Frightful Friday deals from the Diva : )

Another week is coming to an end and I once again have been neglectful in posting on this blog.  Truthfully I spent most the week trying to readjust to taking my b/p meds, which I have adverse side affects from (only one I am not allergic to),  Even felt to puny to knit much!  Feeling overwhelmed about finishing some projects for my next craft show.  Also had another follow-up on my root canal.  That seems to be over with now, for another 6 months - yippee!

 

So did local shopping today, which means not so many big deals.  But I was pretty well stocked up on reduced meat bought earlier in the month.  I was looking to find all the ingredients for my special Halloween food that I prepare every year.  Really thought I was going to strike out and have to journey into the 'boro before next Thursday, but was pleasantly surprised to find my unique items at the local Piggly Wiggly.  Things like blue cheese and salsa Verde are not staples in this little 'bury - LOL

 

 

Welcome!  Come on in to the insane asylum : )

 

 

 

These are my Goblin Eggs, and I will start Halloween breakfast with these and twin dd famous monkey bread - yum!

 

 

 

Lunch will bring bloody worms and bat wings - he, he, he.

 

 

 

Rows and rows of monster eyeballs waiting to be served at dinner  Somewhere in here I will also make my pumpkin shaped cheese ball, bloody Mary  soup and other wonderful scary food!  What a fun day!

 

 

 

It wasn't all fun and games.  I scored a ton of mark down meat at the $GM, including  more of these baby back ribs.  You know what that means?  Dr. Pepper ribs!!! NO, hubby grabbed root beer by mistake - LOL  Children got to drink the mistake at lunch.  Guess hubby will have to go back and try again, but some time this week there WILL be Dr. Pepper baby back ribs in this house and that is how we do it down here in the south!

 

Blessings, Beth Ann

End of the week update

Wow!  That week went by fast!  Only something like 68 more days to Christmas : )  I have about 3.4 of my shopping done, but still feel unprepared and like it's coming at me like a speeding bullet.  Sigh.  Anyway, mostly a slow week= Praise the Lord!  So I thought I would share with you in pictures:

 

 

Twins finished up North America this week, and on to South America - Adios' Amigos!  LOL

 

 

 

Tuesday was my 16th. anniversary of my 29th. birthday!  One of the cool gifts I received was this portable speaker for my MP3 player (yes I like red).  I can listen in the kitchen, take it in the car, and Bre swiped it and used it in the bathroom.  Think she might get one for Christmas : )

 

 

 

Finished a knit baby blanket and 3 beanies.  I have a tote bag, prisim scarf and crochet baby blanket yet to finish for the craft show I am doing Nov. 2.  Need a helper, anyone want to join me at 5 a.m.?

 

 

 

Had to get more anti-fungal shampoo for doxie and corgi.  Said good-bye to $28 : (

 

 

 

Had to go to doc for b/p meds.  Said good-bye to the rest of my budget.  Budget?  Budget?  We don't have no stinkin budget!  LOL

 

 

 

But . . .

tomorrow is pumpkin patch day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We haven't missed a year yet since moving here.  Told army son about it and thought he was going to cry.  Family traditions are soooooooo important.  Not so much for the activity, but for being there together as a family - united. 

 

Feeling blessed, Beth

Deal Diva~ Bacon

Running late on my deals, but didn't do my 'big' shopping this week.  I stayed local and found this great new treat at the local Save -a lot.  Trying to eat more high protein, so spending my money more on this than chips : )

 

 

This is sooooo yummy!  I have even added it to my scrambled eggs for breakfast.  Kids gave it a thumbs up!

 

 

 

Pretty lo in carbs too.  The Save A-lot also got a new meat tank.  Looks great and keeps the meat nice and cool.  They are also doing a great new family pack on boneless/skinless chicken breast and tenders.  Good price.  My new place for buying meat local.

 

 

 

Staying local, I spied this guy at the Dollar General Market entrance - LOVE it!  It made me smile and that is almost unheard of for me in a store - LOL

 

 

 

Reminded me of this guy, we found on Sullivan Island, SC.  Pretty cool what distributers can do with soda cases : )  Too pretty to buy from though.

 

Blessings, Beth Ann

Hump day Happenings

Been an up/down week here at the funny farm.  Didn't make it to the pumpkin patch due to bad weather on tropical storm Karen's shirt tails.  Bummer.  Then I had a migraine, many of those lately, usually something I ate : (  Then my back went out.  Just when I thought it couldn't get worse . . . I felt my back move again, and then my sciatic nerve acted up.  Whew!  Things are a bit better, Praise the Lord!  Other happenings were that army son called home to share the story of his first convoy.  He had to drive 200 miles in the rain, couldn't see anything in front of him and said that S. Korean's don't know how to drive - LOL  It was 11:30 at night there, he just got back and was still stressed out.  Bless his heart.    He also needed some gaming info from online, he still uses my email as it is the only one he can remember : )  Miss him soooo much.  As fot the other children; Bre stepped in to help with art class.  She has always been crafty, like me and like me is also a Libra.  Coincidence?  Hmmmmmmmm.

 

 

 

 

The twins are going around the world this year, in school.  We are on North America, specifically Mexico.

 

 

 

Making dried suns out of clay, to paint later.

 

 

 

Tissue paper flowers - 'ole!

 

 

Just another typical week around here, and it isn't over yet.  LOL  Many blessings came my way, and if I hadn't been forced to slow down I might not have had the chance to appreciate them.  Like my older child stepping up to help the younger, or dear friends stopping by to fill me in on what I missed at book club and sharing the goodies she had baked.  I believe God is in everything, good or bad.  You just have to choose to look for him.  Did I enjoy my stretch of bad health?  NO.  Can I pout about it?  Absolutely.  But I would rather glorify God, as we are directed to in the bible, in bring me opportunities no matter my condition.

 

Blessings, Beth Ann

Deal Diva: Week 1/Oct.

Warm weather greetings from middle Tennessee!  Can you believe it, first Sat. of Oct. and it is currently 88 degrees outside - whew!  Praise the Lord for air conditioning ; )  

 

The children and I have been watching " 19 and Counting", on Netflix steaming.  This is the TLC show about the Dugger family, whom I met at a homeschool conference in Cincinnati two years ago.  We watched an episode about their grocery shopping and budgeting.  Looks like they enjoy Aldie's too.  Once again, am I the only one who doesn't?   Anyway, it left me once again rethinking my budget and what I could do different.  Seems to get tougher and tougher each week to make ends meet!  I fear the problem is that most grocery items (food and paper/pet) keep going up, and my husbands pay does not : (  I know we are not alone, but it makes me feel guilty about buying good/healthy food and not living on noodles 24/7 to stay in budget.  Sigh.  What do you all do?

 

Lets take a look at what I did find.  First stop as usual is United Grocery Outlet:

 

 

 

Picked up a butternut squash and the $1 bread, but the best deal  was this Sara Lee Roasted Chicken chub.  This is how it comes to the deli dept. for slicing.  By buying it whole and slicing it at home I save about  $2 a pound and will get about 4-5 meals for a total of $13.  These will be high protein choices instead of typical lunch fair such as burrito's , chips or anything breaded.

 

 

 

Kroger was a little less exciting.  However they did have their organic, low mercury tuna on special.  It is the only tuna I will eat.  I really don't trust fish anymore, from anywhere.  I also found a one pound deli container or fresh salsa reduced.  That will go into tonight's chili.  Lastly, my laundry soap was also on special, $2.99 instead of the reg. $5 I pay.  I have tried cheaper laundry soap, but this is the only thing my dong is not allergic to : (

 

 

 

 

Life is about compromise and that is what I do in the meat dept.  I always go to the store with a menu plan, but the meat is not always available at a good price or it just doesn't look edible.  I then chose from what does look good and is reduced, to stay on budget.  Sometimes that means some fast thinging and quick menu rewriting (sans coffee I might add) but that is what I get paid the big bucks for - LOL Seriously, it is my job, just like a 9-5er, and I take it that seriously; as God dictates.

 

 

 

OK, just for fun I picked up theses holiday candy jimmies.  And yes, all the stores are putting out their holiday baking items.  This is a 4 split with gingerbread men, candy canes . . .

 

 

 

white snowflakes, green trees and red balls.  Sooooooo cute!  Santa will love these on his cookies.  I chose to purchase them now based on a bad experience two years ago.  I actually waited to closer to Christmas (two weeks before) and all the stores were wiped out.  Not just local, I also traveled 20 miles into the 'city' and they were empty too!  Reminded me of 4 years prior to that, the great wax paper outage of Christmas 2007!  So now if I see something for the holidays I get it then, it won't be there latter - LOL  Planning ahead is cool anyway right?

 

 

 

 

Birthday Bowling

Yesterday was a great day, and not because of the weather (rainy afternoon).  In the morning my little twin angles sang at church in the children's choir.  In the afternoon we did an early birthday celebration for middle daughter, 3 days early but we all know week=ends are best for these things : )  So off to the bowling ally per her request, usually it is roller skating.  I haven't been in a bowling ally in over twenty years and it was the first time ever  for the twins, and we  had a BLAST!

 

 

Here is the birthday girl.  If you see her around wish her a happy 17th.

 

 

 

Picking balls and shoes were quit the job!  The twins had to swap shoes twice and little Gabe (adopted son and Bre's BF boyfriend) whined about how heavy his ball was, more than the twins!  LOL

 

 

 

Elysha turned out to be very good at it, even though it was her first time : )

 

 

 

Here is dad showing Elijah how to do it.  Eli did much better after dad stopped helping!  And everyone did great when we had the bumpers put up for the second game (didn't have those when I was a kid).

 

 

 

Our dear friend and neighbor, Miss Debbie, came along as well as her daughter (Bre's best friend) and dd boyfriend (little Gabe).  She was great!  Even without the bumpers - LOL

 

It was so much fun and we were all together.  Came home for pizza, cake and ice cream.  Great way to end a great day!  We are defiantly going to do this again soon, maybe on little Gabe's b-day (2nd of Dec.).  More money than we can usually spend, but worth it for a great family treat.  Pray more family's get to spend this type of time together.

 

Blessings, Beth Ann

Deal Diva ~ End of Sept. shopping

Another beautiful day here in middle TN.  So blessed God led us down here.  Not to many screaming deals this week.  So will just do my top three deal picks.

 

 

 

First stop was UGO and I scored these organic pasta sauces at $1.49 each.  Good brand with good flavor.  Love their fire roasted green chilies and tomatoes (rotel).

 

 

 

This week was twin son's turn to shop with mom.  He wanted a treat (of course) and then we went down the cereal/baking aisle . . . I almost never buy boxed cereal, nothing even vaguely healthy in there.  But he asked (begged), so thinking I was oh so slick I said if he could find some with 5 or less ingredients, I would buy it.  Well these had 6 ingredients, but at $1.49 much better than a candy bar or soda.  Also there would be some to share with twin sister at home.  So, with my almond milk I feel not to bad about it.  Let the kid live a little.  : )

 

 

 

I bought these organic gala apples at Kroger for $1.99 a pound.  Picked up 5, equaled 2 pounds, but will be a nice breakfast treat I feel good about.  So hard lately to find fruit that isn't over ripe and covered in fruit flies (Wal-Mart), or an un-natural shiny surface (once again  Wal-Mart).

 

So there you have it.  Later this week we will be cooking out for middle dd b-day (17) and making hubby's world famous burgers (mark down meat) and grilling some reduced Johnsonville chorizo brats.  Life is good.

 

Blessings, Beth Ann

Happy Fall Y'all!  I know I am a couple days late, but I still mean it : )  Been a real whopper of a week and the topper was my root canal yesterday.  Let me just say that God is amazing!  I went to bed Monday night still not having the money to pay for it, but praying hard.  Tuesday there was an unexpected deposit and it was enough to get me into the appt.!    So much more I could say, but y'all don't want to hear me go on, and on.  Anyway, realized I haven't posted this week, so thought I would share this tried and true pumpkin recipe.  I stumbled on to it last year and have made it almost a dozen times since, including for my book club Christmas Party last year.  I made it again today, for tomorrows grab and go breakfast ~ children  love it!

Chocolate Pumpkin Snack Cake

1 cup flour

1/3 cup baking cocoa

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 cup sugar

1 stick butter at room temp.

2.3 cup can pumpkin

2 eggs

oil for pan

Preheat oven to 350. Whisk dry ingredients in small bowl to blend.  Put butter and sugar in a mixing bowl and cream together.  Grease  8x8 pan.  Add eggs to butter mixture and beat until light in color.  Mix in pumpkin and then mix in dry ingredients.  Spread batter in pan.  Bake 45 minutes.  Let cool at least 10 minutes before serving.

 

Enjoy!  Blessings, Beth Ann

Double Deal Diva

I am coming at ya today times two.  I missed last week -end due to  a ton of commitments.  So went shopping Wed. after taking twin daughter to her reg. booth appt. and again Fri, alone with hubby~ I know , right!  LOL  Found many good things both days.  First stop is always UGO:

 

 

 

I snagged the last two bottles of organic ketchup and a couple jars of natural Jiff.  Both items at about a $1 less than Wally world.

 

 

 

I really try to get my bread at UGO, as I can still get semi=healthy stuff for still $1, but it goes fast!  Also picked up this natural un=cured lunch meat, about $1.60 less than the W place.  I really want my food to have 5 ingredients or less : )

 

 

 

Friday is pizza day here and is a big deal to the kids.  It is also a big hit on my wallet, so I don't get it every time : (  I found this brand at UGO and know from looking on the web that they are a non-GMO company!  They cost about a $1 more a pizza than I like to pay, but the natural ingredients are worth it.  It tasted wonderful, really taste the difference from other frozen brands.  I looked at other stores (3 in the 'boro) but couldn't find any to do a price comparison.  But other 'natural' brands were at least $1.50 a pizza more.

 

 

 

The older Kroger is still the best place for dairy.  My biggest score was Sargento brand sting cheese, $1 a bag of 12.  I grabbed the last 4 bags to the young college age cashiers dismay, and my children's cheering delight!  Always a favorite at lunch time : )  Oh, and you can't tell from the photo but the yogurt was only .19 cents a cup!

 

 

 

Another amazing deal were these organic eggs; reg. price $4.59, now $1.99 each.  I bought 4 but wonder if I should have gotten more?

 

 

 

Lastly; not sure this was a deal but it made the kido's smile.  We don't drink milk at our house (almond milk for cooking) but once in a while as a treat I will buy some to go with lunch.  I believe Trumoo brand is still healthier, but . . .  when in Rome . . . 

 

God was good to us this week and I keep sharing these deals with you as a form of encouragement.  No matter your life circumstance, don't give up or let it be an excuse to take a less positive path. 

 

Blessings, Beth Ann

mini ~ post: Red Roof Inn

Killer migraine today, started last night at church.  Easing up now (in time for me to make dinner), so just a quick up-date.  Over the week-end we had our chimney fixed and a new roof put on.  This after a long spring/summer of debates and firing of our original contractor.  More I could add here, but just want to let the bitterness go and try not to let the experience ruin our trust in folks.  So Sat. while at the Beth Moore Event and Sun. while at church, I missed all the pounding!  PTL!

 

Here is the front, all done!

 

 

 

From our drive way.

 

 

 

View of kitchen and up-stairs (and bird feeder I brought all the way from Gaylord, MI).

 

Personally?  I miss the black shingle, but we needed a new roof.  Most folks down here have the metal roofs and they are zero maintenance.  Hubby says we are good now until we die!  Oh my!  Good news I guess - LOL  I will get use to it.  Right?

 

Blessings, Beth Ann

First Show

This past Sat.  was my first time ever setting up my fiber art craft to sell.  I was excited and nervous.  No need. Small group, all lovely ladies that I knew or came with .  Everyone said it all looked well.

 

 

So here are the 'ladies' all set up.

 

 

 

Here is the left half of the table; tote bags, baby blankest and small bags.

 

 

 

Right hand side of table; tea scarves, cowls, wash cloths and toddler hats.

 

 

 

Early shoppers and one of my best supporters : ) 

 

Basket is filled with 'friendship' bracelets that Bre and friend made.  they usually make these in school colors for friends : )  But they also make great gifts for only $1.

 

I had a great time and made a few dollars.  Just enough to give me encouragement to keep on trying.

 

Blessings, Beth Ann

 

 

Put'n on the Ritz

Tomorrow is my big day.  Anticipating some wonderful fellowship and excited by the chance to share my craft with my sisters in Christ.  

 

 

I will bring the 'ladies' with me, and dress them in their finest.

 

I could talk about knitting/yarn all day, but will hold myself back and remember this is first and foremost a bible study ~ pray for me.

 

I wanted to update one of my projects (sometimes I think my best stuff gets given away as gifts), for my niece up in northern MI.  I made the cup holders she asked for, but add a couple hats ~ because that is what I do.  I have HATATUIDE!   LOL

 

 

My beautiful niece and her daughter modeling their hats.

 

 

 

Here she is showing off her hat and wrist warmer/cup holder!  LOL

 

Miss MI and miss these guys!  Glad all is well and all is happy!

 

 

Well time is flying and have a bunch to do.  This week-end is also the huge art/craft fair in our burg.  I have lived here for over 11 years and haven't made it to one yet.  Think this year will be the year, after church on Sunday.  Life is good and I am blessed.

 

Blessings, Beth Ann

Crafty

Slow week here ~ Praise the Lord!  I am spending any and all free time prepping for my first craft event ever!  This is something I have been wanting to do for about two years, but didn't get serious until this past spring.  Actually I think I had just about talked myself into waiting until next spring before doing any events.  I told myself I was happy with commissions, gifts and ETSY.  Enter God into my life : )  The Lord has placed amazing people in my life at many impossible times.  One of my sisters in Christ invited me to set up at a bible study event sponsored by our church.  I hesitated about ten minutes and then said yes, and haven't looked back.  That was six weeks ago and the big event is this Sat.

 

I kicked into high gear and packed all my gear.  I made these product tags from business cards I ordered from Café press.

I started packing inventory, making sure I had even numbers of some items to make cool displays (OCD ).

And staying up late (when I have  my free time) to finish UFO's to sell (unfinished objects).  Praying for fellowship, growth and self awareness.

 

Blessings, Beth Ann