"Paper" Dolls for the Bathtub

More Christmas gifts for the girls. This was a fun project. I made these dolls and the clothes from craft foam. I bought a big pack at Walmart. When you wet the foam, it will stick to the bathtub walls. I found this idea here. I got a little carried away making clothes for the dolls. Originally, I was only going to make one doll, but then decided that could cause problems. Of course, I will probably need to create something to keep these in, but that is for another day (when I find something good). Since they will get wet, I can't just keep then in a fabric envelope, I will have to find something better.

Monkeys (& Elephants) Jumping on the Bed

I made another Christmas gift for the girls today. They love the "Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" song and book. I found a magnet board story here. The bed, each monkey and each elephant has a magnet on the back. They will be able to play with them on the refrigerator. The elephants are for "5 giant elephants jumping on the bed". Of course, I had to make something to keep the pieces in. I created another envelope like the one found here. This time I used the "heat and bond", it is much studier than yesterdays envelope.

Decorating the Christmas Tree

I posted a while back about some homemade Christmas gifts I would like to make. I really haven't had a lot of time to work on any gifts. Here is the first thing I decided to make. We are decorating our Christmas tree at home and thought the girls would enjoy decorating this little tree over and over. I followed the pattern found here.

Then, I thought it would be nice to have something to store it in, so I made a fabric envelope. I used the tutorial found here, I just adapted it so I could work with the things I had.

Homemade Christmas Idea List

There are many things I am thinking about for Christmas this year. Every year I decide I would like to make some of the gifts I give. I bookmark each site I find with a gift idea I like. It can be difficult wading through all the bookmarks. So, I decided this year, I would post an list on my blog, where I can look at all my ideas at anytime and from any computer.

Decorate the Christmas Tree - again & again

Homemade Doll Clothes
Doll Clothes made from Baby Clothes
Craft Foam Bath Toys
Foam Bath Dolls
Tote Bag
Potato Prints
Mini Car Mats
Magnet Board Stories
Matching Games
Fabric Gift Bag
Fabric Mail Box
Fabric Mail Box 2, Mail Bag
Fabric Stationary, Envelopes, Post Cards, More Post Cards, Stamps
Teacup Bird Feeder
Rice Warmers
Cozy Hand-Warming Ice Scraper
Photo Blocks
Homemade Lacing Cards
Homemade Sewing Cards
Baby Doll Bassinet & Accessories
Felt Bookmarks
Owl Tag Toy
Fabric Memory Game


Sew, Mama, Sew - new ideas each day
Domestic Cents - 50+ Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas
Sugar Bee - Idea List

I am sure there are more, and I do realize I will not get all these things finished before Christmas. This list is to inspire me and give me something to work on and not have to look for something.

Ham Recipe

I recently bought a ham and cooked it in the crock pot by adding pineapple and brown sugar to season it.

We ate some of the leftovers, but still have some. I chopped it up and today I am making a Ham & Cheese Casserole. I tried to find the recipe online I use, but could not. I had to call my mom to ask how to make it again. This time I am recording the recipe on my blog until I can make my recipe book.

Ham & Cheese Casserole

2 cups chopped ham
2 cups velvetta cheese
2 cups cooked rice
2 cups Medium White Sauce**

After preparing the white sauce, combine all ingredients. Place in 9x13 pan. Cook at 350 for about 20 minutes.

I decided to prepare this casserole and freeze half before cooking. I will update you on how it turns out.

**I made a few changes to how the white sauce was prepared. Instead of adding all the milk at once, I added it a little at a time combining it a little along.

Chicken Recipe

Thought I would share a few things I have tried recently.

Over the weekend I make Barbecue Chicken Packets. They were pretty good, but I am not sure if we like them well enough to have them again.

We had leftovers, I hated to waste them. I decided to make Chicken Fried Rice and use the rest of the barbecue chicken. The fried rice had a little bit of a barbecue taste, but overall was still good. I make my Chicken Fried Rice using a seasoning packet I buy at Kroger or Walmart. I put chicken, rice, scrambled eggs, peas & carrots in mine. The kids don't like it much, but they pick out what they like.

Target Clearance - Shoes

I went to Target this morning and found some things on clearance. I got some great deals. The girls got some new shoes. From left to right they cost: $3.74 (originally $14.99), $3.24 (originally $12.99), and $4.24 (originally $16.99). So I spent $11.22 for $44.97 worth of shoes. The girls were very happy and so was I!

Recipe Book

Ever since I saw this recipe photo book on Shutterfly, I have been wanting to make one. I have decided this year, I am going to make some of our family's favorite recipes, take pictures and make a photo book. I think it would be great to pass this on to my girls. I know I would love to have a recipe book like this passed on to me, especially if I was in some of the photos. I am working on a list of recipes I want to include.

Here are some of the recipes I am wanting to include:

• Banana Bread
• Chocolate Chip & Butterscotch Cookie Bar
• Candied Yams
• Cream Cheese Mints
• Fruit Cobbler
• Fruit Dip
• Cherry Delight
• Pink Salad
• Hamburger Casserole
• Homemade Granola Bars
• Homemade Biscuits
• Winter Coffee Mix
• Four Cheese Lasagna
• Crock Pot Beef (or Deer) Sandwiches
• Champagne Salad
• Chicken Parmesan
• Chocolate Christmas Candies

I am sure there are many others, but this list is a start.

CVS Trip - 5/9/10

1st Transaction:
2 Right Guard @ $2.49 each
2 Crest Pro Heath Toothpaste @ $3.50 each

Coupons Used:
2-$0.75 off Crest Pro Health - 5/2/10 newspaper
$3.00 off 2 Right Guard - Printable
$5.00 ECB (from last week)
$1.00 ECB

Total after coupons and tax: $2.30
Earned - $4.00 ECB & $7.00 ECB

2nd Transaction:
1 Carefree @ $1.00
1 Bayer @ $1.00
1 Apple Jacks @ $1.88
2 Corn Pops @ $1.88 each
2 Rice Krispies @ $1.88 each
1 Kotex U Tampons @ $4.99
1 Candy (as filler) @ $0.89

Coupons Used:
$1.00 off Carefree - 4/25/10 newspaper
$1.00 off Bayer - 3/21/10 newspaper
$1.00 off 3 Kelloggs Cereal - 4/11/10 newspaper
$1.00 off 2 Kelloggs Cereal - 4/11/10 newspaper
$1.00 off Kotex U - 4/18/10 newspaper or Printable*
$1.00 off Kotex U -CVS coupon - Printable*
$7.00 ECB from 1st Transaction
$4.00 ECB from 1st Transaction

Total after coupons and tax: $0.90
Earned - $4.99 ECB

SO...I started with $6 ECB and ended with $4.99 ECB. For everything in the pictures, I only paid $3.20 in cash and lost $1.01 ECB. I am happy with that.

*Since one of the Kotex U coupons is a Manufacture and one is a CVS coupon, you can use both for the same product.

CVS Trip - 5/2/10

This was by far one of the best CVS trips I ever made. Sorry, I did not get around to posting last week.

Here's what I got:

4 Nivea for Women @ $4.88 each
1 Dawn @ $0.97

Total: $20.49





Coupons Used:

$4 off $20 purchase from email
4-$4.00 off Nivea from newspaper
$0.50 off Dawn

Total After Coupons: -$0.01 + $1.24 tax = $1.23

Plus I received $5.00 ECB for purchasing $15 of Nivea products.

CVS Coupons

I am not sure if you regularly visit CVS or if you have seen the Price Checker/Coupons Center machine. Our CVS did not have one until late last year.

I scan my card each time I visit CVS. It prints coupons each day for to use in the store.  The coupons vary each week.  Many times the coupons will be for products that are on sale or will be on sale soon.  Sometimes you will get $/$$ coupons (like $4 off a $20 purchase).  Sometimes it is for CVS products.  I think each day you scan your card, you will get 2 coupons that expire in 1 week.  You can scan your card more than once each day until it says you have no more coupons for today.

A few weeks ago, one of the coupons was $1 off CVS hair care.  Well, some CVS Shampoo is $0.99.  Also recently, the coupons were $1 CVS paper product and $1 off CVS skin care product.  I used the CVS paper product coupon on paper towel and got them for $0.29 and on 2 travel tissues and got them for free.  The CVS skin care coupon, I mostly used on travel size lotion and got it for free.  The week these great coupons printed, I made it a point to go in each day and scan my card.

I Heart CVS  has a list of coupons that are printing each week.

So next time you are in CVS, look for this machine, scan your card and see what coupons you are given.

Phase 1 - Week 4

WOO HOO! I made it the whole 4 weeks, without missing a day. There were days that I did not want to work out, but I pushed through it and complete the first phase. I am very proud of myself. I feel like I have developed a good habit. I will just have to be careful that I don't allow myself to undo what I have accomplished.

I even lost 3 pounds. I know that is not much, but I am now 3 pounds closer to my goal. I can sometimes lose 2-3 pounds quickly, but it seems to always come back. I feel like this 3 pounds I will never see again. I lost it only by walking an working out each day. I didn't change my eating habits (and I have some bad habits). I will work on some of my eating habits in the next phase.

Coming Soon...Phase 2

Phase 1 - Week 3

Just wanted to give you a quick update. I made it through another week, walking for 5 days, 30 minutes each day.

Free Tote Bag from Red Gold

There is a free tote bag offer from Red Gold. Go HERE and enter the UPC and product code from a can of Red Gold.

Thanks The Thrifty Mama!

Also if you do not have a can of Red Gold in your pantry, you can print a coupon for $1 off 3 cans HERE, or you can go HERE to find a UPC and product code.

Phase 1 - Week 2

I have now completed 2 weeks in Phase 1 of my new lifestyle. I feel stronger and more disciplined. I exercised 30 minutes each day Monday through Friday. Most days I walked, but I did go to the YMCA for a class this week also. I have been getting up and walking at 6 or 6:30 each morning. I usually walk for 15 -20 minutes and then walk again in the evening. It works for me and I am getting in my 30 minutes each day.

Kmart Doubles - 4/8/10 Trip

Today at Kmart, I got:

3 Quilted Northern @ $7.49 each
2 Mens Dial Body Wash @ $3.50 each
1 Soft Scrub Total @ $2.99

Total before coupons and tax: $32.46

Coupons Used:
(2) -$1.00 Quilted Northern - Target Printable *
(1) -$1.50/2 Mens Dial - Printable
(1) -$1.50 Soft Scrub Total - 3/7 newspaper
(1) -$2.00 on your next order from a previous transaction

$1 toilet paper coupons doubled to $2
$1.50 body wash coupon doubled to $3
$1.50 Soft Scrub coupon doubled to $2.99
$2 off order doubled to $4

Total after coupons and tax: $20.38

I received a $10 coupon off my next order for purchasing $30 of products from the "Spring into Savings Deal".

I am also going to submit my receipt for a $5 rebate from Georgia Pacific for buying $20 worth of products. You can see details HERE.

*The Quilted Northern coupon is found on the Target website and has the Target logo on it. It is a manufacture's coupon and I used it with no problems at Kmart.

Kmart Doubles - 4/6/10 Trip

Today at Kmart, I got:

3 Gillette Body Wash @ $4.00 each
2 Mach3 Disposable Razors @ $6.00 each
1 Bounty Paper Towel Roll @ $2.39

Total before coupons and tax: $26.39

Coupons Used:
(3) -$2.00 Gillette Body Wash - 3/7 newspaper
(1) -$1.00 Bounty Paper Towels - Home Mailer
(1) -$2.00 Mach3 Razor - 3/7 newspaper
(1) -BOGO Mach3 Razor - 4/4 newspaper

$2 body wash coupons doubled to $4
$1 paper towel coupon doubled to $2
$2 razor coupon doubled to $4
BOGO did not double, but it took off $6

I did use 6 coupons, but I gave the 5 I wanted doubled first, then the BOGO.

Total after coupons and tax: $3.69

I am going to mail in for the $10 prepaid Mastercard Rebate when you buy $25 worth of Proctor & Gamble products. There is a chance they will not give it to me because my total is so low, but I think they will and it is worth a try.

Kmart Doubles - 4/5/10 Trip

This week, Kmart is having double coupons. There are more rules, but I think it is still worth my time to go a few times. You are limited to 5 coupons per day and you must use your Rewards card. I figured I could just go several times this week. Today I went and got this:
5 Dove Deodorant @ $3.79 each

Total before coupons and tax: $18.95

Coupons Used:
(2) -$2.00 Dove Ultimate - printable
(2) -$1.25 Dove Deodorant - printable
(1) -$1.25 Dove Deodorant - 3/28 newspaper

$2 coupons doubled to $3.79
$1.25 coupons doubled to $2.50

Total after coupons and tax: $4.74
Plus I got a $5 coupon to use on my next order for buying $15 worth of Dove products.

Phase 1 - Week 1

I completed week 1 in phase 1 of my new lifestyle. I exercised each day Monday-Friday. I walked for 30 minutes most of the days. I am proud that I completed the first week. I am now working on week 2. I am taking it slow, but I believe I am developing discipline and a healthy lifestyle.

Ready for Change

Recently I listened to a Focus on the Family. A woman named Chantel Hobbs was a guest. She talked about a change in her life that occurred and how she lost 200 pounds. She was very inspiring. She has written a couple of books. I decided to look for one of her books at the library. I was able to check out "Never Say Diet: Make five decisions and break the fat habit for good". I am already on Chapter 8. It is a great and inspiring book.

She says diets don't work. You have to learn about nutrition and exercise. You can't depend on being on a diet the rest of your life, you must make a life change. She says you must first change your brain. To do that, you must: 1. Be Truthful, 2. Be Forgiving, 3. Be Committed, 4. Be Interested, and 5. Surrender.

I am ready for a change. I am ready to change my brain. During Phase 1, the goal is to establish a regular exercise habit. In the first 4 weeks, you commit to work out for 30 minutes a day 5 days a week. You should break a sweat with a cardiovascular exercise. She says if you miss a day, just start the 4 weeks over again, you must complete 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks before moving on to Phase 2. One other thing, during Phase 1, you must eat breakfast. It fuels your body for the day.

I am going to continue to work out the rest of this week as I normally would and on Monday, I am going to start Phase 1! I will do my best to keep you updated on my progress.

If anyone else wants to join me during Phase 1, I would love to have you. We can hold one another accountable and be the best we can be.

Menu Plan Monday

I finally made a menu for the week again. I thought I would share. Actually, this menu covers 2 weeks. I am going to try to shop and not have to visit the store for the things I need for supper each night.

Monday 2/22: Hamburger Casserole
Tuesday 2/23: Chicken Fried Rice
Wednesday 2/24: Bacon, Biscuits, & Gravy
Thursday 2/25: Chicken Packets, Peas, Mac & Cheese
Friday 2/26: Mini Meatloaves, Mashed Potatoes, Corn
Saturday 2/27: Pizza Pasta, Salad, Rolls
Sunday 2/28: Pork BBQ, Chips

Monday 3/1: Leftover BBQ
Tuesday 3/2: Spaghetti & Rolls
Wednesday 3/3: Turkey Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Mac & Cheese
Thursday 3/4: Chili
Friday 3/5: Roast, Potatoes, Carrots
Saturday 3/6: Ham, Beans, Cornbread
Sunday 3/7: Leftovers

I don't usually plan this far ahead, I just was motivated last night and thought I would take advantage of it.

This menu will probably change as the week goes on, but I will have everything I need to make each meal.

Hamburger Casserole

I thought I would share another recipe I discovered recently. I have really enjoyed cooking in the crock pot the last several weeks and I am always on the lookout for a new recipe we might love. I finally found another one.

I found this recipe on Cooks.com. It is for Hamburger Casserole (Crock Pot). I have modified it a little to meet out needs.

Ingredients:
2-3 potatoes, peeled and sliced
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
1-2 cups frozen peas (or peas & carrots)
3 - 8oz cans tomato sauce
1 can water
1 lb hamburger (we use deer burger), browned

Directions:
Layer vegetables in crock pot in order given. Put hamburger on top of vegetables. Pour cans of tomato sauce and water on top of the hamburger. Cook on low 6-7 hours or high 3-4 hours. Stir before serving.

This tastes like vegetable soup with hamburger in it. It is delicious.