FREE CHERRIES????

I was just getting groceries. Once per trip, I splurge on a treat. This time it was cherries.

The shelf sign listed the cherries at $3.99 per pound. I weighed exactly one pound out to buy. When the cashier rang them up, they came to $5.47! Say what? I asked her to please check the price. Sure enough, they rang up incorrectly.

Store policy says that if an item rings up incorrectly, you get the item free.

Yep...free cherries!

Lesson for the day: watch that scanner!

I'm keeping my eye on you, Walmart!

Out of ink, and it's too far to the nearest ink refill store. {one is opening closer to me!} So, I went to Walmart to fetch some ink cartridges. I found these:


You can buy one black cartridge for $9.97 and one color cartridge for $17.97. Okay, so the total is $27.94.

Next to this display, you will find the combo pack of 1 color and 1 black cartridge. "special buy combo pack!" I'm always one for a bargain, so I put the individual boxes back on the rack. Wait a minute. Get out my calculator...for $27.97 I can get a combo pack, but for $27.94 I can buy each individually? Walmart, you sly fox! You tried to pull a fast one on me! You want me to spend $0.03 more to get your "special combo pack"? Really? That's not a savings AT ALL!

That's why I always carry a calculator.

Sorry Walmart, I do pay attention! {and I want to keep my three cents, thankyouverymuch!} he he

best darn taco mix....ever!

Want to stretch your taco mix a little further? Or maybe just want to add some healthier ingredients? Then this is the mix for you! I grew tired of boring taco meat with a taco powder stirred in. I also wanted to stretch the meal without adding more meat. This is the result.

Taco Mix

1 pound ground meat, or TVP

1 can corn or small bag frozen

1 can black beans, or homemade

1-2 cups salsa, to taste

1 small can diced green chilies

1 cup shredded cheese

taco shells, tortillas etc

taco seasoning, I use a homemade mix, recipe to follow

Brown meat and drain. Add all ingredients and heat through. Yes, it's just that easy!

Taco Seasoning

6 tsp chili powder
4 1/2 tsp cumin
5 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp oregano
3 tsp onion powder
2 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/8-1/4 tsp cayenne pepper to taste
Mix all and store in an air tight container. One teaspoon of homemade equals 2 teaspoons store bought.

garden planning

January is the perfect time to plan your garden. Catalogs come by the "bushel". Once the fall holidays are over, and it's cold and dreary outside, I look forward to Spring. I spend months planning Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, so it makes perfect sense to spend months planning Spring!

My veggie garden always includes: tomatoes, peas, zucchini, cucumbers, raspberries{perennial bush}, yellow squash, pumpkins and carrots. I try a few different plantings each year. Some work, some don't. Last year I had trouble with corn and potatoes. Neither grew very big.

This year I plan to add: sweet banana peppers, broccoli and asparagus.

In my herb garden I grow: lavender, cilantro, peppermint, basil, chives, and lemon balm. This year I plan to add: spearmint, rosemary and dill.

I have a spiral notebook for gardening. Each Spring, I draw my garden plans. You have to rotate most plants. By keeping a garden journal, I can be sure that I have done the rotation. I can also keep track of what grows and what doesn't.

an inexpensive date night

Hubby and I went "out" last night. Not a fancy restaurant. Not a night club. No galleries.

We went to the bookstore. Yes, again.

I had a gift card for the coffee shop. So, we got our drinks, found some reading material and then settled in. We don't have the same taste in books, so we each find what we are looking for and then meet back up. We have been doing this for about 15 years. Still never gets old. Sometimes we find something to buy {usually gifts} and sometimes we just buy a drink.

I wasn't surprised to see the amount of people there doing the exact same thing. Guys on their laptops, a couple playing cards and many people in the over stuffed chairs reading. I love this bookstore for allowing this to happen. God bless the bookstore owners. They are awesome!

free photo greeting card

This would make a great Valentine's card for your sweetie! You just pay $0.99 for shipping.

Hurry! Valentine's Day is coming!


http://www.mommysavers.com/2011/01/free-5x7-folded-greeting-card-from-shutterfly/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mommysavers+%28Mommysavers.com%29


And after you check out this link, spend some time at MommySavers.com! I know that I will!

to simplify the wardrobe....

As I was getting dressed recently, I discovered that I literally had nothing to wear. Well, nothing that would match, anyway. {laundry day} It occurred to me that I have too many tops that are multi colored. If I had more neutral, solid colored blouses, then I could easily mix and match.

My solution? Go through my closet and donate anything that can't easily be paired with at least 2 or more bottoms. {read: slacks, sweats, skirts, capris etc} I am left with solid colored blouses, solid colored pants and multi colored skirts.

I think the multi colored skirts will keep me from boredom. I also think it will be easier to get dressed if I have more matching items. I can get a coupon, for donating 2 bags of clothing, to the thrift store. If needed, I can go and get a couple more tops to balance this wardrobe out.

This change should also cut down on laundry, since I will have less articles of clothing.