Over Cups of Joe...

"Super" Ingredients

2011-10-20T15:05:00.000-05:00

In a recent GOOP post, I thought the below information was helpful to store away somewhere...

The “Super” Ingredients:

Wild Salmon is probably the world’s most heart healthy source of protein. It is rich in long-chain Omega-3 essential fatty acids—the most beneficial kind—which protect heart health, inhibit inflammation, act as natural anti-depressants, increase feelings of well-being, and help keep skin young, supple and radiant.

Asparagus is one of the richest sources of rutin, a bioflavanoid which strengthens small capillaries in the skin and may help prevent broken capillaries and it contains glutathione--an abundant and essential tripeptide antioxidant found within the cells that plays a huge role in the cell’s ability to fight free-radical damage. Glutathione is our primary antioxidant defense and an effective suppressor of free radical damage.

Dark Leafy Greens are rich in the antioxidant plant pigments known as carotenoids, which enhance immune response, protect skin cells against UV radiation, and "spare" liver enzymes that neutralize carcinogens and other toxins. Their important anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory effects reduce the risk of heart disease and block sunlight-induced inflammation in the skin—which leads to wrinkles and skin cancer.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil is rich in oleic acid, which is a super emollient. The essential fatty acids present in olive oil nourish the skin and provide anti-inflammatory activity. The polyphenols that are found abundantly in olive oil are extremely efficient and multi-faceted antioxidants. Polyphenols are exceptionally stable and protective. The most powerful member of the Olive Oil Polyphenol group is Hydroxytyrosol. Extremely rare, and effective in even small concentrations, this super antioxidant, anti-inflammatory has been proven to be effective in improving general health and appearance.

Pinot Noir is a delightful wine to accompany foods like salmon because pinot noirs have enough acidity in them to mitigate the fatty content. Red wine contains a powerful heart-healthy, anti-cancer, anti-aging antioxidant called resveratrol. It also appears that resveratrol helps protect the skin against the sun’s UV radiation. It appears that drinking wine—particularly red wines such as Pinot Noir—interferes with the production of a body chemical vital to the process that leads to clogged arteries and an increased risk of heart attack. White and rose wine do not offer the same protection.

Green Jasmine Tea—Enjoy a cup of green tea after your meal and don’t worry about the caffeine, since a compound in green tea called theonine blocks the negative effects of caffeine, while acting as a natural mood elevator and promoting feelings of well-being. Because green tea is rich in polyphenol anti-oxidants, it can help fight inflammation and age-accelerating free radicals, protect against heart disease and cancer, boost the body’s natural defenses, and exert anti-viral and anti-bacterial effects.

Nuts and Seeds such as hazelnuts, walnuts, and almonds are rich in short-chain Omega-3 essential fatty acids, which inhibit the accumulation of fats in artery walls that promotes angina, strokes, and heart attacks. Nuts are also high in the amino acid arginine, which prompts the body to release vital hormones, stimulate sexuality, increase lean muscle mass, burn fat, lower cholesterol and boost the immune system.

Apples are unusually high in fiber, with an average of five grams. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, we need approximately 20 to 35 grams of fiber per day, so one apple provides about 15 to 25 percent of your daily fiber requirement. Apples contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. The soluble fiber is known as “pectin,” and is the substance that is added to jams and jellies to make them gel. Pectin has the power to decrease the appetite for up to four hours, making it a more effective appetite suppressant than the insoluble fiber found in grains such as wheat and rye. (Oats, like apples, are also rich in soluble fiber.)

Pears offer protection from free radicals; Pears are high in both Vitamin C and copper, anti-oxidant nutrients that help prevent free radical damage to the cells. Both copper and Vitamin C also stimulates white blood cells to fight infections, and directly kills many bacteria and viruses. One medium size pear can provide about 11 percent of the daily value your body needs for Vitamin C, and almost 10 percent of the copper it needs. They also promote cardiovascular and colon health: The fiber in pears has been shown to lower high cholesterol levels. It also binds to cancer-causing chemicals in the colon, preventing them from damaging colon cells. Pears also protect against macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in older adults and provide Vitamin B: Pears have a high concentration of folates, which make up the Vitamin B complex group. These vitamins are essential for metabolic activity and red blood cell production.

Old Fashioned Oatmeal is high in fibers that enhance weight control and discourages cardiovascular disease; the beta-glucan fiber in oats and also barley exerts beneficial anti-glycemic effects as well, helping to stabilize blood sugar.

Cinnamon helps stabilize blood sugar because it stimulates insulin receptors and inhibits an enzyme that inactivates them, thereby increasing cells’ ability to use glucose. Just one gram per day (approximately ¼ to ½ teaspoon) yields a 20 percent drop in blood sugar, and reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels as well. Cinnamon also reduces cellular inflammation—a key age accelerator.

Fun fact: The mere scent of cinnamon enhances the brain’s cognitive processing, including attention, memory, and visual-motor speed.

Omega-3 Eggs are a terrific source of protein and Omega-3 essential fatty acids. The key is to make sure you purchase eggs from cage-free chickens that are fed flax meal. Not only are they much more nutritious, they taste wonderful.

Lemons and Lemon Juice contain important phytonutrients which protect lungs, alleviate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, help prevent cancer by boosting the activity of detoxification enzymes in the liver, lower blood cholesterol levels, and inhibit cancer in human breast cells, skin, lungs, stomach, mouth, and colon cancer in laboratory animals. They also play an important role in the maintenance of elastin and the stabilization of collagen.

Berries are antioxidant and vitamin powerhouses. They contain important phytochemicals including phenolics, anthocyanins, carotenoids, and more. Blueberries also contains phytochemicals that can cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the areas of brain responsible for learning and memory. Raspberries are a rich source of Vitamin C—key for collagen production and also very high in ellegic acid superior in reducing the damage caused to cells from free radicals—like blueberries they are super anti-aging foods in just about every category. All berries are superb for all organ systems including skin.

Yogurt is a very good source of calcium, phosphorus, riboflavin-Vitamin B2 and iodine, Vitamin B12, pantothenic acid-Vitamin B5, zinc, potassium, protein and molybdenum. Yogurt that contains live bacterial cultures may help you to live longer, and may fortify your immune system. Research studies have shown that increased yogurt consumption, particularly in immuno-compromised populations such as the elderly, may enhance the immune response, which would in turn increase resistance to immune-related diseases.

Chickpeas are low in fat and sodium but high in complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber. In addition to lowering cholesterol, garbanzos' high fiber content prevents blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly after a meal, making these beans an especially good choice for individuals with diabetes, insulin resistance or hypoglycemia. They are also an excellent source of protein, needing only to be combined with grains such as barley or oats to provide all the amino acids necessary to make a complete protein for vegetarians who do not have other sources of protein for their meals.

Turmeric. The golden root of turmeric has been used since ancient times for both health and beauty. A superb anti-inflammatory, the active curcuminoids help even out skin tone and color and have superior cell-protective properties, helping to keep skin soft and supple while protecting against the oxidative stress that accelerates skin ageing.”

Be sure to check out GOOP, or subscribe to their updates via email or RSS feed. I particularly like their MAKE series, because they often feature fancy, professional chefs and they usually share some great recipes, which I love. One of my favorites is Gwyneth Paltrow's Turkey Meatball Recipe. It takes a little prep work, of course, but it is well worth the trouble. The meatballs are lean, and they have wonderful flavors of lemon, fennel, garlic and onion yumminess! Try them soon, you won't be sorry!!

A good deed

2011-07-31T16:00:00.001-05:00

I did something yesterday for the first time, and it made me feel so good that I thought I would share with the hope that you might be inspired to do the same type of good deed. Sort of a "pay it forward" type thing. Speaking of, have you ever heard of going to Starbucks and paying for the car behind you along with your own? Then, when the car pulls up to the window to pick up their latte, they discover that their drink has already been paid for by an anonymous person. The idea is that the driver then should pay for the person behind them, and so on... I know if that ever happens to me, I would certainly pay for the person behind me - how fun!

My good deed has a similar concept, and I'm anxious to hear if anyone else does what I did yesterday. Or, maybe it will inspire others to do the same!

I had the afternoon to myself yesterday, and I had several errands to run. Groceries, purchase a gift, supplies for an upcoming vacation, a baby shower to attend, etc. So, while I had limited time for my shopping, I still tried my best to make a list beforehand and apply as many coupons to current store specials as possible. While I am still couponing and making significant progress in my grocery bills, the biggest thing I've learned is that it takes a considerable amount of time to organize a shopping trip. For me, this is often difficult unless I do it very early in the morning, or when everyone is asleep at night - the only two times my house is quiet and I can really concentrate, uninterupted. I stopped by CVS to stock up on some toiletries that were on sale, and decided to buy some diapers as well because the large boxes were on sale and an ECB was awarded when you purchased them. As I flipped through my diaper coupons, I found my $1.50 off coupon for the diapers and added it to my Transaction #1 envelope. I also noticed that I had 3 additional coupons with an expiration date of 7/31/11 that I wasn't going to use. I decided then that if I wasn't able to use them, why not leave them anonymously by the diapers on the shelf for someone to find later in the day. I spread the three coupons around on different parts of the diaper shelf as if I was hiding Easter eggs and smiled to myself thinking about someone finding them today or tomorrow by surprise! Then, I remembered that I had a $5 off Enfamil formula coupon in my Baby envelope. My son is no longer on formula, so if I didn't leave it for someone, it would go unused. So, I placed it on top of a large can of Enfamil formula! After all, $5 is $5! Finally, I bought some paper towels while at CVS. I found the coupon that applied to the towels I was purchasing, but noticed that another $1 off coupon in my paper goods envelope would go unused. And so, you guessed it, I placed in on top of the towels for someone else to find and use.

These might sound like silly good deeds, but I know how expensive diapers and formula can be. When you are watching your pennies, $1 here, or $5 there, really can make a difference. Hopefully, someone was able to use the coupons, and I just hope that it helped someone that could really use them!

Another cool coincidence... After CVS, I ran to Homeland for a few things. One thing on my list was, of course, coffee! Although it wasn't an ideal price at Homeland, it is on sale this week and I was nearly out. I also had a coupon for $1/any 2 Folgers products that expired yesterday that I wanted to use. When I got to the coffee aisle, I glanced down to see that someone had left the same coupon on top of the coffee. Clearly it was there for someone to find, and I just thought it was so great to know that people do these things! I already had the coupon, and wasn't planning to buy 4 cans, so I didn't use it. Hopefully, someone else was able to get the savings on their cups of joe!

Let me know - do you print coupons that you know you won't use, just to leave them by those products in the store for someone to find? Or, what other good deeds, or "pay it forward" lessons have you experienced or done to help others? I'm anxious to hear!

DIY Club and Pinterest

2011-06-15T18:30:00.007-05:00

So if you're like me, you have become completely obsessed with Pinterest. My Internet browsing has taken on a whole new direction - I'm now asking myself if an image, idea, or project is "pin" worthy! The website allows you to create design boards of all your favorite things. You can find your own images, or repin someone else's design idea, project, or style. The boards allow you to organize your favorites so that you can categorize all similar ideas in one place. Rather than saving a picture you find online to your computer, you're able to store and sort the ideas you stumble upon in one convenient place. It's stored online, so you don't take up space on your computer, and you can share your fun discoveries with others.

I've mentioned it before (specifically HERE and HERE), but we would love to build a house on our land someday. Although it won't be anytime in the near future, I'm constantly thinking about the different design elements and styles in our someday house. So, I've started a few boards on my Pinterest, categorized by rooms, to save ideas and designs that I find between now and when we begin construction. As new styles and trends develop, I'm sure my dream house ideas will change. The wonderful thing about Pinterest is that I can edit those ever-changing "must haves" along the way! To be honest, I'm not sure how long this website has been available. It may be a new thing, or I may have just now discovered it. Either way, it's definitely worth checking out!

Maybe it's the fact that I've started this blog, or even that I've been reading several creative blogs lately, but it seems as though DIY (do-it-yourself) crafts and projects are making a comeback. Or, maybe it's my thriftier, less-is-more attitude, but DIY projects are actually kind of cool now - and I'm seeing some great ways to create decorative and useful things in a much cheaper way. And, with blogs, we (bloggers) are able to share those ideas by providing tutorials and photos, that allow those who lack creative genes to flourish in the DIY world. It gives us hope to see so many ideas out there!

Some of the most beautiful, and most treasured, things in my home are drawings, paintings, and personal items that can't be purchased. I love pretty and creative things, but I've never claimed to be a creative person. I have my moments, but all in all, I need some direction. I have several projects on my 'to do' list, and through Pinterest, that DIY list has grown.

Here are some fun DIY project ideas on my list:

Embroidery hoop made into a Christmas card holder


Pringles can turned holiday cookie tin

Drop cloth rosette pillow, or wreath, or headband...

No sew grommet curtains

Balloon birthday wreath

Yarn dipped in watered down glue, cover a balloon and once yarn is dry, pop the balloon. Darling party decoration!


Mossy letters - for the mantel or front door

Flower pillow

I'm inspired - are you? I would love to make some, or even all, of these DIY projects in the near future. I better hurry, too, because I'm sure I'll keep adding to my list.

But, here is what I'm thinking... I know I have some creative friends, crafty neighbors and fellow DIY wanna be's out there. I think we should all join forces and help each other! Once a month, we could get together with one DIY project in mind. Rotating each month, one person would serve as our instructor. They would be in charge of the craft/project and would be responsible for sending out the required supply list. The group will gather their supplies prior to the scheduled time, so that once we meet we are ready to go! As our group gains confidence in their own DIY skills, we can come up with new ideas to share. Even if we get together and make gingerbread houses during the holidays, it would be a fun, no-pressure girls night. I know I always welcome a night with the girls!

Please think about it, and I'm open to additional thoughts and ideas! If you see this post, and are interested, please let me know. Leave a comment, or email me!

Thanks!

P-dub's Iced Coffee Post

2011-06-13T10:43:00.000-05:00

I've literally cut and pasted Ree's latest post, because, well, it's about coffee, and I thought it was an appropriate post to start out your week. In no way am I trying to take credit, this is all hers. Just thought it was great info for all the coffee lovers out there! And, if there are two things I love in this world, it's coffee and new recipes! Also, if you don't already, please, please, please subscribe to her blog @ www.thepioneerwoman.com. It's so funny, and down to earth. You'll fall in love with her writing style and her overall personality. Her recipes are amazing, too!

Jun13 2011

Perfect Iced Coffee

Posted by Ree in All PW Recipes, Misc, PW's Favorites

Iced coffee is my life. When I wake up, often around the time party animals on the west coast are just heading home, I start each day not with a cup of freshly brewed hot java, but with a tall, blessed glass of creamy iced coffee in a glass. I’ve been an iced coffee freakazoid for years and years. To say I couldn’t live without it is an understatement. It gives me the tools I need to cope.

Iced coffee is a complicated thing, and there are many different approaches. One would think that one could merely pour brewed coffee into a glass full of ice and call it a day…but I find that method extremely flawed. First, no matter how packed with ice the glass is, once the hot coffee hits, some of the ice is bound to melt. This has two disastrous results:
1. The overall strength of the coffee flavor is diluted.
2. The iced coffee isn’t as cold as it could (or should) be. The finished glass of iced coffee should be frigid, not sorta cold with half-melted ice cubes floating around.
Given the previous set of facts, one would assume that the logical solution would be to brew hot coffee, then transfer the brew to the fridge, allow it to cool, and use it to make iced coffee from there. It’s an okay solution, one I subscribed to for quite awhile…until I picked up an issue of Imbibe Magazine three summers ago. It contained a huge spread on the subject of iced coffee, and suggested the following cold-brew method for creating a sort of iced coffee concentrate. I tried it immediately, have made it this way ever since, and can tell you that there is no better (or simpler) method for having the most delicious iced coffee at your fingertips.
There are reasons this method results in a smoother, richer, more delicious concentrate than simply brewing strong coffee and refrigerating it. I would take the time to explain them to you if I knew what they were. But since I don’t, I’m just going to show you instead.
(Note: I’ve totally adapted/tweaked coffee/water amounts to suit my own tastes. Experiment to find your own perfect ratio.)

I start with a big ol’ container. I love these food storage containers, by the way. I got these at restaurant supply, but Sam’s Club had them last time I was there.

You can use a big bowl, a large pitcher…even a really clean bucket will work if you’re going for a huge quantity. (Or you can halve the original quantity and use a pitcher.)

Rip open a pound of ground coffee. Any kind will do; the stronger and richer the better.

Pour in the coffee.

Mount Bliss. Who invented coffee, anyway? They should be awarded the keys to the city.

Or, at the very least, my heart.

Pour in 8 quarts (2 gallons) cold water.

Give it a stir to make sure all the grounds make contact with the water…

Then cover the container and go live your life as the coffee steeps for at least eight hours. (And you can go much longer if you’d like.)

When the time has passed, grab a separate container and place a fine mesh strainer over the top.

Place a couple of layers of cheesecloth inside the strainer…

And slowly pour the steeped coffee through the strainer.

It’ll take awhile for all the liquid to pass through. (Doesn’t this look like one of the acid pools at Yellowstone?)

My friend Julie is there right now.
Hi, Julie!
Oh. Guess she didn’t hear me.

Use a spoon to gently press/force the last of the liquid through. And note: I’ve tried the straining method without the cheesecloth, and stray grounds did make it through the mesh strainer. Definitely try to use cheesecloth (or even paper towels) to filter out the finer pieces.

And there we have it. The dregs (left)…and the gold (right.)

You can store the liquid in the same container, or you can transfer it to a pitcher or other dispenser. Though it’s difficult to wait, I refrigerate this gorgeous concoction before consuming it. It’s meant to be cold!
Note: this amount of coffee concentrate lasts me a good three weeks to a month if kept tightly covered in the fridge.

Now, when you’re ready to make yourself an iced coffee, you can do two things. Start by filling a glass with ice.

Reach into the fridge and dispense enough of the coffee liquid to fill the glass half full (or maybe a little more).

Splash in skim, 2%, or whole milk…or, if you’re a naughty, naughty bad girl like me: half-and-half.

Make that naughty, naughty, naughty, bad, bad girl.

Add enough sugar to achieve the level of sweetness you like, or you can drizzle in vanilla or hazelnut syrup if you have those kinds of things lying around.

Stir it all up…

Stick in a straw…

And go fer it. Look at that miracle. The ice is all there. The flavor’s all there.
I’m all there.

VARIATION: VIETNAMESE ICED COFFEE

And now for something entirely different. Same…but different.
This is a variation on classic Vietnamese Iced Coffee (also recommended by Imbibe), which actually does begin with a hot brew…but I’m using the cold stuff.

Fill the glass with ice and coffee concentrate as we did before, then crack open a can of sweetened condensed milk.

A glorious substance. One you should get to know better if you don’t already.

Drizzle in at least 2 tablespoons for a big glass (I wound up adding three.)

Come…to…MAMA.

On top of this, add a small splash of milk or half-and-half.
(I recommend the latter, of course.)

Glorious.

Stir, take a small sip, and add a little more sweetened condensed milk if needed.
I’ve tried all combinations of milk, half-and-half, sugar, artificial sweeteners, flavored syrups, and sweetened condensed milk, and I will tell you that there is no more winning combo than the half-and-half/sweetened condensed milk mixture. It is out-of-this-world creamy and wonderful, and is worth at least a spot in your weekend rotation if you’re not willing to go there daily.
Either way, try this cold-brewed method of iced coffee sometime soon. The flavor, convenience (and cost savings) can not be underestimated.
Love,
Pioneer Woman

This one takes the cake!

2011-06-08T21:14:00.050-05:00

Sometimes, a celebratory occasion warrants it. Sometimes, your hormones require it. Maybe, your family asks for it. And, often times, it can be any combination of reasons. Bottom line is that it doesn't really matter. When you want it or when you need it, just make it!

Tonight, I can probably justify my urge to bake with two of the above reasons. But, regardless, it just sounded good, I had all the ingredients on hand, and I'm not sure anything was going to stop me!

When I first became a wife, I secretly thought it was shameful to make a cake from a box. I mean, what 'real' wife would do such a thing?!? After all, all good wives wear aprons, and lipstick, and heels while they cook meals for their husband - all after putting in a 9 hour day at the office themselves. A real wife uses only the best of ingredients, and wouldn't dare buy a prepackaged mix of any kind. But, after several failed, and expensive, attempts at the homemade versions, I quickly came to the conclusion that 1) for the price, 2) the simplicity, and 3) the overall taste, you can't beat a good 'ole boxed cake mix! Truth be known, that Betty Crocker sure knows how to make some great tasting, crowd pleasing, moist and delicious treats! So, tonight, I found no shame, nonewhatsoever, in making myself (er, my family) a strawberry cake.

I did have a slight issue with making a cake this evening... no icing. But, I knew I had cream cheese, other baking essentials, and the Internet.. So, I started searching online for a cream cheese-based icing. Not sure that is what you're supposed to make for a strawberry cake, but I figure cream cheese icing can make anything taste better! I found several recipes, but nothing matched the increments of the ingredients I had on hand. So, I made some slight adjustments to the several recipes I found online and came up with a delicious concoction.

And, so, this cream cheese icing definitely takes the cake! It's so simple, and yet, so perfect. I will use this for my carrot cake, the PW Red Velvet Cake, and any other cream cheese icing-worthy treats in the future. I hope you enjoy!

Cream Cheese Icing

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. butter, softened

2 t. vanilla

1/4 t. salt

3 cups powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese, butter, vanilla and salt until well mixed. Gradually add powdered sugar until desired consistency. Spread on a cooled cake or refrigerate slightly for a firmer icing.

Oh, and all that fantasy wife stuff isn't realistic. This is not 1950 and we work as partners. Okay, he doesn't bake, but we share most household and parenting tasks. Except mowing the lawn - he does that and I don't really care if I ever learn! :)

You should all make yourselves a cake this week, just because! If you need an excuse, you can tell yourself that you need to try a new icing recipe, or maybe you just need one to make a bad day better. I'm going to go cut myself a piece of strawberry cake with cream cheese icing now. And, tomorrow, I'm going to take one for breakfast, to enjoy with a nice cup of coffee.

'Sweet' dreams, goodnight!

The blazer is back!

2011-05-26T19:30:00.064-05:00

Time to dust off your old, navy blazers... this trend is back! Not your "Old Navy" blazers, but your old (as in the past, ancient, prior) blazers.

True, I have been seeing celebrities and catalogs featuring cute blazers and tailored jackets lately. My mom kept telling that I should pull out my old JCrew navy blazer, insisting that this trend is back. I didn't believe her so I decided to do some research. Well, she was right.

In InStyle magazine's featured Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, he lists one of the must-haves as a fitted blazer. Tim says, "No single item of apparel dresses up a look better than a blazer. You're doing Saturday catch-up at the office in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, when your boss calls to thank you with an invitation to lunch. Can you think of a better save?" How to wear this look? "Pull it over a feminine blouse and perfect-fit jeans for the weekend or a textured skirt for work."

Here is evidence that this is definitely back:


Love Pippa!


Cute and casual


Ann Taylor LOFT


JCrew

A Forever 21 find... only $27.80

Banana Republic


Equestrian

Your blazer certainly doesn't have to be navy. I just think any tailored jacket is a great way to dress up an outfit. Especially jeans - I love the way it gives that extra tailored look. Even paired over a simple tank or tee is super cute! It's definitely a must have in my closet. And in my mom's closet. I should have just listened to her in the first place. After all, Mom always knows best!

Fabulessly Frugal... Extreme Buying vs. Extreme Saving

2011-05-26T11:52:00.000-05:00

Note: This was taken directly from one of the coupon blogs I follow, Fabulessly Frugal. I thought it was great information and wanted to share!

Extreme Buying vs. Extreme Saving

Reader Question: You repeatedly remind readers not to clear shelves but you also talk extensively about building a large stockpile and shopping from our pantry. How can I create a large stockpile without buying mass quantities when the price is a stock up price?

Excellent question! To understand the answer you must first understand the difference between extreme buying and extreme saving. Saving money on an extreme level doesn’t necessarily mean you have to purchase on an extreme level. If you only buy 1 box of brownies and 1 box of pasta and get both items free, you have saved money on an extreme level! And you have not have purchased anywhere near what one would consider an extreme amount.

So how will that 1 box of pasta and 1 box of brownies fill your pantry? It won’t! But let’s say you buy 2 or 3 of each item during one shopping trip and 2 or 3 of each item the next shopping trip. I bake brownies once a month. I now have a 6 month supply in my pantry after 2 shopping trips!

Suddenly your measly shopping trip full of extreme savings but not extreme buying is making more sense and seeming more doable! A few small shopping trips like the one mentioned above and you will slowly see your pantry shelves filled. Not overnight. Building a stockpile takes time and patience.

It is hard to see the shopping trips on Extreme Couponing and not want to go duplicate them to fill your pantry to the brim in one trip to the store. But like we’ve said and like the actual couponers on the show will attest to, that’s not reality. Most of the stockpiles you see featured on Extreme Couponing took a lot of time to build. Years even.

I’ve been couponing for years and my pantry looks nothing like the ones shown. But I also have no need for a pantry like that. I have 2 small children and a husband to feed. For those who have many more mouths to feed, the way I shop might not be realistic. For instance, if you bake 2 pans of brownies a week you would need to place an order to have enough brownie mix in your pantry to last you a year. For my family, that is not necessary.

My stockpile is small, but sufficient for us. I know what we will use and I know what I like having on hand. I also know that if I miss a sale, we’ll most likely see another in a few months. I shop small and consistently. And that is enough for me. I am an extreme saver, which makes me an extreme couponer. But I am not an extreme buyer. And my pantry is still full! You know what they say: slow and steady wins the race!!

A link to Fabulessly Frugal's blog can be found HERE. I especially like their articles. Keep in mind, though, that they are not located in Oklahoma, so some of the store deals that they post, for example, might not apply.

A Wedding Brunch

2011-05-21T23:29:00.001-05:00

This morning, my two older boys and I went to the most beautiful outdoor wedding. Our dear friends Kyra and Peter exchanged vows in the wedding gardens of The Dominion House in Guthrie, OK. It was an 11:00 ceremony, followed by a lovely brunch reception. The weather was gloomy, rainy and humid in Oklahoma on Friday, but God certainly had this sweet couple in mind for their special day - the weather was absolutely perfect today! Sunny, warm, light breeze, and not a cloud in the sky!

This was the setting of the wedding this morning:

Another view of the ceremony location:

If you've never been to The Dominion House, I would encourage you to go by if you're ever in the vicinity of Guthrie, Oklahoma. Its history makes it especially cool. The Dominion House was built in 1923 as a masonic children's home. The home was occupied until 1978 when it was closed due to changes in the Oklahoma foster care law. After that it remained vacant until 2000, when it was purchased and renovated. This beautiul old building has always been rumored to be haunted, and once upon a time was a place where teenagers would sneak onto the property during the many years of vacancy. But, I know NOTHING about that, nor do I know anyone that would've done such a thing... :)

Today, this is a gorgeous building surrounded by well manicured gardens and lovely architectural details. It's definitely a site to see, especially in the spring!

Here are a few pictures of the building, showing some of the surrounding landscape:

More on The Dominion House can be found on their website, http://www.dominionhouseguthrie.com/

The reception was held in the ballroom immediately following the ceremony. I loved, loved, loved the reception. I really love weddings, but I especially enjoy experiencing fun and new ideas for the ceremony and reception. I have been to afternoon weddings before but I can't remember ever going to a morning wedding. And now, I'm totally in love with this idea. Of course, I'm already married, but it's still fun to share this idea, and all the reasons why I loved it.

We've all probably been to wedding receptions with heavy hors d'oeuvres, a buffet style dinner, lots of wine and dancing. These are some of my favorite weddings, and I've had the privilege of celebrating with several friends this way on their special day. Today's ceremony and reception, though, was refreshing and a fun way to change things up a bit, at least from what I've experienced in the past. It was light, fresh, and perfect in many ways.

First, the food was perfectly layed out in the room, and there was something for everyone. There was a breakfast buffet, complete with a large, cascading fruit spread that included watermelon, cantaloupe, blueberries, pineapple, blackberries, raspberries, grapes, and much more. Other buffet items included breakfast potatoes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and biscuits and gravy. In the main room, there were several different food and beverage stations. There was a juice and drink station, where fresh grapefruit juice, milk and tea was available. There was a "made to order" waffle area, complete with fresh berries, whipped cream, and syrup, among other toppings. I don't know for sure, but it looked to me as though omelettes were also an option. My personal favorite was the gourmet coffee bar, with every flavor and brew available. Cappucino, expresso, lattes - you name it, it was there! Even 'to go' cups of joe were available! Finally, my boys favorite area was a large tiered tray of donuts! All kinds - sprinkles, glazed, cake, sugared, chocolate, vanilla, etc. The boys were in heaven! They each had two donuts and a glass of milk. Oliver also had bacon :) Breakfast of champions, right!?!

The food was delicious, the setting was perfect, and the room was filled with lots of love for this sweet couple. The celebration was about them, and the beginning of their lives together. I'm all for a fun party when the time is right, but sometimes, that kind of party doesn't fit. Today, this celebration was just right! I especially loved spending time with my two favorite 4-year olds. It was a great, great day!

As we left, we took a walk back through the gardens, where I took advantage of the beautiful setting. Below is my favorite picture from today:

Where's the "Like" button?

2011-05-19T21:00:00.009-05:00

Does anyone else have an issue with this? These days, it makes me happy when I read an enjoyable email, have a "laugh out loud" moment with girlfriends, a nice driver lets me go ahead of them in traffic, I find a good sale, I hear my boys tell each other that they love one another, or I have something as simple as a good hair day. I just wish I could find life's universal "Like" button. It's sounds so stupid, but it seems that sometimes that "Like" button is just the most appropriate response.

I'm convinced that it's a 21st century human being's desire to feel gratification on a comment, a status update, a good deed or kind guesture. I get it, sort of, but why is that? Is the feeling a good deed gives us not enough anymore? Is it our addiction to social media and RSS feeds, is it the yearning for the most current and instant responses, is it competitiveness, is it a longing for attention, or a combination of all of these?

Sometimes, rather than responding to an email, or waving to the kind driver, it would be fun just to reply with a "Like" button.

Blogger Spotlight... Jennifer O'Reilly

2011-05-18T21:00:00.000-05:00

I would like to introduce Jennifer O'Reilly. She is such a kind, sweet, talented, and super fun mommy! I love reading her blog, and I know you will too. She has a beautiful family and she does a great job of capturing her family memories. My personal favorite posts are when she shares things about her design projects. Give this girl some spray paint and a salvaged household item and magic happens! Check out her blog HERE - I know you'll love it! Here is a post where she uses her magical talents with spray paint - so darn cute!! Click HERE!

Question #1: How do you take your coffee?

3 tsp of sugar and creme brulee creamer

Question #2: How long have you been blogging?

Almost 3 years

Question #3: When you first began blogging, what did you hope to accomplish with your blog? How, if any, have your blog goals shifted as you've become more experienced?

I started my blog with my in-laws in mind. They live in Georgia, and I wanted to keep them as close to us and the kids as possible. It's not easy having family living far away so I try to keep them updated with our lives through our blog. I also love that our kids lives are chronicled and I hope to make our blog into a book one day for the kids.

Question #4: Red wine, white wine, or depends on the occasion, meal, etc.?

Definitely depends on what I'm doing, what I'm eating, and who I'm with. I love both!

Question #5: Ultimate vacation spot? Is this somewhere you've been, or hope to visit someday?

Since we honeymooned in Sante Fe, I hold a very special place in my heart for turquoise jewelry, art galleries, cowboy boots and pinion wood. They're so many places I could have fun in. Greece in high up on my list of places to see.

Question #6: Cheez-its or Cheese Nips?

Parmesan Cheese-its

Question #7: Describe the perfect date night with your hubby.

I miss riding on the back of my hubby's Harley. Since we've had kids, we don't ride anymore. I would love to take a ride around Lake Hefner and have dinner on the patio of somewhere casual. I miss those days!

Question #8: If you could invite one celebrity, past or present, to dinner, who would you invite and why?

Lady Ga Ga. Just to see what she would wear.

Question #9: What is your favorite charitable organization? JLOC

Question #10: Name three things that you are passionate about in life.

God, Family, Friends

Question #11: If you could spend the day by yourself, with no phone, email, carpool, errands, etc., how would you spend your day?

Spa day that includes mani, pedi, facial & massage. Lunch on a patio with a glass of Sauv Blanc and a shrimp caesar salad. Browse some antique shops/boutiques for a fabulous find or fun piece of jewelry. Maybe hit up a book store and catch up on my favorite decor/celebrity gossip magazines.

Question #12: What advice would you give to someone that has just begun blogging?

Don't get frustrated and google the questions you need answers to. It's a work in progress.

Question #13: What is one of your favorite family traditions?

Dressing in Red, White & Blue, loading the girls up in their wagon, and heading to the 4th of July parade in Edmond.

Question #14: Name three baby items that you thought you had to have pre-kids, but now that you've had kids, realize you didn't really need. Name three baby must-haves.

1. Bedding~Our baby nurse told us in our parenting class that all we needed was a sheet and I thought that was the saddest thing I'd ever heard. But, I have to say after a few months I took the bumper out (Fear of SIDS and 5 month old Audrey was pulling herself up and trying to stand on it) and we never used the big blanket that came with the bedding. I removed the dust ruffle after we moved the crib lower to the ground. It was so important to have pretty bedding at the time, but after a 2nd baby I thinks it's a waste of money and time.

Must haves-Boppy, pack-in-play, video monitor, (and diapers diapers diapers!)

Question #15: What is your favorite drink from Sonic?

Lame, but it's what I always get. A route 44 water. So thirst quenching!

Blogger Spotlight... Stacy Nance

2011-05-18T18:00:00.005-05:00

Allow me to introduce the amazingly talented, Stacy Nance, of Stacy Nance Interiors! Stacy and I went to high school together, but have recently become reacquainted through mutual friends, similar interests, and our blogs. Please check out her design blog HERE. She offers great ideas and inspiration for your own home 'to do' list. I know I have plenty of things on my list. Actually, I have several design, home decor, household, and wish lists. Mainly, though, I have my everyday to do list and then my 'someday' list. Surely I'm not the only one!

Here are Stacy's responses to my random questions. Enjoy!

Question #1: How do you take your coffee?

No coffee for me; sometimes tea or DDP for a caffeine fix

Question #2: How long have you been blogging?

It will be a year in June. Wow! How time flies!

Question #3: When you first began blogging, what did you hope to accomplish with your blog? How, if any, have your blog goals shifted as you've become more experienced?

Blogs and social networks i.e. Facebook and Twitter have quickly become the way we communicate with our friends and neighbors. This is how the world shares information. I studied this in my master's degree (library and information studies). So when I started my business, I consulted with friends. We all agreed that a blog was necessary to the success of the business. The blog showcases my design aesthetic. People feel like they know me through the blog, and that's exactly what I want. Facebook has really been a launching pad for the blog and business. How would anyone but my immediate friends know what I was doing if it weren't for these tools? Through these avenues people can see what I'm doing and decide: "I want Stacy to come do that at my house!"

My goal is three posts a week on the blog. I didn't want to spend money on the blog in the beginning. Now I think it's time to invest more money into the business. I want to revamp my blog design this summer as well as launch a website with my design projects. I also want to do some "giveaways". Friends and acquaintances comment on my FB page or to me personally all the time, but I would like to see more discussion on the actual blog. I can see on my stats that hundreds of people check it out, so I just need to get them commenting!

Insert Regan's comment: What an awesome and smart answer!! Where would any of us be without social media these days?

Question #4: Red wine, white wine, or depends on the occasion, meal, etc.?

My favorite is a sauvignon blanc from New Zealand. Yummy!

Question #5: Ultimate vacation spot? Is this somewhere you've been, or hope to visit someday?

My two favorite vacation spots are Northern California and France. I love the Sonoma region near Napa, and Provence and Paris are just magical.

Question #6: Cheez-its or Cheese Nips?

Cheetos!

Question #7: Describe the perfect date night with your hubby.

Well I love a good date weekend to Dallas. Occasionally, my husband will take me to Dallas for a weekend of shopping. We stay at a nice hotel and eat at all our favorite restaurants.

Question #8: If you could invite one celebrity, past or present, to dinner, who would you invite and why?

This one is tough for me... Laura Bush and I have a lot in common, and I've always wanted to meet her. She is Theta and a librarian like me. I would love to talk to her about literacy and education.

Question #9: What is your favorite charitable organization?

Our friend Hayden has CF, so we love supporting her whenever possible. We also have a place in our hearts for Young Life.

Question #10: Name three things that you are passionate about in life.

That has changed in the last several years. When I was teaching I was very passionate about education. Now, I'm passionate about being a good mother, friend and wife.

Question #11: If you could spend the day by yourself, with no phone, email, carpool, errands, etc., how would you spend your day?

Start with a massage. Then a pedicure. Then I would probably make my way to my favorite design and antique stores.

Question #12: What advice would you give to someone that has just begun blogging?

Start small but set goals. I think it all depends on the content of the blog. If it's for a business, always consider your business plan.

Question #13: What is one of your favorite family traditions?

My Granny makes lunch for her kids, grand kids and great grand kids every Sunday. She's the best cook I know, and I hope I can be as giving and kind as she is someday.

Question #14: Name three baby items that you thought you had to have pre-kids, but now that you've had kids, realize you didn't really need. Name three baby must-haves.

I don't think I thought much about baby items before I had my son. I thought I was going to breastfeed for six months. HA! I used my expensive breast pump for two weeks before calling it quits--one of the most disappointing and difficult times in my life.

My baby must haves: Aiden+Anais swaddle blankets (love), bouncy chair, Fisher Price Lamb Swing, and Boon High Chair

Question #15: What is your favorite drink from Sonic?
Diet Strawberry Lemonade

Thirty One Home Shopping Event... Tonight only!

2011-05-18T14:28:00.001-05:00

Hi friends!

Thirty-one is a company with some fun, and practical everyday items. Among other things, they have great summer bags for vacations, travel, etc. This event is like many of the home shows, except this is a 'shop from home' event. Please see the links in the invitation below. It is from 6-9 pm TONIGHT. No need to RSVP, just feel free to shop if you are interested. They are offering some great discounts if you purchase during this time slot.

A link to their online catalog can be found HERE.

Thanks for considering!

Online shopping from 6-9pm with special pricing during event only

View the show here: THE EVENT
Shop here: THE STORE

Dinner this week

2011-05-16T17:28:00.000-05:00

So, I skipped last week's menu. It's a lot of pressure to put these things in writing, haha! So, although I would love to try to post something about what I'm cooking each week, it may be sporadic for the time being. At some point, I do hope to add a feature to my blog that includes links to my recipes. Many of my favorites are those that I've accumulated over the years from friends, family members, favorite Food Network stars, etc., but others are my own. I hope to be able to share them with you in the near future!

Okay, so back to my dinner plans for this week... I'm finding that if I start my week this way (by organizing ahead of time what I'm planning to cook), it seems that 1) I'm spending less at the grocery store because I'm really only buying what we need, and 2) I don't make frequent, random trips back and forth to the store to grab ingredients for dinner. Milk, baby food/formula, and bread don't count in my world, either! :)

Monday: Pot roast. I bought this a week or so ago when I had the Red River Angus beef coupons (coupon HERE). It's plenty to feed at least 4 adults, so there will be plenty for us and even some leftover. Serving with mashed potatoes, Rhodes buttery rolls, and green beans. Yum!

Side note on how I make my roast: Salt the meat the night before and refrigerate. The salt will tenderize and season the meat. Before baking, I then add dry onion soup mix, cream of mushroom soup, strong coffee, and pepper to season. Cook on low heat (275 degrees or so) for several hours - or, crock pot works great too. Add fresh mushrooms, if you like. This is delicious, easy, and filling.

Tuesday: Depending on the leftover situation, I will make this either Tuesday or Wednesday... but Crispy Chicken is on the agenda. This is baked chicken, that is battered in a bread crumb-type crust. To prepare, you will marinate the chicken breasts in buttermilk and hot sauce (Louisiana is our favorite). I let mine soak overnight, but a few hours would probably work fine, too. The bread crumb crust can be made using a variety of ingredients. The original recipe I had was to buy plain salad croutons. Crumble using a food processor, leaving in chunky pieces (not too fine). Add a ranch seasoning packet, and batter the chicken in that mixture. I don't always have croutons on hand, so I've adapted the recipe, slightly, depending on what I have in my pantry. I've used Ritz crackers before, and it was delicious. This week, I have corn flakes. Sounds odd, but they are sweet and if I add the ranch seasoning, it will add a sweet/salty combination to the chicken. I'll let you know how it turns out. But, the buttermilk, along with the crust layer, makes for a very moist and tasty chicken dish. Really easy, too. Serve with some chicken flavored pasta, some broccoli, or some roasted red potatoes. I might go with the pasta and broccoli - so I won't overdo the potatoes this week! In case you haven't printed yours, Pilgrim's Pride chicken coupon can be found HERE. Also, the coupon may still be available HERE, but if not, the Knorr pasta and rice sides are BOGO free at Homeland thru tomorrow. You don't actually have to buy two. They ring up 1/2 price, or $0.77 each, I think.

Wednesday - Leftovers - we should have plenty after our Monday and Tuesday dinners.

Thursday - Sandwiches, or something easy. Maybe grilled cheese and soup?

Friday - Michael is out of town through the weekend, so it might be a pizza night for us. An easy, and justifiable treat in my book!

Thinking ahead to next week.... I'm thinking about making beef enchiladas on Monday night. Really easy, and really delicious. I'll try to post the recipe in the coming days.

Also, I tried a new cake recipe over the weekend - it has only two ingredients and was surprising really good. Devil's food cake mix, and - are you ready for this... a can of Diet Coke. I've heard of it before, but never thought it would actually work. But, it totally does, and it was so good. Just pour in the can of soda, mix well, and pour into a greased 9x13. Bake as normal, maybe even a few minutes less than the box indicates for a 9x13 size - basically just watch it and you'll know. Cool and spread on your icing. Delicious, cheap, and crowd pleasing!

I hope everyone has a great week!

Ultimate Church lady recipes

2011-05-13T16:26:00.001-05:00

Below are some of my favorite recipes. I call them Church lady recipes, because these are so perfect, and something you might often see, for church pot-luck-type functions. Still, though, they are amazing, and pretty simple to make. The first is maybe my favorite. For a while, I made fun of my mom for making this, but now, I'm totally sold. Church function, family reunion, school or work party - whatever! This is sure to be a treat for any occasion.

Lemon Drizzle Cake

1 box lemon cake mix

1 pkg. lemon instant pudding

3/4 c. oil

3/4 c. water

4 eggs

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice

Mix above ingredients together and pour into a well greased bundt pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 37 minutes. (After several tests in my mom's kitchen. Basically, adapt based on your own oven, but somewhere in the ballpark of 37 minutes!)

Immediately invert onto cake stand, and drizzle the lemon glaze over the top of the cake.

With any luck, it should look something like this:

Completely church lady, but completely delicious!

Another favorite is the strawberry jello pretzel salad recipe. Anything "Jello" just screams church lady, doesn't it?!?! This recipe is seriously so good - yum!!

Strawberry Jello Salad

First layer:
2 c. pretzels, crushed
1/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted

Second layer:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. Cool Whip

Third layer:
2 c. pineapple juice
6 oz. strawberry gelatin
20 oz. frozen strawberries

First layer: Mix pretzels, sugar and butter. Press into a 9x13 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes and cool.

Second layer: Using an electric mixer, blend cream cheese and sugar. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread over crumb crust.

Third layer: In saucepan, heat juice and gelatin until dissolved. Mix in frozen strawberries and cool until slightly congealed. Spread over cream cheese mixture and refrigerate.

Prepare 1 day ahead if possible.

It should come out looking something like this:

The next recipe is one of my grandmas recipes. My mom once submitted the recipe into, what else, our church cookbook, and didn't know what to call it. So, she dubbed these brownies as the Mother-in-law brownies. The name stuck, and this is something that my grandma made often. Definitely a family favorite for us. They're like a chocolate chip cookie in a brownie form - so yummy!

Mother-in-law brownies

2 sticks butter

1 box brown sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 2/3 c. flour

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 (6oz.) pkg. chocolate chips

1/2 c. chopped pecans (optional)

Melt butter in large saucepan over low heat. Add brown sugar and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cool 5 to 10 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, stirring well after each addition. Add vanilla. Add sifted dry ingredients to first mixture. Add nuts and chocolate chips last. Spread batter onto greased jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. Don't overcook. Cool about 15 minutes before cutting into squares or bars. Serves 25 to 30.

They should look something like this:

Enjoy!

Blogger Spotlight... Julie LeClercq

2011-05-11T17:50:00.004-05:00

My friend, Julie LeClercq, is one of the sweetest, smartest ladies I know. And, she is a fellow mom of mutliples. She and her husband, Manny, have darling 2-year old triplets!! Please check out her blog, http://leclercqfamily.blogspot.com/.

Question #1: How do you take your coffee?

With flavored creamer, but if that's not available, sugar and milk

Question #2: How long have you been blogging?

Since the day we announced we were pregnant with triplets

Question #3: When you first began blogging, what did you hope to accomplish with your blog? How, if any, have your blog goals shifted as you've become more experienced?

At first the blog was intended to keep family and friends informed about our pregnancy. Now, the blog is a mixture of keeping friends and family informed of what's going on with our family, sort of baby book/memory book type thing for my kids, and also a goal of helping others- whether it be through our infertility story, higher order multiples, etc.

Question #4: Red wine, white wine, or depends on the occasion, meal, etc.?

All wine, often. But, I stick to red with meat and white with seafood and fish. I also like red in the winter and white in the summer.

Question #5: Ultimate vacation spot? Is this somewhere you've been, or hope to visit someday?

Italy. I've been and it's my favorite country. There are plenty of places I hope to visit one day though.

Question #6: Cheez-its or Cheese Nips?

Hmm, don't do a lot of either. Cheez-its.

Question #7: Describe the perfect date night with your hubby.

Dinner at a fancy restaurant (Ludivine, The Ranch, Coach House) discussing the details of each of our dishes, maybe a drink or two at a wine bar, and then staying the night in a hotel with no monitor in our ear and the opportunity to sleep in the next morning.

Question #8: If you could invite one celebrity, past or present, to dinner, who would you invite and why?

Oprah- She's fascinating and has done so much for so many.

Question #9: What is your favorite charitable organization?

March of Dimes- I start my new job with them next week!

Question #10: Name three things that you are passionate about in life.

My family, children in general, and food.

Question #11: If you could spend the day by yourself, with no phone, email, carpool, errands, etc., how would you spend your day?

A massage and pedicure, a nap, and reading a book with a nice glass of wine.

Question #12: What advice would you give to someone that has just begun blogging?

Blog often or people lose interest. I don't blog often enough!

Question #13: What is one of your favorite family traditions?

Having gumbo on Christmas Eve- a little unique and ties our family to our Louisiana heritage.

Question #14: Name three baby items that you thought you had to have pre-kids, but now that you've had kids, realize you didn't really need. Name three baby must-haves.

Must haves: boppy, monitor, lovey

Not necessary: car seat positioner/accessories (just use blankets), bottle warmer (just use warm water in a cup), wipes warmer

Question #15: What is your favorite drink from Sonic?
Classic cherry limeaid

Blogger Spotlight... Alyssa Siler

2011-05-10T22:17:00.000-05:00

I thought it might be fun to highlight some of my fellow bloggers. They each have different reasons for entering the blog world, and their posts are often funny, witty, thought provoking, inspiring and informative. I hope that you might be able to find something interesting for yourself in my favorite blogs!

Let me introduce my friend, Alyssa Siler. Her blog, http://notesfromthecastle.blogspot.com/, is a joy. Check it out!

Question #1: How do you take your coffee?
Bleh. I don't take it at all. My husband, on the other hand, needs about three cups in the morning just to be human.

Question #2: How long have you been blogging?
For a couple of years. I took last year off from my personal blog to keep up the Mrs. Oklahoma blog after I won that title. I just passed on the crown in January and started back with my blog recently.

Question #3: When you first began blogging, what did you hope to accomplish with your blog? How, if any, have your blog goals shifted as you've become more experienced?
I originally thought it would be a family scrapbook of sorts. I figured it would be the perfect place to document things going on with Hayden, funny things she said, pictures, etc. I still do talk about my family but I have found that it has become a great outlet for me to....well, to be me! I have always dreamed of writing a beauty column and I have kind of started to do that with certain posts focusing on products I love. I'll also share craft and decorating tutorials that I have found. Some days are just completely random thoughts. I hope that it has become a blog with personality that people enjoy keeping up with.

Question #4: Red wine, white wine, or depends on the occasion, meal, etc.?
Let me put it this way: If it isn't so fruity and frou-frou that you can't taste the alcohol, I don't want any part of it. I'm just not really a drinker. Try as I might to like wine and champagne, I just don't. My husband thinks it totally unromantic. Lol Now give me a frozen strawberry whatever or any after-dinner drink with "Oreo" in the title and we're talking!

Question #5: Ultimate vacation spot? Is this somewhere you've been, or hope to visit someday?
BER-MU-DA. We went there eight years ago for our honeymoon and I've been dreaming of going back ever since.

Question #6: Cheez-its or Cheese Nips?
There's cheese involved in both so neither can be that bad. I'll say Cheez-its.

Question #7: Describe the perfect date night with your hubby.
If we are being fancy (a rarity), dinner at Signature Grill. If it's low-key, then dinner at a more casual place and a romantic comedy movie at AMC. He's really good about seeing rom-coms with me while I completely refuse to see any man-ish movies. It works out great!

Question #8: If you could invite one celebrity, past or present, to dinner, who would you invite and why?
Read question #9 first so this answer makes more sense. She's only considered a celebrity in the cystic fibrosis community but, Beth Sufian. She is a lawyer who, while battling CF herself, fights tirelessly for the rights of others with the disease. Her work is all done pro bono and she has helped so many fight their insurance companies to get access to meds and equipment that are vital to their health. I met her briefly at a CFF conference in D.C. but I find her inspiring and fascinating and I'd love to talk with her in depth.

Question #9: What is your favorite charitable organization?
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Our daughter Hayden, who will be five in July, was diagnosed with CF at birth. It is an ugly disease with a current life-expectancy of 37.5. It causes the lungs, and other areas of the body, to fill up with a thick, sticky mucus. This causes lung infections and inflammation and a loss of lung function. The medical research has come leaps and bounds in recent years and it is projected that, by the year 2020, the science books will need to be re-written where CF is concerned. The science isn't possible without donations, however. Ryan and I are so proud to be a part of the only foundation putting 90 cents of every dollar donated straight to medical research. They WILL discover the drug that will save Hayden's life. I am so confident of that. For more info on Hayden and CF you can watch this video I put together by following this link: http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=c89fe0db215424f80618fe&skin_id=701&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

Question #10: Name three things that you are passionate about in life.
Being a part of making CF stand for "cure found", leading worship at my church, and spending way more time and money than necessary at Hobby Lobby.

Question #11: If you could spend the day by yourself, with no phone, email, carpool, errands, etc., how would you spend your day?
Do I have to??? Please don't take my laptop and IPhone away!

Question #12: What advice would you give to someone that has just begun blogging?
Don't put too much pressure on yourself to become a blog-writing machine. I did that in the beginning and became so caught up in creating a new post everyday that I was ignoring other things I needed to be doing. What?? My family wants dinner again tonight???? That sort of thing.

Question #13: What is one of your favorite family traditions?
My father passed away last year, so our tradition of an annual father/daughter pumpkin carving we had when I was growing up is near and dear to my heart. He actually carved a pumpkin with Hayden the last year before he became ill and I will always treasure those pictures. I want to start that tradition with Ryan and Hayden this year.

Question #14: Name three baby items that you thought you had to have pre-kids, but now that you've had kids, realize you didn't really need. Name three baby must-haves.
Things I didn't actually need: a wipie warmer, the Diaper Genie, and a separate cradle outside the bedroom. Things we would not have made it without: the swing, the swaddlers, and our car to drive around at night to put her to sleep!

Question #15: What is your favorite drink from Sonic?
LemonBerry Sprite!! It's a mixture of strawberry lemonade and Sprite. It's so refreshing and caffeine-free which is good for me right now while I'm preggo!

Casual Chic

2011-05-06T21:23:00.000-05:00

I'm still fascinated by the newly married Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. I can't get enough of all the media coverage, all the details of her dress, the wedding, the jewels, Pippa, Harry, the bridesmaids and pageboys, the crazy hats and fascinators (see here, so bizarre) - basically all of it! I even purchased the Collector's Edition People magazine! Did/does anyone else's mom have a drawer with important magazine covers? To name a few, my mom had the Jackie Kennedy cover, the Challenger explosion cover, the Princess Diana cover. Actually, as I type, I'm noticing that these are all really tragic news stories... All news worthy, sure, but kinda eery. Maybe I'll start my own drawer, but I think I'll start with the fairy tale of these royal lovebirds :) The magazine is on newstands now.

This week, it was "news" that the royal couple had returned to their normal lives, and that Kate was spotted grocery shopping at her local market. This is all public knowledge, now, but I learned some fun new tidbits about her that I love. Things of note:

She wears a ponytail holder around her wrist - glad I'm not the only one! And, I wonder if her mom gripes at her about it like mine does me. It drives my mom crazy!
She loaded her own groceries in her car, even though she had personal bodyguards with her - love that :)
She not only does her own shopping, but she cooks! Supposedly, The couple will not be employing chefs, butlers, valets or any other type of help beyond their security detail.
They live in a 1500-square foot farmhouse! Maybe my favorite detail. In case you missed it, I hope to build my own farmhouse someday.

Here are some fun pictures of Kate on her grocery store run. She looks sweet and happy. As if I really know her... :)

She is adorable. Darling, and casually chic in her skinny jeans and ballet flats. I wonder what was on her grocery list?!? Maybe someday she'll author a cookbook - wouldn't that be awesome!

Couponing, Week 2: What I've learned

2011-05-04T22:36:00.000-05:00

Little by little, I feel like I'm starting to get the hang of this whole couponing thing. In a post earlier this week, I mentioned my trip to Homeland. I didn't have the camera handy at the time to include with that post, but I did actually snap a picture of my purchases. I got all of this, including several packages of meat, baby food, tons of produce, plenty of snacks for the boys, lunch items, and laundry detergent... for $116. This will completely get us through all of this week and hopefully, at least through the middle of next week. The only things we might have to stop for between now and then are milk and formula, which is pretty normal for us. We drink a lot of milk, maybe 4-6 gallons per week! Remember, though, Hiland milk is on sale at Walgreens through Saturday, May 7th, for $2.69/gallon! :)

So, what I've learned this week:

It's important to begin establishing a stock pile. If you don't cook often, it may take a bit longer to do this than those of us that cook regularly. But, stick with it and gradually, you'll only have to buy a few extra items for your recipes.

Below are a few quick examples. I do cook quite a bit, and these are a few items that I typically buy, or have, on hand:

Large white onion (chop it up finely and freeze if you don't cook often, and you can pull it out when needed. This is a great staple that adds some great flavor to many recipes)
Medium red onion (great on burgers)
A few ripe tomatoes (great for salads, BLT's, burgers, or even sandwiches)
Lettuce (again, salad, burgers and BLT's)
I always have butter, sugar, eggs, flour, cooking oil and vanilla on hand, for sweet treats!
Plenty of salt and pepper
I almost always have hamburger meat. If you find a good price on meat, stock up and buy 3 or 4. These freeze great, and are easy to pull out and whip up something for your family. Same goes for chicken!
Let's say you're hungry for hamburgers, but you're out of hamburger buns. Save yourself a trip to the store and just grill the meat as you normally would, but instead, serve the hamburger patties without the bread. Serve with macaroni and cheese, corn on the cob, or some tater tots. Add lots of mustard, and enjoy :) Your kids are sure to enjoy it as well!

Taking your lunch helps save money! My kids are pretty picky, or I guess typical 4-year olds, when it comes to eating. They like the really healthy stuff, like corn dogs, macaroni, chips, and cookies - things like that! :) In a perfect world, I would make one family meal and everyone would eat it. Unfortunately, that isn't the case in our house. So, there is often quite a bit left over from dinner. As I clean up the kitchen after dinner, I've been packing tomorrow's lunch using the extras from tonight's dinner. This helps me because, 1) I don't have to rush around in the morning to get lunch ready, 2) it saves money, and 3) food doesn't go to waste. Try it for a few days, it isn't so bad!
When making your grocery list, consider what your meals might be for the week, if not longer. Often, you'll see plenty of snack-type foods that are on special, but that won't feed your family for dinner. I think it's okay to load up on snacks when the prices are good, but don't forget the healthy stuff, too! Here are some links for chicken and beef products:

Click HERE for a $1 off coupon for Pilgrim's Pride Chicken products (can be found at Homeland)
Click HERE for $1 off Red River Angus beef products (can be found at Homeland)
Click HERE for $1 off Smart Chicken coupon
Click HERE for Birds Eye Steamfresh veggies

If you've started following the various coupon blogs, you'll see that they often will share different success stories of their grocery trips. But, one thing I'm noticing is that they seem to be smaller trips with only a few items at a time, not bulk trips like I did this week. It may be that they've been doing this for so long, that they really only need a few items. If that's the case, that is great! But, personally, I just don't have enough time to make several small trips - I've got to knock it all out while I'm there, and hopefully, include as many good deals as I can in one trip. They must have a bigger freezer than I.
Slowly, but surely, my coupons are stacking up. Remember to look each Sunday for the coupon inserts in the paper. Also, check online for other coupons. I listed some of my favorites from one of my earlier posts. Click here for those suggestions.

Good luck to all of you that might also be starting this journey! Feel free to share any tips and tricks that you've learned along the way :)

Regan

What I'm cooking this week, 5/2/11 - 5/6/11

2011-05-04T11:36:00.000-05:00

I'm not exactly sure yet what I hope to accomplish with this blog, so thank you in advance as I continue testing the blogging waters!

Yesterday (Tuesday, May 3rd), I went to Homeland for groceries with all three kids in tow. And, I survived, haha! I made my list ahead of time, carefully selected items that I really 'needed' or would/could use around the house, and matched up as much as possible with my coupons. I won't bore you with all the details, but when all was said and done, I saved $63 and some change off my total bill. Woo hoo!!! The main importance of this, is that two weeks ago, I would've probably bought close to these same items, without as much regard for the store specials, not to mention my lack of coupons. I am so guilty of making impulsive trips to the store every month with the intention of grabbing only a few items, but come out with a $100 total, and hardly anything to show for it. Hopefully, I'm working toward a different plan for my family. I know there will be weeks ahead where those trips still come out of necessity, lack of time, or whatever the reason. But, I'm here to tell you that I'm committed to trying - hopefully for the long haul!

I thought I might try to share a few of the meals I'm planning for this week. My hope is that I can soon begin posting links to my recipes, because I love to cook and would love to share some of my favorite recipes. I'm playing around with www.scribd.com website (a file sharing-type site), but I'm not completely comfortable with it yet. Would anyone be interested in that if I added this to my blog? Please let me know!

I'm sorry to post this so late in the week, but this might give someone out there some inspiration for the remaining days this week, or even to help with planning in weeks to come!

Monday, I had a late Junior League meeting so everyone ate different things. It happens...
Tuesday, Penne pasta with red meat sauce, small salad (see recipe below, it was yummy!)
Wednesday, King Ranch Chicken Casserole. See recipe here. Yum!
Thursday, probably leftovers
Friday, sounds like a good night for hamburgers on the grill. Good, easy, and cheap meal!

For weekends, I don't try to plan too much. This Sunday is Mother's Day, so happy early Mother's Day to all the mommy's out there! I hope it's a great and special day for you! It also happens to be my husband's birthday, so I'll have to think of something to make to celebrate both occasions. I think we'll probably do a 1:00 lunch, and right now, I think ham, a potato dish, baked beans and a great dessert might do the trick. I'll post more as the week progresses!

Okay, I mentioned earlier that I would post the pasta sauce recipe from our dinner last night. It's just a spaghetti-type red sauce, but it was especially good so I thought I would take mental notes as I was cooking, and would share.

Ingredients:

1-1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef (or ground turkey would be good too)
1/2 white onion, chopped
About 4 oz. sliced fresh mushrooms (half of one of the small containers from the produce section. Hopefully, you know what I'm describing! If not, just guesstimate!)
1 clove of minced garlic
2 heaping tablespoons of olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds (I love fennel seeds in Italian meals!)
1 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/8 teaspoon onion salt
1 large can tomato sauce (I'm sorry, I don't know the ounces. Form your hands in a circle. It's about that size! 28-30 oz. maybe?)
About 1 cup prepared/jar marinara (like Ragu or Prego, etc)
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat olive oil slightly and add chopped onions, garlic, and mushrooms. Saute until it smells delicious and onions start to get translucent. Add meat, and cook until browned. Add your seasonings (fennel, Italian seasonings, and onion salt). I personally don't drain the excess fat, I think it gives it some added flavor, but if you do, be careful not to dump the veggies down the drain! Add the tomato sauce and marinara, and add additional salt and pepper to taste if needed. Heat until slightly bubbly, then cover, and simmer for about 30 minutes or so until dinnertime. In the meantime, boil your pasta water, add a little olive oil and some salt to the water. Cook pasta until al dente (any pasta works). Drain water, add a nice heaping scoop of butter to the pasta to prevent sticking. Serve sauce atop pasta, and voila! Make a small green salad and it makes for an easy, yummy, crowd pleasing family dinner! Perfect for leftovers, or the next day's lunch if you pack your lunch for work.

Enjoy!

What does everyone else typically cook during the week? I'd love to hear!!

Regan

Getting organized

2011-05-01T12:40:00.004-05:00

Over the weekend, I've been busy getting organized - or at least with my coupon strategy. One thing I quickly found was that I had coupons laying around everywhere, and it was making me crazy. I knew I needed to get organized and put everything in one location. To do that, I put together a little filing system. It looks nice and neat and is compact in a plastic tub. See picture below!

I know there are similar versions that you can purchase through coupon experts, however, with some mailing envelopes, index cards, glue stick, scissors and a marker, I was able to create my own on the cheap!

For those interested in putting together something similar, this is how I did it:

First, you'll need a plastic tub to hold all of your coupons. I bought mine at Walmart, for somewhere in the $3.50 range.
Next, begin by cutting off the flap part of a letter-sized envelope, like this:

3. Then, take an index card and, using a glue stick, add glue to the bottom 2/3rds of the card. Adhere card to the envelope, alternating between left side/middle/right side.

4. Label the cards using descriptions that will help organize your shopping trips. Or, I came up with my own that I've listed below. I got a little carried away and may reduce the categories as I become more experienced, but time will tell. Coupon Closet lists her categories here. She also provides some beginner categories, which can be found here. As you find coupons for each category, just insert them into the appropriate envelope.

Office supplies
Outdoor (bug spray, charcoal, lighter fluid)
Side dishes (pasta, rice mixes)
Chips
Mexican (tortillas, taco shells, enchilada sauce, jalapenos)
Batteries
Canned goods
Cookies
Candy
Hair products
Kitchen wrap (foil, saran wrap, etc.)
Kitchen bags (trash bags, ziplocs, etc.)
Makeup
Pasta
Seasonings and spices (taco seasoning, salt and pepper, etc)
Dish soap
Medical or First Aid
Bread
Toys and Games
Dental
Dairy
Bath soap
Sauces and dips
Box dinners
Baking (flour, sugar, etc.)
Dessert mixes (brownies, cakes, muffin mixes)
Household cleaners
Baby
Feminine
Paper goods
Meat
Detergent
Drinks
Breakfast
Boxed Snacks
Vegetables
Refrigerated
Fast food
Cheese (deserved it's own category, haha!)
Coffee
Frozen
Toiletries

Then, based on what I've read from other blogs, I made separate envelopes (color coded in yellow) for the stores that have weekly specials: CVS, Homeland, Target and Walgreens

Finally, I made two other envelopes (color coded in red) labeled Transaction #1 and Transaction #2. Not exactly sure why, or how often the two transactions are necessary, but I guess you can get the best savings sometimes by using this method. But, basically as you shop, if you put an item in your basket and you have a coupon, add the coupon for that particular item into either the Transaction #1 or Transaction #2 envelopes. This way, when you go to checkout, your coupons are already in one place, and you can easily hand them to the cashier. This should also help reduce dirty looks of impatient people in line behind you :)

Quick example where I actually did the two transactions thing at Target this week... I bought three packages of diapers and the Target promotion was that if you buy 3, you get a $5 Target gift card. I was there to purchase a gift, so once I checked out and received my $5 Target gift card, I turned around and applied it to my gift purchase. This was just my example, but if anyone knows a better example, or the science behind this method, please share!

One final thing... Michael wanted to get out this morning because we needed milk. I told him, "Wait, milk is on sale this week at Walgreens for $2.69/gallon!" Then, I said, "Let me make you a quick list and you can grab some other things while you're there." At first, he gave me a "look", but he waited patiently while I went through my coupons, matching up with what was on sale this week at Walgreens.

Some quick items of note:

Comet is on sale 2/$1 - and I had a $.25 coupon - total price was 2/$.75. Not bad!
Lysol disinfectent spray is on sale for $3.49, plus you earn a $1 Register Reward (like the ECBs at CVS) at checkout. I had a $1 off coupon, too. So, when all is said and done, the Lysol was $1.49 if you include the RR.
Dawn dish soap is on sale for $.99, and I had a $.25 coupon. Small size, but still...
Enfamil formula is on sale for $21.99 w/Walgreens store coupon that I found in the Sunday paper. I also had a $5 off coupon, so formula was $16.99
Pop tarts (small box of 8) are on sale for $1.99. Payne eats these every morning, so although I didn't have additional coupons, this is a little cheaper than normal.
Walgreens bleach is on sale for $1, or Buy One Get One free. Normal price is $1.99.
I mentioned the milk on sale earlier in this post, and we got two gallons at that $2.69 price. Hiland, too, not a generic brand!

So, when all was said and done, the receipt showed that we saved $19.87. Pretty proud moment - and Michael said it was actually pretty "solid" to have the coupons. That was his word :)

Happy shopping, and couponing!

RMR

Husband and Wife

2011-04-29T05:44:00.002-05:00

A Royal Affair

2011-04-28T12:23:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow, at 4:00am, I have a date with my mom to watch The Royal Wedding of Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton. It's such a modern day fairy tale, and I am so excited. My DVR is set to the maximum number of selections - Good Morning America, TLC, CNN, etc. I want all the behind-the-scene commentary!

We don't have anything extravagant planned as we watch, except to eat!

The coffee will be strong, hot and ready early. With coffee, we are having chocolate pie. We might eat it with a spoon right out of the pie plate, but that's our business :) I might also need a quiche or breakfast casserole, or maybe even just some simple scrambled eggs. I've also found two recipes that might be worth trying. I've posted them below - both look heavenly, and would undoubtedly taste great with my coffee.

To all the royal watchers out there - I hope you have a yummy menu, hot coffee, and warm pjs for the big event!

Victoria Sponge Cake and the Pioneer Woman's Sweet Cinnamon Scones - yum!

Sponge cake recipe can be found here

Sweet Cinnamon Scones recipe can be found here

Coupon Addiction

2011-04-28T12:04:00.003-05:00

In the midst of the wildly popular hoarding shows and endless articles about the women who somehow manage to stockpile toilet paper for a year at a time, can feed their families of 7 on $100 a month, or can go to the grocery store and buy $200 worth of groceries but somehow manage to pay $20 or some other crazy amount, I've been intrigued. My boss' daughter (who is darling and sweet, a mom of two small boys, and one of 8 children) and I were talking one day and somehow the topic of couponing came up. She was telling me that she really tries to find good deals and gave me a few tips on how to get started. She had actually taken a coupon class by a lady here in OKC who has mastered the art of couponing. Now that I've read this lady's blog for several days, I am here to tell you that, yes, it is an art. You can check out Carrie's blog here. She gives all kinds of tutorials, tips, tricks, etc. Definitely worth checking out if you're interested in some fun ways to save a little extra money each month!

What I've learned from my 1-week long coupon experience thus far:

Printing online coupons requires a lot of printer ink. But, a lot of fun to find a coupon for a favorite staple item in my house!
Just because you have a coupon for something doesn't mean you have to buy that particular item. Even if AirWick air fresheners are a really good price at CVS, if I've lived this long without wanting or needing to purchase this item, I probably can keep on going without it. This is harder than it sounds, believe me!
Create a shopping list before you go to the store, and try your best to stick to it.
Be organized with your coupons and be familiar with the store specials before you shop.
On a whim, stop-on-the-way-home, send-your-husband-to-the-drugstore kind of trips aren't good money saving ideas!
Read up on the tips and tricks, and don't get in a rush to save hundreds of dollars in the first month. Take your time and slowly start a stockpile - both of coupons and products!

My successes this week:

CVS had the large cans of Enfamil formula on sale for $21.99, regularly $26.99 at CVS. Normally, I wouldn't buy it there, but because I had a $5 off coupon, and it was on sale, I got formula for $16.99 - $10 off the regular price. Then, I swung by another CVS on my way home from work with the purpose of buying another can (I had a second coupon - you can usually print two coupons per computer. They are tracked by your IP address, so be careful!). The second CVS was out, so I asked for a raincheck. Most stores have this, you just have to ask! Later in the week, I stopped for a third time, and they were still out of formula in that size. So, I asked the cashier for another raincheck. They don't know me, and it was different cashier, so now I can buy two cans of formula at that price down the road. Yay!
Back to CVS - if you don't have a CVS card, next time you're there just ask for one. You can scan your card for extra coupons, and if you buy things on special in a particular week, you have the ability to earn Extra Care Bucks, or in the coupon world, ECBs! These are fun, they make you feel as if you've accomplished something great, and can be used as cash - at CVS. I won't go into too much detail here, because the coupon queens can somehow manage to stay under $5 out of pocket when shopping at CVS (how?!?). I'm totally not there, but an occasional $10-$15 off each visit is both welcomed and fun! So, I would encourage you to check out the CVS tutorial on Carrie's blog. So far, there are four short videos. Here is a link to her CVS Crash Course. Who knew?!
Homeland has some really great specials each week, and although they are a bit higher on day-to-day stuff (higher than Walmart or Crest, for example), they will double your coupons up to $1. And, you can use both a Homeland coupon and a manufactured coupon on one item if you have them. Read more on Homeland tricks and success stories on Carrie's blog. She posts the 'good deals' each week, which is really nice of her to do our homework for us. And, she'll give you links to coupons that can be printed online.
I saved $42 at Homeland this week. Of my 32 items, I'd say 20 of those items were either on sale or I had a coupon. Normally, I'm lucky if I get out of there under $100. But, this week, I spent $70 and I have everything I need for the week. Baby steps, but it felt really good!

Finally, below are some of my favorite coupon websites (so far). Be careful, this gets addicting in a hurry! And, there are so many websites and blogs out there of people who have started to share their tips and tricks on couponing. My motivation is just saving a little money. So far, so good, although I'm not booking my trip to Hawaii quite yet! :)

www.coupons.com
Printable Target coupons can be found here
www.smartsource.com
www.redplum.com
You also might try some of the blog coupon databases, or to "Like" some of your favorite brands on FB. I've gotten some pretty good coupons that way.

Again, I'm new at this, but I'm just competitive enough to want to succeed at it. I hope this is helpful to you. Check out the coupon blog world and let me know what you find as well!

My boys

2011-04-18T13:15:00.001-05:00

The Pioneer Woman occasionally has photography contests on her blog, and last week the subject was "Brothers". I had been anticipating this photography contest, because, well, I have all boys. I know everyone probably thinks their kiddos are the sweetest, cutest, most loving beings on the planet and I, too, think this about my own. They make my heart melt, they bring us so much joy, and I love their sweet souls.

Unfortunately, my photos were not selected as winners, or even finalists. But, I did think I would go ahead and post some of my favorite photos of my boys, and some of my favorite "brother" photos. Enjoy!

Top 5

2011-04-14T11:32:00.002-05:00

Today I stumbled upon an article that listed Nate Berkus' top 5 home necessities. They are:

Mini-Fridge
Nate's not a fan of getting up to find a cold beverage, so he keeps a mini-fridge in his room to save a trip to the kitchen! A mini-fridge isn't just on Nate's list of home must-haves...he also has a mini-fridge in his office here at "The Nate Berkus Show!"
Kiehl's Lotion
Whether Nate's at home or on the road, he always packs Kiehl's lotion to stay moisturized.
Kiehl's, Kiehls.com
V-Neck T-Shirts
Nate lives in his American Apparel v-neck t-shirts. He loves the fit and durability, and at only $21, it's one of his favorite fashion bargain buys!American Apparel, Americanapparel.com
Cashmere Throws
Cashmere throws are in almost every room of Nate's home. He loves curling up on the couch with a cashmere throw!
Label Maker
One of Nate's favorite things EVER is his label maker! He loves labeling everything, including every drawer of his wardrobe. If you're wondering what Nate's doing right now, odds are he's labeling something!

What are your Top 5 Home Necessities? Top 5 Car Necessities? Top 5 Handbag Necessities? Top 5 Clothing Necessities? Discuss...

Over Cups of Joe...

"Super" Ingredients

In a recent GOOP post, I thought the below information was helpful to store away somewhere...

The “Super” Ingredients:

A good deed

DIY Club and Pinterest

P-dub's Iced Coffee Post

Perfect Iced Coffee

VARIATION: VIETNAMESE ICED COFFEE

This one takes the cake!

The blazer is back!

Fabulessly Frugal... Extreme Buying vs. Extreme Saving

Note: This was taken directly from one of the coupon blogs I follow, Fabulessly Frugal. I thought it was great information and wanted to share!

Extreme Buying vs. Extreme Saving

A Wedding Brunch

Where's the "Like" button?

Blogger Spotlight... Jennifer O'Reilly

Blogger Spotlight... Stacy Nance

Thirty One Home Shopping Event... Tonight only!

Dinner this week

Ultimate Church lady recipes

Blogger Spotlight... Julie LeClercq

Blogger Spotlight... Alyssa Siler

Casual Chic

Couponing, Week 2: What I've learned

What I'm cooking this week, 5/2/11 - 5/6/11

Getting organized

Husband and Wife

A Royal Affair

Coupon Addiction

My boys

Top 5

Mini-Fridge

Kiehl's Lotion

V-Neck T-Shirts

Cashmere Throws

Label Maker