Friday Favorite 22

This is my Friday Favorite...

It really is my everyday favorite.
I would rather have a dozen Krispy Kremes than roses any day of the week!

Mexican Pizza

This is a wonderful recipe we usually have if we have tacos that week.  I always make extra taco meat so we can have these yummy Mexican Pizzas.

First take a tortilla and place it on a cookie sheet.  Spread a layer of re-fried beans on the tortilla.  Then cover the re-fried with taco seasoned beef.







On top of your bean and meat covered tortilla place another tortilla.  Then cover it with shredded cheese.

Bake this for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Then top with your choice of toppings.  Lettuce and tomato for me, lettuce and salsa for the hubs.

And you are left with a delicious, simple dinner!










Mexican Pizzas

You will need:
2 tortillas per pizza
Browned, taco seasoned ground beef
Refried beans
Shredded Cheese
Your choice of toppings: sour cream, lettuce, tomato, salsa, etc

Preheat your oven to 350.

Take one tortilla shell and spread re-fried beans on one side of the shell.  Then place the ground beef on top of the re-fried beans.  Top that off with another tortilla shell, and then cover with shredded cheese.  Bake for 10 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  Remove and top with your choice of toppings!

Wordless Wed. 22

http://www.etsy.com/listing/52391566/pdf-pattern-pinwheel-parade-crib-and

Tuesday Tip 22: Couponing

Greetings all!  This week's Tuesday Tip is one that I started living by a few years ago... Couponing!

I am by far not the best coupon-er out there, but I get great deals and lots of freebies for my family!  I do this by checking the coupon inserts in Sundays paper and occasionally online.  Most grocery/home purchases I make I use coupons from the Sunday paper, and I never go shopping for clothes, shoes, etc without printing out coupons.  I love a discount!

Here's what works for me.  I forgot to take a picture of all my coupons before I filed them, so just picture a table covered with little stacks of coupons for different categories :)

Next, I open up Harris Teeter's website, that's my grocery store of choice, because they double up to $1 and it is literally a mile from my house!  I pull up the virtual circular and see what's on sale that week.  Let's say this week they have pork chops and stew beef on sale in the meat dept.  We will have that for dinner.  I plan my weekly meal plan around what is on sale at the grocery store.  Not a lot on sale that week in the meat dept?  Then I go to meat in the freezer that I got at a bargain another week.

Back to the coupons, while browsing the online circular, I make note of what items are on sale at the grocery store and that I also have coupons for.  I mark that on my list so I know to pull the coupon when I get the item.  Also, when I am at the grocery store, nothing goes in my cart without me jotting down the price on the right hand side.  I like to know how much I am spending.  I round up to the nearest half dollar to make it easy.

Here's an up close of my little organizer.  Got it at the dollar store for a buck then added some handy dandy labels with my label maker to help organize.  There is a slot in the front that I put all the coupons I am going to use that trip.  Example:  I walk by Ken's Dressing on sale and I have a coupon.  I put the 2 bottles in my cart, jot down the after coupon price and pull the coupon from the Sauces/Dressings slot and place it in the front of the organizer.  This way when I got to the register I have all my coupons that I will use on that trip in one place.

Now I told you that Harris Teeter was my grocery store of choice, in the same shopping center is a CVS, so that is my drugstore of choice.  I get most of my best personal item deals there or Walmart.  Razors, shampoo, make-up, etc.  From a friend I heard that this bodywash I had a $3 off coupon for was only $3 at Walmart.  So I saved that coupon until the next time I went to Walmart.  Bam!  Free!

I'm glad no one was around when I took this picture of my accomplishment!

Here's a list of a few couponing sites that you might find helpful.  They have sections for beginners if you are new to couponing.

Any of my readers have coupon tips or stories to share?  Please post a comment :)

Southern Savers
Krazy Coupon Lady
The Frugal Housewife
Money Saving Mom

Meal Plan Monday 22

Here's this weeks meal plan.

Monday- Hot dogs on the grill
Tuesday-  Baked Penne
Wednesday-  Inside Out Chicken Pot Pie
Thursday-  Stromboli and Salad
Friday-  Grilling Out
Saturday- Dinner out
Sunday- Roast

If I pulled the recipe from a website, then it is linked for you to try yourself!  I will also share other favorite recipes throughout the weeks and will link them when used for meal planning.  Bon Appetit!

Happy Easter

The only picture I took from our Easter celebrations...

But I think it sums up the day pretty well :)  Happy Easter everyone!

Pies in Jars!

Photo from Our Best Bites

Yes, you read right.  Yummy little single serving sized pies in jars!  I think I am in love :)

These are getting put on my must try list!  If you are interested in trying this little goodie, here are a few links to check out!

TidyMom- Pie in a Jar Picnic Food
Our Best Bites- Single Serving Pie in a Jar
Not Martha- Pies Baked in Tiny Jars
Not Martha- Cobbler Baked in Jars

Friday Favorite 21

Friday Favorite 21 is our Earth!

Happy Earth Day Everyone!  Do something to help our environment today, and everyday!

Here's a list of Green Acts you can do: 

- Plant a tree
- Brush your teeth without running water
- Carpool.
- Sign petition for Green Jobs Legislation. Tell Congress that you want comprehensive green jobs legislation to help put Americans back to work and solve the climate crisis here .
- Commit to recycling in your home and office
- Donate clothes and toys to the Salvation Army
- Eat more locally grown food
- Start a garden
- Bring reusable shopping bags to the grocery store.
- Fight Deforestation. For every dollar donated to the Canopy Project, a tree will be planted at a minimum donation of $10.
- Use green cleaning products.

Happy Retirement Mom

My mom is retiring at the end of the month and her work had a very special retirement luncheon for her today.  It was very nice to visit with mom's work friends and share this special occasion!

Here are a few iPhone quality pictures from the event.

 Here's my Mom and Daddy.

 Here's mom receiving her plaque of service from her team leader.

 Mom receiving a bald eagle statue, she worked for Fort Bragg so it was appropriate. :)

And being the crafty person that I am, I had to get a picture of the cake!  It was a chocolate-yellow marble cake with butter cream icing.  Yum!  My mom loves M&M's so this cake was her up one side and down the other.  Beautifully done by Extreme Cakes

Here's Mom's cake on their website :)

Wordless Wed. 21

Tuesday Tip 21

My tip for the week is to go through your cabinets and DONATE items to people in need!  My hometown was struck with violent tornadoes this weekend and I am trying to spread the word to donate!  Look what I collected from just my own kitchen!  I will never miss this things or the extra food and it is going to help someone in need.  Got to go through closets and my cleaning supplies tomorrow.

Please see what you have to give!

Meal Plan Monday 21

Here's this weeks meal plan.

Monday- Out to Eat with the family for a birthday
Tuesday-  Tilipia
Wednesday- Stuffed Shells
Thursday-  Brown Sugar Chicken
Friday-  Grilling Out
Saturday- Dinner out
Sunday- Sunday Dinner

If I pulled the recipe from a website, then it is linked for you to try yourself!  I will also share other favorite recipes throughout the weeks and will link them when used for meal planning.  Bon Appetit!

Thankful

My area was hit hard by a tornado yesterday.  I am still in shock that this is my town.  Please check the local Red Cross of Lee County to see if you can help.

 

 

Tractor Supply in Sanford, NC

Neighborhood in Sanford, NC

Lowes Hardware Sanford, NC

Another View of Lowes Hardware Sanford, NC

Sanford, NC

Sanford, NC

South East Wake County, NC

Neighborhood Entrance

Friday Favorite 20

Since I have started an insanity workout program, it only seemed right to post this as my Friday Favorite...

Oh yeah, I have a doughnut weakness and a new Krispy Kreme just opened up 8 minutes from my front door.  Mmmmmmmmmmmmm, my mouth is watering right now...

Porkchop Recipe

This is a great recipe that we've used for a long time.  I used to fry pork chops in a cast iron skillet, but ever since finding this recipe, this is the only way I cook pork chops now!

4 pork chops (I use boneless)
1 cup crushed Ritz crackers (1/2 sleeve)
garlic salt to taste
ground pepper to taste
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 375.  Combine crushed crackers with garlic salt and pepper in a bowl.  I do 2 good shakes of garlic salt and pepper.  In another bowl, beat 1 egg. 

Dip pork chop in egg and then place in cracker mixture, completely coat the pork chop.  Place pork chop in a baking dish.  Do this for the rest of the pork chops.  Place little pats of butter around the pork chops.  Cover the dish with aluminum foil and place in a 375 degree oven.  Bake for 30 minutes.  Uncover and continue to bake for 10-15 more minutes.

Enjoy!

Wordless Wed. 20

Tuesday Tip 20

Picture from My Baking Addiction

This Tuesday Tip is one for the OCD-ish person like myself...

Uniform sized Cupcakes brought to us from a great site called My Baking Addiction

I like how she tells us what the OXO brand ice cream scoops should be used for what.  It also makes me want to run right out and buy all 3 :)

Meal Plan Monday 20

Here's this weeks meal plan.

Monday- Out to Eat with the fam
Tuesday-  Pork Chops
Wednesday-  Salsa Chicken
Thursday- Garlicy Baked Shrimp
Friday- Hamburgers on the grill
Saturday- Dinner out with friends
Sunday- Grilling Out, Matt's choice

If I pulled the recipe from a website, then it is linked for you to try yourself!  I will also share other favorite recipes throughout the weeks and will link them when used for meal planning.  Bon Appetit!

Pay it Forward

I was looking around the internet and stumbled across 1 Million Pillowcases

When I read the description, my eyes became watery.  These pillowcases are donated to cancer patients, foster children, victims of domestic violence, victims of fires and other worthwhile causes.  These handmade items show people that somewhere, someone, took the time to make this for them. 

This is something very doable.  Pillowcases do not take as long to make as quilts, they also do not take as much material.  I have plenty of materials already on hand, and All People Quilt offer tons of free patterns.  I am taking this project on.  I am going to make at least 1 pillowcase a week.  That is my personal challenge.  I hope to do more than that, but I want to set a goal that will not burn me out on it.  I would love to have company with this challenge.  Anyone out there wanna join in?  This would be a great project for beginning seamstresses and children!  The patterns provided in all different levels!

Picture from allpeoplequilt.com

 Moda and Kaye Wood have other charities listed on their sites if pillowcases are not up your alley.

Simple Quick French Bread Pizza

This is one of those, its lunch time and we need something to eat quick creations.

What you will need:
French Bread
Pizza Sauce
Shredded Cheese
Toppings!

Preheat oven to 350.  Cut a loaf of french bread in half, and then in half horizontally.  You can make all four pieces or in our case, we just made 2.  Spread sauce on cut side of bread.  Top with whatever toppings you like.  We have left over tomatoes, pepperoni, onions and green peppers.... YUM!  Then top the toppings with cheese.

Bake 15-20 or until cheese is melted and pizza is warmed through.

For a more crispy crust, bake bread slices for 4-5 minutes before adding sauce and toppings.

Friday Favorite 19

So they've been Friday Favorite before, but we are going to see them again and I think they deserve another Friday on the blog...

Of course I am referring to my boys, The Avett Brothers!

Picture from Southern Living Magazine

Check out this great article on The Avett Brothers.

Oatmeal Delights

Oatmeal Delights

2 cups sugar

1 stick butter

½ cup cocoa

½ cup milk

2 cups quick cooking oatmeal

½ cup smooth peanut butter

Blend together milk, butter, and sugar.  Bring to a slow boil.  Boil for 5 minutes; then stir in peanut butter.  Add oatmeal.  Drop by teaspoon on greased cookie sheet.  Refrigerate 15 minutes.

Wordless Wed. 19

Tuesday Tip 19

This is one that I can't wait to try myself!  I need to put crockpot liners on the grocery list!

This clever idea comes from Living, Laughing, & Loving. She places a crockpot liner inside a gallon ziplock bag.  She then puts all her recipe ingredients for a crockpot meal in the liner inside the ziplock.  She clothespins the liner shut then ziplocks the bag.  In the morning, pull out the ziplock, take the liner out and place it in the crockpot.  Viola!  No mess, no morning rush prep and best of all, when the meal is done throw away the liner and NO MESS!  Win-Win-Win

Picture: http://naycauthen.blogspot.com/

Meal Plan Monday 19

Here's this weeks meal plan.

Monday- Grilled Tilapia with Mango Salsa
Tuesday-  Roast with potatoes and carrots
Wednesday-  Brown Sugar Chicken
Thursday- Out of Town
Friday- Out of Town
Saturday- Batcherolette Party, Hubs is on his own for dinner
Sunday- Grilling Out
 
If I pulled the recipe from a website, then it is linked for you to try yourself!  I will also share other favorite recipes throughout the weeks and will link them when used for meal planning.  Bon Appetit!

Lazy Sunday, well not really...

Hard to call it lazy when you and your hubs work all week, and then do weekend chores.  Actually, I did weekend chores, the hubby went to actual work (both days).  Its still nice to have these days though, even if they are busy with work and chores, its at your own pace and its not the regular 9-5, and there is always little fun at the end of each day (or a lot of fun :) )

Today, I did 4 loads of laundry and washed all the dishes.  Cleaned the kitchen, and put the laundry away.  Washed and vacuumed the car, cut out coupons, made my meal plan for the week, and went to the grocery store.  Now, I am sitting here blogging to you, thinking about all the other things that need to be done...

But they can wait.  Hubs is home and its a beautiful evening, perfect for a nice hamburger on the grill.  And that's just what we will do.

Happy Sunday everyone, enjoy every second!

Envelope Pillow Tutorial

To make an envelope pillow you will need:

-Pillow form of your choice
-Fabric of your choice
-Scissors and/or rotary cutter
-Ruler and mat
-Sewing machine w/ thread (not pictured)

First off, measure your pillow if you are covering an older one or if new, look on the package and get the size of your pillow form.  Cut your fabric 1 inch bigger on each side than the pillow form.

Example:  My pillow form was 18x18
I cut my fabric 19x19

This is the front of your pillow.

Now we will cut the back "envelope".

Cut a rectangle that is 1 inch taller than you pillow form and 1 inch longer, plus 4-6 inches.

For my pillow:
18x18 Pillow form
Back piece: 19x25

Now, cut your rectangle right down the center.  Making sure it is still 19 inches tall on each piece.

So for my back piece, I cut it in half at 12.5".  Now I have 2 pieces that are 19"x12.5"

Now, serge or double fold a small hem on one of the 19 inch edges.  Do this for each piece.  This is going to be where your pillow slips in so you want the edges finished nicely.

Pin and sew.








Take your fabric that will be the pillow's front (that is my 19x19 square).  Lay it pretty side up on a table. 

Now lay one rectangle, pretty side down on top of the square, lining up all the raw edges.  Make sure the edge you hemmed is facing the middle.

Now take the other rectangle and repeat what you did above.  This will overlap part of the 1st rectangle.  That is what you want!


Now sew all around the edges with 1/4 inch seam.

Clip your edges, making sure not to clip in the seams or you will get a hole!  Clipping allows you to push the fabric and get a nice crisp corner.

Now, flip it inside out and use the eraser end of a pencil or my favorite, a chopstick, to push out the corners.

Insert your pillow form and there you have it!  See how my hand is in the envelope?  Very cute and easy to clean.  Just remove the pillow envelope and wash it.

Pictures edited and text added using Picnik

Now, sit back and relax on your new comfy pillow.  You've work hard, you deserve it :)