Mother's Day Lace Vase Craft

Good Afternoon dear readers,  I had some fun with a vase I got from dollar tree.  I have to apologize I had taken photos of  the entire process. But my camera got messed with, teenagers I think.  I only have the finished product to show you.  I had a strip of white lace that one of my art journaling friends sent me.  I dipped it in homemade modpodge and glued it to the neck of the vase.  I then painted acrylic blue mosaic paint over it.  Then I sprayed turquoise dylusions ink spray on spots of it.  I wiped down any excess and now its ready for some pretty flowers for mother's day.  Give it a try it was really fun.  Oh by the way I got the dylusions at Joann's today they were half off.

linking here:
http://saltandpeppermoms.blogspot.com/2015/05/friday-finds-linky-party-27.html
http://asimplepantry.com/2015/05/create-share-diy-and-recipe-party-54.html

Mother's Day Creamy Bacon Hashbrowns In The Oven

Good Morning dear readers,  Mother's Day will be here soon.  I wanted to give you another option to serve your mom on Mother's Day.  The smoky bacon flavor complements the creamy sauce of this dish to were nothing will be left over.  This is also one of those dishes where no standing is involved. You know I like those kind of recipes.  It is absolutely delicious so much so the boys liked it as evidence by no leftovers. It came from my big book of clippings from an old taste of home magazine and we've altered it to fit my families needs. So here's what you'll need:

4 cups frozen shredded hash browns

1 bag of bacon pieces found in the salad fixing's aisle

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup sour cream

Take all ingredients (only use 1/2 bag of bacon in the dish)  and mix them together in mixing bowl.  Spread ingredients into large baking pan 11 by 7 is fine.  Sprinkle remaining bacon bits on top. Place in oven at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until entirely heated through.  Serve for breakfast in bed.  Bon appetite

serve with these complementary dishes:
http://lorrainesresources.blogspot.com/2015/04/mothers-day-sunrise-muffins.html
http://lorrainesresources.blogspot.com/2014/12/sparkling-holiday-punch.html

linking here:
http://saltandpeppermoms.blogspot.com/2015/05/friday-finds-linky-party-27.html
http://asimplepantry.com/2015/05/create-share-diy-and-recipe-party-54.html

Sleepy Sunday Selfie--Demand a new bed

Good Morning dear readers,  yes mom is insisting I join Sunday selfies.  I'm sorry that my eyes are closed my mom kept me up all night.  My fellow kitties you know what I mean especially if you sleep with your human mom and dads.  They have a tendency to move around a lot.  She has the nerve to tell me I snore and she moves me around to help me stop snoring.  I demand a bigger human bed the kind  you see on the talky box. I think its called a King size human bed.  It's on my Christmas list.  I hope that comes soon.  Someone said Christmas in July. Well we'll have to wait and see.

Caturday Art-Frankie covered in flowers

Good morning dear readers, we are playing in two programs today-picmonkey and pizap.  We took one of Frankie's photos and proceeded to art it up.  We went to picmonkey and lightened it up and then put a star burst pattern on it.  Sorry forgot to put the original on here before I changed it.

Then I went to pizap and put a canvass overlay on his photo and to take care of that black space I put a flower border around the photo. Check out this fun way to make photos better.  We are participating in the caturday art hop at Athena and Marie blog check it out for more cool pet photos.

linking here:
http://saltandpeppermoms.blogspot.com/2015/05/friday-finds-linky-party-27.html

A little spring thrifting haul

Good Morning dear readers,  I managed to hit the thrift store yesterday.  I found some lovely items to make my apt more cozy.  Not all the photos turned out so only showing two of the main items.  So here they are:

Conor found the peacock picture for just a $1 and he wants to hang it in his room.

This is actually a little wall tile and it was only $1.50.  I love the saying so true.

The other things I found were another murder mystery book.  If you love to write letters you can find inexpensive stationary and rubber stamps at the thrift store I paid $1.10 for both items. All total less then $5.  Happy Thrifting and zen hugs.

Mother's Day Sunrise Muffins

Good Afternoon dear readers.  We have been looking through the big book of recipe clippings and came across this recipe.  It's perfect to serve to mom on mother's day and it taste just like lemons.  It's so easy the teens can make it.  In fact this is one that Conor made with a little supervision. The recipe was cut from an old taste of home magazine and we've altered it to fit my families needs.  So here's what you'll need to make this yummy recipe:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs 

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon lemon extract

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup sour cream

Glaze

2 cups confectioners sugar

3 tablespoons lemon juice

Using your mixing bowl add sugar and butter together until blended.  Next add eggs and extracts until blended.  In another bowl combine flour, salt and baking soda then add the dry ingredients to the wet and alternate with the sour cream.  Mix it all up and then add to muffin tin which can have paper liner or greased.  Only fill 3/4 of the way.  Then put in oven at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes.  Done when fork comes out clean then let cool for 5 minutes before drizzling glaze on top.  Serve warm makes a dozen.

linking up here:
http://asimplepantry.com/2015/05/create-share-diy-and-recipe-party-54.html

Caturday Art-Spring Is Here

Good Morning dear readers,  Could not do a Frankie photo for this weekend.  Almost ready for the quarterly nightmare inspection,  That's why I took a break to fix Frankie's photo for the weekend.  I love pizap and we continued to play in that program.  Here's the photos.  I used a flower border and photo lighting effect enjoy.

Craft Challenge-Upcycling a Paper Bag into an Envelope

Good Afternoon dear readers, I am participating in the craft challenge for April-up cycling a paper bag.  I turned my paper bag into an envelope which you can decorate any way you want too.  You can put address labels on it and make it so cool.  Here's how I did it. I deconstructed a card envelope.  Then traced the outline on the brown paper bag. Then I cut it out with my scissors.  Then I folded in the edges and used a glue stick to hold it together.  For extra measure I also put decorative washi tape on it.  There you have it a nice new envelope.  Sorry mr. camera was not co-operating a little blurry.

Mega Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie

Good Morning dear readers,  I wanted to make a smoothie that contained both types of anti-inflammatory agents that I knew about.  I took a class at the VA that discussed alternatives to medications because I'm allergic to a lot of medications.  I was intrigued by the tart cherry juice,  It works as an anti-inflammatory.  It's really great. It helped me with my knee.  Now we also have our favourite pineapple juice with its bromeline.  Bromeline is also an anti-inflammatory agent.  I love the effects of bromeline can be used on headaches and muscle pains.  I decided to mix them together and I could immediately feel the effects.  It went right to the swelling in my knee. But note don't drink more then one cup of cherry juice in a day it can lock up your joints.  I found this out from the clerk at Raley's because I was buying so much of it at one time.  So here's the recipe.  Bon appetite.

1-can 15 oz crushed pineapple

1-cup tart cherry juice-can be found at Raleys

2-cups of pineapple juice

ice cubes 

Put all of it in the blender on crush and then hit blend.  All done drink up.

Caturday Art-National Cat Day Photo

Good Morning dear readers, its national cat day today and we are participating in Athena's Caturday Art Hop.  We took a grainy photo of Frankie's and played in Pizap today.  I put the cotton candy overlay on it then did an organic frame and it turned out great.  Here's the finished product with the before photo down below it.  Enjoy and check out how you can turn your photos into art.

Frugal Southern Beans and Ham

Good Afternoon readers,  I decided since I had a ham bone leftover from Easter dinner I would attempt my mother's Beans and Ham recipe.  This recipe brings back memories. My mother would cook this all the time.  She was definitely from the deep south can't get any southern then Water Proof  Louisiana.  She never actually told me how she made it.  I just remember how she cooked it.  I added some of my own ingredients to give it a little different flavor.  So here's what you'll need:

1 Ham bone or ham  hocks

1 lb bag of dried kidney beans

4 cups water

1 crock pot

1 cup diced onions

1 teaspoon minced garlic

You will want to soak the beans overnight to soften them up.  To give the beans that great flavor put the ham bone in from the beginning of the cooking process.  Rinse beans and then place in crock pot with Ham bone then add 4 cups of water.  Let cook on low for 8 hours.  In the last two hours saute onions and minced garlic in oil for 2 minutes.  Then place in crock pot let cook remaining 2 hours. Serve with corn bread.  Bon Appetite.

                                               For easy pinning
                                              https://www.pinterest.com/pin/362610207474357705/

CVS 2 Transactions-95 % Savings on Toiletries

Good Morning dear readers,  I made the run to CVS to get my free toiletries.  I took advantage of the deals on snacks and cereals to get enough ECB'S to get my free toiletries.  I had my quarterly ECB which was $3 and I had $1 from last months trip.  CVS had mega packs of Frosted Flakes and Cheez-its which netted me $6 in ECB's.  I got 2 chips ahoy cookies which gave me $1 ECB.  Here's the breakdown on the first transaction

2-Chips Ahoy cookies @  2/$5

Mega Pack Frosted Flakes @ $8.99

Mega Pack Cheez-its @ $4.99

Onion Dip @  $3.99

Lays Chips @ $4.29  used 25% off coupon on non sale items

total  before sales/coupons/discounts  $31.64         After coupons/sales/discounts  $25.19

2nd Transactions

1-12 pk Angel Soft Tissue $5

3-Bottles Vo5  $1.27 each

1-CVS Mouth Wash @ $3.99

Total before coupons/ECBS  $17.33        After Coupons/sales/ECBS    $1.34   

                                                SAVINGS  95%   

Manager Specials at Savemart

Good Morning dear readers, I got to do some shopping at Save mart.  I was intending on getting clearance meat today but could not find any available.  The sale paper did not have any good deals.  I was pleasantly surprised by the unadvertised deals on meat.  So I stocked up on chicken and pork.  I also got to use the new rewards card from save mart.  If you haven't joined yet its a good deal.  I made 134 points today.  I only spent $34.41, all I need is 300 points for a coupon for $3 off next purchase.  Here's what I got today.

FF Fryer Thighs--$2.94

FF Fryer Drumsticks--$3.36

FF Fryer Leg Quarters--$2.51

Pork Blade Steak--$4.78

Pork Blade Steak MP--$5.95

Pork Sirloin Roast--$4.96

Bagged Chopped Onions-$1.99

Sugar Substitute--$2.29

Soy Sauce--$2.49

Hoisin--$2.49

Friskies Canned Cheesesaucations Cat Food--$.60

Total Before sale/coupon/discounts $39.56            After Sales O.O.P.  $34.41

                                                                Saved 13 %

Wal-Mart After Easter Candy Haul

Good morning dear readers,  I went to wal-mart and did a little after Easter Shopping.  After holidays are always good to get a stockpile of candy.  Easter candy can be used as party favors or kept in your freezer for later.  So check out your wal-mart for good deals. Here's what I got:

3-Bunny Patch Milk Chocolate Bunnies @ $.50 each

3-Peeps @ $.50 each

2-Bunny Munny @ $.50 each

2-Bright Eggs @ $.44 each

1 Pringles 

1 2 liter soda

Total $7.47   walmart does not break down savings but the candy from 50% off   about a $5 savings.

Sunday Selfie-relaxing in the sun

Good Morning and Happy Easter everyone.  Because its Easter and moms walking everywhere with the stick again,  I didn't grumble to much about my Sunday selfie.  Moms doing the leash on her foot again and I'm meowing my concern and she says I'm cute.  Humans just take a break and get off that knee.  Well here's my photo.

Caturday Art-Happy Easter From Frankie and Family

Sorry Everyone it took mom a while to find this photo with my big paws.  She wanted to see what she could do with it.  She used the photo editing program pi zap to create this image.  She put Easter eggs around the edges and did a kaboom image overlay?  So here it is hope you like it.  Have a Happy Easter.

Here's how it looked before mom started playing with it.

A Healthy Tea Tip

Good Morning dear readers,  those of you who read my blog on a regular basis know I love my coffee.  I am not much of a tea drinker.  Accept when having a lot of stress/tension in my life that's when I pull out the tea.  There is this wonderful tea that has a lot of  health benefits.  The tea is called Tension Tamer and its made my Celestial Seasonings and it does what it says.  It calms you down.  I was researching some of the ingredients and this will tell you why the tea works so good.

1. Eleuthero-its an anti-oxidant, lowers blood sugar, improves immune function and improves memory all good things.

2. Peppermint-used to treat inflammation of the sinus and stomach issues.

3.  Cinnamon-used as an anti-oxidant and helps lower blood sugar.

4.  Ginger-used to treat stomach issues and used my chemo patients to help with nausea.

5.  Chamomile-used to treat anxiety, anti-inflammatory agent and stomach issues.

6.  Lemongrass-used has an anti-inflammatory, helps with stomach issues and even high blood pressure.

7.  Licorice-used has an anti-anxiety aid

8.  B complex vitamins which  help promote skin and hair growth and help relax you.

If you currently take prescription meds please check with your doctor or pharmacist before drinking this tea. That's exactly what I had to do and it passed against all my meds.  So I try to drink this once a day in the afternoon and it really does calm you down give it try.