Search This Blog

Friday, December 24, 2010






9:40am

I just woke up.
This Christmas is wearing me out!
The older you get the harder it gets!
We went out to eat last night at Taco
Bell because I didn't feel like cooking.
Soon after our return home I went to bed.
It was around 7pm. And didn't get up til now.
That's 14 1/2 hours! I could have very easily
slept til about 11-12 no problem as I am having
a hard time waking up.

We still have 5 gifts to wrap for our parents.
Those are the ones we've been needing boxes for
and luckily Tony found some at work yesterday.
Still have about 5 or so gifts to wrap for the kids.
Oh yeah and Tony's going out today to get
a couple gerbils. So I will have to set up the
cage for them. Will just throw a blanket
over them and considering that the wrap.

I've got in-laws coming over today, I think.
Can't get a definate answer out of them
after asking them for the past week straight.
Tony wants me to start making the ham today
so we can offer them something to eat when
they come. So there's gonna be 2 Christmas
dinners I have to make in the next 2 days.

Well it's almost 10am and Tony just brought
a bunch of boxes in from the truck.
Time to wrap some more stuff, ahhh.
Then get out the video camera and try to get
that set up. Usually Damien does it for us
but he won't be here tonight because
he has to work.

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

11:15am

Got one present wrapped and my ham
done up and put in the oven.
I scored the ham in a diamond pattern.
I didn't have any pineapple so used
what I had on hand, some oranges.
I thinly sliced 2 oranges and cut each slice in half
and placed them on the ham with toothpicks.
I then had an extra turkey oven bag,
because they come in packs of two,
and I put the ham inside that.
I'll bake the ham this way until about
a half hour before it is ready. Then
I will remove the bag & orange slices and
mix up some honey mustard, allspice and brown
sugar and put over top for the glaze
and bake the remaining 30 minutes.
Doesn't look too bad for something
thrown together with stuff on hand.
.

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

Had I of known before yesterday that
I was making TWO Christmas dinners
I think I would be more prepared and
less stressed out.
And the best part-
I have no clue when or if the in-laws
are showing up!!
No one can give me a time frame.
I still have a couple of their gifts to wrap,
one of which I cannot find and have
ransacked my bedroom trying to look for it!

So word of advice for holiday time-
Please, wherever it is you are going,
whoever's house you are visiting,
be considerate and let them know
when you are coming!!!

My trays I just made,
Still have to make crab wonton cups
and get some chips!
AHHHHH!!
As if I don't have enough to do
or worry about at the moment!!

Tony is currently at the pet
store picking up 2 gerbils.
We waited til the last minute to get
them since we didn't know what
to do with them before Christmas.
Sneaking them down to the basement
til later on this evening
.
I still have a box of movies we found in
a vacated apartment for the kids that
needs wrapped. Tony thinks we
should wrap each movie up.
He's funny!!! Or has lost his mind!!
Because my guess is about 20-30 movies!

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

One go round done!
My brother-in-law and niece stopped by
around 3 unexpected. Then my mother &
father-in-law came over about 3:30pm.
So we had a house full.
Good thing I fixed enough food.

My internet went down for awhile which
was not good because that's where some of
my recipes were!
I made my wonton crab cups and just
started throwing things together without
actually knowing what the recipe called for.
And I am happy to say every raved over them!
My brother-in-law, who is a picky eater said
that of the top 5 things he loves to eat
these wonton cups are one of them!!
So I see I will have a new Christmas
tradition of making them.
Even my mother-in-law said she wants
me to send her the recipe!
That says allot!!

So I will share with you my
Crab Wonton Cups recipe.

24 wonton wrappers
1- 8 ounce cream cheese, softened
1/2 block Swiss cheese, grated fine
1/2 cup mayo
about 1/4 onion, diced small
2 tablespoons dry onion soup mix
1 egg
1 teaspoon lemon juice
season salt
1/2 pkg imitation crab meat, cut up & flaked
paprika

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray mini muffin cups with cooking spray.
Place individual wonton wrappers into muffin tin
to form cups, pinch and pleat to make them fit around sides.
Bake just the cups for about 5-7 minutes.

In a large bowl mix everything except the crab
with a mixer. Then stir in the crab meat.

Fill cups with cheese & crab mixture
then sprinkle paprika on tops.
Bake cups another 10 minutes or until
cups start to turn golden brown.

As for my ham it turned out wonderful.
Baked with the orange slices
then removed them when the ham was
almost done and did a glaze of
honey mustard and brown sugar.
Everything complemented one another
really well!!
My brother-in-law
My niece

Oh yeah earlier we had to fight the
crowds at Kroger to get a few things needed.
All the checkouts were open!
Surprisingly I was able to find a bunch
of manager specials while there!
I'd say it was all marked half price or more.

$1.49 sugar cookie egg nog

2 large cans whole tomatoes .49 cents each

2 cans Campbells cream of mushroom soup .49 cents each

1 can chicken broth .29 cents

1 can corn .29 cents

box of chicken stock .99 cents

can of pineapple .49 cents

5 pound bag of flour .69 cents

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

Merry Christmas to me!
Thanks to my honey,
my favorite drinkee.
Well that and a Red Headed Slut
and wine coolers.
That's a drink for all you perverts, lol.
I'm not a drinker so this is a special treat.
Being a 1 liter it should last me awhile!
Maybe I'll leave some out for Santa with his cookies!

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

9:30pm

Damien just called and said he was off work.
He wanted to know if he could come up
and spend the night and we said yes.
It's a good thing because I was just trying
to figure out how to set up our video camera
and are not having much luck with getting
tapes to rewind in it to set up to record
tomorrow morning.
Yeah we have an old video cassette recorder camera
that we've been using for almost 11-12 years.

10:30pm

Damien's here now. He got the video camera ready
for tomorrow. Guess I didn't slide a button that
said vcr or camera to set up the tape.
Plus got my camera battery on charge for
pictures and smaller video clips.

One kid is asleep, the other is flipping out
saying he cannot go to sleep.
Still have some gifts to wrap so I guess
I'm back on schedule like all the other years
just not as much.
Got little critters in the basement to bring up.
Tony got them a black and a white gerbil.
They are fun to watch and so much
more energetic than a hamster.
I guess the pet store people said these buggers
could run up to 7 miles a day.
I believe it after seeing how fast they could run
on the wheel. Will have to get a video of it.
After tomorrow I'll have to train them to use
the ladders of the cage. It is 3 stories
and they haven't left the 1st one yet.
They go about half way up the first set
of stairs and use it to jump over to the wheel.

12:50am

It's almost 1am and I am still up.
Still wrapping the last couple of things.
The big stuff got blankies for wrapping paper!
Still need to haul all the presents up
from the basement and put out then
it will be bedtime. I don't feel too bad
considering I got 14 hours sleep yesterday, lol.
My ibuprofen started wearing off and hands, legs
were a throbbing and hips started hurting.
Got another dose and are feeling better.
Well time to set gifts out. I sent Tony
and Damien downstairs to get them all, lol,
I said I wrapped them all, ya'll can bring them up.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!








Thursday, December 23, 2010

12-23-10




Pork & Sauerkraut Recipe.
Boy this one sure looks yummy!
Might have to make this for New Year's day.

Ham, Sauerkraut and Apple Rolls on Cheese Potatoes
Step-by-step directions with pictures!
I think swiss or cheddar cheese would
go good with this.
.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4384150247_9d984f7936_b.jpg.

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

Well aren't these cute!
Will have to remember this for next year!

Holiday Treats: Rice Krispy Ornaments

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

12:30pm

Not been moving the greatest since yesterday.
My back, well it's on my backside but in my hip
area, has been hurting lots.
Then for some reason my hand are swelled
up, throbbing and hurting from carpal tunnel.
Hope Santa brings me a case of ibuprofen
in my stocking this year. I'm gonna need it!
I still have a few things to wrap. Been trying
to find boxes to put things in to wrap but
have been afraid to look for them behind
shopping centers ever since security stopped
us one day and said we were stealing them
out of the dumpster! I'll never get over that!
Can't wait til 5:00pm when my honey gets home!
3 days off for him then 2 days work
then 5 days off. Any extra help around
here will be so appreciated!
I'd work on Christmas dinner
stuff but there's nothing to make ahead of time
and no cookie or goodies to make.
So I guess I'm kinda bored at the moment
with nothing to do or bake.
Well I just checked the mail and saw
I got 2 magazines, both Whole Living
from Martha Stewart. Got this
with some of my points accrued with
one of my survey sites I do.
Soooo gonna go and read those
and if I find anything of interest in them
I'll be sure to post it.
And hopefully the ibuprofen will kick in soon.
Also have been doubling my dose of
vitamin d3 to 4,000 iu because I have
been feeling soooo tired. Might up
it another notch to 6,000 iu's if this
doesn't help the tiredness.

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

Hints & Tips from Martha Stewart's Whole Living

Treat Cold Feet
Sprinkle some cayenne pepper inside your socks.
This folk remedy may help warm your toes
by increasing blood flow.
Just don't get any in your eyes!

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

2:00pm

Couldn't take it anymore and had to go
make something.
So I made up a dozen pickled eggs.
I threw a little of this and a little of that in it.

Boil eggs, drain in collander and let sit while you make
this below. Once cool you can remove
shells and place in a large, glass jar.
.


1 15 ounce can sliced beets & juice
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup splenda
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon garlic
2 Tablespoon horseradish
1 Tablespoon steak sauce (or worcestershire sauce)

Reuse saucepan from eggs and add
the above ingredients in it.
Bring to a boil for a couple minutes.

I cut the top off a 2 liter pop bottle
and used it to funnel the above into.
You will have to chop the beets up
a little to get through the funnel.
Shake the jar once full to
distribute the contents.
Allow contents to cool some.
Then put in fridge for a couple days.

I've always wanted to make some deviled
eggs with pickled eggs so just might
do that for Christmas dinner.

Hmmm, might try these sometime
and add a can of beer into the mix.
Ok, probably not for the kids but I usually
make these for my hubby only so I'm
sure he wouldn't mind!

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

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

12-22-10

Well I need to make another batch of
homemade liquid laundry detergent.
I'm using a half cup of detergent in each load.
Hey if it only cost $1.25 to make for a 5 gallon bucket
and it lasted 2 months for about 32-40 loads,
I'm all for it!!

Some people say when making their own
soap that they miss the fragrance like brand names.
I read this tip that might help solve that.
You know those laundry detergent samples you get,
well add that in with your batch of soap
you make to get a little fragrance.

As for my fabric softener I make
a mixture that is diluted half and half.
I get double the fabric softener for my money.

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


For breakfast around here I mixed regular
rice krispies with cocoa krispies in a big
plastic container. Actually it was almost a full
box of regular and about 1/3 - 1/2 box of cocoa krispies.
This helps to cut
down on sugar and the kids still feel as
though they are eating their favorite cereals!
If it's not sweet enough for them then I add
a packet of sweet n low to their cereal.
Still, no added real sugar!

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


Are you a Best Buy Rewards Member?
If so you may want to go HERE and log in
to see if you may have gotten a free
$10 to $20 certificate to use in their stores
before Christmas!
I could have sworn I had one when we purchased
our tv but I'll be darned if I can access it.
Getting flustered!! I could really use it!
Just last night I was talking about
getting a Norton Antivirus.
.
1265675 Front Detail.
Reg. Price:
$69.99
You Save:
$40.00
Sale:
$29.99
This certificate would have made it
$10-$20.

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

Well it's almost 10:30am.
I got some extra gifts I found wrapped up.
They were for my in-laws.
I need to tidy up the house and put the laundry away.
With kids home from school it is a
constant battle!
My head and body is starting to hurt
so gonna go grab some ibuprofen.

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

These Sing-A-Ma-Jigs are supposed
to be one of the hot toys this year.
They look a little creepy if you ask me!

Who designed these things???
Kinda looks like one of these things!
Man with first full face transplant reveals his new look-blow-up-doll.jpg.
-------------------------------------------


Hey why not?
I've seen Easter and Valentine's things
in stores already.
So here's a cute bunny cupcake.
Looks like you slice a large marshmallow
in half for his cheeks and slice mini
marshmallows in half for teeth.
Use chocolate candies for eyes
and jelly beans for a nose.
Cut out paper ears and insert in cupcakes.

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

9:35pm

Currently working on a plan B with cupcakes because
I did a couple trial an error marshmallow
cupcakes and they didn't turn out.
Something told me they wouldn't
that's why I tested a few cupcakes
before ruining a whole batch of cake mix.

So onto plan B.
This is something I made up!
I'll call it Swiss Fudge Rolls.

I poured a thin layer of cake batter
onto a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper,
baked 350 degrees for about 6 minutes.
It's thin so didn't take long to bake.

I then took a kitchen towel and sprinkled powdered
sugar all over it, flipped the cake onto it
and gently peeled off the wax paper.
Then sprinkled more powdered sugar on top
of the cake and then rolled the cake up,
towel and all. Allow to rest and cool.

Meanwhile in a double boiler, melt some white
chocolate. Once melted remove from heat and
stir in about a 3/4 can of frosting, I used cream cheese
flavored. Stir until it somewhat starts to thicken.

Unroll cake and gently spread fudge over top.

Then starting at one end, roll cake up, using
towel to push it along as it can be fragile.
Cut into slices and allow to sit for a couple
hours or overnight so the fudge can harden.
This isn't your ordinary swiss roll with
a cream filling.
Instead the white filling is fudge!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

11-21-10

Like Ruffles on Facebook.
Get .99 cents off a .99 cents
bag of Ruffles.

They will send you a coupon snail mail.

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


10:00am


Got 95 Samoa Cookies made,

well almost, they still need their

chocolate drizzled across the tops.

They are cooling at the moment.

I used Kroger Value brand Nilla wafers

as the cookie base of the Samoa.

Then melted a bag of caramels

with a 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream over

med-low heat. Stirred in a whole bag

of flaked coconut and reduced heat

to low, the lowest temperature on the dial.

This way the caramel remained soft while

putting it on the cookies. I put

about a teaspoon of caramel coconut

on each nilla wafer.


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

11:00am


Somoas are done.

I was having a hard time with the chocolate

and getting it to come out of my zip baggie

to pipe on the cookies.

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

Free gift tags to print from BHG.

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


11:40pm


My next project...


Since my brother got my mom an LCD TV

and took the gift idea we had,

I was thinking what else could I give her for

Christmas. Not all Christmas gifts have to

be items you bought from a store and wrapped up!

Offer to do housework, repairs, yard work

babysitting and thing like that.

Don't have money to get them one of those

fruit baskets of the month then make your own

gifts cards to give them to say you will bake them something nice once a month and have them give you a list of what they like.

I know I don't have time

to go out shopping and trying to figure out

what gifts to buy for some people,

let alone the money when the doctor

bills are just starting to trickle in.

So here is what I came up with that

no one else can get! Me and my hubby

offered to try and fix her vacuum for her.

Their income is tight and they really don't

have the funds to take it to a vacuum repair shop

to get it fixed at a starting price of $80.

To buy a new vac to replace this one would

cost at least $200+. So our gift to them will be for

them to save that $80-$200+ by fixing this sweeper!

We have worked on and repaired many sweepers

in the past so this shouldn't be too hard, lol.

I've never dealt with a cracked housing unit though

so this will be a first. But will give it a try!

See that white button with a minus sign on it?

Well that shouldn't be underneath and should

sit on top as that's the on/off button!

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

It's been a year since AEP installed our

Smart Grid electric meter.

AEP sent us today some information

pertaining to the smart meter that sounds

good to me to possibly cut our electric

bill back even more!


Starting in January AEP electric

is offering those customers who have

a smart meter the option of 2 rate plans;

1. Smart Shift- customers pay a lower

rate for using off peak hours and a higher rate

for on peak hours.

2. Smart Cooling- Customers with central cooling

can receive a free programmable communicating

thermostat and a chance to earn credits on

Summer electric bills. This program raises your

thermostat slightly during occasional periods of

high electricity use.


Also in January smart grid customers will have

the ability to go online to see their energy usage

day-by-day, build a customized energy savings plan that

tracks their progress and compare their energy

usage with similar households.


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


12:35pm


Mom just called to inform me that

in January they will be closing the

White Castles on Morse Rd.

For anyone living on the North end there

still will be the White Castle on 161.


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


Like Vitaminwater on Facebook

to get coupon for buy 1 get 1 free!

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

What's for lunch?

Tuna & Noodles-

leftovers from freezer.


What's for supper?

Tonight's supper will be homemade

chicken & noodles. This was leftovers

I had in the freezer. It's in a zip bag so might put

that bag into a pot of boiling water to help thaw.

Then pour into pan to heat the rest of the way through.

Add some biscuits to the top of the soup

to make some dumplings.


I am also thawing

out some already cooked chicken leg quarters for tomorrow.

Thinking about some chicken a la king

over some mashed potatoes.


I need to use up some things from the freezer

due to having a deer coming in the near future.


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

1:20pm

Sitting here watching TruTV

and the show called Most Shocking.

I'll be darned if they didn't show cops chasing

a car and having a shoot out on Morse Rd and down

Tamarack!! It must of been awhile ago as you

could still see Northland Mall and at the corner

of Karl & Morse where a Flower shop sits

was a vacant lot!

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

Woo Hoo, I just checked the stats on one

of my survey accounts and I'm now up

to $80 in 4 months time. I know here

lately I've missed quite a few surveys

due to being so busy.

Opinion Outpost

Pinecone Research


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


Here's something different and cute!

Melted Snowman Cookies


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

5:50pm


Supper, leftover homemade chicken & noodles.

I threw in some biscuits and made dumplings

to help stretch it out and make more filling.


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

My sock's got a problem tonight, lol!

Ok here's a question for ya-

What city was I born in?

See hint below.

Answer: Topeka

HA HA!


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


9:50pm


Watching Auction Hunters on Spike.

They have a marathon.

Click HERE for tonight's full episode video.

This show is about like Storage Wars on A&E.

where people bid on abandoned storage units.

It's pretty cool to watch.

Now I have it in my head that I want

to attend a storage auction sometime to

say I've been to one.

So maybe next year I'll start looking for

one to go to.

I'm sure this show is over the top

with what they find compared to typical

storage units but I think it would be fun to do.

Auction Hunters.

About Me

My photo
My name is Sherry, 39yrs old, from Columbus, Ohio. I am married, a SAHM, and have 3 children ages 9, 10 and 20. I have been frugal/thrifty all my life. I would like to share on this blog how we get by day to day on one income with a family of 5 with a dog and a cat. You will also hear about my everyday gripes about daily life and the cost of living. Hubby says my favorite saying is, "and that is another thing that pisses me off!"

My Blog List