A New Project

Seriously. Who am I? I don't even recognize myself anymore.

While everyone's been laid up the past few days, I decided to take on a new project. Coupons. I can't believe I just wrote that. I have NEVER been interested in coupon clipping before, even in the worst of times. It's tedious. Time-consuming. Right? 

Well...maybe it's a "desperate times call for desperate measures" thing. I started considering it after seeing a couple of news stories on saving at the grocery store. I hate watching huge chunks of our tiny budget go to my grocery trips! So, I started looking into a few places on the internet for more info on how these couponing folks do it. The one with the most useable information (for free) was pinchingyourpennies.com.

Thanks to the internet, this couponing thing has gotten easier. For example, did you know -- you can put in your zip code and print out a shopping list that shows you all the awesome deals at the stores you shop at? That rocks.  I saw a video at Pinching Your Pennies on how to put together a coupon binder -- another way to streamline using coupons. Okay. Now they had me. I'm an office supply nut.

I put together my binder over the weekend(let me know if you want me to show you how I set it up), and we made a small trip to the store this evening and my total went down by ten bucks. Not too shabby! It wasn't tedious. Everything I needed was there,  just sitting in my binder. I just pulled out the coupons I wanted.

For this trip, I got Mr. H some drinkable yogurt (tastes oh so good when you have a very sore mouth):

• ♦  regular price $4
  ♦  on sale for $2.50
  ♦  used a $1 off coupon printed from the internet
  ♦  and then used the store's doubler coupon -- so, it's now $2 off.
  ♦  That means we got a 32 oz. bottle for ..... 50 cents.

Heh-heh. (evil grin)  That's another thing that appeals to me. Getting a deal. Feeling like I'm getting away with something. Beating the system. But, there's a noble side, too --I'm helping the family in tight times.

Don't get me wrong. I'm never gonna be one of those Coupon Divas you hear about, but every little bit helps. I'll let you know how my new project goes...

Canning? Couponing? Seriously! Who AM I?

LOL

Catching Up

When it rains, it pours... I can't think of a better way to describe last week! 

We've been stealing Seattle's weather for the past couple of weeks -- although the calendar says June, the temps outside have said March and April -- cool days and rain every single day. Our new shrubs in front are loving life, but we have little mushrooms growing everywhere  in the lawn -- that's how wet it's been!

I'm not complaining, mind you! I've been through many long Texas summers, so you know I'm just soaking this weather up.  With an eye to the stormy sky, I have kept the windows open every day and turned the AC off -- Mother Nature is providing the air-conditioning. Sleeping is so lovely with the cooler temps -- pulling up an extra blanket because you're chilly in the middle of June is just downright delightful!

Okay, so the rest of my week turned out to be not-so-delightful...

My Sweet Girl was in a scary sledding accident two and half years ago, and thank Heaven, she recovered. For some strange reason, she's been in terrible pain where she got hurt, lately. We tried a couple of things at home, and then took her in when nothing was helping. She's had an MRI of the area, and they confirmed a clear fracture of her tailbone area. Good to know. But why all the pain? We don't know yet.  We have an appointment scheduled with an orthopedic surgeon.

Oh my heck, I could write a whole 'nother post about how I was treated when I said the word "tailbone" and how everyone (nurses, appointment secretaries...) stopped listening and wouldn't deal with me, and weren't willing to help my daughter.... (Grrrr) So, we'll see what happens next. Stay tuned.

The same day this was all going on, Mr. H had to go in for some emergency dental treatment. (Yep, that was one crazy day!) He's since got an infection and we're keeping a close eye on him now. So, it looks like my little family is falling apart! LOL  But, I'm doing fine;  making sure everybody is up on their medicines, and taking good care of these guys.

I'm trying not to get too stressed, and count some blessings, too -- thankful that we signed the Sweet Girl up for a basic insurance a couple of months ago. Thankful for good doctors and dentists who DO listen and take care of us. Thankful for Mr. H's short-term contract. Thankful it's summer, and that we can deal with these things with a relaxed, "whatever" schedule.

Hey, I think I see some sun... :-)

picture credit

Can you can?

It's 'stock up on canning supplies week' on the Week-by-Week Storage Plan. (It's on the sidebar. Scroll down until you see it.)  This brings up some thoughts on canning...

I don't can. At least not right now. My opinion on canning is starting to change. It used to be "Eww! NO!" and now it's "It's December and I'm jealous of your beautiful, yummy summer tomatoes canned there on your shelf. I wish I had some!"  I don't know.  I think I want to try it.  Maybe it's because I have a working storeroom again. My sister and her hubby can every year. If I ask her, I bet she'll help me do salsa this year.

So... can you can?

picture credit

Quick S'mores

It's Try It Tuesday! 

I've got a sweet tooth....

and a craving for S'mores....

... and a weight-watchin' plan to stick to!

Can't have it all, right? Wrong! Check out this low-cal alternative (and a "stay in your air-conditioned house and punch a few buttons on the microwave" alternative) to campfire S'mores.

Yummers.

2 points.

I just love getting everything I want. (evil grin)

.

Quick S'mores
2 points
.

1 large marshmallow

1 whole low-fat graham cracker sheet, broken in half

2 teaspoons Nutella (chocolate-hazelnut spread)
.

1.   Spread Nutella on one graham cracker half.

2.   Place marshmallow on the other graham cracker half. Microwave at HIGH for 10 seconds or just until marshmallow puffs. Take out and press the Nutella side onto the gooey marshmallow side.  Oh yeah.

original recipe: Weight Watchers 5 Ingredient, 15 minute Recipes, Summer 2009, p. 92

picture credit

Words to Live By

another local road sign with a message...love it!

All great work is preparing yourself for the accident to happen. 

                                            -- Sidney Lumet

another road sign message...

The First Week of Summer

The first week of summer has found me outside, outside, outside! ...and away from the computer...

We're experiencing the perfect storm. A snowy winter, a wet, cold spring and now mild summery temps? You can't help it. You just gotta be out there soaking up the vitamin D. It's so dang nice outside! I've heard of spring fever....is there such a thing as summer fever?

:-)

Early in the week, we had a family meeting and talked about all the stuff we wanted to do/had to do/didn't want to do over the summer and if we stick to what we talked about, it should be a pretty fun and interesting summer.

What about you? Does your family "wing it" ? Or do you make a summer schedule that the everyone follows?

Here's what we've been up to so far:

The bikes got tuned up, and everyone in the family's been out on them almost daily. We live on a hill, so we get a pretty good workout on a regular ol' bike-ride!

The overall landscaping project is on hold until Mr. H gets a steady full time position. But, we've kept busy doing little maintenance jobs around the house and yard, weeding, mowing, sprucing up ... the usual.

The budget allowed us to plant a few shrubs in the front of the house so we could feel like we did something on the big plan...but that's it. That's all we're gonna do this year. (rats.) Unless our situation improves...

We also planted  a container salsa garden -- 2 varieties of tomatoes and 2 varieties of peppers. That's as far as our garden is gonna go this year. The big plan calls for 2 raised garden beds behind a 3 foot picket fence in one corner of our yard. Can't wait for that!

In the meantime, fresh tomatoes from the patio garden in our salads and salsas are going to be heavenly. Nothing's better than summer tomatoes.

How's your summer so far? What have you been up to?

Glazed Pork Roast

 

I'm gonna sync my recipe posts with Elena over at Manwaring Moments and her "Try it Tuesday" posts... so here's my Tuesday recipe!

We've had this recipe often; we've tweaked it a little to our tastes, and it's a favorite now. The citrus seasoning really works with the pork roast, and the mandarin orange garnish is delish... perfect for spring and summer menus. This crock-pot recipe makes a great Sunday dinner entree. One slice is 4 points, which makes it light and healthy, too. Win-win!

Enjoy.

 

Glazed Pork Roast
(4 points per slice)

.
1 boneless whole pork loin roast ( 4 pounds), trimmed

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon butter, melted

2/3 cup orange juice concentrate

1/3 cup water

3 garlic cloves, minced

1  1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

 

Glaze

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon orange juice concentrate

1 garlic clove, minced

1 can (11 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained (optional)
.

Cut the roast in half. In a large skillet, brown roast in oil and butter on all sides. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker. Add the orange juice concentrate, water, garlic, salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or until a meant thermometer reads 160 ° F, and the meat is tender.

For the glaze, in a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, vinegar, orange juice concentrate, and garlic. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 3-5 minutes or until reduced to about 1/4 cup. Brush over roast. Garnish with oranges if desired.

* Our tweaks:

• Double the glaze recipe.  You'll be glad you did. We like to serve rice with this dish to "soak up" any extra glaze.
• I've used a normal pork roast and it works just as well. (Didn't cut it half...)
• I don't brown the meat every time, but when I do, I only use the olive oil. It's enough to brown the meat by itself.
• Try the mandarin orange garnish. I love it.

original recipe: Light and Tasty magazine, February/March 2008, p. 49