Peanut Butter Blossoms

These remind me of my childhood. I hadn't even had them since then! Crazy, I know. I've been on this peanut butter kick lately and decided to give these a go. Actually, I made these Valentines ones...you guessed it...on Valentine's Day yesterday :) They turned out very well and actually would make an awesome base for peanut butter cookies.

The originals use Hershey's kisses, but why not jazz them up a little?

Check out those beautifully 80's counter tops! Love 'em ;)

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Yield: 24 cookies

24 Hershey's kisses

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1/3 cup white sugar

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

additional sugar

Remove chocolates from wrappers, set aside. 

Beat shortening and peanut butter until combined well.

Add 1/3 cup sugar and brown sugar, beat until fluffy.

Add eggs, milk, and vanilla. Beat well.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.

Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Beat well.

Shape dough into 1" balls.

Roll in sugar until lightly coated and place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees for 6 minutes.

Remove cookies sheet from oven and press chocolate 

into the middle of each cookie.

Return to oven and cook an additional 2-4 minutes or until lightly browned with cracked edges. Allow to cool on cooling rack.

ENJOY!

Adapted from Hershey's

Tips:

• May use heart-shaped chocolates in place of Hershey's Kisses like I did.
• Cookies will get a crackled look around the edges as they cook, this is normal.
• Overcooking will result in a crunchier cookie.
• Try using a variety pack or chocolates.
• As you are mixing the dough, it may seem to be too dry. Don't worry! It will come together as you form the dough into balls.
• The peanut butter makes the dough slightly greasing, so the cookies do not stick at all and form balls nicely.
• You may omit the chocolates to have regular peanut butter cookies.
• The original recipes says you'll get 48 cookies out of this amount. Either that's a lie or what I think is an inch and what they think is an inch are two different things!

Note: This is one of our favorite cookie recipes. I originally posted it on my food blog "Ashley's Eats". I no longer run that blog, so I'll be moving several favorites ono this blog! 

Meals Under $5: Baked Potato Bar

Here's a family favorite. My husband is all about meat and potatoes. One of our top go-to meals is baked potatoes. They're that old classic that you can never go wrong with. They're also amazingly cheap and versatile...and of so fast to cook!

Tip: baked potatoes can be cooked in the oven, on the grill, in the microwave, or even in a slow cooker! Pick whichever way suits your needs.

Our favorite toppings:
Crumbled bacon
Shredded cheese
Sour cream
Ranch dressing
Chili
Steamed broccoli
BBQ pulled pork
Steak sauce
Grilled peppers
Shredded chicken
Leftover meats
Butter
Seasoning salt
Cajun style seasonings
Home style gravy
Pepper jack cheese

What are some of your favorite baked potato toppings? 

10 Things You Need to Do this Summer to Save $$$

Summer is right around the corner! School is out, kids are playing outside, and temperatures are rising. As the temperature rises, so do our expenses... But it doesn't have to be that way! Here are 10 easy ways to save money this summer!

1. Turn down the air - Cooling your home is like throwing money into the air. Get out of the house and you don't need to worry about keeping the place cool. Set your thermostat at 78 degrees while you're out running errands, playing at the park, and taking kids to swimming lessons.
2. Buy a sprinkler - it doesn't need to be fancy, but it will save you big bucks. There will be no need to constantly spend money on pool passes. Plus, the kids will feel like the coolest kids on the block when all their buddies come to play.
3. Plan a staycation - Rather than spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a trip, stay! Staycations can be equally as fun as a big trip elsewhere. You can even set up a tent in the backyard and have your own camp out... And that's FREE! Use the money you would have spent that weekend on our emergency savings fund or paying down debt.
4. Grow your own food - without much effort you can provide fresh produce all summer long! A garden doesn't need to be huge or time consuming to get a lot of food back. It's also a great way to get kids out of the house and learning.
5. Re-think insulation - I'm not just talking about the insulation in your walls, but look for places where heat may be coming in and cool is going out. Front doors and unsealed windows are major culprits. Overtime, weather stripping and caulking becomes worn out and crack. Simple repairs around the house will pay back in reduced cooling costs.
6. Grill or slow cook - Summer is known for cookouts and delicious slow cooked meats. Try out some new recipes while preventing your house from heating up by the oven. You can also double recipes, freeze the extras, and have a quick a cheap dinner waiting for you!
7. Shop seasonally - all summer long certain fruits and veggies will go in and out of season. It depends on where you live, but buying a certain type of produce (like grapes!) the wrong time of the year will result in you paying several more dollars for under ripe or over ripe produce.
8. Go halfsies - If you decide to go on a trip, split room costs with friends. Nicer hotels and lodges become much more affordable when split with someone else.
9. Eat before... Or pack a lunch! - I can't even tell you how often we get to a fair or festival and we're STARVING. We didn't plan ahead, so we end up spending twice as much money as normal on junky food.
10. Buy clothes secondhand - There will be many events all summer long where you will want to buy a new outfit. Before splurging on new summer clothes, check out online deals -- and yard sales!!! on secondhand gently used clothes. You can find amazing deals on clothes that are even brand new.

Well, I hope you all have an amazing summer! What are your summer plans? 

Meals Under $5: French Bread Pizza

I'm not into spending $15 or even $10 on a meal. Spending $10 per dinner adds up to $300 a month! For dinners!

This is the start of my $5 Meals series!

French Bread Pizza
Serves vs 2-4

*French bread $1
*Pizza sauce $1.50
*8 oz cheese $1.50
*Desired toppings $1 each:
     Can pineapple, can sliced olives, can sliced mushrooms, pepperoni, veggies, etc.
*Desired seasonings: garlic salt, powder Parmesan, etc. $pennies

1. Turn oven to low broil.
2. Slice bread lengthwise, place on cookie sheet, and season as desired
3. Broil until lightly toasted
4. Remove bread. Add desired sauce, toppings, and cheese.
5. Return to oven and broil until sauce is hot and cheese is melted.
6. Serve warm.

15 Date Ideas Under $10!

Dating is incredibly important in every relationship. My husband and I definitely need to do it more often. So we have been thinking of date ideas that are $10 or less! It's winter now, so some ideas are related to that. Put away your phone and...

1. Go get ice cream and walk through the park
2. Drive through neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights
3. At home game night!
4. Make a treat and leave it as a surprise for neighbors
5. Use up the last of gift cards
6. Go to a restaurant...just for dessert!
7. Night in! - who says you have to go somewhere? Dim the lights, light the fire, turn on a comedy, etc.
8. Check out a local farmers market/fair/museum
9. Check out some "how to" books from the library and learn how to do something new together - massages, cooking, etc.
10. Old school video game night
11. Pick a theme - Italian, oldies, comedy, etc - everything during the date must match that theme...and all be under $10!
12. Go to the dollar theater
13. Picnic lunch/dinner
14. Spread a blanket outside and just relax together!
15. Dinner in bed, or some other random place in your house

Im baaaaack!

Oh, hello there! Its been a while and a lot has been going on in my life. I took a break :)

1. We bought a house!
2. We have a baby!
3. We have more debt!
.....Ah snap. So yeah, the penny pinching continues!

I'm back and ready to share a bunch of money saving ideas.

:D

One more...

Final! Next Thursday is it. I cannot wait.

Then, I have a couple of weeks until summer semester starts. Yes, I am taking summer classes. Okay, one single summer class, but only because it's the last class I need to get my associates! Woohoo!

Just thought I'd update you guys about the joys in my life ;)

Me and my big fat typing hands!

I don't have fat hands. Nor are they big... in fact, they're pretty tiny.

That said, I get ahead of myself a lot resulting in typos. I know I know... This is a big "no no" in the blogging world.

I'm working on it. I sometimes catch typos...usually not.

I rush to get posts out to you guys! Sheesh!

If you catch a typo and it bugs you, you can let me know, I won't be offended!

Nobody has said anything so far... But I can see it happening so I thought I'd post something about it before I get my head ripped off. :)


Love to you all! :)

How to Save on... Pet Supplies

As you may know, we have a bunch of furry friends and not so furry friends in our home.

Meet our "Zoo":

We have a 7 year-old red-nose pit bull named Hera. She was originally my husband's dog as he has had her since she was a puppy (long before I even met him). She's a lazy butt, but loves to roughhouse with daddy (my husband!). She is trained to know German commands and is a good listener most of the time.

Foo is my oldest cat. He's only 3. I adopted him the month before I graduated high school on a complete whim. He was only 8 weeks old and was the cutest little boy. He's a mama's boy for sure. He mozies around the house finding comfy places to nap. His favorites are our closet and the arm of the couch where he can watch the fish. He loves to cuddle but is scared around strangers. He brings us home dead birds! Yuck!

Our aquarium came next. We've only had it since Valentines Day. Yes, I wanted an aquarium for Valentines! Judge all you want ;) It's 20 gallons. We got everything for it from PetSmart and are very happy with it. We've gone through a few fish... I guess we're still learning.

Esther is the baby we adopted for Easter. She was a present to me from my husband. She's 5 months old now. She's a domesticated lynx mix we think... google it. She loves to cuddle and can't resist sleeping in bed with us (and how can we say no to her cute face!?)

 Baby feet! How could I resist adding a picture of that adorableness!

She loves to play and we know she would be an awesome mouser if we ever decide to let her outside.


That's all. Nothing too crazy. Although it would be easier to handle all the pets with more room. I can't wait until we buy a house in the fall!

Having so many pets can be expensive. Each month we buy dog food, cat food, cat litter, random cat toys if any have been destroyed, and fish supplies/new fish. We used to not have to buy litter because Foo won't use a little box and likes to go outside. The kitten poops like what feels like a million times a day so...


It adds up, but I've found a few ways to save some money on pet supplies!

How to Save on...

Pet Supplies

• Shop around to find out where the prices are generally the best - I get pet food at Walmart, along with litter, but fish supplies at PetSmart or Petco.
• Shopping at these cheaper stores, use coupons when possible - they do come out often.
• Grocery stores and specialty pet stores generally have higher prices.
• It's okay to spend a little extra money for better quality product.
• Example: 
•  My dog is on Iams Healthy Weight formula - it's around $20 for a 30lb. bag. She doesn't eat it too fast because it has large chunks (she used to eat too fast and make herself throw up...making for an unhappy mama!) and I think she gets fuller faster. - It's also not chock full of fillers, like corn.
• My adult cat is on Iams original cat food. He eats it the best and keeps him full - we don't go through as much, compared to cheaper kinds like Special Kitty.
• My kitten is on Iams Kitten Food - It's all real meat products and generally healthier for her. Since she's a kitten, we want to start her out on the healthy stuff.
• Cat litter - the cheap stuff is VERY dusty. It makes me sneeze like crazy and I can't imagine how it affects my cats - plus the baby is getting over a respiratory infection.
• Fish products are worth spending more money for high quality products! - Anything cheap we bought flat-out did not work!
• Dogs and cats seem to eat less food if it is higher quality that keeps them full! - Plus it makes them healthier.
• Canned food adds up to be much more expensive than dry. The benefits of each depends, but if you pet is okay with dry food, stick with that.
• Sometimes it's okay to give your pet a different kind of food, to match deals. If your pet can tolerate it, then there's no reason for an occasional change. Switching food regularly can cause digestive problems. 
• Do not overfeed! Not only will your pet be fat and sad, they will be unhealthy and you are wasting so much pet food and wasting your money. 
• Buy dry pet food in larger quantities. It comes out to be cheaper. The only exception to this is if your pet won't go through a large bag of food before expiration or it going stale. 
• Keep pet food in a cool and dry place, such as a tote. This keeps the food from going bad and also keeps other animals out, along with keeping pets from scratching through the food bags. 
• Sometimes buying items online is cheaper! -I have found cheap but high quality live aquarium plants online, other aquarium products, cat supplies - scratching posts, litter boxes
• You pet does not need top of the line products... The electronic mouse? Oh please. 

*Remember to use your smarts when it comes to caring for your pets! You should know your pet well enough to be able to care for them successfully. Some people might be against Iams, but this is what works for us and is a reasonable price. Remember that just because sometime is cheap, that doesn't necessarily mean it's the safest for your pet.

Thanks for stopping by!

Do you have anything to add to the list?

How do you save on pet supplies?

Other comments?      

Would you guys like to see a post on my reviews about pet products I love? Let me know!

Finals Week and OH so busy!

This coming week is the last week of classes for the semester. It's gone by so fast! The following week is finals week... needless to say, I'm going to be really busy for the next couple of weeks.

I'm going to try my best to stay on top of posting as often as possible.

There are a few posts that I have been brainstorming about...


Spring Cleaning Challenge
How to Save on... Pet Supplies


Those two are going to be the focus for the next two weeks.


Is there anything else you would like to see?
Any questions?
Anything???  

How to Save on... Groceries: Meal Planning

If you read my first post that is about my inspiration for this blog, you will find that a grocery budget is something that I have struggled with since getting married. You could say I'm a "foodie"...and loving to cook doesn't help either! I have come a long long ways past my $400+ spending sprees and have learned a much better way to save money on groceries... while still eating GREAT!

Yes, you can spend little on groceries and still fill your family's bellies... with little work, too!




There are a few important things to keep in mind:

1. Throw in vegetarian meals throughout the week. Also vary types of food and meats for variety.
2. Shop the ads for the best deals.
3. Shop seasonally.
4. Shop after your own belly has been filled.
5. The smaller the shopping cart, the less it can be filled with!*
6. Shop meal-oriented.
7. Don't forget snacks and lots of produce to nibble on.
8. Try to forget about brand names (except when paired with coupons or if it's something you'd rather splurge on!).
9. Shop weekly rather than monthly or even bi-weekly so you can get sale prices! -- This also leads to smaller and less overwhelming shopping trips, a more spread out food budget, and fresher food!
10. Enter the grocery store with an exact budget in mind, not a "goal". If you go over your budget, you have to put something back!
11. Price everything by the pound. Cheese might seem cheap when it's only $8 when ground beef is $10, but that $8 of cheese is for two pounds and the beef can hold 5.
12. Just because it's a good deal, it doesn't mean you need to buy multiples of that item. It's not worth paying for more items if they are going to expire before you can eat them!
13. Don't buy more than you can eat within the expiration date. Also don't over-buy on produce or other items that spoil quickly.

 Not too bad, right? Do you have anything you would like to add to the list?
*#4 is something I have just started to try out. It had never occurred to me that just like keeping meal proportions in check by using smaller plates, I can use smaller carts to keep my budget in check too!




Here is how we do it: 
     I am going to make up a fake shopping scenario so it is easier to understand. I'm trying my best to use realistic prices that I see often. Next time I meal plan, I will post some photos. Enjoy!
  
    I prefer to do my meal planning and actual shopping on different days... 


 1. Gather your weekly ads, coupons/coupon inserts, your favorite cookbooks/computer with internet, a few pieces of paper, a highlighter, and something to write with.

 2. One at a time, go through each ad, circling great deals. I    keep my eye out for meat and produce deals to base my meals off of. Example: chicken might be a great price, but ground beef is spendy this week, so I'll plan on a couple meals with chicken. Also, if a store is having a special deal, such as 10 for $10, circle that deal on the front page of the ad.

 3. After you have circle all of the great deals, on your first sheet of paper, write across the top your options of places to shop. Above the store name, write the store deal.
              

4. Underneath each store, on the far left side of the page, list the great deals. 



5. Under each store, write the particular price for each item next to the appropriate store. Remember to write the price per pound or per each item and keep it the same for each item.


 6. Obviously we can see that some of the stores have competitive prices. For each item, highlight the best price.


 7. Fortunately there never seems to be all the awesome prices at one store. You can choose to make multiple shopping trips, hitting each store for their prices, or you can pick the majority and pay a little bit extra for an item. It's really up to you. It gets too complicated for me to make multiple trips and I really don't have time. So, in this scenario I would pick Macey's. (Which I believe is a Utah based store, in case anyone is wonder. They compete with Smith's in my area.)

    Now we know the prices of good deals. We also know what store we would like to shop at. Think we're done yet? Not quite. A couple more steps, hang in there! 

 8. This is where your stack of coupons or coupon inserts come in to play. Do any of your coupons match with your list? Chances are, if they are meat or produce items, they won't. But with those crackers and cereal you have on your list they probably will! Cut out the coupons that match with any deal items listed in your ads. Next to the item that you have a coupon for, write a "C".


 9. You still there? Good! This is when we get past the numbers, and into the cookbooks! In our scenario, our best deals are on chicken breasts, asparagus, baby red potatoes, medium cheddar, bell peppers, apples, sour cream, and pasta. We are going to use each of these for a couple of meals (obviously this amount of food wouldn't last anyone for a week...again, just a scenario).

    We're sick of ground beef. While it isn't a bad price, we're going to stick with the chicken. Our favorite chicken recipe is for Parmesan Crusted Chicken. Asparagus and baby red potatoes would pair well with those! So we're also going to make Roasted Asparagus with Italian Roasted Baby Reds.   

   On another the other side of the sheet of paper, write your grocery list. Beside that, write your planned meals.

 10. Missing anything? Ohhhh... I already have enough leftover chicken breasts in the freezer, cross that off of the list! See that pasta, cheese, and sour cream? I bet we can make something out of that...
     Check your pantry, fridge, and freezer for items on your list. If there is something on your list that you already have, feel free to cross that off of your list if you don't want to stock up this week. Check your food at home for items to go with other deal items on your list.

•  Cross off what you don't need and change your list accordingly. As OCD as a person can be, I know it sucks to have a messy shopping list, but don't worry! We're almost done.

  11. Add additional items to your list that your family needs, you are out of, or will pair well with sale items. 

  12. Add up an estimate of the total cost of your shopping trip. If it is over your budget for the week, you will need to adjust your shopping list. Try to keep it well under what you are expecting it to be to add room for tax and those "OH we are out of that!" moments.

 13. Go shopping! (See next section on tips for the shopping day!)




 Are you all still there? I know, that was a lot to process and seems like a ton of work, especially if this is the first time you have made a real meal plan. Next week, it will be even easier for you! Soon enough, you will be able to meal plan like a queen. This next part is just some tips for the actual shopping day. 





On the shopping day...

1. Clear out any expired/old food and rearrange your food area for your new groceries. (You don't have to do this on the shopping day, it just helps me remember.)
2. Get plenty of sleep
3. Eat a good meal before going, but not enough to make you exhausted.
4. Pack a few snacks in your purse, just in case!
5. Leave the kids with a sitter if you have the option... it will be easier to stick to your plan that you worked so hard on! If you do bring your kids, make sure they also have had good sleep and food in their bellies.
6. Don't forget your list, coupons, and a pen. I manage to forget a pen far too many times, it's so frustrating!
7. *Bring a calculator/your phone calculator. Calculate the cost of each item as you shop = no big surprises at check out! I promise noboby will even notice you hovering around your phone, they all do it too* :) 
8. Once you get in the store...make sure your bladder isn't as full as your stomach. There's nothing quite like pushing a cart of groceries with a full bladder...we've all been there.
9. Don't be afraid to change up your plan once you are shopping. Sometimes prices aren't how you expect them to be, the fruit isn't very ripe, or they have something out of stock. Try to be flexible. :)
10. Stay calm, breathe, bring your iPod. 
11. Remember you might be new to this. If there are problems, it's okay! 

             
 
When you get home:

1.  Unload your groceries starting with perishable items, such as milk, eggs, and meat, saving items that go in another room or in a cupboard for last.
2. Pull out a cutting board, good knife, and vegetable scrubber. Prepare all of your meat by freezing it (better now than later when it's been in the fridge for 4 days and starts to go bad - Yes! This has happened many times to me! Ahh!). Clean all of the vegetables that you are using for tonight and others that keep better washed. Keep the others unwashed so they can stay better, longer.
3. Hang your meal plan on the fridge, or other place so you can remember what the plan is for the week. Remember that what is not used this week, can carry over to next week.
4. RELAX! You just did awesome :)

Wow, thanks for staying with me through that. What else is a person supposed to do on a sleepless night? ;)

I hope you try out this method. Let me know what you think! This has worked out really well for me and my family. We don't end up with too much extra food, we have well rounded meals, and we don't go over budget. It feels awesome to able to stay within a food budget, especially when it is so easy to go over on.


Thanks for stopping by! I love my readers! Seeing my page views go up every time I visit my blog, makes me excited. I love that others are seeing my ideas. Thank you!

What meal planning tips do you have?

What helps you stay on budget when grocery shopping?

What process do you follow when you meal plan?

What would you like to see next? :) 

Sinful Baked Nachos

Those who are my friends on Facebook have probably seen a post or two about our "Nacho Nights" and wonder what the heck I'm talking about.

Every now and then we like to sit down in front of the TV with a tray of sinfully awesome food. We feel like it's okay to splurge sometimes. Of course, it's important to keep things in moderation.


So maybe you're not one to have nachos for dinner. Maybe it's just obserd to you.

Okay, have them for an appetizer. Serve them at a party. Take them to a BBQ!

The best part? Things are extremely easy, versatile, and you can make enough for a large group!

My mom and I made up this one :)

 

Half sheet size pictured

Serves: 2+

What you need:

cookie tray

bag of tortilla chips

cheddar or Mexican blend of cheese, shredded

 can refried beans

salsa, any variety

sour cream (low-fat is fine)

can sliced olives (optional)

 tomato, chopped (optional)

jalapeno, slice (optional)

leftover pulled pork or chicken (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350F. 

2. Place layer of tortilla chips on cookie sheet.

3. Layer cheese on chips.

4. Repeat layers, if desired.

5. Cook in preheated oven until cheese is melted.

6. Meanwhile, heat refriend beans.

7. Remove tray. With a spatula, add a layer of warm refried beans.

8. Add layer of salsa.

9. Add layer of sour cream.

10. Add desired toppings.

ENJOY!

Tips:

• We use a half sheet size of cookie sheet for the two of us.
• Baking it rather than broiling, results in crisper chips which are least likely to go soggy. If you're short on time, turn the broiler on instead.
• Sometimes I place the sheet back in the oven for a few extra minutes to get the refriend beans and salsa warm. 
• I don't care for tomatoes, so we put tomatoes on half of the sheet. These are like a pizza, you can customize the nachos to make them your own.

What sinful food do you like to make?

What do you like on your nachos?

 

Please remember to vote on the poll at the bottom of the blog page. 

Thanks! 

I love getting on my blog and seeing the page views building, 

it makes my day!

MIA - Easter Weekend

Sorry guys, I've been a little MIA lately... I have been swamped with school and just had to add another shift in at work to cover the cost of my school this summer. Yeah, summer school! Yikes!

I have been thinking of lots of fun new posts to share...so please, come back soon! I have a few series on the way, along with some new recipes and ideas.

I also have a fun little announcement to share...

We got a baby!
...a furbaby that is.

Meet Esther :)

Trase surprised me with her as an early Easter present last Thursday night. She is the sweetest little thing! She is 4 1/2 months old and loves to cuddle. She follows me around the house and will only sleep through the night if she is on the bed with me (spoiled!). She also has a cute little bobtail...

This is the only picture I've been able to get of it so far...she's speedy. She kind of looks like a little bobcat, eh? She makes this little noise like one too.

She curls right up in a little ball.
Can't they stay tiny forever???

We spent the Saturday before Easter with my husband's extended family. We had an Easter egg hunt and ate lots of yummy food! It's so great to have family who lives so close (only an hours drive).

After, we decided to go fishing for a little while before heading home. We dropped by Hyrum Dam in Hyrum, Utah.

It was such a beautiful day! The weather was great. The skies were clear. We didn't get even a bite, but it was nice to get a few minutes alone.

Obviously, we have taken up fishing quite a lot! My husband has been into it lately. My dad and brother have always been very into fishing and anything outdoorsy. We went fishing a few times last year.

Since my husband has been interested in fishing, I got him a new tackle box and gear for Easter. His last one he had since he was a kid.

Yesterday evening, my dad and brother went fishing and Willard Bay. We joined them in the evening. Another gorgeous day! We have had great weather here in Utah for the past week or so. Yesterday we had a brief rain shower, but it really made it feel like spring. The fishing was better yesterday. My brother got a huge (I don't know how huge) carp and a wiper. Soon, we're going to have a fish fry!

This is my husband, Trase. I haven't "introduced" him yet. He's a soldier in the Army National Guard and is also a local policeman. I'm very proud of him!

What did I tell ya? Beautiful! Utah gets trashed on far too much. It really is a beautiful state. After we were done fishing and were walking back to the car, the skies to the west were dark from the storm. Unfortunately my phone battery had died by then (did ya know I take all my pictures with my phone? No wonder...).

Later that night, we went and bought another little friend to add to our family...

Paublo the Puffer Fish!

That's all for the night :) I have work in the morning and afternoon and lots of homework to do in the evening...how does a person ever catch up!?

Coming Up:
How to Save on... Groceries: Meal Planning
How to Save on... Pet Supplies
How to Setup a Budget

Sinful Baked Nachos

Baked Potato Soup

Microwave Brownie

Microwave Oatmeal

Baked Bacon

Microwave Potatoes

Rice Krispie Treat Nests

How to Color Coconut

How to Clean a Drain without Chemical Cleaners

 *Update: I recently tried this again after somewhere between our sink drain and dishwasher got clogged...and I was home alone to solve the problem. This worked! :) I followed the directions as stated then ran the disposal with the water running until it sounded clear. I followed with my homemade disposal deodorizers.*

Living in an apartment, you quickly learn how terrible the plumbing is. Along with leaks, rust, and lime build up, we get terrible clogged and dirty drains.

Fortunately, we have a disposal on one side of our kitchen sink (and it works!), but the opposite side gets pretty nasty. Along with the kitchen sink, our tub seems to need a lot of work too.

With all of the food and other foreign objects going down our sink, not only does it seem to have a hard time draining, it also gets extremely stinky! Instead of using costly and toxic drain cleaners, you can use a simple and easy home remedy!

What you will need:

vinegar

baking soda

plunger, plate, napkin, etc.

saucepan

boiling water

1. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda in dry drain.

2. Pour 1/2 cup vinegar down drain. A chemical reaction will occur, causing it to bubble (think elementary school volcano project).

3. Quickly cover with plunger, plate, napkin, or other object to block the foam from coming outside of the drain.
Be careful to not get it on your hands 

or in your eyes (of course).

Note: if you are using a double sided sink, be sure to cover the other drain also.

4. Let sit for 30 minutes or longer.

5. Bring water to boil in saucepan. Remove drain cover and quickly pour hot water down the drain. Again, be careful as it will be very hot.

That's it! 

Very simple, effective, and you use simple things that you probably already have on hand. Note that if you have a very difficult clog, you may need to try this method several time or result to more "drastic measures". This method works best if you have a stinky, sticky, or "gucky" drain.

* Please note: I am not a plumber, nor am I a "plumbing expert". I'm not responsible for any damage that could occur to you or your plumbing. Please use your own mental capacities to use this method safely.

Quick & Easy Weeknight Meals: Classic Pigs-in-a-Blanket

We've all been there. It's just "one of those days". This leads to that and in a blink of an eye it's 6 o' clock or if you are anything like me, it's 9 o' clock... and you're rushing to come up with something quick and easy to make for dinner. 

Here's a bonus, this one is cheap!


A good ole classic. The price range on this meal can set you anywhere from $3-$8 ish, depending on the price of each ingredient and the brand. That $3 can serve 8!

 Serves 1-8

  What you need:

Package of hotdogs (any brand) $.88-$5

Refrigerated crescent rolls (any brand) $1.99-$3

Cheese slices (optional, any brand) minimal amount

1. Prepare slices of cheese:

Cut into long strips.

2. Prepare hotdogs:

Cut a slit into each hotdog...hotdog style ;)

Add cheese slice into slit.

3. Roll out crescent rolls.

4. Roll 1-2 crescent rolls around each prepared hotdog.

5. Place on greased cookie sheet.

6. Cook at 350F for about 20 minutes, 

or until dough is golden brown and hotdog is cooked through. 

Be careful as cheese will be very hot.

ENJOY!

The price of the hotdogs makes a big difference in the total price of the meal. Here, I can find hotdogs for as little as $.88 for a pack of 8! They're decent quality too, but my dear husband's favorite hotdogs are Nathan's brand. They're a little on the spendy side and so I don't prefer to buy them for that reason, but they're super yummy. 

I haven't noticed much of a difference between off-brand or other brand crescent rolls. I like to use two crescent rolls for each hotdog to cover up the hotdog and use up a full package of rolls for 4 hotdogs and use the leftover hotdogs at a later time. 

You can skip on the cheese, but we love cheese! The more cheese you use, the more ooey gooey they become...which is awesome. I buy the bricks of cheese and cut it myself to save on money. Just use your favorites! You can't beat the price of this meal. While it may not be the healthiest meal, you've got a few food groups in there ;)

 

How to Save on Out of Season Fruit

I LOOOOOOVE fruit. I hate vegetables. I also love summer for it's amazing prices on fruit! I get excited when fruit starts to get marked down. Crazy? Maybe a little bit...am I the only one?

Right now, we're in the middle of March. Fruit prices are getting better slowly. The price for some apples and some oranges is down around $.99/pound, but other than that there isn't a great selection. It's still pretty cold here around this time of year.

Here's what you gotta do: look for "manager's specials" or fruit that is on it's "sell by" date. This stuff has been marked down to around 50% off! I often shop at Smith's (Kroger) to look for these types of deals.

Here's one I picked up last night!

When I saw this baby I got so excited. I've had a real craving for fruit for a few days. This is one of those large tubs and probably holds at least 3-5 pounds of fruit (I should have weighed it, so sorry). It was originally marked for $9.99! This one is a mix of kiwi, cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, and red seedless grapes. They also had a couple with just cantaloupe. OH BOY! It was yummy! Around here, just grapes alone are going for $2.99 a pound! And of course, melons are nowhere to be seen. I'm guessing this one to be around $1.66-$1/pound, assuming it's 3-5 pounds.

It was so delicious and it didn't taste out of season at all.

ENJOY!

Tips:

• Sell by date is not the same as expiration date.
• Plan on using one of these containers of fruit within a few days before the fruit goes overripe.
• Don't buy it even if it's a great deal if it doesn't look ripe as it likely won't continue to ripe in your fridge and will just be a waste of money.
• This stuff probably isn't the most organic (I'd assume), so if you're looking for local organic than this probably isn't for you. 

 

Soft Snickerdoodle Cookies

I first posted this particular post a while ago on my previous blog "Ashley's Eats". It was incredibly popular! Thank you viewers! You make my day!

One of my dad's favorite cookies are snickerdoodles. Recently they moved into a new home and I decided to make some. I hadn't made a single snickerdoodle in my life...but these turned out AMAZING!

Throw away those stale store bought cookies. These are where it's at.

They are soft, plump, and perfectly sweet. Mmmmmm...

Soft Snickerdoodle Cookies

yield: about 16 medium sized cookies

These require refrigeration time

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 3/4 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon milk

1/4 cup sugar + 1 tablespoon cinnamon (for topping)

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar well until smooth. Add egg and vanilla, mixing well for about 2 minutes.

2. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon.

Mix just until dough comes together.

3. Add in milk. If dough is crumbly add 1 tablespoons of milk at a time. Refrigerate in covered bowl for 30 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine topping ingredients.

5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

 6. Remove dough from fridge and roll into 1 1/2 inch balls.

Roll in topping mixture and place on baking sheets.

Lightly press dough to flatten slightly.

7. Place tray in freezer for 1 minute.

Bake in 375 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.

Do not overcook.

ENJOY!

Tips:

• It's important to not overcook these, or you'll end up with little rocks :)
• Maybe double this recipe if making them for a group, as it doesn't make very many unless you make small cookies.
• The refrigeration time is important as it keeps the cookies from flattening.

Credit: How Sweet It Is

How to Save on Dryer Sheets

I have to use dryer sheets. There's just that little "oomph" that they add to my clothes. I can even do without scented kind, but I can't stand the static from not using a dryer sheet, plus it seems like they make my clothes softer (or maybe it's all in my head...).

I have heard about wadding up some tinfoil and throwing it in the dryer, but that made the static so much worse! So I dealt with just buying dryer sheets for a long time.

They really aren't that expensive at all, especially when you combine sale prices with coupons, but why not stretch your dollar a bit more?

I came across this idea somewhere and I can no longer find it. If this looks like something you posted on your blog, please let me know in a comment so I can properly cite you.

Your biggest savings: 

1. Buy dryer sheets that you like, that are on sale, and you have a coupon for. This box of 105 was less than $3 at Walmart and I didn't have a coupon for them, I just needed to try a new kind.

2. Open your box and grab a pair of sharp scissors. Cut each dryer sheet into thirds. You can cut at least 5 dryer sheets at a time with good scissors. (Don't worry if the cuts aren't very even or straight, just do your best so they fit back in the box)

3. Stack up your cut sheets back in the box, or place them in a Ziploc or other container that you choose. I figure why throw away a perfectly good box.

4. In each load, throw in one dryer sheet strip in the dryer with your washed laundry. For extra large loads or bedding, I like to use two.

CONGRATS! You just went from 120 dryer sheets to 360 in less than 5 minutes!

Talk about pinchin' pennies!

 I have been using these Bounce Free & Sensitive ones for a while now and I'm pretty happy with them. I've switched to all unscented and dye-free laundry products because I have very sensitive skin. Plus, these are cheap. Bonus!

If you are skeptical that using a third of a dryer sheet works for you, 

try cutting one or two dryer sheets for a test run.

Tip: Don't use dryer sheets with your towels! Not only does it make your towels less absorbent, it's a waste of dryer sheets.

*I am in no way affiliated with any products, stores, etc. mentioned in this post. Nor am I sponsored or reimbursed for my reviews or posts. Everything in this post is my personal opinion and experience.

What do you do to save money on laundry?

DIY Disposal Deodorizers

I don't know about your disposal, but mine gets pretty darn nasty smelling fast! I found this very clever trick somewhere on Pinterest. I never went to the link, but just decided to wing it.

This is also an awesome way to use up overripe lemons!

What you need:

1 lemon
cutting board

ice cube tray

knife

water
tinfoil (optional)

1. Using a sharp knife, carefully slice the lemon into rounds.

Cut each round like a pizza, making tidbits. Do not remove the rind.

Place 3-4 tidbits into each ice cube space. Pour excess juice into cubes slots.

2. Fill tray with water.

3. Cover with tinfoil tightly. (optional)

4. Place in freezer until frozen.

To use:

1. Drop one ice cube into disposal. 

2. Turn on water.

3. Turn on disposal.

4. Turn off disposal once ice is ground.

5. Repeat as necessary. 

6. Enjoy the fresh scent of lemon!

This works amazingly well! I am thoroughly impressed, and I hope you will give these a try and have the same results. Only one lemon is necessary for one ice cube tray. I covered mine with tinfoil as I was afraid of spilling the water in my freezer. Without the tinfoil, I think my ice cubes would have turned out "prettier". I think these would also be awesome to put in lemon water or lemonade! 

Enjoy!