Living on Less

Tastefully Tueday...

2012-01-31T12:37:00.001-06:00

Super Bowl Sunday is coming fast and so I thought I would post a couple great recipe ideas that are quick and easy and will ensure you don't miss a minute of the game. First is a great 7 layer dip from McCormick, next are Slider Style Mini Burgers from All Recipes.

Seven Layer Fiesta Dip

1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
1 container (16 ounces) sour cream
1 package McCormick® Taco Seasoning Mix or McCormick® Taco Seasoning Mix Mild
1 package (8 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese (2 cups)
1 cup prepared guacamole
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/2 cup sliced black olives
Tortilla chips

1. Spread refried beans in shallow serving dish.
2. Mix sour cream and Seasoning Mix in small bowl until well blended. Spread over refried beans.
3. Top with layers of cheese, guacamole, tomatoes, onions and olives. Serve with tortilla chips.

Makes 8 cups or 64 (2-tablespoon) servings. Prep Time: 15 minutes

Slider-Style Mini Burgers

2 pounds ground beef

1 (1.25 ounce) envelope onion soup mix

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

24 dinner rolls, split

1/2 cup sliced pickles (optional)

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.

Mix together the ground beef and onion soup mix in a large skillet; cook and stir over medium-high heat until the beef is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease. Remove from heat. Stir the mayonnaise and Cheddar cheese into the ground beef mixture.

Lay the bottoms of the dinner rolls on the prepared baking sheet. Spread the cheese and beef mixture on the bottom half of each roll. Replace the tops. Cover with another sheet of aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake in the preheated oven until the burgers are heated through and cheese melts, about 30 minutes. Serve with sliced pickles.

Prep time 10 minutes, cook time 40 minutes. Makes 24 mini burgers.

Coupons:
Save $1.00 off 2 Hood Sour Cream
Save $1.00 off 8 McCormick seasonings (Meijer)
Save $1.00 off 2 Kraft Cheese Item (Target)
Save $1.50 off any Wholly Guacamole
Save $1.50 off any 2 Early California or Pearls Black Ripe Olives (coupon link is at bottom of the page)
Save $2.00 on any Ruffles Family Sized Potato Chips, Tostitos Tortilla Chips or Tostitos Salsa (Giant Eagle)
Save $2.00 off any Star Ranch Angus beef product
Save $1.00 off any 4 Lipton Soup Secret and Recipe Secret Dry Soup Mix (Meijer)
Save $1.00 off two select varieties of Mayonnaise at Target
Save $0.50 off two Pillsbury Refrigerated Pizza Crust, Breadsticks, Loaves or Dinner Rolls
Save $0.35 off any Gedney Pickle Product

Today's no cook option is from Onsale.com, get a $10.00 Domino's pizza card for only $5.99. This offer expires 1/31/12 11:59 PM PST so you need to be quick to get your deal.

Hope you are all having a great week so far.

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

2012-01-29T10:17:00.001-06:00

I think 90% of us all start the year with the goal to eat better and soon give it up in favor of eating quick or tasty. A few years back I discovered a great book called Eat This Not That by David Zinczenko, the Editor-in-Chief for Men's Health magazine and the Editorial Director of Women's Health magazine. For me the book was love at first glance, its an easy way to make more educated choices between things that we may never consider differences between, which in the long run can help you loose lots of weight and feel better. It was nice to see my choices were not eat a celery stick or eat a cheeseburger, things are compared more apples to apples. Here is a great example: You think you are going healthy ordering a healthy turkey burger and you would assume you would get a healthier option from a sit down restaurant vs a drive through, but you would be wrong, an avocado Turkey burger from Ruby Tuesday has 886 calories and is loaded with 54 grams of fat and 2,712 milligrams of sodium, the Guacamole Turkey burger from Carl Jr.'s has only 490 calories, 21 grams of fat (6 of them saturated fat) and 1,120 milligrams of fat. Just the tip of the iceberg proving that not all pizza, burgers, salads, ice cream and Mac & Cheese are created equal, if you are armed with the facts you can shed pounds with very little work. I was able to find the updated version of the book; Eat This, Not That! 2012: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution in paperback for the lowest price of $12.99 with no shipping at The Book Depository. If you have a Kindle or the Kindle app you can download the electronic version of the book from Amazon for $8.99, I think this is a great option because then you have the information right at your fingertips when you need it most.

I hope you are all having a nice relaxing Sunday.

C.Q.

Silly Saturday...

2012-01-28T10:22:00.000-06:00

Hope you are having a great weekend!

C.Q.

Friday's Freebie...

2012-01-27T11:34:00.000-06:00

Today's freebie is all about your heart health. A while back my Dr. noticed my Triglycerides were a little high and recommended fish oil for the Omega 3s, well a few different types of fish oil later, all either very large capsules or really awful tasting gels, I found MegaRed and gave it a try. It is smaller but packs a larger punch than the regular fish oils, and its working great. To get your own free sample just go to the Schiff MegaRed facebook page and become a fan, then fill in the request form for your sample.

Hope you are all looking forward to a great weekend!

C.Q.

Thursday's picture perfect deal...

2012-01-26T10:40:00.000-06:00

The picture...

This was taken last summer on my trip to St. Paul, Minnesota. We don't get many English Sparrows where we live and this little guy was happy to have his picture taken. We were at Como Park and it was quite a dreary day so he was all poofed up trying to stay warm and dry.

The deal...

L'Occitane is having a sale on their new super sizes. You can get some of you classic favorites in larger sizes and save some cash; like some of my favorites, Almond Shower Oil which is great for dry skin is marked down from $48.00 to $36.00 for a 16.9 ounce bottle, or the Rose Bath and Shower gel that really lifts my mood in the winter is marked down from $40.00 to $30.00 for a 16.9 ounce bottle. L'Occitane also usually includes free samples with your order which is always fun and right now they have free shipping on all orders over $40.00. If you create an account with them and sign up to recieve their emails you will also be entered to win a trip to Providence, if you are already a subscriber, just go to their site and sign in, then click on the Providence tab to find the entry form.

Hope you are all having a great Thursday.

C.Q.

Wednesday's learn and earn...

2012-01-25T11:04:00.000-06:00

~WORD OF THE DAY~

swivet \SWIV-ut\ ~ noun

DEFINITION: a state of extreme agitation

EXAMPLES: She was in a swivet for days before the meeting, but when the actual day arrived she found she was surprisingly calm.

"The world's in a swivet over airport security. The deployment of full-body scanning technology in about 15 percent of United States airports has people even more anxious and cranky than usual as we head into the holiday season." -- From an article in The Houston Chronicle, November 24, 2010

DID YOU KNOW? People have been in a swivet over one thing or another since the 1890s. That, at least, is when the word first appeared in print in a collection of "Peculiar Words and Usages" of Kentucky published by the American Dialect Society. In the ensuing years, "swivet" popped up in other pockets of the South as well. Chances are it had already been around for some time before it was recorded in writing, and by the time it was, nobody could say where or how it had originated. What we do know is that its use gradually spread, so that by the 1950s it was regularly appearing in national magazines like Time and The New Yorker. Thus, it entered the mainstream of American English.

~THE REBATE~

Tired achy feet? Try the Dr. Scholl's Custom Fit Orthotic inserts and get a $10 rebate. Just go to the Dr. Scholl's site and click on the link towards the bottom of the page to get your rebate form, then fill it in and mail it in together with your original store receipt dated between 1/1/2012 and 6/30/2012 with the purchase and price circled, and the UPC from the package. All rebate requests need to be submitted by July 31, 2012.

Have a great Wednesday!

C.Q

Tastefully Tueday...

2012-01-24T09:56:00.000-06:00

Over Christmas we took a vacation to Colonial Williamsburg. We stopped our first night at the Kings Arms Tavern where I got to try Peanut Soup for the first time, it was an instant new favorite. The taste is not what you would think, it is a very savory soup and easy to make. It is especially good with poultry so I can't wait to make it with Cornish game hens. This is the official historic recipe for the dish from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, they have other great historic recipes if you are looking for something that has truly passed the test of time.

Cream of Peanut Soup

¼ cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 celery ribs, finely chopped
3 tablespoons flour
8 cups Chicken Stock (or low-salt canned chicken stock)
2 cups smooth peanut butter
1 ¾ cups light cream or half-and-half
Finely chopped salted peanuts, for garnish

In a large saucepan or soup pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and celery and cook, stirring often, until softened, three-five minutes.

Stir in flour and cook two minutes longer.

Pour in the chicken stock, increase the heat to high, and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until slightly reduced and thickened, about 15 minutes. Pour into a sieve set over a large bowl and strain, pushing hard on the solids to extract as much flavor as possible. Return the liquid to the sauce pan or pot.

Whisk the peanut butter and the cream into the liquid. Warm over low heat, whisking often, for about five minutes. Do not boil.

Serve warm, garnished with the chopped peanuts.

$1.00 off any two cartons of Swanson Stock or Broth
$1.50 off two Planters Peanut Butter of any size or variety
$0.50 off Stonyfield Organic Half and Half (need to sign up at their site)

Today's no cook idea is from Denny's, get 20% off your ENTIRE check, this is a great way to get the office together for lunch! The coupon expires January 28th so you need to hurry for this great deal. Just print the coupon and bring it in with you, as always please remember to tip your server based on the full amount of the bill, not the discounted amount.

Hope you are having a great week so far.

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

2012-01-22T09:39:00.000-06:00

I love finding new TV shows on DVD, but the price has to be right. Lately I have been seeing commercials for a show called Justified that I think looks really good and I wanted to give season one a try. I checked out all my online sources and found it for only $19.00 at Amazon, plus if you are a prime member you will get it shipped in 2 days for free. If you are already a fan of the show and know its something you would like to own yourself, season two is also available for $19.00 from Amazon.

Here is a synopsis of the show from Amazon: "Justified is the story of Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant), a true-blue hero and something of a throwback, given to wearing a Stetson and cowboy boots, carrying his sidearm in a hip holster – a weapon he only draws when he has to, and when he does, he shoots to kill, because, as he sees it, that’s the purpose of a gun. The character of Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens was created by America’s pre-eminent crime novelist Elmore Leonard (Get Shorty, Out of Sight) and is played by Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood, Live Free or Die Hard). The Chief Deputy of the Lexington USMS office is Art Mullen, played by Nick Searcy (Cast Away, From the Earth to the Moon). Working alongside Raylan are fellow deputies Tim Gutterson – played by Jacob Pitts (The Pacific) – and Rachel Brooks – played by Erica Tazel (Life, The Office). Raylan, Art and the other deputies do what all U.S. Marshals do – chase down fugitives, protect witnesses, transport prisoners."

Have you seen the show? I would be interested in hearing what you thought of it.

I hope you are all having a great weekend.

C.Q.

Silly Saturday...

2012-01-21T09:03:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend!

C.Q.

Friday's Freebie...

2012-01-20T10:42:00.000-06:00

Well its finally cold and blustery here so I guess its officially Winter. A great season for checking out a great book with a cup of tea. Today I am listing 5 freebies so you can get the perfect cup of tea with that good read. The first two are FaceBook give aways from two well known favorites, Lipton who is offering a sample of their Green Tea with Super Fruits and Celestial Seasoning who is offering samples of their wellness teas. The other three are all online the first one from Juman Tea, just fill in your name and address and they will have a sample out to you right away. The next one is from Natural Persimmon, they are offering a sample of their unique Persimmon tea just for filling out the request form. Finally, you can sample tea from Enjoying Tea, they are offering you a choice of one of their 12 varieties, just make your selection and fill in your customer information.

Have a wonderful Friday.

C.Q.

Thursday's picture perfect deal...

2012-01-19T10:32:00.004-06:00

The picture...

This is one of the five waterfalls in Goosberry Falls State Park, not too far from me. I loved the idea of summer being frozen in time. There is still a little water running over the falls, but most of it is in suspended animation.

The deal...

Today's deal comes from GlassesUSA.com. For me shopping for glasses is a lot like shopping for jeans, not something I look forward to, until I found this site. They make it super easy to find what you are looking for at a really great price. The very first page helps you narrow your search down to the shape, style and material you want, then you can see how your selection will look when you wear them. Yup, that’s what I said, you can "try them on" using the virtual mirror! I have never seen this at another site and its so easy, just select your gender and upload a photo of yourself or use your webcam, how cool is that?

Found the perfect pair of eyeglasses for you? Then its time to pick the perfect lens to go with your frames, the choices are vast, something you don't usually see when you order online, thin and ultra thin, anti-scratch, Anti-Reflective, UV coating, you can even get Transitions® VI on most lenses. If you need help anytime along the way there is an online help button right on the site, or you can call GlassesUSA.com and they will help you with your purchase.

I also love the 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. If for some reason, you're not satisfied with your glasses you may return them to us for a refund or a new pair of glasses. Full refund in case your glasses were made incorrectly, were defective, or with the wrong prescription. They offer an easy exchange, full store credit, or 50% refund, if you don't like your glasses or for any other reason. What a great way to get your eyeglasses prescription filled with so much less hassel!

Still not sure if you want to try buying glasses online? Here is a little added bonus, use coupon code New2012 at check out for 20% off your order and free shipping, plus, my readers can take 10% off any order of prescription glasses, just use coupon code: Blog10.

*This is a paid review; however, the thoughts, words and feelings about the site are my own.

Hope you are all enjoying your week.

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

2012-01-15T10:34:00.000-06:00

I have a love for reading, its something I grew up with, and am thrilled with the advent of e-books. It means my book shelves can be cleared of the books I won't read again. Books I look at kind of like the 1/2 hour sitcom on TV; a lot of fun but not a lot of substance. I do however have a few authors I will only buy as real books, one being James Patterson. A big part of that is the large collection of his books built up over the years by my parents and passed on to me after my mom was gone. Today's book is Private by James Patterson.

"The police can't help you Former Marine helicopter pilot Jack Morgan runs Private, a renowned investigation company with branches around the globe. It is where you go when you need maximum force and maximum discretion. The secrets of the most influential men and women on the planet come to Jack daily--and his staff of investigators uses the world's most advanced forensic tools to make and break their cases. The press will destroy you Jack is already deep into the investigation of a multi-million dollar NFL gambling scandal and the unsolved slayings of 18 schoolgirls when he learns of a horrific murder close to home: his best friend's wife, Jack's former lover, has been killed. It nearly pushes him over the edge. Instead, Jack pushes back and devotes all of Private's resources to tracking down her killer. Only one place to turn: Private But Jack doesn't have to play by the rules. As he closes in on the killer and chooses between revenge and justice, Morgan has to navigate a workplace love affair that threatens to blow the roof off his plans. With a plot that moves at death-defying speeds, Private is James Patterson sleekest, most exciting thriller ever."

For those of you who like the feel of a book in your hand, you can find the hard cover version at Buy.com used for $1.01 plus $3.99 shipping, or new at Bobbis Bookstore for $5.00 plus $4.49 for shipping. In paperback you can find it used at Thriftbooks.com for $3.95 with free shipping, or new at eCrater for $6.20 with $1.99 for shipping. You can download a digital audio copy of the book for $18.89 at We Read For You or you can find it on CD at the Barns and Noble Marketplace for $9.50 with $3.99 shipping. It can also download it to your Nook for $14.99 or you Kindle for $9.99.

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!

C.Q.

Silly Saturday...

2012-01-14T10:15:00.001-06:00

I hope you are all having a great weekend!

C.Q.

Friday's Freebie...

2012-01-13T10:20:00.000-06:00

Got a great picture from the holidays or vacation or an old family picture you want to do something fun with? Check out the great freebie from Canvas People. You can get a free 8x10 canvas of your print, just upload your photo and click the 8x10 option. If you want to, you can add a frame for a fee, but you may have better luck on a frame from a craft store or even a thrift store for a more vintage look on an older photo. There is a charge of $14.95 for shipping and handling, but it is still a great deal.

Hope you are having a terrific Friday!

C.Q.

Thursday's picture perfect deal...

2012-01-12T10:27:00.001-06:00

The picture...

The wind is howling today and the temperature has dropped and it is making me think about Summer. Today's picture was taken towards the end of summer last year when we were out on Lake Superior fishing for the last time of the year. The lake has carved into the rocks along the shore making beautiful frames for the shore line in the background.

The deal...

Godiva is one of those things I don't by very often, but I do love it! If you are a fan like I am now is the time to order; with their Semi-annual sale going on you can save up to 40%. With Valentines around the corner its worth checking out. Even better, their hot chocolate and coffees are included in the sale. If you received a reward card during the holidays you can redeem them on your sale order. Shipping is free if you spend $75 or more or are a Godiva rewards member. Besides the free shipping I love their rewards program because even though we don't have a chocolate boutique near us I use it on vacations, can stop in and get a special treat while I am shopping.

I hope you are all having a nice Thursdays!

C.Q.

Wednesday's learn and earn...

2012-01-11T10:03:00.001-06:00

~WORD OF THE DAY~

foment \FOH-ment\ ~ verb

DEFINITION: to promote the growth or development of : rouse, incite

EXAMPLES: He has been accused of fomenting violence, but he denies the claim and insists that he and his followers will only engage in peaceful means of protest.

"As it has in past years, PJFF31 will also feature a New Filmmakers Weekend (March 17-19) and offer a Documentaries & Dialogue slate (Jan. 9-Feb. 6) designed to foment debate, discussion, and discourse." -- From an article by Steven Rea in The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 4, 2011

DID YOU KNOW? If you had sore muscles in the 1600s, your doctor might have advised you to foment the injury, perhaps with heated lotions or warm wax. Does this sound like an odd prescription? Not if you know that "foment" traces to the Latin verb "fovēre," which means "to heat." The earliest documented English uses of "foment" appear in medical texts offering advice on how to soothe various aches and pains by the application of moist heat. But the idea of applying heat can also be a metaphor for stimulating or rousing to action. Within 50 years of its English debut, "foment" was also being used in political contexts to mean "to stir up," "to call to action," or, in a sense at least figuratively opposite to its original one, "to irritate."

~THE REBATE~

This is a great rebate for anyone that has someone who loves fishing in their life. Rapala is offering a free knife case with the purchase of their Rapala Lithium Ion Cordless Fillet Knife. The offer is good from January 1, 2012 until September 9, 2012. Just got to the rebate web page and download the rebate form. You will need to mail in the original dated cash register reciept together with the UPC from the package with the form. All requests need to be mailed by 9/30/2012, allow up to 8 weeks to get your case.

I hope you are all having a great week!

C.Q.

No money Monday...

2012-01-09T12:52:00.000-06:00

Java over at Never Growing old is going to revamp her blog, which may or may not include a Meet me on Monday post (I have my fingers crossed it does, those are so fun!) But in the mean time I thought I would share one of my New Year's resolutions with you, its "no money Monday's" and the goal is to spend as little and preferably no money on Monday's. We are including things like keeping the gas stoves turned off, heat turned down, eating left overs. The great by-product is its also a great way to encourage house cleaning on Mondays! I also spend time at my email reading my paid to read emails and taking surveys, its a great way to earn a little pocket change, but it tend to save it all up for something big, like a trip with my girl friends.

Did you make a resolution this year? I would love to hear about it and if you are keeping it. My other resolution is the same this year as it is every year, exercise more, which I am actually pretty hit or miss with depending on what I have going on that day, and yup, exercise fits in great with the "no money Monday" program.

Have a great start to the week!

C.Q.

Sunday's media madness...

2012-01-08T10:06:00.000-06:00

Just before the new year I was reading one of the many blogs I follow and came across a wonderful book review by Caren Gittleman from Cat Chat with Caren and Cody (a blog I highly recommend checking out). The book was one that I loved and wanted to share because it has great information on saving money while being a pet owner, but since I am no where near as good a writer as Caren, I am going to let her tell you in her own words; this is a repost of her original post, used with permission of course. Thank you again Caren and Cody!

Friday, December 30, 2011

Book Review: Pampered Pets On A Budget: Written By: Jeffrey L. Barnes And Kristen M. Levine

I was excited when I was contacted a few weeks back asking if I would like to receive a copy of Pampered Pets On A Budget by Jeffrey L. Barnes And Kristen M. Levine to read and review.

My pets, like everyone else's are pampered and since I am virtually unemployed and my husband has recently retired, the idea that I could read about how to pamper my pet and receive ideas/suggestions about how to do so AND maintain a budget had my ears perked and my tail on alert!

These are tough times in which we live. Every day people are losing jobs and struggling to make ends meet, while the prices of groceries, medical care, etc. continue to rise. Sadly, when a family experiences a financial blow one of the first casualties is often the family pet.

As pet lovers we can never have too many tools in our tool belt to help us not only care for our pets but to maintain a budget while doing so and this book sets out to do what it promises, and that is to:

"help pet parents uncover new ways to save on the products and services you need to take great care of your pets, without compromising your pet's health and wellness care or severely damaging your pocketbook."

This book is short (74 pages) but don't let that fool you. It is 74 pages that are jam-packed with must-have information for today's pet owner.

Take a look at some of the chapters:

Chapter 3-The Internet is not Always Right: this chapter was written by Jeffrey Barnes and is one of my personal favorites. We have all fallen victim to running to the internet when our animal is ill. It can be anything from a Google search to posting a problem on Facebook and receiving 500 differing opinions. Many of those opinions include horror stories that when you are already stressed and worried, are the LAST things that you need to hear.

This chapter explains: How the internet is NOT a substitute for your veterinarian, your veterinarian knows YOU and your pet!

It reinforces how when you are reading ANY information from the internet you need to look at the qualifications, licensing and formal education of the source providing that information!
It mentions how drug and vaccine manufacturers stand behind their products ONLY when they have been purchased directly from your veterinarian.

Other great chapters in this 10 chapter book are:

Chapter 4-Trusted Online Pet Resources- in this chapter Kristen Levine points out that there is some online information that can be trusted but that it should NEVER take the place of human professionals when it comes to your beloved pet.

This chapter talks about: General pet information and adoption sites such as petfinder.com and catster.com It also mentions reputable Veterinary and Health Sites such as VeterinaryPartner.com

Chapter 5-The Value of Your Veterinarian: as explained by Jeffrey Barnes one of my favorite points made in this chapter is "your veterinarian is your pet's medical health care captain and is the only authority on medical issues."

Chapter 7-Pet Health Insurance is discussed by Kristen Levine and is relevant to me because I am still pondering the issue as to whether or not to purchase pet insurance for Cody and Dakota. Some points that Kristen mentions that are important to consider are:

Consider Premiums, Co-Pays and Deductibles
Pick Coverage, Not Cost

This book contains so much information and delivers it in an interesting, straight-forward, concise and reader-friendly style.

I loved that at the end of each chapter there is a page called Chapter Highlights which is a summation of information listed in an easy to refer to bulleted format.

Pampered Pets On A Budget will be your newest, invaluable resource to help you "properly position yourself to give your pet the best lifestyle possible."

For more information about this book please visit:
www.PamperedPetsOnABudget.com

Pampered Pets on a Budget is available from: www.lulu.com and www.amazon.com.
Paperback · ISBN: 978-1-105-20415-9 · $15.99
Kindle · ISBN: 978-1-105-20415-9 · $9.99

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Jeffrey L. Barnes: is a business advisor, consultant, and business intermediary, who strives to give veterinarians and business owners sound business advice in their day-to-day operations and represents them when they buy or sell their practice or business. His professional experiences with such respected companies as Aventis, John Deere, Merial, and the Sandler Sales Institute has afforded him the extensive sales, client service, and marketing knowledge that he now shares with countless veterinarians, practice managers, manufacturers, distributors, local, state, and national veterinary associations. Jeffrey lives in Tampa, FL with his wife and two dogs.

Kristen M. Levine's volunteer work led to a fifteen-year career as the Public Relations Director of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Tampa Bay, Florida, where she played a critical role in promoting pet adoption and pet lifestyle education. Kristen's knowledge of pet lifestyle concerns and family dynamics coupled with her understanding of public relations led her to found Fetching Communications, the nation’s first marketing and public relations firm wholly dedicated to serving the pet industry, in 2003. Having logged over 1,000 live national radio and television show appearances, Kristen is also a frequent contributor to pet and veterinary trade magazines nationwide. Kristen serves as Bissell Homecare’s official pet spokesperson, educating pet parents about pet clean up solutions, as well as on the Toyota Pet Expert Team (P.E.T.), where she shares her knowledge to help develop programs to teach pet parents the importance of properly protecting and securing pets in automobiles. Kristen lives in Florida with her husband, dog and a pair of miniature donkeys.

I received no compensation for this review. I received a copy of the book to read/review.

I hope you are having a great Sunday!

C.Q. ~ Thanks again to Caren Gittleman, you can find her blog here or follwer her and Cody on Facebook here.

Silly Saturday...

2012-01-07T09:57:00.000-06:00

I hope you are all having a great weekend!

C.Q.

Friday's Freebie...

2012-01-06T09:40:00.003-06:00

For those of you who have not read the Left Behind series, the first book titled simply Left Behind is available free from Amazon for your kindle. If you don't have a Kindle you can download the Kindle app to your iPad, iPod, phone or computer for free. This freebie is the full 490 page book which is normally $14.99.

Have a great Friday!

C.Q.

Thursday's picture perfect deal...

2012-01-05T10:31:00.000-06:00

The picture...

We just got back from a wonderful vacation in Williamsburg Virginia and we can't wait to go back, there is something for both of us since my husband really enjoys the woods and fishing and I love all things history and cultural. On one of our visits to the Colonial section of Williamsburg I got a shot of this horse and rider headed down the Palace Green headed towards the Governor's Palace. It was so much fun to feel like you are a part of history there!

The deal...

Woman Within is having their Winter Blitz with up to 80% off clothing and up to 60% off coats and boots. Winter has been slow to arrive her in Northern Minnesota this year, but I have no doubt it will show up in full force soon! I was able to find a great Arctic Knee High boot that will fit me great for getting through the snow to take pictures. They were originally $119.99 but they are now $49.99, and a pair of hounds tooth hiking boots that would be great in the spring, both a great deal, now I just need to decide which I need most. Another great bonus; if you order $50 or more you get a nice 2 piece weekender travel set. Also, remember if you are a member of MyPoints you will get 2 points back per dollar spent, or if you belong to Quick Rewards you will earn 3% back on your purchase.

Have a nice Thursday everyone.

C.Q.

Wednesday's learn and earn...

2012-01-04T08:49:00.000-06:00

~WORD OF THE DAY~

duckboard \DUK-bord\ ~ noun

DEFINITION: a boardwalk or slatted flooring laid on a wet, muddy, or cold surface -- usually used in plural

EXAMPLES: Someone had laid duckboards across the marshy area of the path so that it was passable.

"Much of the trail consists of duckboards to protect fragile eco-systems and hikers should be careful not to step off them." -- From an advertorial in The Australian Magazine, October 8, 2011

DID YOU KNOW? The word "duckboard" was created during the early 20th century to describe the boards or slats of wood laid down to provide safe footing for the soldiers of World War I across wet or muddy ground in trenches or camps. The original duckboards didn't always work as intended though. According to one soldier, duckboards came by their name because someone walking on wet duckboards was liable to slide off them much like water slides off a duck's back. Today's duckboards appear in all kinds of places -- from marshes to the floors of saunas. The word "duck" itself has been part of the English language since the days of Old English, when it had the form "dūce."
~THE REBATE~

Arm & Hammer has a new clumping cat litter called Ultra Last; all the granules are coated in Baking Soda so the box will stay fresher longer. You can try a 20# box for free with the mail in rebate, just complete the rebate form and mail it in together with the original UPC from the 20# box and your original receipt dated between 12/15/11 and 3/30/12, the receipt needs to show the store information and the price of the litter circled. All requests must be postmarked no later than 4/15/12. We use Arm & Hammer litter ourselves so this is one I can't wait to try myself.

I hope everyone is having a great week.

C.Q.

Tastefully Tueday...

2012-01-03T12:14:00.000-06:00

For Christmas one of my friends gave me a set of individula ramkins for baking in all with their own little lids which I haven't seen before so that sent me looking for a great gourmet Macaroni and Cheese recipe to make in them. And what is more Gourmet than Lobster so here is the recipe I chose from TheNibble.com for today's post, it calls to make it in a large baking dish but I am going to try it in my new little cooking pots.

Cheesy Pasta and Lobster Bake Mac & Cheese

Anne Jones was the 2005 Grand Prize Winner, taking national honors by combining two of America’s favorite foods: lobster and mac and cheese. The recipe serves 6.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons, plus 2
tablespoons, plus 1½
tablespoons, butter
4 tablespoons flour
2 cups half and half
1¾ teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoon ground black
pepper
1¼ cups Sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
1¼ cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1½ cups Parmigiano-Reggiano, shredded
½ cup gruyère cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 pound packaged dry gnocchi-shaped pasta
Non-stick cooking spray
1 pound lobster meat, picked over and chopped
2 teaspoons chopped green onions, green tops only
1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs
½ teaspoon each paprika, dried basil and dried thyme

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over low heat. Add flour and stir to combine. Cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and, with a wire whisk, gradually add the half and half. Cook 3-5 minutes, or until thickened, stirring often. Remove from the heat, and add ½ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, ½ cup gruyère, garlic, 3⁄4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Stir until cheese is melted and well combined. Cover and let stand.
Fill a large pan with water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Add pasta, return to a boil, reduce the heat to a low boil and cook for about 8-10 minutes, or until just undercooked. Drain water from pasta and return to the pan. Add the béchamel sauce and 2 tablespoons butter; stir until well combined. Set aside.
In a large bowl combine the Tillamook Sharp Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, and 1 cup of the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
Spray a 3-quart baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Place one half of the pasta in the baking dish. Top with half of the mixed cheeses. Top with the other half of the pasta, followed by the remaining mixed cheeses. Bake in a pre-heated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the visibly bubbling and hot.
While pasta is baking, combine 1½ tablespoons butter and lobster meat in a medium saucepan, over medium-low heat for 3 minutes, or until lobster is heated through. Remove from heat; add bread crumbs, green onions, paprika, basil and thyme, and 1 ounce of Parmigiano-Reggiano. Toss lightly to combine.
Remove the baking dish from the oven and spoon the lobster mixture over the top of the pasta. Spread evenly.

Turn the oven to “Broil” and return the baking dish to the oven. Broil 10-12 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Today's no cook idea is from Cici's, from today until the 8th they are offering a free kids buffet with the purchase of one adult buffet. Just print out the coupon and bring it in with you. Note the coupon is good for kids 10 and under and there is only one per customer, I do think that you could use two if you have two adults go though.

Have a great Tuesday!

C.Q.

2011 in Review...

2012-01-02T11:40:00.000-06:00

Java over a Never Growing old is taking today off for New Years so I thought I would share some of my favorite posts with you from 2011.

In January I went with a friend of mine to Minneapolis so she could have some medical tests run and found some great information on hotel shopping that I passes along in Hotel Happiness, I also found a new blogger friend Meg Hart and her great book Housecat Confidential, a view of life from a cats perspective, that I posted in my Sunday's media madness. If you get a chance you can check out Meg's new blog at Hart Stories, she is a terrific writer and I highly recommend her book and her blog.

In February I started getting a little antsy to play in my garden and a friend sent me some info on hay bale gardening that I passed along because it is easy and inexpensive and a great way to have a garden quick in an area that may not have an easy place to plant stuff. You can check that out at Hey! Hay! Hay! Garden the easy way...

March brought two awards that I received, one for the Cherry on Top award and one for the Incredibly Sweet blog award, both required me to share some information about me which was fun, with the Cherry on Top one I also shared a favorite picture of my grandmother.

In April I shared a great recipe for my favorite Easter treat, Hot Cross Buns together with a little history on them. I also started doing posts called Saturday Sojourn that were a lot of fun for me and included tips on saving while traveling. One of my favorites was the one I did for Saint Paul, MN since we were heading there ourselves for a short vacation.

May brought the release of a book from a series that I love by Jess Loury so I was able to do a little review of the book Octoberfest to share with my readers, May also marks Memorial Day and I was able to thank our armed services folks and post two great old pictures of my grandfather and my dad looking very dapper in their uniforms from WWII.

In June I had two great guest bloggers while I was on vacation for my 25th anniversary, the first was Alexis from from Simply Beautiful Veg. and her great post on ways to organize, including a great pocketed organizer project you can make yourself. My other guest poster was Nina from The Adventures ArtsyNina. She did a wonderful post on making a Pallet Kitchen Cookbook Shelf, a very cool and extremely inexpensive project.

In July I stopped doing the Saturday Sojourn's and replaced them with Silly Saturday, my first one I loved because it emphasises simplicity. I also love this time of year when all the fruits and veggies are getting ripe and took the opportunity to share a wonderful no bake blueberry cheesecake for everyone.

August was a great month for my Media Madness section for me, I found a couple of great apps, Uno and Conde Nast Traveller Magazine, that I love and use all the time. The other was for the book The Help, which was wonderful and I would recommend to anyone looking for a good read.

September was a moth of highs and lows, the low being the sadness that came with the 9/11 memorial ceremonies I watched that day, the high was going on vacation to Chicago with two of my best girl friends and being able to share a bit of what we did and how we saved a ton of cash along the way.

The October posts were where two of my favorites are, one is one of my many favorite pictures, this one was of a small grey tree frog in our backyard that I used on the Thursday's picture perfect deal, the other was one of my favorite Silly Saturday's featuring a great photo shopped scene.

November was all about sharing my favorite things, including a list of movies, a great app called Flipboard and a recipe I always make for Rosy Fruit Salad, a wonderful frozen concoction that is from the 1950s.

December was all about relaxing and getting ready for the holidays and vacation, but in between that I was able to post one of my favorite ever pictures of my dog Tucker loving the first snowfall from last year. Java also posted a wonderful Meet Me On Monday with 15 questions to tide us over until after New Year's, and being a good bit Irish, I couldn't end the year without and Irish Christmas Blessing to all my readers.

Thank you to all my readers for reading last year, I am looking forward to 2012!

C.Q.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T11:26:00.001-06:00

I wish you all a happy, joyous and prosperous New Year!

C.Q.