm. I was whipped!

I guess mom called while I was asleep and talked to Tony about
me and her going after Christmas shopping tomorrow, lol.
I had no knowledge of these plans made til I woke up, lol.
So guess where I will be tomorrow? And I thought my shopping
adventures were over with, HA HA HA!

Mom wants to go to Kohls since they have some things marked 50-60% off
tomorrow. Then I remembered when me and Tony were there this past week
I signed up again with another email address to get a $5.00 off coupon from them.
Sooo I need to figure out how to go to the library first thing tomorrow and
get the coupon printed since my printer doesn't work.
Then I think I will make up a few more addresses for some more coupons to sign up
for when at Kohls. This will make the third coupon we've gotten from them!

Was sitting here this eve with Damien and Tony looking on Craigslist at vehicles for sale. It seemed like I looked through 10 pages of vehicles and only found three of interest. After being with my other half for 10 years who is a car fanatic I have somewhat good knowledge of what to look for in buying a used vehicle.
I wrote about one car and am awaiting for them to write me back to possibly go see
tomorrow if they still have it. It's a 2004 Dodge Intrepid.

Here are some of my tips that might help you when buying a used car:

1. DO NOT buy one that has a temporary tag! Obviously they bought it and
now don't want it for some reason.

2. Something that says "would make a good WORK vehicle/truck"
usually means it is beaten down, pretty much not taken care of.

3. Check for spots underneath vehicle. Could be leaking oil,
transmission fluid and so on.

4. Look under vehicle for rust!!! Could find rusted out shackles,
springs, exhaust and other things you wouldn't see from above
that would cause major problems.

5. Check the anti freeze overflow tank. If it is empty there is a problem.
Check for rust in bottom. Could mean it was never changed.

6. Check under floor mats for rusted out floor boards or evidence of
any wet spots which could be anti freeze meaning it needs a new heater core.

7. Bring along a clean cloth or paper towel. Check the oil. Is it low?
Is the oil really black? Once you clean dip stick on towel hold it up to
the light, is there any metallic flakes glistening. Not good if so. It means
there is metal breakdown in the oil.

8. Start it up. I have a nose for exhaust leaks as I can "taste" it in my mouth.
Sometimes just smell it. Is it smoking out the tail pipe. A blueish smoke
means it is burning oil. Any smoke is not good.

9. Hear a knocking in the engine could mean it could be about ready to throw
a rod. Run!

10. Dealers will tell you anything you want to hear to make a sale and they
do not know the past history of the car. I prefer private owners.

11. Do not buy a car with a salvage title. Who knows where they got it from
and what hidden damage may be done to the car. Salvage could be a wrecked
car, one from a junk yard, auction or water damage from a flood.

12. Check brake fluid. If it's low or empty it needs brakes or at least pads.

13. Check transmission fluid is pink in color and not burnt.

14. Look for uneven wear on tires. Is it worn on the inside or out. Are they
dry rotted with cracks.

15. Is there oil around the valve gaskets or anywhere else it shouldn't be on the
motor.

16. Check air conditioner, turn it on to see if the compressor is working.

17. Check heater to see that it blows warm air.

18. Check all lights.

19. Check gauges: any warning lights, speedometer and gas gauge working?

20. Check belts and hoses for dry rot. Are they cracked and corroded, leaking or
loose, making squealing noises?


























House is wiped out, dinner has been ate
and I am glad it is over with!
I am so tired! I woke up a 2:40am to find Christopher up.
I think he's had about 4 hours sleep!!
Then I woke up again around 4am to still see him up.
He had gone to bed at 9pm. He has been up ever since!
The rest of us got up at 7:30am.
It is finally catching up with me at 3:02pm and I'm ready for a nap!

12-24-09

In this household I always try to be creative and use up any leftovers we may have.
This morning we had teriyaki chicken hash with chicken leftovers from last night's supper.


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One more day and what a long day that will feel like with everything that still needs done. Got word last night that the in-laws will be stopping by later on this afternoon. I was hoping they would have stopped by on Christmas day so we could get stuff done. Now I feel extra rushed!

Well I have to get off here to get things done for now. Got my notebook full of notes as to what still needs done. My notebooks come in handy for things like this. You need to take notes and plan ahead or things will get forgotten and not done.

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Why does it seem like the more presents you wrap the more they keep multiplying!!
Ahhhh!!

Just started cookie making for Santa and tomorrow's dinner.
The Pretzel Turtles just came out of the oven and are the simplest
things to make and look so fancy!


Jonathan helped me get the second batch of cookies in the oven which was
chocolate filled chocolate chip cookies.


Christopher with the third batch, caramel filled chocolate chip cookies.


And me assisting with putting everything in the hot oven.


I have been spying a can of peaches and been thinking about making some peaches and cream pocket pies for tomorrow similar to the apple ones I made yesterday.
So might throw a batch of them in there with all the cookies.
I have some left over pecan so might crumble those on top, yummy!

The in-laws stopped by around 5 or so and just left and it's almost 8pm.
We had a nice time and exchanged our gifts. While socializing with them I was running
back and forth to the kitchen baking cookies, lol.
I ended up making 5 different kinds today along with
peaches and cream pocket pies for tomorrow.




Well it's 8pm and we STILL have lots of wrapping to do. Looks like it's going to be a long night. We've been wrapping since yesterday!!

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It's 11:56pm and we would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!!

We have wrapped til we can't wrap no more! LOL.

Good Night!



From: The Lees

12-23-09

It's 9:53am and I'm still trying to wake up. Will do a simple breakfast this morning
before starting the day of wrapping, laundry and tidying up the house.
Breakfast will be the other package of sausage patties that I got buy 1 get 1 free.
Fry up some eggs and put them on the .25 cent dinner rolls from Kroger.


Then it will be getting the chicken breasts ready for the rotisserie. I hope it turns out!! I'm still new to this rotisserie thing and have only used it once.

If you ever need a quick recipe here are some sites I recommend, the ones I use most often:

ALLRECIPES.COM

TASTEOFHOME.COM

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A simple candy recipe. I might make some to go with Christmas dinner.

PRETZEL TURTLES

Place small twisted pretzels on foil lined sheet. On top of each pretzel place a Rollo candy, then a pecan half on top of each. Put in warm oven, around 250 until the Rollo melts. Allow to cool, and Voila! you have a turtle. Delicious.



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I've been buying a few Christmas gifts for myself that is practical because
I know Tony wants to buy me more fancy things. So I have been getting a few things
here and there and telling Tony, look what you got me for Christmas. He probably thinks I'm crazy because they aren't typical gifts. I don't like it when people spend money on me I guess. I got about 6 spiral notebooks of paper, a wooden magazine racks, a laundry rack.

I also bought one of those things like the As Seen On Tv bra clips holders that I got from the dollar store for a buck. And they came in the same colors.
I think it was a package of 6? The other ones from tv are $28!!! Check them out on there website then consider a pack for $1.00 from Dollar Tree!!
https://www.strapperfect.com/flare/next


Oh I did ask him for some white serger thread last night for my sewing machine. I'm sure I'll have to get that as he may not know what that is.

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Here is a tip I use for thread on your regular type sewing machine. Over the years I got tired of buying the regular spools of thread that would run out in the middle of my projects. I now buy serger spools of thread. They are huge and lasts me a long time! No they don't fit on the machine exactly but it works and saves me the hassle of rethreading my machine all the time.



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Here is my laundry rack that I started using yesterday and am loving it. I kept seeing it at the thrift store but it didn't have a price on it. So the last time there we asked about the price and they put one on it of $2.92. I wonder why they put such weird amounts for their prices. I put it by my washer/dryer and am able to hang up my clothes immediately after taking out of the dryer. Then once the load is done can bring them upstairs to be hung up.



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It's 2:19pm and we have about half of the kids presents wrapped. Still have
to do the in-laws, my parents and friend presents.

I find that instead of using gift tags which can be time consuming I now use
a black sharpie marker to write on each package. It does the job.

When buying tape make sure to look at the yardage or feet on each roll. The rolls
I got didn't have much on them. Why can't they make rolls of tape that have lots of tape on them! GRRR! Look at packing tape. There's a bunch on there. I remember having a tape dispenser and could buy refillable bags of tape rolls for it for cheap. Not anymore.
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I got Damien's food-goodie box almost done, just needs wrapped.
Then need to work on putting together his other boxes.

So whenever you can't figure out what to give someone as a gift
think practical! Make them a goodie box from your pantry or
toiletry stash. Hey I wouldn't mind getting a box like this.
Who's gonna say "we can't use this, it's the wrong size or color and so on!"
It's the perfect idea especially with the economy the way it is!!

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It's now 6:37pm and I'm stuffed from supper.
We had teriyaki chicken, creamed green beans, corn bread, mashed potatoes.


One picture below I am glad that I had the camera nearby. The cat jumped up on
the stool and sat there hypnotized by the chicken rotating round and round in
the rotisserie.





For dessert I whipped up something out of my head, no recipe, but I'll
try to remember how I did it.



Apple Pocket Pies

Combine the below in a medium bowl:
1 can apple pie filling, chopped up
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 to 1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 Tablespoons dry vanilla pudding

1 can 8 count Grands biscuits- flatten out with fingers into about
a 5" diamter.

Spoon a tablespoonful of apple pie mixture into middle of biscuit.
Carefully fold over and crimp edges with a fork.

Bake 350 degrees about 15 or so minutes.

In a small bowl combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
and enough milk to make thick glaze.

Once pockets come out of oven spoon glaze over the tops.

Serves 8

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Nighty Night

Jonathan asleep with mommy's homemade snuggie on.


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OK just one more for today.
I had to add this as I needed a laugh after someone brought me down earlier.
No not family or friends, just someone online who was a jerk.

12-22-09

MEIJER

Mom just called to say she found 10# bags of potatoes for $1.19 at Meijers.
That's a great price so you better stock up!!

I already boiled up the last of my potatoes I had and plan to make potato
soup today. I wanted to put some maple sausage in my soup.
I found a 1 pound roll for $4.00, OUCH! I didn't want to pay that price so looked around. I ended up buying
2 packages of maple sausage patties just short of a pound each. They were $4.00 BUT buy one get one free! So it was like I doubled the amount of sausage I got for the same amount as a 1 pound roll. I'll crumble up and cook the patties like regular ground sausage.

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Only had 2 more gifts to get! Woo Hoo!
Got one today and still need to get a McDonalds gift card for the in-laws.

The kids wanted a game system for Christmas and I'm not about ready
to fork over $200 to $300 for one when they have a few game systems with
a ton of games.

We did get them a cheap system though so they feel like they got one.
I had been back and forth between Walgreens and CVS looking at Wireless
Zone 40 (CVS) and Wireless Sports (Walgreens). They both were $30.
The zone 40 only has 11 games that can be used like Wii. The rest of the games
looked stupid and are played like a regular game.
The Wireless Sports has about 21 games that all play like a Wii and looked more fun.

So I decided to get the Wireless Sports Plus from Walgreens.
It was regular $50 then marked down to $38 then to $29.99.
But when I got the register it rang up as $25.
Hey I'll take it, an extra $5 off!!
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I'm done spending money! Now it's time to start wrapping everything! AHHHH!
Nothing is wrapped yet. Hey this is early for us. We're usually wrapping everything
Christmas Eve staying up half the night.

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Had to go to Kroger to drop off Tony's prescriptions.
While there I checked their mark down bin. Love the Kroger on Henderson Rd!! I think they have the best manager specials out of all the Kroger stores I've been to (and I have been to many!!). The one on Olentangy ranks second. My hint to shop for manager specials is to shop the perimeter of the store. That's where most can be found.

Anyways I found 3 twelve packs of Kroger Big K pop marked down to .99 cents each just
because the boxes were ripped. Each kid will get one of those for Christmas.
That's pretty cheap for their pop! Most of the time if a box breaks open they sell the individual cans for .15 cents each. These 12 packs were cheaper than buying those which would have cost $1.80. Not much cheaper than a 12 pack that costs $1.99 at regular price right now.

Then I picked up a teriyaki marinade, no a mark down but something I wanted for tomorrow's supper.
I'm going to marinade some chicken leg quarters today and tonight in the fridge.
Then tomorrow will skew them up inside the rotisserie. Yummy! At least it sounds good anyway. I'm trying to use my $2.00 rotisserie when I can. I even have a basket that I can put fish or pork chops in to bake. That will be another day though.

I dug around in the freezer and found some chicken breasts. I opened up each freezer bag and poured in some teriyaki marinade with pineapple juice then zipped them back up.
They will go into the fridge til tomorrow afternoon.



Oh my goodness I just thought of something else I could make in the rotisserie.
How about kebobs? Ohhh that's sound yummy and I can't wait to try them.
I found this video that looks simple enough to do. Instead of using skewers
I can put them on the forks of the rotisserie. Here is the video link: http://www.vitalrecipe.com/view/vh1d0r0w1/betty-s-brown-sugar-soy-sauce-marinated-chicken-kebabs-recipe/
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It's now 8:08pm and I just completed the second robe. This one I made a little different. You pull it over your head. It has no sides and is open for the arms.



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This next photo was from yesterday early morning. I had just gotten out of bed and came in the dining room to pull up the blind. I see a cop car sitting at the end of our driveway and the cop was just getting out of the car and glanced at me. Scared the crap outta me! I thought what the heck is going on! Come to find out he had a car pulled over along side our house, WHEW! He put the lady in the back seat of his cruiser which couldn't have been good. Then a flat bed came and hauled her vehicle away. The kids said they saw the police man let her go and made her walk to wherever she was going.



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2010 Census, Time to Get Counted


The 2010 U.S. Census has begun,
and identity thieves are already impersonating Census Bureau workers.

The 2010 Census is creating an opportunity for thieves to use a legit reason to attempt to gather your personal information. The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? The Better Business Bureau offers the following advice:

1. If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, he or she will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see the worker’s identification and badge before answering any questions. Additionally, you should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home.

2. Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, it will not ask for Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers. Census workers will never solicit donations.

3. Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail or in person at home. However, they will not contact you by e-mail. If you receive an email from the U.S. Census Bureau, it is most likely a scam. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an e-mail that is supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

12-21-09

Me and Tony did some shopping today and visited Santa. You know what really gets under my skin is just yesterday the sales ad came out. You drive all over town, have a shopping list and when you get to the store they tell you they are out of the things you want. Bull crap! I was upset! The store salesman told me they had a limited stock. The sales ad didn't mention anything about a certain amount per store! I asked if they had something compatible that they could sell me for the same price. Of course they didn't. What happened to stores doing this? If they were out of something they would use something else at the same price. Then the salesman tries to sell me something similar but was DOUBLE the cost! I told him I drove a ways to get to this store and wasn't happy to be told this. Then he says well you can try our Sawmill store. HELLO that's clear across town!!! Why? to be told the same thing wasting my gas and time!! Do you see a scam here or what!!!
They lure you into the store then try to sell you other things!! Ok I have now agreed to not go back to HH Gregg again!!

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We did notice that with 3 days before Christmas stores were starting to mark down things.

Khols had a lot of items marked down 50-60% off.
A non electric charger that winds up to charge cell phones and any portable USB
device such as MP3 players was originally $30 marked down to $15!!

Big Lots MP3 Players originally $30 rang up at $20!

Guitar Hero is everywhere on sale for $50 with a guitar and disc.
We found them at Big Lots for $15. A savings of $35!
Not all Big Lots has them.
Morse Rd. doesn't but Olentangy does.

Kmart has a calendar out. On the calendar is coupons. We used one
for $5 off $50.

I see all these board games on sale from $8 up to around $15.
Do you know you can find these games at the thrift stores for a fraction of that!
I got Junk Yard Jalopy, Trouble, Operation Shrek and a few other for only...
.60 cents each!!!

I can't wait til after Christmas sales start.
Christopher's birthday is the first week of January.
While we buy some presents for him we usually give him $20 to $25
and take him to the store to pick out a gift.
We have found toys marked down 50% to 75% off.
So if there was a Christmas gift he had wanted that he didn't get
now is his chance to possibly find it marked down.
One year he did this. He kept seeing this tv commercial for a toy
he wanted so bad. We couldn't afford it as it cost $50!
A week after Christmas it was marked down to about $20 to $25!

Good things come to those who wait!!

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Anyways onto better things. We got another whole ham at Kroger for .77 cents a pound yesterday. Tony had a great idea of putting it on the rotisserie. That sounds so yummy. So here is a recipe if you have a rotisserie...

Ingredients
-10 pounds ham of choice, bone-in, fully cooked
-1 1/2 cups orange marmalade
-1/2 cup brown sugar
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours

or around 13 minutes per pound if you have a smaller ham.

During the last 30 minutes start to brush ham with orange marmalade and brown sugar mixture every 10 minutes.
Remove and allow to rest before cutting and serving.

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Here is another one I saw on Food TV's Barefoot Contessa's show that looked so good!

1 (14- to 16-pound) fully cooked ham, spiral cut or whole, unsliced
6 garlic cloves
8 1/2-ounce jar mango chutney
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
Zest of 1 orange
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the ham in a heavy roasting pan.

Mince the garlic in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the chutney, mustard, brown sugar, orange zest and orange juice and process until smooth. Pour the glaze over the ham and bake for 1 hour, until the ham is fully heated and the glaze is well browned. Slice, if necessary. Serve hot or at room temperature. Serves 35 for dinner, 50 for cocktails.

"The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook"

12-20-09 VISIT TO SEE SANTA

Today we took the kids to see Santa. Oakland nursery had Santa's house decorated in a Sesame Street theme which was very cute. They even had a kettle of chili brewing over a fire for all to eat free while waiting. Photos were free if you brought your own camera. If not they were $5 each.
Afterwards we went to Kroger. It was like we all had a free lunch today. First the bowls of chili which they would let you go back and get more. Then Kroger had samples of crackers & dip, cheese cubes, cheese ball and crackers, sausages, raisin & chocolate chip cookies and lastly ham.

12-20-09 SUNDAY

I'm up late. It's 12:39am in the morning. I have 5 days before Christmas to do things. I did sleep in a little late yesterday morning and took a nap, something I haven't done in awhile. So it explains the reason for not being as tired as I should.

I have been working on making a Snuggie. Well I did make one from the directions online but found I did not like it and the way the back bunched up and was open. Plus Snuggies don't stay on you too well.
So for about the past week I have been trying to come up with ideas to make my own. Tonight I sat down and drew up some patterns. I used taped together newspaper and cardboard boxes from pop. I don't have money to waste on patterns from the store as they cost too much. I got the fabric cut out and sewn together. The fabric was a large flannel sheet I purchased at the thrift store for $2.99. I am hoping to get two of my "Snuggies" made from it. I was so amazed at myself that it came together with no problems! I have tried to make clothes before without much luck and that was with a pattern off Ebay. So something is working in my favor and I can't believe it! So here is my idea. I haven't a name for it yet but am trying to think of one. It's part Snuggie, meaning it has room unlike a typical robe, where you are able to lounge around without being bound up. It's part poncho that has a rounded bottom. And I want to incorporate some sleeves into it. I haven't got that part done as kids are in bed and I can't measure the length of the arms for it til later on.
Well I am off to bed. Will get pictures posted when it's all done.

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It's now 8pm Sunday evening. Been busy most of the day. I didn't get back to making my robe til this evening. I didn't want it to look too girlie so I added more fabric (light blue and white stripes) to the bottom then added a binding down the front and hood of the same fabric. I made the sleeves but am working on getting them attached. Those also have the same striped fabric around the cuffs.
The blue and white fabric was about .99 cents and I only used half of it so total cost of that fabric in this project would be .50 cents. This fabric was a bed dust ruffle I had in my fabric stash.

TOTAL COST FOR THIS ROBE:
1/2 flat flannel sheet $1.50
1/2 a dust ruffle .50 cents
so my homemade snuggie robe cost me $2.00 to make!!