Frugal Finds Friday: Cereal Box Magazine Holders!

Spray Paint and Sealer

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Used Cereal Boxes

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Magazine Holders!

To make these, you simply cut the cereal box into the shape of a magazine holder.  Then you go outside, or cover the area you are going to spray paint on with newspaper, and open some windows, and then spray paint the entire cereal box (I usually focus on the outside, but you can do the whole inside too if you like).  Allow the cereal box(es) to dry overnight.  In the morning spray them well and evenly with sealer.  Allow the boxes to completely dry, I usually let them set a couple of days for good measure.  Then add a label and fill the holders with your magazines!  I love being able to use old things to make new more useful items!

Easy, green, and frugal organization!

Linking up to Works for Me Wednesday!

Pantry Challenge Update #2: 01/06-12/2013

This week has been crazy.  With the holidays being over and things so quiet here at the museum, I keep thinking about my mom, and how much I miss her.  It's hard.  I'm trying to keep myself busy, but I think that the flu has finally entered the Roger's house.  Joe and I have both been feeling pretty rough the past few days, and then Thursday we went to Joe's grandfather's house and worked our little tushies off there.  Here's how the pantry challenge has been going...

Day #6: Sunday Joe was really suffering for a head cold, which I guess I gave him - whoops.  Luckily we had a lot of leftover food from Saturday, so I reheated some hamburger helper for lunch, and whipped up some taco salads for dinner using the leftover chili.  We ate good and still had plenty of both left for Monday.

B - Cold Cereal

L - Leftover Hamburger Helper

D - Leftover Chili Taco Salads

Day #7: Monday Joe was still feeling pretty rough, but I managed to get the house clean and do some laundry and a little paperwork as well, and Joe spent most of the day resting in the recliner.  It was a nice day.  We ate more leftovers...
B - Cream of Wheat
L - Leftover Hamburger Helper - the last of it!
D - Leftover Chili

Day #8: Tuesday Joe and I worked on some things around the house, and finally had a break from leftovers and I made a pasta bake creation using 2 cups of leftover pasta sauce (1 marinara, and 1 vodka) from the freezer, along with leftover frozen cooked pasta, and a little cheese.  Paired with some frozen garlic bread (our last loaf), and it was quite the meal.  We did some sandwiches for lunch.

B - Cold Cereal

L - Sandwiches

D - Pasta Bake with Garlic Bread

Day #9: Wednesday Joe and I continued to recuperate and worked on some organizing at the house.  I opened up some Christmas ham from the freezer for lunch, and we splurged on some 5 Guys for dinner.

B - Cold Cereal

L - Ham and Cheese Omelets with Toast

D - 5 Guys Burgers and Fries

Day #10: Thursday Joe and I went to his Grandfather's house.  We got some kindling cut up and stored for his wood stove, and I worked on flea market stuff in the basement to get ready for our first flea market this year, next month.  We ate out with Pap for lunch and dinner, and he treated, so that was nice!

B - Cold Cereal

L - Soft Pretzels from the Amish Market

D - Chili's Baby Back Ribs!  :-)

Day #11: Friday we slept in, and Joe went to the gun show near Cockeysville.  I stayed home and got caught up on laundry, and some organizing projects I wanted to get done.  Meals were simple.

B - None

L - None for Me, PB and J sandwiches for Joe

D - Ledo's Pizza (with enough leftover for lunch tomorrow!)

Day #12: Saturday Joe and I went into the world and ran some errands, and did some shopping!  We got some great deals on some things we were in need of like probiotics and Kleenex from CVS, and milk, fruit, and snacks from Giant.  I also got to visit with my sister a little, and we picked up a $5 Little Caesar's pizza for dinner; it was quite yummy!  We spent the afternoon resting, and watching movies, while I clipped coupons.

B - Cold Cereal/Waffles

L - Sandwiches

D - Pizza, Pizza!

For more challenge updates visit Good Cheap Eats!

Menu Plan Monday 01/14/2013

I hope that this week goes better than last.  Last week Joe and I were sick, we were working at and around the house, and tiredness got the best of us both, and we ate a few more takeout pizzas than I wanted to.  But we did eat a good bit from the freezer, which is the point of this freezer challenge.  This week we have a memorial service to attend near the ocean, and we can hopefully get some more organizing done around the house.  Here's what's on the menu for this week...

Breakfasts: Cold Cereal, Cream of Wheat, or Sausage Sandwiches/Waffles for Joe

Lunches: Leftovers, Sandwiches

Dinners:

Sunday -  Little Caesar's $5 Pizza

Monday - Baked Fresh-Take Chicken with Ranch Potato Wedges and a Vegetable

Tuesday - Baked Crunchy Fish with Baked French Fries and a Vegetable

Wednesday - Ham, Pepperoni, and Cheese Stromboli

Thursday - Crock Pot Pork Roast with Crock-Pot Baked Potatoes and a Vegetable

Friday - Leftover Pork Sandwiches with Baked Potato Wedges and a Vegetable

Saturday - Memorial Service on the Eastern Shore with Joe's Grandfather, we'll probably get treated to Holly's for driving him down.

Extras: Apple Cobbler, and later in the week Homemade Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report 01/06-12/2012

This week I did do a little shopping.  Here's how it went down...

• Thursday's Amish Market Trip (14.04 lbs Raw Sugar): $20.93 oop
• Saturday's CVS Trip: $1.31, Earned $11 ECB's

• Saturday's Rite-Aid Trip (1-80 ct Advil PM and 3-12 pks Coke, all for Joe): $21.56 oop, Earned $5 UP+Rewards
• Saturday's Giant Trip: $40.36 oop

• Saturday's Lowe's Trip (2 bags cat litter pellets): $8.68

Total OOP: $92.84, well, more than I wanted to spend.  However, the sugar and litter are expenses that should get us through/into February as well.  Hopefully I can curb our spending a little more this week, but at the same time, it feels good to be stocking back up on things we needed, like the probiotics and kleenex at CVS.

ALDI Deals, Starting 01/09/2013

Even though we are doing a pantry challenge at the Roger's house, I might just have to go into ALDI this week for some of these AWESOME Deals, especially on organics!

• Navel Oranges 4 lb bag $1.89 ea
• Pears 4 pk $1.89 ea
• Grapefruits $0.39 ea
• Fuji Apples 3 lb bag $2.19 ea
• Cantaloupe $1.39 ea
• Mangoes $0.89 ea
• Simply Nature Crispy Crust Pizza Uncured Pepperoni or 4 cheese $3.49 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Toasted Oats Honey or Original 9-10 oz $1.99 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Strawberries 12 oz $2.39 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Blueberries 12 oz $3.49 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Vanilla Yogurt 32 oz $2.99 ea
• Simply Nature Organic String Cheese $2.99 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Spaghetti or Linguine 16 oz $1.29 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Pasta Sauce Marinara or Tomato Basil 25 oz $1.99 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Apple Juice 64 oz $2.49 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Apple Juice Boxes 3-6.75 oz boxes $0.99 ea
• Nature's Nectar not from concentrate Mini Orange Juice Boxes 6-6.75 oz $2.99 ea
• Green and Black's Organic Chocolate Bars Dark 70% or Almond 3.5 oz $2.49 ea

For more AWESOME deals at ALDI, visit their homepage!

Menu Plan Monday - 01/07/2013

This is the second week in our pantry challenge, and things are going great.  We are using up lots of little bits out of the freezers, and the pantry, plus eating some good meals!  Here's what's on the menu this week...

Breakfasts: Cold or Hot Cereals, or Sausage Patty Sandwiches

Lunches: Leftovers, Sandwiches, or Canned Soup with Crackers and Cheese

Dinners:

Sunday - Taco Salad made with Leftover Chili

Monday - Leftover Hamburger Helper

Tuesday - Pasta Bake with Leftover Frozen Pasta and Garlic Bread with a Vegetable

Wednesday - Ham and Cheese Omelets with Toast

Thursday - Fresh Take Chicken Breasts with Rice and a Vegetable

Friday - Homemade Foccacia Pizza

Saturday - Beef and Broccoli Freezer Meal with Rice

Extras: Homemade White Chocolate Chip Cookies

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report January 1-5, 2012

With the pantry challenge in full swing, I tried really hard to stay out of the stores, and when I did go, it was only for the 'essentials' (= things I needed to make the items in the freezer into meals, and things I needed to keep my husband from having a fit).  Here's what I ended up with...

• Wednesday's ALDI Trip (1 doz eggs, 2 tubs Sour Cream, 1 bag Limes): $4.76 oop
• Saturday's Giant Trip: $55.38 oop

• Saturday's Rite Aid Trip: $19.58 oop (includes some Christmas presents, not pictured), Earned $2 UP+Rewards

Total OOP: $79.72, definitely a little high, but since I haven't really been to the store in couple weeks, not too shabby.  What I purchased should last us a little while, even though we have already almost knocked out an entire 1/2 gallon of milk, yikes!  But I am using up a lot of things from the freezer, which is the real goal!

Pantry Challenge Update - Week #1

Jessica over at Good Cheap Eats is running a pantry challenge this month, and I'm in!  Here's how it's been going so far...

Day 1:  New Year's day we decided to have some family over for dinner.  My dad, sister, niece, and her boyfriend came over and we had a lovely dinner together, and played a couple games of Uno afterwards.  Joe and I had a blast!  We ended the evening with some homemade apple crumb pie and vanilla bean ice cream.
B - Waffles
L - Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
D - Crock Pot Pork Roast with Baked Potatoes and Sauerkraut, Homemade Apple Crumb Pie and Vanilla Ice Cream

Day 2:  Wednesday was a simpler day, Joe and I worked on some projects around the house, but mostly I was still trying to deal with a horrible head cold.  Meals were simple.

B - Waffles

L - Leftover Pork Sandwiches

D - Subs, Out -- Totally Yucky!

Day 3:  Thursday was more the same; rest, recuperating, and knocking out some small projects.  I used up the leftover baked potatoes from New Year's for lunch.

B - Waffles

L - Fried (sliced leftover Baked) Potatoes with Onion, Scrambled Eggs, Bacon (leftover in the freezer from Christmas), and Toast

D - Leftover Pork Sandwiches with Baked French Fries

Day 4: Friday Joe had a meeting to go to, and I was feeling much better!  So, I got quite a few little projects done, as well as got the house tidied up a little bit.  

B - Cream of Wheat for me and Sausage Patty Sandwiches for Joe

L - Snacks

D - Quesadillas

Day 5:  Today Joe and I finally had to go the grocery store, we were out of milk.  I picked up a few other essentials things that we were out of, like PB, since I hadn't been to the store in a few weeks.  We also stopped into Rite-Aid to use my UP+Rewards before they expired.  It was a good day!
B - BK, out - Yummy!
L - Hamburger Helper (trying to get those used up)
D - Crock Pot Chili

All  in all it's been a good week, and I have already cleaned a good bit out of the cupboards and freezer!  Hopefully next week will be even better!

Link Up at Good Cheap Eats and see how others are doing!

Resolutions for 2013!

After the hellacious year 2012, I can only pray that 2013 is better.  Don't get me wrong, 2012 had good times - we did several flea markets, and made double what we usually make at them, we spent a lot of time with family, and Joe and I got pregnant.  However, I think that the bad times far outweighed any happiness that I felt - in July, after weeks in the hospital, my mom died, and then in December at 10 weeks, Joe and I found out that our baby had no heartbeat.  2012 is a year that I cannot wait to move on from to say the least.  I have set some goals for this year, and I am very determined to meet them all, so I kept them vague and simple.  Some may think that that is cheating, I'm calling it being realistic ;-)  I only set 5, here they are...

1. Get healthy and lose weight.  So far I have lost 20 lbs, I am hoping to lose a LOT more.
2. Simplify and organize my life and my home.  I have started with paperwork, and I am plugging along with that.
3. Create more earned income.  We plan to do 12 flea markets this year, as well as start selling on ebay, etc.
4. Spend more time with friends and family.  After losing my mom, I want to make sure I make plenty of happy memories with the rest of my family and our friends.
5. Have a baby/get pregnant.  It's time, and we are ready to start trying again, so hopefully everything will work out this time.

For more 2013 goals and resolutions, visit Simply Rebekah!

Frugal Finds Friday: Homemade Laundry Detergent

Something new I am starting on this blog is a Frugal Finds Friday post each week.  This post may include a great deal from the week, or a recipe or tip that pays homage to frugality.  I will also include a link up for others to share their finds.  Post #1 in a recipe that I have come to love for homemade laundry detergent.

 You cannot get a simpler recipe than this:
1 C Borax +
1 C Washing Soda +
1 bar Soap (I use Ivory), finely grated =

Homemade Laundry Detergent.  I use 1 scoop per load.  The scoop I use is the size of a coffee scoop; it's out of an old Oxi Clean Container, and has been re-purposed.  The detergent doesn't get real sudsy, but our clothes are clean and smell fresh.

Linking up to Homemade Mondays!
Linking up to Works for Me Wednesday!

How about everyone else, what frugal finds have you?