Happy Holidays from us.....

Happy Holidays from my family to yours. We have been on a super busy tour of life these last few months. I have thought long and hard about what to do with the blog. Part of me was ready to throw int he towel. I just do not think I am ready for that yet. I have so many things to share with you still. I am gearing up to start blogging on a regular basis again. Look for new posts starting Monday, January 4th. Until then, I hope you have a happy and safe holiday season!

2 Free Yankkee Candles......

Yankee Candle Company - use this printable coupon and get 2 free Yankee candles when you buy 2. What a deal!!

Monday Freebies

Christmas Light Trade-In - Home Depot has an offer to trade in Christmas Lights for $3 per strand for credit toward new LED lights. This offer is good Nov 5 -15. The LED lights are $5.97, so after the trade-in, they will be $2.97 per strand. You can trade up to 5 sets per customer. LED lights use 80% less energy. They will even take broken strands for the $3 credit.


Build a Bear - $5 off $25 at Build a Bear with this printable coupon

You can save up to a total of $15 on a Honey Baked Ham. First sign up at Honey Baked Ham to receive a coupon for $10 off an 8lb+ ham. Then submit for the Real Simple $5 refund. Note that the refund expires 11/19 so you'd need to get your ham early for Thanksgiving.

Walmart.com - DenTek Floss Picks - free sample

Where have I been?

I have been busy coaching these girls to 2 first place victories!! Congrats girls!!!

Natural Ways to Fight the Flu.....

I am a firm believer in immunizations and wish all kids would be immunized. I do respect others opinions though. I do have a child that can not take over the counter cold medicine so over the years we have learned a few "natural" ways to help when he gets sick. I share a few with you here.

Himalayan Institute Original Neti Pot this is great for cleaning out sinuses

Cold-Eeze Homeopathic, Cold Drop Lozenges,18 ea - PARENT we love these and take them regularly

Safety 1st Hospital's Choice 8 Second Digital Thermometer I am always monitoring temperatures on a sick one

Vicks VapoRub-Cough Suppressant, 6oz (170g) put put it on the bottom of feet as well as on the chest when a little one is congested.


Johnsons Baby Soothing Vapor Baby Bath - 15 Oz - great to add to a very warm bath. These vapors and the hot steam work wonders.


Gatorade-Sport Drink, 24/20oz Orange helps fight dehydration.

Heirloom Vegetable Harvest Part #1

Above is a picture of some of our heirloom vegetables that we've harvested this year. This particular picture shows a type of Dry Bean called "Cherokee Trail of Tears" beans. These beans were carried with the Cherokee Tribes when they were relocated on a march that left some 4000 deaths from Kentucky to Oklahoma. Thus the name "Trail of Tears". An interesting story and a great vegetable. The beans, when left to fully dry on the vine, are shiny and black.

We had a very wet year this year thus some of our crops, particularly our tomatoes, did not do well. Some of the beans have a brown tint and that is due to our local wildlife. Funny Story.....sort of. You see, the raccoons (probably) decided that they needed the Oxacan Green Dent Corn (another heirloom vegetable that has been planted in Mexico for centuries) that was growing and was being used as a support pole for the Beans more than we did. The raccoons (probably) knocked the corn down and ate the kernels right off the cob. Never bothered the beans, but the corn crop was destroyed and the beans laid in the drenched garden for weeks on end. We picked some early and dried them inside for fear of them rotting (thus some are more brown than black). Of 75 corn stalks we "harvested" 1 cob. And yes, we have our entire garden fenced in to a height of 4'. Keeps the deer out (we think) but not the other critters. Oh well, it's a funny story (at least that is what we keep telling ourselves).

As I've said before, we do not use pesticides and we only plant heirloom seeds that we recycle year after year. An initial purchase provides fresh vegetables that have an interesting history for years to come. For more information on other heirloom vegetables that we've planted / harvested this year, stay tuned. Up next, Hinkelhatz Peppers a Pennsylvania Dutch Heirloom Pepper.

Cyber Christmas Shopping.....

Time to start thinking about Christmas shopping. I like to start early and do a little at a time so it does not hit me all at once. Here are some early suggestions. More to come in the upcoming weeks.


Connect 4 x 4 - cool spin on a classic game


Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Mr. Squiggles - Light Brown - hot new toys for this Holiday season


Bakugan Battle Pack (Styles and Colors May Vary) - another hot toy for this Holiday season


LEGO Pirates Brickbeard's Bounty - this is such a cool set. I would love to get it for my son!


iCarly Sam's Remote - any iCarly fan would love this!!


Fisher Price Elmo's Tickle Hands this is so cute for any little Elmo fan


Scene It? Twilight Deluxe Edition great for Twilight fans!


Apple iPod nano 8 GB Purple (4th Generation) OLD MODEL - great for any age


Apple iPod touch 8 GB (3rd Generation) NEWEST MODEL upgrade to the hottest model


Snuggie Fleece Blanket As Seen On TV - a cult sensation!! Everyone loves a snuggie! It is all about freedom for the hands!


Shoes Under Space Saving Shoe Organizer I want this!!!


Note: I do get a small compensation from Amazon for anyone buying items through my links.

Home Made Fire Starters....

This is a reprint from last October. It is time for me to make these again this year.........


Every year, I make my own fire starters. I use all recycled items and turn them into something I use almost everyday. I start with shredded paper. I use the paper I get from the fax I receive from my work at home job each morning.



I ball the shredded paper up and place it into cardboard egg cartons and then top each section with old dryer lint.




I melt the old wax I save from my tart burner all year long.

I pour the melted wax on top of the filled egg cartons.

I let them sit to cool and harden.....

.....then I break them up and store them in this basket.

I use one each day to help me start the fire in the fireplace.

They are made from 100% recycled material and FREE!

Wordless Wednesday....

Enter your Wordless WEdnesday here and be sure to link here from your blog too.....




For more Wordless Wednesday, go here.....
Wordless Wednesday » Blog Archive » October 14
Life Down Our Lane
Wordless Wednesday : Product Reviews by The Experimental Mommy

Tuesday....

I have been spending a lot of time with these girls doing this.......

This weekend, we did find some time to pick apples at a local orchard. What a nice family trip that was!

Walmart.com - Carefree Liners and Stayfree Pads free sample

http://playtexsport.young-america.com/ - free sample

Sign Up and Receive a Sample of Nature Valley Nut Clusters! - free sample

Get Help on a Utility Bill....

Get the details here....

http://www.kraftfoods.com/SiteCollectionImages/ImageRepository/7/TombstoneFlyer.pdf

Thursday

Life has been getting in the way of blogging for me this week. Sorry for not being here everyday right now.

Free samples, offers, coupons for you & your home Right @ Home™ free Oust

Free samples, offers, coupons for you & your home Right @ Home™ $3.50 printable coupon

Herbal Essences Facebook - get your free bottle of shampoo here

Monday....

Frugal Finds from your Frugal Friend Give-Aways and Reviews!: Winner - see who won the YoPlait gift basket!


Bear Naked :: Get a FREE Sample of our cereal or grain-ola bars - free sample

Skincare, cosmetics, haircare, haircolor, hair styling and men's line : L'Oréal Paris - free sample

Free Stainless Spoon Sample - USA Cooking Utensils - free spoon

Are you prepared to venture onto the Path to Information Enlightenment? - free tshirt

Free Homemade soap by Cloud 9 Spa - free soap sample

Nelsons Pure & Clear - free sample

Please Send Me a Sample « Nexcare GIVE - free sample

Thursday Freebies....

Frugal Finds from your Frugal Friend Give-Aways and Reviews!: Yoplait Thick and Creamy Give Away..... - last chance to enter to win this awesome gift basket

Sam's Club - Clorox Winter Wellness v. 10312 - free sample

https://www.pgeverydaysolutions.com/pgeds/brandsampler.jsp?src=pgeds - free samples

Bear Naked :: Get a FREE Sample of our cereal or grain-ola bars - free sample

Juicy Juice Register - free reuseable water bottle for kids

http://www.greenworkscleaners.com/pdfs/NI-12262_GW_MBG_C2MoneyBack_GLASS_5.pdf - free after rebate with this form

Collector Plate - Please Send Cookies - NESTLE Very Best Baking - free collectors plate with UPC's

Walmart.com - Always Infinity - free sample

Hump Day Freebies.....

Mountainview Regional Medical Center - free tote bag - New Mexico only

nautica_islandvoyage_fs_110507 - free cologne sample

Try SweetSpots! Nature's Variety - free dog sample

Head & Shoulders: Anti-Dandruff Shampoos and Conditioners for Healthy Hair - headandshoulders.com - free sample

Dove® Dimensions Thank You Card Sweepstakes Registration - win free Thank You cards


Holidays at Home - A World of Holidays Online, Holiday Gifts, Jim Shore, Heartwood Creek, Holiday Decorations, Collectibles, .. - free Christmas ornament

Welcome to the Eukanuba Great Start Puppy Page - free puppy food sample

https://ssl.unilever.com/peanutbutter.com/Peanuts/GPCharileBrown.pdf - printable form - $3.00 rebate when you buy Charlie Brown Halloween DVD and peanut butter

http://aspexcorp.com/updates/ - free envelope opener

Frugal Dried Herbs

This is fresh parsley cut from our herb garden. We dry it in the dehumidifier, crush it and place it in saved container. It should last til next year at this time.

For more Tuesday happenings, go here.....
Tackle It Tuesday — A Very Late Start at Back To School

BlessedwithGrace: Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.. Pear Pie - Oh ME, Oh MY!!!

Gratituesday: Pajama Day : Heavenly Homemakers

Monday Deals and Meals.........

Give Moms a Snack Break Promotions Smucker's - Go now!!! submit an after school tip and get a free box of Uncrustable!! Limited quantities.

http://www.allyou.com/static/promo/freesamples/kotex/splash.html Free sample of Kotex and a free trial of All You magazine

Frugal Finds from your Frugal Friend Give-Aways and Reviews!: Yoplait Thick and Creamy Give Away..... enter to win a free Yogurt Gift Basket. Entering is simple!!



This weeks meals........

Monday - Spaghetti, bread, apples with caramel

Tuesday - hot dogs, mac and cheese

Wednesday - Soup night - Tastefully Simple Potato soup for DH and I and kids pick their favorite canned soup, with yogurt, fruit and butter bread

Thursday - pork roast, mashed potatoes, peas

Friday - night out

Saturday - steak and shrimp on the grill

For more Menu Monday, go here.... I’m an Organizing Junkie » Teaching the world how to enjoy life one pile of clutter at a time.

Free Pickle Tshirt

Ok... not really free but only $4.99 shipping with 4 proofs of purchase. I love this Tshirt! Go

here for the form.

Friday Freebie Friendzy.....

ELLE Extra :: Matrix - free sample of shampoo

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Printed 3D Postcard by Snapily 3D post card

Dove Hair Care - Free Sample - free sample

Signup Form - Gourmet popcorn sample

Free samples, offers, coupons for you & your home Right @ Home™ - Glade coupons

Sign Up for a Free Sample of Honey Nut Cheerios - free sample

Blue Box Gift Take the Special K Challenge! - free sample

Free Uncrustables....

Log onto www.uncrustables.com, on Monday 9/28, the first 80,000 people and give an after-school organizational tips will receive a coupon for a free four-pack of Uncrustables.

Yoplait Thick and Creamy Give Away....

Frugal Finds from your Frugal Friend Give-Aways and Reviews!: Yoplait Thick and Creamy Give Away..... - go here to enter... 2 lucky winners will be selected on Friday, October 2nd. Each will receive a free item coupon and the above gift basket. Good luck to all that enter!!

Free Fire Truck.....

Lowe's Build and Grow Clinics - sign up on line for a free Build and Grow Clinic. They are held at your local Lowe's store. This weeks project is a firetruck. Make sure you sign up ahead of time. My experience has been that the Lowe's employees are less than thrilled with you if you just show up. This is a great FREE activity to do with your kids!

Wednesday Freebies....

http://offers.riteportal.com/760/ecoup_S525.pdf - $5 off $25 at Rite Aid with this printable coupon

Download Splash from RealArcade free full size game download from Parade.com

http://www.dove.us/ free samples from Dove

Bear Naked :: Get a FREE Sample of our cereal or grain-ola bars - free sample

Always Infinity Works Like Magic - free sample

Monday.....

http://www.bluespringwellness.com/freesample - free pain relief sample

Sam's Club – Depend - free sample

Exederm Ultra Sensitive Skincare - free sample

Sign Up for a Free Sample of Total Cereal - free sample

Simple Essentials™ - Get Your Free Sample - free sample

Thrifty Thursday......

This bottle stops my DD from wanting to buy bottles of water at the grocery store. This bottle is Earth friendly, saves me money and is cute too!!! The little things all add up to big savings!

Did you do something Thrifty this week? Link up and share with us!!!

Crockpot Lasagna......

I am doing a pretty good job of following my menu plan from Monday but, I decided to move my Crockpot Lasagna to Wednesday instead of Thursday so that I can participate in Crockpot Wednesday!!!





I bought these inexpensive products.......




I put a pot on the stove with 3 cans of the cheap sauce, browned hamburger and a pack of this. I added a small amount of sauce to the bottom of the crock pot, then layered noodles and sauce, with a layer of ricotta cheese mixture thrown in the middle, until I reached the top of the crock pot.

I had one noodle left over when I got to the top so I broke it up and threw it on top. I will turn the crockpot on at 11am so that it slow cooks on low for 5 hours. I will add some shredded cheese for the last 15 minutes, before serving. I will add a picture of the finished product later today.

The fininished product....

Wednesday....

Frugal Finds from your Frugal Friend Give-Aways and Reviews!: Sam's Club Gift Card Give-Away!!! Last chance to enter to win a $25 gift card to Sam's Club and a one day pass. If I had a $25 gift card to Sam's I think I would use it all on meat.

Freebies - Official Rules - Seventeen.com - free mascara when you take Seventeen magazine into any Ulta store

Free Offer for Field & Stream - free subscription

http://www.mariespasta.com/promise.pdf - printable form to make this Marie Callender's pasta free after mail in rebate

Try the all natural cereal that goes against the grain! - printable Kashi cereal coupon

Print Your Coupon $1.60 off Granola Nut Clusters - check out my review here

What to do with garden carrots.......

Last week I showed you this bucket of carrots from the garden. We estimate that we had a harvest of about 25 pounds of carrots. What did we do with all of them?

We cleaned them and cut them up in small pieces, along with and zucchini, garlic, onions and green peppers we could find from the garden.

We steam this mixture..........

Then, I puree it in a food processor until it looks like this.....

I put them in small bags and freeze them. I will use these mixtures throughout the year to make jarred spaghetti sauce taste a little better. It also helps me get a few more veggies into the kids without them noticing. I have even added a mix, similar to this, into a boxed brownie mix. My family loves the added flavor and moisture!

We could probably even cook this down a little more and call it carrot soup.

To see what other people have tackled this week, go here......

BlessedwithGrace

Tackle It Tuesday — I think I own too much pink!

Heavenly Homemakers

Free American Girl Craft Event....

Michael's Craft Store is hosting a FREE American Girl craft event on Saturday , September 19th from 10:AM to 2:PM. What a great FREE activity to do with your favorite little girl(s).

Monday Freebies....

LD_SRE-Sample_ContactUs - free sample

SoftSheen-Carson Roots of Nature - free sample

LavAzza International Coffee Organization - Free Coffee Spoon - free spoon

Get A Free Sample - TreatPeople.com - free pet treat

http://www.johnsonville.com/docroot/johnsonville/pdf/tailgateville_form.pdf... - free tshirt with upc's

Menu Monday...

Monday.... Sheppard's pie and apples

Tuesday..... Take out pizza (at my DS's request - he wants to try cold leftover pizza to see if he can pack it for his school lunch)

Wednesday..... crock pot lasagna, salad, pears

Thursday.... baked chicken, eggplant, broccoli and cauliflower

Friday.... Quick dinner out - getting ready for yard sale

Saturday.... Adult grill night

Weekend Update.........

Another 26 cents into the FOUND MONEY JAR. Brings the total to $2.49.

Frugal Finds from your Frugal Friend Give-Aways and Reviews! - enter to win a $25 gift card to Sam's club and a 1 day pass.

Dandy-Lyon Bites - free sample

Shine To Go - Try Now - free sample

KRAFT Bagel-fuls _ 1 off printable coupon

http://www.simpleanddelicious.com/downloads/reddi_rebate.pdf - Reddi Wip rebate form

http://links.mkt227.com/servlet/SignUpForm?f=215912 - free sample of Slim Fast 100 calorie snack

Friday Freebie Friendzy.....

Frugal Finds From your Frugal Friend: Sam's Club Gift Card Give-Away!! Go enter to win!!

FREE LipFusion XL Deluxe Mini! - free lip stuff

http://www.babybix.com/blog/2009/09/09/giveaway-snikiddy-snacks-free-sample/ - free sample

Scent Sample Requests - Over 55 Scents to Choose From - free sample

Inside Allure: allure.com - free skin care kit

Kellogg's® Pop-Tarts® Registration Page - register for the fan club and get free samples

Beech-Nut Baby Food - register and free baby food!!

Thrifty Thursday....

Another batch of HOT peppers for the garden. Preserved in oil. A very frugal way to stock the pantry!

This is just half of the 25 pounds of carrots we pulled from the garden. Next Tuesday, I will show you what I do with them.

Have you done something frugal lately that you want to share? Link up here....