Coupon Sammy

I just thought I would share some of the great coupons I have been finding on-line!
Olay Quench Mail-In Rebate (I know it sounds like a hassle but come on it is free!)
Scrubbing Bubbles Products
Windex Products
Red Plum Coupon Site
Aveeno
Ortega Salsa
Keebler Pecan Sandies (Shortbread Cookies)
I know a mixed matched bunch of coupons, but hey savings are savings!
Sammy Gene

Flower Power Part I

I get inspiration for projects from just about anywhere. I scour magazines, catalogs, website, and stores looking for things that I can recreate with my own flare. This project came to me when I was shopping with some friends and one of them picked up a cute flower pin/clip and said this is cute. Of course I said "I can make that" (sounding just like my husband). So this is Flower Power Part I because I am planning a few variations but wanted to get the ball rolling.

You will need:

A few scraps of fabric (feel free to mix and match). I chose thick tweed from this blazer I picked up at Goodwill for $2.

Pin/Clip
Button

Thread

Hot Glue

Print out the pattern. Trace and cut eight petals on the fabric of your choice.

 

If the fabric you choose is lightweight and will not be as sturdy as you had hoped, use starch spray to stiffen the fabric. Next you want to take a petal, pinch the small end, approximately 1-inch from the end, and sew an X securing the two sides together. I crossed the X about 4 times for each petal. Next cut approximately a 1/2-inch off the end creating a flat end.

Once you have all the petals stitched and cut you are ready to put them together. Take the petals and start your stitch through the X of one petal, loop around the flat end of the petal and back through the X you just started with, next thread the second petal, going through the X and again loop around the flat end and go back through the second petal X. Continue this process until you have all eight petals strung. Remember to keep the thread tight. Once all the petals are strung tie off the tread securing the circle. The flower may be a bit floppy, don't worry.

Next take the hot glue gun and put a bead of glue between the petals as close to the X as possible. You can also add a small bead of glue near the top of the petal to secure the petals.

Once all the petals are where you want them put a small bead of glue in the center and place the button. Flip the flower over and glue the pin/clip onto the back and away you go!

Enjoy!

 Sammy Gene

Taco Soup

Mexican is my all time favorite type of food. So when in a pinch I love to create with my taco seasoning. What you will need:

 2 cups shredded chicken (rotisserie or precooked)
1 jar salsa (any kind)
1 jar taco sauce (or tomato juice whichever is handy)
2 cups frozen corn
A few shakes of taco seasoning (to taste)
A few shakes of chili powder (to taste)
2 avocados
1 lime
1 cup sour cream, plus a few scoops for garnish
Shredded cheddar cheese

In a large pot over medium high heat add chicken, salsa, taco sauce (save a table spoon for guacamole), and corn. Let the ingredients simmer for a half hour, then add the taco seasoning and chili powder to taste, one cup sour cream, and cover for another half hour. In the meantime cut the avocados. In a small bowl add taco seasoning, a tablespoon of taco sauce, and a tablespoon of lime juice mix and stick in the fridge. Back to the soup, if the 'soup' is not soupy enough add a little tomato juice to loosen things up. After all the flavors have had time to merge you are ready to serve. Scoop soup into a bowl and garnish with the guacamole, sour cream, and cheddar cheese.

On this beautiful evening I also made some ice coffee for the Hubby and myself! Yummmmm

Oh and the tater-tots, that is where the meal planning process started so I felt the need for follow through (as mentioned before I am not planner)! Happy eating!

 Sammy Gene

Lacey Lacey Appliqué

Everyone has those tanks in their drawer that you wear as layers or just throw on for a day of running errands. Well I have a ton, why you ask? Well every time I see one on sale I pick it up so I have a rainbow of tanks and I got this one for $3.98 at Target!!

I got a wonderful idea from Disney at Ruffles and Stuff to do a lace appliqué on the tank to spice it up a little and make it more than just a simple tank.

So first thing first find a lace pattern that you would like to use as an embellishment and then cut out the piece (larger than the actual design). I had an old lace table cloth that I don't use anymore (huge stain right in the middle) for the perfect pattern.

Then you want to take a piece of wax paper, the lace, and Heat-N-Bond (paper side up), in that order and place a medium heat iron over the stack for a few (2-3) seconds. Take a peak and see if everything is properly 'glued' together.

The hard part is over! Now cut around the lace design.

Once you have your design cut you are ready to apply it to the tank. It took me a few maneuvers to figure out exactly how I wanted the pattern to lay. Then it is time to iron again… I like to put wax paper between the iron and the appliqué to avoid any stickiness transferring to the iron and iron for a few more (8-10) seconds until everything is secure. Another hint when using wax paper, shiny side down.

And you just crafted yourself a simple new tank top for the warm weather to come, and if you live where I live you will be wanting to wear this tank now!!! Let's just say it went from Winter to Summer here!!!

Sammy Gene

Running Shoe Re-new

I have been holding on to my old running shoes with the intention that someday I will wear them until they are completely shot, but in reality I only need one extra pair to mow the grass in. I recently got a snazzy new pair of running shoes and realized that it was time to purge. So I kept: my new pair (treadmill ONLY), the last pair I bought (outside running), and ONE old pair for mowing and yard work (ha like I do any of that). That leaves me with four (yes, four) pairs of running shoes to be disposed of. Now anyone who knows me, knows that I am not going to just throw them away! Usually I make regular donations to the local Goodwill when I have wearable items, but this time I decided to do something a little different. I found this wonderful organization, One World Running, which will send running shoes to people in need around the world. If the shoes are deemed too worn (to be worn) they are sent to Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program instead, and wind up paving a playground. It's a win-win in my mind.
Sammy Gene

Peanut Chicken and Noodles

After a long weekend of doing yard work I didn't want to spend all night preparing a nice Sunday meal so I made one of our favorites. Peanut Chicken and Noodles. This recipe is so simple, it literally took all of 15 minutes to prepare plus I don't have to cook tomorrow! BONUS!!!!

 

So let's get started:
Ingredients
1/2 lb. (4 oz.) spaghetti, uncooked
1-1/2 cups snap peas
1/2 cup red pepper strips
1/2 cup Catalina or French Dressing
1 lb. (16 oz.) shredded chicken (I like to use rotisserie chicken)
2 Tbsp. peanut butter
2 Tbsp. lite soy sauce
1/2 cup chopped dry roasted peanuts

Cook the spaghetti as directed, add snap peas and red pepper to the water for the last few minutes of cooking time. While the spaghetti is doing its thing, heat the dressing in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add the chicken and stir-fry for a few minutes (like 1-3) and then add the peanut butter and soy sauce and stir-fry for 1 minute or until sauce gets thick. Once the spaghetti is done add it and the vegetables to the chicken mixture. Stir in the peanuts or sprinkle on top for presentation. And there you have it yummmmm!

Now seeing that I am never prepared and I am a spur of the moment cook, I didn't have spaghetti so I substituted the spaghetti noodles with Amish noodles (they are an egg pasta and much heartier than plain old spaghetti). I also did not have the vegetables but I think it was good without them.
Happy Cooking!!!
 Sammy Gene

Cents Make Sense

Now I wouldn't call myself a penny pincher, but I do like to get a good deal where I can. Over the past year I have found a joy in clipping coupons. Yes, it sometimes take time to clip, organize, and prepare the coupon folder but in the long run I find that it is way worth the effort. In the beginning I would save a few cents here and a few cents there but then I got really into it as if it were a game. My grocery story receipt breaks it all down and tells me the exact percentage I saved using my bonus card, coupons, and double coupons. Once I realized this I was hooked, plus big bonus, our store offers gas rewards so for every $50 spent, we save 20¢ per gallon of gas up to 30 gallons at one time. That adds up to $5 for every $50 we spend (we sometimes fill up my husband's gas guzzler for ZERO dollars)!!!! Back to the coupons – Last week I spent a total of $109.41 at the store, not bad for a family of two for two weeks right? Well let me tell you how much I saved – I walked out of the store paying $62.66, meaning I saved $46.75 (that's 43% of the total bill)! Now $46.75 in my book is well worth the time and effort of clipping and organizing coupons. A lot of people say that coupons aren't for the stuff I buy or coupons are the way name brands get people to buy their products, well I have a few tricks:

1.) Only buy name brands when you have a coupon and the item is one sale (doubling your savings off the bat).

2.) Think twice about how much the coupon is for. Yes the 60¢ coupon is not as good as the $1 one but if you get double coupons on anything less then 99¢ well then you are actually saving $1.20!

3.) Be flexible in the brands you buy. (Following #1 only buy an item when it is on sale and you have a coupon). Items such as yogurt flip flop from week to week on the brand that is for sale. Does it really matter if you get Yoplait or Dannon?

4.) Different newspapers have different coupons. I live in Maryland and the local paper has different coupons then the Washington Post has.

5.) Share- My co-workers and I have a system that we clip what we want and then share the rest. This works great because we all live in different areas and get different papers.

6.) Don't limit your savings to the grocery store only! I get coupons for everything and anything! Restaurants, home stores, auto repair, and the list goes on. We saved $250 on a shed we were planning to purchase because I had a coupon!

7) Printable Coupons - Stalk Coupon Mom, this website provides links to many other sites with printable coupons!

8) HAVE FUN… I like to make it a game!

Here are a few links I like to check out for extra savings:
Save $6.49 on Glade Products (EXPIRED)***
Tide Products
Nestle
Pledge (EXPIRED)***
Arm & Hammer

I love to tell my hubby how much I saved and his quick response is always "how much did you spend!"

Happy Saving!

***Look for newer posts with new coupons!
Sammy Gene