At home, a few thrift store treasures and a grocery deal

Good morning!  It was not on my to do list but I started cleaning a few things in our living room and before I was done, I rearranged several areas. 

No before pictures, just afters.  I am really happy with it.  

I visited one thrift store yesterday.  

The only purchases were a $1 shirt and $1 pair of little boy pants.  

The shirt is MudPie brand and tagged a 3T but it looks smaller than that and will probably fit the 5 month old next summer.  

I got some free magazines at the same thrift store- some current cooking magazines......

And these older Japan Quilts issues.  

All the words are Japanese but the photos are beautiful and the best I can tell, all the projects have patterns in the magazines.  

A new way to wrap wire hangers - right up my alley! 

Fabric pieced window toppers

A very cute toy

I know I will enjoy these big magazines and my Mom will too.  

A photo this week of JJ.  

He had so much fun picking dandelions in the yard of an empty house near us.  To him, they were the prettiest flowers in the world.  :)

About CVS, I didn't do any deal shopping there last week and I don't think I am going this week.  I do plan to shop the next sales circular that starts Nov.1.  

A grocery store has these Red Gold tomato products on special- when you purchase 10, it deducts 40 cents from each.  

I got 30 cans for $13.70.  I use canned tomatoes often when I cook.  This was such a good deal and the sale runs through Tuesday.  I think I should back and get more as there was no limit.  The cans are dated use by 2017 and I will use them long before that.  

That's the news from here.  I hope you all are having good weeks in your homes too.  

To do list, press on nail update and our 7 grands

Here is my new list for this week and my new manicure done with a chevron design press on nails from  Dollar Tree.  I am not an expert on nails but after one week of wearing them,  I really like them.  

This is a link to the YouTube video that made me first try the Dollar Tree nails. 

manicure video with $1 Dollar Tree press on nails 

I will keep updating you on them and I plan to keep wearing them.  They are lots of other YouTube videos about press on nails too.  

All of our seven grands, all of their parents, my parents and my brother were at our home this weekend.  We really enjoyed seeing each other and the cousins have the best time playing together.

Schoola - get $20 free plus free shipping

Schoola- get $20 free and free shipping

If you like good deals and want children or adult clothing, then this is great time to check out Schoola

Schoola sells previously owned name brand apparel and 40% of the proceeds go to the schools that donated the clothing.  I've bought things before from Schoola and have been pleased with all of them.  

If you follow my link, you will get $20 in free merchandise and free shipping, and I will too.  

https://www.schoola.com/?ref=ml-3X2dhaKR2&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=raf

More projects and more CVS

Hello - I stayed busy all Monday with housework and errands and I'm thankful our home is clean again and the kitchen is stocked.  

I did not do any deals at CVS last week but I did fill a prescription and it was enough to earn a $5 ECB so I started this week with $15 in ECBs.  

I wanted to get candy to pass out and I wanted to do a toothpaste deal as I had coupons and also a $4/$14 CVS coupon.  

I bought 10 bags of candy.  They were $3 a bag, and I used $2/3 coupons from the newspaper a few weeks ago and a $1.50 CVS app coupon.  I earned $10 in ECB for buying then ($5 ECB for $15, limit 2 per household)

These Colgate twin packs were $7.79.  I needed to purchase $14 or more to use the CVS app coupon for $4/14 and this seemed like the best deal to me. I also used $2 off each pack and earned $2 ECB on each. 

I also used a $10 gift card that I earn every 3 months for doing a weather survey for a university. 

That brought my cash spent total down to $5.08 and I got back $14 ECBs.  

CVS has an app that they are using to link up customers with coupons, prescriptions, rewards, etc.  I have it on my iPad and it is very useful.  So if you are wanting to maximize CVS savings, I suggest you try it.  

Sewing- bandana style baby bibs - I found a number of free printable patterns and tutorials to make them.  

I sewed up 7 little bibs quite fast but didn't have a baby here to try them on, so I put one on this Cabbage Patch doll.  He is a vintage CP, he first belonged to my children and now is loved by my grands.  

I used either flannel or terry cloth on the backs for absorbency,  Buttons for the closures.  

Below are the other 6 bandana style bibs.  

I also altered a purchased costume to fit that sturdy 5 month old grandson.  

It's a crocodile.  The tail was attached to the back but he couldn't be safely buckled into his car seat with that in the way.  So I removed the tail and handstitched the opening closed.  The legs were too long so I shortened them.  Then I used that cut off pants bottoms to make a waist band to snap the tail onto the little crocodile.  The hood was a bit loose so I added more Velcro under the chin so it can be fastened a bit tighter.  

So, if you have a costume that needed some resizing, I say just do it.  This job was not hard and it's just a costume! 

I wrapped a few more clothes hanger for me.  I wear skirts a lot.  I like to hang them up with clothes pins on hangers, and when the hangers are cloth-wrapped, the clothes pins stay put nicely.  

I use sturdy wire hangers, fabric glue and fabric strips.  I just used scraps in the past but I found this roll of pink polka dot bias binding in my Mom's cast off pile so I used it.  

What do think of my nails?  I put on a set of press on nails from Dollar Tree.  My husband really likes them and the $1 price tag is great.  

Monday - a new to do list

Good morning everyone! I am busy working on my to do list- so busy that I haven't even put checks by some of the tasks already done.  

So for now, I am back to cleaning and I plan to do blog some projects and replies this evening.

Have a great fall morning everyone! 

Projects from last week, now planning this week

Good morning everyone.  Our weather is cooler than summer but it's not really feeling like fall yet.  

I did some simple decorating around our front door.  

The wreath is one we've used for several years. 

The green balls were picked up by my grands from a tree near the pond at the entrance of our addition.  They are Osage oranges, also called hedge apples.  They are not edible but I think they are pretty and fresh looking.  

Big roses are still in full bloom in the flower bed, they look a lot more like spring than fall.  

In the master bathroom,  I sewed up a new curtain for the glass block window by the tub.  The valance and wall hanging were used in different rooms at other times,  I think they will stay here for now as I like this look.  

I need to see a matching shower curtain for this room too- maybe this week! 

I found this cute fall themed washi tape at Dollar Tree and will use it on future lists but for now- 

My to do list isn't fall themed yet either.  

The red dot tape is from Dollar tree, the designs are made with rubber stamps.  

Lots to do this week, so I better get busy now! 

CVS today

There are a lot of good deals at CVS this week but not much we need.  This toothpaste deal was very good so I stopped in today while I was doing errands.

It includes quite a few Crest products.  When you spend $10, you'll get back $10 ECB. 

I used $3/3 Crest coupons and a $4/20 CVS Redbox coupon on dental products.  

I had a $2.50 on this brand new product, Centrum Vitamints. They were not on sale but I wanted to try them and they taste really good.  I have a hard time swallowing big pills and if I do manage to swallow a big vitamin, they usually upset my stomach.  So I am hoping these candy like vitamins will be a good solution for me.  

I used coupons and $10 ECBs, I spent $7.85 cash and got back another $10 ECB.  

To do and Two babies

My list for next week - I just put the necessary chores on it and some sewing I hope to do.  Last week was busy but I still got most of that list done.  

Thr designs are made with rubber stamps and colored pencils.

The 2 youngest grands were here today.  Charlie is almost 3 months old and big for her age.  Jackson is 4 months old and is really big for his age.  There is plenty of them to love!  

Aren't they just sweet as can be?

A very sweet online magazine (and it's Free!)

A Heart Of Grace And Joy

I guess our family got our first desktop computer and Internet about 1998 or so.  Soon after that,  I discovered YahooGroups and joined a small private group called Creative Home Life.  It was a close knit group of mostly homemakers.  We chatted and encouraged each other and shared tips and recipes.

One of the leaders of that group is Joanne and she is now publishing this new online magazine.  She writes some of the articles and some the original members of that sweet YahooGroups list contribute.

A new issue just came out and it is has recipes, patterns, gardening tips, just all kinds of good stuff - A Heart of Grace and Joy is a magazine that I really think will appeal to the same readers of my blog. 

You will have to enter your email to view the issue but that's all.

Some of this week's cooking

One morning I baked a batch of blueberry muffins from a Betty Crocker mix bought on sale for .99.

I used a Pinterest tip about how to increase the flavor by adding the blueberry juice from ththe can that is usually discarded as part of the water.  This made the batter quite purple but once it was baked,  the  muffins were almost normal color and they did have a stronger pleasant blueberry flavor.

Heidi in Holland says this a very common meal in the Netherlands.  It is potato cubes simmered until tender and then mixed with sautéed onion and sliced sausage with a can of drained green beans.  

I haven't made this in a while. It tasted very good and is a nice dish for the beginning of Autumn.

Heidi mostly blogs about stitching these days and has a very sweet blog

Stitched Memories in Time

This is French Bread Pizza inspired by a YouTube video by DivasCanCook.  

The loaf of bread is cut lengthwise from top to bottom, then opened and flattened.  Brush with a little garlic butter and bake for 10 minutes until it just starts to toast.  Then add the desired toppings and bake about 15 minutes more.  Her video is really good but just 3 minutes or so,  so if you want to try this pizza,  her instructions are quick and just right.

That's what's been cookin' in my kitchen.  

Homemade hybrid version of noodles -rolled dumplings

I made these a couple weeks ago and several of you requested my recipe.

My mom and grandmother made really good egg noodles and my mom also made big fluffy dumplings and smaller rolled dumplings.  

But the recipe I use most is from another Marine wife and I got it from her about 25 years ago.  It was her Texas grandmothers recipe.

My noodles are a little bigger and chunkier than other homemade noodles I've had and they are smaller than rolled dumplings so that is why I say they are a hybrid.  

That's my handwriting, can you decipher it?  I'll type it below with a few comments,

For the chicken part,  cook either a whole chicken or whatever chicken pieces you like, in a big pot.  Cover with water and season with any of these - pepper, thyme, celery seed, carrot, onion, garlic, parsley, dill, poultry seasoning and chicken boullion.  (I have never used all those at once, I do like fresh celery, carrot and onion, salt and pepper and then I add boullion if needed). 

Simmer the chicken until very tender and then remove any bones and skin and strain the broth.

For the noodles or dumplings,  I start them early in the day and let them dry on the countertop all day.  This is not necessary, I just like them this way.  

2 cups of flour, 

1/2 t salt

1 t baking powder

Crisco shortening - size of an egg (that's about 1/4 of a cup, but old recipes were written that way) 

Cut the shortening into the flour and salt until it is like fine crumbs. 

Stir in 1/2 cup water.  

Now knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth.

Roll out thin and cut into small squares or noodles, however your family likes.

Now is when I move them onto clean towels and let dry.  

To cook, put the noodles into the simmering chicken and broth. Stir lightly, keep simmering and keep the pot covered,  they should be done in about 15 minutes.  

This recipe is a little backwards - I start the noodles to dry in the morning. Then when it is maybe 2 hours until meal time, I start the chicken and broth.  

To make it a 1 pot meal, I like to add carrots, peas, corn and some finely chopped potato.

Also, I usually increase the noodle part by 50% to 3 cups of flour, 3/4 t salt, 1 1/2 t baking powder, and 3/4 cup water, and Crisco the size of 1 and 1/2 eggs.

If you have a little helper, it will take longer and more flour will end up on the floor- but it will be more fun.