Becoming Betty Crocker: Cooking Adventures

Just a mish mash of stuff that has happened during cooking the last two weeks that I forgot to post about -

My new obsession - cucumber, onion & tomato salad.  One of my friends post a version of this on facebook and I made it that night (and again another night).  Hubby loves this salad and so do I.  So easy to make!

Please say this has happened to you -

 

I had the barbeque sauce bottle upside down to get all of the sauce out, opened it up (upside down) and it went splat ALL OVER.  I mean all over - walls, stove (to the left), cabinets - and MY HAIR!  Yes, my hair.

 

File this under rarely seen -

 

 A 1 lb 4 oz potato.  Yes, that's right over 1 pound!  Hubby ate about 3/4 of it and gave me the other 1/4 to go with my small potato.  Oh wait - any potato is small compared to this potato!

Adventures: Daily Walks and a Pet Safety Reminder from TheUncommonDog.com

Everyday, I never know if we will have a good walk or a bad walk.  Esa is ALL HUSKY when it comes to the heat.  She prefers temps under 70 so with the morning temps in the 80's, it's a crap shoot.

Don't get me wrong, Esa LOVES going for a walk, but there comes a time where A) she is done or B) she would prefer to go her way and not my way.

Exhibit A - taking a break in the park

Exhibit B - taking a break in front of a friend's house

Exhibit C - dead weight in the shopping center parking lot.

A lot of these times (Exhibit A & B), it's because it's hot.  Come summer, no matter how long or short a walk, we bring water with us.  Usually that's all it takes to get her going again (or a treat).  Sometimes even with the short walks, we end up with two water stops.

Anyway, the reason for this entry is because TheUncommonDog asked if I would mind spreading the word about pet safety.  Your dog can't tell you if they are too hot, so just be prepared.

The Housewife Tour - The Week in Review

OK - maybe I should say the catch-up entry....

I've kind of gotten into a rhythm and a funk at the same time.  I haven't really felt like doing anything out of the ordinary/special projects around the house.  No new cooking recipes.  Just the same stuff.

I have been shopping though - not good when you aren't working, but I guess I can say it is a project.  I have been trying to decorate.

We FINALLY painted our living room in June.  Esa had fun with Daddy-o running around with no furniture in the living room!

Part of the decorating was new curtains - all of which I got for free (saved $40) using Amazon gift cards that I got from Listia or trading in items to Amazon.



The fabric over the sofa table is new also - it's a pashmina from AC Moore that was $2.50.  I just wanted a little color.

We bought new end tables for the living room.  We lucked out and found 2 of these at HomeGoods for $100 each.  We got sucked in to applying for a credit card so that we could get an extra 10% off.

So, the living room is coming together.  I bought the pillows at Kohl's for $16 each (regularly $40 each).  I have ordered some (gray & black) throws too from Kohl's.

The pictures were in storage.  We had bought them on a cruise in 2003, took me 5 years to frame them and another couple of years to hang them.  The dog plaque was on clearance at HomeGoods.

With the painting, came moving around furniture.  Dan painted the ceiling in the living room & dining room (they are open to each other), so to prepare, I moved the dining room table into our breakfast nook.  I had thought about this before, but wasn't sure if Dan would like it.  But he does!

We also bought the 4 drawer end table at HomeGoods.  This replaced a larger white cabinet we had here that held dog supplies & recipe books.

So right now, our dining room is empty except for a hope chest, plants and china cabinet.  Not sure what I want to do in there.  I'm almost thinking of extending the living room into it.

I have been working on some scrapbooking.  I completed the challenge in June and got 2 albums done.  If it wasn't for the challenge, I'm sure I wouldn't have gotten them done.

Our camera gave out in June and I got an early anniversary present out of it.  A FANCY Nikon D3100.  So many buttons, I don't know what I'm doing, but I'll be learning!  I found a website/youtube channel from Fro Knows Photo that seems pretty good.

The Housewife Tour will be ending soon, so I've been starting to look to see what is out there job-wise.  I really want to be able to work from home, but we'll see.  I really don't know what I want to do so I think I need to figure that out first!

Oh, I did start volunteering a little more.  I've added a couple of hours doing admin work at the shelter in addition to the mobile adoption unit.  I'm enjoying see what happens at the shelter "behind the scenes".  Everyone is wonderful there.

Signed Book Giveaway! "It's Just a Dog" by Russ Ryan

 

This Dogtastic Giveaway has been brought to you by

author Russ Ryan and Beck Valley Books

Open Worldwide

Ending on Sunday 11th August at 11.59pm EST

What if your dog died and then came back as a ghost…that could talk? Would you welcome him back with open arms or run away scared to death? 

This is the premise of IT’S JUST A DOG, a new novel about love, loss, and one man’s dog who rises up yapping from the grave.

Charlie Keefe is not just your typical dog lover –– he’s a world famous dog painter, a.k.a. “The Picasso of Pooch Portraits”. Unfortunately, Charlie’s beloved muse, Pete, his lovable Jack Russell terrier, has just died. And he’s totally devastated by the loss of his furry best friend.

So, after months of grieving over his dearly departed soulmate, Charlie reluctantly agrees to foster a new puppy –– a cute Cavalier King Charles spaniel named Brownie from the local animal shelter. Soon after, Charlie is surprised to find himself falling head over heels with this new puppy girl, his ‘Rebound Dog’, as he calls her –– as well as being romantically attracted to Janelle Jordan, the head hound at the dog rescue.

But then complications arise when the ghost of his old dog, Pete, mysteriously reappears one night and comes back to haunt him and the new puppy –– setting off a bizarre chain of events that throw Charlie’s life, career, and entire belief system into chaos!

If you’ve enjoyed such classic dog books as The Art of Racing in the Rain and A Dog’s Purpose, then you are bound to find a place in your heart for IT’S JUST A DOG. 

IT’S JUST A DOG is not just for dogs. It’s for anyone who has ever lost a pet –– and learned to love again. If you’re a feel-good fan of dog books, make IT’S JUST A DOG your special treat!

Enter Below and Good Luck !! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Wordless Wednesday




 

 

Kitten that was on the Mobile Adoption Unit of Loudoun County Animal Services on July 6, 2013.

Becoming Betty Crocker : Old Family Recipe

Ok, so not really an old family recipe, but how my aunt Helen would cook meat every once in awhile for Sunday morning.  Of course, her sauce was her recipe. Mine is Francesco Rinaldi.

Pork chops in spaghetti sauce cooked in a crockpot!  YUMMY! I forgot how yummy. This was the first time that hubby ever had this and was like "where did you get this recipe?"

Serve with spaghetti & DONE!

Savings Summary Saturday - July 6, 2013

So, I've been slacking on this entry title.  It actually takes a lot of work looking up the different programs and I haven't really been sitting at my computer much (mostly using my Ipad). 

Items sent for:

• n/a

Grocery Shopping (and other savings) this week (and previous week):

• Giant - Big sale on coke 12 pks this week - 5 for $11.  I stopped by twice and stocked up with 20 pks. 
• Word to the wise - always know the deal when you go into the store in case you are questioned.  I went to a store that I usually don't go to for the 2nd run (in the area for errands).  They didn't have a 12 items or less checkout open and there were some big checkouts so I opted to check myself out (which I HATE to do since I worked in a grocery store for 3 years as a cashier).  Since it was selfcheckout, I had to lift every single one of the packs onto the belt then at 4 it stopped because they were all lined up and a cashier had to come over.  She said "There's a limit of 5 on that offer".  I said "no, you have to buy 5 to get the deal".  She said "It says in little print that we have a right to limit to be fair to other customers."  My response "I bought 10 yesterday and you have plenty back there."  Seriously, the aisle was completely full AND the endcap was full.  Her response, "I'll let you do it this time then".  REALLY!?
• Harris Teeter - SUPER DOUBLE COUPONS!! - Need I say more?  I made 2 trips.
• Digornio - on sale for $5.50 each, used a $2 coupon for the Pizzeria type (which is really good) and got it for $1.50 each!!!!!  Too bad Harris Teeter limits internet coupons to 2 of the same coupon per day! 
• Hefty One-Zip - on sale for bogo ($3.19 each).  Used a 2/$1 coupon - 60 cents each!
• Friskies cat treats (to be donated) - on sale for 2/$3.  Used a 2/$1.10 coupon - 40 cents each!
• Campbell Skillet Sauce - $2.99 (regular price).  Used a 1/$1 - 99 cents each
• Fructis shampoo & conditioner - on sale for $2.99 (regularly $3.55) - used a 1/$1 coupon - 99 cents each!
• Oscar Mayer hot dogs - on sale buy 2 get 3 free (regularly $3.79 each) - used two 2/$1 coupon - 72 cents each!

Gas Savings:

• We used the Exxon card which gives us cash back via Upromise.com

Income (Starting to post again to Ebay & Listia. My goal is to post at least one item a day.):

• n/a - I am currently working on giving away the Wurlitzer organ for free.  Trying to schedule a pickup.  I've pulled some more items to post too.

Items received in the mail:

• Coupon for a free 20oz Coke Zero (mycokerewards.com NCAA challenge)
• Coupon for a free Quarter Pounder (mycokerewards.com)
• book from Paperbackswap.com
• Drapes - I ordered new sheers for our living room/dining room (in the middle of redecorating).  I got these for FREE using my amazon gift cards from Listia and from trading stuff into Amazon.



• a "Loyal Customer" sticker to put on my ExxonMobil credit card - SERIOUSLY! I have been a credit card customer with ExxonMobil for 20 years and I get a sticker!  How about a discount?

Rewards programs:
NEW! I have created a spreadsheet of the programs AND listed the gift card that is the goal.  I'm hoping this will keep me motivated to visit the websites daily (or at least concentrate on the cards I want).

2012 New Year, New Goals - to continue in 2013!

• Use rewards programs to get gifts and daily stuff -
• Use Restaurant.com coupons -
• Set up an Estate -
• Monthly Review/Net Worth

Wordless Wednesday - July 3, 2013







Introducing "The Built-in Blindfold"!