Free PC Game:

Big Fish Games has a free PC game to download today. 

Restaurant Style Pancakes:

I would love to eat out all the time.  No dishes, everyone gets their own choices, everyone eats at the same time.. if you are a Mom, you get it! lol 

In order to save money, I started searching of copycat recipes of our favorite restaurants.  This one is a favorite.  It's easy enough to whip up during the week and freeze for those busy mornings.

IHOP Pancakes:

1 1/4 cup flour
1 egg
1 1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup vegetable oil
pinch of salt

Mix together.  Melt some butter on a griddle and spoon batter to make pancakes.  Add more butter for each new batch on the griddle.

We have added blueberries and bananas to them.  YUMMY! 

Free Sample:

Fiber Choice has a free sample and a $2.00 off coupon on their website today.  I just signed up for my sample.  I love getting freebies in the mail!

Movie Ticket Deal

Living Social  has a wonderful deal today.  For $9.00 you can purchase 2 movie tickets!  It's really simple to do...

-Follow link to purchase 2 tickets @ $9.00 total
-Wait for a code to be emailed to you
-Use Fandango to use

The tickets expire in September, so this can be a very frugal treat this summer.  We are planning to see Harry Potter in July

Weekly Shopping $66.72

I forgot to take a picture again!  This is all new to me and I was just happy to have help putting away groceries! lol

Costco:

Toilet Paper-17.99 (I have tried to coupon and use different brands, but this works and it's individually wrapped)
Eggs-2.59
Cereal-6.79(2.00 coupon) =4.79
Bananas-1.47
Bread-5.99
Mayo-6.79
Coffee-11.39(2.25 coupon) =9.14
Sourdough bread-3.89
4 Milk-12.56

Total for the week $66.72

Homemade Ranch Dressing

I came across this easy to make ranch mix a couple years ago.  Since then I've taken the dressing to parties (with a salad of course!) and served it at home.  Friends and family always ask for the recipe.  It's very easy to make and you probably have most of the ingredients in your pantry.

Ranch Mix:

5tbs. minced onions
7 tsp. dried parsley flakes
4 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. garlic powder

Mix together and store in container.

When you want ranch dressing you take 2 tbs. of your ranch mix with 1 cup of mayo and 1 cup of buttermilk.  Whisk together and store in fridge.

Coleslaw

We made pulled pork sandwiches this week and I love to have coleslaw with it. Usually I buy it somewhere (a certain fried chicken place), but being ultra cheap this week I made my own! I found this recipe online and I had everything.  It made 8 cups and was yummy!


Coleslaw:

• 8 cups finely diced  cabbage(about 1 head)
• 1/4 cup diced carrot
• 2 tablespoons minced onions
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup mayo
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions:

Prep Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 15 mins

1.  Cabbage and carrots must be finely diced. (I use fine shredder disc on food processor) .
2.  Pour cabbage and carrot mixture into large bowl and stir in minced onions.
3.  Using regular blade on food processor process remaining ingredients until smooth.
4.  Pour over vegetable mixture and mix thoroughly.
5.  Cover bowl and refrigerate several hours or overnight before serving.

shared at The Grocery Cart Challenge

UGH

You know those weeks that nothing seems to go your way?  The week that everyone needs something and you have a ton of places to be?  That was our last two weeks!  The paycheck got eaten by vet costs, pool costs and auto costs!  So, because I'm stubborn and won't touch my emergency fund, I got creative and barely went grocery shopping.  I bought what was a need and used our lovely (shrinking) stockpile.

I didn't get a picture this week

Milk 4@$3.29-$13.16
5 dozen eggs-$6.19
4 loaves of bread-$9.88
pretzels-$1.88
bananas-$2.80
2 yogurts-$3.36
ice cream-$3.98 (true, not a need, but I "needed" it this week. lol)
spaghetti sauce-$0.86
tortillas-$2.18
refried beans-$0.68
bulk pasta-$1.34
buttermilk-$1.28
mozzarela cheese-$5.07
colby jack cheese-$5.55
chai tea-$3.18


Total-$61.39

Just a bit over 1/2 my normal budget.  I think we can do this again next week and then I will be back to our normal shopping.  It's been an adventure and the kids and I have got creative with our meals.  No one is hungry and we are using the internet to find some new recipes to try.

Grocery Shopping for under $100

So, I try to keep my grocery shopping for our family of 5 under $100.  Some days I make it, other days- not so much.  lol

Hamburger buns-$3.99
Butter-$7.39
Cheddar cheese-$5.59
Ground beef-$20.12
Graham crackers-3@$1.48/each
White vinegar-$2.18
Ritz-$2.28
Chai tea-$3.18
Powdered sugar-$.88
Buttermilk-$1.28
BBQ brush-$1.98
Coffeemate-2@2.98/each
BBQ sauce-$2.68
Yogurt-$1.68
Spaghetti sauce-$.86
Frozen peas-$1.48
Bulk pasta-$3.54
Cabbage-$.88
Bulk Pretzels-$2.39
Bulk parsley-$.50
Bulk granulated onion-$1.32
English cucumber-$1.68
Bulk minced onion-$1.68
Bulk paprika-$.52
4 veggie seed packets-$5.00
Bulk taco seasoning-$1.32
Bulk chow mein noodles-$1.25
Milk(not pictured)2@$3.29/each

Total-$92.56

Shared at:The Grocery Cart Challenge

Mother's Day Scones

Happy Mother's Day!♥


I found this scone recipe and it was wonderful!  I added some blueberries to my batch.  They came out warm and smelling wonderful.  Sit and have some tea and a scone.  Enjoy the day.

SCONES:

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 5 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter. Mix the egg and milk in a small bowl, and stir into flour mixture until moistened.
3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead briefly. Roll dough out into a 1/2 inch thick round. Cut into 8 wedges, and place on the prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

Starbucks Happy Hour

From the Starbucks website: "Starting May 6 and running through May 15, come into participating stores between 3-5 p.m. for a half-price Frappuccino® blended beverage of your choice."

Go grab a frugal treat!

Free PC game

Here is another free PC game from Amazon.  Go here to download your free game!

Free PC game

How would you like a free PC game from Amazon?  You can go here to download Cake Mania.  It's a cute game to waste some time between loads of laundry.  Amazon will verify a payment option, but does not charge you.  Go grab a free game :)

Frugal Ice Cream!

Don't you just love a deal?  Especially when it's a treat?  Tonight Baskin Robbins is having their annual 31¢ scoop night.  Go to the Baskin Robbins website for more details.

Free Samples

Did you know that you can request free samples from companies?  Sometimes you can actually receive a coupon for a full size product.  I love trying new products and I love free stuff.

Garnier has a free sample to request.  Fill out the form and enjoy the free shampoo/conditioner.

Weekly Shopping Trip

Surgery went well, and we are getting back to normal. 

I went Monday to grab a couple deals at my local Safeway.  I normally don't frequent Safeway (unless there is a deal!!)  Safeway sent out a postcard of coupons and I used all the free ones I could.

Safeway salad dressing: FREE
Safeway marinade: FREE
Mission tortillas: FREE
Safeway frozen veg: FREE
Safeway salsa verde: FREE
Safeway brown rice: FREE
9 cereals
3 pints of strawberries
2 lbs of grapes
french bread

The total was $25.60!

Surgery Week

I have to take the week off as two out of three of my kids need surgery!  Between running around serving jello, I'm trying to keep the house under control and not go insane! 

As soon as I gain some control, I will be out looking for some deals and frugal ideas to post.

Swagbucks

I love Swagbucks!  It's a search engine, but you randomly are awarded points for searching.  You can vote in a daily poll, play games or watch videos all for swagbucks.  You can also just use it as a regular search engine.

I cash in 450 Swagbucks for a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card.  I'm saving up my gift cards to help my Christmas budget go further.  I have cashed out for 9 Amazon Gift Cards this year for a total of $45!!  That's free money just for searching.

Hello & Welcome

I've been asked to do a blog for quite some time.  I enjoy reading blogs and using them, but never gave a thought to having one of my own.

With the help of my lovely daughter, here I am!