LOVING me some Purex Insiders and GIVEAWAY!

I became a purex insider quite some time ago!  They are the BEST!  I get free stuff from them all of the time!  I want to share the wealth!  I have 2 coupons for FREE laundry detergent!  With the economy in the shape it is, FREE is just my price!!  These coupons are for Purex's new detergent which I can honestly say works great!  I usually make my own laundry detergent, but when they sent me a coupon to try it for free, who could resist?  If you would like my recipe for detergent, I did a guest post here for Shopping Detox.  She's pretty funny!  Anyway....here's what you have to do to enter....

1) REQUIRED entry: Become a followers of my blog.  After you do so, leave a comment saying that you did!  If you already follow, just leave a comment telling me that!  Once you are following me, when I announce the winner, you will receive the post via email and be able to let me know that you acknowledge your win!  Then I can email you for your addy to snailmail the coupons!

2) For another entry, leave a comment telling me the top 3 things that you look for when purchasing detergent.

3) For a third entry, there is a contest going on through Purex Insiders. There is a $1,000 grand prize and fifty 2nd place winners will each receive $40 in gift cards.  As I mentioned I love this company and they are very honorable so I have no hesitation give you the link to click on to enter!  http://insiders.purex.com/soft-scrub?id=14227t Follow the link and enter to win for your third entry!  Leave a comment below telling me you have done so!

In all, you have THREE chances to win!  Since my blog is still in its infant stages, you have a VERY good chance!  lol You should be sure to leave a separate comment for each of the three entries.  I will randomly choose the winner using random.com at 10pm EST on Sunday, August 26, 2012.  Oh, and I just decided...if I have at least 50 entries, I will throw in a second prize of another coupon for free detergent!  Once I see some progress made with my readership, I will do LOTS more giveaways!  Tell you friends to enter!  I mean REALLY...what do you or them have to lose?!  :)  

Friendship Jar DIY Cheap but Chic Gift

I made a friendship jar for each of my friends who had surgery last year.  I had maybe $1.50 in the entire gift, but it was a hit with each of my friends as well as their families.  I was told by one of the family members that I was the most thoughtful person she had ever met.  That made me feel good. 

I enjoy giving gifts.  I always have.  Now that money is tight, I have to think outside of the box.  This can def be a good thing because instead of picking up something from the store to give to someone, 9 times out of 10 I'm gonna make it.  I can honestly say that every handmade gift I have ever given has been well-received.  I think the reason is the recipient knows more thought was put into other than shelling out a few bucks.

Anyway, here you will see original instructions and where I got the idea from.  I am going to post the directions to their original concept, but I'm going to tell you have I modified to fit my situation.

Both of my friends had gastric bypass surgery.  Having had the surgery myself in 2005, I know how much their lives are going to change.  With that being said, on each slip of paper I included in their jars I wrote a positive mantra that they could look forward to.  .
Here are some examples:

• Eating to Live, Not Living to Eat
• Finding your size at thrift stores.
• NOT paying more for your clothing just b/c you can afford that extra cheeseburger!
• Fitting comfortably in a booth.
• Not checking the weight limit on everything you buy, stand on, sit on, etc.

There were many more that only obese or formerly obese people will get!  Anyway, each of my friends took the jar to the hospital to read the days after surgery when they were in pain.  They both told me that it helped them to get through the worst of it.  :)

Here's their original.

Materials:

• Decorative Jar with wide mouth I got mine @ Dollar Tree
• Ribbon or other embellishment
• Handwritten or computer generated positive words on slips of paper  I used small pieces of cardstock and decorated them with stickers
• Paper  See above
• Pen or Computer with printer  For above
• Scissors or Fiskars Personal Trimmer  I used the scissors that cut in the cutesy patterns-$1 each!

Instructions:

1. You can find fun jars at thrift shops and garage sales, you just want a wide mouth jar so it’s easy to put your slips of paper in and out of the jar. You can tie ribbon or embellish the jar with your favorites.
    
2. Handwritten messages: Cut slips of paper with scissors or personal trimmer. You can use one color of paper or use several, personalize this to the event or person getting the Friendship Jar. Write out positive words or statements. For example if this is for a special aunt you could write out all the things you love about her from her pretty smile to her fabulous chocolate chip cookies. Fold up the slips of paper and place in jar. I always recommend handwritten notes because the message and words just seem more unique written by you!
    
3. Computer generated messages: This is easy and quick, and if you are a neat freak using a computer will make you happier. Have fun and play with fonts and font size! Write out positive messages and words like described in Step 2. Print. Using your scissors or personal trimmer cut into slips of paper, fold, and place in jar!

Read more at http://www.favecrafts.com/Gifts-in-a-Jar/Friendship-Jar/ml/1#46aCRl3v0PRSDGjL.99

Friendship Jar - Used from Favecrafts.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Octopus Bento...complete w/ seashells ;)

Yes, I know what everyone says about the effects of food dyes and such.  I refuse to live in fear over everything I enjoy.  We do eat relatively health as a whole, but there are certain things we do enjoy.  Life is too short to get rid of everything that makes you smile....so, I will continue to use my food coloring! :)

Okay...now that we have THAT out of the way...THE OCTOPUS BENTO!  This one was fun for me!  As I said before, I enjoy making them because Rich truly appreciates them!  So....without further ado....

Beginning on the top left: Homemade Tie-dyed cupcake complete with a hibiscus pick with whale crackers, below that is a boiled egg shaped as a fish, decorated with my edible markers, and yes, dyed blue!  In the large compartment is where all of the magic happens...LOL...kidding...anyway...I made a quick, homemade mac n' cheese using mini shell pasta, Parmesan and Monterey Jack Cheeses, and a little milk...I cooked the noodles w/ blue water.  On top of the shell ocean are 2 hot dog octopuses with faces frawn on w/ edible markers.  This is decorated w/ a parasol toothpick and a pink flamingo pick. 

The Cupcake

Octopuses...or is it Octopi?  Haha!

Oh My Stars! Bento :)

So, Rich's Monday Bento ended up lasting him through Tuesday because he has been SO busy at work!  I just finished making his Bento for Wednesday (tomorrow) and I like it!  Here is Monday/Tuesday's Bento, Oh My Stars!!

Beginning at Top, Left then proceeding clockwise:  Star and heart-shaped watermelon bites with a cute, sword pick, Vanilla Yogurt with a star-shaped dollop of my homemade "Kitchen Sink" jam (several diff fruits), Crinkle cut cucumbers and carrots (more about these is a minute) with a star/music pick, and finally a star-shaped boiled egg that I wrote on with edible markers.

 

About the crinkle-cut veggies...This past Saturday my family had a picnic get together.  One of the things I brought was a big bowl of fresh veggies with ranch for dipping.  I cut the veggies using my Pampered Chef crinkle cutter which made little wave-like patterns in the veggies.  I want you to know that the kids were all amazed by the veggies and 3/4 of them were eaten by the kids!  Some had only veggies on their plates instead of hot dogs and chips!!  Goes to show that we eat w/ our eyes FIRST!

How did you start off your work week?  What did you have for lunch??  How do you get your kids to try new things without a fight?

Bananas:  Love 'em or hate 'em!  I LOVE them!  Did you know there are TONS of things you can use them for besides eating??  Bananas are so cheap so this intrigued me! After reading an article on Care2, I chose my fave ones to tell you about!

Bananas can be used to treat dry, damaged hair.  For the scoop on how to do it, check out THIS article

Who doesn't want whiter teeth?  Bananas are a natural whitener!!  Rub banana peel on your teeth for about two minutes every time you brush! 

This time of year, bugs are out full force!  Rub some banana peels on the bites to alleviate the itch.

Potassium also helps with the healing process for cuts, scrapes, and bruises.

Splinters stink!!  I'll have to tell my splinter story one day that ended in an ER trip (thanks, sis)!! If you press banana peels onto the splinter, the fruit’s natural enzymes will work to get that thing right outta there!

Bananas are a perfectly safe, healthy treat for your furrybaby!

To save on the hips when you have an ice cream craving, simply blend a frozen solid banana in a food processor or blender. You’ll be surprised how much it tastes like soft-serve ice cream!

 

Dried and ground banana peels make an awesome mulch for seedlings and new plants.

There are TONS more tips for using bananas in your daily life! Did I miss any really good ones?  What things have you used bananas for besides just for eating?

What's Rich's Bento??

I crashed Tuesday night!  Hendrix (my youngest lab) snuggled up to me and we were out!  I woke up at around 4amish and realized I had not made Rich's bento!  Being the wonderful wife I am, I got up and made it so he would have it for breakfast/snack/lunch!  Check it out!  I am always, always looking for new, simple bento ideas...please lend me your creativity in the comment section!

Large section: Cute lil' guitar container w/ 4 Hershey's kisses in it, a Teddys Grahams soft paw cookie/muffin thingie with a mini homemade granola bar underneath, homemade flour tortilla half with ham and cheese inside. The smaller sections: top- a few GINORMOUS grapes with heart-shaped cucumber slices underneath.  And finally, a homemade blueberry/cream cheese muffin. I Used the last precooked boiled egg yesterday (which Rich usually has in these for protein), but I am boiling more today! ♥  I try to boil 8-12 at the beginning of each week to use for lunches.  I didn't this week bc I still had a few leftover from last week...there are more now!  They were mint and olive green eggs!  These are laid by Easter Egg Chickens!  ;)

EASY, Frugal Replacement for Canned Cream of Soup

Have you ever read the ingredients on a can of Campbell's Cream of....Soup?  I hadn't until today...Wow!  Lately I have been paying more attention to WHERE my food comes from and WHAT unnecessary ingredients are in it, in other words, what words can I pronounce??  According to the Campbell's Food Service website, a can of Cream of Chicken Soup consists of:

Chicken Stock, Water, Vegetable Oil, Modified Food Starch, Wheat Flour, Cream (Milk), Contains Less Than 2% Of: Salt, Dehydrated Cooked Chicken, Soy Protein Concentrate, Monosodium Glutamate, Chicken Fat, Yeast Extract, Flavoring, Beta Carotene for Color, Chicken Flavor, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and Cottonseed Oil, Butter (Milk).

I started by trying to figure out what some of the ingredients were that didn't sound like stuff I eat!

Modified food starch is a chemically altered food ingredient made from starch. Because many starches may contain gluten or have been contaminated with gluten, be on the look out for this ingredient in many of the foods sold today if you are eliminating gluten from your diet.

How It's Made

There are numerous ways that food starch can be modified; the method varies based on the starch itself and on what it will be used for. These are some methods of producing a modified starch:

• Treating it with acid
• Roasting it
• Treating it with sodium hydroxide
• Treating it with potassium hydroxide
• Adding a positive electrical charge
• Treating it with emulsifiers
• Treating it with starch ether 

What the hell??  Okay....moving along...Next...

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer commonly added to Chinese food, canned vegetables, soups and processed meats. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified MSG as a food ingredient that's "generally recognized as safe," the use of MSG remains controversial. For this reason, when MSG is added to food, the FDA requires that it be listed on the label. 

According to the truth in labeling, the risks associated with ingestion of (or even contact with) monosodium glutamate and other ingredients that contain MSG are simple and straightforward:

Brain damage

Endocrine disorders (obesity and reproductive disorders)

Behavior disorders

Adverse reactions      

            Neurodegenerative disease

Next.... 

Chicken Fat ...Umm....YUCK!!!  I throw all of that away when I cook and debone chicken!!

Next...

A known side effect of ingesting beta carotene is a yellow or orange discoloration of the skin. Commonly, this discoloration is found in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/528786-can-beta-carotene-change-your-skin-color/#ixzz1yG4ZymL5

Ummm...now I'm gonna turn orange (like Snookie) for eating soup??  OMGosh!

 

Okay, I'm done!  There are almost 20 ingredients in that can of soup, which I use to add to various recipes, so that would mean my casserole has around 5,967 (may be an exaggeration) ingredients?!?  This led me to wonder if I could just make it myself.  Literally seconds after typing "Cream of Chicken Soup Recipe" into my search engine, I had a 3 minute recipe for it.  I just made the equivalent of 5 cans of the stuff to throw in the freezer while I was heating up leftover chicken and rice for my (and the dogs') lunch.  I boiled a chicken Sunday to use for the dogs meals as well as some chicken and rice that I had been craving.  I always add the ingredients along with the chicken so I can use the stock simply because...I'm cheap, not to mention homemade chicken broth tastes SO much better!  I ended up getting 4, 3-cup containers of chicken stock and 5 "cans" (1.5 cups each) of Cream of Chicken Soup just by using what would have been thrown away from my boiled chicken.  I wanted to share my cheap and easy recipe with you...well, technically I adapted it from a recipe on milehimama's website.  Anyway, let me know what you think!  

Cream of Chicken Soup
Put 2 T butter in a pan.  Melt it.
Add 2 T of flour.  Stir it around until the flour is absorbed and it is starting to clump, about 1 minute.
Add 1 C of chicken broth/milk mixture.  A note about this:  I made a larger quantity than what this recipe makes so I ended up using 4 parts chicken stock to 1 part milk.  This is to your liking.  I did add a little more water as it thickened, but I think that's because it is in my nature to deviate from recipes! :) Whisk it in and heat until smooth. If you stir in a little liquid at a time, letting the flour absorb it, it helps to keep lumps from forming.  Cook and stir about 3 minutes, until smooth and heated through.  The longer you cook the thicker it will get.  Salt to taste.  You can add chicken bits if you like.  DONE!  How many ingredients did that use??  Butter, flour, water, stock, milk?  5??  We could even break the stock down farther but it would still be less than half AND they would be REAL food ingredients!  

Variations:
Cream of mushroom – cook up some chopped mushrooms in the butter, then sprinkle with the flour and proceed.  I'm making this sometime this week as well.
Cream of celery – soften finely chopped celery in the butter, then proceed.


I APOLOGIZE FOR THE FORMATTING!  BLOGGER IS LOSING ITS MIND!!

Just How Brave ARE You??

How experimental are you when it comes to what you eat?  I will pretty much try any fruits/veggies/non-once-breathing things.  Having said that, I HATE curry.  It is gross!  I won't even try it anymore!  Ugh!  The exception to fruit would have to be Durian...if Andrew Zimmer gags and spits it out, yeah, no way am I going to be able to choke it down!  Anyway, I've tried over half of them and of the 45 left, I would not eat only 15 of them.  Hey, I'll try almost anything once!!

The Very Good Taste Omnivore's 100 List

Rules:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat (I hate curry)
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal (I hate curry)
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu (I don’t wanna die!!)
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

My Score:  55

Sock Monster???

Am I the ONLY person who owns a dryer that EATS socks??  I swear...I put 3 pairs in and 4-5 socks come out!  WTH??  Well, that prompted me to find ways to use the TONS of singleton socks I have in a drawer...just in case the sock monster decides to thrown up a massive amount of socks one day!!  Check Them Out!

Potpourri Pouch:  fill an old sock with potpourri, tie the end with a rubber band, and stick it into a drawer that you want to freshen or a pair of smelly shoes...or any other stinky place! 

Dusting:  spray some furniture polish on the sock, put it on your hand (or your kid's hand) and use it like a Swiffer pad to dust your furniture.

Frugal Heating Pad: Just stuff an old sock with dry beans or rice, then throw it into the microwave for 30 seconds.

Moving/Packing:  Instead of using newspaper after newspaper, help the environment and use your old socks to stick glasses, decorations, what-nots, etc.  This protects them better than paper!!

PLEASE...What do you do with mismatched socks BESIDES throw them away??

Father's Day...on the Cheap!

Father's Day is coming up on June 17th..any idea what you're gonna get your dad...or your baby's daddy??  If your dad is like mine was, he has everything!  Unfortunately, I will miss my daddy like crazy like I do everyday, but my Furrybabies always get their dad something.  Here are some FRUGAL Father's Day ideas:

Make a Daddy Caddy: use a recycled coffee can to make a decorative tool caddy for Dad to store things like nuts and bolts for DIY projects.

 Photos for His Desk: give Dad something that he can show off on his desk at his office at work. This cute photo cube is one idea, but use your creativity!

Other Homemade Ideas: a personalized blanket, a cool scrapbook or a duct tape wallet may be the way to go this Father's Day.

A Freshly-Detailed Car

Here are a few sites for Craft Ideas for the Kids!

Family Crafts

Family Fun

Martha Stewart

Father's Day Freebies

TCBY: head to your local TCBY location to pick up a free frozen yogurt on Father's Day! 

Free Personalized Cards: send dad a free Father's Day photo card from Cardstore.com. Just enter in coupon code LUVDAD2 at checkout after you've selected you card. Offer is good through June 8th and shipping is also free. 

Make Your Own Free Cards: print your own cards for free from one of these 20 great sites. 

Vistaprint Freebies: find free customizable gifts, like business cards, mugs, t-shirts and more over at Vistaprint.

Homemade RAINBOW BREAD!

I love colors!  I guess my faves would have to be every shade of green and pink, but I love all colors.  That bleeds over into my cooking as well.  White is boring...nothing a little gel food coloring can't handle!  Check out my yummy bread....awesome and pretty!  Let me know if you'd like the EASY recipe I use!  If I can bake it, anyone can!  While I do admit I am a good cook, a baker I am not!!

Pretty!

The inside....my ghetto stove!  It was in here when we bought the house so I am using it until it dies!  Then I will have what I want!

Waiting & Homemade...ADD anyone?? lol

I hate waiting!  Patience are NOT one of my strong points!  I wish my hubby would have had his surgery a month ago and we were doing the learning the new life thing already!  But...if it would have been last month, then I would have wished for the month before!  Surgery is Monday, MIL is coming in Sunday, all if right with the world.  I just KNOW what life has in store for him!  For the past 6 months, he has not been a very happy guy.  So, Monday will be the first day in changing that forever!  :)

Now that I have that done!  I'm thinking that when hubby is home from the hospital, I'm going to start the eating from the pantry thing again. While his on the couch hanging and watching movies with his mom next week, I'm going to inventory.  I may get up nerve to post my inventory.  Heck, not a lot of people read my blog so why should I care!?  lol

One more thing I gotta post is a pic of my first batch of homemade pasta.  Now if someone would have told me a month ago that I would be making homemade pasta, I would have laughed my tail off at them!  Well, thanks to a fellow blogger, J, who wrote a cookbook and is selling the online version, I have lots of easy, homemade, (even vegan) stuff!  The plate below is my dinner from that night.  Hubby LOVED it!  My niece was so inspired she made some herself!  :)  Let me know if you want the recipe.

Big Ole' Bowl of Pasta w/ Cheese Sauce!

My HM pasta, fresh, sauteed corn, and filet migeon!  Yum!