Mashed Potato and Black Friday Tips!

What a title for a post! But......

Don't fret over the mashed potatoes. Seriously. Mash those bad boys up with some butter, a bit of milk and a pinch of onion powder, salt and pepper. Then, stick them in the crock pot about two hours before dinner. Stir every so often so the sides don't burn - but seriously, this is one of the best tips I have learned from my Mom. No bother waiting until the last minute to make the potatoes so that they are served hot. No double boiler. Just the crock pot. A free stove. Now that's beauty!

There are seventeen people coming over tomorrow - that includes my new nephew and my neice - there will be quiet a crowd. I'm anticipating a lot of laughter, amazing food, the best company and a great time. Around 3 o'clock I may be passed out due to the turkey overload, but it will all be worth it.

Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

And if you have a few minutes to spare and want to read a post I did last year on the most comprehensive guide to Black Friday shopping, check this post out! Lotsa information if you are new to the game.

Free Glidden Paint...Again

Just wanted to let everyone know that you can get another FREE quart of Glidden paint. Here is the link. But you must act quickly. The premise of the deal is a bit different than before. You must register online, then print a form, and mail the form and a label from a can of paint to the provided address. They will then send your FREE quart of paint! Pretty easy - well sort of a hassel. But it's still pretty darn free - less the cost of a stamp.


I've ordered Robin's Egg Blue. What color will you choose?

Home Notebook - Menu Planning and Grocery List and a Download

In hopes to implament some more organization into my life, I created a Home Notebook. You can read about how that process began and about my Daily Routines in this post.

Here I'd like to show you my pages for my Meal Planning and Grocery List.


Do you meal plan?


When I first got married, I remember laying on my bed writing my first meal plan. I devoured my brandy-new cookbooks tring to find the most delectable recipes to make for my new hubby in our new kitchen in our new home. I was incredibly excited! To be honest, I still get excited making a meal plan. Maybe it's because I'm still a newlywed (being married almost 2 years is still a newlywed, eh?). But if I can be even more honest - I love to figure out what sort of yummy things we are going to eat. I love the idea of feeding my husband tasty, nutrious meals and I still love going through my cookbooks each week, trying out new recipes and enjoying old favorites.

Meal planning for me is also important for budgeting purposes. It keeps me focused on what is on sale, what I need to buy versus what we already have in stock, and what the heck it is that we will eat during the week. I hate it when the dinner hour rolls around and there is no plan! Too often that leads to fast-food and our wallet and waistlines don't appreciate it. When I have a good meal plan I am ready to face the week confident that we will be eating good, yummy meals and the fast food monstor stays away.

Awhile back I wrote a post on meal planning. It's way wordy and lacks any photos but if you are interested in reading it, here is the link.







I basically just divided up my paper into eight sections. Please refer to this post if you are interested in how I created this document. Seven sections are obviously for each day of the week. Each day is big enough to allow space for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. I'm trying to loose some poundage and I have learned that preplanning my meals is a major life savor so I knew when creating my Meal Planning page, I wanted plenty of space to write.




The eigth section is where I jot down what needs to be put on my grocery list. Sometimes I make my grocery list while I plan out my meals, other times, I don't. That little box just helps me to quickly identify the ingredients that need to go on the grocery list when I'm ready to fill out my complete grocery list. Make sense? I hope so.

My Grocery List breaks down the different sections of the grocery store.


The different sections I have included are:

Fruits and Veggies
Dairy and Frozen
Meats
Dry Goods
Bread
Household Items
Miscelanious (Things I want/need to buy like mascara, fabric or shoes.)

Each line in each text box has a little box next to it where I can check off the items that I have purchased. Throughout the week, if I notice we are low or out of an item, I put it on the grocery list. My hope is to get a nice clipboard and hang my grocery list on it somewhere in my kitchen but that's another project for another day. For now, I keep my list in my Home Notebook that is pretty much accessable to me at all times. Because of this list, I rarely "forget" if I'm out of an item. And, because I have my list divided into segements like I would find in the grocery store, I can easily cross off the items on my list as I finish shopping in that particular part of the store. I save myself time because I don't have to backtrack.



Each week I also go through each and every sale flyer. I take note of each item that I hope to purchase or that strikes my fancy. On the flip side of my Grocery List is where I write out those items. I also take note of the ounces/mls that each product is, the price, if I have a coupon or if it is only a one-day sale. Here is an example of what that looks like:

Superstore
Butter - $2.45
Quaker Granola Bars - $1.99
Cucumbers - 3/$1.00
Dawn Soap - $1.99 *$1 off coupon
Maybelline Mascara - Volumize - $4.99 *Price match at Walmart
This also helps in my meal planning. I know what is on sale and can then plan my weekly menus around that. It's all a system.
What do you do in regards to your grocery list and meal planning? I'd love to hear your tips and ideas! Please send them my way!

If you are interested in downloading my versions of a Menu Planner and Grocery List, please just click on the photos below and it will take you to the download page. Enjoy!



Menu Planner


Grocery List

Summer Movies and a Coupon

I mentioned in my last post that it has been raining non-stop here. I have to admit that I do so love it when it rains and I'm tucked away indoors. I throw open the windows and smell the delicious rain smell. I love the sound as it beats down on the pavement. When it rains I like to spend time in my kitchen baking or puttering around my house. Now, it's a whole other story if I have to be out in the rain. Then, I'm not so happy. I care far to much about my hair to enjoy running around in the stuff.

Besides puttering around my house, I've been watching "summer" movies. If I can't actually enjoy the sunshine, at least I can watch it on TV. I am a major nostalgic type movie watcher. What I mean is that I love to watch movies that remind me of my childhood or take me to places of long ago....aka...old movies. Or, old-er movies. Here is a list of some of my top summer movies. If you get a chance, check out a few. I'm sure you'll love them!


Shag - The Movie

When I was in high school, my best friend and I would watch this movie every weekend. We'd enjoy it with snacks, subs and always orange pop. In fact, when I moved away to college, she gave me the VHS copy of it that we always watched. I've since purchased the DVD. This movie is about four girls who go on a summer vacation to the Carolina's. Each girl is sooo different and the movie takes you through their adventures. Total summer flick!! Part of the movie centers around a shag dance contest that takes place. One of my all time favorite movies. (And despite the b&w photo, the movie is in color.)

Dirty Dancing

My all time #1 favorite movie. Can't get enough of it! How can you not have a summer movie list without this flick? Gotta love the dance moves, the love story, and the great music. I have the soundtrack on my ipod. Just can't get enough of it!

"I carried a watermelon." My favorite line!

The Parent Trap - The Original

This movie is so darn cute. I'm such a sucker for that old time summer camp experience. When I was little, I went away for a week to summer camp. Loved every bit of it. I especially liked how my mom tucked away a little gift for each day that I was away. I still have one of them! (It's a little book marker card that has a bear on it that says something about how all things are bearable with Jesus. Summer of '93.)

On Golden Pond

Another one of my favorites. "Norman, you old poop!" I remember watching this movie a few times with my dad. Again, another one of those movies that is nostalgic. I love to watch it and look at the rustic cabin the old couple lives in. I also fell in love with the sound of loons watching this movie. This one may tug at your heart. It does mine!

Pollyanna

Ok, this one may not totally scream summer...but it all does take place in the summer. I love to watch this movie. I absolutely love the "bazaar" scene - especially when Pollyanna eats that giant piece of cake. Yumm! This is such a feel good movie.




And because you stuck through, here is a coupon for Old Navy, GAP and Banana Republic. They are having a 30% off sale - this includes clearance merch. The sale starts today and runs to August 2nd. The great part is they donate 5% of your purchase to charity. Can't beat that! Oh yeah, you can print the coupon numerous times. So get to spending!!

I'm coming back sooooon with the next installment of the kitchen organization series. I just haven't been home much due to this hot water tank breakdown. Thanks for being so patient with my sporadicness. Love you all!!

Free Paint! Quick!

Red alert! Red alert! Free paint! Free paint!



Glidden is offering a free quart of paint to each of you....well...those who live in the States. But hurry, the offer only lasts today. Here's the best part...they mail it to you! You don't actually have to run to the store today to redeem a free coupon. I selected Antique White. I can always use some white paint in my life. So hurry...head there!

Mom...I had my quart mailed to your house. Hope ya don't mind. :o)

My Deal of the Year

I'M SO EXCITED!


If the all caps didn't warn you how excited I am, imagine me with a GIANT grin on my face and doing a jig. I'M EXCITED!

Why, you ask?


I JUST BOUGHT A CRICUT EXPRESSION FOR $129.99. It retails for $299.99! That's a $170 savings. Way more if you live in Canada. I've seen them for $400 there. (I've been eyeballing them for months.) EDIT: On the cricut website, the Expression is listed at $499!




AC Moore was selling it - today only - for $130. I could have died. Why? Because I had been at Walmart looking at this baby not more than 25 minutes before I read the ad. I knew I had to go back. I just came home with my new best friend and I'm beyond excited.

What makes this beast so special? It is a personal cutting machine that cuts shapes, letters and phrases out of paper, chipboard, cardstock, vynal (yes, I can now make my own wall-words!) They cut in up to sizes 12x24. Oh man, my mind is whirling as to what I can do with this baby! This makes me think I want to do a giveaway! Yes, I'm jazzed. Look for one in the near future!


Ladies, run, don't walk to your nearest AC Moore craft store ad - get you to Walmart and grab you a Cricuit. Why Walmart? Because they price match and the ad is good for one day only. AC Moore is already closed. Hurry ladies. Hurry! Why are you still reading?? No AC Moore ad? I'm truly sorry. I'd give you mine if you lived nearby.



Off to watch Desperate Housewives. Have any of you been watching this season?? I'm constantly on the edge of my seat!

Yankee Candles

Hi gals! I've had so much fun seeing what movies ya'll like to watch during the holidays. There were many mentioned that I have never watched so this season, I hope to pop me some popcorn and settle in for some new movie watchin'! Oh yeah! And I nearly forgot one of my other favorites...Christmas With the Kranks! GREAT movie! I laugh and cry! I just finished watching it with my parents. If you haven't seen it, you MUST. Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis are so great in this movie.


I wanted to share a great deal with ya'll that Yankee Candle is offering. It's a buy 2 get 2 sale on their large jar candles. This applies to the large jar candles and their large 2-wick candles. If you did not recieve your coupon in the mail, never fear, I've provided the links for you. Just clip and present to your nearest Yankee retailer. Does not apply to outlet stores or Pier 1. You can shop online (there is a coupon code) or at any participating retailer!






Yankee Candle Website
Yankee Candle Retail Coupon


Here's a little hint: The large jars are usually priced between $23 and $25 depending on where you shop. So, that is about $50 for four candles...essentially. I, myself, have a hard time justifying $50 in candle purchases even if I thought I would give them away...which I probably wouldn't bc I love candles so much. I'm a Scrooge. So! My mom and I are splitting the coupon. So we each get two candles for the price of one.

And one more hint!: Do you know how to properly smell a Yankee Candle? I usually just stick my nose right on up close and take a little wiff but I learned how wrong I was. My moms friend went to the Yankee Candle factory in Vermont *I think* and there learned that the proper way to smell the candle is to remove the lid and sniff inside of the lid itself! It really does make a difference! Not nearly as strong and probably more true to what they smell like when they burn.

So get to printing your coupons! Let me know if you use one! I'd love to know what scent you get. I'm thinking either Vanilla Cupcake, Shortbread and/or Home Sweet Home. My mom is hoping for Cinnamon Sugar and Jack Frost. We'll see!

Offer expires November 30th so hurry!



EDIT: I ended up getting 'Home Sweet Home' and 'Shortbread Cookie'. I also got a 'Cranberry Peppermint' votive and a 'White Chocolate Mint' tart. Mom got 'Candied Apple' and 'Jack Frost' as well as a 'Coconut Bay' tart and a 'Bayberry' tart. We had so much fun selecting our scents!

A Few Scores

Hi friendlies! Just wanted to share with you a bit of my day yesterday. I was able to do a little shopping for some beauty products. I find that I always seem to "run out" of items all at once so what should be a small purchase ends up being much more than I had hoped. But, yesterday I scored some great deals!

First, I was out of shampoo. I discovered the love of Down Under's Nude Hair Conditioner. It is a paraben, phosphate free line and absolutely smells DIVINE. It makes my hair feel like absolute silk so I couldn't wait to be done with my current shampoo so I could buy Down Unders version. (I would add a pic - but was too nervous to type the words Down Under Nude into a search engine). Anyways, I didn't buy it....because....I found the exact hair dye that I use combined with a regular sized bottle of shampoo...for $5. The price of the combo was the same price as the Down Under shampoo. Score!




Then I headed to this store called Liquidation World that sells items way under cost. They have come from stores that went bankrupt or bought too much merch or even were from areas that had a natural disaster. Well, I found American Eagle ballet flats (tons of colors and styles) for $5!! I was beyond excited. I'm heading back there tonight to pick up a few pairs. I wanted to check my clothes to see which ones would be the best for me to buy. The first pic below is actually a pair that I already own that I wear all the time. So cute. I love the bows!



On a more depressing note...it snowed here last night. Yeah. Snow. Lots of it. And they are calling for more. I guess people had to use their ice scrappers in the morning. Goodness. So, this afternoon I will be cleaning out our truck and making sure that our ice scraper is there. I'm not looking forward to the winter weather. Ick!

I can't wait to show you all my new project that I am working on. I started last night and am busy putting it all together. I can't wait to show you what it is. I'm hoping that each of you can take my idea and run with it in your own homes. Hope everyone has a great evening!! -M