ShamWow

I've seen the commercial for ShamWow several times and every time I see it I say to myself "I need those!"

I did some research here on the internet and have found mixed reviews about them.
Have you tried them? If so, what did you think about them and where did you purchase them. I dont like to pay alot for shipping.

Has anyone received one to try before you buy?

FREE Folgers Gourmet Selection Coffee

Receive a FREE sample from Folgers Gourmet Selections. No purchase necessary. One(1) sample of Lively Columbian per address. Offer good through June 30th or while supplies last.

My Emergency Kit

It's tornado season here in Missouri. There have been so many bad tornadoes in the last couple of years. You hear the media tell you to have a plan and an emergency kit. I decided I need to put one together for our family.

I've done some research and learned I will need at least three days’ worth of supplies.

These are a few basics that I need to include in my ER kit:
Bottled water--at least one gallon for each person per day for three days, plus pottable water-- one gallon for each person per day for three days.
3 Days worth of non-perishable food for each family member. Energy/granola bars, nuts, jerky, crackers, peanut butter, tuna, potted meat,
flashlight and batteries,
weather radio and batteries
Basic Toiletries: toilet paper, tampons, pantiliners
first aid kit: pain relievers, OTC stomach medicine, antibiotic ointment, bandages/bandaids, sterile gloves and an antibiotic cleanser, hand sanitizer, cleansing towelettes,
puzzle books and cards
matches,
clothing (including raingear),
pet food,
blankets

Is there anything pertinent I have forgotten?

What I Seen On My Morning Walk

I was able to find some ear drops for my Suzi at (of all places) Dollar General. Wally World and our Farm Supply store didnt have any.

She seems to be feeling more like her old self again, jumping up on her favorite perch in the living room. After putting her ear drops in I took her and Teddy out for our morning walk. Here's what we saw.

WARNING: If pictures of dead wildlife bothers you, proceed with caution. There is no blood, just deader than a doornail.

After putting her ear drops in, Suzi was ready for her morning walk with Teddy. We went out the back door, down the steps and this is what our Mamma Cat, Pam, left for us at the bottom of the stairs. Of course Teddy turned his nose up to it and Suzi was ready to grab it up. Ahhh, the joys of living in the country.


I hate rats! This one was just a juvenile. But I'm glad it's dead! Our next stop was our koi pond by the back deck.


Mr Frog was out sunning himself. He normally jumps into the pond immediately when he hears the back door open. He has gotten used to us apparently, because he sat there while the pups pottied and I got real close to take this pic. Here's a full view of the pond. Excuse the tub, I was having to change parts out for the new pump we had to buy. By the tub you can see Mamma Pam wanting to make sure I seen her latest kill. Now that we have the leak fixed around the waterfall part I will be able to plant some plants around the bio-filter (the black tub at the top).


The fish were begging for their morning feeding. Photographing fish is hard! I can't get them to sit still. lol


Here's my favorite koi in the back pond. Mr Big.


On out to the tool shed and I see I have another iris blooming. It's light blue and big.


On around to the front of the house to check on the koi pond there.



Can you find the baby cat we call Sissy in this pic?

She was up and getting her morning drink. They love drinking out of the bio filter on this pond.

Things have been looking up around here again. We have had to tear up the carpet and padding in the basement and worked on that some yesterday and today. My house smells like a cattery. Apparently the woman who lived here before us and left us with the 9 cats just let them pee where ever downstairs. Once it got wet...... shooooo eeeeeee!

I wont battle that. The carpet is gone!

Hope you are having a relaxing and safe weekend. We are relaxing more than we are working so it's all good again.

Boy wonder wants breakfast burritos so I'm outta here to go fix my baby boy breakfast.

The Hits Keep Coming

So I had to go rent a carpet water extractor. Cost me $25 and an aching back.

I also recvd a speeding ticket on my lunch hour I forgot to mention. There's $80! Good grief, can anything else happen?

By this point, my hubby is thoroughly pissed about everything and the last couple of days.

My female poodle is not feeling right, I think she has a ear infection. Lets pray there is no trip needed to the vet.

While I was sucking up water from the carpet I heard some kind of buzzing noise, after investigating I find that it's my son's computer. Something has screwed up with his keyboard and there's a black screen with a error message "Keyboard has failed". I have a couple extra keyboards and hope one of them are the same type of hook up. But if not, no big deal, they arent that expensive.

I just have to find us the best deal on a water heater, and move on.

Tough Week

It's been a difficult last couple of days.

Yesterday we buried an Aunt that was only 53yo. She died a painful lengthy death from copd/emphysema. I hadnt even gotten out of the funeral when my cell started vibrating non stop.

I was finally able to leave and was checking my phone to see who was so persistent, since everyone knew where I was.

I was calling my hubby back when I passed my son on the road. Hubby says son is needing me because he has sliced his finger/hand open really bad.

So off to the doctor we go. After two doctors offices, 2 hours, 7 stitches and $200 out of pocket later, I collected up the youngest and came home... mentally exhausted.

Today I get up and go to work thinking it's a new day, everything will be fine.

Come home, my basement is flooded, the hot water tank is leaking every where. So as of this very moment, I have no water! Hubby is on his way home and I figure we will be shelling out for a new water heater.

Oh yeah, Sunday my pump on my koi pond went out and that cost me $65.

What else can go wrong? Wait, I asked that this am. Never mind, it can only get better, right?

What's Blooming In Your Gardens?

I'm so excited! Three years ago when we moved here some gardening buddies from Dave's Garden sent me iris'. I had just told my husband last week that they were overtaking a couple of my gardens, hadnt bloomed and I was going to dig them up.

Well look who started to show their pretty faces!



I wish I knew their names. There are a couple sites that might help identify them.



I can also post them over at Dave's Garden and someone might recognize them.



Gardening, whether it be vegetable or flower, is hard work. I sometimes get overwhelmed at everything that needs to be done.



But these payoffs are worth it!

Do you have anything blooming in your garden? I would love to see them. I'm also big on daylilies! When they start blooming I will post some pics of them.

Kraft's Food & Family Summer is Here!

I love this FREE cooking magazine. This issue is packed full of summer time recipes! Over 40 Entrees, Sandwiches, Salads, Sides, Drinks, Snacks and Desserts!

Everything from Cowboy Burgers and Sweet BBQ Chicken Kabobs to Fresh Corn Salsa, Grilled Steak & Vegetable Salad and Chocolate-Peanut Butter Desserts with Peachy Iced Tea Sangria's.

If you signed up and didnt get yours yet, you can go check it out on line HERE!

IF you didnt sign up yet, what are you waiting for? Click here to surf over to their sign up page! Be sure to check the appropriate box to receive your copies in the mail!

Bush Beans' Simply the Best in 20 minutes or less

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Simply the Best in 20 Minutes or Less: Great Bean Recipes from America's Top Chefs! All the recipes taste great, take 20 minutes or less, have easy-to-find ingredients, and are good for you. Enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day

Back in January I had decided to make sure to get some good deals at CVS on a variety of things so I could make gift baskets throughout the year for Mother's Day, Father's Day (I'm not doing too good here) and Birthdays.

All week I kept telling myself, you need to get your gift basket togther for Mom. Then I would stop myself, thinking "Will she really like it? Will she really enjoy anything I have gotten" and then would stop myself. Friday I decided I would buy her some flowers she was wanting to go in the pots that sit out by her front door.

I didnt get them bought and thought when we drive by the greenhouse on the way to her house I would stop.

When I woke up this morning I changed my mind once again and told myself that I was going to go ahead and make up a basket for her like I had told myself I was going to do for all gifts this year.

I still was real apprehensive about doing this. I hadnt picked up a basket at the Dollar Tree and was kicking myself.

Finally at the last minute, angry with myself for procrastinating, being so undecided as to what I was going to do, I went hunting in my sewing/craft room for something I could use to put the "goods" in.

I found a little wicker basket that I had scored on one of my dumpster diving expeditions that I had forgot about. This lifted my spirits and I headed off to my "mini store" to shop.

Here's how it turned out:



My mom was so excited about the basket when she seen it. She LOVED it. My baby sis came in and got all jealous over it, lol, little does she know there is one just like it (except for the basket) waiting for her birthday!

And the great thing about it is, with my hounding and using coupons along with the sales at CVS it didnt cost me hardly any money out of pocket.

There was a bottle of Linen Spray, a bottle of Spa Radiance body wash, a Ponds Facial kit, a Venus razor, Chapstick Touch of Tone, a Revlon lipstick, a shower scrunchy, Beauty of Essence Hand cream, a bottle of Aussie shampoo and a stick of Lady Speedstick deo. I stuck a curly bow on it that I had saved off a birthday present of mine that matched her card. It turned out to be way better than I originally thought.

Learning to Hound Deals at Walgreens

I'm trying to learn how to shop at Walgreens and take advantage of their programs.

I found this on The News & Observer and wanted to post it here for my reference til I get this down.

If you have any tips, hints or suggestions for me, please leave them in the comments. I have only shopped at Walgreens one time in my life, last week, picked up the May Super Saver catalog of coupons. That's all I know how to do at this point!

If the following information is obselete or incorrect, please let me know!

The Walgreens EasySaver Program is one of my very favorite rebate programs because it is so easy and actually offers an incentive to use it.

Basically, each month, Walgreens puts out a special little catalog full of extra store coupons and rebates on certain items that are good for the whole month. You can get the EasySaver catalog in the store (in the rack where they keep the sales flyers). Or you can view the EasySaver catalog online here. At the very least, you should pick it up for the extra coupons.

If you look closely at the weekly Walgreens flyer that comes in the Sunday paper, you will notice some items have little white or yellow boxes below them that show additional savings with a store coupon or a rebate. If you've ever wondered how to get those additional savings, they are talking about the EasySaver rebate program.

For me, I like to get the catalog at the beginning of the month. Usually most of the rebate items go on sale at some point during the month, so if you are patient, you can save even more. Also, there are usually about four items that are free after rebate (or FAR for short).

Here are the basics:

1) Go to the store and get the EasySaver catalog at the beginning of the month.
2) Pay attention to sales each week and buy stuff that qualifies for the rebates.
3) Save your receipts!!!
4) At the end of the month, gather your receipts and the EasySaver catalog. In the center, you will find a single form (I love that part!), where you fill in your contact info and mark a grid showing which rebates you qualified for.
4) Mail it, and wait for the rebate.

Advanced tip No. 1:

If you wanted to save a little more, you can check the little box next to your contact info that gives Walgreens the OK to send you the rebate in the form of a Walgreens gift card. If you do that, Walgreens adds 10 percent of your total rebate onto the card as a reward for choosing the card option. So, let's say you qualify for $10 in rebates. You check the box, and you get a gift card back in the mail for $11. They do this because they want you to spend more money at their stores. But that's OK by me though, and here's why...

Advanced tip No. 2
I have been basically recycling the same money on the same Walgreens card for more than a year now. How?

1) You do all of the above... buy the stuff, fill out the form, mail it in with your receipts, check the little box and get your gift card back in the mail.
2) THEN you use that gift card the following month to buy more stuff and qualify for more rebates.
3) When the end of the month comes, you mail in your form and receipts and again check the box, earning another 10 percent. So, if you now had $11, another 10 percent would be $12.10.
4) When your rebate is processed, you do it again. And again. And again. The end result is free stuff every month for doing a little paperwork.

A couple of caveats on this program:
1) Once you've completed the cycle once and have a gift card in your possession, you can simply enter your gift card number and e-mail address on the rebate form. Then, when your rebate is processed, you get an e-mail saying that the card you already have has been recharged, and off you go. No waiting for a new card in the mail.
2) You do need to pay attention to dates with this program. The EasySaver month rarely ends on the 30th or 31st. It's usually some odd date like the 27th. And you have only a week or so to mail in your form, so you really do need to stay organized and on top of things. If that's not you, it might be best to avoid this program.
3) But if you think you are organized enough and understood all my rambling, it can be a great program that can end up netting you a whole lot of free stuff every single month.

Stamp Out Hunger Reminder

I find it sad and it angers me, that while babies in our own homeland go hungry, our government gets all up in arms because a foreign country will not accept our help during a catastrophe. They are willing to FORCE help on these people in Myanmar, is anyone FORCING help to these babies and children here in the United States?

Just this morning this article posted over the internet:
"The Orange County Food Bank has run out of infant formula for about 500 poor babies, and is no longer receiving shipments from the federal government, the food bank's director said Thursday.

Shipments are expected to resume in about a month, according to food bank director Mark Lowry. In the meantime, the bank has been unable to provide formula to the infants. The food bank typically relies on formula from the United States Department of Agriculture." Read full article here

Please remember the food drive tomorow. I have two free cans of Enfamil that I will be putting in my bag as well as other non perishables. You can also take your bags to your main post office tomorow.

CHOCO PEANUT BUTTER BARS

I always have Oats, Peanut Butter and all the staples to make these on hand. I usually have chocolate chips stashed in the freezer, but found none yesterday. I think I was robbed! Had to pay $3 for a pack of chips today!

I love cookie bar recipes. If you have a special bar recipe, please share it with me!

















1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/2 cups QUAKER Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup (6 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate pieces

Heat oven to 350°F.

Beat brown sugar, margarine and peanut butter until creamy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well.

Add flour and baking soda; mix well. Stir in oats and chocolate pieces.

Spread into ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and edges pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely. Cut into bars.

Frugal Living Tip - Make Your Own Alfredo Sauce

Alfredo sauce

1/2 cup butter
1 8oz package cream cheese
2 T garlic powder
2 cups milk
6 ounces grated parmesan (I just use the shaker kind that usually goes on pizza)

1/8 tsp black pepper

Melt butter in medium sauce pan over medium heat. Add cream cheese and garlic powder, stirring with whisk until smooth. Add milk a little at a time. Whisk it smooth. Stir in parmesan cheese and pepper. Remove from heat when sauce reaches desired consistency. Sauce will thicken rapidly. Thin with milk as needed.

My Deals Yesterday

CVS Trip:
2 Tums 2@ 4.69 -$1 manuf coupon earned $9.38 ECB's
3 Colgate Tbrushes 3@ 3.99- 3 $1 manuf coupons earned $11.97 ECB's
1 AuquaFresh Tpaste $2.99 - $1.50 manf coupon earned $2.99 ECB's
1 OptiFresh Contac Solution $6.99 - $1 manuf coupon
3 Travel Oral Pics 3@ 2.79 earned $8.37

Used $13 in current ECB's
OOP was $26.33
Earned back $32.71 in ECB's.
This deal could have been worked better into two separate deals, but I was in a hurry to get in and get out!



Wal-Mart Trip:
Honey Bunches Of Oats/chocolate clusters 1.98- $2 manuf. coupon FREE + .02 overage

Johnson Scrubby Buddies Soap Bars 3@ .96 - 3 $1 manuf. coupon FREE + .12 overage

3M Scotch Brite Toilet Scrubber Kit $4.69 - TRY FREE manuf coupon FREE

Wholly Guacamoli $3.69 - TRY FREE manuf. coupon FREE
Stride Chewing Gum 4@ .97 - Buy One, Get One manuf coupon = $1.94

Frenchs Mustard 2@ $1.00 - 2@ .50 off manuf. coupon = $1.00

Total merchandise was $19.12
after coupons my oop was $2.94 plus tax.

FREE Juicy Juice Sippy Cup

Sign up for a free membership to Juicy Juice and they'll send you this FREE Sippy Cup.

Roberts Dairy ABC Value Coupon Book

If your area sells Roberts Dairy Products be sure to go over to their site and sign up for a book of coupons to be mailed to you. I havnt gotten mine yet, so I cant say what all will be in it, but you know if you wait the offer will be gone before you know it.

What is new on your Spring Meal Menu?

I received my FREE Kraft Food & Family Magazine Spring issue in the mail earlier this week.

It's packed full of recipes to get you to thinking about your spring and summer menu planning.

There is the Bacon & Spinach Salad that's already made it to my dinner table. Next coming up is the Saucy Pepper Steak entree and for dessert we will be having the Easy Peanut Butter & Chocolate Eclair.

If you havnt signed up and received your copy, you can read the entire issue online here: Kraft Food & Family Spring 2008

How do you change your menus from winter to summer? Do you have a Quick & Easy summer dinner to share? Post them in the comments.

Enjoy!

Cherry Picking

Cherry Picking has been good to me this week.









2 GoodLife Cat Food
2 Beneful Dog Food FREE
2 HBO Chocolate Cereal FREE
6 Totino Pizza Rolls
2 FF Chicken Nuggets
5 3M Toilet Scrubbing Kits FREE

Total worth of products $40.80
Total OOP $7.30