Beans Beans, the musical….
Don’t those look pretty?
My farm stand guy came through for me last week. He saved me a bushel of Half Runner Green Beans.
I do grow half runners, but I really only get enough to eat. If I want to put any away for the winter, I have to buy them. I could grow more… but that would be too much work and I’ve already got a 9 To 5 job (wink).
I spent all day Sunday last weekend stringing, snapping, canning and cooling for a total of 28 quarts (plus the large bunch I cooked up for dinner).
That is enough to get us through the entire winter.
Like my corn, I save my canned green beans for special occasions.
How to can green beans.
Actually I am not going to post a recipe. I am going to suggest that if you want to can something using a pressure canner (necessary for canning green beans among MANY other items); that you read a professional canning book.
My favorites are:
I used the instructions from the Ball canning book. And for all you nay sayers, it really is easy, just time consuming.
A few highlights.
Forcing your kids to do the chore you used to hate to do as a kid. Mwahaha
I can taste them now. (and they taste raw…)
Hubby’s great idea! (Don’t tell him I said so) We canned the beans outside on hubby’s old homebrewing propane heater. No heating up the kitchen and forcing the old (and I do mean old!) AC to put in overtime!
Chilling out in the garage until morning.
Hot date!
I’ve got a hot date this week too…
Aren’t they pretty?
July 27, 2010
Posted in: Canning/Freezing, Gardening 
No Comments
Crunch Time!
Only 151 more days until Christmas!
It’s crunch time!
So here is my plan of attack!
I only have 16 more people shop for on my list.
I have three months to finish up (give or take). (My goal is always to be done by Nov 1 so that I can relax and enjoy the season).
That means I need to buy gifts for 5-6 people each month between now and November 1.
Break it down even further and that means 1-2 people each week between now and Nov 1.
I can actually handle that.
I plan to focus on each person individually and slowly knock them out one at a time.
My plan is going to be to take my Monday afternoon lunch breaks to shop. Either in the stores or online.
I can use my Sunday sale fliers to decide which person I want to shop for (depending on what is on sale that week).
This week’s person is going to be the relative that I ALWAYS give cash to each year. I’ll hit the ATM on my way home tonight and put it aside in the Christmas envelope.
My second person is going to be a newborn baby. Also a very easy one to buy for. I plan to pick up their gift at a store I was going to anyway this week (which is why I picked this person to shop for) Fogive me for being elusive, but baby’s mommy reads the blog.
See how easy that was LOL!
We’ll talk about next week’s person next week LOL!
July 26, 2010
Posted in: Christmas Challenges No Comments
Time Management Magic
I once had someone say to me that they had “No idea how I was able to get so much done with work, parenting, volunteering, bla bla bla.”
My response to them was that once you have kids….
Procrastination is no longer an option!
I was thinking of that today while I was running an errand. (at lunch, hence the shorty post from me, today. My lunch is almost over!)
I don’t really know any working mother that I would call a procrastinator.
Maybe we have different values or interests, but none would I call lazy. (are you saying some of you couldn’t give two hoots about canning/freezing produce 
)
On that note, what things do you all do to save time and money?
Some things I thought of that I do on my lunch break are:
* Pay the bills
* Balance my checkbook
* Go to the grocery
* Run to the library for free family entertainment
* Make appointments (doctor, dentist, etc.)
What about the rest of you?
What things do you do at lunch or other times to save time and money?
Let’s inspire one another!!!
July 22, 2010
Posted in: Mommy Treats, Musings, Organizing, Sanity Savers, Stress Relievers One Comment
Quick post from me..
Just a quick post from me today.
I don’t really have time to put together a big savings post today, but I did get this little gem in my email this am and thought I would share…
There are some neat items on there that you can get for FREE!
* Calendars
* Tshirts
* Coffee Mug’s
* Address stampers
* Magnets, and more!
Now, if you are anything like me… you are thinking CHRISTMAS PRESENTS!
OK, I know… I’m the only sicko that thinks of Christmas all year long.
Now I am sure there are shipping costs associated with these items, so you will have to do the math to see if they are a good buy for you.
If you do end up ordering something, leave a comment and let us know what you got and what the final cost ended up being.
I may think of getting on of those Stampers for Christmas cards..
This post contains an affiliate link. Please see my disclosure page for more information.
July 21, 2010
Posted in: Christmas Challenges, Coupons, Good Deals No Comments
Today’s Deals 7/19!
Happy Monday Everyone!
Fake it till ya make it…..
Today’s Deals!
It’s been a little while since I’ve done a deals post… I’m running out of freebies in my mailbox. Now we can’t have that…
Today Only!
Cincinnati Daily Deals has a special on one of my favorite local restaurant/hangouts Eli’s Bar and Grill. Get $25 gift card for $12.
This deal is good for my seriously local readers 
YoDeal is offering passes for Coco Key at $12 each. (Normally $25 apiece).
Kroger is offering some STELLAR deals this week. LOTS OF SAVINGS!
Check out Mommysnacks for her AWESOME coupon match ups!
Quiznos Coupon! Get a small sub, drink and chips for $2.99!
Hurry, this one runs out quickly!
Toms of Maine, get a free toothpaste sample on their Facebook page.
Petsmart get a free 6oz Purina ONE dog or cat food if you register.
Free Sample of V8 Fusion
Coupon for $10 off of $25 at Office Depot. (Great for School Supply Shopping!)
Check out this awesome Deal post by The New Frugal Mom regarding Back to School deals for this week! What an awesome resource. Thanks NFM!!
July 19, 2010
Posted in: Back to School, Coupons, Freebies, Good Deals No Comments
Grow Baby Grow-Updates!
Our garden is doing AWESOME this year!
Here are just a few pics to show you how things are turning out…
Mmm, I see some BLT’s in my future!!
The Wildflower patch in full bloom!
Ok, so we ate all the green beans already… Sorry, I forgot to take a picture!
I see you under there Mr. Zucchini. I am totally making you into a yummy bread this weekend!
He’ll be cute when he grows up….
What’s ripe in your gardens?
July 15, 2010
Posted in: Gardening No Comments
Puttin’ By- Corn Edition
As promised , here is Part 2 in Puttin by!
It’s time for CORN!
Corn is BY FAR the EASIEST of all the veggies to put up for the winter!
Last week, I stopped at the local farm stand (aka, the guy who lives around the corner from me who farms his acre plot and sells produce on his porch swing)
He was selling corn for $3 a dozen.
Now I know that is not the cheapest corn of the summer, but HEY it’s my retired neighbor who gets to keep that money…Isn’t that what buying local is all about?
I bought 4 dozen ears for $12.
Every summer I like to put up at least about 10 dozen ears total, but to do that all in one day would be just exhausting. (Trust me, my mother in law and I have done it on MANY occasions!)
What I usually do is put it up in small batches. That makes it easier. A dozen or so in one evening only takes about 30 minutes. Really not a big deal at all.
The reason I went for 4 dozen on that day is that 1) it was Sunday so I had some time to spare, 2) the money was going to my neighbor (rather than my local grocery chain).
He is out of corn right now, but as soon as his next batch comes in… I’ll be back for more until I reach at least 10 dozen ears.
Steps:
Step 1: Shuck the corn Hello Mr. Obvious…
Step 2: Cut off the corn.
This actually is a lot easier than it sounds.
Basically you just hold the corn over a large bowl (preferably outside… trust me, it goes EVERYWHERE and the starch from the corn is a bitch really big pain to get off the floor) and cut the kernels off.
If you find a bad spot just cut around it. That happens with farm fresh corn. Trust me, the taste is worth it!
Step 3: After all the corn is cut off. Scoop it into freezer containers and stick in the freezer.
See all that corn on the table.. the stuff flies around like crazy… I think I’ll let the rain wash that off for me thankyouverymuch.
My favorite SNITCH at it again….
Here is the final product. It may not look like much, but each of those large containers equals one meal for my family over the winter.
This batch yielded at least 8 dinners for me.
I usually save my corn for special occasions (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Birthdays, get together with friends, etc.)
What are the rest of you canning/freezing right now?
July 15, 2010
Posted in: Canning/Freezing 5 Comments
Announcement!
Finally, that announcement that I kept promising to post.
So you all remember that I kept referring to June as my Hell Month.
Well there was more than one reason for that.
Yes, it was the end of the fiscal year.
But, it was also Hell month because
I got a new job!
No, that is not what was stinky about it…
I knew June was going to be stinky because I have known since May that I would be moving to a new company in July .
The anxiety that comes with having a secret you can’t tell your friends and co workers is hell.
The anxiety that comes when you finally DO tell your boss and coworkers that you are leaving is hell.
The way folks treat you differently after you announce you are leaving (even if they don’t do it intentionally) is hell.
The wonder and worry of “Did I make the right choice” can be hell.
Excited!
I am very excited about my new position and the company that I am moving to.
Reasons
There are many many reasons that I left my old company, but alone, none of them were important enough to make me want to leave.
I truly loved my old job.
I loved my boss and I hope to keep in touch with her.
I loved my co workers. They felt like family to me.
I DID NOT love the drive to work, but that alone wasn’t enough to make me want to leave.
Ultimately it boiled down to opportunity.
I was sandwiched in my position with no room for growth.
The new company offers me growth potential (as well as half the commute time, more money, and other awesome benefits, but who’s counting? ).
Wish me luck
So wish me luck in this first week of my new job.
I am sure it will go well, but while I get my bearings, I may be online sporadically.
Who else?
So what about the rest of you? Who else is considering making a job move in this recession?
I read an interesting article a few weeks back suggesting that many companies are bracing for a brain drain this summer. The article (that I can’t find now to save my life) suggested that many employees are frustrated in their current positions. Perhaps they took pay cuts to keep their jobs, they lost vacation or other benefits, etc. and are just biding their time for the economy to turn around before they start looking for something new.
That actually held true for me, so I wondered how many others out there were in the same boat?
I don’t really think the job market is as bleak as the news outlets would like us to believe it is.
If the 3-5 head hunter phone call’s I’m getting every week is any indication…. there are jobs out there to be had.
If you have been thinking of making a switch, what’s holding you back?
If you are currently employed and have the luxury of taking your time to look, why wait?
July 12, 2010
Posted in: Job Hunting, Musings 5 Comments
Staycation Wrap up
Vacation is over BOO!
We had a wonderful week off, but like all good things, our vacation has come to an end.
In Staycation Part 1, we had a running total of $213.
So to continue…
Wednesday’s plan
On Wednesday, we took the kids to Kings Island with another family that was also attending football camp.
We already have season passes for the year, so the only cost for the day was parking $10. (next year we will get a pass that includes parking, but that is another story altogether)
We also splurged on 3 small ice cream snacks for $12 total.
We ate lunch before we went to KI and packed a cooler with sandwiches for dinner.
Wednesday’s total was $22.
Thursday
Thursday was a less adventurous day.
After football camp, we came back to the house, ate lunch, and then packed an overnight bag for each of us.
We drove up to Columbus, OH with the plan to visit COSI on Friday.
Our only costs were dinner out $69. Yes, that feels like a lot to me, but my oldest must now order off the adult menu stoopid growing boys plus hubs and I splurged on one beer each.
Since we obviously weren’t going to sleep in our car, hubby got online at Hotwire Thursday am to find us a hotel near COSI.
We were able to book a 4 star hotel 5 minutes away from COSI in Downtown Columbus. It ended up being a Crowne Plaza hotel, complete with a swimming pool and literally within walking distance of pretty much anything we could want to do downtown.
Total cost for the hotel was $59 for the room and $21 for parking for the entire length of our stay.
Thursday’s total was $149.00
Friday
Friday was COSI day!
We got up in the morning and walked to a little diner for breakfast (Cost $33)
After Breakfast we drove over to COSI (we could have walked there and left the car at the hotel, but it was raining and we weren’t sure that little feet would have the energy to walk back after walking through the museum all day)
Parking at COSI cost $5 for the entire day.
Entrance fees to the museum for all four of us was $69. That included all exhibits as well as passes to see their IMAX movie Dolphins and Whales 3D boring boring boring
We did allow the boys to each choose something from the gift shop and of course, they went over our allotted budget of $10 apiece, but to be honest, it was so expensive in there, I don’t think they could have stuck to that budget very easily.
Gift shop total was $43.
We did eat dinner on our way home, Total cost was $39.
Friday’s total: $189.00
Saturday
Saturday we didn’t plan to do anything. We had a picnic to attend and I wanted to get some laundry, cleaning, bla bla bla done before the start of next week.
The kids had other ideas.
After our picnic, they hit hubby up to set up our tent in the backyard and have a campout.
Being the strict planners that we are.. we totally caved and set up the tent.
Hubby and the boys slept under the stars last night and I had our big bed ALL.TO.MYSELF.
Saturday’s total: $0
The total for the entire week ended up being: $573.00
$573 feels like a lot of money, but really when you compare it to a regular vacation it’s pretty cheap. If you figure an average hotel costs $89 or so dollars a night add that up for 6-7 nights and you are already over this total before you’ve even done anything or seen anything.
What do you think is a reasonable amount to spend on a vacation?
July 11, 2010
Posted in: Musings, Travel Tips No Comments
Staycation
Aah Vacation..
I wish we were there in the Smokey Mountain National Park. Talk about relaxing!
This year we have chosen to take a staycation. This is a first for us.
Hubby and I have always worked hard to save money to take a nice vacation each year. We love to travel and both of us agree that we would rather give up eating out all year long (or any other luxury) to avoid having to miss a vacation.
Unfortunately, we had too many repairs that needed to be done on our house (new driveway and HVAC anyone?)
So this year, a staycation it is.
Having fun
Actually I thought I would be more bummed by the staycation than it turns out I am.
We have planned a fun local activity for each day this week.
I now agree with all of the talking heads who say that it is OK and fun to take a vacation in your hometown. (not to mention frugal)
I thought I would breakdown what we do each day for our staycation to show that it is possible to have fun and save money.
Breakdown
Over the weekend, we invited two families to come spend the holiday weekend with us. These are families we only see maybe once or twice a year due to distance and it is always a treat when we can all get together at the same place at the same time (old college buddies and family members).
Usually when we get together, we don’t do anything special or go anywhere. We like to hang out all day in our PJ’s; eat, drink, and play cards while the kiddos entertain each other (and us of course). (TT, A says BANG!)
This year was the same with one minor exception.
On Saturday we took the kids to Miami Whitewater Forest Park and let them splash at the water park. Total cost $2 per kid plus ice cream treats at the concession stand $6.
Weekend total:
The total cost of our weekend fun was really only just the extra food purchased to feed all 11 of us and the cost of the water park. Total cost approx $158.
Tuesday’s plans
I have included Monday in the weekend total because our guests stayed over for the long holiday (the whole point of getting together on this weekend of course).
So Tuesday, we decided to call it a Movie day!
The boys have football camp in the morning every day this week, so our days are cut in half.
After camp yesterday morning, we came home, had lunch and then headed to the theater to see The Last Airbender 3D.
My boys loved the Avatar series on Nickelodeon so we knew they would LOVE this movie.
Since we went earlier in the day, we paid matinee prices of $6 apiece.
Total cost $24 plus $15 for popcorn and a few soda’s We’re on vacation, I don’t mind to treat for popcorn and soda.
After the movie, we figured out that our boys were flat worn out from the long weekend of guests, plus football camp. So we decided to make it an all day movie day.
We ran to pick up pizza at Little Ceasars Total cost $14 (yes, we got the crazy bread)
We also ran by Redbox and picked up another movie for the boys (one for mom and dad too!) Total Cost $2.
Tuesday’s total $55.
Running total for staycation: $213.
I’ll keep you posted each day (or shortly after) of what we end up doing each day and the cost.
Who else is taking a Staycation this year? What are your plans?
July 7, 2010
Posted in: Budgeting, Musings, Travel Tips 3 Comments
