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. 

To do list, some sewing, new nail routine and CVS

This is going to be a jumbled up post!

First my to do list for this week

Last week I got quite a bit of sewing done.  

I finally finished the aprons for me that have been in progress for at least a month.

I also sewed up more napkins from some thrifted tablecloths- I am not sure how many but if they are all clean, they won't fit in the drawer.  My husband really prefers cloth napkins and these red ticking ones are his all time favorite.  They are almost as thick as denim but very soft.  

This little Kristoff tunic is on this week's list but I made it Sunday night.  I used the same online tutorial that I used last year to sew this same tunic for the same grandson.  But he grew and needed a bigger one to wear to see Frozen On Ice with his other grandparents.  

I hope to never have to go to a nail salon again and am trying these new products on my nails and so far, my nails are harder and good enough for me.  

OPI Nail Envy to strengthen, OPI Avoplex oil for cuticles and a Tweezerman 6 way file - I really like this file!  All items were ordered from Amazon.  

CVS - lots of sales this week 

The products I liked were so big in the ad, I had to use both sides of my notebook paper.  

I got 6 bottle of Clorox and used $1/2 coupons and got back $5 ECB. 

The Suave was buy 1 get 1 50% off and I used Buy 1 Get 1 free coupons that were in yesterday's paper and got back $4 ECB.  

Tide and Pantene were on the Proctor Gamble Buy $30 get $10 ECB and I used $4/2 Pantene coupons and $2 Tide coupons.  

I spent almost $22 cash but before coupons it was $67 and I got back $19 ECB.

Today is a child free day for me so I better sign off and get busy on that list now.  

Have a good week everyone! 

To Do List times 2

I thought I posted last week's list but apparently I didn't.

I did manage to get the  majority of boxes checked and I'm pretty happy about that.  

I didn't finish the 3 aprons that have been in progress for weeks but i did get a lot done on them.  

I didn't go to the nail salon, I have another plan for my nails and I'll let you know if it works.

This week's list ---

The fabric tape is from Dollar Tree and the stickers are Mary Englebreit, passed on to me during my parents downsize.  

Have a good week everyone. 

And I'll be updating soon with how I make homemade noodles / rolled dumplings.   

CVS - one from last week and one from this week

This first transaction from is from last week's CVS sale ad so it can't be done right now, but there is a similar deal this week on Puffs tissues.  

I started with $13 in extracare bucks and wanted to stock up on facial tissue.  I had coupons from last week's newspaper for the Kleenex.  

I bought a 6 pack of paper towels, 12 boxes of tissues and 2 sodas.  After coupons I spent $8.99 and got back $5 extracare bucks.  

I almost didn't go to CVS this week but I watched LASavings8 YouTube video about her shopping deals and we were up and dressed in plenty of time to go to church so we stopped on the way.  

As usual, fixed up my list of deals I wanted to do by clipping the product feature from the weekly ad and gluing them to a sheet of paper,  then I use a paperclip to attach my coupons, extracare bucks and CVS card.  

Organization is the key to getting the best deals! 

2 toothpaste, 2 tooth brushes, 4 little eye shadows,and a bag of candy. 

I didn't buy much but am so glad I went.  I spent just 73 cents and got back $7 extracare bucks! 

CVS, the weather, a little cooking, etc;

I think it's been 2 weeks since I shopped at CVS.  We stopped this morning on our way to church and I am happy with my deals.  

I spent $20.06 cash, got back $13 in Extra Care Bucks and according to my receipt, I saved 73%. 

I think I showed is before but this is how I plan and keep track of the deals I want to do.  I cut each item from the sale circular and stick them to sheet of notebook paper.  Then I paperclip the matching coupons to it.  

It is just quicker than writing it all out and I don't have to page through the circular while I shop to make sure I have the deal right.  

We had a fierce wind and rain storm come through very early Friday morning.  Our home and yard were not damaged but a lot of trees in the area broke.  

This is a very large trampoline that was moved and fell on top of a 6 foot privacy fence in a yard 2 blocks from us.  

Remember that $2 shower curtain from my thrift store visit?  It looks great in my parents bathroom.  

I tried making pretzel rolls for the first time.  I used a recipe and tips found on the King Arthur Flour site.  They tasted really good but I followed their advice about not making them too thick.  Mine turned out too thin to use for hotdog and burger buns.   We liked them and I will try again and if they are more successful, I'll let you all know.  

Our chicken and noodles did turn out just right and I will post how I do them (as requested) very soon! 

I will share my recipe but you'll have to find your own little helper :)