Wordless Wednesday 43

Couponing!

Its no surprise that I love Harris Teeter, after all they have been Friday Friend...

Here's why I love the Teeter so much...

All these groceries only cost $47.13! Including 3 full size boxes of cereal, a $10 family pack of chicken breasts, $9 pack of adult beverages, paper towels, produce and tons of other yummy things! I am very happy with my purchases today and the fact that I used 64.77 in coupons. Thank you triple coupons!!!

I did 2 other money saving things I did this morning besides couponing. I switched my prescription from CVS to Walgreens because I received a $25 coupon in the mail to transfer a prescription, and then they also had coupons in that same mailer for a free bottle of asprin, 20 free digital prints, and another $5 off coupon.

I also checked out books from the library. Buying cook books and magazines can be so expensive, Matt and I try to rent most books that we want to read (when we can't rent we use Amazon or Borders (they send out 25% off very often). Our local library also has a magazine box where you can recycle gently used magazines and trade them for ones you haven't read. I really like this because I love magazines! Just got a March Martha Stewart Living out of there today ;)

Meal Plan Monday 4

Missed last weeks meal plan... we ate at home most nights last week although with me being on intersession it was tough ;)

Here's this weeks yummy menu!

Monday- Out to eat for Amy's Birthday :)
Tuesday- Meatball Stroganoff *recipe below*
Wednesday- Chicken Tettrazinni
Thursday- Salmon Patties
Friday- Grilling Out!
Saturday- Date Night
Sunday- Easter Dinner with the Quinns

Here is the Meatball Stroganoff recipe from BetterBudgeting.com

MEATBALL STROGANOFF
(5 servings)

1 (10 3/4-oz) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
1 cup mushrooms, sliced and cooked in butter until soft
1 family meal-sized portion of freezer meatballs

In medium saucepan, mix together mushroom soup and sour cream. Gently stir in mushrooms and meatballs. Simmer until meatballs are heated through. Serve over hot cooked rice or over egg noodles tossed with melted butter and chopped parsley.

I don't use their meatball recipe though, I use one that I love (and so many others love) from KraftFoods.com (they don't call them The Best Meatballs for no reason).

Sunday Internet Finds...

Its no secret, I love the internet. On my phone, on my laptop, I am always connected. I find recipes, home remedies (just cured Matt's ear ache), check out books from the library, watch videos, keep up with family and friends, etc, etc. I love the internet!

Here are somethings I've come across this weekend that I want to keep a link to...
So remember that I bought the turnover molds at William-Sonoma?
Pizza Turnovers
Broccoli Ham Turnovers
Pepperoni Stromboli (with Crescent Rolls)

And I am still drooling over that Whoopie Pie Pan...
Quick and Easy Whoopie Pies

I seriously want all of these Summer Drink Dispensers and This One too...

I also thought this would be a cute wreath to make for the front door, and I love this iPhone cover/pouch!

Friday Friend 32

Check out this week's Friday Friend...

Mary Della! What a cutie!

Matt and I had a great night out with the Slate's! Yummy Sushi and then Italian Ice at Rita's. What a Fun Friday! We must do it again soon! :)

A Little Treat :)

Some wonderful friends gave Matt and I a gift certificate to William-Sonoma for our house warming party (Thanks Dixie and Chris), and I finally was able to use it! :)

Guess what I got? These cute little pocket pie makers.

They were on sale if you buy 2 :) There is a third that I would like to have, an apple. I still have a balance on the gift card, might have to go back for that cutie pie apple ;)

Here are a few pictures from various websites that have used the pie molds (I hope to use mine this week sometime).

http://bitesizebaker.com/tag/pocket-pies/



This is like a turkey pot pie! How clever!
http://sugarmamabakingco.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/review-williams-sonoma-new-pocket-pie-molds/


http://labellacook.blogspot.com/2009/08/cherry-pocket-pies.html

And here's that cute little apple...

http://www.cakeartisan.com/2009/09/pocket-pie-mold-product-review/

Whatta Think?

We have a new look... what do you think?

Wordless Wednesday 42

Library Finds

This weeks library finds :)

Busy Busy!

Whew! We've been busy this weekend! I've tried on bridesmaids dresses, we've done yard work, and home repair, we also bought a grill!

I also switched out the bedding from this post

I think I like it. It gives it a "pop". So now I am on the look out for bedding for our room...

So I mentioned we did yard work. We cleaned out all the flower beds and got them ready for new mulch and flowers. I plan to work on that this week since I am out of work! :)


Notice my thumb in the third pic... oops! Don't you think a nice new layer of mulch will be nice? I am read for this grass to turn green... come on grass!


Check out these 2 pictures. Beautiful pear tree in our backyard blooming, my lovely front door with 2 flower pots waiting for flowers to be planted, and a hanging strawberry basket.

Friday Friend 31

This friend made my week...


10 Fun Facts about Krispy Kreme

• There is a new location in downtown Raleigh that Matt can walk to (lucky)
• I have been in a doughnut eating contest
• Krispy Kreme started on July, 13, 1937
• You can't get any better than a hot n now glazed doughnut
• Matt had never seen the doughnuts on the conveyor belt until we started dating (you are welcome for introducing you to greatness)
• Each week enough doughnuts are made to go from New York City to L.A.
  
• I dance when I eat doughnuts
• Krispy Kreme started in Winston Salem, NC
• 7.5 million doughnuts are made each day in North America.
  
• And they use 1.3 million pounds of sprinkles!

And there is better news yet! Here soon I will have my very own Hot 'n' Now sign just 6 stinkin' miles from my house! Yes! They are building a Krispy Kreme in the next town over! Don't even think I won't be there the day that sucker opens! God, I love doughnuts. Change that, I love good doughnuts (which rules out nasty Dunkin' Donuts).

Hmmmm... We have a dilemma

So you know the picture of the Master Bedroom I posted online when we moved in?

Love it huh? We received this as a wedding gift and I saved it in its packaging until we moved into the new house, at the very end of October.

Fast forward to this past week when I took it to have it cleaned. I learned a very valuable lesson with my last comforter, they do not fit in top loading machines. At all. So I have made it a point to always take my comforter to have it cleaned. Well it came back and the corner seams are ripped and the filling is coming out! I convinced the cleaners to drop the cleaning charges but I know they didn't ruin the comforter because the sheets that went with this set have already started to ravel too... horrible quality.

UGH! Look at the dates, end of Oct - Mid March? Hello, less than 6 months and this is ruined? I am really upset about it because of course we registered for the matching curtains, and throw pilllows... what do I do with this?

So I am thinking of repairing the comforter and putting the whole set (throw pillows, curtains and all) in the guest bedroom. The green stripe in the bedding will go nicely with the green color in this room. And we do not have company too often, so I think it will work well in there.


But this set looks really bad in the Master, because it is painted blue. Plus this set has no curtains and was kinda inexpensive so I might be put in the linen closet and we'll pick out something new for our room.

Any suggestions on what to do?

Wordless Wednesday 41

Spring Break

Intersession starts at 3:30 today, for most people....

I signed up to teach 3 half days (it was a full week before the snow makeup days came). It won't be so bad. I love teaching a small group and I am only teaching math (my fav. subject to teach).

But I am making a list of the things I want to do on my time off...

Remember the ugly gold leaf frame I picked up at the Salvation Army? I am totally going to do this with it.

Also, that chair I picked up for $7.00 at Goodwill? I am going to transform it too.

Then I am going to get in the yard and build a garden box, and plant some veggies.

I also want to make one of these for my gift wrap very badly...

My iPhone needs some more style... and so does my bicycle.

I am really wondering what a window seat would look like in our kitchen, and is there room?

And this wreath for the door.

Oh, and this tank would look so cute with a cardigan...

Wouldn't this be cute for the living room?



Mix that with a lot of time spent with family, friends, probably more crafts, and some R&R and that makes for an awesome intersession!

Meal Plan Monday 3

Here's what's for dinner this week, with leftovers for lunch :)

Monday- Salmon Fillets
Tuesday- Spaghetti & Breadsticks
Wednesday- Rotisserie Chicken
Thursday- Club Sandwiches and sweet potato fries
Friday- Enchiladas (using leftover rotisserie chicken)
Saturday- Out to Eat
Sunday- Meatball Subs

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday...

Supper tonight was Sesame Ginger Beef with Peppers and Onions. Yum yum!

Did some sewing tonight, still not please with how my machine is running... it is still skipping stitches. Grrrrrr...

What a Find!

Remember this post?

Well guess what I found this morning?

Oh yes, I have BIG plans for both of these... now if only the weather will cooperate... Stay tuned to see what awesomeness I make out of these!

Friday Friend 30

This weeks Friday Friend has been super helpful in my meal planning experiment...

The Wake County Public Library System!

Forget the old card catalog! Just hop online and make a list of books you would like, and BAM they are sent to your local library and you get an email saying, "Come pick them up". You just find your name on the shelf, take your books and self checkout! Perfect! And with so many libraries in the county, they have almost anything you could want to read!

Come On Weekend!

Boy, I am really ready for the weekend...

On a side note, the recipe from this weeks Meal Planning "Stuffed Shells" was awesome! And made a ton!

Yum Yum!

Winner Winner

The Chicken Tetrazinni recipe I mentioned yesterday is so good...

I mean, put on your stretchy pants and eat until you just can't anymore good...

So good I forgot to take pictures of the finished project... sorry I was to overwhelmed with yumminess...

Here's what it looked like before it went into the oven

Actually, I should double this picture because this fantastic recipes makes 2 pans! Yes, one to eat and one to freeze! I wrapped it as best I could (thanks wiki for telling me the best way to wrap it) and put it in the freezer... Hope it tastes as good out of the freezer in a few weeks!

Meal Plan Monday 2

Here's what's for dinner this week, with leftovers for lunch :)

Monday- Chicken Tetrazinni (moved from last night because we ending up eating out)
Tuesday- Sesame Beef Noodles
Wednesday- BBQ Chicken
Thursday- Stuffed Shells
Friday- Salmon Patties
Saturday- Out to Eat
Sunday- Tortilla Soup

If I pulled the recipe from a website, then it is linked for you to try yourself!

Oh Martha...

Friday Friend 29

This weeks Friday Friend is a good one, just like a true friend they help me out...

My Neighborhood Harris Teeter!

I know you are thinking, "Big woop, a grocery store" but folks, this place is AMAZING!

Matt loves Harris Teeter because of this guy, Harry the Happy Dragon who gives away free sugar cookies. Matt will come to the grocery store just to get a free cookie...


I love the fact that Harris Teeter saves me a ton of money thanks to everyday double coupons (up to .99 cents), and specials like super double coupons (up to 1.98) and triple coupons (up to .99 cents).


But here is the number one thing that seals the deal that Harris Teeter is this weeks Friday Friend...

For the last 8 weeks they have mailed Matt and I special savings coupons. Spend $50, get $20 off! Yes folks, that is correct. Off of anything in the store. Want to go in and buy $50 worth of wine and laundry detergent? You're getting $20 off. There is one for every week this month. :)

So thanks Harris Teeter, I promise to stay loyal as long as you keep treating me like a true VIC...

Busy!

Yesterday was a very productive day! I am so pleased with all the things I was able to complete! Thank goodness for a Snow Day!

As you can see from Wordless Wednesday 40 I made 3 onesies for different folks, and 2 name tag lanyards for a friend and myself. I think they turned out sure cute! I am seriously thinking I should have seasonal ones... someone stop me! ;)

I also finished a quilt. Yes, I didn't post pictures of it because its owner has not seen it yet. I hope to get it to them very soon and then I can post some pictures.

I've also picked a quilt design out for Matt and I that I plan to start over break (as long as an order doesn't pop up). It is a design that Sarah and I found at the quilt show. I finally got the triangle template Sarah! :) Here is an example:

This was found on Flickr

I plan on using a lot of blues and greens (shocked I know). Here is a picture of the pattern itself.

Its called a Merry-Go-Round Quilt and it is by American Jane

I am very excited for tonight... Brand New Office! YES! Good bye Olympics, hello good TV! I am also happy to announce that we have really had great success with meal planning this week! Each day Matt and I have had lunch (from leftovers) and a delicious dinner! I hope we can keep it up!

Wordless Wednesday 40

Drool Worthy...

Things I found online today that make me want to lock myself away in my studio (I feel so fancy when I call it that, I can hear you laugh Alex... stop it).


Link to this awesome quilts owner... Oh, Fransson!



Make your own stamps? Yes, Please!

Meal Plan Monday 1

Welcome to the first ever installment of Monday Meal Planning... Here's what's for dinner this week, with leftovers for lunch :)

Monday- Baked Spaghetti with Garlic Bread- New Recipe from the Deen Brothers Cookbook
Tuesday- Chicken n' Dumplings- Classic Standby
Wednesday- Matt's Fav. Taco Night
Thursday- Mexican Pizzas with Taco Night leftovers
Friday- Bacon-Wrapped Chicken with Corn and Green Beans- New Recipe from the Deen Bro. Cookbook
Saturday- Out to Eat
Sunday- Chicken Tetrazinni- New Recipe from Southern Living Comfort Food Cookbook

If I pulled the recipe from a website, then it is linked for you to try yourself! Lets see how this little adventure works out for Matt and I.