Free Krispy Kreme donuts - I couldn't resist, people!

Ok folks, here's the deal .. it was an offer I just simply couldn't refuse, you understand?  I mean, c'mon .. the silly Dutch guy and I were in Springfield doing some shopping at Aldi to replenish our pantry and there it was.  I'd already heard about the promo on the Pinching Your Pennies website.  We'd already passed it on the way to shop, we were just going to pass it on the way back to the interstate.  It was destiny .. I was not going to be satisfied until we went.  I told Dutch guy to pull into the parking lot quick before I changed my mind!  I'm so glad we did!!

Aw, the box even had hearts on it for Valentine's day and everything!

Wanna see what we got?

 

We got two of each:

Heart shaped, glazed blueberry cake, glazed sour cream cake, chocolate iced custard filled, glazed lemon filled and original glazed.

 

So luscious .. mmmmm!

 

The Dutch guy wanted these badly!

 

Krispy Kreme surely makes a gorgeous doughnut, don't they?

 

Aw, Dutch guy can't contain his excitement ..

He's lost his flippin' mind!

Here's the free Valentine's Day cards you receive when you purchase a dozen doughnuts,

aren't they just way too cute?

 

Each card has a free doughnut coupon on the reverse side.

 

Say what?  $2 off a 2nd dozen doughnuts?

Naw, we were fine with just the 1 dozen ..

I'm thinking about giving this to my friend Laura .. she goes to Springfield more often than we do!

She'd better hurry, it expires February 1st.

 

Oh, and not to mention the really cool hat we took with us upon our exit!

C'mere, Dutch doughnut guy .. rowr!!

Be sure to make your way before Valentine's Day to take advantage of this wonderful deal!  You already get a free sample doughnut upon arriving, whip out one of your free doughnut Valentine's Day card, buy yourself a cup of Joe, sit down and enjoy a cheap breakfast!  Surely they give refills, don't you think?

 Check here to see if your stores are participating!

FREE EBOOK to check out!

I was checking out this really cool website called Yes, I am Cheap and in one of her posts, she mentioned a website she really liked called The Simple Dollar.  He started his website due to his own financial situation and he begins his story with this:

"A wise man once said “The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.” It took me a long time to summon the courage to admit that it was my own mistakes that led me to financial armageddon. It required me to admit that not only had I been making mistakes since my earliest days, but also to admit that many of the ideas I had learned in my life and built through my own experiences were completely wrong.
In order to understand these mistakes, I am initiating a ten part series of posts, a part to be posted each weekday for the next two weeks, in which I outline those various mistakes and what they did to pave the road to financial armageddon. More importantly, I hope to learn (and perhaps you will learn, too) how these mistakes can be corrected, not only for myself, but for others around me, such as my children. Hopefully, my mistakes laid bare will bring some insight into your own financial mistakes and perhaps lead you to your own epiphanies."

I've made plenty of financial mistakes along the way and all were of my own doing.  It became a big problem when my Ovarian cancer diagnosis came about and upon losing my job, I couldn't pay my bills.  I wish I had been better at being more accountable of my finances and perhaps one day, I'll either succeed or at least be on top of it.  Until then, I'm going to try to learn as much as possible now that my eyes are opening more and more.

Everything You Ever Really Needed to Know About Personal Finance on the Back of Five Business Cards is something everyone should read if needing, wanting and is ready to take those first steps.  It all boils down to these few simple steps:

1. Spend Less Than You Earn
2. Earn More
3. Live Frugal
4. Manage Money
5. Control your Own Destiny

What I'm most impressed with is it's just pure and basic common sense, of which I'm a big fan of.  Even if you're in a good financial state, it still doesn't hurt to see what other steps you could take to having an even better financial state.  It's a free ebook and who couldn't use something free nowadays?   You can download it for yourself, I did!  And, I'm sure you won't regret it!

It just goes to show that not everybody has job security!

It just so happens that there's a lot of hoopla going on lately about Conan O'Brien and his open letter to "People of Earth". It amazes even me that your 'not so average, everyday Joe' can be affected by a recession, much less losing your job.

In the article 'Conan O'Brien hits a nerve with America's job insecurity' on Wallet Pop, this quote got my attention and fast!

"O'Brien is giving a voice to the unemployed during the worst recession in 25 years. In an economy when people will work overtime without pay so they can hold on to their jobs, it's refreshing to see an employee -- albeit a millionaire -- speak his mind about his bosses and not fear for his job. Or if there is any fear, at least O'Brien should have enough in the bank to make his next job search a lot easier."

O'Brien is a lucky man. He can stand his ground to his employers and really have nothing to lose. It's not like he won't find another job for he is quite talented and there's no way he won't let his expertise go unused. The man wrote not only for 'Saturday Night Live but, for 'the Simpson's' as well! Even if his bosses decide to cut their strings and take their losses, he's going to come out smelling like a rose ..

But, not everyone is that lucky. Some of us everyday Joe's have to make a living doing whatever you have to do to survive. Some of us everyday Joe's have gone unemployed for months and even years before finding something to put food on the table, pay the bills, keep a roof over your head .. blah blah blah. This is why it's so important for us to become frugal in one way, shape or form. You never know when it'll happen to you .. YOU might be the next one to lose your job.

Just be forewarned, people .. you can do it, every little bit helps .. no telling how long this recession will go on and even when it does ease up, wouldn't it feel good to have known you made it through and comfortably so? Lessons to learn to share with the next generation when we may have another recession to endure 25 years from now.

I'm just sayin' .. ;-)

Chicken Nachos are a thing to behold!

The Silly Dutch Guy's statement of warning!

We absolutely loooooove making Chicken Nachos and every once in a while, we get a wild hair.  We want to do it up right and yet, make it an easy cleanup meal.  This has got to be one of the easiest dinner ideas we have and I'm gonna share it with you right now but, you must promise not to divulge any information .. you hear me?  This little secret is just between you and me .. it is stealthy and culvert in its mission for taste bud  satisfation.. I give you, the Chicken Nachos of your dreams!

Here goes:

 

Grill some chicken breasts, we just happened to have sprinkled them generously with 'Tastefully Simple' Fiesta Party dip mix. Once they're done, cut into strips and then cut into bite size pieces.

Add a caption

Grilled some chicken breasts, sprinkled generously with 'Tastefully Simple' Fiesta Party dip mix. Once they're done, cut into strips and then cut into bite size pieces.

 

Layer your serving dish with tortilla chips, the chicken and whatever cheese you like (we use a Colby/Jack blend). Keep layering until desired height (here, we did 3 high). Bake in a 375 F oven for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

 

Turn your oven to 'Broil' and heat it for about 4-5 minutes until brown and bubbly.

 

There you have it .. Cheapy Cheesy Chicken Chachos .. ehm, whatever!

 

Top with your favorite salsa.

 

Add a touch of sour cream and diced onion, we thought red onion would be tasty but, we normally use yellow.

 

That's one seriously hungry face .. eat up, Behbums! Lekker!

 

Spots is giving his best fainting from hunger look as Leia knows that patience will prevail in the end ..

Blacks is trying to use the 'Jedi mind trick' to get Daddy to give him a bite! Better luck next time, Junior!

Give it a try one of these nights when you're feeling like something easy and satisfying .. enjoy!

Chicken Breast

This post was linked to:

My Mama's famous Mayonnaise cake

My Mama has done her fair share of cooking.  She can't really say she enjoyed cooking, she kind of had to cook.  She got married pretty young at 17, had a husband and 3 children who needed sustenance and a budget that wasn't always hefty.  She really had to be creative and she took a lot of what she learned from her Mom and big sister Ava Lee (who was married at 13 herself).  Cheap pieces of meat cooked for longer periods of time, beans and cornbread were a staple, cornbread and milk was a nice treat but, her one shining glory was her Mayonnaise cake.

I'm not sure where she got this recipe but, she's had it for ages.  My brother, Monte, always had to have a Mayonnaise cake .. when he was in the Army, when he was out of the Army, whenever she could have one made for him, he wanted it.  He was a Mayonnaise cake junkie and that's no lie.  Any time he had a new lady in his life, he'd make them call her up just to get the recipe from her so THEY can make it for him.

When she married my Daddy and I was growing up, she made it quite a bit.  I wouldn't touch her Mayonnaise cake .. for years.  I wasn't a big fan of Mayo, never had been.  Although, I did come to appreciate Dutch Mayonnaise while living in Holland but, only the kind made with olive oil.  It was tasty with frietes (french fries).  When I FINALLY got up the nerve to sample it, I couldn't believe how wonderful it was.  So moist with just the right amount of spice.  She would sprinkle powdered sugar on it but, I could do without it .. it's fine all on its own.

Here it is, everyone .. give it a chance, it's fabulous!

Mayonnaise cake

In a separate bowl, combine:

1 c. chopped nuts
1 c. raisins
1 scant c. warm water
1/2 t. soda

In another bowl, combine:

1 c. sugar
1 c. mayonaise
1 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. cloves
1/4 t. salt
1 t. baking powder
1 t. vanilla
2 c. sifted flour

Preheat your oven to 350F.

1.)  Add to top ingredients in mixing bowl.
2.)  Stir like hell with large spoon.
3.)  Turn into greased 8 x 8 pan.
4.)  Bake until a toothpick comes back clean when inserted.

Now mind you, this is her own words .. I had no influence on it whatsoever .. ;-)

9 Money-Saving Kitchen Staples

I'm sharing this tidbit of information from Live Solid 's Facebook Fan page:

BUDGET KITCHEN BASICS

Need it: Pancake Mix
Make it: Stir together 1 3/4 cups flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. In another bowl, whisk 2 eggs and 3 tablespoons vegetable oil into 1 1/2 cups milk. Add liquid to dry mixture and whisk. Don't overmix; batter should be lumpy. Makes 10 to 12 pancakes.

Need it: Chocolate Syrup
Make it: In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together 1 cup water, 1/3 cup light corn syrup, 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir constantly until just boiling. Cool and store in the fridge for up to 2 months.

Need it: Bacon Bits
Make it: Finely chop leftover cooked bacon and place in a zip-top bag, pressing out all the air when you seal it. Form into a flat, thin layer and freeze; simply break off a few pieces and crumble them when you need bacon bits. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Need it: Pre-Chopped Garlic
Make it: Chop a handful of peeled garlic cloves in a food processor; place in a sealable container and cover with olive oil. Store chilled airtight up to 2 weeks. Once the garlic is gone, use oil to flavor pasta or salad dressing.

Need it: Fresh Buttermilk
Make it: For 1 cup buttermilk to use in baking, mix 1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice with 1 cup milk; let sit 5 minutes and use. Combining 3/4 cup plain yogurt and 1/4 cup milk works, too.

Need it: Packaged Croutons
Make it: Cut any type of bread into cubes and coat them lightly in oil, then sprinkle with salt or garlic salt. (Add even more flavor by tossing in oil-and-vinegar salad dressing or dry herbs.) Toast on a baking sheet in the oven, stirring occasionally, at 350 degrees F. until just golden.

Need it: Jarred Spaghetti Sauce
Make it: Saute half a chopped onion, 1 minced garlic clove, and 1/4 cup olive oil in a medium saucepan until onion is soft. Add a 28-ounce can diced or chopped tomatoes, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1 tablespoon dry oregano and simmer for 20 minutes. Season with ground black pepper.

Need it: Taco Seasoning Packet
Make it: Stir together 4 teaspoons chili powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 tablespoon ground cumin, 2 teaspoons paprika, 2 teaspoons dry oregano, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Use 2 tablespoons to season 1 pound ground beef, chicken, or turkey.

Need it: Packaged Bread Crumbs
Make it: Dry slices or cubes of any type of bread about 15 minutes in the oven at 300 degrees F. Crush in a food processor or with the bottom of a pan. For seasoned bread crumbs, add dry herbs like oregano or thyme (a little garlic powder tastes great, too). To make flaky panko-like crumbs, mince fresh bread by pulsing it in a food processor, then dry the crumbs at 250 degrees F.

Originally published in Ladies' Home Journal, November 2009.

My favorite frugal tip EVER!

I've read alot of websites offering tips from others that I've taken as my own in my everyday life.  They're out there, just waiting to be put to use in our own households.  Most are from using their common sense and I have yet to read about my most favorite frugal tip!  I might not have come across it yet, I don't read each and every money saving website for I'm sure they are in the 10's of thousands.  In this day and age, I wouldn't be surprised.

So, what's my utmost favorite tip?

Buying the fullest bottle.

If you can see where the liquid is, you can look at all the other bottles and compare the height of the liquid inside.  I do this with everything: vinegar, dishwashing detergent, soft drinks, syrups.  If you can see in it, I do it!  I don't care if it's only a couple of ounces, your price is based on weight anyway so .. why not get a few more ounces for your money?  It only takes a few seconds to glance at the other bottles while you've got your head in there ready to grab your item.  It's a guilty pleasure but, a pleasure all the same in my mind.

I'm now into the habit of weighing already bagged produce to find the heaviest one.  Sometimes one bag of onions weighs a little bit less than another so, I want the heaviest to get my $$'s worth.

It's the little things, you know ..

My top 10 reasons for starting this type of blog, and other annoyances!

#10:  I would like to share what frugal things we do in our household to help others.
  #9:  I would like to learn what frugal things others do to help my household even more.
  #8:  Our goal for 2010 is to be even more frugal than we already have to be.
  #7:  I want to know what my fellow Ozarkians do to save money.
  #6:  I need some excitement in my life!
  #5:  It's nice to reach out to others and do something incredible to help.
  #4:  That despite all the technology these days, the simple things are still cherished and handed down.
  #3:  Simplicity is a goal for just about everyone, including myself.
  #2:  I'm running out of ideas so, just go to the end!!!
Drumroll please ..........................................................................
  #1:  Because I can!

Yay, now that we got that out of the way, here's the deal.  I'm not some newfangled guru who wants to be the end all to be all .. I'm a simple girl, with simple goals.  I just want to be able to share amongst blog friends and beyond what frugal things can be done to simplify life or just to pocket that extra chump change to go toward paying off a credit card or saving for our future.

I want to post others ideas or have others post their ideas to my posts ..

I'm not asking for much, just don't be shy and absolutely spill your guts ..

No need to be stingy .. give me all you got .. I can take it .. all the way to the bank if need be!

This here is 'Frugalistic' and there's no stopping us!

Thank you for your time and let's see what we can achieve!