A Virtuous Woman

Hallelujah!

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 04:02:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

She openeth her mouth....

Giving the Lord magnificent praise is never out of season.

Until next time...

Flooded In

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:28:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies...

This is the road from our house to the highway--looks like a good shot of "the road less traveled" doesn't it?

But if you back it up a bit, you see why it's "not traveled"--for today at least!

Somewhere under here is our little bridge

At least it's a change from the drought of last two years. Kind of makes me wish I was...

Until next time...

This post is linked to:

Tuesday Garden Party at An Oregon Cottage
Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer
Garden Tuesday at Sidewalk Shoes

Just for Fun--States I've Visited

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:24:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

I like to travel and see new things--other parts of the country that are often so different from the piney woods of Louisiana where I was born and raised and have lived most of my life. I was privileged to move around with my husband's job a little after our son graduated from high school, and so had the opportunity to live, at least temporarily, in some areas that were unusual for me (like Alaska) and some that were very similar to what I was used to (like Georgia). I found this fun map you can make by clicking on the names of the states you've lived in or visited or at least driven through, and was shocked to see how way Southern it turned out. I think my next road trip needs to head north east!

Click on the link and see what kind of map you can make, just for fun!

Until next time...

The UN-virtuous Woman

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 02:05:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman?

Hello? Anybody out there? Any Proverbs 31 wannabes left? I think the Virtuous Woman has left the building. At least, she ain't at my house any more.

You ever feel that way?

There used to be a funny cartoon that stated "the hurrier I go, the behinder I get". Lately, I'm so behinder, it isn't even funny anymore.

I found an old organizer of mine a while back. I was amazed--A-MAZE-D--at how much I used to do. So very involved in so much. And so ambitious to do more--to be more.

And I know I'm older now, and fatter, and have less energy--blobbity blobbity blah blah--but I just haven't been cuttin' it lately.

My house is a wreck--both of them. Not that the second one is that bad, but that's only because it's practically empty--just a minimum of stuff, but I have a tendency on my trips back and forth to just dump stuff with the promise that "I'll have time to take care of that next time". And sometimes I do have the time next time, but I don't always take the time.

Awhile back, my son told me that he thought we were about to be going through a time of testing. Like on a personal basis. And we have been. Nothing major, just little things. Lots and lots of little things. And medium things, too. No biggies, thankfully. Just seems like lots of lots of small and medium things.

And I've been wanting and meaning to get back into my blogging--I enjoyed it so much when I was posting regularly. But then the days and weeks stretch out, and you've been silent for so long, you feel like you can't just pick back up and start again. Not to mention when your blog is called "The Virtuous Woman" and you haven't been feeling or behaving very virtuously.

But I am.

Starting back again.

So--any other UN-virtuous women trying your best to Get It All Together out there?

Who can find a virtuous woman?

We'll just have to wait and see.

Again.

Until next time...

Prayer of Favor

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:34:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

Hey everybody! I absolutely can't believe how long it's been since I posted. I had such plans, too, for December and even January, but alas! life intervenes and before you know it it's been weeks and weeks since you posted, and you can't just dive right back in after that long of an absence, can you?? But I am, anyway. Diving right back in, that is!

I was given a copy of this at church yesterday, and enjoyed it so much that I wanted to share it with you. It's called "Prayer of Favor", and it's much more effective if you read it aloud in a good, strong voice. So find yourself someplace private, and read this like you mean it. You might be surprised at how much better it will make you feel.

Prayer of Favor

Heavenly Father,

I declare that I have your favor today.

I declare that I am strong and well able to fulfill my God given destiny; I know you are fighting my battles for me.

I declare that I am a victor and not a victim. I may have been defeated in the past but the past is past, this is a new day. Your word says that "I am the head and not the tail" "I will lend and not borrow". Everything I touch will prosper and succeed according to your perfect will because of your favor, my Father.

I declare that by your stripes I am healed today. I will live and not die. I declare that you are restoring health unto me, and with long life you satisfy me.

Father, today, I declare your favor in my relationship with you, favor in my relationship with my spouse and my family; favor in relationships with my friends, and favor in relationships in my business. I want to thank you for causing me to be at the right place at the right time. I want to thank your for causing people to want to help me.

Today, Father, I want to thank you for blessing me with creativity. I want to thank you for causing me to make good decisions with a clear mind.

I declare that you are smiling down on me today and that your favor will be in everything I do because I am pleasing to you.

I declare that I will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country, blessed going in and blessed going out.

I claim right now Psalm 84:11 that you are blessing me with favor and honor and no good thing will you withhold from me because my walk is blameless, through Christ.

I claim Habakkuk 2:3 that my vision is for an appointed time. Though it may tarry, I will wait for it, for it will surely come.

I declare today that I am filled with your can do power my Father. Between you and me, we are the majority and I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

I know that your Word says that no man has seen, heard, or even imagined the wonderful things that you have in store for those that love you, and I want to tell you this morning that I love you and I want to thank you for loving me.

God, I want to thank you for your favor today, not because of who I am, but because of whose I am. I am a child of the most high God, the creator of the whole universe.

I commit this day to you, in Jesus name,

Amen

Kind of makes me want to sit up straighter and hold my head up higher, doesn't it you?

Until next time...

Who's "Who" Is Your Who?

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 04:11:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness

It's that time of year again. The silly season when we easily get so caught up in the prep work--cleaning, cooking, decorating, buying gifts, wrapping gifts, going to work parties and club parties and church parties and church services and family gatherings and on and on and on..that we forget the "Who".

No, not the "Who" down in "Whoville".

The real "Who".

As in, "Who are we doing this for in the first place?".

"Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and mete out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

"Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him?" Isaiah 40:12-13

You know. THAT "Who"

For unto us a child is given. Right?

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

"For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no beauty of comeliness: and when we shall see hime, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;
and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah
56:1-6

I love this time of year--cooking, the decorating, the presents, the lights, the busy-ness. But as I catch myself being overwhelmed by my inablity to do more and to be more, I'm trying to remember to take some time out to remember who my "Who" is. Not just during advent, but whenever I found myself distracted and caught up in the whirlwind that is life.

He's my "Who". Who's Your Who?

Until next time...

Life on the Farm is Kinda Laid Back...

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:24:00 +0000

Well, technically, it isn't a farm. It's my parent's camp, but it's on family land that used to be a farm.

It's where my parents go to relax...

...and watch the wildlife...

...like this wild turkey...

They usually travel in packs, but that day we spotted only one.

We did find this teeny, tiny little lizard, basking in the sun...

on an overturned porch swing.

I think he tried to ignore us...

but we we were sitting about 10 feet away, so I don't think he could.

He finally tired of the spotlight and hid out on the light string under the porch rail.

Until next time...

What's Cookin' With the Bloggerette Sorority!

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 02:52:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

She rises while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens...

Remember the fun we had last year with the bloggerette sorority? It's been a while since I've participated in any of the parties with my fellow sorority sisters, but I clicked over on the site to see their new look, and found a "What's Cookin'?" party that seems just right up my alley.

Some of you may know that I have a cooking blog--one that's been neglected even more (if that's possible!) than this one in the last few months. If so, this post will look familiar--if not---well, here you go!

This is one my favorite and most impressive (to me, anyway!) things I've cooked in a long time. So sisters--sit back with your favorite coffee or tea or big glass of ice cold milk and big ol' slab of this most delectable cake. It's not figure-friendly, but it will definitely put a smile on your face.

Enjoy!
There's a thrift store in our little town that holds a bake sale on the first full weekend of the month, run by the ladies from the local Mennonite church. They always have such good things--pies, cakes, and cookies, along with breads and even homemade freezer meals. One of our favorites was always an Italian Cream cake, but as with lots of other things in this economy, the bake sale items have just about priced themselves out of my comfort zone. So I decided to try my hand at baking one of these luscious goodies myself.

The recipes I found all called for egg yolks in the main batter, then beating the whites separately and folding in. Since "quick and easy" is my middle name in the kitchen, I am not much of a multi-step, multi-bowl baker. Recipes that call for beating the egg whites and folding them in seem scary and overly complicated, so I just kept on looking until I found one that called for whole eggs just plopped in the batter like the regular cake recipes I am used to making.

Italian Cream Cake

Ingredients:

1 c buttermilk

1 t baking soda

1/2 c (1 stick) butter, softened

1/2 c shortening (yes it takes butter and shortening)

2 c sugar

5 eggs

1 t vanilla

1 t baking powder

2 c all purpose flour

1 c coconut

1/2 c chopped nuts

Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk and set aside

Cream together butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy

Add vanilla and eggs--1 or 2 at a time, mixing well in between.

Add buttermilk, flour, baking powder, and coconut, until combined

Stir in nuts

Pour into greased cake pan(s). I used two 8 or 9 inch rounds.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven, 30-35 minutes (if you use a tube pan, it will take longer) or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean

Allow to cool completely before frosting

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 c butter, softened

1 t vanilla

4 c powdered sugar

2-4 T cream or milk

1/2 to 1 c coconut

1/4 to 1/2 c chopped nuts

Cream together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla

Add powdered sugar and mix well, adding cream or milk as needed for desired consistency.

You can add coconut and nuts into the frosting if like, or sprinkle on top like I did

I almost messed up by thinning my frosting just a bit too much--I usually make sheet cakes that I don't even take out of the pan, or tube cakes, where a softer frosting is better to drip over the sides. This time, though, I wanted a nicer presentation in the form of a layer cake, and when I made a soft frosting, as usual, I had a little trouble trying to keep it from sliding off the sides. Next time I do a layer cake, I'll remember to make the frosting a little stiffer.

Since I was trying to make a pretty cake, as well as a delicious one, I wanted to use my pedestal cake platter. To keep the plate or platter clean while you're frosting the cake, put down a layer of strips of parchment or wax paper.

Then put the first layer on top of the paper strips. Make sure you have enough sticking out from under so that you can pull them out afterwards.

Frost the cake as usual, then sl-o-o-o-o-w-ly pull the paper strips out from under the edges.

I was so impressed with myself for making this cake--completely from scratch, and a layer cake, at that! Maybe I'll change my middle name from "quick and easy" to "made from scratch"!

Be sure to visit some of the other bloggerette sorority sisters and see What's Cookin' with them.

Until next time...

I Got My Big Fat Check, How About You?

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:46:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

She looketh well to the ways of her household

Anyone remember the post I did a few months back about shopping online through Ebates?

Well, guess what? I got my big fat check for this quarter! $19.38! Yippee! It's not a lot, but sure does come in handy to get a rebate from something you'd be buying anyway.

Click on the link on the top line to read all about how you can sign up through one my referral links, and save money for both of us!

Until next time...

Crepe Myrtles in Bloom

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:11:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard

It's that time of the year, here in the South, that the crepe myrtles are blooming.

Right in the middle of the summer, when the heat is at it's worst, and the drought still has no end in sight; when the gardens have started dying and other flowers are drooping from heat exhaustion--suddenly, the crepe myrtles burst out in all of their array of colors.

The one in my mom's front yard always blooms at least a couple of weeks ahead of mine. (Hers gets full sun, and mine are really not planted at the optimum place in my yard, they get too much shade from the oak trees.) But just when I think mine are going to give me just a couple of measly little flowers, they show up--just a bit late, but beautiful, nevertheless.

Mine are the traditional "hot pink" fuchsia color...

but variety is the spice of life, and crepe myrtles come in a variety of colors, from lavender...

to white...

to light pink.

They come in different shapes, too, according to how they're pruned, from a loose, airy look...

to one that's more tightly shaped.

Which are your favorites? I think I like them all!

This post is linked to:

Tuesday Garden Party at An Oregon Cottage

Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer

Until next time...

Garden Update, July 10th

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 20:47:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

...with the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard

I have not been very virtuous lately, even in the garden. Especially in the garden. Partly because of this...

I took this about 10:00 one morning, maybe even earlier. Already 90. Degrees. Fahrenheit.

Some days my air conditioner can't keep it cool even inside the house. On those days I'm miserable inside and out. And it shows, too.

Fortunately, most of my container plants are very forgiving. They droop, and shrivel, and close up leaves to preserve moisture, but all it takes a good drink from the water hose and they perk right back up.

I wish I were that resilient, don't you?

Some things, like this morning glory, have foliage but no blooms, but it hangs in there. (That's a periwinkle at the base, giving it at least a touch of color.)

Other things, like these lilies, come back up year after year. The top fell out of this tree six years ago with Hurricane Rita blew threw, but it continues to leaf and put out new branches, and the lilies--my husband even burns them over every couple of years, and they come right back and eventually give us the most brilliant, if short-lived, blooms.

And of course the garden....by far the star of this spring/summer garden are the cherry tomatoes.

The heat has made every one's tomatoes smaller than usual, and these are no exception, but they are by far the best tasting tomatoes I've ever had--I'll definitely plant these Sweet Cherry 100's again.

Can you see how many still-green ones I have? I've had a few that split, but most are perfect and sweet.

Watermelon vines are taking over the end of their bed...

and I actually have a couple of melons--one the size of a softball...

...and one more suitable for golf!

And while my water bill has more than doubled...

at least I can turn it on and let it go!

Meanwhile, how is your garden growing?

Until next time...

This post is linked to:

Tuesday Garden Party at An Oregon Cottage

Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer

Frugal Gardening 101 at Cents to Get Debt Free, Amy's Finer Things, and Smockity Frocks

It's Raining!!

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:52:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

...with the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard...

Yesterday in the wee hours of the morning I woke up to one of the most beautiful sounds in the world---that of rain hitting the roof and pouring off onto the ground! It's been literally weeks! We were about 20 inches down in total rainfall for last year and this one--gardens and pasture and crops have dried up and shriveled on the vine, and we've had at least a month of temperatures in the high 90's and low triple digits.

But not today. Praise the Lord! The high so far today has been in the 70's. Yesterday we got almost 2 1/2 inches at our place, that good slow, stop-and-start kind that lets it a lot of it soak in instead of running off. And it's raining again, today, too! Yippee!

Yesterday morning, off my carport...

...and out back toward the garden and one of the cow pastures...

I couldn't resist trying to snap a picture of the rain dripping and running off the roof of the back porch...

...and of water still standing on the brick walkway.

...even puddles in the driveway, and a birdbath, filled with fresh water that didn't come out of a hose!

I'm getting cherry tomatoes by the handfuls, but the cucumbers are still dying off, one by one. I'm tempted to just pull them up and wait until the fall, but I think I'll wait to see what the rain and a couple of days of cooler temperatures does (if anything) to revive them.

Meanwhile, I'm listening to the hay meadow across the road--I think I can hear it growing as we speak!

Until next time...

This post is linked to:

Tuesday Garden Party at An Oregon Cottage

Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer

Frugal Gardening 101 at Cents to Get Debt Free, Amy's Finer Things, and Smockity Frocks

Garden Update--June 14

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:53:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

...with the fruit of her hands, she planteth a vineyard

Not too much to report on the garden front this week. The weather moderated--for a couple of day, the highs were only in the mid-90's (!) but as of yesterday, we were back to triple digits again.

I thinned all of the dead cucumber vines out, and we found two more cucumbers, but they are a weird yellowish color and don't seem to be turning the right shade of green. The one we picked last week was bitter, but that seems to be a problem with of the folk's this year--I really think it's the hot dry weather, nothing seems to be growing right. My husband decided that maybe they were getting too much sun during the heat of the day, so he dug out this old umbrella from the shed and rigged up a shade from the noon sun. Snappy, huh?

Cherry tomatoes still turning slowly--we've 4 or 5 so far, and none of the yellow ones have turned at all.

And while farmers all around are harvesting melons, I finally have one lone baby watermelon on the vines!

Containers are about the same, tired looking in the middle of the day from the heat, but they are (so far) still perking up once evening falls.

How is your garden growing this year?

This post is linked to:

Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer

Tuesday Garden Party at An Oregon Cottage

Frugal Gardening 101 At Cents to Get Debt Free, Amy's Finer Things, and Smockity Frocks

Until next time...

Garden Update--June 6

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:15:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

...with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard

Here in southwest Louisiana, we are experiencing record-breaking drought and unseasonable (even for us!) heat, including several days of triple digit temperatures already. Even when the actual temperature is in the 90's, the heat index hits the 100's, so we're cooking, not growing!

Thankfully, the heat doesn't make this New Zealand spinach bolt, and since it's in a container, I can position it to get some shade for at least part of the day. I need to find or make a trellis, these are just about ready to start running.

I thought I'd lost my basil last week--on my day for container watering, I came home to NO water--our rural water system had a leaky pipe, so they cut us off (with no warning, might I add) for about 18 hours. Thankfully it perked right back up when I was finally able to water the next day. The rosemary right above it just sort of sits there, and the smaller New Zealand spinach is recovering nicely from the day I stepped on it while I was dead-heading my petunias.

These are some marigolds I started from seed--I was late with these, but they usually do pretty well in the heat, so I'm hoping these will give me some color when everything else is drooping. They are surrounded by a monkey vine...

...that wants to wrap around everything except the post that I want it to wrap.

Another hot-weather favorite of mine, periwinkles. They should fill this bowl nicely, and can recover from the worst heat--just a little drink seems to perk them right up, even in the oven-like temperatures we usually don't experience until later in the summer.

Can you tell the temperature? It was already 80 degrees, and this was about 8:00 a.m. Right now (4:00p.m.) it's around 98.

Hostas and paint plants are doing well, I have them on the eastern side of the house where they get morning light, but afternoon and evening shade...

...right down from the morning glory/periwinkle combo pot. The periwinkles should spread out a little more and shade the tender bare lower vines of the morning glories. So far no blooms on the morning glory--I'm thinking they need a feeding. One year I had a planter full of these with glorious foliage but no blooms, but as soon as I dosed it good with plant food, they bloomed practically over night.

As far as the actual garden--the cucumbers have about had it. One day they were full and covered with blooms, the next they started drooping. Every day in the heat they wilt down, and they do still perk back up (mostly) in the evenings, but several of the vines have wilted down and died...

...and this is as close to a cucumber as I've seen so far. (edited to add: we found an actual, full-sized cucumber this morning (6/7) while out watering--it was hiding on the far side of the fence, hanging from a vine that was wrapped around the side--so with our lunch we will have a cucumber, along with our lone ripe cherry tomato)

Watermelon vines have finally started growing, and I have a couple of blooms, plus one that looks as though it is trying to make a melon. I hope they will keep going long enough to actually bear fruit.

Some of the blueberries look like they're dying, too...

...and although the blackberries are growing, I've yet to see a single bloom on this bunch. The wilder ones that are in the side yard have bloomed and even made a few berries, but they dried up before they ripened.

I have one hope for a decent harvest--the cherry tomatoes look great so far...

they are loaded with blooms and fruit...

...including this one lone tomato that's actually started to turn!

Petunia are alive--leggy but hanging in there--this is what they usually look like in the middle of the summer--I usually have pretty petunias only in the spring and fall, they fade quickly in the real heat of the summer.

This is my (so far) vain attempt to catch the creature of the night that keeps rooting up the yard. He's move to the "fairy ring" of green I have in the middle of the back yard that catches the sprinkler.

I think the rest of yard is unappetizing, even to the bugs that the armadillo roots around to find.

We've been praying for rain, not just for us, but for the farmers and ranchers who are really beginning to hurt. The news reports widespread crop and pasture failures--while those parishes on the eastern side of the state are still facing floods! As much as I wish my little patch was doing better, I'm thankful that I'm not really dependent on it my for food, or to make a living. It could be a wonderful supplement, but I will still be able to feed my family without it. Others are not so blessed.

I never did try the powdered milk for fertilizer, thing, but my mother did, and her plants have done about as well on reconstituted powdered milk as they have with a light fertilizer. I did read again that it works well for tomatoes, so maybe I'll give my tomato plants a drink of milk this week. It's the calcium that does it, I know, but it does seem to me that if you have a plant or some dirt that you know needs calcium, this would be a safe and "green" way to take care of it.

This post is linked to:

Tuesday Garden Party at An Oregon Cottage

Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer

Frugal Gardening 101 at Cents to Get Debt Free, Amy's Finer Things, and Smockity Frocks

Until next time...

Not Extreme Couponing, but Mission Possible, After All

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Sat, 21 May 2011 13:41:00 +0000

She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar

She looketh well to the ways of her household

In an effort to help myself and hopefully, some of you readers, get back on track with out savings at the grocery store, I'm reviving my "Mission Possible" series.

Our mission, should we choose to accept it, (and you know we will) is to take
the resources we have available to us--coupons, rebates, Extra Care Bucks (ECB),
Register Rewards (RR) and weekly ad circulars--to get the things our families
need and can use, all while keeping our total out-of-pocket (OOP) as low as
possible. We fulfill our tasks at drugstores, grocery stores, dollar stores, and
wherever we can find those bargains and frugal finds that benefit our families

I admit it, I haven't been couponing much, (or at all) in quite some time. I had convinced myself that it just wasn't worth the time or effort involved since I'd moved back home, with fewer stores, higher prices, and no double, not to mention smaller coupon denominations. But it hasn't been just couponing, I haven't worked on my stockpile of anything, even just watching sales. If I happen to notice that something is on sale, I may buy extra, but I've been in blah blah mode for while, and I decided to work my way out of it.

The first thing I did was get my coupons in order, which involved clearing out my coupon stash, because 95% of them were expired. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't even call it a stash. I tried going back my small organizer, but I really like to be able to see my coupons, so I pulled my binder and set it all back up.

And then I went shopping.

The first shopping trip I made after getting my coupons in order, I used one coupon. One. But I persevered, and yesterday I went to Brookshire Brothers and used eleven coupons, and had about a 20% savings. It's not extreme couponing, but I had a smile on my face when I got out to the parking lot and looked at that long list of (-)'s on my cash register tape.

I didn't take pictures, but here is a breakdown of what I bought:

1 bag of lentils, $.39, from the clearance bin
1 bag of garbanzo beans, $.39, also from the clearance bin. I hope to cook these and attempt to make hummus.
1 store brand brown rice, $.69
1 Prices' pimento cheese, on sale for $2.79
3 Philadelphia cream cheese cooking sauces, $2.99, I had one coupon for a free one, and two for $1.50 off, so I paid $2.98 for all three, making them an average of $1.00each
1 18-ct carton of eggs, $2.36
1 Challenge Tuscan style spreadable butter, on sale for $1.49
6 Yoplait yogurts, 3/$2, $4 total, I had a $.40 coupon. Not much savings, but it paid the tax on this item, anyway
1 pkg Bagel Bites, $2.49, less $1 MQ (manufacturer's coupon), or $1.49
1 Hormel ready meal, on sale for $2.29, less $.55 coupon, or $1.74
2 Starkist tuna pouches, $1.35, less 2 $.50 coupons, or $.85 each
2 pkgs Tyson grilled chicken fajita strips, on sale $6.99, less 2 $1MQ, or $5.99 each
1 pkg Tyson honey bbq wings, on sale $6.99, less $1 MQ, or $5.99 each

My total, with tax, came to 39.94, and I saved $11.94 with coupons, plus an undetermined amount on the sale and clearance items.

Not extreme, but a decent savings in the end.

How have you done on your Mission Possible lately?

Until next time...

Frugal Friday--Ebates--Shop Online and Earn Cash Back

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Fri, 20 May 2011 13:43:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

She looketh well to the ways of her household

In today's economy, and with gasoline prices rising exponentially, one of the ways I try to save a little money is to shop on line. I can compare prices and find items that aren't always available in my small hometown. And a way to make it even better is to shop online and earn money back while I'm doing it.

I've been shopping online using the Ebates program for a couple of years now, and while I certainly haven't gotten rich doing it, the program has helped me to save a little, and these days, every little bit helps.

The way Ebates works is, you sign up online for an Ebates account, usually through a referral link. Once you get your account set up, anytime you want to shop online, go to Ebates first and see if the merchant is one of the thousands of Ebates participants. If so, your screen will display any coupon codes available (free shipping, % discounts, etc) as well the rebate percentage from that merchant. Click through to the merchant's site through the Ebate link; shop as usual; if you make a purchase, your rebate amount will be credited to your Ebate account within a day or two of confirmation from the merchant; then once a quarter (four times a year) Ebate will send you your rebate total for the previous quarter. I have mine credited to my paypal account, but you can have an actual check mailed to you if prefer--you can even have your rebate sent directly to a favorite charity if you so choose.

Sound complicated? Let me break it down for you. Earlier this week my son asked me if I had ever heard of a certain men's cologne. He had received a sample of it inside a gift pack of cologne that he'd gotten for Christmas and he liked it. Instead of running all over town looking for this cologne, I went to Ebates, and from there to FragranceNet.com. Found the cologne, and some for me, and qualified for free shipping because of the dollar amount I spent. That particular day, FragranceNet.com had a 12% rebate rate with Ebates. This morning I had an email telling me that 12% of my purchase had been credited to my Ebates account. This will accrue during the quarter, and later this summer I will get this money in my paypal account, or, as Ebates says in their advertising, I can get "a big, fat check".

The percentage you receive varies according to the merchant. 12% is a high rate, usually the places I shop credit 2-3%, but there are specials each week--sometimes double rebates, sometimes certain merchants run a rebate "special". You can subscribe to emails from Ebates so that they will notify you if your favorite merchants are running a special. Or not, it's up to you.

I know that this is legit. I've used them in the past, and received my "big fat check" (via paypal). Right now, Ebates is running a deal, if you sign up through my referral link (by clicking on the words "referral link", or clicking on the icon at the top of the post, or the one on the top right sidebar), I will receive a $5.00 referral fee credited to my account, once you have your account set up and actually make a purchase through Ebates. And once you do that, you can refer your friends and get promotional referral fees for yourself.

At any rate, Ebates is one more small way that I can "get my frugal on".

Until next time...

This post is linked to:

Frugal Friday at Life as Mom

Garden Update--May 17

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Tue, 17 May 2011 23:16:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

...with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard

It's been a couple of weeks since I showed an update on my garden. Right now my container plants are doing well...

...the New Zealand spinach is coming right along. This is a vine that can be harvested and eaten raw or cooked, just like traditional spinach, but doesn't bolt in hot weather--and important factor here in the deep south!

At the top is rosemary--sprouting at last(!) and then basil, ready to burst--I've pulled a little of this to thin it and share with my mom, and am planning to pull some more to share and possibly transplant to one of the raised beds. Bottom right is another New Zealand spinach.

I moved the morning glory/periwinkle combo to the eastern side of the house, to get the full morning light...

and the paint plant and hostas are growing the doing well, too. They're next to the patio this week but they'll be relocated to the front porch tomorrow, where they'll have lots of shade and indirect light.

Unfortunately, the rest of the garden doesn't seem to be doing as well. While the rest of the country is flooding, we're hurting for rain and the wind is blowing like it's March, drying everything out even more.

This bed looks pitiful--my plan of attack for it is more fertilizer, more plants, and maybe some mulch to keep it from drying out so quick.

Last week hubby was home an installed a little "fence" for the cucumbers to climb--it was originally supposed to go right in the middle, but the ones on the back side were climbing the tomatoes, so we moved it back a little. They were looking great, but for some reason they are really droopy looking today. There are lots of blooms underneath the leaves, but so far no signs of anything else.

Tomatoes are growing--on a combination of some old tomato cages and a stake...

...and can you see the one cute little tomato? The rest have blooms, but no tomatoes yet.

I have a few blackberries starting to turn---and no ripening blueberries, the birds ate into my little cluster I was nursing along, so my husband and I ate the last two, just to keep the birds from getting them all!

And last but not least, the new space-age looking sprinkler we got this week--it has a wide enough path to cover the garden beds and the berry bushes--and only $29.95 at Tractor Supply!

I think everything needs a little feeding--a friend posted on her Facebook wall that someone told her to mix up powdered milk and water her plants with it, and that it made her garden grow like it was on steroids, so I'm going to try that this week and see what happens.

How is your garden going this week?

This post is linked to:

Tuesday Garden Party at an Oregon Cottage

Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer

Frugal Gardening 101 at Amy's Finer Things, Getting Freedom From Debt, and Smockity Frocks

Get Your Garden Growing at It's a Blog Party

Until next time...

Spring Garden--Update, May 3rd

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Tue, 03 May 2011 18:12:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

...with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard

Just a quick update on the state of my garden and plants. It's not as advanced as I wish it were, but it's definitely coming along. We finally got some rain--everyone else is flooding, but we've had nothing for weeks until we got a little last week and yesterday/last night. No watering today, at least!

On the back porch in my potting area, I have several things started. On the left is some basil I started from seed--they sprouted up a storm, it needs thinning out, but I'm hoping to transplant some of it to the garden. To the right are two hostas, and above to the left what I call a "paint plant"--it looks like it has splashes of paint on a dark green background. The smallest one on the top left is supposed to be rosemary, but so far it just looks like a pot of dirt! The hosta and paint plant will be moved the front porch this week, it doesn't get much direct light, and these two do well in the shade.

This pot will go on the patio next to a carport post, it has a combination of morning glory vines started from seed, and a couple of periwinkles that will bush out and provide shade for the bottom of the vines when they start to get leggy.

These are transplanted New Zealand spinach--an edible vine, the dark green leaves can be used raw or cooked, just like spinach, but it doesn't bolt and keeps growing right up until cold weather. The vine will freeze and die, but it re-seeds all around the original. These are transplants I took from the grass around my mother's last year's vine.

My favorite, these wave petunias have bloomed continuously since I potted them 2 or 3 weeks ago.

Garden bed # 2 has a few cucumbers...

...and a couple of varieties of tomato plants.

My original raised bed from fall is still kind of a "hodge-podge". These are blackberry bushes that I ordered and stuck here to "heel in" during the winter. They'll get transplanted this fall...

...along with these blueberries that looked like sticks when I showed my last update. I thought I had lost a couple of these, they are a couple of different varieties, and some of them budded out a lot later than the others.

This Swiss chard I planted from seed last fall. It froze pretty well over the winter, but I cut it back to just above ground level, and it's come back completely.

Watermelons--in a "normal" garden, these should be 8 feet apart, so I planted these around the edges at one end so that they could vine over into the grass. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

My lemon tree that I think I lost--but it has some "suckers" coming up from the root, I'm hoping that one or more of these can be grown into a new tree.

Blueberry bush we planted last fall--it's till a baby, but it's making real blueberries!

And blackberries, also planted in the fall--blooms and a few berries have started to form.

And last but not least, "fruit" of the pesky armadillo--they are tearing up my yard! They are truly a pest!

How is your garden coming along?

This post is linked to:

Tuesday Garden Party at an Oregon Cottage

Frugal Gardening 101 at Amy's Finer Things, Smockity Frocks and Getting Freedom from Debt

Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer

Until next time...

Back to Basics--Couponing 101--Where I Get My Coupons, Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

She looketh well to the ways of her household

Once I started reading money-saving blogs, and saving a little money using my internet printed coupons, I started paying attention to other coupon sources.

Newspaper Inserts

My next step in my couponing journey was beginning to buy the Sunday newspaper for the coupon inserts.

There are usually two weekly inserts, one from RedPlum, and one from Smart Source, on occasion one from Vlassis. In addition to these, Procter and Gamble has an insert every 4-6 weeks for their products. Sites that do coupon match-ups for sales list these as SS, RP, V, and P&G.

There are websites you can visit which will tell you which inserts are coming out which weeks, and even what coupons are possibly included in the inserts. One of these is Taylortown Preview.

Why do I say "possibly included"? It didn't take long for me to figure out that not all newspaper inserts are created equally. Smart Source, RedPlum, Vlassis and even P&G inserts are completely different in major metropolitan markets than in smaller cities. So you may read in a preview that there's a high dollar coupon coming for a product you like, only to open your paper and find either a) no coupon at all for that product, or b) a smaller dollar value. Or not.

That's one of the reasons I seldom buy multiple copies of the Sunday paper as some couponers do. Occasionally I buy 2, usually the weeks that there's a P&G insert so that I'll have two coupons for products that may come up often on B1G1 sales, or items that I buy frequently.

Do I miss some deals at times, because I don't have multiples of the "good" coupons, or because I had 1 or 2 and I've already used them? You bet. But even yet, I manage to do quite well and have quite a stockpile built up of the things we use regularly. Could that change at some point? Sure, if I had access to a newspaper from a major metropolitan area, I might totally rethink my position.

But that brings me to another point. Many of the coupons in the inserts are for products that I don't buy, ever, at any cost. I don't mean just different brand of something I use, because if I can get something for free, I'm willing to at least try it. But there are some products that we just don't use in our household, and I don't want to have to handle multiples of those coupons, not to mention the trash it would generate.

So what to do if you want the "good" coupons (which means good for you and your household) but don't want to have to chase down a big city newspaper that may or may not have the coupon you want?

That brings me to another source of coupons for me.

Coupon Clipping Services

There are several different coupon clipping services out there--the one I've use with great success is the Coupon Clippers. You can click the link or the button on my right hand sidebar to go there from here. Once you're there, you'll need to register. Then you can search for coupons alphabetically, by what's "hot", what's new, etc. They list the product, the face value of the coupon, the cost to you for the coupon, when it expires (important!) and if there is a minimum number required for purchase. You fill in the quantity next to the coupons you want--be sure to click on the "add to cart" button before you go the next page. You'll also see a box on the left that shows the next ship date and what the order deadline is to make that ship date. Coupons are mailed out by 5:00 pm on the ship date, and I've always had mine in my mailbox by two days later. (e.g., ship Wednesday, I have them by Friday). I've been very happy with the coupons and the service I've received from there.

There are other services available around the web, including e-Bay. Many of the bloggers I follow have had success with getting coupons from e-Bay, but it's not something that I have personally done.

You may be asking how it's a savings to pay to get coupons? The service I use charges a very small percentage of the face value of the coupon, and a small handling charge. The amount of savings I get more than makes up for the amount I spend to get these clipped for me. The same thing seems to apply to other clipping services.

Note on paying for coupons: Whether through "coupon clippers" or e-Bay, you are not buying coupons, which is illegal. You are paying someone for their services to clip coupons that they obtain legally from acquiring multiple copies of the inserts. That's why I made sure I use only a legitimate service that I've seen recommended by bloggers I trust.

Mail Freebies and Samples

In Part 1 of this series I mentioned going directly to manufacturer's and brand websites to look for printable coupons. Another thing that you can find at many sites are offers for free samples. I've gotten all kinds of freebies in the mail, from cereal to snack bars to shampoo and even free full size, non-disposable razors. My favorites are the ones that come with coupons--and many of them do.

So where do you find these free samples? Again--evvvverywhere!

Wal-mart has a Free Sample page that updates regularly with new offers. You sign up and request each sample individually.

Other sites you register and provide your information once, and they will send you an email when they have something available to request. Some send newsletters.

Right at Home for SCJohnson

P&G Brand Sampler can be requested seasonally

Vocalpoint sign up and visit this site regularly--the more active you are, the better samples and coupons you'll get. I've received multiples of coupons from them--usually one for a free product, then several others that are $ off to use or share with others.

Start Sampling is another site that offers multiple samples and coupons

Home Made Simple register and sign up for their newsletter, they mail out coupon booklets periodically.

Frugal Shopping and Deals Blogs

I get alerted to lots of these good sources for freebies, samples, and coupons by following several frugal shopping/deals/couponing blogs. There are lots of them out there--click on the links on my lefthand sidebar under the heading "Frugal Living, Couponing, Shopping".

And that brings me to the final (I think!) source for coupons:

In Stores and on Products

I'm not sure if it's just because I coupon that I notice these now, but there seems to be a lot more in-store and on-product coupons than I ever seem to remember. I see these everywhere these days!

Tearpads are pads of coupons, usually attached to the shelf at eye-level right in front of the product or a related product. Recently there were a lot of internet coupons for Kraft products--bbq sauce, mayo, Miracle Whip, etc. On the shelf in front of the Kraft bbq sauce was a tearpad of coupons for $2 off any fresh meat product when you bought two Kraft products. I used my IP Qs (internet printed coupons) to get two free bottles of bbq sauce, then used the tearpad Q (coupon) to get a package of chicken thighs for next to nothing.

Blinkies are similar to tearpads--on the shelf at eye-level, except the are in little black coupon dispensers, usually with a little red light that blinks--hence the name!

Peelies are coupons found on the product itself, usually stating "save $ now" and have to be peeled off to be used. The very first completely free thing I bought when I started couponing and watching sales were four tins of Altoids mints that were on sale $1.99, B1G1, and had peelies on them for $1 off--I used the four peelies and paid nothing but the tax OOP (out of pocket)--I was so excited, you'd have thought I'd saved $100! Just a few weeks ago, granulated Splenda was on sale at Publix B1G1, at $5.99, and I found bags that had $2.00 off each bag---meaning that I got two big bags of Splenda for $1.99 for two with the sale and two coupons.

Internet printable coupons, newspaper inserts, coupon clipping services, free samples, and tearpads, blinkies, and peelies--I told you that I get my coupons everywhere!

Do you have other sources of coupons that I've missed? If you do, be sure to leave a comment and let me know!

Did you miss the other posts in this series? Click the links to see:

Back to Basics--How I Organize My Coupons

Back to Basics--Where I Get My Coupons, Part 1

Until next time...

Back to Basics--Couponing 101--Where I Get My Coupons, Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

She looketh well to the ways of her household

When I first started blogging, I shared a bit about how I got into frugal shopping, drugstore wheeling and dealing, and couponing. I thought I'd share just a bit about how I coupon and where I get my coupons.

The short answer is: from everywhere!

And the long answer is: from evvvvverywhere!!

I know, it's a pitiful joke, right? Sorry.

I do get coupons from everywhere. From places I never knew you could get coupons, and from places I never noticed coupons before. Once you start, you'll start to notice and find them in places you've never even thought of!

On-line IP (Internet Printable) Coupons

The first place I started getting coupons was various on-line sources, some of which are listed below.

Things you need to know before you start printing internet coupons:

Some of the internet printable coupons require that you sign up, giving your name, email, etc. Whatever you do, don't give them your personal email! This bears repeating. Don't give them your personal email! Set up a separate account, you'll start getting tons of emails from all of these sites.

Besides name and email, some request an address, and many also ask for a birthdate--some say it's be sure you're over their minimum age, some will send you extra coupons during your birthday month, etc, but in these days of identity theft, I would never use my real birthdate. I use the same wrong date for everything I sign up for, that way I don't forget what date I've used at what site! Don't be scared, just be careful.!

Online coupons come in a couple of different formats. While there are still a few companies that use a static pdf. format, most use a coupon generator and will require a download and install of software the first time you print coupons. There are two or three different coupon generators that various companies use, the most common of which are Bricks and Smart Source, so you may be asked to download software more than once, depending on which coupon generator a site uses.

Most coupon generators will allow you to print a particular coupon twice per computer. If you have access to multiple computers, you can print additional copies if you choose to, and these are still legitimate coupons. It is NOT legitimate to make copies, even high definition color copies, of an internet coupon. Remember those coupon generator/printers you downloaded? Every coupon printed legitimately will have a unique barcode on it. Don't try to cheat the system--it's not only illegal, it's unbecoming to a woman of virtue.

Some stores do not take internet coupons--because of the fraudulent activity I mentioned above. Many are just now becoming educated about the unique bar codes--know your store's corporate coupon policy. You can read about experiences with Walmart here and here. I've never had a problem since that time, but I carry a printed copy of the Walmart corporate coupon policy in my coupon binder at all times.

And now, on to the good part:

Coupons.com can be accessed from the blue widget on my right sidebar. These are updated regularly, at least monthly, sometimes more often. Generally these are good for 30 days after the date you print, and can usually be printed twice per computer. Some manufacturer's limit the number that can be printed daily, weekly, or monthly, so if you read about a coupon that isn't there when you look for it, it may have reached it's print limit. There are also coupons that are only available in certain locations, so it also makes a difference which zip code you use. You can sign up or "join" the site, but it isn't necessary in order to print the coupons. (If you print my widget, or go the coupon.com site from my widget, and use those coupons, I will eventually get a few cents commission from them. So be sure to click and print and redeem those coupons!)

CoolSavings.com You do have to sign up or "join" cool savings in order to access the coupons. The first time you go to the cool savings site, you will see page after page of free offers and things you can sign up for. If you aren't interested, just make sure you click "no" or "skip" on each page or offer. These will seem to be never ending, but persevere, it's a one time thing you have to go through. Once you get to the end, from then on when you go to the site, you can just click a tab marked "printable coupons".

Redplum.com and Smartsource.com If both of these names seem familiar, it's because both of these companies put out regular newspaper inserts with advertisements and coupons--the coupons on line at their sites are usually different from those printed in the inserts--neither require sign up to use.

Individual product/Manufacturer's website--If there are products you use that you like, enter the product name in a search engine and find their website. Many manufacturer's have newsletters that you can sign up for, and offer coupons that are updated and reset regularly--meaning that if you printed it twice you may get a "print limit reached" message, but they may reset monthly or quarterly. Some will send you extra coupons during your birthday month, and some will notify you when they run contests, sweepstakes, and other promotions. Watch the sign up form, too--you can often print the coupon and still opt out of getting on the mailing list if you "uncheck" the boxes asking for email updates. And if not, you can always unsubscribe later if you want to.

Some of my favorites in this category are:

Betty Crocker & Pillsbury They have always have coupons available, and which reset and/or change out every month.

Right at Home for SC Johnson products (Zip-lock, Spray& Wash, Pledge, and more)

Colgate-Palmolive for Colgate, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Mennen

Eat Better America for mostly grocery items, these are usually different from the coupons available at most other internet coupon sites.

Ann at Coupons Deals and More keeps an excellent list of links to manufacturer's coupons, as well as printable rebate forms--look at the subtitles on the navigation bar at her blog. Bookmark her site, you'll want to come back to it often!

There are other coupon sites out there, most of which are legitimate, these are just the ones I use the most.

Be sure to see Back to Basics--How I Organize My Coupons, and coming tomorrow--Where I Get My Coupons, Part 2

Until next time...

Back to Basics--Couponing 101--How I Organize My Coupons

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 10:00:00 +0000

She is like merchant's ships, she bringeth her food (and other things!) from afar

She looketh well to the ways of her family

(coming up this week--reposts of where I get my coupons, part 1 & 2)

I admitted it, I haven't been couponing much lately. Last week I bought some groceries and used one measly little $.50 coupon--and it wasn't even doubled!

Why have I been so lax? Since I moved back to our small, rural hometown, the opportunties for savings are definitely lessened.

Fewer stores, and with less competition, so prices are higher.

None of the stores doubles coupons

Since I'm home alone much of the time, I haven't been cooking much, and I'm using less of the things that generally have coupons.

I've been using out of my stockpile of some items--which was plentiful when I lived in Georgia, most of which I brought with me.

Better stores with more savings opportunities are in a city at least 50 miles away, and increasing gas prices make shopping there a less attractive option.

Coupons have been fewer with much smaller denominations--and with no doubling, sometimes it hardly seems worth the trouble.

BUT---Sunday afternoon after a nice family dinner at my mother's house, all of us girls-my mom, my sister, my niece, and I--were sitting around the table looking at the sale papers. My niece was excited about a buy-one-get-one-50%-off sale on a make-up product she likes, and mentioned that she had a $2 coupon she could use. So when I told her that since she was buying two products she could use two coupons if she had them, and save even more---she was really excited! I ran home and grabbed my *envelope stuffed with coupons so she could look for the make-up coupon she needed, and it turned into a quick coupon lesson/intervention as we proceeded to go through the circulars, showing her how and when she could combine coupons with sales, stack store coupons with manufacturer's coupons, and use register rewards and extra care bucks to help even more. She was so excited, she compared me to one of the folks on the Exteme Couponing show--though I am far from that dedicated and/or obsessed!

*Yes, I admit it, my binder sits, empty and forlorn. Even my wallet sized coupon organizer is mostly empty, with only a few long term coupons left in it. I recently gave myself an intervention, throwing away expired coupons, and having a marathon clipping session to work through the stack of coupon inserts that I had left--unclipped and unused. However, I have a big stack of unsorted coupons, stuffed in a large envelope, because that's as far as I got.

And so, one of my tasks for this week, as a virtuous woman, is to re-organize my coupons.

Step one--Clip. Whether they're printed from the internet, in a newspaper insert, or received in the mail, they have to be clipped to be used.

Step two--Divide. Ideally, I stack as I clip, loosely into little piles all around me on the table, food categories on one side, non-food on the other. This can be as simple or as complicated as you make it. Food, non-food is obvious, but you still want like things together--cereal, frozen foods, etc.

Step three--Conquer. Even when all I had was an envelope, I had a little filing system to help me find the coupons I needed. If you have wallet style organizer, pull one section at a time, discarding expired coupons, adding in your new ones. With my binder, I take one page at a time, pulling the expired coupons (oh the shame of it--so many coupons that I let slip away until it was too late!) and filing the new ones.

And then--look out stores, here we come!

Meanwhile, here is my previous post about how I organize my coupons. (later this week I'll repost where I get my coupons, part 1 and 2, with some updates.)

When I first started couponing, I eased into it gradually. I started off printing a few internet coupons and sticking them in my wallet or checkbook; then I started using an envelope sorted loosely by category. I thought I had graduated to the big time when I got a real coupon organizer...

I paid $5.00 for it, it had about 12 little dividers that I used for my different categories. I really liked the convenience of this one because it fit in my purse; and because I always had it with me, it was easy to pull out when I found unexpected bargains and clearanced items. Unfortunately, it was just a little too small when I got into full swing couponing mode--it was hard to find coupons as I needed them, it was just stuffed too full and the elastic thingy it closed with kept breaking and stretching out.

So I finally broke down and and bought some baseball card collectors sheets and some photo sheets. I picked out my binder on Amazon (Case-it Large Capacity Blue Zipper Binder (D-145))and then I did what I do best--procrastinated about switching over until I just couldn't stand it any more--then I bit the bullet and drug everything out and worked on it off and on for two days straight!

I started off with some flexible plastic dividers, but I didn't like the way they stuck out, so right now I have no dividers, but I do still group everything by pages and general sections.

I have a couple of photo pages in the front for what I call "unusual" coupons--restaurants, or combination coupons--get $2 off produce if you also buy these two products, that kind of thing. Then I move to fresh foods--meat, produce, and bread--I don't usually have a lot of coupons for these products, so they're usually grouped together. I have a page for canned fruits and vegetables and related products; one for sauces, dressings, and condiments; packaged foods--rice mixes, hamburger helper, etc; cereal; baking goods; snacks; dairy; cold non-dairy --like rolls and biscuits; frozen. Within some sections I also group like products together--frozen foods may have meat and dinners, frozen breads, vegetables, and ice cream, for instance. Maybe not a separate page, but at least grouped together on the page. For non-foods, I have pages for shampoo, deodorant, lotion, bodywash, dental, etc, as well as paper products, cleaning, and laundry.

There are two main drawbacks to the binder system for me:

First, you do have to trim the coupons very closely, and some just will not fit without being folded. The photo pages are good for some larger coupons, I just don't have a lot of those, so I try to fold so that I can see the product and the expiration date.

And second is the bulk--right at first I was very self-conscious walking into a store with this huge binder--I usually have a large purse, too, so sometimes I wondered if it looked like I was moving in! I tried pulling out only the ones I knew I was going to use and leaving the binder at home or in my truck, but I constantly saw things that I thought "Oh, I have a coupon for that--out in the truck" And it's just too hot where I live and I am too old (!) to make multiple trips in and out just to retrieve coupons. I even tried leaving my purse in the truck and just taking in the binder and my debit card, thinking it looked less obtrusive to be carrying only one big old thing on my shoulder. That doesn't work, though, because I need that purse in the buggy to prop my binder on!

So I finally decided to just get over it and lug them both in.

And you know what? No one notices but me.

And the people who do, do a double take when they see me walking calmly down the aisle with my binder propped open on top of my purse.

Then they comment---"Where did you get that? I need one of those!" One older gentlemen even comment "Your one of those money-saving women, aren't you? I wish I had time for that!"

I have given many a quick lesson in baseball card sheets and zipper binders, standing in the aisle of the grocery store or drugstore.

Is it still a bit bulky? Yes. And sometimes when I'm making a quick trip, I do pull my coupons and leave it in the truck. But most of the time I take it with me. I put my purse in the buggy, open my binder and prop it on top, get my list in my hand, and away I go. I pull the coupons as I go, so I can make sure I'm getting the right product or whatever, and I slip them into a little pocket on the inside of the front cover of my binder. Sometimes I slip them into the fold on my list. When I'm ready to check out, I pull out my coupons and go ahead and zip up my binder and turn it with the strap up, ready to grab with my purse when I leave the store.

The good points for me far outweigh the bad--my coupons are organized, I can see at a glance what I have and what I may be short of, and it's ready at a moment's notice to zip up, sling over my shoulder, and go!

____________________________________________

Be sure to check the next two posts in this series:

Back to Basics--Where I Get My Coupons, Part 1

Back to Basics--Where I Get My Coupons, Part 2

Until next time...

This post is linked to:
Show Me How at It's a Blog Party

Homemaking Party at Don't Waste Your Homemaking

21 Reasons I Haven't Been Blogging Lately

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 20:00:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman, her price is far above rubies

I really think that should read "Who CAN find a virtuous woman?", 'cause this Virtuous Woman has been A.W.O.L. I've had blogger's block.

Here are my ~~reasons~~ excuses:

I haven't been couponing

I haven't been thrifting

I haven't been crafting

I haven't been decorating

I haven't been cooking

I haven't been cleaning

I've been busy

I've been bored

I've been tired

I've been lazy

I don't have high speed internet any more

I've been procrastinating

I've been disorganized

I've gained weight

I'm home alone most of the time, so who wants to read about that?

My house is too messy to take pictures

Even when I take pictures, it takes too long to download, edit, and upload them to the blog

I need to get my act together before I can blog

I've been overwhelmed/underwhelmed/just plain "whelmed"

No one reads this blog anyway.

etc--I could go on, but I'm sure you get the picture!

Not to seem to angst-y, but I do think we worry too much about trying to craft the "perfect" post, with the perfect pictures, on the perfect subject.

Several bloggers that I followed have quit blogging completely, and I wondered for a while if that was what I should do, but after much thought, I don't think I'm to that place right now.

I just need to get over myself and jump right back in, so that's exactly what I'm doing!

Are you ready? Here we go!

Until next time...

Raised Bed Number Two--Ready and Waiting

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 20:41:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies

...with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard

My honey had an unexpected weekend home last week, so we took advantage of the time and the mild weather to put together a second raised garden bed--just in time for spring planting.

The outside is made of two-by-somethings--(maybe 2 x 10's?) put together with some kind of metal bracket thingies on the inside corners. (Can you handle all of this technical talk? My husband did that part!) The frame is laid directly on the ground, then a layer of newspapers (or cardboard if you have it) is put inside to cover and eventually kill the grass. If you use newspaper, try to make it at least three sheets thick. Wet it down, then just add your dirt right on top. We used bags of garden soil from a building center. Garden soil is cheaper than topsoil or potting soil, and worked well for me this past fall. Of course you don't have to use "bought" dirt, but since we are starting from scratch and don't have compost or anything yet, bought is what we did to get us started. Once the bed is full, use a garden rake to smooth it out, then wet it down pretty well so that it won't blow away. Out frame is eight feet by four feet by about 10 inches deep, and we used 18 cubit feet of dirt.

Can you see our older bed in the background? We made it and planted it for the first time this past fall. It was perfect for me--since I am home alone most of the time, I didn't have to do any tilling, had no problem with weeds, didn't have to do anything heavy duty or beyond my abilities. It looks dead and drab from this perspective, but even now it's still full of life...

The Swiss chard was looking brown and bedraggled, but I cut it back to right above ground level the same day we harvested the carrots not long ago, and it looks like it's coming back nicely. These are the onions I planted in the fall, which didn't seem to do much, but they are actually still alive and growing. I planted seeds instead of "sets", so maybe that's why it's been such slow going. I cleared out the leaves from around them, and plan to leave them alone and see what happens. Hidden among the leaves next to the chard are these blackberry vines my mom and I ordered this winter. I stuck them in and empty spot in the garden bed to "heel in"--they're coming along nicely, but I'm not quite ready to stick them out on their own, so I'll probably leave them where they are for another year before transplanting them, just like these.... ....I know they look like sticks, but they are actually blueberry bushes that haven't grown up yet! They'll probably stay where they are until next year, as well. Meanwhile, I'm browsing the seed catalogs for inspiration. trying to decide what to plant in my new bed, as well as the empty spots in the old one. I'll keep you posted! This post is linked to: Tuesday Garden Party at An Oregon Cottage Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer

Frugal Gardening 101 at Amy's Finer Things Until next time....

Spring Has Sprung--At My House, Anyway!

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:01:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies
She worketh willingly with her hands
She maketh herself (and her home) coverings of tapestry

I know it's still February, but I'm tired of the cold and dreariness and teasing days of warmth and then cool and dreary all over again--so I've decided that at my house, spring is here! I pulled out this thrifty wreath that I made last year with refurbished grapevine wreath and frou-frou I bought at the Dollar Tree and hung it on my door.

If you want to see the how-to play-by-play, see this Dollar Store Decorating--Thrifty Spring Wreath post from last year.

I'm feeling a little inspired already, who knows, I may tackle cleaning the patio furniture next!

This post is linked to:

Making a Home at Linda's Lunacy

Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog

Show Me How at It's a Blog Party

Until next time...

Climbing Outside of the (Comfort) Zone

noreply@blogger.com (Charlene) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:07:00 +0000

Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies
She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness

Last week I read an interesting, timely post over at the Praise and Coffee blog, Feeling left out of the cool girl circles.

Interesting, because of the content, and timely, because there was this women's ministry conference coming up that I really wanted to attend, but I couldn't find anyone who had the time/money/desire to go with me. And who in the world wanted to go to one of these things alone? I mean, half the point is the fun you have when a bunch of fine, upstanding, responsible women get off on a jaunt together and maybe let their hair down a little. Or a lot.

I've always come back from these little retreats refreshed, renewed, and rejuvenated. But not alone.

I waffled back and forth for a couple of days--in reality, closer to a week. Or two. And then two days ahead of time, I decided to just do it. I didn't even have time to pre-register, I just made my hotel reservation and went straight to the really important things--I ran to my closet to see what I was going to wear. Then I rushed to town and had my nails done and bought a new pair shoes. Because who could go to a women's conference with unkempt nails, or shoes? Oh, and I cut my hair, too. Because really, you need your hair to look it's best, too, right?

What was I doing? Trying my best to look as though I might fit into the cool girl circle. Those ladies might feel sorry for me for being alone, but they certainly wouldn't feel sorry for me for having unkempt hair or nails--or accessories.

When I drove up to the church where the meetings were going to take place, I took a deep breath, and walked in and up to the registration table. When the lady at the table found out I there alone, she immediately invited me go to lunch later--with the cool girls--I was certain of it! Was it my hair? My nails? My cool purse, or new shoes? No. It was just a lovely Christian lady extending a hand of love, acceptance, and friendship.

I have to say, ladies, (and any gentlemen who read this, too), that I believe I had a divine appointment at that conference. The teaching was good, the testimonies were riveting, the fellowship was great, the praise and worship awesome---but I believe with all of my heart that the Lord knew just what I needed, and it had nothing to do with the cool girls.

It had to do with time spent with Him, pursuing the things that I believe He wants me to pursue; making some connections that I believe He brought about; and trusting Him to take me where I need to go, when I need to go there--even if I go alone in the flesh, I'm never alone in the Spirit.

How often do we allow fear--of the unknown, of whatever--to hold us back from the things we should be doing, and the place we should be going?

Thanks, Lord, for giving me the courage to climb outside of my comfort zone--I needed that.

This post is linked to:

Making Your Home Sing Monday at Mom's The Word--because what makes me sing makes my home sing, too!

Until next time...