IN LIKE A LION

Hey, y'all! It's spring! Well...almost.

Here in Texas, it has been spring for weeks....all the blooms are fading and the trees are leafing out. AND in true Texas weather fashion, you count on at least one more cold snap by Easter. I hope that we are in the last snap right now. Yesterday, it was in the 80s. Today, it is in the 30s/40s, windy and rainy...with more of the same for the next 3 days.

I'm not sure what it is about spring that makes me want to do a bit of cleaning. It makes me want to get stuff done that I don't think about every week....or every month, for that matter.

As I LOVE lists and how-to type things, I thought I would share a few things with you.

First, here is a link about spring cleaning:

http://organizedhome.com/spring-cleaning-chore-checklist

Back in the day, a serious spring cleaning was done, mostly in the colder areas. Houses were sealed in tight to keep out the cold and keep in the warmth. When it was finally warm enough, windows were thrown open to air out the "sick germs" and freshen the rooms. The home was cleaned from top to bottom.....a lot of soot on surfaces from the stove that, I'm sure, was kept burning 24/7.

All the linens washed, rugs beat, clothing switched out.....gardens were put in, fences were white-washed, and an inventory of the canned goods was taken. Since most people didn't get to just run down to the store, they had to live on what they had "put-up" during the summer.

In this day and time, we are in a bit of an easier situation, but it is still a good idea to jump into spring cleaning. Here are some things that I am doing and will be doing over the next few weeks/months. I would love for you to comment and share some things you might do that I haven't thought of. (Some of this stuff is done more often that once a year, but these are some things I'm needing to do right now - or have DH do. Also, I will not list things in a normal week of cleaning......stop laughing, DH!)

• clean all linens (including curtains, bed spreads and blankets)
• flip/turn mattresses: vacuum the mattress before AND after the flip. Freshen with either Febreeze or baking soda
• wipe down walls, doors and baseboards
• air out the house (open windows....at least two on opposite sides of the house so the air will pull through)
• vacuum UNDER/BEHIND furniture....the heavy stuff
• wash light fixtures (yes...you have to remove the globes)
• put away the winter coats
• clean out fire place of all ashes; close damper
• hose down outside of house
• work on garden
• clear out computer files
• clear ceiling and walls of any little fuzzy cobwebs
• wipe down the inside of all kitchen cabinets
• wipe down TOP of refrigerator (yep...the top you don't ever see, but know that it is NASTY!)
• get lawn mower, tractor mower, tiller and weed-eater up and running

WOW! I guess now that it is up there I actually have to start working on it. Who said I'm not smart?

Hope you have a wonderful beginning of spring. Let me know how you are doing.

ETA:

clean out the vent-a-hood

TEMPT MY TUMMY TUESDAY

My friend, Lisa, and her sister Lana, co-host this fun blog carnival. Several people get together and share kitchen tips, recipes and other ideas. It's a lot of fun. I hope you will join us.

My submission is kind of a follow up for yesterday's Making a Happy Home Monday.

My kids LOVE pizza rolls. But, the ones you can buy in the freezer are garbage. I don't know what all you allow your kids to eat. Quite honestly, up until a few weeks ago, there were a lot of junk foods we would let our kids eat, but God has done a number on me. (A bit painful, to be sure....more on that another day.)

Anyway, I wanted to find a way to give my kids the "fun" foods they enjoy, but without the guilt. I don't know why I didn't think to do this before.....well, all I know is, "better late than never."

HOMEMADE PIZZA ROLLS

1 box Jiffy pizza crust mix (or 1 pkg of another crust mix....you can get these for less than $1)
1 package TURKEY pepperoni slices*
1 jar pizza sauce*
1 package mozzarella cheese*

* you will not need the entire amount

Mix crust according to package directions. While it is in its rise, chop up the pepperoni. Mix with pizza sauce and a handful of cheese. I heated for 1 minute in the microwave to make to combine a bit more.

Using a biscuit cutter, cut out 2 circles per pizza roll.

In the center of a circle, place a bit of pizza topping. Using either an egg wash, or a bit of water, moisten the outside of the dough circle. Top with another circle. The moisture acts as a glue and allows you to stick the pieces of dough together.

Prick holes in the top with a fork. This will allow steam to escape and prevent the rolls from exploding in your oven.

Bake at about 425 for about 10 minutes...until golden.

These are the rolls my DS #2 helped me to make.


Ready for the oven:


Nice and golden:

YUM!

You can see they fluff up nicely. You don't have the guilt from the high fat and calories, the grease OR the money. My kids normally eat 15 of the the little frozen pizza rolls...EACH! 1 box of crust mix made 12 of these biscuit-sized pizza rolls....enough to feed all 4 of my boys.

COME BACK ON MONDAY FOR ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF "MAKING A HAPPY HOME MONDAY!"

MAKING A HAPPY HOME MONDAY

Hey, everyone. It's that time of week! It's time for Making a Happy Home Monday.

This is a blog carnival that I host....a blog in which I hope to encourage and inspire people to take on a project. Many areas of our homes need attention. Many areas of our home are neglected. They might not be areas that are seen, but still, the shape they are in affects how we feel. (Or at least it does in my case.)

For example, nobody really sees my son's closet. It is an easy "overlook." BUT, when I got it cleared out and straightened, I felt so much better.

So, please join me! Just sign up down below on Mr. Linky. Tell us some of the things you are working on. Do you have before and after pictures? I would love to see them!

No matter what you do, make your home a happy home!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My entry for this Monday is not really a "project" or item around the house that needed to be cleaned....though the subject does need cleaning often. :) No, the subject of my Making a Happy Home Monday is spending some quality time with one of my children.

That's not to say that I don't spend quality time with ALL my children, it's just that this was a bit easier to document with pictures.

My kids LOVE to help in the kitchen. They love to cook (guess they got that from me). It is sometimes hard for me to let go long enough to let them help. I get in a hurry and, quite frankly, would rather have everyone out of my way and get my stuff done. I'm a messy cook, but my mess cannot compare to the mess my boys leave. LOL!

That is something that God has been working on me about. There are several facets of this work in progress...which is me...that have been touched on in this. One is that I NEED to spend the time with the kids. It doesn't have to be outside, with a toy or a board game...it can be in doing my normal day-to-day stuff and having them help out. Another thing is that I need to learn to let go. I know I can cook....my hubby knows I can cook...I shouldn't worry about every single meal looking magazine-cover pretty. I can't worry about a little flour being spilled onto the floor.

SO, without further ado, here is my 2nd son working on pizza pockets. (I'll post the recipe on Tuesday.) I was throwing together a recipe when he happened to come in and, as usual, asked if he could help. My first inclination? (I thought this, but didn't say it out loud) No...let me just get this going. Y'all have been outside, everyone needs baths, I can get 2 of you bathed by the time these are done, we'll eat then settle down for the night.

After about 5 seconds, my response was, "Sure."

I'm so glad I did. How many times have I missed (or almost missed) a truly pleasant time with my children because of my lack of patience or perfectionist attitude. I pray that I remember every time I am asked by one of my kids, "Can I help?"

TEMPT MY TUMMY TUESDAY

Hey, y'all. I'm sorry I'm late with this....I was busy today and JUST tonight got on the 'puter.

My friends, Lisa and her twin Lana, host this blog carnival. It is a lot of fun. Many people sign up and share new recipes, old favorites, share tips and ask questions...anything to do with the kitchen. I hope you will join us.

I am going to show you what I made this past weekend. I have post this recipe before.

I will post it again, but the focus is on the frosting.

Cinnamon Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 cup water
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
6 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 package (1 pound) confectioners' sugar
1 cup pecan pieces

Sift flour and sugar into large bowl.
Bring 1 cup butter, 1/4 cup cocoa and water to a boil in saucepan. Pour over flour mixture; mix well. Add buttermilk, baking soda, cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla, eggs and salt and mix well. Pour into greased and floured 10x15-inch cake pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean.

For the frosting, bring 1/2 cup butter, 1/4 cup cocoa, milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla to a boil in saucepan; remove from heat. Add confectioners' sugar gradually, mixing until spreading consistency. Stir in pecans. Spread over hot cake.

Cake may be baked in 9x13 inch cake pan for 40 to 50 minutes

*****What I did this time:

I followed the recipe according to directions, but I poured the batter into a Bundt pan that had been greased and floured. I baked it for 45 minutes.

THEN.....I just eyeballed the powdered sugar in the frosting. I wanted it thick enough to set, but thin enough not to have to be spread with a knife. I poured it over and this is what I got.....

Couldn't you just put your face in that? YUM!!!!

MAKING A HAPPY HOME MONDAY

Hey, y'all. I hope you had a great weekend and are looking forward to another great week.

Today, I'm hosting a blog called "Making a Happy Home Monday." If you would like to join me, please link up on Mr. Linky (at the bottom) and share what you are doing. Please refer BACK to this blog by name or by the widget.

To participate in MHHM is simple. All you have to do is choose one area of your home that needs a little love and attention. Make the area cleaner, prettier, or more functional. Whatever you do, make it HAPPIER.

As this has been a CRAZY few weeks, I pulled a past project that I never did get to post about ~ my fireplace mantle.

Above my fireplace I have a Windberg and a cross-stitch sampler with our wedding info that my favorite aunt stitched for our wedding. On the mantle itself, I have various pictures and other pieces. The thing I really wanted to show you were my nesting Babushkas.

Aren't they cute? Can you believe there are 10 of them?


A blurry close-up of the tiniest one compared to the biggest 3.

So there you go. I hope you will join me. Either way, thanks for reading. I hope you have a great week. Please pray for me...and know that I pray for you.

COUPONS 3

OK....if you are just now checking this blog for the first time in a few, I have posted two related entries to this one. Just scroll down and you can read the others.

I was going to put the results of my last big shop. It was big enough, in fact, that I have only really gone out for milk and bread and a few fruits since...and this shop was on the 17th. I will not go into detail because the 5 receipts have a total of over 170 items. I will give the break down for the money....I will go into detail on the CVS receipts as that is where I made a decent score.

Our first stop is Kroger. (for this and other receipts, I will put the shelf cost (what it should be), my OOP (what I actually spent), the dollar amount of what I saved, and the % of savings.)

I got a total of 52 items. These include: meat, pizza rolls (that I actually got for free), biscuits, jelly, 3 dozen eggs (only Eggland) and some veggies.

Shelf cost: $132.02
OOP : $ 88.95
Saved : $ 42.07
% saved : 32%

Next stop: HEB. Here, I got 42 items including: fresh berries, $20 worth of NY Strip, juice, milk, cheese, and a brisket.

Shelf cost: $118.84
OOP : $ 93.11
Saved : $ 25.73
% saved : 21%

Next stop: Walgreens. I like to use their rebate booklet (though I didn't get anything this month.) You can do the rebates online and load a card....no mailing, no envelope stuffing...and they send an email when your card has been loaded. AND you get an extra 10% for using the gift card. Sweet!

My Walgreens shop included: 4 Lysol products, 4 boxes cereal (Kellogg's Frosted Flakes) and a few other items.

Shelf cost: $62.93
OOP : $33.12
Saved : $29.81
% saved : 47%

Finally, CVS. (Here is where the blog gets long....sorry) I will not put each individual price, for the sake of time.

• 2 Gilette deoderants
• 4 muligrain cheerios
• 2 dole fruit bowls (with 4 little bowls per)
• 5 Kraft Mac/cheese (individual)
• 3 Suave bodywash
• 3 pkgs 8-count paper towels
• 3 pkg 4-count double A batteries
• 2 ponds facial wipes
• 3 Simply Asia noodle bowls
• 1 Colgate toothpaste
• 1 9-roll Charmin TP
• 2 Herbal Essence Shampoo
• 12 cans soup (Campbells select and/or chunky)
• 2 bottles Purex detergent
• 2 bags chex snack mix
• 2 stayfree (24 count)
• 1 crest with scope (2 pack)

Shelf price: $200.46
OOP : $108.39
Saved : $ 92.07
% saved : 45%

AND, I got $19 in Extra Care Bucks...which is a coupon to be used as money at a subsequent CVS shop. Since I wasn't sure about a few items, I checked it out and decided to go back the next day....here is my trip.

• 6 bottles Suave shampoos/conditioners
• 2 Charmin TP (9 roll pks)
• 1 Herbal Essence shampoo
• 2 stayfree (24-cnt)
• 2 stayfree (18-cnt)....LOL I'm set until menopause ;)
• 1 green tea (for me right then)
• 1 Ped Egg for a "spa themed" Pokeno party

Shelf price: $61.79
OOP : $20.48
Saved : $41.31
% saved : 66%

AND, I earned $11 in ECBs


OK - so for me, it is worth my while.

I saved:

$25.73.....that is one music lesson (of which we have 12 per month) with a few pennies leftover
$29.81......that is a McDonald's drive through for me and the kids, should we need it
$41.31.......that is almost a tank of gas for the silver FTU
$43.07.......that is a manicure, with with tip, AND a snack on the way home
$92.07........WOW! That is getting my hair done and a pedicure and a Chipotle burrito bowl

Let's break it down more....

I have $600 per 2 weeks for my grocery needs. My shelf total was: $576.04. That is good. I stuck below (not by much) my grocery budget. Who gets ahead that way? I want vacations! I want toys! I want to go play!

SO....for just one shopping period, I took my $600 and ONLY spent $344.05. I saved, for the 2 weeks, $241.99. Assuming I did that for the next 2 week period, that would be a savings of almost $500. My total percent of savings was 42%.

Now, let's be realistic....I get lazy or in a hurry and don't usually save quite that much. So, cutting myself a bit of slack, let's take half that....only $120 for a 2 week period. That is still a savings of almost $250 per month.....are you thinking with me? That is $3,000/year!

Wow....I'm going to start saving for a vacation!

COUPONS 2

I just posted an entry on coupons. You can scroll down to read that one first - though it won't really change how you read this information.

The first thing I want to do is tell HOW I coupon. It won't take long...as it is not really a long process.

Below, you will see a bit of what I do:

First, I get my newspapers. I buy one double edition on Saturday, then have one paper delivered to me. Yep, that's right. I get 3 of each coupon per week. I know some that get many more than that, but this is very manageable for me. On average, I get a SmartSource pack and a Red Plum pack. That's 6 inserts per week. Once a month, there is a Proctor and Gamble insert. Sometimes, there is a SmartSource bonus insert. Sometimes, I get as many as 4 inserts in one paper, giving me a total of 12 inserts to clip.

On holiday weekends, coupons are not sent out. That is usually a time I play catch-up. I also use this time to go through my binder and clear out any expired Qs if I didn't go through them at the end of the month.

When I sit to clip, I first separate all the pages. I stack them, by page - meaning I will have all 3 of one page together. If I will use a coupon, I keep it. If I will not use anything on that page, I toss it. I do not get anything I wouldn't possibly use; though I do know that I won't use everything I clip. Does that make sense? I might clip Qs for 3 different bathroom cleaners. I have to have the cleaner, but don't really care if it is Lysol, Clorox or Scrubbing Bubbles. I just keep the Qs and wait and see what is on sale. The beauty of stockpiling like I do is in this: if there aren't any good deals, I have the time, and supplies, to wait around for a bargain.

Wow...that was a rabbit trail.

So, I sit at the table - used to sit on the floor, but being 29 for so long, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get up and get the numbing pins and needles out of my butt. LOL!

Anyway, I go through my stack and clip all 3 Qs at one time. I will get a decent stack before I file them. I put them in this binder. It is a regular binder I got at WM with a zipper around the edges. I keep scissors, the CVS and WG flyers, and the WG rebate booklet in the pockets. I also keep a few of my "better than normal victories" as shown on the receipt....OK, 1....I keep 1, but I'm REALLY proud of it. :)

Above is the binder. I currently have 27 dividers in it. I have the groceries in the front and everything else behind it. I break down my groceries by type: drinks, breakfasts, pastas..a lot like how a grocery store might have it's aisle labels. Behind that, I have paper goods, household cleaners, dental, shaving....you get the idea.

Behind each divider, I have the baseball card protectors. Each page has 9 pockets. I put one of each coupon in a pocket. So, if I have 3 Qs for Crest toothpaste at $.50 off 2 of them, they will be separated from the Qs for Crest toothpaste at $.25 off. How many of these clear pages do I have? 77....AND, they are usually about 95% filled.

On Sunday I like to look at my list (I use Grocery Game) and plan my menu for the week. I will also replenish my stockpile if there are good deals on certain things. Monday, I pull the coupons that I will actually need, then I hit the stores.

Once you get a good Q-run under your belt, you realize that it is really fun and you actually try to do even better next time. I have a circle of friends who coupon also. We are often texting each other with our wins. We actually think of it as a game. About a year ago, I would sit with this circle of friends and we would just talk and clip...what fun. Maybe I can get a group together again....any takers?

OK....next post....how I actually did on my last run. It is late....so I'll put this up tomorrow.