Vegetable Beef Soup

1c leftover beef roast
6c beef broth
1pkg 10 oz frozen mixed vegetables
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 clove garlic, minced
1c egg noodles

Put all ingredients in pot. Heat until boiling. Reduce heat to simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes.

Beef Stew

2c left over roast, cut up
3 Potatoes, cut up
3 Carrots, sliced
1/2 Onion cut in wedges
12oz carbonated water
1pkg onion soup mix
1 can condensed mushroom soup


Place all ingredients in a dutch oven or any big pot. Cook on Medium heat for 30 minutes. Reduce to simmer for 1 hour or until carrots are tender.

Beef Roast

3lb beef roast
1/4c oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat oven to 425. Mix oil and salt and pepper rub on roast. Place roast in oven for 30 minutes. Decrease heat to 350 and cook for 1 hour 30 minutes. Let stand for 20 minutes

Left over chicken, BBQ chicken sandwiches

2c Cubed or shredded cooked chicken
3T Jelly, Jam, Marmalade
1/2-3/4c Prepared BBQ sauce

Mix all ingredients into a 2qt sauce pan. Heat stove to medium-low. Cook until heated through.

Honey baked chicken

Honey baked chicken

1 whole chicken cut up
1/2c honey
1/4c prepared mustard
1/4c butter

Heat oven to 350. Take skin off chicken and place in 11x13 baking pan. Mix remaining ingredients in a microwave safe dish (I put everything in a glass measuring cup) and microwave for 1 minute or until butter is melted. Pour over chicken. Bake for 1 hour - 1 hour 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Honey baked chicken, rice pilaf, broccoli and cauliflower
Tuesday: BBQ chicken sandwiches (using leftover baked chicken) mac and cheese, green beans
Wednesday: Fried catfish(caught by hubby), french fries, corn
Thursday : Beef roast, roasted potatoes, salad
Friday: Beef stew (using leftover beef roast), fresh bread
Saturday: Vegetable beef soup (using left over beef roast), garlic bread
Sunday: Left overs

Job hunt, Savings, and more

I have not been getting any good bargains lately because we have not had the money, but what I have been doing is complimenting or complaining to companies. A lot of the companies have been sending me coupons for free products. My favorite websites are: Couponing to Disney, Moms by Heart, and Refund Cents.

Now to the job hunt. I have been putting in my application, dropping off resumes, and going to every employment site I can think of. Still no job prospects. I am two classes away from my bachelors degree so hopefully I will find something soon. My husband has been looking for jobs like crazy too. We are both scrambling to find a job. I wish I would have had more money saved up, but I am thankful we have been able to save as much as we did. I am so grateful for the sites I listed above because we were able to save something and definitely something is better than nothing.

Hmmmm...

Well its been a while. My husband was laid off a few weeks ago and I have 2 finals and a midterm due this week. I haven't been surfing the net as much because he has been using it looking for work. And the last 2 weeks I have had papers and projects to work on. He has been on 5 job interviews and has gone to 2 job fairs and still nothing. It's a weird time to look for work in this area because most of the decent jobs are contracting jobs through the government and their fiscal year ends October 1st and begins on October 31st. No one is hiring, but they are conducting interviews for jobs that will start in November. Since he was laid off in the middle of a pay period he has 1 more check coming and it will be for 1 week and 1 day worth of work. I can't wait for him to find a job. I have not been seeking out too many deals because frankly we don't have the money. Once he starts work we will be playing catch-up and hopefully he will be making the same or more than he did before the pay cut. I have also been looking for a job. My school schedule changes next week so hopefully I will be able to find somewhere that will work with my school hours.

The Plan

Like the title states the plan, I plan on writing a 6 page paper for a class, I plan on going grocery shopping, I plan on planning a menu for the week. I have a lot of plans, it does not seem like much written down, but getting started is always the hardest part.

I have been blog surfing to figure out what is the best way to go about planning a grocery list, so that I can take advantage of my sales and coupons. I planned to put what I found on the blogs on my site, but I erased it by accident I printed it out, but I am too lazy to retype it. However, common sense with money has some of the Walmart deals posted on her site.

In my blog surfing I found I'm an Organizing Junkie. This site has meal plan Monday. I did not post anything on hers or my blog, but I did look through a lot of the links and from those who did post links, and I made a created a menu. I know that's cheating, but I did plan out what my family will be eating this week.

Now for my paper...procrastinate? Ok I don't have a plan, but I need one.

Its been a while

Well Elijah and I both started school August 24th. I am taking a full load and he's in 5th grade. I am in the last semester and in December I will have a Bachelors of Arts in History. I am so excited now lets hope I can find a job. The strangest thing happens every time I get distracted from doing my studies...instinctively I start humming that song by Europe, "The Final Countdown" I know so corny right. Well it works. I get back on task and finish what I have to do. Lately its been a little harder to focus. I have to keep up with school, balance the finances, and act like none of this is a challenge.


Well my husband's job instead of laying people off started reducing pay. Pro he still has a job. Con it would have been nice to have a little notice. Pro we still have insurance. We were also lucky his pay only went down $2 an hour, and his is on the low end of the pay cuts. Some employees' pay went down as much as $8 an hour. The pay cuts are supposed to be temporary but my husband is looking for a part-time job. Next week my husband will get his last pay check at the old rate, so I need to be careful how I budget the money.


My dad always says, "don't get angry when you have to spend money unexpectedly, but be grateful you have it to spend." And today I was thinking that as I took my chihuahua, Pee Wee, to the vet for worms. Well he's 9 years old in human years and the vet said something that I knew was coming. "Pee Wee is getting older." Today I left the vet with 5 medications for 1 9lb dog and special instructions. According to the vet, Pee Wee's back knees are messed up, he has back problems, and something is wrong with his eyes, thankfully he is not going blind. Well all of his ailments have medical names, but unfortunately I do not remember them.

I discovered some blogs on this lovely blog spot to help me out with the finances some are already posted on my site. I found this one yesterday, because I was looking for a blog with a coupon match up for HEB, Freaky Deals and Moms by Heart. In the left sidebar there is a link to $0.50 shopping on Moms by Heart. Need I say more?

Sweepstakes

Well I have been off the grid for a bit. I did not post last time I went grocery shopping because I just had a lot going on. Well to catch y'all up Bud and I went to Inks lake and had a wonderful time. We went canoeing, hiking, swimming, bird watching and just had a great time. Like the title of my posts suggests sweepstakes. I have had some free time and right now I am into entering online sweepstakes. I know sounds weird but when I go back to school all of this will come to an end. So its summer its hot and we don't have that much extra money sweepstakes give me something to do, their free, and if I don't feel like doing it well I don't.


Some sweepstakes are:

grill like a pro which ends September 30, 2009
Fine Living ending August 15, 2009
Smuckers ends August 30, 2009
Old Navy ends January 30, 2010
La-z Boy ends August 31, 2009

Grocery Trip 6/16/2009 HEB, Wal-mart, and Walgreen's

I know I am late posting this but its better late than never. I did not post pictures of everything because I am still learning how to take pictures on the digital camera and I am trying to make the food look plentiful but I did take some pictures of some of the exceptionally good deals.

Walgreen's:

I was able to purchase a bonus pack 4+2 Schick Quattro Titanium Cartridges ($9.49)
The sale was B1G1
Coupon: $4.00 (Smart Source (SS) 6/14)
Total price: $5.49 for 12 blades

Wal-mart:

Kellogg cereal's $2.33-$2.44 not all of them are on sale but I picked up Fruit Loops, Strawberry Shredded Wheat and Raisin Bran.
Coupon: I had 3 $1.00 (Red Plum (RP) 6/7)
Total Price: $1.33-$1.44

Webber's Grill Seasoning Packet $0.58
Coupon: $0.50 (SS 5/17)
Total Price: $0.08

Reach Dental Floss $1.00
Coupon: $1.00 (RP 4/26)
Total Price: Free

A-1 Steak Sauce 5oz $2.08
Coupon: $2.00 (SS 6/14)
Total Price: $0.08

Mahatma Spanish Rice Mix $0.64 ($1.28)
Coupon: $0.75/2
Total Price: $0.53/2 ($0.26.5 each)

Muir Glenn Organic Diced Tomatoes 28oz $1.53
Coupon: $1.00
Total Price $0.53

H.E.B

Buy: Frenche's Yellow mustard
Get Free: French's Spicy Mustard
Coupon: Found on Yellow Mustard

Peter Pan PB $1.79
Coupon: $1.00 ( 5/22 All You Magazine)
Total Price: $0.79

McCormick's Grillmate seasoning 3.45oz 5/$5.00
Coupon: $0.50/1
Total Price: $0.50

Betty Crocker Fruit Roll-up Fruit Stikerz 8 count $1.95
Coupon: $1.00/1 HEB Coupon
Total Price: $0.95

Betty Crocker Fruit by the foot 6 count $2.15
Coupon: $1.00/1 HEB Coupon
Total Price: $1.15

Dannon Light and Fit 6pk $1.99
Coupon: $1.00/1
Total Price: $0.99


Combo Loco's

Buy: Smart Balance Heart Right Butter $3.00 Pictured
Coupon: $1.00 (RP 4/19)
Get Free: Silk Soy Milk ($2.79)
Total Price: $2.00

Buy: Healthy One's Lunch Meat $2.99 Pictured
Coupon: $1.00 (Parade Magazine) or $0.55 (SS 6/07)
Get Free: Grab-n-Go Pringles ($0.59)
HEB Sparkling Water ($0.50)
Total Price: $1.99

Buy: 1 Oscar Mayer Deli Creations on sale $5.00/2
Coupon: $1.00/2
Get Free: HEB 5.5 oz Chips ($1.09) used 2 coupons
Total Price: $4.00 or $2.00 each



Meal Deal

Buy: 4-pk Bacon wrapped Fillet's $9.98 Pictured
Get Free: 4 pk baking potatoes ($1.29)
8oz HEB Sour Cream ($0.62)
8oz HEB Fancy Shredded Cheese ($1.67)
10oz HEB Steak Sauce ($1.99)
2ltr HEB Soda ($1.00)
8oz HEB Butter ($1.09)

Phone update

I got a new cell phone today. I could not exchange my phone because the warranty expired and I did not have insurance. The rep said I could get an upgrade. I also found out they don't sell my phone anymore because the model has been discontinued. So my only option was to get a new phone.


So I picked up a Verizon Wireless Blitz but I did not pay too much and I still don't have a contract. What I did was I went to the electronic department at Target then to the prepaid phone section and picked up the Blitz for $99.99 plus tax ($108.25). I then took my new phone to the Verizon store to get it activated. Since I had an existing account I got to keep my phone number. Also they charged me absolutely nothing to activate the phone because the prepaid phone came with free activation. I am so excited I got a new phone albeit not the phone I had figured out and knew how to use all the features but I am trying to learn about the new phone phone. Some of the Blitz's features: a qwerty keyboard and it slides open.

Phone

Today I have to get a new cell phone. Saturday an unfortunate incident occurred and now my phone will no longer charge. So I have been mentally prepping myself to go into the Verizon store since I realized the phone was broken. Well here is what I know I am in for: My contract expired 2 years ago so I know they will be offering me most of the phones in the store will be free or $29.99 with a new 2 year agreement. I know I can get a refurbished version my broken phone at a fraction of the cost, and if I get there early enough I will not have to wait in line and have the "time" to be tempted to look at the new phones.
So fingers crossed I go in the store and come out not spending too much money with a refurbished version of my old phone.

Update

I know I've been slow on the blogging thing but I've been busy. My husband had another VA appointment so there went a whole day. Also I have been sick so I decided not to go grocery shopping this week thus I no deals to post. To pass time we've been doing some light cleaning around the house and a little organizing. Also we have been renting movies, a true sign I haven't been feeling well, because I normally don't like sitting through movies. We rented Paul Blart Mall Cop it was ok Elijah enjoyed it, Marley and Me I saw where it was going and I stopped watching it when I started to cry but Elijah and Bud said it was really good, Gran Tourino was very good, and Cadillac Records was really good too.

Elijah and I went to the library to pick up some books. He picked up a King Kong book and a Star Wars book I picked up The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (finished it already a very good book if you're into Sci-Fi).

As we were walking out of the library I said, " we both got science fiction books this week "

he replied, "no you got a science fiction book I got fairy tales"

I tried to explain that his books were science fiction but he said, "no they're fairy tales because you want good thing to happen to the people and its violent."

I said, "fairy tales are not violent," and he replied, "Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Three Little Pigs, Snow White, Cinderella. Especially Cinderella she has an abusive step mom"

I gave up...so for future reference Star Wars is a fairy tale...well according to Elijah!!!

Library training

Today was the first day of my volunteer job at the library. I had to watch the sexual harassment video...which is the mark of officially having a job...lol. I also got a T-shirt, and a time card. My volunteer time officially started with my training today so I logged 1.5 hours today. I officially start next Tuesday I am so excited. The best part about the library is I can bring Elijah with me. So I signed him up for the summer reading program.

Meal Plan

Well a lot of the homemaking/frugal/budgeting websites advocate planning meals. I some how always pull dinner together without the plan. I find it difficult to make a meal plan mostly because by the time dinner rolls around I rarely feel like eating what was planned. With my system current I take out the meat in the morning and then I change my mind throughout the day until at 3:15-3:30 trying to decide what I am going to cook. But this week I decided it to give menu planning a try. Hopefully I will stick to it.

Monday-Chicken strip sandwiches (chicken strips, white-wheat bread), green beans, and watermelon.
Tuesday-Beef Stroganoff served on egg noodles, peas, peaches
Wednesday-Sloppy Joes, macaroni and cheese, broccoli, and mixed veggies
Thursday-Crock pot chicken, rice, salad, and fruit salad
Friday-left overs or frozen pizza

On Saturday's my son cooks and on Sunday's my hubby does.

H.E.B

While scouring the internet compiling my coupons and sales fliers I noticed there was a void as far as H.E.B is concerned. I do buy a subscription to the grocery game to get a gist of what's a good deal but I find that it often has prices and sales that do not apply to my area and the list does not utilize internet coupons. So this is my first attempt at trying to compile the great deals this week at H.E.B.

Buy Oscar Mayer Beef, Cheese or Fat Free Franks get Oscar Mayer lunch meat free.
I was able to get a coupon by mail for a pkg of Free Oscar Mayer Franks.

Colgate Toothpaste $0.99 - $0.75 (SS 6/7)
Final price $0.24

McCormick Grill Mates 2.5-3.4 oz $1.00-$0.50 (RP 4/19 and 5/3)
Final price $0.50

Betty Crocker Fruit Roll-Ups Stickerz $2.00-$1.00 (Coupon in "My Texas Life" the HEB magazine and in front of the Stickerz)
Final Price $1.00

New York Garlic Texas Toast $1.89-$0.75 (SS 5/17)
Final price $1.14

Combo Locos

Buy Healthy ones lunch meat $2.50-$0.55 (SS 6/07)
Final Price $1.95
Free Pringles Grab 'N Go Chips 1.41oz
H.E.B Sparkling Water 1 L btl


***Buy Fresh Express crisp lettuce blend and get a 6 pk of Ozarka water free. This is a good deal only if you can buy the salad marked down.

Meal Deal

Buy 2 H-E-B ground chuck ($2.97 each) get free:
HEB pasta sauce (26 oz)
HEB Bake shop white bread (24oz)
HEB fancy shredded cheese (6oz)
HEB Spaghetti (16oz)


H.E.B is running a special 10% off all Hill Country Fare and H.E.B brand Frozen Products.

6.02.2009 grocery shopping update

I forgot to update my grocery shopping ordeal. Ok so I am not one of those coupon clipping queens who can buy a weeks worth of groceries for $15.00. I like sushi and my family (unknowingly to them) is in the process of eating healthier. My son will eat almost anything and my husband will too minus the veggies. I went to 3 different stores Wal-mart, H.E.B., and Target plus and I did ok. I spent $38.00 at Wal-mart, $78.00 at H.E.B., and $6.00 at Target.

The highlight of my Target trip was Kashi waffles they were on sale for $1.87 and I had 2 coupons for $1.50 off making them .37 cents each and the Listerine Agent Cool Blue and it came with 40 Dixie bathroom cups which was marked down to $3.82 and I had a $1.00 coupon making it $2.82.

The highlight of my H.E.B trip was the Breyers ice cream it was on sale for 2/$7 and I had 2/$1 coupons making it 2/$5 then there was a store coupon buy 1 Breyers ice cream get a free smuckers ice cream topping. So I picked strawberry and pineapple toppings. Ither good specials I was able to get were for H.E.B. meal deal (that is when H.E.B. selects products that can make a complete meal and usually the customer buys 1 or 2 products and gets the rest of "meal" free) The first 1 was buy Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh lunchmeat which was $3.19 and and Kraft singles cheese. The free items that came with this were a loaf of honey wheat bread, Oreo Cakesters, 5.5 oz bag of H.E.B brand chips, and a 12 pack of Kool-aid Stir it up singles. Well I had a coupon for $1/2 of the Oscar Mayer Deli fresh lunch meat making it $2.69 and the Kraft singles were on sale for $2.88 I spent $5.57 on the lunch meat and cheese and got all of the other stuff free.

The highlight of my Wal-mart trip was the meat. I buy a lot of meat marked down at Wal-mart I was able to get a 3lb beef roast for $6.47 and they had a good deal on ground beef it was a 5lb chub for $7.20. Also the delmonte fruit chillers (kind of like flavor ice popcicles except made with real fruit) were on sale for $1.89 and I had a coupon for $1.00 making it 89cents. Also velveeta shells and cheese they were on sale 2/$3 I had 3 coupons for $1 and I ended up getting 3 boxes for $1.50.

Well that's all.

Good News!!

On Monday I start a volunteer position at the library. I am so excited mostly because I would like to work at the library as a profession eventually. I can't wait. Right now it will be with the summer reading program and I am hoping I get to work with the teenagers since that is the group I have the most experience working with. I will keep y'all updated...hopefully I will follow through.

Completed Flower Pots

We completed the flower pot project. I did not want to leave the pots empty after we spent so much time decorating them. So we went to our neighborhood Wal-mart a picked up some plants. We got a six pack of vincas, begonias, and impatiens they were $1.25 each for a total of $3.75 bringing the new total to $20.74 or $3.46 per teacher. We mixed and matched the plants putting two plants total into each pot. We even had 6 plants left over and we put them in our flower garden.

VA hospital

I did not mean to take off yesterday but I did. I went with my husband to the VA hospital and it was an ALL day affair. We had to leave our house as 6:15 so my husband could make his 7:30 appointment. The good thing about the VA hospital is that they try to schedule ALL appointments on the same day. So he was supposed to have 4 appointments yesterday unfortunately one of the doctors called in sick so he has to go back next week and he has a follow up appointment next month. The VA hospital is an interesting place. The staff is fantastic. Everyone is so friendly. The VA helps all different people men, women, young, old, all races. The veterans all have something in common they all served their country and they a lot of them make sure you know what war they are from some of the veterans wear hats reflecting the war and the branch of the military they were in.

My husband does not have a hat but he was involved in 5 conflicts during his 10 years in the Army. He served in Kosovo. Then he served in Iraq 3 times and he also served in Afghanistan.

Grocery shopping

Today is Tuesday and its my shopping day. So I am going to HEB and to Wal-Mart. I have made my lists, clipped my coupons, checked my sales ads. I am not that organized I had help. The grocery game is a tremendous help. For a $10 a month fee for the first store and $5 for each additional store the website makes lists based on what's on sale and the coupons from the Sunday paper and store coupons that are currently out and makes lists utilizing the sale/coupon savings and as a result you are able to save money unfortunately in my area the only stores available are Walgreen's and HEB. So for my Wal-mart, Walgreen's and Target list I use coupon mom. This website is free and uses the coupons from the newspaper and coupons.com.
The newspaper in my area does not have a lot of coupons. I do not get the red plum inserts. So on Sunday's I buy 2 copies of the Dallas Morning News ($3.00 each) and 2 copies of the Austin American Statesman ($1.60 each) I also get 1 copy of the Killeen Daily Herald ($1.00) because it actually has the local sales fliers.

Flower Pots

Since my son's last day of school is Friday I figured we should make his teachers gifts for teaching him. I am not creative by nature but I take things I see and make it my own. On the cover of last month's All You magazine there was a flower pot made out of a coffee can. I thought it was a cute idea but unfortunately not even I drink enough coffee to have enough coffee cans for all of his teachers.
So instead I modified the idea of the coffee cans to terracotta pots. This project is easy to do and it does not cost too much. I bought the pots for $5.20. The paint I got discounted because it considered a wrong mix and it cost $3.25. I already had the paint brushes so those were free. The next step is to decorate the pots. We are going to use ribbon and I was able to get the ribbon for $5.30. Next I went to the dollar store and picked up some thank you cards. They were 4/$1.00 so I bought 2 packs. I bought the garden soil at Wal-Greens a few weeks ago because they had it on sale for $1.00 a bag. I bought some packages of seeds 5/$1.00 2 of the teachers will get daisy's 2 will get sunflowers, and 2 will get cosmos. Total for everything: $18.19 or $3.04 per teacher. Plus the time I managed to get a 10 boy painting flower pots. I hope they will be impressed by his gifts.
Today Elijah and I put 2 coats of paint on each pot we spent about 20 minutes on the first coat and about 10 on the second coat. Tomorrow we will decorate and then on Wednesday I will have him start the cards. On Thursday we will make up some bags with garden soil and attach a pack of seeds and on Friday he will give them out as gifts.

The summer of motherhood

Elijah gets out of school on June 5th. I am frantically still trying to figure out what to do with him. He usually goes to Florida and visits with my family, but this year is my year to pay and me and Bud can't simply afford it. I was going to get a job and put him in daycare for the summer but I've been looking at the places around here and it really will not be affordable. Basically I can spend between $110-$190 a week plus $25-$50 registration fee and I will not feel guilty about putting him in daycare because he will be going somewhere at least twice a week like going swimming once a week and other things the city provides for kids over the summer in addition putt-putt and movies or I could spend $65-$90 and no registration fees and he will stay with an unlicensed provider and stay at their house watching TV and maybe play outside which is no way to spend a summer. So in rides the guilt. How do I plan a fun summer without spending too much money and let him still have fun?

The solution...Mommy Camp.

What is Mommy Camp you ask?

It is the answer to me not feeling guilty. I took my skills as the forever college student combined them then, asked myself the question: what if I do decide I want to become a teacher when I graduate? So I decided to make my child my first student. So tentatively we will go about finding things the city has planned like puppet shows and summer reading programs, taking advantage of the $2 movies at the theater, free books I ordered from random US Governmental Agencies and Universities and creating lessons about the various topics presented in the books, I also ordered travel guides from various national attractions e.g The Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park to see if my son could plan the perfect vacation.

Also I will attempt to fine tune his cooking and cleaning skills and teach him budgeting.

Mommy camp is loosely organized right now and I would like to find a friend or two for him to bring along so its not just me and him everyday. I was thinking about signing him to join the Texas Rangers Junior Rangers Fan Club its only $15 and it comes with all of this:

• A Jr. Rangers drawstring backpack
• A Rangers cap
• Temporary tatoos
• Ticket vouchers for eight (8) select home games in the Lexus Club Terrace
• Coupons redeemable at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
• 15% off a Rangers merchandise in the Majestic Grand Slam Gift Shop (some restrictions apply)
• Invitations to "Members Only" Jr. Rangers events
• VIP "Front of the Line" acces every Sunday afternoon for Run the Bases...No waiting!

I have no doubt I will stick to this but I just hope we do not drive each other crazy with all of our "quality" time.

Save some green

Right now I am on this saving money kick. I am learning the lingo of the truly frugal ones. So if anyone is curious about saving money I will give you a few links to print coupons off the net:
http://www.coupons.com
http://www.redplum.com
smartsource.com

Another thing I have been into is freebies. Right now Bert Bees is celebrating their 25th aniversary and as a result the people benefit. Everyday for the next 25 they are giving away 1,000 of their lip balms between 9am and noon.

That is all for now but when I get better at this I hope I can share some more of my evolution with you!!!

My first post

I am starting this blog to chart my journey through life. I am 29 years old and everyday I change the direction my life is going. In my head I have mapped out the person I want to be and she too changes. I want to save money, get healthy, be a better mom, be a great wife, save the world, be good to the environment, teach my dogs some tricks, be more organized, etc, etc.