Ok, I should have known about this and posted about it earlier so more people could have know, but luck just so happen to shine down on me this morning I thought I needed to brag about it!
JCPenny was having a door busting sale until 1pm today. I received 2 coupons in the mail last week for $10 off a purchase of $10 or more and a $10 off a purchase of $25 or more. I've been beating around the bush all week with these coupons and wanting to go buy some more maternity shorts. Well, I had to leave early this morning to go walk a friend's dog and on the way back home I thought, "Ok, it's the last day I can use these stupid coupons and I really need some more shorts, I'll just stop by real quick pick some up and get home." Well, as luck shown down on me they had a red tag clearance up to 80% off! YAY!! So, it turns out it was not just a quick trip, not that is was a bad thing. :)
Lets get the run down on the savings, I need a drum roll here:
Denim Bermuda Shorts Reg. $36.00
Black Cami Reg. $16.00
Pink Cupcake shirt Reg. 12.99
3/6m onesie Reg. 9.99
Total without discounts: $ 76.45 (with tax)
Total Paid: $26.04 Savings of 66%!!
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Second Transaction ( I used both coupons)
Sterling Silver Chain Reg. $30.00
Total paid: $2.12 Savings of 93%!!!
Ahhh, I feel much better today. Shopping does the body good.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Do you know the muffin man?
It's BERRY SEASON!
Many grocery chains are selling the last of the blueberries from the growing season. You can still find great deals at Publix and the local farmers market. I picked up a couple pints and thought I might try out this muffin recipe.
I plan on making some more batches, freezing them, and take them out as needed for breakfasts, snacks, etc.
I must say, to pat myself on the back, these came out delicious! I think what made it was the cinnamon crumb topping. The mix is super simple and uses everything you would normally have on hand. I hate going out to buy one little expensive ingredient just to use it in one recipe. This also took just as much time mixing and cooking as a bag of pre made muffin mix does. And you know exactly what is going into your food!
Ingredients
This recipe made 12 regular sized muffins. Yes, one is missing from the picture. Yes, I did eat it.
Many grocery chains are selling the last of the blueberries from the growing season. You can still find great deals at Publix and the local farmers market. I picked up a couple pints and thought I might try out this muffin recipe.
I plan on making some more batches, freezing them, and take them out as needed for breakfasts, snacks, etc.
I must say, to pat myself on the back, these came out delicious! I think what made it was the cinnamon crumb topping. The mix is super simple and uses everything you would normally have on hand. I hate going out to buy one little expensive ingredient just to use it in one recipe. This also took just as much time mixing and cooking as a bag of pre made muffin mix does. And you know exactly what is going into your food!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
Crumb Topping
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup butter, cubed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.
- Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder in medium bowl
- Pour in 1/3 cup vegetable oil, the egg and 1/3 cup milk to the dry mixture
- Mix it all up.
- Fold in blueberries.
- Fill muffin cups right to the top.
- To Make Crumb Topping: Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork (or hands, those work much better) and sprinkle over muffins before baking.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
The Quality of Life
I decided to start this blog in hopes of inspiring others to spend less and to maybe bring us back to the simple things in life. Growing our own food, making food from scratch, and becoming more thrifty as all of us are falling on hard times. I coupon and am always on the hunt for the best deals! Especially for foods you can stock up on. I also try to make as many of our meals from scratch as I can. I don't like to spend all day making one meal, with my 3 year old daughter and being 7 months pregnant, I am way too tired to even turn on the microwave by the end of the day. Hopefully some of my recipes and tricks will help others low on time, energy, and money.
I was inspired to do all this by my great-grandparents (may they rest in peace) watching them as I grew up and listening to the stories my dad told us. They worked hard their entire lives, ate food fried in Crisco, smoked packs of cigarettes, chewed tobacco and lived well into their 90s! Must be something to it! My husband always says it was because of "the quality of life." The lived on some 50 plus acres in the middle of nowhere in north Tennessee. They were surrounded by beautiful trees, a fresh spring meters from the house, and many types of wildlife. Some of my fondest memories are as a kid were waking up early and walking into the dining room to see my papaw sitting near the window watching the deer as they came up into view from the woods. He'd grab his binoculars he kept nearby and let me watch them. We'd sit and watch the fog roll away and he would tell me about all the animals he saw sitting from that very spot. I cherish these memories so, and hope that I can provide the same "quality of life" for my children.
While our family may not be in the best living situation now, we do try to make the best out of what we have. I hope this blog becomes hope for some, maybe a stepping stone for those looking for more out of the rat race, and those who want more of that "quality of life."
I was inspired to do all this by my great-grandparents (may they rest in peace) watching them as I grew up and listening to the stories my dad told us. They worked hard their entire lives, ate food fried in Crisco, smoked packs of cigarettes, chewed tobacco and lived well into their 90s! Must be something to it! My husband always says it was because of "the quality of life." The lived on some 50 plus acres in the middle of nowhere in north Tennessee. They were surrounded by beautiful trees, a fresh spring meters from the house, and many types of wildlife. Some of my fondest memories are as a kid were waking up early and walking into the dining room to see my papaw sitting near the window watching the deer as they came up into view from the woods. He'd grab his binoculars he kept nearby and let me watch them. We'd sit and watch the fog roll away and he would tell me about all the animals he saw sitting from that very spot. I cherish these memories so, and hope that I can provide the same "quality of life" for my children.
While our family may not be in the best living situation now, we do try to make the best out of what we have. I hope this blog becomes hope for some, maybe a stepping stone for those looking for more out of the rat race, and those who want more of that "quality of life."
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