Dollar Tree Valentines Tree Craft

Good Morning dear readers,  I loved making the tree at Christmas.  So I wanted to make one for Valentines Day.  It's basically the same method as the one at Christmas. Here's what you'll need to this make this tree.

Pipe Cleaner-red, pink, gold 

Styrofoam cone

stickers-heart shaped

You will stick pipe cleaner in the cone and proceed to wrap around cone securing the other end in the Styrofoam.  You will do this until entirely covered with pipe cleaner alternating colors.  The top will be exposed cover with stickers overlapping until nothing exposed.  Take a piece of pipe cleaner and twist into heart shape and stick ends into top of tree.  Cover your tree with heart stickers and your heart shape at the top with stickers.  Viola your done nice little decoration.

Linking here today:  http://tatertotsandjello.com/2014/01/link-party-palooza-made-drawstring-giveaway.html

For pins of these crafts and more check out my board at http://www.pinterest.com/robinlorrainew/lorraines-crafts/

frankies wordless wednesday

Good Evening dear readers,  He was just to cute not to post these photos to share.

What are Hypnagogic Dreams?

Good Morning dear readers,  We are going back to health education today.  Do you ever wake-up and feel like you saw, felt or heard something and it was so real but you were dreaming.  Don't worry your not alone out there.  I have had this experience before too.  I've fallen asleep and felt like someone was screaming in my hear--very freaky.  Funny enough told my doctor his first response was where was Frankie.  He knows me well.  Frankie was passed out at the foot of the bed. For once, it wasn't Frankie's fault it was dreams. This experience is more common then you realize its called Hypnagogic dreams.  The body enters a form of pre-rem state.  This is where Hypnagogic dreams start. They can lead to deeper dreams and even lucid dreaming.  Lucid dreaming is you know you are dreaming.  Your asking at this point why is this important?  Dreams help you with everyday problems.  For example your having relationship problems your dreams maybe showing you a way to deal with it.  Understanding your dreams is a way of understanding yourself and decreasing your stress, anxiety and depression.  This makes for a healthier perspective on life.  So how do you understand your dreams?  The best way to do that is to keep a dream journal.  Write down your dreams as soon as possible so you don't forget the experience when its fresh.  Do this for awhile especially if you have dreams that are bothering you.  Then sit down and review what you have written.  Is their a repetitive pattern.  This pattern will help you figure out whats bothering you and help you work through it. Hope this helps.  Get those journals out and start writing.

1.  Do you remember your dreams?
2.  Do you have Hypnagogic dreams?
3.  Do you have lucid dreams?
4.  Do you keep a dream journal?

                                              For once it wasn't Frankie's fault, it was dreams.

linking to this party:
http://www.momnivores-dilemma.com/2014/01/our-sunday-best-showcase-new-party-new-co-hosts.html

Frankies Corner-Frankie's Candid Shots

 Good Morning dear readers,  It's Friday and time for one of Frankie's post.  Conor had a 4 day weekend, so he was able to get some good candid shots of Frankie being Frankie.  So enjoy the little nut and hopefully he'll make you smile.  Quick questions he's taken to laying on top of the computer and lording it over me.  Do your cats do this too plmk.

Fellow kitties sit over your humans and they will feel uncomfortable and not sit at the box so much.

Very Veggie Mix Tuna Salad

(contains amazon afilliated links see disclosure in footer)
Good Morning dear readers,  I'm redoing this recipe because I feel it needs a post all its own.  I had included it in the housing experiment because it was an easy recipe for teens to make when on their own. It adds a lot of color to your diet which is a good thing because it means your eating your veggies.  I also have pictures this time.  Here's what you'll need.

                                                  Very Veggie Mix Tuna Salad

2 cans tuna packed in water

6-8 oz of elbow macaroni  you can use the veggie blend or whole wheat to make it even more healthy

1 bag very veggie mix torn up into small pieces you use about 2 cups

2 tablespoons of mayonnaise

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

1/2 cup onion you can add more

1 cup pickle relish

First off cook your noodles until aldente.  When they are done run cold water on them until chilled.

Adding onions and very veggie mix then add mayonnaise mixing with spoon.  Then add pickle relish and lemon juice and mix again.  Then add tuna and mix and flake with a fork.  Taste test it adding more of whatever you like i.e.  mayonnaise, lemon or pickle relish.  Put in refrigerator and chill for a couple of hours. A trick I do to speed up chilling I stick in freezer for 30 minutes.  This makes a great main dish or side.  You can even serve it for the Superbowl.

                                                      Here's what you need.

                                            Lovely find at the dollar store--the grater

                                                             Adding the onions
                                                         

                                                              Look at that color.
                                                         

                                                                Almost finished

                                                                     Viola done.

my choices on amazon to make this recipe easier

Valentines Thrifting Haul

Good Afternoon dear readers,  I did a little thrifting haul looking for Valentine decorations.  I think I did pretty good.  I got six items for a little over $3.  These will be use for a little table display after fix them up, but here they are for your viewing pleasure.

                                            I put a tall pillar candle I got in pink inside the glass

                                                  Will put the card inside the swan photo frame

                                         Not sure about the pillow but will see what I come up with.

CVS-3 Transactions and only paid tax

Good Evening dear readers,  I made a trip to CVS today.  I did a total of 3 transactions.  Love the coupon machine it contributed greatly to my savings today.  So be sure and check the machine every chance you get.  So here's the first transaction hope this helps to inspire you to save more money.

2-soft soap body wash @ $3 had .75/1 and a CRT for $1.50/2
1-Irish spring body wash @ $3 had $1/1
2 lady speed stick @ $1.99 had B1G1F
2 mens speed stick @ $1.99 had B1G1F

Total before coupons/sales/ecbs    $30.03                O.O.P.  Just tax $1.36
Got $6 in ecbs for spending $12

2nd transactions

2 Finish Quantum  15 count  on sale B1G1 50% off

Total before coupons/sales/ecbs  $9.52      O.O.P.     $1.27

3rd  transaction

2 Garnier Fructis  @ 3/10  got 2 and used $2/1 coupons
6 VO5 Shampoo @ .79

Had a CRT for $2.50/$10 shampoo purchase

total before coupons/sales/ecbs $17.82    O.O.P.  just tax  $.52

For more details on  saving money and using coupons check out 

http://lorrainesresources.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-secret-to-using-your-coupons.html

The Gift Card Dilemma

Good Morning all,  Finally we have a normal Monday morning post.  This can be a budgeting post or how to get money from all those gift cards you don't use. The boys and I got several this year and you would think people know I live 5 minutes walking distance to Wal-mart they would give me a walmart card--no such luck  I'm not a big fan of sending my gift cards off and waiting for the companies to cut me a check.  So I did a little looking around.  This is what I found out.  There are convenience stores that buy gift cards. They do charge a lot when they said 50%.  I said I'd come back.  Fortunately for me Safeway now buys gift cards. Their fees are not so bad 25-30 %.  For those of you who live in the pacific northwest(you lucky ducks) they even have a machine that's like an atm.  You put your card in it and it tells you how much.  You decide if you want the money and it spits it out like an atm.  Hope this helps and don't forget to check the store out online to see if they have anything you want from that gift card i.e. JC Penney, Sears etc.  Get those bargains hopping.

Frankies Cat Cave

*Sorry everyone computers been down for 4 days just getting working again and here's Frankie's Friday post late.

Frankie chilling in the feline version of a man cave

                                             
                                        The feline controls the remote--Mom I'm turning off Cheetah Girls

                                           Mom did not get new blankets for x-mas frankie did.
                                                           

Snoozing on my chair in front of the TV

The Secret To Using Your Coupons Effectively

Good Morning all,  I've been wanting to post this for awhile.  So even though  still clipping and filing I'm going to let you in on the secret.  Organization is the secret to using your coupons.  You need to find the system that works best for you.  I love the box method and I've always wanted a coupon keeper but could not justify paying that kind of money for it.  So I did what every frugal blogger/mom does I made my own.  I found a craft storage box at Wal-mart for around $8 and I got large index cards and post it notes.  I cut the cards down to size and put colored post it notes with the headings of coupons I use.  You can have as many sections that fit in your box(I'm still filing mine).  You can have segments for your ecb's (cvs-extra care bucks) and your Catalina coupons or even high value coupons.  You make it to what you need.  The more organized it is the more money you can save.  I can tell you a time I had to hunt for coupons for a sale because the box segment just said health and beauty. This took at least half an hour. This way its broken up into hair care, oral care and skin care which makes it alot easier.  If you have alot of coupons get the family involved in clipping and tell them you'll treat them. I give the boys some extra money to help me.  Shoot if Frankie had hands I'd give him a pair of scissors and tell him to clip for a can of cheese flavored cat food he'd do anything.  So now your organized what do you do?

1.  Check your store flyers for the sales and any matching coupons.

2.  Check couponing websites for what they have found with coupons

3.  Before you shop get a note book and go into your cabinets and write down products and contact info plus their upcs on products and call the companies.

4.  Keep tract of who you've called and what you get from them

5.  Check the store out before you shop for unadvertised deals and tear pad coupons and coupon blinkie machines.

6.  To keep you motivated keep tract of what you save in your note book.

7.  Almost forgot check the websites of the stores for future sales to get the coupons you need.

This is just a few things I do to use my coupons.  I'm not saying the box method is for everyone you have to find what works for you. What ever method you use it needs to be organized in order for you to save money.  So Happy Couponing.

check out the party at craft-o-maniac

http://www.craft-o-maniac.com

Orange Delicious Confection of Murder

Good Evening all,  Finally back to murder mystery cooking.  Today's recipe is a doozy.  It looks and taste just like a dreamsicle  because that's what it is in cake form-orange dreamsicle cake.  First off, your treated to a really good read before you get to the fluffy goodness at the back of the book.  The name of the book is "Death Takes the Cake" by Melinda Wells.  The book is about a home cook named Della Carmichael who has her own reality cooking show.  Her producer has signed her up to be in a cooking competition. You know how fierce we cooks are and competitive and someone will stop at nothing.  So look for a whole lot of interesting characters.  One of the characters is sugary sweet or is she.   So check it out to find out who got murdered and why and so much yummy in the back of this book.  Their is also some cooking tips in the book which I always can use tips for  my cooking.   The cake I chose for the blog is the orange dreamsicle cake, because Valentines day is around the corner and the competition in the book was going be aired on Valentines Day.  So here's the recipe bon appetite.

We did alter this recipe to fit my families needs:

Here's what you'll need:

Butter or Margarine

flour

orange cake mix  (was told was seasonal)

3 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2/3 cup water

1 tsp orange extract

zest of one large orange

1 package of orange jello

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour a 13 by 9 in pan (glass if using metal temp should be 325)

Do not follow package directions when making this cake.  Take the cake mix and add the following ingredients to a mixing bowl; 3 eggs, sour cream, vegetable oil,water, orange extract and the zest.

Mix until ingredients are moist and then beat for two minutes scraping sides with spoon.  When thoroughly mixed pour into greased pan and bake for 30 minutes or until sides of cake separate from pan.

Once you remove cake from oven you proceed to make holes in the cake.  I used a butter knife.

While the cake was in the oven I heated the water for the jello.  Take your orange jello and dissolve in 1 cup boiling water and then add 1/2 cup ice cold water once dissolved.  Then pour over cake and put cake in the fridge to cool for at least an hour.

For the topping

1 package orange jello

1 package of vanilla pudding mix

1 cup cold whole milk (I used 2 %)

zest of large orange (omitted)

1 tsp orange extract

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

8 oz container of cool whip (used reddi whip)

1 cup cold whipping cream (could not find used heavy)

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Mix jello and pudding with the milk.  Add the zest and the orange extract.  Mix until thick then add vanilla extract.  Fold the mixture into the cool whip.

In a different bowl add the whipping cream and powdered sugar until stiff.  Mine did not get real stiff probably because of the cream.  Add this to the whipped cream.  Once all mixed pour over top of cake will form a 1/2 inch layer of topping.  Decorate with whatever you want I found blood oranges at Wal mart to add to the cake.  Refrigerate cake for 2-3 hours.  When serving keep cold don't leave out much like an ice cream cake it will melt.

For easy pinning here's the link  http://www.pinterest.com/pin/362610207469396530/

Save Mart Meat Shopping for January 2014

Good Evening all, Everything is still a little disarrayed with all the appointments and holidays and now the boys are sick.  So I did the meat shopping this morning and wanted to post it now.  I  have an appointment and will probably be gone all day tomorrow have to take the train.  I hope to have a regular Mon-wed-Friday schedule next week.  So happy couponing and enjoy the bargains.  

Did the meat sale got 11 packages of varying meats for $5 each

2 packages of Tyson grilled and ready to cook chicken  used 2 $1 off coupons

1 package of the any tizers chicken used 1 $1 off coupon this would be good for Superbowl

This type of sale is usually one to two weeks every month, so I try and find coupons for things they put on sale like the Tyson, also corn dogs and sausages are part of the deal.  If you have a save mart check it out.   Also their was a managers special going on for 10 lbs of leg quarters for $4.78

2 little bottles of 7 up 

2 bags of the marshmallow peanuts (will be calling company for coupons)

1 box 12 count pop tarts

2 Kellogg's Eggo home style waffles on sale 2/$4

Fresh Express Salad were b1g1f  (I used last Sundays coupon for $1.50/2) also tear pads for .55/1 next to it.

Total before sales and coupons  $108.30                    After coupons/sales  $69.03   Saved  36%

Also before you shop look for items that you have recipes for that are on sale for example the Tyson grilled and ready would make great Mongolian chicken substituting the beef of course.  Here's the link to help with your budget. 

http://lorrainesresources.blogspot.com/2013/08/family-fun-recipe-homemade-mongolian.html

                                           Frankie of course thought the chicken was for him.
                                                   

Frankies Corner--The Best of Frankie photo gallery

Frankie is sitting here glaring at me I made the mistake of saying I'm going bye bye to the VA.  He knows when I go to the VA I'm gone a better part of the day.  Do your cats react when your gone along time.  What do you do to make it easier for them.  Okay I wasn't going to do the most popular of Frankie post.  I decided to compile his best pictures and have everyone tell me which is their favourite.  Love the comments please send them my way any way.  Would even love it if you commented on the face book fan page.