Thursday, February 26, 2009

Welcome to the first edition of Thrifty Thursdays

I signed up for “Thrifty Thursdays” with Amanda from Amandascooking and today I’ll be sharing my first thrifty tip with y’all smilie

Being a single mom on a budget I’m a frugal shopper. I do my searches online every week to get the ‘sneak peek’ for what the weekly coupons will be in the Sunday paper. I do my shopping either with peapod, who does accept coupons when they deliver your groceries, (but they are not doubled) or I go to Stop and Shop or Pathmark, which are the supermarkets that I have in my area and both stores double coupons up to $.99.

Both Stop and Shop and Pathmark have websites(most supermarkets do) and the weekly circular is always up for you to make your list right there while you’re looking through the circular with just a click. I have a budget of $50 a week for groceries and I’m very good with sticking to it. I make my list by what is on sale and what I have coupons for When I’m shopping with peapod you have to factor in the delivery charge which is between $6.95 and $9.95 depending on where you live and If you are a first time shopper with them you can always get a coupon for between $10 and $15 off your First order and if you sign up for their weekly email they will sometimes send coupons for free delivery (up to $6.95). When I do my peapod shopping I most often get 2 weeks of groceries at a time, and often I will get things that are on sale, like canned goods, that are too heavy to lug by bus and I stock up. I figure it’s going to cost me $8 for myself and The Kid to take the bus both ways, then we’ve gotta pack it all up and carry it all home, so oftentimes it just saves me that annoyance. Just last week peapod had the tomatoes that I use to make sauce on sale for $1 a can (from the usual $1.75) so I stocked up and got 16 cans.. that will last me a few months. I can't even imagine what it would have been like to carry all that home Photobucket

I also always keep an envelope of coupons in my bag for when I’m out just in case.

Next... where I go to find the really good bargains online smilie  cheer

Monday, February 23, 2009

Non food post, Product review.. Smooth away

As a member of Fuel my blog I was lucky enough to be offered the opportunity to test the Smooth Away hair removal ‘system’ It’s essentially a lightly abrasive pad that sticks to a plastic oval with a strap so that you can slide it over your fingers and work in a circular motion and it removes hair from your arms, legs and face.

I’m sure you’ve seen the commercials on TV and were skeptical.. But I’ll tell ya it does really work. My advice though is to moisturize the morning or night prior to using the smooth away as it does exfoliate, but if your skin is dry, it’s going to do more exfoliating than hair removing. I used it on my arms and it worked quite nicely. This package comes with the smooth away “mitten” as well as a smaller version to slip on your finger to smooth away the hair on your face.

I wax my legs, so I didn’t use this on them, but I think this would be great for girls who want to start shaving because it does a nice job and you don’t have to worry about nicks and cuts and it is very easy to use.

Friday, February 20, 2009

I don’t like salt

I don’t like salt


I don’t.

Plain and simple. I don’t like the taste of salt. When I was a kid I had high blood pressure and from then on I didn’t eat salt. I don’t add it much to my food when I’m cooking and it’s just not heart healthy. Not that I'm a health 'nut', but I do watch what I eat and what I feed to The Kid.

Browsing through foodgawker and tastespotting I don’t understand this new trend with salted caramel and chocolate and even cookies for crying out loud!

I’m not buying into this new trend. I have my occasional (usually during that time) salt craving, but that usually means a little grind of sea salt on the hamburger or on my steak. I even brush the salt off pretzels.. Yes, even the soft ones. Yes, I know all about how it intensifies the taste of sweet things, which is why we add a bit of salt to our baked goods and chocolate anything.. But still.. I just don’t get it.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

I've been Frogged!

A few days ago I was checking up on my bloggy things and saw a link that I didn't recognize directing people here to my blog.. so I had to investigate.. and Low and behold.. there I was a BzzAgent Frog in the Frogpond..

The Memoirs from my Kitchen BzzAgent Frog!

Now, I've never been so happy in my life to be called a Frog, lol.

If you don't know what BzzAgent is all about, here are the details:

What is a BzzAgent, exactly?

Agents are everyday consumers who believe in honest word of mouth. In other words, they like to:

  • Discover and check out new products, services, books and other cool stuff
  • Share their honest opinions with people they know
  • Have their input and feedback taken seriously by companies and brands
  • Build social capital by being in the know and always having something to talk about
I've gotten the opportunity to test and buzz some really great products thanks to BzzAgent, they're a great bunch of people over there and are always there to help you out of you have a problem.

If you'd like to become a BzzAgent click here:
Frogpond Badge

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Bloggers Helping One of Our Own

I'm a subscriber to the MomGadget daily email and when I got this morning's email I had to share it with everyone.
*************************UPDATE***************************
I have an address to send donations to, so if you are interested in sending clothes for the boys or anything else to help the family out please leave a comment and I will provide you with that information.
Ash~
************************************************************

Bloggers Helping One of Our Own

Posted: 09 Feb 2009 09:59 AM PST

cheril-fire1

In effort to give a final push toward meeting the $5,000 goal, I wanted to share the following:

Let it be said that b5media is a close knit community of bloggers and when one is in need, the entire network seems to pull together and rally around that need. Last week, something terrible happened to one of our own bloggers, Cheril Vernon. Cheril lost her house, and her pets to a fire recently, and is without insurance to rebuild. The local Red Cross is doing what it can, but if we, the entire blogging community and social networking geeks could all show our support by giving what we can, then Cheril and her family will be doing much better than they currently are.

When times are as tough as they are, the last thing anyone should experience is a loss of everything. And being the pet lover that I am, I can’t imagine losing my own in such a horrible way. Pets are like family.

To read more about the incident, and send in you donation, check out the special page, b5media Blogger Loses Home in Fire, made surrounding this event on b5media’s own site.

Every dollar helps, regardless of how large or small the donation. Consider it creating good karma! What you give out of the goodness of your heart is bound to come back to you many times over. Giving to such a cause made me feel as though I was truly making a difference in the life of someone who needed it. Cheril, her husband and their two boys have a terrible and long road to recovery ahead of them – we can make that journey just a tad bit easier with any contribution.

Lastly, if you are on Twitter, Facebook or other such sites, please make sure to message about this, as spreading the word is also very helpful.


I can't imagine losing everything like this, so lets band together and help out in any way we can. I'm gonna see what size clothes these boys wear, I've got lots of boy clothes that are too small for The Kid that are ready to be donated and maybe I can help Cheril out with some things too :)

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Today is Birthday Day

It's been a weekend full of fun.. because Today my baby boy, The Kid is officially 13!! For the past few weeks I've been reeling.. OMG, a Teenager.. really, a teenager, my baby boy.. wow. I remember being 13.. the teenage years aren't that far behind me, after all.. but wow.
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Yesterday it was the annual birthday party at Dave & Busters, which I refer to as a Chuck E Cheese's for Adults, it's so much fun, we have dinner followed by not birthday cake, but Birthday Fondue (as per The Kid's request since we started going there), play games (and rack up lots of tickets that The Kid is saving up for something "really good") and leave way later than we planned.

Today it was go to the movies, have ice cream and then birthday cake tonight after a home made birthday dinner.



The cake was a Coca Cola Cake

2 c. sugar
2 c. flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. baking soda
3 Tbs. cocoa
1 Tbs. Vanilla
2 eggs

1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. Coca Cola
2 c. mini Marshmallows

Icing
1/2 c. butter
3 Tbs. cocoa
6 Tbs. Coca Cola
1 16oz box Powdered sugar
1 c. chopped walnuts

  1. Mix first 8 ingredients, then heat next 3 and add gradually into first mixture
  2. Grease 13x9 inch pan and cover bottom with mini marshmallows
  3. pour batter over marshmallows and bake in preheated 350° oven for 35 - 45 minutes
Icing
  1. Heat butter, cocoa, Coca Cola & Vanilla
  2. pour over sugar and mix well
  3. add nuts
  4. pour frosting over warm cake
Cool before serving.

Now, since we were having this cake with ice cream as per The Kid's request I didn't make the icing.. it was just too much butter & sugar for one day, lol.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

The New Dunkin Donuts Waffle breakfast sandwich

I woke up feeling like total crap this morning, I was more interested in getting 10 more minutes of sleep than making coffee, my throat was so sore that the thought of swallowing anything other than medicine to numb the pain was outrageous. So on my way into the office I decided to run into Dunkin’ Donuts for a Hot Latte’ (because, honestly by then if I didn’t get some caffeine in me I would be fast asleep at my desk in no time) While I was standing on line that was practically out the door at 8:45 I saw an ad for a new breakfast sandwich, the Waffle Sandwich. From the picture it just looked like a mini waffle with egg, cheese & bacon.. But Boy was I in for a surprise!

I don’t normally get egg sandwiches from Dunkin Donuts, I used to refer to them as ‘rubber eggs’ as they were chewy and overcooked and pretty much all around nasty that no amount of ketchup and pepper could cover up. But being all I had all day yesterday to eat was a packet of wheat thins for lunch and a bowl of hot & sour soup for dinner I was absolutely starving and this honestly looked pretty good. So I went ahead and ordered the waffle sandwich and coffee and went on to my office.

Now, Dunkin Donuts has some of the hottest coffee around, no matter what kind of hot drink you get you always have to wait at least 5 minutes before even attempting to take that first sip without totally scalding your tongue and throat (or at least, I do) so I set aside the bag with the sandwich and my coffee and started to tackle the pile of work on my desk that never seems to get any smaller. Once the smell of the coffee started to wear me down I took a sip (ahh, lovely) and then I opened the bag with the sandwich and to my disbelief the 2 little waffles were studded with ......little bits of Syrup! Just like the McGriddle from McDonalds!!! And not only were these little waffles good, but the egg was light and fluffy and the bacon was crispy!!! It was all around good!


I like that Dunkin Donuts is spreading their wings a bit and expanding their menu options, their flatbread sandwiches leave much to be desired though, the eggs are chewy and the small portions leave you hungry. I really like this new waffle sandwich though, it’s a keeper.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

My Lemming Central Box has arrived

This is the best! Every other month I anticipate the Lemming Central Sample box.. and for almost a year now I've been absolutely Delighted every time it has arrived!


Today my box arrived and I couldn't wait to tear it open!

Inside the plain white USPS box encased in Styrofoam peanuts was a pretty pink paper gift bag stuffed to the tippy top with goodies and topped off with some lovely pink tissue paper..

Inside that pink gift bag was...

Photobucket



  1. Soap slab sample in Patience from Elementals By Diane Natural Handmade Soaps
  2. 2 candle tart samples in Hello Sweetie and Pink Sugar from What's That Smell?
  3. 2 perfume oil samples from Lunableu Bath & Body Treats in Blackberry Noel and Cocoa Pink
  4. 1 One ounce handmade goat milk soap sample chunk from Nice Touch Handmade Goat Milk Soap
  5. Cinnamon scented heart shaped candle melts from Kreations by Kathie
  6. In the goodie bag from SBS Teas was 1 formed black tea heart, chocolate decadence soap sample, sweetheart mint roobios tea sample (with directions on how to brew the teas) and a dark chocolate truffle.
  7. 1 good sized sample of Maile Lei hand & body lotion from East Coast Tropics
  8. 1 - 0.07oz sample stick (about the size of a softlips lip balm) concealer stick in roasted chestnut (which is way too dark for my fair skin, boo hoo) from Zosimos Botanicals LLC
  9. THE MOST GIGANTIC CANDLE TART SAMPLE THAT I'VE EVER SEEN in Pink Passions from Things That Make Scents
  10. 1 lovely heart shaped wax tart (with a cute ribbon tied through a hole in the top) in (VS scent) LoveSpell (YUM!) from Ugly Duckling Designs
  11. Redux multi-grain facial scrub 1oz sample, olive oil smoothie soap & Lavender soap samples from Little Egg Harbor Soap
  12. 1 hearts desire soap sample (BIG!) and perfume oil sconcentrate in pink stardust from Tickled Pink Scentsations
  13. And the biggest sample set of all was from Farm Hussy Bath and Body Products (lol) with... 0.5 oz sample baggie of Bath fizzle FoShizzle bath powder in creme Brulee, 4 oz sample B'oink soy whipped glace, 1oz Sissy's silo-tion in prairie princess and a little baggie with 2 large Valentine tootsie rolls and a tootsie pop (my favorite!)
  14. 1 2oz candle tart in Spruce Christmas Tree scent from Just Right Candles
HOLY COW!!!!!

It all smells really, really good! I can't wait for the April Box!!!

Monday, February 2, 2009

It may not be pretty...

But it sure was good!

Way back when, I had this great Pillsbury cookbook that had this amazing recipe for Lemon Pudding cake.. then I rented from this horrible family who, in between picking up my things when moving here, threw that cookbook amongst many if my other things, away. I didn't think much about that book until the Meyer lemons came around and had me craving for that lemony cakey-pudding-y goodness.

Of course, Zaar came to the rescue (as always)

Lemon Pudding Cake


Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 grated lemon, zest of
3 eggs, separated
1 1/2 cups milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Butter 8" square pan or baking dish.
3. In mixing bowl, combine 3/4 c of the sugar, salt and flour and stir them together.
4. Add melted butter, lemon juice and zest and egg yolks.
5. Stir until thoroughly blended.
6. Stir in milk.
7. In separate bowl, beat the egg whites with remaining 1/4 c sugar until stiff, but moist.
8. Fold beaten whites into lemon mixture, then pour batter into prepared baking dish.
9. Set the cake pan into a larger pan and pour hot water into larger pan to come halfway up the sides of the cake pan.
10. Bake for 45 minutes until top is lightly browned.
11. Serve warm or chilled, with whipped cream, if desired.


It’s that time again, the Lemming Central Boxes are On Sale

Sample Boxes are on sale now! Go get yours before they are gone. Buy a box now!!

Congratulations to Tickled Pink Scentsations! Their samples were voted the best Valentine's theme by our panel of judges.

This sample box is sponsored by Spa Secrets, so be sure to check them out!!

Hurry and get yours before they're all gone!

I've been doing this since April 2008 and have never been disappointed in the items that I got. I even got 2 for Christmas and spread the goodness to my friends and family.

It's a real treat for $20!