Wreaths part 2

As I mentioned, I actually started this last year when I gathered all the pine cones, baked them, and then painted them.
This year I bought a wire frame, with a coupon of course. paid less than three for it.
Here it is....

Sorting

Wiring the first row to the frame

First row done

Second row hot glued into place.  Third row is the interior ring

 

A few small pine cones glued into any gaps.  And DONE

Wreath Part 1

I made wreaths
I made a pine cone one and one made from dollar store ornaments.
The pine cone one actually started last year when I collected and baked and spray painted the pine cones. Pictures in next post.

Here is the Ornament wreath
Wire hanger (get a thin one, I used a thick one and had trouble bending it)
Dollar store ornaments

I spent 6.36 on the wreath.  More than I really wanted to spend, but I like it.

This week

This week I made a new batch of hot cocoa

Creamer, cocoa, dry milk and I used Stevia not sugar

I used up the zucchini.  Made one large loaf: great for snacks and even breakfast
4 smaller loaves went into the freezer for later

Already gave a small loaf as a gift

Won a free bag of chocolate from Gertrude Hawk.  It will make a great teacher or hostess gift.

MMMMM Chocolate

Grocery Outlet

Entenmann's outlet near me
Thomas Bagels .69
Thomas English muffins .89
Cheese danish .89
Nothing expired

FREE

I usually do not shop at Kohls.
But if someone gave you 10.00 and said buy something, would you?
I went in with a mental list of things I need/wanted to get anyway.
Christmas gift for son, speakers for my phone...
Nope, didn't find anything I liked...at first
Then switched gears and thought what would I get for me.
I like candles, so I got one originally 19.99
on Sale for 9.99
Free at check out. 
So I may keep it or put it in my gift drawer (Whenever I need a last minute gift I have a small supply)

Does it work?

Yes my ugly detergent tabs/powder work.
It is frugal
I will do it again

Before

After

Almost out of Dishwashing gel pacs

Remember waaay back at the end if March 2013
I found gelpacs on the clearance rack of my local grocery store
Well, I am down to my last 2
So....I have decided to make my own dishwasher tabs.
I had all the ingredients and the internet, so let's give it a try.
Since it is my first time, I went with an easy recipe.
Borax, Washing Soda, Salt and Lemon juice...
Mixed it all up
Put in ice cube trays and I am waiting on them to dry.

I didn't use the citric acid, I used lemon juice instead

Lemon juice added, slight bubbling

schmooshed into the trays

Look! Dishwasher tabs

Before I popped them out

FAIL

I made dishwasher detergent, just use a scoop

Christmas...early November or NWT 2.50

Yes, I have started.
Not officially started my shopping.but I did pick up a couple things
JCP had 10 off 25.00 coupon.
I picked out what I was going to get my son for Christmas...
Headed to there counter and BAM...they all were discounted so my coupon didn't apply.
It would cost me less if I bought more.  SO I did.
15.00 dollars for 5 items
And they gave the coupon back.
So I did it all again.
I now have clothes for Christmas, clothes for now and clothes for the future.
12 items, 30.00 
That is $2.50 per item for brand new clothes

camo pants for next yr, 2 long sleeve, 4 short sleeve

2 Jammie pants, 2 short sleeve (one is a wicking tshirt), 1 long sleeve

More Free

CVS has instant coupon for acetaminophen (4.99 value)
Plus sale on soda my hubby likes.  2 for 1.00 limit 4
And 5.00 Extra Care bucks
So here is what I got for FREE

FREE

I am not one of those people who shops a lot at CVS and keeps racking up the extra care bucks.
But I did use some today.
They had and instant coupon for a free roll of paper towels. I was going to be in the area, so I stopped by to get them.
It also printed an extra bucks for 3.00
So I got the paper towels, something for Halloween next year and stuff for Christmas this year, all free. And I got 5.00 ECB for next time.

Websites

Here are a few of the websites/blogs I enjoy

http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/
http://www.tightwadblog.com/
http://frugallysustainable.com/
http://www.ablossominglife.com/
http://www.frugalitygal.com/

Yep I did it again

Again, I watched the season premier of Extreme Cheapskates
I was somewhat grossed out and mostly I would be embarrassed if I ever did that stuff.
(Not to mention the poor kids of these people)
Also, keep in mind, the title says it all
EXTREME
sensational for TV

I have said it before, there is frugal, then there is cheap.
I consider myself frugal.
Willing to spend money, on the best value.

Junk Mail

Sometimes it is a good to be on a mailing list.
Got a  coupon for a free full sized bath product.
Got to treat myself to one of my favorite scents .

Close up, just in case you miss the total. 0.00

Pumpkin from a book

You may have seen, I made trees from magazines
You can make a pumpkin from a book.  
I had an old paperback lying around, too beat up to donate.
An Ann Rice book, perfect for Halloween.
Had all the supplies around the house, so this project was free.

 

 

Cutting the pages

Changing my Ways Part 2

Tried another store, a grocery outlet
This one is called Swans Pantry in Exton
Here is what I got.
And Pumpkins too.
3.99 for a big pumpkin
The whole order was 28.00
Cereal for .99 or 1.49 !
Ocean Spray cranberry juice, soup, spices....

Love the Library

My son's school REALLY pushes ordering the Scholastic books
Well, all the "New" books my son wanted, I ordered through my local library.
I have 6 on hold now and 5 will be ready in a few day if not sooner.
The 6th book has quite the waiting list.
Still...5 books to read for free!

One GIANT leap for Pam

Went to Giant today, not my normal store...but they have soda on sale 4/4.  My buy price is .99.  I bought 8 and had 4 1.00/2 coupons.  My brand name sodas were .50 for a 2 ltr bottle.  4.00 for 8 bottles of soda.
Next Dannon yogurt 4 pk 1.89 - 1.00 coupon.  .89 for 4 yogurts
Lastly, Giant brand cereal 5/5. 1.00 for a box of cereal, yes please.
And I bought milk, the most expensive thing on the list and no coupon...still I think I did great.

Changing my ways

I have mentioned in the past that I grocery shop once a month at a Shoprite no where near my house.
With coupon policies changing and the price of gas and food going up, I need to re-evaluate my shopping strategies.

For the past month I have shopped local stores for just a few items, mostly on clearance.

Here is what I have found

Giant has a great Clearance rack

.99 cent  lb for prepared BBQ Chicken quarters

That is a lot of chicken for .99 lb

Bread for less than $1.00

Fruit and Grain bars for 1.19

Yep, I bought all they had.  4 boxes

FREE COFFEE

Wawa
I already got my coupon

http://www.pages02.net/wawainc/nationalcoffeeday

Bread Picture

Here is the picture I promised
Oatmeal bread

Bread

Out of Bread
So I am making some
Pictures to come

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/light-oat-bread/

Aldis

I do not do all my shopping at Aldis
Frankly some of the stuff scares me
But when it comes to the basics, they are good
Butter
About 3.50 when not on sale
1.99 on sale, and I usually stock up and freeze it
Aldis is 1.76

 I love to bake so I like to have plenty of butter on hand.
Also eggs
Over 1.50 at my local store
.89 cents Aldis

Christmas...but it is September

I was relaxing
Then I saw the IKEA catalog
Yep, I started folding the pages to make a Christmas tree.
I plan to paint this on, either Gold, Red or Green
Or perhaps have my son decorate it, either for himself or a gift
I will post picture when it is done.

Here it is 1/2 way done

Fruit Salad

Yummy Yummy
Happy Labor Day.  We are invited a a friend's house.
I made Zucchini Bread
And a fruit salad
Strawberries 1.29
2 lbs of grapes 1.98...used 1/4 of them
Cantaloupe .99... used 3/4 of it

1.29+.50+.75=$2.54
2.50 for a big fruit salad.  Yea

Snacks

Strawberries and bananas to use up
Ahh yes the food dehydrator...take 3
1st attempt, complete success.  Apples, pears and fruit leather

2nd attempt, failure, too thick fruit leather, never set up

3rd attemp...ok
Banana chips great, strawberries really good
fruit leather a bit crispy, but my son loves it and asked to take it for snack today.

Bananas  .29 lb  strawberries 1.99 for medium container 

fruit puree, ready for the dehydrator

Fruit leather - after dehydrator

Yummy banana chips, most of the strawberries eaten already