Monthly Archives:

June 2014

Book Review: Chance for Love: Dangerous Romance Ebook Review & Reader Giveaway!

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

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Calling all savvy savers! Today finds us with another awesome book review, and this time the Chance for Love is a 3-book set of Dangerous Romance novels; Broken Build, Hidden Under Her Heart, and Knowing Vera. This is the second series I have reviewed by author Rachelle Ayala.  Without giving away too much of the plot for these books, you must know that in a little over 900 pages, Rachelle managed to build suspense, empathy, completion, romance, and the right blend of chemistry, so well placed, it will make you rethink your ideal of passion in your own life!  and romance without having either overshadowed by the other. To be sure, each book can be an awesome summer stand-alone read, but as a set the novels are superb as well. Broken Build was my favorite of the three books, but not for lack of anything in the other two; you could tell that the plot was well thought out and each characterization meticulously spoken for. The second novel, Hidden Under Her Heart, despite its realistic love scenes, is hysterically eclectic, and a story that I could stand to read several times over. The final novel, Knowing Vera, is the third of the set and and focuses on a girl trying to prove her father’s innocence after a murder. 

Rachelle Ayala writing helps the reader run through a list of both emotions and expectations for modern love, in a thrilling, rollercoaster of a ride, and we readers are bettered for having done so!  I’d definitely recommend this boxed set!

To find out more about this boxed set and its author, click here! 

Moreover, the author has generously sponsored a reader giveaway where one reader will win the 3-book e-reader set for these books; to enter please follow the Rafflecopter giveaway options below! This giveaway will end 6/18/14, at 11:59 CST. Good luck, everyone!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Savings On The Go With A Cup Of Joe: Start Saving Tax Receipts From Donated Stockpiled Goods!

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Good morning, savvy savers! For this weeks Savings On The Go With A Cup Of Joe, I just wanted to give everyone a quick reminder to start saving receipts for all of the donated food that you donate for the remained of the year! Assuming you have decided to donate food and non-perishable goods, even toiletry products, to a local food bank, federally you can request a tax receipt for up to $200.00 annually! With so many savvy savers undergoing spring cleaning this season, and clearing out pantry shelves, why not earn a few extra dollars for all of your hard-earned, couponed goods? If you decide to donate food, make sure you do so with a repetitive 401-c3 non-profit group, and kindly ask for a tax receipt! You are allowed by law to receive the Fair Market Value of your goods, at the time of donation!

This $200.00 can pay to reimburse yourself for the fuel, paper, and ink costs which go into couponing throughout the year, while helping others at the same time!

Be sure to keep your receipts in a safe place for next tax season!

Weekly Menu: Feeding A Family of 4, For Only $18.72 This Week!

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Happy Sunday, savvy savers! This week is starting off to a sunny start here in Dixie. Thankfully, this weeks menu is going to be a breeze, and consists of Cupboard Clearing ideas, so stepping out to the market is not necessary, aside from milk and bread from my local bakery discount store! I am cooking and prepping solely from what is in my deep freeze pantry, and stockpile this week! Without further ado, here is my weekly menu, for which was derived from couponing deals, freebies, and cupboard cooking; I will be feeding a family of four this week for only $18.72!

This week we will be having:

Monday
Breakfast: Homemade Greek Yogurt Smoothies, with Apple Juice.
Lunch: Pepperoni and Cheese Toasted sandwiches, sweet potato chips, and Crystal Light.
Snack: Almonds, Grapes, and String Cheese.
Dinner: Cinco de Mayo Crockpot Chicken Mole, Green Beans, Steamed Corn, with Tortillas, and Diet Cola.
Dessert: Cinco de Mayo Crockpot Dulce de Leche Topped Ice Cream Sundaes.

Tuesday
Breakfast: Cereal of Choice, Milk, and Homemade Dehydrated Apple Slices
Lunch: Freezer Cooking Stuffed Peppers, crackers, and Crystal Light.
Snack: Grapes and String Cheese.
Dinner: Taco Tuesdays!
Dessert: Key Lime Cookies.

Wednesday
Breakfast: Baked Frittata Cups, with milk and juice.
Lunch: Taco Salads, with crystal light.
Snack: Grapes and apple slices.
Dinner: Crockpot Chicken Curry, steamed corn, and crystal light.
Dessert: Homemade brownies.

Thursday
Breakfast: Cereal of choice, with fruit cup, and milk.
Lunch: Tossed Salad with Turkey, Crystal Light, and homemade mango chips.
Snack: Hummus and crackers, with grapes.
Dinner: Grilled Turkey Burgers, Sweet Potato Fries, Deviled Eggs, with Crystal Light.
Dessert: Brownie flurries with leftover brownies.

Friday
Breakfast: Turkey, Cheese, and Egg Quesadillas, with Apple Juice.
Lunch: Tossed salad, with walnuts, grapes, and  homemade Greek Yogurt dressing.
Snack: Granola and fruit cup.
Dinner: Barbeque Pork and Mushroom Sliders, Baked Sweet Potato Fries, and Crystal Light.
Dessert: Coca-Cola slushies.

Saturday
Breakfast: Bakes Pancakes, with sausage, and milk.
Lunch: Grilled Chicken sandwiches, with Sweet Potato chips, and Crystal Light.
Snacks: String Cheese and grapes.
Dinner: Homemade Pizzas, with tossed salad, and lemonade.
Dessert: Carrot Cake Cupcakes, with homemade cream cheese icing.

Sunday
Breakfast: Bacon and Egg Sliders, and milk.
Lunch: Taking Mom out for lunch!
Snack: Grapes and walnuts.
Dinner: Crockpot Orange Chicken with Almonds, Steamed Snow Peas, and crystal light.
Dessert: Mom’s Favorite Mother’s Day Red Velvet Cupcakes, with Greek Yogurt Cream Cheese Icing.

Enjoy the ideas!

Gardening Update, 6/8!

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Happy Sunday, everyone! Here is this weeks gardening update!

This week I was able to plant the other half of my herbs, including my lavender, thyme, basil, lemon grass, parsley, bay leaves, and mint. Also, the tomato sprouts are coming up and in a week, should be able to be thinned, and then planted outside! Even in the face of all the horrific storms this week, everything was thankfully spared, and growing right on schedule! As for the other areas of my year, we have had nearly constant rainfall, so tilling and further planting has been on standstill, for the next three posts, I should have plenty to share; I will be planting both my potted and upside varieties next weekend. Aside from rain, and the largest amount of pollen I have ever seen (we have composted four trash barrels full), out pots of Green beans are beautiful, as seen above!

Also, the squash plant, though small, is growing! In addition, my mum plants from last fall have doubled in size, and will have sucker that need to be plucked in the next few weeks! This week to come I will be planting my hill of strawberries, starting potato and sweet potato towers, as well as creating a summer butterfly flower bed!  As well, my $1.00 rose bushes from Fred’s Super Dollar have thus far produced some of the most beautiful roses I have ever grown, as seen above. They are just so lovely, and I will be giving some today to my wonderful Grandmother for Mother’s Day! I also love my free lattice, as it was recycled from discarded pallets, and works just as well as anything purchased at my local supercenter! I feed my roses a special homemade blend, which i will be blogging about in the weeks to come!

Here’s to next week!

Freezer Cooking Session & Recipe: Blueberry Butter Pecan Pancakes!

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Hello again, savvy savers! Today finds us with another awesome recipe, and today’s recipe features two of my favorite cooking elements, healthy cooking, and affordable freezer-cooking methods! Today I will be sharing with you my recipe for Blueberry Butter Pecan Pancakes! Something to note, I do not buy pre-made pancakes, I generally make pancakes in larger batches, seasonally, freeze them, and eat them on weekends as part of my Weekly Menu Series. I find that homemade pancakes not only taste better, but make me feel better, as they are not loaded with unnecessary ingredients; I make 48 pancakes for $3.35 and these pancakes freeze for up to six months at a time! This is a savings of 75% off the average price at Walmart and Target! Please note, the original recipe makes 4 servings; we are making four batches and freezing.

 

 

Here’s how I make them:

 

Ingredients:

6 cups all-purpose flour
1 Cup Wheat Germ
8 tablespoons white sugar, or splenda
8 teaspoons baking powder
4 teaspoons salt
4 eggs, beaten
3 cups milk
1 cup Butter Pecan Flavored Coffee Creamer
8 tablespoons coconut oil, 1/2 teaspoon per pan, per batch
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1 Teaspoon Almond Extract
1 Pint Blueberries, Fresh or Frozen

 

Directions:

1) In a large bowl, mix flour, wheat germ, cinnamon, sugar, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

2) In a separate bowl, mix milk, extracts, creamer, and eggs.

3) Make a well in the center of your first bowl, and pour in milk, egg and oil. Mix until smooth, then let sit for 2 minutes.

4) Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat.

5) Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake.

6) After 1 minute, add six blueberries to each pancake, let sit an additional minute, and then flip.

7) Brown on both sides, and serve hot.

8) For immediate serving, top with greek yogurt, fresh berries, and a drizzle of maple syrup or honey.

 

 

 

To Freeze:

1) Let pancakes sit on plate to cool for 1 minute.

2) Transfer pancakes to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or baking liner.

3) Place in freezer for 1 hour, or until stiff.

4) While your pancakes are freezing, prepare ziplock baggies for the pancakes; labeling unfilled baggies is best.

5) After 1 hour, place 4-6 pancakes in each bag, making sure to remove any excess air pockets, and then re-freeze.

6) Remember to add the batch to your freezer inventory list, and keep it on rotation until used.

7) To reheat, microwave for 30 seconds!

8) Enjoy!

 

 

Things I Freeze To Save Money!

 Good morning, savvy savers! For this weeks Wednesday Ways To Save, I wanted to post about some of the items in my home, that I purchase in bulk and freeze, for savings down the road!

Here are few things here, that I freeze:

1) Cheese: Freeze blocks of cheese for up to a year; shredded cheese works well also, and you can prevent clumping by adding a dash of corn starch prior to freezing! Remember to let cheese thaw on counters before refrigerating, after freeing!

2) Pancakes: I make large batches bi-monthly and freeze servings in snack baggies, as needed; I save $30.00 annually by doing so for breakfast!

3) Bananas: I freeze banana, peeling on, and use for smoothies and bread; to use, microwave for 30 second, cut the peel tops, and squeeze out!

4) Rice:  I cook monthly batches of rice in my rice cooker, and then freeze for quick night sides.

5) Pies: I always bake pies in multiples, then freeze covered in wax paper, then bagged in large gallon ziploc; these last up to a year.

6) Corn: I freeze corn, husks and silk intact. in gallon ziploc, and then pull out to grill when needed; fresh corn in the winter is amazing this way, when paired with 4/$1.00 summer pricing! Be sure to compost scraps!

7) Pasta: Whenever I cook pasta, I usually cook the entire box and then freeze portions as needed for nightly meals.

8) Flour: I store my flour, double bagged, in my freezer to prevent infestations in summer.

9) Mashed Potatoes: I always freeze unused mashed potato portions, in smaller snack bags, up up to two months in my freezer!

10) Stock: I always boil and use leftover bones to make stock. Once stock is made, let completely cool, strain, and then place in ice trays to freeze; I like to add herbs to mine and seasoning as well. To store, pop the cubes in snack baggies for up to a year!

11) Uncrustables: I make my own uncrustables by using biscuit cutters to cut sandwiches, crimp the edges with a fork, and freeze in lunch bags up to a year; I save $42.00 annually by doing so.

12) Potato Chips, Crackers and Pretzels: I keep my snacks in smaller bags, frozen for up to a year, and thaw for one hour before serving.

13) Milk: I buy milk on sale and freeze for up to a season; also note you should shake up milk before drinking after freezing!

14) Eggs: When eggs drop in price to $0.99 a dozen at Walgreens, I stock-up, crack eggs, and put portions in snack bags to freeze for recipes down the road!

15) Lemon/Lime Juice and Zest: I often freeze lemon juice from my potted citrus trees, in ice trays, then transport cubes to snack baggies for up to a year; as well as freeze the zest for homemade stove-top potpourri in winter!

16) Hamburger: I often cook extra ground beef and turkey, then freeze the extra seasoned amounts in snack baggies for recipes, especially in the crockpot for later on!

I hope these money-saving tips help you, as much as they help my family!

Here’s to saving!

Savings On The Go With A Cup Of Joe: Itemized Bill Books!

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Good morning, savvy savers! For this weeks Savings On The Go With A Cup of Joe series post, I wanted to discuss one of the easiest ways I have found to save my family money, an itemized savings book.

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I purchase a 4-column pad, from Office Depot, and use this book to keep a log of my monthly expenses!

The book holds all my expenses at a glance. I divide the book as follows:

Space 1: Expenses Named

Column 1: Amount Owed, Per Month

Column 2: Amount Paid, Per Month

Column 3: Interest Accumulated (If Any)

Column 4: Balance Owed

I find that having an actual book helps keep me accountable for my expenses. I like the feeling of physically writing down what I owe each month, seeing how much interest I pay, how much I am able to pay, how high or low my owed balances are, and see a crossed off column as bills are paid-off!

This is one method that has helped me stay financially responsible, and I hope it might help you as well.

Here’s to saving!