3-10-11

7:30am

I've been experimenting
and testing Blonde SW paint samples on the wall
with the paint sample I got yesterday.
I even mixed up some of the paint
sample with some Dover White SW paint
to lighten it since I thought the color
was too dark for our living room.
Top color-mixed with dover white.
Left color applied over previous paint.
Right color applied over primed area.

While I like the lighter color and painted
different splotches around the room,
it didn't seem to work with the other
colors I have in the room.
Then it finally dawned on me as to why
it didn't fit, it has green undertones
and my living room is done in warm colors
so it makes it clash.
Green is on the cooler side of
the color wheel.

The color in the picture
is not true colors.
My camera won't capture the actual colors
for some reason.

I'm at a loss at the moment as to what
paint color to use. Tony thinks I should just
browse the mis-tinted paints at places like
Lowes, Home Depot & Walmart to see
if I can find something I like.

Plus if we go with the possible hardwood
floors that are underneath our carpet
we'd want a color that would compliment
them as well.
Here's a photo of what the hard wood floors
should look like that we have.
This is another same type of house on our street.
..

Here's some more colors I'm looking at
along with a faux painting technique.
Believe me, I wish picking a paint
was easy and over with!!

ANTIQUE WHITE Sherwin Williams

Faux painting using rollers.

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10:30-11:30am

I stripped down our bed and took
the steam mop to the mattress, comforters
and about 6 pillows to freshen them
up and sanitize everything.
I plan to have Tony help me flip
and rotate the mattress this weekend
and possibly move the bed to another
wall in the bedroom.

---------------------------------------

Supper tonight-
Chicken & Noodles.

I gave mom a 10 pound bag of chicken
and she cooked this up with some
of that chicken and gave me
half of it. Oh goodie, I don't have to cook
tonight. I did start preparing for
tomorrow's supper though.
I got pollock fish marinating.

4 Pollock fish fillets- $1.25
(not shown, I threw in a 5th fillet out of
another packet so I'd have extra for
Tony's lunch)
about 1/3 cup Italian dressing- .25 cents
dabs of butter .05 cents
Mrs. Dash seasoning .05 cents

Sides-
Broccoli & cauliflower- .99 cents
with cheesy white sauce
-velveeta cheese .25 cents
-milk
-butter- .05 cents

Packet of Spanish rice- .99 cents
maybe throw in some
bell pepper- free

Total cost for meal: $3.88
serves 5 @ .77 cents a serving

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With mom having a limited income
now I've been kinda showing her
how I buy food on a limited budget.

I know pretty much all the grocery
stores in our area and know where
all the mark downs are in each
of those stores. They are not easy
to spot at times so are currently
showing mom where to look in each
store as they all are different.
She's says I've been a big help
and she wasn't aware of all
these bargains.

And another thing I've noticed is
that same stores within a 5 mile radius
sometimes don't have the same prices
so compare prices at each store.
Sales prices advertised in the flier
are usually the same though.
For example:
Summer sausage at Karl Kroger -$1.00
Summer sausage at Henderson Kroger -$1.99

Pistachios at Karl Kroger - $2.99
Pistachios at Henderson Kroger -$3.99

This week at Kroger I told her
it was cheaper to buy two half
gallons of milk ($1.25 each)
compared to buying a whole gallon
at $2.70-$2.80 (I can't remember).
And I can tell others don't know
how to shop for the cheaper milk
considering the gallon milk
had more containers gone
and the half gallons were still stocked.

I've been trying to get up the courage
to ask Henderson Rd. Kroger
what they do with their outdated
produce and bread.
I know some people that go around
to each store and get the produce
and breads for free that would
have otherwise been thrown out.
But what I don't know is if they
only give it to organizations
or churches and places like that.

----------------------------

For snacks I've been getting the kids
Kroger lite yogurt.
They keep wanting this more
expensive brand of yogurt
that comes with cookie crumbles
or candy topping which costs
about .70 cents each.
I got the Kroger vanilla lite yogurt this week
which is on sale 3 for $1.00
and a cheap package of sandwich
cookies for $1.80.
Now when they want that specialty
yogurt I get out the el cheapo yogurt
and crush one el cheapo cookie in it!

----------------------------

Cool deal, I just got notice that I will
be getting some free, high quality frozen
food (meat) in the mail soon to try for
one of my surveys!! I can't say
what it is due to their privacy policy.
Free food, heck yeah, bring it on!

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We really need some warmer, less
rainy or snowy weather. Being
cooped up inside makes me think too
much, lol. I look around the house
thinking about things I could do
to improve it or make it more practical for us.

Now I've been thinking about taking
my one linen closet in the hallway and
turning it into the pantry, clearing
up some space in the basement!
Plus it would be more convenient instead
of going to the basement.
For some reason this house has
two linen closets so it wouldn't
be like I would be without one.
I could take the extra blankets
in the hallway closet and put them
on the shelves of the boys bedroom closets.

For those that need extra pantry space,
but don't have an extra linen closet like I do,
you could consider turning a coat closet
into a pantry by adding shelves.
Store everyone's coats in their bedroom
closet or use a hanging or peg type
coat rack on the wall.

Turn a coat closet into a pantry
from Apartment Therapy.

Another good idea shown below is
using a clear shoe holder on the
door for even more food storage.

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This weekend, starting March 12th,
the Twin Drive-In outdoor Flea Market opens!!
Yeah!! I'm thinking that's kind of early for it.
I thought it opened up in April.
It's supposed to be 51 degrees Saturday
so we might take another trip down
South to the flea market.
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7:30pm

Finally got our mattress flipped, rotated
and steamed.

For those of you who have trouble finding
deep pocket or fitted sheets for your mattress
try finding a flat sheet the next size up
from your mattress. Lay it over top of
your mattress and just tuck the
excess on the sides underneath.
This is what I have to do to our bed
since it has a double sided
mattress topper.
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7:50pm

Gas is now $3.59 a gallon.

--------------------------------



Honey Beige-Behr (right)
maybe done in a lighter color

-------------------------

Here's a cute game for kids to play,
Spongebob Bowling.
It says to click on the slider bar,
that means right click your mouse
where you want the clam to stop.

-------------------------------

8:45pm

Well I just put in my online order
for two free digital adapters
from Wow!.
I guess these will be required to
view cable channels.
It costs an additional $1.99
a month to rent any more than that
which sucks!

3-9-11

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY DAMIEN!!

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10:45am

This morning me and mom
went back to Sherwin Williams.
I got a sample of the blonde color
paint I had picked out.
I got 20% off.
It was $5.49 and I paid something
like $4.19 with tax.
.
From there we kept checking
the senior center for free
produce or bread and came up empty handed.

Next stop was Kroger because
Tony requested some more coffee
and Kroger splenda.
Coffee is rising in price.
The cheap large can of Kroger Value
coffee used to be $4.99
and is now $5.99.
Folgers and Maxwell house is almost $8.

I found some packages of Pollock fish
on sale for $1.00!!
I got 5 packages at that price.
They are normally $4.49 each.
I also got some packages of
broccoli & cauliflower for .99 cents each
and a package of salad with toppings
for $1.69.
My best deal was 2 boxes
of Clairol hair coloring.
I had a $3.00 off 2 catalina coupon.
They were $2.59 each x's 2 is $5.18.
Making both boxes $2.18.
The kicker, when I bought both
boxes I received another catalina coupon
good for $3.00 off my next trip at Kroger
thanks to Clairol!
So it was like I got both boxes free
and they're paying me and additional
.82 cents to take them.
I also got another catalina coupon
for $5.00 off 3 more boxes.

Once home I threw 5 large pork
cube steaks in the crock pot
with a large can of tomato soup
and Mrs. Dash seasoning and a splash
of steak sauce.
Serving with mashed potatoes & tomato gravy,
corn with butter and a little splenda
added for sweetness.

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FREEZING POTATOES

-----------------------------------------

Last night on HSN I saw them selling a steam mop.
This steam mop had a plate that you could
put on the bottom and use across carpets,
furniture and mattresses.
The steam mop I got mom didn't come
with one of those gliders since I bought it
at the thrift store.
To buy one costs around $8.00.
So I put on my thinking cap to see
if I could come up with something homemade
with things we already have.

I'm gonna take an extra set of the small
furniture gliders (like Moving Men),
hot glue some velcro to them
and then will stick them on the
velcro area of the steam mop.
I haven't done it yet so I hope it works
because I borrowed mom's steam mop
to sanitize carpets, bedding and furniture.
I could use a carpet cleaner on the
carpets but the water does not
get hot enough as it's only hot tap water.
Steam can get up around 200 degrees
while hot tap water is only around 100-120 maybe,
as I'm only guessing at what I set the water
tank at.

I'll let you know how it turns
out as I need to find my velcro in order
to make it.

-----------------------------

4:30pm

Supper
5 cube steaks $4.29
no sugar added can of corn .29 cents
large can of tomato soup .69 cents
Potatoes .75 cents

Total cost: $6.02
serves 5 @ $1.20 a serving

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7:15pm

Just got done making removable carpet/furniture
gliders for the steam mop.
Works great and glides like a breeze!

3-8-11

Here is my brother-in-law and soon
to be sister-in-law.
They sent out this picture
with their wedding invitation.
----------------------------------

I've been thinking about making
some wall decorations
with fabric and boxes.
Just something to give the walls
a splash of color.

Pictures are so expensive in the stores,
even at thrift stores, so figured
why not make your own masterpieces
for cheap. You could use old picture
frames or even a simple cardboard box.
Cover with fabric and hot glue
it to the backside.

-----------------------------------------

9:45-10:25am

Peeled and diced carrots.
Just now starting to blanche
them all. Thank goodness for
my slicer because I couldn't of
imagined cutting 5 pounds by hand.
I am reusing my veggie broth from
yesterday along with some more
water added to the pan.



---------------------------------------------

10:30-11:30am

I've been a chopping fool, lol.
I chopped up, blanched and packaged
a bag of celery, a 3 pound bag of onions,
along with a few other misc items
like garlic and leftover chicken chili.
I had to upgrade my pot to
a larger one to make the process
go faster plus I was able to have
more veggie broth.
That is currently cooling
then will be put into empty,
plastic peanut butter jars
and will go in the freezer as well.

I already have 25-30 ears
of corn in the freezer from
where they went on sale
for .10 cents or less an ear!







So my tips for cutting down
on your food bill is to buy
produce when it is in season
as it will be cheaper, buy
produce that is marked down,
grow a garden.
And when you have an over
abundance of produce that
you know you can not eat within
a couple days to a week then
either freeze, dehydrate or can it to preserve
it longer, for up to a year or more
depending upon the process you use.

And now's the time to start
stocking up your freezer.
With gas prices rising it
will eventually cause the food
prices to rise again.
Plus with all the frost and freezes
they've had down South will
also drive up the prices of food.

Even if the cost of meat rises
and you cannot afford as much of it,
at least you will be stocked up
with vegetables which is more
important than any meat
and is loaded with vitamins
to get you by each day!

When it comes to growing
a garden, visit your garden center
near the end of Fall for marked down
plants! Some plants might take
awhile to mature and produce
so get them in asap
so you can reap the benefits
in the near future.
I have blackberries, raspberries,
grapes, strawberries and pears
that I have planted that were
$1.50 to $5.00 a plant marked down.

11:55am

Well I am off here for now.
It's about nap time and I could
really use one right about now!
My back and hands are aching
so time to give them a rest
from being in the kitchen.

----------------------------

Sometimes surveys are long and
boring. And don't you hate it
when you get half way through one
only to find out you don't qualify.
That happens so many times.
I finally got through a survey today.
Now up to $95.20!
Slowly getting up there.

---------------------------------

I think for supper tonight
we will have tuna melts
made on the George Foreman
and some mac and cheese on the side.
Something simple.
I need to work on tidying the house
this week. My friend from high school
finally made it to town from
Germany so will likely visit
in the near future.

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5:15pm

Got my veggie broth poured
into bottles. I ended up with 4 of
them. This should make some great
soups. It sure smelled good
when I was blanching the veggies.
Tonight's supper- Tuna Melts
with mac & cheese.
I realized when I started making
them that I was out of mayo
so used fat free ranch dressing instead.
This would have been
good with some lettuce and
a tomato slice, something I don't have.

---------------------------------

7:35pm

Woo hoo, I finally hit the
$100 mark on doing surveys!

3-8-11

3-7-11

10:30am

Mom dropped me off some Kroger
freebies from the senior center.
There was a squash also but I
gave it to mom because I'm
not sure if anyone would eat it
and I don't know how to fix it.
-5 green bell peppers
-2 yellow peppers
-3 bunches of green onions
-5 pound bag of carrots

All stuff I can chop up and freeze!
That'll be tomorrow though.
My guess is that these veggies
would have went for around $20.
I'll price them tonight since
we have to go to Kroger for prescriptions.
----------------------------------------

Tonight's supper will be
chicken quesadillas.
I plan to mix up some chicken
with some no beans chili
and mexican shredded cheese.
Put on tortillas and grill
in quesadilla maker.
Serve with a side of ranch dressing
to dip in.
My honey got me one of these
quesadilla makers about 5 years ago
for Christmas.

------------------------------------

After all this time of looking through
paint colors I think I might just stick
with the first color I wanted- Blonde.
sample pics of sherwin williams blonde paint.
Third one down from top on strip.
I don't see where the color chip
resembles the actual paint color.
That's why viewing other people's photos
has helped out a lot.



.

----------------------------------------

Got a wedding invitation in the mail
today for Tony's half-brother.
Had absolutely no clue, nobody tells
us anything!!
His brother has been living with
this girl in his parent's home
for a couple years now and they
already have two kids together.
So it's not like we didn't expect this
sooner or later but don't ya think we
should've been told before now.
Hell we thought they were already married.

------------------------------

4:40pm

I got all the bell peppers
and green onions cut up,
blanched and packaged for the freezer.
The carrots will have to wait til tomorrow
since I have 5 pounds to do.

How to blanche-

I used a saucepan full of water.
Bring to a boil.
I then inserted a small strainer
into the pan with the cut
up veggies in it for 3-4 minutes.
Remove strainer from water
and rinse or pour very cold
water over them to stop the
cooking process, drain any
excess water from them.
Package in zip bags removing
any air from bags before sealing.
.I am saving the water the
veggies were blanched in for
some soups. You could pour this,
once cooled,
into empty plastic jars from
mayo, peanut butter and so on.
This water has
vitamins and flavor from boiling the veggies
in that it would be a shame to go to
waste.
You could also use this cooled
water to water your plants with!
.
--------------------------------------

Here's a question I have been wondering.

If you cancel one cable company and
go to someone else, how long before
your old cable company considers
you a new customer again.

Couldn't you just switch back
and forth between cable companies
and get their introductory rates?

I'm trying to find a way to make
our cable, internet and phone a little cheaper.
At the moment I think our cable
bill is $138.
That's for digital cable with DVR, basic phone
and basic internet.
They keep adding increases and
I'm getting tired of it!!

At the moment I see At&t and Insight
offering new customers
$60 to $65 package deals
(before taxes and other fees and
an added DVR)
That's a difference of about $78
from what I am paying at
the moment.

-------------------------------

Quesadillas I made for supper.
.
-----------------------------

8:00pm

Just got home from Kroger and
getting Tony's prescriptions.
I picked up a few things while there.
Got a package of 5 large
cube steaks for $4.15
regular price of $6.95.When checking out and paying for
groceries I got a $3.00 catalina coupon
for Clairol hair color.
I remembered seeing a bunch of
hair color in the clearance bin
so we went back and checked the prices.
I found a box of Clairol hair color
marked down to $3.00.
Regularly was $8.49.
So I used my catalina coupon
and got me a free hair color!
Oh, I did price some of the Kroger
freebies I got today.
I did not find 5 pound bags of whole
carrots. The only 5 pound bags of carrots
were those baby carrots. Price- $7.99!!
And those were not organic like the ones
I got which means they are higher priced!
As for those bell peppers, I'm gonna
assume they are the organic ones
as well since the carrots were organic.
They are outrageously priced @
$4.99 each!!!

-------------------------------

3-6-11

10:15am

Breakfast this morning.
Baked French toast with
sugar-free vanilla pudding,
cream cheese & sliced strawberry filling
between two slices of bread soaked
in an egg, milk & cinnamon mixture.
Baked in oven.
Topped with sugar-free syrup,
whipped cream & more strawberry slices.
About 3 grams of total sugar
and that was in the bread & whipped topping.

This is what I'm calling a leftover
breakfast. I had leftover Texas toast
from making garlic bread, leftover strawberries
from waffles, leftover whipped topping
from pie.

Well we're eating breakfast
then gonna get ready to head to Southern
Columbus and/or Pickaway county.
It's a weekend of getting out
of the house and doing something!


--------------------------------

3:30pm

Been down yonder most of the day.
It's not as flooded as I thought.
I've seen much worse when
we lived down there.
We all had a good time.
They did have a section of 23 closed
under the bridge at 270
because water was covering the road.

------------------------------

5:00pm

Working on my laundry
and steaming all the mattresses.
Getting a little of a head start on
Spring cleaning.
Steaming mattresses freshens them up!
It can also kill any dust mites,
fleas or whatever critters there
may be hidden in them.
You can use a steamer like the one
I have called a Shark, I think,
or heck use a steam mop or
clothing steamer.

I also read that steam will kill bedbugs.
I have learned a lot from Tony's work
which does have bedbugs in some units.
Usually they tell you to put things
in the dryer that the heat will kill them.
BUT what about the things you cannot
put in there. So my home remedy for those
that may experience this problem
is to use a steamer which will
get hotter than any dryer and will
kill all types of bugs and their eggs!
It may not deplete the problem but
sure will help. Use it on your clothes,
bedding, pillows, mattresses, other furniture,
stuffed animals, floor, cracks in wooden floors,
or baseboards, curtains, etc.

--------------------------------

More color notes.

KILIM BEIGE

Here's a photo showing Latte behind the secretary, then Kilim Beige to the right.

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3-5-11

Today we took a drive around
the Hoover Dam area then took
everyone out for a Taco Bell
$2.00 meal lunch.

-------------------------------

3:30pm

My honey's tidying up the kitchen
and doing dishes. Then later on
we're having lasagna for supper.
This is the other lasagna I made
earlier this week. Will make
some garlic bread to go with it.

I looked around and saw we had
some leftovers to use up so started
planning a breakfast for tomorrow
with them.

Stuffed French Toast Recipe
My only changes I'm making
with this recipe is I'm using
regular eggs and texas toast and omitting
strawberry preserves.
I'm also adding whipped
cream on top with the strawberry slices.

I am also trying to do a couple days
worth of menu planning.
It sure makes things easier
when I can plan a day to make things up
ahead of time.

-Fried cabbage, potatoes & Italian sausage
-Cheesy chicken burritos or quesadillas
-chili made with baked beans
-potato soup
-a copycat of KFC's mashed potato
layered bowls with leftover chicken
from crock
-Homemade waffles

--------------------------

7:15pm

I am still experiencing some
of my migraine headache from yesterday.
This sucks it really does.
Ibuprofen doesn't seem to help.
Kind of makes your stomach feel
ill at times.
As soon as I opened my eyes up
this morning I felt really dizzy.
Had to wait a moment or two
just to get out of bed.

Well I'm off here for now.
We're having a late supper
and I've got lasagna in the oven
along with some garlic bread.